The Heights

Campus Mourns O'Malley

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, Rev. Thomas P. O'Malley, S.J., former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, passed away from an apparent heart attack. He was 79.

In addition to his recent service as a BC administrator, O'Malley also served as president of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio before returning to BC 10 years ago as a professor.

Rev. Joseph Appleyard, S.J., vice president for university mission and ministry, said in a recent obituary that O'Malley's lasting impact will remain with those who knew him at the University. "Though Tom O'Malley was a significant figure in the histories of three Jesuit universities - in Boston, Cleveland, and Los Angeles - I suspect that what the legion of friends he left in these places will remember most, beyond any of his administrative accomplishments, is his lightly worn erudition, his deep knowledge of scripture, his ability to light up any conversation with a good story, and of course his booming laugh," he said.

AHANA Has Many Definitions

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the AHANA acronym, which was introduced in 1979 to replace the word "minority" in the Office of Minority Student Affairs. Since its inception 30 years ago, the prevalence and use of the AHANA acronym has grown. The composition and climate of campus have changed through the years, and there now are varied understandings of the meaning of the term today. As the University continues to grow more diverse, the meaning of AHANA is being reexamined and reevaluated.

The origins of the AHANA acronym

Ten years before the AHANA acronym was created, the country was in the midst of a period of social unrest and heightened racial tensions. While the civil rights movement pushed the nation toward change, BC lagged behind in opening its doors. In 1968, only 13 students out of 6,975 undergraduate students were black.

Panel Talks Catholic Sexuality

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By Laura Campedelli

Heights Editor

Boston College students, faculty, and community members gathered on Tuesday evening to continue a series of discussions on the relationship between sexuality and spirituality.

The event consisted of a panel of Boston College faculty members, including Lisa Cahill, professor in the theology department, Fr.

Group Supports Workers

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Boston College students, faculty, and staff gathered Monday with members of Local 615 Services Employees International Union in support of the worker's contract. "We want to thank the students for showing so much support for us," said Marcus Johnson, an SEIU member and employee of BC.

Colleges Struggle To Prevent Layoffs

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The current economic recession has resulted in budget cuts and layoffs at universities across the nation, including some of the nation's most elite institutions. Some universities, particularly the Ivy League schools and those dependent on endowment returns, have been impacted most, creating a climate of budget tightening and unemployment in the upper echelon of academia.

Course Produces Social Justice Journal

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A new literary and arts journal, Witness, is in the works at Boston College. The student-run publication will deal with issues of social justice based on experiences students have had through organizations such as 4Boston, Appalachia, PULSE, and Arrupe International Immersion Programs.

Exploring The Hidden St. Mary's

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Over these past few weeks, I have been getting to know St. Mary's well. Once just a majestic building, it is now a treasure waiting to be revealed. I have been discovering the unknown mysteries that it holds, exploring where most have not gone. The other day I wandered its dimly lit corridors, the sun's penetrating rays providing the light through large gothic windows.

Off-campus Arrests Increase

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Boston Police Department has arrested more Boston College students this year than during the entire 2008-2009 academic year. This increase in arrests has been accompanied by an increase in the number and amount of fines as Boston Police seek to lower the number of noise complaints in the off-campus community.

News & Notes

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

ON CAMPUS Boston College ranks 23rd of 100 in terms of best value Boston College ranked 23rd in Kiplinger's list of the 100 best values in private institutions. The rankings were awarded to schools that combined "economic value with exceptional education." These rankings have been released at a time when students are recieveing increasing amounts of financial aid.

Police Blotter: 3/13/09 - 3/14/09

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Friday, Oct. 30 10:03 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a larceny in McElory Hall. A detective will investigate. 12:00 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a suspicious circumstance. 4:16 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a confiscation of alcohol from a minor in Hardey Hall.

Voices From The Dustbowl

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

"What would you do with a million dollar salary?""I would pay off school." Jennifer HoweA&S '12 "IBuy stuff and give it away." Josh JacksonCSOM '13 "Take a month-long vacation every year to somewhere exotic." M

Kuechly Tackles Challenges As A Freshman

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

He's the student that lives in Fitzpatrick, struggles with laundry, and worries about his business classes. While it may sound like it, he is actually anything but your average Carroll School of Management freshman.

His name is Luke Kuechly, and it just so happens that among the daily routine of every other freshman, he finds time to lead the Boston College football team with 94 tackles.

Keeper Saves BC From Elimination

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Jillian Mastroianni saved the Boston College women's soccer team from an early exit in the first round of the ACC tournament with three crucial stops on penalty kicks after the Eagles and the Virginia Cavaliers played to a scoreless draw.

BC (16-2-1), which shared its first regular season conference title with Florida State after beating Wake Forest in overtime on Sunday, converted three of its five chances from the penalty spot.

Late BC Goal Stuns No. 10 Terriers

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Eagles gained some hard-earned momentum and confidence Monday night. Boston College traveled down Commonwealth Avenue to Walter Brown Arena to take on No. 10 Boston University and came away with a 2-1 victory.

The women's hockey team had struggled to find its footing early in the season without graduated seniors and two players who had departed for the U.

Fans Still "Fight For Ol' D.C."

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C., is in turmoil.

No, it's not because of the elections. It's not because of anything happening on Capitol Hill. It's the Redskins. And the Nationals. And the Wizards.

You get the idea. Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder essentially broke down in front of reporters in Landover, Md.

Eagles Prepare For Tough Hockey East Series

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

After splitting last weekend's series with Merrimack College, a squad usually found in the cellar of the standings, the Boston College men's hockey team is realizing the fact that the Hockey East Association is full of parity this season.

In a year when no wins are guaranteed, many weekends are going to be difficult for the Eagles.

Field Hockey Awaits Rematch With Wake

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

After a tough loss, the defeated athlete longs for nothing more than another crack at the victor. Sometimes that chance at redemption does not reappear until the next season; other times, it never comes to pass. Fortunately for Boston College's field hockey team, neither of those painful alternatives are the case.

The Arts in Transit

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Museums

Museum of Science (MOS)

In a rare occasion, muggles have a chance to peek into the world of Hogwarts. Harry Potter: The Exhibition has apparated into the Museum of Science. Featuring over 200 authentic costumes and props from the films, the exhibit allows us to interact with everything from wax sculptures of house elves to Hagrid's hut to ominous Death Eater robes to remnants of the herbology classroom.

Casablancas Jumps Into Future Dimension

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

After bursting onto the scene in the midst of the garage rock revival of the early 2000s with their hit "Last Nite," The Strokes have had to work hard to avoid the typecasting that hurt the careers of peer groups such as The Hives and The Vines. With his solo debut Phrazes for the Young, the group's lead singer and principal songwriter Julian Casablancas successfully breaks out of the distorted, guitar-driven sound for which he is known and instead relies on synth and drum machine-heavy sonic landscapes to propel his danceable and melodic songs.

Weezer Carefully Constructs Cheese In Poppy 'Raditude'

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Weezer has always had a heavy pop influence underneath all those emotionally charged lyrics and the indie/emo labels regularly thrown upon it. This influence comes to the forefront in the band's latest album Raditude, a name penned by The Office's Rainn Wilson, released Nov.

Cooking With Kara

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Coconut is a flavor loved by nearly everyone. No one hears complaints when the dessert of the evening is german chocolate cake or coconut covered truffles. While I won't ask you to break out the double boiler, I do suggest macaroons. They are perfect for a quick, simple, yet impressive dessert.

Chronicles Of Campus Fasion

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

This is it, no more excuses, no more stalling, the time is now, here we go � men's fashion. To me, men's fashion on Boston College's campus is like a ghost; you're sure it exists, but it's rarely seen. I understand that women are out of their minds and put way too much time, effort, and energy into their daily outfits (thigh high leather stilettos are generally not necessary for a 10:30 a.

Chris Dewey's Curious Childhood: Glory Days At The 'Cheese

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Like many Boston College students, I had the fantastic opportunity two weeks ago to make the trek to South Bend, Indiana, an exciting tourist spot that is rivaled only by Disney World. During my stay there I had the privilege of visiting two of the community's finest bars, both of which made Mary Ann's look like a swanky, sanitary establishment.

The City High Dilemma

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

While we were getting high, time planned a devastating blitzkrieg on us. Unfathomable to process, but the decade ends in 56 days. For most of us, the 2000s emerged just before the onset of puberty, a time of innocence and befuddlement, a time when the nation lauded the presidential playboy, Charles Schulz published his final Peanuts strip, and Faith Hill's "Breathe" and 'N Sync's No Strings Attached topped the year-end Billboard Charts.

Off The Record: Misfits Channel Horror Flick Schlock Through Sound

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The term horror is not generally associated with music; the adjective is more readily applied to cinema, conjuring up images of chainsaw-wielding psychopaths; of hockey masks and possessed dolls, and heads spinning a full 180 degrees; of screaming girls and cheap B-rate blood and gore.

BC Tube

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground is where I spent most of my days � If you find yourself completing the end of this song in its entirety, you've fallen into the mystical trap too. What makes some shows more memorable than others? Obviously, their theme songs.

Videos On The Verge

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Halloween is over, ghosts and ghouls, and it's time to stick the idiosyncratic costume ideas in the proverbial black box for another year. Brethren, we are in an odd limbo before the merriment of Thanksgiving and before the time when Christmas carols have pervaded every nook of civilization, even the bathrooms.

Pop Blotter: The Sublime Familiarity Of Our Favorite Films

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

On The Movie Critics' Blog on EntertainmentWeekly.com, Lisa Schwarzbaum, my favorite EW movie critic, posted an article titled "The Godfather 2: Movies I watch and watch again." In the article, Schwarzbaum writes, "There's a profound comfort in re-watching a movie you love, even though (or maybe because) the scenes have worn grooves in your consciousness.

Abdullah Abdullah Drops Bid in Protest of Fraud

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Turmoil in Afghanistan surrounding the fall presidential election could not have come at a worse time for the Middle Eastern state. Hamid Karzai, the current Afghani president, was declared the winner after his main opponent pulled out of the runoff. This move ended months of uncertainty concerning who would rule the torn nation.

After the Aug. 20 election, Mr. Karzai's challenger, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, contested the results. He cited voting irregularities and accused various election officials, such as Azizullah Lodin, head of the Afghani Elections Commision, of being Karzai supporters. Corruption on a wide scale was reported by the United Nations, whose independent investigation of the Aug. 20 presidential election yielded shocking results - almost a third of Karzai ballots were fraudulent.

Numbers Indicate Recovery But Workers Are Still Waiting For Real Improvements

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Happy days are here again for the American economy - or so the numbers say. Gross domestic product rose a pedestrian 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2009. Goldman Sachs posted strong earnings, Morgan Stanley made a profit for a change, and Ford earned a surprise billion.

Ohio Law A Whopper To Animal Rights

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Two days ago, citizens of Ohio voted on Issue 2 over Livestock Care Standards, the point of which was to establish a 13-member board to regulate all matters of care for livestock and poultry. The legislation passed by a 30 percent margin. The approach, lobbied for by the big agricultural businesses, has essentially handed power over such matters to these same companies through delegation of animal regulation to a small vulnerable board.

Jacques Chirac Facing Jailhouse Rock In Trial

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

French magistrate Xaviere Simeoni recently ordered Jacques Chirac to face trial on corruption charges dating back to his time as mayor of Paris. The allegations concern Chirac's misuse of public funds and breach of trust for personal benefits. Specifically, the Paris City Hall awarded working contracts for non-existent jobs to people who were politically beneficial to Chirac.

Motorola Develops Droid To Wage War With Apple's iPhone

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Recently, you might have noticed a new ad campaign airing during primetime television. It starts out with words against a white backdrop and happy background music, purposefully giving the impression of an Apple commercial. After a few moments of reading the text, it becomes clear that the commercial is taking shots at the iPhone, ending with the cryptic tagline, "Whatever iCan't, Droid does.

Judge Character, Not Color

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I should establish that I am a minority student. As an individual of Indian origin, I am one of many minorities who comprise the beneficiaries of racial affirmative action. Nevertheless, I am quite opposed to it and I will begin by examining why proponents of affirmative action advocate this flawed policy.

Diversity Should Be A Goal

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today, minority groups including, but not limited to, blacks and women are disproportionately less wealthy than whites. Home ownership is even more disproportionate. College attendance rates have the same trend. These groups have been discriminated against throughout the history of the United States in ways that I, as a white male, can barely get my head around.

Five Clicks To Nowhere

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Raise your hand if you've ever played Five Clicks to Jesus on Wikipedia. You know, the game where you start on a randomly generated Wikipedia article and count the number of clicks it takes for you to arrive, via hyperlinks, at Jesus' wiki page. Yep, you know what I'm talking about. Raise those hands high.

Congratulations, you've all demonstrated just how much the Internet deserves its "inter-" prefix. You can't get more interwoven than five clicks from velociraptor to Jesus. One minute you're working with prehistoric carnivores, the next you're face-to-screen with Christianity's big guy. The only way to bridge that gap faster might be to watch Jurassic Park at a church function.

An Empire State Of Mind

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

It's time to look at what's going right in this country. At this time of year, look no further than baseball's annual Fall Classic. America's team, the New York Yankees, is back in the World Series. Last year, in the depths of the Great Recession, the Yankees broke their streak of 13 straight playoff appearances finishing in third place in the AL East.

A Fantasy Game For Your Life

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Anyone who plays fantasy football knows that it makes Sundays just a little more interesting. It breaks up the day and allows for some friendly or unfriendly competition between friends. Also, it is the only reason why anyone might actually care about a Raiders-Chiefs game.

Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Thumbs Up Leaves - It's been a long time coming, but to the dismay of the BC grounds crew, the leaves are beginning to fall. Piles have accumulated, tempting students to run, skip, and hop into them. The life of a college student is an extended youth; take advantage of it.

From Here To Reservoir

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Cartoon Credit: Sal Cipriano

Today's Cartoon & Quote

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Quote of the day:"Nobody deserves your tears, but whoever deserves them will not make you cry."- Gabriel Garcia MarquezRachel Gregorio / Heights Illustration

An Ally, Hopefully, Right Next Door

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Issue: Setti Warren wins the Newton mayoral election

What we think: Warren has a track record of public service

As former speaker of the House and Boston College graduate Tip O'Neill once wrote, "All politics is local." Amid looming federal midterm elections in 2010 and Tuesday's off-term gubernatorial races, denizens of Newton went to the polls and elected Setti Warren as their new town mayor.

Warren has a long-standing record of public service under his belt and an innate connection to the town. He was born in Newton, attended high school at Newton North (where he was student body president all four years), jumped across the street to BC (where he was president of the undergraduate government of BC), and now lives in the very same home where he was raised. In an era of rapid mobility, geographic displacement, and childhood disconnection, it is refreshing to see a local boy return home with such a deep commitment and sweeping vision for his hometown.

Attempting To Balance The Psyche

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Issue: Students are burnt out after weeks of exams

What we think: Imagination and daydreaming are integral

As we limp past midterms and look forward to the Thanksgiving holidays, The Heights has been reflecting on the fact that a well-balanced psyche requires a vibrant fantasy life.

A Story Of Halloween Homophobia

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

This Halloween, my roommates (four straight men and one gay man) and I (a gay man) decided to dress up as the Village People.

I chose to be the Navy sailor, with a low v-neck cut uniform complete with cut-off sleeves and a sailor hat. On Friday, we celebrated Halloween with a registered party in our fabulously decorated on-campus apartment.

Unfortunately, one incident dampened what was a fantastic start to the Halloween weekend. Midway through about our fifth spin of "Y.M.C.A.," one of my straight roommates started dancing with me. Almost immediately, two of our guests took out their cameras, and amid laughter, began taking pictures as if we were animals in a zoo. It bothered me in the moment, but I was able to brush it off as an isolated incident.

Response To "Problems With Pro-Life Week" Column

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Sean Talia's piece, "Problems with Pro-Life Week," (Nov. 2) has a few problems of its own. We, the Boston College Pro Life Club, are sorry that he feels that pro-life advocates "will not be willing to hear [him] out," so to we who have read his piece and are most "willing to acknowledge any valid points" he, "the opposing side might present.