When 2020 began, no one could have imagined it would end with a world turned upside down by a virus no one had ever heard of, a virus that has now claimed the lives of close to two million people, more than 300,000 in the United States alone. Social distancing, mask wearing, and hand sanitizing took on a new urgency.
Here at BU, COVID-19 forced the University to quickly adapt to a remote learning model immediately following spring break in March. A massive testing and contact tracing system implemented by the University this summer allowed students to return to campus for the fall semester for a combination of in-person and remote learning, dubbed Learn from Anywhere (LfA).
Of course, COVID-19 wasn’t the only story of the year. There was a rancorous presidential election, a summer of protests and unrest in Boston and across the country following the deaths of several unarmed Black men and women at the hands of police officers, and the controversial appointment of a Supreme Court justice. Here on campus, there were significant developments as well: a new home for the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, the beginning of construction of BU’s new state-of-the-art Center for Computing & Data Sciences, and the establishment of the new BU Center for Antiracist Research.
In our annual year-in-review photo gallery, arranged chronologically below, we’ve pulled images that ran on BU Today throughout the year. See how the pandemic transformed life on BU’s Charles River and Medical campuses, as well as some of the other highlights from the past year.
Our thanks to BU photographers Janice Checchio, Jackie Ricciardi, and Cydney Scott for creating a visual record of this extraordinary moment in the University’s history.
Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground opening reception: Kenneth Elmore (Wheelock’87), associate provost and dean of students, at the center’s new home at 808 Commonwealth Avenue on January 21. Photo by Jackie RicciardiBeanpot Tournament semifinal: The BU men’s hockey team wrests a 5-4 double overtime win from BC February 3 at TD Garden, but alas, another championship was not to be as the Terriers lost to the Huskies in the final. Photo by Cydney ScottFirst day of pandemic-caused remote learning: CAS master lecturer Binyomin Abrams teaching his 200-student chemistry class via Zoom at the Metcalf Science Center March 17. Photo by Cydney Scott BU Facilities had a massive and essential job keeping the University safe after the pandemic struck: Facilities’ Grace Araujo cleaning StuVi 1 on March 17, after students were sent home for the rest of the semester. Photo by Jackie RicciardiRNs Marisa McIntyre (left) and Maureen Shanahan-Frappier wait for patients in the triage tent outside Boston Medical Center on March 20. The triage tent staff were tasked with assessing patients’ symptoms and determining whether they went to the influenza-like illness clinic or the emergency department. Photo by Cydney ScottThe Wyman family at the Boston Marathon finish line April 20: Anderson and photographer Alex with their mother, Lisa. The 123rd Boston Marathon, scheduled that day, was another pandemic casualty. Photo by Jackie RicciardiHosting a virtual Senior Breakfast: Kenneth Elmore, associate provost and dean of students, via live broadcast from the GSU Ballroom May 1. Photo by Cydney ScottAnn-Lyssa Asare (Pardee’20) pops a champagne bottle full of confetti for a photo shoot on Marsh Plaza May 13. With the Class of 2020 Commencement postponed, she and her mom hired a professional photographer to commemorate her graduation. Photo by Cydney ScottThe Golden Greek statue in front of Agganis Arena is ready for COVID-19, May 20. Photo by Cydney Scott People take to the streets of Boston on May 31 to protest the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. Photo by Sophie Park (CAS’20)A Clergy Conversation on Strategies for Change in Race Relations, part of BU’s Day of Collective Engagement: Racism and Antiracism, Our Realities and Our Roles, hosted via Zoom June 24. Panelists (clockwise from top left): Imam Asif Hirani, Worcester Islamic Center; Rev. Daryl Paul Lobban, Episcopal Diocese of Washington; Rady Roldán-Figueroa, School of Theology associate professor; Rabbi Elie Lehmann, BU Jewish chaplain; and Rev. Milagro Grullon, Community Christian Fellowship-Lawrence pastor. Photo by Janice ChecchioIbram X. Kendi, founding director of BU’s Center for Antiracist Research, at the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground on June 29. Photo by Jackie RicciardiA pilot test of the BU on-campus COVID-19 testing program began on the Medical Campus July 27, with a four-day run that tested up to 400 students. Photo by Jackie RicciardiThe BU PhD Student Coalition’s Campus Health Is Community Health rally on Comm Ave August 13 called attention to three goals: “Free PPE for all BU students, faculty, and staff—to protect everyone; de-densify campus—to reduce the likelihood of transmission; and free COVID-19 testing for the neighboring communities put at risk without consultation or consent.” Photo by Cydney ScottRAs just wanna have fun: Dragon Ding (CAS’21) (from left) shoots a video of John Isaac (CAS’21) and Lance De Guzman (Sargent’22) for posterity on August 17. To ensure adequate social distancing, this year’s Move-In stretched over two weeks rather than the usual one. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi“Neither snow nor rain nor heat” nor COVID-19 stays the BU Pep Band from practicing. Social distancing was observed as some of the 150 band members rehearsed on Marsh Plaza August 25. The instruments with bells were fitted with shields to prevent droplet spread. Photo by Cydney ScottBU’s first-ever virtual Matriculation: Kenneth Elmore, associate provost and dean of students, officially welcomes the Class of 2024 into the University community from the Metcalf Trustee Center August 30. Photo by Cydney Scott Students with their cleared confirmation emails at the start of a class in Morse Auditorium on September 2, the first day of fall semester classes. Stickers were placed in seats throughout the auditorium to help with distancing. Photo by Cydney ScottSeptember 5: Like scores of other things, the decades-long annual tradition of spray-painting fraternity and sorority colors on the BU Rock at the BU Beach gave way this year to the pandemic. The latest of the rock’s estimated 1,000-plus coats of paint is a nod to the student-led public health PR campaign F*ck It Won’t Cut It. Photo by Jacob Chang-Rascle (COM’22) September 13: construction continues on BU’s new Center for Computing & Data Sciences with the addition of a massive crane. The building is expected to open in 2022. Photo by Cydney ScottCollaboration: In Painting the Space with Light, Design, and Motion, a collaborative exploration of gesture and movement coordinated in large part by Yo-EL Cassell, a CFA assistant professor of movement, School of Theatre students serve as models for School of Visual Arts artists on September 16. Photo by Cydney ScottDeborah Birx, coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, visiting BU on October 9. Birx (left) and Irum Zaidi, Birx’s chief epidemiologist (second from right), toured BU’s Clinical Testing Lab at the Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering with BU President Robert A. Brown (right) and testing lab head Catherine Klapperich, an ENG professor of biomedical engineering (second from left). Photo by Cydney ScottLatest in CFA’s ArtPops series: Posters by School of Visual Arts students, faculty, and staff encouraging people to vote on November 3 on display in Gallery 5, CFA’s student gallery, on October 23. The CFA-wide initiative, featuring pop-up performances and art experiences from all three schools, is designed to be spontaneous, bringing the BU community together safely in a casual way to enjoy the innovation of artists across campus. Photo by Cydney ScottThe City of Boston lit up City Hall in red, with flags flying at half mast, on October 30 in honor of Travis Roy (COM’00, Hon.’16). After an accident during his first BU hockey game in 1995 left the Terrier freshman player paralyzed from the waist down, in 1996 Roy established the Travis Roy Foundation, which has helped more than 2,100 quadriplegics and paraplegics and awarded nearly $5 million in grants toward spinal cord research. Roy died October 29 from complications of his condition. Photo by Jake BelcherAn October 30 storm dropped four inches of snow on Boston, temporarily masking the glorious fall foliage and giving everyone a taste of what’s to come. Photo by Janice ChecchioSocially distanced students and staff watching election night coverage at the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground November 3. Photo by Cydney ScottThe Transgender Day of Remembrance flag flying over the Dahod Family Alumni Center November 20. The aim of the annual day is to draw attention to the continued violence against transgender people. Photo by Cydney ScottSome colorful friends are ready to glow when sundown hits across from the School of Law, December 14. Photo by Cydney Scott
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