Employees, the University, and students clash over overtime wages for maintainence staff .

An invisible struggle that has been raging since May could find a resolution today as the University and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) meet at the negotiating table. Attempts to renew the contracts of approximately 270 members of the SEIU at BC have been deadlocked over a University effort to cut overtime costs. “We’ve been meeting three to four times a month… working under a mutual agreement to extend the contract on a month-by-month basis,” said Bob Lewis, VP for Human Resources and BC’s chief negotiator. “The heart of the issue is that we are looking to be able to contract out work in order to avoid some overtime.”

Currently, the University pays custodians overtime rates of $30 to $40 per hour for cleanup after sporting events and other special events. Article 18 of the union contract currently prohibits BC from contracting this work.

“People rely on that overtime,” said a union employee who wished to remain anonymous. “They wait weeks for just four hours of it. A lot of people would have to go out and get part time jobs elsewhere.” Another employee added, “Early in the negotiations, we offered a one year pay freeze. The University refused it; they want to cut costs.”

Union organizers and employees gathered at Hillside Plaza yesterday for a ‘Hat Day’ show of solidarity before the final negotiation of the month, joined by students and professors.

Students have taken up the workers’ cause, with a petition already circulating and a teach-in event planned. “We want the University to enter negotiations with the mindset of Catholic social teachings,” said Katie Sellers, a graduate student at the School of Theology and Ministry and the creator of the petition.

The University was unable to say how much it spends overall on these overtime costs, and it remains unclear where the cost-cutting idea originated.

A union employee was skeptical of the University’s intentions in removing Article 18 entirely. “They want to take away all special events, and keep us at our regular 40 hours. At one time, BC custodial staff was considered family. Now we’re just numbers.” Employees seemed to suggest that escalation of contracted work was a primary concern. “If they’d put down in writing what they want, we would definitely consider that,” stated a union employee. Lewis was adamant about the University’s commitment to workers. “They’re great, long-term employees, and we have no intention of doing anything to affect their job security at all. If we do contract this out, we’d contract it out to a union contractor, in fact, the same union that represents these employees. So far the union has been unwilling to work with us on this.”

Still, “as a union worker here, I think it’s a great place to work,” clarified the employee. But “BC has stated at the negotiating table that they are lowering the standards here – grass being cut less, furniture being replaced less – and that’s not sitting well with the union. We’re not going to do short work, because we have high standards. That’s why BC is BC.”

University Spokesman Jack Dunn acknowledged that the university is trying to cut costs, but said that it is trying to do so without the “lay off s that have occurred at universities throughout the country, including 300 at Harvard, and 400 at Stanford, among many others. To do so, and to continue to moderate our tuition increases, we have to examine ways of reducing expenditures.”

Dominican Sister Mary Priniski, OP, formerly of Catholic Scholars for Social Justice and The Labor Guild in Boston, believes firmly in the connection between Catholic social teaching and labor rights. Now a regional superior for her order, she retains her strong support for labor. “Th e Catholic Church has said forever that workers have the right to a living wage, to collectively bargain, and to have decent working conditions. Th e Catholic position is that a normal workweek should be enough income for a family to live on…if workers absolutely have to do overtime to survive, then they should be allowed to do that. These are the broad, concrete principles, but every local level has practical implications which need to be taken into account.”

Katie Sellers, busy bringing together student support for the union, praised the University’s record. “Th is is what I’m proud of, as an alumna and a student,” said Sellers. “I am so encouraged by the example BC has been setting. To no longer be demonstrating that example is something I question… We’re not supposed to be a typical university; we’re supposed to be a Catholic university. We go above and beyond. How else can we expect to be a model of social justice?”

Sellers’ initiative is backed by students from groups as diverse as OLAA, UGBC, 4Boston, and GJP. In fact, says Sellers, “The teach-in is a new phrase for me- it’s a GJP thing. We’ll come together, have a discussion, and learn about the issue. I really think this is going to snowball.”

Bob Lewis acknowledged students’ commitment, but said “The only way this is going to get resolved is at the negotiating table. There’s nothing that’s going to bring about a solution other than both parties sitting down and working it out. I’m optimistic that reasonable people can come together and come up with a reasonable solution.”

When they sit down once again at the negotiating table, Lewis and union officials will again attempt to end the impasse around contracting labor. But Katie Sellers reminds the community that its true identity is reflected in its actions.

“We’re men and women for others…building community is what we’re called to do as a Catholic community. Let’s do it.”

The panel, a collaboration between OLAA and the GJP, depicts a white hand dangling money over reaching black hands.

A mural commissioned for Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) depicts a white hand with the word “wealth” written next to it dangling money over five black hands that are accompanied by the word “poverty.” The mural, titled “Challenging the Future a Square at a Time,” was moved to the O’Neill Library after previously being displayed in the lobby of Gasson Hall.

This particular mural is one of three murals that Boston College’s Arts and Social Responsibility Project (ASRP) sponsored for an art exhibition titled “Strength in Unity,” one of six HHM art exhibitions. The mural itself was painted as a result of collaboration between the Organization of Latin American Affairs (OLAA), HHM organizers, and the Global Justice Project (GJP), a left-wing campus organization.

Sources inside the GJP revealed that HHM Co-chair and former OLAA President Bryan Leyva asked GJP member Richard Rhom to recruit artists to help paint the mural. According to an October 8th email that Rhom sent to GJP members, OLAA was “interested in finding some talented artists for one of their exhibitions.”

Rhom’s email continued by stating that the “idea is to make each square represent an issue regarding social justice taking place anywhere across the globe. Considering our very name, this is quite relevant! At least twelve, and at most all sixteen paintings, are to be painted by our group.” Leyva confi rmed that he asked the GJP to help paint the mural. The individual artists have not been identified at this point, and both the GJP and the ASRP have been unavailable for comment. Professor Dennis Hale of the political science department denounced the painting as “foolish” and “self-defeating.” He added that “It is a common understanding among progressives that poverty is caused by white people, or by rich people; in fact, some people think ‘rich’ and ‘white’ are synonyms.” Noting that progressives have never made any “serious contributions to ending poverty,” Hale concluded that “the ultimate victims of this particular ideology will be poor people everywhere.”

However, Professor Martin Summers of the history department offered a more favorable assessment of the mural and noted that the art intended to provoke discussion: “The artist(s) clearly wanted to provoke a discussion about the historic economic exploitation and marginalization of people of African descent, whether it is slavery or sharecropping or the convict-lease system or the exclusion of African Americans from labor unions until the mid-20th century or the role of discriminatory lending practices in preventing the generational transfer of wealth within the black community.”

While Summers acknowledged that the artist’s portrayal of the issues at hand did not tell the entire story of racism’s history, he said that “one of the roles of art, it seems to me, is to provoke discussion. And it has done that.”

The Arts and Social Responsibility Project operates under Boston College’s Center for Arts and Social Responsibility (CASR). Founded in 2009, the center’s website states that its mission is to “build upon the student’s passion for all types of art and performance in combination with social responsibility to create engaging new projects, lectures and coursework.”

The mission statement also adds that “CASR functions on the belief that every person has the capacity and responsibility to make positive social change. Through ongoing dialogues with the students and faculty, we will continue imagining creative new initiatives, empowering students to develop and practice their passion for the arts as a means to become ‘men and women for others.’”

The CASR is sponsoring a number of recent GJP-promoted events, including a Nicaraguan grass-roots arts movement “promoting the empowerment of youth, with a focus on gender equity through programs in art, music, dance, spirituality and theatre for social justice,” and a “Living Theatre” workshop.

Sam Caligiuri ‘88 announces his plan for a government reform initiative at a recent public appearance.

United States Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) is a long-term fixture in Washington D.C., having served in the U.S. Senate since 1980. As he has become increasingly unpopular after receiving both favorable mortgage loans and donations from former mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, five Connecticut Republicans have lined up to challenge the embattled incumbent. The first candidate to announce his bid was BC alumnus and current Republican state senator Sam Caligiuri ’88.

Caligiuri is very frank when explaining why he entered the race: “It is abundantly clear that we have to vote out Chris Dodd.” Dodd has been in Washington for over 35 years, having served three terms in the House of Representatives before moving to the Senate. Caligiuri believes that his candidacy represents a generational change in Washington, adding that Dodd has been in Washington since Caligiuri was seven years old.

Currently in his early forties, Caligiuri has been involved in politics ever since 1985 when he was a cadet at Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. Always desiring a life in public service, he entered the academy with the hopes of gaining admission to West Point to eventually become an army officer. While knee problems prevented him from serving his country in the army, he turned to politics: “I realized that politics was another route to fulfill my desire to serve.”

His first exposure to politics came as an intern for then-Congressman John Rowland (R-CT), who later hired Caligiuri as deputy legal counsel when Rowland became governor. Caligiuri first held elected office as an alderman in his hometown of Waterbury, Connecticut after leaving Governor Rowland’s office.

He eventually rose to become president of the board of aldermen when he suddenly became mayor in July of 2001 when incumbent mayor Phillip Giordano was arrested for arranging sexual liaisons with young girls. The FBI discovered Giordano’s solicitations while already investigating him for corruption. Caligiuri served as acting mayor during what he described as a “difficult time” because “Waterbury had already been subject to a financial crisis and corruption, but the then-mayor’s crime was unfathomable.”

Caligiuri served out the remainder of his term and left elected office at the end of 2001, as he had decided to do before becoming acting mayor. He returned to politics in 2006 after winning a seat in the Connecticut Senate in a heavily-Democratic Waterbury-based district. Caligiuri is proud of his accomplishments during his state senate term. He was the only Republican to vote against the state budget in 2007.

“I believed it would lead to deficits, tax increases, and an eroding economy. One newspaper dubbed me ‘the last sane man in Hartford.’ I believe the cornerstone for strong fiscal policy is sound spending, and this is why I voted against this bill,” Caligiuri said. Caligiuri’s second accomplishment was to pass a bill to fight gender pay discrimination, because Connecticut’s laws were lagging behind the federal laws against wage discrimination.

Caligiuri faces a tough road ahead in his campaign for Washington. Not only does he trail Dodd in most head-to-head polls, but he also faces four primary opponents. His competitors include former Congressman Rob Simmons (R-CT), former Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley, Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, and financial analyst Peter Schiff. According to opensecrets.org, Caligiuri already trails Dodd, Simmons, and Foley in total fundraising (data on Schiff and McMahon are unavailable). Furthermore, a Quinnipiac GOP primary poll from September 10-14 gives Simmons a 43%-4% advantage over Caligiuri.

Despite the daunting poll numbers, Caligiuri is confident that he can win the election and that he is best suited to unseat Dodd. He not only believes that he represents a generational change in Washington, but also that having no ties to Washington is an advantage in the upcoming election. In order to argue that Dodd has been in Washington for too long, the GOP candidate must be a Washington outsider, and “unlike Dodd, Rob Simmons, or Tom Foley,…I have no ties to Washington.”

Caligiuri also touts his working class background, the fact that he is the son of immigrants, his ability to represent Democratic districts as a Republican, and his record of reform as reasons that he can best unseat Dodd. He plans to appeal to every GOP town committee so he can win the vote at the state GOP convention in 2010. If his opponents force a primary vote, he contends that he will win. “With five candidates splitting the vote, I am in the best position to energize the GOP base and win the primary.”

The state senator has some harsh criticisms of President Barack Obama. Caligiuri disagrees with Obama’s public option proposal and offers harsh words for the stimulus package, which he believes “has not helped the economy grow but has only helped fund Democratic pet projects.” In addition, Caligiuri staunchly opposes the cap-and-trade bill and questions whether Obama should have won the Nobel Peace Prize considering his lack of accomplishments. Regardless of these disagreements, he pledged to work with President Obama when elected.

Caligiuri spent his junior and senior years at Boston College after transferring from Valley Forge. He remembers his two years fondly: “I had a great time at BC. My only regret was not enrolling at BC earlier.” He also recalls a diverse political climate at BC, and though he was not particularly politically active, he was a member of the BC Speech Team. Caligiuri commuted from Cambridge his junior year and lived on Strathmore Road his senior year.

Pro-Life Club members pass out information across from a mock cemetary demonstration.

From Monday, October 19 through Thursday, October 22, the Boston College pro-life club sponsored Respect Life Week, a series of events aimed at increasing awareness of abortion on campus and raising money for various causes in order to assist pregnant women.  The club hosted a variety of speakers throughout the week, including the head of A Woman’s Concern, a nearby pregnancy resource center, and a representative from Project Rachel, a program specializing in post-abortive healing.

The week began with a display of an unborn child’s development over the course of a pregnancy.  Posters were arranged in the Dustbowl, along with tables set up to provide brochures and information to curious passers-by.  On the second day, three hundred  sixty crosses were planted into the ground of the campus green, each symbolizing ten women and unborn children hurt by abortion each day.  The “Cemetery of the Innocents” Display drew the ire of a number of protesters, who lined up a few feet away to hold signs and voice their disagreement with the Pro-Life Club and the Catholic Church.

Though the reactions of many to the events of the week suggested significant opposition to the pro-life cause, there existed some support among the student body.  For instance, Matt Dunn, A&S ’11 praised the week, saying “it is important to learn about what happens with respect to choosing to have sexual intercourse, and what results, and how people’s lives change from having children or having an abortion and how both have dire consequences.”  Some passing by the events also expressed their approval and their support for making known publicly the harmful effects of abortion on individuals and society as a whole.

If Boston College’s Catholic identity is to be maintained, it is indeed necessary that the Church’s opposition to abortion continue to exert a visible influence on campus.  If BC students are so strongly encouraged to be “men and women for others,” there is no reason such an exhortation should push pregnant women and the unborn into the background.  Yet often, it seems that many at BC are willing to allow this to happen.  Despite the urgency of the issue of abortion and the good efforts of the pro-life club, the rhetoric around campus is consistently characterized by the vague, circuitous idea of “social justice.”  This language, while well-intended by many, ultimately does away with the true, Catholic notion of social activism, and undermines the importance of the pro-life movement.

Typical activism at BC and many other Catholic schools is unfortunately pervaded by teleological error.  Man is taken to be his own last end, rather than as a creature destined to union with his Creator.  Consequently, true blessedness would consist not in union with God, as the Church would teach, but rather in an earthly “paradise” where poverty and suffering are eradicated.  There is nothing wrong with meeting the needs of the poor, or working for a just social structure that provides for them and reduces their difficulties.  Many wonderful, holy individuals throughout the Church’s history have done just that.  However, all of them saw this aim as something secondary and subservient to man’s ultimate end or telos, which is met with not here, but in the next life in the beatific vision.

In the modern Church, however, many reverse the two ends, and transforming society becomes the goal of Christianity, as opposed to Faith-inspired social transformation being a means to make society conform more fully to Catholic teaching.  A truly Catholic renewal of society would aim to do away with everything opposed to truth, goodness, and beauty, and assert the preeminence of the moral good in perfecting the human person.  This is because authentic social transformation sees spiritual rather than material poverty as the real enemy, keeping intact the Christian notion of God as man’s last end, and the only true source of happiness and freedom.  As Pope Pius XI puts it so perfectly in the encyclical Quas Primas, “When once men recognize, both in private and public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace, and harmony.”

For this reason, Catholic activism would never undermine the importance of helping the poor, but rather, would emphasize the end of providing such assistance.  We care for the poor because Christ commanded us to do so, and because meeting the basic needs of others provides them with an easier opportunity to attain, by grace, to their supernatural end.  Catholic activism also would absolutely never allow the issue of abortion to be glossed over, when the current legal status of such an awful crime deprives unborn children of their most basic right to life, and permits doctors and pregnant mothers to blatantly violate the natural law.  For a Catholic university which so greatly emphasizes the idea of being “men and women for others” and creating a just social order, it is essential to emphasize more forcefully the Kingship of Christ over every aspect and dimension of Boston College.

#2 was unstoppable at the NC State Game, but less effective against ND.

The Observer Your hometown is Jacksonville, Florida. How was it having snow in Boston in the middle of October?

Montel Harris Yeah, it was crazy. The worst part was having to practice in the snow.

The Observer The team is undefeated at home this year. Do you feel like the SuperFans have been helping you at all?

Mr. Harris Yes, tremendously. Whenever there is a down time in the game, I can always turn to the student section for encouragement. Also, it’s always fun having people cheer you on.

The Observer BC is 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the conference. What do you attribute the Eagles’ success to?

Mr. Harris Our team’s hard work, dedication and determination.

The Observer You had a record-breaking performance in the game against North Carolina State. You set the new Boston College single-game record with 264 rushing yards, which broke a 47-year-old record set by Phil Bennet with 253 yards against Temple. You set the new Boston College single-game record for rushing touchdowns with 5 touchdowns, which broke a 16-year-old record set by Darnell Campbell with 4 rushing touchdowns. Why do you think you had such an impressive game against NC State?

Mr. Harris Well, I have to give most of my credit to the offensive line. They did a wonderful job the whole game by blocking and opening up some of the biggest holes I’ve seen this year. Without the blocking, I wouldn’t have had the night I had.

The Observer Your outstanding playing has received national recognition. You were named the ACC Offensive Back of the Week. You were named the Football College Performance Awards National Player of the Week. You were named the Walter Casmp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week. How does it feel to receive so many honors?

Mr. Harris I felt great. It’s nice to see your hard work pay off.

The Observer How do you think you’ve improved from last season?

Mr. Harris The biggest improvement from last season is just me being around the game meaning knowing what to expect because I’ve been there before. And of course, you strive to improve each season so I also think that I have improved on basic skills.

The Observer Do you think because of the Holy War rivalry that playing against Notre Dame is any more intense than other games or is every game played with the same intensity?

Mr. Harris I wouldn’t say that there is more intensity, as Coach Spaz would say, “As you get deeper into the season, each game means a little bit more.” So, Notre Dame being the 7th game weighed more than the team being Notre Dame.

The Observer How does it affect you and the team to have Mark Herzlich as an “assistant-assistant coach?”

Mr. Harris It’s great to have a person like Mark around. He’s a wonderful person who you can talk to about anything not just football.

The Observer You have four games left, three of which are conference games. You have Central Michigan and North Carolina at home and away games at Virginia and Maryland. With three conference games left, do you feel more pressure to win those games for ACC standings?

Mr. Harris I don’t necessarily feel more pressure because I feel that if we prepare and play at the level that we are capable of playing, we should be on top of the ACC and going back to Tampa.

The Observer What will have to happen for the team to consider 2009 a successful season/what is the ultimate team goal?

Mr. Harris We would have to win the ACC championship and win a BCS football championship.

The Observer What record will the Eagles finish the 2009 season with?

Mr. Harris 9-3.

Students and faculty gather for the dedication

As the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall approaches, commemoration has already begun at Boston College with the establishment of a life size replica of the wall and a month of activities planned. Boston College is one of twenty-five universities selected by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the wall’s fall.

Boston College was the only Boston-area university to be selected to participate in the commemoration titled “Freedom Without Walls.”

BC’s selection most likely can be attributed to its outstanding rank in Fulbright Scholarships: it is ranked tenth in the nation. In particular, its German department has annually sent, since 2004, at least fi ve Fulbrighters to Germany (in 2007, thirteen students were selected).

The German Embassy specified that each university chosen was to include activities such as film screenings and to build and display a replica of the Berlin Wall on campus from late October until November 9, the offi cial date of the collapse of the wall.

Preparation for the commemoration, which began in January 2009, required a great amount of inter-department collaboration and included: the Institute of Liberal Arts, Offi ce of the Dean (Arts and Sciences), German Studies Department, Jesuit Institute, History Department, Music Department, Fine Arts Department (Studio Art, Film Studies Program, Calderwood Chair) and the University Librarians Office.

Mark Cooper, a professor in the Fine Arts Department, was given the task of creating BC’s Berlin Wall. Cooper and students Joon Park, Luke Kelly and Cathy Sun spent the entire summer, which amounted to about 1,500 hours, designing the wall. The finished product includes cutouts of Iranian protestors from the June elections and designs related to the power struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Cooper stated that the designs chosen for the wall were meant to make students question “what do walls mean.” He also incorporated symbols from other pieces he had worked on before the wall came down. He placed two large, narrow windows in the wall to represent the freedom to move back and forth and also included a seesaw to recognize the teeter-totter balance between the United States and the Soviet Union in Germany.

The mural, stationed in the Dust Bowl, is built to scale of the original one – twelve feet high and forty feet across. Just as the original wall became covered with graffiti to demonstrate opposition, students are being given the same chance. Spray paint cans are scattered around the wall. Students are encouraged to draw images or write words that resonate with them. The wall will remain in the Dust Bowl until after November 9. It is not known if the wall will go on tour after its time at Boston College.

The mural was dedicated on Wednesday, October 21. Presentations were given by Michael Resler from German Studies, Dean Quigley from the College of Arts and Sciences, John Michalczyk from the Film Studies Department, Mark Cooper from the Fine Arts Department and a representative of the German Embassy. At the end of the ceremony, the German Embassy gifted Boston College a small piece from the original Berlin Wall.

A host of events are scheduled for the end of October and early November (please see below for a full list of events). Highlights include a lecture from Edwina Sandys, the granddaughter of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the sculptor who created the infamous “Breakthrough” sculpture from eight panels of the Berlin Wall, which is displayed in Fulton, Missouri where Churchill made his famous “Iron Curtain” speech.

Other events include a series of films to be screened on BC’s campus. In particular, Professor John Michalczyk and Ronald A. Marsh from the Film Studies Department will show their new documentary, “Writing on the Wall: Remembering the Berlin Wall.” Th e documentary, written by Susan Michalczyk, premiered earlier this month at the Museum of Fine Arts. Professor Michalczyk stated in the film that he wanted to “trace the history of the Cold War and highlight the movement that caused the wall to fall.”

Professor Michalczyk, assisted by Professor Resler of the German department and several other faculty members, traveled to Germany over the summer to interview Klaus Schutz, the former mayor of West Berlin, Alexandra Hildebrandt, the Director of the Museum at Checkpoint Charlie, and Thomas Flanagan, who was involved in the Berlin Airlift, to name just a few. Edwina Sandys and Sergei Khrushchev, the son of Nikita Khrushchev, were also interviewed for the film.

The team filmed over twenty hours of interviews and footage for the documentary, which was cut down to one hour. Michalczyk stated that he hoped students and the general public would take away from the documentary “the idea that a government should be respective and tolerate the different voices and not see them as destructive but constructive.”

Michael Resler, from the German Studies department, echoed Michalczyk’s sentiments, stating, “We want to show [the undergraduate community of BC] a rare and great event in history.”

Teams have donated thousands of dollars in honor of Mark Herzlich diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma last May

It has been a common occurrence this season to see Mark Herzlich standing at midfield receiving a giant check from the schools of opposing teams.

SuperFans who have been to any of BC’s home football games should be able to recall seeing him, with the yellow towel around his neck, shaking hands with the presenter of the check and smiling for a picture at midfield in Alumni Stadium.

The money from these checks is for Uplifting Athletes, a national nonprofit organization founded in 2003 by a group of college football players, and will go toward Ewing’s Sarcoma research through organizations like the Sarcoma Foundation of America. According to its website, its mission is “to align college football with rare diseases and raise them as a national priority through outreach, research, education and advocacy.”
There are chapters of Uplifting Athletes at universities across the country run by Current football student-athletes. There are currently chapters at Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, Colgate University, and, of course the school nearest to our heart, Boston College.
Each one of these chapters chooses a rare disease to support that is relevant to their team. Boston College’s chapter supports Ewing’s Sarcoma, the cancer that Mark Herzlich was diagnosed with last May.

While most people associate BC’s chapter with Herzlich, Uplifting Athletes at BC was actually started by Ryan Lindsey, a junior wide receiver. Lindsey started BC’s chapter after learning of Herzlich’s battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma.

“As soon as we heard about Mark’s battle with this rare disease, we wanted to do something,” said Ryan. “I was familiar with Uplifting Athletes from some of my friends that play football for other schools and they put me in touch with the executive director, Scott Shirley. The coaches were supportive of the idea so we met with Scott and he helped us get started.”

The inaugural event for BC was “Lift for Life,” which took place over the summer and raised over $30,000, a record for an inaugural event. The event included eight strength and training competitions, and more than 60 football players participated.

“It’s humbling for me to learn that not only are my teammates supporting me, but that my situation has inspired them to do something that will help a lot of people facing similar challenges,” said Herzlich.

At the Notre Dame game, Charlie Weis presented Herzlich with a personal check for $5,000. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney also gave a personal check for $5,000, FedEx Orange Bowl donated $5,000, Virginia Tech donated $9,494.94 and Florida State donated $9,400, both in honor of Herzlich’s number 94.

Teams have raised money through various fundraising efforts. The North Carolina State dance team collected money at all entry gates to the stadium during a home game against Duke. The NC State football players also donated their meal money for two weeks. Virginia Tech sold “Team United” wristbands for $1 each.

BC has also raised money itself with the “Beat Cancer” tshirt. BC is donating $5 from the sale of every t-shirt to the American Cancer Society in support of Ewing’s Sarcoma research.

While we may not like opposing teams, especially the ones that hand us a loss, we should respect them for supporting one of our players and a cause that our school has taken on. The ACC is full of caring players and coaches, and we should acknowledge their generous contributions that will go toward Ewing’s Sarcoma research.

To find caring players and coaches, though, we can look at our own football program. Players like Lindsey and coaches like Spaziani helped BC’s chapter of Uplifting Athletes get started, which allowed for all the money that has been raised to support Herzlich and many others who suffer from Ewing’s Sarcoma.

To the Editor:

I was quite disappointed with your article of 6 October “ ‘Coming Out Week’ Celebrated”. While it is true that this article served as a fairly objective portrayal of the event, it does not provide the whole story. As the only newspaper on campus that respects traditional (one hesitates in the post-Bush era to say ‘conservative’) values, I had expected more from your coverage.

Unfortunately, homosexuality has become an issue in our society on which openminded, fair discussion is denied. Th e National Coming Out Week events do not promote discussion, which is the very thing they say is intended, rather they hinder it. According to GLBTQ Council leadership Gasseling and Belcic, the week is meant to help people “free themselves from the constraints of ignorance-based limitations.”

People cannot, however, honestly discuss a view when one side has so little respect for the other that it calls the other’s views ‘ignorant’. If true discussion on this issue is ever to come about, neither side can be as disrespectful, uncharitable and closed-minded as the NCOW organizers have shown themselves to be.

Universities are meant to pride themselves on open-minded, fair and respectful discussion, which BC spokesman Jack Dunn intimated when quoted for your article. As a university, Boston College should seriously question its support for such discussion-limiting rhetoric as that provided by NCOW.

I had hoped the Observer would say as much, but it appears you, too, have come under the purview of the stultifying oppression of Political Correctness.

-Anonymous

To the Observer Staff ,

While I disagree with many of the things written within the pages of your paper, I respect the thought that you obviously put into your articles and opinions. I enjoy picking up your paper because it gives me an opportunity to read arguments against many positions that I hold.

What stuck me as inappropriate in this past week’s Observer came from your “Observed” section. I don’t really care if your “observations” are supposed to be satirical, sarcastic, funny, or serious in nature, there is a problem when you so openly attack the Jesuits and thus the Church that many of us call home.

You may have issues with the BC health insurance policy, but saying that it “provides Jesuits with condoms” crosses a line. It is offensive to many Jesuits as well as myself, and simply not funny. Then you continue on in another “observation” that provides insightful commentary on the homilies given by our priests on Sundays. The punchline is essentially the homilies “suck.”

You may feel a decline in the nature of homilies given, but if you would like to take issue with them you should do so in a more intellectual manner befitting of a reputable collegiate newspaper. While you may have considered these “observations” to be funny, I find it odd that you so blatantly attack the Jesuits when the motto of your paper is Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam. In trying to find God in all things, I fail to find God in your humor.

-Sam Hay
Theology Major, Class of 2010

The Career Center on Commonwealth Ave offers a wealth of internship resources.

Given the global economic state of affairs, the majority of students are questioning their ability to find a job after graduation.  Most major companies have scaled back their open positions; many students are turning to post-grad positions with organizations such as Teach for America or deferring the job search for several more years while in graduate school.  Still, the Career Center at Boston College stresses that job openings are in fact available to those who look in the right places.  The best place to start finding a job?  Internship experience.  An interview with Russ Ventura, Internship Coordinator of Boston College’s Career Center, reveals the opportunities available to current students for the upcoming semester and summer.

Ventura begins, saying that the number of internships available this current school year has, for the most part, gone unchanged from previous years.

The University Career Action Network (UCAN) database lists thousands of internships from a nation-wide network offered to students from top schools, including Boston College.  EagleLink, Boston College’s own database, includes listings from the Campus Recruiting Program and other known internship opportunities offered exclusively to BC students.  The Internship Review system posts reviews from Boston College students regarding past internship programs, as well as contact information for the same companies.

Currently, there are 1,720 listings on the UCAN database, 238 in the EagleLink database, and 336 in the Interview Review system.  Still, Ventura stresses that, “there are other ways to find internships besides looking at listed positions.” One should not limit his or her search to those three databases.

Primarily, Ventura encourages students to “be proactive,” and contact companies when they do not see an internship listing posted.  Even more valuable is the skill to network.  “Networking is always the best approach for finding employment,” Ventura affirms.  “If students are uncomfortable or not knowledgeable about how to network, they should visit our office for advice.”

Also important to keep in mind is the fact that many valuable opportunities are overlooked when students focus their job or internship search on larger, well-known companies rather than exploring availability with smaller and medium-sized firms.

On a final note, regarding the majors most suited to finding a wide range of internship opportunities, Ventura emphasizes, “Students don’t realize how many employers are willing to look at students with any major.  Companies are more concerned with the overall profile and how well the student has done in whatever they have studied.”  Students should not forget the importance of their effort in classes, as well as extracurricular activities when focusing on the all-important internship or job search.

Despite the financial crisis, it seems that a wide range of opportunities are still available for students to “get a foot in the door” of their choice career.  The key lies in looking in the right places.  Ventura stresses the importance of starting the search early.  A brief look at the Career Center website reveals the multitude of resources offered to students – from resume critiques and mock interviews to workshops and networking assistance.   Furthermore, students should attend the Internship Fair on January 26 to meet with prospective employers and learn about various internship options.

If you’re reading this newspaper, congratulations. You’re one step ahead of the Theology Department.

A Chicago meter reader won a $1.5 million lawsuit against the city after police arrested her for ticketing a cop car. BC students quickly attempted to capitalize on the precedent by reporting Steve Montgomerey to the police for standing on his porch.

Michael Reer recently expressed a desire to attend law school at Santa Clara. Haberdashers around Santa Clara immediately stocked up on suspenders, belts, and bow ties.

Computer Science majors were reportedly so dismayed at the promotion of the Information Systems concentration during the Notre Dame game that they refused to leave their computer-filled dorms. This was doubly convenient in that it fit into their regular daily routines.

Michael Reer found a typo on the internal memo, and reprinted all 200 printed copies. The GJP, furious about this waste of paper, printed out 1000 leaflets denouncing Reer’s lack of concern for the environment.

The price of vinyl jumped 300% as hundreds of thousands of students sought to be the only “Thriller” zombie Michael Jackson at the Halloween party.

Former BC Coach Tom O'Brien saw his NC State team blown away by his former squad.

Even though Boston College is already on its second head coach since the departure of Tom O’Brien, one can only help but think that BC got the better of this divorce as O’Brien is now the head man of the ACC cellar-dwellers, North Carolina State.
It was a sweet scene seeing Tom O’Brien’s surly face when he came to Alumni Stadium only to witness his Wolfpack get massacred by Montel Harris, Luke Kuechly and crew.

For Frank Spaziani it must have been satisfying to whip his former boss in the dominating fashion that he did, 52-27. Although Coach Spaz is known to be quite modest, it must have been nice to hear the remaining faithful student section chanting TOB’s name as he hustled off the field amongst his entourage of state troopers.

O’Brien flew south following the 2006 regular season in odd fashion. He left the team following its last regular season game and during bowl-game preparation (Spaz led us in victory against Navy.) Many of the players found out that O’Brien was quitting by reading the bottom ticker on NESN SportsDesk in their dorm rooms.

With the man who many believe to have been complacent (i.e. repeatedly playing in the Boise and Champs Sports Bowls of the world and perennially hauling in mediocre recruiting classes) gone, the Eagles have done pretty well in his absence.  While it’s too early to judge the Frank Spaziani era at BC, post- O’Brien life has been pretty good as we’ve reached two ACC championship games and are on our way to a decent third year.
BC’s moderate success certainly beats what O’Brien has done in Raleigh, his overall record with NC State is 14-18.

O’Brien paid ten years of service to BC and compiled 75 wins over his tenure. He brought the team out of darkness that was the gambling scandal. He was basically what he appeared to be which may have been the problem.
While he was a pretty solid coach, BC never would have gotten to the “next level” with him. O’Brien backers would have a hard time refuting that, as he essentially admitted it following his resignation. He claimed that “nine or ten wins was the best you can do at BC.”

For some odd reason he felt that he could become a big-time coach if he took his game to NC State. Perhaps the lax academic standards appealed to him. He thought he would be able to lure those special athletes he never could attract at BC. Perhaps he left because of his off-season house in South Carolina that he owns. It’s also very possible that he grew old with Coach Flip’s controlling ways. He may have wanted more autonomy in his coaching so he took his act elsewhere.

I for one was pleased when O’Brien walked. At the time of his hire, Jagodzinski seemed like a solid choice. His enthusiasm was as impressive as his slogan, “the BC guy.” It seemed like a marriage that would work in great accord. Apparently Jags got tired of the college lifestyle two years after settling in. He seemingly had a great gig here. His daughter thrived in the Campus School, and he seemed to love all aspects of Boston College.

There’s great speculation that Jags had a strong distaste for the recruiting aspect of coaching. While I wouldn’t enjoy sucking up to seventeen-year-old prima donnas either, one must know what is required for a successful program.
Thus after Jags essentially fired himself by taking the interview with the New York Jets, and the Eagles were back recruiting themselves, this time for a new head coach. After the most tumultuous off-season in decades, the Eagles settled for the reliable Frank Spaziani.

It will be interesting to see how long the 62-year-old Italian will stick it out. Hopefully he can bring energy and genuine enthusiasm to the position. The Eagles success over the next five years or so under Spaz will probably be determined behind closed doors and in the living rooms of high school juniors and seniors.
The future of Boston College football is dependent on the stability at the head coaching position, and the impact of Spaz remains to be seen.

The CatholicTV App allows people to carry their faith on the morning commute.

Many Catholics enjoy attending daily Mass, but often a hectic schedule prevents them from getting to a church. CatholicTV, America’s Catholic Television Network, realized this problem and has taken steps to make the daily commute “holier.” The CatholicTV App for the iPhone or iPod Touch, released in July 2009, now enables Catholics to “Carry your Faith!”

The CatholicTV App is a free download from the iTunes App Store, because, according to the CatholicTV website, “How could we possibly put a price tag on what has been so freely given?”
The App features five main sections: Daily Mass, Daily Rosary, What’s New, Reflection, and Blogs. Each section contains several options for the faithful to peruse.

Daily Mass features Mass said by a different priest each day, including BC’s own Fr. Casey Beaumier. Masses from days past are also available, allowing viewers to go back and hear homilies from earlier in the week, or see a Mass they might have missed.

On Daily Rosary, users choose the mysteries they would like to pray and the location for the video to take place. The App is updated frequently, changing the location options, to give users different prayer experiences each time they click. Currently, the options are the Blue Hills, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the National Shrine, and the Basilica at the University of Notre Dame.

What’s New offers the latest news from CatholicTV including “Newsbreak” and this week on “The Day.” There is also a feature on Respect Life during October’s Respect for Life month.

For the month of October, Reflection features a five part series on Our Lady of the Rosary presented by Monsignor Jim Lisante. Past reflections still available include “Year for Priests”, “Reasons I Love Being Catholic” by Elizabeth Kelly, and “Encountering Christ in the Sacraments” by Fr. Dan O’Connell. These short videos provide insight and invite consideration by the viewer.

Blogs allows users to stay up to date on the goings on at CatholicTV. Upcoming interviews, which priests will be saying Mass, and other news are frequently updated, keeping users informed and current.

CatholicTV joined the airwaves in 1955, broadcasting a Pontifical Low Mass celebrated by then-Archbishop of Boston, Richard J. Cushing. In 1964 the name was changed to Boston Catholic Television, and in 2006 the station adopted the name CatholicTV. In addition to the television station, the network has an expansive website, a profile on Facebook, and a YouTube Channel. The iPhone App is the most recent endeavor by the network to be able to reach Catholics all across America.

The average rating on iTunes is 3.5 stars; the majority of reviews praises the App for its potential and content but criticize the loading speed. Hopefully, future versions of the App will improve the speed of this otherwise wonderful product.

Jay Fadden, General Manager of CatholicTV, encourages BC students to look into the App. So next time you have a half hour to spare, try using that time to pray the rosary or Daily Mass, or reflect on some part of your faith life, and consider using the CatholicTV iPhone App to help.

Smoking on campus has become a controversial topic.

American Spirit. Marlboro Light, Marlboro Red. Winston. Camel. Davidoff. Parisienne Orange, Parisienne Yellow. Gauloises. Smoking is bad. I am almost absolutely positively sure that 100% of college students have heard this phrase repeatedly throughout their 20-somewhat years of life. But what exactly does this mean and what does smoking do to you?

“It relaxes me when I have to study. It also keeps me awake and more attentive,” says one  anonymous female smoker.

“When I’m having issues with writing, having a cigarette relaxes me and makes me contemplate where I am going to go with my writing,” remarks a another anonymous male smoker.

“It relieves a lot of stress for me,” remarks a third anonymous male smoker.
Smoking prevents you from getting proper oxygen in your respiratory system. The American Council on Science and Health states on their website that “when you smoke a cigarette […] your lungs are directly exposed to the 4,000 toxic substances, toxics which interfere with the protection of your lungs against disease.” Additionally, smoking increases the possibility of developing rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, two joint diseases. Not exactly great if you’re an athlete of some sort, as many of the students are here at Boston College.

Also, many of us are still developing our nervous systems, and smoking disrupts that development. Furthermore, it increases the possibility of developing nervous-system related diseases such as MS (multiple sclerosis). The fact that smoking affects our nervous system in turn affects other parts of our daily life such as thinking, laughing, remembering, feeling pleasure…breathing. Just a thought you might want to consider.
And these are just a few problems you might encounter by smoking. Then there is always the yellowing teeth, bad breath, yellowing skin, the cravings and mood swings, the trouble you have going up stairs, the financial loss. The social stigma and stereotype—no one will ever really understand why people will knowingly hurt themselves. If you are still not convinced that smoking is bad, you could always consider the chances of developing cancer or stomach ulcers. You also have a higher chance of having mental problems, such as anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, or addiction.

So why do so many of us at BC smoke? According to the American Lung Association, over 20% of the college student population in the U.S. is currently addicted to cigarettes. You’d think that anyone would be turned off by smoking because of the lack of beneficial effects of smoking. And it certainly doesn’t seem to help you stay sane during your educational experience How did the students even start?

Anonymous female and male smokers respond that smoking really is not about the health issues. It is not like they want to develop cancer. It starts off as experimentation, rebellion, as a necessity to “fit in” or “be cool”. “I started smoking to help me lose weight” an anonymous female smoker says. “For me it was just there. I had friends who smoked and they offered me cigarettes politely so I tried one and started smoking regularly,” another anonymous male smoker states. And for others, like this anonymous male freshman, starting to smoke has a somewhat emotional take: “I started smoking because I realized the taste of it reminded me of my ex-girlfriend, who was a smoker.”

Students smoke for a variety of reasons that all range around the dealing of stress and school work. One anonymous female freshman explains, “There are no benefits to smoking. It’s just that it relaxes me and keeps me awake when I have to study.” For some, it is a combination of enjoying smoking and helping to reduce stress levels in order to be able to complete homework assignments. An anonymous male freshman confirms “as a philosophy major, when I have to write a difficult paper I find that smoking a cigarette is actually beneficial to helping me write. But I also enjoy the atmosphere of being able to go out during a nice day and smoke a cigarette and contemplate questions.” For the most part, the main reason smokers will come up with is dealing with stress issues. But is smoking really the best outlet?

Because Boston College is a competitive and hard-working school, it is normal that its students are stressed out. However, they shouldn’t have to turn to smoking a cigarette after a long day before being able to start their homework. Yet for many it is the only way they see that will help them. It has already been engrained in their minds that when they’re having trouble with a paper or some other assignment, a cigarette will relax them.
Why are there so many smokers on campus? My answer would be that college is stressful. Students are pressured to do well and this adds to that stress. Being that we are all different individuals, we deal with our stress and anxiety differently. Some take anxiety prescriptions, others have a more healthy option by going running or working off the tension, and even more students smoke to release stress and induce relaxation. To most students—especially those who smoke—health is second to achieving good grades. This says something about the level of academic pressure and competition at the university level. Perhaps we’ve been looking at the wrong issue here, maybe a more suitable question would be “Stressed students on campus: Why are there so many?”

The GOP has faces crippling infighting and a shifting identity.

What’s wrong with the right? The answer to this question is one that continues to daunt the Republican leadership and many of the Party faithful across America today. Much to the detriment of our nation, attempts to answer the question have been somewhat hidden from public view. What we continue to hear are the voices of the Bush, Us against Them, Republicans, despite their growing status as a minority within a minority.

The voices of moderation coming from the likes of Senator John McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Joe Scarborough are drowned out by right-wing fanatics more roused by intellectual lightweights like Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh who are more concerned with waving banners, comparing Obama to Hitler and depicting our President as a monkey than having a real debate about the policies that affect our country.

Just last week, Rush Limbaugh went on the air to attack McCain yet again about his efforts to reform the Republican Party in his own image, a prospect Limbaugh said would signal the death of Republicanism (I think Limbaugh is equating Republicanism with racism and bigotry, which would explain his concern).

A few weeks back, Glenn Beck dedicated a portion of his show to blaming the lack of God in our politics as the cause of all of our problems. In short, these desperate men contribute no intellectual or philosophical capital to ongoing debates about the proper role of government in our society; they are the epitome of tabloid politics yet they’ve become emblematic of what America associates with Republicanism. The view of Republicans as backward-thinking, racist, Christian fanatics has damaged our reputation, diluted our conservative message, and made America worse off in the process.

President Obama’s plummeting poll numbers have proven that Americans didn’t vote for Democratic policies in as much as they voted against eight years of what rightfully seemed to be Republican treachery to the very values Conservatives are supposed to espouse. Above all, Conservatives are expected to conserve.

We conserve our money, our rights, our environment, our military force, and our use of governmental power to do what individuals are fully capable of doing. We are supposed to be the party of opportunity, small government, fiscal discipline, and individual responsibility because these are the principles we hold dear and the principles that resonate with the vast majority of the American electorate.

So instead of allowing bigots like Rush Limbaugh or religious fanatics like Rick Warren to use our Party as a vehicle to advance a divisive, unproductive, and backward-looking agenda, we must think of ways to broaden our appeal and make our case to the American people in the same way the great Ronald Reagan did. He adopted a winning strategy by appealing to people’s intelligence and not their fears, and we must begin to do the same.

I end with a quote by Abraham Lincoln and ask every Republican who cares about his country to reflect on its significance for us today: “The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save out country.”

Christopher Columbus leaves a controversial legacy.

A little-noticed event transpired recently. BC invited indigenous poet Bobby González who refers to Christopher Columbus’ 1492 expedition to America as the “American Holocaust.” As González spoke, community members sat and watched, absorbed every word, and left enlightened. Why wouldn’t they? They now know the truth about Columbus, that he was a racist, genocidal, bloodthirsty maniac who is single-handedly responsible for permanently destroying the peaceful lifestyle of the indigenous peoples.

I ask, what happened to the glories of Columbus Day? On the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovering America, our great nation celebrated Columbus’ heroic legacy. The United States hosted the 1892 World’s Fair in Chicago when we celebrated the merge of western civilization and the western hemisphere. America featured displays documenting the great architectural and technological triumphs of our civilizations.

The displays included the White City and an exhibition showing innovations in electricity (Although I must acknowledge the disgusting racial overtones of this event.) Tourists from around the globe migrated to Chicago to admire the accomplishments of the world’s greatest democracy, a democracy that only became greater and freer as time progressed; the civilization that defeated imperialism, fascism, and communism, she who brought liberal democracy to the most backward and downtrodden of nations. Had not an Italian explorer in search of a western route to India stumbled upon fertile ground to expand western civilization, we cannot be certain that a democratic-republic in the Greek and Roman tradition could have flowered into the rose we call the United States of America.

Instead of celebrating the birth of the tradition which grants them the very right to speak out against Columbus Day, they see Columbus as a figure for imperialism, genocide, and racism. Consider the description of González’s talk: “The event description on the Hispanic Heritage Month Website also describes the content of González’s lecture, which “steps into the world of the Indigenous Peoples who encountered Columbus and subsequent ‘explorers.’ The American Holocaust was a great tragedy from which all peoples can draw important lessons.” Some universities have displayed more overt hostility toward Columbus Day. Brown University renamed Columbus Day “Fall Weekend,” a move that two out of three students supported.

If we consider the nature of the opposition to Columbus Day, we find a unity of two distinct groups who lead the charge. The first is an ultranationalist contingent of natives who use Columbus Day to celebrate their own heritage. Venezuelan socialist dictator Hugo Chávez helps lead the ultranationalist contingent, as he renamed the day “Day of Indigenous Resistance.”

It is at the university where the ultranationalist contingent unites with the left-wing faculty members who see Columbus’ discovery as the spread of European imperialism, colonialism, and capitalism. The view that colonialism is a necessary component of a capitalist society is a long-held opinion amongst communist and socialist scholars, including Vladimir Lenin (whose successors ironically established an empire of their own in Eastern Europe).

Countless university professors subscribe to this viewpoint and use it to justify undermining Columbus’ gift of western civilization to our hemisphere. Former University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill, who lost his position for plagiarism, is a perfect example. Churchill gained notoriety for referring to 9/11 victims as “Little Eichmanns,” a reference to Nazi Adolf Eichmann who engineered the Nazi final solution to perpetuate mass murder during the Holocaust.

As an opponent of the American capitalist system, Churchill would naturally believe that workers in the World Trade Center were not innocent victims but rather people who “formed a technocratic corps at the very heart of America’s global financial empire.” Given this view, it is not surprising that Churchill and professors of a similar mindset use Columbus Day to vent their frustrations with capitalism and American civilization in general.

I understand the reasons that liberal faculty members and ultranationalist contingents oppose Columbus Day. Yes, Columbus brought disease to native populations, and yes, natives were subjected to colonial rule for hundreds of years. But this makes Columbus no different from those who came either before him or after him. The civilizations in place in the Americas were there because they deposed a civilization that existed before they did. Empire is not a western idea. It has existed on every continent for all of history.

An attack on the day is not simply an attack on Columbus the man, but rather one on the bedrock of American democracy and civilization. As the world’s inheritor of Greek and Roman civilization, we cannot let a small ultranationalist contingent and a few liberals revise the historical record and destroy the pillars of our democracy.

Today we lose Columbus, and tomorrow we lose the founding fathers and the Constitution. The great irony of the leftist sympathizers and ultranationalists’ objections to Columbus Day is their failure to appreciate that only in western civilization do they have the right to host radical poets like González.

Arguing for the negative were senior Michael Stork and sophomore Brendan Benedict. Sophomore Ryan Folio and senior Ryan Malone argued the affirmative. After a show of hands by the almost full audience in McGuinn 121, Director of Debate John Katsulas determined that the negative team had won.

The debate consisted of four brief speeches, two from each team, and a short cross-examination after each one. Then the audience was allowed to participate and ask questions during a five minute question-and-answer period. Afterwards, one concluding speech from each team effectively ended the debate.

The crux of the affirmative’s argument rested on increasing competition within the healthcare market in order to lower costs and provide healthcare to a larger percentage of the American population. The healthcare market is “too stable” and the competition a public option would bring to the market would be greatly beneficial. In Folio’s opening argument, he called for “transparency and accountability in the market,” benefits that the public option would surely force the private sector to provide. The public healthcare plan would be on a level playing field with private, even though they would have lower administrative and, therefore, lower actual costs.

The negative, first argued by Michael Stork, contended that the affirmative dramatically overstated that lack of competition in the markets. As the affirmative had stated that over 95% of markets had a single seller controlling 30% of the market share, the negative cited the sheer number of private sellers – over 1,300. In addition, Stork argued that 30% is not even close to the percentage required to constitute a monopoly. Over 75% of Americans are happy with their private insurance. Th e negative argued that the costs are not rising because of a lack of competition, but because of the rising costs of innovation.

Ryan Malone, for the affirmative, then answered that competition was not a “pre-existing” condition in the healthcare market and he then quipped that the public option “will only kill monopoly… and old people.” Sarcasm aside, he then addressed arguments that stated that a single-payer system was the only possible outcome of a government-subsidized public option. People will still have the right to choose between public and private; the public option will never replace the private sector.

Brendan Benedict answered for the negative, saying that the public option will only be able to off er lower prices because of government subsidies, and “everything the government runs, it runs into the ground.” He explained how the demise of the private sector was inevitable, and the short steps the government would need to take turn the system into a single- payer one. Benedict also predicted the collapse of innovation in a system that included a public option.

The concluding speeches summarized the preceding arguments, and then the audience voted. Afterwards, Ryan Folio told The Observer that preparing for the debate is a “week-long process,” and that healthcare was chosen because “it’s contentious today.” He argued for the affirmative view, which is his true view on the issue. Brendan Benedict however argued for the negative, despite being pro-nationalized healthcare in reality.

The Fulton Debating society was established soon after BC was founded, and acquired its name in 1890. The team travels to tournaments several times a year, and holds debates at BC around 3 times each semester. On November 16th, they are debating the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

The Gorey Greene Halloween Books are the second in a series of seasonal features in Burns Library presenting collections coinciding with holidays. The first “holiday show-and-tell” included books from the Nicholas M. Williams Ethnological Collection that were highlighted in celebration of “International Talk Like a Pirate Day,” which took place on September 19.

The books’ illustrations have frequently been called macabre because many of them are quite odd and unsettling. Skeletons, murderers, and other frightening figures contribute to a dark series of illustrations that accompany the often-eerie text.

However, much of Gorey’s work is intended for children, including The Bug Book. Another such work, Dancing Cats and Neglected Murderesses, includes a series of illustrations showing felines engaging in a number of surprising activities, such as reading tarot cards and “juggling raisin cookies on the back porch.”

The collection includes fifteen books illustrated by Gorey, including a pop-up book, The Dwindling Party. Why We Have Day and Night and The Vinegar Works: Three Volumes of Moral Instruction, are also part of the collection. These works and many others were written, as well as illustrated, by Gorey. Several compilations of Gorey’s work are also available in Burns Library: Amphigorey, Amphigorey Too, and Amphigorey Also.

Gorey is known not only for his illustrations, but also for his fondness for pseudonyms. One of the books in the Edward Gorey collection at Burns Library was written under the pen name Hyacinthe Phypps, for example. Many of Gorey’s pseudonyms were anagrams of his own name. Among these were Raddory Gewe and E. G. Deadworry.

Edward St. John Gorey is also well-known for designing the animated opening sequence in the PBS Mystery! series. He published more than 100 works during his lifetime and provided illustrations for the work of many other writers and poets. Gorey had a great admiration of ballet, and he received the Tony Award for Costume Design for his work on the 1977 Broadway production of Dracula. His home on Cape Cod is now a museum, the Edward Gorey House.

The 15 books of the Edward Gorey collection come to Boston College from the library of Graham Greene, a distinguished English author, playwright, and critic. Burns Library has many other collections of letters and documents from Graham Greene’s library. While the Gorey special collection is available in the Burns Reading Room for Halloween, the books may be used in the library for research all year.

Gorey’s style might be characterized as vivid, evocative, graceful, and witty. The irony and strangeness in his writings offer fascinating insight into this author and illustrator. Visit Burns Library for a look inside the world of Edward Gorey. The library is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 am – 5 pm, Wednesday 9 am – 8 pm, and Saturday 10 am – 2 pm. Visitors are welcome.

“Pastoral oversight and guidance will be provided for groups of former Anglicans through a Personal Ordinariate, whose Ordinary will usually be appointed from among former Anglican clergy,” explains the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  The Ordinary, a term usually applied to diocesan bishops, would be a shepherd for former Anglicans, regardless of geographic diocesan boundaries.  This provision means former Anglicans entering the Catholic Church will be led by a priest or bishop who understands the uniqueness and importance of the Anglican spiritual tradition.

The announcement, writes the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is a response to “the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion.”
While ecumenical dialogue has been strong between Catholics and Anglicans since the second Vatican Council, some Anglican groups have strayed from traditional Christian beliefs by ordaining women as priests and bishops and by blessing homosexual partnerships.

This has prompted many Anglicans, who disagree with these changes in doctrine, to seek full communion with the Catholic Church.  The statement mentions groups of Anglicans, such as “the Anglican diocese of Amritsar in India, and some individual parishes in the United States,” who have already made this decision to become Catholic.

Catholic Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams said in a joint statement that “The Apostolic Constitution is further recognition of the substantial overlap in faith, doctrine and spirituality between the Catholic Church and the Anglican tradition … [T]his Apostolic Constitution is one consequence of ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.”  They also affirmed that “The on-going official dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion provides the basis for our continuing cooperation.”

Anglican Archbishop John Hepworth, representative of the Traditional Anglican Communion, said in a statement that “We are profoundly moved by the generosity of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI…this is an act of great goodness on the part of the Holy Father. He has dedicated his pontificate to the cause of unity.  It more than matches the dreams we dared to include in our petition of two years ago. It more than matches our prayers. In those two years, we have become very conscious of the prayers of our friends in the Catholic Church. Perhaps their prayers dared to ask even more than ours.”

Anglican Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh said in a statement that “While we believe that this provision will not be utilized by the great majority of the Anglican Church in North America’s bishops, priests, dioceses and congregations, we will surely bless those who are drawn to participate in this momentous offer.”

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, a prominent Catholic blogger, writes that “The doors to the Church are always open to those wishing to enter.  Now there is not only a door open to Anglicans, but also a house full of furniture.”

Zuhlsdorf, who refers to Benedict XVI as the “Pope of Christian Unity,” also believes this document is an important step in reuniting other separated groups, particularly the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX).  The SSPX, a group of traditional Catholics who disagreed with changes in the Church after the second Vatican Council, recently made headlines when Pope Benedict XVI remitted the excommunications of the four SSPX bishops who were illegitimately consecrated.  The Holy See has expressed its desire that the group be fully reunited with the Catholic Church.  This document could provide a framework for that unification.

The forthcoming Apostolic Constitution is an important part of the ecumenical movement, and reminds the Church that the movement’s end is not just dialogue and understanding, but full visible unity of Christ’s Church.

Benedict felt that Prague was a significant landmark to urge the world to follow the ethical principles of Christianity because, “Over all the centuries, the Czech Republic has been the meeting place for cultures.”

Benedict’s visit took place two months before the Czech’s Twentieth Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution of 1989, which peacefully disassembled a communist administration that persecuted Roman Catholics.

While at least 40,000 pilgrims crowded into Prague to come and see the Pope, some of the citizens of the Czech Republic felt apathetic about the Visit.

“When I think about his old-fashioned, even nonsensical views of the world, you can’t expect me to be among those who will line the streets to greet him,” said one disgruntled Czech citizen. Another felt his visit was a detriment to her nation’s economy. “It’s just a waste of money. At a time of economic crisis, when our salaries are going down, the visit is a useless investment.”

Reverend Federico Lombardi, the Pope’s spokesman said, “Secularism is so engrained in the modern Czech Republic the practice of religion is reduced to a minority.”

Pope Benedict XVI addressed this minority at the Visit to the “Holy Infant of Prague” by commencing with a speech that stressed how children should covet a relationship with Jesus or the “all-powerful God who became man.” He also encouraged young people not be attracted and captivated by consumerism.

“You are greatly loved by the Child Jesus, and you should return His love by following his example: be obedient, good, and kind. Learn to be, like Him, a source of joy to your parents. Be true friends of Jesus, and always turn to Him in trust.”

Throughout the mass, Benedict stated, “Those who deny God and appear to lead a comfortable life are in reality, sad and unfulfilled people.”

In his speech, Benedict asked the audience a confounding question many individuals consider when inquiring the meaning of religion, today. “We ask ourselves: In our day, is holiness still relevant? Or is it now considered unattractive and unimportant?”

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland, who served as secretary to Benedict’s predecessor, the late John Paul II, advised Europeans to observe Benedict’s message.

“It is a crucial moment for the future of Europe, and Benedict speaks like a prophet,” he told Sky TG24 television. “Don’t abandon the roots from which you grew, because a tree without roots dies. If Europe abandons these roots, the future is uncertain.”

Pope Benedict encouraged individuals to continue to see the beauty in God’s truth by concluding his speech with a quote by Franz Kafka, which states, “Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”

In a population where polls suggest that 10 million do not believe in God, the nation’s top churchman, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, was surprised to see so much response and confessed, “I have achieved almost nothing during my 20 years” as an archbishop.

“I shall treasure the memory of the moments of prayer that I was able to spend together with the Bishops, priests and faithful of this country,” Benedict said to the people in his farewell speech.

Many individuals came from all over the world just to hear the Pope’s message or even to see his face.

Twenty-one year old Lukas Jaska walked almost two hundred miles just to catch a glimpse of the pope and suggested it was essential for citizens to steer the negative secular view of the Church into a more positive and faithful direction.

“It is important for us to show that we’re just not an atheist nation—that there are believers here,” he said.

Overall, the pope’s journey was successful, considering there were no posters or billboards to promote his visit and the local media coverage was minimal.

Lombardi said the 82 yearold Pope was “very happy” with the response he received from one of Europe’s most secular nations.

Cycon was originally interested in social justice and therefore went to law school in order to pursue a career in environmental law. Once he found a job at a firm, though, he realized that he had trouble tolerating the surplus of individuals who spent their time not upholding the law, but rather trying to cheat it.  According to Cycon, the “best day of [his] life” was the day his law firm fired him.

After abandoning his love of law, Cycon began giving lectures at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Rhode Island, one of which at URI concerned the deforestation in Brazil. After his speech, Cycon was approached by a professor who spoke of a friend in Providence who founded “Coffee Kids,” an organization dedicated to buying coffee in third-world villages and conducting projects for social betterment, such as the building of wells in the villages. Out of “purely circumstantial” luck, Cycon happened upon this opportunity to create social change; he seized it.

However, after witnessing the building of a new well in Guatemala, Cycon realized that he wanted to do more than just charity work. Cycon knew that although acquiring obtainable water for the well was paramount to the village, the people’s lives would not be significantly impacted because they still did not have the necessary resources to provide better lives for their families. Cycon stressed that “charity is good, but not when it interferes with the possibility of real change.”

With this notion, Cycon developed the idea of Dean’s Beans, an organic, fair-trade coffee company that focuses on the maintenance of the environment and the betterment of economic and societal problems in the third-world countries from whom the coffee is purchased.
Dean’s Beans buys only 100% organic coffee, meaning the coffee does not contain the dangerous pesticides typically found in inorganic coffee that are dumped in third-world countries. As a result, the men, women, and often children handling the coffee in countries like Guatemala will not be in contact with life-threatening pesticides.

Additionally, Cycon has worked with his coffee suppliers to come up with a minimum price-per-pound of coffee, about $1.50, that will still ensure the coffee growers a well-nourished and cared-for family. In other words, no matter the fluctuation of the supply and demand for coffee, Cycon will never pay his coffee suppliers less than their minimum price-per-pound.

On the contrary, enormous coffee franchises like Starbucks have paid as little as 35 cents-per-pound to the coffee suppliers due to steep increases in the supply of coffee. Because it costs approximately 60 cents to grow a pound of coffee, the coffee growers in third-world countries were actually driven deeper into poverty while Starbucks saw its most successful corporate profit on record.

As Cycon noted, “fair-trade can    not make a living by killing the farmers.” In addition to guaranteeing his coffee suppliers no less than their minimum price, Dean also gives the farmers the opportunity to receive 60% of the value of their contract in advance. Although many companies do engage in fair-trade, few offer this “pre-financing” option.

However, even with these beneficial updates to the normal coffee company system, it is still difficult to “break the cycle of poverty.” Therefore, Cycon continues to work towards “people-centered development” enabled by “Coffee Kids.” He works with the coffee farmers and their villages to shape development programs based on the needs of the villages. For example, he recently devised a plan for reforestation in Peru that he is helping to fund. With donations from supporters like Cycon, the villagers helped create and manage the program, selected the trees for the new ecosystem, and paid for the labor.

In order to advocate for “social change and respect for farmers,” Cycon has used his public speeches, such as those at the United Nations, as platforms to make known his story and the success of his business. Although his business is profitable, Cycon maintains that Dean’s Beans is not focused on profit but rather on “social change and environmental sustainability.” He believes that other large companies, such as Starbucks, could adopt the same goals as his company and still turn a profit while improving the lives of the coffee farmers and their families.

Cycon encouraged his Boston College audience, the upcoming generation of business owners, to look toward the future of business and see what can be changed. He emphasized the fact that the world environment and economy will suffer the blows of business “until business changes its fundamental operating principles.” According to Cycon, our generation can make this change, do “good work in the world,” and continue to profit.

After waiting in Logan Airport for several hours due to typical Midwest weather, I finally landed in the Windy City and made the trek east via CoachUSA bus with a few other proud Eagles. My “What Rivalry” shirt got me some dirty looks, which was exactly my intention. After sitting in a bus for over two hours and not seeing a light for a solid half hour, we finally arrived on the “majestic” Notre Dame campus.

I was immediately taken aback by this Catholic school’s refusal to enter the twenty-first century. While I like the Gothic look of Gasson Hall and Bapst library, Notre Dame’s campus has the feel of the mid-950s. Everything the school does must be grandiose, otherwise it is unfit for these exalted people. After arriving late Friday night, we retired for the night after a rather tranquil evening at this prestigious university. I slept in Morrisey Manor, a typical Notre Dame dorm. From the outside one wonders if you are entering a chapel, an old British meeting house, or a living residence.

After waking up, we ate at the Notre Dame dining hall, which was filled with families and ardent ND followers. As I entered the dining hall nicknamed “Hogwarts,” due to its medieval appearance, the Notre Dame band played its fight song for the first of two thousand times throughout the day. I enjoyed wearing my “Take it to the Heights” SuperFan shirt among the sea of navy, green and gold.

While ND fans heckled us on the bus about SAT scores and their superiority, some fellow Eagles decided to intelligently respond while others ignored them and just slapped the bag.

We arrived in a supremely classy place that is the RV lot and observed the activities.

After whetting our appetites, we headed back to the stadium with some optimism and excitement. We were again verbally attacked for our mental deficiencies, but this time by a 75-year-old man who was there for Knute Rockne and the like. After finding general amusement in their entitlement, we ventured into the stadium. After getting my ticket checked fifteen times, we made our way up to section 119, row 21. After a migraine from voicing my displeasure with Jimmy Clausen and crew for four hours, and deeply pained by Shinskie’s play, we left the stadium disappointed and dejected. Everyone was clearly angry that we lost to these buffoons, but it was especially annoying because Notre Dame was completely beatable. If we did not shoot ourselves in the foot time after time we could have extended the streak.

It was quite comical when we left the stadium and heard several Notre Dame fans exclaiming, “We’re back on top!” I’m not sure what they’re on top of, if it is not the leprechaun. After avoiding the “candle lit” dinner and communal mass following the game, some BC people and I were forced to bring a little BC to ND. Being overwhelmed by Notre Dame’s attitude, we had to band together. It was extremely odd to experience what we did. It seemed as if they felt that God was on their side. As if He cared who won the game. It was weird to hear church bells tolling after a victory.

We attempted to ignore their delusions and have a good time for ourselves. Someone would attempt to bring up Uncle Dave’s play, or their championships won in leather helmets but we would not stoop to their level. We made the best of our remaining time in South Bend and thought of the greener pastures back on Comm. Ave.

God was in the whisper. But can our society—our generation especially—hear Him? A technological overload of noisy static has besieged most of us since childhood. Texting, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube—all these instantaneous modes of communication have rapidly developed and permeated into our lives that we experience them as givens.

Look at Facebook, the most notorious socializing tool among our peers. A typical session is filled with the static of notifications, looking at pictures taken for the sake of taking pictures, and status updates we do not remember ten minutes later.
And what do we get each time we log on? What do we have to show for it?

You do not come away from technology rested, but emptier than before you used it. The computer screen, and the phone screen act in the same capacity—as a drug that robs our time and saps our energy, giving us the fix of a pseudo-social encounter while depriving us of that face-to-face interaction so integrally essential to human experience.

It would be a sad thing to find oneself ten or twenty years later having only lived vicariously through a screen. So start now—set aside 30 minutes a day of silent contemplation where you clear the static from your mind.

On those warm days we still have left, stake out a spot on the Bapst lawn and just sit and listen.  Allot some time for sitting in St. Mary’s Garden or visiting St. Mary’s Chapel. In small reprieves like these, perhaps we can hear more attentively that whispering voice which is our Creator.

Some might scoff at this as unproductive, but in the grand scheme, how wasteful is it really to listen to the wind or see the clouds go by? So long as we have tunnel vision while we walk and text at the same time, we will never be able to discern His presence in the world and in others.

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis examined the strategy underscoring Satan’s operations through correspondence between a fictional demon and his nephew.

In one letter, the uncle extolled the very noise that seems to characterize the ubiquity of technology in our times.

The demon uncle wrote, “We will make the whole universe a noise in the end. We have already made great strides in this direction as regards the Earth. The melodies and silences of Heaven will be shouted down in the end.”

If 1 Kings has it right that God is in the whisper, then surely the conjecture by C.S. Lewis that the Devil seeks to fill our lives with static is not at all “just” fiction. Noise that keeps us from contemplative awe of God is surely the objective of the Evil One.

To each of us, then, the question is posed, “Will you live your life dominated by noise or centered on the whisper?” In the end, it makes all the difference.

The rise in the number of students in the Pre-Med program is good news for the babyboomers, who will be in dire need of their services in the next two decades. Although perhaps that number will steadily begin dropping if President Obama and the Democrats get the one thousand page controversial healthcare bill passed.

The sudden increase of twenty million people to a healthcare program would send me running from that profession, either that or the lack of a glass ceiling for malpractice suits. Nonetheless, I wish you, happy seventeen hundred undergraduates, the best of luck!

It is gratifying to see the Slavic and Eastern Languages and Literature Department continue to grow by leaps and bounds in under a decade from just seven majors to forty-eight. Hopefully, the administration will allow more majors and minors to develop out of this expansion.

Perhaps by the time I graduate in 2011, BC will feel compelled that it has enough majors and minors in this department to finally getting around to naming the Asian American Scholarship after twenty-five years. It would be a shame to wait another decade for this scholarship to be named.

Next, to the Carroll School of Management: Despite the rough waters the economy has faced in the past two years, CSOM students seem to have faith that finance is still the wave of the future.

Add on that the Finance Department is ranked in the top twenty-five of the country and it is no wonder why it remains year in and out one of the most popular majors in the business school.

Accounting wrestled out marketing as the second most popular major in CSOM, a feat not accomplished since 1994. Perhaps this change can be accounted for all the changes currently underway in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after all the debacles last year with bonuses.

Economics, shared between A&S and CSOM, also continued its upward march. The major, a popular one for drop-out pre-med students, has been undergoing changes in the past year. For new freshmen, the number of electives has been cut from five to four, and a new class has been added under its required intermediate courses. However, I have often heard economics majors complain that there are too few electives to choose from and not enough professors in the economics department.

We have often heard the quote that “your undergraduate major” does not matter in the long run. And perhaps this is true. However, that does not give leeway to begin budget cutting.

Let me be clear, this is not an indictment against the administration but rather, in my opinion, a helpful set of guidelines. I realize BC has fallen on hard times from the economic crisis, however, now is the time to take a hard look at what can be done to make students enjoy their time here at BC.

Look, Obama seems like a really nice guy, maybe I would enjoy spending some time with him, but this is the Nobel Peace Prize we are talking about. This award is not like the prize everybody gets at the second grade spelling bee just for showing up.

Obama, just under 50, has, I have to admit, done some impressive things. For one, he is the president of the United States. That in itself stands out pretty well on the resume of life. And to add on to that, he is the first black man to have taken this honored position. I’d say that those are two highly impressive achievements, and I think we can all agree on this issue, Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal.

But despite his few presidential successes, I wouldn’t go so far as to say he has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” In fact for the past year or so, he really has not done too much, especially in regards to these issues.

Now, I’m not going to say as a conservative who disagrees with many of Obama’s policies, that he never will deserve this award, but it is maybe a little early. Perhaps by this time next year Obama will have earned the Prize, but I think our Nobel friends over in Norway were a little premature.

Despite my criticisms of Obama, I have to say the world does love him (for some strange reason that I’m unsure of). And he has softened the image of the United States, renewing some national friendships that had suffered under President Bush. But just because a lot of people like him doesn’t mean he should win this award. If that was the case then maybe Brad Pitt should win and maybe Yasser Arafat shouldn’t have.

To compare Obama with such greats as the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Mother Teresa is absurd.  However, this Prize has become a celebration of a person’s temporary fad-like successes. We have Obama this year and then, just a few years ago, we had Al Gore. Al Gore, the man who claimed he invented the Internet and who made a documentary because, well, he didn’t have much else to do. If he cared so much about the environment, maybe instead of making a movie about how much he cares, he could have done something serious about it when he was the second in command of the country. Talk is cheap, and practically worthless in regards to Mr. Gore.

However, I hope that in the coming years President Obama will accomplish enough to make him worthy of such an honor. But at this point in his presidency, it’s just not right. I’ll let the President have the last word here as he sums up what I’ve just told you: “I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize.” Thanks for the honesty, Mr. President.

The Screaming Eagles Marching Band and Irish Dancers kicked off the night with some dance and music to the rhythms of the Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” This entertained the students for the time but was just the appetizer. From the getgo, the host set the tone for the night as he said, “Now let’s get pumped for the pigskin battle this Saturday…which we have won six straight years, I might add.” At that mocking gesture, the students went wild with BC pride.

Soon thereafter, the host introduced our 2009-2010 Boston College hockey team. Head Coach Jerry York was the first to step up to the podium, and, in a show of great confidence, he said, “We are looking for a double- header sweep here…we are going to knock off the Irish on Friday and give our football team a chance to complete a sweep on Saturday.”

Senior Captain Matt Lombardi mirrored his coach’s enthusiasm as he stepped up to the microphone and said, “We are going to start off the weekend with a win because we are one school united in the purpose of beating Notre Dame.”

The festivities continued with trivia questions aimed to test the hockey players on their knowledge of Boston College football history. The host asked for four volunteers from the team to come forward, one person from each respective class. Freshman Parker Milner, Sophomore Tommy Cross, Junior Joe Whitney, and Senior Ben Smith all stepped up to the plate.

The questions dealt with Doug Flutie and his Hail Mary pass, all-time BC Bowl wins, and the NFL superstars the school has produced. The hockey players knew their stuff , but the best question was saved for last.

The host asked, “In what year did Boston College last lose a game to the Irish?” The first three answers to choose from were tempting, but the players answered with a resounding “D. Never.” Laughter filled the plaza.

Once again, the Screaming Eagles Marching Band came out onto the plaza and played a tune for the students whose strained vocal cords could use the break.

Then, the members of the Boston College cheerleading squad joined in with some dancing and, soon enough, threw free t-shirts that read “Bleed Maroon and Gold” to the crowd.

Afterwards, it was time for the main course. Boston College Head Football Coach Frank Spaziani led the team onto the stage and took the podium. As the throng of students cheered and applauded, Coach Spaziani thanked everyone in attendance for coming out that night as well as for supporting the team so far this year. Spaziani continued, “You guys come early, you stay late, and you stay loud and enthusiastic and these guys and myself – well, we appreciate it. It helps us play.”

Coach Spaziani handed the microphone to Senior Captain Mike McLaughlin. Although Spaziani did not guarantee victory in the “Holy War,” McLaughlin was not quite as generous towards the Fighting Irish. The senior captain said, “I guarantee you we are going to go do our thing at 3:30 out in South Bend on Saturday…I guarantee you that. You know these guys… these guys, we’ve beaten them in the past for a long time and it’s not by mistake. We are preparing this week as hard as we can and we are going to bring home a “W” for you guys on Saturday.”

Sophomore Will Thompson spoke next and, just as the others had done, stressed the importance of the fans thus far into the season as well as the impact their support would provide on game day in South Bend. Thompson said, “Whether you are RVing or flying to South Bend, or just staying back in the dorms, give your support.”

The trivia questions picked up once more, this time to test the football players on their acumen of Boston College hockey. The host asked for four volunteers; freshman Dave Shinskie, sophomore Montel Harris, and seniors Jim Ramella and Nick Rossi came forward.

The last question posed was the most memorable: “Who did Boston College beat in the 2008 NCAA Championship game?” The possible answers: A. Notre Dame, B. Notre Dame, or C. Notre Dame. With that question, the pep rally had achieved its purpose: school pride ran rampant and the students were united in their competitiveness for the Fighting Irish.

The night ended with Dave Shinskie and Codi Boek throwing footballs out to the student crowd. At this time, it was pitch black outside. On any other night, such disregard of the darkness would have been considered a safety hazard, but tonight was different.

The essential question that should be considered is whether or not religion causes atrocities by its very nature or if there is a secondary causation which follows the practice of religion in certain situations. Upon careful consideration, it must be the case that the latter is true. Religion is, in some instances, accompanied by passion. Passion, is the most fundamental feeling which causes violence. Handling this passion is the key to avoiding violent confrontations between segments of civil society that are passionate about two diametrically opposed ideas, concepts, or entities.

The problem here is the passion, and not the cause of the passion. The two concepts are related but not nearly identical. Consider that murderous riots have resulted from relatively simple soccer matches. While this would be unthinkable in the United States, and not necessarily just because the U.S. is extremely apathetic when it comes to soccer, these riots are not unheard of in many Latin American countries, where soccer is of primary importance. In atheistic, or even materialistic societies, economic concerns can cause armed conflicts (oil anyone?). The larger point is that anything that is of a primary importance to a large group of people can cause violence.

If mankind really wanted to solve conflict once and for all it would have to abolish passion; but it is this passion that makes mankind human at its very core. Love for one’s family, country, and yes, even religion, are what makes us who we are. It gives us a reason to get up in the morning, but it also raises the possibility that we will have fundamental disagreements with other groups of people. Abolishing religion would not take these conflicts away, but just makes us most passionate about other concerns. While we could only eliminate passion in theory but not in fact, would we really choose to live a life of meaningless apathy instead of valiantly living for a cause and trying to control the passion that drives us?

In reality it is the few that give most a bad name in this instance. A vast majority of religious people are peaceful, preferring reason and logic to rule over the evil tendencies of a vindictive heart. Religious institutions are often the largest philanthropic organizations in society, and the Catholic Church educates more children than any civil institution in the world. Most people consider religion to be most saving aspect of the human race.

Our human passion has moved us to provide amazing feats which credit both the human race and our creator, but it also the ability to contort our greatest aspect. It is this contortion, and not religion itself, which injures and harms.

Michael Reer, Editor-in-Chief of The Observer at Boston College, stressed the mission of the newspaper in his defense of the article – as an initiator of campus dialogue and education on important issues and concerns.  The Observer is a non-profit publication that functions to promote Catholic ethics, values and concerns, and personal responsibility.  As such, its intention is never to alienate or polarize specific groups, but rather to bring those groups together in campus conversation.

Reer argued that “As being a responsible member of campus media, we need to follow up on these issues…attending these panels and listening to the students gives us the opportunity to do just that, so a lot of tonight is going to be me listening to all of you [the students].”

Jennifer Liao, President of the Asian Caucus, said, “The first thing that I saw was people just getting angry, almost as if their own mothers had been insulted, or as if the core of their own being had been greatly damaged by these comments.”  Liao contrasted this with her own, much milder response to the issue at hand: “We should be quick to listen and slow to anger.”  The panelists and everyone else in attendance nodded in agreement with her statement.

Furthermore, Reer stressed the difficulties inherent in managing a newspaper, but not as an excuse so much as an opportunity to harbor an understanding.  For example, when he is faced with the task of scrutinizing his section heads concerning possibly offensive articles, Reer said, “I have to ask myself if the decisions were made in a prudent fashion and with the best interests of the Boston College community at heart.”

Sometimes, these decisions do result in controversial articles, but does that mean these articles should not be published in the first place?  If the article had not been published, there would have been no panel to discuss the issue.

Reer presented the issue from the newspaper’s perspective, arguing that “we have to struggle in order to find a delicate balance between establishing a newspaper that will sustain a large readership among Boston College students and promote our Catholic heritage, ethics, and values.  Our hands are tied between attempting to initiate and sustain a meaningful conversation on campus and still remain appealing to the student body and community at large…in this case, we believe that Boston College students want to read pieces that help begin this campus dialogue.”

Dean Karl Bell, who was moderating this panel discussion, said that “as offensive as this article was (in its language), it did spark an engaging dialogue and had truth in it.”  Bell continued, “Everyone does like to stick together in their own little ethnic enclaves and that has to change.”

Bell sincerely urged those in attendance to educate themselves on this issue, to “read up on their literature and their facts so that they will be able to engage in meaningful conversation.”  The other panelists concurred with this, especially Ines Maturana Sendoyna, who is the Director of the Office of Student Programs.

Sendoyna reflected that, “people do tend to gravitate to those individuals of their own ethnicity and cultural background…we must improve integration and become more culturally competent and conscious.”  She divided this “cultural competence” into three parts: cultural sensitivity, knowledge, and empathy.

In his concluding remarks, Reer said, “So much good has come from that article with regards to initiating dialogue…it creates a spark, no matter what the source.  To have the courage to stand by the article and begin dialogue on this important issue is something that I, and hopefully a lot of other people, can learn from.”

During the question and answer session afterwards, one teacher asked the panelists to elaborate on what the audience should take away from all this.  The consensus among them was to educate ourselves, initiate dialogue, and reach out to others who are different from us.

Working off this point, one student described his own reaction to the controversial article: “I wasn’t angry about the article itself, just curious.  We have to come to understand and appreciate someone and their background before we rush to judgment.  And in order to do this, we must be willing to step out of our comfort zone.”

Often these days, people are unwilling to do just that: to step out of their comfort zone and engage with others who are different from ourselves.  Reer concluded that it is The Observer’s hope that some good might come from this controversial article, and that it might be able to act as a unifying, rather than a dividing, factor.

Amongst the BC Green shirts and Philosophy majors, Mr. Cycon talked about the role Dean’s Beans played in the lives of its coffee bean suppliers and the simple ways in which larger coffee companies, such as Green Mountain and Starbucks, could dramatically impact the lives of the millions of people involved in the coffee bean production industry, at little cost to their profits.

Dean’s Beans started when Dean Cycon was fired from his job working as an environmental attorney. Deprived of a paycheck, he still wanted to work to change the lack of social consciousness in the world of commercial trade. He hoped to start a company that paid socially just (and therefore higher) prices for coffee beans while simultaneously charging low prices for its coffee.

He aimed to reinvest a portion of any profits back into the coffee-producing community. The goal of his experimental company was to remain fairly profitable.

Cycon’s business model was a success. He described a steadily growing profit margin and market share, despite an overall decline in U.S. coffee consumption.

The portion of profits reinvested in coffee-producing communities has, over the years, led to great social improvements. There are now wells in Ethiopia, so that the women and children of the village no longer have to spend all day walking up and down a mountain to get water for the coffee plants. Deforestation around Latin American villages has been reversed through the replanting of trees, reviving a stagnant lumber industry.  And thousands of children are receiving an education they would otherwise be without.

Cycon’s business model was not the only topic of his discussion, however. His other main talking point was the deception of the public perpetuated by larger coffee companies. He cited Starbucks as an example of one company that claimed to be “Free Trade,” when in reality only four per cent of its coffee beans are bought in that process.

He estimated that to be fully, one hundred per cent Free Trade, Starbucks would have to pay approximately the equivalent of seven cents a share. Their share price is $20.27 as of October 23rd.

Despite his self-proclaimed social activist roots, Dean Cycon has proven himself a very capable businessman. He founded a multi-million dollar company focused not solely on its bottom line, but primarily on conducting business ethically.

His business practices have released third world communities from the grip of poverty. His outspoken opposition to the deceptive policies of larger corporations has raised awareness of their malfeasance. His lecture was remarkable. But there was one thing that didn’t make sense – why were there so few business students there?

The goals of the expansion include to “commit Boston College to becoming the leader in liberal arts education among American universities” and to “become the world’s leading Catholic university and theological center,” according to the website for the Institutional Master Plan.

Although these changes will unquestionably be transformative for the University’s reputation, residents in the communities around Boston College have expressed doubts and dissatisfaction about the construction. One of the major concerns BC’s Brighton neighbors have raised is the dangerous impact the construction will have on aqueducts underneath the campus that supply water to nearby towns.

Moreover, as a May 2009 article on Boston.com explained, “Members of Brighton Neighbors United, a group that focuses on preserving green space and limiting institutional expansion, came out in force and vocally opposed BC’s plans, arguing that the university had steam-rolled its proposal through the process.”

The Boston College administration has responded to such attacks with a statement on the Institutional Master Plan website, which emphasizes the school’s commitment “to engaging the community in an open dialogue and inclusive process that gathers input from interested stakeholders in the neighborhoods surrounding our campus. The University’s goal is to establish ongoing communication with the community and identify areas where we can agree on resolutions to shared issues.”

The site also includes a table that delineates an “up-to-date list of the community outreach efforts undertaken by Boston College since 2004.”
The most important question we, as students and members of the Boston College community, must ask ourselves is how the new “town and gown” tension will impact our safety, not only on campus but also in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Currently, BC has an A in safety in The College Prowler, a guide that outlines various and sundry facts about different colleges for prospective students. Will the construction change this ranking?

The attack of a female student on campus during the early morning hours of May 5, 2009 by an unidentified older male indicates that the boundaries between campus and community are unquestionably blurred. In January, furthermore, a male student was involved in an altercation with locals that ended with the student being hospitalized for stab wounds.

Although these events are not necessarily related to the Master Plan, students and staff alike have shown concern for the changing nature of safety on campus.  Last week, the Boston College Police Department published a special edition of Callbox, a newsletter on neighborhood policing.  The issue includes a section on neighborhood safety that provides students with key tips on how to develop habits and common sense to avoid any problems while traveling around the city.

After the attack on campus in May, students began the “Swipe for Safety” campaign, which was aimed at changing the dorms a student can unlock with an access card.  Their petition, as posted on the website “Students Take Action” included the following: “It is our opinion that students should at least have access to other dorms near their own after midnight, and access at all hours to dorms that house other members of their class. We would also like to petition for BC to consider a situation where a student is attacked somewhere other than around their building; in such a situation, the student is locked out of dorms which could provide a safe haven for the attacked.” The group’s goal of 1000 supporters had not been reached by press time.

Tension between a university and its surrounding community is nothing new.  In fact, Yale University has experienced conflicts—and even violent riots—with the residents of New Haven, Connecticut since 1806.  The Princeton Review even publishes a list entitled “Town and Gown Relations Strained,” a list of the colleges with the greatest problems with locals.

This year, Trinity College was ranked first.  Boston College was not ranked, but that does not mean we should discount community strain as having an impact on safety.

Other colleges that have undergone large development plans have witnessed the dangerous consequences that can occur when the neighbors do not agree with the project. For example, in 1992, Rowan University, in New Jersey, formerly known as Glassboro State, received a $100 million gift from Henry and Betty Rowan.  At the time, this was the largest donation to a public college in history, and for this reason, the school was renamed to honor these two benefactors.

On October 27, 2007, the University’s homecoming weekend, student Donald Farrell, 19, was attacked and killed by locals on campus at a location that was visible from a major intersection. The town itself is notorious for resenting the growing status of Rowan University, which is ranked in US News & World Report for its engineering program and is also well known for its education school.

At Boston College, we have not—and hopefully never will—experience the kind of tragedy that took place at Rowan, especially since, despite efforts from America’s Most Wanted, Farrell’s killers have never been caught.  At the same time, however, we must be mindful of the changing nature not only of our campus but also of our relationship with the local community. We must recognize that our success comes at a cost. We must work to make sure that cost is strictly the $1.6 billion allotted for the expansion plan and not our safety or our lives.

Bishop Zygmunt Szsczęsny Felińsk (1822-1895) was the founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary.  He was the archbishop of Warsaw, and as Pope Benedict said during the homily, “a great witness of faith and pastoral charity in very difficult times for the nation and for the Church in Poland”.

He spoke out against the shedding of blood during the uprising against the Russian annexation of Poland in 1863, and he defended the oppressed after the uprising was put down. The Russian Czar exiled him to Siberia, where he spent twenty years. “In every situation he stuck steadfastly to his trust in Divine Providence … may his dedication to God and to men, full of trust and of love, become a shining example for all the Church.”
Francisco Coll (1812-1875) founded the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As a Dominican, Coll’s “passion was preaching, for the most part in an itinerant manner and following the form of ‘popular missions.’” His audience was the people of Catalonia, and he strove to lead them to a profound encounter with God.

“Francis Coll reached the hearts of others because he transmitted what he himself lived with passion, that which burned in his heart: the love of Christ, his devotion to Him. [He] founded the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the goal of providing an integral education to children and youth…[and] animating our hope with his Word of life.”

Jozef De Veuster (1840-1889) was a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He is more commonly known as Fr. Damiaan. In 1863 he left his home in Flanders and traveled to the Hawaiian Islands and then the Island of Molokai to proclaim the Gospel to the lepers living there. He therefore exposed himself to their disease and “became a suffering servant, a leper with lepers, during the last four years of his life.”

“To follow Christ, Father Damiaan did not only leave his native country, but he also risked his health: therefore he received eternal life, as the Word of Jesus that was proclaimed in the Gospel today says.”

Brother Rafael Arnáiz (1911-1938) was an Oblate of the Trappists of Saint Isidore de Duenas. “He said yes to the proposal to follow Jesus, in an immediate and decisive way, without limits or conditions.”

“Brother Rafael, still close to us, continues to offer, through his example and his works, a fascinating journey, especially for young persons who are not satisfied easily, but who aspire to the full truth, the most inexpressible joy, reached for the love of God.”

Jeanne Jugan (1792-1879) was the foundress of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor. “[She] is like a beacon to guide our societies which must always rediscover the place and unique contribution of this period of life.” She gave up her bed one night for a homeless woman, and eventually began begging for the poor and homeless.

“Jeanne lived the mystery of love by peacefully accepting darkness and divesting herself of all material possessions until her death… May Saint Jeanne Jugan be for the elderly a living source of hope and for the persons so generously placing themselves at their service a powerful stimulus to pursue and develop her work.”

Benedict concluded his homily with, “Dear brothers and sisters, let us give thanks to the Lord for the gift of sanctity that today shines in the Church with a singular beauty… I would like to invite all of you to let yourselves be drawn by the shining example of these Saints, to allow yourselves to be guided by their teachings, so that our whole existence can become a hymn of praise to the love of God. May we gain this grace through their heavenly intercession and, above all, the maternal protection of Mary, Queen of the Saints and Mother of humanity. Amen.”