By Alison Athey, Assoc. Features Editor -

When people ask, “So…where are you from?” they usually expect a two-word answer, three words max. There are students from all 50 states and 96 different countries at Boston College. For most, home is a definite place located only a few hours away. For some of us, however, the answer to the question “Where are you from?” is less clear. In my 20 years, I have lived in seven different home towns, on three different continents, for no more than five years apiece. Continue Reading

By Amy Walsh, Features Editor -

Fairness, justice, and equality are inherent qualities that this Jesuit institution strongly promotes and strives to instill in its students, even in such a seemingly insignificant purchase like morning coffee.

As sleep-deprived college students, it is no surprise that the Boston College campus consumes thousands upon thousands of coffee every year. However, when one is standing in line at Hillside, groggy and dreading the busy day that lies ahead, fair trade is probably not on one’s mind. It is this lack of conscientious consumerism that may be hindering the fair trade movement. Continue Reading

By Tue Tran, Co-editor-in-chief -

Stereotyping by region runs rampant on college campuses. Wherever people from different states and countries cross paths, there is the propensity to use a person’s land of origin to help mold one’s understanding of that person — and reality shows certainly don’t help.

New Jersey, infamous for being the target of negative comments and jokes, has recently been the hotspot for reality shows. The lives of wealthy women have been highlighted in The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and then there was the emphatic and loud cake decorator on Cake Boss.

Now, MTV is taking its turn at telling the story of New Jersey through the tales of whom they describe as the “hottest, tannest, craziest guidos.” After the success of True Life: I’m a Jersey Shore Girl, MTV decided to cash in on the popularity of this localized culture in a new series called Jersey Shore. Continue Reading

By Nick Stratouly, Contributing writer -

Despite lagging ratings on network television, FOX has something to celebrate this year: the network’s new show, Glee, won “Favorite New Television Cast Ensemble” from the Multicultural Motion Picture Association’s (MMPA) annual Diversity Awards. The Diversity Awards celebrate the achievements of those who foster diverse perspectives and unity through film. The awards are meant to promote opportunities for people of all cultures and backgrounds to share their stories. Continue Reading

By Blair Thill -

Hello all! Welcome to my very first post of “Pop and Circumstance,” a blog dedicated to all things entertainment — movies, television, music, viral videos, books and everything else created for us to enjoy. My goal is to offer witty insights and incisive critiques on the things we talk about around the proverbial water cooler. I’ve harbored a love of popular culture my entire life, obsessed with knowing TV shows, Oscar contenders, and every lyric to any pop song stuck in my head. So now that you know a little about me, I think it’s time we get down to the fun stuff. Continue Reading

By Rebeca Cardoso, Contributing Writer -

Boston is an exciting place to spend the holiday season. Whether you’re looking for a good place to watch traditional performances, get in touch with the religious aspects of the holidays, shop or just get out and about, the city is bound to have something to satisfy your needs. Continue Reading

By Dan Monan, Assoc. Culture Editor -
Financial and critical success have always had a somewhat tenuous relationship in Hollywood, yet in recent years, this gap has only grown wider.

Director Michael Bay (Transformers, Transformers II) recently released an interview in which he discussed his approach to directing. According to Bay, films such as Transformers II do not necessarily require a script before planning begins. Instead, concept art and action scenes are drawn up, and months later, a script is strung together from the pieces. While this would seem to account for the almost universally negative critical reviews Transformers II received, it hardly explains the over $400,000,000 in box office profits it garnered.

The question must be asked, why is it that each year millions of Americans clamor to see spectacle films, only to pause midway through, still uncertain of the main characters’ names? Continue Reading

By Matthew Gavin, Culture Editor

For most students, pleasure reading becomes a distant memory with the return to school — time previously devoted to it is quickly taken over by classes, homework assignments and extracurricular activities. As the end of the semester looms, winter break presents the perfect opportunity to catch up on some of this fall’s notable releases. Continue Reading

By Lea Freeman -

Most Boston College students can agree: during our years here, we don’t spend enough time exploring the world beyond the Heights. We live on the brink of one of the most cultured and interesting cities in the world, yet most students seem to spend more time exploring the crevices of Bapst than venturing into the cultural nooks of Boston. Just a short trip from campus are two of the most fantastic resources the city has to offer, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and the Isabella Gardner Museum. Continue Reading

By Kathryn Haroldson

Rape happens, just not here at Boston College. At least, that’s what a large percentage of our student body seems to think. I have been a Sexual Assault Network (SANet) advocate for the past year. Over the course of my time with this organization, I have been constantly surprised by the lack of knowledge about this subject, especially with regard to the BC campus. Is there some tacit complicity to ignore this issue, or does everyone just seem to turn a blind eye to it because it “taints” our school’s image? Regardless of its origins, the ignorance surrounding sexual assault on our campus needs to be rectified. Continue Reading