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The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

The Daily Free Press

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University.

The Daily Free Press

The Daily Free Press

Shandra Back, a senior at Boston University majoring in journalism and minoring in political science. Back received a travel grant from BU’s Center for Forced Displacement which allowed her to travel to report on the displacement crisis from the migrant route along the Venezuela-Colombia border. COURTESY OF SHANDRA BACK

From Boston to Borderlands: Travel journalist Shandra Back’s time at Venezuela-Colombia border reporting on displacement

By Isabelle Zhang February 28, 2025
At the Venezuelan border, Shandra Back centered her reporting around one question: are you coming, or are you going?
Chef Ryan Scanlon. Scanlon attended the Boston University culinary program and competed on season four of Next Level Chef, where he will make his first appearance 
on Feb. 27. COURTESY OF RYAN SCANLON

On another level: Former BU culinary student competes on cooking show hosted by Gordon Ramsay

By Kayla Baltazar, Managing Co-Editor February 25, 2025
As a freshman in high school, Ryan Scanlon started cold calling restaurants, trying to see if he could land a job in the kitchen. He had no professional training experience — he mostly cooked for family businesses. 
Sarah Nemtsov gestures to her orchestra during a performance on Jan. 31. Nemtsov is currently the College of Fine Arts’ composer in residence. SARAH CRUZ/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Sarah Nemtsov hopes to “give something to the younger generation” during time as composer in residence at BU

By Brontë Massucco February 7, 2025

Staccato piano strikes, rapid violin strokes and resounding clarinet notes answer each others’ calls in a whirlwind of sound that reverberated through the Boston University College of Fine Arts’ Concert...

Ericka Correia during the 70th Miss Taunton award ceremony. Correia was crowned Miss Taunton on Nov. 3. COURTESY OF KGARCIA PRODUCTIONS

BU student Ericka Correia wins fifth pageant title, aims to inspire beyond the crown

By Sana Muneer, Managing Co-Editor November 18, 2024
Ericka Correia, a junior at Boston University who now holds five local pageant titles, her most recent victory as Miss Taunton on Nov. 3 was the culmination of years of dedication — but it wasn’t always a part of her plan.
Executive producer Sophia Falbo and anchors Jezelle Anim-Addo and Eloise Lushina (left to right) talking in between takes of BUTV’s “United We Vote” election show. Boston University student journalists covered the 2024 Presidential Election for student organizations including WTBU and BUTV. SIENA GLEASON/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

BU student journalists across mediums work tirelessly to bring election coverage to campus

By Hannah Portman November 7, 2024
In Studio West in the Boston University College of Communication, students assumed their respective positions on the anchor desk, behind the camera, in front of the teleprompter and at the control board. BU student journalists across varying mediums have poured hours of dedication into creating comprehensive, impartial news coverage for campus organizations of the 2024 Presidential Election on Nov. 5.
Taco Azul workers make tacos on Oct. 17, the restaurant’s first day open to the public. Taco Azul is a new Mexican restaurant in Beacon Hill with a menu focused on guacamole, tacos and margaritas. BARRETT WALSH/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

New Beacon Hill restaurant Taco Azul hosts launch party to kickstart grand opening

By Nikhil Gupta October 17, 2024
On a quaint street next to the Massachusetts State House and the Boston Commons, guests streamed into a small restaurant nestled into the side of a building with a blue awning, sporting the name Taco Azul.
Courtney Frelix, a commuter student studying psychology, drives nearly six hours round trip from Albany, New York, to attend classes at Boston University. COURTESY OF COURTNEY FRELIX

Meet the BU student who travels 170 miles to get to class

By Vivian Ainomugisha October 16, 2024
How far are you willing to commute to get to school? Would you travel 170 miles, driving almost three hours each way? For Courtney Frelix, a senior majoring in psychology, the answer is yes.
MIT fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s house on Bay State Road. Nearly half of MIT’s fraternity houses are on or around Boston University’s campus. HOLLY GUSTAVSEN/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

The frat flick: What are MIT fraternities doing on BU’s campus?

By Eli Pekelny September 17, 2024

Bay State Road is well known to be beautiful, but wow. Less than 200 ft. from Marciano Dining Hall, one home — or mansion, rather — seems frozen in time. A gleaming marble entryway, skyscraper ceilings,...

Emmanuella Erhunmwunsee, the founder and president of Off the Hook, a philanthropic crochet student group at Boston University. Students in the group crochet handwarmers to donate to the homeless. SARAH CRUZ/DFP PHOTOGRAPHERCOURTESY OF DAVE GREEN

Community service is ‘Off the Hook’: BU’s humanitarian craft group becomes official

By Elizabeth Plese September 12, 2024
Crafting and community service collide in a new philanthropic club at BU called “Off the Hook,” where students crochet hand warmers to donate to the homeless.
Mike Casciere standing in front of the George Sherman Union. Graduating from Sargent College in 1976, Casciere ran his first Boston Marathon during his sophomore year at BU. MATTHEW EADIE/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

He first ran Boston in 1974 as a BU student. 50 years later, he ran it again.

By Matthew Eadie April 16, 2024
Monday marked exactly 50 years since Mike Casciere ran his first Boston Marathon as a BU sophomore, but this year, he's running again for a cause.
Susan Akram, director of the International Human Rights Clinic at Boston University. Akram speaks about how her upbringing impacts her work today and the importance of human rights law. COURTESY OF SUSAN AKRAM

School of Law director advocates for Palestinian refugee rights

By Sara Sugita April 10, 2024
Susan Akram, director of the International Human Rights Clinic at the Boston University School of Law, said she saw generational trauma firsthand. Akram started teaching at BU in 1993, where she now supervises students representing international non-governmental organizations at the International Human Rights Clinic, IHRC.
College of Engineering Assistant Professor Tianyu Wang. Wang received a grant from the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative for a joint project on deep-tissue imaging. COURTESY OF DAVE GREEN

Engineering professor advances deep tissue imaging with $2.5 million grant

By Josephine Kalbfleisch April 4, 2024
Tianyu Wang, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, is more than just your course lecturer — he is a neuroscientist and Chipotle regular who recently received a $2.5 million grant for his research. The grant, from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, was to advance a research project he is conducting with professors from Yale University and Cornell University to improve deep tissue imaging inside the brain.
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