News Articles

Person of the Year

By Tim Mooney / Opinions Editor
When Steve Aponavicius, CSOM '09, took the field to kick his first extra point against Virginia Tech, his parents, roommates, and teammates held their breath with the rest of Alumni Stadium until the kick split the uprights. Commentators called him an unknown quantity, but for those fortunate enough to know him, Aponavicius had been exactly the opposite: an easygoing, jovial guy with a passion for the Philadelphia Phillies. His story is the stuff of feel-good football movies, but it is the persona behind it that is truly compelling. "Steve-O" has made an impression on fans, friends, and media alike - all while keeping the same affable demeanor before and after his brush with fame and football. The Aponavicius story represents the talented, driven, and above all, decent students of Boston College who hope for a chance at greatness. The Heights is proud to name Steve Aponavicius the 2007 Person of the Year.

BC celebrates 131st Commencement Exercises

Speaker Jack Connors emphasizes perseverance, preparation

By Pilar Landon / Heights Senior Staff
For the thousands who filled Alumni Stadium - families and friends, faculty, administrators, and most of all, graduates of Boston College - today was a day of firsts: the first day of sun in several days, the first day of school-free summertime, and the first day of life as BC alumni.

"Today is called commencement, or the beginning," said Jack Connors, the keynote speaker at the 131st Commencement Exercises. "It's a little unfair, isn't it? You have worked all of these years to get this far, and everyone is welcoming you to the starting line. But it's true."

Firefighter seriously injured while responding to dumpster fire

By Patrick Fouhy / Heights Senior Staff
A Newton firefighter was seriously injured while responding to a dumpster fire between Medeiros Hall and CLFX early Tuesday morning. The Medeiros Hall fire alarm sounded as smoke rose behind the residence hall and popping, firecracker-like sounds echoed throughout Upper Campus.

Social screens bar BC investment in Sudan

By Pilar Landon / Heights Senior Staff
On this point, students and administrators concur: As a Catholic and Jesuit institution committed to social responsibility, Boston College holds a special obligation to make sure its investments reflect its values. But the agreements end here. While administrators point to the implementation of various social screens to ensure socially responsible investing, as per BC's investment policy, students within the Global Justice Project (GJP) and BC Divest Darfur movement contend that the policy and screens employed do not reach far enough.

University to buy text service

By Patrick Fouhy / Heights Senior Staff
Though the April 16 tragedy at Virginia Tech made all universities recognize the pressing need for emergency communication systems, the executive vice president's office at Boston College has been shopping for mass communication technology for more than a year.

ODSD intervenes in off-campus affair

By Grant Hatchimonji / Managing Editor
On April 15, Vivian, a Boston College student, suffered at the hands of racist speech. A BC student of Asian descent, she went to Roggie's Brew and Grille in Cleveland Circle with her three roommates; there, they were verbally harassed by one of the employees.

BC to limit student printing to 500 pages

By Alexi Chi / Editor-In-Chief
Environmental issues have been a concern of college students both at Boston College and across the country. With the fall launch of a printing allotment program imminent, however, students will feel a little more pressure to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

German dept. sweeps Fulbrights

By Christopher Maroshegyi / Heights Senior Staff
As professor Micheal Resler explained it, 2007 was a "tsunami" year for the German department at Boston College. The tsunami that Resler was referring to was the record-setting number of Fulbright scholarships awarded from his department to study in Germany this year - 13 in all.

Ly wins Asian-American Scholarship

By Pat Irish / Outreach Coordinator
Monday evening in the Yawkey Athletic Center, the Office of AHANA Student Programs hosted the Asian-American Scholarship Banquet, a night honoring five outstanding students who have demonstrated both academic achievement as well as continual service both to the Asian-American and wider communities.

News and Notes

A look at the American Catholic

By Alexi Chi / Editor-In-Chief
Despite the looming exams that are sending Boston College students running to study lounges, the last "Agape Latte" of the semester filled Hillside Café to the brim. The well-known Rev. Kenneth Himes, O.F.M. and chairman of the theology department, spoke animatedly on the topic of the night; "Being Catholic and American: Compatible or Conflicted.

'On the Other Side of the Desk'

By Jamie Fleming
While student members of the GLBT/Q community and their supporters have been vocal in discussing issues that concern them, faculty members have historically been less so. But a panel Monday night changed just that, as eight gay members of the Boston College faculty delivered a panel discussion on facing injustice from their point of view.

WHI-sponsored panel examines the lack of women's health resources

By Meghan Michael
Boston College's health service policies, which the University claims adhere to Catholic teachings, have left some students feeling that their interests and needs are not being adequately addressed. To explore these concerns, which some people believe fall within the realm of personal rights, several campus groups held a panel discussion Monday night.

U.S. policy toward Palestine fuels anti-Americanism, says BC alum

By Michael Madormo
Boston College alumnus Jay Hayden spoke Tuesday evening about the "The U.S. Boycott of Palestine and its Fallout" in an event sponsored by the fine arts department, the sociology department, and the Global Justice Project. Hayden, who is Jewish, has made numerous trips to Palestine to document the progress of the conflict in the region and to speak with Palestinians.

Police Blotter 4/26/07-4/27/07

Voices from the Dustbowl