The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs
•BC version of ‘DWTS’ a real hit, page 2
•BC physicists shed light on insulators, page 3 •University ranks among Fulbright producers, page 3 •Heights wins award, page 3 •Rombalski steps down as Student Affairs VP, page 3 •Sesquicentennial Q&A with Robert Blute ’43, page 4
By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
Five current and former university presidents joined University President William P. Leahy, SJ, and a group of distinguished scholars last week for a two-day symposium to discuss the place of religion amid the liberal aims of higher education. Held as part of the University’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, “Religion and the Liberal Aims of Higher Education” took place Nov. 8 and 9 in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons. Panels brought together the leaders of religiously-affiliated institutions, as well as scholars from diverse backgrounds to discuss what sets religious colleges
and universities apart from their secular peers who share the similar commitment to offering a liberal education. “The question for me isn’t whether religion, theology and belief have a place in the liberal university,” Fr. Leahy said in his closing remarks. “The question is how will they have a place in higher education in the US, but also in the life of our society?” To answer that and other questions, Fr. Leahy was joined by Notre Dame President John I. Jenkins, CSC, Bryn Mawr College President Jane McAuliffe, Wheaton College (Ill.) President Philip G. Ryken, Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch and retired University of Richmond
“You can see there’s a culture of innovation across the University. BC fosters that culture of being open and sharing and helping out. People are always willing to help you make a connection.” — Ashley Macaulay ’14
Entrepreneurial Hothouse
Enterprising students find that Boston College offers opportunities and support for starting up a business •GrantScape will aid research funding, page 6 •Tremblay gets new post at Law School, page 6 •Woods College prof. ends tour in Afghanistan, page 6 •Things to do and see on campus, page 8
By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
Entrepreneurship has taken root on the Boston College campus, drawing on the expertise of faculty, course offerings, alumni mentors and competitions that give students a chance to test-drive their ideas and business plans in front of leading executives and venture capitalists. Spurring the growing list of opportunities for students to study and engage in entrepreneurship is the expertise of the Carroll School of Management, which serves as the nexus of many of these efforts, but also attracts students from outside CSOM who are just as eager to learn about what it takes to launch a business. “Creating a culture of entrepreneurship is important, but this is a piece of the broader culture of learning here at BC,” said CSOM
President Richard Morrill, who gave a keynote address on Nov. 9. What religious and secular liberal arts institutions share is a commitment to educating the whole person, the panelists said. Where they diverge are the spiriContinued on page 4
Associate Professor of Information Systems John Gallaugher. “That’s what makes the University so unique – the chance to bring people together to share and discuss ideas. This is all part of that.” Gallaugher has led the Carroll School’s TechTrek classes that conclude with visits to tech companies and venture capital firms here in Boston, the Silicon Valley and Asia. The courses attract CSOM students, but also students from the College of Arts and Sciences. On an annual basis, new businesses are emerging from the Boston College Venture Competition, a six-year-old business plan contest that awards $15,000 in seed money. Gallaugher and recently retired CSOM faculty member Larry Meile launched the competition in 2007, with help from BC alumni and students. Continued on page 5
QUOTE:
University President William P. Leahy, SJ (top photo), presented closing remarks at the “Religion and the Liberal Aims of Higher Education” symposium, which included panel discussions with prominent education experts like (above, L-R) Nicholas Wolterstorff, Susan Jacoby, Eboo Patel and Mark Oppenheimer.
LSOE’s Barnett Wins Mass. Professor of the Year Honor By Kathleen Sullivan Staff Writer
Lee Pellegrini
•Bridging the partisan gap, page 2
Weighing In on Religion, Higher Ed
Justin Knight
INSIDE
Sesquicentennial Symposium
Caitlin Cunningham
november 15, 2012 VOL. 21 no. 6
Lynch School of Education Associate Professor G. Michael Barnett has been named the 2012 Massachusetts Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in recognition of his teaching excellence and positive influence on the lives and careers of students. Barnett is the second Lynch School faculty member in the last four years to win the statewide honor, along with Associate Professor Audrey Friedman, the 2009 awardee. The Carnegie/CASE Professor of the Year award is the only national program that recognizes excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring. Barnett’s focus is on urban science education, promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields to undergraduate education majors, and the youngsters they student-teach, through projects
G. Michael Barnett
that utilize technology and link to real-world issues. In his teaching, Barnett uses innovative tools such as indoor hydroponic vertical farms, where BC undergraduates work with their K-12 students to grow vegetables and then sell the produce at their own farmer’s markets. Through the project, which takes the participants from seed to market, his students learn about topContinued on page 5
“‘Dancing with the Scholars’ is an event that really bridges the BC community, by pairing people from a wide range of the facets of campus life.” —Cape Verdean Student Association President Rayana Grace ’13, page 2
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Returns of the day/night Informed Democracy, the Undergraduate Government of Boston College and the “Nights on the Heights” program. “Even though individual members of the organizations might be on opposite sides politically, we were able to all work together to put on this event under the bipartisan banner.” The event room set-up itself was a representation of the American political-media landscape, featuring three big-screen TVs each set to a different network: Fox News on one side of the room, MSNBC on the other, and CNN in the middle. Snacks (including Georgetown “election cupcakes”), trivia games and discussions led by the organizers helped fill the time as election results began to trickle in, and the intensity level picked up — but with no evident nastiness among those in attendance, according to Olson. “People were civil and respect-
Sophomores Taylor Eggleston (at right above) and Ben Sardinas kept track of the results at last week’s “Election Night Central” event held in the Vanderslice Cabaret Room. (Photos by Frank Curran)
ed each others beliefs. During the period of the night when CNN was reading election results, both Democrats and Republicans were cheering for their respective candidates. Although the crowd for Obama was larger, they respected the Romney supporters when they cheered when their candidate won a state. I saw students who I knew were from different parties sitting together talking about the election in an intelligent, fact-based
President Rayana Grace ’13, who served as one of the event hosts. “We thank everyone who participated and who came to watch the show.”
SEE PHOTOS ON PAGE 8 The competition paired 10 dancing duos, including representatives of the dance groups AeroK, Dance Org, UpRising, Fuego del Corazon, Hawaii Club, BC Irish Dance, Masti, Patu, Phaymus and Synergy, and members of the Black Student Forum, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, Student Admission Program and UGBC, among others. The Bostonians performed as the evening’s opening act. Serving as judges were Office of Student Programs Assistant Director Karl Bell and from the Class of 2011, Phaymus alumna
Brandy Norton and Titciana Barros. The winning duo, cited by the judges for their energy and charisma, were seniors Nick Zwolinski, president of the Bostonians and Gabriela Meija, captain and treasurer of Fuego del Corazon. “We created the pairs by partnering people that we thought wouldn’t have met each other otherwise and probably wouldn’t have much experience with the genre of dance,” says Grace. “We wanted to push the scholars to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.” This year’s event, she noted, incorporated a greater element of Cape Verdean culture: Each team was given a Cape Verdean song to use as a bonus point option, if they so chose, in its performance. “Dancing with the Scholars” has evolved and drawn an increas-
ingly larger crowd, Grace says, with 400 in the audience this year. She credits the work of her coorganizers, sophomores Stephanie Ng and Courtney Lawrence of UGBC-UNITY, and Emily Viega ’14 of CVSA, all of whom served as hosts. “This was by far the best DWTS that we have ever had,” she says. “The turnout was phenomenal and the feedback we’ve received from both students and members of administration has been so rewarding. Everyone had a lot of fun and we hope to continue to make this event grow and become more popular in years to come.” —Rosanne Pellegrini
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An annual campus event that matches Boston College student dance troupe leaders with representatives of various BC organizations has built a large fan following, much like the popular ABC-TV show, “Dancing with the Stars,” on which it is based. The fourth edition of “Dancing with the Scholars” took place Nov. 2 in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons, sponsored by the Cape Verdean Student Association (CVSA) — which originally launched the event — in partnership with the Undergraduate Government of Boston College-UNITY (United Nationalities Integrated Throughout the Year). “‘Dancing with the Scholars’ is an event that really bridges the BC community, by pairing people from a wide range of the facets of campus life,” says CVSA
Carroll School of Management graduate students got to hear a post-Election 2012 perspective from a leading figure in the nation’s financial system when Eric Rosengren, the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, spoke Nov. 7 at the Boston College Club. “Providing our graduate management students the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of leaders in industry is an integral part of graduate management education at the Carroll School,” said CSOM Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Jeffrey Ringuest. “President Rosengren’s talk at the BC Club on the day after the election was a remarkable presentation on economic policy and the outlook for the economy. It gave our students a great perspective on what they will likely face as they prepare and return to the workforce.” Rosengren has led the Boston Fed since 2007. —Ed Hayward
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Scholars can dance, too
Wrap-up
and it’s to the credit of the students who came out to the event,” said Olson. “Election Day is a great day for all Americans who get to exercise their right to vote, and, at the same time, it is the day of increased political awareness. It was really fulfilling to bring this event to fruition and have such a great turnout.” —Sean Smith
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Julia Hirsch ’15 (facing camera) led a group of students in a “Sunset Yoga” session at twilight recently on The Plaza at O’Neill Library. The event was sponsored by the Boston College Residence Hall Association. (Photo by Sean Smith)
manner.” “Election Night Central” organizers say the event was part of an ongoing campus initiative in civic engagement they hope will promote the benefits of a more positive political atmosphere. “Our aim was to start a dialogue, and we accomplished that,
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The lead-up to last week’s election has been called one of the more rancorous and divisive campaigns in recent memory, but a group of Boston College students were determined to end it as civilly as possible. Several BC organizations pooled resources to hold an “Election Night Central” in the Vanderslice Hall Cabaret Room, offering students and others in the University community of all political ideologies the opportunity to socialize as they watched election returns come in — and, organizers hoped, engage in spirited but not contentious discourse. “We wanted to make the event a celebration of the election, not about party politics,” said Andrew Olson ’14, chairman of the BC chapter of the political bipartisan group No Labels, which sponsored the event along with the BC Eagle Political Society, Americans for an
The Boston College
Chronicle
Director of NEWS & Public Affairs
Jack Dunn Deputy Director of NEWS & Public AFFAIRS
Patricia Delaney Editor
Sean Smith Contributing Staff
Melissa Beecher Ed Hayward Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Michael Maloney 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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Fresh Insights
BC Among Best for Fulbrights
Physicists take look at unusual properties of topological insulators
Boston College ranks at 13 among US research universities in producing student winners of prestigious Fulbright fellowships for post-graduate study abroad, according to this year’s survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The survey noted that BC had 18 Fulbright award winners, out of 64 applications, just behind the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (19 awards) and ahead of Michigan State University (17). The top producers of Fulbright winners were University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (40), Harvard (31), Brown (29) and
By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
The latest research by Boston College physicists Associate Professor Vidya Madhavan and Assistant Professor Stephen Wilson offers fresh insights into topological insulators, a class of materials with unique properties that challenge some of the oldest laws of physics. In the relatively new scientific frontier of topological insulators, theoretical and experimental physicists have been studying the surfaces of these unique materials for insights into the behavior of electrons that display some very un-electronlike properties. In topological insulators, electrons can behave more like photons, or particles of light. The hitch is that unlike photons, electrons have a mass that normally plays a defining role in their behavior. In the world of quantum physics, where everyday materials take on surprising and sometimes astonishing properties, electrons on the outer surface of these insulators behave and look uncharacteristically like light. These unique properties have piqued the interests of scientists who see future applications in areas such as quantum computing and spintronics, or other realms rooted in the manipulation of electronic properties. The early challenge to those researchers is to begin to understand some simple ground rules for controlling these materials. Madhavan and Wilson reported earlier this month in Nature Communications that the placement of tiny ripples on the surface of a topological insulator engineered
Physics faculty members Asst. Prof. Stephen Wilson (center) and Assoc. Prof. Vidya Madhavan (right) talk with post-doctoral researcher Yoshinori Okada about findings from their recent project. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
from bismuth telluride effectively modulates so-called Dirac electrons so they flow in a pathway that perfectly mirrors the topography of the crystal’s surface. According to Madhavan and Wilson, scanning tunneling microscopy is capable of revealing the characteristics of these tiny waves as they rise and fall, enabling the researchers to draw a direct connection between the features of the ripples and modulation of the waves across the material’s surface. Instead of exhibiting chaotic behavior, the electrons flow in a path that mirrors the metal composite’s surface, the team reports in an articled titled “Ripple-modulated electronic structure of a 3D topological insulator.” “What we’ve discovered is that electrons respond beautifully to this buckling of the material’s surface,” said Madhavan, the project director. So harmoniously do the waves flow across the ripples – placed approximately 100 nanometers apart – that the researchers say further modifications of the crystal’s “nanoscale landscape” could produce enough control to produce a onedimensional quantum wire capable of carrying current with no dissipation. The rippled surface appears to
exert greater control and run less risk of creating imperfections than other methods, such as introducing chemical dopants, used in attempts to modulate the flow of electrons on the surface of other topological insulators, the researchers found. Madhavan said the team had to provoke the electrons, which lay placidly atop the surface-state of the insulator, much like the glassy surface of an undisturbed lake. The team disrupted the electrons by introducing impurities, which had an effect similar to that of dropping a stone in a calm lake. This provocation produced waves of electrons that behave like waves of light as they travel pathways that mirror the contours created in the crystal. “We did not expect the electrons to follow the topography,” said Madhavan. “The topography imposes a sinusoidal potential upon the waves. The ripples create that potential by giving the electrons a landscape to follow. This is a way of possibly manipulating these electrons in topological insulators.” In addition to Madhavan and Wilson, the project team included post-doctoral researcher Yoshinori Okada and graduate students Wenwen Zhou, Daniel Walkup and Chetan Dhital.
University of Chicago (24), while University of CaliforniaBerkeley, Yale and Arizona State all had the fifth-highest total of awards with 23 apiece. Other research institutions placing high in the survey included Stanford, Pittsburgh and UCLA (15 apiece), and American University, Duke, Georgetown, University of Maryland-College Park, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Washington University of St. Louis, all with 14. For more on the survey, see http://bitly.com/U8sZvy. —Office of News & Public Affairs
The Heights Earns Another ACP Pacemaker Award For the second consecutive year, The Heights, Boston College’s independent student newspaper, has won the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Newspaper Pacemaker Award for general excellence and outstanding achievement. The award, co-sponsored by the Newspaper Association of America Foundation, has recognized general excellence in collegiate newspapers for 85 years and is considered the highest honor in collegiate journalism. One of just 12 national winners for general excellence in the category of non-daily newspapers from four-year colleges, The Heights was the only college newspaper in Massachusetts to be honored for overall excellence. Judges select Pacemaker winners based on coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, design, photography, art and graphics. This year’s panel deemed The Heights “substantial” and “complete, deeply reported and professionally presented.” In addition, Heights Assistant
Photo Editor, Graham Beck ’15, placed fourth in Photo Excellence in Sports Photography for one of his shots of former BC Eagle Chris Kreider from last year’s NCAA Championship hockey season. The 2012 winners were announced at the recent Annual ACP/College Media Association National College Media Convention in Chicago. “It’s such an honor to be recognized by the ACP with a Pacemaker Award for the second year in a row,” said Heights Editor-in-Chief Taylour Kumpf ’13. “When so much of your energy is dedicated to putting out a substantial product, it’s an amazing feeling to have that effort rewarded. I’m just so incredibly proud of my Heights family – the hardest working people I know – and I’m so blessed to be ending my tenure on such a positive note.” Added News Editor David Cote ’14, “It’s a great honor to be recognized with an ACP Pacemaker Award. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of The Heights, and it’s a great feeling to have all of our hard work rewarded.” —Jack Dunn
Student Affairs VP Rombalski Resigns
Photos by Lee Pellegrini
WE REMEMBER Scenes from Monday’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held at the Boston College Veterans Memorial on Burns Lawn.
Patrick Rombalski, vice president for student affairs at Boston College since 2008, announced last week that he is resigning from his position. “After four years at Boston College, I have decided to leave my position as vice president for student affairs to pursue broader interests in the field of higher education,” Rombalski said in a statement. “In the near term, I will be attending to personal issues. I will also be consulting, as well as continuing my involvement in volunteer programs,” said Rombalski, who thanked University President William P. Leahy, SJ, and Executive Vice President Patrick Keating “for giving me the opportunity to serve our students. “I am particularly grateful to the staff in the Division of Student Affairs for their extraordinary contributions and for the progress we have achieved during this time.” Keating will oversee the Student Affairs division until a successor is named. A search will begin this month. —Office of News & Public Affairs
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Celebrating THE
Sesquicentennial
Speakers at last week’s symposium included (above, L-R) Harvard University Professor of Education Julie Reuben, Columbia University Professor and author Andrew Delbanco and University of Notre Dame Professor of History Mark Noll, and (right) University of Notre Dame President John Jenkins, CSC. (Photos by Caitlin Cunningham)
University Hosts Higher Ed Symposium
Continued from page 1 tual underpinnings of that educaIt is important, Fr. Jenkins versities in the US. tion or a connection to an eccle- added, for Catholic institutions “The one thing that helps to siastical body, like the Catholic to communicate a broad Catho- distinguish Christian institutions Church. lic vision that non-Catholics can is the awareness of our history School of Theology and Min- relate to: service to others, eth- and the fact that we are now istry Dean Mark Massa, SJ, mod- ics across the curriculum, and more distinctive than we were 50 erated a panel featuring Fr. Jen- a commitment to the Catholic or 100 years ago,” said Ryken. kins, McAuliffe and Ryken, “Now that is why students which examined the internal are coming to us, precisely and external pressures on refor that distinctiveness.” ligiously affiliated liberal arts Returning to the increasinstitutions. ing pressure on colleges to Panelists said that these prepare students for the institutions face the someworkplace, Morrill asked times conflicting forces of the audience to think about religious mission and ministhe very different definitry and the broad intellectutions applied to the words al aims of liberal education. value and worth. While Ryken said it is possible they increasingly imply perto pursue both. “We want to sonal wealth, he said they be faithful and be humble, are now more important but we also want to do excelthan ever when defined in lent academic work.” moral terms. Fr. Jenkins said it isn’t “Just as we teach stunecessary – or remotely posdents how to think, we can sible – to require that all teach them how to value,” faculty or every student be said Morrill, who served as Catholic. The challenge for Teagle Foundation President Richard Morrill president of three different Notre Dame, BC and other (right), shown with Boisi Professor of Educacolleges and now heads the Catholic research universi- tion Henry Braun, gave a keynote address. Teagle Foundation. (Photo by Justin Knight) ties is to reach an “overlapWithout religion, theolping consensus” on the religious intellectual tradition. ogy and belief on college camtenets that guide the university The university presidents puses, Morrill said, students and the expansive nature of lib- noted that in addition to ques- would be left unprepared to aneral intellectual inquiry. tions surrounding mission, the swer some of the most important institutions face external pres- personal and moral questions sures from rising expenses and they will confront across their “The question for me isn’t the high cost of tuition, rankings lifetimes. whether religion, theology and accrediting requirements, as “Can it be that we would well as shifting cultural trends leave the most important quesand belief have a place in toward religion and spirituality. tions students must face in their the liberal university. The Yet, as Ryken and McAu- lives to chance...to be answered liffe noted, as hundreds of col- simply by an advertising slogan?” question is how will they leges and universities have moved he asked rhetorically. have a place in higher edu- away from the religious affiliaMore information on the symtions central to their founding, posium, and on other Sesquication in the US, but also they have helped to make the centennial Celebration events, is in the life of our society?” approximately 250 religious in- available at www.bc.edu/150 Contact Ed Hayward at —William Leahy, SJ stitutions stand out among the roughly 4,000 colleges and unied.hayward@bc.edu
Dr. Robert D. Blute Sr. ’43 arrived at Boston College as a freshman in September, 1939, during the same week that Germany invaded Poland to ignite World War II. His four-year undergraduate career was one of accelerated courses, a constantly changing student population, the heartbreak of personal loss, and a greatly limited collegiate social experience, as America – and Boston College – prepared for the complex challenges of war. As a pre-med major at BC, Dr. Blute was commissioned in the Army Reserve and sent to Tufts Medical School to become a doctor. After military service in Germany during the Berlin Airlift, he returned to Massachusetts where he completed his medical training and became a noted surgeon and urologist, serving as chief of the Urology Department at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester and practicing his specialty for some 50 years until his retirement at age 78. Dr. Blute, who is approaching his 92nd birthday, recently sat down in his Shrewsbury home with Chronicle correspondent Reid Oslin, and shared his memories, often referring to a wellworn and annotated copy of the 1943 Sub Turri yearbook. [The full version of the interview is available at www. bc.edu/chronicle.] What was the environment on campus as America prepared to Lee Pellegrini enter World War II? We enjoyed it. The world was ERSPECTIVES going to hell but the college seemed to blot it all out. Then some of the boys began to leave – the draft, the war was going on and some were joining the Army or Marines. One of my cousins, Joe Blute, went into the infantry and was killed. His name is on the Veterans Memorial at the front entrance of BC. It was very depressing at the time, I thought – not only what was going on in the world, but then having your friends leave to join the service. Was there any enjoyment of the college experience in those days? The day I arrived on campus, we were walking around and looking things over. We were on Linden Lane, and we saw this man across the street with a whole bunch of young guys. He yelled, “Hey lads – come over here!” We walked over and he said, “I’m coach Frank Leahy. I want to introduce you to my football team. Now, I don’t allow people to watch my practice sessions, but you guys are different. You are the students. You can come any time you want.” I thought he was the greatest guy who ever lived. BC was undefeated and got to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. We took a trip down for the game. We went down to Railway Express in the middle of November and worked nights to get the money. We went and we had a great time. We paid for it, though. On the way home, the water on the train was contaminated. We had to offload two of our buddies in Washington, DC, with hepatitis. By the time we got to Boston, we had all fallen sick. I didn’t get back to the campus for two months. That was as sick as I have ever been or ever want to be. What was it like when America entered the war? In 1941, the next big thing was Pearl Harbor. I was driving through Kenmore Square. It was 5 o’clock when it hit the radio. We were waiting for the light to change when I heard “The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor.” There was some guy who stuck his head out of his car window and said, “Where the hell is Pearl Harbor?” Somebody else yelled, “You’ll find out.” Everything then seemed to revolve around sports. In 1940, we were the national champs in football. In 1942, after the BC-Holy Cross football game, we parked our car in a garage in Boston and headed over to the Cocoanut Grove. We went by the front door and there was a guy standing there who looked like he was drunk or something. He was moaning and groaning. He said, “The place is on fire.” We went over to the Statler Hotel where there was a BC dance. We stayed there all night watching them take out the bodies. It was a horrible, horrible thing. Several of my friends were behind those doors dead. How has Boston College stayed in your life all of these years? I think about the effect of my BC education all the time. I often think that if I had joined the service like I had wanted to, I might not have returned to college at all. The training and education at Boston College was superb — after having Jesuit teachers like Fr. Dorr and Fr. Tobin, I had no problem handling medical school. I am very grateful for my BC education. It got me into medical school. Everything that has developed in my life started on registration day at Boston College.
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Read the full interview at www.bc.edu/chronicle
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Barnett Is Prof. of Year Continued from page 1 ics such as environmental science, engineering, botany, nutrition, sustainability and economics. Barnett has set up vertical farms in Boston Latin School, Russell Elementary in Dorchester, New Mission High School in Hyde Park, Saint Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton, and on campus at BC’s greenhouse. Earlier this fall he received a $250,000 National Science Foundation grant to launch Boston’s largest indoor hydroponic gardening youth initiative. [see separate story] “I try to get everybody excited about science, from K-12 students to college students to the general public,” said Barnett, who joined the Lynch School’s Department of Teacher Education, Special Education, and Curriculum and Instruction in 2002. A self-described “recovering astrophysicist” from Kentucky, Barnett caught the teaching bug when he was tapped to teach a lesson about the moon to “immensely inquisitive fifth-graders” while he was working on his PhD in astrophysics. Barnett, who holds a master’s degree in physics, went on to earn a doctorate in instructional systems technology with an emphasis in science education from Indiana University. His work has been published in the International Journal of Science Education, Urban Education and The Journal of Career Development and is forthcoming in the International Handbook of Research on Environmental Education. Lynch School Associate Dean Alec Peck nominated Barnett for Professor of the Year, calling him an “exceptional educator” and “one of the most creative instructors in the university and...especially dedicated to his work with undergraduate students. I am confident he has had a
Student Entrepreneurs
Assoc. Prof. G. Michael Barnett (LSOE): “If I can get non-science majors interested in how science works and reading the New York Times Science section, then I consider that a success.” (Photo by Ed Hayward)
transformative effect on hundreds of students and that the next generation of STEM teachers could not have a better influence on their personal and professional lives.” “Rock star” and “the most genuinely inspiring role model of effective instruction” are just some of the words students used to describe Barnett in his nomination papers. “[Professor Barnett] loves educating people on how to teach science. A self-proclaimed technical geek, he consistently encourages his students to find ways to put new technologies in the hands of their students, including some that I have incorporated in my high school classroom,” wrote former student Andrew Trossello, who now teaches chemistry and biology at a Bostonarea high school. Barnett has twice received a Boston College Instructional Design and eTeaching Services’ Teaching with New Media Award for his innovative use of technology in the classroom. Barnett is known for building collaborative relationships with other departments within Boston College as well as with urban public and private schools, and other groups, all with an eye toward making science education the best it can be. Associate Professor of Geophysics Alan Kafka, a collaborator of Barnett’s, said, “With science education faculty like Mike Barnett, we
NSF Grant Will Support Barnett’s Work In addition to his honor as Massachusetts Professor of the Year, Lynch School of Education Associate Professor Michael Barnett also has been awarded a $250,000 National Science Foundation grant to support his work with inner-city youth on agricultural projects. Barnett has partnered with the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center in Dorchester and the non-profit STEM Garden Institute to teach 450 Dorchester youths and teens how to use innovative, soil-free gardening technology to grow fruits and vegetables and then sell the harvest at local farmers’ markets. The after-school initiative, which will serve 300 students in the fourth through sixth grades and another 150 high school students, is the largest of its kind for youths in the city’s history and promises to not only teach valuable lessons about science and health, but also give students the chance to earn a percentage of the proceeds. This week, Barnett, the principal investigator for the NSF grant, the Kroc Center and the Boston-based STEM Garden Institute launched the out-of-school program using the latest technology, known as vertical hydroponic systems – in this case, multi-tiered plastic garden beds where ceramic beads anchor plants as they are nourished with water, fertilizer and grow lights. [For more, see “BC Newswire” at http://www.bc.edu/offices/pubaf] —Ed Hayward
are able to break down the barriers that typically exist between science departments and science education faculty and make a real difference in the careers of future teachers and the children they will teach.” Barnett has dedicated countless hours to Saint Columbkille Partnership School, where his work has been described as “instrumental in the transformation of [the] school’s science curriculum.” “I like being interdisciplinary,” explained Barnett. “The real world doesn’t work in silos.” Barnett says he is always looking for ways to engage students. “You have to reach students where they are,” he said. This philosophy has led him and his research team to develop a mobile app called “Touch Tree” that allows users to identify trees and their ecological value. His teaching is about more than educating future science teachers: He wants to get non-science majors interested in learning about science. A grant project to revamp his undergraduate course for non-science majors has recently been designated “recommended for funding” by the National Science Foundation. In the course, students will drop data eggs in some 50 public locations throughout the Greater Boston area, including Boston, Cambridge, Newton and Waltham, to collect information on air quality. The students’ reports will be publicly available via touch foil interactive screens set up within the community. For example, a bookstore in Waltham will display the findings on their window. “The point of this project is to get the science out into places where you usually don’t see it,” said Barnett. “If I can get non-science majors interested in how science works and reading the New York Times Science section, then I consider that a success,” he added. Other Boston College winners of the Massachusetts Professor of the Year honors have been Professor of Economics Richard Tresch (1996) and Rattigan Professor of English Emeritus John Mahoney (1989).
Continued from page 1 Just yesterday, two businesses launched by past BCVC participants – NBD Nano and Wymsee – were among 12 presenters at Demo Day hosted by TechStars, among the most competitive startup accelerator programs in the world. Gallaugher says BC’s focus on giving undergraduate students the opportunity to explore entrepreneurial projects makes it unique. But the ever-increasing momentum around the programs stems from fundamental changes taking place in the business world. “I like to call this the Golden Age of Collegiate Entrepreneurship. It’s never been easier to create a technology-focused business
first Entrepreneurship Week. The event gave students the chance to meet with Bill Clerico ’07, cofounder with Rich Aberman ’08 of the group-pay start-up WePay; James Reinhart ’01, co-founder & CEO of thredUp; Peter Bell ’86 and Dan Nova ’83, partners at the venture capital firm Highland Capital Partners; and Pat Grady ’04, a partner at Sequoia Capital. There are an increasing number of students starting businesses while on campus, such as Jebbit – the 2011 BCVC winner that included Tom Coburn ’13, Chase McAleese ’13 and Jonathan Lacoste ’15 – which has already launched its brand engagement start-up.
Jebbit co-founders (L-R) Thomas Coburn ’13, Chase McAleese ’13 and Jonathan Lacoste ‘15 speak at “Young Entrepreneurship Day” earlier this fall. The trio’s firm won last year’s Boston College Venture Competition and was launched this past spring. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
than it is now. Our first goal is to make sure they know they have this avenue available to them. Our second goal, if we do this right, is that quality businesses will rise to the top. I think that is what we are seeing right now.” A number of BCVC-cultivated business plans have launched into companies that have raised at least $250,000 each. “I don’t know of anyone who has that track record at the undergraduate level,” Gallaugher said. CSOM Dean Andy Boynton said the University is in a unique position to give students the opportunity to explore new ideas and take risks. “Entrepreneurship is the unleashing of the spirit and the intellect – two things that, unfortunately, are often missing ingredients in large, established organizations,” said Boynton. “Entrepreneurship is also where the rubber meets the road with respect to one’s own effort having a direct impact on success.” Alumni are playing an important role in the move to encourage student entrepreneurs by hosting company visits, mentoring teams and speaking on campus. Earlier this year, BC hosted its
Rounding out the key players are alumni on the BC Tech Council and West Coast Tech Council, the student coordinators of BCVC and the BC Entrepreneur Society, which last week hosted the StartUp Scramble, an intensive start-up brainstorm session that drew 60 students. CSOM junior Ashley Macaulay arrived on campus this fall as a transfer student, concerned BC couldn’t offer entrepreneurship opportunities. She quickly learned otherwise. Now she’s working toward the launch this month of a social entrepreneurship initiative called Little Lux, which delivers toiletries to hospital patients. Her 60-second proposal for Little Lux won the social innovation award in the fall Elevator Pitch competition hosted by BCVC, and placed second overall. “There are so many people here with great ideas,” said Macaulay. “You can see there’s a culture of innovation across the University. BC fosters that culture of being open and sharing and helping out. People are always willing to help you make a connection.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
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BC Launching GrantScape Law School Appoints Tremblay to New Post to Aid Faculty Research
Paul Tremblay
Administrators say Tremblay brings the perspective of both a clinical and classroom professor to his new administrative role. The founder of CEC, Tremblay is a leading authority on clinical education. He teaches clinical courses at LAB as well as classroom courses in legal ethics and professional responsibility.
Tremblay has considerable interest in professional ethics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and legal services for the poor. He has been a member of the Boston Bar Association Ethics Committee since 1993, and has served on the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on Professional Responsibility. He has published in several scholarly journals on matters of professional ethics, including articles on lawyers’ obligations with questionably competent clients, on rationing legal services for the poor, and on a method of ethical decision-making known as “casuistry.” Tremblay is a co-author of Lawyers as Counselors, a leading textbook used in law school clinics, and is now completing, with Alicia Alvarez of Michigan, a textbook on transactional clinical practice. —Law School Marketing and Communications Director Nathaniel Kenyon
Woods College’s McAleer to Return in January With the completion of a year-long tour in Afghanistan, Woods College of Advancing Studies faculty member Andrew McAleer ’90, above, is preparing to return to the classroom for the spring semester and resume teaching his crime fiction course. A US Army sergeant, McAleer, son of the late BC Professor of English John McAleer, served as a combat historian with the 126th Military History Detachment in the Regional Command East in Afghanistan. Fewer than 100 historians are preserving that military branch’s history; McAleer, one of three in Afghanistan, went on missions to remote combat outposts. “I really missed the classroom, but this deployment reminded me how indebted our nation is to academic freedom,” he said. “It is an honor to serve on the faculty of a leading university like Boston College.” Since 2003, McAleer has taught The Master Sleuths, which examines forms of detective fiction. A prosecutor for the Massachusetts Department of Correction as well as a Woods College faculty member, McAleer also is a best-selling and acclaimed author, and released his fourth novel, the thriller Fatal Deeds, prior to his deployment. —Office of News & Public Affairs
Sean Smith
Faculty can not only search GrantScape, but also subscribe to it. There are two e-mail subscripBoston College faculty have an tion services: GrantScape Bulletin, innovative new tool to aid them which disseminates all funding in identifying and pursing private opportunities and deadlines five funding for their research. to six times a year, and Funding Launched this week by Uni- Alerts, which sends a notification versity Advancement’s Corporate whenever a new opportunity is and Foundation Relations Office, posted that matches a user’s preGrantScape is a searchable online selected criteria. database of private funding reListings on funding opportuquests for proposals specially de- nities can be saved in folders or signed for Boston College faculty. e-mailed to colleagues and colPrivate support is a vital part laborators. of Boston College’s research enSaariaho said there are other terprise, with approximately one search engines out there, but it is third of the University’s external rare to find a research university research funding coming from with its own customized funding corporate and foundation funders, database. She said the functionaccording to Advancement ad- ality and user-friendly design of ministrators. GrantScape makes it a “best in “GrantScape will streamline class” example. the process of identifying and pur“GrantScape is an innovative suing private funding opportuni- tool that will enable faculty to ties and, hopefully, increase private identify and pursue private fundresearch funding for our faculty,” ing. I’m pleased that CFR has said School Development and spearheaded this initiative and Organizational Giving Executive hope that faculty will find this Director Ginger Saariaho, who led to be a valuable resource.” said the effort to bring GrantScape to Larry McLaughlin, Vice Provost fruition along with her colleague for Research. Kathy Kuy, acting director of CorProject managers based the porate and Foundation Relations. GrantScape design on extensive The database is searchable by suggestions from faculty, who keyword, funder, school, depart- tested the database earlier this fall ment, topic area, or and offered their assessinvestigator level. “GrantScape is an ments. Saariaho said Listings have detailed she is grateful for the information on each innovative tool that support provided by funding opportunity, will enable faculty to McLaughlin, Academincluding deadline, ic Technology Execueligibility information, identify and pursue tive Director Rita Owrestrictions and names private funding.” ens, ITS Director of of previous BC recipiResearch Services and —Larry McLaughlin Faculty Liaison Barry ents. Corporate and Foundation Relations Schaudt, Slavic and staff are available to assist faculty Eastern Languages and Literatures in the application process. Associate Professor/Faculty Tech Saariaho said she had dreamed Contact leader Michael Connolly, for years of a way to improve the Vice President for Development cumbersome process of match- Thom Lockerby and the Faculty ing private funding opportunities Technology Contacts group. with faculty research. Her office Currently GrantScape has inpreviously had sent periodic e- formation only on cyclical, deadmails containing information on line-driven requests for proposals, deadline-driven private funding to but Saariaho said she envisions a list of faculty contacts. future versions of GrantScape that About 18 months ago, a pro- include other more general types posal by Saariaho and Kuy to of private funding awards as well modernize and overhaul the pro- as possibly public funding opporcess was funded by Information tunities. Technology Services. GrantScape “I’m thrilled with GrantScape,” was designed by Advancement said Saariaho. “I’m really excited Information Systems with assis- about sharing this new tool with tance from an outside developer. the faculty.” Restricted to the Boston College GrantScape will be demonstrated community, the database contains to faculty at an Instructional Design funding opportunities for early- and eTeaching Services luncheon on career, mid-career, and senior fac- Dec. 6. Find GrantScape at www. ulty as well as postdoctoral fellows. bc.edu/grantscape. GrantScape is accessible from both desktop computers and mobile deContact Kathleen Sullivan at kathleen.sullivan@bc.edu vices. By Kathleen Sullivan Staff Writer
Boston College Law School has appointed Professor Paul Tremblay as its inaugural faculty director of experiential learning. A member of the BC Law faculty since 1982, Tremblay will be responsible for coordinating experiential learning throughout the curriculum to ensure that every student will have reasonable access to such opportunities. Administrators say creating the faculty director of experiential learning position will help the school strengthen its established and nationally known in-house clinics, its growing externship programs, and the increasing availability of practicum and simulation opportunities in classroom courses. Students will have a wider exposure to the richness of the practice of law, alongside the critical doctrinal and theoretical training of which the school remains so proud. “The Law School has been a leader in clinical education for many years,” said BC Law Dean Vincent Rougeau. “At the same time, we recognize that legal higher education and the legal profession is changing, with a greater emphasis on real-world experience for law students. We want to prepare our graduates for every aspect of the practice of law in our global community. This new position is an effort to enhance our core mission, build upon our strengths, and lead us into an even stronger future.” BC Law’s Legal Assistance Bureau (LAB) has been a model for other programs across the country since 1968. At LAB, students and their advisors represent clients with a variety of legal problems, including domestic violence prevention, family law, landlord-tenant disputes, Social Security disability appeals, as well as offering free legal services to small businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and first-time home-buyers through its Community Enterprise Clinic (CEC).
A group of Catholic and Protestant teenagers from West Belfast recently visited Boston College during their stay with the Boston branch of Friends Forever, a nonprofit organization that seeks to create trust, empathy, and friendships among cultures in conflict. The young leaders also made speaking presentations at local Rotary Clubs, got a tour of the Statehouse and South Boston with State Senator Jack Hart, and helped prepare and serve meals at a Haverhill soup kitchen.
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Newsmakers
WELCOME ADDITIONS Assistant Professor of English Robert Lehman specializes in British and American modernism, continental Philosophy and visual culture. Lehman earned his PhD from Cornell University after earning degrees from Oberlin College and the University of Florida. He is currently completing a book on modernisms critique of historical reason, The Impossibility of Being Modern: Time, Tradition and Event in Modernist Literature and Philosophy. He has been published in the Journal of Modern Literature, New Literary History and Angelaki: Journal of the Theoretical Humanities. Assistant Professor of Communication Matt Sienkiewicz teaches courses in global media cultures and media theory. He earned his master of arts and PhD in Communication Arts from University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University. His research focuses on the West’s investment in Middle Eastern broadcasting initiatives as well as portrayals of race and religion on the American screen. In addition to his work as a scholar, Sienkiewicz is also an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker and screenwriter.
Lynch School of Education Kearns Professor Mary Walsh, executive director of City Connects, discussed with Education Week how the organization provides additional supports for principals, students and teachers in Boston and Springfield schools. The Wall Street Journal noted a study by Boston College Center for Retirement Research researchers Anthony Webb and Wei Sun that found IRS Recent campus events included (above) a seminar for students on the basics of smart financial planning presented by Adj. Assoc. Prof. Michael Barry (CSOM) and (right), a Health Fair for faculty and staff, at which Asst. Prof. Scott Easton (GSSW) received a flu shot from Connell School of Nursing senior Ann Harrington.
Photos by Caitlin Cunningham
Connell School of Nursing Assistant Professor Joyce Edmonds is an advanced practice public health nurse with additional certification in public health from the National Board of Public Health Examiners. A former nurse consultant in the Oregon Department of Health, assistant chief nurse in the Georgia Department of Public Health and assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts-Boston’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Edmonds is currently pursuing research on the rising rates of cesarean sections and the influence of culture and social norms on childbirth decisions. She earned a doctorate from Emory University’s School of Nursing and a master’s in public health from Oregon Health and Science University. Edmonds has published articles in Social Science and Medicine, the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, and the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health.
Law Professor R. Michael Cassidy is one of 68 newly elected members of the American Law Institute (ALI), a diverse group of highly accomplished lawyers, judges and law professors. Cassidy, who teaches and writes in the areas of criminal law, evidence, and professional responsibility, is widely considered an expert on the subject of prosecutorial ethics. He provides training nationally to public sector attorneys on their responsibilities under the Rules of Professional Conduct, and is a frequent media commentator.
School of Theology and Ministry Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling Philip Browning Helsel is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He earned a doctorate in pastoral theology and a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. A pastoral theologian, his work has centered on care of the dying, grief and caregiving and the sociology of family. Rev. Helsel has served as a chaplain in psychiatric hospitals, general hospitals and hospice settings. He has been published in the Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Pastoral Psychology and the Journal of Religion and Health. This semester, he is teaching Pastoral Care and Counseling and Trauma and Addiction. —Michael Maloney, Melissa Beecher and Kathleen Sullivan Photos by Lee Pellegrini “Welcome Additions,” an occasional feature, profiles new faculty members at Boston College.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) named Graduate School of Social Work Professor Emeritus Elaine Pinderhughes as the 2012 recipient of the Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award. The award recognizes Pinderhughes for her longevity in the field of social work and her impact as a scholar, role model, and mentor to countless faculty and practitioners. Her textbook, Understanding Race, Ethnicity and Power: The Key to Efficiency in Clinical Practice, substantially changed the language of multiculturalism and human behavior in the practice arena and provided the rubric of culturally competent practice across human services disciplines. At GSWW, she helped establish the Pinderhughes Diversity Lecture Series, which features a presentation by a leading expert on a topic related to issues of diversity and inclusion.
Memorial Sunday for Blackwell A memorial service will be held this Sunday, Nov. 18, for English Professor Henry Blackwell, who died on Sept. 28 after a lengthy illness. The service for Professor Blackwell will take place at 10:30 a.m. in Gasson 305. The first African-American faculty member in the BC English Department, Professor Blackwell taught for 32 years at the University. He specialized in African-American lit-
erature, American literature and cultural studies, with a particular interest in the works of Flannery O’Connor. Contributions in memory of Prof. Henry Blackwell may be made out to “Prof. Henry Blackwell Memorial Scholarship Fund” and sent to Prof. Robin Lydenberg at Boston College, English Department, Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467 [Professor Blackwell’s obituary appeared in the Oct. 18 Chronicle.]
NOTA BENE
Professor of Mathematics Avner Ash was named to the American Mathematical Society’s inaugural class of Fellows. The Fellows of the AMS designation recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication, and utilization of mathematics. Among the goals of the program are to create an enlarged class of mathematicians recognized by their peers as distinguished for their contributions to the profession and to honor excellence. The AMS is the world’s largest and most influential society dedicated to mathematical research, scholarship, and education.
BC BRIEFING rules for required withdrawals from retirement accounts could provide a framework for retirees’ annual withdrawals that minimizes the risk of running out of money. America would benefit from a codetermination system such as that of Germany, where companies are required to elect half their board of directors by vote of employees, rather than of shareholders, wrote Prof. Kent Greenfield (Law) in the online journal Democracy. His piece was quoted by Washington Post. com and Slate. Research co-authored by Carroll School of Management Cleary Professor of Finance Jeffrey Pontiff, which found that stock trading strategies adapted from academic research quickly lose their edge as more and more investors adopt them, was noted in the Chronicle of Higher Education and Dow Jones MarketWatch.
Publications Adj. Assoc. Prof. Michael C. Keith (Communication) published a short story in The Greensilk Journal.
Time and a Half Asst. Prof. Maia McAleavey (English) presented “The Improper End: Aurora Floyd and Jude the Obscure” at the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University.
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/: Technology Manager, Office of Residential Life HVAC Mechanic, Facilities Management Assistant Manager, Dining Services McNair Administrator/Counselor, Learning to Learn Programs Assistant Director, Graphic Design & Production, Office of Marketing Communications Assistant Director, Housing Assignments & Occupancy, Residential Life
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LOOKING AHEAD What to Do for the Rest of November? Some Suggestions By Rosanne Pellegrini Staff Writer
Campus cultural offerings over the next few weeks feature a variety of events and performances, from concerts and art exhibits to lectures by prominent authors and a film screening. Here’s a sampling (admission is free unless otherwise noted): “The Arabian Nights,” Nov. 15-18
Beginning tonight, the Theatre Department presents “The Arabian Nights,” Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation of the ancient Arabic tales. Directed by Associate Professor of Theatre John Houchin, it will be presented on the main stage of the Robsham Theater Arts Center. For more details, including the performance schedule and ticket information ($15; $10 for students, seniors and BC faculty and staff), see www.bc.edu/theatre or call the Box Office at ext.2-4002. “The Spirit Lives On: St. Ignatius in Boston,” through Jan. 1.
This Sesquicentennial exhibit in the Burns Library Ford Tower highlights the early champions of the idea of a Jesuit college in Boston, as well as books used in the Boston College 19th century curriculum, Catholic faith-focused student organizations, and the legacy of Boston College Jesuits. According to exhibit organizers, “the Jesuits in New England faced opposition early on, but were steadfast in their mission. Boston College, both in the early days and as the University we know today, represents the spirit of St. Ignatius.” For more information, see http:// bit.ly/UwYsHU.
BC SCENES
says, Defenders of the Text and Bring Out Your Dead. He was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Balzan Prize for History of Humanities, and the Mellon Foundation’s Distinguished Achievement Award. A writer for The New Yorker since 1995, Mayer is based in Washington, DC, and writes about politics. She has distinguished herself with her coverage of the War on Terror, authoring the best-selling book The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals, which was chosen by the New York Times, the Economist, Salon, Slate, and Bloomberg as one of the best books of the year. Currently she is writing about elections and campaign reform. Both events, part of the Lowell Humanities Series, will be held at 7 p.m. in Gasson 100. For information, see http://www.bc.edu/lowell.
“The World Through Our Eyes,” through Nov. 30
As part of BC’s celebration of International Education Week — a nationwide initiative with the goal of fostering international education — this third annual exhibit features 70 photographs taken around the world, by 64 members of the BC community. According to Jonathan Estwing, international systems administrator in the Office of International Students and Scholars, the subject matter was left up to the photographers, with the requirement that photographs be taken outside the United States (except for international student submissions), and that they have personal significance to the artist. The exhibit is on display in the O’Neill Library Level One Gallery. For more information, see http://bit. ly/gAKIfD. “Angle of Repose,” through Jan. 20
Another photography exhibit in O’Neill, in its Level Three Gallery, features the work of Fine Arts Department adjunct faculty member Toni Pepe Dan. “Absence and presence is a recurring theme within this series, implying that each image works to reference something beyond the frame,” according to Dan. “Photography best portrays this thematic approach since by nature photographs possess a fundamental quality of absence. All of the elements within the frame — the props, costumes, and gestures prompt the notion and tangibility of loss and memory.” For more information, see http:// bit.ly/VJrPMG. “Music in the Afternoon: Chamber Music Society,” Nov. 19
Photos from the exhibit “The World Through Our Eyes,” in the O’Neill Library Level One Gallery through the end of the month.
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Sandra Hebert directs the Chamber Music Society’s performance of Brahms’s “Piano Trio in B Major,” and selections from “Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103.” The concert will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Gasson 100. For information, see http://www.bc.edu/ music. Symphonic Band concert, Nov. 27
Conducted by David Healey, the Symphonic Band will presents its fall concert: “Zadok!,” at 8 p.m. in Gasson 100. It features the ensemble’s performance of the title piece, “Zadok the Priest,” by George Friedrich Handel, in addition to Lauridsen’s
“O Magnum Mysterium” and Elgar’s “Enigma Variations.” For information, contact the BC Bands Office at ext.2-3018 or bands@bc.edu. Lowell Humanities Series Anthony Grafton, Nov. 15; Jane Mayer, Nov. 28
The pursuits of Anthony Grafton, the Henry Putnam University Professor of History at Princeton University, include the cultural history of Renaissance Europe, the history of books and readers, the history of scholarship and education in the West from Antiquity to the 19th century, and the history of science from Antiquity to the Renaissance. His books include two wide-ranging collections of es-
“Niños de la Memoria (Children of Memory),” Nov. 28
This film recounts the search for hundreds of children who disappeared during the Salvadoran Civil War, many of them survivors of massacres carried out by the US-trained Salvadoran army. Taken away from massacre sites by soldiers, some grew up in orphanages or were adopted abroad, losing their history and identity. The film will be shown at 7 p.m. in Merkert Room 127, and its producer Kathryn Smith Pyle will be on hand. To learn more about the film, see http://www.ninosdelamemoria. com.
For more Boston College events, see the University calendar at https:// events.bc.edu Contact Rosanne Pellegrini at rosanne.pellegrini@bc.edu
TWO FOR THE SHOW Photos by Christopher Huang Vanessa Omoroghomwan ’15 and Timothy Koch ’14 (photo at left) and Jennifer Mannion ’15 and Matt Hutchinson ’13 were among the duos competing in the Nov. 2 “Dancing with the Scholars” event in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons. Based on a popular TV show, the event paired representatives of Boston College dance groups with members of student organizations. See story on page 2.