The Heights, Feb. 13, 2023

February 13, 2023

The University Bans Sex Outside of Marriage. But How Does That Affect Hookup and Dating Culture?

By Erin FlahErty Magazine Editor BEth VErghEsE Assoc. Magazine Editor and spEncEr stEppE

Asst. Magazine Editor

For Valentine’s Day, Boston College students can send their valentine a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers. Or, they could send them a bag of condoms.

BC Students for Sexual Health (BCSSH), an independent student group committed to providing students with sexual health and sex education resources, distributes “condomgrams” to members of the BC community every Valentine’s Day. At no cost, students can send their valentine a bag of condoms.

But BCSSH does not just pro -

vide students with resources on Feb. 14—the group also runs Rubber Hub, a program where students can order condoms, lube, and dental dams throughout the year.

To fund its services, BCSSH receives a grant from Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive and sexual health care.

BCSSH is not associated with BC and is not officially allowed to distribute condoms on campus. On the 2018 UGBC election ballot, 94 percent of BC students voted in support of a referendum allowing BCSSH to distribute contraceptives on campus. The University then doubled down on its disallowance of contraceptive distribution, citing other Jesuit school’s policies and its commit-

Late-Night Weekend Dining Goes Dark

By lucy FrEEman

Asst. News Editor

BC After Dark, a late-night food option offered at Hillside Cafe, is currently shut down due to staffing shortages and low student attendance, according to Director of Dining Services Beth Emery and Associate Director of Restaurant Operations Megan O’Neill.

“BC After Dark (BCAD) at Hillside was open Thursday and Friday nights in the fall, but due to low attendance and staffing shortages, BCAD is currently closed,” Emery and O’Neill wrote in an email to The Heights. “Based on collaboration with UGBC and

CAB, Hillside will be open for special events for student groups and occasional Thursday nights for coffee and desserts.”

Opening in spring 2021 as a collaboration between BC Dining and UGBC, BC After Dark offered students a variety of food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Despite the program’s initial popularity, Emery and O’Neill said BC Dining decided in May 2022 that it would close BC After Dark on Saturday nights because only about 100 students were typically attending.

ment to BC’s Catholic identity.

BC’s Sexual Activity Policy

Another policy stemming from BC’s Catholic identity is the University’s stance on sexual activity. The University prohibits students from engaging in intercourse outside of marriage in policy 11.8 of the Student Code of Conduct.

“All students have a respon

sibility to respect the values and traditions of Boston College as a Jesuit, Catholic institution, including adhering to the Church’s teachings with respect to sexual activity,” the policy reads. “Consequently, incidents of sexual intercourse outside the bonds of matrimony may be referred to the Student Conduct System.”

See Sexual Health, A6

BC Staff, Students Train in Restorative Practices

By nataliE arndt Assoc. News Editor

Boston College is looking to expand its use of restorative practices to broader community building, according to Melissa Woolsey, the associate dean of student conduct.

“Restorative practices look to really loop in that community aspect,” Woolsey said. “What is BC’s stance, purpose, needs, when it comes to conflict and other issues, especially around inclusion, belonging, and community building?”

In collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Office of the Dean of Students recently sponsored three-day training workshops surrounding restorative practices.

Four experts from the University of San Diego Center for Restorative Justice led 50 students, faculty, and staff members in the training from Jan. 11 to 13.

Restorative practices are based on the idea of restorative justice, a voluntary practice where a meditator typically leads a victim and offender in a discussion.

The victim can share how they were affected, and all parties can attempt to resolve past harm.

Ahead of Override Vote, Two Sides Share Opinions

Newton residents will head to the polls on March 14 to decide whether to allow the city to raise taxes by $15 million. Supporters and proponents of the proposal share their opinions with The Heights.

The federal government first permitted universities to utilize informal resolution processes, like restorative justice, in cases of sexual misconduct with new Title IX regulations in 2020, according to Woolsey.

BC thus wanted to find new ways to incorporate restorative practices into its conduct process.

After an alleged incident of sexual misconduct, if the victim and the offender both choose to participate, the University will utilize a restorative justice model where both parties meet and have a conversation, Woolsey said.

According to Woolsey, before that meeting occurs, trained restorative facilitators meet with each party individually for pre-conferencing to ensure that the victim’s needs are met and that the session will cause no further harm.

“So when both parties agree that that would be a helpful way to resolve an incident, we will use a restorative justice model,” Woolsey said. “Restorative practices came up as a really survivor-focused and trauma-informed way to respond to some of these really harmful incidents. So we started using it there.”

Beyond its use in the conduct process, Woolsey said the University wants to incorporate elements of restorative justice into broader restorative practices to improve the student experience, including building community among freshman communities and improving Weeks of Welcome programming.

“We wanted to really think about a way to diversify the way that restorative practices are being used across campus and diversify the amount of people and the types of people that were using these practices in different areas so that it’s not just in a conduct setting, it’s not just in a ResLife setting, and students are able to kind of touch on some of these restorative practices throughout their experience at BC,” Woolsey said.

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Students for the Lynch School of Education and Human Development Julia DeVoy, who helped launch a minor in restorative and transformational justice at the University in 2018, also emphasized that restorative practices can have wider applications on campus.

This Week’s Top 3 Events

BC Dining Closes BC After Dark Indefinitely

BC After Dark was still open on Thursday and Friday nights through the Fall 2022 semester, but according to Emery and O’Neill, it was only busy when Late Night at Lyons was unavailable.

“For comparison, Late Night at Lyons sees over 1000 students (some nights break 1,500 students) and is clearly more popular,” Emery and O’Neill wrote to The Heights “We continue to experience staffing challenges and find it particularly difficult to find cooks and managers that are willing to work the late night shift.”

With the program’s closure, BC Dining now offers no dining options after 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Emery and O’Neill said BC Dining plans to reopen BC After Dark once it can recruit and hire enough student and culinary staff to run the program.

Daniel Wise, a SA representative on UGBC’s Dining Advisory Board and MCAS ’25, said the shutdown of BC After Dark is unfortunate but just one of BC Dining’s problems over the past

few years.

“It’s another issue with dining that goes along with a host of other issues that have been going on this year really, and really in the past two years with BC Dining,” Wise said. “But we do understand and sympathize with the fact that they have had trouble hiring workers, and we know that that’s a national issue right now.”

Michael Martin, MCAS ’25, said he is disappointed that BC After Dark will not be a late night option anymore, but he understands the staffing issue.

“I think there should be options for students on the weekends,” Martin said. “But that obviously entails appropriate staffing, which, I mean, I remember there were issues with staffing last semester too, because they couldn’t open the Rat on Thursday nights.”

Jessie Boyle and Lily Adler, both MCAS ’24, said they went to BC After Dark a few times after hockey games. Boyle said she enjoyed attending BC After Dark her freshman year, but she recognizes why it is closing given the low attendance.

“It’s a bummer,” Boyle said. “It

was fun freshman year, and I liked that they had White Claws and alcohol and stuff. I thought it was nice for when you’re 21, of course. But it makes sense that they’re closing it, if it’s not busy.”

Adler also said she enjoyed having BC After Dark as a late-night option on Lower Campus, instead of having to walk up to Middle Campus for Late Night at Lyons.

“I guess it was also more convenient being on Lower, versus having to walk all the way to Lyons,”

Adler said.

UGBC is discussing how it can potentially utilize the now-vacant space at Hillside Cafe by hosting other activities and events for students, according to Wise.

“For example, having little BC student-run bands perform in there sometimes, or a possible thought was having, for example, like an ice cream bar instead, something where the kitchen doesn’t have to be utilized, but food can still be provided to students, and not much

staff is needed,” Wise said.

Emery and O’Neill said if student groups show interest in hosting events at Hillside, BC Dining would consider offering food options during their programming.

“If a student group is interested in hosting an event at Hillside this semester, we will consider offering the coffee bar and desserts in conjunction with student programming,” Emery and O’Neill wrote. “Email us at bcdining@bc.edu with your requests.” n

BC Looks To Expand Restorative Practices on Campus

community-based applications of restorative practices.

“I feel like it’s much more community-based,” Lopinsky said. “So if students are having issues come up on campus, say around identity, I feel like if we have conferences or circles that we learned about in training, students will be more comfortable just talking amongst themselves.”

Lopinsky said he gained a new sense of emotional intelligence from the training, and he hopes to apply what he learned to his future career in education.

ating a space that encourages growth and learning, according to DeVoy.

practices can also help build community at BC.

“Having [launched the minor], I started to think, ‘Okay, there are other ways this can be used at Boston College, and there are other spaces, other systems, and other contexts in which this has wonderful applications,” DeVoy said.

Restorative practices, for example, could be beneficial in responding to academic integrity violations, cre-

“Not everything needs to be an all or nothing with academic integrity [cases],” DeVoy said. “Those are teachable moments and opportunities to develop and lift people as they grow, and I think it’s been so nice to have that lens embedded in that [process].”

During times of national tragedy, Woolsey said she hopes restorative

“And then also respond to other issues that happen even outside of BC,” Woolsey said. “So when we watch national tragedies or things happen, how do we come together as a community to support each other in that?”

Travis Lopinsky, LSEHD ’25, participated in the University’s training. Like Woolsey, he highlighted the

“I feel like people have a harder time with conflict because it’s harder for them to identify their emotions,” he said. “It’s not really something that’s taught a lot in schools. And so I feel like this is really an opportunity to name what you’re feeling and for everyone else to see that—I feel like it’s humanizing in a way.”

Lopinsky said trainees also learned about talking circles, discussion spaces in which participants sit in a circle and share their feelings about a specific conflict or topic.

“The circles that we learned about in training is just like talking a lot

about ourselves, becoming familiar with each other, which I feel like helps with conflict resolution, because you’re much more comfortable bringing it up and talking to each other,” Lopinsky said.

Woolsey said BC plans to grow awareness about restorative practices by offering more training sessions for students and faculty in the future.

“So I think this semester, we’re trying to encourage all the facilitators to get out there, run as many circles as they can and then hope for more structured models moving forward,” Woolsey said. “And then as we feel more comfortable with that capacity to continue to train new people continue to bring it up to other groups within campus as well.”

By integrating restorative practice themes across campus and into various majors and minors, DeVoy said BC students can become men and women for others.

“I feel like that’s going to produce a ripple effect of students that go out into the world and meet the Boston College mission, you know, ‘men and women for others,’” DeVoy said. “And to me, that is why I do what I do.” n

BAIC’s Men of Color Conference Offers Career Advice

By AdiTyA RAo Heights Staff

Joseph Johnson, a former NFL player and assistant director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine, highlighted the importance of perseverance and mental health in career development during the annual Men of Color Conference.

“You can’t do the thing that you do just because someone else told you to do it,” Johnson said. “Let others tell you their story of how they got here, and let that story be their story. Don’t tell other people’s stories—tell your own story and allow others to experience that story with you.”

The Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center held the 2023 Men of Color Conference in Gasson Hall on Saturday, offering a full day of networking, self-exploration, and a lineup of speeches about uplifting BC’s community of AHANA men.

Johnson began his keynote speech with the story of his non-traditional path to success, sharing that he did not get a lot of attention growing up as one of six children.

“But the education system also wasn’t really addressing me as a Black

man,” Johnson said. “When you see statistical data about suspension rates and students dropping out, I was on that path, because no one asked me why I was not doing what is best for me.”

As a result, Johnson fully committed himself to athletics. Johnson said, however, that his past lack of academic engagement caused him to struggle in college, plaguing him with doubts that he eventually overcame through his desire to defy societal expectations and succeed.

“The thing I relied on most was my own self-desire,” Johnson said. “I was not going to go back to New Jersey if I failed despite all of these opportunities, because I think that’s what people expected.”

While playing for the Chicago Bears, Johnson said he had to recover for a year after tearing his Achilles tendon. When reflecting on his hopes for the future during this period, Johnson said he ultimately decided to prioritize his education over athletics.

“Once I finished my training, I told myself I needed to go back and be an athlete,” Johnson said. “Even though I didn’t want to, I had to accomplish this because I needed to show people that I can be successful.

But I also said that I had to go back to school, so I started taking classes again.”

Johnson said that he fell out of love with football soon after, leading him to finish his undergraduate degree at UNC Wilmington in exercise physiology. Aiming to support Black male students, he then went on to teach physical education to children.

“When I started examining why aren’t Black males pursuing degrees, it’s because there’s no sense of support,” Johnson said. “So I spent the rest of my career pursuing and supporting students along that path.”

Johnson concluded by encouraging students to evaluate the true motivations behind pursuing their life goals.

“Understanding your ‘why’ will always guide how you move in this world,” Johnson said. “As you’re finishing your degrees at Boston College, think about the next step, and why you are taking this next step. Think ‘Why am I here, and why am I choosing the things that I’m doing?’ and you will never fail yourself.”

Jonathan Rosenthal, the assistant director of career education at the BC Career Center, then hosted an

interactive workshop with students. He shared six key tips for success and good mental health, including keeping a disciplined routine and prioritizing physical health.

“My mantra is simple: win the day,” Rosenthal said. “It’s about stacking many wins throughout the day, many successes … If I win today, I’m going to try and win tomorrow. And if I win tomorrow, I got a little winning streak.”

for a group discussion about experiences of racial identity. The event will be held in McElroy Commons’ faculty dining room as part of Boston College’s

Restorative, from A1

NICOLE VAGRA / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Office of the Dean of Students held three-day workshops surrounding restorative practices from Jan. 11 to 13.

ADITYA RAO / HEIGHTS STAFF

Johnson spoke about the importance of perseverance and mental health at this year’s Men of Color Conference.

By karyl Clifford Editorial Assistant

When Juliet Schor first learned that the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) had named her as one of its 2022 fellows, she was shocked.

“I was pretty sure I hadn’t gotten it, and that was disappointing, but it’s not like I was expecting it,” Schor said. “So when I got the notification, it was a huge shock because such a long time had passed. So I was excited, for sure.”

Schor, a Boston College sociology professor and economist, was elected under AAAS’ social, economic, and political sciences category for her teaching and research contributions.

Andrew Jorgenson, chair of BC’s sociology department, said Schor’s AAAS nomination was well-earned.

“I started crossing my fingers like ‘Okay, hopefully this will work out,’ and it did,” Jorgenson said. “It’s very well-deserved, and I’m very happy for [her].”

After working primarily in the field of economics early in her career, Schor felt that her work and

interests, specifically surrounding consumer culture, did not align with that of most economists. So, she decided to pursue a career in sociology.

“So there wasn’t a big audience, and sociology was a much better place for that,” Schor said. “I was finding that my work was being read by a lot of sociologists and anthropologists and cultural studies.”

Schor also said sociology is much more inclusive toward women compared to economics—especially when she first joined the field in the ’80s.

“In those days, I would walk into a seminar I taught at Harvard … there might be 30, 40 people there,” Schor said. “I’d be the only woman in the room. So sociology has much better gender diversity, and you don’t feel like a second-class citizen in sociology as a woman.”

Schor said she felt validated to be inducted as an AAAS fellow in its social science section given her extensive experience in both sociology and economics. Schor’s projects include a four-day week experiment, which involves company-run trials of shortened work weeks. The goal

of the trials is to observe potential effects on employee relationships and carbon emissions.

Schor currently serves on the academic board of 4 Day Week Global, a non-profit that provides a platform for supporters of the fourday work week. The organization started drawing wide media attention when it began its world-wide pilot program in early 2022.

“We’ve had really great results,” Schor said. “The trials have been really successful, and lots of benefits for employees [and] com-

panies doing really well with it. So that’s been exciting.”

During her time at BC, Schor also served as a member of the University Core Renewal Committee, which helped shape a renewed core curriculum that focuses more on interdisciplinary courses.

“One of the things I really valued most about my time here was that I was on the committee that helped shape the renewed core,” Schor said. “And I have been teaching a renewed course, a complex problems course, since the

beginning.”

Through her contributions to the field of social science, Jorgenson said Schor successfully bridges the gap between academia and civil society.

“She’s been a wonderful example, for me and for others, [of] how you can effectively kind of reach much broader audiences with your research and really have more of a real world impact with the work that you’re doing,” Jorgenson said. “She’s a role model for others in that sense.” n

Vitillo Highlights Catholics Aiding Ukrainian Refugees

personal hygiene products,” Vitillo said.

“I heard them anxious in sharing their fears that nothing would be left on the shelves, or that the store was closed before they made it to the front of the line.”

Vitillo explained the distress he saw on the faces of those who had been forced from their homes. He said he was inspired by the gratitude the refugees expressed to the local church for the care it gave them.

humanitarian needs.”

Vitillo announced at the event that the ICMC is partnering with the Ukrainian Knights of Columbus as well as the Greek and Latin Catholic seminaries to help raise funds and provide psychological trauma treatment for refugees. He also highlighted the struggle for refugees to find asylum after fleeing Ukraine.

By luke Bellaud Heights Staff

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused one of the largest and fastest forced displacement crises since World War II, according to Monsignor Robert Vitillo, secretary general of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC).

“Refugees from Ukraine recorded across Europe: eight million,” Vitillo said. “Refugees from Ukraine registered for temporary or similar national protection schemes in Europe: 4.8 million. The number of people in need

By Will MarTino Asst. News Editor

Lively music filled the room as students and faculty shuffled into Gasson 100 on Thursday night. Red, yellow, and green banners hung from the surrounding walls, spelling out the words “Black History Month.”

“We mark the start of our month-long celebration of thousands of years of strength, perseverance, triumph, love, creativity, beauty, and of course, excellence,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper Whitehead.

Cooper Whitehead’s speech kicked off a lineup of guest speakers and performances for the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center’s annual Black History Month Opening Ceremony, which celebrated the theme “Stronger Together” this year.

In her opening speech, Cooper Whitehead emphasized the diversity within Black history and its significance beyond the historical figures that society most often recognizes.

“It is also essential, during Black History Month, to acknowledge the people who may not be famous— those names who are not written

of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine: 17.6 million.”

Vitillo discussed the state of Ukraine’s refugee crisis and the work of Catholic humanitarian organizations to aid displaced citizens at an event co-sponsored by the Boston College School of Social Work, the Office of Global Education, and the Church in the 21st Century Center on Friday.

“Women and children make up 90 percent of people fleeing the crisis and are at risk of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse,” Vitillo said “As the war stretches out, integrating long term actions focusing on

the protection of women and children to mitigate their vulnerabilities to the conflict, is recognized as a priority that should be complementary to providing basic needs.”

Vitillo examined the crisis first hand in early July of last year when he and some of his ICMC colleagues took a solidarity mission to Ukraine and Poland to show their support for the Ukrainian people.

“We initiated our trek in Kraków, Poland, where we saw the long lines of mothers, babies and elderly grandparents who had been waiting in the hot sun for hours to access food and

“One woman pointed out that food and shelter was not enough since they needed to ease their hearts and their souls,” Vitillo said. “They said they found that kind of care at the seminary where they were welcomed.”

Vitillo said the ICMC ultimately decided to partner with other humanitarian groups in Ukraine rather than opening direct operations in the country.

“Upon our return, from the visit in Ukraine, we at ICMC decided to avoid opening any direct operations thereAt the strong recommendation of the papal nuncio to Ukraine, we have sought partnership with dioceses, religious orders, and Catholic-inspired

“Some countries are refusing entry to those who wish to present an asylum claim,” Vitillo said. “Others are claiming that all new arrivals are really economic migrants, even though they have not examined the individual and family situations to determine whether or not such persons have a credible fear of persecution or life threatening circumstances.”

Vitillo said he finds the hope refugees hold that they will one day return home to be especially remarkable.

“The children tapped into our heartstrings,” Vitillo said. “Their paintings showed us the true story of worries and fears. But they also featured rays of sun and hope as they imagined a new Ukraine that could enjoy peace and security once again.” n

BC Professor Juliet Schor Recognized by AAAS BAIC Holds Annual BHM Opening Ceremony

down, or whose stories are unspoken,” Cooper Whitehead said.

UGBC President Lubens Benjamin, CSOM ’23, gave a speech about the power of dreaming and the importance of Black culture.

“Black is beautiful, Black is excellent, Black is pain, Black is joy,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin recalled how his early childhood experiences with racism made him feel like his ability to achieve his dreams was limited. He eventually overcame these feelings, he said, through self-empowerment.

“But see, being Black is being free,” Benjamin said. “We are free to dare to dream outside of that box, and all it takes is a spark of inspiration.”

Associate Director of the Women’s Center Claire Johnson Allen, who also spoke at the ceremony, shared her career journey with the audience, emphasizing the value in adaptability and patience while pursuing one’s goals.

“It’s a little bit hard to recalculate life, but it is possible, and I really hope that we can find ways to embrace that—to realize that the longer route can be beneficial and impactful and is completely viable,” Johnson Allen said. Johnson Allen also spoke about

how being more holistic in her career goals and idea of success helped her avoid feelings of failure, pointing to her path after graduate school working as a waitress, performer, banker, and now as a social worker as an example.

“I was able to realize that dreams don’t necessarily die,” Johnson Allen said. “They can be amorphis as we allow them to be and want them to be.”

Benedita Zalabantu, MCAS ’25, then recited her poem “No Title,” which explores the Black female experience.

“Black girl, skin and soul, is beau-

tiful,” Zalabantu read. “Black girl wish she knew she was beautiful.”

The evening’s programming also featured a variety of performances from on-campus groups.

BC BEATS performed a cappella covers of K-Ci & JoJo’s “All My Life” and CeeLo Green’s “Forget You,” with solos by Vicky Adegboyega, MCAS ’26, and Tara Balan, MCAS ’25.

Singer-songwriter Angus Williams, MCAS ’25—who goes by the stage name CARAMEL—also performed an original song titled “Gone by the Morning” while he played the piano.

The evening closed with a performance by the Voices of Imani gospel choir and a short preview dance from Sexual Chocolate’s annual showcase. Attendee Kurt Loiseau, a doctoral student in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, said that events like the Black History Month Opening Ceremony provide a safe space for students of color on campus.

“It’s important just ’cause there aren’t a lot of spaces out there,” Loiseau said. “And I imagine it’s extremely important to add spaces like this to BC.” n

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Cooper Whitehead kicked off the lineup of speakers and performances at this year’s BHM Opening Ceremony.

BELLAUD / HEIGHTS STAFF

Vitillo discussed Catholic humanitarian efforts to aid displaced Ukrainian citizens in Gasson 100 Friday afternoon.

GRAPHIC BY PAIGE STEIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Schor, a sociology professor and economist, was named an AAAS fellow for her teaching and research contributions.

Newton Voters Voice Opinions for and Against Override

On March 14 , Newton residents will vote in a special election on three ballot questions regarding Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s proposed $ 15 million tax increase in compliance with Massachusetts’ Proposition 2 ½ procedure. Newton’s present ballot includes one operating override question, which will permanently increase Newton’s taxes by $ 9.18 million a year for general operating and capital expenses. The other two ballot questions are regarding debt overrides, which would temporarily raise taxes by $ 2.3 million and $ 3.5 million, respectively, to cover the reconstruction of Countryside Elementary School and Franklin Elementary School.

Against the Override

to make.

With the March 14 special election date drawing closer, Newton residents supporting an override vote have become more determined to make their case heard.

“This is the place that we live, and this is a moment where we can make the investment … that we need,” Kerry Prasad, Newton resident and co-founder of Vote Yes for Newton, said. “It’s like sometimes, you have to replace your roof, and no one can see it and no one even thinks you did it, and it costs money, but you have to do it to keep everything in order.”

Vote Yes for Newton is a pro-override campaign working to garner support for the tax override ahead of the special election.

Christine Dutt, another co-founder and Newton resident, said her and Prasad’s frustration with the city’s underfunded schools motivated the project.

“There’s been a structural deficit in the [Newton Public Schools] budget for a couple of years, and it does predate the pandemic,” Dutt said. “And so Newton needs to find a renewable and reliable source of funds for its operating expenses.”

Newton Public Schools (NPS) needs the override money to avoid more budget cuts, according to Dutt. Even if the override passes, NPS predicts a $2 to 4 million budget shortfall, compared to the predicted $6 to 8 million shortfall should the override fail.

Two of the three ballot questions are debt exclusion questions regarding the funding of reconstruction for two elementary schools within the city. A debt exclusion override is a tax raise that expires when the city-proposed funding for the project is achieved.

Prasad, whose children previously attended Countryside Elementary School, which would receive funding from the override, expressed frustration with the building.

“Countryside was built in a floodplain, so the basement is always flooded,” Prasad said. “It just depends on how deep the water is, which is not healthy for people to be working or going to school.”

The Countryside Elementary School Building Project—the city’s initiative for Countryside’s reconstruction— is in the feasi -

bility design phase in partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), but the MSBA will review the project if the override fails, a document from the organization reads.

Franklin Elementary School— which is the other school included in a debt exclusion question—is also in need of repair, Prasad said.

For the Override The Override Vote by the Numbers $15 million

“It’s 85 years old, and it has problems with the heating, there’s flooding problems,” Prasad said. “My favorite fun fact about it is there’s a little room that was built as a bicycle storage space in 1938. Just like so quaint, pre–World War II, and that is the art room now. So there’s not enough room.”

Beyond renovation, Mike Zilles, president of the Newton Teachers Association, said the passage of the override would provide the funding needed for educator pay.

“We’re in the middle of a contract negotiation,” Zilles said. “If the override doesn’t pass, they’re not going to offer us much money in contract negotiations.”

The Newton Teachers Association said that because the budget deficit is detrimental to teachers, it is advocating strongly for the override and any other initiatives that would dedicate more funding to the school system.

“Next Tuesday and Wednesday, we’re going to be holding standouts in front of all of the school buildings in the city of Newton,” Zilles said. “They will be educator community standouts— every building, 22 buildings.”

According to Newton resident Laura Towvim, budget problems pose a threat to her children’s education.

“You don’t just find money, it doesn’t grow on trees,” Towvim said. “I’m worried for my own children in terms of availability of courses they can take in high school, if there are less spaces for AP classes, for example, or honors classes. Or electives getting cut, or athletics might be impacted.”

In addition to education, the override will also bolster Newton’s sustainability efforts, incorporating sustainability into the reconstructed school buildings, Prasad said.

“It is our stated purpose in the city that we will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,” she said. ”

The tax increase Fuller proposed in October $5.8 million

The funds that would go toward renovating Franklin Elementary School and Countryside Elementary School if the override passes

2013

The last time Newton residents voted for an override, also in a March special election

By Connor siemien Newton Editor

Newton’s proposal to override Proposition 2 ½ is misguided, according to some political and business leaders in the city.

“I have said to everybody that this proposal for an override is way premature, and doesn’t reflect what the current conditions are, and the current monies that are there and set aside for reducing the tax rate,” Paul Coletti, a Ward 5 alderman—the previous title for city councilors in the city—for 32 years and chair of Newton’s finance committee from 1984 to 2009, said.

Randy Bock, president of the Newton Taxpayers Association, said the city should examine the funds it already has.

“Right now we have a current budget in excess of a half a billion dollars, and at least $30 million in unspent cash at the end of 2022 and $35 million in unused federal funds,” Bock said. “This Mayor insists on an additional $15 million in taxes.”

According to the city’s website, there are limits on how the city can spend these funds, often referred to as “rainy-day funds.” “Rainy-day funds” are rarely spent so that the city can maintain its Triple-A bond rating, which allows for optimal interest rates, according to the website.

Al Cecchinelli, a candidate in the 2021 mayoral election and life-long resident of Newton, said the city should use rainy-day funds for Newton Public Schools renovations instead of raising taxes through the override.

“We need to have money set aside, which we do,” Cecchinelli said. “We have a rainy-day fund. And that money needs to be used to upkeep the schools and not let them run down.”

He criticized question two of the override in particular, referencing the water damage that is prevalent in the basement of Countryside Elementary School.

“I believe they said Countryside generally has between an inch and an inch and a half of water in their basement at all times,” he said. “That’s disgusting. How do we get to that point? How did they allow this to happen? And how can any of these elected officials with a straight face come back to us and say, well, you should re-elect us so that we can continue to do this.”

Coletti said including school funding in the override vote is a misleading decision for the city

“I’m saying right now that it’s misleading to the people voting for it,” he said. “You break it up into three components and you turn around and you target people’s heartstrings saying ‘oh the schools, oh the children.’ And then the next thing, you know, the $9 million they’re putting in for, for the general override is, is far more than what we need.”

Coletti, Bock, and Cechinelli said city councilors should wait until the city’s financial picture becomes clearer, and then campaign on their override position during November’s general election.

“Someone’s got to just slow the boat, wait for the final results that come at the end of the year,” Coletti said. “And do the budget the same way as this year’s budget, you know, was done with the same numbers and do a budget for $17 million of new revenue. And then if we need an override do it in November, and when they all have to stand for reelection.”

Bock said people should vote no on March 14—even if they support the override—to force the city to give more information.

“Even people who are leaning towards, you know, giving the city the benefit of the doubt … this is still an opportunity to say ‘no’ to make the administration come up with a better argument,” he said. “In due course, we’d have a rational discussion rather than kind of pushing this forth.”

He said the November date is preferable so that city councilors have to announce their reelection campaigns and publicize their stance on the override prior to the vote.

“All the city councilors—or hopefuls, or change over, whatever—can run and they can stand on this, stand by this override rather than having kind of an aberration,” Bock said.

Coletti said further examining the need for an override presents a compromise to ensure that the override is not premature or unnecessary.

“Somewhere between where the city is now and where the ‘anti-people’ are is this happy medium, and the only way you’re going to get to that medium, that happy place—where people can analyze the actual true facts—is after the city has to close its books,” he said. “And by law report to the state and have it certified by the department of revenue what the city’s cash position is.” n

Newton Schedules Early Voting for Special Election

By henry BlancheTTe Heights Staff

Newton City Council unanimously approved early voting hours for the city’s March 14 special election at a meeting on Monday night. Three override items, including a proposed $15 million tax increase, will appear on the ballot.

Newton residents will be able to vote early at City Hall for five days leading up to the election: Friday, March 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, March 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, March 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, March 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Tuesday, March 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; according to a report from Monday’s city council meeting.

The Election Commission, which recommended the chosen early voting hours, takes both state guidelines, local trends, and accessibility into consideration when formulating the early voting schedule, according to Newton City Clerk Carol Moore.

“During state and federal elections we have to have City Hall as a space for early voting,” Moore said. “But I know the election commissioners, like, they wanted to make sure we had a weekend—a Saturday and Sunday—because you have to include days that aren’t typical work

days.”

Moore said the proposed $15 million tax override on the ballot should ensure a higher turnout than typical special elections, which necessitates several days of early voting.

“We’re projecting that we’ll have a healthy turnout because it does involve the budget,” she said. “We did want to do at least five days.”

David Hopkins, a professor in the department of political science at Boston College, said he expects early voting to remain a common practice in coming years, following pandemic-era trends of an increased reliance on early and mail-in voting.

“We can probably expect that some of the people who started voting early because of the pandemic will just continue to do so indefinitely,” Hopkins said.

Since the 2016 general election, voters in Massachusetts have been able to vote prior to election day without an excuse, according to the commonwealth’s website.

In the 2020 general election, 9,954 Newton voters opted to vote early during the designated twoweek period.

Moore said the early voting process as a whole has taken on an entirely different purpose since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The response to early voting is to

provide other ways and opportunities for people to participate in the voting process,” she said.

Hopkins said despite its rise in popularity, early voting doesn’t have a major impact on turnout in most elections.

“Debates over early voting end up being partisan,” he said. “But the evidence we have from political science research suggests that early voting does not have a significant effect on turnout, that the people who vote early would have voted anyway, by and large, had they not had the

opportunity to vote early.”

Moore said she intends to monitor early voting trends across future elections, particularly with the increased number of Newton residents voting by mail.

“Now that we have mail-in voting, we need to see if those numbers are going to change because those in-person voting now may be utilizing mailing in,” she said.

Hopkins said individuals find mail-in and early voting more convenient than voting on election day, and that has contributed to their

respective rises in popularity.

“They just enjoy the convenience of getting it done before Election Day,” he said. “If they didn’t have that opportunity, they would stand in line on Election Day with everybody else.”

Moore said she hopes early voting can play a part in expanding Newton’s voter turnout.

“I think any chance that I can provide secure ways for people to vote outside of election day, I will gladly work towards that process,” she said. “I think it’s a great way to get more people to participate.” n

‘This is America’ Art Exhibit Comes to Newton

By george ye Heights Staff

This is America , an exhibit that details the history of the United States through art, opened on Feb. 4 at Nearby Gallery in Newton Centre.

The exhibit, curated by Jamaal Eversley, aims to grapple with the country’s history, according to Eversley.

This is America is about showing the good, bad, beautiful, and ugly of America,” he wrote in a document that introduces the exhibit. “The purpose of This is America is to show that unity through diversity of voice and thought brings success to the

whole. Unity comes by understanding differences and working through them for a win.”

The exhibit runs through March 5. It is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Sam Belisle and Cal Rice, co-owners of Nearby Gallery, opened the business to showcase underrepresented artists and artworks and to create a space for engagement with the Newton community and the Greater Boston area.

Belisle said he views the gallery as an extension of the themes and topics that he focuses on in his own oil paintings.

“I work to build narratives

based on my experience as a working-class citizen in America with a lot of crossovers into like, you know, [critical race theory] and you know, just lower income experience,” he said. “And working in oil, kind of enhances it and pulls it into the conversation.”

This is America is the co-owners’ latest iteration of their goals, which includes providing a space for local artists and artists who don’t have a formal art education or exposure in the field to introduce pieces of art that deal with important issues.

Belisle said the gallery has served this purpose, pointing to a moment when artist Marla L. McLeod talked to two attendees about her piece, “Self Portrait,” a multimedia work showcasing her identity of being white, Native

American, and African American.

One piece in the exhibit— made with bullet casings and a list of people killed by gun violence— also accomplishes this, according to Belisle.

The artwork includes depictions of victims from shootings, suicide, and police brutality in hopes of addressing gun violence as a whole—encompassing the effects and themes associated with guns, such as security, fear, violence, brutality, and justice. Eversley said that he wants the exhibit to provoke thought among gallerygoers.

“Challenge yourself to look beyond our own perspective and together we can work towards a future of America that supports all citizens unequivocally,” he said. n

Five Ways to Spend Valentine’s Day in Newton

B y s hru T hi s riram

Assoc. Newton Editor

m argare T D oheny Heights Staff

As stores explode with ros es, chocolate, and everything in between, the world seems to be tinted in pink and red. Newton is no exception, and the city is offering a number of oppor tunities for Valentine’s Day. Here are five ways to celebrate the holiday.

Love You Boo Bags

For those looking to exercise their creativity, consider picking up paint kits from The Paint Bar.

No worries if painting is not your strong suit—these Love You Boo Bags come in sev eral designs, and include helpful items like two video tutorials, canvases, sets of paint, and reference photos. You and your partner can paint together at home with no pressure, as no experience or other supplies needed. Bags are $59, and can be purchased on the Paint Bar’s website.

Sweet Treats Want to surprise your sig -

nificant other with something sweet? Two local Newton bakeries are offering Valentine’s menus for you to do just that. Antonie’s Pastry Shop is an old-school bakery that opened its doors in 1954, and has been serving homemade Ital ian desserts to Newton residents since. This year, they are offering heart-shaped cakes, cookies, and more. Bet tina’s Bakery is another Newton classic, run by two trained pastry chef-owners. Antonie’s offers specialty chocolate raspberry mousse cakes and red

velvet whoopie pies as special gifts for loved ones.

Movie Night Set sail to the movies, as Feb. 10, 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the classic

are looking for a more laidback or last-minute idea, this classic romance film is the perfect date night.

Newton Fine Dining

For those looking for a traditional and timeless candlelit dinner, Newton offers plenty of upscale restaurants providing special menus for the holiday. Restaurants such as sycamore., Farmstead Table, and Bianca offer dishes ranging from sushi to steak.

Valentine’s Day Storytime and Craft

Looking to celebrate this holiday with the whole family? Storytime and Craft event.

CONNOR SIEMIEN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Early voting will take place at Newton City Hall for five days in the week prior to the March 14 override election.

GEORGE YE / HEIGHTS STAFF

The exhibit, curated by Jamaal Eversley, details the history of the United States through art.

GEORGE YE / HEIGHTS STAFF

Nearby Gallery, located in Newton Centre, hopes to highlight work from a variety of artists, the owners said.

M AGAZINE

The Absence of Abstinence: Students Reflect on Sex Culture and Policy at BC

When Ryan Kruft, CSOM ’23, ran for UGBC vice president in the spring semester of 2021, one of the major goals of his campaign was to “legalize sex” at BC. Though he lost this election, Kruft said he still thinks the University’s ban on sexual activity in the Code of Conduct is unnecessary.

“I understand where the University is coming from as a Jesuit Catholic institution, but at the same time, you can’t really enforce a rule like that,” Kruft said.

“We were just like, ‘Why is that something that the University is so worried about?’”

Kruft said students seemed to agree with his campaign on social media, but he and his running mate, Spencer Sandusky, BC ’22, were not taken very seri ously.

“We were sort of a joke campaign as much as I hate to say it, so I don’t think anyone was taking us super se riously,” Kruft said.

Though Kruft said their campaign platform was not super serious, he believes BC’s policies still have a serious impact on students. Kruft added that BC’s Catholic values should not get in the way of encouraging sexual health.

“Promoting safe sex shouldn’t be an issue of religion,” Kruft said.

BC’s policy regarding sexual activity also creates a harmful stigma around the subject, according to William Kelly, MCAS ’26, who also said the University’s policies are naive.

“Kids definitely don’t follow the rules,” Kelly said. “Sex is a taboo topic on campus, but I think that’s something that [the University] is fine with.”

Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper Whitehead did not meet The Heights’ deadline for comment.

Hookup Culture, Dating Culture, or Something in Between

Kruft said the University’s pol-

icies surrounding sex might make some students feel shameful—but that does not necessarily mean everyone, or even most students, let this shame deter them from engaging in sexual activity.

“I would say there’s more of a hookup culture at BC,” Kruft said.

“It definitely feels like people are more interested in hooking up than they are in like, meeting somebody and starting a relationship.”

Nicholas Astolfi, MCAS ’25, agrees that most students do not follow BC’s policy on sexual activity.

“We make our own culture,” Astolfi said. “The Jesuit influence doesn’t necessarily have any effect -

pus, Astolfi said BC students tend to focus on Kelly, on the other hand, said thereup culturepus where students embrace casual

“It’s much more of a hookup culture than a dating culture,” Kelly said. “For the most part, it’s like transactional hookups.”

Although Kate Salomon, MCAS ’26, does not know many people on dating apps, she said certain popular apps are associated with hookup culture in stead of se rious dating.

“The stigma sur rounding dating apps depends on which app,” Salomon said. “Tinder is known for hookup culture.”

Some professors weave the topic of hookup culture into their curriculum, but Salomon said most class discussions feel like a guilt trip.

“For one class we had a whole unit on hookup culture and why it’s bad,” Salomon said. “I feel like they’re trying to push people away from that and make you feel guilty.”

Condoms and Catholic Values

Kelly, Salomon, and Astolfi were all unaware of what sexual health resources BC provides.

“I don’t know of any sexual health resources on campus aside from maybe STD testing,” Kelly said. “I’m just unaware because it’s not talked about.”

Director of University Health Services Douglas Comeau said UHS offers testing and treatment for students with sexually transmitted infections.

“University Health Services (UHS) has daily appointments for women’s health and men’s health concerns,” Comeau said in an email to The Heights “If there is a clinical concern for sexually transmitted infection (STI), an appropriate laboratory work-up would be performed. Depending on the test results, appropriate point of care treatment or prescription treatments are provided.”

Comeau did not respond when asked if UHS offers contraceptives to students.

Because BCSSH cannot dis -

tribute contraceptives on campus due to the University’s policy, the group sets up a table outside of McElroy Commons on the corner of College Road, according to Emily Parra, former president of BCSSH and BC ’22. This location is not on University property, so BCSSH is free to hand out con traceptives. attend a Catholic high school, and she said all of her friends from home went to liberal arts col leges where sexual health resources are made wide ly avail able. So when Parra first arrived at BC, she was shocked to realize that sex is a taboo subject on campus and conversations surrounding sexual health are uncommon.

“I think BC does a very effective job at making it like a very secretive and embarrassing and shameful conversation to be having, which I think only does students a disservice,” Parra said.

Regardless of the University’s policies surrounding sex, Parra said students still engage in sexual activity.

So, she said the University should be proactive and acknowledge sexual health as an vital aspect of overall student health.

“At the end of the day, they’re just turning a blind eye to some-

thing that’s obviously happening on campus,” Parra said. “So I think that that is a very ignorant way of treating a student body.”

To fight the taboo she witnessed on campus, Parra worked to expand the resources offered by BCSSH during her time at BC. Through their tabling efforts and their Rubber Hub and condomgram services, Parra said BCSSH members hope to make sexual health resources available to

“Condoms are not that cheap,” Parra said. “It’s expensive to go buy them. You have to go off campus. If students don’t have cars it’s not just something you can naturally happen upon if a school is not offering it.”

By changing its policies and making contraceptives accessible on campus, Kelly said the University can support the student body and confront the stigma surrounding sexual health.

“Everyone’s uncomfortable talking about it,” Kelly said. “Maybe even RAs should have condoms to give to their kids if they need them.”

Because, after all, students are still going to have sex, Kelly said.

“It’s college and it’s 2023—sex is a normal thing,” Kelly said. n

Homemade on the Heights: Overnight Oats

B y J enny F ox

Heights Staff

Though it’s often considered the most important meal of the day, breakfast can be a toss-up when you’re a college student. With places to be and sleep to catch up on, breakfast is sometimes—let’s be honest, usually—a no-go. That’s why overnight oats are the solution to all your problems. They’re a quick, easy, and delicious grab-andgo option.

Now, my mornings are stressfree because I know I have a nutritious breakfast waiting in my fridge. One of the best parts of overnight oats is they’re customizable!

With endless flavor combinations, I always have an exciting new breakfast on hand that makes me excited to get up each morning. I like to spend Sunday night meal-prepping my overnight oats for the week in cute stackable mason jars.

The base recipe is easy and foolproof, and you can get creative with the toppings from there. I

included my top three overnight oats flavors: apple pie, chocolate chip banana muffin, and peanut butter cup. As long as you seal each container tight, these oats will last in your fridge all week, giving you one less thing to worry about and one more thing to look forward to every morning.

Dish:

Overnight Oats

Ingredients (base recipe):

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup milk (any type works, but

I use Core Power to add protein and flavor)

1/4 cup yogurt

1 tablespoon sweetener

1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

Caramel apple:

1/2 apple (diced)

1 teaspoon cinnamon Drizzle of caramel sauce

Pinch of salt

Chocolate chip banana muffin:

1/2 banana (mashed)

One handful of chocolate chips

Pinch of cinnamon

Peanut butter cup:

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1/2 cup chocolate Core Power (substituted for milk)

One handful of chocolate chips

Pinch of salt

Instructions:

In a mason jar or any sealed container, add the base ingredients and combine. Once the ingredients are well combined, seal the lid and keep in the refrigerator overnight or until ready to enjoy.

Caramel apple: place cinnamon and half of the diced apples in the base mixture and reserve the rest for topping. When ready

to eat, top with leftover apples, an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Chocolate chip banana muffin: stir mashed banana in with base ingredients until combined. Top with chocolate chips.

Peanut butter cup: combine base with peanut butter and fold in chocolate chips. Finally, drizzle peanut butter over top. n

BC Students for Sexual Health works to provide students with sexual health resources.

Galentine’s Day: Valentine’s Day Without a Valentine

By yoony Kim Heights Staff

Valentine’s Day—it’s the day when our hearts grow warm as we receive bouquets of flowers and chocolates with cheesy love letters stuck to them. The day is traditionally celebrated by showing extra love and affection to your significant other. But Feb. 14 can also be a sickening day for those who are single, leaving people wondering when it will be their turn to receive a valentine. But don’t worry, this day can instead be spent celebrating the love we have for our friends. So, set aside your Valentine’s Day blues and celebrate Galentine’s Day with these tips.

Exchange Gifts

The best way to celebrate Galentine’s Day, a holiday where women can honor their love for their friends, is to exchange Valentine’s Day–themed gifts. You can show appreciation for your friends by gifting them small, inexpensive items like a box of chocolates, a stuffed animal, or a fuzzy blanket. It does not have to be extravagant—it’s the thought that counts. Simply stop by a nearby CVS, where you can find aisles of Valentine’s Day gifts. To add some extra sentimental value, purchase a cute card and write a note telling

your friends how grateful you are to have them in your life.

Have a Potluck or a Picnic

What can fulfill you if you’re not in a relationship? Food. Gather all your beloved gals and have a potluck. Everyone can bring a dish to share—bonus points if you bring

a Valentine’s Day–themed dish. A picnic is also a great go-to option if you want to relax and catch up with your friends. If the weather is favorable, set out to Boston Common and the Public Garden to enjoy the green scenery. The roads surrounding Boston Common are also packed with quality coffee and

brunch spots, so you can pick up scrumptious food for your picnic.

Movies and Drinks

There’s no better way to celebrate a single Valentine’s Day than having a cozy night in with your friends and roommates. Put on a rom-com and sip on your drink of

choice. It’s the perfect time to get creative with your drinks—there are countless special Valentine’s Day cocktails and mocktails you can stir up and serve to your friends. You can also make or buy cute desserts for everyone to enjoy, such as chocolate strawberries or heart-shaped cookies. n

/ HEIGHTS EDITOR

At Solodko, Znakharchuk Serves Ukrainian Sweets

By Brianna Tang Heights Staff

While traveling to Ukraine to see family in 2018, Ilona Znakharchuk visited a pastry shop owned by a family friend’s daughter. Znakharchuk gained some new recipes and felt inspired to bring the Ukrainian pastry scene back to Boston.

“We were blown away by the pastry scene,” Znakharchuk, BC ’21, said. “Everything was so delicious and so pretty at the same time, and we came back thinking that it is something we don’t see in Boston.”

One of the recipes she brought back from Ukraine was for macarons, which became Znakharchuk’s specialty at Boston College. During her sophomore year, Znakharchuk spent her weekends baking at her home in Westfield, Mass. She would then bring her desserts back to campus to share with her roommates.

Five years later, Znakharchuk and her sister, Irina Znakharchuk, own Solodko, a Ukrainian bakery they recently opened in Brighton that specializes in custom cakes.

When she first started making her desserts at BC, Znakharchuk hesitated to sell them because she knew nothing about running a business. Eventually, one of her roommates persuaded her to

create an Instagram page where she could promote and sell her desserts.

“The funny thing is, I didn’t put my name on it and I wanted nothing personally associated with it because I thought if this doesn’t work, I’ll just delete it,” Znakharchuk said.

Word spread quickly at BC— soon Znakharchuk received weekly macaron orders from professors and students. Znakharchuk said she would take orders on Thursdays and Fridays, bake over the weekend, and then deliver the orders to students’ dorms and professors’ offices.

During her junior year, Znakharchuk joined Start@Shea’s Accelerator Program. Through this program, which connects student entrepreneurs with mentors from the business world, she gained practical business experience.

By the time senior year rolled around, she knew she wanted to continue selling baked goods fulltime after graduation.

But things did not go exactly as planned. Znakharchuk accepted a full-time finance position at a wealth management company in Boston after graduation, running her baking business as a side hustle with her sister.

“We rented a commercial kitchen space, and we were working our finance jobs by day and

then after work we would go on and make desserts,” Znakharchuk said. “After six months of working the full-time job and the business, I realized that this was not sustainable. Both my sister and I got really burnt out in those six months from the sheer amount of hours we were working.”

Znakharchuk said leaving her finance job was a hard decision to make—she enjoyed the job and did not want to leave it for a business that was not guaranteed to succeed. Yet, she was too committed to her business to completely close it. When she did not know what to do, Znakharchuk said she found her answer through prayer and felt that God was calling her to pursue her dream.

In May of 2022, Znakharchuk and Irina began looking for places to open a storefront bakery. In August, they got the keys to their current storefront in Brighton, and they spent the next few months renovating the space. Solodko held its grand opening in November of 2022.

The sisters work as a team to tackle the business and baking aspects of the bakery. From the start, Irina was responsible for arranging and putting together funding as she had prior experience in the corporate finance world. In the kitchen, they each have their specialties—Znakharchuk focuses on

cakes, and Irina focuses on croissants.

“The way we work on bigger projects is I usually work on the raw ingredients to make sure the creams, sponges, and everything that makes up a full dessert is ready and baked and made,” Irina said. “Then, [Ilona] comes in and assembles everything. She is more of the artist that decorates and I’m like a backstage person.”

What sets Solodko apart from other bakeries in the Boston area is its Ukrainian identity. Solodko makes a large selection of traditional Ukrainian desserts, including honey cake and strawberry poppyseed croissants. Beyond the kitchen, Solodko also works with local nonprofits and refugee aid organizations.

“My sister and I discussed how we want to be a safe place for refugees who are coming over from Ukraine right now to the Boston area,” Znakharchuk said.

“Our first employee we hired moved from Ukraine to Boston a few months ago and it would be very hard for her to find a job elsewhere because of the language barrier. It’s been great working with her and helping her make a new home in Boston after having to leave her entire life because of the war.” As a 23-year-old entrepreneur, one of the biggest challenges Znakharchuk said she has faced is learning to manage the ins and outs of a small business. From baking to retail, marketing, and customer interaction, the three-person team at Solodko handles it all. Recently, the bak-

ery drew more media publicity, which has presented additional unexpected challenges.

“It makes me so happy and it’s always such an honor when people come and ask us for an interview, but at the same time it’s only a very small snippet of our entire business journey,” Znakharchuk said. “In a way it’s like a highlight reel because you’re not going to sit there telling the reporter about horrible days and when your cakes fail. It can feel a little isolating and disorienting.”

Despite the challenges, Znakharchuk said she always reminds herself to stay disciplined in her work. This mindset has gotten her through the most difficult days of running her business, she said.

“There are going to be days when your motivation is not there and it’s just a hard day and everything goes wrong,” Znakharchuk said. “But if you have discipline and if you’re consistent, that discipline will get you through those hard days until you can get to a point where you have motivation.”

In the future, Irina said they hope to be able to open more locations in Boston so more people can access their business.

“For all of those who have been coming already, we’re happy to have you and hope that you are enjoying our products,” Irina said. “For those who haven’t visited us yet, we highly encourage stopping by and enjoying one of the croissants or trying out a different Slavic cake by the slice. These are flavors that you won’t find elsewhere, and we hope to continue meeting new people at our shop.” n

GRAPHIC BY PAIGE STEIN

Ilona Znakharchuk, BC ’21, opened Solodko, where she sells Ukrainian pastries and specializes in custom cakes.

During her time at BC, Znakharchuk sold pasteries to students and professors.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILONA ZNAKHARCHUK

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILONA ZNAKHARCHUK

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

Broken (Lollipop) Hearts and Hope

the back of my friend’s car and held up the heart-shaped lollipop I’d just unwrapped, unsure whether I should laugh or cry at its blatant mockery of my love life. Half of the candy remained perfectly intact, glistening red under the dim parking lot light. The rest of it had shattered, the jagged shards of candy spilling onto my lap.

As “Enchanted,” Taylor Swift’s unofficial anthem for overly analytical hopeless romantics, played in the background, I felt my tendency to overthink creeping in.

I used to count down the days until Feb. 14. I lived for the promise of cutting out paper hearts instead of sitting through phonics lessons. Being the perfectionist I am, I would spend days on end meticulously crafting valentines for all of my classmates, embellishing each with glitter, glue, hearts, and pink lace.

I once saw syrupy cherry lollipops and cards adorned with lopsided hearts as an expression of love, whatever that meant to a 10-year-old. But I was soon hit with the reality of love—or lack thereof.

School hallways plastered with glittery hearts weren’t always enough to deflect the true meaning of the holiday. I spent middle school weaving past couples who held hands in the halls and watching as sappy love notes were inconspicuously slipped into lockers.

In high school, the overeager displays of affection only got worse. It felt like everyone was either stressing about where to make a dinner reservation or pretending that Valentine’s Day didn’t exist to avoid the inevitable tears. I don’t think it’ll be too hard to guess which category I fell into.

Flash forward to Feb. 14, 2022. I sat in

I’m the type of person to read into things. And I mean really read into them. As ridiculous as it might sound, I saw myself reflected in the fragmented piece of candy before me.

Part of me wanted to retain hope, clinging tight to the idea of love I’d dreamed up when I was little. But, that hope was slowly crumbling as I spent my 18th Valentine’s Day without the flowers or chocolates (or boyfriend) I watched girls at school gush over. Valentine’s Day had become nothing more than a self-enforced social media cleanse to avoid scrolling through the countless pictures of the same couples proclaiming their love for one another (as if the monthly anniversary posts weren’t enough).

Now here’s the thing—I was subconsciously aware that I was by no means unique in my situation. Even as I was sitting there with the broken lollipop that I’d given unnecessary metaphorical value to, I was surrounded by friends. None of us had the bouquets of roses that society had made us believe we should covet, but we had each other. So maybe this wasn’t the way my nine-year-old self imagined I’d

be spending Valentine’s Day as a senior in high school, but I was surrounded by so much love.

Although we spent the night at a restaurant full of couples, dinner dates were the last thing on my mind. I don’t remember what we talked about or why we spent half the night laughing, but I do know that it brought me the same joy that childhood card exchanges once had.

I won’t lie and say that Valentine’s Day is something I’m looking forward to this year. I know it won’t be filled with the type of romance you read about in Jane Austen novels, but I’ve at least learned how to make it bearable.

So whether you’re anticipating or dreading Feb. 14, try to surround yourself with the people, places, and things that you love and that make you feel loved. Instead of lamenting the romantic love that has yet to enter your life, take the time to appreciate the other types of love that are already in front of you.

Valentine’s Day might praise romance, but I’d argue that platonic love is so much stronger. The word “valentine” has origins in the idea of strength, so who’s to say that the unbreakable bonds between friends don’t qualify for celebration too?

Although, if you are single, maybe skip the heart-shaped candy. No matter how much strength you try to embrace, you never know when a broken lollipop will be enough to make you cry—or perhaps even become the inspiration for your writing an entire year later.

Embrace Your Inner Animal

and sequestering ourselves in compact cities, we cannot escape the fact that nature trickles into every crevice it can. Even the smallest weed peeping through your otherwise completely developed backyard is nature. Life has a clever way of creeping in like that.

Close your eyes and think about nature. Or don’t close your eyes, considering you can’t read with your eyes closed. Okay, so just think about nature then—nothing specific, just nature. Try to indulge all of your senses. Take note of the smells, sights, and sounds.

Perhaps you imagined standing next to a babbling brook or walking through the depths of the forest. You could’ve been surrounded by trees and the smell of a recent rain. Maybe you even saw a deer or some other critter romping around beside you.

Perhaps you imagined laying out in the sand on a beach, and maybe you felt the warmth of the sun beating down on you from above.

But I can almost guarantee that no images with people crossed your mind.

You probably did not imagine throngs of people out in the woods with you or apartment buildings dotting your serene beach scene. And that is not uncommon—we rarely think of ourselves as a part of nature anymore. But humans actually are a part of nature. We can never fully separate ourselves from it, no matter how hard we try.

If you think about it, despite our best attempts to isolate ourselves from nature by hiding behind the walls of our houses

Even as technology continues to advance, people will always have a relationship with nature. Our food comes from nature, as do our medicines, shelters, and clothes. Think of aloe vera, the natural burn cream. By the early 2000s, 70 percent of new drugs on the American market were derived directly from nature. Any clothes you have that are made of cotton, silk, or wool are all derived from plants or animals. Likewise, many building materials are also derived from natural resources, such as wood, cob, and adobe.

Thinking that humans are estranged from nature, or that nature only exists in pure wilderness, leads to an anthropogenic mindset, where we continually exploit natural resources for our benefit without making any efforts to restore what we are taking. If, in your mind, you and nature are not connected at all, why would it matter that you are harming it? Why would it matter that we keep drilling for fossil fuels if it will never affect us?

In reality, we are a part of these natural systems and therefore cannot separate the impacts of our actions from nature itself. Let’s not forget that under all of our fancy clothes and societal norms, humans are animals, and we are still contributing to the food webs and nutrient cycles that we learned about in our middle school science classes.

When we exclude ourselves from nature it is easy to not consider making the

“environmental choice”—whether that choice involves being energy conscious in our homes or making an effort to buy local produce. In re-imagining our involvement in nature, or just realizing how truly interconnected we are with it, we can begin to understand how harmfully humans have treated nature, and we will start to realize our obligation to mend that relationship.

Nature is not some far-out concept— it’s not something that can only be seen in the national parks far, far away from Boston College. Carelessly littering or continuing to superfluously buy unsustainable items is affecting not only the forest, beach, or whatever natural scene you imagined just a moment ago, but it is also directly affecting the ground you walk on every day as you head to class. It is directly affecting you through the food you eat. Remember, we reap what we sow, so harming nature is only going to end up harming people in the long run.

Thankfully, because nature is so omnipresent, it is easy to connect and rekindle the relationship that will lead us toward a sustainable future. Nature is close to you, always. Nature is the bunnies in the Mods. It’s the pine trees in BC’s Pine Tree Preserve. It’s the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and all the geese who monopolize the track.

You are a natural being (I hope, AI is getting weird). Don’t exclude yourself from being a part of nature. Go engage with it, envelop yourself in the real human experience, the one where humans and nature fairly share their existence on this planet we both call home.

Study Abroad, Here We Come!

After weeks of anxious waiting and one frustrating “hang in there” email from the Office of Global Education (OGE), sophomores took a collective sigh of relief when they saw their study abroad decisions come out this past Friday. With 70 percent of the class getting their first choice, OGE has created many giddy world travelers to be. As this semester presses on, dreams of future adventures are taking hold in the minds of Boston College sophomores. So look out Dublin, Madrid, Santiago, Seoul, and more—here comes the Class of 2025!

Nice Weather? In February?

Just one week ago, we at Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down suggested that February was the worst month of the year. Bad weather, bad holidays, and bad vibes felt inevitable at the start of the month. Yet, despite our accusations, this February has (at least) one major redeeming quality: it has featured several days with breezy, mid-50s weather. We weren’t expecting to break out our light flannels so early in the year, but this switch is a joyous one—even if frigid days still slightly outnumber the bearable ones.

Football + Orgo ≠ Happy Students

As if organic chemistry exams aren’t bad enough on their own, the timing of this semester’s exam schedule could not have been worse: major orgo exams are happening the day after the Super Bowl for many Eagles. These exams become a campus-wide phenomenon, with the stress of the class infiltrating all of the concerned friends of pre-med and biochemistry majors. For students looking forward to spending their Sunday evening watching the game with their friends, they faced a predicament of where to take the “L” this weekend. Here’s hoping the only loss was for a team and not for our orgo warriors.

Conte’s Finishing Blemishes

Construction along Lower Campus began over seven months ago for the Hoag Basketball Pavilion, and it shows no signs of stopping—or getting any prettier. Regardless of the building’s eventual utility or glamor, it’s currently an obstructive eyesore for thousands of students. For months, Eagles using the Million Dollar Stairs have had to play the “will they, won’t they?” game to see whether or not the staircase is closed due to construction. Even when all paths are open, it doesn’t help that students must endure the construction’s dirt and dust to fight their 9 a.m. demons.

Makayla Hickey

alli Hargrove

GRAPHICS BY ALYSSA ANDERSON AND PAIGE STEIN / HEIGHTS EDITORS Alli Hargrove is a columnist for The Heights She can be reached at allison.hargrove@bc.edu.

Makayla Hickey is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at makayla.hickey@bc.edu.

Rev. J. Donald Monan Built Boston College. The School Should Name 245 Beacon After Him.

Through his 24 years at the helm of Boston College, former University President Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J. saved BC from financial ruin and bolstered the University’s status as a top institution of American higher education. Now, regardless of its financial interests, the University should honor Monan’s transformative presidency by naming 245 Beacon Street after him.

Monan arrived at BC in 1972 at a time when the University faced financial debt. It was also predominantly male and largely a commuter college.

But from the beginning, Monan saw BC’s potential.

“I would like to ask that all of us not only always pursue excellence and always achieve excellence by others’ standards,” Monan said at a gathering at the start of his presidency.

“I want to ask something more, because I think we have the opportunity and the resources for more. I ask that we create new standards of excellence, and that we be the first to achieve those standards. I believe we can do it.”

And by the time he finished his tenure leading BC, the University exceeded those high-reaching standards.

The University’s endowment was among the highest in the nation, application numbers had more than doubled, and the school was ranked in the top 40 among national universities according to the U.S. News &

World Report in 1996.

Almost 30 years later, Monan’s legacy is impossible to avoid. During his presidency, Monan facilitated the construction of Robsham Theater, O’Neill Library, Conte Forum, Merkert Chemistry Center, the McMullen Museum of Art, the John J. Burns Library, and Newton Campus’ Law Library. He also oversaw immense renovations to Bapst Library and Alumni Stadium.

But Monan’s impact extends beyond these physical markers of growth. The Jesuit embodied BC’s principles of educational advancement by striving to put students first.

“I will try and give all the time I can to students because after all students are what we are all about,” Monan said in his first interview with The Heights in 1972.

Despite Monan’s immense contributions to the University, he is not honored with any major physical memorial on campus. As of 2023, BC’s tributes to Monan are minimal— chief among them are a visiting professorship title in the theatre department and a general University fundraising tier level.

In 2017, The Heights ’ former editorial board advocated for Monan’s recognition by proposing that 90 St. Thomas More Rd. be named after Monan. While this residence hall remains an important part of the sophomore living experience at BC, it does not fully honor Monan’s revolutionary spirit.

But 245 Beacon Street does. The $150 million building, home of the Schiller Insti -

tute for Integrated Science and Society, is the single largest investment in the sciences in BC’s history.

It is the new site of BC’s computer science department and the Edmund H. Shea Jr. Center for Entrepreneurship, and it also houses BC’s new human-centered engineering program—an innovative blend of liberal arts and rigorous STEM training.

The sunlight-filled building represents a historic shift toward pioneering experiential learning at BC—a path that perfectly represents Monan’s forward-thinking leadership approach. BC has often named its buildings after important and influential people in its history. The majority of the dorms on Upper Campus—including Gonzaga, Loyola, and Xavier—are named after Jesuit saints, and a number of academic buildings—including Gasson, Fulton, and Devlin—are named for Jesuits involved in the University’s history.

Although The Heights understands the University is financially incentivized to seek out donations when naming its buildings, it should—for at least a moment—return to this history. And if BC will not honor Monan by putting his name on a building, it can cultivate larger and more intentional ways to remember his legacy.

Alongside Rev. Thomas I. Gasson, S.J. and Rev. William J. Devlin, S.J., Monan was a “man who built BC.” It is time the University properly honors him.

KENNETH CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Flavia Piovesan presents on LGBTI rights in the Americas during an event on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

Attacker Jenn Medjid launches a shot into the top of the goal past goalie Kait Devir in BC lacrosse’s season opener on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

Midfielder Ryan Smith evades defenders in a 14–3 win over No. 18 USC on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

Joseph Johnson speaks at the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center’s annual Men of Color Conference on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

KENNETH CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF

Musical performances in O’Connell House during the Living in Color series celebrate Black arts and culture on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

ALINA CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF UPrising Dance Crew performs during the Korean Student Association Culture Showcase on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

IN F

BeanpotPhotos

‘Saint Omer’ Explores Nuances of Motherhood

By yating Wang Heights Staff

A mother’s intuition typically tells her to protect her kids at all costs, but sometimes different psychological factors play into mothers doing just the opposite.

Medea is a Greek mythology figure who is known for just that—she kills her two sons after their father leaves her for another woman. In the film Saint Omer, Laurence Coly (Gusalgie Malanda), is on trial for infanticide at the Saint-Omer Criminal Court. Her story mirrors Medea’s story of loss and perseverance.

Saint Omer, nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, follows novelist Rama (Kayije Kagame) as she attends Laurence’s trial to write her book Medea Castaway about a modern-day Medea.

Director Alice Diop does not set out to answer whether Laurence was justified in killing her baby. Rather, she depicts what makes a young, intelligent mother turn into an isolated, almost phantom mother who was never seen taking care of her child.

The French film is inspired by Fabienne Kabou’s real-life court case for the same crime. Diop, who attended Kabou’s trial and has a background in documentary filmmaking, weaves documentary-esque footage into Saint Omer, indulging the viewers to imagine being in the courtroom as if they were one of the jurors listening to Laurence’s story.

Starting off as a courtroom drama, Saint Omer transforms itself into a heartbreaking tale of womanhood, drawing any mother or daughter to experience Laurence’s emotional journey. The movie beautifully explores how much moral responsibility a

woman should take as a mother and a daughter, yet the viewers may be overwhelmed by the excessive length of the trial filmed.

Despite what many societies believe, not every woman wants to become a mother, as shown in Rama’s reactions to the court case. The movie intertwines Laurence’s testimony with Rama’s innerthoughts. Hearing Laurence recount her story of how she felt before and after giving birth alarms Rama about how a mother can be overwhelmed by having a baby. Rama is intimidated and even threatened by the drastic personality changes that a woman may undergo in motherhood, as demonstrated by the reappearing, fast sounds of a heartbeat in the background of the film.

Examples of mothers offering some form of justification for killing their children exist in fiction, such as when Sethe from Beloved by Toni

Morrison justified killing her baby to prevent her from the suffering of slavery. But Laurence lacks a justified reason for the murder of her children.

The viewer stares directly into Laurence’s lawyer Vaudenay’s (Aurélia Petit) eyes as if she is talking to every single audience member while making her defense. Vaudenay’s questions and powerful statements tear down the calm facade of Laurence, unveiling

Laurence’s intrinsic maternity, and touches on the complicated notion of motherhood.

Vaudenay interprets Laurence’s crime in both mystical and scientific terms, utilizing sorcery as a defense strategy.

Read the rest of this story at www.bcheights.com

Tennis Transcends Genres and Decades on ‘Pollen’

By Erin PEndEr Heights Staff

Tennis isn’t just a sport—it’s also the name of a talented indie pop group from Denver, Colo. Tennis, composed of married duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, creates a sound that is both groovy and catchy. Pollen , the duo’s sixth album release since its debut in 2010, contains lots of experimental instrumentation and genre

switching.

Tennis’ music has the unique ability to transcend genres and time periods. While certain songs have an ’80s-esque synth, including “Forbidden Doors,” others are influenced by the indie movement, particularly the last two songs on the album, “Never Been Wrong” and “Pillow For a Cloud.”

Moore’s vocals are unmistakably unique. Her voice has a breathy, soft quality on songs with

a more tender mood, while a quiet strength is evident in her range on other tracks.

On “Never Been Wrong,” the whispery yet strong quality of Moore’s voice is showcased, sounding similar to Phoebe Bridgers. This track also features an intricate guitar solo, even amid its more reflective feeling. Continuing with a Bridgers-esque sound is “Pillow For a Cloud,” an incredibly wistful song where the narrator ponders a number of “what if?” statements in her relationship.

“If only you and I began again / Instead of reliving old sins / I’d never let you down,” Morris sings.

This song is similar in style to the music of Boygenius, Bridgers’ supergroup with Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker. “Pillow for a Cloud” feels very modern and in tune with human emotions.

“Forbidden Doors” serves as a great opener for Pollen. The song

is more lyric heavy than a number of the songs on the album, but it tells a beautifully composed story questioning all of the things that someone has missed out on or shut the door on throughout their life. It also emphasizes the uniqueness of Moore’s voice and features a prominent electronic synth.

“One Night with the Valet” is another standout track on the album. Similar to “In the Morning I’ll Be Better,” released in 2017, this song showcases the softer side of Moore’s voice. The song is quite vibrant and also subtly uses a xylophone win the background, displaying Tennis’ creative use of instruments. Even the most subtle touches in Tennis’ songs make the full tracks layered and distinctly unique from one another.

The experimental use of instruments is shown again in “Paper,” which has a supporting flute part in the background. “Paper” also

demonstrates how lyrically attuned Moore’s voice is, with her ability to manipulate her voice to match the mood of a song. There also is a fade out with the synth at the very end of the song that provides a steady transition into the next track.

“Gibraltar” is one of—if not the best—song on the album. The track features a standout guitar section that differentiates it from the rest of the album. “Gibraltar” is a faster paced song than the others, adding a level of energy to a mellow album. The lyrics describe the desire to be with a person no matter the circumstances.

Pollen is a fantastic example of the modern indie music scene. Tennis’ ability to combine genres and its interesting use of instruments and vocals makes it a standout band. Pollen is a great indication of how far its music has come and how much more music it has to make. n

Yo La Tengo Keeps to Shoegaze Roots on New Album

By LEah StitzEL Heights Staff

Active since 1984, Yo La Tengo was indie before indie was a thing. Influenced by British alternative bands such as The Velvet Underground and The Kinks, Yo La Tengo introduced the dreamy shoegaze genre to American audiences.

Shoegaze, an offshoot of alternative rock, is characterized by obscured vocals, murky guitar, and a noisy feeling of nostalgia. It has largely fallen out of the mainstream in favor of today’s soft indie rock. Yo La Tengo, however, is keeping the genre alive. With This Stupid World, released Feb. 10, the band stays true to its roots without sounding tired.

The title says it all. This Stupid World is both a love letter and a lament to modern life. Those struggling with an identity crisis or sense of loss in a chaotic world may not find

Leith Ross

hope in songwriter and lead singer

Ira Kaplan’s lyrics, but they will find a deep relatability. The catharsis provided by Kaplan’s often melancholy verses is overwhelming at times but leaves listeners feeling a little less alone.

“Fallout,” the album’s second track, features layered electric guitar and a quick beat. It is more rock influenced than most of the band’s earlier work, but layered vocals contribute to a dreamy feeling. Kaplan’s vocal range is limited, but the song’s use of instrumentation gives it an illusion of depth. Reminiscent of Modern English’s hit “I Melt With You,” the song feels nostalgic for a time and place that doesn’t exist.

“I don’t know how it’s gonna be / Close your eyes, fall out of time with me,” Kaplan sings.

The album as a whole—with its long instrumental breaks and reverb-heavy guitar—conveys a feeling

of uncertainty for the future.

When Kaplan is not singing, the band’s percussionist—and Kaplan’s wife—Georgia Hubley takes the mic. She has been instrumental in the band’s success, providing a dynamic sound and breaking up the band’s more monotonous albums. Featured on two out of the album’s nine tracks, Hubley’s voice lends an ethereal quality to the band’s music.

“Aselestine,” the first song where Kaplan’s voice is not heard, has a more

folksy, floating sound than previous songs on the album. It is quintessential shoegaze, mixing an acoustic guitar melody with blurred electric guitar in the background. Hubley’s voice is warmer than Kaplan’s on the surface, but her lyrics are just as haunting.

“The clock won’t tick / I can’t predict,” she sings.

Ambiguous verses fill the album, but where words are absent, meaning is expertly filled by the music itself. Yo La Tengo is far less lyrically focused

than most of today’s indie bands, but its songs leave a refreshing space for the imagination of listeners.

Much of this imaginative instrumentation comes through in the last few tracks. Although some songs are over seven minutes long, even listeners with the shortest of musical attention spans won’t get bored.

“Brain Capers” features heavy guitar layering and murky feedback noises typical of classic shoegaze, but in more of a meandering, jam-session format. Headphones don’t do it justice—it is the kind of song you want to hear live.

With 40 years of experience under its belt, Yo La Tengo created an album that both longtime fans and newer generations will connect with. With haunting lyrics and influences from folk, rock, and grunge, This Stupid World is nostalgic yet relevant. It reminds listeners why they loved shoegaze—or why they should start loving it now n

Depeche Mode “Ghosts Again”

JAWNY

in love”

Electronic

JAWNY’s “fall in love” is a single about moving on from a relationship. Released on Feb. 10, “fall in love” contains some of JAWNY’s most vulnerable and nostalgic lyrics. The song is slow and delicate, mirroring the singer’s voice and fragile feelings.

band Depeche Mode released “Ghosts Again” on Feb. 9. The song combines a rather simple verse melody with provoking lyrics about existence and the inevitability of death. The entrancing beat and familiar use of synths evokes a ’90s club electro-pop nostalgia.

“fall

‘Living in Color’ Event Celebrates Black Musicians

By Jack Weynand Heights Staff

Just over a week after three poets shared their stories in the first event of Living in Color, musicians took the stage on Sunday night in the second event of the series dedicated to celebrating Black artists.

Living in Color is a two-part series, organized by Angus Williams, MCAS ’25, that was created to celebrate Black arts and culture during Black History Month.

Williams, who goes by the stage name CARAMEL, opened Sunday’s event by speaking to the audience. He emphasized the importance of life and happiness. Throughout the night, Williams asked how the audience members were and told them to answer with “surviving.” He said this response speaks better to people’s daily struggles and emotions than a simple “good”—the expected and

overused answer.

Black Experience in America

Through Song (B.E.A.T.S.) sang first. B.E.A.T.S. started its performance the same way it starts every performance, with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” commonly referred to as the “Black National Anthem.” The group then sang a rendition of “Independent Woman Part 1” by Destiny’s Child, followed by a cappella versions of “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo, “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey, and “Forget You” by CeeLo Green. As the group bowed after performing their last song, “Fight For You” by H.E.R, the crowd burst into applause.

After the show, B.E.A.T.S. soloist Victoria Adegboyega, MCAS ’26, said the process of practicing for the showcase was extensive.

“It’s definitely a lot of practice,” Adegboyega said. “I played the song a bunch of times when I was in the shower so I [could] get it ingrained in

my memory. I was singing it on my way to class, playing it on my Beats. Sometimes I would actually write the lyrics down.”

The second group to perform was The Voices of Imani, Boston College’s gospel choir, which sings African-American gospel music. The

group kicked off its section of the show with a vocal warm-up followed by a vocally layered performance of “Seteng Sediba.” Voices of Imani sang a rendition of “Blackbird” by The Beatles with perfectly blended harmonies and finished its performance off with “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning.”

Waaw Waaw, a West African Music Ensemble at BC, was the third group to perform. The group encouraged audience participation in every aspect of its performance. Waaw Waaw’s sophisticated drum beats matched up synchronously with its dances.

The dance group continuously encouraged the audience to clap and dance along, bringing a new type of energy into the room.

CARAMEL closed out the night with his own performance, in which he sang and played the piano. His first song was a cover of “Glory” by John Legend and Common. His final two

songs were original pieces—“Tired” and “Gone By The Morning.” The audience gave CARAMEL a standing ovation as he wrapped up the night.

After the show, CARAMEL spoke about how his creative process when songwriting centers around telling a story.

“It’s about taking the time to like, understand yourself, and like what’s stressing you out, like what story you want to tell, how you want to tell that story,” CARAMEL said.

CARAMEL said he plans to continue organizing events like Living In Color for the BC community in the future, as he continues to grow as a musician and reach a larger audience.

“I think a big thing for me, something I really want to do is just create a group of real artists, like people that really love music, really love art, writing altogether,” CARAMEL said. “And by doing this, I’m able to bring them together and I’m able to keep building this. It’s like artistry.” n

Leaf: Breaking Down the Grammys Red Carpet

Heights Staff

The red carpet at the 2023 Grammy Awards was full of unique and extravagant outfits. On music’s biggest night of the year, some stars came studded in their most over-the-top outfits, while others opted for a more subtle look. Overall, the outfits of this year’s winners were representative of each artist’s personal and musical style. Here is a breakdown of the outfits of the winners in the four biggest categories—Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.

Harry Styles

Harry Styles, who won Album of the Year for Harry’s House, walked down the red carpet in

for the most part, covered by the flared out legs of his jumpsuit, but the white complicated the fabric’s busy pattern nicely.

As expected, Styles’ outfit pushed back and challenged the boundaries of gendered clothing. Although some respond negatively to his style, I find it inspiring and brave that as time passes, Styles continues to become more confident in his looks.

Lizzo

Lizzo won Record of the Year for her song “About Damn Time,” and her breathtaking initial red carpet look was an embodiment of the elaborate unafraid nature of her music. She was decked out in a monochrome orange Dolce & Gabbana outfit with a show-stopping deep orange cape decorated by flowers. The cape captured her

single flower in her hair, floral accents on her nails, dramatic orange eyeshadow, orange mesh detached sleeves, chunky diamond rings, and single spit curl on her forehead completed this breathtaking look. Her look was a masterpiece, but the outfit showing underneath her extravagant cape was disappointing and lacked the same excitement as her outer covering. Lizzo wore a lighter orange set with a mesh long, flowy skirt and a matching corset top with diamond straps under her show stopping cape. Overall, before revealing the orange set under the cape, Lizzo’s outfit was daring and eye-catching, standing out on the red carpet in the best way.

Bonnie Raitt

Seventy-three-year-old

took home this year’s Song of the Year Grammy award in an elegant but mundane outfit. Raitt wore black pants that slightly flared out over her black high-heeled boots. A navy blue leopard printed blazer accented her outfit, but the print failed to add any excitement to her unimpressive look. Her sparkling silver necklace—which disappeared into her deep v-neck blazer—was a nice touch, but only added to the simple theme of her look.

Raitt’s hair styling was where she took the most risks. Raitt wore her dark auburn hair in large, loose curls with her one grayish-white streak adding a pop of contrast in the front of her head. But red carpet award shows like the Grammys are about taking risks and wearing glamorous outfits, and overall, Raitt did not take

been known to wear similar outfits on the Grammys red carpet, but I do wish that she had ventured outside of her comfort zone for this year’s Grammys. After 13 Grammy wins and 30 nominations, I would have loved to see Raitt make a lasting impression with her look this year.

Samara Joy Jazz singer Samara Joy, who won Best New Artist, made a statement on the red carpet with her custom bright red leather gown and stunning up-do. Blackowned fashion designer Laurence Basse created the stunning outfit. “LEATHER IS MY SPECIALTY,” Basse wrote in her Instagram bio.

The craft of Joy’s dress lives up to Basse’s statement. The longsleeved, red, floor-length leather gown with a slight trail certainly helped Joy leave a striking impression at her first Grammy Awards. Alexander Armand styled Joy’s hair in a sophisticated large bun. Her Laruicci crystal earrings and gold necklace were complemented by gold eyeshadow and nail polish. These delicate accessories and details didn’t take away from Joy’s outfit, but instead united Joy’s look would have been improved with slightly more exciting jewelry because her dress was simple, with no pattern to liven it up. A larger necklace, possibly with a crystal to match her earrings, would have taken her outfit to the next level. n

B.E.A.T.S. performs an array of songs that celebrate Black culture in the O’Connell House.

ALINA CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF

ALINA CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF

Voices of Imani performs African-American gospel music at the second Living in Color event.

SPORTS

“WE WANT TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.”

After falling to North Carolina by one goal in the 2022 National Championship, No. 3 Boston College lacrosse pummeled No. 18 Southern California 14–3 in its 2023 season opener—its first step toward a second national title.

By luke evans Asst. Sports Editor

It’s not often that a lacrosse team holds its ranked opponent to just three goals in a contest.

But that is exactly what No. 3 Boston College lacrosse (1–0) did to No. 18 Southern California (0–1) in its season opener at Fish Field House. The game was a one-sided affair, and BC defeated the Trojans 14–3 behind a mix of overpowering offense and lockdown defense.

“I thought everyone did a really good job with the game plan and relentless pressure,” BC head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said. “And you know, goaltending was excellent today by both Rachel and Shea. I give them so much credit.”

Without Charlotte North on the roster for the first time in three seasons, many were asking how BC’s offense

would form a new identity. But this proved to be a nonissue for the Eagles, who tallied 35 shots and converted on 14 of 24 shots on goal.

“I thought that [Jenn Medjid and Belle Smith] were aggressive, but they were also incredibly unselfish,” Walker-Weinstein said. “And I think they read the zone really well today, so I was proud of all the teamwork.”

After over four minutes without a goal, the stalemate ended when Mckenna Davis notched the Eagles’ first goal of the season with 10:42 remaining in the first period.

A foul on Southern California’s Olivia Dooley gifted the Eagles’ offense a free-position opportunity at the 9:44 mark, and Kayla Martello took advantage, sending the ball flying past Southern California goaltender Kait Devir—who played at BC during the 2020 and 2021 seasons as Rachel Hall’s backup—to put the Eagles up 2–0.

The two subsequent goals came from graduate student Jenn Medjid who

got the best of Devir for her first and second goals of the season to put the Eagles up 4–0.

Just over 30 seconds later, Belle Smith found herself in the scorers’ circle as well, extending the Eagles’ lead to 5–0. Devir could not stop the Eagles’ offense, recording a . 417 save percentage throughout the entire match. While BC’s offensive dominance in the game was clear, the Eagles also showed strength on defense, displaying how well-rounded their squad is on both sides of the field.

“I think our scout attack team all week worked really hard to simulate them,” Walker-Weinstein said. “And I think it translated to game day, so, I’m really proud of them.”

BC conceded the Trojans’ first and only goal of the first period to Shelby Tilton with 15 seconds remaining. Despite the goal, BC’s defense held Southern California to just two shots on goal in the quarter.

It didn’t take long for the Eagles to

BC Goes 4–1 to Start Season

By Brassil Moran Heights Staff

Not only did Boston College softball go 4–1 in the first tournament of its 2023 season, but it recorded 15 runs, three home runs, and a no-hitter in the process.

BC (4–1) opened its season at the USF tournament with a 4–0 win against Illinois State and a 4–2 win over South Florida on Friday, a 2–1 win over Saint Joseph’s and 9–0 loss to No. 4 Florida on Saturday, and a 5–4 extra innings win over South Florida on Sunday.

The 4–1 tournament performance marks the Eagles’ best start since 2017.

Susannah Anderson threw 136 pitches over nine innings in BC’s 5–4 extra-innings win over South Florida (2–3) on Sunday. In the top of the third, Hannah Slike homered to give the Eagles a 2–0 lead. A wild pitch and a sacrifice fly in the fifth and sixth innings, however, granted South Florida two runs to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

Each team scored a run in the eighth, but Abigail Knight broke the tie with a double in the top of the ninth— her fifth hit of the tournament—to

secure the win.

BC snapped its three-game win streak and recorded its first loss of the season against Florida (3–0) on Saturday. The Gators poured in nine runs—five in the first inning and four in the second—to shut out BC.

Anderson gave up four hits and five runs against seven batters in just the first inning. A double from Avery Goelz put the Gators up 5–0 in the inning, and BC failed to record an out with Anderson on the mound. Graduate transfer Sofia Earle replaced Anderson to close out the first inning, but Earle let up four runs.

BC never recovered and Florida won via mercy rule in the top of the fifth. The Eagles recorded one hit in 15 at-bats and struck out seven times.

BC defeated Saint Joseph’s (0–4) 2–1 on Saturday. The Eagles got off to a hot start, with Nicole Giery and Knight launching two solo homers—BC’s only runs of the game.

Knight homered to right field to put BC up 2–0 on her second home run of the tournament.

Halie Pappion and Abby Dunning

pitched 3.2 and 3.1 innings, respectively, holding the Hawks to three hits and one

run in the victory.

Anderson helped lead BC to a 4–2 victory over South Florida on Friday afternoon. She pitched all seven innings, registering four strikeouts and allowing five hits.

The Eagles’ bats showed up as well. After trailing 2–1 in the top of the seventh with one out, Knight stepped up to the plate for BC. With a 1–0 count, Knight homered to right field, bringing in three runs to give BC a commanding 4–1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulls went three-up, three-down, as all three of South Florida’s players grounded out, and BC sealed its second victory of the year.

BC opened the tournament with a 4–0 win against Illinois State (1–3) on Friday. Dunning got the start for the Eagles and tossed a no-hitter—the first of her collegiate career. She recorded eight strikeouts in her first career complete game. Her previous career-high in innings pitched came when she pitched five innings against Long Island in the

pick up where they left off in the second quarter. Medjid continued her tear, tallying her third goal of the game less than two minutes into the second quarter, and Davis notched her second of the game at the 1:07 mark. Annabelle Hasselbeck also joined the scoring frenzy, and BC entered half with an 8–1 advantage.

The Eagles commanded the draws in the first half, holding an 8–3 draw advantage over Southern California.

“We had a brand new draw team which was awesome,” Walker-Weinstein said. “And you know, we won a lot of the draw circle, the draws, but then we also had, you know, great execution on our ride, and I think top to bottom it was a great start.”

The third period resulted in similar BC domination. Martello tallied her second goal of the season just 41 seconds into the quarter, and Medjid added to her impressive statline with her fourth goal of the game at the 5:45 mark.

Southern California finally broke through the Eagles’ defense for two late

goals, both coming under 2:30 remaining in the third frame.

The Eagles tallied four more goals in the final quarter, but play was halted with 3:22 remaining when Medjid went down with an apparent lower leg injury. Medjid was helped to the sidelines where she spent the remainder of the game being tended to by trainers.

“She’s, she’s fine,” Walker Weinstein said. “She’s gonna be fine. It just looked worse than it was. She’s gonna be fine.”

Anchoring down the defense was Hall and freshman goaltender Shea Dolce, with Hall playing the first three quarters of the game and Dolce checking in for the final quarter. Dolce made her NCAA debut Saturday, snatching two saves and letting up no goals.

And despite the statement win, Walker-Weinstein acknowledged the Eagles have a larger goal in sight.

“We want to win a national championship,” Walker-Weinstein said. “We take it one game at a time, but that is the ultimate goal." n

No. 14 Tar Heels Down BC 73 – 55

By Matthew Capaldi Heights Staff

On Thursday, Boston College women’s basketball scored the second fewest points in a game in ACC history in a 68–27 loss to No. 9 Duke.

Things didn’t go much better in BC’s Sunday afternoon matchup against No. 14 North Carolina, as the Eagles continued to slide down the ACC standings with their fourth straight loss and ninth loss in the last 10 games.

Backed by Kayla McPherson and Kennedy Todd-Williams’ performances, the Tar Heels (18–7, 9–5 Atlantic Coast) overpowered BC (14–14, 4–11) and coasted to a lopsided 73–55 victory, snapping a two-game losing streak in the process. The Eagles held a lead for a mere 58 seconds en route to their second double-digit loss in three games.

Sunday’s defeat marked the sixth straight game in which BC has been without leading scorer Dontavia Waggoner, and the Eagles’ lack of depth and experience was certainly a factor in Chapel Hill, N.C., according to BC head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee.

“This is that time of year when you have a really young team, and you’re playing kids that, you know—this is their first experience actually having the grind of playing college basketball,” Bernabei-McNamee said. “I think we’re seeing that wear and tear because a lot of our mistakes are mental.”

North Carolina was efficient all day on the offensive end, shooting 41.5 percent from the field and registering 11 3-pointers. Three Tar Heels finished in

double figures.

The Tar Heels were stout on the defensive end, forcing 25 BC turnovers and preventing the Eagles from ever getting in a rhythm offensively. Starting at the 5:48 mark in the first quarter, BC went on to turn the ball over on four consecutive possessions.

“It was frustrating,” Bernabei-McNamee said of BC’s turnovers. “We made mental errors that didn’t make sense.”

BC is averaging 20.3 turnovers per game this season.

North Carolina capitalized on the Eagles’ struggles and totaled 30 points off turnovers to dominate the game in transition.

The Eagles fell behind 15–5 early in the first quarter. BC couldn’t get the ball inside to Maria Gakdeng and settled for many contested jump shots during the first frame, leading to BC shooting three of 12 from the field in the quarter.

“Their game plan of kind of sagging in on [Gakdeng] and pressuring the strong-side guard worked because we just didn’t move the ball well enough to get [Gakdeng] open,” Bernabei-McNamee said.

McPherson was a force offensively in the first half for the Tar Heels. The freshman guard created her own opportunities off the dribble and poured in 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in North Carolina’s 37-point first half.

“[McPherson’s] a really fast guard,” Bernabei-McNamee said. “I thought that she came in with a lot of confi-

Eagles Earn Season Sweep of BU With 2–1 Win

By nick Petralia Heights Staff

For the first time since the 2015–16 season, Boston College women’s hockey swept the regular season Battle of Comm. Ave. series against Boston University on Saturday night. The last time the Eagles did so, they went 40–1–0 on the season, with their only loss coming in the 2016 National Championship against then-No. 3 Minnesota.

BC goaltender Abigail Levy was a brick wall in the net inside Agganis Arena, as she racked up 35 saves and made athletic stops in BC’s (18–12–1, 15–10–0 Hockey East) 2–1 victory.

Gaby Roy continued her junior campaign with an early goal, and Alexie Guay potted BC’s second goal of the night to give the Eagles assurance. BC’s forecheck and puck control left BU (10–17–3, 9–13–3) powerless in its own end for most of the night.

“It’s tough to play that game in between the Beanpot when you know you’re going to be able to play for a trophy on Tuesday,” BC head coach

Katie Crowley said. “So I was really impressed with how well we played and how we stuck to our game plan.”

BC was able to draw a penalty just 4:35 into the game, as officials called BU’s Andi Calderone for tripping. But the Eagles couldn’t take advantage, and they fell to five of 58 on power-play opportunities this season.

The Eagles began to establish their presence past BU’s blue line, leading to a Roy goal with 2:42 left in the period. Roy slotted in a rebound off a shot that was blocked by a BU defender’s skate for her eighth goal of the year. The goal extended her point streak to four straight games.

Heading into the second period, BC appeared to have control of the momentum, but officials called Hannah Bilka for a holding penalty about a minute into the period, handing BU a power play. And despite five Terrier shots during the advantage, National Women’s Goalie of the Year finalist Levy stood tall, making a series of stops that ended with her laying down on the ice to prevent a BU goal.

“She’s been great, not only in net, but as a leader,” Crowley said of Levy. “She’s the type of goalie that’s gonna, you know, help you in a hockey game

and keep you in the game.”

Immediately after the Eagles killed the penalty, defenseman Guay buried a snipe from the blue at the 3:47 mark for her fifth goal of the year to give BC a 2–0 lead. Guay continued her dominance over BU, as she has eight points in nine career games against the Terriers.

The Eagles, however, could not put the game away, as the Terriers answered back, catching BC in a line change. BU found itself on a five-ontwo opportunity, and Haylee Blinkhorn put a one-timer past Levy to cut BC’s lead in half at the 14:41 mark.

BU earned scoring opportunities in the final minutes of the second period but couldn’t convert, and the Eagles ended the period ahead 2–1 despite BU outshooting them 17–8.

BC’s forecheck was in sync to begin the third period, as the Eagles continually pressured BU’s puck handlers and kept the puck on BU’s end of the ice for much of the first half of the period.

But BU goaltender Andrea Brändli managed to keep it a one-score game, registering 14 saves in the third period. She recorded 31 total saves all game.

BU called a timeout to regroup but still couldn’t get anything past Levy, and with less than two minutes remaining, it appeared the Eagles would escape with the victory.

That was until Jenna Carpenter committed a tripping penalty with 1:26 left in the game—starting a power play for BU.

“Long story short, they had a premature substitution because their goalie was still on the ice, and they had six players out there, so the whis-

tle should have been blown [before the penalty],” Crowley said. “I think even the refs at one point told me we weren’t going to have a penalty. So it was a little bit crazy.”

The Terriers pulled their goalie, leading to a six-on-four player advantage down the stretch. But Levy came through once again, making several big saves, including a diving save across the crease to get a piece of a one-timer, sending BC back to Chestnut Hill with the victory. n

No. 22 NC State Blows Out BC 92–62

By Jack Bergamini Assoc. Sports Editor

Three days after Boston College

men’s basketball hit a season-high 12 3-pointers in a victory over Virginia Tech, the switch flipped completely.

During the Eagles’ Saturday afternoon game against No. 22 NC State, it was the Wolfpack who posted 15 3-pointers, tied for its own season high, leaving BC completely helpless on the defensive end.

“It’s one thing to shoot ‘em, take ‘em with a hand in the face, but to make ‘em over and over again, you gotta credit the talent that they have and the confidence they played with,” BC head coach Earl Grant said.

NC State (20–6, 10–5 Atlantic Coast) used its fiery offense to finish the first half strong and come out of halftime without missing a beat, propelling the Wolfpack to 92 total points in the game.

BC (12–14, 6–9) dropped 30 points in the second half, while NC State scored 48 en route to a 92–62 Eagles loss.

“We didn’t have the step and the energy,” Grant said.

The Wolfpack accumulated 44 first-

half points—the most points BC has let up in a first half all season—and its 92 total points is the most points BC has let up in a game this season. The 30-point differential is also the largest loss the Eagles have suffered this season.

BC hit four 3-pointers on 14 attempts in comparison to the Wolfpack’s 15, as the Eagles committed 17 turnovers and failed to run their offense and find open spots.

“They really pressured us, and then the maturity that we have to have with the ball under duress, we didn’t have it at the level that we needed to have,” Grant said. “So they were forcing us to make the guy with the ball take the shot a lot. So there wasn’t many opportunities for the kick-out threes.”

Quinten Post quickly matched his points average on the season of 16.5 by notching 16 first-half points. But it was a tale of two halves for the 7-footer, as Post attempted zero 3–pointers and totaled only four points in the second half.

“I think they did a good job of sandwiching him with both big guys so he couldn’t pick and pop for the three’s,” Grant said of NC State’s adjustments.

Post was no match for NC State’s Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith, who combined for 43 points—47 percent of

the Wolfpack’s total. DJ Burns Jr. and Casey Morsell registered 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Smith initiated the scoring barrage, scoring the Wolfpack’s first 10 points to put them up 10–5 at the 16:35 mark in the first half. Smith and Joiner shook off any BC defender thrown their way, using their elusiveness and pure skill to shoot over the defense.

Burns used his massive frame to bully BC—especially Post—down low, totaling 10 points in the first half.

But Post’s first-half dominance kept BC within distance. NC State had trouble guarding Post’s one-handed hook shot, and a Post layup and Jaeden Zackery free throw cut the Wolfpack’s lead to 38–32 with 1:45 left in the first half.

Zackery—who didn’t start for the first time all season due to a leg injury he suffered against Virginia Tech—added eight first-half points with a physicality that the Eagles lacked in the second half.

“We wanted to give him a shot at playing,” Grant said of Zackery. “I thought he gave us a good lift.”

Grant has said numerous times this season that the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half are the most important moments in the game. With NC State closing the first half on

a 6–0 run via two Joiner 3-pointers and starting the second half outscoring BC 13–4, the Eagles certainly failed in that respect.

Amid the run, Post attempted a dunk that failed miserably, as he hit the front of the rim with an open lane, sucking the life out of Conte Forum and injecting embarrassment into the air for BC fans.

The Wolfpack used their early second-half runs to go ahead 57–36 at the 16:03 mark, taking their largest lead of the game at the time and never letting BC get within fighting distance.

“Typically, we win that middle eight,” Grant said. “Just couldn’t do it tonight.”

Chas Kelley III, a reserve point guard who recorded a career-high 17 points against Virginia Tech, continued his impressive play in the second half to keep BC within a 20-point deficit.

Kelley registered all seven of his points in the second half, but BC could not stomp on the Wolfpack’s offensive parade. Consistent defensive breakdowns didn’t help, as NC State continued to find wide-open shooters behind the arc who forced BC to pay. The Wolfpack hit nine 3-pointers in the second half alone and capitalized on every one of them in their victory. n

Maine Bests Eagles to Continue BC’s Winless Streak

By mackenzie Shea Heights Staff

While Maine entered Friday’s contest against Boston College men’s hockey having won three of its last four games, the Eagles entered the matchup on the opposite end of the spectrum—winless in their last seven games.

And even though there have been stretches of light throughout BC’s drought, the Eagles’ winless streak continued Friday night in Conte Forum.

“We’ve played some very good hockey in this stretch of non-wins,” BC head coach Greg Brown said. “And usually, you’re going to win a few of those games and start to feel better about yourself, but with the ties and losses in the last few games—and then culminating with the Harvard game— where we did everything we could in the third period but didn’t come away with a win. You know, it’s not like the frustration of that one game, but just the overall feel.”

BC (9–12–6, 5–8–5 Hockey East) quickly dug itself into a hole it couldn’t climb out of against the Black Bears (13–13–2, 7–9–1), going down 2–0 just 14 minutes into the game. While

the Eagles cut Maine’s lead to one with less than four minutes left to play in the game, the Black Bears put BC out of its misery with another goal at the 18:26 mark of the third period, handing the Eagles a 3–1 loss.

“Right from the beginning, we weren’t as sharp as we needed to be,” Brown said. “I think the guys without the puck were not supporting the puck enough, kind of were watching the guy who had the puck instead of, you know, everybody’s gotta help all the time, whether it’s offensively or defensively.”

Maine’s Lynden Breen netted the first goal of the night just over five minutes into the first period. Brown, however, challenged the goal in search of a major penalty against the Black Bears. Brown’s challenge was unsuccessful and he lost a timeout in the process, which was the beginning of BC’s downward spiral.

The Eagles killed off Maine’s first power play after Mike Posma received a hooking penalty at the 5:37 mark in the first frame. Just over eight minutes later, Maine’s Thomas Freel got two minutes for interference, giving BC its first man advantage of the night.

But Didrik Henbrant snuck one past BC goaltender Mitch Benson for a shorthanded goal with six minutes left in the period.

“Obviously, getting those two in the first period really helped us and our goalie played really well,” Maine head coach Ben Barr said.

Neither team scored in the second period even though BC recorded two power plays. The Eagles recorded four power plays all night, but none of them resulted in goals.

“Probably trying to be too careful, too precise, because the last few games, our power plays have been, you know, really moving the puck well and getting a lot of chances,” Brown said. “And they hadn’t all got in. We’ve got a couple goals but the tempo and attack mindset was excellent but not as good

tonight. Again I think that probably snowballs from the effect of the last few games.”

Despite several connections between Trevor Kuntar and Cutter Gauthier, BC still couldn’t score a goal.

“We did generate some chances and didn’t score, but you got to keep going, keep generating chances especially when you’re behind,” Brown said.

The third period remained scoreless until Kuntar notched BC’s sole goal at the 16:07 mark, assisted by Andre Gasseau and Gauthier to cut Maine’s lead to 2–1. The goal marked Kuntar’s 10th of the season.

The Eagles’ chances, however, were

quickly crushed. Just over two minutes later, Donavan Villeneuve-Houle registered Maine’s third goal of the night on BC’s empty net. Officials called Eamon Powell for tripping on the play, putting him in the box for the final minutes of the game which delivered a fatal blow to the Eagles’ chances.

“We have to really step back and rely on our foundation and be simple and be good at what we’re good at and really play our game,” Brown said. “I think if we can do that Monday, and carry that to the next weekend and the next weekend, hopefully by the time we hit playoffs, you know, we’re feeling a lot better about ourselves.” n

Gabby Roy (left) tallied BC’s first goal of the night 2:42 into the first frame.