Understanding the health and carbon absorption of trees on campus is vital to BC’s commitment to improving the environment.

Beginning in the summer of 2008, the Boston College Office of Sustainability and Energy Management has endeavored to determine the carbon footprint,or the measurement of carbon dioxide emission, of the entire campus. As a part of this ongoing project, teams of two students each have been taking  measurements concerning the amount of carbon that trees on campus sequester.

Over the past two summers,the students studied the species,health, and environmental benefits,of the trees on the Brighton and Chestnut Hill campuses.They used tools to identify the characteristics of the trees, including books and measuring devices, such as a klinometer,which functions to determine the height of the trees. When examining the health of the trees, students looked for fungus,cracks, and cavities. In the process,the most important equipment the students utilized were handheld GPS devices that assisted in locating specific trees.Using the GPS, the students also logged questions about the leaves, barks, and seeds.

The study supports the initiative of Boston to plant 100,000new trees by 2020. The university hopes transcribe the data about the trees on campus within city limits.  Furthermore, the project comes as part of the Boston College Institutional Master Plan.The Office of Sustainability and Energy Management has looked at the amount of electricity, heat,and use of Boston College vehicles,including maintenance vans and BCPD patrol cars, all of which increase the size of the carbon footprint. In addition to the trees, the office inspected the efforts to recycle and compost food in the dining halls, which are other methods of decreasing the footprint.

As Deirdre Manning, the Director of Sustainability and Energy Management, explains,“The calculation of the carbon footprint as of June was a large number, which is not surprising.We are 219 acres and have 6.5million square feet of building space. We are a small city for all intents and purposes. We experience a lot of activity on campus everyday.”

“The number of trees on campus is not an awful lot in comparison to other schools like Virginia Tech,which has a lot more space. It is still important,however,that we are bringing this issue to people’s attention,”Manning elaborates.

Dr. John Ebel, Director of the Weston Observatory at Boston College and a professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics,who is not associated with the project, agrees. “It is always important to promote environmental awareness, improve our waste and energy output,and get people involved. This project is very, very good.”

“Many people think, ‘I’m just one little person. What can I do to improve the environment?’The fallacy in this thinking is that if everyone does something,we can greatly improve the environment.This project is one step in the right direction. If every university, every landowner,every person calculated their carbon footprint, the impact would be huge,” Ebel believes.

Manning says that the importance of the project in relation to the Master Plan also lies in the involvement of students.“The project is great because it incorporates the educational mission. It involves students and allows them to serve BC in a worthwhile endeavor. They are helping BC by providing valuable information through action.”

The university is also looking at ways to integrate the project into the curriculum. Two professors in the Biology Department,Colleen Hitchcock and Serena Moseman, are new to the project and are hoping to turn it into a class activity. In an e-mail, Moseman expressed here enthusiasm for the project and wrote, “I’ve just invited a student who is involved to visit my Ecology lab class. He will show them how they can participate in the Cstorage calculations for trees on campus.”

Thus far, students working on the project have measured over 4,000 trees. During the upcoming summer and fall, the  trees on the Newton campus will be calculated. For more information on energy and conservation at Boston College, visit the Office of Sustainability andEnergy Management website at www.bc.edu/sustainability and www.bc.edu/dormenergy, which describes energy use on campus.

Theology Professor Margaret Schatkin Lecturing to Students in Greek Patrology

Professor Margaret Schatkin, a longtime professor in Boston College’s theology department, recently published extended research on the Biblical analysis  surrounding the Catholic doctrine of Marian virginity. A specialist in patristic studies, Schatkin has been working for several years to help better understand the relationship between the teachings of the Catholic Churchand Matthew 1:25, which reads,“And [Joseph] knew her [Mary]not till she had brought forth her first born son: and he called his name JESUS” (King James Version).

In her research, Schatkin  suggests that an error has occurred in the Greek version of the New Testament, possibly the result of either a smudge or a miscopy. Schatkin suggests that if two of the Greek letters were interchanged, the entire verse would be different, suggesting a sense of permanence to Mary’s virginity instead of a temporary nature.

Schatkin’s research, whichhas been ongoing for several years, grew out of an effort toanswer a student question about Marian virginity. Not initially understanding how Catholic teaching conformed to the Biblical implications of Matthew 1:25,Schatkin appealed to several Jesuits on campus, who were equally miffed. As she looked deeper into the Greek origins of the New Testament, Schatkin became more intrigued with the finer points of the script, and before long she noticed irregularities in the Greek verse which she believes clouded the original intentions of the evangelist. As she explains it, “The problem lies in the implication (from Greek grammar) that he (Joseph) did know her after she gave birth.”Eventually, Schatkin took a research leave, during which she formulated the research that appears in De Maria Numquam Satis.

The book is edited and produced by Professor Judith Gentle,an adjunct professor of theology at Franciscan Universityof Steubenville. Gentle also has a BC connection, having received her doctoral degree in theology in 2001. She lauds the contributions of Schatkin to the work as a whole, especially noting her expertise in patristic studies. “Dr.Schatkin’s superb command of both linguistic tools and the patristic tradition are highly evidenced in this article.€ Not only does she use her usual outstanding scholarship to support the Truth of Our Lady’s perpetual virginity,and therefore her Divine Maternityof God the Son, but she also substantiates the complementary Truth of St. Joseph’s virginity, which is essential to his being the foster-father of the Divine Child, Jesus Christ.”

Schatkin and Gentle met at Boston College while Gentle was writing her graduate thesis on the relationship between Mary and redemption. Schatkin,who was already a BC professor,served as a reader for the dissertation,which was eventually published. Gentle knew about Schatkin’s research as she was putting together the book and characterized her participation as an absolute “must.”

De Maria Numquam Satis was released on November 28,2009 and can be found through the inter-library loan system at Boston College. The authorspublished in the book hope that it can appeal to a wide audience,but it will probably be most useful to academics considering the meticulous nature of the research done within it.

Boston College Pro-Life Club Students after a Mass at the Catholic University of America.

Friday the 22nd of January marked the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v Wade which stated that denying women access to abortion is a violation of due process of law.  In protest of the decision, seen by critics as a clear case of judicial activism, a reading into the constitution of “rights” or “privileges” not contained or implied therein, thousands of pro-life activists joined the annual March for Life in our nation’s capitol.  Some statistics claim that marchers numbered upwards of a quarter of a million.  Most marchers hope an annual presence in Washington will be one strong factor among many leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, eventually annihilating the need for a march in the first place.

Aside from gathering en masse, protestors normally hear from respected authorities in the pro-life world.  Past speakers have included Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Feminists for Life, Presidents Ronald Regan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.  Benedict XVI, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, has sent written messages in the past, encouraging the pro-life movement and voicing his appreciation for the enthusiasm exhibited by today’s youth.  Current U.S. President Barack Obama, who has stated that should his daughters “make a mistake” he would not wish them to be “punished” with a child, has not been in attendance despite invitations to speak.

Boston College students at the March for Life in Washington, DC

Although personally unable to attend this year’s march, I was able to fly into Washington to participate in the Students for Life of America’s (SFLA) annual conference at the Catholic University of America (CUA).  SFLA represents the largest gathering of pro-life students nationwide.  The conference has grown in size from 400 in 2007 to 1,200 in 2010, and continues to be a source of strength and support in the pro-life movement.

Despite arriving at 8 AM and not finishing until almost 9 PM, the long day hindered no one’s learning experience.  Being surrounded by fun-loving and likeminded people provides the strength and confidence necessary for pro-life work in the coming year.  We were fortunate enough to hear testimony from women and men alike who have been negatively affected by the violence of abortion, lawyers who provided information on student’s legal rights on campus, and members of the media industry on broadcasting pro-life messages in the media, to name a few.  Rep. Chris Smith made an appearance and gave a brief speech encouraging pro-life students in the work.  He said he is proud to stand up for children no matter where they are, in the womb or in Darfur.  The keynote address was given by social activist and author Phyllis Schlafly, whose spunk, wit, and common sense were a refreshing breeze over the almost violent rhetoric heard on both sides of the abortion debate.

Unfortunately, due to the long duration of the conference, many speakers do nothing beyond repeat what has been said earlier in the day.  Even with an issue as complex and trying as abortion, there is only so much to be said in one day to a crowd of likeminded people.  Also unfortunate, many speakers, reveling in the comfort of addressing a homogeneous crowd of pro-lifers, take the time to divulge in base rhetoric or overemotional, bombastic speech.  Some speakers throughout the day tended to sound almost like preachers delivering sermons.  A levelheaded, articulate, and reasonable approach to being pro-life was, sadly, a rarity at the SFLA conference.  For that reason, I was extremely impressed by speakers who broke from this pattern, such as Clark Forsythe of Americans United for Life.  He spent about 45 minutes giving a lesson on the virtue of prudence and how it can, when properly understood, guide successfully each individual decision of the pro-life movement, no matter how small.  When the pro-life movement submits itself, said Forsythe, to virtue, its mission can be better achieved.  He cited as an example William Wilberforce, the English politician depicted in the 2006 film Amazing Grace, who brought anti-slave trade legislation through Parliament.  His prudential decisions, made over the course of several decades, made his mission a successful one.  Forsythe insisted that such an example is one which students today ought to emulate and learn from.

Despite shortcomings such as hackneyed, bombastic rhetoric and a bit of redundancy, the conference proved yet again to be a sturdy support for pro-life students nationwide, providing us with the energy and motivation to carry out another year of pro-life work.  We students look forward to a time when our nation’s laws reflect the justice due to life at all stages, be it an unborn child or an expectant mother, and when the conference, much like the march in Washington, will no longer be necessary.

Members of the DOBC gave a quote revolutionary performance this last weekend in Robsham

The Dance Organization of Boston College premiered their annual showcase, “Revolution,” this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in Robsham Theater. Over 40 talented girls danced in 24 numbers, ranging from tap, jazz, lyrical, and ballet to hip hop. The music for each number was taken from popular culture, chosen by each of the choreographers for the specific meaning the music and dance, which, when paired, could portray the message to the crowd.

Maggie DiPasquale, Director of DOBC, explained the meaning behind the title in the event program. She explains, “Revolution is the change in our bodies as we improve. It is the introduction of new members into our community. It is the fouette turns we master during rehearsals. However, the power and confidence behind the term is what revolution has fully come to embody for the dancers.”

However, this revolution is not easy for the dancers to attain. The girls rehearsed weekly, beginning in late September, sometimes with their number’s rehearsal time slated to begin at 11p.m. As the date of the show grew closer, rehearsals lasted for hours several times a week, including Friday and Saturday nights. The girls sacrificed so much of their free time in order to produce an impressive final product, and judging from the applause each number received, they succeeded. Taylor Wagner, a sophomore DOBC member, stated, “Rehearsals were long, difficult and sometimes very late at night. It’s hard to have to finish homework and then have to run to dance. But performing the show made it all worth it.” Taylor went on to say that many of the girls felt the same way.

DOBC is a student-run organization, with executive officers and members. Members choreograph their own dances and run rehearsals. Costume costs are partially covered by club funds, and partially covered by the members themselves. Members have a flat due of $35.

DOBC was founded by Allyson Olewnik ’98 for a diverse group of girls who simply wanted to dance, without the pressure of auditioning for the other dance groups at Boston College. It began as a group of five girls showcasing a fifteen-minute show in Gasson 100. The group barely had the time or space to rehearse, and would meet in random places on campus in order to choreograph and perfect their dances. Girls could be found rehearsing in the McElroy stairwells, and other seemingly incongruent locations for a dance rehearsal. The club slowly grew, and DOBC is a strong club that now rehearses in the Brighton dance studio. 2001 was the first year that the club showcased on the Robsham stage and it now is one of the most anticipated shows of the year, with club member’s friends coming to Robsham in droves in order to support them. Clearly, the club has revolutionized itself from its inception, and the title of this year’s show is a testament to the strides it has made.

First established in Boulder, Colorado in 2007 by Dyroff and Kenny Haisfield, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, the group has successfully raised over $55,000 for students in Indonesia and Taiwan who seek the opportunity of higher education. In addition, the group has established a microfinance program to “further assist students upon successful graduation,” according to its website, CEO4teens.com.

Dyroff admitted that service has always been a part of his life, and even at an early age he participated in trying to improve his local community in Colorado. From bagging apples to volunteering to feed the hungry, Dyroff and Haisfield were regular volunteers in the area. But after a trip to Indonesia, Haisfield came home with not only pictures, but also a number of stories and accounts from the local inhabitants. From then on, the two joined to promote education on a global scale.

In addition to providing financial assistance to students internationally, CEO 4 Teens recently set out to launch a program in Boston at Roxbury Community College. This initiative aims to help members of the Boston community, especially those who are struggling financially, obtain their General Equivalency Diplomas so “they can attend higher levels of education such as community colleges, colleges, and universities,” according to the website.

Dyroff and his co-founder started this program in Boston to give local students the opportunity to obtain their high school degrees as they continue on to higher education. “The small scholarships of $300 or $400 for these local students would take care of the costs for a prep course, the test itself, and even miscellaneous costs like supplies and transportation,” said Dyroff.

“The applications are sent to our office in Denver, where they will undergo review and the final scholarships will be rewarded. Right now, we’re looking to give at least 5 scholarships for the spring 2010 term [of GED courses],” he said.

On the topic of starting a business in Indonesia or Taiwan, Dyroff absolutely sees the fiscal advantage of working oversees. Here, the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar is to his, as well as his partner’s, advantage. For example, one U.S. dollar is roughly 9,345 Indonesian rupiahs, a sum that can buy far more in Indonesia than it can in the United States.

“Right away, the money can go so much further and help a greater number of students,” Dyroff explained when talking about his work overseas. “When we go to these other countries, we can give a lot more help with the money we have raised so far,” he continued.

That isn’t to say Dyroff and Haisfield aren’t interested in helping domestically, which is why they are expanding their efforts to the Boston area. But Dyroff explained that, with this troubled economy, donations have slowed when compared with previous years.

Dyroff, who admits to an incredibly busy schedule as a student and athlete at Boston College, looks past his next three and a half years in Chestnut Hill to his involvement in global service after graduation. “I can definitely see myself doing this as a career… I have no way of knowing how much [CEO 4 Teens] will grow in the next four years, but I’m excited to see its progress over the next ten,” he said.

CEO 4 Teens has received national and international recognition of its documentaries, which can be viewed on the organization’s website. In addition to national screenings in locations such as Newport Beach, California and Houston, Texas, one of the group’s documentaries was screened in South Whales, United Kingdom.

“It’s really been a life-changing experience,” Dyroff continued, “It’s such a rush to give people scholarships and see them and their families cry when they’re awarded a microfinance loan. We know how fortunate we are, and to give others an opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise have is an incredible feeling.”

Housing for Jesuits being constructed on Foster St.

Boston College’s development of the Brighton Campus continues with the construction of Jesuit housing now in progress on Foster Street.

“The construction on Foster Street began in the late fall and is designed […] to house the Jesuit community that had resided in Cambridge at Weston Jesuit School of Theology prior to the re-affiliation [with Boston College],” said Jack Dunn, Director of the Boston College Office of News and Public Affairs.

These buildings, which will house between 60 and 70 Jesuit students and faculty, are being funded by the Society of Jesus, though the property itself belongs to Boston College.

The 65-acre Brighton campus was purchased by Boston College from the Archdiocese of Boston for a total of $172 million, and the Jesuit housing will sit on nearly five acres located at 192 Foster Street (valued at $4.6 million by the Boston Assessing Department).

“The thought was that building a new facility would be in the best interests of everyone.  The Jesuits quite frankly deserve it.  So we’re excited about the prospect of having that new facility completed and it will further enhance the already excellent reputation of the School of Theology and Ministry,” said Dunn, who affirmed that the buildings would be owned by, and always house, Jesuits.

Dunn said that, at community meetings, neighbors were pleased that the buildings would house Jesuits.  “In many ways you couldn’t possibly get better neighbors,” he explained.

Some of the proposals in Boston College’s Institutional Master Plan, however, have not been so pleasing to Brighton neighbors.  Brighton Neighbors United, the organization responsible for the familiar yellow “Preserve Our Neighborhood” lawn signs, states on its website that “no dormitories on the former Archdiocese property” ought to be built.

In fact, the Boston Redevelopment Authority has approved the Boston College Institutional Master Plan with everything except the proposed dormitories to house 500 students.  “We would have to go back to the city to secure approval for those beds before we could construct them,” explained Dunn.

Dunn believes that eventually Brighton neighbors will agree BC’s plan is in everyone’s best interest: “BC’s a good neighbor.  We do a remarkable job of maintaining our property to the highest possible standards.  I think they’ll see the benefits of a campus that has a mix of academic, intramural and, we hope eventually, residential life.”

Boston College has held community meetings with the Allston Brighton Community Task Force since 2004.   Since the approval by the Boston Redevelopment Authority early last year, no further meetings have been held with the community because of the summer season and fall election period.  However, meetings are scheduled to begin this spring as Boston College continues to inform local residents about the progress of the Institutional Master Plan.

In the meantime, Boston College students can expect construction to continue on both the Brighton campus and the Chestnut Hill campus.  The first building to be constructed on lower campus will be a dormitory at the current site of More Hall, currently home to administrative offices.

On middle campus, Stokes Common will be built first, with construction possibly beginning as soon as late 2010 or 2011.  Stokes Common, between Lyons Hall and McElroy Commons, will “be an academic building with upwards of 160,000 to 175,000 square feet that will include classrooms, offices for humanities faculty, academic advising, and student formation,” said Dunn.

Though the debate about housing on the Brighton Campus continues, there is no doubt that BC students will soon start seeing new buildings around campus.

Professor Catherine Cornille has succeeded Father Kenneth Himes, OFM, as the Theology department head.

Cornille received her Licentiate in Theology from the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium and her MA in Asian Religions from the University of Hawaii.She went back to Leuven to finish her education, receiving a PhD in Religious Studies. She has authored four books and edited another four. In addition to chairing the department, she is also continuing to teach a graduate course on History and Methods in the Comparative Study of Religions and the core Religious Quest II:Catholicism and Hinduism.

Cornille is unsure how long she will remain chair of the department. As of now, she is only committed to one term.  Cornille has four specific goals for the department.She hopes to further enhance collegiality and theological exchange among members of the department, promote international relationships, maintain a strong faculty and an interesting list of course offerings, and optimize BC’s relationship with the School of Theology and Ministry.

Cornille will be the first incoming chair that will have to navigate a relationship with Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry (STM). When speaking about the challenges of avoiding redundancy in the two institutions, Cornille commented that, “We are cultivating a strong relationship with STM in which we each further develop as independent institutions with our specific missions and strengths, but also with strong ties of collaboration. Together,we are indeed becoming one of the most important centers for Catholic Theology in the world.”

As the new chair, Cornille will be expected to navigate the sometimes controversial relationship between the academic theology department and the Catholic heritage of the university.She has not elaborated specifically how she plans to accomplish this, but acknowledges the Catholic influence on the university. “As a department of theology, we not only teach Catholic thought and values, but also reflect on them in light of the social, cultural, economical and religious context.”

The university has yet to release some of the details surrounding Cornille’s election,such as whether or not there were other candidates for the position. The Observer hopes to have a guest submission from Professor Cornille before the end of the semester.

BC’s junior forward Corey Raji (11) goes up for a block against Florida State in a losing effort.

Even though the Eagles seemingly have no chance of hearing their name called in six weeks, it is still frustrating to see them lose close game after close game. They gave us a jolt of confidence after they knocked off the 21st-ranked Clemson Tigers.

But things were unfortunately back to normal against Florida State. The last two minutes of the weekend’s matinee were a microcosm of the 2009 – 2010 Eagles.

It was not exactly a clinic on how to score points as both offenses struggled throughout the day. The Eagles were carried by Rakim Sanders and Joe Trapani. Without the two juniors’ impressive performances, BC would have only put up 25 points. Even though most of the team played poorly, the game was theirs to win with a few minutes left.

With about two minutes to go and after playing great defense for 32 seconds, Joe Trapani committed a silly foul. After a moment of audible angst in Conte Forum, the Eagles atoned for their less than impressive play and took a 54-53 lead.

Cortney Dunn pinned a helpless Seminole’s layup against the glass and fired a quick outlet pass to Reggie Jackson. Jackson lofted a perfect pass to Corey Raji, who used the glass to his advantage.

That was the point when things went from being tense and fun to infuriating and frustrating. The two teams were tied with 45 seconds to go when ball security became a major problem. Jackson was trapped in the middle of a pack of defenders and gave up the ball. His turnover led to a wide-open three for FSU, which was the beginning of the end.

After the Seminoles took a three-point lead on Jackson’s blunder, it was neither the last nor only time they capitalized on BC’s inability to protect the ball. Jackson traveled on the ensuing possession, which gave FSU the ball yet again.

FSU ultimately won by four and handed the Eagles another loss. After last Saturday’s debacle against Virginia Tech, Saturday’s late collapse may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

With Duke coming to town next Saturday, the place should be rockin’. It should provide a good environment.

Although in my opinion, it is better to not get worked up over this year’s team because they seem to continually disappoint. Their inability to hold onto the ball and put it in the hoop has hindered them from getting it done when it matters most.

Ever since the January 12 earthquake devastated Haiti and moved the international community to overflow with aid, the Boston College community has truly embodied its community ideal of “men and women for others” through a variety of fundraising opportunities and outreach.

The recent outpouring of help from BC is not new nor an exception to the rule. Father Hermann noted how Boston College has a compassionate history of service to the area. “Since the early 1980s, with exceptions here and there for dictatorships, embargoes, political unrest— groups of Boston College students have been traveling to Haiti during spring and summer to serve there, or more accurately, to receive the gift of knowing the Haitian people. And I have accompanied our students” (Footage of his homily and the Mass can be found at youtube.com/bcchronicle).

Father Hermann read the reflections of David, a student who traveled there. “I went to this country, and was healed and broken at the same time. It caused a hurt in me so deep I still can’t find the tears to express it all. Haiti was the vehicle through which I learned about God and in turn about myself. While I am no longer present in that country, it is present in me.”

Dr. Patrick Rombalski, Vice President for Student Affairs, introduces the special BC website bc.edu/haitirelief with a letter detailing the need for a central site that highlights and invites the BC community to get involved. He said, “This website has coalesced from an outpouring of goodwill and energy across our University.”

The website has four sections devoted to campus events, ways to help, support, and contact information for the Volunteer and Service Learning Center. Upcoming events involve a movie screening tonight in Robsham Theater sponsored by the Golden Key Honour Society at 7:00 pm. This documentary, The Human Experience, examines questions about human existence through people in New York, Peru, and Africa.

Moreover, support for students of Haitian descent is available on Fridays through the end of April at 4:00 pm in Gasson 215. The support group “Lakou” (translated as “courtyard”) is offered by the University Counseling Services.

The BC Haiti Relief site directs all those who may be interested in sponsoring in event in support of Haiti to go to the Student Life Calendar and click “How to Submit an Event.”

Outside the efforts of students here on the Heights, the Archdiocese of Boston has supported directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that are in support of Haiti. A special collection was taken in the Archdiocese the weekend of January 16-17.

Haiti may seem a world away from life here in Chestnut Hill, but any thing you do to help does make a difference, though. Take a few minutes to check out bc.edu/haitirelief.

Father Hermann referenced the hope that still remains, “Yes, the Haitian people are suffering with Christ, yet they look to the resurrection for those countless mothers, fathers, and children who are lost and they look to the resurrection of Haiti—the Haiti that still gasps for life after the storm.”

Synchronized Skating Team in Action

A group of 16 determined Boston College student athletes competed in Lowell against collegiate synchronized figure skating teams on the east coast. A placement in the top six would lead to qualification for the Synchronized Skating Nationals in Minnesota during BC’s spring break.

However, Saturday, January 30, 2010 did not go completely as planned. Although the skaters worked hard and performed extremely well for their division, they missed qualifying by one place, coming in seventh.

Upon congratulating the skaters for their excellent performance, the current president of the BC Figure Skating club (BCFSC), Jill Farver, mentioned having pulled the program together in just under 15 hours.

Compared to teams such as that from Delaware, who practice for at least two hours each day from the beginning of the skating season, the BCFSC team could not hope to be quite as well-trained and practiced.

“If only we had had more ice-time this season we could have made it to Nationals. Because it’s not that we didn’t work hard,” explained Farver.

The BCFSC placed first at the Eastern’s Sectional Championship in the open-collegiate division last year. In 2008, the team qualified for Nationals with third place in the closed collegiate division and secured ninth in the Nationals competition. The team is entirely capable of achieving outstanding levels of qualification.

The only difference between this year and the previous years is the amount of ice-time given to the BCFSC for practice, as well as the amount of funding. A team as exemplary as BC’s cannot be competing against teams that have three or four times the ice-time and funding.

While the competitive season has ended for our synchronized figure skaters until next year, they are not putting away their skates just yet.

You can come watch them skate, as the BCFSC will be holding an open showcase of the synchronized figure skating team as well as the club’s freestyle-skaters.

Mary Daly was recently shocked when she showed up to the gates of heaven and God was actually an old white man with a long beard.

Scott Brown recently won “Most Embarrassing Dad of the Year” after telling the nation Ayla was available. On a positive note, Brown’s nude photos scored much better ratings than Nancy Pelosi’s.

Lady Gaga stole Mark Herzlich’s look for the Grammys. She looks like she could play football too.

A Michigan priest has hung a sign at the exit of his Church to prevent parishioners from leaving directly after Communion: “Judas Left Early Too.”

The GLC blew off Jesse Naiman when he asked them to write a
guest op-ed.

Michael Bonner Hopes to Medal at the World Championships in Portugal in May

Many would be surprised to know that the freshman class has their own Karate Kid—an internationally accomplished one at that. Michael Bonner discovered his interest in karate at a young age. When he was just eight years old, he joined a friend at a local karate class at the Mac Albus Karate School near his home in Nanuet, New York. He was instantly hooked.

What began as a fun activity outside of school soon became a significant part of his life. Bonner is currently a second-degree black belt with experience at the international level, marking him as a highly accomplished karate student.

Specializing in Shukokai Kata, one of the many styles of karate, Bonner is mentored by his sensei Mac Albus who trains Bonner in both mental and physical proficiency. Anyone unfamiliar with karate would appreciate the physical skills necessary to master the art.

“In karate, it is important to have good balance and coordination, but the most important physical skills can be developed by strengthening core and leg muscles. It is also important to understand how different tensions in the body can work against each other to create speed and strength,” explains Bonner.

Training, therefore, is a fundamental necessity for topnotch performers. While preparing for competitions back in New York, Bonner trains seven days a week for two to three hours each day. Here at Boston College, he stays in shape with daily visits to the Plex where he runs and lifts to maintain his strength while also practicing his Kata routines.

Staying in shape is essential to avoid debilitating injuries. Bonner reports that injuries are fairly common, particularly ankle sprains and head trauma with enough force to result in a concussion. Preparation for such injuries requires protective gear including a Gi—the white karate uniform—covered with padded chest protection. Leg protection consists of foot and shin protection that is comparable to soccer shin guards.

Needless to say, Bonner’s physical abilities began to grow exponentially. As his involvement in karate became more intense, he began to aspire to compete on the national and international levels.

In 2006, his sensei recommended him as a strong candidate to compete in the Karate World Championships in Finland where he led the United States team to the bronze medal victory. Two years later, he attended his second World Championship in Switzerland.

Despite his strong record, he admits he did not anticipate his passion for karate to bring him to his current level of international recognition.

“When I started I didn’t realize that there were national or international karate competitions, and I never planned for karate to become such a big part of my life.”

The knowledge that he has taken from his experiences at the two World Championships has been a rewarding gain for the young karate star. By observing and competing amongst the best of the best, he was able to learn a lot from the more experienced fighters who he hopes to emulate one day. He looks forward to continuing his international competitions as a member of the United States team in the future.

He is a student in the Carroll School of Management with a concentration in Finance and Marketing. We wish him luck in the 2010 World Championships in Portugal this May.

Friendly competition leads to a better environment.

Just yesterday, Monday, February 1, 2010, marked the official beginning of the NRG games of Boston College.  For those who do not remember from past years, the NRG games represent a competition between each of the twenty-five residence halls on campus to determine which hall is able to conserve the greatest amount of energy.

Lasting until March 15, the games give students plenty of time and ways to get involved. Throughout the month-and-a-half long competition, students will be able to keep close tabs on their overall progress as a residence hall, as well as monitor the final results through logging onto an interactive resource website known as the Energy Dashboard (www.bc.edu/dormenergy).

According to the official website, as a real-time student resource it enables all the students to keep a watchful eye on the electrical consumption data for the residence halls, meaning that students are able to compare their own progress as it stacks up against the other twenty-four monitored residence halls on campus, and then use that information to further efforts in decreasing energy usage.

There are three separate divisions that compete in the NRG games, which encompass the entire Boston College campus.  There are the Newton and Upper Campus dorms in the first division, the Lower Campus dorms in the second division, and then those living in Ignacio and Rubenstein battle it out for environmental fame in the third division.

Since the games do represent a campus-wide effort to combat environmental waste, everyone should be willing to do their part and get involved.  Although there are those students who will resist, arguing that their efforts would prove too minimal to warrant any concerted attempt, be wary that you yourself do not fall into this lackadaisical state of mind.

Past years have witnessed significant reductions in residence hall consumption of energy during this time of the year.  Students are urged to help in the effort, whether that means turning off all the lights when leaving the residence hall dorm, taking less time in the shower in the morning, or even just lowering down the heat a bit.  If you are interested in learning more about tips on how to save energy, just visit the “What You Can Do” page associated with the Boston College homepage.

The results for last year, during the spring 2009 semester, are as follows: Keyes proved victorious in taking the Newton and Upper Campus division with an overall reduction in energy consumption of 8.63%.  As for the Lower Campus division, 90 St. Thomas More Road won out with a 9.77% reduction in their total energy used. Lastly, Ignacio beat out rival Rubenstein in their head-to-head competition, with Ignacio reducing their energy consumption by 4.72%.

Of course, since we are all doing our part to help save the environment, everyone should be interested in this opportunity.  However, just in case you are someone who needs tangible incentive to partake, here it is: last year, both Keyes and 90 St. Thomas More Road received private barbecues in their honor sponsored by the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) and Facilities Management, and Ignacio was rewarded with an ice cream social.

Thus far, Boston College has been proactive and has taken the initiative to “go green” through a reduction of its energy consumption and emissions.  Since 2003, there have been numerous projects sponsored in a concerted effort to conserve energy and reduce emissions: “projects such as switching to energy efficient lighting, installing new heat pumps and retrofitting inefficient motors,” to name just a few listed by BConserves, the comprehensive approach to energy conservation that Boston College adopted in 2005.

According to the statistics that BConserves collected, last year the residence halls saved about 44,139 kilowatt hours of energy.  Just in case you are curious, this is equivalent to such efforts as planting nine acres of forest or removing 67 automobiles from the road for one whole month. Get involved and make a difference!

Any parent or grandparent will attest to the added meaning of a handwritten letter. The sender had no recourse to a deletion key, and so, had to more attentively think about what he or she was going to say. The sender actually held the pen and wrote the letter which the received held and read. There’s an actual physical connection with that.

The ubiquity of email and texts, though, lends itself to less thoughtfulness, and a widening gap between people as thoughtful correspondence and face-to-face contact is diminished. Skype and other video chat applications are two ways the latter is undermined.

This generational discrepancy of the primary means of communication is illustrative of “sacramental imagination”—a theological concept that acknowledges the “grittiness” of how God works salvation through the world. In Letters to a Young Catholic, George Weigel defined “sacramental imagination” as “the core Catholic conviction that God saves and sanctifies the world through the materials of the world.”

Analogically, a greater divide between us today could lead to a greater divide from God—as we value true interaction less, isolating ourselves with technology, we could fall into the trap of valuing contact with God less.

Andre Dubus recognized the need for actual contact with God, so that he is not relegated to an esoteric abstraction. Referencing the Eucharist, Dubus’s “On Charon’s Wharf” said, “Without touch, God is a monologue, an idea, a philosophy; he must touch and be touched, the tongue on flesh, and that touch is the result of the monologues, the idea, the philosophies which led to faith; but in the instant of the touch there is not place for thinking, for talking; the silent touch affirms all that, and goes deeper: it affirms the mysteries of love and mortality.”

In Letters to a Young Catholic, George Weigel noted that Catholicism “is also an optic, a way of seeing things, a distinctive perception of reality.” He explained that Catholicism “teaches us to see the world in Technicolor and to live in it in three dimensions (or, truth to tell, four, because time counts, too, for Catholicism as well as for Einstein).”

Weigel translated the implications of a sacramental imagination, “The ‘Catholic world’ has a lot more to it than churches. It’s also a world of libraries and bedrooms, mountains and the seaside, galleries and sports fields, concert halls and monastic cells—places where we get glimpses and hints of the extraordinary that lies just on the far side of the ordinary.”

This reflection article does not mean to do away with technology. It is a great resource for long-distance contact and many other endeavors. However, one can never see the world in “Technicolor” as Weigel put it if he or she is always on a computer. If you have to contact someone in the same room as you, resist the text, and start up a conversation. And for that friend who is abroad, maybe even write a letter.

Sophomore Forward Jimmy Hayes Skates His Way to a Win

Welcoming the top four collegiate teams in Boston, the twonight Beanpot tournament is one of the most anticipated events in a Boston College athletic season.

Over the past five years, however, Boston University has squelched the Eagles’ hopes by monopolizing the tournament, claiming four out of five titles—their single dethronement coming at the sticks of an Eagles’ championship.

Before they could even consider another Beanpot title, the Eagles faced off against Harvard in their first game on February 1st. A 6-0 victory was the result and a very promising start to this tournament.

The Eagles went into the game against Harvard with some confidence because they had a 3-2 victory earlier this season against their Ivy counterpart, but no one in the locker room overlooked their first opponent.

Keys to the game against the Crimson included winning special teams battles, limiting odd man rushes and getting shots on net with bodies screening the goalie.

With school pride at stake, execution of this game plan was important, especially in such a short tournament.

Despite Harvard’s mediocre record of 5-10-3, the Eagles focused on their first matchup, and it paid off as they advanced to the championship game.

“You can throw the records out the window. Whoever plays the hardest on that night is going to come away with a victory. We expect it to be a close game, as Beanpot matchups always are,” said junior team assists leader Brian Gibbons.

Bitter rival BU also advanced to the championship game on Monday night. They defeated Northeastern in a closely contested game, coming away with a 2-1 victory.

Fans eagerly hoped for this rematch between the Eagles and the Boston University Terriers, as it should make for an exciting championship game on Monday, February 8th.

The rivalry between the two schools has intensified even more this year, with the Eagles at 1-2 against the Terriers, losing the past two games in heartbreaking fashion. Beating BU in the Beanpot could avenge BC’s past two losses.

“The loss at Fenway was tough, but losing on home ice in overtime was devastating. Winning against them would enrich the Beanpot’s rivalry,” said Boston College freshman Jonathan Arone.

In a tournament filled with tradition, the hockey rivalry between the Eagles and Terriers transcends the rest. The road to the Beanpot championship runs through the perennial powerhouse BU, as the Eagles hope to earn their 15th title.

Rich with 58 years of grueling matchups between four cross-town rivals, the Beanpot tournament brings together four teams vying for hockey supremacy in Boston.

The Eagles go into the tournament looking to capture their first title for the freshmen and sophomores, while providing a memorable victory for seniors in their final year.

Gibbons described a Beanpot championship as “something truly special.”

Scott Brown

Living in an apartment with mostly Democrats, my Republican views are seldom given the last word. But on January 19th, I was finally awarded the last laugh and presented with a victory worth noting for the GOP.

The last Republican to hold a Senate seat in Massachusetts was Edward W. Brooke, who lost his bid for re-election in 1978 to the beginning of a long legacy of Democrats. Senator Brooke was first elected in 1966 and held office for an astounding 12 years. It has been 32 years since the GOP has occupied the “People’s Seat,” which of late has mainly been inhabited by the now deceased Teddy Kennedy. Senatorelect Scott Brown started his campaign on September 12, 2009 and it was clearly a long shot for this underdog candidate. At an early Boston College Republicans meeting in October, Sen.-elect Brown arrived (alone, might I add) after a brief introduction from State Representative Karyn Polito and continued to speak to the crowd and encourage volunteers to acquire the lofty 10,000 signatures required to run for office. It was an intimate gathering and no one could even imagine the political whirlwind that would occupy the next few months in Massachusetts. After a few weeks of gathering over 17,000 signatures, Sen.-elect Brown was on a roll that did not cease until the night of January 19, 2010. All across the country, millions of people became familiar with his story and he attracted national attention from such prominent political analysts as Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin. One of the more remarkable feats the Brown campaign overcame was raising over $1.5 million in 24 hours using the tactic of a “MoneyBomb.” People from all over the country tuned into the multiple media outlets covering the Massachusetts race and gladly donated to such a worthy cause.

It became apparent closer to Election Day that Attorney General Coakley’s campaign was running short. Her smear-tactics left bitter tastes even in the mouths of Democrats and her startling remarks during both the campaign and debates surely did not assist her in the polls. With her shocking comments about the Taliban and even the Red Sox beloved pitcher Curt Schilling, it was all down hill from there. Seriously, Martha? Curt Schilling, a Yankee’s fan? It should be noted that Attorney General Coakley has indeed lived in Massachusetts her entire life. Although early on Coakley was leading by over 15 points, it clearly did not add up to much in the end.

With a strong victory for Brown, this is a definite turning point in the turmoil that is currently dwelling in Congress. With Sen.-elect Brown’s swearing-in ceremony not taking place until next month, Democrats are scrambling to pass legislation they know will surely falter when they lose their 60 vote majority to block filibusters (which, consequently, only work if all Democrats and two Independents vote together). Additionally, the issue of health care is a main concern for Congress, but with Nancy Pelosi already seemingly conceding defeat, I’d like to say there isn’t much hope for the complete reform President Obama is striving towards. Recent polls have suggested that the majority of the general public does not even care for this bill that was rushed through the Senate on Christmas Eve. The process of passing any joint healthcare bill now includes Brown, who terminated the Democratic supermajority in the Senate. After President Obama’s State of the Union address last week, both majority leaders Reid and Pelosi claim a healthcare overhaul will pass in the upcoming year. This attitude seems to be more despairing than previously demonstrated last year. With Sen.-elect Brown’s 41st vote, Republicans now have the power to stop a healthcare overhaul that is in its later stages. Never fear, there is hope Republicans can come out on top and this sticky bill filled with hundreds of stipulations will be brought down.

I think attorney and political activist Phyllis Schalfly states it best by remarking “While Coakley was sipping wine with drug and insurance company PAC representatives, Brown was shaking hands with the voters.” With an excellent smear-free campaign, GMC-driving Senator-elect Brown hit a homerun and proved that red can indeed invade blue.

Snowjam ’10 took place the last weekend of January, bringing a congregation of snowbound BC students that was double the size of last year’s group.

Once word spread of a ski-by-day, party-all-night trip across the border, it was not hard for Scull and Bellamente to recruit adventurous BC students willing to brave the subzero Canadian temperatures for great skiing conditions.

The weekend trip includes a night in Montreal and two nights in Tremblant village.

Snowjam’s rate is an allinclusive $339 Canadian for bus transportation, three nights in a hotel, two lift tickets, and VIP access to four different clubs in Tremblant.

Campus Vacations is the company that draws groups of college students from at least fifteen locations, including BC, and runs Snowjam. BC students join hundreds of other college students from all over the east coast, resulting in a wild weekend.

The weekend getaway starts early as the buses leave on Thursday, arriving in Montreal in time to enjoy a club rented out privately for the group. Friday is an optional ski day, costing only an extra $30 Canadian for another lift ticket.

Snow conditions were great, but could only be enjoyed in plenty of layers as the temperature remained in single digits for the weekend with a -15 degree wind chill at the summit of the ski resort.

BC students get their money’s worth staying at a four-star, ski-in, ski-out hotel in Tremblant.

Having such easy access to the mountain is a nice perk when it is seven degrees outside. The ski resort itself has three peaks and three different terrain parks all covered in a fresh base of powder.

“The atmosphere of the village is great,” says Bellamente.

There are plenty of restaurants and shops to explore, as well as numerous ski shops to get everything you need once you are there, including tuning your skis.

The locals are welcoming to Americans, making the trip all the more enjoyable.

If you are an avid skier and missed out on Snowjam, there is a ski trip to Quebec City in March called Crashed Ice. Scull and Bellamente also organize a surf trip when the weather warms up.

Populus Politicians are good for America.
By Jesse Naiman

Politicians come in all shapes and sizes. Some are male, some female, some are white, some are black, some are liberal and others conservative. When it comes to their method of governance, politicians frequently split into two extreme camps. The first camp acts based on their own val- ues and judgment of issues, willing to buck the popular sentiment if necessary. On the other hand, some politicians appeal to and follow the will of the voters regardless of their own personal positions. Ideally, the politicians we elect would fall in the middle of these two extremes. But if we were forced to choose between the two, Americans should prefer populist politicians.

To successfully argue this position, I must distinguish between a populist and a demagogue. When people hear “populist,” they frequently conjure up pictures of Depression-era politicians such as Huey Long, who advocated cap- ping personal wealth at one million dollars. A demagogue does not simply take on popular political positions, but primarily plays off of people’s extreme emotions when offering political solutions. These answers rarely make sense as policy, but rather assuage the people’s fears during times of great uncertainty, just as Long did during the Great Depression.

A populist politician, on the other hand, appeals to the voters’ already- existing desires. Such a candidate under- stands that he alone is not qualified to govern and that he must listen to the collective wisdom of his constituents. We do not live in a small and simple society where any one person understands how the whole of society works. Therefore, in an act of humility, officials should listen to their constituents to attain a picture of what they desire. Even though individuals’ interests may intersect and differ, the populist politician renders his decisions based on the general consensus of his constituents as a whole, rather than on what he thinks is in their best interest.

This abstract idea becomes clear upon a retroactive examination of the special election in Massachusetts two weeks ago. Voters were offered two candidates: Democrat Martha Coakley, a lifelong prosecutor and state attorney general, and Republican Scott Brown, an unknown state senator from some town nobody had ever heard of. The election received little if any fanfare after Coakley breezed through the December primary, but as the general election approached, the contrast between these two candidates came to light. Brown was the quintessential populist. He understood rightful voter frustration with Obamacare and the excessive tax-and-spend culture in Wash- ington and offered a simple remedy: if you voted for him, he would stop President Obama’s agenda. He offered no radical solutions to appease voters, merely a pledge to stop an already unpopular agenda.

Coakley on the other hand appeared to be a Washington D.C. insider who was completely oblivious to not only the political leanings of her constituency, but also unwilling to treat her elector- ate as equals. She may have tried to come across as a populist by highlighting settlements she won from “predatory” lenders, but she refused to interact with her constituents. She mocked Scott Brown for shaking hands outside of Fenway Park “in the cold,” instead insisting that she was better off allying herself with union officials who could convince their members to vote for her. As final proof that she was out of touch, this strategy failed. A majority of union households in Massachusetts voted for Brown despite traditional political leanings of union families.

Populist candidates are good for democracy. A good populist, like Brown, is in touch with his constituents on both a personal and political level. In a constitutional democracy, elected officials who can relate to their constituents are a must. Citizens should avoid demagogues who offer unreasonable solutions in desperate times, but we should elect populist candidates whenever possible.

Populist Politicians: Undermining Representative Democracy
By: Akash Chougule

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

It is easy for a politician to ap- pear effective when he agrees with his constituents. But a truly strong politician is one who can remain strong in his convictions at a time when he may disagree with many people, including those who elected him to power.

When the founding fathers were designing the government of the United States and envisioning how it would function, they wanted it first and foremost to be government for the people and by the people.

They wanted the voice of the people to be heard and reflected in the laws and actions of local, state, and federal government, a tendency that was rarely followed in Great Britain.

However, at the same time, the founding fathers acknowledged that some citizens had greater knowledge and understanding of political and legal processes. They also understood that eventually, the population of the United States would be too large for every person to be directly involved in the government.

Finally, the founding fathers wanted there to be some sort of representation or voice for minority. It is for these reasons that they chose to make the United States to be a representative democracy.

We elect our politicians for the beliefs and actions they campaign on, which (in an ideal world) are their true convictions and principles. We put our trust and faith in them to execute democracy to its fullest extent, the way we would like to see it executed.

There will most likely never be a politician with whom one agrees on every single issue, or a politician who agrees with the majority opinion on every single issue. However, it is important as Americans in a functioning democracy that we accept these facts.

Politicians are elected by people in order to put into effect their beliefs and principles, not to exactly mirror the desires of their constituents.

A politician that merely fol-lows the wishes of the majority he or she represents shows neither conviction, nor any consideration for the minority, not to mention that that politician shows that their main priority is merely to get re-elected.

A weak politician is one who is undecided on an issue, and therefore sides with constituents, rather than weighing the pros and cons of each side and making an educated decision.

A weak politician is also one who goes against his or her own beliefs because they are in the minority, and instead follows the inclinations of the majority of people.

Doing so is nothing but incorrect practice of representative democracy. As previously stated, we do not elect our politicians to cater to our every whim and desire. We elect them because we believe in their principles and convictions, regardless of how they may feel regarding some specific political issues. Americans who cannot accept that the politicians they elected may not always agree with majority opinion, are merely falling victim to Tocqueville’s “tyranny of the majority.”

As a person of strong political convictions myself, as are most readers of The Observer, I would like to be represented in government by people who mostly agree with my political and principle beliefs, but who are also not afraid to stand out, stand up, and speak and act for what they believe in, regardless of dissenting majority opinion.

It is these people who help make the American government effective and dynamic, which keeps making the United States the greatest place in the world to live and work freely.

The Center for the Arts and Social Responsibility (CASR) seeks to actively engage students in a series of lectures, courses, and presentations using art forms to communicate societal problems and potential solutions to college students of a changing social landscape.

The Center’s mission also aspires to encourage Boston College students to become involved in the efforts of promoting social responsibility through creative means.  By not only imparting an awareness of social injustice, but also providing the means of communicating and alleviating such injustices through the arts, the CASR is working in pursuit of a world in which injustice is less prevalent.

The CASR has a wide range of functions, and it encourages students to contribute to the group.  Students may volunteer in leadership positions, propose projects, and suggest speakers or presentations to educate the broader university community.  The pursuit of justice takes place both inside and outside the classroom.

In addition to organizing events on campus, the Center offers a series of courses that promote the mission and ideology of this group.  Many of the courses offered through the Center for the Arts and Social Responsibility are interdisciplinary.  They include courses in the Communications, Film Studies, and Theater departments.  For instance, one may enroll in Holocaust and the Arts (FM 220), a course that examines the events of the Holocaust through the lens of film, music, and literature.

By shifting the interpretation of such events to explore social injustices from creative perspectives, students learn peaceful ways of communicating and dealing with social injustices.  The CASR emphasizes the significant impact a single person can have, and the positive effects of a community with purpose.

Further, if students have taken a course designated as part of this program, they are invited to review it, so that others may learn more about the class and consider undertaking such an experience themselves.  A further offering of the CASR involves its provision of the resources needed for students to create their own art.  The Center invites students to produce their own documentaries portraying social issues, and it provides necessary resources and support for those who wish to do so.

The Center for the Arts and Social Responsibility features a series of upcoming events.  These include a “Twenty-Four Hour Theater Experiment,” which will take place on February 6 at the O’Connell House.  Interested students may sign up for teams in the Robsham Theater Arts Center and compose ten-minute plays.  The group then has 24 hours to produce the play before they perform in O’Connell House at 9 p.m. on Saturday night.

Another upcoming event is “The Music of Social Justice” on February 13, a performance by the University Wind Ensemble.  Each piece in the performance will reflect upon an array of social events, commemorating tragedies such as the Columbine shootings and the September 11 attacks.  The concert will be held in the Irish Room of Gasson Hall at 8 p.m.

This initiative is part of a larger effort in pursuit of justice, peace, and equality.  Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP) is an international organization that harnesses the creativity of artists around the world to offer solutions to social justice crises and to empower other people.  Boston College’s Center for the Arts and Social Responsibility has established its own chapter of the organization.

For more information, multimedia resources, and applications for any of the opportunities offered through the Center, visit www.bc.edu/casr.

Archbishop Lefebvre founded the SSPX in 1970 in Econe, Switzerland to give seminarians a more traditional formation than the one then provided in the seminaries, where there often existed great hostility to the traditional Mass, along with tendencies to misrepresent the teachings of Vatican II. The SSPX initially had Pope Paul VI’s approval, but the majority of French bishops were quite upset to see the old Mass being preserved, and felt that Archbishop Lefebvre’s positions were too extreme. Largely on account of this, in 1975, Bishop Pierre Maime of Fribourg withdrew the Society’s status as a “pious union”, and it was thus no longer recognized as an organization in good standing with the Church, and Archbishop Lefebvre was suspended from offering the sacraments about a year later.

Nonetheless, the Archbishop and the SSPX continued to expand and carry out their work, and in 1987, more controversy arose between the Society and the Holy See. Archbishop Lefebvre, at 81 years old, felt the need to consecrate a successor bishop to ordain future priests for the SSPX, given the fact that few other bishops were willing to work with them. Canon law, however, requires that a bishop receive papal approval before consecrating another bishop, and thus, more negotiations began between the Archbishop and the Holy See. It initially appeared that they would be successful, as the two sides seemed to have reached an agreement. Archbishop Lefebvre, however, felt unable to continue with the discussions in good conscience, and proceeded, on June 30, 1988, along with co-consecrator Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer, to consecrate the four bishops. All involved thus merited the penalty of excommunication, which stood until approximately one year ago.

Pope Benedict’s gesture was met with much criticism, especially from Jewish leaders, on account of remarks made earlier in the year by Bishop Williamson undermining the severity of the Holocaust, as well as from those resistant to traditional Catholic doctrine and liturgical practice. As the aim of the decree was to open the door to doctrinal discussion, and ideally a reintegration of the SSPX, the lifting of the excommunications seemed to indicate that traditional practices were likely to become more widespread and available with the Society and all their adherents being brought back into the fold.

Currently, however, there appears to be great division among SSPX leaders and members. On January 24th of 2010, Fr. Franz Schmidberger, the Society’s German district superior, sent a video message to the Pope thanking him once again for his generosity in lifting the excommunications and expressing optimism about the future course of the discussion.

However, only four days earlier in an interview with a French politician, Bishop Williamson stated that the talks will end up as “a dialogue of the deaf” unless “the SSPX becomes a traitor, or Rome converts”, calling the positions of the Vatican and the Society “absolutely irreconcilable”. Bishop Tissier de Mallerais, in an interview shortly after the lifting of the excommunications, also stressed the necessity of “converting Rome”.

The main cause of separation, it appears, has little to do with the liturgy, considering Pope Benedict’s well known friendliness to the traditional Mass. Rather, there seems to be a great reluctance among many in the SSPX to accept certain documents of Vatican II under any conditions. Additionally, disagreement with the pastoral, non-doctrinal decisions of recent popes has caused many in the Society to desire to remain distanced from Rome and the Church’s hierarchy.

While the SSPX’s wish to keep tradition alive is a wonderful, admirable desire which all Catholics ought to share, many of the Society’s members have a tendency to judge the Council quite rashly. It would be wise for the SSPX to listen to the Holy Father and attempt to reconcile the documents with tradition, rather than simply dismiss them.

The Society also ought to be mindful of the fact that Catholics are not required to approve of all the actions of the Pope. When a pope issues a doctrinal statement, it demands religious assent. When a pope makes a prudential, practical decision, Catholics may legitimately disagree with his course of action, as many priests currently in union with Rome respectfully disagree with some acts and policies of Popes both before and after Vatican II.

As Pope Benedict has done just about all in his power to reach out to the Society and offer them a place in the Church, the outcome of the discussions almost certainly depends on their leadership’s decisions. There is little to no reason to believe that union with the Holy See will force the SSPX to compromise or be muzzled; the only logical course of action is to accept the gracious offers of the Holy Father. Hopefully, the Society will choose wisely and aid the Church in being able to offer an authentic, traditional Catholic existence to all people.

Even with just a cursory glance, most students would argue that a mere nine days appears relatively absurd, as if the process of students selecting their class schedules represents something of an inconsequential decision to the Office of Student Services, which is the office responsible for sponsoring this early deadline.

How are the students expected to attain a firm and resolute grasp of the course in such a short allotment of class time? And of course, I am conscious of the fact that there was an invention known as the course syllabus, but this just provides students with a general list of what is to come and the school’s rules and regulations as they pertain to more trivial matters as conduct and participation. Students are more concerned with the professor and their teaching style, the class environment and discussion and – for some among us – how easy the class appears.

As an example, say that a student has scheduled a class into their Tuesday-Thursday time slot. If the system remains as it stands now, that would give that student a mere three class meetings to make up his mind – not to mention that the first class period or two in general is most often occupied by mindless reading from the course syllabus. If that same individual had scheduled classes for the Monday- Wednesday-Friday time slot, then the class would meet four times, but the fourth class meeting would be cutting it close with regards to making the deadline. In addition, the student might be a late arrival to the class in the first place, which would give that student even less time to make an informed decision on the class.

Furthermore, it would prove especially inconvenient if the student had not yet decided on which subject area that he or she would like to major in, or if that student was not certain about which classes needed to be taken in order to satisfy a particular requirement – and let’s face it, our current system with regards to academic advising is not providing us with too much help on that front.

However, it is important not to disregard the perspective of those on the opposite end of the spectrum – namely, the professors. For it is without question that their principal concern is a valid one – that an extension of the undergraduate drop/add deadline would prove to be an inconvenience and burden for them, too, since it would in essence compel them to postpone their teaching of the class and, thereby thwart the overall curriculum. For example, one professor of mine this semester openly spoke to the class about her concern that an extension of the drop/add deadline would cause her to do away with the first quiz of the year which, even though it had been listed in the syllabus, would not be compatible with a revised drop/add deadline.

I have heard one proposition on this subject that seems quite reasonable, one that could strike a compromise between the students and faculty – both of whom have legitimate concerns. That proposition is for a full two weeks of classes prior to the drop/add deadline. Perhaps this would give sufficient time for students to make their decisions, while at the same time not delaying the class curriculum for too long. It is just something to think about with the extra time we now do not have to think about course selection.

Washington first created the 700 billion dollar relief program in order to stabilize the financial system that fell into crisis after the housing bubble burst. Congress immediately received negative media attention after rushing the implementation to the American people, many questioning the potential success of the program. Companies who have received TARP funds have been rushing to pay the debt back in order to relinquish government control over their policies and functions such as executive compensation.

Recently, Neil Barofsky, the Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, sent a message to both President Obama and the Democratic majority of Congress in his 224 page quarterly report. Though TARP has been somewhat successful in stabilizing the overall financial systems, Barofsky states that it has not been able to restore consumer and business lending or to significantly prevent home foreclosure.

The obstacles this program would face in its attempts to help the financial system of the United States have been present from its conception. The plan was devised in a short amount of time by congressmen and women under tremendous pressure to create a program that could fix the economy. The end result provided more power to the government, and has been considered a conspiracy by the government to take freedoms away from the American public. As Rahm Emanuel declared, “you don’t ever want a crisis to go to waste.”

The main concern in Barofsky’s report is that nothing has been done to actually fix the flaws in the system that caused the crisis in the first place. Barofsky says that the funds, work, and time used “will have been for naught if we do nothing to correct the fundamental problems in our financial system and end up in a similar or even greater crisis in two, or five, or ten years’ time.” He paints a vivid picture where “TARP” is just a patch in a dam that is about to break.

Republican leaders are deeply concerned about the report, and are now using it to further discredit the Democratic- led Congress. Senator Susan Collins, (R-MA), said “it appears that ‘too big to fail’ institutions are even larger and possibly more interconnected as a result of TARP assistance. The market mentality now seems fixed that the U.S. government will continue to step in and bail out giant financial institutions.”

It seems that the United States government has not fixed the problems that plague the financial system as they claimed, but rather provided a temporary solution. It is only a quick fix that pushes the irresponsible choices of today’s leaders on future choices. We truly won’t know the damage that this program has levied on the U.S. financial system until twenty or twenty-five years down the road.

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake caused incomprehensible physical and emotional destruction as Port-Au-Prince was brought to ruins, while scores of families and loved ones were separated from family members who disappeared under the rubble. Presence of Haiti’s earthquake has been evident in the hearts of American citizens, prompting over $380 million worth of donations according to the Associated Press.

The bilateral effects of this earthquake have also awakened a sense of charity among Boston College students, who are playing a large role in collecting donations through clothing and food drives and benefit events that BC has organized in order to raise money for the overwhelmed country. Some of these events have included a mass in St. Ignatius for the people of Haiti, and the BC-FSU basketball game this past Saturday – both of whose funds will be sent to Haiti through Jesuit Relief Services.

On campus, students have taken smaller individual initiatives to help those affected by this tragedy. Sophomore and Haitian American, Reynaldo Sylla, organized a clothing and food drive in his dorm, the proceeds of which will be sent to Haiti through the Yele Foundation. Speaking with Reynaldo, he mentioned that “As a Haitian American, this was a step in the right direction and a good start to a long process of recovery for my homeland.” Sylla organized the event on Wednesday Jan. 20 and needed the donations by that Friday. With less than a day turnaround, he received 15-20 garbage bags full of donations, mainly clothing. When I asked about any future plans, he mentioned, “I do plan on starting another drive probably within the next week or so…I am also currently in the process of starting a Boston College-wide penny/change/money drive in every Residence Hall.”

In order to promote Haiti awareness on campus, Boston College held a Martin Luther King Jr. and Haiti Earthquake Victims Memorial gathering last Monday to acknowledge the human toll and devastation of the nation just an hour south of Miami, FL. Additionally, BC is offering a support group, Lakou Support Forum for Students of Haitian Descent, which meets every Friday starting January 29th in Gasson Hall Room 215.

Undoubtedly, this Caribbean catastrophe has shaken people’s values and awareness on a global scale. The tragedy hit close to home for many people, including a myriad of BC students and employees of Haitian descent. Boston College is doing an excellent job right now in honoring the famous motto “Men and Women for Others” by extending their hearts and prayers to the victims of one of the worst geological tragedies in history.

For more information on upcoming Haiti relief events and gatherings visit www.bc.edu/haitirelief

This semester seems like it was one of the worst semesters to register for a class, especially for majors in the Economics department. Many majors who were not entering their second semester of senior year were limited from taking major-specific classes simply because there were not enough courses, and sections of such courses, offered. Granted, the number of students majoring in Economics has risen over the last few years, but Boston College should have adjusted to this shift when it first became apparent.

Putting students and their college careers at a disadvantage just isn’t fair, and it’s especially not why parents pay incredible sums of money to send their children to BC.

Liz O’Brien, a member of the class of 2011 and an Economics major, said “I was only able to get in one elective this semester. I was lucky in comparison to many people who couldn’t get in any Econ electives as juniors.”

After studying abroad this past fall, O’Brien was hoping to take more major-specific courses her first semester back at BC, as there was a limited selection of Economics courses offered at her university abroad.

She explained, “After being abroad for a semester and only having the opportunity to take one course for my Economics major, I was hoping to come back to BC and take two Economics courses this semester.” But even before her registration time, many of the Economics electives had closed.

Many students don’t even finish their Core requirements until their sophomore year, leaving their junior and senior years more or less open for taking classes towards their majors. Hypothetically, consider a student who has a double major in Economics and English.

For the Economics major, the student must take ten, threecredit courses (next year’s freshman class, the class of 2014, will be required to take eleven, three credit courses). For the English major, the student must also take ten, three-credit courses (in addition to the two courses required as part of the University Core).

In total, these twenty courses would take the full two years of junior and senior year to complete, including an overload both semesters of senior year. And as most of us know, the majority of seniors only take four courses a semester.

As if the pressure to take all of these classes isn’t enough, add the fact that there’s no guarantee one could even register for these courses and things get a little more complicated.

Of course, having a double major is difficult for anyone. But even if a student had the space in his or her schedule to double major, they would still face considerable difficulties in enrolling for the required courses.

Even some juniors with the first registration times this past fall were unable to enroll in courses that had closed during the senior registration days. It’s understandable that seniors should have the advantage in registering for courses for their final semester at BC, but that also means that in some cases, juniors must wait an entire year to register for that desired course.

And what if, a year from now, that course is offered at a different time, or there is another conflict in the student’s schedule? Does that mean he must graduate from Boston College without taking the Game Theory course in which he had always been interested?

And what about the sophomores? The freshmen? Is it really in their interest to take courses about which they aren’t particularly enthusiastic? In their first semesters of college, they should be able to take classes that engage, excite, and satisfy them.

There are a lot of hypothetical situations here, but the point is: there shouldn’t have to be. If the point of an undergraduate degree is to learn, to immerse oneself in academic opportunities and strive for the best education, each and every student should be able to do just that.

Students shouldn’t be limited to what they can and cannot learn. If a particular course becomes increasingly popular and the number of students wishing to enroll rises, another section should be offered. If a certain department sees an increase in the number of students declaring it as their major, additional professors should be hired to balance the popularity of the department’s courses.

And the Economics department should especially understand the situation at hand, because if any can solve the problem, it should be the one that teaches supply and demand.

A sacrament is an outward sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church. For Catholics, the seven sacraments are the way to salvation. These sacraments are the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist; the sacraments of healing: Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick; and the sacraments of consecration: Matrimony and Holy Orders.

Most Catholics receive Baptism as infants, although many choose to enter the Church as adults. Baptism consists of pouring holy water on the recipient’s head or submerging the recipient in holy water while saying “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” A priest, bishop, or deacon ministers baptism. It washes away the stain of original sin and removes the punishment from the baptized person. The baptized wears a white garment after Baptism to symbolize the innocence and purity left after sin is washed away. After the holy water, the baptized is anointed with holy oil, the Chrism, and he or she receives a candle to symbolize the Light of Christ.

Confirmation is the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Catholics are Confirmed around age 14, or following Baptism if baptized as an adult. The bishop or priest anoints the forehead with Chrism and says, “Receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Confirmation “renders our bond with the Church more perfect.” The confirmed choose a personal patron saint and take that saint’s name as a Confirmation name. Confirmation, like Baptism, is only received once.

Through the Eucharist, Catholics participate in the sacrifice of Jesus. Catholics believe that the bread and wine that are blessed by the priest or bishop during Mass truly become the body and blood of Jesus. The first time a Catholic receives the Eucharist, also called First Communion, is usually around age seven, or at Baptism for adults. To receive Communion, one must have “sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ.” Eucharist is received at every Mass and some special Communion services. Although only priests and bishops can bless the bread and wine, deacons and lay people may be distributors of Communion during Mass or special prayer services.

Reconciliation, or Penance, is the first sacrament of healing. During Reconciliation, a Catholic confesses his or her sins to a priest and prays with him. The priest then gives the special blessing of Absolution, through which God forgives the sins, and assigns a penance, usually prayers and good works, to atone for the sins. Catholics believe that Reconciliation is spiritual healing of a wound caused by sin. Because sin separates one from God, Reconciliation brings God and the sinner closer together. When confessing, one can sit face-to-face with the priest or kneel behind a screen for privacy. Practicing Catholics are required to receive the sacrament once a year. Priests are bound by the Seal of the Confessional, which says they cannot reveal what they hear in the confessional, maintaining confidentiality with the penitent. The First Reconciliation is usually made around age six or seven or at the time of Baptism for adults and is required to be made before First Communion.

The second sacrament of healing is the Anointing of the Sick. During the sacrament a priest anoints a sick person with specially blessed oil. This forgives the sin of the sick and prepares the soul for death. This sacrament can be received multiple times, if a person is chronically ill, or elderly with a weakened condition.

Matrimony, or marriage, is a sacrament of consecrating a man and woman on the mission in building up the Church.  It is a sign of love uniting spouses with a permanent bond, sealed by God. The ministers of Matrimony are the man and the woman receiving the sacrament themselves. The priest blesses the couple and their marriage and serves as a witness for validity. Matrimony usually takes place during a Nuptial Mass with the couple’s family and friends present. Valid Catholic marriages cannot be dissolved because of the sacred bond between the spouses, and the sacrament cannot be undone.

Holy Orders is the sacrament of consecration to a religious vocation, when a man is ordained a priest, bishop, or deacon. A bishop ministers Holy Orders, conferring upon the man the power to celebrate the sacrament and other liturgical acts, like presiding during a Mass. Deacons are not allowed to preside during Mass, but are instead Servants of All and are placed at the service of the bishop and have several very important duties. Before Ordination, candidates for the priesthood must complete several years in the seminary, where they learn the duties of a priest and complete graduate level theology and philosophy courses while forming and developing their spiritual life. Priests take a vow of obedience to the bishop for their diocese and serve at any parish where the bishop places them.

Catholics believe that Christ instituted all seven sacraments. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan by John the Baptist and after His resurrection told his Apostles to baptize all nations. At the Last Supper, He consecrated the first Eucharist and told his Apostles to “Do this in memory of me.” Jesus also told His Apostles “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained,” in John 20:23, giving the Apostles the power and responsibility to forgive sins via confession.

At Pentecost, Jesus instituted Confirmation by sending the Holy Spirit to the Apostles.  Also at the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of His Apostles, telling them to follow His example, making them the first priests. In Matthew, Luke, and Mark, Jesus says that the sick should be anointed. In Matthew 19:6, Jesus says, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate,” indicating the perpetual bond of Matrimony. Catholics also hold that the priests and bishops of today follow in the line of Apostles and have the same responsibilities and power of the first followers of Christ.

In this regard, it is clear that Daly was not an exemplary feminist figure. First, her lax attitude towards professionalism caused her to miss an unacceptable number of department meetings. A professorship is an honor and a job, not an entitlement. Secondly, Daly was a blatant sexist, refusing to allow men in her classes. Finally, we find it ironic that Daly is being lauded as an innovative Catholic when she herself denied being one. Daly rejected any notion of Biblical scholarship and hoped to be seen as being postreligious.

Daly’s death coincides with the rise of a woman to the Chair of the Theology Department. This publication understands that it has had a somewhat difficult relationship with the theology department over the past two years. We see the change in chairmanship as a new opportunity to sustain a productive relationship. We hope that Professor Cornille supplants the Daly legacy by providing BC women with an example of strong academic professionalism which is both innovative and respectful of Tradition. While a theology department at a Catholic university need not encourage scholarship solely on Catholicism, we would hope that no academic department at Boston College holds biases against Catholicism. In this manner, Boston College can be both respectful of its past and still work to be a world-class academic institution.

He has been AD during some of BC’s most successful athletics season in its history. He has also provided more academic support for the athletes, making athletes’ achievements both on and off the field a source of pride. DeFilippo sat down with The Observer in his office, where he has maroon and gold M&M’s—true Eagle pride— for the first time to discuss how lucky he is, how much he enjoys working with student-athletes, the winner of this year’s Beanpot, and his top one or two favorite football teams of all time.

The Observer: You’ve been director of athletics at BC since 1997. In your time here, has there been one thing that stands out as something you are the most proud of?

Gene DeFilippo: I don’t think there’s any one thing that I am most proud of. I think there are a number of things. One was when Paul Taylor, one of our BC fencers, was one of two students awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. Those are the only two Rhodes Scholars at Boston College in our history. Certainly the number of times that our football team has led the country in graduation rate. I think that’s happened twice that we’ve won it and every year we’re in the top six or seven. Winning the two national championships in ice hockey was terrific. Some of the great victories that we’ve had in football, beating Notre Dame and Penn State and some of those would rank up there.

O: As BC’s athletic director, what does your job entail?

GD: I think the job of the athletic director is to provide leadership and organization for the department as well as providing the climate and the resources necessary for success. We’ve got some great administrators. The one good thing that every leader can do is to hire great people, and that’s one thing I’m really proud of. A lot of the other things everybody’s had a hand in, but hiring some of these people has been great. I think the AD or leader of any group needs to provide the leadership. Where are we going? How are we going to get there? And the other thing is the climate. We try to provide a real family climate here. We have some sayings from coach Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers. Coach Lombardi said that the three most important things in anybody’s life should be their god, their family and their friends, and the Greenbay Packers. So we always say there’s three things that ought to be really really important in your life. Your God, your family and your friends, and the Boston College Eagles. And the other thing is to provide resources, and in my case, resources are fundraising. Nothing happens until somebody raises some money or somebody sells something, and so it’s very very important for me to be out on the road a lot raising funds. The Yawkey Center is a great example. That’s the only building on campus to be paid for entirely with outside private funding. We have a tremendous group of fundraisers, but I do have to spend, and enjoy spending a lot of my time fundraising.

O: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

GD: To work with student athletes on a day-by-day basis, and watch them come in as boys and girls and leave as men and women. To have an effect on somebody’s life, to help them overcome a problem, whether it’s a divorce in the family, or an alcohol issue or any other kind of health problem or to work with somebody like Mark Herzlich in getting through some of the things that he has gone through in the past year. To work on a daily basis with them, the student athletes, and to help them is truly fun.

O: What would you say is the most unheralded BC sports team?

GD: I don’t know that we’ve got one. But other than our men’s football, basketball and hockey, and women’s basketball, I think all of our teams are unheralded. Unfortunately, they don’t get the publicity that they really deserve. If you’ll just take the fall season, women’s soccer ended up 7th in the country and went to the great eight, the men’s soccer team was 14th in the country and they went to the round of 16, field hockey was 12th in the country and they went to the NCAA tournament. We’re winning in a lot of sports. Same thing in the winter and spring sports. Those sports don’t get nearly the publicity, so in a way I think they are all unheralded.

O: The men’s basketball team has had some really disappointing losses this season, especially against non-conference teams like Harvard, Maine, and Rhode Island at home. With only eight games left, do you think the team will get a shot at March Madness?

GD: You know what, I do. I think that we could get real hot here and put together a string of victories, and we’ve got enough real good teams on our schedule that that would give us some great wins. We’re at a critical point in our season because we’re right in the middle of the conference and so if we get hot, yeah, anything’s possible. We have had some disappointing losses, and then we’ve had some real good victories. We’ve beaten Providence on the road, we beat Michigan on the road, we’ve beaten Clemson, who was ranked 21st, so we’ve had some good wins, we’ve had some real disappointing losses, but if we catch fire here, anything’s possible.

O: For the team to have what you would consider a successful season, do they need to make it to March Madness?

GD: Of course our goal in every sport is to win the conference championship, but there’s a lot more to be learned by athletics other than just wins and losses. I want us to be the best BC that we can be. People ask us sometimes would you like to be Stanford or would you like to be Duke or whoever. We don’t want to be anybody other than Boston College. We want to be the best BC that we can be, and that’s what we try to do every single day. So as long as we’re being the best we can be, getting the best out of the talent we have and giving a great effort, that’s what’s really important.

O: The football team lost to USC in the Emerald Bowl, but with all of the changes the team underwent before and during the season, involving both coaches and players, would you say that it was still a successful season?

GD: This past year’s football team will probably go down as one of my favorite football teams of all time, simply because of the adversity that those players went through. You know changing coaches in January and bringing in some new staff members, then we get into spring practice and our captain, Mike McLaughlin, tears an Achilles tendon, he’s our middle linebacker. Our full back, James McCluskey, tears an Achilles tendon, so we lose two starters. At the end of spring practice, Mark Herzlich is diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. In June, our quarterback transferred. So we started the season with three linebackers whom had never played and we had three quarterbacks who had never played in a varsity game, and to come out with an 8-4 record and a 5-3 record in the ACC, is just remarkable. This team will be one of my top one or two favorite teams in all the years that I’ve been in this.

O: With Herzlich back practicing, where do you project the football team to be next season?

GD: I’m not a predictor. I think that we’ll be a lot more experienced this year than we were last year. With coach Spaziani and our staff, and with the work ethic of our players, our goal is to go out and win the ACC championship. That’s what we’re working for right now.

O: The Beanpot is finally here and the Eagles have a chance to win their 15th title. Last year, Northeastern had a decisive victory over BC, and BU went on to win their 29th Beanpot title. Do you think the Eagles can win the Championship game this year?

GD: Oh yeah, yeah, I really do. I always think we’re going to win every game. So I’m going into the Beanpot thinking we’re going to win the Beanpot. It’s about this time of the year that Jerry York’s teams always take off. People are always worried in December and January. “Oh they’re young or they’ve got a few guys hurt” or whatever. I never worry because when you get near Beanpot time, BC just takes off, and we keep getting better and better and better. And I know this, there’s no team in hockey East that’s going to want to face this BC hockey team in March, I’ll just tell you that right now.

O: In the Championship game, BC will face BU. You’d still pick BC as the winner, keeping in mind BC has dropped the past two games to BU, one at Fenway and one here at home?

GD: Absolutely. Yes, I’d pick us as the winner.

O: When a team has a losing season, where do you look to make changes?

GD: When we have a losing season, the first thing that we do is as a staff, we look at all the support people. Are we doing everything we can from an athletic director’s standpoint? Are we doing everything we can from a financial standpoint? Are we doing everything from sports information, from the weight room, in the training room? Are we providing all the support and assistance necessary for that staff and those players to be successful? We look at the coaching staff.  We look at our talent. We look at our competition. When we have a losing season or when we have a winning season, at the end of the year, we go through things from top to bottom and try to make it better, so we can be the best BC that we can be. My old football coach at Springfield College used to always tell me when we won, he used to say “Gene, things are never as good as they appear to be and they’re never as bad as they appear to be. Remember that,” and I’d say “yes sir.”

O: In what area does the BC athletics program excel the most at?

GD: I think we do as good a job as anybody in the country in balancing academics and athletics. If you ask me what the toughest part of my job is, I would tell you without question it’s to maintain a balance between academics and athletics. On one hand, we have the alums, the fans, the players, and the coaches. They want a win and they want to win a lot of games. On the other hand, you’ve got the Board of Trustees, the administration, the deans and the faculty, and they want us to do really really well academically so finding that fine balance is very very important. Our graduation rate for the last 15 years or so has been about 96%, and we win in most all of our sports. So I think that we do probably as well in balancing the academics and athletics as anybody in the country. I always tongue-incheek tease about our alums. I say that our alumni would like us to be Harvard Monday to Friday, and Alabama on Saturday afternoon. That’s a tough task.

O: In what area does the BC athletics program need the most improvement?

GD: I don’t know if there’s an area we need the most improvement in. I think that from a facilities standpoint, from a coaching standpoint, we’ve got some real good things. The one disadvantage that I think we have with our spring sports, here in the northeast, and it’s not just Boston College, but everybody in the northeast part of the country, is the weather. You know the baseball teams, the softball teams, the golf teams, down south, many of whom we compete on a weekly basis, they’re out practicing starting February the 1st. Yes, the bubble is terrific for us and it has been very very helpful, but there’s nothing like being outside to practice your putting and your chipping, your pitching in baseball or softball, or your women’s lacrosse or track and field, whatever the sport is, we’re disadvantaged by weather. But we don’t use that as an excuse. There are no excuses. We know what the weather is and we make the best of it.

O: Do you attend many BC sporting events?

GD: I do. I try to attend as many as I can. This job is not a job. It’s a lifestyle. I work every day. My wife made me take New Years Day off, and sit home, and I did, but I work every day and I don’t call it work. Work to me is doing something that you don’t want to do. It’s mowing the grass, it’s taking out the garbage, it’s raking leaves. That to me is work. What I do, it’s not work. It’s a joy. I can’t wait to get up in the morning and to get in here. I get so excited for our coaches and our teams. I love being at the games. I love being around the coaches, I love being around the players. So you know, I’m very very very fortunate in life that I have an opportunity to do something that I really really love to do, and you know, I’m lucky.

O: Would you agree that not very many SuperFans show up to BC sporting events? If so, what do you attribute the lack of SuperFans at games supporting our teams to?

GD: I think that our students are really really good fans. Some of the games are during the week and a lot of students have classes during the week, a lot of students are studying during the week. We have a lot more going on at Boston College and a lot more interests than just in athletics. When Notre Dame comes in here in football or Duke and North Carolina come in here in basketball, as they will within the next three weeks, this gym will be alive and hopping and you will be able to cut the enthusiasm with a knife. I love our students. They have been terrific for us, and I understand that they have other things in their life. And that’s not a bad thing, that’s a good thing.

Striking photographs printed on plain paper, origami, poetry, and paintings have begun to take their places on the large boards lining the walls of this exhibit. The pieces are informal, without any framing or pretentions. In fact, many seem to be products of the wanderings of a creative mind trapped in a dull lecture hall, leaving its mark on scraps of white or lined paper. Moreover, they are largely nameless, even lacking the names of their creators. The pieces have a large range. From doodles and words on half-torn papers to neat studio-finished paintings, the works are as diverse as can be.

Potential contributors may submit their work in a small black box on the drawers on one side of the room. The exhibit is always being changed and updated, and whatever pieces in the box do not remain there long.

“This whole area is actually going to be renovated with vending machines, a circulation desk, and made more like upstairs. The exhibit is going to be up for a while, but then they’re probably going to put something else in there,” said Laura Mujenda, a junior currently working in the Government Documents/Microforms Office next to the exhibit. It seems that the gallery’s original conception may have had to do with simply filling the empty room, and a temporary display featuring student art certainly fulfills that order.

The little exhibit seems humble and inviting, with no claim to fame while offering a chance to let others see one’s work. The librarians who have taken note of this exhibit have done so mainly by passing through on their way out, and many students pay it no particular attention. The few that recall it give it vague descriptions such as “different” and “nice”.

However, one who sits here with a load of work to do would appreciate being surrounded by something other than blank walls. In addition, the existence of such an open and welcoming gallery is important to those who wish to share their work in some way. Even if they don’t want their name attached to it. The “Post Secret” gallery has the same idea, where post cards containing secrets are mailed by thousands of contributors. There is definitely something therapeutic in it.

Visitors of the gallery may find it a pleasant area to do a bit of studying, or to simply take in the pieces done by their peers. The exhibition is temporary, and a taste of the talent that exists anonymously across this campus.

Founded back in the early 1980s, the Investment Club started with fifteen thousand dollars, donated by a student’s father. The club began trading in the fall of 1983, using Merrill Lynch as a broker, from the club’s history on their website. In the almost thirty years since the club’s conception, the group has expanded their portfolio to $270,000.

Today, the Investment Club meets once a week and hears presentations. One group member illustrates the pros of either buying or selling a certain stock, and then the entire group votes the stock in or out. For this reason, it is very difficult for the club to make many decisions in a short amount of time. Usually, there are three or four stocks voted on per meeting.

Obviously, times have changed since the 1980s, and with it, the perspective from which people view the stock market. The Investment Club has kept up with these changes. Comparing the differences from just five years ago, Cullen says “In 2004, you didn’t have to be as focused on the big picture.” Now, when focusing on the big picture is the only way to stay afloat in the current economy, the Investment Club has adjusted their strategies.

The club has moved to a “top down” approach. They now look to broad ideas, considering the big picture before looking at any specific stock. The club holds stock in several banks, knowing that banks tend to do well as long as the stock market is fairly stable. Such safety measures give the club constancy, allowing them to avoid the losses of any one specific company.

In the aftermath of the economic crisis that headlined newspapers for months in 2008, the club did suffer some losses. However, in 2008, they lost less than the market overall, and in 2009, they beat the market by 3.5 percent.

These numbers were mostly due to the club’s financially savvy decisions; still, as Kelly points out, “We owned good companies, but it was a bad time to own them. You could own the best company in the world, but if they’re selling bricks to contractors in Arizona, it’s not going to matter.” For this reason, the club has benefited from veering away from a “bottom up” strategy, which decides to purchase shares in an individual company based on its merits.

Not only does the Investment Club provide invaluable experience for anyone who wishes to distinguish themselves in the financial world, but it benefits members in public speaking and the making of presentations.

Because of its existence, hundreds of Boston College students have left campus with real experience in the stock market, and a depth of knowledge about the workings of the economy. Cullen summed up the club very well, “We’ve done well [financially], and we’ve taught people about the market as well.”

When it comes time for job hunting, the Investment Club provides an essential leg-up in the financial world: real life experience and proof of true interest in the economy.

The Investment Club shows potential employers that the perspective applicant not only has a real interest in the stock market, but has an understanding of the principals of the economy which can only be obtained through experience.