BOSTON–Hurst Hannum is a professor of international law at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University. At Tufts, Hannum has studied human rights in China for the last decade and recently spent 2 ½ years in Hong Kong studying the oldest culture in the world. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, as part of the Barbara and Richard M. Rosenberg Institute for East Asian Studies, Hannum came to Suffolk University to speak about his findings on human rights in China.
Wearing a gray suit and blue tie, Hannum spoke to a packed house inside Sargent Hall at the Suffolk Law School. He first gave listeners background information on human rights in China and how people are treated. “China has the largest population in the world with 1.3 billion people,” he said, “but they have very little say on what goes on in their country.” He explained that much of China is uninhabitable so most of the population is crowded in small areas. Therefore, the government can control the population from outside these areas in comfortable, less congested living quarters. Continue reading
Author: Wesley Sarro
Sox have work to do this off-season
Red Sox players may be enjoying their off-season, but for the men and women who work in the front office, there is much to do. This time of year, when free agency is in full swing and trade rumors are rolling, is called the “hot stove.” In Boston, the hot stove season is always exciting as management tries to improve the team. Since the new owners took over in 2002, the Red Sox have had the resources to add almost any player they wanted.
The 2006 off-season saw the Sox acquire Japanese superstar Daisuke Matsuzaka. Principle owners Larry Lucchino, John Henry and Tom Warner put up a $51 million posting fee, just to get exclusive rights to talk to Matsuzaka.
After the negotiations were complete, Dice-k was signed to a six-year $52 million contract. This proved the Red Sox owners would stop at nothing to acquire a player that they thought could help the team. Continue reading
Ballots and buses at Curtis Guild Elementary
EAST BOSTON, Mass.–The scene outside Curtis Guild Elementary School on election day was very similar to outside Fenway Park after a Red Sox game. Leyden Street was flooded with people, walking in every direction and bumping into each other often. The placement of the school could not make for a more interesting atmosphere, located on a side street directly in the heart of Orient Heights, East Boston.
The street is narrow, putting the school within 30 feet of the houses in the neighborhood. Residents have no choice but to deal with loud groups of supporters from both parties. Voters held signs encouraging others to vote for either Barack Obama or John McCain.
The usual neighborhood noise of birds and school buses at 8 a.m. was replaced with chants for Barack Obama. This tiny neighborhood suddenly had hundreds of voters, who after casting their ballot, did not go home. Local residents knew what to expect, they’ve been through this chaos many times.
Cubs, Angels favorites heading into postseason
Chicago Cubs fans have been down this road before, looking like the team to beat in the National League coming down the final stretch of a season. Many Chicagoans have suffered through the agony and defeat of making it so far, only to lose at the very end. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim enter the postseason representing the American League, and are perennial favorites having won their division the past two years. Unfortunately, for Cubs fans, this road to the postseason leads to a dark and dreary place.
In 2003, all the Cubs needed to do was win games six or seven to advance to the World Series. With stud aces Kerry Wood and Mark Prior taking the hill, all looked well for Chicago.
In game six, they had a 3-0 lead with only five outs to go, when the lovable losers blew it again. This time, however, with a little help from one of their fans. The infamous Steve Bartman reached over into the field of play taking a probable out from the grasp of left fielder Moises Alou. Then Alex Gonzalez made a crucial error at short, and the Florida Marlins went off to an eight-run inning that Cubs fans will never forget. Continue reading
Bruins take back Boston
BOSTON–Boston has not been the “hub of hockey” since the 70s when Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito were drinking from Lord Stanley’s Cup. Besides the early 90s when the Bruins finished first in the Eastern Conference and made a finals appearance, there hasn’t been much to get excited about. Just plenty of early round playoff exits and major disappointment.
In recent years, the TD Banknorth Garden has drawn better attendance for children’s ice shows, such as Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey. I understand that the last Bruins championship parade through Boston was 1972, but they should at least outdraw Mickey Mouse.
With the Red Sox recent exit from the post-season by the new look Tampa Bay Rays, normally Boston sports fans would turn their attention to the Patriots. Only every time I tune in to see Tom Brady and the Patriots high flying offense, I get some guy named Casell who looks like he hasn’t started a meaningful game since high school. Since this is an actual reality with Tom Brady going down only 19 minutes into the season and having a starting quarterback who usually carries a clipbord, there has been no better time to watch Boston Bruins Hockey. Continue reading