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Around Campus
Rankings
MLK Scholarship
Sing It to the Heights event benefits Brighton’s Saint Columbkille Partnership School; James Balog ’74 to screen his new film on climate change.
Graduate programs do well in US News & World Report; CSOM in Financial Times Top 20.
Thair Brown ’20, who glimpsed BC generosity as a youth in Jamaica, is winner of the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship. MARCH 14, 2019 VOL. 26 NO. 13
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Neuroscience Major Will Debut This Fall BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
The Psychology Department will introduce a major in neuroscience this fall, enabling Boston College undergraduates to obtain a research-focused degree in a field whose interdisciplinary nature and application has made it increasingly popular among college students. BC administrators and faculty say establishing the neuroscience bachelor of science major addresses a longstanding student demand for the program, capitalizes on departmental strengths, and puts the University on par with many peer institutions. Neuroscience, they add, offers compelling subject matter for a Jesuit, Catholic university with a liberal arts-based curriculum
that champions interdisciplinary work and a concern for the human condition. Through the major, students will gain a better understanding of the biological basis of brain function in relation to thought and behavior. The program has co-requisites in biology and chemistry as well as elective natural science co-requisites, and emphasizes exposure to hands-on, laboratory science. Students will take courses that are related to evolution, genetics, physiology, neurobiology, and the neural basis of higher cognitive and emotional processes in humans. While the program has a scientific orientation, administrators and faculty point out that neuroscience holds relevance for fields such as nursing, social work, mathematics, economics, philosophy, even history. Continued on page 5
Lighting the Way
photo by yiting chen
Boston College students in the Appalachia Volunteers program attended a special Mass on March 1 in St. Ignatius Church before their departure. Some 450 students participated this year, traveling to impoverished communities in 37 states to perform service work during spring break, in collaboration with groups such as Habitat for Humanity, local non-profit initiatives and community centers, and hurricane relief work with St. Bernard’s Project. Another group of BC students went on the Magis Civil Rights Immersion Trip (see page 5).
Alumni Give Support to Trustees Set Tuition Fund for Students in Need Rate for 2019-2020 BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
A fund supported by Class of 1981 alumni to provide emergency aid for current Boston College students has, as of this month, raised more than $240,000 in its two years of existence. Nearly 160 class donors and friends have contributed to the Convocation of ’81 Eagles: Eagles in Crisis Fund, initiated following the Class of 1981’s 35th reunion celebration in 2016. Since then,
the fund—administered through the Office of University Mission and Ministry—has helped pay for funeral arrangements, urgent home travel, short-term housing accommodations, and other crises affecting the welfare of BC students and their families. The fund also has provided other kinds of resource assistance and aid: eye care and the purchase of eyeglasses for an international student; supermarket gift cards for a student with special dietary needs; and dental expenses for a student requiring an Continued on page 4
BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
The Board of Trustees has set undergraduate tuition for the 2019-2020 academic year at $56,780, as part of a 3.97 percent increase in tuition, fees, room and board, bringing the overall annual cost of attendance at Boston College to $72,736. To maintain the University’s commitment to providing access to students from
diverse socio-economic backgrounds, the trustees voted to increase need-based undergraduate financial aid by 6.9 percent, or $9 million, to $140.3 million. Boston College remains one of only 20 private universities in the United States that is need-blind in admissions and meets the full-demonstrated need of all undergraduate students. Overall, more than 67 percent of Boston College undergraduates receive
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The woman guiding us was telling us that we should choose to love instead of hate, and I think that was the overall thing that I took away from this trip—learning how to stand up for what you believe in but to do so in a respectful way. You’re choosing to love those who don’t necessarily show that emotion towards you.” – Bianca Lopez ’22, page 5
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Around Campus
Another Fine Night for Sing It to the Heights, Raising $4K for Brighton School Tate Haynes ’21 (photo below) won the 15th annual Sing it to the Heights competition on Feb. 28, receiving the most votes from the audience for his performance of the song “River,” by Leon Bridges. Haynes, a quarterback/defensive back for the Boston College football team, was one of 10 BC students selected among the four undergraduate classes to participate in the event after auditioning in January; contestants included photos by yiting chen members of BC a cappella groups such as the Common Tones, Heightsmen, and BC Dynamics. Sing It to the Heights 2019 raised $4,140 for the music program at Saint Columbkille Partnership School, a Catholic elementary school in Brighton operated by the St. Columbkille Parish, the Archdiocese of Boston, and Boston College. What began as an informal lip-synching
contest in the Chocolate Bar 15 years ago has grown into an “American Idol”-style singing benefit held in Robsham Theater and judged by a panel of three Boston College Jesuits. This year’s judges were St. Ignatius Church Associate Pastor Donald MacMillan, S.J., Cesar Muziotti, S.J., and School of Theology and Ministry graduate student Martin Ngo, S.J. The funds generated from previous Sing it to the Heights competitions have made it possible for the Saint Columbkille Partnership School to establish and sustain a music program that serves K-8 students, purchase musical instruments, and provide free music lessons to more than 70 students. “We so value our long-standing partnership with the Saint Columbkille Partnership School,” said Shelby Johnson, a graduate assistant in the Office of Student Involvement. “This year, we were intentional about developing a greater connection between our two student populations through a pen pal program. Each student from our Emerging Leader Program was paired with a student at Saint Columbkille, and have exchanged letters to get to know one another.” When the Junior and Select Choirs from
Students from Saint Columbkille Partnership School also performed at Sing It to the Heights.
Saint Columbkille Partnership School performed during the Sing it to the Heights, some were able to meet their BC pen pals. “Boston College students embrace our students and make them feel special,” said Saint Columbkille Head of School William Gartside. “It is good for college students to think beyond their own ambitions and become mindful of the needs of others. The Boston College community has always done this with passion. “It is important that our students have as
much exposure to the University as possible,” he added. “In so doing, they will develop high aspirations for higher education. If you ask a classroom of our students where they want to go to college, ‘Boston College’ is the answer we hear over and over again.” Sing it to the Heights is sponsored by the Emerging Leader Program, Robsham Theater, the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. –Christine Balquist
BC Alum Bringing His New Documentary on Climate Change to Campus For nearly four decades, renowned environmental photographer James Balog ’74 has broken new conceptual and artistic ground on one of the most important issues of our era: the human modification of nature. A global spokesman on climate change, Balog will return to campus on March 29 to present a special screening of his new film, “The Human Element,” which offers an innovative and visually stunning view of how humanity interacts with earth, air, fire and water. The event, which also includes a Q&A session, will be held at 4 p.m. in Devlin 008, and is free and open to the public. “The Human Element” chronicles wildfires, hurricanes, sea level rise, a struggling coal mining community, and our changing air supply. Balog highlights Americans on the front lines of climate change and spurs audiences to reevaluate their relationship with the natural world. Balog and his team have documented visual evidence of the epic changes sweeping the Earth today: Ice is melting, the coasts are flooding, the air is changing, and the West is burning, they note. “Jim is a distinguished alum and has ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
James Balog ’74
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Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
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a special gift in visual storytelling that will inspire our students and faculty,” said Ethan Baxter, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences professor and chair. “His message about the very real role that humans have in the Earth and environment is not unique. But the literal lens through which he views and conveys this message is unique and compelling and troubling and inspiring.” Baxter hopes the film provides inspiration to, and raises awareness among, viewers. “Our Earth is changing,” Baxter said. “It has always been changing. But human activities are accelerating and re-directing those changes in meaningful ways. All citizens of
our planet should be inspired by the wonders of the Earth, and cognizant of the responsibility we all have to be stewards in protection of the Earth and its environment. This film helps make that case.” Balog humanizes this story of change, investigating how altering the elements is affecting Americans. He uses art to raise awareness of the interconnectivity between nature and a singular all-powerful force on Earth: “The Human Element,” according to the film’s description. Balog concludes that “humans are part of the whole system of nature and not apart from it, and finds great hope that the fifth element, the human element, can bring the whole system back into balance.” [To learn more about the film, see thehumanelementmovie.com.] Recipient of the 2005 Boston College Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement, Balog founded the Extreme Ice Survey—the most wide-ranging, ground-based study of glaciers ever conducted—which was featured in the internationally acclaimed documentary “Chasing Ice,” and in the PBS “Nova” special “Extreme Ice.” He has authored eight books, and his
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images are in dozens of public and private art collections, and published extensively in National Geographic and other prominent magazines. Prior to the BC film screening, Balog will visit Baxter’s Building a Habitable Planet class which is co-taught by Natana DelongBas, associate professor of the practice in theology. “Jim will join us for a discussion of his perspective as a photographer and what motivates his work,” according to Baxter. “The class is all about learning how to see the stories of the Earth in the earth around us, both through the lens of geoscience and the lens of theology. The visual arts offer another lens, perhaps capable of illuminating both geological and theological meaning.” Baxter said he hopes his students gain “an appreciation that the visual arts can be a crucial tool to inspire and communicate to society about deeply important human, and environmental, issues.” For more information about the March 29 screening and Q&A, see https://bit. ly/2C9Y6Xz. —University Communications
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.
Chronicle
March 14, 2019
BC Launches Second Faculty, Staff Survey Boston College has launched a second survey of its faculty and staff to gain a better understanding of the work climate and overall professional experiences of all University employees. The Faculty, Staff Experience Survey, co-commissioned by the provost and dean of faculties and vice president for human resources with the assistance of the vice president for institutional research, planning, and assessment, was emailed to employees in late February to measure their experiences within the work environment at Boston College. The triennial survey, which is a followup to the original Faculty, Staff Experience Survey launched in October of 2015, will solicit feedback from faculty and staff on a range of topics, and enable BC employees to anonymously share their experiences with the goal of enhancing overall employee satisfaction. Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor said the survey is an extension of the University’s commitment to assisting employees in their professional development. “Boston College has a longstanding culture of planning and assessment that helps
to inform its managerial decisions,” said Trainor. “This survey, which identifies areas of strength and areas that require greater support, is an important tool for determining priorities regarding the development of our employees.” The survey is offered confidentially in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Chinese, and Russian to more than 3,000 BC faculty, staff, and administrators, both online and through a paper version for employees without access to computers. It should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The deadline for completing the survey is April 6. The results of the survey will be disseminated to the University community in the fall of 2019. Trainor says that Boston College is committed to hosting a Faculty, Staff Experience Survey every three years in an effort to help members of the BC community to thrive professionally. “I have always believed in the value of surveys to help shape professional outreach efforts,” said Trainor. “We are committed to making the BC work experience as satisfying as possible for all of our employees.” —University Communications
Grad Programs Perform Well in US News Rankings Connell School of Nursing, Carroll School of Management, BC School of Social Work rise; BC Law, Lynch School of Education and Human Development in strong positions BY JACK DUNN ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Boston College’s graduate programs performed exceptionally well in the US News & World Report 2020 “Best Graduate Schools” rankings, released Tuesday by US News. The Connell School of Nursing rose four spots in the rankings to 28th, its highest placement since 2007. It also enjoyed a strong showing in a variety of specialty rankings, including 11th in Nurse Practitioner: Psychiatric/Mental Health; 12th in Nurse Practitioner: Adult Gerontology-Primary Care; and 22nd in Nurse Practitioner: Family. The school’s Nurse Anesthesia program remains ranked at 22nd. The BC School of Social Work rose one point in the rankings to 10th overall, reclaiming its place as a top-10 school and the University’ highest-ranked graduate program. The Carroll School of Management’s full-time MBA program rose five spots to 43rd, and its part-time MBA program placed 28th overall, the highest ranking of any part-time program in the Boston area. CSOM’s finance program maintained its
position as 23rd overall, and marketing rose to 25th among national programs. Accounting also rose in the rankings to 31st, a rise of four spots from 2018. BC Law retained its rank of 27th this year. The Law School was also well represented in several specialty rankings: 14th in Tax Law, 27th in Environmental Law, 29th in Legal Writing, and 31st in International Law. The Lynch School of Education and Human Development ranked 22nd overall, the highest placement of any Jesuit or Catholic school of education. Its Student Counseling and Personnel Services program ranked 10th, and its Educational Administration program placed 26th. Also, in the QS Rankings of international Schools of Theology, Divinity, and Religious Studies, released in late February, the School of Theology and Ministry and the Department of Theology earned a global ranking of 11th overall. “Excellence in graduate and professional education is an important part of Boston College’s mission,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “This recognition of the quality of programs across the University is wonderful evidence of our graduates’ impact in a host of professions.”
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photo by lee pellegrini
The Church in the 21st Century Center hosted “Revitalizing Our Church: Ideas from the Catholic Press” on Tuesday night in Devlin 110, a discussion with Crux editor John L. Allen Jr., left, a journalist highly regarded for his coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, and Matt Malone, S.J., right, president and editor-in-chief of America Media. Associate Vice President for University Communications Jack Dunn served as moderator.
Financial Times Puts Carroll School Among Its Top 20 The Carroll School of Management has maintained its position among the top 20 institutions in the Financial Times definitive survey of faculty research at business schools worldwide. The Carroll School ranks 20th for faculty research productivity and quality—32 places above its first appearance in the rankings in 2006. The Financial Times research rankings were “calculated according to the number of articles published by current full-time faculty members” in 50 prestigious journals between January 2016 and October 2018, combining “the absolute number of publications with the number weighted relative to the faculty’s size.” Also among the 100 institutions in the “FT 50” 2019 rankings are Harvard Business School, Pennsylvania’s Wharton
School of Business, Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and the schools of management at Georgetown, Yale, and Notre Dame. BC tied for 20th place in faculty research and productivity with INSEAD, which has campuses in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. “This is one indication that we’re on the right track at the Carroll School,” said John and Linda Powers Family Dean Andy Boynton, referring to the survey. “We’re hiring faculty who do superb research, right up there with the best in the world— the elite research institutions. And our faculty are great teachers, too.” —William Bole, Carroll School of Management To read the full version of this story, and for a link to the Financial Times rankings, go to http://bit.ly/csom-FT50-2019.
BC Announces 2019-20 Tuition Continued from page 1
financial aid, with the average need-based financial aid package projected to exceed $47,000 in 2019-2020. “Recognizing the burden that tuition and student fees has on our families, the University takes great care every year to balance the budget and ensure that expenditures are carefully aligned with the immediate and long-term needs of Boston College to help ensure our students have access to a first-rate educational experience,” said Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead. “Tuition increases this year help offset cost increases related to financial aid for students, salaries for faculty and staff, and costs related to new and existing facilities.” Added Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, “The 2019-2020 University budget provides an additional $9
million in need-based financial aid for undergraduates while funding critical strategic investments in new faculty and academic priorities.” The Board of Trustees also set tuition for graduate programs for the 2019-2020 academic year, including Boston College Law ($56,940), and the full-time MBA program in the Carroll School of Management ($53,250). Boston College is ranked 33rd in the “Best Value Schools” category among national universities by US News & World Report. It also placed 18th in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s ranking of the top 50 “Best Values” among American private universities. Both rankings recognize schools with generous financial aid programs, and whose students graduate with low debt.
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Class of 1981 Aids Eagles in Crisis Fund Continued from page 1
emergency procedure. The Convocation of ’81 Eagles embrace of the Eagles in Crisis Fund was conceived through class members’ desire to memorialize the shared kinship and camaraderie forged during their Boston College years, according to co-organizers, while making a purposeful, lasting contribution to the quality of student life at the University— and putting into action the Jesuit values in which they were nurtured at the Heights. “It was a way of personalizing our devotion to BC, and doing something that would make a difference,” says Joseph Harkins ’81. “Obviously, BC won’t sit idle if there is a student who has a family emergency or other overwhelming need. But having a fund, supported through alumni, that specifically addresses such needs means that money isn’t being diverted from some other program. As a group, we challenged ourselves to take ownership of this cause and seek to unify our class giving; each of us having been the beneficiaries of BC, we felt this was how we could return the favor in a tangible way.” The very name “Convocation of ’81 Eagles” conveys this sense of shared mission with its definitive communal identity, notes J.T. Fucigna ’81, P’17. “The word ‘convocation’ means ‘to come together,’ and is usually associated with an ecclesiastical purpose. But it’s also the formal name for a gathering of eagles.” Harkins, Fucigna and other fund co-organizers credit Vice President for University Mission and Ministry Jack Butler, S.J., for lending his inspiration and guidance. Representing a larger group of classmates, 16 of the 1981 alumni met with Fr. Butler in June of 2016 to seek ideas for a collective legacy the Class of 1981 could leave to stay present on campus. During the conversa-
tion, the alumni spoke of the many friendships formed in their undergraduate years and how these had sustained class members through times of joy and accomplishment, but also misfortune and tragedy. So, the alumni asked Fr. Butler, how could they show their appreciation for what BC had done for them, and where could they make an immediate impact? Fr. Butler explained the kinds of adver-
photo by gary wayne gilbert
Vice President for University Mission and Ministry Jack Bulter, S.J., says he was “deeply moved” by the Class of 1981 members’ desire to help students in need.
sity and challenges that can prevent current BC students from realizing the fulfillment so many alumni have experienced, and described the resources and programs the University uses to aid students in emergency and crisis situations. This made an impression on the grads. “A death in the family or a housing problem is a serious issue for anyone, but for students of modest means it may derail their BC journey,” says Greg Bowerman ’81. “Sometimes, it’s the things you don’t think about that can be a considerable expense for these students and their families. If they have to drop out of BC because of compounded financial and emotional crises, potentially they drop out of their life pursuit. “So, it’s a matter of making up that difference, extending a helping hand, which can keep a student in BC and enable him or her to finish school and achieve their dreams. And they will give back to others in need just like we are today.” Fr. Butler praises the 1981 alumni for their thoughtfulness. “I was deeply moved by how this class, preparing for their 35th reunion, wanted to do something to give back—but in particular, to give to students who are struggling or in need. As a class, they felt they had help all along the way during their time at BC, and they felt it was important that BC students of today know there are people who care about them. “Since the fund was started, so many students have benefited from the love, generosity, and zeal of the Class of 1981.” As the circle of ’81 grads and other donors has widened, the group has encountered occasional skepticism about the crisis fund: Is this some kind of a social service program? Shouldn’t students be learning
about self-reliance? Won’t it be impossible to meet every need? But there also has been overwhelming support, Fucigna says: “We heard from two classmates who as undergrads had received assistance from the University community when their parents died, and they felt that a dedicated fund like this is very important. We wanted people to understand this: The Ignatian ideals of caring, empathy, and action we were shown at BC during our time—and which has permeated our friendships—is something we, as a class, can foster and ensure is there for the next generations of BC alumni.” The crisis fund’s fast-growing support has resulted in many good works, say the 1981 grads: A student whose father died suddenly, and whose family could not afford an airline ticket, was able to fly home in time to help her family plan for, and attend, the funeral. An undergraduate who was orphaned following the deaths of their only sibling and only surviving parent received assistance purchasing books for the semester. Parents of a badly injured student arrived in Boston with no place to stay, and got help in finding and paying for a hotel room near the hospital where their child was recuperating. “We believe that Fr. Jack and his University Mission and Ministry staff have the insight and judgment to determine how the Eagles in Crisis Fund can be of the best benefit,” says Harkins, “and put to practical use those values and beliefs we cherish so much as part of our BC DNA.” To join the Convocation of ’81 Eagles and donate to the Eagles in Crisis Fund, go to www.bc.edu/give1981. Watch a video about the fund at https://youtu.be/FlJeGRZzed4.
At BC Event, Experts Assess State of Cyber Security The cyber threat is “wider than ever” and encompasses serious aggressors abroad, notably in China and Russia, David L. Bowdich, deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, told several hundred representatives from academia, private industry, and law enforcement assembled for the third annual Boston Conference on Cyber Security, BCCS 2019, held at Boston College on March 6. “We’re worried about a wider-than-ever range of threat actors, from multi-national cyber syndicates to nation-state adversaries; we’re concerned about a wider-than-ever gamut of methods, from botnets to ransomware, and from spearfishing to business email compromise,” Bowdich said. “We’re seeing these diverse threats in almost every company, at almost every level. The days of wondering if you’re going to be the next victim are gone. Instead, it’s a matter of when, or even how often you’ll get hit, and how bad it will be.” All companies, systems, networks, and single bits of information are targets, he said. “Every link in the chain is a potential
vulnerability,” including “the insider threat” organizations face from their own employees and contractors. The Boston Conference on Cyber Security, organized by Boston College and the FBI, is designed to seek better ways to defend against these invasive cyber threats and respond to the vulnerability of U.S. information systems. BCCS is the result of an ongoing alliance between the FBI and the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance degree program at BC’s Woods College of Advancing Studies. Bowdich’s remarks to the capacity crowd in Gasson 100 focused on the increase in state-sponsored computer intrusion, and efforts deployed by rival nations, notably China, to weaken the U.S. “No country poses a broader, more severe intelligence collection threat than China,” Bowdich said. “Nearly every FBI field office currently has economic espionage cases that lead back to China. “China’s goal is to replace the U.S. as the world’s leading superpower,” he said, and is using an expanding set of nontradi-
FBI Deputy Director David L. Bowdich speaking at last week’s Boston Conference on Cyber Security. photo by lee pellegrini
tional methods, both lawful and unlawful, to that end. His agency’s response to the burgeoning threat of cyber intrusion brings to bear
the expertise and experience not just of its cyber team but also its counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction, counterterrorism, and criminal divisions. “Intelligence from FBI investigations is a critical piece of the puzzle for the U.S. intelligence community when determining who’s behind an attack,” he said. “Just as our adversaries are using all the tools they’ve got to meet their objectives, we are, too.” BCCS 2019 featured lectures and panel discussions within the disciplines of emerging technologies, operations, and enforcement, and actual cyber and national security experiences focusing on risk, compliance, policy, threat trends, preparedness, resilience, and defensive strategies. BC Law School’s Program on Innovation and Entrepreneurship was one of 14 event sponsors. Read more about the 2019 Boston Conference on Cyber Security at http://bit.ly/ bccs-2019. —Patricia Delaney and Phil Gloudemans
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Neuroscience Major
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“How the mind works is of fundamental interest in so many contexts—like the way we make decisions in regard to money, work, family, or love,” says Gianinno Family Sesquicentennial Assistant Professor of Psychology John Christianson, who led the committee that designed the major. “Neuroscience is a means to understand the chemistry of the brain, to make connections between biology and behavior. And it’s still very much a new field, perhaps 50 years old, so we’re only just starting to crack the code.” Professor Elizabeth Kensinger, the department chair, says the major “will enable students to become critical thinkers as they reflect on topics that are at the core of the human experience: How do we learn through our experiences? How do brain cells give rise to thought and behavior? How does context influence everything from what we see to how we behave toward others? Which aspects of behavior are easily controlled and which proceed without conscious awareness?” She adds, “Students will learn how recording from neurons can shed light on the processes that go awry when people respond with fear despite multiple cues of safety. They will learn how early life experiences, and the effects of those experiences on brain development, can have lasting consequences on decision-making and behavior. They will learn about the processes that allow a neural trace of a past event to persist as a memory, and they will consider the implications when that memory is erroneous or incomplete.” Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., hails the addition of the neuroscience major. “It is a great fit with our mission focus on integration and interdisciplinary teaching and research. Students majoring in neuroscience will develop a sense for important connections among a range of disciplines, which contributes to our Jesuit, Catholic mission of developing an integrated sense of the wholeness of knowledge. The new major also connects with our desire to promote integrated scientific study in service of health as a dimension of the common good.” Neuroscience is one of the fastestgrowing disciplines in academia during the past few decades: Studies show the number of undergraduate neuroscience programs in the U.S. tripled from 1996 to 2006 alone, while the number of core journals in neuroscience rose from 11 to 22 during 20062015. BC’s Psychology Department, which had included a neuroscience program as part of its strategic plan several years ago, found that psych majors and students enrolled in psychology courses overwhelmingly agreed that a neuroscience degree was important to their career goals, and that they would change their current major to neuroscience if it was available. Also of interest to the department was that, of the top 40 institutions in the US News & World Report rankings of major research universities—including BC—at least 18 had a neuroscience program. Moreover, a review of neuroscience programs at 15 peer institutions found that 13 offered an undergraduate major, and the remaining two a minor.
photo by gary wayne gilbert
Neuroscience is “still very much a new field, perhaps 50 years old, so we’re only just starting to crack the code.” —John Christianson The department also looked at its own capabilities, says Kensinger. “One of the long-standing strengths of the Psychology Department has been its commitment to the integration of neuroscience and psychological science approaches toward understanding human behavior. Among the most notable features of our department is its blend of behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and psychological science approaches to addressing questions at the core
of the human experience. “We are therefore thrilled to be able to offer students a major in neuroscience, one that emphasizes the interdisciplinary synergy that is required to understand the complexities of human thought and behavior.” BC’s Jesuit, Catholic character and commitment to the liberal arts provide another distinctive quality to its neuroscience program, say Christianson and Kensinger. Christianson points to the research undertaken by his colleagues, including Associate Professor Liane Young and her Morality Lab, in which she studies the cognitive underpinnings of moral judgments; Associate Professor Gorica Petrovich, who researches how environmental cues affect food intake; and Kensinger herself, an expert on the effect of emotional content on memory, and how these influences change during the lifespan. “An exploration of neuroscience requires students to reflect deeply on the human condition, from multiple angles and levels,” says Kensinger. “The inherent interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience also requires students to see the interconnections across fields of study: to appreciate, for example, an MRI taken while a person is thinking about a childhood event is to see biology, physics, and computer science coming together to understand the human experience of memory. “Whether in the courtroom or the classroom, neuroscience already has led to new ways of thinking about the nature of human behavior. Neuroscience holds great promise for deepening the understanding both of mental health and the interconnections between mental and physical health. And advances in neuroscience also have been deeply synergistic with advances in technology.”
For Spring Break, BC Undergrads Get a Taste of U.S. Civil Rights History On March 7, 1965, nearly 600 voting rights advocates were brutally assaulted by armed police officers during a confrontation at the Edmund Pettus Bridge outside of Selma, Alabama. The event, which was captured by television cameras and broadcast across the country, became known as “Bloody Sunday,” and was a catalyst for the passing of the Voting Rights Act five months later. Last Thursday, on the 54th anniversary of the attack, 15 Boston College students walked solemnly beneath the bridge’s painted steel arch, reflecting on its violent history. Before leaving, they came together to pray, led by Michael Davidson, S.J., director of BC’s Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center. “Evil took place right here,” said Fr. Davidson. “How can we move from hatred to love in 2019?” The group was midway through the Magis Civil Rights Immersion Trip, a sixday spring break tour through Georgia and Alabama with stops at major sites related to the American civil rights movement. Earlier in the week, students visited the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. and toured the Rosa Parks Museum, located at the site of her arrest. The trip encouraged students to gain a
deeper understanding of historic events, and of their own place within the continued battle for racial equality in the U.S. “Part of understanding who we are as individuals is an appreciation of where we come from and the history of struggle by our forebears that allows us to experience the liberties we take for granted these days,” said Fr. Davidson, who designed and led the trip. “The civil rights movement is a pivotal part of this for many of us, white and black alike.” For Bianca Lopez ’22, the most memorable part of the trip came during a visit to the recently opened National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Ala. The memorial features 805 hanging steel rectangles, representing each of the counties where a documented lynching took place. “It was very impactful because I knew it happened, and I knew it happened in the South where I’m from,” she said, “but seeing the names of the people who were lynched in places I pass by in my daily life back home connected with me on a personal level.” As they toured various sites, students drew context from a course on civil rightsera history taught by Associate Professor of History Martin Summers. Each evening, they reconvened for an hour of reflection,
Participants in last week’s Magis Civil Rights Immersion Trip visited Selma, Ala.
sharing how it felt to be physically present in places they had previously learned about in the classroom. As they discussed everything from lynchings to mass incarceration, Fr. Davidson encouraged students to consider all issues, both past and present, with “facts but also with hope.” This message hit home for Lopez, who was struck by a similar message she received during a tour of the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church.
“The woman guiding us was telling us that we should choose to love instead of hate, and I think that was the overall thing that I took away from this trip—learning how to stand up for what you believe in but to do so in a respectful way,” she said. “You’re choosing to love those who don’t necessarily show that emotion towards you.” —Alix Hackett, University Communications
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March 14, 2019
‘Whatever It Takes to Live Up to These Expectations’ MLK Scholarship winner Thair Brown knew BC would be a good fit for him, and he wants it to be the same for others, too BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
For Thair Brown ’20, it was one of those moments you really wish you could have back again. He had just greeted a group of Boston College students who were staying at his Jesuit high school, St. George’s College, as part of the Jamaica Magis service immersion trip organized by BC Campus Ministry. Since BC was high on his list of colleges—if you attended a Jesuit high school, you were bound to hear about BC, and his cousin was an undergraduate there—he had been invited to speak to the BC contingent and perhaps make some potentially valuable contacts. But Brown had stumbled and stuttered through his introduction. He felt as if he’d made a fool of himself. Then came a surprising reaction. “They applauded and came up to embrace me,” recalled Brown, who was born in Miami but spent most of his childhood in Jamaica. “Everyone was so warm and welcoming, with smiles as bright as the Caribbean sun. They were funny, charming, selfless, caring, genuine people who enjoyed the work that they were called to do. It was at this moment I realized that I wanted to come to this school. I believe my exact words were, ‘If BC has people like this, then I have to go there’—I would be so excited to go to school each day, just so that I could be around them. When they left, it felt as if a piece of me left with them. In short, the Jamaica Magis trip was a huge reason why I chose to become an Eagle.” Since enrolling at BC, Brown has gone on the Jamaica Magis trip twice; this year, he’ll be one of the trip’s student leaders. And he’ll have an additional distinction, as winner of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes a BC junior demonstrating superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the African American community and African American
Thair Brown ’20 with parents Sharlene Chunnu-Brown and Glenroy Brown. photo by christopher huang
issues. An economics major with minors in computer science and African and African Diaspora Studies, Brown was presented with the honor at last month’s annual MLK Scholarship Banquet. Four other finalists were considered for this year’s scholarship: Sydney Boyd, Nwamaka Nnaeto, Michael Osaghae, and Omonosagiagbon Owens [see profiles at http://bit.ly/mlk-scholarship-2019]. Days after receiving the award, Brown expressed his gratitude to the MLK Scholarship Committee while admitting to being in “a mild state of disbelief.” “However, as I begin to return from my brief sojourn amongst the clouds, I realize that the phrase ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’ comes into play. I have some big shoes to fill, but believe me when I say that I am ready and willing to do whatever it takes to live up to these expectations.” Among his other activities at BC, Brown has served as president of the Caribbean Culture Club, student advisor of the Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center Student Advisory Board, and a member of the AHANA+ Leadership Council, and Dedicated Intellectuals of the People, a group of AHANA male students who gather to talk about social, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth. He also was a winner of a book award named for the late Karen
Campbell Severin ’80 and presented annually to BC students who exemplify her service to the University community as an undergraduate and alumna. Brown said the most valuable aspects of his BC leadership experiences “have been the safe spaces created within each organization. A priority for me has always been to create events which cater to under-represented communities, so that they, too, may feel like they have found a home at BC.” “Within each of these spaces,” he added, “I truly believe that minority students are given the ability to leave their facade at the door, and show their true selves to a community, which either looks like them, or shares some of their ideals. A safe space can truly serve as a healing mechanism, for within those boundaries, individuals no longer have to expend energy on pretending.” Still, the Jamaica Magis trip is what resonates the most throughout Brown’s time at BC. “It’s always a fulfilling experience, because my connection to the island extends
Snapshot
beyond face value. I always go back to a particular moment in which a small student ran up to me and asked if I also attended Boston College. After I responded, he immediately turned to Father Michael [Davidson, campus minister and the trip leader] and said ‘I want to go to BC, too.’ I carry that small interaction with me, because it revealed to me that my presence within that space, while holding the BC title, was able to inspire so many underprivileged youths. “Representation matters, and within those inner-city communities, all the students see are instances of violence and loss, but Magis provides a slight escape from that. When students actually see someone from Jamaica attend such a prestigious university, it inspires them to dream beyond their current reality. Indeed, I believe this is the biggest impact of me doing Jamaica Magis. The simple effect of representation can shatter mental barriers, and seeing this take place is my favorite aspect of Jamaica Magis.” Representation also figures prominently in Brown’s chosen career path, which he envisions as finance, or a related field in which he can also utilize his computer science background. “I hope to utilize these disciplines to enter the corporate side of America. I believe this niche group is often overlooked by students of color, as they believe that they may not be good enough to enter such fields—or they simply do not see anyone that looks like them within this realm. It is my personal aspiration that once I am within this field, I can be able to open doors for other students of color who wish to join this niche group as well.” Brown notes that his studies at BC also have involved personal formation and growth, especially through the African and African Diaspora Studies minor. “Learning about the individuals whose revolutionary work and movements we stand on today, is truly a humbling and inspiring experience. I could not have been more drawn to this field, because I am literally learning about my own identity.” PHOTO BY PETER JULIAN
Lynch School Dean Will Be Inducted into National Academy of Education Stanton E.F. Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., dean of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, will be one of 16 inductees into the National Academy of Education (NAEd) when it convenes for its annual meeting in November, announced NAEd President Gloria Ladson-Billings. “This diverse group of scholars are being recognized for their extraordinary contributions to education research and policy,” she said. “These leaders are at the forefront of those helping to improve the lives of students in the United States and abroad.” The Washington, D.C.-based honorific society consists of U.S. members and international associates who are elected on the basis of outstanding scholarship related to education. Founded in 1965, its mission is to advance high-quality education research and its use in policy formulation and practice. –Phil Gloudemans
Joy Kondo ‘22 spoke with Tank Utility representative, Chris Brablc ’07 at last month’s Startup and Entrepreneurship Fair in the Corcoran Center Heights Room, sponsored by the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship.
Chronicle
March 14, 2019
BC in the Media
WELCOME ADDITIONS An Introduction to New Faculty at Boston College
Victor Petreca Clinical Assistant Professor Connell School of Nursing DEGREES: Eastern Michigan University (BS), MGH Institute of Health Professions (BSN, MSN), University of Massachusetts, Boston (DNP). WHAT HE STUDIES: Correctional facilities and health care; forensics; character pathology. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing Across the Lifespan; Psychopharmacology.
Chandini Sankaran Associate Professor of the Practice of Economics Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Kansas State University (MA, Ph.D.) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Environmental and energy economics; economic education; public policy. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Economics of Education; Macro Principles; Principles of Economics.
What is the true cost of pollution? “While past studies have provided localized estimates of the health, environmental, and avoidance costs of pollution within a country, my research has shown that pollution can have ‘transboundary’ impacts beyond its original source. My recent co-authored research in The American Economic Review on the transboundary pollution caused by the Indonesian forest fires estimated that the Indonesian fires caused a 1.8 percent increase in acute respiratory tract infections and a 1.5 percent increase in acute conjunctivitis visits to Singapore polyclinics from January of 2010 through June of 2016. These impacts have been increasing over time. Our research published in Environmental and Resource Economics shows that increases in fire radiative power from the Indonesian forest fires result in statistically significant increases in one- and two-day ahead electricity demand in Singapore, whereby the Indonesian fires accounted for 0.5 percent of Singaporean electricity demand between February 2012 and August 2017 at a total cost of over $270 million. “In addition, we found that the residential electricity share increases and the industrial share decreases during fire episodes, suggesting the increase in demand may be due to Singaporeans staying home and/ or increasing their air conditioning use during these times. This averting behavior is persistent, not diminishing, during periods of frequent poor air quality. These findings can have important international implications.”
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Indrani Saran Assistant Professor of the Practice Boston College School of Social Work DEGREES: Amherst College (BA); Yale University (MA); Harvard University (Sc.D.)
WHAT SHE STUDIES: Behavioral economic theories applied to health decision-making; evaluating complex health interventions, particularly in resource-constrained settings; and quantitative research methods. WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: MSW Research Methods (fall)
You have degrees in biochemistry, international relations, and health systems. With this educational and research background, what was your interest in joining the BCSSW faculty? “My interdisciplinary background makes BCSSW a great fit. I have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on diverse topics in public health, global economic development, aging, and poverty. This role allows me to apply my statistical skills on research studies with important impacts on the health and social welfare of vulnerable populations both locally and globally.”
Brian Zhou Assistant Professor of Physics Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
DEGREES: California Institute of Technology (BS); Princeton University (PhD)
WHAT HE STUDIES: Quantum control over electron and nuclear spins in diamond; fundamental aspects of quantum dynamics and capabilities for applications; solid-state quantum systems as novel sensors for the electric and magnetic properties of quantum materials. WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Physics Graduate Seminar
Your research focuses on discovering “electronic technologies enhanced by quantum coherence and correlation” What does this involve, and how might these technologies affect our lives? “As laboratory tools have become more sophisticated, our control over nanoscale systems, which are described by the unfamiliar laws of quantum physics, has dramatically improved. This opens opportunities to create technologies that work by fundamentally different principles— from sensors, communication networks, to high performance computers.”
–Ed Hayward, Rosanne Pellegrini, Sean Smith, Kathleen Sullivan photos by peter julian and lee pellegrini
Calling disliked things “medieval”—as a reporter characterized the proposed border wall—is inaccurate and unhelpful, wrote Assoc. Prof. Eric Weiskott (English), who specializes in literature of the period in a piece that appeared on Vox.com. In an interview with The Boston Globe for a story on Anne Klibanski, the first woman to lead Partners HealthCare, Prof. Judith Gordon (CSOM) said the interim CEO undertakes a very complex job. Boston College faculty contributed expertise to media coverage of the recent Vatican summit on the clergy sexual abuse crisis: Prof. Thomas Groome
Gaelic Roots Event Tonight; Another Added for April 4 Boston College’s Gaelic Roots Series will present a concert tonight at 6:30 p.m. by the Friel Sisters, a traditional Irish music trio. The free event will be held in the Theology and Ministry Library on Brighton Campus. The Friels are Anna (flute), Sheila (uilleann pipes), and Clare (fiddle), born in Glasgow but with family roots firmly entrenched in Donegal, Ireland’s northernmost county. Their unison singing style, song repertoire, and instrumental playing are all for the most part redolent of Donegal or elsewhere in the Ulster region, embracing tradition even while interpolating their own impressions and ideas. The sisters have released two albums and toured extensively—they are appearing in this year’s “A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn” show taking place this weekend at Cambridge’s Sanders Theater and the Cabot Theater in Beverly. In 2016, the Friels won the top honor at a competition held at an international Celtic music festival in France; last year, Clare Friel was selected as Young Musician of the Year by Irish language TV channel TG4. On April 4, Gaelic Roots will host a performance of “The Infinite Dark,” a music/poetry project featuring award-winning fantasy/science fiction/children’s author and poet Jane Yolen. “The Infinite Dark” explores the landscape, themes, and characters of folklore and fairy tales from Irish, Scottish, and European traditions, interpolating Yolen’s readings of her poetry with instrumental music and song by the 3 Ravens Band—Western Massachusetts-based musicians Donna Hébert (fiddle, vocals), Lui Collins (vocals, piano, banjo), and Max Cohen (guitar, percussion, vocals). The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Connolly House (300 Hammond Street). Gaelic Roots is sponsored through the Center for Irish Programs. –University Communications
(STM) discussed the summit as a guest on National Public Radio’s “‘Here and Now” and WBUR’s “Radio Boston”; Prof. Stephen Pope (Theology) spoke with The Boston Globe; and comments on the crisis by Libby Professor of Law and Theology Cathleen Kaveny were cited in an editorial by National Catholic Reporter. In addition, CNN.com reported on the address to the summit by Sister Veronica Openibo, who holds degrees from BC’s School of Social Work and School of Theology and Ministry, in which she challenged the Church to provide complete transparency. The Nigerian-born nun, elected as the first African leader of her religious order, was one of only three women to address the gathering. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Carroll School of Management Drucker Professor Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research, contended that the cap on the deduction of state and local taxes might induce some people to put more money in 401(k)s. Prof. Heather Cox Richardson (History) offered analysis of President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on WBUR’s “Radio Boston.”
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: Manager, Facilities Management Information Systems Dining Management Intern, Dining and Catering/Auxiliary/Public Safety Assistant Coach, Sailing, Athletics Stewardship Operations Assistant, University Advancement Development Assistant, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University Advancement Chef Manager, Dining Services, Dining & Catering/Auxiliary/Public Safety Window Systems Administrator, Information Technology Events Assistant, Alumni Affinity Programs, University Advancement Senior Business Intelligence Analyst/Developer, University Advancement Assistant Director, Career Education: Science, Technology, and Engineering, Student Affairs/Residential Life Grant and Contract Post Award Administrator, Academic Affairs/Provost Fiscal and Grant Administrator, Academic Affairs/Provost Program Assistant, Political Science, Academic Affairs/Provost Professor of Catholic Educational Leadership, Academic Affairs/Provost
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March 14, 2019
Campus Arts
‘Best Regards, Bruno’ BC composer felt ‘called to write’ his new work, honoring both a lost family member and an important historical event BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
A new electro-acoustic work composed by Associate Professor of Music Ralf Y. Gawlick, and premiering later this month in Newton, is a musical memorial to his close relative that also pays homage to a World War II milestone. “Herzliche Grüße Bruno ~ Briefe aus Stalingrad (Best Regards, Bruno ~ Letters from Stalingrad)” is based on the final two evocative letters written by Gawlick’s 19-year-old Uncle Bruno before he was listed as missing in action in December, 1942. “Best Regards Bruno ~ Letters from Stalingrad” debuts on March 30 at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Newton Center (848 Beacon Street). Gawlick’s compositions draw inspiration from literary, visual, and musical landscapes in both time and place. This dialogue across centuries and among the arts informs much of his solo, chamber, orchestral, film, and vocal music. Through prominent festivals, recordings, and commissions, his work has received national and international recognition. “This piece is both highly personal and contributory to a larger commemoration: the 75th anniversary of Stalingrad,” Gawlick said. “In its intimacy and reflections, it constitutes a fierce anti-war memorial, which is relevant today. “I felt called to write this work for my young uncle—to honor and preserve his memory for the entire family, and in artistic terms, to give voice to a story which tragically repeats every day. It preserves Bruno’s memory; its title includes his words: He signed his letters ‘Herzliche Grüße Bruno [Best Regards, Bruno].’ They are also the last words spoken in the piece.” Performed by renowned musicians Bradford Gleim (baritone) and Chi-Chen Wu (piano), the piece moves the audience through time and space via a soundscape that integrates archival sound recordings with the live spoken word, two separate piano parts, and sung texts. This is the first time Gawlick, a prolific composer, has fused such elements into his work. Of his compositional methodology, Gawlick said: “The poetic and structural constitutions of the letters translate into the work’s musical language and design. I wanted to place Bruno within a larger soundscape of the battle: This suggested the concept of an electro-acoustic montage, which is singular to my compositions to date.”
Ralf Gawlick, left, based his new composition on World War II letters written by his Uncle Bruno, above. Bruno’s letters, including the one below, always ended with “Herzliche Grüße Bruno (Best Regards, Bruno).” photo of gawlick by lee pellegrini
Ezekiel, and Revelation, evoking the soldiers’ prayers in the face of death and their collective suffering, Gawlick said. The Stalingrad soundscape—comprising six recorded excerpts, including from Göring’s January 1943 “Nibelungen” Speech, the
BC Scenes
Reich’s 1942 simulcast Christmas message, and battle sounds from World War II—is present throughout the work and is both a chronicle and agent of the musical drama, he added. The work is recorded on Musica Omnia and Perfect-Noise, its German partner label, and will be released in time at the end of March. [Details on “Best Regards Bruno,” including background, artists’ information, and archival materials, are available at lettersfromstalingrad.com.] The work and its premiere are part of a 2018-19 cultural initiative between the United States and Germany, “Wunderbar Together,” promoted by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and the Goethe Institut in Washington D.C., and supported by the Boston German Consulate and Goethe Institut. Gawlick received a Research Incentive Grant for the project from the Institute for the Liberal Arts. The March 30 premiere is free for Boston College students, faculty, and staff. Tickets for the general public are $20 and may be purchased at the door. For more information, contact Gawlick at ralf.gawlick@bc.edu. PHOTO BY YITING CHEN
Celtic Spirit
Over a two-year period of research, Gawlick tracked his uncle via the involvement of Bruno’s regiment in the Battle of Stalingrad. “Immersing myself into the hell of Stalingrad through archival sources and specialist literature has been heart-wrenching, profoundly painful and moving. Retracing his steps within the horror of the battle and larger socio-political cultural context has consumed me since the discovery of his handwritten letter in early 2017.” The incorporation of archival sound material, Gawlick explained, is a defining and essential component of the piece. The use of recorded and live piano reflects Bruno’s ability to play the instrument as a teenager; the former portrays his innocence before battle that recurs throughout the work like a frozen memory, the latter represents collective conscience, a sound picture of mourning. Spoken texts include Bruno’s letters in recordings of Gawlick; his 93-year-old aunt giving voice to the words of her fallen brother; and eminent Dutch baritone Max van Egmond, who was drawn to the project because he was interred as a child in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II. Sung texts include words from the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke,
Boston College Irish Dance presented “Celtic Spirit” on Feb. 22 and 23 in Robsham Theater, with appearances by Boston College Dance Ensemble, The Bostonians, The Heightsmen, and students from the O’Shea-Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance.