Class of 2022 Takes in the Sites of Rome, Italy - Boston College
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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE GABELLI PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM, BOSTON COLLEGE
Volume XXIII, Issue 2 Winter 2019
Class of 2022 Takes in the Sites of Rome, Italy
Photo: Jennie Thomas
By Will Riherd ’22 convent and school, the Santa Lucia P.M. to witness the daily unveiling
On Saturday, March 2nd, Filippini is ideally situated in the of the luminous, silver altar of
the GPSP class of 2022 arrived in heart of Rome and is only a five Saint Ignatius. The unveiling of the
Rome. Alongside Professor Bailey minute walk from the Pantheon, the altar rivaled the remarkable sunset
and Jennie Thomas, the group Piazza Navonna, as well as the site atop the Piazza del Campidoglio
was greeted by Father Keenan, of Julius Caesar’s murder. After the group enjoyed later that night.
S.J., who is teaching a semester conversing with Roman nuns in the Capping off the day, the Scholars
at the Gregorian University. After convent, Fr. Keenan led a walking enjoyed their first Italian meal–a
being reunited with Fr. Keenan, tour to the Piazza Navonna where family-style array of pizzas and
the Scholars arrived at their home the group witnessed the famous pastas at Er Faciolaro.
for the week, the Santa Lucia Bernini Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. After an exciting
Filippini. A renovated 17th-century For the majority of the Scholars, this introduction to Rome, Fr. Keenan
was their first ever close-up view of led the Scholars to a lesser known
Inside... one of Bernini’s works. Leaving artifact of the city–the rooms of St.
the plaza, they entered “the mother Ignatius. From there, they made
GPSP Alumni Spotlight.....p.5 church of the Jesuits,” the Gesu, their way to the Church of Saint
2019 SSJP..........................p.6 one of the most memorable sites Ignatius, known for its false cupola,
of the week. Timing it perfectly, which is only noticeable when
Class of 2021 Costa Rica...p.7 Fr. Keenan ensured the group standing directly below. After a
arrived precisely at 5:30 Con’t on page 2
Italy con’t from page 1
walk to the top of the Bellarmino, Photo: Jennie Thomas
Fr. Keenan’s Roman residence, the
Scholars enjoyed an expansive view
of the city from the palace’s rooftop
terrace, which confirmed the flat
roof of the Church of St. Ignatius.
Afterward, the group had freedom
to roam the city for the rest of day.
The next day, the group
reconvened and traveled to Vatican
City to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, a
long-anticipated moment. Outside
of the Basilica, Fr. Keenan pointed
the Scholars’ attention to one of the
most subtle yet extraordinary aspects
of St. Peter’s square: stopping at a
small, hardly noticeable black and
white marker, the class one-by-one
observed Bernini’s famous illusion
in which most of the pillars in the
square seem to disappear.
Returning early to Vatican
City the next day, the Scholars
visited the Vatican Museum, enjoyed
the arts of the Sistine Chapel, and
scaled St Peter’s dome. Afterwards,
they met with a leader of the San
Egidio community–a worldwide
movement of lay people committed
to solidarity and the reduction
of poverty. For the Scholars, the
meeting echoed the Jesuit call to
be “men and women for others,”
sparking conversation about their
upcoming volunteer plans for
the summer PULSE Program.
Continuing the conversation at
dinner, the Scholars enjoyed a meal
at Fr. Keenan’s favorite Roman
restaurant, Casa Bleve; amidst its
spectacular setting and creative
dishes, the restaurant earned a ten
out of ten on Fr. Keenan’s rating
scale.
The cultural excursion
continued with a memorable trip to Photo: Grace Christenson
Con’t on page 3
2
Photo: Molly Funk
descended through the structural
timeline, they were amazed by the ability to transcend
centuries in the matter of minutes. Later in the afternoon,
after time on their own to explore the Colosseum and
Roman Forum, the Scholars went to the Gregorian
University, passed the Quirinale Palace, and visited
the San Andrea al Quirinale–an intimate, oval-shaped
Bernini church that highlights Baroque architecture.
For their last day, the Scholars spent the
afternoon at the Borghese museum. There they listened
to Fr. Keenan’s description of Caravaggio’s use of
realism and light in his Madonna dei Palafrenieri. The
Scholars then made a stop at the Ara Pacis Augustae–an
altar to Pax, the Roman Goddess of Peace. Echoing the
words of the San Egidio community, the altar would
ingrain a connection between the Scholars and Rome,
one that would forever manifest itself in their efforts
toward peace, solidarity, and common humanity in the
future.
With excitement, the Scholars enjoyed their final taste of
Italy at L’Arcano restaurant, before completing the trip
with a slow walk past the brightly lit Pantheon. For five
days, Rome served as the backdrop for the Scholars’ first
the Basilica San Clemente–a three-tiered complex international excursion as a class–a long anticipated and
of buildings. A villa, church, and basilica, each built on exciting opportunity for many to visit Europe for the first
top of the other, beginning with a 1st century Roman Villa, time.
an early 4th century Christian church above, and then a
12th century basilica on ground level. As the Scholars
Photo: Grace Christenson
Photo: Grace Christenson
3
GPSP Selection Process Week
Photo: Sarah Gregorian
By Jakob Weiss ’22
Braving polar vortex
temperatures, a talented cohort of
46 high school seniors traveled from
around the world to the Heights on
Wednesday, January 30, marking
the beginning of the 2019 Gabelli
Presidential Scholars Program
Selection Process (GPSPSP). Over
the course of their three-night
stay at BC, the finalists followed
demanding schedules complete with
presentations, interviews, seminars,
panels, handshakes, and much more.
As prospies arrived on
Seniors enjoy their last GPSPSP Welcome Dinner.
the morning and afternoon of
qualities and suitability for the trivia competition.
Wednesday, January 30, they were
Program. Some prospies also On Saturday morning, the
greeted in the admissions office
attended classes with Scholars in prospies reconvened one final time
in Devlin Hall by a handful of
their free time. The day ended with in the Yawkey Center for the closing
current Scholars. A few Scholars
the traditional dinner which featured brunch. Prof. Bailey and Jennie
took prospies who had arrived
GPSP alumnus Bill Clerico ’07 Thomas gave thanks to the attendees
early to lunch at McElroy before
as the speaker. Scholars stated his and to the Scholars, commending
entrusting them to Luke Murphy
speech inspired them to reflect on them on a successful few days. The
’20 and Trevor Jones ’20 for an
their experiences. prospies departed for home, filled
engaging tour of the campus.
Friday saw the completion with impressions of BC and GPSP.
Wednesday evening’s highlights
of interviews, group conversations, Despite some changes from
were the famous pizza dinner in the
and seminars. The Student past iterations of the GPSPSP,
admissions office, at which prospies
Perspectives Panel provided the 2019 Selection Process was
could meet their hosts and each
insight into the impact of student a resounding success, thanks to
other, and the even more famous
involvement at BC. In the early the hard work and leadership
open house dessert social, also
evening, the prospies departed of Prof. Bailey, Jennie Thomas,
held in the admissions office, much
for Boston with some Scholars, Sarah Gregorian and their partners
to everyone’s delight. As always
relieved at having completed their in the office of Undergraduate
there were ice breaker games and
demanding schedule. The group’s Admissions, Grant Gosselin, and
questions, orchestrated by the
first stop this year was to a new Sue Migliorisi. As in every year,
aforementioned duo of tour guides.
venue, Lucky Strikes, a relaxed and the current Scholars, as well as
Thursday began with a
spacious restaurant where a buffet Program staff and BC faculty,
presentation about the Program
dinner was served among pool enjoyed meeting potential members
by co-director Prof. Bailey. The
tables and dart boards. The group of the next cohort of Scholars.
rest of the day’s schedule was
then continued on to Boston Opera The prospies, in turn, enjoyed
individualized for each prospective
House, where they saw a showing of the Program’s hospitality and the
Scholar, with a mix of faculty
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. chance to become acquainted with
and admissions interviews, group
Upon returning to BC, the prospies the GPSP.
conversations, and seminars
joined current Scholars in Gasson
designed to offer valuable
Hall for ice cream and an engaging
perspectives on her or his personal
4
Alumni Spotlight, GPSP Selection Week Dinner:
Bill Clerico ’07
of experiencing failure for the
first time in Professor Bailey’s
Fundamental Concepts of Politics
class. Reflecting on his easy success
in high school, and the stark
contrast to what he encountered in
this class, he shared that received
the lowest grade in his “entire life”
from Professor Bailey: a D on
the midterm, before managing to
bring it up to a C+ in the class. For
Clerico, Professor Bailey’s class
became a humbling experience,
ingraining in him a sense of
perseverance and hard work.
Clerico went on to elaborate
Photo: Shaan Bijwadia
about his extracurricular activities
during his college years, such as
By Gabriela Prostko ’22 He described meeting and making his experience with the BC chapter
On January 31, prospective friends with a diverse group of of the American Red Cross, where
students, current Scholars, faculty, people for the first time here, and he learned about leadership,
staff, and alumni came together for how they became his life-long persuasion, and motivating others,
the annual GPSP Selection Process friends, adding that he was going as well as his experience as
welcome dinner featuring GPSP skiing with his college friends soon. Baldwin the Eagle, which taught
alumnus Bill Clerico ’07. Speaking Perhaps the most important person him how to entertain people and
only briefly of the company he BC gave him, he noted, was his make them laugh. He cited both
founded, WePay, with his fellow wife, whom he met at their five- of these skill sets as incredibly
P-Scholar Rich Aberman, Clerico year class reunion. He urged the valuable to a CEO, even though
promised “not to bore” the crowd prospective students to look around, he may not have realized it at the
with talk of integrated payment noting that he would bet that the time. He noted that even further,
processing. Instead, Clerico focused people they met within the past 24 BC taught him how to be a good
on Boston College and the GPSP, hours would go on to shape their business leader in teaching him
specifically what the two meant to lives in a “really meaningful way.” ethics and to how approach ethical
him. He opened up with a nostalgic Clerico also focused on problems. Overall, he reflected
story of arriving at his own propsie the ways in which the experiences upon the lessons he learned at BC
weekend, sixteen years ago, and he had at BC impacted him as and how they still influence him.
sitting down in Logan Airport next an individual and in terms of the Clerico closed his speech
to someone he did not know at the communities he belonged to. He with a bit of advice. He urged
time, but who would eventually also claimed his experiences set everyone to think of college as
become his college roommate, him up for success later on; he an investment of time, money,
business partner, and co-founder mused they were the “perfect set of thought, and energy; he encouraged
in WePay. Elaborating on this later experiences to take [him] to where everyone to look at that time
on in his speech, he drove home [he is] today,” but at the time they through the lens of finding a place
the idea that the people he met here were all about experimenting and to help you become the person you
at BC became the most important meeting new people. want to be and a community you
people to him later on in his life. He shared a brief story want to be a part of.
5
SSJP 2021: The Geography of Opportunity
By Aroub Yousuf ’22 inequalities that they witnessed community about the obstacle at
A recurring motif within during their summer placements, hand so that individuals would be
the GPSP is a focus on social the Class of ’21 decided to focus more inclined to address it. The
justice, with the Sophomore on how where one lives impacts Class of ’21 saw their work come
Social Justice Project serving as one’s opportunities, specifically to fruition with the Geography
a culmination of the mission, as access to education, affordable of Opportunity Panel that hosted
its purpose is to facilitate us on housing, and transportation. some of the most knowledgeable
the journey towards becoming At the Dover Retreat back individuals within the fields of
men and women for others. The in August, the sophomores gave housing, transportation, and urban
sophomore class has the task and a presentation to the rest of the planning, specifically with the
privilege of putting their minds Scholars about their proposed Greater Boston Area.
together to identify and raise plan and took suggestions from On Tuesday, October
awareness of a social injustice that many of the upperclassmen and 30 at 7:00 p.m., many students
they believe is prevalent in society freshmen alike. Their ultimate goal and faculty gathered in Gasson
today. After reflecting upon the was to inform the Boston College Hall, to hear a discussion on the
issue. The panelists were Angela
Johnson, Transportation Justice
Organizer at Transportation
for MA, Barry Bluestone, the
Founding Director of the Dukakis
Center for Urban and Regional
Policy, and Dominique Williams,
the Deputy Director of the Office
of Housing Stability for the City
of Boston. The discussion was
moderated by Amy Glasmeier, the
Professor of Economic Geography
and Regional Planning at the MIT
Department of Urban Studies and
Planning. The panelists started
by introducing themselves and
continued to provide insight on the
root of the issue of the geography
of opportunity, later proposing
ideas for ways in which we can
be more aware of the problem at a
grassroots level.
The discussion began with
Dr. Glasmeier refuting a claim
Photo: Meg Loughman
made by previous generations
that hard work will inevitably
manifest itself in success. She
highlighted the deficits within
this statement, beginning with the
lack of equal opportunity of many
Americans that is rooted in their
place of residence. Dominique
Williams corroborated
Con’t on page 9
6
Sophomore Class Explores Development in
San Jose, Costa Rica
Photo: Kathleen Bailey
By Raffi Toghramadjian ’21 met Elisa Vanegas, their tour met Professor Cynthia Mora,
During the final week of guide from the Center for Global who spoke about immigration,
winter break the Class of 2021, Education, and traveled to the emphasizing Costa Rica’s
along with co-directors Professor hotel to settle in and prepare for welcoming attitude toward
Bailey and Fr. Keenan, traveled the week ahead. The next morning immigrants and migrants
to Costa Rica to learn about the began with a presentation by attempting to travel through
country’s history and development. José Rojas, who spoke about the the country on their way to the
While sophomore classes have history of Costa Rican politics United States. The Scholars then
traditionally visited Nicaragua, and his role in founding Coalición traveled to the Universidad Bíblica
the current crisis precipitated by Costa Rica—a citizens’ group Latinoamericana, where they
President Daniel Ortega’s violent that mobilizes voters while also met with representatives from a
response to protests against his lobbying to support policies that women’s network, who discussed
Sandinista government forced this better reflected the views of its the progress they had made in
year’s trip to be relocated to Costa members. The sophomores then connecting women with resources
Rica. In contrast to Nicaragua, met Professor Carmen Hutchison, need to promote entrepreneurship
Costa Rica has long stood out as an who discussed the history of race in and sustainable development.
example of successful development Costa Rica as well as her personal Tuesday ended on a more somber
in a region historically marked experiences as a Black woman note, with presentations about the
by high levels of social and living in Costa Rica. After a break Nicaraguan crisis by Elisa, and
political unrest. While maintaining for lunch, the Scholars got their Nicaraguan Luis Elena Estrada,
the Program’s relationship to first taste of San Jose on a tour of who was forced to flee to Costa
Nicaragua to the extent possible the downtown area—including Rica. Through these two talks
under the circumstances, the the splendid National Theater and the sophomores learned about
sophomore class also had the its historic market—guided by the extreme challenges facing
opportunity to forge connections in historian Noelia Fernandez. Nicaragua.
a new country. Tuesday opened with a The next day focused
After touching down in trip to the National University of on Costa Rica’s economic
San Jose on Sunday, the Scholars Costa Rica, where the Scholars development, as the sophomores
Con’t on page 8
7
Costa Rica con’t from page 7
met with a representative from Photo: Sara Samir
the Costa Rican Investment
Promotion Agency (CINDE), a
non-governmental organization
that helps encourage international
companies to invest in Costa
Rica. After learning about the
macroeconomic side to Costa
Rica’s economic success, the class
traveled to Cartago, Costa Rica’s
former capital, to learn about
efforts to encourage economic
development on a local scale.
Following a brief tour of the city
center and lunch, the students met and showed them around. in recent years. On the tour, the
with Grameen, a microfinance On Friday, the class sophomores saw the beautiful
organization that offers loans traveled to Doka Coffee Estate, architecture and the maker-space,
to female entrepreneurs. The where they learned about the complete with 3D-Printers, of
sophomores received an overview history and process of coffee the newly built SIFAIS, a school
of Grameen’s work and then spoke production in Costa Rica, which, that offers free classes in a wide
with three women who have started until recently, was the country’s variety of subjects to people of all
and grown their own businesses most important export. Along with ages. Along with the recently built
with Grameen’s support. The day the educational aspect of the visit, primary school, SIFAIS embodied
offered the Scholars the chance to the sophomores enjoyed both the the community’s hope that they
see two very different approaches coffee they sampled, as well as the can improve the future for their
to development and to reflect on stunning views of the mountains children even as they struggle to
the complementary roles they play. surrounding the coffee plantation. overcome the challenges they face
Thursday started with a After returning to the hotel for a today.
presentation delivered by Johnny relaxing afternoon, the sophomores On Sunday, the Class
Rosales on Costa Rica’s immense had dinner with artists—both Costa of 2021 returned to Boston.
biodiversity and the challenges Ricans and Nicaraguans—who Over the course of their visit,
its wildlife faces as the country discussed their art and experiences. the sophomores learned about
continues to develop. Johnny then The class was struck by the story of Costa Rica’s history and culture,
accompanied the sophomores to Gabriel Benavente, a Nicaraguan and perhaps more importantly,
Prusia National Park, where the artist whose art became a powerful created lasting relationships with
students saw the nature of Costa symbol of protest against the the people they met. Throughout
Rica first hand, although without Ortega government. the entire trip, the students were
their guide, who had generously On the last full day of amazed by the hospitality extended
stayed behind to help replace a flat the trip, the sophomores visited to them, especially by Alvaro
tire on the bus. After returning to La Carpio, a poor neighborhood Fernández, the owner of the hotel’s
San Jose, the Class of 2021 met comprised mostly of immigrants restaurant, along with the many
with Dr. Alejandro Madrigal, who located next to the San Jose dump, others who warmly welcomed
offered insight into Costa Rica’s where they heard from Bethel them into their businesses, homes,
health system and discussed the Meza and her family who invited and communities. The trip also
challenges within—many of which them into their home and took gave the sophomores the unique
were very similar to the challenges them on a tour of the area. While opportunity to examine Costa
of America’s health care system. they learned about the many Rica’s development and the many
The sophomores finished the day at challenges the community faces, different areas that contribute to the
the University of Costa Rica, where the sophomores were also inspired country’s success. While the trip
they met with a group of students by the positive developments the may have only been a week, the
who shared stories of campus life neighborhood has experienced Class of 2021 is sure to remember
it for the rest of their lives.
8
Alumni Announcements
Lynne Santoro Sullivan ’95 was Ari Daniel Shapiro ’01 and his Joe Zabinski ’10 joined OM1, a
named regional executive editor for wife welcomed their second child, health analytics startup in Boston,
The Standard-Times/SouthCoast son Raja, in October (2018) as Director of Data Solutions
Media Group of New Beford, The
Enterprise of Brockton, The Herald Hannah Nolan-Spohn ’05 was Colleen Maher Ernst ’11 started
News of Fall River and the Taunton awarded the 2019 Debby Jannotta a new job as Deputy General
Daily Gazette and Shirley Jaffee CFE Teacher of Counsel to Governor Ron DeSantis
the Year Award in February, by the in January and is living in
Erin Frey Pearson ’99 completed Chicago Foundation for Education Tallahassee
her MPH from the UNC Gillings
School of Global Public Health Caroline Beimford ’10 got Elizabeth Fair ’12 received her
in Chapel Hill this past December married in June (2018) to a fellow license to practice as a clinical
(2018), and is now working as a BC 2010 alum, Josh Idaszak (with psychologist in December (2018)
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at a sizeable PSP alum contingent in
the North Carolina State University attendance), and in September she
College of Veterinary Medicine in started as a lecturer of writing at
Raleigh MIT
SSJP con’t from page 6
this statement by asserting that in Williams attended, received a only to find that Boston is one of
her own experience, her ability significantly greater amount of the least equal cities in America.
to have received an education in funding than the Roxbury public There are blatant disparities within
an area that was different than schools, where she lived. the quality and accessibility of
where her home was allowed her Barry Bluestone was next the public transportation system,
to academically flourish, as she to speak, and he touched upon which motivated her to eventually
proceeded to earn an undergraduate the geographic inequities within become a professional in this field.
degree and attend law school. She Detroit. Once a flourishing city, All of the speakers offered
said that the fact that her success it now consists of homes that some advice to the audience who
was contingent upon the location have depreciated significantly in were now inspired to put an end to
of her school was inherently value. The Black population lives this injustice including voting for
unfair to the students who did mainly in the city while the white candidates on the local level who
not receive the opportunity to population primarily migrated to have a genuine interest and drive to
attend well-funded schools. The the tranquility of suburbs. Again, ameliorate these inequities. Many
moderator went on to show the this segregation is intrinsically of the students left the discussion
audience a graph that displayed related to education, with suburban feeling an intense motivation to
the tremendous disparity of schools receiving better funding take action. Overall, the event was
distribution of monetary resources than city schools due to the higher a great success, leaving a large
to various public school districts, property taxes of the outskirts. group of individuals with a more
and how it directly connects to Lastly, Johnson spoke holistic perspective on the sources
the wealth of the area in which about how she was drawn to of inequality within our nation.
the school operates. For example, Boston from Texas because of
the Newton public schools, where the opportunities and city life,
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