Fenway resident group pays visit to Senate The Student Government Association (SGA) was visited by members of the Fenway Community Development Corporation (Fenway CDC) last Thursday during senate. Due to the recent onslaught of conflict regarding Northeastern’s expansion into the Fenway area and its effect on the community, SGA Vice President for Student Affairs Erin McFadzen said she thought it was important to open up the lines of communication. The Fenway CDC is devoted to enhancing the stability and diversity of the Fenway neighborhood of Boston, according to their Web site. Fenway CDC Director Jamie Smith said one of the group’s main concerns with the university is the decrease of affordable family housing for community members when too many students flood the area. However, members of the senate, including John Guilfoil, vice president for administration and public relations, questioned the group’s reported opposition to construction of new buildings for on-campus housing. Smith said the group would like to sit down with the university and discuss appropriate places for housing. Smith cited Davenport Commons as a prime example of a compromise between Northeastern and their organization.

Sweatshop simulation heats up student center The Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) is holding an all-day sweatshop simulation today to raise awareness about harmful working conditions around the world. The simulation will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the West Addition of the Curry Student Center, said Elliott McGann, a member of the group. “We want to show people the realities of these situations,” he said. During the simulation, students will work under oppressive conditions, producing bags stamped with the phrase, “This bag was made in a sweatshop.” McGann said students visiting the simulation will have the option of buying a bag or signing petitions against sweatshop conditions. He also said PSA is trying to bring “fair trade” goods to campus through Chartwells. Fair trade goods, through the Fair Trade Federation, aim to promote adequate wages and employment opportunities to farmers worldwide. McGann said PSA will follow up the sweatshop simulation with a speaker, a former sweatshop worker who will visit campus sometime in March.

United Nations tapestry becomes fixture in CSC A tapestry of flags representing all 191 members of the United Nations will be unveiled in the Curry Student Center Indoor Quad tomorrow during a special ceremony at noon. The tapestry will be unveiled by the Student Center Governing Board as part of the student center’s 40th birthday celebration. The flag ceremony is scheduled in conjunction with the International Student Scholar Institute’s “International Marketplace,” a part of its annual International Carnevale. The United Nations tapestry will become a permanent part of the student center. “I think it’s going to be a very exciting addition to what the student center stands for,” said Dirk Rodricks, associate director of student center operations. “The tapestry will represent all that international students and the international community means to Northeastern.”

BRC allocates over $7k for XCEL conference After hearing presentations from several student groups, the Budget Review Committee approved the following requests at their meeting last Tuesday: XCEL, Northeastern’s Center for Female Excellence and Leadership,