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: DANIEL BAIROS, Technology Consultant BEN B IRNBAUM, Executive Director of the Office of Marketing Communications ELIZABETH BRANDES, Art Director for the Office of Marketing Communications CUTBERTO GARZA, Provost and Dean of Faculties DONALD HAFNER, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies JOYCE MAN N IX, Business Manager for the College of Arts and Sciences J O S E P H Q U I N N , Outgoing 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 Senagalese boys play football on the streets i n Senegal. © Nic Bothma/epa/Corbis 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. The information provided by our contributors is not independently verified by Elements. The materials presented represent the personal opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Elements or the Boston College community. E L E M E N T S STAFF E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F CATHERINE HALSEY D E P U T Y E D I T O R PAUL WENDEL M A N A G I N G E D I T O R CHRISTOPHER M. TRUEAX H U M A N I T I E S JUNSUNC KIM, Senior Editor NATHANIEL CAMPBELL, Editor EMILY CERSONSKY, Editor ALYSSA DUQUETTE, Editor REBECCA KRAUS, Editor N A T U R A L S C I E N C E S KATHERINEWU, Senior Editor ALLISON LORD, Editor AISTE NARKEVICIUTE, Editor S O C I A L S C I E N C E S TIM KELLY, Senior Editor KERRY BRENNAN, Editor MARIA MASAVEU, Editor ESTEBAN URlBE, Editor L A Y O U T ERIN E. EICHAN, Senior Editor DAM I EN CROTEUA-CHONKA, Editor ALYSSA DUQUETTE, Editor W E B M A N A G E R KATHERINE WU F A C U L T Y A D V I S E R ELIZABETH CHADWICK, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program Elements, Undergraduate Research Journal, Volume 3, Issue 2, Fall 2007 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 D I T O R ' S N O T E It is a paradox universally acknowledged that change is a constant in life. Members of the Boston College community can certainly attest to this reality, bearing witness to the ever-changing student body compo- sition and the constant fluctuation of schedules, just to skim the sur- face. However, this unpredictability is by no means limited to our cam- pus. Change is indiscriminate; it touches everyone on some level at some point in life. The question is not whether we wi l l experience change, but rather, how we wil l respond to it. We can either cling timidly to the notions of the past or choose to embrace the change, look- ing forward to possibilities yet to be realized in the future. This edition of Elements encourages us to consider the role that the past plays in our understanding of the present. One article in particular reevaluates linguistic philosophy. Yet another piece takes an in-depth look at the planning and care that went into creating the Boston parks system. Language and parks—how often do we take these things for granted? Words communicate meaning, yet we speak before thinking. We stroll through the Commons and never stop to consider how such a magnificently green haven came to exist amidst the con- crete and buildings of the city. However, acknowledging the legacy of those who came before us is worthwhile as it increases our appreciation of our present circumstance. Additionally, it calls to mind the consider- ation of what our legacy wi l l be. Our world, as it exists now, wi l l con- tinue to evolve, morphing into yet another reality for those who come after us. Globalization has played a major role in shaping our contem- porary perspective. Seemingly straightforward means of entertain- ment, like soccer and hip-hop, have assumed entirely new, more com- plicated significance that cannot be ignored. We, as humans, gifted with genuine consciousness, have a responsibility to learn from the past, to study our present, and to plan for the future. Imagine the possibilities. Change impacted Elements in a very real way recently. With the graduation of the Class of 2007, we witnessed the departure of the final founding members of the journal. Under their guidance, Elements has become what it is today and for that we thank them. It is with appreciation for their efforts and enthusiasm for the future of the journal that we present this, the first Fall edition of Elements. It boasts a new look and provides yet another opportunity for the members of the undergraduate student body of Boston College to share their intellectual findings. Sincerely, C A T H E R I N E M. HALSEY Editor-in-chief