The Heights

Person of the Year

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"Going Green" may be the popular catch phrase of '08, but environmentalism is nothing new. People have been fighting to save our planet in peril for decades. In '88, TIME magazine dubbed "The Endangered Earth" the Person, or Planet rather, of the Year. While these five Boston College seniors were mere toddlers when this issue landed in newsstands across the globe, it would eventually evolve into the defining issue of their generation.

Gennaro to head CSON

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The search for the new dean of the Connell School of Nursing (CSON) ended last Friday when it was announced that Susan Gennaro would be the next to head the school. Genarro currently serves as a professor of nursing at New York University and will assume her post at Boston College on July 1.

Cost high for Senior Week

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Long lines, expensive tickets, and paltry offerings: Those complaints, rather than excitement, have dominated the response from seniors to the Senior Week events that lead up to their impending graduation.

Most confusing for students has been the seemingly exorbitant and unexplained ticket prices.

Strategic plan pulls in profs

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Boston College plans to create approximately 20 new faculty positions as part of its search to fill as many as 44 faculty positions, announced Provost and Dean of Faculties Cutberto Garza recently.

The majority of the newly created positions will be classified as tenure or tenure track.

Students recognize McNellis

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Mary Kaye Waldron Award, given each year to a faculty member selected by members of the student body, was presented to Rev. Paul McNellis, S.J., at a banquet on Monday. Given by the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC), the Mary Kaye Waldron Award is selected entirely by students.

Reservoir to be revitalized

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has begun a three-phase restoration of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. A fence dating back to 1929 around sections of the reservoir has already been removed.

The first phase aims to rehabilitate the pathways, and the subsequent phases will include vegetation management and the installation of signs and map boards throughout the park.

Travel OK thanks to donation

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

For some students, their college experience would not have been the same without their experience studying abroad. For others, studying abroad was not an option due to financial constraints. Thanks to a $10 million gift from University Trustee Kathleen McGillycuddy and her husband Ronald Logue, chairman and CEO of State Street Corporation, this will no longer be the case.

Class fosters activism

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

When students at Boston College register for a course, they know there will be required readings, papers, and a final exam, but hardly anyone would expect "social change" to appear on the syllabus. But for the 20 students that enrolled this semester in the newly offered course, Social Change in Action, this is exactly what they wanted.

Police Department rolls out in new Chargers

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Boston College Police Department (BCPD) has replaced part of its cruiser fleet with two new Dodge Chargers, and it plans to add two more by next fall.

Ford, which manufactured many of BCPD's current cruisers, planned to stop producing the Crown Victoria in '08.

E-books provide cheaper alternative

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The dread students feel as they hand their credit cards to the cashier to purchase textbooks may be slowly beginning to subside. As technology continues to advance, the popularity of electronic textbooks has risen and publishers have begun to create options for students to access textbooks online or through a PDF.

BC endowment future examined

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Senate Finance Committee launched an effort to probe the endowments of 136 of the wealthiest colleges and universities. Faced with rising college tuition costs and a crunch in student loans, many have raised questions about the financial aid responsibilities of universities with large and growing endowments.

Journal sheds light on the Middle East

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In recent years, the Middle East has seized the spotlight in world affairs. In the past decade, the region has dominated the covers of newspapers, political debates, and American foreign policy.

The Middle East's increasingly present role in our daily lives is reflected by the growing popularity of the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (MEIS) program at Boston College.

Voices from the Dustbowl

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"Where is the best place to study on campus?"

Swimming to the 'Ship

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

After overcoming a shaky start to the season, the women's club water polo team won the North Atlantic division and will complete in the National Collegiate Club Championship tournament this weekend.

The Eagles began their regular season with back-to-back losses.

Crawley tabbed as coach

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

On Tuesday afternoon, Boston College announced the hiring of 36-year-old Sylvia Crawley as the head women's basketball coach. Crawley replaces former Eagles' coach Cathy Inglese, who resigned on April 10.

Crawley spent the past two seasons at Ohio University, guiding the Bobcats to a 38-25 mark in her two seasons on the job.

A different style of greatness

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Around 10:45 p.m. on Monday night, I witnessed something great.

By great, I don't mean the kind of greatness that King James graces us with every time he steps on the court. Nor was it the kind that Reggie Miller brought back in the day at MSG, or the type that Orr displayed on the ice in the Garden.

Playground games? Nope, just the NBA playoffs

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Let's get one thing straight: We still have a long way to go. We are not exactly where we need to be. Yet it has become very clear that we are close. These NBA playoffs have been the most physical that we have seen in a long time, and there are rivalries developing right in front of us.

The unofficial end-of-the-season athletic awards

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The end of another memorable year in Boston College sports is upon us, and it's time to take a look back and give credit where credit is due. We've seen the football team climb all the way up to No. 2 in the nation, the hockey team take home the national championship, and the basketball team have a rebuilding year on the hardwood.

Ryan's gone, but BC football will live on to prosper

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Is Boston College football dead without Matt Ryan? No! Last season, Ryan's name became synonymous with Eagles football. Why? Because he was the best quarterback we have had since Doug Flutie? Because he took the team further than it had gone in memory?

The previous statements may be true; "Matty Ice" did win the Unitas Award for a reason, and BC was ranked second for a couple of weeks.

As memorable a restaurant as the film

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Being from New Jersey, I am constantly in search of a classic diner. So when my friend recommended The Breakfast Club (TBC), I couldn't wait to give it a try. As the name implies, this diner is themed after the 1985 John Hughes movie, The Breakfast Club. The building looks like it was constructed in the 1980s.

Exploring the 'American Teen'

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Despite an over abundance of unrealistic teen movies and fantasy-like reality shows depicting teenage life, Nanette Burstein has a different recollection of what life was like in high school. Eager to show it, the documentary director decided to follow a handful of students around with a camera during their senior year of high school.Thus, she created the 2008 film, American Teen, which earned her a best director award (documentary) at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Burstein has had quite a career so far, as she was nominated for an Academy Award for her debut documentary On the Ropes, which she filmed in graduate school at NYU.

Recipe: The Ultimate Lady's Cheesy Mac and Cheese

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Ingredients: 2 cups dried elbow macaroni (4 cups cooked), 1/3 cup grated cheddar, 1/3 cup grated Swiss, 1/3 cup grated Jack, 1/3 cup grated Colby, 1/3 cup grated Muenster, 1/3 cup grated Gouda, 1/2 cup sour cream, 4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces, 6 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt , 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 cup milk, nonstick spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Tap This: Boston Beer Works

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Any beer drinkers in the crowd? On a college campus, I guess that's a silly question. Amid the Natty Light, Busch Light, Bud Light, and the occasional Pabst Blue Ribbon, the "good beers" get lost to us as a whole. But that is not to say that we can't venture out into the "good beer" realm every now and again, and Boston Beer Works is the place to do it.

Looking forward to Bonnaroo

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

With 2008 being the year that the summer festival trend stomps on the overdrive pedal, the word "lineup" has found its way into many music debates. On the surface, a lineup can make or break any festival, but for the true music fan, it only begins to tell the story.

'Candy' is sweet but a little sticky, too

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

While Madonna's 2005 studio album Confessions on a Dance Floor won her a Grammy, it only produced one top-10 single on the coveted Billboard Hot 100 chart, and undersold. That left Madonna needing to prove her legitimacy as the leading female recording artist of all time, a title that seems to be sinking into the grasp of Mariah Carey more and more every day.

DVD Review

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Fantasy fans have a golden opportunity to bulk up their movie collection with a DVD packed with entertaining and enlightening special features that chronicle the making of The Golden Compass, Chris Weitz's film that adapts the classic Philip Pullman novel.

Petty stops breaking hearts and grabs a crutch

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

You are driving from Daytona Beach to Savannah, Ga., but you have to stop somewhere to douse that fire burning in your stomach. You pull up to a decrepit roadhouse bar on the outskirts of Jacksonville - this will do. When you get inside, there is a disparate mix at the rail: dip-spitters, 16-wheelers, redneck-yachters, and Harley-bikers, but they are all bobbing their heads to the distorted sound coming from some place unknown.

A Second Opinion

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Miley Cyrus became the target of worldwide criticism on April 21 when racy pictures of her were leaked onto the Internet. MTVNews.com reported that the photos show "the singer wearing just a bra and underwear while draped across the lap of an unnamed male, and another in which she's pulling down her shirt to reveal a green bra.

Restaurant Review

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Tap This

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Off the Record: Atmosphere returns to Boston

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

If Bob Dylan were born 30 years later and discovered the turntable instead of the acoustic guitar, Atmosphere would be the result. Like Dylan, Atmosphere is also from Minnesota, and in their own way, they have developed an honest identity that might even make him proud.

Reel Life

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

These days, late Tuesday nights (also known as early Wednesday mornings) at Bapst are getting more crowded. It's the almost-finals period, when the library-lightweights all slog their way into Gargan Hall at 1 a.m. as if they "do this kind of thing" often when in actuality, this is one of two or three times a semester that they actually have work to do.

Mind on Music

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Seeing as this is my last column, let's set a few things straight. First, I realize that throughout this entire semester I have offered very little substantial knowledge or advice about what is "good music" to listen to, or of the hot new bands or new sounds to listen up for.

BC Tube

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Heidi Klum I am not, but even I know that in the world of television, either you're in, or you're out. Actors in shows such as Desperate Housewives and Lost go from episode to episode with no knowledge of their future. One notable exception to this rule is if you are a member of the Lost cast and you've received a DUI, because you will die within three episodes.

Through the Grapevine

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

There is a new celebrity in town who I completely despise, but I am afraid teenage girls will rise from the depths and attack me if I dare admit it. Miley Cyrus drives me crazy. And this weekend, she was everywhere.

There was an uproar on every celebrity Web site over a Vanity Fair picture taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz that depicted the 15-year-old apparently topless covering herself with a blanket.

Reality Bytes

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

When I think of reality TV, I am repulsed. I hate reality shows - the catty fights, backstabbing, slutty behavior, and just overall humiliation. Why would anyone choose to subject themselves to that? How is it that appealing to audiences? I find it simply painful to watch; I get embarrassed for those on the shows.

TV Close-up: House's Hugh Laurie

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Hugh Laurie made his comeback on Monday evening as Dr. Gregory House, the Vicodin-addicted genius at solving medical mysteries. Only one thing is certain for House; the answer is never autoimmune, and he's going to nearly kill you at least three times before he actually figures out what is wrong with you.

Editor's Obsessions

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Alexi Chi, News Editor

Although I have the opportunity to watch warring editors and newsroom feuds right here in the bowels of McElroy, they're so much better in the form of a trashy reality show. Watching reruns of MTV's The Paper might not be the healthiest obsession for an editor such as myself, but I just can't help it - go team Amanda!

Jeff Wallace, Asst.

What We're Watching

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

1. Farmer Wants a Wife

There's a new bachelor in town, and this time he's taking it to the country. In the CW's new reality show Farmer Wants a Wife, 10 "city girls" are packing up and moving to a farm to compete to woo the farmer. This show is sure to provide some hilarious moments; we're thinking Flavor of Love set to Green Acres.

The whole is greater than the parts

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

At a place filled with so many leaders and achievers, picking one standout can be tricky. And so, in selecting this year's Person of the Year, we chose to honor not just one, but five exceptional people, recognizing that sometimes a group's collective strength is as important as those individuals within it.

The senior leaders of Ecopledge, Katherine Walsh, Katie Cava, Jessica Young, Merril Putnam, and Peggy Fox, all A&S '08, have demonstrated just how big an influence a group of determined students can have.

Letters to the Editor

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

How could it be possible that even with the ridiculous amount of money that I am forced to spend (living in on-campus housing without a kitchen) that my dining balance hit zero with weeks left in the school year? The campus dining halls provide good food, or at least better than other schools I have visited, but this does not justify the astronomical price tag the food has.

Talking about the weather

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

This is my final Heights column.

That being said, and now that the clapping of a grateful public eager to see me go has subsided, I've never been one for sentimental goodbyes; in fact I believe that in the section of my high school yearbook under my graduation picture, where people usually write things to the effect of "LUV MY GURLIES 4 LYFE!!!," I submitted something along this lines of "It's been really nice.

Today's Cartoon and Quote

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"As blushing will sometimes make a whore pass for a virtuous woman, so modesty may make a fool seem a man of sense." - Jonathon Swift

Some hope, poco a poco

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"What have you learned, Mr. Hamilton?" asked Father Paris after the second class of the fall semester. "That I don't know as much as I thought," I responded, and I can find no better instance from this year to tie it all together. That is, each year I come to Boston College longing for clearer answers, and I only find that the added knowledge complicates the questions and fogs what I thought I knew.

Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Thumbs Up Grand Theft Auto IV - The latest edition of the vice-ridden sandbox-style game came out to rave reviews on Wednesday. Released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the game is expected to break the single-day sales record held by Halo 3. Why do these games always seem to come out right before finals? Modstock - The free concert on Thursday in the Mod Lot features State Radio, Boston's own reggae-rock band.