The Heights, Nov. 7, 2022

OPINIONS

Columnist Alli Hargrove discusses how to reset your circadian rhythm and finally get a good night’s sleep. A10

Tim Smyth Swabbed to

By Kate NueChterleiN Heights Staff

On an average November day last year, Tim Smyth saw a couple of his friends at the Project Life Movement bone marrow drive on Gasson Quad and decided to get his cheek swabbed. Less than six months later, Smyth,

BC ’22, would donate stem cells to an anonymous leukemia patient with about a 25 percent chance of survival.

Project Life partnered with Gift of Life Marrow Registry to host an on-campus drive last November where students could volunteer to have their cheeks swabbed and join the donor registry. Luke Kuechly, former Boston

College football player and former linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, returned to campus to help organize and lead the drive along with Meghan Heckelman, the director of student initiatives of UGBC and the campus ambassador for Gift of Life.

Six A Cappella Groups Take the Stage to Benefit Morgan Center

MAGAZINE

It’s sweater season! Find out what BC students are wearing now that the weather is cooling down. A7

Grad Student Union Rallies

By Karyl Clifford For The Heights

Members of the Boston College Graduate Employees Union (BCGEU) gathered on the lawn outside of St. Ignatius, hoisting signs plastered with phrases including “remind BC workers rights are Catholic values” and “BC works hard because graduate students do.”

“Graduate students have as much teaching responsibility as full research professors, and yet, we’re not paid a living wage,” one organizer of the rally said.

Graduate employee unions from neighboring schools joined BCGEU for the rally right before the Friday BC football game against Duke. Crowds of drunken students and gamewatchers passed as protestors demanded BC recognize their union and negotiate a contract to guarantee better working conditions.

“Five years ago, we exercised our constitutional rights to form this union,” Hannah Clay, a graduate student in the English department, said. “Since then we have consistently reached out to Father Leahy [and administration] … to initiate a bargaining process, but they have refused to speak with us. They deny that we are workers even though we are what makes BC run.”

Protestors shared why they joined their respective unions. For many of them, their paychecks were simply not enough to avoid “living in poverty.”

“When I started my master’s program in the history department at this university, I was only making a little over $20,000 back then teaching, and it’s just not enough to pay rent and the bills,” Mikayla Vu, an organizer of BCGEU and UAW Region 9a Servicing representative, said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM SMYTH

AMY

The heighTs

Listen to Komal Ahmad talk about Copia, her food redistribution and waste reduction technology company, and how it works to solve hunger as a logistics issue on Monday at 5:00 p.m. in the Robsham Theater Arts Center.

Learn how to write a novel with

author and Burns Visiting Scholar Paul Murray on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Room in Bapst Library.

Peters-Lewis Highlights COVID-19’s Effects on Nursing

B y A lyssA A nderson

For The Heights

The COVID-19 pandemic thrust nurses and the nursing industry into the spotlight, according to Angelleen Peters-Lewis.

“If we build on the momentum that’s been created with COVID to really push forward progress, both for the profession and more importantly for the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve, history will judge how we seize the momentum,” she said.

Peters-Lewis, the chief operating officer and chief nurse executive at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Miss. and BC ’06, addressed current, retired, and aspiring nurs -

es from Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing during its Pinnacle lecture on Tuesday.

Peters-Lewis analyzed nurses’ crucial role in highlighting weak points in the health care system and dealing with day-to-day problems within the health care sphere, as nurses are always surrounded by patients, she said.

“America is looking for us to really raise our voices and make an impact on health care delivery more broadly,” Peters-Lewis said.

To combat the discouragement many nurses face after losing thousands of lives during the pandemic, Peters-Lewis suggested that policy changes within hospitals improving day-to-day conditions are the most

effective way to improve the nursing profession.

“In everything health is embedded, and every policy is about health,” she said. “And so given our education and our power and our lens we should be elevating most of these issues to a health policy issue.”

Peters-Lewis also argued that nurses need to realize their value to hospitals and society so they continue working in the field and increase the overall number of working nurses.

“So when we say we need more staff or have a nursing shortage, it’s really about value—the value of the work that we do and the value that we bring,” she said.

Discussing the future of nurs -

BC Graduate Employees Union Rallies Before BC Football Game

Max German, a member of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations who spoke at the event, said he was shocked when he discovered just how little graduate employees made at BC.

“I found out what you all get paid, and it’s disgraceful,” German said. “I don’t [know] why—it’s sick why it’s so controversial that you should get a living wage, and a union gives that to you. What we’re doing here today matters.”

The graduate employees union has made many accomplishments over the past few years, according to Clay. The union has pressured BC to backtrack its plans to cut student health care, developed a mutual aid network, and organized against a proposed tax on graduate student stipends.

“We have continued to speak for justice on this campus, but we still have work to do,” Clay said.

After years of frustration of not being recognized by the University, the protestors said they want a seat at the bargaining table.

“How do we get them to come to the table after all this silence?

We make them,” Rosie Yaki, a rally attendee, said. “We show them our power in numbers—in solidarity.”

Najifa Tanjeem, officer at University of Massachusetts Lowell Graduate Employee Organization, offered words of resistance and solidarity to encourage the crowd further. She turned toward well-known figures such as Noam Chomsky and Karl Marx in her speech.

“‘There is light at the end of the tunnel even though the tunnel is long, exhausting, brutal, and gruesome. There is hope,’” Tanjeem quoted. “And as once Karl Marx said, ‘Workers of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains.’”

After hearing Tanjeem speak, the crowd of protestors began chanting, “We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

Zachary Bos, vice president of UAW Local 2324 at Boston University, said BC’s failure to recognize the BCGEU goes against its Catholic values.

“I even have an endorsing doc ument—I did my research,” Bos said. “It’s the pastoral letter on Catholic social teaching in the U.S. economy. From the U.S. Confer

ence of Catholic Bishops, I quote, ‘The church fully supports the right of workers to form unions, wages, and working conditions.’”

Another attendee named Zachary, a third-year graduate student in the math department, said BC does not acknowledge the union because of its privilege as a religious institution.

“The University is used to acting unilaterally—they hide behind the privilege that they have as a semi-religious institution,” he said. “They use essentially what are supposed to be protections of religious freedom to squash the freedom of workers.”

Other protestors shared their frustrations with BC for not acknowledging the union and what it is trying to accomplish, saying these frustrations provoked them to take a stand.

ing, Peters-Lewis said nurses do not only have to serve patients in hospitals. When exiting the nursing field, they can use their nursing backgrounds to enter and

Soulen Speaks at John Paul II Lecture

Israel’s “election”—the idea that Israelites are God’s chosen people.

R. Kendall Soulen sought to answer what he described as a seemingly simple yet surprisingly complex question in the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning’s annual John Paul II lecture.

“I’ve chosen a question that’s simple to state: Why did God choose the Jews?” Soulen said. “But I think it is difficult for Christians to answer in a way that is fully satisfactory. I’m going to talk about what sort of things make it difficult to answer.”

The Wednesday night event marks the 10th anniversary of the John Paul II lecture. Soulen, a professor of systematic theology at Emory University, started his talk explaining his response to the question would be two-pronged.

“Why did God choose the Jews rather than say the Babylonians or the Navajo or the Choctaw?” Soulen said. “Alternatively … why did God choose the Jews? In other words, for what purpose? For what end?”

According to Soulen, the Bible’s Book of Deuteronomy explicitly answers this first question.

“In Deuteronomy 7 we read the following: ‘For you, our people consecrated to the Lord your God, of all peoples on Earth, the Lord your God chose you to be his treasured people. It is not because you are the most numerous of peoples that the Lord set us hard on you and chose you; indeed, you are the smallest of peoples. But, it was because the Lord loved you and kept his oath he made to your fathers,’” Soulen said.

Soulen said people can turn to both the Christian and Jewish traditions to examine the second question, as each religions’ answers partially overlap.

“Both traditions connect God’s purpose in choosing the Jews to God’s redemptive purpose for the whole human family in a fallen and fractured world, but the two traditions make this connection in different ways,”

According to Soulen, Christianity and Judaism are distinct because of

“The Jewish tradition anchors the purpose of Israel’s election in God’s gift of Torah, and in the unique relationship between God and the Jewish people that the Torah makes possible,” Soulen said. “In contrast, the Christian tradition anchors the purpose of Israel’s election in God’s sending of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and in the relationship between God and humanity that Jesus Christ makes possible.”

Soulen also discussed the views of scholar Christopher Wright, which contradict the view of God’s love as described in Deuteronomy, to answer the question of why God chose Israel.

“Christopher Wright says that God’s inexplicable love is the foundation of the election of Israel, but not that it was directed toward Israel,” Soulen said. “God’s love is love for the world. God elects Israel as an instrument to serve God’s love for the world.”

Soulen then highlighted some of the main criticisms around Wright’s views, concluding that Wright fails to provide a workable platform for understanding the church’s mission.

“According to Wright, Hashem [God] elected Israel to show the nations what kind of god Hashem is,” Soulens said. “Well, Wright never seems to reflect on the fact that a god who uses God’s chosen people in a purely instrumental way is unlikely to prove very attractive to anyone.”

To end his lecture, Soulen emphasized the importance of the unique relationship between God and the Jewish people.

“Both Christians and Jews have ansered this question by pointing

acclaimed

Hear Anastasia Cole Plakias, co-founder and chief impact officer of the Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm, talk about her company and its dedication to making NYC a greener place on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Devlin 101.

AMY PALMER / HEIGHTS EDITOR

B y A lexis T hom A s Heights Staff

Peters-Lewis discussed the future of nursing in CSON’s Pinnacle lectur

Members of the Boston College Graduate Employees Union gathered on the lawn near St. Ignatius on Friday

Battle at the Ballot: Panelists Analyze Voting Rights

B y T homas C oder Heights Staff

Many factors still prevent people from exercising their right to vote in the United States today, according to Sophia Hall.

“Voting is not as easy as breathing, and in my opinion it should be for everyone,” Hall said. “If you live in certain states right now, it’s clear that that’s not the case.”

The American Constitution Society of Boston College Law School hosted a panel discussion on Thursday afternoon titled Battle at the Ballot: The Issues That Impact Voters’ Rights.

Hall, deputy litigation director at Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston and BC Law ’12, stressed that voters’ rights are violated not just nationally but right here in Massachusetts.

“When people talk about voting rights, they want to talk about the sexy things that get covered by Fox News and CNN,” she said.

“I think we are mistaken if we say that Massachusetts is a place that does not have voting rights issues.”

Hall said she voted via absentee ballot in Ohio elections until she began her law career in Massachusetts. Once she voted in person in Massachusetts, Hall said she could better understand the problems around voting rights.

“One of the reasons I had trouble thinking through the complications in a polling center— like disability access, language access—was because I had never been in a polling center,” she said. “It’s hard to think how to solve big problems when you don’t actually know what they look like.”

Hall recommended that the aspiring lawyers in the audience work as poll watchers, so they too could witness threats against voting rights first hand.

“There are never enough poll watchers,” she said. “They need young people and need people who understand the law and

people’s rights to voting. Even if you can’t advocate during that particular time, what you can do is observe and work for organizations later.”

George Brown, a professor emeritus at BC Law, and Hall then discussed the ongoing Merrill v. Milliga n Supreme Court case—a case alleging the structure of congressional districts in Alabama dilutes the influence of African American voters.

Hall mentioned that since the Alabama Supreme Court acknowledged the racial impact of the way these congressional voting districts were drawn, change should have ensued.

“The state supreme court recognized there was a racial impact through a voter dilution … in the way that [the] map was drawn,” she said. “What should have happened, in a normal world, is that that legislature would go back and get it right and redraw their maps to ensure that people have equal

access and a proper voice in that voting system. Instead, the case went up to SCOTUS.”

Brown said Merril v. Milligan will cause a chain reaction that impacts future congressional district mapping.

“There’s a good example of why what the Supreme Court does matters to us here on the ground,” he said. “What the Supreme Court says in Milligan is going to have a tremendous domino effect.”

Brown analyzed another Supreme Court case, Moore v. Harper , which concerns the state’s role in determining how federal elections are held. It is dangerous that state legislatures have the ability to determine congressional districts, he said.

“Once a state legislature has promulgated districts, the state courts have no play in reviewing those districts for their compliance with the state constitution … giving the state legislatures carte blanche on a wide range of

electoral matters seems almost unthinkable,” he said.

Hall also emphasized the personal political interest state legislators have in shaping the congressional districts.

“A world in which the legislature itself, which is a voted body, who has a deeply entrenched interest in the outcome of the voting map, would be the sole authority with no oversight,” Hall said. “You don’t want to be in any place that compacts power into just one set of hands.”

In light of the upcoming midterm elections, Brown mentioned the particular salience the Supreme Court holds today.

“The affirmative action case is an example of an issue that people understand, whether they are lawyers. That’s a real world issue that’s gonna be decided by some seemingly abstract principles of the law,” he said. “The Supreme Court is on the ballot this year in more ways than one.” n

Speakers Discuss Freedom of Expression in Guatemala

B y C laire e hrig

For The Heights

The Guatemalan government denies Indigenous communities the fundamental right to freedom of expression when they face legal barriers to accessing radio frequencies, according to San Miguel

Stations, Indigenous Freedom of Expression and Cultural Rights.

According to Ismalej, Indigenous communities in Guatemala have not been able to operate community radio stations for several decades due to a law that requires groups to bid for radio frequencies.

The group that submits the

enous peoples’ right to freedom of expression, right to culture, right to equal protection of the law, as well as a right to media,” Friederichs said. “We argued that this framework is essentially de facto discrimination against Indigenous communities.”

Cesar Gomez, a community media program coordinator at Cultural Survival, emphasized how before the radio frequencies law passed in 1996, Indigenous Mayan communities could freely spread their voice and culture.

“When radio was the most economical way to access the media, the communities started promoting their own mother tongue, their traditional music, their conditions,” Gomez said. “[After] their own ways of organizing … were in danger of disappearing.”

In December 2021, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of Indigenous communities, concluding that Guatemala violated their rights to freedom of expression, culture, and

equality before the law as well as their right to media.

“They’re telling Guatemala that when they’re making these reforms to make sure that they’re working towards this whole of a more diverse and plural voice in media and especially in radio,” Friederichs said. “They called on Guatemala … to make it very easy for Indigenous communities to be able to access a license with no bidding process.”

munities, Friederichs said.

“They’re not upholding this vote,” Ismalej said. “We have requested meetings … to know the progress of the implementation but have negative responses. They say they are not viable to comply with the sentence because there are ‘no frequencies available.’”

Ismalej concluded that Indigenous communities in Guatemala are still hopeful about gaining increased radio access.

With more community radio stations, Indigenous communities will be able to exercise their rights freely and establish a global presence, the panelists said.

The Guatemalan government, however, has not taken any steps to change its laws regarding radio frequencies, which has caused more frustration for the Indigenous com -

“We’re not foreigners in this state. We’re part of this state, and the rights belong to everyone,” Ismalej said. “The media has strengthened the sovereignty process and also has allowed us to create relationships with other people in different countries, Indigenous or non-Indigenous … [the government] should allow us to organize ourselves in being who we are.” n

Chicaj radio station operator Noé Ismalej.

“[The state is] seeing us as people that shouldn’t or don’t deserve to have rights,” Ismalej said. “Freedom of expression shouldn’t be a product that should be sold. It should be free.”

highest bid—normally a monopoly media company or large corporation—typically wins, said Suffolk University professor Nicole Friederichs.

“Indigenous communities who want to operate community radio stations [have] a very specific use of the radio frequency spectrum,” Friederichs said. “It’s nonprofit. It’s for community issues. So for a community wanting to access or gain a license under this framework, it’s impossible.”

Ismalej was one of three speakers at a Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice–sponsored event on Thursday titled Community Radio

Friederichs said that Maya Kaqchikel of Sumpango, an Indigenous Mayan group, therefore brought a case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, arguing the Guatemalan state breached their rights.

“It’s that law … that we challenged in the Inter-American system as being a violation of Indig-

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Boston College’s Center for Human Rights and International Justice hosted the event on Thursday afternoon.

“We’re not foreigners in this state. We’re part of this state, and the rights belong to everyone. ”

“We argued that this framework is essentially de facto discrimination against Indigenous communities.”

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Panelists discussed Guatemalan government and access to radio waves.

Parents Question Impact of Proposed Tax Increase on NPS

By Caitlin Clary Heights Staff

Parents questioned Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and a panel of Newton Public Schools (NPS) officials about the impact of a proposed $15 million tax increase for local public schools at a virtual town hall Thursday night.

Funds from the proposed increase will contribute to renovations and improvements at Countryside Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, and Horace Mann Elementary School. The renovations would contribute to academic excellence and educational equity in the district, according to the city’s website.

Newton residents raised questions regarding the purpose and effects of the tax increase at the town hall.

Sumukh Tendulkar, who said he is an NPS parent by choice, asked for clarification regarding what the panel means when it uses “academic excellence” as a reason residents should approve the proposal.

“I see programs which are associated with academic excellence either getting cut completely—for example, eighth grade honors math—or getting diluted significantly—for example, AP programs which became multi-level programs in high schools,” he said.

Interim NPS Superintendent Kathleen Smith said that academic

excellence is difficult to define.

“Academic excellence means very different things to all of our students, [part of which] is personalized learning—making sure every student has an opportunity to excel the best that they can,” she said.

Smith also said there are still opportunities for advanced students.

“There are many offerings in our high schools for AP courses,” she said. “We also have many opportunities for students in the arts or CTE [career and technical education] and vocational programs. Many other districts do not have that opportunity.”

Countryside Elementary has modular classrooms and annexes in poor condition, according to Josh Morse, Newton’s public buildings commissioner. Morse said that the school’s student population has doubled in recent years, but only one additional bathroom was built to accommodate students and faculty. Chronic flooding due to the school being built on top of wetlands has also plagued the school, he said.

But Rielle Montague Barnes, a member of the Peirce Elementary School PTO, raised questions about why the city did not include other elementary schools in its proposal.

Montague said there are issues at Peirce Elementary School, which also has modular buildings and lacks a proper cafeteria.

“We’ve got some students that will be enjoying great facilities and some who will still be using not-so-great facilities,” Montague Barnes said. “Is it another 10 years before the other schools that haven’t been addressed will finally get addressed?

Fuller responded by saying that the panel is working on a timeline.

“We go through a very careful process for prioritizing, long-term planning, and putting these schools in a calendar,” Fuller said. “There is a ton of work to do, but I do understand the frustration.”

Morse also said that Franklin Elementary’s six floors are inaccessible and, due to limited space, teachers are forced to utilize basement rooms for teaching and learning.

Horace Mann Elementary is “significantly lacking in space,” according to Morse, particularly in the library and special education rooms.

Newton voters will have the opportunity to vote for the proposed increase at a special election tentatively set for March 14. The mayor said she hopes residents will approve the increase.

“There isn’t an element of what we’re doing in this city that I don’t feel restless and energetic about doing better,” Fuller said. “But I do hope our community will come together and allow us to move forward to that future.” n

Newton Prioritizes Roads in Tax Plan

Staff

Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller detailed how the city would use parts of a proposed $15 million tax increase for street and sidewalk safety improvements at a Zoom round table on Tuesday night.

“I believe so much in Newton, and we rightfully have very high expectations,” she said. “This override proposal is focused on our youngest residents and our oldest residents, and the infrastructure we need to make life work here in the city.”

The proposed increase would allocate $1.4 million toward funding street and sidewalk paving and improvements.

The sidewalk project would be the second largest allotment of the operational budget items, behind funds allocated to Newton Public Schools.

“We are still catching up from decades of underinvestment,” Fuller said. “And the ship that Jim [McGonagle] and Shauna [Sullivan] want to take us on is this shift from reactive maintenance to preventive maintenance, and from reactive improvements on safety to proactive improvements, all with more consistent and reliable funding which is what the $1.4 million would do for us.”

Jim McGonagle, the Department of Public Works commissioner, said that the City of Newton already funds $1.5 million in street and sidewalk maintenance annually. But that amount is not enough anymore, he said.

One fifth of roads in Newton are in need of replacement, according to McGonagle.

McGonagle’s goal for this project is to create improvements that can be utilized by anyone, regardless of age, ability, income, or preferred mode of transportation, he said.

The plan tackles three main issues: roadway maintenance, traffic calming projects, and pedestrian infrastructure improvements.

McGonagle outlined a new

roadway selection process for determining the roads that require the most attention. The process will address upgrades to sewer, gas, and water systems through cost-benefit analysis.

“We are placing a strategic focus on the sustainability of our actions and techniques,” McGonagle said. “For example, preventative maintenance and routine maintenance is much less destructive.”

Traffic calming projects include addressing complaints of heavy and dangerous traffic levels in busy areas of Newton.

McGonagle highlighted some targeted intersections throughout Newton, including Lowell Avenue at Austin Street and Grant Avenue between Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street.

The last component of the plan evaluates sidewalk conditions. The city is implementing a new process for prioritizing sidewalks in need of repair.

“We created an analysis based on deficiencies in the [sidewalk] network, compliance with [the Americans with Disabilities Act] and [the Architectural Access Board], and priority pedestrian routes to schools and business centers,” McGonagle said. “We’ll also utilize crash and accident data to prioritize our projects. This will assist in prioritizing the repairs and provide the most value to the community.”

McGonagle also assured the audience that sidewalk improvements will accompany any major rehabilitation done on a road.

Fuller said the proposed tax increase could create a better Newton through improvements to streets and sidewalks.

“This proposal would help us to pave more streets and better maintain them for the decades ahead, to fix more sidewalks, while also ‘calming’ traffic and making it safe for us as we travel to school, work, play, and our favorite shops and restaurants in Newton,” Fuller said. “Thank you for helping us make our city better.” n

Newton Police Host Medication Take-Back Day

By Shruthi Sriram Heights Staff

Residents of Newton returned medication and drugs to the Newton Police Department (NPD) for the twice-yearly “Medication Take-Back Day” on Oct. 29.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) partners with NPD to host drug take-back days twice each year.

Newton residents can drop off expired or unused prescription medication at the NPD headquarters. Medications are then sent to the DEA for incineration.

Keeping unused and expired prescription medication risks people accidentally or intentionally taking it,

especially in the case of medication they receive after surgery, according to Newton Police Captain William Spalding.

“Sometimes people get prescribed medications that they may not need after surgery because their pain is less than expected,” Spalding said. “So a lot of times it just sits there. And so what we were finding is a lot of people that were addicted to painkillers … would help themselves to it.”

Whether it’s through break-ins or theft by family members, 90 people have reported stolen medication to NPD over the past 20 years, although Spalding said there are likely more unreported cases.

“[People] may not report it because they put the medication in their cabinets and it’s been sitting there for a year or two and they don’t even know what’s in there,” Spalding said.

In addition to take-back days, Newton has three permanent medication drop-off sites across the city: one in front of City Hall, one inside NPD headquarters, and one at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The Newton Police then send the collected medications to the DEA.

As a safety precaution, NPD cannot reveal the exact information of what the DEA does after Newton Police send in the medication in case people attempt to intercept the transfer, according to Spalding. n

B y S ahithi t humuluri Heights

GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CHARBONNEAU / HEIGHTS EDITOR

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Ninety people have reported stolen medications to NPD over the past 20 years.

Conservator Talks Light Pollution

Light pollution is a killer problem. It has slashed three-fourths of the insect population over the last 50 years, according to Sky & Telescope Magazine senior editor J. Kelly Beatty.

It’s an issue he calls the “insect apocalypse.”

“Fireflies [depend] on the darkness to attract mates,” Beatty said. “If you swamp it with a lot of light pollution, then it ceases to be able to do its thing. … Insects are highly attracted to light at night, and it exhausts them just flying around it.”

Newton Conservators invited Kelly Beatty to speak about the effects of light pollution in Newton on Wednesday night. Aside from discussing the “apocalypse,” he also gave the city tips on how it can reduce light pollution.

The conservators advocate to preserve Newton’s open spaces.

Kelly Beatty has studied astronomy for 30 years and has been speaking about the effects of light pollution for over two decades, helping various communities reduce its effects.

Light pollution at night comes from a variety of sources such as street lights, stadiums, and homes.

Twenty years ago, the National Park Service traveled to several parks around the country to assess the impact of light pollution.

“The park was on the verge of clearing the nighttime environment as important as the daytime environment,” Kelly Beatty said.

Following the study, Bar Harbor, Maine enacted a dark sky ordinance, allowing it to become certified as an International Dark Sky Place, according to Kelly Beatty.

Light pollution also results in massive energy waste, according to Kelly Beatty.

In the last 15 years, 24/7 road signs, restaurants, and blue wave

street lights have increased the amount of light waste going into the sky.

Newton street lights are especially notorious for their bright lights, according to Kelly Beatty. While the city made a step in the right direction by converting old street lights to LEDs, it picked harsh blue bulbs that cause higher levels of light pollution, Kelly Beatty said.

The City of Cambridge has addressed such impacts by decreasing the power of its streetlights to 50 percent of their capacity after 10 p.m. using a computerized system.

Kelly Beatty said Newton could take such measures to help decrease the harshness of LEDs.

“In fact, every LED streetlight in Cambridge is individually addressable by computer,” Kelly Beatty said. “Somebody at the [Department of Public Works] with a few computer clicks can turn down the power of that LED and dim the light remotely.”

Kelly Beatty said Newton residents can get involved by turning off lights when they are not using them or installing low-temperature bulbs in their homes.

But it is just as crucial for people to use this knowledge to educate housing developers so they use warm lighting in their projects, according to Kelly Beatty.

“It is amazing to me how often home lighting systems are chosen by people who have no idea whatsoever what they’re doing,” Kelly Beatty said. “It’s not that they’re installing bad lights intentionally. They just don’t know. And a little education goes a long way.” n

Local Libraries Celebrate Iconic Architect

By ella song

For The Heights

Newton Free Library and the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington co-hosted an online talk led by Roxanne Zimmer, a community horticulture specialist, in celebration of architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s 200th birthday on Thursday. He designed some of the United States’ most iconic parks.

“Olmsted certainly anticipated the fact that we—none of us—particularly children, don’t spend enough time in nature,” Zimmer said. “A park is a work of art, and yes, it’s an antidote to the city.”

The talk was part of a national series of programs called Olmsted 200, which explores Olmsted’s work—including environmental conservation, park design, university campuses design, community planning, and more.

Olmsted, who was born in 1822 in Connecticut, designed about 100 public parks and recreational spaces throughout his career, including Central Park in New York City, and the Niagara Reservation in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Zimmer emphasized Olmsted’s commitment to making natural spaces accessible to the public, which she cited as stemming from his experience visiting the People’s Garden in England in the 1850s, which was one of few public parks in the world at the time.

“When Olmsted saw this, and saw people of every class enjoying it, he said to himself, ‘Why don’t we have something in democratic America that is as,

if you will, democratic or comparable to this People’s Garden?’” Zimmer said. “He said, ‘You know what? Park access should be the right of all Americans.’”

She also highlighted the fact that the Industrial Revolution and increasing urbanization were the historical contexts of Olmsted’s work, which created a greater need for deliberately planned natural spaces.

She listed grass and turf, wooded areas, waterways, stone, and vistas as important features of Olmsted designs. Additionally, Olmsted used lines and paths to engage park visitors, according to Zimmer.

“[Olmsted] also believed that people

were curious, you know. If you put people in a straight line, they’re not going to be curious about what’s around the corner. So you will see in Olmsted parks what are now known as sequential experiences,” said Zimmer. “Curved lines, you go up and down steps … that kind of builds your curiosity as to what surprise might be around [the corner].”

During the question-and-answer session, an audience member asked about the preservation of state parks and waterways in the era of increasing environmental deterioration.

Zimmer said that there are additional Olmsted 200 talks and sites as further resources on the matter,

acknowledging the issue as a point of concern nationwide.

Zimmer also said that Olmsted’s legacy persists in today’s Green Belt Movement, which focuses on environmental conservation, as well as in the research into nature-deficit disorder. She emphasized the importance of scenery and nature to the human condition.

“When I was walking here, a number of people said to me that it was Prospect Park, [which was designed by Olmsted], that they came to during the pandemic, just to feel more secure and at peace,” Zimmer said. “And you can see why.” n

The Other Side of the Tax Hike

Since Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller announced the proposal for a $15 million tax increase on Oct. 17, the city has done a good job informing the community on what it plans to do with the extra tax dollars. Showing what the money will do makes only half of the case, however.

The city must show why the extra dollars out of the taxpayers’ pockets are necessary in the first place.

The proposed projects are promising. For example, three quarters of the funds from the proposed increase will go to the Newton Public Schools, and city officials correctly pointed out the unsavory states of the Franklin, Countryside, and Horace Mann Elementary Schools, as well as other needs for the students.

And indeed, school renovations cannot wait. Every year of inaction means one fewer class of students will benefit.

Still, tax increases are not isolated events. Rather, they are a result of the city’s existing budget being already pushed to its limit, which raises the question of improper budgeting in the first place.

To raise an analogy: As a kid, I spent my allowance on both school supplies and candy. When I overspent and needed a few extra yuan on my hand, I would ask for extra money for school supplies—not candy. Of course, my wise parents would ask me where the rest of the money went.

The same applies to the City of Newton. This is not to insinuate that the city mismanaged its budget— although I did see some Newtonians raising this question in person or on online forums. Thus far, city administrators are doing a great job at showing the proposed projects, but they must also address the concerns on whether they managed the existing money well.

The city already put some of the answers on the override’s landing page. It cited increasing operational costs due to inflation and other price spikes and said that, every year, city departments build their budgets from scratch to ensure efficiency. Nevertheless, the words remain vague, and the city must increase its engagement with the community on this aspect as much as it does the budget proposals.

After all, as the mayor acknowledged, the times are demanding for individual households and businesses alike. The increase is not much—a mere few hundreds of dollars for a house valued at Newton’s $1.2 million median.

Yet, the moral obligation to give Newton kids what they deserve does not give the city a free pass, and every bit of scrutiny is welcome and wellplaced.

B y s hru T hi s riram Heights Staff

gavin Zhang

ELLA

STEPHEN BRADLEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Horticulture

specialist Roxanne Zimmer led a talk about the career of Olmsted, who designed some of the most iconic U.S. parks.

AGAZINE

Smyth Swabbed in Hopes of Saving a Life Broccoli Orecchiette

Smyth, from A1

Smyth, who grew up in South Boston and attended BC High School, studied political science and Mandarin at BC.

Before the drive last year, Smyth said he was not planning to donate.

“I was just a passerby on Gasson Quad … and some of my friends were swabbing their cheeks—so I figured I may as well do it too,” he said. “I submitted my saliva to the kid that was collecting it and then walked off, and I didn’t think about it.”

Just a few months later, in February,

Megan’s Gin Daisy

Gift of Life notified Smyth that he was a match with a 37-year-old man diagnosed with leukemia.

“They called me, they emailed me, they texted me, they reached out to me on Facebook, Instagram,” Smyth said. “They were like, ‘Tim, you’re a match with this guy.’ I open my phone to a million messages, and I’m like, ‘What is this?’ And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s the cheek swab.’”

Almost 800 BC students swabbed their cheeks last year, said Ann Henegar, Project Life Movement’s executive director.

Of those who joined the registry, 15 BC students have matched with an anonymous patient, which Henegar noted was a high number for just one year. After hearing about the match, Smyth said the decision to donate was easy.

“I thought it was really awesome that I was able to give even a little bit of myself to someone that was dying,” he said. “When they called me on the phone, they explained the situation to me, and how he had, I think, a 25 percent chance of living if I did not give him my stem cells.”

Though Gift of Life keeps patient information anonymous and Smyth knew almost nothing about his matched patient, Smyth said he was still eager to donate.

arms while he lay in a hospital bed.

“There’s this machine to your side that collects it all and puts it into this bag,” he said.

Smyth remained conscious during the entire procedure and said while it was somewhat uncomfortable, the process did not hurt. Jack Bracher, BC ’22 and close friend of Smyth’s, made sure Smyth did not go hungry during the procedure.

“I visited him in the hospital and brought him a couple slices of Pino’s while he was undergoing the operation,” Bracher said.

could be a father of five in rural Indiana,” Smyth said. “But it didn’t matter who he was. I just trusted that Gift of Life was doing what they needed to do to save a person’s life.”

Henegar explained that she initially got involved with the Project Life mission after her close coworker lost his wife to leukemia.

“People do not know these organizations exist until a loved one needs a stem cell transplant,” she said. “And then that is all they can think about after that.”

Nothing reminds me of long days of cleaning the house and running errands, reading a book next to a warm, crackling fireplace, and watching Sunday Night Football with my family quite like this orecchiette with broccoli and sausage pasta. For my family, this recipe’s simple ingredients and easy preparation make this dish the go-to dinner when nothing else is planned.

The ear-shaped pasta combined with the earthy broccoli, the sharp olive oil, and sausage flavors create a burst of flavor in each bite. Give this recipe a go. I’m sure you’ll enjoy!

DISH:

Growing up, my parents taught me to value a number of family traditions—Christmas dinners, my grandmother’s mashed potatoes, and gin cocktails, to name a few.

The foremost of these delicacies is the Gin Daisy— a pink raspberry drink perfect for getting rowdy at your family’s next holiday party.

This cocktail has served me well over the past few years.

I’ve whipped up large batches for new college friends freshman year in a Hardey Hall double and for my California neighbors’ New Year’s Eve parties.

It’s perfect for those who are averse to alcohol-forward drinks but still want to feel sophisticated. By all means, enjoy irresponsibly.

DRINK:

The Gin Daisy

INGREDIENTS:

For one serving:

1.5 oz. London dry gin

.75 oz. lemon juice

.5 oz. dry vermouth .5 oz. raspberry syrup 3 dashes of orange bitters Seltzer (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add the London dry gin, lemon juice, dry vermouth, raspberry syrup, and orange bitters into a shaker with ice.

Shake until the outside of the shaker is cold to the touch.

Strain into a chilled glass.

If desired, top with a splash of seltzer.

“Part of the beauty is doing it totally anonymously and not knowing,” Smyth said. “Just trusting in God that this organization is doing this for good and truly helping save lives.”

Matches are rare, Smyth said, and the speed at which he underwent the process was also unusual.

“I think another thing that was unique about my case is that people are usually on the registry to donate for years, and I was only on it for three months,” he said. “Some people spend their whole lives on it, and then 20 years later, they get a call that they’re a match for somebody.”

Even after Gift of Life discovers a match, he said they still need to draw the donor’s blood to certify compatibility with the patient, ensuring the procedure will work.

Gift of Life scheduled Smyth’s date procedure for April 28, and about three or four weeks before the procedure, they also asked him to go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to check his vitals and decide where in his veins they would draw the stem cells from.

A traveling nurse also stopped by his dorm in Rubenstein Hall every morning for the 10 days before the procedure, he said.

“I had to get two injections every morning into my side to produce more stem cells in my body, so I was able to produce more on donation day,” Smyth said.

On donation day, Smyth entered the hospital around 7 a.m. and left around 2 p.m. He said the actual procedure was not labor-intensive, considering how rewarding the result can be.

“For stem cell donation, it’s like donating blood, except it’s in both arms for, like, five hours,” Smyth explained.

For those five hours, a machine steadily drew stem cells out of Smyth’s

Bracher said he joined the registry when the organization came to BC and learned he was a match in the summer of 2021. Fortunately, he said his matched patient went into remission and no longer needed stem cells. When looking back on the days leading up to his procedure, Smyth explained how busy of a time it was in his life. Just one week prior to undergoing the procedure, Smyth had run the Boston Marathon.

“My senior year was an amazing time for me spiritually, emotionally, physically,” Smyth said. “The first week, I led Kairos. The second week, I ran the Boston Marathon. And then the last week, I donated stem cells.”

While he admitted the month was exhausting, he spoke to the value of closing his BC experience with those three events.

“I felt, you know, really good about myself, and I was ending my time at BC on a really high end,” Smyth said.

Smyth added that the support from his friends was incredibly helpful during that monumental time.

“The support from my friends throughout all three of those big events in my life in those three weeks was also amazing and speaks to the BC community,” he said.

Smyth said Gift of Life played a vital role in the entire process, noting that it covered all of his transportation costs, checked in on him at every step of the process, and gave him a $200 gift card on the day of his procedure to purchase food or other necessities.

Regarding the results of the procedure, Smyth said Gift of Life will update him on how the patient is doing around January.

While Smyth still does not know anything about the man to whom he donated, he maintains that the experience is extremely valuable regardless of the patient’s background.

“He could be some billionaire tech tycoon living in Silicon Valley or he

While it is relatively an easy process to donate stem cells, it is much more difficult for leukemia patients to obtain them.

“The nurse, on donation day, said ‘You can’t buy this in a store,’” Smyth said.

This week, on Nov. 3 and 4, Project Life and Gift of Life Marrow Registry are hosting their annual drive on the BC campus. Smyth will be returning to the BC drive this November to promote the cause and encourages students to stop by, get their cheeks swabbed, and join the registry.

“You don’t have to be a Mother Teresa to save a life,” Smyth said. “You can literally give five hours of your life to save someone.”

Henegar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how easy it is for students to join the registry.

“When we partner with groups and clubs and universities, we’re not asking those students to raise money, or to plan a 5k, or to pass the bucket at a game,” Henegar said. “We’re just asking them to give us the opportunity and the pathway to educate their peers on the importance of joining the registry.”

Bracher also urged students to consider BC Jesuit values when deciding whether to join the registry.

“It’s such a rare instance that you have the privilege of being matched with someone and you literally have the opportunity to save their life,” Bracher said. “And we talk about being men and women for others at BC all the time. There’s no better representation of being a man or woman for others than doing what you can do to save another person’s life.”

Looking back on the impact the quick decision to swab his cheeks had on his life, Smyth said he still feels amazing about his choice.

“It was just a really amazing experience and something I never would have thought I would be doing in my life,” he said. “But ... I figured it’s such a little sacrifice that could go a long way.” n

Orecchiette with Broccoli and Sausage Pasta

INGREDIENTS:

1 box of orecchiette pasta

1 head of broccoli (or enough to fill up a sheet pan when cut in pieces)

1 package of hot Italian sausage (optional)

2 cloves of garlic Parmesan cheese Extra virgin olive oil Salt Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and bring a pot of water to boil.

Cut your head of broccoli into individual pieces, or you can purchase pre-cut broccoli.

Mince the garlic cloves.

Lay the broccoli pieces out on a sheet pan and coat them with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Season to taste.

Place in the oven, and bake for 20 minutes, occasionally shaking the pan to rotate the broccoli.

Put your pasta in the boiling water, and cook according to instructions on the box.

Place sausage in an oiled pan. With a spatula, crumble the sausage as it cooks. You know it’s done when its color is a deep brown with some crisp edges. Set aside.

After the pasta is cooked, drain and place back in the pot. Pour a good amount of the extra virgin olive oil over the pasta (seriously, you want a lot).

Mix in the cooked broccoli and sausage. Sprinkle a good amount of parmesan cheese.

Serve in a bowl, and enjoy!

Stephen Bradley

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM SMYTH

Smyth donated stem cells after making a last-minute decision to join the registry.

Megan Kelly

Sweater Weather: A Look into BC’s Favorite Sweaters

B y C aroline H offman Heights Staff

It’s officially that time of year when we dig out (or ask our parents to drop off) the autumn clothing staples that have been folded away in our wardrobes.

Although some fall fashion trends have changed over the years, there is one article of clothing that will never lose its prestige: the sweater.

Besides being the title of a song by the alternative-pop band The Neighborhood, “sweater weather” is widely known as the time of year when the seasons transition from summer to fall and the temperatures drop.

You know sweater weather has begun when everyone on campus is suddenly wearing sweaters and Hillside Cafe runs out of pumpkin spice syrup every few hours.

While most of your money might be put toward pumpkin spice lattes, one of the best ways for a college student to get the biggest bang for their buck is to buy a few high-quality sweaters.

From chunky knits to Fair Isle patterns, there is simply nothing better than bundling up in a warm sweater when temperatures drop and drinking a cup of tea.

Fall weather in New England is like living with an indecisive God.

Fierce wind gusts one day can be followed with unseasonable heat the next.

Even on those rainy days when

the Maloney elevators are at full capacity, one unanimous fall cue across the Heights is the classic sweater.

Sweaters are versatile and will probably never go out of style.

They can stand out from the crowds on the Quad or on Newton Campus, by way of color, fabric, cut, or pattern.

Here’s my account of the latest sweater trends on the Heights, as sociating each one with a notori ous spot on campus.

Just as the Margot Connell Rec reation Center is the superior ver sion of the old “Plex,” the knitted hoodie is a more elevated take on the loungewear staple.

Not only can students be seen wearing these on a Saturday morn ing with Aviator Nation sweat pants, but also on a Tuesday after noon with a nice pair of jeans and sleek sneakers.

By yoony Kim Heights Staff

When the leaves turn to hues of orange and brown and the air is crisp with a hint of nostalgia and melancholy, it can only mean one thing: It’s officially fall. Some might even say the weather is starting to feel like “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift.

To prevent the approaching seasonal sadness as the sun sets earlier and the days become colder, it is important to immerse yourself in all that the fall season has to offer. Here are some of my tips on how you can make the most of fall this year.

Fall Décor

After a chilly day out, the best feeling is walking into a warm, cozy room. Bring fall to your own dorm by decorating it with a medley of fall colors, such as brown, yellow, red, and orange.

Seasonal doormats, throw pillows and blankets, and rugs are great additions to create a cozy atmosphere. These items are easy to find at various retail stores, such as Target. Don’t forget the most fitting fall décor of all: pumpkins.

Mini plastic pumpkins, pump -

kin-shaped ornaments, and ceramic pumpkin containers are just some of the many pumpkin decorations you can add to your room.

such as Brooksby Farm and Russell Orchards.

You can also go to a pumpkin patch, pick out your favorite

the crewneck is one of the most popular sweaters, according to fashion icons on campus.

Whether cropped or oversized, there are countless long-sleeve crewneck styles available for every

Relish the last warm days of the season by pairing your favorite crew neck with a skirt or even lay -

Gaining more popularity this season than Schiller is to students looking for a new place to study is the iconic nautical-inspired navy and white striped sweater.

Long ago, the “Breton” became a wardrobe staple, and today it is making a comeback like the one that we hope to see this football

Everywhere on campus, we are seeing more and more effortless-looking arrays of horizontal stripes in various widths and configurations.

Despite its nautical vibe, some BC students say that you can still pair the Breton stripe with everything in your

fall wardrobe. Amazing, right?

Lower Dining

Just like a Sunday morning wouldn’t be a real BC Sunday morning without Lower breakfast potatoes, a proper sweater collection can’t be complete without a dash of cashmere!

Cashmere is the ultimate luxury when it comes to sweaters, and a simple pullover is by far the most versatile and popular of any neckline at BC.

Gasson Hall

Black turtlenecks are to closets as Gasson is to BC—the latter is incomplete without the former. Perhaps the most common sweater trend that I have observed on campus is the ribbed, fitted black turtleneck, a truly timeless fashion staple, and the best option for layering and tucking.

Plus, black clothing items go well with many other colors, so you can wear them with almost any outfit.

I can guarantee you won’t regret buying one. I bet you will even question how you ever dressed without one.

Though the prime sweater-wearing time is limited to a few months each year, investing in a few sweaters will have you set for years.

As a BC student especially, it is almost essential that you own a sweater or two.

Before the fall season ends, I encourage you to purchase one more sweater, wear it while you can, tuck it back in your closet, and unearth it again next year. n

GRAPHIC BY PAIGE STEIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

mester.

Whichever activity you choose, it will be an immediate mood booster and a great way to destress

pie are treats that will strengthen your love for the season. If you are someone who always needs to have a cup of coffee in the morning, you wouldn’t want to miss Starbucks’ seasonal drinks lineup, including the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. There are plenty of Starbucks stores near campus for you, too! Don’t hold back on enjoying these autumnal specialties—they won’t be around for much longer.

Spicy Scents

Surrounding yourself with scents like pumpkin spice, warm cinnamon, and crisp apples adds another dimension to the warm and cozy feeling that this season brings. A great way to immerse yourself in the scents of the season is to purchase essential oils, scented room sprays, oil diffusers, or scented beads.

Decorating for fall means to douse your room with all things cozy, warm, and pumpkin.

Autumnal Activities

One of the best parts of fall is the iconic traditions that you can do with your friends.

I suggest you go apple picking at orchards not too far from campus,

pumpkin, and carve it with your friends or roommates.

If you enjoy spending time in nature, you can find a hike nearby and take in the beautiful New England foliage.

Getting outside and appreciating the colder yet crisp air is a great way to escape the stress of the se-

amid midterm season.

Seasonal Snacks and Food

Moving into the autumn months also means it is time to fill your tummy with the best fall flavors.

Sweet pastries like apple cider donuts, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, caramel apples, and apple

The warmth of these scents will bring warmth to your life.

There are so many ways you can spice up your life this fall.

Whichever way you decide to maximize the fall atmosphere, I hope the feelings of this season bring some comfort to your semester. n

O’Neill Library Anchoring most knitwear collections like O’Neill anchors Boston College’s Main Campus,

Six A Cappella Groups Shine at Inaugural Showcase

By LyLa WaLsh For The Heights

Six of Boston College’s a cappella groups filled Robsham Theater with unique combinations of carefully crafted harmonies, booming beatboxers, and shining soloists who stole the stage on Saturday night.

Each group showcased its personal style with unique song choices and on-stage charisma that captivated the

audience.

The inaugural A Cappella Showcase benefited The Morgan Center, a nonprofit preschool program for young children battling cancer.

First to take the stage was Black Experience in America Through Song (B.E.A.T.S.), BC’s only R&B and soul a cappella group, which began with a harmonious performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” written by James Weldon Johnson.

The group then sang “When I See U,” starring a passionate solo performance by Silvia Ballivian, MCAS ’23. The crowd went wild when the background voices paused and allowed Ballivian’s vocals to shine as she showcased skillful high-notes.

Following B.E.A.T.S. were the BC Acoustics, who began with a mesmerizing rendition of “Habits (Stay High)” by Tove Lo, featuring soloist Myla Pellegrini, MCAS ’25. A soulful performance of “Comfortable” by Alessia Cara followed, and the group finished off with “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys. The group commanded the audience’s attention with powerful vocals and a shining stage presence.

The Bostonians of Boston College were next. The group began with “This is Gospel” by Panic! At The Disco, with soloist JV Fluehr, MCAS ’23, delivering an impressive performance while charming the crowd and encouraging them to sing along. The group sang

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

Humor in ‘Mr. Burns’ Draws From ‘The Simpsons’

By Jack Weynand For The Heights

Boston College Contemporary Theatre took America’s favorite animated sitcom, The Simpsons and added a bit of creativity and dark humor, turning it into a well-developed commentary on the evolution of society and entertainment.

Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play,

directed by Molly Caballero, LSEHD ’24, is divided into three acts, each of which is set in a different time period.

While the cast remains the same, their characters change over the course of different time jumps, emphasizing the change in what entertainment means to society.

The first act features a rag-tag group of survivors who’ve just escaped some sort of apocalyptic nuclear

fallout. The actors spend much of the first act trying to recount a Simpsons episode titled “Cape Feare.” They can’t quite manage the details, but the cast draws some laughs with their exaggerated hand movements and reenactments of the episode’s best moments.

Time and time again, the characters are pulled away from the humor and levity in the script because of the trauma that they’ve experienced prior to the act.

The act is set around a campfire with realistic sound effects and a tent that’s enough to convince the audience that they’re in the woods. Staged on the rooftop patio of the McMullen Museum of Art, the first act makes the audience feel immersed in the post-apocalyptic world.

The following two acts continue to take the audience on a tour of the McMullen, as the show’s second act takes place inside the back gallery, and the third act is staged on the back patio outside.

In all settings, the lighting is critical to the plot. Red tones light the room to indicate the presence of death, while brighter blues and yellows appear in scenes that are more lightheartedly comedic.

Act Two features the rag-tag group seven years later, as the group is now a family unit that puts on productions of The Simpsons for a living, but the characters ironically still have to deal with copyright infringement. In a world where society has collapsed, entertainment and creative disputes survive and endure.

The second act is at its best when the group puts on “commercials,” or little comedic gags with dance and song numbers. They’re trying to recreate actual television, after all, so the jokes and well-put-together jingles aren’t wasted on the audience.

But, laughs aside, serious debates about the cutthroat evolution of the entertainment industry pull the characters away.

This act juxtaposes society’s greed with people’s common yearning to be entertained, which poses a question to the audience: Can society’s emotional weight drag down something as light and pointless as The Simpsons?

The third act picks up 75 years later with a final performance of the episode “Cape Feare.” This rendition of the episode is drastically different from the version in Acts One and Two.

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Museum Curator Discusses Cartoon Art Preservation

By OLivia Justice

For The Heights

As the art historian and associate curator for outreach at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, Caitlin McGurk works with a special collection of over three million pieces of art located at the Ohio State University.

“A special collection is essentially an archive that collects around a special topic area,” McGurk said. “Our topic area, of course, is comics and cartoon art in all of its forms.”

McGurk’s virtual lecture on Wednesday, titled “Collecting & Exhibiting Comics,” is part of the McMullen Museum’s Museum Current lecture series and is a complement to the Museum’s current exhibition, American Alternative Comics, 1980-2000: Raw, Weirdo, and Beyond.

McGurk spoke to students and faculty interested in the world of comics, informing them that the Billy Ireland Museum aims to preserve this underrepresented art form.

“All of our material is clipped but kept at an environmentally controlled archive … at a steady temperature and humidity monitored at 24 hours a day,” McGurk said. “It’s a very high-security archive. You need swipe access to get back there, which only a few people have.”

Part of the reason that the museum features such high security precautions is that the general public does not pay the kind of attention to comic art that it deserves. The library even struggles with visitors being confused about why certain pieces of art have been saved and preserved.

“Since this is an art form that has

not long been treated with a tremendous amount of respect, and people often don’t know what to do with it, a lot of it has been lost to history,” McGurk said.

Because of the lack of knowledge about comic art, uninformed owners have thrown away or destroyed thousands of important comic artifacts, McGurk said. The gap in awareness is part of the reason why the museum puts so much effort into education— not just exhibition.

The institution’s facility includes a digital imaging lab that adds to an image database on its website, as well as a classroom space and 300-seat theater in which the museum’s educational programming takes place, McGurk said.

Though located at OSU, the museum is passionate about accessibility

and welcomes visitors from all over the country.

“Our museum is completely free and open to the public,” McGurk said. “It’s one of the only free museums in Columbus where we’re based.”

With the funding and material donations that the museum has received over the years, the facilities transformed into a state-of-the-art museum that includes three galleries.

The Treasures Gallery is the museum’s permanent collection gallery that features a selection of exceptional artworks and artifacts. It highlights the breadth and depth of the museum’s collections.

“It’s basically a greatest hits exhibit,” McGurk said. “It changes over only every few years.”

The museum’s two other gallery spaces are home to themed exhibits

that change incrementally, hosting up to six exhibits per year that represent a wide variety of themes and goals.

“We are really proud to have what we believe to be the biggest representation of original art by trans and non-binary cartoonists,” McGurk said.

The museum has also curated exhibits that tell the story of the civil rights movement, highlight the perspective of Jewish women, and demonstrate the lives of prisoners on death row.

Billy Ireland, a self-taught cartoonist from the early 19th century and the museum’s namesake, had the ability to take comic art, a style that is usually regarded as serving merely

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

The Heightsmen step up to the microphone to close out the showcase. VIKRUM SINGH / HEIGHTS EDITOR “In the Kitchen” by Reneé Rapp with emotional and captivating vocals from soloist Emma Schaufus, MCAS ’23. After the Bostonians exited the stage, a video began to play on the theater’s screen, introducing The Morgan Center. In the video, cancer survivor Morgan Zuch explained her

isolating experience with childhood leukemia and how this inspired her family to begin The Morgan Center, a learning center allowing pre-school–

A Common Tones soloist takes the spotllight during the group’s lively set.

VIKRUM SINGH / HEIGHTS EDITOR

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

‘Mr. Burns’ enters its musical portion as Bart sings a song before his battle.

Mr. Burns and Bart Simpson face off.

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Park Produces Prize Winner

By yating Wang Heights Staff

A detective falls in love with the suspect of his investigation. While the premise appears as an unoriginal crime romance story, there is no movie that can intertwine a love story with intriguing suspense in such a soul-stirring way as 2022 Cannes Film Festival star Decision to Leave did.

Decision to Leave is a South Korean movie directed by Park Chan-wook, who won Best Director for the film at Cannes. It tells an intense, heartbreaking story between a detective, Hae-joon (Park Hae-il), and a dead man’s mysterious Chinese wife, Seorae (Tang Wei). Its theatrical release was Oct. 14, reviving attention to Park’s masterpiece after the festival win in May.

The romantic chemistry between

two brilliant actors fills every corner of the screen, illuminating the spark between both characters who were previously hopeless in love. Though Seo-rae is the subject of his investigation, Hae-joon is unable to resist

MOVIE

Park Chan-Wook ‘Decision to Leave’

Released Oct. 14, 2022

becoming enamored with her, which becomes the genesis of the film’s struggle.

Decision to Leave creates an air of love even in the actors’ nonverbal communication. Every delicate touch between their hands, the rise and fall of their synchronous breaths, and close-up frames of their eyes filled with tenderness all suggest a deep obsession that is painfully restrained.

Alluding to the proverb of Confucius, the motifs of mountain and water from Eastern literature are woven into the projection of this dangerous, complicated relationship between Seo-rae and Hae-joon.

The implication that these two qualities of earth are incompatible also

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

Swift Takes Over Charts Again

By sarah Bianchi For The Heights

Taylor Swift’s new album Midnights is both a continuation of the themes of previous albums and a reflection on Swift’s current life.

Midnights reflects the anger of reputation, the magic of Lover , the freedom of 1989 , and the complex emotions present in all her other albums. In its own right, Midnights addresses the complexities of love, life, and feelings of inadequacy.

Swift released her 10th original album, Midnights, fittingly at midnight on Oct. 21. Far from her recent alternative albums folklore and evermore, Midnights is a transcendent and magical visit to her previous pop albums.

While some listeners were disappointed by the stark difference Midnights has from folklore and evermore, Midnights provides a mature take on her pop albums. It features a peppy pop sound that contrasts the mature emotions written about in her lyrics.

Swift reflects on her feud with Scooter Braun, who bought her music without her consent, and Kanye West, who exploited her in his music video

for “Famous” on the scathing track “Vigilante Shit.”

At the same time, Midnights features songs like “Lavender Haze,” on which Swift sings about her continued love for her boyfriend Joe Alwyn.

Swift further explores her revised outlook on her past in the lyrics of “Karma.”

“Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend / Karma’s a relaxing thought / Aren’t you envious that for you it’s not?” she sings.

Swift reflects on the freedom and joy she gets from believing in Karma

MUSIC

Taylor Swift

‘Midnights’

Released Oct. 21, 2022

and caring about revenge. But her revenge isn’t malevolent. Her revenge is knowing bad things are going her enemies’ way while good things go her way because she is a good person. Swift is addressing the song to someone who has wronged her and thus does not have good Karma.

On the song “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” her lyrics captivate the emotion anyone in a transitional period of their life can relate to.

“‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned / Everything you lose is a step you take / So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it / You’ve got no reason to be afraid,” she sings.

“You’re on Your Own, Kid” resonates with many college-aged fans, as it touches on themes of anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and being away from home. These themes are even more fitting because “You’re on Your Own, Kid” is a track-five song.

Track-five songs in the wonderful world of Swift are notorious for being

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By isaBella DODak For The Heights

It’s 1931 Shanghai and brutal murders plague the city with unrest and suspicion as the threat of the Japanese Imperial Army intensifies. Through an insidious experiment, Rosalind Lang, a trained assassin, resurrects. Her wounds inexplicably knit back together, and her age remains preserved from the time of her death four years prior.

Rosalind has become immortal.

Laced with deadly secrets and betrayal, Chloe Gong’s new book, Foul Lady Fortune, explores the complex depths of remorse, vengeance, and love as a retelling of the Shakespearean play, As You Like It.

Following her debut duology— These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends—Gong’s Foul Lady Fortune is a brilliant masterpiece that weaves together the vital strands of the historical noir, fantasy, and thriller genres. Fans of Gong’s debut series can reunite with familiar characters—though the novel is enjoyable without prior introduction to the main character, Rosalind, and other supporting characters.

Gong described her new duology as “a Chinese period drama meets a Marvel movie”—a captivating blend against the classic backdrop of a Shakespearean tragedy.

Rosalind is the personification of guilt and grief, as her agonizing backstory consistently haunts her treacherous journey throughout the novel.

“Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps—this was a game that haunted Rosalind late into her eternal nights, a useless

exercise of cataloging everything she’d done wrong to end up where she was today,” Gong writes.

After betraying her family and the Scarlet Gang, Rosalind is forcibly conformed into the perfect lethal weapon for the Japanese Nationalists. Under the code name Lady Fortune, she must pose as the wife of a Nationalist spy, Orion Hong.

Orion hides behind the facade of a playboy with a plethora of secrets, but he is shrouded in the chaotic dynamic of brutal deceptions and the heart-wrenching betrayal of those closest to him.

“What is family for if not to love us and then break our hearts?” Gong writes.

If you are a fan of the enemies-to-lovers plotline, this is absolutely the book for you. Less than a page after meeting each other, Rosalind and Orion immediately clash, struggling to navigate a tumultuous relationship laced with deadly secrets and obscured identities. Amid a deadly game of assassinations, politics, and power, readers immediately fall in love with the dynamic between these quotable and unforgettable characters.

“You can’t ask me not to love you by keeping me at arm’s length,” Gong writes. “I’ll love you anyway.”

The cherry on top of this fascinatingly crafted narrative is the gradual build of suspense through brief chapter perspectives following the killer.

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Biden Cabinet Speaks on Global Crises in ‘Year One’

By Onur tOper Social Media Director

With a crisp focus on America’s foreign policy endeavors in the context of a growing tension between democracy and autocracy, the new documentary Year One: A Political Odyssey paints the picture of President Joe Biden’s first year in office.

The documentary, which came out on HBO Max on Oct. 19, draws from extensive interviews with high-ranking officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, and Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns.

Director John Maggio built a star-studded lineup to break down the challenges, policies, and perspectives that came with an unprecedented chain of events in the first 12 months of the Biden presidency.

The film heavily scrutinizes the U.S.’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the first

major international issue of the administration. It juxtaposes interviews with qualified, experienced bureaucrats with commentary on the blatant mismanagement of the U.S. exit from Afghanistan.

Maggio exposes how the Biden administration—which presented itself as a supposed return to normalcy after a tumultuous four years under former President Donald Trump—mishandled a crucial foreign policy matter.

The documentary roots its success in high-quality interviews with high-profile political players.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s reaction to the gradual takeover of Afghanistan magnifies the exclusive access granted to the filmmakers, as his descriptions of phone calls during the fall of Kabul guide the film’s conversation on the U.S. response and the international fallout that arises.

Year One offers a raw look at the messy

and unorganized conclusion of America’s longest war and the consequences that came with it—including the death of 13 U.S. service members in a Kabul airport attack on Aug. 26, 2021. In a poignant

interview, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain deemed it the “worst day” of Biden’s first year.

The strongest and most impressive parts of the film are accounts of the diplomatic meetings with leaders from Russia and China, which provide both raw dialogue from these encounters and eye-opening testimonies from Sullivan, Blinken, and Burns.

Maggio incorporates captivating background music and an exquisite attention to detail in the leadup to these meetings and includes commentary from experts such as New York Times reporter David Sanger, who analyzes the location, history, and steep consequences of the leaders’ conversations.

In contrast to its framing of the situation in Afghanistan, the film paints the administration as resolutely prepared for Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The U.S. comes equipped with formi-

dable intelligence capabilities and many officials’ prior experiences with Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014.

Using satellite imagery of Russia’s buildup along the Ukrainian border and commentary from Blinken and Sullivan, the film shows a Biden team that has learned its lessons from Afghanistan and is eager to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine.

Though the film boasts an impressive number of interviews with government officials, it fails to utilize more than just a few comments from figures like the French Ambassador to the U.S. Philippe Étienne and British Ambassador to the U.S. Karen Pierce, both of whom sat down for an interview but only had a mere 15 seconds of airtime.

COURTESY OF MOHO FILM

COURTESY OF REPUBLIC RECORDS

GRAPHIC BY ANNIE CORRIGAN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Sleeping Beauty’s Better Sleeping Habits

hours before you go to sleep is so important. Out of all the factors that impact our circadian rhythms (those being social activity, exercise, and temperature), light is the most influential.

My alone time, like many other Boston College students, comes at the end of an academically rigorous day. I lay down in my bed and then scroll through whatever social media I need to catch up on for the day or watch a mindless show to wind myself down.

After my social media hunger is satiated, I set my alarm, put my phone on my desk, and cuddle up under my covers to get ready for a good night’s rest. And then the curse begins.

Despite my exhaustion from the day, I simply cannot fade away into my silly dream land where I rule the world. It’s a travesty.

Truly though, and I know that this issue plagues my peers as well, evident in their semi-regular use of melatonin gummies. Unfortunately, this is a national issue—in the past 20 years there was a 500 percent increase in usage of melatonin gummies in the United States.

But melatonin gummies are more of a BandAid-on-a-bullet-wound type of solution to sleep struggles rather than a comprehensive solution that addresses the cause.

And, it is our bedtime routines that are the problem. Specifically—and here’s where I will start to sound like your mother—our ever-important screens are barring our way to quality sleep.

Our brains operate on a 24-hour cycle, called a circadian rhythm, that serves as our biological clock for waking and sleeping. It’s how our early ancestors, who most certainly did not set alarms on iPhones, managed to consistently sleep at night and forage during the day. This rhythm is powered by around 20,000 nerve cells clustered in the brain, and they obtain their information from the eyes. The rhythm’s ocular connection is why what you’re feeding your eyes in the

Now remember back to those melatonin gummies, because melatonin is one of the main characters in the delicate dance that is our circadian rhythms. Melatonin is termed the sleepy hormone, as it’s the one that begins to slow our bodies down to facilitate falling asleep. Our bodies, in following the progression of our innate clock, will naturally produce melatonin as night begins. This way, we begin sleep stages as it gets dark outside and will be asleep until the sun rises in the morning.

Seems simple enough. Our early, early ancestors actually got really good at this sleeping thing too. I was doing some personal research (just for fun and definitely not because I was wondering if I could physically do this), but our hominid predecessors may have actually hibernated. Fossils found in northern Spain suggest, based on disruptions in their bone development, that Neanderthals slowed down their metabolism and slept for months in a state of hibernation. These hominids did not have access to technology, and therefore their sleep cycles were influenced by the sun and not interrupted with phones.

Basically, my oh-so cherished, winding-down TikTok time is probably the worst thing I could be doing for my sleep. My phone, along with any other light-emitting screen, produces a type of light called blue light (bet what color it is). Blue light suppresses the production of our precious melatonin. It actually works as a counter to melatonin—it’s wired in a way that helps us stay awake and be alert. Artificial light challenges our circadian rhythm, and over time can change it.

So how do we fix this?

To start, expose yourself to the natural light and dark cycle that is our world. In case you’ve been hiding in the Mods for the last few months, I’ll tell you that the outdoors do indeed naturally get bright during the day and dark at night. Through my years of being a columnist

for The Heights, I’ve found that going outside is a pretty good catch-all solution for almost all of our problems in a modern world, like inflammation, stress, and high blood pressure. In this case, spending time outside resets our circadian rhythm and aligns it with the natural light-dark cycles of the world. This results in more restful and intentional sleep when your head eventually does hit the pillow at the end of the day.

In terms of what you can do indoors, you have to be careful, because blue light is a bit sneaky in the sense that it is more pervasive than just phones and laptops. Household LED lights also emit blue light, so dimming overhead lights in the evening or using a duller bulb could help push along our circadian rhythms in a more routine manner.

There is still good news ahead for my wind down time though. And thank goodness for that.

Winding down with technology and still getting a good night’s rest is possible. We just need to integrate our technology in a more passive way at night time, especially in the hours leading up to sleep. Listening to music or a podcast with your eyes closed has been found to have less of an effect on sleep than more active uses of technology, like FaceTiming or playing video games.

Perhaps evolution is preventing us from hibernating (damn), but that doesn’t mean we still cannot get quality sleep every night. That also does not mean we cannot have alone time at the end of every day before we tuck in. We must be intentional with what we are doing in the hours leading up to rest. You wouldn’t walk up to the plate without a bat or a helmet and expect to hit a home run, so why would you expect to get good sleep after having spent the last two hours scrolling on your blue-light menace of a phone?

That being said, the activities you choose before bed are, as everything is, a free-will decision. It’s just if you’re looking for good sleep, maybe look away from the light.

Google Calendar

If we had a dollar for every time Google Calendar saved us from a missed due date or forgotten appointment, we might actually have the funds to afford sushi at CoRo. The beloved workspace tool is simple—and definitely not underground—but November chaos grants appreciation for the simple things that make our lives easier. As basic as they might be, the notification reminders and color-coding of Google Calendar are a saving grace.

Happiness, Sadness, and Sugar in Between

Through all of the fluctuations and vulnerability, it seems like the only thing that has remained constant is a little voice inside my head echoing the thoughts I try to resist every day—maliciously convincing me that my emotions are a weakness, and so is my diabetes.

While my sleeves are patched with my heart all over, my skin is tough from needles and bruises. And as hard as I try, I can’t fake a convincing smile, but I can stare down glaring red alerts, warning that my life is in danger.

I am sensitive. I feel my emotions hard and tend to express them even harder. I’ve sobbed while eating “chicken and two sides” in Mac, and I’ve uncontrollably laughed to myself on the treadmill in the Plex.

I also happen to be a person living with Type 1 diabetes, a chronic auto-immune condition that I’ll have for the rest of my life. This means that much of my time is spent managing inconsistent blood sugar levels that closely resemble roller coasters and shape my day’s mood—oftentimes making me feel like I’m the nauseous passenger to my diabetes’ recluse driving in a high-speed car chase.

So, on the same days as my Mac breakdowns and inappropriate bursts of laughter on the treadmill, chances are I also nodded off in class from high blood sugar fatigue or wanted to scream at an innocent stranger due to rapidly declining blood sugar that left me feeling more like Godzilla and less like myself with every passing second.

Mind-twisting. Disabling? Two conditions, one mental and one physical—both dichotomic poles shaping my self-perception like merciless hands ripping apart a rope in a game of tug-of-war. At the game’s end, the rope always remains intact, but sometimes its strands get a little frayed.

While the act of spilling out my innermost thoughts to anyone with an ear to listen is far too settled in my comfort zone, my hands tremble with hesitation over my keyboard as I put my struggles with Type 1 diabetes into writing, especially on a platform that means so much to me.

In the spirit of getting out of my comfort zone, though, I’ve pushed myself to be able to do things like confidently answer questions about my med ical alert bracelet and dose my insulin in front of friends during meals. So, here we are.

While my diabetes feels inescapable, time has made it feel manageable. Instead of stretching my limbs toward the two poles of good and bad—one tug-of-war team versus another—I’ve become more comfortable spending time in the middle. And after years of mental work, the evil little voice hasn’t gone away, but it has softened, surrendering to my strengths of resilience rather than firing mis siles of insecurities over desolate battle grounds.

Yes, my ups and downs are still there. Every single day. I am still an emotional person. But

rather than allowing these facts to crash down on me, I’ve been learning how to deal with the changing tides.

So just last Thursday, I laced up my green Hokas, tied back my curls into a tight ponytail, and got ready for a run down Beacon Street. It was a beautiful fall day, the kind that makes someone from Los Angeles hungry to spend some time outdoors.

Amid the late afternoon sunshine and blue skies peaking through auburn trees, I felt on top of the world. My feet were kicking off the ground at a pace perfectly matching the music booming in my AirPods. I felt strong and motivated to hit a mileage I would be proud of.

Twenty minutes in and I was unexpectedly met with those flashy red alerts on my phone reading “‘urgent low”—code for “Eliza, stop what you’re doing and eat some f—ing sugar!”

Walks in the Neighborhood

As much as Boston College students adore life on the Heights, sometimes an adventure outside of the BC Bubble is just what we need. And while everyone loves a good city trip with friends, calm walks through the neighborhood reminds us that a world outside of Merkert lecture halls and Bapst cubicles exists—and it’s just within reach. So Eags, turn your phone off and soak up the suburban serenity on the edges of campus if your skin is crawling for an escape.

The Colds that Never End Here’s to the UHS nurses that treat masses of students who have been coming in with the same unrelenting and mysterious symptoms. We all expected the typical move-in illnesses to come and go, but now it seems like almost everyone has been faced with another wave of coughing fits and sniffly noses. Hopefully by the time Thanksgiving Break rolls around, the elusive cold-culprit leaves us alone and we don’t get our families sick, too.

Deus Ex Caffeina

Raise your hand if you have a coffee addiction! Yup, we’re looking at you—and practically every other student at BC, since most of us depend on caffeine to push through even a single class. While we’re no experts, we’re pretty sure it’s bad that you’re more likely to chat with a friend in line for cold brew than on the Quad. And maybe there’s solidarity in our coffee craze, but then again, maybe coffee shouldn’t be the very first thing we think of when we wake up.

Alli HArgrove

elizA HernAndez

The opinions and commentaries of the op-ed columnists appearing on this page represent the views of the authors of those particular pieces, and not necessarily the views of The Heights

GRAPHICS BY PAIGE STEIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Alli Hargrove is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at allison.hargrove@bc.edu.

Boston College Should Equalize Student Pick Times to Guarantee Quality Course Selection

Boston College should equally distribute course registration appointment times among BC students in order to ensure that each student gets a fair opportunity to register for their desired courses. The current random assignment system means that “unlucky” students who consistently receive late pick times may be held back during registration, preventing them from fulfilling key major or minor requirements.

Course selection is the process through which students register for courses that fulfill BC’s core curriculum, school-specific requirements, and students’ wide selection of alternate majors and minors. Students are currently randomly assigned course selection appointment times—or “pick times.”

Randomized pick times can unfairly prevent students from taking their preferred classes

and can even prevent some students from fulfilling requirements for minors and second majors.

This allows students with earlier pick times to register for their preferred classes quickly, leaving some students with fewer course options than others.

Currently, class registration appointments are divided by grade and randomized within each undergraduate class, giving students priority based on seniority. Within these divisions, every student has an equal chance of receiving various pick times, which span over two days. While many courses have first-come-first-serve availability, some classes have limits on the number of students per each grade allowed in the course.

The University Registrar should average out the “luck” of BC students’ pick times

over the course of their four years at BC, ensuring that a student’s average pick time is approximately the same as everyone else’s by graduation. This ensures that every member of the student body gets an equal opportunity to take the classes they want.

The University Registrar, led by the newly appointed Bryan Jones, said in an email to The Heights that its randomization “policy was designed to ensure all students had an equal opportunity for an early appointment.”

He also wrote that the Registrar seeks to hear feedback about its processes from the BC community. Given that randomization can lead to a variety of unequal outcomes, it is clear that an averaged-out pick time system would be far more effective at guaranteeing equal academic freedom for BC students.

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

VIKRUM SINGH / HEIGHTS EDITOR

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

LEO WANG / HEIGHTS STAFF

KELLEN DAVIS / FOR THE HEIGHTS

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Center for Human Rights and International Justice held a discussion on the freedom of expression in Guatemala on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022.

A cappella groups performed in Robsham Theater, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.

As part of CSON’s Pinnacle lecture series, Angelleen Peters-Lewis spoke on the importance of nurses after the pandemic, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

Boston College football entered Alumni Stadium to face off against the Blue Devils, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

Boston College men’s hockey was eviscerated by Merrimack, losing 2–5, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.

BC Contemporary Theatre performed Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

Left to Right: Boston College women’s hockey was defeated by UConn where it lost 3–1, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022; Duke quarterback Riley Leonard powered through BC’s defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

ALINA CHEN / HEIGHTS EDITOR BRODY HANNON / HEIGHTS STAFF

LEO WANG / HEIGHTS STAFF

Morehead Impresses in First Career Start

By Jack BerGamini Asst. Sports Editor

It’s been 10 years since Boston College football entered Week 10 with just two wins.

The last time it happened, in 2012, two wins was all BC got.

In a 38–31 loss to Duke (6–3, 3–2 Atlantic Coast) on Friday night, the Eagles (2–7, 1–5) extended their losing streak to four games. In backup quarterback Emmett Morehead’s first career start and his first start since his junior year of high school, the Eagles once again missed an opportunity to surpass two wins.

The redshirt freshman took over for fifth-year quarterback Phil Jurkovec, out with an injury.

“Phil’s hurt right now, so there’s no decision,” Hafley said about the potential for Morehead to start going forward. “Phil’s our starter, and Emmett did a really good job tonight.”

Morehead was sturdy all night long, throwing for 330 yards and four touchdowns on 27 completions. He looked comfortable and made smart decisions in the pocket, throwing the ball away when he needed to without tossing a single interception.

“We put him in tough situations,” BC head coach Jeff Hafley said. “But he [Morehead] showed leadership. He showed poise.”

In a game where the Eagles needed Morehead to be Superman, Duke’s sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard overshadowed the redshirt freshman’s performance with his elusive runs and under-pressure throws.

“[Morehead] made big plays and drove us down [the field],” Hafley said. “Emmett’s barely practiced two-minute situations, hasn’t had those reps, and that’s pretty much what he did. And the second half, you know, we’re an onside kick away from tying the game.”

BC’s defense didn’t provide much help, looking flat for the second week in a row and allowing its second straight 60-yard touchdown on the Blue Devils’ first drive.

Under three minutes into the game, Leonard took an option read to the house, setting the tone for the night. Leonard amassed 96 yards on the ground for the Blue Devils, tormenting the Eagles’ front four. Duke registered 232 rushing yards on the night.

“It’s something we certainly game planned for,” said linebacker Vinny DePalma. “Sometimes those great athletes can just kind of, you know, get themselves out

of a hole. So that’s when we just got to keep running to the ball and keep attacking the ball and try to get the guy on the ground.”

On BC’s second offensive series, two chunk plays—an Alex Broome run of 22 yards and a 36-yard completion to Joseph Griffin Jr., who totaled 103 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on the night—set up BC in the red zone. On firstand-2, Zay Flowers caught Morehead’s first touchdown pass of the night. It was the Eagles’ first first-quarter touchdown since Week Five against Louisville.

But it wasn’t enough for BC to overcome Duke’s Jordan Waters, who found holes in the Eagles’ interior all game. With 11 minutes to go in the second quarter, Waters picked apart the Eagles’ defense on a 7-yard, untouched rushing touchdown to increase Duke’s lead.

The Eagles, meanwhile, struggled mightily on the ground, totaling 75 rushing yards and averaging 2.7 yards per carry.

Flowers, who caught two touchdowns on 65 receiving yards, was a bright spot for BC once again, but he was visibly frustrated after early miscommunications with Morehead during the second quarter.

The Eagles’ inability to push the ball and reach better field position proved to be a difference maker. While Duke’s average starting field position came at its 40-yard line, BC’s came at its own 19.

“[Our] field position wasn’t good enough,” Hafley said. “If you think about Emmett trying to operate the offense backed up, it’s a lot harder. … It felt like [Duke] had a short field almost every other drive in the first half, and we were playing backed up for most of the first half.”

Before halftime, the Eagles shaved Duke’s lead down to 10 points after Griffin secured his first touchdown.

But in the second half, Duke kept its foot on the gas pedal. Jaquez Moore smoked the Eagles on a 24-yard rushing touchdown with 10 minutes left to play in the third quarter.

Touchdown passes to Flowers and Griffin got BC back within the 10-point deficit range in the fourth quarter. But Morehead got sacked on back-to-back fourth quarter drives, crushing BC’s comeback hopes.

With 17 seconds left in the game, however, Connor Lytton nailed a field goal from 34 yards that made the score 38–31 in Duke’s favor. BC just needed to recover an onside kick and send a hail mary shot down the field to tie the game, but it was subsequently controlled by Duke.

The Eagles’ offense showed its best in weeks without its starter on the field. BC’s 31 points were 10 more than BC had scored in its past three games combined. n

Early Struggles Hurt Eagles in Duke Loss

By Graham Dietz Assoc. Sports Editor

Duke football recorded just five wins overall in 2020 and 2021 combined. This season, it already has six.

Following the 2021 season, Duke named Mike Elko its 22nd head coach. Elko had 13 years of coaching at the FBS level, serving as defensive coordinator for Bowling Green, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M in that span. Elko had coached teams to seven bowl games prior to his position in Durham.

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard also arrived on the scene this year, and he’s been everything the first-year coach could have wished for in a quarterback. Leonard’s 577 rushing yards lead all quarterbacks in the nation, and he has nine rushing touchdowns. Leonard also has 1,851 passing yards.

On Friday night, Elko and Leonard’s high-powered offense swept through Boston College like a hurricane, and the Blue Devils achieved bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. The last time Duke was bowl eligible, current New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones led the offense. Here are three observations from BC’s loss:

Sleepy First Drives

For the second straight game, BC allowed an explosive play on the first defensive drive of the game. And for the second straight week, BC head coach Jeff Hafley expressed that it isn’t in his defense’s nature to let up big plays so early on.

BC ranked 125th in total defense in 2019, and in two years under Jeff Hafley’s staff, it improved 97 spots to 28th in 2021—the second biggest jump in the country by a defense.

BC’s recent success on defense is largely a credit to its secondary—Hafley was previously a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Ohio State before coming to BC.

In six of their eight games this year, the Eagles have shown a nickel package to start games with three members of the secondary—Elijah Jones, Jason Maitre, and Jaiden Woodbey—starting all eight of those games.

Veteran Josh DeBerry has totaled seven starts at corner, and youngsters CJ Burton, Amari Jackson, and Cole Batson have also heard their numbers called.

Overall, it’s a deep group, but the same cannot be said of what the interior has done in 2022.

Last week, it was UConn’s tight end Justin Joly who turned a casual reception

into a 62-yard touchdown through the air against BC’s defense. This week, it was a quarterback that swallowed up BC’s interior D-line and spat it right out.

On the third play of the game, Duke’s running back Jordan Waters took a rush up the middle for a gain of 13 yards. Jackson and Maitre made the stop. Waters went for a 9-yard run on the next play. Two plays later, Leonard characteristically took it himself.

This time, Jackson and Maitre couldn’t bail out the Eagles’ front four again. The sophomore quarterback took it all the way down the right sideline, silencing BC’s student section with the score.

Heading into the week, Hafley was honest about the power of Duke’s offensive line in his midweek press conference.

“I think they have 169 total starts on their offensive line, which is huge—the experience playing together,” Hafley said. “They’re big. They’re nasty.”

Unlike BC, the Blue Devils have a second- or third-year starter at every position on the offensive line, and it showed all night Friday.

Leonard only registered 158 yards in the air but amassed 96 yards on the ground. Duke rushed for 232 yards and took the ball into the endzone four times on the ground.

Rookie Showcase

Though 2022 is largely a bust for Hafley and co., BC football fans are already getting a taste of what the Eagles’ next offensive trio can accomplish, thanks in large part to the past few games.

It wasn’t until Friday night, however, that the trio’s dominance was fully on display.

Taking over for quarterback Phil Jurkovec—out with a knee injury—Zay Flowers, and Pat Garwo III were redshirt freshman Emmett Morehead, true freshman Joseph Griffin Jr., and true freshman Alex Broome. The three of them were responsible for 379 of BC’s 405 total yards on offense.

Griffin, who has been gaining momentum at the x-receiver hole left by Jaden Williams—out for unknown reasons—had his best game to date. Griffin accumulated 103 receiving yards—38 more than Flowers—and grabbed two of Morehead’s touchdown passes on five total receptions.

And while BC’s run game has struggled this season—the Eagles average 2.3

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Duke Boston College 38 31

Joseph Griffin Jr. recorded 103 recieving yards in the Eagles’ loss to Duke.

By Matt najeMy For The Heights

The Eagles (17–11, 5–9 Atlantic Coast) started out slow in the first set against No. 7 Pitt (24–2, 14–0) and quickly fell in the second set but managed to pull off an upset win in the third set with a defensive push. BC took control with a combination of strong defense and several aces, but the Eagles fell in the fourth set for a 3–1 loss.

BC finished with set scores of 24–26, 11–25, 25-18, and 15–25.

BC faced a 9–2 deficit shortly into the match, but Jenna Pollock and libero Anna Murphy provided just the spark the Eagles needed with a trio of aces.

After some back-and-forth action, BC head coach Jason Kennedy made a suc-

cessful challenge call, and the score was soon 24–23 in BC’s favor. A service error by Silvia Ianeselli followed by a receiving error, however, put Pitt up by one point.

On the final play of the set, Pitt’s Valeria Vazquez Gomez lightly floated a ball over BC’s defensive block attempt and claimed the set for Pitt.

“I think it’s good to see that there’s a little bit of a fight, you know?” Kennedy said. “We’ve got to have the maturity to close out that first set. I think you close out the first set, you’re looking at a whole different match, but obviously we have to put that serve in the court.”

Pitt followed its narrow win in set one with a dominant second set in which the Eagles struggled with errors, gifting the Panthers 10 points from errors alone. Serena Gray tallied three kills in a difficult defensive sequence for the Eagles.

BC turned things around in the third

set thanks in large part to a strong twoway effort by Julia Haggerty. Haggerty led all BC players in blocks and hit percentage with nine blocks and a .571 hit percentage.

Toward the end of the third set, an ace by Pitt’s Courtney Buzzerio cut the score to 19–17 in BC’s favor. From there, the Eagles finished their effort with kills from Ianeselli and Katrina Jensen. Murphy grabbed the set for BC with a booming ace.

“I think the fact that we could keep fighting and find a way to win that third set shows a lot of grit out of our kids,” Kennedy said. “We got some different people involved, which I thought was great, and it was a great effort, I thought, all the way around.”

Pitt dominated in the fourth set with a well-rounded performance. Aces from Rachel Fairbanks and Gray helped Pitt take a commanding lead and overpower

the Eagles’ defensive front.

“I think the offense can be a little bit crisper,” Kennedy said. “I think we can try to generate a few more kills. I felt like when we could run as fast as we want to

we’re able to exploit some holes in the block, … but I think that when we tried to slow down and play high, you know, they are a real physical group, and we had a hard time scoring.” n

UConn Sweeps Eagles in Weekend Series

By ISaBella CalISe Heights Staff

The words of Boston College women’s hockey head coach Katie Crowley landed on the ears of freshman defenseman Cailin Flynn as she sat on the bench in BC’s matchup against Connecticut on Saturday.

“I don’t care how you score it. We just need to get a goal,” Crowley said.

Flynn scored midway through the second period, but between the aggressive play and strength of the Huskies’ defense, BC (6–5–1, 5–3–0 Hockey East) looked like it did one night earlier: outmatched. After a 1–0 loss to UConn (8–4–2, 4–4–2) on Friday, the Eagles struggled to keep up with the Huskies for 60 minutes on Saturday and fell to UConn 3–1 to close the weekend.

The weekend would’ve been scoreless for the Eagles if it weren’t for Flynn being at the right place at the right time to earn her first career goal.

The Eagles opened the game weav-

ing passes in and out of UConn’s first line. It looked as if it would only be a matter of time until BC landed a shot in the net, but the Huskies held on.

Brooke Campbell sent the puck behind the BC defense and over the shoulder of goaltender Grace Campbell to spark a 1–0 lead for UConn.

Another high shot from the Huskies found the back of the net in the 16th minute of the first period, as Brianna Ware fired a one-time shot from the point, putting UConn ahead 2–0.

The Eagles may have outshot UConn 9–6 in the first frame, but they couldn’t produce quality shots to beat Husky goaltender Tia Chan.

“They play that defensive style, and we need to be able to be more deceptive with our shots and finding ways to get pucks through,” Crowley said.

BC sustained offensive pressure throughout the second period but struggled to finish on scoring opportunities until Hockey East Player of the Month Hannah Bilka was in the right spot to assist Flynn.

When the freshman sent a shot to

the boards behind the net, Chan came out and attempted to play the puck, sending Husky defensemen flying in to assist. The puck ricocheted off the boards right in front of Flynn, who tipped it under the opposing players and landed BC’s first goal of the weekend.

“That was one way to do it,” Crowley said about Flynn’s scoring opportunity. “I think she’s playing well for us. She’s a big, strong kid who, every game, you see her get better and better, and that’s what you want from a first-year player, and I think she’s doing a great job for us.”

BC received the first power play of the night to close out the second period and pressured the Huskies’ net for the final minute and a half of the frame, but the Eagles seemed to lose steam when resuming the advantage at the start of the third.

“Got—I thought—a lot more quality scoring opportunities, had some chances there in the third period to tie it up, and we weren’t able to put it home.” Crowley said.

BC outshot the Huskies 25–22 despite the loss.

“That’s I think pretty good for us,” Crowley said. “We haven’t been getting a lot of shots on net. I thought we had second-chance opportunities that we missed on, and that’s where I think it killed us. We had those vital chances to be able to put one in.”

Bilka entered the box with just six minutes remaining in the frame after holding Riley Grimley during a breakaway rush to the net. That extra player allowed UConn to capitalize on the advantage and secure the 3–1 victory.

A day earlier, BC failed to score once in its series opener against UConn in Storrs.

A Jada Habisch goal put the Huskies up 1–0 just 38 seconds into the game, and neither team scored again through the next 59 minutes and 22 seconds of play.

“You need to be able to score against these teams that play such a defensive game, and that’s something we’re still battling and fighting through,” Crowley said. n

Eagles Show Promise in 3–1 Loss to No. 7 Panthers First-Period Struggles Cost BC in Loss to Merrimack

By SouraBh Gokarn Heights Staff

About halfway through the first period of Boston College men’s hockey’s tilt against Merrimack, the jumbotron at Conte Forum displayed a “Macarena Cam,” encouraging fans to show off their best dance moves. That call to dance, however, came unaccompanied by the 1993 hit song, creating an awkward and disjointed environment.

The energy of the crowd following that miscue resembled BC’s energy on the ice for much of Saturday afternoon’s first period: uninspired and listless.

The Eagles (2–4–1, 2–3–0 Hockey East) served up an undisciplined brand of hockey while the referees blew their whistles liberally, allowing Merrimack (5–3–0, 3–1–0) to jump out to an early 2–1 first period lead en route to a 5–2 victory.

“We definitely have to be smarter

managing the puck and taking more [of] what’s given, [rather] than trying to push and trying to create offense when there really [weren’t] great opportunities,” BC head coach Greg Brown said of his team’s first-period play.

The Warriors got on the board in the opening five minutes after Ben Brar stuffed a wraparound goal past BC goaltender Mitch Benson.

The lone bright spot of the period for BC came 10 minutes later. Playing with a man advantage, Cutter Gauthier netted a top-shelf rocket, tying the game at a goal apiece.

“[Gauthier] does good things every day,” Brown said. “It’s hard for an 18-year-old, but you see when he gets the puck in open ice and you see his shot—you know there’s some special talent in there.”

Even after tying the game, though, the Eagles could not get out of their own way. Just after Gauthier’s goal, referees called Aidan Hreschuk for interference. Merrimack capitalized on Hreschuck’s

error, as Mark Hillier knocked his own rebound past Benson to restore the Warriors’ lead.

Called for having too many players on the ice late in the first period, the Eagles put Merrimack on the power play to enter the second period.

Once BC killed off that penalty, the Warriors began to look undisciplined. Given three opportunities on the power play in the period’s first 10 minutes, the Eagles still failed to find the back of the net despite putting together their strongest stretch of play in the process.

BC had Merrimack goaltender Zachary Borgiel on his heels for much of the period, forcing him to make save after save through a 5-on-3 BC power play—including a lunging, highlight-reel grab to keep the Warriors ahead.

“I thought we started to get it to where we could have really turned the momentum,” Brown said. “We needed that one goal—whether it was on the power play or a 5-on-5 goal—I think it could have been a much different game.”

Borgiel kept the Eagles’ offense at bay long enough for Merrimack to secure some much-needed breathing room with a late Mike Brown goal. To make matters worse for BC, Lukas Gustaffson—who inadvertently tipped Brown’s shot into the net—subsequently went to the penalty box for holding.

The Warriors added another power-play goal midway through the final period, as Alex Jefferies flicked home a goal from the top of the left faceoff circle.

On a two-on-one opportunity, Filip Forsmark notched Merrimack’s fifth goal of the afternoon. With the game well out of reach, Brown pulled Benson in favor of backup goaltender Henry Wilder for the final 10 minutes. Andre Gasseau scored BC’s second goal with under two minutes to play, but Merrimack had already sealed the win.

“We have to get better and keep going,” Brown said. “[We’ve] got a lot of hockey left.” n

Cutter Gauthier netted his third goal of the season in the Eagles’ loss.

KELLEN

Merrimack Boston College 5 2

UConn Boston College 3 1

BRODY HANNON / HEIGHTS STAFF

BC snapped a three-game win streak with its 3–1 loss to Pitt on Sunday.

“Method to the Madness”: 2022–23

Men’s Basketball Preview

By Jack Bergamini Asst. Sports Editor

Boston College men’s basketball is heading into its 2022–23 season with a new mentality.

“We can compete with any single team in the ACC,” sophomore Jaeden Zackery said. “Or the country.”

That level of confidence marks a new era for BC men’s basketball and is something it hasn’t had in a very long time—perhaps since it last made the NCAA tournament in 2009.

Led by an energized Earl Grant who is entering his second year as the Eagles’ head coach after a 13-win 2021–22 cam paign, BC’s season will officially begin on Monday against Cornell.

And after a short run in the ACC tournament last year that included the Eagles upsetting Wake Forest and then falling to Miami in the quarterfinal round at the buzzer, some are expecting the Eagles to make a jump this year. Zackery said that he and the rest of the returning players certainly are, and they have made it a goal this year to make March Mad ness after their crushing loss to Miami

seven players seeing the court per game. Grant said he hopes his acquisitions help

“I think we've added some more shooting and we've added more length and athleticism,” Grant said. “So I hope those guys can give us a good boost.”

The Eagles start the season with six straight non-conference games: Cornell on Nov. 7, Detroit Mercy on Nov. 11, Maine on Nov. 14, George Mason on Nov. 18, Rhode Island on Nov. 27, and Nebraska on Nov. 30. Four of those

on Winter Break during the Notre Dame, Duke, and Wake games.

The Eagles’ 20 conference games will be crucial, and if they can win half of them—which would only be four more conference wins than last year—they could be looking at a 19-plus win season, landing them right in the middle of the highly competitive ACC.

"I know Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby,” Grant said. “Nobody thought he could. He got invited an hour before the race. We’re in the race. We get to play the games. That’s all that matters to us." n

“It just means that I'll

Clemson, played last season.

Defying Expectations: 2022–23 Women’s Basketball Preview

By SouraBh Heights Staff

On the preci pice of qualifying for its first NCAA Tournament since 2006, Boston College women’s basketball’s 2021–22 season instead ended with a series of gut punches.

First, the BC suffered a narrow first-round ACC Tournament loss to Florida State—leaving the Eagles one spot away from going dancing.

Then came an upset loss to Columbia in the third round of the National In vitation Tour nament (NIT).

The Eagles earned the No. 1 overall seed in the tourna ment after falling short of the NCAA Tournament.

And after all that, BC lost three starters to the transfer portal, including its two leading scorers Camer on Swartz and Taylor Soule. The Eagles also lost Marnelle Garraud, their fifth leading scorer and leader in steals to Vanderbilt.

Despite these setbacks, however, BC is determined to make the 2022–23 campaign more than just a rebuilding year, according to sophomore center Maria Gakdeng.

“I feel like we have a chip on our shoulder this year,” Gakdeng said. “Even those who weren’t on the team last year—I feel like we all have that sense of urgency.”

In losing all five se niors—all of whom had another year of eligibility— head coach Joanna Bernabei-Mc

Lowell and Harvard.

A challenge will present itself right away, as No. 14 Ohio State visits Conte Forum on Nov. 13—a critical measuring stick for this young BC team. Following its tilt

mer Big East foe Providence and Holy Cross, before heading to the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan,

BC takes on Rutgers in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 30.

Conference play opens against No. 13 Virginia Tech on Dec. 7, when BC will welcome Soule back to Chestnut Hill. The star forward joined the Hokies this offseason after donning the maroon and

On Dec. 18, the Eagles will face Georgia Tech in Conte Forum, the first time BC will face Swartz since she left the

BC then rings in the

to-back road bouts against No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 10 that many ing players have circled look to avenge round ACC Tournament exit against Florida

BC concludes its season on Feb. 26, facing a Wake Forest team predicted to finish second to last in the conference.

“Nobody’s really talking about us,” Bernabei-McNamee said. “When it comes to the ACC, we’re not really in the talks of being one of their better programs. So I think all of that gives us that little extra motivation and chip on our ” n