11/9 Election Edition

NEWS, 3

Read up on an overview of the ballot with an infographic

GALLERY, 6

Photos from different election night watch parties

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50

YE ARS

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EDITORIAL, 8

See what the FreeP E-Board has to say about the ballot questions.

I N DE PE N DE N T

STU D E NT

SPORTS, 11

Women’s basketball falls 66-65 to Northeastern in season opener

J O U R NA LI S M

c Ele n tio

Edition

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9, 2022

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

YEAR LIII. VOLUME B. ISSUE V

Healey wins governor, Campbell takes AG

BY CASEY CHOUNG, EMILIA WISNIEWSKI, MATTHEW EADIE, MACIE PARKER, TAYLOR BROKESH

Maura Healey claimed victory on Nov. 8 election night in the Massachusetts gubernatorial race, defeating Republican candidate Geoff Diehl.

Healey, a Democrat, is the first woman and openly lesbian person to be elected governor in Massachusetts and will succeed Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.

“The people of Massachusetts tonight have given us a historic opportunity and a mandate to act.

So we’re going to ignore the noise.

We’re going to focus every day on making a positive difference in people’s lives,” Healey said at her election night party at the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

Healey was joined by several other Democratic candidates at her election night party, including her running mate Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll, Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell, State Auditor-elect Diana DiZoglio and Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Katherine Clark.

“Tonight’s victories are not the result of blue waves or magic.

They are the result of good, old fashioned hard work. The work that women have been doing for generations,” Pressley said in her speech at the Democratic watch party.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren made an appearance to congratulate Healey and the Democratic candidates on their victories.

“When we persist together, we win together,” she said.

Immediately after the AP projected Healey the winner of the race, skepticism began to circle around the Diehl party.

Hours went by with Diehl campaign officials repeatedly saying they would not concede until every vote was counted.

Diehl’s campaign manager, Amanda Orlando, took the stage around 9 p.m. to address the crowd, calling the AP’s projection “irresponsible” and “extremely premature.”

Rick Green, a spokesperson for the Diehl campaign, called the projection “faulty information,” saying, “what you see on your TVs is nothing more than the projection of the mainstream media and what they believe will happen.”

Diehl, a former Massachusetts state representative, and his running mate, Leah Cole Allen, conceded the race at his election night party at the Boston Harbor

according to the AP, making her the first Black attorney general in the history of Massachusetts.

“Our campaign was led by the people, for the people, to ensure the Attorney General of Massachusetts remains committed to being for the people and representing the people,” Campbell said.

Although the AP declared Campbell the winner early in the

a Boston native and paraprofessional, said the elects represent a major change for the Commonwealth.

“There’s going to be one woman who’s gay and another one who’s of color,” DabneySmall said. “If you were asking me these questions 40 or 50 years ago, I’d probably tell you this is a losing battle.”

Fidel Ramos, a business

attended the MassDems Watch Party.

“Massachusetts prides itself in leading the nation in civil liberties and caring for its citizens and Maura Healey is a great exemplar of that, regardless of what’s going on in the rest of the country tonight, I think we’re still in good shape here in the Commonwealth,” Wulfson said.

Heather Logrippo, who was at

HUI-EN LIN | DFP STAFF

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Maura Healey will be the first woman and openly lesbian person to be elected for governor of Massachusetts.

Andrea Campbell will be the first Black attorney general of Massachusetts.

Hotel just before 11 p.m.

“I understand every vote counts, and it will be counted,” he said. “I know the state will count those votes, but right now with the gap that we have, it is impossible to close.”

Diehl thanked his supporters for continuing to stand with him. Some attendees did not acknowledge the early calling of the race.

“They called it for Maura Healey with 0% of the polls being tallied.

That right there is a sign enough that you need to not believe what’s going on,” said Charlie Cook, a teacher and firearm instructor who was “completely disappointed” with Diehl’s loss.

In the race for Massachusetts attorney general, Campbell beat out Republican Jay McMahon,

night, McMahon was determined to wait for more results.

“I want them to be particular and meticulous,” McMahon said after speaking on stage. “I want every vote to be counted. I don’t mind waiting. I would rather wait and have them get it right, than to just jump ahead and do what the AP did seven minutes after the polls closed.”

Kerri Connors, a volunteer for Moms Demand Action, said it is “amazing” to see a female governor and lieutenant governor duo.

“I think that (Healey) is tough, but empathetic,” she said. “I think she’s not afraid to get to know the different parts of the state, all the different people, and all the different socio-economic status.”

Ashawn Dabney-Small,

owner at the Diehl event, said he was disappointed in Diehl’s early concession.

“He should’ve given his supporters who voted for him across the state a chance for their votes to be counted,” he said.

Some Republicans also indicated that they would support an even further right-leaning candidate in the future.

“None of us in this room would want a more moderate candidate,” Kebbi Nowland, an Amesbury resident, said at the Diehl event.

Sterling Edgar, legislative aide for the state Senate, said he was “very excited to see a Democratic landslide” since Massachusetts has not always been completely blue.

Jeff Wulfson, former deputy commissioner of education,

Diehl’s election night party, said she held a fundraiser for Diehl during his race against Warren for the United States Senate.

“He’s a winner,” she said. “He’s a doll of a person. He really just does what he says. He’s honest, there’s no spin. What you see is what you get.”

Healey, after thanking her supporters and campaign for their help, said she would stand as a governor for everyone in the state.

“In Massachusetts, we lift people up, we come together, and we lead. That’s who we are.”

Healey said. “Together we’ll build a stronger Massachusetts for everyone.”

Xiaoya Shao contributed to the reporting on this story.

Students share midterm election opinions, hopes issues are among the most important policies, and transparency is the most important quality from Students at Boston University candidates for the 2022 midterm said climate change and social elections.

BY RUIHAN YANG Contributing Writer

KEANNA LANE | DFP STAFF

A sticky note encouraging people to vote posted on a bulletin board in Warren Towers.

Advik Goel, a senior in Questrom School of Business, said while he will vote for Democrats, he looks for legislation that could be too ambitious.

“Then there’s no real chance of them ever passing, and so if they have a good plan for how to do that, that matters to me a lot,” he said.

Goel also said he believes candidates should take more action regarding climate change, continuing what was started during the last term.

“There was already a good bill passed on climate change earlier in Congress, but I think even more of that would be very good,” Goel said. “We should do everything we can to try and at least not increase our temperature to an unreasonable degree.”

Arielle Walsh, a senior in Questrom, said she is also worried about how politicians will address climate change.

“I think climate change, divesting from fossil fuels and all of that is definitely one of the most important things going on,” Walsh said.

Simone Seiner, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she is paying closest attention to LGBTQ+ and other social and civil issues, as well as Question 1 on the ballot regarding taxes.

“I’m also invested in taxation,” Seiner said. “The thing I’m most paying attention to in this election is Question 1, which would raise taxes on (income) over a million dollars.”

Anne Joseph, a sophomore in CAS, said she has seen Govenorelect Democrat Maura Healey as a leader since she first ran for office.

“Massachusetts needs more progressive leaders, especially with the history of the governors we’ve had,” Joseph said.

Joseph said during the primaries she pays attention to specific policies and researches the candidates, but in

the general election it is more about party affiliation.

“At this point, it was kind of like, I’ll vote for the Democratic candidate, as opposed to the Republican candidate,” Joseph said.

Walsh said transparency with goals and progress and being trustworthy are the main characteristics she looks for in candidates.

“Being able to communicate and listen to what the supporters value in terms of policies or in terms of just characteristics that you want to use when you’re campaigning,” Walsh said.

No matter what their opinions are, Seiner said she hopes people value their opinions enough to go out and vote.

“I know the kinds of things that I care about, and I think that that’s enough for my voice to be worth hearing,” Seiner said. “I hope that other people also do that.”

NEWS 3

2 NEWS

BU student groups prepare for midterm elections

BY SYDNEY TOPF Contributing Writer

Student organizations at Boston University including BU Votes, BU College Democrats, BU College Republicans and College of Arts and Sciences Student Government are encouraging students to vote through social media posts, canvassing and election day watch parties.

BUCD held events this semester in preparation for the election, including a letter writing campaign with the Boston College and Northeastern University College Democrats chapters, a voter education workshop, a voter registration drive and a canvassing trip to New Hampshire, said Alice Scollins, a junior in CAS and president of BUCD. “It’s amazing to see that so many young people and collegeaged students are so involved and really passionate and care about politics,” Scollins said. “I think it says a lot for the future of our country, and it’s just great to see so many people motivated.”

The Swing Left, a progressive political organization created after the 2016 election to increase voter turnout, organized the canvassing trip to New Hampshire. BUCD shared the information and went alongside other Bostonarea Democrat clubs, including Brandeis University and Tufts University Democrats chapters.

Attendees headed to New Hampshire to support Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) with the goal of educating votes, supporting democratic candidates and ensuring people have a voting plan, according to the event website.

Shana Weitzen, a sophomore in CAS and BUCD campus coordinator, was one of the seven BUCD students in attendance and canvassed because of what’s at “stake” in swing districts like New Hampshire, she said.

“It’s important that you go out and canvass for your candidates because the election could really go either way, especially this election when there’s so much on the line with abortion rights, voter rights [and] climate activism stuff,” she said. “There’s so much riding on this election that it is just really important to be as active as possible.”

Her group knocked on almost 100 doors and left pamphlets with information about the Democratic candidates and vote planning at all doors, even the ones that didn’t answer.

While students were there to canvass for Democratic candidates, Weitzen believes she was also canvassing for the act of voting and getting people to the polls, she said. “(Voting is) just important in itself,” she said. “Exercising that right to vote by getting to the polls, casting that vote, making sure that everyone can exercise that vote, that’s what our democracy is about. Of course, I was out there campaigning for Democrats but to me, it’s just more important that people are voting.”

Similar to BUCD, BU College Republicans have also held events and shared information about the election. Declan Donahue, a junior in CAS and president of BUCR said every election, including local races, is important.

“Most of (our members) don’t

have a competitive race on our ballot, but it’s the state local elections that do really matter and directly affect the way that you live your life in your state,” he said. “We really want to make sure we’re staying involved with those elections as well, not just the top liners.”

Donahue said BUCR has been encouraging students to vote in the midterms by sharing voter resources and information during club meetings, answering student questions about voting and canvassing for Republican congressional candidates.

“This is how you get started in politics,” Donahue said. “It starts with the groundwork to make the connections and work your way up so considering how many political science students and politics-interested students (there are canvassing) was a great opportunity to actually start with some engagement.”

Amanda Lohnes, a sophomore in the School of Hospitality and Administration and BUCR member, said canvassing has been a good opportunity to meet people with similar values to her as students from Republican clubs at Northeastern University, Tufts and University of Vermont also went to Rhode Island to canvass.

“I was really nervous because knocking on people’s doors can be super intimidating,” Lohnes said.

“Even if they’re voting for the other candidate, they were super glad that we were involved in politics. They were really happy to see young people out there helping out.”

The 2020 presidential election saw the highest voter turnout in

the 21st century, with 66.8% of citizens 18 and older voting in the election, but the lowest age group voter turnout was in 18 to 24-yearolds, at 51.4%, according to the 2021 U.S. Census Report.

Amanda Lohnes said it’s important to increase voter turnout among young people because young people need their “voice to be heard.”

“It’s just really important to get your voice out there,” Lohnes said.

“To the people that say ‘I don’t

want to vote because it doesn’t matter,’ even though you may not think it matters, every vote really does count.”

Scollins said she believes this election is important for the future of democracy.

“There’s so much at stake in this election,” Scollins said. “It’s really important to just make your voice heard and participate in our democracy where in so many countries people don’t have that right.”

Democratic state Sen. Diana DiZoglio declared victory in the race for state auditor against Republican Anthony Amore at the Democratic watch party on election night.

“Together, we will help ensure that working families just like ours can access to and accountability from our state government, regardless of our family background, our bank balance or our zip code,” DiZoglio said at the MassDems Watch Party.

The auditor-elect cited her work in public service as a state senator as a motivator going forward in her new role.

Gene Parini, a Diehl supporter, said he supported Anthony Amore for state auditor because he wanted a Republican to hold the state auditor office.

“You got a Democrat congress, a Democrat secretary of state, all Democrats leading all these agencies, and they’re audited by a Democrat, and you never hear the result of the audit,” he said.

All nine Massachusetts districts were called for the Democratic candidates. Notably, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley won 84.5% of the vote, for district seven which includes Boston.

“We are going to change the narrative of people’s lives. We take our rightful place as we show the nation what is possible and advance policies that uplift the collective,” Pressley said at the Democrat Election Night Party.

As for ballot questions, Question 1, which involves an increased taxation for those over $1 million income, is projected to pass at 51.8% according to 82% reporting to the Associated Press as of 4:30 a.m.

At the election night party held jointly by supporters of Question

1 and Question 4 at Colonnade Hotel, approximately 200 people gathered. The gathering garnered an appearance from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

“Having an additional $1 billion and a half to $2 billion for public transit and for education is going to be critical and that’s why a fair share is important,” Jake Taber, community organizer for Mass. Senior Action Council said at the Democrat election night party in Fairmont Copley.

Ines Garrant, a Boston resident, registered Democrat and Boston University staff member, said she was against Question 1.

“There’s already a surplus in the state, and I don’t think it’s balanced,” she said. “I don’t think it’s true that it only taxes the wealthy because it does tax small businesses and others.”

Massachusetts state Sen. Adam Gomez said he supports Question 1 and Question 4. Gomez added that he felt so drawn to Question 1 that he seeked signatures in support of the “millionaire’s tax.”

Matt Knight, a Boston military member and Republican who voted at Kilachand Hall, said he voted against ballot Question one because “people that have accumulated that wealth, for the most part, they’ve worked hard for and they shouldn’t be penalized for it.”

Question 2, which would regulate dental insurance, passed according to the Associated Press.

Ted Falk, who just moved from Oregon, also supports Question 2.

“It’s high time that dental insurance got the sort of regulatory attention that we’ve previously given to medical insurance,” Falk said.

Question 3, which looks to increase alcohol licenses, is not projected to pass, with 55% voting ‘no’ according to 80% reporting to the Associated Press as of 3:40 a.m.

Robert Mellion, executive director of the Massachusetts Package Association, the organization that filed Question 3, said voting yes on the question will offer “convenience, but does so safely.”

“The purpose of Question 3 was to address the consumer’s desire for increased convenience, but to do it safely in a way that protected locally owned businesses and the communities that they serve,” Mellion said.

Question 4, which involves allowing undocumented people to get their drivers license, is projected to pass by 53.4% with 82% reporting to the Associated Press as of 4:30 a.m.

Lenita Reason, executive

As of Nov. 9 at 4:50 a.m.

Question 1: Projected to pass

By Contributing Writer Bailey Scott

Question 1 on the Massachusetts ballot this year proposes the Fair Share Amendment to be added to the Massachusetts Constitution that would add a 4% tax on incomes over $1 million to finance public education and transportation maintenance.

Proponents of the amendment said that it is a way to make taxes more fair while also allowing the state to invest in the future of education and infrastructure. Opponents of the bill say that it will negatively affect small businesses, homeowners and retirees.

COURTESY OF PIXABAY

Question 2: PASSED

By City Associate Taylor Brokesh

Question 2 was passed by voters, enacting new state regulations on dental insurance carriers.

The law would require dental insurers to report their medical loss ratio — the ratio between how much a customer pays for their insurance that goes toward patient care as opposed to administrative expenses — to the commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. The law would also set the MLR in the state at 83%, so when insurance providers do not reach that ratio, insurance policy holders would be refunded the excess premiums.

COURTESY OF PIXABAY

Question 3: Projected to not pass

As of Nov. 9 at 4:50 a.m.

By Co-City Editor Casey Choung

COURTESY OF BU COLLEGE DEMOCRATS VIA INSTAGRAM

Members of the Boston University College Democrats holding up signs encouraging people to vote yes on Question 1. Various student organizations at BU are encouraging students to vote in the upcoming midterm election.

Massachusetts midterms see a blue wave, ‘yes’ train

BY BELLA RAMIREZ, EMILIA WISNIEWSKI, MATTHEW EADIE, MACIE PARKER

Breaking down the ballot questions

director at the Brazilian Worker Center, discussed the importance of mobility in drawing her support.

“It’s about human rights,” Reason said. “We not only think about the immigrant family, we think about everyone. When you drive, you want to make sure that someone that drives alongside of you has to take the test just like you do.”

Kevin Lam, organizing director of Asian American Resource Workshop, said that a third of the undocumented population in Massachusetts identifies as Asian.

“Especially during the pandemic, we’re seeing a lot of disparities in access to resources especially within the

Asian community,” Lam said at the Question 1 and Question 4 supporters event. “They’re expressing a lot of need around the need for driver’s licenses, and a lot of challenges and hardships to getting access to them.”

At the MassDems Watch Party, Pressley concluded her election night thoughts reflecting on the past.

“We are making history, we are making change and most of all, we are rejecting the politics of fear and hatred,” Pressley said.

Casey Choung, Vikrant Sabharwal, Braedon Blumfield, Xiaoya Shao and Sydney Spottiswood contributed to the reporting of this article.

Question 3 on the 2022 Massachusetts ballot will address liquor licensing and regulations on liquor stores, increasing the limit for the total number alcohol licenses per retailer but also specifically capping the number of “all-alcohol beverages” licenses.

The limit on the total number of alcohol licenses would gradually increase from nine to 18 by 2031. Retailers would be limited to seven “all-alcohol licenses,” unless they already have nine.

Additionally, if passed, the ballot question would allow retailers to accept out-of-state licenses as identification and would disallow self checkout of alcoholic beverages. The question would also change how fines from the Alcohol Beverages Control Commission are assessed, now being based on total retail sales rather than just alcohol sales.

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Question 4: Projected to pass

As of Nov. 9 at 4:50 a.m.

By Contributing Writer Braedon Blumfield

Massachusetts voters passed ballot Question 4, allowing residents to apply for driver’s licenses regardless of their immigration status.

The law on the ballot, The Work and Family Mobility Act, allows for individuals who can prove current residency within Massachusetts but cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States to apply for driver’s licenses with documents such as a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport or consular card.

State Sen. Will Brownsberger said all drivers who pass a driver’s test should be licensed, regardless of immigration status so as to keep roads safe.

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Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer

COURTESY OF GRETCHEN WHITMER

Pennsylvania Sen.-elect John Fetterman

Georgia Sen.elect Raphael Warnock MADI KOESLER | DFP STAFF

A ballot drop box located in Boston. Democrats won all state executive positions along with all nine Massachusetts districts.

U.S. House · Massachusetts District 1 — Richard Neal (D) District 2 — James McGovern (D) District 3 — Lori Trahan (D) District 4 — Jake Auchincloss (D) District 5 — Katherine Clark (D) District 6 — Seth Moulton (D) District 7 — Ayanna Pressley (D) District 8 — Stephen Lynch (D) District 9 — Bill Keating (D)

Elections: Zoomed out

4 FEATURES

FEATURES 5

PROFILE

Maura Healey is the state’s first female, openly lesbian governor-elect

BY SOPHIA HEBERT Staff Writer

Governor-elect Maura Healey has broken several records with her win in the Nov. 8 election.

Healey is the first female governor in Massachusetts and the first openly lesbian governor in the nation.

While Healey is not originally from Massachusetts, her connection to the state spans decades. Healey was a student athlete at Harvard College, where she was captain of the women’s basketball team, then later received her law degree from Northeastern University.

For the past eight years, Healey has served as attorney general for the state, leading lawsuits against ExxonMobil for their climate change deceptions, the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma for their role in the opioid crisis, as well as hundreds of lawsuits against former President Donald Trump.

The Healey campaign focuses on issues including transportation, education and protecting reproductive rights.

A major concern for Massachusetts residents is reforming Boston’s transportation system, a topic that affects the people and the economies both locally and at the state level.

“We don’t have a functioning economy in Massachusetts, unless we have a functioning public transportation system

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Maura Healey making her victory speech at the MassDems Watch Party.

that works for all over the state,” Healey said in the Oct. 12 gubernatorial debate. “We need to make it safe, we need to make it affordable and we need to make it reliable.”

During the debate with GOP candidate Geoff Diehl, Healey said as governor she would appoint a safety chief to the MBTA in order to assure that commuters utilize transportation safely and reliably. In addition, she said she would implement new governance within

transportation that would respond to both capital planning and operations.

The MBTA has faced a major worker shortage, increasing and compounding on existing challenges in the transportation sector. Healey said she plans to grow the workforce.

“Right now, we don’t have enough people who are trained,” she said in a debate. “The good news is we have money coming in.”

Another pressing challenge

to the candidates is the state’s educational system.

Healey, who is a middle school basketball coach and has family members working in education, dubbed herself the “education governor.” She plans to implement and strengthen programs that will address the accessibility and quality of education in the state, as well as better pay for education support staff.

“I am a huge proponent of education and support for educators because I know how foundational that is to the life and wellbeing and success of every child and person in this state,” Healey said on the campaign trail at the Massachusetts Teachers Association office in Worcester, according to MassLive.

Healey outlined several goals for education for her possible gubernatorial role, including advocating for President Joe Biden to cancel student loan debt up to $50,000 per borrower, investing in community colleges and increasing opportunities for residents to receive high quality higher education free of debt.

Healey and her running mate for lieutenant governor Kim Driscoll have also drafted their plan for a program called MassReconnect that will fund community college for people aged 25 years or older. This will help students 25 and over to receive an education, Healey said during the debate, to get a degree or certificate that will

“make them ready to work today.”

“These are the kinds of investments we need to make,” Healey said. “We don’t need to go in the direction of the private market.”

In addition to providing scholarships and grants to cover tuition, MassReconnect also plans to cover fees and costs of supplies like textbooks, as well as provide academic counselors to students. The program follows a structure similar to successful programs in Michigan and Tennessee.

Healey has said she’ll be a governor who will protect reproductive freedom. During the gubernatorial debate, she said she will “protect the right of a woman to make that intensely personal and often difficult decision for herself.”

“As long as I’m governor, we will always protect access to safe, legal abortion,” she said in a Sept. 6 speech after winning the Democratic nomination.

Healey’s campaign called upon the need for cooperation on all issues, both locally and at the state level, which she emphasized at the debate on Oct. 12.

“It’s not about the points scored, it’s about the assists,” Healey said — a nod to her years as a collegiate and professional athlete as a point guard. “Too many are looking to divide. I want to be a governor who is about delivering for people… I will find common ground.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl champions affordability, anti-mandates for Mass.

BY ADITHYA IYER Science Associate Editor

Geoff Diehl, a former state representative and current Republican candidate for Massachusetts governor, never planned on running until he saw some of the negative effects that arose from legislative policies instituted during the pandemic.

“The pandemic hit, and that’s really where I saw businesses shut down, people being forced out of their jobs because they didn’t get vaccinated and kids out of school,” Diehl said in an interview. “I felt like there were a lot of bad decisions being made by people in leadership that really seemed to infringe on our civil rights.”

Diehl’s political career first started in the town of Whitman, Massachusetts where he currently lives.

“I joined the finance committee in my town because I wanted to make sure my town was a great place for my kids to live and provide them the education they deserved,” Diehl said. “Then I got into office, and I started to have a voice for other families and other people’s kids and grandkids.”

After serving on the finance committee and talking to many people in the neighboring towns of Abington and East Bridgewater, Diehl said he noticed that people were not satisfied with their state representative.

“Our state representative wasn’t living up to the commitment or helping us

[and] nobody was going to run against him,” he said. “So I said, ‘I’ll do it.’”

After reading two books on how to run for office, Diehl said he ended up winning the race and got to Beacon Hill which he said “opened my eyes to how state government works.”

It was while Diehl was working at the state legislature that he met his running mate for lieutenant governor, Leah Allen.

“I was first elected to the state legislature when I was 24,” Allen said in an interview.

“Geoff Diehl and I served together as representatives up on Beacon Hill.”

Allen ran for state legislature because she said she disagreed with the economic decisions of then Gov. Deval Patrick.

“He was proposing the largest tax increase that Massachusetts had ever seen, including an increase to the income tax,” Allen said. “It just so happened that a seat opened up in my district to run for state rep., so I jumped in and I won in a special election.”

After two terms of being a state representative, Allen became a nurse at Beverly Hospital. However, during the pandemic, Allen was fired.

“When I went out on maternity leave, that’s when the government mandates went into effect saying that I had to become vaccinated, or I wouldn’t be able to continue being employed,” Allen said.

“I just felt that I didn’t want to take the shot. It wasn’t right for me.”

Allen returned back to

MIDTERMS

Candidates run unopposed in Suffolk County

BY JESSIE SAGE O’LEARY Contributing Writer

When a Massachusetts state Senate seat opened up in the special election in January 2012, William Brownsberger was “immediately interested” in the position.

“It’s a great opportunity to serve the public,” he said.

Now, Brownsberger has served in the Massachusetts state Senate for 10 years as president pro tempore. He is one of the candidates running unopposed in the Boston area for the 2022 general election, ten years after his initial appointment.

Five of the 12 positions on the Suffolk County ballot this year have only one option for voters. These candidates, along with Brownsberger, are all Democrats — the Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden, Marilyn Petitto Devaney for Governor’s Council for District 3, and Rep. Michael Moran, the Massachusetts House of Representatives incumbent.

These incumbents have been in office for as few as one year, such as Hayden, to as many as 23 such as Devaney, who has held her post since 1999. As a member of the Governor’s Council, Devaney is one of eight councillors who approve appointments, pardons and judicial nominations.

Devaney said in an interview that although she is unopposed in the general election, she has run against 21 opponents in her 23 years. She also said she had a tough Democratic

primary, where her opponent Mara Dolan ran a “hurtful” and “negative” campaign against her.

“Yes, I won the election, and I’m grateful,” she said.

“But where do I go now to get my good name back?”

Despite the primary, Devaney said the position is important to her and she has “represented the people” and not “left the stone unturned.”

“I do think that one person can make a difference,” Devaney said.

Shauna Shames, a visiting associate professor of political science at Boston University, said that one reason some candidates remain unopposed is that it is an “uphill battle” for potential challengers to beat incumbents.

“We have made running for office extremely costly,” said Shames. “There’s all kinds of costs to your time, psychologically, to your family, financially.”

Shames said these factors make competitors “rationally deterred” from running for office.

“It takes the wind out of the sails of challengers,” she said.

Devaney said that the Boston area is also heavily Democratic.

According to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, around 1.5 million voters in Massachusetts registered as Democrats, as opposed to the roughly 437,000 registered Republicans. There are also around 2.9 million unenrolled voters.

Brownsberger was unopposed in both the primary and general election.

“I’d like to think … that people overall feel that they’re okay with the representation they’re getting,” he said.

“They’re even happy with the representation they’re getting… one never stops trying to communicate with one’s district.”

Shames said older incumbents need to keep track of what is important to the public because younger challengers tend to be “far more racially and ethnically diverse.”

“It can feel like you’ve got these out of touch, older people who have different concerns than you,” she said In terms of policies, Devaney said it is important that the public has access to the governor’s council hearings on nominations.

“I have wanted to have hearings streamed out to people so that people could see who the governor is appointing, see the hearing, see the person nominated,” she said.

Brownsberger said that this term, he wants to put a special focus on climate change.

“This is the decade where, from a climate perspective, we have to really put our shoulder to the wheel,” he said.

Devaney and Browsberger both agreed that the criminal justice and prison system need reform.

“There’s inmates that are dying, they’re not getting the medical help that they need,” she said.

Devaney said she is the only council member who meets with every potential judge.

“I’ve met with every

COURTESY OF WILLIAM BROWNSBERGER

William Brownsberger, Massachusetts State Senator. Brownsberger ran unchallenged in Suffolk County with the aim to focus on climate change.

nominee, and I really get to know them,” Devaney said.

“I want to know the whole person.”

Shames said some incumbents are “terrific representatives” who are dedicated to their position and have the “seniority” to make things happen.

“They can really help their constituents, do constituency service,” she said. “They’re good at it.”

Devaney said she continues to come back to the Governor’s Council because she knows how important the work is to

the public. She initially ran for office after her friend went to court seven times over a violent stalker, and the judge gave the stalker a $200 bail.

“Two weeks later, she was dead,” she said. “All these people that we vote on affect you or someone in your family.”

Brownsberger reiterated Devaney’s sentiment.

He continues to run, even if some people “don’t know my name,” because he wants to advocate for citizens.

“I do that 12 months a year, every year,” he said.

COMMUNITY

Students work for midterm election campaigns nationally

BY JAMES BUCKSER Contributing Writer

ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP STAFF

Geoff Diehl talking to the audience during the Republican watch party on Nov. 8. Diehl, Republican candidate for Massachusetts governor, discussed his plan for affordability and anti-mandates for Massachusetts.

politics when she heard Diehl was running for governor.

“I know that he was a strong supporter of individual freedoms,” Allen said. “He was anti-mandate, (anti)-vaccines and I wanted to jump in and run with him, and since then other issues have come up such as inflation, affordability.”

Amanda Orlando, the campaign manager for the Diehl-Allen campaign, said in an interview that COVID-19 mandates are what Diehl seeks to repeal.

“The way that those policies and mandates came down wasn’t

just unfair, it was destructive,” Orlando said. “Economically, it was destructive to people’s freedoms and their livelihoods and their ability to feed their kids.”

She said she thinks it’s “shameful” how Democratic Governor-elect Maura Healey defended those mandates while she was serving as attorney general.

“Freedom is inherent, and it’s unfortunately been removed in many cases by our government, especially over the last few years,” Orlando said. “Geoff has campaigned that he would

restore to the voters here in Massachusetts, to the people here, their freedoms.”

For college-aged students, Diehl said he wants to make Massachusetts more affordable and show there is the ability to live, work and retire comfortably.

“To me the government’s bread and butter is making sure we provide all the services that make that possible, give everybody their individual choices, just be the backbone of helping our state remain affordable,” Diehl said.

The midterm elections are on the minds of many, but some Boston University students have taken additional steps to be more involved than most, getting in on the ground floor of the democratic process by working on political campaigns across the country.

Nina Gulbransen, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, works as a campus fellow for democratic Governor-elect Maura Healey’s campaign, which she said is “ramping things up” as the election draws nearer. She said she helps out with canvassing, flyering, phone banking and text banking, to “get more people out there and get them voting.”

Gulbransen said she chose to work on Healey’s campaign over a similar role in her home state, Florida.

“I wanted to get more involved with Massachusetts politics and … get my fellow students more involved,” she said. “I also really liked Maura’s message, and I think she’s a really worthwhile candidate.”

Gulbransen also notes that her superiors at the campaign understand that college students are balancing a lot of work.

“Maura and her campaign does a really good job of making sure that we’re not overwhelmed, but we’re still involved, and we’re still getting to use opportunities to get her message out,” she said.

Nicholas Carlson, freshman in

CLARE ONG | DFP STAFF

A student campaigning for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey during Boston University’s SPLASH in September. Students at BU and across the country got involved in ​​midterm election campaigns.

CAS, said he is working on two campaigns in the upcoming election.

He is on the campaign staff for Michigan State House candidate Phil Skaggs and is a fellow for

Michigan state Senate candidate David LaGrand.

“It made me understand my community more and what their needs and wants are more,” Carlson

said. “It gave me valuable work experience. I think it was an amazing decision.”

Carlson said he helped the LaGrand campaign “get up and running” before leaving for school this fall.

“I’m still pretty active,” Carlson said. “Every couple of weeks [Skaggs] will just shoot me a text, … from afar, just helping with whatever they need.”

Carlson said he first became involved in politics while working on a Skaggs campaign in high school. His responsibilities on that campaign included creating the candidates website, taking photos for said website and filming videos for the candidate’s social media, but he moved on to other duties, he said.

“I started doing more stuff, talking to voters, going door-to-door knocking, designing what to hand out to people,” he said.

Working on smaller campaigns, Carlson said, is less formal and can mean more interaction with the candidate themselves.

“I like getting to know the candidate personally,” Carlson said.

“Most of the stuff at the state level you’ll have the phone number and email of the candidate and you’ll talk with them directly.”

Sean Waddington, a sophomore in CAS, is a campaign fellow for New York state Sen. Samra Brouk. Over the summer, he said, he worked in the office and canvassed, but is now working remotely in Boston and makes phone calls and manages lists.

Waddington said it’s the final push of canvassing, which is always hectic — he called it “get out the vote,” or “GOTV,” season.

“We’re working on mobilizing the voters that we know will vote for us,” he said. “We’re working on calling Democrats, whether they have absentee ballots or encouraging them to early vote, making sure they know their polling places.”

Waddington began working on the Brouk campaign as a high school senior in 2020.

“I think we’ve seen time and time again, state houses have a lot more power than we think they do,” he said.

Waddington said he remains “cautiously optimistic” about the race. Some of that optimism comes from his faith in the Brouk campaign.

“I feel hopeful when I’m working on this campaign because I actually believe in it,” he said. “But I can see through that different lenses of different candidates where that’s not the same story for every race.”

Waddington recommends campaign work “for anyone, to any level, any extent they can,” if they can just break past the initial barrier.

“People yell at you, people hang up on you, people are rude,” he said.

“And every once in a while someone is so grateful that you called them … and that one call fuels you through.

It’s not glorified work. It’s tough work, but hitting the pavement’s fun.

Someone’s gotta do it.”

PHOTO 7

6 PHOTO

GALLERY Official watch parties hosted speakers, politicians on election night

By Daily Free Press Photographers

Massachusetts voters had a choice between Democratic Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey or Republican former State Rep. Geoff Diehl for governor of Massachusetts on Nov. 8. Healey prevailed, and each party hosted watch parties to await the final ballot count to determine the next governor.

Audience members cheering at the MassDems Watch Party at Fairmont Copley Plaza. ZIYU (JULIAN) ZHU | DFP STAFF

Rep. Ayanna Pressley at the MassDems Watch Party. Pressley won her race by a wide margin. ZIYU (JULIAN) ZHU | DFP STAFF

Sen. Ed Markey speaking at the watch party to support Healey and the other Democratic candidates. Markey was not up for reelection this year. HUI-EN LIN | DFP STAFF

Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll, governor-elect and lieutenant governor-elect, at the MassDems Watch Party. ZIYU (JULIAN) ZHU | DFP STAFF

Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell tearing up after her win. CLARE ONG | DFP STAFF Healey will be the first openly lesbian governor in the United States. CLARE ONG | DFP STAFF

Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl making his concession speech on Nov. 8. MADI KOESLER | DFP STAFF

A crowd of excited supporters cheer on Healey at the MassDems Watch Party. ZIYU (JULIAN) ZHU | DFP STAFF

A supporter at the Republican watch party hangs his head following Diehl’s crushing defeat, which was called at 8 p.m. MADI KOESLER | DFP STAFF

Healey speaking to the crowd at the watch party. HUI-EN LIN | DFP STAFF

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu at the MassDems Watch Party on Nov. 8. HUI-EN LIN | DFP STAFF

Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks to the crowd. CLARE ONG | DFP STAFF

Jay McMahon, Republican candidate for attorney general, speaking at the Republican watch party at the Boston Harbor Hotel. ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP STAFF

Diehl-Allen Campaign Manager Amanda Orlando speaking to press at the Republican election event.

ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP STAFF

Diehl speaking to audience members after the watch party. ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON | DFP STAFF

OPINION 9

8 EDITORIAL Tanisha Bhat, Managing Editor

Molly Farrar, Editor-in-Chief Sangmin Song, Co-Campus Editor Clare Ong, Co-Photo Editor

Editorial Board

Ava Berger, Co-Features 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 Monday through Friday 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 © 2022 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All right reserved.

Talia Lissauer, Co-Campus Editor

COLUMNS

Eliza Nuestro, Co-Photo Editor

Haley Alvarez-Lauto, Layout & Graphics Editor

Claire Law, Co-Features Editor

Bella Ramirez, Co-City Editor

Casey Choung, Co-City Editor

Samantha Betsko, Multimedia Editor

Lydia Evans, Opinion Editor

Payton Renegar, Lifestyle Editor

Brendan Nordstrom, Co-Sports Editor

Chloe Patel, Co-Sports Editor

Taylor Hawthorne, Co-Podcast Editor

The state of the Republican party

Nellie Maloney, Co-Podcast Editor

EDITORIAL

The FreeP says ‘YES’ to the ballot questions Ballot questions, a key feature of voting in this year’s midterms, only come to fruition when the petitioner acquires enough signatures to prove the topic is important to the people — and this part of the midterm elections arguably affect day to day life more immediately than elections held at the national level.

In establishing the importance of voting on such issues, The Daily Free Press Editorial Board has chosen to endorse the following answers to each of the four questions on the ballot for the midterm elections.

Question 1: Additional tax on income over $1 million

This proposed amendment would establish an additional 4% state income tax on those whose annual taxable income exceeds $1 million. It’s important to emphasize the $1 million minimum as the question’s opponents fall into two categories — the megarich and the confused middle classmen.

The aspiration for current and prospective millionaires to cling tight to their bundles of cash is understandable, but as trickle down economics has far been disproven, such a tax is the easiest way to ensure their surplus of income benefits all.

Voting “yes” could increase annual state revenues by $1.2 billion. This would go towards public education as well as improving transportation infrastructure — hopefully providing the necessary funds to aid Mayor Michelle Wu’s initiative to make MBTA transit free for all.

Our vote: YES

Question 2: Regulation of dental insurance

Unlike health insurance plans, no laws exist to maintain the ratio of money dentist offices put towards patient care rather than administrative expenses.

In 2019, Massachusetts’ Delta Dental spent $382 million on executive bonus, commissions and payments to affiliates, putting only $177 million toward patient care.

The proposed law is a bit confusing when read through, but essentially, voting yes would ensure the maintenance of your pearly whites is the primary expenditure of dental companies, rather than paying for your dentist’s third trip to Cabo this year.

A common argument proposes this change would raise premiums (monthly payments) for insurance customers.

However, the Milliman Report — the evidence which supposedly supports such a claim — has been misrepresented by opponents of this law, therefore no premium increase is likely.

Our vote: YES Question 3: Expanded availability of licenses for the sale of alcoholic

beverages

Question 3 would guarantee equitable alcohol standards for both big and small businesses by gradually increasing the amount of different alcohol sales licenses a business can maintain, with the maximum eventually reaching 18 by 2031.

The proposed law is a compromise, as this maximum number prevents large chain stores from acquiring an unlimited amount of licenses.

If big box stores are allowed to accumulate licenses to sell all types of alcohol at all their locations, consumers will abide by convenience — shopping at their local grocery store chains for alcohol rather than going out of their way to a package store, whose smaller business is dependent purely on alcohol sales.

On top of this, voting yes would alter the penalty for serving underage or intoxicated individuals to be based on the gross profits on all retail sales rather than solely alcohol sales — as basing it purely on alcohol acts as a disadvantage to liquor stores whose sales don’t include other groceries.

Our Vote: YES

place in 2023 which allows Massachusetts residents who cannot prove they’re legal citizens in the United States to obtain a driver’s license or learner’s permit as long as they meet the other necessary qualifications and provide some form of identification. This question has been brought up in hopes to repeal said law.

The thought process behind the repeal is a part of an effort to prevent “voter fraud,” as it’s thought the driver’s license could act as an official identification and allow people who are not legally living in the U.S. to vote in the country’s elections.

Despite this thinking, it has been proven that the voter fraud issue has been conflated beyond its true magnitude. In fact, voter fraud is extremely rare. As an example, only 4 voter fraud cases were reported in the 2016 election out of the 136 million votes cast.

The myriad of solutions the law resolves far outweigh this debunked paranoia.

By allowing everyone to obtain

driver’s licenses regardless of citizenship status, people won’t be driving without having taken the necessary road exams — thus preventing accidents, and more specifically hit and runs.

On top of that, when accidents do occur, those at fault will have access to car insurance, for which a driver’s license is required. This ensures all parties on the road are covered for damages.

Voting yes prioritizes safety above all else and proposes all people within the country, regardless of citizenship status, are deserving of respect, rather than the othering and racist undertones purported by a possible repeal.

Our vote: YES Voting yes on this upcoming election’s ballot questions is a vote for the people and small businesses who too often are dismissed as an afterthought. A yes today will secure a hopeful tomorrow.

This editorial was written by Opinion Editor Lydia Evans.

Braden Jones

BU College Republicans

This article is a part of a collaboration between The Daily Free Press and Boston University’s College Republicans.

Going into the midterm elections, the GOP has been presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to seize upon the general dissatisfaction of the American people with the Democratic Party and its leadership. Despite this, the Republican party seems disorganized and, at times, hesitant to make a strong play for more legislative seats.

Polls conducted in January 2022 by the Gallup organization show that 47% of Americans identified with the Republican party, compared to 42% for the Democrats. These numbers are a far cry from flattering when compared to the numbers at the time President Joe Biden took office. The Democrats held a significant 49 to 40, nine point advantage and have managed to lose a tremendous amount of favorability in just a year.

On top of the clear trend of disassociation with the Democratic Party, Biden’s approval rating also

him and condemn his actions.

While it might seem like an easy decision to make, Republican candidates were extremely cautious in how to announce their position, if at all, thanks to the unique amount of influence Trump still holds over right-wing politics.

No matter the results of the midterm election, one thing is for certain — it’s time for the Republican Party to dump Trump, wholeheartedly.

There will without a doubt be heavy pushback from the staunch Trump loyalists within the party. But, there is a higher chance of snow in the Sahara than there is of a Trump loyalist supporting a left-wing candidate, even out of spite.

Trump’s divisive presidency has tarnished the already fragile interparty cooperation that existed between Democrats and Republicans.

Moving forward, the best chance the Republican Party has at repairing that relationship, in addition to stabilizing the internal structure of the party, is for the complete abandonment of Trump and his politics.

The Republican Party needs to unify under a more moderate approach to its policies in order to secure the continued support of the vast majority of its membership, and appeal to more

independent voters who are dissatisfied with the current state of the country under the leadership of the Democratic Party.

With incumbent Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement that he will not be running for reelection, Massachusetts citizens turned their attention to candidates Geoff Diehl and Maura Healey during their gubernatorial campaigns.

Baker, a Republican, has managed to maintain a relatively strong base in the historically blue-leaning state thanks in part to his outspoken opinions criticizing Trump. Should Diehl, a Trump-endorsed candidate, emerge victorious, he would be wise to adopt a mindset similar to Baker’s, if he wishes to garner strong support within Massachusetts.

ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY ALVAREZ-LAUTO

The state of the Democratic party

Question 4: Eligibility for Driver’s Licenses

Currently, there is a law that would take

hints towards the general consensus of the public that it is time for a change in approach to government. When he entered office, Biden held an approval rating of 57%, which has dropped to 38% at its lowest, and is currently flatlined around the low forties. With numbers as grim as these, the Republican Party should be chomping at the bit to seize as many seats as possible to prepare for the 2024 Presidential Election. While there is certainly a commendable effort to do so, Republican nominees lack the leadership from a focused and driven party platform. In fact, GOP candidates seem hesitant at times to fully assert themselves on behalf of the party. So what gives? Who’s to blame?

Why, the ghost of presidents past himself, former President Donald Trump.

Since his descent into madness about the legitimacy of the 2020 Election results, the looming cloud of Trump has darkened the skies above the heads of GOP candidates.

Trump’s role in the future of Republican politics is still fairly ambiguous. Some GOP members believe that he will run for reelection in 2024, while others roll their eyes at his sporadic reappearances in the news.

One thing is certain, Trump still has an impactful presence on the politics of the GOP. A recurring theme in the build up to the 2022 midterms has been a Trump endorsement for Republican candidates.

After his denial of the 2020 Election results and the incident at the capitol on Jan. 6, GOP officials were forced to take a side. Either they could stand with Trump and further encourage polarization between the American people, or renounce their support for

ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY ALVAREZ-LAUTO

Alice Scollins

BU College Democrats

This article is a part of a collaboration between The Daily Free Press and Boston University’s College Democrats.

It is hard to believe that the midterm election is here once again.

Since President Joe Biden has been in office, there has been historic legislation passed including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, student loan forgiveness and the Inflation Reduction Act that will, and has, impacted millions of lives all over the country.

However, it should not be overlooked that the ability for Biden to even pass these bills has been based on the Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate. With the highest levels of polarization in our nation’s history, Republicans refuse to entertain any ideas of big government or increased government spending.

Mitch McConnell, Republican senate majority leader, has stated time and time again that “One-hundred percent of our focus is on stopping this new administration.” The stakes could not

be higher for Democrats going into this midterm season, with several Senate and House races still up for grabs.

In order to address this, one might ask — what is the Democrats solution to this issue, and what is the current state of the Democratic party?

Nationally, we have begun to see a divide amongst the Democratic party, especially over this midterm season.

Across the nation there are progressive and more moderate splits seen in the candidates all over the country.

In Pennsylvania, we see candidates like John Fetterman, who are more progressive, even while running in a swing state. Fetterman has mentioned abolishing the filibuster, increasing minimum wage and staying true to his progressivism, despite the partisan split between Pennsylvania voters.

Looking at more moderate candidates, such as Senator Mark Kelly, who is running in Arizona, we see a different messaging strategy.

Kelly is a centrist Democrat who is also running in a swing state. Kelly is focusing on key issues such as the economy and job creation, which are more mainstream Democratic views, a nonpartisan issue that all Americans care about. Kelly also maintains a large voting bloc and is leading in the polls in Arizona.

These two trends showcase the vastly different ways Democrats are running their elections this season.

However, there is also unity amongst most Democrats.

Democrats are fighting for key issues such as abortion access, which has been seen in various campaigns during the election season. They have been able to mobilize around this issue ever since the Supreme Court voted to overturn the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health

Organization decision this summer.

We have seen this in national and state politics. In Michigan’s 8th district House race, Rep. Elissa Stolkin is running on abortion rights, which is believed to be one of the deciding factors in the race.

Related to this note, House Democrats have spent a fortune on abortion-related campaign ads.

Politico reports that “Democratic candidates, their party’s campaign arm and allied super PACs have spent nearly $18 million to air more than 100 abortion-centered broadcast TV ads in s o m e four dozen battleground seats as of the end of September.”

Democrats are clearly aware t h a t

abortion rights is an issue that the majority of people care about and believe in. Discussing the importance of this issue has been vital to campaigns all across the country and will impact this election season heavily for Democrats.

Biden himself has highlighted

the importance of the midterms in his recent speech. “We can’t take democracy for granted any longer,” he said when referencing the importance of electing Democrats this Nov. 8. Just a few days ago, Vice President Kamala Harris came to Boston to touch on the importance of electing Democrats in the state.

The salience of this issue has been raised by the presidency and other prominent individuals across the country. These figures realize the importance of the upcoming election everywhere and are not taking deep blue states for granted.

Partisanship and high polarization means that Democrats must be elected everywhere if we are going to protect our democracy and the progress we have made so far.

ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY ALVAREZ-LAUTO

SPORTS 11

10 LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE

A Spotify playlist for a walk to the polls

BY KRITIKA IYER Senior Writer

It’s time to vote! It can be hard to get yourself in the mood to vote.

Do you do it because it’s your civic duty? Do you do it for your future children? Who knows — you might not even know. It can especially feel hard if you feel like your vote doesn’t make a difference. But it does.

If you feel this way and need a little push, here’s just the thing for you. There’s no better way to get in the spirit than to listen to this specially curated voting playlist while heading to the polls.

lyrics to this song. It is the ultimate song to listen to when you want to feel unified with your fellow Americans as you make your way to the polls.

“Clint Eastwood” by Gorillaz While this song’s meaning dives deep into the experience we have within ourselves, on the surface “Clint Eastwood” can be interpreted as a song meant to elicit hope for the future. The mellow vibe creates a more casual tone for this playlist and can take

some of the pressure off of voters.

“You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore In my humble opinion, this is the ultimate song for freedom.

Gore sings of not wanting to be controlled in a relationship, something I view as a greater metaphor for our political system.

As a voter, you have the freedom of choice, so use it!

“The King Has Lost His Crown” by ABBA Nobody does it better than

ABBA. Think of this song as a throwback to the original American revolution, and use it as a reminder for why we vote in the first place. Enjoy ABBA’s beautiful background strings and layered choruses while checking off the boxes on your ballot!

“Breakfast In America” by Supertramp You probably recognize this song as it was covered by Gym Class Heroes in 2005, but the original was written as a song to

“Vote, Baby Vote” by DeeeLite The shortest song on the list, “Vote, Baby Vote” combines all elements of rhythmic sound to create the perfect song to strut to. It also asks the most important question of all — “are you registered?” Without your registration, you can’t participate.

So make sure you’re registered!

explore the possibilities of finding success in America when the “American Dream” was at its peak.

“America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles For a more soul-styled song, “America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles is the perfect tune to get you in the mood to vote. Charles’s raspy voice layered over smooth organs feels like the ultimate American tune.

“Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival Time for some fun. “Fortunate Son” will make you feel like the typical American movie hero.

This song was born in a time of strong distrust of the American government during the Vietnam War. The song fights back against authority and speaks for the next generation. Perfect for the young voters!

“Rockin’ the Paradise” by Styx The perfect end to your voting playlist, “Rockin’ the Paradise” is about sticking together and changing the future. Similar to “Fortunate Son,” it imagines a paradise for the next generation filled with trust and unity. The song’s epic guitar solo and beating drums will have you gearing up to vote.

There you have it, your perfect voting playlist. Enjoy anytime, whether it’s during voting season, or even on a random day like Flag Day. This playlist is made for anytime you need to feel free.

“Vote ‘Em Out” by Willie Nelson What better song to get you in the mood than “Vote ‘Em Out” by Willie Nelson? Nelson sings about engaging in the electoral process, explaining that the biggest weapon Americans have is the ballot. He sings about how if you don’t like the people representing you in the government right now, “vote ‘em out!”

“Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus “Party in the U.S.A.” is the quintessential anthem of American culture. There is not a single soul aged 12 to 50 that doesn’t know the

ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY ALVAREZ-LAUTO

My first time: mailing my vote to Georgia

BY ANNIE LEVY Contributing Writer

Like millions of other 18 year olds, this midterm election cycle was my first time voting.

I’m from Atlanta, Georgia, so my vote was cast via absentee ballot sent through the mail from here in Boston. Part of me was upset that I couldn’t vote for the first time at my local voting place — which happens to be my alma mater elementary school.

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNIE DAI

However, I was ultimately excited to be voting in the first place, even if the circumstances might be less than ideal.

Once I started the process, I realized how different it would be. After registering to vote over the summer, I began requesting an absentee ballot.

Using Georgia’s Online Voter Registration database, I proceeded through several lengthy steps — entering my driver’s license, answering questions and

filling out other miscellaneous information. Finally — when I thought I was at the end — the system notified me that I must print out a PDF with my inputted information, sign designated spots in ink, scan it and upload it back into the database.

Georgia is one of the few states with this online voting provision, known as a “wet signature requirement.” It is currently being challenged in court for allegedly violating the Civil Rights Act.

It was a hassle for me. It meant locating a printer and ensuring I uploaded it at the proper time.

I’m an able-bodied, privileged college student. If I weren’t as fortunate, I could imagine myself giving up at that point.

However, I finally signed it, scanned it, sent it in and awaited a response. Shortly after, I received a text from an updating service.

My application was approved, and my ballot was en route.

Once the ballot arrived in my mailroom, I excitedly opened it up and began filling it out, where I was again confronted with a series of directions and caveats.

There were all kinds of oddly looming threats. If I didn’t fill out a certain spot or sign a certain thing, my vote would not count.

My excitement was slightly compounded by anxiety that I would mishandle the ballot. And again, I’m a fairly educated, ablebodied and able-minded student.

The actual selection of candidates was interesting in its own right. For some candidates, I felt passionate about giving them my vote. While for others, I had to do some googling to feel like I was making an informed choice.

At the end, there were a slew of questions asking if I thought the state should make certain amendments to its constitution. I felt oddly unqualified to answer those questions, and again, did some research to understand what I was asked in the first place.

Of course, I’ll live in Boston for the majority of the four years in which the winners would be in office. As I cast my vote, I felt that I was doing more for my family

members and friends. They will be more directly impacted by new leaders than I will.

In some ways, this made my voting process more prideful.

Even if it may be from afar, I’m making an impact. There’s something beautifully symbiotic about this, I think. I can repay my community by casting a vote for a candidate that benefits them.

Once I casted my vote on paper, I carefully sealed it up — only to be confronted with another challenge — how to mail it. The outside of the envelope sternly informed me that I had to include postage for my ballot to make it to Georgia, but it did not let me know what that postage should be.

I first went to the FedEx on Cummington Mall to ask for some guidance, to which some very nice men behind the counter let me know this was a post office question. They did very nicely offer to put my envelope into a separate FedEx mailer and send it out for $13, though.

Finally, I made my way to the Brookline USPS on Park Drive, where a kind lady put a special stamp on my envelope. A tenminute walk and 60 cents later, my ballot was off to Georgia.

A week later, I received confirmation that my ballot was counted. I felt relief that this nearly month-long process was complete. I didn’t get to vote in my local polling place or receive an iconic Georgia peach voting sticker.

However, I completed my civic duty for the first time. That’s something to be proud of.

SPORTS

From FIU backup to BU starter — men’s soccer goalkeeper Francesco Montali elevated his game

BY BOBBY SERAFIN Contributing Writer

Two years ago, senior goalkeeper Francesco Montali was looking for a new home following a pair of underwhelming seasons at Florida International University. Not only has he found a starting role at Boston University, but he’s also taken his game to unprecedented heights, earning the 2022 Patriot League Goalie of the Year award.

With both his older brothers and sister playing the sport, soccer has always been in Montali’s life. The Davie, Florida native played the field until middle school, when he volunteered to play goalie out of positional need. That was the right decision, as Montali never looked back and quickly began getting scouted.

“I was just kind of thrown in net,” Montali said. “I just loved throwing myself, diving around and getting dirty.”

Montali’s talent has never been questioned, with the keeper training at some of America’s top soccer academies. He first played for the Orlando City SC U-18/19 team and then for the New York Red Bulls U-18/19 team before committing to FIU. Unfortunately, Montali redshirted as a freshman and could not travel to out-of-state games. FIU’s starting goalkeeper was a graduate student, and Montali didn’t have the collegiate experience to compete for the starting job. Adding in the 2020 COVID-plagued year, Montali decided it was best for him to leave.

Despite the lack of personal success at his old school, Montali did make one crucial connection — current Boston University head coach Kevin Nylen. Nylen was the head coach at FIU from 2017 to 2019 and originally recruited Montali to play for the Panthers.

“I went into the portal not really knowing that coach Nylen would even be looking for a goalkeeper,” Montali said. “Five minutes into being in the NCAA transfer portal, I get a call from (BU’s then) assistant coach telling me that they’ve been waiting for me to go into the portal.”

Not only was Montali excited about what he could accomplish through the soccer program, but he cited academics as a key reason for the move, calling BU “the perfect fit.”

The relationship between the player and coach continued to grow as Montali was immediately thrust into the starting 11. He started all

13 games as a junior but was unable to crack the top five in any major goalie statistic besides saves per game in the Patriot League due to a porous backline.

Even though it could’ve been easy to start over and reshuffle the squad, Nylen and his staff stuck with the players they were dealt, including Montali in net. “(Nylen) just gives me a lot of confidence,” Montali said. “I’m chosen to start not just because he likes me as a person, but because of the work that I put in every day in training.”

When Montali’s senior season kicked off this Fall, expectations

for him and the team were low. The Terriers were picked to finish eighth out of the 10 Patriot League teams.

The keeper blossomed during the season, putting himself among the elite college goalies and producing one of the greatest goaltending seasons in program history.

Following the regular season, Montali finished with a tie for the third-lowest goals-against average in BU history, as well as being ranked sixth in the nation in save percentage, tied for 15th in shutouts and placed 16th in goals against average.

Despite the individual accolades, Montali credits the successful

ELIZA NUESTRO | DFP STAFF

Senior goalkeeper Francesco Montali during a game against American University on Oct. 23. After transferring from Florida International University to Boston University, Montali has earned the award of the 2022 Patriot League Goalie of the Year.

season to the strides the team as a whole has made, as well as the respect and friendship that has grown between teammates.

“A huge part of that definitely comes down to team culture.

We harped on that in Spring and coming into preseason this season, and it’s proven to work,” Montali said. “When you want to defend for the guy next to you, it means more to you.”

While Montali’s dream is to continue playing soccer at a professional level, he’s made the most of his time in the classroom during his two years at BU. In addition to his athletic background, he’s developed an interest in the big screen, majoring in film and television at the College of Communication.

“I love it. I’m taking a screenwriting class right now which I’ve really enjoyed,” Montali said.

“Creative writing has always been an outlet for me. I’ve always loved reading and writing if I have free time.”

Another hobby the senior has picked up is playing the guitar.

Montali said most of the songs he can strum are from the Beatles, a childhood favorite. His upbringing, especially his parents, helped him become diverse in his interests.

“My dad is obviously a big inspiration for myself, and he’s always encouraged me to definitely have a life outside of sports,” Montali said.

However, with another year of eligibility, Montali said that his reign in goal is not over.

“I’ve got one more year of eligibility so I’ll be taking a fifth year,” Montali said in an interview with BUTV10’s “Terrier Nation.”

“I’ll be back next Fall. Hopefully we can have the same or more success as we have this year.”

Women’s basketball falls to Northeastern in season opener

BY AUSTIN CHEN Staff Writer

The Boston University women’s basketball team lost their season opener against Northeastern University on Monday in Case Gym with a final score of 66-65.

Despite never trailing by more than seven at any point, the Terriers (0-1) played from behind nearly the entire game, only holding the lead for nine minutes. “(There was) a lot to learn from, and obviously better to learn from it now in the beginning of the year than later on,” head coach Melissa Graves said. “We need to grow and work on what we talked about in the postgame with the team.”

Northeastern (1-0) started the game off on a 7-0 run, primarily off of their transition offense. The Huskies pushed the pace on the fast break and seemed to catch the Terriers off guard.

“The biggest thing we were talking about is how this game was going to be a defensive game,” Graves said.

“The struggle we’ve had is a slow start in the beginning (...) we’ve really talked about challenging them to start off stronger in practice so that we can play that way.”

However, a brief timeout led to a 9-0 run for BU, and they continued to keep it close throughout the game.

Neither team shot particularly well from the floor — instead, it was stellar play inside the paint that kept the Terriers in the game.

Junior forward Caitlin Weimar and senior forward Maren Durant were

forces to be reckoned with in the paint on both sides of the floor in the first half, combining for 16 of BU’s 44 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Alex Giannaros, who was named to last year’s Patriot League All-Rookie team, shouldered much of the offensive burden this game with reigning Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year senior guard Sydney Johnson out due to illness.

“Taking no mercy, going for every single offensive rebound, I knew that would help my team push the pace and get those easy layups like Alex did,” Weimar said.

Giannaros shot 33.3% from both the floor and behind the arc but drew eight fouls and scored nine of her 23 points from the charity stripe.

“She played really well. With (Johnson) out, we needed to have her step up, and she’s still very young as a sophomore,” Graves said. “Her ability to score the basketball is so great, so it was really good to see her take that over and take Syd’s scoring responsibility.”

However, she did have eight turnovers, and BU had a back-breaking 19 total as a team. The Huskies scored 12 points off those turnovers, and Graves cited carelessness in handling the ball as a significant factor in their defeat.

“For (NEU), how they pressure, how they deny passing lanes, that’s something we normally struggle with,” Graves said. “It’s a tough team to play against when they’re constantly, for 40 minutes, pressuring

and denying, so it’s something we need to get better at.”

Fittingly, the end of the game saw the Terriers lose because of that pressure. NEU junior guard Derin Erdogan hit two free throws to cap off a stellar fourth quarter where she scored Northeastern’s last seven

ISABELLE MEGOSH | DFP STAFF

points, but BU, trailing by one point, had a chance to win with thirty seconds left on the clock.

They looked to get the ball into Giannaros’s hands, but the Huskies denied her, and Weimar was forced to take a midrange jumper instead. She hit back iron, and senior guard Maggie

Pina secured the rebound but turned it over after being double-teamed as time expired.

The Terriers will have a chance to rebound against the University of Miami on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Coral Gables, Florida.

Junior guard Sophie Beneventine during a game against Northeastern University on Nov. 7. The Boston University women’s basketball team fell one point 65-66 to Northeastern on Monday night.

12 SPORTS

A look into BU Athletics right now

BY CHLOE PATEL Co-Sports Editor

Boston University Athletics is busy with games and events, as the soccer and field hockey seasons wrap up, and basketball and ice hockey seasons swing into full gear.

Field hockey (10-9, 5-1 Patriot League) lost to Lehigh University 2-1 in overtime in the PL Championship after winning the regular-season title.

The Terriers did well in PL Field Hockey Major Awards, with two players — Rookie of the Year and freshman forward and midfielder Martu Coulo and Defensive Player of the Year defender sophomore Payton Anderson — winning awards and head coach Sally Starr winning Coach of the Year.

Men’s soccer (6-5-7, 4-2-3 PL) lost in penalty kicks against the United States Naval Academy, and women’s soccer lost in the same way against Bucknell University. PL Goalkeeper of the Year, sophomore Francesco Montali, posted a 0.839 save percentage in the 2022 campaign for men’s soccer.

Women’s soccer (11-8-1, 6-3 PL) freshman midfielder Giulianna Gianino won PL Rookie of the Year. Gianino scored three goals in 18 contests and won Rookie of the Week twice during the season. Redshirt senior forward Jenna Oldham earned a spot on the PL First Team for the third consecutive year. Oldham led the team in minutes for the season, scored twice and had six assists.

Men’s basketball (1-0) won their season opener 72-63 over Northeastern University. Graduate student guard Walter Whyte scored 27 points in the win.

The squad will travel to the University of Connecticut for their next game on Friday.

Women’s basketball (0-1) lost 66-65 to NEU in their season opener.

Sophomore guard Alex Giannaros scored a team-high 23 points in the loss.

They will face University of Miami in Florida this weekend. The team ranked No. 1 in the conference but won’t play PL competition until late December.

Men’s hockey is 4-3 on the season overall and 2-2 in Hockey East. They’ll face the defending Hockey East Champions, University of Massachusetts Amherst, this weekend for a home-and-home series. Senior forward Matt Brown leads the team with ten points in seven games played and is followed by freshman defenseman Lane Hutson, who has eight points.

Women’s ice hockey (3-7, 2-6 HE) will travel to the University of Vermont for a weekend series next. Senior forward Julia Nearis leads the team with eight points through ten games and starting graduate student goaltender Andrea Brändli has a goals-against average of 1.99 in eight games played.

Junior Will Loggia reaching the end of the 5K race at the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown on Sept. 23. Boston University men’s cross country finished at sixth place among the fourteen other collegiate schools.

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