On Thursday, Newton residents and city officials kicked off a new year as they swore in Newton’s 32nd mayor, Marc Laredo, 24 council members, and eight members of the school committee.

Nick Voll’s recent op-ed, “BC Alum and U.S. Senator Ed Markey’s Inauguration Absence Was Undemocratic,” makes a number of disingenuous comparisons that merit correction. Mr. Voll begins by acknowledging the January 6th riots as “attacks, which directly threatened the lives of several Capitol police officers and members of Congress.” He cites the “left-leaning” arguments that Donald Trump “questioned” the fair election (a generous term for the concerted campaign of proven falsehoods to undermine it) and leveraged his political office for personal gain.

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.

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House on Jan. 20, the prospect of impending changes to immigration policies is raising concern among some international students at Boston College. 

BC junior Rachel Simon will be in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day, participating in the Women’s March.