The Heights, Jan. 29, 2024

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January 29, 2024

NTA Daily Strike Fine

Reduced to $50,000

The fines aganist the union total $375,000 as of Friday night. BY GENEVIEVE MORRISON Assoc. Newton Editor

Terrier Takedown

HENRY HURD / FOR THE HEIGHTS

No. 2 Boston College men’s hockey sweep No. 1 Terriers in the 292nd and 293rd Battle of Comm. Ave. BY LUKE EVANS Sports Editor

BY ROBERT BRENNAN Heights Staff

The Battle of Comm. Ave. between Boston College men’s hockey and Boston University is already intense enough, as the schools had met a whopping 291 times before Friday night’s matchup in Conte Forum. But on Friday, the familiar rivals met under new circumstances. For the first time in series history, the Terriers and BC met as the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation. The teams dueled it out in front of a sold out Conte Forum, filled with rowdy BC superfans.

BOSTON—After Macklin Celebrini beat Jacob Fowler with 2:11 left in the third period of the 293rd Battle of Comm Ave., Agganis Arena erupted. Some goaltenders would struggle under that heavy pressure, especially when tasked with shutting down the then-No. 1 team in the country. Not Fowler. After giving up the goal to Celebrini, Fowler locked in and made two more saves, including a crucial glove save on Lane Hutson as time was expiring to prevent overtime and complete No. 2 Boston College men’s hockey sweep of No. 1 Boston University.

See Friday’s Game, A8

See Saturday’s Game, A8

A Middlesex Superior Court judge reduced the fines against the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) for its strike to a flat, cumulative rate of $50,000 per school day until the union reaches a contract. If the NTA does not end its strike by 8:00 p.m. Sunday, the additional $50,000 fine will take effect. As of Friday, the union has been fined a total of $375,000 for its strike, which has closed all Newton Public Schools (NPS) for six school days. The district serves more than 11,000 students. Two hearings took place on Friday to reevaluate the NTA’s punishment for its strike.

In his ruling, Judge Christopher Barry-Smith expressed concern that escalating fines could impede fair negotiations. “I will continue to assess fines but discontinue escalating fines on a daily basis because I perceive a risk that such large, escalating fines would undermine effective and fair collective bargaining,” Barry-Smith wrote. In a press conference posted to Instagram Friday evening, Newton South High School teacher Ryan Normandin said the escalating fine structure gave the Newton School Committee (NSC) incentive to stall negotiations and wait for the union to run out of funds, forcing teachers to return to work.

See NTA Strike, A3

See NTA Strike, A3

WILL MARTINO / HEIGHTS EDITOR

BC Ranked 12th Safest Campus

Biden Taps Otsuka for NCUA Board

BY JACK BECKMAN Asst. News Editor

BY JACK BECKMAN Asst. News Editor

Boston College is the 12th safest college campus in the country, according to a recent ranking by Academic Influence, a think tank specializing in higher education. The ranking assessed concrete steps and policies different colleges implement to create a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. “A safe college campus is one where a school actively works to increase campus safety by implementing measures like ride-share programs, emergency blue light phones around campus, security cameras, security guards, mass notifications systems, and even self-defense classes for students,” the ranking reads. BC had a crime rate of 21.03 per 1,000 students in 2022—well below the national average of 41.2, according to the ranking. The ranking also considered crime rates of areas surrounding college campuses noting that the crime rate in Newton—for both violent and property crimes—is also lower than the national average.

way different dance teams contribute to a larger dance community, according to Jasmine Maturana, MCAS ’25 and vice president of UPrising. UPrising began “Waves VII” with its fall set titled “Murder Mystery,” which featured energetic choreographies to “No Limit” by G-Eazy, “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga, and “Foolish” by Rich Brian, Warren Hue, and Guapdad 4000. Lights turned on to reveal the dancers in their gold-black sparkling tops and black bottoms with smiles on their faces, ready to take on the night. The crowd cheers grew louder as the team danced to “Low” by SZA.

Tanya Otsuka, BC Law ’11, was sworn in as a board member of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) board on Jan. 8. “I was very honored and humbled to be appointed to the NCUA board, nominated, and then confirmed—especially as somebody who’s a career public servant,” Otsuka said. The NCUA is an independent federal agency that regulates and insures federal credit unions in the United States. The agency also seeks to raise awareness of fraud, increase access to affordable financial services, and educate consumers on financial matters, according to the NCUA’s website. The NCUA’s board—comprised of a three-member panel that serves six-year staggered terms—sets policy for the agency, approves budgets, and adopts rules and regulations.

See UPrising, A7

See NCUA, A2

See Campus Safety, A2

SEHO LEE / HEIGHTS STAFF

UPrising Show Champions Love for Dance Community BY SUNDERYA ULZIIBOLD For The Heights

The lights dimmed and the crowd cheered, filling Robsham Theater with excitement and anticipation. “SUVs (Black on Black),” by Jack Harlow and Pooh Shiesty, started playing when dancers emerged from the sides of the stage and walked to the center as the backdrop turned red and silhouettes came into view. UPrising Dance Crew was about to kick off its annual “Waves VII” showcase. UPrising performed the annual “Waves VII” at Robsham Theater on Friday, Jan. 26. This year’s performance aimed to highlight the

Magazine

Opinions

Staff writer Riley Davis curates a guide to Boston’s many museums, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Reflecting on her dad's unique journey to fatherhood, columnist Emmbrooke Flather illustrates her love for and encourages compassionate scheming.

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A6

INDEX Vol. CVI, No. 1 © 2024, The Heights, Inc. Chestnut Hill, Mass. Established 1919

Video: NTA Protests at City Hall Click Here to Watch

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS........... A2 OPINIONS.. A6 NEWTON....... A3 A R T S . . . . . . . . A7 MAGAZINE.. A5 S P O R TS . . . . . A8


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