Indefinite pause to abroad scholarships leaves students wary
FEATURES PAGE 5
BU Tennis players found company to recycle tennis strings
PHOTO
PAGES 6 & 7
South Boston celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with parade
‘Constant disruption’: Warren Towers residents face unexpected challenges amid renovations
BY TOBY MOSES
Associate Sports Editor
Boston University students living in Warren A Tower returned from winter break to scaffolding scaling the building, loud construction noises and workers outside their windows.
Warren Towers is undergoing its first-ever full renovation: a three-year, $550 million project that began in December. Housing roughly 1,800 students, the 18-story complex is the second largest nonmilitary dorm in the country.
Hiya Verma and other A Tower residents said the University did not prepare them for the disruptions that have hindered their living situations this semester.
“I wasn’t expecting them to be there yet,” said Verma, whose fifth-floor room sits directly at the level of the construction work. “I hadn’t been notified at all.”
Verma, a sophomore, attended a BU information session Dec. 9, where staff
said construction workers would have a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekday work schedule and ensured students would be notified before work started.
This was not the case for Verma, who saw a construction worker outside her window when she returned to school in January.
Verma voiced her concern to her RA, who relayed the information to the construction team.
“Only after we confronted them, and those notices told us that construction would be done Monday through Saturday, which was different than what we were promised,” said Verma.
Then came the early morning noise. Then, the late nights. Then,
construction on Sundays.
Collin Pachilis, a freshman and former Warren Towers fifthfloor resident, said the schedule in BU’s weekly construction updates was not followed. Upon contacting the construction team, they confirmed that extended hours beyond the initial schedule were sometimes necessary, according to Pachilis.
Pachilis also documented constant drilling, hammering and pounding outside his window. He eventually requested a room change Jan. 26, sending his evidence to BU’s Housing department through email.
To address student concerns, Jason
Grochowalski, associate director of residence life for administration, suggested in an email to A Tower residents they “adjust [their] window treatments (shades, blinds, etc.) as needed” while construction occurs.
“We do certainly understand that disruption can be difficult, particularly if you’re trying to study,” said BU Spokesperson Colin Riley. “But we take that into consideration during quiet periods, finals, etc.”
Starting next year, one tower will be closed at a time, while students occupy the other two, until the project’s end in 2028.
Students living far from the construction are
unlikely to be affected, but for those on A Tower’s fifth floor, the impact has been drastic.
“I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t be in the room, I couldn’t exist there at all,” said Pachilis.
BU Campus Planning & Operations and LeftField Project Management –– both heading the Warren Towers renovation project team –– did not comment about the renovations, and redirected all communication to Riley.
Managing large-scale construction projects like the Warren Towers renovations presents significant challenges, especially when students are living on site.
“We’re talking about milliondollar projects. These things have to go forward,” said Joe, who has been a dormitory operations manager at a college
CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Mayor Wu delivers State of the City
BY ELIZABETH MEHLER Associate Campus Editor
Mayor Michelle Wu highlighted Boston’s resistance against the Trump administration’s attacks on the city’s public servants, immigrants, veterans and the LBGTQ+ community, along with introducing education and housing initiatives in her 2025 State of the City Address Wednesday.
Speaking before a packed crowd at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Wu discussed her recent testimony before Congress, where she defended Boston’s sanctuary
city policies against threats from the Trump administration to withhold federal funds.
“Two weeks ago, I went down to D.C. because Congress had some questions about how we do things here in Boston,” Wu said. “It might have been my voice speaking into the microphone that day, but it was 700,000 voices that gave Congress their answer: this is our city.”
Only a day after Wu’s address, the White House Office of Communications
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Men’s club soccer prepares for Beanpot, hopes to
defend title
BY AVA MALAMUT Contributing Writer the NEPL regular season.
The Boston University men’s club soccer team is preparing for the fifth semi-annual club soccer Boston Beanpot, hoping to build on their recent success.
The Fall 2024 NIRSA season saw the team reach the regional quarterfinals and the Round of 16 in the NIRSA National Soccer Championships. A year ago, they became the latest winners of the Boston Beanpot tournament while also going 6-0-0 through
Last Beanpot, the Terriers scored 11 goals and allowed just one through their undefeated run in the two-game group stage, with four players named to the All-Tournament team.
In the championship game, they beat Harvard A 1-0 to lift the trophy.
This year, they want to do it again.
The Terriers (1-0-2 New
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
HOLLY GUSTAVSEN | PHOTO CO-EDITOR
CAMPUS
Fulbright funding cuts raise uncertainty for scholars abroad
BY SAM MANDALA Associate Campus Editor
The U.S. State Department cut funding for abroad scholarship programs like the Fulbright Program in continued efforts to streamline government efficiency by the Trump administration, leaving scholarship recipients in the dust as they scramble to live without aid.
Approximately 3,500 Americans were awarded State Department scholarships and are currently abroad, while around 9,000 more are scheduled to go abroad within the next six months.
Future grantees are now speculating whether their scholarships will still be available, Mary Keister, a communications consultant for the Forum of Education Abroad, wrote in an email to the Daily Free Press.
“A stipend payment not going through or being rescinded would be detrimental to the safety and well-being of a Fulbrighter,” according to Gabriel Calistro, a recent Boston University graduate and former Fulbright Scholar.
Calistro was granted the Fulbright Research Award in 2023, where he spent time in Florence, Italy researching the potential impacts of microplastics on truffle soil community behavior and microbial succession. For his nine-month contract, he said he
received about $15,000 for his living expenses, including rent, transportation and groceries.
“The whole point is [Fulbright is] meant for everyone. If anything, funding it more would
make it more accessible,” according to Calistro. “I’m genuinely worried for people who are [abroad] … We’re still receiving the bare minimum, and arguably, the bare minimum of a
decade ago.”
The funding freeze was issued mid-February and was expected to last 15 days. Scholars then received an email from the Institute of Internal Education, indefinitely pausing funding to “facilitate a review of programs and activities.”
Besides Fulbright, the freeze affects other Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairsfunded programs, such as the Gilman Scholarship, Critical Language Scholarship and IDEAS program.
“The beauty of the program, and for which it is so well recognized, exists in the unrestricted opportunity it encourages,” according to Calistro. “It should concern everyone when academia, [and] the pursuit of knowledge, is hindered and flagged as dismissible or unnecessary.”
There are six Fulbright scholars from BU currently abroad worldwide and 11 visiting scholars studying at BU.
“The Provost’s office has reached out [to] all BU Fulbrighters abroad in recent days and weeks … those who responded say they are doing well and being supported as Fulbright English teaching assistants or researchers in the various host countries,” BU Spokesperson Colin Riley wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press. “Our hope, of course, is that any holds on funding will be formally lifted.
The Fulbright commissions abroad are providing assistance as they are able to support grantees for the remainder of the ongoing Fulbright cycle.”
With the fate of funding uncertain, future implementation of these programs by international organizations will be “severely compromised,” according to Keister.
“The U.S. is hurting its own economic interests by implementing this extraordinary freeze,” Melissa Torres, president and CEO of the Forum of Education Abroad, wrote in an email to the Daily Free Press. “Businesses will find it harder to hire workers with global skills [and] the 3,500 Americans who are currently abroad on scholarships will be less safe.”
After weeks of displacement, funding is starting to trickle out again for grant-funded programs, but the freeze has not been fully lifted, according to Keister.
Riley said Fulbright is on track to launch their new application cycle and BU is moving forward with the annual Fulbright Kickoff April 17, where attendees can expect an overview of the program and a panel of former BU Fulbright recipients to share their insights.
“Congress must follow through on the funding commitments they made if they want to preserve the future of America’s workforce and support student success,” Torres wrote.
Detention of Columbia University’s Mahmoud Khalil raises concerns over protest rights on BU’s campus
BY SANGMIN SONG Senior Writer
After Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil was detained by federal law enforcement for his participation in pro-Palestine protests, national concern sparked over how President Donald Trump’s immigration policies could be used to target student activists.
At Boston University, a hot spot for pro-Israel and proPalestine student activism, the events at Columbia have raised pressing questions around student protesters’ First Amendment protections and the response of University authorities to federal orders.
Student Government President Akwasi Antwi said activism is “an essential part of the student experience,” at any university, emphasizing students should be encouraged to voice their opinions on issues that matter to them.
“The fact that Mahmoud has been treated that way is sad, and we hope conduct like this doesn’t occur at BU,” he said.
Antwi said University officials affirmed BU remains committed to supporting students, particularly those concerned about legal risks for protests.
“I discussed this with the Dean of Students and the [BU] President, both of which informed me that they will not comply with outside federal immigration services unless it is absolutely legally necessary,” Antwi said.
BU’s Safety, Security and Preparedness website
assures students that if they are approached by an outside law enforcement official, their personal information is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It advises students to request the official wait in an appropriate location and contact BUPD for assistance.
“BUPD is here to protect and serve all members of our University,” BU Spokesperson
Colin Riley wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press. “BUPD does not enforce federal immigration law and will never ask about an individual’s immigration status.”
Riley wrote the University is “committed to the well-being of all of our students,” who should keep their information up-todate.
“International students should ensure their information, visa status, and related requirements are current,” he wrote.
Andy Sellars, a clinical associate professor in the School of Law specializing in media and First Amendment law, said Khalil’s arrest contradicts First Amendment protections on free speech.
“The behavior of the presidential administration is shockingly offensive,” Sellars said. “It violates every part of our country’s founding tradition and our traditional approach to freedom of speech.”
Sellars said participating in peaceful protests should not threaten one’s legal status. He pointed to historic legal precedent establishing that free speech rights extend to all individuals,
regardless of citizenship.
“What we’re seeing the administration do right now is try to bend these very old or very niche laws to say that you can abruptly expel a non-citizen for a variety of different reasons,” Sellars said. “These are powers that traditionally have never been used outside of wartime [and] this is a really extreme application of these laws.”
Sellars said the 1945 case Bridges v. Wixon determined non-citizens have the same free speech protections as citizens, at least while on United States soil.
“If you’re here and you’re peacefully protesting, you’re lawfully protesting, that should not be the basis for removal,” Sellars said.
BU students who are not citizens may face more risks
addressing potential legal issues than students who are citizens or lawful permanent residents, he added.
He said professors hope students will be active voices on the social issues that shape the world today, especially through channels like public protest.
“Public protest by students, while disruptive, it’s not only core to freedom of speech. It’s really core to the mission of the university,” Sellars said.
“The alumni we hold in very high esteem are alumni like Martin Luther King [Jr.] or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They are cherished alumni because they are so vocal when they saw injustice.”
Wednesday afternoon, George Bryant held a “Free Mahmoud Khalil” sign outside Marsh
Chapel and gave out fliers to passersby. He said universities across the country are facing increased scrutiny, and a strong response is needed.
“All these colleges are being targeted now, and there needs to be a response,” Bryant said. “BU is a place where people are thinking, and it is related to this situation that [Vice President] JD Vance said, ‘The problem is the universities.’ … We’re trying to get the BU community to make an outcry.”
Antwi said StuGov is always available to assist students who may need support during challenging situations.
“We’re elected to represent the students, so if any student feels that they’re at risk of these policies, they can always reach out to StuGov,” Antwi said. “I can bring their case up to BUPD, the President, whatever the student needs. We’re always going to be a resource for students.”
Sellars said careful planning is crucial when protesting, as preparation and understanding of implications is key to navigating the potential consequences. He said faculty stand in solidarity with student protestors.
“Faculty are very much aligned with students at this moment, [and] they want to see their students protected,” Sellars said. “Faculty can always keep the ear of the administration and make sure that students who are protesting are treated with dignity and respect.”
Associate Campus Editor Elizabeth Mehler contributed reporting.
COURTESY OF GABRIEL CALISTRO Fulbright Scholar Gabriel Calistro. Thousands of students were left uncertain about receiving Fulbright scholarship funding after the Trump administration announced it would cut state department funding for abroad programs.
KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER
Boston University Students for Justice in Palestine members participating in a “study-in” at the Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences Nov. 6. After the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil for his participation in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, national concern sparked over how President Donald Trump’s immigration policy could be used to target student activists.
PREVIEW PHOTO BY SIENA GLEASON | ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
CITY
City of Boston unveils Anti-Displacement Plan to protect residents, businesses, cultural institutions
BY LIAM DUNNE Associate City Editor
The City of Boston released its Anti-Displacement Action Plan Thursday, aiming to stabilize residents and both commercial and creative enterprises.
Announced December, the plan includes more than 40 initiatives set to be implemented over the next two years to prevent the displacement of residents, local businesses and cultural centers.
Mayor Michelle Wu discussed the plan in her State of the City address Wednesday.
“This is also the first antidisplacement plan in the country to not just focus on residents, but also include cultural institutions and small businesses,” Wu said. “We recognize that people need more than a home.”
Mayor Wu’s term has seen the most construction of affordable housing units in decades, with more than 5,000 income-based units constructed or in the process of construction as well as more than 4,000 more soon to be developed. The plan will build on these initiatives.
The Anti-Displacement Action Plan also includes a risk assessment map, which Wu said will be factored into the City’s data to help make decisions.
Wu said the plan’s development included months-long engagement
with community members in order to understand “where the stresses are being felt most.”
“They need to have the entire community’s benefits to be welcome and to be rooted firmly in their lives … making sure that we are continuing the progress on creating and building more housing in a way that stabilizes residents in their neighborhoods,” she said.
According to the plan, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture will also work to combat cultural displacement, the weakening of community culture due to forced relocation.
“One of the issues that this project has highlighted is the lack of data and access to data and mapping that we have to understand what is happening in real time to our creative economy
and our creative industries,” MOAC Director of Cultural Planning Joseph Henry said. Henry described the development’s collaborative process between City agencies as working together to “look strategically at how to deal with displacement across the City, whether that’s commercial spaces or in housing.”
Councilor Liz Breadon, who
‘God save whoever messes with Boston’
represents the Allston-Brighton district, said her district is facing displacement due to large student populations moving into the area.
“Displacement is happening a lot because of increased pressure on our housing,” Breadon said. “The reality is that the scarcity of housing and that we need to build more housing that’s within a certain price band that’s affordable for people.”
Breadon said she encourages developers in her district to construct units designated for low-income residents, with rents at 50% of the average median income in addition to other units set at market value — something the anti-displacement plan also emphasizes.
“We’ve heard of folks who want to buy a home in the neighborhood, but they end up buying a home further out in the suburbs somewhere,” Breadon said of her district. “It’s a constant drum beat in the background that the neighborhood is unaffordable for people.”
Henry also stressed the need to protect lower-income residents.
“We are looking at supporting cultural sectors at the moment that are generating less revenue,” Henry said. “What a lot of this work will do is raise awareness of who we have, and therefore who we need to protect, and therefore who we need to support to thrive.”
Mayor Wu pushes back against criticism from the Trump administration, unveils housing, education programs in State of the City Address
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
called her a “radical mayor” in a statement. One of the Trump Administration’s X accounts, “Rapid Response 47,” wrote that Wu “doubled down last night on giving sanctuary to violent criminal illegal aliens.”
Before Wu took the stage at MGM, a compilation of news clips criticizing Boston played, including a clip of Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan saying he’d bring “hell to Boston,” which was followed by a series of clips showcasing City programs and services.
“No one tells Boston how to take care of our own, not kings and not presidents who think they are kings,” Wu said.
Councilor Benjamin Weber said it’s particularly important for college students in Boston to play a role in resistance to the Trump administration.
“One of the things that makes Boston great is we’re home to all these universities,” Weber said. “Come out of your dorm room, leave the student union, get out on the streets and join the rest of us, because your efforts are gonna make the city a better place.”
City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said young people are in a unique position to lead the way.
“[Young people] have only known a country of chaos, and that is unacceptable,” Louijeune said. “We’re looking to our students and to our young people
to be the leaders that we need in this moment.”
Weber said the city is “unified” in fighting for “justice and empathy,” which he said Wu will continue to support.
“Even though we’re being faced with an incredible onslaught of accusations and funding issues and threats to prosecute our mayor … she’s going to stand up and fight for what’s right,” he said.
Wu called for strength and unity from Boston residents amidst increasingly harmful political rhetoric.
“Boston is not a city that tolerates tyranny. We are the city that leads in the storm, that stands up under pressure together and finds strength in each other,” Wu said. “God save whoever messes with Boston.”
Wu also spoke of Boston’s improvement in public education and initiatives to improve the lives of students.
“In the city that created public education, we must set the standard for others to meet,” Wu said. “We aren’t there yet, but today, our public schools are on the right track and steadily building momentum.”
Boston Public Schools enrollment is rising for the first time in a decade, Mayor Wu announced, alongside higher graduation rates and a drop in chronic absenteeism.
“Our state accountability results show meaningful progress,” she said. “We are connecting our
young people to an excellent and expansive education, rigorous academics, summer learning and jobs, after-school enrichment, student athletics and access to the arts.”
Wu announced the launch of BCYF Creates, a partnership with the Boston Centers for Youth & Families aiming to provide students with free artistic programming.
“If you’re a student excited to explore our nation’s history, take in a show, try a new sport or join the math team, all you have to do is live in Boston,” she said.
Additionally, Wu introduced new housing initiatives, including the Co-Purchasing Pilot Program, which allows residents to pool their resources to buy multifamily homes with City-backed 0% interest deferred loans.
“Co-purchasing can make buying a home more accessible and make sharing meals and moments a built-in part of life,” she said.
Wu also announced the city would be expanding the existing office-to-residential conversion program to include universities and employers looking to reactivate office buildings as dorms or workforce housing.
“We are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to building, preserving and reimagining housing all over our city,” Wu said.
Wu highlighted her collaboration with City Life, Related Beal and the Housing
Acquisition Fund Partners to permanently protect residents of 347 homes in Fairlawn Estates who were facing evictions.
Gabrielle Rene, a community organizer with City Life, attended the address and said it felt “amazing” to see their accomplishment mentioned in Wu’s speech.
“We, as a group, worked for six years,” Rene said. “Now, we have 350 households who are going to be at peace knowing that their home is going to be theirs for a long time.”
Weber said he appreciated the work done with the Fairlawn Estates to solve Boston’s housing crisis.
“It’s an example for what we really should be doing as a city to make sure there’s affordable
housing,” he said.
Wu also announced the launch of a Business Recruitment Office to further revitalization efforts in Downtown Boston. Wu said in the past year, Boston has added the most new liquor licenses since Prohibition, and large companies — like LEGO, Roche and Eli Lilly — have moved their headquarters to Boston.
Reverend Mariama WhiteHammond, who recited a prayer before Wu spoke, said she appreciated how the city plans to use its resources.
“This has always been a pretty prosperous city, and that’s important,” White-Hammond said. “But, unless it makes it possible for everyone to feel that prosperity, then there’s nothing revolutionary about just being a rich city.”
SARAH CRUZ | PHOTO CO-EDITOR
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu addresses reporters after her State of the City Address March 19. Wu discussed her testimony before Congress and announced new programs during her address at MGM Music Hall at Fenway.
ANH HUYNH | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER Brownstones along Euston Street in Brookline. The City of Boston released its Anti-Displacement Action Plan Thursday, aiming to stabilize residents and both commercial and creative enterprises.
ARTS
White Snake Projects, Boston Music Project host concert bringing opera activism into harmony
BY MOHAN ZHANG Contributing Writer
Music has become a powerful voice to express the fight for the environmental crisis. Local Boston music groups have combined performance with activism in an effort to empower younger generations.
White Snake Projects, a Bostonbased activist opera company, held a concert collaborating with the Boston Music Project, featuring the Vivaldi Orchestra and singer Hannah Shanefield in Josiah Quincy Elementary School Auditorium March 14.
This performance was a part of the Sing Out Strong series, “a community song series where we reach out to regular people in
our community, not necessarily professionals,” said Cerise Jacobs, the founding artistic director of White Snake Projects.
The series commissions them to write pieces focused on different activist themes.
“We have students writing for us. We have cooks and chefs and electricians writing about their experiences for this year,” Jacobs said. “We’re talking about young people, middle aged people and older people.”
The theme for 2025 was climate, with the prompt being “What does the climate crisis mean for your generation?”
Three pieces premiered at the concert. The lyrics of the pieces, originally poems, were written by individuals aged 16-77 and
were set to music by various composers.
“It’s one thing to just see the effects of climate change going on and feeling helpless and that you can’t do anything,” said Vivaldi Conductor and Director Sébastein Ridoré. “But [these kids] have music, they have something. They can make their voices be heard, this gives them an outlet.”
One of the pieces titled “We Say Stop!” was written by 15-year-old Rose Wagnac, a high school student at the Boston International Newcomers Academy.
Composer J. Andrés Ballesteros said the poem sought to share the message of “caring for our planet and caring for our animals and asking us to stop doing things that are hurting them.”
“When I read these words, I thought what can we do with the music? It’s got to be big and dramatic, and we are going to have some moments where we just stop the music, so we can listen to what sounds around us are doing,” Ballesteros said, describing his process of composing.
Shanefield said the poem set to music was “a great way to form call-to-actions through art.”
“It gives them an opportunity to feel empowered, and that’s really great because the worst thing is that climate change is happening,” Ridoré said. “But we can’t lose hope.”
The concert uniquely allowed young students the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of music professionals. From the writing of the poems to the composition of the music, the creative process was interactive, Ridoré said.
“A lot of this is just showing the students what’s possible,” he said. “While students normally learn through a classical repertoire, this was an opportunity for them to play a piece of music that was made specifically for a younger age group,” Ridoré said.
As someone who grew up in Boston and has seen the effects of the climate crisis, Ridoré said this project has also allowed him to experience climate change through the eyes of his students.
Shanefield noted how climate change contributes to the decline of the global birth rate, which he added is a fear for future generations.
“If we are already seeing the negative impact of climate change just over a couple decades, what’s it going to be like a couple decades from now?” Shanefield said. “Are we even building a world that’s safe enough for the future generations?”
But Shanefield found comfort in this project.
“Projects like this assure me there is change that we can make through art and that it can be especially compelling to get messaging across,” Shanefield said.
COMMUNITY
Jacobs said she felt the concert was extremely successful, and she is excited at an ongoing relationship between these two groups.
“We are very lucky to have BMP as our collaborator,” she said. “It’s not just the fact that young kids are learning to play music, but it’s also young kids are being exposed to all these issues.”
Ridoré also said the groups needed the support of one another to put on a production like Sing Out Strong.
“We wouldn’t have ever been able to put a concert on like this without White Snakes,” he said. “White Snakes wouldn’t be able to put on or provide this type of programming without the Youth Ensemble to perform their youth pieces as it stands right now.”
Shanefield said there will be at least one following performance of the songs, with the addition of three more songs on the same topic.
White Snake Projects’ mission focuses on building a world where opera emboldens community through storytelling. Sing Out Strong is just one of their initiatives working towards that goal.
“I really believe in this saying that high tide lifts all ships,” said Ridoré. “The more that we can work together, the more connections that there are between the arts, the stronger the arts actually become.”
BU journalism students attend US-Mexico border spring break trip, report on effects of immigration policy change
BY KAVITHA KOSHKARIAN Contributing Writer
During spring break, two Boston University students traveled to Tijuana, Mexico with Associate Professor of the Practice Shannon Dooling to report on the impacts of new immigration policies. The group focused specifically on how the change affected asylum-seeking processes among migrants in Tijuana.
Dooling was accompanied by junior Zenobia Pellissier Lloyd and graduate student Gabriel O’Hara Salini.
Pellissier Lloyd and O’Hara Salini were encouraged to pitch their resulting stories to the media outlets on campus, including The Daily Free Press, BUTV and WTBU Radio, Dooling said.
“They will also be assisting and contributing to the reporting that I produced for WBUR,” she said. “Which will likely be at least one digital story as well as a broadcast radio story.”
The group assisted Al Otro Lado, a volunteer organization that provides legal and humanitarian services for people sheltered at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Dooling previously traveled to Tijuana during the Trump administration in 2018, and on this trip, hoped to see “how things have changed a little bit in terms of the landscape” for asylum-seekers
and people looking to migrate to the U.S., she said.
Pellissier Lloyd said her daily routine on the trip involved interviewing individuals in shelters and volunteers at the border, recording ambient sound for the audio portion of her media submissions and taking photographs.
She said she plans to co-write a narrative story with O’Hara Salini to be published in The Journalist, a magazine run by the BU Journalism Department.
Pellissier Lloyd was motivated to apply for the trip because of a border studies class she took last year within the BU Center on Forced Displacement and previous news stories she’s written.
“Going physically to Tijuana was a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually see these spaces with people that have become kind of like buzzwords and these highly politicized topics,” she said. “Being there physically, kind of put all those things in perspective.”
One of President Donald Trump’s first actions after his inauguration was to repurpose the CBP One Home Mobile Application. CBP was first introduced by the Biden Administration to allow asylumseeking individuals sheltering at the U.S.-Mexico border to begin the process of obtaining legal status in the U.S. from their phones.
Even so, Pellissier Lloyd said the wait times could span several months to even obtain an appointment to finish the process.
“A few of the people that we spoke to had been waiting in Tijuana for six months to a year,” she said. “One of the people that we spoke to had an appointment set on Jan. 20, and she showed up at the port of entry and was told at the gate that her appointment was canceled, that CBP no longer existed.”
O’Hara Salini said he met individuals who were “escaping systematic violence” and have traveled “from all over just to have a chance to enter the U.S., because they feel it’s the only place that’s safe.”
While they wait to acquire asylum-seeking status in the U.S., they are stuck in shelters with no clear time frame, he said.
“Legal aid has changed because [people] are no longer applying for asylum. They’re just preparing their papers if [the border] ever opens up,” O’Hara Salini said.
O’Hara Salini explained that asylum-seekers are actively feeling the effects of the changing policy.
Volunteer groups host weekly “know-your-rights” clinics to keep people informed about what is going on.
After Jan. 20 attendance at these clinics has been high as
uncertainty around policy grows.
O’Hara Salini said the conditions in the shelter were often crowded, with many families and children living in the same quarters with all of their belongings for long periods of time.
“It’s a very humbling experience, because while you’re here in Boston, you see all these things … And you think you know a lot about it,” he said. “But when you get there … it does bring you a new perspective.”
The reporting trip served as a way for O’Hara Salini to not only witness what is going on first hand, but also to be able to share it. He
said when people stop seeing the individuals affected by this policy change, and “start seeing them as numbers,” it can be dangerous.
The precarity of the current immigration laws has often left people feeling hopeless, he said.
“But at the same time, you can see people there still have this small grain of hope that things will get better,” O’Hara Salini said.
Zenobia Pellissier Lloyd wrote for The Daily Free Press from September 2022 to April 2023, and Gabriel O’Hara Salini currently writes for The Daily Free Press. Neither of them were involved in the reporting, writing or editing of this article.
COURTESY OF GABRIEL O’HARA SALINI
Hannah Shanefield performs with the Vivaldi Orchestra for White Snake Projects’ Sing Out Strong concert March 14. The Sing Out Strong concert series features local community members performing pieces about activist topics.
COURTESY OF WHITE SNAKES PROJECT
Associate Professor Shannon Dooling and Zenobia Pellesier Llyod interview Kathy Kruger Castro, an attorney with the nonprofit legal aid group Al Otro Lado, outside of one of Tijuana’s largest homeless shelters. Dooling led a reporting trip for Boston University students to Tijuana, Mexico over spring break.
BU startup brings sustainability from tennis to textiles BUSINESS
BY JOHN TATUM Contributing Writer
Jakob Esterowitz and Jonah Dickson were doubles partners on the Boston University men’s tennis team before they ventured into a new kind of partnership: co-founding a startup.
Esterowitz, a sophomore in the College of Engineering, and Dickson, a master’s student studying global marketing management at the BU Metropolitan College, founded their startup, Orobor, during fall 2024.
Orobor collects used tennis racket strings and recycles them into high-purity polyester yarn used for clothing manufacturing.
Esterowitz described how the initial idea for the company stemmed from his experience running his own clothing brand, after coming across sustainability issues regarding production.
Polyester accounted for 57% of total global fiber production in 2023, according to the 2024 Textile Exchange Materials Market Report.
As a member of the tennis team, Esterowitz said the “ridiculous” amount of string they used became the solution he was looking for.
“I wanted to find something in my life that I could turn into clothes,” said Esterowitz.
“There’s over 20 million pounds of polyester string thrown away each year in the world, and it all ends up in landfills,” he said, adding that the strings can take more than 500 years to decompose. “We’re trying to give the new waste new life.”
Esterowitz reached out to professors across the country, including Jay Park, an associate professor of plastics engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, who assisted Orobor with the initial production of the recycled fibers.
Within these fiber constituents, Orobor can turn them into actual articles of textiles.
“Provided there is a constant supply of them, we can make a case for being able to turn them into wearables or even other recyclable products,” Park said.
When reaching out to brands to pitch their product, the founders contacted Erick Mathelier, co-founder and chief product officer of FURI Sport, a tennis brand based in New York.
“We thought it was super interesting and innovative to take a product like polyester strings, which normally gets discarded, and to find new uses for it,” said Mathelier.
Mathelier said his background in tennis was something
he, Dickson and Esterowitz connected on.
“We’ve always talked about creating sustainable products,” he said. “For them [to be] doing it already off the gate, the synergy makes sense for us… It’s a natural alignment.”
Dickson, who also serves as Orobor’s chief operating officer, said the skills he learned through tennis have helped him through difficulties in the business.
“Tennis, especially reaching division one level, is just a lot of dedication and hard work, even on days when you don’t want to do it,” he said. “I think that applies to working on Orobor because some days are trickier and more difficult than others.”
Despite the work, Esterowitz said their business venture is more fun than stressful.
“We both are really interested in everything that we’re doing regarding it, so we can just have fun with each other while we’re [making calls] or working on presentations,” Esterowitz said. “It doesn’t feel like we’re doing a problem set or homework.”
The company recently expanded its string-collection efforts internationally.
Esterowitz said they are expecting to have nearly 1,900 collection locations globally in partnership with tennis clubs and nonprofits next month.
“We should be collecting
around 600,000 pounds of string each year, and our goal is to work with as many brands as possible,” Esterowitz said.
Orobor’s recycled yarn has quickly gained traction, with six activewear and tennis brands including Athleta and Soulcycle
expressing interest.
“We’ve been playing tennis since we were three or four and we’re going to be playing for the rest of our lives,” Esterowitz said. “We want to make it more sustainable and have a better impact on the world.”
PREVIEW PHOTO COURTESY OF JAKOB ESTEROWITZ
BU researchers discover microplastics fuel antibiotic resistance SCIENCE
BY CHARLIE DIPPOLITO Science & Business Editor
AND JACK SCHWED Associate
In our food, clothes and even bodies exists a threat that is invisible to the naked eye — microplastics. As research on these tiny plastic particles advances, its hazardous nature becomes more apparent.
Nelia Gross, a PhD candidate studying materials science and engineering, began her first year at Boston University in 2022 researching how environmental contaminants influence how our bodies fight off diseases.
This process is known as antimicrobial resistance, or when medicines used to treat
infectious diseases no longer become effective, according to the World Health Organization.
For 10 to 15 days, Gross and other researchers incubated several types of microplastics with E. coli, a bacteria found in the human digestive tract that can produce toxins
“What we saw was that the amount of antibiotics that we needed to kill off the bacteria was increasing,” she said.
Gross said the team’s initial findings on antimicrobial resistance were unsurprising, as microplastics carry bacteria already.
“The rate at which it started at and the magnitude that it got to by the end of the 10 days was what was novel about our study,”
she said.
Bacteria attach to the microplastic surfaces to form a barrier called biofilm, which increases antimicrobial resistance by 1000 fold, Gross said.
“We go into our houses and it protects us from intruders or weather,” she said. “Biofilms act very much the same.”
Gross characterizes these bacteria as “better biofilm formers” after observing how they still formed biofilms even without an attachable surface.
“We realized there is something more than a simple interaction between bacteria and material,” said Muhammad Zaman, a professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Center of Forced Displacement at BU.
Zaman said antimicrobial resistance is also a major global health challenge, specifically affecting communities impacted by conflict, persecution and climate change.
“The challenge is, as you can imagine, that many places have very serious issues of plastic pollution of microplastics,” he said.
For some students, the fear of microplastics has extended into their daily lives.
When people hear the term “microplastics” it can be terrifying, said sophomore Alara Baran.
Informing the public on advancements being made to slow the spread of microplastics is one way to ease these concerns,
she said.
BU Sustainability, which supports sustainable and equitable planning, operations and culture on campus, has also taken initiatives to reduce plastic waste on campus through communication and awareness with the BU community.
Currently, BU Sustainability’s goal is to create a zero-waste campus by 2030.
“[People] don’t know that we don’t have the space to manage the amount of waste we generate,” said Sarah Healey, the Zero Waste manager at BU Sustainability.
Healey said BU Sustainability initiatives, including “Goodwill, Not Landfill,” allow students to donate clothing and other materials in bins near residential buildings during the weeks prior to move-out. The donation program is just one of the steps the organization has taken to combat plastic waste on campus.
Last year, BU Sustainability diverted 120,000 pounds of items, specifically clothing and other plastic materials, from landfills and incinerators to Goodwill.
“We are impacting communities well beyond Massachusetts,” Healey said, whose family has owned a wholesale fishing company in Boston for more than 130 years. “My community is a really important driving factor of what I’m trying to do.”
By adding more contaminants to their study, Gross said they can start simulating more “real-
world” experiments in the lab until they can begin working in the field.
“You start with a recognition that this is something serious,” said Zaman. “Awareness generates public pressure to increase regulatory systems at the same time recognizing that some people are at a greater risk.”
Gross said there should be a “more serious tone” to the effect that waste disposal and mismanagement is having on humans.
“At the end of the day, we’re running out of antibiotics,” she said. “We only have a certain amount of time to create novel antibiotics or find other alternatives past the current treatments we have.”
Microplastics and other environmental contaminants limit this time, said Gross.
To combat these challenges, Healey emphasized getting involved in local politics and community.
“At the end of the day, we’re working on building systemic change within our community, and individual behavior is important,” Healey said. “But we also need to look at how we make systems accessible to all people in our community.”
With a new field, comes a lot of initial findings, said Gross.
“It should be more a call to action to do more research, trying to understand what’s happening in the field, particularly with more vulnerable communities,” she said.
COURTESY OF JAKOB ESTEROWITZ
Orobor founders and Boston University tennis players Jakob Esterowitz (left) and Jonah Dickson (right) pose with tennis strings they collected. The company converts used tennis strings into recycled polyester suitable for clothing manufacturing.
South Boston bleeds green at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
BY LAUREN ALBANO AND SIENA GLEASON Campus Co-Editor and Associate Photo Editor
South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day, or Evacuation Day, Parade took place Sunday, starting at Broadway Station and ending at Andrew Station. The parade featured Miss Massachusetts USA 2024 Melissa Sapini, national recording artist Louie Bello and Ghostbusters United.
SIENA GLEASON | ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR Members of Massachusetts Maritime Academy perform in the parade and clap hands with the crowd.
SIENA GLEASON | ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
A member of Ghostbusters United, a nonprofit prop builders group, hands out marshmallows at the parade. PREVIEW PHOTO BY LAUREN ALBANO | CAMPUS CO-EDITOR
LAUREN ALBANO | CAMPUS CO-EDITOR Spectators watch as the parade begins.
LAUREN ALBANO | CAMPUS CO-EDITOR Spectators drink and take pictures at the parade.
SIENA GLEASON | ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR National recording artist Louie Bello performs in the parade.
SIENA GLEASON | ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Melissa Sapini, Miss Massachusetts USA 2024, waves the American flag while sitting on top of a car in the parade.
LAUREN ALBANO | CAMPUS CO-EDITOR Crowds leave as the parade comes to an end.
LAUREN ALBANO | CAMPUS CO-EDITOR Members of the crowd hug their friends at the parade.
SIENA GLEASON | ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Performers march in the parade holding muskets and flags.
LAUREN ALBANO | CAMPUS CO-EDITOR
A person gets arrested by the Boston Police at the end of the parade.
LAUREN ALBANO | CAMPUS CO-EDITOR Salem Trolley rides in the parade as passengers wave to the crowd.
SIENA GLEASON | ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR A leprechaun runs in the parade.
COLUMNS
When material leftism acts as a shield against racial accountability | The Dissenting Opinion
BY LUCIO MAFFEI Contributing Writer
It’s revealing that white leftists are usually the first to shift every issue onto the 1%.
As a white leftist myself, it is important to attempt, as best we can, to deconstruct our cultural egos and recognize when we are deflecting blame. White leftists cannot turn to class struggle and economic divide as a way to sidestep confronting our own capacity to perpetuate oppression. By attributing systemic injustices solely to the actions of the elite 1%, we divert attention from the pervasive nature of white privilege and the responsibilities that come with it.
Focusing criticism solely on the ultra-wealthy serves as a convenient mechanism for white leftists to absolve themselves of complicity in systemic racism. I’ve even started hearing some people saying “the top .01%,” as if we’re being unfair to the portion of society that’s only within the top .02% of wealth — just fewer than $139 million net worth.
By emphasizing economic exploitation as the singular source of oppression, white leftists sideline discussions surrounding white supremacy.
This reductionism allows us to position ourselves exclusively as victims of capitalism and overlook the privileges conferred by our racial identity.
Eduardo Bonilla-Silva in “Racism Without Racists” describes this idea as racialevasiveness — where white people attempt to shift radical theories of thought away from internal racial analysis. We acknowledge race, often in performative ways, but then shift the hard focus onto the ultrawealthy to avoid confronting the roles we play within racial domination.
While it is undeniable that capitalism exacerbates social inequalities, and I would still consider material analysis as the heart of my political thought, attributing all forms of oppression to the actions of a select few ignores the broader societal structures that uphold white supremacy.
This perspective allows us to externalize blame, thereby avoiding introspection into how racial privilege operates at all income levels.
This issue is especially rife in ‘main-stream’ left wing organizations like the Democratic
Socialists of America and publications like Jacobin. It has become a very popular idea to make claims that identity politics aren’t important — we should just focus on class ideology and welcome people into our spaces by being more inclusive to the conservative working class, regardless of any bigoted ideologies they may hold.
While this can be an important part of developing class consciousness, it not only endangers the vulnerable members of our leftist communities but it fundamentally overlooks the extent to which race and class are deeply intersectional.
Addressing economic inequality without confronting racial disparities is insufficient for achieving true social justice. It’s a color-blind perspective that misses the shades and details in the true picture.
The assumption that racial injustices will automatically dissipate under socialist political rule without explicit intervention is illogical.
By centering discussions solely on class struggle, white leftists can create environments that are comfortable for ourselves but
oppressive for people of color.
This dynamic often leads to the marginalization of racial justice movements and a reluctance to engage with frameworks that prioritize anti-racist agendas. Such practices perpetuate existing power imbalances and hinder the development and effectiveness of radical thought and organizing.
The same could be said through many other lenses. Men deflect by minimizing patriarchy, cis and straight people dismiss the weight of gender norms and those living on colonized land often overlook Indigenous rights.
Privilege distorts perception, allowing those in power to downplay the realities of systemic oppression.
EDITORIAL
Work-study may level
For decades, colleges have sought to increase economic equity in admissions. From waiving application fees to federal work-study to targeted recruitment, there has been a movement within higher education to level the playing field within its applicant pool.
Programs like federal workstudy — an initiative in which students can work on-campus jobs to help cover their education expenses — diversify the means by which students can afford an ever-increasing tuition bill. Since the program was introduced as part of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, low-income students have comprised a growing portion of the college campuses.
But what happens when eliminating barriers of entry solidifies socioeconomic hierarchy on campus?
While federal work-study
But identifying this pattern isn’t just about critique — it’s a call to action. Those of us who strive for revolutionary change must first wage that revolution within.
True liberation begins by confronting the ways oppression shapes our own thinking and breaking the chains in our minds so we may have the strength and self awareness to unbind others.
the playing field, but the game isn’t fair
might seem like an option to help open doors to more students by increasing means of affordability, it creates a stark divide between students who have to “earn” a place on campus and those who don’t.
Whether we notice it or not, work-study can stratify a campus. Many work-study jobs on Boston University’s campus are service-based, meaning that some students work for, serve or wait on their peers — a physical manifestation of economic disparities that already characterize elite institutions.
These jobs also, on average, pay less per hour than similar jobs not linked to a work-study program, meaning students are compensated less for the work that may be needed for their enrollment.
Work-study also creates time constraints for lower-income students. Wealthier students can
afford to do extracurriculars or unpaid internships without compensation because their spot at the university is not dependent on their labor, while students with a work-study responsibility may need to forgo careeroriented activities.
Work during college is beneficial — it can teach financial responsibility, life skills and time management — but it stratifies the time that students have for career-oriented, uncompensated work in relation to their socioeconomic status.
No matter how visible or pronounced these hierarchies are on a day-to-day basis, a divided campus has negative implications for all students — socially and academically.
A 2022 study from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that while campus diversity is increasing, students still tend to mainly interact within racially and socioeconomically homogenous cohorts.
The study found students who bridged the lines of social class and regularly diversified their interactions performed better academically. However, the diversity that college admissions teams strive for doesn’t always translate to inter-demographic social interactions.
Work-study, which subtly sorts students’ time based on their financial background, may limit their day-to-day cross-class interaction, therefore decreasing academic and social well-being among all students.
To make matters worse, even if a student is financially
dependent on a work-study job, their employment might not be guaranteed.
At BU, students are responsible for finding and applying for work-study positions on their own within a limited and competitive oncampus job market. Regardless of a student’s eligibility for receiving a work-study award, if they can’t find a job, they don’t get the aid.
The lack of administrative assistance available for job searches leads to many students not receiving work-study positions at all — and speaks to the alarming fact that work-study students still take on much more debt than their non-participating peers.
A 2016 study from the Economics of Education Review found that work-study participants were 21% more likely to accumulate student loan debt than those who did not participate — even those from similar demographic backgrounds.
While work-study seems to be correlated to an already increased load of student debt for individual students, federal funds for the program are also allocated in a way that intentionally disparages lowincome students.
Students at private, prestigious institutions are far more likely to receive work-study awards — with low-income students at private universities having an almost 50% chance of receiving an award, as opposed to a 5% chance for community college students from a similar economic
background — despite the fact that low-income students are more likely to attend public universities or community colleges. Because work-study funding favors more selective — and more expensive — universities, the federal funds allocated to aid upward mobility for low-income students are diverted towards the most exclusive institutions of higher education.
If work-study funds aren’t going to the communities that need them most, are unattainable for the students they are guaranteed for and exacerbate social hierarchy and homogeneousness on campus, then what’s preventing schools from getting rid of them all together?
Some already have.
Starting in 2022, Williams College cut all work requirements for students and matched them with equal and unconditional grants that students won’t need to repay with on-campus work. Davidson College and Swarthmore College have adopted “no-loan policies,” preventing their students from accumulating debt by replacing loans with other scholarships.
Work-study might level the playing field, but it does nothing to ensure a fair game.
By confronting the issues with supposedly equitable initiatives, we can finally recognize the lasting impacts they have on a student body.
The effects of a stratified campus don’t dissipate when we cross the graduation stage.
This Editorial was written by Opinion Co-Editor Ada Sussman.
LILA BALTAXE | SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST
EMMA CLEMENT | GRAPHICS EDITOR
Editorial Board
Brendan Galvin, Editor-in-Chief
CROSSWORD
Third Month
Craziness
ACROSS
1. With 9-Down, a yearly collegiate sports tournament
6. Semester
10. Swaps out for another player
14. Climb up
15. Who organizes 1-Across 16. Fastener
17. Italian port city
18. Frog and ___
19. “Ball is ___”
20. Alternative to hoops
22. Air ___
24. Org for ex-military members
25. Style for textured hair
28. No difficulty
30. Movie franchise starring Will Smith and Tony Lee Jones, for short
33. From the beginning
36. Renown
38. ___ and Sciences
39. PC ports
41. ___Mash
42. Something you might spill or clock
43. Actresses Long and Vardalos
44. ___ Westbrook (“BYE SISTER” Youtuber)
45. Black fossil fuel
46. Lucifer
47. Association of 11-Downs, say
50. Fr., So., Jr. and Sr.
51. Yuletime name
52. Really enjoy
54. Mauna ___
56. Lou Gehrig disease, for short
58. Aptitude
61. Sports equipment on the Charles
63. ___ step (Long lateral step)
66. “The ___” (Dostoevsky or Batuman novel)
68. La ___ Tar Pits
69. Nibble on
70. Gall
71. Vigor
72. Network which might air 1-Across
73. Color of envy...or sickness
DOWN
1. Arena for the NY Knicks
2. Does really well
3. “___ over!”
4. Influence
5. Make ___ (Progress)
6. Explosive, for short
7. ___-Friendly
8. Broccoli ___ (Rapini)
9. See 1-Across
10. Mo. city
11. The type of institution that participates in 1-Across
12. Ripped
13. Brood
21. Not play in 1-Across, maybe
23. Winged mammal
26. Stationary part of a motor (Ask an engineering student!)
27. Warns
29. Hot room for athletes, say
30. Field for Qst. students
31. Related to the hipbone (Ask a pre-,ed student)
32. Newton, Chelsea, and Beverly
34. And others, in Latin
35. Boba shop near South Campus
37. Horn-nosed megafauna, for short
40. Nine-digit nos.
45. The type of institution that participates in 1-Across 46. Smoldering
48. Smaller than an ocean, larger than a lake
49. Rays from the sun, for short
53. Passenger on the T
54. ___ Bryant
55. Title below marquis but above viscount
57. Phoenix NBA team
59. Old Italian coins
60. Adore
62. What Juan or Diego follow
64. Freestyle, for example
65. Have
67. Number of players on a basketball court
LIFESTYLE
Reimagining Hollywood: The rise of indie film
BY ISABELLA LAIKIN DFP Writer
Are Hollywood’s blockbusters playing it too safe?
When I go to a movie theater, the films that linger in my mind long after the credits roll aren’t always the ones with the most stunning visual effects or starstudded casts.
Instead, they are the films that dare to explore territories mainstream movies often avoid — voices with risk, authenticity and humanity.
As a student filmmaker who dreams of making a mark in the industry, I find the bravery and undeniable passion of indie films incredibly inspiring.
In an era where mainstream cinema can often feel more like “plainstream,” films from major studios such as Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios and Sony Pictures tend to stick to tried-and-true plots rather than sparking real emotions or telling new stories.
The Hollywood actors and writers strikes in 2023 marked a significant shift in the film industry, signaling a decline in major studio dominance. Coupled with the rise of streaming platforms, which are increasingly eager for fresh content, this shift has ushered in a new era for indie films.
The independent film scene continues to carve out a space where raw, unfiltered creativity and pure passion thrive, all without big spending, wellknown actors or massive amounts of CGI.
In recent years, indie production powerhouses like A24 and Neon have been reshaping the film scene, making it easier for new and diverse filmmakers
to break in with their fresh ideas and unique perspectives.
These companies are all about artistic freedom and pushing the envelope. Even with rising popularity, they’re not just looking for the next big hit — they’re nurturing new voices and bringing diverse stories to the forefront.
As the film world evolves, it’s proving that filmmakers don’t need a blockbuster budget to tell compelling, heartfelt stories that resonate with audiences.
Hollywood movies have the advantage of robust distribution networks and hefty marketing budgets, producing their promotional “in your face” content on TV, billboards and high-profile licensing deals.
On the other hand, indie films depend more on film festivals, social media and word-ofmouth to gain
traction.
Recent award seasons have seen numerous indie films receive accolades that underscore their quality and impact.
A notable example is “Moonlight,” which won Best Picture in 2017 with a budget of just $1.5 million, the lowest ever for a film winning this award. This triumph has set a precedent that continues to influence the industry.
As the dust settled on this year’s Oscars, indie films won 15 out of the 20 awards in feature film categories. This marked a significant shift from the previous year when big-budget films like “Oppenheimer” dominated the ceremonies.
Among the standout successes this year was “Anora,” a film produced on a modest budget of $6
million that garnered five top awards of the night.
Another major highlight was “Flow,” created using free open-source software, which earned Latvia its first Oscar, overshadowing major studio productions like “Inside Out 2” and “The Wild Robot” in its category.
In contrast, mainstream movies with larger budgets were less prominent in the major prizes.
Despite their substantial box office successes, “Wicked,” and “Dune: Part Two,” each took home only two Oscars, highlighting a year where innovative storytelling and technical artistry in indie films were especially celebrated.
These films are reshaping audience expectations, proving that cinema can both entertain and enlighten.
Indie films don’t just embrace
complex themes — they delve into them, presenting a genuine and unfiltered look at real-life issues without simplifying for broader appeal. They also harness discomfort as a tool to deepen our understanding of human experiences.
By focusing on intimate storytelling and character-driven narratives, these films provide a depth of engagement rarely found in mainstream cinema.
For aspiring filmmakers, the success of indie productions does more than inspire — it provides a blueprint for achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success through daring and experimental stories that might’ve never been shared before. This shift encourages us to pursue our artistic visions without yielding to the commercial pressures that larger studios often impose.
As indie films secure their place in the spotlight, the movement toward their dominance is largely transformative for everyone involved in filmmaking. It sends a powerful message to the next generation of filmmakers — success is not measured by blockbuster budgets, but by the authenticity and passion behind the stories we tell.
For all of us who hold a camera with trembling hands and a story in our hearts, the rising prominence of indie films and the support of groundbreaking production companies underscore that making a difference, one heartfelt story at a time, is not just possible but essential.
The ongoing evolution of indie cinema promises a vibrant and dynamic future, proving that the spirit of independent filmmaking is not just surviving — it’s leading the way in reimagining Hollywood.
Smiles, laughs and whole lot of yarn: Winding down and finding peace with Off The Hook BU
BY NINO MACHAVARIANI Contributing Writer
Nobody said college would be easy — and it isn’t. There’s a subconscious pressure to fit in and find your niche, coupled with maintaining a competitive GPA. We can often get lost in the chaos of it all.
However, the best way to stay sane during this awesome yet stressful part of your life is to find little outlets where you can relax, unwind and reconnect with yourself.
Last week, my outlet became BU’s crochet club, Off The Hook.
The club’s meetings often have fun themes, such as “Alpha Male Night” or “Five Nights At Freddy’s.” You don’t have to bring anything with you, as they readily supply you with yarn and hooks.
The moment you step in, you’re welcomed into a cozy, inviting atmosphere where people sit together, chatting and crocheting.
There’s an immediate warmth — an unspoken understanding that here, you can just be.
I already knew how to crochet, so it wasn’t difficult to integrate myself into the process. However, even if you’ve never held a crochet hook before, the club members make sure to guide
you through the process.
As with any new experience, I felt some anxiety about meeting new people, especially when it came to sitting down with a bunch of strangers and crocheting together.
Most of my worries were eased when the time started to fly as we talked and got to know each other.
What I liked the most was that nobody felt like a stranger. Honestly, I think I would return just for the company.
At the table, we discussed a variety of topics — from TikTok trends, to books and classes we enjoyed — and I don’t remember a single moment where the night wasn’t filled with laughter and smiles.
The club members meet you at whatever level you’re at, patiently helping you through the first few loops until your hands get the rhythm. The learning process is organic, filled with encouragement, laughter and the occasional playful teasing when someone’s yarn inevitably tangles into a detrimental knot.
The easy-going nature of the conversations, mixed with crocheting, created a kind of harmony that I had missed during the flat winter months of college life.
As I found myself trapped in the loop of studying, eating and sleeping, the sense of companionship this club established was refreshing to my overworked brain.
Personally, I find the act of crocheting to be a meditative practice, as it often requires me to be fully present with the task at hand, making sure each loop is done correctly. The simple act of working with your hands — creating something tangible out of loops of yarn — feels grounding, in a way.
On the other hand it can also be extremely frustrating. I like to take it as a challenge, one that requires lots of patience. You’ll often find yourself having to unwind your work and restart — sometimes more times than you’d like.
Even so, these repetitive movements and acts of patience serve to fully empty your mind.
I can’t speak for everyone, but if I could put a pause on my internal monologue for at least 20 minutes, that already counts as a major win.
The sensation of the yarn between your fingers, the slight tension as you pull a loop through, the quiet satisfaction of seeing a piece slowly take shape — it leaves you feeling rejuvenated, and also serves as a reminder
that with enough patience, you can accomplish anything, even beyond looping knots.
Back in high school, clubs were just a meet-up spot, with no hardcore commitments. This is why I was also surprised to hear that the crochet club donated knit goods to shelters and those in need regularly, even making it a core goal for the club.
The idea that something as simple as crocheting could have such an impact on someone’s life made the experience even more meaningful.
It’s rare to find a space that offers everything at once — a
creative outlet, a social circle and a way to give back to the community.
Whether you find yourself in need of a good laugh, an emotional release or a space to feel welcomed and relaxed, the crochet club is perfect in fulfilling all of these.
I’d recommend attending at least once during your time at BU.
Because who knows? You might discover a new hobby, a new friend or even just a moment of peace in the midst of all the deadlines and obligations.
Till we meet again.
EMMA
EMMA CLEMENT | GRAPHICS EDITOR
Student noise complaints, privacy concerns mount as BU moves forward with Warren Towers project INVESTIGATIVE
in Massachusetts for 20 years.
“Notifying the population and keeping them updated [is] not priority one.”
Joe requested The Daily Free Press only use his first name to avoid conflicts of interest between BU and his institution.
While communication with residents is essential, Joe explained it often takes a backseat to financial and logistical priorities. However, he said BU’s lack of communication is not commonplace.
“In [BU’s] mind, they may be thinking they’re handling it correctly, but it sounds to me that there’s a lack of information not being disseminated to the residents mostly affected,” Joe said. “The people that are going to be impacted are not being notified.”
Despite the numerous issues resulting from the project, the renovation was long overdue. The Trustees of Boston University reported poor conditions in the roof systems, multiple accessibility issues throughout the building and dated plumbing systems more than 50 years old, according to the 2024 BU Warren Towers Expanded Project Notification Form.
The Warren project had to pass a public review from city officials and the BU Charles River Campus Task Force. The task force, which has been reviewing the University’s development projects since 1986, consists of 17 representatives from BU.
Maha Uddin, a freshman resident of Warren A Tower fifth floor, said she was unable to open her windows during the work day because of the abrasive noise and scaffolding directly outside.
“They’ve turned the heat up so my room is burning, but I can’t open the window because it’s so loud,” said Uddin. “I don’t think I’m going to get sunlight anymore.”
Similarly, Verma added she was unable to open her windows because of equipment outside, even when workers were not present.
“Even outside of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., their equipment interferes
with my ability to just get fresh air in my room,” said Verma. Pachilis, unable to deal with the disruptions in his room, requested a housing change.
“The housing availability that is being discussed would lead to an increase in housing cost this semester and no meal plan,”
Jonathan Bisceglia, A Tower resident director, wrote in an email responding to Pachilis’ request.
It currently costs $6,090 a semester to live in a double in Warren Towers. For the past five years, housing rates have increased annually. From the 2021-22 academic year to the 2022-23 academic year, housing rates increased by 2.4%, according to calculations by The Daily Free Press.
From this year to the 2025-26 academic year, housing rates will increase by 5.1%.
After back-and-forth
conversations with Housing and the Office of the President, Pachilis was finally placed in a single room on West Campus for the same rate as his previous room Jan. 28.
While current Warren residents deal with the noise and effects of the construction, the project’s timeline reveals a wider impact.
A Tower will be closed starting this summer, and the 595 freshman that would have lived there will be housed on Fenway Campus –– nearly a mile from the Charles River campus.
With renovations limiting the number of beds available, undergraduate students will also be housed in Peabody Hall in Fenway campus, which was previously graduate student housing. Graduate students who lived in Peabody Hall were told to move out by July 15.
Despite the distance, Riley said students will have access to
resources like Fenway Dining Hall, the BU shuttle, staff-like hall directors and resident assistants.
Housing mostly freshmen, Warren Towers has been a cornerstone of the first-year experience at BU since its construction in 1965.
Shiven Dhawan, a sophomore and Fenway Campus resident, referred to Warren Towers and West Campus dorms as “the essence of freshman housing.”
Riley said housing first-year students together on Fenway could foster a sense of community and help with the transition living away from home.
“There are a lot of activities [at Fenway],” said Riley. “We had experience previously with housing first-years there during an entire semester, and the experience was very positive.”
BU students received an email Jan. 31 reminding them to secure housing for the 202526 academic year. Three days later, BU Housing Director Steve Prue told Fenway residents in an email that their rooms will not be available to them next year due to the incoming freshman.
Prue wrote that these students “will be among the first in your class to select housing” and assured them they would have on-campus housing available.
Despite the priority selection
for next semester, some Fenway residents said they were blindsided by the information.
“I don’t know when the decision was made that they were going to put the kids into Fenway, but they had to put them somewhere,” said freshman Fenway resident Misha Van Uden. “It would have been nice to know when I moved in, you’re not going to be able to stay here next year.”
Dormitory closures are common in construction projects, Joe said. After ongoing construction led to dormitory closures, his institution resorted to housing undergraduate students in graduate housing. He dealt with nearly 400 displaced students because of the closures.
Between displacements, lackluster communication and inconsistent scheduling, many students said the renovations have been mishandled.
Verma said despite Warren’s unpopularity among students, she was initially excited for her centrally located room. Now, she has to leave her room if she wants to rest, make a private phone call or see the sunlight.
“It’s ridiculous that I’m paying for housing when I’m clearly not getting the experience I was promised,” said Verma. “I’m paying for a room that I can only use half the time.”
JERRY SHI | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER Scaffolding outside of Warren Towers dormitory.
JERRY SHI | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER A construction sign outside of Warren Towers dormitory.
SARAH CRUZ | PHOTO CO-EDITOR
Boston University student and Warren Towers resident Hiya Verma. Warren Towers residents are frustrated with the lack of communication and disruptions caused by ongoing renovations.
Running around the world: Sjöberg and Malleck to compete at World Indoor Athletic Championships
BY TOBY MOSES Associate Sports Editor
The last time Boston University track and field athletes were named First Team All-American in Indoor Track and Field was in 2014 when Rich Peters and Monica Adler were given the nod in the mile.
More than a decade later, two Terriers did it again, and then some.
Junior Vera Sjöberg and graduate student Foster Malleck have dominated all year, and this weekend, they will both compete against the best runners in the world as they race the 1500 meter at the World Indoor Athletic Championships in Nanjing, China.
“Regardless of what program you’re at, if you can send two people to represent your school at the World Championship level, there’s really no higher exposure and honor than that,” said Jon Molz, BU track & field distance coach.
Both athletes ran the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships last weekend, scoring points in the final and earning First Team AllAmerican honors. Sjöberg finished eighth in a nail-biting race, beating the runner behind her by 0.1 seconds.
“The race was very tactical, I tried to just stay calm, but the last lap was just giving everything I had trying to pass people,” Sjöberg said.
In his last race repping BU, Malleck finished third in the mile, as his team erupted in cheers at their watch party back home.
Despite his ten All-Patriot League selections and numerous records, Malleck nearly left the sport entirely last summer.
“I wasn’t sure I was gonna come back at the end of last year, I kind of got convinced to,” he said. “I only had one season of eligibility, and I said, ‘Why not just go all-in on this one season?’”
Malleck credited his former coach Jordan Carpenter with convincing him to return after Canadian Nationals last July.
“If I told myself back then I was gonna get third at NCAAs, I would’ve come back in a heartbeat,” said Malleck.
Malleck had already achieved so much before the performance at Nationals, holding the indoor school record in the 1500m, mile and 3000m.
In her three years so far, Sjöberg captured indoor school records in the 1000m, 1500m, mile and 3000m. She scored
30 points to lead the Terriers to their third-ever Patriot League women’s indoor track and field championship earlier this year.
Sjöberg is the only Terrier in history to sweep the mile, 3000m and 5000m at a Patriot League Championship — a feat she has now accomplished in consecutive years. She is also the only Swedish athlete who will compete in the women’s 1500m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships this weekend.
Both athletes were honored as Patriot League ScholarAthletes of the Year for the indoor track & field season. Sjöberg took home the award for the second straight year — the second Terrier ever to do so.
“These are two extremely high character individuals,”
said Molz, who also coaches Sjöberg in cross country.
“I think they’re a great representation of the type of student-athlete that comes to BU.
Molz says their trend of excellence on and off the track sets a great precedent for the program moving forward.
“It does wonders for future recruits and people that are interested,” Molz said. “To show that we don’t only care about running quickly, but we also care about getting it done in the classroom.”
Both athletes have performed on a global stage before, representing their respective countries in international competitions
Sjöberg debuted for the Swedish senior national team
June 2023, setting a thenpersonal best in the 5000m. While Sjöberg has senior national experience under her belt, she looks forward to repping her home country after a decorated season at the collegiate level.
“I’m just super grateful that I get to represent Sweden,” said Sjöberg. “I’ve been racing for BU this whole season, so it’s fun to get to race for Sweden as well.”
This weekend will be Malleck’s first time competing at the senior level, though he has previously competed at the U20 and U23 levels.
“I think there’s a good chance it’s similar to the environment at NCAAs, which is definitely the craziest environment I’ve experienced,” Malleck said. “I’ve heard it’s a nice facility and has a pretty big capacity, so we’ll see.”
Malleck began his track career at BU in the 20192020 season, capping it off with a strong fourth place performance in the mile at the PL indoor championships. He credits his teammates for his enduring success
“They’re so supportive,” said Malleck. “Those guys come in, work hard every day, push me and hold me accountable.”
Even without their teammates there to cheer them on — being the only two Terriers to make the NCAA Indoor finals — both athletes performed and cemented themselves as among the best in the country.
The pair will run in Nanjing March 21 in the 1500m heats. Sjöberg runs first at 6:33 a.m. EST, and Malleck follows closely at 7:18 a.m. EST.
Reflecting on six years at BU, Malleck put it simply.
“It’s been quite a journey.”
Men’s club soccer gears up for fifth semi-annual Beanpot Tournament as defending champions
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
England Premier League) are bringing their A-game as they attempt to defend the Beanpot title the weekend of April 5 at Babson College.
BU currently sits fourth out of nine teams in the Boston Division of the NEPL after being placed in the top spot in preseason rankings based on recent performance.
“Spring is a perfect opportunity to regroup and get the team to where we want to be for the next fall, while also seizing the opportunity to win a trophy,” said junior Alex Moneiro Leith, who plays as both a center midfielder and wing.
Despite an injury recovery in the fall that was longer than expected, Leith has already recorded two assists in the Terriers’ 2-0 win over Brandeis earlier this month.
Freshman David Gonzalez has already made plenty of fond memories with the team, citing the national tournament in the fall as one of the most prominent.
He’s taking that motivation into the spring as well.
“I just try to get a little bit better,” Gonzalez said. “I still like to put in the same amount of effort in both leagues. The only thing different is playing with new teammates.”
His teammate, freshman Reza Mehrinfar, agreed.
“Going that far [in the National Tournament], really
solidified how happy I was to be a part of this team,” Mehrinfar said.
That tournament appearance and the NIRSA season run helped the underclassmen develop teammate connections, but also individual confidence, Mehrinfar said.
“Being here for a semester, I understand my role [and] my position on the team.”
Having built deep relationships and developed a clear sense of commitment from everyone on the roster, the team finds strength in their communication and believes in their creativity on the field.
“Our potential is really high, Mehrinfar said. “I think we play a very solid system. We have good coaching staff, great resources.”
What the team is doing is clearly working.
On top of past season successes in recent memory, they’ve already started the Spring NEPL season undefeated and are still first in league rankings as of Week Two.
“We have a lot of potential to
do great things this season and beyond,” Leith said.
The junior’s belief in the team is a testament to the continued contribution of experienced veterans as well as the promise of recent additions.
“[Gonzalez] is an emerging leader who is going to be really great for the years to come,” Leith said.
With two more NEPL games
to play before the Beanpot and an existing run of positive momentum, many players are anticipating an exciting tournament weekend that features local rivalries.
“[Harvard] got the best of us in the tournament in the fall, but I do think that we have the quality to beat them. I hope that we can play them again and beat them.”
Freshman David Gonzalez (74) chases after the ball at a game against Falcons FC Wednesday. The Boston University men’s club soccer team is preparing for the fifth semi-annual club soccer Boston Beanpot, hoping to build on their recent success.
JOSIE KALBFLEISCH
Graduate student Foster Malleck (left) and junior Vera Sjöberg (right) pose with their NCAA trophies. Malleck and Sjöberg will compete at the Wold Indoor Athletic Championships in Nanjing, China March 21.
COURTESY OF EAMONN RYAN/BU ATHLETICS
JOSIE KALBFLEISCH | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER
Freshman Reza Mehrinfar (66) eyes the ball at the game Wednesday.
