Boston College magazine

92 Pages·1994·10.3 MB·English

by  Boston College. Office of Communications

ALSO: CATHOLIC ED / MY FATHER, YEATS / WESTWARD HO
Boston College
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PROLOGUE
Law man
This edition's Prologue was written by and finallytolawdean andprofessoron deprecating, dedicated, energetic,
Brian Doyle, former senior writer for the Heights. funny. Also he is the most loquacious
"BCM" and currently editor ofthe Uni- By all the criteria on which law manIhaveevermet. There arenobrief
—
versityofPortland's"PortlandMagazine." schools are measured reputation, conversations with Dan. I happen to
fund-raising, selectivity, awards, fac- know this for a fact."
Dan Coquillette, BC Law dean for ulty publications, job offers to gradu- It will take all the qualities
—
eight years until July 1993, and ates BCLawmadegreatstridesunder Coquillette brought to bear on BCto
now a member of the law faculty, is Coquillette's deanery. Butifeverthere accomplishhisnextgoal. Lawyersonce
telling a story. It's something he does was a man ill-served by a numerical had the respect and affection of the
frequently and with pleasure. portrait,itisCoquillette,whoisbuiltof populace.ConsiderthelawyerthatHol-
"Recently I was in a china shop, curiosityandbriskbusinesssense,schol- lywoodoncepromulgatedasthe arche-
—
lookingtobuya teapotformywife,"he arship and peach-colored suits, eager type ofthe profession Gregory Peck
says. "In the shop is a sweet old woman teachingand dryremarksoffered every as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mocking-
perhaps80yearsold. Shehasthefaceof bird, say, or SpencerTracyas Clarence
an angel. Dan is indefatigable, Darrow in Inheritthe Wind. Then pon-
"'What doyou do, young man?' she ebullient, tireless, " says hutch. derthegraspingamoral charactersthat
asks me. populate The Firm or LA Law.
"Pd call hint a Renaissance
"'I'm a law professor,' I say. "There is a general feelingthat law-
"'You train new lawyers, then?' she man ifI didn9t know that yerstodayare nothingmore than hired
—
says. would instantly lead to a guns," says Coquillette an ironic
"'Madam, I do." phrase, for today's lawyers are increas-
disquisition on the true
"'Ifa litigator, a divorce lawyer and ingly under fire both literally (recent
a corporate lawyer were dropped from meaning ofthe phrase. " shootingsin Kansas, NewYork, North
anairplaneatthesametime,whowould Dakota, andTexas courthouses, and in
hit the ground first?' yearatthe conclusion ofthe annual law a San Francisco law office), and figura-
"'Pardon me?' I say. student comedy revue. This is a man tively (a recent National Law Journal
"'Who would hit the ground first?' whowrote two fat and scholarlybooks, magazine survey reported anti-lawyer
she says. taughtcourses in legal historyand pro- feeling "at a fever pitch").
'"I don't know.' fessional responsibility, and served as "Theruleoflawinthe UnitedStates
"'Who cares?!' she says, cackling advisor to three of the nation's legal is what has made this nation the most
wildly." associations (the Judicial Conference successful constitutional democracy in
It's moments like this that, for oftheUnited States,theAmericanLaw history," says Coquillette, "and itspro-
Coquillette, confirm his decision to Institute, and the American Bar Asso- fessional underpinnings are a commit-
step down as dean and step up as re- ciation) while working more than full- menttosocialjusticeandpublicservice.
formerofhisancientandoncerespected time as a law school CEO. I believe that this commitment will
profession. It is a profession that "Danisindefatigable,ebullient,tire- sustain us and propel us into a worthy
Coquillette has revered since he first less," says Brian Lutch, who was future. But the law itself must be sus-
—
studied law at Oxford. It has paid his Coquillette's associate dean. "I'd call tained firstandforemostbythosemen
bills and fed his children since 1971. It him a Renaissance man ifI didn'tknow and women who belong to it as a pro-
has been his passion since he began his that would instantly lead to a disquisi- fession. In fact, let me tell you a story
march up the ladder from clerk (to tiononthetruemeaningofthephrase." about this ..."
SupremeCourtJusticeWarrenBurger) "Dan is a string of adjectives," says Dan Coquillette's diagnosis of, and
to partner (Palmer & Dodge) to law Academic VP William B. Neenan, SJ. prescriptionfor,whatailsthelegalpro-
professor(atBU,Cornell,andHarvard) "He is intelligent, enthusiastic, self- fession begins on page 40.
Boston College
magazine
Life work 19
WINTER 1994
VOLUME S3 NUMBER 1 By Michael Yeats
It's not the eminent poet who stands
EDITOR
Ben Birnbaum revealedinjournalsandcorrespondence
DESIGN DIRECTOR in BC's new Yeats Collection, but the
Jana Spacek struggling writer, the reluctant public
ASSOCIATE EDITOR figureand thevehementman ofletters.
BruceMorgan
SENIOR WRITER
John Ombelets
SENIOR DESIGNER Like a bridge 26
Susan Callaghan
IVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHERS ByAnthony B/yk '77
GaryGilbert
GeoffreyWhy'88 For 10 years, the author and his
CONTRIBUTING STAFF colleagues sought to understand why
Sandra Howe '89 Catholic high schools often succeed
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD wherepublichighschoolsfail.Hereare
MaryBrabeck;Adele Dalsimer;Patricia their answers. Winning the West, page 32
McNabb Evans '74; David Hollenbach,
SJ;RichardKeeley;JamesMcGahay'63;
ElainePinderhughes;StephenRosa'86,
(io>rgeRyan'51,MA'53;PaulSchervish;
Maura King Scully '88MA'93;John F. Winning the West 32
Wissler'57,MBA'72.
BostonCollegeMagazineispublishedquar-
terly(Fall,Winter,Spring,Summer)by By Bruce Morgan
BostonCollege,witheditorialofficesat
theOfficeofPublications& PrintMar- With a state system in disarray and rapidly growing numbers of
2ke4t4i1n.g,E(-6M1a7i)l5:52H-I48G20G.IFNASX:D@(6B17C)V5M52C- college-bound students, California has become a battleground for
MS.BC.EDU.ISSN0885-2049.Second "Back East" admission recruiters like BC's Sherman Rosser.
classpostagepaidat Boston,Mass.,and
additional mailing offices. Postmaster:
sendaddresschangestoOfficeofPubli-
cations& PrintMarketing, 122 College
Road,ChestnutHill,MA02167. Uncivil law 40
Copyright ©1994 Trustees of Boston
College.PrintedinU.S.A./Mlpublication
rightsreserved. Interview byJohn Ombelets
Opinions expressed in Boston College What'swrongwiththelegalprofessiontodayislawyerbehavior. So
Magazine do not necessarily reflect the
viewsoftheUniversity. BCMisdistrib- saysformerLawDeanDanCoquillette.Hisprescription?Thefirst
uted free ofcharge to alumni, faculty, thing we do, let's change legal culture.
statt.donors,andparentsotundergradu-
atestudents.
fRONTCOVERIllUSTRATIONBYMICHAELMclAUGHUN DEPARTMENTS
BACKCOVERPHOTOBYGARYGILBERT
Letters 2 Advancement 52
Linden Lane 3 Journal 54
News & Notes 14 Works and Days 57
Sports 48 Alumnotes (followspage28)
Research 50 Research, page 50
,
LETTERS
Revolutionary notes ARS AND VITA not,inaspotlight."InthelightofAmerican
individualism,middleclassorliberated,"the
I enjoyed your article about women at Itwas refreshing to read the profile ofPaul neighborhood is what the culture needs
Boston College ["Came the revolution," Shakespear["Breakingthrough,"Fall 1993 most and cultivates least."
]
Linden Lane, Fall 1993], particularly in which reminded me ofhow important the These are instructive thoughts.
viewofthe factthatmydaughterisa senior arts are for sanity and contentment. I was
there. However, I take exception to your inspired deeply by Paul's family and their PROF. ROBERTFAULKNER
statement that not until 1972 were women commitment to each other, and his work. Boston College
allowed to matriculate in the College of
Arts and Sciences or the School of TITOROMAN'82
Management. In my class of 1963 there Cambridge, Massachusetts Francis B. McManus, SJ
wereatleastfivewomen,ifnotsevenwomen,
I was saddened to read of the death of
enrolledintheCollegeofArtsandSciences.
Iamnotsureifmorewomenwerepermitted Casualties FpruasnpcirsesBe.ncMecdMuarniunsg,mySJ,yeaarpsowaetrBfCu.l cam-
tinogmoytyoetahre,Ctohlelceegnetaefntneiral19c6l3as,sb,utthceerretawienrley MCaoncgCruarttualiant,ioOn.sP.toShSeisthears Mwrairtgtaerneta writIinngthheansduimnmaemracohfin1e9,57lo,siInginojnuerefdinmgeyr
women in Arts and Sciences. splendidly enlightening account of and damaging another. Upon returning to
JAMESSCULLY'63 courageous Irish women who endured school, it was clear that the surgery per-
Poinona, California famine,socialdislocation,forcedmigration formed during the summer had not re-
and other travails throughout Ireland's stored myhand to even partial use, and as a
Editor's Note: Mr. Scully's recollection is turbulent 19th century ["The silence of result I had great difficulty taking notes as
correct,andsowerewe.Whilethepolicyof Molly Macree," Summer 1993]. well as exams.
admitting women students to A&S and One inaccuracymarsan otherwiseflaw- After two final exams, I was summoned
iSnOouMrwsatsornyo—tcshevaenngewdomunetnil,1w9h72o—inaesvintoatbeldy "leSssomgeem8o0f0a,n00e0ssaIyr.isShr.dMiaecdCubrettaweiennwri1t8e4s5, ttooldFrh.iMmcmMyantaulse'ofowfofiecereilnatFivuelttoonmvHahlla.ndI
became known as "thevestal virgins,"were and 1851 from the effects of the Famine, and ofsurgery scheduled for the following
admitted into theA&S Honors Program in while over a million fled the country." week. He asked me what I felt my grades
1959, and six graduated with the Class of Taking all the various studies together, would be ifI did not have this problem. As
1963. As recounted in a Winter 1988 story the better estimate seems to be over one best I could I estimated what my grades
in BCM, BC officials intended that more million deaths, and between one million would have been. He said, "John, we are all
women would be admitted in subsequent and one and one-half million emigrants victims oforiginal sin, and our role in this
years, but had not cleared their plans with duringthe Famineyears. Thata countryof life istomake thatburden a little lighterfor
Jesuit officials in Rome, who were not eight million persons would lose between the other fellow."
pleased. Eleven more years passed before 25 and 30 percent of its residents within I struggled through the rest of final
the ban was lifted for good. four or five years stuns the conscience. exams as best I could and was absolutely
stunned in mid-February when I received
WILLIAM M.CONNOLLY'67 my grades—they were exactly the grades I
Committee work Chestnut Hill had given him in our meeting.
enthusiastically applaud the formation of J.R.AKIN'59
I Lesson book
BC's Committee on Sexual Diversity and Fairfield, Connecticut
Personal and Community Development
[News & Notes, Summer 1993]. Had such Teshsaatyswoanshaonmeadtmoiwrnasbl[e"Mcoyltloecwtni,o"nSoufmlmitetlre Word travels
a Committee been in place during the ten-
1993]. I liked the portraits ofAgresto's old
ures ofJack Gerah '61, and James D. and
Brooklynneighborhood,Sheehan'sSaugus, Froma recentvisitorIwasglad tolearnthat
MauraHaggertySweeney'80 [Letters, Fall Birnbaum's East New York and the rest. BostonCollegehasbeatentheNotreDame
1993], perhaps some oftheir present anger Butwhatimpressed me mostwere the gen- football team. Congratulations.
and hatred would have been tempered bya eral observations, in these and in the the-
little more understanding and a lot more maticlittlecommentaries(Lochardonracial WALTERE. DESOUZA,SJ
Christian charity. "tipping,"Haleontheimportanceanddim- Pune, India
HARRYMCKONE "63 ming oflocal politics). "When you live in a "BCM"welcomeslettersfromreaders.Letters
place haunted by three generations ofyour
Boston must be signed to be published and may be
family on both sides, vou travel, like it or edited for clarity and length.
2 BOSTONCOLLEGEMA( \/l\l
,
LINDEN LANE
An
ends
era
Fr. Monan to step down from presidency and become chancellor.
The search for a successor begins
By Douglas Whiting
The
scene was the Winter meeting of the Fr. Monan "gave new meaning to our motto,
Board ofTrustees in the British Catholic 'Everto Excel,'" said long-time board memberand
Authors Room of the Burns Library; the past chairman William F. Connell '59, one of
audience, a hushed group of trustees and senior several trustees to speak at the meeting. Some
administrators; the speaker,J. Donald Monan, SJ, highlights ofFr. Monan's tenure include:
president ofBoston College since 1972. • A rising demand for admission, with more
"Several times during these 22 years, I have than 15,000 undergraduate applicants this year.
thought ofwhat the right time would be to seek a • The University's two most successful capital
successor, andoverthepastyear, Ihavecometothe campaigns, and growth in endowment that places
point where I was free to ask the board for a BC among the top 40 American universities.
successor. BostonCollegehasneverbeen stronger, • Growth in academic strength and reputation.
and I always believed that it is best to make impor- •Adoublingof studentresidentialspace; acqui-
tantdecisionswhen there areoptionsand notwhen sition ofthe Newton Campus; construction ofthe
one is forced to doso bycircumstance. Itis, I think, Robsham Theater, museum of art, O'Neill Li-
in the best interests ofthe University to seek new brary, Conte Forum, Merkert Chemistry Center
leadership now." [An interview with Fr. Monan andanewdiningfacility; and renovation ofAlumni
begins on page 4.]
And soon February4, 1994, did Fr.Monan ring
the bell on the longest-running, and one of the
mostdistinguished, presidenciesintheUniversity's
history. Followinghisstatement,whichwasgreeted
by a prolonged standing ovation, Trustee Chair-
manGeoffreyBoisi '69,announcedthatFr.Monan
had accepted a trustee invitation to become Boston
College chancellor, a new position, fromwhich Fr.
Monanwould be able to provide, Boisi said, "spiri-
tual guidance," "represent Boston College as a
leadinginternational educatorand religiousstates-
man," and offer "strategic counsel and further
creatively develop the resources ofthe University
to execute our long-range plans." Boisi also said
that, assisted by an advisory committee offaculty,
staff, employees, students and alumni, the trustees
would immediately begin a national search among
members of the Society ofJesus for a new presi-
dent, with the hope ofnaming a successor early in
the 1994-95 academic year. Fr.MonanandSearchCommitteeChairmanBoisi
B()STONCOLLEGEMAGAZINE 3
LINDEN LANE
Stadium, Fulton, Gasson and Devlin Monanwrote, "On the 31stofDecember
halls and Bapst Library. last... Ientereduponmy70thyear.With
As trustees moved to the business of theUniversityenjoyinggenuineacademic
preparing the search process for Fr. distinction, with a strong financial base
Monan's successor, Boisi turned to him and sound institutional plans in place, I
and said, "You have run this place with wouldliketoassureatransferofleadership
soul, and your record of accomplish- whileIenjoymypresentblessingsofgood
ment speaks for itself. And because of healthandenergy.Ihavenodoubtbutthat
this approachyou have touchedthevery the promising stature ofBoston College
soul ofBoston College and transformed will ensure the selection of a highly tal-
it from fiscal and emotional bankruptcy ented president."
to the pinnacle ofexcellence in Catholic Boisi, who will chair the search com-
higher education that it is today. When mittee, has called for community partici-
St. Ignatius dreamt about what his fol- pationintheprocess.Heandothertrustee
lowers would project, how they would committee memberswill bevisitingcam-
perform and the impact of their labor, pustoconsultwithcommunitymembers.
he was dreaming about you. You per- Individualsmayalsosendcandidatenomi-
sonify the commitment to excellence nations to him, in confidence, in care of
that is at the very core ofaJesuit educa- the Office ofUniversity Secretary.
We
tion. thank you for sharing your
priesthood with us." Douglas Whiting '78, isBC'sdirectorofpublic
BC
In a letter to the community, Fr. affairs.
Exit interview
Why now? and what's next?—for BC and for the man
who's been its longest-serving president
Interview by Ben Birnbaum
Thisinterviewwith UniversityPresident wanted to be president ofBoston Col-
J.
DonaldMonan, SJ, tookplaceshortlybefore legeaslongasIwaseffectiveandaslong
he madepublic his intention to step down. as my continuing was in the best inter-
ests ofthe University.
BCM: In your letter to the BC community Twenty-twoyearslater,Ibelievethis
inwhichyouwillannounceyourintention is, fortheUniversity, thepropertimeto
to step down, you mention that you'd effect a transition. Boston College is in
tried to dothis several times previously. sound condition academically and fis-
I take it that you were at those times cally; we have ambitious butreasonable
dissuaded. What's different now? Why plans inplace. Iwould liketoassurethat
is this really the right time? the transition take place in a manner
MONAN: Well, when I first came to where there is no slowing down ofmo-
Boston College and had my discussions mentum or ofactivity. I don't want the
with the Board of Trustees about the University to go through a period of
position ofpresident, my attitude was a treading water. Given my age today,
willingness to stay at Boston College as while I am in full possession of good
long as it was good for the University. health and energy, I believe itis time to
Frankly, I had no preconception as to move to another role and to appoint a
how long the term ofoffice was to be. I successor as president.
4 BOSTONCOLLEGEMAGAZINE
Are there other factors that influenced tution is strong centralization, but be-
—
you that led you toconcludethatthis is cause ofthe complexity of Boston Col-
the time for transition? lege the person has to be a team builder,
I think it is a good time for a transition one who is able to share a great deal of
because we have built strong resources responsibility with others. The presi-
in our faculty and administrative staff dent, to me, is at the center of a very
large number of creative units, and so
andin theveryunique spiritthatcharac-
terizes Boston College. There is a large much ofthe vitality ofthe school comes
reservoir ofdedication to the school on from the initiative and the sense of re-
the partofso manypeople. And yet, the sponsibility that's located throughout
theentireinstitution.Andthenewpresi-
environmentaroundusinhighereduca-
tion is changing dramatically. As a re- dent can'tbe a person who feels respon-
sult, some larger institutional decisions sible to initiate all ofthe activities ofthe
are in the offingtokeep us abreastofthe institution. I think he has to be able to
changes that are taking place in our iarity with the University and its needs spot good ideas and back them and spot
surroundings. I believe these types of that made it advisable for me to stay on. bad ideas and scotch them. Butabove all
he hastorelyontheimagination and the
changes should be addressed relatively
soon, and that it would be good for the While it's the trustees who are going to ideas ofa greatmanypeople. And letme
be electing the next president, I'm sure also say that this person should be as
leadership that will be in place for the
you've had conversations with them broadly talented as possible. One ofthe
next five to 10years to be the individual
prepared to make those decisions. about the sort of individual you think interestingaspectsofthispositionisthat
But there is also a point at which Boston College should be looking for. you can employ every talent that you
change simply for the sake ofchange is What have you said? have, and you can employ it to its fullest
a good thing for the institution. When The position of president itselfhas be- extentbecausethereissomuch diversity
you enjoythe luxury ofsuch a change, it come dramatically more complex over and complexity in the day-to-day and
is best that it take place when things are the past 22 years, both in terms of the long-range interests ofthe University.
going well, when there's still a relative University's complexity and its organi-
degree of satisfaction of the individual zation, its finances, its operational re- Given the smaller numbers of Jesuits, is
with the institution and of the institu- sponsibilities,itsrelationswiththeworld it realistic to think that this person you
tion with the individual. The exactly beyond the campus—and I think we, describe is also a member ofthe Society
appropriate moment isn't always obvi- first and foremost, need a person who of Jesus?
ous. I think it's more a question of an can provide thoughtful executive lead- I have no doubt but that there are a
intuitiveprocess. It'slikeknowingwhen ershipfortheinstitution.Withthatsaid, number ofJesuits who would make ex-
you have enough evidence to make a however, he will not be able to do so cellent presidents of Boston College,
decision. I certainly feel atthis time that unless he fully understands academic which is a reflection ofmyconfidence in
although the University has marvelous life, unless he hasthe highestidealsboth their talent and aspirations and experi-
health and vitality, after 22 years the for research scholarship and for teach- ence. I regard Boston College as one of
injection ofnew outlooks and fresh per- ing, and a good understanding of the ourveryfinestCatholicinstitutions, and
spective will be beneficial. I think a development that takes place in young I feel sure that the Society would want
change will be good for Boston College people between the ages of 18 and 25, very much to make available the best of
atthistime.Anditwillprobablybegood most of all, of undergraduates who are leadership to further advance the Uni-
for me, too. pursuing their education here. versity.
It should be an individual with good
When, previous to this, did you come knowledge and a deep appreciation for You talked earlier about this moment
closest to stepping down? the traditions ofJesuit education. I re- being right because there are critical
Shortly after the 10-year mark I was ally do believe that Boston College's issuesfacinghighereducationandBoston
considering that it might be in the best contribution to American society is not College. Whatare some ofthose issues?
interests ofthe school to bring in fresh merely in terms of our excellence, but If you were staying on, for example,
leadership, but itbecame very clear that alsoin the distinctive philosophical out- what'ssomethingthatyou'dbetackling?
theCampaignforBostonCollege [1986- look that i—s part ofthe heritage ofJesuit A decisive element of the very positive
91] thatwewerethen planningwouldbe education responsiveness to a set of developments we've experienced dur-
an extremelyimportantfactorin Boston values that differentiate the lifestyle of ing the course of recent years has been
College's future, and that I had a famil- this university from many others. strong emphasis upon strategic plan-
Oneofourgreatstrengthsasan insti-
BOSTONCOLLEGEMAGAZINE 5
LINDEN LANE
ning. Those plans have guided the ac- ofcommunity that is here, where indi-
tions ofthe past 20 years and have set a vidual people have a strong sense of
sound strategic direction for the future. responsibility for the well-being of the
Indeed, I believe we have one of the school. Ifthis is an altogethernewprob-
most comprehensive plans of any col- lem which affects the way in which we
lege or university in the nation. How- carryoutthe educational enterprise, it's
ever, everyplan proceeds on the basis of going to take the very best ofideas and
critical assumptions, a number ofwhich the bestofwill ofthe whole community
are fluid, susceptible to movementwith to enter this new era as a period of
the changing environment in which we opportunity, where everyone wins:
find ourselves. I believe the environ- where the educational process is stron-
ment itself is going to create ongoing ger, where the economic well-being of
significant challenges that we will have the institution is strongerand where the
to address in order to stay on course. educationalresultsforyoungpeopleand
Much ofthe change in environment for the creation of new knowledge are
has to do with economic conditions as more effective. I think that can take
these affect colleges and universities. place, and I think that Boston College
The factisthatcoststhrough the decade can be a leader. That's what I'd be tack-
After 22years the of the '80s continued to rise at a fairly ling in a big way ifI were to stay.
dramatic rate. In the higher education
injection ofnew outlooks
arena, revenues simply are having great In addition to your duties as chancellor,
andfresh perspective difficulty keeping pace, and for private what other things do you see yourself
will be beneficial. I think institutions this has begun to translate working on, in terms of your personal
a change will be good itself into concern for the affordability interests?
for Boston College at ofeWxecellence in education. The relationship between the Catholic
And at Boston College find ourselves university and the Church has always
this time. it will inanextraordinarilystrongpositionboth been a changing and developing one,
probably be good financiallyand in the numbersand qual- and I believe we're at a point where a
for me, too. ity of students and professional educa- new type ofrelationship is beginning to
tors who desire to come to this school, crystallize. I've been so much a part of
and yet we want to assure that that can
that activity for the past 10 years that I
continue. And, therefore, we have to would hope that I can be of some help
continueveryseriouseffortsnotonlyon there, onthenationalsceneaswell asthe
the revenue side of the institution but localone,toassistinanewlycooperative
also on the expense side. Many people relationship, because in many ways, I
feel that higher education has to find a think the Church has never before
new way ofdoing business so that pro-
needed universities quite so much, and
ductivity is higher or there is greater ontheotherhand,universitieshavenever
differentiationofthetypesofthingsthat more needed a meaningful religious di-
you decide to do and undertake. I per- mensionaspartofthedistinctivecontri-
sonallybelieve thatthere are goingtobe bution they make to our larger society.
very significant changes in higher edu- There are many forms of cooperation
cationbetweennowandtheyear2000in thatcanbebeneficial toboth,withoutin
addressing this whole question of any way detracting from the integrity
affordability, in addressing exactly how either ofthe Church or the university.
universities go about their business of
research,ofteaching.AndIthinkBoston You were once a teacher and writer. Do
College is in a position to be a leader in youthinkyou'llhavetimeforthatagain?
shapinga more effectivewayofcarrying
outtheveryimportantmissionofhigher Ihaven'tbeguntothinkin thatdirection
as yet. Certainly teaching continues to
education.
denIcseayinthtahtebteaclaenutseofIohuarveBograeradtacnondfio-f haoblodoiktsoonldetahtitcrsacitniotnhse.bTahcekroefomnycemiwnads
ouradministrative teamand in thesense that I hoped to getouton paper. I really
6 BOSTONCOLLEGEMAGAZINE
——
doubt that that will find expression at ing on if the perspective I have gained occupationsinthisposition;you'renever
this point. would be useful. reallyfinished working, and I thinkthat
On the other hand, I would like to will be one ofthe biggest differences
draw on myown experience ofadminis- Have you given any thought to how in that I'll wake up one morning and all
tration and of government, of business you're going to spend your first day in ofthesepreoccupationsthatIhavewon't
and of the major policy problems con- 23 years as "notthe presidentof Boston bethere. Someoneelsewillhavethem
fronting society. There are a lot oftop- College?" togetherwith the sense ofpride in Bos-
icsthatstimulate myreflection, and that Notyet. There are always constantpre- ton College that will be his.
Iwillcertainlyconsiderspeakingorwrit-
she urged. After some hesitation, a
Night
patrol Hardey Hall resident assistant,
Phitsamay Sychitkokhong '95, moved
the group off at an amble, everyone
Looking for trouble, students and campus officials conduct conversing in low tones and puffing
steam intothe crispair.The fifth annual
the fifth annual Newton Campus safety walk safetywalkingtouroftheNewton Cam-
pus had begun.
ByJohn Ombelets Like its companion event on the
ChestnutHill campus, theNewtontour
The
tutorial convened on a chill uniforms. The instructors were eight gives students, who wander BC's 156
November eve in a parking lot students, mostly women, wearing what acres at all hours, the chance to tell
behind Stuart House on the students wear. When all were aboard, mostly 9-to-5 BC staffers how to make
Newton Campus, home of BC Law classorganizerPaulaForget,whospends University grounds safer.
School and 800 freshmen in six resi- daylight hours as assistant to the VP for Turnout for the walks varies widely,
dence halls. The students for this exer- administration, drew the company into according to Forget. In 1992, just one
cise were a dozen members of the BC a circle for introductions. Then she in- studentshowedupforthe ChestnutHill
staff, dressed in everything from three- vited any one ofthe students to take the walk. This fall, with anxiety heightened
piece suits to windbreakers to police lead. "This is your night to direct us," by several reported assaults on or near
the campus, more than 30 students
flocked to the main campus tour, and
emotions ran high. "Oneyoungwoman
stopped us near one of the residence
halls on Upper Campus and made a
quitepassionatespeech, callingthewalk
'superficial' and urging students to take
greater responsibility for their own
safety,"Forgetsaid."Itwasalongnight."
By contrast, this evening's walk was
brief and amicable. Sychitkokhong, a
member of the student government
safety committee and a participant in
the 1992 Newton Campus walk, ac-
knowledged with a chuckle thatshe was
"an old hand." She led the patrol west
and north, behind Keyes Hall. A few
residentsgazed outtheirwindows atthe
motleygroup oftrekkers passingbelow.
Strung out in a loose line, the caravan
ascended the steps between Keyes and
THE SEARCHERS—Phitsamay Sychitkokhong '95 (center), leads (from left) Elizabeth Kreeft '94, Barat House, then curled to the left to
VPfor Administration John Driscoll, his assistant Paula Forgetand other students and security
cross the circular driveway toward Trin-
staff in pursuit of a safer Newton Campus.
BOSTONCOLLEGEMAGAZINE 7
"
LINDEN LANE
ity Chapel. The tour halted at a point trative VP John Driscoll's attention to request into his recorder, "but we've
where students have worn a path across the smooth dirt lane that parallels the learned that they're going to go there
thegrassquadbetweenHardeyandStuart walkway."Everyone'sextendedthepath anyway, so we might as well light them
House. The path showed dimly in the here because no one wants to go near up, make it as safe as possible."
lightspillingfrombuildings50yardsaway. these bushes," she explained, gesturing So it went, from Duchesne to the
The spot needs a police call box and at a dark clump to the right. Driscoll, Quonset Hut gym, up the hill again to
betterlighting, Sychitkokhongsaid, be- nodding, instructed Scarnici tonote the the bus stop paralleling Centre Street,
cause students cut through at night on necessity for pruning. andfinally,backtothelotbehindStuart,
theirwayto and from "the morgue," the Next, the tour veered off-road, onto where the group dispersed. Scarnici's
study room in the Law School's Kenny- the grass behind Duchesne East dorm. final tally showed two requests for new
CottleLibrary."Didyougetthat,Paul? Theareawasdarkastheinsideofacloset. call boxes, five for new lighting, three
Forget called to Energy Manager Paul Lightingisneeded, thestudentsasserted, for lighting repairs and one for land-
Scarnici. Scarnici, nodding, murmured because visitors, and forgetful residents scapingwork. Summingupthe evening,
into a palm-sized cassette recorder. withoutkeys, sometimes come backhere Assistant Director of Buildings and
As the walkers negotiated the asphalt to tap on a window and ask to be let in. Grounds Tom Hurley said that, as al-
path sloping down past Hardeytowards "We used to tryto discourage people ways on the safety walks, "the students
the Cushing House student residence, fromcertainareasbynotlightingthem," showed us a few new things tonight."
Elizabeth Hahesy '97, drew Adminis- said Forget, after Scarnici repeated the
Witness
For six years the author shared the clandestine life and fate of Guatemalans
who find themselves refugees in the jungles of their own country
By Ricardo Falla, SJ
I want to tell about leave, nor do they escape as refugees, as going to fall prey of communism. So,
the life ofthe people similar groups did in 1982 after huge they had to stop thiswave, whatever the
with whom I have massacres.Thisisthepeoplewithwhom cost.Theydecided to makeup an offen-
been livingin Guate- I have been working for six years and sive which would start from Guatemala
mala, where war is whoare rightnowunderthecoverofthe City and move towards the north. As a
going on and where jungle. According to them, they are be- person with a broom tries to sweep the
the indigenous tween 5,000 and 6,000 people in the trash, the army swept the countryside,
peoplewholive there northern part of Guatemala, between starting in 1981. This tragedy meant
have suffered repression during the last the Ixcan and Xalbal rivers. Both flow that the army had to capture the people
1 1 years in a very terrible way. into the Lacantun and the Lacantun inthevillagesandmovethemawayfrom
Thepeoplestartedtoorganizethem- flows into Sumacinta and to the Gulfof where they were. Or if those villages
selves in 1982. They call themselves the Mexico. They are between those two were signaled in the map, they would
—
CPR Communities of Population in rivers, next to the border with Mexico. erase them fromthe map, because those
Why
Resistance. In that area there are three did these people appear? In villages were considered as guerrillas
agents. There is the army. There is the ordertounderstand that, you have to go and could not be redeemed: they had to
guerrilla. Both are fighting. There is back to 1979, to the Sandinista Revolu- kill even the children and women and
also the civilians. CPR are civilians re- tioninNicaragua.Fromthenon,astrong old people.
sisting the war, though the army has waveofrevolutionarymovementmoved An example ofthese massacres is one
decided that they are not civilians but to the north, to Salvador, and also Gua- that happened in San Francisco onJuly
guerrillas. Civilians in resistance means temala. The army and government of 17, 1982. About 400 soldiers arrived.
that they endure under the jungle and Guatemala thought that this wave was They called for a meeting and gathered
stay there even ifthe armytries to chase going to come to the country and, as the people. Then they separated men
them out of the country. They don't they used to say, that the country was from women. They locked the men in
8 BOSTONCOLLEGEMAGAZINE