Mass. politicos defend candidates

By Alexandra Caleca

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Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008

Updated: Thursday, September 18, 2008

Two women debated for the presidential seat in front of a packed house at a mock debate hosted by Harvard University Wednesday night.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, representing presidential candidate John McCain and Harvard University lecturer Stephanie Robinson, representing Barack Obama, debated the respective candidates' education policies at Harvard University.

Approximately 200 people attended Education Policy Forum, which was cosponsored by the Education Professional Interest Council and the Harvard Business School Education Leadership Group.

The forum, which was open to the general public, occupied the Kennedy School of Government's Bell Hall. Attendees lined the walls and floor of the auditorium, which reached capacity and closed off well before the event began.

Swift and Robinson emphasized the importance of education for future generations and for a successful nation.

"Education is the civil rights issue of our time," Robinson said. "Obama and Biden will ensure that all children are prepared and ready with the skills necessary to compete in our global economy."

"McCain believes that improving and achieving excellence in the education system is a long-term solution to all other issues," Swift said.

Both representatives also spoke about early childhood education, charter, choice and quality of teaching.

"Obama wants to assure that every American has access to college, that it is affordable, and that they succeed once they get there," Robinson said. "Education isn't merely about book smarts, we are talking about the education of the whole person, the whole character."

Obama's higher education policy includes a plan to make college more affordable for all students by overhauling the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which would ensure the first $4,000 of tuition for most Americans in return for 100 hours of community service, according to his official website. His plan also includes simplifying the financial aid application process by integrating it within general tax forms.

McCain also supports simplified financial aid applications and improved student lending programs, as well as higher education tax benefits and information for parents, according to his official website.

Though Swift and Robinson agreed that education policies need to be revamped, the representatives disagreed on the means of funding the candidates' proposed plans.

"Obama wants to make sure we are taking care of those who can't take care of themselves," Robinson said. "There isn't enough money in education."

"The problem is lack of consistency and quality, not money in education," Swift said.

Boston University School of Management junior Peter Ghafari said he considered education an important issue in the presidential election.

"Education leads to increased efficiency, which will ultimately help better our struggling economy," he said.

Harvard student Sara Donatelli said she did not learn as much about the candidates as she had hoped.

"It's still a bit vague overall," she said. "Swift spoke more about herself than McCain."

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/mass-politicos-defend-candidates-1.748685

More colleges reject SATs

By Alexandra Caleca

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Published: Friday, September 26, 2008

Updated: Friday, December 26, 2008

The dreaded three-hour, Saturday morning SAT faces an increasingly uncertain future as more colleges have begun making the exam an optional component of the application process.

Now a report released this month suggests the exam should not carry much weight at all. The report, which was a culmination of a yearlong study by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, details the use and misuse of standardized testing in the college application process.

Standardized testing is already optional at more than 400 colleges, and for approximately 755 other four-year colleges in the United States, the SAT I or ACT is not heavily weighed for bachelor's degree applicants, according to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing website.

In 1984, Bates became one of the first colleges in the United States to decrease emphasis on standardized exams in the application process.

Bates Vice President William Hiss said optional standardized testing allows students from disadvantaged applicant pools such as women, multi-cultural students, bilingual students, students with learning disabilities and athletes to more easily apply to Bates.

College admissions test results often reveal considerable score differences among ethnic, gender and socioeconomic groups, according to the report.

Steven Syverson, Lawrence University's vice president for enrollment, said standardized testing provides an unfair advantage for the affluent who can afford expensive preparation courses.

"The highest correlation with test scores is affluence," he said. "So many affluent people are paying to take test prep courses in order to improve their skills. This is creating a bigger gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots.'"

Syverson said standardized testing does not give colleges an accurate predication of future success.

"Standardized testing doesn't tell us about likelihood of a student graduating, ultimate GPA or how an applicant might be successful at college in other ways outside the classroom," he said.

Wheaton College junior Chelsea Petrozzo said she decided not to submit her SAT scores when she applied.

My transcript was a better representation of who I was as a student," she said.

BU spokesman Colin Riley said that BU has more than 38,000 applicants each year, and that the standardized tests are a helpful way to sort through those applications.

Though Riley confirmed that Boston University uses tests like the SAT and the ACT to admit students, he minimized their importance in BU's overall admission process. He said standardized tests are the last thing the school looks at during admissions.

Still, Riley did not see BU letting go of standardized tests in the future.

"At this point and in the near future, I don't know that it's being discussed. We're looking at students that will be applying in the next few months."

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/more-colleges-reject-sats-1.1148922

Toll hikes loom for commuters

By Alexandra Caleca

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Published: Thursday, October 2, 2008

Updated: Thursday, October 2, 2008

Toll fares on the Massachusetts Turnpike could increase by as much as $5 if a proposal by the MTA passes.

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority discussed possible price increases in a recent board meeting, Mac Daniel, the MTA spokesman, said.

"The board requested some toll scenarios based on how much we need to generate to pay off our debts," he said. "Toll increases are the only way the turnpike generates revenue from the state for our operating budgets, because we are responsible for the Big Dig and the past bonds that were floated for it."

The proposed toll raises may cause a $1 increase at the Weston ad Allston-Brighton tollbooths and a $5 increase at the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnels, a move which would generate at least $90 million more a year in revenue, according to a September Boston Globe article.

College of Fine Arts sophomore Christopher Maher, a commuter student from North Weymouth, said avoiding toll roads would add too much unwanted time to his trip.

"An extra 50 minutes of driving to save a few bucks a day isn't really worth it," he said. "I'll just skip buying my morning coffee."

College of Engineering sophomore Michael Moccia drives himself to Boston University through the Ted Williams tunnel from East Boston daily. He said he tries to balance his commute in terms of time and money.

"It's much easier and faster to travel by car, but with rising toll prices it looks like I'll be using the T more often," he said. "I can already foresee coming to class late."

Increased tolls will also place an expensive burden on cab use throughout Boston, Metro Cab general manager Stephen Sullivan said.

"Anything costing more tomorrow than it does today will hurt working people," he said.

Though some may still choose to hale a cab, taxi drivers are bound to suffer, Sullivan said.

"Tips will take a hit," he said. "The money used on the tolls will come out of the drivers' pockets."

College of Communication junior Max Emmer said he would seek more inexpensive options than taxis if tolls increase.

"Cabs have already raised initial fare surcharges due to the increased price of gas," he said. "If there are more extraneous charges in my fare, I'd be inclined to seek more affordable modes of transportation."

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/toll-hikes-loom-for-commuters-1.758356

Military seeks boost in ROTC participation

By Alexandra Caleca

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Published: Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Updated: Tuesday, November 4, 2008

For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the U.S. Army is expanding the number of ROTC programs on college campuses.

The Pentagon requested this year that Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs produce 4,500 new second lieutenants each year, a 15 percent increase, according to an Oct. 31 article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Boston University Dean of Military Education Douglas Sears said there is a constant need for new officers because of U.S. involvement in two wars abroad.

“The U.S. military is stretched fairly thin in two major confrontations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “There’s a constant need to renew the officer core.”

Northeastern University military science instructor John O’Brien said expanding ROTC is necessary because the U.S. Army must meet a quota for officers recruited from academic institutes.

“The Army has a certain number of lieutenants they are looking to fill,” he said. “The ROTC is the largest way the Army receives its commissioned officers.”

Northeastern has raised its quota by 1,000 cadets this year to fill the minimum 5,000 spots the Army is looking to fill from the institution, O’Brien said.

Boston University offers ROTC students many merit-based scholarships and higher education benefits to encourage recruitment.

College of Arts and Sciences senior Michael Matern said the only way he was able to attend BU was because of the scholarship he received from the ROTC program.

“If it wasn’t for the ROTC, I wouldn’t be at BU,” he said.

However, the scholarships provided to cadets does come with a price.

Cadets must all serve a minimum of four years active service in the military, as well as four years as inactive members on the Reserve’s roster. ROTC students do not find out where they will be stationed until after they graduate.

Some colleges resisted the call for an increase in ROTC programs due to antidiscrimination policies that clash with the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prevents gay individuals in the military from telling others about their sexual preference.

Both U.S. presidential candidates support an increase in ROTC programs on college campuses and recently criticized Ivy League colleges in a joint appearance at Columbia University Sept. 12 for their resistance to an on-campus ROTC program, according to Bloomberg.

Like Columbia, Harvard University does not host an ROTC program because of the military’s stance on homosexuality.

“Current federal policy of excluding known lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals from admission to ROTC or of discharging them from service is inconsistent with Harvard’s values as stated in its policy on discrimination,” Harvard’s student handbook states.

Harvard students, however, can take ROTC courses on a non-credit basis by cross registering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/military-seeks-boost-in-rotc-participation-1.894190

College pitch: Go green with free bicycles

By Alexandra Caleca

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Published: Thursday, November 6, 2008

Updated: Thursday, November 6, 2008

Many schools advocate sustainable living, but a few colleges and universities have pushed the proverbial extra pedal to encourage students to leave their car keys at home and hop on their bicycles.

Universities across the nation are offering incoming students free bicycles and other incentives to avoid driving, decrease pollution, empty parking lots and encourage healthy habits.

The University of New England, a private school headquartered Biddeford, Maine, offered incoming freshmen the choice of a brand-new bicycle, a helmet and bicycle lock, or free access to two on-campus rentable Zipcars in return for the promise that the student would leave his or her car at home.

UNE provided incoming students with greener transportation alternatives to cut down the university’s carbon footprint, avoid building new parking lots and reduce the number of cars cramming in parking lots, UNE spokeswoman Kathleen Taggersell said.

“The bicycles are part of a comprehensive program,” she said. “We didn’t want to restrict our students, so we decided to provide them with options.”

University administrators found funding for the initiative, which cost approximately $130,000 and provided more than 150 students with bicycles, by raising parking fees for students by $210. Assistant Dean of Students Daryl Conte said the increased fee has already earned the university more than $200,000 this year.

The bicycle initiative both encourages students to use bicycles and discourages them from wasting gas and polluting the environment, Conte said.

“The program itself is an incentive and disincentive program at the same time,” he said.

Emory University, Ripon College, Duke University, Illinois State University and the University of Washington have also recently launched similar initiatives to reduce the number of vehicles on campus and the universities’ carbon footprints.

So far only a handful of colleges have offered free bicycles as a way to help the environment, but the move represents a concern for sustainability that many more colleges might follow, said Julian Dautremont-Smith, associate director for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

“It’s a great and very attractive idea,” Dautremont-Smith said. “We’re always excited when colleges try new initiatives to reduce their ecological footprints.”

Boston University spokesman Colin Riley said the bicycle program would not work at BU because of the Charles River Campus’ unique layout.

“We are fortunate in that we have a trolley line that goes right through the middle of our campus,” he said. “Public transportation makes it very accessible to go throughout the city and neighboring communities.”

Riley said he has seen more bicycles on campus since a new bicycle lane opened on Commonwealth Avenue in August, which he believes comes with a new responsibility for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.

“There has been a lot to get used to,” he said. “People need to be better aware of their surroundings.”

Still, School of Hospitality junior Stephen Turner said BU should initiate a similar program to UNE’s.

“I didn’t bring my bicycle to campus because it’s hard to transport and store here,” he said. “If BU provided bicycles, it would make my life a lot easier.”

Some students at UNE said the first-year giveaway did not work as well as they had expected. UNE freshman Sean Aubin said in an email that the school had good intentions but did not plan the program effectively, because many bicycles have been stolen.

“It seems that September may have snuck up on the organizers,” he said in an email.

Aubin said stolen bicycles have been spray painted to cover the decals, but students can tell which bicycles are freshmen’s bicycles.

Aubin said theft is a problem because the bicycles all look the except for a decal with the owner’s name. UNE freshman Amelia Kelly said her bicycle was stolen during the first week of school.

Students have also reported trouble finding places to lock up their bicycles.

“We could use more racks throughout the campus and especially in front of the dorms,” UNE freshman Adam Dexter said in an email.

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/college-pitch-go-green-with-free-bicycles-1.898149

Local restaurants feel the pinch, owners say

By Alexandra Caleca

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Published: Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Updated: Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Boston University students trying to tighten their wallets in an economic recession may be tightening their belts as a result of eating out less, local restaurants reported.

While some campus-area restaurants are being affected by the poor economy, others have yet to be affected, restaurant owners and managers said.

Brown Sugar Café Operating Manager Kao Niemseng said the restaurant has experienced a significant drop in sales over the past year.

“We are down about 30 percent or more, and this is usually our busiest time of the year,” Niemseng said.

The types of dishes customers tend to order have also changed, Niemseng said.

“Customers are now sharing dishes or ordering more inexpensive items,” he said. “It’s very obvious that they are budgeting.”

BU finance and economics senior lecturer Mark Williams said this is behavior typical of most Americans right now.

“Typically, during a recession, there is less spending on disposable things,” Williams said. “Though people won’t deprive themselves of going out completely, they will choose restaurants that are reasonably priced and avoid the expensive filet.”

College of Communication junior Cassandra Aviles said she eats on campus more often instead of spending money on dining out.

“I work hard and try to save as much money as I can,” Aviles said. “I don’t spend it as much as I used to . . . especially on food.”

T-Anthony’s Pizzeria Owner Joe Rastellini said his restaurant is beginning to see a drop in sales, although mainly during the day.

“At night time, you can only see it off a little bit,” he said. “We have a huge advantage because we’re located so close to a college campus.”

The close proximity can sometimes be negative, however, because sales tend to be seasonal, Rastellini said.

Boston Pizza and Grill Owner Elie Sarkis said he is taking firm action to prevent drops in sales, which he has yet to see.

“Without the recession, I would have been making better than a 20 percent increase this year,” Sarkis said. “But I’ve spent a lot more on advertisements, promotions and menu deals.”

Unlike many of its competitors, UBurger in Kenmore Square has not only maintained sales, but has continued to thrive and grow, so much so that UBurger is expanding and opening up a second location near West Campus, which is scheduled to start serving in two weeks, manager Nick Kouvlis said

“Usually in a recession, anything under $10 as a price point tends to thrive,” Kouvlis said. “We’re looking to have a strong start with our new location.”

Proximity to campus, as well as Fenway Park for summer business, are two factors that have greatly influenced UBurger’s success, Kouvlis said.

“I think over the years the amount of business we get from the students and Red Sox fans will always be consistent,” he said.

“The new location by West Campus will probably thrive for eight months or so and then hit a lull,” Kouvlis said. “But we expect that and are ready to handle it.”

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/local-restaurants-feel-the-pinch-owners-say-1.1331912

BU alums launch camp-searching website

By Alexandra Caleca

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Published: Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, February 4, 2009

With the help of a new website, parents won’t have to stress over finding the perfect summer camp for little Susie or Johnny. ChoiceCamps.com allows users to narrow camp choices by such specifications as camp specialty, religious affiliation and whether the camp is co-ed.

The site, which launched Monday, was created by Nick Riotto, a 2006 College of Communication alumnus, and Peter Ross, a 2006 College of Arts and Sciences alumnus. Both men were life-long summer campers, and their site provides free advice online and by phone for over 300 of the world’s overnight summer camps and teen tours from California to Australia.

“With more than 12,000 summer camps in the United States, families often have difficulty finding a program that is a great fit for their child,” Riotto, said. “Our service helps families narrow down these choices.”

Both Riotto and Ross said they held many leadership positions at BU that gave them the skills and motivation to start their own website. Riotto was the College of General Studies Student Government president, a dean’s host, student advisor and head of marketing at BUTV. Ross was a Student Union senator and a dean’s host.

“Our experience as BU student government leaders inspired us to push ahead with new ideas even when people told us ‘no’ or ‘that’s impossible,’” Riotto said. “The administrators and professors at the College of General Studies were always very supportive of our goals and provided a great foundation throughout our years at BU.”

As two childhood summer campers themselves, Riotto and Ross have an extensive history with camps. Ross’ grandfather founded Cody, a residential camp in New Hampshire, which he continues to manage, and Riotto attended a New Jersey day camp throughout his childhood and worked as a camp counselor during high school.

They said they used their combined experiences to develop an easy to use, one-stop resource containing all of the information a camp-seeker would need to find the appropriate program.

“We spoke with camp directors, parents and campers in order to produce a website everyone would value,” Ross said.

Because families can search for camps by type, location, camper age, gender, religious affiliation and session length, the website is similar to sites such as Travelocity and Expedia, Riotto said. The site returns a list of matching programs that families can review.

“It is designed to be quick, intuitive and highly refined to deliver the best possible results to our families,” Riotto said.

Arlene Smith, a parent from North Caldwell, N.J., said the new site made deciding where to send her child for camp easier.

“With so many camps to choose from, I had a hard time telling them apart,” Smith said.

Each profile also features a review of the camp written by a ‘Choice Camps Expert’.

“Our team personally reviews each program and describes in detail the setting, accommodations, safety standards and staff qualifications,” Riotto said.

“I trust the website because of all of the detailed information it provides,” Steve Levanti, a parent from Westport, Conn. said.

The site incorporates over 6,000 photos and 100 videos, and, in many cases, has more media than a camp’s own web site, Riotto said. They hope to have 1,000 camps and trips on the site by next year.

“Our goal is to continue to innovate, expand and inspire families to send their children to summer camp,” he said. “Having grown up at camp, I know firsthand how important a camp experience is to the development of a child. Summer camp is a must.”

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/bu-alums-launch-camp-searching-website-1.1353738

Soup kitchen needy surge in Boston

By Alexandra Caleca

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Published: Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Updated: Tuesday, November 25, 2008

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, depleted food pantries and soup kitchens in Boston are struggling to meet the needs of a rapidly increasing number of hunger-stricken residents.

In the wake of a widening recession, food pantries and soup kitchens across Boston reported a sharp increase in people seeking food assistance over the past year, according to a survey released Oct. 28 by the Greater Boston Food Bank.

More than 90 percent of the 163 local pantries and soup kitchens that responded to the survey reported an increase in need. They also reported a 53 percent decrease in donations, which could cause some organizations to turn food-deprived people away during the holiday season.

In addition to the regular visitors who normally frequent food pantries and soup kitchens, volunteers reported seeing a flood of new faces seeking meals.

With the economy still reeling, conditions in food pantries are bound to get worse, St. Francis House for Shelter and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Elizabeth Lund said, a problem compounded by higher food prices, which remain elevated despite the threat of overall deflation from a weak economy.

“The economy has made the cost of food and fuel skyrocket,” she said.

St. Francis House receives a substantial part of its food from the Greater Boston Food Bank, which serves a network of 600 hunger-relief agencies in 190 communities in eastern Massachusetts, according to the press release.

“Resources are stretched thin, and we’re struggling,” she said.

The amount of meals St. Francis House provides on a daily basis has increased 20 percent over the past few months, Lund said.

“People here have been actively soliciting donations from different food vendors,” she said. “That’s how we’ve been getting by.”

Greater Boston Food Bank spokeswoman Stacy Wong said prices of wholesale, frozen turkeys that the bank purchases for Thanksgiving have risen tremendously, which could leave many without turkeys on this holiday season.

“We are paying 38 percent more for turkey this year than last,” she said.

Students can be an extremely valuable asset in the fight against hunger, said Kate Vacanti, a volunteer coordinator at Project Bread, a Massachusetts-based organization that offers programs and activities to assist people in need of food.

“Students can conduct food drives, plan events to fundraiser or organize teams to participate in our Walk for Hunger,” she said.

Boston University Dining Services held a Holiday Food Drive and accepted non-perishable food item, which will be donated to more than 200 families in the greater Boston area, according to the Dining Services website.

School of Management junior Brian Focarile said his desire to help those less fortunate around the holidays gave him the idea to collect “Turkey Points” from Star Market to obtain free turkeys to donate. Anyone who purchased $25 of Kraft products at Star Market received a coupon for $10 off a turkey.

“I collected enough points from all of my friends and floor mates to get four turkeys and all of the trimmings, which I then brought to local soup kitchens,” he said. “It made me realize how much good could be done with so little.”

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/soup-kitchen-needy-surge-in-boston-1.984109