Archive for the ‘The Daily Free Press’ Category
Hard Times for Harvard
After a lifetime of feeling stupid for neglecting what I’ve been told is “the most important meal of the day,” I no longer feel lonely in my ignorance. Harvard University is keeping me company in my decision to forego the first meal of the day because they’ve stopped serving it, or, at least a hot version of it.
An article I wrote that appeared in the DailyFreePress.
Published: September 23, 2009
It is no secret that Harvard University has a feast of funding, what with its rank as the University with the largest endowment, but if this is the case, why can’t it afford to feed its students hot breakfast food?
Due to Spring 2009 Faculty of Arts and Sciences budget cuts, Harvard stopped serving hot breakfast in all but one of its dining halls Monday through Friday.
“Students were upset when they heard the announcement in the Spring, but they were more upset this Fall when they walked into the dining hall and instead of finding French toast, omelettes, and some sort of meat, they found a few slices of cold cantaloupe,” said sophomore Nima Khavanin.
Why the scrimping?
My First (Public) Protest
Darfur Protestors Take a STAND
Amanda James
Published: Daily Free Press March 19, 2009
Seventy activists “died” on the cold bricks of Boston City Hall Plaza on Wednesday night to protest the genocide in Darfur. Members of the Massachusetts Save Darfur Coalition, STAND, a former Vietnam War protester, and even a girl who skipped work in Connecticut convened to commit to the cause.
“Bashir is lying. Millions are dying,” protestors chanted.
The protestors laid on the ground for about 10 minutes before getting up and chanting to “make the public aware” of recent events in the Sudanese region, STAND Massachusetts State Outreach Coordinator and University of Massachusetts Amherst student Nikki Tishler said.
Last week, Sudanese president al-Bashir expelled 16 humanitarian aid organizations from Darfur, including UNICEF and Doctors without Borders, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the president.
Today, a meningitis outbreak in one of Darfur’s largest camps for the displaced threatens to kill thousands.
STAND, which is the student-led part of the Genocide Intervention Network, and Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur organized the emergency rally in a conference call Sunday, Save Darfur Chairman Eric Cohen said.
The groups had little time to plan a response to the shocking and devastating events of March 4, said Eric Cohen. After deciding that the most important response was an immediate one, the coalition sent out an e-mail to its distribution list and relied on its members to tell as many people as possible about the event.
“When the events happening are affecting 2.7 million people, there was no time for hesitation,” said Cohen.
Anti-War Demonstration- Jens Lekman Mp3
Lack of Green in Boston’s Spring
Amanda James
Published: Daily Free Press April 8, 2009
As citizens of Boston anticipate Spring’s budding, marijuana law reformers in Massachusetts are also waiting to see more green around this city, even after Question 2 decriminalized marijuana in November.
On March 31, supporters of marijuana law reform gathered to protest the bill that Senator Brown filed on January 6, 2009 that if enacted would punish the possessor of any amount of marijuana in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle with a minimum fine of $1000.00 and a loss of driving privileges for 90 days, even if they are not under the influence.
Twenty activists were far from blazing, as they huddled in the snowy streets of Columbus Avenue, carrying signs that read, “Respect 65%,” and passed out fliers with Senator Brown’s picture superimposed with an image of Mussolini.
The bill was filed at the request of Police Chief Terry Cunningham of Wellesley, said Maria Vurmo, Senator Brown’s Communications Director who directs all calls about the legislation to the Chief of Police.
“I think the bill disregards the voice of the people 100%,” said Michael Crawford, who is a member on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition.
“He filed these reports because he had a sponsor,” said Steven Epstein, who founded the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition in 1989. “Senator Brown didn’t expect any sort of response to the bill and now he is embarrassed.”
Senator Brown walked past the protest and did not respond to reporters, said Crawford.
Crawford does not think the bill has much chance of actually passing. The reason for the protest was to react to Senator Brown’s lack of reaction to the 65% of voters, who, on November 4th, supported Question 2. The new law decriminalized up to an ounce of marijuana, making it a civil penalty with a fine of $100.
Everybody Must Get Stoned- Bob Dylan mp3
“Trailblazers: Women Converging on the Road to Success” Here on Campus
Amanda James
Published: Daily Free Press March 23, 2009
Instead of absorbing half-warm rays on BU Beach on the first Saturday of Spring, sixty B.U. women spent the day attending a conference hosted by 85 Broads to get career advice, make connections, and learn from women who’ve “made it.”
85 Broads, “The ultimate career connection for smart women worldwide,” aims to empower and connect women across industries, generations, and geographies globally. At a university largely populated by women, the organization had no trouble forming a chapter for “smart women” here at Boston University last year.
In 2008 the conference was focused on financial planning. This year’s conference intended to connect women from all academic disciplines to gain insight into different industries, said Kafilat Lawal, organizer and member of 85 Broads Executive Board at Boston University.
“We worked hard to get a diverse group of speakers,” said E-Board member Audrey Gellar, SMG senior at B.U.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. women listened to stories from successful women with experience in marketing, finance, non-profit, and fashion retail. After each breakout session there was time for questions and answers—a good time for networking, said Amanda Kwan, Co-VP of Marketing and Publicity for the BU chapter.
City Officials Speak to Students. City Officials Speak to Five Students.
Student Union Hosts Panel to Link Students With City
Published: Friday, January 30, 2009
Boston University’s Student Union hosted a panel dedicated to “opening up a channel between city officials and students” Thursday to an audience of only six students in an attempt to involve the student body with its surroundings beyond Commonwealth Avenue, Union President Matt Seidel said.
“The Union should function not just as a government, but as an advocacy group,” Seidel said.
The panel was part of the Union’s larger goal to unite the efforts of students, city officials and different clubs on campus with similar goals, Seidel said.
Assistant to the Dean of Students, Katherine Hasenauer, mediated the discussion and presented questions to city officials about how students could have a broader impact on their communities and the importance of being involved.
“Being a student at Boston University and living in Boston are not mutually exclusive,” City Councilor-At-Large Sam Yoon’s representative David Halbert said. “You have to understand that you are both a Boston University student and a resident of Brookline, Allston, or wherever you live in the city.”
“We need you to report on a pharaoh speaking at Harvard.”
“Oops. I meant to say Mia Farrow. Do you still want to cover the event?”
I still wanted to cover the event.
The Daily Free Press
Mia Farrow Advocates for Darfur at Harvard
Amanda James
Published: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The world has a “responsibility to protect” the citizens of Darfur, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow told a crowd of 70 people at Harvard University’s JFK Jr. Forum Monday night.
Farrow, who has appeared in more than 40 films including “The Great Gatsby” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2000. She said there should be an increased pressure on world leaders to condemn the Sudanese government for their actions in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, where up to 300,000 people have been killed since 2003, according to the Associated Press.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on war crimes charges on March 4. In response, the Sudanese government expelled 13 international aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders and UNICEF. Monday, al-Bashir said he wants all international aid groups to leave within the next year, according to the Associated Press.
“We are failing the people of Darfur, even as we are failing our essential selves,” Farrow said. “There should be a human cry from everyone for the expulsion of these people.”
