The Heights, Feb. 5, 2024

February 5, 2024

Hafley’s Green Bay Getaway After four seasons on the Heights, Hafley will become the next defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

By Luke Evans Sports Editor

Boston College football head coach Jeff Hafley is leaving the Heights after four seasons with the program to become the next defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, according to a BC Athletics press release.

“I loved my four years at Boston College,” Hafley said in the release.

“This is an exceptional place to coach given the caliber of student-athletes we recruit, the facilities, and the support from the University and BC

we will continue to do everything we can to support our student-athletes,” James said in the release.

After previously working in various assistant defensive coaching roles in the NFL and as Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator, Hafley was hired as head coach by then-Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond on Dec. 14, 2019.

Through four seasons at BC, Hafley guided the Eagles to a 22–26 overall record and a 12–22 ACC record. Under Hafley’s guidance, the Eagles qualified for three bowl KENNETH CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF games, including in the 2020 season,

fans. I will miss the players who gave so much of themselves these past four years, and my wife Gina and I will certainly miss the BC community and the many friends we have made here.”

BC has not yet appointed an interim head coach and is immediately beginning a national search for the next head coach, according to Director of Athletics Blake James.

“As a world-class institution with a strong tradition and a commitment to excellence, we are confident that we will find an exceptional new leader for our football program, and

during which the program opted out of bowl selection. BC also qualified for the 2021 Military Bowl, which was canceled due to COVID-19 complications, and the 2023 Fenway Bowl, where the Eagles defeated No. 17 SMU 23–14.

In 2020, Hafley led BC to a 6–5 season, in which the Eagles allowed 63 fewer yards per game than the previous year. Seven Eagles were also named All-ACC team members, and three more were given honorable mentions.

See Hafley, A8

Women’s Summit Speaker Talks Impact of Advocacy

By Angelina Li Assoc. News Editor Annika Engelbrecht Asst. News Editor

GENEVIEVE MORRISON / HEIGHTS EDITOR

NTA Reaches Contract, Concluding 11-Day Strike The strike lasted 11 school days, the longest Massachusetts strike in the last 30 years.

By Genevieve Morrison Assoc. Newton Editor

After a strike that closed all Newton Public Schools for 11 days, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) reached a contract with the Newton School Committee (NSC) and announced schools will reopen Monday.

“We are … thrilled to settle a new fouryear contract that honors the tremendous work our teachers do—a contract the city can afford—a contract that serves our students,” Mayor Ruthanne Fuller wrote in an email announcement Friday night.

See NTA Strike, A4

Rachael Denhollander learned firsthand that while advocacy is supremely important, it also comes at a cost.

“Whenever advocacy is necessary, we’re not just speaking up for something,” Denhollander said. “We are, by definition, also speaking against suffering, oftentimes speaking against communities—possibly even our own—speaking against long-held and firmly entrenched ideas.”

Denhollander, an attorney, former club gymnast, and advocate against sexual assault, gave the keynote address at Boston College’s 10th annual Women’s Summit on Saturday.

The event aimed to empower attendees by creating space for meaningful conversations and connection through various workshops and panel discussions.

In 2016, Denhollander became the first woman to publicly accuse former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse and seek

BC community members gathered on Thursday night for the annual Black History Month Opening Ceremony.

See A2

Luke Russert, BC ’08, was watching a soccer match at a bar in Florence when he got the call.

Having just earned degrees in communications and history, the newly minted Boston College alum was enjoying his postgraduate European vacation before buckling down to study for graduate school exams.

“I like to say that on June 12, 2008, the day before he passed, I was a happy-go-lucky recent college grad from BC,” Russert said.

On June 13, 2008, Russert got the call that his father, Tim Russert, long-time moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press, died from a heart attack.

“And then June 13 passes,” Russert said.

“And a few days later, I’m giving his eulogy and staring out at Barack Obama and John McCain in the pews. You grow up really

See Russert, A13

Can you seperate the art from the artist? Ahead of Kanye West’s 11th studio album release, colmunist Lily Emerson grapples with the age-old question.

Columnist Jose Garcia makes a case for why AI needs to be implemented inside the classroom, arguing that universities should embrace new realities.

A7

A6

Vol. CVI, No. 2 © 2024, The Heights, Inc. Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Established 1919

quick in that moment.”

Russert’s new memoir, Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself, details his journey grappling with the loss of his father, exploring themes of grief, self-discovery, faith, and family.

A New York Times bestseller, the book tracks his whirlwind career as a Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC News in Washington, D.C., his surprising exit from broadcast journalism, and his subsequent journey to over 60 countries around the world.

As the only son of two prominent journalists working in Washington, D.C., Russert said he had a unique upbringing. While his father was interviewing presidents on the longest-running show in network television history, Russert’s mother, Maureen Orth, was a Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine.

Arts

Opinions

INDEX

See Women’s Summit, A2

Russert Reflects on His Grief Journey in Memoir

By Kate Nuechterlein Heights Staff

BHM Commences With Celebration of the Arts

criminal charges against him for sexual assault.

After being sexually assaulted by a college student from her church at the age of seven, Denhollander said she found herself surrounded by adults who trusted and supported her, but also those who challenged the validity of her experience.

“Adults who chose principled dissent, chose speaking up against a community that had a long history of minimizing abuse and harassment, saved me from worse abuse,” Denhollander said. “But I’ve also experienced the converse community response when adults in our community chose to view my parents and these counselors as being overdramatic.”

Denhollander said this early experience influenced the way she later processed and chose to handle Nassar’s abuse.

“I internalized the first message that survivors intrinsically know: if you cannot prove your abuse, do not speak out—it will cost you everything,” Denhollander said. “Adults who chose silence over principled dissent set the stage for an abuser to enter my life almost ten years later.”

Men’s Beanpot Preview See A10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS........... A2 OPINIONS.. A6 NEWTON....... A4 A R T S . . . . . . . . A7 MAGAZINE.. A5 S P O R TS . . . . . A8

NEWS

Monday, February 5, 2024

This Week’s Top 3 Events

1

The Heights

Hear from a panel of three New England attorney generals about the impact and influence of their jobs, moderated by former Maine Attorney General James Tierney. Join the panel at 315 Stuart House on Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

2

Take a deep dive into the funding of the underground Irish revolution with Queen’s University Belfast professor Robin Adams as part of the Center for Irish Studies’ staff exchange. Join Adams on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. in the Andover Room at the Connolly House.

3

A2

Join the Career Center for a fair with major Boston area employers within the nursing, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors.

Stop by the fair between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Heights Room in Corcoran Commons on Friday.

Community Gathers for BHM Opening Ceremony

By Angelina Li Assoc. News Editor

Gigi Chu

Heights Staff The Heights Room filled with the sound of upbeat music and lively chatter on Thursday night as famous “quotes” of renowned Black figures projected onto a big screen.

“Black History Month doesn’t start February 1st—it starts the day you’re born and never ends,” Michael Warrior Bonds, featured performance poet, said.

Members of the Boston College community gathered on Thursday night for the annual Black History Month opening celebration, which was themed “Resistance Thru Art.” “Not only is tonight a night to recognize the strength and the creativity of our peoples, it is also a night centered around our theme of resistance through arts,” said Johany Jeune, CSON ’25, who co-emceed the event alongside Nyla Boler, CSON ’25.

In her opening speech, Director of the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center Yvonne McBarnett noted the importance of recognizing struggles and triumphs associated with the African American experience.

“As we reflect upon the struggles of the past, let us also celebrate the resilience, courage, and triumphs that have defined the African American experience,” McBarnett said.

According to McBarnett, Black History Month allows people to appreciate the pioneers of African American history.

“This month offers us a unique opportunity to delve into the rich

tapestry of African American history, acknowledging the pivotal moments and remarkable individuals who have shaped our society,” McBarnett said.

Christie Louis, MCAS ’24 and recipient of BC’s 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, spoke about her personal experience at BC and the vital intersection between art, resistance, language, and identity.

“Black History Month doesn’t start February 1st—it starts the day you’re born and never ends.”

“While it is important to acknowledge that the root for our need to be resistant is rooted in oppression and racial injustice, we would be remiss to not recognize that through the acts of resistance, that we are able to reclaim our joy and share the stories of our ancestors,” Louis said.

Louis spoke about art as a universal language and how it can serve to amplify stories of the Black experience that are difficult to convey through words alone. “[Art] has the power to speak the words and illustrate the stories of both the struggles and the joy that is part of our Black identity that are often too painful to articulate,” Louis said. “Art is the common language spoken by all peoples throughout the diaspora and serves as a bridge that brings our experiences together.”

Bonds reflected on Black histories—both personal and global— through his performance poetry, which was accompanied by live piano music.

“We have Malcolms,” Bonds said. “We have Martins. We have Fred Hamptons. You know, we have humans. We have all those living today amongst us. We just take it for granted that we live amongst them.”

Levi Ngabirano, CSOM ’25, recited a poem by Nayyirah Waheed titled “Rage” to introduce Sexual Chocolate’s step routines.

“If we wanted to, people of color could burn the world down,” Ngabirano read. “For what we have experienced.

Are experiencing. But we don’t. How stunningly beautiful that our sacred respect for the earth. For life is deeper than our rage.”

In addition to these performances, BEATS sang a rendition of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Singer-song-

writer Angus Williams, MCAS ’25—known by his stage name CARAMEL—performed an original song titled “Nameless.”

“As we reflect upon

the struggles of the past, let us also celebrate the resilience, courage, and triumphs that have defined the African American experience.”

Voices of Imani also performed a spiritual song called “Keep your Lamps Trimmed and

Burning.” Their director, Shannon Jacob, noted the inherent form of resistance in spiritual music. “[‘Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning’] not only encourages you to stay prepared, ready, but also not to get weary until all the work is done,” Jacob said.

Nnenna Okorie, MCAS ’26, said the Black History Month opening ceremony helps shed light on Black voices on campus.

“Especially because I think— when it comes Black Histor y Month—people think of it like in the past, but like [Bonds] said on stage … Black History Month is started the day we’re born and continues forever,” Okorie said.

“So I think it’s to highlight the contributions of Black people, like all throughout history, from all parts of the diaspora, and to also highlight student voices on campus.” n

PHOTO COURTESY OF GABBY D’ANGELO

SHANE SHEBEST / HEIGHTS STAFF

The BAIC’s annual BHM Opening Ceremony, titled “Resistance Thru Art,” featured poet Michael Warrior Bonds.

Denhollander Talks Advocacy at Women’s Summit Women’s Summit, from A1 According to Denhollander, the power Nassar held as a renowned doctor led her to invalidate her own feelings of discomfort.

“I had to come and grapple with the reality that it wasn’t just one person I couldn’t trust—it was an entire community that wasn’t safe for me,” Denhollander said. “And for nearly two years, I continued to be abused, and I thought it was my fault for even thinking something could be wrong.”

“I had to come and grapple with the reality that it wasn’t just one person I couldn’t trust—it was an entire community that wasn’t safe for me.”

It was then that Denhollander discovered a system in which abusers could maintain their positions of power while victims were silenced.

“I knew that the fact that Larry was left in power meant only one thing,” Denhollander said. “It didn’t mean that what he had done was okay. It meant that people in authority and power institutions were silencing survivors and keeping him in that position of power.”

Initially, Denhollander said she didn’t feel her voice was powerful enough to speak out against such powerful institutions.

“If I spoke up, I would be

fighting a Big 10 University and their sports program,” Denhollander said. “I would be fighting USA Gymnastics and the national Olympic governing body, which is commissioned by the U.S. Senate.”

But Denhollander said the actions of previous sexual assault survivors gave her the courage and opportunity to share her experience and advocate for change.

“I had that choice to speak up, to exercise principle dissent, because I was standing on the shoulders of so many others who came before me, and their advocacy and dissent paved the way for me to raise my voice,” Denhollander said.

Although many of the survivors who spoke up were world-renowned gymnasts, Denhollander said it is important to remember the younger, lesser-known gymnasts who suffered the same abuse.

“The reality is that almost all of the weight ultimately was carried by no-name gymnasts and dancers … who didn’t have the name, didn’t have the attention, and they carried the weight of it so that nobody else had to,” Denhollander said.

Denhollander also asked attendees to consider how they can use their personal skills and talents toward a meaningful purpose.

“Draw comfort knowing that each of our efforts—to speak for the voiceless, to stand up for the defenseless, to advocate together—that really does combine to create a change that shapes the world,” Denhollander said.

After Denhollander’s keynote speech, attendees had the opportunity to participate in two of six workshops, ranging from “The Hairless Female Body,” which discussed the history of female body hair removal through the lens of racism, sexism, and classism, to “Unpacking Imposter Syndrome and Discovering Truth,” which explored the effects of imposter

syndrome on mental, emotional, and physical health.

“I had that choice to speak up, to exercise principle dissent, because I was standing on the shoulders of so many others who came before me.”

Following the workshop sessions, attendees gathered for the mainstage panel, titled “Navigating Life After Graduation,” in which panelists shared insight

on transitioning out of undergraduate studies.

Anne Celestin, one of the panelists and BC ’23, reminisced on the moments she spent as a mentor for the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center (BAIC) and the Women’s Center.

“I spent a lot of time in my dorm, but I wish I spent more moments in the Women’s Center and BAIC connecting with younger BC freshmen and sophomores, just being able to be honest with them,” Celestin said.

Annie Spielberger, another one of the panelists and B C ’21, said that even though commuities and friendships change post-grad, finding just one person to connect with is enough.

“Even if you just have one person, one person is enough for a community,” Spielberger said.

“Knowing that you're not alone and having that one person is so important.”

The Women’s Summit concluded with a student artisan fair held in Gasson Commons and a slam poetry performance from Phionna-Cayola Claude,

“Even if you just have one person, one person is enough for a community.” resident director for Vanderslice Hall and 90 St. Thomas More Rd. “Wear the clothes that actually make you feel bold, ‘cause I never actually felt seen when I w a s we aring less clothes ,” Claude read. “Loving myself started with smiling, just because I wanted to.” n

SARAH FLEMING / HEIGHTS EDITOR

In 2016, Denhollander became the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar of sexual assault.

The Heights

Monday, February 5, 2024

A3

NEWS

Senate Talks Clinical Costs, Core Offerings

By Jack Beckman Asst. News Editor In its first public meeting of the semester, the UGBC Senate discussed initiatives to subsidize transportation costs for students enrolled in practicums and clinical experiences.

According to UGBC Vice President Meghan Heckelman, students often need to fund their own costs of transportation to clinicals and practicums—which are required for Connell School of Nursing students and most Lynch School of Education and Human Development students.

“Regardless of the situation—to have to be paying out of pocket for something that’s required academically—that’s not ideal,” Heckelman, LSEHD ’25, said.

Student senators proposed a variety of potential solutions, including providing Uber or Lyft vouchers for students and expanding an existing program that funds transportation costs to and from internships for low-income students.

According to Ryan Milligan, academic affairs committee chair and MCAS ’26, the high number of students enrolled in these programs—around 450 students in the Lynch practicum alone, by his estimate—would make it difficult to fund the program without outside donations.

“It’s gonna be expensive, probably,

because there are a lot of students,” Milligan said. “We’re gonna approach [the Office of University Advancement] to try to get them to either fund it or help find a donor to fund it going forward.”

Delphine Gareau, student senator and MCAS ’26, gave an update on efforts to incorporate courses about sustainability into BC’s core curriculum by potentially allowing them to fulfill the cultural diversity core requirement.

“I’m hoping to come up with a tentative list of classes and/or professors who would be willing to work with me on getting some of those classes to count for cultural diversity,” Gareau said.

Because sustainability courses often touch on issues of environmental inequities and disparities, Meier, environmental and sustainability policy coordinator, said she believes they would be compatible with the cultural diversity requirement.

“I think that, within the exploration of finding which classes would count for sustainability, it would definitely incorporate environmental justice as well,” Meier, MCAS’26, said.

Striking a balance between promoting sustainability-focused courses and ensuring students are exposed to important issues surrounding cultural diversity is also essential, Heckelman added.

“I think it’s important to maintain the integrity of the cultural diversity

ALINA CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF

The UGBC Senate discussed subsdiizing transportation costs for students attending practicums and clinicals. mission and not lose that by incorporating,” Heckelman said. “I think there’s a way to add but not subtract from it.”

The Senate then entered executive session—a private meeting closed to the public—to give members an opportunity to discuss the sustainability proposal and what impact it would have on the cultural diversity core requirement.

Minnah Abdel-Naby, student senator and MCAS ’27, raised concerns about the Montserrat textbook subsidy program, which covers the cost of two textbooks each semester for qualifying students.

According to Abdel-Naby, the

deadline—which was at the end of last semester—left students few options if they opted to change their schedule during the add/drop period.

“It’s a systemic issue,” Abdel-Naby said. “Let’s say [a Montserrat student] were to add or drop a class on the last day, and the deadline had already passed and they couldn’t change their books—then it’s just a whole mess, which is unfair for them, obviously.”

The Senate concluded the meeting by discussing efforts to promote the women’s lacrosse team’s game on April 3, which will support Morgan’s Message, a nonprofit dedicated to re-

ducing stigma and barriers surrounding mental health treatment for college athletes.

Heckelman urged members to continue advocating for mental health issues like those raised by Morgan’s Message.

“Last year, I feel like UGBC did a ton of mental health stuff, and I’ve wanted to do more this semester,” Heckelman said. “I’m really passionate about it and I know a lot of other people are, and people run on that kind of thing. I feel like a lot of BC students tend to resonate with that, so let’s keep it up.” n

Panelists Weigh Free Speech and Hate Speech

By Angelina Li Assoc. News Editor Universities can and should have different rules for expression and speech than the public sphere, according to Kent Greenfield, Boston College Law professor and dean’s distinguished scholar.

“I think that adopting the libertarianism of free speech doctrine is something that a university can choose to do, but need not,” Greenfield said. “I think universities can instead choose certain rules of discourse that govern their community to create an atmosphere and culture of learning.”

Greenfield spoke at an online panel on Monday evening about hate and free speech as part of a new speaker series titled “Dialogue and Action in

an Age of Divides,” co-hosted by BC and eight other Massachusetts-based universities.

Roderick Ireland, professor of criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern University, former chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and moderator of the program, said that hate speech and free speech are both important topics in the world of higher education.

“It is our hope that programs such as this will lead to constructive dialogues on the significance of free speech and its limitations, especially in the context of controversies over the ways in which speech can relate to anti-semitism, Islamophobia, and other identity-based racism,” Ireland said.

Greenfield said educators play

an important role in creating comfortable and safe learning environments for their students, especially when verbal tensions arise.

“Just like a hostile work environment, [where] the hostility created by speech can make it impossible for people to succeed professionally, a hostile learning environment can make it impossible for students to succeed academically,” Greenfield said.

Inevitably, universities will make mistakes, according to Greenfield.

Nevertheless, they should prioritize a safe learning environment over protecting the exchange of ideas, he added.

“I’d rather teach and learn and serve at a school—like Boston College—trying to make those difficult

judgments, than at a school that throws up its hands and says, ‘These judgments are beyond us,’” Greenfield said. “Especially when the costs of open debate fall upon our most vulnerable, our most marginalized, our most at-risk students, staff, faculty.”

Andrew Leong, associate professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Boston, shared a personal experience during grade school where, as an immigrant with minimal proficiency in the English language, he faced ridicule from his peers.

“No matter what the social differences are … the minute that we, as teachers, as educators, understand that something is happening, that [a] particular student is being made fun of, we need to control the room, we need to change the dynamic,” Leong

said. “That’s not something that we’ve really done in the past, or at least when I was growing up,” Leong said.

Andrew Sellars, clinical associate professor at Boston University School of Law, said hate speech is difficult to define without examining pre-existing power dynamics.

“We all approach our lives in the university with disparate power,” Sellars said. “We know and understand that power is tied to one’s identity, and there’s enormous literature on how one’s race, gender, class, religion, sexual orientation, can augment or diminish one’s relational power.”

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

Hakakian Advocates for Muslim Women’s Rights

By Jake Jansen Heights Staff To understand the nature of the women’s rights movement in Iran, one need not look further than the movement’s slogan, “Woman, Life, Liberty,” according to Roya Hakakian.

“I hope in this, you can hear the echo of the familiar ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ …

They understood that no society could possibly pursue happiness without first ensuring the rights of 50 percent of their population.”

Hakakian, an Iranian-American writer, journalist, and founder

of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, visited Boston College on Wednesday to give a talk titled “The Plight of Women in Israel and Iran, and the Silence of Feminists.”

Hakakian began by telling the stories of two people whom she called “exemplary victims”— Emmett Till and Mahsa Amini. Till was a young Black boy from Chicago who was visiting family in Mississippi in 1955 when he allegedly whistled or made a remark toward a white woman.

“Whatever it was, in the eyes of the town’s segregationists, it was improper conduct,” Hakakian said.

“Nearly four days later, in the dark of night, two men kidnapped him from his uncle’s home, beat him brutally, shot him in the head, tied his body to barbed wire, and threw him in the river. He was a deeply tragic gift because it was his death that helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.”

Hakakian then parallelled Till’s story with that of Mahsa Amini. In September 2022, Amini was visiting family in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

While there, the “morality police,” which enforce religious customs, believed she was breaking the mandatory headscarf law.

“They arrested her, beat her

SEHO LEE / HEIGHTS STAFF

Hakakian advocated for the importance of fighting Islamophobia and protecting Muslim women’s rights in Iran.

brutally, fracturing her skull until she slipped into a coma,” Hakakian said. “Three days later, in a fluorescent lit hospital room, hooked to many tubes and lines, she died.

It was her death that sparked the largest peaceful protests against Iran’s autocratic regime since its inception in 1970.”

According to Hakakian, Amini’s death sparked a major nationwide movement protesting dress code laws in Iran. Unlike in previous movements, more than just women were protesting.

“Many were [at the protests] besides women,” Hakakian said.

“As women boldly took off their headscarves, def ying the hijab laws, young men were lighting and setting up bonfires for [the hijabs] on the streets.”

Hakakian clarified that Till and Amini were “exemplary victims” because they were young and innocent and “neither [were] intentionally confronting or challenging that system when they became a victim of it.”

“Their innocence manifests in the idea that they were in fact, the most ordinary among their people,” Hakakian said. “And in their ordinariness, they were exemplary.”

Hakakian also discussed the 1979 rebellion where rebel groups dethroned the ruler Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took

over. While Khomeini originally supported women’s freedom to choose how to present themselves—which had been established in recent years by the monarchy— he changed his mind and instituted the mandatory Islamic dress codes for women.

“On International Women’s Day on March 8, 1979, women fearlessly took to the streets to protest against him,” said Hakakian. “Most men—even the many writers and intellectuals—thought that women had to suck it up and, for the sake of national unity, put on the hijab.”

Hakakian said that after these demonstrations, many women were reportedly arrested.

“Then came a report by CNN that the women who had been arrested were being raped in prisons,” Hakakian said. “The women who had been arrested for breaking the dress code laws and offending the morality protocol were raped by the law enforcement in prisons of those who were the guardians of morality.”

Hakakian believes it is vital to continue supporting Iranian women who are fighting for their rights.

“We must fight Islamophobia in our country and stand up for the rights of our fellow Muslims here,” Hakakian said. “We must insist on the rights of women in Iran to rise against Islamist tyranny that has stripped them of choice.” n

NEWTON

Monday, February 5, 2024

The Heights

A4

Newton Teachers Strike Ends After 11 Days NTA Strike, from A1 The new teachers’ contract includes higher cost-of-living adjustments, up to 60 days of parental leave, and a side deal that promises a social worker in all but three school buildings by 2025.

“This contract reflects our values including respect for our educators,” the NSC said in an email.

Newton teachers had been working without a contract for the 2023–24 school year thus far, and had been in tense contract negotiations with the NSC since 2022.

By Friday, the union accrued $625,000 in fines for violating a state law that prohibits public employees from striking.

Two parents in the district have filed suits against the teachers’ union, claiming emotional damages to their children as a result of the extended school closure.

“The increase in screen time

and disruption to their education, as a result of this illegal strike, has caused major concern on behalf of these parents for the mental well being of their children,” Newton parents Allison and David Goldberg wrote in their filing.

A lawyer for the NTA countered by arguing the intervention by parents in the court proceedings is not valid.

“It is not the appropriate vehicle for third parties to seek to pursue outside legal theories or damages,” staff counsel Laurie Houle wrote. “The parents here have no right to intervene.”

On Thursday, the NSC voted to cancel February vacation, a week-long break that was scheduled to begin the 19th of the month, to make up for instruction lost due to the strike. The school committee said it would be too difficult to make up the days at the end of the school year.

As the Monday of the scheduled vacation week is Presidents’ Day, canceling the break only

returned four school days to the calendar. State law requires the district to complete 180 days of school before June 30.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also stepped in on Thursday, asking a Middlesex Superior Court judge to appoint an arbitrator for the contract

negotiations, had the parties not reached an agreement by Friday afternoon.

According to Fuller’s email announcement, the NSC and the NTA will vote to ratify the new contract next week.

In a Friday night press conference, Newton South High

School teacher Ryan Normandin said the strike set a precedent for other districts in Massachusetts. “ We taught e ver y other district in this state what will happen if they try to balance their budgets on the backs of our students and educators,” Normandin said. n

GENEVIEVE MORRISON / HEIGHTS EDITOR

T h e t e a c h e r s s t r i ke w a s t h e l o n g e s t M a s s a c h u s e t t s s t r i ke i n t h e l a s t t h r e e d e c a d e s .

Nonantum Residents Talk Housing Project

By Sophie Compston Heights Staff

GENEVIEVE MORRISON / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Rep. Auchincloss, Boston Globe Call for Reopening of Schools Editor’s Note: This article was published prior to the end of the NTA strike on Friday.

By Ella Song Newton Editor

U.S. Rep. and former Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss and The Boston Globe called for an end to the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) strike and the reopening of Newton Public Schools (NPS).

“Missing seven school days – and counting – is disruptive and unfair to our children, and their parents,” Auchincloss’ Facebook post on Monday morning reads.

A Boston Globe editorial from Monday night similarly argued the strike negatively impacts children and the Newton community as a whole.

“The bigger picture here is that a strike is not how such a disagreement should be hashed out, because it causes too much collateral damage,” the editorial reads.

The NTA has been on strike since Jan. 19, following over a year of unsuccessful contract negotiations and the expiration of the previous teachers’ contract on Aug. 31, 2022.

Denise Cremin, a teacher at

Newton North High School, said the NTA attempted to directly contact Auchincloss before the strike. “ We w e n t t o t h e congressman’s office and were told that he was unavailable for us to see him,” Cremin said. “We went to a venue where he was speaking about civic engagement and we were not allowed to see him.”

I n h i s Fa c e b o o k p o s t , Auchincloss addressed both the Newton School Committee (NSC) and the NTA. He also said both the mayor and the NTA president were welcome to contact him.

“For the good of our city – for our families, our educators, and most of all, for our students, I am imploring both parties to ensure that schools are open tomorrow,” Auchincloss wrote.

“I am imploring both parties to ensure that schools are open tomorrow.”

According to Cremin, Auchincloss’ comment comes

too late.

“Where were you on Jan. 19, when this strike happened, and why is it that you’re only offering help now after 12 days of teachers striking in your city?” Cremin said.

S h e s a i d t h e G l o b e ’s comments neglect the importance of the str ike in e ventu ally achieving the union’s contract goals.

“If we were to go back now, we would definitely not have social workers in every school building,” Cremin said. “We would not have higher pay for our Unit C members, and we would not have a modern and humane parental leave policy.”

Mass. State Rep. Jim Hawkins and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley have visited the N TA picket lines in solidarity with the NTA. Both Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren have also publicly supported the NTA strike via social media.

“As a former public school teacher, I know how hard teachers work,” Warren wrote in an X post. “I urge the Newton School Committee to recognize their work and come to an agreement that ensures these educators get the wages and working conditions they deserve.” n

Tensions were high as Boylston Properties presented a proposed 40B housing development on 78 Crafts Street to residents of Newton’s Nonantum village Wednesday night.

Chapter 40B is a Massachusetts statute allowing developers to bypass local zoning regulations when building affordable housing developments in certain communities. Boylston Properties is looking to build a 4-to-6-story development on Crafts Street.

M a ny re s i d e nt s at th e community meeting voiced discontent with the proposed development’s aesthetic and cost, while repeatedly expressing concern over the development’s potential impact on traffic.

Janine Stewart, who lives on Adams Street, said the development will add traffic to an already congested road.

“I mean the traffic is insane,” Stewart said. “With 307 units, where are visitors going to park?

I mean, they’re all going to start flooding onto all the other streets.”

Jeff Diluglio, who lives on Murphy Court, said he’s concerned the project will cause more traffic accidents.

“Even going down Ashmont Ave … going left onto Watertown Street off of Crafts Street … these are dangerous spots, and there are going to be a lot of accidents,” he said.

Ward 2 Councilor Tarik Lucas agreed that roads are already heavily congested, and added that commuting to and from the development will be a challenge.

“If you ever have to enter or leave that site [78 Crafts Street], in the evening, or even in the early

morning … it’s going to be difficult,” Lucas said.

Despite the traffic concerns, Andrew Copelotti, principal at Boylston Properties, argued the development is beneficial for Newton.

According to the project proposal, the development will have 62 units that are affordable for households at 50 percent the Area Median Income (AMI), while the remaining 245 units will go for market rate. “ We a r e p r o v i d i n g 6 2 affordable homes for people,” Copelotti said.

When residents asked whether he’d allow preference to current Newton residents for renting the units, Copelotti said he was open to the idea.

“I am more than willing to work with the community to provide those affordable units,” Copelotti said.

While the majority of the attending residents who voiced their opinions were not in favor of the plan, a few expressed support.

Resident Gail Deegan said while she understood the traffic concerns, the apprehension toward the development was unfounded.

“There was a lot of talk about when in Newtonville they were building the two big units on Austin Street and Trio, that everything would come to a halt … and it didn’t,” Deegan said.

While she believes the proposal needs fine-tuning, Deegan said she was confident the development’s financial benefits will outweigh the traffic inconvenience.

“Looking at the big picture, if Newton is to thrive, and we’re to have the revenues we need to do the things we want, we’re going to have to have more economic development,” Deegan said. n

SOPHIE COMPSTON / HEIGHTS STAFF

Increased traffic as a result of the project was a popular concern.

M AGAZINE Monday, February 5, 2024

The Heights

A5

Luke Russert’s Journey From Grief to Self-Discovery Russert, from A1 “I remember growing up around the kitchen table in the morning or the dinner table at night, there would be conversations about American politics or pop culture—things they were working on,” Russert said.

Russert attended St. Albans, a private, Episcopalian, all-boys school in Northwest D.C. At a high school mixer, he met Mike Huffstetler, BC ’08, his future college roommate.

“We went to different all-boys schools in the D.C. area, and so we knew each other, but we weren’t buddies,” Huffstetler said. “We competed against each other in sports and for the attention of girls.”

He and Russert grew close during their freshman year on Upper Campus, Huffstetler said.

“Because his dad was a celebrity, people had preconceived notions of who he was, too,” Huffstetler said. “But Luke was just always such a good guy.”

Michael Greeley, another one of Russert’s BC roommates and close friends and BC ’08, said he initially met Russert at freshman orientation.

“I was at orientation, and my father said, ‘That’s Tim Russert over there,’” Greeley said. “I remember that there was this really interesting energy around [Luke’s] parents, especially his dad.”

According to Greeley, Russert’s parents didn’t let fame or busy schedules stop them from prioritizing Russert and his friends. “ When they came to visit, they wanted to hang out with us,” Greeley said. “They didn’t come to visit us and then go out to dinner with other people in Boston. They wanted to sit down on the same couches that we sat down on and have a beer or whatever we could muster out of the fridge.”

Russert recounted that his father particularly enjoyed BC sports, attending as many football and basketball games as he could.

When former BC quarterback Matt Ryan approached Russert on campus, Tim was eager to make the connection. “[Ryan] comes up and just says hello to me while I’m walking with my dad on campus, and my dad chats him up,” Russert said. “Here’s Tim Russert, moderator of Meet the Press, who’s interviewing prime ministers and

presidents and whatnot, and he’s more excited about talking to Matt Ryan for 20 minutes on the quad.”

The death of such a largerthan-life T V icon rocked the nation, Greeley recalled.

“It really felt like the whole world was focused on Tim Russert,” Greeley said. “I mean, it was incredible. Every news channel basically stopped.”

When Russert learned of his father’s passing, he flew home to deliver the eulogy at the funeral in Washington, D.C. Speaking to the nation’s most prominent figures only days after the death of his father forced Russert to rely on something greater than himself, he said.

“People have said to me, ‘How were you able to do that?’” Russert said. “I went into this place of, ‘I need to perform the best that I can because I have to honor my family the best that I can.’”

Russert said that while many people turn to anger and doubt in the wake of loss, his faith did not falter.

“I kind of found a sense of comfort and joy and faith in the sense of the process, especially in the Catholic church,” Russert said.

Families from all across the nation attended the funeral to tell Russert and his mother how much Tim and Meet the Press meant to them. It was in these moments that Russert started feeling the pressure to fulfill the family legacy and carry the torch of his father, he said.

Huffstetler and Greeley said that Russert’s eulogy exceeded even their expectations.

“That was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen somebody do,” Huffstetler said.

“We all knew him as our friend Luke, who we would go to mod parties with. Here he was, standing up in front of the most important people in the world at the time.”

Russert’s friends were not the only ones impressed by the eulogy.

In the days following the funeral, NBC News reached out to Russert to discuss career options.

“It sort of made sense what happened next, with him entering the news business, just because he did such a great job of gracefully handling what happened and being a good spokesperson for his mother and for his father,” Greeley said.

From 2008 to 2016, Russert

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUKE RUSSERT

I n h i s m e m o i r, Lu ke Ru s s e r t d et a i l s h i s j o u r n ey g r a p p l i ng wi t h t h e l o s s o f h i s f at h e r. served as a correspondent for Russert resigned from his position Russert said. “I realized there various NBC News programs, at NBC. was something there that could spending the majority of his career “As an outsider, you could be interesting, but that could also as a congressional correspondent definitely say it was surprising help people.” covering the House of Represen- because he had this great career Once Russert identified the tatives. going,” Greeley said. “But, you central themes of the book, the “I sort of threw myself into that know, it wasn’t all that surprising words just poured out, he said. Acrole,” Russert said. “But what end- because you could just tell that he cording to Russert, his first draft ed up happening over the course had some processing left to do.” exceeded 300,000 words—200,000 of those years—as I got further After leaving NBC, Russert more than the published version. and further away from knowing decided to explore the wilderness Because his intended audience who I was independent of that—I in Maine. On his drive there, he was fellow millennials, Russert became very focused on legacy visited Greeley’s house in South said he was f loored when he preservation and doing what I Boston. discovered that the majority of thought was expected of me.”

“I could tell that he had an itch people who reached out belonged According to Huffstetler, Rus- to go and do something,” Greeley to his parents’ generation. sert would wake up before dawn said. “He was going to hit the “I’ve gotten a lot of letters from and arrive at the House by each road.” people in their 60s, 70s, 80s—even morning. Russert said the network After experiencing the power their 90s,” he said. “They’ll say, broadcasting grind left him little of solo exploration in Maine, ‘Your book helped me to process time to unpack the death of his Russert said he craved more. Over the loss of my own parents, or my father. the next few years, he traveled the child, or my spouse, or someone Facing unprocessed grief and a globe, attempting to learn as much else close to me.’” steady stream of nepotism accu- as possible about each new place While Look For Me There sations, Russert said he struggled he visited. From Paraguay to New means different things to different with his mental health while re- Zealand, Cambodia to Senegal, people, Huffstetler and Greeley porting in Washington, D.C. and Iceland to Jerusalem, Russert’s emphasized that the strength of “For many years, I stored and odyssey introduced him to brand- Russert’s relationship with his ignored,” Russert said. “There re- new corners of the world. father is particularly crucial for ally weren’t the platforms that you “You’re simultaneously search- readers to understand. see now to seek out help.” ing for something—what your “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a But things changed in 2016, own identity is independent of the father-son relationship as strong, when former Speaker of the House bubble you grew up in, indepen- as loving, as caring as that of Luke John Boehner invited Russert to dent of your last name, indepen- and Tim Russert,” Huffstetler his office for a conversation. dent of all these things that have said. “That [relationship] was not “He asked a very simple ques- shaped you—and then you’re also manufactured for TV. It was truly tion,” Russert explained. “He said, running away from something, something else.”

‘Well, what are you doing here?’” and that’s the pain of losing your Russert, who will return to Boehner warned Russert that father,” Russert said. broadcasting as the host and a lifetime career on Capitol Hill Although he didn’t originally creative director of MSNBC Live, could cause him to lose touch plan to write a book, Russert said said that as he approaches a new with reality. that the idea behind Look For Me chapter, his father continues to be “He goes, ‘It’s okay to be here, There first came to him in 2018 an example for him. but if you really want to do some- as he flipped through his journal “He was someone who was thing else, don’t feel limited—it entries. incredibly busy, and he was somecould serve you,’” Russert said.

“I went back through these body who really, on some days, So a few months later, in the journals that I had been keeping had the world on his shoulders,” midst of what Huffstetler called throughout the entire process, and Russert said. “But he always gave a “meteoric rise” to his career, they were incredibly impactful,” me the gift of time.” n

Campus Cocktails: The Sun-Kissed Strawberry Sipper

By MC Claverie Heights Senior Staff I will never forget my first Boston winter.

As a native Tennessean, I grew up with pretty mild winters. Rumors of snow sent panic throughout our state, and even a couple inches shut down schools for days. The first time I experienced snow at Boston College, I couldn’t believe how normally everyone responded. I quickly realized

that winter in Boston didn’t just entail snow but also seemingly never-ending ice, wind, and freezing temperatures.

Three years later, I still dread braving the bitter cold. Whether it be unsuccessfully dodging patches of black ice, braving the wind, or feeling my fingers go numb on the way to class, I can’t help but look forward to the warmer weather.

Unfortunately, Boston weather is unpredictable, and though spring may be on the horizon in the South, there

is no telling when some heat will once again grace the Heights. So, like many of my fellow students, I have to look ahead to my next opportunity for embracing warm weather: spring break.

But while I wait to lay on the beach far away from the brutal Boston weather, I’ve created a drink to hold me over: the Sun-Kissed Strawberry Sipper.

A mojito is the perfect summertime cocktail. Sweet, fruity, and refreshing, this drink reminds me of sitting on the beach with my family, relaxing by the pool, and soaking up the sun.

My version of this cocktail uses all the classic ingredients in a mojito—mint, lime, and rum—but adds a strawberry syrup twist.

Whether you are battling the Boston winter or counting down the days to spring break, this cocktail is sure to fulfill all your sunny summertime dreams.

DRINK: The Sun-Kissed Strawberry Sipper

GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup sugar

1 cup water 1 pint strawberry tops with the leaves chopped off 1 ½ oz white rum (I used Trader Joe’s brand) 2 strawberries 3 mint leaves ¾ oz of lime juice Club soda INSTRUCTIONS: Strawberry Simple Syrup In a medium saucepan, add strawberry tops, sugar, and water. Mix and bring to a boil.

Once the mixture has come to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

After 5 minutes, remove from heat and place a lid over the pot. Let the mixture cool until it reaches room temperature.

Once cooled, place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and strain the mixture.

Transfer syrup to a container (I used a glass bottle). Place in refrigerator to cool for 4 hours (syrup should

stay good for 2-3 weeks).

INSTRUCTIONS: Cocktail In a highball glass, muddle mint leaves, strawberry simple syrup, lime juice, and strawberries.

Fill the glass with ice.

Add rum to the glass and stir.

Top with club soda.

Stir with a straw and enjoy. n

MC CLAVERIE / HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF

This drink tastes like summertime.

OPINIONS

Monday, February 5, 2024

A6

The Heights

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.

AI in the Classroom

Jose Garcia Innovation since the Industrial Revolution has continuously changed the world to arm our minds rather than replace them. Artificial intelligence is just another sword people need to learn how to wield properly, or else those who cannot adapt to the future will succumb to the pressure of those who do.

In a conventional fighting force, a man is armed with weapons to protect him. In a special operations unit, the arms are manned, requiring the operator to maximize the power of these weapons through strategy. The evolution from the spear to the rifle did not replace the warrior or the soldier, but instead molded a new mode of strategy and tactics that forced soldiers to evolve as well. New technologies and innovations are just new tools for our minds. Whenever something is improved, that means it can increase our potential.

The evolution from the pencil to the calculator did not replace the student and neither will AI. A student’s mission is to learn, think for themselves, and develop original ideas. AI can aid students in learning and understanding the

world around them.

It must be made clear that there are two categories under the AI umbrella. First, there is general AI, which specializes in solving problems that have never been solved before. This is the type that scares people into believing AI will replace them. Second, there is narrow AI. This is the program that works within the limitations set by human code writers. True, both types pose benefits and dangers to the everyday student, but the same argument was once made about calculators—and look at us now.

For any project of innovation, the objective is clear—improve information processing efficiency. This is achieved by sacrificing traditional methods of consuming data to maximize the amount of work accomplished. It is critical to remember that mathematicians did not go extinct once the calculator was invented. Instead, they became better equipped to make new contributions in their field.

A survey revealed that 42 percent of mathematicians in the six-month post-graduation period were hired in the finance industry. With the average wage for a mathematician major coming in at a staggering $107,565, it is evident that the quantitative tools introduced over the decades have only improved the lives of people who learned to master new inventions.

Today, 56 percent of college students are already using AI for assignments or exams in their academic studies. 53 percent of college students had coursework that required them to use AI. The power to control which tools students can or cannot access no longer lies in the hands of administrators.

Whether or not a professor is in favor of AI,

students have the ability to utilize it. The focus of the administrators should be to guide the path of using tools like ChatGPT instead of leaving the landscape of AI unpaved for the wandering student. Ivy League universities have already implemented chatbots that mimic ChatGPT’s functionality to answer questions about a specific class.

Harvard’s mission is to make the student-to-teacher ratio 1:1 for the classes with chatbots implemented. This would improve the learning curve efficiency by offering an additional resource to answer questions outside the classroom and maximize the effectiveness of office hours. If one of the most esteemed and respected educational institutions in the world is planning on changing the way information is communicated to students, shouldn’t the rest of us follow suit?

AI is part of a broader goal to expand the limits of the world we live in, not contract them.

The AI question is centered around control of reality, because this new program isn’t leaving this world anytime soon. Though AI has flaws and can be used to cheat, it will be more beneficial to control this newfound freedom rather than outright banning, which would only make platforms like ChatGPT more enticing.

It’s possible that one day, chatbots will be as common in classrooms as calculators.

We shouldn’t fear that reality but welcome it.

Mastering the use of tools such as AI will give anyone the ability to construct better ideas and improve their future.

Jose Garcia is a columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at jose.garcia@bc.edu.

Spring is (Almost) Here

After months of freezing winds and sporadic snow flurries, the first sign of spring is finally here—in the form of a groundhog’s shadow. Well, lack of a shadow, to be more exact. Whether you’re a Groundhog’s Day skeptic or supporter, you can’t help but hope for a few extra weeks of sunshine on the quad.

Abroad Anticipation

With promises of an early February release date, nearly half of the sophomore class is anxiously waiting for their study abroad decisions. Floods of Instagram photos showing juniors currently abroad are only bolstering the anticipation to learn which corners of the world will become temporary homes to the class of 2026. Whether you’re hoping for fall in Barcelona or spring in Milan, know that you will have a once-in-alifetime experience wherever you go.

GRAPHICS BY PARKER LEAF AND BROOKE GHALY / HEIGHTS EDITORS

The Independency in Dependency

Pat Connell We are living in “a system of cells interlinked within cells interlinked within cells interlinked within one stem.”

So maybe I just rewatched Blade Runner 2049, but that does not mean it isn’t true. Even though the film depicts flying cars, replicants, and blindsight, I think that of all sci-fi films set in the very foreseeable future, this one is the most accurate. Why? Because Ryan Gosling is literally me. And also, Blade Runner 2049 portrays a world that stigmatizes codependency to a fault.

A world that looks like our world in just 25 years if we don’t change our ways.

We are too rooted in individualism, especially as college students.

What if you honestly answered the question, “How are you?” when you were asked it? What if you didn’t factor in who asked you, whether or not the middle of Mac is too public of a setting to give an honest answer, or how much time you had to answer before you would be marked late to your next class? What if you just answered?

Trusting someone enough to say what’s on your mind resolves the feelings of isolation our individualistic lifestyle brings.

When I was dropped off on Newton Campus freshman year, I felt like my life was finally becoming my life. Everything I did was up to me. If I wanted to hang out with friends, I didn’t have to tell my parents I’d be back in three hours,

I would just do it. If I wanted to go on a run, I didn’t need to let my sisters know as I left the house, I just ran.

Looking back on it, that feeling was awesome. As college progressed, I was able to apply to clubs, enroll in classes, and meet new people with common interests, all on my own. But somewhere in that timeline, I lost the sense of community at BC. Sure, I was in these clubs, classes, and groups that valued what I valued, which you’d think would make it easy to speak my mind. But the conversations always went something like: “How are you?”

“I’m good. You?” “Good.”

I mean, I might as well have just answered with, “I’m a system of cells, interlinked within cells, interlinked within cells, interlinked within one stem,” right? My response, “Good,” reified the downfall of individualism with a single word. To appear like I had everything together, I was “good,” leading my conversation partner’s response, “I’m good,” to follow almost naturally.

But, it’s not natural. The further I get in my college journey, the more I realize that none of us are “good.” We’re all stressing about our futures—whether that be jobs, internships, relationships, or whatever else. Yet because college is a place rooted and glorified in the freedom of individualism, we resolve to simply tell others that we are “good.” Thus, we fail at opening ourselves up to others because God forbid we let our guard down.

“I’m in charge of myself, and I’m doing a mighty fine job at it.” At least, that’s the impression we try to give.

Let’s stop that. Please. None of us have this shit figured out. While the freedom of college offers many benefits, it also limits our ability to trust others because we are forced to largely rely exclusively on ourselves. But when we want to

Editorial

The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Erin Flaherty, Editor-in-Chief Conor Richards, General Manager Will Martino, Managing Editor Sourabh Gokarn, Dept. Managing Editor

Paige Stein, Creative Director Karyl Clifford, Digital Director Lucy Freeman, News Editor Luke Evans, Sports Editor Spencer Steppe, Magazine Editor Ella Song, Newton Editor Sofia Torres, Arts Editor Connor Kilgallon, Opinions Editor Ernest Romero, Projects Editor Kate Kissel, Copy Chief Chris Ticas, Photo Editor Owen Bienen, Video Editor

understand where we fall in the grand scheme of the world, we have no external references that we can trust the way we do ourselves. Thus, self-reliance turns into an inability for proper self-examination. What a paradox!

Aristotle emphasized the importance of the “mean between two extremes.” There is no problem valuing self-reliance, resilience, and distinctiveness. There is also no problem valuing teamwork, connection, harmony, and community. The key is to balance these virtues in our lives (ergo, Aristotle’s mean).

As a college student, it’s hard to accept this fate. We stigmatize the thoughts of connection and community because they seem too close to another c-word: codependency. But, in moderation, what’s wrong with a little bit of codependency?

Of course we shouldn’t strive for it, but accepting that we can’t do everything on our own can, at the very least, comfort us. If we were able to embrace individualism so quickly on our first day of college, we can embrace some codependency too.

We can show compassion to others when they’re having a bad day—something as simple as flashing a smile at a frowning face or offering someone a nice big hug. And it’s silly to state this bluntly, but we are often not empathetic enough because we don’t want to somehow feel what they are feeling. Instead, we want to feel the way we do because of individualism.

We weren’t made to go through life alone, so let’s not. Let’s trust others enough to know the response, “I’m good,” isn’t doing anything but fueling our internal struggles. With a different response, I think we’d truly be able to understand that part of the human experience is opening up to and leaning on others.

Pat Connell is a columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at pat.connell@bc.edu.

Parker Leaf, Graphics Editor Elizabeth Dodman, Podcast Editor Alan Shipman, Online Manager Peyton Zaletsky, Social Media Director Ava Sjursen, Newsletter Editor Angelina Li, Assoc. News Editor Emily Roberge, Assoc. Sports Editor Lyla Walsh, Assoc. Magazine Editor Genevieve Morrison, Assoc. Newton Editor Jack Weynand, Assoc. Arts Editor Makayla Hickey, Assoc. Opinions Editor Callie Oxford, Assoc. Photo Editor Emily Ahern, Assoc. Video Editor

Laundry Day Dread

Even though we’ve settled into our class routines, there’s one more task we need to factor into our busy schedules: laundry day.

But broken washing machines, faulty dryers, and piles of clothes atop every available surface don’t exactly create the most inviting environment. While we here at Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down might not have a solution to unreliable appliances, we can certainly stress the importance of setting a timer—finding your clothes scattered across the floor is a surefire way to make a bad day worse.

Housing Logistics

It’s finally time to face the inevitable— housing application deadlines are approaching. Freshmen are making plans to trade Newton Campus for Walsh, sophomores are frantically searching for subletters, and juniors are attempting to secure a Mod. Whether you have your housing group secured or are still looking for a final roommate, be ready to make a backup plan—it’s always better to be prepared than panicked.

Brooke Ghaly, Assoc. Graphics Editor Kathy Lu, Assoc. Podcast Editor Jack Beckman, Asst. News Editor Annika Engelbrecht, Asst. News Editor Maria Stefanoudakis, Asst. Sports Editor Veronica Pierce, Asst. Magazine Editor Laney McAden, Asst. Newton Editor Leah Stitzel, Asst. Arts Editor Sarah Fleming, Asst. Photo Editor Aidan Gravina, Copy Editor Addie Kinnaly, Copy Editor Maddie Mulligan, Copy Editor Carina Murphy, Editorial Assistant

Business and Operations Matt Najemy, Advertising Director Ben Haddad, Fundraising Director Sarah Vergura, Accoc. Advertising Director Sofia Laboy, Outreach and DEI Coordinator Graham Dietz, Alumni Director

ARTS

Monday, February 5, 2023

The Heights

A7

DOBC Thrills Crowd With Innovative Choreography

By Erin Pender Heights Staff The Dance Organization of Boston College’s (DOBC) annual showcase was particularly bright this year. Illuminate took place in Robsham Theater on Thursday, Feb. 1, and Friday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m., featuring 17 dances and guest performances by Synergy, Boston College Irish Dance (BCID), Phaymus, and Sexual Chocolate.

On their opening night, the dancers’ infectious energy and passion carried through to the audience, as people danced in their seats and swayed to the music’s beat, erupting into louder cheers as they celebrated

their friends’ choreographies.

Throughout the show, a combination of high-energy dances and moments with softer and sentimental touches kept the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions. In the first half of the show, Wet’s “You’re the Best,” Taylor Swift’s “Dress,” Arcade Fire’s “My Body Is a Cage,” and Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” particularly stood out.

“You’re the Best,” choreographed

by Melis Sanal, CSOM ’26, captured the dancers’ joy at being onstage— their movements maintained a set fluidity through powerful yet graceful dance moves.

“Dress,” choreographed by Kristen Chung, MCAS ’24, was a fantastic

contrast to the quiet beauty of “You’re the Best,” with its swift and engaging movements. One particularly impressive moment was when all of the dancers turned their heads at the same time in perfect unison.

Olivia Batt’s, CSOM ’24, choreography to “My Body is a Cage” was also full of fluid and graceful motions.

In her introduction video, Batt mentioned her choreography was focused on “being present,” and her expressive and emotional dance accomplished just that.

The final dance of the first half was to “The Chain,” choreographed

by Cordelia Zawarski, LSEHD ’25. The dancers wore dark pants and white

CALLIE OXFORD / HEIGHTS EDITOR

DOBC’s dancers shined on stage as they performed complex and fluid movements for Illuminate.

shirts, an outfit choice that accentuated their movements. The acutely insync dancing highlighted DOBC’s talent and well-rehearsed skills. At one point, the dancers moved in a running motion, as the word “running” came up in the song. The dancers matched the intense emotion of the song’s with equally intense movements.

In the second half, a medley of Beyoncé’s tracks titled “Beyoncé,” Rihanna’s “Love On The Brain,” and The Weeknd’s “D.D.” were distinct standouts.

“Beyoncé,” choreographed by Cara Page, CSON ’24, featured all of the dancers wearing heels, a choice that added a layer of sensuality and empowerment, which most shined through in an impressive moment of intricate footwork in heels.

“Love on the Brain,” choreographed by Beatrice Hesse, MCAS ’25, and Avery Savage, MCAS ’25, showcased the choreographer’s creativity.

The performers wore button-up shirts and black shorts, while using chairs as props for parts of the song.

Next, the director of DOBC, Emily Pudvah, MCAS ’24, choreographed an exciting and engaging dance to “D.D.” The dancers’ fluid motions, such as complex bends and turns throughout the dance, captured the audience’s attention. “D.D.” also in-

cluded a lift, an aerial, and impressive jumps.

Phaymus and Sexual Chocolate were wonderful guests for the opening show. Phaymus’ rookies displayed clean, synchronized movements, while Sexual Chocolate excited the crowd with its notorious moves and incredible step skills.

The final two performances of the show were composed of senior dances—Taylor Swift’s “Never Grow Up” and the finale, entitled “Illuminate,” which featured the entire group.

Before “Never Grow Up,” the underclassmen showed a video they made featuring the seniors from their freshman year to the present. The touching moment lingered through their dances, in which each senior had a special moment onstage, showing their joy being on stage together one last time.

The finale, choreographed by all of the officers, was a thrilling and energetic close to a fabulous show.

While very high-energy and fairly fast-paced, the dancers’ movements remained harmonious.

The very last song in the mashup was Jess Glynne’s “Kill the Lights,” a song that brought the audience to its feet in a final moment of joy and excitement for both the dancers and those watching them. n

Emerson: Can You Separate the Art From the Artist?

By Lily Emerson Heights Staff With the upcoming release of the 11th studio album from Ye, formerly Kanye West, the relationship between Ye’s reputation and the album’s success may not be at the forefront of fan’s minds.

After his continued tirades full of controversial opinions and outright anti-semitic ideas, I’ve been pondering an important question: can you separate the art from the artist?

When I approached this discussion, a slew of artistic disciplines and successful yet controversial artists came to mind.

The prevalence of “cancel culture” makes it hard to find successful artists without tainted reputations. Armie Hammer is possibly a cannibal, and sent some pretty disturbing DMs back in 2021—does that still mean you can love him in Call Me by Your Name? Can we still enjoy “Forever,” by Chris Brown, who is known for his domestic violence history, when it comes on during the pregame? Even stars like Taylor Swift find themselves explaining unsavory homophobic lyrics from their earlier songs.

My short answer—yes, I believe you can separate the art from the artist.

The feeling of enjoyment you experience while interacting with a work of art, a movie, or a song, is often distanced from the creator.

Appreciating art is a connection between your own feelings and the artwork itself, and the artist doesn’t have the same importance as the art. Plus, it’s easy to become caught up in the ignorant bliss of enjoying art or media, especially when you lack the knowledge of its unfortunate subcontext or problematic creator.

I personally love the movie

Midnight In Paris, simply because I loved the experience of watching Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams act in a romantic comedy set in the dreamy city of love. My lack of knowledge about Woody Allen’s incestual relationship with his formally adopted daughter meant Allen’s reputation wasn’t a factor in my opinion.

I can apply the same concept to artist Paul Gauguin. You might recognize some of his portraits and landscapes from his vibrant use of color, or his recreation of scenes from French Polynesia.

Gauguin is widely regarded as an artist who helped spearhead

the post-impressionist movement, and is celebrated for his simplified forms, innovative patches of color, and lack of dimension. Gauguin also spearheaded the “primitivism” movement, which was characterized by the artistic obsession to portray a civilization that was deemed less civilized, meaning simply just not westernized cultures.

How is the average person supposed to know about his countless sexual offenses?

At face value, Gauguin’s paintings give the viewer a sense of serenity and intrigue, as one becomes entranced by his color theory and depiction of the Tahitian people.

GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

His beautiful paintings hardly reflect the person he was. Gauguin often took advantage of the civilians he painted, both fetishizing and sexually abusing his young female subjects.

Today’s current art history world is presented with this exact same question of whether or not we are able to separate Gauguin and his artistic achievements from his crimes against humanity. Is it right to look at depictions of Gauguin’s 13-year-old “mistress” and regard the work as an artistic achievement?

I think the truth lies in the fact that while Gauguin and his disgusting actions are fading into the past, his art and its importance is not. Gauguin’s legacy takes the form of artwork hanging on the walls of museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musée d’Orsay, where onlookers come to appreciate the beauty of his work, often without the full picture. Gauguin’s success and legacy is unavoidable and unerasable despite his problematic past.

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

‘Griselda’ Offers a Multi-Layered Character Study

By Helen Liu Heights Staff Diving into the tumultuous world of drug cartels, Netflix’s latest offering, Griselda, brings to the screen a riveting tale of crime, power, and resilience. Released on Jan. 25, the show centers around Griselda Blanco (Sof ía Vergara) and her life as the “Godmother of Cocaine.” From the slums of Colombia to the streets of Miami, the series follows both Griselda’s climb to power and the nuances of her personal and family life.

Griselda, directed by Andrés Baiz and starring a talented ensemble, promises to be more than just a crime drama—it is meant to be a deep exploration of a figure who left an indelible mark on the criminal underworld.

To do so, the show borrows from real events. The opening

of Griselda plunges viewers into her early life. The show opens in Medellín, Colombia, the place Griselda flees from with her three children after killing her husband.

With her cunning mind and unyielding spirit, Griselda begins to carve out a niche for herself, but she faces distinct challenges. The narrative highlights the escalation of Griselda’s operations and the beginning of the ruthless tactics she uses to maintain power and control. Everything begins smoothly as she meticulously plans, but she finds her enterprise difficult to sustain in the male-dominated market.

Griselda immerses its viewers in the ’70s milieu with Armando Salas’ richly textured cinematography. To produce the show’s cinematography, Salas explored films and still photography from the ’70s to find the color difference

from those produced by current digital cinematography. He created a color palette and grain structure to imitate the photography of the ’70s.

These careful technical structures combined with the costumes, hairstyle, and makeup of the actors, create a show that successfully portrays a story set in the last century.

An important theme in the portrayal of this character is motherhood. Griselda is for sure the “godmother” of the immigrants and prostitutes who work for her.

She protects them, while providing shelter and, more importantly, money for them to live in a foreign country. To these people, Griselda is a mother of hope. Griselda’s protection, however, comes with a twisted cost.

Griselda is also the mother of her three sons. Therefore, the

narrative shows the nurturing side to her, creating an interesting contrast against the ruthless means with which she handled her business. Her children also have to deal with the multifaceted image of their mother, as Griselda manages her business under their witness.

June Hawkins (Juliana Aidén Martinez), a female intelligence analyst in the police department of Miami, also stands out. Hawkins mirrors Griselda.

The two women share many cultural and family backgrounds, but they live on opposite sides of the seemingly indestructible drug cartel. With the dichotomy between Griselda and Hawkins, the show leaves its audience plenty of space to judge and think about the two women and their roles in a male-dominated world.

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

TV SHOW

‘Griselda’ Released Jan. 25

GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

SPORTS

Monday, February 5, 2024

A8

The Heights

HAFLEY HITS THE ROAD

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

After four seasons as the head coach of Boston College football, Jeff Hafley left the Heights on Jan. 31 to become the next defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

Hafley, from A1 Despite earning its first 4–0 start since 2007 and narrowly losing to then-No. 25 Clemson in Death Valley, BC finished the 2021 season with a 6–6 record. The Eagles also ended the season as the ACC’s third-ranked defense.

Hafley’s 2022 campaign told a different story, though, when the Eagles finished with a 3–9 record—their worst since 2015.

Opening the season with a home

loss to Rutgers, Hafley’s Eagles went on to incur blowout losses at the hands of Florida State, Clemson, Wake Forest, and Notre Dame, while also suffering a defeat to Connecticut for the first time in program history.

Hafley attempted to right the ship in 2023, but the campaign was far from smooth sailing.

In Week One, the Eagles lost to Northern Illinois , f lipping between expected starting quarterback Emmett Morehead and

eventual starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos throughout the game.

In Week Two, the Eagles narrowly escaped Alumni Stadium with a 31–28 win over FCS opponent Holy Cross.

In Week Three, the Eagles flashed some promise and nearly completed an upset over then-No. 3 ranked Florida State, but ultimately lost with a program-record 18 penalties.

After a 28-point loss to Louis-

ville and a 1–3 start to the season, 2023 began to look like a rerun of the 2022 campaign. Then, five straight wins later, the Eagles found themselves with a 6–3 record and a potential path to the ACC Championship game.

But under the coaching of Hafley, the Eagles finished the season with three straight losses, closing out another six-win regular season.

Despite its underwhelming conclusion, the Eagles finished

their season on a high note, picking up Hafley’s second ranked win as BC’s head coach in the 2023 Fenway Bowl against No. 17 SMU. Hafley was set to welcome the nation’s 69th-ranked recruiting class and the 44th-ranked transfer portal class ahead of the upcoming 2024 season, according to 247Sports.

With Hafley’s abrupt departure from the team, current players will receive an extra 30 days to enter the transfer portal. n

Bergamini: The Complicated Legacy of Jeff Hafley

By Jack Bergamini Senior Staff Think back to just over five we ek s ago when Jef f Haf le y, against all odds, rallied Boston College football past No. 17 SMU in Fenway Park to earn the Eagles their first bowl victory since 2016.

Thomas Castellanos was named the Fenway Bowl offensive MVP, solidifying himself as the Eagles’ quarterback of the future. BC’s defense locked down the Mustangs’ offense, allowing the Eagles to finally notch their first full above .500 season under Hafley. And despite an initially worrisome 2024 recruiting class, Hafley finally committed to the transfer portal, garnering the No. 44 transfer rank.

For the first time in a long time in Chestnut Hill, things appeared to be trending upward for BC. The key word there? Appeared.

As we all know, Hafley shockingly bolted from the Heights to take over as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator on Wednesday, leaving the Eagles without a face of the program with a little over a month until spring ball starts.

“How could Hafley do this?”

“He left BC with no time to find a replacement!” “It’s totally unfair!”

Let’s circle back to that word appeared. B ecause how catastrophic, if at all, is Hafley’s departure?

Sure, the Eagles had momentum heading into 2024 after their bowl win. But we can’t forget that 2023 was nothing short of a rocky season that featured a home-opening loss to Northern Illinois, a win that felt like a loss against Holy Cross, a 56–28 blowout at the hands of Louisville, and three straight sleep-walking losses to close out the season.

Yes, there were highs, such as the Eagles’ five game win streak that forged “The Path,” and Castellanos declaring “Boston College football is back.” There was real excitement about football on campus—the most since the Eagles’ overtime win against Missouri in 2021.

But excitement doesn’t equal reality, even after a feel-good bowl win like the one the Eagles earned

to close out 2023.

The Eagles gave up 1,536 total yards in the final three games of the regular season, with Hafley, coming from a defensive background, showing no real defensive adjustments. He also butted heads with his critics at times this past year, delivering subtle shots after things finally turned in his favor.

“We were 1–3, and people wanted to say everything that they could,” Hafley said after BC’s fifth straight win this past season.

“Everything.”

Hafley finished his four-year tenure with a 22–26 record, delivering three solid seasons and one disaster of a year in 2022 in which the Eagles finished 3–9. 2023 was a solid rebound, but what’s to say the program wouldn’t implode once again in 2024? I’m not necessarily confident it wouldn’t have, especially after all the expectations going into 2022 were quickly proven wrong.

And since the Eagles co u l d o n l y manage a 7–6 record while playing with the easiest Power 5 schedule in 2023, t h e r e ’s n o telling what would have happened in 2024.

Hafley ’s first two years were anchored

by Phil Jurkovec, Zay Flowers and an elite offensive line consisting of Zion Johnson, Alec Lindstrom, Ben Pe t r u l a , C h r i s t i a n Mahogany, and Tyler Vrabel. But after two solid years of finishing 6–5 and 6–6, any momentum was shattered after Jurkovec’s abilities fell off a cliff in 2022, limiting BC to just three wins and wasting Flowers’ final

collegiate season. Hafley always pointed to 2022 as a year of injuries—which is true—but there’s no denying that nine losses was an utter embarrassment to everyone involved, regardless of who was on the field.

The biggest question, however, is whether the program is in a better spot now because of Hafley, or worse.

In a world where Hafley is still the Eagles’ head coach, one could

make the argument that he has slightly improved the program, despite all the falters. I wouldn’t.

BC’s expectations shouldn’t be mediocrity. And that’s been exactly the theme of Hafley’s tenure despite having countless opportunities to succeed and having heavy NFL talent. The program’s first-ever losses to a MAC team in Northern Illinois, along with its first ever loss to UConn in 2022, certainly don’t help his case. But then there’s wins such as BC’s upset over No. 21 NC State.

Highs and lows equal mediocrity.

In the words of his now in-division rival Dan Campbell, the Eagles were never going to kick anyone in the teeth or bite any kneecaps off under Hafley.

If anything, fans shouldn’t be upset that Hafley is gone. Him leaving on his own saves the program money and allows Athletics Director Blake James to handpick his own head coach. Unless things drastically turned around in 2024, there’s a good chance James would have moved on from Hafley any w ay, costing BC millions of dollars in buyout money.

Hafley leaving now just speeds up the inevitable reset. BC was never going to be a powerhouse under Hafley, let alone a top ACC team. His tenure had simply run its course and it’s okay to admit it was mostly a disappointing failure with some bright spots sprinkled in here and there.

Yes, players may transfer because of the coaching change.

But that’s just the nature of college football today in combination with NIL and the transfer portal. That’s reportedly the main reason Hafley left the Heights.

“He wants to go coach football again in a league that is all about football,” a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “College coaching has become fundraising, NIL and recruiting your own team and transfers. There’s no time to coach football anymore.”

Personally, I’m not too shocked about the move when I think back on it. Hafley hinted at his frustrations about the college football landscape during a media interview while he was on the road recruiting in Texas in early December.

“Your guys’ head would explode from what I’m hearing and seeing out here,” Hafley said to reporters. “It’s complete insanity.”

Castellanos, however, appears to have already committed to staying with BC via his Instagram story, which is a best-case scenario considering Haf ley ’s departure, minimizing most—if any—damage that had been done.

And who’s to say other important players won’t follow Castellanos and also stay?

The one thing fans can complain about is the manner in which Haf ley left. I’ve had multiple sources tell me his departure completely blindsided the players—as seen on social media—and even parts of BC’s coaching staff. Hafley has been a class act in every interaction I’ve had with him, but if these claims prove true, then that’s hard to defend.

The timing of his departure is also tough to swallow. No matter how you felt about Hafley as a coach, the timing is less than ideal. BC posting photos on social media of the team practicing the same day Hafley left could further confirm that some were left in the dark. And with the coaching hiring cycle basically finished, James has to scramble to not only find a new head coach, but the right head coach in a time where there’s so much uncertainty in college football.

Regardless, Hafley’s departure marks an end of an era for BC. While there won’t be any tears shed by fans, that doesn’t mean it can’t be bittersweet, and even scary, until a new face of Chestnut Hill is appointed. n GRAPHIC BY BROOKE GHALY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

A9

The Heights

Monday, February 5, 2024

SPORTS

Chasing Number Two: 2024 BC Lacrosse Season Preview

CALLIE OXFORD / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Boston College lacrosse is looking to make its seventh straight national championship appearance in 2024.

By Luke Bellaud Heights Staff Last year, Boston College lacrosse made program history, again, winning its first ACC Championship in program history and reaching a sixth straight national championship. The plan for this year, according to the team, is simply to do it all over again, but at the end raise two trophies instead of one.

“The expectation is to win another conference championship and national championship,” BC head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said.

“I think this group is fully capable of it, but we’ll have to see and work day by day to figure it out.”

BC went 19–4 in the 2023 season, capturing the ACC Championship in a win over North Carolina before ultimately losing 18–6 to Northwestern in its sixth straight trip to the national championship. Entering the season ranked No. 2 in the IWLCA preseason poll, the Eagles will look to win their first NCAA championship since beating Syracuse 16–10 for the title in 2021.

The Eagles have reloaded with four transfers and seven freshmen joining 24 returning players to round out the 2024 roster.

“I think that the young freshmen and the transfers always bring in this, like, rejuvenated energy and passion that I think is oftentimes a really great spark,” Walker-Weinstein said.

After spending the last two years

at Virginia, Rachel Clark joined the Eagles as a junior. The 2021–22 ACC Freshman of the Year, Clark led the Cavaliers with 63 goals and 76 points, making 2023’s All-ACC first-team. Joining Clark in attack is junior Emma LoPinto, who tallied 125 goals and 187 points in two seasons at Florida, making 2023’s All-AAC first-team.

Another former Gator joining the Eagles’ roster is Becky Browndorf.

The graduate defender notched a career-high 22 caused turnovers and 21 ground balls in the 2023 season.

Finally, Norwell, Mass. native Julia Greene also joins the Eagles defense after four seasons at Stanford, winning two Pac-12 titles in her time there.

Another star-studded freshman class features three five-star recruits, all of whom were rated in the top-10 overall and in the top six of midfielders. BC’s top recruit is Lydia Colasante, rated No. 4 overall and the No. 3 midfielder. In high school, Colasante was a three-time All-American who finished with 311 goals and 454 points, leading The Tatnall School to a 2023 Delaware state title.

Kylee Colbert and Lacey Downey make up the rest of the five-star midfielder trio. They both were threetime USA All-Americans and were rated the No. 6 and No. 8 overall players, respectively.

The group already appears particularly noteworthy, according to

Walker-Weinstein.

“I think with our group of girls returning and the new group that we have in, I think they’re a really special group,” Walker-Weinstein said. “I think there’s a lot of really good leadership.”

The captains for the 2024 season are Belle Smith, Ryan Smith, and Sydney Scales. The trio of seniors have experience winning at BC, as all are members of the national championship winning team in 2021 and the first BC team to win the ACC Championship in the 2023 season.

According to Walker-Weinstein, it’s their desire to win again that will make them strong captains.

“The word that always comes to my mind is urgency,” Walker-Weinstein said. “It’s like a really good leadership quality, and I think the three of them individually and as a whole, they embody urgency.”

Belle Smith will be one to watch for the Eagles in 2024. The senior was a consensus first-team All-American and was named ACC Midfielder of the Year in 2023 with 52 goals and 83 points. She was recently named USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Midfielder of the Year.

Ryan Smith had a career year in 2023, scoring a personal-best nine goals and finishing with 10 points.

She also posted a career-high 90 draw controls in 23 games for the Eagles—tied for 10th all-time at BC in draw controls in a single season.

Scales is also coming off a career

season, being named the ACC Defender of the Year. Her experience and effectiveness at ground balls and causing turnovers will be important, as the Eagles will look to continue the strong defensive play seen in the 2023 season.

Seven other BC players joined Belle Smith and Scales as USA Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans.

Included was sophomore Shea Dolce, who took over in net for the Eagles last season. In 22 games, she made 128 saves with a .457 save percentage, en route to accolades like ACC Freshman of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP. Dolce was the first freshman goalie to start for the Eagles since 2016.

The success on the team is strong, with All-Americans and ACC award winners at nearly every position for the Eagles. But according to Walker-Weinstein, the senior class is the group to watch both on and off the field.

“I am blown away at the talent we have,” Walker-Weinstein said. “And I just think that this is a really critical senior class, and I would keep an eye out for how impactful they’re going to be on the field. And I think throughout the season, people will learn how impactful they are off the field.”

The team may boast many fresh faces, but Walker-Weinstein believes the confidence and drive to reach a seventh straight national championship game is still apparent.

“I do because I see how hard they’re working,” Walker-Weinstein said. “And I see how they’re responding to each other and to the coaches and to the expectations, and I do think there’s a sense of confidence.”

The Eagles open the season on Friday, Feb. 9, versus UMass Amherst at Fish Field House. The Minutemen were ranked No. 20 in IWLCA’s preseason poll and are coming off a 16–3 season, losing to Johns Hopkins in the NCAA Tournament.

The most highly anticipated regular season game will be on Thursday, Feb. 29, when BC hosts Northwestern in a rematch of last year’s national championship game.

The Wildcats enter the season as the No. 1 team in the IWLCA’s preseason poll with many of their championship-winning players returning under head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. Under Hiller’s leadership, she has coached Northwestern to eight NCAA championships.

Other notable matchups for the Eagles include the annual Red Bandanna Game against Notre Dame on Saturday, March 16, a rematch of the ACC Championship game against North Carolina on Saturday, March 30, and the final regular season game against Syracuse on Thursday, April 18. North Carolina and Syracuse were ranked No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, on IWCLA’s preseason poll. BC will host all three of those games at Alumni Stadium. n

Getting Over the Hump: 2024 Softball Preview

By Jonas Weinmann Heights Staff B o ston Colle ge’s s of tb all learned last year that progress isn’t always linear.

After finishing the 2022 season with seven more wins than the previous year and improving to a 20–27 record, some expected 2023 would be the year for the team to obtain a winning record for the first time since 2018, especially after starting its season 4–1.

But, the Eagles finished the 2023 season 24–28, with the same 6–18 conference record they held in 2022. And unlike 2022, which saw three Eagles earning All-ACC honors, 2023 saw no Eagles receive these honors. Despite these setbacks, 2023 marked the second straight year of visible improvement for BC led by head coach Amy Kvilhaug.

BC begins its season on Feb. 8 in Fort Myers, Fla. at the FGCU tournament, where the Eagles will open play against Florida Gulf Coast.

With 55 games remaining, the Eagles will seek the winning record that has eluded them for five years. To do that, Kvilhaug said she had to look within and mix it up.

Kvilhaug said she wanted to “take this program to the next level,” and asked players for their input on

how that goal can be accomplished.

“A lot of the feedback was centered around, ‘We wanna have more connections with the coaching staff, we wanna have a servant leadership style of a program, where the freshmen are carrying all the equipment,’ and that sort of thing,” Kvilhaug said.

Kvilhaug emphasized her belief that BC will be different this year.

“We are going to play a quicker game … You’re going to see a cohesive unit,” Kvilhaug said. “You’re going to see a lot of really good stuff from BC softball in the spring of 2024.”

Departures: Graduate pitcher and captain Susannah Anderson marks the most notable departure from last year’s team, who posted a 5.53 ERA in 22 games started last year. Anderson earned third-team All-ACC honors during the 2022 season.

“Anytime you lose someone with this type of ability and experience and leadership, it’s definitely different, but different is not bad,” Kvilhaug said. “Everytime a door closes, a chapter ends, there is a new chapter and there’s new opportunities.”

BC also said goodbye to six seniors—utility player Abigail Knight, catcher and outfielder Maddy Carpe,

shortstop and second baseman Gianna Sarlo, shortstop and third baseman Djhane Valido, outfielder Mia Bueno, and third baseman and first baseman AJ Alatorre.

Knight and Sarlo transferred to UNC Charlotte and Fordham, respectively, to continue their playing careers in 2024. Carpe was recently hired as an assistant coach at Harvard.

With Knight and Carpe exiting, the Eagles will lose a combined 69 hits and eight home runs, leaving a major offensive void.

Also departing the team are graduate pitcher Sofia Earle and senior Erika Andal. Earle posted a 5.18 ERA in 19 appearances, while Andal had 32 hits and posted a .256 batting percentage.

Returners/Acquisitions: Among returning players, two players stand out from the rest.

Catcher Hannah Slike, who earned All-Freshman honors as a freshman during the 2022 season, returns to boost both the offense and defense.

Slike posted a .263 average, with 46 hits and seven home runs to lead the team last year. Defensively, Slike only recorded one error and a fielding percentage of .992.

“Hannah’s play and her leadership are gonna be huge … she’s got

one of the highest game IQs on the team,” Kvilhaug said.

The other key returner, Abby Dunning, was the Eagles’ best pitcher last year, boasting a 3.7 ERA and 13–11 record. Both return as juniors to lead the Eagles.

“I have Abby Dunning who’s returning, who had a great season last year,” Kvilhaug said. “She is just on the verge of a breakout season …

Just the other day at practice she hit 70 on the gun six times in our live session, that’s pretty freaking good.”

BC welcomes a class of six freshmen—outfielder Tannis Jackin, infielder Gator Robinson, right-hand pitcher Addison Jackson, and utility players Sammy Horn and Katelyn Deguire.

“For the freshman class, you’re gonna see Emma Jackson and Gator Robinson,” Kvilhaug said. “Emma will be at second, Gator will be at short.”

BC also welcomes outfielder Jordan Stephens and first baseman Makenna Segal, transfers from Alabama and Ole Miss, respectively.

“Jordan Stephans is vying for a spot in the outfield,” Kvilhaug said.

“Makenna is vying for a spot at first base or DP. We’ve got two kids who’ve played in high level conferences, high level softball coming here to contribute.”

Schedule: The Eagles open their season with three consecutive tournaments, all hosted in Florida. After opening with five contests at the FGCU tournament, BC will compete in the USF tournament, then the FAU tournament.

BC begins ACC play on March 1 at Virginia and plays its home opener on March 12 against Stonehill. After playing in the Eagle Round Robin with Holy Cross, Iona, and Quinnipiac, the Eagles begin their toughest stretch of play, beginning with a contest against Maine. The Eagles will go on to face multiple tough ACC programs including No. 7 Clemson, No. 23 Virginia Tech, and No. 4 Florida State.

Despite a tough road to the ACC tournament, Kvilhaug is optimistic that a bright future lies ahead for the Eagles and she said she knows the work it will take to achieve their goals.

“Our goal this season as a team is to make the ACC tournament ...

Our kids believe that they can be a NCAA tournament team,” Kvilhaug said. “They really do, and so do I. If we wanna do that, we gotta play well against these [ACC] teams, and we gotta win the series. We’ve gotta take games where we may be the underdog.” n

The Heights

Monday, February 5, 2024

A10

SPORTS

No. 1 Eagles and No. 3 BU to Meet at TD Garden

By Robert Brennan Heights Staff In the realm of New England college hockey, it doesn’t get much better than Boston College and Boston University facing off in the Beanpot. Luckily for fans in the region and throughout the country, we are guaranteed to see the Eagles and Terriers play this year, as the two programs are going head-to-head in the first round of the 2024 Beanpot.

This matchup is must-see hockey in any year, but it is especially intriguing this year given how both teams’ seasons are progressing. No. 1 BC sits at 19–4–1, while No. 3 BU comes in with a record of 17–7–1. The high rankings and winning percentages of the two squads should draw even more eyes to one of college hockey’s premier matchups.

The Eagles come into this matchup playing arguably the best hockey they’ve played all year. They are led by their high-flying offense, lighting the lamp an average of 4.21 times per game, good for third in the NCAA. On offense, Cutter Gauthier, one of college hockey’s most

dangerous shooters, leads the team in goals with 21.

The team doesn’t sacrifice any offense when Gauthier’s line goes for a change, either. The “freshman line” of Ryan Leonard, Will Smith, and Gabe Perreault is one of the most exciting lines in the country. Perreault leads the line and the team in points with 39, but it’s tough to separate any of the individual players’ accomplishments from each other since their collective success as a line is so impressive.

When you include their two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program, they have been playing together for three years, so watching them is akin to watching poetry in motion.

BC also boasts the nation’s stingiest penalty kill, allowing opposing power plays to score just 9.5 percent of the time.

The Eagles’ penalty kill works hard to stop shots from reaching Jacob Fowler, who owns the nation’s eighth best goals against average of 2.21—the top mark of any freshman netminder.

Between the pipes, Fowler uses his ath-

leticism to make show-stopping saves with his pads, and he also uses his glove well to catch the puck and freeze play, making life easier for his defensemen.

Last Weekend’s Series: One quirk in this season’s Hockey East schedule is that BC and BU played a home-and-home series on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27, just 10 days before their Beanpot tilt. BC swept the series, winning 4–1 at Conte Forum and 4–3 at Agganis Arena. Despite the score of the first game, both were close, evenly matched contests. BC’s netminder Fowler showed out in the series and made 26 saves in the first game and 32 in the second.

What to Expect From BU: Much has been said about Macklin Celebrini, but the hype is warranted given how impressive he is on the ice.

The freshman from Vancouver ranks second among all freshmen in points per game with 1.61, which is an even greater accomplishment when factoring in his June 2006 birthday, making him significantly younger than the vast ma-

jority of freshmen in the country. The 17-year-old will almost certainly hear his name called first in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, and he is widely considered to be one of the most exciting prospects in hockey.

In addition to having possibly the most exciting freshman in the country, the Terriers also feature Lane Hutson, one of the most exciting defensemen in the NCAA. He leads the country in points per game for a defenseman with 1.39, and he is a spectacular skater. He uses his quick edges to make plays in all three zones that most players, much less most defensemen, could only dream of making.

BU’s back-end is more than just Hutson, though. Cade Webber, the 6-foot-7 defenseman, is a nightmare for opposing forwards, and brothers Case and Gavin McCarthy are also very talented defensemen who play hard in their own zone and contribute offensively.

secutive games to their archrivals just over a week ago, so the first period will be very important for BC. BU shuffles its lines around a lot, but any combination of its players can score with ease, so it will be crucial for Fowler and the Eagles’ blueliners to play sharp defense throughout the game. It will be especially important for BC to avoid putting itself in a hole early.

One Terrier who may be especially fierce is sophomore forward Devin Kaplan, who was visibly frustrated when the team was not able to tie the game up in the third period of the game at Conte Forum and did not play in the game at Agganis due to a lower body injury.

As for BC, the freshman line will be crucial to the Eagles’ success, as it has all year. It will be important for the line to avoid getting hemmed in their own zone if the Terriers come out firing.

The freshmen will also be tasked with generating much of BC’s offense, as they have all year.

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

Outlook: The Terriers will come out with a vengeance after dropping two con-

Terriers Down BC 3–0, Split Series

By Emily Roberge Assoc. Sports Editor Despite beating Boston University Friday night 3–0 in Walter Brown Arena, Boston College women’s hockey Boston University 3 could not Boston College 0 deliver another shutout against the Terriers— or even a win.

The exact outcome from Friday’s game flipped in favor of BU on Saturday.

“It wasn’t our best day,” BC head coach Katie Crowley said. “You know, I think it took us until they scored their third goal to really start playing and that’s not how you can go about it in our league and in hockey right now. I’m a little disappointed with the way we came out. I’m happy that we fought until the end. But you know, we got out-battled today. They were

a better team than us today.”

The roles reversed as BU (12– 14–3, 10–11–1) flipped the script and shut the Eagles (14–9–6, 13–5–4 Hockey East) out 3–0 in Conte Forum. BC only recorded 19 shots on goal, while BU rattled off 31.

With less than three minutes left to play in the first period, the Eagles picked up their first power play of the afternoon after BU’s Nadia Mattivi was called for cross-checking. But instead of converting on the power play, BC lost the puck to the Terriers. BU’s Liv Haag grabbed the puck from BC goaltender Grace Campbell, skated around the goal, and fired a short-handed goal into the back of BC’s net with 1:26 remaining.

“Obviously, a tough short-handed goal we gave up,” Crowley said. “I think there was just a little bit of a miscommunication there and, yeah, that was a tough one. I’d say that was

SHANE SHEBEST / HEIGHTS STAFF

Boston University recorded 12 more shots on goal than the Eagles.

probably the biggest turning point in the game. I think it deflated us a little bit.”

The Eagles offensive troubles continued for the rest of the first period, entering the second frame trailing by a goal.

“I think obviously they’re a team that can capitalize on opportunities, and we just had some opportunities in our first period that we didn’t capitalize on,” Crowley said.

Following a BU goal with 10:49 left to play in the second period, the Eagles challenged the goal, and the referees overturned the goal, bringing BC back to a one-goal deficit.

“I was hoping that was going to give us a little jump and a little bit of like, you know, let’s get going and give us an opportunity to get going, but it just couldn’t get done,” Crowley said.

“That’s when you see what your team is made of. And we need to work on that side of it.”

Emotions grew high in Conte after the overturned goal, as BU fans disagreed with the call, and the Terriers closed out the second frame up by only one goal.

It wasn’t until the third period of the game when the scoreboard began to light up, as BU began firing shot after shot in Campbell’s direction.

Less than a minute after an Eagles’ power play ended, BU’s Christina Vote received the puck from Mattivi, swung back her stick, and fired a shot past Campbell into the back of BC’s net to give BU a two-score lead 4:06 into the third period.

Vote’s goal further intensified the rivalry, as her brother, BC men’s hockey’s Will Vote plays for the other Comm. Ave hockey powerhouse.

But BU wasn’t done quite yet.

Less than five minutes later, BU put another goal on the board. After BC’s Morgan Trimper was called for body checking, the Terriers found another opportunity to convert on a power play. BU did just that, as Lacey Martin scored her 13th goal of the season.

Despite notching six shots on BU’s net after Martin’s goal, BC couldn’t turn any of them into goals as goaltender Callie Shanahan made save after save.

“When you get a score opportunity, when you get a break away, when you get a two-on-one opportunity, you need to find a way to put it into the net,” Crowley said. “I thought we had plenty of those opportunities even when we weren’t playing great.

And, you know, we need to find a way to bury those.”

After a shootout loss to the Terriers in the Beanpot semifinals on Jan. 16, the Eagles sought redemption.

They earned that on Friday night, but could not say the same for Saturday afternoon.

“We have to be a little bit more ready for the battle,” Crowley said. “I mean yesterday we were and we won a lot more puck battles and one-onone battles. Today, I feel like it was the complete opposite where they won all the battles. I think we need to be a little bit more ready for that.” n

BC Records Third Shutout of Season Against BU

By Isabella Calise Heights Staff In the leadup to this year’s Battle of Comm. Ave., nerves were high.

Just two weeks ago, Boston College women’s hockey and Boston University tied 3–3 in the opening match of the Beanpot, with the Terriers moving on after 3 Boston College winning the Boston University 0 shootout.

Friday night’s tilt told a different story.

With three minutes left in the third period, the Eagles were ready to skate away with a narrow 1–0 win. Freshman forward Julia Pellerin had tallied the only goal of the night, and the clock was running out for the Terriers.

Sloppy play from the Terriers in the final minutes only bolstered BC’s lead, though.

After an early empty net and turnovers in BU’s defensive zone, Sammy Taber and Sammy Smigliani shut down

their greenline rival 3–0.

No. 15 BC (14–8–6, 13–4–4 Hockey East) opened its weekend homeand-home series down Comm. Ave. against BU (11–14–3, 9–11–1) at Walter Brown Arena on Friday night.

The two late-period goals by Taber and Smigliani built a 3–0 BC lead, clinching an Eagles’ victory in the 70th Battle of Comm. Ave. The opening minutes held fast, back-and-forth play between the two teams, going minutes at a time without stopping for a whistle. Their energy on the ice rivaled that of the BU fans, who lined alongside the rink’s boards cheering for the home team.

The Eagles created a few looks halfway through the first period, until a hand pass call interrupted their momentum in the offensive zone.

A delayed penalty was called against BU’s Andi Calderone for tripping at the 14:14 mark. The Eagles boast the strongest power play in the conference, but the Terriers did not back down to the

challenge on Friday night. BU cleared the puck from its zone two times despite defender Nadia Mattivi losing her stick, eventually draining BC’s chances on the advantage.

BU pressured the Eagles’ defense, but couldn’t weave past the last defender for an opportunity. The Eagles outshot the Terriers 17–6 in the period.

The Terriers responded in the second period, looking cleaner with tape-to-tape passing, but were unable to beat Grace Campbell.

Referees caught Keri Clougherty guilty of holding 4:31 into the second period, giving the Terriers their first look on the power play. BU changed lines with 20 seconds left, trying to get a fresh set of legs on the ice but instead, wasted time, as the home team only mustered three shots with the advantage.

A second delayed penalty was called in the middle of the frame on BC’s Jansen Lucas for tripping. Again, the Eagles dumped the puck from the

SHANE SHEBEST / HEIGHTS STAFF

This weekend, BC and BU competed for the 70th and 71st time.

defensive zone and limited the Terriers to three missed shots on goal.

BC gained its momentum in transition, capitalizing on turnovers in the neutral zone and threatening the Terriers with odd-man rushes. In the last six minutes, Taber found the puck near the far blue line and raced to send a centering pass to Lucas, that fell just wide.

Pellerin tried her chance with the odd-man advantage again, seconds later at the 15:41 mark. Sidney Fess and Pellerin raced down the ice, with Peller-

in firing a shot that landed top corner to put the first point on the board at 1–0 and tally her 10th goal of the season.

Tensions heightened entering the third period, with the Terriers playing scrappy in front of Campbell’s crease, but unable to net the puck, sending shots high and over the net. landed on net.

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