The Boston College
Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs march 1, 2012 VOL. 20 no. 12
INSIDE
STAGE FLIGHT
•Dissertation Boot Camp, page 2 •BC has presence on Pinterest, page 2 •In praise of York, page 2 Biology Chairman Thomas Chiles. (Photo by Gary Wayne Gilbert)
Chiles Is New DeLuca Prof. By Ed Hayward Staff Writer
•Club lacrosse pulls together, page 3 •BC files appeal on Belfast Project, page 3 •Vo in campaign for clean water, page 5
Biology Department Chairman Thomas Chiles has been named the Dr. Michael E. and Dr. Salvatore A. DeLuca Professor of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Quigley has announced. Chiles, whose research into lymphocyte metabolism and canIf the job involves Lynch School of Education cer biology is funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Naoutreach to Boston, Catherine Wong is on it tional Institutes of Health and ty-school partnerships focused on By Ed Hayward private foundations, said he was helping principals, teachers and Staff Writer students in Boston schools, as well Catherine Wong’s work week as providing teaching and research can find her meeting with govern- opportunities for BC students. Lee Pellegrini ment relations officials, Wong, whose teachState, local and Boston Colmentoring graduate ing, research and conlege police continued their search students, hosting high sulting projects have Wednesday for Boston College stuschoolers on campus, taken her to Northern dent Franco Garcia, who had been long-range planning Ireland, Europe, North reported missing since last week. with a local principal Africa and the Middle Using helicopters, diving teams or in a Boston Public East, likes to be where and sonar equipment, Massachusetts Schools classroom full of the action is. State Police have searched the Chestfourth graders. Central to her apnut Hill Reservoir and — in colAs director of urban proach is listening carelaboration with Boston College, Bosoutreach initiatives for Catherine Wong fully to principals, teachton and Newton police — combed the Lynch School of ers and parents and then nearby woods and adjacent neighEducation, Wong is the point finding ways to channel Lynch borhoods as well as the BC campus. person guiding a slate of universiContinued on page 4 The 21-year-old Garcia, a West Newton resident and student in the Woods College of Advancing Studies, was last seen around 12:15 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celMr. Cleary, who graduated on Feb. 22 at the Cleveland Circle ebrated at 10 a.m. today in St. from Boston College in 1950 bar Mary Ann’s. Friends and famIgnatius Church for James F. and was awarded an honorary ily members grew concerned when Cleary, a long-time trustee of doctorate at BC Commence- Garcia did not respond to texts or Boston College and for many ment ceremonies in 1993, was phone calls, and their concern deepyears an active and innovative the founder and chairman of the ened when he did not show up later fund-raiser for the University, University’s annual “Pops on the on Feb. 22 for class at BC or his job who died Sunday at his home in Heights” scholarship gala, fea- in Waltham — behavior said to be Boston. He was 86. Continued on page 6 unusual for him. Baldwin the Eagle congratulated a group of students from the St. Columbkille Partnership School after they had performed an Irish stepdance at the recent BC Idol show in Robsham Theater. See additional photo on page 8. (Photo by Caitlin Cunningham)
Always There to Help
honored to receive the endowed professorship, which will support his ongoing research, particularly projects involving undergraduates. “It is a privilege and an honor to be named the DeLuca Professor of Biology,” said Chiles, who joined the BC faculty in 1992. “I’m grateful to the University and the DeLuca family for their ongoing support of my lab’s work and the advancement of the biological sciences here at BC.” The professorship was estabContinued on page 4
Search Continues for Garcia
•Obituaries: Edward O’Flahery, SJ; Andrew Buni; Rita Mullen, page 6 •BC hosts forum on Turkey, page 6 •Theatre students, football players win honors, page 7 •Forum on ‘Romney and the State of the Union,’ page 8 •‘Art from Behind Bars,’ page 8
Long-time Trustee James Cleary Dies
QUOTE:
Franco Garcia has not been seen since Feb. 22.
A missing person report was filed on Feb. 23 with Newton Police, who have been aided in the search by BC, Boston and state police. The report of Garcia’s disappearance sparked efforts among members of the Boston College community to assist in the search. The University Continued on page 3
“You realize that this isn’t just a teammate that I share a jersey with, but a brother of mine who can maybe help me with something, no matter how challenging it may be.” —Men’s club lacrosse coach Patrick McCavanagh, page 3
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Dissertation Boot Camp. aside for focused writing. Assistant Director of Graduate “This is three days of writing Student Life Denise Fung knows workshops and reflection to help it sounds harsh, but promises doctoral students build healthy that participants won’t have to writing habits,” said Fung. do pushups or call her “Ma’am.” Similar boot camps are held For the first time, the Office of at the University of PennsylvaGraduate Student Life is hosting nia, UCLA and the University of a three-day “boot camp” for doc- Chicago. Students from the Contoral students to focus on writing nell School of Nursing, Carroll — with no excuses. School of Management, Lynch “We heard over School of Educaand over again that tion, Graduate many students were School of Social having problems Work and Colstarting their disserlege of Arts and tation because they Sciences have alfelt completely overready enrolled in whelmed – by the BC’s version. task itself and by the As for the lack of structure,” name? Fung says said Fung. it’s what many “There isn’t “We wanted to provide doctoral students anything like this feel they need to on campus and we our students a way to prepare for such wanted to provide a mammoth acaprogress through the our students a way to demic undertakdifficult stages of the ing. progress through the difficult stages of the “We’re not godissertation process.” dissertation process.” ing to make them —Denise Fung run through tires The Dissertation Boot Camp starts or anything,” March 5 at 9 a.m. sharp and laughed Fung. “We’re here to will include panel discussions on provide some help.” work-life balance with BC PhDs, For more, visit the Dissertation lectures on writing strategies and Boot Camp website at http://bit.ly/ goal-setting sessions. Boot Camp z7gM3X also has time – a lot of time – set —Melissa Beecher
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While You’re Away... As part of the ongoing “Got Green?” campaign organized by the Office of News & Public Affairs to raise awareness of the need to save energy across campus, the Office of Engineering and Energy offers a few quick and easy ways faculty, staff and students can help to conserve over the upcoming spring break. Before leaving campus: •Turn off items that consume electricity, such as lights and individual coffee makers. •Unplug chargers and other electronic equipment. •Shut down computers. •Review requirements and assignments for turning off office equipment such as printers and copiers. •Where possible, close blinds and curtains in offices and classrooms. •Close windows. •If a refrigerator is empty, raise the setting to a warmer temperature. •In offices with thermostats, lower the setting to 55 degrees.
Place of Pinterest Pinterest is the latest addition to Boston College’s social media offerings. [View the site at http:// pinterest.com/bostoncollege] Pinterest is officially the fastest growing social media site to date – according to PR Daily, Pinterest grew to 10 million monthly visitors faster than any site in history. That number now stands at 11 million, eclipsing Google+ and LinkedIn. And BC is one of a handful of higher education institutions pinning. For those not in the know, Pinterest is a social photo-sharing site that allows users to create and share virtual collections. Dubbed a “virtual pinboard,” the site has a largely female fan base. It grew in popularity as a way for friends to share recipes, wardrobe choices, books and crafts. The Boston College Pinterest, maintained by the Office of News & Public Affairs, boasts 11
boards, including “Superfans,” “BC Books,” “Boston College Alumni” and “Boston College Faculty.” The most popular boards are “Boston,” “Boston College Campus,” “BC Eats” – recipes by BC students, alums or related to Boston in some way — and “We Are BC,” a board of quirky BC-related items (think a Baldwin baby mobile or Baldwin wedding cake toppers). “BC Love” is the newest board, launched on Valentine’s Day as a way to showcase BC-related weddings and engagement photos. In just three weeks, hundreds of users have already begun following the BC boards and sharing the content with their friends. If you have an item you would like to see promoted on Boston College Pinterest, e-mail a link to social@bc.edu. —Melissa Beecher
The Boston College
Chronicle
Director of NEWS & Public Affairs
Jack Dunn
A sampling of comments on Men’s Hockey Coach Jerry York’s 900th career victory last month, making him only the second coach in NCAA history to achieve the milestone. “Jerry York’s lengthy list of career milestones had the BC coach as a lock to go down as one of the greatest bench bosses in NCAA history long before the calendar turned to February. But what York and the Eagles have accomplished so far this month has only enhanced his already astounding legacy.” —New England Hockey Journal “He continually makes sure his players are performing to the best of their ability on the ice and in the classroom. His coaching style is one that should be emulated by other coaches, as his success is evident in all areas of the game.” —Editorial in The Heights “Congrats to BC coach Jerry York on his 900th win tonight. An incredible milestone.” —Michigan State hockey coach Tom Anastos, on Twitter “Just wanted to tell you, as an alum, that you’re one of the
Deputy Director of NEWS & Public AFFAIRS
Patricia Delaney Editor
Sean Smith Contributing Staff
Melissa Beecher Ed Hayward Reid Oslin
Eagle EMS Director of Administrative Affairs Phil LaRocca ‘12 and member Mitchell Li ‘14 with the newly arrived first-response emergency vehicle the student volunteer EMTs will use to serve the Boston College community. (Photo by Caitlin Cunningham) Image posted on BC Interruption blog.
great figures in the history of our school, and thank you for everything you’ve done.” —Author, newspaper columnist and TV sports commentator Mike Lupica ’74, from a voicemail he left for York “Holy smokes, 900 wins. At the rate I’m going, I’ll be about 275 years old by the time I get 900 wins. He’s done it at Bowling Green, he’s done it at Clarkson, and what he’s done here is pretty well documented. He deserves a lot of credit.” —Merrimack Coach Mark Dennehy, losing coach in York’s 900th win
Going Off the Paper Trail Nobody threw a retirement party, and it’s unlikely anyone got sentimental, but January saw the University computer center say good-bye to its high-speed mainframe printer. The replacement of the mainframe printer with a less expensive office-size printer was part of an Information Technology Services project to reduce the amount of printed administrative reports generated by the center — and cut the cost and ecological impact that goes along with them. Thanks to the effort, according to ITS, about 93 percent of printing has been replaced by
other distribution means — such as converting documents to email attachments or using the Vista online reporting system — which has reduced the annual administrative printing from about 3.4 million pages per year to last year’s total of 220,000 pages. The benefits of going paperless go beyond cost, says ITS, which praised the cooperation of offices and departments involved in the conversion process: Delivery of reports takes minutes rather than hours — or even days — and there’s no need to worry about finding a shelf or closet in which to store them. —Office of News & Public Affairs
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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Playing for Mike They lost a teammate last fall. Now, BC men’s club lacrosse is rallying around each other to win By Michael Maloney Special to the Chronicle
With a 3-0 record, a top five ranking in the national polls, and eyes set on a national championship, the Boston College men’s club lacrosse team is undeniably a talented and confident bunch. But talent and confidence are only two of the qualities in this special group of young men who have banded together in the face of adversity, following the death of junior midfielder Michael Racanelli last November. “Everything about this season is about playing for Mike,” explains junior goaltender Nick Shea. “This season is definitely in honor of him.” Consistently working together to overcome the loss, Shea and his Eagle teammates have become nothing short of a family along the way. “You just take a look at the person next to you,” says head coach Patrick McCavanagh, “and you realize that this isn’t just a teammate that I share a jersey with, but a brother of mine who can maybe help me with something, no matter how challenging it may be.” McCavanagh speaks from the
heart, as he knows all too well the challenge of losing a teammate: Welles Crowther, whom McCavanagh played alongside at BC in 1999, was killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. Widely known as “The Man in the Red Bandana,” Crowther has been memorialized for his heroism in aiding rescue efforts. In honor of Crowther, McCavanagh started a new tradition in which he will award Crowther’s number 19 jersey to a senior leader to wear for the duration of the season. In its inaugural year, the “19” was given to senior captain Alex Prostano. “Coach just explained to us what Welles represented, and what he did during 9/11,” Prostano says, “so when he said my name, I was honestly just choked up a little bit.” With the memories of both Crowther and Racanelli present, there has been no shortage of inspiration for the Eagles, despite having every reason to complain. They practice from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Thursday nights. Their first three games were scheduled on three consecutive days in two different states against some of the best teams in the country, yet
The BC men’s club lacrosse team, with the no. 32 jersey worn by the late Michael Racanelli. (Photo by Caitlin Cunningham)
the Eagles are still standing tall at 3-0. They have three more on the road this weekend, all against top 10 teams, including thirdranked Chapman University. But through it all, they remain positive, understanding that there are greater challenges than those that happen between the lines. “You just realize that life isn’t all about lacrosse and winning games,” explains senior captain Harry Anscher. “But it’s also about being a family, and being there for each other, and I think that brought us together both on and off the field.” Prostano and Anscher credit the team’s bench players, some of who never even step onto the field, for helping to create a cohesive all-for-one and one-for-all
environment under such difficult circumstances. It is another example of the profound lack of ego — rare at most any level of athletics — the players say speaks volumes about the team’s capabilities. They share a common goal in their minds, and a common name in their hearts. Summing up a group of ath-
letes like this would seem to be difficult, but McCavanagh — watching his team laughing together during a break in practice — needs just one word: “Together.” The Boston College men’s club lacrosse team website is http:// www.bceagleslacrosse.com
University Files Appeal in Belfast Project Case Boston College has appealed a federal court ruling that it turn over material from a Northern Ireland oral history project, and is likely to have the case heard in June. The University filed an appeal Feb. 21 challenging the US District Court decision on Jan. 20 that ordered BC to turn over transcripts and recordings of interviews with seven participants in the Belfast Project, an oral history project researching “The Troubles,” a period of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. In a statement issued after the filing of the appeal, University Spokesman Jack Dunn said, “The University is seeking further review of the court’s order to ensure that the value of the interviews to the underlying criminal investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland outweighs the interests in protecting the confidentiality of academic research materials.” Dunn explained that BC has reserved the right to appeal throughout the case and did not immediately appeal the court’s initial decision in December “because the court both accepted Boston College’s argument
that government subpoenas for confidential academic materials requires heightened scrutiny, and agreed to review the materials in camera to help protect the significant interests at stake. “In its appeal, Boston College will argue that the District Court incorrectly applied its own review standard when it demanded the production of the interviews of these seven individuals,” said Dunn, who is director of the Office of News & Public Affairs. At issue is the relevance of the tapes to a British criminal investigation of the 1972 abduction and murder of Jean McConville, a Belfast mother of 10. The Irish Republican Army admitted to killing McConville because she was suspected of being an informant. At BC’s request, US District Court Judge William Young reviewed the subpoenaed tapes to determine their relevance to the investigation and ordered that they be turned over to British law enforcement. Young has said that he reviewed 176 transcripts compiled from interviews with 24 individuals,
but only a handful even mention McConville. “From the beginning, Boston College has asked Judge Young to weigh our interest in protecting academic research with the government’s interest in meeting its Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty obligation with the United Kingdom,” Dunn said. “Judge Young agreed to balance these competing interests. The University is now seeking further review of his order to ensure that the value of the interviews to the underlying criminal investigation outweighs our interest in protecting the confidentiality of academic research. “In the subsequent review of the remaining IRA tapes, Judge Young ordered that seven of the tapes were relevant to the criminal investigation and ordered that they be turned over to British law enforcement,” Dunn said. “These interviews appear to have limited probative value to the investigation, so we have sought a review of the judge’s decision to determine if he incorrectly applied his own review standard when he ordered the production of these interviews.” —Office of News & Public Affairs
Flyers about Franco Garcia were posted around campus. (Photo by Sean Smith)
BC Reacts to Disappearance Continued from page 1 posted alerts online as well as via email and social media, and students passed out fliers throughout Boston and Newton requesting any information that might aid the search for him. Students also used social media as part of the outreach. Prayers have been offered for Garcia and his family and friends at each of the daily Masses held this week by Campus Ministry. A Mass is scheduled today at noon in Cushing Chapel and St. Joseph’s Chapel at 10 p.m.; Masses will be said at St. Mary’s Chapel today and tomorrow at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. Garcia, a 2008 Newton North High School graduate, is a clarinetist who is a member of the Marching and Symphonic bands, and has been working as a certified pharmacy technician at a CVS in Waltham. Friends have described the popular student as a talented musician and a charismatic person.
“The Boston College community remains hopeful that Franco will be found safe, and are offering all our prayers and Masses for him, his family and many BC friends. The Marching Band, Symphonic Band and Pep Bands all are affected by this occurrence and are pulling together in solidarity and prayer for Franco and for each other,” said Campus Minister Fr. Donald MacMillan, SJ. “We are profoundly saddened by the ordeal of the Garcia family and their friends, and want them to know that the entire BC Community cares very much for Franco and hopes for his safe return. Boston College is a community at prayer.” Anyone with information that may be helpful to the investigation is asked to contact the Newton Police at 617-796-2100. —Office of News & Public Affairs
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Chiles Is Appointed as New DeLuca Professor of Biology
Continued from page 1 lished in 1996, with an endowment from Dr. Salvatore A. and Lucy DeLuca to honor the memory of their son, Michael, who died in 1991. Michael graduated from BC in 1986 and was just 18 months into a career as a doctor of chiropractic when he died at age 27. His parents established the professorship to support fundamental scientific research by an outstanding researcher in the biological sciences. Biology Professor Marc A.T. Muskavitch was the inaugural holder of the chair. Quigley said the selection of Chiles to hold the DeLuca Professorship was fitting recognition of Chiles’ work as a researcher, teacher, mentor and administrator.
Mary Roberts, the research is also providing insight into how energy metabolism is altered in cancer cells to support their growth and survival. Chiles is also part of a multidisciplinary team of campus scientists developing the next generation of nanosensors capable of detecting minute amounts of cancer biomarkers that signal the presence of disease. Developed in collaboration with Biology Research Professor Dong Cai and Physics Professor Mike Naughton, the biosensor could prove to be a valuable new diagnostic tool for the early detection of cancer. Chiles, who will remain the department chair, said he’s proud of the Biology faculty that’s been
“In his 20 years at Boston College, Thomas has devoted himself to his students and to the Biology Department,” says A&S Dean David Quigley. “His committed leadership has been instrumental in the considerable progress we’ve been making in the natural sciences in recent years.” Photo by Suzanne Camarata
“I can’t think of a colleague more deserving of this honor than Thomas Chiles,” said Quigley. “In his 20 years at Boston College, Thomas has devoted himself to his students and to the Biology Department. His committed leadership has been instrumental in the considerable progress we’ve been making in the natural sciences in recent years.” Chiles’ research focuses on understanding how a subset of lymphocytes, also known as B cells, grow and survive. The white blood cells play a critical role in the infectious diseasefighting ability of the immune system. Chiles’ research examines how B cells respond to their environment in order to produce antibodies and regulatory cytokines, and are able to adapt to survive while fighting pathogens and infectious agents. That research led Chiles into an area known as metabolomics to study how the B cell’s metabolism changes in response to external cues such as pathogens in order to support its radical transformation to an antibody producing plasma cell. In collaboration with Chemistry Professor
assembled and the culture that’s developed in the department during his tenure as chair. “Our department’s success is a reflection of the faculty, researchers, post-docs, graduate students and undergraduates who make us what we are,” said Chiles. “We have a powerful combination of veteran faculty and young professors who excel in the classroom and carry out high impact, innovative research.” A native Floridian who earned his doctorate from the College of Medicine at the University of Florida, Chiles grew up in Jacksonville’s Northside neighborhood. He credited his high school advanced biology teacher, Clayton Linstram, with fueling his interest in studying biology at Florida. In Gainesville, professors Joseph Powell and Michael Kilberg added further support, he said. “I’ve always been real curious about everything, but especially science,” said Chiles. “There was a pilot light there and it caught and turned into a full blown furnace when I arrived on the University of Florida campus and I never looked back.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu
Wong Is Point Person for LSOE Outreach Continued from page 1 School resources to address critical needs. “I see urban outreach as developing strong relationships between BC, community-based organizations and the Boston Public Schools,” said Wong, who holds a graduate degree in cross-cultural counseling from Boston University. “I want to work closely with schools to uncover and share their most urgent needs so we can help them based on what they need, not based on what we say they need.” Wong directs the initiatives College Bound, a pre-college program for local high school students; the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars, an intensive one-year master’s degree program for aspiring urban educators; and Step UP, an initiative that pairs area universities with BPS schools to raise student achievement. Wong has also served as the interim director for the Lynch Leadership Academy, a professional development program for a select group of principals from BPS, Catholic and charter schools. “These are very different programs serving very different constituencies and for me that is the highlight,” said Wong. “The exciting part is you’re doing all of this simultaneously so you begin to see the relationships between these programs and how they are inter-related. What ties them together is being responsive to the Lynch School’s mission of working on behalf of social justice and creating opportunities for children to work to their potential.” Wong took a non-traditional route to higher education. She worked for 19 years as a school counselor in the Brookline Public Schools before she was tapped by University of MassachusettsBoston’s Graduate College of Education to direct its school counseling program and teach graduate courses. After working as an independent consultant for several years, Wong joined BC in 2007. Wong has also worked with colleagues at the University of the Middle East Project and BC’s Irish Institute, leading summer institutes for teachers and principals from the Middle East and North Africa regions focused on developing cross-cultural curricula and differentiated instruction, particularly for schools in crisis zones. Traversing across cultures is
Lynch School of Education Director of Urban Outreach Initiatives Catherine Wong, left, with Donovan Urban Teaching Scholar Alexendra LeBlanc at the Russell Elementary School in Boston. Wong, says one colleague, “helps educators to reflect, rethink and reinvigorate their core beliefs of putting the needs of children first.” (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
something Wong has done all her life. A third generation ChineseAmerican, Wong was born and raised in Honolulu, where native Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and US mainland cultures intersect. “Growing up with my parents and grandparents in Hawaii, I understood what it meant to be both Hawaiian and Chinese,” Wong said. “There were different cultures that I learned to navigate. Teaching, particularly in urban schools, is much the same way. A lot of the work I do with educators, both in Boston and overseas, has involved helping them to be understanding of different cultures, but at the same time to retain their own voices.” Zina Knox M.Ed. ’12 met Wong at a conference in 2010. Today she’s a Lynch School Donovan Scholar. “Catherine’s passion for reaching young people is relentless and unique,” Knox said. “She has a calm, firm manner that inspires me to be a better teacher, mentor and leader.” As coordinator of the Lynch School’s work in the Step UP initiative, Wong collaborates with the principals of the Russell and Winthrop elementary schools in Dorchester. Walter Henderson, the former principal of Winthrop and currently a Lynch Leadership Academy fellow, said one of
Wong’s key strengths is connecting with both adults and children. “Catherine has the unique ability to teach students and adults simultaneously,” said Henderson, now the principal of the P.J. Kennedy Elementary School in East Boston. “She helps educators to reflect, rethink and reinvigorate their core beliefs of putting the needs of children first.” BC’s Urban Outreach Initiatives have been making an impact with students. In 2010, two Winthrop school fifth-graders, aided by a Step UP writing workshop, received $10,000 scholarships through the Red Sox Scholars essay competition. Last year, two College Bound students were named Gates Millennium Scholars and received full college scholarships. Lynch School Interim Dean Maureen Kenny said the school’s work in the Boston community has benefitted from the respect Wong’s extensive experience earns from school leaders and teachers. “Catherine has really nurtured deep and rich relationships with our partners in Boston Public Schools, as well as Catholic and charter schools,” said Kenny. “She has great energy, passion and creativity and the programs she directs provide vital links between our work here at the Lynch School and our urban partners.”
Ctr. for Christian-Jewish Learning Holds First John Paul II Lecture Today The Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College will hold its inaugural John Paul II Lecture in Christian-Jewish Relations, given by Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, at 5 p.m. today in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons. A leading figure in Christian-Jewish dialogue worldwide and the author of 15 books on Christian-Jewish relations, Fr. Pawlikowski is professor of social ethics at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program at the CTU’s Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Center. The event is open to the public. See www.bc.edu/cjlearning for information.
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Sophomore launches campus effort to aid struggle for clean water
Lee Pellegrini
Hoping to Turn the Tide “The more I learned about the water crisis and the extent of this problem, the more I realized I had to do something to help.”
By Melissa Beecher Staff Writer
Last year, Carroll School of Management sophomore Kimmi Vo took the trip of a lifetime, a visit to World Youth Day in Madrid that included a pre-festival seven-day hike that traced the footsteps of St. Ignatius from Loyola to Javier. The desert-like terrain and heat she encountered on the journey, with water intake limited to three times a day, forced Vo to experience something she didn’t bargain for: thirst and need. “For the first time in my life, I knew what it meant to be thirsty. I experienced what it meant to be thirsty and not be in control about when I would have access to water,” said Vo. “I wasn’t prepared for how deeply or profoundly that experience would affect me. “When I got home, I couldn’t shake that experience. My family would say, ‘We get it. You were thirsty, but so what? What are you going to do about it?’” Answering that question has become Vo’s cause célèbre. Vo and a group of friends from CSOM founded the Boston College branch of charity: water, an international nonprofit whose mission is to bring safe, clean drinking water to people in need. According to the organization’s website, one in eight people in the world does not have access to safe drinking water. Boston College charity: water seeks to raise $20,000 by the end
—Kimmi Vo ’14
of the month, and has already surpassed the $5,000 mark. In doing so, the group helped provide water for 276 people in developing countries around the world. “I think I was drawn to this organization in particular because of the transparency in where the money goes — 100 percent of all money raised is used to fund water projects,” said Vo. “The more I learned about the water crisis and the extent of this problem, the more I realized I had to do something to help.” In the first five years of its existence, charity: water has completed more than 6,000 projects – which include building wells in villages, clinics and schools, and constructing sanitation facilities – aiding 2.5 million people worldwide. The Boston College group has also grown considerably in a short period of time, using campaigns and social media to get the word out. Partnerships with
student groups – dance, cultural, athletic and student government – as well as guidance from CSOM Dean Andy Boynton and Campus Ministry have propelled Boston College charity: water, Vo said. “With the focus on social justice and equality at Boston College, I think this cause and our campaign can cut across all the various groups and organizations,” said Vo. “It is such a simple idea: helping those who do not have access to water.” Faculty and staff are also getting involved through the charity: water Penny Pledge, which asks contributors to donate one penny for each dollar raised. If the $20,000 goal is reached, those individuals would kick in an additional $200 apiece. Ten professors have signed the pledge so far. “I’ve learned through this that anyone can make a difference,” said Vo. “And a huge part of charity: water is to raise awareness about consumption and access. The educational aspect is equally important, so if we start conversations about the water crisis, then I feel like we’re making a difference.” For more information, see http://bit.ly/yYsWzC Contact Melissa Beecher at melissa.beecher@bc.edu
Church’s Future Topic of Conference Next Week As the Catholic Church marks the 50th anniversary of the convening of the Second Vatican Council, an international group of young theologians and church leaders will gather at Boston College March 9-11 for a conference to focus on internal and external issues facing the Church and to discuss its future. Organized by graduate students in the BC Theology Department and School of Theology and Ministry with the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA-Pax Romana), “Visions of Hope: Emerging Theologians Envision the Future of the Church” will examine topics such as the growing priest short-
age, the impact of the clergy sexual abuse crisis, liturgy reform, the role of women and the relationship between the Church and the world. Despite the many positive effects the Second Vatican Council has had on the Church, a number of unresolved issues persist in the ecclesial community, according to conference organizers. The 50th anniversary of the council “offers an important moment to take stock of the present and to look ahead with hope to the future. Emerging theologians and young church leaders are in a unique position to offer hopeful visions which might help the Catholic community address questions and move the faith
forward.” The March 9 opening session at 7 p.m. will feature a free, public address by Massimo Faggioli, an assistant professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, who will speak on “The Relevance of Vatican II Fifty Years Later.” Faggioli is the author of the forthcoming book Vatican II: The Battle for Meaning. The Church in the 21st Century Center is co-sponsor of this event. For more information on the conference, see www.emergingtheologians.org, or contact Nathaniel Hibner of the Theology Graduate Student Association, (937)825-4078 or by e-mail at hibner@bc.edu. —Kathleen Sullivan
Fr. Butler to Speak at Laetare Sunday Vice President for University recognition of his service to others Mission and Ministry Jack Butler, through his career as an attorney. SJ, will offer a positive look at Lent, As a member of a major Boston Lee Pellegrini law firm, Arteaga — who the traditional liturgical season of penance and while a BC student resacrifice, at Boston Colceived the prestigious lege’s 61st annual Laetare Archbishop Oscar RomeSunday celebration in ro Scholarship — has sucConte Forum on March cessfully championed the 18. legal causes of poor and The event, which battered women, immimarks the traditional grants, and those wrongly mid-point of the Lenten Jack Butler, SJ accused of crimes. season, is open to all alumni and Arteaga’s pro bono work as an members of the Boston College attorney has also earned him two community. In addition to Fr. But- awards from the Legal Aid Society ler’s presentation, Laetare Sunday for his representation of immigrant will include a 9:30 a.m. Mass con- clients, and the Commitment to celebrated by University President Justice Legal Team Award from William P. Leahy, SJ, and priests InMotion, a non-profit organizafrom the Boston College Jesuit tion that assists low-income and community, followed by a brunch abused women. and speaking program. Tickets for the Laetare Sunday Another Laetare Sunday high- event are available through the Boslight will be the presentation of ton College Alumni Association at the University’s Alumni Ignatian www.bc.edu/laetare or by calling Award to Juan A. Arteaga ’99 in 617-552-2950. —Reid Oslin
This month and next, as part of the University’s “HEALTHY YOU” wellness initiative for employees, Boston College will again offer a series of biometric screenings — which measure important health-related data like weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The free “Know Your Numbers” screenings will help employees and their spouses who are members of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care to fill out a voluntary, confidential online health questionnaire (HQ), a vital step in assessing fitness and identifying potential health concerns. The HQ is accessible at www.harvardpilgrim.org/ bostoncollege; users must log in to “HPHConnects” for their membership account, or create an account if they have not done so already. This month’s screenings will take place March 7 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Flynn Recreation Complex and March 19 from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons. Using the biometric data from the HQ, employees can work with a Harvard Pilgrim professional health coach to identify health and fitness goals, and plan how to achieve them. Harvard Pilgrim family plan subscribers and their spouses can each earn a $75 gift card for completing the HQ, and an additional $50 reward for making a plan with a health coach. HQs with required biometrics must be completed by May 31 to qualify for the incentives. “To qualify for the incentive, there are six biometric numbers that must be entered in the HQ,” noted Associate Vice President for Human Resources Robert Lewis. “You may know these numbers if you have had a recent medical exam or you can
obtain them at one of our on-campus screenings. Those taking the HQ are encouraged to read the HQ’s FAQs found on the HPHC website before submitting their answers. This will greatly assist employees and spouses in successfully completing the HQ and earning the incentive.” After the first year of HEALTHY YOU saw more than 2,000 BC employees and spouses responded to the HQ — 300 of whom went on to take advantage of the free personal health coaching – BC administrators hope for even wider participation this year. Employees who went through the biometric screening and filled out the HQ prior to last Sept. 1 are encouraged to do so again: Biometric numbers can change during the course of several months, and having the most up-todate numbers can help employees make more informed decisions. Even employees who are in good health may find it useful to consult a health coach, administrators point out. “The coach can review and validate your current healthy lifestyle strategies, come up with ideas for new strategies, and talk about some potential issues you may not be aware of, so you can minimize potential future risks,” explained Lewis. Information on HEALTHY YOU programs and events — including details on the biometric screenings and HQ — are available at www.bc.edu/ healthy-you. The website also features video testimonials from BC employees who, through HEALTHY YOU, have taken the opportunity to improve their health and fitness. As one explains, “It’s not that I have an unhealthy lifestyle, but this is a way of me actually talking to someone and holding myself accountable.” —Office of News & Public Affairs
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Read full versions at www.bc.edu/chronicle
A funeral Mass was celebrated last Friday at St. Ignatius Church for Rev. Edward M. O’Flaherty, SJ, who served the Society of Jesus, Boston College and the Archdiocese of Boston in a variety of leadership and teaching roles. Fr. O’Flaherty died of a brain tumor on Feb. 21 at Campion Center in Weston. He was 78. Fr. O’Flaherty joined BC in 1967 as a member of the Sociology Department, leaving in 1970 to become rector of the community at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif. He went on to serve as provincial of the New England Province from 1979 to 1985, and following a sabbatical in Paris, was president of Weston School of Theology from 1986 until 1992. At that time, the Archdiocese of Boston asked Fr. O’Flaherty to become director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and to head the Office of Pastoral Support of Priests, working especially with recently ordained clergy. He returned to residence at St. Mary’s
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Fr. O’Flaherty, Former Trustee
Hall on the Boston College campus, where he lived for the remainder of his life. Fr. O’Flaherty served Boston College as a University trustee from 1986-94 and 1996 until 2004. He was a trustee associate in 1995-96 and again from 2004 until his death. He also served as assistant rector and community treasurer while living in the BC Jesuit community. —Reid Oslin
A memorial service will be held on campus later this spring for Professor Emeritus Andrew Buni, who taught courses in American history at Boston College for 38 years until his retirement in 2006. Dr. Buni died on Feb. 12 at age 80. Dr. Buni’s courses covered a wide range of the American experience and reflected his own life interests and concerns: immigration, AfricanAmericans, sports, and the city of Boston. His class on Boston’s neighborhoods was one of the University’s most popular courses. Dr. Buni earned a bachelor’s degree in history at the University of New Hampshire in 1958 after serving in the US Army, a master’s from UNH the following year and a doctorate from the University of Virginia in 1965. He joined the BC faculty as an assistant professor in 1968 and was promoted to full professor in 1975.
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Andrew Buni, Historian
Former History chairman Professor Peter Weiler said Dr. Buni’s interest and concern extended to his colleagues in addition to his many students. “When I was chair, Andy would tell me every year that I should not increment his salary, but that I should give the money to the ‘kids,’ as he called the junior faculty. It was a remarkably generous action.” —Reid Oslin
Rita Mullen, CSOM Staff A funeral Mass was said in St. Ignatius Church on Feb. 22 for Rita S. (Donovan) Mullen, who worked as a full- and parttime staff assistant in the Carroll School of Management Business Law Department for more than 30 years. Mrs. Mullen died on Feb. 18. Mrs. Mullen was the fulltime secretary in the department from 1981 until her retirement in 1998, after which she worked
there as a part-time staff assistant until last June. Mrs. Mullen was succeeded in the position by her daughter, Kathy Kyratzoglou. In addition to her daughter Kathy, Mrs. Mullen is survived by daughters Susan Corcoran, Michelle Bloch, Regina Lavelle and son Joseph L. Mullen III, and eight grandchildren, including Ioannis Kyratzoglou, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. —Reid Oslin
Founder of ‘Pops on Heights’ Fundraiser Dies Continued from page 1 turing an on-campus concert by the Boston Pops Orchestra for students, families, alumni and friends of the school. The event has raised more than $19 million in financial aid assistance for deserving Boston College students since its start in 1993. “Jim was on the first majority lay Board of Trustees in 1972,” said Boston College Chancellor J. Donald Monan, SJ, who was University president when Mr. Cleary was appointed. “Forty years later, he remained a trustee associate. I really feel that he has been one of the most dedicated members of the board – dedicated to the University in so many ways. He was dedicated not only to the oversight of the activities by the board, but in a very special way in bringing a coherence and a sense of community to the entire board. He has been very important in that.” “Jim Cleary was the father of modern fund-raising at Boston College,” said John M. Connors Jr. ’63, Hon. ’07, former chairman of Boston College’s Board of Trustees, who served with Mr. Cleary on the board for many years. “He was just a prodigious fund-raiser. He loved life. “There are a lot of people who have achieved success, but then pulled the ladder up after them,” Connors added. “But Jim loved helping other people. He loved young people and he loved being an advisor or mentor to them. He loved BC and created ‘Pops on the Heights’ in a way that allowed the money to go to scholarships. He was very proud of the success of that.” More than 700 Boston
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James F. Cleary was “the father of modern fund-raising at Boston College,” said John M. Connors Jr., who served with him on the Board of Trustees for many years.
College undergraduate scholarships have been generated by the Pops event. Born in Boston in 1925, Mr. Cleary attended Boston Latin School before entering the Navy on his 17th birthday in 1942. After serving in the Pacific during World War II, Mr. Cleary returned home in 1946 and enrolled at Boston College under the GI Bill. After graduation in 1950 with a degree in business administration, Mr. Cleary went on to a successful career in corporate finance, becoming president of Blyth Eastman Dillon & Co. in New York and managing director of UBS in Boston. Mr. Cleary was appointed to the University Board of Trustees in 1972, and served in that role until 1996. He became a University trustee associate in 1997, a position he held until his
death. As a trustee, he chaired Boston College’s development committee and helped to incorporate a number of innovative fund-raising incentives, including the Fides and President’s Circle societies as well as the highly-acclaimed Pops event. He was chair of the University’s development committee for 22 years. Mr. Cleary also was a lifetime trustee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and was active in a number of other charities, including the American Cancer Society, the Inner City Scholarship Fund, the American Ireland Fund and the Boston Public Library Foundation. Mr. Cleary and his wife Barbara made one of Boston College’s first million dollar commitments to establish the James F. Cleary Chair in Finance in the Carroll School of Management. In 2000, BC established the James F. Cleary “Masters” Award that is given annually to a fund-raising volunteer who best exemplified the creativity, dedication and leadership shown by Mr. Cleary over the years. In addition to his wife of 50 years, Mr. Cleary is survived by the couple’s three children, Kara Lyn Cleary, James F. Cleary Jr. and Kristin Welo, and four grandchildren. Mr. Cleary and his family also had homes in Palm Beach, Fla. and Osterville, Mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Massachusetts General Hospital Parkinson’s Care and Research Unit in Boston. —Reid Oslin
Forum to Discuss Turkey, Arab Spring The complex relationship between Turkey’s political and religious interests, and Turkey’s impact on the “Arab Spring,” will be among the issues in focus at a conference on March 16 at Boston College. “Islam and Democracy: A Closer Look at the Turkish Model,” which will be held in Gasson 112 and is free and open to the public, consists of three panel discussions: “Islam and Politics in Turkey,” “Turks Abroad: Political and Religious Interests” and “Turkey and the Arab Spring.” “A lot of eyes are on Turkey in the wake of the Arab Spring, and what it holds for the future of state-religion relationships in the Muslim world,” said conference co-organizer Associ-
ate Professor of Political Science Jonathan Laurence, who will be on the “Turks Abroad” panel. “Turkey has held itself up as a model for reconciling Islam and democracy, so it is a fascinating case study in and of itself. “At the same time, Turkey is undergoing social and political changes of its own,” explained Laurence, who praised the efforts of his co-organizers, Islamic Studies and Societies Program Associate Director Adjunct Associate Professor Kathleen Bailey and Erik Owens, associate director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life. “Many observers wonder what direction Turkey will go, and how its long tradition of balancing Islam and democracy may be affected.”
Highlighting the event will be a keynote address by Scott Alexander, director of the Catholic-Muslim Studies Program at Catholic Theological Union. Alexander has authored articles on Islamic history and religion and Christian-Muslim Relations in scholarly journals, edited collections and encyclopedias. His most recent book project is on the contradiction between religious claims to universal truth and the religiously motivated desire to impose this truth on others as a means of political and cultural domination. For more information, and to register for the conference, go to www.bc.edu/boisi. —Sean Smith
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WELCOME ADDITIONS Connell School of Nursing Assistant Professor Mary E. Thompson specializes in teen and young mother parenting and preschool children, with a special focus on childhood obesity prevention. Her work includes examining the home environment, in areas such as parental feeding practices as a risk factor for childhood obesity. Thompson, who holds a master of science in nursing from Boston College and a doctorate at the University of Virginia, worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner in the Boston area for 18 years. She co-teaches Advanced Practice in Ambulatory Care Nursing of Children to graduate pediatric nurse practitioner students. Assistant Professor of Philosophy Jonathan Trejo-Mathys teaches Perspectives I: Perspectives on Western Culture, and Modern Political Philosophy: Authority/Obligations/Rights. His fields of interest include social and political philosophy, Kant and the Kantian tradition in ethics and metaethics, and Jürgen Habermas and the Frankfurt School tradition of “Critical Social Theory.” Trejo-Mathys earned a doctoral degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University. As a Fulbright scholar, he studied at the Goethe University of Frankfurt in 2006-2007, and he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Justitia Amplificata Centre for Advanced Studies in Frankfurt in 2010-11. Assistant Professor of Economics Sanjay Chugh, whose arrival in January strengthened the department’s macroeconomics group, pursues research in macroeconomics and labor economics. A former faculty member at the University of Maryland-College Park and an MIT graduate with a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, he also has served as an economist with the Federal Reserve Board and as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. His research has been published in the Journal of Monetary Economics, Journal of Economic Theory and Review of Economic Dynamics, among others. —Kathleen Sullivan and Rosanne Pellegrini Photos by Gary Wayne Gilbert and Lee Pellegrini “Welcome Additions,” an occasional feature, profiles new faculty members at Boston College.
AJCU Conferences Next Week Information technology and library management professionals from across the US will be on campus next week, when Boston College hosts a pair of Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities gatherings. From March 4-7 will be the annual AJCU Conference on Information Technology Management (CITM), which helps “promote the productive use of information technology” on member campuses and facilitate collaboration between AJCU institutions. Included will be a program for the AJCU Technology for Teaching and Learning Special Interest Group. Taking place concurrently will be the AJCU’s yearly Library Deans conference, which provides for discussions of new trends and issues related to university libraries in the 21st century. Among the conference events will be a keynote address on March 5 by Harvard Library Innovation Lab Co-director David Weinberger, a senior researcher at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Weinberger writes about the Internet’s effect on ideas, and has recently published Too Big to Know, which examines the impact of networking of knowledge and expertise. For more information, see www.bc.edu/ajcu. —Office of News & Public Affairs
Newsmakers In preparation for London’s hosting of the Olympics, BBC Radio 4 aired a multi-part series exploring the history of sport in Britain, three segments of which were written and included commentary by BC-Ireland Academic Director Mike Cronin. The Wall Street Journal included comments by Asst. Prof. Brian Quinn (Law) for a story on a federal lawsuit in Delaware being brought by a citizens group questioning the legality of judge-run arbitrations and accusing the court of conducting secret proceedings
early 20th-century Wilsonian principles, Asst. Prof. Franck Salameh (Slavic and Eastern Languages) wrote in The National Interest. Voice of Russia Radio interviewed Prof. Robert Ross (Political Science), a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, on the complexities of the relationship
Time and a Half Economics Department faculty made the following presentations: Prof. Hideo Konishi, “Household Formation and Markets,” 17th Coalition Theory Network Workshop in Paris; Prof. Zhijie Xiao, “Risk Analysis via Regression Quantiles — Evidence from International Equity Markets,” the Global Conference on Business and Finance in Honolulu; Asst. Prof. Andrew Beauchamp, “Terms of Endearment: An Equilibrium Model of Sex and Matching,” and Asst. Prof. Georg Strasser, “The Efficiency of the Global Markets for Final Goods and Productive Capabilities,” American Economic Association Annual Meetings in Chicago.
BC BRIEFING
Meaningful reform of the capitalgains tax is a good idea, according to Prof. Ray Madoff (Law), who in a piece for the Bloomberg View suggested ways to achieve true fairness and generate increased revenue. Problems in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East can still be resolved, but the solutions require foresight and strict adherence to
between the US and China, and spoke with Prof. Ali Banuazizi (Political Science) about President Obama’s decision to tighten sanctions on Iran.
Publications Theological Studies published “Living the Truth: Fundamental Theological Ethics” by Founders Professor James Keenan, SJ, and “Bioethics: Basic Questions and Extraordinary Developments” by Asst. Prof. Andrea Vicini, SJ (STM).
NOTA BENE Boston College football players Emmett Cleary, Hampton Hughes and Bobby Swigert have earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Football Team honors. Student athletes must have a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester, and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA during their academic careers, to earn the honor. Cleary, a senior biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences from Arlington Heights, Ill., was chosen for the ACC All-Academic team for the third straight season. The honor was the first for Hughes, a junior management, leadership and marketing major in the Carroll School of Management from Dallas, and Swigert, a sophomore economics major from Louisville, Ohio. “We are very proud of Emmett, Hampton and Bobby,” said Boston College Athletics Director Gene DeFilippo. “They represent the very best qualities of a true student-athlete. All three are outstanding players who contributed greatly on the football field this past fall. Beyond that, they take their studies very seriously as well as being very fine young men.” —Reid Oslin Boston College seniors John Delfino, Patrick Brazil and Juliana Forsberg-Lary won honors at last month’s Region 1 section of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), held in Fitchburg. Delfino and Brazil took first and second place, respectively, in “Regional Excellence in Lighting Design.” Delfino was honored for his design for the Theatre Department’s 2011 production of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Brazil for his design on “The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek” last spring. Forsberg-Lary was named second runner-up in the Irene Ryan Acting competition — which drew more than 200 entrants — for her portrayal of Beatrice Husdorfer in last fall’s production of “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.” Forsberg-Lary, along with her acting partner Robert Scobie ’13, will be the first alternate to represent the region at the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington DC, this spring. “It’s incredibly exciting for our students to be awarded for their hard work,” says Associate Professor of Theatre Crystal Tiala. “This annual event has grown significantly over the past decade bringing in schools from New York to Maine, to compete in events in such as acting, directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, design, technology and administration.” Other theatre students who took part in the festival were seniors Meghan Crosby, Sara Komorowski and Nancy McNamee in design, and actors Shannon Debari ’13 and Zachary Desmond ’12.
Football Coach Frank Spaziani was an invited speaker at a reception in Boston Marriott Copley Place celebrating the Suffolk Construction Boston Scholar Athlete Program’s inaugural Boston City League All-City Football Team. Assoc. Prof. Andrew Sofer (English) served as a judge at Burlington High School’s “Poets Out Loud” poetry recitation finals, and gave a reading from his book Wave. He also was a featured reader at the Temple Sinai Poetry Festival in Brookline.
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/: Assistant Director, Student Services, International PhD Program, Graduate School of Social Work Director, Office of International Programs Assistant or Associate Director, School Development Operations Lieutenant, BC Police Department Assistant Director, Research Integrity & Compliance App. Server Administrator, Information Technology - Applications Services Programmer Analyst, Student & Academic App Srvs. Manager, IT Audit Environmental Health and Safety Manager/Officer General Service Worker, Dining Services — Lower Campus Student Services Associate Investment Officer, ment/Investment
Endow-
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LOOKING AHEAD
A View from Behind Bars School of Theology and Ministry exhibition showcases artwork by American prisoners
An exhibition of more than 40 works of art that depict images of grief and hope created by men imprisoned in American jails and penitentiaries will open at the School of Theology and Ministry on March 15. “Seeing the Man: Art From Behind Bars, A Vision of Restorative Justice and Healing” will be on display through April 30 in the Atrium Gallery of the STM Library, located at 117 Lake Street on Brighton Campus. The works of art are provided by Do-Right Ministries, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about the American justice system and promotes healing through art. The exhibition is being presented by STM’s student-led Prison Ministry Initiative, which seeks to raise awareness of injustices in the US prison system and the plight of those incarcerated in it, and to promote the dignity and wholeness of those affected by incarceration. Members, inspired by the Jesuit commitment to service and justice, sponsor campus events and make regular visits to the Suffolk County House of Corrections and to Massachusetts Correctional Institutions in Framingham, Norfolk, Concord and Walpole. “Seeing the Man” organizers say Lent, as a Christian penitential
season that encourages reflection on social justice issues, is an appropriate time to launch the exhibit. “The Prison Ministry Initiative is a response to Jesus´ call to see the women and men behind bars as who they really are: God´s beloved children,” said the initiative’s chairman, STM student Chema Segura, SJ. The exhibition title, he added, is “a provocative invitation to the spectator: Do you see this person, this human being, as being capable of love and care? A person who is a father or mother, a son or daughter? Or is this person simply a ‘criminal’? The exhibition title is an invitation to rethink and reflect upon our broken justice system in the USA.” A number of events are associated with the exhibition, including: •A March 15 Mass featuring the offering of an artwork during the service •A book and poetry reading on March 16 by novelist and former inmate Maurice Price •A March 22 lecture on “The Criminal Justice System: Perspectives from the Bible and Catholic Social Justice Imperatives” by STM Professors Thomas J. Massaro, SJ, and Richard J. Clifford, SJ •A March 26 candlelight vigil
BC SCENES
“The Paradox of Oppressed Exultation: Shouting the Pot in Invisible Institutions,” by Brian Ross, is part of the “Seeing the Man” exhibition coming to the School of Theology and Ministry this month.
for the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth •Lectures on March 28 and April 26 by Lee Farrow, Do-Right Ministries founder and managing director •An April 27 lecture by Xavier Jeyaraj, SJ, assistant secretary of the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat of the Society of Jesus in Rome Sponsoring the exhibit along with STM and Do-Right Ministries are The STM Student Forum, Boston College Libraries and the Episcopal Chaplaincy at Boston College. The exhibit can be viewed during the STM Library’s hours of operation; see www. bc.edu/libraries/about/hours.html for details.
Admission is free; donations of paperback novels (no hardcover books) in English, Spanish or Portuguese are welcome. Organizers note that sales of the paintings support educational scholarship funds for both children of the prisoners and for those who have lost a parent to violence, as well as the work of Do-Right Ministries. For more information, contact Theology and Ministry Library Director Esther Griswold at esther.griswold@bc.edu or ext.26540, or Chema Segura, SJ, at seguras@bc.edu. —Office of News & Public Affairs Read a Chronicle story on the STM Prison Ministries Initiative at http://bit.ly/gxE2EF
March 13 Forum on Mormons, Romney With the Republican presidential candidates’ religious beliefs frequently in the spotlight this primary season, a panel of political experts will gather at Boston College on March 13 for a discussion, “Are Mormons the New Catholics and Jews? Mitt Romney and the State of the Union.” Panelists for the event, which takes place at 7 p.m. in the Brighton Campus Alumni Center, will be Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life director Alan Wolfe, a professor of political science; Kristine Haglund, editor of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought; and Boston University Professor of Religion Stephen Prothero. Serving as moderator will be Mark Massa, SJ, dean of the School of Theology and Ministry, which is sponsoring the event. Wolfe is a frequent commentator in the media on political, social and religious topics, and has authored numerous publications, including the 2011 book, Political Evil: What It Is and How to Combat It. Haglund is a noted Mormon historian and a regular contributor to By Common Consent, a blog on Mormon topics. Prothero is the author of six books, including the bestseller Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn’t, and is a regular contributor to CNN’s Belief Blog, the New York Times, Boston Globe and Washington Post, among many other publications.
—Office of News & Public Affairs Christopher Huang
REPRISE & RELAY Caitlin Cunningham
Late February at Boston College saw the eighth annual BC Idol competition at Robsham Theater, which for the second year invited students from St. Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton to take part in the fun — including Punnya Kalapurakkel, who performed a traditional Indian dance, after which she was congratulated by Baldwin the Eagle and Hope Benedtti ’13, one of the emcees for the evening. All of the proceeds from the Feb. 16 event went to benefit St. Columbkille.
Another yearly event, the fifth annual BC Relay for Life, took place Feb. 24 and 25 at the Flynn Recreation Complex. More than 1,400 students participated in the relay, which included some special features, such as the “Survivors Walk” (above), with members of the University community who have battled cancer.