2-9-2024 Print Edition

NEWS, 2

Coolidge Corner Theater introduces new accessibility features CE LE B RATIN G

FRIDAY, FEB. 9, 2024

FEATURES, 4

Questrom announces institute to promote business ethics OVE R

50

YE A RS

O F

OPINION, 8

GAMES, 9

The misogynistic narrative of Taylor Swift’s relationship I N DE PE N DE N T

STU D E NT

Challenge yourself with the crossword puzzle J O U R NA LI S M

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

YEAR LV. VOLUME A. ISSUE I

BEANPOT: Men’s Ice Hockey advance to championship against Northeastern University on Monday after beating BC 4-3

‘They don’t know who we are’: Part-time faculty union advocates for better treatment from BU

BY KARYNA CHEUNG AND CHLOE CRAMUTOLA DFP Writers

When they aren’t teaching classes, Boston University parttime faculty remain on campus, handing out buttons with the message: “Call Bullsh*t. Make BU pay living wages.”

They’ve designed flyers with provocative slogans: “Let them eat buildings” and “What’s eating your tuition dollars?”

Part-time faculty consists of adjuncts, lecturers and instructors, according to BU Human Resources. Collectively part-time faculty unionized in 2015 and are still raising awareness about their current job instability, low wages and lack of institutional support as they feel that BU is unresponsive to their needs.

“We teach the same courses, we have the same qualifications,” said Janet Bailey, lecturer in BU Metropolitan College. “And yet it’s been a very hard road trying to get BU to recognize that and treat us fairly.”

As negotiations persist, so do their worries.

The next contract has not yet been finalized, meaning that the part-time faculty have been working based on the agreements of a contract that expired in August. “[My students] don’t know that I’m any different from a professor who’s been here for 40 years,” said Andrew Smith, part-time lecturer in the College of Communication.

“They don’t know who we are [or] what we’re paid. And the university loves keeping it that way, I’m sure.”

BU spokesperson Colin Riley and Executive Director of Employee and Labor Relations Judi Burgess declined to comment,

Grab your bicycles, charge your scooters or stretch your legs. Just don’t expect the T to come down Commonwealth Avenue from Feb. 20 to March 8.

And nearly all MBTA Green Line C branch services will be suspended, as will service on the D branch from Copley to Brookline

The Boston University men’s basketball team dropped a competitive game to Colgate University 74-64 after coming within one point with four minutes left on the clock.

Colgate (16-8, 10-1 Patriot League) came into the game riding a seven-game winning streak and sitting atop the Patriot League standings.

Unfinished business for BU softball

BY ELI CLOUTIER Senior Writer

Last season, the Boston University softball team won the Patriot League and reached the national tournament, finishing with a 52-10 record, including a stretch of 28 consecutive wins.

But after failing to advance out of regionals, losing twice to Virginia Tech, the Terriers walked away wanting more.

ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Janet Bailey, part-time-faculty union member of Boston University’s Metropolitan College. Part-time faculty, consisting of adjuncts, lecturers and instructors, are spreading awareness about their current job instability, low wages and lack of institutional support.

citing that BU does not comment on ongoing labor matters.

Bailey said wages are a key point in the union’s efforts for parttime faculty.

Due to inflation, $100 in September 2019 is equivalent to $119.58 in August 2023, a change of 19.58%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Parttime faculty’s wages haven’t matched this, instead increasing by 8.5% in that time, according to the 2019-23 contract.

“We’re in a position where

we’re saying, at the very least, we should be kept up with the cost of living,” Bailey said.

Total cost of attendance at BU has increased roughly 15.6% yearover-year from September 2019 to September 2023, according to prices from TuitionTracker. The union’s latest proposal aims to increase their salaries by 8.09% during the first year of their contract, according to the union’s counterproposal from December.

BU offered the part-time faculty a quarter of that percentage: 2.5%,

Hills. Shuttle buses will replace all trains and the Route 57 Bus will be free from Kenmore to Babcock St. This is the fourth and longest suspension of service along B branch stations that serve Boston University since September, and is currently slated to be the longest in 2024. No trains ran through the Charles River Campus for days at a time in November, December and January.

MBTA officials say these service pauses help crews eliminate

“speed restrictions” so trains can run faster and safer. Over a dozen slow zones were lifted since the surge in suspensions.

But no track work was needed between Kenmore and Babcock Street during the previous shutdown, according to MBTA spokesperson Lisa Battison, and there’s no plans for it in the next one.

Battison wrote in an email that there were two primary reasons for the outage.

“Blandford Street, the stop just before Kenmore, is a critical above-ground access point for maintenance vehicles to enter the underground Green Line tunnel,” Battiston wrote. “Second, Babcock Street is the last place where Green Line trains from Boston College can turn around and make an outbound trip.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

BARRETT WALSH | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

BY ANNIKA MORRIS Graphics Editor

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Get ready for the longest Green line shutdown since September

BY MEGAN AMATO AND SAMUELE PETRUCCELLI Contributing Writer, Senior Writer

Men’s basketball falls to Colgate 74-64

Closed MBTA Green Line B-branch tracks and a shuttle bus that replaces train service between Babcock and North Station. The MTBA B, C and D lines will be suspended between Feb. 20 and March 8, making it the longest Green Line shutdown since September.

according to a counterproposal from management written in November.

“They’re trying very hard to make sure that it doesn’t go to us,” Bailey said about BU’s tuition they get from students.

Rachel McCleery, the lead internal organizer at Service Employees International Union Local 509, said BU has not adjusted their offer accordingly with tuition.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Students face maintenance issues in South Campus residences

BY LEIA GREEN Contributing Writer

An 11-second video changed the outlook of Zachary Taub’s career.

A video of Boston University men’s basketball forward Otto Landrum waving “hi, Mom” on the court currently has over 7 million views — but it took Taub, a sophomore in the College of Communication, just 45 minutes to create.

Residents of Boston University’s South Campus voiced concerns about the recurring maintenance issues they face in their residences.

Among these issues, mice infestations were one of the most prevalent.

Malaika Ezetah, a junior in the College of Communication, had a recurring issue with mice in her apartment on Buswell Street last semester.

Ezetah said BU Facilities Management and Operations came to her apartment about six times to address the issue before conducting an investigation where she said they discovered a large chunk of missing foundation, causing instability in her floors and a possible entrance for rodents. “[It was] a defeating process,” she said. “I wasn’t in my place often, so there would be stretches of time where pretty much every time I was able to stay in my apartment for a little bit, one [mouse] would pop out.”

Ezetah said the whole situation made her lose trust in the abilities of BU facilities.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Meet Zachary Taub, filmmaker behind viral ‘hi, mom’ video

BY MARA MELLITS Investigative Editor

KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

2 NEWS

MBTA shutdowns, continued from page one Battinson said crews did enhance the grade crossings between Blandford and Granby Streets, which includes BU’s Wheelock College and the Center for Computing and Data Sciences, and they plan to continue similar work in the next pause. This makes a smoother ride for the trains and cars at the crossings, she said.

Some students, who were excited to see the T running this semester, are disappointed to hear of another shutdown.

“I just like going in the city a lot and paying for Ubers is absolutely egregious now and walking all the way down there is also treacherous,” said Miranda Lemus, a junior in the College of Communication.

Modernizing Boston’s complicated, old and chronically underfunded subway system is a challenge, transit experts said.

“You’re going basically from a Model T to a Tesla,” said Keith Millhouse, former chairman

of the board of directors for Metrolink, a commuter rail system in Southern California.

“And that’s not easy to do.”

Trains on the Green Line run through North America’s oldest underground subway tunnel, where all four branches merge on two tracks.

“There’s just not any extra space. There’s no extra tracks,” said Eric Gonzales, professor of civil and environmental engineering at University of Massachusetts Amherst. “It takes a different level of care to work in a 125-year-old tunnel than it does in something that’s newer.”

And without many switches for trains to turn around, it’s not as easy to keep trains running while crews work on select tracks, Millhouse said.

“The more options you have, the greater flexibility you’ll have when you go to either maintain or improve the system,” he said.

Instead of more closures

during nights and weekends, MBTA officials say longer closures let crews get more work done with unrestricted access.

“Certainly the pace and number of them is pretty unprecedented,” said Jarred Johnson, executive director of TransitMatters, a Massachusetts public transportation advocacy group. “It does mean though, that it is really hard to make each diversion great from the rider experience.”

The Green Line also struggles to be as reliable as the Red, Orange and Blue lines, according to data posted by the transit authority. Unlike those lines, portions of the Green Line operate at street-level, slowing for pedestrians and stopping at red lights.

Some students find themselves frustrated with the shuttle buses provided by the MBTA. Ella Reed, a freshman in the Pardee School of Global Studies

who works at FitRec, says the shuttles’ unpredictable timing make it difficult to get to work on time.

“I never know when they show up,” Reed said. “So if I’m waiting for a shuttle to go to FitRec, I could be late, I could not be late, I never know.”

Hattie Maxwell, a freshman in COM, said while she loves how “cozy and big” the shuttle buses are, their timing has made her late many times.

BU students also have free access to the Boston University Shuttle (BUS), which runs throughout campus. Johnson says this extra form of transit makes the shutdowns not as dramatic as it is in other areas of Boston, where there may not be such alternatives.

Still, some students say the BUS has its own scheduling problems.

“The BU bus … app is probably the worst designed thing I’ve ever seen in my life,”

said Lemus. “It’s always saying it’s two minutes away when in reality, it’s twenty.”

Lemus said the BUS is often crowded, especially when many classes finish and “everybody’s traveling from place to place.”

Lemus said two of her friends were split up once, with one of them on the bus and another unable to board.

“It’s funny to laugh on, but in reality they do get places late and it’s really inconvenient,” Lemus said.

Christina Chen, a freshman in COM, said she was excited to see the Green Line running again after the most recent shutdown.

“We saw it running down Commonwealth and we were screaming with joy,” said Chen.

“The fact that it’s gonna shut down so soon again is kind of inconvenient.”

offers open caption screenings of new releases. Recent open caption screenings include “Poor Things,” “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “The Lesson.”

In compliance with the ADA, the Coolidge now offers select features with closed caption devices that display captions adjusted into the patrons field of vision.

Christopher Anderson, a sound mixer at WGBH and Boston University film and television professor, said there is discussion in the film industry over unintelligible dialogue and the trend of burying actors’ words.

“People that are not in need of that service are utilizing it as well,” Anderson said. “I hope that whatever stigma is attached to using captioning is removed by this being available.”

Ann Wiedie, a patron who was attending an open caption screening of “Origin,” has a membership at Coolidge and sometimes uses captions at home.

“I usually find [the captions] helpful and not intrusive,” Wiedie said.

As the Coolidge applies services for those with hearing impairments, the theater will also have a new fully accessible space opening likely in late February to early March.

Expanding 14,000 square feet, the theater will add two new screens and an education center. All-gender restrooms, elevators and wheelchair accessible seats will also be included in the new space.

“As new technologies are developed, we are always open and willing to adopt them … As much as we can do and be the forefront of that, I think that’s something we’re committed to doing,” Gilligan said.

The Education and Community Engagement Center currently offers classes in the screening room with 43 seats. Classes are typically held in the morning, while seminars take place in the evening.

With the increased space and flexibility, Gilligan said the Coolidge will offer more classes at different times. “[Film] can be a gateway to so many different areas …

Few courses of this nature are really being offered to the general public around here, so just being able to … engage people with film culture is

very exciting to us,” Gilligan said.

Courtney Dunsmuir, a patron at the Coolidge, said she purchased a membership because of the perks and learning experience.

“They do a free screening of a movie once a month called ‘Science on Screen’ which is really fun,” Dunsmuir said.

“They have other researchers from the area come and talk about their research, which I thought was really cool.”

Dunsmuir is “a little half and half” when it comes to the theater expansions due to liking the old and historic feel of Coolidge.

“The main theater room, theater one, is just really beautiful. There’s this huge mural on the ceiling and all this old architecture,” Dunsmuir said. “Seeing old screenings feels so special.”

John Hall, a master lecturer and film and television professor at BU, said he believes that the Coolidge is one of the Boston area’s most important cultural institutions and to have an independent theater is essential for art and local films.

“Boston is historically a really strong film-going community and the Coolidge is something that I think many of us see as one of the lasting landmarks of our area,” Hall said.

The Coolidge hopes to be New England’s leading film center and be a center for community and culture.

“We’re thrilled to finally be sharing this with the public,” Gilligan said. “It’s been long in the works, but it’s going to be absolutely transformational for Boston film culture.”

Coolidge Corner Theatre introduces new accessibility features, shares updates on expansions

BY CAMILLE BUGAYONG Contributing Writer

The Coolidge Corner Theatre is now holding weekly open caption screenings as part of its effort to increase accessibility. More changes will come as its expansion project opens to the public in about a month.

Beth Gilligan, deputy director of the Coolidge, said open caption screenings are in response to input from members of the deaf and hard of hearing communities.

“Being a historic theater, [we try to] be as accessible as we possibly can and to cater to as many people as we can,” Gilligan said.

First-run films and new releases are now being provided to the Coolidge with open caption files, which makes digital projection an option, Gilligan said.

Currently, open caption screenings are only offered on Tuesdays between 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. and Thursdays between 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.

Gilligan said this is the pilot stage, and screening times may be added or changed.

“We’ll see what the demand is like, and we can adjust based on that,” Gilligan said.

As of November 2016, movie theaters are required to have equipment that provides closed captioning — which, unlike open captions, can be turned off during screenings — and audio description for patrons. This requirement came into effect as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act Title III regulation.

In October 2021, AMC Theatres added open captions to certain showings in 240 U.S. locations. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Seaport

MATTHEW EADIE | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

The Coolidge Corner Theatre. The neighborhood movie theater is now screening films with open captions during select showings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

NEWS 3

South Campus maintenance, continued from page one “I just never felt like I could rely on [maintenance,]” she said.

“It would be sort of a pattern where I [would] call and they would come in and set traps … and I would have to call again.”

In an email from BU spokesperson Colin Riley, the rodent extermination process that pest control undergoes involves the “sealing [of] small gaps in units and common areas.”

“BU has a Pest Control vendor on site during the week, and they respond to reports typically on the day reported, or on the day after,” he wrote.

However, students believe what maintenance is doing is not enough.

Vincent Semidey Jr., a sophomore in Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, who lives at 522 Park Drive, described mouse-traps as a “temporal” fix.

“I’ve called twice before, and they have set up traps,” Semidey Jr. said. “However the issue is much bigger than setting up traps.”

Amaya Centeio, a resident

assistant at 48 Buswell Street and a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said at least five residents approached her with complaints about mice.

Leaks and plumbing blockages are amongst other regular maintenance issues in some South Campus residences.

Chloe Salomon, a resident assistant at 11 Buswell Street and a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the second floor bathroom is “clogged consistently” and her residents often have heat issues.

“We have floods [in the bathroom] very frequently,” Salomon said. “[Toilet water] comes up with toilet paper on the floor.”

Centeio had similar concerns to Salomon.

According to her, a recent leakage at 48 Buswell Street that started on the fourth floor and dripped through the building’s ceilings forming a puddle in the basement.

“It was actually sewage water,” said Centeio. “The whole building smelled

awful.”

Although the exact origin of the clogging is unknown, Riley wrote that students have been reminded to only flush toilet paper down the toilets.

Centeio said dealing with these maintenance problems on top of her other responsibilities as a resident assistant has been “frustrating” and takes up most of her job.

“It does take up most

of my job because the building is so old and has a lot of issues,” Centeio said.

“When we’re supposed to be focused on making sure residents are safe … the last thing we should be concerned about [are] these constant facilities and maintenance issues,” Centeio said.

Salomon said resident assistants are “not trained or given instructions to do anything further than

just call either emergency facilities or senior staff” when maintenance issues arise.

The only recent upgrades that have been done in South Campus have been to the bathrooms in 24, 34 and 42 Buswell Street, according to Riley. He wrote that more renovations in South Campus might occur in the future.

MATTHEW EADIE | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

South Campus dorms on Buswell Street. Residents in South Campus are concerned by recurring maintenance issues.

Part-time faculty union, continued from page one “[BU has] provided no justification for why their numbers look the way they do,” said Rachel McCleery, who is also the chief negotiator for the union.

“Because they’ve not been able to offer a rationale for their proposal, our members have been very reluctant to change ours.”

The part-time faculty union is a part of the larger Local 509, which represents graduate and resident assistant units in bargaining with BU. The bargaining units are the separate unions that make up Local 509.

BU’s current policies regarding new part-time faculty are prompting some to consider job prospects other than teaching.

“I have a one-year-old.

I have to care about my family,” Smith said. “I can’t teach here just because I love it.”

Starting September 2022, part-time faculty are paid at minimum either $1,750 or $2,100 per credit, according to their 2019-2023 contract.

To earn the higher rate, parttime faculty members must complete four calendar years of employment or

ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Buttons made by the part-time-faculty union read the message, “Call Bullsh*t. Make BU pay living wages.”

teach eight courses.

McCleery said closing the pay difference among parttime faculty is one of their “biggest priorities.”

After one bargaining session for part-time faculty union members in July, McCleery said she asked for updates over the course of three months, but she said she received no response until the end of October.

All together, the BU bargaining Local 509 unit has filed four unfair labor practice charges in the last six months. These charges

are still open cases.

RAs are in the beginning stages of negotiations with the university, McCleary said. The graduate student workers union drafted its first contract with the university last spring.

“To [BU], not having a contract for another month means that they get to save money, but for us, it might mvean that we can’t make our rent,” said Meiya Sparks Lin, a teaching assistant and second year PhD student in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The part-time faculty’s button campaign originated from the union’s discontent with the progress of negotiations, said Bill Marx, a union steward and master lecturer in COM. “I don’t want to say that improvement hasn’t been done or that the collaboration has not been effective, because it has,” Marx said.

“But, there is considerable room to improve. We’re at a moment of real frustration.”

This current negotiation period has taken longer than the last. Part-time faculty

and the university reached a tentative agreement in November 2019, less than four months after the previous contract expired, according to the 2019-2023 contract.

Now, they’re working off an expired contract.

“We don’t have offices,” Smith said. “We don’t have a presence on campus except for that classroom, where people think we’re paid the same as some tenured professor who’s been here for 30 years.”

While the deadlock in negotiations continues, some of the union workers, like Smith, feel the weight of the unknown. He is a SAG-AFTRA actor whose only current job is at BU. “I love [acting and writing] so much that I want that to translate to a classroom full of students,” Smith said. “But I’m at risk of walking out the door, because there’s not a lot holding me here. Because the same loyalty I give to BU is not the loyalty I get back.”

This is part of an ongoing Daily Free Press investigation.

4 FEATURES

Meet Zachary Taub, continued from page one Taub, a videographer for the men’s basketball team, said he knew as soon as he made the video that it would be a hit. The video had all the ingredients for success: a catchy song — hip-hop track “Africa” by Slimenese — and a “goofball” — Landrum, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

When the video’s views started to pile up, Taub said he anticipated around 200,000 viewers. When the video hit one million views just a couple days after he posted it on Instagram, the popularity became overwhelming.

And then came the influx of reposts and imitations.

“People see the video and obviously they think it’s good enough that they want to recreate it and for me, it’s really the most special part of this,” Taub said.

The video sparked many re-creations — and even one Lego animation — which Taub described as a “surreal” experience.

When he saw users online making their own TikToks to “Africa” — dunking like Landrum and mouthing “hi, Mom” — Taub said “they’re sharing that experience of making the video.”

Taub began creating sports content in high school. After Taub decided to stop playing basketball, his old AAU coach offered him a job filming basketball games on an iPhone and uploading them to Youtube.

During the pandemic, Taub had more time to study at the “University of Youtube,” where he learned special video effects and how to use social media to his advantage.

KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Zachary Taub films a men’s basketball game in Boston University’s Case Gym. His 11-second video of Boston University basketball player Otto Landrum has amassed over seven-million views across social media sites.

Creating sports content was initially something Taub loved to do for fun, but it turned out to be much more than that. In addition to his videography for the men’s basketball team, he also works for the women’s lacrosse team and as a freelance videographer for SLAM, a basketball magazine.

Now, it’s his future career.

Not only did millions of people see Taub’s video, but many of them followed him.

His following increased by 10,000 on Instagram and 14,000 on TikTok, and Landrum now has over 70,000 followers on Instagram and 389,000 on TikTok. Matt Woolverton, BU Athletics assistant director of

social media, said the basketball team has seen positive changes since Taub’s video went viral.

“We’ve seen an uptick in general attendance, fans and through games, and certainly the following of the team has been at a greater height due to that video,” Woolverton said.

Woolverton attributed Taub’s success to his close relationship with the players.

“Any videographer that shows up to the game isn’t gonna be able to get the content that he does, because of the rapport he’s built with some of those folks,” Woolverton said.

“His big skill sets right now in my eyes are his ability to connect with athletes and … his ability to just do things at a high

level.”

Taub said that since most of the players are around his age, connecting with them is easy.

Outside of basketball, Taub said he and Landrum hang out all the time, whether it be watching movies, playing FIFA or even cooking together.

“It seems like he’s one of the guys,” Woolverton said.

Taub said even though his hours are different from the players’, they both sweat. While the team’s battle is physical, his is mental. That shared determination is what brings the two together.

Men’s basketball head coach Joe Jones said Taub’s connection with the team is what sets his work apart.

“He’s not only a good dude, but he’s very talented,” Jones said.

In fact, Jones said he has been impressed with Taub since he started working as a videographer for the team two seasons ago.

“Right from the start, I looked at the quality of his work and was blown away,” Jones said.

Taub’s friend since freshman year, Cole Hecker, a sophomore in CAS, attested to Taub’s ambition and creativity.

“Zach doesn’t, from what I see, create based on how people will perceive it, but rather for the purpose of creation,” Hecker said.

Taub said that now that he has this platform, he looks to make the most of it. He said in five years he hopes to be working with a professional athlete or a sports team.

Jones said because of Taub’s work with the team, he is doing what he can to get Taub a job working for a professional team over the summer. “[Taub] will inevitably come to a point where he’s ready to leave college and get a career in sports media,” Woolverton said.

“He’s both incredibly prepared for it and would be a great addition to any digital media team at the pro or collegiate level.”

Regarding his future, Taub said his hell is a nine-to-five.

For what’s next, he envisions something more creative — ideally, something where he “can teach and pass my experience and my joy for this along to them.”

Ravi K. Mehrotra Institute seeks to use business and markets for good

BY CHARLIE DIPPOLITO Contributing Writer

The first course students take when they enter Questrom School of Business is SM131: Business, Ethics, and the Creation of Value. Now, BU is implementing new ways to actualize the principles students learn in the class.

Questrom recently announced the founding of the Ravi K. Mehrotra Institute for Business, Markets and Society — abbreviated IBMS — with an endowment received last year from Mehrotra, founder and executive chairman of the Foresight Group, a Londonbased private equity investment manager.

The institute’s goal is to examine the role businesses

ZARA MEGGETT | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

and markets play in solving global issues, using an approach that goes beyond traditional research. But students say they hope the institute’s focus on solving global issues extends beyond theory and has positive ethical impacts in the real world.

Paige Thompson, a sophomore in Questrom and the scholarship director for BU’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional co-ed business fraternity, said she wants the institute’s work to help incorporate more ethical perspectives into business education.

“We don’t necessarily think about ethics in every implication of what we’re learning,” she said.

Susan Fournier, the dean of Questrom and a professor of marketing, said the institute’s

mission is threefold: to educate the public about business’ role in the world, to conduct research to understand its complexity and to fuel dialogue about the impact of business on society.

“Our mission as a school is to create value for the world through business,” Fournier said. “This institute really gets right into that mission.”

Thompson cited her generation’s belief that corporations wield social responsibility due to their large influence. However, she said that businesses’ actions are not born from social consciousness, but rather their desire “not to get canceled on Twitter.”

Emily Samaro, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences who is currently enrolled in SM131, said that the

IBMS gives students “the ability to look deeper into business.”

Like Thompson, Samaro said she believes that social media has pushed students to hold businesses to a much “higher standard.”

“I think having the ability and the resources through BU to look at that would be really helpful for students,” Samaro said.

The IBMS will provide a way to facilitate new discussions on complex issues in an age where people often see things as “black and white,” according to senior associate dean of faculty and research Marcel Rindisbacher, who acts as the co-director of IBMS. “It’s interesting to really illustrate these kinds of tensions that exist,” Rindisbacher said.

Boston University Questrom School of Business. The Ravi K. Mehrotra Institute for Business, Markets and Society — funded by Mehrotra last year — was founded with the goal to examine the role business and markets play in solving global issues.

“When you really think about the big societal problems, business will always play a role in solving that, but it just has to be shaped in the right way.”

He cited the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine as an example of the complex interactions between government, markets and business.

“I hope that the Institute will really sort of be a platform where students can engage with faculty, also with business people in a new way,” Rindisbacher said.

Ryan Siracuse, a junior in Questrom, said that he hopes the institute will give students the opportunity to see if the ethical issues discussed in classes like SM131 are being taught in “a performative way or if it’s coming across genuine or not.”

“For a lot of business students, it’s hard to really take what’s said in the classroom about these very broad ideas and actually implement it day to day because the idea of business ethics is so broad,” Thompson said.

Rindisbacher said he hopes that students use the institute as a way to keep asking questions about the issues they find important.

“It’s good that people have a lot of questions,” he said.

“Sometimes I fear that what we’re losing as a society is the civil discourse part and really engaging [in] conversations.”

The Institute will officially open in a two-day celebration starting on Sept.

19, Rindisbacher said. “[The IBMS] is more about the world, the public, which includes students, and what we know to be bigger issues,” Fournier said. “And then we say, ‘Where can, maybe, we help?’”

FEATURES 5

BU Wheelock and Greater Boston seek to improve childhood literacy through collaboration

BY PRIYAL PATEL Contributing Writer

With childhood literacy rates in jeopardy, there’s a point where the education of future educators becomes a little more complicated.

The Massachusetts state legislature advanced a bill Wednesday requiring elementary schools to teach evidencebased reading curriculum. The legislation follows a four-part Boston Globe series detailing a reading crisis among Massachusetts children: more than half of third graders demonstrated low reading proficiency on last year’s standardized literacy exam.

To address this issue, Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development aims to enhance its instruction to fit evolving literacy needs in schools.

This includes preparing education students to teach children with varying literacy levels, said Katherine Frankel, associate professor of literacy education and chair of the language and literacy education department.

“We’ll always be looking for ways that our programs can be more responsive to what we know our students are going to encounter when they go out into the schools and districts and in the current moment,” Frankel said.

David Chard, dean of Wheelock, discussed these literacy issues on Feb. 1 in an episode of his webinar series, “Conversations with the Dean: The Science of Reading: How the National Movement is Playing out in Teacher Prep.” He

emphasized the importance of early reading development and noted the “connection between literacy and the ability to thrive in our society.”

Citing Wheelock’s mission statement, Chard said the college is “dedicated to transforming systems, in this case, public education systems, ‘that impact learning and human development for a thriving, sustainable, and just future in Boston and beyond.’” “[Literacy and reading education] is a particularly personal topic for me,” Chard said during the webinar.

“I’ve spent decades doing both research and technical assistance in this area … and still we struggle to implement strong reading instruction for all children.”

Nancy Nelson, assistant professor of teaching and learning at Boston University, said in the webinar that the next step is to adjust Wheelock’s literacy programs to create more evidenceand research-based approaches to apply in the classroom.

Research-based evidence for creating literacy practices is fairly new, only having been implemented within the

last 20 years of education research.

Frankel cited measures taken by her colleagues in elementary literacy education, who revised the curriculum of an Introduction to Literacy course to better incorporate the current state of reading education.

“This is just a chance for us to come together to think about modifications or enhancements we want to make moving forward,” Frankel said. “That’s the work of a college of education at a university like BU, to always be working together, collaborating, figuring out

MATTHEW EADIE | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Wheelock addresses the Massachusetts state legislature bill requiring elementary schools to teach evidence-based reading curriculum by preparing education majors to teach children with varying literacy levels.

what we’re doing well, what we wanted to do differently and always reiterating on that process.”

Wheelock’s Reading Education Masters program will also undergo some revision in response to Massachusetts’ childhood literacy crisis, Frankel said.

To better prepare future educators to teach reading instruction, the program’s adjustment will support “early literacy and [a] renewed interest on foundational skills,” as well as “other really key parts of literacy,” such as how to culturally sustain literacy instruction.

Claire Foley, associate director of City Connects at Boston College — a program that provides support at schools to close the socioeconomic divide under-resourced neighborhoods face — emphasized similar efforts to support literacy in the Boston community.

“In my years of working with City Connect, I have seen over and over the dedication of individual community partners and also a willingness to come together and collaborate,” Foley said.

With parents and state policymakers paying more attention and taking steps to address the issue of early literacy development, the potential for more collaboration and new discoveries arise.

“We’re always learning new things,” Frankel said of education research. “We’re always thinking about things differently.”

Eliza Lamont contributed to the reporting of this article.

IGS database aims to bridge gap between climate health risks, policy

BY MACIE PARKER Features Editor

There are two sides to every coin — and to ensure a truly just transition to clean energy, Boston University health researchers are using data to support equitable climate policy.

BU’s Institute for Global Sustainability hosted its first annual three-day CAFÉ Climate & Health Conference on Monday. The virtual conference was part of a threeyear $6.7 million grant funded by the National Institutes of Health for a climate-health research initiative led by the BU School of Public Health and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The conference featured keynote speakers including Vanessa Kerry, directorgeneral special envoy for climate change and health at the World Health Organization, and María Belén Power, undersecretary of environmental justice and equity for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in Massachusetts.

Among the esteemed speakers were BU IGS faculty Jonathan Buonocore and Mary Willis, who are spearheading a project that aims to understand how energy infrastructure impacts specific communities by creating a database using data from the federal government.

“There’s an inequity there related to climate change,” said Buonocore, assistant professor of environmental health

at SPH. “Especially in the climate world, the discussions of the health impacts of the energy infrastructure gets a little bit sidelined.”

To bring health to the forefront of the climate conversation, the researchers are creating a database that will have the data to back up policy and regulations on energy infrastructure for specific communities, he said.

The database project, which is seed-funded through IGS’ Sustainability Research Grant, began a year ago. A “rapidly growing raft of literature” revealed the health detriments hydraulic fracking causes to communities, Buonocore said — but there’s still a gap PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA PEARL-MARTINEZ in research about how certain From left: School of Public Health members Breanna van Loenen, Brian Sousa, Jonathan Buonocore, Mary Willis, HristiStoynova and Fintan Mooney. Boston University’s Institute for Global Sustainability hosted a virtual three-day CAFÉ infrastructure, like pipelines, ana Climate and Health Conference, which was funded for a climate-health research initiative funded by SPH. impact health. of earth & crucial to work with these gap between academia and the “We really set out on this professor environment in the College of communities so they can rest of the population, she said, project to lay the groundwork Arts and Sciences, is looking understand the risks and there needs to be trust. so we could actually do these at the pros and cons of using benefits, Rebecca Pearl“There’s no data without cumulative assessments of solar panels in different Martinez, executive director communities’ stories,” she which energy sector piece communities, and Willis is of IGS, said. said. is the most important one The research is rooted in soAnd that is just what this to regulate,” said Willis, running an analysis on how energy infrastructure impacts called energy justice, which data project aims to do, an assistant professor of individual health.

Willis said presents itself in establish a holistic dataset that epidemiology at SPH. “We’re trying to plan for two ways: “the distribution can be used to advocate for Buonocore said they what could happen down the of who is being exposed to health protection policy, Willis gathered data from about a line,” Kevin Lane, assistant all these different pieces of said. dozen federal databases. Willis “Health is actually said the next step of the project professor of environmental the energy sector, and to what health at SPH, said.

“Climate extent does everyone have something that motivates will be split into three distinct parts: justice, intervention and change has already impacted equitable access to a reliable people,” Pearl-Martinez said. us today and … if we can source of energy in their day- “Having more information policy and health. about the health impacts, Buonocore is leading an communicate that and get that to-day lives?” data into the hands of the urban But researchers, policy would [motivate] people to environmental justice analysis planners, the decision makers, makers and community support policies to address to discover the extent to which the policy, the communities members need to work climate change.” energy infrastructure impacts that are being impacted together to make data more disadvantaged communities accessible, Natalia Escobarcompared to advantaged disproportionately.”

And in order to ensure Pemberthy, policy associate communities. Lucy Hutyra, an equitable transition, it’s at IGS, said. But to bridge the

6 PHOTO

GALLERY

Hasty Pudding Man and Woman of the Year come to town

BY DAILY FREE PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS

Barry Keoghan and Annette Bening, Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals Man and Woman of the Year respectively, each made appearances at Farkas theater in Cambridge to be disgraced with the customary comedic roast and honored with a Pudding Pot. The annual parade for the Woman of the Year took place on Tuesday in Harvard Yard with performances by the Blue Man Group and an appearance from Miss Massachusetts 2023.

Barry Keoghan after plunging his face into a plate of spaghetti during his Hasty Pudding Man of the Year roast on Friday. ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Hasty Pudding 2024 Man of the Year Barry Keoghan is kissed by Harvard students from Hasty Pudding Theatricals after receiving his pudding pot on Friday.

KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Actress Annette Bening has received two Golden Globes, a BAFTA award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and several Tony and Academy award nominations. CORINNE DAVIDSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Actress Annette Bening pretends to eat a slice of pizza during her Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year roast on Tuesday. ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Actor Barry Keoghan received a BAFTA award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Dominic Kearney in director Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin. MOLLY POTTER | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Actress Annette Bening performs in a skit during her roast on Tuesday.

ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER Actor Barry Keoghan recently gained popularity for his tantalizing role as Oliver Quick in director Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn.” MOLLY POTTER | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTO 7

Hasty Pudding 2024 Woman of the Year Annette Bening is driven through Harvard Square alongside students Nikita Nair (left) and Joshua Hillers (right) during a parade in her honor on Tuesday. KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Harvard students Crystal Manyloun (left) and Maureen Clare (right) flank 2024 Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Annette Bening as she kisses her pudding pot on Tuesday.

CORINNE DAVIDSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Actress Annette Bening (left) and Harvard student Maureen Clare (right) speak to the press during a conference after her Woman of the Year roast. CORINNE DAVIDSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Actress Annette Bening, flanked by Nikita Nair (left) and Joshua Hillers (right), waves to the crowd from a convertible during the parade on Tuesday. KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

A member of the Blue Man group paints Harvard student Ryan Green’s nails after the parade on Tuesday.

KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Actress Annette Bening (middle), Hasty Pudding Theatricals members (left and right), and a member of the Blue Man Group (top) stop to take a picture during the Hasty Pudding Woman Of the Year parade on Tuesday.

KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Actress Annette Bening kisses her pudding pot during a celebration of her Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year award. CORINNE DAVIDSON | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Annette Bening does a high kick with members of Hasty Pudding Theatricals after Tuesday’s parade.

KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Members of the Blue Man Group pose with 2023 Miss Massachusetts Annika Sharma during the Woman of the Year parade on Tuesday.

KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

8 OPINION

COLUMNS The misogynistic narrative of Taylor Swift’s relationship | Should We Really?

BY CORINNE DAVIDSON AND OLIVIA STAPLETON Columnist and Contributing Writer

With the Super Bowl rapidly approaching, it’s almost impossible to ignore the public’s current obsession with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

Ever since rumors of Swift and Kelce’s relationship surfaced in September 2023, the couple has been talked about constantly.

“Swifties” couldn’t be happier about the stars’ relationship, but some football fans have other opinions.

Swift fans have created merchandise depicting the couple, Kansas City Chiefs game coverage will cut to shots of Swift in the stands and X, formerly known as Twitter, is flooded with chatter — good and bad — about Swift and Kelce.

Many football fans are simply asking for Swift to be shown less during the games, but there is also a more prevalent stream of hate towards the singer-songwriter for what some perceive as her drawing attention away from football.

The reactions exist on a spectrum, from people suggesting Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson save the Super Bowl from Swift to people generating obscene images of the artist at games. X blocked users’ ability to search “Taylor Swift”’ on the app after people started using AI to create deep fakes depicting the artist in vulgar poses.

While the X deep fakes are an example of it on a much clearer scale, it is tough to ignore that misogyny is even at the root of the less aggressive comments.

During the Ravens vs. Chiefs game on Jan. 28, a Ravens fan yelled at Swift, saying she was “ruining football” in a video posted on Instagram.

How is she ruining football? By supporting her boyfriend like so many other NFL partners do? Sure, she’s shown on screen when she’s in attendance, but how is that ruining football?

This raises the question: Should we really

be hating on women for existing in maledominated spaces?

The amount of anger from men who are upset over seeing Swift, as well as over how many more women are interested in watching football, is another example of subtle misogyny — the sense that football is a man’s game and should be protected from women, or in this case, Swifties. They could never appreciate the beauty of the sport like men do and will, obviously, ruin it for them, right?

Countless users on social media are questioning why the media is covering Swift and Kelce’s relationship so much, and even Kelce said that he felt the NFL was “overdoing it.” However, the media coverage makes perfect, logical sense with how immensely famous Swift is.

Plus, the New York Times did the calculation of how long Swift is on screen during these games on average, and they are under 25 seconds, so the reactions are, quite frankly, unwarranted.

Why should her fame bar her from going to football games, supporting her boyfriend and living her life? She’s said it before: “Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.”

Swift was much more private in her past relationships. When she was with actor Joe Alwyn, dating rumors didn’t circulate until roughly seven months after they were first spotted together, and it was rare for them to show public displays of affection.

However, Kelce is a huge celebrity in his field. He was drafted by the Chiefs in 2013 and is considered one of the greatest tight ends in NHL history. He and his brother, Jason Kelce, also host “New Heights,” a podcast that first aired in September 2022.

Additionally, football fans want to blame Swift and Kelce for being so public about their relationship but are ignoring the fact that coverage of the couple brings more traffic to news sites and NFL games.

Since Swift started attending Kelce’s football games in September, the NFL has seen the highest regular season viewership of women since 2000, and around $330 billion in brand value has been added to the

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNIKA MORRIS

Chiefs and the league, according to research from the Apex Marketing Group.

There is a very obvious tendency for people to hate on artists with large, mostly teenage female fanbases and, sadly, they take it a step further by hating on their fan bases too.

We live in a world where there is so much pressure for young women to constantly keep up with everyone else’s idea of who they should be, what they should wear and what kind of music is “cool” to listen to.

Why shouldn’t they be able to want to watch and understand football more, even if their interest sparked because they also happen to listen to Swift?

If we’re going to be worried about anything, it shouldn’t be people getting excited to see their favorite singer on screen, and it definitely shouldn’t be about more

women watching football.

Swift and Kelce seem happy, and there’s no way of keeping the relationship private if Swift wants to go to games and be there for Kelce. The media attention garnered from her attendance at Chiefs games isn’t her fault, and getting mad at her isn’t going to change anything.

Maybe football fans should think about why they’re mad at a woman for enjoying a male-dominated interest before accusing her of silly things like “ruining football.”

In other words, a whole lot of people need to take a deep breath, close Instagram before they hit that comment button, open their music streaming platform of choice and listen to Swift’s song “Mean.”

EDITORIAL Life is better when the T is running The Green Line B branch was out of service between North Station and Babcock Street from Jan. 16 through Jan. 28 — just as Boston University was kicking off its spring semester.

Of course, the Green Line B branch runs straight through Boston University’s campus, so students living on and off campus were directly affected by the closure.

What else is new? The Green Line was down from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5 during the Fall 2023 semester, and dealing with T issues is as Boston as is drinking Dunkin’.

This recent closure revives a seemingly universal sentiment among BU students: Life is just easier when the T is running.

This notion has grown especially evident as the bitter Boston cold — which reached as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit in January — greeted students back to campus for the second semester, only compounded by BU’s numerous wind tunnels.

The difficulty of using transportation only gets more severe for students living or working off campus. Students may have to take buses, switch to another, working MBTA line or simply walk, which could add at least 30 minutes to their commutes.

Furthermore, students are troubled by the inability to escape the “BU Bubble”: the idea that BU students tend to get stuck on campus and don’t venture out

into greater Boston.

The lack of accessibility to the Green Line — arguably the farthest-reaching MBTA line, as it can easily connect to all of the other lines — isolates us to our strip of Commonwealth Avenue.

Ridiculous rideshare prices only further discourage us from popping that bubble.

Sure, Boston provided extra MBTA buses to follow the Green Line route and accommodate students and citizens in the train’s absence, but these buses aren’t the most efficient either.

It takes a long time for those who board at either end of the route. At the Babcock Street bus stop, for example, students have to wait as attendants count passengers onto each bus, assuring that they are full before sending them on their way.

This can further delay commutes and, once again, make walking the more reliable option.

Certainly, the T isn’t always the most efficient and reliable in its own right.

Long wait times and frequent stops along Commonwealth Avenue can discourage students from saving their steps because getting there on foot is still the most trustworthy option.

Only with the T down, students no longer had to debate whether waiting for it to arrive or walking was better — they just started walking.

Plus, buses can also make for speedier commutes than the T when you aren’t stuck in an underground tunnel waiting for another train ahead of you to get a move on.

We understand that it’s a privilege to live in a city and on a campus that has prime access to public transportation at all. That’s undeniable.

However, it’s irrevocably frustrating when this transportation is consistently down, throwing off any consistency we may have or need in our busy, day-to-

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNIKA MORRIS

day lives as students.

Public transportation is supposed to make your life easier, not bring about stress. Thus, the T has not been serving its purpose.

The Green Line B branch is set to suspend service again from Copley to Babcock Street starting Feb. 20 through March 8. Enjoy the T while you can.

This Editorial was written by Opinion Co-Editor Lauren Albano.

GAMES 9 Andrew Burke-Stevenson, Editor-in-Chief Jenny Lambert, Managing Co-Editor

Macie Parker, Features Co-Editor

Kayla Baltazar, Multimedia Editor

Editorial Board

Daisy Levine, Managing Co-Editor

Lauren Albano, Opinion Co-Editor

Annika Morris, Graphics Editor

T HE I N D EPE N D E N T STUDE NT NEWSPAPE R AT B O STON UN IVER SI TY

The Daily Free Press is published Sunday through Thursday during the academic year except during vacation and exam periods by Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc., a nonprofit coporation operated by Boston University Students. Copyright © 2024 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All right reserved.

Lea Rivel, Opinion Co-Editor

Augie Oppenheimer, Layout Editor

Mara Mellits, Investigative Editor

Andrew DiBiasio, Lifestyle Editor

Kiera McDonald, Campus Co-Editor

Brendan Galvin, Sports Editor

Kate Kotlyar, Photo Co-Editor

Maya Mitchell, Campus Co-Editor

Siena Griffin, Features Co-Editor

Molly Potter, Photo Co-Editor

Anna Rubenstein, City Editor

CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. US Org. for retirement benefits 4. Alt. to a dorm 7. Greek cheese in Spanakopita 8. Dr. Melissa ___, BU president-to-be 13. Andean pack animals 14. Bin next to the Trash and Compost, in the GSU 15. ____ Road, Street with mostly BU residences 17. _____ Campus, area next to Kenmore Square 18. Literary compendium, for short 19. Greek god 22. Especially uncommon 23. BU college named after Chobanian & Avedisian 28. Marketplace or theater district 30. ___ Warwick, American singer 31. Walking trail partially on campus 34. Orderly and clean 35. ___ List

DOWN: 36. Gurgling or bubbling sound (often 1. Find for a beachcomber (although repeated) not on the BU Beach!)

37. Per 2. Summary of a bank acc.

41. Devote something to someone 3. Really small battery 44. ____ River, body of water next to 4. Concurred campus 5. Pumpkin or Apple sweet treat 47. Lead into -state or -graphy 6. “No Scrubs” girl group 48. ____ College, where future nutri- 7.Venus ___, carnivorous plant onists study 9. Alkaline cleaning agent 49. Dies ___ (Latin prayer) 10. Museum in Boston’s Seaport neigh50. Self-conceit borhood, for short 51. T20 Sch. in Greenwich Village 11. Lou Gehrig’s disease 12. NYC Ball player 13. Hawaiian verandas 15. ___ Fitness, ballet-inspired workout 16. Lao-__ (Founder of Taoism, alt. spelling) 20. Employer for Sec. Miguel Cardona, and former employer of Betsy DeVos 21. The “S” in “CAS,” for short 23. The “kissing disease” 24. “The Whale” and “The Menu”

25. Type of road that does not permit passing 26. ___ pilot (Acting without thinking) 27. Ignore 29. Tit-for-__ 32. Throws in 33. Female deer 37. Units not in many BU residences, for short 38. BU Sch. for future concierges 39. ___ and feather 40. Alternative for .com or .edu 42. Your, in German 43. “Just doing my best!”

45. Brand Alternative to Levi’s or Wrangler’s 46. BU Sch. based in Metcalf

10 LIFESTYLE

Ask Abby (or Analise): The ‘Coquette’ and ‘balletcore’ aesthetics great head or heart debate bring en pointe fashion to 2024

BY ANALISE BRUNO Senior Columnist

Dear Abby: I sometimes wonder whether it is better to lead with your head or your heart in a relationship. Is one better than the other? Is there one more or less destined to set your relationship up for success? Please help.

The head or heart debate — a classic. The situation is all the more black and white in “The Wizard of Oz” because the Scarecrow knows he wants a brain and the Tin Man knows he wants a heart. Boom — problem solved.

However, as with everything, real life is far more complicated. I do think there are some moments in a relationship where it’s better to lead with your heart, but other times it’s more useful to use your head. Here’s the magic question: how can we ever know when to do what?

It’s a learning process for sure, but that’s what loving is all about.

Thinking with your head Some people tend to approach relationships from a very logical standpoint. Rather than following the path that their feelings trace for them, people rely on past experiences and current knowledge to assess how to go about dating someone.

I am certainly guilty of this, but it’s important to remember that relationships are not a math equation waiting to be solved.

A certain plus may not put you on the fast track to getting a significant other. In that sense, you definitely can’t rely on pure rationale to go about loving someone.

I think the head is best to use when you’re trying to understand the person’s morals, values and personality. Ask yourself: Do their values align with yours? Are you guys actually compatible?

Or are they just cute and giving you attention? Just think!

Another huge part of learning to love is choosing the things that we are willing to overlook.

What’s more common than not is when people choose to look past things that later become a problem, which is usually when that “honeymoon” phase of the relationship is over.

Intelligence in the classroom is one thing, but emotional intelligence as it relates to romantic relationships is something entirely separate.

Your heart can beat for someone, but it takes a strong head and some maturity to know the right time to walk away.

Lead with your heart?

Have you ever heard the saying “follow your heart?” — well that’s true, to an extent.

BY RACHEL YU DFP Writer

Your heart plays a crucial role in allowing you to find interest in a person and to love them beyond their exterior conditions and flaws.

It’s a fragile organ, and very valuable in decision making — but don’t be mistaken — the heart is not the be-all and end-all in the success of a relationship.

Like I always say, if love were enough, nobody would ever break up.

The truth is, most couples who split never stopped loving each other. The heart wasn’t the issue in this case. It was probably other treatment or compatibility issues — something only the head is able to recognize and decipher.

When leading with your heart, another main concern is that you become blinded by love in its entirety. It’s so easy to get caught up in someone who you’re also attracted to after they show you the slightest bit of attention.

I’m sure we can all recall a time when someone we liked actually liked us back. It’s pure euphoria — you feel like you’re on cloud nine.

With this feeling comes the rose-colored glasses. You soon learn to overlook all your major differences and questionable behaviors because you are so head over heels for that person.

I understand not wanting to let go of that feeling or the person, but entering a relationship with your eyes closed comes with its own set of dangers.

Oftentimes, people are able to overlook situations of physical or emotional abuse, as well as other toxic behaviors. They might tolerate disrespect, misogyny or just a general lack of decency.

The bottom line is this: Love doesn’t always have to hurt, so don’t lose sight of this moral by choosing to only follow your heart.

If you ask me I would say stop making the situation so black and white.

You don’t need to choose to lead with your head or your heart.

Remove the “or” if you wish.

Both parts are equally important to consider in the act of pursuing a relationship.

This doesn’t mean you need to keep them at the same level at all times. There are moments where I think it’s okay to lean on your heart a little more than your head and vice versa — but don’t rule out one altogether.

The real challenge in relationships — I think — is learning how to balance the two in a way that works for you. It takes a lot of time, practice and heartbreak, but rest assured it will all be worth it when you’re at the chapel!

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNIKA MORRIS

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNIKA MORRIS

Fashion trends are constantly transforming, and with social media serving as an outlet for creators to express their stylistic innovations, there have been several new trends surfacing the media.

One of the most recent additions to modern slang is “coquette” and “balletcore,” where people accessorize themselves with dainty ribbon bows and ballet flats to uphold this delicate aesthetic.

Before “coquette” was painted as an aesthetic, people would use the term to describe a young woman who flirts and seduces men.

However, with the rise of the eloquent trend throughout the early 2010s, the term has changed its interpretation to glamorize and romanticize the dainty and pretty pink things in life.

While scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, I have come across several different videos of users placing pink “coquette” ribbon bows to romanticize different objects, like their favorite foods, makeup products and even their pets. These bow-themed videos are created with the song, “Let The Light In” by Lana Del Rey featuring Father John Misty in the background.

Social media has also allowed users to create moodboards, as well as outfit ideas, to exhibit their personal takes on the “coquette”

and “balletcore” styles.

Many creators have also used this bow trend to decorate their accessories, like their headphones, shoes and handbags.

Embracing this aesthetic, Chanel released their Spring/ Summer 2024 Haute Couture collection, “The Button,” where Chanel creative director Virginie Viard paid tribute to the House of Chanel by showcasing elegant and dainty pieces, appealing to many fans of the “balletcore” aeshetic.

Chanel is one of the illustrious brands that has been consistently ushering the “coquette” aesthetic into a more editorial eye, most notably by accentuating their iconic logoembossed buttons with shiny jewels seen on many of the tweed jackets and dresses.

These pieces were displayed throughout their Spring/Summer 2024 last January at the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris.

Along with its button modifications, the collection featured pink, purple and green toned floral prints parallel to the “coquette” style, but added to the “balletcore” style with each model wearing white tights under their looks.

Like the viral TikToks known to many, most of the models within the show were accessorized with large black satin bows that accompanied their half-up, half-down hairstyles, coinciding

with the recent fashion trends.

When you envision ballet, the visual of chiffon skirts and baby pink leotards may come to mind, but the designer, Viard, was able to exquisitely bring her own touches of luxury and couture to that image.

I feel as though all of the pieces aligned and complemented each other very nicely, successfully upholding the simplicity of Chanel’s image and the dainty “coquette” style we have come to know today.

However, Chanel is not the only brand that has expressed this aesthetic. As the “coquette” bows began to circulate social media, several other brands, like McDonald’s and Jollibee, have hopped on the bandwagon, placing these bows on their menu items to market themselves.

In light of this trend, brands like Lisa Says Gah have also started to sell bow-themed products, like knit cardigans, bow earrings and ballet flats.

I truly love the overall daintiness of this trend, and I feel as though it depicts the “girly girl” style nicely. Although it has already become less popular on social media, I still anticipate seeing how the aesthetic unfolds as more brands participate.

LIFESTYLE 11

Winter’s August | Things I’ve Learned From Strangers

BY LILI CULHANE Senior Columnist

Well, here we are. A good chunk into winter by now. You know what?

I actually like winter. Well, what I really like is snow. I actually don’t really know what to do with winter.

I don’t even mind the cold that much. But recently — guiltily — I’ve been craving those warmer, summery days. I don’t like that feeling. No one likes feeling guilty. I don’t like being the type of person who counts the days down to summer. There must be something good here and now. But, I still think about summer, I must admit.

During the summertime, I work at an ice cream shop in Cape Cod. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned that in one of these columns before.

Then again, I don’t know if there’s anyone reading religiously enough to notice — or if there’s anyone other than my mom and my roommates reading at all.

As my friend Georgia will say, I work in the frozen treat industry. Let it be known that it’s a very serious, important title. We have the fate of children’s happiness and teenagers’ dates in our hands. You try carrying that weight on your shoulders!

I love working at the ice cream

shop. It’s a great place to peoplewatch, which, as a matter of fact, I like to do from time to time.

One of my favorite people who I came across on the job was a little boy named August.

It was August’s birthday and his mom was throwing a party for him on our shop’s patio. We don’t usually do parties, but truth be told, August’s mom told us a sweet, little story about the family’s love for the shop and it won us over pretty quickly.

Note to future self: sweet, little stories always work.

Naturally, the party fell on a beautiful August day, which makes me sure that Mother Nature will come together with the Gods that you believe in to give your child a splendid birthday so long as their child is named after their birth month.

August arrived in a little bow tie, suspenders and some seersucker shorts — an outfit that screamed, “I’m untouchable.”

The guest list seemed incredibly V.I.P. Mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and a couple of August’s friends along with their parents.

August — Auggie, if you will — got a gigantic banana split that we

stuck a candle in for him to blow out. I hoped his wish came true.

They danced, chatted and sat outside until the sun set back in the sky — something you can do when you’re named after your birth month, but your birth month is August and not February.

I don’t know why I love this story so much, or why Auggie has stayed with me. Maybe it’s just because I think Auggie was such a cool little dude. Maybe it’s because I’ve tried to channel his untouchable energy ever since — not by physically wearing a bow tie and suspenders, but wearing them emotionally.

As I’m writing this, I’m realizing something. Right now, Auggie is probably not on the patio of the ice cream shop — he is somewhere else and has probably traded in his bowtie and suspenders for a pair of snow pants and mittens (possibly the ones with the string to attach them so the mittens don’t get lost).

He goes to school, plays at recess with his friends and his favorite subject is probably science (he seems to be the slime-making type). He probably eats mac and cheese on snow days, hangs out with his mom, watches TV or makes a sledding hill

in his front yard.

The point is: he’s probably still having lots of fun, but winter fun.

Because he’s now “Winter’s August.”

I think I need to take a page out of Auggie’s book. It’s not about finding summer during winter, it’s about appreciating what you’ve got right now. Even if I don’t make slime or sled down hills anymore, there’s a lot of stuff out there for me to enjoy as well.

I can go to the movies. I can bake cookies. I can finally try to read “A

Court of Thorns and Roses” so my friends will stop hating me.

Actually, you know what? On second thought, maybe I will make a sledding hill. It sounds almost appealing now. If you see me in the park by my house after the next fresh snow, working like a dog, you’ll know why — I’m channeling my inner August.

I highly recommend you do, too.

Don’t count down the days until summer. February, March and April would miss you if you did.

ILLUSTRATION BY LILA BALTAXE

Heartwarming book recommendations for Valentine’s Day

BY OBIOMA EKE Contributing Writer

There is no shortage of romance novels in bookstores, but finding the right one can prove difficult — especially when you have specific taste.

Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or a heartbreaker, let me offer some romance novel recommendations to warm your heart during this chilly Valentine’s Day season.

POV: Your ideal night in includes Pinterest and a romcom marathon.

“Better Than the Movies” by Lynn Painter Liz Buxbaum is your typical hopeless romantic who is determined to get her long-time crush, Michael, to notice her. She strikes a deal with her annoying

next-door neighbor, Wes, who helps Liz in her pursuit for Michael’s attention.

Wes and Liz have known each other since they were kids, but all of Liz’s memories are filled with Wes pranking her and making her cry. Fast forward, and they start fake dating with the hopes of getting Michael’s attention, but Liz begins to realize that Wes may not be as infuriating as she once thought.

Chapters of this book begin with a quote from rom-coms like “10 Things I Hate About You” and “27 Dresses.” The writing style is humorous and lighthearted, and this book is perfect for anyone who loves romanticizing the little things.

If you need a fluffy, cute romance to read this Valentine’s season, this book is for you.

POV: You can’t stop thinking about that one person you saw on the T. “Blackout” by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon “Blackout” is a collection of short stories that follows teenagers in New York during a summer blackout. This collection of Black love stories about a second-chance romance, friends who consider being more and discovering one’s sexuality.

These stories can warm any cold heart and the relatable characters allow the book to reach a wide audience. In addition to romance, all of the tales’ progressions make them feel like coming-of-age stories.

This novel is great for anyone interested in getting back into

reading, as the anthology format is fast-paced and easy to follow.

POV: You see your childhood crush in a cafe and you realize that you still have a crush on them.

“Love and Other Words” by Christina Lauren Pediatrics resident Macy Sorensen has her future planned to a T. She’s in a relationship with an older, pragmatic man and she’s ready to seal the deal as she plans her wedding. Then suddenly, her first love re-enters her life.

Elliot Petropoulos is Macy’s intelligent childhood best friend.

They did everything together and connected by reading books in Macy’s closet. As they grew into adolescents, their relationship became more complicated.

This novel jumps between the past and present as the audience learns why Elliot and Macy were disconnected for ten years. This book explores love, friendship and grief through compelling writing.

If you love a heart-wrenching love story, the novel is perfect for you. This book captivates its audience by building suspense and it also features a lovely female friendship between Macy and Sabrina, her former college roommate. This novel beautifully balances romance and other aspects of Macy’s life.

POV: You think “standing on business” is a major green flag.

“Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute” by Talia Hibbert

ILLUSTRATION BY LILA BALTAXE

Two aspiring lawyers fight for a scholarship that could change their respective futures. Celine and Brad were once friends, but are distanced after Brad joins their high school football team and Celine gains a following on TikTok. They are forced to work as a team in order to get the scholarship. They become closer

and remember why they were friends in the first place.

Celine’s relationship with her mother is an imperative part of her character that readers with single parents can relate to.

This book also discusses mental health, specifically OCD, as Brad learns to manage it.

The book features excellent British banter and layered characters that excite the audience. It balances serious topics and comical one-liners in a way that is unique to Talia Hibbert. The book is like a dessert that you can’t stop eating, but luckily doesn’t make you feel sick in the end.

POV: You love “Gilmore Girls,” and you are unapologetically on Team Jess.

“The Painter

Do-Over”

by

Lynn

Emilie Hornby experiences the worst Valentine’s Day you can imagine. She rear-ends someone on the way to school, loses a scholarship competition and catches her boyfriend kissing another girl.

Emilie goes to her grandmother’s house to escape her horrifying day and falls asleep on her couch. She wakes up the following day hoping that she can move on and forget the tragic events that took place only to find out that it’s Feb. 14 again.

This Valentine’s Day version of “Groundhog Day” explores the importance of getting out of one’s shell. Emilie finds herself interacting with Nick, the person she rear-ends, more and more on each Valentine’s Day. He comes off as standoffish but as the days, or day, goes by, Emilie learns that Nick is more complex than he seems.

This book is great for anyone who loves witty dialogue, Taylor Swift references, and a daily planner. The combination of humor and heartbreak will cure your winter blues.

12 SPORTS

SPORTS Men’s basketball, continued from page one Colgate has dominated BU (9-15, 4-7 PL) the last few seasons, winning nine of the last 10 matchups between the two schools dating back to January of 2021. The Raiders have gone on to win each of the last three Patriot League Championships, moving on to the NCAA Tournament, but never making it past the first round.

“Right now, [the Raiders are] the class of the league,” BU head coach Joe Jones said. “We are capable of playing everyone, and our guys are starting to get more comfortable out there.”

The Terriers were able to keep pace with Colgate for the first 12 minutes of the game, and they were able to limit extended runs where the Raiders could pile on points.

Colgate has proven itself to be an offensive powerhouse.

The Raiders hold second place in the PL in points per game, but the team leads the league in the total number of points scored.

One of BU’s biggest downfalls in the first half was the three-point shot.

The Raiders were able to go 7-15 from beyond the arc.

BU hardly had an answer for Colgate fifth-year forward Ryan Moffatt, who made three of those threes without

attempting to score from within the three-point line.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the first half, and some of it, I’m gonna have to take some responsibility,” Jones said.

“We were blitzing, and when I say blitzing, that means double team the post and … we were very confused.”

BU also gave up 11 points on nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Colgate’s standout sophomore guard Braeden Smith collected four steals in the first half alone.

On the other side of the ball,

the Terriers struggled mightily with three-pointers. They only managed to make two out of their 11 attempts, missing wide-open looks.

BU went into halftime down 32-24.

Terrier senior guard Miles Brewster took it upon himself to try and fix the team’s three-pointer problem just 16 seconds into the second half, sinking a shot to start to chip away at Colgate’s lead.

“We got to clean up our mistakes … and then we needed to know what we’re

KATE KOTLYAR | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Sophomore guard Ben Roy (30) goes for a layup in a game against Colgate University on Wednesday. The Terriers lost 64-74.

going to do on the post because that was the big thing,” Jones said. “Our perimeter guys can guard pretty good … but we had no answer for the post game, and that’s what we were trying to clean up [going into the second half].”

BU was able to start to claw their way out of their hole with a few good layups from the paint and a foul that allowed sophomore forward Otto Landrum to land two free throws.

Colgate had built their lead back up to 10 points midway through the second half, but the Terriers were not surrendering.

The Terriers then went on a10-2 run to cut the Raiders’ lead to just one point with just over four minutes left.

Junior guard Ethan Okwuosa capped the BU hot streak with a fastbreak layup to bring the team within reach of the lead.

However, Colgate’s offensive rebounds in huge spots allowed them to ice the game. When Smith missed a three-pointer just 30 seconds after Okwuosa’s layup, Moffatt was able to snag the rebound and collect the two points.

When BU tried to respond to keep themselves in the game, Landrum’s layup was blocked by Colgate’s fifthyear forward Keegan Records

and rebounded by Moffatt.

“That might have been the play of the game,” Jones said.

The Terriers could not find a way to stifle Records. He ended the game with a teamhigh 18 points, shooting at a 70% clip and hauling in five rebounds.

“The difference in the game was Records and [the Raiders’] timely offensive rebounds,” Jones said.

Records contributed five points in the 11-0 run Colgate went on that sealed BU’s loss.

Despite the final score, the Terriers proved themselves to be scrappy, keeping the game competitive until the final minutes.

Brewster was one of the few offensive highlights from the night, setting a career-high in points with 21. He was also able to contribute with five defensive rebounds and two assists.

The Terriers will look ahead to a matchup against Bucknell University in Lewisburg on Saturday, Feb. 10.

“I’ve been here long enough to know what winning looks like and how you need to play to win, and we’re kind of getting closer to that,” Jones said. “We can fight a little bit harder, we can dig down a little bit deeper.”

BU softball preview, continued from page one This year, the team’s core is the same, and so are the expectations.

BU was picked to win their conference and received all three preseason awards. Player of the year: senior infielder Kayla Roncin, defensive player of the year: graduate infielder Caitlin Coker and graduate pitcher of the year: Allison Boaz.

While the team is grateful to be recognized, none of it matters to them.

“The focus is on what’s ahead … not what we’ve accomplished,” head coach Ashley Waters said.

“We’re scrappy and unsatisfied.”

The Terriers are returning their leadership group — four graduate student players in Coker, Boaz, Audrey Sellers, and utility player Lizzy Avery.

It was an easy decision for the four, who are all pursuing master’s degrees, according to Boaz.

“When they left the field last year, prior to even breaking out of the huddle, they had goals of, ‘We need to come back, we need to be better than this,’” Waters said.

They take pride in being voices in the locker room as they look to instill in the younger players what was instilled in them.

“We have a standard of excellence that we came into, so we’re trying to leave the same thing behind [and] leave the program better than we found it,”

Coker said.

Those high standards that Waters ingrains in her team has left her on the cusp of history.

Entering her ninth season, she is one win shy of becoming the University’s all-time winningest softball coach, with 271 victories to her name.

“I’ve had the most incredible experience, but I’m not going to attribute that to wins,” Waters said. “It’s the trips, the kids, the laughs, the everyday nonsense.”

The pitching staff will look the same this year, headlined by Boaz, who was the conference pitcher of the year the past two seasons. Right behind her is sophomore pitcher Kasey Ricard, who won conference rookie of the year last year. Avery rounds out the rotation that will look to keep hitters at bay all season.

After posting a combined 1.73 earned-run average last season, the group is determined to come back stronger this time around.

“We all have our own strengths,” Boaz said. “Lizzy and I have our drop balls, I have my changeup and Kasey’s a predominantly rise-throwing pitcher.”

It’s the perfect pairing, as Waters puts it.

“The three of them together make the most unique, perfect staff,” she said. “They each bring something different, yet they all

have such amazing talents.”

Opponents know what they are going to get when facing Boaz and Ricard, but Waters expects a more confident Avery in her final year, and she expects a bounce back season.

“I feel like she goes under the radar,” Waters said. “I genuinely believe you’re going to see her name a lot more this year.”

The three support one another and compete for each other, Waters said. She said she believes they are a force and that they are one of the strongest pitching staffs in the country.

On the other side of the ball, the Terriers will run back the top of their order in seniors Roncin, Coker and outfielder Lauren Keleher.

They’ve been dominant their entire collegiate careers, especially last season, posting batting averages of .430 for Roncin, .395 for Keleher and .389 for Coker.

Waters puts it simply: They’re the best top three BU softball has ever had.

“I’ve never seen more talent at the top of the order than what those three have been able to do year in and year out on a consistent basis,” Waters said.

Yes, Keleher, Roncin, and Coker are the engine of the team’s success, but from top to bottom, the Terriers are littered with

talent.

“I have three players of the year, three defensive players of the year and three pitchers of the year,” Waters said. “I’m so fortunate, and really lucky.”

At the end of the day, firepower only gets you so far. Looking back, Waters doesn’t think her team was as prepared as they needed before heading to regionals. The team still needs to improve to be able to accomplish their goal of winning a regional.

It’s about nailing down the little things. Taking the season game by game, each game pitch by pitch and remaining locked in every day.

Waters said the team is hungry.

They want it — bad.

“There’s totally unfinished business,” Coker said.

The Terriers have been quietly working all winter, improving, and patiently waiting for opening day. They won’t have to wait much longer. They take on Binghamton University in the Frank Griffin Classic on Feb. 9 in DeLand, Florida.

It’s the core’s last ride, and Waters just wants to enjoy this team while she still can.

“Honestly, I think I’m going to sit back and enjoy getting to watch these girls play in their final days,” Waters said.

HUI-EN LIN | DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Sophomore infielder Brooke Deppiesse (4) swings at a pitch. The Boston University softball team won the Patriot League and reached the national tournament last season.

Bottom Line WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

SOFTBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

February 9 vs Maine

February 9 vs Merrimack

February 10 vs SIUE

February 10 vs Buknell

MEN’S BASKETBALL February 10 at Bucknell