The Heights

FACES Leads Student Pushback Against ICE Presence Near Campus

Nikita Osadchiy • October 19, 2025

FACES, an anti-racism student organization at Boston College, issued a statement on Oct. 10 condemning the presence of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle near BC’s campus, becoming...

Physics Professors Secure $1 Million Grant To Study New Class of Quantum Materials

Geo Elasmar and Patrick Dunn • October 19, 2025

The NSF awarded BC physics researchers Qiong Ma and Fazel Tafti a $1 million grant to study a new class of quantum materials with the potential to power next-generation electronics.

Lessons from Survivor: Parvati Shallow Talks Trust, Vulnerability, and Choosing Yourself

Annika Engelbrecht and Angelina Li • October 19, 2025

What does the reality TV show Survivor have in common with college life? For Parvati Shallow, winner of Survivor: Micronesia and a four-time contestant, the answer is relationships.

BC Launches “Cooking in Conversation” Program, Bringing Professors and Students Together Over Shared Meals

Geo Elasmar • October 16, 2025

When McCoy walked into his Courage to Know class he already knew he wasn’t there to discuss the week’s reading. Instead, he was there to cook spaghetti and meatballs.

Webb Calls for Stronger Female Representation in the Music Industry

KIki Donaldson and Emily Russo • October 12, 2025

Women in the music industry face fewer opportunities, limited mentorship, and a lack of representation, according to Nina Webb. “There's very few creative directors that are female,” Webb said....

Scholars at Clough Center Talk Warn of Looming “Sudden Decline” in U.S. Democracy

Alexa Allers and Nathan Yarnell • October 11, 2025

Jonathan Laurence warned that democracy in the United States will decline gradually and then suddenly, in line with current trends in democratic countries.

BC Reports Decline in AHANA+ Student Enrollment in Freshman Class for the Second Consecutive Year

Annika Engelbrecht • October 10, 2025

Thirty-five percent of students in the Class of 2029 identify as AHANA, marking a 2 percent decrease from the Class of 2028 and the second consecutive year of decline for Boston College, according to the Office of Undergraduate Admission website.

“Democracy Is Not Fixed”: Park Discusses Democracy’s Global Decline

Henry Lopez and Toni Idowu • October 9, 2025

Although globalization has historically allowed democracy to succeed in the creation of the current world order, it is also the reason why it is currently failing globally, according to Myung-Lim Park.

Building a Happier Life: Waldinger Emphasizes Human Connection Amid Loneliness Epidemic

Ollie Lloyd and Alena Laurent • October 7, 2025

Loneliness, an issue all too prevalent in America, is as harmful to people’s health and lifespan as smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger. “Loneliness...

Climate Journalism Panel Examines Connections Between Climate Change and Public Health

Ollie Lloyd • October 3, 2025

Climate change impacts far more than just the environment, affecting all aspects of human life, particularly in public health, according to Patrick McGroarty.

BC Faculty Has Shifted Younger, More Diverse Over Past 20 Years, Data Shows

Carina Murphy • October 3, 2025

Boston College’s faculty has grown younger, larger, and more diverse over the past 20 years, according to data from BC’s Office of Institutional Research.

Dean’s Colloquium Explores How Trump Reshaped U.S. Economic and Foreign Policy

Emily Russo • October 1, 2025

President Donald Trump’s economic and foreign policies mark a sharp departure from the United States’ long-standing stances, according to Lindsey O’Rourke, an associate professor at Boston College. “Donald...