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The News Site of Boston College

The Heights

The News Site of Boston College

The Heights

(Aidan Gravina / Heights Editor)

Democracy on the Decline: Former National Security Advisor Examines the State of American Democracy

Aidan Gravina March 23, 2025
It seems strange to imagine a United States where democracy is no longer its rallying cry—a United States where protests against taxation without representation are confined to the history books rather than reenacted in the streets and universities. But according to Philip Gordon, the United States might already be there.
Norton called the event “Democracy in Peril.” (Genevieve Morrison / Heights Editor)

Newton Residents Discuss the State of Democracy Under Trump

Sophia Gallon February 24, 2025
Norton organized the meeting for residents who possibly felt similar to her—concerned and fearful for America’s future.
(Connor O'Brien / Heights Editor)

BC Alum and U.S. Senator Ed Markey’s Inauguration Absence Was Undemocratic

Nick Voll February 2, 2025
Just two days later, President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States of America. BC’s most visible alumnus was noticeably absent from the ceremonies, presumably mourning the demise of his once proud basketball program. Markey, along with several other members of the Massachusetts delegation, including U.S. Representatives Bill Keating and Ayanna Pressley, consciously decided not to attend Trump’s inauguration.
(Nicole Vagra / Heights Archives)

Landemore Calls for a New System of Democracy That Empowers Individuals

Jake Jansen October 10, 2024

Modern democracies are broken, but there is a way to fix them, according to Hélène Landemore. “I have good news and bad news,” Landemore said. “Bad news is electoral politics, it seems to me,...

(Parker Leaf / Heights Editor)

On Voice, Vitriol, and Visions: A Lorikeet Among the Eagles

Andrew Lim October 22, 2023
The day before I wrote this—on Oct. 14—Australia went to the polls. Whether at the primary school a few blocks from my Melbourne home, 10,000 miles away via postal ballot, or the one Antarctic polling place at the far reaches of the earth, Australian citizens across the globe cast their ballots.
Should the Supreme Court Lose its Power?

Should the Supreme Court Lose its Power?

Sophie Carter March 16, 2022

With the recent announcement of United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement and the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, there is a renewed attention on...

Our Free Speech Problem

Our Free Speech Problem

R. Shep Melnick January 27, 2022

As Olivia Strong reported in a Heights article last semester, Boston College fared extremely poorly in the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) ranking of free speech on campus—151th...

In Order To Deliver Results, The Filibuster Must Go

In Order To Deliver Results, The Filibuster Must Go

Sophie Carter April 11, 2021

When Americans head to the polls in November of 2022 to cast their votes in the midterm elections, they will surely be pondering a wide range of issues: How did the Democratic Party, upon recently gaining...

Nussbaum Examines Fear, Anger Through Liberal Arts

Nussbaum Examines Fear, Anger Through Liberal Arts

Scott Baker February 17, 2019
Martha Nussbaum, professor of law and ethics at University of Chicago, delivered a lecture on democracy and the liberal arts on Wednesday.
Guest Op-Ed: Students, Not Criminals

Guest Op-Ed: Students, Not Criminals

Amalia Hurtado May 3, 2018
"Their screams for justice were met with violent repression, yet they were not silenced."
Guest Op-Ed: Nicaragua's Cry For Democracy

Guest Op-Ed: Nicaragua’s Cry For Democracy

Massiel Flores May 3, 2018
"By then, around 28 students had been confirmed murdered by his orders."
Don't Call Me a Liberal

Don’t Call Me a Liberal

Josh Behrens April 18, 2018
"This is why I hate being called a liberal."
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