On Campus
Stadium addition nears completion Construction on the Yawkey Athletic Center is nearing completion. The four-story addition to Alumni Stadium will house offices and conference rooms for football coaching staff and facilities for players. BC officials anticipate relocating the Office of Learning Resources for Student Athletes into this building in March. The Yawkey Foundation gave a $15 million grant for the development of the center. "This is the first building to be built on the Boston College campus entirely with private funding," Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo told the BC Chronicle. The Yawkey Athletic Center will feature a Hall of Fame that highlights football accomplishments and milestones made at BC.
Funeral mass held for GSSW prof A funeral mass was held for Robert Castagnola, 75, associate professor in the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW). The mass was held at St. Denis Church in Westwood, Mass. A Boston native, he graduated from BC in 1951 and received his master's degree in 1958 at BC GSSW. He became a part-time faculty member in 1962 before becoming full-time in 1968. He remained a faculty member for the next 32 years, before retiring in 2000. In 1968, he was named Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. In 1991, he received the Companion of Justice Award from BC at the 500th Jesuit Anniversary.
Local Substance abuse program gets grant The Allston-Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force has recently received $140,000 in grant money, according to the Allston-Brighton Tab. The organization's goal is to prevent youth and adults from becoming addicted to drugs, especially OxyContin and heroin. Most of the prevention effort will be targeted at youth, but it will also make efforts to assist parents, churches, service organizations, immigrant communities, and college students. Dierdre Houtmeyers, director of St. Elizabeth's Comprehensive Addiction program, is the co-chair of the task force along with city councilor Jerry McDermott. The group was initiated after officials at St. Elizabeth's Hospital recognized an increase in the number administered for substance abuse.
Parents decry MBTA's large liquor ads Brookline parents are petitioning MBTA Green Line trains and buses to enforce restrictions on the size of liquor advertisements, according to The Brookline TAB. Currently, trains and buses have large, wrap-around advertisements. The parents, formally known as the Brookline Parents Questioning MBTA Liquor Advertising, hope to have ad-size restrictions in place before the MBTA renews its contract with the company that manages advertising. This coalition is currently pressing the issue as the MBTA is now in the middle of its advertising renewal contract. Joe Pesaturo, spokesman for the MBTA, stated that the T has requested proposals asking for another advertising company. At present, Viacom Outdoor holds ad rights.
Universities Florida colleges pioneer online course Students from two separate Florida universities shared a state constitutional law class on Jan. 11, marking the first ever meeting of a class attended simultaneously by students from different cities over the Internet, according to The Miami Herald. With real-time video-conferencing, St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens and Florida State University combined to share an entire course of study. Despite some technical flaws, students generally liked the course. "It [technological errors] wasn't a distraction, but some things they'll have to work out as far as the connection," said second-year FSU law student John Martinez. "There was more discussion here than in most of my law school classes, where all you get is a lecture."
Scientists show risks of Adderall abuse A study to be published in the January issue of the Journal of College Health reports that the use of drugs with similar effects to Adderall has increased across the country, according to The Reveille. The medication used to treat ADD and ADHD has become extremely popular among students trying to focus or concentrate. Health experts stress, however, that the costs greatly outweigh the benefits. Because the drug is an amphetamine, it can be addictive in certain cases. Dr. William Gouvier, a Louisiana State University psychology professor, admits it can enhance concentration, but it also leaves students vulnerable to "nervousness, anxiety, sleep impairment and high blood pressure or other cardiac complications."
Nation States lift restrictions on flu vaccines Due to falling demand and increasing surpluses, 16 states have lifted previous restrictions upon flu vaccines, according to the Associated Press. States had previously reserved their vaccine supplies for infants, older adults, and people with medical conditions. This left many of the 98 million people in America's "high-risk" groups without vaccination. Luckily, the flu season has been exceptionally mild, with only 10 states reporting widespread activity. Last month, the federal government lifted its previous constraint, and allowed for adults over 50 to be administered shots. Since then, 16 states have lifted all previous restrictions.
Secretary to Pres. Nixon dies at 87 Rose Mary Woods, the secretary to President Nixon best known for inadvertently erasing part of a Watergate tape, died at the age of 87, according to The Washington Post. Woods died on Jan. 22 of causes yet to be determined. The tape of a June 20, 1972 conversation between Richard Nixon and chief of staff H.R. Haldeman had an 18-minute gap. It was crucial in the Watergate investigation, as the erased portion left investigators unsure as to what Nixon knew about the break-in at Democratic headquarters, and when he knew it. Though Woods testified that she inadvertently erased four to five minutes of the tape, the rest of the 18 minute gap is still unaccounted for.
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