February 23, 2024

The Huntington News

NORTHEASTERN RESEARCH TEAM TO STUDY BOSTON’S LEGACY OF SLAVERY

Research teams from Northeastern University and Tufts University attended a Boston Task Force on Reparations meeting Feb. 6 to announce their research partnership examining Boston’s history and legacy of slavery.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu first announced the research teams Jan. 24 to document the city of Boston’s “role in and ties to the transatlantic slave trade and institution of slavery.”

Northeastern’s team, which will examine the legacy of slavery after 1940, is headed by Margaret Burnham, a university-distinguished professor of law and director of the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, and Deborah Jackson, managing director of the Center for Law, Equity and Race.

“Our concern will be to surface practices and policies, official and

unofficial, of the city itself that contributed to the conditions, lived experiences and disadvantages experienced by African Americans who are residents of the city,” Burnham said at the meeting. “Our investigation will be quite focused on what the city didn’t do to fully recognize the humanity and contributions of African Americans to the city.”

Northeastern’s research team also includes Ted Landsmark, distinguished professor of public policy and urban affairs; Donna Bivens, community leader and vice president of the Colored Girls Museum; and Richard O’Bryant, director of the John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute. The team will focus on the lasting impact of slavery in the Boston Police Department, fire department, housing authority and public schools after 1940.

By Erin Fine | News Staff

Wu attended the meeting to give a brief statement on the task force’s work and the support Boston will put behind the research teams’ findings.

“As you all know, we are here because the City Council and community members started the conversation many years ago, really decades and generations ago, about how cities everywhere should be talking about reparations,” Wu said at the meeting. “In the last several years, we had the chance to really make it real with legislation creating a structure to guide our city through this set of conversations.”

A $500,000 budget has been dedicated between both the Northeastern and Tufts teams to support their studies. The budget is taken from Boston’s annual operating budget and federal relief funds. The teams will produce detailed reports that

will be used to outline reparations programs in Boston.

Boston’s Task Force on Reparations was formed after the passing of a 2022 City Council ordinance and is made up of 10 members, consisting of academics, activists, community leaders and two youth members. It began requesting research proposals in late 2023 to study Boston’s history and legacy of slavery from 1620 to present day. Tufts’ research team is made up of members of the African American Trail Project and Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford and will be studying Boston’s participation and legacy in the slave trade from 1620 to 1940.

“Oftentimes we think about [enslaved] Black people solely on plantations, but that is not the way that it works in this city,” said Kyera Singleton, a member of the Tufts

research team and executive director of the Royall House and Slave Quarters, at the Feb. 6 meeting. “One of the things that we’re really going to show is how central slavery was to building the wealth of Boston.”

Members of Northeastern’s research team are adamant about detailing the impact of slavery in Boston, which has lasted past its abolition in Massachusetts.

“Slavery was an institution that at one point [was] terminated in the city of Boston, but it left a long shadow over the city, and our job will be to trace the marginalization of the African American community in the city,” Burnham said at the meeting. “The exclusions experienced by African American residents of the city find their roots in history in the early slave days of Massachusetts and Boston.”

The independent student newspaper of the Northeastern community @HuntNewsNU

Photo

Photo by Annika Sunkara

Photo by Sofia Sawchuk

Photos courtesy Richard O’Bryant, Ted Landsmark, Deborah Jackson and Margaret Burnham.

Richard O’Bryant, Ted Landsmark, Deborah Jackson and Margaret Burnham (left to right) pose for separate headshots. The four, along with Donna Bivens, formed the Northeastern research team that aims to examine Boston’s history and legacy of slavery alongside a team from Tufts University.

NU indicates it will not divest, sever ties with companies that do business with Israeli military

By Emily Spatz Campus Editor

Northeastern indicated Feb. 14 it is rejecting student demands to divest and sever ties with companies that do business with Israel.

In an updated FAQ article on the school-run media outlet Northeastern Global News, or NGN, the university provided answers to the questions “Will Northeastern sever its ties with corporations that do business with the Israeli military? And will the university commit to divest its endowment holdings in these companies?”

The university indirectly answered both, asserting it would not “support efforts to curtail students’ experiential learning options,” “impose a political test on employers” nor use its endowment as an “instrument to serve specific political agendas or weigh in on matters upon which

reasonable people can disagree.”

Pro-Palestine student groups have organized roughly a dozen protests on campus — including sit-ins, marches and walkouts — since last October.

Many in the Northeastern community have also circulated numerous letters and petitions calling out the university for alleged suppression of pro-Palestine student speech and failing to call for a ceasefire, recognize Israel’s historic killing of Palestinians and cut ties with and divest from military-industrial companies.

Since the start of the war Oct. 7, President Joseph E. Aoun, Provost David Madigan and Chancellor Ken Henderson released one statement Oct. 10 condemning Hamas’ attacks and mourning for “all the innocent lives that have been lost” in Gaza and Israel.

In response to several questions regarding whether the university

had a response to ongoing student protests against the Israel-Hamas war, the university sent a link to the FAQ to The News.

While the FAQ addressed a question about whether the university would respond to student demands to divest from military-industrial companies, Northeastern did not directly respond to questions asking whether it plans to release further statements about the conflict or if it has a response to student claims that it is engaging in suppression of pro-Palestinian student speech.

The FAQ answers, which were added to an article first published by NGN Dec. 11, emphasized the university’s focus on its experiential learning and co-op programs. The coop program relies on the university’s relationships with various companies that employ students, and students seek out employment opportunities

with companies that “align with — and enhance — their classroom studies,” the statement read.

A chief demand from many students protesting the war is that the university stops working with and investing money into military-industrial companies — like Raytheon and General Dynamics — that supply weapons to the Israeli military.

But the university said it would not limit employer options based on demands from students with “strong political viewpoints.”

“The university does not impose a political test on employers, nor would we support efforts to curtail students’ experiential learning options,” the statement continued. “We would hope that students who have strong political viewpoints would not try to impose their views in a way that limited opportunities for their classmates.”

The university also said it did not

see its endowment — which summed $1.5 billion as of July 2022 — as a political tool.

“Northeastern’s endowment is invested to maximize the opportunities for advancing the university’s educational and research mission,” the FAQ said. “The endowment should not be seen as an instrument to serve specific political agendas or weigh in on matters upon which reasonable people can disagree.”

The university said it does not hold “direct investments” in any companies but invests instead in “commingled funds — akin to mutual funds for individual investors — that include securities across a broad range of economic sectors.”

The university did not directly address questions from The News about its response to some pro-Palestine student groups claiming the university is “targeting” pro-Palestine students.

Spectrum Literary Arts Magazine receives national award for students’ creativity

By Annika Geiben Lynn News Correspondent

Northeastern is home to more than 400 clubs and on-campus organizations, but one in particular is growing quickly for its quality of creative work.

Spectrum Literary Arts Magazine is Northeastern’s oldest literary arts magazine, highlighting creativity from students, staff and alumni. Since 1957, the magazine has published triannual issues incorporating poetry, prose, photography and artwork.

Recently, Spectrum received an award in the national Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines competition, or REALM.

The REALM competition is designed to encourage schools of all levels to develop literary magazines to celebrate the crafts of art and writing. The National Council of Teachers of English recognized the magazine as “Superior.”

“It’s nice to have that recognition and validation. It means a lot to us,” said Charles Madden, a fourth-year design and mechanical engineering combined major and Spectrum president.

The magazine creates three polished issues per year, with all mem-

bers of the Northeastern community encouraged to submit work.

“Every semester, we receive more and more submissions to our magazine,” said Naomi Desai, a fourthyear design major and the magazine’s creative director. “Last semester, we received nearly 300 submissions. That improves the quality of work from the magazine and allows more people to be featured.”

Once submissions are collected, general members review and discuss the pieces during weekly meetings. Each submission is projected on a screen while the creator remains anonymous, fostering a safe environment for constructive critiques.

Valentina Gutierrez, a second-year journalism and English combined major and member of Spectrum’s creative committee, said she was first drawn to the club for the opportunity to work collaboratively with others and receive guidance.

“You get the opportunity to get feedback from other people, which you don’t see often in other clubs,” Gutierrez said.

Once final submissions are chosen, the design team begins crafting the format by pairing a poetry or prose submission with a piece of submitted

artwork or photography.

The concept of each edition is derived from common themes found in the accepted submissions.

“We try to characterize the feeling of the magazine and think of specific names,” Madden said.

The magazine’s most recent edition, “Dichotomy,” was published in fall 2023.

RJ Frankenberry, a fourth-year economics and environmental studies combined major and Spectrum’s finance manager, wrote the introduction letter to the issue.

The introduction established the edition’s theme of contradiction and complexity in oneself, relationships and culture.

“We are all dichotomies,” the letter reads. “Self-awareness is met with avoidance. Passion with disinterest. Belief with skepticism. … Accept all the good all the bad and see the beauty in both. Because we all embody dualism and life would be boring without it.”

While the magazine uses an extremely thorough curating and designing process, the club remains highly productive by submitting a spring, summer and fall issue.

Desai explained the magazine’s curation is a two-month process, from choosing final submissions to producing the printed copy.

The spring 2023 issue granted Spectrum its first award of recognition. Madden and Desai submitted the “Hypotheses” issue over the summer to be judged in the competition.

For the 2023 competition, 375 magazines were submitted.

“It means a lot that out of so many magazines across the country, we were awarded,” Desai said. “It’s nice to be recognized for the amazing talent that comes out of this lovely community.”

The Spectrum community has been rapidly growing — the magazine saw its highest membership in the last five years this season, Madden said.

There is no sign of stopping for the club, as it continues to highlight new creators. The magazine uses rolling submission to accept student work year-round.

“The coolest thing is the model of being able to submit your work and have it featured without needing to be more involved than that,” Madden said.

Because of this open-door format, Spectrum includes a diverse range of individuals. While members have varying majors and interests, they all share one thing in common: a passion for creating.

“There are so many creative people around us that aren’t doing creative majors. They could find Spectrum as a break away from academic life with the chance of getting featured in a magazine,” Madden said. “The members in general are a very diverse range of majors. There is a huge mix of writers, photographers and artists.”

The creating process provides a unique opportunity for artists and club members alike to explore their emotions and become vulnerable with each other, Gutierrez said.

In this way, Spectrum represents a “dichotomy” in itself. Members of the club cannot be put in one box, but rather flourish with a variety of creative talents.

“No matter your major or field of study, Spectrum is a place to learn and embrace your creativity,” Desai said.

“Since everyone can submit, anyone with emotion or experiences they want to share can write or paint about it,” Gutierrez said. “Everyone has probably been through something that you have been through. People can resonate with that because art can emit so much emotion.”

With this mentality, Spectrum is breaking the stereotype that students are defined by their academic majors.

“You can be an engineering major who likes to write poems on the side and still have your creative work published,” Guiterrez said.

Northeastern has several magazine organizations on campus, but none quite like Spectrum, Madden said.

“We’re a creative community with the main goal of uplifting creative voices at Northeastern,” Madden said.

Stacks of past Spectrum issues sit in a magazine stand outside of the club’s office in Curry Student Center. The magazine has made a goal of being an inclusive, creative environment for all students.

Photo by Jessica Xing

Spectrum members critique a photo submission during a general meeting Jan. 25. Submissions were projected on a screen for constructive feedback, with the creators remaining anonymous.

Photo by Jessica Xing

Northeastern instructor uncovers dozens of possible Louisa May Alcott works

By Lily Cooper News Correspondent

While doing research for his doctorate in English and American Literature, Northeastern postdoctoral teaching associate Max Chapnick came across “The Phantom,” a story attributed to writer E.H. Gould. He was searching for stories by Louisa May Alcott — the author of the acclaimed “Little Women” — that she had written when her writing style focused more on Gothic thrillers.

But Chapnick found more than just what he was looking for. He uncovered approximately 20 previously undiscovered works by Alcott that she had written under pseudonyms — the first time a discovery like this had been made in over eight decades.

“The Phantom” was in the correct style and printed in a newspaper that Alcott had previously been published in during the correct time period. The obvious snag? It wasn’t under Alcott’s name or any name previously attributed to her.

Chapnick put the story aside and moved on with his research.

Later, he realized that Alcott could be the author of the short story and “Gould” could be an unknown Alcott pseudonym.

He continued to search for works by Gould and discovered multiple poems and stories published in newspapers during the time Alcott was writing. Chapnick refers to the time period — around 1860 — when Alcott “was experimenting widely

and where she hadn’t been publishing much under her own name.”

Chapnick’s research also led him to new poems by Flora Fairfield, a previously known Alcott moniker.

Chapnick discovered more than 10 pieces written under the pseudonym E.H. Gould. Alcott is known to have used various pen names throughout her career, including A.M. Barnard and Flora Fairfield, but Chapnick’s discovery marks the first new Alcott pseudonym found since 1940.

While excited by his discovery, Chapnick maintained objectivity regarding whether these works were Alcott’s, saying there’s no definitive proof but a “bunch of circumstantial evidence.”

In certain stories, however, specific details link the work to Alcott. For example, a piece of non-fiction titled “The Wayside” shares the name of the home that Alcott lived in before Orchard House, where she wrote and set “Little Women.” “The Phantom,” the story that kicked off Chapnick’s discovery, was referenced by Alcott in one of her journals.

The president of the Louisa May Alcott Society, Gregory Eiselein, provided further details on these circumstantial links. In the Gould stories, one of the characters is named Fred Alcott, and one of the Flora Fairfield poems is titled “Castle in the Air,” a phrase also seen in “Little Women” as a chapter title. Additionally, the pieces fit the genre that Alcott was writing in at the time: thrillers with “mysterious

identities and twists and turns and plots and exotic settings and suspense and revenge and murder and drug use,” Eiselein said.

Eiselein, however, is skeptical about one of the pieces, a story titled “Human Vengeance,” published in a magazine called The Prisoner’s Friend.

“It has Alcott at the bottom of it, but as Max will tell you himself, it’s not Louisa,” said Eiselein, who thinks that Louisa’s uncle, William Alcott, may have written the story. He said “Human Vengeance” is “preachy” and doesn’t resemble Alcott’s writing style.

“She’s sometimes interested in revenge, but it’s much more within the context of complex human relationships rather than general philosophical things,” he said.

Chapnick is now working with the NULab, the digital humanities and social sciences center at Northeastern, to try and determine whether Alcott wrote the works or not. His first step is to digitize all the stories, after which he will use stylometric analysis to see if there’s a relationship between these new works and preexisting Alcott texts.

Sarah Connell, the associate director of the NULab, said stylometric analysis involves studying style and linguistics to attribute certain works to authors.

Though Chapnick looks forward to finding more concrete evidence that Alcott authored the texts through his work with the lab, he said he finds his discovery’s uncertainty equally as exciting.

“I think the mystery of it is exciting

because it points to a phenomenon in mid-19th century print culture where a lot of writers were using pseudonyms, especially women writers,” Chapnick said. “I think the not knowing and the guessing replicates the uncertainty of readers in that period.”

Alcott’s motivations for using a pen name are unclear. However, the most obvious explanation is that she wanted to experiment and write in different, more salacious genres without attracting negative attention toward herself or her family.

“She was writing about topics like murder, vengeance, drug use, unmarried people having romantic affairs with each other, that some people would have thought improper, and she would have been criticized for it,” Eiselein said.

Chapnick’s discovery of the pen name “Gould” demonstrates that

there are likely many more works under pseudonyms, written by a range of female authors, including Alcott, that have been lost to time. For the moment, however, Chapnick is pausing his search.

“I’ve done most of the looking that I can do with the resources that I have in the Boston area and that were available to me during my Ph.D. program,” Chapnick said.

Even if only some of the works are Alcott’s, the excitement of Chapnick’s discovery demonstrates her relevance in the modern world. Eiselein is particularly interested in this phenomenon and cited Alcott’s presence in modern society and culture as one of the main interests of the Louisa May Alcott Society.

“Why does [Alcott] live on?” Eiselein said. “Why does she still matter to people?”

University to displace 6 clubs from offices in Curry ahead of summer renovations

By Zoe MacDiarmid News Staff

Several

student organization offices are located will be transformed into a much-needed event and meeting room.” The clubs being displaced are Tastemakers Magazine, Council for University Programs, NU Sci Magazine, NUTV, Live Music Association and Spectrum Literary Arts Magazine.

The planned multi-year renovations include a new 200-person event space, more storage space for student organizations and updates to the programming lab, ballroom and dance studios, according to a statement from the university.

“In response to years of assessing the needs of student groups and gathering student feedback, the focus will be to provide spaces for all student organizations to utilize instead of individual student offices,” the

university said in its Jan. 22 email to club presidents obtained by The News. The email said the renovation will add a meeting room “similar in size of McLeod suites, with a partition that would accommodate two meeting spaces with 100 people each” where the club offices are currently located.

“Our board is excited about these renovations because we do believe this will open up more meeting space for more clubs on campus,” said Julian Herzing-Burkard, a second-year international business major and chair of the Campus Planning Advisory Board for the Student Government Association, or SGA. “We have around 500 different clubs on campus. We are even aware of our own SGA [meeting] space and how it could be better used to serve more clubs’ needs.”

In a statement to The News, the university said it worked with the SGA and the Graduate Student Government to gather student feedback, which showed that “there is strong demand for more event space, study space, and storage space that student organizations can utilize.”

“The decision was not made lightly, and we understand the shift away from having some student group offices will be felt by many, especially groups that have equipment that needs to be kept on campus and

accessed for activities,” the university said in the Jan. 22 email.

In its statement to The News, the university said that it is “important to note, as always, the university will work with any student group to accommodate space needs as appropriate.”

Upon receiving the news, several club leaders pushed back.

Charles Madden, president of Spectrum Literary Arts Magazine and a fourth-year design major, responded to the university’s email Jan. 24.

“We and many other student organizations are concerned that the impacts of reducing the amount of already limited space on campus will create more conflict between our clubs,” Madden wrote in an email to the university. “As I’m sure you are already aware, we use these office spaces for much more than storage; they are home for us on campus and are central to our magazine’s operational needs and functions.”

In its email to the six student organizations, the university said the clubs would get “space that can be used for short-term storage over the summer.”

At a Feb. 5 meeting with Tastemakers Magazine and Darin Martin, the associate director of program operations, the university said there would be guaranteed long-term storage for all the affected clubs, accord-

ing to Trevor Gardemal, a third-year journalism major and president of Tastemakers Magazine.

Losing their office space poses many management issues for these clubs, Madden told The News. He wrote in his email to the university that “it will be nearly impossible to coordinate these additional meetings if [clubs] are all competing for additional classroom space on campus.”

Mia Merchant, a fourth-year human services and sociology combined major and a managing editor for Spectrum, said the magazine’s editors and various committees meet “at least six times a week” in their office, relying on the space as a common meeting point.

“We can all probably [meet] individually in other random spaces throughout the university, but that’s not ideal,” Merchant said. “Sometimes we want to look through the magazines. ... It’s not always easy to do that if you’re [meeting] in some other random space.”

The publications that currently have office space in Curry, which include NU Sci, Tastemakers and Spectrum, store past editions of their magazines and various artifacts collected over the years, some dating back to the 1950s.

“I’m worried about the longevity of

the magazine. I don’t think Tastemakers is going to fall apart in six months,” Gardemal said. “I do think the reason that we’ve been able to stay active more than most [is because] we’ve been around for longer than most publications on campus. I think it’s because we have a space. I think this [office] really lent itself to the spirit and history of the magazine.”

Merchant said the offices provide a space for students to come together and appreciate art.

“We’ve had this office space for over a decade and it’s like a little home for us,” Merchant said. “It’s not just a space to store our stuff. It’s like a place where we can all come hang out, talk about things that we love … and it really makes you feel like you have a space where you can belong on campus, which is, I feel, very difficult to find sometimes.”

Gardemal said that despite the magazine losing its office space, Tastemakers will continue its tradition of publishing print magazines and holding events.

“We’re going to persevere, like artists do,” Gardemal said. “We’re still going to have our concerts in AfterHours. We’re still going to be meeting in Curry Student Center. But 232C won’t be our home anymore. And that is a bummer.”

Max Chapnick poses for a headshot. Chapnick discovered approximately 20 previously undiscovered works that Louisa May Alcott may have written under pseudonyms.

Photo by Jessica Xing

Column: 2024 Super Bowl features revolutionary advertisements, garners new, diverse viewers

By Ella Warner News Correspondent

There are the Super Bowl fans, and there are the Super Bowl commercial fans. Both are equally important, but in recent years, the latter has dominated conversation online. This year’s Super Bowl broadcast amassed over 123.4 million viewers and is now the most-watched television program of all time. With that, the typical 30-second ad costs roughly $7 million, a whopping $4.4 million increase from 2010.

This year, there was an assortment of classic advertisements, such as the Budweiser Clydesdales and the typical movie trailers. However, audiences were surprised that lesser-known companies, especially newcomers like Temu and Papaya Global, promoted their services through the Super Bowl platform.

Some show-stopping ads featured the most recognizable people in Hollywood, and a few left individuals puzzled — cue RFK Jr.’s slightly problematic presidential campaign ad. Here is a deeper look at the best, unnecessary and most unexpected commercials from this year’s Super Bowl.

Most unexpected drop: Can’t B Broken

In a surprising collaboration between Beyoncé and Verizon, Queen Bey attempted to break the internet alongside actor Tony Hale. Through her amicable lemonade stand, inevitable presidency, quick gaming stunt and BarBey (a play on “Barbie”), the only line that comes close to breaking the internet is her gimmick at the end stating, “Okay, they ready, drop

the music.” Beyoncé subsequently announced “Renaissance: Act II” and released two country singles from it, titled “TEXAS HOLD ’EM” and “16 CARRIAGES.”

Best female empowerment:

Hard Knocks: A Dove Big Game Film

It is no secret that Taylor Swift has had an immense impact on the NFL and individuals across the world. Once Swift began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, the Swiftie and NFL communities overlapped more than ever. That said, due to the resulting influx of younger women viewing the Super Bowl, beauty brands such as Dove and e.l.f. bought advertisements to promote their products to a unique audience.

Dove aired its first Super Bowl ad in almost two decades and its message remains ever-present. It simply affirms how young females often quit sports by age 14 due to a lack of confidence rather than a fear of messing up. Airing this commercial during a male-dominated football tournament was inspiring, encouraging individuals to continue doing what they love, instead of letting insecurities get in the way.

Best movie trailer: “Wicked”

After production delays due to the SAG-AFTRA and Writer’s Guild strikes, Universal Pictures released the highly anticipated trailer for “Wicked” and fans had split reactions. Some argued that the computer-generated visuals were too elaborate, while others expressed the very opposite, maintaining that the colors and VFX-made environments are integral to understanding the

deeper meanings of the production. Similarly, the Land of Oz is a mystical and exciting place, and the trailer perfectly encapsulates the widespread impact of the musical.

Best celebrity cameo: Michael CeraVe

Actor Michael Cera takes the cake for best celebrity cameo as his awkward remarks and witty timing are expertly showcased in this 30-second masterpiece. However, this marketing campaign spans longer than 30 seconds, as the brand began advertising before the Super Bowl — last month, Michael Cera was spotted in New York City handing out bottles of CeraVe. Brands teaming up with celebrities with similar names is nothing new, however, as it was also seen with Michael Bublé and Bubly in 2019. The commercial is well thought out, though, with Cera claiming CeraVe as his own, with the comedic line, “Human skin is my passion.”

The tearjerkers: Javier in Frame and Perfect 10

There always has to be the one commercial that sends the Super Bowl function into a silent sniffle — this year, there were two.

Google is reputably known for pulling on heartstrings and this year highlighted the new Google Pixel’s strong accessibility features for visually impaired individuals. When the protagonist, Javier, takes a photo, the phone communicates saying, “There is one person in the frame.” The commercial follows Javier through photos and welcomes individuals into his point of view as he meets his future wife, and later, his child. The phone

communicates, “There are three people in the frame,” and brings the empaths in the audience to tears. Similarly, Kia’s commercial illuminates the importance of having support no matter what. A young female ice skater performs in front of an enormous crowd, but the one person she wanted there was her grandfather. Without one word of dialogue, the commercial conveys that her grandfather is sick and unable to attend his granddaughter’s performance. She later performs the aforementioned routine for her grandfather. For this girl, one family member in the audience is worth more than a full house.

Best homage to Boston: The DunKings

Although Dunkin’s slogan is “America Runs on Dunkin’,” everyone knows Boston is the capital of the coffee and doughnut chain. This star-studded commercial, which features Tom Brady, Jack Harlow, Jennifer Lopez, Fat Joe and Massachusetts natives Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, follows the celebs as they try to make it big as a boy band. With some embarrassing tracksuits and musical numbers in front of Lopez, this commercial is a Dunkin’ frenzy. The cherry on top? Damon references “Good Will Hunting” in his line, “How do you like them … doughnuts? I’m so sorry.”

Most counterproductive: Less social media. More Snapchat. There is no denying that Snapchat has been an integral social media

network since its release in 2011. The only people that may be denying this is the company itself. Through this advertisement, it is promoting a more authentic environment when, in actuality, it is the culprit for this inauthentic presence in the first place. The ad itself has a strong message, especially given the rise of young influencers — it’s the fact that Snapchat created it that rubbed viewers the wrong way.

Most unsettling message: He Gets Us

This commercial shows a collection of political and ideological opposites washing each other’s feet. For example, a police officer washes a Black man’s feet, a pro-life protester washes a pregnant woman’s feet outside a family planning clinic and a priest washes a gay man’s feet. Not only does the commercial comment on a slew of controversial topics, but it pushes religious beliefs during the most-watched event of all time. Alas, among Gen Z, association with religion is rapidly decreasing, and this commercial acted as an unwarranted indoctrination, capitalizing on groups that are commonly oppressed by religious ideals.

Column: Is the BAFTA jury system out of touch?

By Caleb Lee News Correspondent

The nominees for the 77th British Academy Film Awards, or BAFTAs, were unveiled Jan. 18, and the responses were far from positive. Notably, there was widespread criticism regarding major snubs, with several actors of color, including Greta Lee of “Past Lives” and Charles Melton of “May December.” Lily Gladstone, who has been widely regarded as the presumed front-runner for Best Actress this awards season for her performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” was also overlooked despite a Golden Globe win and an undeniable presence within critics’ groups.

In 2020, the BAFTAs revamped their entire nomination process in response to significant public backlash over the lack of diversity among their nominees. Since then, the nomination process has consistently revealed significant flaws, particularly in the treatment of actors of color who, year after year, seem to be at a disadvantage.

The BAFTA voting process is composed of three rounds. In the initial round, members of the BAFTA acting branch cast its votes for the top 12 performances in each of the four acting categories. The three performances with the most mentions on the longlist automatically secure nominations. In the second round, an assigned jury for each acting category

takes charge, selecting the final three nominees. This step is intended to increase diversity in nominations. BAFTA representatives have said that each jury is carefully composed, drawing individuals from diverse backgrounds to ensure an equitable and unbiased voting process. In the final round of voting, the entire body votes for the top performance of the six nominees.

Looking into this year’s nominations, the biggest shock of the morning was arguably Gladstone in the Best Actress category. Her snub came in favor of the following actresses: Fantasia Barrino in “The Color Purple,” Sandra Hüller in “Anatomy of a Fall,” Carey Mulligan in “Maestro,” Vivian Oparah in “Rye Lane,” Margot Robbie in “Barbie” and Emma Stone in “Poor Things.”

Among the six nominees, Gladstone’s omission is truly shocking given the stellar number of awards she has received this award season. Even if she didn’t secure a spot in the top three, her outstanding performance and background should have easily made her a shoo-in for a jury spot. Given the overall performances of “Poor Things” and “Anatomy of a Fall,” it is safe to assume Stone and Hüller were among the top three.

“Barbie” and “Maestro” lived up to expectations in terms of nominations, leaving a safe assumption that either Robbie or Mulligan secured the third spot.

It was likely to be Robbie, considering her established presence within the BAFTA awards with two supporting actress nominations in 2020 for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Bombshell” and a supporting actress nomination in 2019 for “Mary Queen of Scots.” Additionally, she received a leading actress nomination in 2018 for “I, Tonya,” showing the voting bodies’ respect for her work. This, coupled with the fact that her performance and background don’t align with the typical taste of the jury, who favor more “conventional” roles, makes it easy to believe she was among the top three.

If indeed Barrino, Mulligan and Oparah were chosen as jury saves, it raises questions about the selection process. The preference for Mulligan, a high-profile white actress with virtually endless opportunities, above overlooked talents like Gladstone or Lee stands out significantly. Mulligan and Robbie will always find another opportunity waiting for them. Meanwhile, “Killers of the Flower Moon’’ marks Gladstone’s debut outside of indie films, and “Past Lives” is Lee’s first lead role, respectively — a chance that may not come around again, especially for actors of color.

If one found the Best Actress category to be lacking in taste, it is worth noting that the supporting actor lineup was entirely composed of white actors. A particularly glaring omission in this category was Charles

Melton, who delivered a devastating performance in “May December,” holding his own against Oscar-winning actresses Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. The dominance of white individuals among the top three performances in this category raises the question of why, despite the supposed aim of “diversifying” the nominees, three jury picks also turned out to be white — certainly not due to a shortage of noteworthy contenders, considering the acclaim surrounding performances by Sterling K. Brown in “American Fiction” and Melton, among others. The 2020 nomination process revision seems to be a faulty fix for the much larger issue. Many individuals of color share the sentiment that nominations should be earned, not just selected by a small pool to meet a quota and that accomplishments should transcend numerical considerations.

The crux of the problem lies within the composition of the BAFTA voting body. As of May 2023, the membership reflects a 42% female to 58% male split, with only 16% representing underrepresented ethnic groups, 7% having a disability and 12% identifying as LGBTQ+. To ensure nominations that actors of color truly find deserving, a crucial step is to enhance the diversity within the body, as the current figures are disproportionately low and fail to mirror the contemporary world today. A more diverse membership would not only enhance

the nomination prospects for actors of color but also make them more competitive in securing wins. A BAFTAs analysis revealed white men and women overwhelmingly dominate the acting categories. Particularly, no woman of color has ever won the BAFTA for Best Actress.

Unconscious bias plays a large role in the voting process, leading to a lack of recognition for the outstanding performances of people of color, even when they unquestionably deserve nominations or awards. At times, it feels as though people of color must work twice as hard to get half the recognition their white counterparts receive.

Consider Gladstone, a Native American woman who played a lead role in one of the most prominent films of the year, directed by none other than one of the all-time greats, Martin Scorsese. Despite unanimously being “hailed” for delivering the best performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” it’s baffling that she missed out on a nomination, especially when compared to her co-star Robert De Niro, who secured one in the Supporting Actor category. If an artist of her caliber struggles to receive due acknowledgment, what hope does that leave for everyone else?

It’s a poignant reminder that, in the pursuit of equitable recognition, dismantling unconscious biases is not just a noble aspiration, but an urgent necessity.

Graphic by Katie Mulcahy

‘Getting Around Town’ exhibit shows deep history of Boston transit system

By Katarina Schmeiszer News Correspondent

“Getting Around Town: Four Centuries of Mapping Boston in Transit,” located in the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center in the Boston Public Library, is the first transit map exhibit at the center and displays more than 400 years of the Boston transit system’s history through an extensive collection of maps, primary documents and artifacts.

Steven Beaucher, guest curator of the exhibit and author of “Boston in Transit,” the book the exhibit stems from, displays his personal collection of artifacts and maps, along with the Leventhal Map Center’s collection, to showcase the deep history of Boston transit.

“I wanted to show people that Boston was a leader globally in forms and methods [of transit] and everything from vehicles to how they manage systems,” Beaucher said.

Most people ask him about the history of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, or the MBTA, but the history of the transit system goes much deeper and further back than the authority’s establishment, Beaucher said.

Garrett Dash Nelson, president and head curator of the Leventhal Map & Education Center, echoed

this sentiment. He hopes understanding the depth of the history of the MBTA is one of the main takeaways visitors get from the exhibit.

“It is in our genesis to have some kind of form of public transportation,” Beaucher said.

An expert in the history of the MBTA and the Metropolitan Transit Authority, or MTA, Beaucher notes how influential and progressive Boston has been in the sphere of American public transportation. MBTA — which is the current system — replaced the MTA when it expanded to 78 towns and cities. He wanted to show this in the exhibition, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the transit system and the intricate details of transit maps through Boston’s history.

Visitor Daphne Layton, a Somerville resident, expressed a similar observation. She said it was interesting to see the old maps and how the city and transportation system have evolved over time.

Another crucial element of the exhibit is how it connects with its audience. Nelson and Beaucher both hope visitors can see the maps represent far more than information — they are also tools for understanding history and what the future could hold.

“We worked with some high school students from Boston Public

Schools, and we had them look at equity and issues in the system by making their own maps and by thinking about how they remix those maps,” Nelson said.

While most maps in the exhibition were made by professionals, such as engineers, draftspeople and cartographers, both curators said maps are becoming more accessible.

“We are no longer just consumers of maps; we are the makers of maps too,” Nelson said.

Creating a personal connection between the maps in the exhibit and the visitors was a top priority for Beaucher. He wanted to help the guests explore the “what ifs,” or variations of what transportation maps and routes could have been, and develop a personal connection to what they saw. An unbuilt transit map from 1945 can be seen in the exhibit, showing plans to expand the MBTA to the greater Boston area. While some of the plans didn’t go into effect, they depict the realized possibilities of the MBTA and how it could continue to expand and improve.

“They thought big,” Beaucher said.

While the future of the MBTA is still unknown, it is clear the public, as well as professionals in the non-profit and private sectors, have ideas on how to further develop the system and address ongoing problems of “consistency” in funding,

management and operation, Beaucher said. The exhibit highlights not only the deep history of the system but also engages the public through interactive elements: asking visitors how they would alter the system and displaying the maps Boston high school students created.

“There is an intimate connection between past, present and future, and that’s always at the forefront of

our exhibitions, to learn from the past, think about how we live today and maybe ask some questions about the future,” Nelson said.

“Getting Around Town” will be open until April 27 and will be followed by a new temporary exhibit, “Heaven and Earth: The Blue Maps of China,” set to start May 10.

“Getting Around Town” can also be visited digitally.

Fenway Health’s Youth Leaders Council ushers in new leadership

By Gitana Savage News Staff

Located on Boylston Street, the Young Leaders Council, or YLC, is an initiative striving to provide resources to LGBTQ+ young professionals in their 20s and 30s through community-building programming and fundraising for issues central to the LGBTQ+ community.

By hosting events such as the hair “Cut-A-Thon” and health equity dance party at the Omni Hotel, the YLC, which is housed under Fenway Health, not only fosters community but also raises money and awareness for causes important to the LGBTQ+ community.

Dana Lyford, a development staff member at the YLC, has been with the council for seven years and was drawn to the YLC for its unique and engaging programming.

“The primary goal of the YLC is to bring people in their 20s and 30s together, to build community and to sort of represent Fenway Health, so they do small events together like bar nights, or they’ll participate in the Wicked Queer Film Festival,” Lyford said. “Basically anything you can think of, they’ll do it.”

Founded in 2009, the YLC has been a prominent force in the Fenway community and beyond. However, in the past two years, several members of the YLC have departed

from the council and Fenway Health as a whole, forcing the council to redefine itself and its mission.

Henry Gaylord, a steering committee member in the YLC, has been with the council for a little over a year. As a member of the committee, he and his colleagues are responsible for the planning of council events and recruitment of new members.

Throughout the past year, Gaylord has noticed a decline in membership and cohesion following the pandemic and the loss of several people in leadership positions at the YLC.

“We’ve transitioned our co-chairs, and we also transitioned our Fenway Health staff liaison,” Gaylord said.

“Both of those roles are really big

roles for the steering committee and YLC. So I think that’s the biggest challenge for us right now; we’re kind of re-envisioning what we’re doing.”

However, Gaylord said he believes the council’s massive transition is ultimately for the better, and he is excited for the changes this shift in leadership will bring.

“This is an exciting time for the YLC,” Gaylord said. “A couple of our primary goals are to build community support for Fenway Health, which is an organization near and dear to all of our hearts and to build community and engagement for young professionals who have this shared passion.”

The YLC is a council that works closely with Fenway Health, which was founded in 1971 as a part of the “free clinic movement.” Today, Fenway Health provides accessible healthcare, especially to those in the LGBTQ+ community, a group that has historically been restricted from receiving the healthcare it needs. YLC Steering Committee member Mitchell Ambrosino has been with the council since summer 2023. He said he was drawn to the YLC because of the work Fenway Health was doing.

“I am an LGBTQ member myself,” Ambrosino said. “I am passionate about a lot of things that the YLC works on, like bringing health care to marginalized and low-income people, especially with a focus on LGBTQ people having access to things like HIV prevention. Also,

[the YLC] blended a bunch of previous experiences that I enjoyed that I no longer get to do in my current role as a professional.”

Fenway Health offers several resources such as its comprehensive AIDS action program, which is aimed to assist populations “most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.” Lyford said the YLC plays a unique role in the community through the work it does for Fenway Health. The YLC is crucial in notifying the greater community of all the work Fenway Health is doing to ensure members of the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups receive the care they deserve.

“[The YLC is] our tendrils out into the community,” Lyford said. “Having them as ambassadors, both to go out and tell the community the kind of things we offer and what we’re doing for the queer community in general, is super important. But at the end of the day, the most important thing is the community we build for folks.”

As someone who has been a part of the council for almost a decade, Lyford is not pessimistic about the changes the YLC is undergoing. In fact, Lyford is inspired by the promise and enthusiasm of the newest wave of YLC members and what they mean for the future of the council.

“The new members have really good energy,” Lyford said. “They’re really excited to re-engage and get things moving again. So it’s awesome to see and I’m excited to see where things go for the YLC.”

“Getting Around Town” encapsulates the deep history of Boston’s public transit systems. The exhibit was based on Steven Beaucher’s book “Boston in Transit.”

Photo by Darin Zullo

Members of the YLC pose for a photo during a Harbor to the Bay charity bike ride event meant to raise funds for local HIV/AIDS organizations. The YLC was founded as a community for LGBTQ+ young professionals and raises money and awareness for causes important to the LGBTQ+ community.

Photo courtesy Young Leaders Council

Stephen and Michaela

By Katarina Schmeiszer | News Correspondent

Stephen Howe

Harkins knew Howe through a mutual friend who had a crush on her at the time.

“He was always described as mysterious,” she said. He was a philosophy major, fencer and pianist who kept to himself, which she thought was “very cool sounding.”

“It was very much love at first sight,” Harkins said.

At a small college like Bates, it was easy to spot couples by where they sat in the dining hall. Extroverts, Harkins said, sat at the long tables, while couples and friend groups sat at smaller tables in a separate room. That’s where the pair sat, and without even formally asking each other out, they were dating.

The two got married 13 years into their relationship and settled in Boston 10 years ago. Boston has become their home and the location of all of their favorite date spots, whether it’s a coffee and a simple walk around the North End or a dinner at their favorite restaurant, Ma Maison.

“They have a table in the back, it’s a two-seater on a bench. It’s actually the perfect couples table. They will even say that,” Howe said, describing the cozy spot they’ve spent many dates together.

“It helps to be best friends,” Harkins said. The two said their secret to 33 years of love is laughing together and supporting one another in what they do.

Because they got married after dating for so long, they said they were able to experience different phases of life together. The two went through college and early adulthood together, allowing them to grow together and individually.

“We knew we wanted to be together because we had kind of stuck together through all that,” Howe said.

Love Stories

Angela and Harry

By Kathryn Manning | Projects Editor

When Angela and Harry Mains first met, they were both “miserable.”

The two had both been in previous relationships, but Harry said it took just one conversation with Angela to change his outlook on life.

“I was actually talking to somebody instead of just listening,” Harry said. “She heard me, and I heard her.”

The two felt they could be authentic when they were together.

“I didn’t have to change who I was to be around her, I could just be me,” Harry said. “I could be the big kid that I was meant to be.”

On the couple’s first date, they hiked the Skyline Trail at Blue Hills Reservation, just outside of Boston. As the sun was setting and snow fell around them, they shared their first official kiss.

Harry later brought Angela’s two children, his daughter and his mother up the mountain to propose in the same spot they had their first date.

The pair have been married since August 2023. They explained that the key to a healthy relationship is good communication.

“You shouldn’t have to fight and chase somebody; it should be mutual,” Angela said.

Together, the couple prioritizes honesty and easy laughter.

“Everything else falls in line if you have strong communication, if you aren’t afraid to tell someone how you feel,” Harry said.

Billy and Brianna

By Elsa O’Donnell | News Correspondent

Billy and Brianna Gurney’s first date was a Red way Park — a perfect choice for a high school couple the Boston area their whole lives.

At just 16 and 18 years old, a mutual friend introduced and Billy. Despite attending different high schools, dated for about a year before college forced them

“She dumped me,” Billy said. “Then about 10 me at Tequila Rain and IM’d me on Instant Messenger morning, and we never looked back.”

Billy knew in high school that Brianna was meant said he continued to pursue her after their split. longer [to know],” he said. “I needed to develop

“That second time we saw each other, it was said. “We were older, and we kinda just knew instantly.”

Billy and Brianna later shot their engagement Park, an ode to their first date.

Fifteen years and two kids later, Billy said Brianna made [him] very happy,” and he appreciates her kids. “She’s the best mom in the world,” he said.

“[Billy] has grown into a wonderful father,” Brianna have so much fun … he always makes me laugh.”

Billy and Brianna are still in touch with the friend them. She was in the couple’s wedding, and Brianna mother. “She still thinks it’s crazy that we ended Brianna said.

and Michaela Harkins first locked eyes waiting for class registration in a Bates College auditorium and have been together ever since.

Correspondent

Red Sox game at Fencouple who lived in introduced Brianna schools, the young couple them to part ways.

10 years later, she saw Messenger the next meant for him, and he “I feel like it took her my charm more.” different,” Brianna instantly.”

engagement photos at Fenway

Brianna has “always her dedication to their said. Brianna said. “We laugh.” friend who introduced Brianna is her son’s godended up back together,”

Gemma and Evan

By Alexa Coultoff | Projects Editor

Gemma Guerrazzi and Evan Gillis share a different kind of love story — a best friendship.

The two met when they happened to be in the same group at Emerson College’s accepted students day. At the time, the final decision of where the two would end up for school was still unclear.

It was in the cards for the pair to cross paths again because they both chose Emerson.

“We didn’t know we were going to go to this school,” Gillis said. “It was so random,” Guerrazzi added.

When Guerrazzi posted on the admitted students’ Instagram page, Gillis commented, saying “I think you’re the girl I met at accepted students day.” Guerrazzi excitedly messaged him, but never got a response from Gillis, who said he “didn’t see the message.”

They later ran into each other at orientation, and it was confirmed they were destined to be friends.

Gillis remembered Guerrazzi had the name of a type of stone and remembers asking her “Isn’t your name like Ruby or Diamond or something?”

Since that day 10 years ago, the two have become best friends, studied abroad together twice as undergraduates and have continued their friendship post-graduation while working on opposite coasts. Guerrazzi works for Warner Bros. Discovery in California and Gillis has stayed in Boston working as a software technician for news companies.

“I love that Gemma is so good at being a best friend,” Gillis said. “She always brings the fun.”

While Guerrazzi says she’s often the source of energy and fun, she appreciates how Gillis is there to ground her when she needs it most.

“He’s always like ‘Gemma, you’re fine, it’s going to be okay,’” she said.

The two enjoy frequenting Tatte any chance they get but don’t have a distinct “spot” to hang out in Boston because of their love for adventure.

“We don’t have a place to hang out because we’re always traveling together,” Gillis said. “We like finding new places.”

We deliver!

Photos by Annika Sunkara

Another thrilling come-from-behind win seals

Northeastern’s second straight Beanpot sweep

By Amelia Ballingall & Sofia Garrett Sports Editor & Deputy Sports Editor

History is bound to repeat itself.

Northeastern and Boston University take it to a 4-3 overtime finish, senior forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine scores a game-winning overtime goal, the Huskies claim a Beanpot sweep.

If the Huskies do one thing well, it’s win Beanpots. BU came into the title game the No. 3 team in the country after upsetting No. 1 Boston College. While Northeastern could barely defeat the struggling Harvard Crimson in the Feb. 6 semifinal, the Huskies still claimed the championship win Feb. 12.

“When [Athletic Director Jim Madigan and I] got into this tournament over the last six or seven years, we expected to win,” said head coach Jerry Keefe. “We didn’t feel like the underdog. I think our program’s at a spot now that when we go out, we feel like we play our game, we should win. It’s important for our guys to feel that way when they’re walking off the bus. You’re not hoping to win. It’s knowing that if you go out and play your game, you should win.”

Northeastern had been leading up to this moment for weeks, riding a fivegame winning streak into the championship match-up and finally developing some much-needed consistency. And while they had to claw their way to the finish tooth and nail, the Huskies were able to scrape out a 4-3 come-from-behind overtime win to earn their second straight Beanpot title.

On paper, the Terriers were the dominant team, but they’re not the ones holding a trophy. BU outshot Northeastern a drastic 36-17 across nearly 65 minutes of play, but the Huskies made their chances count, squeezing out four goals for a nearly 25% success rate.

While the Huskies strung together series after series of clean passes, solidly maintaining possession, they struggled to get past the neutral zone in the first period, and BU pounced on every mistake its rivals made.

In fact, BU’s first goal was a Northeastern mistake at its worst — a defensive turnover reminiscent of an era of this season the Huskies would much rather leave behind.

With five minutes left in the

first period, graduate student defender Pito Walton whiffed on his attempt to clear the puck from the zone with BU’s top line hot on his heels. Left 2-on-0 in front of the crease, freshman goalie Cameron Whitehead stood no chance against electric freshman forwards Jack Harvey and Macklin Celebrini. Stealing the puck off Walton, Harvey flicked it over to Celebrini in the low slot, and the 17-year-old had no problem finding the back of the net to put the Terriers up 1-0.

Although the Huskies were able to break out of the zone in the latter half of the opening frame, they couldn’t find the right angle. Northeastern whipped plenty of shots toward BU junior goaltender Mathieu Caron, but a mere three of them made it into his crease, and the Brown University transfer skated off the ice far too relaxed after the first 20 minutes of play.

The Terriers came out in the second period with the same attack as the first, relentlessly taking shots on goal. In the sixth minute, BU fired the puck at Northeastern’s goal, but it deflected off the crossbar, a missed opportunity to double its lead.

Northeastern then quickly gained momentum and possession of the puck, working as a collective unit to beat BU into its zone. Developing a 3-on-1, the Huskies found their opportunity.

Sophomore forward Cam Lund glided with the puck toward Boston University’s net, but instead of shooting, he passed to Fontaine. Receiving the puck on the opposite side of the net, Fontaine redirected it across the crease, bouncing the puck off Caron.

Graduate student forward Matt DeMelis, in the right place at the right time, connected with the puck and sent it into the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1 and tallying his second goal of the season.

Whitehead continued to deliver for the Huskies as BU applied pressure in the offensive zone, firing off multiple shots.

However, there was nothing he could do when sophomore defender Vinny Borgesi stumbled on ice, turning over the puck in the offensive zone. A 2-on-1 developed the other way, as the Terriers raced across the ice toward Northeastern’s net. Sophomore forward Devin Kaplan attempted a pass to graduate forward Sam Stevens, but sophomore defender Hunter McDonald’s stick intercepted the puck as it bounced over Whitehead and into the net. The unfortunate play for the Huskies put the Terriers up 2-1 in the 10th minute of the period.

But Northeastern didn’t let BU’s lead extend any further. Thirty seconds later, freshman forward Dylan Hryckowian passed the puck to his brother, captain and junior forward Justin Hryckowian, who took it down the ice by himself. After his initial shot was blocked, ricocheting off of the boards,

Justin Hryckowian picked up his own rebound and then shot the puck between Caron’s legs, retying the game 2-2.

“That was a good battle by my brother to get [the puck] off the wall and get it to me,” Justin Hryckowian said. “I just wanted to get a shot on net … and luckily, it squeaked through.”

The fight for the lead continued as BU dominated with shots on goal over the Huskies but were unable to find the back of the net.

With six minutes left in the period, the Terriers gained their first advantage of the night as graduate forward Liam Walsh was sent to the box for tripping. In the two-minute power play, BU had limited opportunities on goal as the Huskies successfully cleared its advances. Possession was back-and-forth following the power play, with both teams desperate to secure a lead before the end of the period. In the end, it was BU that scored with just seven seconds remaining. Sophomore defenseman Lane Hutson squeezed a shot past Whitehead, securing his 11th goal of the season.

Despite the late-in-the-period BU goal, Northeastern came out in the third ready to fight — in more ways than one. Finally outshooting the Terriers, leading 8-7 in attempts in the final frame, Northeastern took a penalty just two and a half minutes into the period.

Although the Terriers found some chances this time, they still couldn’t break past Northeastern’s penalty kill unit.

But a little further down the line, with a 5-on-4 advantage of their own, Northeastern broke through. With BU captain and graduate student defender Case McCarthy in the box for holding, the Huskies dominated on the power play. For nearly a minute and a half Northeastern never left the zone, wearing the Terriers’ skaters down as they collected rebound after rebound to set up a new attempt every time.

On the left flank, sophomore forward Jack Williams was the Huskies’ main collector, fighting off BU’s penalty kill unit to keep the puck in possession, so it was only fair that he had the tying goal.

From the top of the zone, Borgesi cycled the puck down to Williams at the left faceoff circle and Williams pounded in the one-timer with ferocity, blasting clean past Caron to knot it up at 3-3.

With regulation coming to a close, the Terriers seemed desperate to escape the same fate they’d seen with Northeastern all season — overtime. BU tightened around its offensive zone, creating dangerous chances at the net, but the Huskies swatted them away, staying alive through the buzzer.

Northeastern’s no stranger to overtime. Two of the Huskies’ previous three games have ended in 3-on-3 sudden death, and Northeastern won both times.

This one was a nail-biter until the very end. Although BU managed to get six shots on goal in the sudden death round, the Huskies only needed one to get it done, and it came with just 28 seconds left.

Northeastern had the majority of possession in overtime, its passing game on point as it closed in on a winning finish.

Breaking into the offensive zone 2-on-1, Justin Hryckowian and Fontaine knew just how to close out the night. After all, they had done it the week before against Harvard.

From the goal line, Justin Hryckowian whisked the puck past a pair of BU skaters to an open Fontaine. Fontaine went top shelf, tucking the puck under the crossbar to win Northeastern’s fifth Beanpot in the last six years.

“It’s another game where everyone is playing great around you and playing the right way,” Fontaine said. “Just two great plays out of Justin in those backto-back overtimes. I owe a lot to him.”

For his dual game-winning overtime goals, the assistant captain was granted the title of MVP.

“I’m still not going to focus too much on myself. I’m just glad we won as a team out there,” Fontaine said. “Being a [three-time] Beanpot champion will stick with me for the rest of my life.”

Also incredibly deserving of his award was Whitehead, who nabbed the Eberly Award, Northeastern’s sixth in a row, for his top goaltending marks in the competition. The freshman netminder, who stopped 54 of 59 attempts for a tournament save percentage of .915, had a stellar performance against BU and played a large part in Northeastern’s win.

“He just keeps getting better,” Keefe said. “That kid is dialed in, and he’s got a lot of confidence in himself, and obviously our group has a lot of confidence in him. To do it on the big stage as a freshman, that’s huge.”

Northeastern may have the least Beanpot trophies of the tournament teams, with nine to its name in 71 iterations of the competition, but it’s winning where it matters: here and now.

“It hasn’t been an easy year. We started off the season 2-7,” Keefe said. “You got to give that leadership group a ton of credit because they did not sway one ounce all year. They believed in each other and just kept focused on getting better every single day. Right now, I feel like we’re playing our best hockey of the year.”

In the last decade or so, the Huskies have made themselves a constant force to be reckoned with on the glistening ice of TD Garden, and they certainly aren’t slowing down.

With not only two men’s Beanpot titles, but two Beanpot sweeps — as Northeastern’s women’s team was crowned just a few weeks ago — the Huskies have another year of glory ahead of them as their name hangs down from the rafters of the Garden, a modern

dynasty.

Cameron Whitehead watches the puck float past his net. The freshman goaltender made 33 saves in the Beanpot title game against Boston University Feb. 12.

Photo by Sofia Sawchuk

Captain Justin Hryckowian hoists the Beanpot trophy over his head. The Huskies defeated BU 4-3 in overtime in the 71st Beanpot tournament.

Photo by Sofia Sawchuk

‘I am excited to see what we can do’: NU men’s club lacrosse looks to the future

By Elli Einset News Correspondent

Northeastern men’s club lacrosse has maintained its focus between seasons, and the team hopes to keep up the momentum from its previous success following its 11-6 record in 2023.

This year’s spring season has brought many new players to the team, and with these players, the Huskies hope to make a farther run in the playoffs.

“We have another group of new freshmen,” said senior midfielder and captain Alek Tunik, talking about the new players who joined that were a part of the N.U.in program. “So far, everyone has been adjusting really well, and we have been able to hit the ground running at a faster pace than usual.”

The new wave of athletes comes with the departure of respected graduates. Junior goaltender and captain Sam Bellomy emphasized the team’s defensive gap left after former captain Patrick Daley’s departure. But Bellomy is confident

that the team will be able to fill this gap with the new players.

The Huskies won their their first game of the season 8-7 Feb. 17 against No. 4 Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

“I am excited to get out there and show Liberty what we got,” junior midfielder Sam Nash said before the game. “I think we’ve got a real good chance of beating these guys. They are a very good team and are ranked very well.”

Nash, who played club lacrosse at University of California Santa Barbara for the 2023 season, earned one goal and two assists and was one of two players taking faceoffs for the team.

The Huskies are looking to clean up their game this season. Forced turnovers were a problem the team is hoping to improve on.

“We are really trying to improve on ball security and poise with the ball. … It is already starting to develop in a better sense than it was last year,” Tunik said.

Overall, the team tries to focus on what it can do better, not what the

strengths other teams have.

“Most of our preparation has been getting ready as a team, not necessarily worrying about specific players on their team, but more so about what we can do to help ourselves,” Bellomy said.

During the preseason, the Huskies were ranked eighth on the Division I Top 10 list, but they plan to assert themselves as an even greater threat when the season kicks off.

“I like to think that this ranking might have been what our team was last year, but it’s a different team now,” Bellomy said. “We have a lot of new offensive weapons.”

Although the team does not try to think too much about its ranking, it does help players’ composure going against top teams like Liberty.

“It boosted our confidence even more. Other schools and people have realized and seen our talent,” Nash said.

There are many returning players to the team that help bring stability and leadership to the new players.

Bellomy, the Huskies’ starting goalie, had a .627 save percentage

last season, and he hopes to continue improving his game.

“[I’ve been] trying to find extra field time and focusing on my fundamentals,” Bellomy said. “I can stop the ball well, but I cannot do it without my big friends in front of me.”

These “big friends” include senior midfielder Matt Hiller, who won 93 out of last season’s 167 faceoffs.; junior midfielder Christopher Wilk, who had the most goals on the team last season, with 34, averaging 2.941 goals per game; and senior midfielder Ryan McCarthy, who led the team in assists with 17 for the season, averaging one assist per game.

After the team’s upsetting loss in the playoffs last year, a 12-11 score against Concordia University Irvine in the first round, the Huskies are eager for redemption.

“I know people definitely want to make it back [to the playoffs] and prove we can go further,” Bellomy said.

Although the season will undoubtedly be tough, the team feels positive about its ability to perform.

“This is one of the strongest teams we’ve had in program history,” Tunik said, “I am excited to see what we can do as a group.”

Northeastern baseball star Mike Sirota poised for top pick in 2024 MLB draft

By Juliette Piovoso News Staff

“Adapt or die in the box.”

These six words mean everything to Mike Sirota, center fielder for the Northeastern Huskies baseball team and current top 2024 Major League Baseball draft prospect.

Despite the center fielder’s inherent hitting prowess — a collectible that proved its capability through Sirota’s first two seasons at NU, consisting of 1.060 OPS and two summer seasons in the Cape Cod League (.942 OPS), the current thirdyear was used to being overlooked.

Sirota, who was obscure to much of the baseball world in high school, fell hard in the 2021 MLB draft, and despite a late selection — 492 overall in the 16th round — landing him with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he chose to pursue a different route.

“When I got picked up by the Dodgers, I thought it was best that I come to college,” Sirota said. “I felt

I was a little overlooked in the draft process out of high school, so coming to Northeastern definitely helped me in seeing how I stack up against better competition.”

Sirota’s decision to attend Northeastern proved pivotal for the 20-year-old’s baseball career. In addition to honing his skills in the diamond, it served as a platform to establish himself as a standout player in college baseball.

Since his arrival as a freshman in 2021, Sirota has not looked back.

In just two seasons, the center fielder has secured his spot on the record books as the Northeastern baseball program’s record-holder for runs in a season with 73 in 2023.

For the 2023 season, Sirota was also selected to the ABCA/Rawlings All-America Third Team, ABCA/ Rawlings All-Region Northeast First Team and NEIBA Division I All-New England First Team.

In the midst of the mounting pressure that continues to accompany his

journey as a highly-touted baseball prospect, Sirota reaffirmed that, for him, it is all a mental game.

“I’m just focusing on winning and focusing on not trying to be a selfish player,” Sirota said. “Obviously, baseball is a very statistical game, so it’s easy to get caught up in yourself and how you’re performing. But I think when you’re focusing on the team, it elevates everyone else, and it also alleviates some pressure for you.”

Regardless of Sirota’s predicted departure from Northeastern to the MLB, the junior remains steadily grounded in his roots.

“The biggest thing for me as I’ve been improving is just focusing on my guys and elevating them and not taking advantage of the team culture we have here,” Sirota said.

Sirota said that his multifaceted skill set as a center fielder and all-around player has undeniably bolstered his professional pursuit.

“I think I have really good discipline in the zone, and I’m really good at making adjustments at bat,” Sirota said. “The phrase I go by is: ‘adapt or die in the box.’ If you’re not adapting and if you’re not adjusting, other people are going to catch up to you skills-wise and pitchers are going to get the best of you.”

Mike Glavine, Northeastern baseball head coach, originated the phrase Sirota aims to encompass when on the field and believes that his center fielder has succeeded in embodying it.

“[Sirota] is a very talented player,” Glavine said. “He does a lot of things really well on the baseball field: he can run, he’s a really good defensive player, he has a great arm, his power and speed. He’s sort of a prototypical full package as a baseball player.”

Throughout Sirota’s two seasons as a Husky, the center fielder has accumulated crucial intangibles,

including an ability to defy pressure and emanate a poised and unparalleled leadership style.

“Mike has a great ability to rise up to the occasion. The bigger the spot, the bigger the moment, the bigger the game,” Glavine said. “From a leadership piece, I think he calms the moment down. He talks to guys, and he’s able to help them think about what the pitcher’s trying to do to them in a big spot or what the pregame plan should be.”

Sirota’s assets have also proved beneficial not just for Glavine’s players, but also his coaching staff.

“As coaches, we rely on Mike,” Glavine said. “We often talk to him about, ‘Hey, what do you see?’ ‘What do you think?’ There’s a really great relationship and trust factor from the coaches to Mike.”

Beyond the statistics, Glavine believes that the MLB prospect’s tenacious and unwavering work ethic sets Sirota apart as an athlete.

“Behind the scenes, Mike is a really hard worker. He’s a perfectionist, in my opinion,” Glavine said. “He really challenges himself to be the best player he can be on a daily basis, and by him doing this, and always working on trying to be the best player, it goes throughout our culture. When one of your best players is one of your hardest workers, you have a real team.”

Glavine emphasized Sirota’s relentless drive to perfect his craft as what continues to reaffirm the Huskies’ identity as a baseball team.

“If Mike is not on the field doing some extra practice, he might be down in our batting cage, taking some extra swings or working with guys behind the scenes,” Glavine said. “Anytime we have extra hitting, he’s there. If it’s optional, he’s there. If we’re doing other practices where

players can leave early, he stays. He really just adds so much to our culture and what we’re trying to do, not just from a playing standpoint, but just his overall work ethic.”

Jack Doyle, junior infielder for the Huskies, believes that, above all, Sirota is the epitome of an ideal teammate.

“He’s always looking to support everyone else whenever they’re on the field, whether it’s on the mound or in the box,” Doyle said. “He is challenging everyone and pushing them to be their best. He’ll let you know what he’s thinking about your game. He will be brutally honest. But it really is best for the team.”

As the MLB draft quickly approaches in July, Doyle emphasizes that while Sirota’s talented skill set will take him far when playing professionally, he has one other asset that will propel him even further.

“He has the confidence,” Doyle said. “It’s obvious when you look at him that he truly believes, with every fiber of his being, that he’s the better beneficiary whenever he steps into the box.”

In what Glavine says to be a “Hall of Fame legacy,” Sirota has undoubtedly etched his name deep within the Northeastern baseball program.

“He has absolutely left a legacy with us, and even around college baseball a little bit, by staying here and fulfilling his commitment to Northeastern, to our program, to the coaches and to his teammates,” Glavine said.

As Sirota and the Huskies gear up for the highly-anticipated 2024 season, coach Glavine underscores the legacy the junior center fielder is set to leave behind.

“Mike proved that you can do it,” Glavine said. “You can stay, you can be successful, you can be happy. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. And, I think that will be right up there with his playing legacy.”

Christopher Lenahan Jr. carries the ball down the field for Northeastern. Northeastern was ranked eighth in the MCLA Division 1 Top-10 list heading into the 2024 season.

Photo courtesy Christian Gomez

Mike Sirota steps up to bat. In the 2022-23 season, Sirota tied for first on the team in home runs with 18.

Photo courtesy Jim Pierce

Northeastern needs to do a better job of providing students with meals that nurture the mind and body. As a Northeastern attendee with allergies and dietary restrictions, I have noticed there is little consistency in allergy-friendly food in the dining halls on campus. Food insecurity is also prevalent for students — according to No Hungry Huskies, a student campaign fighting food insecurity, students do not always have enough money to feed themselves each week with 25% reportedly facing food insecurity.

In a 2023 student referendum, 97% (7,410) of respondents agreed that meal swipe costs should be reduced, and the Swipe2Care program, which allows students to donate and receive meal swipes, should be improved. This could look like expanded dining options at a reduced cost or adding to students’ weekly allotted meal swipes.

When students walk into a dining hall, they are met with repetitive and limited options. For example, the average Stetson East meal features unsalted french fries, plain chicken, pizza with a cardboard-like consistency and an omelet station that uses liquid egg solution. While there are occasional kosher and allergy-friendly options like salmon, falafel and salad, they are scarce. In addition, many of my Muslim peers

I have lived in Massachusetts my whole life. This state is where I was raised and educated, but most of all, it is a state I have seen get increasingly more expensive to live in as each year passes.

In late January, the city section of The News published a piece on the stagnation of minimum wage in Massachusetts after a series of annual increases beginning in 2018 came to an end. I experienced these increases firsthand while working throughout high school and my first years of

have noted that they are unable to gain access to halal meats, which adhere to Islamic dietary guidelines.

Takeout options in Curry Student Center are limited as rotating vendors are hit-or-miss. Last year, Northeastern installed a boba shop in Curry despite there being over 10 tea shops within walking distance of Northeastern. Students could exchange one meal swipe out of their allotted two meal exchanges a week for a singular boba tea. In 2023, Smoothie Lab, an açaí and smoothie restaurant with customizable options, was installed in Curry. Smoothie Lab was popular among students with allergies who could swap out ingredients. By September 2023, the Mediterranean restaurant Pom & Honey with a mere two options of a wrap or salad replaced it, and I have yet to see many customers there.

Despite the lack of variety, meal plans for students residing in mealplan-required residence halls can cost over $4,000 a semester for a 17-meals-per-week plan or $3,565 for a 12-meals-per-week plan. Furthermore, swipes not used in a week do not roll over to the next, so their money is wasted if not used. This is not a small figure.

Furthermore, Northeastern dining halls are inaccessible; International Village, the dining hall with the largest selection of foods and equipped with the only allergy-friendly station, is about a 15-minute walk from most first-year housing. This can be challenging for students with accessibility needs.

Food insecurity is not the only factor preventing students from getting proper nutrition. Around 10.8% of U.S. adults have food allergies. Some, like mine, are relatively benign — a scratchy throat and itchy skin — but for others, allergies can be serious and life-threatening. When I was a firstyear with the 12-swipes-per-week meal plan, I had to supplement my meal

plan with instant noodles despite having no kitchen access. When I couldn’t afford to spend an extra $50–$100 a week on food, I would go hungry. Though this happened only every so often, it was preferable to suffering a potential allergic reaction.

When talking to my peers, I discovered this is typical on campus. A handful of my friends and acquaintances said that they are investigating applying for SNAP benefits as they are unable to afford a 12-swipe meal plan. Others forgo the dining hall altogether, knowing nothing will be appealing or safe to eat.

At rallies surrounding dining conflicts, students chant: “What do we do when Huskies go hungry? Stand up, fight back!” Students held signs reading, “Feed the husky pack or give our money back” and “We pay two times the national average,” referencing the lofty costs of Northeastern meal plans.

Food insecurity has grown into such a big campus issue that the Northeastern chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America has hosted numerous rallies urging the university to lower the cost of meal plans and assure all students three meals a day. Rally speakers have said that students who could not afford to eat were not able to focus on their studies. Students, in some cases, are forced to choose between taking classes and having a meal plan.

No one in college should have to starve for their education.

Because of Northeastern’s slow response to student concerns, some have taken matters into their own hands. Northeastern Mutual Aid established a mobile food pantry to aid any students who were going hungry. Despite substantial efforts from the student body, there is still a push for the school to address food insecurity. The NEU Mutual Aid Instagram notes that mutual aid is “not a reason for a

social safety net not to exist.”

Unfortunately, this is not a problem unique to Northeastern. Last year, Harvard University hosted an event encouraging its grad students to apply for federal food assistance. Despite being one of the wealthiest institutions, it is commonplace place for a university to underpay students or refuse change in response to food insecurity. Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, can also be ineffective for students with no access to a kitchen, which is exacerbated by Northeastern’s over-enrollment and housing crisis. The reality is food insecurity is not an external issue. It is the institution’s business if its students are going hungry, and it is the university’s responsibility to care for the health and well-being of its student population to ensure their success.

Northeastern says it is a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. But letting students starve exacerbates existing inequities. It is Northeastern’s responsibility to remove systemic barriers to the best of its ability so students can be fed.

If the university wants to sustain its students, something must change. A variety of food that is more accessible to different cultures and allergies would help to close the gap in these disparities. Try as they might, students cannot sustainably live off Stetson East fries and breadsticks.

Northeastern should work on expanding its dining models to accommodate the variety of students that attend the institution, including locations of dining halls relative to dormitories. The university should also incorporate significantly more allergy-friendly and diet-conscious options and should certainly lower the cost of meal plans significantly.

Niya Plynton is a second-year journalism major. He can be reached at plynton.n@northeastern.edu.

college. As a teenager, I was thrilled by the 75 cent raise every year; it was something I could look forward to, and I could see the difference it made in my paychecks. However, the rate settled at $15 an hour in 2023.

What I didn’t realize as a teenager was that the monetary value of everything was increasing all those years, not that my pay was just raising.

Now, a few years older and far more financially independent, I often feel affected by inflation. I’ve bought a carton of six eggs for twice as much as my dad used to spend on a dozen. Even worse, looking at the cost of rent for an apartment in the city has made my head spin.

Astonishingly high prices are affecting almost everything we use on a daily basis: personal hygiene items, clothing and even healthcare. Necessities such as these are factored into the cost of living for a region, which essentially defines the amount of money needed to live in any given place.

For residents, I don’t think it comes as a surprise that Massachusetts has one of the highest costs of living in the country. Forbes listed Massachusetts

as the second most expensive state to live in for the year 2024, with a $53,860 average cost of living.

Despite the minimum wage of $15, which ranks highly among minimum wages across the country, it is still not enough to satisfy what residents need across the state. Based on the current numbers, an individual getting paid minimum wage would have to work nearly 70-hour weeks to satisfy the cost of living. The standard work week in the United States is just over half that, at 40 hours per week. Furthermore, those 70 hypothetical hours do not even account for the taxes taken out of paychecks, lessening the amount workers take home.

It is not unexpected that advocates are urging the state to initiate another increase to Massachusetts’ minimum wage — this time to $20. I undoubtedly support the campaign to raise wages again, not only because I live and work here, but for the well-being of all Massachusetts residents.

However, I cannot help but wonder if by the time the hourly rate successfully reaches $20, it won’t be enough to sustain residents yet again. I worry

that making minimum wage aligned with the cost of living will be an economic game of cat and mouse for many years to come.

At my age, it may seem preemptive to worry so much about the economic future of Massachusetts, seeing as I could live anywhere in the coming years. But, as someone who has lived here my entire life, I can’t imagine moving because I could not afford to be here. It is not fair or reasonable for residents to have to move when the problem does not lie with them. The problem is exorbitant prices disproportionate to wages, causing financial pressure. The state unemployment rate of 3.2% is below the national average, but we’re seeing that having a job isn’t necessarily sufficient.

Unfortunately, financially-motivated relocations may become a reality for residents of various ages in Massachusettes if the state of minimum wage does not change in the near future.

Kara Orsini is a third-year health sciences major on the pre-med track. She can be reached at orsini.k@northeastern. edu.

Photo by Darin Zullo

Photo by Jessica Xing

Op-ed: Biden is best option for students

In the United States, skepticism has been mounting in recent months about the Biden administration. With concerns about President Joe Biden’s age, frequent criticism over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war and the remainders of a post-COVID-19 inflation scare, there has been growing apprehension over Biden’s ability to handle another term in office.

However, if we look back at what has happened during his time in office and consider what other options the future might offer, Democrats, and the country as a whole, need to see that another four years of Biden leading the United States is the best path forward.

Both past and recent policies of former President and current 2024 presidential candidate, Donald Trump, (who is all but guaranteed to win the Republican nomination), should make it pretty clear that electing him over Biden would be a threat to the country. For example, Trump’s foreign policy initiatives are downright dangerous for global security, shown not only by his withholding of aid to Ukraine in an attempt to blackmail the country into helping his 2020 election campaign, but also by his interest in withdrawing from NATO and abandoning United States allies like Taiwan, who he once complained “took our business away.”

Furthermore, his continued pushing of ignorant travel bans from

majority-Muslim countries, veiled as a measure to stop terrorism, is nothing but hateful. His vicious attacks on Jewish people, including his accusation that they were trying to “control [their] politicians” and that people who didn’t support his campaign were voting to “destroy America and Israel,” are dangerous and antisemitic.

His domestic policy is no better — he has gone past praising authoritarian rulers and dictators to talking about the possibility of being one himself. His appearance on Fox News where he promised to “only” be a dictator “on day one” underscores that he is not afraid to abuse power if he ascends back to the presidency, even if he claims to have the self-control to limit himself to only one day of dictatorship. This dangerous rhetoric was only strengthened by his cryptic posting of a word cloud highlighting how people thought his next term would be a “dictatorship” on Truth Social, an alternative social media platform Trump founded and of which he is currently the chairman.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank with ties to the Trump administration, has plans for the complete dismantling of the U.S. bureaucracy if Trump is elected. These plans include replacing the bureaucracy with conservative loyalists at the cost of tens of thousands of jobs and the dismantling of anti-discrimination protections. The plans also include hateful rhetoric such as its attacking transgender people as “pornographic” and calling for their arrest.

Additionally, there are dozens of criminal charges surrounding the attempted overturning of the 2020 election and the mishandling of classified documents. Along with civil cases for fraud, defamation and sexual abuse, Trump’s antics make him sorely unfit for a second term.

But what has Biden done to earn our vote instead of a third-party

candidate or another Democrat? The answer lies in his repeated political victories that have often flown under the media’s radar.

One of Biden’s top achievements in his term so far has been reducing the price of prescription drugs. With the onset of the Inflation Reduction Act, negotiations on fair prices for widely-used medications for diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other conditions started Feb. 1. Another meaningful achievement was a massive bipartisan infrastructure bill, launching 40,000 different projects to repair roads, bridges and railroads around the country. Biden also passed the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act that aims to grow the semiconductor industry in the U.S. On top of boosting American manufacturing, the Biden administration has aimed to protect workers’ rights by requiring companies to treat gig workers as employees instead of classifying them as contractors to keep salaries low, and has proposed a rule that would vastly expand eligibility for overtime pay. Biden has also protected consumers by cracking down on misleading fees often used by event ticket companies, and his administration has taken aim at corporations like Amazon and Google for their harmful monopolistic practices.

Biden’s foreign policy track record is solid as well. He has stood by Ukraine as it continues to battle against Russian invasion and has been continuing to pressure a chaotic Congress to continue helping the country fight against its tyrannical invaders. Biden has also stood in support of U.S. allies in Asia. As the Chinese government calls “reunification” with Taiwan a “historical inevitability,” Biden has stood by Taiwan and committed to the island’s defense in the event of an invasion by the People’s Republic of China, who concerningly views the newly-elected Taiwanese President as a “dangerous separatist.”

As well as protecting U.S. allies in Europe and Asia, Biden has handled conflicts in the Middle East and Gaza as effectively as he possibly can, as shown in his administration’s efforts to negotiate a hostage release and temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in November 2023. In recent weeks, U.S. officials have been getting closer to negotiating another ceasefire and the freeing of hostages, and possible peace deals have been considered by both Hamas and the Israeli government. However, Biden’s ability to stop the war from raging further remains limited — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to reject and act hostile towards recent ceasefire negotiations, and his irresponsible actions have even led Biden to reportedly say he was “impossible to deal with.”

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Biden’s strong response to Houthi attacks on civilian shipping and Iranian-backed terrorism shows his commitment to the security and safety of the region and is further evidence of Biden’s adeptness in foreign policy.

Biden’s policymaking has also been very important for Northeastern students. One of his biggest continuing achievements has been his effort to cancel student loan debt, which as of Feb. 16 has saved 3.7 million Americans over 100 billion dollars on loans they had been repaying in vain.

These savings will continue to grow as programs such as income-based loan forgiveness and relief for students who have been under long-term student debt continue to be put into place. Under Biden’s administration, the economy has rebounded from a pandemic-era recession, putting the next generation of college graduates into an economy in which they are ready to succeed. Biden has also shown steadfast support of reproductive rights in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, such as his recent expansion of coverage for

abortion and contraception under the Affordable Care Act. His policymaking has even funded a project to modernize Boston Logan Airport, pledging 62 million dollars in September 2022 to add gates, expand its baggage claims and add ticketing and accessibility services to the airport.

The alternatives to Biden that now remain in the race are nowhere near as equipped as he is to handle the needs of the presidency. Vaccine conspiracy theorist and failed Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who seems to be more reliant on his family’s name than developing a true platform, has had his campaign carried by a small number of wealthy donors, and the third-party bid he’s staging continues to be marred by bad hires, mismanagement and staff resignations. Dean Phillips, a primary challenger who lost by over 30% to a grassroots write-in campaign for Biden in New Hampshire and by a margin of over 94% in South Carolina’s primary, has shown no ability to lead an effective bid for the presidency, let alone to get his supporters to show up to events.

At this point, it’s clear to me that Biden is the only 2024 candidate left who both has a solid platform and a demonstrated track record showing an ability to lead the country effectively.

Though much of his strongest work often goes unreported in the media, Biden has been able to work across the aisle effectively when afforded the opportunity to. As a leader, he is willing to stand by U.S. allies worldwide, while also ensuring that Americans are not left behind in any way through his strong bipartisan domestic policy initiatives.

Patrick O’Neal is a second-year political science and communication studies combined major, and an executive board member of the Northeastern University College Democrats. He can be reached at oneal.p@northeastern.edu

Op-ed: ChatGPT is ‘write’ tool for success

“As the ink of traditional lesson plans dries, a new chapter unfolds, written not by the hand of the teacher, but by the algorithmic brilliance of ChatGPT. The quill has transformed into code, and the result is an epiphany that threatens to rewrite the very script of education itself.” – ChatGPT, Feb. 1.

ChatGPT should represent a fundamental shift in how society approaches education. If you listen to its critics, ChatGPT has stripped back the educational process of lectures, lessons and assignments, simplifying the role of a student to a glorified search engine. I agree that

it changes the educational process, but I don’t think this change is bad. ChatGPT should represent a seismic shift in education because it spotlights lessons that fail to encourage students to actually learn.

Although one cannot dispute that ChatGPT makes it easier for students to avoid doing work, educators who claim students will be able to turn in entirely ChatGPT-generated assignments need to re-evaluate the work they are giving. If a teacher is assigning work that can be easily answered by ChatGPT, it is not work that should be assigned.

This innovation offers teachers an opportunity to reevaluate their teaching approach and reorient lessons to encourage students’ creativity and critical thinking, rather than their ability to regurgitate information.

Some teachers have taken the change in stride, already incorporating ChatGPT into their lessons to encourage their students’ originality.

Houman Haroni and Dana Karout, two lecturers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, decided to use AI to challenge their students to think beyond “buzzwordy” solutions.

The lecturers presented 60 students with a case study, asking

them how they would respond, as administrators, to a student caught with a large amount of marijuana. If they chose to report the student to his parole officer, the student would be expelled. If they chose not to report him, they would be breaking the law. After the first hour of debate, the lecturers presented the students with ChatGPT’s response to the question. The students were shocked at how similar their answers were. The class began a discussion critically analyzing their original answers, with one asking, “Did we really say anything?” and another saying, “We were just saying formulaic, buzzworthy stuff instead of talking about anything new like we said we wanted to when class started.”

The students were then allowed to continue their discussion, and by the end of the class, they had delved beyond the surface level and had begun to grapple properly with the issues at stake. They brought up original ideas and unique comparisons, fueled by the knowledge that they, unlike ChatGPT, had a capacity for creativity.

ChatGPT can also be used beyond highlighting “the easy answers.” It can allow teachers to personalize their

lessons for specific learning styles and brainstorm activity ideas. Some classes can also be centered around it, for example, having students give feedback on ChatGPT-generated essays or disputing the AI’s counterarguments to their ideas.

One high school English teacher asked students to use ChatGPT to create and fine-tune outlines for their essays. Then, she had them put their laptops away and write the essay. She reported that her students not only developed a better understanding of the material but also gained confidence interacting with AI programs.

Teaching students how to use ChatGPT properly is a critical skill that schools should incorporate into their curriculum. Education should prepare students to function effectively later in their lives by teaching them how to learn and how to use the tools of modern society. There is no way to undo the technological innovations that ChatGPT has brought, and the engine is certainly not the last AI breakthrough. Students will have to be able to integrate AI into their work throughout their lives. Using ChatGPT takes practice; phrasing prompts and devising creative uses for the AI requires skill.

It is important to acknowledge that overreliance on ChatGPT can harm students’ learning. However, if teachers treat the chatbot like they do a calculator — first explaining how the functions work, then handing their students the tool — it can be a valuable resource. Students should be taught skills like writing structures and how to analyze texts before participating in activities like the ChatGPT outlining assignment.

Qualms about students’ learning are reasonable, but regardless of whether you believe the harms outweigh the benefits, it is clear that ChatGPT is here to stay. Educators should focus on making it a tool to enhance their students’ learning rather than worrying about students using it to avoid work.

Though education reform often moves at a glacial pace, one can only hope that ChatGPT lights a fire under the movement and pushes schools to re-evaluate their approaches to teaching, focusing on encouraging students to think creatively rather than function as mere automatons.

Sencha Kreymerman is a first-year psychology major, she can be reached at kreymerman.s@northeastern.edu

Photo by Jessica Xing

Photo by Darin Zullo