October 15, 2021

The Huntington News October 15, 2021

The independent student newspaper of the Northeastern community

@HuntNewsNU

AFTER TWO YEARS, ATHLETES RUN IN PERSON AT 125TH BOSTON MARATHON Photos by Marta Hill The historic 26.2-mile race returned with roughly 18,000 athletes.

By Annah Chaya | News Staff After cancellations, postponements and a “virtual experience”, the Boston Marathon finish line returned to Copley Square Oct. 11.

For John Guilfoil, CEO of John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC and adjunct professor of journalism, the return to an in-person race was a sign of strength for the city.

“The marathon being held is an encourageable sign of life in our community,” Guilfoil said.

Benson Kipruto and Diana Kipyokei, both Kenyan natives, won the men’s and women’s professional divisions with times of 2:09:51 and 2:24:45 respec-

tively, making it the eighth Kenyan sweep since 2000.

Marcel Hug and Manuela Schär of Switzerland won the men’s and women’s wheelchair races with Hug finishing with a time of 1:18:11 and Schär finishing in 1:35:21.

It had been 910 days since runners and spectators last congregated in the streets of Boston for the world’s oldest continually run marathon — the last in-person race was held April 15, 2019.

The April 2020 marathon was postponed from its annual Patriot’s Day date because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an effort to maintain a sense of normalcy, the Boston Athletic Association instead held a “virtual experience” in September 2020. This virtual format was a first for the marathon and only the second modification the event has experienced. The first major modification was during World War I, which changed the marathon to a military relay race.

While there were hopes of a normal race in the spring of 2021, fears of COVID-19 once again led to the cancellation of the April date and the eventual postponement until Oct. 11.

26.2 MILES, on Page 12

Mills College merger creates uncertainty, hope Northeastern University announced Sept. 14 that it had finalized its merger with Mills College, a women’s college in Oakland, Calif. The agreement will change Mills to a coed institution, rename it to Mills College at Northeastern University, and bring its 135-acre campus into Northeastern’s “global network”, according to a statement

by President Joseph E. Aoun.

Established in 1852, Mills is “the oldest women’s college west of the Mississippi,” said Elizabeth Hillman, the president of Mills College.

“That’s an era that’s coming to an end here with this merger with Northeastern, and that’s a loss for our community, and, I hope, a gain for our mission, in order to sustain

things going forward,” Hillman said in an interview with The News.

In the past, Mills’ policy has been to admit “self-identified women and people assigned female at birth who do not fit into the gender binary” as undergraduates and all genders as graduate students, per its website.

In 1990, students at Mills College

stopped an attempt by the college to become fully coeducational in response to declining enrollment.

The merger will establish the Mills Institute which is “dedicated to advancing women’s leadership and to empowering BIPOC and first-generation students.”

“Mills has an extraordinary campus. That makes Mills special,

honestly. Mills’ location in California has shaped Mills tremendously,” Hillman said. “Mills was the first women’s college to recognize that gender was more fluid than what women’s colleges have thought in the past and welcomed nonbinary students and trans women to its campus community.”

SATELLITE CAMPUS, on Page 3

CAMPUS

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October 15, 2021

NUPD Chicken Lou’s reveals CRIME LOG new products, more Compiled by Alexis Santoro, News Staff

FRIDAY, OCT. 1st 1:14am

Weapons were confiscated from an individual’s room in Kerr Hall. A report was filed.

2:30pm

A caller reported items stolen from inside their office in the Mugar Life Sciences Building. A report was filed.

3:00pm

A caller reported their vehicle was defaced in the West Campus Parking Garage. A report was filed.

3:04pm

An individual was observed climbing through the window of a Davenport A apartment. Services rendered.

3:27pm

A caller reported observing drug paraphernalia inside an apartment at 319 Huntington Ave. Services rendered.

4:10pm

A caller reported an individual Zoom bombed their meeting. Services rendered.

9:01pm

A caller reported the smell of marijuana in Willis Hall.

The area was checked.

11:56pm

An individual reported being stabbed in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

BPD assumed jurisdiction.

SATURDAY, OCT. 2nd 12:01am

A caller reported images drawn on a whiteboard in Stetson West. Services rendered.

12:49am

Multiple callers reported disorderly individuals outside of Davenport A. A report was filed.

9:05am

A caller reported an unattended bag on a bench outside of the Cabot Testing Center. The area was checked.

7:20pm

A caller reported hearing yelling in Public Alley 807.

The area was checked.

8:35pm

A caller reported an individual attempted to start a fight during the hockey game at Matthews Arena.

A report was filed.

SUNDAY, OCT. 3rd 1:48am

A caller reported individuals ripping down signs in the hallway of the Midtown Hotel. A report was filed.

12:02pm

A caller reported an individual laying on the ground in ISEC. The individual was sent on their way.

6:05pm

Individuals were observed on Camden Street combing through a duffle bag containing items that appeared to be stolen from a retail store. A report was filed.

3:37pm

A caller reported their bicycle stolen from outside of Snell Library. A report was filed.

MONDAY, OCT. 4th 4:39pm

A caller reported an individual yelling at and assaulting others on Huntington Avenue. The area was checked.

4:51pm

A caller from LightView reported receiving fraudulent phone calls. Services rendered.

7:49pm

A caller reported an individual with a knife assaulting individuals near Whole Foods on Westland Avenue.

BPD assumed jurisdiction.

10:06pm

A caller reported an individual sleeping on the first floor of Hastings Hall. The individual was sent on their way.

10:42pm

A caller reported an individual may have been followed by another known individual to Light Hall.

Services rendered.

11:19pm

A caller reported the smell of marijuana in Willis Hall.

The area was checked.

surprises to come

By Skye Richmond | Deputy Campus Editor

On Monday Jan. 11, Chicken Lou’s Twitter idea was put on the shelf as the family focused on account tweeted, “Did we all think Chicken Dave other aspects of the business. would stay retired? #workingonsomethingbig #finAfter the closure of Chicken Lou’s, the family gerscrossed #weneedgoodnewsin2021” bought a small piece of commercial property in New Since then, a series of mysterious tweets revealed Hampshire. When Ferretti-Berrios walked into the the release of new products such as the shack’s building, the warehouse-esque atmosphere remindsignature honey mustard sauce, signature TKO ed her of her goal from so long ago — bottling the seasoning salt and various honey mustard. pieces of Chicken Lou’s “It was like a lightbulb went merchandise, which can off,” Ferretti-Berrios said. be purchased on an online Transforming the refrigstore. As of this month, the erated honey mustard sauce sauce can also be found in served in the restaurant into Merrimack Premium Outlets a shelf-stable, bottled product in New Hampshire. The TKO was no easy task, Ferretspice mixes are arriving this ti-Berrios said. After partweek, and will be delivered to nering with a family-owned pre-orders by next week.

Ohio-based co-packer, they The beloved restaurant were finally able to replicate closed its doors at the end the original product in Januof April 2020 after nearly 30 ary of this year. years in business. The small “When we started this, we shack on Forsyth Street was weren’t even sure we were established in 1990 by Lou going to match our honey Ferretti and has been owned mustard to what we had in and run by three generations the restaurant. And when we of the same family since. The got that last sample, and it menu featured fan-favorites was so dead on, we were like, such as chicken parmesan ‘Alright we are rocking and sandwiches, burgers, breakrollin’,” Ferretti-Berrios said. fast fare, along with other Chicken Dave, announced comically-named comfort on Twitter Oct. 12 that he foods such as “The Cholesterwas working with Wollaston’s ol” or “SEC’s on the Border.”

Market on “big things”. Fer“I remember the day they retti-Berrios confirmed that announced they were closover the next couple of weeks, ing,” said Hayes Zierden, a fans should keep their eye on third-year politics, philosoChicken Lou’s social media phy and economics major. and on Wollaston’s shelves for “I went to Chicken Lou’s delicious new projects. immediately after that and Additionally, she cryptically the line was all the way up the announced that the honey musstreet toward Ruggles.” tard and TKO seasoning will be The closure of the restauavailable in the New England rant was a sorrowful event area in the very near future. for Chicken Lou’s lovers, but “I was really kinda hopeful a “bittersweet decision” for they wouldn’t have to close the family, said Lou Ferretti’s last year,” said Terence granddaughter Gerry FerretChoy, a 2020 Northeastern — ti-Berrios. graduate with a degree in Gerry Ferretti-Berrios Gerry worked the night applied physics. “If they have shift six days a week anything at all that [brings for the eight years Chicken Lou’s] back, years before I’m looking forward the restaurant to it.” closed, but While the Chicken Lou’s restaurant is no had always more, Chicken been a major part Lou’s legacy of her childhood. on Northeast“I grew up making ern’s campus iced coffee behind the stays alive. counter when I was “I am a eight,” Ferretti-Berfirm believer rios said. that everyWhen she first thing happens started working for a reason,” for her dad, known Ferretti-Berrios as Chicken Dave, said. “Even if I fail at the restaurant at this, I can at least more than 10 years say I tried and I ago, she had a goal to grow won’t spend the rest the business by bottling their of my life wondering signature honey mustard sauce. After if it could have worked reaching out to a few manufacturers and or not. You don’t want to not receiving the desired response, the live life with regret.”

When we started this, we weren’t even sure we were going to match our honey mustard to what we had in the restaurant.

And when we got that last sample, and it was so dead on, we were like, ‘Alright we are rocking and rollin.’

CAMPUS

October 15, 2021

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Junn tackles Asian hate with diverse approach

By Kathryn Manning News Correspondent Addressing a group of Northeastern students and faculty Oct. 7, Jane Junn called attention to the experiences of Asian Americans, Asian hate and other prevalent social issues.

Junn, a professor of political science and gender and sexuality studies at the University of Southern California, came to Northeastern as part of the university’s “Asia America and the World” lecture series, which was created in response to an increase in anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout her talk, “Amidst Pandemic and Racial Upheaval: Where Asian Americans Fit,” Junn discussed the diversity within the Asian community. She rejected the notion of Asian Americans as a “monolith” and presented the audience with data that showed the unique values of Asian Americans

with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

This was eye-opening for students like Claire Blaufox, a fourth-year chemical engineering major.

“Something that was really interesting to me was the breakdown of political leanings amongst specific Asian groups,” Blaufox said. “As a Chinese American myself, I think that I expected to see more traditionalism from Chinese Americans or Asians in general. I think it ties into how the media misrepresents Asian Americans.”

Junn invited members of the audience who identified as Asian or Asian American to speak about their own unique experiences, opening up the floor for a more open-ended conversation.

Junn said that in many first-generation Asian American families, children are responsible for helping their parents learn about American political systems. Afterwards, Lawrence

Deng, a third-year biology major, said the conversation felt validating.

“In my family, political ideals often flow from younger generations to older ones. I thought that I was just weird. It’s nice to know that it’s not just something I’m doing; it’s common in the Asian American community,” Deng said.

Junn also mentioned the experiences of other people of color.

“Whether you’re Asian American or not, we are all connected,” she said while discussing social justice movements like Black Lives Matter.

“We don’t have the luxury of saying ‘That’s not my problem.’”

The professor also connected her work as a professor of gender studies with racism directed at Asians.

She commented that members of diverse communities all had a role in uplifting women.

“Patriarchy invades every space.

Just because you’re a person of color doesn’t mean you say, ‘I smash the

patriarchy,’” she said.

In an interview with The News after the event, Junn spoke about the personal experiences that inspired her to speak out against Asian hate, and why she chose to be a part of the lecture series.

She noted there’s a certain feeling that’s echoed among those in the Asian American community. ”You feel a lot of negativity. You think, ‘Oh I can deal with that.’

But then, you see these incidents culminate in mass murder, and you realize ‘Oh, maybe that was a big deal’. Honor your instincts. Any kind of injustice should be met with resistance,” she said.

Junn connected her personal reaction to that of students nationwide and said she was glad young people were demanding action from their universities.

For some Northeastern students, however, initiatives like the lecture series are too little, too late.

“It’s nice that Northeastern is finally doing something like this, but it’s a shame that it took literal hate crimes to make something happen,” said Aleyah Aragon, a fifth-year bioengineering major.

The university has recently increased its focus on addressing racial injustices of the past, but this has received mixed reactions from Asian and Asian American students, especially on whether its efforts are truly impactful.

The “Asia America and the World’’ series will continue until March, with hybrid and online lectures being held monthly. Later this month on Oct. 28, Dada Docot, an assistant professor of anthropology at Purdue University, will present her lecture, “Extraordinary Precarities: Overseas Filipino Workers During Pandemic Times.” Students interested in attending the lecture can register on the College of Social Sciences and Humanities website.

NU acquires historical womens college

VANCOUVER

WA

CA

Photo courtesy Bruce Hope Mills Hall at Mills College houses the school’s office of the president. The college, the latest addition to Northeastern University’s “global network”, will focus on empowering women, first-generation students and students of color.

“Mills has been in a challenging financial situation for many years,” said Chicora Martin, the vice president of student life and dean of students at Mills.

“When you’re small, you don’t have the economy of scale, and it’s harder. We have a beautiful campus, but it’s a big footprint, a lot of buildings and a lot of maintenance, and so it has been difficult for us to have the kind of experience we want for our students.”

Hillman said the future was still uncertain, but that she was optimistic.

“We don’t know enough yet.

Our students don’t know enough about Northeastern to really understand everything yet,” Hillman said.

“Students trust students more than anybody else to tell them actually how it is, and what things are like, and so I look forward to that chance, for our students to connect and to learn more.”

Referencing Mills’ majority-people-of-color and majority-LGBTQ student population, as well as its high numbers of first-generation students, Martin described Mills as “a space to really think about who you are, and who you want to be, and what’s important to you, and giving you the opportunity to do that in a really welcoming environment.”

“I understand some people are optimistic, some people are curious, some people have a little bit of trepidation or anxiety — some people are sad because Mills will change,” Martin said. “I think if we’re thoughtful, if we’re really inclusive, and thinking about the voices of our community, I think that’s the most important thing.

I think there will be places where we need to work harder to make sure we’re doing it well, and places where it’ll be just seamless.”

BC

transgender students with graduate programs for all genders.”

In 2017, Mills declared a financial emergency, preceding rounds of layoffs due to an annual operating deficit that has grown to more than $9 million, with a $57 million operating budget for the following year. In March 2021, Mills College announced it would cease to be a degree-granting institution, but by June, the college had announced it intended to merge with Northeastern.

The merger, finalized Sept. 14, will take full effect July 1, 2022, and Northeastern will assume all of Mills’ financial assets, liability and contractual obligations.

NORTHEASTERN’S WEST COAST SATELLITE CAMPUSES

SATELLITE CAMPUS, from front Meredyth Cohen, president of the Associated Students of Mills College, Mills’ student government, said that reactions to the merger among Mills students was mixed.

“I think there are people on both ends of the spectrum, in terms of excited and people who are also disappointed and frustrated. I think most people are in the middle zone,” Cohen said. “Mills is a very special place, and I think that people are worried about losing that.”

In the past year, the Save Mills College Coalition and the Alumnae Association of Mills College, two groups of current Mills students and graduates, sought to challenge the merger in court.

Although the Save Mills College Coalition was not immediately available for comment, its website states that its mission is to “stop the proposed closure of Mills College” and “investigate all appropriate options that could continue it as a degree-granting college, prioritizing options that maintain Mills as a college for women, non-binary, and

OR

By Bela Omoeva News Correspondent

Graphic by Avery Bleichfeld The acquisition of Mills College makes for Northeastern University’s fifth satellite campus on the west coast of the United States and Canada.

LIFESTYLE

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October 15, 2021

Ash & Rose wants to make the world ‘ethical, sustainable, beautiful’

By Alyssa Fell News Correspondent

Ash & Rose is a sustainable, women-owned boutique that aims to make its products feel like a gift.

Nea and Mary Savoca, mother and daughter co-founders of the boutique, kick-started their company in 2010 by to get rid of vintage clothes on eBay to sell items that they no longer wanted. They expanded to selling pieces that they found at vintage markets. From this, they developed a love of clothing sales.

This mother-daughter activity turned into a career for the duo.

“It was really just a fun thing that we [were] doing together,” Mary Savoca said. “But by the time I was finishing up college, I sort of realized … I want this to be what I’m doing.”

Mary and her mother Nea wanted to dedicate more time to their branding, including photography.

Feeling like the vintage market was no longer their space, they transitioned to curating and creating sustainable clothes. In 2014, ashandrose.com launched. Soon after, in 2015, the Savocas opened their first brick and mortar boutique, Ash and Rose, located in the South End of Boston.

Nea Savoca has dabbled in the world of business before, but she was never able to fully throw herself into her endeavors while raising her children.

“When Ash & Rose started, it was just thrilling to get back to it,” Nea Savoca said.

As a sustainable and ethical brand, Ash & Rose prioritizes the working conditions of the manufacturers it buys from. Ash & Rose ensures that the items it carries are made in the United States or that align with fair trade values. There is no sweatshop or child labor in the process.

“We have such a strong and passionate client base who really identify with our values with regards to sustainability and ethics,” said Eilidh Robertson, the e-commerce manager at Ash and Rose.

Sustainable innovation is celebrated by Ash & Rose. Mary Savoca shared her enthusiasm for brands that use organic and recycled fabrics, emphasizing the boutique’s sustainability value.

“If I’m going to be putting something out into the world, I want it to be making the world better and not worse,” Mary Savoca said.

Mary Savoca runs the curation aspect of the business while Nea designs and creates the Ash & Rose Collection, the boutique’s brand.

The Ash & Rose Collection is made from designer deadstock, which is leftover fabrics from other designers. Nea Savoca said she’s partial to old deadstock. “[When] looking for interesting, wonderful fabrics that don’t interest other people … you have to envision them into something that makes sense for right now,” Nea Savoca said. “That’s what I love doing.”

Nea Savoca designs and sews the pieces herself. She hopes to continue collaborating with in-

home seamstresses along with a local factory for larger quantities of clothing. Nea sees a value in their unique pieces.

She described the moment clients come into the store and find the perfect, high quality outfit in their price point. “They just totally light up,” Nea Savoca said. “It can be a really important moment for someone.”

Mary Savoca explained that the sustainable fashion market caters to a largely festival-chic and minimalist androgynous aesthetic. Ash & Rose recognized that its customers were not interested in this and curates to its customers’ evolving needs.

“We recognize that our customers [are] interested in their very sort of feminine, romantic kind of aesthetic,” Mary Savoca said. “They want things that are figure-flattering that are going to serve them really well in their everyday life.”

Robertson emphasized the importance of the relationship between Ash & Rose and its customers. The customers communicate with the company via social media, email and weekly newsletter.

“Our customers are really sweet.

Sometimes they’ll email back just to say that they like how the newsletter looks,” Robertson said. “It feels like you’re on a team with the customers almost because you have this shared value of sustainability and ethics.”

The Ash & Rose community was strong enough to grow amid a tragedy — severe flooding at their South End location during the beginning of the pandemic. This

Salem witch trials, educating the public about a chilling part of United States history. Tickets are sold online for $15.

Apple picking is a staple fall activity, and the Greater Boston area is home to a plethora of farms ready for guests. Belkin Family Lookout Farm, established in 1651 and located in South Natick, offers a variety of apples, asian pears, donuts and pumpkins. They also have two restaurants, The Lookout and The Greenhouse. An online, pre-purchased bag holding one peck of apples costs $29; half-peck bags cost $20. The farm is located at 89 Pleasant St., South Natick.

Photo by Clara McCourt Nea Savoca at the Ash and Rose stand at SoWa Open Market. location is permanently closed, and the company continues to search for its next location.

As Ash & Rose readjusts to a solely online store, its customer base remains loyal.

With the collaboration of home sewers, Ash & Rose staff began to sew masks. After hearing of the flood, the community displayed overwhelming support.

“It moved me so deeply to see how much people mobilize to help us,” Mary Savoca said. “At the same time, we were actually able to donate about 5,000 masks to the homeless

as well, so it was a really cool kind of moment in the business.”

Ash & Rose is shifting to focus on gifts and accessories as it adapts further to the online platform.

They are resuming in-person sales at a pop-up tent at the SoWa Open Market in South Boston every Sunday until the end of October.

Despite the challenges, Ash & Rose’s mission continues to drive its work.

“We’re on a mission to make the world more beautiful,” Mary Savoca said.

90-minute cruises that sail past Back Bay, Harvard University and MIT. Cruises will depart every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Nov. 7. Tickets cost $29.50. The cruises depart from Lechmere Canal Park at the Cambridgeside Mall.

6. Attend the Head of the Charles Regatta The Head of the Charles Regatta is an elite annual rowing race in the Charles River. Not only is it the largest two-day rowing race in the world with over 11,000 athletes competing every year, but it’s free to watch. This year, the first day of the race is Oct. 22; it resumes Oct. 23 and concludes Oct. 24.

Boston offers fun activities yearround, but festive tours, museums and food coupled with crisp and mild fall weather is hard to beat.

Soak up all the fall fun you can by adding these activities to your bucket list.

Column: Enjoy autumn in Boston with these fun activities

By Katie Mogg Deputy Lifestyle Editor As the third-most walkable city in the United States, Boston is ripe for exploration during the fall.

Before the harsh winter weather arrives and keeps students huddled in their dorm rooms, take advantage of what Beantown has to offer with this list of festive autumn activities.

1. Visit the Salem Witch Museum For all the history buffs, visiting the Salem Witch Museum is the perfect way to step into the world of 17th-century Massachusetts. The museum provides two immersive exhibits about the famous 1692

2. Go on the Haunted Boston Ghost Tour Halloween is just a few weeks away and going on a ghost tour is sure to get you in a spooky spirit.

Haunted Boston offers a variety of tours passing through many of the city’s landmarks including Central Burial Ground Cemetery, the Boston Common and the Freedom Trail. Tickets to the 90-minute walking tour cost $18.

3. Apple pick at Belkin Family Lookout Farm

4. Go on a fall foliage cruise Set sail on the Charles River and enjoy the sights of Boston’s vibrant red, orange and yellow foliage. The Charles Riverboat Company offers

5. Shop at local outdoor markets The pandemic rendered outdoor markets a popular and safe way to shop. Boston is home to several outdoor markets that sell goods ranging from clothing and jewelry to produce and desserts. Some popular markets include SoWa Vintage Market, Copley Square Farmers Market, Haymarket and Boston Public Market.

Ghosts & Gravestones

Usher in the new season by participating in these fun fall acitivies around the city.

Graphic by Sofie Kato

LIFESTYLE

October 15, 2021

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‘No Time to Die’ team discuss impact, representation within James Bond franchise

By Clara McCourt Lifestyle Editor “No Time to Die,” the newest installment in the James Bond franchise, goes where no film in the historic franchise has ever dared to go.

This film is the last for actor Daniel Craig, who has played the character since “Casino Royale” in 2006.

In a virtual roundtable with college publications, director Cary Joji Fukunaga and actress Lashana Lynch discussed the film’s impact in a post-

COVID-19 world.

“No Time to Die” meets the iconic secret agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) enjoying life in retirement from active service when a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist ends up placing Bond face to face with new evils.

Fukunaga noted it was important to ground this film in the current social moment from the earliest stages of development.

“We had early conversations in the script development stages about ‘How

Credit: Nicola Dove © 2021 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga on the set of NO TIME TO DIE, an EON Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios film

do we make this film post-#MeToo? And what are the acknowledgments there?’” Fukunaga said.

While James Bond films change across eras, Fukunaga mentioned that the one constant within them is the character himself.

“Every Bond film sort of reflects the era it’s in, in some way or another. It’s important the films themselves continue to reflect that world, but also Bond is not going to change,” Fukunaga said. “Every film has to kind of be consistent with the character that’s been established.”

“No Time to Die” introduces the character of Nomi (Lashana Lynch), a Black female agent who has taken on the mantle of 007 in Bond’s absence. Nomi is more than a “Bond girl” within the film, her actions are central to the plot, not to the development of male characters.

Lynch noted the lasting impact of her character in this franchise historically dominated by white males.

“I knew that she would help facilitate ushering in this new era that I think the franchise has done really well in, in reshaping how women are viewed and represented within the franchise,” Lynch said.

Lynch said that she hopes that her character will inspire viewers, especially Black women, to be authentically themselves.

“I think that it’s important to teach young Black girls to really appreciate both sides of them that just because

they feel confident in a moment, it doesn’t mean that them feeling vulnerable, or questioning themselves, or questioning what they should do is a weakness,” Lynch said.

Lynch said that this basis in reality drove her acting process throughout the film’s large-scale production.

“I didn’t want my character to be larger than life or to be unrealistic. …

I didn’t want to look at [the film] as a franchise. I wanted to look at it as a massive piece of art, where we get to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks,” Lynch said.

“No Time to Die” was the first major studio film postponed by the pandemic.

The film was originally scheduled to be released in April 2020 and was rescheduled two additional times.

Fukunaga said that this uncertainty conflicted with the vision he originally had for the film.

“With any kind of movie meant for the big screen, the idea that audiences won’t be able to experience it is probably the worst feeling because it’s not experienced as it was intended to be,” Fukunaga said.

After over a year, the film’s release was finally greenlit. “No Time to Die” is due for a theatres-only release Oct. 8.

“The fact that it’s finally out now, I’ve been trying to figure out the right word to describe it,” Fukunaga said. “I don’t know if I have a word yet because it’s mainly just relief and gratitude.”

Review: MFA ‘New Light’ combines past, present

By Karen Kurson News Correspondent On the first floor of the Museum of Fine Arts, or MFA, lies the dynamic “New Light: Encounters and Connections” exhibit. Unlike other exhibits, “New Light” combines contemporary art with works previously acquired by the MFA, some of which have never before been on display.

This exhibit has been open to the public since June 3 and features 60 pieces of art made by 27 artists, many of them Boston locals.

By comparing older, recognized pieces with newer works, “New Light’’ makes a broad statement: Artistic traditions and themes that withstand the test of time can be applied to a rapidly modernizing world. Artists convey this message by intentionally using dated techniques to create contemporary art or pairing ancient messages with more modern methods.

Two works connect through their uses of ancient Egyptian motifs and techniques. Several of the pieces were created before the time where written records were commonplace, and many are not attributed to an individual. “Relief fragment with the Head of a Princess” by an unknown artist is a limestone carving that dates back to the reign of Akhenaten, an ancient Egyptian ruler. It was aptly placed next to “Triangle Pairs with Pharaoh Heads and Nefertiti Recesses”

by LaKela Brown, a Black Brook-

lyn-based artist. The work includes modern trends that are reminiscent of antiquity, such as impressions of doorknocker earrings, shallow reliefs of pharaohs and necklace pendants.

Brown seeks to show the roots of modern hip-hop culture, which is present in many of her other works.

Stephen Hamilton similarly embraces African culture in “Joseph Lewis as Eze Nri.” Nri was a kingdom in present-day Nigeria ruled by a king known as the “Eze Nri”. Hamilton uses quilting, a rudimentary element of Black art, to portray a high school student as a Nigerian ruler.

Joseph Lewis, the piece’s subject, has an intense stare that fills the entire room with an eerie feeling. It’s hard to believe the piece is a two-dimensional hand-woven quilt of a teenager and not an African king in the flesh.

Social issues are central to the works in “New Light,” especially American ones that have persisted for years. Zoe Leonard’s “I Want a President,” the only poem in the gallery, adopts a typewriter format, contrasting its quaint medium with bold, crass language. While repeating the phrase “I want” throughout the poem, the work lists attributes typically associated with underprivileged communities rather than presidential candidates.

Leonard’s simple language and form jump off the page because of her message. “I Want a President” inspires American readers to step back and ponder why there hasn’t been a gay,

Jewish or female president, and why the first and only Black president came into office just over a decade ago.

The exhibit juxtaposes Leonard’s poem with “George Washington,” a piece by an unknown artist. It’s a small, wooden figure of America’s first president contrasting a modern conception of a hero with the historical ideal. These works bring to mind the push-and-pull between America’s growing inclusivity in politics and its tradition of white, land-owning men controlling power.

Several other works also delved into the topic of American oppression. The “Water is Life” series by renowned photographer John Willis documents indigenous peoples’ struggle for rights in the United States. It is paired with Juane “Quick-to-See” Smith’s “Tribal Map,” a reworked map of the United States that highlights the locations of indigenous tribes instead of American cities to demonstrate the importance of the groups that often are forgotten.

Benny Andrews’ “Wounded Sergeant” and Dana C. Chandler’s “Fred Hampton’s Door 2” comment on violence faced by Black Americans: A Vietnam veteran and a Black Panther orchestrator, respectively. These works were created in the ‘70s, but the plight of Black people in this country still exists today. These works mirror the values of the Black Lives Matter movement, which gained the most traction in spring of 2020. These works do not

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

Now - Oct. 31 Lawn on D Visit the playground for adults located behind the convention center in the South Boston Waterfront! You’ll find fun swings, comfy seating and games daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. throughout October.

South Boston Waterfront, Free

Now - Oct. 31 “Get in the Spirit” on Beacon Hill To raise charity money for The Jimmy Fund, Beacon Hill offers a variety of local shops and seasonal menu options at restaurants.

The businesses will be decorated with pumpkins and other festive adornments all month long.

Beacon Hill, Boston, Prices vary

Sunday, Oct. 17 Seaport x Black Owned Boston Market Head over to the Seaport Common for a market featuring Black-owned businesses from the Greater Boston area. From apparel to beauty products to packaged foods, there’s something for everyone.

Seaport Common

Photo by Karen Kurson Stephen Hamilton embraces African culture in “Joseph Lewis as Eze Nri.” only mourn, they protest.

The COVID-19 pandemic heavily influenced the subject matter of “New Light.’’ The MFA featured many Boston locals to compensate for artists’ losses during the pandemic. Featured artists include Hamilton, the quilter, Eben Haines, who created a virtual gallery for artists to display their work during lockdown and Lavaughan Jenkins, who created “I Want to Learn You.” His sculpted figures keep alive antiquated techniques from revered European artists masters, such as layering paint, three-dimensional painting and kneeling subjects.

“New Light’’ successfully draws attention to upcoming artists while also giving oldies a modern twist. All it takes to see the exhibit is a Husky Card. To get the full experience of a Northeastern student, take a trip to the MFA and check out this one-ofa-kind exhibit for yourself.

“New Light” will be on display until Feb. 6, 2022.

Sunday, Oct. 17 and 24 New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Two Patriots home games will take place during the month of October. Spend your Sunday rooting for them at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough!

Prices vary

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday Live music at The Beehive

Live music is back! The Beehive hosts live performances every weekend to uplift bands and independent artists.

541 Tremont St, Free

CITY

Page 6

October 15, 2021

Built in Boston, City Council Candidate Ruthzee Louijeune hopes to build better for the next generation

Ruthzee Louijeune, a Haitian-American, speaks to a crowd at a September 24 protest against the mistreatment of Haitian migrants on the southern border.

By Isabella Ratto news correspodent Ruthzee Louijeune, one of the eight at-large candidates vying for a spot on the Boston City Council, is extremely passionate about doing her part for communities similar to the one that she was raised in.

“I grew up with an understanding that Boston was a diverse city of working-class families just trying to make it,” she said when asked about Mattapan, the neighborhood where she spent much of her adolescence.

Within this struggling community she witnessed first-hand the lengths Boston’s citizens will go to support each other. If elected, Louijeune said, much of her attention will go toward doing what she can for these families and neighborhoods. Ones that haven’t historically received recognition but, in her mind, are an integral part of this city’s development.

“That to me,” Louijeune said, “is [the] richness of history… it’s a richness of the story of everyday people who came together to make Boston what it is.”

Her desire to aid Boston’s impoverished communities is reflected in the work she is doing with local organizations.

“Something I just did was help negotiate $10 million for a nonprofit here in Dorchester called the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance [or MAHA],” Louijeune said.

This money will go toward assisting first time home-owners, many of whom are of the working-

class background Louijeune is highly familiar with.

Practicing for several years as an attorney has taught Louijeune skills that she feels are highly applicable to the work she would be doing if elected to Boston’s City Council. As can be seen in the deal on behalf of the MAHA, she is a skilled negotiaton.

Louijenue said that she “will bring [her] negotiating skills to bear on behalf of everyone, every resident, every neighborhood here in the city of Boston.”

In addition to working with the MAHA, Louijeune has volunteered her time with various other local nonprofit organizations, several of which are focused on education, an issue of great importance to her. “[My parents] really insisted on education being [a] way up and out [for my siblings and I],” she said.

She has insight into what is needed in Boston’s schools because she attended them, and, in her opinion, there is a lot of work to be done. At the top of this list is implementing important resources inside of public schools from an early grade level to assist the students who need them most.

“I think [one of] the most important [changes to the educational system is] universal pre-K for 4-year-olds and expanding it to 3-year-olds. Working with our family based centers and other centers to make that a reality. The sooner that we get kids in our seats, and we start working on their brains, the more likely we are to break cycles

“[My parents] really insisted on education being [a] way up and out [for my siblings and I].”

— Ruthzee Louijeune City Council Candidate

of intergenerational poverty and crime,” she said.

Louijeune is also passionate about increasing investment in vocational schools. She said “if you have a strong vocational school, it prepares folks for a life in a career in the trades and you’re giving a lot of people a leg up. Especially in Boston … where there’s such a racial wealth gap.”

Investment in programs like these are a pathway, in her opinion, to comfortable lives in the middle class.

Another issue Louijeune is highly focused on is the existing racial and gender disparities of Boston’s business owners. She aims to encourage more women in the city, especially Black and Latina women, to pursue entrepreneurship.

She understands it as a means of “leav[ing] behind the vestige of racism and discriminatory practices when it comes to doing business with the city.” Loujieune made a point of being present for the opening of The Underground, a new Black, femaleowned restaurant on Northeastern’s campus. The highly personal level of support demonstrated here indicates how important working towards this equality is to her.

Much of Louijeune’s agenda represents an effort to combat the hardships her parents faced upon arriving in Boston. Her advocacy for both minority and low-income communities in reflects the passion she feels for helping some of Boston’s most deserving residents achieve a better life.

Photo by Avery Bleichfeld

CITY

October 15, 2021

Page 7

Low voter turnout in mayoral preliminary, Black voters respond

By Katie Mogg News Staff

19%

progressive just for taking one step in the right direction.

“Truthfully speaking, I feel like the bar is so low,” Jimenez said.

“When we think about the racial wealth gap and we think about the halls of power in our city, there’s no way that we can carry the name of a progressive city.”

Closing the racial wealth gap, improving accessibility of affordable housing and improving the quality of public school education has been on the agenda of Boston’s Black community for decades. Lazu hopes the final mayoral candidates, Wu and Annissa Essaibi-George, will make a genuine effort to address those issues.

“Both candidates need to realize there is a long history of agenda setting that has never been centered in policy,” Lazu said. “We’re going to look at receipts. What you have done will tell us a lot about what you’re going to do.”

Jimenez shared a similar sentiment, emphasizing how

important it is for the remaining mayoral candidates to listen to the voices coming from disenfranchised communities.

Panagopoulos said he is optimistic that either mayoral candidate will be able to address the needs of marginalized communities, even if they don’t personally belong to them. Acting Mayor Janey, he said, provides descriptive representation to Boston’s Black community, meaning Janey caters to the needs of the Black community by being familiar with the Black experience herself.

However, Panagopoulos said that may not be necessary to address the needs of marginalized groups.

“It’s not necessary to be Black to be able to… [fight] for the needs and priorities of the Black

22%

19%

3%

John Barros

community in Boston,”

These are the results of the mayoral preliminary race. Photo by Harriet Rovniak.

Boston’s 2021 mayoral preliminary election was one for the books — the most diverse election in the city’s history, all five preliminary candidates were people of color, three of whom were Black and four of whom were women.

The diversity of the election hints at a city striving toward more inclusive leadership. Michelle Wu, the leading candidate, is Boston’s first Asian American mayoral nominee.

Yet none of the Black candidates were able to secure a spot in the final election in November. This may be indicative of larger issues that plagues the city, including lack of civic engagement and disillusionment with local politics, Boston residents and voting experts said.

“There’s a lot of reasons for people to feel very dismayed by voting and by the electoral process,” said Malia Lazu, founder of MassVote and lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management. “They don’t actually see why it’s worth their time.”

Neither acting Mayor Kim Janey nor City Councilor Andrea Campbell nor former Chief of Economic Development for the City of Boston John Barros advanced to the November election, but Afro-Latina Jamaica Plain resident Beyazmin Jimenez sees a silver lining for Black leaders in Boston.

“It seems that it’s been a lost message that we even had three [Black] candidates to begin with,” Jimenez said. “It has been a successful campaign for Black leadership in our city.”

Considering how historically ground-breaking the election was, voter turnout was uncommonly low.

According to WBUR News, only one-fourth of all registered voters participated in the Sept. 14 election.

That’s 5,000 votes fewer than the previous open primary mayoral election eight years ago, when Boston was home to approximately 40,000 fewer registered voters.

Low voter engagement could have resulted in more difficulty for the Black mayoral candidates.

“It’s entirely conceivable that [the Black candidates] were appealing to the same segments of the electorate,” said Costas Panagopoulos, chair of the political science department and a leading expert on elections and voting behavior. “None of them ended up with enough support to edge out the other contenders.”

Low voter turnout may have forced candidates catering to a

similar demographic to split the vote, but the bigger question may be why voters didn’t bother to go to the polls in the first place. Jimenez expressed particular concern, saying it is indicative of a disconnect between local politicians and their community.

“If having five candidates of color didn’t excite residents, then we really have to start asking why,” Jimenez said.

Although the election is proof that Boston is moving away from its seemingly compulsory white, male leadership, the city still falls short in terms of inclusivity. Referencing Boston’s racist past, some believe the city doesn’t deserve a pat on the back for its breakthrough election.

Lazu noted how Boston was the last city in the United States to terminate busing, and even so, it wasn’t terminated until 1988 through a court mandate.

Jimenez noted how Boston has yet to voluntarily elect a Black mayor, even when Southern cities have passed that milestone.

Jimenez believes Boston shouldn’t be able to call itself

33%

Kim Janey

Andrea Campbell

Annissa Essaibi George

Michelle Wu

SPORTS

Page 8

October 15, 2021

Photos by Harriet Rovniak The Huskies won 4-0 at home against Bentley University in their first game of the season Oct. 2.

COLORADO COLLEGE Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.

Matthews Arena vs.

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.

Matthews Arena vs.

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

Matthews Arena vs.

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.

Matthews Arena vs.

Jerry Keefe promoted to head coach of men’s ice hockey

By Sarah Barber News Staff After 10 years of rebuilding the Northeastern Men’s Ice Hockey team, Jerry Keefe is finally getting his big break.

With the recent promotion of Jim Madigan to athletic director, Keefe has been elevated, becoming the 11th person to be named Fernie Flaman Head Men’s Hockey Coach.

“This was my dream job,” Keefe said.

Keefe has been with the program for a decade and coached hockey for over 12 years. The years he has spent with Northeastern have all been under the direction of Madigan. “[The promotion] was kind of a whirlwind, to be honest,” Keefe said.

“It was something that we had talked about, so I was prepared for that one when he was moving off, and that was what I was hoping was going to happen. I’m definitely prepared for it and obviously grateful for the opportunity.”

A born and bred hockey player, Keefe has always had a passion for the sport, taken form in the years of experience he has as both an athlete and a coach.

“My dad was a huge hockey fan, so he put me on skates and I was probably 3 or 4 years old and just grew up with it as a big part of my childhood,” Keefe said. “I played high school hockey, and then I [played] junior hockey in Omaha, Nebraska, for the Omaha Lancers. I went on to play at Providence College for years, and then I played minor pro over here and in Europe.”

Madigan and Keefe have always been working to improve the team, but their focus has intensified over the last few seasons.

“There’s a few things that I do a little bit different [from Madigan], but we worked together for 10 years, so a lot of the things that we’ve done, myself and Coach Madigan worked together on. It wasn’t that I had to

We have high expectations here this year, we really do.

We’ve got great talent, great kids, great leadership. I think we’ve got a really deep group of players and we have tremendous goals — our goal is to win a hockey championship to get to the NCAA tournament and advance.

— Jerry Keefe Fernie Flaman Men’s Head Hockey Coach come in here and change a lot of things because I had already been part of the team,” Keefe said. “I think

every coach is a little bit different, but for the most part, we’re doing the same things. We’ve had success here recently, so we’re building off of the things that we’ve done to have success.”

Jordan Harris, a senior business administration major, defensemen and captain of the team, noted some differences he’s seen in the coaching styles of Madigan and Keefe.

“There are two very different people right here,” Harris said. “I mean, any coaching change, you’re going to see the personality differences. We’re pretty fortunate with Coach Keefe that he had his hands in everything last year and in the years prior, so it’s honestly been pretty seamless. He’s been great, he brings his own style and we’re making renovations.”

A freshman in the Explore Program, forward Jack Hughes hasn’t experienced a coach at Northeastern other than Keefe.

“He was one of the main reasons why I wanted to come here in the first place, even as assistant coach, and I think he’s done a great job so far,” Hughes said.

Keefe said that in order to meet the goals they’ve set for this season, the players are going to have to improve on every aspect of their game.

Sophomore forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine plays in the Oct. 2 game against Bentley.

“There’s not one area that I feel good about where we are. We’ve got to continue to get better in every area of the ice, to be honest. But it’s really just trusting each other, getting more familiar and playing on their instincts,” Keefe said.

In the long term, Keefe’s outlook is to promote sustained success within the men’s ice hockey program and is striving toward an eventual national championship. Keefe hopes this season will live up to the expectations of himself and his team.

“We have high expectations here this year, we really do. We’ve got great talent, great kids, great leadership,” Keefe said. “I think we’ve got a really deep group of players and we have tremendous goals — our goal is to win a hockey championship to get to the NCAA tournament and advance.”

Photo by Harriet Rovniak

UPCOMING GAMES: MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

SPORTS

October 15, 2021

Page 9

Northeastern takes on Boston University for first time this season

By Annah Chaya News Staff For the first time in the 2021-22 season, Northeastern University (21-0) traveled to Walter Brown Arena to play Boston University (3-0-0).

The last time the two teams competed in Walter Brown Arena was Feb. 11, 2020 for the Beanpot title, which resulted in a 3-3 tie in overtime.

The first period started out with BU winning the face off and taking it straight to the goal, firing the first shot of the game within the first minute. NU goalie junior Gwyneth Philips caught the puck in her pads in an amazing save to keep the game 0-0.

Philips continued to excel throughout the first period, saving 14 shots on goal. She caught numerous flying pucks, including a shot from Terrier captain senior Kaleigh Donnelly after an intense minute of fast-paced action in front of the Huskies’ net. The first period ended with two NU players, junior left defense Megan Carter and sophomore left defense Lily Yovetich, gaining penalties for tripping causing a power play for BU. The second period started off strong with the Huskies utilizing the backboards while trying to stay on the Terriers’ end of the rink.

Captain and graduate student Brooke Hobson and Carter were given penalties for elbowing and tripping. This caused a four-onsix disadvantage for NU resulting in a BU score from sophomore Julia Shaunessy, assisted by senior Jesse DeVito. NU played the next few minutes with a vengeance and attempted to score multiple times.

However, junior Peyton Anderson made her way to the penalty box for high sticking resulting in a scuffle in front of NU’s net ending with another BU score by freshman Christina Vote, assisted by juniors Julia Nearis and Brooke Ersoy. This goal quickly went under review by the referees

and linespeople due to the amount of traffic in front of the net who then deemed the 2-0 score accurate.

Soon after, BU had their second penalty of the night, with senior Mackenna Parker receiving two minutes for tripping. While on the power play, NU scored their first goal of the night with senior right wing Maureen Murphy being assisted by assistant captain and graduate student Andrea Renner who plays left wing.

The third period started out with the Huskies fighting to tie the game.

Carter was injured during the third period, resulting in her leaving the ice. With both teams being undefeated at this point in the season, the third period was filled with players traveling up and down the rink trying to score.

During the last minute of regulation, the Huskies pulled Philips to add an extra player on the ice. This allowed for them to keep the puck primarily on the Terriers end of the rink. However, it was not enough and BU won the game 2-1. The three stars of the game were NU’s Murphy and BU’s Shaunessy and Kate Stuart. This title is chosen by a third party and usually given to the best players of the game. The Huskies go on a road trip for the next three games and will not return to Matthews Arena until Oct. 24, where they will play the College of the Holy Cross.

While on the power play, NU scored their first goal of the night with senior right wing Maureen Murphy being assisted by assistant captain and graduate student Andrea Renner — Annah Chaya News Staff

UPCOMING GAMES: WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE Oct. 16 at 4 p.m.

Away game vs.

BOSTON COLLEGE Oct. 30 at 2 p.m.

Matthews Arena vs.

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.

Away Game vs.

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.

Matthews Arena vs.

Photos by Ethan Wayne The women’s hockey team celebrates after a point Oct. 2. Northeastern played College of the Holy Cross in Matthews Arena and won 6 - 0.

OPINION

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

Matt Yan

Managing Editor

Rachel Erwin Mihiro Shimano

Op-ed: How can Northeastern better protect our pack?

Editor-at-Large

Kelly Chan Campus

Marta Hill Annie Probert Skye Richmond City

Kelly Garrity Sarah Barber Breaking News

Gwen Egan Ethan Wayne Sports

Vitoria Poejo Peyton Doyle Lifestyle

Clara McCourt Katie Mogg Lily Elwood Opinion

Madison Boudreau Popovic Poon Singhatiraj Projects

Jayden Khatib Photo

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Angelica Jorio Multimedia

Avery Bleichfeld Hannah Rosman Web Manager

Marta Hill

Social Media

Grace Comer Luiza Loyo Copy Chief

Alexis Santoro

BUSINESS

Business Manager

Eva Arad

Development and Outreach Coordinator

Brittany Mendez

Advertising Manager

Ashley Mandel

NEWS STAFF Alyssa Endres, Annah Chaya, Annetta Stogniew, Christie Ya-Chi Lee, Julie Sung, Srishti Gummaraju, Thomas de Carbonnieres

Photo by Harriet Rovniak

We are now a few months into the semester and back on the ultimate grind. Returning to an in-person mode of learning and feeling like a freshman all over again has overwhelmed the Northeastern student population. Between the lack of space to accommodate all students while COVID-19 is still a threat and the foolish use of funds, school is off to a more negative start than many would think.

As a second-year student, I never had the chance to get to know the “actual” Northeastern. With the strict COVID-19 restrictions last year, campus seemed to be lifeless and empty. A vivid memory I have of spring earlier this year is: While I sat on a sun-lit Centennial Common packed with Huskies sunbathing and relaxing, getting that one email freeing us from the walls of our dorm: We could finally sign in guests. The energy on Centennial immediately lifted and students began to get pumped for the new year.

While coming back to campus and going to every single class in person has made last year fade into somewhat of a distant memory, there

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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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is still a lot of room for improvement around campus. First, more room must be made for students and staff.

My old favorite study spot in the corner of Curry Student Center has now been overrun by a teeming number of students. It’s impossible to even grab a quick drink at Starbucks on the way to class since the line is always long. Despite the influx of new and returning students taking up more spaces on campus, Northeastern’s community seems to be blossoming. After a strenuous year and a half of social distancing and isolation, seeing people come together in person has been the most rewarding experience yet. I never realized how many smart and thoughtful people there were at Northeastern, and the overall sense of community has been outstanding. There is always a familiar face to smile and wave to when walking from one class to the next, highlighting how even a big city school can feel small and inviting.

Even though we do need more physical space on campus for students and staff to connect, other aspects of being in person at Northeastern have been worth it. I feel like Northeastern has done a good job at keeping students and staff safe this semester by enforcing indoor mask policies and COVID-19 testing while also fostering a connected community. Despite the need for safety, some argue that enforcing an indoor mask mandate goes against one’s individual freedoms. However, with COVID-19 still being a menace to society, we must recognize the need to not just protect ourselves, but those who are most vulnerable to contracting it.

There’s a way to have both a safe and

welcoming community, and people must be willing to compromise in order to reach that goal.

Even though conditions at Northeastern appear to be looking up, there is a need for campus reform.

It’s necessary for us to look at the allocation of funds from higher up in the Northeastern administration. As opposed to spending a presumptuous amount of the university budget on a new center for innovation and discovery, also known as ISEC II, perhaps the administration of our university could focus on improving student health services, which are in dire need here at Northeastern. For example, instead of improving mental health services, University Health and Counseling Services, or UHCS, changed the refund policy for those who go on medical leave during the semester so that these students won’t receive refunds, despite their previous policy allowing such refunds. It’s time for the

university to prioritize the well-being of the students that love and support their university and community as opposed to funding major projects like ISEC II, especially since there’s already an existing ISEC building.

As an optimist, I hope to see these changes happen within our community, and I know that together as a student body we can advocate for ourselves and for the betterment of the quality of student life at Northeastern. Let’s get on our feet and look forward to Beanpot, Husky Hunt and other traditions. Let’s organize our beliefs and stand up for ourselves to the executives behind the scenes of the NU administration. But most of all, let’s take advantage of our youth and just enjoy our college years.

Sophia Ubertalli is a second-year behavioral neuroscience major. She can be reached at ubertalli.s@northeastern.edu.

Photo by Avery Bleichfeld Northeastern students collaborate in the Curry Student Center.

Op-ed: Underage drinking at NU has become a cause for concern

COPY EDITORS

Bill Mitchell, Carlene Hempel, Gal Tziperman Lotan, Laurel Leff, Lincoln McKie, Mark Gooley, Meredith O’Brien, Olivia Arnold, Rachel Zarrell

October 15, 2021

Photo by Harriet Rovniak With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions since last semester and the return to on-campus instruction, there has been a surge in off-campus partying and underage drinking.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, alcohol was confiscated from underage people on Columbus Avenue. And days later, Sept. 17, within a minute of one another, two Northeastern students were transported to the hospital due to intoxication. These are just some instances of the increasing issue of reckless student alcohol consumption at Northeastern. There has been

recorded intoxication at the Midtown Hotel, Stetson West, West Village A, the Westin, Kerr Hall and 116 St. Stephen St. in just over two weeks.

In the wake of mass gatherings of Northeastern students on Mission Hill, Fenway and Roxbury, an email sent by Senior Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Madeleine Estabrook mentioned “a series of deeply concerning complaints that the university has received from civic associations and residents of Roxbury and Mission Hill,” and announced that Northeastern University Police Department, or NUPD, Boston Police Department, or BPD, and Inspectional Services division will increase their presence in these areas. But, this does not address the root of the issue at hand: dangerous underage drinking.

The abundance of the unruly gatherings was not a surprise to the student body. It was only days before the email that some students took to Reddit to vent out their frustrations about the careless behaviour of student partiers and drinkers. With the rising tensions among students and the residents of neighboring areas,

the one thing becoming abundantly clear is that there is an issue among Northeastern students, one which is spilling over into neighboring communities.

Alcohol education reduces underage drinking and alcohol related harms in first-year college students.

An online course is what stands between irresponsible drinking and safe habits. In the same vein, the National Institute of Justice recommends a series of actions centered around education and community to prevent crime in schools.

Currently, Northeastern does offer alcohol education modules and provides a list of resources online, but there is simply not enough done to ensure that the students take in that information. The program desperately needs to be reformed, and if recent events are not evidence enough, I don’t know what is. It is of paramount importance that alcohol education is adequate and contextually relevant. In fact, studies suggest that a combination of focused prevention programs and enforcement of drinking laws have the highest impact on underage

drinkers. Increasing police presence is a temporary solution to a serious situation: a situation which needs to be dealt with in a lasting and comprehensive way.

In 2010, underage drinking cost the United States $24 billion. Clearly, there is a much larger predicament at hand than just some college students looking to have a great time. No one drinks until they are head first in the gutter for fun. No one drinks until they are in the ER for fun. No one drinks themselves half to death for fun. Any action taken by the university that fails to acknowledge that will be short-sighted, misguided and negligent. Northeastern’s management needs to make evidence-informed decisions about the health and safety of their students. The university has a responsibility to turn their eyes inward, away from the happenings at Mission Hill, Fenway and Roxbury, and take a long hard look at the troubles festering at home.

Yeva Kharnovska is a second-year political science and philosophy combined major. She can be reached at khranovska.y@northeastern.edu

OPINION

October 15, 2021

Page 11

Op-ed: Safety is most important — avoid those who aren’t fully vaccinated that the majority of their news is unfounded, we still find ourselves attracted to these sensational stories due to their “emotional impact.”

In the age of COVID-19, it pays to be a liar.

These systemic issues cannot easily be solved, and the jury is still out on if solutions like President Joe Biden’s new vaccine mandate for many American workers will actually work to increase vaccination rates. It’s clear that changing the beliefs and habits of unvaccinated people is a Herculean task.

In order to best protect everyone,

we can change our own habits by distancing ourselves from unvaccinated people and continuing mask use indoors. Ultimately, for students and staff at Northeastern, remaining diligent and tracking the number of positive cases through weekly testing provides a more realistic resolution in the process of returning to “normal.”

Sanjana Sanghani is a second-year economics and political science major.

She can be reached at sanghani.s@ northeastern.edu.

How does Boston feel about vaccines?

A poll of Boston citizens released Sept. 7 had three questions regarding vaccination against COVID-19, capturing a snapshot of how Bostonians feel about vaccine requirements for public and private employees.

Should employers require their employees get vaccinated?

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

71.6% of respondents said they believed private employees should be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Do you agree with the current vaccine mandate for city employees?

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

percent %

83.8% of respondents said they supported the city mandate that requires city employees show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results.

Should the mandate for city employees be stronger?

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

percent %

a variant resistant to the current generation of COVID-19 vaccines, setting back our fight against the pandemic. So, the decision to not get vaccinated still clearly affects fully vaccinated people, contrary to what many unvaccinated people say.

To be clear, the legitimate concerns that communities of color possess — in contrast to those who have made it a political issue — about the vaccine should be met with understanding due to the systemic racism and historical inequities present in American health care.

Additionally, I do not even particularly blame those who are hesitant to get vaccinated, for it speaks to a greater issue of misinformation by the media. Nearly every type of media, whether it be social media, local newspapers or radio, can contribute to the propagation of misinformation concerning vaccines. It was found that some local broadcast, print and radio outlets have been inadvertently disseminating anti-vaccine messaging.

The problem does not lie in fake news; instead, it is the inherent nature of digital capitalism that stokes fear in the masses and sensationalizes in order to produce false but profitable clickbait stories. For example, in 2020, tabloids such as TMZ and Daily Mail — known for their splashy headlines — reported revenues of about $126 million and a staggering $310 million, respectively. Despite the general public’s understanding

percent %

Photo by Harriet Rovniak The ideal of freedom continues to permeate American culture and society, even when it has proved to be enveloped with hypocrisy over the years. As such, when a pandemic struck humanity, it was unsurprising to see a conflict between personal freedoms and public health imperatives in the United States.

Dr. Brytney Cobia’s sobering post on Facebook that went viral painted a bleak picture of the last few moments her patients faced: holding her hand, begging for a vaccine and unable to realize that it’s simply too late. Their families are lost; they cry to Dr. Cobia and say they didn’t know. They assumed it was political, that COVID-19 was a hoax.

Even though 65% of the nation’s population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 56% are fully vaccinated, the Delta variant continues to sweep through the country. However, this is not

proof that vaccines do not work, for unvaccinated people are almost entirely responsible for the number of cases that have caused almost 100,000 U.S. deaths.

Even though the average vaccine efficacy rate has decreased due to the Delta variant, vaccines remain highly effective against COVID-19: Moderna remains approximately 50% to 95% and Pfizer about 39% to 96% effective. Additionally, vaccines provide about 60% to 95% protection against hospitalization.

As such, it is tragically those who are unvaccinated that are at the most risk. Unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated, and about 98% of Americans who have died of COVID-19 since the start of summer are unvaccinated.

Against the backdrop of these numbers, the question of if vaccinated people should see friends, family or strangers who aren’t vaccinated arises. To me, it’s an obvious decision: Distance yourself from those who aren’t vaccinated.

Although vaccines are highly effective, it does not make you immune to COVID-19. This means physically seeing unvaccinated people puts you at a higher risk of catching the virus than if you were seeing fully vaccinated folks.

Furthermore, this increased chance of transmission makes it more likely that the virus could mutate into

66.1% of respondents said they believed city employees should be mandated to receive the vaccine with no alternate option for testing.

Graphic by Avery Bleichfeld | Source Sept. 7 poll released by Suffolk University and The Boston Globe.

Op-ed: When do Halloween costumes cross the line of appropriation?

Photo by Quillian Anderson Halloween: a celebrated and fondly anticipated event for children and college students alike. It is a holiday of embracing costumes and decorations which allow us to transform into something we are not. As our country continues to grapple with its past of racism and degradation of non-white cultures, and as the idea of cultural appropriation becomes increasingly recognized, one question remains salient: How does cultural appropriation define Halloween costumes?

Cultural appropriation is defined as the taking over of creative or artistic forms, themes or practices by one cultural group from another.

The group culturally appropriating is typically the majority or dominant cultural, racial or religious demo-

graphic in a country or region. Many times, the culturally appropriated items, music, themes or styles are grossly misrepresented, which often serves to aid in the propagation of harmful stereotypes. Concerning Halloween, however, classifying what falls into the pitfall of cultural appropriation can be a polarizing and complicated task.

Simply applying the aforementioned definition of cultural appropriation can lead to inconsistencies in the argument. Despite the historical inaccuracies, many stores provide an array of Asian-inspired samurai and ninja costumes. The main differentiator between clothes that are considered to be cultural appropriation and those that aren’t is their history and effect.

Through the Civilization Fund Act of 1819, the United States Congress created a fund to support white, Christian missionaries’ efforts in “taming” Native Americans by forming boarding schools that replace their traditional native practices with Christian and European clothing, language, values, music and way of life. This is one of the countless instances of the U.S federal government attempting to repress Native American culture through either forced assimilation or anni-

hilation. In the present-day United States, this creates an irony in the appropriation of Native American culture. A reprehensible act is being performed when non-Native Americans wear traditional Native American garments, which were once looked down upon by Europeans, as a party costume on Halloween.

Using a culture that faced and continues to face relentless hardships as a mere costume demeans its meaning and dismisses its history. Moreover, wearing blackface and masquerading as an African American is just as erroneous as dressing up as a Hispanic or Arab individual. In general, using racial groups as costumes contributes to the idea that different cultures are exotic oddities that one can mimic for their own enjoyment.

It is important to take note, however, that although examples of cultural appropriation exist, it is necessary not to cast too wide of a net over Halloween costumes. The inappropriate usage of the term can cheapen its value and degrade the movement to fight actual examples of cultural appropriation. Costumes sporting dreadlocks or beads cannot and should not be considered cultural appropriation. The reasons such hairstyles cannot be characterized

as an example of cultural appropriation are manifold. Although these hairstyles do have a significant place in African American history, the hairstyles’ history stretches much further than our nation’s borders and permeates through many cultures.

Furthermore, one must take into account the lack of ramifications on the African American community when someone of non-African heritage wears dreadlocks. These costumes do not harbor ill-intent or generate a negative byproduct for a marginalized group and, as such, are not culturally appropriated. In addition, Halloween costumes cannot be held to a standard of rigorous historical accuracy to determine whether they cross the line of cultural appropriation. Many Halloween costumes, especially those for young children, are whimsical interpretations of reality. These costumes do not come with the problematic historical baggage that truly culturally appropriated costumes inherently have.

Many would consider utilizing any element of a culture in a costume to be an act of cultural appropriation. However, cultures are a way of life shared by people.

Our cultures morph and evolve into new forms to accommodate new generations. If cultures are walled

off based on preconceived notions of who owns what, then cultures will never evolve or be shared.

For those who wish to remain respectful of cultures, it is the wearer’s responsibility to self-reflect on their own intentions and the outcomes of those intentions on the groups of people that they are representing, faithfully or otherwise, through their actions. Malicious intent can torpedo any costume and lead its wearer to become ensnared in cultural appropriation controversy.

It is important to consider whether a costume misrepresents cultural significance, propagates harmful bias or stereotypes or is just overtly offensive. If none of the stipulations apply to the costume, then have at it.

Northeastern University plays host to an extensive and diverse student body. As a result, it is the individual student’s responsibility to be judicious when choosing a costume. In order for Halloween to be shared and enjoyed by all Huskies, all cultures must be shown their just respect.

Gabriel Holder is a first-year behavioral neuroscience major. He can be reached at holder.g@northeastern.edu.

CITY

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October 15, 2021

Historic race returns to Boston streets 26.2 MILES, from front This was not Guilfoil’s first experience with the Boston Marathon. In 2013, he worked for former Mayor Thomas M. Menino as his deputy press secretary.

After being at the finish line in 2013 and experiencing the Boston Marathon bombing, he immediately pivoted into the public relations mindset in order to try and restore calm to the city.

Guilfoil returned to the marathon in 2014 and said he chose to run it because he wanted “to be a part of something so positive after something so negative.”

“Running the Marathon in 2014 helped me come full circle,” Guilfoil said.

With the world trying to get back to normal despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Guilfoil said the in-person Boston Marathon was a sign of strength for the city.

Guilfoil also said the training process for this year’s marathon was very different in comparison to previous years — in part due to the timing of the race.

With the marathon usually taking place in April, the preparation process includes getting used to running in cold, wet weather.

This year, however, many runners had to train for the race by running in the hot and humid conditions summers bring.

Runners experienced decent

weather on Monday, with a high of 69 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. While the wind brought a chill to the air, it was nothing compared to years past when the participants experienced snow storms or heat waves while running the marathon.

Kevin Situ, a doctoral candidate in physical therapy, decided his first time ever running a marathon would be in Boston.

“I grew up in Boston, so I kinda wanted my first race to be the Boston Marathon,” Situ said. “I’m also running for charity, just fundraising money for the YMCAs around here like the Huntington Y and all the other YMCAs around Boston.”

Situ received a charity bid from the YMCA of Greater Boston and raised 102% of his goal, hitting $10,200. Charity bids are sponsored by big companies and runners who are accepted receive an invitational entry that waives the qualifying time requirement.

Jade Law, a third-year pharmaceutical sciences major, also ran the Boston Marathon for the first time on a charity bid.

She ran for the Massachusetts General Hospital pediatric cancer unit, an institution that she regularly volunteers at.

“I was notified in April [of the bid], so I was able to train a full eighteen week plan,” Law said. “The

energy [of the marathon] was insane the whole time.”

Unfortunately, Law said she suffered from unexpected cramps early on in the race but was still able to finish the marathon.

With postponements and cancellations of marathons across the world, many of the major qualifying races to be an Abbott World Marathon Majors six-star finisher landed within a short time frame.

The Chicago Marathon was Oct. 10, immediately preceding the Boston Marathon. The New York Marathon will take place Nov. 7.

The 2022 Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place on its usual date, April 18.

Over 1,000 rally in Boston for abortion

By Erin Fine News Correspondent Advocates for abortion rights rallied in Boston Oct. 2, joined by others in cities nationwide, calling out in one voice: “Abortion is a right.”

Reproductive rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, of Massachusetts, the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, gathered the crowd in protest of the Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The protests also came two days before the U.S. Supreme Court’s new session in which the conservative majority court will hear a Mississippi case that limits abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

At Franklin Park Playstead in Boston, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Edward Markey, in addition to others, spoke to a crowd of over 1,000.

“So what brings us here today … righteous anger, radical love,” Pressley said to the crowd. “This is a matter of life and death because restricting access doesn’t mean that people will stop having abortions. It means they’ll stop having safe, legal abortions.”

The protest came at a moment Democratic lawmakers have feared

Photos by Marta Hill Events were held across the country Oct. 2 in coordination with the Women’s March, the organization that staged nationwide protests against former President Donald J. Trump’s 2017 inauguration.

for years — the case of abortion rights brought to a firmly conservative court, tipped rightward with former President Donald J. Trump’s three appointees, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

“How the hell is it that eight out of 10 Americans in this country support [Roe v. Wade], and yet we have Texas and we have [the] specter of 20 other states banning abortion?”

Healey said.

Healey is one of two dozen state attorneys general that have called on the Supreme Court to reverse Mississippi’s ban.

“That is anti-democratic by definition. I still believe in democracy, don’t you?” Healey said.

The cases Healey referenced include Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case limiting abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear in the new session. Already, the Court allowed a Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy to stand.

Despite the conservative-majority court, speakers pushed for the prochoice majority legislature to act.

“This is the first majority prochoice Congress in the history of Congress. Being in the majority has to be more than a talking point,”

Pressley said.

Pressley is a leading sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which codifies Roe v. Wade by prohibiting many limitations on access to abortion services. The bill passed in the House Oct. 1 with a vote of 218-211, and Pressley insisted that the Senate must pass the bill on to President Joe Biden.

Abortion rights have been protected in Massachusetts ever since a state law passed last year in anticipation of the possible repeal of Roe v. Wade.

Speakers brought attention to the precarious condition of reproductive rights in other states and “a string of right-wing attacks on abortion.”

“I don’t believe we would be here but for the presidential election of 2016,” said Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston branch of the NAACP. “[Trump] may be gone from the White House, but his supporters are sitting in legislative seats and on benches across our nation. They have an assignment to rewrite our nation’s history and to dismantle women’s rights and gender equality.”

Among the warnings, many rallying cries were hopeful.

“We are here to say that abortion rights are non-negotiable,” Markey said in one of the event’s final speeches. “We will not allow the Supreme Court decision to have the last word. We will have the last word.”

Markey continued to the fire up the crowd.

“Are you ready to fight?” he asked the crowd, who overwhelmingly cheered in response.

Before the speeches began, volunteers for groups including event sponsors ACLU, Planned Parenthood and NARAL tabled alongside

other groups like the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, or JALSA, the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Refuse Fascism.

“It can’t end here,” said Stan Lawrence, who handed out posters emblazoned with “Abortion on demand & without apology!” and “Forced motherhood is female enslavement” at Refuse Fascism’s table.

“As powerful as some of the marches will be around the country, if we are not tapping into the anguish men and women are feeling around the country, we lose,” he said.

Speakers agreed that restricting reproductive rights leads to suffering.

Pat Yingling, an abortion counselor in Boston from 1970-71, shared a story about patient and friend, Rosaura Jimenez, who died of pregnancy complications

after being unable to receive an abortion.

Pressley spoke of a young woman who met with the Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, who said she needed an abortion as a matter of life and death.

“Abortion access is not a political issue, it is a people issue,” Markey said as the event drew to a close.