September 3, 2021

The Huntington News September 3, 2021

The independent student newspaper of the Northeastern community

@HuntNewsNU

Q&A: PRESIDENT AOUN DISCUSSES RETURNING TO NORTHEASTERN, DIVERSITY ISSUES

By Matt Yan and Rachel Erwin | News Staff

Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun spoke with The News in an hour-long, in-person conversation Aug. 25 about returning to in-person activities amid rising cases of the Delta variant and progress regarding his goals for diversity, equity and inclusion The Huntington News: As we head into this new school year, what do you think worked best with Northeastern’s approach to COVID-19, and what would you have changed?

President Aoun: I think that what worked very well is the guiding principles and execution that followed those guiding principles.

We were among the first universities in the nation to declare that we’re going to open. But, it wasn’t enough to say that we’re going to open.

We made it clear that the wellness and the health of the community is paramount, so we had to be guided by that. And this is why we established the whole system.

We had a system of testing, which we did every three days, and we have our own labs. That was a move that was important to us because we didn’t want to be dependent on any other lab because sometimes they may have problems.

We wanted to run our own labs, and this served us very well. The first aspect is that the guiding

Photo courtesy Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

principles were there, and the execution was done by the community superbly well.

We also reduced the density. We leased hotels, rooms, etc., in various places; we reduced the density in the classrooms and in the labs, everywhere. More importantly, that wasn’t enough — that was the preamble. What worked superbly well is that the community at large, the faculty, staff and students wanted to have a safe environment and made sure that this environment was also conducive to safe interactions. You can put plans, you can put infrastructure, but it’s the people ultimately and the community that will make it successful.

The question is, why did we decide to open? We decided to open because we had many, many interactions with students. And the students said, “Look, we want to come to school. We want to be here with our peers, with our friends, with our faculty, advisers and counselors,” and the message was very strong: The students wanted to be here.

AOUN, on Page 2

Northeastern welcomes record-breaking class of 2025

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By Grace Comer News Staff Despite the unprecedented circumstances this past year’s applicant pool found themselves in, more students chose to apply to Northeastern than ever before.

Northeastern saw a 17% increase in applicants from last year, receiving 75,223 applications, according to an email to The News from university spokesperson Jessica Hair. International applicants, while inhibited by restrictions on travel due to COVID-19, still showed an increase of 6%.

Some incoming first-years who spoke with The News said Northeastern’s appeal comes from its unique programs.

The co-op program is one of North-

eastern’s biggest and most popular career-building initiatives, as it is a program that few other American universities offer.

“What made me apply was the co-op program,” said Lorena Sosa, an incoming first-year environmental studies and political science combined major.

The co-op program allows students to apply skills learned in the classroom in a real-world job, gaining valuable work experience while still a member of the university.

“I think the concept of co-op is just so cool. You get so much experience for your planned career before you even graduate,” said Lucas Dunker, an incoming first-year planning to major in computer science.

Additionally, Northeastern’s combined majors attract students with multiple interests because they allow students to pursue multiple topics within one degree.

“I realized that I could combine two interests that I have, because I have various avenues of interest,” Sosa said.

“I knew that at Northeastern, I could do data science too, if I wanted to,” said Avi Krishna, an incoming data science and business administration combined major.

For some incoming first-years, the location of Northeastern’s Boston campus was important as it offers the benefits of living in a city, while also having a central campus.

2025, on Page 3

CAMPUS

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September 3, 2021

‘The situation is different this year’: Aoun talks COVID-19, NEU 2025 plans AOUN, from front So, what would we do differently?

For instance, we changed the plan.

We didn’t start at the beginning of the year and said, “Okay, it’s all set.”

We learned throughout the year that human interaction is paramount.

For instance, we set up systems that will ensure wellness and safety and health, etc. But the students said, “We want more interactions.”

As soon as the COVID situation started morphing, we relaxed the situation and the restrictions in order to allow more interaction because the main lesson is that the residential model is paramount and very effective and very powerful for the students because they are the ones who mentioned that. Therefore, the lesson of last year is put wellness and put health as primary principles and also put also human interaction as a primary principle — continue to refine the ways to increase the interaction, so that people can talk to each other, can eat together, can dance together and can have sports together but in a safe environment.

This is something very important, and that’s a good lesson.

HN: Why are you still confident in Northeastern’s plan to be on campus and fully in person, despite the rising cases of the Delta variant and reduction of community testing?

President Aoun: The situation this year is different from last year. Last year, we had one tool with us: testing.

This year, we have many more tools.

For instance, we have vaccines, so that’s why we’re requiring that everybody in the community gets vaccinated. Second, we still have testing. Third, we have something more important, too, is that people lived it.

This is Phase Two of COVID. Very early on, I wrote an article that appeared in The Washington Post, where I said that COVID is going to be not only a pandemic but it will be endemic, meaning it’s going to last with us for a long time. And therefore, we have to learn to live with it. Well, we learned to live with it.

We spent a year living it, and it was a successful year. We had over a million tests, and our numbers are good. The students benefited from being here.

The situation is different this year.

So, in a way, Phase Two is going to be predicated on the knowledge and the experience that we had in Phase One. HN: Since many co-op and global opportunities were halted or made remote this past year, what are your goals for this year in improving, restoring and expanding Northeastern’s experiential learning education (given the current COVID-19 situation)?

President Aoun: This is something very interesting, because in some ways, what happened is similar to what happened during the recession in 2008. At the beginning, you saw a decrease in co-op offerings, but the decrease was not across the board.

For instance, in telehealth, we had a demand. We received calls from institutions saying ‘we want more students going on co-op.’

So what did we learn from that?

We learn from that in a period of crisis, whether it’s a recession or it’s a COVID situation, there are domains that become very much in-demand: health and remote opportunities. At the same time, the nature of co-op, at the beginning, was transformed, because many things were done remotely. Many of our students did co-ops remotely. Now, we are seeing a shift, where there is more demand for traditional co-ops. Even in a COVID situation and Phase Two of COVID, the world has moved, because the world is saying, “We learned how to deal with and work with COVID, and, therefore, we’re ready to open,” which means that we are seeing more co-op offerings are not only virtual but in-person. We are very happy with that.

The second thing we are doing is constantly making our students and ourselves aware of the change in the demand and in the offerings — that’s the beauty of co-op. By the time a student leaves Northeastern, they know they have lived the experience of the real world. In finding jobs and living in those institutions virtually and physically, we are seeing that the world is hybrid. I think we are in a very strong position here, and we’re seeing the demand increasing dramatically, which is good.

HN: How are you looking to kind of improve upon and expand global opportunities, since they’ve also been limited in the past year?

President Aoun: We, as an institution, have co-op offerings and experiential offerings in 146 countries. Do we want to continue to have them? Absolutely. Now, is it going to be the case that, in September, we will have all these offerings available in the same way as before? No, but the world is opening, but it’s not opening in a uniform fashion.

HN: Over the last year or so, Northeastern has created multiple positions that involve diversity, equity and inclusion; developed an NUPD advisory board; and put forth different anti-racist initiatives, particularly for Black and Asian communities. How are you measuring the overall progress of these initiatives, and how are they performing?

President Aoun: The first thing to do is to go back to the statement I made outlining goals for the institution. That’s a blueprint of action for us as a community. Now, the leaders we hired are in charge of making the blueprint of action a reality. We have made progress, and we have quantified this. I charged the university to reach certain goals, and we pledged to have a report on our progress, so it is all there.

This is not going to be a one-year situation. This is going to be a situation that we’ll have to work on for many years. We want every member of the community, whoever they are and wherever they are from, to feel that this is a diverse and inclusive community. So, we have a lot to do and the progress is being made.

This is going to be a situation that we’ll have to work on for many years.

We want every member of the community, whoever they are and wherever they are from, to feel that this is a diverse and inclusive community — Joseph E. Aoun NEU President HN: After enacting all of these diversity initiatives throughout the last year or so, what are your biggest takeaways as you and your administration aim to tackle and understand systemic racism on campus? What have you learned?

President Aoun: The biggest takeaway is that it’s a community effort. It is not an administration that decides, “Okay, those are the goals.

Let’s make them happen.” We all have to embrace diversity, we all have to embrace inclusion, and we all have to work to make it happen.

We saw an increase in the number of recruitment of people of color and underrepresented minorities for the incoming class. In addition, we’re going to have a universal diversity and inclusion training for everybody — students, faculty and staff. We also recruited advisers and counselors, who themselves are people of color, based on interactions with the student community that said we need that.

This is why I think now we know what the goals are. And now we have to make them happen, and we’re making them happen altogether. So the biggest takeaway is that it’s not a memo, it’s not a goal that you set. It’s really embracing that we all work on it, and that’s what’s happening.

HN: Northeastern has a university-wide plan related to improving academics and diversity for the year 2025. How have COVID-19 and systemic racism concerns impacted Northeastern’s execution of this plan?

President Aoun: During COVID, many institutions retrenched — we decided not to retrench. So we opened, and started a new strategic plan. The diversity and inclusion dimension was a wake-up call for

institutions, including us, saying, “Yes, it’s not enough to embrace it.

Now we have to produce the results.”

And we have to produce the results in an accelerated fashion, and that’s what we’ve been doing.

With respect now to the strategic plan, the strategic plan is incorporating a very strong statement about diversity and inclusion, while reaffirming our core values. We are seeing a situation during COVID that was very interesting: We received the highest number of applications in our history, 75,500. The demand for Northeastern and for the Northeastern education is high. Why? Because Northeastern is differentiated. Why is it differentiated?

It’s differentiated because of experiential education and because it’s a university engaged with the world. We are in a very strong situation because of our differentiation, and we’re going to capitalize on that. We are going to serve our students in the same way that we serve them, and we’re going to continue giving them opportunities.

Let me give you an example. We have a campus in London, which provides opportunities for students to spend a semester or a year in London, studying in a different context and in a different environment with a different curriculum. Then, if the students want to spend a year in Silicon Valley in the Bay Area, they can do it.

Now with where we’re at with Mills College [in Oakland, California] that will merge us with a different curriculum and different environment.

It will allow the students to have mobility not in terms of traveling and academic tourism, but to have a different experience in a different environment that is provided and offered by Northeastern.

Imagine a situation where we would be the only university that will have comprehensive programs on two coasts, and that is unique.

That’s the way we are envisioning the future. We are building a global university system that will be in Canada, London, the United States, different environments and also beyond.

That’s the global university system.

That’s exciting — I think no other university can or has offered that, and we are well positioned to do it. Wherever we are, we have to do it based on the values that we have articulated: diversity and inclusion.

HN: A component of the 2025 plan is to focus and engage with the communities that surround our campus and be a “national model for com-

munity engagement.” How, as a university, are you working with our surrounding communities, especially communities of color, to do so and ensure that students have a diverse, inclusive learning environment?

President Aoun: It’s interesting because our students are very engaged with the community. If you look at the community service or the service-learning activities that the university has, it’s remarkable. This is something that we have to get our students to know more of because we are doing it, but people don’t know enough about it.

It’s not only about service learning, but it’s also about recruiting from the community and recruiting and providing jobs. We are in a situation that is interesting. We have been asked by the city to add dorms, and that is a project to add a dorm here on Columbus Avenue. The city is the one that asked us to increase the number of dorms, because they said otherwise your students are going to be in communities and will gentrify them. Instead, we are doing it on our land, and we’re doing it at Northeastern. And it will allow us to recruit people from the community to join us to work here. If we don’t do it, the students are going to live in the communities around us and gentrify, and this is what the city doesn’t want.

The city wants the students to be on campus. And how do we benefit the community? By having more jobs for the community. So, that hasn’t been understood. Some people say, “You’re gentrifying the community by building.” We’re not gentrifying the community by building something on our campus, quite the opposite.

If we don’t do it, then there will be gentrification, because the students will live in diverse communities.

HN: What’s one piece of advice you could offer for new students who may feel nervous or anxious about this school year given all of the circumstances?

President Aoun: Talk to other students who are here. You are the best ambassadors and the best hosts for any new incoming student. It’s as simple as that. When I walk on campus and I talk to the incoming students, I always say the same thing: Talk to another student who has been here, who is here, learn with them and from them, and have fun with them. Don’t forget the fun.

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

CAMPUS

September 3, 2021

Page 3

Photo by Kayla Shiao Student move-in for university housing fell between Aug. 29 and Sept. 5., with Welcome Week running through Sept. 8.

Historic incoming freshman class shows major increase in enrollment 2025, from front “Northeastern stuck out to me for its location right on Huntington Avenue,” Dunker said.

While these opportunities have been available in past years, Northeastern’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic may explain the increase in applicants from the 2020 application season.

As universities across the country shut down due to COVID-19 outbreaks, Northeastern made headlines by taking a strong stance against students breaking their COVID-19 safety guidelines. Northeastern’s testing requirements were also some of the most stringent, with each student required to receive a COVID-19 test every three days.

These strong guidelines enabled many Northeastern classes to be offered partially in person last year.

This fall, Northeastern is planning for a “normal fall semester,” and the NUflex system used last year for hybrid learning will be limited to students who face issues with “travel restrictions, co-ops or other individual circumstances” “I’m so excited to take in-person classes and experience that as a firstyear,” Sosa said.

After a year of enforcing strict COVID-19 rules and requiring that all students be vaccinated against COVID-19, the likelihood of a more traditional first-year year experience is higher.

In an effort to attract new students, Northeastern also developed a series of webinars and Q&A sessions for potential applicants to compensate for the limited availability of in-person tours.

These seminars were helpful for students in deciding whether or not to apply, Dunker said.

“I felt like they did a very good job at keeping up interest during this process, especially during such an uncalled time,” he said.

Northeastern students, alumni and faculty were able to provide insight to admitted students.

“I spoke to the undergraduate coordinator for the theater department, and I didn’t realize how many opportunities there were for theater majors or how fleshed out of a program it was until I spoke to him,” said Ashley DiLorenzo, an incoming media and screen studies and theatre combined major.

With this rise in applications, Northeastern’s acceptance rate

was at a historic low at 18%, according to Hair.

Additionally, more of these accepted students chose to attend Northeastern than ever before, with an 8% increase since fall of 2020.

Hair said the incoming class of 2025 includes a 147% increase in Black students and a 107% increase in Hispanic students, showing a step towards Northeastern becoming a more diverse institution. This comes after the appointment of Dr. Karl Reid as senior vice provost and chief inclusion officer this past April as part of a pledge from the university to further its commitment to diversity.

In an effort to prevent a housing shortage with this large class, Northeastern has renewed old contracts and created new contracts with local Boston hotels. Hair said that these contracts add an additional 1,744 bed spaces outside of traditional dorms.

“This number of hotel beds alone is enough to accommodate 74 % of the total increase in first-year students on campus during Fall 2021,” Hair said.

Hair also noted that the removal of COVID-19 space restrictions

allows some dorms to revert back to doubles and triples, increasing on-campus housing by about 500 beds.

Living on campus is another exciting aspect for first-year students, and Northeastern’s promise of roommates even during the pandemic is appealing to many.

“I have a really great roommate, and I’m excited to live with her,” DiLorenzo said.

With the growing undergraduate

population, Northeastern still fosters a sense of community, felt even by the applicants.

“I remember sitting on the chairs in Centennial Common when I saw a group of guys wearing watermelon hats, then they spontaneously burst out in ‘Watermelon Sugar,’” Krishna said, when recalling his visit to campus. “It was just so fun because the whole commons just got in on the joke, and I felt like I was part of the community.”

Photo by Matt Yan Orientation activities for new students were offered on Krentzman Quad.

LIFESTYLE

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September 3, 2021

Tessa Baum finds creativity through professional experience in quarantine

By Annetta Stogniew News Correspondent Engaging in professional work opportunities amid the pandemic was a daunting task for most first-year students. But, graphic designer Tessa Baum rose to the challenge.

Baum, a second-year communication studies and information and graphic design combined major, was introduced to graphic design in high school. She first experimented with design in a summer course at the Fashion Institute of Technology, or FIT. The day-to-day creativity of the class was refreshing for Baum, she said.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to do some type of art. I got into a design class and everything felt new, and it felt exciting. I just really liked the flow of that better [than fine art],” Baum said.

After exploring graphic design at FIT, Baum sought opportunities to practice design for friends, acquaintances or simply herself. Northeastern provided a great opportunity for her to develop her design skills with its emphasis on hands-on experience and niche combined majors.

“Just as in the past [when] I learned by doing, I saw when applying to Northeastern that [the co-op program] would give me that chance to test the waters in a professional setting,” Baum said.

Baum dove into the professional

world by volunteering to design T-shirts for the Boston Student Film Festival, or BSFF. Baum designed four T-shirts for BSFF, one for each key member of the filmmaking process: the actor, the director, the cinematographer and the editor. Each design, inspired by tarot cards, features a detail pertinent to the contributor’s role. On the T-shirts, the cinematographer holds a near replica of a Super 8 film camera to their eye, and the editor design is interwoven with relevant file types and editor lingo.

To ease communication in the online setting at BSFF, Baum developed a design process modeled off the Double Diamond Design Process.

This process entails exploring the task at hand to clearly define the problem, then finding and testing various solutions to settle on a final design. Together, Baum and the BSFF staff refined various ideas using Baum’s method.

“I have this little design process motto where it’s like, ‘Don’t leave white on the page,’” Baum said, emphasizing the importance of considering all big ideas before honing in on minute details.

Baum’s diligence impressed the BSFF staff. Hannah Wong, a fourthyear communications and business administration combined major and a producer at BSFF, especially admired Baum’s professionalism.

“Even after one meeting with Tes-

sa, it was so obvious that she was not just an artist, but also a young professional who really knew her craft,” Wong said. “I’m a student filmmaker, and Tessa’s a student artist. … She was a great example of the way that I want to be perceived as a student creator.”

Working with the creative minds on the BSFF team was exciting for Baum, she said. The professional dynamic reintroduced her to aspects of design that she said she’d lost touch with during the pandemic.

“It was really collaborative; it was really nice to talk to other creatives.

It was like we almost spoke the same language,” Baum said. “Especially after quarantine and not being able to fully go into school, it was nice to work with a team. … I forgot what it was like to socialize with other artists.”

The project was imbued with a sense of amicable collaboration. Wong explained that online creative communication can be difficult, but with Baum, this was not the case.

“For BSFF, we had to talk about the [film] scores together as a staff and justify our scores for each film. … It definitely feels a little more awkward through Zoom,” Wong said.

“Luckily with Tessa, she’s extremely professional.”

Despite her formative experience with BSFF, Baum remains

unsure where her design career will ultimately lead. For now, Baum has been appointed as a design strategist at Scout Labs, where she will aid in ideation, research and prototyping designs. “[My career] might look like becoming an art director,” she said.

“But I’m finding that I want to expand upon my process of design and how or who I work with before I zero in on an industry or job title.”

However, Baum credits the BSFF T-shirts as the project she’s most proud of to date. Looking back, Baum said that the experience allowed her to grow into herself as a designer, while still maintaining elements of her personal style.

“This was really validating for me because now I feel just so much more confident with my work. This isn’t as scary as it felt a year ago,” Baum said.

The BSFF T-shirt project served as an introduction to the Boston art community for Baum. As the academic and professional worlds begin to reopen, Baum intends to further explore the enhanced creativity of interpersonal artistic interactions.

“The physical and visual components of art classes were what I missed most in freshman year.

Now, I am ready to jump back into in-person classes,” Baum said. “This year is about connecting to Boston and the community.”

Photo Courtesy Tessa Baum

Column: 7 ways to survive the semester

By Katie Mogg Deputy Lifestyle Editor School is back in session, which is both exciting and scary. The pandemic set strict limitations on our lives, and while we’re not completely out of the woods yet, there is hope that this year will give students more room to fully blossom — but how?

Here’s a Northeastern back-to-school survival guide, useful for both incoming and returning Huskies!

1. Don’t lug your entire wardrobe to school.

Fashion is a great tool for self-expression. The body becomes a canvas, and clothes are the artistic medium. But every single piece of clothing you own won’t be necessary.

With fewer pandemic-related restrictions, it’s exciting that there may be actual reasons to get all dolled up, but who wants to do that much laundry anyway? Save yourself the storage space and only pack essential

clothing. Don’t bring that top you haven’t worn since 2016.

2. Buy as many Command strips and hooks as possible.

Regardless of the amount of Command strips and hooks you own, double it. These are essential for college. Dorm rooms can feel pretty cramped and floor space is valuable.

Command hooks can help keep the floor clutter free by serving as a coat or backpack rack, and Command strips hold up wall decorations without damaging the surface. While Command strips and hooks often come in handy, they can break from time to time, so making sure you buy more than enough will be key.

3. Bring a long, thick and durable winter coat.

For those unfamiliar with Boston’s weather or those who have been away from campus long enough to forget, the winters are brutally long and cold. When walking back home from Snell Library late at night,

violent shivering and numb fingers won’t make the journey any more pleasant. Ensure that your time in Boston is comfortable by having a warm and reliable winter coat.

4. Bring a reusable water bottle.

It’s common knowledge that staying hydrated is key to being healthy. A reusable water bottle can help make that easier. Buying non-biodegradable plastic bottles is not only expensive, but also bad for the environment. Luckily for Northeastern students, water fountains are sprinkled across campus, eliminating the need for Dasani and Poland Spring. Give the environment a break and invest in “VSCO girl” culture: consider buying a Hydro Flask!

5. Employ self-discipline.

To the dismay of college students across the nation, it is easy to forget to stay active and healthy. But, fear not! With some good old fashioned self-discipline, students can make

time to be active in simple ways whether it be signing up for an intramural sports team, incorporating walks into a daily routine or hitting the gym when time permits. It may seem like a good idea to eat Kigo Kitchen or Popeyes for the fifth time this week, but it is not. Resist the urge. Walk to International Village or Stetson East and indulge in the healthy food options provided by your meal plan instead. Your mind and body will thank you!

6. Don’t spend your life savings on textbooks.

College is already expensive.

Breaking the bank on textbooks doesn’t make the matter any better.

Websites like Library Genesis offer free, downloadable PDF versions of college textbooks, academic journals and more. While these websites aren’t completely foolproof, it’s definitely worth giving a shot before spending hundreds of dollars on a book you’ll only use for 15 weeks. If you don’t

have any luck surveying websites for free versions of books, students can rent used copies from Snell Library instead of paying full price for a new one.

7. Bring self-confidence.

Whether you’re new or old to Northeastern, self-confidence will be a useful tool this upcoming semester.

The pandemic left many students isolated, and, for some, this led to diminished confidence in the social scene. College can be a place to reinvent yourself or to embrace the personality you’ve always possessed.

Either way, have confidence that you will do well and succeed; it will make both your academic and social life incomparably more pleasant and exciting!

This upcoming semester presents a whole new slew of opportunities.

With these tricks up their sleeve, new and old Huskies alike can seize the day and make this semester their best one yet.

Photo by Katie Mogg As the fall semester begins, there is hope that this year will give students more room to fully blossom.

LIFESTYLE

September 3, 2021

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Fall fashion returns for the inperson semester

By Lily Elwood Deputy Lifestyle Editor A new school year is here, and everyone is wondering — whose fits are going to be on point this year?

Enabled by the vaccine requirement at Northeastern this year, students can wear the outfits that they neglected during the pandemic as they find more in-person activities to dress up for.

After being stuck inside wearing sweatpants for a year, every day is a new chance for people to show off their style.

As the fall approaches, students have been keeping their eyes out for trends that will stand out.

“I think we’ll probably see a lot of baggy jeans that are more comfortable, sweaters and knit wears,” said Isabela Fox-Mills, a third-year design major. “But I also think people are definitely getting more experimental with their individual style after reflecting on what they want to present to the world.”

Allie Kuo, a fifth-year communications major, noticed that the Y2K, or year 2000, aesthetic has stood the test of time, and elements of the trend are sure to continue into the fall.

“I think [the popularity of Y2K] is just because we’re wanting to go back to this very carefree look,” she said.

“I also think that this resurgence of bold, chunky costume jewelry and bold prints is going to be around because we’ve been cooped up inside for so long… minimalism is definitely out the door.”

Another major trend floating around social media is ‘60s and ‘70s revival fashion — bell bottoms, bra tops, crochet, mod dresses and more. “[The trend] is a lot of bright colors and ‘70s-style shapes. A lot of the trends that have been going on, especially in the last couple of years, are micro-trends,” said Maddie Casey, a fifth-year political science and business administration combined major. “So they’ve only been lasting for a little while, but I think since it’s a full decade resurgence, it’s probably going to last through the fall if not longer.”

Fox-Mills, Kuo and Casey were among many students whose outfits were put on hold by isolation during the height of the pandemic.

Fox-Mills has always felt that fashion is a part of her identity. She says that as a creative person, putting together the perfect outfit boosts her confidence.

“During the pandemic, it was hard for me to feel like myself when I couldn’t go out and dress up and have people see what I’m wearing,” she said.

As she prepares for school in the fall, Fox-Mills is excited to get to show off her style again and be a part of the Boston fashion scene.

“I’m not scared of androgyny or bright colors; I just like showing up in what makes me feel like my best self, wearing what represents me and my style,” she said.

Some students, like Kuo, were on co-op during the pandemic. While working from home, Kuo realized that wearing pajamas and leisure clothing all day prevented her from feeling productive and motivated.

“Taking that lesson doing my third co-op I was like, ‘Okay, I need to put on an outfit every day, including shoes — even if it’s just for a few hours to walk around and feel like I’m actually, you know, doing something and putting myself into this professional mindset,” Kuo said.

Now that Kuo is going out to more in-person events, she said she appreciates the ability to express herself

through fashion even more.

“I’m kind of getting back into doing makeup and dressing up more,” she said. “Nothing super crazy, but definitely more than I ever did before the pandemic. It’s crazy how much you can miss self-expression like that.”

Although Casey is excited to show off her outfits at upcoming events, she is conscious of the effect fast fashion has on the environment.

Fast fashion allows consumers to buy more clothes more rapidly at lower prices — but it comes at a greater cost.

Fashion production is responsible for about 10% of carbon emissions, drying up water sources and polluting rivers and oceans.

Casey said that her personal style doesn’t revolve much around trends, because she, like Fox-Mills and Kuo, tries to thrift for pieces she really loves and can keep for a long time. ​​”I try to make sure that everything is my style, so if I look back on my outfits in a year, I’m not going to think that I was just wasting my money following this trend,” she said. “I think that that type of style doesn’t really have a ton of longevity, and it’s not super sustainable obviously.”

Fox-Mills, Kuo and Casey agree that while following trends is fun, it’s not the only way to make a statement.

Although trends go in and out of fashion, personal style can be just as bold through sustainability and self-expression.

“I care so much about my outfits,” Casey said. “Now that I’m vaccinated and going out more, it really excites me to be able to dress up with my friends again.”

Photo courtesy Isabela Fox-Mills

Calendar compiled by Lily Elwood & Katie Mogg Graphics by Marta Hill

I’m not scared of androgyny or bright colors; I just like showing up in what makes me feel like my best self, wearing what represents me and my style.

— Isabela Fox-Mills Third-year design major

Now - Sept. 6 Firelei Báez Exhibit at the ICA Watershed Take a water taxi from the Institute of Contemporary Art in Seaport to the Watershed, which houses an exhibit from artist Firelei Báez that reflects on an ancient, underwater lost civilization.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m, ICA Watershed, $10

Now - Sept. 8 Welcome Week Download the Northeastern Welcome Week app to access a schedule of student events and activities. Events range from comedy shows, to outdoor workouts, to tours around the city.

Now - Sept. 26 Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” Explore the career of esteemed fashion designer, entrepreneur and DJ Virgil Abloh at the Institute of Contemporary Art. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., ICA, $10

Now - Sept. 27 Bebop Open Mic Time to shine! The Bebop is hosting an open mic event on Thursdays. While the main focus is musical acts, the event welcomes acts of all kinds. Sign up to perform on openmicchicago. com!

8 p.m. to 1 a.m., 1116 Boylston St., Free

Now - Oct. 11 Franklin Zoo Lantern Experience Boston Lights returns to the Franklin Park Zoo with a stunning display of hundreds of lanterns in the shape of sunflowers, animals, ocean scenes and more.

6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Franklin Park Zoo, $21.95

CAMPUS

Page 6

September 3, 2021

NORTHEASTERN PREPARES FOR A welcome

Please follow the curren please maintain healthy distancing

face coverings required

please wash your hands regularly

please adhere to occupancy limits and posted signage

Photo by Samantha Barry

By Marta Hill Campus Editor Entering another school year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, second-year Cyrus Seyrafi said he is hopeful this semester will fill the gap in his college experience left by his abnormal first year. Last year didn’t feel like a true start to college, and Seyrafi said he is “panicked, but hesitantly optimistic” about the upcoming school year.

“Everyone’s coming back from what probably was pretty open summer, or pretty normal-esqe summer, so people are getting over the panic and whatnot and everyone’s vaccinated, so there’s a lot of potential for a really great time,” said Seyrafi, a math, philosophy and history triple major. “Hopefully, we’ll get that freshman year experience, and then we’ll be able to settle for three years of college instead of four.”

Sofia Van Lancker Brigulio, a second-year math and economics double major, echoed Seyrafi’s sentiment and said the restrictions imposed on activities, clubs and campus life last year by Northeastern made the year feel unreal.

“Last year, it didn’t really feel like college. It just felt like an online class,” Van Lancker Briguglio said.

“There’s so many things that I feel like I missed out on in my first year, and I hope I get to experience them this year.”

Even though members of the Northeastern community will inevitably test positive for COVID-19 this year, Brandon Dionne, an associate clinical professor in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said the policies and practices Northeastern is implementing make him feel comfortable coming back for a more normal year.

“I think that they have a good plan in place to try to limit the risk of spread on campus,” Dionne said.

“I also think that, just like last year, they’ll be very proactive, and if they

start to see things moving in the wrong direction, then they’ll adjust their plan.”

Northeastern implements COVID-19 rules for fall semester The pandemic has reached an entirely different point compared to when the fall 2020 semester started, a fact that is reflected in Northeastern’s COVID-19 policies regarding masking, vaccination and testing for the upcoming school year.

For masking, Northeastern has implemented an indoor mask mandate on campus effective Aug. 27., in accordance with the city of Boston’s mask mandate for all indoor public settings effective on the same day.

In preparation for the fall semester, Northeastern also announced a vaccination requirement in April for all students, staff, faculty and contract employees. Unless an individual has a religious or medical exemption, everyone must submit proof of vaccination online by the beginning of the semester. Students were required to submit proof by Aug. 15, and faculty and staff must submit by Sept. 8.

In contrast to last year’s three-day testing cadence, this year, regardless of vaccination status, members of the Northeastern community will be required to get tested once a week.

Dionne, who is practicing as a clinical pharmacist in infectious disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said the vaccination requirement is a large part of what makes him comfortable returning to campus. He added that vaccinations are crucial to helping reduce the risk of transmission and the worst outcomes of COVID-19.

“There’s some different risks because last year they still had the plans to maintain low density, which probably did help. This year since they’re planning to go back to full density, I think there are some potential higher risks of transmission, but I think that’s counteracted by the vaccina-

Photo by Gretchen Hofmann

CAMPUS

September 3, 2021

Page 7

MORE ‘NORMAL’ FALL SEMESTER huskies!

nt COVID-19 guidelines. tions and use of masks,” Dionne said.

Other COVID-19-related rules this fall include the lifting of social distancing requirements on campus, as local guidelines permit. Vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 are not required to quarantine, but should monitor closely for symptoms for 14 days. Testing every two or three days is also recommended.

Beginning Sept. 6, faculty, staff and students are expected to complete the daily wellness check every day.

If individuals report symptoms of COVID-19, they will receive instructions to not come to campus until cleared by a medical professional.

Students will be prompted to connect with Tufts Medical Center for further care, and faculty and staff will be directed to their primary care physician for next steps.

During move-in for the fall semester, students are not required to quarantine but are required to get a test the day they move into university housing or the morning after if they arrive after the testing center is closed. Two guests per student will be allowed into residence halls to help students move in, and guests are asked to limit their stay to two hours in the residence hall.

Even after the move-in is complete, students are allowed to bring guests from the Northeastern community inside residence halls. Other visitors are not allowed.

Capacity limits have been lifted for Marino Recreation Center and SquashBusters Center, and use of the Atleto app to make reservations for gym time is no longer required. Masks are required in both facilities in accordance with both Northeastern and Boston’s indoor mask mandates.

The Biden administration has called for booster shots for some Americans, and the recommendation for the general public is to receive a booster eight months after being fully vaccinated, but Dionne said this will likely not affect a majority of the student population at Northeastern

Photo by Marta Hill

this semester.

“There’s not even convincing data that boosters really helped low-risk populations. Right now, we still have good evidence that the vaccines are very protective against the worst outcomes from COVID,” Dionne said.

Vaccination and COVID-19 testing requirements form a level of protection from the virus when on campus, that protection is lessened when in the wider city of Boston, Dionne said.

He encouraged students to take more precautions in the city to protect themselves and those around them.

“We’re going to be very protected when you’re on campus and everyone you know is vaccinated, but even though Massachusetts has a high vaccination rate, as soon as you go off campus, there’s not a guarantee,” Dionne said.

The mask mandate received mixed reactions from students and sparked a lot of conversations on social media platforms like Facebook and Reddit.

Some students support the mandate to help limit spread, and others are annoyed at the mandate considering the vaccination requirement on campus.

“I’m disappointed, but I understand where they’re coming from. [The mask mandate] is the responsible thing, and I can’t complain that they’re doing something for our safety,” Seyrafi said.

“That said, I hate it. But it’s what they should be doing right now. Hopefully a time will come pretty soon where they don’t have to do that.”

Masks will not be required when alone in an office space or in an individual’s own university housing.

“I’ve seen people being frustrated with [the mask mandate], but I think that it’s okay because a lot of other restrictions that were there are not there [anymore],” said Samuel Lyon, a second-year computer science and mathematics combined major. “It feels relatively normal compared to last year.”

Dionne said even though the Delta variant is causing a rise in cases and breakthrough cases, the cases are

typically asymptomatic and mild to moderate in people who are vaccinated, especially young, healthy people like many students at Northeastern.

Because of this, Dionne is hopeful that the university will not need to revert to an online model.

“I’m hopeful that it won’t require a large-scale complete shift to online, but I think individual students or faculty or staff might have to end up working remotely for certain parts of the year, if they end up testing positive,” Dionne said.

From Dionne’s perspective, Northeastern’s current COVID-19 plan is adequate, and he has no doubt the university will adapt as the pandemic continues, just as it did last year.

“There’s nothing that I would change about how Northeastern is planning to do things now. I think that required indoor masking makes sense when you’re in a high density area, and the weekly screening is above and beyond,” Dionne said. “As a faculty, they’re already instructing us to plan for students having to miss class potentially and whether that’s recording our sessions or offering to speak with them in office hours.”

Lyon said Northeastern’s implementation of a mask mandate prior to the city of Boston’s mandate shows him that the university is invested in making campus safe and is following the recommendations from organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“There’s always kind of the looming threat that they might go back online or whatever, I don’t think that is too much of [a threat], just because everyone is vaccinated,” Lyon said. “I feel a lot better about this year.”

A chance at a more normal year This year feels like a second chance at starting college for Van Lancker Briguglio, she said. Among other things, she is looking forward to in-person classes and clubs reopening.

“I’m most looking forward to the

Photo by MikePuzzanghera

reopening of the swimming pool at Northeastern,” Van Lancker Briguglio said. “I love swimming, and it was so hard not being able to swim. ... I’m so happy that they’re reopening.”

For Dionne, whose classes in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences typically have more than 100 students, he is looking forward to connecting with students in person again.

“It was very interesting delivering live lectures to people that are not sitting in the room and trying to respond to everything through chat features,” Dionne said. “I’m excited to get back because my favorite part of teaching is actually interacting with the students and not just being Dora the Explorer like pretending that I’m talking to people that are just watching me from a camera.”

Seyrafi said he felt stifled by the restrictions and risk of catching the virus last year and almost feels like a high school senior looking forward to college, despite being a second-year student this fall.

“Last year, I wasn’t able to meet people or do literally anything at all.

It was the most isolating experience of my life, and it was very miserable,” Seyrafi said. “No matter how bad it gets this year, I have a good feeling, it’s not going to be like that.”

Since getting vaccinated, Lyon said he hasn’t been as nervous about COVID-19 and is more than willing to follow the restrictions Northeastern has implemented this year to help ensure a better semester.

“We’re as close to a normal year as we can get, and they’re just doing little things to keep that in place,” Lyon said. “If we just have to wear a mask for another semester or however much longer this pandemic rides out, I think it’s perfectly acceptable.”

Photo by Kenneal Patterson

Over the last year, Northeastern implemented several safety measures, like imposing capacity restrictions in classrooms and testing protocols, all aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19.

SPORTS

Page 8

September 3, 2021

Transgender athletes call for equal representation

By Grace Gilson News Correspondent Content warning: This article mentions suicidal ideation.

Efforts by legislators to bar transgender, or trans, individuals from public spaces are ramping up across the country, and with the recent Olympic Games, there is a new onslaught of debate over trans inclusion in sports. Trans athletes are perpetually denied access to compete in athletics due to their gender identity, and the cases of exclusion are growing every day.

Nick Beaulieu, a freshman at Simmons University, was forced to grapple with this reality when he came to his own conclusions about his gender identity.

“I actually played on the boys’ baseball team when I was young,” Beaulieu said. He also played soccer, futsal, lacrosse, basketball, flag football and ran cross country and track throughout his childhood and adolescence.

Now identifying as a trans man, the world that Beaulieu was once so ingrained in has fallen out of reach.

At Simmons, trans athletes are held to the standard put forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, which dictates that once a trans person begins hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, they can no longer play in the gender division they do not identify with. For Beaulieu,

this means once he begins HRT, he can no longer compete for Simmons’ only women’s track team.

“In sports, we have classifications either male or female for good reasons, but in nature, that’s not the case, and sex is a continuum, and trying to fix a continuum into two boxes is very difficult,” said Yannis Pitsiladis, professor of sport and exercise science at the University of Brighton in England.

Pitsiladis is a member of the International Olympic Committee, or IOC, in its medical and scientific commission and also chair of the science commission of the International Sports Medicine Federation.

Pitsiladis says the real crux of the issue is this: Trans, intersex and non-binary athletes do not fit into the societal boundaries created for cisgender people.

However, many organizations have already made decisions outright banning transgender people from competing. Several states, including Alabama, Montana and Tennessee, have passed laws and regulations banning trans women from women’s athletics, and according to the ACLU, 25 states have proposed similar legislation.

In Beaulieu’s case, staying true to his gender identity meant trading in his lifelong passion of being an athlete. He was once slated to run Division I track and cross country at George Washington University. Now, he has to give up on ever competing with his school.

“Individuals like me will never have the opportunity to reach their full potential as they would if they were born in the right body unless something changes fast, and there is no word for that other than discrimination,” Beaulieu said.

Arbitrary Divisions After coming out as trans in 2017, Grace McKenzie, now 27 and a tech manager in San Francisco, began transitioning. From her experience, even with her privileges as a white, affluent person, she faced intense scrutiny reentering the world as a trans woman.

“I’m getting that mis-gendering, I’m getting those side glances, and it really just sets up this anxious mindset to where even going to the grocery store or riding the subway is this entire endeavor,” McKenzie said.

Trans people experience anxiety and depression at staggering rates compared to cisgender people, data shows. Among the cisgender population, approximately 6.7% of people experience depression and 18% have anxiety. On the other hand, nearly half of people who identify as transgender experience these issues.

“I struggled deeply with depression, my mental illness was horrible [and] I considered suicide multiple times,” McKenzie said.

Over 41% of trans men and women are estimated to have attempted suicide, a rate that is nearly nine times higher than that

“File:Caster Semenya London 2012 (cropped).jpg” by Tab59 from Düsseldorf, Allemagne is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Two time Olympic champion Caster Semenya was barred from competition over testosterone rules made by World Athletics.

of cisgender people.

For McKenzie, that first year of hormones and physically transitioning was marred by not only an immensely difficult personal

Individuals like me will never have the opportunity to reach their full potential as they would if they were born in the right body unless something changes fast, and there is no word for that other than discrimination.

— Nick Beaulieu Freshman, Simmons University journey, but also a constant need to approach social settings in a completely new way. It was after joining a women’s rugby team that she said she got the lifeline she needed.

“The change in my confidence and the change in the stability I had in my identity over the course of those first few months playing rugby literally saved my life,” McKenzie said.

But for sports like rugby, the IOC and a few other organizations are the benchmark on making decisions regarding inclusion policy.

The IOC currently uses hormone testing as the basis for these delineations, but there are studies that have found a negative correlation between athletic performance and testosterone levels.

“There is not a scientific consensus about the relationship between testosterone and athletic performance,” said Travers, a professor of sociology at Simon Fraser University and author of the 2018 book “The Trans Generation: How Trans Kids (and Their Parents) Are Creating a Gender Revolution.”

Hormone testing was used in the case of Caster Semenya, a South African runner whose sex was called into question after her victory in the 2009 World Championships.

She is currently appealing the decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations to make her ineligible to compete.

It is worth noting that Semenya is not only a strong female athlete, but also a strong Black female athlete. By many accounts, this is one of the reasons she was violated so publically by World Athletics, an

association that serves as the governing body for sports worldwide.

“It is often Black and brown women who are subject to the testing more often, and so sex testing has always been used to police women who do not perform femininity in white western ideals,” said ​​Britni de la Cretaz, a freelance writer on issues relating to sports, gender, culture and queerness.

The fight for trans inclusion in athletics is not one isolated to discussions of gender. People’s identities intersect and overlap, and transphobia is amplified when the individual is also a person of color.

“What we have to keep in mind is this rise in anti-trans bills is going to disproportionately affect people of color,” said Ben Skinner, a global governance student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Ontario and rugby player who identifies as trans male.

What’s at Stake Athletes at the elite level often have genetic gifts of height, speed and strength, but when those same features are exhibited by a trans person, they’re often characterized as unfair.

“There’s so many differences in people, and athletes aren’t normal, good athletes have something that allows them to stand out,” said Vikki Krane, professor of applied sport psychology at Bowling Green State University and author of “Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in Sport: Queer Inquiries.”

Roughly 1% of people are trans, and even less of that percentage participate in athletics, so with such a small community, oftentimes false narratives surrounding trans athletes are produced.

“The public’s opinion has been informed by that fear-mongering that happens that there’s all these trans girls beating up all these biological females, and I’m not aware of one case of that,” Pitsiladis said.

Much of the story conjured about trans athletes paints them as the “other” and reinforces stereotypes and prejudices against them that reinforce the bans in the first place, experts like Krane say. The result: a dangerous environment for trans athletes who are forced to grapple with misconceptions that they are not only unnaturally affecting their sport, but also doing so with hostility toward other athletes.

“There’s no person that would put themselves through the amount of discrimination that trans people receive in order to get some advantage in sport,” said Eleanor Fisher, a first-year engineering student and varsity soccer player at Northeastern University who supports trans participation.

For many people, participating in athletics can be a uniquely fulfilling experience, and for someone who is trans, it could potentially provide a community of support.

And while these athletic bans are far from the only campaigns happening to take away liberties from trans people, it is a key front to fight to protect people that deserve to play.

“We need to help literally save the lives of all the kids who will feel like they have no other option but to end their own lives due to this kind of legislation,” Beaulieu said.

SPORTS

September 3, 2021

Page 9

NU athletics adapt to NCAA’s rule changes

By Peyton Doyle Deputy Sports Editor In June, Northeastern University Athletics director Jeff Konya parted ways with the school, marking the end of a 10-year relationship where Northeastern claimed over a dozen CAA championships across its 16 varsity sports, including its first-ever CAA baseball title in 2021.

Konya, who departed from the Huskies to become the new athletic director for San Jose State University, also helped build a relationship with the NU Black Athlete Caucus and saw NU student athletes earn at least a 3.0 GPA for 27 straight semesters.

Northeastern University announced June 17 that the men’s ice hockey head coach Jim Madigan will be the school’s next athletic director.

On July 1, mere weeks after Madigan’s announcement, the NCAA enacted new rules regarding a student athlete’s ability to market their “name, image and likeness,” or NIL.

It was a monumental shift by the NCAA’s leadership, who reigned with an iron fist in regards to compensating the college students who play under its watch. The new rule changes allow student athletes to partner with different sponsors, market themselves and make money through college sports, something that had been, for all intents and purposes, forbidden for years.

Northeastern may not have quite the same caliber of stars that larger football schools like the University of Alabama do, where incoming freshman and quarterback Bryce Young has the potential to make over a million dollars from sponsorship deals, but it still has athletes who are looking to take advantage of the new NIL rules.

In an interview with the News, Madigan said that some athletes have discussed their prospects with his department. He made it clear that Northeastern’s duty was not to dictate what its athletes should do

with these new rule changes, but rather to help guide them if they have questions.

“Several Northeastern athletes have already approached us and talked about building their personal brand,” Madigan said. “Our job in the athletic department is not to find them sponsorships, but to educate them and help them on how to properly build their brand in an image that they want to.”

To help facilitate the growth of their athletes’ brands, Madigan announced Aug. 24 that the university would be partnering with the company INFLCR. INFLCR is a company designed to help promote student athletes and provide them with tools they can use to market themselves.

Madigan said, “We are ecstatic to team up with INFLCR and help further educate and increase the branding platform for Northeastern student-athletes. INFLCR is the nationwide leader in athlete brand-building, and we are excited

to provide this service to our student-athletes.”

However, Madigan said students have to be selective with how they use the tools and who they choose to align themselves with. Northeastern, like many other schools, already has their own sponsors and partners for many of their sports teams.

“We do not tell them who they should partner with, but like many other institutions we have deals for apparel or say, basketballs, that cannot really overlap with personal brands,” Madigan said. “Northeastern is not alone in this, most institutions have their partners and will have some restrictions on what kinds of companies their athletes can partner with.”

Beyond the institution’s partners, however, Madigan said athletes are free to market themselves how they desire and partner with who they prefer, as long as it is in an appropriate manner. At other schools, students have teamed up with a variety

Jim Madigan coached Northeastern Men’s Hockey for 10 seasons before becoming Northeastern’s athletic director.

of brands, from Auburn quarterback Bo Nix and his deal with Milo’s Tea to Fresno State’s basketball players Hanna and Haley Cavinder’s agreement with Boost Mobile. Some athletes are creating their own trademarked logos and nicknames like Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz.

The NCAA’s rule changes are still young, and athletes are barely a month into their promotion of NIL and learning how to wield this newfound power. Northeastern athletes are no different.

Madigan said a few students have already come forward and presented their interest in growing their brands to the athletic department.

While this could present itself as a challenge for Madigan and his new team, it also allows him to leave his mark on Northeastern athletics as he begins his new position and help guide his students as they too venture into this unknown world of student-athlete marketing.

Photo by Brian Bae

NU names Jim Madigan as new director of athletics

By Vitoria Poejo Sports Editor Northeastern men’s hockey coach Jim Madigan was named the new director of athletics in a tweet released June 17. This news comes after Jeff Konya, who held the directorship since Jan. 10, 2011, departed his position to become the director of athletics at San Jose State University.

In an email to The News, Konya said that he accepted the position at San Jose State University because he believes “there is an athletics foundation [at San Jose State] for success that [he] hopes to capitalize on.” In addition, it will be the first time Konya will head a NCAA Bowl Championship Series program.

Under Konya’s jurisdiction, Northeastern Athletics had many athletic and academic achieve-

ments. Just this past year, women’s hockey played its first ever national championship game. In addition, baseball won their first-ever CAA championship.

Northeastern student athletes also received a cumulative grade point average of 3.405, qualifying the university for the NCAA Academic Excellence Pool this past spring. It was the 27th consecutive semester that student athletes have

earned at least a 3.0 GPA. Madigan will take on the new role with a wealth of experience.

Madigan attended Northeastern University, where he played hockey from 1981-1985. He was also a scout for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins until he was hired as the head coach of men’s hockey at Northeastern in 2011.

As head coach, Madigan led men’s hockey to three consecu-

tive Beanpot Championships, two Hockey East titles and three NCAA appearances.

Associate Men’s Hockey Head Coach Jerry Keefe will be promoted to Head Coach of Northeastern Men’s Hockey.

Konya’s responsibilities at San Jose State University are effective July 12. It is not immediately clear when Madigan will officially take on his new position.

OPINION

Page 10 The Huntington News EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief

Matt Yan

Managing Editor

Rachel Erwin Mihiro Shimano

Op-ed: Acting Mayor Kim Janey must reverse course and implement a vaccine passport

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NEWS STAFF Ananya Sankar, Annetta Stogniew, Arjun Ramachandrula, Christie Ya-Chi Lee, Elena Plumb, Isaac Stephens, Jessica Brite, Julie Sung, Lucas Cooperman, Marisa Lijoi, Maeve Singer, Mia Merchant, Niyati Parikh, Petrina Danardatu, Seamus McAvoy

Photo by Kelly Thomas The Delta variant continues to surge across the United States — and Boston may not be as immune as one might expect.

In Suffolk County, where Boston residents make up most of the population, average daily cases increased tenfold from July to now, while hospitalizations roughly quadrupled in the same time period. Even though both metrics currently remain well below their January peaks, multiple forecasts project that over 1,000 additional people in Massachusetts will die from COVID-19 by the end of the year if current trends continue.

Against this backdrop, the facts are clearer than ever: The best way to prevent such grim predictions from becoming reality is to get people vaccinated — fast. Though over 68% of Boston residents have received at least one shot, the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant means this percentage is not enough. As such, Boston’s Acting Mayor Kim Janey needs to reverse her opposition to vaccine passports and implement a vaccine passport mandate in Boston,

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bill Mitchell, Carlene Hempel, Gal Tziperman Lotan, James Ross, Laurel Leff, Lincoln McKie, Mark Gooley, Meredith O’Brien, Opinions expressed in The Huntington News through letters to the editor, cartoons and columns are not necessarily those of The News staff or the Board of Directors. Northeastern University students conduct all operations involved in the production of this publication.

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similar to the ones announced by New York City, San Francisco and New Orleans earlier last month.

A vaccine passport is a colloquial term used to describe laws that require people to show proof of vaccination before entering public indoor spaces. If you aren’t vaccinated — or don’t have a medical or religious exemption — then you can’t enter. The three cities mentioned above join a growing list of locations around the world that made entry into indoor spaces contingent on vaccination status, such as France and Italy.

If we can learn anything from those two countries, it’s that vaccine passports are hugely successful in incentivizing unvaccinated people to get their shots. No one wants to be barred from accessing restaurants, gyms, public transportation and other indoor venues. Although people can submit a negative COVID-19 test in lieu of proof of vaccination, it is still understandably a large inconvenience to daily life. In the weeks following France’s announcement of the new regulations in early July, there was a significant spike in vaccinations, reviving the country’s slowing campaign. The same was true in Italy following the country’s announcement of similar rules in late July. It’s reasonable to expect this trend would repeat in Boston if the same regulations were announced.

The beauty of vaccine passports is that they lay on much more solid constitutional footing than an outright vaccine mandate. Technically speaking, people aren’t being forced to get vaccinated — they just can’t enter certain public spaces if they are unvaccinated. Libertarians

might argue this is still unconstitutional, but those in the legal profession agree that states are well within their constitutional bounds to protect public health by implementing such rules. If one can’t prove they took the necessary steps to protect others from a dangerous virus that killed over four million people, then they can simply stay home and keep their personal liberties intact.

On the other hand, we need to be cognizant of how vaccine passports disproportionately affect people of color, as certain communities are less likely to be vaccinated. In Boston, vaccination rates in majority-minority communities lag behind predominantly white neighborhoods. Although I disagree with much of the language used in her initial statement opposing vaccine passports, Janey is right in saying we need to “make sure that we are not doing anything that would further create a barrier for residents of Boston or disproportionately impact BIPOC communities.”

Boston needs to expand access to vaccinations through various outreach efforts, such as establishing pop-up vaccination sites and engaging with trusted community leaders, to go alongside any implementation of a citywide vaccine passport. I don’t believe enacting a vaccine passport and continuing outreach efforts to people of color are mutually exclusive, contrary to what Janey implied. Boston can — and should — create a vaccine passport mandate while simultaneously investing more resources into vaccinating communities of color so they are not disproportionately denied from public spaces.

There is precedent for such a

venture. To use France as an example again: In the racially diverse Parisian neighborhood of Seine-Saint-Denis, vaccination rates trailed the national average for months. Now, however, 71% of people in the area have received their first shot, which is over three percentage points higher than the national average. Community leaders attribute this increase to both the vaccine passport announcement and local outreach efforts. Boston could learn from Seine-Saint-Denis and other neighborhoods like it in charting a path forward toward protecting historically marginalized communities, which suffered most from the pandemic.

It goes without saying that increasing vaccination rates in Boston is of utmost importance, and it is clear implementing a citywide vaccine passport is one of the most effective ways of doing so. Northeastern students should contact Janey, who has wide discretion on creating any local pandemic-related regulations and push her to reverse her opposition to vaccine passports.

You can also contact your local state representative, federal congressional representative or Boston City Council to put further pressure on the mayor.

Our collective health and well-being, under attack yet again by COVID-19, depend on it.

Poon Singhatiraj is a third-year international affairs major with minors in political science and history and Deputy Opinion Editor of The News.

He can be reached at singhatiraj.p@ northeastern.edu.

Op-ed: NEU is right in requiring COVID-19 testing, vaccination

COPY EDITORS Alex Choung, Ariana Bennett, Avery Westervelt, Dayna Archer, Emily Zhang, Hannah Anthony, Hannah Rosman, Jenna Chin, Jill Makin, Joanna Zhao, Jo Ashman, Katrina Makayan, Laurel Booth, Lea Packer, Lily Murphy, Petrina Danardatu, Rachel Mann, Santhosh Kumar Vijayakumar, Sarah Brinsley, Zoe Baumgartner

September 3, 2021

Photo courtesy Sarah Barber Northeastern released a new policy June 21 that requires students to submit proof of either COVID-19 vaccination or a valid religious and medical exemption. This vaccine mandate was first announced by NU April 6, with exceptions allowed for religious and medical reasons. Back in April, Northeastern was one of the first colleges to make this kind of announcement, but with battles over mask and vaccination mandates sparking across the country within all levels of education, it seems even more paramount to discuss why Northeastern is right to require vaccination and frequent COVID-19 testing for its students and faculty.

The testing requirement is not a new phenomenon for Northeastern students. Beginning in the fall of 2020, all members of the Northeastern community had to complete routine nasal swab tests and get tested immediately

if they experienced symptoms of COVID-19. Additionally, masks were required both indoors and outdoors on campus until late spring and courses operated on a hybrid model. With the recent surge in cases and the increased presence of the Delta variant, the indoor portion of that mandate returned for the fall 2021, even though classes are still set to be fully in person.

We all want to return to fully in person, unmasked classes and campus life. The best way to achieve that goal is to require vaccination for all faculty and staff, as Northeastern has done, and as other colleges must do. As of Sept. 1, only 25% of colleges in the United States require vaccinations, but we have a responsibility as people to protect each other and protect anyone else we may come in contact with.

COVID-19 vaccinations do not exempt those who receive them from carrying the virus; however, they will limit the symptoms and decrease that individual’s chance of contracting the coronavirus. The more members of our community are vaccinated, the less chance there is of having a large campus outbreak.

Obviously, students and faculty are not in the campus bubble all the time, but with vaccination, there is much less of a risk that individuals will bring the coronavirus back to campus and infect others.

We have reached a point in time

where I truly cannot think of a person that does not either know someone who contracted the coronavirus or had it themselves. While, of course, some people experience no symptoms or have only mild symptoms, that is not the case for all. It is in our best interest as a campus and a community to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves and each other.

Despite all the benefits the vaccine has to offer, some are hesitant to receive the vaccine out of fear of being microchipped. We must all understand there is no microchip or anything suspicious in the vaccine and that this school of thought has absolutely zero basis in reality.

If you’re hesitant to get vaccinated because you’re worried about the post-injection symptoms, know that getting the coronavirus and being unvaccinated will feel immensely worse than the discomfort you’ll experience for a day or two. It also appears that getting vaccinated lowers the chances of contracting the coronavirus. A study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine examined a population of Israeli health care workers who were believed to be infected after contact with an unvaccinated patient.

Among the 1,497 fully vaccinated workers, only 39 developed breakthrough infections.

At the end of the day, getting vac-

cinated is a responsibility we have as humans. It’s not a political game; it doesn’t perpetuate some kind of hidden agenda. The COVID-19 pandemic is a humanitarian issue at its core. If you’re not going to get vaccinated for yourself, do it for those you love; do it for your community; do it for the people who don’t yet have access to the shots. The ample access to vaccines that we have in this country is a privilege and to throw that away is a gross statement of entitlement.

You may not like every decision NU makes, and honestly, I don’t either. But this decision to mandate vaccinations is necessary. It is essential. If we ever hope to return to normal, the requirement of inoculation is a step we have to take. I commend Northeastern for making such a bold decision so early, and for following through with it. It was a decision made to protect our community, and give us hope for the future.

Get your shot, slap the bandaid on and know that you’re making this choice for the greater good of humanity. Please.

Sarah Barber is a second-year journalism and English major and Deputy City Editor of The News. She can be reached at barber.sa@northeastern.edu.

OPINION

September 3, 2021

Page 11

Column: Double standards in sports are sexist and unhealthy

Photo courtesy Madison Boudreau Popovic It’s never easy for athletes to prepare for competitions. The grueling training they have to put in to perfect their craft demands the utmost dedication and focus.

However, there are several systemic issues within sports.

For one, double standards exist between female and male athletes.

My mother instilled in me the mentality that women can do anything that men can do, if not more. I carry this sentiment with me everywhere, especially when I was involved in various sports such as figure skating and softball. The one thing I noticed from my time as an athlete was the deliberate and obvious double standards in sports: how people put unfair expectations on females that are never applied to males and how the sports industry tends to prioritize physical health over mental health.

The sexism of sports was present in the 2020 Olympics as the Norwegian

women’s beach handball team refused to wear the required bikini bottoms, instead opting for a pair of less revealing shorts. Instead of allowing the women to wear shorts similar to the men’s beach handball team, each player of the women’s team received a fine of approximately $175. In a sport where athletes are intensely moving, especially diving in the sand, it’s more than fair for women to wear uniforms that offer more coverage. The lack of uniform options for women that would properly accommodate such a sport is sexist on its own, but the addition of the fine made the situation worse.

Sexism in sports isn’t just limited to uniforms — it also impacts the pay of female athletes. As reported by the BBC, an Olympic gold medalist found out she was getting paid significantly less than a well-known male athlete. The two were paid by the same sponsor, but the female athlete was incredibly underpaid in comparison. This is not only degrading, but also wrongfully impacts her income. It’s well overdue for society to realize that women are equal to men and should be treated and paid as such.

Unfortunately, more types of double standards appear to be present in sports: athletes placing their physical health above their mental health.

Simone Biles was set to compete in a number of gymnastic events at the 2020 Olympics but withdrew

from many events she qualified for due to mental health concerns. Biles said she suffered from the “twisties” which made her mentally incapable of keeping track of her body’s position in midair. This is incredibly dangerous and can lead to physical injuries. After her decision to prioritize her mental well-being rather than risk a physical injury by continuing to compete, Biles received backlash. It was as if some people would’ve preferred that Biles risk her physical health for the sake of a medal.

One Serbian athlete opted to do just that. Novak Djokovic represented Serbia in tennis at the Olympics but chose to withdraw from the doubles match due to a left shoulder injury. Prior to withdrawing from the bronze medal mixed doubles match, he lost three matches and threw his racket into the stands during a match against Pablo Carreño Busta. These feelings aren’t purely competitive and perhaps are instead signs of built up physical and mental exhaustion.

“I just didn’t deliver yesterday and today. The level of tennis dropped.

Also due to exhaustion — mentally and physically,” Djokovic said.

It’s unclear whether his physical injuries led to poor mental health or if poor mental health was to blame for awful physical health, but one thing is clear: He prioritized competing at first and suffered for it. Eventually, Djokovic made the right decision but

only after getting hurt both mentally and physically. Biles made the right decision at the right time and was spared a potentially serious physical injury. In addition, she eventually competed and won a bronze medal in the balance beam finals.

While it’s easy to believe that physical health is more important for athletes, research shows that mental health is just as important. When someone is mentally struggling, they are more prone to certain diseases and are more likely to make bad and unhealthy choices. The human body can’t succeed without being both mentally and physically healthy. Fortunately, many are now beginning to realize that the two are equally important, despite the double

standard currently seen in sports.

Athletic double standards are nothing new. Whether double standards are regarding gender or health — they’re damaging. As Northeastern athletes return to campus and begin a new season, the over 2,000 athletes should make it a priority to use NU’s mental and physical health services as well as make an effort to end sexism in sports by taking part in events hosted by The Feminist Student Organization.

Madison Boudreau Popovic is a second-year political science and business administration combined major with a minor in French and Opinion Editor of The News.. She can be reached at popovic.m@northeastern.edu.

Photo by magerleagues licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 “Tokyo prepping for 2020 Olympics”

Column: The degrading sexual harassment epidemic in politics and the workplace

Photo courtesy Alyssa Endres Content warning: Discussion of sexual assault.

Editor’s note: The Huntington News wants students to know Northeastern University and elsewhere provide sexual assault resources for students.

• WeCare: wecare@northeastern. edu, 617-373-7591, 226 Curry • University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS): uhcs@ northeastern.edu, 617-3732772, Forsyth Building, 1st Floor • 24/7 Mental Health Support: for students by phone (FIND@ Northeastern) – 877-233-9477 (U.S.), 781-457-7777 (international) • Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 • Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor Services (SAPSS)

Sexual harassment is something that continues to occur in the workplace. Whether it be toward a man or woman, one aspect is usually the same: Someone in a position of power uses their status to take advantage of a subordinate.

Politicians, in particular, are notorious for being involved in sexual assault scandals.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is just one of many politicians who was caught in a sexual assault scandal in the workplace.

Cuomo was accused of sexually assaulting and harassing 11 women throughout the course of his time as governor and prior. The women that came forward described being groped by Cuomo, and one claims that he even reached under an assistant’s blouse. A five-month-long investigation was recently completed by the New York Attorney General Letitia James. The investigation reveals that Cuomo did indeed sexually harass numerous women.

In response, President Joe Biden advised Cuomo to resign from office, which he did Aug. 10. However, Cuomo still eminently denies the investigation’s findings.

Since Cuomo is Italian, however, he claims that being affectionate toward people is a central part of his culture, and is a generational thing.

This includes kissing women on the cheek and calling them “sweet-

heart.” Although this may be true, it is not an excuse for inappropriate behavior to occur in the workplace.

In addition, it does not excuse more intimate actions, like groping and touching women in concealed places, which Cuomo was accused of.

That is why, for real justice to be served, a criminal trial needs to be held. In order to do that, Cuomo would need to be impeached by the New York Assembly and Senate and then removed from office, as required by New York State law.

Since Cuomo already resigned, the assembly decided to suspend the impeachment trials. Having a court hearing, however, ensures that Cuomo’s actions are scrutinized in an actual court of law. Additionally, it would allow the victims to share their own stories and be heard.

Since this is an ongoing issue, it is not immediately clear what the outcome of this scandal will be, but there is one key lesson to be learned, legal issues notwithstanding.

Accountability starts with people bravely coming forward and sharing their stories. Not only does this raise awareness of how common sexual assault is in the workplace, but it also can also help reduce the shame victims may feel around their own abuse.

Political figures across the country should be more aware of this and advocate for the justice of victims of

sexual assault at work. Other political leaders should take note of Boston acting Mayor Kim Janey and how she took action against police officers accused of sexual assault. She fired a police commissioner after he was accused of assaulting two women.

“The investigation of Dennis White reveals a flawed process and a misguided department culture. It is clear from the report that we have to move in a different direction,” Janey said. Despite receiving some

Political figures across the country should be more aware of this and advocate for the justice of victims of sexual assault at work — Alyssa Endres Columnist

backlash regarding her handling of the situation and withholding public records, taking action like this and instating consequences will bring about much-needed change within this country. While not perfect, it is a good move may politicians can take to start combatting sexual assault.

Bringing about more awareness and getting more serious about investigating allegations can help to end the stigma surrounding sexual assault. In turn, victims can feel safer and more comfortable speaking out. Northeastern students can make an impact as well by emphasizing and spreading awareness on the reality of sexual assault not just in the workplace, but also on campus. Student organizations such as Her Campus and Greek life can use their platforms to further spread the message to take action against sexual harassment. Sexual assault on campus, especially in Greek life, is something that occurs far too often, and needs to be brought to an end. Although it may be a long process, by taking these steps to combat sexual assault on campus and in the workplace, real change could be made over time.

Alyssa Endres is a third-year political science and communication studies double major. She can be reached at endres.a@northeastern.edu.

CITY

Page 12

September 3, 2021

Boston gears up for historic mayoral primaries

By Kelly Garrity City Editor Boston is set to make history Sept. 14 as local voters head to the polls for the first preliminary mayoral election, where all major

Who are the candidates?

Michelle Wu is an at-large city councilor living in Roslindale. The 36-year-old first-generation Taiwanese-American is a mother of two who formerly worked in the Menino administration and on Senator Elizabeth Warren’s campaign. A Harvard graduate, Wu became the first woman of color to become City Council President and was elected to the position unanimously. Wu gained significant publicity in 2019 when she began advocating to do away with fares for MBTA bus and subway riders.

File photo by Quillan Anderson At-Large City Councilor Michelle Wu announced her bid for the mayor’s seat September 2020.

candidates are people of color, four of whom are women.

September’s preliminary election will narrow the field down to two candidates who will face off in the Nov. 2 general election. The election is the first without an incumbent

Kim Janey was elected city council president in 2020 after representing Boston’s 7th District since 2018.

When Walsh stepped down, Janey became acting mayor, making her the first Black person and the first woman to hold the position. The 56-year-old fourth-generation Roxbury resident attended Boston Public Schools during the city’s busing era in the 1970s. Janey previously worked as an organizer, including with Massachusetts Advocates for Children, before winning her council seat in 2017.

since former Mayor Marty Walsh was elected in 2013, after Boston’s longest-reigning Mayor Thomas Menino retired from the post.

The open race made for a crowded field, with one state representative (Jon Santiago), four

Annissa Essaibi-George is an at-large city councilor and small business owner from Dorchester.

A former Boston Public Schools teacher and mother of four, Essaibi-George was first elected to the council in 2015 and currently serves as the chair of the education committee. Known as the more moderate candidate in the race, the 47-year-old was endorsed by former police commissioner William Gross and is considered the pro-police candidate. Essabi-George’s father is from Tunisia, and her mother is Polish-American. She identifies as Arab-American.

“Annissa’s path to victory is through Boston’s neighborhoods.

She’s going to continue to be accessible and present to all residents, just as she has as a city councilor at-large,” Essaibi-George’s campaign manager Cam Charbonnier said in an email to The News.

city councilors (Andrea Campbell, Annissa Essaibi-George, Kim Janey and Michelle Wu) and one former Walsh cabinet member (John Barros) all jumping in earlier this year.

Since then, only one candidate, Jon Santiago, dropped out, saying in a

Andrea Campbell is a city councilor representing Boston’s 4th District. Campbell, who currently resides in Mattapan, grew up in Boston and was first elected to the council in 2015. The 39-year-old mother of two became the first Black woman to serve as council president in 2018. Campbell attended Boston Public Schools and graduated from Princeton and the University of California, Los Angeles Law School before working for former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s administration. Campbell’s twin brother, Andre, died at 29 years old while awaiting trial in prison. The way her brother’s path diverged from her own is something Campbell cites as a motivator for her work in the city’s government.

statement that he looked forward “to supporting the first elected woman of color to lead Boston.”

With the preliminary right around the corner, here’s what to know about the candidates and the election.

John Barros served as chief of economic development in the Walsh administration, and stepped down earlier this year to launch his campaign. Barros is Cape Verdean-American and has been a lifelong resident of Roxbury and Dorchester. The 47-year-old father of four began his work as an organizer when he was just 14, eventually becoming executive director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and a member of the Boston School Committee.

After losing Boston’s preliminary mayoral election in 2013, Barros joined Walsh’s administration where he served until this year.

Illustration by Avery Bleichfeld John Barros, who served as Martin Walsh’s chief of economic development, announced his intention to run for mayor in March.

File photo by Mihiro Shimano Acting Mayor Kim Janey has held the position in an interim capacity since March. She announced her bid in April.

Illustration by Avery Bleichfeld At-Large City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George declared her run for mayor in January.

Where do the candidates stand?

In a June poll from Suffolk University, Wu and Janey were in the lead with 23% and 22% of voters’ support, respectively. Essaibi-George followed with 14%, and Campbell came in at 11%. Barros was the only candidate not within striking distance, with just 2%. However, at the time of the poll 22% of voters remained undecided.

Polling from Emerson College published Aug. 26 shows Wu pulling ahead, with 24%, followed by Essaibi-George with 18% and Janey with 16%. Barros remained behind the rest of the field, still with 2%. 25% of eligible voters in the city were still undecided.

Where does coronavirus fit into the race?

As the Delta variant sweeps across the country, coronavirus is again a topic of rising concern in Boston, just as candidates prepare for the final stretch of the race up to the preliminary election.

Among the issues at hand are vaccine requirements and vaccine passports in the city. When asked initially about vaccine requirements, Janey’s response referenced birthism

Photo by Avery Bleichfeld District 4 City Councilor Andrea Campbell announced her run for mayor September 2020.

and alluded to “freedom papers,” used during slave eras, evoking outcry from fellow candidates, most notably from Campbell.

“When we are combating a deadly virus and vaccine hesitancy, this kind of rhetoric is dangerous. Showing proof of vaccination is not slavery or birtherism. We are too close to give ground to COVID. Science is science.

It’s pretty simple — vax up and mask up,” Campbell wrote in a tweet.

Janey clarified her comments following Campbell’s response and later issued vaccine and testing requirements for city workers and a mask mandate for indoor spaces in the city. However, she reiterated that she would not implement any proof of vaccination requirements for other public spaces, saying that it would discriminate against Black and Latinx residents, populations with relatively low vaccination rates.

Campbell fired back in a press conference, as reported by Boston.com.

“No one has suggested that for Boston, and this wasn’t part of the policy implemented in New York City,” she said. “Misinformation like this erodes trust in our public health system and will likely prevent people

from getting vaccinated.”

Of the five major candidates, only Barros has come out in full support of a vaccine passport similar to the system recently created in New York City. Wu said the city should require proof of vaccination for high-risk areas, and Essaibi-George said she was open to the idea but not as a first step.

Recently, Janey was called out after she was photographed in a North End restaurant without a mask, the same day the mask mandate she instituted went into effect.

Where, when and who can vote?

Any Boston resident who registered to vote by Aug. 25 is eligible to vote in the September preliminary election. People can vote early beginning Sept. 4 up until Sept. 10 at one of several early voting locations throughout the city, including City Hall. People can also vote absentee if they are unable to vote in person, either by mailing in their ballot, dropping it off at the designated drop box by 8 p.m. on the day of the election or dropping it off at an early voting site.