After an semester that saw highly publicized reported assaults and robberies, litigation and logo changes, a slate sweep in the Student Union election, a tuition hike and even the loss of Taco Bell, here is a look back at the biggest stories of the 2007-08 academic year.
ASSAULT IN WEST CAMPUS
Daniel Glaser, 21, a Lehigh University junior, and Aaron Goodliss, 21, a Johnson ‘ Wales University junior illegally entered two female residents’ dorm rooms in Claflin Hall on Jan. 20.
Glaser was charged with two counts of indecent assault and battery, two counts of unarmed burglary and one count of breaking and entering. Goodliss was charged with breaking and entering and possession of marijuana.
Both Glaser and Goodliss were to complete community service.
BU CHANGES LOGO
In mid-January President Robert Brown announced in an email to the BU student body that the official university logo was going to change.
The new logo, which was developed by Toth Brand Imaging, removed the white line separating the words “Boston” and “University” and replaced the old font with a new font. BU spent nearly two years on the project, which was an attempt to unify the university under one logo.
BU TUITION HIKE PUSHES
TOTAL COSTS TOWARD $50,000
Brown announced in a letter that tuition and room and board costs will rise to $47,958 for the upcoming academic year. In addition to books, supplies and other living necessities, the annual cost of attendance at BU will most likely surpass $50,000.
STARBUCKS TO REPLACE TACO BELL
The Taco Bell located at Warren Towers served its final Mexican dish on March 30 before closing its doors forever. A Starbucks will replace the now-empty establishment in the future, Dining Services Marketing Director Michelle Vitagliano said.
Many students who were unaware of the change until too late are now protesting via Facebook group “Boycott the Warren Towers Starbucks,” which has nearly 2,000 members.
WEST CAMPUS ROBBERIES REPORTEDLY LINKED
Reported assaults in the Brookline and Allston-Brighton area in March and April may be linked, Brookline police officials said. Six women were allegedly robbed and assaulted during the two month period in a similar fashion. Three of the reported assaults took place near the BU campus.
SEIDEL AND NEW DEAL SWEEP UNION ELECTIONS
Matt Seidel, a CAS sophomore, beat out current Student Union Vice President and Team Union slate leader John Dallas Grant by 128 votes to win the Union Presidency. Seidel also beat independent candidate Jeanne Mansfield by 1,069 votes.
The rest of Seidel’s slate, the New Deal, picked up the remaining executive board positions.
SEDGREEN INITIATIVES
The School of Education installed seven solar panels and a wind turbine, which will make the school run partially on alternative energy, officials said. The panels were initiated by sedGreen, a student and faculty committee, and funded by SED
“The solar panels will feed into the grid system and give electrical power to the building,” SED science education professor Doug Zook said in late March. “The contribution will be small, but we hope to show educationally that this solar energy is important.”
