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September 25, 2023 NICOLE VAGRA / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Hazing Allegations: Swim and Dive Program Suspended Indefinitely Lawyers respond to BC Athletics’ statements.

By Jack Bergamini Assoc. Sports Editor Natalie Arndt News Editor

Lawyers representing more than 30 members of Boston College men’s and women’s swimming and diving sent a letter to BC’s general counsel on Thursday, calling on the University to lift the team’s suspension and issue a public retraction of the statement issued by BC Athletics on Wednesday. “It is apparent that this matter has been

Admnistrator’s letter said members were allegedly forced to consume vomit.

grossly mishandled by the Athletics Department, particularly in light of the letter issued by the Office of the Dean of Students yesterday evening,” reads the letter from Nesenoff & Miltenberg, LLP, which specializes in campus disciplinary defense. In an email to The Heights on Friday, Associate Vice President for University Communications Jack Dunn said BC Athletics has the right to suspend a program following “credible allegations of hazing.”

See Lawyers, A12

By Graham Dietz Sports Editor

Attendees at a Boston College men’s and women’s swimming and diving freshman event were allegedly instructed to binge drink and forced to consume their own vomit, according to a letter from an administrator in the Office of the Dean of Students. The letter, sent to a member of the team and obtained by The Heights, also states that members allegedly engaged in underage

drinking at two additional events. At one of these events, members were allegedly encouraged to participate in drinking games. The alleged incidents occurred at an off-campus house and two residence halls between Sept. 2 and Sept. 4. The letter explained that five Student Code of Conduct violations may have occurred, including hazing, alcohol policy, disorderly conduct, community disturbance, and complicity, according to the letter.

See Letter, A12

Reslife Unionization Effort Calls for Equitable Wages By Natalie Arndt News Editor

KELLEN DAVIS / HEIGHTS STAFF

COIN Shines at Stokes Set By Akio Ohmoto For The Heights

Beneath the downpouring rain and the bright stage lights on Stokes Lawn, pop rock band COIN made a stop in Chestnut Hill, Mass. during its Uncanny Valley tour to headline Stokes Set 2023, hosted by the Campus Activities Board. Students—most in sweatpants or pajamas—piled into the muddy venue to see COIN take the stage. With 3.4 million listeners on Spotify, COIN has garnered attention for its upbeat and catchy songs, notably “Talk Too Much” and “Chapstick,” which peaked at No. 8 and No. 15, respectively,

on Billboard’s list of top alternative songs. In front of a raincoat-clad crowd, opener DJ FRANK warmed up the crowd with a mashup of pop hits, including “Mr. Brightside” and “Party in the U.S.A”. Almost two hours after doors opened, COIN walked onstage with poise, class, and confidence. The band jumped right into an explosive guitar mashup of “Learning” and “Watering A Dead Flower,” a masterclass in energetic performance. COIN wasted no time flying into its hits “Chapstick” and “Cutie,” blending them together perfectly with punchy guitar riffs and raw vocals.

The main goal of unionizing Boston College Residential Life student workers is to put ResLife employees at more of an equal playing field with their employers, BC ResLife Student Workers said in an email to The Heights. “A BC ResLife student workers union would give us the ability to negotiate for more equitable compensation for our labor, more efficient training to actually equip RAs with the skills necessary to be first responders on campus, job security, standardized job expectations and work conditions, and more,”

the email reads. In an email sent on Sept. 10, BC Reslife Workers called for the establishment of a ResLife student workers union for resident assistants (RAs), graduate student assistants (GSAs), graduate resident directors (GRDs), and summer operations staff. “We have heard time and time again from RAs how clear it is that we are undervalued and treated unfairly in the face of a wealthy institution,” the email reads. “Essentially, by fighting to establish a union for ResLife student workers, we are asking for a voice in our jobs on campus.”

See Union, A2

Multi-Faith Life at BC

See COIN, A10

The Heights talks to students with non-Catholic identities about their experiences with religion at BC. See A6

REBEKAH CHE / FOR THE HEIGHTS

Opinions

In this heartfelt account of feeling torn between home and school, columnist Makayla Hickey talks about how she has grappled with change over the past year.

Filled with nostalgia as a Portico TA, senior columnist Olivia Franceschini analyzes how she’s changed (and hasn’t changed) since being in her Portikids’ shoes.

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