The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of University Communications AUGUST 31, 2017 VOL.25 NO. 1
‘Ever to Excel: Advancing Boston College’s Mission’
BC Announces New Strategic Plan BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
Re-envisioning liberal arts education through a renewed Core Curriculum; advancing student formation; bolstering scholarship and research; and expanding connections to Boston and communities around the world are the four pillars of Boston College’s new, 10-year Strategic Plan, “Ever to Excel: Advancing Boston College’s Mission,” announced at University Convocation on Aug. 30. Initiatives to support the four strategic directions include a new Institute for Integrated Science and Society, the endowment of as many as 100 faculty positions, increased options for interdisciplinary study and collaboration, and upgraded facilities. “To thrive in the coming decades, Boston College must remain true to its intellectual and religious roots and seek to be the world’s leading Jesuit, Catholic university,” the plan’s introduction states. “These ambitious goals distinguish Boston College from its peers in higher education worldwide, and reflect its desire to work for the transformation of the world.” The Strategic Plan is the result of
a two-year campus self-study initiated by University President William P. Leahy, SJ, and co-directed by Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley and Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead, who led an effort that included faculty, staff, students, trustees and alumni. Specifically, the four strategic directions aim to: •Re-envision liberal arts education at Boston College by sustained attention to the Core Curriculum, enhancing faculty quality and engagement, and leveraging the strengths of undergraduate programs •Enhance the University’s commitment to formation among students, faculty, and staff to further Boston College’s mission and strengthen its institutional culture •Expand support for scholarship and research in keeping with Boston College’s mission to help address complex societal problems and contribute to the common good with a particular focus on the sciences •Increase the University’s presence and impact in the City of Boston, the United States, and around the globe “A commitment to rigorous and
regular strategic planning has been instrumental in Boston College’s ascendancy over the past half century,” said Quigley. “‘Ever to Excel’ builds on that tradition and positions the University well for the opportunities that the next decade presents. I am thankful to all those colleagues across campus who contributed their ideas and their energy to this process. The resulting document is true to our history and our mission, and gives voice to the hopes and ambitions of our campus community.” Under the Strategic Plan, the University will continue to strengthen its Core Curriculum — the cornerstone of the University’s liberal The Plaza at O’Neill Library was bustling Monday morning as the first day of classes ushered in the 2017-18 academic year. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini) arts education — through faculty hiring and development, innovative University Convocation teaching and expanded interdisciplinary connections between schools and colleges. It will also assist undergraduate students through the establishment of new minors and by providing students in the profesheritage, opportunities and commitBY SEAN SMITH sional schools with more curricular ments in the Jesuit, Catholic liberal CHRONICLE EDITOR options in the Morrissey College of arts educational tradition. Arts and Sciences. Boston College’s newly anFr. Leahy affirmed the imporThe University’s distinct Jesuit nounced Strategic Plan took center tance of BC’s mission of intellecapproach to formation — intellectu- stage at yesterday’s annual University tual, spiritual and ethical formation Continued on page 5 Convocation in Robsham Theater. at a time when “respectful dialogue” While they also discussed the in- on immigration, race, sexuality, free fluence of notable issues and trends speech and religious beliefs has beon BC and higher education in gen- come increasingly difficult. He cited eral, University President William P. the recent march by white suprema’76, former executive director of Leahy, SJ, Executive Vice President cists in Charlottesville – which he the BC Alumni Association. Michael Lochhead and Provost and called “alarming, reprehensible and The GLI program, titled “In- Dean of Faculties David Quigley in conflict with American ideals and creasing Accountability, Over- each devoted part of their Convoca- values” – as an example of how “a sight and Integrity,” is supported tion addresses to “Ever to Excel: Ad- small, fringe group can provoke vioby a two-year grant of nearly $1 vancing Boston College’s Mission,” lence and endanger the common million from the State Depart- the 10-year Strategic Plan which lays good.” ment Bureau of International out four strategic directions for BC As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Narcotics and Law Enforcement in academics, student formation, re- Fr. Leahy said, BC faces a challenge Affairs (INL). search and other areas [see separate represented by the global shift to Boston College was among story]. greater secularization and less knowleight organizations awarded Initiatives to support the four edge of or involvement in religious grants by INL as part of an effort strategic directions include a new practices. More students come to BC to help Mexican police officials Institute for Integrated Science and seeking “meaning, purpose and comaddress policy and practical chal- Society, more endowed faculty po- munity in their lives,” but – lacking lenges while building partnerships sitions, an emphasis on interdisci- knowledge of the Christian mission and networks across international plinary study and collaboration, and or teachings of other religions – too often “are adrift in their lives.” borders. Other grant recipients upgraded facilities. Describing “Ever to Excel” as “Boston College must always be included Yale and Stanford universities, the Police Foundation, “ambitious and focused,” Fr. Leahy a place where people from varying and the International Association said the Strategic Plan will help BC to backgrounds, experiences, and talents “move forward with confidence and come together to grow as human of the Chiefs of Police. Continued on page 5 hope” and enable it to build on its Continued on page 5
BC Leaders Discuss ‘Ever to Excel,’ Challenges Ahead
GLI to Aid Mexican Police Professionalization BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Lee Pellegrini
Boston College will assist Mexico in professionalizing its police force through a US State Department-funded program that includes seminars with BC faculty and consultations with peers in the law enforcement field. Developed by BC’s Global Leadership Institute, the Mexican Police Professionalization program – which begins later this fall – will bring 100 police officers from across Mexico during the coming months for discussions on accountability and civilian oversight. In addition to taking part in seminars at BC, the participants will talk with Boston-area and Massachusetts police, and repre-
Global Leadership Institute Executive Director Robert Mauro.
sentatives of civilian oversight organizations and other stakeholder groups. The officers will then travel to Seattle to learn about that city’s well-regarded programs on civilian oversight – among their contacts will be Seattle Police Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole
INSIDE
Year Convocation, •While You Were •McMullen to 3 •First Mass of the Holy Spirit 4 Away: Catching up 8 host three shows •BC expands alcohol sales at Alumni Stadium
on BC news from the past summer
this semester
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A ROUND
C AMPUS FULTON’S FANTASTIC FIVE
WAY BACK WHEN Be forewarned: There’s an exhibit now on display in the Burns Library that may make some members of the Boston College community feel old – perhaps ancient. Through Oct. 6, Burns is hosting “Being Social Before Social Media,” which takes us back to the halcyon days before Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all those other apps and websites we habitually grumble
about but can’t seem to escape. As the exhibition description notes: “We once used telegrams, snapshots, postcards, letters, and scrapbooks to communicate with each other, organize our daily lives, and preserve memories.” The materials, drawn from the Burns’ archival collections, aim to “connect some of our legacy material culture with the apps of today.” “Being Social Before Social Media” is the handiwork of the Burns Library University Archives team of Amy Braitsch, Shelley Barber, Lynn Moulton, Annalisa Moretti, and Stephanie Hall. Moulton recently answered a few questions about the exhibit: What was the inspiration for “Being Social”? Moulton: While brainstorm-
ing about how the archives could contribute to the exhibit program at the Burns Library, I realized that some of my favorite formats have been more or less been replaced by technology and social media. I thought it would be fun to explore this idea and remind – or introduce – a modern audience how we used to interact. You never know if an idea will pan out in the research; we think this one did. As you and your colleagues put the exhibit together, did you find yourselves reflecting on your own memories of “being social” before the arrival of social media? Absolutely. We drew on our own experiences, as well inspiration from our collections at Burns Library. We laughed about things we used to do. Remember waiting a week for photos to come back from the film lab, usually with duplicates to share with friends? Not to mention being stuck with two copies of some terrible snapshots that no one wanted! We all do this instantly on our phones now. Given the pace of technology, do you think Burns will someday hold an historical exhibition on “quaint” old forms of social media (Facebook, Twitter et al)? Sure. Remember MySpace? It’s already passe. I think in 20 years these particular platforms, and probably even the app-driven world we live in, will have moved on to something new. One of our current challenges in special collections is determining how to document and preserve the contemporary forms of being social before they vanish. Some are already lost. –Sean Smith
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Jack Dunn DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Patricia Delaney EDITOR Sean Smith
CONTRIBUTING STAFF Phil Gloudemans Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Siobhan Sullivan PHOTOGRAPHERS Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini
The Boston College Fulton Debating Society has established a Fulton Hall of Fame, inducting five Fultonians at its alumni banquet earlier this year. Director of Debate John Katsulas said the initiative is a means to reclaim and maintain the historical record of the society. “It’s fitting for Fulton to establish its own hall of fame to honor its many alumni with distinguished records of accomplishment.” The inductees – William A. Murphy (graduated 1891), John J. Douglass (1893), John J. Wright (1931), Charles F. Donovan, SJ (1933) and Lawrence J. Riley (1936) – were chosen based on criteria set by Katsulas: excellence as a debater, professional accomplishments, and the uniqueness of their contributions to the society. “The debating society at Boston College was established in 1868 and was named the Fulton Debating Society in 1890, which was the first year the Fulton Prize Debate began,” said Katsulas. “So it seemed appropriate to initiate the first class of inductees from the earliest period from which actual records and information could be located about the candidates.” Murphy was the first winner of the Fulton Medal – awarded annually to the best speaker in the Fulton Prize Debate – and is considered one of Boston College’s most distinguished alumni. After graduation, Murphy covered the State House as a reporter for The Boston Globe and then served as secretary to three Massachusetts governors. In 1941, BC awarded Murphy the Jubilarian Medal. Douglass, the 1893 Fulton Medal winner and Fulton president, was valedictorian of his graduating class. After graduating from Georgetown Law School and starting a law practice in Boston, he began a career in politics, serving four terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and five in the US House of Representatives – the only Fultonian ever elected to Congress. Wright, widely regarded as one of the greatest orators of his day, won both the Fulton Medal and the Gargan Medal – the award given annually to the second-best speaker in the Fulton Prize Debate – and
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Charles F. Donovan, SJ, is among the first class of inductees to the Fulton Debating Society Hall of Fame.
was a member of the Fulton team that defeated Harvard in a debate over prohibition. Wright became one of the most influential priests in the United States, serving as auxiliary bishop of Boston and bishop of Worcester and Pittsburgh, before being appointed a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. He was the featured speaker at the 1964 Fulton reunion banquet. Fr. Donovan, winner of the Harrigan Prize for oratory and the Leonard Persuasive Speaking Contest, became an important senior administrator at Boston College, serving as founding dean of the School of Education, and later as academic vice president and dean of faculties. As BC’s first University historian, he wrote The History of Boston College in 1990, and several
occasional papers, including Debate at Boston College: People, Places, Traditions in 1991. Katsulas noted that Fr. Donovan was a regular attendee at the Fulton Prize Debate – always sitting in the front row – and a great champion of the debate program. Riley, said to have won every important honor as a debater and student – including valedictorian – competed in public debates where Fulton defeated Georgetown in 1934, and Dartmouth and Cambridge University in 1935. He entered the priesthood and in 1965 was appointed as the rector of St. John’s Seminary, and auxiliary bishop of Boston in 1970. Katsulas used historical research from the Fulton archives, The Heights, Sub Turri and The Stylus to choose the first Fulton Hall of Fame class and will employ a similar method for choosing future inductees, supplemented by nominations from an alumni committee from the respective decades. Next year’s class will represent the 1940s and ’50s, with successive classes continuing up until present-day Fultonians. “Contemporary members of the Fulton Debating Society will certainly be worthy candidates for induction,” he said. “During my tenure, I have coached many outstanding debaters who have gone on to achieve tremendous success in their professional careers.” The Fulton Debating Society website is www.bc.edu/sites/fulton.html –Siobhan Sullivan
Learning to Learn Administrative Assistant Paula Grealish, right, with area high school student Alan Zheng at the Aug. 18 closing ceremony for the Private Industry Council program at Boston College. PIC is a privatepublic partnership that connects private businesses, public schools and higher education institutions such as BC with students and young adults looking for employment opportunities. Learning to Learn, where Zheng worked, was one of a dozen University departments hosting 18 students this summer through PIC. (Photo by Frank Curran) 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)5523350. 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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Chronicle AUGUST 31, 2017
Alumnus to Speak at First Year Convocation Lev Golinkin ’03, author of the memoir A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka, will serve as the keynote speaker at First Year Academic Convocation on Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., in Conte Forum. Immediately prior to Golinkin’s address, the Class of 2021 will embark on the First Flight Procession, a torch-lit march from Linden Lane to Conte Forum, mirroring the same path they will follow on their graduation day. Prior to the procession, the University’s Jesuit community, faculty and administration offer a blessing and encourage students to heed the message of Jesuit founder Saint Ignatius of Loyola to “go set the world aflame.” At his talk, Golinkin will dis-
cuss the both heartbreaking and hilarious story of a Jewish family’s escape from Soviet oppression. Golinkin, Jewish by birth, spent his childhood in Kharkov (now Kharkiv), Ukraine, where he and his family suffered daily from anti-Semitic persecution under the Communist regime. In the autumn of 1989, shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Golinkin’s parents learned that the United States would soon restrict immigration by Soviet Jews. His book chronicles how this looming deadline prompted his family to begin the arduous journey that brought Lev, his parents, his older sister Lina and his grandmother initially to Vienna, Austria, and then to Lafayette, Ind.
The second alumnus to speak at First Year Academic Convocation, Golinkin joins a of notable roster of previous speakers, including Barack Obama, John McCain, humanitarian Dr. Paul Farmer, and novelists Colum McCann, Ann Patchett and Dave Eggers. His op-eds and essays on the Ukraine crisis have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe and Time. com, among others, and he has been interviewed by WSJ Live and HuffPost Live. A Backpack, A Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka is his first book. First Year Academic Convocation is coordinated by the Office of First Year Experience, part of the Division of University Mission and Ministry. –Phil Gloudemans
BC Unveils Website on NLRB Issue The University has created a website [www.bc.edu/bc-web/ sites/unionization.html] to provide information and address questions regarding the effort to unionize Boston College graduate students who serve as teaching, research and graduate assistants. Earlier this year, the United Auto Workers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board seeking an election to become certified as union representatives of BC graduate students. The UAW’s action came in the wake of a NLRB decision last year that reversed longstanding precedent by ruling graduate students at private universities can unionize. The website includes an Aug. 21 letter to the University community from Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, which explains Boston College’s position that unionization would irreparably alter the special mentoring relationship between
faculty and their graduate student researchers and assistants. In addition, Quigley notes, BC asserts that as a faith-based educational institution it should be exempt from NLRB jurisdiction, based on a longstanding Supreme Court ruling. Also included on the website is a FAQ on unionization-related matters, in general and as pertains to BC graduate students, as well as links to statements by other higher education leaders on graduate student unioniza-
tion efforts on their respective campuses. Quigley and Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor have encouraged graduate assistants who are eligible to vote to familiarize themselves with the issue and the effects that unionization could have on their work at Boston College. Questions on unionization can be directed to administrators at the following e-mail address: gradstudentinfo@bc.edu. –University Communications
‘Careerfest’ Is Next Wednesday The Boston College Career Center will hold a “Careerfest” on Sept. 6 from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Plaza at O’Neill Library. The event will provide information on the resources and services the center offers to students who are reflecting on how their skills, interests, and values relate to career options, exploring a range of careers that interest them, or preparing for a targeted internship/job search or for graduate programs.
Athletics Director Martin Jarmond
tion of his staff in Athletics with administrators in Government and Community Affairs, Auxiliary Services, BC Police, University Communications and the Office of the President for bringing the proposal to fruition. “This was a team effort, which we hope will attract fans to Alumni Stadium to enjoy one of the most exciting home schedules we have had in years,” said Jarmond. “Given the successful implementation of beer and wine sales at NCAA venues across the country, I am confident that this pilot program will be successful at Boston College. It is important that we do what we can to ensure a positive experience for all of our fans when they come to Alumni Stadium. We are committed to making this coming season the most enjoyable possible.” –University Communications
Caitlin Cunningham
Lev Golinkin ’03, author of A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka.
William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond has announced that Boston College will expand the sale of beer and wine within Alumni Stadium this season through a pilot program beginning with BC’s home opener versus Wake Forest on Sept. 9. The program, approved by the City of Boston, will expand sales of beer and wine beyond boxes and suites to various concession stands within the stadium. “The goal of this effort is to enhance the game-day experience for our fans by providing an amenity that exists at professional sporting venues in Boston and at more than 40 colleges and universities nationwide,” said Jarmond. Sales of beer and wine within the stadium will begin when the gates open and continue until the end of the third quarter. BC Athletics will adhere to a comprehensive Alcohol Management Plan that will include enhanced training of staff, rigorous enforcement of policies and procedures, and heightened security. While at Ohio State University, Jarmond initiated a similar effort that was well received by the university and wider community. Studies have shown that in-stadium sales of beer and wine help to reduce incidences of binge drinking, while also drawing fans into the stadium earlier. Jarmond credits the coopera-
Lee Pellegrini
University to Expand Sale of Beer, Wine at Stadium
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Processional during the 2014 Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Mass of the Holy Spirit Is Sept. 7
University President William P. Leahy, SJ, will celebrate the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 7 at noon in the Plaza at O’Neill Library. All members of the University community are invited to attend the Mass, a traditional opening of the school year at Jesuit institutions dating back to the Middle Ages. Classes will be cancelled that day from noon to 1:15 p.m. In case of rain, the Mass will be held in Conte Forum. Graduate student Peter Folan, SJ, MDiv/STL ’13 will be the homilist. BC’s Liturgy Arts Group will provide the music. The fire used at First Year Academic Convocation’s First Flight ceremony [see separate story] will be blessed during the Mass. At the completion of Mass, the fire will be carried in procession to Linden Lane, where it will be used that evening when Boston College’s firstyear students are challenged to “Go set the world aflame.” The Mass of the Holy Spirit is organized by the Office of Campus Ministry in the Division of University Mission and Ministry. –Kathleen Sullivan
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Gary Wayne Gilbert
Lee Pellegrini
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(L-R) Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor, Office for Institutional Diversity Associate Director Judy Ferres, OID Executive Director Patricia Lowe, guest speaker Daryl G. Smith, OID Associate Director Damita Davis and OID Assistant Director Edilma Hosein at the Diversity and Inclusion Summit.
It was an extraordinarily busy summer on the construction front at Boston College, with several major projects in progress. •The Brighton Athletic Fields complex – which will consist of three athletics fields situated between St. Clement’s Hall and Lake Street, and a support building – remains on track for scheduled completion this coming March. A major facet of the project this summer involved installation of piping and other infrastructure to ensure the fields have sufficient drainage, and foundation work also began. Part of the project entails upgrades to the existing roadway to provide for improved vehicular and pedestrian pathways near 129 Lake Street. •Foundation work took place for the 115,000-square foot athletic field house, located adjacent to Alumni Stadium, with structural steel for the building set to arrive
in September. Excavation at the site resulted into two enormous piles – each about 35 to 40 feet high – of soil that will remain on Shea Field while other work continues. Some of the soil will eventually be used as subsoil for drainage-related purposes. The field house, expected to open in August of 2018, will provide much-needed space for varsity football and other field sports, as well as campus recreation, club sports, and intramurals. •The 244,000 square-foot, four-story Connell Recreation Center, which will replace the Flynn Recreation Complex, also began to take shape following the demolition of Edmond’s Hall – which formerly occupied the site – and subsequent excavation. Foundation work then began, with pressure-injected footings – similar to those for the field house – driven into the ground. The
structural steel phase of the project was due to start by the end of this month. Expected to open in the summer of 2019, the center will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, jogging track, natatorium with lap and instructional pools, four wood-floor basketball courts, three tennis courts, two multi-activity courts and multi-purpose rooms for spin, yoga and fitness classes, among other amenities. •Devlin Hall was the site of a renovation project that included an expanded reception area for the Office of Undergraduate Admission to improve the flow of foot traffic, especially during admission tours. Another feature is the construction of a 250-seat lecture hall – in space formerly occupied by the McMullen Museum of Art – that will be used for admission programs, expected to be finished in time for the spring semester.
Vice President and University Secretary Terence Devino, SJ, left Boston College this summer to take a new assignment as a retreat director at Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester. Fr. Devino said he made the decision to return to work in spiritual ministry, “after months of conversation, prayer and discernment.” “In 1987 I made the first of many retreats to that beautiful spot [Eastern Point] and there felt God’s Spirit which led me to join the Jesuits,” said Fr. Devino. “As a novice, I made the Spiritual Exercises, 30-day silent retreat at
Gloucester. In missioning me to this work, my Provincial wrote, ‘You will be engaged in the foundational ministry of the Society of Jesus, a great privilege that I know you value deeply.’ And that is at the heart of my decision, to leave a remarkable place, people and ministry at BC and engage myself in this first work of the Jesuits. I am looking forward to this new phase of my journey.” A respected administrator, Fr. Devino worked at Boston College from 1998-2001, before returning in 2010 to serve as special assistant to the president
and director of Manresa House, the University’s center for vocational discernment, where he provided spiritual guidance and counselling to students considering religious life. In 2012 he was named vice president and university secretary, and was responsible for coordinating Commencement and special events.
research fellow and professor emerita of education and psychology at Claremont Graduate University, and a “Thought Leader Panel” highlighting best and promising practices in administrative and academic areas at Boston College, and how these value diversity, build a culture of inclusion, and encourage faculty and staff to engage in this work. The third Diversity and Inclusion Summit, which will take place next May 23, is titled “One Community, Many Perspectives” and will explore how building capacity includes providing the foundation and structure necessary to support and move diversity and inclusion forward at Boston College. For information and updates, see www.bc.edu/diversity.
Lee Pellegrini
Foundation work began in July for the Connell Recreation Center, on the former site of Edmond’s Hall.
More than 200 faculty and staff gathered in Gasson Hall on May 24 for Boston College’s 2017 Diversity and Inclusion Summit, a daylong event that explored promising practices that contribute to BC’s commitment to enhancing a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive community that respects all and fosters dialogue within the University’s Jesuit, Catholic tradition. The Office for Institutional Diversity sponsored the summit, titled “Learn, Reflect, Engage.” It was BC’s second Diversity and Inclusion Summit, following the inaugural event in June 2016. The event included opening remarks from University President William P. Leahy, SJ, a keynote address by Daryl G. Smith, senior
Boston College Institute for Scientific Research Director Partricia Doherty welcomed attendees at a workshop on space weather co-organized by the institute with the United Nations and NASA.
The world’s leading scientists in the field of space weather gathered at Boston College from July 31-Aug. 4 for a global forum to develop an international policy to address space weather. The forum, titled “The United Nations/United States of America Workshop on the International Space Weather Initiative,” was organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, NASA, and Boston College’s Institute for Scientific Research. More than 150 scientists and pol-
IN MEMORIAM •Eugene Bronstein, 22-year faculty member at the Carroll School of Management, 92. Read the full obituary at http://bit.ly/eugene-bronstein •Patricia A. (Lyons) O’Kane ’78, former assistant director of the Boston College Pre-Medical Advising Office, 67. Read the full obituary at http://bit.ly/patricia-okane •Justin A. Lloyd, a senior in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences from Milton, Mass., 23. Read the full obituary at http://bit.ly/justin-lloyd
icymakers representing 50 countries and international organizations discussed advances made in the knowledge of space weather phenomena near Earth and interplanetary space, as well as the economic and societal effects of extreme space weather. The workshop marked the 10th anniversary of the International Space Weather Initiative, a mission to advance space weather science through instrument deployment, analysis of data, and communication of results to the public. The space weather experts, including instrument operators and data providers, assessed achievements made over the past decade in terms of the development of science, capacity building, and outreach. The scientists’ goal is to forecast near-Earth space weather in order to better mitigate extreme space weather. For more information, see https:// iswi2017.bc.edu.
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Plan Presents ‘Compelling Direction’
Continued from page 1 al, spiritual, and cultural — remains a central focus of BC’s strategic initiatives. The University will make use of existing and new spaces to support formational activities for students, and invest in programs that enable graduate and professional students to take fuller advantage of opportunities related to personal and professional formation. For faculty and staff, new programs will
the natural sciences, mathematics, computer and data science, business and other areas that will combine elements of technology, entrepreneurship and engineering. The plan calls for investments in select graduate programs and an expansion of online and hybrid course offerings. “Ever to Excel” will enable the University to expand its presence and impact in Greater Boston, across
Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead: “We believe that this plan presents a bold vision for the future, one that will help to leverage the University’s strengths and build upon the momentum that has enabled Boston College to secure its place among the nation’s best universities.” Gary Wayne Gilbert
foster engagement with BC’s Jesuit, Catholic mission. Expansive formation initiatives include enhancing BC’s “culture of care and welcome for all.” The plan calls for an evaluation and strengthening of efforts to support diverse communities on campus and provide care and opportunity for all who study and work at the University. The plan also places a heightened emphasis on the promotion of scholarship and research, with an eye toward a broad expansion of interdisciplinary work. In addition to providing new classroom, laboratory and innovation space, the new Institute for Integrated Science and Society will spur the development of new interdisciplinary courses in
the US and throughout the world. The University will strengthen existing partnerships and establish new ones to assist communities in Boston and the surrounding region, and work to extend the expertise of faculty, centers and institutes, and schools and colleges to city and town governments and non-profit groups. In addition to its enduring commitment to make a Boston College education available to all admitted undergraduate students regardless of financial need, the University will also expand financial aid programs for graduates of selected Jesuit secondary schools to strengthen BC’s connections with the international Jesuit network, as well as attract an increasing number of lay, religious, and priests from around the world
to study in Chestnut Hill. Under the plan, the University’s internationalization initiatives will also come under a more coordinated structure, including an expansion of the undergraduate international studies major with additional faculty and a revised curriculum. The new, 10-year plan advances a trajectory set over the course of the past decade by the previous Strategic Plan and the University’s landmark, $1.6-billion Light the World campaign, a period which saw BC rise to the top 31 institutions in the US News & World Report rankings and achieve recognition as an “R1” institution – a designation assigned by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education to doctoral universities with the highest levels of research activity. “Since launching the University Strategic Planning Initiative, we have had the opportunity to hear from students, faculty, deans, staff and trustees through town halls, cross-disciplinary assessment teams, roundtables, alumni leadership events and board meetings,” said Lochhead. “These efforts have resulted in a Strategic Plan that presents a compelling direction for the coming decade through a series of important and coordinated initiatives that the University intends to advance. We believe that this plan presents a bold vision for the future, one that will help to leverage the University’s strengths and build upon the momentum that has enabled Boston College to secure its place among the nation’s best universities.” For information on the University Strategic Planing Initiative, see www. bc.edu/strategicplan Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
Convocation Topics: Strategic Plan, Progress, Challenges
Continued from page 1 beings, come to teach, research, inquire, learn, debate, sometimes disagree, and do so respectfully,” said Fr. Leahy, adding that it incumbent on administrators, faculty and staff “to model compassion and community, and help our students to have a moral compass that enables them to make sound decisions and lead healthy, productive lives.” Lochhead highlighted several positive indicators in budget and finance areas – a $490 million increase in assets offsetting new debt of $245 million to finance construction, and an endowment performance that places BC in the top quartile of endowment returns tracked by Cambridge Associates – and praised strong management by the Vice President for Finance division and “all those who work so hard to steward the University’s resources.” BC is well-positioned in terms of
operating and capital resource capacity to support the goals of the Strategic Plan, Lochhead said – notably investments in academic programs and capital priorities – and will benefit from an improved integration of strategic, operational and capital planning efforts. Echoing Fr. Leahy’s remarks, Lochhead noted that, given current economic and political uncertainty, BC will need to closely assess factors affecting tuition and student fees, financial aid strategies, construction and employment-related costs, among other areas. He also reviewed the progress of major campus construction projects – such as the Connell Recreation Center, the athletic field house, Brighton Athletic Fields, and the Devlin Hall Admission and Visitor Center [see page 4] – and touched on future initiatives tied to the Strategic Plan, including construction of
the Institute for Integrated Science and Society and increased formal and informal spaces to be used for student life and formation programs or activities. Quigley – who, in his talk on “Ever to Excel,” said the plan affords opportunities for BC “to take even greater leadership in liberal arts education” – reported on a number of academic-related updates, including a successful site visit last March by a group of educators as part of BC’s 10-year reaccreditation, and the third year of the Core Curriculum renewal initiative. He also noted that 46 percent of this year’s new faculty members are female, and – among new full-time and tenure-track faculty – 46 percent are AHANA. But such progress should not be a cause for complacency, he added: “It’s something we should focus on every year.”
UGBC President Akosua Opokua-Achampong ’18 and Boston College administrators greeted the Class of 2021 at the University Welcome in Conte Forum last Saturday. (Photo by Christopher Huang)
BC Program to Aid Mexican Police Development Initiative Continued from page 1 The Mexican Police Professionalization program reflects the new direction for GLI, whose offerings enhance leadership skills, enlarge professional networks and expand expertise. In its incarnation as the Irish Institute, it was a locus for programs and initiatives aimed at supporting reconciliation between Ireland and Northern Ireland through increased mutual understanding and cross-border partnerships. In recent years, the institute has broadened its geographical scope to include other regions – notably the Middle East and North Africa – while also taking a broader role within the University to aid international outreach. “This is a big leap forward, and hopefully the first of many opportunities for GLI to put its philosophy and practices to work on a grand scale,” said GLI Executive Director Robert Mauro. “The hallmark of our approach is our ‘four pillars’ – learning, reflection, application and networking. With those as a foundation, our programs utilize Boston College faculty and cutting-edge researchers, and integrate the distinctive Jesuit philosophy integral to BC’s academic and formational mission.” GLI has considerable experience in working with police forces, Mauro noted, pointing to past Irish Institute programs on community policing for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Ireland’s Garda Síochána. The impetus for the professionalization program reflects changes and trends in Mexican law enforcement over the past several years, Mauro explained. “In the past, the police force was largely built on patronage, but Mexico wants to change that: They want law enforcement to be a career choice, one for which people are trained and have standards they must meet.” As part of that transition, he added, com-
munity oversight, “which had largely been a courtesy on the part of police,” is now law – and there are penalties for police officers who commit violations. The seminars at BC – led by faculty from Political Science, Sociology, the Law School, School of Social Work and Carroll School of Management, among others – will provide Mexican officers with an overview of guidelines, practices and issues that inform American law enforcement such as the structure of the US government as it relates to police-public relations; American attitudes on justice and accountability; and administration and managerial facets of US police. While in Boston, the participants will meet with state and local police officers as well as representatives from the state Office of the Attorney General, local social services organization Roca, and police-youth relations experts in the judiciary system. “The hope is that the participants in the professionalism program will take on leadership roles in their individual organizations,” said Mauro. “But these officers are very inexperienced – few have any law enforcement background – and they’ll need resilience and fortitude as they work to help change long-held attitudes and practices in the police force. “That’s why we want the officers to connect with one another, and with American peers, so they will have a network of expertise on which to draw. It’s also important for them to leave with some practical tools and strategic, managerial principles that will enable them to actualize what they’ve learned. “We are confident that, with GLI’s track record in building partnerships, the institute can be a key player in the professionalization of the Mexican police.”
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Irish music throughout Europe and North America. The event will take place at Connolly House, 300 Hammond Street. On Oct. 3, Kieran Jordan, who teaches Irish dance at BC, will lead a traditional Irish céilí dance in Gasson 100. The evening will consist of easy-to-learn social dances taught by Jordan, and are open to anyone regardless of experience. Live music will be provided by fiddler Sheila Falls Keohane, Irish Studies Program faculty member and interim director of Gaelic Roots, along with Irish Studies students and friends. Concluding the semester on Dec. 7 in the Cadigan Alumni Center will be “A Celtic Christmas,” with singer and musician Nórín Ní Riain and her sons Owen and Mícheál Moley Ó Súilleabháin. Ní Riain, who as a visiting faculty member at BC in 1990 was part of an effort to establish Irish music as a presence at the University, is an authority on Celtic music as well as sacred and spiritual songs from across the ages. One of
Nórín Ní Riain and her sons Owen and Mícheál Moley Ó Súilleabháin will present “A Celtic Christmas” as part of the fall Gaelic Roots Series.
– often portrayed as remote and isolated – has long been influenced by global cultural flows, and how these changes have been expressed in the area’s traditional music. Following his talk, Ó hAllmhuráin will turn to his talents as a musician – an All-Ireland champion on concertina and uilleann pipes and member of Ireland’s distinguished Kilfenora Céilí Band, with a discography that includes “Traditional Music from Clare and Beyond” and “Tracin’.” He has performed, broadcast, adjudicated and lectured on
her most famous collaborations was a trio of recordings with the Benedictine monks of Glenstal Abbey, and she’s also performed with artists such as Sinead O’Connor, John Cage and Paul Winter. “A Celtic Christmas” will feature song and story, celebrating the wisdom, charm and wit of the Celtic tradition. Registration is requested for the Sept. 13 and Dec. 7 events. Go to www.bc.edu/gaelicroots for registration links and more information. –Sean Smith
Joane Etienne (left), a program assistant for the PULSE Program for Service Learning, talked with freshmen at the “University Opportunities” event in Conte Forum last week. (Photo by Christopher Huang)
the Burns Library Visiting Scholar in Irish Studies in the fall of 2015, Murphy has pursued a career as both an historian of fiction as well as a political historian. Among his publications, he is the author of Irish Novelists and the Victorian Age, Abject Loyalty: Nationalism and Monarchy in Ireland During the Reign of Queen Victoria, Ireland’s Czar: Gladstonian Government and the Lord Lieutenancies of the Red Earl Spencer, 1868-1886, and editor of the 19th-century volume of
BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
After serving as interim director of the Boston College Center for Irish Programs during the 2016-17 academic year, James H. Murphy, CM, was appointed as the center’s director this summer. Murphy becomes the third director in the history of the center, established in 2000 to coordinate the University’s academic, research, cultural and other activities in Irish affairs. The center encompasses the Irish Studies Program, renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to the study of Irish culture and society; the John J. Burns Library’s esteemed Irish Collection of famous authors, artists and other personalities; BC-Ireland, which incorporates a growing range of activities and services housed at its Dublin-based facility; the Irish Institute, which engages with Irish policymakers; and the Gaelic Roots Series, which presents concerts and other events to feature music and dance traditions of Ireland, Scotland and the United States. “It’s a tremendous honor to be named director of Boston College’s Irish programs,” said Murphy, formerly a professor of English at DePaul University. “DePaul was a wonderful place in which to work, and I’m grateful for the time I spent there. But the opportunity to be at Boston College, the premier university for Irish programs, is an exciting one. I look forward to building on the many positive experiences I’ve had here.” Murphy noted that next spring will be the 40th anniversary of the BC Irish Studies Program’s founding by Associate Professor of History Kevin O’Neill and Professor of English Adele Dalsimer (who died in 2000). “Irish Studies proved to be a strong, foundational program, directed by two inspirational leaders, and paved the way for the rich, diverse offerings in Irish history, literature, arts and culture we enjoy here at BC.” Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, SJ, said, “James Murphy is an internationally known scholar, and the leadership he has shown in the past year will be instrumental in helping move our Irish Studies program forward at a time when the field of Irish Studies worldwide is at a crossroads. We are fortunate to have a director with great thoughtfulness and collegiality here as the important discussion about the contemporary mission of Irish studies as a field takes shape at Boston College.” A Vincentian priest who was
outreach; and the Gaelic Roots Series, an important connection to the music community in Boston and elsewhere.” Murphy also cited the networks created through the Irish programs of the Global Leadership Institute (which now incorporates the Irish Institute) and the many Irishthemed exhibitions hosted by the McMullen Museum of Art as other signs of vitality in Irish programs and initiatives at BC. Echoing Fr. Kalscheur’s com-
Lee Pellegrini
Boston College’s Gaelic Roots Series – which explores Irish, Scottish, American and related folk music traditions through concerts, talks and other events – kicks off its fall schedule on Sept. 13 with a lecture and concert by Irish musician and scholar Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin. Supported through the Center for Irish Programs in collaboration with the Alumni Association, all Gaelic Roots events are free and open to the public and begin at 6:30 p.m. Ó hAllmhuráin, the bilingual Johnson Chair in Quebec and Canadian Irish Studies at Concordia University in Montreal, will present his new book Flowing Tides: History and Memory in an Irish Soundscape, which focuses on one of Ireland’s most storied musical regions, Clare. Combining historical research with contemporary voices of oral music historians, and based on 30 years of fieldwork in Ireland and among Irish communities in the US and Britain, Ó hAllmhuráin describes how Clare
Murphy to Head BC’s Irish Programs
“[There] is a general feeling that Irish studies should be part of a wider discussion, connecting the history and culture of Ireland to those elsewhere in the world through comparative studies.” –Director of Irish Programs James Murphy, CM
the Oxford History of the Irish Book. He holds two doctorates from University College Dublin and is also a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, Maynooth University and the University of London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Murphy described his tenure as Burns Scholar and interim director as a series of revelations and impressions that convinced him to take the helm on a permanent basis. “The teaching and research I did here as Burns Scholar was very satisfying, and I was struck by the liveliness in the Irish Studies Program,” he explained, citing as examples the major conference organized by Irish Studies to mark the 150th anniversary of William Butler Yeats’ birth, and the Raidin’ the Wake reading group devoted to Finnegans Wake. “I also appreciated the welcoming, friendly reception I received from the Irish Studies faculty and staff. “During the past year, as interim director, I was able to get a wider view of BC’s Irish programs and the wonderful resources of Irish Studies, which enable us to put on excellent conferences and invite top speakers to campus. We are also fortunate to have the Burns Library, with its special Irish archival material; BC-Ireland, and what it provides for students and scholarly activities as well as BC’s
ments about the future of the Irish studies field, Murphy said that at the time BC’s Irish Studies Program was created, scholarly work in the discipline tended to center on issues related to The Troubles, and Ireland’s post-colonial identity. “Time and events have moved on, of course, and there is a general feeling that Irish studies should be part of a wider discussion, connecting the history and culture of Ireland to those elsewhere in the world through comparative studies.” Murphy said he would encourage the Irish Studies faculty – “a very distinguished group” – to continue and expand interaction with scholars from other disciplines, at BC and elsewhere. He also spoke approvingly of providing resources for conferences and other events that would be of interest to wider audiences, and would produce publications. “In general, I hope our work is marked by tolerance and inclusiveness, and shows balance and openness to perspectives on various issues,” said Murphy. “As we draw nearer to the start of Irish Studies’ fifth decade at BC, I feel confident about the future of our Irish programs.” Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu
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OBITUARY
Horace Seldon, a former part-time faculty member in the Philosophy Department whose course on racism in American history was a perennial favorite among Boston College undergraduates, died at his home in Wakefield, Mass., on Aug. 17. He was 93. A native of Haverhill, Mr. Seldon was the founder and longtime executive director of Community Change Inc., a nonprofit group that seeks to address racial issues through a variety of community activities, and which became one of the community service field placements for BC’s PULSE Program. In 1980, Mr. Seldon expanded his BC association when he began teaching History and Development of Racism in the USA through the Philosophy Department, through which he helped undergraduates explore the formation of American racial attitudes, as well as methods used to combat racism throughout US history. “As a society, we need to try and understand this complexity,” he said in a 2003 interview with Chronicle. “And that is even more important for young people who have never witnessed or experienced racism, or who doubt its very existence.” Carroll School of Management Associate Dean Richard Keeley – who as director of PULSE at the time invited Mr. Seldon to teach at BC – remarked to Chronicle on the course’s popularity: “Students constantly talk about how valuable the course has been as a forum for discussing race in America. Horace lays out the background and invites people into the discussion without making them feel as if they’ve been put on the spot.” Mr. Seldon said the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. had spurred him to fight racism, and led him to form CCI. Under his direction, the organization provided civil rights leadership development and internship programs, sponsored forums, conferences and other events – including performances of “The Man Nobody Saw,” a play about institutionalized racism – and honored Greater Boston residents’ anti-racism efforts with a series of award ceremonies. In 1998, President Clinton recognized CCI as among 300 “promising practices” for improving race relations in the US. Speaking with Chronicle, Mr. Seldon said that despite the
Lee Pellegrini
Horace Seldon, 93; Taught Popular Undergraduate Course on Racism
Horace Seldon in 2003.
gains he’d witnessed, total victory against racism was unlikely – which for him made the struggle all the more important. “The permanence of racism doesn’t mean you give up, any more than you give up if you’re an alcoholic trying to quit drinking. To simply despair is no longer possible, so even as you live with racism, you shake your fist at it and fight it.” Mr. Seldon added that talking with his students was therapeutic. “The quality of students in my class has, over the years, gotten better and better. I find myself stimulated and energized by their questions and comments, their struggles with the issues and their willingness to be open.” The University chose Mr. Seldon as the namesake for one of its Advanced Study Grants, which support research and other projects by undergraduates who display scholarly initiative and imagination. Among the projects funded by the Horace Seldon grant have been research on antiSemitism on college campuses, a study on criminal defense investigation for indigent clients, and development of a self-sustaining educational program for at-risk young mothers. Mr. Seldon, a graduate of Amherst College and the Andover Newton Theological School, was an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He is survived by his sons, David and Gary, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A celebration of Mr. Seldon’s life will take place on Oct. 21, the date of the 1835 Women’s March of Courage, when members of the Boston Female AntiSlavery Society marched through a mob that had nearly lynched abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. For information on the event, see horaceseldon.com. –University Communications
BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE MEDIA Boston College faculty members offered their perspectives to the media on various issues related to race in America in the wake of racially-tinged violence in Charlottesville, Va., earlier this month: Recalling his personal experiences in a post for Patheos, Assoc. Prof. Shawn McGuffey (Sociology; African and African Diaspora Studies) drew links between Confederate monuments and the events in Charlottesville and suggested action steps in response to white supremacy. Assoc. Prof. Hosffman Ospino (STM) wrote on the challenges facing Hispanics in a commentary running via Catholic News Service. Canisius Professor and Jesuit Institute Director James Keenan, SJ, reflected on the University of Virginia incident in an op-ed for the Chronicle of Higher Education. Prof. Heather Cox Richardson (History) commented to The New York Times on the expanding call for removal of Confederate and other monuments. Assoc. Prof. Daniel Lyons (Law) explained in a piece for Wired why
we can’t download all the streaming media we want. Is there a retirement crisis? For many Americans, the situation remains serious, said Center for Retirement Research Director Alicia Munnell in an interview with CNBC. As heated rhetoric escalated between the US and North Korea, Prof. Robert Ross (Political Science) discussed the role of China in resolving the conflict, in an oped published by the Boston Herald. Working longer isn’t necessarily a bad thing, said Center on Aging and Work Co-Director Jackie James, who discussed research on the positive relationship between working and health with WGBH News. Inflation persistently below targets is a reason not to clamor for more interest rate hikes, Murray and Monti Professor of Economics Peter Ireland explained in an interview with the New York Times.
NOTA BENE Four banners in the O’Neill Library atrium received an Award of Excellence in the 2017 University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Competition, which recognizes the best of the exceptional design work done by communication professionals to promote educational institutions. Installed in the library in the fall of 2016, two of the fabric panels depict Society of Jesus founder St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556); the other two feature Gasson Hall tower and Stokes Hall, the University’s newest academic building, which opened in 2013. The design of the banners is credited to Senior Graphic Designer Monica DeSalvo and Art Director Diana Parziale of the Office of University Communications. Boston College Magazine editor Ben Birnbaum and University Communications Senior Editor Maureen Dezell provided historical research for the Ignatius-related banners, with help from Seth Meehan and Robert Maryks of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies. Bapst Library was selected by Architectural Digest as one of the world’s 18 most “stunning” universities libraries. The article praises Bapst’s Gothic structure “that features beautifully arched windows throughout, bringing in an abundance of natural light.” Others on the list include Trinity College Library at University of Dublin; Duke Humfrey’s and Queens College libraries, Oxford University; Peabody Library, Johns Hopkins University; Joe and Rika Mansueto Library, University of Chicago; University of Salamanca Library (Spain); and Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. The NonProfit Times included Boston College Law Professor Ray Madoff in its “Power and Influence Top 50” list of individuals who have had an impact on the philanthropic/nonprofit sector. Madoff was recognized for her work in estate planning and accelerating payout on donor advised-funds.
Companies historically have steered clear of trying to determine what is good and what is evil – but that may be changing, Prof. Gerald Kane (CSOM) told Bloomberg News. Asst. Prof. Jeffrey Cohen (Law) spoke with WBUR News about comments from one of the jurors in the “Top Chef ” case – in which four local Teamsters charged with attempted extortion where acquitted – who said federal prosecutors never came close to proving their case. In a Q&A with Metro US, Prof. Andrew Jorgenson (Sociology and Environmental Studies) discussed a draft of a major report by scientists from 13 federal agencies concluding that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now, and that human activities are largely responsible. Prof. Kent Greenfield (Law) spoke with PBS Newshour on the growing number of businesses that report approaching their enterprises with an eye to environmental sustainability and workers’ rights.
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: Administrative & Program Assistant, Academic Affairs/Provost Director of Development, Law School Director, Advancement Talent, University Advancement Communications Specialist, Connell School of Nursing Associate Vice President, Principal Gifts, University Advancement Instructional Media Producer, Academic Affairs/Provost Research Associate, Academic Affairs/Provost Senior Philanthropic Advisor, University Advancement Third Cook, Dining & Catering Producer, ACC Network Production, Athletics Senior HRIT Analyst, Human Resources Special Collections Cataloging Librarian, Academic Affairs/ Provost Events Assistant, Alumni Chapters, University Advancement Associate Director, TRIO Program, Academic Affairs/Provost
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ALSO IN CAMPUS ARTS Gaelic Roots Series
(page 6)
Next issue: A look at the fall Lowell Humanities Series
Trio of Exhibitions Enliven McMullen Museum of Art This Fall developments with a rich array of more than 120 seldom-seen works, most from the leading private collection of Belgian art in America, assembled by Charles Hack for the Hearn Family Trust. Illustrating the birth of landscape art, the exhibition opens with important master prints and drawings from the 16th and 17th centuries, by artists including Pieter Bruegel, Hieronymus Cock, Paul Brill, and Roelandt Savery. The next major concentration of works showcases mid-19th-century realists, especially the School of Tervuren. Rare symbolist landscapes from the turn of the century are another highlight, featuring such artists as Fernand Khnopff, William Degouve de Nuncques, George Minne, and Léon Spilliaert.
BY ROSANNE PELLEGRINI STAFF WRITER
Taking advantage of the expanded gallery space provided by the state-of-the-art venue it has occupied since its reopening in September 2016, the McMullen Museum of Art will mount three concurrent exhibitions for the fall season. Two of the displays will offer a fresh exploration of the genre of landscape painting — one of the most popular art forms — including works from an outstanding private collection rarely on view to the public; the third will introduce the New England audience to one of the first Latin American abstract artists of the 20th century. “‘Nature’s Mirror’ and ‘New England Sky’ explore the landscapes of Belgium and New England, respectively, against the backdrop of splendid views of the surrounding land and cityscape visible through the museum’s glass atrium and from the terrace, encouraging contemplation of the boundaries between observation and artistry and of how landscape both shapes human lives and is shaped by humans,” said McMullen Director and Professor of Art History Nancy Netzer. “‘The Abstract Cabinet’ continues the McMullen’s commitment to bringing Latin American artists into the art historical canon and exploring their development of a distinct abstract style.” The exhibitions will be accompanied by an array of events for its members, BC faculty, staff, students,
Fernand Khnopff’s “The Bridge at Fosset” (above) and Esteban Lisa’s “Composicion” are among the works on display at McMullen Museum of Art exhibitions this fall.
and alumni, as well as the general public, including Second Saturdays children’s programs, weekly docent tours, members-only Q&A sessions, Museum Current lectures, and the new “Into the Collection” series of rarely displayed pieces from the museum’s permanent collection. Most events are free and open to the public; details and registration information, as well as other information about hours and tours, can be found on the McMullen Museum of Art website [www. bc.edu/artmuseum]. A special preview day of the exhibitions will be held on Sept. 17 from noon-5 p.m. for faculty, staff, students and museum members. Register to attend at http://bit.ly/ mcmullen-preview. Here’s a brief look at the three exhibitions, each with an accompanying catalogue – read more at http:// bit.ly/mcmullen-fall2017. “Nature’s Mirror: Reality and Symbol in Belgian Landscape,”
Daley Family Gallery, Sept. 10– Dec. 10 Art in the region of Belgium and the Netherlands has been known since the Renaissance for innovations in realistic representation of visual appearances and for an extraordinary fluency in symbolism. The development of landscape as an independent genre was fostered by new market forces and artistic concerns in Belgium in the 16th century, and landscape emerged as a major focus for 19th-century realist and symbolist artists. Curated by Boston College Professor of Art History Jeffery Howe in collaboration with other renowned Belgian and American scholars, “Nature’s Mirror” traces these landmark
BC SCENES
“Esteban Lisa: The Abstract Cabinet,” Monan Gallery, Sept. 16– Dec. 10 “The Abstract Cabinet” features paintings by Spanish-Argentinian Esteban Lisa (1895–1983), a pioneering artist, along with Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres García, of Latin American abstraction. The McMullen exhibition marks the first showing of the artist’s work in New England, curated by Romance Languages and Literatures Lecturer Elizabeth T. Goizueta. Lisa was an influential figure in Buenos Aires’s cultural life as an art educator and writer during the middle of the last century, according to Netzer, but his own paintings remained largely unknown until after his death in 1983. Embracing Kant, Einstein, and Picasso (and publishing a manifesto on them in 1956), Lisa believed that abstract art informed by philosophy, science, aesthetics, music, and ethics could provide a clearer understanding of his theories. Spe-
cifically, he promoted his theory of “cosmovisión” – a blend of spiritual enlightenment, philosophy of science, and creativity. Lisa joined Torres García in embracing a new consciousness in Latin America, imbuing geometric art with a spiritual dimension. Wedding his theory of abstract art to philosophy and science, Lisa strove to spread this utopian vision in Latin America through writings and lectures.
“New England Sky: Alston Conley,” Atrium, Sept. 10–Dec. 10 “New England Sky” showcases the tree and sky collages of BC Professor of the Practice of Art Alston Conley. The artist’s skyscapes build on the landscape tradition established centuries ago in Belgium and the Netherlands, attesting to an enduring desire by artists to “mirror nature” wherever it may be. “I live under a New England sky,” Conley explains. “The light, its color, intensity, sensation, season, and length of day influence my psyche, mood, interior life, and art practice. The long hours of daylight during summer and short hours during winter define our seasons, influence our lives, and distance us from our southern neighbors. The low sun, color-rich light, and long shadows of early morning or end of the day often silhouette the horizon or individual trees in shadow, while the light fills the sky.” Conley uses both paint and collage to create his skyscapes. For his collages, he cuts paper forms with a razor knife, creating almost sculptural shapes that he silhouettes against a painted sky. Like French artist Henri Matisse, he carves into color; flattened trees overlap his radiant backgrounds, primarily landscapes of Maine and Massachusetts where he resides.
MOVING EXPERIENCE Photos by Frank Curran
Boston College undergraduates arrived on campus en masse during last week, with the assistance not only of family members but the BC Welcome Wagon – volunteer students who helped move various belongs into residence halls. Above right, a volunteer lent a hand to Olivia Harris ’21 and her family. Near right, Baldwin joined in the fun, assisting Elyse Messick ’21 and her father Chip. Far right, Welcome Wagon members take a breather.