The Boston College
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Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs
INSIDE:
McRoy, 3 Padilla, student-athletes earn honors
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‘Splash’ makes debut at BC
profs, 5 2100Economics yrs. teaching
november 18, 2010—vol. 19 no. 6
Two BC Students in the Running for Rhodes sue advanced studies at the University of Oxford in England. “Amanda and Leon are unusually talented and active,” said Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs Donald Hafner, a professor of political science who is the coordinator for the Rhodes Trust Scholarships on campus. “Rhodes Scholarships have a particular orientation in that they are for people who intend to go on in public life in their own communities. The curriculum that we have here is an excellent foundation for students who propose to do that with their lives.” Rothschild, who plans to study for a doctorate in international politics, says that opportunities for academic research at Boston College were key factors in the success so far of her Rhodes application. “After my freshman year,
By Reid Oslin Staff Writer
Boston College seniors Amanda Rothschild and Leon Ratz have been named finalists for Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international educational fellowships and one of academia’s most coveted post-graduate prizes. Rothschild and Ratz, both political science majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, will participate in the final round of interviews this Saturday with hopes of being among the 32 winners of the prestigious academic honor. Rhodes Scholarship recipients will be announced at the conclusion of candidate interviews in 16 districts across the nation. There are two winners in each district, each earning scholarships to pur-
Amanda Rothschild and Leon Ratz will find out this weekend if they have been selected for Rhodes Scholarships. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
Putting Renewed Faith Into Action Community (BIC), a coalition of Catholic parishes, Protestant congregations, one synagogue, a Cape Verdean association and a Catholic college. In her two-anda-half years with BIC, Carreiro has worked to ease the impact of foreclosures on unemployed and troubled homeowners in the city while also tackling issues surrounding youth violence and diversity in the public schools. Her efforts on behalf of Brockton’s low-income and disenfranchised people have been recognized by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development — the anti-poverty program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) — which selected her as winner of the 13th
She was ‘mad at God,’ but Janine Carreiro’s belief was stronger
Graduate School of Social Work student Janine Carreiro takes pride in her life-long Catholic faith, but acknowledges that it was sorely tested by her two-year stint as a missionary in civil wartorn East Timor. The violence and suffering she witnessed there were bad enough, but Carreiro also discovered that a country-wide rice shortage — so bad she had given her supply to a desperately needy family — had been exploited by government officials angling for political gain, at a time when malaria was killing children in families she had come to know. Seeing so many people beset by circumstances over which they had no control, and with no voice to demand fairness and justice, was beyond traumatic. By the time she had returned to her native Swansea, Mass., Carreiro recalls, she found herself confronting an oft-asked question: “Why did God let this happen?” “I was mad at God, but my faith was stronger,” says Carreiro. “I realized that it had nothing to do with God: He loves us. It is up to us to make a difference in our lives, and in the lives of others.” Carreiro has turned that revelation to action as a staff member of Brockton Interfaith
Suzanne Camarata
By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor
annual Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award. Carreiro was presented with the award at the USCCB annual meeting in Baltimore on Monday. “Janine is a smart, caring, committed and strategic community organizer,” says GSSW part-time faculty member William Allen. “She has skillfully engaged, supported and motivated members of faith communities in Brockton to work to achieve a more just society. She understands the importance of establishing productive working relationships with a wide range of community leaders in Brockton.” When she joined BIC, Carreiro quickly discovered the Continued on page 5
Graduate School of Social Work student Janine Carreiro (second from right), winner of the Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award, works with Brockton faith communities to help people severely affected by the economic crisis.
I got an Advanced Study Grant to study anti-Semitism,” she says. “And, at the end of my junior year, I got a thesis Advanced Study Grant to do research on the genocide convention at the United Nations in Geneva. “The advanced study grants were really important,” says Rothschild, a student in the A&S Honors Program from Sherborn, Mass., who will complete her Rhodes interview in Boston. “I was also able to take graduate seminars in security studies with Professor Tim Crawford last spring, and I was able to use that term paper to do research on genocide, which really kicked off my [honors] thesis. I developed a typology on reasons for why the international community has failed to intervene during genoContinued on page 3
Review Process Making Strides Across University Faculty, administrators cite APR for progress in departments’ operations, services and outreach By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs
As part of the University’s Strategic Plan and its ongoing effort to improve services and workplace efficiency, Boston College launched the Administrative Program Review (APR) process in 2006 with the goal of reviewing each administrative department within the University. Four years later, faculty and administrators say, that effort is paying tangible dividends through improved operations, enhanced services and expanded outreach in departments ranging from Procurement and Information Technology Services, to Residential Life and University Counseling. Created through the Office of the Executive Vice President and directed by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment, APR was designed by a University-wide committee with representatives from each of the vice presidential administrative divisions to create a cyclical programreview process that requires systematic assessment, planning, action and improvement across all administrative units, with the flexibility to accommodate each department’s unique role within the University. “The mission of the Adminis-
trative Program Review is to foster among the University’s administrative departments a culture that values self-examination, quality improvement, strategic thinking and mission-aligned planning,” said Executive Vice President Patrick J. Keating. “APR is a set of activities designed to help managers and employees examine their department’s current operations, make adjustments and establish plans for continuous improvements.” These activities include an internal self-assessment conducted by members of each department, a campus visit by peer experts from other leading universities, the implementation of an action plan for changes based on recommendations from the reviews, and ongoing monitoring and assessment. The process provides the departments with the tools to examine their respective missions and how they align with the University’s mission and Strategic Plan, while also identifying customer needs, opportunities for improvement, and action plans to achieve highquality performance results. Keating says the APR is a natural review process for a University that values assessment and planning, and one that the academic departments have already embraced. “With the announcement of the Strategic Plan in 2006, the Provost’s Office began a review of each academic unit, which prompted us to do the same on the administrative side,” said Keating. “The overall goal is to improve services and efficiency. Continued on page 4
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Chronicle november 18, 2010
A ROUND C AMPUS
Sounding the call
Gish Jen spoke with students (L-R) Caitlin Moran, Ben Key and Zak Jason after guest-teaching English Professor Elizabeth Graver’s class. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
Author Gish Jen visited Boston College Nov. 9-11 for a “mini-residency” that included a reading of her latest book, World and Town, and a dialogue and Q&A on Asian American Studies with Associate Professor of English Min Song. Jen also led an informal “book club”-style discussion with students and faculty in McGuinn 121. Although much of the conversation dealt with World and Town, she also gave her perspectives on various aspects of the craft of writing. Asked if she started work on her books with a general idea of what they would be about, Jen referred to a quote by E.L.
Doctorow in which he compared writing to driving at night when all one can see is what’s illuminated by the headlights. “That’s the way it is for me: I can see a little bit ahead, but I can’t see where I’m going, and I certainly can’t see the whole thing.” Relaxed and amiable, Jen sometimes poked fun at herself, such as when she felt her progress was slow: “You tell everyone what you were doing all morning, ‘I’m writing a novel.’ And then you go home and say, ‘Is it a novel? I don’t know, it’s very hard to say!’” In a discussion about making revisions, and when she considers
a book to be complete, Jen said it’s difficult for her to be completely satisfied with what she produces. She recalled that when she received a copy of her first published book, she found herself taking a pencil and making changes to the finished text. “That said, the book doesn’t go to press until it’s what I want,” she said, pausing to add: “Mostly.” Her dying wish, she quipped, “would probably be to do a little edit of all my books.” —SS Watch a video of Gish’s appearance on the Chronicle YouTube channel, at http://www.youtube. com/bcchronicle
year’s “Cleats for Kids” drive encouraged him to launch a similar effort. “We collected around 70 pairs of cleats, all sizable for children, which we delivered to the president of the El Bajo Lempa district so they could be evenly distributed throughout the different commu-
nities. We actually still have a good amount of cleats to bring down there, because when I returned to school last year after the trip to El Salvador, there were three duffle bags full of cleats that a mother had collected from her son’s middle school.” Seidler has created a Facebook page [http://on.fb.me/dAl5TA] with information about the drive and NEVOSH. He can be reached at seidlerh@bc.edu or (401)8624475. —SS
Share your shades Last year, Carroll School of Management sophomore Alex Seidler launched a campus drive to collect gently used soccer cleats for youths in El Salvador, where he had volunteered for a medical missionary, NEVOSH (Northeast Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity). This year, Seidler has organized a drive focusing on a different item: sunglasses. It’s not a matter of style, Seidler says: Salvadorans who are blind or suffering from cataracts need sunglasses to protect their eyes, but find them hard to come by. So by simply dropping off their gently used sunglasses at the Volunteer and Service Learning Center (McElroy 114) or Walsh 322 by the end of the fall semester, members of the Boston College community can help fill a great need. “NEVOSH’s original focus is to provide eye healthcare to lessfortunate people, including preventive efforts to avoid blindness and cataracts from the harsh Latin American sun,” Seidler explains. “To this effect, NEVOSH always hands out sunglasses to people at the clinic, but this past year, they had lost a resource that provided sunglasses to the group. In order to still help out and to help fill the void that this resource left, I decided to create the ‘Salvadoran Sunglasses’ drive.” Seidler says the success of last
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Chronicle ON Be sure to check out the Boston College Chronicle YouTube channel [www.youtube.com/bcchronicle] for video features on Boston College people, programs and events. New and upcoming videos include: •BC “Splash”: A slideshow of photos taken during the Nov. 6 “Splash” event on campus, when BC students served as professors for area high schoolers [see story on p. 4] •Gish Jen at Boston College: During her recent mini-residency at Boston College, acclaimed author Gish Jen held a “book club”-style discussion with students and faculty about her most recent work, World and Town. •Rena Finder: Holocaust survivor Rena Finder recently shared her story of strength, courage, and determination with BC students. Only 10 years old when her home was first invaded, Rena survived the Holocaust with the help of Oskar Schindler, whose efforts to save 1,200 Jewish workers is portrayed in the award-winning film “Schindler’s List.” The Boston College
Chronicle
Blogging the law Law School Assistant Professor Brian Quinn’s “M&A Law Prof Blog” has been named to LexisNexis’ Top 25 Business Law Blogs. Quinn’s blog, http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/mergers/, focuses on legal developments in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions. Lexis-Nexis writes that its top 25 provide “a wealth of information for the business law community.” “It’s nice to know someone reads it and finds value in it,” said Quinn, adding that the site started simply as a creative outlet to discuss his area of expertise with a non-traditional audience. “It is more work, but it is required. In the world we live in today students, other academics, and practitioners don’t necessarily have the Harvard Law Review on the shelf. They are on the web and if you are not talking to them on the web then you are not talking to them,” Quinn said.
The Arts Festival Committee has announced a “Call for Artists” for the 13th annual Boston College Arts Festival, which will take place April 28-30. All BC student and faculty programming requests for visual, performing or literary arts programs must be submitted to Arts Festival Director Cathi Fournier Ianno by the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 22. Submissions can be sent to the director at arts@bc.edu. New groups wishing to participate in the festival must meet with the director before the registration deadline. Visual and literary artists may wait until spring semester to submit work for the festival; however, festival organizers are looking for students with an interest in fashion design, jewelry-making and other artistic crafts. Graduate students with ideas for artistic participation are also encouraged to contact the director. For more about the Arts Festival, see http:// www.bc.edu/arts, e-mail arts@bc.edu or call ext.2-4935.
Director of NEWS & Public Affairs
Since he began the blog in May 2009, the site has generated a loyal following. Quinn has received numerous calls from other lawyers, members of the media, and other academics to discuss the topics he tackles – everything from live-blogging Delaware takeover cases to addressing Hugh Hefner’s bid to take Playboy Enterprises private to following the Red Sox purchase of the Liverpool Football Club. “There are a number of issues that are of interest to me and what I’ve found is that the same themes or patterns flow into my teaching and research,” said Quinn, adding that the blog allows him a forum to delve into topics more thoroughly, generate ideas for research topics and classroom discussion, or help students better understand news of the day. To see the complete list of the Lexis-Nexis Top 25 Business Law Blogs, visit http://bit.ly/bkkgT2. —MB
Jack Dunn Deputy Director of NEWS & Public AFFAIRS
Patricia Delaney Editor
Sean Smith Contributing Staff
Melissa Beecher Ed Hayward Reid Oslin Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Eileen Woodward Photographers
Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini 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 News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 (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 News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. Contact Chronicle via e-mail: chronicle@bc.edu. Electronic editions of the Boston College Chronicle are available via the World Wide Web at http://www.bc.edu/chronicle.
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Chronicle november 18, 2010
Associate Professor of Physics Willie J. Padilla has been named by President Obama as a recipient of a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Padilla, whose work is at the forefront of the creation of new types of “metamaterials,” is one of 85 researchers selected by the White House to receive the prestigious PECASE grant awards this year. “Science and technology have long been at the core of America’s economic strength and global leadership,” said President Obama, announcing the awards. “I am confident that these individuals, who have shown such tremendous promise so early in their careers, will go on to make breakthroughs and discoveries that will continue to move our nation forward in the years ahead.” Provost and Dean of Faculties Cutberto Garza said the young physicist’s award is fitting recognition for his leading research. “It is deeply satisfying when a prestigious honor is bestowed upon one of Boston College’s own,” Garza said. “I am delighted by the news of Professor Padilla’s well-deserved recognition by the White House. His scholarly accomplishments, creativity, and innovation are indeed impressive, having attracted national and international attention. “This award not only reflects positively on Professor Padilla, but speaks to the strengths found in the Department of Physics, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the University, and to our shared commitment to faculty excellence. It is an occasion for all of us to celebrate.” Padilla was quick to praise the support he’s received from his colleagues and the University since he joined the BC faculty in 2006.
Associate Professor of Physics Willie J. Padilla has been named by President Obama as a recipient of a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
“I’m honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Padilla. “I’m grateful to BC for their support of my research and extend my appreciation to my colleagues in Physics and researchers I’ve worked with in other departments. This award will allow me to further my research and to continue to teach and mentor Boston College undergraduate and graduate students.” A condensed matter experimental physicist, Padilla’s work has advanced the field by focusing on the performance of different varieties of metals used in the construction of metamaterials. Ferris Professor of Physics and Department Chairman Michael Naughton said Padilla’s research is on the cutting edge of metamaterials – metallic constructs that are given unique abilities through their novel architectures – and has been published in leading scientific journals, resulting in speaking engagements around the world. “Willie has been recognized as an emerging leader in his field,” said Naughton. “This grant really allows
him to invest his time and effort into pushing the field further and advancing this science at BC. His work is highly interdisciplinary and he’s looking into areas like biomedical uses of metamaterials and bringing more graduate and undergraduate students into the field. All of this helps to put BC in a leadership position in this area of science and technology.” “Your accomplishments at this early stage of your career highlight your extraordinary potential to catalyze the kinds of scientific and technological advances that have long been at the core of this nation’s strength,” John P. Holdren, assistant to the president for science and technology, said in announcing Padilla’s award. “I applaud your energy and ambition and look forward to your achieving even greater goals in the years go come.” Padilla becomes the first BC recipient of a PECASE award since 1996, when Earth and Environmental Sciences Associate Professor and Chair Gail Kineke received the grant. Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
Ratz, Rothschild Are Finalists for Rhodes Continued from page 1 cide. “I also served as Professor Crawford’s research assistant last year,” she says. “It really helped me learn how to do research at a higher level.” Rothschild says her interest in human rights stems from her own family’s experiences. “My grandparents on my father’s side were Holocaust survivors,” she notes. “I have always had that in the background. On a larger scale, I see non-intervention during genocide as a major case of indifference to people who are being killed for who they are.” Ratz, a Presidential Scholar from Fairlawn, NJ, in the A&S Honors Program, has focused his undergraduate research on the links between small arms trade and resulting human rights violations. “In the summer after freshman year, I received an Advanced
Study Grant to go to London and work for Amnesty International,” he says. “During my sophomore and junior year, I did research with Professor Hafner on various elements of the arms trade and the linkages one can make to violations of human rights. All of that is culminating with my senior thesis which deals with nuclear arms control.” Ratz says he would like to pursue a career in government foreign service, and a Rhodes Scholarship could go a long way in helping him realize that goal. “Oxford is home to some of the top scholars working in the field of arms control security,” he says. “There is also a center for ethics, law and armed conflict there. “I had been involved in Amnesty International for four or five years before I got into the field of arms control,” Ratz says. “I was reading a lot about the situ-
ations in Darfur and the Sudan, which are very horrific atrocities. I started thinking and asking myself questions about where they were getting these weapons. The guns are not coming from the sand in the Sahara.” Ratz feels Boston College opened many doors for him to explore this topic. “BC is the best place to do research. Faculty here are just so enthusiastic about their students getting involved in research and there are a lot of opportunities to get involved. BC does a terrific job in encouraging students to apply for research fellowships and grants.” Both Rothschild and Ratz will know their Rhodes fates not long after they complete Saturday’s rigorous interview sessions. “It’s like ‘American Idol,’” laughs Ratz, who will interview in New York City. “They tell you right away.”
GSSW’s McRoy Honored for Adoption Research Donahue/DeFelice Professor of Social Work Ruth McRoy was selected for the St. John’s University Outstanding Scholar in Adoption Award, which recognizes persons who have made substantial contribution to the field of adoption and promoted understanding of adoption-related issues. McRoy, who joined the Graduate School of Social Work faculty in 2009, has focused on topics such as outcomes of open adoption, transracial adoption, special needs adoption, African American adoptions, older child adoptions, successful adoptive families, post adoption services, barriers to adoptions from foster care, and adopted children in residential care. She has authored or co-authored eight books and more than 100 articles and book chapters on child welfare issues, received major research funding from public and private agencies, and earned prestigious honors from Black Administrators in Child Welfare and the Society for Social Work and Research, among others. “I am delighted to have been selected for this award as I have been studying and writing about adoption issues throughout my career,” said McRoy. “This honor means so much as it hopefully will provide more
Rose Lincoln
By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
Lee Pellegrini
Padilla Earns Presidential Award
Ruth McRoy
opportunities for me to draw attention to the needs of the approximately 424,000 children in the foster care system around the country. Of this number, 114,000 children — as of fiscal year 2009 — are awaiting adoption. My research has focused on these youth and finding ways to reduce their lengths of stay in the child welfare system, to reduce barriers to adoption, and to improve outcomes for birthparents, adoptive families and adopted youth.” McRoy received the award at the sixth annual biennial adoption conference held in October at St. John’s, where she also presented a keynote address. —Sean Smith
Student Athletes Win National Award for Service The Boston College StudentAthlete Advisory Committee has been named winner of the NCAA’s Division I National SAAC Award of Excellence for fall of 2010. The award recognizes the University’s wide-ranging and effective service programs in the Boston-area community and beyond. The community service outreach award follows another recent NCAA announcement that Boston College leads all Division I schools in the number of varsity sports teams with 100 percent graduation rates. [See http://bit. ly/c6pZbj] BC’s nearly 750 student-athletes take part in a dozen service projects, ranging from fundraisers for earthquake victims in Haiti to visiting children in Boston-area hospitals, all part of an organized outreach effort by both team members of the University’s 31 varsity squads and individual student-athletes who are involved in service and educational activities. Recent activities of Boston College’s SAAC group include: •An immersion service group that travelled to New Orleans and Poplarville, Miss., during last year’s winter break to assist in hurricane recovery efforts in the region. •A monthly “Food for Families” project to package and de-
liver food to needy families in the Boston area. •Regular visits by Boston College student-athletes to Boston’s Franciscan Hospital for Children and the Massachusetts Hospital School. •Multiple visits to local elementary and middle schools to mentor young pupils and encourage scholastic achievement. •Numerous fundraising activities for such causes as cancer research and treatment, homelessness and disaster relief. The NCAA’s Award of Excellence was established in 2009 to highlight the good work studentathletes accomplish away from intercollegiate athletic competition and to raise the profile of student-athlete advisory committees among student-athletes across the nation. “Our student-athletes and our coaches truly live up to our University mission: ‘Men and women for others,’” said University Athletics Director Gene DeFilippo. “When you look at the tremendous amount of community service accomplished by our student-athletes, along with our great graduation rates, our student-athletes are champions in the community and in the classroom as well as on the playing fields.” —Reid Oslin
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Chronicle november 18, 2010
Boston College Dips Toe Into ‘Splash’ Program Students get chance to play professor for a day, excite high-schoolers about higher education By Melissa Beecher Staff Writer
As a high school student, Hanyin Cheng ’12 got a memorable educational experience through “Splash” — a program founded at MIT in which college students teach high-schoolers classes they wish were offered at their university, such as “The Physics of Harry Potter” and “Cheesecake-ology.” The day was so enjoyable, in fact, Cheng didn’t want it to be his last “Splash.” “I really enjoyed the experience and making connections with undergrads who were just a couple years older then me,” said Cheng. “When I came to BC, I really wanted to bring a ‘Splash’ program here, because it was such a rewarding experience.” Joining up with UGBC, the Lynch School of Education, Student Affairs and numerous faculty members — and with help from MIT representatives — Cheng and fellow students Andrea Alfani ’12, Conor Sullivan ’13, Lisa Piccirillo ’13 and Matt Ricketson ’13 worked tirelessly this semester to devise a BC version of “Splash.” On Nov. 6, “Splash” made its Chestnut Hill debut, with hundreds of high school students from across New England — and even one from Canada — participating in classes taught by BC students in more than 30 classrooms across
campus. High-schoolers were able to take up to five classes during the session, which ran between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The curriculum included “From Bach to Rock: Intro to Music Appreciation,” “Fantasy Sports 101: An Intro to the World of Fantasy Football, Baseball, and Beyond” and “The Basics of Law: What You Can’t Learn on ‘Law and Order.’” Other courses included “Lady Gaga in Pop Culture,” “Introduction to Sociology through Trashy Reality TV” and “Why the ’70s Was the Greatest Movie Decade of All Time and Why Anyone Who Tells You Different is a Dirty Liar.” “BC students came up with topics that they are really passionate about and managed to fill the day with great experiences for their students,” said Cheng. “One high school student who took ‘The Art of Body Language’ wrote that during the class discussion he discovered a topic he hopes to pursue in college. That is exactly what we are hoping to do here – help students get inspired about education.” Cheng said he foresees BC holding another “Splash” event — which are now offered at colleges such as Harvard, Stanford, Duke and Northwestern, in addition to MIT — as early as this spring. “Honestly, we are looking at a much bigger vision, one that would include some BC alumni teaching events, in addition to expanding what we already have done successfully,” Cheng said. “One reason I think this was
such a success this year is due to the collaboration with MIT. Boston is such a college town and we don’t reach out enough to learn from, and collaborate with, other schools. This was a huge step forward in working with another school, working toward a common goal. “Above all else, ‘Splash’ shows that students can and do get excited about learning.” To learn more about “Splash” or future events, see the BC “Splash” website, http://bcsplash.learningu.org/ See a slideshow on “Splash” on the Chronicle YouTube channel [http:// www.youtube.com/bcchronicle] Contact Melissa Beecher at melissa.beecher@bc.edu
Hundreds of New England high school students came to campus Nov. 6 for “Splash,” where they took special classes — on topics ranging from music appreciation to fantasy sports to the basics of law — led by Boston College undergraduates, including Kathie Chang, in the blue T-shirt at above right, and Andrew Boni, at right. (Photos by Christopher Huang)
Administrative Program Review Seen As Making Positive Impact Continued from page 1 I think we have already achieved measurable improvements, with many more to come as the sevenyear process continues to unfold.” APR Director Michael Pimental says that by the end of June, APR will have reviewed a total of 21 administrative departments, with the remaining 26 to be reviewed over the next three years. The review is an ongoing process that is then repeated in seven years. “Thus far, departments have initiated several improvements as a result of the APR process that will benefit faculty, staff and the entire University community,” said Pimental. “They include improved operations through automating the employee change request process in Human Resources; redesigning and relocating mail services operations; centralizing counseling service units in one location; and expanding storage performance and capacity in the Data Center. They also include enhanced services by expanding student formation initiatives in Residential Life; improving the efficiency of dining purchasing practices; enhancing the Career Center’s visibility and outreach efforts, and improving procurement services.” Pimental sees other improve-
ments resulting from the APR recommendation for the improved use of technology, including expanding wireless networks on campus; installing new mail software to improve operations and service and improving the availability and functionality of websites for a number of departments. Additional improvements, he says, will also be achieved with the review of the remaining 26 departments. Kelli Armstrong, associate vice president for institutional research, planning and assessment, notes that all of these improvements have resulted from the self-study and the recommendations of peer reviewers from competitor schools such as Brown, Duke, Harvard, Notre Dame, Tufts and Yale. These schools and others have praised BC for undertaking such an extensive review of its administrative departments, a review that Armstrong concedes is rare in higher education. “When we present APR externally, it is always very well received, which
speaks to our strengths as an institution that values assessment and planning,” says Armstrong. Thus far, Pimental and University administrators have presented BC’s Administrative Program Review at the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Planning Conference, Northeast Association of Institutional Researchers, National Association of Student Affairs Professionals and the Southern
within the BC administration who say that the process has enabled them to improve productivity and service through the benefit of taking time to examine their operations. “There was a fair amount of trepidation from my department and a lot of other departments going into the process,” said Associate Vice President of University Counseling Dr. Thomas P. McGuinness. “However, in the end, we realized that it was a terrific opportunity to step back, “The overall goal is to improve revisit our mission and services and efficiency. I think we articulate it in a strategic have already achieved measurable way. “The process forces improvements, with many more you to be clear regardto come as the seven-year process ing what you are about continues to unfold.” as a department, and —EVP Patrick Keating enables you to identify areas that need improvement. It also provides an opportunity to educate your peers Lee Pellegrini within the University as to the role of your New England Association of Physi- department, something that would cal Plant Administrators, as well as otherwise not likely happen.” at the New England Conference of Director of Procurement Serthe National Association of Educa- vices Paul McGowan echoes the tional Buyers. sentiments. “When our department The APR has won converts was asked to participate, I was con-
cerned for my staff members who had some reservations based on past review processes,” said McGowan. “But we had peer reviewers from industry and institutions such as the University of Notre Dame who laid out for us things to consider — including some holes in our outreach to the community — which we were able to address and improve upon through the process. It was a lot of work, but we got a lot out of it.” Added Vice President for Student Affairs Patrick Rombalski, “Few universities provide professionals and departments the training, resources and time to take a serious, objective look at their work and how the work impacts the greater goals of the university. In the end, the thoughtful, reflective, and thorough APR process allows each department to ask critical questions and then to present solutions and recommendations to improve practice, resulting in an improved alignment of each department to the University. Overall, it has been a most positive and beneficial experience.” Contact Jack Dunn at jack. dunn@bc.edu
T he B oston C ollege
Chronicle november 18, 2010
They’ve Seen It All, and Like What They See ‘My Faith Was Stronger’ Petersen and McLaughlin each boast a BC tenure of 50 years — and counting By Reid Oslin Staff Writer
With more than a century of Boston College teaching experience between them, Economics Department faculty members Frank McLaughlin and Harold Petersen have had a long-term view of — and considerable involvement in — the University’s emergence as one of the nation’s leading academic institutions. Petersen is in his 51st year of teaching undergraduate classes at the University this fall, McLaughlin his 50th. Between them they estimate they have taught some 25,000 undergraduate students both the basics and fine points of economics. “The student body has changed,” noted Petersen, reflecting on a BC career that began when he was hired as an instructor in 1960. “Back in the ’60s, we primarily had a lot of first generation college students, and almost all of them were commuters. But they were very hardworking and very determined to succeed. Now, far more of them are from suburban families, and are no longer ‘first generation’ students. “But my teaching hasn’t changed all that much,” Petersen adds. “I’m still a ‘chalk and blackboard’ instructor. The biggest change is that I wear a microphone when I teach a big class. But of course, I didn’t teach too many big classes 50 years ago.” McLaughlin, who was hired to teach labor economics in 1961, adds, “There are probably more students who write well now. There were always some bright kids who came to BC, but on average, I get better essays in my classes now than I did years ago.” Like Petersen, McLaughlin still favors the methods he’s always used in the classroom. “I teach the same way I always did — lecture, questions, responding, blue book exams, blackboard and chalk. But my current course, History of Economic Thought, has no textbook. Most of the materials are available on line. Frankly, it’s sometimes easier to read a screen than it is from a book.” McLaughlin says he uses modern classroom technology to enhance his lectures. “A lot of class contact is now through e-mail. Sometimes students will send in questions, particularly before an exam. My practice is that when I get a good question I type it out and answer it and then I send the question and answer to the entire class – without identifying the student – just as if it were a question asked and responded to in class. Educationally, it expands the classroom.” McLaughlin says he even uses his half-century teaching career to better illustrate certain points in his class on labor economics. “I tell the class that when I came here and I got tenure, the agreement was that I could teach until I was 65. I am now 81. “Why am I beyond that retirement age? It’s because Congress
Economics Department faculty members Frank McLaughlin, left, and Harold Petersen say their teaching methods haven’t changed much in five decades — even if the University has. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
passed the Age Discrimination Employment Act and so BC could not enforce that part of the tenure contract,” he laughs. “So, I tell the kids if you want to ask about what effect labor legislation can have on the labor market – well, just look at me.” The two senior faculty members took widely divergent paths to their teaching careers. McLaughlin, who grew up in Roxbury, took a fulltime job in the US Postal Service in 1943 when he was just 14 years old to help his family make ends meet. The long working hours did little to enhance his academic work at Boston Latin School, and he was “asked to leave” the scholastically challenging city school to finish his studies at the former Roxbury Memorial High School. “We were a family of eight,” he says. “We lived in public housing. I was the first in my family to graduate from high school.” A conversation with a friend during the late summer of 1947 convinced him to apply to BC’s former Intown School – the predecessor of today’s Woods
“Why am I beyond retirement age?” asks McLaughlin. “It’s because Congress passed the Age Discrimination Employment Act and so BC could not enforce that part of the tenure contract. So, I tell the kids if you want to ask about what effect labor legislation can have on the labor market – well, just look at me.” College of Advancing Studies – and two weeks later McLaughlin was enrolled in the evening program, then located on Newbury Street. “It was on the fifth and sixth floors that were over a Sunbeam Appliance store,” he laughs. “I was there six years, four nights a week, before I was called up for active duty in the Air Force during the Korean War. It took me seven years from start to finish.” He continued his night courses in BC’s master’s program in economics while working full-time with a Boston engineering firm to support his wife and three children. “But I had managed to save some
money, so [former economics chair] Fr. Robert McEwan, SJ, suggested that I apply for a doctorate at MIT. Fr. McEwan later hired me to teach at BC. I had six kids when I got hired over here.” McLaughlin and his wife Clare are the parents of 11 children, nine of them BC graduates. Three of his grandchildren are also current undergraduates. Petersen, who grew up in northwest Minnesota, followed a more traditional route to an academic career than his colleague. “I took my first teaching job at the College of Wooster in Ohio in 1959,” Petersen says. “But I wanted to come back east to finish my doctoral thesis at Brown. My thesis advisor introduced me to Fr. McEwan and Professor Alice Bourneuf and I loved them from the start. They were building a PhD program at BC, so the chance to come here was irresistible. “They sent me a telegram offering me a job and I wired right back accepting it. I didn’t have to look around. “I never would have guessed that I would be here this long,” he laughs. “But I loved it right from the start. There’s no place I would have rather been. It’s a great department.” Petersen says Boston College’s growth has been impressive. “My first office was in Fulton Hall – there were four of us in one office. Then we built Carney [1963] and BC purposely made those offices small, so they could be single offices. “The school’s reputation has grown so much,” Petersen says. “It has been a great thrill to be here while this was happening. I served two terms as department chair and I was on the budget committee in the 1970s and 1980s. There were some amazing things that were done in those years. The leadership of Rev. J. Donald Monan, SJ, [BC’s president from 1972-96] in bringing this place to what it has become is just immense. I think, without question, he is the best college president of his generation.” Petersen and his wife are the parents of three children, all BC graduates. “It has been so much fun being here,” he says. “That’s why I can’t quit. I think I still have something to offer, so I want to keep going.” Contact Reid Oslin at reid.oslin@ bc.edu
Continued from page 1 impact of home foreclosures on Brockton, which has the second highest foreclosure rate in Massachusetts. She wasn’t an expert on the issue, but she set about to educate herself — and some of the most useful lessons came from talking with those who were most directly affected. “One woman facing foreclosure pointed out to me that once the bank starts the process, it’s a public document — anyone who wants to know can find the information,” says Carreiro. “Developers, businessmen and other people interested in her house were showing up unannounced and looking around the property. The invasion of space is horrifying. “I also heard from people who had sent their paperwork to lenders, in some cases two or three times, and had been told by lenders that the materials were lost — and that it was their fault, not the lenders’. And, of course, people who were renting in foreSuzanne Camarata
family homes if the landlord was foreclosed upon, unless there was “just cause” for the eviction, such as damage to the property or missed rental payments. In addition, $61 million in loans was made available for unemployed homeowners and the Federal Reserve in Boston agreed to speed up the loan modification process for troubled homeowners. Carreiro also has been active in seeking to build greater diversity in a Brockton Public Schools teaching staff that is more than 85 percent white yet serves a student population nearly three-quarters African American, Cape Verdean, Hispanic or of other non-white origin. “Kids are more likely to aspire to become teachers if they see teachers who look like them,” she says. “One of the things we’re trying to do is help teaching assistants of color, with experience but no degree, to get the training they need so they can move up to
“I feel good about where I am, because I have this faith, this passion, that I can bring to my vocation and, hopefully, use in the service of others.” —Janine Carreiro
closed houses had little or no protection.” So Carreiro organized meetings of area residents with state and local officials, members of Congress and the Federal Reserve to address issues of employment and home foreclosures. As the child of Azorean immigrants and fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, she helped people within her community with little formal education to advocate for themselves and communicate their concerns to public officials. “When I was in the midst of joining BIC, I thought the job would involve going to the Statehouse and speaking on behalf of people in need,” Carreiro says. “But it’s really about getting people to speak up for themselves, so that they have a role in making change happen.” As a result of her and her BIC colleagues’ efforts, the state legislature approved a bill encouraging banks to negotiate with homeowners in danger of foreclosure, and giving homeowners a longer buffer time to stay in their homes if negotiations are unsuccessful. The law also prohibited banks from evicting renters from multi-
teaching positions.” Another project on Carreiro’s plate is a “ceasefire” for gang and youth violence. She hopes to build a coalition of police, community and religious leaders that will exert influence on youthful offenders to renounce violence — “the choice will be, go to jail or be part of the community, which is prepared to forgive you.” With such a demanding workload, Carreiro’s studies at GSSW are providing her with some valuable professional tools. “I’d never looked into clinical social work before,” says Carreiro, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from the University of Connecticut. “But a lot of what I do with BIC involves one-to-one situations. So it’s great to look at how I can be more effective in dealing with people, and how to get them to be more open with me. “I feel good about where I am, because I have this faith, this passion, that I can bring to my vocation and, hopefully, use in the service of others.” Contact Sean Smith at sean. smith@bc.edu
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Chronicle november 18, 2010
Q&A with Lynne Christy Anderson
Breaking Bread , Making Connections English adjunct professor Lynne Christy Anderson, ESL coordinator of the ESL Program, recently published Breaking Bread: Recipes and Stories from Immigrant Kitchens, which explores the role food plays in immigrants’ efforts to adapt to life in America, while also recalling their cultural heritage. Where did the idea for the book originate? It goes back to more than 10 years ago. I’d been a chef for a number of years, but then I began working for the Boston Public Schools, teaching ESL classes for parents of immigrant schoolchildren. The experience was often overwhelming for these parents: They were afraid of the school system, afraid of the classes, and afraid of me. We needed a connection, and it turned out to be food. I asked them about the traditional foods they continued to prepare while living here. They told me what they were cooking and eating, and where to shop for specialized ingredients in the ethnic markets around town so I could prepare their recipes in my own home. This made them feel a lot more comfortable when we used English to communicate. Through these conversations, I came to see food as a metaphor for cultural wellbeing. Food is the one thing these parents can control: They can’t pass their native language onto their kids, who are more likely to speak English, but the kids will still eat the food they prepare. It sounds like Breaking Bread is something other than simply a cookbook. The book is more than a collection of recipes; it’s about cultural understanding. I spoke with an Iranian woman who was struggling to adapt to life in America. She felt that she was under scrutiny because of her dress, accent, religion, and so on. So she would cook these great meals and invite people she knew from her neighborhood or elsewhere. It was a way for her to create bridges, to learn more about others and to have them learn more about her. I love to see people build trust with those whom they regard as “different” — and food is a great ice-breaker. How did you go about putting the book together? It involved total immersion: I foraged for mushrooms in Wellfleet with a Russian family; I foraged for grape leaves in the Arnold Arboretum with a Lebanese family; I went with people to these amazing markets, I cooked with them and ate with them. And I really got a sense of what food means to them. Talking about food led to other stories, about wonderful things that had happened to them here, or opportunities for their children. But some of the stories were sad: A Haitian woman who had moved to the US as a girl talked about a friend who was attacked at school because of tensions there between Haitians and African Americans. Food, however, was a way to remember happier times. Have your experiences through the Boston Public School ESL classes stayed with you? It certainly informs my teaching at BC, since I am involved in ESL classes here. BC has a large international population, as well as what’s called the “Generation 1.5 students” — students who immigrated here as children and sometimes find themselves between languages, that of their native country and English. They’re in a different situation than the adults I taught, so I don’t use the same approach. But still, these students do bring their cultures to class with them, and this does provide an opportunity to see how food plays a role in their lives. Actually, it’s funny how food conversations come up even when I’m not looking for them. A Japanese graduate student once asked me where he could find a good Japanese restaurant, because he thought the food around here was terrible. It wasn’t just a matter of taste, though — finding food he enjoyed was a way for him to feel comfortable about being in Boston. One of the most food-oriented periods of the year in America is coming up next week. Where does Thanksgiving fit into immigrants’ lives? People who have emigrated here from other countries didn’t necessarily celebrate Thanksgiving back home, but they have adapted to it. From what I’ve seen, immigrants are quite enthusiastic about Thanksgiving. They cook a turkey, although some improvisation or advice might be needed, then add a touch of their native culture — a side dish, perhaps, or a dessert. Food often makes a holiday easier, even if it’s one that’s not familiar to you. There seems to be a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving: On the one hand, people talk about the value of gathering to express thanks and be with loved ones; but we also hear about the stress and anxiety of organizing the holiday, and criticism about over-eating. Given your experiences with immigrant families, what perspective have you developed about Thanksgiving? I think the ambivalence about Thanksgiving some Americans might feel is that we’re out of practice when it comes to family meals. Families tend to be very busy — both parents working, the kids going out to play sports or take music lessons. We’re not used to spending 20 minutes or more having an extravagant meal, and then lingering at the table. Many immigrant families, from what I’ve seen, have trouble adjusting to this fast pace — they like to come together for meals and stay together. And that’s where the opportunity comes to talk, share ideas, reminisce, pass along pearls of wisdom. Food really enhances the art of conversation. So perhaps we simply need to give ourselves over to Thanksgiving, and not fight the idea of taking it slow. Just enjoy coming together as a family or group of friends. —Sean Smith
Senior Reference Librarian Kenneth Liss talks with Andrew Orr ‘11 about Boston College Libraries’ mobile services technology. (Photo by Suzanne Camarata)
BC Libraries Are ‘Going Mobile’ Technology has turned users’ cellphones into an extra library resource
Not all that long ago, says Senior Reference Librarian Kenneth Liss, about the only thing Boston College Libraries had to say about cellphones was this: Turn ’em off. But as cellphones have become increasingly sophisticated and multi-faceted, Liss says, the libraries’ message has changed. “We came to realize that students and other library users with cellphones are basically walking around with little computers,” he explains. “So why not turn cellphones into an extra library resource?” In the past few years, BC Libraries has done just that, taking advantage of new technology to offer services via cellphone. One of the most popular, according to Liss, is “Text a Librarian”: If a library user has a question, by sending a text to 66746 and starting it with “askbc”, he or she can get an answer from a BC reference librarian (it’s confidential, Liss says — texters are not identified). “AskBC” is best for quick questions, says Liss: “Why can’t I get into this database?” or “Can I bor-
row Flip video cameras at O’Neill?” (Yes, you can, he notes). “My favorite Q&A text was, ‘How did God influence Descartes’ view of reason?’” he recalls. “I was tempted to start a philosophical discussion, but instead I just suggested the texter search certain keywords in Quest and The Philosopher’s Index database, which is available online.” Library users who don’t want to spend a lot of time hunting for a particular book can track it down much faster now: The title, call number, and physical location (floor and shelf number) can be sent from the catalog to the user’s cellphone via text message, and a diagram showing the location can be viewed on one’s laptop or computer. “It may seem like a little thing,” says Liss, “but we’ve often gotten ‘Where’s this call number?’ questions. This is just another way of making people’s library experience easier and more efficient.” Users with Web-enabled phones can also book a study room in the library, check their li-
brary records and renew books or other materials via cellphone, Liss says. The library administration hopes to make catalog searches possible via mobile services in the near future, he adds. As another example of how cellphones and related devices have changed the library field, Liss points out that database providers “are making the information more conducive to mobile research technology. For example, databases like Business Source Complete, America: History & Life, New Testament Abstracts and others and tools like RefWorks are available in special versions formatted for mobile devices. “Libraries have been around for centuries, but that doesn’t mean we can’t, or shouldn’t, adapt. We have to be where our users are, and make it easier for them to reach us and find what they’re looking for.” Information about Boston College Libraries’ mobile services is available at http://www.bc.edu/libraries/mobile —Sean Smith
PICTURE THIS—Boston College’s observance of International Education Week, which began Monday and ends tomorrow, included a photo exhibit in the O’Neill Library Lower Level Gallery of students’ experiences abroad. (Photo by KC Cohen)
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Chronicle november 18, 2010
WELCOME ADDITIONS Assistant Professor of History Charles Gallagher, SJ, is the author of the book Vatican Secret Diplomacy: Joseph P. Harley & Pope Pius XII, which received the American Catholic Historical Association’s John Gilmary Shea Prize in 2008. In addition to Vatican diplomacy, Fr. Gallagher’s research includes espionage and social history of terrorism in the US. He has previously taught at the College of the Holy Cross and was a visiting fellow at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations in Switzerland. At BC, he teaches undergraduate classes on Spies, Spying and the Presidency and Terror and the American Century. Fr. Gallagher holds bachelor’s degrees from Katholieke Universiteit in Belgium and Heythrop College, University of London, a master’s degree from Binghamton University and a doctorate from Marquette University. Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Doug Edmonds teaches a graduate seminar on earth systems and an undergraduate course on Stratigraphy and Sedimentation. His sedimentology lab is studying short-term changes and long-term evolution of the Earth’s surface. Edmonds received his doctorate and master’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and his bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University. Last year, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the NSF-funded National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory at the University of Minnesota, where he worked on advancing the scientific understanding of the Mississippi Delta. Connell School of Nursing Assistant Professor of Community and Family Health Deborah Sampson, who specializes in health policy and state health legislation, is researching the geographic, professional and gender boundaries that affect nursing practice act laws and access to care for vulnerable populations in the United States. Winner of the 2010 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners State (New Hampshire) Nurse Practitioner of the Year honors and the NH Nursing Association Nursing Advocate Award, Sampson earned a master’s degree from Yale University, a post-master’s certificate from the University of New Hampshire and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. She also specializes in nursing history and was the recipient of the Theresa Christy Award from the American Association for the History of Nursing. Carroll School of Management Assistant Professor of Organization Studies Simona Giorgi examines how organizations use culture to influence institutional environments, in such settings as the US automobile industry and Italian and French food movements. She received her bachelor’s degree from Universita’ Bocconi in Milan, Italy, and her doctorate from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a consultant at Bain and Company and as a research associate at Harvard Business School. She is a member of the Academy of Management and the American Sociological Association. —Kathleen Sullivan Photos by Lee Pellegrini “Welcome Additions,” an occasional feature, profiles new faculty members at Boston College.
NOTA BENE Elizabeth “Liz” McCartney ’94, co-founder and director of the St. Bernard Project — a community-based non-profit organization helping residents rebuild New Orleans after hurricanes Katrina and Rita — was featured recently on the cover of US News & World Report, which profiled 10 service groups that are making a difference [The US News profile of the St. Bernard Project is at http://bit.ly/b0B5wa]. McCartney was named CNN’s national “Hero of the Year” in 2008 and last year received the Boston College Alumni Association Ignatian Award.
NEWSMAKERS The Wall Street Journal quoted Prof. Edward Kane (CSOM) on the G20 Summit in Seoul. Prof. Ray Madoff (Law) published “The Myth of Perpetuities” in the Chronicle of Philanthropy and was interviewed by WFPL in Louisville on the publicity rights of the dead. Reuters quoted Sloan Center on Aging & Work Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes for a story on the Conan O’Brien-Jay Leno controversy as an example of the tension created when older workers refuse to retire, thwarting younger colleagues’ career aspiration. Prof. Lisa Cuklanz (Communication) was interviewed by the Toronto Star regarding use of rape as a dramatic storyline on television. Assoc. Prof. Patrick McQuillan (LSOE) was interviewed by the Denver Post on schools that downsize to improve quality. Prof. Patrick Maney (History) offered his views on contemporary political historians to the Boston Globe. Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life Director Alan Wolfe was interviewed
about the Tea Party on WCVBTV’s “Chronicle.” Ferris Professor of Physics Michael Naughton was included in a Discover Magazine profile on scientists who are rethinking the fundamental elements of solar cells, aiming to rewrite the rulebook and finally make solar energy cost-competitive with coal and natural gas. Assoc. Prof. Jonathan Laurence (Political Science) co-authored an article on the recent Al Qaeda threat in Foreign Policy. Moakley Professor of Politics Kay Schlozman wrote about women voters’ attitudes toward Republi-
Prof. Solomon Friedberg (Mathematics) has been appointed to a second three-year term on the Mathematics and Science Advisory Council of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
TIME AND A HALF Asst. Prof. Mathis Wagner (Economics) presented “The Heterogeneous Labor Market Effects of Immigration” at the 10th World Congress of the Econometric Society held in Shanghai.
BC BRIEFING cans in the New York Times blog “Room for Debate.”
HONORS/ APPOINTMENTS Prof. Maxim D. Shrayer (Slavic and Eastern Languages) was invited to join the editorial board of Nabokovskii vestnik (Nabokov Herald), a journal published by
O bituar y
A.J. de Béthune, Taught Chemistry A funeral Mass was held at the Church of St. Gregory the Great at Portsmouth Abbey in Portsmouth, RI, on Nov. 13 for retired Professor of Chemistry André Jacques de Béthune, an accomplished researcher and teacher who taught at Boston College for 41 years. Dr. de Béthune died Oct. 30 in Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. He was 91. Dr. de Béthune, who in 1960 was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Chemistry, joined the Boston College faculty in 1947 and served as Chemistry Department chairman from 1965-67 and 1972-74. He also was associate editor of the Journal of the Electrochemical Society. “André was one of the first physical chemists in this department that gained national recognition,” said Professor of Chemistry David L. McFadden, who taught with Dr. de Bethune for two years. “He was nationally known for his research in electro chemistry. He published a table of temperature dependence of electrode potentials that was used widely in the field.” A native of Brussels, Dr. de Béthune immigrated to the United States when he was nine years old. He graduated from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ, in 1939 and earned his doctorate in chemistry from Columbia University six years later. During World War II, Dr. de Béthune worked on the Manhattan Project and was a fellow of
the Vladimir Nabokov Museum and St. Petersburg University.
Assoc. Prof. Jonathan Laurence (Political Science) served as respondent to UK Security Minister Pauline NevilleJones ‘s presentation of the British National Security Strategy at Brookings. Assoc. Prof. John Makransky (Theology) chaired the panel “Tibetan Buddhism and Social Engagement” at the 2010 International Conference on Tibetan Buddhism with the Dalai Lama at Emory University, where he presented “Buddhist Applications to Address Deep-felt Human Needs in Asia and the West, Past and Present.” He also presented “Why, How and What Buddhists May Learn from Christian Theologians” for the Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies at the 2010 American Academy of Religion conference in Atlanta. Send items to: people.chronicle@bc.edu
JOB LISTINGS the National Research Council at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. de Béthune is survived by his wife, Margaret Ann, of Middletown, RI, and his children: Martha Ginty of Newport, RI; Agnes de Béthune of Jersey City, NJ; Peter de Béthune of St. Albans, Me.; Christopher de Béthune of Adelino, NM; Elizabeth de Béthune of Yonkers, NY; Joseph de Béthune of Northfield, Mass.; Marie Thérèse de Béthune of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY; Anne de Béthune of New York City; Stephen de Béthune of Moscow; and Sara Katherine de Béthune of Cambridge. Burial took place in St. Columba’s Cemetery in Middletown. Donations in memory of Dr. de Béthune may be made to the John Clarke Retirement Center, 600 Valley Road, Middletown, RI 02842. —Office of News & Public Affairs
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 http://www.bc.edu/offices/hr: Marketing and Communications Manager, Athletic Association, Flynn Recreation Complex Clerk of the Works, Facilities Management, Planning Department Administrative Assistant, AHANA Student Programs Senior Graphic Designer, Office of Marketing Communications Director, Internal Audit Resident in Football Athletic Training, Athletic Association, Sports Medicine Information Security Analyst, Information Technology, Policy and Security Director, Irish Institute Research Associate, TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics & Science Study)
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Chronicle november 18, 2010
LOOKING AHEAD ‘Songs of Youth’ a Delicious Coda to Thanksgiving Susan Wilson
By Rosanne Pellegrini Staff Writer
The talents of two accomplished young local performers will be showcased in “Pesni Junosti (Songs of Youth),” a Thanksgiving concert taking place at Boston College Nov. 28. Matthew Shifrin of Newton and Rebecca Salganik of Brighton, both 13 years old, will present a program comprising classical arias and duets and Russian romances, accompanied by pianist William Merrill. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 3 p.m. in the chapel of St. William’s Hall on Brighton Campus. Works by such composers as Henry Purcell, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Giacomo Carissimi will be featured, along with three Russian romances: “The Lark” (Mikhail Glinka), the traditional folk song “The Little Bell,” and “Shine on, O Star of Mine” (Piotr Bulakhov).
Matthew Shifrin and Rebecca Salganik perform at BC Nov. 28.
Shifrin and Salganik are pupils of Normma Giustiani, whose Roman Music Festival stages two concerts per year, one in cooperation with BC’s Department of Slavic and Eastern Languages and Literatures,
according to department chairman Associate Professor Michael J. Connolly. He noted that the young Russian-American singers are learning the art of presenting a concert pro-
Weston Observatory to Host Talk on Lessons of Katrina Boston College’s Weston Observatory has an international reputation for geophysical research, and its annual colloquium series offers insights on earth and environmental sciences-related topics from a variety of disciplines. Case in point? A talk by Professor of Political Science Marc Landy (photo) on Dec. 1, “Government and Megadisaster: Learning from Katrina,” from 7-9 p.m. “Because our colloquium series is for the general public, we try to feature not only scientific topics but also topics that touch on the interface between science
BC SCENES
and society,” says Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences John Ebel, the observatory’s director. “Over the years, there’s been a diversity of topics presented by Boston College faculty and research staff: Fr. Jim Skehan and Professor Pat Byrne on the relationship of science and religion, Professor Zyg Plater on environmental law, and Fr. Roy Periera on science and meditation. “In part, we want the colloquium audiences to see the wide range of expertise that we have at BC, and we want
to bring home the point that many of the scientific topics of interest to scientists at Weston Observatory and in our Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences are quite interdisciplinary in application. “Marc Landy is a well known political scientist who is very interested in the political aspects of environmental problems, and I thought he would be a good speaker to address this very important topic.” Colloquium events are free and open to the public, but reservations are required due to limited seating. Call ext.2-8300. See http://www.bc.edu/westonobservatory for more information.
gram of classical music, such as how to position themselves and establish a presence, how to work as one with the accompanist, how to interpret a text in music, and how to develop a true and lasting classical vocal technique. Giustiani, who has taught distinguished soloists, children’s choirs and voice teachers throughout Europe and primarily in Rome, says: “Both are recovering their Russian cultural background through a study of the Italian, German, and Russian repertory, which teaches something that escapes many of our youth: love, peace, nature, and the beauty of natural phenomena.” Shifrin, who attends Day Middle School, has a voice in the alto range that is well-suited to the repertory chosen for the concert, Connolly notes, and also blends well with Salganik’s soprano voice. Salganik, a student at Maimonides School, and Shifrin are both native speakers of Russian, and according to Connolly, they and their families keep those traditions very much alive. Merrill is one of Boston’s most highly respected collaborative pianist/coaches, and a celebrated local personality who has given the teenagers extensive coaching, Connolly adds. Merrill has extensive professional affiliations and recordings, having worked with luminaries including Helen Donath, Roberta Peters, Erie Mills, Eleanor Steber and Deborah Voigt, in addition to other eminent singers. He has drawn praise from the Boston Globe for his collaborative accompaniments. For information on the concert, see http://fmwww.bc.edu/FEMG/ 10B28.pdf Contact Rosanne Pellegrini at rosanne.pellegrini@bc.edu
REMEMBRANCE Photos by Lee Pellegrini
Scenes from Boston College’s Veterans Day Remembrance Mass and Ceremony last Thursday.
DATE & TIME
The South Asian Law Student Association will sponsor a fundraiser to benefit flood relief efforts in Pakistan by tonight at The Rat (Welch Dining Room) in Lyons Hall from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, with entertainment by DJ Pup Dawg of Jam’n 94.5. Tickets are $10 and include food and refreshments. Donations are welcome. E-mail brittany.bailey@bc.edu. Upcoming campus musical events include “Variations and Paraphrases” by the University Wind Ensemble tomorrow (Nov. 19) at 8 p.m. in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons, and a concert by the Boston College Flute Choir this Sunday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. in Trinity Chapel on Newton Campus. Diana Puntar, a New York City-based sculptor whose works examines “imagined frontiers from the living room to outer space,” will discuss and present her art on Nov. 22 from 5-6:30 p.m. in Devlin 101. Email tavarell@bc.edu.
The University’s annual Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony will take place Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. in O’Neill Plaza, with performances by BC music groups, free refreshments, Christmas games and pictures with Santa Claus.
Author and education historian Diane Ravitch, above, will discuss her new book The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education, on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in East Wing 115A on Newton Campus. E-mail daniel.landers@bc.edu.
For more on Boston College campus events, see events.bc.edu or www. bc.edu/bcinfo.