News & Notes

Father of 'croc hunter' speaks out, thanks public

For the first time since his son's death, Bob Irwin - father of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin - spoke publicly yesterday to thank the millions of fans of the Crocodile Hunter for their support and wishes. "Steve and I weren't like father and son, we were good mates," said Irwin. "Over the years Steve and I have had a lot of adventures together." The croc hunter's father further revealed that the family had respectfully declined an offer from the Queensland government in Australia for a state funeral. Steve Irwin died last week during the filming of an underwater documentary when a stingray pierced him through the heart with its barb. Bob Irwin thanked all in the public for their thoughts and prayers. "All I can do is thank them sincerely for their thoughts and their wishes," he said.

On Campus

ITS urges compliance with 'hazardous' battery recall

Following several reports of batteries overheating and sparking fires, Dell Computer Corporation and Apple Computers last month announced the recall of 4.1 million and 1.8 million respective Sony-built laptop batteries which may overheat and pose a fire hazard. As both Dell and Apple are the primary suppliers of University laptops, Information Technology Systems (ITS) is concerned particularly with the potential hazard posed to residence halls and other University facilities by faulty batteries. To address the hazard, all students, faculty, and staff members are being directed to www.bc.edu/battery, where they can check to see if their battery poses a risk and is being recalled.

Islamic Art is focus of new, acclaimed McMullen exhibit

The latest exhibit in the McMullen Museum of Art debuts on Sept. 12 and contains a comprehensive selection of Islamic art, most of which will be on display for the first time. Titled Cosmophilia: Islamic Art from the David Collection in Copenhagen, the exhibit explores the use of decoration in Islamic art. Pieces in the museum dating from the seventh century come from around the world. Each of the 123 pieces were selected by prominent Islamic art scholars Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom from a collection of over 2,500 pieces. The exhibition will be on display throughout the first semester.

Universities

Myspace.com unveils music downloading service for users

MySpace.com, a popular social networking site for college students and millions of others, recently announced a service for purchasing and downloading music. Partnering with Snocap, a company founded by Napster creator Shawn Fanning, MySpace will sell songs from major record labels as well as lesser-known independent artists. Once downloaded, MySpace members will be able to share their music with friends or the entire network. Officials from the Web site expect that this will allow artists and agents to promote their music by sharing it for free, opening an entire new medium of distribution and entire new audiences to artists.

FBI halts monitoring of financial aid for terrorist links

Students filing for the Free Application For Federal Student Aid form over the past five years having been giving out more than their financial information. Since the events of Sept. 11, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been tracking student's financial aid records given to them by the Department of Education. The operation, called "Project Strike Back," is being used to build a database following potential terrorists. Seventy-one percent of students at Boston College receive financial aid, meaning that nearly three-quarters of BC students would be eligible for the FBI's project. According to authorities, most searches were done in the two years following Sept. 11th. The program was halted in June.

Local

Teachers picket and boycott; protesting lack of contract

To protest their unresolved contract, teachers picketed Tuesday outside Newton North High School. School superintendent Jeffrey Young's back-to-school breakfast with teachers was also largely boycotted, according to the Newton TAB. It's not the first time the teachers have been without a contract. In February 2005, many teachers suspended "voluntary activities" not explicitly required of them before and after school. Cheryl Turgel of the teachers' union said that despite some progress in talks, a similar work action couldn't be ruled out this time.

Under Reported

Arkansas cow gives birth to its fourth set of triplets

Giving birth to triplets last week was nothing new for Faith - an Arkansas Charolais-mix cow - reported The Boston Globe. It was her ninth pregnancy and the ninth time she has given birth to multiples. "Our vet says she belongs to the Guinness Book of World Records," said Jenny Williams, Faith's owner. "She is a really sweet cow," she added. Faith's latest calves bring her total number of offspring to 22. She gave birth to twins in her first two pregnancies and accidentally killed one of her first by rolling onto the calf. At birth, Faith's triplets were almost the size of those born in single-births.