Christina Lacoste, a senior at Emmanuel College expressed how important her senior internship class was in helping her nail her current internship with The Weekly Dig.

“My internship professor helped me with my resume, he had really helpful suggestions and I am grateful to him for that.”

Lacoste made a huge point in saying that it was initiative that got her the position at The Weekly Dig. People can’t just rely on people in life to do things for them. If you want something you have to go after it. This is one major lesson that students must learn at college. Nothing is going to be handed to you on a silver platter. Lacoste could have taken a internship at a major alternative news weekly in Boston this year, but she was not about to become someone’s “coffee bitch.” Instead, she chose an internship at The Weekly Dig.

“I sent them writing samples, a resume, a cover letter, and my class schedule, apparently that worked out well because they contacted me pretty soon afterwards.”

The importance of making the right internship choice is vital. Lacoste stated that she applied to other places but she wanted to make sure that she would have artistic freedom as well as learn while on the job.

No one wants to be someone’s slave to irrelevant tasks, even though a lot of internships do have tasks that seem to be a little back breaking, a positive learning experience should also be present. In order to not let herself slip down the slippery slope of getting caught up in backbreaking work and leaving behind artistic freedom, The Weekly Dig was the obvious choice for Lacoste.

“I asked The Phoenix about writing articles for them and they said something like, well if you have an idea, we can pair you up with a writer, meaning I wouldn’t be writing squat.”

Her experience got her on the main page of The Weekly Dig’s Art and Entertainment section with a new feature about the new Aphrodite and the Gods of Love exhibit at the MFA in which Lacoste seemed to be excited about. Lacoste also said that this experience has taught her many different aspects of journalism.

“I’ve also learned how to create blog posts, write transcripts, fact check, and interview, the people at The Dig are always willing to help but at the same time they give me enough space to learn on my own..”

Lacoste also talked about how her writing classes have helped her create her own artistic style of writing. Whether it is her PR class with Ernie Corrigan, her Creative Writing classes with Dr. Mary Beth Pope, or her Journalism classes with Mark Baard, all have helped her with opening her eyes to journalistic style and editing.

Lacoste is not sure what‘s next. Like most seniors I’m sure she is just trying to get through this last year before stepping out into the scary real world. This internship however will possibly open doors into some options and act as a safety blanket while taking those first couple of steps after graduation.

“I’m not really sure what I’ll be doing after The Dig, but my experience in journalism will definitely open up some doors for me, I am hoping to travel and write, that would be ideal.”

By Dan Bourque at Emmanuel College

Finding a job fresh out of college is difficult enough these days. Finding one in your desired field, though, and one that you really love – that’s another story altogether. But for one local college senior, an internship with NESN just might get him there.

“It’s cool to get emails from Don Orsillo, Jim Rice and Heidi Watney,” said Emmanuel College senior Jon Hardacker. His new gig puts him right on the front lines of NESN.com, the website of the New England Sports Network.

As a native of Cromwell, Connecticut, Hardacker has been an avid follower of the network, and Boston sports in general, for his entire life. He works as a greeter for the Boston Red Sox during baseball season, and wastes no time gearing up for the Bruins campaign soon after. Working and writing for NESN, for him, is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The work isn’t exactly the glamorous, eye-catching reporting that you may think, though.

Photo Cred: The Systems Group

“Its stuff I would most likely be doing in my free time anyway,” he said of his daily job duties. He works for NESN’s “new media” department, which deals entirely with the website. He spends his afternoons surfing the web for sports stories to publish on NESN.com and editing other writers’ posts. He even writes his own original work that gets posted right to the site, complete with his own byline.

As a communications major and an aspiring journalist, Hardacker is living out a lifelong dream writing articles about the Red Sox and Bruins. He goes into work three days a week – Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons. Every day is a personal challenge to practice his trade and make a name for himself in the business.

Still, his biggest aim at the moment is to help the company.

“The main goal is to find content that will attract people and drive up our page views and clicks,” Hardacker said.

Hardacker is just the latest in a line of several Emmanuel students who have interned with NESN in the past. He was told about the opportunity by a former Emmanuel student, Bryan Quinlan.

“He had the same internship I have now. He talked me up to my now supervisor, John Beattie, and left a good impression for me to follow through on.  I went in to my interview on a Friday morning, and got an e-mail Friday afternoon offering me the spot.”

As a 21 year old Bostonian, Hardacker has witnessed a new era of success in this city’s sports world. In his lifetime, Boston has seen two World Series trophies (the first since 1918), three Patriots Superbowls, an 18th NBA title and a long-awaited Stanley Cup. This recent success makes working at NESN even more exciting for a young sports fanatic.

Still, as important and fascinating as the new internship is for Hardacker, he remains grounded enough to appreciate the simpler things about the job.

“There are two vending machines for soda and snacks – everything is worth a quarter!”

By Marianne Salza at Emmanuel College

In the upcoming film “Mark of the Dog Rose,” a young woman, Toni, vanishes from her New England College. Her brother, Gabe Marcel, is determined to find her. The situation is graver than he could have imagined. With police bewildered and time dissipating, Gabe seeks the assistance of Lacey, the sister of one of the detectives on the case. The two collaborate in a race to continue when police had given up. Soon enough, Gabe and Lacey find themselves trapped, lying and waiting in a game of trickery with malevolence itself.

Producing independent movies like “Mark of the Dog Rose,” written by 25-year-old Shannon Carter, require similar chutzpah. The vivacious redhead has porcelain skin and jade-sparkled eyes.

Dedication, high hopes and uniqueness are pivotal for success, especially when working with barely-there finances and relying on people’s generosity.

“My main focus right now is the new film that I wrote, am producing and acting in,” said the Salem State University graduate. “It takes a lot of my time, but I love it! I talk to the director on a daily basis and we have to figure out everything from budget, locations, scheduling, to hair/makeup and wardrobe.”

Photo Cred: ourfilmspace.com

Composing a story line was the easy part. Shannon opted for a drama since her and the 27-year old director’s, Jessica Cook, first film together was comedic. Occasionally she would consult Jess for suggestions, tossing ideas about. A fan of Law and Order SVU, Shannon relishes suspense and is naturally veered in the direction of a thriller. A core plot was construed, and two months of feverish writing later, “Mark of the Dog Rose” was developed. Then came the hard part: finding the funds.

The main money raising strategy was done through Kickstarter. On this website, links are posted, connecting patrons to information about the film and how they can help.

“It’s great for filmmakers, musicians or entrepreneurs to fund their projects. People can donate anything from $1 to $100,000. We didn’t get near that much, but it was a help,” Shannon adds with a laugh. They rose a little over $1000 through the program.

The 99 Restaurant also donated food and gift cards for a celebration involving a group of local bands who performed and entertained raffle buyers. Many of the musicians were featured in the soundtrack of Shannon’s last film, “Sunblocked,” or were friends with the director. Prizes included wine, lottery and movie ticket baskets donated by Shannon’s family and even a hand-crafted shelf presented by It’s A Secret, a shop in Danvers.

It is a big responsibility, especially considering the two both work full-time. While Jessica does administrative work in Vermont, Shannon juggles two jobs: one in a law office as a paralegal-in-training; and another as a playful-grinned hostess at Blue Stove restaurant.

Having such an intense schedule can be difficult; and they do the brunt of the time-consuming project. Situations pop up where a location or shoot deadline arises, and it is hard to get in touch with the necessary people when working during business hours.

Shannon has no choice but to make her itinerary work – from sending out e-mails or drafts in the early hours prior to work, during breaks, and after her eight hours. Weekends end up being the most productive.

The money that is collected through fundraisers goes to paying for some locations and is also dedicated to purchasing props, equipment and food for the cast and crew on set. Needless to say, it is quickly spent.

Fortunately, the ladies have some terrific people and businesses that let the duo use supplies and venues free of charge.

Sadly, no one gets paid for working on the movie; particularly Shannon and Jess who wind up paying for some effects out of their own pockets.

“Everyone donates their time, but in return, people get exposure, experience and credit to add to their resumes,” says Shannon.

The wide assemblage managing “Mark of the Dog Rose” take part because it is their passion, but getting distribution is a major cinematic dream for Shannon. Upon completion, the team plans to submit the motion picture to multiple film festivals and will likely tour at a variety of venues presenting it while gaining viewership.

By Caitlin Buckley at Emmanuel College

The literary world has entered the social network stream. Marketers have 140 characters to catch your interest.

Lexie Winslow has social media down pat. Every day, she is the queen of clever hash-tags and witty status updates. She needs to get the most comments and “likes.”

“Learning to write concisely and persuasively has been invaluable in the business world, especially in marketing,” she said . “Social media marketing is all about making an impression in a finite amount of characters!”

Photo Cred: AIS Media

In Boston’s Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade and Reference Division, 24 year old Winslow is the Web Content Administrator. She uses Twitter and Facebook to blog new book titles.

She appreciates the desire to discuss favorite books and the next big hits. Her updates relate to the reader– what sparks their interest, what they want to talk about most. In one line, she invests in the reader as much as she promotes the book.

“I find social media a very forgiving platform, so it’s a good place to try things out and see how the fans react. I put myself in their shoes as a reader, to think of what would entice me to learn more about a book,” Winslow said.

It’s a world in which people want to voice their own opinions. If Winslow does it right, social media provides an organized and exciting forum, friendly to both discussion and marketing. Every day is a little different, so the fresh and stimulating new ideas need to keep coming.

“I think social media is a blessing for the publishing industry,” she said. “Twitter and Facebook especially are so text-based that literary people gravitate to them.”

But there are limits to her expression.

Winslow feels the pressure to make each and every status update interesting. She can’t be too offensive, but she can be a little controversial. There is a balance somewhere in between that keeps readers returning and increasing in numbers.

When she feels lacking in followers and friends, she wins them over by giving them something for their effort.

“Free books usually go over the best,” she said. “Whenever I want to drive up follower numbers, I put together a giveaway.”

Living in the digital age, creativity is important. Marketing has become Winslow’s playground.

For the promotional websites, she creates designs that are easy to follow and visually appealing. She features the newest and most intriguing books on the homepage of the company’s website. Each tweet and status update has a purpose.

There is a sense of accomplishment that comes from clicking that tweet into the web-universe.

“I can feel proud of the products that I share with the world,” she said.

Winslow credits her English degree from Holy Cross for helping her succeed in the professional world. She had a passion for literature in college, and followed that instinct when looking for jobs in book-related fields.

Publishing was the perfect fit.

After graduation, she interned at a smaller publishing house, The History Press. When she received another internship at Houghton Mifflin, she was at a crossroads: internship or graduate school? She chose the internship for experience, over observation in a classroom.

Experience paid off and she was given a job at the company—one that relies on a quick mind and a youthful spark—the essence of social media.

“It’s casual, sometimes silly, and all about instant gratification,” she said, “and I’ve become very comfortable with it.”

By Kasey Miller at Emmanuel College

Photo Cred: www.laurenshope.com

The main reason people do not wear medical IDs is because they are ugly and bring attention to their medical conditions. Another reason is because people do not know what medical conditions are considered important enough to merit wearing a medical ID. The simple solution would be to ask your doctor. If your doctor thinks you should wear a medical ID odds are you should wear one.

Lauren’s Hope medical IDs are negating the stigma of people wearing medical IDs. They are fashionable and, unless the person wearing the ID wants or needs to bring attention to their medical condition, no one knows that they are wearing one.

The front of the pendant looks like a carnation with a lot of colorful layers. In the center of the flower is a red medical alert symbol but unless you are strictly looking for it, you do not see it. If you are trying to look for it, you will see it.

“It’s so important to wear a medical ID and when Laurens Hope makes them so cute I don’t mind wearing mine! People need options when they have diabetes. We have minimal options in treatment, but in fashion they are limitless.” Says Allison Crace, a type one Diabetic.

On Lauren’s Hope webpage, you can choose from a variety of styles of medical IDs. If you prefer to wear something subtle, like a watch, they have that option. If you want something flashy that shows up when you wear it, they also have jewelry that fits that description. Whatever style you are, and if you have any known chronic illnesses, Lauren’s Hope has the type of medical ID you are looking for.

People with known chronic illnesses crave control – and Lauren’s Hope gives some control back to these people.

A Lauren’s Hope medical ID necklace looks like a normal necklace. This brings up the question: How does medical staff know if a person is wearing a medical ID? The answer is that emergency medical staff is trained to check for the little red medical alert symbol on the arms, neck or feet of any person seen by emergency medical staff.

The price of a Lauren’s Hope medical ID would be somewhere in the sixty dollar range. The price of not wearing a medical ID, on the other hand, is far more costly.

By Kelly J. DeSisto at Emmanuel College

PROVIDENCE — Twenty one-year-old Rhode Islander, Lexi Neelis, sheds light on her fascination with body art.

“I have tattoos because I feel they enhance my body aesthetically. They are a way for me to bring a part of my personality literally to the surface of my skin.”

Almost every guide to professionalism makes a point of condemning the tattoo junkies from displaying their latest tribal symbol or finished sleeve. Necks, faces, wrists, hands and sometimes shoulders are some exposed areas of the body in which sporting a tattoo may not go over too well in the office environment. It’s becoming more common, however, for job seekers to show their tats proudly, whether traditional employers like it or not.

Photo Credit: Providencetattoo.com

Fortunately for this coffee barista, her five tattoos didn’t stand in the way of starting her gig at Coffee Exchange, a renowned café in Providence.

When asked about the impact that her tattoos have had on her job, Lexi replied that, “I may work at a coffee shop but I also work within their office. And, even though I work in an office setting, I have never felt the need to hide or conceal them. I receive compliments on my tattoos while I’m working all the time.” Lexi not only got accepted for the job with her tattoos showing, but also received a raise and, shortly after, a promotion as the organization’s administrative assistant.

Tattoo parlors are popping up everywhere, perpetuating the desire to get tattooed. From media outlets to technology enhancements, it seems that tattoos are showing up more often and may begin to alter the traditional expectations for interviews, conferences, internships and other opportunities that involve the element of appearing professional.

But let’s be honest. A café isn’t going to uphold the same dress code that law firms and high-ranking corporations require. The upcoming working generation, however, may change the norm of attire in even the most pristine business settings. Young adults in their early 20’s, such as Lexi, find it more common to have at least a tattoo or three before feeling like a rebel. Lexi represents the general point of view of her contemporaries when saying, “Proof that our generation is changing the way people view tattoos is everywhere! When I meet someone my age who doesn’t have a tattoo, I’m slightly surprised.”

From the way things are going, it wouldn’t be a shocker if tattoos started showing up in more professional settings. But what about now? Should young adults keep themselves from holding back by showing who they are through body art?

Dan Jalbert, assistant director of Emmanuel College’s Internship Career and Development office, has more to say on the matter. Individuality is important, but when it comes down to it, “while you may be a 20 something year old, you may be interviewing with someone in their 50’s or 60’s who puts a great deal of value and emphasis on traditional interview attire.”

Should the upcoming job seekers feel concerned about their tattoos? Could it be that our sense of fashion must come to a halt once we enter the networking world?

No need to fret. For those of you who are nervous, however, there is an array of options. As everyone knows, there are more places to get tattoos than your forehead or other obvious parts of the body. Let’s keep in mind that we not only have conservative clothing at our disposal but also the use of Band-Aids and other concealing tools to mask one’s expression of individuality. These quick fixes can be used for the entire time working within a more professional culture or at least for the interview.

The diversity of the work force is also key to keep in mind. Dan makes a point by mentioning that tattoos are, “definitely more accepted and normal in certain fields. Although, since you never know for sure what kind of person you’ll be interviewing with or working under, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

With professionalism 101 in the back of her mind, Lexi has found an openness to the idea of covering her beloved pieces of body art if her occupation takes her elsewhere. For now, however, she keeps to her passion for writing, art, and distinctiveness.

“In a setting where I need to convey serious information without distractions, I would consider covering my tattoos in some way. Other than that, I actually feel incomplete when my tattoos aren’t showing. They are a part of me and I don’t see myself ever regretting the art I have chosen to carry for the rest of my life.”

By Alex Lucier at Emmanuel College

The strange sport of curling first captured my interest during the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver. While not being recognized as an official Olympic event until the 1998 Nagano Games, curling’s roots actually go back as far as 1540’s Scotland.

I watched with fascination during the past two Winter Games, and also played the Nintendo Wii version of the sport. But it was not until recently that my dream to curl came to fruition.

My chance to hit the ice came two weekends ago when I was invited by a family friend to Petersham Curling club in Central Massachusetts. There I learned a few of the finer points of the sport that you just can’t get from seeing it on tv.

Photo Credit: allbestwallpapers.com

Each match begins with opponents shaking hands and saying “Good Curling.” The second tradition introduced by my instructor was that the winning team buys the losing team drinks after the game. So if you win you drink after, if you lose, you drink for free; being a loser has never seemed so attractive.

As the 44 pound granite rock roared down the ice towards me I began taking swift small steps until my speed matched the stone’s. Now shuffling right alongside it I was ready with broom in hand. Waiting forPhoto Credit: allbestwallpapers.com the team captain, called the ‘skip,’ to shout “Sweep!”

The two teams of four take turns sending each of their 8 stones down the 150 foot long playing surface. The ultimate goal being that at the conclusion of each ‘end’ (curling’s inning), you want one of your teams stones to be closest to the center of the target called the ‘house.’

Only one team can score per end, and does so by having one of their stones closest to the center of the 12’ diameter house. Each of your stones which also lays closer to the center than your opponents closest stone earns a point as well.

I ran track competitively from 6^th grade through my senior year in college. I spent countless hours trying to perfect everything from using starting blocks to the long jump. The only time I saw a broom during that time was the people sweeping the sand back into the long jump pit.

Never before did I think that the time spent at my various jobs sweeping in front of a grocery store, and at a water park, and at the state park I now work at, would ever come into play in an athletic event.

The ice surface is not perfectly smooth. It has a uniform layer of small bumps referred to as ‘pebbling.’ Sweeping’s role in curling is to melt the ice in front of the stone and therefore making it smoother and therefore the stone moves faster.

The decision to sweep or not to sweep is made by the skip, as he is generally the most experience player on the team. It is his job to judge whether the speed the stone is traveling at will get it to its desired positioned.

Scotland is the birthplace of curling, and the only place in the world that the type of granite used to make the stones can be found. In fact there are only two quarries that the World Curling Federation have deemed as acceptable sources, and the second was found because the original island it was taken from was turned into a nature preserve.

Born in Scotland, with a large Canadian population of players, as well as a surprisingly large following in Asia, curling has grown into an international phenomenon. Luckily for those in the Boston area with an interest in curling there are several locations close by including: Broomstones Curling Club in Wayland, Cape Cod Curling Club in Falmouth, Petersham Curling club in Petersham, and also a Curling Club in Brookline. However, even the Brookline club’s website is private, so unless you know someone there the impression I am getting is: dream on.

And dream I will, but it won’t be in Brookline. So if you have an interest in gliding on ice, and throwing stones into houses, I hope to see you at one of the other curling clubs who actually make an effort to further expose eager enthusiasts to their spectacle on ice.

By Elizabeth Race-Moore at Emmanuel College

For many young people the idea of marriage may seem outdated and old fashioned. Perhaps it’s the “till’ death do us part” line that sends 20-something’s running. But lawmakers are now looking to make the enslavement of marriage a little less scary, and a little easier to get out of.

The idea is to create a contract between married couples that would require a marriage renewal after 10 years of marriage. After that time, couples would either agree to extend their marriage or have it dissolved. Couples wishing to get married already have to fill out their marriage license; this contract would be very similar.

The contract would also specify how to split up property, pay alimony and determine custody of children in the case that the marriage was not extended.

Photo Credit: almightydad.com

Boston’s unhitched women are warming to the idea.

“The downside of this law is that it might encourage people to jump into marriages too soon,” said Nicole Oliveira, Emmanuel College Junior.

“But at the going rate of divorce, maybe it isn’t such a bad idea.”

Political party members are not looking to speed up divorce but to give a solid chance to the marriage. On the other hand, this can help to avoid the long and complicated process that comes with a divorce.

For the younger generations starting to think about marriage, this mandatory “expiration date” could dramatically cut the rate of commitment phobia.

“I know all too many guys who will say ‘I’m never getting married’ or ‘Who wants to be with one person for the rest of your life,’” said Boston College Junior, Hannah Kavanaugh.

Maybe if more people felt they weren’t being sentenced to life at the altar, it might open their eyes to the idea of marriage. “The first ten years is like a test run, see where it goes from there.”

Opening the Doors of Perception for Open Sourcing

By Rebecca Camarda

BROOKLINE — Rock and roll has always been linked to drug culture, with notoriously strung out musicians causing anxiety and frustration for many sound engineers and producers when they bring their habit into the studio.

At David Cardona’s studio in a Brookline apartment, drugs are key to the experience.

In this studio, filled with batik tapestries, drums from India, Africa, and South America, several guitars and a keyboard, and the aroma of Nag Champa, the recording begins when the acid kicks in.

On a recent visit I was included in a circle of musicians sharing a joint.  One had a guitar in hand, the other a hang drum.

Photo Credit: Gig Masters

“We’ve already started,” David said.

Perhaps he was referring to the LSD, or the recording, or maybe both

This recording is part of a larger project entitled In Bloom, the goal of which is to create a library of music that musicians can sample and incorporate freely.

Slowly, the three musicians begin to complement each other and the cacophony of different sounds merge into one and begin to blossom into what sounds like a rock ‘n’ roll tribal hymn.  They play on until they each naturally die out, the last being David as he tinkers out the final notes of his melody.

He turns to me and says, “And that is In Bloom.”

“In Bloom is an invitation to people with musical skills, musical talents, musical interests—and generally any kind of artistic orientation—to an environment where they can explore their creative intuition by manifesting their artistic selves through music in real time,” the musician originally from Bogota, Colombia explains.

Taking a drag from the joint, he continues, “There are no instrumentalist labels implied, you choose your instrument, even non musicians.  The point is that they may not know how to play any particular instrument but they may have an inclination at that very moment to utilize a flute or something else to manifest ideas, ideas that are manifested by listening to everything else that is happening—so, in real time.”

Another goal of this experiment for David is to allow creative people to trust their own intuition, and to help facilitate this, he enlists the help of psychedelics.

“I’m on LSD right now,” he said, once again passing me a joint, which may or may not be the third he’s passed me since my arrival.  Part of an ongoing tradition of artistic projects involving hallucinogens, In Bloom will always at least involve marijuana, but the artist is open to using LSD, mushrooms, salvia, peyote, even datura, a tropical flower that is stronger than LSD.

David said, “For being able to manifest the spiritual being or at least relax and let it happen, a good catalyst is any kind of mind altering substance just because it’s new to you.”

He adds, “It’s kind of like a playground. It destroys the walls of reality and lets you revel in the fleeting moments in which we exist.  There is nothing besides the moment you are in, and if you play a ‘wrong note,’ who cares? The moment and the note are gone.”

David cleared his throat and leaned in closer to me and almost in a whisper, said “You rely on your intuition because you have nothing besides yourself at any given moment.”  It’s as if his LSD trip has made him into a neo-hippie shaman.

Hallucinogens and improvisation are not the primary motivations of this project, though.  David finds the beauty of In Bloom in the recording process.  “It isn’t so much about the aesthetics of the recording or a final outcome that is very polished and clean. The idea is just to be able to keep a record of ideas that people are expressing. Musical ideas, new musical ideas.”

David passionately speaks about his frustrations with the music industry, especially in its current state.  “I want to create a flow of musical ideas that may be utilized by musicians.  I feel we’ve gotten to a point where the material that we have has been recycled so much that everything sounds the same. I want to provide a collection of ideas coming from whoever wishes to express them.”

Everything produced during the In Bloom sessions will be posted on the internet, with no claim to ownership.  He hopes to encourage sampling by other artists and musicians.

“I’m trying to create a library of new ideas, made by anybody who feels so inclined, that anybody may listen to and will have the fucking right to use.”

By Ashley Pierce at Emmanuel College

NEWBURYPORT — At times, living in the city can take a toll on almost anyone’s mental health. From the noise, dirty air and visions of cement in every corner, it’s easy to yearn for refuge away from the chaos.

For those living in Boston, it’s sometimes hard to remember that it’s a city within an entire region that is New England; a region known for it’s natural beauty, rich history and many tourist attractions.

However, you don’t have to travel far, or even go out of state for a New England experience. A mere forty-minute drive up interstate 95 is the only thing separating you from saving your sanity from inner-city blues.

Or if you don’t have a car in the city, like me, the Commuter Rail runs directly to the city’s train station from North Station.

Photo Credit: Tripadvisor

Newburyport, only 35 miles north of Boston, is the perfect coastal destination escape. Though anytime of year looks beautiful in this North Shore town, the fall is perhaps the most perfect time for a drive up. To some, the drive may be worth the whole trip.

If you prefer the scenic route, take the exit before Newburyport, exit 53-b, Rowley. From there, route 133 East will lead to you route 1A- a quiet and winding road, dotted with colonial homes, radiant orange and crimson hued foliage, alternating with landscapes of salt marshes and small boatyards along the river.

You know you will have reached Newburyport when the Colonial houses become more numerous, closer together, and larger in size, with 18th century old cemeteries appearing in-between.

While the smallest city in Massachusetts has a lot of history to offer, it also has a great natural resource to escape to.

Maudslay State Park is a state reservation of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the former home of the late Mosely family estate.

Though the park is beautiful during any season, autumn is especially flattering. With paths winding through rolling meadows and shadowy forests, stretching all the way to the Merrimack river-such natural elements make it a leaf peeper’s paradise.

As we walked the perimeter of the park, I found that not only was I enjoying nature at its finest, but I was getting a work out as well.

After our “cardio session” in the park, I appeared to work up quite an appetite. So, we packed up the car and headed downtown, to the heart and charm of the city.

While walking along the red-bricked sidewalks of High street, it was clear that there was no shortage of places to grab some grub. We were even suggested by a local to get a lobster roll at Bob Lobster, just outside downtown, for a real taste of New England flavor.
However, one glimpse at “Agave Mexican Bistro,” had me persuaded that burritos or fajitas could be the only cure to my insatiable appetite.

I thought it most logical to order the fajitas, since it was almost guaranteed to be a decent portion. I was mistaken. “Decent” was an understatement.

My plate was heaping of yellow rice, refried beans, sautéed peppers and onions, perfectly seasoned chicken, guacamole with notes of cilantro (which I’m partial to) and their -not too mild, not to spicy-house salsa; all accompanied with soft flour tortillas, perfectly warmed.

I ate most of it, with the exception of a single flour tortilla and small clumps of rice and beans.

We skipped dessert and instead washed our meals down with one of their tasty libations. Though the menu offered up to six different flavors of margaritas and 70 varieties of tequila (all along shelves back dropped by a cascading waterfall), I decided to go with the house sangria priced at six dollars, while my “research partner” went with a bottle of “Negra Modelo”, a Mexican beer with hints of honey.

After we paid our bill, which ended up to be a little pricey for our college budgets, we headed back to the car with our bellies full.

On our walk back, we peeked in the windows of the quaint boutiques and coffee shops until we came across one selling products of our interest: wine and beer. As we walked in the door of “Grand Trunk Imports”, the smell of artisanal cheese alerted us that alcohol wasn’t the only product sold here.

As we surveyed the various types of wines from all over Europe, we ended up at the grandiose beer selection, which included brews from local and European breweries. We ended up choosing “hoptimus prime”, a dark, hoppy brew, which tasted as good as the name was clever.

Jeremy, co-owner, along with his wife, offered us a taste of cave-aged cheddar, a hundred times more delicious than the grocery store offerings. He pointed us to the glass case, filled with a considerable variety of cheeses ranging from camembert to gruyere to manchego, all imported from all over Europe.

Although we only ended up purchasing the beer, we thanked Jeremy and left the charmingly rustic looking store, and headed back to the city to toast to a great day, with our new, delicious brew.

By Kelly J. DeSisto at Emmanuel College

Chelsea Pingree, an Emmanuel College graduate, has done what many students believe to be the unthinkable. Thanks to her enthusiasm for the community, Chelsea has managed to find a job and advocate for humanity all at the same time.

From job applications to finding the right masters program, expected graduates are focused solely on how they will find a job, pay off their loans, and avoid living on the streets. For charity to be on a graduating student’s mind is hard to come by.

To delay entering the “real world,” Chelsea’s initial plan was to get a Master’s degree in mathematical finance at Boston University. Lacking the drive for these topics, however, left Chelsea even farther from where she wanted to be.

“Graduate school can be miserable if you aren’t passionate about what you’re studying and I found out that I was not at all passionate about mathematical finance.  I finished the semester and left.”

Prior to leaving BU, Chelsea had already started looking for a job.  “I was really lucky that the publishing company I had interned with in 2008 was hiring” said Chelsea.

She had what every recent college grad wanted – a job. But was that the end of Chelsea’s adjustment into the real world? With a strong faith in Christianity and a need to advocate for victims of injustice, Chelsea identified with more than her newfound means of income.

Photo Credit: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizaion

Chelsea had redefined the typical graduate’s self-fulfilling goals. Not through her job, but through her selfless work with the community.

For three years, Chelsea has continued to volunteer with “School of Peace” – a program through a Christian-based organization called the Community of Sant’ Egidio that helps underprivileged children with academic and social struggles.

But why does she do it? Isn’t a full time job enough for a recent college grad?

Not for Chelsea. During her senior year at Emmanuel, Chelsea had wanted to create a service-based internship to accompany her Catholic Studies major. After asking around, she finally found two volunteer opportunities; one of them being “School of Peace”. She volunteered every Saturday for the first semester of her senior year and, “come second semester I knew I couldn’t leave the kids I work with at ‘School of Peace’ and I have been there ever since.”

If that’s not enough, Chelsea also participates in other Sant’ Egidio Community outings such as visiting elderly friends at a nursing home in Cambridge and gathering for prayer and reflection with others who advocate for humanity. She reflects on her experience with the community and says, “I have made many wonderful friends who have turned out to be some of the most kind, generous, and genuine people I know.”

The everyday college graduate has trouble imagining his or her free time consumed by working towards the greater good of society. For Chelsea, however, helping those in need had some benefits.  “Working with the kids at ‘School of Peace’ gave me a lot of confidence.  For a long time I had considered myself to be kind of a shy person, but shyness doesn’t really fly at the School of Peace.  In my first year I realized how easy it could be to start a friendship.”

For Chelsea, community service has become more than a hobby. Looking towards the future, she also plans on going back to graduate school for theology, a forte for this Emmanuel alum.

MIT’s Sloan School of Management has designed a new web-based simulation program, known as Platform Wars.

The simulation is meant to imitate the competitive video game world, and users play the part of senior management within a prominent video game hardware platform producer. To win, participants must rightly make decisions involving their business. It can be played individually against simulated competitors.

Platform Wars was designed originally to inform business students at MIT of the challenges involved in the video game industry, but is now available for the public to download at no cost here.

Editor’s note: John Stephen Dwyer, a contributing editor for Blast, has been writing about Occupy Boston and spending several nights a week in Dewey Square since the protest began on September 30.  He also reports on Occupy Harvard, the protest that began on November 9 and continues behind the locked and guarded gates of Harvard Yard.

CAMBRIDGE — On November 9, a group calling itself Occupy Harvard set up camp in Harvard Yard.  As the university has closed the gates to anyone without a Harvard ID, all of the occupiers are Harvard-affiliates (mostly students, plus some faculty and employees) and only a few have previous involvement with Occupy Boston or other occupations.  Their unofficial logo, as shown on the @Occupy_Harvard Twitter account, is the Harvard coat-of-arms with the word “Oc-cu-py” replacing “Ve-ri-tas” on the three open books.

They’ve been there more than two weeks.  Camille, a member of Occupy Harvard and a post-doctoral fellow who asked that her last name not be used, told Blast, “…we will be camping during Thanksgiving break. We will have our GA at the usual time (Thursday at 6pm) and will still be here next Monday.”

Tents and attention

The occupation has about 30 tents.  But unlike Occupy Boston, which supports dozens of people with no where else to go, no one can honestly call the Occupy Harvard encampment “home.” Instead, these tents are occupied between classes or other responsibilities — scholastic, social and otherwise.  Harvard’s occupiers donate considerable time to the business of the movement, and some do sleep in tents when they could be in beds just hundreds of feet away, but they make no claims about roughing it, much less mortification of the flesh.  The tents, say Occupy Harvard members, are a specific form of protest used as a gesture of solidarity with people living in poverty and with the Occupy Movement in general.

Idyllic compared compared to the ramshackle tent city of Occupy Boston, the cluster of tents in the Old Yard is new, clean, and safe at night under the constant gaze of both John Harvard’s statue and the Harvard Police.  The activists have the falling autumnal leaves of the Harvard elms and all the amenities of the university.  But undergrad and Occupy Harvard organizer Sandra Y. L. Korn shook her head at media accusations that the encampment consisted of Eddie Bauer and L.L. Bean tents and answered “most of these tents cost forty-something bucks.”

But the tents aren’t the occupation, the people are.  Occupy Harvard has a decent-sized group of activists – around 100 – and they get attention.  They were featured in the national media just for walking out of a particular Economics class a week before they pitched tents in the Yard.  More recently, they stole the spotlight from Newt Gingrich when they mic checked the presidential hopeful at the Kennedy School and caused him to cancel a book signing at the Harvard Coop.  And they’re definitely on people’s mind around campus.  Last week, before “the Game,” student entrepreneurs having nothing to do with the protest were outside the Science Center selling $20 t-shirts that said “Occupy Yale” on one side and “We are the 6.2% (referring to Harvard College’s acceptance rate) on the other.

Harvard’s occupiers seem to have leveraged this attention effectively.  “Theoretical issues are important, but we here can make a difference in the next week in the lives of hundreds of janitors,” said Gabriel Bayard, 18, when the Occupy Harvard encamped on November 9.  Bayard’s prediction seemed to come true last week when SEIU Local 615, a union representing many of the janitors working at Harvard, avoided a strike and won a new, five-year labor contract with competitive wage increases and benefits improvements.

Closed gates

The shutting of Harvard’s gates has determined the character of the protest and the criticism made against it.  Whereas Occupy Boston has attracted all kinds of wild characters, the atmosphere at Occupy Harvard is calm and polite.  The occupiers are almost invariably well-groomed and articulate.  The donation jar took in $130 one day, most of it in $20 bills, and it didn’t disappear when no one had their eye on it.

It is, to use a word popular in Dewey Square, “bougy” (fancy, bourgeois).  Many holders of Harvard IDs have a decent shot of joining the 1% if they weren’t already born into it.  The occupiers in the Yard say this privilege – earned through hard work in many cases, inherited in others – gives them more obligation to try to fix the system rather than less.  Despite the difference in character between the two occupations, bad feelings towards Occupy Harvard seem absent at Occupy Boston; full-time inhabitants there tend to shrug and say “if they’re with us, great.” There’s also some overlap between the two groups, as well as a thread of associations starting with Harvard Divinity School students who went to Occupy Walls Street when it was new, formed the Protest Chaplins upon their return to Massachusetts, became involved with Occupy Boston, and now frequent the very civilized GA’s (General Assemblies) behind Harvard’s guarded gates.

Since no one can enter the Yard without ID, everyone who wanders by the Info Tent is a Harvard affiliate.  Faculty and students stop by in about equal proportion; Harvard employees seem less apt to approach the desk.  The vast majority of these are sympathetic to the demonstrators, although many have specific reservations or questions about the movement’s methods and goals.  Those opening their mouths in opposition to Occupy Harvard invariably complain about having to show ID at the gate (although investigation revealed less than a minute wait during the busiest time of day).

An Abercrombie-ish jock came by one afternoon, waving a petition for stop the University to crush the protest and open the gates.  And there’s a Hugh Grant-esque grad student and self-identified member of the 1% who has come by several times on his bicycle to troll the undergrads.  When told stopping a war with a million casualties was more important than not inconveniencing people at the gates he sniped “that’s your opinion.” Another time, he advised a Haitian freshman his people should be better cab drivers.  This comment from “Go home” left at OccupyHarvard.net is a good example of criticisms made against Occupy Harvard.  Minus the f word, it’s similar to gripes heard in the Yard itself:

Seriously just get the fuck out of Harvard Yard. The only thing you’ve done is taken a space that used to belong to ALL Harvard students and made it the property of the 1 percent of them that are dumb enough to think that this is actually making a difference…Stop pretending like you’re not eating in the dining halls, sneaking back to your dorms for hot showers and sleep, and attending classes. If you don’t like this place, leave. There are plenty of other students who would be happy to be here without disrupting everyone else.  Stop ruining the rest of the ’1 percent’s semester, go home.

Occupy Harvard members say publicly and privately that the closing of the gates seems like a university ploy to turn opinion against the occupiers.  “What Are They Afraid Of?” they ask on the website, “Occupy Harvard has repeatedly reached out to the administration to end its absurd lock down of the Yard, but has been continually rebuffed. We want the lockdown ended.” But there are dozens of homeless people in and around Harvard Square.  Homeless people – or “houseless people” in the lingo of some who call Dewey Square “home” – are a big part of many occupations in the United States.  The Harvard occupiers and their supporters can’t deny that opening the gates would, at least, change the character of Occupy Harvard overnight.

Open letters

Befitting a place of letters, much of the most important dialogue surrounding Occupy Harvard is done in writing.  Approaching the Info Tent, one might be offered a slip of paper that says:

We are here in solidarity with the Occupy Movement to protest the corporatization of higher education, epitomized by Harvard University.  We see injustice in the 180:1 ratio between the compensation of Harvard’s highest paid employee—the head of internal investments at Harvard management Company—and the lowest paid employee, an entry-level custodial worker.  We see injustice in Harvard adoption of corporate efficiency measures such as job outsourcing.  We see injustice in African land grabs that displace local farmers and devastate the environment.  We see injustice in Harvard’s investment in private equity firms such as HEI Hotels and Resorts, which profits off the backbreaking labor of a non-union immigrant workforce.  We see injustice in Harvard’s lack of financial transparency and its prevention of student and community voice in these investments

The letter goes on to suggest that “a university for the 99 percent would offer academic opportunities to assess responses to socioeconomic inequality outside the scope of mainstream economics.” While visitors from Occupy Wall Street sometimes note Occupy Boston has a academic, “college-town” flavor to it, precise and relatively complex language like this characterizes Occupy Harvard to an even greater degree.

Drew Faust , President of Harvard, released an open letter on Monday to “to share more fully some of the principles and realities that have informed our decisions and actions.” She wrote, “As President, I am deeply committed to freedom of expression: it is a fundamental university value, defining our most essential purposes.” But Faust also justified the lockdown saying:

Our concern about the safety of our students has been greatly influenced by our observations of the behavior of outsiders who participated in the demonstrations on Wednesday, November 9, as well as by web postings from individuals outside Harvard urging confrontation and disruption on our campus.  Several hundred people converged on the Harvard campus that night.  The conduct of many of them was deeply troubling.  Some attempted to enter the Yard by force, assaulted at least one Harvard police officer, grabbing his gun belt and stealing his radio.  The crowd included individuals who, according to external law enforcement agencies, have engaged in violent behavior elsewhere with the explicit goal of causing disruption and with little connection to any particular cause.  Incidents of violence–including shootings and sexual assaults–have occurred at other Occupy sites…Sustaining both freedom and security always requires difficult and nuanced judgments, both in a university and in the wider world.

The next day, in an “Open Letter to Drew Faust from Harvard Faculty,” faculty from several departments (Romance Languages and Literatures,  Comparative Literature, Linguistics) and the Committee on Degrees in the study of Women, Gender and Sexuality expressed their opposition to the decision to lock the gates of Harvard Yard.  The academics politely explained to Faust:

We sympathize with your difficult position, but all of us agree that locking the gates is contrary to the principle of open inquiry for which the university stands. Historically, Harvard has never locked its gates (at least, not in recent memory), and we believe that security issues can be addressed differently.  We do not share the perception that the Occupy movement constitutes a threat to Harvard. To the contrary, we are in sympathy with protests against increasing inequality in the United States and believe that Harvard should welcome discussions of the issue.

Wednesday brought another open letter to Faust, this one from Francis X. Clooney, a Jesuit priest at Harvard Divinity School who is Parkman Professor of Divinity and Professor of Comparative Theology and Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions.  In it, Clooney writes, “Dear Drew…I’ve had occasion a number of times in the past few days to walk through the Yard, most recently tonight at 7pm, and observe our students and colleagues in their ‘occupy’ activity – which I might think is better called a Vigil of concern and for justice. Just a few comments.” He continues to refer to the occupation as a “Vigil” throughout the letter and said:

I realize that one of your responsibilities is to maintain order and security at the university, and care for the well-being particularly of those who reside in the Yard. Some security is therefore necessary, and I appreciate your care for this matter, as the Vigil proceeds. But even to me as a member of the Harvard community, who knows much of what is happening, the security seems unduly strict, disproportionate, unnecessary. Indeed, it would not be appropriate to allow everyone and anyone to camp out in the Yard, but nevertheless it is also for the well-being of the university to make clear, as I stated above, that those keeping Vigil are dear and welcome members of the community, some of our best, and not a security challenge. Monitor the site yes, but soon enough, please re-open the gates.

Clooney’s suggestion, that the gates be open but “it would not be appropriate to allow everyone and anyone to camp out in the Yard” might be a unique one.  He doesn’t indicate any details of this idea, such as who would be allowed to occupy a tent in Harvard Yard and who would only be allowed to visit.

The greater good

Occupy Harvard members tend to be especially concerned with two specific things.  The first is a desire for a better relationship between Harvard and its workers.  The second is a call for Harvard’s $32 billion endowment to be managed with more transparency and social responsibility.  In the first area, this well-focused protest already claims one victory – the previously mentioned janitors’ contract.  If Occupy Harvard influences how the endowment is handled, they could credibly claim victory and voluntarily decamp with their heads held high.

But labor and the endowment aren’t the only issues.  Occupiers everywhere have a tendency to want to change the world, and 375-year old Harvard is a world unto itself.  Camille, the post-doc and occupier mentioned above, wants to “make the Harvard Corporation a more ethical and socially responsible institution…an even better teaching institution that is committed to the greater good.” She says the “goal is to reaffirm Harvard as a marketplace of ideas where all viewpoints are discussed and analyzed without regard to the amount of money supporting the different ideas.” Camille explains that occupiers “are cognizant of the role that ideas at Harvard had on the economic collapse” and remain committed to the idea that Harvard “can and should generate solutions that promote social justice and equality for all.”

“We stand in support of the global Occupy movement,” she adds, but doesn’t speculate if Harvard Yard will remain occupied as long as the movement itself.  “After Thanksgiving, the future of the camp is in discussion so we have nothing to say yet about what will happen after next week.”

CAMBRIDGE — Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House (R-GA) and current Republican candidate for president, appeared at Harvard University last night to introduce a documentary he helped create, “A City upon a Hill: The Spirit of American Exceptionalism,” at John F. Kennedy School of Government. But was soon interrupted by members of Occupy Boston and Occupy Harvard using the “mic check” call and response popular throughout the Occupy Movement.

The conservative non-profit organization Citizens United Productions is producer of this documentary and was the lead plaintiff in “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission,” the 2009 Supreme Court case which resulted in unions and corporations being allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money on political ads. Citizens United produces a variety of media – from television ads to feature-length documentaries – and describes itself as being dedicated to “…American values of limited government, freedom of enterprise, strong families, and national sovereignty and security.”

The protestors interrupting Gingrich used sarcastic mockery and said, in part, “Mic check / mic check / we love you Newt / thank you for standing up for corporations / they have rights too / thank you for understanding / that simple point / we are / the ninety-nine percent…”

Gingrich is the latest in a line of Right Wing figures (including Karl Rove, Michelle Bachmann and Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin) who have been “mic checked” by members of the Occupy protest in recent weeks. The male demonstrator leading the mic check in Cambridge, whose words were repeated by fellow protestors, seems to have been ad libbing his lines. This stands in contrast to interruptions in other states where protestors seem to have been reading prepared statements. Gingrich, standing with his wife, Callista, remained smiling and composed throughout the interruption but another person in attendance admonished the demonstrators by yelling “go back to your tents.”

Harvard security guards quickly removed the protestors. No arrests were made. Newt and Callista Gingrich where scheduled to sign copies of his book about American exceptionalism, “A Nation Like No Other,” at the Harvard Square Coop following his appearance at the Kennedy School. The cancellation of this appearance was celebrated on Twitter for several hours by Occupy supporters who tweeted messages such as “rare yellow-bellied newt sighting in Boston” and “@newtgingrich enjoy this while it lasts- you’ll never be this popular again!”

CAMBRIDGE — Occupy Harvard, the latest local manifestation of the Occupy Movement, started with almost 30 tents last night in the Old Yard directly in front of the iconic statue of John Harvard. Police kept those without Harvard ID out of the Yard. Some protesters have complained about treatment by police, but no reports arrests or injures have been reported. Once the encampment was created, between 50 and 100 stayed there peacefully through the first night.

In the tense first moments of occupation, protestors scramble to erect tents in the middle of a protective circle of their comrades. (Blast Staff photo/John Stephen Dwyer)

This encampment took form after weeks of planning and appeared seven days after 70 Harvard students walked out of Greg Mankiw’s lecture after delivering an open letter that said “Today, we are walking out of your class, Economics 10, in order to express our discontent with the bias inherent in this introductory economics course. We are deeply concerned about the way that this bias affects students, the University and our greater society.”

Closing of the gates

Hours before the encampment was put in place, a reported 500 protestors assembled in Harvard Square but were prevented from entering Harvard Yard by police and security people who locked most of the university’s wrought-iron gates. Police and security positioned themselves at the few gates that were not padlocked and intermittently allowed either no one at all or only those possessing Harvard ID to enter. Several graduate students and a faculty member said they couldn’t recollect any time in the past when the university experienced such a severe lock down of the campus.

During one point in the night, a mass of people tried to force their way into the Yard as police pushed the gate closed, making for a chaotic scene. Hannah Hofheinz, 32, a student at Harvard Divinity School later described the police “slamming the gates on us and crushing people – a very violent response.”

More accounts of roughness emerged later including a Facebook post by Taras Dreszer that said “as we were trying to enter Harvard Yard, a Police officer grabbed me by my collar and forcibly stopped me from moving forward. I showed him my ID and he said ‘I don’t give a fuck.’ He then said ‘I want to sock you in the face but I decided not to.’”

While some students with ID had to wait before getting in, throughout the night there were a few people with no Harvard ID who successfully made it inside the Yard by climbing over (or, at one specific spot, under) the fence without being observed. It was reported that one move obvious fence climber was seized by police but was released without being arrested as protestors chanted the questions “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?” to the uniformed law-enforcers. Security also prevented media from entering the Yard, but Blast was able to get inside.

Assembly at the Law School

“Adrenaline was present for a good portion of the night,” Hannah Hofheinz later described, “we heard that Harvard was closing the gates at around 5:30…the question was ‘What do we do? Only Harvard people can come inside, but occupations are about openness.’” After meeting inside the gates the group decided to move. “The choice was made to gather outside the gates where we could all talk. So we did so, and we started to march in order to get out, then they closed all the gates,”said Hofheinz, “but we were able to go out, and we walked up the street, and ended up over at the Law School.”

Around 8 p.m., with hundreds of protestors in attendance, Occupy Harvard held a General Assembly at Harvard Law School (which stands near but outside the university’s iron gates). The meeting was heavily Tweeted about and was broadcast over a live feed creating interest and drawing more supporters to Harvard Square as the night went on. The General Assembly discussed the idea of erecting tents at Harvard Law School but the group ultimately remained committed to occupying the Old Yard location that had been previously discussed and decided upon during a series of meetings over past weeks.

Occupying the Old Yard

Those protestors who made it inside the Yard assembled in front of the statue of John Harvard. This group was mostly made up of those with Harvard ID (student, faculty or staff) but did include a few people who gained entry to Harvard Yard by stealth. One woman, who asked not to be identified but is associated with the Direct Action working group at Occupy Boston, said “Harvard police seemed to have some issue with our right to assemble. I’m not sure what that is. That’s their issue. But we got in. We managed it.”

Around 10:30, as if on cue, about a dozen people suddenly and hastily began erecting tents in front of the statue while protected by a circle of about 100 of their fellow protestors. The people in this human barrier were initially tense and stood with their arms locked but they relaxed when it seemed apparent that police and security would not interfere with their efforts. They also got assurance from the presence of Suzy M. Nelson, Dean of Student Life and overseer of the Harvard College residential system (Harvard College is the division within Harvard University in which full time undergraduates are matriculated).

Nelson participated in the General Assembly that then took place. The dean, like all who spoke, used the repetitive call-and-response technique of the “people’s mic” so as to be better heard by the circle. Expressing a desire to minimize the negative impact on students’ efforts to sleep and study, Nelson asked the protestors to move their tents from the Old Yard to Tercentenary Theater, an adjacent area (framed by Widener Library and Memorial Church) that is not so closely surrounded by student residences. Some questioned the validity of the noise concern. Through consensus, the General Assembly decided not to comply with Nelson’s request but will discuss it again when it meets today, at 5 pm, with more of the student body in attendance. Nelson promised to help publicize this assembly so that as many students as possible might participate.

By the time the General Assembly finished after 11 p.m., almost 200 people (perhaps a dozen of them bystanders) were gathered in a wide ring around more than two dozen tents. An ad hoc group made mostly of Harvard College students gathered on the stairs to the left of the John Harvard statue to compose a press release while the last few tents were being set in place. Later, some students took a sign that said “Welcome, we’re glad you’re here,” propped it on John Harvard’s lap, and took pictures with him.

Response and reaction

While the above events were unfolding, Harvard University released a statement that said, in part, “speech and the free exchange of ideas are hallmarks of the Harvard experience, and important values for the university community to uphold…(but) it is important that we assure the safety and security of our students, particularly those who live in the Yard.’’

However many members of the Harvard community expressed displeasure at the way in which the situation was handled. Rick Heller, an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School of Government, microblogged “where you stand depends on where you sit…In other words, the office you hold biases your perspective. I believe this accounts for the defensive and bureaucratic decision of supposedly progressive Harvard leaders to lock its students out of the Yard…Harvard is mostly progressive on social issues. On economic issues, it promotes the theories and behaviors that caused the crash of 2008.”

While the campus was under lock down, some students not involved with the protest complained about Occupy Harvard subjecting them to inconvenince. Most protestors, conversely, place that blame squarely on the actions of law-enforcement.

The ninety-nine percent

Hannah Hofheinz, when asked about what Occupy Harvard might accomplish, said “I think occupations are not about demands…My guess is this occupation will be like the many others in which various voices will raise various concerns and expect that they’re answered. And there will be actions that spin out from this site. But I think the main point is…to set up tents here and say ‘the ninety-nine percent are here, and we’re living together – we’re really human.’ She added, “what I care about is people realizing how deeply our system is hurting, and how deeply people are hurting, even here, at Harvard….at this point Harvard is admitting a good number of people that come from everywhere, and anywhere, and all kinds of backgrounds, whose families may not have homes anymore and that’s a hard reality…the Harvard population is part of the ninety-nine percent.”

Gabriel Bayard, 18, one of 70 students who walked out of Greg Mankiw’s Economics class last Wednesday, agreed that Occupy Harvard should address society-wide concerns. But he also expressed keen interest in the occupation addressing Harvard-specific issues such as labor contracts and said “I definitely think this occupation has the ability to make an impact directly on the ninety-nine percent. Theoretical issues are important, but we here can make a difference in the next week in the lives of hundreds of janitors. I think that immediate impact is really important. I think we should keep that in mind as we go forward.”

Another student who participated in the class walkout, Rachel Sandalow-Ash, 18, added, “I would agree that union contracts are very important, especially since they don’t come up for negotiation very often and this is a real, immediate and pressing issue. I also think that Harvard’s use of its 32 billion dollar endowment – that makes it the largest university endowment and the second richest non-profit in the world after the Vatican – is important because where Harvard puts its money has a huge effect. Right now Harvard invests in [HEI Hospitality] hotels, which are basically the worst places for labor. They invest in land grabs in Africa, denying people’s basic human rights…Harvard, like many other very rich corporations, does a lot of harm to people in the ninety-nine percent in the United States and around the world. I think we have the power to change that, here.”

Gates still guarded

As of this morning, only about three of Harvard’s gate were unlocked and each of these was guarded by a group of police and security people. A Harvard cop guarding the gate from Quincy Street told Blast that this state of security would be in affect indefinitely. When asked how they would deal with Harvard Extension school students (who take evening classes but don’t have Harvard ID unless in a degree program) the officer laughed and said “I won’t deal with it. I’ll be home in bed then so it isn’t my problem.”

Tenenbaum and Nesson (JoelFightsBack.com)

In a decision sparse in terms of legal precedence, Joel Tenenbaum, the Boston University student involved in a civil suit with the Recording Industry Association of America, again finds himself staring down the barrel of a six figure judgment. This comes on the heels of a decision by a Federal Appeals Court to reverse former District Court Judge Nancy Gertner’s ruling that Tenebaum’s fine be reduced from $675,000 to $67,500.

Now he owes $675,000 again.

Gertner felt that the jury’s initial ruling was excessive, and therefore a violation of due process. While the appeals court did not directly address the constitutional issues raised by Gertner, they took issue with her “disregard for procedure” in reducing the fine levied against Tenebaum. The appeals court cited that Gertner, in lieu of an arbitrary reduction, should have proposed a figure that the Record Companies could settle on or choose to decline; the latter resulting in a second trial.

The constitutional gray area brought into the spotlight by Gertner’s decision seems to form the foundation of the argument launched by Charles Nesson, a Harvard Law Professor, and his team of law students aiding him Tenebaum’s defense. Nesson and his team seem intent on promoting the idea of the Copyright Statute being vulnerable in its application upon individual file sharers who have no intent to profit from their infringement, a point brought up by Tenebaum in his own defense.

Jason Harrow, one of the students aiding Nesson, stood before the First Circuit Court of Appeals and argued that so few cases of this nature had been filed because “no one thought the statute would apply to consumers like this.” The Judge quickly dismissed this notion by stating that “the literal language of the statute does not include an exception for consumers.” She also pointed out that Congress could have easily written in this exemption had it been their intent for the statute to be interpreted thus. However, Harrow still argued that the statute should be fairly interpreted in order to suppress any constitutional red flags, and that Congress did not necessarily intend for the copyright laws to be enacted in a way that gave leeway to such “absurd results.”

The actual body of the Copyright Law of the United States reads that, “In a case where the copyright owner sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that infringement was committed willfully, the court in its discretion may increase the award of statutory damages to a sum of not more than $150,000.” As a result, Tenebaum, who is considered a willful violator responsible for 30 separate infringements, faced a maximum settlement of $4.5 million.

Tenebaum is grateful that the judgment did not reach this multi-million dollar ceiling, saying “That to me sends a message of ‘we considered your side with some legitimacy’”. However, he has also noted that even the significantly smaller figure set by Nancy Gertner, and recently overturned by the appeals court, will result in his filing for bankruptcy.

This is the first case of its kind to reach the Federal Appeals Court, although a similar case involving Minnesota mother, Jammie Thomas-Rasset, is also destined to appear before a Federal Court after three years of circulation in the legal system.

A Cambridge man was charged today with computer intrusion, fraud and data theft after he allegedly hacked into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s network to access protected JSTOR files.

Aaron Swartz, 24, was a fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, according to the Boston Globe, and could have accessed JSTOR legally for legitimate research.

Swartz allegedly broke into a restricted computer wiring closet in a basement at MIT and to access MIT’s network from a computer switch in the closet between September 24, 2010, and January 6, 2011.

He used this access to get files from JSTOR, a non-profit organization that compiles academic articles for research purposes, and download them to his computer. Swartz is charged with distributing these articles on various file sharing websites.

“Stealing is stealing whether you use a computer command or a crowbar, and whether you take documents, data or dollars,” said United States District Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. “It is equally harmful to the victim whether you sell what you have stolen or give it away.”

Swartz faces up to 35 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million under the charges brought against him.

The indictment claims that Swartz stole over four million articles from JSTOR. The quantity of downloads affected JSTOR’s computers, crashed some of its servers and blocked some of MIT’s computers from accessing the site.

Despite efforts from both the university and JSTOR to block Swartz’s computers, he apparently prevailed and found new ways into the systems.

“The New England Electronic Crimes Task Force has taken an aggressive stance in the investigation of computer intrusions and other cybercrimes,” said Steven D. Ricciardi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service in New England. “Through this task force, the Secret Service and our partners on the Cambridge and MIT Police Departments demonstrate the importance of cooperation among law enforcement to focus resources and respond effectively to investigate and prevent this type of fraud.”

Swartz has previously advocated the elimination of barriers to distribution of information online, and for public distribution of information in libraries. He is a co-founder of reddit.com and the founder of Demand Progress, a non-profit political action group that opposes the “corrupting influence on big institutions.”

So far, the government is not aware of any personal information being stolen from JSTOR.

How about a marathon you can sit down for? Today’s Boston Theater Marathon, 12 am—10 pm at the BCA, will provide plenty of exercise for your imagination, your mind and your senses with no possibility of shin splints. Organized by B.U.’s Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, it’s a festival of 10-minute plays by area playwrights.

10-minute plays are the short stories of the theater world. Longer than a sketch but shorter than a traditional one-act, they’re delivery agents for a single, simple concept or conflict. Appearing mainly in festivals, they’re largely used by playwrights to show off their chops and generate interest in their longer work.

Over 400 Boston-are playwrights submitted works to Boston Theater Marathon XIII and 50 were selected by a panel of judges from the 50 participating local theater companies who stage the winning selections. Tickets to the event are $35 and all proceeds go to the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund.  Here’s the lineup:

12-1 PM

Share This World, Ronan Noone, Emerson Stage

Late, Lamented, Lynne Cullen, 11:11 Theatre Company

The Mouse, Colleen Hughes, Firehouse Center for the Arts

The Fudgicle Thief, Bill Doncaster, Boston Children’s Theatre

One More to Go in Beantown, Debbie Wiess, New Repertory Theatre

1-2 PM

Those Still Living, April Ranger, Theatre on Fire

Every Seven Seconds, Dan Hunter, Boston Actors’ Theatre

Crickets, Emily Kaye Lazzaro, Boston Center for American Performance

Cat in a Box, Julian Olf, Centastage

Welcome to the Hate Store, Jan Velco Soolman, Happy Medium Theatre

2-3 PM

The Resurrections, Catherine M. O’Neill, Actors’ Shakespeare Project

Slugger, Terrence Kidd, New Urban Theatre Laboratory

Uncommon Ground, John R. Sarrouf, Hovey Players

Birdbaths, “Twilight”, and Other Sundry Topics, Rick Park, Phoenix Theatre

A Handy Man, March Schrader, Village Theatre Project

3-4 PM

Trust Fall, Steve Lewis, Apollinaire Theatre Company

Rogue River, Oregon, Phil Schroeder, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre

Park ‘N’ Ride, Michael Ennis, Publick Theatre Boston

Procession, William Donnelly, Battleground State

Downward Facing Dog, Melinda Lopez, Another Country Productions

4-5 PM

Camberwell House, Amelia Roper, Perishable Theatre

Mirror Touch, Michael Burgan, North Shore Music Theatre

A Tall Order, Sheri Wilner, Liars & Believers

Perfect Strangers, Peter Snoad, Huntington Theatre Company

Rox-N, Miss Thang, Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich, Holland Productions

5-6 PM

Stuck, Christopher Lockheardt, New Exhibition Room

Little Boys, Margaret Lagerstedt, Stoneham Theatre

Oops, James C. Ferguson, CoLab Theatre Company

Pentagon Mashed Potatoes, Cliff Blake, Company One

Teddy Ballgame, Caitlin Mitchell, Roxbury Repertory Theater

6-7 PM

Backfire, Leslie Powell, Image Theatre

Boy-Man, Diane Di Ianni, Sugar Cereal Productions

There’s an App for That!, Richard Schotter, lau lapides company

Wasted Kisses, Thomas G. Dunn, Orfeo Group

Escape to Wonderland, Patrick Gabridge, Fort Point Theatre Channel

7-8 PM

Beep… Doot, Aaron Kagan/Seth Soulstein, Bad Habit Productions

The Curator, Jennifer Diamond, Wellesley Summer Theatre

A Designated Awful Place, Gregory Hischak, Salem Theatre Company

Our Part to Change Things, Susan Goodell, Wheelock Family Theatre

M. Riverside, John J King, Turtle Lane Playhouse

8-9 PM

Sarah in Wonderland or…Robert Brustein, American Repertory Theater

Ms. Connections, Erin Striff, Boston College Theatre Dept.

Doll Hospital, Jeanne Beckwith, Pilgrim Theatre Research & Performance Lab.

A Ballad for Peggy, Stephen Faria, Nora Theatre/Underground Railway Theater

Game On, Gary Garrison, SpeakEasy Stage Company

9-10 PM

10 Years After Paradise, Israel Horovitz, Gloucester Stage Company

Squirrelly, James McLindon, Commonwealth Shakespeare

Bible Study, Daniel Sauermilch, FortyMagnolias Productions

Open House, Theresa Rebeck, Lyric Stage Company of Boston

Casting Amanda, Jack Neary, New Century Theatre

CORK, Ireland — There have been tentative suggestions in Ireland recently that relations with the UK are at an all-time high. Despite the efforts of dissident groups, the people of Northern Ireland have worn a remarkably durable united front in their vocal support for peace. But sometimes it’s tricky to walk away from the past—even when you’re 3,000 miles away from it.

Boston College is on the ropes this week after the US attorney general (at the behest of the P.S.N.I Serious Crime Branch) issued a subpoena for confidential archived interviews with former IRA and loyalist members. The interviews had been conducted 10 years ago as part of an oral history project on the conflict in Northern Ireland.

The interviews contain more than 50 personal accounts from individuals who had been involved on both sides of The Troubles. The project was directed by author and former Irish Times and Sunday Tribune journalist, Ed Moloney. Mr. Moloney has since published a book (and subsequent film documentary) entitled Voices from the Grave which is based on interviews with ex-IRA member Brendan ‘The Dark’ Hughes who died in 2008, and former UVF prisoner and politician David Ervine, who died in 2007.

Former IRA member Anthony McIntyre interviewed Hughes and other IRA dissidents, including Dolours Price, who was convicted and imprisoned for her role in the bombing of The Old Bailey criminal court in London in 1973. Meanwhile, loyalist Wilson McArthur interviewed the unionist participants.

In particular, the PSNI are interested in alleged comments made my Hughes and Price in the interviews which suggest that prominent Irish politician and Sinn Féin party leader Gerry Adams oversaw an IRA unit that was responsible for kidnappings and disappearances in the 1970s, most notably that of Jean McConville. Hughes and Price were both close allies of Adams until an ideological falling-out some years ago. The allegations could have enormous implications for Belfast-born Adams who recently resigned his seat in Westminster in order to run for election in the Dáil in the Republic’s recent general election. Although Mr. Adams has continually denied being a member of the IRA, his involvement in the organisation has long been presupposed by the media and general public.

There are other implications however. The revelations thought to be contained in the interviews were disclosed on the condition that the material would not be released in the lifetime of the participants. Indeed, in a promotional clip of Ed Moloney’s Voices From the Grave documentary, you can hear this pledge of secrecy in a conversation between McIntyre and Hughes:

“Do you have a problem with committing all this to secret tapes to be used only after you have died?”

“I don’t have a problem with that. If I did have a problem with that I wouldn’t be sitting here talking into the microphone. And I think a lot of the stuff I’m saying here, I’m saying it in trust, because I have a trust in you. And I have never, ever, ever, admitted to being a member of the IRA. Never. I’ve just done it here.”

There are clear questions as to how this subpoena might threaten the safety of all those who contributed to the oral history project. While Hughes and others have since passed away, there are many still who are alive and whose wellbeing might now be at risk.

In addition to this problem, the case could potentially undermine the entire academic field of oral history. Speaking to The New York Times, Mary Marshall Clark, director of Columbia University’s Oral History Research Office, described the situation as “our worst-case scenario.”

Blast spoke with Dr. Rob Perks, the director of Oral Histories at the British Library about the case and the stance it holds on this turn of events.

“The British Library will, wherever possible, seek not to disclose restricted confidential oral history interviews,” he said. The comment demonstrates the reluctance of those involved in oral history undertakings to betray the privacy the field needs to function, but his words came with a caveat.

“Such obligations of confidentiality may be overridden by certain legal requirements. Disclosure of confidential material to meet a legal requirement may be mandatory, and beyond the Library’s reasonable control.”

Should the subpoena be successful, project director Ed Moloney has not ruled out the radical move of destroying the tapes as a protective measure, although he stressed that it would be an option of last resort.

The Massachusetts College of Art and Design, the arts school located in the heart of Boston on Huntington Avenue, has opened up MassArt Made, an on-campus boutique which allows their students, alumni and staff opportunities in more ways than one.

Eighty percent of the work sold at MassArt Made is contributed by the university’s alumni. The remaining 20 percent is divvied up between the students and faculty.

“It’s something we’ve wanted to do for years,” said Ginger Russell, the Creative Director and Manager of the boutique.

MassArt Made carries a variety of items including jewelry, apparel, sculpture, paintings and even items like Mimoco flash drives and children’s art kits by Scratch-Art. The items sold can range anywhere in costs from $4 to a $13,000 painting by Resa Blatman, which hangs displayed in the Kennedy building’s student center, adjacent to the boutique.

The factor that sets this student and alumni-operated business from boutiques of competing art schools like RISD is that 10 percent of all sales go towards scholarships for MassArt’s students.

“The artwork is higher priced, but a lot of people from the surrounding area are looking at it seriously,” Russell said.

However, MassArt Made shouldn’t be mistaken as an art gallery or a campus bookstore. Russell described how the boutique aims to showcase the university’s artists that best represent the school.

Each artist is chosen through a selection process in which the artist submits work to Russell herself and then a jury made up of four faculty, staff, and alumni members chooses ‘The best of the best’.

The artists chosen benefit from the sales, the presentation of their work and the boutique’s unique QR scanning system. Each artist’s display has a card with a specific SKU code and when scanned at the register, a 30-second interview with the artist is played over the boutique’s audio system.

“We thought it would be a really great way to get the customer more involved with the artwork and find out more about what they’re buying,” continued Russell.

The art itself comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Jonathan Baring-Gould of Newton, MA., has a line of ‘spirit shakers’ at MassArt Made. A description of Baring-Gould’s shakers says they are, “based on ancient traditions from around the world.” A shake is all it takes to release the positive energy from them.

Mia Maljojoki, an alumna jewelry designer based in Finland, has her moon rock-like line of jewelry for sale at MassArt Made. With her art she tries to answer her question, “Can emotions be a solid?”

Russell ended with a comment on an extra benefit of the boutique for MassArt students. She said there’s a certain measure of marketing and selling involved with selling art at the boutique that’s not included in the curriculum.

Not only can students sell their art at MassArt Made, but they can even work at the boutique. There are currently three students and one alumni working at MassArt Made. Russell described how the employees can be representatives of the school and talk to customers, parents, and prospective students about MassArt.

In regards to the showcased artists, Russell said, “They get to have more of a presence in the business world.”

The boutique is located at 625 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

For more information visit MassArt Made on Facebook and Twitter.

On April 8, actor and author Ashley Judd sat down with moderator Candelaria Silva and a full theater at Suffolk University to discuss her new book All That Is Bitter and Sweet. Judd candidly and eloquently answered questions about her childhood, spirituality and humanitarian work. With grace and humor she spoke on her recovery process, and how she is using her past to help others—her book is evidence of this effort.

“I’m only five years into my own process and I don’t know how much longer it will take; I don’t know ultimately what it will look like, said Judd. “But I feel fortunate that I love the work. I love sitting around other people and getting real.”

Judd who entered Shades of Hope Treatment Center in 2006 for depression, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, is using what she learned to reach out to others. She has done humanitarian work around the globe and exudes passion when she talks about the people she has met and the experiences that she has had.

“There is a difference between charity and justice and pity and empathy,” she explained. “We need less of the former and more of the latter.”

Judd is involved with many non-profit organizations and is a strong advocate for women’s rights. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at Harvard University where she studied in the women and public policy program and graduated with a masters degree in 2010. In her book she discusses her views on issues concerning women and uses her writing as an outlet to share others’ stories.

“I definitely love to write; I enjoy it, said Judd. “There are more ways to die than simply to stop breathing, and to disengage from service work to me would absolutely be a death. If I am going to keep traveling, I am going to keep writing because it is a strategy for commemorating the sacred narratives that vulnerable people have entrusted me with and carrying them to people like you as well as to government officials and the broader public.”

Judd has spoken to many women involved in sex trafficking and as a victim of rape herself, she identifies with the victimization of these women, but also hopes to help them in the journey from victim to survivor. Aligning herself with various organizations such as Population Services International, Women for Women International and Equality Now, Judd is taking steps to advance underserved populations.

“[Writing] is how I celebrate the grassroots programs that I see that work and really put forward the unsung heroes who are doing brave and often dangerous work on a daily basis,” she said. “And it is how, as that scripture says, I work out my own salvation everyday and I try to figure out who am I as I try to make sense of what is often so senseless in the world.”

Religion is very important to Judd and she intertwines it into a lot of her actions. Although she was raised as a Christian Protestant, she considers herself very open to many religious beliefs.

She shared, “I know that I am a spiritual being having a human experience—as C.S. Lewis put it—and if I can hang out in that space I’m going to be OK.”

Judd’s childhood experience, was tying for her as she explains how living in her household was difficult. She internalized the family’s view of her as the “hero” child and believed that she actually was “a lost child.”

“If I was the hero child that [meant] I was OK and that [my family] didn’t really have to take a look at the fact that I was not OK,” Judd stated. “They could falsely empower me and operate under this assumption that I was competent and capable.” She also believes that others around them regarded her as evidence that the family was normal. “Guess what?” she rhetorically asks, “normal is a cycle on the washing machine.”

Judd’s family dynamic was instrumental in transitioning to her current lifestyle as an actress. The success of her mother and sister, singers Naomi Judd and Wynona Judd respectively, combined with her own attraction to glamor, made celebrity status seem inevitable for Judd. But as she now looks on her acting career (she had a lead role in the movie Double Jeopardy and will star in the new ABC series Missing), she sees the problematic path that she traveled to reach stardom.

“The acting is something that I started at a really young age,” she said. “I didn’t know that was what I was doing but I look back now with the definition of acting that I have, which is to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances, and I realize I was acting all the time.”

Luckily, Judd is now using her status as a platform not to pity others but to help them achieve self-efficacy and self reliance. She said she is open to writing another book and is already considering expanding a 30-page paper she wrote, about feminism and social justice, into a book with other women.

“We have to find what our little thing is that we get defensive about that is connected to our soul,” she advised. “The longest 18 inches we travel [is] from the head to the heart. But when they are connected my God we are powerful.”

Judd encouraged everyone to get involved with matters that are important to them and quoted the familiar saying “We are either part of the solution or we are part of the problem.” She suggested even simple tasks like writing to retailers who overly sexualize young girls, or signing petitions to support the use of conflict-free technology by electronic companies.

She acknowledged that many social issues are in fact very large and can seem intimidating to tackle, but she quoted a friend who said, “I am not responsible for the whole pattern, but I am responsible to take the next stitch.” Her memoir All That Is Bitter and Sweet is definitely a stitch in the quilt of social justice that is making its connection count.

Photo: Ryan Ford

By Sam Nickerson at Emmanuel College

Last August, a small group of young adults took a radical departure from conventional living when they signed the lease for their home on Amory St. in Jamaica Plain.

All in their 20s, the group challenges the traditional concept of family by operating their home as an anarchist collective.

A collective is not just a house of people sharing food, according to member Kate Bonner-Jackson, but an “intentional community based on consensus decision-making.”

Some members are divided on whether collective living could replace the standard nuclear family home.  Stephanie Bird feels that her home is a microcosm for an ideal society.  The collective aims to do away with oppression and hierarchy in favor of a safe and equal space.  Stephanie Bird even plans to raise a child in the house due to the available support.

Boston has long been tied to alternative living, dating back to the early 19th century anarchist Josiah Warren.  The Amory St. crew is quick to mention that there are still many collectives operating in Boston, representing a diverse spectrum of ages and ideologies, and the number is quickly growing

For some members, this is their first foray into alternative living.  Others, like Lesley University graduate Jake Bison, have lived in collectives in other Boston neighborhoods.

“Living here really keeps you grounded in your ideals,” said Bison.  Most members met one another at demonstrations and through community meetings.

The collective members contribute five percent of their paychecks to a house fund, which is used to purchase food and other necessities.  On the refrigerator is a chart that assigns household chores, including vegan dinner preparation, on a rotating schedule.

Wednesday nights, they hold a house meeting where members check in with each other and discuss community events.  The house also features a library and a bike workshop.

by Elizabeth Gruchy

Every Saturday afternoon on the Emmanuel College campus, you can see Kaitlyn Hajjar and her group of Quidditch-loving athletes running back and forth between hoops on their Scarlet Falcon brooms.

What looks like a fantasy game for lovers of all things Harry Potter is actually becoming a somewhat respected and challenging physical contact sport.

“I got hit in the mouth the first week with something and walked off the field bleeding,” said Hajjar, the founder and president of EC’s Quidditch team.

Hajjar said the team is still looking for players.

“We have 15 people who show up every week but anyone is welcome to join. Were actually looking for a snitch right now,” she said.

For anyone looking to join the team Hajjar gave me some tips and what you’ll need to play:

1. Agility- As a player you’ll need to have great agility to run around the field holding your broom as well as a volleyball used as the quaffel. The broom is hard and can often leave bruises on your legs.

2. Aim- In order to score a player must get their ball through one of the other team’s three hoops. This requires good aim as the keeper tries to defend the hoops.

3. Sense of Humor- It takes a very passionate person to run around on a broom stick in public. Each player must not be afraid of what people think. Quidditch is a nationally recognized sport and the team follows a very strict hand book.

4. Mouth Guard- The only thing you’ll need to buy with your own money is a mouth guard to protect your teeth from any bashes from a stray broom.

If any student thinks he or she has what it takes to fulfill the role of beater, chaser, keeper, seeker or snitch, they can meet the group behind St. Joe’s Residence Hall at Emmanuel every Saturday at 1 p.m. and join their Facebook group, Emmanuel College Quidditch.

Nicholas Daniloff discusses freedom of the press and the impact on diplomacy. (Photo credit: Lauren McFalls/Northeastern University)

Northeastern University journalism professor Nick Daniloff, a former foreign correspondent for United Press International and U.S. News & World Report in London, Paris, Moscow and Washington D.C., has seen diplomacy in all its glory and ugliness. He was held prisoner by the Soviets as trade bait during the Cold War after a Russian spy was arrested in the US.

Daniloff was kind enough to discuss the recent WikiLeaks release of confidential diplomatic cables

BLAST: Did you find something amazing, shocking or surprising about the cables?

NICK DANILOFF: In what I read, there were some surprises. For example: the King of Saudi Arabia urged the United States “to cut off the head of the snake” or, in other words, to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program. We always knew that Saudi Arabia feared Iran, but the suggestion to decapitate coming from the king’s mouth was a surprise. He does not talk like that in public.

I should add that the release of the military logs was shocking in that they revealed the names of some individuals who had been helping the U.S. in Afghanistan. That put those individuals in grave danger of execution by the Taliban. Since the uproar over this disclosure, Wikileaks chief Julian Assange has become a little more responsible and has agreed to remove names of persons who might be vulnerable to reprisals from the documents.

BLAST: Has Wikileaks done something illegal?

ND: First, Wikileaks is working with documents stolen from the United States. Stealing or receiving stolen material is illegal, isn’t it?

Assange has released documents which were classified “secret,” that is an illegal violation of the classification system. And if he has identified secret U.S. operatives that, too, would be considered illegal. The U.S. does not have an Official Secrets Act, rather it depends on the possessors of secrets to guard those secrets. When they release secret information they may be prosecuted. Journalists who disclose secrets in the U.S. are usually not prosecuted because it is not their responsibility to protect secrets and the First Amendment and its interpretations by the Supreme Court have given journalists considerable protection.

I would add that Julian Assange is not a journalist; he is a source. And Wikileaks is not a journalistic organization, it is a distributor of raw materials.

BLAST: How should ordinary citizens read and digest the Wikileaks disclosures?

ND: They should use the curiosity and critical thinking that we at Northeastern have tried to develop among our students. They should read the information just as they read the news only with the Wikileaks material they will have to supply context. And there is new information or news in Wikileaks. Eventually, readers may get bored reading hundreds, if not thousands, of cables. Then they will rely on good newspapers or TV broadcasts to point out important stuff.

Here’s an example which intrigues me personally as someone who lived in Moscow for many years but may not necessarily grab another reader. I thought Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would never give up power. But some of the Wikileaks reports indicate he has grown weary of his responsibilities. That leads me to wonder if he will step down voluntarily.

Will Guinee, Mike Vecchione, Tyler McVicar and Paul Yanakopulos seen here with Director of Guidance Cindy Jacobs, Assistant Principal Jeff Smith, Athletic Director and Head Coach Varsity Hockey Chris Serino, Head Coach Varsity Baseball Steve Freker and Principal Br. Thomas Puccio, CFX, Ed.D (Courtesy of Malden Catholic High School)

Four Malden Catholic High School student athletes recently signed letters of intent with Division I colleges.

Tyler McVicar, of Melrose signed with Elon College of North Carolina, where he will play baseball. Paul Yanakopulos, of Medford, signed with UMass Amherst, where he will play baseball. Michael Vecchione, of Saugus, is committed to University of New Hampshire, where he will play hockey. William Guinee, of Topsfield, is committed to Dartmouth, where he will play football.

Malden Catholic is a college preparatory high school north of Boston, which boasts a 98 percent college placement rate.

A 21-year-old student at the University of Connecticut was arrested on Wednesday and charged with possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Steven Donald Lewis, 21, of Plainville, Conn., was taken into custody by the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force and will face the charges in Federal Court.

According to the complaint, a Bristol, Conn. police detective logged onto a file-sharing service on November 9 and downloaded 34 images that were found to be child pornography from a shared folder on Lewis’s computer.

Lewis was arrested Wednesday morning at his dorm at UConn, and police seized his laptop, the FBI said in a statement.

Lewis appeared before a federal judge in Hartford and was released on a $100,000 bond put up by his family.

He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for possessing the images and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 20 years behind bars for distributing the images.

Officials believe a 22-year-old Boston University grad had been drinking before he was fatally struck by a Green Line trolley early Sunday morning.

Joshua Stimson of Brighton, struck by a D-branch train. He was found on the eastbound tracks and pronounced dead at the scene.

The Boston Globe reported that Stimson graduated in the spring from the School of Management where he majored in finance. He started a job last week and was excited to be out working in his field, friends said.

T officials said alcohol was believed to have been a factor, based on interviews with friends that saw him before he died. Stimson may have been intoxicated and stumbled into the tracks.

Northeastern University’s chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity held their eighth annual comedy night featuring Kevin Hart on Sunday.

Previous guests have included big names such as Seth Meyers and Bob Saget, and there was no shortage of laughter as this comedian of television and movies took the stage.

Kevin Hart visited Northeastern as part of his “Laugh at My Pain” Comedy Tour in which he shared stories about his past and puts a humorous spin on some of the less fortunate events in his life.

Comedians Will “Spank” Horton and Na’im Lynn opened for Hart and were more than able to sufficiently warm up the crowd for an evening of knee-slapping and laughter. The subject of jokes ranged from day-to-day activities to mature content, but nonetheless catered to the university crowd. If the audience was ever silent, its attention was rapt in the comedians who proved to be able story-tellers and hilarious personalities.

The show was the fruit of hard work for Tyler Dillman, Major Events Coordinator for Xi-Beta, who spent months organizing and planning the night. Kappa Sigma was the first Greek organization on campus to hold a major campus-wide event after the school’s student government opened up funding options to Greeks.

Thanks to the event’s co-hosts, the Resident Student Association and Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, the 1,000-seat Blackman Auditorium was sold out.

NEW YORK — Coed electro-pop duo Parallels craft intricate ’80s-influenced synth rhythms reminiscent of upbeat Depeche Mode.

Consisting of former Crystal Castles’ drummer Cameron Findlay and frontwoman Holly Dodson, Parallels are riding a wave of hype on the heels of their debut album, “Visionaries.”

Dodson recently shared some of her personal music tastes with Blast.

BLAST: Describe your sound in 10 words or less.

HOLLY DODSON: Dreamy dance floor pop with electronic undertones.

BLAST: Which three artists are your biggest influences?

HD: Of all time it would be Kate Bush, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury.

BLAST: What’s your favorite album of 2010 so far?

HD: Besides “Visionaries” (ha!), Arcade Fire put out a real good album (“The Suburbs.”)

BLAST: If you were going to spend the rest of your life on a desert island, which three albums would you bring with you?

HD: “Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac, “Cosmo’s Factory” by Creedence Clearwater Revival and “Two Suns” by Bat for Lashes

BLAST: Name a song you wish you’d written.

HD: There are lots, but right now I’d choose “Pet Semetary” by The Ramones, so we covered it!

BLAST: Name something non-musical that has inspired your songwriting.

HD: I always read something from the Romantic era for inspiration whenever I need a fix.

BLAST: What was your first concert?

HD: I think it was Neil Diamond. One of my childhood friends was weirdly obsessed with him so her mom got some tickets and brought a bunch of 7-year-olds.

BLAST: What’s the number one thing you can’t live without on the road?

HD: Some good books.

BLAST: If you could ban one artist from ever making music again (or ever having made music), who would it be?

HD: Ke$ha. No offense …

BLAST: Which other acts are you hoping to see during CMJ Week?

HD: I’m excited for the High Rise/Pop Culture Showcase that we’ll be playing, with Natalia Kills and ArpLine, just to name two. Plus lots of other amazing artists!

Parallels plays Backstage Bar at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and The Bell House at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Before Barack Obama arrived in Boston last weekend to campaign for Deval Patrick, three Emerson College students and a fourth from Lesley College arrived at Hynes Convention Center around 6 a.m., more than six hours before doors would open. They were rewarded with third place in line behind two men, one from Cambridge and one from the North Shore, who had arrived at 4 and 5 a.m. respectively.

Not loving the chilly October morning temperature, Brian Foote, the student from Lesley, huddled on the sidewalk against the cold stone wall. His friends Ev Dimming and Lindsay Cole took similar positions on either side of him. Lauren Maquin, the last member of the adventurous foursome, chose to stand and moved around for warmth.

Foote said that the chance to see the president was “an experience not to pass up. Even though it’s really cold, it’s really important. I was excited when I heard he was coming. I’m into the president and I’m excited to see him.”

Not dressed very warmly for the occasion, Dimming also complained about the temperature but said, “we figured it was an experience…and it’s important for college kids to get active and inspired.”

Cole added, “we thought it would be an adventure! Because it’s my first year in college, we figured this would be a high point.”

After going through security, people at the front of the line took their place inside sometime after 1 pm. They still had a long wait before the president arrived, but at least they had shelter from the wintery chill. And there was plenty to keep their attention occupied during the wait, including three songs performed live by James Taylor and a series of speeches by Vicki Kennedy, John Kerry, Thomas Menino, Tim Murray and the governor.

What did you study in college? Are you satisfied with your degree? A tight job market might make some workers look back at their educational paths and going back to school.

According to a new CareerBuilder survey which was conducted among more than 2,000 workers with college degrees between August 17 and September 2:

• 36 percent of workers with college degrees said they wish they had chosen a different major in college.
• 26 percent of them said the market for jobs in their chosen field worsened from the time they entered college and when they graduated.
• 56 percent of all workers with college degrees reported they found a job in their desired career path within one year of graduation and others still haven’t come to fruition.
• 19 percent of all workers with a college degree still have not found a job in their desired field.
• 27 percent who graduated from college ten years ago or longer reported they still haven’t found a job related to their college major.
• 21 percent said it took them three years or longer to find an opportunity in their desired career path while 12 percent said it took five years or longer.

Also, the concern regarding building new skill sets is a priority for 13 percent of workers who said they have plans to go back to school this year to make themselves more marketable.

As families around the nation struggle to afford college — and as graduates struggle to make the minimum payments on their student loans — the University of Massachusetts Amherst plans to introduce a 3-year degree program this fall, according to the Boston Globe.

Dozens of other colleges around the country have made this step already. As tuition and other costs climb in public and private schools, many students are left with six-figure loan packages when they graduate. Money has become more important in many respects than having a traditional 4-year education — and having the social development that comes with that.

“As the state backs out of support for public higher education, and families take on a bigger chunk of the burden, we need to try to mitigate that,” James Staros, UMass Amherst provost, told the Globe. “We thought, ‘What can we do to shorten the time and cost for a UMass education, without diluting the degree?’”

Lesley University in Cambridge will also add a 3-year option next year. Southern New Hampshire University already offers a 3-year program.

Amherst plans to allow students with significant Advanced Placement credits to meet with their advisers this year and craft out a 3-year graduation plan if they wish.

Salem State University will ban tobacco on its campus, Boston.com reported Tuesday.

In an email to faculty, staff and students, the North Shore college will expand its current ban of smoking in buildings to cover the entire campus, including all grounds and outdoor areas.

Chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco are also banned.

“The university has an opportunity to dramatically impact the health and welfare of the members of our community and guests by making a change in the currently accepted campus smoking practices,” Stanley P. Cahill, Salem State’s executive vice president, said in the message.

There are 10,000 students at Salem State, and 2,000 live on campus, Boston.com reported.

Students and employees will be offered assistance with quitting before the policy goes into effect on September 1, 2011.

CAMBRIDGE–How many ex-mathematicians does it take to write and perform a hit play?

Just one, apparently.

Gioia De Cari’s "Truth Values" opened last year at the Central Square Theater to rave reviews and a week added to the run. One year later, after two sold-out stints in New York and San Francisco, she’s back by popular demand. It doesn’t take a mathematician to analyze those statistics, and De Cari backs it up: this one-woman tour de force blasts through our often unconscious misconceptions of gender and academia with honesty, wit, and energetic exploration of life’s variables.

Although the story is intensely personal, any thinking person will be enticed by its universal themes as well as by De Cari’s effortless impressions of (and interactions with) the 20 plus characters she takes on in the academic circus. An audience largely populated by the MIT community offers a unique context, worth taking advantage of, including cues to laugh at select math jokes (did you know that mentioning "number theorists" is funny?).

What De Cari presents is not a rant against injustice. "Romp," in fact turns out to be accurate. It’s a unique journey of self-discovery with unexpected results that lead her to question the nature of truth. In fact, the concept played with in the show’s title of applying numerical values to truth could have been more directly explored. The show’s greatest strength, the intimacy with which De Cari relates her personal experience, could at times be its greatest weakness. When she gets personal without broadening her points with analysis, she comes off as the kind of funny friend relating a hilarious or heartbreaking anecdote over lunch, whom we care for, but eventually feel a strong urge to walk away from But those parts are few and far between. To apply that description to the whole show would be irredeemably reductive. There is no absence of theatricality in her performance or points of interest in most of her stories.

Lawrence Summers, former Harvard University president, made remarks as recently as 2005 regarding the inferiority of women in the sciences, which De Cari mentions in "Truth Values." I was fortunate to be able to attend the performance after which Nancy Hopkins, the M.I.T. biologist who walked out during that speech, participated in the talkback. She astutely pointed out that "if someone had made those remarks about another minority in the field, they would have been fired immediately." Summers, however, has been promoted to Director of the White House National Economic Council. As De Cari deftly illustrates in her writing and performance, events like these cannot go unaddressed.

For that reason, it is highly recommended to stay for a talkback if possible (September 19, 22, 23). The Boston community is rich with academic anecdotes from all perspectives. "Truth Values" achieves dialogue in a vital and entertaining fashion: precisely what good theater should do.

"Truth Values" runs through September 26 at Central Square Theater.

ArtsEmerson: The World On Stage — it sounds epic, and for its premier weekend, September 23-26, the new performance series programmed by Emerson College is offering a taste of everything its got.  That means free tours of The Paramount Center, Emerson’s newly restored, art deco movie palace in downtown crossing; film screenings and live performances large and small.

Two full-length main stage productions will open at the Paramount: "Fraulein Maria," a dance parody of the Sound of Music, and "The Laramie Residency," a staging of the documentary theater piece about the notorious murder of Matthew Shepard, and of a new, follow-up piece, "The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later."

The main stage and black box space at the Paramount will also host "Paramount pop-ups," a series of new 10-minute plays by accomplished local playwrights including Ronan Noone and John Kutz.

Meanwhile, the Paramount’s screening rooms with be humming. Offerings will include "The Sound of Music;" "Shanghai Express," the Marlene Dietrich vehicle that was the first film shown at the theater’s original opening in 1932, and "Vitaphone Varieties" a sampling of vintage vaudeville-esque shorts from the same era.

These events will take place in repertory throughout the weekend and beyond. Prices vary and some events are free but require tickets. Complete scheduling and pricing information can be found at artsemerson.org.

Kina Grannis has come a long way from her days as winner of the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl Contest in 2008. Since then, she has not stopped using social media sites like YouTube to propel her work. As an independent artist Kina’s album, Stairwells, debuted on the Billboard 200 when it was released. Meanwhile, her single, "Valentine" has received more than 2 million views on YouTube.

She started playing the guitar at 15. At the University of Southern California, she was selected by Thornton School of Music to produce a six-song EP during her sophomore year, and “Sincerely Me” was released in 2005. Grannis now plays in front of sold out crowds in New York and has toured throughout North America. Her songs have been featured on ABC’s General Hospital and MTV’s College Life. Stairwells strongly showcases her sweet voice with melancholy tones, filled with hope.

She recently performed songs from Stairwells at Berklee College’s Red Room in Caf© 939. Blast was fortunate to speak with her about everything leading to her career up to this point and her album.

BLAST: You have an interesting ethnic background (Japanese, English, Irish, French, Dutch, Welsh, and Scottish). Does this affect you as an artist or your writing?

KINA GRANNIS: I’m not sure that it affects the words so much because I’m just going through life feeling and thinking just like anyone else. In the industry, it definitely has played a role because you connect with different people in many ways. I’m kind of this in between weird thing, so finding that connection can be harder. I’ve always been proud of my heritage and I definitely feel ownership over both sides. I think it’s just a part of me that I grew up with and I carry along with me.

BLAST: How has your writing changed after you graduated college?

KG: I don’t know that it did not necessarily change now that I’m done. Ever since I’ve been writing, I have slowly been growing and learning how to do it better and honing in on my craft so to speak. I guess what I’ve really gotten better at since then is not being as afraid to write about the things that really scare me or are really personal. It’s easy to write about ambiguous things. To really open up and bare it all can be really hard to do, but that’s when you get the most meaningful songs. So, trying to get better at that is a little hard.

BLAST: Do you feel your education prepared you for your music career?

KG: Well, I studied social sciences and psychology, which I studied because I just find people very interesting. I had originally thought I would study music theory or music industry. Once I started studying those, I realized I wanted to do that but I did not want to learn it. I guess my college education has helped to prepare me in that in trained me to learn how to think and problem solve and be competent.

BLAST: What do you plan on doing with your degree in social science?

KG: I loved my college experience. It was great and I thought my classes were incredibly interesting but deep down I knew that I could never picture myself doing anything other than singing and sharing my music with the world. As long as I’m able to do that I will continue to do that.

BLAST: How has your life changed since releasing Stairwells?

KG: Everything’s been amplified so much! The fan’s support – they are just amazing and they have been there with me the whole way. Being able to tour the country and meet all these amazing people has been an amazing experience. I came from a place where I would play in my hometown and hope that 20 people came, to now, where I can go across the country and 550 people come to my New York show. It’s just been an amazing transition.

BLAST: Winning the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest helped you to become known to the public. Do you think there are any negative effects of winning that contest?

KG: None that are too negative to outweigh the positives. The only negatives were that for a while people are going to call me "the Doritos girl" or "the super bowl girl" and things like that but I’m just a musician. At the same time, they launched my career and gave me the opportunity to do it full time. Whatever nicknames come along, I am fine with.

BLAST: What made you decide to stay an independent artist since you were offered a record label with Interscope Records after winning the Crash the Super Bowl contest?

KG: It was an interesting decision but when I finally met with the label, I was ready to go. I had an album written and I was ready to give it to everyone. Their plan was a slower one where they would have me be developed and write with a bunch of different song writers. I couldn’t give up these songs that meant so much to me and give up my creative freedom like that; it didn’t feel right. Especially having the amazing online support, I knew that if I go out by myself, I’m still going to have people who believe in me and supporting me in my decision.

BLAST: I read that you shipped your own merchandise, booked you own shows, and other tasks that normally a record deal would manage. Do you continue doing this and when did you find the time to write?

KG: I did, right until I released Stairwells. Thank goodness or else I would have died! I started doing it probably two and a half years ago. I had my three old CD’s and it was a fun way for me to really connect with people and thank them. I’d write little thank you notes in every CD, put some stickers in, and  hand-write the thing. It was really fun for me and I was sad to give it up; but at the same time, it was like, well, you can postage things for five hours or you can pick up your guitar and be a musician again.

BLAST: I’ve also read that you taught yourself how to play the guitar. How hard was learning?

KG: I don’t remember it being too hard. I was so excited and wanted to do it so badly that I kind of locked myself in my room and did it, I played day after day after day. It’s kind of a blur in my mind, I don’t really remember. I’m sure I struggled but I do remember my fingers hurting a lot.

BLAST: What motivated your decision to allow free downloads of your single "Valentine"?

KG: Valentine was the first song that was getting out for the album. I wanted as many people to hear it as possible and have them give it to their friends and family and put it out in the world. At that point, my album was going to come out and people could buy it but I wanted to let people know that here’s this little gift from me, please take it and give it to everyone.

BLAST: You post cover songs on your Youtube channel. Why did you decide not to use any on Stairwells?

KG: This was a really important album in that it was my first legitimate whole album I was putting out by myself. I wanted it to be all songs that I had written and meant a lot to me. While I love doing covers and they are all great songs, they are not my words and my emotions and it was not the right time for that but it’s something that I’m open to.

BLAST: What is the significance of the title Stairwells since it isn’t a song on your album?

KG: When I was in college, I had already started playing guitar and singing and songwriting but I was still very shy. At that point, I had this huge desire to be writing and singing but I didn’t necessarily want to be doing it in front of anyone or disturb the peace. So I found myself retreating to random stairwells and my dorm and lecture halls and I would just sit there and play for hours. The stairwells were the place where I grew into an artist and I just wanted to pay it tribute.

BLAST: I’ve read you’re an avid supporter of cancer research. Is there a personal significance for supporting this cause?

KG: Yes, my mother was actually diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera about maybe 10 years ago at this point. Obviously it’s something that is really important anyways but when that happened, it really hit home. It’s such a scary and unfair thing and I like to fight it as much as I can.

BLAST: Is she well now?

KG: She is OK. It’s under control right now.

BLAST: I’m glad to hear that.

KG: Thank you.

BLAST: Now that you’re album is out, what can we expect next from you?

KG: I’ve got another tour coming up in the fall on the west coast and a little tour date next summer. Other than that, I’m going to try to get back in the writing process again because I’ve been in release mode for so long.

BLAST: We want to congratulate you again with your tour and your performance today because you were really amazing.

KG: Thank you. Thank you so much!

CORRECTION: Because of a reporting error, we incorrectly stated the year that Kina Grannis won the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl Contest. She won it in 2008.

CORRECTION: Because of a reporting error, Polycythemia Vera was spelled incorrectly.

Thousands of Tufts University alumni have received letters over the past few days warning about a computer security breach that may have left their social security numbers and other personal information exposed.

According to school officials, several computers were exposed to an unknown virus or malicious software program. The computers contained old student files and they may have been downloaded.

"We don’t have any direct evidence of any unauthorized use of personal information, but we thought it would be a good thing to notify those individuals exposed," said Kimberly Thurler, a Tufts spokeswoman.

Seven thousand alumni are affected, and warning letters started going out May 24.

Tufts is offering each alumnus a free year of credit monitoring service from Experian.

Tufts, like many other colleges, once used social security numbers as student identification numbers. That practice is quickly going out of vogue across the country as identify theft fears have climbed. The files that were exposed were old records that still contained SSN’s.

Thurler said Tufts is in the process of seeking out and destroying these kinds of records.

"This is a case of old files that were still on isolated computers," Thurler said. "A small number of isolated computers were exposed."

At least one of the computers affected was located at Tufts’s Dining Services Department.

Thurler said she did not know the nature of the files that were breached.

Malicious software can seek out personal information like social security numbers and passwords. Infected computers can send data to a third party.

Mike and Elizabeth Dunford consider themselves chocolate milk connoisseurs. Instead of collecting post cards and souvenir t-shirts on vacation, the 35-year-old Newton, Mass resident and his 34-year-old wife visit local grocery stores to try regional brands of chocolate milk. But they say they have not found one yet that rivals their own.

The Dunfords developed the brand Cocoa Metro in their home kitchen a little under a year ago. Launching a business for high end chocolate milk in the teeth of a recession has not been easy. But the couple, who moved two young children from Utah to Boston, have never been about taking the easiest of paths. Mike said they never could find the right quality of chocolate milk, so the tall creative director with tousled graying hair and a boyish grin decided to perfect his favorite childhood drink.

"I was a heavy drinker," Mike said, remembering his childhood obsession with chocolate milk.

Large canisters of powdered chocolate from Cosco and gallons of milk disappeared from Mike’s Salt Lake City home when he and his cousin got together. But as an adult Mike found the chocolate milk he guzzled as a teenager tasted kind of "whimpy."

He and his wife set to work mixing and tasting batch after batch of chocolate milk in their home kitchen. "She’s the taste buds," he said, while Elizabeth laughed at her semi-official title.

After the exact formula for the chocolate milk was decided on, the couple researched bottling companies and dairy farms.

"We have a tub full of chocolate milk," Mike said with a laugh, while Elizabeth corrected the statement almost as fast as it came out of his mouth.

"Don’t tell her that," she said.

After telling friends about their business, the Dunfords often got questions about the process of how one "makes" chocolate milk.

"A lot of people ask us if we make it ourselves or how we store it," Mike said. He began telling people they stored the milk in their bathtub and bottled it daily.

The milk is actually bottled by a company in Massachusetts, the exact name Mike guards as a trade secret. Costing twice as much as its closest competitor at $6 a bottle, the chocolate milk tastes like melted chocolate ice cream and is almost as thick as a milkshake. Mike said he was not really worried about it selling, despite the recession.

"Six bucks is not much to sit down and have a good experience," Mike said.

Taking risks is part of life for the Salt Lake City natives. Between high school and college Elizabeth boarded a plane to Taiwan to teach English without the promise of a job or even housing.

"My mom bought me the ticket," Elizabeth said with her melodious laugh and calm smile.

In 2007, the couple uprooted their then two children to move to Massachusetts so Mike could attend Babson College near Wellesley, Mass and earn his MBA. He had been accepted into a business school in Utah, where his then employer would have paid for his MBA. But after hearing about Babson’s reputation for preparing small business owners and considering the course they should take, Mike quit his job in Utah, the couple sold their house, and they started to plan a move before Mike was even accepted into Babson’s program.

"It’s well researched risk taking," He said.

The research continued with Cocoa Metro.

"We found that the sales of cigarettes, booze, and confectionary actually go up during a recession," Mike said.

The research appears to be accurate, as most stores could not keep the product on the shelf during the Christmas season and after less than a year of it hitting Whole Food’s shelves, Mike said Cocoa Metro is almost at the break-even point. In the Boston area 29 stores are selling the product. Just recently, it is being sold in Rhode Island with a teasing status on the company’s Facebook page suggesting it will be sold in Hartford, CT soon.

The Dunford’s part-time driver and assistant, 49-year-old Dean Drommond attributes the success of Cocoa Metro to Mike’s skills in advertising. Drommond worked as a stock trader for 25 years, so he said he knew the basics of new companies and their odds of success.

"I didn’t think a high end product would be so catching," Drommond said. "But Mike has a background in the advertising business. That’s one of the real strengths of the company."

Before he was in the chocolate milk business, Mike worked as a creative director and interactive art director. He utilized his past experience by coining phrases like "Don’t be afraid of the dark" and "You can fire your therapist" to advertise the new product. Creating the stark white Cocoa Metro, he recreated the nostalgia of selling milk in glass bottles with white screw top lids similar to the bottles the milk man would have dropped at the door in the ‘50s.

Elizabeth said she always knew her husband would start a business. It was her prodding that sent him on the search for business schools. She knows her husband of ten years pretty well. They met when she was in eighth grade. According to Elizabeth, they were best friends all through high school and always chocolate lovers.

"I remember a lot of trips to the store to get candy bars," Elizabeth said. "Whatchamacallits were my thing back then."

In high school Mike and Elizabeth traveled to Germany. The couple attributes much of their knowledge and love of chocolate from those trips.

"They just have such a variety of chocolate that you don’t find here," Mike said. Mike and Elizabeth’s love of chocolate led them to study the beans and flavors. Mike said he always dreamed of opening a store filled with exotic chocolates.

When this dream of a store for chocolates shifted to creating Cocoa Metro, Romney Evans said he knew the product would sell. Evans, 32-year-old founder of mytruefit.com, a website designed to help women find that perfect pair of jeans, graduated from Babson College in 2006 one year before the Dunford’s move. Also a transplant from Salt Lake City, Evans knew Mike and Elizabeth and their family before their journey to the East Coast.

"Mike and Elizabeth have an innate sense of what customers want," said Evans, who said he has four bottles of Cocoa Metro in his refrigerator at home.

This sense of what people want to eat in some part has come from the Dunford’s interest in sharing their love and knowledge of chocolate with other people. Evans attended a party at the Dunford’s home, where the game of the night involved chocolate bean tasting. Every guest received cups of cocoa beans, jotting down the flavors they tasted in the particular beans. Once everyone finished trying the various bean, Mike read the research he and his wife had found online on each particular bean, highlighting the taste profiles.

"It is amazing how different the cocoa beans taste," Elizabeth said. "We all went back and tried the beans again to see what flavors we had missed."

Since the creation of Cocoa Metro and the rigors of starting a company, the couple said those sorts of nights had to be put on hold.

"Our social life has taken a dive," joked Elizabeth.

Their few spare minutes were spent scaling, mixing, and tasting chocolate milk. They bought a scale to keep track of the exact ratio of ingredients. After trying batches of milk with various chocolate the couple chose the food industry staple Callebaut cocoa for the product, because of its ability to blend with the other ingredients.

Mike made the messes. He said he would be the one mixing and handing off cups to Elizabeth so she could give her opinion. Evans remembered being asked to try the experiments a few times as well.

"I probably wasn’t very helpful, because I liked every version just as much," Evans said.

In August 2009 Cocoa Metro hit Boston area Whole Foods stores. Drommond laughed remembering men at one store discussing the product while he unloaded the bottles.

"Grown men were standing around talking about chocolate milk," Drummond said.

The Dunford’s said one of their next goals is New York City, but branching out was a matter of finding time.

"Adding stores for us has really become when we have time to do it," Mike said. "If we can meet with them in person and have them try the product, they are sold."

CAMBRIDGE — Even though he dropped out, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates went back to school. He visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this week as part of a three-day tour to five Universities across the country.

Gates wowed student and faculty with a speech about philanthropy called, "Giving Back: Finding the Best Way to Make a Difference." It is quite a change from programming computers.

Gates now has left his duties at Microsoft to focus on two large problems the world is facing: health and education, and certain populations are suffering more than others.

"There are health problems, sanitation problems government problems," Gates said. "All of those problems make life so much for difficult for the bottom two billion, versus particularly the richest one billion. These are really big things that we haven’t given enough attention too."

Gates is planning to discuss these issues with other schools, but he has a special relationship with MIT. He even joked around about how he retook a physics class here and had a really tough time with it. All the students seemed to know the professor he was referring too. Other professors were pleased Gates mentioned MIT’s contributions to the world.

"He has mentioned many times MIT’s technology are very useful to our society," said Professor Venkat Vummadi. "He has mentioned it many times with props in the interest of biology and vaccines."

Gates is using an endowment of $33.5 billion to bring vaccines and medication to developing countries. Children die at very high rates because no one makes enough malaria vaccines in Africa. Gates plans to supply the funds for pharmaceutical companies to mass produce vaccines, and safely store them so they wont go bad.

Gates is deadlocked on this new goal. He chose MIT and the other universities to speak to because they have similar goals. Now he will move onto the next school and then go back to his benevolent work for the world.

A study appears in the Annals of Internal Medicine conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical school purports to show that people’s alcohol consumption habits are the direct result of the people they associated with.

The study, which analyzed the drinking patterns of 12,000 people, concluded that people are 50 percent more likely to drink heavily if they have friends or relatives who are heavy drinkers also.

The study also shows that even if you’re just surrounded by heavy alcohol consumption, your drinking will go up by about 70 percent, while your drinking will drop in half if you’re around people who aren’t drinking.