Text
THE Suffolk Journal
SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY • BOSTON
VOLUME 81, NUMBER 2 |
In the news
Remembering
Nicholas Williams
the editor, leader,
Law student, fighter
for the rights of all,
writer, friend and
Ram.
Page 3.
thesuffolkjournal.com
|
YOUR SCHOOL. YOUR PAPER. SINCE 1936.
September 20, 2017
@SuffolkJournal
INTO to begin 15-year
contract for Suffolk’s
global reach
How Trump’s cabinet
may be shaping
college campuses and
the reporting of
sexual misconduct
on them
Jacob Geanous
World News Editor
Suffolk men’s
basketball star rocks
Armenian team this
summer.
Page 11.
Boston’s Freedom
Rally acts as adult
playground for
those in support of
Question 4.
Page 7.
A new population
of international
students enter
campus, begin
transition to
American culture.
Page 5.
Stay tuned: Art
& Design School
transition from
“NESAD” and move
off 75 Arlington St.
Are students satisfied
with new area
despite space loss?
PERSPECTIVE
BY STIV MUCOLLARI
“Making it
economically and
socially unfeasible
to attend “alt-right”
rallies without
consequences is
more effective in
combating the them
than engaging in
violence against
them.”
Page 9.
For stories, breaking news
and more,
visit our website:
TheSuffolkJournal.com
Suffolk reacts to impending
Title IX changes
Suffolk
University
announced its plan to
strengthen international
recruitment efforts by
joining forces with INTO
University Partnerships, a
private global education
company that focuses on
enlisting and preparing
new students to study in
America, this past August.
The
collaboration
resulted in the formation
of INTO Suffolk, LLC,
which is a jointly owned
company that aims to
bolster the university’s
longstanding status as
a hub for international
students.
Last week, more than
100 members of INTO
Suffolk’s global network
of recruiters in Boston
came to the University
for a familiarization visit
and to celebrate the
new partnership. INTO
recruitment
officers
scouted the location and
got acquainted with the
university’s metropolitan
campus.
“The new venture is
designed to help Suffolk
See INTO page 6
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s future decisions may call the
procedure of handling sexual assualt on campuses into examination
Chris DeGusto
News Editor
Kyle Crozier
Journal Staff
Sexual assault has
moved to the forefront
of
discussion
this
month after Secretary
of
Education
Betsy
DeVos
alluded
to
possible changes in the
way universities deal
with misconduct cases
regarding Title IX.
Said DeVos at George
Mason University during
a
September
speech,
“Here is what I’ve learned:
the truth is that the
system established by the
prior administration has
failed too many students.
Survivors, victims of a
lack of due process, and
campus
administrators
have all told me that the
current approach does
a disservice to everyone
involved.”
As
part
of
the
United States Education
Amendments of 1972
Title IX was enacted
Suffolk places in national
ranking system, twice
under the Department
of Education [DOE] with
the parameters so that
“No person in the United
States shall, on the basis
of sex, be excluded
from participation in,
be denied the benefits
of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any
education program or
activity receiving Federal
financial assistance.”
On April 4, 2011 the
Office for Civil Rights
under President Obama’s
See TITLE page 2
Courtesy of Dear World
Photos can tell the world exactly what others
are thinking. See “Dear World” on page 3.
Budget slashes spark protests
Suffolk places on ‘Best National Universities’ list
for second year, however hits lower bar for
‘Most International Students’
Alexa Gagosz
Editor-in-Chief
For the second year in
a row, Suffolk University
had clinched seventh place
as an institution focused
on
global
experience
and education, according
to the 2018 U.S. News
& World Report’s Best
National Universities list.
Suffolk, which rose
seven
spots
in
the
category from the 2017
list for its considerable
international
student
population,
classroom
sizes
and
academic
excellence.
The university sealed
the 181st spot on the
list for the top level
institutions
to
offer
expansive
choices
of
majors,
master’s
and
doctoral degrees.
Suffolk fell two spots
from the previous year
in the Most International
Students list. U.S. News
Hannah Arroyo/ Asst. Sports Editor
and World Report relies
on reported data from the The group ACT-UP Boston held a rally in front of the Massachusetts State
previous academic year,
See RANK page 4
House Tuesday that fought against several human service programs that
Governor Charlie Baker vetoed. See more photos at thesuffolkjournal.com.
2 SEPT. 20, 2017
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Guiding students through undergrad
N
How upper administration adopted an evolving mindset to communicate with students
Nathan Espinal
Journal Staff
A
recently
widereleased
mobile
app,
Guide,
was
dispersed
to Suffolk University’s
u n d e r g r a d u a t e
population this fall so
students can stay updated
on important tasks and
milestones on-the-go.
With a simple user
interface, students are
encouraged to explore the
tools given through the
app and allows a student
to discover a new major or
view a class schedule. The
app currently provides
freshmen and transfer
students the opportunity
to succeed at Suffolk
through the “Journeys”
tab. This tab provides
several core “checklists”
that familiarize students
with financial aid, getting
involved on campus and
other important aspects
of the Suffolk experience.
“The concept around
Guide is the nudge
theory. You’re putting
information in front of
students around the time
that they need it and
getting their attention,
the “nudge,” to hopefully
follow through with that,”
said Assistant Provost
Katherine Sparaco, who
has overseen the Division
of Student Success, in
a recent interview with
The
Suffolk
Journal.
“It’s in the mobile space
where
students
are,
getting their attention
for any number of things
us administrators are
challenged with.”
Suffolk faculty and
administration
were
already
familiar
with
the
Student
Success
Collaborative (SSC), which
is an advising platform
designed by Education
Advisory Board (EAB) for
those in advisory positions
to be a greater resource
for students. The SSC
came through Suffolk’s
membership with the
EAB, an organization that
conducts and provides
research on colleges and
universities
on
what
the best practices are
for student success and
academic
processes.
Guide was offered to
Suffolk, along with fifty
other schools, to become
a resource that students
can use.
“We wanted to start
off with: What is it all
around the classroom
that we want students
to be aware of what they
should do, so they can
maximize their time in the
classroom,” asked Senior
Consultant for the Guide
app Madeline Pongor, in a
recent interview with The
Journal. “We found that
college students are used
to getting information
tailored to them through
apps. So we thought
why not have the college
experience through that
as well.”
Suffolk has a leadership
team
consisting
of
representatives
from
various
Suffolk
departments working in
conjunction with Pongor
to make sure the app
is as tailored to Suffolk
students
as
possible.
With all the feedback
from students and the
team working on the
app, the EAB and Suffolk
administration hope to
provide a more beneficial
resource
to
students.
Some of the long-term
plans, this team is working
on involve making the
app more inclusive for
upperclassmen
and
international students, as
well as other resources
that could not fit into the
time frame of developing
the app before it launched.
This decision, while
having
a
positive
reception,
has
been
met with some slight
pushback by students.
Some have expressed how
this is another app on this
list of apps that Suffolk
has provided to students.
“Guide is an invaluable
resource for incoming
students because it acts
like an advisor telling
them what you need to
get done. But there is a
need, I think from talking
with Suffolk students,
for an app that acts
like a one-stop-shop for
Suffolk University at an
institutional level,” said
Student
Government
Association Vice President
Yasir Batalvi in a recent
interview
with
The
Journal. “I can’t overstate
the importance of an
app like that. Blackboard
Mobile, Guide, Get Mobile,
Livesafe;
these
serve
invaluable purposes, and
I don’t mean to diminish
any of that by saying
we need a one-stopshop solution to some
of Suffolk’s connectivity
problems.”
Otherwise, Guide has
proven to be a successful
wide release for this
team. As of Tuesday,
despite
some
minor
bugs that affected class
schedules that have since
been fixed, no negative
feedback has reached the
team working on the app.
“So far, from face to
face
interaction
with
students we’ve had great
feedback,”
said
Linda
Bisconti,
Director
of
Academic Enhancement,
in a recent interview with
The Suffolk Journal.
As of Friday, Bisconti
said that of the 4,000
undergraduate students
who received the email to
download the app, over 20
percent have downloaded
the app.
Connect with Nathan
by emailing
nespinal2@su.suffolk.edu
Screenshot of Guide’s “Journeys”
page where students can track
their statuses within multiple
different departments including
Academic Advising and
the Office of the Busar.
Divisions of Suffolk stand by Title IX, despite Washington’s loose stance
From TITLE page 1
administration released
“Dear Colleague Letter.”
This memo from the DOE
cemented the precedent
that Title IX set, codified
the
protections
of
students
from
sexual
harassment in all forms,
free from discrimination
and affirmly criminalized
acts of sexual violence
on campuses across the
nation.
While
DeVos
said
that “acts of sexual
misconduct
are
reprehensible, disgusting,
and unacceptable,” her
insinuation that Title
IX’s current structure
disallows or prevents
universities and colleges
from adequately handling
instances where Title IX
cases apply has prompted
multifarious reaction at
Suffolk University.
Director of Title IX at
Suffolk, Sheila Calkins,
who previously served as
Deputy Attorney General
and as the Attorney
General’s Chief of Staff,
responded to DeVos’s
recent comments and
speculation that revision
of the amendment could
potentially
come
to
fruition.
“The
university
is
always going to want to
make sure that they help
students, and when a
students has experienced
something as as traumatic
as a sexual assault or
a domestic assault, the
university is going to
be there to assist that
student in any way they
can,” said Calkins in a
recent interview with The
Suffolk Journal.
Calkins assured that
Suffolk will continue to
provide resources to any
students who may need
them.
The Interfaith Center,
directed by University
Chaplain Amy Fischer, is
one of two confidential
offices
at
Suffolk.
Fischer works closely
with Counseling Health
and Wellness, the other
confidential office on
campus to ensure both
the privacy and wellbeing of students on
campus. The Chaplain, in
a recent interview with
The Journal solidified the
Interfaith Center’s place
as a dependable outlet for
students’ concerns.
“In my mind, whatever
changes are made in the
Title IX requirements,
if any, my role of
confidentiality and a place
for students to receive
pastoral counseling is still
applicable,” said Fischer.
The
Center
of
Counseling Health and
Wellness at Suffolk has
stood as an office at the
university, where it has
provided both medical
and psychological health
treatment for students.
Options for those who
visit the Center are
numerous,
and
for
students, having these
options allows choice.
Dr. Jean Joyce-Brady, the
Director of Counseling,
Health and Wellness, said
the focus of the Center’s
staff is to direct students
to the resources that
conform best with each
individual’s needs and
comfortability.
In the event of a
federal
revamping
of
Title
IX,
Suffolk
would be provoked to
revisit the policies and
procedures listed under
this amendment. Calkins
said students would still
be provided all resources
and assistance at the
university, which includes
interim-measures
in
order to ensure students
can continue without
hurting their education.
These interim-measures
include actions such as a
no-contact order, housing
reassignments, additional
education assistance, and
may also include making
sure they have access
to the counseling and
medical attention they
need.
Calkins
outlined
the various ways in
which
students
can
address issues of sexual
misconduct,
including
the Suffolk website tools,
the Title IX office email,
or by direct contact with
Calkins herself among
other methods that are
listed in Title IX Student
Handbooks as well as
online.
“Our goal is strickly
to support students and
provide advocacy and
support
for
studentvictim-survivors
of
sexual misconduct, but
we also have another
responsibility and that’s
to make sure that other
kinds of complaints are
resolved fair and equitably
and I think that’s one
of the things that Betsy
DeVos
is
concerned
about,” said Dean of
Students Dr. Ann Coyne
in a recent interview with
The Journal.
On the University’s
Title IX page, Suffolk
labeledsexualmisconduct
as “antithetical to
the mission of the
University” and that it
will be responded to with
diligence.
Acting University
PresidentMarisaKellyhas
not released a statement
regarding
Suffolk’s
response to DeVos’s
comments.
Connect with Chris
by emailing
cdegusto@su.suffolk.edu
and Kyle by emailing
kcrozier@su.suffolk.edu
3 SEPT. 20, 2017
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Remembering Nicholas Williams
N
Suffolk Law School reflects on tragic death of Dicta Editor-in-Chief
Haley Clegg
Photo Editor
Time and time again
we are told to appreciate
every moment and to live
each day as if it may be
our last. For most of us,
this is a simple reminder
to appreciate life, but
for Suffolk Law student
Nicholas Williams, this
was an everyday reality.
Williams
suffered
from
sarcoidosis,
an
inflammatory
disease
that took his hearing and
later affected his sight
and lungs and ultimately,
his young life. Despite
the pain his illness
caused him, Williams
never let it affect him.
He was thrilled to be
entering his third and
final year of law school
at Suffolk with hopes of
being a prosecutor after
graduation.
His
absence
this
semester
has
been
felt by students and
administration alike. In a
statement sent to the law
school community, Dean
Andrew Perlman spoke
of the spirit Williams
embodied.
“Nick was a constant
presence in the Law
School, always eager to
participate in student
groups and events. He
greeted people with a
smile and made everyone
around him feel welcome
and included,” he wrote.
“Nick also was courageous
and tenacious. He thrived
in law school, despite
some challenges posed
by deafness, and in doing
so, he showed everyone
the meaning of grit and
determination.”
Williams
was
an
officer in the Student Bar
Association, a member of
the Black Law Students
Association, and was going
to be in the law schools’
Suffolk Prosecutors legal
clinic this fall.
Despite the adversity
Williams
faced
throughout his life, he
was always eager to
take on new challenges,
such as resurrecting the
Suffolk Law’s newspaper.
Alison
Farquhar,
the
current Editor-in-Chief of
the Dicta credits Williams
with bringing the law
paper back to life.
“Honest to god, Dicta
would not still exist if
it weren’t for Nick. He
rescued Dicta from the
brink at the end of our
1L, assuming the Editorin-Chief
role
without
even being a staff writer
during his first year,” said
Farquhar.
Nick was passionate
about this project and
took the paper from
a budget deficit to a
surplus, and had the paper
publishing in print within
two
semesters.
“His
contributions to Dicta
cannot be understated,”
said Farquhar.
David Feldman, the
Director of PR for the
Dicta worked closely with
Williams and considers
him to be one of his best
friends. On Tuesday, he
spoke to The Suffolk
Journal about Williams’s
dream for Dicta. “Nick’s
mission was to resurrect
the law newspaper. And
he did! We made our
own website, doubled our
staff, got sponsors, and
had a big breakfast to
celebrate,” said Feldman.
“I want to keep it going in
his memory.”
Clinical
Professor
of Law Diane Juliar
was supposed to have
Williams as a student this
year. She spoke about
how determined he was
in life, despite the daily
challenges he faced. “He
didn’t let anything limit
his potential, and what he
contributed to the world,”
said Juliar, “He wanted to
overcome every challenge
so he could pursue his
goals and his desire to do
public service work.”
Associate
Dean
of
Students, Ann Santos
worked
closely
with
Williams as he went
through Suffolk Law.
“It was heartbreaking
that he had overcome so
much, and was here, he
was in his third year of
law school, he had made
it. Now his legacy is going
to be that utter sweetness,
his sincerity and caring
for other people that law
students sometimes lose
sight of” said Santos.
Santos
hopes
that
Williams’s life will inspire
others to go after their
dreams, no matter what
situation they may be in.
“He should be a model
for anyone who thinks
law school might be too
difficult because of what
they’ve struggled with
in the past or currently
going
through.
They
should try it if that’s what
they really want because
that’s what Nick did.” said
Santos.
Williams inspired fellow
classmates to be the best
versions of themselves,
even as they faced their
own challenges.
“In my first two weeks
at Suffolk Law, I was
beat up in Boston, a gang
initiation. They broke
my jaw and it was wired
shut for weeks. I couldn’t
talk, and Nick couldn’t
hear, so communication
was tough for us” said
Feldman. “I learned some
sign language, we passed
notes, but it was hard.
His strength and his
perseverance, that is what
got me through it.”
“He was one of the few
people I’ve ever met who
believed in me as a person
and told me so seemingly
at every opportunity.
Over the past year he was
an unrelenting positive
force in my life. He will be
deeply and truly missed by
the Suffolk community”
said Farquhar.
in a way nobody could
have expected.
Since
then
the
project has globalized,
inviting people to take
portraits as a way to start
conversations and tell
personal stories.
Since its start in
2009, Dear World has
photographed more than
50,000 people from all
over the world.
“We have stories of
love and loss and joy and
grief but it’s all beautiful
because it’s part of the
human experience,” said
Katie Greenman, a Dear
World storyteller and
photographer.
Sophomore business
economics major Justin
Agyemang came to the
event with an open
mind. “I had no idea
what to expect,” he told
the Journal. By the end
of the program, he felt
passionate
about
the
message he chose to share
with the world. He wrote,
“I never took it seriously”
across both arms for
his portrait. “This is a
message I need to let out”
said Agyemang.
On Tuesday, the Dear
World team held an event
for Suffolk students in
the Tremont Temple.
They shared portraits and
stories of the people they
have met since beginning
their project as well as
how far the project has
reached. Dear World has
photographed survivors
of the Boston Marathon
bombing, Syrian refugees,
and survivors of the Pulse
nightclub shooting.
“There are so many
important things in this
world and community is
one of them. After the
Pulse nightclub shooting,
the Orlando community
came out and love poured
in” said Katie Greenman
with The Journal.
After
the
initial
presentation, four Suffolk
students were invited
to take to the stage and
speak about the message
they wrote on their skin
and the story behind it.
Charlotte Cole, a senior
psychology major was one
of these speakers. The
message written across
her skin read, “Willy
Wonka never showed up,
but my hair grew back.”
Cole explained the
story of how she had
gone into surgery for
a
routine
procedure
to remove a bump on
her eye that persisted
despite
treatment.
When she awoke from
the anesthesia, she was
devastated that Willy
Wonka was not there to
visit her.
“As I cried over Mr.
Wonka’s absence, my
parents cried in the room
next door as they learned
that I had cancer.”
When Cole was first
asked to speak at the
event, she was hesitant.
“I was so surprised, I
thought I would be too
scared to get up there and
share my story, but then I
realized that everyone in
here has one that we can
learn from. It would be a
disservice for me not to
share mine and to expect
others to share theirs,”
said Cole.
Connect with Haley
by emailing
hclegg@su.suffolk.edu
‘Dear World:’ Our personal stories matter
Haley Clegg
Photo Editor
The concept for Dear
World began in 2009 in
the wake of Hurricane
Katrina in New Orleans.
Residents of the city
wrote ‘love letters’ to
their city.
At the beginning of
the project, one man
changed it all. He asked
if he could do something
different for the project.
He came back with tears
in his eyes and his wife
exposed his bare chest
with the words “Cancer
free” written in black ink.
This changed the project
THE Suffolk Journal
Connect with Haley
by emailing
hclegg@su.suffolk.edu
YOUR SCHOOL. YOUR PAPER. SINCE 1936.
Editor-in-Chief
News Editor
World News Editor
Asst. World News Editor
Arts Editor
Opinion Editor
Sports Editor
Asst. Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Copy Editor
Faculty Advisor
Media Advisor
Alexa Gagosz
Chris DeGusto
Jacob Geanous
Amy Koczera
Felicity Otterbein
Patrick Holmes
Brooke Patterson
Hannah Arroyo
Haley Clegg
Kaitlin Hahn
Bruce Butterfield
Alex Paterson
8 Ashburton Place
Office 930B
Boston, MA 02108
SuffolkJournal@gmail.com
@SuffolkJournal
TheSuffolkJournal.com
The Suffolk Journal is the student newspaper of
Suffolk University. It is the mission of the Suffolk
Journal to provide the Suffolk community with
the best possible reporting of news, events,
entertainment, sports and opinions. The reporting,
views, and opinions in the Suffolk Journal are solely
those of the editors and staff of The Suffolk Journal
and do not reflect those of Suffolk University,
unless otherwise stated.
The Suffolk Journal does not discriminate against
any persons for any reason and complies with all
university policies concerning equal opportunity.
Copyright 2016.
4 SEPT. 20, 2017
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N
Joyya Smith named new vice president:
After less than a year at Suffolk, Smith takes promotion
Haley Clegg/ Photo Editor
Joyya Smith
Chris DeGusto
News Editor
Dr. Joyya Smith has
found a place to both
“teach and learn” here in
Boston- namely at Suffolk
University.
Highered
as
the
Director for the Center
for Academic Access and
Opportunity roughly 11
months ago, Smith has
recently been promoted
to a new administrative
role as the Vice President
of Diversity, Access and
Inclusion this month.
Smith, who previously
worked
at
Georgia
Southern
University
was struck by a phrase
in Suffolk’s alma mater
during fall convocation
that referenced teaching
and
learning
as
a
symbiotic relationship.
“It just kind of stuck
with me. That’s so nice,
we learn and we teach,”
said Smith. “And I’m
thinking, well if we’re
singing this song then
how are we making sure
that we are [doing both].”
As someone who has
been selected to teach
CAS 101 and 201 this
semester,
Smith
said
she has enjoyed being in
the classroom in order
to have an opportunity
to hear the voices of
students first hand.
“In
a
teaching
situation you really learn
more than you teach,”
said Smith. “I’m grateful
for an opportunity to be
up close and personal
with
the
students.
Sometimes when you’re
in administration, you’re
not as close to students
because you’re helping to
make sure that the other
pieces of the puzzle are in
place, but I’m excited to
be able to serve in both
capacities.”
Initially, Smith worked
with Suffolk’s Diversity
Task Force, where she
said she was able to learn
how the university has
committed to ensure an
inclusive community and
championing diversity.
“I think it happens in
pockets and I think part
of my responsibility is to
bring all those pockets
together,” said Smith.
The Diversity Task
Force compiled a list of
recommendations for the
university, and Smith said
she is working alongside
Acting President Marisa
Kelly
in
order
to
determine which policies
and procedures to alter or
enact.
“It
starts
with
awareness,” said Smith.
“Sometimes we are not
aware that maybe we
aren’t being as inclusive
and
it’s
more
than
just race and sexual
orientation.”
She said awareness is
vital because oftentimes
the notion that inclusivity
is missing is not always
recognized. Smith said it
is more than just race and
sexual orientation. Ability,
college preparedness or
lack thereof as well as
first generation college
student status are all
important as well.
“There’s a lot of keys
that really make us think
of about diversity from a
number of perspectives,”
said Smith. “Being visible
versus invisible diversity,
of
being
sure
that
everyone that’s here feels
like they have a place that
they can exercise their
voice. And if they can
be comfortable enough
to learn something, that
they can go out into the
world and teach.”
While
at
Georgia
Southern, Smith’s activity
was closely tied with
the
TRiO
Programs
that
have
worked
with
first-generation
and
underrepresented
students.
These
organizations, both at
Georgia Southern as well
as Suffolk Smith said, will
“forever hold a place in
my heart.”
Since 2000, Smith had
been assisting to plan
Black
History
Month
and Hispanic awareness
events where she said in
a recent interview with
The Suffolk Journal she
helped to develop a group
of students that served as
diversity
ambassadors.
Smith also said she
was involved in the
programming of diversity
training and multicultural
awareness
while
at
Georgia Southern.
The transition from
Georgia to Massachusetts
has
gone
smoothly,
according to Smith, who
said she hit the ground
running. With her family
in Georgia, Smith said
she has visited typically
once every other month,
but has planned to take
time back home in the
spring to dodge the New
England climate-- her
most devious challenge.
Joked Smith of her
northern move, “That
first winter I was a little
Frozen Peach.”
Weather aside, Smith
said she hopes to work
closely with leadership
development programs,
so that she may teach the
next wave of those who
will enter the world and
educate others on the
subjects of diversity and
inclusion.
Suffolk clinches top spots on national ranking list for second year
From RANK page 1
according to a university
spokesperson. For the
2017 list, Suffolk topped
the region with 22 percent
international
students
among
undergraduate
enrollment.
For
the
2018 list, Suffolk fell
one
percent
in
the
number of international
students, which dropped
the university to seventh
place.
Boston
University
ranked fifth in this
same
category
and
Northeastern University
ranked behind Suffolk
in tenth place. Emerson
College did not rank
on the “Best National
Universities”
list
nor
the “Most International
Students” list, according
to the magazine’s website.
Emerson, however, did
place on the Northeastern
regional list, a list that
Suffolk used to rank on
before being considered
for the “Best National
Universities” list.
“It’s our incredible
diversity that sets Suffolk
apart, and it’s great to
see so many international
students choosing Suffolk
as a place to share their
amazing
experiences
and learn from those
around them,” said junior
economics major and
Vice President of the
International
Student
Association, Charles Tang,
an international student
from Guangzhou, China
to a Journal reporter on
Sunday night.
Alongside
a
large
international
student
population and offering
undergraduate
and
advanced
degree
programs
in
more
than 60 areas of study,
Suffolk is said to have
ranked due to smaller
class sizes compared to
other
schools.
Fortyeight percent of classes
that were offered last
year had fewer than 20
students and .2 percent
of classes offered had
less than 50 students per
class, according to a press
release by Suffolk’s Office
of Public Affairs.
“The latest U.S. News
rankings recognize the
excellence of a Suffolk
education
and
the
strength of our academic
programs,” said Acting
President Marisa Kelly in
a press release.
Suffolk
recently
partnered
with
INTO
University Partnerships,
an
independent
organization that recruits
and
expands
higher
education opportunities
to students across the
globe. Acting Provost
Sebastian
Royo,
who
has been a key player
in bringing INTO onto
Suffolk’s campus, hopes
that INTO’s efforts will
eventually enhance the
university’s rankings that
are based on international
student
populations
and creating a diverse
Percentage of
Enrollment*
Year*
Ranking*
2018
22
7
2017
23
5
*Year listed from
the U.S. News and
World Report
*According to the
Institutional Research &
Assessment Office
*In the magazine’s
“Most International
Students” list
Alexa Gagosz/ Editor-in-Chief
campus.
“The numbers have
been going down for the
last couple years which
is consistent with the
national
trend,”
said
Royo in an interview
on Monday. “Some of
it has to do with what
is happening in their
countries of origin. It’s
harder for families to
fund the immigration
of students abroad. The
hope is that with the
partnership with into, we
can not only stabilize the
numbers, but grow.”
“They
have
an
outreach that we don’t
have,” said Royo.
Suffolk also ranked in
the High School Counselor
and Business Programs
list by the magazine for
2018.
Connect with Alexa
by emailing
agagosz@su.suffolk.edu
W
STAY TUNED:
Boston College: The four BC
students involved in the Marseille
attack are doing well today.
WORLD
STAY TUNED:
India’s inequality rates are at a nearly
century long high.
Students and staff weigh in.
SEPT. 20, 2017 | PAGE 5
New pathway opens for international students
From INTO page 1
respond to vast and
growing
international
demand for global higher
education,”
University
Spokesman Greg Gatlin
stated in a press release.
A six-person board
of directors will preside
over the newly formed
limited liability company.
The board is made up
of three representatives
chosen by INTO and
three
representatives
from Suffolk chosen by
Acting President Marisa
Kelly.
Senior
Vice
President for Finance
and Administration and
Treasurer Laura Sander,
Acting Provost Sebastian
Royo and Chief Marketing
Officer Dan Esdale were
chosen by Kelly to govern
INTO Suffolk, LLC, on the
university’s behalf.
Members of the Board
will oversee decisions
made by the company, but
in the case of a stalemate
between board members,
an agreement was made
that all academic and
admissions decisions will
ultimately be decided by
Suffolk’s board members,
while
marketing
and
recruitment decisions will
be decided by INTO if the
governing board cannot
reach a consensus on
pertaining issues.
The University signed
a 15-year contract with
INTO with the option to
extend the agreement for
an
additional 15 years,
Acting President Marisa
Kelly said during an
interview in August.
“I think that the goal
is to meet the target and
make sure not only that it
benefits us for 15 years,
but to extend it another
15 years,” said Acting
Provost Sebastian Royo,
who will be overseeing
the academic aspects of
the INTO partnership .
“It’s hard to imagine,
the record that they have
so far has been quite
spectacular,” said Royo.
“[INTO is] really excited
about the fact that they
are in Boston. They really
think they can bring
students to Suffolk and
Boston.
“I see us building
on our already strong
commitment
to
international education,”
said Kelly. “The fact that
students from Chelsea,
Braintree and California
sit in class with students
from around the world is
one of the ways in which
we can ensure they are
ready for the diversity
in the world they live in.
Fifteen years from now,
we will build on that
and have an even richer
international institution.”
According
to
the
release, INTO Suffolk,
LLC, will extend Suffolk’s
global
recruitment
potential
by
giving
the
university
access
to INTO’s network of
recruitment
staff
in
more than 75 countries
worldwide.
The
new
entity’s
expenses will be covered
completely
by
the
inaugural class of INTO
Suffolk, LLC, students, the
first of which will arrive
on Suffolk’s campus this
spring. After the expenses
of the new venture are
covered, the financial
profits of the third entity
company will be equally
shared by the university
and INTO, according to
Kelly.
“Rather than seeing
this as a relationship with
a vendor, this is really
about a not-for-profit
entity, Suffolk University,
coming together with a
separate corporate entity,
INTO, and creating a third
organization that will
support the educational
needs of international
students
who
need
additional
educational
training
around
the
English language,” Kelly
said.
Pathway courses will
be taught by Suffolk
faculty
to
students
brought to the University
by INTO Suffolk, LLC, to
help them better their
English language skills
and prepare them for
university-level study. An
academic English pathway
course will be taught
to students that need
to ready their language
skills
for
Suffolk’s
degree
programs,
while
Undergraduate
and Graduate Pathway
programs will develop
student’s English skills
while they work toward
their respective degrees.
“INTO shares our deep
commitment to strong
academic programs —
Pathway programs that
prepare
international
students for the rigors of
a Suffolk education and
increase the prospect of
educational success as
students move through
them,” Kelly stated in the
release.
Suffolk
University
is the tenth American
university to partner with
INTO and the first in New
England-area school to
do so. Other universities
that have partnerships
with
INTO
include
George Mason, Oregon
State,
Washington
State,
Colorado
State
University and Saint Louis
University.
“They are going to
help us diversify the
international
students
so we have more from
different
countries,”
Royo said. “But at the
same time, the students
will be better prepared.
Through the pathway
programs,
not
only
will they improve their
english skills, but they
will be better prepared
for regular classes.”
Connect with Jacob
by emailing
jgeanous@su.suffolk.
edu
Students flock to Suffolk from all corners of the globe
past
two
years,
while
Ryan Arel
the national average is
Journal Contributor
Every year, a new
class of students flock to
Boston from around the
globe to take their first
steps in college; for some
students, their first steps
ever on U.S. soil.
Approximately
153
international
freshman
and
58
international
transfer students will start
at Suffolk University this
year, according to current
Director of International
Admission Rafael Muroy
in an interview with The
Suffolk Journal.
Last
year
1,431
international
students
attended
Suffolk
according
to
Suffolk
University’s
website;
23
percent
of
all
undergraduate students
on Boston and Madrid
Suffolk campuses were
international
students.
The top countries where
international
students
came from this year
are
Vietnam,
China,
Venezuela
and
Saudi
Arabia,
according
to
Muroy.
Suffolk’s international
student
population
usually lies between 18
and 24 percent in the
around 9 to 12 percent,
according
to
Muroy.
Suffolk’s
international
student
percentage
ranked No. 7 in the nation
last year, and ranked No.
5 the year before. Suffolk
always thrives for a
diverse community.
“I think it’s part of our
mission, I mean, we’ve
always been a school
that considers itself an
international university.
We strongly believe that
we want to bring in a
diverse perspective,” said
Muroy. “We can’t rely on
just recruiting students
from Massachusetts or
just
the
surrounding
area.”
Suffolk’s
student
body consists of many
nationalities in and of
itself; in 2016, there were
71 countries represented
in
Suffolk’s
student
population.
There
are
a
lot
of
challenges
that
international
students
must
face
upon
their arrival, such as
distinctions in cultural
norms, language barriers
and navigating a brand
new
place,
although,
some
international
students arrive speaking
more than one language.
“Some of them come
with
good
English
language abilities, but
they haven’t been used
to doing everything in
English,” said Muroy.
“Getting probably used
to the American style of
teaching is something
they have to adjust to.”
Homesickness is also
a problem international
respective
countries.
Some
international
students say the social
dynamic of America is
entirely different from
what they are used to.
“Some things I felt
that were normal is not
here,” said Ruya Caglar,
a freshman who grew up
in Turkey. She has visited
the U.S. before coming
to Suffolk and she has
“We’ve always been a school
that considers itself an
international university. We
strongly believe that we want to
bring in a diverse perspective.”
- Director of International
Admission Rafael Muroy
students face, being much
further away from home
than American students
are.
“You’re
talking
a
homesickness factor that
is tough to encounter
because home is not even
like an hour plane ride
away,” said Muroy.
American
students
grow up interacting with
one another differently
than
international
students do in their
family in Texas. “This is
a little bit different for
me, like how everyone
acts...I haven’t had any
problems making friends
or anything.”
Along with the culture
shock, the laws in the
U.S. differ from the laws
international students see
at home.
“Here you get to
voice your opinion,” said
Calgar. “My father’s best
friend right now got put
in jail last year because he
had the smallest comment
about
the
[Erdoğan]
regime.”
Other students feel as
Boston, and its people,
speak more freely.
“People are very blunt;
they’re very open, and very
expressive about what
they think,” said Jeremiah
Fernandes, a sophomore
Media and Film major
studying abroad from the
U.K. He has never lived in
the United States before
attending Suffolk. Prior
to coming to the U.S.,
Fernandes studied at the
University of Westminster
in the U.K., where he
found the people he
encountered were “very
reserved.”
Students who come
from
vastly
different
living situations often
have a more intense
adjustment to city life
and the different types
of people in America,
in addition to the social
culture of the United
States. The switch from
living in other countries,
and moving to the United
States, can instill culture
shock.
Mario Lombardi is
from Peru, but lived in
Miami before moving to
Boston. He is a freshman
studying
Business
at
Suffolk.
“The US is much
more diverse in culture,
whereas Peru is majority
Peruvians,” said Lombardi
in an interview with The
Suffolk Journal.
Though
Suffolk
is
open to students on
an international scale,
prejudice is still an issue.
“The school is very
open and understanding,
but they can’t control
everyone else’s ideas,”
said Caglar.
International students,
along with many other
freshman undergraduates,
could agree that making
the move to Suffolk
introduces the struggles
of living on their own for
the first time. Whether it’s
in dorms or off-campus
living, the adjustment for
international
students,
and domestic students
alike, helps them become
more
independent
as
people as well as students.
“I have more freedom,
responsibilities,
and
challenges to face by
myself,” said Lombardi.
Connect with Ryan by
emailing
rarel@suffolk.edu
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKWORLDNEWS@GMAIL.COM
6 SEPT. 20, 2017
Students send aid home
VSU hopes to continue charity drive
for their home country
Courtesy of Daniel Gazzani
Elvira Mora
Journal Staff
The
hopeful
cries
and yells for peace have
subsided in the wake of
an offer for Venezuelan
President
Nicolas
Maduro to engage in a
dialogue with those who
oppose him. The Maduro
regime has denied the
Venezuelan people their
most fundamental rights
by restricting food and
medicine.
A project launched
last semester by the
Venezuelan
Student
Union (VSU) partnered
with “Acción x Causa”
donated more than 320
pounds
of
over-thecounter medication and
medical supplies. The
supplies donated by the
VSU have been distributed
to more than eighty-two
religious organizations in
Venezuela.
Student Government
Association
President
Daniel Gazzani is also
an active member of
the VSU. Gazzani has
helped connect the VSU
to representatives that
have raised awareness of
the events unfolding in
Venezuela.
Ricardo Hausmann is a
professor of the Practice
of Economic Development
at Harvard University and
the current Director of the
Center for International
Development.
According to Gazzani,
Professor Hausmann will
be speaking on awareness
and what is happening
currently in Venezuela.
“His wife, Ana Julia
Jatar, a human rights
activist, will be speaking
about how she is fighting
for her brother who was
unjustly imprisoned,” said
Gazzani in an interview in
The Suffolk Journal.
Gazzani spoke in praise
of the VSU’s and hopes
the club can continue its
charitable actions
Alexandra
Aparicio,
vice president of VSU
and advertising major,
said she has enjoyed
being part of the EBoard
and
hopes
she
can
continue helping the VSU,
which has represented
Venezuelan pride and has
given her country a voice
from abroad.
“The VSU also stands
for being a glimpse of
hope and to provide
help toward the people
suffering
the
current
humanitarian crisis,” said
Aparicio. “The VSU is
well represented in the
university even though
we just started last
semester. Anyone who is
interested in our message
is more than welcome to
join.”
According
to
a
Venezuelan
newspaper,
“El Universal,” President
Maduro said there have
been at least a hundred
meetings with both pro
and
anti
government
groups, which began in
2016. Maduro agreed
to
meet
with
the
opposition on Sept. 27
when
six
countries:
Chile, Mexico, Bolivia,
Nicaragua, Paraguay and
the Dominican Republic
will become a part of the
discussion to form an
agreement.
“Acción
x
Causa”
has
partnered
with
numerous
universities
around Boston such as
Suffolk University, Boston
University, Northeastern
University,
Bentley
University,
Emerson
College, and Wentworth
according to the official
website.
“We sent it to an
organization
(Ayuda
Humanitaria
para
Venezuela) who is in
charge of distributing
it to the provinces that
need it the most in the
Venezuelan territory. We
know that our supplies
have been successfully
given to families and
organizations throughout
the
territory,”
said
Aparicio.
The VSU hopes to
launch the same project
again this semester, as
well as introduce new
objectives and deliver
different
goods,
such
as starting a toy drive
during the holiday season,
according to Aparicio.
“I would like for the
VSU to partner with
Accion x Causa again. The
organization is growing
in the greater Boston
area, therefore, people
can relate our club at
Suffolk to what Acción x
Causa does on a greater
scale,” said Aparicio.
Connect with Elvira
by emailing
emora@su.suffolk.edu
W
Professors respond to the
marginalization of Myannmar
Rohingya
that “176 out of 471,
disproportionate and has
now empty of people,”
according to CNN.
“The other big problem
with
this
particular
situation is that [State
Counselor]
Aung
San
Suu Kyi is running the
government,
but
the
military has the real
power, it has the military
and the police power,”
said Suleski.
In 1989, Suu Kyi
was placed under house
arrest, for “trying to
divide
the
military.”
Subsequently, in 1991
she became the receiver
of the Nobel Peace Prize
for her passivist approach
to instilling democracy
and civil rights into
Myanmar. Suu Kyi later
became Myanmar’s state
counsellor
in
2016,
according to CNN.
“So, she’s in a very
bad position of probably
personally not liking this
at all, but is afraid to
speak out because she was
under house arrest for so
many years,” said Suleski.
Suffolk University adjuct
Philosophy
Professor
Brian Kiniry.
“So [the violence is]
completely illegal from
an international legal
perspective and even by
local burmese law,” said
Kiniry in an interview
with a Journal reporter.
The
attacks
the
Myanmar military have
brought on the entire
Rohingya
community
and not just the militants
is
utterly
unlawful,
according to Kiniry.
While the violence
against the Rohingyas has
become inflamed, these
events are hardly random,
for there is a long history
of violence against the
Rohingya
community.
Despite
having
lived
there for centuries, the
Myanmar
government
hardly acknowledges the
Rohingyas.
Myanmar
does not identify the
Rohingyas as citizens, but
rather as immigrants from
Bangladesh. Furthermore,
Katherine Yearwood
or 37.4 percent of all involved the burning of
Journal Staff
Rohingya villages are villages, according to
Desperate to escape,
more
than
410,000
Rohingyas
have
fled
violence from Myanmar
security forces in Rakhine.
Of
the
extraordinary
amount of refugees, 60
percent
are
children,
according to the United
Nations.
As a minority, the
Rohingya have become
marginalized, so they do
not have the access to
the overall opportunities
that the majority has,
according
to
Suffolk
University
History
Professor and Director of
the Rosenberg Institute
of East Asian Studies,
Ronald Suleski.
Human rights groups
have
have
reported
instances of Myanmar
security forces, as well as
Buddhist vigilante mobs,
shooting Rohingya noncombatants as they fled
their villages. More than
1000 Rohingya have been
reportedly torched during
the conflict.
Hundreds of thousands
of Rohingyas have been
displaced and many others
have been killed either by
natural elements or by
members of Myanmar’s
military while fleeing
the systematic assault.
Many of those who were
lucky enough to escape
are currently camping in
refugee camps in India or
Bangladesh.
“In the case of the
Muslims, the Rohingya,
were always discriminated
against,” said Suleski.
The vast majority of
Rohingyas, a stateless
Indo-Aryan people, reside
in Rakhine, one of the
country’s poorest states,
according to Al Jazeera.
“Because
of
that,
they became a poor
community, so they don’t
have the people who run
the big businesses, the
big schools, have the
big money, or the big
influence,” said Suleski.
The Rohingyas are a
stateless minority living
in a Buddhist majority
country. The Rohingya
account for approximately
five percent of the roughly
60,000,000
Myanmar
population, According to
the Middle East Institute.
The
Myanmar
government has reported
“So [the violence is] completely
illegal from an international
legal perspective and even by
local Burmese law,”
- Professor Brian Kiniry
“If she starts coming out
and pushing against the
military they’ll find a
reason to arrest her or
who knows what they’ll
do.”
The recent catastrophic
events were in response
to a “clearance operation”
by the Burmese army in
late August, according
to The Guardian. This
particular act of targeted
violence had been issued
as retaliation against the
Muslim group after, “an
insurgent Rohingya group
attacked police outposts
in Burma’s Rakhine state,
and killed 12 security
personnel,” according to
The Independent.
While the Burmese
military have a right to
respond to the attacks
that they have received,
their
response
has
been
overwhelmingly
in 2014 the country’s
census did not recognize
the Rohingya and forced
them to identify as
Bengali, according to the
New York Times.
From 1842 until 1948,
Britain ruled over today’s
India and Bangladesh and
Myanmar was considered
a providence of India.
However, when England’s
control came to an end,
Myanmar,
India,
and
Bangladesh each formed
their own government.
The
Rohingya
are
considered
illegal
immigrants
because
many people traveled to
today’s Myanmar during
British rule, according to
Al Jazeera.
Connect with Katherine
by emailing
kyearwood@suffolk.edu
A
READ MORE
The Art & Design School move
finalized & Barbie on a Budget
thesuffolkjournal.com
ARTS & CULTURE
SEE THE COLLECTION
Hempfest 2017 & Protesting
Gov. Baker’s budget cuts
www.sjuncoveredwithflash.wordpress.com
SEPT. 20, 2017 | PAGE 7
Katie Hehl / Journal Contributor
Tapestries blew in the wind on the north side of Boston Common, staples of the Freedom Rally due to their vibrancy and variance
in color. Thousands gathered on the greens of the open space, served as appreciative and dedicated patrons of the art and
talent displayed by the vendors at this year’s “Hempfest.”
HEMPFEST 2017
Vendors, performers and speakers alike congregated once again at the Freedom Rally to discuss the
legalization and recreational use of marijuana.
Haley Clegg / Photo Editor
Kaitlin Hahn
Copy Editor
Nick Viveiros
Journal Staff
Thousands flocked to
the grassy knolls of the
Boston Common this past
weekend for the 38th
annual Boston Freedom
Rally, the second largest
gathering of cannabis
enthusiasts and activists
in the world, behind
Seattle’s
Hempfest.
Patrons of the Rally came
prepared for a weekend
full of art and celebration,
one in particular went so
far as to dress as a fully
fledged bud of marijuana.
The yearly event has
been organized by the
Massachusetts Cannabis
Reform
Coalition
(MassCANN),
a
state
affiliate of the national
marijuana activism group,
the National Organization
for
the
Reform
of
Marijuana Laws (NORML).
Colloquially known as
Hempfest,
the
rally
began in Northampton
in 1989, before it moved
to the Commons in 1992,
where it has been held
every
third
weekend
in
September
since.
While
inexperienced
participants likely did not
notice the difference, this
year’s Hempfest certainly
arrived with an extra air of
hype; it was the first rally
following the legalization
of recreational marijuana
use in the Commonwealth
last November.
This
year’s
Rally
featured two stages, both
of which were nearly
always
crowded
with
people watching speakers,
live acts and live DJs.
Those who congregated
by the Charles Street Stage
on Saturday were treated
to such acts as Mendo
Dope, a Californian hiphop group with electronic
influences and Over the
Bridge, an upbeat reggae
band from Gloucester,
Mass.
Over
the
Bridge,
hailing from the North
Shore,
represented
themselves well on their
home turf, playing songs
that matched the festival’s
easy-going and relaxed
mood. Songs such as,
“Wash” and “Something
in the Water” proved to
match the feeling of the
crowd with their upbeat
attitude
See HEMPFEST page 8
A
Boston Freedom rally returns after the 2016 legalization of marijuana
8 SEPT. 20, 2017
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKARTS@GMAIL.COM
From HEMPFEST page 7
and overall positive
vibe. Over the Bridges’
songs are representative
of
the
feeling
of
summer, and with the
season’s ending quickly
approaching and Fall
upon us, the crowd and
the band seemed to
display a similar feeling
of disappointment when
the end of the set neared.
Compared to Mendo
Dope, with a sound
similar to that of two high
school boys attempting to
freestyle in the basement
of a house party, with the
parents patiently waiting
upstairs for everyone’s
grownups to pick them
up at 10 p.m., gave a
seemingly never-ending
45-minute set that can
only be described as
an absolute disgrace.
With tracks like “Now
I’m High,” and “Down
to the Roach,” the band
Haley Clegg / Photo Editor
should probably stick to
a “weed-to-know” basis
and perhaps consider
switching
to
parodic
performances.
For those who came
with money on hand,
a surreal bazaar was
constructed with vendors
selling a cornucopia of
products. Boston Smoke
Shop, a local favorite,
advertised alluring deals
to potential customers
from their pop-up shop
by the baseball fields.
Just north of the Parkman
Band Stand on Flag Staff
Hill, a row of psychedelic
tapestries fluttered in the
wind.
Hempfest can also
serve as a reminder that
archaic stereotypes about
smokers are just that.
Much of what attendees
consider typical would
have many questioning
whether or not they’d
gotten a contact high.
Businessmen
in
suits
paused to inspect videogame
themed
bongs;
parents could be seen
entering the park with
a child in tow; families
looked on curiously as
they took a stroll through
the
Common,
some
oblivious to the nature of
the event altogether.
Not
everyone
was
riding the high this
weekend,
however.
Question 4, the ballot
measure that legalized
recreational
marijuana
use was opposed by many
local politicians, including
Boston
Mayor
Marty
Walsh. Walsh came under
fire from organizers of
the Freedom Rally last
year after attempting
to revoke an alreadygranted permit, claiming
vendors
approved
by
rally
organizers
were
unlicensed,
according
to the Boston Herald. A
Massachusetts Superior
Court judge sided with
organizers in issuing an
emergency order allowing
the 2016 rally to go on as
planned.
As the weekend
drew to a close, the haze
dissipated from between
the trees, the crowd
thinned and the Commons
returned to its normal
traffic state, patiently
awaiting the return of
another
gathering
of
celebration and art.
Connect with Kaitlin and
Nick by emailing
khahn@su.suffolk.edu
nviveiros@su.suffolk.edu
Rap artist Chico Williams staking his claim in the Boston rap community
John Irizarry
Journal Staff
Considering that the
rap genre originated on
the East Coast, songs
from cities like New
York and Boston can be
considered as some of
the purest forms of rap
music. Rapping began
as a way to entertain at
block parties in the Bronx
because
urban
youth
had very few outlets to
express creativity. Since
then, the rap genre
has evolved overtime
and has taken on many
forms in many areas.
However, there has
been a sudden emergence
of hype in the Boston rap
community. Most notable
artists like Cousin Stizz
and Rosewood Bape have
put the city on the map
with their own brand of
clean spitting and gritty
street
style.
Rappers
like Stizz and Joyner
Lucas focus on tough
subjects
like
poverty,
drugs and crime. They
express their relationship
to such dark topics
in
their
unapologetic
and sometimes violent
lyrics.
These
vulgar,
yet popular themes are
further explored through
their
accompanying
music videos.
Cousin Stizz’s “Bonds”
follows a series of drug
deals; some that go well
and some that do not.
Joyner Lucas’s “Keep it
100” actually follows a
$100 bill as it circulates
through a seedy maze of
drug dealers, strippers and
the like. But along comes
a lyrically aggressive, yet
phlegmatic rapper by the
name of Chico Williams.
Williams' style consists
of brazen self-confidence
that's perpetually unfazed,
and tells the story of an
urban musician who will
not settle for mediocrity.
This attitude is best
seen in the hard hitting
"King without a crown"
or in the funky, head
bumper "Finer Things."
Aside from his confident
disposition,
Williams'
consistently fluctuating
flow,
well-fitting
use
of distorted ad-libs and
occasional
nostalgic
samples are what makes
his music so unique.
When a
rapper
can travel
between
styles, it’s a
promising
sign of
versatility.
When all tied together
with those qualities, you
have masterpieces like
"Daisy in Disguise" and
"Capt. Plan-IT." While
“Daisy
in
Disguise”
focuses on a relationship
and
“Capt.
Plan-IT”
outlines Williams’ “makeit or break-it” mentality,
both songs reflect the
rapper’s
admirable
level of self-awareness.
Williams’
musical
diversity is evident in is
his ability to cross the
line between new and old
school with ease. Many
rappers today either try
to bring back old school
vibes or go for a new
school style that makes use
of video-game-sounding
beats and smooth, direct
vocals. When a rapper
can
travel
between
styles, it’s a promising
sign of versatility. The
best rappers experiment
with
different
styles
and attempt to grow
from
beyond
their
original
material.
Judging by his music,
Williams does not have
a problem with change,
especially in terms of
sound
and
content.
“Music in my opinion
is ever changing,” said
Williams in a recent
interview
with
The
Suffolk Journal. “It’s like
a river, it goes in many
directions, as does life I
believe the biggest change
in my music is how
methodically I’ve become
with
everything...the
content is always going to
change based on what’s
going on in your life.”
Williams
echoes
a
sound similar to his
Boston
rap
brethren
in
terms
of
flow,
instrumental and overall
lyrical approach in songs
By Facebook user Chico Williams
like
"Stadium
Status"
and "Voodoo." However,
"Distance" combines a
90's boom-bap sound
reminiscent
of
Talib
Kweli, while retaining
a fairly modern chorus.
"Distance" also makes use
of the rapper’s ability to
switch between flows
from moderate to fast
without warning. While
one measure of a rapper's
talent is the speed of
their flow, it is refreshing
it to hear an artist
exercise
some
lyrical
rebellion and switch it up.
W i l l i a m s
acknowledged that he
drew on other Boston
rappers for inspiration,
“I support all Boston
rappers. I may sound
like some of them but
I’m not trying to sound
like them.” Originality is
certainly not lacking in
Williams but, although
he does not actively go
for the same style as
Cousin Stizz and Joyner
Lucas, having a particular
sound and identity to
match a geographical
area reflects the very
essence of rap music.
East
coast
rap
harnesses the power of
jazz beats bouncing to
the rhythm of Timberland
boots stomping around
a concrete jungle. West
coast rap can be described
as
a
high
pitched
synthesizer
whistling
through palm trees and
Doc Martin’s as they
hang from power lines
by a tattered shoelace.
However,
Williams’
defiance of traditional
east coast rap customs
provides a glimmer of
hope in the world of rap.
Artists making decisions
for themselves to keep
them as artists and not
puppets for a label. And
while repetition is nice
because the consumer
knows what they are
getting, it does not give the
genre a chance to grow.
Williams'
musical
method also incorporates
his
uplifting,
singing
voice that compliments
every hook it comes in
contact with. In many of
his tracks, Williams makes
use of his vocal abilities
to cool down the song
after his lyrics heat it up.
“King without a castle”
makes use of hard bars
and
uncompromisingly
relentless
lyrics.
But
when
Williams
sings
“what’s a king without
a castle / what’s a king
without a crown / what’s
a king without a throne /
just another man whose
down,” it signals the
release of pressure the
his lyrics built up through
content and sound. Each
one of Williams raps share
a common message: it’s
either now or never. For
the sake of the potential
legacy Boston can leave
behind in the world of
rap, let’s pray for now.
Connect with John
by emailing
jirizarry@su.suffolk.edu
O
JUST A CLICK AWAY:
COME ONE, COME ALL:
To learn more about us, browse
through past articles to get a sense
of what we’re looking for.
Take a pitch, write a story and be able
to call yourself a part of the staff on The
Suffolk Journal.
Visit thesuffolkjournal.com
The first edition of the year is here!
OPINION
SEPT. 20, 2017 | PAGE 9
Extremists on the
political spectrum
S up p o rting A ntifa e mbol de ns t h e alt - r i g h t
Stiv Mucollari
Journal Contributor
The
recognition
gained from the “Unite
the Right” rally has seen
the left-leaning political
group,
Antifa,
gain
increasing support from
the
mainstream
left.
However, the implied
approval of Antifa by the
left is harmful towards the
greater cause of fighting
white nationalism. The
group styles itself after
various Anti-fascist Action
groups that sprung up in
the 1930s. These groups
were a failed attempt to
unite the left.
Due
to
the
confrontational approach
of Antifa toward members
of the white nationalist
movement, self-described
as the “alt-right,” the
left is tacitly embracing
Antifa.
The
primary
issue
with supporting Antifa is
that the confrontational
approach of the group
has gone beyond peaceful
means.
It
relies
on
violence to shut down
rallies and opposes views
that are the opposite of
their ideological leaning.
In Berkeley, Calif., a city
long known for stifling
the free speech right of
conservatives, Antifa had
turned a peaceful counter
demonstration
into
a
violent encounter.
The
Los
Angeles
Times
covered
an
encounter where antifascist protesters beat
Trump supporters and
organizers. While some of
the organizers of the antiMarxist rally had views
that would classify them
as being members of the
“alt-right,” not all of them
espoused views of hate.
One of the attendees who
was heckled during the
Berkeley protest was a
Latino man holding a proTrump sign, according
to an Aug. 27 report by
CBS. Members of Antifa
heckled the man, who
was born in Mexico.
Most importantly, the
violent actions of Antifa
in Berkley changed the
narrative of the counterprotesters from groups
dedicated to drowning
out hate, into an event
focused on the actions
of the vigilantes. In turn,
this allows the “alt-right”
to use the event as a
recruitment tool. Instead
of having the violent
actions of the “alt-right”
appear out of the norm,
the violent response to
them by Antifa legitimizes
political
violence
as
a tactic to be used by
groups
against
other
groups who do not share
the same political beliefs.
The U.S. had its history of
political violence before,
such as the Civil Rights
Movement
or
during
the Vietnam War, but
American history shows
that there are other ways
to combat hateful views
in American society.
Think of it this way:
how successful would
Martin Luther King and
the National Association
for the Advancement of
Colored People [NAACP]
had been if they had
relied
on
violence,
instead using the judicial
system of the U.S., and
non-violent actions of
civil
disobedience,
to
dismantle the system
of segregation in the
American South? Instead
of succeeding, the political
culture in the U.S. would
not have shifted in the
1960s toward supporting
measures such as the Civil
Rights Act or the Voting
Rights Act.
There are countless
means to oppose the
“alt-right”
while
also
condemning the actions
of Antifa. Organizations
that fight hate groups,
such as the Southern
Poverty Law Center, are
the types of groups that
should
be
supported
by
individuals.
While
respecting the right to
assemble, no matter how
hateful the groups can be,
individuals can make it
harder for the “alt-right”
to organize a rally. For
example, Airbnb deleted
the accounts of members
who the company believed
were looking for lodgings
in order to attend the
“Unite the Right” rally.
Following the “Unite the
Right” rally, attendees of
the event were exposed
on social media, which
led to some of them
being fired from their
jobs. If members of the
“alt-right” injure counter
demonstrators,
they
should retaliate not with
violence, but through the
civil justice system.
Making it economically
and socially unfeasible to
attend “alt-right” rallies
without
consequences
is more effective in
combating them than
engaging in violence.
Backlash to the “alt-right”
should not be met with
violence from groups on
the left. Hate should be
met with reason.
Connect with Stiv
by emailing
smucollari@suffolk.edu
Athletics has the opportunity to increase pride
Halaina Leblanc
Journal Staff
Suffolk University is
seated within the spirited
city of Boston, but even
surrounded by the city’s
morale, it seems that the
Suffolk’s pride has been
lost.
The dearth of pride
within
the
general
population of Suffolk can
be in its lack of a defined
campus. Students do not
feel like they are on a
college campus, they see
themselves as being a part
of the city of Boston. This
causes students to pick
city events over Suffolk
events like ice-skating on
the Frog Pond, instead of
going to a Student Affairs
event.
Since Suffolk has an
unbound campus, the
sports team’s facilities
are scattered across the
city. This can explain why
many students choose not
to attend the different
sporting events barring
those that take place in
Ridgeway.
Even new students
who want to rally and
attend a sports event
may not feel comfortable
yet using the T, or the
silver line to reach these
different fields.
If Suffolk were to set
up group meet-ups in
the dorms or academic
buildings,
students
who don’t know where
they are going, or are
uncomfortable going by
themselves could get to
the games more readily.
It could even be as easy
as making the locations
and directions to get to
the sports games more
accessible to students.
This accessibility could
also be helped if the
University set up a shuttle
system to get students to
and from the games.
A
shuttle
system
could also be used as a
way for Suffolk to start
a transportation system
for surrounding areas if
students do not want to
take the T.
large part of the Suffolk
community
commutes
from home, and this
means they are only on
campus certain days or
hours throughout the
week, so they are limited
in what they can take part
“The dearth of pride within the
general population of Suffolk can
be in its lack of a defined campus.”
If
the
university
offered
the
shuttle
service for free, students
could start commuting
with other students and
a community can be
established,
all
while
creating a low cost for
students.
Commuter
students
struggle in a different
way to make a connection
with Suffolk. An extremely
in and join, especially if
they commute from more
than an hour away.
These students may
want to go to games, and
attend performing arts
shows, and even want
to join clubs on campus,
but they are not available
when
these
events
happen.
There are ways to take
part in Suffolk events
from afar by watching the
Snapchat story, seeing
Instagram
posts
and
even emailing the groups
about being interested in
joining. The problem is,
these substitutions don’t
create the connection
face-to-face meetings can
establish. To form a sense
of community at Suffolk,
a student needs to spend
time at the university and
for commuter students,
through no fault of their
own, don’t spend this
time on campus.
Suffolk could improve
this by live streaming
events on their social
media
accounts
so
students
who
cannot
make it can gain an
insight of what it’s like
to be involved. By doing
this, Suffolk would also
be increasing it’s social
media presence, which
is beneficial for the
university’s message and
students alike.
The university could
also improve commuter
students experience by
building
more
dorms
in the area that are at a
lower price.
In this way, Suffolk
could see an influx of
students
wanting
to
spend the extra money to
live on campus when they
otherwise would live from
home. The discounted
price would only be
available for commuter
students that live within
an hour of the campus.
Again, this would be
a good way for Suffolk
to create a sense of
community.
The only way Suffolk
pride in the student
population is going to rise
is if Suffolk starts putting
more effort in establish it.
Connect with Halaina
by emailing
hleblanc@suffolk.edu
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKOPINION@GMAIL.COM
10 SEPT. 20, 2017
O
Student safety abroad should
Editor’s Word raise concerns
Hello to all new and returning
Patrick Holmes
Opinion Editor
Suffolk students.While we are all as
unique and special as our mothers
told us we were, we all have one
thing in common.We chose to come
to Suffolk University: one of the
best universities in one of the most
educated cities in America. This was
a conscious choice that we all made.
Now it’s time to own it.
By choosing to come here we all
decided to make ourselves better
through education. This is a two-way
street, meaning we have an obligation
to take it upon ourselves to improve
upon the people we were when we
arrived. It isn’t just the responsibility
of the professors to learn for us. They
can’t pipe steaming, hot knowledge
right into our heads-- although most
would if they could. We must take
advantage of the resources and city
around us to mold ourselves into the
future agents of change this country
needs.
Sure, it’s easy to zone out to
Netflix once our basic classroom
responsibilities are fulfilled, instead of
learning something new. Sure, it’s easy
to ask mom or dad for money instead
of taking a low-paying internship.
But, that’s not the point.
There are millions of students stuck
in colleges in the middle of nowhere
without the opportunities we have.
Take advantage of them or resign
yourself to mediocrity.
The choice is your’s, but it won’t be
a choice forever.
-The Journal’s Editorial Staff
It’s time to start
rethinking how we view
Europe as a trendy travel
destination. Due to the
many terrorist attacks
and acts of terror, it’s
imperative to be wary
when planning vacations,
especially for students
studying abroad.
On Sunday, four Boston
College students were
subject to hydrochloric
acid being sprayed in their
faces at a train station
in
France.,
according
to BBC. Although not
categorized as a terrorist
act, it was committed by
a local woman with the
intent to harm others.
Due to the victims status
as students at another
Boston school, this hits
close to home and allows
the mind to wander about
how this could happen
to anyone, any student
studying abroad from any
university.
The United States’
Department of State has
issued a travel alert that
will be in effect until Nov.
30.
From the multiple
attacks in London to the
most recent in France, it
is obvious that travellers
should be more alert in
foreign continents.
Many
students
studying abroad travel on
the weekends to multiple
destinations
across
Europe, leaving them
vulnerable to random
terror attacks, which can
happen in known tourist
destinations,
major
transportation hubs and
shopping malls.
Suffolk
University
prides itself on having a
second campus in Madrid.
Can Suffolk do more
to ensure their safety,
even off campus?
It is easy to be
distracted
by
the
cultural
differences
and the curiosity that
accompanies
travelling
abroad, but this is no
excuse to let one’s guard
down when someone is
in an unfamiliar place,
especially
a
different
country. More often than
not, people who appear to
be tourists are targeted.
Suffolk has policies in
place to keep its Madrid
Campus students safe, but
that can only go so far if
students decide to travel
often across Europe.
These policies can
protect
students
in
Madrid,
leaving
the
students to their own
discretion on how to
protect themselves in
other cities and countries.
It’s imperative that
our university continues
to keep its students safe
and also teaches them
to
cautiously
travel
abroad. Moreover, it’s
important that students
take into consideration
their
mortality
when
experiencing
these
other cultures they so
desperately want to be a
part of.
The effected Boston
College students were
at a train station when
a random act of terror
reared its evil head in
their direction, meaning
that at any moment, acts
such as these can happen
to anyone.
Now more than ever, it
is mandatory to be aware
of one’s surroundings.
There
are
limited
resources to control these
terror attacks, so one
needs to be attentive and
alert.
London
has
been
subject to too many terror
attacks in the last few
months, and is a popular
destination for students
to go abroad and study.
Students should pick
and choose where they
should travel to based
on the safeness of the
destination.
Can
cities
across
Europe
create
safer
environments to prevent
these kinds of attacks?
Many areas in London
have begun putting up
cement barricades but
those can only do so
much. It seems that there
is no right way to stop or
end these acts, laeving
the public to take action
to protect themselves.
Unfortunately,
it
seems that Europe is
becoming
increasingly
unsafe and no matter
how hard they try to
prevent these attacks,
there is only so much
they can do. It is now up
to the general public to
take care of themselves
more and to attempt to
stop these attacks.
So, for students at all
universities, it is wise to
think twice before one
chooses study abroad.
Connect with Patrick
by emailing
pholmes2@suffolk.edu
Year in Review:
Below are all the terrorist attacks and
acts of terror that have occured in
Europe this year so far. Half of these
acts have occurred in England, with
others spreading throughout Eastern
Europe.
Feb. 3
France
Louvre
Attack
Six deaths,
46 injuries
Apr. 7
Sweden
Stockholm
Attack
Two deaths,
three injuries
May 22
England
Manchester
Attack
11 deaths,
48 injuries
Jun. 19
England
Finsbury
Attack
15 deaths,
131 injuries
Sept. 15
England
London
Attack
No deaths,
four injuries
No deaths,
Two injuries
Mar. 22
England
Westminster
Attack
Five deaths,
14 injuries
Apr. 20
France
Paris
Attack
23 deaths,
250 injuries
Jun. 3
England
London
Attack
1 death,
10 injuries
Aug. 17
Spain
Spanish
Attacks
No deaths,
30 injuries
Sept. 17
France
Marseille
Attack
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKSPORTS@GMAIL.COM
11 SEPT. 20 2017
S
PASSING
OVERSEAS
Courtesy of International Basketball Federation
Hagopian defends for Armenia
Clevis Murray
Journal Staff
Offseason for athletes
is
about
practicing
more, playing more and
becoming more talented
in
their
respective
sport. As for Michael
Hagopian, a guard for
Suffolk University Men’s
basketball,
he
spent
part of his summer as a
member of the Under-20
Armenian National Team
in Greece throughout
July.
This rare opportunity
had been in the works
since his freshman year,
said Hagopian, as the
Basketball
Federation
of Armenia kept tabs
on him throughout his
college career.
An invite was sent
to him in the middle of
his sophomore year, as
he ended the season for
the Rams, averaging 22.5
points in their final eight
games.
“I got a lot of
experience from playing
overseas,” said Hagopian
in a recent interview with
The Suffolk Journal. “I
learned a lot about my
game and how to improve
my weaknesses. I was
able to start every game
for Armenia so I really
had a good experience.”
The
6-foot-1,
170-pound Hagopian had
a breakout sophomore
season for the Rams in
the 2016-17 season, with
career-highs in points at
14.3, 12.2 shot-attempts,
a free-throw percentage
of 84.7 and field-goal
percentage
of
42.3.
Additionally, he became
the first Ram to record
back-to-back
30-point
games in over a decade.
“I started to play really
well, the best basketball
I've played, and they
thought I could really
help the team,” said
Hagopian.
He explained that this
was a possibility he just
could not turn down as
he would be able to visit
his home country, have
everything paid for and
play that sport that he
loves.
In the six-game period
with Armenia, in which
they went 3-3 in the nineday period, Hagopian
averaged 8.5 points, 3.8
rebounds and 2.3 assists
in 29.2 minutes per game.
He said that as he played
against competition from
outside of the United
States and saw playstyles
from other parts of the
world, his knowledge of
the sport expanded.
Hagopian’s Under-20
head
coach,
Vicken
Eskidjian,
saw
the
potential
and
talent
in
Hagopian,
which
led Eskidjian to trust
Hagopian as the point
guard position for the
team. The two only had
a brief time to prepare
for
the
International
Basketball
Federation
(FIBA) Under-20 European
Championships.
“He has the scoring
mentality, and he defends
too,” said Eskidjian in
an interview with The
Journal. “Even when he
wasn’t on the floor, I
knew he would make the
right decision. For me, it’s
not just about the scoring.
He reads the game and I
gave him the green light
to make more attempts.”
Eskidjian was a big
proponent of Hagopian’s
athleticism,
defensive
ability, physicality and
shot-making ability. He
explained what stood
out from the guard and
Watertown, Mass. native,
in comparison to other
guards on the national
team, was “him being
wiser.”
Eskidjian said that
Hagopian
showed
tremendous temperament
and a positive attitude
that stood out as he
faced the other European
players.
If
the
opportunity
presented itself, the idea
of playing international
basketball
at
the
professional level had
entered the head of
Hagopian.
“I feel like I learned
a lot about international
basketball,”
said
Hagopian. “If I ever have
the opportunity to play
professionally overseas, I
feel like I got a little taste
of that playing for the
national team. The style
of play is different.”
With
two
years
left of wearing jersey
number 10, Hagopian
said he is zoned in on
improving as a player
and helping the Suffolk
basketball
program
evolve, with its plethora
of underclassman. Also,
he is 463 points away
from reaching the 1,000
point plateau, a milestone
last reached at Suffolk by
Caleb Unni ’16 in 2016.
“I hope to bring
the same mentality as
representing my country
to Suffolk, and wanting
to make a name for
Suffolk basketball,” said
Hagopian.
Connect with Clevis
by emailing cmurray4@
su.suffolk.edu
Courtesy of Suffolk Athletics
“I learned a lot
about my game
and how to improve
my weaknesses.”
- Michael Hagopian, #10
S
@gosuffolkrams
Stay Tuned
VB | @Suffolk_U Volleyball takes the 3rd
set 25-18 to sweep the match over
@PMCAthletics, extends win streak to 4.
SPORTS
Womens Cross Country team
freshman runner stands out.
See next weeks edition.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 | PAGE 12
Lady Rams on par
for season success
The second
season women’s golf team
had a major
break through for
the first time in Suffolk University
women’s sport
history. In the teams
first-ever home match, the
blue-and-gold were able to comeout
on top and grab
the programs first win.
As the roster continues
to grow, these Lady Rams
look to continue
driving the program
forward.
Joe Rice
Journal Staff
With a complete roster
of six girls, five being
underclassmen,
Suffolk
University Women’s golf
team started out their fall
season strong, with many
accomplishments already
in the books. The Lady
Rams have succeeded in
many program “firsts” so
far in their 2017 season.
Recently, the Lady
Rams won their first
competition of the fall
season and also collected
the first win for the
program with a 371-354
victory over Rhode Island
College (RIC) at the
Brookmeadow
Country
Club in Canton, Mass.
The
women’s
golf
team competed in its
first two-day competition
at the William Smith
Invitational hosted by
William & Smith at
Clifton Springs Country
Club on Saturday, where
the Lady Rams managed
to place seventh overall
out of 11 teams.
Although the Lady
Rams have accomplished
many wins for the team
this season, it was not
easy.
“The moment we found
out that we won, it was
a great feeling and one
that will drive us toward
success for the rest of
the season,” said junior,
sports marketing major,
Mackenzie McGrath in
a recent interview with
The Suffolk Journal. “To
achieve the first win of a
program is a great feat
and I'm definitely looking
forward to the rest of the
season.”
Aine
Dillon,
a
sophomore legal studies
major
and
long-time
golfer, explained to The
Journal that the path
to their first victory
required a lot of time and
patience as a result of not
having enough golfers to
compete for triumph.
“Last year, we only had
one other girl and myself,
so it was physically
impossible to win given
the sheer number of
people,” said Dillon.
The team started off
small,
however
after
a year of gathering
personnel, the team has
gained enough Lady Rams
to compete for a chance
to win tournaments.
Dillon also explained
to The Journal that the
competition Suffolk sees
is
certainly
different
from what she saw as a
competitor in high school.
“In
college
golf,
[everyone]
is
very
passionate about it,” said
Dillon. “Some people are
trying to go professional
even in Division III.”
With the competition
as tough as it is, and
taking into account the
journey the team took
to get to where they are
today, Dillon said the
feeling of being victorious
in their first match was
“amazing.”
“It was really special
for us, being able to
compete [as a team] for
the first time and win,”
said Dillon. “All of our
girls played really well
that day.”
First-year Head Coach
Jay Parker agreed with
what Dillon said, adding
that the recent win
was,
“very
gratifying
considering all the hard
work we put in.”
Parker
stepped
into an unknown role;
originally coaching the
Suffolk Baseball team as
an assistant for the past
twenty years. When asked
about the transition from
baseball
to
women's
golf, Parker explained
that it was very different
given the difference in
personalities that the two
teams have.
In regards to if baseball
or golf would be more
difficult to coach, Parker
discussed how he had
coached many different
sports throughout his
career including softball
and lacrosse in addition to
baseball and golf. Parker
said that he as a coach
must “put in time with
research” in order to be
the best he can possibly
be as an instructor.
McGrath later went on
to discuss just how this
first victory of the season
could help this team
throughout the rest of the
season.
“When we beat RIC
for our first win of the
season, it felt awesome.
For any sport, to start off
a season with a victory,
it already puts your
team on a good track for
the rest of the season,”
said McGrath. “To start
on a high note like this
definitely has given us
all
more
confidence
individually and as a
whole that we will take
into this weekend when
we play in New York.”
McGrath
also
explained that the players
are shooting high in
regards to the team’s
expectations.
“Looking at how we
performed last Sunday,
I think we have a good
outlook for the rest of the
season,” said McGrath.
“Our end goal is to win
the championship, and I
do think it's possible for
us to get it. There's always
things we can work
on to better ourselves
individually, so I think if
we can keep working hard
and continue to put the
work in, then that is an
obtainable goal.”
The women’s golf team
looks to compete and
continue their winning
ways on Saturday at the
Mt. Holyoke Invitational
at the Orchards Golf Club
in South Hadley, Mass.
Connect with Joe
by emailing jrice4@
su.suffolk.edu
SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY • BOSTON
VOLUME 81, NUMBER 2 |
In the news
Remembering
Nicholas Williams
the editor, leader,
Law student, fighter
for the rights of all,
writer, friend and
Ram.
Page 3.
thesuffolkjournal.com
|
YOUR SCHOOL. YOUR PAPER. SINCE 1936.
September 20, 2017
@SuffolkJournal
INTO to begin 15-year
contract for Suffolk’s
global reach
How Trump’s cabinet
may be shaping
college campuses and
the reporting of
sexual misconduct
on them
Jacob Geanous
World News Editor
Suffolk men’s
basketball star rocks
Armenian team this
summer.
Page 11.
Boston’s Freedom
Rally acts as adult
playground for
those in support of
Question 4.
Page 7.
A new population
of international
students enter
campus, begin
transition to
American culture.
Page 5.
Stay tuned: Art
& Design School
transition from
“NESAD” and move
off 75 Arlington St.
Are students satisfied
with new area
despite space loss?
PERSPECTIVE
BY STIV MUCOLLARI
“Making it
economically and
socially unfeasible
to attend “alt-right”
rallies without
consequences is
more effective in
combating the them
than engaging in
violence against
them.”
Page 9.
For stories, breaking news
and more,
visit our website:
TheSuffolkJournal.com
Suffolk reacts to impending
Title IX changes
Suffolk
University
announced its plan to
strengthen international
recruitment efforts by
joining forces with INTO
University Partnerships, a
private global education
company that focuses on
enlisting and preparing
new students to study in
America, this past August.
The
collaboration
resulted in the formation
of INTO Suffolk, LLC,
which is a jointly owned
company that aims to
bolster the university’s
longstanding status as
a hub for international
students.
Last week, more than
100 members of INTO
Suffolk’s global network
of recruiters in Boston
came to the University
for a familiarization visit
and to celebrate the
new partnership. INTO
recruitment
officers
scouted the location and
got acquainted with the
university’s metropolitan
campus.
“The new venture is
designed to help Suffolk
See INTO page 6
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s future decisions may call the
procedure of handling sexual assualt on campuses into examination
Chris DeGusto
News Editor
Kyle Crozier
Journal Staff
Sexual assault has
moved to the forefront
of
discussion
this
month after Secretary
of
Education
Betsy
DeVos
alluded
to
possible changes in the
way universities deal
with misconduct cases
regarding Title IX.
Said DeVos at George
Mason University during
a
September
speech,
“Here is what I’ve learned:
the truth is that the
system established by the
prior administration has
failed too many students.
Survivors, victims of a
lack of due process, and
campus
administrators
have all told me that the
current approach does
a disservice to everyone
involved.”
As
part
of
the
United States Education
Amendments of 1972
Title IX was enacted
Suffolk places in national
ranking system, twice
under the Department
of Education [DOE] with
the parameters so that
“No person in the United
States shall, on the basis
of sex, be excluded
from participation in,
be denied the benefits
of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any
education program or
activity receiving Federal
financial assistance.”
On April 4, 2011 the
Office for Civil Rights
under President Obama’s
See TITLE page 2
Courtesy of Dear World
Photos can tell the world exactly what others
are thinking. See “Dear World” on page 3.
Budget slashes spark protests
Suffolk places on ‘Best National Universities’ list
for second year, however hits lower bar for
‘Most International Students’
Alexa Gagosz
Editor-in-Chief
For the second year in
a row, Suffolk University
had clinched seventh place
as an institution focused
on
global
experience
and education, according
to the 2018 U.S. News
& World Report’s Best
National Universities list.
Suffolk, which rose
seven
spots
in
the
category from the 2017
list for its considerable
international
student
population,
classroom
sizes
and
academic
excellence.
The university sealed
the 181st spot on the
list for the top level
institutions
to
offer
expansive
choices
of
majors,
master’s
and
doctoral degrees.
Suffolk fell two spots
from the previous year
in the Most International
Students list. U.S. News
Hannah Arroyo/ Asst. Sports Editor
and World Report relies
on reported data from the The group ACT-UP Boston held a rally in front of the Massachusetts State
previous academic year,
See RANK page 4
House Tuesday that fought against several human service programs that
Governor Charlie Baker vetoed. See more photos at thesuffolkjournal.com.
2 SEPT. 20, 2017
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKNEWS@GMAIL.COM
Guiding students through undergrad
N
How upper administration adopted an evolving mindset to communicate with students
Nathan Espinal
Journal Staff
A
recently
widereleased
mobile
app,
Guide,
was
dispersed
to Suffolk University’s
u n d e r g r a d u a t e
population this fall so
students can stay updated
on important tasks and
milestones on-the-go.
With a simple user
interface, students are
encouraged to explore the
tools given through the
app and allows a student
to discover a new major or
view a class schedule. The
app currently provides
freshmen and transfer
students the opportunity
to succeed at Suffolk
through the “Journeys”
tab. This tab provides
several core “checklists”
that familiarize students
with financial aid, getting
involved on campus and
other important aspects
of the Suffolk experience.
“The concept around
Guide is the nudge
theory. You’re putting
information in front of
students around the time
that they need it and
getting their attention,
the “nudge,” to hopefully
follow through with that,”
said Assistant Provost
Katherine Sparaco, who
has overseen the Division
of Student Success, in
a recent interview with
The
Suffolk
Journal.
“It’s in the mobile space
where
students
are,
getting their attention
for any number of things
us administrators are
challenged with.”
Suffolk faculty and
administration
were
already
familiar
with
the
Student
Success
Collaborative (SSC), which
is an advising platform
designed by Education
Advisory Board (EAB) for
those in advisory positions
to be a greater resource
for students. The SSC
came through Suffolk’s
membership with the
EAB, an organization that
conducts and provides
research on colleges and
universities
on
what
the best practices are
for student success and
academic
processes.
Guide was offered to
Suffolk, along with fifty
other schools, to become
a resource that students
can use.
“We wanted to start
off with: What is it all
around the classroom
that we want students
to be aware of what they
should do, so they can
maximize their time in the
classroom,” asked Senior
Consultant for the Guide
app Madeline Pongor, in a
recent interview with The
Journal. “We found that
college students are used
to getting information
tailored to them through
apps. So we thought
why not have the college
experience through that
as well.”
Suffolk has a leadership
team
consisting
of
representatives
from
various
Suffolk
departments working in
conjunction with Pongor
to make sure the app
is as tailored to Suffolk
students
as
possible.
With all the feedback
from students and the
team working on the
app, the EAB and Suffolk
administration hope to
provide a more beneficial
resource
to
students.
Some of the long-term
plans, this team is working
on involve making the
app more inclusive for
upperclassmen
and
international students, as
well as other resources
that could not fit into the
time frame of developing
the app before it launched.
This decision, while
having
a
positive
reception,
has
been
met with some slight
pushback by students.
Some have expressed how
this is another app on this
list of apps that Suffolk
has provided to students.
“Guide is an invaluable
resource for incoming
students because it acts
like an advisor telling
them what you need to
get done. But there is a
need, I think from talking
with Suffolk students,
for an app that acts
like a one-stop-shop for
Suffolk University at an
institutional level,” said
Student
Government
Association Vice President
Yasir Batalvi in a recent
interview
with
The
Journal. “I can’t overstate
the importance of an
app like that. Blackboard
Mobile, Guide, Get Mobile,
Livesafe;
these
serve
invaluable purposes, and
I don’t mean to diminish
any of that by saying
we need a one-stopshop solution to some
of Suffolk’s connectivity
problems.”
Otherwise, Guide has
proven to be a successful
wide release for this
team. As of Tuesday,
despite
some
minor
bugs that affected class
schedules that have since
been fixed, no negative
feedback has reached the
team working on the app.
“So far, from face to
face
interaction
with
students we’ve had great
feedback,”
said
Linda
Bisconti,
Director
of
Academic Enhancement,
in a recent interview with
The Suffolk Journal.
As of Friday, Bisconti
said that of the 4,000
undergraduate students
who received the email to
download the app, over 20
percent have downloaded
the app.
Connect with Nathan
by emailing
nespinal2@su.suffolk.edu
Screenshot of Guide’s “Journeys”
page where students can track
their statuses within multiple
different departments including
Academic Advising and
the Office of the Busar.
Divisions of Suffolk stand by Title IX, despite Washington’s loose stance
From TITLE page 1
administration released
“Dear Colleague Letter.”
This memo from the DOE
cemented the precedent
that Title IX set, codified
the
protections
of
students
from
sexual
harassment in all forms,
free from discrimination
and affirmly criminalized
acts of sexual violence
on campuses across the
nation.
While
DeVos
said
that “acts of sexual
misconduct
are
reprehensible, disgusting,
and unacceptable,” her
insinuation that Title
IX’s current structure
disallows or prevents
universities and colleges
from adequately handling
instances where Title IX
cases apply has prompted
multifarious reaction at
Suffolk University.
Director of Title IX at
Suffolk, Sheila Calkins,
who previously served as
Deputy Attorney General
and as the Attorney
General’s Chief of Staff,
responded to DeVos’s
recent comments and
speculation that revision
of the amendment could
potentially
come
to
fruition.
“The
university
is
always going to want to
make sure that they help
students, and when a
students has experienced
something as as traumatic
as a sexual assault or
a domestic assault, the
university is going to
be there to assist that
student in any way they
can,” said Calkins in a
recent interview with The
Suffolk Journal.
Calkins assured that
Suffolk will continue to
provide resources to any
students who may need
them.
The Interfaith Center,
directed by University
Chaplain Amy Fischer, is
one of two confidential
offices
at
Suffolk.
Fischer works closely
with Counseling Health
and Wellness, the other
confidential office on
campus to ensure both
the privacy and wellbeing of students on
campus. The Chaplain, in
a recent interview with
The Journal solidified the
Interfaith Center’s place
as a dependable outlet for
students’ concerns.
“In my mind, whatever
changes are made in the
Title IX requirements,
if any, my role of
confidentiality and a place
for students to receive
pastoral counseling is still
applicable,” said Fischer.
The
Center
of
Counseling Health and
Wellness at Suffolk has
stood as an office at the
university, where it has
provided both medical
and psychological health
treatment for students.
Options for those who
visit the Center are
numerous,
and
for
students, having these
options allows choice.
Dr. Jean Joyce-Brady, the
Director of Counseling,
Health and Wellness, said
the focus of the Center’s
staff is to direct students
to the resources that
conform best with each
individual’s needs and
comfortability.
In the event of a
federal
revamping
of
Title
IX,
Suffolk
would be provoked to
revisit the policies and
procedures listed under
this amendment. Calkins
said students would still
be provided all resources
and assistance at the
university, which includes
interim-measures
in
order to ensure students
can continue without
hurting their education.
These interim-measures
include actions such as a
no-contact order, housing
reassignments, additional
education assistance, and
may also include making
sure they have access
to the counseling and
medical attention they
need.
Calkins
outlined
the various ways in
which
students
can
address issues of sexual
misconduct,
including
the Suffolk website tools,
the Title IX office email,
or by direct contact with
Calkins herself among
other methods that are
listed in Title IX Student
Handbooks as well as
online.
“Our goal is strickly
to support students and
provide advocacy and
support
for
studentvictim-survivors
of
sexual misconduct, but
we also have another
responsibility and that’s
to make sure that other
kinds of complaints are
resolved fair and equitably
and I think that’s one
of the things that Betsy
DeVos
is
concerned
about,” said Dean of
Students Dr. Ann Coyne
in a recent interview with
The Journal.
On the University’s
Title IX page, Suffolk
labeledsexualmisconduct
as “antithetical to
the mission of the
University” and that it
will be responded to with
diligence.
Acting University
PresidentMarisaKellyhas
not released a statement
regarding
Suffolk’s
response to DeVos’s
comments.
Connect with Chris
by emailing
cdegusto@su.suffolk.edu
and Kyle by emailing
kcrozier@su.suffolk.edu
3 SEPT. 20, 2017
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKNEWS@GMAIL.COM
Remembering Nicholas Williams
N
Suffolk Law School reflects on tragic death of Dicta Editor-in-Chief
Haley Clegg
Photo Editor
Time and time again
we are told to appreciate
every moment and to live
each day as if it may be
our last. For most of us,
this is a simple reminder
to appreciate life, but
for Suffolk Law student
Nicholas Williams, this
was an everyday reality.
Williams
suffered
from
sarcoidosis,
an
inflammatory
disease
that took his hearing and
later affected his sight
and lungs and ultimately,
his young life. Despite
the pain his illness
caused him, Williams
never let it affect him.
He was thrilled to be
entering his third and
final year of law school
at Suffolk with hopes of
being a prosecutor after
graduation.
His
absence
this
semester
has
been
felt by students and
administration alike. In a
statement sent to the law
school community, Dean
Andrew Perlman spoke
of the spirit Williams
embodied.
“Nick was a constant
presence in the Law
School, always eager to
participate in student
groups and events. He
greeted people with a
smile and made everyone
around him feel welcome
and included,” he wrote.
“Nick also was courageous
and tenacious. He thrived
in law school, despite
some challenges posed
by deafness, and in doing
so, he showed everyone
the meaning of grit and
determination.”
Williams
was
an
officer in the Student Bar
Association, a member of
the Black Law Students
Association, and was going
to be in the law schools’
Suffolk Prosecutors legal
clinic this fall.
Despite the adversity
Williams
faced
throughout his life, he
was always eager to
take on new challenges,
such as resurrecting the
Suffolk Law’s newspaper.
Alison
Farquhar,
the
current Editor-in-Chief of
the Dicta credits Williams
with bringing the law
paper back to life.
“Honest to god, Dicta
would not still exist if
it weren’t for Nick. He
rescued Dicta from the
brink at the end of our
1L, assuming the Editorin-Chief
role
without
even being a staff writer
during his first year,” said
Farquhar.
Nick was passionate
about this project and
took the paper from
a budget deficit to a
surplus, and had the paper
publishing in print within
two
semesters.
“His
contributions to Dicta
cannot be understated,”
said Farquhar.
David Feldman, the
Director of PR for the
Dicta worked closely with
Williams and considers
him to be one of his best
friends. On Tuesday, he
spoke to The Suffolk
Journal about Williams’s
dream for Dicta. “Nick’s
mission was to resurrect
the law newspaper. And
he did! We made our
own website, doubled our
staff, got sponsors, and
had a big breakfast to
celebrate,” said Feldman.
“I want to keep it going in
his memory.”
Clinical
Professor
of Law Diane Juliar
was supposed to have
Williams as a student this
year. She spoke about
how determined he was
in life, despite the daily
challenges he faced. “He
didn’t let anything limit
his potential, and what he
contributed to the world,”
said Juliar, “He wanted to
overcome every challenge
so he could pursue his
goals and his desire to do
public service work.”
Associate
Dean
of
Students, Ann Santos
worked
closely
with
Williams as he went
through Suffolk Law.
“It was heartbreaking
that he had overcome so
much, and was here, he
was in his third year of
law school, he had made
it. Now his legacy is going
to be that utter sweetness,
his sincerity and caring
for other people that law
students sometimes lose
sight of” said Santos.
Santos
hopes
that
Williams’s life will inspire
others to go after their
dreams, no matter what
situation they may be in.
“He should be a model
for anyone who thinks
law school might be too
difficult because of what
they’ve struggled with
in the past or currently
going
through.
They
should try it if that’s what
they really want because
that’s what Nick did.” said
Santos.
Williams inspired fellow
classmates to be the best
versions of themselves,
even as they faced their
own challenges.
“In my first two weeks
at Suffolk Law, I was
beat up in Boston, a gang
initiation. They broke
my jaw and it was wired
shut for weeks. I couldn’t
talk, and Nick couldn’t
hear, so communication
was tough for us” said
Feldman. “I learned some
sign language, we passed
notes, but it was hard.
His strength and his
perseverance, that is what
got me through it.”
“He was one of the few
people I’ve ever met who
believed in me as a person
and told me so seemingly
at every opportunity.
Over the past year he was
an unrelenting positive
force in my life. He will be
deeply and truly missed by
the Suffolk community”
said Farquhar.
in a way nobody could
have expected.
Since
then
the
project has globalized,
inviting people to take
portraits as a way to start
conversations and tell
personal stories.
Since its start in
2009, Dear World has
photographed more than
50,000 people from all
over the world.
“We have stories of
love and loss and joy and
grief but it’s all beautiful
because it’s part of the
human experience,” said
Katie Greenman, a Dear
World storyteller and
photographer.
Sophomore business
economics major Justin
Agyemang came to the
event with an open
mind. “I had no idea
what to expect,” he told
the Journal. By the end
of the program, he felt
passionate
about
the
message he chose to share
with the world. He wrote,
“I never took it seriously”
across both arms for
his portrait. “This is a
message I need to let out”
said Agyemang.
On Tuesday, the Dear
World team held an event
for Suffolk students in
the Tremont Temple.
They shared portraits and
stories of the people they
have met since beginning
their project as well as
how far the project has
reached. Dear World has
photographed survivors
of the Boston Marathon
bombing, Syrian refugees,
and survivors of the Pulse
nightclub shooting.
“There are so many
important things in this
world and community is
one of them. After the
Pulse nightclub shooting,
the Orlando community
came out and love poured
in” said Katie Greenman
with The Journal.
After
the
initial
presentation, four Suffolk
students were invited
to take to the stage and
speak about the message
they wrote on their skin
and the story behind it.
Charlotte Cole, a senior
psychology major was one
of these speakers. The
message written across
her skin read, “Willy
Wonka never showed up,
but my hair grew back.”
Cole explained the
story of how she had
gone into surgery for
a
routine
procedure
to remove a bump on
her eye that persisted
despite
treatment.
When she awoke from
the anesthesia, she was
devastated that Willy
Wonka was not there to
visit her.
“As I cried over Mr.
Wonka’s absence, my
parents cried in the room
next door as they learned
that I had cancer.”
When Cole was first
asked to speak at the
event, she was hesitant.
“I was so surprised, I
thought I would be too
scared to get up there and
share my story, but then I
realized that everyone in
here has one that we can
learn from. It would be a
disservice for me not to
share mine and to expect
others to share theirs,”
said Cole.
Connect with Haley
by emailing
hclegg@su.suffolk.edu
‘Dear World:’ Our personal stories matter
Haley Clegg
Photo Editor
The concept for Dear
World began in 2009 in
the wake of Hurricane
Katrina in New Orleans.
Residents of the city
wrote ‘love letters’ to
their city.
At the beginning of
the project, one man
changed it all. He asked
if he could do something
different for the project.
He came back with tears
in his eyes and his wife
exposed his bare chest
with the words “Cancer
free” written in black ink.
This changed the project
THE Suffolk Journal
Connect with Haley
by emailing
hclegg@su.suffolk.edu
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Chris DeGusto
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4 SEPT. 20, 2017
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
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N
Joyya Smith named new vice president:
After less than a year at Suffolk, Smith takes promotion
Haley Clegg/ Photo Editor
Joyya Smith
Chris DeGusto
News Editor
Dr. Joyya Smith has
found a place to both
“teach and learn” here in
Boston- namely at Suffolk
University.
Highered
as
the
Director for the Center
for Academic Access and
Opportunity roughly 11
months ago, Smith has
recently been promoted
to a new administrative
role as the Vice President
of Diversity, Access and
Inclusion this month.
Smith, who previously
worked
at
Georgia
Southern
University
was struck by a phrase
in Suffolk’s alma mater
during fall convocation
that referenced teaching
and
learning
as
a
symbiotic relationship.
“It just kind of stuck
with me. That’s so nice,
we learn and we teach,”
said Smith. “And I’m
thinking, well if we’re
singing this song then
how are we making sure
that we are [doing both].”
As someone who has
been selected to teach
CAS 101 and 201 this
semester,
Smith
said
she has enjoyed being in
the classroom in order
to have an opportunity
to hear the voices of
students first hand.
“In
a
teaching
situation you really learn
more than you teach,”
said Smith. “I’m grateful
for an opportunity to be
up close and personal
with
the
students.
Sometimes when you’re
in administration, you’re
not as close to students
because you’re helping to
make sure that the other
pieces of the puzzle are in
place, but I’m excited to
be able to serve in both
capacities.”
Initially, Smith worked
with Suffolk’s Diversity
Task Force, where she
said she was able to learn
how the university has
committed to ensure an
inclusive community and
championing diversity.
“I think it happens in
pockets and I think part
of my responsibility is to
bring all those pockets
together,” said Smith.
The Diversity Task
Force compiled a list of
recommendations for the
university, and Smith said
she is working alongside
Acting President Marisa
Kelly
in
order
to
determine which policies
and procedures to alter or
enact.
“It
starts
with
awareness,” said Smith.
“Sometimes we are not
aware that maybe we
aren’t being as inclusive
and
it’s
more
than
just race and sexual
orientation.”
She said awareness is
vital because oftentimes
the notion that inclusivity
is missing is not always
recognized. Smith said it
is more than just race and
sexual orientation. Ability,
college preparedness or
lack thereof as well as
first generation college
student status are all
important as well.
“There’s a lot of keys
that really make us think
of about diversity from a
number of perspectives,”
said Smith. “Being visible
versus invisible diversity,
of
being
sure
that
everyone that’s here feels
like they have a place that
they can exercise their
voice. And if they can
be comfortable enough
to learn something, that
they can go out into the
world and teach.”
While
at
Georgia
Southern, Smith’s activity
was closely tied with
the
TRiO
Programs
that
have
worked
with
first-generation
and
underrepresented
students.
These
organizations, both at
Georgia Southern as well
as Suffolk Smith said, will
“forever hold a place in
my heart.”
Since 2000, Smith had
been assisting to plan
Black
History
Month
and Hispanic awareness
events where she said in
a recent interview with
The Suffolk Journal she
helped to develop a group
of students that served as
diversity
ambassadors.
Smith also said she
was involved in the
programming of diversity
training and multicultural
awareness
while
at
Georgia Southern.
The transition from
Georgia to Massachusetts
has
gone
smoothly,
according to Smith, who
said she hit the ground
running. With her family
in Georgia, Smith said
she has visited typically
once every other month,
but has planned to take
time back home in the
spring to dodge the New
England climate-- her
most devious challenge.
Joked Smith of her
northern move, “That
first winter I was a little
Frozen Peach.”
Weather aside, Smith
said she hopes to work
closely with leadership
development programs,
so that she may teach the
next wave of those who
will enter the world and
educate others on the
subjects of diversity and
inclusion.
Suffolk clinches top spots on national ranking list for second year
From RANK page 1
according to a university
spokesperson. For the
2017 list, Suffolk topped
the region with 22 percent
international
students
among
undergraduate
enrollment.
For
the
2018 list, Suffolk fell
one
percent
in
the
number of international
students, which dropped
the university to seventh
place.
Boston
University
ranked fifth in this
same
category
and
Northeastern University
ranked behind Suffolk
in tenth place. Emerson
College did not rank
on the “Best National
Universities”
list
nor
the “Most International
Students” list, according
to the magazine’s website.
Emerson, however, did
place on the Northeastern
regional list, a list that
Suffolk used to rank on
before being considered
for the “Best National
Universities” list.
“It’s our incredible
diversity that sets Suffolk
apart, and it’s great to
see so many international
students choosing Suffolk
as a place to share their
amazing
experiences
and learn from those
around them,” said junior
economics major and
Vice President of the
International
Student
Association, Charles Tang,
an international student
from Guangzhou, China
to a Journal reporter on
Sunday night.
Alongside
a
large
international
student
population and offering
undergraduate
and
advanced
degree
programs
in
more
than 60 areas of study,
Suffolk is said to have
ranked due to smaller
class sizes compared to
other
schools.
Fortyeight percent of classes
that were offered last
year had fewer than 20
students and .2 percent
of classes offered had
less than 50 students per
class, according to a press
release by Suffolk’s Office
of Public Affairs.
“The latest U.S. News
rankings recognize the
excellence of a Suffolk
education
and
the
strength of our academic
programs,” said Acting
President Marisa Kelly in
a press release.
Suffolk
recently
partnered
with
INTO
University Partnerships,
an
independent
organization that recruits
and
expands
higher
education opportunities
to students across the
globe. Acting Provost
Sebastian
Royo,
who
has been a key player
in bringing INTO onto
Suffolk’s campus, hopes
that INTO’s efforts will
eventually enhance the
university’s rankings that
are based on international
student
populations
and creating a diverse
Percentage of
Enrollment*
Year*
Ranking*
2018
22
7
2017
23
5
*Year listed from
the U.S. News and
World Report
*According to the
Institutional Research &
Assessment Office
*In the magazine’s
“Most International
Students” list
Alexa Gagosz/ Editor-in-Chief
campus.
“The numbers have
been going down for the
last couple years which
is consistent with the
national
trend,”
said
Royo in an interview
on Monday. “Some of
it has to do with what
is happening in their
countries of origin. It’s
harder for families to
fund the immigration
of students abroad. The
hope is that with the
partnership with into, we
can not only stabilize the
numbers, but grow.”
“They
have
an
outreach that we don’t
have,” said Royo.
Suffolk also ranked in
the High School Counselor
and Business Programs
list by the magazine for
2018.
Connect with Alexa
by emailing
agagosz@su.suffolk.edu
W
STAY TUNED:
Boston College: The four BC
students involved in the Marseille
attack are doing well today.
WORLD
STAY TUNED:
India’s inequality rates are at a nearly
century long high.
Students and staff weigh in.
SEPT. 20, 2017 | PAGE 5
New pathway opens for international students
From INTO page 1
respond to vast and
growing
international
demand for global higher
education,”
University
Spokesman Greg Gatlin
stated in a press release.
A six-person board
of directors will preside
over the newly formed
limited liability company.
The board is made up
of three representatives
chosen by INTO and
three
representatives
from Suffolk chosen by
Acting President Marisa
Kelly.
Senior
Vice
President for Finance
and Administration and
Treasurer Laura Sander,
Acting Provost Sebastian
Royo and Chief Marketing
Officer Dan Esdale were
chosen by Kelly to govern
INTO Suffolk, LLC, on the
university’s behalf.
Members of the Board
will oversee decisions
made by the company, but
in the case of a stalemate
between board members,
an agreement was made
that all academic and
admissions decisions will
ultimately be decided by
Suffolk’s board members,
while
marketing
and
recruitment decisions will
be decided by INTO if the
governing board cannot
reach a consensus on
pertaining issues.
The University signed
a 15-year contract with
INTO with the option to
extend the agreement for
an
additional 15 years,
Acting President Marisa
Kelly said during an
interview in August.
“I think that the goal
is to meet the target and
make sure not only that it
benefits us for 15 years,
but to extend it another
15 years,” said Acting
Provost Sebastian Royo,
who will be overseeing
the academic aspects of
the INTO partnership .
“It’s hard to imagine,
the record that they have
so far has been quite
spectacular,” said Royo.
“[INTO is] really excited
about the fact that they
are in Boston. They really
think they can bring
students to Suffolk and
Boston.
“I see us building
on our already strong
commitment
to
international education,”
said Kelly. “The fact that
students from Chelsea,
Braintree and California
sit in class with students
from around the world is
one of the ways in which
we can ensure they are
ready for the diversity
in the world they live in.
Fifteen years from now,
we will build on that
and have an even richer
international institution.”
According
to
the
release, INTO Suffolk,
LLC, will extend Suffolk’s
global
recruitment
potential
by
giving
the
university
access
to INTO’s network of
recruitment
staff
in
more than 75 countries
worldwide.
The
new
entity’s
expenses will be covered
completely
by
the
inaugural class of INTO
Suffolk, LLC, students, the
first of which will arrive
on Suffolk’s campus this
spring. After the expenses
of the new venture are
covered, the financial
profits of the third entity
company will be equally
shared by the university
and INTO, according to
Kelly.
“Rather than seeing
this as a relationship with
a vendor, this is really
about a not-for-profit
entity, Suffolk University,
coming together with a
separate corporate entity,
INTO, and creating a third
organization that will
support the educational
needs of international
students
who
need
additional
educational
training
around
the
English language,” Kelly
said.
Pathway courses will
be taught by Suffolk
faculty
to
students
brought to the University
by INTO Suffolk, LLC, to
help them better their
English language skills
and prepare them for
university-level study. An
academic English pathway
course will be taught
to students that need
to ready their language
skills
for
Suffolk’s
degree
programs,
while
Undergraduate
and Graduate Pathway
programs will develop
student’s English skills
while they work toward
their respective degrees.
“INTO shares our deep
commitment to strong
academic programs —
Pathway programs that
prepare
international
students for the rigors of
a Suffolk education and
increase the prospect of
educational success as
students move through
them,” Kelly stated in the
release.
Suffolk
University
is the tenth American
university to partner with
INTO and the first in New
England-area school to
do so. Other universities
that have partnerships
with
INTO
include
George Mason, Oregon
State,
Washington
State,
Colorado
State
University and Saint Louis
University.
“They are going to
help us diversify the
international
students
so we have more from
different
countries,”
Royo said. “But at the
same time, the students
will be better prepared.
Through the pathway
programs,
not
only
will they improve their
english skills, but they
will be better prepared
for regular classes.”
Connect with Jacob
by emailing
jgeanous@su.suffolk.
edu
Students flock to Suffolk from all corners of the globe
past
two
years,
while
Ryan Arel
the national average is
Journal Contributor
Every year, a new
class of students flock to
Boston from around the
globe to take their first
steps in college; for some
students, their first steps
ever on U.S. soil.
Approximately
153
international
freshman
and
58
international
transfer students will start
at Suffolk University this
year, according to current
Director of International
Admission Rafael Muroy
in an interview with The
Suffolk Journal.
Last
year
1,431
international
students
attended
Suffolk
according
to
Suffolk
University’s
website;
23
percent
of
all
undergraduate students
on Boston and Madrid
Suffolk campuses were
international
students.
The top countries where
international
students
came from this year
are
Vietnam,
China,
Venezuela
and
Saudi
Arabia,
according
to
Muroy.
Suffolk’s international
student
population
usually lies between 18
and 24 percent in the
around 9 to 12 percent,
according
to
Muroy.
Suffolk’s
international
student
percentage
ranked No. 7 in the nation
last year, and ranked No.
5 the year before. Suffolk
always thrives for a
diverse community.
“I think it’s part of our
mission, I mean, we’ve
always been a school
that considers itself an
international university.
We strongly believe that
we want to bring in a
diverse perspective,” said
Muroy. “We can’t rely on
just recruiting students
from Massachusetts or
just
the
surrounding
area.”
Suffolk’s
student
body consists of many
nationalities in and of
itself; in 2016, there were
71 countries represented
in
Suffolk’s
student
population.
There
are
a
lot
of
challenges
that
international
students
must
face
upon
their arrival, such as
distinctions in cultural
norms, language barriers
and navigating a brand
new
place,
although,
some
international
students arrive speaking
more than one language.
“Some of them come
with
good
English
language abilities, but
they haven’t been used
to doing everything in
English,” said Muroy.
“Getting probably used
to the American style of
teaching is something
they have to adjust to.”
Homesickness is also
a problem international
respective
countries.
Some
international
students say the social
dynamic of America is
entirely different from
what they are used to.
“Some things I felt
that were normal is not
here,” said Ruya Caglar,
a freshman who grew up
in Turkey. She has visited
the U.S. before coming
to Suffolk and she has
“We’ve always been a school
that considers itself an
international university. We
strongly believe that we want to
bring in a diverse perspective.”
- Director of International
Admission Rafael Muroy
students face, being much
further away from home
than American students
are.
“You’re
talking
a
homesickness factor that
is tough to encounter
because home is not even
like an hour plane ride
away,” said Muroy.
American
students
grow up interacting with
one another differently
than
international
students do in their
family in Texas. “This is
a little bit different for
me, like how everyone
acts...I haven’t had any
problems making friends
or anything.”
Along with the culture
shock, the laws in the
U.S. differ from the laws
international students see
at home.
“Here you get to
voice your opinion,” said
Calgar. “My father’s best
friend right now got put
in jail last year because he
had the smallest comment
about
the
[Erdoğan]
regime.”
Other students feel as
Boston, and its people,
speak more freely.
“People are very blunt;
they’re very open, and very
expressive about what
they think,” said Jeremiah
Fernandes, a sophomore
Media and Film major
studying abroad from the
U.K. He has never lived in
the United States before
attending Suffolk. Prior
to coming to the U.S.,
Fernandes studied at the
University of Westminster
in the U.K., where he
found the people he
encountered were “very
reserved.”
Students who come
from
vastly
different
living situations often
have a more intense
adjustment to city life
and the different types
of people in America,
in addition to the social
culture of the United
States. The switch from
living in other countries,
and moving to the United
States, can instill culture
shock.
Mario Lombardi is
from Peru, but lived in
Miami before moving to
Boston. He is a freshman
studying
Business
at
Suffolk.
“The US is much
more diverse in culture,
whereas Peru is majority
Peruvians,” said Lombardi
in an interview with The
Suffolk Journal.
Though
Suffolk
is
open to students on
an international scale,
prejudice is still an issue.
“The school is very
open and understanding,
but they can’t control
everyone else’s ideas,”
said Caglar.
International students,
along with many other
freshman undergraduates,
could agree that making
the move to Suffolk
introduces the struggles
of living on their own for
the first time. Whether it’s
in dorms or off-campus
living, the adjustment for
international
students,
and domestic students
alike, helps them become
more
independent
as
people as well as students.
“I have more freedom,
responsibilities,
and
challenges to face by
myself,” said Lombardi.
Connect with Ryan by
emailing
rarel@suffolk.edu
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKWORLDNEWS@GMAIL.COM
6 SEPT. 20, 2017
Students send aid home
VSU hopes to continue charity drive
for their home country
Courtesy of Daniel Gazzani
Elvira Mora
Journal Staff
The
hopeful
cries
and yells for peace have
subsided in the wake of
an offer for Venezuelan
President
Nicolas
Maduro to engage in a
dialogue with those who
oppose him. The Maduro
regime has denied the
Venezuelan people their
most fundamental rights
by restricting food and
medicine.
A project launched
last semester by the
Venezuelan
Student
Union (VSU) partnered
with “Acción x Causa”
donated more than 320
pounds
of
over-thecounter medication and
medical supplies. The
supplies donated by the
VSU have been distributed
to more than eighty-two
religious organizations in
Venezuela.
Student Government
Association
President
Daniel Gazzani is also
an active member of
the VSU. Gazzani has
helped connect the VSU
to representatives that
have raised awareness of
the events unfolding in
Venezuela.
Ricardo Hausmann is a
professor of the Practice
of Economic Development
at Harvard University and
the current Director of the
Center for International
Development.
According to Gazzani,
Professor Hausmann will
be speaking on awareness
and what is happening
currently in Venezuela.
“His wife, Ana Julia
Jatar, a human rights
activist, will be speaking
about how she is fighting
for her brother who was
unjustly imprisoned,” said
Gazzani in an interview in
The Suffolk Journal.
Gazzani spoke in praise
of the VSU’s and hopes
the club can continue its
charitable actions
Alexandra
Aparicio,
vice president of VSU
and advertising major,
said she has enjoyed
being part of the EBoard
and
hopes
she
can
continue helping the VSU,
which has represented
Venezuelan pride and has
given her country a voice
from abroad.
“The VSU also stands
for being a glimpse of
hope and to provide
help toward the people
suffering
the
current
humanitarian crisis,” said
Aparicio. “The VSU is
well represented in the
university even though
we just started last
semester. Anyone who is
interested in our message
is more than welcome to
join.”
According
to
a
Venezuelan
newspaper,
“El Universal,” President
Maduro said there have
been at least a hundred
meetings with both pro
and
anti
government
groups, which began in
2016. Maduro agreed
to
meet
with
the
opposition on Sept. 27
when
six
countries:
Chile, Mexico, Bolivia,
Nicaragua, Paraguay and
the Dominican Republic
will become a part of the
discussion to form an
agreement.
“Acción
x
Causa”
has
partnered
with
numerous
universities
around Boston such as
Suffolk University, Boston
University, Northeastern
University,
Bentley
University,
Emerson
College, and Wentworth
according to the official
website.
“We sent it to an
organization
(Ayuda
Humanitaria
para
Venezuela) who is in
charge of distributing
it to the provinces that
need it the most in the
Venezuelan territory. We
know that our supplies
have been successfully
given to families and
organizations throughout
the
territory,”
said
Aparicio.
The VSU hopes to
launch the same project
again this semester, as
well as introduce new
objectives and deliver
different
goods,
such
as starting a toy drive
during the holiday season,
according to Aparicio.
“I would like for the
VSU to partner with
Accion x Causa again. The
organization is growing
in the greater Boston
area, therefore, people
can relate our club at
Suffolk to what Acción x
Causa does on a greater
scale,” said Aparicio.
Connect with Elvira
by emailing
emora@su.suffolk.edu
W
Professors respond to the
marginalization of Myannmar
Rohingya
that “176 out of 471,
disproportionate and has
now empty of people,”
according to CNN.
“The other big problem
with
this
particular
situation is that [State
Counselor]
Aung
San
Suu Kyi is running the
government,
but
the
military has the real
power, it has the military
and the police power,”
said Suleski.
In 1989, Suu Kyi
was placed under house
arrest, for “trying to
divide
the
military.”
Subsequently, in 1991
she became the receiver
of the Nobel Peace Prize
for her passivist approach
to instilling democracy
and civil rights into
Myanmar. Suu Kyi later
became Myanmar’s state
counsellor
in
2016,
according to CNN.
“So, she’s in a very
bad position of probably
personally not liking this
at all, but is afraid to
speak out because she was
under house arrest for so
many years,” said Suleski.
Suffolk University adjuct
Philosophy
Professor
Brian Kiniry.
“So [the violence is]
completely illegal from
an international legal
perspective and even by
local burmese law,” said
Kiniry in an interview
with a Journal reporter.
The
attacks
the
Myanmar military have
brought on the entire
Rohingya
community
and not just the militants
is
utterly
unlawful,
according to Kiniry.
While the violence
against the Rohingyas has
become inflamed, these
events are hardly random,
for there is a long history
of violence against the
Rohingya
community.
Despite
having
lived
there for centuries, the
Myanmar
government
hardly acknowledges the
Rohingyas.
Myanmar
does not identify the
Rohingyas as citizens, but
rather as immigrants from
Bangladesh. Furthermore,
Katherine Yearwood
or 37.4 percent of all involved the burning of
Journal Staff
Rohingya villages are villages, according to
Desperate to escape,
more
than
410,000
Rohingyas
have
fled
violence from Myanmar
security forces in Rakhine.
Of
the
extraordinary
amount of refugees, 60
percent
are
children,
according to the United
Nations.
As a minority, the
Rohingya have become
marginalized, so they do
not have the access to
the overall opportunities
that the majority has,
according
to
Suffolk
University
History
Professor and Director of
the Rosenberg Institute
of East Asian Studies,
Ronald Suleski.
Human rights groups
have
have
reported
instances of Myanmar
security forces, as well as
Buddhist vigilante mobs,
shooting Rohingya noncombatants as they fled
their villages. More than
1000 Rohingya have been
reportedly torched during
the conflict.
Hundreds of thousands
of Rohingyas have been
displaced and many others
have been killed either by
natural elements or by
members of Myanmar’s
military while fleeing
the systematic assault.
Many of those who were
lucky enough to escape
are currently camping in
refugee camps in India or
Bangladesh.
“In the case of the
Muslims, the Rohingya,
were always discriminated
against,” said Suleski.
The vast majority of
Rohingyas, a stateless
Indo-Aryan people, reside
in Rakhine, one of the
country’s poorest states,
according to Al Jazeera.
“Because
of
that,
they became a poor
community, so they don’t
have the people who run
the big businesses, the
big schools, have the
big money, or the big
influence,” said Suleski.
The Rohingyas are a
stateless minority living
in a Buddhist majority
country. The Rohingya
account for approximately
five percent of the roughly
60,000,000
Myanmar
population, According to
the Middle East Institute.
The
Myanmar
government has reported
“So [the violence is] completely
illegal from an international
legal perspective and even by
local Burmese law,”
- Professor Brian Kiniry
“If she starts coming out
and pushing against the
military they’ll find a
reason to arrest her or
who knows what they’ll
do.”
The recent catastrophic
events were in response
to a “clearance operation”
by the Burmese army in
late August, according
to The Guardian. This
particular act of targeted
violence had been issued
as retaliation against the
Muslim group after, “an
insurgent Rohingya group
attacked police outposts
in Burma’s Rakhine state,
and killed 12 security
personnel,” according to
The Independent.
While the Burmese
military have a right to
respond to the attacks
that they have received,
their
response
has
been
overwhelmingly
in 2014 the country’s
census did not recognize
the Rohingya and forced
them to identify as
Bengali, according to the
New York Times.
From 1842 until 1948,
Britain ruled over today’s
India and Bangladesh and
Myanmar was considered
a providence of India.
However, when England’s
control came to an end,
Myanmar,
India,
and
Bangladesh each formed
their own government.
The
Rohingya
are
considered
illegal
immigrants
because
many people traveled to
today’s Myanmar during
British rule, according to
Al Jazeera.
Connect with Katherine
by emailing
kyearwood@suffolk.edu
A
READ MORE
The Art & Design School move
finalized & Barbie on a Budget
thesuffolkjournal.com
ARTS & CULTURE
SEE THE COLLECTION
Hempfest 2017 & Protesting
Gov. Baker’s budget cuts
www.sjuncoveredwithflash.wordpress.com
SEPT. 20, 2017 | PAGE 7
Katie Hehl / Journal Contributor
Tapestries blew in the wind on the north side of Boston Common, staples of the Freedom Rally due to their vibrancy and variance
in color. Thousands gathered on the greens of the open space, served as appreciative and dedicated patrons of the art and
talent displayed by the vendors at this year’s “Hempfest.”
HEMPFEST 2017
Vendors, performers and speakers alike congregated once again at the Freedom Rally to discuss the
legalization and recreational use of marijuana.
Haley Clegg / Photo Editor
Kaitlin Hahn
Copy Editor
Nick Viveiros
Journal Staff
Thousands flocked to
the grassy knolls of the
Boston Common this past
weekend for the 38th
annual Boston Freedom
Rally, the second largest
gathering of cannabis
enthusiasts and activists
in the world, behind
Seattle’s
Hempfest.
Patrons of the Rally came
prepared for a weekend
full of art and celebration,
one in particular went so
far as to dress as a fully
fledged bud of marijuana.
The yearly event has
been organized by the
Massachusetts Cannabis
Reform
Coalition
(MassCANN),
a
state
affiliate of the national
marijuana activism group,
the National Organization
for
the
Reform
of
Marijuana Laws (NORML).
Colloquially known as
Hempfest,
the
rally
began in Northampton
in 1989, before it moved
to the Commons in 1992,
where it has been held
every
third
weekend
in
September
since.
While
inexperienced
participants likely did not
notice the difference, this
year’s Hempfest certainly
arrived with an extra air of
hype; it was the first rally
following the legalization
of recreational marijuana
use in the Commonwealth
last November.
This
year’s
Rally
featured two stages, both
of which were nearly
always
crowded
with
people watching speakers,
live acts and live DJs.
Those who congregated
by the Charles Street Stage
on Saturday were treated
to such acts as Mendo
Dope, a Californian hiphop group with electronic
influences and Over the
Bridge, an upbeat reggae
band from Gloucester,
Mass.
Over
the
Bridge,
hailing from the North
Shore,
represented
themselves well on their
home turf, playing songs
that matched the festival’s
easy-going and relaxed
mood. Songs such as,
“Wash” and “Something
in the Water” proved to
match the feeling of the
crowd with their upbeat
attitude
See HEMPFEST page 8
A
Boston Freedom rally returns after the 2016 legalization of marijuana
8 SEPT. 20, 2017
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKARTS@GMAIL.COM
From HEMPFEST page 7
and overall positive
vibe. Over the Bridges’
songs are representative
of
the
feeling
of
summer, and with the
season’s ending quickly
approaching and Fall
upon us, the crowd and
the band seemed to
display a similar feeling
of disappointment when
the end of the set neared.
Compared to Mendo
Dope, with a sound
similar to that of two high
school boys attempting to
freestyle in the basement
of a house party, with the
parents patiently waiting
upstairs for everyone’s
grownups to pick them
up at 10 p.m., gave a
seemingly never-ending
45-minute set that can
only be described as
an absolute disgrace.
With tracks like “Now
I’m High,” and “Down
to the Roach,” the band
Haley Clegg / Photo Editor
should probably stick to
a “weed-to-know” basis
and perhaps consider
switching
to
parodic
performances.
For those who came
with money on hand,
a surreal bazaar was
constructed with vendors
selling a cornucopia of
products. Boston Smoke
Shop, a local favorite,
advertised alluring deals
to potential customers
from their pop-up shop
by the baseball fields.
Just north of the Parkman
Band Stand on Flag Staff
Hill, a row of psychedelic
tapestries fluttered in the
wind.
Hempfest can also
serve as a reminder that
archaic stereotypes about
smokers are just that.
Much of what attendees
consider typical would
have many questioning
whether or not they’d
gotten a contact high.
Businessmen
in
suits
paused to inspect videogame
themed
bongs;
parents could be seen
entering the park with
a child in tow; families
looked on curiously as
they took a stroll through
the
Common,
some
oblivious to the nature of
the event altogether.
Not
everyone
was
riding the high this
weekend,
however.
Question 4, the ballot
measure that legalized
recreational
marijuana
use was opposed by many
local politicians, including
Boston
Mayor
Marty
Walsh. Walsh came under
fire from organizers of
the Freedom Rally last
year after attempting
to revoke an alreadygranted permit, claiming
vendors
approved
by
rally
organizers
were
unlicensed,
according
to the Boston Herald. A
Massachusetts Superior
Court judge sided with
organizers in issuing an
emergency order allowing
the 2016 rally to go on as
planned.
As the weekend
drew to a close, the haze
dissipated from between
the trees, the crowd
thinned and the Commons
returned to its normal
traffic state, patiently
awaiting the return of
another
gathering
of
celebration and art.
Connect with Kaitlin and
Nick by emailing
khahn@su.suffolk.edu
nviveiros@su.suffolk.edu
Rap artist Chico Williams staking his claim in the Boston rap community
John Irizarry
Journal Staff
Considering that the
rap genre originated on
the East Coast, songs
from cities like New
York and Boston can be
considered as some of
the purest forms of rap
music. Rapping began
as a way to entertain at
block parties in the Bronx
because
urban
youth
had very few outlets to
express creativity. Since
then, the rap genre
has evolved overtime
and has taken on many
forms in many areas.
However, there has
been a sudden emergence
of hype in the Boston rap
community. Most notable
artists like Cousin Stizz
and Rosewood Bape have
put the city on the map
with their own brand of
clean spitting and gritty
street
style.
Rappers
like Stizz and Joyner
Lucas focus on tough
subjects
like
poverty,
drugs and crime. They
express their relationship
to such dark topics
in
their
unapologetic
and sometimes violent
lyrics.
These
vulgar,
yet popular themes are
further explored through
their
accompanying
music videos.
Cousin Stizz’s “Bonds”
follows a series of drug
deals; some that go well
and some that do not.
Joyner Lucas’s “Keep it
100” actually follows a
$100 bill as it circulates
through a seedy maze of
drug dealers, strippers and
the like. But along comes
a lyrically aggressive, yet
phlegmatic rapper by the
name of Chico Williams.
Williams' style consists
of brazen self-confidence
that's perpetually unfazed,
and tells the story of an
urban musician who will
not settle for mediocrity.
This attitude is best
seen in the hard hitting
"King without a crown"
or in the funky, head
bumper "Finer Things."
Aside from his confident
disposition,
Williams'
consistently fluctuating
flow,
well-fitting
use
of distorted ad-libs and
occasional
nostalgic
samples are what makes
his music so unique.
When a
rapper
can travel
between
styles, it’s a
promising
sign of
versatility.
When all tied together
with those qualities, you
have masterpieces like
"Daisy in Disguise" and
"Capt. Plan-IT." While
“Daisy
in
Disguise”
focuses on a relationship
and
“Capt.
Plan-IT”
outlines Williams’ “makeit or break-it” mentality,
both songs reflect the
rapper’s
admirable
level of self-awareness.
Williams’
musical
diversity is evident in is
his ability to cross the
line between new and old
school with ease. Many
rappers today either try
to bring back old school
vibes or go for a new
school style that makes use
of video-game-sounding
beats and smooth, direct
vocals. When a rapper
can
travel
between
styles, it’s a promising
sign of versatility. The
best rappers experiment
with
different
styles
and attempt to grow
from
beyond
their
original
material.
Judging by his music,
Williams does not have
a problem with change,
especially in terms of
sound
and
content.
“Music in my opinion
is ever changing,” said
Williams in a recent
interview
with
The
Suffolk Journal. “It’s like
a river, it goes in many
directions, as does life I
believe the biggest change
in my music is how
methodically I’ve become
with
everything...the
content is always going to
change based on what’s
going on in your life.”
Williams
echoes
a
sound similar to his
Boston
rap
brethren
in
terms
of
flow,
instrumental and overall
lyrical approach in songs
By Facebook user Chico Williams
like
"Stadium
Status"
and "Voodoo." However,
"Distance" combines a
90's boom-bap sound
reminiscent
of
Talib
Kweli, while retaining
a fairly modern chorus.
"Distance" also makes use
of the rapper’s ability to
switch between flows
from moderate to fast
without warning. While
one measure of a rapper's
talent is the speed of
their flow, it is refreshing
it to hear an artist
exercise
some
lyrical
rebellion and switch it up.
W i l l i a m s
acknowledged that he
drew on other Boston
rappers for inspiration,
“I support all Boston
rappers. I may sound
like some of them but
I’m not trying to sound
like them.” Originality is
certainly not lacking in
Williams but, although
he does not actively go
for the same style as
Cousin Stizz and Joyner
Lucas, having a particular
sound and identity to
match a geographical
area reflects the very
essence of rap music.
East
coast
rap
harnesses the power of
jazz beats bouncing to
the rhythm of Timberland
boots stomping around
a concrete jungle. West
coast rap can be described
as
a
high
pitched
synthesizer
whistling
through palm trees and
Doc Martin’s as they
hang from power lines
by a tattered shoelace.
However,
Williams’
defiance of traditional
east coast rap customs
provides a glimmer of
hope in the world of rap.
Artists making decisions
for themselves to keep
them as artists and not
puppets for a label. And
while repetition is nice
because the consumer
knows what they are
getting, it does not give the
genre a chance to grow.
Williams'
musical
method also incorporates
his
uplifting,
singing
voice that compliments
every hook it comes in
contact with. In many of
his tracks, Williams makes
use of his vocal abilities
to cool down the song
after his lyrics heat it up.
“King without a castle”
makes use of hard bars
and
uncompromisingly
relentless
lyrics.
But
when
Williams
sings
“what’s a king without
a castle / what’s a king
without a crown / what’s
a king without a throne /
just another man whose
down,” it signals the
release of pressure the
his lyrics built up through
content and sound. Each
one of Williams raps share
a common message: it’s
either now or never. For
the sake of the potential
legacy Boston can leave
behind in the world of
rap, let’s pray for now.
Connect with John
by emailing
jirizarry@su.suffolk.edu
O
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OPINION
SEPT. 20, 2017 | PAGE 9
Extremists on the
political spectrum
S up p o rting A ntifa e mbol de ns t h e alt - r i g h t
Stiv Mucollari
Journal Contributor
The
recognition
gained from the “Unite
the Right” rally has seen
the left-leaning political
group,
Antifa,
gain
increasing support from
the
mainstream
left.
However, the implied
approval of Antifa by the
left is harmful towards the
greater cause of fighting
white nationalism. The
group styles itself after
various Anti-fascist Action
groups that sprung up in
the 1930s. These groups
were a failed attempt to
unite the left.
Due
to
the
confrontational approach
of Antifa toward members
of the white nationalist
movement, self-described
as the “alt-right,” the
left is tacitly embracing
Antifa.
The
primary
issue
with supporting Antifa is
that the confrontational
approach of the group
has gone beyond peaceful
means.
It
relies
on
violence to shut down
rallies and opposes views
that are the opposite of
their ideological leaning.
In Berkeley, Calif., a city
long known for stifling
the free speech right of
conservatives, Antifa had
turned a peaceful counter
demonstration
into
a
violent encounter.
The
Los
Angeles
Times
covered
an
encounter where antifascist protesters beat
Trump supporters and
organizers. While some of
the organizers of the antiMarxist rally had views
that would classify them
as being members of the
“alt-right,” not all of them
espoused views of hate.
One of the attendees who
was heckled during the
Berkeley protest was a
Latino man holding a proTrump sign, according
to an Aug. 27 report by
CBS. Members of Antifa
heckled the man, who
was born in Mexico.
Most importantly, the
violent actions of Antifa
in Berkley changed the
narrative of the counterprotesters from groups
dedicated to drowning
out hate, into an event
focused on the actions
of the vigilantes. In turn,
this allows the “alt-right”
to use the event as a
recruitment tool. Instead
of having the violent
actions of the “alt-right”
appear out of the norm,
the violent response to
them by Antifa legitimizes
political
violence
as
a tactic to be used by
groups
against
other
groups who do not share
the same political beliefs.
The U.S. had its history of
political violence before,
such as the Civil Rights
Movement
or
during
the Vietnam War, but
American history shows
that there are other ways
to combat hateful views
in American society.
Think of it this way:
how successful would
Martin Luther King and
the National Association
for the Advancement of
Colored People [NAACP]
had been if they had
relied
on
violence,
instead using the judicial
system of the U.S., and
non-violent actions of
civil
disobedience,
to
dismantle the system
of segregation in the
American South? Instead
of succeeding, the political
culture in the U.S. would
not have shifted in the
1960s toward supporting
measures such as the Civil
Rights Act or the Voting
Rights Act.
There are countless
means to oppose the
“alt-right”
while
also
condemning the actions
of Antifa. Organizations
that fight hate groups,
such as the Southern
Poverty Law Center, are
the types of groups that
should
be
supported
by
individuals.
While
respecting the right to
assemble, no matter how
hateful the groups can be,
individuals can make it
harder for the “alt-right”
to organize a rally. For
example, Airbnb deleted
the accounts of members
who the company believed
were looking for lodgings
in order to attend the
“Unite the Right” rally.
Following the “Unite the
Right” rally, attendees of
the event were exposed
on social media, which
led to some of them
being fired from their
jobs. If members of the
“alt-right” injure counter
demonstrators,
they
should retaliate not with
violence, but through the
civil justice system.
Making it economically
and socially unfeasible to
attend “alt-right” rallies
without
consequences
is more effective in
combating them than
engaging in violence.
Backlash to the “alt-right”
should not be met with
violence from groups on
the left. Hate should be
met with reason.
Connect with Stiv
by emailing
smucollari@suffolk.edu
Athletics has the opportunity to increase pride
Halaina Leblanc
Journal Staff
Suffolk University is
seated within the spirited
city of Boston, but even
surrounded by the city’s
morale, it seems that the
Suffolk’s pride has been
lost.
The dearth of pride
within
the
general
population of Suffolk can
be in its lack of a defined
campus. Students do not
feel like they are on a
college campus, they see
themselves as being a part
of the city of Boston. This
causes students to pick
city events over Suffolk
events like ice-skating on
the Frog Pond, instead of
going to a Student Affairs
event.
Since Suffolk has an
unbound campus, the
sports team’s facilities
are scattered across the
city. This can explain why
many students choose not
to attend the different
sporting events barring
those that take place in
Ridgeway.
Even new students
who want to rally and
attend a sports event
may not feel comfortable
yet using the T, or the
silver line to reach these
different fields.
If Suffolk were to set
up group meet-ups in
the dorms or academic
buildings,
students
who don’t know where
they are going, or are
uncomfortable going by
themselves could get to
the games more readily.
It could even be as easy
as making the locations
and directions to get to
the sports games more
accessible to students.
This accessibility could
also be helped if the
University set up a shuttle
system to get students to
and from the games.
A
shuttle
system
could also be used as a
way for Suffolk to start
a transportation system
for surrounding areas if
students do not want to
take the T.
large part of the Suffolk
community
commutes
from home, and this
means they are only on
campus certain days or
hours throughout the
week, so they are limited
in what they can take part
“The dearth of pride within the
general population of Suffolk can
be in its lack of a defined campus.”
If
the
university
offered
the
shuttle
service for free, students
could start commuting
with other students and
a community can be
established,
all
while
creating a low cost for
students.
Commuter
students
struggle in a different
way to make a connection
with Suffolk. An extremely
in and join, especially if
they commute from more
than an hour away.
These students may
want to go to games, and
attend performing arts
shows, and even want
to join clubs on campus,
but they are not available
when
these
events
happen.
There are ways to take
part in Suffolk events
from afar by watching the
Snapchat story, seeing
posts
and
even emailing the groups
about being interested in
joining. The problem is,
these substitutions don’t
create the connection
face-to-face meetings can
establish. To form a sense
of community at Suffolk,
a student needs to spend
time at the university and
for commuter students,
through no fault of their
own, don’t spend this
time on campus.
Suffolk could improve
this by live streaming
events on their social
media
accounts
so
students
who
cannot
make it can gain an
insight of what it’s like
to be involved. By doing
this, Suffolk would also
be increasing it’s social
media presence, which
is beneficial for the
university’s message and
students alike.
The university could
also improve commuter
students experience by
building
more
dorms
in the area that are at a
lower price.
In this way, Suffolk
could see an influx of
students
wanting
to
spend the extra money to
live on campus when they
otherwise would live from
home. The discounted
price would only be
available for commuter
students that live within
an hour of the campus.
Again, this would be
a good way for Suffolk
to create a sense of
community.
The only way Suffolk
pride in the student
population is going to rise
is if Suffolk starts putting
more effort in establish it.
Connect with Halaina
by emailing
hleblanc@suffolk.edu
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKOPINION@GMAIL.COM
10 SEPT. 20, 2017
O
Student safety abroad should
Editor’s Word raise concerns
Hello to all new and returning
Patrick Holmes
Opinion Editor
Suffolk students.While we are all as
unique and special as our mothers
told us we were, we all have one
thing in common.We chose to come
to Suffolk University: one of the
best universities in one of the most
educated cities in America. This was
a conscious choice that we all made.
Now it’s time to own it.
By choosing to come here we all
decided to make ourselves better
through education. This is a two-way
street, meaning we have an obligation
to take it upon ourselves to improve
upon the people we were when we
arrived. It isn’t just the responsibility
of the professors to learn for us. They
can’t pipe steaming, hot knowledge
right into our heads-- although most
would if they could. We must take
advantage of the resources and city
around us to mold ourselves into the
future agents of change this country
needs.
Sure, it’s easy to zone out to
Netflix once our basic classroom
responsibilities are fulfilled, instead of
learning something new. Sure, it’s easy
to ask mom or dad for money instead
of taking a low-paying internship.
But, that’s not the point.
There are millions of students stuck
in colleges in the middle of nowhere
without the opportunities we have.
Take advantage of them or resign
yourself to mediocrity.
The choice is your’s, but it won’t be
a choice forever.
-The Journal’s Editorial Staff
It’s time to start
rethinking how we view
Europe as a trendy travel
destination. Due to the
many terrorist attacks
and acts of terror, it’s
imperative to be wary
when planning vacations,
especially for students
studying abroad.
On Sunday, four Boston
College students were
subject to hydrochloric
acid being sprayed in their
faces at a train station
in
France.,
according
to BBC. Although not
categorized as a terrorist
act, it was committed by
a local woman with the
intent to harm others.
Due to the victims status
as students at another
Boston school, this hits
close to home and allows
the mind to wander about
how this could happen
to anyone, any student
studying abroad from any
university.
The United States’
Department of State has
issued a travel alert that
will be in effect until Nov.
30.
From the multiple
attacks in London to the
most recent in France, it
is obvious that travellers
should be more alert in
foreign continents.
Many
students
studying abroad travel on
the weekends to multiple
destinations
across
Europe, leaving them
vulnerable to random
terror attacks, which can
happen in known tourist
destinations,
major
transportation hubs and
shopping malls.
Suffolk
University
prides itself on having a
second campus in Madrid.
Can Suffolk do more
to ensure their safety,
even off campus?
It is easy to be
distracted
by
the
cultural
differences
and the curiosity that
accompanies
travelling
abroad, but this is no
excuse to let one’s guard
down when someone is
in an unfamiliar place,
especially
a
different
country. More often than
not, people who appear to
be tourists are targeted.
Suffolk has policies in
place to keep its Madrid
Campus students safe, but
that can only go so far if
students decide to travel
often across Europe.
These policies can
protect
students
in
Madrid,
leaving
the
students to their own
discretion on how to
protect themselves in
other cities and countries.
It’s imperative that
our university continues
to keep its students safe
and also teaches them
to
cautiously
travel
abroad. Moreover, it’s
important that students
take into consideration
their
mortality
when
experiencing
these
other cultures they so
desperately want to be a
part of.
The effected Boston
College students were
at a train station when
a random act of terror
reared its evil head in
their direction, meaning
that at any moment, acts
such as these can happen
to anyone.
Now more than ever, it
is mandatory to be aware
of one’s surroundings.
There
are
limited
resources to control these
terror attacks, so one
needs to be attentive and
alert.
London
has
been
subject to too many terror
attacks in the last few
months, and is a popular
destination for students
to go abroad and study.
Students should pick
and choose where they
should travel to based
on the safeness of the
destination.
Can
cities
across
Europe
create
safer
environments to prevent
these kinds of attacks?
Many areas in London
have begun putting up
cement barricades but
those can only do so
much. It seems that there
is no right way to stop or
end these acts, laeving
the public to take action
to protect themselves.
Unfortunately,
it
seems that Europe is
becoming
increasingly
unsafe and no matter
how hard they try to
prevent these attacks,
there is only so much
they can do. It is now up
to the general public to
take care of themselves
more and to attempt to
stop these attacks.
So, for students at all
universities, it is wise to
think twice before one
chooses study abroad.
Connect with Patrick
by emailing
pholmes2@suffolk.edu
Year in Review:
Below are all the terrorist attacks and
acts of terror that have occured in
Europe this year so far. Half of these
acts have occurred in England, with
others spreading throughout Eastern
Europe.
Feb. 3
France
Louvre
Attack
Six deaths,
46 injuries
Apr. 7
Sweden
Stockholm
Attack
Two deaths,
three injuries
May 22
England
Manchester
Attack
11 deaths,
48 injuries
Jun. 19
England
Finsbury
Attack
15 deaths,
131 injuries
Sept. 15
England
London
Attack
No deaths,
four injuries
No deaths,
Two injuries
Mar. 22
England
Westminster
Attack
Five deaths,
14 injuries
Apr. 20
France
Paris
Attack
23 deaths,
250 injuries
Jun. 3
England
London
Attack
1 death,
10 injuries
Aug. 17
Spain
Spanish
Attacks
No deaths,
30 injuries
Sept. 17
France
Marseille
Attack
THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKSPORTS@GMAIL.COM
11 SEPT. 20 2017
S
PASSING
OVERSEAS
Courtesy of International Basketball Federation
Hagopian defends for Armenia
Clevis Murray
Journal Staff
Offseason for athletes
is
about
practicing
more, playing more and
becoming more talented
in
their
respective
sport. As for Michael
Hagopian, a guard for
Suffolk University Men’s
basketball,
he
spent
part of his summer as a
member of the Under-20
Armenian National Team
in Greece throughout
July.
This rare opportunity
had been in the works
since his freshman year,
said Hagopian, as the
Basketball
Federation
of Armenia kept tabs
on him throughout his
college career.
An invite was sent
to him in the middle of
his sophomore year, as
he ended the season for
the Rams, averaging 22.5
points in their final eight
games.
“I got a lot of
experience from playing
overseas,” said Hagopian
in a recent interview with
The Suffolk Journal. “I
learned a lot about my
game and how to improve
my weaknesses. I was
able to start every game
for Armenia so I really
had a good experience.”
The
6-foot-1,
170-pound Hagopian had
a breakout sophomore
season for the Rams in
the 2016-17 season, with
career-highs in points at
14.3, 12.2 shot-attempts,
a free-throw percentage
of 84.7 and field-goal
percentage
of
42.3.
Additionally, he became
the first Ram to record
back-to-back
30-point
games in over a decade.
“I started to play really
well, the best basketball
I've played, and they
thought I could really
help the team,” said
Hagopian.
He explained that this
was a possibility he just
could not turn down as
he would be able to visit
his home country, have
everything paid for and
play that sport that he
loves.
In the six-game period
with Armenia, in which
they went 3-3 in the nineday period, Hagopian
averaged 8.5 points, 3.8
rebounds and 2.3 assists
in 29.2 minutes per game.
He said that as he played
against competition from
outside of the United
States and saw playstyles
from other parts of the
world, his knowledge of
the sport expanded.
Hagopian’s Under-20
head
coach,
Vicken
Eskidjian,
saw
the
potential
and
talent
in
Hagopian,
which
led Eskidjian to trust
Hagopian as the point
guard position for the
team. The two only had
a brief time to prepare
for
the
International
Basketball
Federation
(FIBA) Under-20 European
Championships.
“He has the scoring
mentality, and he defends
too,” said Eskidjian in
an interview with The
Journal. “Even when he
wasn’t on the floor, I
knew he would make the
right decision. For me, it’s
not just about the scoring.
He reads the game and I
gave him the green light
to make more attempts.”
Eskidjian was a big
proponent of Hagopian’s
athleticism,
defensive
ability, physicality and
shot-making ability. He
explained what stood
out from the guard and
Watertown, Mass. native,
in comparison to other
guards on the national
team, was “him being
wiser.”
Eskidjian said that
Hagopian
showed
tremendous temperament
and a positive attitude
that stood out as he
faced the other European
players.
If
the
opportunity
presented itself, the idea
of playing international
basketball
at
the
professional level had
entered the head of
Hagopian.
“I feel like I learned
a lot about international
basketball,”
said
Hagopian. “If I ever have
the opportunity to play
professionally overseas, I
feel like I got a little taste
of that playing for the
national team. The style
of play is different.”
With
two
years
left of wearing jersey
number 10, Hagopian
said he is zoned in on
improving as a player
and helping the Suffolk
basketball
program
evolve, with its plethora
of underclassman. Also,
he is 463 points away
from reaching the 1,000
point plateau, a milestone
last reached at Suffolk by
Caleb Unni ’16 in 2016.
“I hope to bring
the same mentality as
representing my country
to Suffolk, and wanting
to make a name for
Suffolk basketball,” said
Hagopian.
Connect with Clevis
by emailing cmurray4@
su.suffolk.edu
Courtesy of Suffolk Athletics
“I learned a lot
about my game
and how to improve
my weaknesses.”
- Michael Hagopian, #10
S
@gosuffolkrams
Stay Tuned
VB | @Suffolk_U Volleyball takes the 3rd
set 25-18 to sweep the match over
@PMCAthletics, extends win streak to 4.
SPORTS
Womens Cross Country team
freshman runner stands out.
See next weeks edition.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 | PAGE 12
Lady Rams on par
for season success
The second
season women’s golf team
had a major
break through for
the first time in Suffolk University
women’s sport
history. In the teams
first-ever home match, the
blue-and-gold were able to comeout
on top and grab
the programs first win.
As the roster continues
to grow, these Lady Rams
look to continue
driving the program
forward.
Joe Rice
Journal Staff
With a complete roster
of six girls, five being
underclassmen,
Suffolk
University Women’s golf
team started out their fall
season strong, with many
accomplishments already
in the books. The Lady
Rams have succeeded in
many program “firsts” so
far in their 2017 season.
Recently, the Lady
Rams won their first
competition of the fall
season and also collected
the first win for the
program with a 371-354
victory over Rhode Island
College (RIC) at the
Brookmeadow
Country
Club in Canton, Mass.
The
women’s
golf
team competed in its
first two-day competition
at the William Smith
Invitational hosted by
William & Smith at
Clifton Springs Country
Club on Saturday, where
the Lady Rams managed
to place seventh overall
out of 11 teams.
Although the Lady
Rams have accomplished
many wins for the team
this season, it was not
easy.
“The moment we found
out that we won, it was
a great feeling and one
that will drive us toward
success for the rest of
the season,” said junior,
sports marketing major,
Mackenzie McGrath in
a recent interview with
The Suffolk Journal. “To
achieve the first win of a
program is a great feat
and I'm definitely looking
forward to the rest of the
season.”
Aine
Dillon,
a
sophomore legal studies
major
and
long-time
golfer, explained to The
Journal that the path
to their first victory
required a lot of time and
patience as a result of not
having enough golfers to
compete for triumph.
“Last year, we only had
one other girl and myself,
so it was physically
impossible to win given
the sheer number of
people,” said Dillon.
The team started off
small,
however
after
a year of gathering
personnel, the team has
gained enough Lady Rams
to compete for a chance
to win tournaments.
Dillon also explained
to The Journal that the
competition Suffolk sees
is
certainly
different
from what she saw as a
competitor in high school.
“In
college
golf,
[everyone]
is
very
passionate about it,” said
Dillon. “Some people are
trying to go professional
even in Division III.”
With the competition
as tough as it is, and
taking into account the
journey the team took
to get to where they are
today, Dillon said the
feeling of being victorious
in their first match was
“amazing.”
“It was really special
for us, being able to
compete [as a team] for
the first time and win,”
said Dillon. “All of our
girls played really well
that day.”
First-year Head Coach
Jay Parker agreed with
what Dillon said, adding
that the recent win
was,
“very
gratifying
considering all the hard
work we put in.”
Parker
stepped
into an unknown role;
originally coaching the
Suffolk Baseball team as
an assistant for the past
twenty years. When asked
about the transition from
baseball
to
women's
golf, Parker explained
that it was very different
given the difference in
personalities that the two
teams have.
In regards to if baseball
or golf would be more
difficult to coach, Parker
discussed how he had
coached many different
sports throughout his
career including softball
and lacrosse in addition to
baseball and golf. Parker
said that he as a coach
must “put in time with
research” in order to be
the best he can possibly
be as an instructor.
McGrath later went on
to discuss just how this
first victory of the season
could help this team
throughout the rest of the
season.
“When we beat RIC
for our first win of the
season, it felt awesome.
For any sport, to start off
a season with a victory,
it already puts your
team on a good track for
the rest of the season,”
said McGrath. “To start
on a high note like this
definitely has given us
all
more
confidence
individually and as a
whole that we will take
into this weekend when
we play in New York.”
McGrath
also
explained that the players
are shooting high in
regards to the team’s
expectations.
“Looking at how we
performed last Sunday,
I think we have a good
outlook for the rest of the
season,” said McGrath.
“Our end goal is to win
the championship, and I
do think it's possible for
us to get it. There's always
things we can work
on to better ourselves
individually, so I think if
we can keep working hard
and continue to put the
work in, then that is an
obtainable goal.”
The women’s golf team
looks to compete and
continue their winning
ways on Saturday at the
Mt. Holyoke Invitational
at the Orchards Golf Club
in South Hadley, Mass.
Connect with Joe
by emailing jrice4@
su.suffolk.edu