By Kate Iannarone, Gavel Media Blogger -

“You Can Never Be Too Thin.” If I were to write an article in defense of this statement, I would be chased from campus by an angry mob with pitchforks and steak bombs.

While any clear-thinking individual can see the flaws in this statement, large corporations have deemed it acceptable to plaster over bus stops across the nation. At the Cleveland Circle bus stop, I saw this slogan on one of the ads from Snack Factory’s widespread campaign to promote Pretzel Crisps.  I had to do a double take, as I had been laboring under the delusion that society recognizes that eating disorders are bad. But there it was, like a slap in the face: “You Can Never Be Too Thin.”

Snack Factory must have realized how degrading their slogan was, because they did not accompany it with a picture of an unrealistically skinny model. In a supposed ‘benevolent, respectful gesture’, the company replaces the objectification of women with the objectification of snacks. A svelte pretzel (with all flaws photoshopped away) poses in the enter of the poster as the embodiment of “thin.” The message is still clear, and the damage is done.

You never knew that a pretzel could make you feel inadequate, but Snack Factory brings a new brand of insecurity with its new line of munchies. You can never look as slender as this sexy snack food, but you can certainly die trying. Snack Factory conveniently overlooks the physical ramifications of being severely underweight. The consequences of malnourishment, which include dehydration, vitamin deficiencies, muscular atrophy, hair loss, infertility, low heart rate, hypotension, osteoporosis, and possible death, stand as scientific evidence that you can indeed be too thin.

As to be expected, the advertisement was not well received by rational viewers. Outraged individuals responded to the ad’s message with scathing Internet tirades, articles, and videos. One heroic vigilante retorted to “You Can Never Be Too Thin” with a succinct, poignant addendum to the advertisement: “Actually, You Can.” The negative reaction prompted Snack Factory to replace the slogan with a “less offensive” one: “Tastes as Good as Skinny Feels.” Charming, Snack Factory, charming.  The improved slogan is as negative as the first, if not more so. The new ad swaps the use of “thin” for “skinny,” a word that conjures a scrawnier, sicklier connotation than the original.

The advertisements’ goals, of course, are not to promote anorexia or distorted body ideals. Snack Factory aims to make pretzels more appealing by associating them with something else desirable – a thin figure. In my opinion, however, these ads only make the product less attractive. “Tastes as Good as Skinny Feels” isn’t a phrase that whets my appetite. The phrase is a ‘thinspiration’, a mantra that motivates one to be skinny in order to feel good. The ad-and the media at large-seems convinced that thinness equates to happiness. If losing a few pounds will lead to ultimate bliss, buying a bag of pretzels seems counterproductive. Stepping back from the muddled media messages, I realize that there are many other things-besides being thin-that lead to happiness. Pretzels are not one of them.  They are the least exciting food imaginable, second only to Saltines. Even though Snack Factory promises to provide the swimsuit models of the pretzel world, the offer is less than intriguing. After viewing these damaging ads, there’s only one thing that can assuage my self-doubts and bandage my wounded self esteem- and that’s chocolate. Not a measly bag of anorexic pretzels.

The Snack Factory advertisements attempt to manipulate our self-esteem by distilling our worth down to the girth of our waists. Fortunately, they have been removed from the Cleveland Circle bus stop. Taking down a poster is not enough, however, because the mentality behind them remains pervasive.  While the deeply embedded cultural mindsets cannot be uprooted overnight, we owe it to ourselves to reframe the unhealthy messages we encounter. Sometimes, all it takes is a moment to step back and realize how ridiculous some of these messages are. But we cannot allow a skinny little afternoon snack to dictate what makes us happy. Meanwhile, Snack Factory needs to revise their advertisement strategy and straighten out their thinking, which is as twisted as their pretzels.

By Iulia Padeanu, Gavel Media Blogger -

Over the summer, I decided to be a good friend. When one of my closest friends at home turned 20, I promised him I would bake him a chocolate cake from scratch. Not just any chocolate cake – a two layer, chocolate fudge, chocolate frosting, death by chocolate cake, Julia Child style. It would have a beautiful soft, undercooked center, a creamy layer of chocolate in the middle and a perfectly smooth outside chocolate crust.

I spent all day slaving in the kitchen sieving sugar, mixing eggs, and separating oil. Outside, Chicago talked about the sweltering heat – the hottest, most humid day of the year as advisories went out about drinking plenty of water and staying cool. But I didn’t care. The preheated oven had nothing on my burning desire to bake the world’s greatest chocolate cake.

The ingredients were set. The dishes were good to go. The pans were greased. And so I began. I carefully mixed the flour and sugar, cracked the eggs and whipped them with the sour cream, melted the butter and prepared the chocolate chunks. I whipped, mixed, and stirred until my wrists hurt.

But it was worth it. I had reached chocolate perfection. Two beautifully cooled chocolate buns, one to-die-for chocolate mouse I would later slather on the cake, and in between, more chocolate layers and heavy cream just calling to be whipped from the fridge. I carefully and calmly put it all together and there was it. The worlds greatest cake. Too bad it was now just lying on my wooden chopping board, chocolate spilling over the sides. “I’ll just move it to a nicer serving dish,” I thought to myself. How hard could that be?

Impossible – as it turns out. Half way through my dangerous maneuvering the cake collapsed. The to-die-for undercooked inside spilled out all over my counter, the top cracked and the extra chocolaty frosting cake off. Disaster! Sue Sylvester was in my head. I could hear her nagging voice telling I was never going to make anything of myself, that I was weak and pathetic and if I even stepped foot near a stove again I was sure to set the room on fire. Damn those pretty singing teens. Now they were invading my kitchen!

So I did what a strong, self assured, successful 20 year old should do in this situation. I called my mom. And cried. No, I bawled until I could cry no more. My boyfriend had left for his semester abroad about a month before. Only when I was saying goodbye at the airport did I cried more – maybe. I was ready to throw the kitchen towel in. Arrogantly I had texted my friend whose birthday was coming up. “If this isn’t the best cake you’ve ever tasted, I am never cooking again.” It certainly was not going to be the best looking cake he’d ever seen, that was for sure.

Still, a bad looking cake does not make a bad cake. So I whipped away my tears and took out a fork. The moment of truth. I dug in the cake that was using my mom’s beautiful kitchen counters as the world’s most giant cake stand. I took a bit of the soft center and tasted it. Oh dear lord. It was the world’s best cake. Off the counter, in between tears, I tried another one. It was ruined, but man, was it delicious!

So with the newfound confidence that at least I didn’t completely fail I tried to fix it. I managed to use the leftover frosting to piece it together and get it on an actual serving tray. Sure, the left side of it is about an inch taller. So what if the top of it just slight outwards and there are clear chunks missing? It was good. And now, it had a bit of personality. Just like its baker.

***This blog features recipes, fun food stories, and everything in between that’s about food in college. All recipes will be dorm-doable.

By Sue Byun, Assoc. News Editor -

A recent study by economist Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org and FastWeb.com found that student loan debt at $830 billion, which includes federal and private loans, surpassed the national credit card debt of $826.5 billion.

The study’s results, which have been published in the Wall Street Journal and Huffington Post, have been widely discussed with mixed reactions ranging from concern about the rising education costs and praise about bringing more media attention to a steadily growing debt category.

“I’m not surprised at all because the figures on my loan statements are huge and somewhat depressing to know I have to pay it all back,” Brittany Burns, A&S ‘11, said. “If anything, I’m surprised that credit cards beat out loans for so long.”

At the same time, Burns finds comparing credit cards to student loan debt interesting. “Education loans are for a higher purpose than say, a new TV bought with a credit card. They seem like two separate issues,” Burns said.

Although the numbers from Kantrowitz’ study may raise alarm, the fact that student loans surpass credit card debt does not necessarily reflect an entirely negative situation nor indicate that student debt across the nation is increasing overall.

“At BC, our average student indebtedness has held steady at $20,000 for the past 4-5 years,” Bernie Pekala, director of financial strategies, said. “We’re not seeing a jump in undergrad borrowing.”

According to Pekala, many factors shed light on this trend that point to some positive indicators. “It’s interesting that it occurred but it’s not necessarily bad depending on how you look at it,” he said.

The two main causes he cites are the credit crunch in light of the financial crisis, and government efforts to make federal loans more accessible.

Credit cards are a less attractive borrowing option than they previously were since credit card companies have become more stringent, charging higher rates and monthly payments than they did before the 2008 economic crisis.

Credit cards with higher price tags might explain why credit card debt figures from Kantrowitz’ study lag behind national student debt figures.

Pekala said that this could be a positive indicator because less credit card debt might reflect people making better borrowing decisions about paying tuition, such as taking out more federal loans.

Another possible cause of student loans surpassing credit card debt is that the Obama administration has made federal loan money more accessible as of 2008 via reforms such as the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). Federal loan eligibility standards are lower, and more money is available at attractive federal loan terms such as low to no interest and forgiving repayment terms.

The government increased maximum unsubsidized Stafford loan amounts by $2000 per academic year, and graduate students can now borrow PLUS loans which were previously only available for parents.

More federal loan accessibility possibly moves students away from high interest loans such as credit cards and private lenders like Chase, Citibank, and Sallie Mae.

Pekala said that the $830 billion student debt figure does not accurately reflect what students have collectively borrowed. He said it is difficult to add up the exact figures from the thousands of private lenders out there, whereas federal loan money can be exactly tallied up.

These factors shed some light on the trend, and not necessarily raise reason to worry. “There are reasons, a few being more federal loan money and more people attending school in light of the job economy,” Pekala said. “As long as we manage it well, the student debt surpassing credit cards can be a positive thing.”

By Sue Byun, Assoc. News Editor -

College rankings change somewhat frequently, so it may be difficult for high school students to see why they are relevant in their search for the perfect university. In its 2011 Best National Universities rankings, US News & World Report ranked Boston College 31st, up from 34th in 2010, and Forbes ranked BC 27th in its 2010 America’s Best Colleges rankings, down from 16th in 2009. Richard McGowan S.J., a statistics professor in the economics department, advises a critical approach to interpreting these rankings.

“There are disagreements about the relative weights you give various factors and which ones mean more,” McGowan said. “A lot of things they try to quantify – how exactly do you do that?”

According to BC faculty, the rankings should generally be used as a starting point when forming perceptions about a school or using them for college application decisions.

Cutberto Garza, provost and dean of faculties said, “It’s important to remember that all rankings are reasonably accurate, but not necessarily precise.”

McGowan gives the rankings credit for helping parents decide how to spend their money. “Tuition is not exactly cheap these days,” he said. “There are some problems with the methodology of these rankings, but they do give a general picture of where the school stands.”

“Seeing that it was 27th really gave BC high marks in my book,” Derek Won, A&S ’13, said. “Forbes is a reputable publication, so I trusted them to a good extent. I think the rankings are a positive thing, and I definitely kept the rankings in mind when applying to colleges.”

McGowan cites calculating student faculty ratio as one of the more interesting statistics to take critically in terms of methodology. “When you put more weight on faculty student ratio as a measure of school quality, how do you even exactly calculate that? What about the number of staff on sabbatical? It would make the student faculty ratio be way off.”

The way different rankings find their figures is affected by what type of value they try to provide. Forbes rankings center around incoming students’ concerns such as how interesting courses are and post graduation job prospects, while US News’ paints a wider and purportedly more objective picture of the school by not weighting student satisfaction.

US News and Forbes are thorough in their efforts to approach accuracy and precision, make their methodology transparent on their websites, and fine-tune it year to year by recategorizing rank lists, including more schools, and reshifting weights when calculating scores. For instance, US News weighted graduation rates at 5 percent last year but shifted it to 7.5 percent.

US News’ methodology takes in more factors than Forbes and putting most emphasis on academic prestige, faculty resources, financial resources, grad rates, alumni giving. Forbes’ methodology mainly emphasizes factors mainly of interest to incoming students such as reported student satisfaction, post graduation debt, graduation rate, and competitive awards won by students. It puts most statistical weight on reported student satisfaction.

“The Forbes ranking methodology is quite volatile,” Garza said. “In 2008, BC was number 32; we jumped to number 16, and this year we are number 27.”

Even the labels of ranking lists themselves should be taken critically, according to McGowan. By virtue of putting schools on a list such as “Best Liberal Arts College” or “Best Public University,” the rankings imply that the included schools have enough commonalities to justify comparing them against the same variables. Schools vary widely in endowment, areas of emphasis, and size.

“I think school should be categorized into even narrower classifications,” McGowan said. “We’re very different from a school like Harvard – their emphasis on research is very different, for example. They are in totally different ball games. But schools like Notre Dame and Georgetown are a bit more comparable to BC.”

Despite rankings, university faculty should stay confident in that they are more familiar with where a school stands more than a statistical survey could attempt to be. “While the year-to-year changes for some rankings vary,” Garza said. “We should conclude that we’re on the upward trajectory we’ve set for ourselves and keep the proverbial shoulder to the plow.”

BC has overall ranked highly in US News and Forbes’ national college rankings since 2008, holding in not lower than 34th. But rankings are not a cut and dry way to make conclusions about how a school is better or worse than others.

“I’m pleased by BC’s ranking by US News and World Report,” Garza said. “It will bolster the University’s efforts to help prospective students discover the many compelling qualities of a Boston College experience.”

By Eliza Duggan, Print Manager -

The Freshman 15. Everyone’s heard of it, and many incoming students dread the thought of packing on the pounds in their first year of college.

Freshman year is all about choices, many of which students are making on their own for the first time. How students decide to deal with their newfound freedom affects not only their bodies, but also their mind and general well being.

By now, most students, especially health-conscious Boston College students, know the basics of staying healthy. Don’t eat junk food, exercise regularly, yada yada. But there are a few new aspects of college that can really stress your body. Every body is different, and while some may have metabolisms running like the Energizer bunny, others have more of a challenge.

Some freshmen are, for the first time, experiencing the freedom to choose when and what they eat. This new liberty is a window of opportunity in which students can form great eating habits or destructive routines. Although students are usually very busy, it is a good idea to eat at regular times each day, so the body can know when to expect food. Once at the dining hall, try and create a meal that is balanced with plenty of vegetables and lean proteins.

Although freshmen will most likely find the concept of Late Night at the dining halls a fun and tempting prospect, eating late at night, especially the fried food available, is very unhealthy. Your body can’t process the food very well or have time to burn any of the calories, which are then likely to turn into fat. A little indulgence is fine now and then, but it is not a recommended habit. If you must eat late at night, go for lighter options, since you may be in it for the camaraderie or to help you stay awake to study. Think popcorn, apples, sliced veggies, or pretzels. Foods that require work to access, such as oranges or pistachios, also help you to slow down and enjoy your food.

Perhaps the most commonly noted source of weight gain in college is alcohol, and it is no secret that it is consumed in great quantities on campus. Alcohol has a lot of calories (the average beer has 150 Calories, so drinking only one per night can lead to an extra 1,000 Calories a week to your diet!) Bingeing on beer and sugary drinks can overwhelm your metabolism with many more calories than it can burn. So, drink water with alcohol to stay hydrated and feeling full. And all in all, try keeping your alcohol consumption in moderation to limit the damage on your body, not only for your weight but for your brain and body as well.

If you read the short, housing profiles of incoming freshman, many proudly boast a “work hard, play hard” attitude to their upcoming year. Newcomers anticipate long nights of studying and longer nights of partying, though they may not foresee the damaging long-term effects such an approach takes on their bodies.

While “working hard”, students spend many stressful hours studying in the dorms or the library, commiserating with each other over laborious papers and tests. The combination of stress and late hours makes eating at night very attractive, but it can have grave physical effects. In addition, late night partying can leave students with far fewer than the recommended eight hours of sleep.

The lack of sleep that these late nights of studying and partying create also takes a toll on the body. Studies have shown that lack of sleep increases hunger hormones and decrease hormones that make you feel full. Americans have a particular issue with this, most likely stemming from the “work hard, play hard” mentality that is a part of many Americans.

One of the best ways to combat the possibility of degrading your health is to exercise regularly, a challenge that many BC students happily undertake. The Flynn Recreation Complex, affectionately called “the Plex,” sports a wide range of exercise machines, plus indoor tennis courts, basketball courts, and a track. In addition, there are classes offered every day to suit all types. There are yoga classes ranging in difficulty from very mellow to intense, pilates classes, aerobics, and core strengthening, to name a few. Those who like to groove may want to check out some of the hip-hop or Zumba classes, which promise a fun time and a great workout.

Anyone connected with BC will probably notice BC’s commitment to sports, which are endlessly popular on campus. Even if you’re not a varsity player, there are many intramurals and club teams, which can offer a fun way to stay in shape playing your favorite game.

All in all, college students are bombarded with countless choices and a brand new lifestyle. How we decide to deal with this lifestyle change will affect our health. If you do gain a little weight, don’t worry! Most students on average only gain about five pounds during their college years, and a number on the scale won’t make much of a difference. Or a student with who may not weigh much could be very unhealthy and malnourished. The best thing you can do for yourself is to focus on feeling healthy and happy during your freshman year.

By Tue Tran, Editor-in-Chief –

Rachel Lamorte, BC ’10, was recently elected to the Director of Political Affairs position of the College Democrats of America (CDA), an official youth branch of the Democratic National Committee.

“I’m incredibly honored,” Lamorte said in an email. “Given the upcoming midterm elections, it’s crunch time for Democrats, and I’m excited to get to work turning out college students for Democrats.”

Lamorte will be in charge of coordinating nine issue-based caucuses, reaching out to specific communities of college students and advocating for progressive issues that they care about. While the issues have not yet been determined, some possibilities include combating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy and supporting the DREAM Act. With the midterm elections coming up, Lamorte will also be busy with voter registration and campaigns of Democratic politicians.

At Boston College, Lamorte was President of the College Democrats of BC (CBDC) and played an active role in activities at the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) and in BC Students for Sexual Health. Lamorte said that her experiences in college helped prepare her for what she is doing now.

“As the President Emeritus of CDBC, I understand what it takes to revive and run a chapter on a college campus, which is so important in designing ways to reach out to college students,” Lamorte said. “My work with BC Students for Sexual Health and other campus movements has also given me a strong background in grassroots organizing.”

Kristoffer Munden, current President of CDBC and A&S ’11, who was Vice President under Lamorte, said that Lamorte has qualities that will help her accomplish much in the position.

“Rachel’s tenacity, perseverance, and organizational skills are what will help her succeed as Political Director,” Munden said in an email. “You can always count on Rachel to fight for what she believes in and keep going until it’s accomplished.”

Kate Curley, current Secretary of CDBC and LSOE ’11, who worked with Lamorte at the WRC, also thought that Lamorte has characteristics that make her the perfect candidate for the job.

“She is good at reacting to the needs of the people she is leading,” Curley said in an email, “and has the well-needed foresight to anticipate any problems that may arise… She is one of the hardest workers I know and if she puts her mind into anything, you know she is going to research, prepare, and execute like the leader she is.”

While the real world has given Lamorte new opportunities, she does miss being politically active at BC – at least some aspects of it.

“I miss politics at BC because of the wonderful people I had the opportunity to work with,” Lamorte said. “But it is very nice to be free of some of the restrictions… I’m able to speak freely on any subject now that I’ve graduated. I can talk about how important being pro-choice is to me, I can talk about how important the legalization of gay marriage is to me – it’s wonderful.”

The student leaders who worked with Lamorte at BC are excited about her new role.

“I’m very happy for Rachel, and I know she’ll succeed in her new role, Munden said. “This is just the start of even bigger things to come!”

“I am so excited for her,” Curley said. “She certainly deserves it, and I know she will excel.”

Currently, Lamorte is also working as a paralegal at a non-profit law firm for low-income New Yorkers.

“I want to make a difference in people’s lives,” Lamorte said, “and I’m excited to be on the ground working directly with people.”

As for the future, Lamorte decided that politics is her path because of the opportunities to better others’ lives.

“I’m staying in politics for the long-haul,” Lamorte said. “I want to make a difference in people’s lives, whether that will be as an elected official or as someone who is more focused on specific issues.

*** Rachel Lamorte will soon blog for Gavel Media about her adventures as a progressive in the real world. Check out Lamorte’s blog “Bra Burner: Real World” in the upcoming week!

By Michelle Martínez, News Editor -

Over the past month, politicians, academics, religious figures, and even celebrities have all been chiming in on the debate surrounding the proposed construction of the so-called “Ground Zero mosque.” Many critics are calling the proposed Islamic cultural center an offensive and insensitive venture, a monument to terrorism, and even a breeding-ground for future terrorists.

Numerous misconceptions, however, surround the proposed project. Many erroneously portray it as a plan to construct a mosque on Ground Zero, when it is in fact located a few blocks away from the site, taking the place of a long-closed Burlington Coat Factory. Additionally, this edifice would not be a mosque in and of itself, but rather a large community center.

”A mosque is by definition a place of worship, and only a place of worship,” Ali Zaidi, A&S ‘13, said, who is a Muslim student. “The proposed center is planned to house not only a prayer area, but also a 500-seat auditorium, theater, performing arts center, fitness center, swimming pool, childcare area, culinary school, art studio, food court, and a 9/11 memorial.

“Calling it a mosque assumes that it is just a place where Muslims will be going to pray, but that isn’t the case. The center is open to people of all faiths and backgrounds and is designed to promote interfaith understanding.”

In reality, the project is the product of collaboration between the non-profit organization Cordoba Initiative and the American Society for Muslim Advancement, both of which strive to promote greater understanding between Islam and the West. But many still argue those backing this project are extremists that only wish to recruit and train more terrorists on the sacred ground that is Ground Zero.

Even though the media has continuously clarified these misconceptions, reportedly more than 70 percent of Americans continue to oppose the project.

“Some of that negative reaction is clearly unreasonable, irrational and unfair, but at the same time I would say there is a reason why large numbers of Americans are suspicious of Muslim leaders,” said Peter Skerry, professor of political science at Boston College and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute.

“It is not totally irrational for people to have questions because the fact is that many Muslim-American leaders have histories, backgrounds and connections—not necessarily linked to terrorism—but to Islamist organizations that have different views, such as the Muslim Brotherhood.”

The widespread opposition of this project has angered some students. “When people say they’re against the building of a mosque so close to Ground Zero, I take it as an insult because what that insinuates is that all Muslims are terrorists,” Zaidi said. “The skewed image that most Americans have of Muslims is the only reason this center has caused so much controversy.”

Many of the opinions of students at BC, seem to show an overall understanding of the misconceptions that surround the fervent debate in forming their opinions.

“From what I’ve read, the project would be more comparable to a YMCA than an actual mosque,” Sheila Sullivan, A&S ‘11, said. In Sullivan’s opinion, it is important to distinguish Islam from terrorist groups. “I mean, 9/11 resulted from one extremist group, not Muslims. Unfortunately, most religions have extremists. To penalize an entire community… hardly seems fair,” Sullivan said.

“Many people in this country are unfortunately unaware of what Islam is as a faith and are just quick to associate it with terrorism and extreme fundamentalist beliefs,” Dan Ruemenapp, A&S ’11, said.

Many also note the underlying hypocrisy over the right of this group to construct a mosque. “I don’t understand how the United States pretends to fight for religious and political freedom around the world, when it can barely set the example in its own backyard” James Gavin, A&S ‘11, said.

When asked if he supported the building of the community center at “Ground Zero,” Gavin said, “Allowing the mosque to be built at the proposed location would promote these virtues and demonstrate that America does respect religious freedom. So yes, I definitely think it should be constructed there.”

Skerry also favors the construction of the community center at this location. “Mosques per se in the U.S. haven’t been the places where terrorists have gone to conspire. Typically, they go outside mosques, be it out of a choice to operate outside or because the mosques themselves have thrown them out.”

“I, therefore, don’t know that a mosque is of any danger or threat, besides, they have the presumed right to build a mosque wherever they choose,” Skerry said.

Though many students agree that Muslims should be allowed to practice their religion just like any other faith, some question the wisdom of the choice of location.

“Though logically there is no reason as to why the community center shouldn’t be built there,” Sullivan said, “I can understand why it might come off as a bit touchy to some families of 9/11 victims.

“Because of this, I think they should try to reach some sort of compromise on a new potential location, in order to avoid any possible retaliation these opponents might take.”

Although some suggest that the prevailing widespread Islamophobia in the United States is a major factor in the resistance, the location choice is indubitably to blame for the amount of opposition and criticism the project has garnered.

“The location has a lot to do with this anxiety and intense reaction,” Skerry said, “especially when you compare it with the other responses there have been in the U.S. recently and going back several years.”

Amidst the debate over the Islamic community center in Lower Manhattan, other communities in the United States have taken steps to fight other mosques or Muslim religious centers in their areas. Massachusetts has not remained immune to this widespread resistance, with the recently opened Roxbury mosque having been targeted by local communities for allegedly being backed by extremists.

“In general, that mosque was the focus of a lot of negative reaction,” Skerry said, “because of people unhappy with Muslims being there, and unhappy about anything related to Muslims and Islam.”

When plans to construct the mosque in Roxbury began a few years ago, many people were initially distraught by the role the city played in providing the land for the mosque. Additionally, suspicions quickly arose about the mosque’s board members and their affiliations.

“A lot of people in the board had questionable histories, and some refutably terrorist organizations,” Skerry said. “There were also charges that the people behind building the mosque in Roxbury had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. But those in the mosque who did have ties weren’t fully forthcoming about them.”

To Skerry, having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t necessarily imply terrorism, given that it is a very complicated political organization with a lot of different tendencies. “Being a member of that doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is a danger or even anti-democratic, but the fact that people with such histories don’t open up about it definitely fuels the reactions,” Skerry said.

After years of controversy and embattled lawsuits, the Roxbury mosque finally opened in June of last year, becoming New England’s largest mosque.

With the building of the community center at Park 51 still facing numerous hurdles, the fiery debate will most likely continue. “These big controversies get people excited,” Skerry said. “But besides exacerbating tensions, it doesn’t allow the serious dialogue we should be having, all the while we’re arguing about something that they have the right to do.”

By Sam Hocking, Gavel Media Blogger -

Sitting, packing, and watching the US Open, my impending trip to China is all I can think about. Although I don’t fret anything in particular, my gut remains uneasy, predictably responding to the looming uncertainty. While I hardly relish my gastrointestinal discomfort, I appreciate what it represents. It’s the same feeling I had leaving for Boston College or opening an important and long-awaited email. It’s a healthy mix of preemptively anticipated disappointment and giddiness over unrealized possibilities. Whenever an event meriting such a reaction arises, it’s naturally both a time to reflect on how you arrived at that junction and to dream about the experiences that may lie ahead. Confronted by such big thoughts, stomach butterflies in a unique way help to normalize the entire experience.

An Orbitz commercial just aired, advertising the appeal of making the travel experience predictable. With Orbitz, it pitched, you wouldn’t have to worry about the vagaries of travel—from the unexpected popping of a balloon to an unwelcomed splash by a passing bicycle, you would be prepared for everything, all because of the security afforded by Orbitz. Well, if that’s the Orbitz guarantee, I’m glad I booked with Expedia. If travel—or any momentous event—were predictable, it wouldn’t be exciting and it certainly couldn’t be different from our comfortable routines. I genuinely hope China awes me, impresses me, and most of all surprises me; anxiety doesn’t just a reflection of a healthy caution of a deviation from the routine. It primes us to fully appreciate whatever awaits.

By Lauren Viola, Asst. Features Editor -

While some students may feel powerless when confronted by the world’s issues, others try to tackle them in any way they can. Kristoffer Munden, A&S ‘11, recently succeeded in starting up an official non-stock, non-profit, charitable organization that will grant scholarships to poverty stricken high school students in the Philippines.

“I got the idea to start Leap Ahead when I interned with the Municipality of San Pedro after my freshman year,” Munden said in an e-mail.  While working with the Municipality Munden got a first hand look at the conditions of children living in San Pedro.  “One story does seem to typify a lot of what I learned,” Munden said.  “One day, a few municipal staff members and I went to a garbage dump area in San Pedro to visit the families of a few pre-school students I had met.  There, we noticed a young girl inside a garbage truck searching through the trash for things to sell.  After speaking to her, we learned that she was 13, came from a family of about 6, and had a third grade education.  She had dropped out of school because her family couldn’t afford her supplies, and now that she was older, she could help make money for the family.”

Although a free public school system exists in the Philippines, Munden says that the offer of free education isn’t enough to keep students in school.  Students are kept at home for various reasons, including the poor quality of the public school system being offered, and the poverty level of the family who can use their children as extra hands to work to support the family, or because of a lack of resources to pay for the expenses that go along with sending a child to school such as uniforms, books, or even food.  In addition, some parents are simply ignorant to the importance of an education and hold their children back from receiving one.

During his internship with the Municipality of San Pedro, Munden says he realized something about education. “Education plays an important role in helping people escape poverty, and that providing public schools isn’t enough to get kids in school.”

Leap Ahead Charitable Institution, Inc. was Munden’s idea to help solve this widespread problem.  “The statistics are really disheartening,” Munden said.  “Last year, there were over 5.5 million school-aged kids out of school, only 66 percent of students complete elementary school, and 44 percent finish high school.”

The organization’s website, www.leapaheadph.org, states their mission “is to provide indigent Filipino students access to a strong education while instilling in them the values of leadership, community service, and civic duty.”

With various organizations in the Philippines mainly focused on getting younger students into the schools or granting scholarships for students to go to college, Munden says, “Leap Ahead is focused on enabling students to go to high school and succeed.”

In order to limit the obstacles Filipino students face in going to high school, Leap Ahead’s scholarships cover all the costs of attending school, including tuition for a private school to remove students from what Munden calls a “failing public school system,” as well as books, supplies, uniforms, transportation, and food.

Munden has spent his time since returning from his internship after freshmen year sorting through the logistics of starting his own business, the paperwork of officially registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and getting the organization running.  Right now, Munden says, their biggest focus is fundraising.  “Our goal is to raise enough funds to cover two students for four years (this is about P500,000 or $12,000) by the start of the next school year in June.”

With a new Board of Trustees to back him up, a fully vamped website, Twitter and Facebook pages, and online donations in place, Munden is well on his way to achieving that goal.

“I hope that Leap Ahead will be able to reach as many kids as possible across the Philippines,” Munden says.  “This is going to take a lot of work on the part of many people, but I’m confident that we can do it.”