The Heights, Oct. 16, 2023

October 16, 2023

Boston College Reacts to Israel-Hamas War Leahy comments on the conflict in an email.

By Lucy Freeman Asst. News Editor

Jewish campus organization, organized the event following a community meeting with Jewish students, faculty, and community members on Tuesday night, according to Harrison Pierson-Panes, BC Hillel engagement intern and MCAS ’25.

University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., sent an email to the Boston College community on Friday addressing Hamas’ recent attacks on Israel.

“Like many, I was shocked by the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel last Saturday, leaving thousands dead and wounded and an undetermined number taken as hostages,” the email reads. “Adding to the horror is the reality that a number of victims were defenseless civilians and children.”

Leahy discussed the candlelight vigil BC Hillel hosted on Thursday, and he announced that the University will hold a multi-faith service on Oct. 18 to pray for peace, hope, and reconciliation.

“This violence has left Jewish faculty, students, and staff in our community understandably grief-stricken, angry, and apprehensive about their future,” Leahy wrote.

Leahy said he empathizes with the residents of Gaza for the social, economic, and political troubles they continue to endure.

“Now actions by Israel have left thousands dead and wounded, and Gazans facing shortages of food, water, shelter, and health care as well as possible invasion,” the email reads.

See Vigil, A2

See Leahy, A2

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Boston College community members gathered on Thursday night for a vigil remembering victims of Hamas’ recent attacks in Israel.

By Will Martino Asst. News Editor

A crowd of Boston College community members gathered on O’Neill Plaza Thursday night for a candlelit vigil commemorating the victims of Hamas’ recent attacks in Israel.

“It’s amazing seeing all these beautiful faces all here to stand in solidarity with the Jewish life on campus,” said Avery Miller, president of BC Hillel and MCAS ’24. “It honestly means so much and keeps our hearts warm when everything feels very cold.”

The BC chapter of Hillel, a national

Fuller Denounces Attacks

BC Alum Takes On ‘Jeopardy!’

By Connor Siemien Newton Editor

By Stephen Bradley Heights Senior Staff

Newton officials including Mayor Ruthanne Fuller hosted a forum at city hall on Wednesday night to bring attention to antisemitism in the city, which took on heightened significance after Hamas launched an attack on Israel over the weekend, Fuller said.

“As mayor of the City of Newton, I want to start by repeating the words of the president of the United States,” Fuller said.

“Hamas’ attack on Israel is pure, unadulterated evil.”

The city planned the event long in advance of the weekend’s attacks, according to Fuller’s newsletter. Tensions in the Middle East escalated after Hamas—a Gaza-based Islamic political and military organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States—abducted hostages during a surprise attack near the Israel-Gaza border, and Israel then declared war, according to the Associated Press.

The outlet reported that the conflict has claimed more than 2,800 lives.

As a precautionary measure, the Newton Police Department (NPD) will heighten its presence around the city’s synagogues, Fuller said.

Fuller said the gathering was painful but necessary in light of the attacks. She said that her thoughts are with all those who are connected to the conflict.

turned into a low grumble when, 55 seconds into the affair, Long Island’s Remy Parker chipped in a shot that knocked off freshman goaltender Jacob Fowler’s mitt and found the top right corner of the net.

After a few minutes, it looked as though the Eagles had regained their footing, but they lost it again—and the energy of their fans—when BC let up its second goal of the contest before the 10-minute mark of the first period.

Once again, only a low murmur could be heard from the stands as the visitors snatched an early 2–0 advantage.

When Maya Rao traveled to Italy with some friends for a Spring Break trip during her sophomore year, she wanted to know more about the history behind the places they visited.

Sean McShane, then a senior, satisfied everyone’s curiosities.

“He knew everything,” Rao, BC ’21, said.

“Everywhere we went, we could point at like a statue and be like, ‘What’s that guy?

What’s his story?’ And he was like, ‘That’s so and so.’”

Just over three years later, using this knowledge and a host of other information, McShane, BC ’19, won three rounds of Jeopardy!, collecting over $82,000 in winnings.

McShane, from West Islip, N.Y., said those around him knew him as a trivia buff growing up.

“Like even as a kid, I used to have all these dumb little facts,” he said. “People were constantly asking, ‘How do you know that? Why do you know that?’”

While in high school, he said he participated in his school’s quiz bowl team. He would often watch Jeopardy!

Being a participant on the show was always an aspiration of his, and people would often tell him that he needed to be on it, he said.

See Hockey, A10

See Jeopardy!, A5

See Forum, A4

KELLEN DAVIS / HEIGHTS STAFF

In Front of Record Crowd, BC Tops LIU

By Luke Evans Asst. Sports Editor

Before the opening faceoff of No. 4 Boston College men’s hockey’s home opener against Long Island, the atmosphere in Conte Forum was like no other. In front of a record-breaking student section sporting all white, Eagles fans made their presence known with deafening chants.

“Tremendous show by the fans,” BC head coach Greg Brown said. “They were there right at the beginning of the game, the white out was dynamite. They were loud.”

But those chants and that electricity quickly

Opinions

Opinions

Troubled by the gender disparity in the teaching profession, columnist Peter Coquillette highlights perspectives from male LSEHD alumni on the field.

In his first piece, columnist Chase Pinette reflects on sibling separation. His sister recently began her first semester of college in Springfield, Mass.

INDEX

INSIDE

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NEWS

Monday, October 16, 2023

This Week’s Top 3 Events

1

The Heights

David Novak, a professor at the University of Toronto, will deliver a talk as part of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning’s annual lecture series. The event will be held on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Gasson 100.

2

Join the Shea Center on Wednesday at 3 p.m. on Zoom to hear from BC alum Trevor Stuart, the founder of Split Software. Stuart will share his knowledge of working in the startup world.

3

A2

The McMullen Museum will offer donuts, apple cider, crafts, and games on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. with its “Art After Dark: Fall Celebration” event.

Join the museum’s student ambassadors for a night of fun and scary movies.

Hillel Hosts Vigil Honoring Victims of Hamas Attacks Vigil, from A1 Hamas, a Gaza-based Islamic political and military organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States, launched a surprise attack on the Israel-Gaza border on Saturday.

Israel sent airstrikes into the Gaza Strip in retaliation and declared war against Hamas on Sunday.

In an interview with The Heights following the vigil, Miller and Sam Peterson, BC Hillel treasurer and MCAS ’25, said they mourn the lives of all people affected in this conflict.

“Any innocent life lost is a tragedy,” Peterson said.

Miller said it is shocking to see people place blame on the Israeli community for actions directed against it.

“It seems like people are trying to justify their deaths, or almost like what happened to them was deserved,” Avery said. ‘It’s shocking to me.”

Ira Kirschner, associate director of the Thea Bowman AHANA+ and Intercultural Center, addressed the crowd by sharing the transcript of

a CNN interview with an Israeli man who described the moment he learned his 8-year-old daughter had been killed in the Hamas attacks.

“They said we found Emily, she’s dead,” Kirschner read to the crowd.

“And I went, ‘Yes.’…That was the best possibility I was hoping for. She was either dead or in Gaza. And if you knew anything about what they would do to her in Gaza, that’s worse than death. So death was a blessing.”

Kirschner, who grew up outside of Jerusalem and served five years in the Israel Defense Forces, said the present tragedy in Israel is not a Jewish one but a human one.

“Hamas terrorists have proven that they have no humanity and that they have dehumanized us just as the Nazis did,” he said. “How else can you burn children? How else can you decapitate babies? How else?”

Kirschner shared that while he feels helpless and scared with his family and friends back in Israel, he holds faith that the Jewish people will sit Shiva.

“We will rise again,” he said.

“We will be happy again. We will protect ourselves, and no one will ever destroy us, and no one will take

away our joy and our love of life for very long.”

Matt Sienkiewicz, chair of BC’s communication department, told the crowd that some of his most challenging times over the past week included friends asking the question, “How are you?”

“How am I?” he repeated. “I’m doing terribly. But I truly do thank you for asking and caring.”

Sienkiewicz said the days following the attacks in Israel have been characterized by fear.

“I’m terrified to send my children to the little Jewish school over the hill of Brighton,” he said. “I fear for our Jewish communities. I fear for our Muslim communities. I fear for the hate we’re going to see.”

Sienkiewicz added that BC could better serve its Jewish students by including religious minorities in cultural activities, offering different religious chaplains through Campus Ministry, and thinking more carefully about how students are taught about Israel.

“But right now we’re getting the most important thing very right,” he said, looking out into the crowd.

“You’re the biggest part of it just by

being here. You’re here for us. We see you.”

UGBC president Jonah Kotzen, MCAS ’24, also spoke at the vigil.

Kotzen said he attended not as a UGBC affiliate, but as a concerned member of BC’s Jewish community.

“It’s our job as both Jews and non-Jews alike to stand together in solidarity and mourn the lives lost

to such terrorism and barbarism displayed from Hamas this weekend,” he said.

Peterson said the level of support shown at the vigil is not something he takes for granted.

“It was beautiful to see so much support from our friends and from the BC community, Jewish and non-Jewish alike,” Peterson said. n

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Students gathered on the Quad to commemorate victims of Hamas attacks.

Women’s Center, UGBC Provide Menstrual Products

By Natalie Arndt News Editor The Boston College Women’s Center has partnered with UGBC to provide free menstrual products in certain bathrooms across campus.

“This puts menstruation and feminine hygiene in the spotlight, which I don’t think a lot of spaces on campus are able to do that, and therefore our school definitely needs it,” Emme Mackenzie, MCAS ’25, said.

The program, Free, Period., launched last Monday and offers free menstrual products in five bathrooms—Maloney Hall’s fourth floor, Gasson Hall’s basement, the Margot Connell Recreation Center women’s

locker room, Stokes Hall’s first floor, and 245 Beacon Street’s ground floor.

Mackenzie and Elizabeth Anderson, MCAS ’25, who are both student workers in the Women’s Center, headed the initiative to revamp a similar former program at BC called Cura Personalis Period, which fizzled out when COVID-19 sent students home in 2020, Mackenzie said.

“It was basically the same goal of offering good products across campus, making them accessible, and fighting against the … stigma of menstruation on campus too,” Mackenzie said. “And so, the pandemic happened, and it completely fell off. And our goal this year was to revitalize it.”

Mackenzie said every Monday

and Thursday, a team of 10 volunteers go around campus and place pads and tampons in the five locations.

“We’ve literally just launched this past week, but we’ve realized that the school definitely needs more than just two days, so we’re super excited to see where this project goes,” Mackenzie said.

The funding for this project comes from UGBC, according to Mackenzie. Annie Quinn, director of student initiatives for UGBC and LSEHD ’26, said this program aligns well with the values of UGBC—specifically with the Division of Student Initiatives.

“This is definitely a demand that we’ve been hearing from a lot of the students, and access to free period

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

The Women’s Center announced it will now provide free menstrual products in five bathrooms on campus.

products is kind of a trend across lots of different universities,” Quinn said.

“And so we wanted to bring it to BC, because the health and wellbeing of all of our students is something very crucial, specifically [for] my division’s work within UGBC.” Quinn said it is UGBC’s responsibility to use its resources to support student initiatives and causes that care for the health and wellness of students, such as Free, Period.

“We have the responsibility of listening to the students’ needs and responding to what the students are asking us to do as their representatives, and we also have the responsibility of using our resources to benefit the most students possible,” Quinn said.

According to Anderson, menstrual products are a basic human need that ought to be accessible to everyone who has a period.

“It’s for hygiene, it’s for human dignity, and I think it should be something that is accessible to everyone, and it shouldn’t be a commodity,” Anderson said. “It’s really health care, so it should be something that’s provided by BC.” This program especially aims to help students who cannot afford to purchase menstrual products for themselves, Anderson said.

“There are many students on this campus who take their ability to buy menstrual products for granted,” Anderson said. “A lot of students aren’t in that same position.”

Anderson noted this program is specifically important at BC, where

there are few convenience stores on or near campus.

“The prices in those stores that are basically on campus are severely marked up and a lot of times in the Boston College Bookstore, there’s pads but not tampons, and so students, especially when you’re kind of in a pinch, have to [purchase these] and it’s really expensive,” Anderson said.

In the coming years, Anderson said she hopes to expand this program to all bathrooms on campus, including those in residential halls.

“I’m hoping that we will be able to get them in all the bathrooms and already we’ve had a few resident assistants reach out to us saying that they would want some supplies in their specific residence halls, especially among learning, living, communities, like first-gen students,” Anderson said Beyond providing free menstrual products on campus, Anderson said she also hopes to plan more events and discussions surrounding menstrual education.

“Maybe we talk about the lack of access to menstrual products among unhoused communities, or how menstrual cups can be a more sustainable product, or talking about how not everyone who menstruates is female-identifying,” Anderson said. “I think there’s a lot of different directions that we can take this project to educate students on campus.” n Madison Hoang contributed to reporting.

Leahy Addresses Hamas Attacks in Community Email Leahy, from A1 According to Leahy, the violence in Israel and Gaza illustrates the importance of BC community members remembering the core beliefs and values of the University’s Jesuit tradition.

“The situation in Israel and Gaza distresses all at Boston College and highlights the need for compassion and dialogue as well as remembering the beliefs, values, and bonds we share as a Jesuit, Catholic university,” Leahy wrote. “Classes and residence halls provide opportunities for such engagement and conversation.”

Leahy quoted Pope Francis’s declaration on Oct. 8, in which

Francis described all wars as a defeat and asked people to pray for peace in Israel and Palestine.

“I believe our religious and intellectual heritage also invites us to pray for peace and reconciliation.”

Leahy encouraged members of the BC community to pray for peace as well.

“I believe our religious and intellectual heritage also invites us to pray for peace and reconciliation, not only in the Middle East but throughout the world,” Leahy wrote.

Leahy ended his email by highlighting the Prophet Micah’s words and encouraging the BC community to strive for kindness and justice.

“The events of last Saturday and their aftermath have reminded me of words from the Old Testament prophet Micah, who asked centuries ago: ‘[W]hat does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?’ May we always strive to do so,” Leahy wrote.” n

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

Leahy encouraged students to pray for peace and reconciliation.

The Heights

Monday, October 16, 2023

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NEWS Desmond Dissects Financial Problems in the U.S.

By Aidan Gravina For The Heights Matthew Desmond’s experiences growing up in poverty prompted him to take a stand as a poverty abolitionist.

“Ending poverty is gonna require new policies and new political movements, but it also will require that each one of us, in our own way, become poverty abolitionists,” said Desmond, a professor of sociology at Princeton University.

The Lowell Humanity Series hosted a lecture on Wednesday titled, “Poverty, By America.” Desmond, a Pulitzer Prize–winning author, said watching his family get evicted from their home motivated him to ask why the United States deals with poverty in the way it does.

“I think seeing my family pressed and stressed by poverty drove this question inside of me, which is ‘Why?’” Desmond said.

“Why is this how we deal with a family when they fall on hard times?

Why so much poverty in this land of abundance?”

According to Desmond, he set out to answer this question by speaking to union representatives, government officials, and people

who lived below the poverty line.

Desmond said he discovered a troubling fact: 38 million people are officially poor in the United States—a number larger than the population of Australia—and the problem is getting worse.

“Since the turn of the century, eviction filings have increased 22 percent,” Desmond said. “The share of families visiting food pantries has increased by 19 percent. The inflation adjusted debt held by low-income families has increased by 200 percent since the 1990s.”

Desmond it is important to realize that a fair amount of government aid does not reach the poor.

For example, when Americans apply for disability benefits, they have to spend a portion of what they would receive on legal fees, he said.

“In 2019, right before COVID struck, 1.2 billion with a ‘B’ were issued to attorneys representing people applying for disability,” Desmond said. “I can’t get over the fact that each year we spend over a billion dollars in social security funds—not on getting people disability, but getting people lawyers so they can get on disability.”

The job market is also a cause of high poverty levels, Desmond said.

He said people are overworked and underpaid, but this was not always the case.

“During the 1950s and 1960s, a third of the American workforce belonged to a union,” Desmond said.

“CEO pay was reigned in, worker pay climbed, and the country experienced the most economically equitable period in modern history. But as worker power waned, American jobs got a lot worse. Our grandparents had careers and our parents had jobs, and we complete tasks.”

Desmond said the job market is not the only place that poor Americans are exploited—they are also exploited in the financial markets.

“Every year, poor Americans pay over 11 billion dollars in overdraft fees, 1.6 billion dollars in check cashing fees, and almost 10 billion dollars in payday loan fees,” Desmond said. “That’s 61 million dollars pulled out of the pockets of the poor in fines and fees alone every single day.”

The poor struggle also struggle because the United States gives the most to people who do not need it, he said.

“Every year, the average family in the bottom 20 percent of the

income distribution, our poorest families, get about $26,000 a year from the government,” Desmond said. “But the average family in the top 20 percent, our richest families, they get about $35,000 a year from the government. That’s almost a 40 percent difference.”

To solve the problem of poverty in the United States, Desmond said the government needs to do three things: invest in families by rebal-

ancing the safety net, empower the poor by reigning in exploitation, and build inclusive and open communities.

Americans need to refuse the idea that poverty is inevitable, and they should fight to end poverty completely, Desmond concluded.

“I want to end poverty in America,” Desmond said. “I want to end it.

Why settle for anything less?” Why settle for anything less?” n

EMILY AHERN / FOR THE HEIGHTS

Desmond said growing up in poverty made him a poverty abolitionist.

Mogan Heads Senior Discernment Series

By Lucy Freeman Asst. News Editor

Ava Sjursen For The Heights

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA PERLMAN

BC Law School Student Wins Marlborough Mayoral Primary

By Will Martino Asst. News Editor

Third-year Boston College Law School student Samantha Perlman won the preliminary mayoral election for Marlborough, Mass. on Tuesday night, advancing her and fellow candidate Christian Dumais to the general election on Nov. 7.

“This speaks to how much support we have in the community, which I’m really proud of,” Perlman said.

The ballot for Tuesday’s preliminary election included four candidates: Perlman, Dumais, Patrick Hogan, and Michael Baker. Perlman earned the most votes by a margin of 15.6 percent.

Perlman re ceive d 1,766 votes, Dumais received 1,491 votes, Hogan received 1,409 votes, and Baker received 148 votes.

Of all the candidates, Perlman was the youngest and only woman, but she was also the only one elected to citywide office before.

Perlman joined the Marlborough Cultural Council in 2018 before making history in 2019 as Marlborough’s youngest-ever woman elected citywide.

“Being the only woman on the ballot and only city councilor, and certainly the youngest, you know, it was a strong showing that folks like me are our next mayor in the future and the present,” she said.

“Our large engagement with residents across the entire community, many of whom have never voted before or, you know, have felt left out of the political process, their turnout really helped increase the voter total overall.”

Perlman said she spent the day of the preliminary election knocking on doors , making calls, reminding people to vote, holding signs at the polls, and,

of course, voting herself.

“I was on a lot of coffee and not a lot of sleep and was just really energized by the number of volunteers we had and the level of support,” she said.

According to Perlman, voter turnout in Tuesday’s preliminary election was nearly double what her team anticipated.

“O ur large engagement with residents across the entire community, many of whom have never voted before or, you know, have felt left out of the political process, their turnout really helped increase the voter total overall,” she said Perlman plans to graduate from BC Law this December, finishing her required credits a semester earlier than the traditional three years.

Alongside her J.D., Perlman is also pursuing a dual master’s degree in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University.

While others may argue that her age makes her the less experienced or qualified candidate for mayor of Marlborough, Perlman said the turnout and success of Tuesday’s election prove the community feels otherwise.

“Our message and experience really resonate with voters,” Perlman said. n

Boston College launched a six-week senior discernment series this semester that aims to encourage students to reflect upon their time at BC and prepare them for life after graduation, according to Tom Mogan, the facilitator of the series.

“I wanted to think about ways in which we could help students manage that transition and have the confidence going forward that they are prepared, you know, to handle the challenges and the opportunities of post-grad life,” said Mogan, the associate dean for seniors in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences.

The objectives of the senior discernment series—which is exclusively for MCAS students—include fostering decision-making skills and critical reflection, exploring personal values and their alignment with future goals, integrating a liberal arts education into future life and work, and building community among seniors, according to Mogan.

The series officially began on Sept. 26, and 16 seniors are currently participating.

“I want them to walk away with an action plan to enhance their senior year and their post-college life,” Mogan said.

The program was inspired by a similar series the Carroll School of Management hosted for seniors last year, which was led by Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs Ethan Sullivan. Mogan said he had a discussion with Sullivan about the BC fourth-year experience and how to guide students in their senior year.

“Some of us were just having an informal conversation about what we are doing with our seniors to help them make sense of their BC experience, to give them these formational opportunities, and also to have conversations about what they are going to take from their BC experience to the next step of their life,” Sullivan said.

Mogan said the decision to launch the MCAS series was also influenced by feedback he received from students during his time as associate dean of student affairs and as a resident minister.

“[Students] just wanted to have meaningful conversations about their senior year, about how to make decisions and how to discern their future, and then also how to think about their liberal arts education in the context of what the world needs them to be,” Mogan said.

After sharing his goals with Dean of MCAS Rev. Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., Mogan sent out an email on Sept. 14 that contained a brief description of the series and the planned meeting dates, which spanned from Sept. 26 to Nov. 7. The email asked students to fill out a registration form if they were interested in and able to attend the series.

Mogan said during the first session on Sept. 26, the students took turns introducing themselves and shared one aspect of their senior year they were excited about, one aspect they were anxious about, and one hope they had for their time together.

“I wrote [their goals] down and they almost clearly aligned with what I had set as the goals without even telling them,” Mogan said.

Reese Butcher, MCAS ’24, said the series interested her because she was looking for direction about how to apply for jobs and what careers to pursue after graduation.

Butcher said Mogan guides the participants through the Ignatian Examen at the end of each session to reflect on their own experiences, which she said has benefited her already.

“I actually felt so good coming out of [the examen] and felt like I really kind of have a better perspective, even after the first couple of sessions, on my BC experience and what I’m going to do going forward, which I really was not expecting going into [the series],” Butcher said.

Mogan said the series will culminate in a final dinner as a way to thank the students for their participation in the series and for their contributions to the BC community.

“When I was dean of students, I used to have ‘Dinners with the Dean’ and invite people into our house and have dinners with students,” Mogan said. “I just know that it is always a good way to build community and have meaningful discussions.”

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

NEWTON

Monday, October 16, 2023

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The Heights

Newton Mayor Denounces Hamas Attack, Says Police Presence Around Synagogues To Increase Forum, from A1 “Here at home, this is a time in Newton when Jews are hurting,”

she said. “And we know this is a time in Newton when Palestinians are hurting.”

Several speakers made remarks

during the program, including Keith Stern, a rabbi at Temple Beth Avodah. He, too, said that the event was planned months in advance.

NICOLE VAGRA / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The event was planned in advance but took on greater significance after Hamas' attack, according to Fuller.

“This program was planned— believe me—months ago,” Stern said. “But just in those few days, from Saturday to this moment, so much has changed.”

He said recent events—and other incidents of antisemitism—make clear the importance of forums like Wednesday evening’s.

“Ironically, current events underscore the need for this conversation about antisemitism and hate,” Stern said. “Because its virulence, its reach is terrifying.”

He also said that, despite Newton’s low crime rate, the Jewish community is fearful due to the violence.

“As safe as I feel we are in Newton, if you talk to any of the synagogue personnel from their various houses of worship … most of them are going to be closing on Friday morning because of threats made by Hamas,” Stern said. “That is not a political act of liberation, it is a calculated act of terrorism and antisemitism.”

Newton’s population of 87,000 residents is roughly 30 percent

Jewish, according to a 2016 article from The Boston Globe.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said the county and commonwealth will do ever ything they can to ease fear that stems from the recent events. She also praised the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization formed to address antisemitism globally, for its efforts to address hate crimes.

“The ADL has been a reliable source of information—preventive programs and data—for everybody that is doing this work,” Ryan said.

“They’ve been really instrumental in helping us to gather experts, to address our task forces, to come with us to communities when things happen.”

Fuller said there is no place for discrimination in Newton.

“We are here together to speak out against antisemitism and hate, violence and terrorism,” she said.

“We join together to stand up for our community values of respect and inclusion, diversity and equity, acceptance and compassion.” n

NPS Faculty Seek Higher Pay for Some Employees

By Genevieve Morrison For The Heights Newton residents and Newton Public Schools (NPS) faculty voiced concerns about the compensation of teaching assistants and special educators at a Newton School Committee (NSC) meeting Wednesday night.

Contract negotiations between the NSC and the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) have been ongoing since December 2022. Currently, the two groups are working with a state-appointed mediator in order to reach a contract.

“We worked very diligently and very hard to reach a resolution prior to the Aug. 31 expiration of the contract,” School Committee Chair Tamika Olszewski said. “We were not able to reach that agreement through that at that time, but we are in mediation, which is a process we believe will allow us to find a mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, successor contract.”

Teaching assistants and special education aides in the district fall under Unit C, a contract classification with its own salaries and benefits. Michael Birch, a teacher at Bigelow Middle School, said the Unit C salary is too low, which is leading to turnover.

“Those of us in the schools continue to see the impact of not having enough Unit C staff and the constant turnover in those positions is having on our students,” Birch said.

According to Barry Hershenow, a Unit C teacher at Newton North High School, the instability of Unit C jobs puts Newton at risk of having unfilled positions in special education, particularly those who support students on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). “[Newton will] risk liability for not being in compliance with contractually mandated aide support for IEPs and suffer low employee morale,” Hershenow said. “And with higher turnover, students find it difficult to develop and maintain relationships with trusted adults in their buildings.”

Hershenow also expressed frustration with the reduction of allotted hours for high school educational support aides, which has resulted in lower pay for those teachers.

“Educational support professionals at the high schools have seen our allotted hours reduced from 36.51 hours per week to the present 34.93 hours per week, ostensibly because of the new high school schedule,” Hershenow

said. “You might ask why we aren't paid based on at least 35 hours per week. Well, that would add an extra 50 seconds per day to our pay.”

Hallie Armstrong, a teacher at F. A. Day Middle School, voiced concern about increased class sizes as a result of heightened enrollment. Armstrong said larger classes inhibit her ability to give proper attention to her students.

“We've had three and a half teams of students crammed into three, and it's having a real apparent effect. … I love my students and

I hate how much less time I have to give to each of them individually in class,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said with larger class sizes, special education and Unit C personnel are a necessity in order to properly attend to students with increased learning needs. “[I have] just about 22 minutes to check in with 24 to 25 students, some … with significant needs educationally,” Armstrong said.

“Sometimes I have my aide with me, sometimes they're dealing

with a student crisis. And it only works when I have my Unit C and my special educator with me.”

Roshan Karim, a student at Newton North High School, shared disappointment with the School Committee’s conduct in negotiations.

“I don't see a district that's protecting its most valuable asset, its educators,” Karim said. “I see a district in disarray in a city unwilling to fund it, led by a school committee unwilling to fight for it.” n

CONNOR SIEMIEN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Newton teachers attended public comment and said that large classroom sizes detract from quality of learning.

Protestors Rally Against Mass. Family Institute

By Maria Stefanoudakis For The Heights Aidan Gravina For The Heights The Stonewall Liberation Organization (SLO), an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, held a rally in Newton on Friday night condemning the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI)—a not-for-profit organization focused on advancing Christian principles within Massachusetts, according to its website.

“Knowing [the MFI] is a supremacy group that’s opposing LGBTQ rights and abortion and taking action to shut those things down … it made me think of the Holocaust,” rally attendee Pat

Kryzak said. “You know, you have to take a stance.”

The SLO hosted the rally at Lyons Park in Auburndale. The SLO chose to rally there due to the park’s proximity to the nearby Boston Marriott Newton, where the MFI held its annual fundraising banquet on Friday evening, according to rally attendees.

The MFI did not respond to The Heights’ request for a comment on the rally.

After rallying in the park for nearly an hour, the group marched to the Boston Marriott Newton, where ralliers stood outside chanting that it is not safe for the MFI to gather and spread hatred and transphobia, an active member of

the SLO named Lucky said.

“We are here to do everything in our power to make sure the MFI has the worst time at their gala this year,” Lucky said during a speech directed at fellow rally participants.

Lucky’s said the SLO stands with all oppressed and exploited people.

“In the midst of both Palestinian resistance to apartheid and an ongoing zionist mass-killing of Palestinians in Gaza, it is Christian-supremacist groups like [the] MFI who have shown themselves to be some of the largest supporters of Zionism in the world,” Lucky said.

Multiple sp e akers at the rally condemned several aspects

of the MFI’s mission, referring to it as a Christian-supremacist, anti-LGBTQ, misogynistic organization. Speakers criticized the MFI’s support of legislation that favors sexual education occurring within the home rather than in schools.

“I work in schools, and the idea that students’ access to information about their bodies and their sexuality being limited … I don’t think it has a place in schools,” said Rachel Adams, a rally participant and member of Boston’s branch of Showing Up for Racial Justice—a group that organizes white people to fight for racial and economic justice, according to its website. “I don’t think censorship is ever something

you wanna encourage.”

A member of the Mass FeministStruggle Committee—a Massachusetts-based group that focuses on fighting for reproductive rights, according to its Facebook page—spoke out against the MFI. The member, named Bert, stressed the need for unity among oppressed groups and said the MFI was not only an enemy of the LGBTQ+ community, but also an enemy of women.

“Our enemies are united and they scorn us in the streets, in our doctors offices, in our schools, and online,” Bert said.

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

M AGAZINE Monday, October 16, 2023

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BC Alum Secures Victory on Three ‘Jeopardy!’ Episodes Jeopardy!, from A1 At Boston College, McShane studied history and was a member of Hello…Shovelhead!, a sketch comedy group, and The New England Classic, a satirical magazine.

McShane took the preliminary tests for the show while he was at BC as he hoped to appear on the quiz show’s collegiate tournament.

But his Jeopardy! journey truly began in January of 2022.

The process for every Jeopardy!-hopeful begins with an online test of 50 random questions that are similar to those on the actual show, McShane said. Those who pass the first test are then placed in a lottery, and, if chosen from that lottery, are invited to take a Zoom-proctored test. From there, those who pass are put into another lottery.

After being chosen from that second lottery, hopefuls engage in an interview, mock game, and submit a personal application, McShane said.

McShane said that a conversation with his friends one night sparked the idea for him to take the initial test.

“I really didn’t do any studying for the test,” he said. “It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision.”

Because he had seen the show so many times and done well as he answered along from home, he said he knew could make it on the show and win with a little strategizing.

“I was like, ‘Alright, if I can get on and I can figure out the buzzer, I think I have a good shot at this,’” he said.

After successfully completing each stage of the process, McShane said he found out that he was actually going to compete on Jeopardy! while at work in September 2022.

He noticed he had missed a call from one of the producers, and when he returned her call, she said that she called to make sure the information on his application was all up to date.

“My heart was racing when I called her back because I’m like, ‘Is this it?’” he said.

Five days later, he said he received a text from the same producer, asking him to fly out to Culver City, Calif. at the end of October 2022 to tape the show.

“I was the first person to find out he was going to be on Jeopardy!” Rao said. “We were having dinner together, and he kept looking at his phone, and I was like, ‘What? What’s on your phone?’”

While she was not surprised that he was going to compete on the show, Rao said she was still ecstatic for him.

“It was one of those things

where it made sense, but it was still so exciting to hear that he was gonna be on Jeopardy!” she said. “It was exciting.”

Robert McCrory, a friend of McShane’s and BC ’19, said he was also thrilled for McShane, as he knew that participating on the show was one of his dreams.

“I remember him mentioning in years past, like taking the tests and kind of [...] what the Jeopardy! application process is like, so finding out that he was actually going to be on it, it was, like, it was just a lot of excitement for him, like I was excited on his behalf,” McCrory said.

Before taping, McShane said he received a package in the mail informing him of what to expect and outlining the rules of the game.

From there, his studying began to pick up.

“It wasn’t until I found out I was going on the show that I decided to actually study in earnest,” he said.

“But it’s kind of like a fool’s errand because you have no idea what’s gonna show up.”

McShane said he had watched enough Jeopardy! episodes to know the common categories they test contestants on, such as U.S. presidents, geography, and Shakespeare.

“It wasn’t until I found out I was going on the show that I decided to actually study in earnest,” McShane said.

“But it’s kind of like a fool’s errand because you have no idea what’s gonna show up.”

Once he knew he was going to appear on the show, he began spending numerous days memorizing world capitals, U.S. presidents and their vice presidents, English kings and queens, and other information from other probable categories. He also watched the show every night and sifted through past Jeopardy! games, quizzing himself on actual questions that had appeared on the show.

During this preparation, other than telling his immediate family, roommates, coworkers, and some others, he said he refrained from

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAN MCSHANE

Sean McShane collected over $82,000 in winnings during his time competing on the trivia show. telling too many people that he was going to be on the show out of fear that he would perform poorly.

“I got the call [that] I was going to tape, and I didn’t wanna tell a lot of people because I’m like, ‘If I go out there and I just eat it, like I’m just gonna try to sweep this under the rug,’” he said.

Matt Wilson, BC ’21, said he called McShane one day to tell him a dumb joke. When McShane picked up, he could tell he was at an airport.

“I was like, ‘Why are you at an airport right now?’” he said. “And he ... was trying not to tell anyone.

He tried to pretend that he wasn’t at the airport, but it was very clear that he was, and then finally he’s like, ‘I’m going to California.’ But I said, ‘Why?’ and then he had to tell me he was going on Jeopardy!”

When he arrived, Jeopardy! employees touched up his hair and face with some makeup.

Then, he went through a practice round on the actual stage, allowing him and several other competitors to get used to pressing the buzzer—the show invites about 15 competitors each day because it usually films five episodes per day.

McShane was chosen for the first round of filming that day.

Though he got his first question wrong, he said he was in the lead by the first commercial break.

“By the first commercial of the first game, I was [...] comfortable,” he said. “I had a good rhythm with the buzzer.”

By the end of Double Jeopardy!—the second round—he said he had a runaway game.

“I couldn’t get caught,” he said.

“So, then I was freaking out in

my head, like holy shit I just won Jeopardy!”

McShane said he does not remember too many details from his time taping—his nerves and his focus kept him locked in the game.

“Once they actually start taping, [...] you kind of black out from the nerves,” he said.

Despite incorrectly answering his first Final Jeopardy! question, McShane won his first episode.

From there, he said he was satisfied. “[I told myself,] ‘Alright, I won an episode,’” he said. “‘I can go home. I can have a watch party. I can show my face. I can say I won Jeopardy!’ And after that [it was] just like, ‘Now I’m just playing for fun.’”

He went on to win two more games, winning three episodes of Jeopardy! in total.

Because there is a six-week delay between filming and airing, McShane could not tell anyone the results—he had to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

But, because he had done well, he started telling people that he was going to appear on an episode of Jeopardy!

“Of course, the first question is: ‘How did you do?’” he said. “I was good about it. I said, ‘I can’t tell you.’”

Six weeks later, he said he invited a bunch of his friends to watch his first episode together at L Street Tavern in Boston.

“We all just kind of showed up that first night,” McRory said. “It was a Monday ... and we just kind of all watched along with him, and …it was as if the Super Bowl was going on, and the Patriots were

playing.”

Wilson was also there, and he said there were hundreds of people cheering him on at the bar.

“I trained up to Boston to watch it live with everyone else at L Street Tavern,” Wilson said. “He didn’t tell anybody [the results] …

There were some times where we thought he slipped, and we got little hints, but either way [he was] good about not telling anyone, so it was hundreds of us in that bar cheering on.”

Between lifeguarding, working at a butcher shop, being on a tech company ’s team, and winning Jeopardy!, McShane said he’s embraced an unconventional career trajectory.

“I am living off of my Jeopardy! winnings,” he said.

After winning the three episodes, Wilson advised McShane to take his victory as a sign to leave the job he had at the time, which he did not enjoy.

“I think he’s ... really smart and talented and funny,” Wilson said.

“And ... I knew he didn’t like his job, and so I said, ‘Dude, this is your time. Go do something else.’”

Rao, who said she loved McShane’s Hello…Shovelhead! sketches, agrees that the intersection of his knowledge and his humor is one of his most special qualities.

“His jokes about life are really, really smart and really, really clever,” she said. “He’s not just somebody who’s very smart and knows a lot of things. He’s also very clever. And I think it’s really funny to watch somebody who can translate that knowledge into humor.” n

Campus Cocktails: Midnight Moonshine Martini

By MC Claverie Newsletter Editor The getting ready drink is the cutesy little drink you sip on while doing your hair or makeup, and ideally, it helps you get the party started and excited for the night ahead. My getting ready drinks typically range from a glass of pinot grigio to a Twisted Tea to a poorly made gin and tonic.

There is one getting ready drink, however, that reigns supreme over all the others—the espresso martini. As a coffee fanatic, I’ve always loved espresso martinis. Not only do they help wake me up so I can stay out late, but the combination of bitter coffee and sweet Kahlúa creates the perfect sippable drink to enjoy at dinner, with dessert,

or, you guessed it, getting ready for a night out.

My recipe is a bit of a twist on the classic espresso martini. I swapped espresso for coffee brewed from my Keurig because I don’t have an espresso machine.

Though espresso is a bit darker than regular brewed coffee, the drink’s strong coffee flavor still shines through.

And instead of vodka, this recipe calls for vanilla moonshine as the main liquor.The syrupy vanilla bean moonshine, acidic coffee, and rich Kahlúa create a balanced and delicious drink that any coffee lover is sure to enjoy.

DRINK: The Midnight Moonshine Martini

INGREDIENTS: For one serving 2 oz of coffee (I used a vanilla Starbucks Keurig pod) 1 ½ oz of vanilla bean moonshine (I used Old Forge Distillery) ½ oz of Kahlúa INSTRUCTIONS: Brew one cup of coffee of your choice. Put it in the fridge to chill for several hours or until cold.

Add vanilla bean moonshine, Kahlúa, and coffee to a shaker with ice.

Shake until the outside of the shaker is cold to the touch—about 5 to 10 seconds.

Strain into a martini glass and enjoy. n

GRAPHIC BY PAIGE STEIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Heights

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M AGAZINE

Homemade on the Heights: Shrimp Tacos

By Jenny Fox Heights Staff My version of the viral “Roman Empire” trend is the once-viral Kylie Jenner shrimp taco recipe trend. “Cooking with Karrueche Tran and Kylie Jenner” put shrimp tacos on the map in 2016, and I have tinkered with the recipe ever since, attempting to create the perfect taco.

My trusted recipe was the star of many dinner parties back in my hometown of Los Angeles, but this past Taco Tuesday, it finally made its debut in Boston.

Taco Tuesday is arguably the best day of the week, and living with my best friends has only

strengthened my case.

There is no other way I’d rather spend my Tuesday nights than in my dorm kitchen making a taco bar to accompany a nightly debrief.

With all of my roommates’ different tastes and food restrictions, tacos are the perfect way to include everyone at the dinner table.

The versatility in topping choices ensures that everyone’s happy and also allows us to showcase our different personalities.

My personal preferences include fresh and acidic toppings, which best complement the generously seasoned and sauteed shrimp.

The simplicity of shredded lettuce, tomato, and a heavy squeeze

GRAPHIC BY PAIGE STEIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

of lime juice ensures the perfect ratio in each and every bite. The finishing touch to each taco is always my favorite hot sauce, followed by a dollop of sour cream to cut the heat.

DISH: Shrimp Tacos

JENNY FOX / HEIGHTS STAFF

This trusted taco recipe is an easy, delicious staple for any dinner party.

INGREDIENTS: ¼ pound shrimp, cut into pieces One half of a red onion, diced One lime 1 teaspoon seasoning salt ½ tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon paprika Two corn tortillas One Roma tomato TOPPINGS (optional): Diced tomato Shredded lettuce Sour cream Hot Sauce Avocado INSTRUCTIONS: In a pan over medium-high,

heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Add onions and saute until slightly caramelized.

Add shrimp and cook until slightly pink.

Add seasoning salt, chili powder, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Then add juice of a half of a lime, mixing until shrimp is cooked through completely.

Microwave corn tortillas in a damp paper towel on high for 10 seconds.

Assemble taco and add any toppings you prefer. n

Heidi Yun Promotes Inclusivity at Boston College

By Beth Verghese Assoc. Magazine Editor At a school like Boston College, where Asian students make up a small number of the total population, the lack of diversity fosters an environment where silence about bias is all too common, according to Heidi Yun. Yun said she perceived this reality when she experienced a racially motivated incident during her sophomore year at BC. “An Asian American solidarity poster outside my dorm room had been torn down multiple times,” Yun, MCAS ’24, said. “The Office of Institutional Diversity here at BC had immediately recognized it as a bias-motivated incident. … It was a systemic issue.

It was a racial issue.”

While the incident made Yun distressed about the issues she faces as a Korean American student, she said she now draws from these experiences in her academic and extracurricular projects.

Yun connected this bias-motivated incident to material from

her courses at BC, which she explained in her application to the Benigno and Corazon Aquino Scholarship.

“Yun wrote about this racist incident, and applied concepts she had learned in a course regarding deviance and social control, to the way that she understood this racist incident,” said Wan Sonya Tang, an assistant professor of Hispanic studies and director of Asian American studies. “She understood the different dynamics, and had concrete suggestions for how to avoid similar situations in the future.”

Yun is the winner of the 2023 Benigno and Corazon Aquino Scholarship, which recognizes a BC junior who has a strong academic record and is actively engaged in Asian American issues and service to the Asian American community on or off campus.

Each year, the winner is awarded at least $25,000 to go toward their senior year tuition.

Reflecting on what made her stand out as a candidate, Yun said her work promoting awareness

of Asian culture, advocating for students with disabilities, and working on impact litigation with Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) aligned with the mission of the scholarship.

“An Asian American leader is able to use their previously lived experiences and turn that into tangible action,” Yun said. “And I think that all these initiatives and organizations that I’ve been a part of, they’re all ‘feel good’ moments where like, you actually feel you’re making an impact on campus. … I’m doing something for the community, but I’m also learning something while doing it.”

Yun said BC’s Jesuit teachings create an environment where she can better herself—this aspect of BC’s approach to education is what drew her to the University.

“I loved the Catholic-oriented education,” Yun said. “The Jesuit values, being a man and woman for others, and leading an intentional life geared towards being able to serve others in ways that you’ve never been able to before.”

Sandra Kim, Yun’s roommate

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEIDI YUN

Yun is the winner of the 2023 Benigno and Corazon Aquino Scholarship for her work in the Asian American community.

and MCAS ’24, said that Yun’s strong character is displayed through her work both inside and outside the classroom.

“As a student, she is incredibly direct in the fact that she sees her education as a privilege,” Kim said. “Which transfers to her as a friend … she is very honest and direct.”

Yun became involved with UGBC, the Council for Students with Disabilities (CSD), and the Korean Student Association (KSA) during her freshman year at BC. During her sophomore year, when Yun served as the culture chair for the Korean Student Association (KSA), she led the event planning for KSA’s annual culture show.

“My primary responsibility was spearheading the 22nd annual culture show ‘ROOTS,’” Yun said.

“It was named ROOTS because we felt a growing number of second and third generation Asian Americans were becoming more out of tune with their roots and forgetting where their parents and grandparents came from and their culture.”

I n h e r j u n i o r y e a r, s h e served as intersectionality chair for UGBC, where Yun said she bridged the gap between CSD, the AHANA+ Leadership Council, and the Queer Leadership Council.

Yun is committed to questions of inclusivity and diversity, according to Tang. Through her involvement with various organizations, Tang said she promotes equity and accessibility on campus.

“She has been really involved with different student groups and has really committed to the question of equity in all different kinds, from different immigrant groups to combating ableism,” Tang said.

Yun’s passion for impacting change also translates into her career aspirations. Yun worked as a legal intern with the BC Innocence Program, a program where students work with attorneys representing imprisoned people who argue they were wrongly incarcerated.

This past summer, Yun also worked at a Korean American law firm and gained more exposure to litigation law—an area of law she

sees herself working in. And when Yun interned for GBLS, she focused on impact litigation, which aims to affect societal change through legal action.

“I was able to have a lot of one-on-one time with clients of [GBLS], with some being Asian Americans, it was empowering to communicate and offer them help with things like getting food stamps and making sure that they had the proper health care,” Yun said. “Although I plan on saving law school for a little more down the road. I know I have a lot to contribute.”

Yun’s work at GBLS allowed her to be more involved with the Asian American community off campus. Though Yun is also already very involved with the on-campus Asian American community, she said receiving the scholarship made her take a step back and reconsider how she contributes to advocacy efforts.

Yun said she now feels an even greater sense of responsibility to spearhead activism efforts on campus.

“Everything I said during my interviews and application for the scholarship should be able to be reflected in my actions,” Yun said. “So the involvement that I’ve had thus far makes me feel more encouraged to contribute and further my goals in these areas.”

When selecting this year’s scholarship recipient, Tang said the Aquino Scholarship committee unanimously decided Yun was the winner.

“That’s pretty amazing, because it almost never happens,” Tang said. “There’s always some kind of debate at the end, and people are voting and presenting reasons for certain candidates. …

But this time, we all agreed that she was absolutely a stellar candidate.”

Kim said she cried when she heard that Yun won the scholarship. Yun’s strong commitment to advocacy and motivation to better campus and the community makes her stand out, according to Kim. “She works harder than anyone,” Kim said. “Even just the way she speaks about the things she’s passionate about. You can tell how motivated she is. Her drive really sets her apart.” n

OPINIONS

Monday, October 16, 2023

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The Heights

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.

Sibling Separation Struggles in College

Chase Pinette Siblings! We don’t choose them. Their presence is bestowed on us, whether we like it or not. They somehow always know exactly when you plan on taking a shower (only to hog it first), and they know how to push every last one of your buttons.

Yet, if you have siblings, they can shape your identity in a way no one else can.

It makes me endlessly happy to say that I have the bravest, most amazing sister on this planet. Her name is Liza, and she recently began her first semester at Western New England University. College has not been the easiest adjustment for her, and every part of me wishes I could be there in person to support her during this transition.

When I first arrived at BC, I felt as though my other half was ripped away from me. I “simply” had to deal with not seeing my sister in college—but there was nothing simple about it.

Sure, as I entered college, I was excited for all of the new endeavors and experiences the Heights would offer. Part of me, however, felt guilty for leaving my sister in a broken household—one we each endured for the first 18 years of our lives.

My sister and I traversed the rough waters of our dead-end house together, but now I feared how she would manage this challenge alone. I wish I could have taken her with me, and we could have experienced college life together. Now, I only get to watch her life in pictures as we grow up in separate environments.

The day I wrote this column happened to be Liza’s birthday. It hurts knowing that I cannot celebrate her “Nasty 19th” in person, like I could for her first 16 birthdays. Missing many of her milestone life events for four years is heartbreaking.

Nevertheless, I persevere. After college, we will inevitably reunite, and us two “blondies” will live an amazing, fruitful life together.

It feels as though nobody talks about how difficult it is to leave your siblings when you venture off to college. People always recommend that you “say goodbye to your friends!” but they never say “think about your siblings!”

But, whose bedroom would I go in at night, say the most random phrase, do a little dancey-dance, and close the

door? Who would I tell my secrets to and begrudgingly share a Honda CR-V (and a toy carrot named Stuart) with? Who would always take my side and support me unconditionally? My sister.

I still keep in contact with her whenever I can. I like to think a part of me lives in Springfield with her, watching her grow as an academic weapon and as a member of society with so much to give to the world. Unfortunately, our conversations are not as frequent as I’d want them to be, but that does not break our bond. In fact, writing this piece has inspired me to catch up with her at least once a week.

Siblings are like autocorrect. They can be mildly irritating (especially when a certain word gets replaced with “duck”), but they make life much easier to navigate.

For those of you with other human beings who share half of your DNA (or if you have step-siblings, half-siblings, or anyone who you consider a sibling), tell them how much they mean to you. Tell them that even though they may be miles away, the memories you share will never disintegrate. Especially the one of you pouring fish food down their throat when they were two months old.

Falling for Fall

In addition to the joyful colors of changing leaves and the crispness of fresh air, the fall season brings many wholesome traditions to anticipate. And where better to do them than New England! From apple picking to telling scary campfire stories to baking pumpkin everything, there is a great deal to look forward to in the fall. Don your favorite sweater, grab your roomies, enjoy an apple cider donut, and take a peaceful walk through the fall foliage before it gets too cold!

Chase Pinette is a columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at chase.pinette@bc.edu.

It’s Been a Long Time Coming

As evidenced by the Boston College Instagram’s many references to the Midnights album release last fall, we are undoubtedly a Swiftie school. So, you best believe we were bejeweled, decked out in friendship bracelets, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which premiered this past Friday. Over the next few weeks, take the opportunity to getaway from campus and watch the iconic film in a local theater. Whether you find yourself wearing short skirts, t-shirts, high heels, or sneakers to the movie, we promise you will enjoy this film. Surely, this moment will be remembered all too well.

GRAPHICS BY PAIGE STEIN AND PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITORS

We Need More Male Teachers

Peter Coquillette As a young child, I couldn’t fathom the idea of men being teachers.

As humans, we always look up to our elders as role models. And, other than our parents, which adults do kids spend the most time with? Teachers.

But, boys don’t see nearly enough male teachers. Female teachers outnumber male teachers three to one in the U.S. K-12 education system. And when looking at the figures for elementary school teachers, the divide is even more dramatic: Men make up only 19.5 percent.

To find out more about this issue, I spoke with Associate Dean of the Lynch School of Education Julia DeVoy. She kindly referred me to five male LSEHD graduates who were happy to speak with me on the topic.

“When I was a kid, if you asked me to draw a doctor, I would’ve drawn a man, a white man,” DeVoy said. “We’ve moved a long way away from that, with doctors and engineers and all kinds of things. We haven’t moved away from that go-to stereotype with elementary school teachers.”

So, why do we need more male teachers in the K-12 system? The answer lies in the increasing disparities between boys and girls in the classroom.

At all levels of education, girls have easily surpassed boys’ performance.

When Title IX was introduced in 1972, men earned 13 percent more bachelor degrees than women each year. By 2019, that had flipped, with women leading men by 15 percent. In addition, girls represent two-thirds of the top 10 percent of GPAs at the high school level. From these statistics alone, it is clear that boys’ achievements in the classroom are seri-

ously diminishing.

Beyond classroom performance, boys are struggling to find good examples of how to behave in and out of the classroom.

“If you have positive role models in your community, whether that be from teachers, whether it be from coaches, or maybe a neighbor, or some other adults in your life, they’ll look to them to model their behavior,” said Evan Warns, BC ’22, who now teaches at the Dexter Southfield School. “But they’re not getting great role models shown because they’re lacking those male teachers.”

Critics argue that efforts to get more men in teaching professions divert attention away from initiatives designed to increase female participation in male-dominated fields. But, the problems behind traditional gender roles and lost opportunities between men and women are not a zero-sum game.

Both inequities are important, and we can have space in the national dialogue for both men’s and women’s issues in employment.

As role models and mentors, male teachers can leave a profound impact on their students. The more male teachers we have, the more young boys can see themselves in that role—and the more male teachers we have in the next generation. The potential for a positive feedback loop is undoubtedly there, but for now, we have the opposite cycle.

“I think it is nice for the boys to have an opportunity to see a male figure in the classroom,” said Bryan Paula Gonzalez, BC ’19, who now teaches in the Boston Public Schools system. “Obviously they can talk to all of their teachers about any issues that are coming up, but there might be issues they are maybe not as comfortable discussing with my co-teacher, who is a woman.”

It is extremely important for boys and young men to feel comfortable sharing their problems at school. Boys often struggle more than girls with mental health and behavioral issues because they lack a proper outlet to discuss their

emotions. If teachers like Warns and Paula-Gonzalez can get even one male student to open up about their issues, they can make a serious impact as male teachers.

So the why is apparent—now, the question is how.

At BC, there are multiple factors dissuading men (and all students) from studying to enter the teaching profession.

We can’t forget the elephant in the room: tuition. It is difficult to reconcile the cost of a BC education when you know you will be underpaid and underappreciated working as a teacher. Raising teacher salaries across the country would incentivize more students to enter the profession—and ideally, more men would be included in this group.

That might not be enough to change the stigma. BC could also offer scholarships to men seeking to become teachers, helping to increase gender parity in teaching. On the local level, this may encourage more men to join LSEHD. “When I was in Lynch, I’ve been in a class of 45 people, and I was maybe one of three men.” recalled Christian Egan, BC ’23 and LGSOE ’24, who plans on becoming a teacher.

This is a byproduct of a very real stigma, one that puts teaching and education toward the bottom rungs of the masculinity ladder. A man planning to become an elementary school teacher in the United States would likely have their masculinity questioned much more than, say, an investment banker.

“I do think there’s hope, though,” said Griffin Lawler, BC ’22, who pivoted from the teaching track. “Just as a culture, we’re becoming more open to people going into fields that are a little less expected, like men in teaching.”

No one can predict how the culture around male teachers will shift. But as a campus—and as a society—we should recognize and promote the positive roles that men can have as teachers.

Peter Coquillette is a columnist for The Heights.

He can be reached at peter.coquillette@bc.edu.

Roomie-less

It’s officially the season of retreats, breaks, and spontaneous trips home for college students at BC. Although these weekends away can certainly be nice, the inevitable downside is being the roommate left back at school. Especially starting sophomore year, many students find themselves attached to their built-in buddy. Without that person to talk to—or aimlessly annoy—having a room to yourself can get old pretty fast. So hold tight to your roomie and try to make weekend plans together while you can.

Grocery Woes

Long a problem for BC students, the lack of a full grocery store near campus continues to haunt us. For upperclassmen who need groceries to cook or underclassmen looking to stock up on their favorite comfort snacks, the trek to a grocery store can become tedious. With grocery shuttles and on-campus options, BC has tried to solve this problem, but many students remain frustrated about the time and effort needed to get their basic grocery staples. We at Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down would like to endorse Trader Joe’s frozen meals and stocking up on non-perishables when possible—don’t be discouraged, you’ll get your grub!

EDITORIAL The Heights

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Boston College Must Move Further and Faster With New LGBTQ+ Programming Boston College has a long way to go in creating a comfortable environment for queer students on campus.

The University’s recent rollout of new resources for LGBTQ+ students is a step in the right direction. But, the administration took months to publicize this rollout.

In April, BC announced plans to officially incorporate queer resources into the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center (BAIC) and hire a new associate director and graduate assistant “whose roles will explicitly include LGBTQ+ student programming and support.”

To fulfill this commitment, the University hired Ira Kirschner to be a new associate director focused on providing LGBTQ+ support services, programs, and resources.

BC only hired Kirschner to assist LGBTQ+ students after calls from within the University’s student body and external pressure. In fact, for nearly two decades, students and alumni have expressed their frustration with the limited amount of LGBTQ+ resources available to students on campus.

After years of this advocacy, BC did add new LGBTQ+ resources to the BAIC. But, the University’s efforts have not occurred fast enough or gone far enough.

BC’s published its first news release highlighting Kirschner this past week—months after the administration actually hired Kirschner, and almost half a year after the University’s decision to add LGBTQ+ programming into the BAIC. The University promoted this release on its LinkedIn—importantly, however, it has not yet sent a single email to the full student body about Kirschner or the BAIC’s new LGBTQ+ programming. So, fewer students likely know about Kirschner—and fewer students will

be able to take advantage of the center’s new resources.

If the University fully committed itself to promoting its new LGBTQ+ resources, it would have properly delivered news about Kirschner’s availability and role in an email to all students early in the semester—in the same way the University regularly updates students on so much else.

The University has looped in UGBC’s Queer Leadership Council (QLC) to the changes, according to General Coordinator Nathan Schirtzinger, MCAS ’24. But worries persist. “[QLC] remains concerned that, even with these good faith efforts to seek our input and to outreach to LGBTQ+ students, more can and ought to be done to disseminate information about this expansion and break down the barriers and stigmas that might preclude students from using these resources,” Schirtzinger wrote.

In September, The Heights Editorial Board asked Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper Whitehead about the administration’s lack of communication regarding Kirschner’s new role. In response, she told Heights editors over email to anticipate a University release.

The Heights Editorial Board believes this soft and slow launch will hinder the integration of LGBTQ+ students into the center.

A year before BC’s April 2023 announcement of the incorporation, BC made similar plans to add LGBTQ+ resources to the BAIC while removing the “AHANA” acronym from the center. The administration, however, paused this plan after hearing feedback from stakeholders who expressed worries about the plan’s removal of the long-used AHANA (African, Hispanic, Asian and Native American) label from the BAIC.

MATTHEW MAO / HEIGHTS STAFF

On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics hosted a luncheon with Vivian Grimes, BC ’16, and Carolina Menendez, BC ’16, who discussed their journey founding Henri Noël Fine Jewelry.

This pause made sense, and the new plan keeps the AHANA acronym within the BAIC. But some worry that it leaves queer students without an independent place to call their own.

Affinity spaces are meant to “provide a positive, affirming environment for groups, often those who feel marginalized, to come together and engage in open and honest dialogues,” according to a resource handbook provided by the University of Southern California. Incorporating LGBTQ+ resources under the umbrella of the BAIC minimizes the importance of the office for both groups.

On BC’s webpage about diversity on campus, BC claims that “Jesuit education is rooted in a world view that respects all cultures and faith traditions. Boston College strives to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff feel they are valued members of our University community.”

Beneath these statements are links to a variety of campus resources for diverse groups of minority students. These include information for students of color, students with financial need, and female-identifying students. Resources are listed for LGBTQ+ students, but there’s a difference.

Unlike with the other groups, the links don’t take queer and trans students to a web page that lists a physical space where they can ask for the support they deserve. Not even the BAIC. That should change.

Although the inclusion of Kirschner and other queer-oriented resources to the BAIC is a step in the right direction, the creation of a space that intentionally caters to LGBTQ+ students through thoughtful communication is still an important and necessary goal. The University should take this leap forward to make LGBTQ+ students feel welcomed.

MATTHEW MAO / HEIGHTS STAFF

BC students broke the record for the highest student attendance ever in Conte Forum in BC men’s hockey’s home opener on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

EMILY AHERN / HEIGHTS STAFF

On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, students gathered on the Quad for a vigil hosted

by Boston College Hillel to commemorate victims of the Hamas attacks in Israel.

Boston College midfielder Eva Kluskens handles the ball around a Brown defender in the Eagles’ 4–2 win on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.

Editorial

The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Victor Stefanescu, Editor-in-Chief Catherine Dolan, General Manager Erin Shannon, Managing Editor Megan Gentile, Dept. Managing Editor

Vikrum Singh, Visual Director Onur Toper, Digital Director Natalie Arndt, News Editor Graham Dietz, Sports Editor Erin Flaherty, Magazine Editor Connor Siemien, Newton Editor Josie McNeill, Arts Editor Tommy Roche, Opinions Editor Eliza Hernandez, Projects Editor Madelyn Lawlor, Copy Chief Nicole Vagra, Photo Editor Liz Schwab, Multimedia Editor

Paige Stein, Graphics Editor Parker Leaf, Graphics Editor Isabella Pieretti, Podcast Editor Seeun Ahn, Online Manager Sofia Laboy, Newsletter Editor MC Claverie, Newsletter Editor Jack Bergamini, Assoc. Sports Editor Beth Verghese, Assoc. Magazine Editor Ella Song, Assoc. Newton Editor Sofía Torres, Assoc. Arts Editor Meadow Vrtis, Assoc. Opinions Editor Chris Ticas, Assoc. Photo Editor Ben Haddad, Assoc. Multimedia Editor

Elizabeth Dodman, Assoc. Podcast Editor Karyl Clifford, Asst. News Editor Lucy Freeman, Asst. News Editor Will Martino, Asst. News Editor Luke Evans, Asst. Sports Editor Spencer Steppe, Asst. Magazine Editor Jack Weynand, Asst. Arts Editor Annie Ladd Reid, Asst. Newton Editor Callie Oxford, Asst. Photo Editor Amy Palmer, Copy Editor Connor Kilgallon, Copy Editor Lyla Walsh, Copy Editor Ernie Romero, Editorial Assistant

Business and Operations Conor Richards, Assoc. General Manager Matt Najemy, Asst. General Manager Ethan Ott, Outreach Coordinator MC Claverie, Alumni Director

ARTS

The Heights

Monday, October 16, 2023

A9

Boygenius Settles on Unique Style In New EP

By Leah Stitzel Heights Staff W h at m a ny f a n s t h o u g ht would be a one-off project has turned into a phenomenon.

Boygenius, a band formed in 2018 by indie artists Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, is back with its third EP, the rest, composed of four tracks.

After releasing its first self-titled EP in 2018, the band went on hiatus while each of the members developed their own successful solo careers.

Boygenius was little more than a collaborative project between the three.

But af ter a successf ul fall tour—including two sold-out shows in Boston—and a few surprise appearances at Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour,” the band is anything but a project.

Its EP, the rest, released Oct. 13, proves that the three artists work as more than just collaborators.

Their musical styles and voices are seamlessly combined, making the rest the band’s most cohesive and distinct release. The lyrics

are soulful and paired with sparse instrumentals that make for a chilling but emotionally impactful lineup of songs about love and trust.

Fans got an early glimpse of the first track, “Black Hole,” at boygenius’ MGM Music Hall show last month. It features all three artists’ voices, encompassing the full vocal power of the band, and is a strong start to the EP. Baker sings about staring up at the night sky over a soft and strange buildup of electronic beats that feel almost alien.

“In a rainstorm / Suckin’ down a dart on the back porch / Out here, it gets so dark / You can see the stars, the ones / The headlines said this morning / Were bein’ spat out by what we thought / Was just destroyin’ everything for good,” she begins.

The lyrics are disjointed—but not in a bad way. In the second half of the song, Dacus and Bridgers sing in harmony, perfectly expressing the conflict that comes with loving something, or someone, that keeps disappearing and reentering your life.

“My thoughts, all noise, fake

smile, decoys / Sometimes, I need to hear your voice,” the song ends, right before the last electronic drums fade out.

The second track, “Afraid of Heights,” features a softer acoustic sound. This stripped-back, gentle guitar instrumental is what characterized much of Bridgers’ early solo career. This track focuses heavily on Dacus’ voice, however, tying in the best of both.

The song’s lyrics are similar to the first track, creating a bittersweet narrative about being pushed too far and losing trust.

“I never rode a motorcycle / I never smoked a cigarette / I wanna live a vibrant life / but I wanna die a boring death,” Dacus sings.

Stereotypical indie music can sometimes feel like it romanticizes fast-paced, adrenaline-rush moments in our lives.

The EP and this track in particular, perfectly express the vulnerability and uncertainty accompanying those moments. Boygenius artfully says what most of us are too afraid to admit, part of what makes them so relatable.

The third song , “ Voyager,” opens again with a soft acoustic

guitar melody. Bridgers’ voice is centered, but the other two are heard humming in the background throughout nearly the whole song. Their voices become the instrumental backing, creating an otherworldly effect.

Its lyrics feel like a continuation of the previous song ’s narrative, breaking away from the control and recklessness of a past relationship.

“When you stepped on the gas and you asked if I’m ready to die / You thought I’d never leave and I let you believe you were right,” Bridgers sings.

The final song, “Powers,” completes the album, focusing on Baker’s voice.

The song is almost twice as long as the other three tracks,

most of that length made up by an ambitious instrumental outro.

Horns and acoustic guitar play out the track, which is introspective and eerie.

It feels like we are “careening along / on a crooked little trajectory” through space right along with Baker, who uses this song to question what her purpose in life is. Although short, the rest, forms the most cohesive and satisfying narrative boygenius has crafted since its formation.

The continuity of both message and musical style shows that Boygenius is truly coming into its own as a band. Although each song has a clear lead singer, the style is all their own, not identifiable as belonging to any one of its solo artist. n

ALBUM

‘the rest’ Released Oct. 13

‘For All the Dogs’: The Disenchantment of Drake

By Julian Roch-Hernandez Heights Staff Drake’s latest studio project, For All the Dogs, was released on Oct. 6 at 6 a.m. sharp.

The rapper’s tendency to reference his hometown of Toronto as “the 6” was popularized in 2016 after he released Views, his fourth studio album. Four albums later, the five-time Grammy winner promised a return to “old Drake.”

The only problem: What is “old Drake?” Is it 2013 Nothing Was the Same Drake? Is it 2010 Thank Me Later Drake? Or 2018 Scorpion Drake?

For All the Dogs contains 23 tracks which seem to touch on the varying Drake styles that the hip-

hop world has experienced over his 15-year reign in the industry. The album plays as if the artist had sat down and tried to make a couple of songs in each of his separate styles and threw them all in a track list with no purposeful narrative. And who are the dogs? His homies? His fans?

His many different sexual interests?

“Lean in, lean in soda,” are Drake’s first sung lyrics on the album’s first track “Virginia Beach.”

The weak word choice at the onset of the project sets the tone for subsequent songs. If Drake named the song “Virginia Beach,” he should have at least taken a stab or two at Pusha T, the rapper from Virginia Beach who has had historical beef with the Certified Lover Boy and is commonly perceived by the public as

ALBUM

‘For All the Dogs’ Released Oct. 6

the winner of their exchanged disses.

There is a theme in the work of song titles feeling contextless. Lyrics are conjured by ill-spirited label demands and algorithmic approaches to streaming success. Take “Calling For You,” for example. Drake sings in soft falsettos about being “the king of [his] city,” and having “liquor in his cup” before an interlude of a woman’s voice complaining about flying economy and eating “jerk chicken and oxtail” all vacation long. The song concludes with a quintessential 21 Savage verse.

“I treat the rap game like a toilet (on God),” 21 Savage sings.

Continuity and progression were clearly of no concern on this track, with each segment of the song lyrically and thematically fragmented from the other. The result is, at best, two separate mediocre verses and an intriguing interlude of a pouty unidentified female, probably representing many of the women whom the rappers have had sexual relationships with.

“First Person Shooter,” touting a J. Cole feature, gives the project some fresh air at track six. Cole’s opening verse immediately delivers

a warranted G.O.A.T-claiming attitude.

“Love when they argue the hardest MC / Is it K-Dot? is it Aubrey? Or me? We the big three like we started a league, but right now I feel like Mohammed Ali,” the rapper sings.

Cole references popular ongoing debates about the greatest rappers and sparks this inquiry in the listener’s mind. Juxtaposed with Drake’s less creative lyricism in the subsequent verse, “Man if your pub was up for sale, I buy the whole thing,” it seems Cole took his sole verse to stealthily settle the debates.

Less is more, and Cole’s only bars on the album are the best of them all.

Maybe that answers the question of who is the best rapper of all time.

Some alternate sounds show up in tracks “IDGAF” (featuring Yeat) and “Another Late Night” (featuring Lil Yachty). Another counterpoint to the “old Drake” declarations: Both of these tracks bite from 2020 Playboi Carti vibes with their whispered “pew pew” ad-libs and arcade-sounding instrumentals. The Drake album formula is incomplete without features from fad-like artists

such as Sexyy Red on “Rich Baby Daddy” and Teezo Touchdown on “Amen.”

Thankfully the project isn’t wholly underwhelming, as Chief Keef delivers a catchy, smooth hook on “All The Parties’’ and it only takes 16 songs to get a less-shallow, more thoughtful Drake on “8AM in Charlotte.”

His Spanish-speaking attempts alongside Bad Bunny on “Gently” earn him marks for effort, and the percussive reggaeton swings encourage head-bobbing and hip-swaying.

In sum, For All the Dogs suffers from a lack of originality.

On “Drew A Picasso,” Drake sings about a mystery lady, but he may as well have been singing about his lackluster efforts toward his own project.

“Way I’m feelin’ on this album took it easy on ya, coulda written more,” he sings.

Twenty-three songs are far too many for a project with such little to say, and after 15 years of domination, Drake should have spent a little more time brainstorming cohesive and continuous lyricism for For All the Dogs. n

Sufjan Stevens’ Album Reflects on Love and Life

By Sean Bellin Heights Staff

At this point in his 23-year career, Sufjan Stevens has nothing else left to prove. Yet still, his heartfelt songwriting, beautiful instrumental arrangements, and mastery of dynamics combine to create a deeply personal and touching album experience with Javelin. It is an extremely moving masterpiece of emotion-filled anecdotes that peer into Stevens’ current outlook on love and life. It contrasts an overwhelmingly somber tone with moments of hope that pulse through it like the swells of group vocals used so masterfully across the project. Javelin is nothing short of both a masterpiece of musicality and songwriting, and a worthy and meaningful dedication to a lover lost too soon.

Sufjan Stevens posted on his Instagram account to reveal he was dedicating the project to his late partner, Evan Richardson, who died in April 2023.

“Live every day as if it is your last, with fullness and grace, with reverence and love, with gratitude and joy,” Stevens

said in the post caption. “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

With this in mind before listening to the album, Javelin gains a more intimate and emotional meaning. It is both a deeply personal reflection on the death of a loved one and a celebration of life in honor of a late partner. As his 10th solo studio album and first since 2020’s The Ascension, Javelin feels like an accumulation of everything Stevens has done up to this point in his career.

It combines the rich instrumentation of 2005’s Illinois, the somber songwriting of 2015’s Carrie & Lowell, and the electronic elements that appear on 2010’s The Age of Adz. Despite the vast range of elements it implements from other projects, the album manages to remain incredibly cohesive throughout. This credit goes to Stevens, who constructed nearly every aspect of Javelin himself, including the lyrics, arrangements, instrumentation, production, engineering, and album artwork. The album begins with a deep breath—a sign of preparation for

what’s to come. Then, Stevens begins to sing, and the 42-minute experience commences.

“Goodbye Evergreen,” the first track on the album, begins as a heartfelt goodbye to a lover. In the song, Stevens is backed only by a piano and his own memories. But the track quickly transforms and explodes, as the listener is enveloped by stabs of noise.

“Goodbye evergreen / You know I love you,” repeats in the song before it concludes with a rewarding instrumental piece filled with abstract percussion and beautiful synth lines.

“So You Are Tired” is another powerful track, highlighted by beautiful melodies and goosebump-inducing group vocals that are enough to make any listener’s hair stand on end. These vocals and their accompanying string arrangements swell in and out in harmony, like a person breathing as they drift off to sleep.

“Shit Talk” comes in as the longest song on the album with an 8:31 run time. Stevens uses every second masterfully, again beautifully incorporating

group vocals that back the repetition of some emotional lines.

“I don’t want to fight at all / I will always love you,” Stevens sings on “Shit Talk.”

On “Shit Talk,” Stevens struggles with having endless love for someone but knowing he’ll never be able to see or experience them again. Stevens’ vocals across the entire track are particularly vulnerable and wavering, as if he is on the verge of tears throughout the entire runtime.

“There’s A World” is a touching final track for the album and is a cover of the song of the same title by Neil Young.

After a somber tracklist, “There’s A World” ends things on a meaningfully

hopeful note.

“There’s a world you’re living in / No one else has your part,” rings out in “There’s a World.”

Then the singer closes the last track with a line that unifies humanity through an optimistic lens .

“All God’s children in the wind / Take it in and blow real hard,” sings Stevens to conclude the album.

The deep breath that began this album has returned in the form of this line of self-direction. Just as Stevens once prepared himself to expel his feelings on this album with the action, he now symbolically prepares himself for the rest of his life with one final deep breath. n

ALBUM

‘Javelin’ Released Oct.6

SPORTS

Monday, October 16, 2023

A10

The Heights

CONTE WEARS ALL WHITE No. 4 Boston College men’s hockey overcame an early two-goal deficit to beat Long Island 4–2 on Friday while Conte Forum broke the all-time student attendance record with a student-organized white out.

Hockey, from A1 “Our first shift of the game was outstanding, but then it looked like we didn’t quite have that edge for a lot of the first peLong Island 2 riod,” Brown Boston College 4 said. “[The Sharks] were very opportunistic to capitalize when they got down in our zone. They created some good shots.”

Despite trailing to Long Island (0–3–0) 2–0 less than 10 minutes into the matchup, the Eagles’ (2–0–0) offense rebounded with a barrage of four unanswered goals en route to a 4–2 victory. Fowler stopped the bleeding after conceding two early goals, and BC held the Sharks scoreless for the next 51 minutes of the contest.

“I mean, that’s gonna happen and

you gotta have that mental strength to be able to bounce back,” graduate forward Jack Malone said. “We try to keep it positive on the bench and recognize, I think we were down two nothing 10 minutes into the first period or so. So we knew we had a lot of hockey left. We could be better than we were.”

After a nightmarish start for the Eagles, Malone broke Long Island’s shutout at the 7:41 mark of the first frame with a nifty goal to cap off his birthday night and BC debut. Andre Gasseau found Malone in the center of the attacking zone, and he sent the puck flying into the net for his first tally in a BC sweater, which sent the fans into a frenzy.

“It was an awesome welcome to Conte,” Malone said. “And, you know,

definitely fed off of the energy that we got. So, it was a great first experience.”

That was the spark that BC needed as just over a minute later, freshman defender Drew Fortescue added his name to the scoring sheet with a wrist shot from the left circle that slipped

by Brandon Perrone’s glove to knot the game at two apiece with 6:47 left in the first frame. BC superfans could hardly contain their excitement as the puck rattled in the net, reinvigorating the Eagles’ momentum.

The second frame started in a tie, but that changed at the 9:46 mark as Gasseau potted his second goal of the season on a one-timer that gave Perrone practically no time to react. The score marked Gasseau’s second point of the contest and gave the Eagles their first lead of the matchup.

“I think that playing with [Cutter Gauthier] and Gasser, it’s easy to create a lot of offense,” Malone said. “And, you know, they’re both responsible defensively, so we can play both ends of the ice and create chances and try to spend some more time in the offensive zone than the defensive zone.”

The onslaught of goals and celebration in the stands continued as Oskar Jellvik joined in to make it 4–2 BC with 6:51 remaining on another top-shelf snipe. The Eagles outshot Long Island 22–6 in the second period and entered the final frame with all of the momentum on their side.

After BC failed to score on its first power play in the third period, a tripping call gave the Eagles a second chance to record their fifth straight goal. But BC could not convert on

that opportunity or the 23 total shots it recorded in the final period.

But Fowler, who totaled 10 saves, and the Eagles’ backline held Long Island scoreless for the remainder of the matchup and coasted to their second win of the season.

“I’m sure he was feeling that,” Brown said of Fowler on the pressure from the fans after allowing two early goals. “Shows his mental fortitude, [because] he really shut the door after that. It’s not easy for any goalie to give up two early, but especially a freshman in his first home game. So the fact that he shut them down for the last 50 minutes is a huge testament to his mental strength and the guys in front of him as well, picking him up and buckling down." n PHOTOS BY KELLEN DAVIS / HEIGHTS STAFF

Pellerin’s Short-Handed Goal Guides BC to Win

By Maria Stefanoudakis For The Heights It didn’t take long for freshman forward Julia Pellerin to heat up in Boston College women’s hockey’s first conference series of the season.

After breaking out in BC’s first win of the season with a goal and an assist on Friday, Pellerin added another tally SaturConnecticut 1 day with a Boston College 2 game-tying, short-handed goal just over the halfway mark of the second frame. Following Saturday’s contest against No. 15 Connecticut, Pellerin, out of Windham, N.H., leads the Eagles in assists with three and is tied for first in goals with three.

On Pellerin’s back, BC (2–4–0, 2–0–0 Hockey East) successfully completed a weekend sweep on Saturday afternoon, beating the Huskies (1–2–1, 0–2–0) 2–1. The win marked the Eagles’ first road win of the season and helped BC move to No. 2 in conference standings.

After taking an exhilarating overtime victory over UConn on Friday afternoon, the Eagles picked up right where they left off, beginning Saturday’s matchup in Storrs, Conn. with intense energy.

BC began the game on a power play following a delay of game penalty on the Huskies, allowing its offense to

take possession of the puck and maintain pressure in the offensive zone. BC’s skilled stick work allowed it to break up several of UConn’s rushes, providing help to sophomore goaltender Grace Campbell.

The Eagles outshot their opponents 3–0 in the first three minutes, but

first career goal and UConn a 1–0 lead over the Eagles. To further swing the momentum in the Huskies’ direction, BC’s Jade Arnone lost the puck, and officials assessed her a tripping penalty soon after the Dewar goal, handing the Huskies a power play.

The second period began on a

BC from finding any offensive rhythm.

After a hooking call on BC’s Annaka Mettler gave UConn its second power play of the game during the second period, Newhook nearly scored on a breakaway, but she was met with a frustratingly dominant save by UConn’s Tia Chan.

OWEN BIENEN / HEIGHTS STAFF

Freshman forward Julia Pellerin, pictured, notched two goals and an assist in BC’s weekend sweep over UConn.

the following six shots on goal belonged to the Huskies as BC’s offensive intensity waned.

Livvy Dewar’s individual effort 12 minutes into the game split the legs of BC defenders, giving Dewar her

similar note after the officials called the Eagles for icing and BC forward Abby Newhook lost the defensive zone face off. The Huskies maintained control offensively and kept their defensive pressure up on the Eagles, preventing

UConn’s third chance at a power play, however, ended differently for the Eagles.

Halfway through the second period, Pellerin scored a definitive breakaway goal during a UConn power

play. The score marked Pellerin’s third goal of the season, giving her six total points in her first six games.

The Eagles’ energy continued to improve throughout the second period, led by the returning firepower of forwards Newhook and Katie Pyne. The period was intense, with lots of backand-forth play marked by quality shots that were met by even higher-quality saves from Chan.

With less than two minutes remaining in the second period, BC’s Pyne hit a one-timer, generating a loose puck that hit the crossbar and sliced into UConn’s goal to give the Eagles their first lead of the game at 2–1.

The game was reminiscent of Friday’s matchup when the Huskies dominated the first period, but BC outplayed them in the second.

The third period brought out physical, aggressive play from both teams. Although UConn had several chances to score during a power play briefly into the final frame, the Huskies were unsuccessful as the Eagles packed it in defensively, giving up very little space for the Huskies to get shots off.

A potentially equalizing shot by the Huskies with just over six minutes to go ricocheted off the crossbar, missing Campbell’s blocker by mere inches and keeping the Eagles in the lead.

A subsequent series of saves by Campbell closed out the game at a final score of 2–1. n

The Heights

Monday, October 16, 2023

A11

SPORTS

North Carolina Dominates Eagles in Three Sets

By Robert Brennan Heights Staff

By Meredith Syms For The Heights Boston College volleyball struggled in one important aspect of a match on Sunday—serving.

The Eagles (14–8, 3–5 Atlantic Coast) committed two service errors in the final five points of their first set against North Carolina 3 North CarBoston College 0 olina, giving the Tar Heels (9–8, 3–5) enough momentum to sweep BC 3–0 in an intense match from beginning to end. “[Service errors] didn’t come at great times,” BC head coach Jason Kennedy said.

The set scores were 25–23, 25–14, and 25–20. The home loss snapped BC’s two-game win streak.

The first set of the game was a back-and-forth affair, with each team going on short runs. Sophia Lambros notched a well-paced kill to set the tone and put the Eagles up 2–1. But no squad could pull away, as BC tied the set 11 times and the Tar Heels trailed by one point 17 times.

BC went ahead up 22–20, but a Brooklyn Yelland service error and

a Sadie Swift ace tied the match at 22 apiece. BC then called a timeout, and Alayna Crabtree registered a kill in a crucial spot to put BC up by one.

But Chandler Swanson committed a service error to swing the momentum back to the Tar Heels, and North Carolina recorded two straight kills to take the first set.

“I think we played a little bit tentative down the stretch,” Kennedy said.

“We had opportunities to kind of be the aggressor from the service line, and I don’t really feel like we were, especially late in the sets. We’ve got to do a better job of taking care of managing those situations a little bit better and go from there.”

The first set loss set the tone for the rest of the match, according to Kennedy.

“Obviously, you’d rather win the tight wins than lose the tight ones,” Kennedy said. “So I think if we win that one, maybe it’s a little bit of a different story, but I just don’t think we’ve played our best today. So we’ve got to reset, find another way to do it, and get back after it.”

Jenna Pollock managed to put the Eagles on the board first in the second set with a kill, but the Eagles’ 1–0 lead did not hold up for long. Mabrey

SARAH FLEMING / HEIGHTS STAFF

B C to t a l e d 2 7 k i l l s co m p a re d to N o r t h Ca ro l i n a’s 4 4 i n t h e Ta r H e e l s’ t h re e - s e t s we e p.

Shaffmaster’s kill started an 8–0 Tar Heels run, leaving a sizable deficit that was too much for BC to overcome.

Anna Murphy, however, single-handedly kept BC from completely falling apart, demonstrating her ability to restrain the attacks of the opposing side. She led BC’s defense with nine kills, and fellow defenseman Cornelia Roach also stood strong, totaling four blocks. “[Murphy] is kind of our anchor and she’s stable for us, you know, we

know we’re gonna get out of her every night and that’s been a good deal,” Kennedy said But neither effort was enough, as the Tar Heels’ Zoe Behrendt dominated on the serves, forcing BC errors along the way en route to an 11-point victory.

The third set remained tight, with the score tied at eight. Freshman Halle Schroder persisted and shined on the floor, registering one kill in the set and six total.

But North Carolina slowly pulled away and ended the set on a 5–1 run despite BC making the score 22–20 off Crabtree’s kill.

Kennedy mentioned BC’s youth as a reason for its struggles on Sunday.

“I think some of these younger ones have been playing a decent amount that it’s time for them to start showing up on a regular basis and know what we can get out of them,” Kennedy said. n

Carlin Helps BC Top UConn 4–1

By Grace Blankenship Heights Staff

Entering Sunday’s matchup against Connecticut, No. 12 Boston College field hockey hadn’t conceded a loss to a team ranked Connecticut 1 outside the Boston College 4 top 10. The Eagles had only recorded one regulation loss, against then-No. 1 North Carolina and four overtime losses against thenNo. 2 Northwestern, then-No. 3 Maryland, then-No. 5 Duke, and then-No. 10 Syracuse, respectively.

That pattern continued when BC (9–5, 1–3 Atlantic Coast) defeated the Huskies 4–1 (5–9, 2–3 Big East) on Sunday. A pair of two-goal performances from Margo Carlin and Elisa Brauel-Jahnke propelled the Eagles past UConn.

With both teams eager to prove themselves, the first quarter got underway in a feisty series of events. Six minutes into the contest, a foul on UConn led to a Carlin penalty corner.

The corner resulted in the first shot of the game—a rifle from senior Peyton Hale—which didn’t find the back of

the net. Another penalty corner for the Eagles opened up another opportunity to score, but to no avail.

The rest of the quarter passed with no penalties or goals.

At the start of the second frame, it became quickly apparent that BC wouldn’t relent despite not scoring in the first period. Barely six minutes passed until Carlin potted her 10th goal of the season and first of the game, making the score 1–0 in BC’s favor.

As the second quarter came to an end, the Huskies tried to even the score with an attempt on goal after being handed a penalty corner, but graduate student and goalkeeper Caroline Kelly saved the incoming shot.

The second quarter ended with the Eagles in the lead at a score of 1–0 due to Carlin’s tally and Kelly’s quick reflexes.

After halftime, both the Eagles and the Huskies appeared even more greedy to score.

Three minutes into the frame, Carlin scored again, which marked her 11th goal of the season and second of the matchup. Eva Kluskens registered the assist for Carlin, who pushed BC into a 2–0 advantage.

UConn quickly countered and piled on three consecutive shots on goal, none of which were successful. UConn also received a penalty corner at the 5:56 mark of the third quarter and fired a shot on goal that missed by inches.

A minute later, the Eagles stole the ball and ran it down the field. The ball filtered to the stick of freshman Brauel-Jahnke, who lifted her first goal of the season and bumped BC’s lead up to 3–0.

With 1:38 left in the third quarter, it looked as though the Huskies would head into the fourth and final quarter with zero points under their belt, but a corner penalty allowed for UConn to score. Sol Simone’s individual effort

finally gave UConn the goal it needed.

Although rebuttal was made by BC head coach Kelly Doton, the referees sided in UConn’s favor and the third quarter ended at a margin of 3–1 on the Eagles’ side.

With the Huskies down by two scores with just 15 minutes left in regulation, they entered the fourth quarter with a sense of urgency. The Eagles, though, scored three minutes into the frame with another Brauel-Jahnke shot and an assist from senior Kara Heck.

Although UConn made a valiant effort to shut down the Eagles during the remaining time in the fourth quarter, all three of their attempted shots on goal were saved by Kelly, and the game ended with a final score of 4–1. n

PAUL CRIADO / HEIGHTS STAFF

The Eagles registered 12 shots on Sunday, while UConn notched 16.

BC Snaps Six-Game Losing Streak, Ties Louisville

By Charlie Davidow Heights Staff Sprinting down the right wing, Boston College women’s soccer’s Sydney SeLouisville 1 galla fired Boston College 1 a perfectly placed pass that landed where only Ella Richards, the Eagles’ leading scorer this season, could receive it. Richards found herself with only Louisville’s goalkeeper to beat, and, with a quick motion, tapped the ball just inside the right post for her sixth goal of the

season.

The score put BC (3–9–3, 0–6–1 Atlantic Coast) ahead 1–0 in the 55th minute. Louisville (3–7–5, 2–3–2), however, stormed back with a goal of its own in the 83rd minute, and the game finished in a 1–1 tie at Newton Soccer Field on Saturday night.

Prior to Saturday, the Eagles had been on a three-game road stretch and had gone winless in their last six games—all against ACC opponents— notching just two goals in those games.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, were yet to register a win in their five road

games this year.

The match also marked BC’s first time it hadn’t lost a conference game this season. The last time the Eagles tied a conference opponent was on Oct. 27, 2022, against Wake Forest.

BC, however, didn’t look like a squad that had been having scoring problems early in the game, as it generated multiple chances quickly thanks to a fast and aggressive attack.

The Eagles earned themselves three corner kicks and a free kick all within the first 11 minutes.

“We got off to a good start with

MATTHEW MAO / HEIGHTS STAFF

The tie with Louisville marked the first time the Eagles did not lose a conference game this season.

[creating chances],” BC head coach Jason Lowe said. “The energy, the focus, I think we were moving the ball pretty well. I think we were finding our open players” The Eagles also displayed solid defense, not allowing Louisville to possess the ball for extended periods of time in the first half. The Cardinals, however, still had a couple dangerous scoring chances such as opportunities in the 28th and 30th minutes. But BC’s defense shut down both chances with hustle.

The game entered halftime tied at 0–0, with fairly even play all around.

Each squad registered five shots, one save, and four corner kicks in the first half.

Richards, however, finally broke the tie with less than 35 minutes remaining in the game after punching the ball in a full sprint off Segalla’s beautiful pass.

“It was a great goal by Ella,” Lowe said. “I think it was the fastest I’ve seen her run in a long time. To catch up to Segalla is no easy task.”

The Cardinals subsequently pressured BC’s back line, managing to keep the ball on the Eagles’ side of the field. But BC’s defense stood strong, preventing any dangerous chances.

Louisville recorded only two shots in the second, the first coming off Hayley Howard’s bottom left corner strike that BC goalkeeper Wiebke Willebrandt saved in the 69th minute.

But the Cardinals’ second and final shot proved just enough to crush BC’s long-awaited conference victory.

With about six minutes remaining in the game, Louisville’s Addie Chester placed a corner kick high into the box.

Lucy Roberts then leaped above everyone and delivered a perfectly-placed header into the top-right corner of BC’s net.

“We took our foot off the gas a little bit,” Lowe said. “We left the game open towards the final minutes, which it didn’t need to be.”

BC had ample opportunities to take back its lead, as within the last five minutes, the Eagles received three corner kicks. But no one could capitalize.

Louisville defender Savina Zamborini was called for a foul with 66 seconds left in the game, giving BC one last chance on a free kick.

Captain Claire Mensi took the kick but her shot curved outside of the right post, and the match ended in a 1–1 draw.

“Getting any ACC point is hard.

I’m happy with the team,” Lowe said. n