March e-Parent newsletter
Hello from the Parents Program! Although we here at Boston University had high hopes for an early spring, sunshine and warm weather still seems far away. Combine the cold weather and exam time, and you get a group of BU students who are very ready for spring break to arrive! Whether they are traveling somewhere warm, volunteering through Alternative Spring Breaks, heading home, or staying in Boston, you can be sure that the long-awaited week of spring break, March 7–15, will be much enjoyed by our students. And we hope you enjoy this edition of e-Parent!
Regards,
Kellen Sarb
Coordinator, Parents Program
Discoveries Lecture Series
The College of Arts & Sciences hosts Discoveries, a lecture series of dynamic learning opportunities spearheaded by Dean Virginia Saprio that investigates issues that matter to the BU community. Last month, Professor of Sociology and International Relations Susan Eckstein and Assistant Dean of Students Daryl DeLuca presented a lecture, “The Cuban Revolution at 50.” This coming April, the lecture series continues with, “The Bailout, Six Months Later: Where are We, and What Lies Ahead?” The presentation will include a panel discussion with BU’s economic experts and will no doubt provide useful information about the current state of our economy. For more details, visit www.bu.edu/alumni/events. Look for information about upcoming Discoveries lectures in future editions of e-Parent!
BU Student to the Rescue at Warren Towers
This past January, a CAS student went far beyond being a helpful classmate and saved a fellow student’s life. Hector Omar Oseguera (CAS’10) performed the Heimlich maneuver when he realized Elizabeth Peterson (COM’11) was choking in the Warren Towers dining room. As a sign of gratitude, Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore has awarded Hector and ten of his friends the Student Snapple Box, a suite at Agganis Arena, for an evening of sports, entertainment, and dinner. We commended Hector for his act of heroism!
Campus Housing
Recently, we have noticed an increase in students requesting to return to campus housing after moving off campus. We are encouraging students to remain on campus, and we welcome students who wish to return—after all, we have beautiful new student residences and historic brownstones on Bay State Road. Many students find on-campus housing convenient, community oriented, and safe. If your student is still deciding his or her housing situation for next year, you can get more information about campus housing by visiting www.bu.edu/housing or calling 617-353-3511.
Career Fair
Boston University knows how important a focus on post-college professional development is for both students and parents. In order to assist our students in reaching their professional goals, Career Services hosts career fairs throughout the school year. Career fairs offer the opportunity for students to meet informally with a variety of employers all in one location. Representatives at career fairs are informational resources about the company, the kinds of jobs generally available, requirements, and career paths. The Spring Career Fair is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, from 1:00–4:30 p.m. in the George Sherman Union. All students are welcome to attend.
Did you know…
… Boston University’s Greek system is home to two founding chapters of national organizations: Lambda Chi Alpha and Delta Delta Delta?
Student Group of the Month: Hug Don’t Hate
Ever have one of those days where you just feel like you need a hug? Lucky for BU students, there is a student group on campus dedicated to making hugs happen. The antidiscrimination group Hug Don’t Hate was formed to create a peaceful, diverse student body on campus and tries to break racial, ethnic, religious, and gender barriers through dialogues, promotional events, and, of course, hugs. The group rests on the ideal that “everyone smiles in the same language.”
The State of BU
Although economic times are hard throughout the country, Boston University has been taking steps to overcome these challenges since September, by freezing all but the most essential staff-hiring and delaying all capital projects not yet started. President Robert A. Brown held a town meeting for faculty and staff on Thursday, January 22, and addressed the University’s budgeting efforts for the coming fiscal year, emphasizing that the University’s top priority was to make a BU education affordable for students and their families and to maintain the quality and breadth of its academic programs. Brown said that the application rate is “very healthy” and that approximately 38,000 students have applied. The University realizes that students may be feeling the effects of our economy, and they are encouraged to reach out to the University Service Center if financial pressures are influencing their studies, since it is important that academics remain the primary focus. The USC can be reached online at www.bu.edu/usc/ or by phone at 617-358-1818.
Senior Gift
This year’s Senior Class Gift Campaign kicked off in early February with an e-mail to ’09 seniors and graduates marking 100 days to graduation. The Class Gift is a collective financial contribution from the members of the graduating class to Boston University in honor of their graduation year. Contributing to the Class Gift is an opportunity for our students to make a meaningful gift and celebrate their years at BU. When students participate in the class gift, they join alumni, faculty, parents, corporations, foundations, and other friends of BU who support the University every year through a tradition of philanthropy. Graduating students who make a gift of $20.09 may honor someone who has made an impact on their BU experience, and they have the opportunity to choose where the money goes, including funds such as student life, scholarship, green facility renovations, and career services. Students can visit www.bu.edu/classgift to learn more about directing their gift to the area of BU that means the most to them.
Picture of the Month
Pictured here are Melissa Nasson (CAS’09) and the prime minister of Britain, Gordon Brown. Melissa spent the fall semester in the London Internship Program and was assigned to an internship in Parliament.
Please send us your best BU-related photos (you and your family on campus, at a BU event in your area, or in BU gear). We will select one each month to be featured in e-Parent. E-mail submissions to parents@bu.edu.
|
