2-25-2022

TOM BRADY, 3

EDITORIAL, 7

GALLERY, 9

Bostonians reflect on football legend Tom Brady’s retirement.

In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we discuss modern war.

Staff photographers depict their favorite study spots on campus.

CE LE B RATIN G

OVE R

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I N DE PE N DE N T

STU D E NT

GAMES AND COMICS, 10 What a silly page! We’re here for a good time, not a long time.

J O U R NA LI S M

ILLUSTRATION BY SMARAN RAMIDI

FRIDAY, FEB. 25, 2022

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

‘Political correctness gone amok’: Retired BU lecturer denies discrimination accusations Ruihan Yang Contributing Writer

Former Boston University lecturer Geoffrey Carliner refuted claims he discriminated against Asian and Asian American students after an internal investigation last year led to his contract not being renewed.

The Equal Opportunity Office conducted an investigation spring 2021 into Carliner’s behavior in his Economics of Less-Developed Regions (EC 320) course after it received a student’s anonymous complaint, according to documents obtained by The Daily Free Press.

A student alleged that, on multiple occasions, Carliner “targeted Asian students making them feel uncomfortable, offended and unable to participate fully or attend class,” according to the report.

The student also claimed that Carliner assumed the nationality and origin of Asian students based on their last names and called on them in particular to answer questions and defend China’s policies.

On June 4, 2021, the report by the EOO found a “preponderance of evidence” that Carliner had discriminated against students.

Carliner denies these allegations.

“I don’t think I discriminated,” Carliner said. “I, of course, did not mean to make anybody feel uncomfortable. I think it’s political correctness gone amok to fire me for what happened in my economics class last spring.”

The report also concluded Carliner violated the office’s retaliation

policy — which states it is unlawful and prohibited to retaliate against individuals who bring forward or assist in a complaint.

As the investigation was ongoing, Carliner sent out an email May 6, 2021 — the same day as the course’s final exam — asking students to email the investigator assigned to the case and inform them on whether he displayed improper behavior in class or if his class stimulated useful discussions.

“If BU finds that I have acted improperly, they may decide not to renew my contract, and might even decide to fire me,” he wrote in the email. “Thank you in advance. Your emails could help me keep my job.”

Dean of Arts and Sciences Stan Sclaroff later issued a warning to Carliner in a July 15, 2021 letter.

“Further contact with students from Spring 2021 EC 320 regarding this investigation or its conclusions will be considered a violation of the Policy and will also result in the termination of your employment,” Sclaroff wrote in a letter.

On December 30, 2021, Carliner told students he intended to retire early in an email. Last Monday, Carliner sent out another email announcing that the University decided not to renew his contract past July 1, 2022, based on the investigation’s findings.

“It’s total hypocrisy on the part of the BU,” said Carliner, “ It is not retaliation. I didn’t punish any student. I didn’t do anything harmful to any student by asking them to write the email. Easy enough for them to ignore my email, most of them did.”

Out of the 64 students in the class, 26 responded to Carliner’s request and emailed the EOO. Most gave

a positive impression COURTESY OF GEOFFREY CARLINER of Carliner, but two Geoffrey Carliner, a former lecturer in the College of corroborated the Arts and Sciences. Carliner retired from his position earlier this year following an investigation conducted student’s discrimination by the Equal Opportunity Office about discriminaclaims, according to the tion against Asian and Asian American students in his class. report.

In one of the emails obtained by The Daily Free Press, one Asian student wrote that, in the class, they felt they were able to share views “deeply related to my race, my nationality, and myself.” “based upon these facts and logical factors, I can assure that Professor Carliner’s mistake is not an act of discrimination but simply a misidentification of one specific student,” the student wrote.

Bo Peng, a junior in the Questrom School of Business who took EC 320 with Carliner, said College of Communication who took the course is structured in a way that the course EC320 with Carliner, said encourages class discussions on the she didn’t “feel anything like what economies of countries such as India, was mentioned in the email.”

China and Brazil.

“I was a little bit confused when Peng said he did not regard I received that email, when the Carliner’s email as an act of professor said someone reported him retaliation, adding students should as discrimination,” Wang said. “ I “have the right to be informed” about liked the class and I think I learned a complaints of discrimination against lot from it, I just didn’t feel anything their professor. about discrimination overall.”

“I feel like BU didn’t give us a Sclaroff declined to comment on chance to explain very well to BU the case, but wrote in an email that about how professor Carliner did in the College of Arts and Sciences class,” Peng said. “BU only took one is committed to maintaining an person’s opinion, which is not equal environment where “all can learn and at all.” thrive.”

Jennifer Wang, a junior in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

YEAR LII. VOLUME A. ISSUE V

Head coach Graves balances pregnancy with basketball Mark Fraenkel Staff Writer When the Boston University women’s basketball team jetted off to Washington, D.C., one member of the group was missing — head coach Melissa Graves.

The team, traveling to play American University, sat through a brief flight, but Graves took a sixand-a-half hour drive from Boston to the nation’s capital instead.

Graves was nine months pregnant and due to give birth to her daughter, and first child, in less than a week. She coached her team nonetheless.

“I thought to myself sometimes, ‘This is not possible, there’s no way.’

With the time commitment that we have, with the travel schedule,” Graves said.

Graves’ due date has come on the tail end of a whirlwind calendar year.

In the span of about a week last spring, Graves became BU’s women’s basketball head coach and got married. She found out she was pregnant three weeks later. Then, in August, she lost her father.

None of it has taken her away from the game she loves.

Up until BU’s matchup with Lafayette College on Feb. 23, which took place five days past her due date, Graves has coached every game — home and away.

“My mindset is I do want to come back as quick as I can and miss as little as possible,” Graves said. “Just because we’re in such a good place as a team.”

Graves has led BU to yet another successful season in the Patriot League. The team caught fire during conference play, winning nine...

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Mayor Wu lifts proof of vaccination policy Jit Ping Lee Staff Writer Mayor Michelle Wu announced proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter indoor spaces in Boston on Feb. 18.

The announcement comes just over one month after the implementation of the B Together policy — which required proof of vaccination from individuals to enter select indoor spaces such as restaurants, fitness centers and entertainment venues.

On Feb. 8, the City described three guidelines that must be met to lift the B Together policy — intensive care bed occupancy rates lower than 95%, fewer than 200 daily COVID-19 hospitalizations and the seven-day average of community positivity rates lower than five percent.

“Public health data shows that we’re ready to take this step in our recovery,” Wu said in a press release at the time.

Boston met all of these conditions as of Feb. 18, according to a later press release.

Ramnath Subbaraman, assistant professor and associate director at the Tufts Center for Global Public Health, said he is “disappointed” with

the decision.

“A passport system is one way to motivate people to get vaccinated, and removing it very early essentially doesn’t allow it to have any impact in that area,” Subbaraman said. “So it’s both not protecting our public spaces now, and it’s also not serving as a motivator for people to get vaccinated.”

Subbaraman compared vaccine passports to smoking bans, since both are meant to protect those nearby.

“What vaccine passports do from an ethical perspective, in my mind, is they recognize that the public exists, that there is a public good, that there is a public independent of individual choice,” Subbaraman said.

Liam Michel, a Dedham resident, said he supports the decision to remove proof of vaccine requirements because it will help businesses and employees.

“With the employment shortage going on right now, it is just a lot more work for these employees [to check vaccine proof] on top of what they’re already doing,” Michel explained.

Some establishments, like the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, required proof of vaccination for patrons prior to the town introducing similar requirements on Jan. 15.

Brookline also ended its proof of vaccination requirement for indoor businesses Wednesday.

Katherine Tallman, executive director and CEO of the Coolidge

The theater is undecided on whether or not to continue implementing its own proof of vaccination requirements, Tallman said.

ALICE LEE | DFP STAFF

Two people sit at a counter in Life Alive Organic Cafe on Commonwealth Avenue. Mayor Michelle Wu announced Feb. 18 that proof of vaccination for indoor venues is no longer required.

Corner Theatre Foundation, said checking vaccination cards did not cause her organization any problems.

“People have been very patient, very cooperative and very grateful,” Tallman said.

“We need to talk to our staff and talk to some of our patrons and get some feedback,” Tallman said.

Now that the indoor vaccination requirement is removed, the question remains about whether Boston will

align with the state’s decision Feb. 15 to lift the indoor mask requirement.

Paul Beninger, associate professor of public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, said it is difficult to make a decision about vaccination mandates that apply everywhere.

“A rural area is going to have a little different emphasis on things than being in a megalopolis or highly metropolitan area,” Beninger said.

“A lot of different things go into how they make their decisions, partly it’s being rural versus urban and partly the amount of resources they’ve got to be able to do the accounting.”

Subbaraman said ensuring equitable vaccination rates across the entire community is an important metric to consider when deciding to relax COVID-19 policies. A second metric should be making sure transmission is low enough everywhere to ensure that it is safe to reopen.

Beninger said society has learned a lot about how to respond to pandemics over the course of the past two years.

“If another particularly virulent, otherwise unresponsive virus comes along, we can respond to the challenge,” Beninger said.

2 NEWS Discrimination from 1 BU spokesperson Colin Riley did not comment on the issue beyond reiterating that BU “strongly encour-

ages” students to report any inappropriate conduct by a member of the faculty so the University can then investigate and determine whether it violates its policies.

The EOO also declined to provide details on the case, writing in an email

it seeks to protect the integrity of the investigative process and involved parties’ privacy.

Peng said he was “very disappointed” when BU did not renew Carliner’s contract, and felt it unfair given the limited number of student com-

plaints.

“If only one person complains, and then they made our investigation on it, and then that person’s friend also made a complaint about it. Then the professor is going to be fired, ” Peng

said. “So we can do that to every professor in every class, which is a policy that’s unfair to everyone.”

City Editor Cici Yu contributed to the reporting of this article.

BU alumni ask for updates on Shiney James investigation Emilia Wisniewski Staff Writer An investigation into the conduct of BU Orientation Director Shiney James is ongoing, four months after news broke of her alleged “torturous” treatment toward student employees.

On Oct. 4, 2021, The Daily Free Press reported how several former Orientation student leaders accused James of verbally degrading and harshly disciplining student employees, among other things.

However, since the news broke BU has remained for the most part silent on the issue, only acknowledging allegations and launching an investigation with an external fact-finder into the matter.

“Our goal in this process is to ensure that a careful review of the facts takes place, in accordance with the University’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all members of our community as well as our commitment to due process,” wrote University Provost Jean Morrison in an Oct. 7 letter.

According to BU’s directory, James is still employed as Orientation director. However, she no longer works directly with students, as stated in Morrison’s letter.

Speaking to The Daily Free Press, public relations and personnel management experts said investigations such as James’ can go on for weeks or months,

typically varying on a case-bycase basis.

According to Kabrina Chang, associate professor for public policy and law at Questrom School of Business, “any number of things could factor in to make [an internal investigation] shorter or longer,” she said.

On average, BU Orientation hires “around 70 students in a typical pre-pandemic year,” according to BU spokesperson Colin Riley. As such, James potentially interacted with approximately 1,050 students throughout her 15 years as Orientation director.

Riley declined to comment on details of the investigation.

In these cases, a company’s human resources department normally handles the situation internally, Chang said, adding it normally interviews accusers, witnesses and the accused themselves.

In cases where a lot of evidence against the accused is compiled, Chang said organizations can respond in a variety of ways — these include, but are not limited to, talking to them about their behavior, placing them on probation or removing them from their current position.

“They’ll never resolve it, but try to take action within their own workforce,” Chang said. “If there’s enough that they feel like their internal policies have been violated, they hopefully have policies that tell you what to do in that circumstance.”

Adrienne Suter, a 2013 School of Education and College of Arts and Sciences alum and 2011

summer orientation program advisor, said she regretted not speaking up about her experience with James sooner.

“I had allowed myself to believe that we had this particularly bad summer and that we were maybe an unusual group and that she wasn’t like that all the time,” Suter said. “To understand that we were part of a bigger tapestry of ongoing abuse made me really sad.”

For Jayda Leder-Luis, vice president of public relations agency Denterlein, an organization’s crisis response needs to be “timely, authentic, as transparent as possible… and showcase some accountability,” she said.

“There’s so many ways to communicate what you’re doing, what happened and how you can prevent it in the future,” LederLuis said.

Neither James nor Morrison have responded to requests for comment on the investigation.

“I would personally wish for at least messaging coming from the University that this is still… something that they’re taking seriously,” Suter said. “The appearance of the situation right now is that Boston University lacks the institutional commitment to act on this allegation.”

Multiple former Orientation employees said they reached out and spoke to the external factfinder, but have been left in the dark by the University about findings and updates.

“Since then, though, I have received no communication, no updates, whether that’s by the

COURTESY OF JACKIE RICCIARDI VIA BU TODAY

Shiney James, BU Orientation Director, teaching First Year Experience (FY101) in 2017. Four months after The Daily Free Press broke the story about James’ treatment toward student employees, BU has remained for the most part silent on the issue. James is still on BU’s directory, but she no longer works directly with students.

University, by the fact-finder or somebody else about how the investigation is going, what is happening next or where things are currently at,” said Sally Kim, a 2018 Pardee School of Global Studies alum and 2016 student orientation advisor.

Lauren Linn, a 2018 CAS alum and 2016 summer orientation leader, said a lot “clicked into place” when looking back on James’ actions.

“I just wish, big picture, that institutions such as Boston University would prioritize the wellbeing of their students over the wellbeing of the bank

accounts,” Linn said. “I am tired of reading these perfectly written curated apologies and acknowledgements that have no follow-through on the other side of them.”

Some alumni said they believe that James is representative of a larger systemic issue at BU, especially within the administration. More still believe James should be fired.

“I don’t know if there’s anything at this point that the University can do to rectify the harm that they have done by neglecting to make this situation a priority for them,” Kim said.

Emergency contraceptive vending machine to be launched at GSU Talia Lissauer Staff Writer Boston University’s Students for Reproductive Freedom will unveil the University’s first emergency contraceptive vending machine next Tuesday in the basement of the George Sherman Union.

The vending machine will sell Plan B for $7.25, with other products potentially being added in the future.

“We wanted to find a way to have low cost emergency contraceptives available to all students when they need it,” said Molly Baker, SRF co-president and senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The project, five years in development, is being launched with the aid of Boston Planned Parenthood, Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center and BU Facilities, Baker said.

Plan B can be purchased for $25 at Student Health Services and for $4050 at local pharmacies and Planned Parenthood. Boston University students covered by SHIP can access Plan B free of charge.

Baker said the goal of this project is to make accessing emergency contraceptives easy and affordable for BU students.

“It was really important to have an accessible place to get emergency contraceptives,” Baker said. “As nice as it is to be able to have Plan B … from places like SHS and Planned Parenthood, it is something that is very time sensitive and a lot of people can’t get appointments.”

Emergency contraceptives are used to prevent pregancies up to five days after unprotected sex, as detailed by

Planned Parenthood’s website. The product is designed to be more effective the sooner it is used.

CAS senior Charlotte Beatty, co-president of SRF, said the machine will remove many barriers surrounding emergency contraception, such as needing to see a health care provider.

“There’s obviously a lot of stigma and shame, unfortunately, about seeking out reproductive health care, like contraceptive materials, in public,” Beatty said. “This is a relatively discreet and easy way for people to access Plan B as soon as they need it, which is really fantastic.”

CAS senior Karolena Salmon said purchasing Plan B in a store can be “uncomfortable” as some stores keep it in a locked case or behind the counter.

“Having something like that is more accessible on campus and less of the stigma because you’re not going to a person and buying something,” she said. “I think it’ll be really helpful for students on campus, regardless of people’s sexual orientation or sex or who they are with.”

About one in four women between the ages of 15 to 49 reported using some form of emergency contraception in 2019, according to statistics compiled by the National Survey of Family Growth.

“I think it is a good idea. It makes Plan B a more affordable and easier option for people, which allows for safer sex, which is good,” said CAS freshman Eric Gao. Since Plan B is a pharmaceutical drug, there are a lot of logistical details — such as restocking the machines — that go into selling it in a vending machine. SRF worked with SHS to make it possible, Beatty said, noting the help from Karen Molloy, SHS director of finance and admin-

istration.

Beatty also added that SRF received funding for the machine through their affiliation with Planned Parenthood.

The club is an Planned Parenthood Action Group — an initiative that funds college organizations that work towards reproductive justice and action.

“It definitely feels like we’ve come full circle,” Beatty said. “When I joined SRF as a freshman, it was an idea that e-board was talking about.

So it’s been something that’s been in

the works for, truly, five years.”

Nathan Brewer, director of the SARP, wrote in an email that SARP assisted in “facilitating the transfer of funds” SRF received from Planned Parenthood.

Brewer added survivors of sexual assault face barriers to getting emergency contraception through conventional means. These normally include taking a physical exam which collects evidence of the assault and meeting with their healthcare provider or a pharmacy.

“A vending machine with contra-

ception means that a survivor doesn’t have to disclose their experience or that they are seeking the medication,” Brewer wrote.

With all the support the SRF has received, Baker said it means a lot that the project is opening while she is co-president of SRF. “There have been a lot of people who have been really important role models in my life and really important people in my life who worked really hard on it before us,” Baker said.

“I’m really happy to be able to do this for the people who came before us.”

TAYLOR COESTER | DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Contraceptives in a Boston University vending machine at Kilachand Hall. After five years in the works, BU’s Students for Reproductive Freedom will introduce an emergency contraceptive vending machine March 1 in the George Sherman Union.

NEWS 3

House passes act permitting driver’s licenses for undocumented residents Tanisha Bhat Campus Associate The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a new act Feb. 16 allowing all qualified residents to apply for a standard driver’s license or identification card regardless of immigration status.

The Work and Family Mobility Act passed by a vote of 120 to 36.

The bill will come into effect July 1, 2023, if passed by the Senate and signed by Governor Charlie Baker, making Massachusetts the 17th state in the nation to permit undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.

Under current legislation, undocumented immigrants are not allowed to have a license in Massachusetts. If the new bill passes, people who apply for a standard driver’s license will need to provide proof of identity, date of birth and state residency, according to the bill.

In a 2020 report, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center predicted the bill would help 41,000 to 78,000 people get a driver’s license within the first three years after its passage.

Lena Shapiro, communication director for State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, said the senator is a “strong supporter” of the bill.

“She’s pushed for it for a long time,” Shapiro said. “This has been a real priority of the immigration movement and the coalition behind this bill, and all of the supporters have really been fighting for this for a long time.”

Cristina Brinkerhoff, a doctoral candidate at Boston University

School of Social Work, said the support of the community was important to getting the bill passed.

“We have endorsements from law enforcement, which is something we haven’t had before,” she said. “And it’s really what is making so many people endorse the bill, and that’s something that’s going to make the bill go forward.”

Roy Vasque, chief of police in Lawrence, Massachusetts and vice president of Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police, said the bill is “beneficial” for everyone on the road since it ensures drivers are properly trained.

“From the law enforcement perspective, I think what we’ve always tried to do was make the road safer. And I think this allows that to happen,” Vasque said. “These individuals are licensed properly, they’re trained to go through the same training as other individuals applying for a license.”

According to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center 2020 report, California experienced a 10% decrease in hit-and-run accidents when undocumented immigrants gained access to licenses. Other states, like Connecticut, that passed similar legislation, saw a 9% decrease in hit-and-run accidents.

Jeneczka Roman, the advocacy and coalition manager for the Massachusetts Public Health Association, said driving is a “critical tool” for undocumented migrants.

“Without freedom of movement, residents without status in their families face significant barriers in accessing healthy foods, grocery stores, food banks, good educational

opportunities, stable and affordable housing and wellpaying jobs,” Roman said.

Roman added barred access to transportation would impact work productivity and employment rates, all of which could contribute to health inequities.

“Our hope is that every resident has access to reliable affordable

not be constantly in fear.”

Rivera added the need for the act became more apparent during the pandemic when public transit options were scarce.

“It does pose difficulty for essential workers that were needed to clean and to do other things during this pandemic,” she said. “They need to be able to go

president of 32BJ SEIU — a union for service workers — said her coalition is confident the bill will pass by reaching out to state senators for support.

“In regards to the governor, we don’t know what he’s going to do,” Rivera said. “We’re hopeful that he will see the amount of support that is upon the legislature

BRIAN SONG | DFP FILE

The Massachusetts State House. The Work and Family Mobility Act will allow all qualified residents regardless of immigration status to apply for a standard driver’s license or identification card, was passed by the Mass. House of Representatives Feb. 16 in a vote of 120 to 36.

public transit in every region of the state,” Roman said. “We know that’s not true for everyone and everywhere, and these gaps leave residents a little alternative but to rely on their own personal transportation.”

Brinkerhoff said many undocumented immigrant drivers are afraid of getting deported if they are pulled over or have an accident on the road.

“The scariest thing that [undocumented residents] do all day is drive,” Brinkerhoff said.

“But if you have a driver’s license, at least that part of your daily life will be a little bit easier. You will

to work, to take their children to the doctor, to buy groceries. So this is a relief because people want to drive safely.”

Lenita Reason, executive director at Brazilian Workers Center and co-chair of the Driving Families Forward coalition, a group advocating for the bill’s passing, said the community was overwhelmed when they heard it made its way through the House.

“People are so happy. Now we just have to move forward with the Senate, and hopefully, before July, this bill will become a reality,” she said.

Roxana Rivera, executive vice

and decide to sign this bill.”

Even if Baker does not sign the bill, it can still pass if the House and Senate reach a two-thirds majority.

Vasque said driving will help undocumented residents continue to contribute to society and provide for their families. “[Undocumented immigrants] provide services to the community, they work in the community, they contribute to the community,” Vasque said.

“I think that is the ‘American dream,’ so to speak, to provide a better living for your family and the next generation.”

Tom Brady retires, Bostonians reflect on a local sports legend Ruhika Ponda Contributing Writer When Tom Brady officially announced his retirement Feb.1, Boston lost part of its soul.

“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” Brady, who spent the majority of his career with the New England Patriots, wrote on social media.

“I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”

Shortly after, Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft issued a statement expressing his personal and professional gratitude towards Brady.

“A generation of football fans have grown up knowing only an NFL in which Tom Brady dominated,” Kraft wrote. “I have the greatest respect for Tom personally and always will.”

Brady’s retirement marked the end of an era in the NFL, and it meant more for his fans in Boston, many of whom grew up watching the legend score touchdowns and win Super Bowls for the Commonwealth.

“Ever since we were kids it was always like ‘Brady, Brady, Brady!’ so it’s definitely weird that he’s not on the Patriots anymore. It almost feels like they’re not even the Patriots,” Dunya Shahin, who grew up in Boston, said.

What makes Brady a legend isn’t just the seven Super Bowl wins and three MVP awards, it’s

his unlikely story going from an unknown in the 2000 draft to one of the league’s all-time greats.

“Not only was he able to place a role in the NFL, but he became arguably the greatest ever to play the position,” A. Sherrod Blakely, a Boston University lecturer at the College of Communications and sports journalist covering New England’s teams, said.

“That’s a really big part of what connected people to him and from a NFL stance, to go from humble beginnings to become the face of the league and playing for a winning team.”

Blakely said he thinks Brady has had a significant impact on

Bostonians because he created a sense of comradery and became a source of pride for fans.

“I remember exactly which one but it was the Super Bowl, and we were down, and [Brady] clutched up and got the W,” said Listch Prinston, a lifetime Boston resident and an avid Patriots fan. “That was a very impactful moment because he didn’t give up and I was just happy he did that.”

When Blakely thinks of Brady, he thinks of an image of the quarterback surrounded by “confetti” holding up the Lombardi Trophy.

“He absolutely created a

sense of pride for [the Boston] community because they know that as long as Tom Brady was around, the Super Bowl was either coming at that moment or coming soon,” Blakely said.

The Greatest Bar, a wellknown sports bar in the heart of Boston, has been hosting watch parties for sporting events for the past 15 years, including Patriots games. Julie Fairweather, the owner of the bar, said the games garnered a large turnout.

Fairweather described how patrons had a strong sense of loyalty to Brady even after he left the Patriots.

“What I’ve seen is that people

ALEXANDRA WIMLEY | DFP FILE

Tom Brady waves to a crowd. Bostonians expressed admiration for the legendary New England Patriots’s quarterback, Brady, after he announced retirement from football on Feb. 1.

are so loyal to Tom Brady that they also cheer for the Buccaneers because he is playing for them,” Fairweather said.

The Greatest Bar even has a large mural of Brady on the wall of the restaurant.

“I think he started the run of Boston becoming a championship city,” Fairweather said. “He just created a lot of great memories for the city of Boston and Patriots fans.”

Adam Sergentanis, a junior in the Questrom School of Business and a local who grew up watching Brady play, said he was “very surprised and very sad” at the news of Brady’s retirement.

“I was hoping it would never happen,” Sergentanis said. “He’s been playing football since before I was alive so to be in a world without him playing football has been a major change for a lot of us. I think everyone is just sad now–our hero is gone.”

Owen Gund, a junior in College of Communication and a sports reporter for WTBU, noted the absence of Brady from sports talk will be felt.

“I do WTBU sports radio show once a week, and we talk about football all the time,” Gund said.

“Not being able to talk about Brady will be pretty sad for me as someone who’s been a big fan of him for a long time.”

Just like any other Bostonians who grew up watching Brady play for the Patriots, Gund expressed his sadness and mixed emotions towards his retirement.

“Not having him out there to watch, it really kind of feels like the end of an era,” Gund said.

“It’s sad to see him retire because he’s created a lot of great memories for me as a Boston sports fan.”

4 FEATURES

COMMUNITY

Students bring popular Survivor show to BU Emma Hagert Staff Writer Survivor, the show known for its crazy challenges, weird survival skills and deserted island location, has found a new home in an unlikely location, Boston University’s campus.

A group of students in the College of Communication started their very own Survivor club and show at BU. Although the filming of the second season is currently underway, students can look forward to the release of the season one pilot episode around the end of this semester.

Survivor clubs are not a new concept on college campuses with University of Michigan and University of Maryland having its own version of the reality show, Patrick Boese, a junior in COM and president, co-founder, host and a producer of Survivor BU, said.

“When you want to start out a club… it’s always such a Herculean task and there’s really no blueprint for success,” Boese said. “You have no idea if people are going to buy into it.”

Boese co-founded the club with his roommates and seniors in COM, Andy Fialko and Alberto Aizenman.

The first season of the show wasn’t themed, with the founders modeling it after the first release of the original Survivor series, Boese said.

“I like to tell people in my pitch for the club that it’s basically a lot like the show, and every week you have a challenge and you have a tribe where someone gets voted out,” Boese said.

“It’s just you’re doing the format of Survivor in a college environment, which makes for a lot of interesting gameplay, drama and just situations.”

The BU club tries to stay as true to the original show as possible.

Boese even channels Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, and wears the same Columbia shirts as he does.

“One thing that happens is even though you’re not off in Fiji on an island banging sticks together to start a fire, you’re still playing the game,” Boese said. “The game never really stopped just because you’re in your chem lecture … or because you choose to go out on Friday night and not talk with your tribe.”

Some of the challenges students can expect to see on the show include trademarks like eating a variety of questionable food, balancing acts in harsh weather and “touchy subjects” — a game in which contestants vote for who is most deserving of a given title.

A contestant in season one and junior in COM, James Cherico, said he grew up watching Survivor with his family and that there is “definitely no lack of drama” in the first season of BU’s version.

Cherico said he had heard about the club on campus and decided to apply when Boese sent out the first advertisement for it.

“I have a friend who has applied to be on the actual show all the time, and he likes to talk strategy with me about how he would win,” Cherico said. “So I figured I had a good coach in my corner and it’s always something I’ve just wanted to try.”

Cherico has seen every episode

COURTESY OF PATRICK BOESE

Members of Boston University’s Survivor club during a “tribal” meeting. Filming of season two is currently underway on BU’s campus, but season one’s pilot episode will premiere around the end of this semester.

since John Cochran first made an appearance in season 23. He said he modeled some of his own game after Cochran because he liked that he was such an underdog.

“The game was really fun to play, but the things I’m going to remember moving forward … are the friends that I made,” Cherico said.

“It’s a group now that’s just kind of solidified for the rest of my time in college which is pretty cool, and we all have this shared experience of playing this weird social game together for a semester.”

Cherico also said he sees some

of the cast regularly from season one because they now work on the production team for BU Survivor.

Cherico is currently helping film the second season of the show now called “Revolution in Boston” — a take on the history of Boston with the two tribes named after the patriots and the loyalists.

Kiran Arora, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Science, is an avid watcher of Survivor and is looking forward to watching how the BU version turns out.

“I am honestly really curious just because normally it is on a really hot

deserted island, so I’m wondering how they would do that in a college setting,” Arora said. “I think it could be really interesting to see.”

Boese said it’s been really great seeing everything that everyone does behind the scenes to “bring the show to life.”

“It’s really a once in a lifetime unique opportunity that you can take in your college career,” Boese said.

“There really just aren’t a whole lot of chances in life to do something of this nature. I think the game that you’re playing is one of the most engaging and captivating ever.”

ARTS

‘Indigenous Voices’ series continues with new exhibition the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay HeadAquinnah in Massachusetts.

The exhibit features two pieces — “MASHQ,” a watercolor painting of a mashq, translated to bear, representing a map of Southern New England, and “Winter Dreams,” a traditional Wampumpeak belt made with quahog shell wampum beads and deerskin warps.

James-Perry said she created the

maps to portray the land “as a living entity,” aiming to “get people to think more of the interplay and our dependence and the importance of repreciocity” with it.

A panel beneath “MASHQ” reads, “Native relationship to the northeast is reclaimed by featuring some of the original Native place names,” reflecting the overall message the artist wished to send through her

work.

“We’re still here, we’re still connected,” James-Perry said. “We Sara Sonsini still care about our homelands.”

Through maps, James-Perry Contributing Writer “wants to convey the relationality between humans and our homelands Boston University Arts Initiative instead of portraying the land as this continues their “Indigenous Voices background for human uses, human in the Americas” series this month by needs and human lives.” displaying the work of internationally Managing Director of the BU Arts known artist Elizabeth James-Perry of Initiative, Ty Furman, said speaking about the art and culture of these communities in the present rather than past tense is imperative.

“There are thriving communities that are here now, and that have shown incredible resilience in the midst of systematic racism and colonization,” Furman said.

He also highlighted the talent and craftsmanship displayed by these two pieces.

“This is not Beading 101 at summer camp,” Furman said.

“This is a real skill and artistry.”

Besides its beauty, Furman said what he likes most about the art is that it is “both traditional and contemporary.”

“James-Perry’s exhibit is a wonderful mix of that where she did a very traditional Wampanoag belt, but then also a contemporary watercolor map of Massachusetts from her lens as a Wampanoag,” he said.

Administrative Coordinator of the Arts Initiative, Elana Harris, said it was important for the series to “actively engage the student body” and provide an understanding of the “history and how the ISABELLE MEGOSH | DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF longevity of from now till then Artworks by Elizabeth James-Perry on display on the second floor of the George Sherman Union. The exhibit is sponsored by BU and how it still remains present Arts Initiative as part of their “Indigenous Voices in the Americas” series, aimed at showcasing the art and culture of indigenouss communities in the present rather than past tense. in today’s culture.”

Tajrir Tahtial, a junior in the College of Communication, said she enjoyed the artwork by James-Perry, especially “MASHQ,” because of how it portrayed the artist’s way to reclaim Native land.

“Programs like this are great for showcasing diversity in the arts and help the campus feel inclusive and open, so I would love for the Arts Initiative to sponsor more of these programs,” she wrote in an email.

Wade Campbell, assistant professor of archaeology and anthropology and member of the Navajo Nation said the series “feels like an important first step.”

“BU hasn’t really ever had a substantial voice on indigenous matters,” he said. “There is this level of specificity that I think a lot of people simply do not appreciate because it’s locked under categories like ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Native’ or ‘Indian.’”

There are more than 570 federally recognized tribes in the United States, Campbell said.

James-Perry said her work can affect the way Native communities are understood by others.

“To people who are just coming to the area, or who are in the area and don’t know much about Native people living in the region and Native communities and Native struggles, it’s a prompt of ‘you can learn about this.’” she said. “We’re still here.”

James-Perry said that art serves an educational role.

“There’s nothing wrong with being decorative or appealing, but I think there’s also aspects to art that challenge people, make them pause, consider a different aspect of something they might have otherwise taken for granted,” she said.

The exhibition will be available for viewing through May on the second floor of the George Sherman Union.

FEATURES 5

BUSINESS How Mavis Hicks created an inclusive skincare line Sukanya Mitra Contributing Writer Seven years ago, Mavis Hicks started her very own skincare line called Beauty N Simplicity while working at Harvard University as a dining hall manager. Back then it was just a hobby and side gig, but in early 2021 Hicks decided to take the risk and pursue her passion full time, turning Beauty N Simplicity into Mavology.

Mavology has products ranging from body butter to body oil and face serums. The products use natural ingredients and are made for all skin types, but Hicks, a Black business owner, especially targeted Black women, who she said “aren’t necessarily highlighted in beauty always.”

“Being a black business owner, serving my community is very important to me,” Hicks said. “It’s very important to me because I know the specific challenges that I have going into stores looking for products or even imagery of people who look like me is just not around.”

Hicks’ vision for Mavology is to empower people to “take control of their lives by taking care of themselves.” The brand, she said, is for everyone and makes them feel comfortable in their own skin.

“Our tagline is ‘made with intention’ because of course, we want people to have beautiful skin, we want people to feel good,” Hicks said. “How you evolve as a person, when you take intentional care of yourself, you start to work from the outside in.”

One of the main reasons she

started her own skincare brand was because of her own personal troubles with eczema.

“I understand how hard it is to find products that work for your skin,” Hicks said. “Building a brand, it helped me understand what consumers look for and need. Being able to offer a superior, quality, natural, handmade product with a mission of soothing and improving skin with a component of total body wellness.”

Hicks started Mavology “from the ground up,” taking pictures on her phone, selling products in person and launching her brand on Etsy.

“I did everything by myself,” Hicks said. “I would go to small farmers markets selling things and over time, I gained more customers which afforded me the finances to rebrand.”

That rebrand was prompted by chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing it as an opportunity to rediscover her passion for beauty and self care, Hicks left the culinary industry and pursued Mavology fulltime.

“I actually went through a rebrand.

So literally, as I was rebranding myself, I was rebranding my business as well,” Hicks said.

The designer behind the rebrand was Radhika Maheshwari who said it was partly inspired by the colors of Morocco’s landscape — mauve, gold and blush tones. They also wanted to incorporate “snippets” of Hicks’ personal and professional life into the brand.

“From a design standpoint, our vision together was to see this business grow into retail stores and build a community of like-minded people from diverse backgrounds

who cared about self-care, nurturing themselves, and simply implementing healthy skincare rituals,” Maheshwari wrote in an email.

Connecting with her customers is something Hicks said is very important to her.

“Being able to share skin care rituals that can empower is behind our mission and core principle,” Hicks said. “Social media has been a great tool connecting with customers

all over the country.”

Kayla Kaplan, a customer of Mavology from the beginning and co-founder of VeganZine, said she became interested in the brand because of Hicks and her story.

“I prioritize local products,” Kaplan said. “I think it’s incredible to have like a lineup of products in my cabinet and to know the person that is behind literally creating it.”

Hicks said she wants her brand to

become known on a global scale.

“I want to be in department stores.

I want to be in Sephora and Targets,” she said.

As a Black woman, she acknowledged how difficult it has been to find brands that are inclusive to all types of women.

“The market has many women from all colors, all races, all shades and we all deserve to have the same variety of products,” Hicks said.

COURTESY OF MAVIS HICKS

Mavis Hicks, founder of Mavology. Mavology aims to create a skincare line for women with all skin types. “I wanted the products to be inclusive because I never found skincare brands that catered to my needs,” said Hicks.

SCIENCE

CDS initiative addresses societal issues through technology Emily Pauls Features Editor Imagine a world where societal issues can be addressed and tackled by using tools created from data science. That is exactly what the Data Science for Good, an initiative by the Faculty of Computing and Data Science at Boston University, is trying to make a reality.

DS4G is a national initiative new to BU trying to move the role of data science and technologies toward a more public interest focus, Stacey Dogan, professor of law and a founding member of CDS, said. The initiative has been in the works since 2020 but is finally getting underway as CDS accepts its first official class of undergraduate students at BU. “The goal is to build a community of researchers, faculty members and scholars and students around the campus who are interested in harnessing these technologies in public interest or for purposes related to the public interest,” Dogan said.

In order to achieve this goal, DS4G will use the expertise of 17 different schools and colleges at BU, according to the DS4G website.

There will also be programs and courses surrounding the idea of civicminded technology.

Some of these programs have already begun at BU Spark! — a lab for computer science and engineering projects under the umbrella of CDS. Ziba Cranmer, the director of BU

Spark! and a faculty member at CDS, said “Experts In Residence” is one of these programs.

“We have a number of individuals who are acting as super mentors in a sense or advisors/mentors to students who are working on experiential

applying data science to affordable housing, she said.

Other programs and courses focused on civic-minded technology are still in the works as the new initiative develops. They offer crosscollege courses such as justice media

computational investigative journalism,” Cranmer said.

The department has also already used civic-minded technology for the greater good, including working with the NAACP and WGBH to find a tool to “better understand the

COURTESY OF JACKIE RICCIARDI VIA BU TODAY

Boston University’s Center for Computing & Data Sciences. Faculty of CDS continue to work with the Data Science For Good initiative to tackle societal issues with technology.

learning projects through Spark!”

Cranmer said.

The projects these mentors have been working on include reform to the criminal legal system and

co-labs.

“Justice media co-labs, a good example, where you’ve got journalism students working with computing and data science students, around

fairness of their coverage of the Black community in Boston,” Cranmer said.

“We have been building a model to help them with that analysis,” she said. “The editors of newsrooms could

on a more kind of proactive basis and historical basis, really evaluate their newsroom’s performance, and how they’re covering the black community, for example, in Boston.”

The aim of CDS and DS4G is to create data science technology to discover solutions to the bigger problems in our society, Neha Gondal, an assistant professor of sociology and faculty member of CDS, said.

“Part of that initiative is spearheading data science that has public interest, research and doing the kind of data science that has broader social impact kind of outcomes,” Gondal said. “To address sort of broad, grand societal challenges.

Issues like racism and discrimination or using technology to address issues of algorithmic bias for example.”

Data science will be featured in most disciplines, majors and aspects of our society which was the motivation to create CDS and why students should try out the CDS programs, Cranmer said.

“It’s really meant to be that bridge between other departments and other schools and colleges to help build this capacity and joint degree programs… so that students can get that competency whether they decide to major in computer data sciences or not,” she said.

Dogan said students can use the skills they will learn through DS4G for issues such as climate change and racial inequity.

“My hope is that our extraordinary students will feel inspired to use their talents, their skills and their knowledge to go out and change the world for the better,” Dogan said.

6 PHOTOS

GALLERY A look at BU sports

A look back at moments from four Boston University winter sports this semester — men’s and women’s hockey, basketball, lacrosse and track & field.

Sophomore Charlie McLaughlin competes in the men’s pole vault event at the John Thomas Terrier Classic Jan. 30. MOHAN GE | DFP STAFF

Sophomore Dylan Peterson holds the Beanpot trophy above his head in celebration of their 1-0 win against the Huskies on Monday night, securing the Terriers’ 31st Beanpot win. MOHAN GE | DFP STAFF

Freshman Christina Vote ​​in the Beanpot semifinal against Harvard on Feb. 1. The Terriers fell short in the matchup against the Crimsons.

MOHAN GE | DFP STAFF

Junior Ethan Brittain-Watts in a match against Lafayette College on Feb. 23. The Terriers won 76-60.

MOHAN GE | DFP STAFF

Sophomore Katherine George marks 11.57 meters in the women’s shot put event Jan. 28 at the John Thomas Terrier Classic. MOHAN GE | DFP STAFF

Senior Jake Cates scores a goal in a game against Bryant University on Feb. 19. The Boston University men’s lacrosse team won 13-8. ELIZA NUESTRO | DFP STAFF

Two women’s lacrosse players chest-bump before a game against the University of Vermont on Feb. 16.

ELIZA NUESTRO | DFP STAFF

OPINION 7

EDITORIAL War is all around us in the age of social media

Nothing encapsulates the uniqueness of our times better than the official Twitter account for the government of Ukraine tweeting a meme upon the occasion of the invasion of their country.

Sent in the early hours of the morning Thursday, the account tweeted a cartoon of Adolf Hitler embracing Vladimir Putin — almost as if he was a proud father of our century’s crazed authoritarian strongman.

Along with the image, the Ukrainian Twitter account said, “This is not a ‘meme,’ but our and your reality right now.”

While it may seem awkward to someone not acquainted with the modern social media vernacular, this mode of communication is the best way for the government of Ukraine to relay their perilous moment.

The conflict, which began only a day ago, has already become the topic of non-stop internet memes — with people poking fun at seemingly third-rail topics.

But increasingly, it’s become the way that the world copes with all of the many insane global events taking place.

Whether or not this is the most sensitive or ethical way to respond to these serious issues is worth considering.

But it’s probably a better option, for many, than confronting the chilling reality of the conflict that is beginning to unfold in Ukraine.

A conflict where, in just a day, the lives of 137 Ukrainians have already been lost.

This moment isn’t singular. It happens nearly every day in our modern times. Whether it’s a live-streamed attempt at insurrection in our nation’s capital or large-scale protests against police brutality coordinated on social media – the “history book” moments of today are livestreamed, memed and consumed 24/7 on social media.

The strangeness of these moments is only amplified by the medium in which we’re told about them. Witnessing the start of an invasion

of a European nation in real-time on social media feeds instead of reading about it in history books is a jarring feeling.

When you learn about earth-shattering world events, it’s hard to understand what they felt like at the moment because you already know how they all end. World Wars, invasions and pandemics are delivered to us as parables, tied up neatly in a bow. There’s a clear ending, and you’re left with a feeling that the past is passed.

When you’re living in it, it’s impossible to use this same thinking. Nobody, not even the architects of these atrocities, can offer a guess worth anything as to how this conflict will end.

With no end in sight and no clues as to how the conflict will progress, it’s easy to go down rabbit holes of the worst potential outcomes.

It’s hard not to wonder if this event will become the new geopolitical paradigm where a country whose military resources vastly outnumber those of the nation it wishes to seize can march in without resistance. And what does

that mean for the future of Taiwan?

China has long sought to claim Taiwan as its own. Even though it publicly insists that Taiwan is already part of China, internally, they know its independence is a danger to their dominance.

If Russia continues to face little to no resistance, sanctions from the West notwithstanding, for their actions — what’s stopping China from deciding to do the same?

It’s hard to see how a war fought on one side with tanks and missiles could be won by simply freezing bank accounts and placing sanctions.

But the other option leads to an inevitable loss of life and a potential nuclear catastrophe.

With no way of knowing how this conflict will end, the immature and indecent internet memes and jokes now seem like the only way to truly cope with what’s happening. Because confronting uncertainty and the potential for global war is the much less appealing option.

EDITORIAL BOARD Jean Paul Azzopardi, Editor-in-Chief Jesús Marrero Suárez, Campus Editor Nellie Maloney, Co-Podcast Editor

Emily Stevenson, Co-Managing Editor

Cici Yu, City Editor

Taylor Hawthorne, Co-Podcast Editor

Smaran Ramidi, Layout & Graphics Editor

Emily Pauls, Features Editor

Taylor Coester, Photo Editor

Michelle Tian, Lifestyle Editor

Mary Geena Prestia, Multimedia Editor

Mitch Fink, Sports Editor

Brian Foisy, Co-Opinion Editor

Sujena Soumyanath, Co-Opinion Editor GRAPHIC BY ALEXIA NIZHNY

8 OPINION

COLUMNS Sincerely, Ally:

Free laundry is another example of the BU administration not listening

Alexia Nizhny Columnist Launched in late November 2020, Boston University’s Young Democratic Socialists decided to pursue a challenge with a simple goal — get free laundry for students on campus.

What this promising future meant for the undergraduate BU community was a world where quarters are a thing of the past and basic hygiene becomes a right and not a necessary financial burden.

So, with an Instagram infographic, a petition and a lot of optimism, we dove right in. What we ended up finding was the disappointing reality of our place on the BU hierarchy as students and the effectiveness of student activism.

Part of what attracted BU YDSA to starting this campaign was its ability to garner support across the board. It didn’t matter where you were on the political spectrum, free laundry was something that affected and benefited all students. The idea was that this was an easy victory that could pave the way for students to have a seat at the table for more high-stakes, less universally applicable negotiations.

Winning laundry meant the door was open to help increase wages for student employees, strike for lower tuition and create more accessible mental health services. With a victory under BU YDSA’s belt we would have credibility as an organization that successfully fights for the interests of the BU community.

Trust builds solidarity, and solidarity leads to change.

We put up a good fight and students were excited to see where the campaign would take us. Over my tenure on the BU YDSA executive board — first as treasurer, then as vice president, and now as president — I’ve seen us rightfully earn the moniker of “the free laundry people.”

But flash forward to now, after many catchy poster designs, countless back-and-forths with the administration, a protest, a sit-in and almost 3,000 student signatures — I’m constantly asked by students, “What the heck happened?”

What we never announced on social media was that, on Nov. 4, nearly a year after we started our campaign, we agreed as an organization in a majority vote that it was time to table free laundry and pour all of our energy into building up labor solidarity instead.

In our post-mortem reflection, we dissected what went wrong and what we could have done differently. What I ended up realizing was that free laundry’s biggest pull also happened to be its biggest obstacle.

On the one hand, what drew people into the campaign was its applicability. If you live on campus, you’ve had to experience paying for laundry, and you understand how much that sucks. This is the part that got students excited, regardless of their financial situation.

However, BU boasts of $329.5 million in aid awarded to undergraduates. If you calculate the estimated cost of attendance for those near

16,000 students, the total amounts to over $1.2 billion in revenue. All of a sudden, that $329.5 million doesn’t seem nearly as significant.

What this means for the various financial situations of BU students is that a big chunk of students don’t require severe financial assistance.

Depending on socioeconomic status, laundry costs could range from simply being a tedious chore for some to a financially crippling choice between basic needs for others. In the context of BU students, we can see that more people’s finances are likely to land them closer to the “tedious” side of the laundry spectrum than “crippling.”

Is laundry a universal chore that the administration has the ability to make more equitable for students by subsidizing costs? Yes. But is it a universal, debilitating struggle that ruins people’s ability to function on campus?

Debatable.

It is difficult to continue mobilizing students to act when the stakes are so low, and we struggled to justify taking more aggressive measures knowing that if turnout wasn’t high, we risked the safety of our members and the credibility of our organization.

What I found is that our position as students gives us very little existing leverage with the administration. Tuition is a sunk cost, we don’t have labor to withhold and at a school as competitive as BU, there is no shortage of applicants to replace disruptive students fighting for change.

Although we weren’t able to reach our end goal, the fight was a good one. We learned how to organize, grab people’s attention and communicate with people in power. The “Free Laundry Campaign” wasn’t so much a loss as it was a message to BU students on the

administration’s priorities.

3,000 signatures, and the answer was no.

Endorsements from BU College Democrats, The Environmental Student Organization, Action BU, BU Student Immigrant Alliance, CAS Anti-Racist Initiative and the BU Student Goverment, and the answer was still no.

Even when the stakes were this low, their answer was always going to be no.

Although the laundry campaign is over, student activism doesn’t end here. There was a recognizable flaw in the scalability of free laundry, but it drew attention to how little student consensus mattered to our administration making material change. None of that work mattered to them. This should make you angry. This is fuel to work harder. This is ammo we must use to continue fighting for a more equitable campus, not just for students but for our faculty, our staff and our working-class communities.

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNIE DAI

Divine Politik:

Population control isn’t progressive

Caroline McCord Columnist When I walked into my ecology lecture two weeks ago, I settled into my uncomfortable desk and got ready to continue learning about coral dying, rainforests burning and ice melting into the sea. The class, although taught by a wonderful professor, is rather grim — we sit in a cramped room while the sun sets and scribble down notes about the Earth’s impending doom.

But during this one lecture, I heard an unexpected topic broached by my professor who usually speaks at length — in a manner somehow both cheerfully resigned and bitterly pointed — about the systemic failures of our politicians and the ghastliness of Big Oil. This time, I heard him eagerly laud a policy I have grown to hate — population control.

My disdain for this concept may seem counterintuitive or strange, as I do care deeply about the environment and am profoundly worried about the fate of our world. I do not deny, even slightly, that overpopulation is certainly problematic and leads to its fair share of crises, particularly in the Global South.

But I have never been able to shake the profound wrongness of trying to cull historically

oppressed populations — primarily those of people of color— instead of placing blame on the corporations, governments and industries that are gutting the natural world.

Should women be granted access to birth control, family-planning methods and sexual education? Of course. Should girls be allowed to go to school and get jobs to see the world outside of their homes and realize that there is more to life than being a mother? A resounding yes to that as well. Should families be cognizant of the resources and stability they need to grant their children an abundant life, and not have children solely due to societal pressures, lack of sexual safety or misplaced desires? Absolutely.

All of these ideas and policies lead to women having fewer children, and all of them are virtuous and necessary — clear examples of ethical ways to slow population growth.

But the truth is that many current ecological initiatives are operating under either the misguided assumption or the capitalist lie that poor families having fewer babies will save the planet. We know the main culprits of environmental ruin — think Exxon and Chevron, which also saw unprecedented capital gains during the last fiscal year — and it is not a traditional Catholic family with seven kids in Guatemala.

What is also frustrating is that many people who seek to curb population growth are intelligent, progressive people who truly want to help and are saddened by the wretched conditions of the post-colonial world. However, this also creates confusion as to how they do not see that their actions and ideas are, in and of themselves, neocolonialist — and not even that effective.

Hundreds of years ago, Western invaders forced people in the Global South to live by

Eurocentric values, adopt Christianity and blame themselves for the “backwardness” of their living conditions. Today, Western politicians, scientists and activists are trying to force people in the Global South to live

by Western secularism, abandon their moral and religious beliefs and essentially sterilize themselves in order to fix the environmental crisis that the Global North created. In both cases, the agency and freedom of people in the Global South are completely ignored. They are forced to abandon their cultural values and take it upon themselves to fix the plight of the world— a plight they had no hand in creating.

The main cause of catastrophic climate change is burning fossil fuels, and the countries that burn the most fossil fuels are all — with the exception of India — in the Global North. But the countries in Africa that contribute the least to climate change will be the ones who suffer most, who will starve, overheat and go to war as the Earth warms.

Instead of nations in the West taking accountability for the harm they perpetuate by burning coal, digging up oil and building factories, the onus has shifted to marginalized families who live in these condemned,

already vulnerable countries. The onus has shifted to women so traumatized by their babies dying that they bear many to cope with the loss of one or two. It has shifted to devout families who view many children as a joyous gift from God and to young girls who don’t want Americans to inject them, tie their tubes or give them pills that have troubling side effects.

Overpopulation is a climate issue, albeit a small one, and liberal politicians certainly have a duty to be concerned and action-oriented regarding the environment.

But when Western policies to offset climate change revolve around ignoring the autonomous wills of people in the Global South and coercively reducing their populations instead of, say, using green energy or implementing carbon taxes, perhaps we are not quite as progressive — or post-colonial — as we think.

ILLUSTRATION BY YVONNE TANG

PHOTOS 9

GALLERY

Series of study spaces

The balcony of the Metcalf Ballroom in the George Sherman Union. KAITO AU | DFP STAFF

Paige Palinski, a freshman in the College of Communications, studies on the Boston University Beach. ISABELLE MEGOSH | DFP STAFF

The back room of Life Alive Organic Cafe on Commonwealth Avenue. JENNIFER SMALL | DFP STAFF

The Daily Free Press staff photographers share their favorite study spots on campus. These Boston University study spaces provide unique environments ranging from focused to lively, indoors to outdoors and can be found in both East and West Campus.

Seating in the Questrom School of Business lobby.

AMANDA CUCCINIELLO | DFP STAFF

Camilla Santana, a sophomore studying physical therapy, studies on the third floor of the George Sherman Union. PERRY SOSI | DFP STAFF

Three STEM students study in the Boston University BUild Lab. VISHVA VENKATESAN | DFP STAFF

Boston University students study in the adirondack chairs on the College of Communication lawn. CLARE ONG | DFP STAFF

Sydney Miller, a sophomore studying health science, studies on the fourth floor of Mugar Memorial Library.

MEGHAN SCOTT | DFP STAFF

The view of the Charles River from the eighteenth floor study room in Stuvi1. SHANNON DAMIANO | DFP STAFF

Sophomore Sydney Householder holds her pen in concentration as she studies in Boston University’s School of Law Café. SYDNEY ROTH | DFP STAFF

John Spaulding, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, studies in Fuller’s BU Pub. ANH NGUYEN | DFP STAFF

10 GAME

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CARTOON

LIFESTYLE 11

LIFESTYLE Highs, lows and finding solace in the middle Joshua Rosenthal Contributing Writer At first, the best part of being in college was that you could have both the worst day and the greatest night imaginable within the span of 48 hours. As time goes on, however, the idea of enduring that exact chain of events every single weekend for four years can become a little repetitive.

Having encountered some of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life since arriving at Boston University, this constant oscillation between good and bad moments is starting to overwhelm me. I need a middle ground to reveal itself immediately.

Since returning to campus from winter break, I have tried to coax this stable center out of hiding, but success has been elusive so far. Due to a near cataclysmic collision of personal issues, the past few weeks have been a true test of my productivity and emotional strength, leaving me feeling quite lost at times. With a full semester under my belt, I had hoped that I would be better adjusted by now. Why does everything still feel so intense?

I took this past weekend to really think about what my next step forward should be and I came to the conclusion that I cannot let my time in Boston be defined by these moments of acute satisfaction and distress. It

would not be wise to give up and tell myself that my college years will always be marked by extreme fluctuations between good and bad times, for I know that some balance between the two has to exist. In order to bring that balance to fruition, I understand there are certain measures I have

to take, however challenging that might be.

Throughout my first semester at BU, I was able to distract myself from any feelings of sorrow by leaning hard into things that made me feel joy — whether that was attending a concert or going to the movies with a friend. Although I

felt like I was finally living the life I wanted to live in these instances, I would feel pessimistic the second they were over, for I had misguidedly pinned all my hopes of contentment squarely on these great affairs. I realize now that I am only hurting myself by setting impossible standards of selfILLUSTRATION BY YVONNE TANG

gratification, and I should pursue less drastic avenues of cultivating happiness from here on out.

Maybe some of the other efforts I have taken to stabilize my wellbeing have not been the healthiest either. I often devote myself to certain people in the hopes that the solace I find in them will subdue my harshest feelings, but quite commonly, this backfires and I am left feeling unhappy.

When that happens, I often feel like it is my fault that I wasn’t worthy of their attention or love.

But an important step in my road to self-improvement is being kinder to myself about the people I choose to invest my time and energy into. It will be difficult to cut people out of my life who are ultimately detrimental to it, but if I cannot love myself first, I won’t be able to accept the love from people who genuinely care about me.

In time, I am sure I will find peace with how I go about my life at BU. I have to keep reminding myself that it is relatively early in my college career, and that these strong feelings I have won’t last forever. Coming to terms with this will take a lot of work on my behalf, and I know it will require me to make some hard choices about who and what I surround myself with, but I have faith that I am on the right track.

I am excited to see what my college experience will be like once I find comfort on a daily basis. At the end of the day, it gives me something to look forward to, and I can’t wait to embrace all that comes my way.

Self-love through an unexpected turn of events Payton Renegar Senior Writer This past week was a whirlwind of emotion and chaos. With midterm season ready to ambush

ILLUSTRATION BY JACKLYN TSUNG

students with its sadistic sense of torture, angst and anticipation seemed to be hovering over everyone the past few days.

In my dorm room, I attempt to escape the chaotic world of college for a while, convincing myself that a new haircut will make me feel better.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep

breath as I inhale fresh air — exhaling the panic the last week had gifted me with. Reopening my eyes, I take my first chop.

Dyed red hair falls to the floor of my dorm room — standing out against the dingey, multicolored carpet. My head immediately begins to feel lighter as I cut away the ties that seemed to be holding

my gaze to the ground for the past few weeks.

As liberated as I felt with each strand that I cut off, I quickly realized the haircut I planned was not turning out well.

Instead of a light trim and newly formed curtain bangs, I slowly started to look like an unsupervised preschooler that got their hands on a pair of scissors for the first time. Suddenly, the stress of school was pushed to the back of my mind as I frantically attempted to fix my hair. With each chop, I aimed to fix my disaster hairstyle. However, I regretted the latest cut more than the previous one.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of panic, my hair was once again in a somewhat straight line, though much shorter than I initially planned. I instantly missed my long hair and how it felt like a blanket of security in uncomfortable situations — it felt like something I could hide behind.

Without my emotional-support long hair, I felt less feminine and confident for a reason I could not come to terms with yet. In the past, I associated long hair with my femininity — something I wish I had trained myself not to do.

Over the next couple of days, I reflected on the situation and what I learned from the stressful event.

First, I sought to redefine femininity for myself. My selfgiven haircut was the perfect instance for me to acknowledge that my womanhood was not defined by the length of my

hair or the size of my body that I hid, terrified to be considered less of a woman because of my strong build. Each cut brought out my insecurities, forcing me to face them head-on — getting to the root of why I felt this way about myself. In the past, I admired other women for their physical strength. However, out of insecurity, I never appreciated my own.

With my hair sitting slightly above my shoulders, and a new perspective of how strength and femininity complement one another, the instance brought forth new confidence and respect for myself.

The second perspective I took away from this experience can be explained very simply — to never cut my hair when I am stressed and looking for something to distract myself from the pressures surrounding me. Luckily, my haircut somewhat turned out okay; however, in the long run, it caused more anxiety for me than it was worth.

Once my hair was cut, I realized that my hair was not holding me down — my mindset was. The timid girl that lacked confidence was forced to face her demons as she stood in the mirror, staring at a reflection that she used to hate.

Although it has only been a week since the short hair fiasco, I learned to appreciate myself and the importance of giving myself grace. I miss the false security that my long hair provided, but I am learning the significance of self-love that was brought to my attention when I decided to impulsively cut my hair.

SPORTS 12

SPORTS Melissa Graves: head coach, leader, and now mother Pregnancy from 1 ... of its first ten matchups against Patriot League opponents, and are now gearing up to make a run at a conference championship.

Even when the team travels to a road game by bus, Graves said she has

traveled separately in case she needs to drive to a hospital at any point. On some trips, Graves has been accompanied by her assistant coaches. Other times, she’s driven with her mother.

Through everything, Graves’ new team has stayed by her side.

“When I lost my father, they were very supportive. [They] sent me flowers to the house with a note like, ‘Hey, Coach, we got you. We’re

here for you. We can’t imagine what you’re going through,” Graves said.

Graves and the team even held a gender reveal together.

“They’ve gotten new, little gifts and stuff for the baby and they’re just like, ‘We can’t wait to babysit,’” she added.

Graves consulted two other coaches on their experience leading a Division I college team while pregnant.

One was Yale University women’s

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Melissa Graves, Boston University women’s basketball head coach. Graves, pregnant and past her due date, is dedicated to her team having coached almost every game and intends to return to coaching as soon as possible after she gives birth.

basketball head coach Allison Guth, whom Graves worked with earlier in her career. The other was BU women’s lacrosse head coach Lauren Morton. “[Morton] just had a little girl during their past season last year and just talking through with her like, what did she miss like, because we’re athletes too. So we’re trained to try to do everything and try to come back super quick” Graves added.

Meanwhile, she picked Guth’s brain on how often she attended practices and worked with her student-athletes while pregnant.

Beyond the help of peers like Guth and Morton, Graves has had the support of another coach every step of the way, her husband Matt Graves.

“For this past month, I wasn’t able to fly, so certain games I couldn’t go on flights with. My husband actually came with me on that trip because I was only six days out of my due date.”

M. Graves, who works as an assistant coach at Clark University, even missed a game to be with her for the drive down to American.

“I’m very happy for [Graves],” BU assistant coach Brianna Finch said. “She’s been able to realize that she can have it all, and the opportunity to be able to balance being an individual and coach, a wife, a mother.”

Graves said she is also grateful for the BU Athletic Department’s understanding while she has juggled pregnancy with her coaching responsibilities.

“I got pregnant three weeks into my career here,” Graves said. “I was never afraid to be like … what are they gonna think, this is so soon into my career.”

Specifically, Graves credited the help of another administrator, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Kris-

tie Bowers, who works with women’s basketball frequently.

“As I’ve been later in this third trimester, she has really been supportive and present, which I thought was really huge of her to sacrifice her time and everything to make sure if I did go into labor that someone was back with the team from administration.”

Graves also praised Athletic Director Drew Marochello, calling his support “phenomenal.”

“Everybody’s been incredibly supportive,”Finch said. “The athletic department, the number of other coaches who reach out to us and congratulate us on wins, support us when we may have a loss and things like that, it’s been absolutely wonderful.”

While it may seem hectic on the outside, Graves has been able to dial in before tip off.

“I just try to focus on the moment really, I don’t think anything more complex than that, just trying to focus on the moment and as a head coach you always have to be prepared and mentally ready to go,” Graves said.

Graves acknowledged that it has been more challenging recently in the latter stages of pregnancy.

“Overall, it’s just like, you just got to focus on the present moment and doing what needs to be done in the moment.”

Graves said she hopes that her coaching staff and players will serve as strong role models for her daughter.

“It’s going to be so awesome for her just to be around not only the game of basketball, but these strong, powerful women,” Graves said.

“It’s important to have people that look like you. Women can do anything, whether it’s a male dominated industry or not, or career profession, women can do it too.”

Men’s basketball defeats Lafayette 76-60 Casey Choung Staff Writer

In its final home game of the regular season, the Boston University men’s basketball team (20-10, 11-6 Patriot League) defeated Lafayette College (10-18, 7-10 PL) 76-60 behind a strong second half showing.

“I think our defense sparked our offense,” head coach Joe Jones said postgame. “We were able to get some stops and push the ball, and I thought that really helped us.”

The Terriers trailed by two points at the half, and struggled to get easy points inside, scoring only six points in the paint compared to the Leopards’ 14.

Jones said Lafayette did “a good job keeping [us] out of rhythm,” switching between both man-to-man and zone defenses and coming out of the huddle with a press.

“Sometimes when people change in defense, you can overthink stuff and then you’re not really playing aggressively,” Jones said.

In response, the Terriers tried to get the ball to the foul line and swing it around the perimeter, all while planting someone in the corner to spread their zone out.

Throughout the game, Jones said BU was “way too loose, lackadaisical with the ball.” The Terriers struggled

to hold on to the ball, giving up 17 turnovers and allowing Lafayette 15 steals.

The Leopards had a strong showing with their starters, who scored 31 of their 33 points on 12-for-25 shooting in the first half.

Through the second half, BU slowly extended their lead, getting more good looks while shooting 62.5% from downtown and 67.9% from the field.

Jones said part of their adjusted second half defensive plan was to try to make things difficult for junior center Neal Quinn, who shot 4-for5 in the first half and ran many ball screens for Lafayette.

“We just [tried] to change up how we were guarding [guard Tyrone] Perry on the ball screen,” Jones said.

“We just try to go over and then under him [on screens] so then Quinn couldn’t couldn’t get good position at the rim and I thought that was a big adjustment for us.”

Graduate student forward Sukhmail Mathon finished with a double-double (10 points and 13 rebounds) while also limiting Quinn to 1-for-4 shooting in the second half alongside freshman forward Malcolm Chimezie.

Graduate student guard Javante McCoy turned up the heat in the second half, scoring 15 points in the half and leading the team overall with 24 points for his seventh scoring performance of at least 20 points this season.

“He just kind of saw seams and took advantage of it,” Jones said. “If we’re going to be really good, he’s a

guy that’s got to be able to do both.

He’s got to be able to score it and he’s got to be able to distribute it.”

The Terriers also received help from off the bench, with 13 points from junior guard Ethan Brittain-Watts, two steals in ten minutes

from sophomore guard Miles Brewster and eight rebounds from Chimezie.

“We felt like we had more guys that we could play that we could depend on,” Jones said. “I just thought those three guys were really able to help off the bench.”

With the win, the Terriers have secured the third seed in the Patriot League playoffs, and will look to continue their success in their last game of the season against Bucknell on Saturday.

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Graduate student Javante McCoy in a match against Lafayette College on Feb. 23. McCoy scored 15 points in the second half, leading the team overall with 24 points, and the Terriers came out defeating the Leopards 76-60.