The Heights, April 29, 2024

“Boston College, It’s Time to Break Our Silence”: BC Students and Faculty Call

Attention to War in Gaza

Through a student-organized pro-Palestine protest on O’Neill Plaza, faculty-organized vigil, and public comment at the UGBC Senate meeting, BC community members called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

See A2

Eagles Defeat Virginia at 12th Annual ALS Game

By Maria StefanoudakiS Asst. Sports Editor

BOSTON, Mass. — In last year’s ALS Awareness Game at Fenway Park, Boston College baseball thrived off John West’s pitching, which carried the Eagles to an 8–4 win over Notre Dame. Against Virginia, this year’s ALS Awareness Game honoring the late Pete Frates, BC ’07, was also won on the mound––this time thanks largely to A.J. Colarusso.

“In these games that are overly emotional, where there’s a lot of external factors, I always look at [pitchers’] first inning,” BC head coach Todd Interdonato said. “[Colarusso] comes out

Are you tired of hunkering down in the same, boring study spots? Look no further than Copy Chief Kate Kissel’s recommendations for unconventional study spots.

and is just cramming in the first inning and looks like himself.”

Through the first four innings, Colarusso kept the ACC’s top offense silent, putting the Eagles (21–19, 8–14 Atlantic Coast) on track for an 8–2 win over Virginia (31–12, 12–10) on Thursday night.

“For it to play out the way it did, beat a team like that, the way it played out—it’s just a dream,” Interdonato said.

Michael Farinelli relieved Colarusso in the top of the fifth, hoping to keep the Eagles’ lead alive.

See Baseball, A11

BC Defeats Syracuse 15–8, Winning ACC Tournament

By Luke BeLLaud Heights Staff

Before the start of the season, Boston College lacrosse head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein made her goals crystal clear.

“The expectation is to win another conference championship and national championship,” Walker-Weinstein said. Now, step one is complete with the Eagles winning back-to-back ACC titles behind a four-goal first-half comeback.

The Eagles (16–3, 7–2 Atlantic Coast) withstood an early push from Syracuse (14–5, 8–1) before scoring 10 of the last 11

goals to beat the Orange 15–8 on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.

“Obviously you don’t want to go down,” Kayla Martello said. “But being able to come back from that and then winning back to back is an amazing feeling. And we’re just so proud.”

The Orange struck quickly, with Natalie Smith firing it past Shea Dolce just 13 seconds into the game. After Mckenna Davis tied it, Olivia Adamson answered quickly with a low shot from distance, giving the Orange a 2–1 lead.

See Lacrosse, A11

Celebrating Arts Fest

From the BC's Best competition to a short film screening, take a look at the highlights from the 26th annual Arts Fest.

See A8-A10

Opinions

This Week’s Top 3 Events

By annika engelBrechT Asst. News Editor angelina li Assoc. News Editor

A crowd of Boston College community members gathered on O’Neill Plaza early Thursday evening for a “Boston College Speaks Out for Palestine” protest. Student organizers shared speeches criticizing BC’s response to the war in Gaza and led chants calling for a ceasefire.

“I’m disappointed because I’m convinced too many of my peers at Boston College are living in a different world than I am,” Fairuz Saleh, LSEHD ’26, said to the crowd. “Because we’re a university that preaches men and women for others, I assume no students would turn a blind eye to the constant violence Palestinians are enduring.”

Three individual students registered the demonstration in advance with the University, and BC Buddies for Palestine, an independent student group, publicized and led the event.

Students at multiple universities in the Boston area have organized pro-Palestine protests this week, with many setting up encampments on and around their campuses. Wednesday night, the Boston Police Department forcibly broke up Emerson College’s encampment and arrested more than 100 students.

Among those arrested were H Edwards and TJ Smith, both MCAS ’26. Edwards and Smith received letters from the University on Thursday, stating they were prohibited from attending the protest on BC’s campus Thursday evening.

In lieu of their presence, one of the event organizers read a written statement from Edwards to the crowd.

“The brutality, pain, and abuse at the hands of cops at a peer institution and cops of the state was not a concern to BC admin,” the organizer read. “BC admin has ruled me a threat to the safety and well-being and effective functioning of the Boston College community because I’m in alleged violation involving non-compliance with law enforcement and disrupting the peace at the Emerson protests yesterday.”

Several BCPD officers stood around the perimeter of O’Neill Plaza during the event. Hashim Wise, an attendee of the protest and CSON ’27, said he was disappointed by the police presence.

“I mean, just looking around and seeing cops in every corner—even them claiming that it’s for our own safety—is just ridiculous,” Wise said.

Multiple speeches criticized the University for indirectly supporting Israel with funds. In a speech to the crowd, Amina Awad, SSW ’24, said a portion of the University’s endowment is invested in ExxonMobil, an oil and gas corporation that supplies the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with fuel.

“Those tanks that are running over Palestinians are being fueled with our endowment—with our tuition,” Awad said. “As students, faculty, political leaders, and members of this community, we ask Boston College to divest from apartheid, divest from genocide, and to recognize that their endowment is covered in blood—the blood of Palestinians.”

Awad also criticized BC’s hiring of Ira Kirschner, a former IDF soldier,

Take a break from your looming finals and relax on Stokes Lawn by learning to crochet. Join the McMullen Museum and STITCH for a study break on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Immerse yourself in Renaissance-inspired music performed by the Madrigal Singers. Hear everything from Gregorian chants to original pieces on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel.

1 2 3

Come hear from a panel of experts on the various factors that impact individuals with rare genetic diseases. Learn about the barriers and challenges these individuals and their families face on Friday in Higgins from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

BC Community Members Gather for Pro-Palestine Protest

as the associate director of the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center to lead LGBTQ+ resources and programming.

“BC hired an ex-IDF soldier … to support LGBTQ+ students,” Awad said. “As a queer Palestinian, I know that queer liberation and Palestinian liberation go hand in hand, so shame on BC for not supporting its Palestinian students.”

Kirschner did not respond to a request for comment before the time of publication.

Awad also said the University placed her on disciplinary probation for her activism. According to an online petition, two BC graduate students were placed on disciplinary probation for participating in an unregistered protest on Feb. 15, marching from Carney Hall to Boyden Park—a public parcel of land in front of St. Ignatius Church.

“I’ve spent the last six months dealing with the massacres of Palestinian

friends and family, hearing about horrific displacements and death, and the only response I’ve received from BC is being put on disciplinary probation,” Awad said.

Erica Perez, an attendee of the protest and SSW ’24, said her decision to attend stemmed from her values as a social work student.

“I’m here because I’m trying to represent social work values—at least the social work values that they are trying to educate us on,” Perez said. “I don’t think it’s fair that when we stand up and we advocate for people with less power, that they go ahead and punish us.”

Wyatt Seder-Burnaford, another attendee and MCAS ’25, said it is especially important for BC students to show their solidarity with Palestinians given the recent demonstrations on other college campuses.

“With what’s going on at other campuses, I think it’s really important for the BC student body to be showing

solidarity with them, and I think it’s very clear that BC is not doing what they can do,” Seder-Burnaford said. “As a general university, I would be embarrassed if every other school in Boston and around the country is up in arms and we’re not.”

Joshua Park, MCAS ’25, said he attended the protest because he felt it was wrong to do nothing.

“I can’t sit back at home,” Park said. “I just don’t feel right about it. I don’t know, there’s nothing more to it than I just don’t feel good about it.”

Saleh said that despite the ongoing destruction in Gaza, she remains hopeful, and asked attendees to continue honoring the Palestinian people and speaking up.

“It is the hope of the Palestinian people—their unbreakable spirit and untouched courage—that reminds me to keep my head held high,” Saleh said. “The tens of thousands of martyrs will not die in vain. Boston College, it’s time to break our silence.” n

BCPD Monitors Faculty-Hosted Vigil for Peace in Gaza

By genevieve morrison Assoc. Newton Editor

Boston College faculty held a vigil for victims of the war in Gaza with music, speeches, and student reflections on Wednesday. At the door to the event, two uniformed BCPD officers checked the backpacks and BC IDs of attendees while two more plainclothes officers monitored the room, according to M. Brinton Lykes, organizer of the event.

Lykes, co-director of BC’s Center for Human Rights and Justice, said she had never experienced police supervi-

sion at a faculty-led event before.

“It is an outrage that a vigil is being supervised,” Lykes said to The Heights after the vigil. “In all honesty, in all the years I’ve been at Boston College, I’ve never had them monitoring an event run by faculty.”

Minutes into the vigil, a line of attendees formed outside the door. Because the room reached its capacity limit, some people left to hold their own event at a park nearby, according to Claire Mengel, MCAS ’26.

“The people that were not let in at this vigil went to public space over at Boyden Park to host their own vigil

impromptu,” Mengel said.

Attendance was capped at 90 people, according to Lykes. The Walsh function room, where the vigil was held, can host up to 150 people for a lecture-format event, according to BC’s website.

“This space holds 150 people if it’s organized in lecture format, so we asked it to be organized in a lecture format, and then we got an email that urged us to be in touch with the Boston College Police to be sure we’re on the same page,” Lykes said.

Lykes said the administration informed her in an email on the day of

the event that one police officer would monitor the event in uniform.

The email also instructed her and the other organizers to not admit more than 90 people to the event, check the BC IDs of attendees at the door, and not allow backpacks in the room, according to Lykes.

While she did not agree to check BC IDs, Lykes did agree to count attendees as they entered the room, she said.

“I walked up to them and said, ‘Are you all from BC?’” Lykes said. “And they said no. And so she walked in and said, ‘This is a BC only event,’ and that’s when they explained to [my colleague] that they were plainclothes Boston College police.”

After Lykes told the police officers she had not been checking BC IDs, the officers called in the Chief of BCPD William B. Evans, she said.

In a statement to The Heights , University Spokesman Jack Dunn said event organizers were informed of the room’s capacity limits in advance.

“The capacity for seated events in the room is 90,” Dunn said in the statement. “BCPD are present at all significant campus events to provide security and assistance if needed. We are all pleased that the event was successful.”

Throughout the vigil, speakers ref-

erenced the presence of police.

“Look at this—we’re being criminalized,” said Ann Lucas, associate professor in the music department.

The vigil began with a prayer for peace from Oliver P. Rafferty, S.J., a professor of history at BC.

“While I appreciate the irony of a Catholic priest conducting the prayers this evening, given the tiny Christian population in Gaza, it is a privilege to pray with you and to pray for the people of Gaza,” Rafferty said.

All speakers emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“It’s time to say, ‘Stop the killing and the promotion of ideologies that permit it,’” said Joshua Snyder, assistant professor of the practice in theology. “To this end, there must be an immediate ceasefire.”

Lucas performed two songs during the event, “How I Long for Peace” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.”

“I’ve known so many Palestinians—as long as I’ve been alive, I’ve always had ties to them,” Lucas said. “So I have ethical responsibilities in this situation.”

Student Raises Free Speech Concerns at Senate Meeting

By Jack Beckman Asst. News Editor

During the public comment portion of the UGBC’s Senate meeting on Tuesday night, an undergraduate student, who did not identify themself by name, raised concerns about a lack of free expression on campus amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

“I feel like there’s kind of a free speech problem at our school right now,” the student said. “I feel like that’s a really serious matter and should really be at the forefront of what an organization like this one is discussing amongst yourselves and also with the student body.”

The student said that while the University has attempted to create spaces for dialogue and reflection on

campus, these spaces are insufficient.

“I feel like when we’re not addressing these things that are happening, it feels like even those spaces don’t feel safe to speak in,” the student said.

The student cited a petition, started April 3, calling for administrators to take a stronger stand in support of Palestinian students and drop the disciplinary probation of two graduate students who participated in a protest marching from Carney Hall to Boyden Park—a public parcel of land in front of St. Ignatius Church—on Feb. 15.

“The gathering, held on City of Boston property, was moving and appreciated by students who attended, many of whom voiced feeling alone and isolated in their grief due to the sheer silence and inaction of Boston College,” the petition reads.

The petition, which has over 1,900 signatures, alleges that the two students who faced disciplinary action were unfairly singled out due to their ethnic backgrounds—both were students of color and one was Palestinian, according to the petition. The petition notes that the protest drew a crowd of people from a variety of religious and racial backgrounds.

The student said the issue is especially urgent as the 2023–24 academic year comes to a close.

“I feel like if we let things go over the summer, and we come back, and the issue’s kind of died down, I feel like it leaves a precedent of people having been afraid to speak out about things in the past,” the student said.

Multiple student senators thanked the student for expressing the concerns

and emphasized the importance of UGBC’s responsibility to support student voices.

“I think it’s really important for students on this campus to know who is advocating for them and making sure that they feel supported and heard,” said UGBC Vice President-Elect Katie Garrigan, MCAS ’25.

Alexis Thomas, Montserrat student representative and MCAS ’25, said many students were likely unaware of the petition and its contents.

“I hope that we, as UGBC—even though it’s the end of the year—take steps to really address this the best we can,” Thomas said. “I hope you know that this is something I care about as well.”

Earlier in the meeting, student senators weighed options to make the

Senate’s community relations committee more effective and productive, including the possibility of disbanding the committee entirely.

“If there is a strong passion in this group to reignite the vision and create a firm list of responsibilities that I think we could uphold throughout the next year, then I don’t see why we couldn’t have CRC here again,” Garrigan said.

According to Meghan Heckelman, UGBC president-elect and LSEHD ’25, the community relations committee historically took on a regulatory role, overseeing UGBC’s budget and presiding over impeachment trials

Read the rest of this story at www.bcheights.com

BC Law Earns 10th Highest Bar Exam Pass Rate

By Carina Murphy Editorial Assistant

Boston College Law School had the 10th highest first-time bar exam pass rate in 2023, at 95.88 percent, according to a ranking by Reuters.

“It’s been the result of a lot of hard work and commitment by a lot of people at the law school,” said Jeffrey Cohen, chair of the bar passage and academic success committee at BC Law. “We believe at the law school that we should have 100 percent bar passage, so we still feel like we should have a lot of work to do.”

The American Bar Association released the bar exam data concerning national results for its 197 accredited U.S. law schools on March 12, according to Reuters.

The ranking considered the percentage of J.D. graduates who took and passed the bar exam for the first time in 2023.

BC Law’s 95.88 percent firsttime bar pass rate was well above the national average of 79.18 percent. This year’s new rate marks an improvement for BC Law, according to Nina Farber, director of the Academic Success Programs at BC Law.

“The law school was seeing a little bit of a slide in bar passage and it was more, I think, that other law schools were kind of jumping up ahead of us in the area,” Farber said. “That’s when the current dean of academic affairs worked with the bar committee to understand what things are indicators of not passing the bar and how could we work better to support our students.”

Since then, BC Law has implemented early bar prep courses, classes teaching strategies to pass the bar exam, and a mentoring program to pair students with faculty for support through the bar process, Cohen and Farber said.

“It’s not just that we are really focusing on the bar exam—we’re focusing on developing skills throughout their law school career that will ultimately lead to success on the bar exam,” Farber said.

While many of the law schools with the highest 2023 first-time bar pass rates were among the top-ranked law schools in the country, others were not— BC is ranked at No. 28 by the U.S. News and World Report.

STEVE

BC Law School was one of two Massachusetts law schools to make the Reuters

“Ten of the 15 law schools with the highest 2023 first-time bar pass rates are in the so-called T-14, which are ranked in the top 14 by U.S. News & World Report,” the Reuters ranking reads. “Five schools outside the T-14 also made that list.” BC was one of two law schools from Massachusetts to make the ranking’s top 15, alongside Harvard Law School one spot ahead at No. 9.

The bar exam is set to change in the coming years, which may present challenges in how BC Law prepares its students for the exam, Cohen said.

Nevertheless, the newly implemented resources and programming puts BC Law students on an upward trajectory, Cohen said.

“We’re expecting to see BC at 100 percent in a few years,” Cohen said. n

“The bar exam itself is going to be changing for the class that’s coming into law school next year, or potentially changing,” Cohen said. “We’re going to have challenges of trying to figure out how to replicate our results.”

Penna Talks Living Life to Its Fullest Potential

By ashna poTluri Heights Staff

Students in Hillside Cafe on Tuesday night grew quiet as Tony Penna, S.J., examined the crowd.

“We all have ordinary faces,” Penna said. “I don’t see a Brad Pitt. I don’t see that. I just see very beautiful, but very ordinary faces. The ordinary face is the face of the world.”

“The ordinary face is the face of the world.”

Penna spoke to a full audience on Tuesday as the last installment of this year’s Church in the 21st Century Center’s Agape Latte speaker series.

Penna, associate vice presi -

dent and director of campus ministry, said he has served many roles in the BC community over the past 30 years, and that he wanted to impart some wisdom to the audience before the end of the event.

“I hope you take something home with you tonight,” Penna said. “I hope that you’re a little more full than when you came.”

Penna also spared no opportunities to crack jokes throughout the evening.

“This is kind of a late version of Agape Latte,” Penna said. “I guess I’m like the spiritual Jimmy Kimmel.”

Penna then recounted the story of Jesus’ resurrection to the audience to convey how “ordinary” people can make a difference.

When Mary first saw Jesus walking toward her after his resurrection, she didn’t recognize him

and mistook him for a gardener, Penna said.

“I hope you take something home with you tonight. I hope that you’re a little more full than when you came.”

“He looks like an ordinary person,” Penna said. “And that’s part of the message of the post-resurrection story, that from now on, the ordinary face—the face of the gardeners of the world—is all we need to get it done.”

Penna went on to talk about a life-changing message he received at a bookstore in the 1980s, when

he encountered a book called The Gathering of the Ungifted by John Meagher. Penna opened the book randomly to a line that has since stuck with him ever since, he said.

“‘You are a unique human experiment,’” Penna recalled. “‘Never before tried in human history, and when you’re dead, it’s never ever going to be repeated.’”

Penna emphasized that he, as well as everyone else, has a finite amount of time to live life to its fullest potential.

“We know that death is coming our way,” Penna said. “And we have a finite amount of time to get this experiment called ‘you’ cooked up the right way. Are you using the right ingredients? Are there the appropriate proportions?”

Penna also said that the right way for him, as a Christian, to live is by spreading God and goodness to those in need.

“You are a unique human experiment. Never before tried

in

human history, and when you’re dead, it’s never ever going to be repeated.”

“The truth is, God’s work is now bequeath into our hands,” Penna said. “The question is, are you going to be generous enough to start spooning out the life that we have to those who need it more than we need it? And if we do that, well, we not only live a graceful life, we will die a graceful death of a spiritual child of God.” n

Razek Discusses the Importance of Mental Health

By Madison hoang Heights Staff

Mental health is often overlooked and undiscussed, according to Matthew Razek, associate director of First Year Experience at Boston College.

“Why is it so hard for individuals—particularly men—to admit when they need help?” Razek said.

Razek was the keynote speaker for “No Shame: The Talk,”

hosted on Monday by UGBC and the Center for Student Wellness.

Razek discussed the topic of men’s mental health as part of BC’s mental health awareness week.

“Everyone’s journey, especially as it pertains to their mental health, is unique and different,” Razek said.

Razek described his own journey with mental health through the lens of his early friendships.

“Growing up, I lived pretty independently,” Razek said. “I never found myself in any one friend group but had many independent friends. As high school and college came, I found myself starting to hear about those friend connections that everyone was talking about.”

Razek said his desire to make new friends in high school and college led him to realize his personal struggles with loneliness

and low self-esteem.

“I think I never had genuine connections because I was too worried about fitting in with overthinking almost any scenario that came up,” Razek said.

“Everyone’s journey, especially as it pertains to their mental health, is unique and different.”

Despite these struggles, Razek said a lack of knowledge about mental health prevented him from defining and articulating his feelings.

“I didn’t have the language, and no one really ever explained to me what a mental health struggle was,” Razek said. “I was never dissuaded from talking about it, it was just never a topic that came up.”

Razek also imparted two pieces of advice for overcoming barriers to discussing mental health: to stay humble and be hopeful, and to love and receive love.

“Every day, I read a lot of

evidence that reminds me of the power of sharing our stories, and that our journeys are all interconnected and that we’re not alone or burdened,” he said. “It’s about letting people who care about you and love you have their moment of recognizing this and all the time be supportive.”

Razek also provided a third piece of advice: to inspire. He said this guided his own journey of mental health, particularly through the inspiration that the running community provides.

“I often find that this inspiration for me comes from the many conversations that are happening there [among the runners] about how people are doing, what relationship issues are coming up, and what’s on their mind, and how we can share each of our stories,” Razek said. “You never know the inspiration that you give to others who need it most.”

Razek concluded his talk by reiterating the importance of courage and sharing stories about mental health with loved ones, even when it may be lonely or intimidating.

“Stay humble, be hopeful. Love and receive love, inspire— concepts and lessons that I’ve taken with me every day,” Razek said. n

MOONEY / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

ranking’s top 15.

Newton’s Commissioner of Health and Human Services Reflects on 37-Year Career with Newton

By Laney Mcaden Asst. Newton Editor

Linda Walsh, Newton’s commissioner of Health and Human Services, is set to retire in June following a 37-year career serving the city.

“She’s a huge presence, and I think the knowledge and wisdom and compassion that she’s had over the years have touched so many lives, and we’ll really miss that,” said Shin-Yi Lao, director of Public Health Services.

Walsh, CSON ’82, began her career in Newton as a registered public health nurse in the summer of 1986.

“I had all these opportunities here—I started as a public health nurse, and we actually had school nurses here in Newton at the time,” Walsh said. “So I took a promotion to be the supervisor of the school nurses and the public health nurses, and we merged at some point with the Human Services Department.”

Walsh’s department merged with the Health and Human Services Department, and she took on several different jobs as the branch grew and its responsibilities increased.

“It’s been terrific, and I think I’ve stayed as long as I have in Newton because it’s always something different, always something going on,” Walsh said. “Every time I thought of maybe leaving and taking another job, some new opportunity would come my way.”

One of her biggest accomplishments during her career was the addition of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in various public facilities across the city. At the time, AEDs were uncommon pieces of safety equipment, explained Walsh.

“Newton was one of the first … to put all of the AED aids in public

buildings, in our schools, City Hall, parks and rec buildings, the library, and it was a huge undertaking.” Walsh said. “It was the right thing to do because it saved lives and it’s been proven to save lives over the years, after we became a heart-safe community.”

The integration of AEDs in the Newton community was a multi-department program, involving the fire department, police department, and the school department, according to Walsh. She explained that this ability to have large collaborative projects is part of what makes Newton so special.

“But, you know, here, when you have an idea like that for the city, they’re like—great idea, find funding, and go for it,” Walsh said. “And sometimes it’s a multi-year implementation, but we get there with a sort of mantra, especially when you work for municipal departments, that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You have a goal, you want to get there … and we get there.”

Ruth Hoshino, director of School Health Services under Walsh, explained that the department has benefited greatly from Walsh’s expertise and skillful approach to problem-solving.

“How fortunate I have been to have had a supervisor and colleague who has a deep understanding of nursing and public health, is a skilled critical thinker, is masterful at working with all kinds of people and so much fun to be with,” Hoshino said.

Under Walsh, Newton’s nursing team expanded to over 30 school-stationed nurses in order to meet the needs of students and families, according to Hoshino.

Hoshino said one of the projects she most admires from Walsh’s career was her work in suicide prevention, as it was especially im-

pactful during a time of difficulty in the Newton community.

“During a particularly difficult period, when Newton lost several students to suicide, Mrs. Walsh helped develop a coalition called Newton Cares, to create a space for healing, education and prevention,” Hoshino said.

Walsh explained Newton Cares was one of her proudest achievements of her career, and that she truly believes in the impact the program has had in the community.

“But I have to believe that we’ve done a lot of work in prevention, on suicide prevention, on opioid addiction and prevention,” Walsh said.

“I have to believe that a lot of the public health messaging that we put out over the years has had an impact in people’s lives.”

Her work in suicide prevention and awareness plays a large role in Walsh’s love for public health, she explained.

“Some of the work that we did suicide prevention is what drives a lot of the people who work in public health because you feel like you can make a difference, which is why we love the work so much, or why I love

the work so much,” Walsh said.

Walsh explained that her experience as a nurse has greatly helped her in the realm of public health, as the knowledge required is similar, albeit more community-centered.

“So public health is sort of like—it’s not one person-centered, it’s community-centered,” Walsh said. “So trying to push out good information so that people can make good choices, is really nursing.”

More than simply putting out information for the community, Walsh explained she has needed to be critical as well as collaborative in her decisions as commissioner of Health and Human Services.

“And I think as a commissioner, you need really good critical thinking skills, and you need good people skills,” Walsh said. “You need to be able to listen to people from other disciplines like our public safety partners, police, fire, our ambulance service, you need to be able to listen to residents.”

Lao explained that Walsh’s retirement will be tough on the department, both as friends and co-workers, but she is ultimately happy for her.

“She’s moving on to the next chapter of her life and I think she has a lot of exciting things planned for that, but it’s a huge loss for us,” Lao said. “People really miss having her and her leadership, and we’ll miss working with her.”

Walsh said she has a list of fun plans following her retirement, and she is excited for the opportunity to enjoy her retirement following her long, commendable career in Newton.

“I’m really excited to retire and still have all this energy to do fun things,” Walsh said. “So I couldn’t be more pleased and proud to have worked for the city for as long as I have and to be able to jettison out while I’m still young and able to do good things.”

Walsh said she is mainly just grateful to have had the opportunity to serve and know her community through her work.

“I’m grateful, and I’m just sort of wired that way, but I’m grateful because life can be really difficult,” Walsh said. “We need community, so I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities I had and for all the people that I’ve met.” n

NPD Arrests Man Involved in Rhode Island Car Chase

By Genevieve Morrison Assoc. Newton Editor

Newton police officers arrested a man allegedly involved in a car chase that began in Rhode Island on Friday.

Officers responded to a call about an unconscious man in the parking lot of the Riverside T station in Auburndale, according to a statement Newton Police Department (NPD) Chief John Carmichael posted to Facebook.

Before arriving, officers had been informed by dispatch that the red Mercedes the man was sleeping in was involved in a high-speed chase and had entered Massachusetts on I-95 from Rhode Island.

Once the vehicle entered Massachusetts, state police pursued but eventually stopped the chase,

Carmichael said.

“Due to the operation of the vehicle and excessive speeds the vehicle exited the highway in Norwood, at which time the pursuit was terminated,” Carmichael wrote in the statement.

When NPD officers approached the vehicle at Riverside, the man attempted to flee the lot. He drove down an access road where officers followed the car. After a short pursuit, the man jumped out of the vehicle and jumped onto the MBTA tracks.

After a pursuit on foot, police cornered the man between the tracks and a fence lining the Woodland Station Apartments and arrested him.

According to Carmichael, one officer issued verbal commands to the suspect who was allegedly re-

peatedly reaching into his pockets for what appeared to be a weapon.

Another officer assisted with the arrest by jumping from a fivefoot retaining wall and helping to contain the man’s attempt to flee.

Police identified the man as Emanuel Salmeron, a 22-year-old from Providence, R.I.. He faces charges for failing to stop for an officer, negligent motor vehicle operation, resisting arrest, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Salmeron has been turned over to the Massachusetts State Police.

Carmichael commended the officers involved in the arrest in his statement.

“Their strategy and quick decisions helped preserve public safety and prevent any injuries to our officers and other motorists,” Carmichael wrote. n

Newton Fire Likely Caused by Oily

The Newton Fire Department responded to reports of a fire on Central Avenue likely caused by oily rags yesterday, according to Newton Fire Chief Gregory Gentile.

The fire department arrived on the scene at about 11:30 a.m.

“They found heavy fire on the upper floors on arrival and it quickly went to three alarms,” a press release from the fire department reads. “Firefighters battled the flames well into the afternoon before the fire was knocked down.”

Gentile said staining rags had been left in a trash bag on the stairs the day before the fire.

“The oils in many paints, stains, and varnishes release heat as they dry,” Gentile said in the press release. “If these rags are left in a pile or in the trash, that heat can become strong enough to ignite them and other nearby items.”

Gentile said in the release that fires caused by these kinds of rags are particularly hazardous.

Rags

“These fires are especially dangerous because they can smolder undetected for hours before bursting into flames that spread to other combustible items,” Gentile said.

The home in question is twoand-a-half stories and located at 8 Central Ave.

The Newton Fire Department and the State Police officers assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office investigated the cause of the fire.

The press release said State Police fire investigators have identified oily rags as a potential cause for almost a dozen residential fires in 2023.

State Fire Marshal Jon Davine advised people to be more cautious when disposing of such rags.

“First, dry them individually outdoors,” Davine said. “You can hang dry them or spread them out flat on the ground. Once they’re dry, place them in a can filled with water and cover it with a tight-fitting lid. An old paint can works perfectly. Then drop it off at a household hazardous waste collection in your community.” n

STEVE MOONEY / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

M AGAZINE

Victoria Tucker’s Career in Adoption and Foster Care

B y P hoe B e M a Buchi Heights Staff

As a freshman at Boston College, Victoria Tucker thought she wanted to become a teacher, but her academic advisor disagreed.

“He was like, ‘Victoria, you don’t want to be a teacher … You sound like you want to be a social worker,’” Tucker, BC ’12 and SSW ’13, said.

When her academic advisor first proposed the prospective career switch, Tucker was hesitant—she knew she wanted to help children, but she wasn’t certain if social work was the right path to do so.

But when she interned at an adoption agency the summer after her freshman year, she knew social work was the career for her.

“When I came back that sophomore year, I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do,’” Tucker said.

From there, Tucker joined BC’s dual degree program to receive her bachelor’s degree and a master’s of social work on a five-year track.

“Working with kids just sort of became my passion,” Tucker said. “I started off as a teacher and ended as a social worker.”

Today, Tucker supervises the adoption unit at The Home For Little Wanderers (HLW), a nonprofit child and family service agency in Boston.

The HLW was also where Tucker got some of her earliest experiences in social work—her first field training as a student was at the HLW, where she supported parents at risk of losing custody or whose children were returning home from foster care.

During her practicum experience, one of the mothers Tucker worked with asked her to come to her child’s medical appointment. At this appointment, the child received a life-changing diagnosis.

“I will just always remember that I was the person that was there

to support her with that,” Tucker said. “Not her family, not anyone else in her life, but it was me.”

After graduating from BC in 2013, Tucker worked at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange.

Caryn Lister, who has worked in the adoption field for 28 years, knew Tucker through both jobs.

Part of Tucker’s work involved referring children stuck in foster care to adoption agencies, one of which Lister worked at. Through this process, Lister said Tucker became a friendly face.

When Lister switched to work at the HLW, she encouraged Tucker to apply for the open position as the organization’s adoption supervisor.

“[I] really respected her work and the way that she manages a team,” Lister said. “So I always sort of had a vision of working with her directly on a team.”

In 2021, Tucker got the job and began her new role at the HLW.

“What I always say to people is that you never burn a bridge,” Tucker said. “Connections that you make in life, you never know where they will lead.”

One of the main parts of Tucker’s job is supervising staff at the HLW. Lucy Collins, one of these staff members, works to recruit foster parents, train them, and then oversee them. Collins said she appreciates Tucker’s approach as a supervisor throughout this process.

“She doesn’t try to tell me how to do things,” Collins said. “She helps me work through so that I can learn how to do it. She helps me problem-solve. She’s good at that. ”

Collins and Tucker work together to facilitate Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting training, a 30-hour course that potential foster and adoptive parents are required to take before beginning the foster or adoption process. Through this partnership,

Collins said she has noticed Tucker’s strengths when interacting with the families.

“When she’s meeting with somebody, she really has good intuition as to where their strengths lay or what challenges they will have,” Collins said.

Tucker also completes assessments of children hoping to be adopted and home studies of the families who want to adopt. She then decides whether to approve a family, deny them, or put off adoption if certain criteria still need to be met.

Tucker said she notices the impact of her BC education in the work she does. During graduate school, one of her professors had students go around the room and pretend to greet each other as if they were greeting the children they were going to work with.

“The first interaction we have with families and with kids can sort of set the tone for how your experience is going to be with them,” Tucker said. “That was something that I really hadn’t even thought about, but it was something that came up in class and just has stuck

in my head ever since.”

Throughout eight years of working and partnering with Tucker, Lister said she has picked up on Tucker’s special understanding of the adoption process and strength of gauging prospective parents, preparing families who are adopting children with trauma, and expressing the needs of a child or family through written reports.

“She’s just an authentic, good social worker,” Lister said. “She gets it.”

Some adoptions, though, are easier than others. When a child has extensive medical needs, Tucker said finding a family for them can be more difficult. Despite this, Tucker said she is proud of the way she has been able to help out these children.

“I do take a lot of pride in how some of those turned out,” Tucker said. “There were a lot of barriers and we were able to sort of overcome them and have the child be adopted.”

One difficult adoption process involved a 17-year-old boy who had not been adopted yet, Tucker said. All he wanted before his 18th

birthday was to have a family, Tucker said, but those around him had already lost hope. Counting down the days, Tucker scoped out families, and he was adopted just two days before his birthday.

“The kids that really, truly want to be adopted when they’re older, and want that family, and when it happens for them … those are the kids that I think about a lot,” Tucker said.

In the future, Tucker said she hopes to learn more about genealogy and DNA searches to help adoptees know who their biological parents are. She said she feels passionately that if children are curious about their biological family, they should have the opportunity to learn about them.

Though she works with families throughout the adoption process, Tucker said the best part of her job is one of the final steps—checking the kids into their new homes.

“[I love] seeing kids just get to be kids, despite all the trauma that they’ve gone through,” Tucker said. “You walk into the home and you would never know because they’re just comfortable.” n

Unconventional Study Spots for Finals Season

By Kate Kissel Copy Chief

It’s officially that time of the year. Marathon Monday and Showdown have come and gone, and as Modstock quickly approaches, anticipation is building for what looms around the corner. That’s right, Eagles—finals season is upon us.

If you’re like me, nothing sounds worse than searching around the gloomy floors of O’Neill for a seat or rotting away in the confines of Bapst. Luckily, there is one way to spice up your study routine—utilizing one of my favorite unconventional study spots! These uncommon study

sanctuaries are sure to get you out of your rut and locked in for exams.

A Bench at the Reservoir

Sometimes, all you need to complete that final paper is a change of scenery, and there’s no better place to spark a little inspiration than a bench on the Res. Admire the lapping water, do some people-watching, and crank out those last few pages accompanied by a breeze and some much-needed UV.

Fuel America

If you’re feeling the need to get off campus but don’t want to make the trek all the way into Boston,

this option is perfect for you. A quick walk from 2K, Fuel America has exactly the right amount of separation from the “BC bubble” for you to really lock in. Grab an iced latte and live out your cafe study aesthetic dreams without straying far from home.

Boston Public Library

Why not turn your study day into a city adventure? Hop on the T to Copley Square and make your way to the Boston Public Library’s second floor. Here you’ll find Bates Hall, one of Boston’s most iconic attractions, sure to fulfill your Harry Potter fantasies. In a room of dead silence—besides the occasional snap of a photo—you’ll

be sure to maximize productivity. Most importantly, all that hard work can be easily compensated by the array of sweet treats and shopping options on nearby Newbury Street.

Gasson Commons

Sometimes, the best things are right under our fingertips. We all have at least a few “Gasson grams” in our camera rolls or have spent time lounging outside on the Quad, but not many have taken advantage of Gasson Commons, the small library inside of Gasson Hall. As one of the most underutilized spaces on campus, this place has all the beauty of Bapst, more couches, and fewer people. Conveniently located, silent, and comfortable, Gasson Commons provides the ideal finals sanctuary.

Stokes Classroom

The best way to learn is often to teach. Thankfully, the opportunity to play professor is right in front of you. The endless amount of empty classrooms on campus, fit with chalkboards and whiteboard for what ever diagrams or timelines you can concoct, are the place to be. Invite some friends, sprawl out all your materi als, and rot in a Stokes

classroom for a sure-to-be productive study day.

The McMullen Mseum of Art

Head on over to Brighton Campus to check out some art while getting work done right in the middle of the galleries. Make sure to pop into Cafe 129, located at 129 Lake Street, where you can make your own Mediterranean bowls and sandwiches all on your meal plan. With fuel and artistic inspiration, you are sure to have a fruitful and fun study session on Brighton Campus.

Prayer Rooms

Personally, the idea of leaving the comfort of my dorm at night seems less than appealing. Still, I can’t say I’ve ever had much success getting work done from the comfort of my bed. Though the lounge is a suitable option, I much prefer the quiet solitude of a prayer and reflection room, where you can have a space all to yourself. Put on your PJ’s, order some DoorDash, and walk just a few steps to find the best little nook for a chill night of work. n

GRAPHIC

PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTORIA TUCKER

After graduating from Boston College, Tucker began working at adoption and foster care agencies.

OPINIONS

The opinions and commentaries of the op-ed columnists appearing on this page represent the views of the authors of those particular pieces and not necessarily the views of The Heights

Whatever You Live Will Be Life

In the spring of 2020, a few months before I was an official Boston College student in the Class of 2024, I was a disenchanted high school senior with no idea of what the future might hold. I was perpetually tired, perennially anxious, and in desperate need of direction.

I couldn’t wait to springboard into the next chapter of my life, but I was terrified that I might end up in a meaningless free-fall. Once I committed to BC and begrudgingly sat through my virtual high school graduation, I thought I was done with this feeling for good. I was wrong.

Flash forward four years, and here I am again—less tired but still anxious and unsure of what the future holds. My experience at BC has been so wonderful and fulfilling that I’ve found myself more and more terrified of what will happen once my graduation cap lands on the ground and the last moving box is taped up.

Life as a BC senior is much more exciting than life as a high school senior, but the future is proportionally more scary. Some nights you’re standing on the coffee table belting out “Mr. Brightside” with your roommates, and some nights you’re alone in your twin XL thinking about when will be the last time you sing that song as a BC student. Some things about post-graduate life are

givens—I’ll go home, I’ll move to New York, start working, and hopefully save up so I can retire when I’m 65. But everything else that’s going to happen along the way—all the little things that fill up our lives with meaning, suffering, purpose, and love—what those things will be, I cannot know.

When I find myself feeling this way, petrified of the unknown, I ground myself by returning to the writing that has helped me make sense of the senseless in the past. Sometimes this means sifting through Grace Christensen’s Heights columns. My personal favorites are “Eel Sex and Other Unanswered Questions” and “Goodbye and a Guy Named Steve.”

When I first read these two columns, I was still an editor for The Heights, and they remind me not only of what a strong and poetic voice sounds like, but how I have developed my own voice in these past four years. As I write this column, I hope that I can achieve even an ounce of what Christensen did in her writing.

Other times, the works I turn to are more tangible books off the shelf. A personal favorite is All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren. While this book is full of “quotable quotes” (if that’s even a real thing, by my account all quotes are “quotable” if you quote them), my favorite is quite hefty, but worth the read:

“Which is nonsense, for whatever you live is Life. That is something to remember when you meet the old classmate who says, “Well now, on our last expedition up the Congo-” or the one who says, “Gee, I got the sweetest little wife and three of the swellest kids ever-” You must remember it when you sit in hotel lobbies or lean over bars to talk to the bartender or walk down a dark street at night, in early March, and stare into a lighted window. And remember little Susie has adenoids and the

bread is probably burned, and turn up the street, for the time has come to hand me down that walking cane, for I got to catch that midnight train, for all my sin is taken away. For whatever you live is life.”

When I first read this paragraph, I was still that high school senior reluctantly completing my AP Literature homework. It felt like my life was disintegrating before me, losing its meaning by the second, and suddenly the words of a political novelist writing in 1946 turned my world upside down.

What I was feeling was a kind of nonsense, for whatever you live is Life. Even if things changed drastically and I was no longer sure about anything at all, everyday I woke up and pushed through another day, because what I was living was Life.

There’s so much pressure to embark in a new phase of your life with vigor, excitement, and romanticism. There’s so much pressure to be everything, to be everywhere, and to be confident in all of it.

To be the “old classmate” who has thrilling post-graduate stories to tell and a happy family to boot. To have a dazzling LinkedIn and a glamorous Instagram, to “lean over bars to talk to the bartender,” and catch that midnight train going anywhere. But life doesn’t really work like that.

In reality, sometimes you burn your toast, innocent kids get sick, and you walk home alone at night. But on good days and bad, whatever you live is Life.

When I’m crossing that stage in a few weeks and the sun is shining down on a graduating class prepared ever to excel, I’m going to remind myself that whatever I choose to live, it will be Life. And whatever you choose to live will be Life too.

Conversation Partners: Ooh, La, La!

Contrary to most students, I love icebreakers. Admittedly, I am competitive in group discussion settings. I try to have the most creative response to the prompt. One of my professors recently prompted our class: “Who is your favorite conversation partner, and what do you discuss with that person?” Conversation partners are a cornerstone of Jesuit tradition, as these balanced relationships help us become our more realized selves. Through discussions with conversation partners, we can learn free from judgment. These conversations and relationships aid our ability to discern. I have several conversation partners in different contexts at Boston College and maintained relationships with high school teachers, coaches, and friends. My most noteworthy conversation partners, however, are family members.

“There is always room at the end of my bed,” my mom often says when she senses I have something on my mind. As I’ve grown, the physical space my mom offers me has become much less important than the emotional support she extends through conversation. Through the stories I’ve told, the questions I’ve asked, and the laughter we’ve shared, I have come to depend on my mom to guide me through all of my growing pains. Our conversations are free exchanges where I can express my fears, curiosity, and questions. One of our favorite things to talk about is

the lessons we’ve learned from our favorite movies, books, and TV shows—I’ve always felt special connections to fictional characters.

Jane O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy series is arguably the most impactful literature in my life. Through conversations with my mom, I’ve come to realize just how much I try to mirror Fancy Nancy.

Whether dashing off to the spa, French lessons, or glamorous sleepovers, Nancy and her fabulousness inspired me. I tried everything to emulate her fantastic zeal. For example, because Nancy and I share matching red hair, I subscribed to her philosophy that a bow would fix all of my issues. In second grade, I donned multiple outfits throughout the day and sought out clothing and accessories that sparkled. Of course, I also resonated with Nancy because her mom was by her side through all the adventures.

Jane O’Connor’s stories highlight Nancy’s ability to navigate any situation with a unique flair. Reading these books with my mother daily solidified that I could lead my life by the aura of Nancy.

Both Nancy and my mother sort through problems with a positive bend. Often, I notice peers resorting to negativity when addressing academics, social life, and future endeavors. I look to my mother for advice when addressing problems, and she pushes me to lead by example. She frequently asks, “Who are you when no one else is around?” I try to incorporate the power of positive thinking into each day, pushing myself to abide by the mindset of “how you do anything is how you do everything.”

Confidence is something that I work to embody—something Nancy excelled at, my mom and I have concurred. Staying scheduled and busy provided her with experiences to be her best self. In my own life, I believe being idle is a recipe for interpersonal catastrophe. Whether it’s joining a new club, attending a

Arts Fest

Craft fairs have overtaken Lower Campus and a cappella performances can be heard echoing through the Mod Lot— Arts Fest is here! It’s no secret that BC’s campus is overflowing with creativity and artistic talent, and Arts Fest is an incredible opportunity for these students to put their talents on display. Cheer on our dance teams, buy a piece of student-made art, or attend a band concert. These students have worked so hard and deserve all of our support!

Mods, Mud, and Music

The final day of classes is exciting in its own right, but adding a muddy volleyball game and a concert to the mix only boosts anticipation. After Neon Trees and Del Water Gap were announced as this year’s performers, students began counting down the days until they get to pack the Mod Lot once again. So make sure to finish up your final assignments, practice your volleyball serves at the Plex, and blast “Everybody Talks” in preparation for Thursday’s festivities.

Exam Season

speaker event, or asking to sit down with a new friend in the dining hall, I’ve found that growth occurs when you listen and act upon your unique interests. My favorite sentiment from Fancy Nancy is cultivating and caring for your inner sparkle. I find myself sparkling when I embrace individuality. My mom reminds me that everyone puts their pants on the same way. I love this saying because it begs the question: Why should I not be my fabulous self? Her outfits, attitude, and outings were 100 percent her own. It’s taken time, but I try to take ownership of both my internal and external sparkle.

If I never picked up Fancy Nancy, my life would have undoubtedly been drastically different. If Nancy stepped out of the pages of her book, she would be unable to cite fashion faux-pas as I adorn myself with sparkles, patterns, and color. She would marvel at my dorm room covered in collages, garlands, and heart decals. Nancy’s lessons have translated into my love for intentional celebrations, holiday-themed functions, and incorporating enthusiasm into all relationships.

I love getting lost in comfortable conversation by my mom’s side. Discussions about random topics like Fancy Nancy empower me to always ask questions. When discussing small things, I have the most profound realizations. While I am no longer Nancy’s protégé, her books will always line a shelf in my bookcase. Conversation partners help us realize unexpected things about ourselves. When my mom and I finish our conversations—even the difficult ones—I feel uplifted. My mom doesn’t try to solve my problems, she listens and allows me to formulate my own answers. I always walk away from our conversations with a sense of clarity, renewed confidence, and most importantly, a better sense of who I am.

The semester might be winding down, but the workload certainly isn’t. Fastapproaching essay deadlines and anxietyinducing exams are at the front of all our minds as we enter finals season. Nights out with friends are soon to be swapped for midnight study sessions in O’Neill, and lighthearted conversations with roommates are about to turn into longwinded complaints. Finals week certainly isn’t anybody’s favorite time of the year, but taking study breaks to walk the Res or grab dinner with friends is sure to make the week just a little bit better.

Saying Goodbye

The end of the semester is incredibly bittersweet. The blooming tulips and shining sun signal that our days on the Heights are coming to an end. Reunions with hometown friends and family are just weeks away, but so are the teary goodbyes with roommates. The endless swarms of graduation photoshoots in front of Gasson are reminders of just how quickly these four years go by. So whether you’re a senior preparing to enter the working world or a freshman counting down the Newton bus rides you have left, try to slow down and, as best as possible, live in the moment.

Olivia Franceschini

GRAPHICS BY PARKER LEAF AND CONNOR KILGALLON / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Olivia Franceschini is a columnist for The Heights She can be reached at olivia.franceschini@bc.edu.

scanlOn MellOwes

Scanlon Mellowes is a columnist for The Heights She can be reached at scanlon.mellowes@bc.edu.

A Response to the Anti-Israel Activities at BC

To the Readers of The Heights:

It is fitting that this letter addressing the current atmosphere on campus should be written during the holiday of Passover. This is a time when Jews around the world celebrate Freedom as exemplified by the Exodus from Egypt, where we were slaves.

This is a time when, for hundreds of years, the “blood libel” (claims that Jews kill Christian children and use their blood to make matzah) has been used to justify anti-Jewish violence.

We, the undersigned, are distressed by the loss of innocent life in Gaza and dismayed by some of the actions of the Netanyahu government. However, much of the blame for the human carnage must be placed on the terrorist organization Hamas, which is both the elected civil government of Gaza and its army.

On Oct.7, 2023, Hamas invaded Israel, and brutally murdered approximately 1,200 people, including young people—many peace activists—who were attending a music concert, as well as children, the elderly, and non-Israelis. Hamas then kidnapped more than 240 hostages back to Gaza, many of whom are still there, dead or alive. Israelis are not the only victims of Hamas. Hamas videotaped the beheading of a Thai worker with a garden hoe and sent the video to Thailand to warn others against coming to work in Israel.

Hamas uses the Gazan population as human shields and conceals its war-making infrastructure in tunnels beneath mosques, hospitals, and apartment buildings. Hamas also is a source of insidious propaganda that is widespread and not being questioned critically on American campuses.

These facts were ignored in the April 3 public lecture by a history professor, at

which dissenting views were not allowed. They were also ignored at the April 25 rally, although we commend the student organizers for maintaining a civil tone. While the founding of the modern state of Israel did involve a civil war and the displacement of Palestinians from their homes and the displacement of an even larger number of Jews from Arab countries, it is beyond the scope of this letter to discuss and debate the competing claims to this land.

Finally, one Boston College student at the rally claimed that, based on a BC staff member’s service in the Israel Defense Forces, BC was “hiring war criminals.” By extension, this labels almost all Jewish Israelis (including many BC faculty, staff, and students) as war criminals, since serving in the IDF is a requirement for most Jews growing up in Israel.

Once again, a variant of the blood libel rears its ugly head. We wish to support our Israeli students and colleagues at BC and

other universities against this slanderous and ignorant rhetoric.

The undersigned are open to honest debate and disagreements, and we seek peace in our homes, on our campus, and in the Middle East.

Sincerely,

Henry Braun, Lynch School; Edward Chazen, Business Law & Society; Solomon Friedberg, Math Department; Joshua Greene, Math Department; Charles Hoffman, Biology Department; Edith Hotchkiss, Finance Department; Dan Kirschner, Emeritus Professor; Janet Kolodner, Formative Education; Rabbi Ruth Langer, Theology Department; Alan Marcus, Finance Department; Rachel M. Reisman, University Counseling Services; Jacob Samuelson, Law Library; David Vanderhooft, Theology Department; Marina Vasilyeva, Counseling, Developmental & Educational Psychology

Boston College Jews Call for a

Ceasefire and Release of Hostages

Jewish people around the world are observing eight nights of Passover, the holiday that remembers our enslavement in Egypt and celebrates our freedom. This year, it has been difficult to not contemplate the sixmonth war in Gaza and the lives of Palestinians and Jews lost in it.

We condemn Hamas’ murder and kidnapping of over 1,000 Jews on Oct. 7, some of these people our own family, friends, and colleagues, and demand that these hostages, who have been held in captivity for over 200 days, be released immediately. We equally reject Netanyahu’s extremist government, which has failed to produce peace, and its killing of thousands of innocent Palestinians in Gaza.

We join the calls, along with many of our brothers and sisters in Israel, for a ceasefire and believe that the position for the release of the hostages is one that is inherently anti-war.

Student-led movements across college campuses have cried out for the liberation of Palestinians under siege in Gaza and demanded an unconditional ceasefire. Often absent from these protests, though, is any real acknowledgment of the horrors of Oct. 7. At times, there has been dismissal or even celebration of this violence.

Echoing the words of Rabbi Shai Held, we implore our communities to remember Passover’s radical message: despite our own suffering, refuse the temptation to learn indifference or hate.

Instead, let our memories, as ancient as Egypt and as recent as Oct. 7, teach us empathy and love. We remember two important tenets of our tradition: pikuach nefesh, the commandment to save human life, which is always sacred, and pidyon shvuyim, the necessity to liberate our people who fall into captivity.

We understand that any future is one in which our lives are intertwined. Even now, in one of the worst moments of conflict since 1948, there are Jews and Palestinians in the region working together to forge a future, because no other future is possible. Let us join them.

Signed:

Guy Beiner, History; Rachel Brody, History; Avner Goldstein, History; Elizabeth Graver, English; Lori Harrison-Kahan, English; Charles Hoffman, Biology; Daniel Kirschner, Biology; Janet Kolodner, Formative Education; Selva Lewin-Bizan, Counseling, Developmental, & Educational Psychology; Rebekah Levine Coley, Counseling, Developmental, & Educational Psychology Andrew Sofer, English

In Support of Thoughtful Protest

Kirschner

and of Dr. Ira

The last six months have been emotionally difficult for us as Jews, as people with personal connections to Israel and the Middle East in the aftermath of Oct. 7, and as engaged members of American politics. In the past week, disturbing news stories have emerged from Columbia and other college campuses, where Jews have been harassed and in some cases made to feel physically unsafe.

All of us either attended or watched footage of the “Boston College Speaks Out for Palestine” rally which took place on O’Neill Plaza last Thursday. What we saw was encouraging: it was clear to us that the student organizers had taken care to avoid anti-Semitism in their statements and chants. Although we will disagree on aspects of the conflict—even among the authors of this letter, there is a diversity of viewpoints—we applaud the sensitivity of the protestors and their passion in advocating for the people of Gaza. We hope the Boston College administration will value these qualities as well.

At one point during the rally, a student speaker criticized Dr. Ira Kirschner, an associate director at the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, for being a former officer in the Israel Defense Forces, describing him as a “war criminal.” Since military service is compulsory for almost all Israeli citizens, we

found this claim to be a misleading and needless personal attack. Suggesting former IDF soldiers be removed from BC faculty and staff is tantamount to suggesting that all Israelis be removed, and if we are to reject employees from countries accused of colonialism, it seems that we would then have to remove Americans as well. We do not agree with this position.

Additionally, we stand behind Ira as a caring and compassionate person who has supported BC students from myriad backgrounds during his short time here. We are confident that anyone who makes an effort to connect with Ira personally will agree with our assessment, and we hope that students and faculty will make this effort.

Sincerely,

Joe Boninger*, Visiting Professor, Dept. of Mathematics; Avner Goldstein, Dept. of History; Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Professor of Jewish-Christian Relations, Dept of Theology; Dan Kirschner, Emeritus Professor; Janet Kolodner, Professor of the Practice, Dept. of Formative Education; Rabbi Ruth Langer, Professor of Jewish Studies, Dept. of Theology: Marina Vasilyeva, Associate Professor, Dept of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology

*Dr. Boninger is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation. His views do not reflect the views of the NSF.

BC’s Best Hosts Small, Yet Energized Audience

By K athy Lu Assoc. Podcast Editor

It’s all fun and games until talented bands and singer-songwriters get serious, competing to be crowned Boston College’s Best. Obstacle Monkey and Whistle Rock took home the win at this year’s competition in the band and singer-songwriter categories, respectively.

BC’s Best is an annual music competition and a part of the Arts Festival. The competition was hosted in the Mod Lot on Thursday night with bands competing to be the opening act for Neon Trees at Modstock.

Competing in BC’s Best were the top three bands and top three singer-songwriters of Battle of the Bands, which took place earlier this month.

The night opened with the singer-songwriter category, kicked off by Julia Piccard, MCAS ’26. The solo act stood in the center of the stage, showcasing her acoustic guitar and soft vocals.

Piccard sang mostly original songs, but included a cover of “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane. The audience swayed to her mellow melodies as she ended with an original song, which she named her “happy song.”

Following was singer-songwriter Melina Piperis, MCAS ’26. Also performing with an acoustic guitar, Piperis played a mix of original songs and

covers, including songs from Alvvays and Amy Winehouse. Her beautifully husky voice charmed the audience, garnering big applause at the end of her set.

Initially, the crowd didn’t look too promising, perhaps because it was late on a Thursday night. By the time the third musical act, Whistle Rock, took the stage, however, the crowd began to grow.

Whistle Rock featured a hint of country to its music, featuring its notable harmonica instrumentals performed by Andrew Vagra, MCAS ’24. Originally meant to compete under the band category, the three-man act was missing its drummer during the previous Battle of the Bands competition, resulting in the group performing under the singer-songwriter category instead.

Lead singer Colin Martin, MCAS ’24, and guitarist Cole Dumas, MCAS ’24, started with some jokes, before kicking off their performance with energy and passion.

When Whistle Rock finished, a large group of audience members departed from the Mod Lot tent, leaving only a few seats up front occupied. By the time the next band finished its sound check, however, more people filed in.

The first performance under the band category was Reigning Scarlet. Formed back in September 2022 with Daniel Kabanovsky, bassist and MCAS ’24, meeting Ian Bourgin, rhythm guitarist and MCAS ’25, in music class.

The band has no fixed genre, mixing characteristics of hard rock, alternative, and blues into its music. The

group attempted to engage the crowd by motivating them to clap, stomp, and finally stand up. While some audience members joined in, the overall energy in the tent was minimal at this point.

Throughout its set, the group’s energy rubbed off on the crowd, lifting the mood. Reigning Scarlet wowed the audience with loud drums from Jack Daggenhurst, MCAS ’24, impressive vocals from Alexandra Bates, MCAS ’26, and passionate hair flips from guitarists Bourgin and Colin Cui, MCAS ’25. The band played original songs, including “Nightmares” and “Serotonin Summer.”

The second band was Obstacle Monkey, previously named Chicken Liver Testimony. As part of its warmup, some of the members took off their pants and shoes, revealing shorts

underneath.

Obstacle Monkey, composed of band members Cormac Delaney, MCAS ’25, Michael McKane, MCAS ’25, William A’Hearn, CSOM ’25, Owen Stannard, MCAS ’25, and Charlie Schulz, MCAS ’25, managed to get the audience off their seats and gather enthusiastically at the edge of the stage to dance.

The final band to take the stage was The Town, composed of Mitch Gamma, CSOM ’25, Alex Murphy, MCAS ’25, and Tim Hogan, CSOM ’25. The indie rock band warmly greeted the crowd and asked them how they were doing tonight. The three-man act was decked out in all denim, referencing the movie Footloose at the beginning of their set.

The Town ended the night with its original song “Second Time Around,” featuring a major, extended guitar solo from lead guitarist Gamma. The audience members jumped up and down throughout the performance, waving their hands excitedly in the air.

Despite a seemingly unpromising start to the night, the crowd grew more passionate and excited as the show continued. Each of the singer-songwriters and bands gave it their all, exhibiting their musicality and talents.

Students Highlight Mental Health at Poetry Reading

By a shL ey Va L enzueL a Heights Staff

Literary magazines IfYou’reReadingThis and The Stylus gathered to host “World Healing Day Open Mic Night,” where dozens of students read personal works on Saturday, April 27, as part of the Boston College’s annual Arts Festival.

Hosted in Vandy’s Cabaret Room, students settled in for an intimate gathering dedicated to recognizing and promoting mental health.

Morgan Stumm, MCAS ’25, is

the editor-in-chief of The Stylus and author for IfYou’reReadingThis

She not only emceed with a fellow IfYou’reReadingThis writer, but also shared some of her own work. They welcomed the crowd and invited people to send in submissions to both magazines for their next publication, which will happen in fall 2024.

To kick off the night, Kathryn Gilmore, MCAS ’24, read her poem “Zombie Stars,” a poem inspired by her senior thesis about the rebirth of stars.

“Not actually, but in a way, they act like zombies,” Gilmore said.

The poem acted as an analogy about how Gilmore is a reborn star, as she is so different from what she was like in her youth.

Four writers then took the stage to read poems about grief, heartbreak, and mental illness. Later, an author for IfYou’reReadingThis read her mini-poem series, including seven poems reflecting on the seven chakras of the body, a method she expressed improved her mental health after a major depression.

Her recitation was moving, and each poem was titled after a chakra while the reader placed her hand on each chakra location to visually represent each poem.

Afterward, the show opened up the floor to anyone who wanted to share their poetry. A couple of writers from the literary magazines, three non-member BC students, and even one non-BC student all raised their hands to go up on stage and share their writing.

Stumm took the stage again and explained an inside joke among The Stylus members.

“It is forbidden to write about your deceased cat,” Stumm said. “At least you can’t explicitly say so.”

She and two other writers then presented their poems about their insinuated deceased felines with poem titles such as “Feline Deceased” and “Return to Sender.”

Although the small inside joke was funny and lighthearted, the effort and creativity put into each line of their poems highlighted the sincere talent the writers possess.

Aside from dead cats, dead dogs also seemed to be on the agenda for

the night as one of The Stylus’ senior editors, Nina Khaghany, MCAS ’24, read a poem about the dead dog in Ulysses, the novel by James Joyce. As a classics major, Khaghany spoke about her time as a writer for The Stylus, and how she dreads leaving the amazing community.

Khaghany and Stumm then went on to invite the audience to The Stylus’ formal and publication party on Saturday, May 4, to celebrate the launch of their latest issue, where more of the same writers will have their work finally published.

Lastly, Stumm went on to invite audience members who did not get to read during the event to submit their work. She encouraged them to not only share their work with the world, but to use writing to process their own emotions.

“I am not very good with putting my emotions into words, but that’s why I write,” Stumm said as the event concluded.

The entire room clapped for one another as the night closed in celebration of the end of an amazing celebration of poetry, community, and mental health awareness. n

BC’s Short Film Festival Emphasizes Social Issues

With landscapes from Wellesley all the way to Stockholm, Boston College students took the audience through a trip around the world while discussing social issues in this year’s Arts Fest.

BC’s annual Arts Festival, held from April 25–27, brought together a plethora of talents of the BC community.

The Short Film Festival, aimed to showcase the work of student filmmakers, took place in the Vandy Cabaret Room, on Saturday. A total of six films were screened, all of which were directed by BC students.

Magnificity , by Benjamin Burke, MCAS ’25, and Megan Malcolm, MCAS ’24, opened the screening with a three-minute long film on the beauty of Boston. Shots focused on various aspects of what makes the city great, from its views to its people. Next was Feeding Hearts: A Village Table Wellesley Story ,

by Abby Duffy, WCAS ’25, the longest film out of the six presented. This documentary extended over a period of 24 minutes, in which the filmmaker highlighted the combined efforts of the Wellesley community in creating a food relief group under the name of Feeding Hearts. Composed of interviews with many of those involved with the project, scenes varied from sit-down conversations to shots at the kitchen, while volunteers prepared the meals to be given to those in need. When asked about the overall vision of this documentary project, Jamie Duffy, part of the camera operations and crew, revealed how the main goal was to spread awareness of poverty, food, and security, as well as the work done by Feeding Hearts.

Tunnelbana Transects , by Cyrus Rosen, MCAS ’25, is a short yet brilliant piece. In the film, a young boy takes the Stockholm Metro, otherwise known as tunnelbana , and travels through the city in four minutes. Seemingly small details that show great artistic

skills include an interruption in the ongoing soundtrack, as the boy removes his headphones when in a rush to get into the train. This is followed by snippets of the subway and different landscapes of the city which match the beat of the song playing in the background.

The fourth documentary, titled A New Lease on Life , by Maeve Pinheiro, MCAS ’25, delves into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Italian homelessness and refugees. With statements from students and professors at American University of Rome, as well as from people who found themselves shelter-less after the pandemic, the documentary aims to clarify the ways in which we can, “reconcile with them after the fact to mend relationships and improve welfare.”

Still on the issue of housing, Second Place , by Owen Durkee, MCAS ’27, discusses the impact of the Olympics on the greater Paris region and its inhabitants, who become “invisible” amid the hyperfocus of the news on the athletic

event.

Lastly, Lighthouse, by Lola Ellis, MCAS ’26, raises awareness of the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami on the female widowed population and their struggle to receive aid due to their social status. With the inclusion of moving testimonies and emotional scenes, the documentary does a great job at giving voice to this marginalized group.

The project also brings attention to the contribution of Friends of Kalangarai—meaning “lighthouse” in Tamil—and organization in empowering women going through hard times, and aiding them through the provision of self-help groups and educational programs.

As seen from all the documentaries screened at the festival, this year’s Arts Fest once again showcased

students’ impressive cinematography skills. Most importantly, the short films shed light on pressing societal concerns, from local to global scales, successfully raising awareness to specific issues and incentivizing

Whistle Rock , one of the night’s winners, performed previously during the Battle of the Bands competition.

GRAPHIC BY PARKER LEAF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Creative Forces Behind BC’s 26th Arts Fest

B y L eah StitzeL Asst. Arts Editor

Boston College’s annual Arts Festival is a three-day celebration of the arts community at Boston College and in the surrounding area. The festival offered nonstop performances, activities, and exhibitions from Thursday through Saturday, showcasing a wide variety of student talents.

The scale of the event encompassed an outdoor tent, several buildings, and indoor spaces on campus. Arts Fest is coordinated by BC’s Arts Council, an office of student employees and volunteers who work throughout the school year to organize the event.

“We are a student-run office,” said Sindey Amar, MCAS ’24 and director of marketing for Arts Council. “So we have one salaried person, kind of overlooking everything we do, and doing big things like getting the permit from the City of Boston for the Arts Festival.”

Kara Robbins, the programs administrator for Arts Council, oversees many administrative aspects of Arts Fest. She helps the student directors and council execute their ideas, according to Amar, but the majority of the festival’s creative vision is the

responsibility of the students.

“In terms of the content of Arts Fest, and what Arts Council does, that is all student run,” Amar said.

The BC students who make up Arts Council come from a variety of arts-related backgrounds, which makes them uniquely suited to organize an event like Arts Fest. According to Amar, this is the first year that Arts Council is entirely made of undergraduate students.

Emily DeVito, MCAS ’24, is the director of operations for Arts Council, and has received the opportunity to work with the dancers, artists, musicians, and more who make up the council each year.

“I think one thing that I’m really excited about for this year’s Arts Festival, especially as a senior, is that so many people on staff are involved in so many different forms of art on campus,” DeVito said. “Whether it’s performance or visual art. So I’m really excited to cheer on the other staff members.”

This year, Arts Fest incorporated staff-run events, including tie-dye, henna, and other crafts for students and children. Typically, the schedule is mostly student performances and exhibitions, so making it interactive was one of Arts Council’s goals for this year.

“This year, I feel like our staff is a

lot more involved in terms of actual activities during the festival,” DeVito said. “Each of us are gonna take on our own craft and students and faculty can come down into the Mods and craft with us, which is something we haven’t done in the past and something that we’ve been trying to implement through the office, through this entire year.”

In addition to the interactive activities, Arts Fest features performances from student bands, music groups, and dance teams, as well as exhibitions of student work from the BC Studio Art department and beyond.

Megan Cassidy, MCAS ’24, is

the director of exhibitions for Arts Council, and has worked to cultivate relationships with both art professors and student artists for the office. She emphasized the importance of including recurring events, like the visual art exhibition or yearly performances, in Arts Fest.

“Every year, we kind of try to add in new events, but also keep the old ones that have kind of become, like, a tradition to have,” Cassidy said. “Just because they have become so popular and they are now a staple.”

Events from past years that have become popular include BC’s Best, Dancing with bOp!, different cultural and dance showcases, and the Maker Craft Sale.

“We try to bring those things back because people really like them,” Amar said. “It’s kind of part of, like, the Arts Fest lore. But we do try to kind of fill in our programming gaps once we have everything we’ve done in the past and see, ‘Oh, we have four hours on Friday where nothing big is going on. What can we do in that time to really make it a full festival, make it a full three days?’”

Read the rest of this story at www.bcheights.com

Art Walk Exhibition Displays Students’ Creativity

The usually empty Robsham Theater lobby was filled with impressive art pieces from Boston College visual arts students over the weekend, as part of BC Arts Council’s Art Walk exhibition for its annual Arts Festival.

“In regards to turnout, I’ve actually seen a lot of people every time I walk through Robsham,” said Brooke Olson, visual arts representative and WCAS ’25. “I always see that someone is always talking to a friend about another piece.”

The showcase displayed a variety of art types, ranging from traditional paintings to mixed media structures, and even a poetry collection. People who attended the Art Walk were greeted with tall screens and stands, exhibiting different forms

of artwork.

As a part of the reception, a board titled “What Makes You Feel Powerful” encouraged showgoers to write on a colourful sheet of paper responding to the prompt. Just behind the board were drinks and refreshments with a “Dungeons & Dragons” themed backdrop.

Megan Cassidy, director of exhibits and MCAS ’24, and Olson are members of the Arts Council who put together the exhibit.

“We also have another [exhibit] in Carney in Gallery 203, which is more explicit work,” said Cassidy, referring to artworks such as nudes which could not be exhibited in Robsham.

The general categories of exhibited art included ceramics, paintings, photography, poetry, and various craftsmanship artworks including crochet and mixed media.

Filippo Minella, CSOM ’24, created ceramic sculptures of three Pokémon characters, while Sindey Amar, MCAS ’24, made a two-piece ceramics work titled “Misato and Oliver,” one miniature animal model and a large circular box-shaped model. Amar also had a second ceramic piece titled “Multipurpose Object.”

Adelaide Royer, MCAS ’25, showed off two ceramic pieces: a large painted ceramic vase selling for $1,200 and a decorative ceramic teapot selling for $480.

For the painting section, Manothini Dupee, MCAS ’24, showcased an acrylic painting of an animal skull, titled “Till Death Do Us Part,” as well as a small ceramic piece titled “birds of a feather.”

Gabrielle Bucci, MCAS ’24, presented three oil on canvas pieces, each titled “image of innocence

destroyed by memory,” “A day’s work,” and “Dearly Beloved, We Are Waiting on Your Triumphant Return.”

Maeve Pinheiro, MCAS ’25, showed an oil painting on wood titled “A Portrait of Mother Nature: Dr. Jane Goodall,” while Tinghao Wang, MCAS ’24, exhibited two colorful self-portraits, both done in oil pastel.

Wendy Lopez from Artisans Beyond Borders, an organization supporting art made by asylum seekers, submitted a series of seven embroidered canvases, embellished with a strand of butterfly cut outs, titled El Arte de la Humanidad

Moving to the photography section, Maoyuan Wang, MCAS ’25, presented a photograph of a canyon selling for $500. Won-Woo Lee, MCAS ’24, exhibited two pieces of the JFK Library and of an abandoned CVS, both in the form of mixed photograph and inkjet prints. Nicole Wei, MCAS ’24, presented a digital photograph split into three pieces titled “watching.”

Matthew Kirven, CSOM ’24, also submitted two digital photography pieces, one titled “Reinbringen” and the other titled “*hans zimmer starts playing*.” Joseph Watroba, MCAS ’24, submitted three vibrant digital prints, each titled “Amoeba,” “Drift,” and “PdPdPdPdmwmw.”

The remaining visual artworks included a piece by Claire Mengel, MCAS ’26, which showcased a collection of three crochet pieces titled “idk man, I’m just sad.” One of the crochet pieces featured the title, while the largest piece had the words “REST IN POWER NEX” crocheted on it.

An eye-catching, large structure sat on the sides of the exhibit called RENT, Tree of Remembrance,” made by the Properties Design class of fall 2023. The piece was a multimedia project designed for the BC theatre department’s fall 2023 production of RENT by Jonathan Larson.

In addition to visual artworks, six pieces of poetry were also part of the exhibition.

“It is a long process,” Cassidy said. “There’s a lot of art handling that goes into the job, so like knowing how to wire canvas, using hammers and nails, kind of knowing how to install a specific work of art can be tricky.”

While brief in time, the work of BC Arts Council fostered a space of visual art appreciation, welcoming a diverse traffic of people to view student works at their own leisure this weekend.

“Getting feedback in visual art is all you can ask for because it’s so hard to get,” Olson said. “So I feel like that’s a good sign.” n

Swift’s ‘TTPD’ Part Two is an Album for Swifties

By Parker Leaf Graphics Editor

Taylor Swift loves her easter eggs and surprises, so it did not come as a huge shock when, at 2 a.m. on April 19, she released a second half to her new album, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. What was surprising, however, was that part two consisted of 15 extra songs.

The 15 songs are no different than the 16 released two hours before. They are simply an extension of TTPD. This is an album that will grow on you if you are a Swiftie, and will remain rather unmemorable if the only Swift song you know is “Love Story.”

The first song on this extended album, “The Black Dog,” is a nostalgic song which expresses Swift’s frustration and clouded rage amid a breakup. The Black Dog is a London pub, connecting this song to either of her English ex-boyfriends Joe Alwyn or Matty Healy.

“Old habits die screaming,” Swift sings as the instruments and her voice grow more intense, expressing her frustration.

Swift expresses her heartbreak in “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus” as she sings all of her lyrics in the second-person perspective. This song feels like an intimate conversation Swift is letting us listen to about how she changed for someone, but still could not prevent the end of that relationship.

“If you want to break my cold, cold heart / Just say, ‘I loved you the way that you were,’” Swift sings.

This song seems to be about Healey based on a lyric where Swift mentions “an internet starlet.”

TTPD: The Anthology has definitely confirmed that Swift and Healey’s relationship was meaningful to her. With 31 songs, the album surprisingly contains more songs about Healey than Alwyn.

“Peter” is another nostalgic track that is sung from the perspective of

Wendy, a character in Peter Pan. The lyrics tell the story of Peter Pan, the boy who lived in Neverland and never grew up, and Wendy, who stayed in the real world and matured.

“You said you were gonna grow up / Then you were gonna come find me,” Swift sings in the chorus.

This song on its own is nothing special, unless the listener is a Swiftie. On Swift’s album, folklore, her second track entitled “cardigan,” is about young love and heartbreak.

“I knew you / Tried to change the ending / Peter losing Wendy,” Swift sings in “cardigan.”

“Peter” takes on a deeper meaning when it is related to “cardigan” because it shows Swift thought her significant other would grow up and come find her, but his refusal to grow left her with no chance but to leave.

What would technically be track five of the new 15 songs is “How Did It End?,” a heart-wrenching and poetic

song about the lack of privacy Swift experiences after a breakup.

“Come one, come all / It’s happening again / The empathetic hunger descends / We’ll tell no one except all of our friends / But I still don’t know / How did it end?” Swift sings in the outro.

After continuously explaining her breakup to everyone, Swift still can’t discern what happened. The title of the song refers to the question she was most frequently asked, but also to her own thoughts as she attempted to deal with heartbreak.

Swift grappled with the conse-

quences of her fame in multiple songs on the first half of the album and in “The Prophecy,” she pleads for love over stardom. After Swift and Alwyn broke up, it was revealed that Alwyn had always struggled with the fame and lack of privacy surrounding Swift.

“Change the prophecy / Don’t want money / Just someone who wants my company / Let it once be me,” Swift sings.

Read the rest of this story at www.bcheights.com

Student performers took over the Mod Lot tent for the annual Arts Festival, organized by BC’s Arts Council.

SPORTS

Eagles Go Back-to-Back in ACC Tournament

After Savannah Sweitzer added a third goal for the Orange, Emma LoPinto scored on a behind-the-back shot, but the goal was eventually overturned for a dangerous follow-through by LoPinto.

BC found trouble breaking down Syracuse’s zone early and with the Orange limiting BC’s possessions, the Eagles only managed six shots in the first quarter.

“Coming out in the first quarter was, a little bit, not like the start that we wanted,” Davis said. “But, being able to get in a groove and connect, really helped us out.”

Adamson and Emma Ward added two more for the Orange, but a goal on a free-position shot from Rachel Clark, a transition goal from LoPinto, and a huge save from Dolce cut the Orange’s lead to two at the end of the first quarter.

The Eagles continued to push the pace in transition in the sec ond frame, with Clark flying down the field and find ing LoPinto, who passed it across the crease for Davis, who scored.

“We two had transi tion goals that were great,” Martello said. “But then [Walker-Weinstein] brought us in and said like those goals are great, you got the momen tum, and now we’re looking for layups.”

BC’s defense settled after the early push with stronger marking, active sticks, and getting back to its strengths, according to Sydney Scales.

Martello tied the game at 5–5 after receiving a pass from Davis while cutting through the middle. But the Orange restored its one-goal lead when Emma Tyrrell shoveled a shot past Dolce even while surrounded by BC defenders.

The Orange added another just 36 seconds later to give Syracuse a 7–5 lead.

In the biggest sequence of the game, Dolce made a save, before shifting and making another one directly after. Then, Scales dove for a loose ball to give the Eagles possession.

On that ensuing possession, Martello cut the Eagles’ deficit back down to one goal.

“I got the first save and then just reacted to the second,” Dolce said.

“And thank God for my good friend Sydney, who dove for the ground ball

who broke up a pass before pushing it quickly down the field to set up the offense in transition.

“We talked about it at halftime, coming out with momentum and not letting them have a breath, and I think we executed that well,” Scales said.

After Andrea Reynolds passed out of a free position, Belle Smith scored by firing a shot off the post, which bounced off Sweitzer and into the net. Martello added her fourth goal of the day to give the Eagles a 10–7 lead going into the final frame.

The Eagles defense held the Orange scoreless throughout the entire third quarter and, since the 5:30 mark of the second.

Martello scored back-to-back goals, after Ward got one back for the Orange, to bring the score to 12–8, giving her a career-high six goals on

“Focusing on just getting back to those basics which were one v. ones and communication, and once we did that everything else fell into place,” Scales said.

the ball over Sweitzer’s head.

The third quarter started with multiple strong defensive stands from both teams as they forced high shots and caused turnovers.

The Eagles struck first in the second half with Martello scoring after a strong individual effort from Scales,

“In my last game against Syracuse I had some where I hit Delaney,” Martello said.

“In this game, I found myself taking an extra second and putting it around [Sweitzer].”

Cassidy Weeks then put the game away for the Eagles, winning the draw control and rolling around through the middle before firing the ball

LoPinto and Molly Driscoll added two more goals for the Eagles while their defense continued to lock down the Orange, en route to a 15–8 win and a second straight ACC championship.

“I think one of the gifts of the team is that they play for each other,” Walker-Weinstein said.

“They’re not playing individually or for individual goals, they’re playing for each other.”

Now, the Eagles look ahead to the NCAA Tournament selection show and shift focus toward lifting a second trophy this year. “Once we get back to practice next week, we’re kind of closing this chapter,” Scales said. “We’re onto the next, taking it each game at a time, and not taking anything for granted.” n

By Matthew Ferrara Heights Staff

With around four minutes left in the third quarter of No. 3-seed Boston College lacrosse and No. 2-seed Notre Dame’s ACC Tournament semifinal matchup, the game’s intensity went to another level.

After conceding a freeposition goal with 4:04 left in the frame, Notre Dame answered with a free-position goal of its own just over two minutes later to make it a 6–5 game. The Irish then drew a penalty on their very next possession and were set up with a chance to tie the game and swing the momentum in their favor as the clock wound down.

Mary Kelly Doherty broke toward the BC goal but her shot was blocked by BC goalkeeper Shea Dolce. Dolce promptly passed ahead and BC’s offense sprinted downfield with less than a minute left.

Emma LoPinto only needed a screen from her teammate to separate herself from her defender and curl around the goal to pocket the second goal of her eventual hat trick with eight seconds left in the quarter to extend BC’s lead to two goals heading into the final 15 minutes.

“Regardless of the score or the defense, we have one goal, it’s always giving the offense the ball we take each possession … one possession at a time,” Sydney Scales said. “We’re really just trying to do our job in that one possession, give the offense the ball and giving them an opportunity to score.”

Instead of Notre Dame (15–3, 7–2 Atlantic Coast) taking a tie into the fourth quarter, BC’s (15–3, 7–2) execution on both sides of the ball gave the Eagles breathing room to begin the fourth quarter. The Eagles went on to net two more goals to start the fourth quarter, and

Notre Dame could not complete a comeback, sending BC back to the ACC championship with a chance to defend its title from 2023.

BC’s defensive efforts held Notre Dame to its lowest goal total of the year, matching the total from when the Irish downed North Carolina 7–5 earlier in the season.

“We sort of shape the game plan around the defense,” BC head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said. “So today we are looking to be a little bit more of a one v. one team, and the girls did a great job.”

One of the few blemishes on the Eagles’ defensive efforts was their fourth yellow card that came with 2:18 left in the fourth quarter.

After holding a 9–5 lead with 13 minutes left in regulation, the Irish cut BC’s advantage to two via goals from Madison Ahern and Kathryn Morrissey. The lategame yellow card gave the Irish a non-releasing power play and a chance to mount a comeback on the Eagles.

But BC killed the power play thanks to a pair of saves from Dolce and closed out the game 9–7.

The Eagles’ offense was led by LoPinto, Belle Smith, and Kayla Martello, who combined for seven of BC’s nine goals.

“It’s really awesome to put the pieces together and it just builds in so much momentum and excitement for Sunday,” Becky Browndorf said.

On Sunday, the Eagles will face No. 1-seed Syracuse in what will be a 2023 NCAA semifinals rematch. The game will also provide a rematch of a tilt that took place just over a week ago in Alumni Stadium in which the Eagles downed Syracuse 11–10 in overtime.

“We just played them a week ago,” Browndorf said. “So it’s really good to build off that week, this game, and be prepared for Sunday.” n

BC Downs Duke 19–5 to Advance to Semifinals

By Luke BeLLaud Heights Staff

On April 26, 2023, Boston College lacrosse defeated Duke 15–9 to reach the ACC Tournament semifinals.

No. 3-seed Eagles did it again 364 days later.

The Eagles (14–3, 7–2 Atlantic Coast) dominated in all facets of the game en route to a 19–5 win against the Blue Devils (10–8, 4–5) to advance to their seventh straight ACC Tournament semifinals appearance.

“I feel like we executed offensively on a lot of our game plan,” Mckenna Davis said. “We were able to connect the defensive and offensive end together, and it was a very good connected team win.” Davis got off to a quick start, tricking Margaret Anne Warner with

a misdirection and slotting it past Kennedy Everson giving the Eagles a 1–0 lead.

Katie Keller evened it up 2:23 later, putting it through Shea Dolce’s legs but the Eagles were back in the lead on the next possession with Kayla Martello scoring an uncontested goal from right in front of the net.

The back-and-forth game continued when Molly Driscoll added a third for the Eagles before the Blue Devils quickly cut the lead back to one, with Caroline DeBellis collecting a cross-crease pass and pushing the ball into the empty net.

The Eagles, however, dominated the Blue Devils in the draw-control battle, winning it 6–1 which helped them secure a 4–2 lead after the first frame.

“We have such an emphasis placed on our draw team and I think

they were huge sparks for us,” Hunter Roman said. “I think we had some changes on the draw and I think that was really awesome and it carried into our offensive and defensive end.”

Emma LoPinto upped the lead to three goals just three minutes into the second frame by slipping a shot past Everson’s short side after receiving a no-look pass from Davis along the goal line.

Davis picked up her third and fourth points of the night on back-toback possessions, providing an assist on Rachel Clark’s power-play goal before she rolled from the corner and put it through the legs of Everson to give the Eagle a 7–2 lead with 8:10 remaining in the half.

Davis credited the trust in the team with her success in the offensive end.

“I just find my friends,” Davis said. “I’m friends with every single

person on this team and in my unit and I think that’s something really special is that I trust anyone and everyone with the ball.”

Despite all the goals, arguably BC’s biggest strength of the first half was its ability to win the 50/50 battles, giving the Eagles more possessions and a 16–5 shot-on-goal advantage.

After sustaining a wrist injury early in the second quarter, Cassidy Weeks returned to score the Eagles 10th goal after rolling out from the corner before assisting LoPinto’s second of the game to give the Eagles a 11–3 lead going into halftime.

Weeks’ determination in the game was a spark for the team to continue pushing, despite the big lead, according to Roman.

“She’s the hardest worker on our team, on and off the field,” Roman said. “I think it was just inspiring, and we knew we had to have her back after that.”

The Eagles picked up right where they left off to start the third quarter with Belle Smith and Clark potting goals, both assisted by LoPinto.

Bella Goodwin pulled one back for the Blue Devils off of a freeposition attempt making it 14–4 and marking their first goal in 12:36 of gametime.

DeBellis got her hat trick with the score, scooping the ball up after it popped out of Dolce’s stick on the previous save. But Weeks restored the Eagles’ 10 goal lead with 10 seconds left in the third, running through the middle of the Blue Devils’ defense and firing it past Madison Drebing.

Boston College Syracuse 15 8

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRIS REMICK Lacrosse, from A1

Boston College Notre Dame 9 7

BC Defeats No. 14 Virginia 8–2 in ALS Awareness Game

Baseball, from A1

He gave up a single on his second pitch, however, and the Cavaliers quickly loaded the bases with just one out.

But Farinelli pulled through. He struck out the final batter of the inning and dealt Virginia another scoreless frame.

The Eagles were held to two scoreless innings to start the game. But unlike the Cavaliers, they were able to break through in the third with a homer from Parker Landwehr that sailed over the bullpen wall and put BC up 1–0.

The Cavaliers picked up their first hit of the game in the top of the fourth inning with a double from Ethan Anderson. The hit failed to spark any runs, though, as BC ended the inning with a swift double play.

In the bottom of the fourth, Vince Cimini stepped up to bat with Kyle Wolff on base and smacked the ball into right field. The ball wrapped

around the Pesky Pole, sneaking its way into home-run territory and to extend the Eagles’ lead to three runs.

“When he hit it, I was thinking it had a chance to stay fair because I knew he back spun it and hit it flush,”

Interdonato said of Cimini’s homer.

“So I was more thinking like, ‘Are we going to score from first on the double?’ … And then all of a sudden it did [leave the ballpark] and in my head I’m like, ‘That’s just Pete man.’”

After forcing the Cavaliers into their seventh scoreless inning in a row, the Eagles appeared to be ready to extend their lead in the bottom of the frame.

Cam Caraher sent a bunt single to second base, then Landwehr followed it up with a single of his own that sent Caraher to third. But a Sam McNulty bunt straight to the pitcher hung Caraher out to dry and he was tagged out at home trying to score.

But the inning was not over yet.

With Landwehr on third and McNulty on second, Adam Magpoc walked to load the bases.

Moments later, Cameron Leary

grounded out to first base, allowing Landwehr to score and put the Eagles up 4–0.

Although BC left two runners on base when Wolff struck out looking to end the seventh frame, the Eagles’ lead held up.

BC gave up one run in the top of the eighth when a sacrifice fly from Henry Godbout scored Harrison

Didawick, who had smacked a triple into center field. Then, the Eagles went back to work.

The Eagles responded in the bottom half of the inning to end the night with a bang. BC scored four runs, including two off an RBI single from Landwehr that gave the Eagles the eight runs they would ultimately end the game with.

BC Loses Series to No. 14 Virginia

By Brendan Mogan Heights Staff

After dominating the opening matchup on Thursday at Fenway Park, Boston College baseball returned to Harrington Athletics Village for its final two games against No. 14 Virginia. Unlike on Thursday, BC’s offense failed to show up, and it dropped the series.

The Eagles (21–21, 8–16 Atlantic Coast) never scored a run on Saturday and were shut out by Virginia (33–12, 14–10) 4–0.

Evan Moore got the start on the bump for the Eagles and produced two clean innings to start Saturday’s game.

The scoring began for the Cava-

liers in the top of the third inning, when Bobby Whalen grounded out to second base and Henry Godbout scored from third. Virginia doubled its lead with an RBI single from Casey Saucke in the next atbat. Saucke was then thrown out stealing by Beck Milner at second base, which ended the inning.

With the bottom of the third frame came another scoreless inning from the Eagles in which they left two runners stranded. The Eagles ended the game 0-of-9 with runners in scoring position.

“I thought we hit a lot of balls hard that went for outs,” BC head coach Todd Interdonato said. “I thought we had some situations where we had a chance to cash in.”

Jordan Fisse came onto the mound for Moore in the top of the fourth inning and recorded a scoreless frame.

The Cavaliers’ last runs of the game came in the top of the fifth inning. Another RBI from Whalen made the score 3–0 before a sacrifice fly from Saucke gave Virginia a 4–0 advantage.

The Eagles were never able to cut into the Virginia lead, but it wasn’t for a lack of opportunities. In the bottom of the fifth inning, BC once again left two runners stranded after a groundout from Cameron Leary ended the frame.

Charlie Coon came into the game for BC in the sixth inning, setting the Cavaliers down in order.

Michael Farinelli pitched the seventh and eighth innings for the Eagles and kept Virginia from adding to its four-run lead.

“I think that’s the best offense in the country,” Interdonato said. “And for us to hold them down

the way we did through 27 innings is good, especially coming off of what happened last weekend. I told them that was pitching tough.”

In both the seventh and eighth innings, the Eagles left two runners stranded.

Kyle Kipp took the mound in the ninth inning and once again tallied a shutout inning.

The Eagles went out with a whimper in the bottom of the ninth inning. Milner recorded a single, but that was all they could manage as they fell 4–0.

Friday’s game between the two teams was much closer than Saturday’s.

The Eagles took an early 2–0 lead with a Nick Wang double down the left-field line in the first inning.

The Cavaliers tied the game up in the second inning with a triple from Eric Becker.

Vince Cimini put the Eagles back on top in the third inning with a single to left field before Virginia tied the game at three in the sixth inning.

The Cavaliers scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning on a fielder’s choice. The Eagles were not able to respond, and dropped the game 4–3.

“That one yesterday is still eating at me just because we had some really good looks at it,” Interdonato said following Saturday’s loss. “We’ll see, we got to reset, we got to play better this week.” n

Despite the Cavaliers putting up one run in the top of the ninth, BC ended the game with an 8–2 win that allowed the Eagles to snap their three-game skid.

“Getting to play at Fenway, getting to play [for] ALS, it just kind of shifts your focus and shifts your mind, and I do think it played a part,” Interdonato said. n

Eagles Take Last Two Games of Series Against Irish

By

Boston College softball third baseman Nicole Giery fielded a ground ball in the bottom of the first inning of the game between the Eagles and Notre Dame. She fired it across the diamond to first base, and it appeared BC was on track to record its first out of the game.

But while Giery threw accurately to first base, there was no one to receive it, and Carlli Kloss advanced to second on the throwing error.

A fielding error by second baseman Emma Jackson allowed Kloss to score during the very next at-bat, and it seemed BC was in for a long day of self-inflicted wounds.

It turned out to be the very opposite in fact, as the Eagles (27–21, 7–14 Atlantic Coast) forced the Irish (26–22, 9–15) to strand three runners on base in the bottom of the inning en route to a 6–3 win on Sunday.

Crucial to the Eagles’ win was their defense, which gave up just two more runs in the contest, both of which came in the very last frame.

Abby Dunning, who pitched all seven innings and recorded her 12th win with the victory, posted two strikeouts and gave up four total hits.

Clean fielding also allowed BC to shut down the Irish’s offense.

After the first inning, the Eagles only recorded one more error throughout the rest of the matchup.

BC’s bats loudly introduced themselves in the third inning, starting off with a Hannah Slike single to right field.

After another single from Giery and Gator Robinson being hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded.

A wild pitch advanced Robinson to second, Giery to third, and sent Slike home to put the Eagles in the lead 2–1.

Then, Jordan Stephens’ blast past the shortstop sent both Giery and Robinson home, to stretch the lead to three.

After a Jules Shields single, Makenna Segal sent Shield and Stephens home with a two-RBI single into the outfield to cap off the inning for the Eagles.

While BC did not score another run during the game, its powerful third inning was enough to secure the win.

The Eagles’ 6–3 win in the final game swung the series in their favor. The victory marked only the second time this season that the Eagles have won two straight games against ACC competition, with the

first time coming against Syracuse in March.

The second game of the series on Saturday also saw the Eagles come out victorious, but in a much closer and more high-scoring affair.

The Eagles 10–9 win over the Irish saw a total of 22 hits and six home runs over the course of the game.

The Eagles offensive outpour was led by Segal, Slike, and Giery, who recorded a combined six hits.

Two of Segal’s three hits were home runs, and Slike and Giery also added a home run each for the Eagles.

Four other Eagles added hits, with Stephens, Shields, Jackson, and Zoe Hines recording a hit.

Dunning started the game on the mound for the Eagles, but was pulled after giving up three runs and walking three batters in a row in the bottom of the third.

Despite giving up six runs,

Halie Pappion’s performance was just enough for the Eagles to snag a 10–9 win over the Irish.

On Friday, the two teams’ first meeting of the series saw an equally tight game, but with less scoring and the Irish coming out on top.

In the Irish’s victory, the Eagles recorded five hits in a 3–2 loss.

BC opened up the scoring with a RBI from Maycee Hilt that sent Shields home in the second inning.

The Eagles added another run with a sacrifice fly from Hines to send Jackson home in the fourth inning.

Despite BC’s early lead, the Irish responded by adding a run in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to put themselves in front.

The Eagles’ lack of an offensive response let the Irish claim the first game of the series.

Dunning pitched the entire game, allowing five hits and striking out four batters in 20 at-bats. n

Jonas WeinMann Heights Staff

Virginia Boston College

Boston College Notre Dame

ELLIE EL-FISHAWY / HEIGHTS STAFF

The Eagles have not won a conference series since they played Georgia Tech in late March.

CALLIE OXFORD / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Eagles held Virginia scoreless for seven innings of the ALS Awareness game at Fenway Park. Virginia Boston College