The Heights October 2, 2017

Page 1

HEIGHTS

THE

The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College

EST. 1919

WWW.BCHEIGHTS.COM

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2017

Endowment Rallies, Grows to $2.4 Billion After down year, investment returns rise to over 13 percent. BY CONNOR MURPHY News Editor KEITH CARROLL / HEIGHTS STAFF

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTIN KNIGHT

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTIN KNIGHT

Hudson Brings Pops to New Heights The annual performance raised $14 million, trouncing last year’s record. BY EMILY HIMES For The Heights The 25th annual Pops on the Heights gala, held Friday night, raised a record $14 million for scholarships at Boston College, smashing last year’s recordsetting $9 million and putting the total raised by the event since 1993 at just under $60 million. Co-chaired by David, BC ’86, and

Maureen O’Connor and Phil Schiller, BC ’82, and Kim Gassett-Schiller, the gala pulled out all the stops, stars, and spirit, with the President’s Medal of Excellence going to film composer John Williams and a stunning performance by singer and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson. Chris O’Donnell, BC ’92, also made an appearance, presenting the medal to Williams. Since he graduated, O’Donnell has gone on to act in many

movies and TV shows, including NCIS: Los Angeles, Batman and Robin, and Scent of a Woman. Williams, who conducted the Pops at the first gala 24 years ago, got several standing ovations throughout the night, and at one point got on stage to conduct the Star Wars theme. “Pops [on the Heights] is like Star

See Pops on the Heights, A3

Defensive Prowess Dominates CMU Michael Walker sets up easy win after early offensive struggles. BY RILEY OVEREND Sports Editor Turnover on downs . Safety. Just three minutes into Saturday’s game against Central Michigan, Boston College football was staring at a 2-0 deficit to its Mid-American Conference foe. The Eagles haven’t lost to a M AC team since 1969. And scattered droves of Parents’ We e k e n d s p e c t a t o r s s t a r t e d

squirming in their rain-soaked seats. Then Michael Walker got his hands on the ball. The Eagles’ junior return man took the Chippewas’ next punt deep into opposing territory for a career-high 61-yard gain. That set up Jon Hilliman for a six-yard score, his first rushing touchdown of the season, five games in. On the next drive, CMU again elected to punt to Walker. Again, he torched the lackluster coverage for 34 yards. Following a roughing the passer penalty on fourth down that gave BC life, A.J. Dillon hit a gap and barrelled into the end zone for a 15yard touchdown run.

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JULIA HOPKINS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Boston College returned 13.4 percent on its endowment in fiscal year 2017, the University announced Friday, putting the endowment at $2.4 billion with investment gains of $281 million for the year. The returns are a major rebound from fiscal 2016, when BC reported a 4.3 percent return and investment losses of $97 million on the year. “The endowment return is a reflection of the strong leadership of BC’s Chief Investment Officer John Zona and the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees,” University Spokesman Jack Dunn said in an email. “Boston College is the beneficiary of their dedication and stewardship of our endowment resources.” Dunn declined to specify which in-

vestment areas performed particularly well, saying that as a matter of policy, BC does not comment on its investment strategy. According to the 2016 BC Annual Report, published last October, the endowment was 49 percent domestic and international equities, 10 percent fixed income securities, and 41 percent alternative strategies, including return funds, private equity funds, and real asset funds. Educational endowments nationwide returned -1.9 percent in fiscal 2016, according to the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Harvard University, for example, lost 2 percent last year. BC joins a number of other universities that also have reported high returns for fiscal 2017 and appear to have recovered from a down year. Harvard posted 8.1 percent returns, which its new investment chief called “disappointing.” Cornell University, which returned -3.3 percent last year, reported 12.5 percent gains. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology gained 14.3 percent. 

Any momentum that the Chippewas had gathered was lost in Walker’s long returns. All of a sudden, fans weren’t witnessing a potentially-historic upset—they were watching the first Eagles team since 2014 to score two touchdowns in the first quarter against an FBS squad. Defensive and special teams domination masked a dismal offensive performance, as B C snapped its three-game losing streak with a 28-8 win on a gloomy afternoon in Chestnut Hill. “We went for it, and then we got the punt right down the one [yard line] and then we had a miscue up front and hit us in the backfield,” head coach Steve Addazio said. “But you know, those things are going to happen right now. You’re talking about the apex of your offense has got firstyear players in there right now.” CMU (2-3) simply shot itself in the foot too many times to challenge the Eagles (2-3), which entered the matchup as 10-point favorites. Quarterback Shane Morris tossed three interceptions—two to Lukas Denis, who became Power Five’s pick leader with five this year—and his team committed too many costly penalties

See Football, A3

ZOE FANNING / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Markell Chosen to Be New Chair of Trustees He serves as an EVP, CFO, and treasurer for Partners HealthCare. BY HEIDI DONG Asst. News Editor Peter Markell, BC ’77, was officially selected on Friday as the new chairman of the Boston College Board of Trustees at the trustees’ annual fall meeting, succeeding outgoing chairman John Fish. Via The Chronicle, BC also announced five additions to the board. Markell received his bachelor’s degree from BC in accounting and finance, and serves as the executive vice president of administration and finance, CFO, and treasurer for Partners HealthCare System. He oversees a $12.5 billion operation and is responsible for all finance, treasury, real estate, human resources, information systems, and research management areas. Before going to Partners, Markell held leadership positions at Ernst & Young, LLP, where, in 1989, he implemented

the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young. The board also selected Joseph “Jay” Hooley, BC ’79, the CEO and Chairman of State Street Corporation, as its new vice chair, and Susan Shea, BC ’76, president and founder of Dancing with the Students, as secretary. The five newly minted board members are D. Scott Brown, BC ’79; William Connell, BC ’94; Rev. Douglas Marcouiller, S.J.; Denise Morrison, BC ’75; and Robert Morrissey, BC ’95. Brown, the CEO and vice chairman of Sage Products LLC, has 36 years of experience in the health care industry. Brown joined Sage in 1981 and in 2006 was promoted to president and COO. Six years later, Sage was sold to Madison Dearborn Partners and Brown was appointed CEO. Brown is an active philanthropist in health care, education, and various youth programs. He earned his bachelor’s degree from BC in finance and marketing. Connell is a co-founder and partner of New York-based private equity firm,

See Peter Markell, A3

BB.Q ARRIVES IN ALLSTON

ABSTRACT CABINET

Bb.q, the newest fried chicken place in in Allston, merges southern and South Korean flavors.

The Esteban Lisa brings works to life with geometric and organic linework.

SCENE

METRO

A4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

A9

See Galit’s, A10

NEWS: Hurricane Maria

Puerto Rican students call for more hurricane relief..................................A3

FEATURES: Voice of the Eagles

Senior TJ Hartnett has become an iconic voice for BC Athletics..............................A10

INDEX

NEWS.......................... A3 FEATURES...................A8

Vol. XCVIII, No. 31 METRO......................A4 SCENE......................A9 © 2017, The Heights, Inc. OPINIONS................... A6 SPORTS......................B1 www.bcheights.com


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