BUCPUA Student Orientation Provides Community and Connection for New Students

On the evening of Friday, September 6th, Bay State Road filled with new students excited to attend BUCPUA’s Fall 2019 Student Orientation. Students were welcomed into their new BU community by Mary Ellen Mastrorilli, PhD, Chair ad interim of the Applied Social Sciences Department.

Program Director Professor Madhu Dutta-Koehler, PhD, and Program Manager Andrea Ciminelli opened the evening with a presentation about the program’s history, degree requirements, faculty and the Urban Planning Association (UPA), and talked about the resources available through the program and around BU. Ben Cares, UPA President and Masters of Urban Affairs (MUA) Candidate, introduced UPA as providing students and alumni with support, networking opportunities, and community. Cares encouraged students to get involved through the UPA Facebook group and upcoming events such as the Sustainability Festival and First Fridays.

Sustainabiltiy@BU’s Engagement Manager, Gabriela Boscio Santos, presented on the Sustainability Office’s role on campus and how students can live more sustainable lives. Santos spoke about BU’s implementation of the campus wide Climate Action Plan, items recyclability, and personal sustainability. Key accomplishments Santos discussed were BU’s 13% decrease in waste and a 98% increase in green cleaning. 

To discuss BUCPUA’s diversity and cultural proficiency, Adjunct Professor Eugene Benson, JD, presented a powerpoint on diversity’s relation to culture and its importance for planners. Adjunct Professor Dr. Jim O’Connell, PhD, discussed the Jane Jacob’s Walk of the Seaport District, Boston that he led the following Saturday, September 7th. The walking tour is part of a larger organization inspired by urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs. 

Each new student then introduced themselves to the room. Light refreshments were served and students mingled with faculty and UPA members to bring the night to a close. Students left their orientation with delight and enthusiasm for their coming semester as a part of the BUCPUA community.

Delanie Fico, CAS ’21