November 18, 2024
BC Falls to SMU
Grayson James took the reigns of the Eagles’ offense, racking up 237 passing yards throughout the team's 38–28 loss.
By luke evans Sports Editor
Ten and a half months ago, Boston College football took down then-No. 17 Southern Methodist in the 2023 Fenway Bowl 23–14 largely thanks to former BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos’ heroics.
Under center for the Eagles, Castellanos logged 102 passing yards, 156 rushing yards, and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, guiding BC to its first bowl win since 2016.
Mail-In Blips
Frustrate BC Students
By eliza Hernandez Projects Editor
The Boston College mailroom buzzed with an anxious energy as Elizabeth Healy, MCAS ’25, checked her mailbox during the days leading up to the presidential election.
Many students amid the whir were expressing worries and concerns about the status of their absentee ballots, she said. Healy was concerned about her ballot as well.
“It’s not like I missed the registration deadline or didn’t get my application for my mail-in ballot on time—it just didn’t come,” Healy said. Well before election day, college students across the United States and in Massachusetts felt the weight of national concerns about mail-in voting. Many navigated stricter voting requirements and complications with out-ofstate registration.
Healy, a New Jersey resident, registered to vote in the midterm election and filled out her absentee application in September.
See Ballots, A2
Nearly a year later, a new quarterback was the signal caller in BC’s Week 12 matchup against No. 14 SMU after Castellanos was benched on Tuesday and officially announced his departure from the team on Thursday.
“Tommy’s not on the team,” BC head coach Bill O’Brien said when asked about his reaction to Castellanos’ decision to leave the team. “We wish Tommy the best.”
See Football, A11
Markis Recounts “Vitriol”
Faced by BC Republicans
On 2WAY Tonight, Mass. College Republicans Chairman James Markis described hostility directed towards Republican students.
By Jack Beckman Asst. News Editor
Boston College Republicans faced hostile and unfair attacks from other students in the days after the election, Massachusetts College Republicans Chairman James Markis said during an interview on 2WAY Tonight
“What came next for myself, for members of our executive board, as well as general members of our club, were threats and statements regarding that ‘If you supported President Trump, you're supporting rape, you're supporting a rapist, we hope that your daughters get raped in the future, you don’t support healthcare, you support murdering illegal immigrants,’” said Markis, former president of BC Republicans and GMCAS ’25. “Things along these lines. Every ‘ism’ in the book.”
Markis joined 2WAY Tonight —a nightly political talk show streaming on YouTube and X—on Wednesday to discuss the political climate on BC’s campus in the wake of the election and the op-ed the BC Re -
publicans executive board penned urging students to practice civil discourse.
“All we decided to do was call for civil, political discourse,” Markis said. “There's no need for ad hominem attacks and calling people rapists, sexist, homophobic, or whatever.”
Trump’s swift, decisive victory left many students feeling stunned and upset. Some took to Herrd and Instagram to express their disappointment with the outcome.
“BC tends not to be a super political campus—compared to so many Ivies and other campuses—and then the wave of backlash to President Trump's victory on Tuesday night was stunning,” Markis said.
In total, over 75 million Americans cast their ballots for Trump last week, the vast majority of which are not bigots, Markis said—a fact that most Herrd and Instagram posts seemed to ignore, he added.
“There's not 75 million Nazis in America, there’s not 75 million rapists in America,” Markis said.
No. 2 Eagles Fall to UConn 5–4
By luke evans Sports Editor
Earning the role as the starting netminder for Boston College men’s hockey as a true freshman and guiding the Eagles to a 2024 national championship appearance, Jacob Fowler is known for being even-keeled between the posts, hardly ever letting the score affect his play.
But in Friday night’s matchup against UConn, Fowler let his emotions get the better of him.
In the second period, after allowing
three straight goals to the Huskies in just over three minutes, the 2023–24 Hockey East Goaltender of the Year cocked his arm back and launched a punch that connected with the face of Tristan Fraser, who had given the Huskies a 3–1 lead over BC just seconds before.
“I'm sure he was frustrated with how we weren't playing nearly tight enough in front of him,” BC head coach Greg Brown said of Fowler’s reaction. “You know, a guy went crashing through him in the crease. I think the combination of how the game was going and the fact that the guy made contact as
he went through, and the puck ended up in the net, it had him react not in his normal, even-keeled fashion.”
Fowler immediately received a game misconduct and was ejected from the game, prompting Jan Korec to take his place in the net. The Huskies (6–5–1, 4–4–1 Hockey East) capitalized on the catastrophe that was the second period for No. 2 BC (7–2–0, 2–1–0) and ultimately defeated the Eagles 5–4, handing them their second loss of the season.
See Men's Hockey, A12
Tapping Into Gen Z
Many forecasted that young voters would carry Harris across the finish line. Following an unpredictable presidential election, how do members of the BC community explain Trump’s exceedance of expectations?
See A3
CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF
PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR
NEWS
This Week’s Top 3 Events
Studying abroad? Come celebrate International Education Week and meet students from the country you’re planning to study in. Enjoy food, refreshments, and new friends at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Hovey House.
Celebrate Balkan culture with music, food, and dance featuring Bulgarian ensemble Ludo Mlado. Enjoy a night filled with celebration on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the O’Connell House ballroom.
1 2 3
Join the Campus Activities Board for a Jubilee-style game show to single out the imposter. Watch six students compete on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Fulton 511.
Markis Speaks Out About “Hostile” Treatment of BC Republicans
Markis emphasized that many BC Republicans support Trump primarily for his policies, not because they agree with everything he says and does.
“A lot of people support him for the economy,” Markis said. “There's a wide-open border, violent crime is up—there's a lot of reasons why people would support President Trump.”
As an example, Markis pointed out that he doesn’t label supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris as “murderers,” referencing Harris' stance on abortion.
“Just as I wouldn’t call Kamala Harris supporters murderers for supporting abortion—which is through birth—or for what's going on in Palestine or in Ukraine a murderer for the people who are dying there, I think there is a difference between what the candidate says and what the people are saying on the ground,” Markis said.
Harris repeatedly pushed back on claims that she supported abortion up until birth during her campaign.
While Markis said the majority of backlash BC Republicans faced was
online, there have been moments of vocal hostility and physical aggression toward members of the group on campus as well, he alleged.
When asked what steps the University has taken in response, Markis said administrators reached out to him expressing regret over the incidents and offered to schedule a meeting.
Markis said that University administrators apply a double standard in their treatment of Republicans.
“If this was the reverse situation, and Trump supporters were shouting down liberals—which you rarely, never see on college campuses—we know that it would be swiftly responded to by the administration,” Markis said.
Because of his role, Markis said many students know where he stands on political issues. Still, he said he generally avoids talking about politics and that he did not publicly celebrate or taunt other students after the election.
“I tend to keep it pretty lowkey, though, if we’re being honest,” Markis said. “I don’t go out of my way to put in people’s faces that I won or support President Trump.”
The hosts of the show agreed
with Markis on the need for more mutual understanding and civil discourse in American politics, though each noted that Trump’s rhetoric and frequent attacks on his opponents have played a major role in fueling polarization.
“Donald Trump—who claims he’s just a counter-puncher—has
frequently been the instigator of rhetoric that has amped it up,” said Mark Halperin, editor-in-chief of 2WAY and host of 2WAY Tonight.
“It’s just historical fact, and to say that it’s all the fault of the left is objectively not true.”
Through it all, Markis said BC Republicans remain steadfast in their support for Trump.
“We can take whatever people throw at us,” Markis said. “We don't care. We’re confident in our beliefs. We're confident in our values. We will never waver in supporting President Trump and the policy that he supports against President Biden and Vice President Harris.” n
Mail-In Ballot Blunders Left Some Students Out of the Electorate
Despite her early planning, Healy said her ballot never arrived on campus.
“I guess I was kind of surprised because I figured that I was the only one, so I felt really bad,” Healy said. “Then I heard about other people too.”
Healy said she expected the process to be easier, especially because she was doing everything in her control. Looking
back, though, she said she feels disappointed that she could not complete her civic duty.
“People always talk about Gen Z not voting, and I know a decent amount of people that truly had the desire and the follow through [to vote], and then it didn’t end up happening,” Healy said.
Luke Mangano, a resident of Ohio and MCAS ’28, also never received his ballot in the mailroom.
Mangano said he requested his absentee ballot in September but did not receive any updates about it for four weeks. Once he managed to get his local election office on the phone, they informed him that he had to re-apply for his ballot. For a second time, it never arrived.
“To this day, I still haven’t received anything,” Mangano said. “It’s just terribly confusing to me because I know that ballot requests and ballots get priority
shipping.”
Like Healy, Mangano said he checked the mailroom many times in hopes that his ballot would come.
“I went to the mailroom once or twice a day for a while because I was thinking, ‘Maybe if I get it on election day I could still send it back,’” Mangano said. Mangano is frustrated not just because the results of the election are not what he had hoped, but also because the fiasco robbed him of his first experience voting in a U.S. election.
“I didn’t even get the opportunity, and it wasn’t my fault,” Mangano said. “There’s nothing more I could have done.”
Mariam Abdelhalim, CSON ’25, said she tried to avoid complications with her absentee ballot applications by having it sent to her mom in Colorado rather than to Chestnut Hill. She planned to have her mom send it to her so that she could fill it out.
But, Abdelhalim was unable to vote because the ballot never arrived to her mom. She tried to order another one, but it was too late to be counted.
My biggest issue about it was that I had no control over
BC Dining to Consider Swipe System, UGBC
By Jack Beckman Asst. News Editor
Boston College Dining is considering switching to an all-youcan-eat, swipe-in meal plan system, Student Senator Addie Weiss shared at the UGBC Senate meeting Tuesday night.
“[BC Dining Director Beth Emery] had just mentioned the very real conversations that are taking place about switching to a swipe system”, said Weiss, MCAS ’27.
Weiss said Emery’s comment was in response to a student’s question and that she did not elaborate further. If BC Dining ultimately decides to move to a swipe system, Weiss added, it would be at least a few years before the change took effect.
“It’s not like, ‘Oh, next year it’s gonna happen’ … she did say that it is something that they are thinking about and considering and could potentially be implemented next
year,” Weiss said. The comment marks a shift in tone by Emery, who has previously defended the declining balance system, arguing that a swipe system would be significantly more expensive for students and lead to more food waste.
A survey conducted by BC Dining in 2022 found that 70 percent of respondents preferred the declining balance system over a swipe system.
While the Senate has repeatedly raised the prospect of a swipe system and lower meal-plan prices with BC Dining, some Senators have redirected their efforts over the past year toward suggesting practical improvements for the dining halls instead.
According to Weiss, BC Dining has spent more money on utensils this semester than any previous one. When asked why drinks, grab-andgo items, and utensils are frequently out of stock, Emory acknowledged
the problem and attributed it to staff shortages, Weiss said.
“There’s been a lot of staffing turnover—they’re catching up on both numbers and having staff that’s up to date on policies, so they assured me that it should work itself
my vote at all,” Abdelhalim said. “I just wasn’t able to. It honestly meant a lot to me.”
Allee O’Neil, MCAS ’25, and Emma Randall, MCAS ’28, both received their ballots, but are unsure if they were counted.
O’Neil lives 45 minutes away from BC and knew before election day that she would not be able to go home to vote. Her family applied for absentee ballots, which they all sent together before election day. None of them were tracked on Massachusetts’ election website.
“I’m hoping it was counted correctly and that I can find some updates on that in the future,” O’Neil said.
Randall, a New Jersey resident, said she eventually received her ballot just one day before the election but is still unsure if it was counted, despite her haste.
“I really quickly filled it out and sent it, but I don’t actually know if it got counted or not, or if it made it in time,” Randall said.
out over time,” Weiss said.
Beginning next year, Weiss said BC Dining will switch its mobile ordering platform from GetMobile to GrubHub. In addition, they will add gluten-free bagel cutters to all dining halls and include Halal
SARAH FLEMING / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Several students who applied for absentee ballots this fall did not receive their ballots before the election
BC Republicans, from A1
Markis spoke about the treatment of BC Republicans in the days after the election on
Ballots, from A1
Brush Fire Breaks Out on Brighton Campus
By Will MarTino Managing Editor
A brush fire burned through a woodsy section on the west side of Brighton Campus around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.
First responders received a call about the fire at 2:46 p.m., according to Boston College Police Department. Responders drove fire trucks behind Simboli Hall and down to the corner of Lake Street and Undine Road, where BC facilities said the fire allegedly sparked.
“Just a leaf fire—could’ve been a cigarette butt or anything,” said Craig Petrie, a worker for BC facilities management. “Shouldn’t be anything major.”
Firefighters extended hoses into the woods where the fire occurred, extinguishing flames and wetting surrounding surfaces where the fire
might spread.
Smoke billowed across Brighton Campus and down Commonwealth Avenue, visible from various points of BC’s main campus.
“Just a leaf fire— could’ve been a cigarette butt or anything.”
Multiple spectators on the scene at Brighton Campus said they were not evacuated from any buildings, but could smell the smoke from inside and left to see what was happening outside.
Wildfires have posed an increasing threat across Massachusetts during the past week, where dry, windy conditions prompted a state-
In a press conference Tuesday morning, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey urged the public to
take preventative measures against wildfires.
“A lot of these fires that we’re seeing, they’re caused by human behavior,” Healey said, according to
Inspecting Trump’s Performance With Young Voters
By erin FlaherTy Editor-in-Chief
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, most major forecasting polls predicted that Vice President Kamala Harris would narrowly defeat former President Donald Trump. Many forecasted that young voters would carry Harris across the finish line, securing her key victories in swing states.
But these predictions didn’t come to fruition. Among voters aged 18 to 29, Harris won by six points. In 2016 Hillary Clinton won this group by 18 points, and in 2020, President Joe Biden won it by 25. Trump secured a greater portion of voters in the under-30 age range than any Republican presidential candidate since 2008.
In the wake of this outcome, some Boston College students are taking pause as they grapple with an outcome they hoped wouldn’t occur. Some of those who were pleased with the results are calling for less animosity and more respectful political discussion. Following an unpredictable and quickly determined presidential election, how do members of the BC community explain Trump’s exceedance of expectations?
Examining Youth Voter Turnout
Ethan Folkman, MCAS ’25 and president of Boston College Repub-
licans, attributes Trump’s success to Trump’s appearances on popular podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience. Compared to older generations, Folkman said Gen Z is less interested in coverage from legacy media outlets like The New York Times and CBS
“I think what got especially young men out—because I think that’s sort of the demographic that pushed him over the edge—was the podcasts,” Folkman said. “Barron Trump was very, very involved in getting him on Joe Rogan and Adin Ross and other podcasts that a lot of young men especially listen to.”
Onur Toper, MCAS ’25 and campus chair of BC for Harris, also noted that Trump’s campaign embraced podcast appearances to appeal to young, male voters, citing Trump’s appearance on social media influencer Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast.
But this strategy wasn’t exclusive to the Trump campaign, Toper said. To appeal to young voters, Harris went on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast to speak about abortion rights and student debt.
Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, also made an appearance on Twitch, the live streaming platform, alongside U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“Governor Walz went on The Rich Eisen Show on ESPN,” Toper said. “And Governor Walz played Madden
on Twitch with AOC, which was interesting as well.”
Campaign Platform Wins and Woes
Beyond the use of nontraditional media touchpoints, Folkman and Toper both pointed to JD Vance’s presence in the Trump campaign as an appeal to young, male voters. Vance is the third-youngest candidate ever elected to the Office of Vice President.
“He kind of extended a hand to young people by picking him as his VP,” Toper said.
To appeal to young voters, Toper said the Harris campaign focused on the freshness of the Democratic ticket.
“She also talked a lot about generational change and a new generation of leadership,” Toper said.
Folkman said the biggest mistake the Harris campaign made among young voters was assuming pro-Palestine voters would automatically vote against Trump, when in fact, many of them did not vote at all.
As pro-Palestine protests on college campuses across the country—including at BC—have made headlines, Folkman said Democrats may have assumed pro-Palestine individuals would do whatever it takes to stop Trump.
“The way that the [Biden Ad-
ministration] sort of mishandled the Israel-Gaza issue, I think, turned a lot of people away just to not vote at all—not necessarily to vote for Trump, just to not vote at all,” Folkman said. “I think that was the biggest blunder with the youth vote that the Democratic Party had this year.”
As Toper sees it, the Trump campaign engaged in fear-mongering surrounding the war in Gaza and Ukraine.
“[Trump] spoke about the Ukraine and Gaza wars in a way to appeal to young men in particular, because he said, ‘Oh, we don’t want to send our young people to war,’” Toper said. “Obviously, there’s zero U.S. troops in either one right now.”
Beyond these issues, Toper said the Trump campaign also honed in on certain talking points, like the inflation of grocery prices, to appeal to economically concerned voters.
“I think the Harris campaign was a nearly flawless campaign, and I think Trump really hammered in on the economy, which resonated with a lot of people,” Toper said.
According to Masha Krupenkin, an assistant professor of political science at BC who studies American political behavior, the election’s results reflect a trend of frustrations toward incumbent parties rather than specific issues with the Harris campaign.
“I actually don’t think that there’s anything unique about the campaigns that’s causing this,” Krupenkin said. Looking specifically at the economic frustrations that consumers project onto sitting Presidents, Krupenkin said inflation historically puts pressure on the incumbent party.
“Inflation is pretty uniquely bad for an incumbent party,” Krupenkin said. “A lot of people are willing to set aside whatever feelings they have about a candidate or a party to either not turn out to vote, or to vote for the party that is not the incumbent party—the challenging party.”
It may be hard for some BC students to imagine the weight that these sorts of economic issues hold to voters, Krupenkin said. But regardless, they influence voters in a major way.
“BC students are rather an unusual bunch, just in general when it comes to the American electorate—I think part of it is that a lot of us don’t spend a lot of time with swing voters,” Krupenkin said. “I think the fact that inflation was such a problem for a lot of people—even if it’s a problem in our own lives—maybe we underestimated how meaningful it was to shifting people’s votes.”
Miller Dissects the Impact of Mass Incarceration
By aMelia alexopolous
For The Heights
By anna lauinger
For The Heights
By making laws that restrict the rights of formerly incarcerated individuals, their sense of belonging and value in society is diminished, according to Reuben Jonathan Miller.
“[Citizenship] is not just legal status,” Miller said. “It’s about belonging. It’s about community and
being recognized, being a part of a human community. It’s having a role in that community. Citizenship is a practice—it’s something that we do together.”
Boston College’s Gerson Family Lecture featured Miller, a professor of sociology at the University of Chicago and former chaplain at the Cook County Jail, on Wednesday. Most states restore voting rights to individuals after they are released from prison, but citi-
zenship is about much more than voting, Miller said.
“Citizenship is also about belonging to a political community,” Miller said “It’s about recognition as someone of value who can fully participate in the political economy and culture, and what we have is an alternate legal reality for people who have made mistakes.”
Miller explained that even after release from prison, full reintegration into society is challenging because there are 44,000
laws across the United States that place restrictions on people with criminal records.
“Your parental rights can be revoked, you may not live in public housing, your job application can be denied, you may be fired or evicted on a whim,” Miller said.
“And therefore, your relationships look fundamentally different.”
Miller emphasized that people of color are disproportionately affected by mass incarceration. Black people are twice as likely as white people to get arrested and five times more likely to be incarcerated after arrest, according to Miller.
“Mass incarceration is an American problem,” Miller said.
“We overwhelmingly punish racial and ethnic minorities. We overwhelmingly punish our poor.”
Miller said that while people are in prison, they are made to feel like they are voiceless and powerless.
“More than anything else, it tells them that their voice doesn’t matter, that they’re a group that we shouldn’t care about,” Miller said. “It sends a message about their democratic participation being unwanted. It tells me that their voice is unwelcome. There’s
no place for them here.”
The prison system goes beyond mere punishment, inflicting lasting harm on vulnerable people, Miller said.
“If [mass incarceration] attacks the vulnerable in the ways that I’m suggesting, it is a form of violence itself,” Miller said.
Mass incarceration is closely tied to many other inequalities, including lack of access to mental health treatment and affordable housing—formerly incarcerated individuals are seven times more likely to be homeless, Miller noted.
“Mass incarceration is a series of crises,” Miller said. “It’s a public health crisis. It’s a housing crisis. It’s an employment crisis. It’s a political crisis. It’s a problem of citizenship. It’s about how we prey on our most vulnerable among us.”
According to Miller, formerly incarcerated people are more likely to experience homelessness, and in many cities, homelessness can lead to legal consequences or arrest—a policy that perpetuates the cycle of incarceration.
“It filters into dynamics of everyday life,” Miller said. “How do we respond? We respond by criminalizing poverty.”
wide Red Flag Warning from the National Weather Service.
NEWTON
Equipment
Public Safety and Transportation Committee
By Carlie Viray
For The Heights
The Newton City Council’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee approved $2.8 million in new equipment for the city’s fire department at its meeting Wednesday.
“We look at what possible funding sources there are to make sure they have equipment largely in line with federal guidance,” said Jonathan Yeo, chief operating officer for Newton.
Newton Fire Department Chief Gregory Gentile and Chief of Operations Michael Bianchi presented to the committee, asking for funding for the department.
The fire department requested $1 million to fund PFAS-free gear for Newton’s fire department. According to new state regulations, all firefighter gear must be free of the toxic chemicals by 2027.
Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemi-
cals used in many industrial processes and products. Known as “forever chemicals,” they do not break down easily and remain within the environment as contaminants.
The fire department’s request, if approved, could provide approximately 200 sets of custom-made sets at approximately $5,000 per set.
“NFPA standard … usually lasts 10 years, depending on a couple of tough fires, and we may need to take a look at it and replace it,” Gentile said.
Pamela Wright, Ward 3 councilor-at-large, explained she was in favor of reducing firefighters’ exposure to the harmful chemicals.
“I am very supportive of this,” Wright said. “I wish we were PFASfree in a lot of other areas.”
The fire department also requested $75,000 to provide the Newton Fire Department with a replacement shift commander vehicle
“This is an SUV that we use as the shift commander, which is a deputy
chief and is in charge of the city on a day to day basis, responds to over 3,000 calls per year,” Gentile said.
The current vehicles in use are a 2019 Ford Expedition with over 60,000 miles, and a 2009 Ford Taurus as a backup.
“The SUV that is currently using is a 2019 expedition with over 60,000 miles … that vehicle would trickle down to be the backup for this,” Gentile said. “If the first vehicle is out of service, and ultimately, the trickle down effect would lead to the replace-
ment of the 2009 Ford Taurus, which has over 100,000 miles on it.”
The committee also approved spending $1.8 million to replace Ladder 3, a ladder fire truck housed in Newton Corner’s Station One.
According to fire safety regulations, a fire ladder truck must be replaced every 15 years. As of this year the current ladder truck is 15 years old, but its replacement will take two to three years to be delivered.
Rebecca Walker Grossman, Ward 7 councilor-at-large, expressed
concern for the delivery time of the fire ladder truck.
“I see this [truck] is 15 years old, and if it’s supposed to be replaced every 15 years, it’s going to be 17 to 18 years before replacement,” Grossman said.
Yeo responded that delivery time for the trucks has extended in recent years and that this is an issue that will be addressed in future planning.
“I think in the future, we can always try to start things sooner,” Yeo said. n
Rosenfeld’s Serves 50 Years of Classic Bagels
By SaVannah loCkwood
For The Heights
Retro, genuine, and one of a kind, Rosenfeld’s Bagels has served its customers for nearly 52 years.
Newton Centre has been home to Rosenfeld’s Bagels since 1973.
Founder Marc Rosenfeld, a Suffolk Law student at the time of founding, felt that Boston needed a taste of New York–style bagels, and the business has been a success ever since.
“He said he couldn’t get a good
bagel in Boston,” Michael Lombardo, Rosenfeld’s current owner, said. “So, he started making them.” Lombardo explained he became an employee at Rosenfeld’s in 1988 with the intention of staying there for only six months. Now, 37 years later, he’s keeping its tradition of homemade authenticity alive.
“People say, ‘Oh, this place looks so retro,’” Lombardo said. “It’s retro because it’s retro. There’s a payphone on the wall there if you even know what that is.”
The shop is decorated with aged maps of Newton Centre, showing many places that cease to exist. Rosenfeld’s is one of the only businesses still standing from the 1970s.
“You know, Newton Centre is so different now than it was,” Lombardo said. “I’m glad we’re still here and that we’re so popular. We’ve worked really hard at it.”
Behind the counter is where the magic happens. Employees work efficiently, each having their own part in preparing orders. Even on a crowded
Saturday morning, you’ll wait less than five minutes to receive your food.
First time customers, Anthony Sharp and Dianora Bennett, were beyond impressed with the quality of food, service, and small-business atmosphere.
“I feel like it’s good to have little mom-and-pop shops because I feel there’s too many corporations,” Bennett said.
Rosenfeld’s stands out among other bagel shops with its wide variety of bagel flavors and hand-mixed spreads with flavor combinations that can’t be found anywhere else.
“It’s not a Dunkin’,” Sharp said. “Dunkin’ doesn’t have chive cream cheese or lox.”
The kosher-certified business was first popular among the Jewish community but quickly expanded throughout all of Newton. In addition to their boiled bagels, their other specialty is challah, a semi-sweet Jewish bread.
Harold Stahler has been a loyal Rosenfeld’s customer since moving to Newton 48 years ago. He praised their kindness and the structured service he receives, noting that Monica Lombardo, Rosenfeld’s general manager,
knows his order as soon as she hears his voice over the phone.
“Monica is the best,” Stahler said. “She knows my name, she knows my voice––that’s impressive.”
Stahler went on to explain that his all-time favorites can only be found at Rosenfeld’s.
“[This is] the only place you can find egg poppy bagels anywhere, and they happen to be my favorite,” Stahler said. “They have the best pumpernickel bagels anywhere. The best—right here.”
Rosenfeld’s Bagels has been admired by some of Boston’s most reputable publications, including The Boston Globe. Over the years, they’ve also been awarded with numerous “Best of Boston” awards.
Rosenfeld’s Bagels has built a strong reputation, committed client base, compelling menu, and warm sense of community that keeps people coming back. Even after half a century of life, they attract new customers every day and continue their mission of providing genuinely tasty bagels to Newton.
“It’s honestly really nice to come to a place like this where it’s just nice and local,” Sharp said. n
Newton Community Leaders Honor Veterans
By Paige Folli For The Heights
At a Veterans Day Observance at the American Legion Nonantum Post 440 on Monday, local veterans and government leaders advocated for supporting veterans in the city.
“Let us not wait for change to happen,” said U.S. Marine and former Newton City Councilor James Cote, the keynote speaker. “Let us be the change that our veterans and military families need.”
The Newton Scout Troop opened the event by leading the national anthem and Pledge of Allegiance.
Jack Stone, a U.S. Navy veteran and the chaplain for the Nonantum American Legion, guided a prayer to start the ceremony.
Following this introduction, Cote spoke about the need for veterans to receive ongoing support.
“Today, we’re not just here to remember,” Cote said. “We are here to act. We are here to reaffirm our commitment to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the armed forces.”
Cote suggested numerous possibilities for how the Newton community can improve the lives and experience of veterans as well as cultivate a culture of national pride among residents.
“We must foster compassion, and education on acts of patriotism for the children to learn in our school system, and resilience in our community,” Cote said.
Cote also encouraged individuals to help support local veterans, saying that it isn’t just government leaders responsible for enacting change.
“We must engage our city,” Cote said. “You should embrace its veterans, continuing programs that serve their needs. Our actions must reflect the commitment to stand out of our veterans.”
Cote stressed the importance of continuing this appreciation after service has been completed.
“As we gather here, we reflect on many stories, stories of courage, of loss, and of trying,” Cote said.
“Stories that remind us that the impact of military service doesn’t just end when the uniform comes off.”
In a speech, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller acknowledged the city’s veteran community for its resilience and bravery.
“We honor today Americans by birth and by citizenship, Americans of all races and all backgrounds who, throughout our history, raised their right arm and took that oath to selflessly, honorably, and bravely defend our democracy, defend our freedom,
and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Fuller said.
Seth Bai, the director of veterans services for the City of Newton, spoke about why he values his experience in the military, and why he continues to work with veterans.
“It really means a lot to me, because I really do put my heart and soul into work that I do,” Bai said.
Bai emphasized the impor-
tance of the work of the American Legion and other veteran organizations in Newton that work to support veterans throughout the year.
“You’re clearly helping another human being, and that’s what we’re all here to do with these veteran-centric organizations,” Bai said.
“That’s what we do, we help one another.” n
SAVANNAH LOCKWOOD / FOR THE HEIGHTS
Rosenfeld’s was founded in 1973 with the mission of bringing New York style--bagels to Newton Centre.
The American Legion Post 440 in the village of Nonantum hosted the Newton Veterans Day ceremony.
M AGAZINE
Calonita Writes Twists About Disney Fairytales
B y S avannah l oc K wooD
For The Heights
When Jen Calonita read fairy tales as a child, her mind always wandered beyond the surface of the plot. She longed for explanations of the origins and backgrounds of the extraordinary powers behind Disney’s magic makers.
“We know so much about princesses and princes and the heroes and the villains, but we know nothing about the people who provide the magic in every Disney story,” Jen Calonita, BC ’96, said. “Who is the Fairy Godmother? How did Maui get his hook? Why did Tinker Bell connect with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys?”
From a young age, Calonita was most interested in Disney’s supporting characters—those who existed just outside the realm of the spotlight.
“[In Cinderella], I always liked the Wicked Stepmother the best,” Calonita said. “And I remember my mom said, ‘Well this is Cinderella’s story. If you want to tell the Wicked Stepmother’s, you have to do that yourself.’”
So, Calonita did.
Calonita has built a career out of writing books based on Disney fairytales. Her path, however, was not a simple one. At Boston College, she began her studies as a communications major with no intention of becoming an author.
“I was torn on what direction of writing I wanted to go,” Calonita
said. “I wasn’t thinking about being a novelist, so I thought ‘let’s explore everything’ and BC would give me the opportunity to do that.”
After doing an internship at New York’s YM, a magazine for teen girls, Calonita was set on finding a job as a magazine writer. After graduation, she received an opportunity to work in magazine publishing, and eventually, Calonita worked her way up to becoming a senior editor at Teen People.
The job gave her opportunities to sit down and interview countless celebrities, ranging from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon.
Nicole Ward, a close friend of Calonita’s from BC, remembers a time when the two of them were out to lunch and Calonita received a call from the Olsen twins for a featured interview.
“I kind of lived vicariously through her, just through all the celebrities and fun things she got to do,” Ward said. “I’ve been following her career since then.”
But beyond all the exciting reporting opportunities the job offered Calonita, the L.A. glamour that she got to meet through Teen People ultimately inspired her first book.
Secrets of My Hollywood Life tells the story of a teenage girl stuck between choosing the lavish lifestyle of a celebrity or the ordinary life of a teenage girl.
“My first book will always mean a lot to me because it was the first time I ever saw my name on a book,” Caloni-
ta said. “I proved to myself that I could come up with this idea and write it and get it out there in the world.”
Ward recalled when Calonita’s first series got published and how much of an accomplishment it was for not only Calonita for those close to her as well.
“The main character in her first series was Kaitlin Burke, and I don’t know why, but [her book release date] is in my phone as ‘Kaitlin Burke's Birthday,’ and every year, I text her when it pops up,” Ward said.
Included in the bio of one of Calonita’s books from her series Fairy Tale Reform School is, “Jen would love to kick Cinderella out of the castle at Walt Disney World and move in.” Small as it may have been, Calonita said this one sentence changed everything.
“An editor at Disney Publishing saw that, read the book, liked it, and called me and said, ‘How would you also like to write for us? Write some fairy tale twists for us?’” Calonita said. "I was like, 'Really? you're gonna let me do it?'"
In 2019, Calonita published a few books as a part of the A Twisted Tale series. This year, Fairy Godmother: An Enchanter’s Tale was released as the first piece to kick off a brand new young-adult collection titled The Enchanters. Each book in the series will focus on a different magic maker’s personal story.
Fairy Godmother: An Enchanter’s Tale tells the story of a young teenage girl, Renée Dubois, before she became known as the Fairy Godmother. For those who have ever wondered about her magic powers, this book answers all the questions from the pumpkin to the glass slipper.
“When I write for Disney, in my
head, my idea is that there’s always magic everywhere if you just go look for it,” Calonita said. “That’s what I’m always trying to capture in those books.”
Currently, Calonita is working on three books, including another Enchanters Tale that will be released next fall. In addition to those her highly-anticipated Isle of Ever series is set to debut in March, telling the story of a girl who must break a curse to discover a secret fortune.
But Calonita said she has even more exciting plans that are not yet public.
"And then this really cool book project came up from another publisher, and I can't say what it is yet, it hasn't been announced,” Calonita said. “They said 'Would you like to write this?' And I couldn't say no, but it was a quick turnaround. I only had four weeks to write the first draft."
Alyson Gerber, a friend and colleague of Calonita’s, emphasized that Calonita’s personality shapes her performance as an admirable writer. Just over the past few years, Gerber noticed how far Calonita has progressed in her career.
“It is not an easy industry to be in, and it’s not an easy industry to sustain a 20-year career in,” Gerber said. “Jen has done it by being an amazing, generous person and a very talented storyteller who’s constantly trying to get better and pushing her crafts in every single way.”
Ward also works for the Department for Children, Youth, and Families for Albany County. She said she often handles personnel or union issues, but she's also involved with the homeless youth and children’s mental health programs that Calonita has donated to many times.
“Whenever we had kids or anything in there, she would always send me books for kids in the field that I work in,” Ward said.
Even though she has been a teen and young-adult author for quite some time, Calonita said she’d consider any opportunity, including writing for an adult audience or even stepping into the world of screenplay writing.
Calonita said her biggest advice for aspiring writers would be to understand the importance of finishing their work no matter how tough it gets.
“When things get hard, you think, ‘I just don’t want to do this anymore,’” Calonita said. “I would say always finish whatever you’re working on. No one ever has to look at it, but you have to prove to yourself you can get to the end before you can go back and make it better.”
According to Gerber, Calonita’s work ethic and inclination to follow through with her projects are a big part of her success.
“Jen is so successful and such a beacon of information and just incredible,” Gerber said. “Jen is just a force of nature in publishing and otherwise. I have seen her succeed in every way.”
As a successful author, Calonita said the most rewarding part of her career is how her words make other people feel. With every book, she anticipates the reactions to her work, hoping they mean something special to someone and create an overall sense of joy for her readers.
“When people connect with a story, that means so much to me because that’s who I’m writing them for,” Calonita said. “I’m hoping everybody can find themselves in a character, whether it’s my book or somebody else’s book.” n
Kaylee's Guide to Thanksgiving Season Gratitude
y K aylee D unleavy
B
For The Heights
This fall has proven to be a challenge for many people on and off of Boston College’s campus.
The rampant midterm season was compounded by the highly anticipated election, which dangled anxiously over the heads of young BC voters and staff alike.
Whether you're overjoyed, agitated, or just ambivalent, taking time to practice gratitude and mindfulness can be a great tool amid uncertainty. These five quick tips will help ease the mind and can fit into even the busiest Eagle’s schedule.
’Tis the Season to be Grateful Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what you love the most. Connect with your inner cornucopia by simply jotting down three people in your life for whom you are grateful.
If no friends or family spring to mind, try writing down a couple of moments of your day that put a smile on your face.
Acknowledging small acts of kindness—like a door held by a stranger or a spot in line kept by a friend, can help even the most downtrodden find the silver lining in a bad day.
Stroll and See Next time you leave class, take the long way back home. Meander through campus without headphones or a chit-chat companion and take in all that you see. Placing yourself in the moment purposefully is another way that you can take your mind off of those long-term issues that will not be solved during your walk from Upper to Lower Campus.
Just make sure to layer up as BC heads into the colder months!
Tune It Up to Calm It Down.
It’s time to take those headphones back out and try another mindfulness method. Next time you’re feeling tense, put on one of your favorite songs and really pay attention to the prose.
Observe how the music makes you feel, find the nuances in its production, and note what memories it stirs. Utilize your Spotify subscription and give yourself a much-needed distraction while you work through some of the mid-semester woes.
Game of Fours
Just like the annually pardoned turkey, this four-pronged mediation strategy is a lucky one. Take an inventory of four things in your day-to-day life that you may not pay attention to normally.
Identify the color of the fallen leaf ahead of you, the smell of your shampoo, the taste of your Chocolate
Bar coffee, or the feeling of your coat against your skin. Whatever it is, paying attention to minutiae is just another way to take your thoughts from your never-ending list of assignments into the present moment.
The Brain-to-Body Switch
Lastly, if all else fails, you can always rely on the age-old advice of “sweat it out.”
Whether you find a Turkey Trot, take yourself to a workout class, or just stretch in between courses, moving your body and raising your heart rate is a simple and accessible way to get rid of jitters.
Unfortunately, many issues in life are not solvable in five minutes or less, but that doesn’t mean that coping with such strife has to be as equally as arduous.
As the days get darker and the holidays creep up, attempt to attack your worries with these physical and mental tools that show there’s always something to be grateful for, even if it feels quite the opposite. n
Jen Calonita gives Disney's secondary characters a unique story of their own through fiction novels.
GRAPHIC
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIMBERLY L. PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY BOOKS
Jen Calonita's new book puts a twist on the story of the Fairy Godmother.
Fall Finale: Kate’s Guide to One Perfect Fall Day
By KaTe Kissel Copy Chief
This is it, Eagles. The last full week of classes before Thanksgiving break is here, and with it, the final few days of fall on the Heights. Soak up the crisp air, crunching leaves, and hazy purple sunsets before it’s too late. Soon, leisurely strolls to class will be replaced by slipping down the million-dollar stairs, and winding down on the Quad will turn into hunkering down in O’Neill.
But let’s not wish these last few days away—instead, choose to spend these final moments taking full advantage of all the glories of a New England fall. Finals will be waiting for you when you get back, so here’s to living in the moment and embarking on the ultimate, jam-packed day of fall activities.
Wilson Farm
Begin the day by heading up North to Lexington, Mass., for a wholesome stop at a local farm. Wilson Farm is a fifth-generation farm that grows over 110 different crops—making it the perfect place to stock up on fresh produce to bring home to your roommates. Snag some cute Instagram pictures against their famous Pumpkin Wall and make sure to check out their fun event schedule, featuring turkey samplings on the weekends. On your way out, take a look at the farm store,
where they sell their self-proclaimed “world famous” homemade apple cider donuts, a variety of other baked goods, and an assortment of fresh flowers to add an extra touch to your Friendsgiving spread.
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House (The ‘Little Women’ House) Next continue your drive North to Concord, Mass., where you can live out all your Little Women fantasies at the site of its inspiration. With most of the original home still intact, the character of the classic story is still very much alive, making it easy to imagine Alcott crafting the tale within its walls. Guided tours will lead you through the lives of the family that once lived there and explain how their real stories translated into the characters of the novel. With picturesque fall foliage to boot, it is the ideal time to immerse yourself in all things Little Women and check out this unique historical site.
Walden Pond State Reservation Max out your tour through Massachusetts historical sites by stopping for a quick walk around Walden Pond before heading back to Boston College. Walden Pond gets its name from Henry David Thoreau’s classic novel Walden and draws around 600,000 visitors a year for its scenic views and engaging exhibits on Thoreau. After
your stop at the Orchard House, you might be all museumed-out, so take some time to chill, breathe in the brisk fall air, and gaze out at the rippling water. Make sure to embrace the natural scenery for a much-needed switch up from the everyday Res-walk, and remember to cherish this precious time outdoors before the snowy days set in. After a long drive, this quick stroll around the Pond will have you feeling refreshed and energized to take on the rest of any activity-filled day.
Friendsgiving
From BC to Concord and back, this fall day has been packed to the brim
with adventure. Preparing a hearty feast is the perfect way to settle back into campus and commemorate your idyllic fall day. Luckily, you’ve come prepared with treats from Wilson Farms, but add whatever you wish to the mix, whether it be chicken and two sides from Lower or a pizza from Crazy Dough—anything goes. No matter the meal, it is sure to be a night full of recounting old memories and treasuring the company of your closest friends before heading home for Thanksgiving break.
‘Harry Potter’ Night Now that you’re stuffed and ex-
hausted from a long day of fall fun, what better way to end the night than with a Harry Potter movie marathon?
Grab the last few pieces of pumpkin pie, your coziest blanket, and all of your roommates for a comfy, cozy night in. If you really want to commit, you could even brew up some butterbeer. Most importantly, sit back and unwind with a fan-favorite childhood movie.
Though you might call it a night after the two-and-a-half-hour Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the premise of the movie marathon is enough to keep up the good fall spirit and relax before the rush of the holiday season sets in. n
Duns’ New Book Unveils the Theology of Horror
By lucas Ding Heights Staff
If you like watching horror films, you’re already a theologian, according to Ryan Duns, S.J.
In his latest book, Theology of Horror : The Hidden Depth of Popular Films , Duns, theology department chair at Marquette University, STM ’14, and BC ’18, uses the lens of horror to explore deeper questions about religious belief. The book weaves together narratives and symbols from horror films with theological and philosophical perspectives.
“Take a film like The Purge ,” Duns said. “With The Purge , we have certain social dynamics that we can see in our everyday lives of establishing the status quo. At times, it can be by exploiting the poor and the vulnerable, by making them the scapegoats of society.”
In Theology of Horror , Duns aims to help readers see beyond just the temporal thrill of these films.
“A popular film can make some really powerful points, but you have to open your eyes to see it, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” Duns said.
The connection between theology and horror films, according to Duns, is even stronger in films featuring supernatural and religious elements, such as The Conjuring
Theology of Horror argues that when someone experiences fear
from horror movies, they subconsciously accept the possibility of evil forces entering the world to perform injustices. But reciprocally, they allow for the possibility of unseen, loving forces to have a presence on Earth as well.
“Is this unseen, supernatural force really out to colonize the Earth and bring about the damnation of the people, or is that unseen force life-giving, bestowing, encouraging, loving, and gives you the capacity to hang on in the face of opposition?” Duns said.
Deirdre Dempsey, director of graduate studies and professor at Marquette University, emphasized that Duns’ unique approach toward theology allows young people to talk about different characteristics of the supernatural.
“There are all these people out there, many of them young, who gravitate towards horror films, and this book is an attempt to talk to them about the transcendent,” Dempsey said. “Horror films often call us to a dark transcendent, right? But if there’s a dark transcendent, there’s also the opposite.”
Though Duns is both a theologian and a horror film lover, he said his insights are also rooted in his experiences as an educator, where he noticed that horror was one of the most popular genres among his students. If reflected upon correctly, Duns said horror films can be a powerful tool to spread faith among young adults.
“When I’m teaching first-year students, it is, without fail, the most popular genre of film,” Duns said. “Young adults between the ages of, say, 16 and 28 are the most likely to be unaffiliated or to disaffiliate from a religion.”
Jacob DiNicola, a former student of Duns, praised Duns’ ability to foster insightful discussions among readers. DiNicola specifically noted that the book is written in a welcoming fashion that invites readers from all different backgrounds.
“He really goes above and beyond to make sure that everyone truly understands the material in a very judgment-free and inviting way,” DiNicola said.
In fact, Duns said he took extra steps to make sure that Theology of Horror is easily digestible for young adults and college students.
In order to accomplish this goal, Duns invited DiNicola to read over his work and made sure it was understandable to him.
“He wanted to make sure that the book made sense to me and those of my age demographic,” DiNicola said.
The production of the book, however, did not come without challenges. Duns pointed out that it was initially difficult to establish the connection between horror films and theology. Because many consider horror films to be the work of the Antichrist, Duns said biases against these films can turn away many religious people.
Additionally, Duns said it was difficult to identify meaningful horror pieces from the countless horror arts we see today.
“There are lots of books on religion and horror, and some of them are really good, a lot of them are not,” Duns said. “So, there was a lot of material on the surface, but when it came to teasing out the real deep theological ideas, not so much so.”
Ultimately, Theology of Horror is not just a content-rich theology book, but also an invitation to combine entertainment with the complexity of faith. Duns said the book enables readers to learn theology individually by teaching them how to see faith in their everyday lives.
“I want them to think theologically,” Duns said. “Using something like a horror film is an unorthodox starting point, but it gives the students an opportunity to start finding their own voices and to use their theological imaginations in fun ways.”
Specifically in relation to how fear affects us, Duns said he is eager to continue exploring how fear manifests itself within both
the spiritual world and humans.
“Fear is all over the place,” Duns said. “But how does fear work spiritually and in us?”
Duns is also planning on furthering his work on theology and horror by eventually writing a follow-up to Theology of Horror
“I want to do a follow-up to this book because I think I could even make it more fun now that I have the style for it,” Duns said.
Theology of Horror is marketed towards horror-film lovers, anyone grappling with the intersection of faith and fear, and those who are curious about theology. In a time when horror films are so prevalent in society, Duns said the genre can serve as powerful catalysts for spiritual growth.
“The spirit is among us, reconciling the world, us to one another and to God, even though it is opposed by the forces of darkness and evil, that good will win, light will triumph over darkness, that the resurrection is the truth,” Duns said. “Horror movies—when looked at the right way—give you a different way of thinking about the question of evil and about the limits and the importance of human flesh.” n
Duns believes that viewers’ reactions toward horror films demonstrate the existence of spiritual presences in real life.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN DUNS
GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR
As an educator, Duns notices that young people gravitate toward horror films.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN DUNS
OPINIONS
Genevieve Morrison
Associate Newton Editor
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Addie Kinnaly Copy Editor
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Maria Stefanoudakis
Assistant Sports Editor
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Aidan Gravina Copy Editor
“BC students shouldn’t be career coaches.”
Opinions Editor
“Chipotle is the best fast food chain, full stop.”
Sourabh Gokarn
Deputy Managing Editor
“I despise AI. It is antithetical to everything good about humanity.”
Will Martino Managing Editor
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Makayla Hickey
Associate Opinions Editor
“Wearing flip-flops in November is disgraceful.”
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
Don’t Let Serendipity Pass You By
“Welcome to Milwaukee, The Bloody Mary Capital of the World” greets me like a familiar hug each time I arrive at General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee. Green Bay Packers paraphernalia, Cheeseheads, and Drink Wisconsinbly shirts adorn the vendor stations lining the central walkway to baggage claim.
Many long-time Milwaukee residents believe you are guaranteed to see a familiar face when traveling through Mitchell. Whether it’s a middle school friend, an old neighbor, or a distant relative, my home airport is a haven of radical familiarity.
I am pleasantly met with similar spouts of familiarity when traveling through Boston Logan around school breaks. Assembling Boston College connections in the Uber pickup and seeing classmates in the security line is commonplace for students who fly to and from campus.
I have traveled solo to and from Milwaukee countless times during my first three years at BC. Yet, some of my fondest stories from my first semester abroad in Rome, Italy, have unfolded in and around airports.
Serendipity refers to good luck in unexpected circumstances. Synonyms most commonly associated with the adjective are chance, unexpected, and lucky.
The plane I flew on connecting from Milwaukee to Detroit looked minuscule
compared to the spaceship-sized Delta aircraft I boarded from Detroit to Rome in late August. Boarding my first ever flight to Europe, witnessing aisles fitting eight passengers across and a seemingly endless number of rows made my stomach drop. Flight attendants greeted passengers with friendly “ciao!”s and I sank into my seat, struck with panic. My seat partner arrived on board shortly thereafter. Without missing a beat, this bubbly brunette asked if I was studying abroad.
Nine hours later, Macie from Michigan State and I had become fast friends. She was a student placed in the same external study abroad program as I. We noshed on our airplane food and traded stories from our summers. Laughing over fellow passengers snoring and holding each other’s hand after our plane was struck with lighting helped quell both our nerves.
As the hours hastened by, I kept circling back to how lucky I was to have met her. Macie has become one of my closest friends at my school in Rome. Our movie-like meeting was the catalyst moment for a slew of serendipitous moments during my experience abroad thus far.
During my most recent weekend excursion, I traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to visit friends from BC. Ryanair horror stories seemed to unravel before my eyes. The entire airport was delayed due to impending storms. Hoards of angry travelers crowded customer service desks and airport pubs.
As a solo traveler yearning for tranquility, I moved myself to a nearby terminal and monitored my four-hour delay from afar. I set up shop in a bustling airport cafe. Moments after I arrived, a fellow solo traveler asked if she could plop at my table.
Three hours later, Helena from Melbourne, Australia, and I had become kindred spirits. Helena was 24 and had studied abroad at BC in 2019. She was
traveling around Europe visiting friends she met on exchange at BC for the first time since 2019. These friends hailed from Amsterdam, Madrid, and Dublin. We exchanged photos of Gasson Hall at sunset, Eagles Deli sandwiches, and Alumni stadium. Helena raved about memorable CSOM professors and the collaborative environment she experienced in small BC courses. Amid our multi-hour delays, I continued to rave about how lucky I was to have met her. As we parted ways, we exchanged Instagram usernames and a hug. She has kept me updated on her European adventures with her BC study-abroad friends.
Each time I arrive in a new country, I force myself to ditch my earbuds and eagerly observe the new language and entirely new way of life in the places I visit. Greeting German passport control officers or listening to an Irishman describe his airport cappuccino as “bloody lovely” are some of my current favorite memories.
One of the most meaningful takeaways from abroad so far is that serendipity tends to find those who wholly embrace their surroundings. Moving through crowded environments can be taxing amid the chaos of travel.
If you don’t stop yourself in certain moments, however, all potential serendipity will pass you by. These airports might not be filled with familiar BC peers, like Boston Logan. Instead, they serve as a reminder that we often have more in common with those around us than we could begin to imagine.
From Terminal 3 at Dublin Airport to the Newton Bus, you would be surprised by the connections you may have with those who sit right next to you. Don’t let them slip by—reach out and grab them.
The Crisis Crisis
Stop whatever it is you’re doing—we are in a crisis.
America has a housing crisis. The Western world has a well-documented mental health crisis. Microplastics are creating a new physical health crisis. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s crisis and Gaza’s crisis are contributing to the global refugee crisis. Many advocacy groups are now reframing climate change as the climate crisis. We’ve also been in a century-long crisis of modernity, and there are so many ongoing natural disasters that the internet now has an article infotaining us with the “The Top 10 Crises the World Can’t Ignore in 2024.”
If you read all of that, the word “crisis” may have just lost its meaning to you. I wouldn’t blame you, even though I try my best to concern myself with several of the issues I just mentioned.
The unfortunate truth about individual human beings is that our attention is somewhat of a zero-sum game. We can only do (and concern ourselves with) so much stuff. And, when the internet is dragging us in so many different directions—dragging our attention toward so many “crises”—it can often feel impossible to prioritize issues.
What are the bad ways to respond to a
purported crisis? And how can one actually make a difference? Answering the first question is much easier than the second.
The first bad response to an apparent crisis is “slacktivism.” This type of person freely accommodates advocacy on the surface, especially through social media. They will try their hardest to listen intently and appear to act, but their outreach is never fully “satisfactory.” No one’s social media page can bring attention to every crisis, and no one’s bank balance can go toward every charity account. The easiest and most common thing they do is flood others’ feeds with more crisis news— thereby diluting their followers’ attention in the process.
The second response is “saviorism.”
This kind of person will take their advocacy a step further. Far beyond article reposts and $5 donations, they take their work to the ground level … and muck it up. No region can claim to be a greater victim to these “advocates” than Sub-Saharan Africa, which, as Dipo Faloyin elaborates on in Africa is Not a Country has seen its reputation tarnished, its economic vitality diminished, and its humanitarian crises accelerated due to the well-meaning but counterintuitive efforts of charities like Band Aid and Invisible Children.
The third response, and perhaps the easiest, is cynicism. “If everything is a crisis,” one friend of mine said, “then nothing is.” I find it hard to disagree with his line of reasoning—after all, if every advocate tries to amplify their cause with the same kind of dissonant, high-pitched screech, it is much easier to “leave the room” than to engage with them. Better to live in silence than hear about another crisis you can’t do anything about.
So, what can you do? As much as I once wanted to be a cynical robot, I find it much more important as I get older to find a vocation that I believe in. And, in a world where less and less labor is inherently fulfilling, this means finding a cause—a crisis, even—to feel good about fighting for (or against) at the end of the day.
Now this is the part that I dreaded writing, because I’ve hated practically every possible solution I’ve heard. “Amplify all voices, especially those affected,” one might say. “Include all facets of experience within the dialogue,” another might argue. If these issues we’re talking about—war, health, displacement, calamity—are actual crises, then they deserve more than lip service about engaging in dialogue. That kind of language is how you create more slacktivists—more useless debate partners generating useless text on useless social media platforms in useless DMs or in useless threads. Humans do not have to be useless in the face of a crisis.
Try a different approach. Don’t just listen to voices across as many issues as you can. Block out most of the noise and prioritize one issue that sincerely resonates with you.
Try your best to understand it—yes, that includes listening to different viewpoints—and see where to go from there. That might mean volunteering, donating, calling your congressman, or dropping everything and finding a whole new job. At the end of the day, though, it means something good can come out of your work—and you can count yourself as someone who combated a crisis.
Scanlon MelloweS
GRAPHICS BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Scanlon Mellowes is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at scanlon.mellowes@bc.edu.
ToMMy Roche
Tommy Roche is a columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at thomas.roche@bc.edu.
OPINIONS
LTE: BC Republicans’ Statement Misses the Mark
Robin Lee
This LTE was written in response to: Boston College Republicans’ Statement to the BC Community.
I’m writing in response to a statement published on Sunday evening, authored by the Executive Board of Boston College Republicans. The authors raise a number of points that I, as a Democrat, agree with: We must reject political “intimidation” and “hate speech,” “ad hominem attacks” are no substitute for healthy “debate and dialogue,” and it is wrong to dehumanize our political opponents over disagreements.
I only agree with their statement, however, until the point of authorship. It is
deeply unserious for BC Republicans, of all groups, to lament the state of our political discourse when their actions, behavior, and conduct routinely demonstrate incivility toward marginalized groups and ignorance of their position on campus.
I remind my fellow students, faculty, and staff of BC Republicans’ history of sponsoring hateful guest speakers, such as rightwing provocateur Andrew Klavan. Despite Klavan’s racist comments, the then-president of BC Republicans said “we have been accused of harboring hatreds which we do not.” Shortly thereafter, BC Republicans hosted conservative political scientist Hadley Arkes, who compared gay marriage to heroin
use and prostitution. BC Republicans never repudiated these comments. In fact, their Instagram posts promoting these speakers are still up. Of course, merely harboring hateful voices doesn’t necessarily implicate BC Republicans in that hatred. But it does call into question the legitimacy of a statement like “we call upon all students, faculty, and staff to reflect on their harmful words.”
BC Republicans’ statement merely reflects the group’s unpopularity on campus, that they have lost in the free marketplace of ideas. It does not prove that conservative students have been bullied and harassed for their beliefs on a widespread scale. No member of the BC community is obligated
to listen to BC Republicans, let alone agree with them—which most do not. Dissent is not denigration or dehumanization, and the irony of BC Republicans decrying “ad hominem attacks” while denouncing their critics as “unhinged” should not be lost on any member of the BC community.
I conclude with this anecdote: In May 2021, the president of BC Republicans hijacked a Climate Justice at Boston College demonstration to declare his club was “a suppressed group on campus.” A protester shouted back, “You literally have a megaphone right now.”
Robin Lee is a sophomore at Boston College. He can be reached at robin.lee@bc.edu.
LTE: BC Republicans Can Listen and Learn To Lead
WiLLiam sLonekeR
This LTE was written in response to: Boston College Republicans’ Statement to the BC Community.
The Boston College Republicans’ recent statement to the community shows a disappointing misunderstanding of how politics works on a college campus.
Half-baked or unpopular opinions have circulated this campus in every era—often by way of this very publication. The community hashes out the merits and flaws in dining halls, dormitories, and
classrooms. As a Catholic and arguably inherently conservative institution in a deeply blue city and state, BC is unique among universities in the breadth of cultural and political debates it encounters. The frequency and intensity of these discussions are precisely how students learn to listen, communicate, and change their minds more effectively.
Let’s be clear: Dictating how your fellow students should respond to your politics is not a viable approach to learning. Moreover, framing conservative students as
victims is, at best, disingenuous in the wake of an election where conservatives were broadly victorious.
There are many students who are justifiably worried about the ways in which an incoming Republican federal government will materially affect their lives for the worse.
This includes the many international students on the Heights who the BC Republicans have casually ignored in their call for people to “come together around our shared values as Americans.”
If the BC Republicans are genuinely worried about the apparent chasm between them and other students, perhaps they should perform more outreach to those who feel alienated and vulnerable right now and modify their platform in a way that will broaden and embolden their coalition. What they should not do is publicly call fellow students “unhinged” and then grouse about a lack of dialogue on campus. Do better and lead by example.
Op-Ed: A Case for Compassion
This morning, I started to write a radically different article. After a painful U.S. election, I wanted to issue a call to action and a plea for hope in the face of what seemed like utter hopelessness. The first paragraph quoted Emma Lazarus and the second lamented Arizona’s passage of Proposition 314. Frustration poured onto the page. Then I got an email. My friend died this afternoon.
The world had seemed so loud for the past 24 hours, and everything suddenly went quiet. I couldn’t breathe. I wondered how I could have worried about an election as my friend passed away. If I thought the world was falling apart while votes were being counted, I was wrong. I had missed a bigger picture—this was what the world falling apart felt like.
I wondered what else I missed that day and pulled up global news headlines. As it would turn out, 89 people remained missing in Spain after catastrophic floods. Ukraine reported its first encounter with North Korean troops in Kursk. Mozambique is wracked by post-election protests and may deploy soldiers in response.
In the fear of personal problems, it is easy to forget the horrific crises going on around the world. Our immediate fears and struggles matter deeply, but we cannot afford to forget others are experiencing their own fears and struggles. Many assume the opposite of fear is courage, but I propose an
alternative. Compassion is the best counter to fear, and we need more of it in our world right now.
We make decisions in our lives every day to care for others. It is easy to care about our loved ones because they are so close to us. Our moral communities teach us to care for one another, and we express varying degrees of compassion and respect for the people we encounter each day. The problem we often struggle with is extending that compassion to an imagined stranger. We should not deny the importance of our personal connections, but we also need to recognize the basic connection of shared humanity with those we’ve yet to meet.
Every community passes down explanations of why humans must care for others, especially the most vulnerable. For a principle to guide global society, it must apply evenly across a broad range of beliefs or perspectives. Conveniently, many traditions preach compassion as a core foundation for human behavior. It lives in Christ’s universal love or the Hindu karunā that urges care for others. Let me be clear—I am not advocating for a universal set of morals or beliefs. Instead, I am suggesting something at the heart of our shared humanity allows us to connect with others. That common core of compassionate connection needs to be the starting point for decisions we make that impact others—namely, government policy.
Unfortunately, fear drives a lot of policy
in our current global political culture. Xenophobia is embedded so deeply in discourse that we often don’t realize how it shapes the questions guiding policies, particularly around immigration and asylum. Political culture discusses immigration in terms of whether we feel threatened by the admission of refugees and immigrants. We ask if more hospitable immigration policies will harm the economy or bring violence to our doors. These are the wrong questions. Instead, we must consider why people flee their homes and what they endure to do so. Our treatment of displaced persons must acknowledge their strength, agency, and lived experience. We have to ask ourselves what our responsibilities are to others on only the grounds of
our shared humanity. In fear, I wrapped myself in a cloak of anger, but such emotions cut us off from one another. It takes far more courage to communicate and listen with compassion than to throw up walls against anyone we perceive as different. It’s hard to pursue an identity as a citizen of a large global community when distance allows us to forget our common identity as human beings. But I still believe we can do it. We will because we must. If compassionate connection holds us together in a global community, then I hope to find the strength to try to understand both those I love and those I have yet to meet.
Mary Zimmerman is a senior at Boston College. She can be reached at mary.zimmerman@bc.edu.
Op-Ed: Jeff Bezos Is Missing the Point
Just 11 days before the U.S. presidential election, Jeff Bezos decided to kill The Washington Post’s editorial endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris on grounds of “compromised objectivity.” I think his decision undermines the very foundation upon which journalistic credibility is established.
When I was elevated to news editor at The Heights in 2018, my approach to the job focused on two approaches to journalism: fact-finding and providing context. What I didn’t realize was
that I need not have worried to such a particular degree about the dividing line between factbased news reporting and the opinion side of the paper. What actually earns newspapers—or any media organization—credibility is a process that mirrors a pendulum.
When a story breaks, the pendulum sits squarely on what I was most concerned with: fact-finding. Who, what, when, where, why, how—the question words I learned in first grade that are coincidentally also the pillars of a story. It’s a reasonably straightforward home
base for the pendulum to start swinging from.
As it moves downward, the next threshold is providing context as a follow-up. Often, journalism is criticized for moving beyond this point. Every step journalists take further could serve to compromise their credibility in the exact way Bezos is concerned with. Where is the line between fact and opinion if the demarcation line is blurred between analytical understanding and fact-finding?
Analysis, both from an objective, factbased approach as well as from a subjective opinion style, is a huge part of the journalistic process. Readers engage with media to better educate themselves about topics, often through their own criticism of various styles of analysis. It makes sense that readers would look to both descriptions of facts and analysis of that coverage through either approach in order to better hone readers’ understanding of issues important to them.
Beyond that point is where the pendulum reaches more traditional opinion columns. It’s an equally important part of the process—when an opinion writer chimes in on important news issues, it magnifies their importance.
The story is now in conversation between more than one section of the paper. If the opinion writer takes issue with the way the facts
are presented within the initial news story then they can pick it apart. If it’s of foundation-shaking importance to the writer they can crow about how this changes everything
That leaves editorials, through which newspapers cement their credibility at the end of the pendulum’s swing by collectively staking their name on a position backed by facts, context, and opinion. Editorials are a chance to take all that work and place a period at the end of it, weighing in on critical issues with the gravitas and reputation of a hundred-year-old paper. It’s the final point on the pendulum’s swing. I think the journalistic pendulum swings from the fact-finding spectrum to the editorial and all the way back if the editorial engenders more reflection and analysis or further searches for more facts and context. It’s from the entire process that a newspaper can make itself into something larger than itself, pursuing what Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein described as “the best obtainable version of the truth.”
Read the rest of this Op-Ed at www.bcheights.com
Jack goLdman
Jack Goldman
William Sloneker is a Boston College alumnus and a member of the Class of 2012.
maRy ZimmeRman
GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR
E
BC Must Prioritize AI Learning Opportunities For Faculty Members
On Nov. 30, 2022, ChatGPT launched for the public, forever altering the academic landscape.
The sudden, widespread accessibility of the platform presented University administrators with a series of unprecedented challenges: keeping up with this unpredictable technology, educating professors about the benefits and drawbacks of these platforms, and determining guidelines for the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education.
It’s been nearly two years since the release of ChatGPT and Boston College still does not have a University-wide policy that defines acceptable use of AI in the classroom. Whether professors choose to ban the technologies entirely or allow students to freely use them on all assignments, they have complete control over the AI policies they enforce throughout their courses.
Giving professors the agency to embed or expel the use of AI in their classrooms is undoubtedly important. But making sure professors are equipped to make and execute that decision is of equal importance.
Professors—and more importantly students—deserve an education that maximizes the learning environment they agreed to when choosing to come to BC. This can only be done if professors teaching classes are fully capable of creating a fair and thorough classroom experience.
Even without a standardized policy, the University’s academic integrity policy states that any work generated with undocumented or unsanctioned usage of Generative AI (GenAI) platforms is classified as cheating. The constantly evolving nature of AI platforms, however, makes it virtually impossible for professors to determine whether students are using AI on their
assignments.
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) provides AI detection resources for professors to utilize, but the organization has acknowledged the unreliability of these platforms, as well as the biases that many of these platforms have against students who do not speak English as their first language.
With these risks in mind, professors must outline and fully justify their classroom AI policies.
Nirmal Trivedi, assistant director for teaching, learning, and technology at the CTE, believes that transparency is the key to developing sustainable AI policies.
“Explain when it’s really critical not to use it and when it’s really critical to use it,” Trivedi said. “Show [students] some of the ways it can be advantageous to success in the class.”
In order for professors to develop thoughtful and specific AI policies, they must have a comprehensive understanding of the platforms their students are engaging with. If they choose to allow AI in their courses, they must fully expose students to its risks, posing them with a learning opportunity.
BC Information Technology Services currently offers optional, instructor-led technology training courses for faculty. These opt-in courses cover a variety of topics ranging from “Boosting Your Efficiency with Generative AI” to “Advanced Prompt Engineering for Generative AI.” The CTE also offers extensive AI navigation resources to guide professors in integrating technology into teaching.
Though BC does not require professors to enroll in these courses, professors have been overwhelmingly receptive to the resources.
“Every time we offer something GenAI-related, it’s packed,” Trivedi said. “The faculty can’t get enough of it.”
BC’s Center for Digital Innovation in Learning established faculty working groups, introducing small groups of faculty members to developments in AI and helping them integrate AI-focused projects into their classrooms.
“Staying abreast of good and bad developments takes continuous updates and ideally being part of a group like this one,” said Catherine Conahan, an assistant professor at the Connell School of Nursing and a participant in the 2023–24 AI working group.
BC must work to meet and exceed the needs of this demand and place a priority on increasing opportunities for professors to learn more about AI. This will not only boost professors’ confidence levels when using AI platforms, but it will also help them develop more transparent classroom policies.
As GenAI further integrates itself into the academic landscape, the University has a vital responsibility to uphold: equipping professors with the resources and information they need to develop AI policies that offer learning opportunities for students.
Like the internet, calculators, or the myriad of other technologies that have seismically shifted our approaches to education, Al may be a powerful tool for good. It may very well positively affect the education of students. Yet BC, as a leader in higher education, must ensure that its implementation is just that—positive. Without a careful and considerate plan, the University may be harming the very values and competence that education should impart.
Photo Gal lery
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF
ARTS
Mendes’ ‘Shawn’ is Short, Folksy, and Vulnerable
By MiA BeAuBien For The Heights
Shawn Mendes’ new album
Shawn displays a raw and unguarded version of Mendes’ songwriting and vocal talents, as he mixes both country and gospel-like elements to create a simple yet powerful story of self-reflection. Released on Nov. 15, Shawn marks the singer’s fifth studio album and his shortest to date. It’s a testament to his growth as an artist and as a person.
The album opens quietly and immediately delves into themes of uncertainty and insecurity, which persists for the entirety of the project. Mendes’ songwriting does not leave much to interpretation. His writing is easy to understand and full of emotion.
While the album remains consistent with his older releases, it demonstrates a new maturity and is a far cry from the eight-time
platinum track “Stitches.”
Mendes’ nearly decade-long career is full of No.1 Top 40 hits and Grammy nominations, but after the “Wonder World Tour” in 2022 was canceled for mental health reasons, the singer-songwriter seemed to disappear musically. But on the evening of his 2024 album’s release, it was clear he was doing a lot of thinking, writing and reflecting.
He described the album as his “own personal medicine” in an Instagram post on the night of Nov. 15. The album is nothing if not personal, and it feels like a weight being lifted.
As the guitar melody and harmonies evolve from track to track, so does the feeling and theme of the album. In the first half, songs like “Who I Am,” “Why Why Why,” and “Isn’t That Enough” are laced with questions and uncertainties about Mendes’ life and purpose.
“I’m still changin’ / My friends stay patient / My mother still calls
for the news / Isn’t that enough? / Isn’t that enough? / Isn’t that enough,” Mendes sings.
While uncertain of what his career may look like, Mendes tries to remind himself of the things in life that are worth remaining grateful for.
Although the production of this album is much smaller compared to his previous record Wonder, the musicality is anything but small. Mendes leans on twangier guitar melodies and whole, powerful harmonies to propel the songs.
His vocals are sure, and show off a wide range of abilities as he swings into lower registers and dynamic belts, as opposed to his trademark falsetto.
As the record draws to a close, Mendes seems to be coming to terms with all the change and uncertainty he addressed at the onset of the album.
“Learned my heart can break and
that’s alright / Cause I’m not the only one who’s movin’ on / Rollin’ right along,” he sings on track 11, “Rollin’ Right Along.”
The production matches this feeling as the songs grow gradually more hopeful in both sound and lyric.
The album, which runs at just over 30 minutes, is wide open and intimate. It’s the kind of music that feels personal to both the singer and the listener. The 12-track experience portrays a new confidence sur-
rounding Mendes and his musical abilities. He narrates feelings of fear and apprehension in a completely familiar and tangible way. He closes the album with a moving cover of Leonard Cohen’s iconic “Hallelujah.” There is conviction in his voice and the lyrics he sings. With Shawn, Mendes seems surer than ever. It’s a simple and potent account of his journey through music and life that makes the listener feel like they have been by his side the whole time. n
Artist Ibragimov Brings Ancient Traditions to BC
By MAry Kozeny Heights Staff
In the intimate confines of Boston College’s Bonn Studio Theater, Evgeny Ibragimov raised a walnut baton adorned with hazelnut sprigs, and the room fell silent. Known also as Shaoukh Ibragim, he stands as a living bridge between two worlds: the ancient traditions of the Circassian people and modern academic halls in New England.
His presence on campus this November marks more than a simple cultural exchange—it represents an act of preservation, resistance, and celebration.
Ibragimov embodies the role of the dzheguako—the traditional Circassian master of ceremonies, storyteller, and keeper of cultural memory. In his homeland of Karachay-Cherkessia, nestled in Russia’s North Caucasus region, such figures once stood above society itself, wielding the responsibility to speak truth to power through art and story.
Today, as a director, playwright, and puppeteer who can no longer
work in Russia due to his opposition to Vladimir Putin’s regime, Ibragimov carries on this tradition.
His weeklong residency at BC unfolded like a carefully orchestrated dzhegu—the traditional Circassian carnival that once marked every significant moment in community life. Through workshops, a presentation, spontaneous interactions on campus, and a culminating performance, he wove together the threads of a culture that has survived centuries of attempted erasure.
The story he told is both personal and universal. It’s of a people who, despite facing genocide and displacement under Russian expansion and powerful Ottoman influence, maintain their identity through art and memory.
Dressed in a cherkeska—the traditional knee-length jacket with its distinctive cartridge holders and warrior’s belt—Ibragimov moved through the space as both performer and teacher.
His puppet show, “An Old Tale: The Legend of Happiness,” transformed the theater into a timeless space intertwining love, duty, nationalism, and fortune.
The performance began with the
haunting notes of a traditional threestringed instrument before unexpectedly flowing into Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” a musical metaphor for the cultural synthesis that marks the Circassian diaspora experience.
The history he shared is sobering. Before 1763, Circassia was free, its 12 tribes maintaining a unique nobility system untainted by bribery or purchased titles. Today, following centuries of conflict and a genocide acknowledged only by the country of Georgia, only five to eight percent of Circassians remain in their ancestral homeland.
The rest form a global diaspora, their culture preserved through stories, songs, and the kinds of performances Ibragimov brings to life.
Yet, there is joy in his preservation work. During the puppet show, lovestruck puppets passed through the audience’s hands, creating an intimate connection between viewers and the old tale. Through the Russian to English translation by Polina Dubovikova, a Boston-based actress, singer, and translator, Ibragimov shared personal accounts of learning about the real history of his people one summer as a
boy tending sheep in the mountains. He detailed his fascination and love with puppetry and theater, and described himself as a lifelong learner.
This personal touch transformed the historical trauma into a story of resilience and continuity.
The significance of his work crystallized in his mention of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, where he said Putin’s deliberate omission of the Circassians from his opening ceremony speech spoke volumes about ongoing erasure. In response, Ibragimov’s art serves as a form of gentle but persistent
resistance, keeping alive not just stories and traditions, but the very spirit of a people who refuse to disappear.
At the end of the weeklong residency, it was clear that Ibragimov did more than share his culture.He demonstrated how art can serve as a vessel for survival, a bridge between past and present, and a testament to the enduring power of cultural memory.
At BC, far from the Caucasus Mountains, he has proven that the dzheguako’s sacred task of preserving and transmitting culture remains as vital as ever. n
McMullen Museum Hosts Sold-Out Charity Gala
By AlexAndrine Bourlot For The Heights
Friday evening witnessed a dazzling collaboration between the Boston College Fashion Club, Eau de Boston, and BC Film Society, which transformed the usually quiet McMullen Museum of Art into a lively celebration of creativity and community.
The sold-out event, “Night in the Arts,” offered an elegant, immersive experience while raising funds for BC charity: Water, BC’s chapter of the national organization dedicated to providing clean water access in
developing countries.
The transformation of the McMullen into a charity gala brought a unique fusion of fashion, fragrance, and film under one roof, creating an engaging and memorable evening for all in attendance.
Guests in their finest attire were greeted by Fashion Club on the first floor, where the upbeat sounds from a DJ booth set an energizing tone for the night. The museum’s typically tranquil atmosphere was replaced with laughter, music, and conversation as attendees mingled, enjoying an assortment of refreshments.
Members of Fashion Club, dressed in chic evening wear, encouraged guests to use a QR code to navigate the museum’s floor-by-floor experience.
The second floor, hosted by Eau de Boston, offered a fascinating olfactory experience. Here, attendees were invited to sample scents from a curated collection of perfumes, and even had the chance to blend their own custom fragrance.
Eau de Boston members guided guests through the mixing process, helping them select complementary notes to create a unique signature scent, and by the end of the evening,
nearly every attendee had a small bottle of their personalized fragrance to take home as a distinctive keepsake that would evoke memories of the night.
Ascending to the third floor, guests entered a world crafted by BC Film Society. A photo booth, expertly managed by a student photographer, offered a chance for attendees to capture their finest gala looks against a professionally lit backdrop.
The film screening room, set up in an adjacent gallery, provided a peaceful, contemplative escape from the energetic first floor. BC Film Society showcased a variety of films that explored a wide array of themes. Guests could sit back, relax, and immerse themselves in the storytelling, adding a reflective dimension to the event.
Megan Holleran, president of Fashion Club and MCAS ’25, was a key organizer of “Night in the Arts.” Holleran shared her vision for the evening, describing it as a campus version of the Met Gala, reimagined for BC’s community.
“We wanted to create an event that captured the elegance and excitement of the Met Gala,” Holleran said. “But the Met Gala is in May, during finals season, so we thought hosting it earlier in the year would allow everyone to really enjoy it.”
As the night unfolded, the museum’s bustling atmosphere was impossible to ignore. Holleran discussed the high turnout and her expectations for the evening.
“It’s a full house,” Holleran said. “We released 175 tickets at the Robsham Box Office, and they sold out in under 48 hours.”
She went on to share her excitement about the overwhelming response.
“The demand really shows how much our campus values the arts,” she said. “It’s also fantastic to see so many people come together to support a cause that is so close to our hearts.”
Charity: water’s mission was central to the event’s purpose. A table with information about the organization’s efforts to provide clean drinking water to communities worldwide was set up near the entrance, giving guests the opportunity to learn about the impact their attendance would have.
The charity’s goals and the transformative power of potable water resonated with many attendees, reinforcing the evening’s focus on both artistic expression and social responsibility.
Read the rest of this story at www.bcheights.com
Ibragimov spent a week at Boston College as an artist in residence.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BOSTON COLLEGE
SPORTS
BC Falls Short in Loss to SMU
With Castellanos out of the picture, Grayson James took over the Eagles’ offense and immediately went to work, racking up 237 passing yards, a passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown, keeping BC in the game for all four quarters.
“[He] did a good job,” O’Brien said of James’ performance. “Very proud of Grayson stepping into that situation. We got a lot of confidence in Grayson—Grayson did a good job—we just didn’t do enough. In all three phases, didn’t do enough, didn’t coach it good enough.”
The Florida International transfer and the Eagles (5–5, 2–4 Atlantic Coast) fell just short, as SMU (9–1, 6–0) sacked James on back-to-back plays in the final minutes of regulation forcing a turnover on downs before scoring a silencing touchdown to defeat BC 38–28.
“At the end of the game, we got a chance to get the ball back,” O’Brien said. “We stop them. Take two sacks—take a sack on fourth down. Just not good. Got to coach it better.”
The Eagles kept the score within 10 points throughout the entire contest, giving them a chance at a comeback in those final moments.
After SMU missed a field goal in its opening drive, the Eagles had a quick three-and-out and were forced to punt. Liam Connor booted the ball a measly 32 yards to set the Mustangs up with excellent field position, and they got the scoring started by taking a 7–0 lead.
Kevin Jennings connected with Roderick Daniels Jr. who scurried into the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.
The Eagles punted just one more time in the game, taking their chances going for it on fourth down instead.
“It was a lot of ‘Gonna go for it on fourth down,’” O’Brien said. “We’re trying to score touchdowns, going for it … How many times did we go for it on fourth down—six or seven?”
BC’s next drive ended in a turnover on downs after the Eagles elected to go for it on 4th-and-short, once again setting SMU up with pristine field position, which the Mustangs used to add three points to the scoreboard.
The Eagles responded in the second quarter, though.
After going for it on fourth down twice, Kye Robichaux capped off BC’s third drive of the game with a two-yard scamper into the end zone to make it a 10–7 game.
SMU marched back down the field and less than four minutes later reestablished a two-score lead with a Brashard Smith fouryard touchdown.
The final minutes of the first half were action-packed. BC scored a touchdown when James threw a bullet pass to Kamari Morales for a 13-yard touchdown to make it 17–14 with 1:03 left on the clock.
Jennings then threw an interception to Carter Davis on the first play of SMU’s drive, but James returned the favor and gave the ball right back to the Mustangs with an interception of his own. SMU then notched a field goal to head into halftime up 20–14.
“That was a terrible sequence of plays,” O’Brien said of the end of the first half.
James and the Eagles received the ball in the third quarter and went back to work. James connected with Reed Harris for two 19-yard completions before tak-
ing matters into his own hands and scoring a 20-yard rushing touchdown.
SMU immediately responded, though, and converted on a twopoint conversion to take a 28–21 lead with 8:52 left in the third.
A field goal on the next SMU drive reestablished its 10-point lead.
With just under 6:00 left in the game, Robichaux put the Eagles on his back, and with four straight runs totaling 25 yards, he found the end zone to make it 31–28 and keep BC’s hopes of a comeback alive.
After the Eagles stopped the Mustangs’ offense, they had just under four minutes to score.
But James tanked two sacks leading to a turnover on downs, and the Mustangs ran the clock out, avoiding an upset at the hands of BC and remaining undefeated in ACC play.
“I mean, we got a tough team,” O’Brien said. “We have a tough football team, [but] we’re not there yet. Like I said, give SMU credit. They’ve got a good team, they’re a potential playoff team ... If you’re going to win a game like that, you have to, you know, make plays in critical moments.” n
BY BROOKE GHALY / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Notebook: Eagles Officially Regress to the Mean
By SouraBh Gokarn Deputy Mangaging Editor
After shredding then-No. 17 Southern Methodist in last year’s Fenway Bowl, Boston College football quarterback Thomas Castellanos wasn’t satisfied.
“You guys will see,” Castellanos said after that game. “Next year will be special. And Boston College football will be different. It will be.”
He was partially correct—this year’s Eagles’ team is different.
Bill O’Brien has taken over for Jeff Hafley as BC’s head coach. Castellanos is no longer with the team after Grayson James replaced him as the Eagles’ starter. And this time around, BC couldn’t overcome the No. 14 Mustangs, falling 38–28 on Saturday.
Not everything has changed, though. Through 10 games, BC sits at 5–5—just a tick worse than its 2023 6–4 start. Much like last season, inconsistency has often plagued the Eagles, prompting yet another quarterback swap.
In the first game of the James era, BC’s inconsistency struck again. James’ presence provided the Eagles enough juice to bring the game down to the wire, but not quite enough to pull off the upset.
Here are three observations from the loss.
Swiss Cheese Secondary BC’s pass defense hasn’t exactly been its calling card this season. The unit ranks 12th in the ACC, allowing an average of 248.8 yards to opposing offenses. With BC down defensive
backs Max Tucker and Bryquice Brown, along with linebackers Owen McGowan and Kam Arnold, SMU seemed poised to have its way offensively.
Led by quarterback Kevin Jennings, that’s exactly what the Mustangs did on Saturday. Jennings racked up 298 yards, averaged 8.5 yards per throw, and consistently found holes in the Eagles defense. Three different SMU receivers picked up gains of 25-plus yards, highlighting BC’s inability to prevent chunk plays.
“We were really struggling to stop them,” O’Brien said. “I don’t really think we stopped them at all. They probably stopped themselves.”
The Eagles’ thin defensive back and linebacker corps hurt their run defense, as well. Whenever SMU running back Brashard Smith broke through BC’s front and into the second level, the Eagles’ defense struggled to keep him contained. Smith averaged 6.7 yards on 18 carries—the longest of which went for 45 yards and positioned the Mustangs for a pivotal field goal late in the first half.
Time and time again, the Eagles’ soft coverage slowed any momentum they found—a trend best exemplified by Jennings’ 38yard touchdown pass that came less than two minutes after BC had claimed its first and last lead of the game.
Special Teams Circus
A number of flaws have emerged for the Eagles this season—whether that be unreliable quarterback play or difficulty maintaining leads—but none of
them have been nearly as glaring as BC’s special teams issues. It wouldn’t be hyperbole to say the unit is as bad as any in the Power 4.
Punter Ivan Zivenko, who may have lost his job to place kicker and kickoff specialist Liam Connor, ranks last in the country in average yards per punt (37.1). Connor, meanwhile, hasn’t exactly fared any better on the kicking side. The junior ranks 171st in the nation in field goal attempts, a sign of O’Brien’s limited trust in the unit.
BC’s special teams woes most clearly manifested itself in its fourth-down mentality. Hesitant to punt or kick field goals, O’Brien elected to go for it on fourth down six times—a season-high.
“As long as it was manage able, we were going for it,” O’Brien said.
With no clear alternatives available on BC’s roster, O’Brien will have to continue coaching around his struggling special teams unit.
Grayson’s Good Enough
BC’s upset bid came crum bling down after James took a pair of sacks—the first of which came despite tight end Jeremiah Frank lin flying down the seam uncov ered. It was a difficult sequence for the Eagles’ new starter, but it shouldn’t overshadow an other wise competent performance.
After a shaky first quarter, James eventually settled in and found a groove by the start of the second half. Remaining composed in front of a rowdy SMU crowd, James command
GRAPHIC
Football, from A1
Fowler Ejected in No. 2 BC’s 5–4 Loss to UConn
Men’s Hockey, from A1
The Eagles rattled off three goals in the third period, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the second period.
“We know that we can’t do that in short spurts and have success,” Brown said of the third period comeback attempt. “We know that’s gonna have to be much more consistent and more sustained for 60 minutes. It’s too hard to win in Hockey East or any college hockey if you aren’t consistent with your effort.”
Aidan Hreschuk got the Eagles on the board first after he launched a one-timer past Tyler Muszelik just under five minutes into play.
“I think when they’re at home and there’s a large crowd, and they got the first couple shifts under their belt, they had the advantage,” Hreschuk said after the first period. “I think just getting pucks on net, kind of found a squeaky one, but that can really shift the tide in our favor when we had a slow start.”
The Eagles took that 1–0 lead into the second frame, but the tide
quickly shifted back in UConn’s favor.
Hudson Schandor knotted the game up just 18 seconds into the frame.
Less than two minutes later Kaden Shahan gave the Huskies a 2–1 edge.
The Huskies were not satisfied, though, and a minute and a half later Nick Carabin set Fraser up to slam the puck past Fowler.
The score made it 3–1 and prompted Fowler to punch Fraser in the face.
“We knew UConn was gonna come out with everything they
had and we weren’t able to match that,” Brown said. “We scored pretty early in the game, and then it felt like UConn really made a push after that.”
After a disastrous second period for BC, Ryan Leonard kicked off the third with a wrister from the top of the left circle to make it 3–2 just 31 seconds after the opening faceoff.
But Korec let up his first goal of the game with 9:05 left to play as Thomas Messineo launched a wrister of his own from near the blue line to reestablish UConn’s two-goal lead.
The back and forth was only beginning.
Andre Gasseau picked up a goal on the power play with 1:14 left in the game, but 18 seconds later Ryan Tattle found the back of the net to give the Huskies a 5–3 lead.
Hreschuk reemerged and made it 5–4 keeping the Eagles’ hopes of a comeback alive, but time ran out on the comeback bid.
“We tried to make a push in the third,” Brown said. “Got some momentum going, but we weren’t able to get that last goal to tie it up.” n
No. 12 BC Drops Second Game to No. 14 BU 3–1
By Caroline KowalSKi Heights Staff
Going into its series against rival Boston University this weekend, No. 12 Boston College women’s hockey was riding high on a seven-game win streak. It won the first game of the series on Friday in a thrilling overtime victory, thanks to an overtime goal from Julia Pellerin.
That was the Eagles’ (9–4–0, 6–2–0 Hockey East) eighth consecutive win. But when BC returned home to Conte Forum on Saturday, that winning streak finally snapped when BU (9–4–1, 7–2–1) came away with a 3–1 win to force a split series.
“Hard to find too many good things that came out of that game, but we gotta get back to the drawing board,” BC head coach Katie Crowley said. “We’ll learn from
it and keep moving forward, and keep getting better. ”
BC started off the first period in its offensive zone and was rewarded by pulling the score in its favor early.
Kara Goulding landed a shot in the back of BU’s net just 4:36 into the period for her second goal of the season, assisted by Jenna Carpenter and Olivia O’Brien.
BC looked to further its lead for the remainder of the first and had a power-play opportunity after a roughing penalty on Maeve Carey at the 17:12 mark. But despite two shots on goal by Gaby Roy, the Eagles were unable to extend their lead and entered the second period up 1–0.
BC goalie Grace Campbell saved 16 pucks in the second period alone, but it wasn’t enough to stop BU from scoring two goals in the first 4:44 of the period.
“I mean thank God for Grace, ’cause they could have had 10
goals but I thought she played well for us,” Crowley said.
Campbell finished the game with 27 saves.
The Terriers started the period off by quickly evening the score with a goal by Ani FitzGerald—her third of the season—assisted by Kaileigh Quigg at 3:19.
Less than two minutes later, BU forward Lindsay Bochna landed another shot in the BC net, allowing the Terriers to turn the score in their favor for the remainder of play.
Kate Ham received a slashing penalty at 8:18 and Roy got called for tripping at 18:02 giving BU two power-play opportunities.
BC was able to kill both opportunities, but still headed into the third period trailing the Terriers 2–1.
“It just seemed like we all kind of were on different pages today,” Crowley said.
The clock winded down as BC
searched for ways to put itself back into a winning position.
With less than six minutes left on the clock, Terriers forward Sydney Healey grabbed the puck on a breakaway and landed a shot unassisted past Campbell to put BU up 3–1 for her seventh goal of the season.
The Eagles were unable to bounce back from their deficit,
resulting in a 1–1 split series with BU this weekend.
“Even in games that we don’t really play well, we’re still in the game,” Crowley said. “So I think that, you know, this one—let’s flush it, get rid of it. You know we’ll see them again obviously and now we move on to UConn and try to focus on how we can beat them.” n
No. 12 BC Downs No. 14 BC 3–2 in Overtime
By SeBBy FitzGerald For The Heights
BOSTON, MASS. – A scoring frenzy within the first four minutes of the second period of No. 12 Boston College women’s hockey’s matchup against crosstown rival No. 14 Boston University established high tensions between the familiar foes.
Just 21 seconds into the second period, a tripping penalty called on Molly Jordan led to a BU power play.
The advantage ended 54 seconds later, though, after Sydney Healey’s shot gave the Terriers their first goal of the game, floating the puck above the right pad of Grace Campbell to knot the score at 1–1.
It didn’t take long for BC to answer right back and reestablish its lead, though, as Jordan tidied up the crease with a rebound goal— only for BU’s defenseman Julia Shaunessy to respond with a topright snipe from the blue line to make it 2–2 just 90 seconds later.
The game remained in gridlock until BC (9–3–0, 6–1–0 Hockey East) topped the game off with a Julia Pellerin goal to hand the Eagles a 3–2 win in overtime fashion over BU (9–4–1, 7–2–1) on Friday night.
The tone of the rivalry tilt was
set early after Kate Ham quietly snuck a shot under BU goaltender Callie Shanahan’s glove to give the Eagles a 1–0 lead just over five minutes into the game.
BC stayed in control of the first period, generating quality shots under back-to-back power plays.
Although not gaining extra comfort with a second goal, BC headed into intermission winning loose puck battles and beating the icing whistles.
The script flipped in the second after back-and-forth scoring allowed the Terriers to gain back confidence against their rival, knotting the game at 2–2.
It wasn’t until the final minutes of the period when the Eagles came flying through the zone with tic-tac-toe flow just to be denied by Shanahan and her right pad.
A small scuffle following the save put the squads on edge entering the third period.
Both teams had entered the game with their previous losses coming in early October, further raising the stakes of the third period.
A surge of shots on BU’s offensive side shifted the tide within the first five minutes of the final frame.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the remaining minutes of the third, leading to an extra period of sudden-death hockey.
The 3-on-3 overtime opened up the ice for coast-to-coast opportunities from both teams, and it only took 76 seconds for a winner to be decided.
Pellerin picked up a loose puck along the boards and carried it across the middle, executing a slick deke beneath Shaunessy to sneak a five-hole backhand and secure the Eagles’ eighth straight victory. n
Boston College UConn 4 5
SHANE SHEBEST / HEIGHTS STAFF
BC’s Julia Pellerin netted the Eagles’ winning goal in Friday night‘s matchup against Boston Univesity.
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF Boston
The Eagles’ Grace Campbell finished the competition with 27 saves.
ELLIE EL-FISHAWY / HEIGHTS STAFF
Eagles Inch Past Providence 67–60, Improve to 4–1
By aSha WoERnER For The Heights
Dontavia Waggoner dove to grab the ball, falling to the ground and losing a shoe in the process. Boston College women’s basketball capitalized on Waggoner’s effort and recovered the ball, leading to a made jumper from T’yana Todd.
Thirteen seconds later, Waggoner stole the ball again, leading to a 3-pointer from Teya Sidberry that put BC up 37–24, its largest lead in the first half.
Sidberry scored a season-high 20 points and Waggoner added 16 points and four steals as the Eagles (4–1) beat Providence (2–2) 67–60 on Sunday afternoon. Defensive effort and standout performances from Waggoner and Sidberry sealed the Eagles’ win despite a late surge from the Friars.
“We forced turnovers and we were up aggressively, playing both our man-to-man, our press, our rule zone,” BC head coach Joanna
Bernabei-McNamee said. “We can improve on our obvious things— blocking out, grabbing rebounds, being a little bit more aggressive on the 50/50 balls, taking care of the ball, closing games.”
BC took an early 11–2 lead behind a jumper in the paint from Waggoner and a layup from Andrea Daley.
But the Eagles struggled to pull away, and Providence remained within reach.
The Friars exploited gaps in the Eagles’ rebound game. Providence grabbed six offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone and was able to close the first quarter down just three, 18–15.
“We’re not really happy with our performance, because we know the potential is higher, so it’s kind of just working towards that,” Sidberry said.
BC went into halftime with a 10-point lead, but the Eagles came out in the third quarter with an energy that made their first half look lethargic in comparison.
“I think we’re about grit, and those hustle plays, and really attacking
boards and then pushing pace on offense, but not being too out of control and having discipline,” Sidberry said.
BC put its effort into scrappy defense, grabbing four steals in the third quarter. Sidberry splashed in a shot from beyond the arc that put BC up 55–38. The Eagles shot 50 percent from three in the third quarter, taking a 17-point lead before the start of the fourth.
The fourth quarter is when things started to come apart for the Eagles.
BC looked fatigued and was missing shots, shooting 3 of 11 from the floor in the period. Providence chipped away at the 17-point deficit primarily in the paint, scoring eight points off turnovers.
With 31 seconds left, the Friars had brought the game within six points of the Eagles 66–60.
Strong Scores 25 Points, Eagles Win
By maRia StEfanoudakiS
Asst. Sports Editor
It was fitting that Elijah Strong scored the first bucket for Boston College men’s basketball as it took on Temple. He finished at the basket 19 seconds into the game.
“You see the first one go through, and then it’s like, ‘okay, all the butterflies are gone,’” Strong said. “The confidence just was boosted throughout the whole game.”
Strong proceeded to rattle off 13 more points in the first half alone. Although his hot streak seemed to have died out by the beginning of the second half, he eventually recovered his first-half rhythm—and he did so when it mattered most.
Strong’s 25-point, 13-rebound
double-double led the Eagles (2–1) past Temple (3–1) 72–69 on Friday night, but it took until the last seconds for Strong and BC to finish the night off with a win.
With 26 seconds remaining in the game, BC led by two—a measly advantage compared to its once 14-point lead over the Owls. Chas Kelley III dribbled around on the Eagles’ offensive possession, running out the clock before taking the ball into the paint himself.
His layup came up short. But Strong broke into the paint, grabbed the offensive rebound, and tipped the ball back through the net to give BC a 70–66 lead.
A pull-up 3-pointer on the other end from Jamal Mashburn Jr. brought the game within one, but it was once again Strong who stepped up. He sank his free throw after Temple
fouled him on an inbound, extending BC’s lead to two points.
The tight end to the game was nothing like much of the first half.
The Eagles had a 41–27 lead at one point, rallying behind a 56 percent field-goal percentage through the first 20 minutes.
“In the second half, I thought they defended a little bit better,” BC head coach Earl Grant said. “I thought they made things harder for us with their contesting. And then, you know, we were getting in the paint and we weren’t making the same decisions as we made in the first half.”
But nothing was falling for the Eagles in the second half. They shot 27 percent in the second half and just 14 percent from beyond the arc compared to Temple’s 40 percent from three.
“We played about 28 great minutes of basketball,” Grant said.
“And then it was 12 where, you know, we weren’t playing the best basketball. But it’s the third game of the year, so we got to get closer to 30 minutes, you know, 32 minutes.”
Poor shooting and an inability to get stops forced BC to play either from behind or neck and neck with the Owls in the second half, as the game saw six lead changes and four ties.
With five minutes left in the game, the momentum belonged entirely to Temple. An and-1 from Strong on an offensive rebound stole the energy right back for BC, though, and gave it a 64–63 lead.
Strong’s putback and subsequent free throw sent Conte Forum into a frenzy.
“We’re not a Duke, we’re not a Carolina, but you know, we’re Boston College, and I love the people that come out and support,” Strong said. Mashburn led the Owls in the second half, scoring 23 points in the game.
But with help from Donald Hand Jr.’s 17 points, the Eagles were able to keep the game close, then outplay the Owls in crunch time.
Temple’s largest lead of the game—a 55–50 advantage after a successful drive from Zion Stanford—was quickly cut into by a corner three from Hand.
Kelley’s lockdown defense in the final minutes also contributed to the Eagles’ win, as his pressure forced Temple to call a timeout in the waning minutes of the game.
“We knew coming off the VCU game we had to tie up some screws,” Hand said. “Just focused on the little details—stand in front of our man, ball-screen D, and tonight that showed. Super proud of Chas, super proud of [Strong], super proud of the whole team.”
According to Strong and Hand, BC was prepared for crunch time because of the intensity of Grant’s practices.
“Our practices are 10 times harder,” Hand said. “So when we get in moments like that, it’s just another play, another day, another dollar.” n
and
“We just keep sitting down, working on our court defense, also working on our switch out,” Bernabei-McNamee said. “But you know, for us, I think the good news is we all feel like what we need to correct in this game, we are very capable of correcting it and fixing it.” n
No. 7 BC Falls to No. 13 Tigers, Ends 2024 Season
By Emily RoBERgE Assoc. Sports Editor
Named the ACC Goalkeeper of the Year a few weeks before No. 7 Boston College field hockey’s first-round matchup against No. 13 Princeton in the NCAA Tournament, Charley Kramer is known for containing her opponents and often comes up with clutch saves in the cage.
But in Friday’s first-round matchup against the Tigers, there was no diving save that Kramer could have made to stop the Tigers’ Beth Yeager’s shot, which she fired into the lower left-hand corner of BC’s net to give Princeton a 1–0 lead 14 minutes into the first quarter.
BC was never able to respond.
Princeton (14–5, 7–0 Ivy League) held onto its one-goal lead and ultimately defeated the Eagles
(14–7, 6–2 Atlantic Coast) 1–0, ending their 2024 season just one game into the NCAA Tournament.
“I thought we had a good week of buildup and two practices we had back in Boston, and I thought the game plan we had was good,” BC head coach Kelly Doton said. “I think in the first half we were a little too relaxed on our defensive pressure, especially in our press. I then think we started to play, but you can’t go down one to nothing and then you are trying to be a little more reckless and send some risky balls in.”
In the first frame, the Tigers tallied three penalty corners and the Eagles were unable to keep Princeton away from Kramer in the net.
It appeared to be a back-andforth battle in BC’s defending half until the last minute of the first frame.
Off a Grace Schulze penalty corner, Yeager swung her stick back and drove the ball into the back of BC’s net—scoring the first and only
goal of the game with 41 seconds left to play in the first quarter.
BC did not register any shots on net in the second frame of the game either and entered halftime without a single shot.
A little over nine minutes into the third frame, the Eagles’ midfielders brought the ball up the field following a Princeton turnover.
Turning the play into a 5-on-3 BC advantage against the Tigers’ defenders, BC crisscrossed passes.
As the ball bounced toward Elisa Brauel-Jahnke, it missed her stick and the ball sailed wide.
That was the Eagle’s best chance to knot the game up, tallying just two shots in the final quarter, neither of which were even on net.
“I thought the second half we played great, but we couldn’t find the back of the cage, and unfortunately, we had the 1–0 defeat,” Doton said.
The loss marked BC’s final game of the season.
“It’s been a really fun year to coach this group of young women,” Doton said. “Obviously, the seniors and fifth years were emotional afterwards, but the message to them was to think about the ride and the process and not the end goal. Everyone wants to win, and there is only one team that hoists this trophy at the end, and the rest of us are left in our misery.”
But to Doton, BC’s success can not be merely measured by its
performance against Princeton.
“It’s easy to feel this pain right now, but hopefully they can reflect on making it to the ACC Championship and back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years,” Doton said. “We had wins over UVA and Syracuse, and the big one being us undefeated at home. It’s long and hard. I know we didn’t finish where we wanted to, but at the end of the day, that’s just sport, and it’s been a fun year.” n
Sidberry went 3 of 4 from the free throw line late in the game, though,
BC walked away with a win.
Dontavia Waggoner scored 16 points and tallied four steals in Sunday’s matchup against the Friars.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, BC scored
Elijah Strong, pictured, scored 15 points in the first half against the Owls.
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF
CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR