Stating that "the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating," a bipartisan committee called yesterday for an urgent diplomatic attempt to stabilize the violence in Iraq, along with a push to gradually and "responsibly" withdraw U.S. troops from the region. The commission recommended working with Syria and Iran to rein in the violence in Iraq. In a long-awaited decision by the Iraq Study Group, the committee further stated that improved diplomatic relations could allow U.S. combat troops to be out of Iraq by the first quarter of 2008, while embedding an increased amount of support troops to train Iraqis. The committee reported that the Pentagon has consistently "underreported" the level of violence in Iraq, and that the situation is diminishing the United States' ability to influence events within the country.
ON CAMPUS BC alumni to be awarded for lifetime artistic achievements The Boston College Arts Council announced that Paul Daigneault, BC '87, will receive the Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement in 2007. Daigneault is the producing artistic director and founder of the award-winning regional SpeakEasy Stage Company at the Boston Center for the Arts. He will participate in the ninth annual BC Arts Festival and receive his award April 28 at the final event - the Alumni Evening at the Arts Festival. The BC Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement is awarded to alumni who have achieved success in their fields, are experts in their crafts, and represent the values of BC.
CSOM starts its first business plan competition The Carroll School of Management yesterday began the Boston College Venture Competition, the first event of its type at BC. The competition encourages students to form creative and successful business plans, which the students will present at the end of the next semester. The grand prize for the competition is $15,000 in cash. The competition will combine undergraduate entrepreneurship with alumni and administration support in an attempt to catch up with other business competitions already being held at schools such as MIT. The competition required at least two students for each team, and only one had to be from BC.
UNIVERSITIES NYU students concerned about liberal bias in the classroom Last Friday, three New York University students, Sara Zerner, David Laska and Christina Gonzalez, appeared on Fox News to complain about their professors having liberal biases that they presented in the classroom. When asked for examples of liberal bias in the classroom, Zerner said that when she argued a conservative point that used a fact she had heard on Fox News, her professor told her that it was not a reliable source. Youssef Cohen, the director of undergraduate studies for NYU's political science department, responded to the statement saying he was shocked and that professors should not be expressing their personal views, and if they are, the students should be coming to him to complain.
Plan B available to students over-the-counter at UConn On Nov. 15, the Health Services of the University of Connecticut began distributing Plan B, more commonly known as "the morning-after pill," over-the-counter to women 18 years or older for $30. The FDA approved over-the-counter sales of Plan B on Aug. 24, and this decision was made in accordance with said approval. According to Michael Olzinski, the pharmacy supervisor of health services at UConn, Plan B has been available to students with prescriptions for the last four or five years and with this recent change, he expects to see an increase in the number of purchases. In the future, Plan B will be available for purchase by people over the age of 18 for $35 at Planned Parenthood locations.
LOCAL Boston homicide rates still on the rise, may see record highs According to Boston Police records, Boston is continuing its climb in homicide rates and seems poised to surpass last year's record of 73 reported. As of the beginning of December, Boston has suffered 70 homicides; last year at this time, 66 homicides had been committed. The rates have been rising since 2003 and continue to despite the increased efforts on the part of the BPD throughout this year. Boston officials have worked to combat crime rates by monitoring gun violence and increasing the number of officers patrolling the streets.
NATIONAL Russian spy's death to be investigated as murder In an ongoing controversy over the death of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko who was seeking asylum in England, Scotland Yard announced earlier this week that his death will be investigated as a murder. Litvinenko, who was found to have a radioactive substance in his body before his death two weeks ago, accused the Russian president as his murderer. Since the incident, the radioactive substance has been traced on flights to Moscow as well as two other British Airways planes flying throughout Europe. Accusations have recently been made that the Kremlin is silencing its critics, including former prime minister Yegor Gaidar, who was a liberal oppositional leader, allegedly poisoned the day after Litvinenko.
UNDER REPORTED Cookie-scented ads at Calif. bus stops get kicked to the curb Cookie-scented advertisements, designed by The California Milk Processor Board to entice passengers to drink milk, were taken down from San Francisco bus stops Tuesday after officials ordered their immediate removal. The shelters' maintenance contractor failed to notify San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency officials about the ads. Facing fears that the ads were dangerous, the milk board argued that the scents were flavor-based and found in many common foods. The milk board claimed that the cookie fragrance was intended to cover the smell of exhaust near San Francisco's bus shelters.
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