If you thought 2023 was busy, this was quite an encore
Because it’s hard to imagine a year newsier than 2024.

The biggest BU star was a comfort dog named Bean
If Rhett’s the campus king, then surely Bean’s our queen.

The men’s soccer team went crazy, and never showed fatigue
On its way to winning a championship in a tough Patriot League.

The Terrier women did the same, not wanting to be left out
They made BU soccer a powerhouse—there is no doubt!

Congrats to women’s rowing, which celebrated, too
An awesome accomplishment to boast of—50 years a BU crew.

Macklin Celebrini won the award named for Hobey Baker
College hockey’s best was BU’s supreme playmaker.

Ashley Waters led softball to a dominant spring season
Do it again! Why not? We can’t think of any reason.

BU installed Melissa Gilliam as its historic 11th leader
If you haven’t met her yet, don’t worry, you’ll soon see her.

Her energy and experience will lift BU to new heights
A future of expansion, research, and academic highlights.

We bid goodbye to a dorm named for Pilgrim Myles Standish
Supporters shouted “Huzzah!” Opponents groaned “Outlandish!’

BU researchers’ amazing work bagged awards and attention
Especially a cancer-detecting gadget Time called a best invention.

Studies on CTE cemented BU’s growing reputation
Bringing brain injury knowledge to a football-loving nation.

An engineer’s energy-absorbing robot found widespread fame
Breaking international records—MAMA BEAR is the name.

With COVID still lingering, scientists created a ray of light
A vaccine that could help immune systems win the fight.

BU alum Alex Cooper built up her media empire
Can Call Her Daddy podcaster’s star rise any higher?

But is anyone more popular than the ubiquitous Taylor Swift?
If you saw the Eras Tour, consider that your holiday gift!

Trump’s return as president was the story of the year
Leaving Democrats a mess, with a future unclear.

Elon Musk spent millions to help elect Trump
Users flocked to Bluesky, leaving X in the dump.

Instead of Biden on the ticket, ’twas Kamala Harris, the Veep
But coming to the game late, the odds proved too steep.

Reproductive rights came under heavy fire
Nobody knows what’s next—it’s a real quagmire.

Globally, it’s certain, tensions remain high 
Will things calm down next year, will nations pacify? 

In tech news, Bluesky, AI, and Bitcoin were doing well
While crypto guru Sam Bankman-Fried spends Christmas in a cell.

Amazon trucks are everywhere, no matter what you do
But beware those porch pirates, they’re as common as the flu.

Cell phones in classrooms started to be banned
Students were struggling, temptation in their hands.

Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year was two: Brain Rot
No doubt aided by a certain app’s algorithm, one called TikTok

Merriam-Webster, on the other hand, chose “Polarization”
Not surprising given the country’s political demarcation.

Princess Kate and King Charles showed grace under pressure
Navigating cancer diagnoses with courage past measure.

For Harry and Meghan, however, divorce rumors swirled
Is it the end of a romance that captivated the world?

With much ballyhoo, Wicked arrived on the theater screen
Ariana Grande plays the good witch, Cynthia Erivo the green.

Dune: Part Two and Gladiator II were among the big sequels
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Transformers One merely prequels. 

College basketball star Caitlin Clark was a record-setting force
Her rookie season with the Fever was historic—of course!

April’s solar eclipse was gorgeously photographic
But drivers got stuck in brutal homeward-bound traffic.

This year was the hottest on record, as temperatures soared 
So many wildfires and droughts left climate scientists floored. 

Two shootings—at Trump and a healthcare CEO—shocked the nation
Will gun violence ever end? The question results in frustration.

If history has taught us anything, it’s that democracy is strong
And America is a place where anyone can belong.

Have safe and joyful holidays, from all of us here
BU Today, Bostonia, and The Brink—have a happy new year!