The Heights, Nov. 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Hafley and Grant Remain Highest-Paid BC Employees

The two coaches, who collectively earned nearly $ 6 million, were also BC’s top earners during FY22.

BY ANNIKA ENGELBRECHT Asst. News Editor

F ormer football head coach

Jeff Hafley and men’s basketball head coach Earl Grant maintained their status as Boston College’s highest-paid employees during the 2023 fiscal year (FY23), ac-

cording to the University’s 990 tax filing.

Hafley earned $3,768,321 and Grant earned $2,114,853.

Hafley left the Heights in January 2024 after four seasons to become the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator.

After Hafley and Grant, the

next five highest-paid employees were John J. Zona, the University’s chief investment officer and associate treasurer; Tem Lukabu, former football defensive coordinator; Andrew C. Boynton, Carroll School of Management dean; David Quigley, University provost and dean of faculties; and Michael J. Lochhead, BC’s executive vice president.

BC Sweeps St. Cloud State With 2–1 Victory

The victory secures a four game winning streak for the Eagles.

BY LUKE EVANS Sports Editor

As St. Cloud State’s Cooper Wylie sent a pass toward Barrett Hall in an efort to clear the puck from the Huskies’ defensive zone, Boston College men’s hockey’s James Hagens’ stick few between the Huskies. In one fuid motion, Hagens sent the puck out of the air and directly toward Gabe Perreault.

Tactfully keeping the puck on his stick, Perreault shifted his way toward Isak Posch and tucked the puck into the net from point-blank range to give the Eagles a 2–1 lead just over three minutes into the fnal frame.

“I thought we did much better tonight managing the puck in that line, I think they

hunted very well, and then they made real sound decisions with the puck so they didn’t have as much back-and-forth play,” BC head coach Greg Brown said of the Perreault, Hagens, and Ryan Leonard line.

Despite a fve-minute major penalty on Drew Fortescue in the fnal two minutes of the game that could have led to disaster for No. 2 BC (5–1–0), the Eagles held on and left Minnesota with a road sweep of No. 10 St. Cloud State (6–3–0).

“Te guys really dug in,” Brown said. “We got a couple great blocks, tough shots from the fank, and we did a great job clearing the pucks from the front of the net. And Jacob [Fowler] was solid as usual.”

See Men’s Hockey, A11

Fall A Cappella Show Displays

Breadth of Student Talent

Five a cappella groups took the stage on Saturday, showcasing a wide range of musical styles.

See A9

It's

Zona earned $1,049,364; Lukabu, who left the Heights in February 2023 to be the outside linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers, earned $854,983; Boynton earned $762,863; Quigley earned $726,117; and Lochead earned $594,509. BC earned $792,980,918 from tuition and fees, a $18,421,706 increase from FY22. The University’s net assets were $6,509,364,247 by the end of the year, a $37,035,501 decrease.

See FY23, A2

With Smart Playgrounds, Bers Enhances Learning

BY MOLLY FUNK

For The Heights

“Learn through play” is a simple principle that has guided Marina Bers through her work in computer science and education for years.

Today, she’s developing “smart playgrounds” which intend to teach elementary children computational thinking in a hands-on experience unlike any other. One where children can program slides, swings, and games through play, developed especially for children who are often left behind in educational development.

“We’re bringing computer science education into the playground, and kids can still play outside, play with each other, and develop fully while learning concepts of computational

thinking,” Bers, the Augustus Long Professor of Education at the LSEHD with a secondary appointment in the Department of Computer Science, said.

In our society, which is hyper-focused on screen time and technology, children must learn to navigate computational thinking skills at an exceedingly young age, Bers said. While some shy away from exposing children to technology, Bers has always believed that technology has potential to promote positive development and learning for young children.

“I always saw technology as a tool that will help people become better people and better versions of themselves,” Bers said.

PRSA Statement Blasts Trump Rally Remarks

BY ANNIKA ENGELBRECHT Asst. News Editor

Te Boston College Puerto Rican Student Association (PRSA) issued a statement on Oct. 30, condemning remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchclife. Hinchclife spoke at former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27.

Tere’s literally a foating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now—I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” Hinchchlife said at the rally.

In the statement, the PRSA emphasized that Hinchclife’s remarks “perpetuate a harmful rhetoric that is refective of the discrimination Puerto Rico has faced for centuries.”

Adriana Mayol, co-president of PRSA and MCAS ’25, said she was appalled after first hearing Hinchclife’s remark.

“My instant reaction was, ‘Why, where, what was the context?" Mayol said. “And then I saw that there was no context to it, and so I was like,

Tere’s no need.'”

Mayol and Jacob Bojito, the other co-president and MCAS ’25, said that passing off harmful and racist rhetoric as a joke allows the individual to be viewed as blameless.

“Tey can say, ‘Oh, it was a joke,’ and brush it of as if the joke isn’t perpetuating racist ways of thinking, as if it’s not bringing up things that people live with on a daily basis,” Bojito said.

For many Puerto Ricans, Hinchlife’s statement wasn’t a joke, according to Bojito, and the passing of these remarks as jokes “is dismissive of the reality that Puerto Ricans have lived.”

“We have been referred to as things a lot worse than garbage,” Bojito said. “People have treated us like second class citizens since our island was annexed to the United States, and this is kind of just, again, [is] something that reflects something that has existed for so, so much, so much longer.”

Arts To celebrate the anniversary of 1989 (Taylor’s Version)'s release, Heights Contributor Kaylee Dunleavy shares her defnitive ranking of Swift's re-recordings. A10 See Playgrounds, A6

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARINA BERS

HENRY VANDERVOORT/ FOR THE HEIGHTS

NEWS

This Week’s Top 3 Events

Take a moment to practice self-care after the presidential election. Stop by the fourthfloor lounge of Maloney Hall from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday for resources and self-care activities.

Celebrate International Education Week with board games, art, crafts, and food from different countries. Enjoy an evening at the McMullen Art Museum from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday.

1 2 3

Enjoy an evening of traditional Irish music featuring award-winning bagpiper Joey Abarta. Attend the concert on Thursday at 6:30 pm in the Andover Room of the Connolly House.

Hafley, Grant Remain BC’s Highest Paid Employees in FY23

Similar to FY22, BC paid $75,000 to Cassidy and Associates, a lobbying organization, to “assist management in the identifcation, development, and presentation of interstitial initiative for consideration by committees of Congress, federal regulatory agencies, and others,” as well as to “act as liaison to government agencies by monitoring and reporting on governmental programs and legislation relevant to institutional initiatives.”

According to the 990, BC “pays membership dues to member organizations which may engage in lobbying activities. Terefore, a portion of the dues may be attributable to lobbying activities.”

Te University also paid $75,000

to the Allston-Brighton Community Fund and $50,000 to the Friends of Turkana. Both of these payments matched the FY22 donations.

BC earned $189,180,780 in donations, adding to its fscal fve-year total of $1,096,194,192 in donations.

BC gave $252,279,294 in financial aid to 9,010 students, marking a $854,072 increase. It also paid $5,930,512 to the Jesuit community on campus, a $615,336 increase from FY22, “for instructional, administrative and institutional services.”

During FY23, BC received 23 pieces of art, totaling $1,732,518, and $172,852 from books or publications.

BC earned $2,372,857,151 from its equities, $131,673,407 from real estate, $396,272,603 from fxed income, and $252,779,247 in cash. n

BC PRSA Condemns Comedian’s “Racist” Remarks

Racist jokes have no place at a political rally, according to Mayol—regardless of the party.

“I do think that these racist jokes just perpetuate this allowance of these jokes to be made, and normalizing them in no way moves us forward as a community and as a country,” Mayol said.

Mayol emphasized that these statements and jokes reflect an ongoing trend in the country,

which creates a cycle of frustration and anger for many Puerto Ricans.

“The connotation of it is always in a demeaning and in a very kind of diminishing and discriminatory way where we're not sensitive, we are just sick of it and hearing this rhetoric of us be said over and over and over for the past 100 years,” Mayol said.

Bojito said these types of racist comments are harmful to the Puerto Rican community

because, for some, it is their only impression of Puerto Rico and warps their view of the island.

“When people haven't met us and haven't given us a chance, that's kind of like their first impression of us, and now we have to deal with that,” Bojito said.

“And kind of like now, now we have the burden of showing that we're not that, when that's not fair at all.”

Bojito said he wasn’t immediately surprised by the comments.

Rather, his mind went to his family and the undecided Puerto Rican voters.

“I was not surprised at all, personally, so I guess my immediate thoughts were to check in with my family, of course, and make sure they were responding well to what had been said,” Bojito said.

Bojito said that hearing this rhetoric is a reminder of how divided the country is and how much more the United States needs to do to achieve unity.

“We're moving in a better direction, but that just reminds us that we have a lot more work ahead of us before we can become the United States that a lot of people think that we live in,” Bojito said. “I feel like the United States on paper is a lot different versus the United States and how it actually is.”

When faced with comments and hate, Bojito’s biggest advice to Puerto Rican or Latino students who are struggling is to not let racist individuals's comments define them.

“You have a bunch of other people who know exactly who you are, and that over time, you'll be able to prove those remarks wrong again and again and again,” Bojito said.

The way in which the United States teaches history and the lack of education about the history of the places the United States has colonized plays a big role in

perpetuating the misinformation about Puerto Rico, Bojito and Mayol said.

”I never learned about the United States’ relationship with Hawaii, I never learned about the United States’ relationship with Puerto Rico,” Bojito said. “And so one thing about that is you sort of internalize that your history is not as important as their history. You feel like, sort of like an other.”

Mayol said the misinformation about Puerto Rico creates division and stigmas about the island, preventing Puerto Rico from having representation in the United States and equitable access to resources.

“It prevents politicians [from wanting] to associate themselves with Puerto Rico, and then that prevents us from having equal sources and equal resources,” Mayol said.

Although he is glad that this instance was widely publicized, Bojito emphasized that this isn’t a one-time occurrence, and more hurtful things are s aid about people of color.

“I'm happy that everyone was able to respond to it and understand, like, that was wrong,” Bojito said. “But just to let people know this, this is not like even the worst of it and this is not a one time thing that, like we just corrected now. This has been going on for a long time.” n

Senate Discusses Creating AI Chatbot for Registration Help

BY JACK BECKMAN Asst. News Editor

With course registration quickly approaching, many students are meeting with their academic advisors and reviewing their degree audits to see what requirements they still have to fulfll.

But advising appointments are typically brief, and advisors can’t always answer all of the questions students have.

To help address this issue, the Center for Digital Innovation in Learning (CDIL) is considering developing a fresh solution: an AI chatbot.

Te chatbot would answer students’ questions about course registration and help them see what classes they still need to take to complete their degrees.

Te goal of the program is to supplement students’ academic advisors, not completely replace them, Akua Sarr, vice provost for undergraduate academic afairs, emphasized at the UGBC Senate meeting Tuesday night.

“If we did something with AI, that would be the transaction piece— checking the boxes—and we hope that will save more time for you to actually have a conversation with a faculty

member about more mentoring,” Sarr said.

Sarr was joined at the meeting by John FitzGibbon, associate director for digital learning innovation, and Tim Lindgren, assistant director for design innovation, to gather input from student senators and suggestions as they design the chatbot.

Because many BC students pursue double majors and minors, several student senators proposed that it would be helpful if the chatbot could identify courses eligible for cross-counting to meet requirements across multiple programs.

“I just want to make sure that it is really helpful in fnding out what requirements you need to satisfy because you have university requirements and you have major requirements, sometimes you want to fit a minor in, sometimes they’re in the Carroll School of Management—they have their own requirements there—so it’s very complicated,” said Grant Drinkwater, student senator and CSOM ’27.

Katie McCafrey, student senator and MCAS ’25, suggested integrating the chatbot into EagleApps to inform students of the specifc courses they could register for to fulfll outstanding requirements.

“I think what would be most useful is essentially being able to have a student upload their degree audit for the AI to point out where the gaps are, and then provide you with suggestions that are based on that semester’s course catalog,” McCafrey said.

To accomplish this, however, the CDIL would have to collaborate with Information and Technology Services (ITS), which manages EagleApps, a process that would be completed after the initial version chatbot has already been released, FitzGibbon said.

“We could pull [the chatbot] together very soon, but it wouldn’t have all the EagleApps information or information about your courses … because that’s ITS, but we’re talking to ITS all the time, so if we’re giving them all these ideas, maybe they can fgure out a way to merge it all together,” FitzGibbon said.

Advising students is only a small part of professors’ jobs, and they receive little formal training, Sarr said.

Under the current system, especially competent advisors are often overbur-

dened and forced to pick up the slack from other colleagues, Sarr added—a problem that the chatbot could potentially alleviate.

“It becomes a situation where the good people get hundreds of students, and the bad people decide, ‘Well, I don’t have to advise,’” Sarr said.

Sarr acknowledged that it is unrealistic to expect the chatbot to be implemented universally because certain professors are much more comfortable and knowledgeable about technology than others. n

GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

BC Puerto Rican Students Association condemned remarks made at former President Donald Trump’s rally on Oct. 27.

Former football head coach Hafley and men’s basketball head coach Grant remained BC’s top earners in FY23.

PRSA, from A1

FY23, from A1

Cheney Talks Harris Endorsement at CWBC Colloquium

BY WILL MARTINO Managing Editor

If you once told Liz Cheney that she would be on the presidential campaign trail with a Democratic candidate, ousted from the party she spent her life working for, and making Swiftie allusions to an audience at Boston College, she would have said you were full of it.

But stranger things have happened in the past decade.

“Tere are many policies that I may not agree with Vice President Harris about, but I just have absolutely no doubt, having spent time with her, that she understands the stakes,” Cheney said.

Former Republican Congresswoman Cheney returned to the Heights on Tuesday evening for the Council for Women of BC’s annual colloquium.

Cheney represented Wyoming’s at-large congressional district in the House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023. She served as chair of the House Republican Conference, the third highest-ranking position in the House Republican leadership, from 2019 to 2021, and vice chair of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack from 2021 to 2023.

Having spoken at BC just over a

year and a half ago, much of Cheney’s talk on Tuesday echoed her remarks from her frst visit—the Jan. 6 riots, shifting tides within the Republican Party, and alarm over former President Donald Trump.

But while attendees at her 2023 visit pressed Cheney if she would consider running for president in 2024, this visit was a stop of of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign trail, where Cheney is working to get out a country-over-party vote from Republicans.

“I feel very hopeful about this bipartisan coalition that’s running this presidential election,” Cheney said. “It’s something that’s very moving in a way that I hadn’t expected.”

Cheney joked that her “walk out” song for Harris’ rallies has been “Change (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift, a tidbit that earned her a few laughs and some light applause from the audience.

While she emphasized that her views don’t align perfectly with those of Harris, Cheney said the tone Harris is prepared to set for the country far outshines Trump’s.

“We are not a cruel nation—we just aren’t,” Cheney said. “When you look at what he did on January 6, when you look at the lies about the way that hurricane victims can get assistance, the lies about Springfeld and immi-

grants, there’s a fundamental cruelty there, and it’s not who we are.”

Cheney knows a thing or two about cruelty—her team spent tens of thousands of dollars on private security following an inundation of death threats she received following her vote to impeach Trump in 2021.

Cheney recalled being on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6 and getting the alarming call from her father, Dick Cheney, that started it all.

“He said, ‘President Trump just said that we have to get rid of the Liz Cheneys in the world,’” Cheney said.

“And my dad knew this was dangerous, and when I think about that call from him, and I think about obviously his concern as a father, but his real heartbreak, as well, about our country.”

Cheney said the period immediately following Jan. 6 was a moment of soul-searching and reckoning for the Republican Party—one that ultimately sent her to the party’s outskirts.

“Tere are many people who I thought would do the right thing but didn’t,” Cheney said of her former colleagues in Congress as they dealt with the aftermath of the attack on the

it is important for leaders to be open about changing their minds, it is also important for voters to disseminate honest reconsiderations from placative rhetoric.

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

New Senior Year Course Offerings to Launch in 2025

BY MEI DASGUPTA For The Heights

For over three decades, the Capstone Program at Boston College has enabled seniors to engage in self-reflection through a small fleet of highly demanded courses.

But now, the program is expanding, offering more opportunities for seniors to take the introspective journeys the courses promise.

“I think that the topics that will be found in these courses are so relevant to second-semester seniors,” said Ethan Sullivan, senior associate dean of the Carroll School of Management. “This is such an important and meaningful time in their life, it’s a chance to really dive into it and not just let the days go by without doing some of that discernment.”

The Office of the Provost sent out a proposal to faculty and administration last February requesting ideas for courses and co-curricular activities that could encourage seniors to reflect on their growth at BC.

After calling a committee to review and narrow down the proposals, the new courses are set to launch this spring.

“This initiative, I would say, is twofold,” Sullivan said. “One is to have more options for seniors, given the interest. And two, I think we’ve put a lot of innovation into the first year in terms

of courses and programs, and we wanted to have more of an emphasis on that transition for seniors as well.”

Elizabeth Bracher, director of BC’s Courage to Know program and new director of the expanded Capstone Program, said the program will offer multiple options to fit students’ needs and course schedules.

Seniors will have the opportunity to take one-credit, two-credit, and three-credit courses, some of which will be upper-level electives in departments like economics, philosophy, and film studies, as well as co-curricular programs and opportunities.

Bracher said she sees this expansion as an exciting new chapter for the program.

“We are still very much in the pilot stage, and we’re hoping that these new courses not only excite seniors in their fourth year, but also excite the instructors of these courses,” Bracher said.

Guided by Jesuit principles and the University’s mission, the initiative aims to equip students with the tools they need as they transition from college to life beyond the Heights.

“It’s not just a senior class,” Bracher said. “There’s something qualitatively different about a Capstone course. The Capstone course is meant to give seniors the opportunity to be attentive to their BC academic experience and

their outside-of-the-classroom experience, and then reflect on the meaning that it has in their life as they leave Boston College.”

Similarly, Sullivan explained that the spring semester is an important time for senior students to focus on who they are and how this will impact the lives they lead after BC.

“The opportunity right there to dive into these ideas and topics is going to lend meaning to [seniors’] experience looking backward and looking forwards,” Sullivan said.

According to Sullivan, co-curricular programs will encourage seniors to reflect on their growth and consider how they will contribute to society after graduation.

“One really interesting proposal is for a conference for seniors, a leadership conference, [which] I think will look a little bit like an adulting class,” Sullivan said. “Some of the topics will be about your spiritual development and your personal development. Others will be things like, how do you find an apartment, how do

you move to a new city?”

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Akua Sarr said the program was an effort of collaboration across different University sectors.

“There are a number of learning objectives, including an interdisciplinary perspective where students will explore the connections and intersections between diverse academic disciplines,” Sarr said. “So, courses that involve collaborative efforts of faculty from across departments were strongly enc ouraged.” n

Helfand Addresses Increasing Danger of Nuclear War

B Y A DDIE K INNALY Copy Editor

Nuclear war is a real and present danger, according to Ira Helfand, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.

“This is the danger in which we allow ourselves to live with every day, that we allow these weapons to continue to exist,” Helfand said. “We need to understand that these weapons do continue to exist—it is not a question of if they will be used, it is only a question of when they will be used.”

Helfand spoke at Boston College on Monday at an event titled “Back from the Brink,” discussing the present danger of nuclear war

and what can be done to stop it.

Helfand is a member of the International Steering Group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985 and 2017 for his work.

“This doesn’t have to happen,” Helfand said. “It really is up to us whether we have a nuclear war or not.”

Helfand detailed the various global stressors that could result in violence, including tension between the United States and Russia, the United States and China, and the Israel-Hamas War.

The use of nuclear weapons in any of these conflicts could bring about unimaginable destruction,

Helfand said.

“Within a 1,000th of a second of the detonation of this bomb, a firewall will form … everything will be vaporized—the buildings, the trees, the people, the upper level of the earth,” Helfand said. “The explosion will generate winds greater than 600 miles per hour. Mechanical forces of that nature, of that magnitude, destroy anything human beings can build within [16] miles in every direction.”

Helfand said this type of destruction would be catastrophic, with 12–15 million dead within a half hour in New York City, or four to five million in Boston. As years passed, people would experience radiation, lack of order, famine, and

would die in masses, Helfand said.

“It is possible that, under these circumstances, we could become extinct as a species,” Helfand said.

But according to Helfand, all is not lost.

“This horrible scenario that I’ve described to you is the future that will be if we don’t take action,” Helfand said. “But it is not the future that needs to be. Nuclear weapons are not a force of nature.”

Helfand said there is a network of people and groups that have come together to spread awareness about the danger of nuclear weapons and how to help stop nuclear destruction. With continued campaigning, he said,

we can encourage politicians to disassemble nuclear arms.

“There is a real campaign that has a real chance of success, but it needs something, which I frankly and directly invite you,” Helfand said. “No one of you can solve this problem alone, so you don’t have to feel that it’s all your job, but the job isn’t going to get done if each one of us doesn’t do that part of the job.”

Helfand urged the audience to become involved in the campaign against nuclear weapons.

“Those of us living today have been given the opportunity to save the world,” Helfand said. “And there’s nothing better that anyone can ever do with their life.” n

Capitol Building. Tough Cheney is currently a vocal critic of Trump, she was a reluctant supporter of the former president when he faced Hillary Clinton in 2016. Cheney said that while

NICOLE VAGRA / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

Cheney returned to the Heights to discuss her endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

MATTHEW MAO / HEIGHTS STAFF

Proposals for new courses and co-curricular activities were set to be reviewed this fall and launched in the spring.

Examining Newton’s Conservative Dissent

BY GENEVIEVE MORRISON

Assoc. Newton Editor

Newton residents will cast their ballots on Tuesday to choose their representatives in the State House, U.S. Capitol, and Oval Ofce. With a left-leaning voting population, Newton’s results are often predictable. But that’s not the whole story. One Republican candidate for state representative o fers a challenge to the status quo that’s worth recognizing.

Newton Basics

Newton is a politically active and frmly liberal community.

“Newton is an enlightened community that appears to be fair-minded, and it’s also an activist community, so I expect people to vote,” said Jerry Zolit, a Chestnut Hill resident.

Data shows Newton is overwhelmingly Democratic. 88 percent of party-registered voters in 2024 were Democrats, not counting independents.

In the 2020 presidential election, more than 80 percent of voters in the city voted for Joe Biden, who won 40,906 votes, while Donald Trump earned 8,347, according to Newton’s ofcial results.

Zolit said the presidential election will be his main priority on Election Day, though he will also be voting on a state and federal representative, senator, and fve ballot questions.

“I think that in this election cycle, the race for president has been so significant that everything else is secondary,” Zolit said.

Exception to the Rule

Although Newton is predominantly liberal, some pockets of conservative sentiment still endure.

Steve Yanovsky, the Republican candidate in the

11th Middlesex District state representative race, is the most recent example of this conservative opposition to the liberal majority.

He won 450 votes in his unopposed primary election. In comparison, his Democratic opponent, Amy Sangiolo, earned 5,181, according to the official primary results.

State representative races are small-scale partisan contests. In Newton, incumbents have historically dominated them.

For instance, Kay Khan, a Democrat, has occupied the same 11th Middlesex district seat for 29 years. T e last time she ran against a Republican challenger was 12 years ago, in a 2012 race against Greer Tan Swiston.

Marj Montgomery, a lifelong Newton resident, says she can’t recall many occasions when Republicans entered partisan races in the city.

“Mostly we never even had Republican candidates for ofce other than the fact, we often had a Republican mayor, in a non-party race,” Montgomery said.

Housing in a Contested Representative Race

Housing is a central point of contention in Newton politics.

In last year’s city council race, anti-zoning-reform candidates swept the election. Newton residents elected fve candidates backed by Save Newton Villages, a non-profit pushing against a then-proposed zoning overhaul that aimed to permit more housing to be built. Proponents of this reform said it would make housing cheaper in the city.

T ree of these anti-zoning candidates unseated incumbents, one of them being then-chair of the Zoning and Planning Committee, Deborah Crossley, who had spearheaded the rezoning initiative.

Montgomery said she’s noticed anxiety among residents about Newton becoming overbuilt, one concern behind some opposition to rezoning.

T ere certainly is a lot of concern about housing, but I think a lot of that is genuine concern about density,” Montgomery said.

Yanovsky has said he doesn’t support state-level zoning regulation, stating on his campaign website that he thinks local government should choose its own housing laws.

“Local control for city zoning in Newton, MA, empowers our community to shape its own future,” Yanovsky wrote on his campaign website.

Yanovsky has also stated that Newton doesn’t need to build more affordable housing—the issue rezoning efforts seek to address.

“Housing projects—we have tried that before,” Yanovsky said in a debate with Sangiolo on

Oct. 2. “It doesn’t work under any circumstances. We’ve tried many things, [like] Section Eight housing, I mean, there’s no investment of the person into the community or into the home that they’re living in.”

T roughout her campaign, Sangiolo has emphasized the need to add diverse housing stock, which was the intended purpose of Newton’s zoning reform. She’s argued, however, that state laws mandating rezoning aren’t the best way to do so and endorsed options like a real-estate transfer fee and smallscale zoning changes.

“We need to increase the supply of housing for all income levels, but in particular, my focus has always been on being more intentional about affordable housing needs out there as well as middle-income and workforce housing,” Sangiolo said in the Oct. 2 debate.

Sangiolo also discusses

zoning reform as one small element of a larger efort to make housing more a fordable in the state.

“The law was designed to increase housing supply but not designed to specifcally address the affordable housing crisis,” Sangiolo wrote on her campaign website. “More intentional action is needed to create truly afordable housing.”

What it Means

Te way Montgomery sees it, Yanovsky represents a challenge to the progressive political energy of the city.

“[Newton has] deep, deep roots in progressivism, and they’re getting a little shallower now,” Montgomery said. Onlookers might write off Newton’s Republican minority. But the bloc’s presence refects a reconciliation of the city’s local civics with the national sphere that umbrellas it. n

Newton Zoning and Planning Committee Prepares Final Approval of Emissions Reduction Ordinance

BY NIKITA OSADCHIY For The Heights

Newton’s Zoning and Planning Committee (ZAP) set up a likely fnal vote next session on Newton Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) at its meeting Monday night.

BERDO, which ZAP has previously considered, would mandate large property owners to report energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Josh Morse, commissioner of public buildings, and Bill Ferguson, Newton’s co-director of sustainability and energy project manager, joined the committee to respond to inquiries regarding the city’s readiness to comply with the ordinance.

“Te City of Newton started

our preparation for BERDO before we knew BERDO was a thing,” Morse said. “About eight years ago, we started our transition away from fossil-fuel heat to fully electric. Tat being said, right now, based on Bill [Ferguson] and their consultants’ calculations—and I concur—we are in good shape to be in full compliance with BERDO through 2040 with the projects that are going on right now.”

Ward 6 Councilor-At-Large Victoria Danberg proposed an amendment to the draft that would require all residential buildings 20,000 square feet or greater to be included in the ordinance to report and comply with the emission standards of BERDO. Currently, as the draft ordinance stands, it only applies to commercial buildings.

Danberg explained the need for residential buildings

to be included in the ordinance, emphasizing that they represent a large percentage of the total greenhouse gas emissions.

“At this point, the requirement is to report, and later down the road … to achieve stricter emissions standards over time,” Danberg said. “And there are 292 large commercial buildings that are owned by 179 owners. Tey account for 23 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions in Newton. Large residential buildings represent 20 percent of the large building emissions. So of a total amount of emissions, 20 percent of that is represented by the large residential buildings.”

Greg Reibman, president and CEO of Charles River Regional Chamber, a non-proft organization, spoke to express his concerns regarding the amendment.

“We did not give any other residential owners a chance to speak, and I think, really, my only concern here is we have a climate crisis,” Reibman said. “We also have a housing crisis. We have an afordability crisis, and we have a housing shortage crisis. We do not know the implications of this … and I urge the council to give us time to explore that and to collect feedback.”

All eight members of ZAP supported the original BERDO ordinance, and six of the eight would support amending BERDO to include large residential buildings of 20,000 square feet or greater. Te committee indicated it would hold the ordinance one fnal time, and in the next session, the committee would put BERDO to a fnal vote.

ZAP Committee Vice-Chair and Ward 1 Councilor-At-Large John Oliver moved to hold BERDO and directed that the ordinance be modifed to distill any points of confusion.

“ Te goal here would be to have you come back with one version of this ordinance,” Oliver said. “Let’s just make sure that when we go through this at our next session—when we can get this on the table—everyone’s confdent as to what was included.”

Monday’s meeting also

featured the elevation of Jennifer Pucci to a full-voting member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

Pucci, associate general counsel at Boston University, discussed her former role as a litigator for Newton’s Law Department and expressed her commitment to public service and interest in serving on the ZBA.

“I appreciate the opportunity that the mayor is giving me to serve,” Pucci said. “I believe really strongly in public service and playing your part. When I worked for the city, it was incredibly interesting to see how [government] works. It works because good people give their time to make it work— the employees who work for the city, but also the counselors, the commissioners, the folks who are on the boards and commissions— and I very much wanted to serve and play a part in that.”

Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller appointed Pucci to a full board position last month and sought ZAP’s confirmation. Until now, Pucci had served as an associate member of the ZBA since her appointment in 2022.

Following a brief questionand-answer session, ZAP unanimously confrmed Pucci to the ZBA. Pucci will now complete the term of ZBA board member William McLaughlin, which ends on April 30, 2025. n

Newton’s residents usually vote Democrat, but there’s still Republican opposition in the city.

GENEVIEVE MORRISON / HEIGHTS EDITOR

State Says Newton Must Revise Zoning Laws

BY ELLA SONG

Newton Editor

Newton made significant changes to its zoning laws last year for the frst time since 1987 in order to comply with a state transportation law.

But last week, Massachusetts ofcials pointed out two areas where Newton needed to tweak these changes to be considered compliant with that law. Malden and Everett are the only other two Massachusetts communities to receive the correction, while 33 others’ zoning plans were approved.

Te MBTA Communities Act, which Massachusetts passed in 2021, mandates certain cities and towns change their zoning laws to allow more multi-family homes to be built near MBTA stations.

Jennifer Caira, Newton’s deputy

director of planning, said she was not surprised the city made mistakes in its zoning overhaul.

“We were focused on the number and meeting our minimum unit capacity, and there were many complex requirements of Section 3A of the MBTA Communities Law,” Caira said. “So we were not necessarily surprised.”

According to the ofcial letter from the state, Newton needs to clarify language regarding the compliance process for buildings constructed prior to the new zoning ordinance and needs to remove the special permit requirements on retaining walls—walls that hold back soil on a slope—over four feet tall.

“So we need to amend those two provisions in the zoning … one of them has to do with when existing buildings are opting in and eventually redeveloping, and the other has to do

with retaining walls that may be necessary to get to underground garages,” Caira said. “So two relatively minor technical provisions by the state.”

Te provision regarding the optin process for pre-existing buildings is an issue of language interpretation, according to Ward 1 Councilor-at-Large John Oliver.

Oliver said the retaining walls provision, however, is a more clear violation of the MBTA Communities Act.

“We dropped the ball on this one,” Oliver said. “Te state was very clear that anything that qualifies for MBTA-C compliance has to be allowed by right, and for us to use the word ‘special permit’ in our own language was a mistake that we have to address.”

The retaining wall measure causes issues for use in the construction of underground garages,

and restricting their construction could make it difcult for multi-use developments to be built, Caira said.

“When you have a mixed-use building, you often have underground parking and … you often need walls to account for the grading change to get to the underground level, so those walls can be more than four feet,” Caira said. “So that’s the primary concern there, as it may make it difcult to build underground parking without triggering the need for a special permit.”

Te purpose of the MBTA Communities Act is to zone for afordable and mixed-use developments by right, which removes the drawn-out deliberative process required when a developer applies for a special permit, according to former city councilor and Zoning and Planning Committee (ZAP) chair Deborah Crossley.

“[Te deliberative process] takes a long time,” Crossley said. “It’s highly staf dependent, draws out the process, and costs the property owner a lot of time and money. And that raises the cost of housing, and that’s a disincentive to build housing.”

But according to Oliver, there are instances in which high retaining walls can be used to construct homes that are signifcantly taller than the neighboring homes, which he calls toadstool houses.

Tey stand out in terms of the scale and character of a neighborhood,” Oliver said.

Oliver said he and other city councilors are trying to fnd a way to keep restrictions on the height of retaining walls depending on their uses.

“[We’re trying to] figure out, how do we make retaining walls for certain purposes that are considered intensely legitimate underground parking and so on and so forth, without allowing these toadstool houses to be built by right,” Oliver said.

In last year’s city council elections, candidates backed by Save Newton Villages—an organization opposed to the city’s eforts to rezone beyond state requirements—dominated the races.

Newton director of planning and development Barney Heath, however, said the change in ZAP’s makeup and leadership wasn’t a problem for the revision process.

“I think that there’s still a pretty solid contingency of councilors that were aware of this and involved in this last year, last term,” Heath said. Tey have a good sense of the overall ordinance.”

Te City Council will hold public hearings on Nov. 14 to discuss the two modifcations to the zoning ordinance. From there, any modifcations will have to be approved by ZAP and then the full City Council.

“Hopefully by the end [of] next month, we all have those resolved and can report back to the state,” Caira said. n

Knot & Purl Fosters a Passion For Crafting

BY EMMA STADOLNIK

For The Heights

BY RILEY DEL SESTO

For The Heights

Tracy Herman, the owner of Knot & Purl, a craft store in Newton Highlands, lives by the motto that anyone can craft.

“Crafting is cheating,” Herman said. “Crafting is throwing things together and seeing it work. You don’t have to have a skill and a talent to craft.”

Herman proved her determination to help others live out this mantra this past Saturday when she opened Knot & Purl—a crafting playground catered toward adults.

Herman thinks of Knot & Purl as her living room, where adult crafters can share creativity and conversation.

“I thought, as an adult crafter, there has got to be a lot of us out there that want a space,” Herman said. “We don’t want to do it at home. We want to socialize. We want to drink our wine, beer, and sit and paint and watch a movie or play a game.”

Herman fosters a creative environment by ofering various workshops such as blanket making, candle making, wood projects, canvas painting, and more.

“I want to inspire people to say, ‘Look, it’s not difcult,’” Herman said.

While Herman wants to encourage an infux of adult crafters through Knot & Purl, she also appreciates her time crafting with kids, especially since she has to fulfll the role as the “cool Auntie” to her nieces and nephews.

As such, Herman’s “living room” is open to all levels. At the store, she hosts “Munchkin Makers,” a daily after-school program that Herman says provides a creative outlet for kids to craft.

Herman is excited about the community response from Knot & Purl’s grand opening, which began when Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller led a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Te celebration was complete with a massive balloon arch, live jazz music, face painting, giveaways, and rafes.

“It was packed,” Herman said.

“I’m still on a high.”

Herman had to make a statement to draw attention to the new shop due to its location on the second foor of a building. The festivities attracted approximately 300 guests to Knot & Purl throughout the day, according to Herman.

“I’d say I got maybe 100 people through the door in four hours and maybe another 200 throughout the day,” Herman said.

Herman views the opening of Knot & Purl as an opportunity to pur-

sue her passion.

Before the opening of Knot & Purl, Herman worked in an ofce for 25 years.

“Business is tough,” Herman said.

“I got laid of from my job and I fgured, ‘What am I going to do now?’ I didn’t know if I had it in me to continue. In order to survive corporate America [I crafted.] Tis is what I love to do. Tis is me. Strip away the titles and the degrees and everything, this is me.”

Herman opened Knot & Purl in part to strengthen her bond with her family through crafting, but she found another community along the way.

“What I love about Newton Highlands is just that sense of community,” she said. “Tis is still that small, quaint town feel.”

Tere is a strong sense of cama-

raderie among Newton Highlands small business owners who exemplify neighborly afability and care.

Linda Gulman, owner of Indulge!—a candy shop directly across the street from Knot & Purl—said she admires Herman’s entrepreneurial spirit.

“Tracy’s done such an incredible job, and it takes a village,” Gulman said. “She’s a terrifc person, and I think she’ll do really well.”

Gulman emphasized the sense of connection felt among the business owners on Lincoln Street.

“It’ not just the merchants, it’s the neighborhood,” Gulman said. “It’s people who live nearby. When they support you, they really go all out and support you, so I think [Herman] will get a lot of support.”

Matt Santarpio, owner of The

Walnut Market, located across the street from Knot & Purl, has already felt the impact from the new crafting hub.

“Honestly, it’s the frst [store] that I’ve seen, not in a retail window, [that is] working this hard to drive business,” Santarpio said. “It’s fun to see. She seems that she’ll be very capable of taking advantage of that initial excitement, and turning it into something that’s more lasting.”

Inspired by the longevity of Indulge! and The Walnut Market, Herman hopes Knot & Purl will have an enduring impact in years to come.

“I’m at a point in my life where community and family means more to me right now than anything,” Herman said. “So I want to build this to be an anchor.” n

Newton Finance Committee Approves Use of Grant Funding for Human Resources Study

BY GENEVIEVE MORRISON

Assoc. Newton Editor

Newton City Council’s Finance Committee approved the use of grant funding for a study into Newton’s public employment system at its meeting Monday.

Newton’s human resources department won a state grant to complete a classification study, a report to compare how public employees are paid relative to their responsibilities and other workers with similar jobs, according to Michelle Pizzi O’Brien, the director of human resources for the City of Newton.

T e measure to disburse the $50,000 of funding to the Department of Human Resources passed 7–0

Tis study is aimed at making sure that each worker is paid fairly for his or her responsibilities in comparison to other workers employed by the city, O’Brien said. “We do that in order to ensure equitable compensation for similar work,” O’Brien said.

Newton’s Department of Human Resources will also use the study to determine how the city’s pay compares to that of comparable local govern - ments. O’Brien said this is useful in determining

how to make Newton pay competitive and fair.

“We look at [other] communities to have equity amongst our competitors and also be ahead of the market where we can be, in order to recruit and retain talent,” O’Brien said.

In addition, greater clarity about pay will help both employees and the city accurately judge when a worker deserves a raise, according to O’Brien.

“It’s clear and it’s transparent,” O’Brien said. “It makes it easier to say, ‘Yes, absolutely, we’re seeing changes within your job description.’ And it also makes it easy to say no

when it’s appropriate to say no.” The state grant will pay for $50,000 of the study, which is estimated to cost between $80,000 and $100,000 when completed, O’Brien said.

The Department of Human Resources won’t start work with a consultant until at least January, and even after that, the project may be delayed if it turns out that it will require additional funding, according to O’Brien.

“We haven’t started this right now,” O’Brien said. “We’re just looking to accept the grant funds and get started on the process.”

O’Brien said it’s unclear when

Newton last assessed its jobs with a classif cation study because city records on this topic are not exact, but she guessed that it was last done in the 1990s.

“We do use the grade Hay, and Hay Associates is a group that was really active in the HR circles in the 1990s, so I think maybe that’s when we did it last,” O’Brien said. “I would be wrong to say that’s certain.” For context, the neighboring town of Needham fnished its most recent study in 2021.

“It sounds like we’re due to upgrade and update our structure,” said Ward 1 Councilor Maria Scibelli Greenberg. n

RILEY DEL SESTO / FOR THE HEIGHTS

Herman opened Knot & Purl in Newton Highlands last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

BEN SHULTZ / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

Newton passed its current zoning ordinance last year in order to comply with the MBTA Communties Act.

M AGAZINE

Guide to Newbury Street

BY BRADY WELBURN Heights Staff

As the crisp fall air settles onto Boston College’s campus, students are flocking to the Green Line in excited anticipation of the costly adventure that awaits them. Only a thirty-minute ride into Boston, Newbury Street is a cherished shopping destination among all students, and understandably so — Newbury boasts more than 120 stores with a virtually limitless catalog of clothing, comics, and everything in between.

But college students don’t have unlimited money. I get it. So, if you were to ask me, here are the top four establishments on Newbury Street worth your time, energy, and money.

Brandy Melville

From the “fun-sized” French door controversy to its “one size fits all” sweatpant drama, Brandy Melville has survived cancel culture, proving that it’s here to stay. If that wasn’t already obvious from its popularity on BC’s campus, then you should check out the Newbury Street store on a Saturday.

Alo Yoga

There are truly few experiences in life better than buying Alo sweatpants. Upon entering the store, you’ll be greeted by an array of kind, smiley employees who will make you feel like $250 for a workout set is worth it (it isn’t, in my opinion).

Nonetheless, Alo’s success as a store, in direct competition with a brand like Lululemon, can be attributed to its high-quality materials and vast catalog of products. They really do have everything. Another perk is the fitness and yoga program offered with online purchases—it’s a free trial, but still cool!

Although a little expensive, the love that I have (and many BC students do) for Alo is real.

The dropping of clothes, running of frantic customers, and loud conversations almost make you feel like you’re standing in the middle of a high school pep rally. Past its problematic publicity, Brandy has a strong collection of basics: simple, cool-colored sweaters, cropped baby tees, and, of course, their comfy cotton sweatpants. Ringing up anywhere from ten to seventy dollars for most items, the quality of the clothes seems like a pretty good bang for your buck. You might have to rip it out of someone’s hands first, though.

Together, let’s conquer life one $80 sweatshirt at a time … or choose to save money. I’d pick the sweatshirt, though.

Pavement Coffeehouse

Although not a clothing store, Pavement is a masterfully crafted business. I truly adore them. Especially in Boston, I feel as though many coffee shops lack a certain sparkle or edge. The same cannot be said for this cafe, and their bagels … so good!

Of course, a bagel with cream cheese will run you around five dollars, which I’d argue is a pretty manageable price given Pavement’s prestige among bagel critics. Their coffee is no joke, either.

Patagonia

With sustainability at its core, this high-end winter apparel machine is a must-see before winter comes.

Snuggled into a two-story brick building with a homey feel, the Newbury Street store is unbelievably homey. Even if you don’t buy anything, just go in and see for yourself. And if you do choose to purchase one of their amazing pieces, know that you’re doing something good for the Earth (maybe not your wallet, though). n

Sydney’s Cookies

B Y SYDNEY BENEDICT Heights Staff

If I walked around Boston College’s campus and asked everyone I saw, “What’s your favorite sweet treat?”, I doubt anyone would say a chocolate chip cookie. To be candid, if someone did, I would assume one of two things: this person has an incredibly mundane palate or this person is eating some crazy chocolate chip cookies. Tough chocolate chip cookies are rarely someone’s favorite treat, they remain a staple in bakeries around the world. We can always count on this crowd-pleasing sweet to grace the counters of a bakesale or fundraiser. Grandparents worldwide have unique takes on the recipe, whether it’s the addition of oatmeal or almond extract, creaming the butter and sugar, or baking the cookies at varying temperatures. Chocolate chip cookies are everywhere. But these cookies exist on an extraordinarily wide spectrum, and everyone has a diferent preference— soft vs. crunchy, lots vs. few chocolate chips, dry vs. moist—the list goes on. This week, I set out to create the best chocolate chip cookie of all time. I needed to crack the code— what makes a chocolate chip cookie worthy of being the favorite? After many trials and tribulations, I think I’ve fnally done it. Tese cookies are soft in the middle, crunchy on the edges, and flled with a rich, buttery, super-chocolatey favor. I hope you all agree and thoroughly enjoy!

DISH: Te Ultimate Brown-Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS: Cookies:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 cup white cane sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon instant cofee granules

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 ½ cups white four

Ghirardelli chocolate chips as desired Caramel (optional):

2 tablespoons butter (salted or unsalted)

⅓ cup cane sugar

½ teaspoon baking soda

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Butter and four the cookie sheets.

If adding caramel, melt butter and cane sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until liquid and light brown in color.

Remove from heat and add baking soda to the mixture.

Place on parchment paper and allow to cool!

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Continue stirring until brown in color and moderately bubbling. Stir every minute or so, turning down heat if bubbling is too extreme.

Allow butter to cool.

Whisk together both types of sugar in a separate large bowl, thoroughly.

Once mixed, add vanilla, cofee granules, and eggs to the bowl, mixing with each addition.

Add dry ingredients to the bowl and fold until the mixture forms a dough-like consistency.

Marina Bers Develops Smart Playgrounds

In 2001, Bers established the Developmental Technologies Research Group, whose mission statement is to “promote young children’s learning about computational thinking, coding, making, and engineering in a playful, developmentally appropriate way.”

Bers and her DevTech Research Group have worked on numerous projects and received countless awards and accolades for their unique and innovative ideas and research.

Ten years ago they codeveloped ScratchJr, a free introductory programming language that enables young children ages 5–7 to learn coding by creating interactive stories and games. As of August 2023, the app has over 45 million users and has been translated into 48 languages.

“It’s humbling,” Bers said. “It’s amazing to see the creativity of people all

over the world.”

Bers and her team continued developing new methods of teaching children these concepts, but they wanted a new tool that would keep them of of screens and get them collaborating with their peers.

“[I thought], why don’t we develop a smart playground where kids can develop computational thinking and learn how to code and explore robotics while playing in the actual playground?”

Bers said.

Te project, funded by a U.S. National Science Foundation Discovery Research PreK-12 grant, began in 2023 and is estimated to take four years.

Te frst year was primarily focused on exploration and research—collecting data on what kids, parents, and teachers wanted. Tis included co-design sessions in Santa Ana, Calif., and the Jewish Community Day School in Massachusetts, as well as playground

observations at the Boston College Children’s Center.

This year has been focused on physical prototyping and testing based on data and ideas from kids, Bers said. Years three and four will include actual commercial development and implementation of the playgrounds.

Te project’s extensive team comes from three diferent universities: BC, Tufts University, and the University of California Irvine.

“We work with interdisciplinary teams and multi-generational teams,” Bers said. “Teachers and children and parents and researchers—we want to hear everyone’s voices and also diferent skills. You have the one that understands physics, the one that understands design, and the one that understands robotics and electrical engineering, and the one that knows how to work with the community.”

Te UCI School of Education team brings a unique cultural lens foundational to this project. With a specialty in playgrounds themselves and culturally oriented design, their focus has been conducting research with Latino families in Santa Ana, Calif.

“[Tey] have years of experience working with communities and doing co-design, meaning, what does the community really need, not what the engineers want to build,” Bers said.

Te research grant focuses specifically on the cultural values and needs of Santa Ana. Te immigrant-heavy and

Hispanic-majority community is often left behind in technical innovations, Bers said, leaving children unexposed to computational learning, robotics, and engineering. Te smart playground is meant to change this.

“We really care about making an impact in the community,” Bers said. “So the long-term goal will be to co-design with the community something they’re proud of and they think adds value.”

Te team at Tufts, led by professor of mechanical engineering Chris Rogers and grad student Sophie Hankin, has been collaborating with the BC team to workshop co-design sessions with local students and begin developing prototypes. Soon, they will bring prototypes into the BC Children’s Center classroom and continue designing based on student feedback.

Hankin and her team are currently working on a prototype of a Bluetooth-enabled stufed animal.

“I’m working on building a small module to stick inside a stufed animal,” Hankin said. “Each kid gets one of those, and on the module is an accelerometer, so we can track the position of the module. It’ll be able to talk over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to diferent devices. It’ll have diferent buttons and lights and a little screen. Te idea is that they can connect this module to what we’re calling extensions on other parts of the playground.”

Trough conversations with actual kids, the team at Tufts began to envision playground elements such as slide

stoplights.

“If someone’s on the slide, the light is red,” Hankin said. “As I get to the bottom, it turns yellow, and then when they’re gone, it’s green. So the kid at the top of the slide knows that it’s their turn to go down.”

Hankin also said the project can enhance traditional playground games like tag.

“If my module and someone else’s module are talking to each other over Bluetooth when we’re far away from each other, our lights are green,” Hankin said. “When we’re close together, our lights are blue, and that way, I can tag my friend and change their color of light, and then they can go do that for someone else.”

Playground elements intentionally emphasize discovery and curiosity rather than instructed, forced playtime, according to PhD student Jessica Blake-West, who’s helping to lead the team at BC.

“Te idea is that we’re building tools and modules that kids can use when they’re playing on the playground so that the actual application is determined by the kids,” Blake-West said. “We don’t want to bring this preset game where we have all the settings and all of the rules and every outcome is already determined.”

OPINIONS

Callie Oxford

Associate Photo Editor

“Having a kitchen is an inconvenience.”

Addie Kinnaly Copy Editor

“Halloween and Hallo-weekend at Boston College are wildly

Maria Stefanoudakis

Assistant Sports Editor

“Matcha mixed with chai is really good.”

Associate Newton Editor

“I love BC dining breakfast potatoes.”

Sarah Vergura

Associate Advertising Director

“It’s time for it to get colder outside.”

Spencer Steppe

Magazine Editor

“I love when it gets cold enough to wear sweaters to class.”

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

You Are Not in the Darkest Timeline

It’s hard not to feel cynical in 2024, as digital alerts about climate change and wars and migrants and mental illness all pump into our brains like water against an unstable dam. Amid this doom and gloom, we ought to acknowledge we do not live in “the Darkest Timeline,” as joked about by the cult classic NBC sitcom Community . Crucially, though, we only live outside of this timeline thanks to one man—and one decision. Let me explain.

In October 1962, the United States and Soviet Union, the world’s two nuclear-armed superpowers at the time, threatened the Earth with nuclear annihilation due to a standoff around storing atomic bombs in Cuba.

Both sides were ready to fire on the other and kill hundreds of millions, if not billions, with nuclear hellfire. In the midst of this dispute, one Soviet submarine detected American explosives going off nearby.

Consequently, the submarine’s staff

had good reason to believe that the United States had attacked the Soviet military, and that nuclear war had begun.

Two out of the three senior officers on the submarine signed off on launching their own nuclear missiles to annihilate the American military. They needed just one more man to sign off on this false retaliation and kick-start a nuclear apocalypse.

That man said no. Vasily Arkhipov, the third-in-command of this isolated B-59 submarine, wanted more time to be sure that nuclear war had already begun. The submarine’s staff launched into a heated debate with him, but Arkhipov—standing alone—kept his composure. Minutes after his veto, he was proven right. Communication was back alive, and so was humanity.

Part of me is surprised that we don’t celebrate Arkhipov’s legacy more often. Nuclear war would’ve meant the extinction of hundreds of millions of people— including the bulk of Europe, Asia and the Americas. It’s an impossible scenario to process, but it was almost a very likely reality were it not for him.

Another part of me understands that Arkhipov was just doing his job. One could argue that his fellow officers were out of line and that he was the only one to act sensibly.

After all, although the crew lost contact with the USSR, they could still pick up American radio broadcasts. If nukes had dropped, wouldn’t American broadcasts have stopped too? We can’t dig

Arkhipov’s comrades out of their graves to answer these questions, but we can be grateful that he saw through their panic. To an extent, then, Arkhipov really didn’t do all that much.

He simply refused to go along with his fellow officers’ irrational fears. And, after the crisis concluded, he didn’t see himself—or sell himself—as the hero that saved the world.

Refusing to make a horrific, nuclear-armed mistake probably shouldn’t qualify you for a Nobel Peace Prize. If that was the standard, then every nuclear-armed political leader since President Truman deserves immense praise for having had the capability to destroy the world with nukes, but deciding not to do so.

What made Arkhipov different from these leaders is that he made an active decision to say no in the face of universal pressure to say yes.

I’m in no position to call for worldwide nuclear disarmament, nor do I perversely believe we should “have gratitude for every day, since you never know when a nuclear bomb will kill us all!” Rather, I believe the story of Arkhipov is a thought exercise about life’s fragility, not only about why it’s so fragile, but how we can save it.

Sometimes, saving the world means not pressing the button—even when everyone wants you to.

What Fantasy Means to Me

I have read The Hobbit so many times that I lost count of the rereads sometime around eighth grade. Even though I never use this as my fun-fact icebreaker (for fear of coming off a bit too nerdy a bit too soon), it is without a doubt my favorite truth about myself.

My copy is old, falling apart, and was once dropped in a hot tub. It also happens to be my prized possession and the thing I would grab first if my apartment were on fire.

These are all things I’ve been thinking about during the random English class I added to my schedule at the last minute—Pleasure Reading (or Reading for Pleasure, the less explicit-sounding alternative I’ve given it).

The class is focused on what it actually means to read for fun. Reading has been my only real hobby for the vast majori -

ty of my life, so it felt like the class was made for me.

In just the first half of this semester, it has made me do some serious reflection on what I read for fun and why I read it. With all of this mulling, I’ve come to an important conclusion: People do not give the genre of fantasy its flowers.

Fantasy books have defined my personal reading experience from the very beginning. I, like many, got sucked into the world of Harry Potter at an early age. When I read The Hobbit for the first time in fifth grade, it was like being swallowed whole.

I truly believe that there is no feeling quite like being completely engrossed in a fantastical world with entirely new rules and never-ending possibilities. Fantasy is one of the best forms of escape I know.

Picking up a fantasy book requires you to leave this world behind in a sense. You become so engrossed in another realm and its characters that you’re truly able to let go of anything that may be bothering you—even just for a short while. To me, fantasy is about true relaxation.

It helps you not only gain perspective on your personal life and problems, but also better understand the stakes of your choices and acknowledge what really matters.

Fantasy authors often use the medium to address life’s big questions. They take

their own decisive moral beliefs and force them into a new world to see if they hold up. It has been a genre that consistently comments on religion and politics but rarely gets credit for it.

At the end of the day, most fantasy is simply a metaphor for life. Narnia was created to hold C. S. Lewis’s conception of Christianity. Suzanne Collins’ newest novel is inspired by David Hume’s theory of implicit submission and “the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.”

There is so much knowledge and understanding to uncover within the genre of fantasy. Yes, it is often a bit silly if you only look at the surface level of a world populated with hobbits, dwarfs, dragons, and more.

But really, The Hobbit is a book about purpose and what it means to find it. It asks every reader what they would be willing to sacrifice in order to fulfill their true potential.

These lessons are given in a way that, to me, feels even more pure and true. If characters in a book set in a world so different from your own can come to such critical conclusions and change their lives for the better, then why can’t you do the same?

TOMMY ROCHE

GRAPHICS BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

KATIE SPILLANE

The Heights’ Recommendations for BC’s Next University President

An email from Boston College’s Presidential Search Committee invited members of the BC community to share their thoughts on the future of the University and what values it should look for in the institution’s prospective leader.

Te Heights’ editorial board, in response to the questions posed, believes the following considerations are necessary for the presidential search committee to recognize and use during its search.

What do you regard as key opportunities for Boston College now and in the coming decade, and what should the Board and University leaders do in response?

For many decades, BC has continued on its upward trajectory toward greater prominence as a leading U.S. university. Several key features of the coming decade—afrmative action, afordability, and the opportunities within Messina College—will defne a key infection point in that journey.

Just before the start of the 2023–24 academic year, the Supreme Court struck down race-based afrmative action in college admissions. University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., criticized this decision upon its announcement, emphasizing the necessity of a diverse student body to maintain inclusive intellectual dialogue.

Tough they no longer have direct control over the diversity of BC’s student body, the University’s next board of leaders must work to promote diverse voices on campus and ensure that students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds feel supported by the University.

It is critical that we maintain an inclusive campus that fosters the invaluable range of perspectives that can make a University truly global in its mindset and values. Part of that process includes addressing the University’s cost, which is one of the most signifcant factors facing countless prospective students.

Across the United States, university tuition rates are climbing and BC’s cost of attendance is among the most expensive in the United States. In order to continue attracting

the widest range of applicants, maintaining a competitive pricing structure is critical.

In a similar vein, BC’s newest school, Messina College, enrolled its frst class of 100 frst-generation students in a two-year associate’s degree program under the Leahy administration. Te University has already made eforts to integrate Messina students into the wider BC community, from enrolling these students in courses with faculty of the four undergraduate schools on campus to making student organizations openly available. As this program continues under the leadership of a new administration, BC’s leaders must prioritize increasing opportunities for these students and consider the potential for expanding this school.

What do you judge to be critical challenges facing Boston College today and in the next 10 years, especially in maintaining Boston College’s mission, heritage, and culture as a Jesuit, Catholic university?

In the evolving collegiate landscape, two essential elements have most prominently entered the conversation in recent years—progress and tradition. With political infammation fnding a front line on campuses throughout the nation, it is clear that the stability drawn from a university’s history is vital to its mission’s sustainability. Yet, this must not prevent inevitable and necessary evolution in higher education.

In the next 10 years, BC’s leadership must seek to strike a careful equilibrium between preserving its “culture as a Jesuit, Catholic university” and maintaining the highest standard of free speech on campus. BC must provide students with a constructive setting to express and decipher their own beliefs without unnecessarily weighing in on contentious issues as an administration.

Tis dichotomy, despite having proven difcult in recent years for several college presidents, is crucial. Te University must learn from its mistakes in the past and prepare for the future if the school wants to maintain a cohesive community.

What qualities and potential attributes will be essential in BC’s next president?

When considering a successor to Leahy, it is important to begin by acknowledging what he has accomplished as the longest-tenured president in University history. From his invigoration of the arts at BC to his foresight in initiating the “Ever to Excel,” “Light the World,” and “Soaring Higher” campaigns, Leahy has undoubtedly left his mark on BC. Te University’s signifcant expansion by integrating the Weston Jesuit School of Teology and Pine Manor College is also attributed to Leahy’s administration.

But with that said, Leahy’s tenure was not without turbulence. Te Heights believes learning from these shortcomings and implementing necessary administrative growth is key to the future success of the institution.

While age and experience are often associated with wisdom, it remains paramount that the next BC president leads with a youthful and open-minded conviction. If BC wishes to implement meaningful and well-received policies, the new president’s responsibility is frst to understand the sentiment of the student body and the larger BC community.

Tis is not to suggest that they shouldn’t be confdent and steadfast in their decision-making or morality—instead, it is a call to maintain a keen eye on the temperature of those who they seek to lead, at every level. Whether it is a committee of fellow administrators, the student government, or the larger school population, the next president must create a dialogue that has been largely missing in recent years.

Tis can take many forms, but being a visible, accessible, and receptive president who engages with students and integrates themselves into the lifeblood of the school will help bridge the gap that currently exists. As Christian and Jesuit values encourage, personal connection is the foundation of building community. Whether Leahy’s successor fnds this community by meeting with students to hear what they think or by simply appearing more in public, a new defnition of university president must be reached.

YAMARI SANTILLAN / HEIGHTS STAFF

YAMARI SANTILLAN / HEIGHTS STAFF

YAMARI SANTILLAN / HEIGHTS STAFF

Boston College women’s soccer downed Syracuse in their fnal game of the season, fnshing the Eagles’ most successful campaign since the 2018 season. Despite conceding a goal in early minutes of the match, the Eagles rallied to fnish with a 3–1 win over the Orange.

YAMARI SANTILLAN / HEIGHTS STAFF

YAMARI SANTILLAN / HEIGHTS STAFF

YAMARI SANTILLAN / HEIGHTS STAFF

BC A Cappella Groups Unite in Showcase

BY LEAH STITZEL

Asst. Arts Editor

Kathy Lu Assoc. Podcast Editor

On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Robsham Theater Arts Center

welcomed fve of Boston College’s a cappella groups to its stage for the fall A Cappella Showcase. Despite a small turnout, the groups brought a warm, intimate energy to the theater, and the cheers of family and friends flled the space.

To kick of the evening, Black Experience in America Through Song (B.E.A.T.S.) entered through

the theater’s curtains onto the stage, immediately ending conversations among the audience whose attention drifted to the frst a cappella group. B.E.A.T.S opened with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black national anthem.

Te audience stood for the piece, starting the night with a reverent moment.

B.E.A.T.S. used its set to showcase a soloist and a voice percussionist, both freshmen who delivered powerful frst performances.

Te group performed “If I Ever Fall in Love” by Shai, featuring soloist Amara Hurd, MCAS ’28, and

fnished with a joyful and energetic rendition of “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, performed by soloist John Forry, MCAS ’26, and voice percussionist Ridge Noelsaint, MCAS ’28.

Te Common Tones of Boston College, BC’s only service-based a cappella group, followed B.E.A.T.S.

The group’s soloist Declan Donovan, MCAS ’26, opened with “Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran. T en, the group followed Donovan’s performance with “I Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves, featuring duo Natalie Bartell, MCAS ’27, and Chuck Bacciocco, MCAS ’26. A group favorite that was also part of last year’s Spring Café, the performance was bittersweet and deeply moving.

Boston College Acoustics was the third group to perform. Soloist Tessa Burke, MCAS ’26, delivered a heartfelt performance of “One Last Time” by Ariana Grande, and soloist Shea Schindelar, MCAS ’25, ended the set with “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees.

All three Acoustics songs featured Daniel Nam, MCAS ’27, as voice percussionist. Nam’s stage presence and percussion made the Acoustics’ set stand out, and blended with the already talented soloists’ voices for an impactful performance.

In the latter half of the night, Against Te Current, BC’s Christian a cappella group, took the stage.

Tey started of with “Never Once” by Matt Redman, performed by soloist Sunkyo Kim, CSOM ’27. Although the set began solemnly, the group quickly picked up volume and energy, singing passionately through the end of the set.

Te group continued with “I See the Light” by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi from the Tangled movie, featuring soloist duo Riley Marschall, MCAS ’27, and Ryan Nam, MCAS ’25. Te Disney duet was a sweet and hopeful addition to the group’s set, which ended with a heart-wrenching rendition of “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele, performed by Jayathri Fernando, MCAS ’27.

The closing act of the night was Voices of Imani, a gospel choir led by director Shannon Jacob. Te group’s set only featured one a cappella song. As Jacob explained, the group’s choice to include piano accompaniment and percussion for the other two songs was deliberate, given the history of the music it typically performs.

“Because we do sing spirituals, a lot of spirituals have a very deep and heavy history,” Jacob said. “We are very careful about when we do those a cappella songs, so we have a bit of a lighter program for today.” Voices of Imani began with “Seteng Sediba” by Soweto Gospel Choir featuring soloist Ian Yu, LSEHD ’25, which was the group’s only a cappella song.

The remaining two songs, “Blackbird” by Nina Simone and “Go Down Moses” by Louis Armstrong, were a powerful and energetic end to the night. Te showcase ended with the choir clapping and singing joyfully along with one another, and the audience swaying right along with them. n

‘Rabbit Hole’ Provides an Analysis of Grief

This weekend, Rabbit Hole debuted at Robsham Theater. The play, written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by William Bollbach, MCAS ’27, was a visceral display of grief and its innate complexities.

The play tells the story of a couple who lost their son, Danny, when he was hit by a car at four years old. Tensions were high throughout the performance, as the five-member cast exemplified the various ways in which people process tragedy.

The stage was surrounded by the audience on all sides, giving viewers a wholeheartedly unique

experience based on where they chose to sit. The environment was intimate, and the colloquial nature of the dialogue brought the audience even closer to the unfolding narrative.

Each character reacted differently to the situation. Danny’s father Howie, played by Joe Gilhooly, LSEHD ’27, looks to hold on to objects from the past, while Howie’s wife Becca, played by Margaret Rankin, LSEHD ’25, subconsciously looks to erase anything which could remind her of her son’s death.

Characters like Becca have multiple emotional outbursts referenced in the play, including a bar fight and a grocery store assault. These acts were always

BY AZZIE IRAUSQUIN Heights Staff

Almost a year after performing at Boston College’s Pop’s on the Heights, Little Big Town brought its Take Me Home Tour to TD Garden for a spectacular show on Halloween.

Te band’s silhouettes appeared as the show opened with “Bones,” a track from Little Big Town’s 2005 album Te Road to Here. It was the perfect song to open a tour that showcases the band’s accomplishments.

Te Take Me Home Tour is Little Big Town’s 25th anniversary tour.

Singer Karen Fairchild described the experience as “absolutely like a homecoming.”

Te audience traveled through the seasons of Little Big Town’s career as a cluster of cloud shaped lights transformed into a number of different

weather formations throughout the show. Te stage visuals were immersive, bringing the audience onto a boat for the performance of “Pontoon” and sweeping them away in a tornado for a rendition of “Tornado.”

Fairchild assured the audience that they wouldn’t be disappointed by the show’s setlist.

“Obviously we’re going to play the songs you want to hear,” Fairchild said.

“Maybe we’ll introduce you to some deep cuts. Who knows what’s going to happen tonight!”

Te band delivered on that promise, expertly blending their upbeat country rock hits with slower, more lowkey songs.

Little Big Town brought the audience to their feet for songs like “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” and “Little White Church.” The audience was no less engaged, however, for slow songs such

criticized by friends and family as they refused to let trauma excuse irrational and harmful action.

As the play progresses and time passes, the nature of Danny’s parents’ grief transforms as well, suggesting that time is the only true healer.

As characters try to help each other, their good-willed attempts often backfire and cause further tension, highlighting the notion that no two people process grief in exactly the same way. The rifts created were often the result of miscommunication, indicating how difficult it is for people to talk about such profound sadness.

“You’re not in a better place, you’re just in a different place,” Becca said, encapsulating this idea

in a passionate argument with her husband.

The conversational nature of the play gave the performance a very realistic and natural feel. Intricacies such as characters folding laundry, or packing up toys while speaking, added to the authenticity. Believability is necessary within a dialogue on human feeling, and the cast presented themselves in a way which felt truthful and honest.

“It was a tough watch emotionally,” said Javier Gushue, MCAS ’25.

The play saw a standout performance from Gilhooly as Howie. His powerful cadence was particularly impressive, as he displayed a range of emotion from untethered rage to heart-wrenching sadness and everything in between.

As he watched a VHS tape of his dead son, Gilhooly conveyed Howie’s host of feelings without a single line of dialogue, which is no small feat. As he mouthed along to the words of the tape, the entire scene gained a level of depth.

“I thought that he was fantastic throughout the entire show,” Gushue said in regards to Gilhooly’s performance.

The ending was greeted with a standing ovation and a relieved exhalation from the audience after an emotional two hours. The genuinely harrowing performance did end on a warm note, leaving the audience with a sense of hope.

When Becca asks Howie if they will truly figure it out, he responds comfortingly, “I think we will.” n

as “Better Man,” where in a moment of silence after the emotional bridge, the crowd roared in applause.

Te night’s stand out performances came toward the end of the setlist.

Little Big Town brought opener Sugarland back to the stage, dressed in inflatable bull costumes in honor of Halloween, for a striking performance of “Life in a Northern Town.”

Te six performers stood in front of a snow covered tree singing about having hope even when things may not be going your way.

Te performance of the 2014 hit “Girl Crush” followed shortly after.

Te lighting in TD Garden faded to a beautiful pink glow as the voices of Little Big Town blended with the audience. It was a performance that the audience defnitely remembered after the show.

Te surprises of the night came

in the form of covers like Elton John’s

“Rocket Man” and Fleetwood Mac’s

“Te Chain.” Little Big Town captured the essence of the songs while injecting its own fare and personality, expertly engaging the audience.

As intended, the night truly was a celebration of Little Big Town’s entire career. Te show felt intimate, despite its arena setting. Little Big Town captivated the audience from start to fnish. Despite being a four person ensemble, the show never felt disconnected. All four performers perfectly balance each other, and share the stage in a way only a seasoned band could.

Te Take Me Home Tour not only showcased a 25-year discography, but a 25-year bond between bandmates and their audience. n

HENRY VANDERVOORT / FOR THE HEIGHTS

TRISHNA CONDOOR / HEIGHTS STAFF

The Cure Releases First Album in 16 Years

B Y M ARIA B EATRIZ SALDANHA

Heights Sta ff

English rock band The Cure released Songs of a Lost World , its first album in 16 years, on Nov. 1, strategically timing the launch to coincide with Halloween. The release stirred excitement among its devoted fanbase, who responded with overwhelming praise for the new LP. If a somehow-peaceful existential crisis was made tangible, it would come in the form of Songs of a Lost World . Vocalist Robert Smith takes listeners through the stages of a metaphorical end— whether of the band or the universe—over the album’s 50-minute runtime. Each of the eight track titles has a melancholic ring, fitting with the band’s gothic rock essence.

“Alone” starts off the album with a three-minute long intro, keeping listeners on their toes as they await Smith’s iconic vocals. The initial instrumental section of the song sounds surprisingly contemporary,

‘Anora’

For The Heights

even a little like Lana Del Ray. As soon as the vocalist is introduced, however, the vibe shifts to a heavily ’80s-sounding track, setting the nostalgic tone as the singer reminisces on the band’s career over the past half-century.

“This is the end of every song that we sing / Cold and afraid, the ghosts of all that we’ve been,” Smith sings.

Wistful ballad “And Nothing Is Forever” delves into memories and the promises of an old love. The romantic track acknowledges the inevitability of impermanence, yet reveals a sliver of hope for a future together.

“As the memory of the first time / In the stillness of a teardrop / As you hold me for the last time / I know, I know / That my world has grown old / But it really doesn’t matter / If you say we’ll be together / If you promise you’ll be with me in the end,” Smith sings.

“Drone:Nodrone” is the album’s fifth track, and brings forth the rock element of the goth-rock band. The

guitar is the star of the show, with a minute-long solo mid-song. Considerably more fast-paced and less mellow than the previous tracks, “Drone:Nodrone” envelopes listeners in an intense, futuristic realm as the vocalist reinforces the idea that nothing lasts forever.

“So it’s all, ‘Don’t know, I really don’t’ / And all, ‘Think so, but maybe not’ / And all, ‘Could be a case of me displacing my reality?’ / And all, ‘I guess it’s more or less the way that it was,’” Smith sings.

“I Can Never Say Goodbye” can be seen as an ode to The Cure’s 50-year journey, capturing a bittersweet farewell that hints this could be their final chapter as a band. Despite this theory, Smith revealed in an interview with British journalist Matt Everitt that the song was actually written as a tribute to his late brother Richard.

The track originally debuted live at a 2022 concert. Now, two years later, the song is part of what could be its final album.

“Something wicked this way

comes / To steal away my brother’s life / Something wicked this way comes / I can never say goodbye,” Smith sings.

“Endsong” is, well, the end song of Songs of A Lost World . The track is by far the longest in the album, with a runtime of over 10 minutes. Smith’s vocals are only introduced in the last four minutes of the track, evoking in listeners the anxiety-inducing anticipation of waiting for the end to come. Rawness and reflection are the backbone of “Endsong,” matched by the vocalist’s voice.

“It’s all gone, it’s all gone / I will lose myself in time / It won’t be long ... Left alone with nothing at the end of every song,” Smith sings.

The Cure’s 14th studio album highlights the band’s growth and maturity since its last release, 4:13 Dream , in 2008. Songs of a Lost World takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through The Cure’s history as the band delves into themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of endings in life.

The album’s success lies in the band’s ability to adapt to the modern music scene while staying true to its iconic goth-rock roots. If this is indeed The Cure’s last album, Songs of a Lost World stands as a powerful final statement, encapsulating its legacy with depth and haunting beauty. n

is Emotional Whiplash in the Best Way Possible

Director Sean Baker delivered a masterpiece that de f es expectations in the best way possible in his new f lm Anora , released on Oct. 18. Known for T e Florida Project (2017), Red Rocket (2021), and Tangerine (2015), Baker returns to exploring the American Dream through themes of hard work, exploitation, and ethics in a form just as chaotic and energetic as his other work.

T e f lm opens with a typical

Cinderella story, but a slightly more adult premise reminiscent of Pretty Woman As it unfolds, expectations are quickly thrown out the window, taking its audience on an emotional rollercoaster.

Anora (Mikey Madison)—or Ani, as she prefers to be called—is a fierce and vibrant 23-year-old Russian-American stripper from Brooklyn, N.Y. a tough talker and a hard worker, Ani pulls the audience in from the moment she steps on screen. One night, she is paired of with a 21-year-old Russian cli-

ent, Ivan, or Vanya as he prefers to be called (Mark Eidelshtein).

With witty lines, gritty violence, and fast pacing resembling that of a slapstick Quentin Tarantino or Safdie brothers story, Baker f ips expectations on their head by interjecting his deeply emotional themes and authentic characters that leave audiences erupting in laughter and simultaneously crying uncontrollably.

Goofy and juvenile, Vanya is quickly taken with Ani and the two begin to see each other privately. Inside his sleek and modern man-

sion gated from the rest of their Brooklyn community, Ani realizes Vanya is anything but normal. When she asks how he made his money, he reluctantly explains that he’s the son of a billionaire Russian oligarch. T e two continue to see each other and after bargaining, Ani agrees to be Vanya’s girlfriend for a week in exchange for $15,000.

In a whirlwind week filled with partying, drugs, private planes, lavish trips, and goods, the two end up in Las Vegas and impulsively get married. When Vanya’s parents get wind of his new marriage and “prostitute wife,” they send their repair team, an Armenian priest named Toros (Karren Karagulian) and his tough guys, an Armenian associate named Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan), and a quiet Russian man named Igor (Yuriy Borisov) to catch the couple and end their marriage. What follows is a fastpaced, hectic goose chase that shocks viewers at every twist and turn.

Te name Anora means “light,” and Madison truly embodies it. After breaking out with supporting roles in Tarantino’s Once Upon a

Time in Hollywood (2019) and the 2022’s Scream, Anora was built for her to shine, and shine she does. Madison delivers an exhilarating and raw performance that is truly unforgettable. Madison’s character literally brings the f lm to “light,” and supporting characters further add fuel to the f re with impeccable comedic timing and equally authentic performances.

Te f lm took home the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and is the f rst American f lm since 2011 to receive the coveted honor. Since its release, it has received abundant critical acclaim and managed a box-o f ce success in its initial limited release. It’s sure to cultivate extensive careers for everyone involved and has given Baker the flowers he has long deserved.

Te viewing experience is cinema-going at its f nest, every second is unpredictable, and in the theater, every set of eyes was pinned to the screen in awe at all times.

It packs the unique gift of amusing humor followed closely by profound sadness, an overwhelming rollercoaster of emotions that will leave you shocked but begging for more. n

Dunleavy: Ranking Taylor Swift’s Re-Records

BY KAYLEE DUNLEAVY For The Heights

Taylor Swift has become synonymous with the music industry through her exceptional writing and stage performances. What truly separates her from other artists, though, is her re-recording process. Swift is reclaiming her masters through the lengthy endeavor of re-releasing her old music.

While the pursuit is admirable, not all of the new albums have been created equally.

To celebrate the first year anniversary of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) I’m ranking all of Swift’s re-recorded albums released thus far, helping listeners judge the originals versus “Taylor’s Version.”

4. Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), while well-produced, is a shell of what it used to be. Swift’s mature voice does not meld with the album’s growing up and early adulthood motifs.

For instance, listen to the two versions of “Haunted.” The track originally was angsty, pop-punk, and raw. Te themes of yearning and desperation were palpable and made the listener feel an intimate connection to Swift’s personal life. Te new iteration,

however, is muddled by unnecessary echoes and a mellow lead voice.

Te vault tracks were equally as unimpressive. Songs like “Timeless (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” stem from a good idea but fail to thrive.

The new tracks feel unedited and clunky, which is a far departure from Swift’s usually smooth writing.

As of now, Speak Now would have been better of left in 2010.

3. 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Te 1989 re-release was met with mixed reviews as the re-recorded tracks were underwhelming. Te vault tracks, however, were real paradigms of pop.

The older Swift songs were cult classics and nearly impossible to recapture in the same light. With that being said, Swift failed to re-enchant listeners. Te 1989 re-records were not as corporately soulless as Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) proved to be. Still, they did lack the dazzling nature that skyrocketed Swift to fame.

Te album’s saving graces are undoubtedly the new vault tracks. “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault),” “Slut! (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault),” and “Now Tat We Don’t Talk (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” are instant successes. Tey

all have the “it” quality that marks so much of Swift’s career.

1989 (Taylor’s Version) is a fresh take on the album’s summer concepts. Te visuals change from a city skyline to the nearly bucolic beach, with not another person in sight. While different, the alterations are welcomed as they do not diminish the record’s kinetic energy.

2. Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

Taylor’s frst re-recorded album has stood the test of time, proving to be one of the best in her discography. Unlike 1989, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) has no real standouts or hard hitters, but

rather an even-keeled and well-rounded collection of songs.

Te re-recorded songs have all the positive qualities of Swift’s smooth adult voice while retaining all of the charm of her younger years, something the previous albums on this list failed to achieve.

Te new vault tracks also feel like natural additions to the album. Keith Urban and other country stars were featured to help recapture the country magic that Swift has since moved away from.

Overall, the album is a net neutral: no harm and no major improvements.

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is just a fresh

face for Fearless.

1. Red (Taylor’s Version)

Red (Taylor’s Version) has it all. Te re-recorded tracks shine just as brightly as the vault songs, and both work in tandem with the album’s concept to create a showcase of Swift’s talent and expertise.

The re-recordings are produced so closely to the source material that the only difference is Swift’s more mature voice.

B Y MOLLY F UNK

E a gles Sweep St. Cloud State

No. 2 Boston College men’s hockey downed No. 10 St. Cloud State University 4–1 on Friday night and 2–1 on Saturday night to leave Minnesota with a non-conference sweep over the Huskies.

after the Eagles’ third power-play opportunity ended, Eamon Powell changed that narrative.

The Eagles found themselves in a hole early, trailing the Huskies 1–0 just 4:59 into the opening frame.

Austin Burnevik intercepted the puck on a pass from Andre Gasseau behind Fowler’s net and promptly slid a pass directly toward Verner Miettinen, who was skating toward Fowler.

The puck was on Miettinen’s stick for just a moment before he lifted it past Fowler in stride to give the Huskies an early edge.

Less than four minutes later, the Eagles were gifted a man advantage after Burnevik picked up a boarding penalty.

But the Eagles rattled off just two shots on goal during the power play, neither of which found the back of the net.

At the 15:31 mark, Wylie logged a tripping penalty and BC found another chance on the power play.

The Eagles came into the matchup having converted pow er-play opportunities into goals over 27 percent of the time.

But four shots on goal later, the scoreboard read the same as it had two min utes prior, and the Eagles took their one-goal deficit into the second frame.

After the Eagles’ third pow er-play opportunity of the night came up empty, it looked like nothing the Eagles sent Posch’s way would light the lamp and end the shutout.

“We forced a few passes,” Brown said. “A couple bad choic es, but we also hit some posts and had a couple of good looks too. So a lot of the credit goes to their penalty kill and their goalie, but we know we’re going to have to tighten that up.”

But 6:38 into the second period, 10 seconds

Michael Hagens slid a crossice pass to the captain, who unleashed a screaming one-timer that flew past Posch and ended the Eagles’ scoring drought.

“He’s not only doing a great job leading the team, but he’s also making a huge impact on the ice,” Brown said. “We know the quality of person and player that he is, and he started right where he left off last year.”

The contest entered the final period of play in gridlock, with the Eagles narrowly leading in shots—19 to the Huskies’ 18.

Perreault netted his shifty goal to put the Eagles in front with 16:37 left in the third, and the Eagles held onto the one-goal advantage to complete the weekend sweep and extend their win streak to four games.

“It gives us con

BY MATTHEW FERRARA Heights Staff

With five minutes remaining in the second period of No. 2 Boston College’s men’s hockey matchup against No.10 St. Cloud

nally finding their rhythm.

Gavyn Thoreson made room for himself just outside the crease and muscled a shot past BC netminder Jacob Fowler, tying the game 2–2.

But his goal only stood for a couple minutes.

After determining Thoreson had interfered with Fowler prior to his shot attempt, the goal was called off and the score reverted to 2–1 BC.

St. Cloud State’s Thoreson and Tyson Gross, along with BC’s

The short-handed goal from Stiga marked BC’s first of the

“Yeah, we’ve been able to generate some chances Brown said.

St. Cloud State (6–2) was shut out by BC (4–1) in the 25 minutes following its overturned game-tying goal, leading the the teams.

intercepting a tepid cross-ice pass, allowing BC to follow him

Teddy Stiga found himself han wrist shot, and he weaved around goalkeeper Isak Posch to slide the puck into the net, giving

“Yeah, I think our pursuit of loose pucks wasn’t bad,” Brown said after the game. “St. Cloud does a great job of getting a lot of bodies around the puck. So we had to make sure

get outnumbered.”

the team trying to be sive-minded, and you can turn the pucks over quickly. We’ve done a decent job of that, and nate enough to cash in

After expanding the lead to 3–1, 54 seconds still remained of St. Cloud State’s power play for the Eagles to kill.

The Eagles, though, threatened by a point-blank St. Cloud State chance killed the final power play they would face.

“The guys are working well together [on the penalty kill],” Brown said. “They’re reading off each other very well. They’re getting pucks out when they have the opportunity, and if the other team has generated a chance, Jacob has been outstanding.”

BC has warded off all 10 power plays they have faced through five games, and along with Fowler’s .939 save percentage, the BC defense has fared optimally during the five-game sample size. n

No. 13 Eagles Handily Defeat Merrimack

BY JONAS WEINMANN Heights Staff

Sammy Taber’s second shot of the day signifed what type of day it was going to be for No. 13 Boston College women’s hockey.

Taber had scored on her frst shot of the day, and was taking her second shot from near the blue line.

Te shot threaded through multiple Merrimack defenders and defected into the goal of the top left post.

On two shots, Taber had scored twice and helped put the Eagles up 3–0. It was that type of day.

Te Eagles (6–3–0, 3–1–0 Hockey East) built of two goals from Taber and two from Julia

Pellerin to earn a 7–3 win over Merrimack (4–4–0, 2–3–0) on Saturday.

Te Eagles were able to continue its hot streak after gaining momentum by sweeping then-No. 3 Clarkson last weekend.

“We know we’ll keep using that momentum, but also keep working to get better,” BC head coach Katie Crowley said.

In addition to Pellerin and Taber, three other players—Kate Ham, Molly Jordan, and Katie Pyne—also netted goals in the win.

“We want depth,” Crowley said.

“We want other players scoring. “I think we were able to see that today.”

Te frst of three frst-period goals came as the period’s only power play expired.

After winning possession of

the puck away from Merrimack defenders, Abby Newhook centered the puck in front of Merrimack’s goal and fred two shots blocked by Margaux Favre.

But Taber picked up the rebound and put it in the back of the net.

BC’s second goal started with a fick pass from Pellerin to right near Lauren Glaser’s feet. Te Eagles lost possession, but regained it near the net just soon enough for Pellerin to sneak the pass into the bottom left corner of the net.

Taber’s second and the Eagles’ third goal capped of a dominant opening frame for BC. Taber ended the game with four points.

“I was just kind of reading plays,” Taber said. “I felt a little bit more confdent today, my

teammates helped me out a little bit.”

Te second period saw even more goals than the frst.

A total of six goals were scored in the frame, with the Eagles accounting for four and the Warriors two.

BC made the game 5–0 with goals from Jordan and Pyne before Merrimack scored its frst goal of the match courtesy of Madison Cardaci.

BC quickly responded to the Warrior goal, tallying two more goals. At the 16:17 and 17:35 marks, Pellerin and Ham netted goals to put the Eagles up 7–1.

Merrimack didn’t back down, though. Less than 30 seconds after Pellerin’s goal, Chloe Goofers ripped a shot past BC’s Grace Campbell into the bottom left of the net to

make it 7–2.

A relatively calmer third period followed. Merrimack scored one goal while BC quieted down ofensively.

Merrimack’s goal came during a power play after BC was fagged for tripping, and Goofers took advantage for her second goal of the night.

Te quieter third period resulted in a 7–3 fnal score and BC’s highest goal count in a game since 2020, when it scored eight goals against Holy Cross.

“We talked a lot about puck possession in the ofensive zone and keeping them hemmed in a little bit, and I thought we were able to do that,” Crowley said. “I thought we moved pucks well. We read of each other well.” n

sweep n

Men’s Hockey, from A1

GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

BC Beats No. 8 UNC, Earns First ACC Win Since 2022

BY AIDAN GRAVINA

Copy Editor

With time winding down in Chapel Hill, N.C., it looked as though Boston College men’s soccer was on its way to another winless season in the ACC. The Eagles had been outshot by the Tar Heels

17–3 and had yet to register one shot on target.

But with less than four minutes remaining in the match BC’s (6–4–6, 1–4–3 Atlantic Coast) Marci Killeen sent a rocket into the top-right corner of No. 8 North Carolina’s (9–3–4, 4–3–1) net to secure a 1–0 win—the Eagles’ frst ACC victory since 2022.

Te game got of to a slow start, with neither team managing a shot in the opening 18 minutes. UNC’s Riley Tomas recorded the game’s frst shot at the 18:56 mark, forcing a save from BC goalkeeper Brennan Klein.

Christian Bejar got the Eagles

going in the 21st minute with their frst shot of the game, but couldn’t put it on target.

Te Tar Heels responded with a few more shots of their own, but Klein stood tall in the net, saving both a 25th-minute shot from Sam Williams and a 45th-minute shot from Tate Lorentz.

T e f rst half ended 0–0 with seven total shots and three total corners. Te second half, however, was much more action-packed, as the Tar Heels took 12 shots, matching their frst-half total of fve shots in the frst 10 minutes of the half.

Despite its five shots in 10 minutes, UNC could only get one of them on target.

A shot from Andrew Czech at the 46:01 mark forced a save from Klein, who fnished the game with eight saves and a shutout.

BC didn’t get its frst shot of the half until the 64:05 mark, courtesy of Ask Ekeland, but the ball went over the net and out for a goal kick.

The Tar Heels continued to show why they came into the game

as the No. 8 team in the country, taking shot after shot and drawing fve corners in the second half.

As the game entered the fnal 10 minutes, it looked almost certain to end in either a draw or a UNC victory, as the Eagles hadn’t challenged UNC goalkeeper Andrew Cordes once all game.

But with less than four minutes

remaining on the game clock, Jack Burkhardt rolled a ball over to Killeen around 30 yards out from the UNC net.

Te distance didn’t intimidate Killeen as he released a right-footed missile into the top-right corner of the Tar Heels’ net.

Te ball bounced of the bar and straight down into the net, leaving Cordes zero chance of saving it. UNC could not manage to fnd a response in the game’s closing 3:58, and the Eagles escaped Chapel Hill with a win. Te Eagles look ahead to the ACC Tournament, where they will take on Southern Methodist with the chance to break another drought by capturing their frst ACC Tournament win since 2016.

No. 9 BC Inches Past No. 12 Syracuse

BY EMILY ROBERGE

Assoc. Sports Editor

In No. 9 Boston College feld

hockey’s matchup against the No. 12 Orange, it appeared both teams had a chance of winning for almost every minute of the matchup.

It took almost 59 minutes for the frst and only goal of the game to be scored by BC in its last regular season game of the 2024 season.

Of a BC penalty corner from Maeve Seeger, Martina Giacchino

launched the ball toward Syracuse’s net. But Louise Pert made a diving save to prevent the Eagles’ shot.

Just six seconds later, Madelieve Drion delivered for BC on an ofensive rebound—marking the Eagles’ last goal of the 2024 regular season.

As the clock ran out, so did the Orange’s chances at tying up the score.

Dribbling the ball down the feld, BC’s defenders cornered and doubleteamed the ofense. And Syracuse (12–5, 4–4 Atlantic Coast) failed to make a comeback, while the Eagles (12–5,

6–2) capped of their 2024 campaign with a win.

“She was in the right place at the right time,” BC head coach Kelly Doton said. “We had a couple corners early on that we didn’t execute on. We needed that one. It was pure excitement.”

Te Eagles’ win against Syracuse marks its frst win over the Orange since 2014.

Te Eagles gained some steam in the second half, but the frst half was rather silent for both teams, with BC tallying only two shots and the Orange logging three.

“I think we started slow,” Doton said. “Syracuse was ready to go and we were not connecting attack-wise. We had some turnovers that were costing us some chances. We then took over and played better in the second quarter. We calmed down a little bit and started to play BC hockey.”

In the third frame, it was once again a back-and-forth possession between BC and Syracuse with the Eagles tallied only one shot and the Orange tallied zero shots.

But the fourth quarter proved to be a more competitive battle for both teams. Compared to a lack of shots on goal earlier in the matchup, BC tallied fve shots, while Syracuse had three shots.

Most of the corner penalties in the game also took place during the fourth frame.

“We knew before the game that our defensive efort was going to win the game, and they performed much better defensively than they did last weekend,” Doton said. “Tey have to keep building on it as we move forward to ACC’s next week.”

But none of that mattered after BC’s game-winning goal with a little over one minute left in the matchup.

“It was really fun as a coach to watch their pure joy and excitement for each other,” Doton said. “It was fun to see the bench react and it was fun to see those guys react at the end of the game. Rushing on the field put a smile on my face.”

Haggerty Propels Eagles to Sweep Over the Wolfpack

BY CAROLINE KOWALSKI

Heights Staff

Entering its matchup against NC State on Sunday afternoon, Boston College volleyball appeared to have fnally hit its stride, sweeping two of its previous three opponents.

Te Eagles continued this ACC run on Sunday.

BC (11–13, 4–8 Atlantic Coast)

swept NC State (12–8, 7–5) on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Te Eagles fell behind in the score quickly in the frst set, but they quickly made their way back to keep the score tight, while the Eagles searched for an opportunity to pull ahead.

Te Eagles constantly kept the Wolfpack on its toes, with the score differential rarely exceeding one point.

Seven total lead changes in the frst set led to the Eagles pushing the set to a win-by-two until Aubrey

Moore served an ace to give BC a 1–0 lead with the 26–24 set win.

BC started of the second set strong and gained an immediate 3–1 lead until NC State pushed the score back in its favor.

NC State began to pull ahead, forcing the Eagles to search for a way back to even the score and keep a realistic shot at winning the set.

NC State ran out of challenges toward the end of the second set, yet the Wolfpack was still able to establish a 23–19 lead over the Eagles.

Te Eagles bore down, though, and rattled of six-straight points to take down the Wolfpack 26–24 in the second set.

Julia Haggerty logged four essential blocks in the set.

Following the Eagles’ eventual win over the Wolfpack, Haggerty leads the nation for blocks per set with an average of 1.95.

Te Eagles started of the third

set strong with Haggerty continuing to dominate on the court. Refecting the pattern in the first two sets, the point winners alternated nearly every other serve.

Te Wolfpack began to pull away with the score, but the scrappy

a fnal

BC performance refused to let them run away with the game.

BC fought its way back, evening the score at 22–22.

A kill from Haggerty pushed the score back in the Eagles favor, 24–22, and on Eagles match point,

kill from Audrey Ross won the third set for the Eagles and the

Julia Haggerty logged 10 kills and 11 blocks in the Eagles’ Sunday afternoon win against NC State.

SARAH FLEMING / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Marci Killeen delivered the only score of the Eagles’ Friday matchup against No. 8 North Carolina.

TRISHNA CONDOOR/ HEIGHTS STAFF

Boston College

Madelieve Drion scored the game-winning goal for the Eagles on Friday afternoon against Syracuse.

TRISHNA CONDOOR / HEIGHTS STAFF