T H A N K S The editors of Elements would like to thank the following

THANKS
E L E M E N T S STAFF
The editors of Elements would like to thank the following individuals
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
C A T H E R I N E HALSEY
for their generous support of and assistance with this issue of
Elements:
DEPUTY EDITOR
KATHERINE WU
D A N I E L B A I R O S , Technology Consultant
MANAGING
T I M KELLY
EDITOR
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 G A R Z A , Provost and Dean of Faculties
D O N A L D H A F N E R , Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies
J O Y C E M A N N I X , Business Manager for the College of Arts and Sciences
PATRICK M A N E Y , Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
BARBARA VI E C H N I C K I , 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.
QUESTIONS & CONTRIBUTIONS
I f you have any questions or would like to contribute a letter for
our next issue, feel free to contact the journal at [email protected].
HUMANITIES
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
M A R Y SASSO, Editor
S V E T L A N A T U R O V A , Editor
NATURAL
SCIENCES
K A T H E R I N E W U , Senior Editor
E R I N 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 AL SCI ENCES
P A U L W E N D E L , Senior Editor
JOY BATRA, Editor
J E N N Y BRESS, Editor
COVER
H I V flowing through the circulatory system
© 3D4Medical.com/Getty Images
ALYSSA D U Q U E T T E , Editor
C A I T L I N A . P E T E R S O N , Editor
ESTEBAN U R I B E , Editor
B R I A N V A R I A N , Editor
PERIODICITY
Elements is published twice an academic year i n the fall and spring
semesters.
LAYOUT
E R I N E. E I G H A N , Senior Editor
ALYSSA D U Q U E T T E , Editor
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 R I N G R O D E N , Editor
WEB
MANAGER
KATHERINE WU
Elements, Undergraduate Research Journal, Volume 4, Issue 1, Spring 2008
FACULTY
Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Service Building 103,
ELIZABETH C H A D W I CK
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
ADVISOR
EDITOR'S NOTE
The fact that Boston College is a Jesuit institution comes as no surprise.
Ultimately, aiming to live as men and women for others is a noble goal
From the moment students arrive at freshman orientation, the school's
that requires us to know ourselves intimately, to move beyond what is
motto—"men and women for others"—becomes a well-known catch-
familiar, and to take action. Being members of the Boston College
phrase. The words of St. Ignatius flood our campus, making apparent
community affords us both privilege and responsibility. The authors
the university's strong Jesuit ties. However, words are useless without
featured i n this issue offer us examples of a variety of ways to fulfill
actions to support them. The values embodied by our university motto
our social obligations and encourage us to find our own path of
come to life i n the numerous service opportunities and immersion trips
service to others.
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
Sincerely,
mission to live for others i n their intellectual pursuits, their spiritual
lives, and their efforts to bring about change. One student explores
the role of personal virtue, particularly i n the lives of politicians, a topic
important to many individuals i n 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 i n 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 featured i n our cover article.
C A T H E R I N E M. H A L S E Y
Editor-in-chief