November 25, 2024
BC Secures Bowl Bid
In the 41–14 Win over UNC, BC’s Grayson James finished with 192 passing yards, 38 rushing yards, and two touchdowns.
By graham dietz Alumni Director
The final two minutes before the first half, especially as the team who received the kickoff in the beginning of the game, is one of the most crucial two-minute stretches in football. For Joe Marinaro, that truth sunk in.
With 1:55 left in the first half, North
Carolina’s offense ran onto the turf looking to make it a one-score game, down 17–7. Since the Tar Heels deferred the pregame coin toss, they would receive the ball to start the third quarter.
What happened next only lasted six combined plays, and it gave Boston College football a 17-point lead.
See Football, A11
Tom Holland Pays Surprise Visit to the Campus School
By Jack Beckman Asst. News Editor
Tom Holland swapped slinging webs for swinging the tambourine in the classroom on Thursday, bringing star power—and a $25,000 grant from his family’s nonprofit—to the Campus School at Boston College.
“He really was coming just to connect with the kids,” said Jennifer Miller, marketing and outreach manager at the Campus School. “It was a very student-focused visit. He was so generous with his time, and he was so wonderful with the students, and interacting directly with each student.”
Holland toured the Campus School, which educates students from ages three to 22 with extensive support needs, during the unadvertised visit last week.
Holland dropped by all six classrooms, mingled with students, posed for photos, and even joined a music class, where he played the tambourine and sang along to Don McLean’s “American Pie,” Miller said.
“We got to experience music therapy in one of the classes, and he was singing along to ‘American Pie’ and a tambourine going—just totally engaged, having a great time,” Miller said.
A Fresh Spin on ‘Pippin’
Boston College’s production of Pippin made the audience a part of the show, rejuvenating a classic story with humor, heart, and a touch of absurdity.
See A10
Eagles Split Series With 4–2 Loss to the Huskies
By SeBBy Fitzgerald For The Heights
Skating into an opposing rink is never easy—especially when it’s a game between historically fierce Hockey East rivals.
The Northeastern faithful brought the fire to Saturday night’s game between No. 3 Boston College men’s hockey and the Huskies. Three goals from the home team in the first frame helped Northeastern fans get comfortable early with “Fowler, Fowler, Fowler” taunting chants.
BC’s recent late-game heroics (9–3–0, 4–2–0 Hockey East) missed the bus to Matthews Arena as it suffered a 4–2 loss to Northeastern (2–6–3, 1–4–3).
“There was some good tempo, good movement,” BC head coach Greg Brown said. “But when you're not scoring, it gets harder for a bit.”
The Huskies got off 16 shots in the opening 10:17 of the game. BC goaltender Jacob Fowler made six saves to keep things level, but he couldn’t hold Northeastern off for long.
Dylan Hryckowian scored the Huskies’ first goal at the 10:19 mark. Jackson Dorrington tacked on another one almost exactly two minutes later. In two minutes, the game had turned entirely in Northeastern’s favor.
See Men's Hockey, A12
Feldman’s Nonprofit Fights Inequality in Sierra Leone
By emma Stadolnik For The Heights
While women in the West have made significant progress in combating gender discrimination in recent decades, girls in Sierra Leone still face entrenched inequality, according to Rebecca Feldman, BC Law ’97.
Strong Girls, United Women hopes to change this reality.
Feldman co-founded the nonprofit Strong Girls, United Women (SGUW) with her sister-in-law Dorah Rains, as well as Tewoh Karimu and Sonia Koroma, Rains’ childhood best friends. The organization works exclusively in Sierra Leone to combat two major issues women face there— personal safety and poverty.
“Our number one goal in everything we do is to keep girls in school,” Feldman said.
Feldman currently serves as the chief operating officer of SGUW, and her team comprises women from both the United States and Sierra Leone. Feldman said the team members’ diverse backgrounds make for a unique variety of perspectives.
Driven by a longstanding passion for women’s empowerment, Rains said she
joined forces with Feldman to bring the vision of SGUW to life.
“When I moved here after I had babies, I thought, ‘Okay, it's about time to take action now,’” Rains said. “So I spoke with [Feldman]. Because she is a lawyer, she knows how to do the paperwork. I'm not from here. I'm not too familiar with the laws and all of these things. We started working together, and she was really excited.”
Both from Sierra Leone, Koroma and Karimu currently serve as regional directors for SGUW.
Their experience living in Sierra Leone has helped many SGUW team members approach Sierra Leonean women with empathy and understanding.
“We know the struggles,” Rains said.
“We know what we went through growing up in Sierra Leone, and what other girls are going through.”
SGUW implements a two-pronged approach to fulfill its mission of keeping girls in school, starting with the economic empowerment of Sierra Leonean women.
CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF
TRISHNA CONDOOR / HEIGHTS STAFF
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CAMPUS SCHOOL
Holland Visits Campus After Trust Gives $25,000
The Brothers Trust, a nonprofit established by Holland’s parents in 2017, awarded the grant to the Campus School last month, according to Miller.
The organization provides funding to charities that effectively assist those in need but “struggle to be heard” and leverages the Spider-Man star’s celebrity status to fundraise and organize events, with Holland’s three younger brothers also involved in its operations.
Miller said the grant will be used to purchase new assistive technology and a new lift for students to use during physical therapy sessions.
“We’re going to put in a new ceiling lift in our physical therapy office … we’re also going to use it towards accessible technology, so communication devices, and they’re very expensive,” Miller said.
The mother of a former Campus School volunteer—who served as a trustee for the foundation and was a childhood friend of Holland’s parents—called the school and first encouraged staff to apply for a grant, according to Miller.
From the initial application to approval, the grant process was thorough and took around a year, Miller added.
“Lots of calls with Tom Holland’s parents and other people and other trustees to learn more about our school,” Miller said
Upon learning that Holland was in Boston while his girlfriend, Zendaya, was filming a movie, Miller said she could not pass up on the opportunity to invite him to visit the Campus School.
To her surprise, a representative from the foundation quickly contacted Holland and said he was enthusiastic about the idea.
“I said ‘Listen, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I saw Tom has been in town, and if he would like to come over and see the school, we’d love to have him,’” Miller said. “And I heard back almost instantly that they’d contacted Tom, and he was like, ‘I’d love to come by.’”
For someone so famous, Miller said Holland struck her as humble and unassuming.
“He’s a normal guy,” Miller said. “He was really just happy to spend time and chat.”
During the visit, Holland tried to
keep a low profile, so staff were asked not to use their phones or take photos while he was at the school, Miller said. In addition, they decided not to post any photos on social media or make an official announcement about the visit until the next day.
“He’s a very down-to-earth guy and does a lot of philanthropic work very quietly,” Miller said. “He didn’t want any press around or any of that.”
Miller said Holland was generous with his time, making an effort to connect with every student—even those who communicate non-verbally—and pose for photos so their parents could share in the experience.
“By the end, he kept saying to me, ‘Shall we take a picture?’” Miller said. “He wanted pictures with the students so that their parents could see it, which is really sweet.”
Although the visit centered primarily around the students, Miller said she took a moment to show Holland how the grant funds would be used.
“I showed him where the equipment was going to go and talked about the technology that it will fund, and we had just a really wonderful conversation about that,” Miller said. “He’s just so happy to help make a difference at our school.” n
Pindell Dissects Media’s Impact on the 2024 Election
By anna Lauinger
The Heights
The 2024 presidential election focused more on issues of identity and demographics than substantive policy issues, said James Pindell, a political reporter for the Boston Globe.
“We are debating identity,” Pindell said. “This has been an identity election.”
Pindell was invited by the Boston College journalism program to speak on the outcome of the election in a “post-mortem” conversation on Thursday evening with Scott Helman, associate program director of journalism at BC.
Pindell said the election illuminated the diverse perspectives within the United States, which was reflected in the outcome of swing voters.
“It is a rich, complex country, and old narratives about different groups have always been reframed,” Pindell said.
Both candidates focused on dif-
ferent demographics and strategies for voter turnout, Pindell said.
“Harris’s bet was, ‘If I can get people who typically always vote to vote for me, I will win,’” Pindell said. “Trump convinced them that ‘If I could get people who already like me, but never vote, to vote or rarely vote, then I can win.’”
Democrats’ focus on appealing to identity over policy did not work out as intended, Pindell said. This was demonstrated by Latino men voting for Trump at unexpectedly high rates.
“[Latinos] were voting more on the economy and Republicans were trying to reach them where they were on those particular issues, rather than being driven by identity politics,” Pindell said.
As the media has evolved to include social media and podcasts in addition to traditional media like news agencies, Pindell said there is also much to consider about the impact of new types of media on the election.
“It used to be where you would microtarget on a magazine or a different type of TV show that you think demo-
graphically reaches the group of people you want to reach,” Pindell said.
Pindell said that as influencers are now reaching broader audiences than traditional news outlets, the parties are learning to adapt.
“The Democratic National Convention brought in 200 influencers and took away chairs from mainstream
journalists,” Pindell said.
Just as the media is changing and adapting, the political alignment of many Americans has also shifted, Pindell said.
“We are in a moment of political realignment,” Pindell said. “Parties today are very different than they were even in 2012.”
While many people feel strongly about the outcome of this election, Pindell said that the present situation is temporary and that change is likely to come.
“I’m excited for the idea—I don’t know if it comes from the left or the right—that something different will happen,” he said. n
QLC Hosts Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil
By Jack Beckman Asst. News Editor
The O’Connell House grew silent as members of the Queer Leadership Council (QLC) read aloud the names of transgender people killed this year in the United States, placing flowers in front of their photos.
“Tonight, we speak the names of those we have lost, and we bring their names to life,” said Gabriel Hallberg, QLC associate director and MCAS ’26. “We share their stories because their lives were beautiful, because they were beautiful in all of their transness and because of their transness.”
QLC hosted the vigil on Transgender Day of Remembrance—observed annually on Nov. 20—to honor people who have died as a result of anti-trans violence in the last year.
The prefix “trans”— which means “across” or “beyond”—fully encapsulates what it means to be human, Hallberg said.
“Being trans is simply being yourself, and that is beautiful,” Hallberg said. “When we are ourselves, we truly become in touch with what life has to offer, and life has a lot to offer. The everydayness and simple existence that we are all blessed to have in this room reveals so many wonderful facets of personhood.”
QLC members alternated be-
tween reading statistics about discrimination against trans people and sharing anecdotes about the individuals killed this year.
So far this year, at least 30 trans and gender-expansive people have been killed in the United States, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Of those, 52 percent were Black trans women—a group that is especially marginalized, Hallberg said.
Black trans individuals face added disparities, with an unemployment rate of 26 percent, a homelessness rate of 41 percent, and 39 percent living in poverty, Hallberg added.
Even in the face of sobering statistics, Hallberg emphasized that death and suffering can point to deeper truths about humanity.
“I found that death does what it often tragically does, which is remind us of life,” Hallberg said. “When we see no life, we realize what life is. When we see people stripped of their humanity, we realize what it means to be human. When we see injustice, we are reminded clearly what justice is.”
This year, state legislatures across the country proposed 665 “anti-transgender bills,” 45 of which were passed, according to Hallberg. During the 2024 election cycle, the Republican Party spent almost $215 million on network TV ads targeting trans people—about $134 per trans person
in the United States, according to Hallberg.
“The hatred and opposition that transgender Americans face is very real and very alive,” Hallberg said. “We live in a polarized nation, people are taking sides, and it seems that neither political party wants to protect transgender rights.”
In response to this opposition, many people are tempted to avoid participating in politics and advocacy, but this only worsens the problem, Hallberg said.
“Attempting to escape these systems that hurt transgender individuals is dangerous, and it does not change these systems that continue to
perpetuate and do harm, and we need to change these systems to stop the cycles of oppression that are ongoing,” Hallberg said.
The solution lies in fostering community and love, according to Hallberg.
“What we can do is build community,” Hallberg said. “That’s the technical term for just simply loving each other. And if we leave with kindness and love, we make the places we inhabit that much better.”
Hallberg called on attendees to continue standing up for the trans community.
“It’s our duty to take care of each other, and those of us who are trans-
gender are being unfairly and unjustly targeted, and it’s everyone’s duty—especially those who are cisgender—to take care of and advocate for the needs of the transgender community,” Hallberg said.
H Edwards, QLC intersectionality coordinator and MCAS ’26, closed the vigil by quoting trans activist Cecilia Gentili, who compared equality to an “endless cake” that grows as more people benefit from it.
“The work you do is living, and you have to keep living, because your life will be the forefront, not only for our liberation but everyone’s liberation because it truly is an endless cake,” Edwards said. n
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CAMPUS SCHOOL AT BOSTON COLLEGE
Holland stopped by all six classrooms, where he met staff and students and participated in a music class.
Tom Holland, from A1
JACK BECKMAN / HEIGHTS EDITOR Hallberg emphasized that advocating for and preserving trans rights is a duty for everyone.
ELLIE EL-FISHAWY / HEIGHTS STAFF
Pindell stated that the 2024 election came down to identity issues rather than policy changes.
City Appoints Crossley to Zoning Appeals Board
By Genevieve Morrison Assoc. Newton Editor
The Newton City Council approved the appointment of former City Councilor Deborah Crossley, the architect of a controversial zoning reform that passed narrowly last winter, to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Monday night.
Appointing Crossley to the ZBA, a body responsible for interpreting and enforcing city zoning laws, was a divisive and unnecessary choice, according to Ward 4 Councilor Randy Block.
“Isn’t there a better way of serving the ZBA than nominating a former city councilor who was defeated in the last election?” Block said.
Crossley was voted out in last year’s city council election following controversy over the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD), a proposed zoning plan that would have increased permission for multi-family housing well above state minimums.
As then-chair of Newton’s Zoning and Planning Committee (ZAP), Crossley became the face of zoning reforms some labeled as radical, and therefore the face of the division that
resulted in the debate over the zoning plan’s passage, according to Ward 8 Councilor Stephen Farrell.
“I was dismayed by the nearly constant antagonistic tone and rancor on display in this body at that time,” Farrell said. “Ms. Crossley, rightly or wrongly, is still perceived by many residents as one of the leading forces of that rancor.”
The VCOD passed at the end of 2023, but without most of the major reforms that differentiated it from the MBTA Communities Act, a 2022 state law that mandated Newton upzone near its public transport stations.
Ward 5 Councilor-at-Large
Rena Getz Escudero, who opposed the reform, replaced Crossley’s seat last fall. When the proposition of Crossley’s appointment came to ZAP last week, Getz Escudero voted against it, alongside councilors John Oliver, David Kalis, and Pamela Wright.
In that meeting, Crossley’s appointment failed in a 4–4 tie vote. The committee then referred the item to the full council for further discussion.
At Monday night’s full city council meeting, Ward 6 Councilor-at-Large Vicki Danberg said she would vote in favor of Crossley’s ap-
pointment. Danberg cited Crossley’s experience as an architect and city councilor, which Danberg said the ZBA needs, since none of its current members are architects.
“The law also clearly states that this appointed position is based on the professional qualifications of the appointee,” Danberg said. “Deb is an outstanding candidate in filling all of the requirements of a ZBA member.”
Another supporter of the appointment, Ward 1 Councilor-at-Large Susan Albright, acknowledged that Crossley’s positions on zoning have been controversial but argued that her experience in architecture matters more.
Albright centered her support
around the fact that the ZBA’s duties have more to do with granting permits and appeals to the rules, rather than writing zoning legislation.
“Yes, there was controversy about zoning—the zoning that was done to meet the MBTA Communities Act, but this is not a zoning project that she’s being asked to do,” Albright said.
Ward 2 Councilor-at-Large Tarik Lucas added that Crossley’s appointment to the ZBA would be inconsequential because she’s only nominated to become an associate member.
This means that Crossley would only be asked to participate in meetings if one of the regular members were unable to, in the event of a con-
flict of interest, absence, or temporary vacancy, Lucas said.
“There’s no guarantee she would even vote on an item,” Lucas said. “I think she has all the qualifications in serving as an associate member.”
But for Wright, supporting Crossley’s appointment would mean opposing voters’ opinion.
“I’ve seen firsthand that she’s not open to differences of opinion,” Wright said. “The residents of Newton did not support her for city council and voted her out. I will not support Deb Crossley.”
The motion to confirm ZAP’s ruling, which was to reject Crossley, failed in a 9–13 vote, meaning the city council approved the appointment. n
School Committee Discusses NCE Funding
By Laney Mcaden Asst. Newton Editor
The Newton School Committee (NSC) discussed funding and possible allowance for Newton Community Education (NCE) following several years of budgetary issues on Monday.
NCE is a self-sustaining arm of Newton Public Schools (NPS) that provides learning opportunities and numerous programs in NPS school facilities for community members of all ages.
Currently, NCE has 3,500 community members enrolled in 650 programs, and it has awarded $65,643 in total financial aid in the 2024 school year and summer, according to NCE executive director Kate Carpenter Bernier.
Carpenter Benrier said NCE
was required to give NPS $125,000 in February 2017 to the NPS deficit, and they were able to provide the funds due to a budget surplus at the time.
Several issues arose, however, during and after COVID that were detrimental to NCE funding, according to Carpenter Bernier.
“In 2019 we had a COVID closure, which was highly problematic for our revenues and our program—we had to shut all the facilities and then regroup,” Carpenter Bernier said. “That’s when our reserves really started going down.”
Carpenter Bernier said NCE did not receive American Rescue Plan Act funds and did not receive any financial relief related to the losses incurred from the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) strike in January.
In 2024, NCE was projected to
lose $192,000—only 40 percent of the prior year’s deficit. With the NTA strike, however, NCE ended up with a loss of $260,000 in revenue resulting in a total deficit of $398,843, said Carpenter Bernier in an email provided to the school committee.
“So we started, essentially cutting staff and cutting and controlling costs in FY24 and so we converted many positions to less expensive positions,” Carpenter Bernier said. “We [will] reduce to one night of adult classes. We [will] still offer the same amount of adult classes. We’re also going to be consolidating our summer program.”
NCE predicts a revenue turnaround by 2027, if it is able to stick by its proposed budgetary plan.
“Our ask moving forward is the allowance for the encumbrance to get through Q1 and Q2, build a reserve,
and return to the stability that NCE has maintained since its founding,” Carpenter Bernier said. “We would love it if we could have 12 months of installment for the pension bill and spread it out to $12,000 a month instead of the $150,000 which would spike our expenses.”
NSC also asked for accounting to show the transfer of funding from the NCE coalition account to NPS to help cover the Q1 and Q2 shortfall, annual or semi-annual reporting to the NSC to maintain communication, and more.
“You service both our students, both our staff, both our community, and so it is my wish and my regret that we didn’t have this as the start of our discussion,” said Ward 4 school committee member Tamika Olszewski.
“And I think of the bigger regret that our discussion started with saying we might need to close NCE.”
Olszewski said she thinks the $125,000 in NCE funds given to NPS in 2017 should be returned.
“The $125,000 that this district was able to access at a time when we needed those funds—it’s clear that those funds should be returned to NCE,” Olszewski said.
Ward 2 school committee member Chris Brezski explained that the $125,000 in NCE funds were processed as a utility charge by NPS, as NCE
is considered one of their revolving accounts.
The committee continued the conversation, shifting to discuss doubts about the validity of the proposed NCE turnaround plan.
“I think this is the best-case scenario that Kate and her team have outlined,” Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said. “But I don’t even think it’s the most likely.”
Fuller pointed out that in the first three months of 2024, NCE was already $337,000 in the hole.
Ward 6 school committee member Paul Levy proposed the motion to approve the NCE encumbrance, complete with a monthly report, business projection, and fee increases to be presented at the NPS budget meeting.
“If we find ourselves several months into the year with a problem, we have an executive director who’s offering a plan to deal with that,” Levy said. “And the downside of being wrong about financial projection is not a cutback this year in our education programs, the downside is a reduction—presumably slight reduction—in the amount of carry-over that would be available for the next fiscal year for NPS.”
The motion was approved unanimously, barring the exception of an absent committee member. n
Newton’s Parks and Recreation Department Announces Improvements for Public Fields
By riLey deL sesto For The Heights
Newton’s Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department announced expanding public fields and infrastructure at a Programs and Services Committee meeting on Wednesday.
“Our projects are very complex,” said Nicole Banks, commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Culture for the City of Newton. “Many people in the community have really been supporting some of the improvement projects that we’ve been working on for our facilities, our parks, and our athletic fields.”
The department has implemented ways to improve Newton fields for both Newton North and Newton South high schools, according to Luis Perez Demorizi, director
of Parks and Open Space for Newton.
“We’ve been working very hard to bring up both high school fields up to 2024 standards—both in safety, technology, and the turf,” Perez Demorizi said. “Also replenishing and re-spraying the track surfacing, but most importantly, lighting these fields to help us expand field usage.”
When the department was working on Newton North’s athletic field, they encountered a drainage issue, according to Perez Demorizi.
“The big issue that we found in Newton North was that there was this perennial puddle, and we identified it during play season,” Perez Demorizi said. “[We] really could not rip up the turf field in order to inspect what was wrong.”
In order to eliminate the draining issue, the department redevel-
oped the school’s drainage system.
“We ended up having to include fixing the drainage system from the school that led to an infiltration trench under the field, which was clogged,” Perez Demorizi said. “The project essentially fixed the drainage problem,”
In order to prevent similar issues in the future, the department had to add a manhole, Perez Demorizi said.
“We also were required to add a manhole with additional connections to the city storm water to avoid clogging in the future and that really set us back, because some of this work occurred within asbestos-containing materials,” Perez Demorizi said.
Banks explained that the department took on similar projects for the fields that middle school teams
in Newton use. Teams who use the fields are content with the final result, according to Banks.
“They commented that the grass fields are in the best condition that they’ve ever seen,” Banks said. “To have these kinds of conditions really is a testament to the work we’ve done to fund extra treatments, aeration, fertilization, seeding—all of the things that our grounds maintenance team has been doing here.”
Ward 3 Councilor Julia Malakie expressed concern over the failure of Newton North field’s seams.
“It was a last minute rush to finish the installation,” Malakie said.
“I mean, they were kind of … smoothing the field the day that the ribbon cutting was happening.”
Perez Demorizi acknowledged the issue but said that it was relatively
insignificant.
“You know that that kind of stuff happens, especially when you’re rushing,” Perez Demorizi said. “But considering the short amount of time that the crew had to install it, a 5-foot section of a seam peeling up is a pretty okay thing, in my opinion. I’ve seen worse failures in projects for rushing.”
Ward 4 Councilor-at-Large Josh Krintzman said he appreciated the department’s recent developments.
“I tihnk many of us on the on the council, were very frustrated by the state of our parks and especially our recreation fields, and put a big emphasis on trying to get more resources … but I think we’re in a much better place now than we were many years ago and so I do applaud the work,” Krintzman said. n
NICOLE VAGRA / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES
Some city councilors expressed concerns about Crossley’s appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES
Newton Community Education has awarded $65,643 in financial aid in the 2024 school year and summer.
M AGAZINE
Felibert Seeks to Aid Immigrants Through Law
B
For The Heights
Rosa Felibert, BC Law ’24, was 12 years old when she learned she was undocumented.
“It just really felt almost like a trap when I did find out,” Felibert said. “From the time I was four until I was 12, I knew I was born somewhere else, but I thought I was just an American like everybody else.”
Felibert immigrated to the United States from Venezuela with her mother when she was four. Their struggles as undocumented immigrants paving new lives in a new country inspired Felibert to pursue a career in service.
Since August, she has been bringing this goal to fruition by working as a staff attorney at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), a nonprofit legal services organization focused on advancing the rights of immigrants in Washington state.
Growing up in Miami, Fla., Felibert’s mother, a former professor in Venezuela, emphasized how essential education was to everyday life. Through education, she argued, their family could propel themselves out of poverty.
“She really believed that education is the greatest equalizer,” Felibert said. “And she always told me, ‘Look, it doesn’t matter what is going on … we have to set that aside and we need to get an education, because that is what’s going to get you out there.’”
Felibert heeded her mother’s advice, and after obtaining U.S. citizenship at 18 years old, she attended the University of Florida. There, she studied anthropology with hopes of becoming a forensic anthropologist. But during her senior year, these aspirations shifted.
She had been working on an undergraduate honors thesis concerning a primate species for a year and a half, and the time had finally come to present her work at a conference. But after giving her presentation, Felibert felt unfulfilled.
“I decided I want to help people,” Felibert said. “I want to make a difference. It sounds cheesy, but make a difference, not really in the world, but in somebody’s life. And doing anthropology wasn’t really getting me there.”
Despite the “terrifying” prospect of changing career trajectories during the spring of her senior year, Felibert set her eyes on a new goal—law.
After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Florida in 2017, she rotated through jobs as a movie theater manager, a live theater manager, and an undergraduate admissions representative for Brandeis University and the University of Florida, all while applying for law school.
During the application process, Felibert drew from her personal experiences to determine what kind of legal pathway she wanted to pursue.
“I didn’t want to be the stereotypical Latina student who goes for immigration law,” Felibert said. “That’s what people expect of me, and I don’t want that. But I didn’t really find anything that I was as passionate about as immigration law. So I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m here.
I’m the cliche.’”
Felibert cited Boston College Law School’s immigration law program as a factor in her decision to study there, referencing “phenomenal” professors such as Daniel Kanstroom, faculty director of the Rappaport Center for Law & Public Policy, and Mary Holper, clinical professor and director of the Immigration Clinic.
“I wanted something that was focused on social justice,” Felibert said. “I didn’t want to go to law school to represent some corporation. I wanted to represent real people. So BC always had that social justice connection.”
Felibert began her studies at BC Law in 2021. Her passion for immigration law and approaching issues with compassion was immediately evident, according to Dee Lyn, close friend of Felibert and BC Law ’24.
Lyn can still remember a moment during an immigration law class their first year when the professor asked students to design their perfect immigration system and Felibert distinguished herself with the answer she gave.
“I would say half the class, maybe three-fourths of the class, wanted [to design] a merit-based system,” Lyn said. “But [Felibert] was very adamant that the focus should be on families, to the point
where even some of us who were more towards the merit-based side were swayed by her arguments on why families should be prioritized.”
Throughout her time at BC Law, Felibert had a slew of internships in the field of immigration law, both in direct representation—handling the cases of non-citizens in court and before immigration agencies— as well as impact litigation, which focuses more on the changing of law and policies.
In a short period of time, Felibert worked at the Immigration Clinic at BC Law, the NWIRP, Kids in Need of Defense, the Innovation Law Lab, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Boston Immigration Court. Felibert said the ACLU internship particularly influenced her post-law school ambitions.
“It felt much like the anthropology route,” Felibert said. “It felt detached from people.”
Felibert realized that she wanted a career that let her work with others. In 2023, she applied to a position at NWIRP, the organization she had interned with after her first year of law school.
Because of the unpredictable needs of nonprofits working for
public interest, Felibert was unsure if she would hear back from the organization.
“But I applied anyway,” Felibert said. “And they were like, ‘We’re willing to make an offer a year in advance.’”
Felibert graduated from BC Law this past spring and began working at NWIRP’s office in Granger, Wash. in August.
Laura Contreras, directing attorney at the organization’s Granger branch, emphasized Felibert’s consistent passion as one of the qualities that makes her stand out.
“She’s just brought the fresh air and has excellent questions, is always willing to jump in and help, and I could really see the passion and commitment she has for our clients and our organization,” Contreras said. “I’m just very, very pleased that we found Rosa as an intern, and that we continued working with her, and that she decided to join us.”
Lyn admitted that working in immigration law can be difficult, but both she and Contreras said they believe Felibert possesses the skills and characteristics integral to success.
“These stories [that she works
with] are difficult,” Lyn said. “And you need somebody that can really kind of work their magic in that way. And she has that magic.”
As a staff attorney at NWIRP, Felibert works to carry out the organization’s mission of supporting the needs of immigrants through impact litigation, direct representation, and community education.
But despite her new responsibilities and power, one of the most meaningful experiences she has had at the organization was working with a Venezuelan family during her internship, she said. They had immigrated to the United States due to the political climate back home—the same reason Felibert and her mother left Venezuela. That interaction, Felibert said, made her feel like she was “in the right place.”
Moving forward, Felibert hopes to continue supporting immigrants through her work in the legal field and will continue to draw from her own experiences as a source of strength and motivation.
“When I was growing up, had I had a resource like the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, I feel like maybe things would have been a little different,” Felibert said. n
"Mac" It Your Own: Spicing Up Your Dining Plan
B y A sh A W oerner
For The Heights
As we wrap up our first semester on the Heights, freshmen are not only finding their place at Boston College but also settling into their mealtime routines at Mac and Stu.
the soup section.
Sauce It Yourself
I’ve gathered tips from fellow students to enhance your dining hall experience and make those freshman-year meals a little more enjoyable.
Spicy Mayo: A Staple
It’s no secret that dining options at BC aren’t always the most diverse, flavorful, or budget-friendly, but our student body has found clever ways to make the best of what’s available.
One of the most popular trends of the past few years is putting spicy mayo on everything: chicken, rice, vegetables, and more. To make your own, fill a sauce cup halfway with sriracha and add one and a half packets of mayo.
A select, elite crowd brings their own spices and sauces to the dining hall. This group takes flavor into their own hands, and I respect it.
Before arriving at the dining hall, be sure to check the BC Dining website to find the soup selections.
I recommend getting rice (specifically from the rice cooker), two fried eggs, some sausage, and spicy mayo to complete a well-rounded and delicious breakfast.
Whether it’s mango habanero hot sauce from bartaco, buffalo sauce, or specialty Chick-fil-A or Taco Bell sauces, many students decide that purchasing their own sauce is the best addition to a Mac dinner.
If you feel like bringing your own spices as well, I recommend a Cajun spice mix or red pepper flakes.
Sweeten Your Morning Early mornings at Mac call for coffee, but as most know, dining hall coffee is mediocre at best.
For anyone craving a sweeter iced coffee but running low on dining dollars, I have a recipe.
Start by grabbing a cup and adding a small layer of honey to the bottom. Pour a small amount of hot coffee and stir it to melt the honey. Then, pour in your desired milk or half and half. Finally, fill the mixture with iced coffee and enjoy!
Don’t Sleep on Soups
When at Mac, never overlook
Some of my favorites include the Hungarian mushroom and beef and barley soups—if either is on the menu, make sure to stop by.
Although it may sound crazy, the kale and sausage soup is an ideal remedy when you’re sick.
A nice bowl of soup paired with a bagel, muffin, or crackers can make a filling and cheap meal.
As you explore the ins and outs of Mac, remember that BC Dining is what you make of it.
With a little creativity and the right mix of spices, sauces, and insider tips, even the simplest dish can feel like a special treat.
By bringing a personal touch to each meal—whether it's sriracha mayo on your breakfast or a customized coffee blend—you bring a slice of home to your college routine.
So, experiment with flavors and keep trading tips with your friends. Who knows, you might just discover your new favorite dining hall hack. n
Felibert's experience as an immigrant inspired her to help others living through similar situations.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANE LEVINE
Glow Big or Glow Home: Tanning Tips for Winter
By Brady WelBurn Heights Staff
Whether you’re experiencing your first Boston College winter or have been through more than your fair share, the effects of this cold, lifeless season can already be felt here in Chestnut Hill. Students are bundled up, trees are bare, and the Quad seems desolate even during peak academic hours.
More than these immediate winter effects, you may start to feel a little tired, discouraged, or down on yourself. Of course, there are numerous ways to combat this lingering feeling: take a walk, grab some coffee with friends, or—my personal favorite—take care of your skin! And one of the best ways to do so is by bringing a little bit of summer into the winter and catching a tan. Here are the best ways to get a glow during an otherwise bleak Massachusetts winter.
What Not To GLOW With … Self-Tanning Oils
Overpopulated and underbought, tanning oils line up like soldiers awaiting a chance to show off their effectiveness in stores like CVS and Walgreens. Despite being effective and glow-catching, it’s understandable why they’re not the favorite pick—tanning oils lower a skin’s refractive index, a measure of how much UV light enters the skin, damaging the skin of whoever is using the product. Obviously, knowing this, I wouldn’t recommend that those looking for a glow would use tanning oils, even if they do tend to “work.” Let’s explore some better options … shall we?
Self-Tanning Creams and Moisturizers
An alternative to sun-exposed tans, self-tanning moisturizers have two purposes: softening the skin of its user and, of course, staining the skin a slightly darker hue than
the previous tone. Because they don’t need sunlight to work, these products are much healthier than oils for those seeking a noticeable glow. The most popular brands for these products are Jergens “Natural Glow” moisturizer and Nivea “Sunkissed Radiance.”
Spray Tans
The quintessential fake tan, spray tans are quick, easy, and have long-lasting results. Typically, they only take around 10 to 15 minutes and are relatively cost-effective. Countless salons and spas offer this service, and prices range anywhere from $30 to $100. Some of these stores, like Boston’s Pure Glow, even offer student discounts or group tanning sessions at lower rates.
Tanning Beds (A NO From Me)
An extremely effective method, tanning beds are a quick and peaceful solution (in the moment) for those seeking a tan. Besides
that, they’re extremely unhealthy and damaging to skin cells, as they radiate a high amount of UV light into the skin. This results in longterm side effects like skin damage (mainly wrinkles) and, in extreme cases, skin cancer. A tan is not worth that much, so please stay healthy and avoid using a tanning bed when possible.
Get Outside
Although winter is long, cold, and has a very low UV index, there’s still so much fun to do inside and out in Massachusetts. On the off-chance that we do get a sunny day, take advantage of the sunlight and soak it up while you can. Just remember that, even in these cold winter months, you can still stay glowing! n
Feldman Seeks to Uplift Women in Sierra Leone
“It is hard for women in Sierra Leone to be economically empowered by themselves,” Rains said. “Mostly, women depend on men, which can be problematic. You don’t have a voice if you just depend on a man for everything, which has been like a cultural practice that women have been put through for many many years.”
SGUW empowers Sierra Leonean women by teaching sustainable, collective farming practices. Initially focused on rice farming, the organization has since expanded to include pineapple, corn, cassava, okra, and groundnuts.
“Seventy-five percent of the people of Sierra Leone work and are supported by agriculture, and that includes the majority of women in the country,” Feldman said. “We felt it important to work with those women and meet them where they are.”
Since its founding in 2020, SGUW’s rice farming program has reached over 180 women in agricultural fields surrounding Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital.
“We have stories of women telling us, ‘Since we’ve started this farming, now I can pay my child’s school fees, now I’m able to do something for myself,’” Rains said.
SGUW’s impact is not limited to the women they work with directly. In fact, Rains noted that encouraging sustainable farming has resulted in a positive cascading effect on surrounding communities.
“The amazing thing about this is that these women go and empower other women in nearby villages,” Rains said. “If they have, for example, too many seeds, they will go to the next village and give the women the seeds so that they too can benefit from what we are doing.”
Feldman said she is confident that by encouraging these women to take the first step toward economic empowerment, they will continue to thrive independently going forward.
“The community itself can continue beyond just the inputs of the nonprofit, they will be able to continue this themselves,” Feldman said. “We’ve seen such great results, in particular with agriculture.”
The success of this agricultural initiative has not only allowed women to support their families financially and nutritionally but has also contributed to SGUW’s main objective of keeping girls in school.
“This has allowed these rural families that don’t have access to very much cash keep their girls in school longer,” Feldman said. “It’s given them enough money to either hire somebody to help them on the farm, or enough money so that they can pay the school fees so that they can go to school.”
Attending school in Sierra Leone is, technically, free. In many cases, however, there are extra fees that prevent children from going. Uniforms and shoes are required for children to attend school—items that pose a financial burden for many families in Sierra Leone, which is considered one of the poorest countries in the world.
By allowing women to become more financially independent through sustainable agriculture, SGUW also allows them to send their children to school or go to school themselves. This initial step paves the way for the second part of SGUW’s dual approach, focused on initiatives within the schools themselves.
Koroma, the director of opera-
tions for SGUW’s Freetown office, works with schools in the Freetown area to inform girls about reproductive health, teaching about everything from HIV and AIDS to hygiene to early marriage prevention.
“We empower them, give them skills, and give them knowledge,” Koroma said. “We create a safe space, thereby, at the end of the day, they will learn skills and empower themselves and create revenue on their own.”
Pregnancy prevention is also a frequently discussed topic within the education program, as teen pregnancy rates in Sierra Leone are as high as 28 percent.
But since its founding, there have been zero reported teen pregnancy cases in SGUW partner schools, Feldman said.
“Our great pride is that we’ve never had a pregnant girl both come out of our program,” Feldman said. “We’re trying to prevent girls from getting married and girls from having babies until they’re
old enough to be women and have started their life.”
Members of SGUW’s team said the program not only educates its participants but builds a community as well.
“We have a conducive environment where we talk, we talk like peers, we encourage them to talk about things that are happening in their homes,” Koroma said. “Some are being abused, but they are afraid to speak out. We create a safe space at SGUW, where these girls are encouraged to speak out.”
Much like its program to financially empower women, SGUW’s educational approach is about providing girls with the “first step” toward self-sufficiency, Feldman said.
“The girls learn a great deal, and they learn about community building and about supporting each other and respect and communication and critical thinking,” Feldman said. “We don’t tell them what to think, we tell them how to think. And that is the most important thing in education.”
Feldman also said that SGUW’s classes are not just an educational experience. These classes allow the girls to form lifelong bonds with one another and their mentors.
“There are some girls who were in our first classes five years ago who are still hanging around and helping us at the office,” Feldman said.
Over 200 girls have completed the classes so far, a number that Feldman hopes will continue to grow in the future.
“We’re incredibly popular in our schools,” Feldman said. “Every girl wants to be part of it. We practically have to pull names out of hats, so we’d love to expand it.”
According to Koroma, running a nonprofit in Africa can be difficult. At first, the principals of many schools were uncertain
whether SGUW’s program would succeed, given the abundance of NGOs in Africa targeting similar issues.
“One of the reasons that development programs fail often, and the failure rate is staggeringly high, is that they come in with an idea, they bring the program with them someplace, and that tends to be a risky proposition,” Feldman said.
SGUW’s founders believe their success stems from their unique approach to working collaboratively within the communities it serves.
Before it begins serving a community, it releases questionnaires and surveys, engaging in informal conversations with people who live there. The team members speak to tribal leaders, religious leaders, teachers, parents, and anyone willing to speak with them about community problems.
“It is much less risky to go to a community and work with them and talk with them about what they see as potential solutions to problems in their community,” Feldman said. “We’re constantly augmenting, changing, adapting to conditions, to new people, to things that happen.
This method of communication has proven successful. Currently, 185 families are involved in SGUW’s rice farming project, 500 students have access to SGUW hygiene stations, and 200 students have been educated through health classes.
In the future, SGUW hopes to expand its efforts to other parts of Sierra Leone to help more girls and women in need.
“The goal is just for us to have funding to help more women and girls, more women in education and girls in agriculture,” Rains said. “We’re hopeful. We’re very positive, and it will happen one day. We believe in that.” n
GRAPHIC BY JASHODHARA JINDAL / FOR THE HEIGHTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA FELDMAN
Strong Girls, United Women works exclusively in Sierra Leone to combat poverty and personal safety issues.
Feldman, from A1
Strong Girls, United Women empowers Sierra Leonean women by teaching sustainable, collective farming practices.
PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA FELDMAN
OPINIONS
“Stuffing is overrated.”
Connor Kilgallon Opinions Editor
“The mods should be destroyed and turned into perms (permanent housing in the style of the mods).” Parker Leaf Graphics Editor
Luke Evans Sports Editor
“Dark turkey meat is better than white turkey meat.”
Maddie Mulligan Copy Editor
“Canned cranberry sauce is better than homemade.”
Genevieve Morrison
Associate Newton Editor
“Pecan pie is the best Thanksgiving desert.”
Jack Beckman Assistant News Editor
“Thanksgiving sides are better than the turkey.”
Erin Flaherty Editor-in-Chief
“Hoop Tea is the best beverage sold at Alumni Stadium.”
Makayla Hickey
Associate Opinions Editor
“The holiday season is the best time of the year.”
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
Why Headphones Might Be Hurting Us
It’s time I face the music. I know what you’re thinking, “But Pattyboy, you’re the most spectacular, the most sharp, and the most humble kid I’ve ever met. What could you have possibly done?”
The truth of the matter lies in my headphone usage. Sometimes I intentionally put in my AirPods as I walk around campus so I don’t have to talk to anyone.
This all changed, however, a couple of weeks ago when my AirPods broke. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the situation at first.
“ Music is such a convenient escape for me ,” I thought. “ Yes, I don’t have to talk to people with my headphones in, but it also calms me down during hectic times. What do I do now? ”
Well, now I realize how fortunate I was that my AirPods broke.
The first thing I noticed without my headphones was how dependent I am on the distraction of music.
I live in a quaint and homey Mod, and even something as simple as walking to the Walsh laundry room—a one-anda-half minute journey, at most—always required my AirPods. I grew uncomfortable doing so without them.
The walk was shorter than the length of a song, yet I loved the reassurance that I would not have to talk to anyone I ran into.
A few days later, I felt a sense of peace. I am someone who is constantly thinking. My mind races and repeatedly jumps around from one thing to the next. Because of this, I occasionally find myself grimly focused on what I cannot control.
I’ve always told myself that music is a way of controlling this negativity, yet in reality, it does exactly the opposite. Hearing everyday ambient noises—the wind, the crumpling leaves, and all that other jazz—made me realize how quiet my mind truly is when my brain isn’t between two pulsing earpieces.
I also noticed how effortlessly friendly everyone is—including myself. With my headphones in while walking around campus, I would always pull the classic silent wave when saying “hi.” The maneuver is undeniably easy, and it spares you from conversations you might not be in the mood for.
Without the noise-canceling barrier, however, the “hello”s seem to carry a little more weight. Half the time I found that the “hello”s would lead to obligatory conversations with other headphone-less people on campus.
“Hey, Pat, that’s a nice flannel.” “Pat, I’m excited to see you later tonight at that club meeting.” I even found myself going up to the people tabling in the quad! “Hey, what’s all this for?”
There’s nothing wrong with being introverted. The older I get, the more I realize how tired people can make me, and I find myself needing a meal or two alone every week.
To be clear, there is also nothing wrong with wanting to listen to music or a podcast, especially on a nice stroll around campus.
Yet keeping our headphones in becomes an issue when the practice makes us see each other as nuisances rather
than fellow human beings. I know there’s probably already a lot of research on the “dangers” of headphones, social media, AI, and most modern technology.
But when I’m reading those studies, all I’m thinking is that the article’s prehistoric author is envious because he or she needs hearing aids to listen to music. I see that there’s so much good in all these new developments that often seem overlooked by older generations.
Only after my headphones broke did I start to realize all that technology took away. I feel so strongly because it quickly changed my behavior for the better. Being AirPod-less in an elevator helped me understand this change. I realized that I was more willing to hold my arm through the door for the person behind me straggling along.
I was more apt to ask “What floor?” as someone would walk in behind me on the elevator. I became a more considerate, conscious, and intentional member of the community.
These don’t seem like major changes, I know. But looking back at how I would interact with other people under the security of headphones, it is slightly alarming.
Holding the door for someone who is clearly trying to get somewhere doesn’t take much effort, and neither does asking for their floor. Devices like AirPods let us fade into our own world. We often forget that being kind doesn’t cost a damn thing. It’s what has kept humanity afloat for thousands of years.
That’s why I have to start reminding myself it takes two to tango. Sure, the other person, but, more importantly, me.
Audiobooking Through the Day
For as long as I’ve known how to, I’ve loved reading.
In middle school, I always joined my school’s annual competition to see who could read the most books over the summer.
The last week of school, I would roam the Barnes and Nobles in my neighborhood, accumulating a pile of books taller than I was and paying for them with the B&N gift cards I received every Christmas from my relatives.
In September, after a long summer of reading, I was always crowned one of the winners.
As I got older, my love of reading remained intact, but all I had time for were books required for school.
Between sports and academics, I no longer had time to sit down and read a book without feeling guilty about the other things I should’ve been doing instead.
I’m not sure exactly when I started listening to audiobooks, but I know I haven’t stopped in the last six years.
As my days grew busier, a lot of unavoidable blank time spouted. Walking to school, sitting on the bus to athletic
events, taking a shower, etc—times when I couldn’t be looking down at a book and reading one, but I could definitely be listening to one.
Somewhere along the way, I was introduced to the app Libby, which allows you to borrow books and audiobooks from your local library for free with your library card. Upon this discovery, I suddenly had access to an entire world of stories.
Tangentially, if you don’t already have your local library card, I recommend getting one. It’s easy, free, and totally worth the collection you gain from it.
At Boston College, we all have busy schedules. Finding time to read for pleasure is difficult, which is why audiobooks are the perfect way to get your fix of fiction without the time commitment or accompanying guilt.
It also makes those dull moments in the day more enjoyable. Instead of walking to class in silence, I’m being told a story that allows me to take my mind off school for a little.
I look forward to the mundane moments of my day because I know I can slip on my headphones and relax into another universe for the time it takes to get from point A to B.
I’m not unique in my taste in books, sorting the search catalog with the “most popular” filter.
I wish I could say I was reading nonfiction and biographies, but in reality, I’m listening to beach reads and mysteries, often speeding them up to 1.25x or 1.5x speed because I’m impatient and desperately want the narrator to get to the point.
I’ve also found myself revisiting
old classics when I just want to listen to something I don’t have to focus too intensely on.
I’ve recently relistened to the Percy Jackson series , convincing myself it’s only to supplement the study of Ancient Greek art I’m currently doing in my art history class.
At the gym, I like to listen to mysteries because they are hard to pause, and the often painful time passes quickly when I’m focused so deeply on the story. My younger sister, who rows competitively on her high school crew team, is horrified that I listen to anything other than rap on the ergometer. My entire dormitory floor is probably even invested in my current read, as it plays out loud in the showers. I’ll have to let them know who the killer was after I finish.
I still love reading physical books. I agree with book lovers that there is nothing better than flipping a page or being able to see your progress through the movement of your bookmark toward the bottom of the back cover.
Whenever I can, I do that. In the meantime, though, I’m content with a narrator in my ear, keeping me entertained and distracted during the quiet moments of my day.
Next time you find yourself bored during your walk to class or blasè brushing your teeth, try putting on an audiobook. You—as well as the others standing at the sinks, if you live in a dorm like me— will surely appreciate it.
Pat Connell
GRAPHICS BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Pat Connell is a columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at patrick.connell@bc.edu.
Jaya Gautam
Jaya Gautam is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at jaya.gautam@bc.edu.
OPINIONS
The Superfan Myth
After Boston College football pulled out an exciting, well-fought victory against Syracuse, about a quarter of the BC student section finally trickled out of their place in Alumni Stadium. Where were the rest? Already gone, and had been gone for a while.
Those empty stands were antithetical to the turnout at the previous night’s hockey game against Maine, featuring a line wrapping around the back of Conte Forum and a student section that was full and rowdy until the very end of the game.
When things aren’t going well, BC’s Superfans are about as flaky and uncommitted as your situationship. But things did go well against Syracuse. Victory was in our grasp, and the closeness of the game in the last quarter made for exciting tension. So why did our student section break down so much before the game ended?
Maybe it’s just late-season boredom or the knowledge that there is no path
to a championship game greater than a bowl, or—as recognized by Thomas Castellanos—we are BC students and have classes to go to and homework to do.
Yet underlying every game-day weekend, there seems to be a deep sense of frustration and pessimism that appears both before and after, regardless of whether we win or lose. Our student section could use a little more hope, joy, and fidelity.
A fanbase with a defeatist mindset creates a self-fulfilling prophecy: How do we build up a better, stronger football program if the school that it represents doesn’t even believe in it?
On the field, with a roaring, passionate crowd behind them, the team can not only play with confidence but also with a purpose: to play for BC and what it stands for and deserves to be, for the community here that loves them and that they love back.
BC is one of those unique schools where the football team is not sequestered away from the general student body, but very much a part of it. The players share dorms and dining halls with regular students.
You might sit next to a player in a lecture or at mass or be partners in a group project. This makes our connection to the team all the more personal. Why not support those friends and classmates who put their hearts and bodies on the line every game day for us and for our shared BC identity?
And, as current students, there’s nothing like being right in the excitement and rowdiness of our student section during a dramatic game.
There are only so many home games per year, and the season flies by quickly. Why not make the most of each one by soaking up every minute of cheering in Alumni Stadium?
We can’t let the glorious mythos of the BC Superfan dissolve into a lukewarm reality. This requires work, this requires faith, and this requires us to buy into something bigger than just the outcome of a game or even a season.
Every game, we have the opportunity to live out the Superfan tradition, and we should treat it as an honor and as our responsibility to dictate the culture of our student section. Doing so begins and ends with staying and seeing our team through to the end.
So cheer your heart out. Allow yourself to be an excited BC Superfan who sticks it out for the team that you love through thick and thin, someone who cheers for the Eagles from the heart no matter the outcome.
Everyone wants to see BC sports lighting the NCAA on fire.
So play your part and contribute to the spark that will light this fire and send our team on an inextinguishable path toward national greatness.
Keeping an Open Mind
I have always been a planner. My notes app is filled with to-do lists, reminders, and anecdotes—a tangible, terrifyingly disorganized snapshot of the inside of my brain.
I came to college with a set plan—a political science major on a pre-medical track, setting myself up to go to medical school. In my essays and interviews, I spoke confidently about my plans, excited to take the next step toward my dream career.
Everyone around me commended my focus and determination yet reminded me to keep an open mind. “You never know what you might discover,” they told me. But I brushed it off, confident I had done my due diligence in mapping out the perfect career path for myself.
I like to make well-informed decisions, sometimes to an excessive degree. Before buying a new pair of jeans, I browse every page of the website, ensuring I have exhausted every option before I make my final purchase.
When picking a restaurant or activity in a new city, I scour every TikTok and Yelp review, creating an extensive list of “contenders” and slowly narrowing them down.
I’m unsure what I fear might happen if I make the wrong choice, as most of my overly thorough decisions are rather inconsequential.
I tell myself I just want to make the best choices, have the best time, or spend my money wisely. Realistically, it’s probably a fear of not having total control.
Behind the scenes, my focused and specific career-path decisions were made with a similar level of thoroughness, scrolling through every major offering and pondering what career each might lead to. I slowly narrowed my list to two options, politics and medicine, and was pleased when I found a way to pursue both.
I checked and double-checked my plans and became content with my decision. Unsurprisingly, I made an unnecessarily organized and aesthetically pleasing four-year course plan, laying out all my major, pre-med, and core requirements, with a few spaces to spare for fun classes (ha, if those even exist). By the time sophomore year rolled around, I had one open space in my fall course schedule. In typical fashion, I scrolled through literally every single course offered at Boston College, carefully cultivating a list of 10 or so options, seeking out the syllabi, reading the course reviews, and narrowing it down until I was left with one option: introduction to journalism.
I have always loved watching the news, and I also like to write, so I thought it would be fun. Plus, a once-aweek seminar is always a nice perk.
After the first day of class, I knew I had made the right choice. I walked out of Stokes and immediately started texting my parents and friends all the cool new insider facts I had learned from my professor.
From then on, I anxiously awaited every class and grew more and more eager to dive deeper into the field. I had never been so excited to learn before. Everyone around picked up on my excitement,
The Holidays Are Here
The temperatures are cooling down, the Gasson Quad Christmas tree has assumed position, and holiday classics can be heard playing in Newbury Street stores. The holidays are finally here! In just a few short days, we’ll be enjoying a feast of mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie with our families—a much-deserved break from the endless hustle and bustle of the fall semester. Finals might be fast approaching, but the holiday season is right around the corner!
Winning Weekend
After an incredible win against UNC in one of its final home games, Boston College football is closing out the regular season strong. Even though the football season and early morning tailgates are coming to an end, the hockey season is just getting started. Despite a loss in their most recent game at Northeastern, the Eagles were cheered to victory on Friday night by a sea of enthusiastic fans decked out in maroon, proving the power of a packed student section. The hockey team is certainly looking for a comeback after last year’s near-victory in the Frozen Four, so get ready to pack Conte for an exciting season next semester!
encouraging me to lean into this new interest.
But one thing stood in the way: my plans. I had already worked so hard to integrate political science with my premed and core curriculum, how was I supposed to add journalism too?
But, as I learned, when you’re passionate about something, you make it work.
I applied and was accepted to the journalism minor. I began to edit my four-year course plan that I thought was set in stone, trying to make room for my new minor requirements. With a few summer courses and a bit of overloading, I made it work.
People definitely thought I was crazy, but I knew I couldn’t ignore this passion. And I was right.
My journalism courses at BC have all been my favorite classes, and I still talk about them with the same enthusiasm I did on that very first day.
Now, as my career looms on the horizon, I struggle again with having a lack of a plan. Trying to integrate coursework in medicine, politics, and journalism is hard.
Trying to consolidate them into a cohesive career is harder. My passions for each are different, yet equal, and I would feel incomplete without one. As I work to rectify these interests and reflect on my journey at BC, I take this as a lesson for life, too.
As much as you may want to have every future decision planned out, there will always be unpredictable factors that get in the way.
While I still have trust in my planning instincts, I have learned not to dismiss the reminders to keep an open mind. Both can be done at the same time.
Papers and Presentations
Galore
The last week of classes is almost here, and students across campus are nervously trying to align holiday travel plans with their scattered exam schedules. Studying for exams isn’t anyone’s favorite way to kick off December, but it certainly beats the anxiety-inducing process of writing group papers and attempting to practice presentations with impossible-to-trackdown classmates. Group projects are, unfortunately, an inevitable part of finals season. Take a deep breath and try to keep your cool as you navigate everdifficult group dynamics!
So Long, 106 2024 is quickly coming to a close, and so too is the tenure of the 106th board of The Heights . As I prepare to turn Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down authorship over to our new opinions editors, I can’t help but reflect on all that the opinions section has accomplished this year. Criticisms of the Hillside kiosks, scorching hot takes, and plenty of thumbs ups have defined the amazing year that was 2024. As bittersweet as the end of this chapter might be, the 107th board is packed with incredibly talented editors, and we cannot wait to see how they take the newspaper to new heights!
Skyler Safriet
GRAPHICS BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Skyler Safriet is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at skyler.safriet@bc.edu.
Jenny HotcHkiSS
Jenny Hotchkiss is a columnist for The Heights She can be reached at jenny.hotchkiss@bc.edu.
What ‘The Heights’ Is Thankful For
Erin Flaherty
I’m thankful for every bit of Mac 113— the navy-blue couches we inherited from Will’s childhood home, the bulky printer that malfunctions more often than not, and the string lights that Laboy hung up during our sophomore year. More importantly, I’m thankful for the office-goers I’ve spent hundreds of hours editing, arguing, and laughing with over the past three years.
Conor Richards
This year, I am thankful for my faith, good health, Mom, Dad, Grace, Finn, Sean, my roommates, Mac 113, Cormac McCarthy, baseball, the “Hills of Connemara,” Italian beef, Portillo’s cake shakes, the elevator at St. Francis House, my Appa group, my Uganda crew, paved roads, clean water, Greg Brown, Guinness 0.0, The Heights Board (particularly my fellow seniors), brisk morning air, the Midwest, Monet, Hinsdale, fog, and Teddy, the best dog in the world.
friends, and family. I am thankful for my health and everyone in the past year who has made me smile. I am also randomly grateful for a Dutch gentleman, living in the Italian Alps, who lets me vicariously experience one of the most inspiring lifestyles I have ever seen … and Cityside of course.
Eliza Hernandez
I’m thankful for my family, health, and education. I’m thankful for my time on The Heights and the amazing friends I’ve made over the years in Mac 113.
Kate Kissel
I am thankful for all my favorite people: my happy family (especially my mom), my loving friends from BC my hometown, and my Heights second family. I’m also thankful for the Res, BC dining Acai bowls, copy couch Sundays, Christmas piano music, peppermint stick ice cream, and my new X account.
Chris Ticas
Will Martino
I am thankful for a cozy apartment, incredible roommates, and caring friends. As I say goodbye to Board 106, I am unexplainably thankful for The Heights, the once-ina-lifetime friendships it’s given me, and the magic I’ve watched these people create in Mac 113. More than anything, I am thankful for my loving parents and family—I owe it all to them.
Sourabh Gokarn
I’m thankful for my parents, my twin brother, my friends (whether from Haverhill, Chestnut Hill, or Venice), Dunks’ iced coffee, college sports, my AirPods, bright fall mornings, and every single experience and memory this school and newspaper have given me over past four years.
Paige Stein
I am thankful for the hours I’ve spent on the fourth floor of Devlin creating art, the conversations I’ve had at the tables of Cityside, and the countless walks I’ve taken around the reservoir. But as a graduating senior, I am most thankful for the people I’ve met along the way who have made my time here so special.
Karyl Clifford
I am thankful for every moment that I have on Boston College’s campus—from the hours spent in Bapst Library to the runs around the Reservoir to sitting in my common room. I am also incredibly grateful to my family and friends who have turned into family.
Lucy Freeman
I’m thankful for my friends and family, both near and far. I’m grateful for my health, the chance to pursue all of my passions here at BC, and my dog Finbar. I’m also thankful for my home away from home in Mac 113, which houses the hilarious and talented Heights family.
Luke Evans
Alongside my family, my dog (Fenway), and my friends, I am thankful for the last two years of Sundays spent in Mac 113. Despite the countless hours spent in The Heights’ office, I could not be more thankful for the memories and relationships that I have made.
Spencer Steppe
I am thankful for my wonderful friend and roommate, Parker Leaf. Our friendship has blossomed this year, and I couldn’t ask for a better buddy in this life.
I am thankful for my family and friends for being there. I’m thankful for The Heights, my photo family, and my editors and staff who share a love for photography. I’m grateful for those who help inspire my creativity and who love to create with me.
Owen Bienen
I’m thankful for chicken parm pressers from Eagles Nest—the lukewarm wrap, the flavorful Pomodoro sauce, and that stringy mozzarella cheese. But it’s more than that. I’m grateful for kind people like Heraldo at checkout and for the chance to enjoy my delicacy in Mac 113, surrounded by the love and laughter of The Heights board. Truly, I’m thankful for the chicken parm presser.
Parker Leaf
I am thankful for my amazing friend, and the best roommate ever, Spencer Steppe. I am so lucky to have been on The Heights with this amazing girl. I’m also thankful that she will be only a short train ride away in France next semester so that we can explore every museum in the spring.
best way to end my week. Natalie Arndt
This year I am thankful for an amazing four years at Boston College that has brought me the most amazing community. I am also thankful for my dog, Friday. Finally, I am thankful for my loving family’s support, which I would be lost without.
Genevieve Morrison
I love shaken espresso, living with my friends, and attending college close enough to get dim sum with my father every third Saturday. Most of all, I’m endlessly thankful for The Heights for the focus and optimism it’s given me, as well as the connections I’ve found through hours holed up in Mac 113.
Jack Weynand
I’m thankful for the many beginnings and ends that are approaching. My time on The Heights is coming to a close, as well as my year at BC, so I’m thankful for all the friends and family from along the way. I’m also thankful for my upcoming semester in Liverpool and for the new experiences to come in 2025.
Makayla Hickey
I’m so thankful for my family and friends who inspire me each and every day. I’m also thankful for fall in New England, hockey games at BC, and my upcoming semester in London. And, as my time on the 106th Board comes to a close, I’m forever grateful for all of the incredible people that The Heights has brought into my life.
day productions.
Laney McAden
I am thankful to be surrounded here at Boston College by a group of peers that are excited about learning and making a difference. I am grateful for my family, for always supporting me and teaching me how to respect others. I am thankful for my friends, who make me better by giving me the opportunity to know them.
Leah Stitzel
I’m grateful for comfy sweaters in the cold Heights office, bagels from the Rat, and a year of really great music. I’m also thankful for my family, both back in N.C. and in my lovely house on Crosby Rd. And, of course, I’m thankful for my Heights family tucked at the arts desk for keeping me sane.
Sarah Fleming
I am so grateful for my friends and family who have always supported me. I’m also so grateful to The Heights for allowing me to do what I love and for all the amazing editors and staffers who make this possible.
Aidan Gravina
I am thankful, first and foremost, for my family and my girlfriend, who are my most important pillars of support. I am also thankful to be here at Boston College, where I not only receive a world-class education but also have the opportunity to make lifelong friends and memories through The Heights
Addie Kinnaly
Callie Oxford
Elizabeth Dodman
I am so grateful for my family and friends (and my dogs, Bailey and Hana) for their love, support, and their ability to bring a smile to my face every day. Additionally, I am especially grateful for the meaningful friendships I have made on The Heights and for everything I have learned as a part of this organization.
Alan Shipman
I am also thankful for the spicy tuna crispy rice we made together, as a team, and our clean room that smells good.
Ella Song
I’m thankful for food cooked in kitchens, steaming cups of coffee, the sunset through my living room window, and late-night conversations. Most importantly, I’m grateful for my friends and family—especially my sister, who makes BC’s campus feel a little more like home.
Sofia Torres
I am thankful for all of the things I’ve learned during my time in college and for my friends, parents, siblings, and teachers, whom I continue to learn from. I am grateful for Spotify playlists, Arts section breakfasts, the sun in mid-November, the food in Lima I will get to eat soon, and the new opportunities I discover every day.
Connor Kilgallon
I am thankful for all of my roommates,
I am thankful for the opportunities that I have been given through Boston College. I am also thankful for all of the friendships that I have been able to make and grow and develop. Lastly, I am grateful for my family and that I have a place to call home.
Lily Emerson
This year I am thankful for my education, the people of BC, the warm fall, my family back home, my comfy bed, my roommates, and the couch we rot on. I’m thankful for Tru Fru strawberries, buttered pasta, my walk to class, and The Heights for welcoming me!
Ava Sjursen
I am thankful for my friends at Boston College, specifically the ones that I have made here at The Heights. I am also very thankful for the late and early hours that Will Martino puts in to get the newsletter done every day.
Angelina Li
I am thankful for my parents and my brother for their endless support, the friends that I get to share my college experience with (shoutout my roommate), Res walks, cold brew, and cozy sweatshirts. And, of course, I’m thankful for the talented people I’ve met through The Heights, and the crazy but welcoming office we dwell in.
Emily Roberge
I am thankful for my family, BC sports, 504 Walsh, the BC education, and the chicken parm pressers. Every semester at BC is better than the one before. And, of course, I am thankful for The Heights. Every Sunday in Mac 113 on the copy couch never ceases to entertain me and serves as the
I am incredibly thankful for the unwavering love and support of my family and friends. Their love and encouragement have been a constant source of positivity for me this year. I am also grateful for the opportunities that I have had to grow, learn, and make meaningful connections. Emily Ahern I am thankful for my roommates who have been absolutely amazing to live with. I am thankful for all of our movie nights, game nights, roomie dinners and just the overall cohesive vibe! Shoutout to my direct for being so cool and making sure I go to bed at a reasonable hour!
Kathy Lu
I’m thankful for family, friends, roommates, Mac morning eggs, Maddie Mulligan lattes, dining hall carrot cake, McMullen museum coworkers, coffee crisps, Canadian Thanksgiving being in October instead of so awfully close to Christmas … and of course, all things and everything Heights Jack Beckman
I am endlessly thankful for my supportive friends and family—including my two dogs, Bella and Porto—who are always by my side. I’m especially grateful for my fellow Heights editors, who inspire me daily and whom I am so lucky to call my friends. I also cherish long runs, Strava, X (formerly Twitter), Sundays at production, and Mac buffalo chicken wraps.
Annika Engelbrecht
I’m thankful for Verveine Cafe and Capo’s gluten-free Tuesdays. I’m grateful for my seven amazing roommates who make 601 a home, and for my family down the street and around the world for their love and endless support. I’m especially thankful for the crazy wonderful family inside the walls of Mac 113— especially the News girls.
Maria Stefanoudakis
I’m grateful for my best friends in the world (my mom and dad), as well as Nikola Jokic, sunshine on cold days, and all the amazing people I’m lucky enough to call my friends. I’m also so grateful for my first year with The Heights and to Luke for helping me find Conte’s press room over Facetime (twice)!
This year, I’m most thankful for Walsh. I love being able to live with my closest friends, and though I was scared of living with 7 other girls at first, it’s one of the best things to happen to me at BC. Also, thank God for Mac 113.
Maddie Mulligan
I’m thankful for breakfast potatoes, Res runs, sweater weather, and, of course, my endlessly loving friends and family who have always been there for me. I’ll forever be grateful for the late nights in Mac 113 and the community of talented and hilarious people I’ve been lucky enough to spend my Sundays with.
Carina Murphy
I am thankful for my family and friends who add color to my life, the colder weather, music by The Sundays, my dog Dakota, and long-distance phone calls! I’m also thankful for all the great people I’ve met since coming to BC, including all of those on The Heights! Matt Najemy
I’m thankful to be surrounded by supportive friends and family. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to receive an education at BC, where I have the ability to learn from those around me. As I get closer to graduation, I’m thankful for the people that I’ve met at BC that have made my time here memorable.
Ben Haddad
I am grateful for my roommates. As hard as it may be to fall asleep with the late-night noises coming from the nocturnal bunch, or as frustrating as it is to try and cook in a messy kitchen, my best friends are what make our house a home, and I could not be more thankful to live with them.
Sarah Vergura
As always, I’m thankful for my wonderful family and friends who support me in all I do. I’m also thankful for cold brew, buffalo chicken wraps, Gracie Abrams and Taylor Swift, Christmas decorations, and our perfect campus. I’m extra grateful for Sunday afternoons on the copy couch when we’re all delirious and sarcastic. Sofia Laboy I’m grateful for the steadfast love of my family and hometown friends and for the daily joy of Mod 21A, from my roommates to our five-foot inflatable french bulldog that sits behind our barbecue. Above all, I’m thankful for my last three years at The Heights—where fleeting moments are immortalized through the dedication of editors who’ve become my lifelong friends.
Veronica Pierce
I am thankful for the opportunity to go to such an amazing school like BC with some of the most incredible and intelligent people in the world. I am also super grateful to The Heights for allowing me to continue my passion for writing and for all the fun memories with the Board members at Sun-
Graham Dietz
I am thankful for the most wonderful people I met during my three-and-a-half year journey as a member of The Heights’ board, from being associate/assistant sports editor to sports editor to alumni director. I am thankful to my family for making education a priority and giving me the opportunity to attend an institution as formative and life-changing as Boston College.
IN FOCUS
As the 106th Board of The Heights looks back on its tenure, these images—immortalized in BC history by
editors, staffers, and contributors—stand out as some of the board’s favorites.
CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR
MATTHEW MAO / HEIGHTS STAFF
ALINA CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF GRACE LIU / FOR
SHANE SHEBEST / HEIGHTS STAFF
CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR
SARAH FLEMING / HEIGHTS EDITOR
KELLEN DAVIS / HEIGHTS STAFF
ARTS
Pippin’s Quest for Fulfillment Comes to Life
By Lucas Ferrara For The Heights
Boston College’s latest theater production of Pippin didn’t just tell a story—it made the audience a part of it. The show, directed by Luke Jorgensen, turned Robsham Theater into a living, breathing spectacle that combined humor, heart, and a touch of absurdity to remind the crowd that theater can still surprise and delight.
From the first number to the final bow, BC’s take on the classic musical offered a fresh spin on Pippin’s journey to find meaning.
The production showcased BC’s students and their talent while emphasizing the play’s themes of self-discovery and the struggle for happiness.
When the cast kicked off the show by pulling an unsuspecting student from the front row to play the titular character, it was clear that this production would be interactive and full of surprises. Pippin, played by Gabriel Biagi, MCAS ’25, began his journey with a passionate speech about his post-university plans.
Biagi brought an infectious energy to the role, making Pippin feel deeply relatable to the crowd. Biagi’s
comedic timing was impeccable, and his more serious moments of self-doubt revealed emotional depth.
Jack Krukiel, LSEHD ’25, gave a charismatic portrayal of Charles The Great, the protagonist’s selfish father.
Krukiel’s quick, witty display of the character’s arrogance made it clear why Pippin found himself unfulfilled.
Alessandro Cella, MCAS ’26, stood out as Lewis, Pippin’s effervescent half-brother, whose contortionist-like movements and nonstop moving feet delivered some of
the night’s biggest laughs. During the tense war scene, Corey Schiz, MCAS ’27, gets his head chopped off but sparks chuckles when he returns to give Pippin advice as a floating head.
“I first saw Pippin in 1972 when it came out,” Jorgenson said. “The film was very … ominous. Dark. I wanted to make it a little lighter. That’s where the fun, neon-lit carnival set comes in.”
One of the most intense moments in the production was Pippin’s moral struggle over whether or not to kill Charlemagne in his quest for change. Biagi captured Pippin’s emotional turmoil, torn between his desire to reshape the kingdom and the weight of committing an unthinkable act.
Krukiel exuded a mix of unseriousness and vulnerability in this scene, making the audience question if Pippin’s decision was justified. The final blow was delivered not triumphantly, but with a haunting sense of regret, leaving the audience stunned.
Pippin’s moment of power quickly fades when he realizes he can’t fulfill the impossible expectations of his subjects. He prays for his father’s return and the leading players and Char-
lemagne magically come back to life. Faced with failure, Pippin collapsed in despair, only to be revived by Catherine, a widowed woman played by Margaret Whyte, MCAS ’25. Whyte brought a tender warmth to the stage, her soft voice contrasting with the larger-than-life antics of the ensemble.
As Act II neared its conclusion, Pippin faced a choice: give into pressure to light himself on fire, or find fulfillment in the simple life. Biagi’s emotional performance during this pivotal scene left the theater silent, his hesitation evident as he grappled with what it meant to truly live. After Pippin makes his decision, Pippin and Catherine are left alone on the barren stage.
“Trapped ... but happy,” Pippin said, his final words marking an end to his chaotic journey and a message of contentment with the ordinary.
The applause was thunderous, and it was clear that the BC theatre department had succeeded in both entertaining and provoking thought.
BC’s Pippin was more than just a student play—it was a testament to the power of storytelling, reminding its audience that sometimes magic isn’t in the extraordinary, but in learning to love the life that you live. n
A Beginner’s Mind: An Evening With Sy Montgomery
By Mary Kozeny Heights Staff
On Wednesday night, the Lowell Humanities Series at Boston College welcomed a storyteller who has danced with octopi and been chased by silverback gorillas.
Sy Montgomery, whose pen has chronicled the consciousness of creatures across 34 books, brought her characteristic vivacity to an evening that transformed scientific observation into poetry at Gasson Hall.
Montgomery, who makes her home in New Hampshire when not traversing the globe’s wild places, spoke with the enthusiasm of someone who has found life’s sweet spot— that rare intersection of passion and purpose.
“As soon as I would apprentice myself to a new animal, it would open up new worlds,” Montgomery said, her eyes bright with the memories of countless such apprenticeships.
Her journey began with an unconventional courtship with emus in Australia, a six-month endeavor that
convinced her that office life would never satisfy her soul.
Following in the footsteps of her heroes Jane Goodall and Julia Badescu, Montgomery embraced a methodology that braids together scientific rigor with emotional intelligence, allowing animals to be both subjects and teachers.
But it was her encounter with Athena, a 40-pound octopus at the New England Aquarium, that perhaps best illustrates Montgomery’s unique approach to interspecies connection.
On a bitter March morning in 2011, she stood before a creature whose lineage diverged from humans’ half a billion years ago, when life was little more than animated tubes in ancient seas.
Athena, Montgomery recalled with evident joy, reached out with her 4-foot arms in a gesture that was part embrace, part exploration.
The octopus’ skin flickered from red excitement to white serenity as she allowed Montgomery—a privilege typically reserved for aquarium staff—to stroke her head.
Later, another octopus, named Octavia, would further expand Montgomery’s understanding of these sophisticated invertebrates. Their play sessions with LEGOs and Mr. Potato Head toys revealed an intelligence that defied conventional measures.
“It was wonderful to be able to commune with this creature so unlike myself,” Montgomery said.
These experiences informed
Montgomery’s latest book, Secrets of the Octopus, which accompanies National Geographic’s 2024 miniseries titled Secrets of the Octopus. But more than that, they exemplify her larger mission: to illuminate the complex consciousness of creatures we too often oversimplify. Whether learning from a portly pig about the true nature of family or discovering the medicinal wisdom of bears, Mont-
gomery approaches each encounter with what she calls “a beginner’s mind.”
As the evening drew to a close, Montgomery left her audience with a transformed vision of the natural world—one where intelligence wears many forms, and where the divide between human and animal consciousness dissolves in the waters of mutual curiosity. n
Kendrick Lamar Surprises Fans With New Release
By Lucas Ferrara For The Heights
Friday morning, Kendrick Lamar surprise-released GNX , an album that has 12 songs and runs 44 minutes. The album has hidden features from the likes of SZA, Roddy Ricch, and other West Coast natives.
GNX is the sixth studio album by Pulitzer Prize winner Lamar, who has had a historic year, even before releasing the album. The album marks Lamar’s first album since he dismantled Drake in a series of diss tracks.
GNX appeared on music stream-
ing services with little accompanying information besides the album’s cover art and a one-minute teaser video released simultaneously on Lamar’s label’s Instagram account. Both the art and video revolve around a black vintage muscle car as Lamar calmly leans against it on the cover.
The video snippet showcases Lamar’s rapid-fire vocals combined with beautifully played strings, while the lyrics and visuals formulate the image of Lamar in a desolate, lonely space. The beat drops, Lamar yells, and the snippet ends, foreshadowing the balance of his aggression and
smooth vocals on GNX.
Lamar comes out on the first track of GNX, “wacced out murals,” to address various controversies, including Lamar’s vandalized mural, his hatred toward Drake, and Snoop Dogg’s support of Drake during the beef.
“Wacced out murals” features a mix of Lamar’s signature storytelling and lyrical depth, tackling themes of loyalty, success, and the tensions that come with fame. He also reflects on Lil Wayne’s reaction to Lamar being chosen as the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show headliner, as Wayne had hoped to perform in his hometown of New Orleans.
Lamar dropped a music video to “Not Like Us,” his most popular single from the series of Drake diss tracks, on July 4. The introduction of that video was a 21-second snippet of what would become the second track on GNX, “squabble up.”
“Squabble up” builds on the energy from its earlier appearance, finally giving fans the full version of
the song they’ve been waiting for. The track features a hard-hitting beat, with Lamar using sharp, aggressive lyrics to stake his territory in the rap game. The song captures Lamar’s confrontational style, blending street sound with a catchy hook that makes “squabble up” both a club favorite and a street anthem.
GNX marks a significant shift in Lamar’s career, as it’s his first project outside his longtime label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). After years of working under TDE, where he released several critically acclaimed albums, Lamar founded a new label called pgLang. This move signals a new chapter for Lamar, offering him greater creative freedom and a fresh platform for his evolving artistic vision.
The release of GNX reflects continuity and innovation, maintaining Kendrick’s trademark depth while embracing new influences and sounds.
One of the standout tracks on the album is “heart pt. 6,” which contin-
ues Lamar’s long-running series of songs with similar titles. This installment adds to his signature collection and is a pointed response to Drake.
In May, Drake stirred up controversy by releasing his spin on the collection, which was a diss track called “THE HEART PART 6.” Lamar’s version, now part of the official series, reclaims the title while delivering its own message, blending sharp lyricism with Lamar’s signature insightful commentary.
Lamar also did something similar on “reincarnated,” where he samples 2Pac’s “Made N****z,” contrasting Drake’s use of AI-generated 2Pac vocals during their beef.
GNX is a statement of Lamar’s evolution and independence, showcasing his willingness to challenge expectations while remaining true to his roots.
Lamar’s ability to surprise and captivate the music industry makes one thing clear: he remains a powerful, thought-provoking force in all of music. n
Author Sy Montgomery shared her eccentric life experiences and lessons during her lecture on Wednesday.
PAUL CRIADO / HEIGHTS STAFF
TRISHNA CONDOOR / HEIGHTS STAFF
BC’s theater production of the classic musical was a lively, fresh spin of Pippin’s self-discovery journey.
SPORTS
BC Steamrolls Tar Heels 41–21
The pocket collapsed on 2ndand-10, and Quintayvious Hutchins and Donovan Ezeiruaku wrapped up Jacolby Criswell for a loss of six yards.
North
Criswell took his time on the ensuing third down, scanning the field for open reads. But the only open person he found was on the other team.
Marinaro picked off Criswell and returned the ball to the Tar Heels’ 32yard line, setting up the offense with a chance to cement a firm advantage. In just 24 seconds, Grayson James did just that, tossing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Reed Harris. After the score, Ryan Turner picked off Criswell again on a last-second Hail Mary attempt to end the half.
“Probably the best example of complementary football,” BC head coach Bill O’Brien said. “[Marinaro] makes a huge play. You talk about a BC guy—he’s a BC guy.”
By the end of the third quarter, the Eagles (6–5, 3–4 Atlantic Coast) led in total yards 359–80. Ezeiruaku’s two sacks and two tackles for loss spearheaded a defense which racked up seven sacks and eight tackles for loss, along with three interceptions.
BC also stunted Omarion Hampton’s rushing attack in the 41–21
win over the Tar Heels (6–5, 3–4) at Alumni Stadium, which secured bowl eligibility for the Eagles. Doug Flutie’s 1984 team was there to witness it all on the 40th anniversary of the “Hail Flutie.”
“They kind of put Boston College on the map,” offensive lineman Drew Kendall said. “They were a top-five team in the country—No. 2. What they did has kind of allowed Boston College as a program to thrive.”
Hampton entered the contest with the second-most rushing yards in the country behind Boise State’s Heisman-contender Ashton Jeanty. Hampton only registered 53 rushing yards in North Carolina’s loss.
“These guys had to tackle,” O’Brien said. “We had to do a good job of staying in our gaps. To stop a guy like that— he just rushed for 250 against Wake [Forest]—that’s a big accomplishment.”
James, meanwhile, finished with 192 passing yards, 38 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. Lewis Bond caught nine passes for 81 yards, and Turner registered his second interception of the game with a 78-yard pick six in the final quarter.
“I don’t think anything can replace experience,” James said. “I feel like I’ve gotten better every game that I’ve played in, every practice as well. Game reps are paramount. I know I’m comfortable with the guys out there,
and I’m just operating.”
On the first drive of the game, BC set up Liam Connor for a 49-yard field goal—potentially the longest of his career.
Coming into Saturday’s contest, the Eagles ranked last in the country in field-goal makes with just one.
But Connor drilled the kick to give BC an early 3–0 lead.
BC extended that lead less than two minutes into the second quarter.
James took a designed keeper, which completely faked out the Tar Heels’ goal-line prevention, for a threeyard touchdown run. Connor made the extra point to give BC a two-score edge with 13:41 left in the first half.
The misdirection blueprint remained in stock on the Eagles’ next scoring opportunity.
From North Carolina’s 24-yard line, Treshaun Ward took a handoff and flipped the ball to Johnathan Montague Jr. running an end-around.
Montague found open space with blockers and tumbled into the endzone for his first touchdown run of the season.
Immediately after, Chris Culliver exploded on the Tar Heels’ kickoff. After turning on the jets, Culliver tacked on North Carolina’s first points of the day with the 95-yard untouched return to cut its deficit to 17–7.
Marinaro and Turner’s pair of picks
at the end of the first half had the Eagles coasting into halftime, though, and the second half proved to be just as much of a blowout.
“Ryan Turner has gone from the bottom of the depth chart to the top,” O’Brien said. “He’s earned it. He has stuck with it. It hasn’t been easy for him. He’s probably third, fourth on the depth chart at times, but keeps plugging away.”
Connor nailed his second field goal of the game with 11:20 left in the third quarter from 27 yards out, and Turner’s pick six made it 34–7 early in the fourth quarter. Robichaux took a direct snap out of the wildcat and scored from eight yards to make it 41–7 just over seven minutes later.
Davion Gause added two touchdowns in garbage time, giving the Tar Heels their last lick of hope.
Wearing his “Bowl Bound” shirt after the game, Marinaro let out a sigh of relief.
“This means a lot,” Marinaro said. “It’s my fifth year here. My first year was the COVID year, didn’t go to a bowl. My second year was the Military Bowl, got canceled because of COVID. We didn’t go to a bowl my junior year. So this is like my second real bowl experience, or will be. It’s my last year here. You just want to make the most out of it.” n
BROOKE GHALY
Notebook: Eagles Play Complete Game in UNC Win
By Maria StefanoudakiS Asst. Sports Editor
When Boston College football gave up a 95-yard touchdown return late in the second quarter, fans braving the rain and cold in Alumni Stadium probably felt some deja vu coming on as the Eagles’ lead over North Carolina was cut to 17–7.
All season long, BC has shown stretches of playing well and gaining leads, then going on to collapse, giving their opponents surges that had resulted in a 5–5 record head ing into Saturday’s game against the Tar Heels.
The Eagles have found creative ways to lose— horrific punting, abysmal quarterback performanc es, and gaping holes in the sec ondary—to name a few.
But on Saturday, BC didn’t surrender to its typical patterns. It didn’t let the kickoff return swing the momentum in the Tar Heels’ favor. Instead, the Eagles responded with a pick and a touchdown before the half, sustained their defensive excellence in the second half, and scored 17 more points before the game was
over.
Call that a good day for BC, or call it development under BC head coach Bill O’Brien.
The point is, the Eagles were able to string together a full game of pretty clean football, and that yielded the results they didn’t find in the three-game ACC losing stretch earlier this season—three games the Eagles realistically could’ve won if they played with the continuity they did on Saturday in their 41–21 win over UNC.
Here are three observations from the Eagles’ win.
Bowl Bound
With Saturday’s win, BC officially claimed bowl eligibility in O’Brien’s first year on the Heights. It hasn’t been the picture-perfect road, and O’Brien is the first one to acknowledge that.
His team has been through a lot this season—ranging from starting the season 2–0, getting ranked for the first time since 2018, dropping three straight ACC games, benching its starting quarterback, then bouncing back with wins over Syracuse and UNC.
The Eagles are 6–5—a record no better than they had last year at this time under Jeff Hafley. But the win of securing bowl eligibility before BC’s final game of the season is certainly a relief for the program. The “Bowl Bound” t-shirts waiting in BC’s locker room after the game aren’t the end. But they’re undoubtedly a start.
Hindering Hampton
Omarion Hampton entered Saturday’s game ranked second in the nation in rushing yards. He fell into third place after BC’s defense contained him.
“These guys had to tackle,” O’Brien said.
Hampton rushed for just 53 yards on Saturday afternoon—the fewest he’s rushed in any game all season by over 20 yards. Plus, before facing BC, only four teams this season had successfully kept Hampton out of the endzone.
One spot in the national rankings probably isn’t too big of a deal for Hampton. He still leads the ACC in rushing, with 386 more yards than second-ranked Brashard Smith.
But holding Hampton to 53 yards on Saturday afternoon had much bigger consequences than sinking his stats a little—it’s how the Eagles won the football game.
BC’s defense didn’t just com pletely deflate UNC’s run game—it shut down the Tar Heels’ entire offense. It was smothering while once again being led by Donovan Ezeiruaku, who logged two sacks, six tackles, and four quarterback hits.
With six minutes remaining in the first half, UNC began its drive down 17–7. Hampton took the handoff on first down and was taken down after just a three-yard gain. Second down was nearly iden tical, and this time, Daveon Crouch downed Hampton after a one-yard run. Then, on third down, Crouch sacked Criswell for a 10-yard loss.
The Eagles’ offensive perfor mance built off the defense.
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Joe Marinaro picked off a frantic Jacolby Criswell’s pass and returned it to UNC’s 32-yard line. From there, the offense saw a good look at the end zone and capitalized with an 18-yard touchdown from Reed Harris that put the Eagles up 24–7 as they headed into their locker room.
The win might’ve been the best example this season of BC playing a complete game on both sides of the ball, and it paid off as the Eagles picked up a 20-point win over an ACC opponent.
Dallas, followed by another one this week against UNC, one has to ask—instead of being just another part of the larger problem, is it possible James is the solution?
James finished Saturday’s game with 192 passing yards, a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown, and 38 rushing yards.
Five minutes into the second half on 2nd-and-5, James got the ball and threw a 48-yard pass to Harris to take the Eagles to UNC’s 43-yard line—his longest pass of the game. That’s the kind of pass James didn’t seem capable of making when he made his first start of the year earlier this season against Western Kentucky.
mance last week in
He also hit Harris for an 18-yard touchdown pass at the end of the first half that padded BC’s lead and brought the momentum back after the Tar Heels scored a 95-yard kick-return touch-
If the confidence James showed in the pocket on Saturday is any indication of how he’ll look going forward, it might be possible that BC has found its long-term solution, not its short-term
“Grayson’s got a great attitude,” Harris said before Saturday’s game. “He’s got great field awareness—he’s like a field general on the field. Everybody in the huddle respects him.” n
GRAPHIC BY
/ HEIGHTS EDITOR
Carolina Boston College 21 41 CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Football, from A1
No. 3 Eagles Fall to Northeastern, Split Weekend Series
Men’s Hockey, from A1
Oskar Jellvik was able to respond three minutes after Dorrington’s goal with a rebound goal, but the Eagles continued to suffer defensively.
BC gave up a third first-period goal at the 16:04 mark when Jack Williams hit a top-right snipe to preserve Northeastern’s cushioned lead.
It wasn’t until 5:37 remained
in the third period that BC tallied its second goal to cut the lead in half.
Ryan Leonard extended his goal streak to six games with a clean off the crease.
Williams got called for cross checking at the end of the first period, and the Eagles began the second on the power play.
Despite firing off 12 shots in the first five minutes of the second frame, Northeastern kept BC silent, led by goaltender Cameron Whitehead.
Whitehead finished the game with 30 saves.
“He made some huge saves … that gets your guys going,” Northeastern head coach Jerry Keefe said. “And the momentum you can get off of those saves are huge.”
BC’s Jake Sondreal received a cross-checking penalty in the last minute of the second period, and Northeastern began the final period with a man-up advantage.
The Huskies fired off seven shots in the matter of about a minute.
But both squads’ penalty kills reigned supreme, just as they had the whole night. The game saw 16:44 penalty minutes with no goals.
The neutral zone stayed busy, and much of the final frame’s action saw deflected pucks and zone breakouts.
“Their fore check was outstanding,” Brown said. “That’s probably, if not the most troubled, one of the hardest games we had breaking pucks out.”
A penalty at 16:55 gifted the
Eagles another two minutes on the power play and they pulled Fowler as well for a 6-on-4. Still, the back of the net was untouched.
BC’s first line’s relative quietness—it produced one point and a plus/minus of -3—led to BC handing Northeastern just its second win of the year on Saturday as the Eagles and Huskies split their weekend series.
“[We] played a little better second and third,” Brown said. “But the hole was pretty deep and they did a great job.” n
BC Shuts Out Northeastern 3–0 in First of Series
By Luke evAns Sports Editor
If Ryan Leonard is on the ice for Boston College men’s hockey in the 2024–25 season, chances are he is going to find the back of the net.
Entering No. 3 BC’s Friday night matchup against cross-town rival Northeastern, Leonard had totaled eight goals through 10 games and was on a four-game goal-scoring streak.
Less than five minutes into the Eagles’ tilt against the Huskies, Leonard extended that streak to five.
In a breakaway opportunity, Leonard glided down the ice and waited patiently for his partner in crime, Gabe Perreault, to send him a last-second pass.
Leonard received the puck in front of the net, which left a wide-open opportunity that Leonard buried to give the Eagles a 1–0 lead.
“[The] first goal is as easy as it gets right,” Northeastern head coach Jerry Keefe said. “Getting stuck on the wall and two on one, and two of the top players in college hockey go down and make a
great play.”
The Eagles (9–2, 4–1 Hockey East) added two more goals to their total courtesy of Andre Gasseau and a second Leonard goal.
BC ultimately downed Northeastern (1–6–3, 0–4–3), 3–0 to keep the Huskies winless in Hockey East play.
Jacob Fowler logged 28 saves in the win.
Fowler’s third shutout of the season came in his return after he was suspended for punching a UConn skater in BC’s loss to UConn.
“Pretty much business as usual,”
BC head coach Greg Brown said of Fowler’s return. “He felt bad that he had to miss the game, but Jan [Korec] came in and played great against Providence. So it’s great to have depth in goal, but he was definitely excited to play tonight.”
With 13:12 remaining in the opening period, Northeastern got its first power-play oppor tunity of the night.
But after just one shot on goal, the two-minute man advantage came to an end.
23rd straight penalty kill of the season, as the Eagles have not allowed any opponent to score on the power play.
BC killed Northeastern’s other opportunity as well.
“They’re really aggressive,” Keefe said of BC’s penalty kill. “But they just—they force you to have to make two or three really good plays in a row to break them
the stick of Gasseau, waiting just outside of the crease.
Gasseau lifted the puck past Cameron Whitehead to give the Eagles a 2–0 edge with 9:48 left in the first period.
“Definitely more net presence, more puck protection down low,” Gasseau said when asked what he has added to his game this season.
The penalty kill marked BC’s
Lukas Gustafsson sent the puck toward the net from the blue line, and it made its way to
“I think using my skill, my body to puck protect and get to the net more. So that’s an advantage
A blemish of the BC season thus far has been the faceoff
Ranking 57th out of 60 Division I programs, BC entered the matchup with a faceoff percentage of just .451 compared to Northeastern’s .566 faceoff win percentage—good for sec-
Despite the final score, the Eagles won just 42.3 percent of the fa-
“We have to improve,” Brown said. “We lost three centers last year. We have three freshmen taking centers against older, bigger guys,
Eagles Down Syracuse 3–1, Inch
By AshA Woerner For The Heights
Boston College volleyball claimed the first point of its opening set against Syracuse on Sunday afternoon during the Eagles’ senior day game. That set the tone for the afternoon, and though it took the Eagles (14–16, 7–11 Atlantic Coast) four sets to do it, they ultimately came away with a win over the Orange (14–16, 2–16).
Syracuse quickly countered due to BC sending two hits wide.
Then, Jenna Pollock rallied with a strong hit to put the Orange up 2–1.
But BC showcased scrappy defense, recovering tough balls while Syracuse’s blocks landed out of bounds.
Syracuse benefited from BC errors, though, getting nine of its first 14 points due to the Eagles’ errors.
The Orange found a burst of momentum late in the set.
It went on a five-point run that led to it winning the first set 26–24.
“You know, I thought we gave up two or three runs throughout the match that were just too long, and we just gave up too many points in a row,” BC head coach
Jason Kennedy said.
Syracuse carried its momentum into the start of the second set to take a 9–2 lead initially as the Eagles’ back line was unable to save the kills and sets by Syracuse.
The Eagles recovered with a seven-point run to win the second set 25–18, evening the game.
BC capitalized on kills by Cornelia Roach, Audrey Ross, and Halle Schroder, who all posted double-digits in kills.
“I thought we were pretty balanced offensively,” Kennedy said.
“We didn’t really rely too much on one person. We had five people with at least seven kills, which was pretty good.”
Syracuse started the third set the same way it started the second one, going up 8–3 early.
Once again, the Orange was
a beneficiary of BC errors. But the Eagles were once again able to fight their way back to a tie, and then to an eventual win in the third set.
Julia Haggerty was a dynamic player defensively for the Eagles during that stretch.
Haggerty finished the game with three blocks.
The fourth set started with BC ahead, going up 8–1.
With two sets under its belt, the game momentum had slowed for the Orange.
Although getting close at the end, Syracuse was never able to catch the Eagles and lost the set 25–22 on an error.
“We’ve got a big one on Wednesday,” Kennedy said, looking ahead to Wednesday’s game against Clemson. “They were able to beat us down in Clemson a few weeks ago. So we definitely want to be able to try and get those guys back, and then we head back on the road, another match that we lost in five earlier in the year to Virginia. So two opportunities to show a little bit of growth.” n
guys that are very experienced … I’m sure the younger guys every game will get a little bit more experience, and hopefully, we’ll be strong sooner than later.”
As the second period wound down, Leonard gingerly skated off the ice after his shift, appearing to gesture toward his knee.
The next shift, Leonard hit the ice and struggled to get over the boards.
“He has a little leg injury, but nothing too serious,” Brown said of Leonard’s apparent injury. “When he catches it you can tell, but he should be okay.”
Just over a minute into the third period, though, Leonard launched a wrister that ricocheted off the bar and crossed the goal line to give the Eagles a 3–0 lead.
The goal was Leonard’s 10th goal in 11 games.
“We know when he’s creating chances and his linemates are finding him, eventually they will go in, and lately, they have been,” Brown said of Leonard’s goal-scoring.
The score put the nail in the coffin for Northeastern, as fans made their way to the exits as the clock made its way toward triple zeroes. n
Closer to .500
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF
HENRY HURD / HEIGHTS STAFF
Halle Schroder led the Eagles in the four-set win with 13 kills.
Eagles Dominate Holy Cross 81–55, Improve to 6–1
B y Q uinn w alsh
For The Heights
Boston College women’s basketball won five of its first six games to open the 2024–25 campaign. But the Eagles have had one persistent struggle this season: shooting.
The Eagles entered Saturday afternoon’s matchup against Holy Cross failing to shoot 50 percent from the field in each of their last three games.
On Saturday though, the Eagles (6–1) turned the tide.
They shot a season-best 54.2 percent from the floor, including 7 of 14 from deep, in an 81–55 rout of the Crusaders (3–3).
BC’s rout marked the fifth time in seven games this season that the Eagles have crossed the 80-point threshold.
“I thought we did a good job pushing pace,” BC head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee said. ”If
we didn’t have so many turnovers, that could have been another 40 points we put up today.”
Freshman guard Athena Tomlinson headlined the scoring effort, dropping a career-high 10 points while going 2 of 4 from downtown.
“I just want to be the person out there on the court that my team needs,” Tomlinson said. “Whatever I need to bring, that’s what I try to do.”
The Eagles controlled the pace of play from the opening tip. BC took advantage of costly Holy Cross turnovers, allowing the Eagles to jump out to a 12–2 lead four minutes into the first quarter. Eight of those 12 points came off turnovers.
The Crusaders couldn’t match the Eagles’ offensive success.
Despite firing 21 three-pointers, only five hit the mark, good for a measly 23.8 percent.
After going down 38–21 at halftime, Holy Cross spent the rest of the game trying to play catch-up.
But the Crusaders would never
get within double-digits. Junior forward Teya Sidberry dominated from the floor in the second half, ultimately scoring a game-high 18 points off the back of an 8-of-9 shooting performance.
according to Bernabei-McNamee.
Tomlinson dribbled it out as the clock winded down to zeroes, and BC picked up its sixth win of the young season.
Tomlinson and Sidberry’s performances were encouraging,
The Crusaders continued to struggle with finishing possessions, ultimately ending with 24 turnovers.
No. 11 BC Splits Series With UConn
By matthEw FERRaRa Heights Staff
With just less than a minute to go in the first period of No. 11 Boston College women’s hockey’s game against Connecticut, a trio of eagles broke away toward the Huskies’ goal.
Going against two Huskies defenders, BC created its best scoring opportunity of the first period.
UConn goaltender Tia Chan
was shifted toward the near post as the Eagles closed in, and Keri Clougherty opted to shoot toward the far side, netting the early-game equalizer.
BC’s goal was imperative after it barely shut down several threatening offensive possessions from UConn.
UConn had out-shot BC 11–8 up to that point.
UConn (9–7–0, 8–3–0 Hockey East) dominated faceoffs and saw second-chance opportunities in the offensive zone, lifting the Huskies’ over BC
(10–5–0, 7–3–0) by a final score of 2–1.
UConn continued its offensive efforts right out of the first intermission. Claire Murdoch found herself with a 1-on-1 chance against Grace Campbell but was denied by BC’s netminder.
Murdoch faked a wrist shot and tried a back-handed chip shot. Campbell did not react to the decoy attempt and got her glove on the chip shot.
UConn’s first goal came from the blue line off a wrist shot from Maya Serdachny.
With about four minutes left in the second frame, following a UConn power play that yielded no goals, Ashley Allard shot a onetimer that found the net, giving the Huskies what would be their game-winner.
UConn didn’t slow down after gaining the lead but successfully killed off precious seconds when necessary.
Winning the face-offs was a great way for the Huskies to keep possession, but the Huskies’ passing was the greater catalyst for their sustained success and eventual win.
With eight minutes remaining in the second period, Ava Rinker fired a pass from UConn’s goal line all the way to a waiting teammate on the offensive blue line.
The Eagles were caught off guard by the quick transition. It was Murdoch versus Campbell for the second time, but Campbell prevailed yet again.
Campbell ended the game with 26 saves.
Chan proved invaluable to UConn’s puck control and was decisive whenever she needed to play the puck outside the crease.
Chan also deflected several shots with her stick to keep the clock running.
BC reversed the game’s momentum in the third period and fired off 11 shots, but without an additional goal, the Eagles were outlasted. n
“We have young players that can come in and be difference makers, and the older players, if they’re on the bench, are super supportive,“ Bernabei-McNamee said. “I think that’s what’s eventually gonna make us a great team.” n
Eagles Open Two-Game Series With 3–2 Home Victory
By Emily RoBERgE Assoc. Sports Editor
When asked what No. 11 Boston College women’s hockey’s mentality was going into its matchup against No. 14 Connecticut on Friday— the squad that downed the Eagles 2–1 in the Hockey East Tournament last season—Lauren Glaser kept it simple.
“I knew coming into this game there was going to be a chip on our shoulder, and I feel like we came out ready to go for that,” Glaser said.
And BC (10–4, 7–2 Hockey East) did just that in their Friday afternoon matchup against the Huskies (8–7, 7–3).
Off two Glaser goals and one Julia Pellerin goal, the Eagles took the first game of the series 3–2 in front of a home Conte Forum crowd.
“I thought our team played great,” BC head coach Katie Crowley said.
“We know how defensive that team can be, and we have to be patient and poised with the puck. Especially after last Saturday—you know, not playing the way we wanted to play—to come in and play this way and beat a good team, I was really happy with them.”
But it wasn’t completely smooth sailing for the Eagles, as they trailed for much of the matchup.
BC secured the lead for the first time with a little less than 10 minutes left in the game. Beginning in the first frame, it appeared to be an even-keeled battle between the Eagles and the Huskies. That was until UConn ran away with the lead.
A little less than eight minutes into the game, the Huskies were on the board first. Sliding the puck past BC’s Grace Campbell, Claire Murdoch gave UConn a one-goal lead.
Murdoch’s goal marked the beginning of a BC back-and-forth chase for the lead.
A little over six minutes later in the first period, the first-year standout, Glaser, brought life to BC’s offense.
After receiving a pass from Keri Clougherty, Glaser rattled off a lower right-hand corner shot that sailed through Megan Warrener’s legs and landed in the back of the net.
“The first one was awesome,” Glaser said. “Like an awesome feeling. I was just trying to get it on the net, but it ended up going in and it was an awesome feeling.”
Following BC’s first goal of the matchup, the remaining part of the first frame was relatively silent, with the Eagles tallying 16 shots and the Huskies registering 14 shots during the first 20 minutes of play. And it took some time for the next goal of the matchup— almost 20 minutes.
UConn was the first to attack, making the score 2–1 after a 1-on-1 got the better of Campbell, who was unable to come up with the save.
Despite Campbell working
overtime for the next few minutes, Pellerin delivered for her team off a Molly Jordan assist, knotting the score with a little less than three minutes to play in the second frame.
Within the third frame, the only goal that was scored was Glaser’s second of the afternoon, propelling the Eagles to a 3–2 victory.
Following the game, Glaser described her reaction to her gamewinning goal.
“With the second one, I was just so shocked it came out to me, and I was
like ‘I can’t miss this, I have to get it,’” Glaser said.
Given her team’s Friday afternoon performance against an up-and-coming Hockey East rivalry, Crowley remains optimistic for what is to come.
“I mean hopefully we can get a power play tomorrow,” Crowley said. “We have to stay poised and stay patient. I’m really proud of how our team handled being patient. There are some things that we implemented yesterday and they were able to perform those things today.” n
Teya Sidberry led BC with 18 points in the Saturday afternoon away matchup against the Crusaders.
Boston College Holy Cross 81 55
Keri Clougherty scored BC’s only goal of Saturday night’s matchup at the end of the first period against UConn.
YAMARI SANTILLAN-GUZMAN / HEIGHTS STAFF
ELLIE EL-FISHAWY / HEIGHTS STAFF
The Eagles have won nine of their last 11 games this 2024 season.
YAMARI SANTILLAN-GUZMAN / HEIGHTS STAFF