Issuu

April 28, 2025

Leahy Signs Statement Against Higher-Ed Interference By Nikita Osadchiy Asst. News Editor

In a rebuke of the Trump administration, University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., joined over 440 university presidents and academic administrators in signing a statement

raising concerns over “unprecedented overreach and political interference” in higher education. “We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight,” the statement, first released Monday by the American Association of Colleges and Universi-

ties, reads. “However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding.” In the statement, Leahy and other

academic signatories stressed the role American academic institutions play in preserving democracy and advancing society intellectually, economically, and socially. “Colleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility, anchor institutions that contribute to

economic and cultural vitality regionally and in our local communities … most fundamentally, America’s colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy,” the statement reads.

See Statement, A3

Finance Endures as Most Popular Major By Nikita Osadchiy Asst. News Editor

COURTESY OF ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE

Collapse in Carolina

BC women's lacrosse might have an achilles (tar) heel. The Eagles suffered their second loss of the season against North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game on Sunday, falling 14–12 in Charlotte. See A11

For the third consecutive year, finance is the most popular major at Boston College, according to the 2024–25 BC Fact Book—an annual compilation of University data released by the Office of Institutional Research & Planning. Economics remains the second-most declared major, having been surpassed by finance in 2022 for the first time in 15 years. Biology and political science follow in third and fourth place, with 840 and 702 students, respectively. Among the top 10 majors, the computer science major rose one spot to No. 6 relative to last year, while communications dropped one spot to No. 7. Both nursing and applied psychology and human development held steady at No. 8 and No. 10, respectively. The business analytics major, with 344 students, has grown by 325 percent over the past decade—the largest increase of any majors.

Top Majors 1) Finance (1,525) 2) Economics (1,340) 3) Biology (840) 4) Political Science ( 702) 5) Psychology (595) 6) Computer Science (533) 7) Communication (519) 8) Nursing (418) 9) Neuroscience (406) 10) Applied Psychology & Human Development (392)

See Majors, A10

Hello...Shovelhead! Turns 35 Years Old By Milo Priddle Asst. Arts Editor

One of the oldest comedy groups at Boston College, Hello… Shovelhead! is approaching its 35th anniversary this spring. Unlike the rest of BC’s on-campus comedy groups, people flock to Shovelhead not for improv but sketch comedy. Th e g ro u p w a s o r i g i n a l l y formed by four seniors, a mix of prospective comics and theatre enthusiasts. One of these founders would enter practice by greeting the others with provocative quips in which the person being addressed was described using an object and a body part—“Hello pencil face,” for example. One day, this combination took the shape of “Hello… Shovelhead!,” and the name stuck. Colloquially known on campus as simply “Shovelhead,” its first show was in November 1989, and

the format was almost unrecognizable compared to its shows today. Instead of doing sketch comedy in parts, the original shows were lengthy comedic plays, with a plot and throughline. After the seniors graduated, one sophomore, Rob Reese, BC ’92, decided to keep the group going. “Thank God,” said Shovelhead Director Liam Conner, LSEHD ’25. “And the rest is history, I guess.” These full-fledged theater productions continued for a while and were even ticketed. But, not too long after, the group began producing the sketch comedy shows that Shovelhead is known for today. The work to create the sketches is truly a labor of love. The group practices twice a week, and members are expected to have an original sketch prepared for each one.

See Shovelhead, A5

THE COME UP SHOW / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Swae Lee Set To Headline Annual Modstock Concert By Maddie Mulligan Arts Editor

American rapper and singer Swae Lee will headline the 2025

Modstock concert, set to take place on Thursday, May 1. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) announced Swae Lee as

Opinions

Looking for a short adventure off the beaten gravel path of the Res? Staff writer Kate Cugno has the best springtime stroll locations around campus.

See Swae Lee, A9

Arts

Always one to get the last word, columnist Pat Connell is now tasked with choosing his last word with BC in his final column before graduating.

INDEX

the headliner in a video posted to its Instagram on Thursday.

Inside Mayor Fuller's FY26 Budget See A4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS........... A2 OPINIONS.. A7 NEWTON....... A4 A RT S . . . . . . . . A8 MAGAZINE.. A5 SPORTS..... A10