Heights Cartoon- The Last Cartoon!!!

The Heights Cartoon- Event Cancelled

Forum replaces Ayers event
By: Matthew DeLuca
Posted: 4/2/09
On Monday, the students who worked to organize the canceled Bill Ayers appearance on campus conducted a forum discussion on academic freedom after a satellite video appearance by Ayers intended to eliminate safety concerns expressed by the administration was not approved by the University.

The organizers said that they wanted the event to be an opportunity for students, faculty, and administrators to talk about the event and why it was canceled. "The point of this event is really to hear from all of you, and we'll get to have a discussion about what happened and academic freedom," Michael Madormo, event organizer and A&S '09, said. He said that the event and the controversy has always been about academic freedom, not about Ayers.

Madormo said that the decision to cancel Ayers reflects on the identity of BC as an institution of higher learning. "This is not about demonizing administrators. This is about who we want to be at Boston College," he said. The organizers had tried to have the event off campus after it was canceled, Madormo said. After they were unable to find a suitable venue, they tried to have an on-campus video conference with Ayers, which was not allowed by administrators, who cited the same security threats. "In lieu of that, we decided to have this event and focus on academic freedom," Madormo said.

Rhick Bose, event organizer and A&S '09, said that there were larger university issues at stake than the singular Ayers event. "The Bill Ayers event is just one stroke of the pen of events that have been canceled over the years." He cited the GLBTQ Leadership Council (GLC) dance canceled in 2006. The University said at that time that the dance was canceled due to a conflict between the event and the University's Catholic values.

"It used to be Jesuit-Catholic issues and values at BC, and now it's about security," Bose said. "They cancel for Jesuit-Catholic doctrine or because of security, or because they just don't like it. We can't allow politics to determine the intellectual discourse here at BC."

Ken Kersch, professor of political science and director of the Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy, said that he had agreed to co-sponsor the event before it was canceled, and that he has continued to do so. "I'm mainly here to tell you that I agreed on behalf of the center to co-sponsor this talk," he said. "I vehemently object to the University's decision to cancel it."

Kersch said that when he took control of the center, of which he is the founding director, he was told by the University to present diverse views and host different viewpoints. He said that the center has hosted a variety of noted conservatives and moderate liberals, and that he thought Ayers was appropriate. "When I was asked about this event I said, 'We're ending the year, what about the left?'" Kersch said. "He was here to bring balance and diverse ideas."

Students shared a variety on opinions, both on the original decision to host Ayers on campus, as well as the University's decision to cancel the original on-campus event as well as not to host the video conference.

"As soon as I found out Bill Ayers was coming to campus, it got my blood going a bit," one student said.

"Some people who are attending right now might think this is a referendum on Bill Ayers, but it seemed to me that our facilitators made it fairly clear to me that this is no longer a referendum on Bill Ayers," another said.

A student said that he was angry to think that a group of alumni or Brighton residents had exerted pressure on the University to shut down the event. "What we're really talking about is the quality of our education. I didn't want this education to be dictated by radio hosts, or a certain group of alumni, or the Board of Trustees." He said that students should take stock of their own education after the cancelation of the event and examine why they are at BC.

"I do not like alumni speaking for us just because they have deeper pockets than us," another student said.

The organizers wrote the e-mail addresses of Donald Hafner, vice provost of undergraduate affairs, Karl Bell, assistant dean of student development, Vice President of Student Affairs Patrick Rombalski, and Provost Cutberto Garza on the blackboard, and said that they are people students should contact if they are concerned about speech and speakers on campus.

"My only concern is that I do not feel that random e-mails will be as effective as action," a student said. "Is there anything we can do to harness this energy?"

"We'll coordinate our efforts a bit better," Bose said.

"You have to make it clear to the students who are coming here that freedom of speech really doesn't exist at Boston College," a student said.

Charles Derber, professor of sociology, said that the decision to cancel the event is linked to how the University understands and defines academic freedom, a definition that he said students are not a part of. "They define it as a prerogative of faculty. You are being excluded from the definition of academic freedom by virtue of your status as a student," he said. "Many important student-initiated events have been shut down by the University."

He said, however, that his sense is that much of the faculty, and some administrators, sympathize with the students. "You do have a faculty who really has deep concerns about this issue," Derber said. "If I were a student here, I would make noise about why I am being excluded from academic freedom."

Madormo said that he and the other organizers were pleased with the outcome of the event. "I guess I am overwhelmingly pleased with the event," he said. "I'm ecstatic."

He said that he would have liked to have seen more faculty members present but that time constraints made it difficult to spread the word. He said that the group of organizers intended to continue to raise the issues of free speech and academic freedom expressed at the event. "We are going to be action oriented," he said. © Copyright 2009 The Heights

http://www.bcheights.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=23e22536-5455-46c0-8c6a-9ab8ee0d39c1

The Heights Cartoon- BC Israel Apartheid Week

About Israeli Apartheid Week

Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an annual international series of events held in cities and campuses across the globe. The aim of IAW is to educate people about the nature of Israel as an apartheid system and to build Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns as part of a growing global BDS movement.

Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) took place in more than 40 cities across the globe. IAW 2009 happened in the wake of Israel's barbaric assault on the people of Gaza. Lectures, films, and actions made the point that these latest massacres further confirm the true nature of Israeli Apartheid. IAW 2009 continued to build and strengthen the growing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement at a global level.

Join us in making 2009 a year of struggle against apartheid and for justice, equality, and peace.

Boston

This is the first annual Apartheid Week in Boston, We are excited to have Boston College students and University of Massachusetts Boston students hosting events at their schools. We have many other colleges and community groups planning events. Apartheid Awareness weeks are taking place in more than 40 cities across the globe (the number of cities is growing daily). This year, IAW happens in the wake of Israel's barbaric assault on the people of Gaza. There is a full week of lecture, stand outs and other events throughout the Boston area. See http://boston.apartheidweek.org/ for program. See http://www.itisapartheid.org/getthefacts for fact sheets on Israeli Apartheid.

http://boston.apartheidweek.org/en/about

The Armenian Weekly- Viaje a Armenia!

Birthright Armenia Supports Spring Break Alternatives
By Contributor • on March 18, 2009 •


A five-person team of students from Boston College (BC) is back on campus in Massachusetts, absorbing all that just transpired during their whirlwind spring break. This year, instead of going on the cliché tropical vacation to Florida with college friends, or just going home for a relaxing break from school, the group opted for a service trip to Armenia.
The children of SOS Children’s Village working on an art project with the BC volunteers.

The children of SOS Children’s Village working on an art project with the BC volunteers.

What started out, or so they thought, as an impossible concept to pull off, actually resulted in one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. Brittany Kademian, the leader of the team and president of the BC Armenian Club, admits, “At the end of the day, there are no words to describe our experience in Armenia. We all went on this trip more excited about traveling to Armenia and experiencing the culture than the service component, but we left with such richer experiences than we could have ever imagined.”

Planning and organizing this trip took a great deal of time and hard work, but their persistence paid off. Kademian spread the word to both Armenian and non-Armenian members of the Armenian Students Association who were interested in service trips, rounded up four more fellow students who were committed to the trip, and started to actively fundraise the money required to afford the trip. In addition to Kademian, group members included Mark Buttweiler, Andrea Zeytoonian, Brandon Spears, and Lucia Benavides.

Everything from bake sales to letter-writing campaigns, fundraiser dinners, and more were organized, and the group was constantly coming up with new ways to pay for their trip. Yet, they faced a challenge when it came to the issue of what organization to work with once in Armenia and what type of service to do. Kademian reports, “Our group was open to everything, but we were having a hard time finding a worthwhile group with whom to volunteer.”
BC students Andrea Zeytoonian and Brittany Kademian enjoy a full day of play activities with the children of SOS Children’s Village in Abovian.

BC students Andrea Zeytoonian and Brittany Kademian enjoy a full day of play activities with the children of SOS Children’s Village in Abovian.

Luckily the group was put in touch with Birthright Armenia, who welcomed their spring break initiative with open arms. “We commend Brittany and her BC colleagues for being pioneers. I am sure this experience will open the gates to many other groups of students and ASA teams to choose Armenia as a spring break destination,” says Sevan Kabakian, country director for the organization in Armenia. “It’s all about imagining a wider set of possibilities, expanding the boundaries, thinking beyond the cliché destinations, and redefining what having fun can mean,” he added.

The Birthright staff was more than amenable to assist with logistics, arrange homestays, and organize a detailed itinerary of day-to-day activities and community service to offer the group a taste of both city and rural life, combined with cultural and historical sites, and a look at how the people live. SOS Children’s Village in Abovian and Our Lady of Armenia Orphanage in Gyumri were just two sites where the group members worked, teaching English and initiating other learning activities with the children. In addition, to round out their trip, they were invited to join in on Armenian language classes, attend Armenian dance class, and socialize with the group of Birthright volunteers already living and working in Armenia.

“Going on this trip not only gave us a better understanding of another culture and its people, but inspired us all to want to do more service in the future. A spring break such as ours which was used to help others not only helped the local people, but also allowed us to experience others’ perspectives and culture, helping us to grow from this trip and make us into better people for the future,” Kademian added.

Birthright Armenia’s mission is to strengthen ties between the homeland and diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of Armenia’s daily life and to contribute to Armenia’s development through work, study and volunteer experiences, while developing a renewed sense of Armenian identity. For more information, visit www.birthrightarmenia.org.

http://www.hairenik.com/weekly/2009/03/18/birthright-armenia-supports-spring-break-alternatives/?ec3_listing=posts

The Heights Cartoon- Happy St. Paddy's!

BBC NEWS
Policeman shot dead in N Ireland

A policeman has been murdered in Northern Ireland just 48 hours after two soldiers were shot by the Real IRA in Antrim.

The shooting happened on Monday night at Lismore Manor, Craigavon, County Armagh, at about 2145 GMT, police said.

Police were responding to a call for help from a distressed woman. Two police vehicles went to the scene.

As officers got out, shots were fired, one man was hit in the head and died later. He was married with children.

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde called it a "sad day" for Northern Ireland's force and said the gunmen were "criminal psychopaths".

"It reminds us that a small group of people determined to wreck what is a huge political progress are becoming more dangerous," he said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has condemned the murderers and insisted there would be "no return to the old days" in Northern Ireland.

"These are murderers who are trying to distort, disrupt and destroy a political process that is working for the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

Mr Brown, who travelled to Northern Ireland on Monday to visit the scene of the two soldiers' murders in Antrim, said gunmen would "never be allowed to undermine the political process".

This is the first murder of a police officer in NI since 1998. Constable Frank O'Reilly was killed by a loyalist blast bomb during disturbances linked to the Drumcree dispute in 1998.

HAVE YOUR SAY These events show that the peace process is still under threat E Breen, Chelmsford

The last police officers murdered by republicans, RUC constables Roland John Graham and David Andrew Johnston, were shot dead by the IRA in Lurgan, County Armagh in June 1997.

The man who died last night was the first PSNI officer to have been murdered by paramilitaries since the force was formed in 2001.

Dissident republicans tried to kill two PSNI officers in shootings in Derry and Dungannon in November 2007.

They have also been linked to a booby trap bomb which exploded under a police officer's car in Spamount, County Tyrone in May 2008.

Politicians from all parties condemned Monday's killing, which Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward insisted would not damage the peace process.

The chief constable said it was too early to identify the killers.

"We are used to being attacked, but we will not step back," Sir Hugh said.

"This will not put off me or my officers delivering the service we do to the communities we are paid to protect."

Asked if the killing was linked to the soldiers' shooting at the weekend, Sir Hugh said: "I think you are giving (the attackers) credit they ill deserve.

"I think these are disparate groups, badly infiltrated and indeed many awaiting trial north and south of the border.

"It just reminds us that a small group of people determined to wreck what is huge political progress are becoming more dangerous."

Mr Woodward said: "It may be that this small number of criminals do regrettably have the capacity, at the moment, to take away life, but what they will never have is the capacity to take away from people the peace process and the political progress that's been made.

"My job and every politician's job in Northern Ireland is to give the people of Northern Ireland what they want, which is freedom, the rule of law and democracy - and we will do that."

The first and deputy first ministers have again postponed an investment visit to the US following the murder.

In the weekend attack, Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead at Massereene Army base, Antrim.

The soldiers were killed as they accepted a pizza delivery at about 2120 GMT on Saturday.

Four other people, including two pizza delivery men - Anthony Watson, 19, from Antrim, and a Polish man in his 30s - were injured in the attack.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7933990.stm

Published: 2009/03/10 08:06:54 GMT

© BBC MMIX

The Heights Cartoon- Green Week

Revista ideele- Mi voto por Obama

Escuché a Barack Obama dar un discurso por primera vez en septiembre del 2005. Era la ceremonia de bienvenida para mi promoción de universidad, y yo no sabía quién era el hombre que hablaba sobre su padre en medio del estadio de basketball de Boston College.

Escuché a Obama dar un discurso por segunda vez en Washington, D. C. Era la ceremonia de inauguración del primer Presidente negro de Estados Unidos, y todo el mundo sabía quién era. Mis compañeros de clase —que viajaron conmigo para ver la inauguración— se olvidaban del frío y de la crisis pensando en el cambio, abrigados por la esperanza que había caracterizado la primera elección presidencial en la que habían podido participar.

Pero ahora que el yes we can de la campaña del candidato Obama se ha convertido en el yes we did del presidente Obama, todavía no queda muy claro en los Estados Unidos en qué consistirá esa afirmación.

Matt Wilstein, un joven publicista de Broadway que participó activamente en la campaña, me dice que cuando piensa en los cambios progresistas que ya ha implementado Obama —su oposición a la tortura y los representantes que escogió para su equipo de energía, por ejemplo— recuerda por qué este ha sido el primer candidato en el que realmente ha creído. Bobak Fatemizadeh, el presidente del Club del Partido Demócrata de Boston College, reitera el optimismo de Wilstein, agregando que con un Congreso y un Presidente demócratas se podrán llevar a cabo los cambios que prometió Obama.

Recuerdo el 4 de noviembre del año pasado, cuando acompañé a mi amiga Jessica Mullins a votar. Mientras observaba cómo marcaba la papeleta electoral, no podía dejar de pensar en la primera vez que yo voté. Era la segunda vuelta del 2006, y yo dudaba entre el mal menor y el voto en blanco. Jessica, al igual que Matt y Bobak, marcó el cuadrado al costado del nombre de Obama con una ilusión que yo no podía dejar de envidiar.

El presidente Barack Obama tiene muchos retos por delante, y quizá algunos de los cambios que prometió tendrán que esperar. Pero el cambio de actitud entre la gente joven —que participó activamente en la campaña, apoyando a su candidato a través del facebook, en los campus universitarios y tocando las puertas de sus vecinos— es ya una realidad.

El día antes de la inauguración de Obama, mis amigos y yo les tiramos zapatos a un muñeco inflable de George W. Bush en el Dupont Circle de Washington, D. C. Al día siguiente, unas periodistas brasileñas les preguntaron a mis amigos qué habían pensado de la inauguración. “Por fin”, dijo uno de ellos, “puedo decirle al mundo con orgullo que soy americano.”

http://www.revistaideele.com/node/359