Boston College Chronicle

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INSIDE:

Columbkille head Jesuit community 3 New 4 St. 8 has school spirit on Foster Street

Robsham, Gaelic Roots schedules September 23, 2010 — VOL. 19 No. 2

By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs

Members and friends of the Boston College community gathered Monday in the Yawkey Athletic Center Murray Room for “Inviting the Spirit of Wisdom,” a multi-faith celebration in song and prayer. Among the performers was Wendy John, above, a Trinidad native now living in Boston who sang a mixture of gospel, Christian, Caribbean and other music. (Photo by Frank Curran)

University More Wired Into Social Media Twitter, Facebook, YouTube help connect BC to larger community

By MeliSSA Beecher Staff Writer

A decidedly digital push is underway at Boston College, bringing news, events and information to a sizable — and ever-growing — online community.

In little more than a year, the University’s Office of News & Public Affairs (NPA) has enjoyed considerable success bringing BC’s message through numerous social media venues. Through official Boston College Twitter, Facebook and YouTube sites, thousands of students, alumni, parents and other BC enthusiasts are able to remain connected with the University, no matter where they are in the world.

The social media push was reinforced by NPA’s leadership role with the implementation of an iPhone app and a recently launched blog, bcbookshelf.wordpress.com/, to showcase faculty publications. In upcoming weeks, a University blog will be launched to address media and BC community members’ questions and concerns.

“The Office of News & Public Affairs enthusiastically embraced

social media as a means of navigating the rapidly changing landscape of news and communications,” said NPA Director and University Spokesman Jack Dunn.

“Our efforts through the BC Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages have yielded remarkable results, allowing us to be connected with tens of thousands of BC students, faculty, alumni and friends who desire news and information on the University,” Dunn said.

Though sheer numbers are not the primary goal of a social media strategy, the official BC Twitter

account [www.twitter.com/BostonCollege] has attracted more than 9,000 alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, friends, external media, schools and interested others – a follower total that exceeds those of the official Twitter accounts of all the University’s top 25 peer schools (except Harvard).

The Boston College Facebook page [www.facebook.com/BostonCollege] boasts 16,500 fans (and counting) from all corners of the globe. The most represented counties are the United States, the Continued on page 4

Boston College Trustee Mario J. Gabelli, chairman and CEO of Gamco Investors and one of Wall Street’s most successful and best-known money managers, has established an endowed professorship in finance in the Carroll School of Management through a $3 million gift.

BC Finance Professor Alan Marcus, whose teaching and research in investments and the fundamental analysis of portfolio management has earned distinction in academe, has been named the first holder of the Mario J. Gabelli Endowed Professorship.

Gabelli, a longtime BC benefactor who founded the University’s Wall Street Council and endowed the Gabelli Distinguished Scholars Fund within Boston College’s Presidential Scholars Program, said he funded the professorship to ensure that future generations of BC business students will continue to receive the best possible education.

Alan Marcus

Lee Pellegrini

Investments, portfolio expert Alan Marcus to be inaugural holder

John Gilooly/PEI

Gabelli $3M Gift Endows CSOM Professorship

MANY FAITHS, MANY VOICES

Mario Gabelli

“My wife Regina and I believe that a fundamental underpinning of our democratic system is meritocracy, and that America’s global competitive advantage is maintained through education,” said Gabelli. “For a great university Continued on page 6

Earth and Environmental Sciences

New Dept. Name Reflects Environmental Interest at BC

By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor

The renaming of the Geology and Geophysics Department as Earth and Environmental Sciences, announced earlier this month at University Convocation, reflects faculty research and teaching trends as well as students’ academic and vocational interests, at Boston College and elsewhere in higher education.

But administrators and faculty say the advent of earth and environmental sciences as a discipline at BC plays to the University’s traditional strengths as a Jesuit, Catholic liberal arts institution.

The “pure science” perspective on geological, geophysical and environmental phenomena has a firm place in the curriculum, say administrators and faculty. Yet as demonstrated by recent events — including the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, the Haitian earthquake, destructive flooding in Pakistan and

the Icelandic volcano’s disruption of international air traffic — earth and environmental sciences are rife with social, political, legal and even artistic and literary dimensions.

Growing interest in issues related to sustainability and global warming further illustrates the interdisciplinary appeal of earth and environmental sciences as a program of study.

“Society faces massive environmental challenges, some with natural causes, some induced by humans,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties Cutberto Garza. “There will be an increasing demand for graduates with technical and wellrounded educations who can step into jobs in policy, engineering, energy and law. Boston College, with a legacy of intellectual, personal, ethical and religious formation, can play a key role in meeting this demand.”

Although some curricular and program aspects of the department Continued on page 5

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle september 23, 2010

A ROUND C AMPUS

Intellectual pursuits Above and right are scenes from the latest in a series of institutional spots showcasing Boston College that will be broadcast during televised BC athletic events throughout the year, and be available on-demand on BC YouTube and other social media channels.

The spots, which are made available to schools as part of the contracts between college athletic conferences and television networks, are produced annually by the Office of News & Public Affairs, along with Cramer Digital Marketing of Norwood, Mass.

The case for peace Boston College hosted the North American premiere Tuesday night of “Little Town of Bethlehem,” a documentary on three young men — a Palestinian Christian, a Palestinian Muslim and an Israeli Jew and former soldier — who have chosen to espouse non-violence as a key to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The three men, Sami Awad, Ahmad Al’Azzeh and Yonatan Shapira, also were on hand for a discussion and question-andanswer period following the film, which was shown in the Vanderslice Hall Cabaret Room. BC’s Faith, Peace and Justice Program sponsored the event in celebration of International Peace Day.

“Little Town of Bethlehem” chronicles the efforts of the men, who drew inspiration from figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and joined together to promote non-violence in their region. The film has been screened for Israeli and Palestinian audiences.

Sociology Professor Eve Spangler, who co-organized the screening and discussion, said BC’s dedication to exploring issues of social justice and equality made it an appropriate venue for the event.

“It is so very important to bring Sami, Ahmad and Yonatan here,” said Spangler prior to the screening. “We are able to put before our students three people who are not much older than they are, but

who are putting themselves on the line for the cause of peace and justice. They exemplify the commitment to making history.”

For information on the film, see littletownofbethlehem.org.

—SS Boston College Chronicle is now available in “flipbook,” an easyto-browse digital format. If you would like to receive Chronicle flipbook editions, send e-mail to chronicle@bc.edu with “Subscribe flipbook” in the subject field, and include your name in the message.

The flipbook edition also can be viewed at the Chronicle website, http://www.bc.edu/chronicle.

Want to find out about technology that’s been invented at Boston College? The Office for Technology Transfer and Licensing (OTTL) has launched a new website that features a searchable database for intellectual property generated from research at BC. Currently containing 29 licensable technologies, the database can be accessed at www.bc.edu/research/ottl/. Research including nanotechnology, cancer management and a number of inventions are currently contained within the database.

Technology Transfer and Licensing for University Research Director Catherine Ives, who spearheaded the effort, says a searchable database was a major and necessary initiative that will ensure BC’s research is accessible by the broadest audience possible.

“The OTTL searchable database was developed to provide entrepreneurs and investors with a convenient tool for finding intellectual property generated from Boston College,” Ives said.

Ives said information on BC intellectual property will shortly be available to a worldwide audience via the digital format on the Massachusetts Technology Portal [www.masstechportal.org], leading to broader exposure of BC patents.

The broader dissemination of BC technologies aims to increase commercialization and innovations, as well as engaging the business community to identify potential partnerships.

—MB

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle ON Be sure to check out the Boston College Chronicle YouTube channel [www.youtube.com/bcchronicle] for video features on Boston College people, programs and events. Videos recently posted include: •Boston College Mass of the Holy Spirit: A look at this year’s Mass of the Holy Spirit, a tradition at Jesuit institutions dating back to the Middle Ages.

•90 Seconds with Daniel Wolff: Daniel Wolff, author of How Lincoln Learned to Read and the keynote speaker for the 2010 First Year Convocation, talks about his book and education.

•Blessed Peter Faber Jesuit Community: Rev. Richard Roos, SJ, speaks about the new Blessed Peter Faber Jesuit Community that recently opened on Foster Street. The new community is home to 72 Jesuit priests, students and teachers of the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

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 Reid Oslin Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Eileen Woodward BC men’s hockey coaches, players and staff at the White House earlier this month.

Champs in the Capital The national champion Boston College men’s hockey team went to Washington, DC, on Sept. 13 for a visit that included a stop at the White House, where they and other NCAA championship teams and student athletes were honored

by President Barack Obama.

During their one-day visit, Eagles coaches, players and support

staff toured the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, talking with wounded soldiers and passing out national championship hats. They also attended an alumni reception — and were greeted and given an official welcome by US Sen. Scott Brown JD’85 (R-Mass.) — before heading to the United States Capitol Building, where they met

with US Sen. John Kerry JD’76 (D-Mass.).

“The visit to Walter Reed was the highlight of my day,” Coach Jerry York said. “I was so inspired by the courage and conviction of the warriors that we met this morning. I’m sure that rubs off on a lot of the student-athletes that we brought here today.”

—Office of News & Public Affairs

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.

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle september 23, 2010

BC Observing National Preparedness Month

New Jesuit Community Opens Doors

By Reid Oslin Staff Writer

By Melissa Beecher Staff Writer

The Blessed Peter Faber Jesuit Community, a space dedicated to the formation of Jesuit priests, recently opened on Foster Street.

The five buildings that make up the grounds are now home to an international group of 72 Jesuits, whose main apostolate is theological reflection, scholarship and research. Formerly the Weston Jesuit Community, the group includes many students and teachers from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Construction of the new community was a partnership between BC and the USA Assistancy of the Society of Jesus; while Boston College owns the physical land and financed the construction project, the Assistancy holds a mortgage on the buildings.

Last month, the Jesuits — some of them having lived in Harvard Square for 40 years — moved into their new residence.

Beyond a centralized living space, the Faber Community boasts a community library, conference area, administrative space and a chapel that can accommodate a Mass for all residents.

The property also has four houses of living space, each equipped with a small chapel, kitchen, living room, dining area and small recreation room.

Rev. Richard Roos, SJ, minister of the Blessed Peter Faber Jesuit Community, said the new community — built in less than a year and under budget — allows for relationships to develop more organically among the Jesuits. Prior to the move, the community was scattered throughout Harvard Square, he said, making it difficult to make connections.

Many students and teachers from the School of Theology and Ministry, including Bao Nguyen, SJ, left, and Adrian Danker, SJ, are part of the Blessed Peter Faber Jesuit Community. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

Now, residents — some from Africa, South America, Spain and Portugal — mingle on stone patios and around grills, and have the opportunity to congregate on a vast green space that makes up a central courtyard of the Faber property.

“By living all together here, with a common space in the center, it is much easier for the members to interact with one another.

It doesn’t involved getting into a car and driving. We are within seconds of each other,” said Fr. Roos.

“The proximity to STM is also a big improvement. Our members no longer have to commute across T lines from Harvard to Lake Street to take classes or simply get a book from the library.”

Both ordained and pre-ordained members also hold pastoral ministries and work at various parishes, community centers, hospitals and prisons in the area.

Remaining close to where they study and teach is invaluable in making the most of the hours in a day, Fr. Roos said.

“Some people wonder why the community is named for Peter

Faber. The reason is, the mission and ministry of this community is the formation of Jesuit priests.

“At the time of the founding of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius Loyola, Francis Xavier and four others – there were seven companions – all of them were laymen except Peter Faber. Peter Faber was the first Jesuit priest,” said Fr. Roos.

“One of the prime ministries of the Weston Department of the School of Theology and Ministry is to offer advanced theology degrees to Jesuits from other countries, particularly developing nations, so they can return and become teachers in their home countries,” said Fr. Roos.

Fr. Roos said the design of the property is a gentle reminder of what brings the very diverse group together. In the middle of the ring of five buildings stands a chapel, a space large enough that all in the community may celebrate Mass together.

“That is quite appropriate,” said Fr. Roos, “because the heart of our community is Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”

Melissa Beecher can be reached at melissa.beecher@bc.edu

University administrators are using the federal observance of National Preparedness Month to upgrade and reinforce campus readiness for unforeseen emergencies.

“For any school, September is a perfect time to start getting people thinking about preparedness,” said John Tommaney, Boston College’s director of emergency management and preparedness. “I want people to be informed and to have enough knowledge to know what to do – at least the basics, such as where to go and how to take care of yourself, where to get information, and having some basic supplies or resources – if something happens.”

Throughout the month, Tommaney and his staff have been manning information tables at various locations, including the Parent Orientation Fair, Club Day, various dining halls and the student recreation complex, offering handouts and information on some simple steps of preparedness that could prove to be lifesavers in the event of an emergency.

“We encourage everyone to have an emergency supply kit with things that people can use in the early stages of a crisis,” Tommaney said. “The kit should include things such as a small first aid kit and a flashlight. You don’t even need a disaster – these are just things that could be helpful to a student who is away at school.”

Tommaney’s staff has distributed more than 1,000 Emergency Supply Kit bags that are printed with a list of helpful items that might be needed during a disruption. The stocked bags can be tucked under a dormitory bed or in a closet. In addition to the first aid kit and a flashlight, contents should include extra batteries, basic toiletries and extra contact lenses or medications if needed.

Flyers with preparedness tips have also been included in every bag given out by the Boston College Bookstore this month, Tommaney says.

Parents or guardians of all stu-

dents have received a letter from University Executive Vice President Patrick J. Keating, urging families to become familiar with the Boston College Comprehensive Emergency Plan [www.bc.edu/emergency] and to be sure to plan a communication strategy with students should an unexpected situation occur.

University administrators will test BC’s Emergency Notification System on Wednesday, Sept. 29.

All members of the Boston College community are urged to update their cell phone and e-mail contact information on the University’s Agora pages to ensure that they will receive the text alert if an emergency arises.

“It’s critical that people log in and make sure that we have the correct contact information,” Tommaney says.

Tommaney’s office is also overseeing a series of residence hall fire drills; providing residence hall offices with emergency supply kits; and, in conjunction with the Boston College Police Department and the University’s Facilities Management division, offering various training programs for students and staff that provide introductory instruction on such topics as first aid, extinguishing a small fire and basic search and rescue techniques.

“My theme is to promote basic preparedness,” he said. “We urge people to visit the website, to come by one of our presentations, or to call our office if they have a question.

“It’s highly unlikely that a volcano is going to erupt on campus or a meteor will fall out of the sky on Chestnut Hill,” Tommaney says.

“But winter storms disrupt us several times a year and there have been hurricane and tornado watches for greater Boston in recent months. We are not trying to scare people, but at the same time, people need to realize that these things are not a far-fetched ‘Hollywood’ creation either.

“Emergencies and disasters can happen.”

Reid Oslin can be reached at reid. oslin@bc.edu

Justin Knight

Annual Parents’ Weekend Starts Friday

By Kathleen Sullivan Staff Writer

GUBERNATORIAL VISIT—Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick spoke with members of the audience after his talk in Robsham Theater on Sept. 13 as part of the Lowell Lectures Humanities Series.

Parents and families of Boston College undergraduates will be welcomed to campus this weekend for the annual Parents’ Weekend, and have the opportunity to hear from University President William P. Leahy, SJ, and BC academic and student affairs personnel, as well as enjoy the Boston Pops and a football game in Alumni Stadium.

Parents’ Weekend will officially kick off tomorrow, Sept. 24, with “open house” sessions hosted by the deans of Boston College’s undergraduate schools and representatives from the Student Affairs division, who will discuss residential, health, recreational,

counseling and other services and programs.

Formal presentations for parents will be held in Robsham Theater beginning at 1 p.m. with talks on the core curriculum and student life, followed by Fr. Leahy’s address at 4 p.m. Parents also have the option of attending classes with their children on Friday.

That evening, the Pops on the Heights concert will take place at Conte Forum, featuring conductor Keith Lockhart, soloist Ann Hampton Callaway and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. A variety of student musical groups will entertain concertgoers before the show and the University Chorale will join the Pops on stage.

Since its establishment by Uni-

versity Trustee Associate James F. Cleary ’50, Hon ’93, Pops on the Heights has funded 682 scholarship grants, totaling $7.7 million, to 312 Boston College students, according to organizers.

The Parents’ Weekend activities continue Saturday with a pregame barbecue at the Flynn Recreation Complex followed by the BC-Virginia Tech football game.

Parents’ Weekend will conclude on Sunday with a family liturgy at 10 a.m. in Conte Forum, followed by a continental breakfast.

For more on Parents’ Weekend, see www.bc.edu/parentsweekend.html.

Kathleen Sullivan can be reached at kathleen.sullivan.1@bc.edu

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Chronicle september 23, 2010

New St. Columbkille Head Lauds Partnership with Boston College

By Reid Oslin Staff Writer

William Gartside, the new head of Brighton’s St. Columbkille Partnership School, says he is sitting atop an educational treasure in the city, and the life-long Catholic educator credits Boston College with helping to make the school’s growing — and glowing — success possible.

On July 1, Gartside took over the leadership position at St. Columbkille, a K-8 parish school that nearly closed its doors in the face of financial difficulties prior to the establishment of an innovative educational partnership with BC and the Archdiocese of Boston in 2006.

“Without BC, St. Columbkille would never be where it is now,” he says. “My experience has taught me that there is an injustice with regard to assets that are available to city children in comparison to what’s available to suburban children.

“Boston College has made a tremendous commitment to get the asset side up to speed at St. Columbkille,” he says. “Now we can infuse that with our Catholic values. For me, that’s a beacon of hope, a lighthouse, especially for immigrant children and children of color.”

Gartside notes that the enrollment of St. Columbkille – the only parochial elementary school in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood – has grown to 308 pupils, the highest number since 1982.

“BC has been extremely important in this growth,” he says.

“It’s the old ‘If you build it they will come’ sort of thing. If you can demonstrate growth, people will have faith that there is something viable here. Children are peoples’ greatest asset and they are not going to put that asset in a place where they are not sure if it is going to be viable.

“The fact that BC has put in so many assets in terms of infrastructures and expertise has enabled [the school] to get back on its feet,” Gartside says. “In fact, they are more than ‘on their feet’ right now. My initial assessment here is that in many ways, this school is the best kept secret in the Boston area when it comes to education.”

Gartside also praised the partnership benefit that enables St. Columbkille teachers to work toward masters’ degrees at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education. “There is an incredibly talented faculty here,” he says, “a great combination of the enthusiasm and vitality of young teachers and the seasoned teachers who

“If we can continue this growth, the St. Columbkille Partnership School can be a model – not just for this diocese, but for others as well – on how to reinvent Catholic education as a foundational, formational, transformational experience for students, particularly those from immigrant families,” Gartside says.

Reid Oslin can be reached at reid.oslin@bc.edu

BC and St. C •Thirteen of St. Columbkille’s 20 full-time teachers have completed master’s degrees at Boston College.

William Gartside took over leadership of the St. Columbkille Partnership School in July. “Boston College has made a tremendous commitment to get the asset side up to speed at St. Columbkille.” (Photo by Frank Curran)

have lots of experience. You love to see those young teachers who are getting their master’s degrees over at BC, because you know they are going to be on the cutting edge of education, and at the same time, you have them working with other people here who have dedicated their lives to children, who can guide the young teachers and help them appreciate that teaching in a Catholic school is truly a vocation.

“Boston College has had a big part in this,” Gartside maintains.

University to Host Catholic Education Conference

By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

In need of new models to improve and preserve Catholic education in America, Boston College and Fordham University will bring together university leaders, educators and professionals from the field of K-12 Catholic schools Sept. 26-28 to explore ways Catholic educators at all levels can collaborate and leverage resources for school improvement.

A centerpiece of the three-day event will be a discussion with BC President William P. Leahy, SJ, and Fordham President Joseph McShane, SJ, about creating and sustaining successful school-university partnerships focused on the Catholic intellectual tradition.

School of Theology and Ministry Dean Mark S. Massa, SJ, will deliver the keynote remarks in a talk about the culture of Catholic education and expectations for academic excellence in all institutions of Catholic education from higher education to K-12. Lynch School of Education Dean Joseph M. O’Keefe, SJ, Fordham Graduate School of Education Dean James J. Hennessy and Gerald M. Cattaro, director of the Center for Catholic Leadership and FaithBased Education, will also participate in the conference.

Issues of declining enrollment, school closings, increasing expenses, and the need for continuous improvement have to be

confronted in a coordinated manner, say administrators from BC’s Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education and Fordham’s Center for Catholic Leadership and Faith-Based Education, co-sponsors of the Catholic Higher Education Collaborative conference.

Catholic schools (K-12) and Catholic colleges and universities recognize they have to work more collaboratively to build new models for effective governance, financial management, and sustained professional development to support a culture of academic excellence rooted in gospel values, said Patricia Weitzel-O’Neill, executive director of the Roche Center. These issues and many others were cited in a preliminary survey of participants in the upcoming conference.

“This is a critical time for Catholic schools throughout the country,” said Weitzel-O’Neill, who joined the center in July after eight years as superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Washington. “A time that calls the larger community of Catholics to recognize, support and work for the building of new models for Catholic schools. Only recently have institutions of Catholic higher education begun to work on this challenge. This conference is a major step forward and signals a fresh start for new and exciting partnerships.”

Ed Hayward can be reached at ed.hayward@bc.edu

“We would not have been able to attract those talented teachers if it were not for BC.” Gartside previously had been academic vice principal at Boston College High School, where he helped develop and implement that school’s new middle school program. He also served as principal of Monsignor Haddad Middle School in Needham, and has taught at Fontbonne Academy, Arlington Catholic High School and St. Rose School, all in the Boston area.

•Two additional teachers are currently enrolled in master’s programs at BC’s Lynch School of Education.

•Three students from the Lynch School of Education are full practicum teachers at the school this semester.

•Pre-practicum teachers from the Lynch School observe classes at St. Columbkille each week.

•Students from the Connell School of Nursing help staff the nurse’s office at the school.

BC’s Twitter account (left) has attracted more than 9,000 alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, friends, external media, schools and interested others , while the Boston College Facebook page boasts 16,500 fans.

Social Media Broadens BC Outreach Cotntinued from page 1 United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, France and Chile. The page receives around 20,000 views on a typical day and registers 18,600 active monthly users.

The Boston College Chronicle, published by the Office of News & Public Affairs, maintains a YouTube channel [www.youtube.com/ bcchronicle] that showcases brief videos about BC life. The channel has had upwards of 42,000 upload views. The Chronicle channel, along with the official University channel maintained by the Office of Marketing and Communications, allows subscribers to view features on BC people and campus events.

Deputy Director of News & Public Affairs Patricia Delaney oversees BC’s official Twitter account, although she is circumspect about who is actually doing the tweeting.

“We’re keeping that under wraps, at least for now, not to be ‘mysterious,’ but because we’d like BC Twitter to relate to all our audiences, rather than identifying more with one segment,” Delaney said.

“We tweet when we think we can add value to the conversation, not to hit a certain quota.

It could be news about research, events, students or alumni; a photo or video about service or athletics, announcements, or just something informative or fun. That’s a great thing about Twitter — as a news stream, it can be both serious and light. BC is a vibrant campus — there’s always something happening, so there’s pretty much always something to tweet,” Delaney said.

The Boston College Twitter feed has been able to engage Eagles around campus – and worldwide – to weigh in on anything from lunch menus to relief for global disasters.

“Twitter is a good venue for BC spirit,” said Delaney. “One of the most popular threads involved the rivalry between Newton and Upper campuses as first-year housing, and there’s always an outpouring of ‘#wearebc spirit’ on game days.

It’s great to hear from people all around the US and in other countries, too.”

Staff Writer Melissa Beecher

(who authored this article), one of the administrators of the Facebook page, said keeping fans active – through contests like Boston College trivia or posting Superfan pictures – maintains a sense of community, but says the page has practical applications as well.

“We have a very passionate fan base that are never shy about posting their thoughts on any given topic. Allowing that interplay and discussion among fans is part of the strength of this medium,” said Beecher.

“Many people say that Facebook is a passing trend, and it very well may be, but until last year, Boston College had no official presence, no voice in what has become a worldwide dialogue.

Now, we not only have a voice, but we’re playing an active role in defining people’s perception of BC. When a perspective student gets an immediate response to a question, an opinion starts to form.

“Will this trend pass? Of course.

But we are now a part of a larger global conversation and are in a very good position to be a part of whatever comes next.”

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle september 23, 2010

“This kind of inquiry is keeping with the Jesuit, Catholic tradition of knowledge for the greater good: It’s science that can serve society.”

—Gail Kineke, chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Photo by Lee Pellegrini

Interdisciplinary Teaching, Research Fuel Rise of Environmental Sciences at Heights Cotntinued from page 1 — its website notes the new name [www.bc.edu/schools/cas/geo/] — are still under discussion, among its areas of study are earthquake and exploration seismology, environmental geology and geophysics, earth surface processes, geochemistry, groundwater hydrology and biogeochemical evolution and geobiology.

Associate Professor Gail Kineke, chair of the department, said, “People often associate the word ‘environmental’ with, say, conservation or advocacy. But environmental science seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of earth processes and systems — how Earth and its people affect one another. Where do we build cities? What are the public health ramifications of environmental disasters? How do different societies perceive and react to events in nature?

“This kind of inquiry is keeping with the Jesuit, Catholic tradition of knowledge for the greater good: It’s science that can serve society.”

College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Quigley added, “The name-change to Earth and Environmental Sciences reflects the high quality work within the department, and is a way of recognizing the superb environmental scholarship being done at Boston College.”

Quigley, along with Kineke and other administrators and faculty, noted various environmental initiatives that have emerged across the University, in academics or other areas: The Environmental Studies Program, which this summer welcomed Noah Snyder as its new director [see separate story]; Sustain BC, a student/faculty/staff committee dedicated to promoting greater actions towards sustainability on campus; courses offered through other schools and departments, such as environmental health (Connell School of Nursing), “green” innovation (Carroll School of Management) and environmental policy (Political Science); and interdisciplinary work by faculty members like Law Professor Zygmunt Plater, whose teaching and research encompasses environmental law issues, or Associate Professor of English Robert Kern, who teaches courses such as American Nature Writing and Literature and the Environment.

The role of the Institute for Scientific Research also has been sig-

nificant in earth and environmental sciences work at BC, administrators and faculty said. One example is ISR Director Patricia Doherty’s leadership of an initiative to develop a satellite navigation and global positioning systems network in Africa, which could aid farming, agriculture and use of natural resources.

Kineke’s colleague Associate Professor Alan Kafka, meanwhile, has collaborated with the Lynch School of Education through the Boston College Educational Seismology Project, which encourages students of all ages to learn about and deepen their understanding of science in general and seismology in particular.

“I see great opportunities for new and expanded directions in a very wide range of interdisciplinary endeavors because our teaching and research about the way the Earth works is crucially inter-connected with so many other academic interests,” said Kafka, who has started a blog [alan-kafka.blogspot.com] on the relationship of geocience research and environmental issues to other disciplines.

A new colleague of Kineke and Kafka, Assistant Professor Douglas

Edmonds, says he was attracted to BC because of its tradition in undergraduate teaching and dedication to top-quality research. He also is enthused by the interdisciplinary character of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

“I am constantly trying to provide ‘pure science’ that also has a societal bent. For instance, from a ‘pure science’ perspective I have studied what processes create river deltas, but I have applied that to relevant societal problems by trying to understand how these processes are modified by environmental change. River deltas are home to a significant percentage of the world’s populations, yet we have no idea how these environments will respond to environmental change. Predicting their response is important, because if their response is catastrophic it could result in the displacement of the millions of people who call these areas home.

“It is truly this intersection of ‘pure science’ and social importance that keeps me excited about research,” says Edmonds. “I am always looking for projects and problems that combine these two facets.”

Sean Smith can be reached at sean. smith.1@bc.edu

Times Higher Education World University Rankings Include BC Boston College is placed at 161 in the new Times Higher Education World University Rankings, released last week.

This year’s rankings — the seventh to be published by THE — were assembled using a new methodology, according to the publication, to “deliver our most rigorous, transparent and reliable rankings tables ever.”

THE used 13 performance indicators “to capture the full range of university activities” in teaching, research, faculty citations, industry income and international staff and student population.

“The top 200 universities in the world represent only a tiny fraction of world higher education and any institution that makes it into this table is truly world class,” said THE rankings editor Ann Mroz.

UNESCO recognizes more than 9,000 universities in the world, so the ranking places Boston College among the top two percent of international research universities.

American universities comprise most of the top 10 in the rankings, led by Harvard, California Institute of Technology and MIT; the universities of Cambridge and Oxford and the Imperial College of London also were among the top 10 finishers. Other institutions in the THE rankings included the University of Toronto, University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore, McGill University (Canada), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Göttingen (Germany), Karolinska Institute (Sweden), Trinity College Dublin, National Taiwan University, Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) and Alexandria University (Egypt).

—Office of News & Public Affairs

Snyder Takes Reins of Environmental Studies

By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

Climate change, renewable energy, environmental justice, conservation and sustainability – some of the most pressing issues in these times – have poised the University’s Environmental Studies Program for an exciting era of growth, according to the program’s new director, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Noah Snyder.

Snyder was appointed director this summer, taking over leadership of the program – from which approximately 50 students graduate each year with a minor – from long-time director Eric Strauss, who was appointed Presidential Professor of Biology at Loyola

of the program evaluation will include finding ways to increase research opportunities for undergraduates and promote added field study options.

“I’d like there to be an opportunity in this minor for people to engage in field studies, whether that person is a student interested in green chemistry, a student interested in environmental justice or a student interested in environmental law,” he said.

Snyder, in his sixth year at BC, has an interest in rivers and geology dating back to his childhood in Ithaca, NY. Field studies have taken him to spectacular country, including Death Valley, coastal California, the woods of Maine and watersheds in New Hampshire. He was quick to praise the Christopher Huang

Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Noah Snyder is “the right guy for the job” of Environmental Studies Program director, says colleague Gail Kineke. “He’s got great ideas about what an environmental studies program should be. He’s coming from a very interdisciplinary perspective that is perfect for a place like BC.” Marymount University.

A geologist who specializes in river morphology, Snyder said his first steps will be to review course offerings and begin a discussion with students and faculty about ways to improve the popular program.

“A careful evaluation of the existing program is the first step toward designing something that gives students a high-quality educational experience and allows them a little more interaction with each other,” said Snyder.

An environmental studies minor requires six courses: two in natural sciences, two in environmental policy, an elective and the capstone course. There are more than 60 approved courses offered in departments throughout the University. Typically, students pursuing the minor are brought together in the capstone course their senior year.

Developing academic tracks to give the approximately 150 students within the program greater opportunity to study topics of interest with their peers is one potential change. Another part

work done by his predecessor, Strauss, a former associate research professor in Biology.

“Eric was a champion of the Environmental Studies Program and brought it to its current stature,” said Snyder. “It is in great shape, but we can always look for ways to focus on the student experience and interdisciplinary excellence.”

Associate Professor Gail Kineke, chair of the newly named Earth and Environmental Sciences Department [see story on page 1], praised the selection of Snyder to lead the program.

“Noah is the right guy for the job,” said Kineke. “He’s got great ideas about what an environmental studies program should be. He’s coming from a very interdisciplinary perspective that is perfect for a place like BC. The program already has a lot of momentum and Noah can keep moving it forward and that is going to enhance environmental initiatives at BC.” Ed Hayward can be reached at ed.hayward@bc.edu

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle september 23, 2010

CSOM’s Alan Marcus Is Inaugural Gabelli Professor Continued from page 1 to help accomplish that goal, it Trustees in 2003 and is now in his has to have excellent facilities, stu- second four-year term.

Gabelli also serves as an overdents and faculty. Having previously funded a residence hall and seer of Columbia Graduate School a distinguished scholars fund for of Business and a trustee at Roger students, this endowed professor- Williams University in Rhode Isship will provide the third pillar land, which named its business of my commitment to BC in these school after him. In addition, he has served as director of the Winimportant areas.” ston Churchill Foundation, E.L. Marcus said he Wiegand Founwas honored to be named the first re- “It is appropriate that this dation, National cipient of the Ga- professorship will further ac- Italian American Foundation and belli Professorship, which bears the celerate the strengthening of American-Italian name of an indi- the Carroll School’s Finance Cancer Foundation, among other vidual who has distinguished himself Department faculty as one of organizations.

Gabelli beboth for his invest- the very best in the country.” gan his career in ment acumen and his numerous chari- —CSOM Dean Andy Boynton finance in the research department table commitments. of Loeb Rhodes, “Mario Gabelli is following his gradone of the all-time most successful investors, whose uation from Columbia’s MBA investment philosophy — based program. He later worked at the on a serious and detailed consid- research firm William D. Witter eration of the fundamental factors until founding his own firm, Gathat affect a firm’s long-term suc- belli Asset Management, in 1977. cess — is consistent with what we Now known as Gamco, his firm teach as best practice,” said Mar- handles $30 billion in global incus. “While I would be honored vestments, and his well-publicized to be selected for any chaired pro- success has helped Gabelli to be fessorship at BC, I am particularly named US Equity Manager of the honored to have been chosen for Year by Morningstar in 1997 and to Barron’s All-Century Investthe Gabelli Professorship.”

Added Carroll School Dean ment Team in 2000.

Marcus, who earned his PhD in Andrew Boynton, “The Gabelli Professorship carries with it the economics from MIT in 1981, beoutstanding reputation of Mario gan his teaching career at Boston Gabelli, renowned for being a University, and was appointed a leading innovator in the world of professor of finance at BC in 1991. equity investment. It is appro- He has also served as a visiting priate that this professorship will professor at the Athens Laborafurther accelerate the strengthen- tory of Business Administration ing of the Carroll School’s Finance at BU and the Sloan School of Department faculty as one of the Management at MIT. His main research interests are in derivavery best in the country.”

A 1965 summa cum laude grad- tives and securities markets, with uate of Fordham University and his most recent work focusing on the father of four BC graduates, models of asset management. His Gabelli’s association with Boston teaching interests focus on derivaCollege began in the early 1980s tives markets, risk management when he took an active role in and investments. He is the co-auBC’s then-fledgling endowment. thor of three of the leading finance In 1995 Gabelli Hall, a student textbooks: Investments, Essentials of residence along Commonwealth Investments, and Fundamentals of Avenue, was named in recogni- Corporate Finance.

Jack Dunn can be reached at tion of Gabelli’s support of Boston College. He joined the Board of jack.dunn@bc.edu

LSOE Journal for Catholic Education Is Now Online Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice, a Lynch School of Education-based journal dedicated to Catholic elementary, secondary, and higher education, has launched an online, open-access version at www.bc.edu/catholicedjournal.

Journal co-editors said the new format “allows for greater dissemination and availability to practitioners, university faculty, and our international audiences,” and could also enable the use of multi-media applications in journal content. Readers can search and download every article from all 14 volumes of the journal for free by visiting the website, they

note. The open access format was a joint effort between the journal’s governing board, Boston College Libraries and the Office of Marketing and Communications.

In addition to the new format, the journal co-editors said Catholic Education would move to a production schedule of two volumes per year, beginning with volume 15 in September of next year.

“The governing board hopes that these changes will not only enhance the journal’s accessibility, but also its viability as a resource for Catholic educators and educational researchers,” the co-editors said.

—Office of News & Public Affairs

Grant Will Aid Thermoelectric Study

By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

Two Physics Department faculty members have received a $1.5 million grant from the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) for their role in a multiuniversity research project that will investigate the super-cooling capabilities of two compound semiconductors.

Professor Zhifeng Ren and Assistant Professor Cyril Opeil, SJ, received the five-year award as part of a larger $7.5 million grant from the AFOSR to a consortium led by Ohio State University. Other universities engaged in the program are Cal Tech, Michigan State University, MIT and Princeton.

The teams of researchers, brought together under the funding from Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative program, or MURI, will set out to prove the capabilities of two compounds for use in cooling electrical circuits operating at extremely cold temperatures, in the neighborhood of 100 Kelvin to 10 Kelvin, or as low as minus 263 degrees Celsius.

“It is a very ambitious project,” said Ren, a leading authority on nanotechnology who will study the fabrication and characterizations of the compounds. “We have a great team and we think we can get it done.”

Fr. Opeil, who specializes in the measurement of super-cooled materials, said both the science and the multi-university collaboration are exciting aspects of the project.

Suzanne Camarata

Boston College physicists Zhifeng Ren, left, and Cyril Opeil, SJ.

“We are collaborating on a national level,” Fr. Opeil said. “It enables us to share ideas and accomplish things at a far faster pace.

The people involved are some of the best minds in the business and this collaboration is about the sharing of ideas and working together to resolve questions. It’s very exciting to be involved in a project of this scope.”

Ren and Fr. Opeil have teamed up together on other green energy research involving thermoelectric principles, specifically looking at ways compounds can be used to draw excess heat from devices for cooling and/or convert waste heat into electricity.

Heat is an enemy of electrical devices and their components,

serving to degrade the operations of semiconductors and the overall performance of devices, particularly high-tech circuitry.

The research team will be exploring the potential use of iron antimony and bismuth antimony compounds to construct a solidstate cooling device capable of achieving extremely cold temperatures.

A solid-state device is viewed as advantageous because there are no moving parts. The team will investigate whether applying nanostructures to these compounds can serve to siphon off excess heat more efficiently from technical hardware.

Ed Hayward can be reached at ed.hayward@bc.edu

Ctr. for Work & Family to Celebrate 20th

By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

The Center for Work & Family will mark its 20th anniversary next week with a conference for its member organizations and a celebratory dinner featuring a keynote speech by pioneering management professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter.

The gala dinner set for Sept. 30 at the Boston College Club will be preceded by a series of panel discussions on campus, including one featuring Dan Mulhern, radio show host and the husband of Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm. Also known as the “First Gentleman of Michigan,” Mulhern will host a panel discussion “Men: Forging a New Path in Work and Life.”

Since its founding in 1990, at a time when women had entered the professional and managerial workforce in large numbers, the center has been a national leader in helping organizations create effective workplaces that support and develop healthy and productive employees.

Brad Harrington, the director of the center, which has been affiliated with the Carroll School of Management since 1997, says both men and women are trying to balance work and family roles these days.

“If you asked me what percent

of the workforce is impacted by work-life initiatives, the answer would be easy: 100 percent,” said Harrington. “When you look at the range of issues that fall under the umbrella of work-life, the scope of the work and the challenges faced is remarkable. We are talking about issues that are universal: balancing the demands of work and family, helping people develop and find meaning in their work, creating healthy and inclusive workplaces, supporting the community. We are all involved in and impacted by these pursuits.”

The programs and research produced by the center – which serves corporate members as well as contributes to scholarship in the worklife discipline – now also examine the changing roles of working men and the latest generations to join the workforce.

“Men, millennials, and meaning are the three key themes we are focusing on,” Harrington said, citing the theme for the center’s 20th anniversary events and the key new challenges and directions that the scholarly field must focus on.

This past year, the center garnered international media attention for its report “The New Dad: Exploring Fatherhood within a Career Context,” which examined how young fathers view their roles

at home and at work.

Since its founding by Associate Professor of Organizational Studies Bradley Googins, the center has worked with employers who seek to support a “dual agenda” of individual and organizational success.

The center’s conferences and research are geared toward human resource directors and focus on topics including work-life balance, diversity, career management, human resource and organizational development, and employee health and well-being. The center’s corporate partners, which include more than 100 of the country’s most-respected employers, look for approaches to help employees increase productivity while achieving personal and professional goals.

Celebration keynote speaker Rosabeth Moss Kanter is a professor at the Harvard Business School and a thought-leader in strategy, innovation, and transformative leadership. For the past 10 years, the center has partnered with Purdue University to award the annual Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research, which is sponsored by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress.

Information on the center and the 20th anniversary event is available at www.bc.edu/centers/cwf.

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle september 23, 2010

By Rosanne Pellegrini Staff Writer

Karen MacDonald, an awardwining Boston-based actor who has worked nationwide and toured international festivals, has been named the Rev. J. Donald Monan, SJ, Professor in Theatre Arts for the 2010-2011 academic year.

During her residency at Boston College, she will teach master classes in acting and improvisation, serve as an acting coach for department productions, and offer workshops in audition technique.

“We feel lucky to have Karen as a member of our community this year,” said Associate Professor Scott T. Cummings, chairman of the Theatre Department. “Our students will be learning from a master.”

Named for University Chancellor and former Boston College President J. Donald Monan, SJ, and established in memory of late University Trustee E. Paul Robsham MEd’83 — benefactor of the campus theater arts facility named for his son — the professorship enables nationally and internationally recognized professional theater artists to work and teach at the University. The previous Monan professors were director Carmel O’Reilly, actor Remo Airaldi and Broadway music director MaryMitchell Campbell.

MacDonald was awarded the 2010 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence by the Boston Theatre Critics Association and the 2010 Robert Brustein Award for Sustained Achievement in the Theatre presented by the American Repertory Theatre.

The citation on the 2010 Elliot Norton Prize, Cummings noted, celebrated her as “an actress of phenomenal versatility, who for three decades has enriched our stages with indelible characterizations.”

MacDonald has distinguished herself in a variety of classic and contemporary roles, from Madame Arkadina in Chekhov’s

Karen MacDonald

“The Seagull” and the title role in Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children” to cutting-edge new plays by Rinde Eckert, Charles Mee and Anne Washburn.

She is a founding company member of the American Repertory Theatre, where she appeared in 70 productions and worked with such renowned directors as Robert Woodruff, Andrei Serban, Martha Clarke, JoAnne Akalaitis and Les Waters. Last season, she appeared at the Huntington Theatre Company in Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” and in Paula Vogel’s “A Civil War Christmas,” at the New Rep in “boom” and at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre playing all seven roles in Robert Hewett’s “The Blonde, The Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead.”

MacDonald received her professional training at Boston University and began her career in Boston with The Proposition, famous for its improvisational comedy revues, and was a founder of Next Move Theatre. She has worked in New York City at the Roundabout, Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons and Theatre for a New Audience and at major resident theaters around the country. From 199395 she was a company member of Houston’s Alley Theatre, where she worked with legendary director José Quintero.

Rosanne Pellegrini can be reached at rosanne.pellegrini@bc.edu

NOTA BENE Chemistry Professor Lawrence T. Scott has been chosen to receive The American Chemical Society 2011 George A. Olah Award in Hydrocarbon or Petroleum Chemistry, which is given to recognize, encourage, and stimulate outstanding research achievements in hydrocarbon or petroleum chemistry. Award winners are selected on the basis of having accomplished “outstanding research in the chemistry of hydrocarbons or petroleum and its products. Special consideration is given to independence of thought and originality.”

Professor of Accounting Amy Hutton’s groundbreaking research into earnings manipulation was recently honored with the inaugural Distinguished Contribution to Accounting Literature Award from the American Accounting Association in San Francisco. Since it was published in 1996, the paper has received more than 1,000 citations on Google Scholar and regulatory reforms enacted since were consistent with the study’s findings. Hutton will be honored with co-authors Patricia Dechow and Richard Sloan, now professors at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

The association also honored Hutton’s Carroll School colleague Assistant Professor Lian Fen Lee, who received the AAA 2010 Competitive Manuscript Award. The award is given annually to researchers who earned their PhD within the past five years.

NEWSMAKERS

BC BRIEFING

Center for Retirement Research Director Alicia Munnell discussed a new CRR report that shows Americans are $6.6 trillion short of what they need to retire with CNN Money. The report also was covered by CNBC, Daily Finance, Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun and Huffington Post.

Political Science faculty members associate professors Dennis Hale and Peter Skerry (New England Cable News) and Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life Director Prof. Alan Wolfe (USA Today) offered their views on the controversy surrounding Florida pastor Terry Jones’ threat to burn copies of the Koran on Sept. 11.

Prof. Michael Cassidy (Law) spoke with the Associated Press regarding a Vermont case in which a woman is charged with killing her mother, who had Alzheimer’s.

Adj. Prof. Jonathan Witten (Law) commented to the Boston Globe on Massachusetts’ contentious affordable-housing law, which is up for repeal by voters in the Nov. 2 state election.

(Communication) published “Does imposing a goal always improve exercise intentions in avatar-based exergames?: The moderating role of interdependent self-construal on exercise intentions and self-presence” in CyberPsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking.

Prof. Hao Jiang (Computer Science) has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for his project “Convex Architecture for Human Movement Understanding.”

HONORS/ APPOINTMENTS

Hon. David S. Nelson Professor of Psychology and Education Anderson J. Franklin delivered the commencement address to students at Lewis & Clark College’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling in Portland, Ore. Franklin also offered a workshop in the city to discuss how families, schools, and communities can work together to improve children’s well-being through after-school programs.

The Moral Underground, written

by Research Professor Lisa Dodson (Sociology), was reviewed as “highly recommended” by Choice: Current Review for Academic Libraries.

Lee Pellegrini

MacDonald Is New Monan Professor in Theatre Arts

Lynch School of Education Dean Joseph O’Keefe, SJ, discussed Catholic education and Quincy Catholic Academy with the Patriot Ledger.

A study of global faculty pay by the Lynch School’s Center for International Higher Education was cited in a Times Higher Education piece on the economy’s effect on Canadian colleges and universities.

PUBLICATIONS Adj. Assoc. Prof. Michael C. Keith (Communication) published short stories in The Lowestoft Chronicle, Clever Magazine, and Bewildering Stories.

Senior Reference Librarian Ken Liss has been appointed to the editorial board of Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian.

GRANTS Prof. Peter Clote (Biology) has received a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Program of Computational Mathematics for $399,998 for support of the project “Energy parameters and novel algorithms for an extended nearest neighbor energy model of RNA.”

Asst. Prof. Seung-A Annie Jin This fall, Chronicle will inaugurate a new regular feature, “The Bookshelf,” that will take note of new or recent books by current Boston College faculty and staff.

Authors can submit their books for consideration by sending e-mail to chronicle@bc.edu with “The Bookshelf” in the subject line, and including the following information: •Author’s name, hometown, rank or title and school, department or office at BC •Book title and publication date •Summary of the book — this should be three to four sentences, and written for a general audience rather than a scholarly publication An electronic image of the book cover should also be included in the e-mail.

Books must have been published within the last six months to be considered “new or recent.” Textbooks, reissues or translations of previously published books will not be accepted.

Items submitted will appear in the order they are received, and with space permitting. Chronicle reserves the right to reject any submissions that do not supply sufficient information or are otherwise deemed as inappropriate for inclusion.

TIME AND A HALF

Economics faculty members made the following presentations: •Prof. Hideo Konishi, “Entrepreneurial Land Developers: Local Externalities and Mixed Housing Developments,” 11th Annual Meeting of the Association for Public Economic Theory, Istanbul.

•Assoc. Prof. Christopher Baum, “The Effect of Capital Investment and R&D Expenditures on Firms’ Liquidity,” and chaired a session at the 16th International Conference on Panel Data at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

•Prof. Tayfun Sonmez, “Altruistic Kidney Exchange,” and Prof.

Utku Unver, “A Theory of House Allocation and Exchange Mechanisms,” Market Design Conference at Yonsei University, Seoul.

•Prof. Donald Cox, “Female Circumcision in Indonesia: Community Survey Evidence,” the Human Behavior and Evolution Society Meetings, Eugene, Ore. Send items to: people.chronicle@bc.edu

JOB LISTINGS 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.edau/offices/hr/: Administrative Assistant, Research Offices, Office of the Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculties Assistant Director, Flynn Fund Operations, Athletic Association — Development Statistician/Programmer, Trends in Mathematics & Science Study Associate Director, School Development Operations Coordinator, Boston College Band Part-time Assistant Sailing Coach Web Developer, Office of Marketing Communications Senior Associate Director, Office of Marketing Communications

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle september 23, 2010

LOOKING AHEAD Robsham Theater Season Begins Oct. 7 with ‘Top Girls’ The 2010-11 Robsham Theater Arts Center (RTAC) fall season opens Oct. 7 with “Top Girls,” one of playwright Caryl Churchill’s most famous works.

Set in 1980s London during the Margaret Thatcher era, the play explores the challenges and triumphs of women in power — and the women who get left behind.

The RTAC-Theatre Department collaboration, which runs through Oct. 10, is directed by Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theatre Patricia Riggin.

England is also the setting for a second collaborative production, “She Stoops to Conquer,” November 18-21, directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Stuart J. Hecht.

Written by Irish author Oliver Goldsmith and billed as one of the best loved English comedies of all time, this classic comedy of errors is set in a crumbling mansion house in the 18th century, where a series of mistaken identities, failed elopements and thefts unfold.

The RTAC Bonn Studio will be the venue for two performances next month: the BC Dramatics Society’s production of “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot,” directed by Jacob Sherburne ‘11, from Oct. 21-23; and a staging of “Reefer Madness” — the musical parody of the 1936 cult film — by the Contemporary Theater of Boston College Oct. 28-30, directed

by Seth Byrum ‘11.

A special event, “Adios Ayacucho: Performance by Yuyachkani,” will take place in the Bonn on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. Yuyachkani [www.yuyachkani.org/ yuyachkani.html] is a cultural association dedicated to creating

Irish traditional music will be the focus of the fall 2010 Gaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance, Workshop and Lecture Series at Boston College.

The series, sponsored by BC’s Center for Irish Programs, has often featured music from Scotland, Cape Breton and Appalachia as well as Ireland. But there will be a distinctly Hibernian flavor to this fall’s events, which take place at Connolly House (300 Hammond Street near BC’s Chestnut Hill Campus) beginning at 6:30 p.m. All are free and open to the public.

•Fiddler Oisin McAuley and flutist Jimmy Noonan will kick off the series on Sept. 30. McAuley, a member of the popular band Danu, has become a mainstay in the local session scene since moving to Boston several years ago. Noonan teaches in BC’s Irish Studies Program and has played at numerous concerts and festivals with an impressive array of musicians including Seamus Connolly, among others.

•On Oct. 21, the duo of Brendan Begley (accordion, vocals) and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (fiddle) will make a return appearance to Gaelic Roots. Widely respected as soloists, Begley and Ó Raghallaigh have garnered praise for their collaboration,

theater collectively in a way that includes the dance, music, traditions, masks, motifs and other elements of Peruvian culture. The performance, sponsored by the Arts and Social Responsibility Project and Center for Human Rights and International Justice, is free with limited seating.

Robsham also will be the venue

This Sunday, Sept. 26, the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning will present “The Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest’s Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews,” a talk by Fr. Patrick Desbois, who has led an effort to locate mass graves of Jews who were killed in Ukraine during the Holocaust. The event will take place from 45:30 p.m. in Higgins 300. See www.bc.edu/cjl.

Brendan Begley, right, and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh perform at BC Oct. 21.

which produces music that can be equally mesmerizing and subtle as it is powerful.

•Renowned accordionist James Keane will present a combination lecture and concert, “Living in the Tradition,” on Nov. 18. In addition to his superb musicianship, Keane is known as a shanachie and folk-historian who brings to life great Irish tradition-bearers through his presentations at colleges, retreats, tours and other events.

He also has performed and recorded with some of the leading Irish musicians of the age.

•Fiddler Laurel Martin and multi-

instrumentalist Mark Roberts will conclude the fall series with a concert on Dec. 7. Martin, a protégé of Seamus Connolly and a former member of the BC Irish Studies music faculty, released her first CD “The Groves” in 2006 and also has recorded with the fiddle ensemble Childsplay. Roberts has recorded and toured extensively for more than 25 years; his music was featured in the John Sayles film “The Secret of Roan Inish.”

For information, see www.bc.edu/ gaelicroots or e-mail irish@bc.edu.

—Sean Smith

for the Boston College Dance Ensemble annual fall show, on a date to be announced, and the holidaythemed “Christmas Reflections” Dec. 17-19. Choreographed and directed by Jesuit artist-in-residence Robert Ver Eecke, SJ, this celebration of the Christmas season through story, music and dance weaves together favorites from

the long-running “A Dancer’s Christmas,” and features dancers from the O’Dwyer School of Irish Dancing. Admission is $15.

More details on Robsham Theater events are available at www. bc.edu/robshamseason; tickets may be purchased at the RTAC Box Office, ext.2-4002.

—Rosanne Pellegrini

Suzanne Camarata

DAY OF DAYS Suzanne Camarata

BC SCENES

Gaelic Roots Has Irish Sound This Fall

DATE & TIME

Suzanne Camarata Last Thursday, Sept. 16, was a day of tradition and community at the University: first, the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit on O’Neill Plaza, organized by the Office of Campus Ministry, with University President William P. Leahy, SJ, as principal celebrant (in photo above) and Founders Professor of Theology James Keenan, SJ, as homilist; later, the First Year Convocation for freshmen and transfer students, which featured author Daniel Wolff (above right) as keynote speaker.

See the Chronicle YouTube channel [www.youtube.com/ bcchronicle] for videos about these events.

Lee Pellegrini

Cindi Bigelow ’82, above, president of Bigelow Tea, will discuss the importance of strong leadership skills in the development and performance of groups and organizations on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. in the Murray Room of Yawkey Athletic Center. Admission is $10; current BC students can register for free by calling ext.2-4700.

For more information, contact the Alumni Association at alumni.comments@bc.edu.

Among the events taking place as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs until Oct. 16, will be: a panel discussion on “The Catholic Church in Cuba” on Oct. 4, 7 p.m. in Higgins 300; a presentation by A. Enrique Caballero, MD, on the latest research on obesity and diabetes affecting the Latino community, Oct. 5, 6-7 p.m., in the Murray Function Room of the Yawkey Athletic Center; and a panel discussion with four BC students on study and service trips in Latin America, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m., Fulton 511.

Information on these and other events will be available through ugbc.org.

The Race and Culture After 9/11 Lecture Series and Symposium will hold its inaugural event, a talk

by University of California at Davis Professor Sunaina Maira, on Oct. 6 at 4:30 p.m. in McGuinn 121. Davis’ talk, sponsored by the Institute for the Liberal Arts, will be based on her book, a study of South Asian Muslim immigrant youth and issues of citizenship and empire after 9/11. E-mail youngcs@bc.edu for information.

For more on Boston College campus events, see events.bc.edu or www. bc.edu/bcinfo.