11-11-2021

NEW DISTRICTS, 2

CARBON EMISSIONS, 3

SCANDAL ETHICS, 6

Districts lines get redrawn in Boston, improving accurate representation.

Commercial buildings — what do we do with ones already built?

Does a celebrity who’s done wrong deserve a second chance?

CE LE B RATIN G

THURSDAY, NOV. 11, 2021

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STU D E NT

BASKETBALL’S BACK, 7 Women’s Basketball starts off the season with a win against Lowell.

J O U R NA LI S M

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

YEAR LI. VOLUME C. ISSUE XII

StuGov hears BIG updates, presentation on project organizer for BU initiatives in progress Anna Vidergar Daily Free Press Staff Boston University Student Government heard updates from Boston Intercollegiate Government and a presentation on a spreadsheet to record project proposals for senators to take on in a meeting Monday night.

The first item on the agenda was to discuss updates from BIG, which had been postponed from last week.

Alex Theon, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and a BIG representative, said the organization is developing a proposal calling for colleges in Boston to designate three Mental Health Care Days.

“We found research that shows that from last year, during the height of the pandemic, to now, mental health has not been getting any better for students,” he said. “That’s something that needs to be addressed.”

Theon said BIG representatives met with the Intercollegiate Affairs Director, a BU Mental Health cochair and interested students to receive feedback the committee plans to include as they move forward in

implementing the initiative. working on the proposal. listing different StuGov initiatives The spreadsheet provides inforHe added BIG also recently began Next on the agenda was a pre- and projects currently in the works mation including a given project’s work on forming a group to train BIG sentation of a spreadsheet called the given by Chief of Staff Neha Shabeer, description, current status, what colrepresentatives in Diversity, Equity Project Progress Tracker 2021-22 a junior in CAS. laborators are seeking assistance on and Inclusion and and the point person’s contact ina Free Menstrual formation.

Product Initiative Shabeer said the spreadsheet to provide period aims to increase “transparency, products in public communication and accountability” spaces at BIG membetween StuGov branches. ber institutions.

“I know a lot of times Student One senator said Government can feel a little bit a previously sucdisjointed in terms of not knowing cessful 2018 Stuwhat other things are going on beGov initiative that yond your own … space,” she said. aimed to distribShabeer said senators could use ute free menstrual the spreadsheet to find initiatives products at several to work on, adding that while the locations on BU’s spreadsheet is currently only for campus could serve internal StuGov use, it could poas the framework tentially be made accessible to the for BIG’s current overall student population at a later project. date.

The senator not“I think that if we took out some ed they could share of the nitty-gritty details, we could relevant paperwork make it something that’s accessible and Theon accepted on the government website,” Shathe offer, adding the beer said. “It would be cool for it to documents could be more transparent for people, and be “very helpful” BRIAN SONG | DFP FILE they can literally see what the govThe Boston University Student Government Office. BU Student Government heard Boston Intercollefor BIG members giate Government updates and a presentation on in-progress StuGov initiatives Monday night. ernment is actively working on.”

Government employees fired for noncompliance with COVID-19 protocols employees, the state press office wrote Monday. An additional 362 employees are suspended for a maximum of 10 days due to their noncompliance.

The City of Boston also requires city employees to get vaccinated or tested weekly. Among these employees, 615 of those who frequently interact with vulnerable populations were out of compliance as of Monday, the Mayor’s office wrote.

Then-mayoral candidate Michelle Wu said after Boston University’s Oct. 29 mayoral forum that the City may fire employees who fail to comply with the rules.

“We will need to stand by that mandate of either vaccination or test-

ing,” now Mayor-elect Wu said.

Over 93% of state employees are Samuele Petruccelli compliant with Baker’s vaccine order, his office said Monday.

Taylor Brokesh “The Baker-Polito administration Daily Free Press Staff is encouraged that nearly all active employees in the executive branch have complied with Governor Baker’s executive order,” Terry MacCormack, Hundreds of government workers a spokesperson for the governor, have faced disciplinary action for not wrote in a statement. “The adminiscomplying with mandates to get vactration is making every effort possicinated against COVID-19 or provide ble to work with the small number of weekly test results. employees not yet in compliance and As of Oct. 27, 141 state employis reviewing outstanding exemption ees have quit or been fired for not requests on a rolling basis.” following Governor Charlie Baker’s Wu, who is scheduled to take the Aug. 19th executive order requiring city’s top job in less than a week, said vaccines for Executive Department safety must be a top priority.

“The City of Boston has to lead the way in ensuring that we’re protecting our workforce and the public,” Wu said. “We are still rolling out the vaccination mandate and working with each employee to either close those vaccination gaps or comply with regular testing.”

Over 2,000 Massachusetts workers, or just over 5% of the workforce, fit neither category of compliance, Baker’s office said. As of Oct. 27, these COURTESY OF ED US VIA UNSPLASH A person receiving a vaccine. Over 100 workers have terminated their employment with the Masemployees were sachusetts government for not following Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and awaiting a verdict other preventative protocols.

on applications for exemptions, just had their application denied or were on unpaid leave.

In an interview also Oct. 27, President of the Massachusetts State Police Association Michael Cherven said the state government’s application process caused officers to have outstanding exemption requests too close to the compliance deadline.

“That is a direct result of the administration,” Cherven said. “It’s the administration that dragged their feet, that couldn’t make decisions, they changed the paperwork, they changed the questions, they continuously moved the goal posts on us.”

In a Thursday statement posted on Facebook, the association wrote that a few members who are unvaccinated for medical reasons have received accommodations, but called the resulting restrictions “unfair and unreasonable.” Certain troopers are not allowed to wear uniforms or have contact with the public, for instance, according to the police association.

“This is no way to treat our troopers,” the Facebook statement read.

“They will most likely be hidden away in some office for the remainder of their careers unable to ever work on the road again.”

Cherven added that having to deal with suspended employees causes staffing problems.

“Even if we lost 10 troopers, we are already well below critical staffing,” Cherven said.

Baker’s office said the administration does not anticipate any significant staffing shortages in the immediate future.

The Association wrote in their statement that they are not against

vaccines and are “pro-public safety,” and want unvaccinated officers to mask up and return to work.

Paul Beninger, professor of public health at Tufts University, said there is more widespread resistance to the COVID-19 vaccines than other immunizations.

“What’s different about this one is the politicization of it, and I might even go so far as to say weaponization of it,” Beninger said. “And I think that’s important because it’s not simply a refusal, which is more of a defensive action, it’s actually become an offense.”

State troopers getting vaccinated protects them against COVID-19 in a job with a high risk of transmission, Beninger said. Officers are likely interacting with members of the public they do not know, he said, unlike office workers who engage with familiar groups of coworkers.

“Whether it’s pulling cars over or people on the street or any sites they’re investigating or asking questions about, they don’t know these people,” Beninger said. “So, these folks are probably at the second highest risk behind actual healthcare providers.”

Cherven said he was “first in line” to get the vaccine in January, and encouraged his members to get vaccinated as well.

Lloyd Fisher, Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics president,said speaking with doctors can help resolve fear created by vaccine misinformation.

“We all understand that people may have hesitations,” Fisher said.

“Just ask. Ask a healthcare provider that you trust.”

2 NEWS

Baker approves new district maps increasing majority-minority precincts Jit Ping Lee Daily Free Press Staff Governor Charlie Baker signed into law new maps redistricting the State Senate and House last week in an effort to reflect new census data and improve representation in the legislature.

Drawn up by a Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, the new

maps increase the number of districts with high minority populations, as well as reorganize some Boston neighborhoods like Jamaica Plain.

This year’s Special Joint Committee on Redistricting is co-chaired by State Senator William Brownsberger and State Representative Michael Moran.

All 50 states redraw the boundaries of their electoral districts following the release of the U.S. Decennial Census data. This process is motivated by the need to honor “that concept of ‘one person, one vote,’” Tim Vercellotti, director of the Western New England University Polling Institute and a

professor of political science, said.

“Over a 10-year period, the population will grow and it can also shift,” Vercellotti said. “We want to make sure that each of these districts has a roughly similar amount of people.”

While about a third of residents in Massachusetts are people of color, members of these communities only make up 14% of the State House and 5% of the State Senate, Vercellotti said.

This leads to the need for “majorityminority” districts, which ensure elected representatives are reflective of the diversity of their constituents.

BRIAN SONG | DFP FILE

The Massachusetts State House in Boston. State advocates and policy makers have expressed both approval and concern for Governor Charlie Baker’s redistricting of the State Senate and House of Representatives.

The new map, approved by Baker, increases the number of majorityminority districts in the State House from 20 to 33 and State Senate seats from three to six.

But a majority-minority district does not guarantee the election of a member from a minority community.

Before the redistricting, there were 20 majority-minority districts in the State House, but only 14 members in the 2019-2020 Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.

“Incumbents have an advantage when they run for re-election … they tend to have a positive reputation among their constituents,” said Associate Professor of Political Science at Boston College David Hopkins. “So districts can often be racially diverse and have substantial non-white voter proportions and yet not necessarily predictably elect nonwhite representatives.”

Ensuring districts of an equal population is not the only task the committee faces in deciding how to redraw districts.

“It is also the case that the fair treatment of racial minorities is another judicially imposed consideration,” Hopkins said.

Beyond representation, Vercellotti argues the diversity of a legislature impacts tangible issues as well.

“It can improve the output of the legislature by leading to a wider variety of bills, and potentially laws, that speak to a wider variety of people and their needs.” Vercellotti said.

Kevin Peterson, founder and executive director of the New Democracy Coalition, said he worked with Brownsberger for four months to propose changes to make electing a Black State Senator to the Brockton seat possible.

This culminated in the redistricting of the Second Suffolk District, which

removed the majority-white Jamaica Plains area and added to the district the majority-Black Mattapan area.

The new district now comprises 42.6% Black voters and 26.4% Hispanic voters.

Peterson said he is “extremely pleased” with the outcome of the new State Senate Map. “There’s a sense of relief and pride across the community that this Senate seat has been recreated,” Peterson said. “This time [the next election] we will be electing a new Black senator into the Massachusetts Senate. That is something the entire community is proud about having.”

Policy and Communications Manager at MassVOTE — a nonprofit advocating for increased electoral participation — Alex Psilakis said the organization spent a significant amount of time advocating for the areas of Randolph, Avon and Stoughton to be redistricted into a majority-minority district with Brockton.

The initial map released in October however, split up the three regions, prompting them to push for the district’s redrawing. This included advocating in the press and social media and providing testimony in public hearings.

“The hearings are really really great opportunities for people to speak directly to legislators and tell them exactly what they feel,” Psilakis said.

The district ultimately included Avon and part of Randolph, although Stoughton remained in the Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol district, what Psilakis called a “compromise.”

“That’s disappointing but it gives us something to shoot for in the next 10 years. But we were able to achieve some change,” Psilakis said.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s something to definitely be proud of.”

As Veterans Day approaches, City examines resources for former armed service members Zoe Tseng Daily Free Press Staff

Content warning: mentions of sexual violence With Veterans Day coming up Thursday, the Boston City Council met with Veterans’ Services officials and local veterans to discuss improving services for women veterans specifically during a virtual meeting Tuesday morning.

The meeting was sponsored

by Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards and Councilor Ed Flynn, who chairs the Veterans and Military Affairs committee.

Nearly 7% of veterans in Massachusetts are female, according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics.

“Although women currently comprise of nearly 20% of serving military personnel and 10% of the veteran population, many women veterans do not receive proper recognition for their services and face a host of issues when they reenter civilian life,” the docket reads.

Municipal officials and women who served in the armed forces shared their experiences in the military and the difficulties of transitioning from active duty to civilian life as public testimony.

At the meeting, Edwards shared that the conversation “means so much” because she grew up on military bases, as her own mother is an Air Force veteran.

“There’s something very unique about the families and military base life and a special kind of bond that you have with everybody who’s grown up there,” Edwards said. “But there’s also something especially bonding for those of us who were children of mothers in the military.”

Deputy Commissioner at the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Services Robert Santiago said it “speaks volumes” that every woman who served in the military did so voluntarily.

“They have given their blood, sweat and tears and even their lives to protect our freedoms and our way of life,” he said. “When there was a need they answered the call, now it is incumbent upon us to return the call in their time of need.”

One-fourth of women veterans experience military sexual trauma during service, according to City of Boston data. Women are twice as likely to commit suicide compared to male veterans.

Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli, Massachusetts Veterans’ Service Officers Association President and Director of the Veteran Services Department for the town of Winthrop, said she experienced MST during her service in the United States Army and now hopes to bring more awareness to the needs of female military vets.

“I had a bad experience with my MST claim. I haven’t been able to sit down and redo it because I was told I was law enforcement and I should’ve known better,” she said. “That hit me hard.”

Massachusetts Women’s Veterans Steering Committee member and veteran Marydith Tuitt spoke on the difficulties of finding a job after

leaving service during the council hearing.

Tuitt said employers would either tell her she was underqualified for a job without a college degree, despite her experience as a jet mechanic in the military.

“I was treated differently because I was a woman of color. I was treated differently because I was a woman.

So that’s two hits right there,” Tuitt said. “I had to prove myself over other women that were in my shop.”

Even as a veteran, Tuitt said she faced discrimination because of her race and gender, and she was often not recognized as a service member.

“I think we should have something that says ‘proudly she served’ because I have a veteran plate and when I park my car and get out of my car, people say ‘Tell your husband thank you for his service,’” Tuitt said.

Years after coming out of active service, Trionfi-Mazzuchelli said in an interview she still struggles with her transition from a strict, regimented environment into civilian life.

“There are times that my kids still tell me that ‘You’re not in the army anymore, Mom,’ and I have to take a step back because I expect things done a certain way and in a certain timeframe,” she said. “When things don’t happen that way, it’s very frustrating.”

National consultant with the Women’s Veterans Network Carole Corchado — who was not a participant in the council meeting — said it’s harder for women veterans to utilize their network because they often have to take care of their homes and families when they reenter civilian life.

“When you get out, you’re so

involved with all the things like trying to get your resume, get a job that by the time you realize that you’ve fallen into that rabbit hole, it’s been a year and then you’re thinking ‘Wow, what’s happened? Where are my sister veterans?,’” Corchado said.

Corchado said she thinks the VA should improve outreach to women veterans.

Carolyn Mason Wholley, woman veterans program manager for Veteran Affairs Boston, said at the meeting her office works to provide comprehensive services such as gynecology, mammography and other radiology care to over 4,000 women veterans a year.

Boston’s VA office has been working to reform the perception that women are not veterans over the last 10 years, Mason Wholley said in an interview.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work on culture change, which means

really trying to change the perception of who is a veteran, who served, who deserves what resources, what benefits,” she said. “I tend to have more difficulty convincing a woman veteran that she is eligible and worthy of benefits that are out there.”

Housing for homeless women veterans can be less attainable, while Mason Wholley said more women are showing up to shelters with their children.

To better recognize their service and offer more resources, Edwards said at the hearing the City will continue listening and meeting with women veterans.

“I think the greatest thing we can do is acknowledge the patriotism, the bravery of all of our soldiers and I think as a City of Boston, we’re going to lead and we’re going to do just that,” Edwards said. “That means also dealing with the harder truths of what it means to serve.”

SOPHIE PARK | DFP FILE

Boston City Hall. Boston City Council met with Veterans’ Services officials and female veterans in a virtual meeting Tuesday morning to discuss improving women veteran resources in light of Veterans Day this Thursday.

FEATURES 3

COMMUNITY

OPENER SPOTLIGHT: BLACKSTARKIDS bring vibrant, electric hip-hop support for beabadoobee Isabel Chambers Daily Free Press Staff Performing at Royale nightclub in Downtown Boston in front of a sold-out crowd, indie band BLACKSTARKIDS lit up the venue with an electric set before turning the stage over to singer Christian Leave and headliner beabadoobee.

BLACKSTARKIDS — a trio from outside of Kansas City consisting of TyFaizon, Deiondre and TheBabeGabe — dropped their fourth album last month “Puppies Forever.” The vibrant 12-track record is reminiscent of early alternative rock bands of the 2000s with muted vocals, synthy guitars and bouncy drums.

The band’s creative direction with “Puppies Forever” was inspired by the movies and shows the three consumed throughout the years, the band members said.

Deiondre said watching films by indie entertainment company A24 such as “Lady Bird” and other coming-of-age movies such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” inspired their songwriting.

“We wanted the album to feel a bit more grounded in reality,” Deiondre said in an interview.

Working over the span of a few months last winter, the three

of them moved between their shared house and an Airbnb for the songwriting process.

“We were just getting drunk, and writing songs, and then getting drunk again, and then writing some songs,” TyFaizon said.

He explained that each of them would write on their own before coming back to collaborate on one song.

“It all comes together to make one product,” he said.

The album sparks with a mixture of hip-hop beats, slick vocals backed by electronic synth pieces and futuristic chords popcorned with lyrics of pop culture references. Deiondre described the album as “existential, fun, colorful.”

“Overall though, it feels good to listen to,” Deiondre said. “Colorful and bright.”

That’s exactly what Friday’s show at the Royale turned out to be. Spotlights danced to the beat, strobes swung across the crowd, and, in the case of their nostalgic indie-rock song “ALL COPS ARE BASTARDS*,” the bulbs flashed blue and red like a police car siren. The heavy rock guitar and blasting drums further energized the crowd.

“When we were [performing] ‘ACAB,’ that was probably our best reaction to the song,” Deiondre said after the show. “The people out there were really receptive.”

This energy began with their opening track, a smashing, echoey piece off their 2020 album “SURF” titled “SOUNDS LIKE FUN.” It’s a brief two minutes of

a verse and chorus, yet their assertion of the line “think I wanna be a superstar” 30 seconds in previewed the rest of their set.

BLACKSTARKIDS smoothly transitioned into their second high-powered track, a rich rock song off of their new album “JIMMY NEUTRON.” With the excitement from the first track merging with their next, the crowd was eager to hear more.

They cooled down with their third piece, “FRANKIE MUNIZ,” a groovy, airy track that felt like a refreshing road trip by the beach.

Halfway through, TheBabeGabe conducted the audience to sway their arms to the beat and enjoy the band’s performance while awash in a magenta glow.

BLACKSTARKIDS played seven songs from their handful of album releases, proving their versatility in a range of genres and highlighting their musical inspirations. “FIGHT CLUB” leaps off from the first beat with a futuristic synth-pop background track and smooth rapping from TheBabeGabe, while “TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN” uses a funky sound clip in the background which sounded similar to the recognizable sounds of pop band MGMT, which the band says is an inspiration.

Following the second opener Christian Leave, beabadoobee’s act was warmly welcomed onto the stage by the crowd. She hopped directly into a smooth strumming piece off her 2019 EP “Space Cadet,’’ titled “Sun More Often” that

begins slow then warms up with having fun. It’s a super interactive drums reminiscent of Death Cab experience, just having that many for Cutie tracks. Next she began people look at you.”

“Care,” the first track off her 2020 TheBabeGabe said that debut album “Fake It Flowers.”

BLACKSTARKIDS have “so With powerful, clear instru- much future” ahead of them. ments, rumbling guitar and “We just learned that everydrums, and a colorful lighting thing’s gonna be okay,” TheBabedesign, her performance struck Gabe said about putting the newa chord with the audience who est album together. “At the end, rolled with the emotion of the when you have this amazing song song. The way the band collabo- you just made, you realize some of rated is heard clearly, and beaba- these problems don’t really matter doobee also interacted directly because I’m in the room with my with the audience who threw gifts best friends.” up to her between songs.

The group is focused on finBLACKSTARKIDS is steadi- ishing their current tour before ly growing into a revolutionary working on a new project, but indie band. After touring with they have ultimate goals for the indie-rock band Glass Animals future. earlier this fall, they’ve been on “To be legends,” TheBabeGabe the road with beabadoobee and said. “Be something people talk have shows lined up with her un- about forever, be an inspiration til early December. Performing at for not just Black kids, well, defithis scale on a cross-country tour nitely for Black kids, but for anyhas been new for the group, yet it’s body who can relate to us.” allowed them to visit new cities and perfect their concerts.

Deiondre mentioned that the nerves never really disappear.

“There’s this pit in your stomach feeling with each show, no matter how many times we perform,” he said. “As soon as we start our first song, we’re just VISHVA VENKATESAN | DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF kind of on autopiBLACKSTARKIDS opening for beabadoobee at Royale lot and we’re just nightclub Friday night.

SCIENCE

Experts discuss decarbonization of existing commercial buildings Emily Pauls Daily Free Press Staff Experts discussed how to decarbonize existing commercial buildings in a webinar hosted by the Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy on Friday.

“Decarbonization of Existing Commercial Buildings” webinar was a part of the Institute for Sustainable

Energy of the Future Webinar Series, and discussed decarbonization — meaning to reduce carbon emissions.

The event was the first of a two-part series and featured four panelists and a keynote speaker. Part 1 focused on the technical aspects, and Part 2 will be about policy and financial issues of decarbonizing buildings.

“A major issue that the United States and the world faces is how do we decarbonize the emissions from our existing commercial buildings,” Michael Gevelber, a panelist and associate professor in the College of

Engineering, said in an interview.

He said Boston University as well as Boston as a whole aim to achieve total decarbonization by 2050 and that decarbonizing buildings play a big role in this feat.

David Nemtzow, Building Technologies Office Director of the U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, discussed the importance of decarbonizing the nation’s buildings and how the DOE is leading this initiative in the keynote address.

“This is one of the most complex

COURTESY OF GERALD SIMMONS VIA FLICKR

Two smokestacks. The Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy hosted the first webinar of a two-part series Friday to discuss how to decarbonize existing commercial buildings.

energy and environmental issues that we face,” Nemtzow said about decarbonization.

Nemtzow said that buildings currently consume 39% of U.S. energy and contribute 35% of the United States’s CO2 emissions.

Panelist Kurt Roth, senior fellow at the BU Institute for Sustainable Energy, discussed the decarbonization of small and midsize buildings at the event.

Roth talked about “package rooftop units” that are “populating the roofs of big box retail stores in the vast majority of small, medium-sized buildings.” He explained that these are cheaper options but are faulty due to the lack of maintenance.

“There just aren’t cold climate heat pump products that can be dropped in to replace them, they don’t really exist at any kind of scale in the marketplace today,” Roth said.

There are multiple things people can do to increase the efficiency of rooftop units, he added.

“Reduce the amount of outdoor air you take into the building,” Roth said.

“You can also do things like onboard fault detection diagnostics. There’s some products out there which help with that, although there could be much more of that done and more faults addressed by those kinds of products.”

Panelist Gayatri Sundar Rajan, a senior in the College of Engineering and Campus Climate Lab researcher, said she presented one of the research talks about decarbonization of large commercial buildings.

“The idea is that if you can

decarbonize or reduce the carbon emissions of the sector, then you can significantly improve the sustainability of your campus,” she said in an interview, pointing to how buildings contribute to roughly 40% of gas emissions on campus.

Sundar Rajan shared what her research team has discovered while looking to decarbonizing BU. In her research, Sundar Rajan found that heat pumps are more efficient but more expensive than boilers, so her team came up with a hybrid system.

“What we’re able to do here is we’re able to reduce the capital cost of our total retrofit while maintaining the thermal comfort throughout the year,” Sundar Rajan said in the panel.

Panelist Mike Walters, a principal at the engineering firm Salas O’Brien, talked about developing systems to decarbonize on a large scale.

Walters showed some examples of various locations that the firm has helped implement decarbonization projects: Ball State University, Ford Motor Company and Miami University in Ohio.

Ball State University is “100% a ground source heat pump conversion project.” The system spans 47 buildings, and they are halfway toward their goal of decarbonizing the campus within the next 10 years.

The panelists answered audience questions throughout the webinar and after the presentations.

“I hope the audience understands how accessible heating electrification is and how it can be customized to a given building and a given community’s needs,” said Rajan.

4 EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL Colleges do not ‘have a guy problem’ — despite what The Atlantic wants you to think Over the last few months, news outlets have been awash with coverage on the trend of men abandoning college. A viral September 2021 Wall Street Journal article reported a significant decline in men’s attendance to college, the article headlined with a photograph of a pensive white man. The Wall Street Journal analysis reported that colleges saw a 1.5 million student decrease in the last five years, with 71% of this decrease being men.

But women have earned more bachelor’s degrees than men since 1982. Recent news coverage on the decline of male enrollment in college may speak more to societal anxieties about the increased educational access for women and people of color than provide any substantial insight of the gender divide in this country.

Reporting on this phenomenon frames this gender disparity as a serious problem. The Wall Street Journal said there is “no reversal is in sight” for this trend, with experts claiming men were “‘falling behind remarkably fast.’” The Atlantic framed the college gender disparity as a deep-rooted issue that furthers the disintegration of the American family as men fall into “‘haphazard’” lives.

One expert interviewed for The Atlantic emphasized the high stakes of this problem, quoted as saying “My biggest worry is that by the time policymakers realize that gender inequality in college is a problem, we’ll have hit a point where college will seem deeply effeminate to some men in a way that will be hard to undo,” going on to say, “That’s why we need both par-

ties to offer a positive vision of college and a positive vision of masculinity. If male identity is seen, by some, as being at odds with education, that’s a problem for the whole country.”

This quote, which went by uncontested by The Atlantic reporter, is ridiculous. Rather than creating legislative measures to make college seem more “masculine,” shouldn’t men be able to unpack their irrational fear and dislike of all things feminine?

This quote speaks to the issues with the narrative that men are rapidly being pushed out of college.

First, the arguments quoted in these articles are deeply rooted in biological gender essentialism. The Atlantic article cites a study that claims that girls get higher grades than boys because of “their superior self-control and ability to delay gratification.” The Wall Street Journal stated social scientists attribute “cases of overdiagnosis of boyhood restlessness and related medications” as a partial cause for men not attending college.

These studies pretend gender has a biological basis that can dictate our entire personhood and capabilities, which science has proven, time and time again, is a construct that does not actually exist. These studies also dismiss the existence of transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people.

The biological explanations provided in The Atlantic and Wall Street Journal articles do not stand within the constructs of their own argument. If women have a biological advantage be-

cause their “brains mature faster than boys,” why haven’t they always been the majority on college campuses? Why is it only now that women are allegedly overtaking men in higher education?

A more observable answer is that most women couldn’t attend college or other higher education institutions up until the 19th century. In the United States, Most colleges were not co-educational until the 20th century. Would it be so ludicrous to imagine removing educational barriers could increase the number of women at schools?

This speaks to the second issue with the Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic articles — they simply do not consider other societal factors that may be at play here.

The increasing cost of college, compounded with the awful state of the job market and the economy post-recession and pandemic are significant factors contributing to the decrease of college student enrollment.

One man interviewed for the Journal article repeatedly mentions that finances are a big reason why he is not attending college. The Atlantic article even acknowledges that the perilous state of the job market and the economy make college all the more unattainable.

The cost of college is astronomical. This is an issue that does not only affect men.

Moreover, the articles do not consider the intersectional dimensions of this issue. The Atlantic article cites higher incarceration rates for men as a sign that men are increasingly living “‘haphazard’” lives, without any mention of race. Black men are disproportionately likely

to be incarcerated due to the racist foundations and construction of the criminal justice system.

This issue is very different from a white man not attending college because he feels lost.

Race, disability and financial status are just some of the key factors that may be at play, and yet, nothing other than gender is being substantially addressed or analyzed within these articles.

Much of the rhetoric demonstrated within these two articles is very similar to the language used by men’s rights groups. Men’s rights groups often misuse statistics — like incarceration rates — to deny the existence of structural misogyny and inequality.

The reality of the situation may be more complex than these articles are making it out to be. It is not necessarily that men no longer have a path to college, but rather, that with the increasing visibility of women and people of color attending college, higher education and success no longer seems like a guarantee — although studies have shown that it very much is.

Rather than framing this as an issue of men lagging behind, consider addressing systemic issues of financial inequality. Making college affordable, and forgiving student loans across the country, would help everyone — including men — have easier access to higher education.

These are realistic solutions to real problems.

How about we start there, and stop writing meandering think pieces that sound like they came out of a bad stand-up routine from the ’80s.

ILLUSTRATION BY SMARAN RAMIDI

EDITORIAL BOARD Lily Kepner, Editor-in-Chief Madhri Yehiya, Campus Editor

Emma Sánchez, Managing Editor Sabine Ollivier-Yamin, Opinion Editor Isabella Abraham City Editor

Sonja Chen, Sports Editor

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COLUMNS 5

OPINION Bubble Burst:

Queerbaiting versus privacy Lydia Evans Columnist The private life of celebrities is non-existent.

Fans and haters alike have grown to feel entitled to every aspect of their public figure of choice.

Especially with the rise of social media, the line between personal and shared knowledge has become blurred. Celebrities themselves have had a split approach to dealing with such invasion.

Beyoncé, for example, has elected to shy away from the limelight altogether, known for her aversion to interviews. Others, however, such as the Kardashian family, have embraced such private insight, inviting viewers in to see it all. Regardless of a celebrity’s approach to fame, there are certain things celebrities keep to themselves. But at what point does withholding personal information turn into a case of deception?

These questions come to the forefront when discussing the idea of queerbaiting. Whilst speculation into a celebrity’s sexuality is not new, the added discourse of queerbaiting is.

According to Dictionary.com, queerbaiting is the implication of non-heterosexual relationships as a means to engage or attract an LGBTQ+ audience without explicit LGBTQ+ representation. Though the definition implies queerbaiting as a device used more often in fictional mediums, recently fan spaces have used the term to characterize celebrities.

Harry Styles is a popular British musician who became well known for his allyship to the LGBTQ+ community. This was emphasized following the December 2020 Vogue issue, which featured him as the first man to appear alone on a Vogue cover. For the cover photo, Styles wore a dress. As a cisgender man, this fashion choice was an intentional attempt to break gender norms and subvert expectations of masculinity.

For night one of Harryween, Style’s twonight Halloween 2021 concert special held at

Madison Square Garden, Styles dressed as Dorothy from the classic film “The Wizard of Oz.”During the concert, he encouraged fans to take the night as an opportunity to be the truest versions of themselves; the version they may not be able to adorn daily.

For years, fans have begun to speculate over his sexuality. Beyond the aforementioned subversion of gender norms, Styles has chosen to perform an unreleased song entitled “Medicine” during numerous concerts. Medicine features the lyrics “The boys and the girls are here, I mess around with him. And I’m okay with it.”

Despite these hints at a queer identity, the singer has never publicly stated his sexuality.

Because of this, allegations of exploiting the LGTBQ+ community have arisen. Fans have questioned Style’s motives in keeping his sexuality ambiguous. Is he utilizing bisexual aesthetics to attract attention and seem edgier, or is genuinely expressing himself?

Back in 2019, Styles was quoted in an interview with The Guardian responding to queerbaiting concerns. “Am I sprinkling in nuggets of sexual ambiguity to try and be more interesting? No… I want things to look a certain way.

Not because it makes me look gay, or it makes me look straight, or it makes me look bisexual, but because I think it looks cool … I just think sexuality’s something that’s fun. Honestly? I can’t say I’ve given it any more thought than that.”

A notable example of queerbaiting recently brought into the national stage centered around Billie Eilish, who faced backlash following the release of her single and music video “Lost Cause.” Like Styles, Eilish’s sexuality has been the topic of discussions and her music video, featuring several girls dancing together, was perceived by fans as an exploitation of women loving women relationships. Eilish also added to the controversy by posting behind-the-scenes photos from the music video on Instagram with the caption ‘I love girls.’

Here is when the question of queerbaiting

versus privacy begins. The choice not to publicly disclose one’s sexuality is considered valid until celebrities are brought into the conversation.

Most people who are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community are incredibly understanding of an individual’s inability to publicly identify, whether it be for safety concerns or just wanting to wait till the moment is right. But the public’s inability to conceive celebrities as real people twists this thinking. Even people who support that ideology for the ‘average joe’ are quick to turn against public figures for doing the same.

We must keep the same energy toward celebrities that we would toward a stranger on the street by respecting their right to express and talk about their sexuality as they like. I purposefully say stranger rather than a friend because you shouldn’t have to be close with someone to respect their right to privacy.

The author of the popular gay love story “Love, Simon” was forced to come out as bisexual after being accused of exploitation.

While society should hold those responsible for exploiting LGBTQ+ communities accountable, it’s essential we not mistake a lack of information for a willing lie or deceit.

Despite visible progress in terms of equal marriage and more representation of LGBTQ+ narratives and identities, homophobic and transphobic violence is still a real threat. Countless LGBTQ+ people have faced violent, and sometimes fatal, repercussions after being outed.

Celebrities do not owe the public an explanation of how they identify. Especially in the case of Styles, this treatment discourages allyship and promotes the idea one can’t care about a community they aren’t directly associated with. So often, snap judgment from the public harms celebrity reputations, and while the act of canceling is fair when used correctly, the possibility of damaging one’s livelihood off a hunch is dangerous.

Though it may be hard to imagine, the celebrities you look up to are the same as you, obviously richer and possibly hotter, but at the core, people. People have emotions, and those emotions are valid regardless of status. The sexuality of Harry Styles, or anybody for that matter, is not something that is owed to the public.

Regardless of how one identifies the product of your activism isn’t wholeheartedly dependent on your willingness to display private detail to the world.

ILLUSTRATION BY YVONNE TANG

Wear Me This:

Sabyasachi’s ad didn’t work, here’s why Sujena Soumyanath Columnist If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you’ll no doubt have realized that internet troll Trisha Paytas has a new persona: the Hindu yogi. Considering the multitude of identities she’s cycled through, Trisha’s next new “lifestyle” shouldn’t have taken me by surprise, but let’s just say three minutes of Trisha chanting “Hare Kreeshna Hare Ramma” on TikTok wasn’t exactly the Diwali surprise I was looking for. On the bright side, this ‘Trisha X Hinduism’ collaboration’s convergence with the Hindu festival of lights creates the perfect backdrop to discuss an important development in Indian fashion: Sabyasachi’s Mangalsutra campaign.

I know “Sabyasachi” and “Mangalsutra” might sound like ambiguous Harry Potter spells, so let me provide some context. Sabyasachi Mukherjee is one of the biggest fashion and jewelry designers in India today, known for his revolutionarily subversive design and somewhat less subversive, maybe-I-don’t-needa-new-Indian-outfit prices. For those who aren’t deterred by the costs — basically every nepotism-borne Bollywood actress ever — Sabyasachi outfits seem to have become a second skin.

The second term, Mangalsutra, refers to a necklace originating in the 6th century A.D. worn by married Hindu women to signify their marital status. Symbolizing the unbreakable union between husband and wife, the auspicious thread forms a vital part of the important Hindu tradition of tying the Mangalsutra during the marriage ceremony.

Enter Sabyasachi, in all his overpriced cotton sari, selectively diverse novelty. His plan to market the traditional chain as part of a hyper-modern, Calvin Klein-style inclusive cam-

paign seems straight out of an ambitious Ad Club pitch, sure to empty the wallets of socially progressive and culturally traditional elites. Except it didn’t.

Sabyasachi’s attempt to address the heteronormative and puritanical aspects of Hindu marriage through a risqué campaign featuring models in undergarments occasionally hugging

As an American, the thought of a hypothetical analogous situation, like, I don’t know, Mitch McConnell threatening criminal punishment on the 2018 Met Gala for its weird fetishization of Catholicism, feels so bizarre that I can’t help but meet the Sabyasachi backlash with some degree of incredulity. As an Indian, however, I can understand the outcry.

ILLUSTRATION BY YVONNE TANG

or leaning on each other angered many Hindus.

From angry tweets to suggestions of the correct way to advertise a Mangalsutra — placed modestly over a sari, of course — it was evident that many Indians considered the campaign a Trisha Paytas-like adulteration of Hindu culture.

The crusade to save Mangalsutra morality culminated in an official statement from the Bharatiya Janata Party, India’s ruling Hindu nationalists, enacting a 24-hour ultimatum to Sabyasachi to withdraw the advertisement or face statutory action. Sabyasachi obliged, but not before expressing sadness that his message of “inclusivity and empowerment” had caused offense.

The Mangalsutra holds such meaningful long-standing tradition that associating it with nudity and intimacy cheapens the beautiful symbol and its complexity. Is vulgarity really the only attractive selling point of the auspicious thread? Despite these concerns, however, I believe Sabyasachi’s ultimate motive — to make the idea of marriage more inclusive through the inclusion of same-sex couples and darker-skinned models — is commendable.

In my opinion, Sabyasachi’s main mistake was applying a Western model of inclusivity to an Eastern audience.

In the United States, a Tiffany & Co. neck-

lace does not have centuries of tradition behind it forming lasting loyalty to its religious values — though its price may inspire similar feelings of awe. As a result, creating inclusivity in the culture of Tiffany wearers requires, say, the firing of directors who have let loose a few too many microaggressions to be attributed to being a boomer, and some strategic diversity in advertising campaigns.

In other words, these optics could provide American eyes relief from the constant barrage of Kate Moss replicas in fashion. And though this process may feel superficial because there is no complex tradition behind the jewelry, rebranding its image doesn’t chafe against any established values.

For Sabyasachi, this add-some-diversity-and-nudity campaign failed to make Hindu marriage and the Mangalsutra more inclusive because it didn’t actually address the rich culture behind it. Additionally, the norm of seeing nudity as an artistic choice rather than a form of disrespect exists only within a limited, privileged and Western sphere. Though unfortunate that bodies continue to be so widely stigmatized, Sabyasachi should have realized that an Indian audience would not respond in the same way to nudity, especially in association with a religious symbol.

If you ask me, it’s high time Hindu culture became more inclusive and accepting, especially surrounding marriage and relationships.

However, Mahatma Gandhi didn’t go on 18 different fasts for us to continue looking to the West for change.

India has always been a place of dynamism and diversity. Tapping into its own culture and traditions at a human level, therefore, could be a much better starting point for shifting people’s mindsets than attempting to fit the mold of corporate Western “inclusivity.

6 LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE Does Olivia Jade deserve a second chance?

Grace Knoop Daily Free Press Staff

Life is all about second chances. People make mistakes, and they should be able to learn from them to become better. But when your major stumble ends up on the front page of the majority of newspapers in the world, that second chance becomes a harder reality to grasp.

Olivia Jade was at the forefront of the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal in 2019. The scandal put multiple wealthy families in the limelight after the FBI found that these families were bribing prestigious universities for their children to be admitted.

Remember those staged rowing pictures? Who knew all you had to do was to pose on a boat and then you would be on your way to the University of Southern California? As long as there was a hefty check attached to it, your spot would be guaranteed.

Since 2019, Jade — a social media influencer — has been trying to bounce back and rebrand her image. She first took nearly a year off of social media to begin her rebrand. Her parents went through legal battles because of their roles in the

admissions scandal.

Her mother Lori Loughlin, known for her part in the shows “Full House” and “A Mother’s Rage,” was sentenced to two months, while Jade’s fashion designer father, Mossimo Giannulli, was released early from his original five-month sentence.

She started off her comeback with a Youtube video, “hi again,” and then appeared for her first interview on the Facebook show, Red Table Talk, hosted

by Jada Pinkett Smith along with her daughter Willow and mother Adrienne ILLUSTRATION BY CONOR KELLEY | DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF Banfield Norris. On YouTube clip of Olivia Jade dancing the Paso Doble on Dancing With the Stars. Since her affiliation with the “Operation Varsity Blues” the show, Jade made A college admissions scandal, Jade has been working to rebrand her image. it clear that she was apologetic and and even her partner admitted on went by, Jade just kept showing hard — something that makes a wanted to become a better person. Jade’s recent podcast that he was up. She works hard, she’s difference for me.

Jade has continued posting left uneasy at first. fun to watch and her partner People make mistakes, but in effort to rebrand herself from As a Dancing with the Stars fan, Chmerkovskiy has become a some are bigger than others. Jade that privileged girl that the world I was surprised by their choice to solid cheerleader for her. As a was involved in a big mistake that knew her as. Most recently, she include her onto the cast and was viewer, I can tell that he believes infuriated the nation. She was the was added onto the season 30 selfishly annoyed that she was in her, which likely plays into the poster child for privilege and has cast of “Dancing with the Stars” paired with Chmerkovskiy. But in votes that kept her on for so long. a long road ahead of her to gain where she was partnered with regards to Dancing with the Stars, Jade was eliminated in the back any type of respect. my favorite pro-dancer, Val it was the smartest move they quarter-finals Monday night, But if she is gaining the respect Chmerkovskiy. could have made. People may not along with Jimmie Allen. of Chmerkovskiy, then maybe she I was initially frustrated with want to watch Jade on the show, If Jade made it that far, does has a chance to show the world her addition to the cast. It seemed but fans like me were still going that mean she is starting to get that she is more than the fake, to me that she was profiting off to tune in for Chmerkovskiy. that second chance? Week after privileged rower that we saw in the scandal to get on television, As the weeks of competition week she showed up and worked Operation Varsity Blues.

The Song of Achilles: LGBTQ+ literature done the right way depiction of love and passion, coupled with natural but complex character development, makes for a gripping read.

Many would classify this novel as typical LGBTQ+ literature because after all, the two main characters are in a same-sex relationship. But having read my fair share of LGBTQ+ romance, I picked up on a pivotal difference between this novel and so many others I have consumed, and it helped me realize that there is a serious issue within the genre.

I am a strong advocate for raising awareness about the community through literature, but I’ve come to realize there is a right way to do it and a wrong

way. My grievance isn’t with the stories classified in this way, but more so in the classification and label itself. Much of the contemporary LGBTQ+ literature we are exposed to today makes being gay the only thing the book is about.

Take the book-turned-movie “Love, Simon.” It revolves around how Simon is forced out of the closet and how he deals with the fallout of that as he explores a relationship with a mystery boy online.

The story is painfully onedimensional. Its only notable plot point is Simon’s sexuality to the point where it feels like the overly-politicized nature of

the plot is doing the LGBTQ+ community a painful injustice.

Like in this story, it seems Eden Mor like authors often focus so much Daily Free Press Staff on the same-sex nature of the relationship that it no longer feels like a relationship at all, with a lack of emotional development or true exploration of the characters’ This past week, I read “The connection.

Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller’s story is nothing like Miller, and I have a lot to say. that at all. One of the ways she The novel is a fictitious retelling brilliantly achieves this is through of the classic Greek myth of the interweaving of an ancient tale Achilles and his companion and with a romance often overlooked. rumored lover, Patroclus. Miller Gay people didn’t just happen to tells the story of their love through show up in the past 100 years. The the eyes of Patroclus, spanning LGBTQ+ community has always from childhood to adulthood in existed throughout history, with a lyrical writing style. The raw literature failing to acknowledge their existence.

But Miller rebuilds a tale as old as time with a love story at the core, making it feel no different from any other love story as she weaves their love into history.

Similarly, Achilles and Patroclus’s love story largely exists in secret, just focusing on them and not the surrounding society, which allows the author to delve into the true raw beauty of their connection, one unlike any romance I have ever read.

The story begins with Patroclus experiencing feelings of attraction toward his friend Achilles, though unable to recognize them for what they were. He marvels ILLUSTRATION BY CONOR KELLEY | DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF at Achilles’ beauty and “The Song of Achilles” cover. Eden reviews author Madeline Miller’s novel, a retelling of the Greek myth of Achilles which centers on grace. The line between the romance between the man and his rumored lover, Patroclus. “The Song of Achilles” cover. Eden reviews author Madeline Miller’s friendship and romance novel, a retelling of the Greek myth of Achilles which centers on the romance between the man and his rumored lover, Patroclus.

is quickly crossed and the two explore their connection in the seclusion of the forest, unveiling a lifelong bond without outside influences and judgment.

Having grown up together, their souls become intertwined.

Miller gracefully depicts the way two people can love so strongly that they nearly mesh into one being, making you feel that they were always just two halves of a whole. But she still maintains their individuality — Achilles is a strong demi-god on a quest for fame and Patroclus is a gentle and kind healer. They love each other for their differences, having been together through every hardship of their young lives.

It is important to note that the love story isn’t the only thing happening in “The Song of Achilles.” The characters grapple with war, fame, immortality and the loss of humanity. It serves as a great example of LGBTQ+ representation in that it approaches and treats gay romance the same way straight romance would be written about.

There is so much more besides their sexuality that makes this book great.

All this being said, there is still a scary amount of stigma surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. As a person who has been influenced by literature more than anything else in their life, I believe words can help spread the awareness the community deserves. But words are powerful, and must be used carefully and correctly.

All in all, I’m inclined to believe that this book will become a modern classic, and so I urge you to give it a try, no matter who you are. It might surprise you.

SPORTS 7

SPORTS

Women’s basketball routs Lowell in season opener Chloe Patel Daily Free Press Staff The Boston University women’s basketball team defeated the University of Massachusetts Lowell Riverhawks 76-47 in Tuesday night’s season opener, earning new head coach Melissa Graves her first win as a Terrier basketball coach.

“Getting that first win is always the goal. You really want to make a statement,” junior guard Sydney Johnson said in a postgame press conference.

“We kind of put our league on notice that, even though we have a new head coach, we’re still gonna come out, play hard, play as a team. We’re still going to carry over the success we had from last year.”

Twelve players on the Terriers’ roster accumulated minutes, and 11 of those players scored. Leading the pack was Johnson, who finished the night with 13 points and a team-leading five steals. Directly following Johnson in points, redshirt senior guard Emily Esposito scored 11 of them, including nine from 3-pointers and two from free throws.

“We have a different style of play, but I think we’ve really taken that in stride,” Esposito said in a postgame press conference. “We enjoy sharing the ball, and everyone’s contributing.

I think that’s a testament to Coach [Graves] and the offense she’s put in, so very proud and honored to be a part of that [first win].”

The Riverhawks generated some offense but were not able to get the ball in the net often, only scoring 10 points to the Terriers’ 25 in the third quarter. They found themselves down 57-40 at the end of the third.

The Terriers maintained pressure

on the Riverhawks, utilizing a newly implemented press, and rebounded 41 times — 11 of which were offensive and 30 that were defensive — throughout the game to earn the win.

“We have an unselfish culture, and

when we share the basketball, we look really, really good,” Graves said in a postgame press conference. “It was a total team effort.”

As the Terriers secured a double-digit-point cushion with three

minutes left in the third quarter, the Case Gym crowd roared a little more than before after every point, every takeaway and every secured rebound.

“Playing in front of fans again obviously was really exciting,” Graves

said, recalling the fanless gyms that surrounded the court during last year’s COVID-affected season.

The Terriers will look to keep rolling as they visit Princeton University on Sunday afternoon.

JEFF TEDI | DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Senior guard Emily Esposito in a match against the University of Massachusetts Lowell Tuesday night. The Terriers defeated the Riverhawks 76-47 in their season opener.

Fair or Foul:

Unlikely heroes of the 2021 Atlanta Braves Daniel Multz Daily Free Press Staff The Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series, taking down the powerhouse Houston Astros in six games. Aside from better rosters across MLB this season, the Braves also faced injuries to star players like pitcher Mike Soroka, outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and ace pitcher Charlie Morton in the World Series itself. Despite the hurdles, they won

it all, and here are five players who stepped up enormously, either in the regular season or in October, to get the Braves to the top of the league.

OF Adam Duvall (Acquired from Miami on July 30) Duvall posted a .852 OPS in 98 games with Atlanta from 2019-20.

His formula featured a low batting average and very few walks, but also some solid defense and power.

After signing with the Marlins before 2021, Duvall found his way back to Atlanta just months later and got back to doing what he did in the two prior seasons and more. Duvall provided versatility in the outfield and muchneeded depth with Acuña going

down. He ended up finishing the season with 38 home runs, 100-plus RBIs and an adjusted OPS over 100.

However, as exceptional as Duvall was in the lead-up to the playoffs, another deadline acquisition took the lead once October began.

OF Jorge Soler (Acquired from Kansas City on July 30) Just three seasons ago in 2019, Soler had a ridiculous breakout season, clubbing 48 home runs with an OPS of .922 while playing in all 162 games for the Royals. However, in 2020 and the first half of 2021, that version of Soler vanished. His OPS dropped to around .700, and his abysmal defense took center stage as

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his reputation cratered. As it turns out, all Soler needed was to head to Atlanta, where he batted .269 with a .882 OPS and a strikeout rate of 18.6%.

He willed his way into the everyday lineup in the playoffs, and hit .300 with three home runs in the 2021 World Series. That performance earned him the series MVP. While it is unclear which version of Soler the league will see next season — 2021 Royals Soler or 2021 Braves Soler — he left his mark on the Braves and gave himself another shot at a starting job.

LHP Tyler Matzek The 31-year-old reliever joined the Braves in 2020 after being out of the majors for five seasons. His 2.79 ERA in the shortened 2020 season was impressive enough, but he managed to repeat it throughout a full season in 2021. Matzek lowered his ERA to 2.57 while maintaining a rate of 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Then in October, Matzek posted a 1.72 ERA while pitching in nearly every game. He pitched in all four games of the NLDS against the Brewers, in five of six games of the NLCS against the Dodgers and then in four of six of the World Series against the Astros. Between his durability and dominance, this southpaw rose from nowhere to become one of the most important Braves pitchers in the postseason.

LHP Max Fried Despite having been with the Braves for many seasons, Fried’s last two seasons followed the same path as Matzek. Before 2020, Fried had never pitched like the ace the

Braves thought they had. His ERA in the only full season on his resume to that point was over four, and he had logged more than 50 innings just once. Then, he posted a 2.25 ERA and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting for the National League in 2020 and followed that up with a strong 2021. With a great-looking 3.04 ERA and 1.09 walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP), Fried became the clear No. 2 starter for Atlanta during the regular season.

Then in October, as Morton went down with a broken fibula, Fried delivered a shutout performance in the series-clinching win in Game 6.

Fried shook off the inconsistency that plagued him earlier in his career and will look to remain a second ace in Atlanta next season.

3B Austin Riley I have written about Riley’s breakout campaign before, and it cannot be understated how big of a step in the right direction he took in 2021 and the impact he had from April to November on his team’s championship run. Riley’s OPS rose over 160 points in 2021 from his mark from 2019-20. He lowered his strikeout rate from 31.2% from ’1920 to 25.4% this season. He posted a 6.1 Wins Above Replacement per Baseball-Reference after that number was -0.6 over his first two seasons. In October, he hit .277 with seven extrabase hits. Atlanta is now clearly set at the corner-infield positions with 24-year-old Riley at third and the face of the franchise, Freddie Freeman, at first base, although Freeman will be looking to sign a new contract this winter.