The Heights, Sept. 9, 2024

September 9, 2024

Eagles Shutout Duquesne

After pouring in 42 first-half points, the Eagles defeated Duquesne 56–0 in O’Brien’s Alumni Stadium debut.

By grAhAm Dietz Alumni Director

There was no doubt. Khari Johnson was going to make it to the endzone.

In man coverage, Johnson’s eyes never left Joey Isabella until the ball came flying at his hip.

In a split second, his head turned, and the ball nosedived toward his left hand, which he trapped against the white No. 3 sprawled across his maroon jersey.

The horns blew and the horse race to the pylons began, a heap of interior linemen the only remaining roadblocks. Darius Perrantes, Duquesne’s signal caller, chased down the nickelback as hard as any quarterback would after throwing an interception that was about to become a pick six.

Johnson barely needed to shove Perrantes out of the way, merely escorting him over the sideline. He had just come away with his first interception as an Eagle and brought it to the house on a 45-yard return. The floodgates were already open, but then a tsunami swept through Chestnut Hill, Mass. Boston College football washed away the Dukes like an empty glass bottle in open waters.

“Coach [Ray] Brown and Coach [Tim] Lewis have been telling us that play was gonna show up,” Johnson said. “I saw the slot was coming back into the formation, I knew the alignment, I knew the down and distance, so all that was left was to make the play. It was a dream come true.”

See Football, A8

Students Create Professor and Course Review Site

By JuliAnA PArisi Heights Staff

For many college students, finding a roommate freshman year can be a toss-up. You can either room with someone you instantly click with, someone you talk to maybe once a day (a couple of grunts or nods in your direction as well if you’re lucky), or someone you despise.

However, a new category of freshman-year roommates has emerged: the ingenious website-creating duo.

Computer Science majors Sebastian Pucher and Andrew Boessen, both roommates and MCAS ’26, turned their freshman year double into a startup: Eagle Eval.

The website provides Boston College students with written information and numerical ratings for professors and courses, and already has an estimated 2,000 users, Boessen said.

When looking for freshman-year roommates, the two sophomores originally met through social media and bonded about their shared interest in technology.

“When I was looking for roommates, I remember I looked at a lot of Andrew’s projects, and we just kind of clicked,” Pucher said. “That then led to this year and

Opinions

Columnist Katie Spillane reflects on her newfound appreication for her Jesuit education, highlighting how Jesuit values have enhanced her experiences at BC.

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our brainstorming of larger projects that we could do.”

Both Pucher and Boessen came to Boston College with experience in the computer science world. In high school, both participated in computer science clubs and tested their luck in computer science competitions.

“As long as I can remember, I’ve just really been passionate about tech and kind of getting hands-on experience with different things, and my roommate and I share a lot of similarities when it comes to that,” Pucher said.

The duo’s first project together dates back to their freshman fall at BC, when they competed in Hack the Heights, a collaborative coding competition through the BC Computer Science Society.

At Hack the Heights, the duo said they created a website named “BC Bites,” aiming to help BC students find the best food options on campus.

The website was designed to take real-time data from BC’s dining menus and let users vote on their favorite dishes, displaying the most popular options at any given time.

See Eagle Eval, A5

Masked Man Found Trespassing on Radnor

On Thursday, the Boston Police Department (BPD) came into contact with him on the corner of Kirkwood Road and South Street.

By AngelinA li Assoc. News Editor lucy FreemAn News Editor

The Boston Police Department (BPD) came into contact with a masked man on the corner of Kirkwood Road and South Street on Thursday night after the man was caught on camera trespassing at a nearby property, according to a BPD report.

“Upon arrival the officers came in contact with a white male wearing black sweatpants, black hoodie with grey sleeves and a face mask at the intersection of South St. and Kirkwood Rd,” the BPD report reads.

Mackenzie Shea and Anna O’Donnell, both MCAS ’26, live on Radnor Rd. and saw live-footage of the man walking in their backyard around

midnight on Thursday through their Ring home security camera.

“We got a notification right at midnight, actually, that someone was at our back door,” O’Donnell said. “So we looked, and we're like, ‘Oh, who is it?’ And it was a guy with a ski mask on walking down our driveway.”

The roommates immediately called the Boston College Police Department (BCPD), who then got them into contact with BPD. Shea and O’Donnell said the police then arrived and barricaded Radnor Rd. on each end.

“We had the footage ready to show them with a description, and so they barricaded the street and found him at the top of the hill on the corner of Kirk and South,” O’Donnell said.

See Trespassing, A2

Eagles Top Cal State Fullerton

By mAriA steFAnouDAkis Asst. Sports Editor

Cal State Fullerton had gone four games without scoring a goal headed into its Sunday afternoon matchup at Boston College women’s soccer. Just 24 seconds into the match, the Titans finally scored. Unfortunately for them, they did so on the wrong net.

See Soccer, A9

Schwartz, Sangiolo Win Primaries

By genevieve morrison Assoc. Newton Editor

Newton residents voted for two new state representatives in the state congressional primary Tuesday, choosing Greg Schwartz as the Democratic candidate in the 12th Middlesex district and Amy Mah Sangiolo as the Democratic candidate for the 11th.

In the Nov. 5 general election, Sangiolo will face Vladislav Yanovsky, who ran unopposed on the Republican ticket.

There was no Republican challenger in the 12th district race, so Schwartz will run unopposed in the general election.

Following the retirement of state-house veterans Kay Khan and Ruth Balser, two Democratic races in Newton ensued this summer to fill the newly opened seats. Khan held the longest tenure in the state house when she retired, having served 15 terms since 1994. Balser served 13 terms, representing Newton and Brookline since 1999.

See Primaries, A4

Magazine

What does your off-campus room say about you? Outreach and DEI coordinator Sofia Laboy unpacks the hidden meaning behind your living situation.

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

ASHTON KAO / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

TRISHNA CONDOOR / HEIGHTS STAFF

NEWS

Unpack the meaning of the U.S. Constitution today at an event featuring reflections by students, faculty, and author A.J. Jacobs. Sponsored by

Masked Man Caught Off Campus, No Arrest Made

Trespassing, from A1

When BPD officers approached the man, he said he was wearing a face mask because he was cold, according to the report.

“The officer upon initial attempt to stop the suspect could notice that he began to hurry his pace upon the officer exiting his cruiser but did not stop,” the report reads.

Shea and O’Donnell said BPD informed them that the man’s body build does not match the description of the man who was caught lurking on nearby Gerald Rd. the week prior.

“The Boston Police compared the footage,” Shea said. “It’s not the same body and build, so there’s multiple [masked men], and this was just one.”

According to the BPD report, the suspect originally admitted he “walked off the beaten path” when shown a still image of himself in Shea and O’Donnell’s driveway. O’Donnell said she had recently purchased a sign from Amazon reading “private property” and “no trespassing,” which the suspect was informed of.

“The suspect confirmed his identity from the image and when later informed of the no trespassing sign, he went on to change his statement and stated that he turned back around after seeing the no trespassing sign that was posted in the victims bedroom window,” the report reads.

The man was not arrested by BPD, according to Sergeant Detective John Boyle.

BPD confiscated the black balaclava face mask the man was wearing and gave the man a ride back to his home, according to

the report. Julia Rousmaniere, MCAS ’26, said that around midnight, she and her roommates noticed many cop cars near their house on Kirkwood Rd.

“We just saw like cop car after cop car after cop car—so many—and all the lights and sirens and everything,” Rousmaniere said.

“Upon arrival the officers came in contact with a white male wearing black sweatpants, black hoodie with grey sleeves, and a

face mask at the intersection of South St. and Kirkwood Rd.”

Rousmaniere said a police officer walked by her house when she and her roommates were looking through their window.

“We were all standing in our window just watching, and there was a cop walking up and down the street,” Rousmaniere said. “I think he just saw us through our window and wanted to know if we were okay.”

Rousmaniere said the officer made sure she and her roommates felt safe and provided additional safety tips.

“He was telling us to go to

the store and get crushed up dried hot peppers to blow in people’s faces if anyone ever came to our house,” Rousmaniere said.

“He let us know that there would be people patrolling and that he would let us know if there were any developments.”

This is not the first occurrence of a trespasser on Shea and O’Donnell’s property. The two said their roommate was awoken around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday morning to a man on his knees peering inside her window.

“He was in one of the window wells outside of our house, like on his knees watching her sleep,” Shea said.

The roommates then got

into contact with BCPD, who came to their house to check in on them.

“BPD confiscated the black balaclava face mask the man was wearing and gave the man a ride back to his home, according to the report.”

They then installed Ring cam-

eras on the outside of their house. Shea said she thinks the masked man had been on their property several times during the past week.

“Since the guy was in the window well, every single night at midnight, I see a man’s shadow walk past my window and the motion detector light goes off,” Shea said.

The roommates said that both BPD and BCPD were very responsive to the situation and urged other students who feel unsafe to call for help.

“The Boston Police did a really good job because they illuminated the whole entire street last night, so he had nowhere to go,” Shea said. n

Class of 2028, Messina Students Celebrate Convocation

By AnnikA engelBrechT Asst. News Editor

The Class of 2028 and the inaugural Messina College class marched down

Thursday evening, banners held high, celebrating the inception of their time at Boston College.

Fei-Fei Li, a founding director of the Stanford Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence

(AI) Institute, addressed the crowd by sharing how curiosity inspired her to ask “big, audacious questions” and led to her career today. “These questions led me on

an intellectual journey from physics to artificial intelligence, a path that I’m still on today,” Li said. “So just ask these big questions and never be afraid to change course to a question.”

“Just ask these big questions and never be afraid to change course to a question.”

Li also authored the book, The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI . She said the idea of showing young people how they can impact AI encouraged her to adapt the novel to include her personal connection to the field.

“I didn’t want to talk about myself—that’s not my nature,” Li said. “But I knew I had to. Not simply for the book … but for all the other people—especially young people, like you guys, from all walks of life—who still don’t see how they can make a difference in the AI era.”

“As you pursue your North Star, always remember humanity at the core of it.”

Writing the novel allowed Li to share the importance of keeping AI human-centered, she said.

“We must use tools and technology not to replace, but to

support and enhance and enrich our individual as well as shared human experiences,” Li said. Li added that if there were anything she hoped the class of 2028 would take from the address, it was to let “curiosity guide you to pursue your passion.”

“Look for your North Star,” she said.

Hope and worries surround the evolution of AI, but our motivations will be the defining factor in shaping our future—not technology—according to Li.

“The future of AI remains deeply uncertain, and we have as many reasons for optimism as we do for concern, but it’s all a product of something deeper and far more consequential than mere technology,” Li said. “The question of what motivates us in our hearts and our minds as we create, I believe the answer to that question, more perhaps than any other, will shape our future.”

Li emphasized that AI’s interdisciplinary nature is what makes it so strong, and that students must similarly pursue their interests.

“So if you love art, please pursue it,” Li said. “ If your heart seeks sports or biology, I beg you, follow it there. AI is a civilizational technology, but it’s only as good as the human beings created and use it.” Li concluded her address by reminding members of the Class of 2028 to keep humanity in mind when pursuing their goals and to continue fueling their desires.

“As you pursue your North Star, always remember humanity at the core of it,” Li said. “There will always be something new to chase—to a scientist, the imagination is a sky full of North Stars.” n Join the Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action for a talk with Rodger Brown, an affordable housing advocate with over thirty years of experience in housing preservation. Attend the event at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Stokes Hall S195.

Linden Lane

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Class of 2028 and the inaugural Messina College class celebrated convocation on Thursday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA O’DONNELL

Shea and O’Donnell caught Ring home security footage of the masked man trespassing on their property Thursday.

Boosting the Student Vote in U.S. Presidential Election

By Jack Beckman Asst. News Editor

Boston College students might not vote in the upcoming presidential election because they are apathetic or unsure of how to vote by mail, Mariame Diop, student senator and MCAS ’27, said at the first UGBC Senate meeting of the 2024–25 academic year on Tuesday night.

“I feel like people can get into a bubble when it comes to what’s happening in the real world,” Diop said.

“I want to spread awareness about the election that’s coming up.”

To combat this, Diop said she aims to leverage UGBC’s resources to educate students on the importance of voting and how they can register to vote in their respective states.

“I feel like—as government, as UGBC—it’s our job to spread awareness,” Diop said.

Colleen Dallavalle, associate vice president for student engagement and formation, was present at the meeting and highlighted the University’s partnership with TurboVote, a free, not-for-profit

website that helps users register to vote, find their polling place, and vote by mail, according to its website.

Also during the meeting, Cameron Kulbieda, academic affairs committee chair and LSEHD ’26, shared that plans are tentatively in place for the University to pilot funding transportation to required clinicals and practicum placements for some students.

“If everything goes according to plan, the pilot program … will take place in the spring,” Kulbieda said.

The Senate first raised the issue of funding transportation costs for low-income students to clinicals and practicums—experiences that are required for all Connell School of Nursing students and most Lynch School of Education students—last semester, and student senators on the academic affairs committee began meeting with administrators to discuss potential sources of funding.

During the summer, Kulbieda met with Joseph Du Pont, associate vice president of career services, and Shawna Cooper

Whitehead, vice president for student affairs, to advance the initiative, she said.

“I’ve been working closely with Joe DuPont and Dr. Cooper Whitehead and everything’s looking good,” Kulbieda said.

The subsidy program is still subject to final approval, and the number of students who would be included in the pilot has not yet been determined, Kulbieda added.

Later in the meeting, student senators discussed purchasing one or two printers for residence halls on Lower Campus so residents in the area could print documents without having to walk to O’Neill Library.

“I think students would like easier access to printing, and that’s low-hanging fruit that UGBC should do,” said Meghan Heckelman, UGBC president and LSEHD ’25.

The Senate also voted to confirm Katherine McCaffrey, MCAS ’25, as a student senator, leaving just one seat vacant—a student senator for the class of 2026. n

Perry Discusses Benefits of AI at Meta Workshop

By ReeTu agnihoTRi Heights Staff

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing technology, according to Michael Perry, customer growth marketing manager at Meta.

“We like to say that artificial intelligence isn’t just the future, but it’s really what’s happening right now,” Perry said.

Perry, BC ’17, spoke at Boston College’s Shea Center for Entrepreneurship on Wednesday, sharing what he learned in seven years as a marketing strategist for late-stage startups and technology companies, including X, rag & bone, and Snapchat. Perry also helped co-found the Shea Center during his time at BC.

“Artificial general intelligence is the future that I think Meta and other platforms are trying to build for,” Perry said. “How do you start to use this technology to be closer to actual cognitive functions that allow you to complete more human capabilities?”

Perry distinguished two types of artificial intelligence. The first has to do with AI performing complex paths that human intelligence would normally be able to do, such as the automation that

computers perform when asked to complete a specific task. The second is generative AI, which has to do with using a data pattern to give a person a provided output.

All social media and entertainment apps have discovery algorithms that aim to feed consumers with content that they like. Meta uses this AI for its own ad campaigns, Perry said.

“AI is also very important to growing our own ad revenue, in that businesses now are using our artificial intelligence products to streamline a lot of their own decision-making from the past,” Perry said. “Where you had to decide, ‘How much should I spend on my ad campaign? What’s the audience I want to reach?’”

Perry stressed that AI not only benefits consumers, but businesses as well. It has the potential to provide advice for essentially any questions one may have, including a marketing brief. He then segued to the workshop portion of the talk, inviting students to dream up a product and a plan of how to market it using Meta AI.

“You know, maybe we work in the beverage industry, or trying to sell healthy soft drinks to 18 to 24 year olds,” Perry said. “Our goal is to drive brand awareness. Just

ask it, ‘Are you ready to go?’ And it should give you a response.”

Instantly, Meta AI generated logos, catchphrases, and Instagram Reels ideas for the students’ imaginary products. Students played around with asking Meta AI various questions about marketing and business insights. Through the workshop, Perry demonstrated that AI can be a useful tool for creators and

influencers.

“You could ask AI to give you a brief outline of your objectives, one of the concepts you like, some of the key elements, and this will pretty much package it up for you,” Perry said.

Perry had students ask Meta AI to create a marketing brief summarizing all of the information about their imaginary product. Students were impressed

with its ability to not only generate advertising ideas, but also with how persuasive and eloquent the marketing briefs turned out to be. Although AI can seem daunting at first, Perry encouraged students to perceive it as a creative companion.

“In the 10 minutes that we did this together, this may take someone’s entire day, if you’re a marketing manager,” Perry said. n

Finance Dept. Named After Trustee Marc Seidner

By Jack Beckman

Asst. News Editor

The finance department will be renamed the Seidner Department of Finance following a major donation—the largest in the Carroll School of Management’s 86-year history—from Boston College trustee Marc Seidner, according to a University release.

“My hope and expectation are that the gift helps the Finance Department to build upon its proud history of matriculating outstanding students to manage an increasingly complex global market system—individuals who will continue to make a real difference in the world and in the lives of others,” Seidner, BC ’88, said in the release.

Seidner is the chief investment officer for non-traditional strategies and a managing director at Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO)—an invest-

ment management firm with nearly $2 trillion in assets under management, according to its website.

A University trustee since 2019, Seidner said he wanted to give back to BC to express his gratitude for the opportunities it provided him and his daughter Alexis, BC ’24.

“Our philanthropy is a thank you to Boston College for taking a chance on me as a student and equipping me with the toolkit to succeed personally and professionally,” Seidner said in the release.

Ronnie Sadka, Haub Family Professor, department chair, and associate dean for faculty, said that Seidner’s gift is especially important to him and his colleagues.

“I think it’s a great honor for us, in terms of what it will do for the department,” Sadka said. “Other than just pure distinction, it provides the department resources to continue and excel.”

Seidner’s gift makes the finance department the first at the BC to be endowed.

“Our philanthropy is a thank you to Boston College for taking a chance on me as a student and equipping me with the toolkit to succeed personally and professionally.”

“It’s a fairly rare distinction, which makes it even more special,” Sadka said.

The finance department is always striving to improve, Sadka said, and Seidner’s gift will allow the department to continue attracting high-quality faculty.

“We need to try to get the best faculty, and I think [Seidner’s gift] is going to further help us to do that, because it’s great marketing for outside people,” Sadka said. “It shows that the University and friends of the University are willing to say, ‘Hey, this is a great department, and we’re going to keep investing in this department.’”

Last year, finance became BC’s most popular undergraduate major with 1,461 students—it is also the most popular minor with 606 declared minors, according to the 2023–2024 BC Fact Book.

Sadka said that Sediner’s gift will not change the department’s core commitment to providing high-quality instruction and advising opportunities to its students.

“We’ve always pushed people to excel,” Sadka said. “The department has always been engaged in advising and helping students. I don’t expect that to change at all.” Seidner’s gift also endows the Seidner University professorship—a position currently held by Nobel Prize–winning economist Paul Romer—and will help cement Boston College’s reputation as a leading center for business research.

“The Seidner gift has enabled us to establish the Seidner University Professorship, held by one of the nation’s leading economists, and the Center for the Economics of Ideas, and will continue to support faculty in their scholarship, research, and teaching in the Carroll School of Management,” said David Quigley, provost and dean of faculties. “It is a gift that will pay dividends to the University for years to come.” n

ALINA CHEN / HEIGHTS STAFF

The Senate considered spreading awareness about the election and funding transportation costs for low-income students.

MATTHEW MAO / HEIGHTS STAFF

Shea Center co-founder Michael Perry shared the capabilities of AI and its relevance to consumers and businesses.

Schwartz, Sangiolo Win Newton in Contested

State House Primary Elections on Tuesday

Primaries, from A1

The 11th and 12th districts both fall between Newton and Brookline. They are among just 26 contested congressional districts of all 140 house districts in Massachusetts.

A small part of Newton falls in the 10th Middlesex district. There, the incumbent, John Lawn, ran unopposed.

Sangiolo, the winning Democrat in the Middlesex 11th, served as a Newton City Councilor for 10 terms, between 1997 and 2017. Since then, she’s worked as an affordable housing advocate at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.

She had run against Alexander Jablon, a 28-year-old Newtonite and political rookie. Jablon works as an auditor for RTX and ran on a progressive platform, emphasizing government transparency.

Schwartz is a doctor who served on the Newton City Council from 2011–19. He served as chair of the Land Use Committee.

Two current Newton City Councilors challenged Schwartz in the Democratic race, Rick Lipof and Bill Humphrey.

Humphrey, who was elected to the city council in 2019, ran on a progressive platform, primarily focused on championing labor rights and environmental issues.

Lipof, a small business owner and Newton city councilor of 23 years, focused on countering antisemitism and bolstering collaboration during his campaign.

During the race, Humphrey met criticism for not signing a letter that denounced The Mapping Project, a website created by activists that claimed to show organizations across Massachusetts that were responsible for abuse of Palestinians.

The map included Jewish

schools, cultural centers, and places of worship.

In 2022, Newton City Councilors published a letter condemning The Mapping Project for antisemitism, and Humphrey was the only councilor not to sign it.

Humphrey has said he would sign a similar letter today, following the attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. He

called for more proactive defense against antisemitism at the state level during debates between the three candidates.

Tensions culminated with protesters demonstrating at a campaign event Humphrey held with the Newton Teachers Association last week.

Lipof also received backlash last December for text messages he sent to a city council colleague, Brenda Noel, which she called “inappropriate.” Noel endorsed Humphrey in the 12th Middlesex race.

Lipof apologized publicly, and the City Council made a resolution to work on an ethics code for councilors following the incident. n

Senior Center Construction to Finish Fall 2025

By Laney Mcaden Asst. Newton Editor

The Cooper Center for Active Living construction project held its monthly community update on Tuesday night to discuss updates and progress for the site.

The center was previously informally referred to as the Newton

Center for Active Living or NewCAL.

In Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s State of the City address in February, the center was officially named the Cooper Center for Active Living in the City of Newton, in honor of the late Audrey Cooper. Cooper, a long-time Newton resident, helped establish Newton’s

original senior center in addition to her many other community-centered contributions such as service within the school system and volunteer work.

The official groundbreaking for the site of construction, with J&J Contractors as the general contractor, took place on March 7. Josh Morse, Newton’s commis-

sioner of public buildings, explained the fast-paced nature of the project to viewers at the meeting held on Zoom.

“They’re coming along quickly,” Morse said. “We’re at a stage where it is changing every day now.”

Last week, Morse gave a guided video tour of the project site.

Morse detailed how the project has maintained its schedule throughout much of the process, and plans on continuing to do so until its completion.

The project was previously delayed by a need to solicit more bids from contractors to complete the construction. The schedule was then revamped, with the opening date moved to fall 2025, according to the project’s website.

“We’re gonna continue to do our framing work through September, and roofing is going to get started after that,” Morse said. “And then we are still on track for masonry and interior roughing in October, and we’re still on track for our substantial

completion in fall of 2025.”

According to Morse, the construction techniques the project employs, such as a panelized framing system, are a large part of why the construction has been able to proceed with few complications or delays.

“One of the advantages of this panelized system for wood frames is that the stuff gets assembled offsite, and then it’s all put together like building blocks or Legos once it shows up,” Morse said.

Despite the project not being scheduled for completion for a full calendar year, Morse remains confident in the progress that has been made and is already making plans for the opening ceremony.

“We’re in the home stretch right now,” Morse said. “With Mignonne [Murray, Newton’s director of senior services] and her team, there’s a lot of things that we’re starting to plan and think of for the opening, because it will be here before you know it.” n

Public Facilities Committee Approves Funding for School Lighting, Traffic Signal, Sewer Project

B y e LL a S ong Newton Editor

The Newton Public Facilities Committee agreed to finance the continued installation of LED lighting at Newton South High School at its meeting Thursday night.

“It’s a better quality of light, it improves the lighting,” Newton Energy Project Manager Bill Ferguson said. “And from a maintenance point of view, these lights last a long time.”

According to Ferguson, the project has already been 90 percent completed. He said further funding would allow for the implementation of LED lighting throughout the entire school and would save the school about $17,000 a year, due to LED lights’ lower maintenance costs.

The committee approved the allocation of $105,253 toward the project from the city’s Energy Stabilization Fund. Ferguson said the $311,000 in the fund has not been promised to anything else.

“At this point, we have a lot

of projects that we’re considering that we could tap into some of those funds for, but right now, this [project] is the priority,” Ferguson said.

The committee also discussed and approved the use of $215,000 from the TRIO mitigation funds for the purchase and installation of new traffic signals at the intersection of Lowell Avenue and Washington Street.

“And the main advantage here is this will enable a dedicated westbound, … [and] a dedicated left turn phase, which currently does not exist, and that’s where the majority of the accidents occur,” Newton Commissioner of Public Works Jim McGonagle said. “And also, this will improve vehicle detection coming from all directions.”

The committee also discussed the possibility of adding a bike signal to the intersection at a later date, following this project.

“I really hope we do follow up on that, because the intent of the Washington Street project is to encourage safe bicycling and getting

more people, especially children or students going to Newton North, and I just want to make sure that we’re ensuring their safety, as well as the safety of our drivers,” Ward 1 Councilor-at-Large Alison Leary said.

The Public Facilities Committee also agreed to authorize the borrowing of a $4,403,000 loan from a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority funding program for sewer projects, which would go toward the city’s Sewer Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Project 10.

This loan is interest-free and will be paid back in installments over 10 years.

The Sewer CIP Project 10 includes improvements to the sewer main in Newton Highlands, Newton Corner, Newton Centre, and Waban, according to McGonagle.

“I just wanted to say, I’m really happy with the commissioner that we’re taking advantage of those no-interest loans,” Leary said. “You’re doing a wonderful job working on the upkeep of our underground infrastructure.” n

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

Sangiolo will face off against Republican candidate Vladislav Yanovsky in November.

CONNOR SIEMIEN / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

Project construction began in March with a groundbreaking ceremony on the building site.

ELLA SONG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The complete installation of LED lighting at Newton South will save $17,000 a year.

M AGAZINE

Eagle Eval Reviews BC Courses and Professors

“This was kind of our first breakthrough in working together as a team,” said Pucher. “It sort of sparked interest in us that we wanted to create something to help the BC community and other students here.”

Pucher and Boessen then entered a Arduino competition through the Make BC, challenging students to use a microcontroller kit that continuously runs one script of code.

“We lived on Newton, and we had these really crappy dorms,” Boessen said. “It was a big pain because the window shade was always broken, so I had this idea that I would make a motorized, automated window blind for a dorm.”

Boessen then installed a motor onto the existing blind reel, allowing it to be controlled remotely and scheduled to open or close automatically. Laying in bed in the morning, Boessen could lower or open his shade with the click of a button.

Meanwhile, Pucher created a solution to keep his dorm plants alive during winter break. Using soil moisture sensors, Pucher designed an automated irrigation system that would monitor the plants’ moisture levels and automatically water them when needed.

With their projects, Pucher won first place and Boessen won second.

“There’s actually a prize

amount, but we’re just buddies and don’t really care too much about that stuff, we just split like the prize money,” Pucher said. “I think we won like, 100 bucks total. When we came back to this last August we were pumped, festering with energy on what our next project could be.”

As sophomore year rolled around, the two wasted no time conceptualizing their next project: Eagle Eval.

“Conception was literally move-in day,” Pucher said. “We moved back in to our room, walked down to brunch and talked the day away together. We were just catching up over the summer. We then were just brainstorming ideas, going back and forth.”

The two decided they wanted to improve BC’s course evaluations—a system they found to be confusing and difficult to use.

“We wanted to improve on that and make it more user-friendly and available to students,” Pucher said.

“We looked at what BC had. The particular data it was giving us for course evaluations—the numeric values—made sense, but the webpage looked outdated. We thought we could improve it in a way that would help students make better, more informed decisions about their coursework and professors.”

Though the idea for Eagle Eval was born in August 2023, the website wasn’t finalized until November, when its Beta version was released for spring semester registration. The two then rebuilt it

again in February, making various changes and updates to address feedback they received from users.

The website now provides comprehensive course and professor evaluations, displaying both overall course ratings and individual ratings for each professor teaching the course. To calculate an overall class average, the website compiles scores from all professors teaching the same course. Students can also view each professor separately and see all the courses they teach.

“We basically wanted to make

Rate My Professor completely obsolete,” Pucher said. “We wanted to beat Rate My Professor.”

The marketing plan for the site coniststed of just two things: word of mouth and Herrd. They identified Wilson Baker, MCAS ’26 and a friend of the duo, as a key player in advertising Eagle Eval.

“In my math class, some of the people in front of me, who I’ve never even spoken to in my whole life, were using it, which was super cool to see,” Baker said. “To be completely honest, I’ve only heard good things. There was a small, tiny little bug in the system that I found because I’m on the website all the time. I brought it to Sebastian’s attention and Andrew fixed it within like 20 minutes.”

Baker praised the work ethic of the duo, adding that Pucher’s character is the main reason he is committed to promoting Eagle Eval.

“When Sebastian told me he was making Eagle Eval with his roommate, Andrew, this fall, I wanted to be a part of it in any way I could, because I know Sebastian is such a hard worker,” Baker said.

Eagle Eval not only attracted students but also piqued the interest of investors—Pucher said an analyst from SSC Venture Partners expressed interest in investing $25K to $100K.

“We really liked our idea, but seeing other people’s enthusiasm about it and real people reaching out and offering to monetize this—that was really cool to see,” Pucher said.

Despite the opportunity to monetize, the founders decided against it, saying they prioritize the website’s accessibility and community impact over profits. Now, the website is fully self-funded, and Pucher said they pay an estimated $15–$20 per month.

As Eagle Eval has gained attention from investors and students alike, Baker said the website’s success points back to the hardworking nature of its founders.

“Sebastian is one of those guys who can succeed in anything he puts his mind to,” Baker said. “He holds himself to a super high standard in terms of his achievements in his life and in terms of everything he does.” n

What Your Off-Campus Room Says About You

By Sofia LaBoy

Outreach and DEI Coordinator

Your college room is so much more than just a place to sleep— it’s a direct reflection of your personality, priorities, and lifestyle. On campus, your housing options are often a matter of necessity, but choosing an off-campus space for your junior year is a chance to express yourself.

Whether you got your first choice room or you’re residing in an un-airconditioned storage closet, the setting you choose has the

power to define your junior year.

After living off campus last year, I noticed that the type of space someone selects—be it a cozy attic, a spacious basement, a room with your best friend, or a solitary single—often reveals some deeper truths about a person.

Basement

Basement dwellers, we all know you were the last one to join your lease. Though you may have gotten the last available room, you’ve naively convinced

yourself you’re the kind of person who makes the best out of a bad situation. You may have even put up LED lights, and you probably set them on red. Growing up, you always dreamed of going to a big SEC sports school. Naturally, you ended up at Boston College, because nothing says “sports powerhouse” quite like our Jesuit institution.

You also might be the type who appreciates the grittier, more authentic side of college life, and while your basement doesn’t scream “sophisticated,” it reflects

a certain raw, unapologetic energy. It’s a place where you’re more likely to find practical solutions than polished aesthetics—hinting at a personality that values substance over style.

Attic/Loft

In fact, you might even prefer living in a double. You thrive in lively environments and are more productive in bustling spaces.

Just like how you favor the dynamic atmosphere of Coro over the quiet of Bapst Library, a roommate’s phone conversations or music in the background doesn’t faze you.

Attic folk, your 2010 YouTube history was full of DIY tutorials. And in your middle school yearbook photo, you were bravely sporting a hair feather. In high school, you were undoubtedly a teacher’s pet and took AP Art and Design for fun. You probably shop at Free People and have a spiritual attachment to your beaten-up Birkenstocks.

While others were likely weary of the unconventional bedroom, you saw the unique charm in your slanted, 45-degree-angled ceiling. You’ve embraced every quirky feature of your space, transforming it into a haven that perfectly reflects your creative spirit and distinctive taste.

Double

If you’re in a double, you’re clearly the laid-back type. You’re either avoiding unnecessary drama by not insisting on your own room, or you’re savvy enough to appreciate the benefits of more affordable housing and don’t mind sharing your space with a friend.

Whether you’re used to close quarters from summers at sleepaway camp or you grew up sharing a room with a sibling, you appreciate the companionship and look forward to the late-night chats, finding comfort in sharing your space and experiences with someone else.

Largest Single Congratulations on landing that coveted 150 square feet all to yourself! You’re lowkey a diva, but at least you know your self-worth. We all recognize you fought long and hard for that room.

You probably claimed that because you spent 15 minutes finding the realtor, you deserve a whole kingdom to yourself. In the arena of Social Darwinism, you reign supreme. You know how to read people well and you used it to your advantage in the housing process. Not only do you know what you want—you’ve got the gumption to make it happen. n

GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEBASTIAN PUCHER

Eagle Eval provides students with numerical ratings and written information on BC professors and courses.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SEBASTIAN PUCHER

OPINIONS

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

Reflections on a Jesuit Education

I have now spent the past six years of my life in a Jesuit learning environment and as most know that comes with a lot of reflection. In fact, I probably spent at least a third of my high school career reflecting.

All of this, often tedious, reflecting has led to a deep appreciation for a Jesuit education that certainly would have shocked the girl who chose a Jesuit high school on a bit of a whim.

I left my Catholic middle school with a very negative outlook toward religious education and an understanding that I was definitely an atheist.

I had chosen a high school that I knew was Jesuit with the idea that they were probably a little more relaxed about the whole religion thing. Now I could not be more grateful that I did.

My experiences at a Jesuit high school absolutely shaped me into the person I am today, but I didn’t initially appreciate this experience. Retreats were the bane of my existence and theology class bored me beyond belief.

I didn’t fully understand how lucky I was to be there until I was an upperclassman.

I went into my junior year theology class expecting very little. The class was literally called The Bible and I was most certainly dreading it. I spent the first week trying to bait my teacher into an argument out of some combination of boredom and annoyance.

Thankfully, it never worked. My teacher answered every question I had with

thoughtfulness and humility that I had yet to really experience from a religious teacher. He opened the very first class by explaining why he wanted to teach us about the Bible.

He said that one does not have to be religious to gain something from the Bible. Instead one just has to look at the impact it has had on the world. For better or for worse, the Bible is one of the most important historical and cultural documents we have access to.

That class heavily impacted the way I viewed all religions. Whether we like it or not, our world has been shaped by religion and learning about it can sharpen our insight into human nature. But more importantly, I realized that I did not have to necessarily subscribe to a faith to take something meaningful from it.

My new thoughts and beliefs were cemented on the final retreat I had to go on during my senior year. Before going on Kairos, just the idea of the retreat elicited incessant complaints.

But the community and love I felt on that trip is something I will never forget. It may not have been connected to God for me personally but I felt it nonetheless.

I suppose it was just another couple of days filled with reflections, but these experiences were unlike anything I had experienced before. The most meaningful moments were not the result of the prompts we were given to answer, but simply just being in each other’s presence.

I learned so much about myself and my peers on that trip. It forced me to shift my worldview completely.

I spent four years of high school being told that it was my responsibility to help others, and that the impact one has on those around them will always be more important than any material success.

Doing good work was not an ideal that my high school hoped their students achieved but an expectation. My attitude toward my own service work completely shifted, and I began developing new ideas

about how I could work to make change in the future. It was regularly expressed that we were being taught to be the type of people who made change.

These values are why I chose to continue my Jesuit education in college. In the past two years, I have become even more convinced of my correct decision in choosing a Jesuit education.

I still do not believe in a higher power, but I have felt the benefit of an education that works to teach higher values. My educational experiences in high school and college have encouraged questions and disbelief. It has allowed me to truly delve into my own convictions while having a deep-seated respect for others’ religious beliefs.

Morality seems to be a complicated issue in today’s world. The development of the self is difficult in a world that does not often teach or appreciate subjects like philosophy. But I do believe that religion can act as a guiding figure for many people.

Religion and religious education can inspire people to really consider their own moral codes and philosophies. This understanding of self can only lead to a greater understanding of the world around you. It allows you to walk through the world with both empathy and confidence.

But it is certainly not a perfect thing. Religion is a true reflector of human nature and is capable of both good and bad. The Jesuits are certainly no exception. The values of curiosity, compassion, and desire for change that have been seemingly drilled into me are now a crucial part of who I am.

My educational experience has been one of change and growth which I can only attribute to the culture of a Jesuit institution. I am so incredibly grateful to have two more years of opportunities to continue this growth even if it does mean having to occasionally suffer through some fairly boring, silent reflections.

Katie Spillane is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at kathleen.spillane@bc.edu.

Herrd: BC’s Savior or Demise?

Whether you want to know how dinner at Lower tastes, what the updates of the hockey game are, or the latest piping hot tea from the Boston College student body, Herrd is your one-stop-shop to figure it all out.

Herrd, an app for BC students to post content anonymously, has absolutely taken off over the past few years. BC students seem to grow more and more reliant on the app each year for all of their general intel and gossip. But is Herrd creating a rift between students, or does the app bring us closer together?

BC is known for its cliquey environment and the notorious “BC lookaway,” through which students go to great lengths to avoid saying “hi” to fringe acquaintances on the

Quad. One might initially think that Herrd’s built-in anonymity contributes to this separationist culture, but more often than not, Herrd gives the student body a place for consensus and creates unity.

Herrd is a platform for honesty and advice. True, some posts can get a little too honest. Sometimes anonymity allows people to say what needs to be said without facing the backlash they may receive from posting on their personal accounts.

This may seem cowardly (and maybe so), but Herrd does have a unique ability to unite the school, regardless of class year, and allows for a unified front and forum for all to become involved. Herrd tells people what to think, where to go, and what to do. This creates a kind of synthetic, hidden bond between the school.

Beyond that, there is a kind of beauty to Herrd’s ability to give everyone a moment to shine. Even if they are obscured behind a screen, posting a hilarious photo or comment and having it blow up with upvotes often comes with a great deal of joy and satisfaction. Having a comment on the Herrd “Top” page is the college equivalent to winning an Oscar.

Aside from light-hearted banter, Herrd can also make or break an event. Everyone

may plan on heading to Circle for the night, but when the post promoting it gets downvoted into oblivion, you can bet that the bar will be empty. No one is “sending Circle.”

Imagine a world without Herrd at BC. I can’t. How would you find out the theme for a hockey or basketball game? How would you get live coverage of the great Conte Forum fire of 2024? Where would you get your quality dating advice from anonymous strangers (disclaimer: if you get your relationship advice from Herrd, you may be entitled to some free therapy).

If you ask me, I think Herrd is doing a great job of uniting campus. It is the one place where students can truly connect— even if it’s through a device—and not worry about what other people will think or say. This is so important to have, especially in the highly charged political and social environment we live in. It serves as a refuge for informers, comedians, and people who just need a good rant.

I would go as far to say Herrd has even become a necessity for the BC student body. What else can the student body truly call its own?

Football Winning Streak Football season has officially begun, and the team is certainly off to a promising start. Students mobbed the Mods in anticipation of a comeback season after the team’s first underdog win against FSU, but the excitement didn’t stop there. Alumni Stadium was engulfed in a sea of gold as students cheered the Eagles to an incredible 56–0 victory over Duquesne. With the entire student body rallying for a fruitful fall, our dreams of being ranked have already been achieved!

Return of Student Organizations

The past two weeks have been a flurry of activity with clubs eagerly recruiting new members and reuniting for another semester on the Heights. Dance teams are choreographing routines for the upcoming season, a cappella groups are ready to make their voices heard, and culture clubs are coordinating social events to welcome new members. Most importantly, in our humble opinion, today marks the publication of the Heights’ first e-edition of the semester. We can’t wait for the months to come!

Syllabus Week is Over

The first two weeks of classes have come and gone, and so too has the slow on-ramp to academic anarchy. Even though we’re still trying to adjust to our new routines, the add/drop period is over and courses are picking up the pace. The transition from summer to school is certainly overwhelming, so make sure to get organized now and try to stay on top of your assignments before studying for exams and writing essays takes over all our free time!

Dorm Room Drama

Moving back in with friends is always exciting, but living away from home certainly comes with its difficulties. For all the freshmen adjusting to life with a new roommate, sophomores learning how to navigate living with seven other people, or upperclassmen taking on the responsibilities of off-campus living, the first few weeks back at BC always have a learning curve. Whether you keep waking up to your roommate’s alarm or can’t figure out how to cook for yourself, try to be patient during this adjustment period. Living at BC will feel normal before you know it!

Katie Spillane

Heights

GRAPHICS BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Olivia HaHn

Olivia Hahn is a columnist for The Heights. She

ARTS

The Albums That Defined the Summer of 2024

By Sofia TorreS Arts Editor Jack Weynand Assoc. Arts Editor Leah STiTzeL Asst. Arts Editor

Summer 2024 was one to remember, both musically and globally. College students took some time off from homework, caught up with friends, and relaxed for once. On a grander scale, Olympic fever took over our feeds, the country started gearing up for another presidential showdown, and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez separated yet again—who’s surprised? When looking back on ‘Brat Summer’—whatever you think that means—there are a handful of albums we’ll always associate with these moments. The Heights’ arts editors have picked out a few that deserve recognition.

The Great American Bar Scene by Zach Bryan

This summer, Zach Bryan had even the most dedicated country music haters hooked on his soulful voice and heart-wrenching lyrics. Whether you spent the summer working, vacationing, or confused about your

By Leah STiTzeL Asst. Arts Editor

aidan Gravina Copy Editor

Coming off a year in which she opened for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and broke into the national pop scene with her hit song “Nonsense,” it was only natural for fans to wonder if Sabrina Carpenter could continue to build on her momentum.

With her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet , Carpenter has not only built on that momentum but also cemented herself in the pop scene with a unique mix of clever and catchy lyrics. It all makes for a listening experience best described as just plain fun.

In stark contrast to Carpenter’s 2022 album emails i can’t send , a deeply raw and honest project dealing with themes of heartbreak and infidelity, Short n’ Sweet explores these same themes with deadpan hu-

campus situationship, there’s a song on The Great American Bar Scene that will seem to speak directly to you.

Part of Bryan’s appeal, and what makes his music relatable, lies in his storytelling style.

The album, his fifth full release, begins with a short spoken-word track called “Lucky Enough (Poem).” It’s both his own deeply personal narrative and the story of anyone who longs for a fulfilling life—or just a memorable summer.

His lyrics cross both emotional and geographic divides in a way that most popular country music does not.

The first track contains references to everywhere from the Carolinas to Chicago, while in “28,” the album’s most popular track, he sings of finding love in Boston and Brooklyn.

The album also draws inspiration from a variety of genre artists from different generations, including features from John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

“Memphis; The Blues” features Oklahoma folk singer John Moreland, whose voice lends a grunge tone to the otherwise spiritual lyrics.

The Great American Bar Scene isn’t the soundtrack to a perfect

mor and dance-pop instrumentation. Carpenter opens the album with a cheeky, backhanded song titled “Taste” directed at her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend.

“You’re wondering why half his clothes went missing / My body’s where they’re at,” Carpenter sings.

The song is rumored to be directed at Camila Cabello, who dated Shawn Mendes from 2019–21 and then reportedly got back together with him for a brief period in 2023 after Mendes and Carpenter had broken up.

On the song’s bridge, however, Carpenter assures us that singing about it doesn’t mean she cares about Cabello and Mendes’ relationship, but that she sings because she’s “been known to share.”

The line is a humorous reference to another famous love triangle involving Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo, where the pair of female pop singers traded jabs at each other

‘Deadpool

By Jack Weynand Assoc. Arts Editor

Deadpool & Wolverine is the perfect addition to the Deadpool franchise, keeping pace with the adult jokes and fast-paced plots featured in the first two films.

summer, but it’s exactly what summer should be: messy, nostalgic, and a little sweet.

Fireworks and Rollerblades by

Benson Boone

Benson Boone has taken the music pop scene by storm in the past few months after his breakout hit “Beautiful Things” gained massive popularity across social media and radio. Since its release, “Beautiful Things” has amassed over one billion Spotify streams despite being only a taste of what Fireworks & Rollerblades has to offer.

Boone’s first studio album truly gives the artist a chance to showcase his vocal talent. He rarely stays in one vocal register within a song, often jumping from his pronounced lower tones to a much higher pitch that Boone hits with ease.

It would be logical to think that Boone’s songs would be difficult to perform live given their vocal complexity, but he’s been on tour through the United States and Europe since the album’s release with near-flawless performances. Boone’s stage presence is also unmatched, as he’s earned

attention for his ability to flip and still keep his voice steady. The songs on Fireworks & Rollerblades sound distinctly like Boone, but their production gives an individuality to each song. The distinct pace and register changes in “Slow It Down” are impressive and reignite the song’s intensity for the last chorus, while some of the sound effects on “Drunk In My Mind” give the impression of confusion and fogginess.

on the songs “drivers license” and “Skin.”

Moving from the past to the present, Carpenter sings about a new lover on one of two lead singles for the album: “Please Please Please.”

“Heartbreak is one thing, my ego’s another / I beg you, don’t embarrass me, motherf—-r,” Carpenter sings.

Keeping with the theme of the last track, “Good Graces” provides some advice to her new boyfriend to keep her around. The track is packed with intoxicating vocals and an ’80s-style R&B-adjacent instrumentation and vibe.

While sonically the track is fun and catchy, the lyrics themselves somewhat fall apart upon close examination. Carpenter paints herself as a toxic lover who threatens her boyfriend by saying she “knows lots of guys” and will leave him if he does something “suspect.”

Over the course of the next two songs, Carpenter describes a boyfriend who “made sure that the phone was face-down” on “Sharpest Tool” and whose “car drove itself from L.A. to [his ex’s] thighs” on “Coincidence”.

While in the past Carpenter may have approached these themes with a piano ballad and whispery vocals, she instead uses clever jabs and upbeat drum lines to keep with the lighthearted tone of the album.

Closing out the first half of the

album is “Bed Chem,” a sexually explicit song rumored to be about her current boyfriend Barry Keoghan. Seemingly pulling inspiration from Ariana Grande, the song sounds like it would fit right in on Grande’s 2020 album Positions

Carpenter puts her own unique spin on the style, however, with her out-of-left-field lyricism that has since gone viral on TikTok.

“Come right on me, I mean camaraderie / Said you’re not in my time zone, but you wanna be / Where art thou / Why not uponeth me,” she sings.

The second half of the album appears, at least initially, to build upon Carpenter’s lyrical wit and lighthearted handling of her love life. “Espresso” quickly became a defining song of the summer when it was released as a single in April 2024. If you had internet access this year, you probably had the song’s riff stuck on a loop in your head.

“I’m working late / ’Cause I’m a singer,” Carpenter sings.

With the exception of “Juno,” a glittery pop counterpart to the sexual energy of “Bed Chem,” the album’s final songs take a sharp left turn from “Espresso.”

While it’s easy to pinpoint which potential ex-lovers Carpenter’s previous songs are about, the last few tracks of Short n’ Sweet are melancholic and mysterious.

“Dumb & Poetic” is full of the lyrical quips found in the first half of the album, but its sweeping acoustic sound and stripped vocals lend a bittersweet feeling to the track. “Lie To Girls” is both an anecdote about a man’s red flags and a vulnerable cry for help, with a sound to match “Dumb & Poetic.”

“I’ve never seen an ugly truth that I can’t bend / To something that looks better / I’m stupid but I’m clever / Yeah I can make a shit show / Look a whole lot like forever,” Carpenter sings on “Lie To Girls.” Carpenter also swerves into a potential attempt at country on this album with the twang-infused “Slim Pickins.” Whether you think the track deserves a real country artist’s touch or not, its lyrics definitely have a twisted Southern charm to them.

“I guess it’s you that I’ll be kissin’ / Just to get my fixins / Since the good ones are deceased or taken / I’ll just keep on moaning and b—-in’,” she sings.

With a runtime of just 36 minutes, Short n’ Sweet lives up to its name. As the last track, “Don’t Smile,” notes, there’s a lot more than sweetness infused into this album.

A smooth piano riff and lo-fi beat play in the song as Carpenter expresses her desire to be missed by listeners and lovers alike, suggesting they “don’t smile because it happened baby / Cry because it’s over.”

& Wolverine’ Is Full of Cameos

Now that Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) can play around with the rest of Marvel’s characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), however, the film heavily relies on cameos and references that might hold the film back for the average viewer.

The film delivers on these high expectations by diving into Fox’s rich catalog of Marvel characters who have never before seen any MCU screen time.

Deadpool & Wolverine had a lot to live up to as the first of Fox’s X-Men franchise properties to officially join the MCU, ever since Marvel bought back the film rights a few years ago.

The problem is, if you haven’t seen some pretty niche Fox Marvel films, you probably won’t grasp the full potential of some of the more exciting moments from Deadpool & Wolverine.

Similarly, the plot of the film is convoluted and full of multiverse plot points that stem from the show Loki but have to be quickly reiterated at the beginning of the film for first time viewers.

In the movie, Deadpool is stopped by the Time Variance Authority—essentially the multiverse police—who tell him his universe will cease to exist without its key hero: Wolverine

(Hugh Jackman). Deadpool’s idea is to steal a Wolverine from a different universe and take him back to his own universe so that it can survive.

This plan hits a bump in the road when both Deadpool and a new Wolverine wind up in “The Void,” a place where relics from different timelines are sent to be disposed of. The Void is ruled by Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), who is feared by most of the people who live there.

When Deadpool and Wolverine come into contact with Nova, they realize they’ll need to defeat her to escape The Void.

Here is where confusion kicks in for people who might not be up to date on Marvel’s extensive lore. The people who Deadpool and Wolverine team up with in The Void are somewhat random legacy characters from

past Fox superhero films. Viewers can’t appreciate their returns if they literally don’t know who they are.

This isn’t like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) showing up in Spider-Man: Homecoming. It’s more comparable to Link being an unlockable character in Mario Kart 8. These are completely different properties mashing together, and it works, but only if you have the prior knowledge to appreciate it.

While Deadpool & Wolverine is undoubtedly a Deadpool movie at heart, it’s also a way to continue Wolverine’s story after his character met an end in 2017’s Logan.

GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

SPORTS

Eagles Demolish Duquesne 56–0

Following Boston College’s comfortable wins over then-No. 10 Florida State and Duquesne, the Eagles are ranked for the first time since 2018, coming in at No. 24 in the nation under Bill O’Brien’s leadership.

Football, from A1

After taking a 21–0 lead on Johnson’s interception return with 13:28 left in the second quarter, the Eagles poured on another 21 points to finish the first half up 42–0. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos lit up Duquesne through the air, going 9-of-10 for 234 yards and four touchdowns in the first two quarters alone.

Under dark and cloudy skies, the Eagles (2–0, 1–0 Atlantic Coast) rode a stellar passing performance by Castellanos and unrelenting defensive pressure on the Dukes (0–2) to their second victory of the season, 56–0.

“Boston is the city of champions,” BC head coach Bill O’Brien said. “Boston loves a winner. I think we have to continue being a team

that people want to come to, and a team that can do things to get fans to watch. We have to try to understand that.”

There were a handful of additional firsts for BC’s roster, which features a slate of new skill players who had yet to play at Alumni Stadium.

On the Eagles’ third offensive drive of the game—already up 7–0, thanks to a three-yard touchdown carry for Treshaun Ward—redshirt freshman Reed Harris turned on the jets for a 72-yard touchdown reception.

The 6-foot-5, 229-pound wideout out of Great Falls, Mont., made an in-cut before accelerating through Duquesne’s Ethon Cole.

Castellanos let it fly to Harris in wide-open space, and he fled into the endzone to put BC ahead by two scores at the end of the first quarter.

North Carolina transfer tight

end Kamari Morales, who holds the Tar Heels’ receiving touchdowns record for tight ends (10), was next on the list.

His four-yard touchdown reception, and first as an Eagle, capped off a seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive during which Castellanos’ arm and vision looked unpreventable.

“I was telling the guys, it’s been a long time since BC football has had a win like this—that huge,” Castellanos said. “That was just on my list.”

Ward collected a pair of touchdowns in the first half as well, consisting of his three-yard run early in the first quarter and a 30-yard touchdown reception at the end of the second that increased BC’s lead to 42–0.

Lewis Bond finally got the flowers he deserved as the Eagles’ priority wideout heading into the season, turning back to haul in a 49-yard

Castellanos dot before Ward’s second touchdown of the game. Bond finished with 98 receiving yards on five receptions and a touchdown.

At the end of the first half, the Eagles boasted a 90 percent catch rate, 350 total yards, 33 total tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss, and one interception returned for a touchdown.

Just two plays into the second half, Jalen Cheek picked off Perrantes for his second interception.

Redshirt freshman Datrell Jones gave the backup unit a touchdown to celebrate with a 47-yard scamper with 4:29 left in the third quarter, and the matchup stayed out of the Dukes’ reach with backup quarterback Jacobe Robinson adding a nine-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth.

The Eagles’ dominance complemented the contagious student energy and resurrection of the Su-

Notebook: Castellanos Leads Eagles to 2–0

By Luke evans Sports Editor

By emiLy RoBeRge Assoc. Sports Editor

Coming off its first top-10 win since 2002 against Notre Dame and its largest such win in program history against Florida State last week, the Eagles entered its matchup against Duquesne with the expectation of winning and winning big.

The now No. 24-ranked team in the country did just that against Duquesne on a cloudy Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Crushing the Dukes 56–0 in their first home game of the 2024 season in Alumni Stadium, the Eagles could not have handled business any better—at least according to most people who watched the game.

“There was a lot that we did well, but I think we can do a lot better,” BC head coach Bill O’Brien said.

That mindset might very well be what has taken the Eagles from a team that barely scraped by FCS powerhouse Holy Cross to a team wiping the floor with an FCS squad in Duquesne in 2024.

Here are three observations

from the Eagles’ performance that launched them into the Associated Press’ top-25.

Setting The Tone Early It did not take long for BC to set the tone of the game. On the second drive of the matchup for the Eagles, BC marched the ball 80 yards down the field to take an early 7–0 lead, never looking back. The drive was highlighted by a 30-yard pass from Thomas Castellanos to Jerand Bradley, a 26-yard pass to Lewis Bond, and a dominant run by Treshaun Ward to finish off a scoring drive of less than three minutes.

The Eagles went on to score again in the first quarter with just over a minute left courtesy of a 72-yard touchdown connection between Castellanos and Reed Harris.

The Eagles pulled away in the second quarter, notching four touchdowns and setting themselves up to cruise to their second win of the season in the second half.

The defense was continuously locking up Duquesne too, with Khari Johnson snagging an interception early in the second quarter and taking it all the way

to the end zone for a pick six.

The Eagles never gave the Dukes a chance to get back in the game in the second half and made it clear they would not stoop to the level of their competition—a trend that’s plauged BC in the past.

Castellanos Unleashes the Cannon After Castellanos threw for just 106 yards against then-No. 10 FSU last week, his arm was on full display on Saturday in front of a home crowd and his legs took a rest.

Castellanos completed 9-of10 pass attempts against the Dukes for 234 yards and four passing touchdowns, now boasting a total QBR of 93.9—which ranks third in the country after Week Two.

Castellanos trails just Joe Fagnano of UConn with a ranking of 97.9 and Cam Ward of Miami with a QBR of 94.9.

Even though Castellanos only threw 10 times, his vision stood out from his performance on Saturday, logging an average of 26 yards per completion.

Compared to Castellanos’ performance against FSU, where he largely used his legs to make

an impact, the game plan was flipped for the matchup against Duquesne.

Castellanos also says he has his mind set on packing Alumni for home games, something that he is well on his way to doing.

“When I first got here, me just going into Conte and seeing the hockey team play, my goal is to pack Alumni like the hockey guys pack out Conte,” Castellanos said. “And that’s been a goal of mine.”

New Eagles Taking Flight

With each new season comes new additions to the Heights, and the newest Eagles are already making a major impact in the 2024 season.

Ward continued his dominance from last week’s performance at FSU and logged 55 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and a 30-yard receiving touchdown.

Ward’s receiving touchdown put the Eagles up by 42 at the end of the second quarter, finding himself wide open over the middle of field, spinning for the catc and diving into the endzone.

Bradley fired up the Eagles’ offense with a play that would set BC up for success. After a Kye Robichaux run that tallied just two yards on the previous play, Bradley came up big in the next play.

Launching the ball deep, Castellanos found his receiver, as Bradley snagged the ball to pick up 30 yards on the play and extend the Eagles’ drive. From then on, BC cut through the secondary like butter.

Finally, O’Brien is shaping up to be BC’s most important addition. His ability to keep his team disciplined and focused on the end goal is taking BC from painful mediocrity to new heights. n

perFan shirt as 38,441 fans packed Alumni.

A wall of yellow-adorned students filled the southwest corner of the stadium in full SuperFan attire, which had been a staple of the BC fan section since 1997 and made a comeback this year.

“Blake James told me 6,000 students at the game—that’s unbelievable,” O’Brien said. “I think if we get students to turn out like that, that’s a huge thing for this program. I think [Alumni Stadium] fits 55,000. Can we get whatever it holds for Michigan State?”

Castellanos wants to fill up Alumni like BC men’s hockey fills up Conte Forum.

“When I first got here, me just going into Conte and seeing the hockey team play, my goal is to pack Alumni like the hockey guys pack out Conte,” Castellanos said. “And that’s been a goal of mine.” n

Duquesne Boston College 0 56

No. 1 Northwestern Defeats No. 17 BC With Late Goal

By arjun rishi Heights Staff

With just five minutes left in the game, it looked like No. 17 Boston College field hockey would take No. 1 Northwestern into overtime. The Eagles were playing strong defense and limiting scoring opportunities for the Wildcats’ attack.

The Wildcats continued to battle, and a late penalty corner led to a goal by forward Ashley Sessa with just over three minutes left on the clock. Northwestern (4–0) escaped with a win over BC (2–2) despite a great defensive effort by the Eagles.

BC’s first opportunity to score came just over three minutes into the game. Midfielder Yani Zhong won a corner, but defender Peyton Hale could not put her shot on target. While the Eagles could not convert on this opportunity, BC’s ability to create chances against the top-ranked Wildcats defense reflected positively on its offense.

Northwestern controlled possession for the rest of the first period with two corners and three shots, but the BC

defense held up. Wildcats midfielders Maddie Zimmer and Ilse Tromp both had opportunities to open the scoring, but the Eagles defense managed to block both of their shots.

The Wildcats’ momentum continued in the second period, but BC goalkeeper Charlotte Kramer made two crucial saves to keep them off the scoreboard.

The most crucial stop came with three minutes left in the half, when Northwestern midfielder Lauren Wadas’ shot was deflected and then kept out of the net by Kramer.

While the Eagles’ defense was keeping them in the game, the offense needed to produce in the second half in order to come up with a victory. BC started the third period by winning a corner, but Hale’s shot was blocked. Eagles defender Elisa Brauel-Jahnke also had an opportunity to break the tie but shot just over the net.

Sessa challenged the Eagles’ defense in the third period, getting off three shots. Although none of them went in, the Wildcats were creating better opportunities to take the lead.

Northwestern still held the ball for the majority of the fourth quarter but was unable to turn its possession into a goal until a late corner. Zimmer found Wadas at the top of the circle and Sessa deflected her long shot into the top

corner of the goal.

The Eagles couldn’t come up with a game-tying goal in the final minutes, and Northwestern held on for the victory. Although BC won just one less corner than Northwestern, the Wildcats dominated

Own Goal Propels Eagles to 1–0 Win

Cal State Fullerton had gone four games without scoring a goal headed into its Sunday afternoon matchup at Boston College women’s soccer.

Just 24 seconds into the match, the Titans finally scored.

Unfortunately for them, they did so on the wrong net.

Ella Richards sent a shot flying toward the goal, which Fullerton goaltender Mia Ranson deflected.

But the ball ricocheted off the front of Jenae Perez and straight

back toward Ranson and this time, into the back of the net.

“I thought we grinded today,”

BC head coach Chris Watkins said.

“It wasn’t a pretty game.”

The Eagles (7–1) rode the lead they were gifted all the way through, ultimately defeating the Titans (2–4) 1–0 to record their fourth shutout of the season.

“I think somehow we relaxed a bit,” Watkins said about his team’s performance after the early goal.

“I actually thought that we settled down and weren’t as anxious to kind of go get a goal after that.”

Fullerton had a chance to tie things up with a penalty kick 32:50 into the match following a foul on

Georgina Clarke.

But Wiebke Willebrandt’s diving save—one of three— preserved the Eagles’ slim lead.

“It was just one of those second games of the weekend grind kind of days and we battled hard, and our goalkeeper came up big,” Watkins said. “Anytime you save a penalty kick, that’s really important.”

Despite Fullerton’s evident offensive struggles, its defensive effort was persistent and effective.

The Eagles got off 10 shots in the first half alone, six of which were on goal.

But none quite hit their target as Ranson and her defense stayed

strong, tallying five saves in the first 45 minutes.

A bright spot in BC’s somewhat quiet offense was Sydney Segalla, who consistently outsprinted her defenders, receiving long passes upfield and applying pressure to Fullerton’s defense.

“She’s a special talent for sure,” Watkins said. “We’ve got to play her right.”

Segalla’s work was nearly rewarded in the 22nd minute when she received a pass on the right side and fired a short shot, but the attempt was quickly blocked to keep it a one-goal game.

“I was a little disappointed in how efficient we were in the offensive half today,” Watkins said.

The Titans blocked eight of the Eagles’ shots, demonstrating the defensive aggressiveness that kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for 89 minutes.

The Eagles were not without their own defensive highlights.

Grace Courter and Clarke combined for a key defensive stop in the Eagles’ defensive zone with about five minutes left in the first half, using their quickness to stop Fullerton from getting a good look at a goal.

A leaping save across the goal in the 83rd minute from Willebrandt cemented the Eagles’ win, improving their record to 7–1 ahead of their first conference matchup on Thursday against Notre Dame. n

Eagles Drop First Match of the Season to Binghamton

By Brendan Mogan Heights Staff

For much of its weekend tournament in Fairfield, Conn., Boston College volleyball was dominant, Boston College Fairfield 3 0 as it had been throughout the early season. On its final Boston College Binghamton 2 3 game on Saturday, though, the Eagles’ commanding run ended as they dropped their first game of the year.

Despite winning the first eight sets of the weekend, BC (5–1) allowed Binghamton (4–3) to win three consecutive sets, stunning the Eagles and handing them their first loss.

The first set of Saturday’s final game was back and forth, with seven tie scores.

BC had a comfortable 18–14 lead midway through the set before Binghamton stormed back, tying it at 21.

From there, a combination of big kills from BC’s hitters and errors by the Bearcats allowed the Eagles to pick up the first set.

Using the momentum from their first set win, the Eagles completely controlled the second set. After an even start to the frame in which the teams found themselves tied at three, the Eagles won three straight points and never looked back.

They ended up winning the set by a score of 25–18. Setter Sophia Lambros tallied six assists in the set, dishing out sets to a variety of BC’s talented hitters. Lambros finished the match with 24 assists and 12 digs.

Needing to win just one more set to complete a perfect weekend, the Eagles got off to a quick start in the third frame, going up 5–1. Binghamton responded with a commanding 15–8 run to take a 16–13 lead over

BC. The Eagles were able to tie the set at 20 before the Bearcats pulled ahead to take the set 25–22.

Outside hitter Halle Schroder racked up five kills in the set for the Eagles, finishing the match with a team-high 22 kills.

The fourth set was once again tight at the beginning, with the Bearcats pulling away at the end. Binghamton went on a 10–5 run to force a fifth set after the Eagles tied the game at 15. Binghamton’s well-rounded attack helped to keep the Eagles on their toes. The Bearcats had four different hitters record eight or more kills in the match.

In the fifth set, played to 15, the Eagles once again found themselves in a strong position to close out the Bearcats. They led 13–10 before Binghamton won five straight points to end the Eagles’ unbeaten run.

Saturday’s first match was a much less stressful experience for

the Eagles, as they found themselves up against a winless team in Central Connecticut State (0–5). BC did not drop a set, making quick work of the

Friday’s match against the tournament hosts Fairfield (2–3) was once again a sweep for the Eagles.

The match was more highly contested, though, with the Eagles winning the sets by a score of 25–21, 25–23, 25–23. Sophomore outside hitter

Blue Devils. Freshman outside hitter Sequoia Layne led the Eagles with eight kills.

Audrey Ross led the Eagles with 12 kills.

The Eagles started their season 3–0 last weekend at the Boston College Invitational taking down Texas Tech, Eastern Kentucky, and Iona. n

the box score. Northwestern ended the game with 15 shots, six of which were on target. BC finished with just five shots, with three coming from Hale. Sessa recorded the most shots in the game, equaling the Eagles’ team total. n

Cal State Fullerton Boston College 0 1

TRISHNA CONDOOR / HEIGHTS STAFF

The Eagles tallied 15 shots compared to the Titans’ 12 shots in Sunday afternoon’s matchup.

Audrey Ross led the Eagles with 12 kills in Friday night’s match.

CALLIE OXFORD / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Soccer, from A1

Boston College Central

The Eagles earned just one fewer corner than Northwestern in Sunday afternoon’s matchup.

MATTHEW MAO / HEIGHTS STAFF