March 3, 2023

The Huntington News

March 3, 2023

NU DISCOURAGES GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM FORMING A UNION

W rapping up a meeting at the end of a typical work day, doctoral candidate in network science

Adina Gitomer noticed a new email from Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Madigan. The subject line read “Important Information About Graduate Student Union Efforts.” But, Gitomer said, the information in question was extremely one-sided.

Plans to unionize have been brewing among Northeastern graduate students for years, and so have the university’s attempts to stop them. The National Labor Relations Board only granted private university workers the right to form a union in early 2016, and a majority of Northeastern graduate students subsequently signed cards by 2017. Students then announced their majority and implored the university to voluntarily recognize their union.

Student workers felt this year was an inflection point. Buoyed by a wave of graduate student unionizations across the country, Gitomer said that grad students finally see their window of opportunity — the perfect time to achieve higher stipends, improved healthcare and better harassment and discrimination protections, among other demands.

In the Jan. 19 email from the Office of the Provost, Madigan delineated considerations graduate student workers should make before signing union cards and voting in a union election. The considerations enumerated were exclusively downsides. When asked for comment on Northeastern’s stance on graduate unionization, spokesperson Marirose Sartoretto forwarded Madigan’s email.

By Ella Hutnick | News Correspondent

“Involving a third party in your education impedes the flexibility and creativity that creates unique individualized experiences,” the email reads.

Madigan closed the email with a website link with information and resources that would “help students assess the pros and cons of graduate student unionization.”

The webpage’s content parallels the email in that it presents as factual, organized under

subheadings such as “Understanding the Basic Issues,” “Points of View” and “Frequently Asked Questions,” even though all the information disclosed steers readers away from unionization.

Just hours after receiving the email, Gitomer made her way to a shared Google Doc. Staring into the bluish glow of her Macbook, she watched as at least 20 cursors

flitted about the page, leaving lines of impassioned text in their wake. Behind each cursor was another graduate student worker, typing away at their own laptops in a concerted effort to compose a response to the provost’s email.

NU admits students to Oakland campus for entire undergrad degree, sparking confusion

By Emily Spatz News Correspondent

As prospective students began to receive their admission decisions from Northeastern, many Early Decision applicants were confused when they received an unexpected admission offer to the school’s newest Oakland location. Admitted students flocked to Reddit to find answers.

“I was accepted to NEU Oakland today EA and I’m a bit confused,” one Reddit user, u/Helpful_Bee_9591, posted. “First off I didn’t apply for this program, so not really sure how I got in. Secondly.. I don’t know what program I’m in. Am I spending a semester in Oakland? A year? My entire undergraduate degree?”

The campus, which was acquired through Northeastern’s

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controversial merger with Mills College in June 2022, welcomed its first cohort of students in the fall 2022 semester through temporary study-abroad programs N.U.in and Global Scholars (formerly NU Bound).

Now, the university is accepting students to the Oakland campus for their entire undergraduate degrees in addition to the semester or year-long programs offered in the past, according to the university.

According to a statement by university spokesperson Marirose Sartoretto, Oakland campus admission was offered to students who “were academically qualified and showed qualities to succeed, but for whom we didn’t have any additional spots for in Boston.”

“While not every student selected Oakland or London

campuses as their first choice of location, we wanted to offer some of our strong pool of qualified applicants the opportunity to join Northeastern University in lieu of a denial,” the statement read.

This year, the university received more than 96,000 applications for the fall 2023 semester, while only 2,600 spots were available.

This comes as the university faces increasing scrutiny about the shortage of housing on the Boston campus, as well as their decision to send students to alternate locations without their expressed interest.

Jeta Perjuci, a first-year media and screen studies and journalism combined major who was part of the inaugural N.U.in Oakland class, said she understands why the university is accepting people to alternate locations but expressed discontent with the decision.

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“It feels unfair when you’re told you got accepted to Northeastern, except it’s being taught by Mills College professors, you’re in class with other Mills students and not on the Boston campus,” Perjuci said. “I know I didn’t apply for a study abroad program and still got admitted for N.U.in, so I can’t imagine what it would be like for four years when that’s not what you expected when applying.”

Despite the differences in course offerings and location, students in Oakland will be paying the same tuition as students on the Boston campus.

According to the program’s website, the tuition for Northeastern University Oakland for the 2023-24 year is estimated at $81,472

Kyle Kucera, a first-year journalism major who also spent his

last semester in Oakland, said that while he enjoyed the campus itself, it felt isolated from the rest of the city and the experiences it offered.

He said he feels that his classes in Boston are much more academically rigorous.

“As far as tuition goes, I don’t think it’s fair to have almost the same amount for each campus, especially because I didn’t choose to be at a satellite campus, and I was missing out on some opportunities at the Boston campus while I was in Oakland,” Kucera said.

The Oakland campus will offer four majors — biology, business administration, computer science and health science. It will also offer a Discover Oakland program for undeclared students, along with 10 combined majors.

MILLS COLLEGE, on Page 2

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Photo by Mika Podila

Photo by Alexis Algazy

WORKERS, on Page 2

Illustration by Liza Sheehy

Madigan addresses post-grad unionization movement, eliciting opposition

WORKERS, from front

This was just one of many moments of virtual collaboration among those involved in the yearslong effort to unionize the graduate student workers of Northeastern, as each graduate student’s work made scheduling synchronous meetings difficult. The shared Google Doc, however, symbolically encapsulated what Gitomer said was electric about their movement.

“Really quickly, we were able to churn out a really nice response to the email with everybody just kind of working on it at once,” Gitomer said. “All these people who probably have never been in a single meeting together, and we’re able to coalesce and produce something.”

This mobilization was a long time coming for Gitomer, who became interested in unionizing during the first year of her doctorate program, cata-

lyzed by the university’s COVID-19 policies for grad students.

Monday through Friday, Gitomer does research on decentralized digital movements for the Communication Media and Marginalization Lab at the university’s Network Science Institute. She said she loves her work, and has no regrets about going into academia, but still advocates for a union. The whiteboard on her desk features a QR code captioned “If you’re reading this, do you wanna sign a union card?”

She said the administration continues to neglect graduate students’ grievances.

Computer science doctoral candidate Max von Hippel said this email was just another link in a long chain of events that demonstrate the university’s infantilizing treatment of graduate students. Last October, he fought alongside his peers

against the university’s non-consensual installation of heat sensors underneath desks in the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, many of which belonged to graduate students.

After graduate students immediately removed the sensors and placed them in the ISEC lobby, von Hippel said the administration only conceded when students’ repeated complaints generated negative press coverage.

“It was just another example in a long sequence of examples [of] the university completely failing to recognize the critical role that [grad students] play in its day to day operations,” von Hippel said. “Instead, consistently treating us essentially like children who do not need to be in the loop of any decision making, who can be spied on without their consent.”

The university has also warned graduate student workers that unionizing could fundamentally alter the “student-teacher” relationship members have with their faculty mentors, transforming it into a less enriching and more transactional “employee-worker” relationship.

Graduate students like Gitomer and von Hippel aren’t buying it.

“Tons of people have exploitative and abusive advisors,” Gitomer said. “They have no bargaining power or flexibility. If anything, the union would help in those kinds of situations.”

After delivering a letter to the university requesting a union election Feb. 3, Northeastern graduate students filed with the National Labor Relations Board to formally request a union election on Feb. 6., a major step forward for the Graduate Employees of Northeastern University-United Automobile Workers.

‘It takes years to organize a union, and you’re kind of seeing the end of it right now,” von Hippel said.

Among the faculty endorsements listed on the GENU-UAW website are the Department of English, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, the Department of History and the Adjunct Faculty Union.

Von Hippel said if the university cared about preserving the student-advisor relationship, the formation of a union would be much higher on their priority list.

PhD students Adina Gitomer and Max Von Hippel pose for a portraits. Gitomer is one of the many graduate students to push back against Northeastern’s latest efforts to dissuade graduate students from unionizing. Von Hippel argued that the university fails to recognize the critical role that play at Northeastern and has advocated for rights for himself and his peers.

Grad students at Northeastern are paid less than the calculated living wage for one adult in Boston, meaning many students struggle with finances — a problem they believe a union would help address by negotiating higher wages.

Von Hippel’s previous apartment had a mouse infestation and walls thin enough for his neighbors’ yells to come through. As a result, von Hippel decided to move out and house-sit various properties rather than paying rent.

“Paying rent is financially burdensome when you’re only paid $40,000 a year,” von Hippel said. “If the university wants to make it more of a teacher-student relationship, they should make it so that being poor is less of a distraction.”

While Madigan’s email did address how unionization could affect student finances by citing the New York University graduate students’ union dues of “2% plus a $50 initiation fee,” Gitomer called the provost’s numbers “misinformation.”

“We don’t start paying dues until we win a contract, and the idea is that the benefits we win in that contract will make the dues entirely worth it,” Gitmoer said.

Von Hippel said all these indignities that graduate students have suffered at the hands of the administration are compounded by the fact that the university posits a collective bargaining agreement would interfere with their studies.

“The funny thing is that the university has literally never once listened to my needs, and so the idea that a third-party bureaucracy would only occasionally listen to my needs would be an upgrade over the current situation,” von Hippel said. “It’s a lot easier to organize collective action when you have a collective agency, when you have an actual structure by which people can collectively organize. And that is literally the definition of a union.”

I spending a semester in Oakland? A year? My entire undergraduate degree?’

According to the website, students enrolling to the campus in fall 2023 “are able to transition to Northeastern’s Boston campus after their first year of study no matter their academic program.”

The multitude of Reddit posts on the topic conveyed students’ lack of clarity on which program they were admitted to, as well as the details of the program and transfer options.

“Students should be aware that that is what they are getting themselves into and should only be able to opt into that option if that is something that they want,” Kucera said. “I think Northeastern just needs to really specify on their application what these options are for students so they’re not disappointed or surprised when they get their acceptance.”

Katya Zhuravytsky, a fourth-year neuroscience major, said she noticed a difference in campus density during her time at North-

eastern. While she thinks the school should do more to mitigate this, she’s unsure that other locations will offer students the same experience.

“I am in no way opposed to the school accepting more students, especially because more and more people are applying each year,” Zhuravytsky said. ”However, if the school makes the active decision to accept more students, then they also need to maintain the same quality of education and opportunities offered to each one of those students.”

Zhuravytsky noted that while she thinks students should be allowed to attend alternate campuses if they prefer to do so, the Boston experience is unmatched and cannot be translated to other campuses.

“Northeastern was founded in Boston and has most of its influence here,” she said. “Our education is reflected in our participation on this specific campus and by our interactions with the Boston community as a whole.”

‘Am

Left: Photo by Collette Pollauf, Right: Photo courtesy Max von Hippel

Mills College at Northeastern University in Oakland. During the fall 2023 admissions cycle, Northeastern admitted many students to the Oakland campus, creating confusion among prospective students regarding where they would spend their undergraduate years.

Photo courtesy Ruby Wallau for Northeastern University

MILLS COLLEGE, from front

BU students push to rename residence hall

By Val O’Neill News Staff

Over 170 student organizations at Boston University signed an open letter written by members of the College of Arts and Sciences Anti-Racist Initiative Group, or CASARI, as well as members of student government, requesting to change the name of a residence hall located at 610 Beacon St., Myles Standish Hall.

In 1621, during a proposed peaceful meeting of colonists and Indigenous peoples, military leaders of the Plymouth Colony, including Myles Standish, slaughtered two chiefs, Pecksuit and Wittawamut, as well as five other Natives living in the village in what is now known as the Massacre at Wessagusset.

The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag is a group of descendants of Chickataubut’s Band of Massachusett at Neponset. In September 2021, along with a Change.org petition, former BU professor Travis Franks wrote to BU President Robert A. Brown in collaboration with the Massachusett Tribe, asking him to rename Myles Standish Hall. According to BU’s Daily Free Press, President Brown wrote back saying he was “not prepared to remove his name at this time.”

Brown said Standish had no connection to BU, and was a “capable and flawed individual.” Therefore he did not feel compelled to rename the building to Wituwamat Memorial Hall as requested by the tribe.

“We bought the building with that name and kept the name,” said Adam Shamsi, a third-year political science major at BU and member of CASARI.

“So it’s something that we have complete control over.”

Shamsi wrote the first draft of the open letter. Nearly half of BU’s student run organizations on campus have signed the final draft of the open letter, which was completed this past November.

“We got a surprising amount of respondents, saying that this is something they’ve been wanting to work on more, something that they’re interested in learning about more,” Shamsi said.

“People are very optimistic and excited to join this initiative.”

At the end of this academic year, Brown will be stepping down from his position as president of BU.

Shamsi and his peers are hopeful that if Brown cannot make the change on 610 Beacon St., then the following president will.

“It could be an easy action item for the next president that comes in,” Shamsi said.

Another action item for CASARI is building up and expanding the Indigenous community and resources at BU. According to the letter, CASARI, as well as the other campus groups who signed on, believes BU’s lack of Native students and faculty as well as the lack of programs and support for the Indigenous community is unacceptable.

“The entire motivation driving this initiative is that BU must treat

Indigenous students equally to the other students that are involved in this university and the other faculty and staff members who work for the university as well,” said Anne Joseph, a second-year sociology major at BU. “We’ve seen alarming rates of the amount of diversity in terms of Indigenous students in the university and Indigenous faculty members in the university. It is completely appalling and does not reflect the national statistics of the diversity of Indigenous students.”

Joseph said BU has 15 Indigenous students and one Indigenous faculty member as of fall 2021, the most recent year of publicly available data from the Office of the University Registrar. Additionally, over the past five years the number of Indigenous students enrolled has declined by 60%.

Other student criticisms of BU include a lack of Indigenous studies programs and general community resources for Indigenous people.

“Many other large regional research institutions like ourselves have these programs implemented already,” Joseph said.

In the open letter, the students not only ask for the removal of Myles Standish Hall’s name, but also to “develop and fund initiatives to support Native students, faculty and staff, and local Indigenous communities.”

“Those are the voices of the students,” Joseph said. “Those are the voices that need to be heard.”

However, Professor Franks’ original efforts to rename Myles Standish Hall back in 2021 have not been forgotten or overlooked. Both Shamsi and Joseph spoke highly of Franks, and although he is now teaching at Utah State University, he still feels strongly about this initiative, they said.

Franks left BU because he was in a temporary post-doctoral position, and although he was proud to be associated with the university, he said, he believes there is much change to be made.

“I know the university’s mission statement seems very in line with what we were trying to do with renaming the building,” Franks said. “The unwillingness to rename the

building does not reflect well on the university’s willingness to do more. In the grand scheme of things, renaming a building is such a small ask.”

Franks also expressed his admiration for the students in CASARI running this initiative.

“I’m incredibly proud of those students who have stood up and taken leadership roles in this,” Franks said.

He recalled BU celebrates Indigenous People’s Day because of an initiative run by students, and said he believes change is most effectively created by students.

“The students who are doing this work, they’re incredibly brave,” Franks said. “They’re incredibly dedicated. It’s really inspiring to see how they’ve carried on with this.”

Black History Month Freedom Trail tours highlight Black revolutionaries

During February, the Freedom Trail offers the African-American Patriots tour, featuring the history of Black revolutionaries.

“I think in all of our tours we are emphasizing sharing stories of all of Boston’s people, especially in Revolutionary history, but we have been emphasizing sharing the stories of traditionally underrepresented people as well, for the past several years,”

said Freedom Trail Experiences Officer Catherine Benjamin.

The tour takes attendees through the historic streets of Beacon Hill along the Freedom Trail. Along the way, the tour highlights the stories of members of the African-American community that have gone untold in mainstream historical education.

Tour guide Kelli Strong led the tour dressed as Phillis Wheatley, an 18th-century slave and poet. Strong began the tour by narrating the life story of Phillis Wheatley, who was

purchased as a child by John and Susanna Wheatley, but still learned to read and write and became a published poet.

“Not everybody was excited about my poetry, Governor [Thomas] Hutchinson, our last royal governor of Massachusetts did not think I was truly the author of this poetry. He thought it was an elaborate hoax to make money,” Strong said in character as Wheatley.

Hutchinson and many others believed an enslaved woman was incapable of such a feat. Wheatley’s naysayers went as far as putting her on trial to prove her authorship.

Later in life, Wheatley’s mistress died and granted her freedom, only for her to marry a man who took any money she made from her publication.

Phillis Wheatley died at the ripe age of 31 years old at the hands of typhus, Strong said.

“If you guys are expecting happy endings, this is an African American history tour, it’s not gonna go that way,” Strong said.

The African-American Patriots tour begins at the Boston Common, which was a white-only space for much of Boston’s history. The exception to this segregation was Negro Election Day, the third Saturday in July. It was a day of celebration when a Black governor was elected as a liaison between enslaved people, colonial leaders and white slave owners.

However, there are no firsthand accounts to get a better sense of this day.

“There’s a limited history scope because of who was writing Black history,” Strong said.

One historical site along this tour is the African Meeting House, which was across the street from the only Black school in Boston until 1965 when the Racial Imbalance Act was passed. At this site, Strong told the story of the Roberts Family who fought for the desegregation of education in the Roberts v. Boston Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Case in 1849 that would be cited in future fights for integration in schools.

Another stop was the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, a sculpture that depicts Colonel Shaw leading one of the first Black regiments of the Civil War. The sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, initially planned to only feature Shaw on the memorial, but the Shaw family insisted including the army of Black soldiers was more important, Strong said.

Stories like these allow underrepresented communities to see themselves in Boston’s history, which often only highlights white men, Strong said.

“I hope it’s an opportunity for people to see their stories told,” Benjamin said.

At another stop, Strong emphasized the difference in the treat-

ment of enslaved people based on their location in the United States. There was little prospect of freedom in the South, leading many to flee to Boston. However, this choice came with great risk. If a headhunter caught a runaway slave, they would be returned.

Further along the Freedom Trail lies the Granary Burying Ground where many historical figures and individuals lie, nearly all of them white. One historical figure buried at this cemetery is John Hancock, but the man buried next to him is out of the ordinary. Frank, John Hancock’s “servant,” is one of just three Black people buried in the Granary Burying Ground. Strong brought attention to the use of the word “servant” rather than “slave,” although in many cases they were subject to the same treatment.

Strong also told the story of Mark Codman and his sister, two enslaved people who decided to poison their owner and were caught, Mark was hung and his sister was burned at the stake. To send a warning to other people enslaved in Massachusetts, Codman’s body was left hanging, which was seen and cited by Paul Revere during his well-known Midnight Ride.

Guiding the tour

along the Freedom Trail, Strong detailed the underrepresented, and often unknown stories of Boston’s black history.

group

“I want the full story, the real story,” said tour attendee Erica Turner.

Photo by Val O’Neill Myles Standish Hall sits between Beacon Street and Bay State Road on Boston University’s campus. The building is named after a military leader of the Plymouth Colony who contributed to the massacre of Indigenous people in 1621.

(Left) Tour guide Kelli Strong, dressed as Phylis Wheatley, stands in front of the African Meeting House. African American Patriots tours are offered throughout February. (Right) A sign marks the Black Heritage Trail in the South End. Landmarks on the trail are included in the African Americans Patriots tour.

Photos by Alexis Algazy

By Alexis Algazy News Staff

Historic ManRay nightclub reopens, brings joy to Boston queer community across generations

By Trevor Gardemal News Correspondent

About six years before ManRay closed and 24 years before it reopened, Rob Wilson met his partner at the club.

Wilson, who was 28 at the time, was attending the gay club for the first time. Of the two dance floors in the club, he preferred the one in the back, which played the new wave music of the ‘80s. However, he moved to the first dance floor — playing top 40 hits — throughout the night. There, he spotted a hirsute man, who he later realized was dancing with coworkers.

“I worked my way over there and we ended up dancing for most of the rest of the night. We exchanged numbers, kind of chatted for a long time outside the bar. Around two, I think, we got pizza around the corner,” Wilson said. “We chatted a couple of different times over the phone and ended up having a date about a week or two later.”

Wilson and his partner celebrated their 24th anniversary Jan. 28, nearly a quarter-decade after they locked eyes in the club.

In the ’80s and ’90s, ManRay was the hotspot for Boston and Cambridge’s alternative queer community. Its goth, industrial, drag, fetish, lesbian and college nights defined a generation.

“I don’t think a lot of gay clubs or gay bars — at least at that time — [they] didn’t put a focus on the fact that gay people come in all different stripes, and their tastes do as well,” said Chris Ewen, longtime DJ and member of The Magnetic Fields.

Unfortunately, ManRay closed its doors in 2005, when it was demolished to make way for a condo complex. For 18 years, the bar sought

a new home. Ewen, along with owner Don Holland and bartender Terri Niedzwiecki, spent much of the following two decades trying to reopen.

“We’ve looked at a lot of places over the years that we thought just weren’t the proper fit. We wanted to reopen again in Central Square or in Cambridge, at least where we were initially,” Ewen said. “It just so happened that a couple of years ago this space opened up. So we decided to go for it.”

The new location, located at 40 Prospect St. in Cambridge, formerly the home of comedy club ImprovBoston, is smaller than the original. It has only one dance floor, complete with a built-in stage and two bars with a capacity of 440.

Wilson, who runs the blog BosGuy, focused on “the life and interests of a gay, urban professional from Boston,” has been writing about the long rumored reopening for years as part of his goal to connect Boston’s queer community with events.

“When they finally did reopen, I didn’t believe it. I had to text one of the DJs. I was like, for real?” Wilson said. “Like, is it really happening? Because I’ve made an ass out of myself a few times.”

Although Wilson does not intend on being a regular at the reopened ManRay, citing a change in interest as he has aged, he is thrilled the space will be available for a new generation.

“There’s just so few gay bars. It’s just so few of them,” Wilson said. “And I’m thrilled that they’re bringing back the 19-plus night because, where does somebody go? I mean, Boston has a ton of college students and they deserve to have a place to call their own.”

Sarah Halverson, a third-year public relations major at Boston

University, went to the nightclub on the 19-plus campus night, which is held every Thursday, and found an older crowd and music than she had expected.

“We were all looking around like, ‘Oh, we’re the youngest people here,’” she said. “I knew some songs, but I feel like some songs were a little bit older. When I first got there, they were playing some older Whitney Houston, but you could still dance to it. It’s just like, you might not know every song.”

Hank Leathers, a fourth-year economics and political science combined major, attended the club the weekend after it reopened and returned the following week. He first went on a Saturday, the ’80s themed “Heroes” night, followed by Friday’s industrial “Chrome” night, both DJed by Ewen.

“People were all decked out in their all black fits. And I don’t know, it’s kind of cool. It’s a very much

‘you-can-be-yourself’ kind of vibe, which I enjoy,” Leathers said. “Right now, it’s probably my favorite spot in town just because it’s different and fun and not super expensive.”

Wilson, who intends on going to the club once it warms up, fears the scene may not be as compelling to the new generation as it was during his youth.

“The thing that bums me out is that I recognize that maybe Gen Z and millennials don’t view a club or a bar quite the same way that maybe somebody my age does,” Wilson said. “And what I mean by that is you’re so digital first, as a generalization. That physical contact, proximity and engagement actually is a source of anxiety, not a source of comfort for them.”

Ewen, especially after seeing the crowds during the new ManRay’s first few weeks, is optimistic.

“I think with the pandemic and everything, people are realizing

that actual human connection and social connection is really important and not something to be taken for granted,” Ewen said. “So I think people are going out more again and finding that human connection, as well as every other kind of connection they might be looking for musically.”

In terms of what is to come, Ewen hopes to continue experimenting by inviting young and established DJs alike.

He aims to forge a space for greater Boston’s younger queer community without isolating its older residents.

“Everything evolves. I think that what we are trying to do with the club is evolve with the times, but also keep a lot of what made us a draw and a successful place back in the day,” Ewen said. “Playing lots of new music, bringing in lots of new people. Showing different sides of gay nightlife.”

‘Jado Jehad’ provides key representation for Pakistani community in world of theatre

By Z Weber News Correspondent

“It’s been a journey,” said Fatima A.Maan, an MFA student at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, or BPT. Her play, “Jado Jehad,” premiered at BPT from Feb. 16 to 26.

“Jado Jehad” tells the story of a queer Pakistani woman, Mashal, returning home to live with her mother and grandmother after attending college in the United States. Mashal navigates her sexuality while struggling with familial, religious and cultural expectations, all while adjusting to adult life.

In Urdu, the title “Jado Jehad” means “to strive in opposition,” which perfectly describes the show’s themes.

Maan started her MFA at the BPT in 2020, and remembers being told that she was the first international student in the program.

“My fall semester of my workshop was with this Irish dude. [He] kept telling me that I needed to write my big American play that was for American audiences,” Maan said. “It was

very much about what they wanted to see, what they came to the theater for.”

Maan expressed many audience mambers were confused because of the cultural relativity of the play. Many Americans did not understand why the grandmother was up at 4 a.m. in the show, but Maan explained that anybody who knows about Pakistani culture would know about morning prayers. Despite the pushback and frustration over lack of progression, Maan persisted with her show.

Maan described how important it was to have a “kickass South Asian cast” for the show, even halting production in order to find the right women for the roles.

One such woman was Sushmita Udoshi, a third-year film major at Boston University. She became involved with the “Jado Jehad” workshop over a year ago, but later auditioned when she saw a casting advertisement for the show.

“I haven’t really acted in a few years, but they posted that they needed some South Asian girls to read lines, and I was like, ‘well, that’s who I am,’” Udoshi said.

Despite acting from kindergarten through eighth grade, Udoshi had not performed until last year. She discussed the importance of Pakistani culture in the show, and how it had to be explained for American audiences, which she says was her greatest hurdle.

“[Representation] is incredibly important, so that other people that could potentially express themselves creatively know that they can see themselves in those spaces,” Udoshi said. “If I were to see representation of South Asians in theatre when I was a lot younger, I would have stepped into this space so much earlier.”

Lead actor Vidisha Agarwalla, a recent graduate of Northeastern, remembers her own experiences with racism in high school theatre. She became president of the New Renaissance Theatre club as an undergraduate, where she fostered a safe environment for people of color and minorities in the arts because she saw a complete lack of representation in theatre growing up.

“I felt relegated to the performing arts that our cultures deemed accept-

able,” Agarwalla said. “There’s actually so much I can do, so much that I want to do. Sometimes you have to be the representation that you want to see.”

While the arts are becoming more inclusive, there is still room for growth. According to Maan, the American theatre industry is very academic, but it’s also an exciting place to deconstruct themes and subject matters in ways that would not be possible in other mediums. Throughout the play, Mashal and her family argue about moral and political debates.

Despite the discomfort of Mashal with her grandmother’s generational and cultural barriers, the character has a happy ending when Mashal’s family accepts her girlfriend.

The show is somewhat autobiographical for Maan; however, the ending is entirely fantastical.

“I had to write this play for the part of myself who, as a Pakistani person, sort of craved that validation with that happy ending within my own setting, within my own family, within my own culture,” Maan said.

Similarly, Agarwalla described how audience members of multiple

cultures and backgrounds have come to her in tears saying how moved they were by the play, lamenting that they will never get the same happy ending.

“Homophobia exists across all cultures,” Agarwalla said. “It’s beautiful to be able to tell a story that resonates so deeply with me and who I am, and I wouldn’t have that if it weren’t for more representation, more diversity when it comes to all roles, on stage and off. There’s no point being an actor if you don’t have your stories being told.”

Thanks to creatives like Maan, more people are able to see parts of themselves in the media they consume, allowing them to feel seen, heard and understood.

“Jado Jehad” hinges on the delicacy of familial relationships during times of personal discovery.

“I would love for audiences to call their moms,” Maan said.“[I hope] audiences’ ideas of race, ideas of color, ideas of age and sexual identity don’t matter, that people go see this play and are able to relate to anything they see on a person to person, human to human level.”

Photo by Quillan Anderson

The historic ManRay club reopens 18 years after its closure in 2005. In the ’80s and ’90s, ManRay was the hotspot for Boston and Cambridge’s alternative queer community.

Column: Movie theaters struggle to compete with streaming services

By Laura Emde News Staff

Many are familiar with the experience of paying $11 for a ticket to a new movie, waiting in line for an overpriced bag of popcorn and settling into their seat to eat the entirety of said bag before the previews even end.

However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, going to a movie theater has become less common in the United States. According to a study from Statista, 41% of respondents said they rarely go to see a movie in theaters, with 18% saying they never go.

This newfound hesitancy toward the silver screen is having a financial impact on many major movie theater chains. Regal Cinemas will be closing 39 locations across the country this year, including its Fenway location. Additionally, AMC Theatres

announced Feb. 6 they will be introducing a new pricing plan where moviegoers will have to pay more for seats with a better view of the screen.

What is keeping people away from the popcorn-scented auditoriums?

Streaming services.

Beyond well-established platforms such as Netflix, streaming services gained popularity in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic when many public spaces, including theaters, had yet to reopen. Film studios put projects slated for 2020 theatrical releases on streaming services in an attempt to recoup some of the revenue that would inevitably be lost.

Despite their start as a temporary solution to potential financial ruin, streaming services are here to stay.

According to a Kantar article, around 85% of households in the United States had at least one video subscription as of December 2021, and

the Statista study found that they spent approximately $114 billion on them.

One reason why people may be choosing streaming services over movie theaters is the lower cost — streaming a movie is likely going to be cheaper or around the same price as going to the theater.

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is currently both in theaters and on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, where it is available to rent for $25 and to buy for $30. For the average parent with two kids, buying three tickets at the average price is around $33, which is already more expensive than both buying and renting the film from Amazon — even before the snacks and drinks the kids will undoubtedly ask for. It would be cheaper for the parent to get the movie from Amazon and hand out snacks they already have at home.

Another reason for the appeal of streaming services is that the time between theater releases and streaming or home releases is nowhere near as long as it used to be.

The Disney film “Frozen II” debuted in theaters Nov. 22, 2019 and did not appear on streaming services until March 15, 2020, approximately four months later. In contrast, the movie “Encanto” had its theatrical release Nov. 24, 2021, and premiered on streaming services Dec. 24, 2021, exactly one month later. Even though audiences still have to wait a little while to see a movie at home, the drastic change from just four years ago makes the wait seem more bearable, and ultimately worth it.

All the newfound benefits of streaming now leave movie theaters

with an important question — what can they do to get people to come back?

Ultimately, there is very little movie theaters can do to combat tactics such as earlier streaming premieres, as they are at the mercy of the studios who will choose when and where their films will be available for streaming.

Instead, theaters need to focus on how they can improve the moviegoing experience for those who are choosing them over streaming services.

One such method that makes the cinema less stressful, implemented by chains such as AMC and Showcase Cinemas, is reserved seating. Movie patrons no longer have to deal with the stress of finding a block of seats for their entire group or worry they’ll end up seated in less-than-subpar seats directly in front of the screen and head home with neck pain. Instead, they have peace of mind knowing the seats they want are already there, waiting for their arrival.

Another such example is contactless ordering for concessions. Many theater chains, in the wake of the pandemic, now allow patrons to pre-order their snacks online or on their respective mobile apps. This provides peace of mind for customers who may have health concerns as well as a more relaxing experience for those who would prefer to simply grab their food and go without talking to others.

If movie theaters are able to strengthen the amenities and experiences they provide, it may be enough to keep them afloat and prevent their loyal customers from choosing streaming services.

Review: Shyamalan disappoints again with mediocre ‘Knock at the Cabin’

By Jake Guldin Deputy Lifestyle Editor

Following the critical and commercial successes of M. Night Shyamalan’s first two features at the turn of the 21st century, Newsweek boldly heralded the auteur as “the next Spielberg.” In the decades since, though, Shyamalan has largely failed to satisfy the lofty expectations implied by such a moniker.

The Philadelphia-based writer-director’s latest release, “Knock at the Cabin,” is occasionally reminiscent of the superb early works that earned him the aforementioned title — something that cannot be said of his other recent endeavors. However, it still pales overall in comparison to the likes of “The Sixth Sense” and “Unbreakable.”

Based on Paul G. Tremblay’s 2018 novel “The Cabin at the End of the World,” the Universal Pictures release follows a tight-knit family — fathers Eric (Jonathan Groff), Andrew (Ben Aldridge) and adopted daughter Wen (Kristen Cui) — who, while vacationing in a secluded cabin, are attacked by a group of four strangers. After tying up their victims, the quartet — Leonard (Dave Bautista), Redmond (Rupert

Grint), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird) and Adriane (Abby Quinn) — boldly claim an impending apocalypse may only be avoided if the trio make the unthinkable sacrifice of one of their own.

Although Shyamalan’s adaptation never fully delivers on the intrigue established by such a premise, certain aspects are executed with a proficiency seldom observed in other mainstream horror offerings.

Everyone within this star-studded ensemble delivers fascinating, well-rounded performances — a miracle given how much of a handicap the screenplay is. Of the seven actors, though, one stands well above the rest: Bautista.

As the de facto leader of the film’s intimidating and eclectic antagonists, Bautista exhibits a sensitivity hitherto unseen, especially in the opening scenes with 9-year-old Cui. As the wrestler-turned-actor helps the young girl corral grasshoppers into a jar, he speaks calmly while inquiring about her life and family, charming her and the audience by proxy. Even after binding the familial unit to chairs, Bautista frequently exudes patience and compassion, revealing the sincerity of his character’s temperate disposition. His soft demeanor

subverts the audience’s expectations of Leonard due to his imposing figure, solidifying him as a gentle giant.

Joining Bautista and the rest of the ensemble as a bright spot is the “Signs” filmmaker’s masterful command of the camera. Through the use of whip pans, dolly zooms and other techniques, Shyamalan crafts a series of dynamic visuals, ensuring viewers are enraptured for the entirety of the film’s 100-minute runtime.

Shyamalan also takes repeated advantage of close-ups, allowing the viewer to study and, as a result, truly feel the emotions displayed by the cast’s facial expressions.

Beyond camera movement and composition, the movie’s cinematography — a joint effort between Lowell A. Meyer and Jarin Blaschke — provides the soft warmth one would associate with the faraway getaway in which it is set. This quality further serves to contrast the shocking and often devastating violence that befalls the people of Shyamalan’s fictional world.

Unfortunately, any suspense manufactured by the film’s excellent camerawork and stellar performers is severely undercut by Shyamalan and his co-writers Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman.

Calendar compiled by Cathy Ching & Jake Guldin Graphics by Emma Liu

March 3 - March 5

Roll Call @ SoWa

Lace up your skates — or put on your best dancing shoes — and enjoy this high-energy event.

Times vary per day, SoWa Power Station, Tickets start at $10.

Monday, March 6

Boston Lyric Opera

Celebrate Women’s History Month with BLO’s “The Power of Women’s Voices” performance.

6 p.m. - 7 p.m., Boston Public Library, Free.

Sunday, March 12

Drag Bingo

Hosted by Plane Jane, this event features drag performances, guest appearances and fun prizes. This isn’t your grandma’s bingo!

6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Time Out Market Boston, Free. Reservations recommended.

As with other Shyamalan pictures, the dialogue is incredibly stilted. Conversations in the film’s remote locale are unnatural to the point of distraction, ruining the immersion established by the aforementioned elements. Beyond this, the project’s screenplay conveys little faith in the audience, specifically in the third act, as the writing team elects to include lines that are heavy-handed and, frankly, unnecessary.

Shyamalan, Desmond and Sherman also radically altered Tremblay’s original text while translating it for the silver screen, with the film’s second half differing greatly from its source material. Though story changes are a natural part of the adaptation process, some, such as the movie’s new ending, are immensely frustrating, as they strip the narrative of its ambiguity and thought-provoking nature.

Despite boasting career-best work from Bautista, an invested ensemble and impressive visuals, “Knock at the Cabin” — though superior to other works from Shyamalan’s not-so-distant past — is another underwhelming addition to his increasingly uneven filmography.

Wednesday, March 15

Art Exhibit Opening Celebration

Join other art enthusiasts at the opening of the new “Lyle Ashton Harris: Our first and last love” exhibit.

6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Rose Art Museum, Free.

Sunday, March 19

Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Watch as colorful floats, bagpipe players and others navigate Southie in celebration of all things Irish.

1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Broadway Station (MBTA), Free.

Illustration by Emma Liu

BERKLEE STUDENT ARTIST

THROUGH MUSIC, POETRY

By Sundararaman Rengarajan, Darin Zullo, Quillan

Ogbonné Mary Orji fully realized her childhood dreams the night of Jan. 31 after several intense months of preparation and rehearsal for her passion project, “Conception: The Awakening of Ogbonné.” An eighth-semester student at Berklee College of Music, Orji performed her debut visual album for a live audience of over 100 people at Berklee Performance Center.

Orji has been captivated by music since childhood, practicing tenor

saxophone and cello from a young age. Citing influences such as Grover Washington, Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, Orji’s passion for spiritual jazz and soul shone through effortlessly in “Conception.” The first single of the album was initially released on Spotify in August 2022, with the entire album released a month later.

Combining poetry, dance, artistry and music, Orji was backed by an ensemble she called the Mary Orji

Orji holds a fan and a microphone while performing “Eberechukwu’s Biafra” at Berklee Performance Center Jan. 31. The “Visionaries Collective” was formed organically while Orji worked on the project.

Photo by Sundararaman Rengarajan

Steven Amoikon plays an electric guitar on stage surrounded by members of the Collective. This piece depicted the spirit of perception and is a part of Orji’s upcoming second album.

Photo by Sundararaman Rengarajan

Orji mesmerizes the tenor her journey

Mae-Ya Carter Ryan sings center stage while dancers in long white skirts surround her. The dancers depicted a vessel from which Ryan, the “Visionary of Spirit,” emerged.

Photo by Darin Zullo

Ana Delgado Cruz and Maya Quinones dance in circles around Bianca Cabili as she sings and plays the cello. The combination of voice and movement used to perform this piece captivated the crowd.

Photo by Darin Zullo

Orji walks around during the song

Graphic by Quillan Anderson

Graphic by Jessica Xing

HONORS BIAFRAN HERITAGE

POETRY AND DANCE

Quillan Anderson, Colette Pollauf and Jessica Xing Visionaries Collective. Each member of the ensemble was noted as being the “Visionary” of a certain trait, such as peace, awakening, strength or power. Fitting in the themes of “Conception,” this created a sense of individuality while still uniting the Visionaries Collective.

An ode to her ancestors, “Conception” honors Orji’s Nigerian lineage both musically and visually. This was evident by the instrumentation throughout the performance,

the display of the flag of Biafra and the appearance of Orji’s parents at the closing of the performance. A handful of tracks from Orji’s sophomore effort “Perception,” which is currently in production, were also performed.

More information on “Conception” and Orji’s other projects can be found on her website (maryorji.com), Spotify (The Mary Orji Visionaries Collective) and YouTube channel (@themaryorjivisionariescoll9374).

mesmerizes the audience while showcasing her skills in playing tenor saxophone. The track “Ogbonné’s Awakening” portrayed journey in music from her childhood to the present day.

Photo by Sundararaman Rengarajan around the stage while dancer Christopher Stansell kneels on the ground to “praise [Orji] for her divinity” song “Lover’s Fiasco.” The dialogue represented two lovers and pointed out the inequalities in a relationship.

Photo by Sundararaman Rengarajan

Orji plays the saxophone in front of the Biafran flag during the performance of “Eberechukwu’s Biafra.” Orji acknowledged this song as a tribute to her ancestors and heritage.

Photo by Darin Zullo

Orji and the Collective receive their diplomas for the album “Conception.” The certificates honored each member of the Collective for their efforts and dedication to the performance and album.

Photo by Darin Zullo

The Collective performs the finale, “Visionary Salute,” to thank their audience. This included impromptu dance moves, tune improvisations, dialogue and new lyrics.

Photo by Sundararaman Rengarajan

Graphic by Jessica Xing

After strong start, Huskies look forward to 2023 season, CAA play

By Patrick O’Neal News Correspondent

The Northeastern baseball team began its 2023 season in a strong position, opening by defeating UNC Greensboro in a close 2-1 series and sweeping a threegame series against Indiana State Feb. 26 after losing the exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox.

“We looked really good, especially on the hitting side,” said sophomore center fielder Mike Sirota about the opening weekend. “I felt like the offense was clicking, and we capitalized on opportunities.”

Sirota, a standout rookie last year, was sidelined with an injury partway through last season, but returned to the starting lineup against UNC Greensboro. Before the start of the 2023 season, Sirota, along with pitchers Wyatt Scotti and Jordy Allard, received pre-season CAA AllConference honors.

The strong start to the 2023 season comes after a disappointing end to last season’s CAA championship, where the team suffered a walk-off loss against Hofstra.

“We were obviously disappointed in the final outcome,” said head coach Mike Glavine. “But to have that opportunity and get to the championship game out of the winner’s bracket was great … We were disappointed, but we’re excited to regroup.”

Glavine is confident about the team’s ability to repeat a CAA championship appearance but wants to take the season as it comes.

“[I’m] not necessarily focused on the end result, though aware of it and its importance, and it’s a long road from here to that game,” Glavine said. “I really like what I saw this weekend, which built on everything we saw this fall. We weren’t perfect this weekend, I know we can play better defense and pitch better, and we kind of lost our focus and let them get back into the game. [There’s] a lot of positives from this weekend we can build on from week one.”

Sirota’s confidence in the team’s ability to make it back to the conference championship is high.

“We just try to take it one step or one series at a time,” Sirota said. “We have high expectations, we expect to win the CAA and make regionals. It feels pretty real.”

Junior pitcher Eric Yost also felt good about the team’s performance in the opening weekend, but sees room for improvement going ahead.

“I think there’s a lot we can learn [from] this weekend, pitching- and hitting-wise,” Yost said about the series. “Overall, it was a good weekend — we showed what we can do with the bats and gloves.”

Northeastern will be coming off the first two series wins in hopes of continuing the recent trend of strong performance the baseball team has had in the past few years. Since Glavine became head coach, the team has gone 231-179-1 (101-63 in CAA play), appearing in two NCAA tournaments and having more than a dozen players drafted by MLB teams, including three in the 2022 draft — right-handed pitchers Cam Schlittler, Thomas Balboni and Sebastian Keane.

Last year’s draft was the third out of the last four in which the Huskies posted three or more picks — in 2019 and 2021, they had four.

“The trajectory is pretty awesome. I think the baseball team could make an impact in our world.” Glavine said.

“There’s been a lot of great things in the past five, six or seven years, and a lot of conversations on how we can get better … and get onto that national scene as well as be a great regional team.”

With so many star pitchers headed to play on the pro stage, there were some holes left to fill. On top of the 26 Huskies who returned to the team after 2022, 17 new players came into the team, including three impressive pitchers: two-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic pitcher Aiven Cabral; graduate pitcher Griffin Young, who pitched for a 2.17 ERA during his time at Wheaton College; and Craig Ottaviano, who was rated in the top 500 high school players in the nation by scouting organization Perfect Game.

Along with believing in their ability to perform, Glavine sees the spirit the players bring to the games and the team.

“They’re a fun team, I like them. I have a great vibe sitting here after one weekend. I like how balanced they are right now … they’re overall great guys, and I’m excited to see how the season goes,” Glavine said. “It’s a very talented but fun team to be around. We’ve already had some pretty big setbacks, but we haven’t missed a beat.”

The baseball team will start their next series against the University of South Florida March 3, and will begin conference play against Elon University March 10.

Huskies close in, but fall short in Red Sox exhibition game

By Amelia Ballingall Deputy Sports Editor

FORT MEYERS, FLL - The Northeastern baseball team (2-1) traveled to Florida to square up against its neighboring team, the Boston Red Sox, in a seven-inning exhibition game. The event reinstated a years-old tradition that was put on hold due to COVID-19. After beating UNC Greensboro 2-1 the previous weekend in their first series of the season, the Huskies fell just short of another success, falling to the Red Sox 5-3.

Although the matchup was the first on the Red Sox’s spring training schedule, the pros put their best foot forward on the field, tallying all five runs in the first inning.

Meanwhile, the Huskies still had a little rust on the wheels when they stepped up to bat at the top of the first, only able to get one batter on base before the Red Sox quickly picked off the next three for their own chance at bat.

After Northeastern’s first chance was tossed into the dirt, redshirt junior pitcher James Quinlivan stepped up to the mound shakily, letting through three runs and four walks before being swapped out for graduate student pitcher Patrick Harrington.

With the bases fully loaded, Enmanuel Valdez snapped a ball down center field to let teammates Alex Verdugo and Jorge Alfaro run home and bump the Red Sox’s score up to five.

Luckily for the Huskies, the next two batters were unable to get a strong hit, and Northeastern ended the Red Sox’s streak.

Both teams now knew they had to step up their game, and with that mindset, the next two innings went quickly.

Now ready to face the big leagues, the Huskies completely shut down the Red Sox in the second inning, allowing zero base hits from their opponents through the frame.

After an uneventful third period, the Huskies hit their stride when Chase Shugart stepped up to pitch at the top of the fourth. Redshirt senior infielder Spenser Smith got an easy walk, then stole second base, but it was sophomore center fielder Mike Sirota who sent him home with a double to put the Huskies on the board.

Following Smith’s lead, Sirota stole third, inching just close enough for redshirt senior Danny Crossen’s next hit to send him home and seal the second run.

The Red Sox moved quickly to stop the Huskies’ momentum, but after ending the Red Sox’s fifth-inning bid to reclaim their wide-margin lead, Northeastern chipped in one more run in its next chance at bat.

A base hit from sophomore outfielder Harrison Feinberg continued the Huskies’ trend toward success, and after stealing one more base, a dropped ball from Red Sox infielder Christian Koss gave Feinberg the window to run home and put the team within two.

With only two opportunities left, Northeastern was feeling the pressure, but freshman pitcher James Morice kept the Huskies alive with two straight strikeouts to send them into the sixth inning.

However, neither team was able to claim another run throughout the next two innings, and although Feinberg reached third base, nearly making it home, Red Sox pitcher Brendan Celluci’s strikeout of sophomore outfielder Luke Masiuk kept the major league team on top to finish out the game 5-3.

In its first matchup of the season, the Red Sox experimented with different formations all game long, making a multitude of defensive changes nearly every inning.

From the opposite dugout, Northeastern set the tone for the season,

with Harrington strongly representing the newcomers, Sirota proving his recent honor as part of the CAA preseason allconference team and Crossen showing Husky determination with a dive into the net in an attempt to catch the ball.

After narrowly losing to Hofstra in last season’s CAA championship, the Huskies are already preparing for their next chance at the title. Tomorrow, they’ll be moving just a few towns over to take on Indiana State in a doubleheader. The Huskies will take the field at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to continue their pre-CAA preparation.

Photo by Mika Podilla Sophomore center fielder Mike Sirota steps up to bat. Sirota was the top performer in Friday’s exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox.

Junior right-handed pitcher Eric Yost takes the mound for the Huskies. Last season, he was first on the team and third in the CAA in ERA with 2.48.

Photo courtesy Brandon Poli

Müller tops Hockey East record books, propels Huskies to quarterfinal victory

By Amelia Ballingall Deputy Sports Editor

After finishing the regular season with 72 points over second place Vermont’s 56 — and a Beanpot trophy to boot — the Northeastern women’s hockey team’s (31-2-1, 24-2-1 HE) streak of excellence continued as they hosted Merrimack College (9-25-1, 5-20-2 HE) for the Hockey East quarterfinal Saturday afternoon.

Behind a five-point performance from graduate student forward and captain Alina Müller, who had a hand in every goal, the Huskies skated their way to a 5-1 victory, securing their spot in the semifinal.

It wasn’t just Müeller — graduate student forward Chloé Aurard and senior forward Katy Knoll both hit milestones,

with their 200th and 100th career points. One thing about Northeastern’s top line — they make scoring look easy. After barreling into the offensive zone off the puck drop, it didn’t take long for the trio of Aurard, Müller and Maureen Murphy to find a crack in Merrimack’s defenses.

“Our chemistry is on a very high level; we’ve played with each other for three years, it’s a lot of fun,” Müller said. “I think we’re one of the best lines in college hockey and I’m really proud that whenever the team needs us, we can deliver.”

Two and a half minutes into the game, that line passed the Warriors’ defense, Müller took a shot into the pads of Merrimack senior goaltender Emma Gorski before scooping up her own rebound to put the Huskies on the board.

The Warriors tried to turn the ice in their favor, but Northeastern’s defense

was quick to block or clear any shot attempts, and the few that made their way to senior goaltender Gwyneth Philips were quickly snuffed out by the Hockey East Goaltender of the Year. And once the Huskies got going, they couldn’t be stopped.

At 7:51 into the frame, Müller scored again, her second tally of the night sending her ahead of former teammate Skylar Fontaine with the most career points in the Hockey East tournament.

“She’s shattering records left and right, but they’re well-deserved, consistent,” said Northeastern associate head coach Nick Carpenito. “She’s our heart and soul, and as she goes, we go.”

Halfway through the period, the Huskies took their first of five power plays that night. Merrimack killed the penalty, but Northeastern made it difficult with its constant onslaught against Gorski.

The two-goal lead held through the end of the frame, and when teams returned to the ice, Husky domination continued. The Warriors were unable to get a shot until 9:51 into the second, and limited to six shots on goal throughout the twenty minutes of play.

The Huskies continued to challenge Gorski, notching 18 shots in the period. Despite its constant chippiness, Merrimack took just one penalty late in the frame, junior defenseman Natalie Nemes for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the Huskies struggled to settle into the power play and the second period ended just the same as it started.

Merrimack headed into the third period ready to stop the Huskies’ momentum, but just thirty seconds into the frame, senior defenseman Teghan Inglis took a penalty for hooking.

While the Warriors were successful in holding their opponent at bay while they were down a player, the five-on-four advantage gave Northeastern the traction it needed to widen the gap on the scoreboard.

At 4:40 into the final frame, Müller weaved toward Gorski with the puck, passed it off to Aurard at the doorstep and her one-touch shot brought the Huskies’ goal count up to three. The goal was Aurard’s 200th career point.

The Huskies settled into a comfortable rhythm on the ice, while the only ‘shots’ the Warriors could take were the type that used their fists.Two minutes after running down an Inglis interference call, the Warriors landed a major penalty when Nemes clocked Aurard upside the head and was ejected from the game.

“We knew they were going to take a lot of penalties today, which they granted us our wish,” Carpenito said. “They’re the dirtiest team in the league, as far as I’m concerned.”

Leading into the major, Knoll passed the puck to Müller at the edge of the neutral zone and Müller dropped it off to sophomore forward Skylar Irving before heading in for a line change. With an open window in the right corridor, Irving sped toward the net and sniped the puck top shelf. Knoll’s assist marked her 100th career point.

Still fighting off the major penalty, the Warriors were unable to get any relief from the Husky barrage as they advanced on Gorski once more.

With half the power play remaining, Müller made history. In a hat trickgoal, the captain secured her 249th career point to tie the Northeastern program scoring record, putting her on par with Kendall Coyne (Schofield), who graduated from the program in 2016.

— Nick Carpenito Associate head coach

“[It feels] pretty special. [Schofield] is an amazing human; she broke so many barriers, she still does,” Müller said. “I look up to her. Having my name up there with her is really crazy.”

Northeastern took its only penalty with just 2:42 remaining, and Merrimack took their chance to cut the Huskies’ lead to four.

Northeastern’s quarterfinal victory, littered with milestones and records, punched its ticket to the Hockey East semifinal Wednesday night against Boston College.

In the semifinal matchup, Northeastern dominated the Eagles 3-0, fueled by a two-goal performance from Anderson and a record-breaking empty-netter from Müller. The Huskies next face the Providence College Friars in the Hockey East championship game Saturday at noon.

Senior night or career night? Huskies top Hampton in sixth-straight victory

By Eamonn Ryan News Staff

On senior day, teams celebrate the careers of players who have spent their college years with the program.

But the Northeastern women’s basketball (16-11, 11-5 CAA) graduating class of graduate student guard JaMiya Braxton and senior wing Anna Boruta wasn’t just there for the festivities. They celebrated senior day with great performances in the Huskies’ 79-46 win over Hampton (9-15, 6-8 CAA) Sunday.

Boruta — who has appeared in seven games for the Huskies this season — tied her career-high in points with 11, knocking down three triples and adding five assists.

“I’m just really excited for [Boruta], about her performance and the leadership that she’s been able to bring to our team,” said Northeastern head coach Bridgette Mitchell.

There wasn’t a better way for the Huskies’ senior day to play out, as graduate student guard JaMiya Braxton went off for 17 points in her last game on Solomon Court. The two graduating members led a Huskies team that dominated offensively, shooting 8-of13 from three-point range and getting 20 fast break paints.

Northeastern has a habit of falling behind early, but the Huskies came out ready — they opened the game on a 17-2 run that set the tone for the afternoon and after the first quarter, the Huskies led 23-6.

“We talked about wanting to have a good start because we didn’t last time out,” Mitchell said. “And that was our improvement…we made a conscious effort as a team and I’m really proud that they were able to go out and do that today.”

The Huskies were coming off a 70-61 win over Delaware Friday night that didn’t seem likely until a 22-0 third quarter run that eliminated a slow start — that momentum was still present in the first quarter of Sunday’s game.

Hampton slowly started to creep back into the game in the second quarter thanks to five consecutive Husky turnovers to open the frame. Neither team was particularly strong offensively, but the Pirates managed to outscore Northeastern 15-10 in those 10 minutes.

The Huskies were hampered by a solid Hampton halfcourt trap the couldn’t figure out until the third quarter. After senior wing Jaelyn Batts carried the ball across halfcourt and was double-teamed, Mitchell called a

timeout and the Huskies then scored 13 straight points.

“Hampton’s a talented team. They’re always going to bring the pressure defensively,” Mitchell said. “It was really important for us to have composure to play with poise and confidence against that pressure. I thought that after that timeout we eased into it a bit and were able to execute how we wanted to offensively.”

Included in that run were two huge threes from Boruta which caused her friends and family to erupt on the sidelines, but more importantly helped extend the Husky lead to 46-29 with 4:15 to play in the period.

“[Boruta] bleeds red and black,” Mitchell said. “She just gives that energy. It’s infectious and she’s an awesome person to be around. So I’m not surprised that all the students came to support her today.”

The Huskies used that big run to take a 59-34 lead into the last quarter and coast home, outscoring the Pirates 20-12 in the final frame.

Everyone shared the love on the scoreboard, as the Huskies had five double-digit scorers. Senior forward Deja Bristol notched 16 points, Batts had 13 and junior guard Derin Erdogan added 10.

Northeastern had its best rebounding performance of the season, hauling in 54 boards and outrebounding Hampton by 22, even though the Pirates’ defense forced 24 Husky turnovers.

With the win, the Huskies have now won six straight heading into the last week of the regular season. They’re tied with three other teams for second in the CAA, but they’re

blocking out everything besides what happens on the court.

“Man, we’re gonna just continue to put our head down and play,” Mitchell said. “We’re just focused on the next one.”

After a 74-60 win at Charleston on Thursday night, the Huskies will wrap up their regular season with a game at UNC Wilmington (5-23, 2-15 CAA) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

“She’s shattering records left and right, but they’re well-deserved, consistent.

... She’s our heart and soul, and as she goes, we go.”

Senior guard Anna Boruta goes for a basket in a game against Hampton. Boruta tallied 11 points in the senior day matchup Sunday afternoon, tying her career high.

Photo by Ethan Valery

Graduate student forward Alina Müller high-fives her teammates after a goal in the Hockey East quarterfinal. During the game, Müller broke the tournament record for career points and tied the Northeastern program record for career points.

Photo by Mika Podila

EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor-in-Chief Rachel Erwin

Managing Editor

Chaya Sarah Barber

Editor-at-Large Marta Hill

Campus

Sonel Cutler

Andy He

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NEWS STAFF

Gretchen Hofmann, Christina McCabe, Erin Fine, Alexis Algazy, Kate Deskey, Laura Emde, Sarah Popeck, Emily Chung, Ariana Ottrando, Eamonn Ryan, Lauren Salemo, Val O’ Neill

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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.

Op-ed: Study abroad is an often overlooked, inaccessible privilege

All of these activities N.U.in students participate in cost a lot of money over the semester. While in Italy, we had limited access to dining halls, and travel and restaurant expenses added up quickly.

Attending an institution like Northeastern that puts so much emphasis on studying abroad can be a challenge if it does not fit into your financial schedule. The experience can be life-changing, but it is not a necessity.

One of the most sought-after experiences at Northeastern is studying abroad. The university has programs like N.U.in and Global Scholars that give students a unique opportunity to start their college experience in another country. However, how “unique” really is this experience?

These programs are typically only accessible to students from affluent households, so the implied necessity set forth by Northeastern to study abroad neglects students from a lower socioeconomic background that may not be able to afford it.

Spending my first semester in Rome was life-changing and gave me the opportunity to meet new people and travel the world. Taking cheap flights, navigating a non-English speaking country and being legally able to drink were just some of the privileges I was afforded while abroad.

I spent thousands of dollars throughout my time overseas, not to mention the fact that we were paying regular Northeastern tuition even though we were studying at a campus that was a fraction of the cost. I hardly realized how much we were spending just to get through our day. Not everyone can afford to eat out every night or spend 10 euros for a drink.

Still, I was able to afford these luxuries because I, and seemingly most of my peers, were from socioeconomically-privileged backgrounds that prevented us from worrying about prices.

Many of us acknowledged how lucky we were to be there when discussing the costs of trips, dinners or shopping sprees, but there were some people I interacted with who did not truly understand the value of money or how lucky they were to be able to afford such an experience.

Some students rarely checked prices. They discussed expensive activities and treated the costs as just another day of throwing around their parents’ credit card. It was shocking to me how many people had never worked while in high school and thought money was disposable.

There are many ways to become a globally aware student without absurd travel expenses. With a school as diverse as Northeastern in a city like Boston, it is fairly easy to ask international students about their lives back home or visit neighborhoods with lots of immigrants to learn about different cultures. Northeastern fails to recognize the many opportunities close by for students that do not have an endless supply of money and may feel isolated from their peers or like they are missing out on a necessity. It is possible to become a global citizen at Northeastern without draining your bank account.

Considering how study abroad programs are typically more accessible to affluent students, and how the socioeconomic makeup of the student body also leans their way, it is baffling how spending your first semester abroad becomes a social barrier upon returning to Boston.

It can be difficult navigating life in Boston, but, at least for myself, there have not been as many barriers as N.U.in. students claim. Never have I felt isolated from other students since being back, and studying abroad has helped by breaking down walls my social anxiety put up. I have a lot of

fun stories to share, but it is possible to do that without going overseas. Students are always open to meeting new people coming back from N.U.in. or Global Scholars, and there are many clubs and organizations to join that can also ease that anxiety. The majority of N.U.in students I have interacted with have enjoyed a smooth transition back to campus with some great stories to share with new friends.

Students not in these programs can often feel like they are missing out on a huge part of their time at Northeastern. There is so much talk about the “global experience” and not enough about how fortunate we are to live in Boston.

The city is filled with history and museums that offer a surplus of knowledge about other cultures. Neighborhoods such as the Italian District in the North End offer opportunities to talk to people from other countries and try authentic food, something that was a highlight of N.U.in.

It is important to understand just how expensive studying abroad can be. Would I ever give up my experience? No, but that does not mean everyone has to do it. We are all so lucky to go to a school like Northeastern, and there is no shame in not straying far from campus.

Rachel Mahoney is a first-year journalism and criminal justice combined major. She can be reached at mahoney. rac@northeastern.edu.

Op-ed: Fixing Snell Library is a nearly impossible feat for NU

pletely silent. Snell’s website reinforces their floor-specific rules, but it seems like they rarely enforce them.

Snell is typically split into four floors with differing levels of conversation allowed. The first floor is akin to a casual coffee shop, where people lounge around on chairs while they collaborate on homework. There is talking amongst almost every group stationed on the first floor, and you might even hear the occasional laugh or two in a sea of students.

Northeastern has a massive student body, which has caused problems in Snell and beyond. Overcrowdedness on campus is an issue the university tried to fix by cutting the acceptance rate from 19% in 2021 to 6.7% for the class of 2026. The new acceptance rate does not detract from the problem at hand — the campus is still overcrowded, and there is simply not enough room in Snell to hold all the people.

Some students prefer not to visit Snell Library at all. Ever since it became so crowded, it seems most students head to Curry Student Center instead. With the lack of study spaces on campus, it is only a matter of time before Curry becomes just as crowded as Snell.

Students only get more frustrated with the lack of space during finals week, when hopeful students head to Snell only to find a full and noisy library.

Dozens of students flock to Snell Library hourly. Whether it be trying to cram a last-minute study session in between classes or settling in for a grueling all-nighter, Snell is no stranger to Northeastern students.

However, if you’re trying to find that perfect spot in a quiet location — where you can work without the added distractions at home — Snell might not be the place for you.

The complaints about the noise in Snell are not entirely due to students being disrespectful toward their peers, but also stem from the overcrowdedness of campus in general. To make matters worse, the fourth floor is closed for the entirety of the spring semester due to ongoing renovations, now designating the third floor as “silent.”

Honoring students’ right to a silent zone should be an important value for Snell to uphold, however, it is rare to find the third or fourth floors com-

The second floor is similar to the first — I personally believe that it is essentially the first floor, just for the students who want to take that added step of climbing a flight of stairs. Technically, the second floor is meant to be quieter than the first, which is evident in the slightly lower amount of group studying occuring.

The third floor is where people will begin to stare if you talk very loudly or are overly distracting. This floor is ideally reserved for those who want to get their work done without any interruptions. Finally, the fourth floor is where people go for complete silence.

Booking a room in Snell is also a source of frustration for many students because it is difficult to find an available room to reserve in the first place. According to the library’s website, individual study rooms are reserved for graduate and doctoral students only, restricting undergraduate students to just the multiple occupancy rooms on the first, second and third floors.

The students cannot be the ones solely blamed for misuse of the library. Students who wish to collaborate on their projects might be forced into moving to the fourth floor due to lack of space on the collaborative floors.

The layout for the new and improved fourth floor has been released to the general public, with the university attempting to fix some of the issues that have been brought up due to the overcrowdedness.

The renovations include various changes, namely: “major increases in seating to accommodate both quiet and group study, bookable group study rooms on several floors, new study spaces on the lower level.”

While I’m skeptical as to how much the renovations would really change the library, I hope we can see enough of a change that the fourth floor can become useful when it reopens. I find myself going to Snell less often than I used to, solely because I do not want to spend too long looking for an empty space or getting frustrated over needing to drown out everyone else’s voices while working.

An overcrowded library is not what students need during a stressful time. Northeastern does not offer enough alternative spaces on campus, which makes the overcrowdedness of Snell all that much worse.

We have a long way to go before we can make Snell a welcoming and comfortable place for students to work in, however, the renovations should be a good start. In terms of things Northeastern could do to help, adding more quiet study spaces on campus would be beneficial to students.

Providing students with the opportunity to work elsewhere or professors reducing the amount of group-work related projects that require working in Snell could be short term fixes to a larger problem.

In taking these smaller steps, I believe Northeastern can eventually provide us with a library that students will grow to love.

Rachana Madhav is a second-year behavioral science major. She can be reached at madhav.r@ northeastern.edu.

Photo by Quillan Anderson

Photo by Jessica Xing

Op-ed: A predisposition to certain genes and environmental factors can create murderers

there is no single “gene” that can predict if an individual will commit a crime or not. As a topic of heavy debate among the science community, there is not yet one concrete answer, but I have strong reason to believe that murder genes are not the sole answer to violent behavior. Often overlooked, it is clear genetics and the environment play a stronger role.

In the mini-series “Defending Jacob,” murder genes were used as evidence in criminal cases. A “murder gene” is a term used for a link or similarity in the genes of criminals to see if there is something in their DNA that makes them more likely to kill. But do these really exist? To what extent can we truly determine whether some people are more predisposed to act in certain ways compared to others based on their genetics?

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Carrie Bearden, a professor at UCLA’s Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, said “there is no such thing as a ‘murder gene.’” Experts argue

There are many genetic factors associated with criminal behavior. Traits like psychopathy, neuroticism, impulsivity, manipulation and a limited capacity for empathy make someone more susceptible to committing violent acts; people who are genetic carriers of these traits are likely to display violent behavior.

In a paper for the Berkeley Scientific Journal, writer and researcher Anusha Subramanian notes these specific genes include “MAOA, COMT, SCL6A4, and DRD4; which have been associated with aggression modulation.” These genes can partially explain aggressive behavior.

Dutch geneticist Han Brunner conducted a breakthrough study in 1933 that concluded the low-acting version of monoamine oxidase A, or MAOA, was associated with violence in humans. MAOA, also known as

the “warrior gene,” codes for the enzyme monoamine oxidase-A. This enzyme is responsible and involved in the removal and breakdown of the neurotransmitters serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. Signals transmitted by serotonin regulate mood, emotion, sleep and appetite, while epinephrine and norepinephrine control the body’s response to stress.

One of the most important things to note about this research is the pivotal role of the environment, which can influence how individuals display traits. Research on this topic reveals that people who have experienced childhood trauma or abuse and hold these specific violent genes in their DNA are much more likely to behave violently than others without childhood trauma.

Brunner’s study was the first to have real results that matched the hypothesis and opened the gates of this subject to other scientists. Past cases related to research regarding murder genes were never approved, as no one believed there was any correlation between these areas, so they did not want to invest. The results consistently displayed there was no particular gene responsible for violent behavior. Further-

more, there was no link between aggression and genetics until Brunner proved otherwise, and it was with his study that further investigation into this field could be conducted.

However, there were a few issues that arose from the study. It failed to fully establish that the MAOA gene moderated the relationship between an abusive childhood and antisocial behavior. “Additionally, most research in this field has been conducted on a sample of only males. Thus, research on the MAOA gene has been fraught with controversy,” explained Brett C. Haberstick, a senior research associate in the Institute for Behavioural Genetics at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

In another study, Professor Jari Tiihonen from Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience analyzed the genes of 895 Finnish criminals. The study categorized each criminal as violent or non-violent based on their offenses. The association between genes and aggressive behavior was strongest for the 78 criminals who fit the extremely violent offender profile.

The group he studied “had committed a total of 1,154 murders, manslaughters, attempted homicides or batteries.” The study

concluded that all the offenders carried a low-activity version of the MAOA gene, which was a pivotal discovery and moved this investigation forward.

The results from the two independent cohorts of Finnish prisoners revealed that the low activity genotype MAOA, which “contributed to a low dopamine turnover rate,” as well as the CDH13 gene (coding for neuronal membrane adhesion protein), are both associated with extremely violent behavior. At least 10 of the prisoners who had any of these genes committed homicides, attempted homicides or batteries.

In summary, a genetic tendency towards violence put together with an abusive childhood is a killer combination. It is unequivocally clear that murderers are both born and made through their genes and their environment. There is some common genetic makeup amongst killers, such as the presence of the MAOA and CDH13 genes; however, a single gene is not convincing enough evidence to prove an individual is a murderer.

Sahej Anand is a first-year business administration major. She can be reached at anand.sah@ northeastern.edu.

Op-ed: Ke Huy Quan’s Golden Globes win inspires me to continue dreaming

a box off,” with the mindset of “Oh, I have a Chinese actor there… that means I’m being diverse.” But the film avoids relying on stereotypes used to describe Asian people, with Yeoh playing the role of a casual auntie who frequently wears sweatpants and a baseball cap to represent her resonance with a relaxed lifestyle.

Few people bothered to know who the young Asian actor in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” was, and the actor himself thought the role was a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity he’d never get to cherish again. He did not want that fate, but he felt he could not avoid it. Little did he know he would get a momentous opportunity that would not only change his life but inspire millions of dreamers around the world too.

Asian American actor Ke Huy Quan won a pivotal Golden Globes award Jan. 10 for Best Supporting Actor in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” Actors in the movie diversify how Asians are usually represented in media. The movie’s lead actress, Michelle Yeoh, expressed her frustration with how people treat representation as “just tick[ing]

The representation of Asian characters has been a prominent issue amidst the fight to diversify the film industry. Actor Jack Yang, known for his roles in “A Leading Man” and “Justice League,” also experienced struggles with being an Asian actor, growing tired of “seeing Asian Americans on television in bit parts that were sort of degrading and demeaning.”

Quan and Yeoh star as heroes in the film who fight to preserve their values and teach the audience about what a meaningful life truly entails. They serve as beacons of inspiration who, as an Asian American, fill me with pride. Quan’s win also represents a victory for Asian Americans, who are typically underrepresented in the film industry. Quan says that when he struggled to acquire another role from Hollywood for a long time, he “had no choice but to step away” since “it was just difficult to be an Asian actor at the time.”

Quan’s success story inspires me to chase my dreams despite

biases against Asian Americans that threaten our success. While I recognize I’m privileged to attend a university that significantly boosts my chances for a successful career, workplace discrimination still exists, so there are companies out there that would deny me opportunities based on something I have no control over. Seeing how Quan’s perseverance led him to success motivates me to continue fighting as well.

Quan’s victory isn’t inspiring for just Asians, though. Anyone who believes their dreams can never be fulfilled due to uncontrollable circumstances has experienced the same insecurities Quan had when his acting opportunities seemed scarce. For years he spent time “waiting for the phone to ring, and it rarely did.” He then admitted that he let go of his dreams of pursuing an acting career for 20 years until he was re-inspired to enter the acting field again after seeing “Crazy Rich Asians,” another film that marked a significant turning point in Asian American representation in the film industry.

Quan found his perseverance provided a significant boost in his determination to continue with his aspirations. During his Golden Globes acceptance speech, he thanked the movie’s directors, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, for

remembering his talents and inviting him to participate in their project.

Some may say Quan’s happy ending was inevitable considering he got a head start in the film industry with “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Yet, Quan played that role when he was only 13 and attained a role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once” nearly 30 years later. Hence, I don’t find it surprising that he thought he wouldn’t get opportunities as spectacular as “Indiana Jones.”

However, I am proud of his persistence and humility as his career has elevated. He did not let his self-comparisons undermine his wish to “play all kinds of roles,” especially considering the changing landscape of Hollywood. His future has become brighter than it ever has, with Quan recently receiving an Oscar nomination for his role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”

His experience should encourage all of us to keep fighting for our dreams, be thankful for any opportunities graced upon us and continue pursuing them.

Quan’s success has reminded me to be thankful for being accepted into Northeastern and getting to participate in the co-op program, despite all the mental hardships I have endured to get where I am. Like Quan, I’ve had many moments of overwhelming

self-doubt, questioning whether my ambitions have been worth achieving. Yet, the elation exhibited through Quan’s tears as he was finally recognized for doing something he loved made me yearn for that same happiness too. Thanks to Quan and other inspiring people who never gave up on their dreams, I don’t plan to let go of mine soon.

We all have dreams, and some seem more impossible than others. I cannot deny that a lot of our wishes depend on factors we have little control over. However, Quan discovered that holding onto his dreams helped them become a reality, accentuating that we still have some influence over whether we can achieve our aspirations. We are in a school that invites many opportunities for imposter syndrome: seeing other students get more co-op interviews, having more lavish LinkedIn profiles and grasping positions at more esteemed companies than us may promote immense insecurity. My dear friend from high school said, “other people’s successes do not define our failures.” Quan reminds us that with patience, hard work and a little bit of luck, we too will one day have our Golden Globes moment.

Jethro R. Lee is a second-year data science and psychology combined major. He can be reached at lee.jet@northeastern.edu.

Photo by Jessica Xing

Photo by Quillan Anderson

Photography store offers gender-pay-gap discount to counter lack of industry diversity

By Alexis Algazy News Staff

In Jamaica Plain, one of Boston’s most diverse neighborhoods, an analog photography store promotes conversations about gender inequality. CatLABS offers a gender-pay-gap discount for non-male identifying customers to encourage diversity in the photography industry and to spark a dialogue.

count allows non-male identifying customers to purchase qualifying

to used large format camera kits, as well as Jobo processor kits.

The owner of CatLABS, Jamaica Plain resident Omer Hecht, said he has spent a majority of his photography career in Massachusetts. He recalls his early days in the industry, when he attended his first photography conferences. Hecht said he

dustry, which is why he created the gender-pay-gap discount.

Hecht did not create the discount on his own: he also credits Trevor Powers, a Massachusetts graphic designer who frequently freelances for CatLABS. Hecht and Powers collaborated from 2014 to 2017, creating and publishing Papersafe Magazine,

to have to try harder and advocate for yourself much harder than you would as a straight white man,”

Carvajal said.

The discount proved controversial: CatLABS has received hateful comments from some photographers in the community, receiving emails from those who refuse to purchase

Carvajal grew up in a Colombian household, and said she sees a lack of Latino representation in the photography and art industries. One of her personal goals is to increase the representation of her community through her photography. Carvajal hopes to see more women, non-binary, nonwhite and LGTBQ+ photographers said. “I think we got an equal amount

Shelves of photographic equipment fill CatLABS, a photography store in Jamaica Plain. The photography store offers a unique gender-pay-gap discount.

Photos by Pavithra Rajesh