Unlike Adele’s album 21, which showcases all sorts of emotions after a break-up, Clarkson’s recent release Stronger just makes her seem bitter. Of course, there are gems within the album. But those harken back to different eras in Clarkson’s career, possibly when her sound was a better fit for the pop music landscape.

Stronger is pretty much void of any song that pushes Clarkson to her vocal limits. If she were still on American Idol, the judges would say her song choices were safe, and for a talent like Clarkson, it is such a waste.

The lead single “Mr. Know It All” may differ from Clarkson’s usual anthems or ballads, but it’s nothing special and only catchy if you listen to it over and over again. This song refers to more than a soured romantic relationship, as it hints to the press and probably to her record label (see her relationship with record mogul Clive Davis). Clarkson’s vocals are good, but her voice is definitely not utilized to its fullest potential—a must if it is to be her lead single.

The reported second single “(What Doesn’t Kill You) Stronger” is one of Clarkson’s worst songs to date. Clarkson has the same issue Christina Aguilera has: they are talented, but their voices are not for the current dance/pop genre craze that has made the careers of Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Katy Perry. This song is trying to be dance and pop/rock, but it’s a half-hearted effort as Clarkson awkwardly toes the line. Also, empowerment songs are great, but they are being overdone, even if this is about surviving a bad relationship rather than overcoming bullies (Taylor Swift’s “Mean”) or being who you are (too many to list).

A great song on the album is “Breaking Your Own Heart,” which is a soft, low-tempo song, which showcases Clarkson’s vulnerable side. If you have followed Clarkson’s career and lyricism, it is clear she is also singing this to herself—about walls people put up to protect themselves. But in the end, this just hurts them.

Another good song on the album is “Dark Side,” demonstrating the same vulnerability but in a fast-paced rock song—very signature Clarkson. It’s powerful, yet Clarkson plays the vulnerable one, singing everyone has a dark side and asking: “Will you love mine?”

On the deluxe edition, “Why Don’t You Try” is a beautiful ballad that sounds more like R&B sound on her first album, similar to the song “Miracle.” The beautiful lyrics of this song makes it an exception of the album, not the rule, as the weakest part of the album is the lyrics.

Some will even make you cringe, such as “Einstein”: “Dumb plus dumb equals you.” It is reminiscent of fictional boy band Together’s “U + Me = Us (Calculus)” and should only exist in the parody realm—with Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake.

Overall, the album is nowhere near where Clarkson should be. The messages have become cliche, some lyrics should be on Saturday Night Live and Clarkson’s pipes are simply underutilized throughout most of the album.

There’s a darker undertone in this album, which is very Clarkson (see My December). But Clarkson is clearly toeing the line between what she wants and what her record label wants/what will sell. And it comes off as forgettable.

A month later, I finally felt intrigued by the movement, which has since moved to cities all across the world.  It started out with a conversation I had with a roommate and ended with me interested enough to check it out on International Day of Action (Oct. 15, 2011).

It is true the goals of this movement have not yet been carved in stone—a criticism many onlookers have.  But the nature of a protest is both to bring attention to issues and to bring people together to work out the tenants of a movement.  And to decide so quickly is to alienate people who have not yet made their opinions heard.

When I observed the protests starting at Washington Square Park in New York City, I heard people discussing the causes for which they wanted to advocate.  General assemblies are still convening regularly to discuss what the issues are, and it is all part of the genesis of a movement.

The media has made a lot of judgments about the protesters: that they are uneducated, unemployed, out of sync with society, etc.  A friend even asked me if they were hippies.  From what I witnessed, there were a few strange people who dressed up like zombies.  But most were in typical dress, from young students to the elderly.

What I realized was that while they all were advocating for their own causes, there was a common thread: the system is not working.  After the tumultuous few years the world economy has had, people wanted systemic changes.

The protest was very respectful.  I witnessed debates about political philosophies and when a man was holding up a sign stating, “Give me money for weed,” people respectfully told him that his message was hurting the cause.  They know exactly what people have been saying about they movement, so it is their way of protecting it.

My roommate wants to steer the movement to support causes such as abolishing corporate personhood (companies have the same rights as people), returning tax rate brackets to the 1950s-1980s era, indicting the Wall Street bankers who committed fraud and changing the way campaigns of federal elections are financed.

It may still be a while before people see a clear list of goals, such as hers. The protesters are actually trying to avoid that right now—they want everyone to be heard first.  But this definitely should not be cause for others to delegitimize what the protesters are doing.  Protesting is a process.

Another part of the process is educating the public on what is being protested against, as many are just plain annoyed when they hear that people are protesting.  As a member of the general public, I definitely know I could use some more information on the issues they are raising.

If the past is any indication, it will be a while before anything is resolved.  It will also be interesting to see how this will effect the upcoming elections, as the protesters are not clearly aligned with one party—and the Democrats have yet to really claim the protesters as their own either.

A friend asked me if I felt as though I were transported back in time to the protests in the 1960s and 1970s.  While that would be would be pretty fantastic, to witness a small piece of a worldwide phenomenon—thanks to the organizational power of the Internet—is amazing as well.  We are only at the beginning of seeing how technology and globalization will influence government throughout the entire world.

Photos by Tue Tran/Gavel Media.

But as many seniors who are writing theses can attest, poor planning and unexpected hiccups can ruin the last weeks as a undergraduate. Many of these problems could have been averted had I been a little more proactive and a little more decisive about my topic.

From my friends’ experiences and my own, the following are tips for you to be successful when it is your turn:

1. Figure out a project you love

After multiple subject changes, I actually ended up going with an idea that I had even prior to entering college. It is this connection with the subject — and the exection — that allows me to write about a 75-page paper. Some write past 100 pages, and it is because they care about their idea.

2. Know how you work

Look back at your past experiences writing papers and see your work pattern. Be honest with yourself and be honest with your thesis advisor. Habits (good and bad) do not change overnight.

I am the type of person who needs short deadlines. So ideally, I would have set stricter monthly deadlines since the beginning of senior year. Others can write a novel without much structure.

3. Find the thesis advisor for you

Early in your studies at BC, figure out which professors share your academic interests and working style. While these things are not vital for a great advisor-student relationship, they certainly help.

After you ask a professor to be your advisor — hopefully they accept — then discuss your topic and what you envision as your thesis schedule.

4. Scheduling senior year

Doing a thesis — if you are really in love with your project — will take more time than any other class you have taken. And for most, it only counts as one course. So forget about taking multiple “fun” electives because they will only be annoying if the clock ticks loudly on your thesis — and it will.

You will be doing the research, the writing, and the editing, among a million other tasks. So do not expect that a thesis is a simple process and that you can cut corners without anyone knowing the difference. Also consider that you want to spend a lot of time with friends.

5. Repeat: “This is not a book.”

Some people start out ambitiously, wanting to do a book-length thesis. While it would be awesome if you did — dream big — chances are your goals need to be more realistic.

In fact, if you think about how long your thesis may be, you might feel paralyzed and accomplish nothing.

Think about your thesis in terms of its components. Break your thesis down into chapters, and you may even want sections within those chapters. The task will be less daunting if you see smaller steps ahead.

6. Use Boston College’s resources

We are fortunate to have technologically advanced library tools and librarians who have made researching and writing long papers easy for us. Get to know the librarian who is an expert in your academic area. Also, figure out services such as RefWorks, LibGuides and 24/7 Librarian.

7. Reward yourself

Set reasonable goals, stick to those dealines and reward yourself when you achieve them. The reward of a nice dinner, a night out dancing or a movie will compel you to write with more determination.

8. Revise

Set about a month for revisions to make your thesis the best it can be. Revisions take time as it is not simply about misplaced hypens or spelling errors. You may need to make drastic changes to make your ideas clearer. Also, you will have a better understanding of your project by the end that you will want to make changes to what you have written.

9. Back that thing up

Constantly save what you are writing and back it up onto a harddrive. The path to a complete thesis is littered with crashed laptops. With all your hard work, the last thing you would want to do is write it all over again. A harddrive may cost about $100, but it is worth the investment.

Each thesis starts with a dream and a new Word document. And it will end in tears — of joy.

Grant was visiting friends at Skidmore College on Saturday night and was reported as missing on Sunday.

Grant was an economics major in the College of Arts & Sciences Honors Program.

In a statement released via e-mail to the Boston College community, Vice President of Student Affairs Patrick Rombalski said, “This is a sad day for Boston College and for all who knew and loved Alexander. Please join me in remembering Alexander and his family in your prayers.”

When students think about the faculty at Boston College, they usually assume that professors have a collective conscience — an all-encompassing understanding of what goes on at the University.It may be because of something as simple as the student seeking support from the faculty for an event or for a new student initiative.

But at BC, this campus-wide awareness shared by all professors does not exist, according to Susan Michalczyk, professor in the Honors Program. And as a result, there is no entity that can speak on behalf of all faculty, including when issues that students face arise.

This was why the BC chapter of the American Association of University Professors (BCAAUP) was formed officially in January 2010.

“Our goal is to establish a voice for the faculty,” Michalczyk said, who was elected president to help gather information from professors across campus and to help formulate positions the chapter would take on concerns that are raised.

The national AAUP organization is geared towards advocating for professors. According to its website, “the AAUP’s purpose is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good.”

While this describes much of what the BCAAUP has been doing, according to Michalczyk, the BC chapter acts as more.

“As an AAUP chapter … we are doing more than a generic chapter at another university,” she said. “So we’re doing what might a faculty senate do and what might an AAUP chapter do.”

A faculty senate would be one body made up of elected professors, to represent all faculty, that would have some say on how a university functions. A faculty senate’s responsibilities are as numerous as the number of universities that have them.

Even without a faculty senate at BC, professors do have some say in policies through smaller elected committees, their departments and the Provost Advisory Council (PAC), which includes 20 professors, according to the Faculty Handbook. And some argue that this is a more efficient way of running a university.

Pat DeLeeuw, vice provost for faculties, believes that the opportunities professors have to influence decisions are adequate, noting an “ideal” is subjective.

“It really is a matter of personal preference to some extent that this way of proceeding is sufficient,” DeLeeuw said. “I don’t think a majority of faculty members are unhappy with the way things are running.”

But according to Judith Wilt, executive board member of the BCAAUP and professor in the English department, these have too narrow a scope or do not have sufficient influence over decisions.

“For a university of our size, a number of faculty feel that a freestanding faculty senate or faculty assembly … whose name implies something of a shared governance position would be better than a set of committees whose names don’t really clarify the possibility that there is a real participation in policy making,” she said.

And while Wilt agrees that there are a lot of areas over which faculty have influence, professors do not have much say on key parts of the University.

“There’s this whole intermediate area between what goes on in the classroom … and the world outside,” Wilt said. “And in between, there are issues that cross school boundaries that aren’t just A&S matters, aren’t only in the classroom … and there is no university-wide, faculty-dominated body where these things can be discussed.”

To DeLeeuw, the largest obstacle currently in the way of a senate is that faculty have not participated in the past.

“A senate — a faculty senate — would be a good thing if enough faculty wanted to have a senate,” DeLeeuw said. “I think it would be difficult to achieve at Boston College in 2010 to get enough faculty to want to participate.”

But DeLeeuw believes there is a place for the AAUP chapter at BC.

“I welcome the existence of an AAUP chapter,” DeLeeuw said. “I think the existence of the organization is a good one.”

To Michalczyk, the BCAAUP is much more than a faculty senate and will continue to not only advocate for faculty concerns but also to analyze the inner-workings of BC and propose changes from the point-of-view of the faculty. In everything they do, they always keep the ideals of higher education in mind.

“What people are most concerned about is preserving, maintaining or strengthening what it means to be an academic, what it means to be an intellectual, what it means to be a professional in the Academy,” she said.

With about 70 faculty members — both tenured and non-tenured — who are official members of the BCAAUP and another 40 who attend the meetings regularly, there seems to be a reinvigorated faculty, according to Michalczyk.

Recently, the BCAAUP sent out surveys to the faculty, to figure out the problems professors are facing, and they are now working on compiling the data. But a surprise discovery was that a lot of professors’ concerns transcend departments and schools, and this was not understood until they reached out to all areas of BC.

“We, as faculty, have come together to talk openly about things, to share our concerns,” Michalczyk said. “And what I’ve found most striking is that there is no division. Not everyone agrees with things, but there’s a level of respect and appreciation for one another that I have found really energizing.”

The BC chapter has worked on topics such as academic freedom, shared governance and the professional status of contingent faculty, which means that they support adjunct and part-time faculty having rights such as academic freedom.

“There’s been a lack of communication, a lack of transparency. And when we come together to start talking about things, we realize that we have a lot more in common than we had known before,” Michalczyk said. “And that by working together, we can strengthen the University.”

As for the future of the organization, Michalczyk hopes to continue to lay down the foundation they have been building by increasing membership and holding programs that would elicit discussion among faculty. From the responses they have collected through their survey, they are positive about what they have been doing and the direction in which they are moving.

“For someone to write and say ‘really great work that you’re doing,’” Michalczyk said, “tells me and our executive board that we’re on the right track.”

To the Boston College Community,

It has been an eventful year and a half get­ting Gavel Media started, and it has been an honor to help organize a body that aims to add to the dialogue on campus. Since our editorial board rotates every calendar year and I will be graduating in the sping, it is time for me to pass on the “gavel” to Maeve Kennedy Gormly, in whom I have utmost confidence. She will take what we have done so far to the next level.

I am proud of the work of our editors and reporters. Every person had to have a passion for journalism and an entrepreneurial spirit. As with any new group, the main concern for me was to help put in place a system that would work for future generations of Gaveliers, and I am confident that the next board will take what we have created so far, refine it, and make an even bigger impact.

But I also do not want to belittle what we have done. We broke the story about the union workers issue, we have been with the BC chap­ter of the American Association of Univer­sity Professors since its inception, and we have pushed for more dialogue on progressive issues that are in sync with Catholic views.

Gavel Media is succeeding in its task of forming opinions based on facts. There is no need to insult, to belittle or to create fear — those are tactics of old politics. New politics must be rooted in facts and be sensitive to human experience — politics is not a game. These are the principles that have guided – and will continue to guide — Gavel Media.

For campus journalism, we have helped bring it to the 21st Century by breaking news stories online. But we also understand the im­portance of traditional print journalism, which is why we still print monthly. We have helped further video broadcast journalism and usage of the Web — we are not simply a newspaper.

As for the future, I am confident that Gavel Media will be there to help guide the discus­sion. I always tell the Gaveliers to dream big and just temper it as you go along. The sky is the limit — it just takes vision and elbow grease. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this organization because it is a worthwhile one and will play a major role in the future of BC.

I am excited for the board that will take over next year, I wholeheartedly believe that Maeve will lead courageously, and with the help of Eliza Duggan (Managing Editor), the orga­nization will achieve great things. I am grate­ful for the dedication of Yanira Revan (Copy Editor), Robert Rossi (Culture Editor), An­drew Schofield (Opinions Editor), Justine Burt (Video Editor), Rodaan Rabang (As­soc. Video Editor), John Leahy (General Manager) and Sean Robbins (Business Man­ager), all of whom have been with Gavel Me­dia for a while and have done great things.

I am also very proud of the editorial assis­tants who have stepped up right when they joined Gavel Media and are making an even bigger commitment as editors: Michael Ken­nedy (Online Manager), Meghan Smith (News Editor), Mason Lende (Features Edi­tor), Kenneth St. John (Assoc. Opinions Editor), William Stoll (Asst. Opinions Editor) and Aruem Shin (Assoc. Business Manager).

We also welcome Jasmine Uduma (Assoc. News Editor) and Gillian Freedman (Photo Editor) to the editorial board.

To the current editors who have helped this organization become what it is today: there is not enough room in this issue to thank you for believing in our mission from day one and sticking around through the highs and lows. Gavel Media will need your guidance even af­ter you graduate.

To Campus Progress and David Spett: thank you for the advice and support whenever we needed it.

To the College Democrats, especially Krist­offer Munden and Andrew Slade: thank you for your support since day one and allowing us to navigate our own waters. And on the rough­est of waves, Kris, you were there to help calm my nerves, and I am grateful.

To members of the administration and fac­ulty who have helped guide us as we were fig­uring things out: we would not have achieved as much without you.

To the readers: thanks for your support. I hope you have found something that keeps you coming back to our pages and website.

To my fellow students at BC from either side of the political aisle: while it is important to be busy with activities on campus, you cannot shelve civic duty during your years here. Most people our age are disheartened by politics. But politics needs to be changed through par­ticipation, not apathy. There is no time when we can take a break from learning about and discussing political topics that will dictate the rest of our lives.

Looking back, my seven semesters at BC have been amazing. I have learned so much and am grateful for all the opportunities here. Of course, there are issues that should be fixed so we can make sure BC is the epitome of high­er education in the Jesuit tradition. No matter how big BC gets and no matter how high it is ranked, at the end of the day, BC’s mission is to challenge young men and women to think, and nothing should get in the way of that.

With gratitude,

Tue Tran

A group of Boston College students and a professor from the film department are working on a a collection of short films, modeled after Paris, Je T’aime. Titled BC, I Love You, the films explore relationships at BC, and the final product will premiere at the Museum of Fine Arts on Saturday, Dec. 11.

Sean Meehan, A&S ’11 and Video Editor for Gavel Media, got the idea for this project about two years ago, he said.

“Ever since I got serious about film-making at BC,” Meehan said, “I’ve wanted to have that endlessly collaborative atmosphere with other student filmmakers, and I started to get a hint of that last semester.”

According to Meehan, it was easy to find people who would be enthusiastic about making their own film.

“Basically, once we told a few people it ballooned so quickly that I was worried for a while that we were going to have too many films,” he said. “People were all so committed to doing it, and once we had gotten to a good number, everybody was ready to dive headfirst into making as many great films as we can.”

“It’s a complete student initiative.”  Matt Laud, another director in BC, I Love You and A&S ’11. “Wehave the faculty’s blessing, but it’s completely student driven. I think we wanted to do something that we can say we did because we wanted to.”

But one professor did want to join the project by contributing a short film.

“I’ll jump on board with any project that helps build a community of filmmakers here at BC,” Gautam Chopra, a professor in the film department, said in an email.

Meehan’s piece is called “Gameface,” and is about a student who dons the Baldwin suit during games, but in daily interactions, the student is reserved. Then the student falls for a student photographer and must decide if the situation is worth the risk.

Laud is working on a comedy titled “Acapocalypse” with a musical number. While that may ring a bell to “Gleeks,” Laud said he does not watch Glee.  It is about a boy and a girl who live together as friends. But as the boy’s romantic feelings grow for his roommate, she falls for a boy in her a capella group.

But not all the films discuss romantic feelings between two students. Chopra’s film, titled “The Burglars,” is about an alum who returns to campus for his 10-year reunion and decides to visit his old mod.

“I believe mine is the only film that features a graduate,” Chopra said, “mainly because I’m approaching my own ten year reunion.”

“While the films share the common thread of BC,” he said, “the unique ways that each filmmaker sees the world will make for an eclectic, surprising collection of films.”
For finding actors, they worked closely with members of the theater department. They held a casting day in late October and found all the actors they needed.

“They are an impressive bunch of actors,” Laud said.

Meehan also had nothing but praise for his actors.

“[W]orking specifically with the actors that I did on this project has made me just want to write parts for all of them,” he said. “I’d be a fool not to try to get them to work with me again.”

The process from an idea for a story to showing it on the big screen is a long one. Making a short film in a few months’ time and being a full-time student has its hardships.

“Juggling academic work with this project is hard,” Laud said. “I’m sure I’m going to be pulling my hair out when my film is ready to go.”

Laud estimated that he will have spent about 40 hours on this project, from writing the story to editing his film.
But for those who love what they are doing, the labor seems much lighter.
“I have a feeling that people will be blown away by the level of craft and the sophistication of personal expression on display in these films,” Chopra said. “Our students are so hardworking, talented, and innovative… And my hope is that the film will inspire other students to pick up a camera and tell their stories.”

“When people go to the screening,” Meehan said, “they’re going to be treated to a hugely diverse set of films, so therefore they’re going to get a ton of different perspectives to chew on…. It’s going to be an awesome event, and we’re all so proud just to be a part of it.”

The definition of “news” has been largely debated in the television industry – should it only be intellectual or can it also be entertaining? Seasoned journalists often question the content considered “news,” which is largely determined by ratings.

The movie Morning Glory examines this issue and tells the story of a young television news producer Becky (Rachel McAdams) who gets the opportunity to work for national morning news program “Daybreak” – but it’s the fourth ranked show. Her challenge is to raise the ratings or the show gets cancelled.

To make things more complicated, the anchors Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) and Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) are unprofessional and have quirks that would probably get them fired in the real news industry.

The movie is enjoyable as a laugh-out-loud comedy with great lines and characters the audience can fall in love with. The writing is smart, but at times, the characters seem thin and one dimensional.

McAdams – also known for her role in Mean Girls – definitely puts her all into the character, who is similar to most of Anne Hathaway’s roles. The audience wants to root for her right away (she is fired from her original job and her mother tells her that her childhood dream is now “embarrassing”).

At times, McAdams’s character seems a bit of a stereotype – a career woman who puts aside relationships to succeed at her job. In fact, her character’s struggle is similar to Hathaway’s in Devil Wears Prada. But working in a competitive industry dependent on breaking stories, if one is not checking email or answering phone calls constantly, a big story may be missed.

Her boyfriend, played by Patrick Wilson, is oddly understanding of her obsession with her job, but maybe that’s because he’s also in the television news industry. But their relationship is only secondary to her professional relationships and struggles.

McAdams character is relatable. Her insecurities are apparent, but she has the work ethic and determination anyone would want to believe is all that is needed for success. We see her going after her childhood dream, but the audience will question whether or not what she is giving up is worth it.

The actors who play the anchors are well chosen, especially Ford, whose tough-guy exterior adds to the drama and comedy caused by his character. Keaton is charming as the anchor who is willing to do any news story to help the show.

Morning Glory is full of themes, but the most prominent is news versus entertainment. Unfortunately, this movie does no favors for the television news industry as *spoiler alert* the ratings slowly go up as the stories become more outrageous and are more for visual appeal and comedic relief.

While the audience may laugh louder, those who still believe in television news may start cringing. The news stories in the movie are similar to actual stories done for television news. Can laughs be interpreted as nails in the coffin of journalistic integrity  for television news?

The movie is mostly lighthearted, even with quite a sad beginning. But then the audience feels invested in the main character’s success in all aspects of her life. This coming-of-age story is definitely one that college students can relate to, especially those who are starting to embark on a career they’ve wanted for a long time – and haven’t been jaded or refuse to give it up without a fight. 8.0/10

(Photo courtesy of moviewallpapers.net)