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Veterans Day
‘Power of Art’
100 Years On
Former U.S. Army Captain Joseph P. Connolly ’85 to speak at Boston College Veterans Remembrance Mass and Ceremony.
Sophomore’s art exhibition was inspired by her service trip to China.
Boston College Bands program is celebrating its centennial year.
NOVEMBER 7, 2019 VOL. 27 NO. 6
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
BC to Host Forum on Formative Education
PULSE at 50
BY PHIL GLOUDEMANS STAFF WRITER
Boston College undergraduates volunteer at Haley House (above) and other community service placements as part of the University’s PULSE Program. video still by john walsh
Student formation has long been a crucial tenet of Catholic, and in particular, American Jesuit universities’ educational mission, in spite of enormous and increasing societal pressure to focus exclusively on jobrelated knowledge and skill training that leads directly to gainful employment. An upcoming conference at Boston College will explore the current, shared student formation practices throughout the University, and invite comment from other institutions. “Formative Education: Mapping the Terrain,” which takes place
Nov. 14-15 in Gasson 100, is being organized by Lynch School of Education and Human Development Professor Dennis Shirley and Associate Professor Cristiano Casalini, and co-sponsored by the Lynch School and BC’s Institute for the Liberal Arts. Boston College leadership—including Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, Haub Vice President for University Mission and Ministry Jack Butler, S.J., Vice President for Student Affairs Joy Moore, and the deans of the Lynch School, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Connell School of Nursing, School
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A Signature Program ‘Embodies Davison Is New Donahue the Heart’ of University’s Mission and DiFelice Prof. at BCSSW BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
Fifty years after it began as a student initiative, the Boston College PULSE Program has evolved into one of the University’s signature programs, part of a formative academic service-learning experience that helps undergraduates grow as human beings and learn how to work for a just society. Each year through PULSE, more than 500 BC undergraduates engage with marginalized populations and social change organizations in the Boston area. This weekly community service is combined with the study and discussion of classic and contemporary works of theology and philosophy so that students—guided by
their professors and community supervisors—can see the connections between the course material and their experiences. PULSE participants reflect on the meaning of their lives and the society in which they live, and the extent to which they and their communities are responsible for creating a just world. Since 1970, more than 17,500 BC students have taken part in PULSE, which is a joint offering of the Philosophy and Theology departments. “BC’s mission is to form our students to become persons for, and with, others and for the common good, and in many ways PULSE embodies the heart of that mission,” said Cooney Family Director of PULSE Meghan T. Sweeney, an associate
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BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Kirsten Davison, director of a major research program on parenting and child health outcomes in underserved families, and an expert on family-centered interventions for obesity prevention, has been named as Donahue and DiFelice Professor at the Boston College School of Social Work. Davison, who has also assumed the position of associate dean for research at BCSSW, succeeds Ruth McRoy, inaugural holder of the Donahue and DiFelice Professorship, who retired at the end of the 2018-19 academic year and is now a professor emerita at the school.
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Donahue and DiFelice Professor Kirsten Davison also is associate dean for research at the School of Social Work. photo by amara cohen
While I wanted to show the harsh circumstances in which my students were living, I also wanted to display the beauty and elegance they exude while dancing. From my exhibition, I think the paradox captures the spirit of the Chinese children. – angela liu ’22, page 7
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November 7, 2019
Around Campus
BC to Celebrate International Education Week This year’s International Education Week, which takes place at Boston College Nov. 11-15, will center on the theme “Global Environmental (In)Justice: How Do We Respond?” IEW organizers say the events will promote examination of how global environmental issues have an impact on marginalized individuals and communities, reflecting the University’s Jesuit commitment to social justice. A national initiative of the U.S. departments of State and Education, IEW celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide, and promotes programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the U.S. Highlights of BC IEW 2019 events include a panel discussion on Jesuit involvement in earthquake studies and how natural disasters particularly affect the world’s most vulnerable communities. One of the presenters will bring a unique perspec-
tive to the discussion as a native of Nepal whose family was affected by the earthquake that devastated the country in 2015. Another event will utilize video links provided by the Global Engagement Portal to conduct a live conversation with climate experts as well as farmers and ranchers in Puerto Rico and Honduras about the impact of more intense hurricanes and a changing climate on livelihoods, agriculture, and human health. Additionally, BC students will offer their ideas for addressing the climate crisis and BC alumni working in international affairs will discuss their career paths during panel discussions. IEW is a collaborative effort organized by multiple departments and offices at Boston College under the direction of the Office of International Programs and the Office of International Students and Scholars. See www.bc.edu/iew for more information. —Christine Balquist
Students Get an Inside Look at Washington Four Boston College undergraduates visited Washington, DC, recently as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference Student Advocacy program, joining student representatives from ACC institutions in meeting with members of Congress and legislative professionals to discuss student financial aid, undergraduate research funding, and other issues. The BC contingent, Leo Confalone ’20, Gabriella Haedelt ’21, Marina Sheetz ’21, and Sean O’Neil ’23, spoke with Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch and Senator Edward Markey; Josh Delaney, legislative director and chief education policy advisor for Senator Elizabeth Warren; Claire Viall, professional staff to the House Committee on Education and Labor, which is chaired by Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott, a 1973 BC Law alumnus; and principals at Cassidy & Associates, a government relations firm that assists the University with federal relations matters. For Haedelt, the trip was a sequel to her summer internship on Capitol Hill, and an opportunity to put her experience to work advocating “for issues I care about” while gaining a better understanding of the process of lobbying for a policy agenda. She appreciated hearing the legislators and staffers describe the legislation under development, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
their predictions for passage, and how the political climate has affected bipartisanship in Congress. “This trip cemented my impressions of politics and allowed me to reflect on my summer experience on the Hill,” she said. “Getting the opportunity to hear from members of Congress directly about their goals and what they perceive the upcoming challenges to be in this legislative cycle substantially added to my perspective.” O’Neil was struck by the influence legislative aides and committee staff have in the crafting of bills. “It is critical to have lawmakers who are supportive of the cause to champion the bill itself, but first staff have to write the bill and what they include in it has a drastic impact on what becomes a reality.” Sheetz found the meetings “incredibly informative in terms of the policies that affect institutions and students” and came away with a favorable impression of public service. “Elected officials go into politics in order to help people as best they can, which was apparent in our meetings with Congressman Lynch and Senator Markey. Their interest in me as an individual, as well as a representative of Boston College, was encouraging and rewarding.” –Sean Smith
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
EDITOR
Sean Smith
PHOTO BY FRANK CURRAN
Alison Crowther greeted participants completing the 15th Red Bandanna Run on Oct. 26. The annual campus event, sponsored through the Boston College Volunteer and Service Learning Center, honors the memory of Crowther’s son, 9/11 hero Welles Remy Crowther ’99. For more details on the Red Bandanna Run, see www.bc.edu/redbandannarun. Watch a video of this year’s Run, produced by Alex Orav of the BC Office of University Communications, at https://youtu.be/QiSly7Z4TH4.
Chronicle
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
Lee Pellegrini Peter Julian
The Boston College Arts Council has extended the deadline for nominations for the 2020 Arts Council Awards to Nov. 25. Members of the University community are encouraged to submit nominations for alumni, faculty, and staff who serve as role models for aspiring student artists, and whose artistic accomplishments are deserving of recognition. Candidates may be those working in or supporting the performing, visual, and literary arts. The awards will be presented at the annual Boston College Arts Festival, which will be held April 23-25. For nomination criteria, and to nominate candidates, go to the Arts Council website, www.bc.edu/arts, and select the “Arts Council Awards” link. –University Communications
Snapshot
At the Finish Line
Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
Patricia Delaney
Arts Awards Nominations Deadline Is Extended
The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (617)552-3350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of University Communications, 3 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135. A flipbook edition of Chronicle is available via e-mail. Send requests to chronicle@bc.edu.
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BC to Hold Annual Veterans Mass, Ceremony Former U.S. Army Captain Joseph P. Connolly ’85, who received numerous awards during his service, will be the guest speaker at the 19th Annual Boston College Veterans Remembrance Mass and Ceremony this Monday. Preceding his address, Jesuit Community member John C. Monahan, S.J., also a veteran, will preside and preach at a 9:30 a.m. Mass in St. Mary’s Chapel. Concelebrants from the Jesuit Community are veterans Robert L. Keane, S.J., ’71, MDiv ’78, rector, and Brett B. McLaughlin, S.J. The following ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at the Boston College Veterans Memorial on Burns Library Lawn. The event honors all alumni who have served, or are currently serving, in the armed forces. BC ROTC program students will once again emcee the ceremony and read aloud the names of Boston College graduates who died during the nation’s military conflicts. BC students, faculty, staff, and alumni will serve as representatives of those who have died in wars, and alumni veterans will receive commemorative pins.
Joseph P. Connolly, a 1985 alumnus and former U.S. Army captain, will be the featured speaker at this Monday’s Veterans Remembrance Mass and Ceremony.
Fr. Keane will lead the closing prayer at the ceremony. Connolly, chief operating officer at Afterburner, has served as CEO of several
businesses, and is involved in nonprofit organizations including Literacy at the Well, a program which promotes literacy in South Sudan, for which he serves on the board of directors. He lends his experience to businesses across the globe. During his service in the United States Army, Connolly was a Ranger and airborne qualified. In his final assignment, he was a company commander of a nuclear surety unit based in Germany. The awards he won during his service include both the Leadership Award and Honor Graduate Award upon completion of his Officer Basic Course. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Boston College, and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of Northern Colorado, and completed the executive program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. “The Alumni Association is honored to have Joe Connolly with us for the annual BC Veterans Remembrance Mass and Ceremony,” said Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Leah DeCosta. “Joe will
be representing the entire Connolly family as his younger brother, Major David Connolly, is the last name that is etched onto the Veterans Memorial Wall. David [’94, MS ’96] was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2005 and family members have regularly attended the Veterans Day services in memory of David. We look forward to welcoming Joe back to campus for this event. “Throughout his career, he has exemplified the BC mission of being men and women for others, and we are grateful that our veterans and guests will have the opportunity to engage with him,” she added. The event—which will be followed by a noon luncheon reception in Gasson 100—is open to all members of the Boston College community. A program of the BC Alumni Association, Veterans Alumni Network, and Army ROTC Program, the event is supported by the Executive Vice President’s Office. Advance registration is encouraged, but not required, at https://cutt.ly/Wenwk7X. —University Communications
BCSSW’s Calvo Receives Major Professional Honor Boston College School of Social Work Associate Professor Rocío Calvo received the 2019 Council on Social Work Education Distinguished Recent Contributions to Social Work Education Award, which cites her as “a leading scholar in the field of immigration and social welfare whose work on the role of social services on the integration of immigrants has become a model of positive disruption in the field.” Calvo—who was presented with the award at the CSWE Annual Program Meeting Oct. 24-27—is the founder of BCSSW’s Latinx Leadership Initiative (LLI), which recruits Latinx students into the master of social work program to train them on effective interventions with Latinx populations. About 25 students graduate from the program every year. Through the LLI, students take classes in Spanish and complete their field practice training with Latinx communities in preparation for working with Spanish-speaking clients using evidence-based interventions. Her work as a teacher and scholar is based on a belief that the best way to create sustainable solutions to complex problems is to work with the people who live those problems every day, Calvo said. “My research shows that ethnic-concordance in the provision of services improves outcomes, especially among Spanish-speaking communities. The LLI cultivates the future Latinx leaders of social service agencies because, for the most part, these agencies are not led by members of the community that they work in. So, students in the LLI are agents of transformation of how social work with Latinx communities is done in this country.” LLI students and alumni, who now number more than 130, are also an integral
Assoc. Prof. Rocío Calvo
photo by lee pellegrini
part of Calvo’s latest investigation. In June, she was awarded a Russell Sage Foundation grant, funded in part by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, for her research project with Harvard University Professor Mary C. Waters that will investigate how older Latinx immigrants in Boston and Miami access social services and how their interactions with service providers impact their sense of belonging in America. “The project moves the focus to a group that has not been explored, yet is the fastest growing segment of the older population in America,” said Calvo. “Given their lifelong experience with low-wage employment and lack of access to preventative care, Latinx immigrants tend to reach later life with more functional limitations but also with fewer resources to face longterm care than any other population in the United States.” Read more of this story at http://bit.ly/calvo-cswe-award. –Boston College School of Social Work
The memorial Mass for Alberto Godenzi, held Oct. 25 in St. Ignatius Church. photo by peter julian
University Gathers to Remember Godenzi Vice Provost for Global Engagement Alberto Godenzi was remembered at an Oct. 25 memorial Mass as a visionary, energetic educator whose concern for others extended far and wide—but also close to home. Dr. Godenzi, who was dean of the Boston College School of Social Work from 2001 to 2016 before his appointment as vice provost, died on Oct. 20 of complications from a three-month battle with leukemia. He was 66. BC colleagues joined friends and members of the Godenzi family at the Mass, held in St. Ignatius Church. In his homily, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., called Dr. Godenzi “a man of action and relentless energy who was just and caring, and had a deep sense of mission and a commitment to education.” Dr. Godenzi brought “vision, drive, and experience” to BC, along with “an abiding
determination to address social issues and strengthen social work at BC,” added Fr. Leahy. Dr. Godenzi’s daughter, Franca Nurczynski, offered a personal reminiscence of the man who, whatever his achievements in academia and professional circles, “to me was always just funny, loving, supportive Dad, who pushed me to do great things.” Three of Dr. Godenzi’s BCSSW colleagues, Associate Dean Thomas Walsh, Clinical Professor Paul Kline, and Susan Callaghan—the school’s former director of marketing and communications—gave readings during the Mass, as did Larry E. Davis, professor and dean emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work and a longtime friend of Dr. Godenzi. Read the full story at http://on.bc.edu/Godenzi.
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Davison Joins BCSSW Continued from page 1
Prior to joining the BCSSW faculty, Davison spent eight years at the Harvard School of Public Health, where she was an associate professor and director of the school’s Public Health Nutrition doctoral program. She also has been on the faculty at the University of Albany School of Public Health following doctoral and postdoctoral training at Penn State University’s Human Development and Family Studies program. “Kirsten Davison’s scholarship, teaching, and service are focused on vulnerable children from a family and human development perspective,” said BCSSW Dean Gautam Yadama. “She has challenged researchers and practitioners to broaden their framework to include the entire family—particularly mothers and fathers—in supporting the healthy development of children who are at risk of obesity. Dr. Davison’s addition will expand and deepen BCSSW’s response to vulnerable children who are low-income and from communities of color here in Boston.” A native of New Zealand, where she earned her bachelor’s degree at Otago University, Davison said her move to BC came at “a turning point” in her career. “The opportunity to be in a leadership position at a major institution was appealing. I also had a very favorable impression of BC: Its alumni seem very enthusiastic, committed, and connected; and in conversations with people who worked at BC, I heard a lot of happiness and contentment.” Davison studies family- and community-level factors that influence children’s lifestyle behaviors—such as diet, physical
activity, and screen-based activities—and their risk of obesity. More recently, her work has focused on the development and evaluation of family-centered interventions for obesity prevention in low-income children, including children enrolled in WIC (Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program) and Head Start. Supported by three National Institutes of Health grants, she is leading a series of projects: testing the efficacy of a childhood obesity preventative intervention for low-income families; examining links between sleep and growth in children from birth to two years; and assessing the role of fathers in childhood obesity prevention. These research interests are well suited to a social work context, Davison believes. “I’m used to moving around disciplines, having started in developmental psychology and then going into public health, health behavior, and nutrition,” she said. “So, in a way, coming to the School of Social Work brings my work back to its roots. I see public health and social work as intertwined, where social work has a very strong focus on social justice.” A primary emphasis of her research initiatives, she explained, “is the need to consider the family unit as a whole and address factors beyond the family, including social networks, community and organizational factors, and parents’ own childhood histories that impact parent-child interactions around healthy lifestyles.” “Basically, I look at why parents parent the way they do, especially those in low-income families, and the many forces that influence their decision-making. It’s
November 7, 2019
Kirsten Davison’s research looks at how public health initiatives can burden families they were designed to help. “The solution is not so much to create new approaches or programs,” she says, “but to improve those that are already in place.”
photo by amara cohen
important that those most affected by health-related problems like child obesity have a seat at the table and the ability to offer their perspectives and participate in devising solutions.” Unfortunately, Davison added, many programs and initiatives intended to aid families wind up being burdensome, placing demands on parents or children that “take them out of their daily living routine.” “The solution is not so much to create new approaches or programs,” she said, “but to improve those that are already in place.” In a recent article published in the journal Obesity, Davison and her co-authors proposed strategies to reach and engage fathers—who have been overlooked to date—in the prevention of obesity in young children through five existing programs including prenatal care, pediatrics, WIC, Early Head Start, and home visiting. In conjunction with her research, Davison has led transdisciplinary postgraduate
training programs, including the Public Health Nutrition doctoral program and the Cancer Prevention and Control fellowship program at Harvard, and has an extensive history mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students. She looks forward to putting this experience to work in her support of faculty as associate dean for research. “Social work has not had the obvious access to large public funding as have other professions, but there are strategies to frame the research so that it will attract the support of NIH and similar organizations,” she said. “BCSSW has a lot of strong young researchers on its faculty, and there is a great capacity for growth in external funding.” Funding for the Donahue and DiFelice Professorship was established in 2008 through gifts from John F. and Rhodora J. Donahue, Boston College parents, and Mary A. and Emilio DiFelice. The professorship is awarded to a faculty member engaged in research and teaching in the area of the Catholic family.
Lynch School Is Recognized by U.S. Accreditor for P-12 Educator Training
Undergraduates living in the Mods shared some Halloween fun last Thursday with students at the Boston College Campus School, which serves children aged 3-21 who face complex physical and developmental challenges.
photos by lee pellegrini
The Lynch School of Education and Human Development teacher education program was one of just 13 U.S. higher education institutions recently honored with the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) for certification without stipulations or areas for improvement. The Murray Leadership Recognition is named for the founding president—an advocate for a single set of teacher preparation standards—of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council, which merged with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education to form CAEP in 2013. CAEP is the nation’s sole accreditor for P-12 educator training. The Lynch School and other honorees, selected from the pool of education preparation providers that earned CAEP accreditation last year, provided evidence and data trends that assure quality and support continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 learning while advancing equity and excellence in educator preparation. The accreditation process evaluates the performance of providers and focuses particularly on whether candidates will be prepared for
the challenging responsibilities that educators face in America’s classrooms, according to CAEP. “Department faculty are highly collaborative and engage in continuous improvement of our teacher education program,” said Susan Bruce, professor and chair of the Lynch School’s Teacher Education, Special Education, and Curriculum and Instruction Department. “Behind this effort is a commitment to prepare teachers who will challenge inequities and collaborate with others to improve the lives of all children.” “CAEP accreditation is a sign of commitment to quality through purposeful use of evidence,” said Karen Symms Gallagher, chair of CAEP’s board of directors. “The providers recognized by CAEP are committed to preparing their students to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate.” The other Murray Leadership Recognition winners were Duke, Emporia State, George Mason, James Madison, John Carroll, Minnesota State, Northeastern State, Nova Southeastern, Northern Kentucky, Southern Nazarene, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Universidad De Puerto Rico. —Phil Gloudemans
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PULSE Program Moves Into Sixth Decade Continued from page 1
professor of the practice in the Theology Department. “What we are trying to do in PULSE is to help students grow in their care and their concern for other people, not just for the benefit of the other people in terms of what social changes can happen, but also for our students so that they grow more fully into themselves.” PULSE is marking its 50th anniversary this academic year with a series of events and co-sponsored lectures. Next month, the program will host Christiana Zenner, an associate professor of theology, science and ethics at Fordham University and a leading expert at the intersection of ethics and ecology. As a scholar-in-residence, she will lecture on Laudato Si’ in each of the 16 PULSE core courses and deliver a public lecture on Dec. 4. The anniversary celebration will culminate in a two-day conference March 27-28, featuring panels and workshops, a retrospective history of the program, as well as insights from PULSE faculty and staff and reflections from PULSE alumni and supervisors. Each year, more than 400 students enroll in the PULSE core course, Person and Social Responsibility, and another approximately 100 students take one of PULSE’s 13 electives. The core course is a 12-credit, yearlong class that also requires eight hours of onsite service per week. The in-depth nature of the students’ service placements allows deep relationships to form. “We believe firmly that it’s the relationships that open up hearts and minds,” said Sweeney. “Service, care, and a commitment to solidarity are at the heart of PULSE.” “The program has really matured,” said Professor of Philosophy Patrick Byrne, who founded PULSE shortly after graduating from BC with the support of then Philosophy Department Chair Joseph Flanagan, S. J. He directed the program for three years and has been a PULSE faculty member since 1975. “I think it’s got a much deeper reflective component to it than we had
“What we are trying to do in PULSE is to help students grow in their care and their concern for other people,” says Cooney Family PULSE Director Meghan Sweeney, shown speaking with PULSE participants, “not just for the benefit of the other people in terms of what social changes can happen, but also for our students so that they grow more fully into themselves.” photo by lee pellegrini
when we first started out. We also have a much wider reach of social service community partners than at the beginning. The city of Boston has changed a lot, but I have to say in many ways the same kinds of students come to the PULSE program. They’re very good-hearted.” Among the populations BC students serve are children; refugees and immigrants; individuals experiencing social isolation, loneliness, domestic violence, or homelessness; those living with HIV/ AIDS; and those recovering from addiction. Service placement sites include afterschool programs, day or overnight shelters, food programs, community health organizations, incarceration settings, and community centers. “Person and Social Responsibility in many ways reflects one of the main components of PULSE in that the construction of human personhood is not a solitary,
Formative Education Conference Continued from page 1
of Social Work, and School of Theology and Ministry—will participate in panel discussions, along with faculty and administrators from across the University. Guest lecturers include James Arthur, director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham (UK) School of Education; and Michele Dillon, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, and author of Postsecular Catholicism: Relevance and Renewal. Formative education—the intentional, guided development of the whole human being toward a life of meaning and purpose—has always been at the center of Boston College’s strategic approach, note conference organizers. Though not unique to BC, the concept of formation has evolved considerably at the Heights, with significant resource investment underpin-
ning a coordinated commitment to the holistic integration of the academic, residential life, campus ministry, and missionbased experiences to help students become their best selves. “This conference is a spectacular opportunity for all of us at Boston College to learn more about the past, present, and future of educating whole human beings to care for the whole world,” said Shirley, a professor in the Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction Department at the Lynch School. “Drawing upon the Jesuit, Catholic intellectual tradition and entering into critical dialogue with those from other spiritual and secular orientations, the conference will give all of us a rich venue for ‘mapping the terrain’ of formative education as we continue to evolve in this foundational dimension of the Boston College mission.”
isolated undertaking, but rather we become persons through our engagement with the world,” said Sweeney. In addition to the formative experience it provides BC students, PULSE has also made a substantial contribution to the City of Boston and surrounding areas. According to the program, PULSE students have served more than 3.2 million hours in Boston-area community organizations over the past 50 years. PULSE has community partner placements at more than 50 sites. Some of PULSE’s most enduring partnerships— each representing more than 35 years—are with Haley House, Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly, the Newton Wellesley Weston Committee for Community Living, Pine Street Inn, Rosie’s Place, Samaritans, and BC’s Campus School. “PULSE connects the world in a way that other programs don’t,” said Pine Street Inn President and Executive Director Lyndia Downie. “People who normally would not talk to each other, or know each other, or develop a relationship are able to do that through PULSE. That opportunity to share a story, and be at one with someone, for us is invaluable, and it’s something that the PULSE students have brought to us here. Of all the things the PULSE students do, to me, [that’s] the key to the PULSE work here.” Downie pointed out that PULSE students serve another important role, one that continues after graduation. “I see that the PULSE students, when they talk about their experience here, can be ambassadors for homelessness, for homeless people and help with the stigma, help with the challenges that many of our homeless folks face.” “We are so fortunate to have such wonderful community partners and supervisors,” added Sweeney. “When our students have questions or concerns, they are mentors and guides and often they may not realize it, but they emerge as role models
for our students because they are bearing witness to our students that human beings can make life and professional choices in service to other human beings.” In addition to the community partners, Sweeney says the strength of PULSE rests with its “caring, generous, [and] committed” faculty. In addition to Sweeney and Byrne, current faculty members who teach the core class are Elizabeth Antus, Fr. Kenneth Himes, Matthew Kruger, Julia Legas, Micah Lott, David McMenamin (a former PULSE director), Stephen Pope, Eileen Sweeney, Mary Troxell, and Rev. James Weiss. Byrne recalled that in the early days of PULSE, students didn’t necessarily see the connection between the texts and the service placements, and faculty had to adapt their teaching style to help students with that integration. “That’s the hardest learning,” he said. “[It] involves the kinds of writing assignments that are deliberately designed to have them think about how texts that we’ve read or ideas that we’ve discussed are connected with something that they encountered in their field experiences. Gradually, the faculty learned different ways of helping students understand what the great ideas from our Western and non-Western philosophical and theological traditions have to do with actual, concrete dealings with human beings in the settings where they live and move and have to make their way through life. “What we find is that their learning about the things they read is deeper and their learning from the people they encounter is deeper because of this symbiotic relationship between the two. I think that connection is the reason the program is successful.” Both Sweeney and Byrne also were quick to credit the work and commitment of the PULSE Council and its indispensable role in the program’s success. The council is a group of 18 student leaders who have completed the PULSE core and have taken on the responsibility to mentor and accompany the PULSE students in their own service learning. PULSE has served as an inspiration for other similar programs at college campuses throughout the country. Byrne said he and Sweeney talked about the PULSE model at a conference they organized for representatives from 23 universities, who returned to their campuses to apply PULSE best practices to new or existing programs. He also said some of his former PULSE students have gone on to careers in higher education and have started service-learning programs at their universities. Added Sweeney: “In many ways, PULSE functions as a paradigm shift for students. It gives them a new way of seeing the world. Once they see things in some ways, they can’t unsee them and they take that perspective with them into whatever their future careers will be. That’s our hope: that the work of PULSE continues long after PULSE has ended.” For more information, including 50th anniversary events, see bc.edu/pulse.
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New, Returning Members of Board of Trustees The Boston College Board of Trustees welcomed three new and two returning members this year: Guido Barilla is chairman of Barilla G. & R. Fratelli S.p.A. An Italian native, he spent two years studying in the United States, first as a senior in high school then as a freshman at Boston College, before returning to Italy for family reasons to study at the Università Statale di Milano. His professional career began in 1982 in the Sales Department at Barilla France, a subsidiary of the Barilla Group. Following his European training, he worked at several food companies in the U.S. before becoming a Barilla executive in 1986 and taking part in its international expansion. Appointed as a member of the board of directors of Barilla G. & R. Fratelli S.p.A., he was named vice chairman in 1988 and chairman in 1993, following the death of his father; he became Barilla Group chairman in March 2003. He also chairs the advisory board of the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition and has served on the board of directors of several Italian companies.
Robert Cooney ’74 is a partner in Cooney & Conway, a plaintiffs law firm, and a former assistant public defender in Chicago. He is a life member and a past chairman of the Fenwick High School Board of Trustees, a member of the Big Shoulders Patron Board at Saint Malachy’s School in Chicago, and the past president of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition assistance and education enhancement programs to 440 economically disadvantaged Chicago high school students. A returning BC trustee, Cooney first joined the board in 2010 and served two terms. Marc P. Seidner ’88 is CIO for nontraditional strategies, a managing director, and head of portfolio management in PIMCO’s New York City office. He is also a generalist portfolio manager and a member of the Investment Committee. Seidner also has served as head of fixed income at GMO LLC and a managing director and domestic fixed-income portfolio manager
at Harvard Management Company. He worked as a former director of active core strategies at Standish Mellon Asset Management and a senior portfolio manager at Fidelity Management and Research. Seidner has 32 years of investment experience and holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Boston College. Elizabeth W. Vanderslice ’86 is a partner at Trewstar Corporate Board Services, a search firm specializing in placing women on corporate boards. She previously served as president and CEO of Wired Digital Inc., the online media division of Wired Ventures Inc., and as a member of the boards of both Wired Digital and Wired Ventures, before leading the company’s acquisition by Lycos Inc. Previously, she served as a principal in the investment banking firm Sterling Payot Company, where she helped raise the capital to launch Wired magazine, and as vice president at H. W. Jesse & Co., a San Francisco investment banking firm. She also worked for the IBM Corporation before earning her MBA from Harvard Business School. A member and officer of the Young Presidents’ Organization and the World Presidents’ Organization, Vanderslice was awarded a Henry Crown Fellowship by
the Aspen Institute in 2000. A summa cum laude graduate of Boston College, she serves on the executive committee of The Council for Women of Boston College. A returning BC trustee, Vanderslice first joined the board in 2010 and served two terms. Elizabeth Eder Zobel de Ayala ’87 is a social entrepreneur in the Philippines, where she has lived since 1987. She is cofounder and chairman of Teach for the Philippines, a country partner of Teach for America, which enlists some of the most promising young Filipino leaders to teach in the public school system. A native of Colombia, Ayala is a founding board member of the Friendly Care Foundation and the Forum for Family Planning and Development, and a former member of the boards of the Population Council in New York City and the National Museum of the Philippines. She is a trustee of the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society in Hong Kong, a research and advisory organization committed to maximizing private resources to do social good in Asia. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and economics from Boston College. –University Communications all photos provided
Political Science Faculty Member Wins Book Award Assistant Professor of Political Science Lindsey O’Rourke, whose expertise includes international security, U.S. foreign policy, and military strategy, has won the International Security Studies Section Best Book Award for her 2018 work Covert Regime Change: America’s Secret Cold War. The ISSS is a section of the International Studies Association, an organization of some 7,000 members representing more than 100 countries that is dedicated to the study and teaching of international, transnational and global affairs. The annual Best Book Award recognizes a book on any aspect of security studies “that excels in originality, significance, and rigor.” In the book, O’Rourke explores the differences between overt and covert regime change, and argues that conventional focus on overt cases misses the basic causes of regime change. To illustrate her point, she examines the 64 times the U.S. attempted covert regime change—mostly through covert means—between 1947-89, the period encompassing the Cold War era. U.S. covert operations during the Cold War were unsuccessful more than 60 percent of the time and most failed to remain covert, often resulting in unforeseen, and disastrous, consequences, according to O’Rourke, who found that states targeted for regime change were more likely to experience civil war in the 10 years following intervention.
Lindsey O’Rourke
photo by lee pellegrini
Taking a more scholarly and quantitative approach than similar books, and using a data set of these covert regime change operations, Covert Regime Change addresses three questions: What motivates states to attempt foreign regime change? Why do states prefer to conduct these operations covertly rather than overtly? How successful are such missions in achieving their foreign policy goals? O’Rourke analyzes types of security interests that drive states to intervene: Offensive operations aim to overthrow a current military rival or break up a rival alliance, she explains, while preventive
operations seek to stop a state from taking certain actions—such as joining a rival alliance—that may make them a future security threat. Hegemonic operations try to maintain a hierarchical relationship between the intervening state and the target government. Because the American government’s role in many such missions became public knowledge, O’Rourke noted in a piece earlier this year for Foreign Policy, covert operations like the coups in Guatemala (1954), Brazil (1964), and Chile (1973), and support for anti-Sandinista forces in Nicargua during the 1980s, are widely viewed as “lasting symbols of U.S. imperialism.” These negative associations can
complicate U.S. diplomacy, as evidenced in the recent Venezuelan crisis. A Boston College faculty member since 2014, O’Rourke also has studied female suicide terrorism and in 2008 published an op-ed, “Behind the Woman Behind the Bomb,” in The New York Times. A past winner of the Morris Abrams Award in International Relations national competition, O’Rourke spent 2013-14 as a postdoctoral fellow for international security and U.S. foreign policy at the Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College. Among the classes she has taught at BC are The World Wars and U.S. Foreign Policy from 1945-2014. —University Communications
OBITUARIES •Robert Szforza, who began working at the University in 1968 and spent most of the next 51 years as a mail service operator, died on Oct. 25. He was 73. Read a Chronicle profile of Mr. Sforza at http:// bit.ly/bob-sforza. •Francis A. Sullivan, S.J., a leading ecclesiology expert who taught theology at Boston College from 1992-2009, died on Oct. 23 at 97. Crux published an obituary on Fr. Sullivan at http://bit.ly/sullivancrux-obit.
•George B. McManama, MD, a 1941 alumnus who worked for Boston College Health Services from 1985 to 2008, died on Oct. 20 at 99. His obituary can be found at http://bit.ly/george-mcmanamaobituary. •Hilda Carey, RSCJ, who taught freshman English at Boston College and was known for her enthusiastic support of the BC women’s basketball team, died on Sept. 16 at age 91. A memorial page to Sister Carey is available at www.rscj.org/ about/memoriam/hilda-carey-rscj.
Chronicle
November 7, 2019
China Service Trip Inspired BC Sophomore’s Exhibition Inspired by a service trip to China she initiated and funded while in high school, Carroll School of Management sophomore Angela Liu (right) created a series of oil paintings that comprise her exhibition, “The Power of Art,” on display today through Nov. 29 in Carney Hall’s Gallery 203. Over the course of two summers when Liu and some friends taught ballet and English to local girls, she was deeply moved by their determination and love for the arts, in spite of their poor financial circumstances. Upon returning to the U.S., Liu’s goal was to share their story of positivity, show the world from their perspective, and inspire appreciation for the privilege often overlooked in our society. A resident of Wellesley, Mass., Liu studies finance and computer science, and is a member of the Dance Organization of Boston College. She spoke with Rosanne Pellegrini of Chronicle about her experiences which culminated in the exhibition. Where in China did you travel, and why were you inspired to work with the local children? Liu: My first year, we went to Duancun in Hebei Province and collaborated with the Hefeng Arts Foundation. During our time at the Duancun school, we taught girls aged seven to 14. The second year we expanded our program to Naduo in Yunnan Province. Similarly, we taught ballet and English. Both years, we raised more than $5,000 and used this money to buy all of the girls leotards, pointe shoes, tutus, flat shoes, and English children’s books. We donated the rest of the money to the Hefeng Arts Foundation to support its initiative to introduce the arts to underprivileged children. I did it on my own, encouraged by my school’s [Buckingham Browne & Nichols] community service requirement. I really loved the arts and wanted to give back to my origins and become more in touch with my identity. My parents grew up in very similar circumstances to the places I visited and volunteered at, and always told me how lucky I was to be exposed to dancing and painting—something they never dreamed of doing when they were young. In what ways did the students you worked in China motivate you to undertake this exhibition? Liu: When I started the program, I was worried that there would be a language barrier with the students. I spoke Chinese at home and it was my second language, but I had never put it to use in this way before. When we got there it was hard at first, but I realized we were able to bond through our shared love of ballet. We could communicate beautifully through the language of dance. I became really close to my students and emotionally invested in their futures. I was closest with one student, Xuya, pictured in the “Ardent Aspirations” painting. With the help of our donations and support through the years, she was able to get into a small arts school in her area and is currently pursuing her passion and dream of becoming a professional dancer. My main motivation was to tell the stories of my students. I’ve learned from this experience that art should not be taken for
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BC in the Media Since President Trump announced the death of ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi, some experts have expressed concern about the amount of information shared about the top-secret mission. Assoc. Prof. of the Practice Natana Delong-Bas (Theology), whose research focus is the Middle East, commented on the issue for NBC10 Boston.
dent Trump’s deal-making in trade and foreign affairs. Companies ready to confront the ethical challenges inherent in accelerated digital transformation are well positioned to take advantage of innovative opportunities, according to Prof. Gerald Kane (CSOM), writing for the Wall Street Journal “CIO Journal.” Will Ohio elect the next president? Assoc. Prof. David Hopkins (Political Science) weighed in on the topic for The Christian Science Monitor. Prof. R. Michael Cassidy (Law) provided comments to The Boston Globe on prosecutorial procedure in light of a Rhode Island grand jury’s failure to indict a detention facility officer who drove a pickup truck into a group of protesters.
photo by lee pellegrini
granted. My students, though so young, were so mature and motivated to make their dreams come true—knowing very well their economic circumstances and the world were working against them. They didn’t take anything for granted. I want to use art as a way to tell their story, the realities that they live, and show “The Power of Art” through their dancing and my paintings. How many paintings are on display in the exhibition? What is their subject matter? Liu: There are eight artworks on display. There are also some videos and photographs exhibited, showing my experiences on the service trips. Most of the paintings were done in the summer after my service trip visits; my students were the main subject matter. Two of the paintings were created in a BC art class I took freshman year. How do these works embody the spirit of the Chinese girls to whom they pay tribute? Liu: Through the process of creating each piece of work, I focused a lot on what I wanted the painting to mean. While I wanted to show the harsh circumstances in which my students were living, I also wanted to display the beauty and elegance they exude while dancing. From my exhibition, I think the paradox captures the spirit of the Chinese children. Do the Chinese girls know about the exhibition? And if so, what do you think/ hope it means to them? Liu: The children know about the exhibition. When I told them about it, they were all really excited. I think in a small way, to young girls who were always told that they didn’t matter, the exhibition tells them that they do matter. It gives them hope and reassurance: that art is powerful and can change someone’s life. They made a huge impact on me and how I view my privilege in life, and have the power to influence others as well. Read the full Q&A at https://on.bc.edu/Angela_Liu.
photo by chris soldt
In a piece for AJCU Connections, Boston College Law School Dean Vincent Rougeau (above) wrote that the study and practice of criminal law at the school is animated by Jesuit values and ideals, including that of forming lawyers who understand that a passion for justice must include a fierce moral commitment to the needs of the least fortunate among us. Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, whose reporting was instrumental in the revelations of Harvey Weinstein’s history of sexual harassment, are part of a long tradition of women journalists whose work has fueled feminist movements, wrote Assoc. Prof. of the Practice Lori Harrison-Kahan (English) in an op-ed for CNN.com. President Trump draws fervent support from conservatives who believe the president is willing to restore the country to its moral and constitutional foundations, according to Prof. Ken I. Kersch (Political Science), writing in The Atlantic. Prof. Kent Greenfield (Law) offered his views to The Boston Globe on a proposed Massachusetts law that would make saying the “B” word in a derogatory way an offense that could result in a $200 fine.
Jobs The following are among the most recent positions posted by the Department of Human Resources. For more information on employment opportunities at Boston College, see www.bc.edu/offices/hr: Research Associate, Center for Retirement Research, Academic Affairs/Provost Assistant Director, Advising Operations, Academic Affairs/Provost Residential Life Administrator, Student Affairs/Residential Life Senior Integrated Security System Technician, Dining and Catering/Auxiliary/ Public Safety Assistant Director, Strategic Sourcing, Financial/Budget Development Assistant, University Advancement Communications Specialist, Center for Retirement Research, Academic Affairs/ Provost Senior Research Statistician, Information Technology Housing Assignments Specialist, Student Affairs/Residential Life Assistant Manager, Dining Services, Dining and Catering/Auxiliary/Public Safety
Prof. Philip Landrigan (Biology), director of BC’s Global Public Health Program, offered comments on a new survey on toxins in baby foods to media outlets including The Hill, New York Daily News, Fox Business News, Miami Herald, and USA Today.
Director, Institutional Research
Johnson & Johnson has lowered its previously reported third-quarter profit by $3 billion to account for a proposed opioid settlement payment. Assoc. Prof. Brian Quinn (Law) was quoted on the development by Reuters, via The New York Times.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Academic Affairs/Provost
Prof. Marc Landy (Political Science) spoke with The Washington Post regarding Presi-
Geographic Information Systems Research Consultant, Information Technology Housing Assignments Specialist, Student Affairs/Residential Life
Report Writer, University Advancement Senior Writer/Editor, Academic Affairs/ Provost Insurance Specialist, Risk Management, Financial/Budget
Chronicle
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November 7, 2019
Banding Together
BC Bands marking 100 years of music, student spirit, and fellowship BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
There is no conventional campus memorial at Boston College to Robert Parsons, S.J., who taught chemistry and oversaw several musical activities at the Heights during the late 1910s/early 1920s—no statue, no plaque, no historical marker. But Fr. Parsons’ memory lives on every time the BC Screaming Eagles Marching Band struts across the Alumni Stadium field, the Pep Band strikes up a tune from the stands, the BC bOp! jazz ensemble performs at Robsham Theater, or the University Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band plays in Gasson 100. Fr. Parsons essentially laid the groundwork for what is now the Boston College Bands program, working with student conductor J. Carey Martin (Class of 1921) to convert what had been a military band—which Fr. Parsons had founded in 1918—into the contemporary concert and athletic-event ensemble model. The Boston College Band made its official debut on Oct. 20, 1919 for the BC-Yale football game, leading a snake dance prior to the kick-off on the BC football field and down Commonwealth Avenue to Lake Street. This semester, the BC Bands program is marking its centennial, the formal celebration having taken place the weekend of Oct. 18-20 with such events as an evening concert by the University Wind Ensemble and BC Symphonic Band, a “field rehearsal” for marching band alumni and their children the morning of the BC-NC State football game at Alumni Stadium, and a dinner and dance with BC bOp! and bOp! alumni.
Boston College Band alumni had the opportunity to take the field with current band members (above), and bring their families along for the experience (right), at the BC-NC State football game during last month’s celebration of the band program’s 100th anniversary. photos by jason eggelston
and knowledge of the arts is integral to being an educated person,” he said. “BC has many excellent students from all over the world who come here with considerable musical experience and skills, and want to be able to use them. Making these opportunities available makes these students’ college lives more meaningful, and helps them fulfill their passions.” The BC Bands program also contributes to the University’s sense of community, noted Screaming Eagles Marching Band director David Healey ’90, since its various ensembles appear at major campus gatherings, including Commencement Exercises, Pops on the Heights, the Christmas treelighting, and sporting events. Another signature highlight was the University’s 2013 Sesquicentennial Concert in Symphony Hall, which included performances from BC bOp! and the Wind Ensemble.
“My wish for you is that you play with joy, give voice to your hearts, and nourishment to your souls.”
–BC Bands Director Sebastian Bonauito’s pre-performance message to students in the University Wind Ensemble As a complement to the centennial, BC Bands—with assistance from graduate student and office assistant Nicholas Arata ’19—established a website, bcbandscentennial.com, that includes a section devoted to the program’s history, with a timeline; an archive of bands-related memorabilia, such as publicity posters, playlists, commemorative patches, tickets and passes to bowl games and other events; photos from 1919 to the present; biographies of band directors; and band alumni memories. The 100-year milestone has prompted reflection from one of Fr. Parsons’ successors, current BC Bands Director Sebastian Bonaiuto, on the band program’s place in the University. Far from simply providing entertainment, he said, BC Bands are in harmony with BC’s educational and formative mission. “One of the foundations of a liberal arts education has long been that experience in
“The bands are an embodiment of student spirit—it’s difficult to capture that in other settings,” he explained. “There’s also a connection for alumni: They tap into the undergraduate experience just by hearing the Marching Band or Pep Band, because it brings back memories of their student days.” Like many student organizations, BC Bands fosters fellowship through shared experiences, traditions, and rituals. Before each home football game, the Marching Band recites Psalm 150 and sings “Amazing Grace” (in four-part harmony) in the Band Room. Prior to its Robsham concerts, BC bOp! members form concentric circles, extend their arms to the center and then raise them with a shout of “Ehhhh, bOp!” Bonaiuto offers Wind Ensemble musicians a simple affirmation before their performances: “My wish for you is that you play with joy, give voice to your hearts, and
nourishment to your souls.” BC Bands’ fanfare extends well beyond the Heights. The Marching Band has performed for the Red Sox, the Celtics, ESPN College “Game Day,” and the Heisman Trophy Dinner, marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the 2013 inaugural parade for President Obama, and appeared at the College Football Classic in Ireland. The Pep Band has traveled to basketball and hockey (men’s and women’s) games, including regular, post-season, and tournaments, across the country. The résumé for BC bOp! includes New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Downbeat magazine’s Jazzfest in Florida, and the Reno Jazz Festival in Nevada. Throughout the band program’s history, various ensembles have been created due to necessity, student demand, or other factors, though not all have survived. Under Bonaiuto—who became the first full-time BC Bands director in 1989, and is the longest-tenured head next to the late Peter Siragusa, who served from 1955-87—and Healey, whom he appointed Marching Band director in 1999, BC Bands added the University Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band (known as “SymBa”). The two also were responsible for BC
bOp!, although its history dates back before Bonaiuto’s administration: In 1987, Healey—then an undergrad—and other student musicians had organized a jazz band, and asked Bonaiuto, then an MBA student at BC, to be its director. Despite no University funding, rehearsal space, or instruments (students had to use their own), BC bOp! attracted a large campus following, and Bonaiuto made it an official part of the program when he assumed the BC Bands directorship. “The convention among college jazz bands is separate jazz and vocal bands, even though history is full of such ensembles, like Glenn Miller or Count Basie,” said Bonaiuto. “I wanted to include that tradition in BC Bands, and it’s proven to be a wonderful combination.” Another aspect of BC Bands underscores its identity as a college bands program: Besides playing standards and crowd favorites, the ensembles frequently champion new, less familiar music. “One of the hallmarks of a research university is that it’s where ideas grow,” explained Bonaiuto, noting that the Wind Ensemble is inaugurating a new series focused on under-represented communities of composers. “There are composers out there creating new works, but few symphonies are likely to perform them. College band directors, however, see this music as something fresh and challenging for students. In that sense, the BC Bands are like laboratories, helping to generate and exhibit new music.” With the official centennial observance over, BC Bands are back in the flow of an always busy schedule: This past Sunday was a Wind Ensemble concert; tomorrow, BC bOp! is in the Vanderslice Cabaret Room; Saturday, the Marching Band will be on the field for the BC-Florida State football game; and on Nov. 17, SymBa performs at 300 Hammond Pond Parkway. “These are talented, committed students who bring a lot to the University community, both academically and artistically,” said Bonaiuto.
BC Bands Director Sebastian Bonauito (center, with Screaming Eagles Marching Band Director David Healey to his left) is hailed at the BC Bands recent 100th anniversary celebration, which included a dinner and dance. photo by peter julian