PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
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Fellowship Winners
Parting Thoughts
Showing Appreciation
BC grads and undergrads earned Fulbright, Gilman, and Critical Language Scholarships, among other honors.
Retirees look back on their years at the Heights.
A May 10 celebration honors graduates who are going on to full-time service work.
PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
MAY 23, 2024 VOL. 31 NO. 18
COMMENCEMENT 2024
Cardinal: Work Together to ‘Make All Things New’ BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., who as bishop of Hong Kong has advocated a rapprochement between the Vatican and China, implored the Boston College Class of 2024 to strive for unity and understanding in a time of division and discord. “We must start with the promotion of dialogue and constructive action among parties of different stances, prudently and meaningfully,” he told the Alumni Stadium audience at Monday’s 148th Commencement Exercises, urging them to reject the narrative which holds that only one side can be right and dominant and instead work toward a commonly desirable future—one which “you and your peers are going to construct together with the inclusive love of God in your discernment, transcending the borders of politics, beliefs, faiths, values, economies, ethnicities, and realities. “Dear graduates, it is not too early to contemplate how you are going to construct
Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., speaking at Monday’s Commencement Exercises. photo by lee pellegrini
your future together, and what it will look like,” said Cardinal Chow, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his “commitment to the Catholic faith as a means to inspire and unite.”
BCSSW Researcher Studies ‘Digital Barrier’ to Migration BY SEAN SMITH CHRONICLE EDITOR
A mobile app created to provide a gateway to the American asylum system for migrants at the United States-Mexican border holds promise but sorely needs improvement, according to a new study by Boston College School of Social Work Assistant Professor Alejandro Olayo-Méndez, S.J. The report, published by Jesuit Refugee Service USA, says that U.S. migration policy has added a “digital barrier” to the border, describing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s CBP One app as “a narrow pathway to entry in the U.S. for individuals and families seeking safety.” Those able to obtain reliable information
and an appointment with CBP One will find that the app “provides much needed relief from threats to security and overall well-being.” But the limitations of the current CBP One app, along with other factors, mean that the many thousands of migrants seeking entry to the U.S. continue waiting for an appointment while facing serious health and safety concerns, warned the report, “Navigating the U.S.-Mexico Border,” which examines the digital practices of migrants and their psychosocial needs and includes a series of recommendations for improving the scope and efficiency of the asylum system. “People need to have a step-by-step un-
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In addition to Cardinal Chow, the University presented honorary degrees to: former BC and pro basketball player turned entrepreneur Dana Barros ’89; Sister Maria Teresa de Loera Lopez, M.S. ’19,
a beloved servant of the poor in Mexico; Boston Health Care for the Homeless President James O’Connell; and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. [Honorary degree citations are on page 4.] In his Commencement greeting, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., praised the Class of 2024: “Boston College is a better place because of them, especially their energy, goodness, and generosity. They started amid the challenges of COVID-19 and persevered; we remember and are grateful.” Foreshadowing Cardinal Chow’s remarks, Fr. Leahy pointed to global flashpoints such as Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, and Sudan as indicating the need for “people of intelligence, faith, and commitment to work for the good of society, to help root out racial, social, and economic inequality, and to strive to bring an end to poverty, illiteracy, and prejudice.” Fr. Leahy gave his customary invitation for family and friends of the graduates to Continued on page 4
“You can see the research taking place at Boston College having an impact in real time in the world. You can see interventions developed by social scientists or education scholars. You can see our researchers in the natural sciences creating a greater understanding of our physical world.” —Thomas Chiles
Sponsored Research at BC to Eclipse the $80M Mark BY ED HAYWARD STAFF WRITER
Research funding from government agencies, private foundations, and other external sources this year is expected to top the $80-million mark for the first time in Boston College history, a milestone that faculty and administrators attribute to nearly two decades of strategic initiatives and investment.
So-called sponsored research is projected to total $83 million this year, according to the Office of the Provost. External funding garnered by BC faculty has risen steadily, from $57 million in 2020 to $73 million last year. The funding gains follow another benchmark: In 2016, BC was named an R1 research university, the highest ranking bestowed by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
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