T H A N K S 

The editors of Elements would like to thank the following individuals 
for their generous support of and assistance with this issue of 
Elements: 

P E R I O D I C I T Y 

Elements is published twice an academic year i n the fall and spring 

semesters. 

BEN B I R N B A U M , Executive Director of the Office of Marketing Communications 

ELIZABETH BRAN DES, Art Director for the Office of Marketing Communications 

CUTBERTO GARZA, Provost and Dean of Faculties 

D O N A L D HAFNER, Chair of the Undergraduate Fellowships Committee 

JOYCE M A N N I X , Business Manager for the College of Arts and Sciences 

A N N A MARIE MURPHY, Deputy Editor of Boston College Magazine 

JOSEPH Q U I N N , Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences 

BARBARA VI ECH N ICKI , Associate Dean for Finance and Administration 

We would also like to give special thanks to the Dean's Office 
of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Marketing 
Communications for providing budgetary support that made 
this publication possible. 

Q U E S T I O N S & C O N T R I B U T I O N S 

I f you have any questions, or would like to contribute a letter for 
our next issue, feel free to contact the journal at elements@bc.edu. 

COVER 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration by Mexican-Americans 

i n Port Huron, Michigan. 

© Dennis MacDonald/Alamy 

Elements, Undergraduate Research Journal, Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring 20067 

Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Service Building 103, 
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 

Printing: Kirkwood Printing, 904 Main Street, Wilmington, MA 01887 

For submission guidelines please refer to http://www.bc.edu/elements/ 

Copyright © 2007 by Trustees of Boston College 

mailto:elements@bc.edu
http://www.bc.edu/elements/


E L E M E N T S STAFF 
E D I T O R - I N - C H I EF 

REBECCA KRAUS 

M A N A G I N G E D I T O R S 

CATHERINE HALSEY 

PAUL WENDEL 

H U M A N I T I E S 

EMILY CERSONSKY, Senior Editor 

REBECCA F. BUCKLEY, Editor 

ERIN E. E I C H A N , Editor 

KAELIN M. GRANT, Editor 

JUNSUNG K I M , Editor 

ROHAN M U L G A O N K A R , Editor 

MARY SASSO, Editor 

KATHRYN SKAGGS, Editor 

CHRISTOPHER TRUEAX, Editor 

N A T U R A L S C I E N C E S 

ALLISON LORD, Senior Editor 

KATHRYN M. BRADY, Editor 

DAM I EN CROTEAU-CHONKA, Editor 

ELLEN K I M , Editor 

AISTE NARKEVICI UTE, Editor 

KATHERINE W U , Editor 

S O C I A L S C I E N C E S 

KERRY B R E N N A N , Senior Editor 

MAR ISA COCHRANE, Editor 

SUSIE C O N N O L L Y, Editor 

MORGAN J. CORCORAN, Editor 

J O H N FLOWERS, Editor 

T I M KELLY, Editor 

CHRISTOPHER LAWS, Editor 

MARIA MASAVEU, Editor 

S P E C I A L F E A T U R E S 

N A T H A N I E L CAMPBELL, Senior Editor 

L A Y O U T 

DAM I EN CROTEAU-CHONKA, Senior Editor 

SUSIE C O N N O L L Y, Editor 

ERIN E. E I G H A N , Editor 

MARIA MASAVEU, Editor 

W E B M A N A G E R 

DAM I EN CROTEAU-CHONKA 

F A C U L T Y A D V I S E R 

PROF. MARK O ' C O N N O R , 

Director, College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program