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Monday, March 1, 2021

Letter From The Editor: ‘The Heights’ To Cease Printing There are two plaques on the wall of the editor-in-chief’s office in The Heights’ newsroom that list every student who has ever led the paper. The plaques serve as a constant reminder of the history of this storied paper and the obligation that the current editors have to preserve this organization and its mission. In order for the current board to fulfill its obligation to uphold the quest of this publication, The Heights will be ceasing its print operation at the conclusion of this academic year and will become an entirely digital newspaper beginning in the fall of 2021. The Heights’ transition to a fully online newspaper is the culmination of years of work from past student boards, and it is an effort to remain ahead of emerging trends in student and professional journalism. In recent years, the paper has scaled back its print production and expanded its online presence through newsletters, social media, and its website. Our new eEdition will be the cornerstone of our online presence while we will use the aforementioned media to continue to tell the stories of Boston College. The print edition has been the basis of our journalism for the last 102 years, but our online presence will be the foundation of the next 102. Our new eEdition will include the same strong journalism and eye-catching layouts that The Heights has become known for in print. Now, the excellence of our print edition will be available

to everyone, wherever they are, every Monday. We hope that you will subscribe to our eEditions to see for yourself what strong student journalism in the digital age looks like. I am sure that this decision comes as a shock to some of our readers, alumni, and parents who have faithfully read The Heights for decades. I assure you that this decision was not made lightly and that we understand the impact this may have on members of our community. The days of copies of The Heights being strewn across tables in McElroy Commons or piled high in the corridors of Gasson Hall are in the past. The Heights must now look to the future to ensure that it continues to be an institution of BC for the next generation of students. The choice to discontinue our print edition is more than a financial or editorial decision. It is a commitment to the original mission of this paper: For a Greater Boston College. I am confident that this paper will endure, as its founders intended it to, for the next century due to the exceptional editors who come through this newsroom and the courageous decisions they make. The first editorial ever penned in The Heights stated that “optimism will prevail in its editorial rooms.” A lot has changed in the century since that editorial was written, but the optimism in our office in McElroy Commons has remained the same—even now as The Heights is set to stop printing.

The decision to cease printing was not one made by a board hamstrung by the decline of print newspapers and struggling to function. It was a decision made by a group of idealistic student journalists who believe in the power of student journalism and are committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that independent journalism is alive and well on the campus of BC for years to come. Although an undeniably dramatic change to our operations, the current student editors are not dejected by our transition. Instead, we are excited by the opportunities available to us in this next chapter. We hope that no matter how sad you are to see our print edition go, you will join us in the optimism and excitement we have for the future. Lastly, thank you to everyone who has read, donated, and sent messages of support to us over the last century. We hope you will continue to support us in what promises to be an exciting time. The board and I are looking forward to this next phase for The Heights, and I hope you are as well. Sincerely,

Owen Fahy Editor-in-Chief

UGBC Holds Debate In Lead Up To Election The presidential election will be held on Tuesday. BY EMMA DAWSON Heights Staﬀ AND BRANDON KENNEY Heights Staﬀ

The four candidates for president of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College—Spencer Sandusky and Kevork Atinizian, both CSOM ’22, and Urwa Hameed and Jack Bracher, both MCAS ’22—met for a final debate on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s election. The candidates debated in person while the audience attended virtually via Zoom webinar. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the vice presidential candidates were unable to participate in the debate. Each of the candidates addressed distrust in UGBC among the student body. Hameed said that UGBC needs to address its systemic issues and become a proactive organization in order to gain students’ trust. “In the wake of any social issues, students and student organizations call on UGBC to address the systemic issues,” Hameed said. “UGBC needs to transform from a reactive student organization to a proactive student organization. It needs to change from being cautious to being activist.” Bracher spoke to the important

role he believes student activism plays in the successful functioning of a student government. “Fundamentally, UGBC is the vehicle for the will of the student body, and therefore the success of any UGBC president or vice president depends on their ability to translate students’ frustration and anger into tangible change,” he said. Sandusky, who has never held a position in UGBC, said he and his running mate would bring a new perspective to the organization. “I want you to ask yourselves in the past year, what difference has UGBC made in your lives?” he said. “Can you really see a tangible change in how you go about things and how your Boston College experience has been shaped?” Bracher said that UGBC simply needs to do more to regain students’ confidence. He proposed creating an environmental sustainability division within UGBC to pressure BC to divest. “The environmental sustainability position in student initiatives isn’t cutting it,” Bracher said. “That’s why we need an environmental sustainability division—to not only pursue divestment but also short-term, tangible solutions towards reducing waste on campus.” Sandusky asked why the candidates have not already brought up the changes they are proposing while serving in their current positions in UGBC.

See UGBC, A2

Eliminated. See Women’s Hockey, A11

BC Professor Accused of Sexual Assault BY MEGAN KELLY News Editor JULIA KIERSZNOWSKI Assoc. News Editor AND VICTOR STEFANESCU Asst. News Editor

Boston College is investigating allegations that Richard Gaillardetz, chair of the theology department, sexually assaulted a former classmate at the University of Notre Dame. In two YouTube videos released on Wednesday and Jan. 23, theologian Laura Grimes alleges that Gaillardetz

sexually assaulted her twice—on Halloween and in early December of 1987—while the two were students in a theology doctoral program at Notre Dame. “I will come to you in this series of videos reflecting on ecclesial rape culture in which you so strongly enable and perpetrate,” Grimes said addressing Gaillardetz in the first video. Gaillardetz, who denies the allegations, has voluntarily stepped away from his teaching and administrative duties at BC while the investigation continues.

ELECTIONS EDITORIAL

SPORTS

BC Baseball beats Duke 5-2 in its first series win over a ranked opponent since 2019.

THIS ISSUE

See Gaillardetz, A3

BASEBALL

The Heights believes Bracher and Russi will serve UGBC best out of all four teams.

INSIDE

In an email to The Heights, Gaillardetz said that he first learned of Grimes’ accusations on Jan. 23. BC has hired an independent law firm to investigate the credibility of the allegations—an investigation that is still ongoing—he wrote. “I am eager to set the record straight with respect to Dr. Grimes wreckless allegations but I have been advised not to respond to the allegations until the investigation is concluded,” Gaillardetz wrote.

A11

MAGAZINE: Nancy Mignosa

NEWS: Black History Month

Nancy Mignosa, BC ’86, participated in the Pfizer vaccine trial......................................... A4

As Black History Month comes to an end, the BAIC reflects on celebrations.......................... A2

INDEX

NEWS......................... A2 METRO.................. A8