Issuu

December 9, 2024

A14 - A15

BC Faces Vaccine Lawsuit

New Building Set for Mount Alvernia By Genevieve Morrison Associate Newton Editor

By Nikita Osadchiy For The Heights

A federal judge ruled that former Boston College landscaper Avenir Agaj can move forward with a lawsuit alleging his 2021 firing for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine violated his First Amendment religious rights. “Agaj believed the COVID-19 vaccine would pose a risk to his health, and that the College’s vaccination requirement thus conflicted with a tenet of the Bogomil faith requiring adherents to abstain from taking action that would pose a risk to their health or spiritual wellbeing,” U.S. District Court Judge Julia Kobick wrote in her ruling. University Spokesman Jack Dunn said in a statement to The Heights that the University intends to vigorously defend itself against this claim. In his original complaint, filed on April 5, 2024, Agaj described himself as an adherent of the Bogomil faith and a practitioner of folk medicine, both of which he said were incompatible with receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Founded in Bulgaria during the mid-10th century, Bogomilism teaches that the material world was created by the devil, who is regarded as God’s other son and the brother of Jesus, according to a document Agaj submitted to the court. Today, the religion is nearly extinct. After the University announced in April 2021 that all students, faculty, and staff would be required to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine, Agaj made several attempts to receive an exemption on the grounds of his religious beliefs, according to his complaint.

NICOLE VAGRA / HEIGHTS ARCHIVES

Boston College will build a new School of Social Work (BCSSW) building and athletic facility in Newton, BC spokespeople said at a meeting with the City of Newton on Thursday. The new BCSSW building will be constructed on the former Mount Alvernia Academy campus, which the University bought last October. One reason BC chose to place the BCSSW building on Mount Alvernia’s campus is its proximity to BC Law School, which one BC spokesperson said could be an opportunity for collaboration between

the two graduate schools. “There’s currently a joint social work and law degree, and a lot of aspirations for collaborative research between the two campuses,” said Todd Symonds, principal architect at Goody Clancy architecture firm. The Mount Alvernia campus is approximately 75,000 square feet, and BC plans to renovate 60,000 square feet of it, according to Symonds. “We are looking at restoring a large portion of the facade, you know, basically making sure we bring it up to meet the energy code and building codes,” Symonds said.

SeeSee Mt.Hockey, Alvernia, A3 A10

Eagles Slated To Face Nebraska in Pinstripe Bowl This Month By Sourabh Gokarn Deputy Managing Editor

Boston College football is set to play Nebraska in the 2024 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28 at 12 p.m. In Bill O’Brien’s first season as BC’s head coach, he led the team to

a 7–5 regular season, a campaign that included the program’s first top-10 road win since 2002. Now, O’Brien and the Eagles have a chance to secure their first eight-win season in 15 years. “I am excited for our team to be heading to New York for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl,” O’Brien said

in a statement. “Boston College is well-represented in New York City and the tri-state area, so to have the opportunity to play in the Northeast, where so many of our fans and alumni call home, is an honor.” The Pinstripe Bowl hasn’t been kind to BC over the last decade. This year’s game will mark the third time

the Eagles have made the trip to Yankee Stadium in that period. In 2014, O’Brien’s former program, Penn State, took down BC in overtime, with kicker Sam Ficken delivering the heroics.

See Bowl Game, A12

See Vaccine Suit, A2

CHRIS TICAS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Fuller Not Seeking Reelection By Laney McAden Assistant Newton Editor

COURTESY OF RUTHANNE FULLER

Ne w ton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller will not seek re-election for mayor of Newton, according to an email announcement Tuesday. “With nothing but gratitude for the past 15 years, I have decided not to run for reelection next year as Mayor of Newton,” Fuller said. “I look forward to continuing to serve our common goals, our common good, and our Commonwealth in other ways.” Fuller is Newton’s 31st mayor,

and she is the first woman elected mayor in Newton’s history. She was sworn into office in 2018 and will finish her second term at the end of 2025. Newton City Council President Marc Laredo announced his candidacy for mayor in September. With Fuller’s announcement that she will not run, Laredo is the only candidate in the race. Fuller and her husband moved to Newton over 25 years ago, and from 2010 to 2017 she served on the city council, then called the

Dawn Myers, BC ’07, wanted a tool that could detangle, treat, and style her hair all in one step, so she made it. Now, her invention is catching eyes on Shark Tank.

See Mayor A4A9 Week ofFuller, Dance,

Magazine

Opinions

December can bring the highest highs and the lowest lows. Columnist Punya Kalapurakkel shares her tips for enjoying the holiday season despite the chaos.

INDEX

Board of Alderman, for Ward 7. “For over 15 years , I have dedicated myself to Newton, its people and our future,” Fuller said. “I was honored to serve as a City Councilor for eight years before having been elected Mayor.” Prior to her service in the public sphere, Fuller graduated from Brown University and Harvard Business School. She also spent over two decades as a strategic planner for non-profit organizations and businesses.

Highlights From Week of Dance A10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS........... A2 OPINIONS.. A8 NEWTON....... A4 A R T S . . . . . . . . A10 MAGAZINE.. A6 S P O R TS . . . . . A12