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Venture magazine launch features farewell reflections alongside future hopes page 8

VOLUME 74, NUMBER 23 22

The Suffolk Journal


SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY BOSTON THE AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER

suffolkjournal.net suffolkjournal.net

April 16, 9, 2014 2014

Warren denounces government profit on student loans

Suffolk remembers Boston Marathon one year later


Sam Humphrey Asst. News Editor
One year after two bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon, members of the Suffolk community rallied to give back before next weeks race. The American Red Cross (ARC) set up several tables in the Regan Gym in Ridgeway for the Suffolk community to donate blood on April 15, the one year anniversary of the bombing that killed three people and injured hundreds. The university also held a moment of silence at the minute the first bomb exploded last year and a Boston-themed banquet to raise money for the One Fund in addition to the blood drive. Weve done [blood drives] every year at Suffolk for a long time, one in the fall and one in the spring, said Tim Albers, associate director of the S.O.U.L.S. Center for Community Engagement. Albers said this years goal was

Photo courtesy of Suffolk University

Senator Warren explains the economic impact of excessive student loans at Suffolk University Law School.
Daniella Marrero Asst. Int'l Editor
In the list of heaviest burdens for college students and graduates, paying back student loans is at the top as young Americans leave higher education with a degree and tens of thousands of dollars in debt. In a multi-day conference at Suffolk Universitys Law School, Senator Elizabeth Warren discussed the factors that take part in the billions of dollars that student debt accounts for in the U.S. and proposed solutions to stop government profits on these loans and protect borrowers from sinking under the burden alone. You could take down a list of protections available to mortgage borrowers, Warren said, none of them are available for student loan borrowers. Congress has stripped away bankruptcy protection from both federal and private student loans. Borrowers cannot discharge debt unless under the most extreme of circumstances, Warren said. For those struggling with student loan repayments, there are no options that will grant any form of relief from their debt, leaving them to face years of the federal government demanding unrealistic payments in their conditions. The outstanding student loan debt right now is $1.2 trillion, Warren said Friday. The average debt for those who get a bachelors degree is $29,000. Graduate school borrowers see even higher numbers. This is crushing our young people. More than a third of borrowers under the age of 30 have been delinquent for more than 90 days, the Senator said. Warren explained that this has impacted our economy in that young Americans and recent college graduates are not buying homes or taking part in activities expected by the government to stimulate the economy. Tying students to a lifetime financial servitude as a condition of getting an education does not reflect our values, Warren said. These students didnt go to the mall and make a bunch of charges on credit cards. They worked hard to earn skills that would benefit this country, to help build a stronger middle class, and a stronger America." Reports by the U.S. Government Accountability Office shared that in loans borrowed

Photo by Sam Humphrey

Senior Michael Guay donating blood on campus Tuesday.


to get 45 to 50 donors. Last years blood drive was scheduled by chance for the Tuesday after the bombings, Albers said. Around 130 people signed in, and we had to turn even more away because the Red Cross just didnt have the capacity to accommodate everyone. We had a huge outpouring. Though fewer donors were expected at this years Suffolk drive, a steady crowd of students, faculty, and staff braved the rain and streamed into the gym, keeping the ARCs nurses busy.

See MARATHON page 4

Same school, vastly different post grad lives


Daniella Marrero Asst. Int'l Editor Haley Peabody Journal Staff

See WARREN page 4

As commencement looms gloriously on the horizon for many Suffolk students, so does the prospect of securing a job in their field and making their degree worthwhile. Several recent Suffolk graduates shared their trials and tribulations of post-college life with The Suffolk Journal. Despite graduating from the same university, the students had completely different experiences hunting for their dream jobs. Jared Pelletier, a 2013 graduate, started his job hunt

in early April last year, almost two months before commencement. As a broadcast journalism major, Pelletier knew the degree of competitiveness that he faced and was willing to look for a position outside of the immediate Boston area. Within six weeks, Pelletier had landed a job on the air for WDTV News in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Anyone serious cant be

afraid to move, he said, You need to realize to really make it, you need to be willing to go. Recognizing that finding employment in your field after graduation can be a difficult task, Pelletier offered his best advice to the class of 2014, and said, dont sit and wait for your opportunity, push out

See ALUMNI page 3

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The Suffolk Journal

April 16, 2014

P O L I C E B L O T T E R Enjoyable outings ahead


Sunday, April 13

for class of 2014


Maria Baluch Journal Staff
Suffolks senior week committee has put together 11 days of fun-filled events for the class of 2014 to enjoy and culminate their final year at the university. Senior week kicks off May 5 with a celebration at Ned Devines Irish Pub with a private area to celebrate alongside seniors, free food, and great music. I really hope that seniors are happy and excited about the events, and I really hope that they have a great time, said committee chair and winner of the Oustanding Senior of the Year Award Ashlie Triolo-Dekkers. Triolo-Dekkers, began planning in October by reaching out to seniors via social media. Triolo-Dekkers took a creative approach this year for event concepts, as she wanted to get as much feedback from the senior class as possible, she said. This led the committee to create a class of 2014 Twitter page (@Suffolk2014) and have seniors tweet any ideas they had in mind. The committee then developed a survey consisting of 25 different ideas that seniors rated on a scale of 1 to 10. The survey helped committee members to formulate the final list of events that will be taking place from May 5 to May 15. IDs will be checked at every event and students are allowed to consume alcohol if they are of age. Alcoholic beverages are being served at the given locations, but it will not be provided or purchased by the university. Because Mohegan Sun is an overnight trip, no outside guests are allowed. We thought it might be better to have it just for Suffolk seniors because thats who were celebrating, said TrioloDekkers. Additionally, there will be at least two faculty members at every event for safety reasons, Triolo-Dekkers said. The events will conclude on May 15 with a toast by the Student Alumni at the lobby of 73 Tremont. Other senior week events include a Red Sox game, a trip to Six Flags, white water rafting, and a service trip with Cradles to Crayons. For event information, visit the HUB, where tickets will remain on sale until April 25.

3:06 a.m. Temple Street Other agency assist - burglary. BPD assumed jurisdiction.

"I really hope that seniors are happy and excited about the events, and I really hope that they have a great time." - Ashlie Triolo-Dekkers, senior week committee chair

Saturday, April 12

3:04 p.m. Off campus Other agency assist - larceny. BPD assumed jurisdiction.

Friday, April 11

7:01 p.m. 150 Tremont Liquor law violation - minor in possession of alcohol. Cleared by exception - no Suffolk affiliation.

Friday, April 11

12:16 a.m. 150 Tremont Drug offense - drug law violation. Judicial internal.

Photo courtesy of Suffolk University

Thursday, April 10

2:06 p.m. Off campus Other agency assist - robbery. BPD assumed jurisdiction.

Seniors are offered an overnight trip to Mohegan Sun Casino from May 12 to 13.

NEWS BRIEF
Honors program holds food drive through April
For the month of April, the College of Arts and Sciences honors program and alumni board are sponsoring a food drive for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Boxes are located around campus for students to donate non-perishable foods. Students will also be collecting food donations at the honors program research symposium on April 25. We encourage all students to support this community service initiative, which will bring food to disadvantaged individuals and families living in Boston and its surrounding communities, said Steven Church, administrator of the honors program. Anyone looking for more information can contact Church at schurch@suffolk.edu or Honors Council President Brendan Clifford at bjclifford@suffolk.edu

Photo courtesy of Flickr user 6SN7

The class of 2014 will be taking a day trip to Newport, R.I. on May 7 for sight seeing and shopping. Afterwards, they will head over to the Atlantic Beach Side Restaurant for a beachside clambake.

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The Suffolk Journal

April 16, 2014

Suffolk alumni share their post-graduation stories


From ALUMNI page 1
side of your comfort zone. Despite the stressful nature of searching for a job and facing the fierce competition in the broadcast field, Pelletier said that his education at Suffolk helped give him an edge on the air. Although he was initially unaware of the heavy emphasis on multimedia that was present in his field, he said, I didnt realize just how well my education had prepared me to step right into the professional world so fast and so furious. Carmen Sofia Plazas, another graduate of the class of 2013, shared similar success to Pelletier in her initial job hunt. Plazas was a student from Maracay, Venezuela, and received a master in arts in communications in December. Plazas got a head start in applying to jobs in the U.S. nine months before graduation, meeting with advisers, talking to professors, and doing personal research and networking within her field. I like to think that I am an organized person, Plazas said. In the fall of 2013, I officially started to apply for both internships and full time jobs. In November, I had a few interviews and luckily one of them resulted on the offer of the positions that I currently have as a junior account coordinator at ARGUS Communications. Plazas began working at ARGUS immediately after graduation, the ideal job she was hoping for. She wanted to work with the Hispanic market, and her current job has allowed her to do just that. Before graduation I pictured myself doing in-house marketing for the Hispanic audience in the healthcare sector, she said, such as working in the marketing department of a hospital or a bigger organization like Partners Healthcare. I wanted to use the fact that Im bilingual and Hispanic as a skill. Yes, I was not able to find exactly what I wanted. However, now that Im actually working, not dreaming about it but working with ARGUS, Im more than happy with how things worked out for me. She advised current students to be prepared to handle the weight of finding a job, but not to forget their own dreams. Plan in advance, think big, stay loyal to your work ethic and values, and always be positive. The perfect job is out there waiting for you. Its just a matter of finding it. Although the perfect job may be waiting right around the corner, success does not immediately find graduates. Alumna Kirstin Mulvaney, another member of the class of 2013, struggled in the months after commencement. Mulvaney studied English and worked as a teachers assistant and as a tutor at the writing center while at Suffolk. She began looking for jobs months before graduation in Boston and New York, hoping to work in higher education. Six months after receiving her degree, however, she had not received any calls from employers, including her application to Suffolk University. With the pressure of student loans kicking in, she was forced to take a job at CVS in New York, her home state, to cover the costs. Although CVS provided some economic relief to cover the loan payments, Mulvaney said that because of the difference of minimum wage between Massachusetts and New York, she was earning less than in her part time job as an undergraduate in Boston, and the high cost of living in the city did not allow her to stay. An opportunity came from a high school friend after seeing a Twitter post from Mulvaney expressing her frustration with working in a minimum wage job as a college graduate. She was then able to get a job with AmeriCorps, a corporation for national and community service, as a teacher for elementary kids in Rochester, N.Y. Mulvaney said that although this job is not something she expected she would ever take part in, the opportunity to work with kids via AmeriCorps has shifted her perspective on what she would like to do in the future by working with students who are learning their ABCs and numbers rather than her original idea of working in higher education. After forming close bonds with the children and their familys circumstances, Mulvaney said she sees a flaw in the American school system to push for a college degree as the only plausible path to a successful life. She believes it is a choice that is not attractive or practical for all. I am not devaluing a college degree, Mulvaney said. I am saying that it is not for everyone and not suitable for all circumstances. During her time at Suffolk, Mulvaney said she would have liked to have taken more advantage of resources at the career development center and attend more networking events, but felt that those kinds of events on campus were usually designed for business or law students. What about the students that dont want to work for big corporations? Mulvaney said about Suffolks networking

Photo courtesy of Jared Pelletier

Top: Broadcast Journalism graduate Jared Pelletier, Bottom left: English graduate Kirstin Mulvaney, Bottom right: Communications graduate Carmen Sofia Plazas.

Photo by Ally Thibault

Photo courtesy of Carmen Sofia Plazas

"Breathe and relax. Things will work out one way or another, whether you think they will or not." -Jared Pelletier
gatherings. Her advice to current students is to avoid zoning in on one job or career and to leave room for change. Be prepared to be creative with what you can do with your major, she said. But although looking for a job is the biggest worry for all college seniors and graduates, Pelletier, Plazas, and Mulvaney all unanimously agreed that people should not forget to enjoy themselves and their post-graduation life. Paint, start a band, read a book, take a nap. Do things that make you happy and that will lift your mood and spirit and that dont cost a thing, Mulvaney advised. Plazas shared that looking for jobs can be a stressful task, but that with proper organization, it is manageable. I have managed with organization, planning, asking for support of my family, and friends, lots of chocolate, and hot yoga, she joked. Pelletier said, Breathe and relax. Things will work out one way or another, whether you think they will or not.

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The Suffolk Journal

April 16, 2014

Boston commemorates marathon anniversary


From MARATHON page 1

Caring citizens wrote kind words in support of Boston Marathon victims and their families at Boston Public Library (left), and Suffolk University (right).

Photos by Sam Humphrey

The opportunity for people to give blood on this anniversary is a healing moment and a way to give back, said Jecoliah Ellis, a spokesperson for the ARC. The ARC sent 600 blood products to Boston hospitals after the attacks, not including an additional 108 units collected at Suffolks drives, Ellis said. So many people showed up to donate last year that the school held an additional drive Thursday for those who could not participate in Tuesdays

drive, Albers said. Donors could also leave a message of hope or encouragement on a Prayer Canvas for Boston at the blood drive, part of the American Prayer Canvas project. The ARC is participating in America 4 Bostons Prayer Canvas project," we have 10 canvases from the project being signed by donors and volunteers at blood drives along the East Coast, Ellis said. Some of the canvases will be featured at Fenway Park

this coming Sunday before being moved to a permanent installation. Suffolks tributes to the marathon went beyond that, however. At her internship at Hill Holiday, senior advertising major Annie ODonnell worked on the Many Stories memorial created by the company and the One Fund. The memorial is on display currently at the Boston Public Library. I opened and read probably thousands of letters over the course of [the first two weeks

of February] from people who had Boston and the marathon in their hearts, ODonnell said. Her team ultimately picked 200 letters for the memorials storyboard, and then presented the storyboard to survivors of the attacks. Each survivor was finally able to read the messages that were meant for them from all over the world. It was truly beautiful, ODonnell said. Letters came in from everyone, from Boston natives to kids sending in money from

lemonade stands or tooth fairy visits to a Japanese girls school that sent in 200 paper cranes. The experience made ODonnell grateful for those who donated to the One Fund. Some of the letters even brought me to tears, it was so inspiring how something that happened to the city of Boston, a relatively small city, can bring the world together, ODonnell said.

Senator Warren speaks out against student government loans


From WARREN page 1
from 2007 to 2012, the government will make at least $66 billion in profit. Warren said that a department of education official confirmed that when the government generates profit from student loans, those profits dont get funneled into other student aid. Warren said that the most efficient way to reverse the damage of student debt is to lower the cost of education. To reverse the trend of student borrowing we need to lower the cost of college. Thats where it all starts. We should start by restoring the traditional role of public higher education as a high quality, affordable option for all families. Warren has called for a complete stop to profiting from student loans. Along with that, she is pushing for bankruptcy protection to be reinstated, and for a shared responsibility between the college and the student when struggling to pay back the loans. When students default, they feel the pain, and so do the taxpayers who may ultimately have to pick up the bill. Colleges should feel some of that pain, too, and it should affect the colleges who are taking on a lot of students who are not repaying their debts. Her final proposal was for the government to bring the funds back into the pockets of the borrowers and not for general government funding as it is currently. The idea that we would allow the federal student loan program to generate funds for the government is obscene. These students deserve our support. Not an extra tax when theyre trying to get an education.

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INTERNATIONAL
The Suffolk Journal

April 16, 2014

"Kosher Sex" talk by Hillel discusses sexuality in Judaism


Daniella Marrero Asst. Int'l Editor

WORLD BRIEFS

Sex: a spiritual activity between lovers, a mans obligation to his wife, or a simple act of pleasure? As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Suffolks Hillel and the interfaith center held Kosher Sex, a discussion that centered on what the Torah says about sex and love, as well as wisdom from ancient texts for a happy marriage. While approaching intercourse from a Jewish perspective, the big question was, What does the Torah say about sex? From the beginning of the scripture, sex is implied between Adam and Eve, however the actual word is nowhere to be found. Instead, the scripture tells us that Adam knew his wife, originally written in Hebrew from a term that means one comes to know something rather than someone. Additionally, the I and Thou thought of Jewish existential philosopher Martin Buber was discussed. Buber argued that, in sexual relationships, one can either form an I-It view where one views their partner as a physical being from which they receive pleasure from, or an I-Thou, where both parties see each other apart from material or physical characteristics and more than a dot in the universal grid of time and space, according to Sex in the Texts by Paul Michael Yedwab. Parts of the Talmud that cover sex were also discussed, covering topics on a mans obligation to sexually please his wife according to the religious text, as well as the fine line between that obligation and the wifes willingness. A man is forbidden to compel his wife to have marital relations, reads Talmud, Eruvin 100b. Tying this to Sexual Assault Awareness Month, leaders of Hillel shared how this explicit demand for consent from the wife touches on the topic of forced sexual activity. Even though other parts of the

Iran
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has proposed a ban on vasectomies and other forms of contraception that he sees as an imitation of western lifestyle, according to The Guardian. After a successful movement two decades ago that prompted free condoms and other forms of contraception, the conservative government is considering implementing these measures in hopes of forcing the birth rate to increase. Khamenei argues that Iran is an aging country, and that it can support at least double of its current population if only its citizens would stop using contraceptives. If we move forward like this, we will be a country of elderly people in a not too distant future, Khamenei said, according to The Guardian.

India
On April 15, Indias supreme court recognized transgender citizens as third gender, according to Agence France-Presse. Recognition of transgenders as a third gender is not a social or medical issue but a human rights issue, Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan told the Supreme Court while handing down the ruling, the AFP reported. Transgender citizens will be classified as no gender rather than the binary male or female. They will be granted the same rights and benefits as minority groups in India. In contrast, the U.S. federal government currently has no similar policies to protect transgender citizens.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Jewish philosopher Martin Buber


"I-Thou relationship: a moment of complete appreciation between two indivudals." - 20th century philisopher, Buber
Talmud descriptively list the husbands duty to visit his wife enough to keep her sexually content, it also protects that obligation from being converted into a mandatory, and therefore not always consensual, act. But sex can, and should, be a positive part of every marriage, and traditional Jewish texts enforce that idea as well as provide guidance for married couples to achieve this. From monogamy as the best option of all couples, to learning how to deal with your partners contrasting views and opinions, to accepting that strong marriages can overcome arguments, these ancient texts provided quite progressive ideals that are relevant and useful for present day romantic relationships. Sexual relations are considered highly important in a Jewish marriage, a list of guidelines by Jewish psychologist Susan Heitler read. However, not only sex alone will produce a good relationship, so a couple is encouraged to focus on enhancing their friendship, a vital ingredient to a full and healthy marriage relationship. Jewish marriage aims for a full enjoyment of a partnership enriched by sexual pleasure, according to Heitlers guidelines, "Building an everbetter and ever-more-loving future together.

Australia
A robbery that occurred in a museum in Australia resulted in stolen artifacts that belonged to French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, including a lock of his hair. The stolen items included a ring and (a glass frame) containing Napoleons hair, a ribbon inscribed by Napoleon in 1815 and a snuff box, the police statement said, according to Agence France-Presse. The artifacts were collected from a man that knew Napoleon during his exile before his death. The investigators believe it was a targeted theft because of the specific items that were stolen. We think its probably destined for a private collection. It could well be stolen to order, Detective Sergeant Michael Lamb said, the AFP reported.

Venezuela
Despite large accusations of mistreatment from Venezuelan officers, the government had admitted to excesses use of force from only 97 of their officers, according to BBC. Since the protests began, at least 40 people have been killed and hundreds more injured, incidents that the people blame the military. We are able to say that 97 (officers) are being investigated by prosecutors for cruelty, for torture, military strategic command chief Vladimir Padrino said, according to BBC. That represents only 0.4 percent of the force. In addition, he said no soldiers have received orders to hurt anyone, harass or end the life of a Venezuelan.

Page Page 6 6

The Suffolk Journal

September 19, 2012 April 16, 2014

Armenian Student Association seeks to educate campus on history and culture


Matt Bacon International Editor
Armenia is a small country that lays just above the northern fringes of the Middle East in the Caucasus Mountains. Its unique position in the world, at the crossroads of Iran, Turkey, the Arab world, and Russia, has resulted in a diverse and vibrant culture. At Suffolk University, a newly revitalized Armenian Students Association (ASA; not to be confused with the African Student Association) aims to bring a piece of that culture to campus. Our goal is to connect people with a connection or interest in Armenian culture in the Suffolk community, said sophomore and founding member of the club Lori Yogurtian. In the past, Suffolk has had sizeable Armenian student populations. They had often gathered in de facto groups, but by the time Yogurtian was a freshman the network had fizzled out. Yogurtian and a friend, along with Suffolk photography professor Ken Martin decided to dedicate themselves to starting an official Armenian club to bring awareness of the culture to campus. No one knows about what Armenia is ... we just want to bring the Armenian culture to Suffolk, said Yogurtian, a double major in management and marketing. Still in the process of getting off the ground, the ASA has not had any major events on campus. However, they have participated in events with other local ASA chapters at which Suffolk students are always welcome. Next year were going to have a lot more organization, Yogurtian said, elaborating that the group is planning for an Armenian culture night on campus next year. So far, the highlight event for the club has been its year-end celebrations. Every semester all of the [local branches] have an event at a restaurant ... its like dinner, dancing and music. We turn the restaurant into a club ... we even got kicked out of one place, Yogurtian said. All around, the ASA is A very chill club ... its a way to get involved without too much commitment ... a great way to network, meet new people, make connections, and learn something about Armenian culture. The ASA knows how to have fun, but also takes seriously its status as representatives commencement speakers for the Suffolk University Law School is Soviet-born but naturalized American citizen Abraham Foxman. Foxman is a holocaust survivor and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, an international Jewish NGO, whose goal is to fight antiSemitism and all forms of bigotry, defend democratic ideals and protect civil rights for all. In 2007, Foxman came under fire for comments he made regarding a resolution passed by U.S. Congress that recognized the Armenian genocide. I dont think congressional action will help reconcile the issue. The resolution takes a position; it comes to a judgment, said Foxman in a statement issued to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Foxman met a firestorm of public opinion and was labeled a denier of the genocide. Foxman defended his statement to The Boston Globe, claiming that the consequences of [the Ottoman governments] actions were indeed tantamount to genocide, but that the resolution is a counterproductive diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and Armenians. Regardless, Foxmans inclusion in Suffolk Laws commencement ceremony has sparked controversy. He has outspokenly opposed recognition of the genocide in the U.S. Hes also opposing [Project51, the controversial Muslim community center near Ground Zero], and is for racial profiling of all Muslims and Muslim-Americans, Yogurtian said. The ASA picked up on a Change.org petition addressed to President McCarthy, demanding Foxmans removal as a commencement speaker and the abandonment of plans to award him an honorary Juris Doctorate. Yogurtian and the other ASA members signed and circulated the petition, helping it reach its goal of 500 signatures. As of Tuesday night, the petition had 513 signatures. The ASA welcomes all students, Armenian or not, to join the club. Balancing fun with education, awareness, and activism about Armenias unique culture and displaced people, the group is hoping to expand its presence on campus and is looking towards a bright future.

Photos by Ken Martin

Protestors demonstrating the State Department's nonchalant response to the killing of Armenians by Syrian rebels carry Syrian and Armenian flags outside of the Tip O'Neill Federal Building in the West End. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad projects himself as being a protector of Syria's minorities.
of the Armenian culture in America. Armenia has a long and complex history. With the exception of two years following WWI and the 23 years since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Armenia has spent its entire history since the 1230s under the influence of various foreign occupiers, who usually tended to enact oppressive policies toward Armenians. During WWI, the occupying Ottoman Turks carried out a genocide of the Armenian people, which some estimate killed over a million. This led to a diaspora of the Armenian people, many of whom are now scattered across the Middle East, Europe, and the rest of the world. The ASA not only wishes to be active in spreading Armenian culture, but awareness of Armenias long and oftentimes painful history. There is an Armenian genocide memorial near the North End, so every year, starting last year, we do a candlelit vigil, Yogurtian said. Every year for the Armenian genocide, there are a bunch of different things that people try to do to raise awareness. A lot of times, the events only attract Armenians. We want to reach out to nonArmenians, and people who dont know about it. The group is planning a bigger event for next year, which marks the 100th anniversary of the genocide. A testament to how controversial the Armenian genocide is lies right here at Suffolk. One of this years

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The Suffolk Journal

April 16, 2014

International Analysis: Ukraine launches "anti-terror" operation against opposition forces


Matt Bacon International Editor
Over the last several days, the worsening crisis in Ukraine has escalated rapidly. Inspired by the events in Crimea, pro-Russian militias and activists have seized control of government buildings in several cities across eastern Ukraine. Until Tuesday, the Ukrainian government seemed to be taking little action. It has been stuck between a rock and a hard place; the dissenters have shown no interest in dialogue, yet a forceful response could invite an attack from thousands of Russian soldiers now stationed on the Ukrainian border, as well as damage the already fragile peace talks set to take place on Thursday between Russia, Ukraine, the U.S., and the EU. That all changed on Tuesday when, 24 hours after a deadline for armed protestors to lay down their arms and not face prosecution, the Ukrainian military announced the commencement of an antiterror operation to run the armed militias (whose ranks, according to some mostly Western sources, are bolstered by plainclothes Russian soldiers and operatives) out of occupied towns and buildings. Although unverified reports of clashes between the militias and the security forces have been reported, so far the biggest fallout from the newest developments has been fear of a civil war, and an international debate over whether or not the Ukrainian governments actions were justified. There should be no question that the government has every right to launch this offensive. After sitting back and watching the annexation of Crimea, Ukraines fledgling government needs to prove to its people that it is committed to protecting them, holding the country together, and maintaining law and order. It must also prove to Russia that it will not sit idly by while Russian President Vladimir Putin dismantles its country, piece by piece. This especially rings true if the reports of Russian agents fighting alongside the militias are accurate. The pretext of Crimea aside, the government must also prove it is committed to upholding democracy and the values that accompany a free system of government. These values include the right to assemble and protest, but peacefully. The second that the protestors, unprovoked, took up arms against the Ukrainian government, they gave up the rights of protection given to protestors in a democratic society. Nothing is cut-and-dry, however, and the biggest flaw in the Ukrainian governments strategy lies in its defined nature as an antiterror operation. The terms terrorism and terrorist have adapted much looser meanings since the U.S. launched the War on Terror in 2001. Governments in Syria, Egypt, and other places around the world have labeled any and all forces in opposition to them terrorists in order to boost the legitimacy of their causes. There is no internationally agreed upon definition of the term terrorism, not even from the UN. This has allowed police state regimes to label even the most peaceful of dissenters as terrorists. So far, no reports have surfaced from eastern Ukraine of the pro-Russian forces abusing civilians in any way. No stories of murder, harassment, rape, or robbery have come out. In this light, the Ukrainian government is entirely unjust in labelling these forces as terrorists. Are they criminals? Yes. But the term terrorist should only be applied to those who participate in the lowest, most cowardly acts of war; the murder, rape, robbery, and/ or general abuse of civilians. What is most unfortunate about this specific instance is that the Ukrainian government does not even need to label the forces opposed to them as terrorists to legitimize their cause, yet for some reason they have chosen to do so anyways. Politicians, analysts, and commentators against the military operation may refer to the largest conflict taking place on Earth today: the Syrian civil war. The U.S. government, along with many citizens, are sympathetic to the rebel cause. If they took up arms to overthrow their oppressive government, why is the U.S. scorning those doing the same in Ukraine? For the U.S. government, the majority of the reasons most likely lay in its complex geopolitical rivalry with Russia. These tensions aside, many differences underline the conflicts. In Ukraine, protestors turned to violence because they wanted to. And even after that, they had a full 24 hours to lay down their arms without facing any consequences. In Syria, hundreds of peaceful protestors were attacked and shot dead by the military supposed to be protecting them. It should also be noted that many of these protestors were not even asking for regime change. In fact, many were carrying pictures of President Bashar al-Assad, and were simply pleading for the liberal reform promised at the beginning of his reign, now over a decade ago. Ukraines system of government, although not perfect, has been democratic since the fall of the Soviet Union. Syria has suffered for decades under the authoritarian rule of the same family. Since the late 1960s, the Assad regime has ruled over a police state responsible for brutal tactics of oppression, including widespread use of torture. The same regime is also an ardent supporter of the terrorist group Hezbollah, and has engaged in rampant economic corruption that made their pockets and those of their allies fatter, while the people of Syria slid deeper and deeper into poverty. In short, the Ukrainian dissenters have jumped the gun and overplayed their hand. Their requests for greater autonomy may have been heeded had they extended

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Interim Ukrainian president Oleksandr Turchynov meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Turchynov announced the recent military operation.
along with it an open hand instead of the barrel of a rifle. Critics of the operation must learn the old adage, you reap what you sow. Now that the pro-Russian protestors have sown the seeds of conflict, the rest of the world can only sit by and hope that it does not blossom into a full-blown war.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT


The Suffolk Journal
April 16, 2014

staff SOUNDS
ALEXANdER SPiT "MiLLiONS (SiNGLE)"

Venture magazine launch features farewell reflections alongside future hopes


Ally Thibault Managing Editor

DEdicATiNG THiS SONG TO MY STELLAR, SMART & SEXY cLASS OF DRAKE 2014 iTS OUR TiME TO SHiNE "DAYS-IN THE EAST (SiNGLE)" LiKE THE SUN & MAKE THESE S PENdiN ALL MY dAYS ON THE MiLLiONS MAYNE. EASTSidE, OH... & BIGGEST OF LOVE TO - THALiA Y. THESE cATS LiSTEd bELOW, THATS MY 4EVER JOURNAL FAM RiGHT THERE. - SOLEiL B.

VARiOUS ARTiSTS "FROZENE SRNiE OUNdTRAcK" I WiSH O LAF WAS A REAL "RUbbER D UcKiE " PERSON . SUFFOLK JOURNAL,YOU'RE THE DANicOLLEGE M. ONE.YOU MAdE LOTS OF FUN. - ALLY T.

DAVid BOWiE T OTO "C HANGES" "A FRicA" cH-cH-CHANGES THE LAST TiME I GET - ALEX H. TO bLESS THE RAiNS. - ALEX H.

RONNiE DUNN V iTAMiN C "PEAcE, L OVE ANd COUNTRY "GRAdUATiON MUSic" " G ONNA MiSS ALL OF YOU GUYS L OOKiNG FORWARd TO RONNiE NEXTD YEAR . I' M GLAd THAT UNN'S NEW ALbUM. WE RiSKEd iT ALL ! #J OURNAL -S AM H. 4EVER - VASSiLLi S.

FRANZ FERdiNANd "THEiR AWESOME NEW ALbUM" ASTiLLE THANKS TOB B RUcE ANd EVERY"P OMPEii "ANd GONE ONE WHO HAS cOME ISFOR AN THE AMAZiNG SONG THAT MOTi JOURNAL STAFF FOR AVATES ME EVERYdAY GREAT 3THREE YEARS. --M VASSiLLi S. ATTY B

Trust the poetic material in your own life, English Professor George Kalogeris told student writers and artists gathered at Venture Literary and Arts Magazines launch party, April 10. As the featured speaker this year for the annual event, Kalogeris urged students to find their inner voices when crafting their art. The originality of your voice is not outside yourself, he said. But I dont think it's enough to focus only on the self. You are apart of something bigger - a free world, a radical democratic thought. The theme of this years magazine was writing letters to your past and future selves. Eryn Gordon, the editor-in-chief of Venture, explained that the idea was inspired by the fact that many members of the editorial staff will be graduating in May and beginning the next phase of their lives. The idea kind of happened when we were all hanging out at Thinking Cup once, Gordon told the Journal after the event. It was like, oh my God, none of us are going to be here next year ... this is really the end. In the spirit of this transitional phase of life, Kalogeris spoke of his childhood in Winthrop, Mass. as the son of Greek immigrants and his journey from an undergraduate student at Suffolk to his current adult life as a professor here. The ocean surrounding Winthrop and the epic stories of ancient Greeks fascinated Kalogeris as a child, as reflected in this line from a poem inspired by his textbook from the Greek school he attended each day after what he called American school: Waves moved back and forth/ Like armies in stalemate. Kalogeris is deeply interested in Greek poetry and has worked on many translations of works with the help of his parents. His poem Ambassadors of the Dead is a moving piece about the differences between son and parents, scholars and common folk, as it features his parents biases towards and against certain writers and his own biases. According to Kalogeris, his parents thought themselves to be poetic critics, but he was surprised by the poems they did and did not like. Kalogeris commented that his parents

Photos by Ally Thibault

Above: Venture's 2014 editorial staff poses in front of artwork submissions at the magazine's launch party in the Donahue Cafe, April 10. Below: This year's magazine lays on a confetti-covered table at the launch party. The cover features a postcard to reflect the theme of letters to your past and present selves.
did not like the high, eloquent language of some writers. These poets were too elitist to trust/too drunk on the Ionian sun, for his parents, he wrote. Kalogeris also shared a poem called Deaf Blind School. As a graduate student at Boston University, he worked at a school for deaf blind children in Brookline that was only a short walk away, separated only by a little bridge, he recalled. While the institutions had very different grasps on language, Kalogeris was equally in awe of the high level of writing at BU and the very little range, maybe only three or four signs of language at the deaf blind school that could still communicate so much. After Kalogeris remarks and readings, about 10 students went to the podium to read their work aloud. Ranging from poetry to prose, all the students read in their own personalities and shared work that varied greatly in style and topics showcasing the spectrum of talent and visions at Suffolk. Gordon read a poem she wrote titled Love Is which began as you may expect a little love poem to start but broke the stereotypical pattern of a young love tale and turned the listeners expectations upside down as she read: Love is, / the loathing I have/ my inability to say no. The themes of different writers stories and poems sometimes meshed together well and other times served to juxtapose conflicting ideas. Conor Carman read an excerpt from his fiction piece called Cows in which one short line stuck out: All she really wanted to do was stand there and blend in, and I thought that was a gorgeous notion. In contrast, Megan Murrays poems showcased a fierce and in-your-face personality as she announced these lines with confidence: Im ninety pounds of Freckle and Pride / A little less Jekyll, a little more Hyde. Natalie Olbrych dedicated her reading of The Liars Manifesto to Suffolks late English Professor Peter Caputo. I never wanted to write

something so ugly, and youll see what I mean by ugly in a minute, Olbrych said before beginning her piece, But he changed the way I write, and I think for the better. The Liars Manifesto was gripping to listen to, as a young girls abusive past is recalled and it shapes her in ways you may not expect. The story is a dark tale - instead of trying to break free from the ways her mother taunts and hurts her, the girl masters the lying ways of her parent and teaches the reader how he or she too can manipulate and control situations. Other students' stories shared more upbeat tales of love or college-aged antics, bringing laughter in between the serious moments that turned heads and drew out revelatory sighs. While reading work aloud may set off nervous butterflies for some students, the writers who spoke at Ventures launch effortlessly shared their pieces and thanked Venture for the opportunity to get their work published. I remember writing this story on the back of a bus on the way home from New York and Im glad it found a home, Esteban Cajigas said of his piece A Song for the Unimpressed in D Minor before reading an excerpt. Gordon said Venture received a record number of submissions from students this year. We got a little over 300. Typically we expect 200 to 250, so that was a pretty nice bump, she said. Although we got a lot of quantity, we also got a lot of quality. So that was great. From these submissions, the editors of Venture work for weeks choosing the best pieces to publish. Even before this process the staff is working on the logistics of the launch party as far back as December, according to Gordon. While many of the staff are graduating, Gordon is excited to see the magazine that next years students will produce. The next editorin-chief [Taylor Preston] is going to do a great job, Gordon said, Shes super driven and a great person. Shell do a fantastic job. After working for two years as Ventures editorin-chief, Gordon, a senior public relations major, knows she will continue to write poems and shoot photos. Thats something Ive always done as a therapeutic, meditation kind of thing for myself, Gordon said. As a writer, you never just stop writing.

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The Suffolk Journal


Will Sear Journal Staff
feature articles with two of the features being about Suffolk alumni and the other two being about the university or any story involving the university. Suffolk Alumni Magazine was developed in 2005 as a way to enhance alumni engagementto get graduates to connect or reconnect with the University. said Andrew Levinsky, editor-in-chief of the magazine, in an e-mail. The founding editor wanted to build the sense of community between the universitys 62,000 graduates (now 70,000) and between graduates and Suffolk. The idea was to reflect the impressive way that graduates were applying their education, to highlight their success stories, and to get them to consider supporting their alma mater. The magazine sends out blast e-mails to Suffolk alumni in hopes to find a former student who has performed exceptionally in their field. Sometimes, the magazine doesnt even need to look for stories as some alumni and/or their families actually reach out to SAM so their stories can be told. The person who deserves the credit for most of the exceptional stories and research is Rene Graham, a former Boston Globe reporter and is now SAMs senior writer. She constantly reaches out to alums and also interviews them to get the best story possible. There are always stories and its easy to find the most compelling stories not just for the readers, said Graham. In a city like Boston where alumni is centered, people pop up and theres a steady stream of interesting characters. However, the magazine also hires the help of freelance writers especially when the stories are based in cities outside of Boston. When there is an alumnus/a in a different city, Levinsky, through his connections, finds a possible writer in that city to write a story on the former student. Currently, there are only two full-time members of the magazine, everyone else is a part-timer and it is currently looking for a new art director.

April 16, 2014

Alumni Magazine highlights the potential of Suffolk's past


In a corner of the 11th floor of the Tremont building, one can see a couple of offices dedicated to a publication for Suffolk graduates and staff. After graduation, graduates should expect to receive copies of the Suffolk Alumni Magazine(SAM) in the months of June, October, and February. Every issue has four long The art director is responsible for the magazines layout and possibly redesigning the magazine, as well as hiring photographers and illustrators. Also on staff are two parttime copy editors who try to correct grammatical errors and generally oversee content. The staff also consisted of one student intern who oversees different sections of the magazine, works on some editorial content and does some interviews for the stories. He or she also works on the class notes, which is basically a summary of the activities of some alumni, but the content is not enough for feature articles. The magazine allows current students to write through its Ask a Pro section. Students are given the chance to interview any professional they want to talk to from celebrities to politicians as long as the magazine can reach out to them. In this interview the student can ask the pro three questions that relate to his or her field or interests. The challenge is finding a way to write stories that arent just puff pieces, but also have tension in them, said Graham.

Photo by Will Sear

Q&A with Asher Roth on his latest project RetroHash


Suffolk Journal: What was your inspiration behind Retro Hash? In comparison to some of your previous tunes it has a super fresh feel and seems to be spreading some massive positivity. AR: Really nothing more than being myself. My relationship with the Blended Babies has obviously become a close friendship over the years. Whenever youre creating music with your friends there is a connection and trust there. That trust gives me the freedom to do whatever it is Im feeling. Rich and JP (Blended Babies) would encourage me to sing through several of our sessions. That encouragement resulted in me approaching songs a little differently throughout the recording process and helped expand on a style. A lot of the recording took place in living rooms and bedrooms. Very stress free and fun. The result is an extremely fresh record that is unlike anything weve done before. SJ: Was there any significance in choosing the
four cities that were picked for this small set tour in anticipation of your April 22 release? Pennyslvania is youre hometown, NY is go to, Los Angeles will be your release date, but was there any significance in coming through Boston? AR: Yeah, I mainly just wanted to start at home. Philadelphia is an important city to me. I believe in the city and feel that theres really something special happening there. You already know New York is a must and I spent two years living in the LES so I have a lot of friends and family in the area. I currently pay rent in Los Angeles and California has always had a place in my heart. Cali is absolutely responsible for the vibe of this new album so we had no choice but to play the album release show there. Boston is responsible for my favorite show ever and is a very historical city. It was only appropriate for RetroHash to hit three major East Coast cities with so much historical context.

SJ: Songs like Fast Life & Tangerine Girl gave us a preview of the raw sound that may be carried on your upcoming album, do you think your sound has renewed since releases like The Greenhouse Effect and Asleep in the Bread Aisle? AR: Its always going to progress. As I grow, my music will grow. Its inevitable. I never want to be creating the same thing over and over again. I never want the music making process to feel mechanical. SJ: In 2012 Wrestling is Fake was released and a live session was conducted with Planet Rocke and was shot in a colorful scheme and in Turnip the Beet you sported a big black cowboy hat both components seemed close to the RetroHash album cover. Do you think along with your music, that your style and expressions have matured over the years? AR: Ill never stop growing. My expressions and tastes will change throughout the years and thats all part of growing up. Its funny you bring up those

Photo courtsey of Federal Prisim

references because I guess there were hints of what was to come before it manifested itself. However, neither of those were conscious efforts. SJ: Have you had any memorable shows or experiences on prior tours/ performances in Boston? AR: My most memorable show ever was the first Great Hangover show at the House

of Blues Boston. Ill never forget riding out on that power wheel aka Blunt Cruiser and performing "Lark" on my Go Kart. Looking around and seeing every hand in the air. That was one of those whoa moments. Highs like that are why people get addicted to drugs. That moment is why Im addicted to performing.

Left: Journal was consulted by Hercules. Right: Gianna Carchia (Fall Opinion Editor,) Alex Hall (Editor in Chief) & Soleil Barros (Arts Editor) fresh ink signitaure on 2010 Journal Orientation sheet.

Thank you for reading (& hopefully enjoying) A&E the past two years! Remember to reach for the stars, drive fast cars, & don't be like Jafar (from Aladdin obvi,) and be sure to visit the La Brea Tar Pits... if the opportunity ever presents itself to you of course. Big Love to the Journal Family 2010-14!

PAGE 10

The Suffolk Journal


Maria Baluch Journal Staff
I started pretty late, I wish I could go back in time and start earlier but I guess not because then I probably wouldnt have gone to college, said Baldi. Her role on the MTV show prepped her for TV work as she began to get involved with local artists Prospect Hills and Louie Bello and was featured in their music videos Come Alive and Rich Man. Aside from Is She Really Going Out With Him? Baldi was also on MTV shows The Choice and Are You The One? a reality show about a dating experiment in which Baldi, along with 19 other strangers, competed in a series of challenges while living together in a mansion in Hawaii, all to find their perfect match. Although she didnt find the one, Baldi said thats perfectly fine as she is single at the moment and focusing on her career. At the moment, shes a host on a New England Sports Network show called Wicked Bites about local food and athletes and describes it as a dream job that she would love to do full time. She has interviewed the Boston Bruins and the Patriots and has even managed to get in the octagon with UFC fighter John Howard and race ISMA veteran Chris Perely at F1 Boston. To me its not work, I love showing up and getting to interview local celebrities and athletes, said Baldi. In the short span of four years, Baldi has done a little bit of everything. From music videos and MTV reality shows to feature films like Ted and Grown Ups 2 to hosting a sports network show and her experience has been amazing. In Grown Ups 2, I was a cheerleader and it was so much fun being on set with Adam Sandler and Victoria Secret model Erin Heatherton who was the head cheerleader, said Baldi, you name it and Ive done it! These are just a few things Baldi has on her extensive resume and she doesnt plan on stopping any time soon. She still does a lot of promotional modeling but would love to focus on hosting, whether its for a TV show or interviewing on the red carpet.

April 16, 2014

Suffolk alumna Brittney Baldi hits small time success


Brittany Baldassari, or more commonly known as Brittany Baldi, didnt always imagine working in the entertainment industry. Majoring in sociology with a minor in psychology, Baldi graduated from Suffolk in 2011. I wanted to be a forensic psychologist and I was so interested in the criminal mind, but I just have a natural talent for being on camera, said Baldi. So how exactly does a college student go from a focus in criminology to being a cast member on a MTV reality show? Baldi described it as purely fate. A photo shoot is what she said started it all. While in her junior year at Suffolk, a friend asked her to do a photo shoot and after posting the pictures on Facebook, she was contacted for modeling and promotion shoots. Soon after, she landed her first role in the summer of her junior year on a MTV reality show called Is She Really Going Out With Him? when she was 21.

I want to do a little bit of everything but involve TV and hosting. I should have gotten a degree in broadcast journalism, joked Baldi. Shes thankful however for getting the chance to do so much in such little time. She never quite imagined she would be on this path; its something that just happened. While I was in college, my dad would say to me hey Britt focus on your degree one in a million make it big but I was like no dad let me chase my dreams and so I did, said Baldi.

Her biggest inspirations are Maria Menounos and Steve Santagati, both locals who made it big in Hollywood as hosts of TV networks. While following in the footsteps of her idols, she hopes to one day work for a sports network or even E! as a host and possibly be the next Maria Menounos. At the moment, she just launched her own website brittanybaldi.com and is starting her own swimsuit line called Brittany Baldi by KM swimwear, which will be out in July of this year.

Only Lovers Left Alive bites into box office over the weekend
its really so much more. The beauty of Jim Jarmuschs most recent film is the way he fills the silence. The small moments with our characters Set in a romanticized are given reason; the moments Detroit and a secluded Tangier, that would usually be given this idiosyncratic romp allows a pass due to inactivity are us to peek inside the lives of highlighted by Jarmusch in two vampires, Adam and Eve. a way that perfectly captures Older, wiser and enigmatic, the mindset of Adam and Eve. These are two characters Eve travels to Detroit to be that have lived very long lives with her younger, sullen and and not every moment of every dissatisfied with the human race day is some grand adventure, husband, Adam, after learning but as Eve often signifies, that hes on a downward spiral. doesnt make it less important. At the arrival of Eves Adam is often brought out impulsive sister the fragility of his dower reverie by Eves of their routine is shaken, causing the two to ponder if higher spirits and outlook on they can exist in a world where life. Where Adam sees decay theyll always be outsiders. and destruction, Eve sees That is Only Lovers Left Alive nature and nurture. Adam sees when tied up neatly in a bow- life as a monotonous cycle

Ally Johnson Opinion Editor

Novel Women in Bed does not meet expectations


Keeners work been different, altering my expectations, I most likely would have enjoyed her stories more. The first short story in her collection is pretty captivating, but a few pages in it is clear that the young woman Keener describes is not getting into bed with the strange woman she encounters at work. I flipped the pages of the small work enjoying the diction Keener chose and her remarkable ability to drop you right into the story just to be let down when hardly anyone was getting into bed with anyone else. Intimacy may not be everything in life but its at least quite a nice slice of it. Had I

of humans poisoning their world as well as themselves, while Eve looks at life as an excuse to explore, to love, and especially, to dance. They are two sides of a coin and together they make one of the most electrifying couples on screen this year. This is largely due to the charismatic performances turned in by Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston. The chemistry between the two works wonders for the aforementioned quieter moments. Whether they are lying around in bed, out at a bar and listening to music, or in a truly joyful scene dancing around in Adams living room, they light up the screen with their joint presence. Theyre believable not just as vampires, but as

two people who are entirely comfortable in one anothers space. Theres a feral look to the two of them, juxtaposed by their overtly cultured personas. That coupled with Hiddlestons dry wit and Swintons idyllic performance, Adam and Eve pop off the screen. The supporting players such as John Hurt, Mia Wasikowska and Anton Yelchin also make an impression, but the film wouldnt be what it is without its star players. Soulful, sensual and serene, Only Lovers Left Alive has expertly woven a handful of genres without losing the melancholy tone. The film is laugh out loud funny with many deadpan moments delivered timely by Hiddleston. Its romantic despite

the fact that Adam and Eve never engage in purely carnal acts. Its reflective, allowing moments of quiet introspection for creatures that are so often in storytelling fashion, larger than life. Rather than seeming like monsters, predators or sparkling beautiful people, Adam and Eve are simply earth bound mammals that were given stricter instructions on how to go about their day to day life. There isnt an easy way to recommend this film to a causal film goer. Its a mood piece-it either clicks with you or it doesnt. It isnt just a vampire film, its a film about life and how you live it.

Melissa Hanson News Editor


Jessica Keeners collection of short stories somewhat appropriately titled Women in Bed could be for you. But thats just it: it only could be. Keener has a voice that is unique and has a talent for descriptions, but the title of this collection is just a tad misleading. Just a few mere sentences of this collection are about women in bed. Excuse me for sounding lusty and immature, but sometimes a girl just wants to cuddle up with a classic old dirty novel. Had the title of

in Bed, and thats really when I collection

Photo by Ally Thibault

known I was jumping into tales of young women just trying to get through life I would have had different expectations that would have been met through Keeners storytelling. Even the reviews on the back of the novel were misleading. As you continue to read through the tales, clichs seem to sprout up through Women

is arguably the saddest, and I dont want stopped enjoying the whimsical to spoil that story for you. read. First you have an angsty Another strength of girl smoking cigarettes after Women in Bed is the fact that sex (one of the few times anything does happen in bed) the women in the nine stories then theres a social worker are different ages, at different unhappy with her life, and a places in their life (physically woman who almost has an and emotionally), but could affair on the beach. Most of easily all be the same person. this takes place in Boston, but It is intriguing to read and all the references to the Hub wonder if each story is another seem forced and unnatural point in this womans life. Given a different title, despite going into the read minus some clichs, and with knowing Keener was a local. some work on the Bean Town I dont want to knock the shout outs, Women in Bed whole collection; Keener could have really grabbed really did get some great attention. It really could have stuff in there. Aside from the cemented Keener as a new voice flowing, lively descriptions, in literature. It could have. there are a few stories worth reading. The best part of the

PAGE 11

OPINION
Ally Johnson Opinion Editor
I have been actively trying to fight, educate and speak out about sexual assault for a while now. It is a difficult subject to read about, listen to or talk about, but it is a prevalent one. It is a cause that is massively disheartening and due to its persistent survival, it seems nearly endless. However, the victims the survivors who have already braved a form of invasive humiliation that those who are lucky enough to have not experienced it will never understand, the ones who are braver than most, sturdier than most they need the extra help because as it would so tirelessly seem, they are often told to keep their shouts to a whisper. As members of a collegiate community, this is an epidemic that deserves more focus. According to OneInFourUsa. org, one in four college women report surviving rape or attempted rape since their 14th birthday. Those are terrifying numbers they make the cause hit close to home. Did you know that it is sexual assault awareness month? Have you seen information about it on your news channels or websites? It may be more common knowledge that it is national poetry month. It is apparent that still, despite rape culture and despite disparaging acts of sexual violence we hear about (Emerson, Steubenville), people are still either too ignorant or too apathetic to bring notice to a wider playing field. Sexual Assault Awareness Month (or SAAM) takes place in April and has a few, straight to the point agendas. The organization behind it wants to raise awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual assault. The hope is that people and outlets will communicate and combine their collective resources during the month and with that intake of knowledge can highlight sexual violence as a major public health, human rights and social justice issue and reinforce the need for enlightenment. It is a by-the-books idea: start a conversation (or two) to spread the word, improve public aid tools and keep people safe. The 2014 campaign in particular focuses on healthy sexuality and young people to provide tools on healthy

STAFF EDITORIAL
I dont want to write the last staff editorial of the year about the Boston Marathon bombings last year. I dont want to write or think about the destruction that two people brought to the city I and the rest of Suffolk University call home. One year later, it is still hard to think about friends and fellow Journal editors who were near the finish line on Boylston Street that day and what could have happened to them. Though thinking of the events that took place this time last year is not easy for many Bostonians, its important to remember how a city so often characterized as cold and distant came together. Runners sprinted right past the finish line last year and to the nearest hospital to donate blood. Local law enforcement rushed to help those injured and did its best to lock the area down. I witnessed Boston Globe reporters run throughout the newsroom to the closest car to get to the scene and inform the city. As the search for the bombers went on, police from towns like Walpole, Tewksbury and others sent aid to the Boston Police Department. State troopers from Connecticut and New Hampshire were roaming the streets of Watertown trying to find the bombing suspects on April 19, 2013. Condolences were sent from The

The Suffolk Journal One month insufficient to address sexual assault awareness

April 16, 2014

Chicago Tribune and the city


of San Francisco. This staff editorial isnt meant to be another gushing piece about how the city came together in the wake of tragedy. In the days leading up to this years running of the marathon though, lets remember to thank those who put our safety before theirs. Lets thank the cities who were thinking of our citizens over a dark four days in Boston. Whether you plan on spending Patriots Day being down at the finish line on Boylston or in your hometown of Haverhill or Newton this year, take the time to thank the police officers, security guards and firefighters you might bump into. Thank those who contacted you and wanted to make sure you were alright when news broke of the tragedy. Lets not plaster the bombing suspects faces all over the local news broadcasts, instead use that airtime to discuss the new safety precautions put in place or the recovery of last years victims. Lets take the next several days to reflect on the unity that Boston, New England and the nation showed this time last year, not discuss Rolling Stone covers or New York Post follies. Instead, just thank those who deserve thanking, be with loved ones and enjoy one of the worlds most distinguished races.

Photo by Sam Humphrey

Suffolk recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a series of events. Suffolk also offers Rape and Agression Defense (RAD) courses for women every semester.
sexuality and to engage youths. It always astounded me that in my high school health classes, sexual assault was hardly mentioned. Discussions need to be had. Young men and women should be educated on the social climate when it comes to such matters, especially when they are about to entering a larger world. There should, at the very least, be one class purely dedicated to talking about the months cause. All over the Internet you can find activists speaking about the month and its message. One video in particular called Project Unbreakable leaves an impact. The video shows women holding up signs where they have written their stories of abuse to share with the world, to reach a higher level of understanding. It allows people to see that no race, gender, sexual orientation or age is safe from assault it affects everyone. In New York people are waging protests against street harassment. According to ThinkProgress.org, an estimated 500 people showed up to mark the end of international anti-street harassment week. "Red My Lips" is another program combatting the preconceived notions of what sexual assault is and those who shame, blame or victimize the survivors. By wearing red lipstick during the month of April you are adding to the sign of solidarity. The campaign wages war against the hurtful notions that women who wearing tight clothing, drink or put on makeup are asking for it or are any less worthy of compassion. Victims voices are often silenced, either because by listening we are admitting to a larger, societal failure or because of how our culture has been conditioned to doubt or shame those who speak out. This is a topic that should always be spoken about one month will not be sufficient. It should be given a persistent voice until there is nothing left to be said. April is giving us an excuse to speak out, to listen to others and to join the fight. This is not something that has an easy solution, but as a collective unit change is always possible and this is a cause that needs as many people to join as possible. I do not do much I retweet articles on Twitter that share my thoughts and ideals, I post articles on Facebook that I think are important, I paint red on my lips and I do not hold back and I do not forgive those who assume the worst of victims. It does not take much to lend a hand, a voice or a support system you just have to do it.

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The Suffolk Journal

September 19, 2012 April 16, 2014

Emily Yoffe gets it wrong on casual friendships


Ally Johnson Opinion Editor
I have an issue with Slate. com (not the first time) and this time it is with the Dear Prudence column. The column is like any other advice section, sanctimonious and insincere. This week there was one in particular though that caught my attention and had me nearly rolling my eyes into the back of my head. What was the question asked? A wife was worried about her husbands close friendship with his female friend and wanted to know if she should trust him or was smart to put her foot down. What was the authors genius response? I guess someone has to trust your husband, because I sure dont. Im all for mixedgender friendships, but prior to the possibility of this road trip, your husband was too involved in the life of his erstwhile paramour. Now hes making you feel like a jailer because you object to his going on a cross-country journey with a single woman who sounds to me like she doesnt plan on being single for long. The author in question is a woman named Emily Yoffe, a writer who has previously caused my blood to boil after

A WORD FROM

Hello Students! The Student Government Association (SGA) would like to share some she wrote an article saying that is not a means of dictating passing conversation or mass updates from this week!

The Dear Prudence column is written by Slate's Emily Yoffe.

girls should stop drinking so much if they do not want to be raped. Could you really expect anything less than idiocy from such a journalist? There are a number of things that irritate me about this blurb of intellect, and not just the author who bothers me on principal alone. One, it perpetuates the notion that women and men have difficulty being friends with each other without any type of sexual friction or jealousy. That notion is absurd, is not true and the sooner we all get over that the sooner we will evolve as a human race. Females, males - gender

friendship, it is society that has constructed that idea and as a culture, people have formed to it. The second thing that grates is that it puts the women, the one who is the friend of the husband, into the scheming hussy role. There is no doubt cast towards the male in this scenario - no, it is all entirely directed at the faceless woman who due to her feminine, dastardly aura, is instantaneously voted to be untrustworthy. It is not a big, change your life type of issue - but it is one that we see pop up quite a lot in our culture whether it be in

media. We are taught through movies that any man who wants to befriend a woman, obviously just wants to be with her. Male and female friendship is rarely seen onscreen where it does not turn into a relationship by the end, or females are always put into the conniving position. It is tired, it is lazy and it is ridiculous. I am sure this is not the last time Yoffe will write something entirely asinine, and I plan to be at the ready, pen (okay, laptop) in hand to blast her for it. However, this one is simply irksome because of how unnecessary it is.

The SGA Awards were held on April 8, 2014 at the Ritz Carlton. The event was a success and wed like to congratulate all of the winners and nominees. Also, thank you to those who attended! Our SGA meeting this past Thursday was held at NESAD, and all students were invited. Our weekly meetings are every Thursday in Donahue 311. As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at sga@ suffolk.edu. Have a great week, Student Government Association

Suffolk Journal staff 2013-2014:

Thanks for a great year! Keep reading and submitting. See you all in the fall!

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The Suffolk Journal

September 19, 2012 April 16, 2014

Focus on selfies unfair judgements of today's youth


Ally Johnson Opinion Editor
It seems that today's society will go out of its way to try and condemn the current generation. People either think we are lazy, that we are technologically obsessed or that we are wasting our youth. It is, of course, easier to call to fault the individuals who are living in that generation rather than those who left it a mess to deal with in the first place. Yet, it is not often brought into the spotlight just how progressive our society is, how open-minded and compassionate, how we are processing information at a rapid fire pace due to new technology. A recent and disheartening example came after the violence in Murrysville, Penn. at Franklin Regional High School. Amidst a stabbing rampage, sophomore Nate Scimio was having a moment of heroics. According to what a fellow sophomore told

USA Today, Scimio protected


her and another friend as the attacker ran throughout the school stabbing at its inhabitants. By the time the event had been contained, 20 people had been sent to two nearby hospitals, including Scimio who was stabbed in the arm following his quick thinking. He was also reported as having pulled the fire alarm, alerting all students to the danger. Twenty were injured 19 students and a security guard - and at least 12 were hospitalized with serious injuries. Despite this, what lit people up the most was the selfie that Scimio later took of himself while in the hospital, fresh gauze on his arm. Immediately people were pointing fingers and sticking their noses in the air. How ridiculous of this teenager to take a picture of himself while in the hospital? How could he perform such a trivial act after such a violent one took place? This kid is obviously the downfall of our society.

Take note, for those who have not already seen the picture, that Scimio did not tag it, did not reference what had just happened, simply stood in front of the mirror and snapped a shot. Despite this, people were immediately prepared to demonize the action. He had just potentially saved lives, had just possessed quick thinking that many of us would not be able to click into in similar chaos and all he did was take a picture. Scimio was a hero yet people are blasting him for being immature. Society is so ready and willing to speak poorly of younger generations that people often exaggerate the bad and ignore the good. Or, they look at the most inconsequential moments rather than addressing the real, threatening issues. So Scimio is the poor representation of todays culture, not the teen that ran through the hallway of the school stabbing at kids? We can attack a selfie before we take a hard look at violence? Shootings, stabbings: people

Photo courtesy of Nate Scimio's Instagram account

Nate Scimio was wounded in the stabbing of 19 other people at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Penn. Sixteen-year-old Alex Hribal was charged with the attack on April 9, according to The Boston Globe.
are falling victim to a society that has allowed violence to persevere for much too long and the youngest generation is the greatest casualty in the mess. So yes, let us call out the laziness, the obsessive need to always be attached to our phones, the way in which we are always thinking about our next step, but let us not forget who made us, what is driving us, and what we were left to deal with from older generations. We did not start the mess, we are just trying to cope with it.

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The Suffolk Journal

September April 16, 201419, 2012

SPORTS BRIEFS
NBA Playoffs set, Grizzlies last in
All the National Basketball Association playoff spots have officially been clinched, although teams can still move up and down along the seeding. The elimination game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns was a close one, but it was the Grizzlies who earned the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. The Suns have fought all season to try and make it back into the playoffs for the first time since the sign-and-trade of star Steve Nash. The Grizzlies won 97-91, but only started to pull away in the closing minute of the game. The Suns were within one point before the one-minute mark, but with a Zach Randolph two-pointer, the Grizzlies defense held them. The Suns are eliminated with a 47-34 record, whereas the Atlanta Hawks are under .500 in the East and in the playoffs.

Spring Schedule
Wednesday, April 16 @ Brandeis, 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 17 @ Eastern Conn. St. 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19 Double Header- vs. Saint Joseph's 12 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.

Men's Baseball:

Wednesday, April 16 Double Header- @ Anna Maria, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17 Double Header- @ Rivier, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18 Double Header- vs. Emmanuel, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19 Double Header vs. Albertus Magnus, 12 p.m.

Women's Softball:

Chris Johnson to visit Jets


The New York Jets have been out of playoff contention for the past two seasons due to a lack of the defense and running game that coach Rex Ryan plays. Ryan may try to pull off a big move for his offense by signing former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson. Johnson reportedly will visit the Jets at some point this week, according to team sources. The Jets had Chris Ivory run the ball well last season, but he had a lack of help in the backfield, which hurt the offense and made running the ball more predictable. Johnson is a flashy running back that can break long runs and have game changing carries, so combining him with Ivory could lead to even better rushing production and even open up the passing game for Geno Smith or Michael Vick.

Saturday, April 19 @ Norwich 1 p.m. Monday, April 21 vs. Anna Maria 6:30 p.m.

Men's Tennis:

Success continues for Suffolk Baseball against Johnson & Wales


CJ Haddad Journal Staff

Bruins prepare for Red Wings


The Boston Bruins have the best record in the NHL, but that all means nothing in the playoffs. They have the difficult task to face a fast and young Detroit Red Wings team, who have had the Bruins number all season long. The Red Wings are 3-1 against the Bruins this year, and even at the No. 8 seed they are looking to pull of the biggest upset in the Eastern Conference, with forwards like Pavel Datsyuk, Daniel Alfredsson, and after game two, a potentially healthy Henrik Zetterberg. This is the Red Wings 23rd straight playoff appearance, which only helps their case for being the hockeytown. The Bruins have been close to unstoppable so far this season, so whether or not the Red Wings can handle them in a full series will be the big question starting Thursday when they play Game 1.

The last time we took a look at the mens baseball team was in the midst of an impressive 10-game winning streak and held the top spot in the GNAC Conference. Since then, not much has changed as the Rams have continued to impress on the diamond. This past week the Rams went 3-2, ending their winning streak at 10. They suffered a loss to Endicott College but looked to pick things back up in a doubleheader against Norwich. The Rams would split the two games with the Cadets as Suffolk took game one by a score of 12-4, and dropped game two 5-3. In game one, the Rams scored five times in the third and six times in the sixth en route to a eight-run victory. JC Collette and Luke Ronchi provided the power, each hitting long balls for the Rams. Steve Chamberlain improved to 3-1 with six solid innings surrendering three runs. In game two, Norwich jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings on the Rams starter Dan Shields. In the fifth the Rams tried to push back scoring two runs cutting the deficit to

Photo courtesy of Suffolk Athletics

Rams strategize before an important conference game against Johnson & Wales.
two, but the Cadets held on for the win in the end 5-3. The following day saw another double-header, this time with the talented Johnson & Wales squad. The Wildcats proved no match for the Rams as they swept in the the two games, outscoring their opponent 14-4. The first game was a pitchers duel between Suffolks Jonathan Richard and the Wildcats Jake Marchesseault. Richard would prove to be the superior pitcher as he went the distance over seven innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out five. The Rams were trailing by one run until they added one in the sixth to tie and walked off in the seventh on a balk by Marchesseault. Game 2 would be yet another explosion of Rams offense as they scored all its 11 runs in the first three innings of the game, securing an 11-2 victory and a sweep of their conference rival Wildcats. Rob Marks led the way with four RBIs and Jake Cintolo also contributed three of his own. On the mound, it was a group effort for the Rams as four pitchers took the rubber to complete a seven-inning, two-run, fivehit, and five-strikeout game. The win improves the Rams to 16-9-1, and 11-1 in the conference. Coach McConnell's squad looks poised to make a deep postseason run as the playoffs approach with only 10 games remaining on the schedule.

PAGE 15

The Suffolk Journal


bringing the team together. Erin is a great leader on the field and off the field. If I could have Erin for my entire career I wouldnt be mad about it, Davis said with a laugh. McAndrews and Cignarella are among the teams top three hitters, with averages of .495 and .289 respectively. McAndrews currently leads the team in hits, doubles, homeruns and RBIs. Two freshmen that have done their best to follow the lead of their captains are Anna Grace Maggs and Emily Martel. They have played just about every game in the outfield for us. They both have grown immensely working with our assistant Lauren McCart, Davis said. Emily, for her size, hits for some power. She can also slap and bunt. Anna Grace hits for power. Shes a freshman that hits in the four hole spot for us. Despite the efforts of some of the teams leaders and newcomers, the Lady Rams find themselves with a tall order to make this years GNAC playoffs. The team currently sits at No. 10 in the conference. Regardless of how this year turns our though, coach Davis said that she will be proud of her team. This season, I want success for them so much. It doesnt have anything to do with me and everything to do with them. Im so proud of all the work theyve put in and ready for it all to click and break open. I think they can play with and against any team in our conference, Davis stated. The head coach is looking forward to recruiting more young talent and bringing in more players to the program. I am aware the softball roster has been pretty limited [in years past]. Were not very big right now but we are absolutely bigger. I think that well continue to grow, said Davis. The unfortunate part is that at some point they all have to graduate, Davis said. We do have a pretty good class coming in as soon. As this season wraps up, well just start moving forward into the next one. The Lady Rams have just six games left this season, all of which are doubleheaders against conference rivals Anna Maria, Emmanuel and Albertus Magnus.

September 19, 2012 April 16, 2014

Coach Jaclyn Davis looking to change softball culture


Alex Hall Editor-in-Chief
Jaclyn Davis is less than two years into her time as Suffolk University softball coach but she has already noticed a change in the program. While the Lady Rams are currently fighting to improve upon their 4-10 conference record, they are also working hard on team building. I think [this season] has been successful in a lot of ways that you cant understand by reading a score, Davis said. The culture here has changed in a much more positive way. Were building a team that has quickly become a family. In Davis first year as head coach, the Lady Rams made their first appearance in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship game since 2006. Before taking over the reins last season, she was an assistant coach with the Lady Rams during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. With six freshmen suiting up this season, seniors and team captains Nikki Cignarella and Erin McAndrews have played big roles in

Photo courtesy of Suffolk Athletics

Pitcher and infielder Sarah Chasse currently owns a batting average of .252 this season.

Men's Tennis dominates Emerson College


Jeremy Hayes Asst. Sports Editor

They came. They saw. They conquered. The Suffolk University tennis team took no prisoners against Emerson College, and they took the day with a 5-1 victory. The first three matches of the contest were forfeits by the Lions due to their lack of players. The Lions only brought four players to the match. The Rams (6-2) no longer have to worry about the Lions being a conference game, but the rivalry is still there for the two neighboring schools. The day was highlighted by No. 1 singles player Calixto Romero winning his eighth singles match of the season. He is now undefeated at 8-0 heading into the final two games of the season before the playoffs. Romero has had a few close calls this season, but overall has dominated his opponents and has only lost two doubles matches. One player who played exceptionally well was Vinny Le, who pulled out his first singles win in his collegiate

Photo courtesy of Suffolk Athletics

career. I feel very happy, said Le, from Wilmington, Mass. Being mostly a doubles player, the win in singles gave me a great satisfaction and Im proud of myself. Le was not the only one who managed to win his match. Vassili Stroganov of Hrsholm, Denmark also won his singles match as well. This was a big win, and a dominant one, against a rival that has given the Rams a tough time the past few years. Stroganov won his singles match 6-2, 6-1. It was a controlled match that had his opponent on edge the entire match. The atmosphere was very good since many of us won our

match, said Le. Also, they were the same team that gave us a 0-9 loss and a 5-3 win last year so this win was a good confidence boost for all of us. Two of the doubles matches were won for the Rams with these pairings: team captain Drew Reilly and Aaron Lau, and Thay Thao and Francesco Saia. The Rams had plenty of pressure on them after losing to conference leader Johnson & Wales Saturday. With a 6-3 loss, it handed the Rams a very unwanted conference loss with only two conference games left. Both Norwich and Anna Maria, the Rams final games, are not to be taken lightly since the Rams are currently

Photo by Sam Humphrey

in fourth place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). The Rams will face Norwich for their second to last conference game of the season. The Rams are 1-1 this season in GNAC games. They will also have a makeup game with Anna Maria that was supposed to be April 6 before their four-game road

trip. The game will be on April 19, at 1 p.m., which means they will have four days to rest and savor the game they just conquered.

PAGE 16 PAGE 16

SPORTS
The Suffolk Journal
World War II and the Vietnam War as runners and visitors filled the Boston streets to witness the grand race. In 1942, an American named Joe Smith was the winner of the marathon. Smith enlisted in the military less than 24 hours after he crossed the finish line. The race has evolved since then, its finish line being changed more than once and distance increase by about one mile. No longer do less than 50 men run in thin, dirt tracks, but now hundreds gather in carefully arranged and scheduled areas to be transported to the start line, and runners even have an app where they can meet other participants in the race. Needless to say, last years race forced the city to make changes, but for the first time the risk that they fear is domestic, rather than an attack from Germany as in earlier times. For this years marathon, strict security measures have been put into place, restricting the size of bags and items that are allowed in the areas that has been specially marked off for the race. Not surprisingly, the number of people that tried to register to the event was at a record high, as BAA.org reported. Additionally, online campaigns and famous photographers have shared powerful images of people that were affected by last years tragedy to display that they are still standing strong, Boston Strong." Although it is not uncommon for runners to represent charities or causes in the race, a special organization by former Mayor Thomas Menino and Governor Deval Patrick called One Fund was founded just days after last years marathon. All proceeds, which were over $60 million in the first 75 days according to the official One Fund website, were used to help citizens who were affected. Over one hundred races have passed, and thousands of runners representing the world have ran the streets of Boston since this race has first held. Different years bring different worries, different obstacles, and different runners. Only

April 16, 2014

Boston Marathon: The Historic Run


Daniella Marrero Asst. Int'l Editor
The early morning trains to Ashland carried hundreds of spectators who wished to see the start of the great race, read The Boston Globes article on the first marathon held in the city in 1897. Over a century later, this description still stands for spectators and runners from all over the world that come to celebrate the historical event. With the Boston Harbor under high risk of being attacked by Germany during World War I, all sporting events in the area were suddenly subject to cancellation, the marathon being one of them, according to The Globe. However, citizens spoke up and said that to host the marathon, even with the risk, was to make a statement with Greek military history marathons have of victory. The marathon was held, and an American won the race that year. The same happened during

Photo courtesy of Flikr user Wally Gobetz

The One Fund raised more than $60 million in its first 75 days.
one year has passed since the marathon was attacked, but over a century has passed that the fans and athletes of the race have pushed through hardship, attended despite possible risks, and participated to keep the traditional event going. There will be more than one winner this year: the brave returning runners, the person who finishes the race first, those who were affected and their relatives, and the city of Boston.

One man, 13 teams, 24 honors


Having one man taking care of Vassili Stroganov 13 teams is an overwhelming Sports Editor and very demanding task that Stone has completed in a very It has been 10 years since professional way. Jeff Stone was appointed as In his time at Suffolk, the Athletic Trainer of Suffolk Stone who is known around University. campus as Stony, has earned The work he has done at many major honors, including Suffolk has been incredible. being inducted in the National Athletic Trainer Association Hall of Fame which he describes as a really humbling honor. Only 27 people from New England have been honored with this selection in the 50-year history of the National Hall of Fame. This year Stone celebrates his 10 successful years that all started when his longtime friend Jim Nelson hired Stony. I knew him when he was coaching basketball for Suffolk and I was working at Framingham State back in the 1970s, said Stone. So we go back a long way and so when the job opened 10 years ago, he asked me if I was interested and the more he talked, the better it sounded. That is pretty much how it happened. Nelson helped Stone through some tough times during his Suffolk career. Being the incredible and sincere human being that Nelson is, he reached out to Stone and was there for him all the way through the darkness. He was very supportive, said Stone who says he has learned a lot about humanity from Nelson. When I first got here my mom wasnt well and he knew that. He gave me a lot of flexibility in time to spend with her. And when my mom was real sick a couple of years ago, I was gone for about four weeks. Just before Thanksgiving 2012 he let me do whatever I needed to do. Not many people would do that. On Nelson, Stone said he is the old man on the mountain. "He has been here for three generations: the athletes, the sons of the athletes, the sons of sons of the athletes and he is still here, but I miss the daily contact with him." There are a lot of challenges to Stony's job where he has to make sure that the athletes are all fit to play and not in the danger zone of the health spectrum. The hardest part of the job is the paperwork. You got to get all teams ready on a certain day, get rosters from coaches, coordinating the first day when everybody is coming in, recruiters paperwork, new people coming in. They have to have a physical, a sickle cell test, the impact concussion test, the EKG test. If the players dont have that done, they cant play. There is a lot to do to make sure we have all the information about the athletes - if something does happen. In essence Im a surrogate parent for every student athlete. Coordinating all that is tough. Stone, who has been the right hand of Jim Nelson and currently of Carriy McConnel is exited for the future of the Suffolk Athletics: Since last spring there has been a committee evaluating the entire athletics program. I think we are at the crossroad. Weve got a good foundation. I think we are at a point where evaluation is needed. We have nowhere to go but up. I think the administration and the board of trustees is aware of where we are, where we have been, and how we can make ourselves better. We are waiting for that report to come out. Let's see what the school wants to support and what we as staff can do better and the university can do better for us. The question of more personnel, the ongoing question of facility that can a corporate all teams. A humble, talented and diligent human being Jeff Stone has impacted the athletic department in a positive way for the last 10 years, and will continue to do so for the coming years.

Photo courtesy of Suffolk Athletics

Jeff Stone was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2012

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