Boston College has recently announced its new director of the core curriculum:  Arthur Madigan, S.J., a Professor of Philosophy at Boston College.  Fr. Madigan will succeed Professor Richard Cobb-Stevens, also in the Philosophy department, who has held the position since 1991.

In addition to his role as director, Fr. Madigan, a member of the Boston College faculty since 1979, will serve as a member of the University Core Development Committee (UCDC), a group which oversees the undergraduate core requirements and reexamines the purpose and efficacy of the core curriculum.

One challenge in examining the core requirements is adapting its components to match the rigor and weight of high school courses among students entering the university.  The broad range of backgrounds must be mitigated through the system of awarding Advanced Placement course credits and exemptions.  Currently, the core is designed to foster a well-rounded education in students, encompassing courses in the arts, literature, mathematics, science, theology, philosophy, and other fields.

In light of recent news that the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) is seeking to include a core course discussing race, class, and gender issues, the core may be reevaluated in the future.

On February 22^nd, acclaimed writer George Saunders visited Boston College to grant his audience “A Reading from his Work.” Among his most famous books are the story collections Pastoralia, In Persuasion Nation, and CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, and the essay collection The Braindead Megaphone.

Additionally, Saunders writes often for Harper’s, McSweeney’s, The Guardian, The New Yorker, and GQ. Because of his outstanding ability to incorporate humor in his writing to produce unique, entertaining works, George Saunders was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” in 2006. Currently, he is a member of the Creative Writing program faculty at Syracuse University.

Before Saunders took to the podium, he was introduced by Christopher Boucher, a BC professor of Creative Writing. Not only did Boucher regard George Saunders as his “favorite living writer,” but he also revealed that Saunders was one of his favorite professors and mentors; Boucher studied with Saunders in the Creative Writing program at Syracuse.

After expressing his gratitude for the warm introduction and plentiful applause, Saunders asked with a smirk, “Is Boston College a laughing kind of place?” His humor was palpable in each of his eloquent phrases, illustrating his mastery of language as a tool for entertainment. The audience answered ‘yes,’ hungry for a funny story.

For about forty-five minutes, Saunders held the attention of the room full of faculty and students, reading animatedly a story about a man dealing with both matters of hilarity and those of melancholy. With his vibrant voice, quirky characters, and unpredictable storyline, Saunders excited and enlivened his audience.

Upon finishing his reading, Saunders addressed his editing process. He explained that he goes through each work about one hundred times until he succeeds in making it sound “natural.” According to the writer, each piece of writing has an “optimal version” that can be reached only through tedious editing.

Saunders also distinguished fictional stories from essays, divulging that, when writing fiction, he does not know “what’s going to happen,” whereas he knows what’s to happen in non-fiction pieces but needs to “cut through” his numerous notes to render the material entertaining.

Clearly, Boston College students and faculty alike enjoyed the insight that Saunders provided into the world of creative writing. Fiction writer and essayist, genius and comedian, George Saunders exemplifies the manifestation of pure literary talent.

A few people on the posting section of our website have insinuated that it is the job of Observer staff to patrol our message boards and respond to counterarguments. It is not. We simply publish the material. Where you want to take it from there is up to you. I am unaware of any campus publication that is expected to address every counterargument made by the student body. If people want an honest, open dialogue, why not put together a panel in which critics, as well as supporters, of the Monologues are invited to attend? Some type of panel may have already happened this year (I have not been monitoring the Monologues), but I am sure that no Observer members were invited, even though, as some posts point out, the Observer has been the most outspoken critic of the show in the past.

From Monday the 15th to Wednesday at 5:00pm, members of the Boston College community gathered in the Shea Room of Conte Forum, filling out forms and waiting patiently for their names to be called.

Josh Berk, the Organizational Director of the American Red Cross Club of Boston College, explains that the drive was one of four annual drives that attract students and faculty alike to donate their blood.

“There is always someone waiting in line,” Berk said, “and we’re always welcoming new donors.”

Although the dates of blood drives are dictated by the schedule of Red Cross, the club tries to avoid certain high-stress dates such as Marathon Monday and Parents Weekend.

While the prospect of having their blood drawn may not be for everyone, each drive hosted by Boston College has had a solid number of volunteers. Its unwavering success can be attributed to the willingness and enthusiasm of students and faculty towards volunteering their time to helping others. Students largely contribute to the organizational process as well by actively recruiting donors and scheduling appointments.

The donating process at Boston College has become increasingly efficient as to tend to the 360 scheduled donors. Licensed technicians are quick to calm jittery patients before they draw their blood, making the selfless act a fearless one.

Adam Danielson, a sophomore, describes his incentive for having become a blood donor:  “It’s a great feeling to know that I can give something of mine to help others. The free t-shirts and pizza are also perks!”

Who is the ideal blood donor? The Red Cross looks for donors who are generally healthy with good eating happens and a good medical history. Although the Red Cross screens all donated blood, some donors are discouraged.

Berk explains, “If a donor has recently traveled to a country requiring a vaccination, the antibiotics in their blood may cause a reaction in a recipient if they are allergic to antibiotics.”

The blood drawn by the Red Cross is sent to blood blanks and hospitals in need.

The American Red Cross Club of Boston College is an independent club that sponsors disaster actions teams and CPR classes in addition to blood drives. For more information, visit http://www.bc.edu/clubs/redcross.

Dear Readers:

People will frequently read an opinion piece in The Observer and remark that the “editorial” was offensive, and wonder why The Observer would publish such a thing. Please consider the following points:

1. An “editorial” is the official position of the newspaper. If you want to know what the paper itself believes, look at our writings on pages 8 and 9, or under “Editorials” above. These are written by the staff.

2. An “op-ed” or “opinion” piece is an opinion written by an individual writer, and may or may not be the official position of the paper. To assume that it is would be a mistake.

3. Just because The Observer publishes something does not mean that it agrees with its content. We frequently publish pieces that may seem extreme, but this is because we believe the author has something to say that the community should read, not necessarily because we automatically agree with it.

Thank you for your consideration. I hope you continue to read and enjoy our publication.

Sincerely yours,

Jesse Naiman

Editor-in-Chief

Since the earthquake in Haiti, an increasing number of non-profit organizations are continuing to raise funds. Among the most popular are The American Red Cross, UNICEF, Operation USA and Mercy Corps.  Other smaller, and in some cases relatively new organizations, include National Nurses United, Artists for Peace and Justice, K.I.D.S, Healing the Children, and UNFPA. Penelope Cruz, Gerard Butler and Sean Penn are among the large donators for Artists for Peace & Justice, a new organization originally founded to build schools in impoverished regions of Haiti.

The American Red Cross expects to supply more food, water, temporary shelter and medical services as quickly as possible. UNICEF is sponsoring a specific Haiti Earthquake Fund to continue to provide for the children in the aftermath of the disaster. Operations USA is also seeking to provide food as well as health care materials and water purification supplies. Mercy Corps, an organization that has a history of providing for earthquake survivors, is sending a team of emergency personnel to fulfill the immediate concerns of the victims. National Nurses United have already sent 10,000 nurses and is currently seeking donations to send even more.

While many have already donated, some of the public’s concern with donating seems to be fear of illegitimate organizations or the improper allocations of funds.  Wyclef Jean, considered to be a major contributor, was just recently under scrutiny for questionable appropriation of donations. Experts have warned to steer clear of organizations that claim to donate 100 percent of funds since charities are required to pay overhead fees. They also suggest donating to mainly well-known organizations, like the aforementioned UNICEF and American Red Cross.

Americans have donated more than 21 million dollars to the American Red Cross alone, and donations continue to be made.  Far more organizations are donating than those already named; a sign that Americans truly unite in times of disaster.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has announced that Westfield State College in Massachusetts has won the dishonorable “Speech Code of the Month” distinction. This badge of “honor” is given to colleges and universities that restrict free speech through “speech codes,” or university policies that restrict freedom of speech.

FIRE’s Director of Speech Code Research Samantha Harris explains which aspects of Westfield’s code restrict free speech:

“Westfield’s Student Handbook prohibits ‘discrimination,’ which it defines to include ‘making disparaging remarks that insult or stigmatize a student’s cultural background or race’ as well as ‘making insensitive remarks that reflect a student’s disability.’”

She also notes that as a public university, Westfield is bound by the first amendment, a fact that the school openly acknowledges.

FIRE provides resources to aid schools interested in bringing their policies in line with the Bill of Rights with a new guide published on its website. Perhaps Westfield State College should check it out.

As a nationally recognized research university, Boston College is dedicated to both broadening the fields of knowledge and fostering the intellectual growth of students.  From rare chemical reactions to producing green technologies, and from human social development to religious studies, Boston College researchers are making great strides in a plethora of fields.

Each year, Boston College sponsors research awards of millions of dollars, providing grants to both students and faculty.  With this funding, a great number of exciting discoveries are taking place.  For instance, a February 15, 2010 press release describes a project occurring in the lab of Boston College Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Dunwei Wang.  Wang’s team is using nanotechnology to produce Nanonets, which could provide the foundation for light-weight, long-lasting batteries in the future.

Social researchers are also making advances.  Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy has developed a model for calculating charitable giving on a per-household, quarterly basis.  This CWP Individual Giving Model will provide more reliable and frequent indications of charitable collections for organizations.

A number of research opportunities are available to undergraduates.  The Undergraduate Research Fellows Program, for instance, offers paid internships to students who work with a faculty member on a research project.  Elements, the Boston College research journal, contains research articles written by undergraduates, providing a means by which the research currently taking place may be communicated across disciplines and to the larger university community.

For more information, visit www.bc.edu/research.

The discussion panel “Contextualizing Crisis in Haiti: Resilience, Recovery and Rebuilding in the First Black Republic” convened in the Corcoran Commons’ Heights Room.  The African and African Diasporas Program, the Center for Human Rights and International Justice at Boston College, the Volunteer and Service Learning Center at Boston College, and the Boston College Working Group on Haiti were all sponsors of the event.  This discussion panel is the first in a series of on-campus conversations concerning Haiti and responding to the recent earthquake.

Even though news about the earthquake has been saturating the media for the past few weeks, the discussion was very well attended.  However, Massachusetts House of Representative Linda Dorcena Forry had to cancel due to family matters to attend to, and Professor Marc Prou from the University of Massachusetts – Boston was an hour late.  Dr. Erica James, Professor of Anthropology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was therefore the chief panelist.

One common theme to the discussion was the unintended effects of humanitarian aid relief efforts, shedding light on the possible challenges to the reconstruction process.  Even though their purported efforts are always focused on promoting selfless gains, these charitable organizations do often obscure the truth and conceal certain information – the “grey side” of humanitarian assistance.  “It must be acknowledged,” James said, “that these institutions, even if some are non-profits, are still businesses that need to produce tangible monetary gains and meet their bottom lines.  Often, these organizations maintain secret solidarity with the very powers they ought to be fighting.”  James stressed that although this is a cynical world-view, it is also a necessary one.

As a physical therapist, Dr. James’ specialty is in the study of how trauma manifests itself for both survivors of torture and survivors of crisis – the latter being the current dilemma for survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.  Of course, the earthquake has proven itself to be quite devastating for that country in terms of political and economic infrastructure.  However, the social repercussions might be the most pronounced, at least according to James.  “The loss of social role and the inability to meet expectations,” James explained, “has resulted in tremendous levels of stress and anxiety for the Haitian people.”

James concluded that the major lesson to be learned is that the victims of the earthquake should not be viewed as passive objects on which to impose our own agenda, but as active participants in the solution.  “As Haiti attempts to move forward from this catastrophe,” James said, “one hopes that international interveners will hold themselves to high standards.”

The Book of Illumination: A Novel from the Ghost Files (Photo: Amazon)

On the evening of February 10^th at 7:30, Maureen Foley, the author of the new novel The Book of Illumination: A Novel from the Ghost Files, was scheduled to visit the Boston College bookstore at McElroy Commons to converse about, read from, and sign her debut novel.

Written jointly with Mary Ann Winkowski, the novel explores the supernatural world as the main character, Anza, slinks through the streets of Boston in a dangerous, mysterious pursuit.

Maureen Foley is not only a writer, but also a director of feature, fiction, and documentary work, including “American Wake,” “Home Before Dark,” “For the Cure,” and “Commercial Work.”

Mary Ann Winkowski, a popular paranormal investigator, contributed her knowledge of ghoulish communication to the thrilling novel. Having made appearances on TV, been a guest on radio shows, and delivered several lectures on paranormal activity, Winkowski has become a well-known expert of her craft and has helped countless individuals to understand the immortality of the spirit. She is also a consultant to the popular television show “Ghost Whisperer” on CBS.

Creepy, exciting, and attention grabbing, The Book of Illumination boasts an intricate story line that will undoubtedly send shivers up the spines of its readers.

Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather on Wednesday night, the book signing was postponed. The event will be rescheduled for a later date so that Boston College students will have the opportunity to both listen to Foley’s commentary on the novel and hear a sneak peak of the exhilarating tale. Additionally, students will be able to purchase the work after Foley introduces and reads from it.

Visit www.bcbookstore.com for updates on the rescheduling of the event.