APRIL 15, 2020
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
A Time for Coping
On campus and beyond it, the Boston College community adjusts to life in the coronavirus age
Columbus Day Weekend Eyed for Commencement Exercises
Office of Residential Life staff helped distribute boxes to undergraduates in preparation for the move-out from campus residence halls in March. photo by edward cullinane, residential life
Rising to the Occasion Many employees pitched in as Boston College dealt with the sudden, fast-moving impact of the coronavirus BY OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS STAFF
The week of March 9-13 was supposed to be a time for Boston College to kick its collective engine into full gear again following the end of spring break, as students and faculty returned to classrooms to begin the final two months of the 2019-20 academic year. Normal campus activity resumed, with various academic, social, athletic, spiritual, informational, and networking events scheduled, including a panel on how students can gain experience in the health care field, a seminar on microeconomics, and the weekly Examen at Manresa House. By the end of the week, everything had changed. On-campus classes had been suspended
for the rest of the semester as of March 11, all but a few hundred students were in the process of leaving University residence halls, and faculty were preparing for the transition to online and remote teaching. The COVID-19 coronavirus presented dramatic challenges for the whole BC community—and much the rest of the world—as April began. But several University offices and departments in particular were on the front lines during the initial response that week and those immediately following, including Residential Life, Facilities Services, Dining Services, and Boston College Police. These employees had to contend with a fluid situation that, mirroring regional, national, and even international developments, seemed to change almost hourly.
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ARTS FESTIVAL TO GO VIRTUAL The Boston College Arts Council will hold a virtual Arts Festival from April 23-25, showcasing student, faculty, staff, and alumni via the Arts Council website [http:// www.bc.edu/arts], Facebook, and Instagram. A schedule of events and activities will be released April 17 on all three platforms.
Boston College plans to hold its 2020 Commencement Exercises during Columbus Day Weekend (Oct. 9-11), University President William P. Leahy, S.J., announced last week. In a letter to this year’s graduates, Fr. Leahy said the continuing threat of the coronavirus and various health and safety restrictions made it clear that Commencement, which had been scheduled for May 18, “cannot be held—a decision I realize will be a major disappointment for you, your families, and the entire Boston College community.” He noted, however, that diplomas for all students eligible to graduate will be awarded effective May 18. While uncertainties about travel and prohibitions of large gatherings make it difficult to confirm a definitive date for Commencement this fall, Fr. Leahy said, BC administrators are focusing on Columbus Day Weekend: The date was “the overwhelming favorite” of approximately 1,900 seniors who responded to a recent survey conducted by the Student Affairs division.
Vice President for Student Affairs Joy Moore will lead planning efforts for such traditional Commencement activities as the Senior Toast, Commencement Ball, graduation ceremony, and school diploma conferrals, said Fr. Leahy. In addition to the main graduation event envisioned for October, school deans and other University leaders “will be considering ways of celebrating the achievements of graduate and professional students earning degrees this year.” Fr. Leahy said the University’s intent is to have “a memorable, joyful experience, one that recognizes the successes of graduates as well as the sacrifices and support of parents, siblings, spouses, and friends.” For updates on BC’s response to the coronavirus, see http://www.bc.edu/coronavirus. The University has created a compendium of information, tools, and insights on the pandemic at https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/sites/updates/ resources-during-covid-19.html. –University Communications
No Move for Adjournment Student organizations stay connected, active, even at a distance BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Boston College’s academic life goes on in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and so too its extracurricular activities. Even as they continue their studies via online and remote learning, members of the University’s some 300 student clubs and organizations are trying to stay connected, whether through phone, email, social media, or teleconferencing apps. They seek to conduct club business—such as electing officers for 2020-21—and, depending on the organization’s purpose, come up with group endeavors to help maintain esprit de corps and affirm personal ties. Far from being an afterthought in the BC experience, said Office of Student Involvement Director Claire Ostrander, extracurricular participation is strongly encouraged and supported—for reasons that
have become apparent during the coronavirus crisis. “Student clubs and organizations exist to provide social and co-curricular engagement for students,” she said. “This complements their academic experiences and can enable them to develop skills and interests that may become lifelong pursuits. But students also form strong emotional attachments and find a sense of belonging to the Boston College community through their participation. This can be very helpful and reassuring in unprecedented situations like these.” With no more performances on the immediate horizon, BC Dance Ensemble isn’t working on choreography or dance figures, said president Megan Laakso ’20. But members are encouraged to host mass yoga, stretching, or pilates sessions via Zoom teleconferencing. “I definitely think seeing each other’s Continued on page 6
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BC Offers Resources on Faith in a Time of Pandemic BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
How do the faithful practice their faith in a time of pandemic and social distancing which, for Catholics, has meant the cancellation of public Masses and access to the sacraments? For Vice President and University Secretary Casey Beaumier, S.J., it means resuming the 10 p.m. Candlelight Mass that is celebrated on Upper Campus Mondays through Thursdays during the academic year—a tradition for more than a decade. As was the case before the COVID-19 pandemic, Mass is offered at St. Joseph’s Chapel. The difference now is that attendance is via Zoom rather than in person. “We want to do whatever we can to support our students—and really, anyone who wants to join in prayer,” said Fr. Beaumier, who also is director of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies. “I want to do whatever I can to help the students stay connected.” The last in-person Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s on March 11 after it was announced that the University would transition to online classes and most resident students would be leaving campus. “It was a sad and abrupt moment,” said Fr. Beaumier, who added that at the conclusion of that Mass students took candles with them “to carry the light of Christ as a beacon of hope during these coming weeks and months.” The Candlelight Mass resumed on March 19, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, with Fr. Beaumier celebrating and IAJS staff Taiga Guterres and Matt Schweitzer providing technical support. There are some 300 registrants and those tuning in can offer petitions during the Prayers of the Faithful and the sign of peace via the chat feature. Boston College priests Michael Magree, S.J., Matt Monning, S.J., and Cesar Muziotti, S.J., are other celebrants of the Candlelight Mass. Registration is available via http://bit. ly/BCcandlelightmass. The registration will provide details on how to join the livestream, and reminders will be sent by email before each Mass begins. Elsewhere at BC, St. Mary’s Chapel is open for private prayer and reflection, and resident ministers, who live on campus, are meeting the needs of students who remain at the University. Campus Ministry has launched the “Reflections on Being Connected” social media campaign, through which students ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Jack Dunn SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Boston College livestreamed a series of Holy Week liturgies from campus from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. Associate Vice President and Director of Campus Ministry Fr. Tony Penna began Holy Week by celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass and University President William P. Leahy, S.J., was the celebrant for the Easter Sunday Mass, shown above in a YouTube screen shot. The full set of liturgies is available as YouTube videos at https://on.bc.edu/HolyWeek2020.
and other members of the BC community can share who or what makes them feel grounded and connected to God during this time. “We recognize that community is at the heart of the Boston College experience; it is also an important part of how we understand faith. So Campus Ministry is working to creatively keep community together during these days,” said Campus Ministry Associate Director Ryan Heffernan, who noted the creation of a new Christian Life Community, or CLC, group for students looking to stay connected to peers. The group meets via Zoom every Friday at 11 a.m. to check in, pray, and reflect. Campus Ministry is offering a virtual Prayer Wall as a special way for the Boston College community to come together as one and pray for those seriously affected by COVID-19. You can submit your prayer intentions online at https://padlet.com/ BCCampusMinistry/Bookmarks; these requests are included at daily Mass offered by the BC Jesuit Community. “The Ignatian Society’s Weekly Examen continues to be held,” he added. “For the rest of the spring semester, it will be broadcast on the Campus Ministry Instagram account (@bccampusmin) every Wednesday at 9:45 p.m.” After Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued a stay-at-home advisory, Campus Ministry staff began working remotely. The ministry@bc.edu email is monitored throughout the day and is the best way for members of the BC community to reach
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
Christine Balquist Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan
Chronicle
PHOTOGRAPHERS
www.bc.edu/bcnews chronicle@bc.edu
Patricia Delaney EDITOR
Sean Smith
out if they would like to get in touch with a campus minister for pastoral support, need care from the department, or want details on any of their virtual offerings. Associate Vice President and Director of Campus Ministry Rev. Tony Penna finds comfort in the words of Bishop Fulton Sheen: “Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there could be no Easter Sunday.” “There’s no doubt that these are difficult times for everyone, including the Boston College community,” said Fr. Penna. “Luckily, the BC community is founded on a bedrock of spirituality and faith that maintains that good will ultimately prevail, even in the worst of times. Though we move forward now with churches closed and without Eucharist celebrated and many of the other traditional practices of our faith, let us do so with the assurance that our God will find us in whatever ways we pray.” As for practices that can take place at home, School of Theology and Ministry Professor Thomas Groome suggests daily scripture readings. [Sign up at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website, http://www.usccb.org, to have the daily readings emailed each morning.] He says he begins his approach to the scripture by first pausing to “check in” with God, offering thanks for the new day and recognizing what is going on in his life at the present time, “hopes and cares, joys and sorrows.” He then proceeds with reading the assigned scripture readings, looking for that verse that most speaks him.
Lee Pellegrini Peter Julian
“I try to begin with the assumption that there is surely one verse or line here that will be ‘just for me’—to take to heart,” said Groome. “And sure enough, there always is. “Then I talk to God about the verse that’s for me for a little while. I end with whatever prayer wells up from my heart,” he added. Groome also said that he relies on his long-held practice of saying the rosary when he is worried or has trouble sleeping “Most often I never finish it, its mantralike rhythm lulling me back to sleep. However, my grandmother always assured that it’s enough to start the rosary—if you fall asleep, the angels will finish it for you.” STM Online: Crossroads [http://www. bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/stm/sites/ crossroads.html], which provides online adult spiritual enrichment and faith formation, has responded to the public health crisis by expanding its offerings, including an online course on the Psalms. “In these difficult and trying times, it seems appropriate to look at the Psalms as a source of prayer,” said STM Continuing Education Director Meghan Lovett. Because of its robust online resources, the Church in the 21st Century Center is particularly well positioned to offer Catholics a place to engage with their faith during this time of forced isolation. For Lent, C21 offered an online devotional site that made available scripture passages, videos, podcasts, and articles centered on a different theme each day of Lent. Faith Feeds, a parish-based program where people gather for a conversation about faith over a shared meal, has moved online. Virtual Faith Feeds will be held using Google Hangouts. Inspired by C21 Director Karen Kiefer’s book Drawing God, the center has launched the Friendship Project [http:// www.drawing-god.com/friendship-project], which challenges youngsters to think about how they can see God in the people around them. A kit, with question prompts and drawing pages, is available for download at http://drawing-god.com. According to Kiefer, this time of disruption can also lead to more time for reflection. “Life is always so busy, so this time offers many the chance to possibly hear God’s whisper and see God working in kindness and compassion.” For more details on C21 offerings or to read faith stories, listen to GodPod podcasts, watch Agape Latte videos, or access the spring issue of C21 Resources, visit the C21 website, http://c21engage.org.
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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Despite Challenges, BC Admits Outstanding Class of 2024 Amid the daunting challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Undergraduate Admission at Boston College has completed its most selective admission process in University history. In total, 24 percent of the 29,400 applicants were offered admission to the Class of 2024, the lowest acceptance rate ever, with 37 percent of students accepted during the Early Decision rounds, and just 22 percent accepted during Regular Decision. The average SAT score for admitted students is 1457, and the average ACT score is 34. Boston College admitted students from 49 U.S. states, two U.S. territories, and 60 countries around the world. “It is humbling to witness the extraordinary accomplishments, talents, and gifts that applicants to Boston College share through the college application process,” said Grant Gosselin, director of undergraduate admission. “Academic scholars in the classroom, dynamic leaders in their school communities, engaged citizens in society, and compassionate volunteers for the common good, the students we have selected to join Boston College’s Class of 2024 will contribute to the University community in meaningful ways. “We look forward to welcoming them to Boston College.” The coronavirus crisis made the admission process a challenging one for students and Office of Undergraduate Admission
Director of Undergraduate Admission Grant Gosselin (front) with Admission staff during the filming of the recent “Welcome to the Class of 2024” video. photo by john walsh
personnel alike, Gosselin said. He and his colleagues were already preparing for the possibility that University operations might be affected when BC announced the suspension of on-campus classes on March 11. Admission staff recorded an information session in the event that the office could not welcome the 4,500 students who had registered for a spring visit. The office also accelerated its timeline to mail decision letters, scheduled for March 19. “Our staff worked late into the evenings each day and finished our letters three days ahead of schedule, on March 16. This additional time allowed us to spend the fol-
‘Day of Caring’ Brings Wealth of Stories In the new “normal” of self-isolation and social distancing, the Boston College community came together virtually for a daylong event last month that underscored the University’s unity and ethos of service. In light of COVID-19, BC Giving Day—previously scheduled for March 18—was changed to Boston College Day of Caring: 24 hours of personal stories that revealed the many ways in which the BC family comprises true men and women for others, especially during challenging times. Many inspiring stories were shared from across the BC community, said Senior Vice President for University Advancement Jim Husson, who wrote in one of his email messages regarding the initiative that “new stories are being written every day as our BC alumni, students, faculty, parents, and friends continue to do incredible work to serve their communities.” These stories spread hope and show the power of kindness, as well as inspire, he added. “Our #EaglesForOthers,” he wrote, referencing the hashtag used for the day on social media, “are showing care in all sorts of ways, including directly responding to current circumstances.” Among those highlighted were:
•Trish Bourke ’96, a New Jersey teacher who converted her classrooms into online learning to help maintain student engagement in the wake of COVID-19. •Kristen McClain and Kristen Ambrose, who graduated from the Connell School of Nursing in 2015 and are among the many BC alumni providing medical care to keep communities safe. •Craig Cypher ’97, a Rochester, NY, sports psychologist creating online resources to help student-athletes cope with the sudden cancellations of their seasons. According to Husson, this celebration of cura personalis and cura communitas— the Jesuit imperative to care for the whole person and, by extension, our communities on campus and in the wider world—was an important reminder of “the strength and compassion of our greater Boston College family.” In times like these, he said, “stories of hope help fill our hearts and keep us grounded in who we are as a Boston College community.” Visit the Day of Caring website [http:// bcgroups.org/eaglesforothers/bc-stories-ofcaring/] to read a showcase of stories exemplifying “Eagles for Others.” –University Communications
lowing day in an all-staff working retreat to reimagine our entire yield process. We had a brainstorming session about the ways in which we could deliver a first-class virtual experience for our admitted students and their parents. That afternoon, we filmed a video with the assistance of the Office of University Communications for admitted students, which would become the featured video to kick off our initiative.” The tools Admission used to engage with admitted students included 16 videos on-demand in an evolving video playlist highlighting key aspects of the BC student
experience; 20 “Connect with Students” live webcasts offered almost every weeknight in April and featuring current Boston College students discussing a wide range of topics; a “Get to Know BC” webinar series, led by BC staff members each Saturday; a virtual Keith A. Francis AHANA Program, recasting the traditional three-day weekend into a three-week on-demand and live virtual experience; and an enhanced social media presence including student takeovers of the Admission Instagram account. “Boston College already had one of the most accomplished and dedicated admission staffs in the country,” said Gosselin. “In the past few weeks, however, they have elevated their work to an entirely new level. Because of this unfailing commitment to BC, we’ve created a virtual outreach campaign for admitted students that I would stack up against any university in the nation.” Gosselin expressed gratitude for the support of University partners including the Office of University Communications, undergraduate school deans, faculty, staff from offices around campus, and more than 200 Student Admission Program volunteers who aided efforts to recruit the Class of 2024. “This has been a remarkable campuswide effort that makes me enormously proud to represent Boston College.” –University Communications
New Rankings Show Positive Trends for BC Grad Programs New rankings from US News & World Report once again showed positive trends for Boston College’s graduate programs. The Lynch School of Education and Human Development rose three places, from 22nd to 19th, in the US News 2021 “Best Graduate Schools” rankings, the highest placement of any Jesuit or Catholic school of education. In addition, four Lynch School programs finished in the top 25: Student Counseling and Personnel Services (15th), Secondary Education (18th), Elementary Education (20th), and Curriculum and Instruction (24th). The Connell School of Nursing moved up one place to 27th, tied with two other schools, and its Family Nurse Practitioner program improved from 22nd to ninth place. BC Law is 31st in the new US News rankings, tied with five other schools. Several of its specialty programs performed well in the report, including Business Corporate Law (26th), Clinical Training (27th, up from 40th), Contracts/Criminal Law (29th), Constitutional Law (31st), Intellectual Property Law (31st, up from 38th), Criminal Law (43rd), Health Care Law (48th), and Dispute Resolution (48th). The Carroll School of Management remains among the top 50 full-time MBA programs, ranking 48th along with three other schools, and its Accounting program
jumped from 31st to 14th. Meanwhile, the BC School of Social Work is 10th in the US News rankings for social work programs, which were not updated this year. The US News “Best Graduate Schools” report [https://www.usnews.com/bestgraduate-schools] follows the recent release of the 2020 QS World University Rankings, where BC placed 10th in Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies. The Theology, Divinity, and Religious Studies ranking is based on academic and employer reputation and global research impact. Boston College was one of only two Catholic institutions among the top 10 schools in the prestigious international survey. Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley said the latest rankings—with one BC graduate school in the US News top 10, another in the top 20, and a third in the top 30—attest to the quality of the University’s graduate programs. “It’s gratifying to see US News once again rank Boston College’s graduate schools among the best in the country,” he said. “This recognition is further evidence not only of our longstanding commitment to excellence in graduate and professional education, but of the significant contributions Boston College graduates make in a variety of professions and disciplines.” –University Communications
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When the Coronavirus Crisis Came to Campus, Continued from page 1
“When our students hurt, we hurt, too” During a normal academic year, the Office of Residential Life works for two months planning the annual move-out of undergraduates and graduating seniors from campus, which takes place over a period of two weeks in May. Instead, during the second week of March, ResLife and its University and non-University partners spent some 96 hours putting together a move-out of close to 7,300 students that was largely accomplished in three days. “It’s one of the oldest expressions around, but I have to say it: ‘Many hands make light work,’” said Associate Vice President for Residential Life and Special Projects George Arey. “Without Dining Services, BC Police, Facilities, Health Services, and the Emergency Management Team, as well as our off-campus vendors, doing all this simply wouldn’t have been possible.” Like most large, multi-tiered offices and departments, Arey noted, ResLife makes planning and training part of its operation, from senior administrators to office personnel to professional staff to resident assistants—with the priority of seeing to students’ basic needs and amassing and distributing information as quickly as possible should a crisis arise. “The goal of our planning and training is to make sure we don’t leave anyone in ResLife on a branch by themselves. We build our teams with a bandwidth, so that every team will always have people who complement each other’s skill sets: someone who’s great with data, for example, with another person who’s strong on logistics, and somebody else who has the interpersonal skills to deal with people’s questions and concerns.” Once the University announced the suspension of on-campus classes on March 11 and the closing of most residence halls by 9 p.m. on March 15, ResLife faced simultaneous high-priority tasks in what Arey de-
BC Police during a recent morning roll call, which is now held outdoors.
scribes as “Phase 1” of the coronavirus response. Even as the office helped students undertake the move-out, it had to process appeals from about 800 others who asked to stay in University housing temporarily—mainly due to difficulties in arranging transportation—or for a longer period, because of international travel restrictions, academic obligations, or personal reasons. In addition, ResLife had to make sure residence halls were emptied of abandoned furniture, clothing, and other possessions, and then thoroughly cleaned. Arey praises Facilities Services and BCPD, among other University partners, and also points to the office’s relationships with its vendors. “As we started planning, we pulled in a dedicated moving company, and within a half-hour the owner was in my office. The company agreed to help with shipping and storage for students, and they provided 30,000 boxes that were stationed at various places around campus for students to pick up.” The three-day move-out was not just logistically and physically demanding, said Arey: Emotions, understandably, ran high
Left, BC Dining Services cashier Heraldo Laguerre at a secure cash register station. McElroy Commons Assistant Manager Ryan Palanza with a shirt sporting the current BCDS slogan. photos courtesy of bc dining services
photo courtesy bc police
among some students and parents—and they weren’t the only ones. “It was an emotional time for everybody. A lot of our staff form close relationships with students, whether through residence hall programming, KAIROS and other student-formation programs, and service trips. So when our students hurt, we hurt, too. And, of course, we’re all trying to process everything that’s happening, at BC and beyond. But in the end, systematically it worked quite well.” With the move-out finished, ResLife and its partners had to immediately pivot to the next two phases: Move the remaining students to Upper Campus, and then work with Health Services to turn the Thomas More Apartments residence hall at 2150 Commonwealth Avenue into an area to quarantine students awaiting COVID-19 test results, or isolation for those testing positive. As March drew to a close, ResLife prepared for Phase 4, or “the new normal,” as Arey terms it: “How to engage the remaining 300-plus students while being protective of their health, and ours? What resources do they need? How can we support online learning? These are the questions we’re addressing with our University partners.” [As of April 13, the number of students remaining on campus was less than 300.] Arey said there will be numerous discussions and critiques in the months ahead concerning ResLife’s performance, but these past weeks have reinforced some foundational impressions. “I’ve always known ResLife had a great capacity to care, and that was evident in what I saw and heard from Phase 1 on. No matter how tired they were or how difficult some of the interactions were, our staff showed care and concern for others. They did their job.” Work effort, mutual support “exceptional” “There was a huge emphasis on residence hall clean-up after the students left,” said Robert J. Avalle, Jr., associate vice president for Facilities Services, the maintenance and service organization that provides support to the entire Boston College
campus. “Led by Custodial Services, in collaboration with Residential Life, over 150 custodians and supervisors accomplished in just a few days what usually takes weeks. Our entire operation was committed to the safety of the campus community “ Avalle explained that when the students abruptly departed, they left behind a larger than normal amount of trash, so collection containers needed to be emptied and replaced constantly, an essential task achieved with assistance from the Landscaping crews. Many abandoned small appliances and clothing items were gathered and donated to local charities. “When it was determined how many students would remain on campus and where they would be housed, attention turned to cleaning and disinfecting, and performing any needed repairs at Upper Campus residence halls,” said Avalle. “The technical trades team—carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and mechanics—made quick work of executing the necessary repairs.” Avalle noted that vacated residence halls are undergoing thorough cleaning, sanitization, and repair. One building receiving particular attention is the Thomas More Apartments at 2150 Commonwealth Avenue, which houses students awaiting coronavirus test results and those who have tested positive. From the beginning of the pandemic, academic, administrative and athletic and recreation facilities were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, said Avalle, with emphasis on classrooms where faculty have been conducting online classes. Avalle was quick to acknowledge Custodial Services Director Gerry Boyle as an administrator who is equally committed to keeping BC and his team safe during this pandemic. Facilities Services also manages U.S. and campus mail, and package services, all of which are continuing. “BC seemed well prepared for this crisis,” said Avalle, who has been at the University only since mid- January. “There was constant communication among key leaders and departments in a rapidly changing environment. The cooperative work effort and mutual support was, and continues to be, exceptional.” “Keep calm. We washed our hands.” Although the coronavirus crisis seemed to unfurl rapidly during that week in March, University administrators, offices, and departments were eyeing developments far earlier in the semester. University Health Services Director Thomas Nary, MD, for example, wrote a letter to the BC community on Feb. 2 noting that the University was closely monitoring information on the virus and in contact with public health officials for Boston and the state. Beth Burns, manager of human resources for Dining Services, pointed out that BCDS staff “has been concerned and working on multiple food safety measures and staff awareness as far back as February.” This entailed very comprehensive dis-
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University Employees Mobilized to Take It On cussions about most every aspect of BCDS operations, according to BCDS Associate Director of Operations Megan O’Neill. “We had to determine what steps we would take, how these would affect operations—wrapping all bakery items individually, getting rid of the salad bars and making individual salads—as we needed to adjust our labor model and staff schedules. We tweaked our menus to make the lines shorter so as to offer faster serving while still maintaining some ‘fan favorites.’ We also did a lot of work on the purchasing side: looking into getting more gloves, bulk sanitizer—and little bottles—cleaning supplies and upping our food-to-go packaging.” When students returned from spring break, Dining Services had implemented the additional safety practices in all dining halls: replacing reusable flatware with plasticware, closing self-serve salad and fruit bars, and individually wrapping baked goods. Employees were required to wash their hands every 30 minutes and all frequently touched areas were cleaned every 20 minutes. Once the University decided to move to online learning and have students vacate residence halls, BCDS enacted a plan to consolidate operations and close down many dining locations for the semester while taking steps to ensure the safety of customers remaining on campus. Barriers were placed at checkouts to enforce social distancing and, to reassure customers, BCDS staff wore shirts bearing the message “Keep calm. We washed our hands.” When Governor Baker issued an emergency order limiting the size of gatherings and prohibiting on-premises consumption of food or drink at eateries, BCDS started serving food to go. The team has been working on cleaning and closing down dining locations and concessions operations and training staff working in McElroy Commons. Every year, O’Neill said, BCDS develops an operating plan that specifies which dining operations remain open and how staff are to be consolidated in the case of emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances. “We’ve used it frequently for snowstorms, but never for this long and with such a small but captive audience. We came up with a Plan A through Plan D and tried to think of all the issues that could come up. So far, we’ve been pretty much on the mark. We’re still on Plan A— maybe version number six, but still Plan A.” “Our team of managers has done an outstanding job during this difficult time and our front-line employees are happy to be working,” said BCDS Director Beth Emery. “I could not be prouder to work with such an outstanding team—one that is hardworking, dedicated, and appreciative to work for Boston College.” “It’s just so quiet” Following the March 11 announcement, the BC Police Department increased the number of officers on patrol to aid in
Facilities Services staff (L-R) Maria Diplan, Walter Carberry, and John Wu on the job.
the unprecedented transition, said BCPD Chief and Executive Director of Public Safety William Evans. “We had to step up and make sure we were there for the students and help them as best we could as they exited the campus,” said Evans. “We put on extra officers to assist. I knew the students were going to be emotional, given the short time frame, especially the seniors. Our goal during that four-to-five-day period was to help facilitate the move-out process.” Despite reports of minor vandalism following the announcement, Evans said, “I thought student behavior, under the circumstances, was not bad at all. It was very emotional for a lot of them.” On March 15, the last day of the move out, BCPD paid close attention to approximately 2,000 students who gathered at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir to watch the sunrise, a tradition typically reserved for
photos courtesy of facilities services
graduation day. “As a parent, I feel bad for the students, especially the seniors,” said Evans. “It was a tough way to spend their last days on campus, after all the work they’ve put into their studies here. So it was very emotional for them seeing their last sunrise.” BCPD officers now patrol a university with only a fraction of its normal academicyear population. Evans said officers are following social distancing guidelines and protective protocols as they interact with individuals. When Eagle Escort is called for a student who needs to go to Health Services, officers wear appropriate personal protective equipment as they assist. Absent the near 24-7 use of most buildings, officers are devoting extra time to building security on all the BC campuses. In a move designed to halt the spread of coronavirus among the 55-officer force, roll calls are no longer held in the department
headquarters in Maloney Hall. “We do roll calls outside the building so officers won’t violate that six-foot spacing guidelines,” said Evans. “We are asking officers to maintain social distance as well as wash their hands all the time. We don’t want any of our officers getting sick.” Evans, a member of the Boston Police Department for 38 years, and the city’s police commissioner for four years, said he’s never seen anything like the near-complete shutdown of the state. Absent students and many employees, the campus is uncharacteristically sedate. “It’s just so quiet,” said Evans. “It’s a campus that normally has so much life and it has come to a standstill. It breaks everyone’s heart. We all hope that we can see an end to this illness and a return to normal as soon as possible.”
BC Honored for Support of First-Generation Students Boston College has been named a First-gen Forward Institution, as part of a national recognition program acknowledging colleges and universities for demonstrated commitment to first-generation student success. The University was among a cohort of 77 institutions to be designated by the Center for First-Generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and The Suder Foundation. BC’s designation as a First-gen Forward Institution will afford select faculty and staff multiple opportunities to engage with peer and aspirational institutions who are also creating environments that improve the experiences and outcomes of first-generation students. An average of approximately 260 firstgeneration undergraduate students have enrolled at BC over the past five years. During the last decade, the percentage of firstgeneration students in the freshman class has
ranged from nine to 11 percent. The First-gen Forward initiative at the University will be led by Learning to Learn, the institutional voice for first-generation students. Learning to Learn, along with the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, the Career Center, the Montserrat Coalition of University Mission and Ministry, BC Athletics, and faculty and staff partners, provides support for first-generation students through a number of programs and services that promote retention and graduation. The First-gen Forward designation validates the commitment of Boston College to first-generation students, according to University administrators. “Learning to Learn, like so many groups and individuals on campus, works diligently to help ensure the success of our first-gen students,” said Learning to Learn Director Rossanna Contreras-Godfrey. “We are gratified that these efforts are being recognized, and delighted to be among the 77 institutions
sharing in this recognition.” Added Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Akua Sarr, “It’s an honor that Boston College is being designated as a First-gen Forward Institution. This privilege is a testament to the University’s commitment to students who identify as first-generation, and to the dedication of the staff who support these students in the Learning to Learn Office. I commend them for their work and for this distinction.” As a First-gen Forward Institution, Boston College will send representatives to the Firstgen Forward Workshop scheduled for this summer and participate in monthly phone calls, virtual professional development, goal setting, blog development, annual reporting, and more. The institution will also be required to share institutional data, detail campus-wide efforts to support first-generation students, and demonstrate institutional buy-in from leadership. —University Communications
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APRIL 15, 2020
Read Aloud Volunteers Keep the Program Going BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought disruption to nearly all aspects of daily life. For the 52 current and retired Boston College employees who participate in the University’s award-winning Read Aloud program, it meant school closings and an end to classroom visits with the students at St. Columbkille Partnership School and Thomas Edison K-8 School, both in Brighton. Read Aloud volunteer John O’Grady, facility operations manager in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, found a creative way to stay connected to the second-graders at St. Columbkille. On his own, he recorded a video where he read aloud The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day. He sent his virtual read aloud to SCPS secondgrade teacher Kaitlyn Moran who shared O’Grady’s video via SeeSaw, the platform the school is using for students in grades pre-K though 3. [See the video at https:// youtu.be/c2W4FWugjz0] “The kids loved it!” Moran wrote in an email. She noted that SeeSaw is an interactive platform and the students responded to O’Grady’s virtual read-aloud by writing
BC employee John O’Grady posted a video on YouTube for the second-grade students he visited as part of the Read Aloud program. youtube
that they loved the book or thought it was funny. Several wrote “thank you for reading to us.” Others responded by uploading videos or pictures of leprechauns and leprechaun traps, based on ideas from the book. O’Grady, who has been participating in Read Aloud for 19 years, said he was inspired by his daughter Alanna, a creative director at The Paint Bar, who was using Zoom and Facebook Live to reach out to toddlers and school-aged children. After learning that O’Grady had created a video, Read Aloud coordinator Laura Bitran of the Office of Government and Community Affairs emailed all the Read Aloud participants suggesting they create
videos and send them to the teachers to share with students, after first contacting the teachers. Information Technology Services Assistant Manager Jon McGrath held a Google Hangout to help any readers needing assistance in creating videos. “This a terrific demonstration of how we can create new possibilities in order to curtail the fear among us while also respecting social distancing,” said Bitran, who added that a number of other volunteer readers have gone on to create videos for their classrooms as well. With support from Human Resources, Bitran has organized the Read Aloud program since its inception in 1995. She called O’Grady—who has since created
a second read-aloud video for Casey at the Bat—one of the “pillars” of the program. For O’Grady, the time he spends reading aloud to the students reminds him of when he and his wife would read to their own now-grown children. “The students really seem to appreciate and look forward to their sessions with the readers. They listen and ask good questions. I look forward to the time with them.” Moran, who graduated from the Lynch School of Education and Human Development in 2016 and is now enrolled in graduate studies at the Lynch School, said she appreciated not only the work O’Grady put into creating the video, but also his care for the students. “We know that the students are feeling a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty during this time,” she wrote. “Our goal is to provide the students with as much of a sense of normalcy, routine, and connection as possible. Sharing videos from BC Readers helps to increase that normalcy, routine, and connection and helps to provide a lighthearted distraction.” Added Bitran: “It’s a way for us to show the children and our school partners that we have not forgotten them.”
Student Organizations Stay Connected Continued from page 1
faces has been good for morale,” said Laakso. “We are a very close-knit team. Many of our members are roommates and stay connected after graduation, so in many ways, leaving campus meant we left a part of our family as well.” The Asian Christian Fellowship has continued its campus ministry through daily virtual prayer meetings, weekly virtual Bible studies, and a weekly virtual large group, said president Victoria Chandra ’20. “We’ve found it important to continue our work because for some students, this is their only source of spiritual learning, nourishment, and community. No matter how many students show up across time zones, it’s always been super gratifying to see friends again.” The Latter-Day Saint Student Association is now using Zoom to hold its weekly religion course, said Alexander Poulsen, a doctoral candidate in economics who is the organization’s president. “It’s essential for us to maintain connections with people in the BC community who share our faith, as well as continue to cultivate ourselves spiritually—via the class—as well as intellectually, via our regular BC classes.” Members of the University Wind Ensemble and jazz ensemble BC bOp! are conducting research on possibilities for next year’s repertoire, said BC Bands Director Sebastian Bonaiuto. Their suggestions are collected as YouTube playlists or through other digital means for the rest of the band members to listen to, he explained, and in May there will be online meetings to discuss and finalize selections. BC Bands also is working on recruitment for 2020-21, added Bonaiuto: “This is a mission-critical project in which all of the Bands Program professional staff is
involved, as well as many of our student leaders.” Adapting a club format to social media or teleconferencing can be challenging, however. During the academic year, Avid Listeners of Boston College (ALBC) gathers each week to listen to and discuss members-selected songs that fit a theme, such as “Political Messaging in Music,” “Music and Time (Then vs. Now),” and— for its subsequently cancelled March 12 meeting—“Disease and Pestilence.” Shared, spur-of-the-moment interaction is a key component to ALBC, according to club president Michael Schmeling ’20, and a characteristic that organizers wanted to retain as they sorted through online options. Despite a smaller than usual turnout, ALBC’s first virtual meeting in late March proved very satisfying, said Schmeling. The group used Zoom in tandem with a website that enabled members to all listen to the selections together, and participants were able to adjust to the medium and get into a good conversational flow. “We could’ve just all listened to the songs on our own and then talked about them during the teleconference. But when we listen to the selections together, it allows everyone to have real-time reactions and ask on-the-spot questions to get more out of the song. You can better understand why someone chose the song, what it means to them, how they found it, how they think it fits the topic, and so on. It gives other members the chance to offer their input and say how that song relates to other stuff they know, and also let them recommend artists that the rest of us should check out.” As a senior, Schmeling is glad to be able to enjoy a few more meetings of ALBC,
The members of Boston College Dance Ensemble (shown in 2019) don’t have any performances, but are keeping in touch via Zoom. “It’s been good for morale,” says BCDE President Megan Laasko ’20. “We are a very close-knit team.” photo by yiting chen
which he describes as a “very social” club that has meant a lot to him. “Many of us met some of our best friends and significant others through the club. I’ve been able to meet so many people of all class levels throughout my time at ALBC. Using Zoom for meetings lets me meet up with the people I’ve known for years—or just less than a semester now— and still connect with them. Ever since my freshman year, I’ve always looked forward to meeting up with everyone on Thursdays to hang out and talk about our mutual love of music. We want to keep that going even in this insane time we are all experiencing.” A cappella group The BC Sharps recently held executive board elections via Zoom, said president Elizabeth Higgins ’20: “It took us about two hours when inperson meetings would have probably been an hour-and-a-half. Regardless, we were all happy to see each other’s faces and talk
about the future leadership of the group.” The Sharps are undertaking some music projects during the rest of the semester, Higgins added. Members will individually record parts for a cover of Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” and the group’s music director, Sam Padilla ’20, will combine the separate tracks to produce one combined recording. Another planned activity is “#COVIDeos”: On the days the Sharps would normally practice, Higgins explained, a few members will record videos of themselves singing a favorite song and upload them to a shared Google drive for the rest of the group. “This is our way of still hearing each other’s voices on our usual meeting days,” said Higgins, who adds that a Sharps tradition—weekly one-on-one “coffee dates”— will continue in virtual fashion.