Jeffrey Scott Kanca
is a member of the Boston College Class of 2009 and is Political Science Major in the College of Arts & Science. He joined The Observer Staff in the fall of 2005. Jeff is the Editor-in-Chief of The Observer. Beyond his duties as Editor-in-Chief, Jeff frequently writes for the News, Opinions, Observed, and Editorial sections. Jeff is a graduate of Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, CT where he played varsity soccer and took third place in Naugatuck Valley Tennis. In his time off from the paper and class, Jeff enjoys watching and playing football as well as spending time with his girlfriend, family, and friends.

Amanda Mathews
, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus College of Arts & Sciences 2008, is from Stoneham, MA. A history major in the Honors Program, Amanda plans to attend graduate school to obtain her Ph.D. in history, and eventually wants to become a college professor. In addition to writing for The Observer, Amanda enjoys singing in the Liturgical Arts Group, reading books on the American Revolution, hanging out with her friends, and spouting her conservative beliefs every where she goes.
The Observer, a bastion of the ’’vast right-wing conspiracy’’ on the Boston College campus, attracted Amanda immediately as she began writing for the paper in the fall of her freshman year thought it would be a good outlet for her as someone both outspoken and opinionated. In the spring of that year, Amanda was asked to join the editorial staff as an Assistant Opinions Editor. As a dedicated staffer, Amanda rose through the paper’s ranks, eventually becoming Editor-in-Chief during her junior year. Amanda was present in 2006 when the Collegiate Network awarded The Observer Newspaper of the Year.
Amanda was never afraid to take on the controversial issues, tackling abortion, race issues, and the place of Catholicism at BC, raising the ire of a number of contrary student groups. Her favorite aspect of the newspaper is the true and immediate impact it has on campus. Now that she has stepped down from the role of Editor-in-Chief, Amanda continues to be involved with the paper, writing articles, copy editing, and providing wisdom to a new generation of staffers. As Amanda prepares to graduate she hopes to see The Observer continue to grow and become the best news source on campus.

Michael Miller
, a member of the class of 2009, is a Political Science major intent upon going to law school after graduation, preferably in the greater Boston area. Originally from LaFayette, NY, he joined The Observer in 2007 in order to have a more active voice in the BC community. When not in class, he can be found frequenting a variety of BC sporting events or fixing A/V equipment in classrooms across campus. He is also an avid [American Gladiators] junkie and member of the BC Mock Trial team. Michael is the Executive Editor of The Observer.

Sean Kelly
hails from Rockville Centre, New York and is the managing editor for The Observer at Boston College. He has been with the newspaper since his freshman year in 2004. Currently a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, Sean is completing a double major in history and philosophy with a pre-law concentration. Next September he will be attending law school, where he hopes to continue writing, editing, learning German, and focusing on a future career in the field of international law. In his free time, Sean enjoys skiing, running, and golf.

Michael Reer
, a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie, New York, joined The Observer in the fall of his freshman year. He was promoted to the position of Assistant News Editor that fall and was asked to replace Jeff Kanca as News Editor when Jeff accepted the Editor-in-Chief position. In his free time, Michael enjoys playing baseball and basketball, hiking in the Catskill Mountains, and reading classical literature.

Alex Guittard
, Associate News Editor, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, is studying Political Science, with a minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. In his hometown of San Diego, Guittard was an editor for his high school newspaper, The Augustinian. In addition to his work with The Observer, Guittard is a cadet in BC Army ROTC and Secretary of the College Republicans. His political experience includes working for Gov. Schwarzenegger, as a Congressional Page, and recently, as an intern for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. Guittard speaks French, Italian, and Arabic and has traveled across Europe, North Africa, and China, where he lived for a brief period while he taught English to medical students. In his free time, Guittard enjoys reading and playing golf.

Mary Margaret Brinkopf
hails from the great state of Florida. She is a freshman living on Newton Campus. During high school, she was the managing editor and photographer of her school newspaper The Cougar Paw her junior and senior years. She joined The Observer because she enjoys writing articles and found the staff gentile. Currently, she is involved in three other clubs besides the paper, is a freshman representative for the Japan Club of Boston Club, a member of the Entrepreneur Club and in one of the Women’s Resources small groups.

Sameer Mukherjee
is the Opinions Editor for the Observer. He is from Brooklyn, New York and a member of the College of Arts & Sciences class of 2008. Sameer is a math major and a philosophy minor. After graduation, Sameer will go on to working for an investment firm in Boston. In his free time, he plays the violin, guitar, and bhangra dancing. Sameer enjoys writing about issues concerning the lack of awareness of climate change and the exposure of academic dishonesty. Email him at mukherjs@bc.edu.

Jesse Naiman
is the Associate Opinions Editor of The Observer. Naiman has been on the staff since the beginning of his freshman year in the autumn of 2007. Currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences as a political science major, Naiman enjoys discussing and writing about political issues, particularly those pertaining to race relations and constitutional issues. In high school at The Park School of Baltimore, Naiman served as the Vice President of his student body, and as Captain for both the cross country and mock trial teams. Outside of his studies and political endeavors, Naiman enjoys spending time with friends, and a daily run followed by a glass of grapefruit juice in order to stay healthy. After graduation, Naiman plans to attend law school.

Kevin Cahalane
is a member of the Boston College Class of 2011 and is currently enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences. He joined The Observer Staff in the fall of 2007. Kevin serves as the Assistant to the Editor of the Opinions Section. He also contributes regularly to The Observer’s Sports Section. Kevin is a graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School in Fairfield, CT where he served as Student Body President. He was also a 3-time YMCA Swimming LC Nationals Qualifier. In his free time, Kevin loves watching sports and hanging out with his friends in Loyola Hall.

Donato Infante III
is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences where he is majoring in philosophy and a member of the Honors Program. He intends to use his philosophy degree to study towards diocesan priesthood after graduation. Donato is a graduate of Agonquin Regional High School in Northborough, MA.
Donato wrote for The Observer on occasion his freshman year, joined the staff his sophomore year, and has been the Catholic issues editor since the spring of his sophomore year. He joined the paper to write on the Catholic faith for the greater glory of God.
Donato enjoys reading books, especially on theology. Other hobbies include swimming, listening to classical music, and making music, whether by singing, piano, or accordion.
Donato blogs online at http://bcatholic2.blogspot.com/

Cody Sain
’s existence is what some might call an accident. He was not planned, nor had his progenitors taken their sacred vows to one another. Yet, despite the pleas by some that his existence be destroyed and forgotten, he was allowed to pass from the womb into the world and was placed in the care of others. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, attended Texas A&M University, and now is a graduate student studying philosophy at Boston College. He is married with a baby of his own expected in April. His blog is located at http://takingbackvatican2.blogspot.com. Cody is the Associate Catholic Issues Editor of The Observer.

Michael Williams
is a student in the College of Arts & Sciences, class of 2010. He majors in Philosophy and is studying in the A&S Honors Program. He looks to teach in some form upon graduation; whether high school or college, as a layman or as a priest, is yet to be determined. Michael loves indie rock, playing guitar, running, reading philosophical, theological, and spiritual books, friends, family, and God.
Michael attended Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, OH, as a member of the class of 2006 where he ran cross country and track and wrote for the school newspaper, The Eye. His experience and joy writing for The Eye, along with a desire to help restore Boston College’s awareness of and embracing of its Catholic roots, motivated him to begin writing for the Observer in the late fall of 2007. He joined the staff in spring 2008. Michael is the Assistant Catholic Issues Editor for The Observer. Ultimately, as with all things, Michael writes for God’s greater glory.

Kevin Ryan
became the Observer’s sports editor at the beginning of the 2007 school year. This is his second year as a member of the Observer staff. Kevin went to Massapequa High School on Long Island, where he played baseball, wrote for his school’s newspaper, and inexplicably developed a love for BC sports. He is also an avid but hopelessly devoted fan of the Mets and Jets. Kevin is a junior in the Lynch School of Education and hopes to graduate in 2009 because if he doesn’t, his parents will cut him off financially. Kevin doesn’t know what he plans to do after graduating, but will entertain all suggestions.

Chris Inserra
is the Associate Sports Editor for the Observer and as a freshman, this is his first year on the Observer staff. Chris graduated from John Jay High School in Cross River, New York where he played varsity ice hockey during all four years. Chris has been a BC hockey fan since he was 10 years old and writes about the team for the Observer as the Associate Sports Editor. He hopes to eventually play club hockey at BC and intends to major in philosophy with a pre-med concentration.

Katherine Koniares
is a freshman at Boston College in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is from Boxford, MA and graduated from Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, MA in 2007. She volunteers at Massachusetts General Hospital, and is a member of STITCH, Eagle EMS, and the Appalachia Volunteers. She is a biology major, with a minor in psychology, and plans to go to medical school. She joined The Observer because she was interesting in working for a newspaper, and now she is the layout editor of The Observer.

E. Michael Arnold
is the Business Editor and Director of Photography for The Observer. Michael, originally from South Pasadena, CA, is currently an economics major in the College of Arts and Science, Class of 2009. He joined in the staff in the autumn of 2007 and enjoys the opportunity to stay current on important economic issues while exercising his hobbies of writing and photography. Previously a member of his high school varsity cross-country squad, Michael likes to stay active by training and fundraising for the Campus School Marathon Team and playing for the men’s Ultimate Frisbee team. Upon graduation, he plans to spend some time in the private sector before pursuing either an MBA or a PhD in Economics.