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: 

D A N I E L BAIROS, Technology Consultant 

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

E L I Z A B E T H BRAN DES, Art Director for the Office of Marketing Communications 

C U T B E R T O GARZA, Provost and Dean of Faculties 

D O N A L D H A F N E R , Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies 

JOYCE MANNIX, Business Manager for the College of Arts and Sciences 

PATRICK MANEY, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences 

BARBARA VI E C H 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. 

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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 
C A T H E R I N E HALSEY 

D E P U T Y E D I T O R 
K A T H E R I N E W U 

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

H U M A N I T I E S 

J U N S U N C K I M , Senior Editor 

ERIN E. E I C H A N , Editor 

Z A C H A R Y M A R K A R I A N , Editor 

MARY SASSO, Editor 

SVETLANA T U R O V A , Editor 

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

K A T H E R I N E W U , Senior Editor 

ERIN C R O D E N , Editor 

A N N E K O R N A H R E N S , Editor 

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

P A U L W E N D E L , Senior Editor 

JOY BATRA, Editor 

J E N N Y BRESS, Editor 

ALYSSA D U Q U E T T E , Editor 

C A I T L I N A. PETERSON, Editor 

ESTEBAN URIBE , Editor 

B R I A N V A R I A N , Editor 

L A Y O U T 

ERIN E. E I G H A N , Senior Editor 

ALYSSA D U Q U E T T E , Editor 

ERIN G R O D E N , Editor 

W E B M A N A G E R 

K A T H E R I N E W U 

Elements, Undergraduate Research Journal, Volume 4, Issue 1, Spring 2008 

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 © 2008 by Trustees of Boston College 

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E D I T O R ' S N O T E 

The fact that Boston College is a Jesuit institution comes as no surprise. 
From the moment students arrive at freshman orientation, the school's 
motto—"men and women for others"—becomes a well-known catch-
phrase. The words of St. Ignatius flood our campus, making apparent 
the university's strong Jesuit ties. However, words are useless without 
actions to support them. The values embodied by our university motto 
come to life in the numerous service opportunities and immersion trips 
offered, the spiritual groups on campus, and the overall community 
environment here at Boston College. 

This issue of Elements highlights examples of students carrying out the 
mission to live for others in their intellectual pursuits, their spiritual 
lives, and their efforts to bring about change. One student explores 
the role of personal virtue, particularly in the lives of politicians, a topic 
important to many individuals in light of the upcoming elections. 
Another contributing author offers insight into the growing problem 
of global poverty. Both articles embrace the Jesuit call for social 
awareness, encouraging critical examination of personal character and 
openness to the world around us. Oftentimes, the urge to study the 
world we live in stems from an inner desire to improve the current 
situation. By examining our spiritual lives, we can better understand 
that desire. As one article suggests, learning from religions other than 
our own can enrich our spiritual lives and bring us closer as a global 
community, thus allowing us to confront worldwide concerns, such as 
the treatment and prevention of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is fea-
tured in our cover article. 

Ultimately, aiming to live as men and women for others is a noble goal 
that requires us to know ourselves intimately, to move beyond what is 
familiar, and to take action. Being members of the Boston College 
community affords us both privilege and responsibility. The authors 
featured i n this issue offer us examples of a variety of ways to fulfill 
our social obligations and encourage us to find our own path of 
service to others. 

Sincerely, 

C A T H E R I N E M. HALSEY 

Editor-in-chief