March 24, 2025
Kulbieda, Marino Elected UGBC Pres., VP
By cariNa Murphy Assoc. News Editor
Cami Kulbieda, LSEHD ’26, and Reagan Marino, MCAS ’26, are the next UGBC president and vice president, coming out on top of Thursday’s three-ticket election.
“I’m extremely grateful that the Boston College community has entrusted me to serve them,” Kulbieda said. “As promised, no student need will go ignored if it’s brought to my attention.”
Kulbieda and Marino campaigned on a platform focused on UGBC outreach, advocacy, and accessible resources for students.
According to Kulbieda, once
she and Marino step into their new roles, transparency will be an immediate priority.
“I think no matter what efforts and changes that UGBC is working towards and implementing, the most notable change that we can make is having these be transparent and accessible to the student body,” Kulbieda said.
Looking beyond the election’s outcome, Kulbieda also expressed gratitude for Marino throughout the election process.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this whole process has been the friendship that we’ve formed over the past few months,” Kulbieda said. “It is an absolute honor to have this title and also to
VOTER BREAKDOWN
Cami Kulbieda & Reagan Marino
38.39% — 1244
Jack Adams & Chase Gibson 34.84% — 1129
Andrew Cimino & Brody Whetzel 26.75% — 867
Scott Hayes Trial Set
Hayes is accused of shooting a Newton resident in an altercation at a pro-Israel protest.
By GeNevieve MOrrisON Newton Editor
A judge set a June 11 trial date for Scott Hayes—accused of shooting a Newton resident in a violent encounter at a pro-Israel protest on Washington Street last September—at a court appearance Thursday.
At the hearing, a lawyer for the state said he had made three Rule 17 orders, which are requests by state law that allow
the court to demand the production of evidence within a reasonable time frame.
According to the prosecutor, only two of these orders have been fulfilled.
The state did not request a court order for the defense to provide these materials, saying they would address the question again at another pre-trial hearing on April 22.
Hockey Receives No. 1 Seed
Boston College men’s hockey was selected as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
See A13
Magazine
When life gets busy, you need a quick and easy meal—like a burrito. Staff writer Katherine Malloure walks you through the best and worst burritos near BC A7
INDEX
Vol. CVI, No. 7
© 2025, The Heights, Inc.
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Established 1919
get to do it with him.”
In addition to the presidential race, 11 student senator seats were up for re-election.
The Class of 2028 elected five senators—Jordan Doty, Will Cortes, Makayla Boxell, Sarah Kemper, and Ashley Vara calli, all MCAS ’28—to represent their class.
The Class of 2027, which had four seats to fill, elected Aidan Krush, CSOM ’27, Addie Weiss, Mari ame Diop, and Will Rafti, all MCAS ’27.
See Election, A2
Professors Reject Claims Their Research Is “Woke”
By Nikita Osadchiy Asst. News Editor
Boston College professors pushed back on a report by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz that claims National Science Foundation (NSF) grants awarded to them promote “woke” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or “neo-Marxist” propaganda.
“These grants all went through a vigorous vetting process involving multiple reviews by
independent scientists and are judged on their scientific and technological value,” Kenneth Burch, chair of the physics department and a recipient of one of the grants listed in the report, wrote in a statement to The Heights. “It was clear from looking over the grants that it was not the result of an investigation but rather a list compiled by searching for certain words: ‘diversity’, ‘bias’, etc.”
See Grants, A3
2027 Gabelli Scholars Pilot Women’s Foot Clinic
By carlie viray Heights Staff
What started as summer volunteering at St. Francis House evolved into the Gabelli Presidential Scholars class of 2027’s social impact initiative—a women’s foot clinic.
“The feet might seem like a really basic thing to take care of, but it’s actually the gateway to many real health issues,” said Grace Snell, MCAS ’27, one of the program’s co-executive directors.
The foot clinic was established on Sept. 15, 2024, and operates out of Women’s Lunch Place, a women’s shelter in Boston. The clinic provides basic foot treatments for homeless women, aiming to prevent them from developing health problems in the future.
Snell and Catherine May, MCAS ’27, the clinic’s other executive director, were inspired to start the program after spending a summer volunteering at St. Francis House.
While volunteering there, they noticed that the environment discouraged many women and LGBTQ+ individuals from seeking treatment for their feet.
“The women who were staying at that shelter really did not feel comfortable coming into that environment because it was male-dominated, and the leading cause of homelessness among women is domestic abuse or sexual assault in some capacity,” May said.
After discussing their concerns with each other, Snell and May decided to start a foot clinic specifically for women and queer individuals. Foot clinics provide treatment to homeless people, who are more susceptible to foot infections.
“Homeless people are far more likely to experience foot-related complications, such as diabetic neuropathy, diabetic bolsters, fungus,” May said.
See Gabelli Scholars, A7
Opinions
Columnists Isabella Pieretti and Conor Richards offer two fresh takes on Trump’s budget slashing in their new joint column, “Civil Discourse.”
A8
BROCK TUMINELLO / HEIGHTS STAFF
COURTESY OF TESSA BURKE
GENEVIEVE MORRISON / HEIGHTS EDITOR
IKRAM ALI / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES
NEWS
This Week’s Top 3 Events
Attend a virtual lecture to hear Jesper Svartik, former Corcoran visiting professor in Jewish-Christian relations, explore the connections between Judaism and early Christianity. The event will take place on Monday at 12 p.m.
Join a panel featuring Daniel Kanstroom, a BC law professor and Rappaport Center faculty director and immigration scholar Hiroshi Motomura, to hear about the impact of Trump’s immigration policies on Friday at 12 p.m. in East Wing Room 200 at BC Law. School.
1 2 3
Hear about enslaved women, the church, and their fight for freedom with Jeannine Hill Fletcher, associate professor of theology at Fordham University. The event, co-sponsored by the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life and BC Libraries, is Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
ITS Moves Forward on Developing Virtual IDs
By reeTu agnihoTri Asst. News Editor
Boston College Information Technology Services (ITS) is open to creating virtual Eagle IDs, transfer student representative Cece Mase shared at the UGBC Senate meeting Tuesday night.
“They’re very on board with it,” said Mase, MCAS ’26.
According to Mase, ITS had been hesitant to adopt virtual Eagle IDs due to safety concerns. After seeing how Clemson University—where she previously attended—utilizes virtual IDS for students, ITS is planning to schedule a meeting with Clemson’s IT department to gather more information and move forward with implementing Eagle IDs, she shared.
“I touched on the idea, which I think is kind of where they responded to it was the safety aspect of it,” Mase said. “Just like how you’ll never have an issue with it because you’ll always have that in your phone, even when it’s dead.”
ITS is also looking into providing students with access to Canva Pro, Mase added.
“They really like the idea of Canva Pro for business majors,
marketing, and things like campaigning,” Mase said. “They said they were meeting with the Canva sales team—I think they’re doing that before we meet with them next month.”
Earlier in the meeting, BC Career Center staff gave a presentation on its resources and asked how it can more effectively engage students.
Student senators suggested various ideas for the Career Center to consider.
Lowana Casimir, MCAS ’26, emphasized the importance of organizing drop-in events at the beginning of the year, when students are looking to get to know what resources BC offers them.
“To help with the fact that people don’t know where the Career Center is, having a pizza night, or a resume-making, or some sort of social situation so that we can get to know the various people that work at the Career Center,” Casimir said.
Jordan Doty, student senator and MCAS ’28, recounted finding the process of navigating Handshake to schedule a meeting at the Career Center confusing, suggesting that the Career Center assist students in setting up
their Handshake accounts during in-person meetings.
“The process of making a Handshake account to set up that first meeting was a little confusing,” Doty said. “I definitely could see students getting to that roadblock of setting up an account and then being like, ‘Oh, well I don’t want to go.’”
Aidan Krush, student senator and CSOM ’27, then recapped his meeting with Jason Blanchette, assistant director of marketing and fan engagement about potentially creating a “virtual passport” that would track students’ attendance at games and encourage them to attend games across different sports.
“Jason was very open to the idea and very open to working with UGBC in the future as a possible outlet for student input, planning things like themes at games, stuff like that,” Krush said. n
Kulbieda and Marino Set To Be Next UGBC Pres., VP
from A1
Thursday’s election drew a turnout of 3,240 students, marking a 529 percent increase from last year’s uncontested race, where only 543 students voted. This year’s vote count also surpassed the 2023 total of 2,997 votes.
Kulbieda and Marino won 1,244 votes, or 38.89 percent of the total.
Jack Adams and Chase Gibson, both MCAS ’26, won 1,129 votes, or 34.84 percent, while Andrew Cimino, MCAS ’26, and Brody
Whetzel, LSEHD ’26, finished with 867 votes, or 26.75 percent. Cristina Gregory, and Andrew Pauloz, both MCAS ’26 and the only two candidates in the class of 2026 race, were elected to represent their class.
All newly elected UGBC members will assume their roles at the end of the spring semester.
Kulbieda said joining UGBC has been a formative part of her BC experience so far.
“It's uncovered a passion of mine that I didn't even know that
I had, which was serving others on a macro-level scale and implementing policy,” Kulbieda said. “It's something that I hope to carry with me throughout the rest of my life.”
Reflecting on the election’s outcome, Kulbieda emphasized her love for Boston College and her excitement for the year ahead.
“This is an amazing honor, I'm extremely grateful,” Kulbieda said. “I love Boston College, and I am so excited to spend my senior year giving back to the place that's given me so much.” n
Ashley Delgado Wins 2025 Romero Scholarship
By Carina Murphy Assoc. News Editor
Ashley Delgado’s voice shook with emotion as she stood at the podium to accept the 2025 Saint Oscar A. Romero Scholarship. The audience rose to their feet, erupting in applause, while her family beamed with pride.
“If the one thing that I can do in this life is to love, then I will love, and I will love over and over again,” said Delgado, MCAS ’26. “The work that we do is not about spotlight. It is not about self. It’s about something far greater–it’s about restoring what’s been broken, healing what’s been ignored, and uplifting the dignity of those in the
world who are often overlooked.”
The 33rd annual Saint Oscar A. Romero Scholarship award ceremony took place on Saturday night in the Yawkey Athletics Center, two days before the anniversary of Romero’s assassination and feast day.
Named after the Salvadoran archbishop and martyr, the scholarship recognizes a Boston College junior who has demonstrated commitment to service and leadership within the Hispanic and Latino communities.
In her speech, Delgado reflected on the importance of housing justice, a cause she is deeply passionate about and a driving force behind her advocacy.
“When I say I care about
housing justice, I mean I care about who gets to stay, who gets to belong, who gets to breathe deeply in a space and call it home—not just today, but tomorrow,” she said. “Housing justice is not just about units. It’s about people, about families that deserve permanence, not precarity.”
Delgado co-founded Soy Latina y Que?, a community for Latina students to form sisterhood, resilience, and empowerment. She is also co-vice president of the AHANA Pre-Law Society.
Outside of BC, Delgado has helped the Latino community in securing housing through her work with ABCD Housing and Homelessness Prevention and Connie Francisco Real Estate
Group. She also assists with financial modeling and market research at AEW Boston.
According to Resident Director Phionna-Cayola Claude, Delgado hopes to launch a Latino housing Justice Initiative focused on helping families secure their homes amid ongoing cycles of housing insecurity.
“For Ashley, housing justice is more than securing a home,” Claude said. “It is about ensuring families have stability, dignity, and agency to thrive for generations.”
As the winner, Delgado will receive up to $40,000 toward her senior year tuition, while the other two finalists—Emily Moreno, CSON ’26, and Kevin Uriarte, MCAS ’26—will receive awards of up to $3,000. Additionally, all three finalists received a $1,000 gift card to the BC bookstore.
University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., who presented the award to Delgado, highlighted how the finalists have carried on Romero’s legacy and how they will continue to do so.
“I especially want to offer words of gratitude for the example, the time, the energy that you have devoted to the Boston College community and ways in which you will share with future communities,” Leahy said.
Melanie Paredes, MCAS ’25 and the 2024 recipient of the Oscar A. Romero Scholarship, said that while challenges lie ahead for the finalists, the causes they have dedicated themselves to will continue to be rewarding.
“You guys still have so much more to go, and there’s still so
much work that our community needs ahead of us,” Paredes said. “Even though it’s not easy, it’s always going to be worth it.”
Ana Martinez-Aleman, a professor and associate dean for faculty and academic affairs in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, delivered the keynote address. She challenged students to view education as a tool for social change, highlighting Romero’s belief that service transcends the individual.
“Your Boston College education offers you tremendous privilege and opportunity,” she said. “But with that privilege comes responsibility, a call to use your education not simply for personal advancement, but for the advancement of justice and human dignity.”
Ileana Jimenez Garcia, BC ’87, received the Rev. John A. Dinneen, S.J., Hispanic Alumni Community Service Award, which honors an alumnus who embodies the spirit of Saint Romero’s ideals and has a record of service to the Latino community.
Delgado concluded her acceptance speech with a call to action for those in attendance, urging them to continue striving for love and justice within their communities.
“Saint Oscar Romero once said, ‘Aspire not to have more, but to be more,’ and I’ve made peace with that,” Delgado said. “I don’t need more. I just need to be what God has called me to be. May we all continue to be more for each other—one home, one family, and one act of love at a time.” n
TRISHNA CONDOOR / HEIGHTS STAFF
After hearing how Clemson University has implemented virtual IDs, ITS plans to meet with the university.
CARINA MURPHY / HEIGHTS EDITOR Delgado disucssed her passion for equitable housing , emphasizing that everyone deserves a permanent solution. Election,
Kulbieda and Marino won with 1,244 votes, or 38.89 percent of the vote.
COURTESY OF TESSA BURKE
BC Professors Dispute Sen. Cruz’s NSF Claims
Grants, from A1
Cruz, chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, released the report on Feb. 11, alleging that over $2 billion in NSF funding—approximately 3,400 grants—awarded under the Biden-Harris administration was directed toward projects promoting DEI or woke Marxist rhetoric.
“This funding was diverted toward questionable projects that promoted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or advanced neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda,” a Commerce Committee press release stated.
Cruz’s report came amid the Trump Administration’s attempt to pause the approval and distribution of NSF grants.
Five of the flagged grants were awarded to BC researchers from a variety of fields.
BC researchers contend that their research was flagged solely on keyword searches of buzzwords associated with “wokeness.”
“My hunch is that somebody searched NSF abstracts for particular words,” said Ethan Baxter, professor of earth and environmental sciences and associate dean for STEM disciplines, whose grant was listed in the report.
“[In my research abstract], I believe the words that were caught were ‘women’ and ‘underrepresented minorities.’
That’s why I think it was flagged.”
According to both Baxter and the NSF website, the NSF has a rigorous and selective process for approving grants.
“The success rate at NSF varies widely from program to program, anywhere from 5 percent success up to 25 percent success,” Baxter said.
Baxter described the extensive review process required for funding approval, which typically begins with a 15-page proposal submitted to the NSF. Proposals undergo anonymous peer review by experts in the field, followed by further evaluation by a panel of scientists.
“You submit [a] 15-page proposal, and then the NSF sends your proposal out for review by peers in the scientific community, and it’s all anonymous, so I will never know who was reading my proposal,” Baxter said. “NSF works hard to make sure that the people who are doing the reviewing don’t have a conflict of interest.”
After three to six peer experts review a research proposal and provide feedback to the NSF, the agency convenes another panel of experts for an additional round of evaluation before making a final decision on approving funding.
Burch emphasized his research’s scientific value and firmly rejected Cruz’s accusations.
“The focus of the research is on
understanding the novel electronic properties of the topological superconductor FeTeSe,” Burch wrote. “All money spent is towards that goal.“ Baxter also countered the senator’s claims, clarifying that the focus of his research is on the crystallization and growth of metamorphic rocks, not neo-Marxism.
“[My research is] meant to study the mechanisms that govern the nucleation and the growth of crystals in metamorphic rocks,” Baxter said. “ These are rocks that are being cooked, pressurized, heated deep in the earth during tectonic processes like mountain building or subduction, and very slowly, certain crystals, like garnets, grow.”
As part of his research, Baxter produces a YouTube series called “Every Rock Has a Story” to engage and inspire elementary school children about earth sciences. Each episode features different children exploring various aspects of the field.
In one episode related to his flagged research, Baxter hosted Stephanie Walker, former director of BC’s Center for Isotope Geochemistry, and a local elementary student named Eric.
“[In the episode] we basically talk about how we date garnets in our lab, and go all through the lab, meet 15 different people that are working in the lab from all over the country who come to work there,” Baxter said. Baxter speculated that including
terms like “women” and “minorities” in his research abstract for the series may have caught the senator’s attention.
“Storytellers will include co-PI Baxter, as well as other team members, including women and underrepresented minorities,” the NSF grant description reads.
Baxter said that if this portion of the research description caused his grant to be flagged, he stood by his work.
“If wanting to have a completely broad and representative swath of geoscientists that represent the population of our country—if that’s diversity, equity, and inclusion—then I’m absolutely doing that, and I’m proud to be doing that,” Baxter said.n
UGBC Candidates Outline Priorities at Debate
By ReeTu AngihoTRi Asst. News Editor
UGBC presidential and vice presidential candidates squared off on their differing priorities and visions Wednesday night, making one final push to present their case before students cast their votes on March 20.
The three tickets are Jack Adams and Chase Gibson, both MCAS ’26; Andrew Cimino, MCAS ’26, and Brody Whetzel, LSEHD ’26; and Cami Kulbieda, LSEHD ’26, and Reagan Marino, MCAS ’26.
During the debate, moderated by the Elections Committee, candidates answered questions about their experience and background, academic success and student support, mental health, and student representation and advocacy.
Candidates kicked off the debate by explaining why their leadership qualities and experience make them the best fit to represent the Boston College student body.
According to Whetzel, his and Cimino’s broad range of leadership experience, including his roles as a resident assistant and Freshmen League captain, will enable them to approach their positions with a fresh perspective.
“Andrew and I take pride in the fact that we are the same person before this, during this, and after this,” Whetzel said. “I think as far as leadership experiences go, Andrew and I have a wider lens than most non-UGBC affiliated tickets would have.”
Kulbieda and Marino, both current student senators, highlighted their experience in UGBC and explained how they plan to use it to lead the organization forward.
“We’re not going to be playing a game of catch-up,” Kulbieda said.
“There is nothing for us to learn foundationally. Those foundations have been set for us through the last couple years of forming these relationships with administrators, knowing who’s in charge of who, and knowing the work it takes to do an initiative.”
When asked about the policies his team would pursue to increase academic flexibility and support, Adams said they plan to hold the administration accountable.
“We do believe that the Murray Center created is a good idea, and we want to make sure that they actually carry through with the promises that’ve been made,” Adams said. “So, that’s why it’s important to have transparency
and accessibility with your UGBC President—to make sure that that actually is going as it should be.”
In response to Adams’ comment, Whetzel reiterated the importance of collaborating with the administrators.
“In order to make real, longstanding change, administrative support is required,” Whetzel said. “Andrew and I have deep personal relationships with a long list of administrators, and through those relationships, we feel we’d be in a really strong spot to be able to get the work done.”
Next, candidates were asked how they would ensure that all students, particularly those facing additional barriers, have access to mental health resources.
Adams and Whetzel used their responses to emphasize that improving UGBC outreach overall would be key to addressing these needs.
“On a broader point about UGBC outreach, I think what’s important to understand is that UGBC’s outreach has been pretty abysmal as of late,” Adams said.
“The UGBC website, if you went to it a day ago, still had Jonah Kotzen as the president of UGBC. It has not been updated until actually
today, which is ironic. The fact is that UGBC needs to be a lot better when it comes to accessibility.”
Kulbieda countered Adams’ comment about updating the website, pointing out that UGBC members have asked administrators to update it.
“Those in UGBC are aware that the website cannot actually be updated by students, it can only be updated by one administrator on this campus,” Kulbieda said. “There has been a group of UGBC students advocating for the website to be updated for the better part of this academic year.”
When asked what his vision is to continue to support the LGBTQ+ community, Cimino emphasized that students have already pushed for Adams’ proposal to establish an LGBTQ+ resource center.
“The unfortunate fact of the matter is that it has been pushed forward heavily and unfortunately did not work,” Cimino said. “Instead of saying ‘Let’s go fight an already fought fight,’ there’s an intermediate step we can take on the road to an LGBTQ resource center, and that is getting an IgnatianQ conference here at BC for queer students.”
Kulbieda also noted that administrators have repeatedly shot down students’ attempts to create an LGBTQ+ resource center.
“I’ll emphasize Andrew’s point that an LGBTQ+ resource center has been a tried-and-tried initiative for over 20 years,” Kulbieda said. “Only in the last three years—less than that—has the BAIC even accepted LGBT resource centers.” Adams responded to Cimino and Kulbieda by doubling down on his campaign promise to allocate a portion of UGBC’s budget and office as an LGBTQ+ resource center.
“We’re not going to give up on the fight for the LGBTQ resource center,” Adams said. “We intend to spend part of our budget on hiring peer counselors and graduate assistants to actually assist LGBTQ+ students.”
Ending on a positive note, the final question asked candidates to share what they admire about the other candidates.
“I really admire that everyone here is spread across all different spheres of Boston College, just in terms of involvement,” Marino said. “I think regardless, everyone here wants to make UGBC better, but also Boston College as a whole better.” n
Gordon Talks Decline of American Democracy
By AidAn gRAvinA Deputy Managing Editor
It seems strange to imagine a United States where democracy is no longer its rallying cry—a United States where protests against taxation without representation are confined to the history books rather than reenacted in the streets and universities.
But according to Philip Gordon, the United States might already be there.
“Since 2019, we’ve had a majority of people in the United States, at least, saying they are dissatisfied with democracy,” Gordon said.
Gordon, former national security advisor to the vice president, visited the Heights on Saturday for the Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional
Democracy’s Spring Symposium. He served in former President Joe Biden’s administration from March 21, 2022, until the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025.
During the Obama administration, Gordon served as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs and special assistant to the president and White House coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf Region. While serving in the White House and in the time since he left office, Gordon said he observed that democracy’s reputation has been on the decline.
“And that conclusion, which seemed so obvious [in 1989], that liberal democracy was clearly superior to any of the alternatives is certainly not the view of new
people around the world,” Gordon said.
According to Gordon, this shift has led to a worldwide decrease in the number of democracies.
“It has now been 18 straight years where more countries are losing freedom rather than gaining freedom,” Gordon said. “The previous years you had more and more gaining [freedom].”
Although democracy remains intact in the United States, Gordon emphasized that it is not on an upward trajectory.
“The candidate who refused to accept the results of the 2020 election, even supporting violence to overthrow the result of those elections and now went back in power, accelerating attacks on the judiciary, on the press, on opposition figures, firing inspector
generals … put all of this together and it’s very similar to these anti-democratic countries across the board,” Gordon said.
Gordon compared America’s democratic decline to the situation in Europe during the 1930s.
“When you have the public getting really fed up with their leadership, with their elites, with the economic performance of their democracies, with the inequalities that arose from open trade, with resentment about cultural change in migration—that’s the analysis of what happened in the ’30s when democracy declined,” Gordon said.
“And it’s not too dissimilar from what we’re seeing today.”
Despite the current trajectory of American democracy, Gordon emphasized that there is still hope.
“Some of the anti-democratic trends that I’ve talked about
balance with other rallies around the country in favor of democracy, including in Colorado just yesterday with like 35,000 people with Senator Sanders and Representative Ocasio-Cortez showing real urgency for people who don’t want to give up on Democracy, ” Gordon said.
All it takes to save democracy, according to Gordon, is a populace willing to fight for it.
“People can accept the trend and just drop their shoulders— conclude there’s nothing that can be done about it—or they can continue to engage and demand rights and defend the rule of law,” Gordon said. “Doing so will require patience and persistence and unity and leadership, but all of those are possible and in the hands of people around the world who care about the future of democracy.” n
MOLLY BRUNS / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES
BC professors challenged Sen. Cruz’s claims about DEI-centered NSF grant allocation.
Jury Trial Set for Alleged Newton Shooter
Hayes Trial, from A1
In a series of posts on X, Hayes said he established a pre-trial probation deal with the district attorney’s office, but that he later backed out of it. In Massachusetts, pre-trial probationary deals allow for dismissing the case if the defendant abides by the conditions of release for a certain amount of time.
Hayes said the pre-trial probation deal would have suspended Hayes’ license to carry a weapon and ordered Hayes to stay away from Caleb Gannon, the man shot in the altercation, until one year after the incident.
According to Hayes’ post, the sticking point of the deal was a clause that required him to stay out of Newton. That was initially part of his pre-trial conditions last fall, but the court dismissed it after Hayes said that his location-tracking device would go off whenever he traveled on the Massachusetts Turnpike through Newton, despite highway travel being something the courts permitted under the stay-
away order.
Hayes said his lawyers wanted to challenge the agreement’s stay-away order, and a hearing was scheduled for March 4 to resolve this, according to X posts by Hayes.
But on the morning of the hearing, the district attorney called the stay-away order non-negotiable and the deal fell through, Hayes alleges. Now Hayes is on track to go to trial.
The district attorney’s office did not respond to an email request for comment.
In the September incident, video footage shows a shouting exchange between Hayes and Gannon, then Gannon charging across the street and tackling Hayes. In the following struggle, Hayes’ gun went off and shot Gannon in the stomach.
Gannon spent three days in a medically induced coma following the incident and used a cane to walk in his last court appearance.
Hayes has said he will argue self-defense in the case. Massachusetts’ gun laws include a “duty to retreat” law which legally requires
individuals to exhaust “all other reasonable efforts” before resorting to force.
Hayes has said that he felt he exhausted all other options because he had been tackled to the ground and sustained a concussion.
“I don’t think I had any options to retreat at the time,” Hayes said in a March 4 interview with WHDH.
At Thursday’s hearing, protesters stood outside in support of Gannon, some of whom said they had encountered Hayes at protests
before.
“He’s been aggressive towards us, and other similar groups across the Greater Boston area have had run-ins with him, in which he is aggressive towards Palestine advocates,” said Susan Mirsky, a member of CD4, a group that regularly protests the war in Gaza around Newton. “When we learned about this, it was only natural that we would come out against the shooting.”
One protester, Jessie Lowell, said she came to Hayes’ trial be -
cause she had encountered Hayes at protests before, and he had posted about her on his X account, once referring to her as “frumpy mcfrumplepuff.”
“I’ve dealt with the Hayes clique,” Lowell said. “I have a vested interest in the case, because, I mean, I already knew what Hayes, like—we knew for ages that he carried a gun.”
When Hayes walked out of the courthouse past the protesters, he waved. n
EWTON Representative Auchincloss Hosts Town Hall
B y S underya u lzii B old Heights Staff
On Tuesday evening, U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss, who represents Massachusetts’ fourth district, hosted a “Telephone Town Hall,” inviting Massachusetts residents to raise questions and hear updates on his progress within the district.
Callers asked questions about the Russia-Ukraine war, funding for the West Newton Station Commuter Rail, and the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) funding cuts.
Auchincloss began the meeting
by sharing some of the bipartisan congressional bills he is involved in, including social media regulation for intimate privacy violations and restriction on health insurers from inflating prescription drug prices.
“I have always prided myself in being a strong Democrat who works across the aisle on issues like fentanyl, on lowering prescription drug prices, on reigning in social media corporations, even in the polarized environment in Washington, D.C.,” said Auchincloss.
Auchincloss was dissatisfied with President Donald Trump’s approval of a continuing resolution, an
act of Congress that continues federal government funding through the rest of the fiscal year.
“[The continuing resolution] removed oversight and congressional direction for how President Donald Trump could spend money, despite his abuse of both impoundment and emergency authorities, and granted him even greater latitude to use emergency authorities to levy tariffs on countries for his whim,” said Auchincloss.
The funding bill passed with a 217–213 House vote and a 54–46 Senate vote last Friday. Auchincloss believes that Democrats have
lost their moment of leverage as a minority.
“I think this bill was a non-starter,” said Auchincloss. “It delivered no wins for the middle class, and it did not demonstrate to Americans how Democrats would govern should we be given power. Democrats need to use every opportunity to show Americans what we stand for and how we would use power if entrusted. And this was a pitch that passed us.”
Newton resident Terry Alter asked the Representative about what he plans to do if the $7 million federal funding for the Newton commuter rail station is pulled or postponed due to Trump’s actions.
“I’ve had no indication that the funds that I helped secure for the Newtonville commuter rail station are under threat,” said Auchincloss.
“We will be on guard and responsive to any issues that come with federal funding.”
Jessica Chaikof, a social policy
Ph.D student at Brandeis University and Newton resident, inquired about Auchincloss’ progress in countering the NIH’s indirect cost cuts in university research funding.
In February, the NIH’s indirect cost was capped at 15 percent
which used to average around 50 percent, functionally cutting research infrastructure, according to Auchincloss.
“I have been in conversations with the NIH about this policy, trying to build bipartisan support to get it changed,” said Auchincloss.
Auchincloss emphasized the urgent need to build a bipartisan oversight committee of jurisdiction to get the NIH to change its policies because, according to Auchincloss, it’s unlawful for the NIH to make any deviations from negotiated rates.
“A judge has put an injunction against the 15 percent policy because it’s illegal. Congress has said for eight years in a row that the NIH cannot go down to 15 percent,” said Auchincloss.
At the international level, Auchincloss shared his support for Ukraine and his view on how America should approach the Russia-Ukraine War.
“America needs to stop siding with Russia in these negotiations and indicate that there will be very ferocious snapback sanctions, particularly on the oil and gas sector, if Russia breaches any agreed-upon peace,” Auchincloss said. n
Mayor Fuller Talks Career at Fireside Chat Event
By Sarah Vergura Advertising Director
Local business owners, bankers, and citizens gathered at the Charles River Country Club to network and hear from Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller Friday morning.
This is the eighth year of this event, which started in Fuller’s inaugural year in office, offering a networking opportunity for aspiring women in the workplace and to hear from two local female leaders.
Both women began by talking about what drew them to local government. Fuller outlined her eight years in the council chamber and her interaction with her husband when they heard the previous mayor would not be running for reelection, prompting her to decide to run herself.
“At a chamber breakfast, Sandy Warren announced that he would not be running for reelection as mayor,”
Fuller said. “I thought to myself that I should raise my hand and say consider me. There was so much to be done and learned about the city that I thought I could try to make a difference.”
Fitzpatrick outlined a moment in her childhood when she noticed a street sign was spelled wrong. She reached out to the local government and had it fixed.
“Wow, local government, if you ask them nicely, is very responsive,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s really how I got started.”
Fuller and Fitzpatrick elaborated on their experiences as women in local politics, specifically as women leading teams and being in positions of power.
“Particularly for the women in the room, just keep sharpening your numerical skills,” said Fuller. “You’ll have a CFO, but you have to be able to understand the basics.”
Fitzpatrick and Fuller outlined what they prioritize in cultivating
team members and a productive team dynamic.
“What I’m looking for is confidence, collaborative nature, positivity, definitely those soft skills,” said Fuller.
Fitzpatrick added on, commenting on the increasing distrust toward the government and feelings of anxiety. Fitzpatrick urged women in this industry to be resilient despite this and continue to work for the public’s best interest.
Fitzpatrick cited herself and Fuller as a means of inspiring other
women to step into these spaces.
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” said Fitzpatrick.
When the two women opened the conversation up to a question-and-answer with the audience, an attendee inquired about their legacy, as both women are stepping down from their positions shortly.
Despite leaving her role as mayor, Fuller said she will not go from 100 to zero and plans to stay involved as a resource during Newton’s transitional period.
Fitzpatrick highlighted the
many building projects she has managed during her tenure.
“The built environment is something I’m very very proud of,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our job is to have somebody give us an idea and to make it happen.”
For parting words, the moderator, Priscilla Casper, inquired about any final advice for the women in attendance.
“Stay angry—anger is a response to a barrier being crossed,” said Fitzpatrick. “If we’re angry we know there’s something we need to do.” n
GENEVIEVE MORRISON / HEIGHTS EDITOR
At Thursday’s hearing, protesters stood outside the courthouse, calling for Hayes to be held “accountable.”
HEIGHTS ARCHIVES
The continuing resolution passed with a 217-213 House vote and a 54-46 Senate vote last Friday.
SARAH VERGURA / HEIGHTS EDITOR
This is the eighth year of the Fireside Chat event, which started in Fuller’s inaugural year in office.
Newton City Council Allows Withdrawal of Controversial Nonantum Zoning Request
By Genevieve Morrison Newton Editor
Newton City Council approved the withdrawal of a spot zoning request that would have allowed a Nonantum developer to build a four-story, mixed-use business and residential building on Watertown Street in its meeting Monday.
The city approved a proposal from the developer, John Mula, in 2017 under a special permit as a three-story, mixed-use building at 386-390 Watertown St. But last December, Mula, who owns Salvi’s Barber Shop in Nonantum, and his partner, Nicholas Beaujean, filed for a special permit that would have allowed a fourth floor with three additional residential units.
To make the change, Mula and Beaujean requested that the lot’s zoning be changed from Business 1 to Mixed Use 4 (MU4), which allows up to five stories by special permit.
This lot would have been the
only MU4 zone in Nonantum, though it’s used in a few other parts of the city, like the Star Market above the Mass. Pike.
But Beaujean asked to withdraw the request at a special Land Use Committee meeting last week amid pushback from neighbors about the nature of the project and confusion over who owned the lot—Mula and Beaujean sold the property to Newton Park Watertown Realty LLC, a company they started to represent their combined interests.
“The ownership change was a technical issue that had been appropriately addressed through the submission of an updated ownership authorization form,” said Andrea Kelley, Ward 3 councilor-at-large.
The council voted unanimously to approve the withdrawal without prejudice, meaning the project may be refiled at any time.
Mula’s project would have replaced a lot that’s been vacant since 2017 on a busy and walkable
street in Nonantum. It would have included 13 units of housing, something that Ward 1 Councilor Alison Leary saw as potentially beneficial for Nonantum.
“This seemed like a really nice project that would have improved the neighborhood,” Leary said.
Leary, however, said she came to understand why residents resisted the change to the area’s zoning.
“I couldn’t really see a downside to it, and I guess that I was sort of dug-in about that,” Leary said. “I did learn from this.”
Ward 2 Councilor-at-Large
Susan Albright said she regrets how people from outside the neighborhood became involved in the controversy surrounding the development, something she said contributed to the debate’s intensity.
“The meetings that I attended, unfortunately, were full of people jabbing and lots of animosity,” Albright said. “But perhaps it’s because there were so many out-ofward people at those meetings, and I think maybe I was one of them, and I think I’ll stay home next time.”
All three councilors for Ward 1, which contains Nonantum, supported the project.
Councilor Randy Block said the zoning change at the center of the development was responsible for much of the controversy surrounding this project.
“I don’t think it’s an accident that this became so controversial because it became a zoning change,” Block said. “Zoning changes raise other kinds of issues and have a different impact both on the process and on the neighborhood.” n
Public Facilities Committee Mulls Drain Petition
By Laney Mcaden Assoc. Newton Editor
Newton’s Public Facilities Committee met Wednesday evening to discuss a request for a main drain extension at 132 Homer St. following a history of flooding and drainage overflow.
Newton resident Betsy Harper petitioned for the main drain extension, which would begin near 16 and 17 Chapin Rd. and extend east to the end of Chapin Road. Chapin Road is directly behind Homer Street, and the closest drainage system to the 132 Homer St. lot is at the extension location.
As a result of the high groundwater level, it is not feasible to infiltrate the runoff from the extension of the road, according to a memorandum provided by Newton’s engineering division.
The applicant, Harper, is proposing a collection, storage, and treatment system that requires an overflow connection to the City’s
drain main, found at 16 and 17 Chapin Rd.
Part of the proposed plan includes an extension of Chapin Road itself. Chapin Road runs parallel behind the lots on Homer Street, and the proposed road adjunct extends behind 132 Homer St. to allow for the creation of a three-lot subdivision.
The drain will provide overflow connections to the proposed on-site infiltration system designed for the new dwellings. This overflow connection will be provided to the lots along the proposed drain main extension, according to the memorandum.
The memorandum explained that once the main is operational, it will be turned over to Newton to be included as part of the city’s drainage system.
The applicant will pay 100 percent of the installation cost per the Department of Public Works Standards.
John Daghlian, associate city engineer for Newton, discussed the details of the petitioned extension
with council members.
“In 2023, the border survey approved a three-lot subdivision which created two new lots off of the property 132 Homer Street,” said Daghlian. “But when they did the testing for the groundwater it was very shallow—it was only down about 24 inches in one case the other one was about 20 inches.”
Daghlain explained that the shallow groundwater triggered the need for a drain man extension because residents would be unable to infiltrate 100 percent of their property.
“The closest drain manhole is down here between number 16 and 17 Chapin Road,” said Daghlian. “They will extend the 12 inches drain line approximately 500 feet to the subdivision itself.”
When the committee opened for public hearing, several community members came forward.
One Newton resident asked about the possibility of frequent flooding along the street, and Daghl-
ian explained that several precautions are being put in place for this very reason.
“The applicant is doing this to the benefit of the neighborhood as well, so yes drain main is being put in at the drain lines, and there’s also going to be a couple of catch basins that they’re installing,” Daghlain said. “If those are installed and properly maintained we think they should take care of any problems on the road.”
Newton resident April Stein, who lives on Chapin Road, expressed confusion as to why the responsibility of this main drain falls to a resident, not the city.
“I’m confused as to why an individual property owner would have to pay for drainage all the way down the street when it’s the benefit of all of our all the residents on Chapin Road, and it’s a pretty expensive thing for an individual to have to pay for,” Stein said.
Daghlain explained that the lot’s conditions meant that action taken by the resident would be required
to improve the current drainage conditions.
The drainage requirements are a byproduct of the resident’s desire to create the three-lot subdivision behind the 132 Homer St. Property, according to Daghlian.
“The site does not have conducive soils for infiltration into their stormwater,” said Daghlain. “The board of survey made it a condition that if [the resident] were to get approval for the three lot subdivision, they would have to extend the drain main to pick up the runoff from their property and then take care of all the pumps that would be associated with the neighboring properties.”
At that time, the applicant agreed to the conditions that the board of survey set and obtained the board’s certificate of approval, explained Daghlain.
The public hearing closed, and committee members said further discussion on subjects brought up by residents would be addressed at a following meeting. n
Dunn-Gaherin’s Brings Irish Cuisine to Newton
By Matthew antonecchia Heights Staff
On the walls of Dunn-Gaherin’s Food and Spirits in Newton Upper Falls, road signs from villages in Ireland mingle with Boston College jerseys, blending elements of Newton and the Emerald Isle.
Diners seeking the taste and atmosphere of Ireland here in Massachusetts must look no further than Dunn-Gaherin’s Food and Spirits, which has been a community in its own right since 1991.
“When you go down to the local pub, you sit on the pulse of the community,” said Seana Gaherin, the restaurant’s owner.
Lilly Gribaudo, who has been a waitress at Dunn-Gaherin’s for nine years, explained the loyal following the pub has garnered.
“We have a great atmosphere here,” said Gribaudo. “It’s mostly a regulars’ bar, and it’s a very tightknit community. We get a lot of people from BC hockey, BC hockey families too.”
The pub has reliably excelled at what it does best in this quiet corner of Newton, near the Wellesley and Needham borders. As Gribaudo noted, it is not necessarily a trendy spot.
“It’s a very big sports bar,” said
Gribaudo. “It’s not as much a young bar. We don’t have as many new customers as regulars.”
That does not mean first-timers will not be treated warmly, though. The service lives up to the restaurant’s slogan: “We would like to know your name!”
The ambiance inside is warm and convivial. Visitors are immediately captivated by the extensive wood bar at the front, which gives way to a high-ceilinged dining room in the back.
And while Dunn-Gaherin’s offers a lively atmosphere year-round, the pub was especially festive in the weekend leading up to St. Pat-
rick’s Day. Diners were entertained with impromptu Irish step dance performances in the middle of the restaurant. The menu was replete with pub classics and a healthy selection of beer and spirits, along with various St. Patrick’s Day specialties. For an appetizer, the Kerrygold chicken wings distinguished themselves.
After being tossed in the Irish butter, the wings were served with grated cheddar and green onions for a delightful twist on the bar staple.
Manager and waitress Laura Kenny is a native of Ireland and has been working at Dunn-Gaherin’s for 25 years. Kenny reflected on what was most endearing about the pub.
“I love meeting new people here and people from the community,” said Kenny. “I love that I get to hang out with people when they are socializing—when people are at their happiest.”
Of the entrées, both Kenny and Gribaudo recommended the fish and chips, which did not disappoint.
Fish and chips can be found on almost any Irish pub’s menu, but the ones served at Dunn-Gaherin’s were especially good. The fish was
perfectly tender and not dry, a common issue with this dish at other restaurants. With a squeeze of lemon and a dash of malt vinegar, they were as authentic as can be.
Customer William Shackleford was impressed with Dunn-Gaherin’s on his first visit to the pub.
“I just moved to Massachusetts from New York, where there are a lot of Irish pubs,” said Shackleford. “I was looking for a place to fill the void, and I believe I’ve found it. The Guinness and Smithwick’s are just as good as in Ireland, and the steak tips are outstanding.”
Shepherd’s pie is another pub classic, and it was on the menu at Dunn-Gaherin’s for St. Patrick’s Day weekend. This too proved excellent—the dish was not marred by excessive saltiness, as shepherd’s pie sometimes is. Served with a pleasant slice of homemade Irish soda bread, it was substantial enough for two.
Gaherin, who is going on her 34th year as owner of Dunn-Gaherin’s, said the community is why she loves her job.
“You know all your neighbors,” said Gaherin. “It is a very rewarding job, to take care of people. We work in the best industry.” n
Newton City Council passed the withdrawal of the controversial request in a unanimous vote.
Food and Spirits
GENEVIEVE MORRISON / HEIGHTS EDITOR
M AGAZINE
Kulbieda and Marino's Experience Speaks to Students
B y K ate K issel
Assoc. Magazine Editor
Cami Kulbieda was born a leader, at least in the eyes of her three younger sisters.
As the go-to spokesperson for her siblings, she learned to approach conflict and craft solutions that would best meet the diverse needs of her family.
“I was kind of the manager of my family,” Kulbieda said. “Learning how to interact with other people, utilize empathy to understand different perspectives, and work on conflict resolution are all skills that I picked up from being part of a big family.”
But she didn’t leave her affinity for leadership at home in Pittsburgh.
Instead, Kulbieda, LSEHD ’26, has simply changed her approach— rather than falling into leadership positions, she is purposefully seeking them out. Now, she has been elected the next UGBC president, a role she believes holds a high potential for driving meaningful change at Boston College.
“I decided to run because I wanted to make the largest impact possible,” Kulbieda said.
What this impact would look like was clearly outlined during their campaign.
Kulbieda and her running mate, Reagan Marino, MCAS ’26, outlined their vision in an 18-page policy platform. Throughout their campaign materials, the duo highlighted a focus on addressing student needs and the ability to adapt to administrative setbacks.
“We don’t plan on any need going unaddressed,” Kulbieda said. “And if the first doesn’t work there’s always a plan B, and we’re not going to give up on that.”
This focus on students’ concerns ties back to the campaign's threeword slogan: personalis, purpose, and progress.
“We chose those three words for a reason,” Kulbieda said. “We want every student to feel like they can come to us, give feedback, express a grievance, and know that we will be there for them to not only be a comforting, understanding, and empathic person in that moment, but also to know that after we notice, we will be taking action.”
Taking action is nothing new for either Kulbieda or Marino.
Kulbieda has served as a UGBC student senator for the past two years and is currently the chair of the aca-
demic affairs committee.
Although clinical and practicum experiences are a graduation requirement for students in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development and Connell School of Nursing, Kulbieda noticed that the University does not provide transportation to these sites.
“I saw an injustice where students were taking a big chunk of money out of pocket for something that they were required to do,” Kulbieda.
To tackle the issue, Kulbieda said she met with administrators across various offices and analyzed past data to strengthen her case. After a year and a half, a pilot program launched, providing CharlieCards to students with the highest level of financial need.
The program’s scope, though, differs from Kulbieda’s original plan, as transportation is only available to those who apply.
Kulbieda feels her work on the initiative is not yet complete.
“This is not where this ends,” Kulbieda said.
Despite certain challenges, Kulbieda said her experience in UGBC provided her with useful insights into what it means to advocate for change on BC’s campus.
“That experience working on that initiative over the last year and a half has really shown me the nuances of what initiative work looks like,” Kulbieda said.
Initiative work as a UGBC member often starts small, but, according to Kulbieda, this is all part of the process.
“They begin at these smaller levels so that we can collect that data, collect that demonstrated interest, and then from there work to really narrow down on what the need is,” Kulbieda said.
She emphasized that enacting change requires a lot more than just a good idea, especially when faced with administrative pushback.
“Important changes don’t happen overnight,” Kulbieda said. “It requires a certain level of dedication, persistence, and respect on every front to make the changes happen, especially when there are times when you’re being told ‘no.’”
Student leaders have to strike a delicate medium when dealing with these administrative challenges, according to Kulbieda and Marino.
“We recognize that there is a balance between developing and main taining administrative relationships and also representing the student
body’s needs and concerns when it matters and pushing back,” Kulbieda said.
Marino feels especially equipped to understand students’ needs. As an resident assistant at Messina College, Marino said he has prioritized building relationships with students.
“Every one of those students I care about,” Marino said. “I try and make it part of my regimen to be there for them, even just like going back and forth, no matter how hard it is.”
Through these relationships, Marino has gained a better understanding of students' concerns. One common issue raised was the unreliability of the bus service between Brookline Campus and Chestnut Hill.
Advocating on their behalf, Marino was able to set up a van to shuttle students between campuses. Additionally, he passed legislation creating a second UGBC senate seat for Messina students when the second class arrives in the fall.
Kulbieda noticed the work Marino was putting in for his students, even though it sometimes flew under the radar.
“I had recognized that almost without anyone even noticing, he was delivering progress on his initiatives and also making genuine connections,” Kulbieda said.
Marino has brought his commitment to bringing student voices to the campaign table.
“A big thing in our campaign is outreach—getting what we’re doing out there so there's no misconstruing of UGBC in general,” Marino said.
Many students feel they never see or recognize the work UGBC does. Kulbieda acknowledges this perception.
According to Kulbieda, there is a gap in transparency and accessibility in the programs, initiatives, and resources the organization has initiated.
“We know the work that goes on in UGBC,” Kulbieda said. “I can sit here and tell you everything that we do, everything we’ve accomplished this year, but at the end of the day, it only matters what the population is receiving.”
Will Cortes, MCAS ’28 and the campaign’s policy coordinator, also recognized that outreach was a problem for UGBC. He joined Kulbieda and Marino’s campaign to help change that narrative.
“They just felt that there was a lack of transparency and this idea that UGBC does nothing,” Cortes said. “We wanted to show students that we
were there to advocate for them.”
Despite coming into the campaign as a freshman, Cortes said Kulbieda has not only listened to his ideas but also put them into action.
Cortes believes this speaks to Kulbieda’s willingness to accept feedback.
“She is very much a person who was going to be open to challenges,” Cortes said. “[She] has the strength to be president and never take no for an answer from administration.”
Anna Ziegler, campaign manager for Kulbieda and Marino and MCAS ’27, emphasized that Kulbieda has both the strength to take on this role and the doer mindset to make the most of it.
“She’s very, very driven and you can tell that she truly wants to make a difference on this campus,” Ziegler said. “And I know that she’s willing to put in any amount of hard work and dedication necessary to improve the lives of students.”
Ziegler pointed to Kulbieda’s attendance at every UGBC division meeting this past semester as evidence of her dedication.
This attendance record isn’t a coincidence, according to Cortes.
“For Cami and Reagen, being president and vice president is not an opportunity—it's a commitment,” Cortes said.
Kulbieda hopes that students will recognize her commitment to building the UGBC she envisions during her term—one that puts students at the forefront.
“The purpose of UGBC is to be a platform for advocacy, a platform for making change,” Kulbieda said. “But
also it’s incredibly important that that is done in a way that is including students, representing students, and communicating to students.”
One way Kulbieda’s team seeks to address outreach issues is by expanding UGBC’s communications division from one to five representatives to effectively reach more students.
“Outreach for the sake of students really knowing what we’re doing and the ways we’re trying to serve them—not only for people to know, but to develop ways for them to know and meet them where they are,” Kulbieda said.
Kulbieda and Marino believe they are equipped with both the knowledge and the experience to take on outreach and other challenges that may be thrown their way during their time as UGBC leaders.
“Our experience in the organization gives us that context to know what is working and what can be better,” Kulbieda said.
This knowledge will, in their view, help them to create meaningful change on the ground level.
“We plan to carry forward tangible action based upon the initiatives and programs that we want to see either continue, adapt, or create and make that progress one step at a time,” Kulbieda said.
Heading into their tenure, Kulbieda and Marino believe they can make change—not by dismantling what UGBC has built, but rather by refining what’s already in place to better amplify student perspectives and prioritize individual needs.
“UGBC isn’t broken,” Kulbieda said. “But we can be better.” n
What Your Favorite Flower Says About You
B y C aralynn C aulfield Heights Staff
Spring is in the air, and flowers are blooming everywhere. Whether you’re drawn to delicate pastels or bold bursts of color, your favorite spring flower might reveal more about your personality than you think. Read on to discover what your floral favorite says about you.
Tulip: The Timeless Charm
If you love tulips, you exude ef-
fortless elegance and quiet confidence. You find beauty in simplicity—meaningful conversations, fresh air, or cozy moments with loved ones. Adaptable and graceful, you bring a sense of calm to any environment, and your charm is both genuine and enduring. People are drawn to your warm heart and magnetic presence.
Rose: The Timeless Romantic If your favorite flower is a rose, you’re a deeply sentimental and romantic soul. You appreciate the richness
of tradition and genuine connections. Whether in romance, friendship, or personal passions, you give your all to make every moment feel special. Your elegance, compassion, and nurturing spirit make you someone people admire and trust.
Daffodil: The Eternal Optimist
If daffodils capture your heart, you have a naturally bright and sunny disposition that uplifts everyone around you. Just as daffodils signal the arrival of spring, you bring fresh, positive energy
wherever you go. You’re a believer in new beginnings and embrace change with excitement. Your enthusiasm is infectious, inspiring those around you to see the best in every situation.
Cherry Blossom: The Quiet Dreamer If you’re drawn to cherry blossoms, you’re a soft, introspective soul with a deep appreciation for fleeting and profound beauty. You find joy in life’s quiet moments—sunlight filtering through the trees or the sound of laughter carrying on a spring breeze. Thoughtful and graceful, you exude a gentle warmth that draws others in. Like the cherry blossom’s short bloom, you cherish deep connections and meaningful experiences that remind you of life’s precious impermanence.
Lilac: The Nostalgic Spirit If lilacs are your favorite, you find beauty in memories. You have a deep appreciation for tradition and the quiet wisdom that comes with experience. Comforting and calming, you offer a steady and reliable presence, bringing peace to those around you. Your love
for nostalgia makes you the kind of person who cherishes the past while still embracing the present.
Daisy: The Free Spirit If you love daisies, you’re a carefree, spontaneous spirit who lives in the moment. Full of joy and optimism, you always find the bright side of a situation. Your playful nature makes you easy to be around, and you inspire others to embrace life's simple pleasures. Like a daisy’s effortless beauty, you don’t take things too seriously and find happiness in the everyday experience.
Peony: The Luxe Heart If peonies are your favorite, you have a refined taste and an eye for life’s finer things. You appreciate elegance, beauty, and the power of deep, meaningful connections. Strong yet gentle—like the peony’s lush petals and sturdy stems—you balance grace with strength. Your presence is both sophisticated and nurturing, with a unique ability to make others feel cherished. People are drawn to your elegance and admire how you effortlessly cultivate spaces filled with love and luxury. n
Kulbieda and Marino plan to promote transparency and expand UGBC outreach.
CONNOR OBRIEN / HEIGHTS EDITOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF TESSA BURKE
A Guide To The Best Burrito Spots Around BC
By KaTherine Malloure Heights Staff
As students at Boston College, we all know the struggle of trekking to the dining hall through the cold, only to end up with an expensive, under-seasoned, and poorly cooked meal.
After weeks of eating chicken and two sides for dinner every night, I decided to venture beyond Lower dining hall. My search led me to the optimal off-campus food: burritos.
Burritos are the ideal meal for a college student—cheap, filling, and easy to eat on the go. Depending on what toppings you add, they can contain most of the major food groups, making for a balanced and delicious meal.
The Boston area has tons of burrito spots to choose from, but with so many options around campus, how do you know which ones are worthy of your precious time (and cash)? Well, look no further! I’ve spent weeks researching (eating) the burritos around BC to bring you a definitive, totally unscientific guide to Boston burritos.
El Jefe’s Taqueria (9/10)
Three things about El Jefe’s set
them apart from the rest of the spots on this list. First and foremost, they are open until 3 a.m.
Second, you pay one price, $11.25, for a burrito, no matter what toppings you get—no surprise upcharges.
Finally, their dips, like the queso, guac, and salsa, are absolutely delicious. Not only do you get cheap and tasty burritos, but you also enjoy a tasty side.
Los Amigos Taqueria (8/10)
With several locations throughout the Boston area, you’re never too far away from Los Amigos.
If you decide to visit, make sure to try their California burrito. It is the ideal combination of big portions, a low price, and guacamole included.
Los Amigos loses a few points, however, because their chips are a little bland and their salsa and guac are woefully overpriced.
That said, if you’re looking for a quality burrito, Los Amigos is still a great choice.
Chipotle (5/10)
Chipotle is a classic—but sometimes controversial—burrito spot. Some people are obsessed with it, and some people hate it.
Personally, I think the flavor and portion sizes are great, and it would rank higher on this list if it weren’t so ridiculously expensive. Nobody should be paying $20 for a burrito and some chips—ever.
Addie’s (3/10)
If you’re looking for the most mid burrito you have ever eaten, Addie’s is the spot for you! This place gets some points because it’s on campus and you can use your dining dollars for it. But otherwise, you can find infinitely better options elsewhere.
At Addie’s, seasoning and spices are foreign concepts. Every single component of these burritos is bland, from the rice to the meat, to the “guac” which is really just mashed-up avocados with nothing added.
To top it all off, their chipotle mayo, which I thought was queso, is downright nasty. Who thought mayonnaise on a burrito was a good idea?
El Pelon Taqueria (2/10)
Located right across the street from Lower, El Pelon is in a fan-
tastic spot for a quick burrito run. They also have an extensive menu with many options and serve a pretty tasty burrito.
So, why the low rating? El Pelon gave me the worst food poisoning I’ve ever experienced.
My El Pelon-borne illness was not an isolated incident either. Just search them up on Fizz if you don’t believe me.
If you’re willing to spend five hours laying on the floor fighting for your life, their chicken burrito isn’t half bad. Otherwise, steer clear. n
Gabelli Scholars Rebuild Trust in Health Care
Gabelli Scholars, from A1
“Infections in the feet are very, very common for homeless people.”
May explained that the primary cause of infections is the amount of time homeless people spend on their feet, often walking 10 to 15 miles a day.
“Homeless people use their feet a ton, and there’s a ton of wear and tear on their feet,” May said.
In the initial stages of the clinic, Snell and May found that some people were apprehensive when first introduced to the services.
“The first time we came, people were a little unsure what it was, and then we just kept going back and kept going back,” Snell said.
Despite patients’ initial reluctance to receive care, the volunteers continued to offer a range of services, including foot soaks, free socks, and simply providing companionship.
“Gradually, through building trust between the patient and the
volunteer, you’re able to integrate them back into the health setting,” Snell said.
According to the Boston Public Health Commission, 95 percent of unhoused adults in Boston have health insurance.
May noted, however, that significantly fewer homeless women have access to health care—a crucial factor in improving their standard of living.
The Gabelli sophomores hope the program will play a role in narrowing this gap.
“According to the staff at Women’s Lunch Place, only 50 percent of homeless women have health insurance,” May said. “95 percent to 50 percent is a huge disparity, and so we’ve been lucky enough to set up a few women with health insurance through our work.”
A day of volunteering at the clinic begins bright and early with a 6:30 am T-ride to the Women’s Lunch Place.
Once they arrive, the volunteers set up the medical supplies for the clinic and begin working
with patients.
“We mostly are there for soaking feet, giving them nail clippers, giving them fungal cream, which they apply themselves,” Snell said. “We’ve been trained by St. Francis House on how to screen a lot of issues, which we can refer them right away.”
For those from the Gabelli cohort who cannot volunteer at the clinic, fundraising and finance provide other ways to get involved.
Aalok Bhattacharya, MCAS ’27, helps manage the budget for donation items.
“The repeating budget that runs on a semester basis, that looks like soap, sponges, pumice, anti-fungal cream, things like that,” Bhattacharya said.
Initial planning for the program extended beyond holding fundraisers and asking for donations.
The volunteers worked together to apply for grants and coordinate with organizations that give aid to non-profit initiatives.
“You’re not asking for the money,” Bhattacharya said. “All you’re doing is asking for the time.”
While the student volunteers care for the patients, medical personnel supervise them and provide guidance.
“Women’s Lunch Place has a nurse that works there five days a week,” Snell said. “When we’re there, we’re under her supervision. If there’s the slightest medical problem, we automatically refer her.”
Aside from the physical treatments the clinic offers, Snell emphasized that a significant part of their volunteering is simply helping people feel recognized and valued.
“One patient told me about how she just hates when people look away,” Snell said. “She’s like, ‘You don’t need to give me money, you don’t need to talk to me, but you looking away kind of refuses my rights and my dignity as a human.’ Moments like that help me as a citizen—and as a person who lives in Boston—take responsibility.”
Snell and May both highlighted the importance of getting to know patients personally, going beyond the typical clinical atmosphere.
“One woman told us that it made her mental health so much better, just to sit and relax and be able to talk,” Snell said.
Working with patients not only supports those in need but also provides significant benefits for Snell, May, and the other volunteers.
According to Snell and May, the experience offered valuable clinical exposure and a broader understanding of diverse life experiences.
“It’s so nice to build relationships like that and meet people who you can look up to,” May said.
Although the program is still relatively new, the scholars have set goals for its future.
One of their top priorities is recruiting more volunteers, as the program currently has only eight to ten.
“We would like to make this a permanent PULSE placement for Boston College students, so we’re trying to raise enough money to cover all the costs of the clinic for the upcoming years,” Snell said. May expressed a similar sentiment, stressing the importance of helping the clinic reach financial stability so it can become a permanent fixture for supporting homeless people.
The Gabelli Scholars are planning a fundraiser on April 15 to benefit the program.
“I think our long-term goal is we want to make sure that this clinic can exist as long as the need exists,” May said. “Hopefully, homelessness is not a thing in 100 years, but if it is, we want our clinic to still be here.”
Snell encouraged BC students to seek out opportunities to serve others, highlighting the mutual benefits for both the students and the communities they support.
“Take a second to reflect upon whether [you’ve] stepped outside of [your] comfort zone and try to engage with the sufferings of the world in little ways—whether that’s through working at the foot clinic, 4Boston, or PULSE—because it’s an experience that will shape your career,” Snell said. n
COURTESY OF GRACE SNELL
CONNOR O’BRIEN / HEIGHTS EDITOR
OPINIONS
Charlie Macken Fundraising Director
“Eagle’s Nest bowls are overrated.”
Annika Engelbrecht News Editor
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Civil Discourse: The DOGE “Coup”
Editor’s Note: This is the debut of Civil Discourse, a new column where Isabella Pieretti and Conor Richards share their perspectives on a political story or event covered by The Heights. This first column is a response to “BC History Professor Denounces Musk’s Actions as “a Coup” to Millions of Social Media Followers”.
Boston College History Professor Heather Cox Richardson equated Elon Musk’s supervision of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to a “coup”, arguing the agency’s unprecedented access to key government systems constituted a breach of national security.
When I think of the word “coup”, I understand it as a movement in which a collective entity—historically the military— seizes power from the acting government. By this definition, Musk’s position at the helm of DOGE, appointed by President Trump, would not qualify as a coup.
But Merriam-Webster defines a coup, derivative of the French coup d’etat, as “a sudden, decisive exercise of force in politics and especially the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group.” This broader definition complicates our understanding and sheds light on Richardon’s deliberate and provocative use of the word. Richardson’s use of the word “coup” could certainly be seen as overly inflammatory or
fear-mongering, but there is a reason behind her choice. Musk, an individual with private interests, has now gained access to highly classified information.
In November 2024, Trump publicly announced that Musk would lead the new department, but since then he has been referred to as a “non-career special government employee” and senior advisor to the president, essentially avoiding claiming any concrete title. This lack of clarity translates directly to the confusing nature of DOGE’s demands of federal employees.
Last month, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) instructed federal workers to list the tasks they had performed the previous week.
As workers tried to decide whether they should comply—fearing termination if they didn’t—several major agencies including the FBI, Pentagon, and State Department, directed them not to comply.
The confusion deepened when OPM stated that responding was not mandatory, while Musk warned, “Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”
Trump, for his part, speculated that perhaps the people who failed to respond to the email simply do not exist. While the American public remains as confused as federal employees, the latter now face heightened anxiety over their job security.
Intensifying the concerns around DOGE is Musk’s move to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees foreign aid spending, along with his newly acquired access to the Treasury’s
federal payment system.
This access allows him to view sensitive financial data, including taxpayers’ personal information. These moves have sparked a flood of new headlines every day and raised concerns that no one is holding the richest man in the world accountable for his actions. These actions, which adhere to a business playbook, might not be the right strategy for the U.S. government. Interestingly enough, Merriam-Webster lists a second definition of “coup”: “a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful stroke or act.”
President Trump clearly envisions DOGE as this kind of coup, and Musk—who employed similar tactics at X (formerly Twitter)—is his spearhead.
The objectives behind the radical restructuring of government agencies are cutting wasteful spending, limiting bureaucracy, and reducing the size of federal agencies to make a dent in Washington’s $36.2 trillion debt, a figure that reached an all-time high after rising every year for the past decade.
At first glance, these are important steps that could curb government spending and reverse the current trend, where the nation’s outlays are outpacing tax revenue.
These ideals, however, are largely undermined by Musk’s rapid, reckless work at DOGE and widespread confusion surrounding his role within the new administration.
America is undoubtedly witnessing a coup. Only time will tell which kind.
A “coup”? Really? Excuse me, please, while I roll my eyes for the fourth time today.
After 10 years of Trump, I’m worn out by the outrage machine.
I’m particularly tired of the wildly irresponsible claims about anything the Trump team touches—especially when the courts are doing their job, blocking executive actions when necessary.
The constant cries of “wolf” have made us deaf to the real threat, leaving us vulnerable when the wolf actually arrives.
To be clear, I take issue with Professor Richardson’s rhetoric, not with her vigilance.
Vigilance is the bulwark of any democracy.
But it must be done soberly, otherwise people will not trust you. This is my
attempt at sober reflection.
To begin, as Elon likes to boast, let’s start with “first principles.” The missions of DOGE are worthy ones—cutting federal spending and returning regulatory power to Congress.
Specifically, I want to focus on the spending cuts.
The deficit grows annually, projected to reach an astronomical $115 trillion over the next three decades.
By 2053, the debt will likely amount to $1 million per household. Regardless of waste, federal spending must be reduced.
This, however, is where DOGE loses my support. Ignore, for a moment, the glaring inaccuracies of their claims.
Set aside the fact that most of their actions are likely illegal and will result in no net savings. Let’s focus instead on first principles.
The largest contributors to the ballooning deficit are Social Security and Medicare, both mandatory spending programs.
These two programs are also the primary drivers of the projected $124 trillion deficit over the next three decades. All other spending—particularly agency costs—dwarfs in comparison to these programs.
If DOGE’s goal is to meaningfully cut spending, then Social Security and Medicare must be the first targets.
To do otherwise would be a waste of time. Yet that’s exactly what DOGE appears to be doing—aggressively going after the smallest fish in the pond. Before they began obscuring their data, DOGE’s “suggested savings” amounted to just 0.1 percent of federal spending in FY 2024—0.1 percent! If that seems laughable, it’s because it is.
This is certainly not a serious effort, nor will it ever be until it takes on Social Security or Medicare beyond just rooting out small levels of fraud.
Alas, President Trump’s populist tendencies and campaign promises suggest this will never happen.
Meanwhile, the media cannot focus on anything else.
Democrats gnash their teeth and wail as their beloved government agencies lose funding. Meanwhile, Trump will parade Musk around as a savior. Don’t believe the hype.
What we must do, however, is ask: If DOGE is not trying to meaningfully cut spending, then what exactly is it doing?
If DOGE is not doing anything, perhaps it is merely noise—a distraction from what Team Trump truly wants to accom
plish.
Conor Richards is
Isabella PIeretII
GRAPHIC BY CONNOR O’BRIEN / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Conor rIChards
Isabella Pieretti is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at pieretis@bc.edu
OPINIONS
My Quest for the Four-Leaf Clover
If you give a ginger a Guinness, she’s going to want Lucky Charms. If you give a ginger Lucky Charms, she’s going to want a four-leaf clover—the list continues with all the Irish nosh and haberdashery that I believe I should be showered with this St. Patrick’s Day.
As an Irish ginger named Scanlon who has participated in the Boston College “Run of the Gingers” twice, I consider myself the ultimate authority on all things St. Patrick’s Day. Whether it’s corned beef and cabbage or the sound of the Cranberries’ “Galway Quay,” I have a deep love for all signs and symbols of Irish heritage on this cherished holiday.
Growing up, I vividly remember sitting in unfertilized patches of grass, attempting to spot the elusive four-leaf clover. One of my biggest grievances with Mother Nature is that I have never actually found one.
Another St. Patrick’s Day flies by, and I am still unsettled that I have yet to stumble upon a four-leaf clover. This Spring Break, however, I attended Ash Wednesday mass in a small, out-of-the-way parish in Sun Valley, Idaho, where I spent the week skiing
with friends. There were numerous four-leaf clovers on the church bulletin that resonated with me as I listened to the homily. Each of the four leaves was assigned the letters spelling L-O-V-E.
Each year, I go back and forth on what I intend to fast from during the 40 days of Lent. This year, I resonated with the Ash Wednesday homily due to its striking similarities to a lesson I derived from one of Fr. Michael Himes’ most famous lecture recordings. His teachings are serving as a guide for me this Lenten season.
Himes was a renowned theologian and professor for numerous years at BC. His work was filled with engaging questions, messages, and anecdotes regarding living a fruitful life. Undoubtedly, his most famous teaching was his three questions regarding vocational discernment: What brings me joy? What am I good at? What does the world need me to be?
My favorite Himes concept is the idea of self-gift. In his famous Last Lecture, he asserts that everything that exists results from self-gift. He believes love can be defined as the gift of the self to another. Whether it’s a person, place, or thing, Himes emphasizes the existence of love due to the pouring of oneself into anything.
The homily at Ash Wednesday Mass discussed the fallacy of viewing possessions as a means to achieve happiness. Himes parallels this sentiment, stating, “We live in a world where many people believe they exist due to their possession of objects.” He rejects this notion, saying, “When you give yourself away, your life away, it becomes everlasting.”
I continued to wrestle with these messages as a guide to my Lenten fast. However, my mind continued to be traced back to the image of the four-leaf clovers, which spelled out love.
Similar to my ongoing quest to find a four-leaf clover, I sometimes feel I spend too much time questioning if I truly love the things I do. I question my major, friendships, and my level of commitment to various activities, constantly asking myself if I value them. I don’t think I’m alone in this sentiment. Many students spend copious amounts of energy worrying that they aren’t doing the right things.
They’re anxious that they aren’t appreciated enough by their friends or roommates, or they worry that they aren’t fully immersed in their surroundings. With each passing semester, new environments are presented to students, offering opportunities for personal growth, yet there’s always the lingering worry about whether things will turn out well.
For Lent, I’m working to shift how I engage with the things I love. Much like my lifelong search for a four-leaf clover, the quest for authentic love in one’s scope can sometimes feel endless.
In his last lecture, Himes emphasized that the point of life is to love, rather than be loved.
As I focus on incorporating small, daily acts of giving myself to my surroundings, I’m realizing just how lucky I am to be a ginger walking BC’s campus.
Her Body, His Budget
Erectile dysfunction affects 19 percent of the male population and receives five times more research funding than premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which 90 percent of women endure each month. In addition, 31 percent of women experience severe reproductive or gynecologic problems, yet a narrow 2 percent of publicly funded research is dedicated to female reproductive biology.
In essence, our society is obsessed with erections. Parallel to society’s glorified penis is the historical neglect of women’s health, though I should note that “historical” and “women” are now included in the list of banned words leaked by the National Science Foundation. Scientific breakthroughs through research on men are treated as the gold standard, then generalized and applied to women.
Women have a substantially elevated incidence of adverse reactions to drugs—twice the rate of men—yet they are commonly prescribed equal doses of medication that were clinically tried and tailored for men.
Ancient, all-male medics rarely dissected female cadavers to pioneer women’s healthcare. Discoveries by women and midwives were interpreted by men and inaccurately represented in medical textbooks, leading to medical mansplaining from the very start. The gap in knowledge about women’s health persisted up until the 1990s. The near-exclusive clinical research conducted on men has led to medical practices that inadequately serve women’s bodies and brains.
Women are perpetually left in the dark about their bodily functions and health status because of this failure to comprehensively study women’s health issues. Despite the Revitalization Act of 1993 requiring National Institutes of Health-funded research to include women and minorities in clinical trials, women remain grossly underrepresented. Biological differ-
ences—including physiological, metabolic, hormonal, and even cellular variations—aren’t being accounted for in animal and clinical trials, leading to horrifying health disparities.
The gender-specific funding variation can be attributed to the high costs of studying female participants, both in terms of cash and time. Accounting for the cyclically changing hormones of the menstrual cycle and reproductive system in terms of results is neither quick nor cheap. Women’s rights and inclusion in science are not disputed among researchers and doctors, but the added complexity and expense make them less inclined to study female model organisms and, subsequently, women.
Additionally, the demand to produce a high volume of publications in the research community is systematically discouraging, leading to data manipulations or, in some cases, fraudulent findings. The nature of holding a job as a researcher carries the pressure of publishing consistently and often fuels unnuanced research.
Although this explains why less research is conducted on women, investing in women’s health research is fiscally strategic. Women’s health oversight is economically costly, whereas cinching the health gap could theoretically bolster economic productivity. To be clear, we’re talking about 51 percent of the world’s population leading healthier, higher-quality lives and contributing to the economy. If we prevent the loss of 3.9 billion women to health conditions, absenteeism, or premature death, the global economy can generate at least $1 trillion in annual returns by 2040.
So, what is a reasonable way to tackle the national debt? According to President Donald Trump’s orders, it would be scrapping diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which include women. DEI-related language must now be eliminated in research grant proposals, deeming “woman,” “female,” and “disability” forbidden words. The chaos of recent DEI upending and sequestered research funding welcomes the resurgence of homogenous research participants with male-centered results. While federal grants and loans have been unilaterally terminated across all medical research, the setbacks are even bleaker women.
The “Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV)” policy requiring animal researchers to include females is speculated to have been archived. How this is not a violation of Trump’s executive order recognizing two genders escapes me.
Madness
March
Buckle in everyone—March Madness has begun. Although our Eagles didn’t get very far this season, every person I know has their eyes glued to the score of whichever game is happening. There is truly no better feeling than flexing your correct upset prediction to your friends or watching your favorite team advance. While March Madness is a great time, be careful not to let it overtake your life. Don’t forget about your finance homework or poli-sci paper in between games. It’s about the balance! Otherwise, we wish everyone the best of luck and a near-perfect bracket.
Saweetie
At long last, the MarMon performer has been announced! We’re so excited to see what Saweetie will bring, but we’re equally thrilled for Marathon Monday itself. The Saweetie announcement has put our favorite Monday front and center in our minds—the date is less than a month away. Now is the perfect time to start organizing your outfits and donating to runners’ fundraising campaigns. Newton freshmen—reserve that spot on your Upper friend’s floor. But don’t stress too much. Anyone who’s done MarMon before knows that the intense planning you put into organizing your day pretty much goes out the window by 7 a.m. Just let this excitement carry you through to April 21.
Today’s policies are eerily reminiscent of the years between 1977 and 1993, during which women were barred from participating in the early phases of clinical studies fine-tuning the dosage, safety, and efficacy of a drug. The decision to exclude women with childbearing potential from studies was made in response to concerns following an increase in birth defects among pregnant women who had taken thalidomide, which was prescribed for morning sickness. But what’s today’s excuse? The perpetual barriers to women’s autonomy and decision-making capacity to participate in critical health research compounds the uterine politics following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Without identifying sex-determinants beyond reproductive organs in scientific studies, the data is incomplete. Even today, women comprise a smaller percentage of participants in clinical trials of cardiovascular, psychiatric, and cancer therapies, despite representing the majority of the disease-stricken population.
Sex differences encompass the physical, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral. A mixture of genetic and hormonal factors determines a more robust immune system among women, which is attenuated during pregnancy, slower gastrointestinal activity, and susceptibility to illnesses and disorders, just to name a few sex differences.
I’ll ask again: What better way to hinder “ Make America Healthy Again” than purging language used to describe scientific insights and restricting the study of genetic, hormonal, and social influences?
The effects of these “reforms” (anti-diversity executive orders and medical ethics deterrence) on future medical research are hard to quantify. Still, I foresee many aspects of an individual’s identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status, being factored out in studies. Consider how labs at BC might be impacted, not only by funding cuts but also by increasingly restrictive eligibility criteria to receive proposal approval. The female body will likely continue to remain one of the greatest mysteries in our penis-centric world and a casualty of the Trump administration.
Women are used to a novel of side effects accompanying their prescriptions, but we certainly did not expect this plot twist.
Midterms (Round 2)
We’re back from Spring Break, and unfortunately, classes are ramping up again. A second round of exams and papers is popping up left and right. The warm weather and ski trips are becoming distant memories, as we shift our focus back to school. It feels like we were just putting in these long hours and lastminute cramming, and it’s hard to believe there are less than two months left until finals. So, as hard as it sounds, cherish these long study sessions with your friends. I promise you’ll miss them when you’re at work over the summer.
Weather Weirdness
Spring is here, and with it comes a season of bizarre weather. One day, it’s raining, the next it’s 60 and sunny, and by Wednesday, we’re back to below freezing. We love Boston, but New England weather is no joke. Every day feels like you need to have three different outfits on hand. At least January and February were consistent, even if that consistency meant freezing weather. On the bright side, this signals a shift toward warmer weather. So, the next time you step outside of Stokes and find yourself caught in the rain after your 9 a.m., just remember— it’s a reminder that warmer days are on the horizon!
Scanlon MelloweS
GRAPHICS BY CONNOR O’BRIEN AND JASHODHARA JINDAL / HEIGHTS EDITORS
Scanlon Mellowes is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at mellowsc@bc.edu
elizabeth Pozniakova
Elizabeth Pozniakova is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at pozniako@bc.edu.
Saweetie Set To Perform at Mile 21 Concert
By Maddie Mulligan Arts Editor
Saweetie will perform in Boston College’s Mile 21 Concert as part of the Division of Student Affairs’ Marathon Monday festivities at 10 a.m. on April 21, BC first announced in a video posted on Instagram this afternoon. This is Saweetie’s first appearance at BC.
The Grammy-nominated rapper and singer rose to fame with her hit singles “ICY GIRL,” “Tap In,” and “Best Friend (feat. Doja Cat).” She has collaborated with notable artists such as Dua Lipa, Post Malone, and Little Mix.
Saweetie most recently performed in Los Angeles on Feb. 25, 2025, as a part of the Concerts in the City series. Her latest release is a single with OhGeesy, “Cuttin Up.”
Saweetie is the latest in a growing series of high-profile artists to perform at BC on Marathon Monday. T-Pain took the stage at last year’s concert, following Flo Rida’s performance in the Mod Lot in 2023.
In its Instagram post, the Mile 21 Committee expressed excitement for Saweetie’s performance.
“She’s our best friend. See you at Mile 21,” the post’s caption reads. n
Saldanha: The Wives-and-Girlfriends Effect
By Maria Beatriz Saldanha Assoc. Arts Editor
When the white-and-green crowd floods into TD Garden, you’d think all eyes would be on the players. Think again. For part of the audience, the real spectacle isn’t on the court—it’s in the stands, where the wives and girlfriends (WAGs) of Celtics players sit. This season, the “it” girl is influencer Emma MacDonald—now Emma Pritchard—wife of point guard Payton Pritchard.
The 23-year-old Celtics star tied the knot last summer in a Cape Cod wedding straight out of a magazine. But Emma already had a following long before becoming an athlete’s wife. Her YouTube channel, where she shares weekly vlogs of her life in Boston, had a dedicated following long before basketball entered the picture.
Now, her content often gives fans a glimpse into life on the road during the NBA season, blending her personal brand with her new chapter. Meanwhile, Payton has been making moves on the court— and off it, too. His recently launched loungewear line, Pritch Collective, feels like a natural result of Emma’s influence, showing how WAGs today aren’t just spectators—they’re shaping brands behind the scenes.
The acronym WAG first came around in 2002, coined by the staff of a Dubai hotel to refer to the wives and girlfriends of players—some-
thing the Sunday Telegraph later picked up in an article. But it wasn’t until years later that the WAG phenomenon truly took off.
By the time the 2006 World Cup rolled around, WAG culture had taken center stage. The English squad’s wives and girlfriends—a total of 22 women—turned the quiet spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany, into their personal playground.
While the team battled it out on the field, the press had its sights set elsewhere. Tabloids feasted on stories of late-night partying, luxury shopping sprees, and champagne-fueled celebrations, capturing the WAGs parading through town. Personalities included pop star Cheryl Cole (then Tweedy), Coleen McLoughlin, Abbey Clancy, and, most notably, the original WAG herself, Victoria Beckham.
But over the years, the meaning of WAG has shifted—or rather, the WAGs themselves have. Once shorthand for athletes’ so-called “trophy wives,” the term now more frequently describes a group of powerhouse women who had their own spotlight before they met their partners. And no one embodied that transformation better than Beckham.
The former Spice Girl started dating Manchester United star David Beckham at the height of her career. With the band’s skyrocketing success and David’s rising stardom in the football world, the relationship demanded effort—and they made it work. As revealed in the
Beckham documentary on Netflix, David would “drive four hours to spend 10 minutes with her.” Now that’s dedication.
Victoria was never just “David Beckham’s wife.” She was a global pop star, performing in front of sold-out crowds and dominating the charts. While the media fixated on their relationship, she was busy cementing her legacy—balancing life in the spotlight, an ever-growing career in both music and fashion, and the attention that came with being one-half of Britain’s most popular couple.
While Posh Spice was redefining what it meant to be a WAG, Gisele Bündchen began to do the same in the world of American football a decade later. The “übermodel” started dating NFL quarterback Tom Brady in late 2006 and got married within three years—but she wasn’t just there to cheer from the sidelines.
A longtime wellness guru, Bündchen had Brady fully embracing a lifestyle centered around plant-based eating, meditation, and recovery. Their household restricted processed foods, sugar, caffeine, and other inflammatory ingredients, sticking to a strict regimen designed for longevity.
According to Brady, it was the Brazilian model who instilled the mindset that kept him playing well into his 40s. This regimen ultimately shaped the training and nutrition philosophy behind the TB12 Method—built around anti-inflammatory, alkaline foods to optimize health and endurance. She was coaching in the kitchen.
As Brady continued extending his football career, Bündchen remained at the top of hers. After seven years as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, she didn’t just maintain her status—she elevated it, becoming one of the highest-paid and most recognized supermodels in the
world. But her ambitions stretched far beyond the runway.
She built a name for herself as a businesswoman and activist, championing sustainability long before it became a trend, writing a best-selling book on wellness, and using her platform to push for environmental change. She did this all while balancing high-fashion campaigns and motherhood, proving that being a WAG didn’t mean fitting the stereotype.
A more recent addition to the WAG community is none other than the singer of this generation: Taylor Swift. Fresh off receiving iHeartRadio’s Tour of the Century award, Swift has spent the past two years dominating the global stage while releasing six albums in 10 years. In the summer of 2023, she opened up about her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. And just like that, the NFL had a new headliner.
Her presence at Chiefs games has sent ratings soaring, driven a surge in Kelce jersey sales, and even sparked debates about the intersection of sports and pop culture. Breaking the stereotype of WAGs, Swift proved that she is not adjacent to fame—she is the moment. Whether in the stands or on stage, Swift keeps doing what she does best: turning heads, setting records, and making history.
And Swift isn’t the only one proving that today’s WAGs are rewriting the playbook.
Social media sensation Alix Earle has also stepped into the spotlight, bringing her own brand of influence to the sports world. Earle and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios were first romantically linked in May 2023. Since then, Berrios has become a regular fixture on the influencer’s multi-million follower TikTok pages, popping up in her signature “Get Ready With Me” videos and her incredibly chaotic
and playful vacation vlogs.
While past WAGs were tabloid fixtures, Earle’s influence plays out in real-time on her own platforms. She doesn’t need paparazzi or magazine covers—though she’s had her fair share, landing features in Sports Illustrated and beyond. Instead, she shares her life directly with her audience.
Whether she’s documenting her nights out in Miami, bringing fans along for NFL game days, or unpacking her personal life on her podcast Hot Mess with Alix Earle Earle has turned every aspect of her world into content—and it’s working.
Her relatability and unfiltered storytelling have made her one of the most sought-after influencers today—securing brand deals, sold-out collaborations, and a level of online engagement that rivals traditional celebrities.
Dating an NFL player might have made her a WAG, but Earle is far from just a football girlfriend. Like the women who came before her, she’s using the title as just one piece of a much bigger brand—at this point, she might even be bigger than Berrios himself.
So, are the WAGs the real MVPs? Looking at the ones who have defined—and redefined—the role, it’s hard to argue otherwise. From building fashion empires to launching wellness movements, and even inspiring their partners’ business ventures, they’ve proven that their influence extends far beyond the sidelines. Whether it’s turning the NFL into a pop culture phenomenon, or making content creation an extension of the WAG lifestyle, one thing is clear—these women aren’t just along for the ride. The scoreboard might tell you who won the game, but if history has shown us anything, it’s that the WAGs are the ones shaping the narratives. n
‘Opus’ Attempts to Haunt But Mostly Hints
John Malkovich’s Alfred Moretti isn’t just a character—he’s a living critique, a distorted reflection of the pop stars we worship in modern media. In Opus , director Mark Anthony Green’s directorial debut with A24, he attempts to dissect the relationship between fame, power, and blind devotion. In its ambition, the film never quite sets a distinct tone between satire and horror, feeling almost shallow in its message.
In the film, Ayo Edebiri plays Ariel Ecton, a journalist attending “the event of the century,” Morreti’s highly anticipated return to the public eye. Among an influencer, a paparazzo, a rockstar-turned-podcaster, a TVshow host, and a magazine editor, it comes to the viewers’ surprise when an inexperienced writer, longing for her moment in the
spotlight, receives a basket inviting her to the Caesar’s Request secluded listening retreat.
As the event unfolds, it becomes clear that Moretti’s intentions extend beyond a simple listening party. Rather, the entitled ’90s pop star had created a compound for dark-blue uniformed disciples, who call themselves Levelists. The guests fail to realize their role as players in the movement, yet Ecton senses the cult-like atmosphere from the very beginning.
Opus leans heavily into its critique of influencer culture and media manipulation. Moretti’s disdain for the digital age is evident in his mockery of social media personas and empty celebrity worship. This idea is juxtaposed with the guests who treat his words as gospel, while the celebrity uses his influence as a source of manipulation.
At one point, the guests—
each assigned a personal concierge—go through the process of fashioning, or “making you look like the best version of you,” as the Levelists would call it. From wardrobe requisites to how much the attendees should be shaved, we could infer Moretti had complete control over the situation, but we never really understand why or how.
Moretti might insist that the most creative minds should rule under the beliefs of Levelists, but with - out restraint, even the grandest visions can collapse under their own weight.
Moretti himself is a contradiction—both a prisoner and a tyrant of his art (or at least he would like to think that). The album title, Caesar’s Request, hints at his motivations all along: a ruler held hostage by the adoration of his people, much like Julius Caesar. The film suggests that Moretti’s torment is self-inflicted, a commentary on
artists who get to resent the fame they once craved.
Additionally, Opus stumbles in its commitment to the horror elements. The film presents deeply disturbing imagery, such as a shed filled with animal skins and the decapitated body of a guest, raising unsettling questions about the compound’s tendencies. While visually striking, these moments lack the emotional impact necessary to make its commentary truly land, leaving the audience longing for 45 additional minutes of film.
Ecton’s arc throughout the
movie—progressing from insecure writer to survivor to unwilling supporter of Moretti’s legacy—is the most compelling thread in Opus and the only thing setting it apart from traditional cult horror. At the start, it was clear that Ecton’s character didn’t have much to say. After barely escaping the chaos, she resurfaces years later with a compelling story to tell.
The film ultimately leaves the audience with a message, not about the horror of the intentions of Levelists but about the power of an idea that never truly dies. n
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMYWEESON, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
GRAPHIC BY JASHODHARA JINDAL / HEIGHTS EDITOR
B y C lara a raujo Heights Staff
‘Inverness Unravels’ Reimagines Shakespeare
B y M ilo P riddle
Asst. Arts Editor
Before the play even starts, the cold, minimalist office space that makes up the set establishes the tone for the evening. This modern take on William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a metaphor for the unsympathetic ambition of corporate America.
Inverness Unravels, directed by Dawn Meredith Simmons, debuted on Thursday to a full Robsham Theater. The play was written by nine students in Simmons’ “Devising” class and situates the narrative of Macbeth within a defense contracting company.
“It did a really good job at portraying the characters in a modern way and putting it in a modern setting,” said attendee Luka Papa.
Almost immediately, the audience is introduced to the idea of the supernatural—Tina (Laura Gowen, MCAS ’27) the mystical HR person, eerily foretells Lawrence Macbeth’s (Billy Bollbach, MCAS ’27) rise to power, saying “All hail King Macbeth.”
At first, Lawrence and his friend Blanquo “Q” Lobacher (Jaclyn Eberspecher, CSOM ’28) are taken aback and quickly dismiss her, but
the attraction to power slowly begins to permeate Lawrence’s psyche.
Lawrence is soon promoted to vice president and, reveling in his increasing position, begins to plot to get rid of the current CEO.
In a monologue indicative of his devolving sanity, Lawrence proclaims, “King Macbeth, it’s what I’ve always wanted to be.”
Lawrence, however, lacks the gall to make a move by himself. It’s his wife Catherine (Haley Raffaele, MCAS ’26) who ultimately orchestrates the plan.
Raffaele’s performance was a highlight of the show—you could witness her initially innocent character grow sinister in real-time.
“I feel like you really saw her develop psychologically,” said Connor Mignault, MCAS ’25. “She became more nefarious.”
The CEO’s murder by way of a poisoned glass of liquor is the megalomaniac couple’s first truly wicked act, beginning a series of murders intended to help maintain their power.
The twist comes when, instead of Lawrence, Catherine is named as the new CEO.
“It was so clever to have the audience thinking that he’s going
to be king and then subvert those expectations in a way that felt really fresh,” said Morgan Stumm, MCAS ’25. “[It was] as much of a shock to the audience as it was to the character.”
Lawrence is initially enraged but eventually submits to Catherine and becomes her right-hand man. But as the couple attempts to consolidate their power and the deaths pile up, Lawrence grows increasingly psychotic—the murder of Q, his old friend, is what drives him truly mad. He begins to have visions of the dead and imagines literal blood on his hands.
While Lawrence is regretful
and haunted by what he has done, Catherine remains steadfast in her desire for control, saying, “You’re either ahead, or you’re dead.”
The Macbeths are eventually challenged by the daughter of Q, Leah Lobacher (Faith Wladyka, MCAS ’26), and the sons of the original CEO, Malcolm (Zachary Kariotis, MCAS ’25) and Blaine Ross (Landon Le, MCAS ’26), who seek to avenge their parents’ murders.
The revenge coup is ultimately successful. Lawrence takes his own life, completing his descent into madness, and Catherine suffers the same murderous fate that she inflicted on numerous others.
“It was such a satisfying narrative arc to witness,” said Stumm.
Despite this ostensibly happy ending, the play ends ambiguously. The lights went out just as Leah, Malcolm, and Blaine began to bicker over who would be the new CEO— hinting at further bloodshed caused by ambition.
Following the performance, a crowd of friends and audience members eagerly waited for the cast to come out, eventually greeting them with a raucous round of applause.
“This is one of my first or second productions I’ve been to here, but I’ll definitely be back for more,” said Mignault. n
Vasiliauskas: Using Creativity as a Powerful Tool for Protest
By Morgan Vasiliauskas Heights Staff
I don’t believe saying that we live in a divisive political climate is an understatement. Growing up in an era full of crucial elections and vocal movements, as well as information being a little too accessible via social media, I’ve always felt the weight of our world on my shoulders.
To center myself, I found at a young age that art was my safe haven. When everything felt a little too scary, I would write songs or make mediocre picture books. I have kept this habit in the form of singing along to ’80s hits, writing pretty yet corny poetry, and visiting the Museum of Fine Arts on the weekends.
Art has been my sense of escape and solace for my entire life. I channel its power to be used as my entertainment and my healing. But for many, its power is funneled into what I use it to escape from: our ever-evolving global sphere.
Art’s profoundness and fluidity through its endless mediums have allowed it to become a loud voice of protest. This has been seen for centuries, beginning in ancient Egypt and continuing to the present day.
Art is such a powerful tool for protest that it transcends time by giving a voice to those who use it, carrying immense emotional weight, and uniting people in ways that traditional protest methods cannot.
I believe a picture is worth a thousand words, and visual expression allows us to see both the stark reality of the cruelties of our world and how brutal oppression, poverty, or war can be. It can express pain and suffering in a way that human words
often fail to do. Just look at Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives and Picasso’s “Guernica.” Each expresses agony, the first in New York in the 1880s and the second in Spain in 1937. Feeling removed from tragedy is easy when it’s not on your front doorstep. Art, whether through photography or other forms of visual image, can bring harshness to light.
Not only can paintings and photographs move us in a way that reaches our innermost emotions, but music can also do the same.
While visual art may alert and enrage the public, music brings people together to do something about it.
Singing in a group evokes a sense of togetherness that protests need. The tunes get caught in people’s minds, making them ponder a different world. Even knowing the same music as someone brings about a sense of kinship. When sung together, it sparks camaraderie and newfound vigor. I personally recommend Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” and “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye.
I’ve been using historically impactful examples, but this is still true of our present time. After the death of George Floyd, murals in his honor were painted across the country to show the horrors of police brutality. Women across the globe have donned the red robes of The Handmaid’s Tale over abortion access.
Just last month, Kendrick Lamar gave a powerful performance during the Super Bowl halftime show by utilizing music, choreography, costumes, and casting to comment on America’s political climate. Human creativity has only grown and
grown—as have the challenges that must be fought.
Like any other form of protest, art can be glazed over and silenced. A powerful sculpture can be built to demonstrate injustice and be knocked down the next day. Yet because of our digital age, art can quickly be spread across the entire world. Images, songs, and words from one hemisphere can be seen in the other within seconds.
We’ve grown up in a time where everything is extremely accessible. You do not have to physically be in a certain place to be part of the fight. Instead, people can now advocate for change from anywhere, adding much more support to social movements.
Creativity’s beauty lies in its universality. You don’t have to know every detail of a complex political situation to be moved by something. If anything, being drawn to a piece of art because of its aesthetics is an incredible path toward learning more about what people are fighting for across the globe and why.
Art works in this way because it reflects our shared human experience. It makes people feel seen and spoken to in ways that are almost indescribable. Art is so subversive that it can exist within any system even while critiquing it.
Of course, art cannot bring about a new world on its own. People coming together is what does that. Art’s power, however, lies in its ability to bring unity like no other. Marches, rallies, and boycotts do much of the heavy lifting in eliciting change, but art is often forgotten in terms of how much it does for us. In tandem with these traditional protests, it truly does change the world. n
Rosario: Americans Against The Arts
By Bryanna rosario Heights Staff
As my high school football field’s fluorescent lights glowed under the Friday night sky, the only things illuminated were vacant bleachers and an underwhelming scoreboard. Instead, most students would line up to see our school’s musical productions. It didn’t matter that the art department was heavily underfunded, and that the students were forced to work with hardly anything. As soon as the stage lights were cast on my classmates, no one could deny the extraordinary talent displayed in front of us.
Most schools in America, however, don’t get this type of experience. While my school had both the arts and sports, others do not have the privilege of such a spectrum. This is not solely a problem in school districts, it’s a nationwide phenomenon.
America doesn’t care about the arts.
This isn’t an isolated situation.
From public works projects to the decline of pursuing humanities in higher education, the arts are on a downward slope.
On an ideological level, Americans do care about the arts.
According to Americans For the Arts, a non-profit organization aiming to recognize, advance, and support the arts, over 70 percent of Americans agree that art and culture are enjoyable.
America’s consumption of the arts has benefits, including improvements in community quality, cultural awareness, and academic performance.
Though Americans see the value in art, it’s not reflected in
current public works projects. Historically, the United States has had public works projects that directly focus on the arts. Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration, art programs like the establishment of community art centers and murals were launched for the general public. The government supported artists by employing them to create sculptures and public art.
But that was 1933. Ninety-two years later, the arts are losing a public emphasis in the United States. Seemingly, the arts are now part of the private sector in America, hidden behind the walls of Art Basel or Soho House. To actually experience the arts, you must be part of a club. The key: money.
If we look at the United States’ biggest counterpart, Europe, it’s easy to see that there is a clear distinction. In 2023, the United States allocated $2.28 million dollars to fund the arts, while the European Union gave over $74.9 billion for the arts.
European countries make proactive efforts to introduce the arts to everyone. Yet in America, there is a growing loss of appreciation for the arts beginning in schools.
Year after year, public schools in America are losing their art programs. Art programs are the foundation for fostering creativity in children, an essential part of human development. Administrators have their hands tied, and from the look of things, the new administration may not help alleviate the problem of budgeting.
CONNOR O’BRIEN / HEIGHTS EDITOR
CATHERINE LI / HEIGHTS STAFF
“Princess and the bOp!” Hits All the Notes
B y r i L ey D e L s esto
Asst. Newton Editor
Just over 15 years ago, The Princess and the Frog hit theaters as a smash-hit success and instant Disney classic. On Saturday night, the movie’s musical musings hit Robsham Theater to an equally passionate reception.
BC bOp!, Boston College’s instrumental and vocal jazz ensemble, presented “Princess and the bOp!,” referencing Disney’s 2009 movie The Princess and the Frog, which is set in 1920s New Orleans and accentuates “The Big Easy’s” booming jazz culture. The event didn’t only include songs from the Disney movie but also explored jazz staples like “Feeling Good” by songwriters Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, made popular by Nina Simone.
Vocalist Jiwon Kim, MCAS ’27, performed “Feeling Good” and teased the audience before singing the most prominent part of the song: the isolated “good” that invites the drums to open for the brass section’s classic riff amid the bass’ descending movement. Kim stalled the “good” and even put his finger up towards the audience, indicating he needed one more moment before he continued singing. The audience chuckled in response.
Attendee David Chong, MCAS
’28, elaborated on the audience’s lively demeanor.
“The vibe was really good,” said Chong. “[Everyone was] moving their body, like, a tiny bit, like, in their seats, you know, they were like, swaying.”
The audience notably and emphatically rocked during the last song before intermission, “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” by songwriter Frank Loesser. Sofia Burke, MCAS ’25, vocalist, and BC bOp! executive board member, commanded the stage during the song. She used a wide array of facial expressions, gestures, and her piercing voice to connect both the audience and the ensemble members.
The band and vocalists were cohesive and building off each other, according to Chong.
“It seemed like they were all on the same wavelength,” said Chong. “They were all like, so in sync. And, yeah, I feel like they just communicated in a way that you would only know if you were like, performing.”
Shannon Jacob, the ensemble’s vocal director, explained that BC bOp! chose The Princess and the Frog to uplift and acknowledge the Black community’s contribution to jazz.
“We, the members and directors of BC bOp!, acknowledge that our repertoire is primarily based on jazz—a genre created by Black musicians that has roots in spiritual and
work songs,” Jacob wrote in the performance’s program. “We are aware not only of the privilege we have, but of the responsibility we carry in performing this genre on Boston College’s campus.”
BC bOp!’s performance of “Quarter Master,” a combo with a trombone, tenor sax, trumpet, guitar, and piano, caused the audience to clap to the beat. BC bOp! certainly lived up to the song’s name and established their mastery over their instruments, as the “Quarter Master” is normally improvised. The song has a consistent melody, but performers add their own twists through a call and response between instruments and melodic variations.
Chong said “Proud Mary” was his favorite performance by the ensemble. “Proud Mary” has a slow start before ultimately revving up into an energetic gear.
“It was just like, super energetic,” said Chong. “Everyone looked like they were having such a, like, a great time. And this one guy [Jett Takazawa, CSOM ’27] had this tambourine, and he was, like, kind of running around. And it was really funny. It was just really fun to watch.”
Chong noted that the performance was enjoyable even for audience members who aren’t particularly familiar with jazz music.
“I’m not into jazz,” said Chong. “My friend was performing, so I went to support him … I didn’t think I would enjoy it this much, but, like, I really enjoyed it.”
Jacob hoped the performance encouraged the audience to reflect and value shared community.
“The film does not wholly depict the ways in which these communities continue to foster joy and love despite systematic adversity,” wrote Jacob. “It is precisely this reflection that we must sit with as we listen, perform, and engage with The Princess and the Frog. In one of its signature tones it reminds us: ‘You gotta dig a little deeper, find out who you are.’” n
Gomez and Blanco Miss the Mark On Collab
By cLancey BenFer Heights Staff
Combining musical talents for the first time, recently engaged couple Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco released their first joint project, I Said I Love You First , on Friday. The album may not be the return to music that long-term Gomez fans were hoping for, but it is here nonetheless.
The album chronicles the couple’s entire love story, from before they met, to falling in love, and then looking into the future.
Despite both singers’ prowess, the album falls flat and is
just as insufferable as their posts together on Instagram.
The album opens with a tearful speech from a younger Gomez, thanking everyone who has supported and challenged her since leaving her home in Texas. It is a strange opening for an album supposedly about the couples’ love, feeling more centered on Gomez’s experience than the couple’s.
This sets up an album that is not very cohesive. The best tracks emulate artists like Charli XCX, Lana Del Rey, and even some Taylor Swift melodies. The only part that is easy to follow throughout
ALBUM I Said I Love You First
the tracks is the couple’s love story, but though touching, the artists don’t provide any new takes on the pretty basic theme.
The best song on the album is “Ojos Tristes,” a slower pop song sung in Spanish. The song was written by Gomez, Blanco, and The Marías, featuring The Marías’ lead singer Maria Zardoya for the chorus. The melody and vocals are soothing and satisfying to listen to.
“The boy with sad eyes / Lives alone and needs love / Like the air, he needs to see me / Like the sun, I need him,” sings Gomez and Zardoya in the chorus, according to a translation from Capital.
It’s a sweet track dedicated to how the pair complements each other and one of the least cringe-worthy songs on the LP.
Another one of the few strong tracks is “Bluest Flame,” a fun and club-like song given its feature from Charli XCX. Essentially a Charli XCX song, the autotune
is the same as the edits done to Charli’s voice on BRAT , further supported by backing vocal tracks from the singer herself. The track is good, but if this is someone else’s album, the best song on it should not be a carbon copy of another artist’s sound. Besides these two stand-out songs, the other 12 are pretty big let-downs. They are corny, which can be fine if done well. That is not the case here.
In another copycat moment, the album has two tracks very reminiscent of Del Rey. “Cowboy” and “You Said You Were Sorry” both attempt to emulate Del Rey’s production and sexiness.
“I wouldn’t leave him even if you paid me,” sing Gomez in “You Said You Were Sorry,” likely referencing an ex.
This quickly becomes ironic given that if anyone looks up the couple, most comments are telling Gomez to do exactly that.
Perhaps the worst song on
the album, the one that truly tanks it, is “Sunset Blvd.” The song is reportedly about the couple’s first date. In theory, it should be sweet and successfully convey those initial sparks of their relationship. Instead, there’s a horrendous pre-chorus of “Big, big / Hard heart” repeated in the most sensual, yet childish voice imaginable and an equally bad bridge: “I just wanna touch it, touch it / Try your hardest not to bust it.” Music can, of course, be sexual, but it should at least be somewhat creative. The nail in the coffin is the interlude “Do You Wanna Be Perfect.” Only 37 seconds, the calland-response between a voice and Gomez is completely unnecessary to the album. It is millennial-core, shallow, and cringe.
Most of the songs are not the worst on their own, but together they create just a completely average and wince-worthy album that is not worth listening to more than once—if at all. n
‘Novocaine’ Blends Action, Gore, and Humor
By Lucas Ferrara Heights Staff
I’m sure most people have contemplated the idea of what it would be like to not feel physical pain. Novocaine, directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, is a bloody movie that mixes action with comedy while taking the concept of painlessness to extreme levels.
Nate (Jack Quaid) has CIPA, or Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis. This condition makes nerve cells completely unable to process sensations— proving very convenient for Nate.
What starts as an awkward bank robbery with thieves dressed as Santa quickly spirals into a desperate attempt by Nate to rescue the woman he’s obsessed
with—one of the bank’s clerks, Sherry (Amber Midthunder).
The group of Saint Nicks ends up leaving the bank with the money and a hostage: Sherry. Nate follows in high-pursuit—this sends him on a mission around the city, fueled by pure emotion, absorbing punches, burns, and bullets with no reaction.
Novocaine, for better or worse, doesn’t shy away from gore—with every new injury, the film grows in absurdity. But the film continues, rolling with the punches as Nate faces further bodily affliction.
Quaid nails the unique role of a pathetic, lovesick man turned reluctant action hero. He carries the film with a blend of chaotic energy and expressionless humor—somewhat akin to Deadpool. His chem-
istry with Sherry becomes problematic, though. The romance feels wholeheartedly one-sided, insufficient for the film’s premise. Their relationship feels awkward, missing the realism necessary to create a captivating narrative.
Berk and Olsen take Nate’s condition and run with it, placing him in a series of outlandish and borderline cartoonish situations. While the constant gore loses its appeal by the film’s conclusion, Novocaine never loses its sense of humor.
What starts as a quirky take on the action genre slowly devolves into a full-blown comedy, with Nate emerging as a seemingly invincible antihero. Regardless of how farfetched it may be, the film’s blend of action and un -
apologetic chaos is undeniably entertaining.
As Novocaine builds toward its bloody climax, it offers something unique—a mad mix of genres that blends slapstick humor with brutal action.
The filmmakers try to create a character with more depth than a simple superhero, but the film’s romance and overly violent tone sometimes outweigh its clever aspects.
Novocaine is undoubtedly an entertaining ride, entering unprecedented territory—the protagonist, no matter how many times he’s beaten down, stays determined with death as his only obstacle.
The film is messy, but definitely a good time, even if it never quite finds a balance between emotion and violence. n
PHOTO BY ELLIE EL-FISHWY/ HEIGHTS EDITOR
PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF
SPORTS
“YOU WANT YOUR TEAM
TO BE REMEMBERED.”
After losing to unranked Northeastern at home in the opening round of the Hockey East Tournament, Boston College men’s hockey has been named the No. 1 seed heading into the NCAA Tournament.
By Maria StefanoudakiS Sports Editor
Eight days ago, then-No. 1 Boston College men’s hockey headed into its firstround game of the Hockey East tournament against Northeastern in Conte Forum, where the Eagles had lost just two games all season.
To put the odds more in BC’s favor, it had beaten Northeastern 8–2 the last time the teams had faced off—that was in TD Garden for the Beanpot Semifinal.
The odds didn’t matter for the Eagles, though. They lost to Northeastern and were booted from the Hockey East Tournament much earlier than expected.
A Beanpot loss to rival Boston University, followed by that loss in the conference tournament—in the first round, no less— hasn’t sat well with many fans.
Regardless, as the Eagles sat in the Yawkey Center watching the broadcast on Selection Sunday, they were quickly greeted with the news they wanted to hear: BC was named the No. 1 overall seed for the second
“We know how hard it is, so it’s not the expectation for us. Maybe, you know, on the outside.”
Some people may see that as a problem. After all, confidence can quickly become complacency.
According to BC head coach Greg Brown, that’s not the case for the Eagles.
“We know how hard it is, so it’s not the expectation for us,” Brown said. “Maybe, you know, on the outside. But we know that you have to do so many things right, starting in September, to put yourselves in that position. It takes a lot of work, a lot of preparation behind the scenes, so that you can perform well enough and get those wins throughout the season to get to be a No. 1 seed.”
“To bring a national championship home to BC is always the goal when you walk in here as a freshman.”
“Coming so close last year with such a great group of guys, I think it just adds fuel to the fire—makes you want to be back there even more.”
The criticism of BC after the game had a clear theme: The Eagles can’t handle big moments.
straight year.
“There’s one last trophy left to go chase, and BC hasn’t won it in a while.”
“There’s one last trophy left to go chase, and BC hasn’t won it in a while,” captain Eamon Powell said. “So to be part of a group that can go chase that would be something special.”
There were no whoops, no cheers, and not even any clapping in the room as BC’s seeding was announced.
And it hasn’t been all confidence-building victories for the Eagles over the past year.
They’re coming off a shutout loss in the national championship to Denver, who has claimed the trophy three out of the last four years.
But that has helped BC as it heads into this year’s tournament, according to fifthyear defenseman Powell.
“To bring a national championship home to BC is always the goal when you walk in here as a freshman,” Powell said.
Only time will tell whether the Eagles, who have sat at the top of the rankings for most of the season, will finish off a dominant season with a trophy to show for it.
For now, the Eagles look toward Friday, when they’ll open up their national championship campaign with a 2 p.m. game against Atlantic Hockey champion Bentley.
“Come to college hockey to play for those championships, play for your school, and leave trophies behind,” Ryan Leonard said. “You want your team to be remembered.” n
BC Falls to Villanova 76–70 in First Round of WBIT
By aidan Gravina Deputy Managing Editor
Thirty-seven percent. That’s how much of Boston College women’s basketball’s season scoring sat out of its first-round Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament matchup against Villanova.
Just two weeks prior, the Eagles lost to UNC in the ACC Tournament in what BC head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee had thought would be their last game.
“We took maybe—what was it—11 or 12 days off of practice,” Bernabei-McNamee said. ”We just thought, you know, we were under the assumption, I guess, that if you’re under .500 that you couldn’t get any postseason play.”
Nevertheless, postseason play called. But unfortunately for the Eagles, only seven of their players answered.
Fatigue and poor offensive execution ultimately held BC (16–18, 6–12 Atlantic Coast) back, mustering just 10 fourth-quarter points and falling to Villanova (19–14, 11–7 Big East) 76–70.
Despite eventual fatigue, the Eagles started the game with guns blazing. They jumped out
to a quick 15–4 lead, thanks in large part to eight points from Teya Sidberry in the first 4:51.
Villanova didn’t allow BC to keep its momentum, though, calling a timeout and then going on an 8–0 run to cut the lead to three.
The Eagles held onto their lead the rest of the quarter, with Dontavia Waggoner, Savannah Samuel, and Sidberry all scoring to put BC up 22–17 at the end of the first.
“I think we jumped on them just because we had the energy,” Bernabei-McNamee said. “And I think that we’re a good team, like I think the players that were here, they’re good players. We just ran out of a little bit of gas, and we also had a lot of different foul trouble.”
That foul trouble became abundantly clear in the second quarter, as three of BC’s seven players had two fouls and each of the other four had one.
As a result, BC had to constantly rotate players, making it difficult to build momentum and allowing the Wildcats to jump out to a 34–28 lead with 4:03 left in the half.
BC tied it by halftime and even had a chance to take the lead, but Andrea Daley missed both her free throws to keep the game tied 38–38 heading into halftime. The third quarter was back and forth the whole way as Jasmine Bascoe stepped up offensively for Villanova. She
finished with 24 points.
Meanwhile, Samuel and Waggoner helped the Eagles out in the scoring department. Villanova managed to leave the quarter up 62–60 thanks to a Bascoe jumper, and it was seemingly anyone’s game. But that was when the fatigue kicked in.
It was evident from the first dribble of the fourth quarter that BC was not the same team it had been for the first 30 minutes.
The Wildcats extended their lead to five, and then eight, as the Eagles were unable to score a field goal until nearly six minutes into the period.
“I just thought, offensively, we looked a little disheveled, fatigue-wise,” Bernabei-McNamee said. “But, you know, I thought that we gave it our all for that last quarter.”
Finally, with 4:16 left in the game, JaKayla Thompson dropped in a layup for BC’s first field goal of the quarter.
Even with her basket, the Eagles still couldn’t scrounge together any momentum. That resulted in another 2:29 field-goal drought for BC.
The Eagles’ defense remained strong, though, and they trailed by just six when they got the ball back with 1:17 remaining, thanks to a steal by Samuel.
But Waggoner couldn’t convert on her layup,
allowing the Wildcats to take possession with 1:05 left. Villanova then ran 24 seconds off the clock before Maddie Webber launched a three.
Despite the miss, the Wildcats maintained possession with an offensive rebound, and rather than foul, the Eagles let them take another 20 seconds off the clock.
After the game, Bernabei-McNamee stood by her decision to abstain from fouling.
“Sometimes, I think people forget that in the women’s game, we can call timeouts and advance the ball, which is why we tried to save the two timeouts we had,” Bernabei-McNamee said. “So, you never want to start fouling too early in the women’s game because 20 seconds can create a lot more time than it feels like. So no, we intentionally didn’t foul there to try to get the ball back and cut it within two possessions.”
After a BC miss and two Villanova free throws, the Eagles scored one more meaningless basket as time expired, ending their season with a 76–70 loss.
“We’re playing on house money, in a way,” Bernabei-McNamee said. “We thought that we were done playing basketball for this year, and to get an extra game, for all of you guys that know and love basketball, you know how special that is.” n
PHOTOS BY SARAH FLEMING
Boston College Villanova 70 76
PHOTO BY SARAH FLEMING / HEIGHTS EDITOR
SPORTS
BC Nearly Goes Hitless, Loses 10–0 to No. 17 UNC
By seBBy Fitzgerald Asst. Sports Editor
Jack Toomey strolled to first base after a five-pitch walk in the bottom of North Carolina Boston College 0 the seventh inning of Boston College baseball’s Sunday afternoon matchup against No. 17 North Carolina.
This was BC’s second runner on base all game—the previous coming from Gunnar Johnson reaching first on a throwing error.
UNC’s starter Aidan Haugh, on the brink of a no-hitter, was left with BC’s Nick Wang at the plate. But it wouldn’t be baseball without some oddity coming into play.
Wang lined a two-strike pitch toward the first-base side, nailing Toomey on the basepaths who was ruled out, ending the game.
But BC head coach Todd Interdonato wouldn’t go down without some words to the umpires.
“So I understand the traditional way of thinking is if the ball hits the runner, he’s automatically out,”
Interdonato said. “That’s not the rule.
The rule is he’s out if the runner is in front of the fielder, and I was arguing that the first baseman was in front of him.”
Nevertheless, this didn’t change the fact that the Eagles (10–11, 3–6 Atlantic Coast) had tumbled to a 10-run deficit in the seven innings beforehand, forcing the mercy rule to end the game early. Although Haugh and the Tar Heels (18–6, 4–5) weren’t credited with a no-hitter, it’s hard to complain about a 10–0 victory to end the weekend series.
Eric Schroeder only saw a very small number of innings compared to Haugh’s dominant performance.
Two singles and advancements on a throw set up runners at second and third in the top of the first. A wild pitch scored the first, and Tyson Bass drove in the second on a double to right center for an early 2–0 lead.
BC’s first inning went 1-2-3—and that became a regular thing throughout the afternoon.
In the top of the second, three straight singles loaded the bases for
the Tar Heels, as Schroeder struggled to find a groove. Two more consecutive singles cleared the original ducks on the pond, and Bass proceeded to drive in two more runs with a single through the left side.
Schroeder was pulled for Peter Schaefer after 1.2 innings, comprising nine hits and seven earned runs.
“We definitely pitched better Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday,” Interdonato said. “And then obviously, you know, outside of really the one inning today, you know, our pitching is starting to come around.”
Schaefer held his own in 2.1 innings of work, only allowing one hit and recording three strikeouts. Unfortunately for BC, the offense couldn’t build off that tempo, and the 1-2-3 innings persisted.
“You know, that’s a really hard job for Pete—or whoever comes in at that point—but for him to come in and give us two and a third, a shutout, was really good,” Interdonato said. “It did kind of get the momentum back on our side. We just couldn’t get anything going on offense.”
Cesar Gonzalez took over in the fifth inning, giving up two quick singles after getting one out and a run scored after the turn on a double-play attempt was too slow.
With eight runs on the board and very little weight on Haugh’s shoulders, there’s no surprise he continued to completely steamroll the Eagles’ offense. The senior right-hander put together four strikeouts across the fifth and sixth innings, bringing his strikeout total to 10.
As a cherry on top, Hunter Stokely pounded a ball to straight-away center over the head of Josiah Ragsdale for a
Eagles Coast Past Stanford, Win 17–9
By emily roBerge Assoc. Sports Editor
No. 1 Boston College lacrosse is no stranger to making history. And against No. 4 Stanford, the Eagles did just that. By winning its 20th straight game, BC now has its longest win streak in school history.
But this win wasn’t just handed to the Eagles. In fact, they were up against a Stanford team that hasn’t lost at home since February 2023, and that currently has its best ranking in school history.
Yet the Eagles (12–0, 5–0 Atlantic Coast) did what is expected of BC lacrosse—winning
and winning big, as they coasted past the Cardinal (9–2, 3–2) 17–9 at Cagan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It didn’t take long at all for BC to make a dent in the Cardinal defense.
Just one minute into the game, Emma LoPinto scored her 39th goal of the season off an Elizabeth Kirk feed.
LoPinto was just getting started, though, as she already had a hat trick a little less than seven minutes into the matchup.
Maria Themelis then followed suit a little over four minutes later, as a Mckenna Davis ground ball pick-up converted into another BC goal for a 2–0 lead.
Just as the Eagles did in their February matchup against
Northwestern, they started off hot, taking a quick 6–0 lead.
It felt like the game was slipping away from Stanford before it even really began.
What defined the early-game offensive success for the Eagles were their wins on the draw and their ability to hammer down on Stanford’s defense.
Even with one of the nation’s best goalenders, Lucy Pearson,could only do so much.
Eventually, Martha Oakey got the first points on the board for the Cardinal with 5:51 left to play in the first frame.
But Kirk would soon strike back, as the score stood at 7–2 heading into the second frame.
But Rachel Clark wasn’t done yet. Just 44 seconds into the next
quarter, she scored her 53rd goal of the season.
While it appeared that BC had taken the reins, the Cardinal would not go down without a fight. Slowly but surely, a Stanford comeback appeared to be in the works.
With just six minutes left until the half, Stanford had managed to diminish BC’s lead to just four goals.
With just 11 seconds left before the end of the second frame, Shea Dolce came up with a big save.
Denying Aliya Polisky’s freeposition shot, Dolce would shift the game’s trajectory back in BC’s favor.
From that point on, the Eagles never looked back, entering the half with a six-goal lead.
Their defense served as an anchor, along with Dolce, shutting down any Cardinal offensive attack and holding Stanford scoreless throughout the entire third frame.
While Stanford started the final frame with two back-to-back goals, it wouldn’t be nearly enough to come close to BC’s lead.
Tallying the last goal for BC was freshman Giulia Colarusso off a lower left-hand corner freeposition shot that went through the legs of Pearson.
From then on, it was clear that BC’s undefeated ACC campaign would only continue. n
9–0 lead in the top of the sixth.
The Tar Heels wanted to hit the road early, as a sacrifice fly put their lead to double digits, forcing BC’s hand. The Eagles needed to put up one, measly run to play a full slate and avoid being mercy-ruled.
But in the seventh inning, the Eagles never crossed the plate, dropping their final contest against UNC in an ugly 10–0 loss.
“You know, I feel like everybody’s trying to do what they can do to match their skill set to improve, and that’ll be a key first moving forward,” Interdonato said. n
No. 1 Eagles Earn Hard-Fought Victory Against Brown
By Caroline KowalsKi Heights Staff
No. 1 Boston College lacrosse immediately began the game by Boston College Brown 18 7 attacking Brown’s offensive zone in Tuesday afternoon’s matchup.
But the Eagles failed to find an opportunity to earn the quick lead.
Brown retaliated by making the Eagles go on the defensive and snuck past BC to land the game’s first goal.
After Brown gained an initial 1–0 lead, it quickly added a second goal to its total at 10:59.
The Eagles had to fight their way back from the two-goal deficit early in the game.
And BC (11–0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast) quickly did just that.
Never looking back, BC registered another dominant offensive performance in an 18–7
win over Brown (5–2, 0–1 Ivy).
The Eagles found their first goal from Mckenna Davis at 9:13 and a second goal soon after from Emma LoPinto on a power play to even the score 2–2.
Maria Themelis gave BC its third goal and first lead of the game from a free-position shot to make the score 3–2.
BC earned a fourth goal off a Rachel Clark shot to close out the first-quarter scoring.
Clark is first in the nation for total goals scored with 51 and total points with 66.
The Bears put up a strong fight in front of their net, causing BC to only score three goals in the second quarter—a low number for the No. 1-ranked team in the nation.
A Mia Mascone goal, a LoPinto goal, and a Molly Driscoll goal off a free-position shot all added to BC’s total.
The Eagles had to hustle on
defense to put a stop to Brown’s strong efforts, allowing only one goal in the second quarter.
BC began to show a more dominant performance over the Bears, increasing its lead.
“I just thought that the draw team was excellent,” BC head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said. “I thought Shea Dolce had an incredibly complete game, and I just think the offense really shared the ball really well. It was awesome to see different people scoring in different ways, and it’s a really good challenge for us.”
Eagles goaltender Shea Dolce had nine saves in the first half, reinforcing the lead BC held throughout the matchup.
Clark earned BC its first goal of the third quarter off a free-position shot on a power play at 12:04.
“It sounds cliché to say, but it really is true, my game is all because of my teammates,” Clark said. “They
set me up and do their jobs so well that it lets me do mine. Them being so good at what they do lets me be good at what I do.”
Toward the end of the third, BC began to pull away.
The Eagles scored four more goals before the fourth quarter.
Lydia Colasante, LoPinto, Mascone, and Brooke McLoy each got a goal. Clark clocked one more to push the score to 13–6.
For the fourth quarter, BC had to retain their lead without letting the Bears’ strong offense find opportunities to sneak through and even the score.
“I think, like, our game plan going into it was just dominating play together—play on a string,” Colasante said. ”It’s always kind of our game plan.”
The Eagles’ offense continuously blew past Brown’s defense for five more goals while
holding the Bears to only one. Devon Russell, Emma Claire Quinn, and Mallory Hasselbeck also recorded goals throughout the fourth quarter, pushing BC even further ahead.
“The midfielders were phenomenal on defense and offense,” Colasante said. “Just controlling the pace of the game and setting the tone for both units and especially Shea Dolce on her head as always.” The Eagles denied the Bears any chance at coming back.
And BC ended the game with a final score of 18–7, giving BC its 11th straight win.
“I thought we played a very complete game,” Walker-Weinstein said. “We pulled off a really strong third and fourth quarter, which I was really happy about. We’ve been trying to do that all year. I just think the girls were focused and playing for each other, and I’m really happy about that.” n
Boston College Stanford 9
The Eagles dropped two of three contests against the No. 17 Tar Heels.
SARAH FLEMING / HEIGHTS EDITOR
By winning its 20th-straight game, the Eagles now have their longest win streak in school history.
YAMARI SANTILLAN / HEIGHTS STAFF