The Heights, September 21, 2020

Monday, September 21, 2020

Undergrad COVID-19 Positivity Rate Drops Fifteen students tested positive this past week.

By Scott Baker News Editor

An additional three Boston College undergraduates have tested positive for COVID-19 since Thursday out of the 968 undergraduates tested, BC reported in the Saturday update of its dashboard. The .31 percent positivity rate represents a continued decrease in new confirmed cases. The positivity rate for undergraduates this past week stands at .54 percent, with 15 positives out of 2,790 tests. The week before, the University reported 73 cases out of 2,067 tests, a positivity rate of 3.53 percent, prompting concern from students and local officials.

“The numbers are trending downward,” Associate Vice President for University Communications Jack Dunn said in an interview with The Heights. “They’re trending in the right direction.”

The University reports that 59 undergraduates were in isolation as of Saturday, with 26 in isolation housing and 33 recovering at home. Sixty-four undergraduates have recovered.

The Commonwealth reported that there had been a total of 499 confirmed COVID-19 cases associated with higher education in the state as of last Tuesday morning. BC had reported 104 total positives among community members at that point, representing at least a fifth of COVID-19 cases connected to higher education in Massachusetts. The University conducted more than 4,000 community tests last week, up from the weekly 1,500 tests it had originally planned, and Dunn told The Heights that the University intends to conduct 5,000 tests next week.

Even as the University continues to increase its testing, it won’t be testing all undergraduates weekly. Other local universities including Tufts University, Boston University, and Northeastern University test each undergraduate multiple times per week. n

PHOTO COURTESY OF BC ATHLETICS

BC Kicks Off Hafley Era With Duke Win Jeff Hafley’s first game as head coach featured a strong offensive performance and five forced turnovers for a 26-6 win.

Student Files Suit for Partial Tuition Refund Plaintiff says BC failed to provide promised in-person instruction.

By Megan Kelly Asst. News Editor

EAMON LAUGHLIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

*Data compiled from BC’s dashboard.

Admin. Increases Testing Frequency Due to a previous case spike, BC will add an extra day of testing.

By Maddie Deye Heights Staff

In response to the spike in COVID-19 cases reported during the second week of classes, Boston College will add an additional day of testing next week, bringing the number of days of surveillance testing to four.

The University conducted more than 4,000 tests last week and expects to perform more than 5,000 tests this week, according to Associate Vice President for University Communi-

cations Jack Dunn.

Dunn said the increase in testing will be a combination of increases in testing for high-contact employees and random asymptomatic surveillance testing.

The random surveillance testing will now occur Monday through Thursday, and results will be posted Tuesday through Friday. Students who are symptomatic will continue to be able to get a test any day.

Included in these tests, Dunn said, will be high-contact individuals such as resident assistants and student employees in dining services. These students will now receive weekly testing for the duration of the semester, as BC said it would do during a summer update.

Other outlets have similarly reported that the University was not providing weekly tests to students in high-contact positions. Dunn did not respond by press time when asked why the University did not begin the year testing students in high-contact positions once per week, as it had initially stated.

Last week, the University reported 73 new cases among undergraduates out of 2,067 tests, a positivity rate of 3.53 percent. This week, the positivity rate fell down to .54 percent, with 15 cases out of 2,790 undergraduate tests.

Even as the University ramps up its testing, it won’t be testing each undergraduate weekly, as other universities in the Boston area have been. n

undergraduate students tested each week, Dunn said, as some undergraduates are tested more than once in a week.

Some students were tested twice the week they moved in because they were from states considered high-risk, and were called in to be tested again after their initial test. Instances like this caused the number of undergraduates tested and the number of undergraduate tests to differ.

“Essentially, we had apples and oranges,” said Michael Bourque, vice president of Information Technology Services at BC, in reference to the difference between undergraduate “tests” and undergraduates “tested.”

The change in BC’s data reporting comes after The Heights reported Tuesday that the weekly numbers of undergraduates tested on the dashboard did not add up to the cumulative total tests reported.

At the time, the cumulative total was 1,014 more tests than the sum of the weekly data.

Bourque also told The Heights that BC is continuing to consider use of CoVerified, a symptoms-reporting and test-scheduling app. The University announced plans to use the app over the summer, but delays in its creation have led the University to use an online tool for self-reporting symptoms instead. n

A Boston College student filed a class-action lawsuit against the University seeking a partial refund for tuition after BC moved classes online for the remainder of the spring semester in March, on the grounds that the University failed to provide the full in-person educational experience and access to facilities for which students paid.

“Plaintiff and the putative class contract-

ed and paid for an education, not course credits,” the suit reads. “They paid for the robust education and full experience of academic life on BC’s campus; remote online learning cannot provide the same value as in-person education.”

The suit alleges that BC has unjustly retained the full benefit of tuition and fees payments while failing to provide a full education to its students—these allegations are formally titled as “breach of contract” and “unjust enrichment.”

The plaintiff, Anilda Rodrigues, MCAS ’22, is claiming that BC failed to deliver on its contractual obligations to “provide an

See Rodrigues, A3

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTIN LEVY

Newton City Project BC Redesigns COVID-19 Dashboard Documents COVID-19

The change remedies a discrepancy in data reporting.

By Maddie Deye Heights Staff

Boston College launched a redesigned COVID-19 dashboard on Friday night in order to fix a discrepancy in data, Associate Vice President for University Communications Jack Dunn told The Heights. The dashboard now restates testing numbers to reflect the number of undergraduate tests rather than the number of individual

The local initiative portrays the effects of COVID-19 in the city.

By Julia Remick Metro Editor

The Newton Community Cameras project, which documents the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, seeks to document how the pandemic has affected the everyday lives of members of the Newton community. The selected photos include socially distant barbecues, virtual piano and dance recitals, nature scenes, and Black

Lives Matter protests.

Members of the Newton community were invited to submit their photographs during the month of June, three months after the City of Newton declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19.

The winning photographs and their accompanying texts will be exhibited in Newton City Hall this fall and stored in the Historic Newton archive.

A jury made up of members of Newton Community Pride, the Newton Camera Club, and the Newton Art Association selected 21 winning photos out of the 90

See Cameras, A5

SOLOISTS POP OFF ARTS Tiffany Brooks and Olivia Constantino, both MCAS ’21, will perform at the virtual Pops Off the Heights event.

A9

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

MAGAZINE: Quarantine Kitchen METRO: NPS Begin Instruction In the mood for a cozy weeknight dinner?

Check out this simple carbonara..............A8

Newton Public Schools began remotely on Sept.

16 with plans to phase in a hybrid model......A5

INDEX

NEWS......................A2 OPINIONS............. A6 Vol. CI, No. 9 © 2020, The Heights, Inc. MAGAZINE................. A4 ARTS...................... A9 METRO........................A5 SPORTS.................. A11 www.bcheights.com

The Heights

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TOP

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things to do on campus this week

1

The second installment of a webinar series on Catholic voters and the 2020 election will be held on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The webinar will focus on issues driving Catholics to the voting booth in 2020 and how the Republican Party can engage conservative Catholic voters this election.

2

Monday, September 21, 2020

There will be a virtual event on Tuesday at 7 p.m. on interracial dialogue and female storytelling. Emily Bernard, author of Black is the Body, will read an excerpt of her book before delivering a keynote address and participating in a Q&A session.

3

UGBC is hosting webinars at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday to address COVID-19-related questions about this semester. The webinars will be presented by UGBC President Christian Guma, Vice President Kevork Atinizian, and the Student Affairs Leadership team.

NEWS Elections Committee Defends Anonymity BRIEFS Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the nation’s foremost pioneers for gender equality, died on Friday from complications related to pancreatic cancer. Ginsburg was the second female justice appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, spending 27 years as the one of the court’s most liberal members, and in recent years came to be known by her supporters as the “Notorious RBG.” “We have lost one of the most extraordinary Justices ever to serve on the Supreme Court,” former president Bill Clinton said in a Tweet following her death. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life and landmark opinions moved us closer to a more perfect union. And her powerful dissents reminded us that we walk away from our Constitution’s promise at our peril.”

Chief Justice John Roberts said that the United States has lost a jurist of great stature.

“We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague,” Roberts said. “Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her—a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”

With Election Day only 43 days away, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is pushing to secure the necessary votes to approve a nomination by President Donald J. Trump to fill the vacancy on the Court left

by Ginsburg. Joseph R. Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, said that Senate Republicans should wait to allow the winner of this November’s presidential election to pick the next justice of the Supreme Court, just as they did when former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia died nine months prior to the presidential election in 2016.

BC Hosts Sex Equality Talk Boston College Law School kicked off the 19th year of the Legal History Roundtable on Friday with “The Equal Rights Amendment: A Constitution Day Conversation,” a panel discussion which delved into the history of the proposed but never ratified amendment.

“Women have invisibly changed the Constitution, but their contributions have not been legitimized,” said Julie Suk, a sociology professor and dean of master’s programs at the City University of New York. “Women provide all kinds of invisible work—both care work and underpaid work in the economy— that is undercompensated and underrecognized, so I think that’s the main reason that [the ERA is] important.”

The Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy sponsored the panel, moderated by Mary Sarah Bilder, a professor at the BC Law School.

Despite a widespread push by supporters in the 1970s, the federal Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was never ratified. The proposed amendment lost its initial momentum due to structural political obstacles, including a seven-year deadline for approval and coordinated action between Congressional opponents of the amendment and their allies in state legislatures, which all have to approve a Constitutional amendment.

The ERA aims to protect the rights of all U.S. citizens regarding sex-based inequalities. The amendment’s drafters did not recognize distinctions between sex and gender, Suk said, so the ERA has shifted slightly in meaning.

“The beauty of a transgenerationally made amendment is that the word ‘sex’ has evolved since the ’70s, and so it actually means something much different now, and the legislative history is affirming and solidifying the different meaning,” Suk said.

By Grace Hewitt Heights Staff

As students prepare to vote in the first Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) election since the controversial results of last spring’s executive election, candidates are again calling for more transparency from the Elections Committee (EC). Last year’s election was decided by 18 votes after the EC penalized the leading vote-getter for campaign violations, including a 40-vote deduction for criticizing a comment from the winning team during a debate.

The EC, which makes decisions about campaign sanctions in conjunction with the Office of Student Involvement (OSI), refused to disclose the names of its members to The Heights or any other campus publication last semester following the elections. The EC again, this semester, refused to provide The Heights with a roster of its members, who have the power to

sanction campaigns, including by deducting votes.

John Sayfie, co-chair of the EC and MCAS ’22, defended member anonymity as a protective measure from bias and retaliation in an interview with The Heights.

Tyler Soares, the other co-chair of the EC and CSOM ’22, did not respond to requests for an interview.

“Sometimes decisions are made by the committee through the elections code that everyone isn’t always happiest about,” Sayfie said, referring to last year’s elections. “… We have to make the decisions that are right, regardless of how the public will respond.”

The lack of clarity created problems in the executive election last spring as violations in campaigning led to the deduction of dozens of votes from all teams, ultimately making the difference in the election. The candidate who received the most votes but lost the election, Czar Sepe, a former UGBC senator and MCAS ’21, argued against vote deductions as punishment

for violations. In that case, Sepe said, the anonymity of the organization shielded the members against accountability.

“Taking a vote is taking a voice,” Sepe said in an interview with The Heights. “...

I say that they should be transparent and they should have names public because the Elections Committee was never elected themselves.”

The EC held two informational sessions two weeks ago for potential candidates. In these sessions, the EC shared the election code with the students in attendance as well as a list of EC members.

“Is [the list of EC members] supposed to be public information or is that supposed to be just only for the candidates?,” asked Sepe in an interview with The Heights. “They don’t make that clear.”

John Gehman, another presidential candidate in last year’s election and MCAS ’21, told The Heights that the EC’s lack of internal organization and transparency hurt the spring election. With a long list of

campaign regulations and lack of communication, Gehman said that he felt as if he was running against the EC. Due to the circumstances of the semester, both candidates and Sayfie agreed that the fall elections will look different. With a majority of campaigning taking place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some candidates said they hope that the changes force the EC to update the election code. Unsolicited messages over GroupMe and WhatsApp were the center of campaign violations last spring, and the former candidates expect the EC to modify the severity of punishments.

Leonardo Escobar, Gehman’s running mate last year and MCAS ’22, said he hopes for leniency with virtual campaigning, but the EC is closely monitoring all activity.

“When it comes down to the competition, you can’t just take away votes because people are having conversations about their student government in a group chat or in a private text,” Escobar said. n

'U.S. News' Ranks Boston College No. 35

By Brandon Kenney Heights Staff U.S. News & World Report named Boston College the No. 35 best national college in its 2021 college rankings, a two-spot jump from last year’s ranking.

This year, U.S. News slightly altered its rankings methodology by reducing the weight of standardized tests on the overall score from 7.75 percent to 5 percent. It also added graduate indebtedness criteria to the outcomes category, a change which increased the weight of outcomes on a school’s total score by 5 percent to a total of 40 percent. Other outcome factors include graduation and retention, graduation rate performance, and social mobility.

Calculations from this year’s rankings used data from fall of 2019 or earlier, meaning the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the data itself, but in order to account for the pandemic’s disruption to higher education, U.S. News placed less of an emphasis on admissions data and alumni giving data, and it re-introduced

test-blind schools in the rankings.

In ranking schools, U.S. News gives each school an overall score between zero and 100. Ten percent of each school's scores came from financial resources per student, and 20 percent from faculty resources. U.S. News also allotted 10 percent of the overall score for undergraduate academic reputation. BC received an overall score of 75.

In a University release, Associate Vice President of Communications Jack Dunn said that BC received its highest peer assessment score to date, an increase from 3.7 to 3.8. He also noted that the U.S. News’ 2019 change to their rankings methodology continues to negatively affect BC. The 2019 change altered the calculation of a school’s proportion of Pell Grant-eligible students, those whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, which benefits larger state schools that enroll a large number of Pell Grant-eligible students, according to the BC release. U.S. News writes that the metric isn’t perfect for measuring an institution’s attempt at

economic diversity, as colleges may enroll a large number of students who are just above the Pell cutoff.

Students reacted positively to BC’s increase in ranking. Christopher Meehan, MCAS ’22, noted how the increase in ranking may be beneficial in terms of future job prospects.

“The increase in ranking is definitely good news,” Meehan said. “For a rising junior like myself … a high ranking would definitely be beneficial for me in an interview or a job.”

U.S. News also ranked BC as eighth in “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” 13th in “First Year Experiences,” 25th in “Most Innovative Schools,” and 42nd in “Best Value Schools.” BC received No. 16 in “Study Abroad,” and No. 4 in “Service Learning,” its highest ranking this year.

BC placed well in comparison to peer schools—Boston University tied with Brandeis University at No. 42 and Northeastern University ranked 49th. Tufts University was ranked No. 30, while University of Notre Dame ranked No. 19 and

Georgetown University ranked No. 23.

The Carroll School of Management received high rankings from U.S. News, ranking in at No. 24 in “Best Undergraduate Business Programs” and No. 7 in finance. It was also listed No. 12 overall in accounting and No. 20 overall in marketing, according to the University release.

BC recently ranked No. 51 in the 2020 Washington Monthly national university rankings. Compared to the U.S. News rankings, the Washington Monthly rankings place more of an emphasis on the public good, dividing it into three categories— social mobility, research, and promoting public service. “It’s our answer to U.S. News & World Report, which relies on crude and easily manipulated measures of wealth, exclusivity, and prestige,” the rankings page reads.

In the Washington Monthly rankings, Boston University ranked 110th, Northeastern University ranked 128th, and Tufts University ranked 38th. The University of Notre Dame ranked 23rd, and Georgetown University ranked eighth. n

Admissions Adapts to Online Recruiting

By Iris Lu Heights Staff Although prospective students and families have been unable to traditionally preview Boston College’s campus due to the suspension of all on-campus visits in March, the Office of Undergraduate Admission has worked to provide students with a school visit experience in a new virtual landscape.

Since mid-April, admissions has held live daily information sessions with a panel of current students on its website, said Grant Gosselin, director of Undergraduate Admission. From May through August, 18 Student Admission Program staff members held virtual info sessions twice a day, utilizing the same structure of regular information sessions and campus tours.

“In late May we began running daily live campus tours, so we have students that navigate campus each day during the week with a camera and stabilizer,” Gosselin said. “They’re able to take questions from the audience in real time and just show them the campus

in a way that they wouldn’t have been able to see before.”

Jacqueline Geller, SAP staff member and MCAS '22, said that although she initially felt the online format would take away vital aspects that in-person tours once had, she was still able to build connections with prospective students.

"Honestly, I love human interaction, so it's very different talking to a screen for an entire summer," Geller said. "However, talking to someone on a screen is actually not as different as I thought. You still get to know the person really well. I had some really enjoyable conversations with the participants.”

Over the summer, BC also prepared faculty-led programs surrounding BC's academic opportunities and curriculums, including information about the new human-centered engineering program launching in the fall of 2021.

Gosselin said that all virtual sessions are being recorded and uploaded to BC’s website for on-demand viewing.

BC also started a new virtual pro-

gram that allows student visitors to connect with a BC student for individual 30-minute Zoom sessions. “[Through] our new Eagle for a Discussion program… BC applicants can register for a one-on-one Zoom call with current BC students,” said Gosselin. “We try to match them with students that have similar interests, either academically or otherwise.”

Geller said that the virtual summer sessions brought a boost in confidence among prospective students.

“I noticed that since on virtual info sessions, visitors don't have to show their faces, they can submit anonymous questions to answer, [and] I think many are more daring when asking questions during the Q&A session,” Geller said.

“They would ask questions that maybe they wouldn't ask in person, which I don't think necessarily is a bad thing, it gives us more opportunities to share more things about BC." On Sept. 14, BC launched a monthlong Discover Boston College virtual open house. From mid-September through October, the open house will

POLICE BLOTTER: 9/13/20 – 9/18/20

Sunday, Sept. 13

6:16 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a medical incident at Stuart Hall.

Monday, Sept. 14 2:33 a.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a medical incident at Vanderslice Hall.

6:39 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a suspicious circumstance at Stokes Hall.

8:37 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a suspicious circumstance at Fitzpatrick Hall.

11:58 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a miscellaneous police service at Duchesne

Hall.

Tuesday, Sept. 15 3:25 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding larceny under $1,200 at Gonzaga Hall.

Wednesday, Sept. 16 10:16 a.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a trespass warning being issued off campus.

Thursday, Sept. 17 1:36 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a suspicious circumstance at College Road.

3:30 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding

assistance provided to another agency with a traffic crash at Beacon Street.

offer visitors the opportunity to learn about BC's academic offering, social life on campus, various programs, and more details on the application process.

This year’s applicants will be the first to have the opportunity to apply to BC through QuestBridge, which BC partnered with in January.

"Our partnership with QuestBridge will start for the first time this year, which is an initiative that we have been excited about to partner with an organization that helps identify high achieving low-income students," Gosselin said.

In June, BC switched to a test-optional policy for applicants to the class of 2025 in response to barriers the COVID-19 pandemic placed on students’ ability to take standardized tests. International students who speak English as a second language are still required to prove their English proficiency by providing a TOEFL/ IELTS score, though, and this year BC also will accept scores of the Duolingo English test. n

CORRECTIONS

Friday, Sept. 18 2:00 a.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a medical incident at Hotel Boston.

5:37 a.m. - An officer filed a report regarding found property at Boston College Police Headquarters.

—Source: The Boston College Police Department

Please send corrections to eic@bcheights.com with ‘correction’ in the subject line.

The Heights

Monday, September 21, 2020

A3

State to Help with Contact Tracing

By Scott Baker Heights Staff Massachusetts authorities are now overseeing contact tracing at Boston College in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease after the number of COVID-19 cases increased at the University last week, Gov. Charlie Baker said at a press conference last Tuesday.

Associate Vice President for University Communications Jack Dunn confirmed that BC will be working with the state on contact tracing, but countered the idea that the state is taking the lead, describing it as more of a partnership.

“BC is still conducting its contact tracing, but is working in partnership with the CTC and Boston, Newton and Brookline,” Dunn told The Heights in an email on Friday. “Most of our positive cases were identified by our contact tracing efforts, which has enabled us to see a steady decline in cases since the high last week of 73

SOURCE: BC.EDU/REOPEN, 9/19/20

SOURCE: BC.EDU/REOPEN, 9/19/20

positive cases.”

B C is surrounded by Newton, Brookline, and Brighton, and Gov. Charlie Baker said at the press conference that the state could handle contact tracing across the multiple jurisdictions more effectively than BC’s contact tracing program.

The state will use a group of contact tracers it has previously employed to help cities and towns track and isolate the coronavirus.

“There’s a certain amount of vigilance and repetition that is required to make our efforts to deal with COVID-19 ultimately successful,” Baker said. “And while they may seem annoying at times and pedantic, they’re effective. … I think one of the things that each of these outbreaks tells us is that there are reasons why these protocols are in place, because when they’re not in place, stuff happens.”

Baker said at the press conference that his administration is currently reviewing the testing and contact tracing protocols at the more than 100

colleges and universities in Massachusetts, and that he plans to generally re-engage with colleges in their efforts to contain the coronavirus.

The University reported 15 new cases out of 2,790 undergraduate tests last week, a positivity rate of .54 percent.

BC reported a positivity rate of 3.6 percent the week before, according to the to the COVID-19 dashboard, after originally over-reporting the number of undergraduate tests administered by 596.

Dunn told WBUR on Sept. 14 that the University believes the situation is “well under control.”

“Our focus is on Boston College and what works very well for us, and we think we have an excellent plan in place,” Dunn said.

“A plan that prioritizes targeting surveillance testing of individuals identified through contact tracing and on the areas on and off campus where positive cases have occurred.

It’s a good strategy for us.” n

SOURCE: BC.EDU/REOPEN, 9/19/20 SCOTT BAKER / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Boston College Sued for Breach of Contract Rodrigues, from A1 agreed-upon number of classes through in-person instruction and access to physical resources and school facilities and provide instruction accredited by The New England Commission of Higher Education, according to the suit.

Rodrigues asserts that she and other BC students paid thousands in tuition for each “credit hour” of classroom or direct faculty instruction. The suit says that Rodrigues received less than half of her promised time of instruction as a result of the switch to online classes and is therefore entitled to a partial refund of tuition, fees, and other payments.

BC’s Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculties defines a credit hour as approximately one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work per week, though it also includes alternative academic activities, such as laboratory work, internships, or clinical work.

BC’s policy on credit hours is based on Department of Education regulations set in 2011. The department’s website states that its definition of credit hours does not necessitate that institutions use an hour of in-person instruction as their only metric of measuring credit. It also says that asynchronous online courses meet the requirements for a credit hour so long as students are completing at least an equivalent amount of work.

The suit describes how Rodrigues’ spring semester classes switched entirely online in March, and it says that the laboratory portion of one of her classes was canceled and replaced with written selfstudy assignments.

Rodrigues’ lawyers assert that BC’s current policy of charging lower tuition rates for online instruction at the Woods College of Advancing Studies is an acknowledgment that online instruction is not equivalent to in-person classes, according to the suit.

“For example, for the Fall 2020 semester, BC charged undergraduate students at the Robert J. Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences an average of $1,968 per credit, but charged undergraduate students taking courses in its largely or partially online James A. Woods, S.J. College of Advancing Studies only $534 per credit hour – almost a 73% reduction,” the lawsuit reads.

The claim also says students paid for a full semester of access to school services and facilities that, given the switch to online instruction and the requirement to move out of residence halls, BC did not provide.

Students across the country have brought similar lawsuits against their universities as a result of the switch to online classes in the spring—these universities include the University of California school system and St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y. BC’s decision to close campus and end in-person classes was warranted by the

circumstances, the suit says, but Rodrigues “asks merely to be refunded the money she spent for educational services that were not provided.”

Neal Hutchens, a professor who specializes in higher education law at the University of Mississippi, told The Heights that he doesn’t know of any precedents for lawsuits like this.

“I would say that we’re in somewhat uncharted territory with this national pandemic kind of situation that we’re having,” Hutchens said.

Hutchens said he thinks that the various lawsuits seeking refunds for tuition and fees from colleges across the country will face difficult challenges in court.

“I think courts are going to be pretty reluctant to wade into these lawsuits in a way that would satisfy the students who are suing,” Hutchens said. “I think they’ll probably reject them.”

The breach of contract allegation will face scrutiny due to students lacking specific contracts for the classes they are enrolled in, Hutchens said.

“It’s not going to have a specific contract, like I signed for this class that would be delivered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2 to 3:30 in person,” he said. “... This gets into somewhat of an area of the law where courts will use contract-type principles when they have a dispute between a student and an institution, but at times, they hesitate to say it’s exactly the same as a contract.”

If the University received full tuition and just stopped teaching its students in March altogether, that would be a different story, Hutchens said.

“I think at the end of the day, what the institution is going to offer is to say things like, ‘Students enrolled in these courses got course credit that counts towards their graduation requirements. If they’re also getting different kinds of professional certifications, we’re working to ensure that it will satisfy their certification standards,’” Hutchens said. “... In the totality of the student’s educational experiences, the school did the best it could to make good faith efforts to keep the learning process going.”

The University does not comment on ongoing litigation as a matter of policy, and Senior Associate Director of University Communications Ed Hayward declined to comment on the case. Rodrigues also declined a request for comment.

Chris Lefebvre, one of Rodrigues’ lawyers, said in an email to The Heights that the University should be distributing its financial losses from moving online more equitably between students and the University.

“The Boston College student body should not bear the brunt of the diminished value of their educational experience caused by the COVID crisis,” Lefebvre wrote.

“These losses should be apportioned in a fair and equitable fashion.” n

JESS RIVILIS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Professors Adapt During Pandemic

By Emma Dawson Heights Staff Education at Boston College looks a little different this year, as the University pursues a hybrid model of course delivery with a variety of online classes, in-person instruction, and some classes striking a middle ground with a mix of both online and in-person instruction.

Approximately 40 percent of classes are being held fully online, 45 percent are fully in person, and the remaining 15 percent are a mix of online and inperson instruction, according to Akua Sarr, vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs.

Many smaller classes were assigned to full-size, de-densified classrooms so that meetings may occur fully in person with masks on at all times. In deciding which classes to hold in person, the University said it focused on practical and handson learning experiences, courses for first-year students, and signature BC experiences like Core Renewal, Firstyear Writing, PULSE, Perspectives and Portico.

This semester, Sarr is teaching an in-person section of Courage to Know,

“It was really important for me to be back in the classroom, to be with my students, to be on campus, to feel that really essential part of my life.”

- Susan Roberts, English Professor a first-year cornerstone elective in which the instructor also serves as the students’ first-year adviser. Seeing firstyear students face-to-face, Sarr said, is an important aspect of developing relationships with faculty.

Susan Roberts, an English professor at BC, said that she believes in-person instruction for her freshman writing seminar—a part of the Core Curriculum— is crucial in helping first-year students establish a sense of ownership in their

lives as college students. Beyond that, she said, the course provides important opportunities to think about and discuss the historical circumstances they are facing.

“We’ve talked in my first year writing class about this moment that we’re in,” Roberts said. “Not just about the virus and the quarantine, but also the political moment, and the racial moment and the sort of reckoning that we’re facing as a nation. And they’re writing about it.”

Histor y professor Ling Zhang is teaching “Asia in the World,” traditionally one of the largest courses offered at the University, with an enrollment of approximately 300 students. It is currently being held online asynchronously—with lectures recorded for students to watch on their own time—in order to comply with state regulations and public health guidelines.

As a supplement to following along with the pre-recorded lectures and modules posted on Canvas, students also meet in synchronous online small discussion groups led by teaching assistants.

Z hang empha size d that faculty members care about their students’ physical and mental health just as much as any academic fulfillment. After sensing her students’ anxiety last semester, she said making her classes more intimate and lighthearted has been an important priority of hers. In this vein, Zhang is offering open office hours on Zoom so her students learning from locations all over the world can all get to know one another in a relaxed environment.

Accounting professor Edward Taylor teaches his hybrid classes of 40 students on a rotational basis, with half of the students attending each meeting remotely while the other half learns in person.

Taylor said that his classes are going better than he expected, noting that the only challenges have been technical issues. Taylor highlighted the crucial role of teaching assistants this semester in tutoring and guiding students in various situations.

“Students seem really serious about doing the right thing in terms of keeping healthy and staying distanced,” Taylor remarked on his classroom observations thus far.

Though not without difficulties, professors have said they are grateful for the opportunities to interact with students again.

“It was really important for me to be back in the classroom, to be with my students, to be on campus, to feel that really essential part of my life,” Roberts said on her first few weeks back on campus. “And it’s not flourishing, but it is happening.”

After the University experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 cases a couple weeks ago, some professors have moved their courses online. Alisha Nguyen, a professor in the Lynch School of

“Students seem really serious about doing the right thing in terms of keeping healthy and staying distanced.”

- Edward Taylor, Accounting Professor Education and Human Development, chose to move one of her hybrid courses fully online after one of her students tested positive. The University doesn’t consider classes “close contact” when it comes to contact tracing, meaning professors aren’t notified if a student in their class tests positive.

Some students have also needed to attend class while on campus for other in-person classes, Nguyen said, which has made it difficult to engage with the students on Zoom who are wearing masks while in public locations. By eliminating the in-person aspect of her course, Nguyen hoped to reduce the number of students who are in this situation.

It was a difficult decision, she said, but she does not expect the change to disrupt her students’ ability to learn. She said that the course material is well-suited for an online model, as her students will be able to engage in more small group discussions on Zoom than they were able to do from their distanced assigned seats in the classroom.

“Neither I nor my students have been notified by the University that we have a positive case in our class,” Nguyen said.

“A student came to me and volunteered that information, and I really appreciate it because it helped me make my decision [to move the course online].” n

The Heights

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Monday, September 21, 2020

‘Stitch It’ Threads Advocacy and Sustainability Together

By Anna Lonnquist Asst. Magazine Editor

Bringing a new club to campus during a semester where face-to-face collaboration and group events are unsafe is a daunting task. But for the social justice-focused club Stitch It to The Patriarchy, the challenges of this year are also opportunities to work on making activism accessible to students at Boston College.

Stitch It was started in June 2019 by Tulane University graduate Nina Harris.

She started out by taking a thrifted or used piece of clothing and stitching the phrase “Voting is Sexy” in thread across the chest.

Now, a year later, her team has reached BC. Katherine Thomas, MCAS ’23, and founder of Stitch It’s BC chapter, first heard about the club through a friend who was involved at the club’s flagship campus, Tulane.

In July, Harris and the founding team gave the opportunity for students at other campuses to apply and spearhead Stitch It efforts on their own campus. Thomas jumped at the opportunity. Stitch It’s goals to promote political discourse and conversations related to topics such as fast fashion and consumerism, climate change, and voting appealed to Thomas, a political science major and environmental studies minor. BC’s chapter has the freedom to explore a wide array of activism topics as long as they fall under the broader aim of Stitch It and are approved by Harris.

“There are like-minded people who also want to spread awareness about these issues on campus without it necessarily being political,” Thomas said. “We’re not a ‘Democrat club.’ It’s not so politicized, more just about issues that we care about that we want to make sure the BC community is aware of.”

In New Orleans, Stitch It’s focus is on selling upcycled clothing with custom messages stitched on. These transactions are usually made when Stitch It posts pictures of secondhand clothing on their Instagram story, where customers can swipe up and request what they want stitched. At the end of each month, the organization will choose a charity to donate a portion of their proceeds to. BC’s Stitch It chapter doesn’t create any clothing—all orders are directed

back to the Tulane branch. The focus at BC is completely on creating infographics educating students about a variety of injustices, as well as other activism-centered events.

“The representative position isn’t trying to be an influencer, and we’re not trying to sell anything,” Thomas said. “At this point, it’s more advocacy. Representatives get a T-shirt so they can rock that around campus, but that’s not the goal.”

For Thomas, once she was accepted into the nationwide club in July, the greater challenge was gaining attention at BC while not physically on campus and not able to meet in groups once back on campus. She posted about Stitch It on her own social media, reached out to established clubs at BC with overlapping interests, and posted in each grade’s Facebook group, which she said was the most successful tactic. The application for Stitch It representatives got about 30 applicants while it was open from July to August. Thomas and Harris then did individual Zoom interviews with all of the applicants, 10 of whom they were able to bring onboard for the fall semester.

The application asked students to talk about a social justice issue that they’re passionate about. Macy Ryan, MCAS ’23, discussed the achievement gap and how it’s misconstrued to be a result of different work ethics, rather than systemic injustices.

“Where I’m from, there’s a lot of socioeconomic differences, and it ends up affecting how many people and what types of people are in AP classes—just since if you can’t get the resources you need to succeed in that class, you won’t really be able to,” Ryan said. “I think that also translates to BC.” As the BC chapter founder, Thomas serves as a liaison with the Harris and the Stitch It New Orleans team, making sure that BC members are taking initiative on issues they’re interested in while remaining close to the club’s mission. In addition, members are expected to be active about Stitch It on their own social media accounts and to stay connected to what they’re advocating for.

“They want to make sure you’re living out what you’re preaching,” Thomas said.

“For example with social distancing, they want to make sure none of us are going

out and partying, meanwhile we’re posting about COVID-19 and all the complications—and making sure we’re voting ourselves if we’re telling everyone else to vote.”

The BC team’s top priority, especially during the pandemic, is producing infographics that can go on the nationwide Stitch It account. Ranging from the topics of systemic racism and mental health to conscious consumption to gentrification in Boston, members are in charge of producing credible research and displaying it in an informative and easily digestible way.

Ryan recently worked on an infographic about conscious consumption, where she raised awareness about the benefits of thrifting and other ways to shop sustainably if affordable, in order to prevent thrift stores from lacking necessary items, she said. Zosia Czerwinski, MCAS ’23, took charge on researching the connections between systemic racism and mental health.

Czerwinski said that having the privilege to access mental health resources herself made her realize the detrimental effects faced by so many people who can’t access them. After learning Adobe Illustrator this summer, Czerwinski has been taking charge on creating many of Stitch It’s graphics. She also included links on the mental health infographic to help people experiencing this lack of resources find tangible aid.

“There are so many posts that just create little blurbs about progressive issues these days, so there’s definitely a balance of including relevant information that people will actually use,” Czerwinski said.

The process of brainstorming issues to cover in infographics and making those graphics is definitely collaborative, Czerwinski said. She’s currently researching gentrification in Boston alongside Gabriella Kastrunes, MCAS ’22.

“I texted and said I was going to do something on gentrification and would love help, then Gabby told me she had taken a class that was related to it,” Czerwinski said.

“It’s definitely kind of an open, collaborative environment.”

Despite delving into a wide array of topics, Stitch It’s main focus this semester is on voter registration. A study by Tufts University found that 48.3 percent of college students voted in 2016. Stitch It

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHERINE THOMAS

Stitch It to the Patriarchy raises awarness about issues through info graphics. aims to combat voter nonparticipation by making voter registration easily accessible, Thomas said.

With access to education and resources being as plentiful as they are at BC, students need to recognize that privilege and use it to make their voices heard by voting, Thomas said.

Her original plan was to do a voter registration table at busy parts of campus, but with COVID-19, that plan can’t happen.

Members have had to get creative with online platforms to spread their message.

The Stitch It team is working to compile a state-by-state list of information about requesting absentee ballots and when ballots need to be mailed by, which will be accessible through QR codes posted around campus.

“Even if we can’t physically help people, we can still lay it out in a very easy, straightforward way,” Ryan said. “College students are a very large demographic and could have a lot of influence in the election, but in the past they haven’t all used their voices.

I think having that accessibility makes it easier to make our voices heard.”

In the coming semesters, members also want to use their platform to bring up conversations that are often swept under the rug on BC’s more traditional, Catholic campus, Thomas said. Teaming up with the Students for Sexual Health, a group fighting

for sexual health education and resources on campus despite BC not recognizing the group or allowing them to distribute condoms on campus, could be in the works for this initiative, she explained.

The reaction from the broader BC student body to Stitch It has been very positive so far, Thomas said. Over the summer, Stitch It did a donations drive to provide care packages for homeless individuals in and around New Orleans. After posting it on her Instagram story, Thomas raised over $200 from just her own followers.

Stitch It aims to broaden its platform at BC and continue to not only educate the student body, but provide activism opportunities that help work against injustice in tangible ways, Thomas said. The members stretch beyond just political science or environmental studies majors, which Thomas said was intentional to make sure the club contained diverse and nuanced voices. Despite the limitations of this semester, Stitch It has continued to devote needed attention to a variety of issues.

“Stitch It coming to BC is at a really good time just with everything going on,” Ryan said. “I want students to be able to hold administration accountable and have students be really involved in making BC a more accepting place as a whole. … Our main goal is making activism and social justice accessible on campus.” n

Fashion and Style During a Pandemic: Bold or Boring?

By Sofia Fauza Heights Staff

A fashion statement becomes trendy, popular, à la mode once a lot of people start to partake in it. You’d think wearing the same clothes or makeup that everyone else is wearing would drown out the style, but trends become trends because they are appealing to people. But what if the immense boredom of quarantine has changed what it means for a style to be in demand? When people were finally granted the opportunity to socialize again, did fashion statements become more bold?

In the earlier stages of quarantine, I realized how much I took for granted in my day-to-day life—coffee with friends, sitting inside any establishment, exchanging maskless smiles with a stranger. Something that really stuck out to me was how much I missed getting dressed up to see people.

I’m not alone when I say quarantine glo-

rified such simple opportunities to leave the house, like going to the grocery store or the day’s second Dunkin’ run. Whenever I was on such outings, I noticed people wearing a wide range of styles—some had clearly just changed from one pair of sweats into a different pair, some were wearing the classic pieces that “fit” the current trends, but a significant amount of people were trying on the unique, eccentric tops they ordered out of boredom—the tops that nobody else was wearing.

The more people were able to go out, the more this range expanded, as some people began to take more risks with their fashion while others valued their comfy quarantine fit. So the question arises—how has quarantine affected BC students’ willingness to be bold and daring with their fashion choices? How did the pandemic have a say in how people express themselves?

Like the outfits that people wore outside of the house, the answers to these compelling questions come

in a wide range. When I asked some Eagles to describe the way they wanted to style themselves upon getting to see people again after returning to Chestnut Hill and how much attention they gave to their fashion choices, some expressed a desire to look nicer for these interactions, while others thought less about this than they did pre-quarantine.

Lauren Landry, MCAS ’23, said she feels like stepping up her game now that she gets to see people on campus after not seeing many people for so long.

“I feel like I need to dress a little more cute,” she said. “I can’t just wear leggings and a t-shirt everywhere.”

Her friend Matt Demencuk, MCAS ’22, feels the opposite.

“I feel like now I’m more laid back, if I have to say, because I didn’t wear anything dress-up for six months,” he said.

Matigan Simpson, MCAS ’22, touched on both of these ideas when asked how her style changed after having been stuck at home for so long, if at all. She said the

experience has ultimately made her care less about what others think of her appearance, because she learned that it will not change anyone’s perception of her—the world will go on.

“I don’t mind not wearing makeup out, and I don’t mind just wearing a t-shirt out, and I’m not going to feel self conscious about it,” she said. “But on the flip side, I also don’t mind wearing what I want to wear and being more bold with my choices.”

When asked the same question, Landry also said she’s less self-conscious about her choices and finds herself wearing things she would have been more apprehensive about in previous years.

Another influence on style may be celebrities’ presence on social media before and during lockdown. Desiree Lewis, MCAS ’22, said that the extra time she’s had since March prompted her to browse through fashion social media pages for fun. These influencers and their fashion choices, which are bolder than the average pedestrian’s,

made Lewis realize it doesn’t matter how people choose to dress.

“I’m not worried about what other people think, so I don’t consider it bold if I want to wear it,” she said. “I’ll just wear it and not really think twice about it.”

For Lewis, social media influence changed her definition of daring. Clothing choices she would’ve considered outlandish before have become more normalized.

A common theme that can be drawn is certainly that the increased amount of time at home has taught people to care much less about what others think of them. Whether that means they don’t mind going out in loungewear as much, or they want to wear the piece that causes heads to turn, students are for sure more carefree. This new attitude stems from a combination of lessons learned in quarantine—that we should appreciate the little things in life, and take advantage of the present because so much can change in an instant. The latest fall 2020 trend is ultimately to not give a shit. Wear whatever you want—you spent too long quarantined in your house not to. n

Mask Up: Students Stay Safe and Stylish On Campus

By Caroline Quinn Heights Staff

This semester’s new must-have trend is just that—a must-have. Masks are crucial in the fight against COVID-19, and they will continue to be a staple in the foreseeable future. Students on campus have had no choice but to embrace the new normal. But that doesn’t mean they are doing it uniformly. Walking through campus, you can’t miss the variety of masks—from medical masks to handstitched ones to masks decorated with unique patterns.

Among the most popular types you’ll see are the surgical disposable masks, with reusable masks, often cloth, close behind. With almost every store across the country—including both small businesses and worldwide brands—making their way into the mask market, students have been provided with endless options. Social media platforms like Instagram and Etsy have ads for teens and adults looking

for trendy and affordable masks. A few popular sites include Kitsch, Claire and Clara, and Revolve.

“I frequently see ads on my social media, so I primarily order them through there,” said Brenna McCormick, CSOM ’23. “Due to the necessity of masks, I enjoy buying cute ones since I will be wearing them every day.”

Not only are students purchasing their masks from these sites, but social media has a hand in promoting the idea that they are now a fashion statement.

Influencers and celebrities, such as the Kardashians and Bella Hadid, have been seen updating their profiles smiling behind their well-coordinated masks, and students are following suit.

The trend has even made its way into high fashion where brands like Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, and Supreme have designed masks to be added to their collections.

Of course, as with any other fashion trend, there are ways to join in without breaking the bank. One great way to do

this is by creating homemade masks. For those who are a bit craftier, there are hundreds of videos on YouTube showing how to sew your own facemask using a fabric of your choice.

The Centers for Disease Control has guidelines on its website concerning how to best choose a face mask—it recommends that you wear a mask with at least two layers of washable, breathable fabric that fits snugly over your mouth and nose. The CDC website also warns visitors that the efficacy of nylon gaiters and plastic face shields is still largely unknown.

Despite the relative popularity of N95 respirator masks and surgical masks on campus, the CDC advises people not to buy them for personal use to preserve a supply for medical personnel.

Effectiveness is the priority when selecting a mask—rationally judging which mask to wear in a given situation comes next. Fun, fashionable masks may complete an outfit, but they are not always ideal for hour long lectures and class

discussions. It is important that students are comfortable and can learn with as little distractions as possible.

“When we have to be wearing them every day, almost all day, my first priority is for it to be comfortable, breathable, but also clean looking,” Allison Simon, MCAS ’23, said. “I have been wearing solid colors and silk, which I think looks clean, doesn’t irritate your skin, and also looks fashionable at the same time.”

This has also been a challenge for professors who have had to find the masks best suitable for teaching.

Michael Serazio, a professor in the communication department, has run into two common problems so far this semester. One issue, he said, is that communication is about more than just words, and masks have made it hard to give nonverbal cues. Another, he said, is that it’s hard to hear students in the back.

“This summer, I bought, like, 10 dif-

ferent mask types to see which would be easiest to teach in,” Serazio said.

Outside of the classroom, Boston College has a strict policy requiring masks to be worn inside residence halls (excluding student’s own rooms), outside on campus, and in libraries and dining halls.

This is no different in the gym, where students have strong opinions as to what works best, given the difficulty of working out in a mask. Simon leans toward reusable masks while at the gym, while Dylan Murphy, CSOM ’24, opts for the disposable options so that he can just toss them when done.

Some may not think of face masks necessarily as a trend—they are non-optional, integral parts of our lives now. But the way students have adapted to these times has undoubtedly shown trendy masks are here to stay. Keep an eye out this fall and watch the way face masks continue to grow in the fashion industry and campus culture. n ALLYSON MOZELIAK / GRAPHICS EDITOR

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The Heights

Monday, September 21, 2020

Newton Captures the Early Days of the Pandemic Cameras, from A1

90 photographs submitted. Winning photographs were selected on criteria concerning photo quality, subject matter, and the accompanying texts.

Historic Newton developed the project in collaboration with Newton Community Pride and the City of Newton’s Cultural Development Office.

The mission of Historic Newton, according to the organization’s website, is to engage the community through stories–which, together, constitute history.

The organization has two museums and

archives. Its workshops and education programs are available to the public.

Clara Silverstein is the community engagement manager at Historic Newton, and she collected submissions for the project.

“You might have noticed that many historical societies and other groups are putting the call out for people to tell their stories during the pandemic,” Silverstein said in an interview with The Heights. “The photography contest was able to narrow it down to, ‘Let’s look at images in Newton. How have people been spending their time during the

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID GARRETT

Jane performs at her virtual piano recital. Her grandparents attended the event virtually.

pandemic? And then also what are they saying about it?’”

Silverstein said there were three popular themes in the submitted photographs: family, the solace of nature, and creative forms of connecting despite physical distance.

“These people found things that made a statement about the time, and they often found very positive images,” Silverstein said. “I think that’s a way of telling a fuller story than ‘everything was shut down, our lives changed, and everything was so bad.’ It’s mixed, as anything is.”

Howard Sholkin, president of Newton Community Pride, commented on the value of the photos focused on social justice. Newton Community Pride fosters community through volunteer and arts projects.

“I don't think all of them were meant to uplift us,” Sholkin said.

He was referring to two photographs in the collection: Ian Dickerman’s “STANDING AS ONE” and Justin Levy’s “Longing for Peace,” both of which show Black Lives Matter and racial justice demonstrations following the death of George Floyd in late May. “Local activism is part of the story of what Newton looked like during the early days of the pandemic in 2020 and it's also an important component to document right now,” Silverstein said in an email to The Heights.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN DICKERMAN

Protesters held signs during a march on June 4 in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. “[The project] was more of a snapshot in time, and a way that future generations can learn from what people went through,” Sholkin said.

In-person, community-building events could not take place these past months due to COVID-19 safety regulations. Newton Community Pride had to figure out another way to foster a sense of community since in-person events were not possible.

“We had to totally reinvent what we were going to do as an organization. So

from April through August, the events we took part in, of which one is Newton Community Cameras, were born,” Sholkin said.

Silverstein said that these pictures will help people remember what life was like during the pandemic, and also for those still adaptaing today to the new normal.

“I think people might not realize that a historic time is made up of everyday moments when people are trying to make the best of things,” Silversein said. n

Newton Public Schools Begin Remote Start to Year

By Christina Lim for the Heights

The first day of school on Sept. 16 looked different from years past in Newton Public Schools. The reopening of the district involved a combination of in-person classes and remote learning, depending on students’ age groups.

Elementary schools started the school year fully online. A hybrid format will be implemented for elementary school students beginning in phases. Ruth Goldman, a Newton School Committee member of Ward 6, explained that the elementary schools will move to a hybrid program by the week of Sept. 29.

“I’m excited that schools started yesterday,” Goldman said. “I live on the same street as elementary schools, and it’s great to see people walking by every day. It’s taken so much work and planning to get to the first day of school, and it feels like a great achievement.”

Goldman said that every student in Newton was given the opportunity to choose a full-distance program, and

20 to 25 percent of elementary school students will be learning through the full-distance program.

Middle school students began school in a distance learning model.

The middle schools will start implementing a hybrid format after the second marking term in November.

High schools will be taught fully online. Goldman says this is due to the complexities that come with the high schools’ more diverse course offerings, as well as limited classroom space.

Goldman said that it would be nearly impossible for all the high school courses to be accommodated for both hybrid and fully distant students. To implement this type of learning, high schools would have to consider shrinking and consolidating courses.

In a school committee presentation on Sept. 2, the new health and safety procedures were outlined in further detail. Some of these procedures included installing hand sanitizing stations, portable sinks, and replacing ventilators.

On Aug. 26 the school committee announced a revised reopening plan

after a sur vey to families showed distance learning was preferred at the elementary school level, while many were concerned about the equity of hybrid and distance learning at the high school level.

In this revised plan, the high schools shifted to a distance learning model.

Following this announcement , Newton parents and students protested outside of City Hall on Aug. 26. Families were seen holding signs reading “Education is Essential” and “Ms. Fuller, Unlock These Schools.”

Goldman said that plans for high school hybrid programs are in the process, assuming that “COVID numbers don’t go crazy.”

While many other districts implemented online platforms to teach their students, the public schools in Newton have committed to having Newton Public School teachers teach every program, Goldman said.

There was a great effort in the planning process to maintain an equitable experience for all students and to minimize class sizes to ensure that

all students can interact with their teachers, Goldman said.

Goldman was pleased that the technology being used worked. NPS ensured that all students have access to a device, either an iPad for students grades Pre-K through 2, or a Chromebook for students grades 3 through12.

“Things went relatively well,” Goldman said. “There were a lot of bigger technology glitches across the state, but we had very minor problems. We overall got maybe two emails about it.”

While all students grades Pre-K through 8 should receive their devices by the start of this week, the 1,000 Chromebooks being provided to ninth graders have been delayed until January 2021, according to Newton Public Schools. Students in grades 10 through 12 have already been issued devices.

While the reopening of the Newton Public Schools is off to a good start, Goldman stated that if the City of Newton becomes classified as a red zone on the community data map, schools are expected to shut down. “ I f N e w t o n ’s a v e r a g e d a i l y

COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents increases above eight cases per 100,000 residents (a.ka. a “red” level), an all remote model is expected (unless there are extenuating circumstances),” Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said in a statement on Thursday.

The positivity rate in the City of Newton is .46 percent as of Sept. 16, according to the community data map.

This is lower than the average state positivity rate of .97 percent.

The risk COVID-19 risk level increased from low to moderate on Sept.

16. This was reflected on the community data map by a change in color from green to yellow.

Communities are designated yellow on the map when there are at least four cases per 100,000 people. Communities are designated red on the map when there are at least 8 cases per 100,000 people.

“The things that would send us off track are things that are out of our control, like high school parties and the situation at Boston College,” Goldman said. n

Boston Community Fridge Offers Free Food

By Rachel Phelan Copy Editor

of the fridge, as it is the result of the work of dozens of organizers and volunteers in the area.

After being inspired by community refrigerators in the New York City area, Josiel Gonzalez reached out to NYC organizers on Instagram for advice on how to start a similar project in Boston.

Another woman named Veronica Bettio also got involved with organizing the Boston fridge.

After a week of organizing, they had amassed a group of about 30 to 40 vol-

unteers from around Greater Boston.

Gonzalez estimates there are now probably around 100 people in their A welcoming , brightly painted organizing group chat, and they now refrigerator labeled “Free Food” can have four to five different group chats be found on the sidewalk outside of that correspond to different neighborD’Friends Barber Shop in Jamaica hoods in Boston so they can organize Plain. The first Boston community more effectively. fridge, which opened on Sept. 4 is for Gonzalez praised the owner of the everyone and anyone—anyone can take barber shop in Jamaica Plain for his food from the fridge, and anyone can generosity. leave food when they are able.

“And our host said, ‘Listen, as long Community is the driving principle as you take care of the fridge, you don't have to pay me for powering the fridge.

The barbershop will pay for it,’ which is so awesome,” Gonzalez said.

The now brightly colored fridge was donated by Gonzalez’s mom, and one of their volunteers painted the fridge.

Throughout the process, Gonzalez and the other organizers have been in contact with the New York organizers for guidance. Now, the Boston organizers have become a source of guidance and inspiration for others.

“It's interesting now that we're kind of the first fridge in Boston, a lot of people are coming to us and kind of picking our brains,” Gonzalez said.

“And it's awesome, because our goal is to have as many up in the city as possible” The Boston community fridges are expanding beyond Jamaica Plain, with another fridge opening in Dorchester on Tuesday.

There are also plans in the works to open fridges in Somerville, Cambridge, and Allston.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @BOSTONCOMMUNITYFRIDGE INSTAGRAM Gonzalez said that one of the best The Boston community fridge is located oustide of D’Friends Barber Shop in Jamaica Plains. tools they have used in organizing is

their Instagram, @bostoncommunityfridge.

“We had a post up on Instagram, like, ‘Hey, we could use some water bottles or some granola bars if possible,’” Gonzalez said. “And literally within like 30 minutes, someone from the neighborhood dropped by a case of waters and granola bars. So yeah, so it's really been showing us just the power in numbers. It's showing us the willingness of people, there are people out there that are really willing to help and they just might need a text, you know.”

The team of volunteers has bonded as a group, Gonzalez said.

“So the best part about what's going on right now is that it doesn't really feel like all of us are doing heavy lifting,” Gonzalez said. “We're literally leaning on one another, and really just using each other as a reference and learning from each other. So it's been really cool so far in that respect.”

Several local businesses have donated to the fridge, Gonzalez said. Some of the volunteers work at Allandale Farm and the farm now donates to the fridge every Friday.

When Pigs Fly Bread donated about 60 to 70 loaves of bread during the fridge’s first week of being open.

Gonzalez said that this helped him and the other organizers realize that they want to focus on getting donations that eliminate food waste.

“The number one goal is to try to eliminate food waste as well,” he said.

“So if we could get donations from restaurants and bakeries and farms and gardens, like that's kind of the most

ideal for us. And these people would otherwise throw that food out anyways, it goes to waste so we're like, ‘No, you can give that to us and we could hopefully give this away for free and give people a chance to eat it.’”

For those interested in contributing to the Boston community fridge, Gonzalez said that even sharing their posts on social media is a big help. People can also donate their skills and time—he is working with a graphic designer to make a flyer explaining how to contribute to the project.

Another way to help is helping the organizers make connections with restaurant owners who would potentially donate food.

“You know, we would definitely like it to be from them before taking food from civilians, but it's been actually really really cool to see the community members themselves like go stop by the fridge after they grocery shop and add some stuff in there,” Gonzalez said.

“So that's been really really cool as well.

So, so far we've had a pretty balanced donation base, I'd say I'd say a lot of it does come from the community but a lot of it also comes from bakeries or gardens or local businesses.”

They’re also working on a way to collect monetary donations, possibly through a Venmo or Cash App account.

“We do find that a lot of people do genuinely want to help,” Gonzalez said.

“And some of them might not have a car, you know, like it's really just about helping in whatever capacity you can, and really putting it out there that anyone can help if they want to help.” n

The Heights

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Monday, September 21, 2020

EDITORIAL

To Combat Confusion, Release Details on Contact Tracing Procedures When cases spiked on campus during the second week of classes, Boston College gained the attention of Newton, Boston, and the state. Many students on campus were suddenly faced with questions about how contract tracing worked.

Many of those questions have been left unanswered by BC’s reopening guidelines and subsequent emails sent throughout the semester.

BC’s contact tracing efforts consider someone a close contact if they were within 6 feet of a person who tests positive for more than 15 minutes within the 48-hour period prior to the test. But many students are unsure of what to do if they are not considered a “close” contact, but still feel

they may have been exposed to the virus.

What if their roommate, for example, is contact traced and called in for a test?

Should they then quarantine themselves in their rooms until their roommate receives a negative test result?

What, if anything, should students do if they’ve been in contact with the person for less than 15 minutes? What should they do if they were exposed 72 hours before the test? Answers to questions such as these are up in the air, leaving students confused and unsettled.

Director of University Health Services Doug Comeau told students at a webinar Thursday that anyone concerned that they may have come into contact with

someone who tested positive should call UHS, where the contact tracers can determine if they need a test. Of course, some situations need to be considered on a case-by-case basis, but instead of having every confused student calling in, UHS should post general guidance that is publicly available about situations that fall outside the definition of a close contact.

Having the information readily available—as the University has made other questions about academics, dining, and more—will give students the peace of mind of knowing that they are following guidelines. This clarity will cut back on the frustration, confusion, and anxiety felt on campus.

A group of Heights editors who are committed to participating in the consistent writing of editorials comprise the editorial board. Editors who report on topics discussed in editorials are not permitted to participate in the discussion or writing of the editorial.

Members: Colleen Martin, Abby Hunt, Maddie Haddix, Brooke Kaiserman, Meegan Minahan, Jillian Ran, Danny Flynn, and Rachel Phelan.

QUOTES FROM SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.”

“You can’t have it all, all at once. Who—man or woman—has it all, all at once? Over my lifespan I think I have had it all. But in different periods of time things were rough. And if you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it.”

“Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them responsibility of bringing up the next generation.” “[W]hen I’m sometimes asked when will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court]? And I say ‘When there are nine.’ People are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.”

“When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.”

- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

CUSTOMER SERVICE Clarifications / Corrections The Heights strives to provide its readers with complete, accurate, and balanced information. If you believe we have made a reporting error, have information that requires a clarification or correction, or questions about The Heights’ standards and practices, you may contact Colleen Martin, Editor-in-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or email eic@ bcheights.com.

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The Heights reserves the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, and to prevent libel. The Heights also reserves the right to write headlines and choose illustrations to accompany pieces submitted to the newspaper.

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The Heights

Monday, September 21, 2020

A7

Nuclear Energy Is a Fission-ary Idea A simple solution to diminishing the amount that the have central storage facilities, but for now all commer-

cial nuclear waste is safely stored on site in shielded concrete casks. with subsidies that ensure the preservation of the upside More importantly, however, this waste is still useful. of nuclear power while mitigating the safety concerns Spent fuel rods can be recycled, and most countries that that challenge our aging nuclear infrastructure. Instead, use nuclear power—not the United States—are able to nuclear plants are being closed with nothing but fossil reuse fuel to keep operating costs down. This allows fuels to fill the void. When the Vermont Yankee plant France to develop 71 percent of its energy from only shut down in 2014, natural gas use in New England 56 plants, and 17 percent of its total from recycled fuel, increased by 13 percent, according to The Boston Globe. according to the World Nuclear Association. UnsurMeanwhile, the closure of the Pilgrim Nuclear prisingly, the country has an extremely low level of per Station which, according to the EIA, provided over 13 capita power generation emissions relative to other percent of Massachusetts’ energy before its closure, all countries, while still remaining the world’s largest net but ensures the Commonwealth will miss its 2020 obliexporter of power. gation to lower emissions by 25 percent relative to 1990, So what does the future for nuclear look like? If the as written in The Boston Globe. recent approval of NuScale’s design by the U.S Nuclear Both closures are indicative of a highly concerning Regulatory Commission is anything to go by, it is trend that anti-nuclear advocates avoid addressing: A promising. Smaller, more efficient reactors can replace major source of clean energy in the country is disappear- the aging monoliths that came before and prevent ing, and we are nowhere close to having the renewable the United States from simply ditching one fossil fuel generation to make up for it. for another. Despite a dwindling dependence on coal Meanwhile, California, which gets about 10 percent plants, the U.S. electric power sector saw a 15 percent of its power from nuclear plants, is set to close its final increase in natural gas consumption between 2017 and plant starting in 2024, according to The San Diego 2018, according to the World Resources Institute.

Union-Tribune. This decision comes as serious summer New reactor projects have been bogged down in power shortages caused PG&E, a Californian power red tape and cost overruns, but a group of smaller company, to schedule widespread blackouts in Silicon reactors, such as those proposed by NuScale, promise Valley and San Francisco due to power supply being to deliver on all fronts, with cheaper power and modern unable to meet consumer demands at times: a trend that safeguards to ensure the mistakes of the past remain is likely to continue indefinitely despite the state’s comjust that: in the past. mitment to meeting future demand with solar energy.

Five years ago, the closure of the Vermont Yankee It is some wonder that despite increased safety Plant suggested nuclear power was on its last legs, but precautions and reactor efficiency, people such as Ed don’t count it out just yet. It has been an overly cautious Markey and Bernie Sanders—who claim to be commit- mindset from the country’s supposedly progressive ted to reducing emissions and protecting the environconstituents that has prevented the U.S. from realizing ment—continue to reject a source that provides massive the possibilities that a nuclear future can bring. New quantities of clean energy. nuclear needs only a moment in the sun to blossom, Critics often bring up the issue of storing radioactive and through it, we can help achieve the greener future waste, but even that has an answer. Firstly, according to we deserve. the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, all used fuel from all commercial U.S. plants since the late 1950s can fit on a football field and be less than 10 Matthew Scott is an op-ed columnist for The yards deep, a comparable amount to the waste generated Heights. He can be reached at matthew.scott@

by U.S. coal plants every hour. The long-term goal is to bcheights.com. country relies on natural gas would be for the government to prop up the nation’s existing nuclear facilities

69

Matthew Scott Earlier in September, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved NuScale Power’s design for a small commercial nuclear reactor, the first of its kind.

This decision has the potential to create shockwaves in American public that has been partially turned off from nuclear power after past disasters and complications, notably by the radiation leak at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979.

As more Americans begin to view climate change as something that is already harming people in the United States, perhaps it is time for the American public to consider any and all options to cut carbon emissions as quickly as possible. While the current sentiment among big name environmental advocates involves coupling renewables with battery storage facilities to ensure a constant power supply, we should ask a simple question: Why not nuclear?

As of May 2020, 61 nuclear plants in the United States produce nearly one-fifth of the nation’s power, according to The Washington Post. This is an impressive statistic considering more than 1,700 natural gas plants produce one third.

In New England, only two nuclear plants provide around 25 percent of the region’s power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Given the sheer amount of clean energy that nuclear plants can produce, it is not surprising that the oil lobby has led the opposition to nuclear plants. The American Petroleum Institute advocated for an end to nuclear subsidies in Ohio and Pennsylvania in 2017. In light of presidential candidate Joe Biden’s recent announcement of a renewable energy plan that suggests a future without natural gas, the institute increased ad spending on Facebook nearly sixfold with a campaign intended to promote natural gas as environmentally friendly, according to Reuters.

A Freshman Year: COVID-19 Edition

Olivia Franceschini College is hard. Like, really hard. The freshman experience feels more like the freshman experiment this year, and it’s hard to keep up. College moves at twice the speed that high school does, and no matter how much anyone warns you, nothing will fully prepare you for the takeoff.

Navigating Canvas makes me feel like Velma in Scooby-Doo when she loses her glasses. I’m doing my best to solve the mystery, but I always feel like there are lurking assignments and deadlines that I’m missing. In fact, I missed the deadline for this article.

During syllabus week, it’s easy to predict that the semester will be a breeze, but as clubs, sports, and classes start to ramp up, free time dwindles.

Syllabi are overwhelming to read, and each class is formatted differently on Canvas, so it’s easy to put off future assignments. Fully coming to the understanding that free time is never truly free is a new concept. My daily planner has become my new best friend, and time management is a fulltime job.

Juggling academics, extracurriculars, and social life takes on a new level of challenge in college. In high school, I had to stick to a strict schedule and could limit my distractions easily. But in college, I’m constantly surrounded by my friends, and I’m always fighting the urge to take a six-hour nap

CONSERVATIVE

without anyone telling me otherwise. Everything is overwhelming and exciting all at once, and it’s hard to focus.

With so much on my plate at the same time, things can slip through the cracks of my schedule, despite my best efforts at organization. This last Friday, for example, I reached peak freshman experience when I was late to a TA meeting because I couldn’t find the Million Dollar Stairs. I kept walking in circles around Devlin because I thought there would be a grander entrance for a staircase coined THE Million Dollar Stairs. I did eventually

On Masculinity: It’s OK to Cry, Bro

James Kirwan When I got the email that I was accepted as an opinions writer for The Heights, I cried.

Maybe to my parents’ surprise, these weren’t tears of joy. These were tears of feeling an emotion I am too familiar with: being overwhelmed.

You might be thinking, “My mans Jimmy, why did you apply for a position you thought would be overwhelming?” or “Why don’t you just suck it up and take the opportunity?”

To the first comment, I say, this feeling–of being overwhelmed–doesn’t present itself when I am in a mindset where I know my capabilities and when I know I would love to write for The Heights. Real Jimmy knows that I am capable of so many things, including this role! Instead, it presents itself when I have a sliver of self-doubt that maybe I am not enough— maybe I am not a good writer, or maybe I should have stuck solely to the First Generation Club.

To the second comment, I would like to softly say ‘eff off. Toxic masculinity has been a part of society for far too long. It’s okay to cry, bro. There are those who are saying toxic masculinity is some liberal hoax!

There is honestly no hope for anyone who genuinely believes that it is a liberal hoax.

For those wondering what toxic masculinity is, I’ll demonstrate in the simplest way possible. I am a male, and if hypothetically, my golden retriever, Apple

Pie, who happens to be 17 years old, died, I would be sad. Hypothetically, if my dad walked up to me after I said my goodbyes while ugly-crying and said, “Cheer up, son. Damn dog should’ve died 10 years ago,” that would probably leave a deep scar. That is toxic masculinity.

Toxic masculinity can be summed up as any time any male puts down another male for having or showing human emotions and vulnerabilities. Boston College’s campus is not immune to this phenomenon.

Men at BC often put on the persona of being a tough guy or of being a macho man. Perhaps some girls are into this facade—I honestly wouldn’t know. What I do know, at least in my experience, is that it is unhealthy to bottle in all of your emotions.

Toxic masculinity can take many forms: a passing remark on campus, pretending to be careless or unbothered, or having emotions put down by your supposed support system. It’s important to acknowledge that showing emotions and being vulnerable aren’t feminine characteristics. If we follow that logic, then only women have emotions. That would mean I am a robot. I am indeed not a robot. By being in touch with myself, I am being human while still being masculine.

Growing up, my peers reinforced the ideology that men don’t cry. In fact, I remember learning not to show emotion so that I would seem stronger.

But anyone who knows me knows that I am flamboyant in nature and I love being my true, unapologetic self. I love showing my emotions, and I hope I can convince some of the BC Bros to go out and hug (maybe air hug, due to social distancing guidelines) your friend, and tell them you appreciate them.

Since I first arrived at BC, I have been open. In my small group at orientation, I was the first male

to open up about how it felt to be a low-income, Hispanic, first-generation college student feeling out of place at this seemingly perfect university. During the second week of school, when I felt completely isolated in all of my classes, I went to Portico office hours and took an emotion dump right there. But Professor Joseph Cioni walked me to University Counseling Services, where I found my therapist, who I still see! There are many positives to expressing emotions. Seeking help should be normal, not stigmatized.

It’s okay to cry, bro.

Throughout my time at BC, I have cried in front of my professors, classmates, and mentors.

Sheesh, now that I think of it, I have cried a lot. I am not ashamed of that—I am literally proclaiming my tendency to express my emotions right now.

Many people are scared to show how they really feel. Students will put on a facade and pretend everything is fine and dandy. However, it is crucial that people take time for their mental health. I think the most important thing for oneself should be mental health. It is time we prioritize this at BC. I am human, and I understand my emotions.

Not that well, as I still see my UCS therapist, but I know how I feel. Honestly, I am not sure if 2020 could get any worse, so maybe this column can brighten your year. Let’s normalize having emotions. Men cry, men feel guilt, and most men have emotions.

find them, but not without first pulling the Freshman-180 once or twice.

Beyond academics, transitioning into semi-adulthood is difficult. I normally did my own laundry at home, but now laundry is a stressful race to the finish line. There are only six washers and dryers to share with my entire building, and nothing is more devastating than lugging your laundry downstairs and walking in the laundry room to find piles of random people’s clothes lying around full machines. Once you do get your clothes in the washer or dryer, you can never know true peace again, either, because you’re waiting to rush back downstairs and grab your laundry befores someone else boots it.

Even eating is hard, because every single decision is now up to me. I usually have to remind myself to eat three meals a day, and when I do, I have to go through a survey of questions: “When should I eat? With who? What dining hall? Wait, what time do I have class—do I even have enough time?” As a result, my roommate and I have lived off of spicy ramen noodles for the last two weeks.

In order to supply our ramen consumption, we’ve been receiving Amazon deliveries almost every day, which is another freedom that requires restraint. While college might be hard, ordering things on Amazon is ridiculously easy. Unlike at home, there’s no one here to tell me I don’t need a STONKS flag for my dorm or a harmonica (both of which are completely necessary). After my roommate and I garnered enough cardboard boxes to fill a small landfill in the course of a week, I denied myself the luxury of keeping an Amazon tab open.

The newfound freedom of college is exciting, but the transition is not always glamorous. It’s natural to make mistakes or falter before fully getting used to being more independent. But this indepen-

James Kirwan is an op-ed columnist for The dence goes hand-in-hand with a greater amount of Heights. He can be reached at james.kirwan@ responsibility and accountability that will ultimately help me grow. bcheights.com.

The opinions and commentaries of the op-ed columnists appearing on this page represent the views of the authors of those particular pieces, and not necessarily the views of The Heights.

Olivia Franceschini is an op-ed columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at olivia.franceschini@bcheights.com.

The Heights

A8

Monday, September 21, 2020

Quarantine Kitchen: Week 1

By Alexandra Morin Heights Staff

COVID-19 brings us back to the kitchen to rediscover the power of the home-cooked meal.

College students, travelers, and displaced workers alike spent months locked behind closed doors, hiding from the anxiety brought about by COVID-19. Some thought it may be weeks before normalcy

hours. An entire day can seem like a lifetime when the daily agenda is a pattern of migrating from room to room looking for purpose. The kitchen quickly became my creative haven. While I’ve always had a special affinity with cooking, I finally had the time to generate recipes and perfect them. From classic comforts such as spaghetti bolognese, to my healthy twist on Chinese takeout, the cookbook shelved in my mind quickly grew, along with my

ALEXANDRA MORIN / HEIGHTS STAFF

Pasta carbonara is an easy and comforting meal that can be assembled in 30 minutes.

resumed while others speculated it would be months, even years. Regardless of these predictions, the quarantine period meant “back to basics” for all. Thus the question arises—where did people turn to find sources of amusement while stuck inside?

As a naturally energetic person, I found myself wondering how to fill 24

passion for home cooked meals. Thus, Kwarantine Kitchen was born.

With strict restaurant regulations in place and delivery service delays on the rise, COVID-19 has paved the way for at home eating to regain popularity. With better nutrition, taste, and quality, these simplistic recipes will bring you delicious

meals that are fast and affordable. Experimenting with food can express culture, love, and creativity. It is often the best way to understand others and spread joy.

The steps provided in this column allow anyone to cook as well as experience the satisfaction of placing a meal on the table for friends, family or just oneself.

It only makes sense to start with pasta carbonara. Glossy strands of linguine gleaming with both the kiss of olive oil and the sheen of silky egg yolk dance in spots of black peppercorn, parmesan, and pancetta pieces. It is a college dream—so delectable and yet ever so simple. With only seven basic ingredients, very little prep, and a short cook time, this powerful Italian masterpiece speaks for itself. Sure to bring your roommates racing home for a hearty dinner or simply put a smile on your face after a long day of school, this minimalistic dish is culinary gold.

And best of all, you can make it in under 30 minutes!

DISH: 7 Ingredient Carbonara (yields 4 servings) INGREDIENTS: 4 whole eggs 1 box of linguine pasta (or other noodle of choice) 1 block (6-8 oz) of parmesan cheese 1 container (4-5 oz) diced pancetta 2 peeled cloves of garlic 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Plenty of cracked black pepper RECIPE: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously.

While you are waiting for the water to reach a boil, finely dice two cloves of peeled garlic and grate 3/4 or the whole block of parmesan cheese. Set both the

ALEXANDRA MORIN / HEIGHTS STAFF

This pasta dish, which consists of egg yolk and cheese, uses just seven ingredients. garlic and the cheese aside.

Beat four large eggs in a bowl. Season with your desired amount of black pepper.

Set aside.

Add linguine or your choice of pasta to the now boiling water until al dente (typically seven to nine minutes).

In a large frying pan, add two tablespoons of olive oil and cook your diced garlic and pancetta together, until the pancetta is golden brown (should take around four to five minutes).

After the pancetta is cooked, reduce the heat to a low simmer and add in the cooked pasta. Make sure to reserve at least a 1/2 cup of the pasta water for later (DO NOT skip this step).

Mix half of your grated cheese into the bowl you set aside with the whisked egg and pepper mixture.

Turn off the pan with the pancetta and the pasta.

Add in your egg mixture to the pan in thirds, pouring and mixing the pasta as you go. It is important that the stove is turned off but the pan is still warm. If the pan is too hot, the eggs will scramble. And if it is too cold, the sauce will not form.

Add in the desired amount of pasta water as you stir, making sure the sauce is thin enough to coat all of the pasta but still maintain its body. Add in more parmesan to the sauce to thicken and pasta water to thin.

To serve: Use tongs to grab pasta out of the pan and twirl into the dish for serving.

Optional: Add more grated cheese for serving and some sort of green herb for garnish. I typically use whole or chopped basil. n

Coffee, Wine, and Waffles Served at Curio Coffee

By Francesca Giangiulio

Heights Staff

There’s nothing like the smell of freshly ground coffee beans on a Saturday morning, and, if you don’t have a coffee pot on hand in your dorm, you can satisfy this caffeine craving at one of Boston’s hidden gems: Curio Coffee and Wine Bar. Just a few blocks away from the Lechmere T-stop, Curio is an independent cafe which serves specialty coffee in the mornings, then transforms into a natural wine bar at night.

Opened in 2016, Curio is fairly new to the Boston cafe scene, but has quickly gained a loyal following with many regulars and support from local businesses. Their menu consists of a select few coffee and espresso drinks brewed fresh daily with specific small batch and craft coffee beans. The daily brews are displayed on the front board and each one (espresso, drip, and iced) is outlined with the name of the producers and plant location.

Curio is currently serving single-origin coffee from local roastery Broadsheet Coffee, which is based nearby in Cambridge, Mass. Broadsheet, named after an old paper from the Harvard Printing Press, is “committed to showcasing the very best in conscientiously sourced coffee,” according to their website.

The current brews on display at Curio are the Bulletin Blend for cold

brew and iced coffee, Todos Santos for drip, and Headliner Blend for espresso drinks. The beans are imported from all over the world from places as close as Mexico to as far as Ethiopia. The brews display a wide range of notes from the bitter chocolate and cola of the Bulletin Brew to the lighter nectarine and lime of Todos Santos.

No matter your preference—fruity or earthy, bitter or sweet—Curio has a brew for you.

Along with the deluxe brews, Curio is also known for its single food item: the liege waffle. Made from a brioche-type dough, stuffed with pearls of sugar, and crisped with a caramelized sugar shell, Curio’s liege waffle is “quite possibly the best caffeine companion in town,” according to the Improper Bostonian. Yelp recently named Curio as having one of “the best waffles in Massachusetts.”

The waffles are made to order on a griddle that the owner, Justin Pronovost, imported from Belgium and are hand delivered to your table with the dough still warm and sugar still slightly melted. With ever-changing sweet and savory specials such as chocolate gingerbread and the everything waffle, there’s always something new to try to spice up your morning routine.

The waffles are all natural and made with local ingredients such as Taza chocolate and tea leaves from Mem Tea. The current special, which is only available on September week-

ends, is an apple cider waffle made with cider from Carlson Orchards in Harvard, Mass., then rolled in cinnamon sugar after baking.

As of May 2019, Curio has added extended evening hours on the weekend to become Curio Wine Bar. The wine bar also serves a very select menu limited to ten natural wines. “[It’s] mostly old world, cooler climate wine regions, especially France and Italy, to showcase the grapes and terroir I enjoy drinking,” Pronovost said.

Like with the coffee, Pronovost is very specific about the wines chosen and looks for natural wines made using a sustainable or organic process.

The evening menu includes more meal options such as grilled cheese, hot dogs, and a vegan option, while still holding true to Curio’s goal of using natural and local ingredients such as fresh buns from High Rise Bread Co. Curio also hosts special events and pop-up shops to support local businesses.

Their most recent was a pasta night featuring fresh pasta from Law of Pasta, a company that teaches classes in Boston Public Market; three house-made sauces; cheese plates from Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge; and, of course, Italian natural wines sourced from around Boston.

Past events have included succulent making, book readings, and specialty

FRANCESCA GIANGIULIO / HEIGHTS STAFF

The menu board at Curio Coffee details the variety of coffees and teas offered. food events such as evening Lobster Rolls and Oysters. You can buy Curio T-shirts and sweatshirts, handmade floral prints from local artists, specialty spice blends from Curio Spice, and bags of fresh ground coffee.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Curio has not resumed indoor dining, however, you can still get your caffeine and wine fix by ordering ahead for pick-up through their new website.

Pick- up ordering is available weekdays 7am-2pm and weekends 8am-3pm. As now allowed by Massachusetts law, Curio has also been offering wine snacks to go along with their pick-up orders. These items change weekly with some of the recent options including mac and cheese, red pepper hummus, mixed olives, cold sesame noodles, and mocha pudding. n

ARTS

A9 @BCHeightsArts

Monday, September 21, 2020

A Beloved Tradition Changes With the Times For the first time in its history, Pops on the Heights is going virtual. Assistant Arts Editor Nathan Rhind spoke with this year’s student soloists about their musical journeys and their upcoming performances.

By Nathan Rhind Asst. Arts Editor Boston College’s 28-year-old Parents’ Weekend fundraiser will, for the first time, be held virtually as Pops Off the Heights on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. Since its inception, the event has raised over $80 million for student scholarships, according to the Alumni Association.

This year, the event will feature Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-nominee Josh Groban; the Boston Pops Orchestra and its conductor, Keith Lockhart; and two BC student soloists, Tiffany Brooks, MCAS ’21, and Olivia Constantino, MCAS ’21.

Assistant Arts Editor Nathan Rhind sat down with Tiff and Olive to discuss Pops Off the Heights, their experience at BC, and most importantly, which BC dining hall reigns supreme.

Tiffany Brooks, MCAS ’21 Tiff is on the board of the Musical Theatre Wing and sits on the Theatre Council of Majors and Minors. Among other productions, she has acted in Pippin, The Addams Family, 9 to 5,

and Chicago. As a sophomore, she served as the music, arts, and performance senator for UGBC, paving the way for her tenure as vice president her junior year. Currently, Tiff is working with the administration on the Forum on Racial Justice in America, which aims to “provide a meeting place for listening, dialogue, and greater understanding about race and racism in our country, especially ideas for dealing with current challenges and planning for a better future,” per a letter from University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J to the student body in June.

What were some of the ways you developed your vocal talent and improved as a performer while growing up?

[I didn’t have] much technical training ... but I just did a whole bunch of other musicals. There was Willy Wonka which was cool [and] Cinderella. And then in high school, my director was actually super cool...

She would take songs from different musicals and combine them each year into what we call cabaret, and each year there would be a theme. So I got to sing from Sister Act, I got to sing from Joseph and the [Amazing] Technicolor Dreamcoat, which is really, really cool because I got exposed to a lot of different types of music.

Do you have a favorite production you’ve been involved in at BC? My favorite production probably

would have been either Addams Family or 9 to 5. I think 9 to 5 was super special because I had two friends who I was very, very close with in it. And they were seniors that year and I was a sophomore, so it was my last show with them. It was just a super fun show. It was written by Dolly Parton, so I love Dolly, and that was fun. It was just a really, really good time and, of course, it talked about important issues like equality in the workplace for women. It was just an empowering show, for sure.

Is there one thing you would change about your time at BC if you could go back to freshman year?

I think I would challenge myself a little bit more. … Since my freshman year, I feel like I’ve become less complacent and definitely tried to push myself and tried to push stronger for more change on campus. That’s why I wanted to do UGBC and that’s why I’m working with administration now on the Forum on Racial Justice because I think, I know, BC can be better than what they are right now. And I really hope that we can continue to push BC to make the much-needed changes on this campus so that way they can truly support their students, and especially the marginalized students on campus.

Is there one thing you’re especially grateful for from your time at BC that you wouldn’t change?

Although being vice president was very hard and was not always the most

enjoyable job, I don’t think I would change that. I think it was important for me because also the representation that we had that year [in UGBC] was incredible. We were the first all-Black team to win. Apparently I was the first Black vice president and just being able to do that I hope that others can feel that they can do it as well because that’s something I’ve always struggled with—trying to find myself in these people that are supposed to be my role models in social media and in the world in general. A lot of them don’t necessarily look like me, so hopefully I can be that to other people.

How has coronavirus affected your experience in the theatre program this year? What are you going to miss most about in-person performances?

I miss being with people. There is something so special about connecting with others, and I think a lot of that has to do with being able to see each other in person and be with each other in person. It’s also much easier to be vulnerable in person with other people. In order to do some shows, especially the more emotional ones, you have to be vulnerable, and doing that over Zoom can be really hard. ... I definitely just miss the person-to-person interaction, for sure, and also feeding off an audience. The energy that the audience can bring to the show, especially if it’s a really good audience, is electric. It really pushes you. It gets the adrenaline going. So [I am] definitely missing that energy and the excitement it creates.

What made you want to be a soloist for Pops Off the Heights?

So I’ve been in chorale since freshman year, and every year, chorale will sing behind the Boston Pops Orchestra. So I was always there watching the student performers sing and watching the star, whoever came in. [I thought], “Oh how cool would that be if that could be me?”... I was like “Full send.

It’s my last year. I’m going to do it. Experience is experience. Even if I don’t make it, at least I could go through an audition process and get that experience, which is always great.”

I didn’t really start doing much singing up until high school because I never did anything [involving singing] more than casually as a hobby. I did a lot of theatre and, through that, I had a lot of practice in terms of acting to music or acting to songs. What I really enjoyed about singing was the community, the friends that I made through my experiences, rather than actually performing itself.

Why did you decide to join The Common Tones of Boston College?

One of the main reasons why I joined The Common Tones of Boston College is because we’re BC’s only service a cappella group. I did a lot of community service throughout high school, I went to a Quaker school, and so I wanted to continue that throughout my experience in college. And The Common Tones of Boston College combines music and service in a way that was kind of a no-brainer for me to want to join the group.

How did coronavir u s affe c t The Common Tones? How are you grappling with these challenging circumstances?

It was very difficult for all of us to be sent home. … There’s absolutely no singing because it’s one of the big super-spreader events. So we were not able to have a final cafe with any of our five seniors last year. That was very difficult. We wanted to make sure that we were able to celebrate each of them. We did those online videos where everyone recorded themselves singing at home and someone edited them and mixed them and put them together. This semester, we just held auditions and callbacks last night. We are welcoming three new members to the group. But we’re still grappling with how we’re going to rehearse and, if we’re performing, how that would look because we’re not allowed to even hold rehearsals indoors as of right now. So, we’re not sure what that’s going to look like. Our executive board right now is working very hard behind the scenes to try and ensure that we can, at the very least, have bonding events with the other members.

Are there any lessons you’ve learned from these challenging circumstances that you’ll use moving forward?

Olivia Constantino, MCAS ’21 Olivia is a double major in English and French with a minor in music. She was the music director of The Common Tones her sophomore year and is currently the music director of the group again as a senior. The Common Tones are Boston College’s only service a cappella group. She is also a member of the Chamber Choir of University Chorale and has traveled to Spain and Portugal with the group.

What was your first experience with singing?

I’ve always done choirs throughout middle school and high school, but I think the moment that I realized that I really enjoyed singing was late high school because I did a lot of musical theatre. So through my experience with musical theatre and then joining a cappella in college...I really discovered more of a passion for singing rather than just seeing it as a hobby.

GRAPHIC BY ALLYSON MOZELIAK / HEIGHTS EDITOR

How did you foster your interest and talent in singing and musical theatre through elementary and middle school?

I think one thing we’ve really learned to value is the community because, even though we weren’t allowed to or really able to rehearse or see each other in person, we still had weekly girls’ night Zooms, and we had game nights. I think we leaned on each other a lot, and I think that just shows how close the bonds that we’ve made in this group are, and how a lot of these friendships that we’ve made in the group are lasting ones. And we’re not just in it for the music—we’re in it to create community. There’s a large alumni community too. The fact that we’ve created such a community is something that we didn’t realize up until we had to lean on each other in this way. Because once you take away the music from the group, there’s still a group.

What made you want to be a soloist at Pops Off the Heights?

I auditioned and was chosen to be a finalist in the Sing it to the Heights competition and, through that, I was reached out to by a talent scout who asked me to audition for Pops On the Heights my sophomore year...and I auditioned, but I didn’t get in. So when it came time to audition again, I got an email from the Pops On the Heights staff, and they asked me to audition one more time. And I was a little bit disheartened from [the earlier] experience, but I decided to go for it. n PHOTOS BY MAGGIE DIPATRI / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Heights

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‘The Devil All the Time’ Coddles its Audience

By Alicia Kang Heights Staff Netflix’s latest mystery movie relies on a star-studded cast to captivate its audience. Based on Donald Ray Pollock’s book of the same name, The Devil All the Time employs actors Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Bill Skarsgård, to name a few. The film explores a web of characters who cause domino effects in each others’ lives. Many characters are devout Christians, and it is oftentimes their own faith that emboldens them to commit treacherous sins. The story winds through states and time, flashing forward and backward as it pleases.

Returning home from World War II

and suffering from PTSD, Willard Russell (Skarsgård) finds comfort in his darling wife Charlotte (Haley Bennett), and they soon have a son, Arvin (Michael Banks Repeta). When Charlotte falls ill, Willard’s faith—and, arguably, his lack of knowledge about health care—leads him to falsely believe that if he and Arvin pray hard enough, they can save her life.

As Arvin grows up, learning from his father’s hands-on methods of conflict resolution, he becomes increasingly violent and hateful. Though he lives with his devout grandmother and stepsister, Arvin (played as an adult by Holland) cares little for the church. His life becomes more complicated, though, when the church gains a new preacher, Rev. Preston Teagar-

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din (Pattinson). The film simultaneously delves into the lives of side characters like Roy Laferty (Harry Melling), Carl Henderson (Jason Clarke), and his wife Sandy (Riley Keough). Eventually, all of these tales come together to result in an even more difficult and twisted life for Arvin.

Like any mystery movie, The Devil All the Time does have its suspenseful moments. But the film fails to consistently keep the viewers on the edge of their seats—the constant jumps in time tend to interrupt the film’s flow. The plot feels so contrived that the viewer has no motivation to actually figure anything out.

The film’s lack of chronology also makes it nearly impossible to feel a significant connection to anyone on screen, including the protagonist.

The film spoon-feeds the viewers so much information that they have no chance to form their own judgments of the characters. The story is narrated

by Pollock himself. Unfortunately, this decision feels like a cheap way to provide exposition. Films that have been adapted from books are rarely successful, but an interesting part of these films is seeing how they tell the story with fewer opportunities for direct narration. The Devil All the Time essentially circumvents this problem by having the author himself explain what’s going on in a character’s mind. These moments distract from climactic scenes and

detract from the actors’ task of bringing their characters to life.

What’s even more disappointing is the fact that the cast is completely capable of this task. Pattinson shines on screen as a young, haughty preacher with little-to-no morals. Melling also revamps his acting career with his role as a faith-crazed pastor. The actors could have easily succeeded—thrived, even—without any narration.

The Devil All the Time is a byproduct of an industry where creators assume audiences can’t understand their work unless every plot point is hammered home.

For a film that tries desperately to get its message across, in the end, The Devil All the Time has no real thesis. Its exploration into how faith can corrupt is interesting, but it’s only enough to hold up the first half of the film. By the end of the movie, we want to see how Arvin is different, or how he can grow to be different, yet the last scene lets us down.

The open-ended, let-the-viewer-decide conclusion is not enough to justify two hours of trying to understand Arvin and his struggles.

The Devil All the Time will be an entertaining ride for mystery lovers and a merely adequate movie for others. It’s worth watching for the cast, but the sequence and narration weigh the characters down without actually saying much about the film’s greater themes. n

55th ACM Awards Thrive in New Format

By Josie McNeill For The Heights The 55th Academy of Country Music Awards bore a very different feel from the high-energy, fan-filled fest typically held in Las Vegas. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the April awards show was put on hold before it was finally broadcast on Wednesday. This year was the first time that the ACM Awards were held in Nashville, despite the city’s reputation as the home of country music.

Nominees and performers were placed in three different iconic venues around Music City—the Grand Ole Opry House, the Bluebird Cafe, and Ryman Auditorium—in order to comply with social distancing regulations. All three of these venues hold special places in the hearts of country fans, especially the Bluebird Cafe, as it is a venue where many stars started their careers.

Hosted by Keith Urban, this night of celebration for country music was off to a great start with a medley performance by all the nominees for Entertainer of the Year.

Beginning with Luke Bryan, the show moved between the three venues as each nominee gave it their all.

Although the venues were empty, the performers did not lack enthusiasm. With the exception of Taylor Swift’s “Betty,” the more acoustic and subdued performances were at the Bluebird—or at least in front of a greenscreen of the cafe, in the cases of

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. The more energetic performances, on the other hand, were held in the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium.

One of the more notable performances of the evening was Carrie Underwood’s tribute to the women of country music for the 95th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry.

Honoring women who paved the way in country music, Underwood covered songs

by Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, and Martina McBride.

The highlight and biggest draw of the evening was Taylor Swift’s return to the ACM stage after seven years. Swift surprised everyone, including her record label, by suddenly dropping Folklore during quarantine. The album’s abrupt release was not the only surprise Swift had in store—Folklore is Swift’s most country-sounding album in years. Instead of completely writing from her own experience, she instead created a series of “folklores” to be passed down to the next generation by her fans. One of these folklores, “Betty,” is part of a trio of songs about a love triangle between teenagers. Being the most country-influenced song on Folklore, it was the perfect choice for her return to the ACM Awards.

Swift gave a very laid-back performance of “Betty.” It was just Swift and her guitar, which is a very different set-up for anyone who has seen Swift’s large-scale productions for her tours. The song was mellow and

beautiful, and it was perfect for a potentially brief comeback to the country music world.

As for the awards of the night, there was a major surprise during the announcement of Entertainer of the Year. Keith Urban, the 2019 recipient of the award, was tasked with passing the torch to the new winner. As he opened the envelope, he was shocked to see that there was not just one winner for the award. Instead, there was a tie between Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood, yet again something that has never happened in the history of the ACM Awards.

It was, however, no surprise that Dan + Shay won the award for Duo of the Year.

Ever since the release of their first song “You + Me” in 2013, the duo has been non-stop

climbing the ladder of success. Old Dominion took home two awards, one for Group of the Year, for the second year in a row, and another for Song of the Year for its hit “One Man Band.” Maren Morris took home the award for Female Artist of the Year and Luke Combs for Male Artist of the Year.

This special edition of the ACM Awards was filled with many surprises. Despite setbacks and bumps along the road to premiering the awards, the live event went smoothly across all platforms. Hopefully, next year will bring about a normal awards season, but as for now, 2020 will go down as one of the most unique and successful years in the Academy of Country Music Awards’ history. n

Heights Staff As everyone is well aware, the Nov. 3 general election is fast approaching. And among the political ads, concerns about voting in a pandemic, and polarizing rhetoric lies the fact that the United States has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the developed world, according to the Pew Research Center. In fact, the center found that only about 56 percent of voting-age Americans cast a ballot in the 2016 Presidential Election.

It is this very issue that co-directors and co-producers Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés try to tackle in their new documentary All In: The Fight for Democracy, which was released on Amazon Prime Video on Friday.

All In follows the history of voting and voter suppression in the United States, intertwining it with the story of Stacey Abrams’

failed run for Georgia governor in 2018.

Abrams, who lost by an incredibly narrow margin and cites rampant voter suppression for her loss, co-produced the documentary.

Carol Anderson, a historian and writer who will coincidentally be speaking virtually at BC at the end of the month, argues in the documentary that voter suppression is an important part of this country’s political history, one that must be reckoned with to understand today’s democracy.

Moving from the country’s founding, when only white, male, property-owners could vote, to the passage of the 15th Amendment, which made it illegal to deny the right to vote to anyone based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” there have obviously been a number of historic wins for voter enfranchisement.

But the Jim Crow South’s literacy tests, poll taxes, and racial violence made it nearly impossible for people of color to vote for

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SINGLE REVIEW JILLIAN RAN

‘HOT STUFF’ KYGO, DONNA SUMMER

With Sam Smith’s cover of her groundbreaking dance hit “I Feel Love” in late 2019, it seems that the music world is finally paying its dues to legendary disco queen Donna Summer. Now, Norwegian DJ Kygo is hopping on the bandwagon with a remarkably restrained remix of Summer’s 1979 single “Hot Stuff.”

Kygo, known for a strain of laid-back electronic remixes that invariably feature reverb-heavy acoustic guitars and chirpy synths, finally seems to be breaking out of the mold he’s created for himself with “Hot Stuff.” Instead of completely reworking the track to fit a modern sensibility, as would be the instinct of many DJs, Kygo holds on to the signature ’70s finishes that make the song so memorable.

The twangy guitars, the campy hook— everything is as it should be. Kygo even dreams up a few retro elements of his own: bouncy piano octaves and buzzing synths keep the momentum going.

Yet, like any drama-loving DJ, Kygo adds in his own buildups and drops.

Summer’s timeless vocals dance over a hypnotic bassline, raising the tension until modern synths crash in, bringing the energy of the chorus back in. It’s the perfect marriage of old and new, a remix that pays homage instead of trampling over Summer’s legacy. n

MUSIC MUSIC VIDEO TONIE CHASE

‘HMU’

MUSIC

SEVYN STREETER

THE 55TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS CBS HELD ON SEP. 16, 2020 OUR RATING

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‘All In’ Documentary Urges Americans to Vote

By Julia Landwehr

Monday, September 21, 2020

generations. Abrams remembers her grandmother telling her how scared she was to vote for the first time, even after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed.

But All In acknowledges that Indigenous Americans, Latinx Americans, the poor, the young, and other groups have also felt the pressure of voter suppression laws.

“Intimidation from the government is real, it is powerful, and it is because of the changing demographics in the nation, the fear of what this larger vote can mean,” Anderson says in the film.

Abrams and the other historians included in the documentary also focus heavily on voter suppression that is currently happening in this country. The 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder essentially removed the protections afforded by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday, likened the decision to “throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

The documentary cites this decision as the impetus for a new crop of voter suppression efforts—voter ID laws, voter purges, poll closures, gerrymandering, and more.

In aligning the story of American voter suppression with Abrams’ own political career, All In takes a decidedly political stance on voting in this country. The documentary blames conservatives in power for creating a hostile voting environment for the everyday American. Regardless of political leanings, however, Garbus and Cortés want to make one thing clear: the issue of voting in the United States is truly a fight.

Though All In at times falls into the trap of being so context-focused that it moves too slow to keep a viewer’s attention, the most interesting thing is how it shifts the blame of low voter turnout rates from the voters themselves to the systems in place, which, it argues, are designed to keep people from the polls.

This argument differs so strongly from the very common political narrative that Americans are apathetic to their democracy. All In rejects this thinking, and it empowers people to stand against the voter suppression that the documentary says runs rampant in this country.

“The fight over voting rights is ultimately about power,” says political writer Ari Berman. Though you may not agree with Abrams, Cortés, and Garbus that it’s conservative forces to blame for voter suppression, All In at the very least is an energizing call to action. The directors’ hope is clearly that in pulling back the veil on voter suppression efforts, people’s anger will be enough to motivate them to do whatever it takes to vote.

All In: The Fight for Democracy might not be the most entertaining documentary you’ll ever watch, but it’s certainly relevant.

In shifting the narrative to voting as a right that must be fought for, the documentary aptly illustrates the lengths that Americans must go to in order to participate in their democracy. And whether you think those barriers to voting are justified or not, Americans must do whatever it takes to make their voices heard, in this election and in every election going forward. The country’s future and success depends on it. n

In her latest music video for her song “HMU,” Sevyn Streeter elevates her artistry for a new era of music.

“HMU” is her debut single for 2020, and a clear change of pace from her last single, “Whatchusay.” The music video is full of seamless transitions between a local deli, a beach at sunset, and a more ambiguous, imaginative play on a home. Where the sets almost fall short, Streeter makes up for it through other enticing visual effects and a stunning wardrobe.

Streeter recites a poetic monologue as the first close-up shot of the singer is revealed. Then, fuchsia lighting illuminates Streeter’s already glowing skin, and so begins her fantasy. Her eyes pierce the camera for just a few seconds, luring in and enchanting viewers at the same time.

“HMU” details Streeter’s struggle to avoid developing deeper feelings in a casual relationship. Despite being somewhat unsure and frustrated, Streeter exudes confidence and assertiveness in the lyrics. Over an upbeat tempo, she sings, “I was ’bout my business, until my heart fell in it / Hit me up.”

Her self-assured attitude in the song is mirrored well in the music video with sharp yet smooth dancing. Despite having a male companion in several scenes, all of Streeter’s choreography is solo, and most features direct eye contact with the camera.

The video follows Streeter and a male partner as they indulge in a lustful romance. The combination of the song and its dreamy music video brings edgy pop and traditional R&B together, further displaying Streeter’s chops as a well-rounded artist.

Streeter’s last full-length project arrived in 2017. Although she has released various singles in the interim, “HMU” is tied to a larger project to come, as she teased on Twitter. Even the closing five seconds of the “HMU” music video hints at a transition to another setting, one where Streeter sashays across an intricately tiled floor in regal attire. n

The Heights

Monday, September 21, 2020

A11

Jurkovec, Flowers Put On Impressive Shows in Win FB vs. Duke from A12 before punching the ball in at the goal line.

Despite the initial success, the Eagles’ offense struggled to move the ball for most of the first half.

Jurkovec threw an interception on an ill-advised pass into double coverage on BC’s second possession, and the Eagles never managed to gain more than 13 yards on a drive after their first possession until the third quarter.

The floodgates opened for the Eagles after halftime. With the Blue Devils facing a third-and-nine from deep within their own territor y, Brice completed a pass to receiver Damond Philyaw-Johnson short of the first-down marker. BC cornerback

Josh DeBerry immediately tackled Philyaw-Johnson and ripped the ball from his hands as they wrestled to the ground for what was eventually ruled a fumble recovery.

The Eagles’ offense took over on Duke’s own 12-yard line, extending the lead to 10-6 after a field goal from Danny Longman. BC continued to add to the lead on its next possession, driving 80 yards on four plays thanks to a pair of 27-yard catches from Flowers and a TD pass to Hunter Long. The touchdown play was one of Jurkovec’s most skillful of the entire game, as he rolled out of the pocket to his left and dodged a Duke defender before finding Long at the back of the end zone.

BC made it 23-6 on the next possession with Jurkovec’s 61-yard bomb

to Flowers.

“The kid hadn’t started a game since his state championship in high school,” Hafley said about Jurkovec during the postgame press conference. “Look what he did in the second half: He hung in, and he made some plays and he made some throws, and I think he showed all of us the potential that he has.”

Long also starred for the Eagles, notching seven catches for 93 yards and making several key downfield blocks to spring BC’s runners loose.

Averaging 4.94 yards per play, Duke’s offense had moderate success moving the ball but was crippled over and over by costly turnovers. With Duke in the Eagles’ territory at the end of the first quarter, linebacker Isaiah McDuffie picked off Brice as he over-

shot a receiver deep over the middle.

The Blue Devils turned it over on their next possession as well, as Chibueze Onwuka stripped the ball from running back Deon Jackson just as Duke seemed poised to punch the ball in from the Eagles’ four-yard line.

Duke also turned it over on its last two possessions, erasing any hopes that the Blue Devils could salvage the game at the last minute. “[When our] backs [were] up against the wall going into the red zone, you know we bent a little bit, we got tired a little bit, and then we either came up with a big play [or] a great takeaway, and totally changed the game,” Hafley said.

The only rough patch of the Eagles’ performance on Saturday afternoon was the offensive line. Expected to be a strength for BC heading into the season,

the unit struggled all game long, failing to create holes for BC’s running backs and consistently allowing pressure on Jurkovec. Bailey managed just 52 yards on 18 carries and Duke sacked Jurkovec six times.

It was an unusual game for both sides, as COVD-19 restrictions meant there were no fans in attendance. Asked about how his players performed in such a strange environment with no crowd noise, Hafley said he and the team barely felt any different.

“I don’t think our guys noticed,” he said. “I think they had a blast on the sideline, they had a ton of energy. They never ever looked down, and it’s who this team is. We’re going to have our ups and downs, but it won’t matter as long as the process is right and we stick together.” n

Blue Devils vs. Eagles Drive Chart A look at BC’s 26-6 victory over Duke, possession by possession:

Duke

BC

GRAPHIC BY EMMA HEALY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

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Duke

GRAPHIC BY EAMON LAUGHLIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Eagles Take Time to Settle in Behind Versatile Offense

By Emma Healy Sports Editor The Jeff Hafley Era has officially begun at Boston College.

And you can tell it has by watching BC football players douse their firstyear head coach in bright yellow Powerade after a double-digit victory to open the season. The Eagles entered Durham, N.C. as six-point underdogs, and the game wasn’t always pretty, but a combination of some stellar coaching by Hafley and a dominant showing on both sides of the ball puts a tick mark in the “W” column for the first time this year. Here are five takeaways from Hafley’s first victory as a head coach: Shaking Out the Nerves Save for an opening drive touchdown, BC’s first half looked like a bit of an adjustment period. It was about as successful a half as you could’ve expected from a season opener under a first-year head coach, especially against a Duke team that had one extra game to prepare. The Eagles came out strong in the first quarter, opening the scoring and forcing back-to-back three-and-outs, but they stalled for the rest of the first half. As was the case in the opening weekend for many teams, BC had some tackling troubles early on, letting Duke run the offense.

The Eagles then struggled to convert on third down, going 3-for-8 in conversion situations in the first half.

After they came out of the locker room at halftime, however, the Eagles looked like a brand new squad.

Though it wasn’t perfect, the offensive performance was much more efficient than in the first half. On defense, BC

made its crucial tackles and forced even more turnovers, holding Duke scoreless throughout the half.

Jurkovec Looks Like a Franchise Quarterback It wasn’t until BC emerged from the tunnel at noon that Eagles fans knew who would be taking snaps under center. All week, Hafley had kept onlookers in the dark about who would win the quarterback battle, but the title of QB1 eventually went to transfer Phil Jurkovec. Just like the rest of the team, Jurkovec took about 30 minutes of football to settle in.

But after sharing some words with Hafley at halftime, as he said during the postgame press conference, he came out firing on all cylinders. Jurkovec looked more comfortable in the pocket, and his passing—which had previously been largely errant—hit the mark almost every time. Jurkovec finished the day with 300 yards, two touchdowns, and a 75 percent completion percentage. If you didn’t know that Saturday was his first collegiate start, you’d think that Jurkovec—at least in the second half—was a franchise quarterback for the Eagles.

Forcing Turnovers...

Possibly the brightest spot in BC’s play on Saturday was its defense. Not only did BC hold Duke to a single score, but the Eagles forced an astounding five turnovers, two of which were while Duke was in the red zone.

Four of the five times Duke coughed up the ball were a direct result of defensive pressure on Blue Devil QB Chase Brice. First, the pocket collapsed around Brice, and Isaiah McDuffie grabbed an overthrown pass in the center of the field. Then,

PHOTO COURTESY OF NELL REDMOND VIA ACC MEDIA

Running back David Bailey dives for BC’s first touchdown of the day against Duke in the first quarter of the game.

Marcus Valdez recovered a fumble on BC’s own three-yard line, followed by a Deon Jones fumble recovery on Duke’s five-yard line. The Eagles’ biggest defensive highlight, however, was when Josh DeBerry ripped the ball from David Philyaw-Johnson’s hands as he came down with a catch. ...But Not Capitalizing Despite forcing five turnovers— two of which had BC in the red zone— the Eagles only managed to capitalize on two of them. And even though they scored points in those two instances, neither drive found its way to the end zone. Danny Longman lined up for field goals after two of the turnovers, and on the other three, Grant Carlson

punted it away.

Hafley noted in his postgame press conference that when the team is that close, coming away with anything but a touchdown is a major disappointment. As a result, BC never fully got the momentum to swing its way, allowing Duke to hang in there until the very end of the game.

Across the Board Coming into this week, BC fans had no sense of what Hafley’s newlook offense would look like. Without any media presence at training camp, there was no way of anticipating what his scheme, play calling, or even lineup would look like. And it seemed as though Duke was in the dark just as

much as the rest of us.

Hafley utilized an abundance of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, making it nearly impossible for Duke to have every option covered.

Unlike BC’s old run-heavy offense under Addazio, Haf le y ’s offense flowed through every position on the field. Hunter Long was incredibly active at tight end, Zay Flowers had a career day at wide receiver, and Travis Levy, David Bailey, and Pat Garwo all showed they’re worth their chops at running back. All in all, BC recorded 440 yards of offense, split between seven receivers and four rushers. No one could’ve seen that amount of depth coming. n

Monday, September 21, 2020

SPORTS BOSTON COLLEGE 26

A12 @HeightsSports

DUKE 6

“HAF”-TIME ADJUSTMENTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF NELL REDMOND VIA ACC MEDIA

It took two quarters to get going, but BC’s new-look offense lit up in the second half of its season opener against Duke, earning head coach Jeff Hafley his first win as an Eagle.

By Asa Ackerly Asst. Sports Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF BC ATHLETICS

Hafley said he is very proud of the hard work and sacrifices his team has endured to earn a season-opening win over Duke.

With 1:26 to play in the third quarter, Boston College wideout Zay Flowers took advantage of a free release at the line of scrimmage and sprinted downfield into the Blue Devils’ secondary. As Duke’s safeties rushed downfield in response to the Eagles’ play action, Flowers faked toward the sideline, only to flip his hips and turn downfield when his defender took the bait.

Quarterback Phil Jurkovec uncorked a perfect deep shot just a split second before he was crushed by an oncoming Blue Devil rusher, and Flowers walked into the end zone for a 61-yard touchdown. The score capped off a huge 16-point third quarter for the Eagles (1-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast), clinching their 26-6 victory over Duke (0-2, 0-2) and giving Jeff Hafley the first win of his career on the Heights.

The Eagles were led by huge per-

formances from Jurkovec and Flowers, the latter of whom showed off dazzling route running and an elite ability to make defenders miss in space on his way to racking up 162 yards and a touchdown. Jurkovec overcame a slow start and played impressively in his debut under center, completing 17 of his 23 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns.

BC’s defense also put on a superb display, throttling Duke quarterback Chase Brice and the Blue Devils’ offense by forcing five turnovers.

Brice finished the game at 23-of-42 for 217 yards and two interceptions.

The Eagles started the game fast, forcing a three-and-out on Duke’s opening drive and then scoring a touchdown on their first possession.

Running back David Bailey led the charge for BC on the first drive, picking up first down after first down as the Eagles marched down the field

See FB vs. Duke, A11

Fall Sports Tackle Practice With Added Safety Measures

By John Kalil For The Heights For months, the Power Gym and the Newton campus athletic fields have sat empty.

It’s been a quiet summer, but with students returning to Chestnut Hill, the athletic facilities are suddenly buzzing with activity. And although athletic activites are back on campus, it still doesn’t quite feel like a normal season of collegiate sports.

While complying with safety guidelines set in place by the Atlantic Coast Conference, Boston College women’s soccer, volleyball, and field hockey are working feverishly in practice to get ready for the shortened season to begin.

In any other season—one without a COVID-19 pandemic—these three fall sports would have arrived in early August for preseason camp. Instead, the Eagles started practice during the first week of school—almost a month after some of their ACC competitors.

According to field hockey head coach Kelly Doton, the lack of a preseason

compared to the team’s ACC competitors has created the feeling of playing “catch-up” to the other schools.

“It’s impossible to say that we’d be as prepared as anyone we play,” volleyball head coach Jason Kennedy said. “That’s going to be very tough to rebound from. Preseason camp usually affords coaches the opportunity to conduct practices, workouts, and meetings with the attention of athletes undivided by the demands of schoolwork.”

With the ACC conducting only conference play this fall in field hockey, volleyball, and soccer, each of BC’s teams will open up with the most challenging portion of any season.

Typically, non-conference play affords fall sports the opportunity to work out the kinks before the league slate.

“We utilize those games in September and early October to grow and watch film, and correct a lot of things tactically,” Doton said. “We don’t have that time this year.”

But at the same time, all three Eagles’ sports will have the opportunity to watch two full weeks of ACC

games before they join the action.

Women’s soccer, for example, will have two Notre Dame game films to watch before traveling to South Bend on Oct. 1.

“We have two weeks of watching other competitions to see what they’re about before anyone even sees us,” women’s soccer captain Mia Karras said.

Volleyball opens its season hosting Louisville on Oct. 2, and field hockey makes the trip down to face the Cardinals on Oct. 4.

The Eagles also enacted stringent protocols during practice to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Soccer managers sanitize balls and cones immediately after use, and volleyball staggers its arrival to practice to reduce density in the locker room. All athletes and coaches adhere to strict mask-wearing, according to team members.

“We’ve had to wear masks in all our sessions, which has been a huge adjustment with such a cardio-demanding sport,” Karras said.

With many athletes’ home gyms closed for much of the summer due to the pandemic, coaches and trainers

phased the Eagles back into full play so as to avoid injuries. Doton and women’s soccer head coach Jason Lowe both instituted “weaning-in” periods, starting off practices closer to 50 percent effort and ramping up to get to full capacity.

Even so, trying to avoid COVID-19 virus transmission during practice makes it so that simple drills and activities can give athletes and coaches pause.

“We were going to train some heading, and normally we just grab a bunch of balls and serve them up,” Lowe said. “And then you’re thinking about all the contact points, touching all the soccer balls, contact with their heads, and the sweat. So maybe you don’t want to do that.”

In addition to precautions on the field and in the gym, athletes are keenly aware that being identified in contact tracing efforts means time away from their sport.

“The players know other student athletes that have had to quarantine,” Doton said about her team. “They’ve done a phenomenal job making sure that when they’re away from field

hockey that they’re in a mask.”

As of Thursday, according to coaches, neither women’s soccer nor volleyball has recorded a positive case. Doton did not report numbers for field hockey when asked. Even so, during such a short season— each team will play about eight ACC games over a four-week season—a positive test or contact trace to the team could be devastating.

“If someone gets knocked out with this for 14 days, in a four-week season they’re going to be knocked out for half of it,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy is currently working 10 new freshmen into the program—a group that comprises almost half the team—so he said he welcomes the opportunity to have a shorter fall season as somewhat of a trial run.

“We have to view this as an opportunity to get ready for the spring, not so focused on the wins and losses here in the fall,” he said.

But without preseason scrimmages or non-conference games, Eagles across all fall sports won’t know where they stand until the heat of conference rivalry. n