Eighth graders from Bridgewater Middle School recently gathered in BSU’s University Park in front of the Martin Richard statue to honor his memory with a donation benefitting the foundation in his name. 

It’s been five years since 8-year-old Martin became the youngest of the three spectators killed in the Boston Marathon bombings. The youngster’s parents, Bill and Denise Richard, met as students at Bridgewater State, and shortly after their son’s death established the Martin Richard Foundation and allowed BSU to rename its social justice center after Martin.

To support the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ), Bridgewater Middle School social studies teacher Dorothy Kelly had t-shirts made carrying the same message – “No More Hurting People, Peace – found on the poster Martin was holding in that famous photo that went viral in the wake of the bombings. Revenue from t-shirt sales benefitted the Martin Richard Foundation. 

This is the second year Ms. Kelly and the Bridgewater Middle School has raised money to support the foundation. BSU joined the campaign this year, also selling t-shirts on campus through the MRISJ.

During the event, it was revealed that Ms. Kelly lobbied for and received approval from Bridgewater town council to declare April 13, 2018 Martin Richard Day. Bridgewater-Raynham school Superintendent Derek J. Swenson and Ryan Powers, assistant superintendent, read the proclamation. 

Following the ceremony, Dr. Elizabeth Englander, psychology professor and the founding director of BSU’s Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center, conducted a roundtable discussion and invited the students to share their experiences with bullying and what resources they’ve found to be the most effective in resolving conflict. 

“This has been very meaningful for the students,” Ms. Kelly said. “Martin’s message about peace and ‘No more hurting people’ resonates with them. This has been the perfect organization for them to get involved with.” (Story by Heather Harris Michonski, University News)

Two experimental courses are being offered this summer for those who want to take a closer look at earth systems through planning, preparing and developing a permaculture-designed garden. 

Permacultureis an ethically-based ecological design system that focuses on creating a sustainable garden. 

Instructor Ronald Maribettis teaching the two classes, Permaculture Gardening and Global Permaculture, through the geography department, one each per summer session. 

Both courses will be taught in conjunction with the BSU organic permaculture gardens located near Dinardo Hall on the East campus. Over the years, the gardens have allowed students and BSU employees to gain hands-on experience in organic gardening and will now also be used as an educational tool for Mr. Maribett’s new classes. 

Students will be introduced to design principles in permaculture gardening, and learn about design, layout, sowing and field management. 

“We will be spending one-third of the time on classroom discussions and two-thirds actually in the gardens,” Mr. Maribett said. “Each student will conduct a long-term evaluation of a plant; and learn how to plant, grow, prepare and maintain a permaculture garden.” 

Global Permaculture focuses on design principals and how they relate to food security, social justice and food economics locally and throughout the developing world. Mr. Maribett said many countries that have “stressed” their natural resources are using permaculture to protect local ecosystems and for sustainability. 

Each student will pick a nation that uses permaculture and report back the practices being used.

 “The goal with both courses is to connect, engage and have rational discussions about cross cutting issues – ecological issues, food-wise and energy-wise,” Mr. Maribett said. 

The two courses carry three credits each, and can be applied towards a sustainability minor. For more information, contact Mr. Maribett at rmaribett@bridgew.edu. Enjoy a view of the garden here. (Story by Heather Harris Michonski)

Joanna Richards, ’18, has been selected for the Critical Language Scholarship, the most competitive scholarship for study abroad in the country. She will spend the summer in South Korea, studying the country’s language and culture.

The Pembroke resident is the first Bridgewater student to ever earn this scholarship, which is presented by the American Councils for International Education. The program is part of an effort by the federal government to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. CLS scholars gain critical language and cultural skills that enable them to contribute to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. 

“I am extremely passionate about the Korean language and culture and am really excited to have gotten this opportunity,” Joanna said.

She sees the scholarship as an important stepping stone to her desired career path.

“In the future, I would like to conduct ethnographic research in South Korea,” she said. “This would involve conducting interviews with locals and involvement in communities. In order to conduct effective research, it is important for me to be able to speak Korean for many reasons. I want to be able to openly speak and interview people without a translator so that I can make personal connections within the communities I will be working with.”

A senior at BSU studying cultural anthropology with minors in Asian studies and music, Joanna has previously participated in study tours to South Korea and China, and spent the spring 2017 semester at South Korea’s Kyungpook National University. BSU's Study Abroad Office was instrumental in arranging these tours, as well as assisting Joanna with the application for the scholarship.

The scholarship will allow her to spend this summer at South Korea’s Pusan National University in Busan. During that time, she will be in class 20 hours each week with about three hours of homework each day. In addition to classes, students in the program go on culture trips on the weekends and also spend time living with local host families.

Joanna is one of approximately 550 competitively selected American students at U.S. colleges and universities who received a CLS award in 2018. 

CLS scholars are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship and apply their critical language skills in their future careers.

“Critical” languages are those that are less commonly taught in U.S. schools, but are essential for America’s engagement with the world. CLS plays an important role in preparing U.S. students for the 21st century’s globalized workforce, increasing American competitiveness, and contributing to national security. CLS scholars serve as citizen ambassadors, representing the diversity of the United States abroad and building lasting relationships with people in their host countries. 

BSU Art professor Rob Lorenson discusses his sculpture "Textured Gear" which is on display along the Providence River in Rhode Island. Read more in Providence Monthly.

Alumni William and Denise Richard, both of the Class of 1993, and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will serve as commencement speakers and receive honorary degrees at Bridgewater State University’s 177^th Commencement Convocation for undergraduates on Saturday, May 12.

Two days prior on the Boyden Quadrangle, on Thursday, May 10, Bridgewater will hold its 13^th Graduate Commencement Convocation. William “Mo” Cowan, former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and current vice president of litigation and legal policy at the General Electric Company, will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree.

Approximately 2,700 graduates will have completed their degrees during the 2017-18 academic year representing more than 475 graduate students and more than 2,225 undergraduates.

Together, Bill and Denise Richard will serve as BSU commencement speakers at the morning ceremony. Students from the Louis M. Ricciardi College of Business, the College of Education and Allied Studies, and the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics will be awarded their diplomas at this ceremony. 

The lieutenant governor will serve as commencement at the afternoon commencement of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Richard family founded the Martin Richard Charitable Foundation in 2014 in honor of their son Martin, who was killed when two bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. In subsequent days, a photo of Martin holding a handmade poster that read “No more hurting people, peace” was shared around the world. The iconic image of his message created a movement of kindness, inclusion, sportsmanship, and peace – values the Richard family hopes future generations will embody through positive civic engagement.

Emblematic of the foundation’s work is the building of “Martin’s Park” in downtown Boston which is scheduled to open this fall. Martin’s Park will be a place for reflection and inclusive play, a space where children of all abilities can play side by side. Their Bridge Builders program mobilizes schools and community groups to develop and implement service projects that advance the mission of the Foundation; they support inclusive athletics through the Martin Richard Challenger Sports program; and they have developed a robust volunteer network that hosts multiple service days in communities throughout the state.

The foundation also partners with and awards grants recognizing the critical work of other like-minded organizations who provide hands on opportunities for young people – including BSU where the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice is touching the lives of hundreds of young people each year.

Karyn Polito is the 72nd lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. She began her public service in local government, serving as a member of the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen and then as a state representative for five terms.

She chairs the Community Compact Cabinet, elevating the administration’s partnerships with local government and promoting best practices. To date, almost all 351 cities and towns have joined this partnership, adopting over 800 best practices. 

As chair of the Seaport Economic Council, she works with coastal communities to leverage their unique assets to drive sustainable growth. Preventing sexual assault and domestic violence have been priorities for the lieutenant governor, and she now serves as chair of the Governor’s Council to address these important issues.

She is co-chair of the STEM Advisory Council, working to ensure that all students have access to STEM courses with the goal of preparing them for careers and closing the skills gap.

A lifelong resident of Shrewsbury, she resides there with her husband and two children.

In addition to filling the vacancy created when Senator John F. Kerry was appointed U.S. Secretary of State in 2013, Sen. Cowan served Gov. Deval Patrick as chief of staff, chief legal counsel and senior adviser. As chief of staff, he oversaw strategic planning, investment and operations, and as chief legal counsel, he advised the governor on all legal and policy matters and managed legislative and regulatory policy setting.

Cowan joined GE after serving as of counsel at the firm of Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo, PC and as president and CEO of ML Strategies, where he advised some of the state’s most influential business and cultural institutions. Cowan has been a Fellow at the Harvard University Institute of Politics, serves as a director of Eastern Bank Corporation and Partners Healthcare, and co-chair of the Greater Boston YMCA Board of Overseers. He is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law and Duke University.

BSU will present Distinguished Service Awards on May 12 during the afternoon ceremony to Vincent J. Marturano, president and CEO of the Old Colony YMCA, and on May 10 at the graduate ceremony to Dr. Pia Durkin, superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools.

The university’s Distinguished Service Award honors a person or an organization whose significant acts of public service have created opportunities for citizens of Southeastern Massachusetts to improve the quality of their lives. 

For more than 25 years, Mr. Marturano helped build the Old Colony Y into one of the largest human service providers in Southeastern Massachusetts, serving 31 communities and more than 135,000 children and families annually. The Old Colony Y has been a leader in strengthening communities by fostering youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. 

Ms. Durkin has been a leader in education for many years and an extraordinary partner to Bridgewater State University. She implemented an ambitious reform agenda in the New Bedford Public Schools resulting in the district making significant strides in improving teaching and learning and in the state releasing the district from oversight. (Story by Eva T. Gaffney, G’01, for University News)

Ashley Mastrorilli is committed to making a difference. And, she sees teaching special education as her path to doing so.

“I want kids to know they can do it, no matter how hard they think it is,” said Ashley, ’18, who is from East Bridgewater. “They are capable.”

Ashley, 22, who is majoring in elementary education/special education with a second major in English and a minor in childhood studies, has taken advantage of the opportunities Bridgewater State University has provided her. 

She is student-teaching in a third-grade classroom at the Raymond School in Brockton and has held leadership posts in the Student Education Association of Massachusetts and its BSU chapter. She has also traveled, including taking a service trip to Belize to help educate children in the Central American country.

Ashley, one of the students in the College of Education and Allied Studies being recognized during Honors Week, received the Donnelly Scholarship and the Elementary Education award. SEE THE FULL LIST OF HONOREES ATTACHED BELOW.

Ashley has always known she wanted to be a teacher and recalls spending time in a preschool where her mom worked. In fact, she chose Bridgewater State specifically because of its strong teaching program.

“They’ve definitely prepared me for the real world in education – just the classes are very up to date. They’re constantly sending us out into the field so we’re ready,” she said.

Ashley hopes to work in a social/emotional/behavioral classroom that helps students with special needs learn life skills in addition to academics. She observed special education instruction at South Shore Educational Collaborative in Hingham and was impressed with how the teacher connected with each student despite a range of disabilities. 

Her Bridgewater State journey also has a special personal meaning as she is a higher education trailblazer for her family.

“It was definitely a lot of pressure in a good way now that I’m graduating,” she said of becoming the first person in her family to attend and graduate from college. “I am so proud of myself and my mom and dad are so proud.” (Story by Brian Benson; photo by John Winters, G '11, University News)

Keri Bryson, ’18, said her interest in the sciences stems to her childhood.

“I remember being obsessed with the forensic shows, that a young child shouldn’t be watching, but I was always amazed by what they could solve through chemistry,” she said. “As I got older, a lot of family members got sick with cancer and I became interested in diseases and the processes behind them that made them so difficult to treat.”

Inspired to find solutions, Keri came to Bridgewater to study chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. 

This week, the Lynn native is one of the deserving Bridgewater State University students being recognized during Honors Week.  Keri is this year’s recipient of the American Institutes of Chemist Award in Biochemistry. SEE THE FULL LIST OF HONOREES ATTACHED BELOW.

Her undergraduate research started the summer prior to enrolling as a freshman at BSU when Keri participated in the three-week National Science Foundation-funded Student Retention Enhancement Across Mathematics and Science program held on campus (known on campus by the acronym STREAMS).

Since then, she has worked under two biochemistry professors to learn techniques in bio-organic chemistry as well as molecular biology. Keri earned a $5,000 Bartlett scholarship that enabled her to study abroad at the University of Leeds in England where she gained knowledge in x-ray crystallography. 

This past winter Keri participated in the Water for Cambodia study tour and researched how to improve rural water sources. 

Not all of her time was spent in the lab. Outside of the academic world, Keri also took part in the BSU-sponsored Children’s Physical Development Clinic, a nationally recognized academic program that fosters professional development, service learning, and leadership development.

“My involvement in educational outreach programs, community service, study abroad opportunities has molded me into the strong, compassionate woman I am today, which will prove to be advantageous as I move toward a career path heavily oriented toward being human and being able to form relationships and connections with a wide range of people whether they are going to be my patient or the loved one of someone in my care when I reach my goal of becoming a physician,” Keri said.

Dr. Kristen Porter-Utley, dean of the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics, said one of the things that makes Keri stand out is how she “owned” her education and participated in multiple opportunities both in and outside of the classroom. 

“She is a good example of a female scientist who has really taken advantage of what we have to offer in our college and at our university,” Dr. Porter-Utley said. (Story by Heather Harris Michonski, University News) 

Where can you journey around the world without leaving campus – all the while playing miniature golf?

How about a second-floor hallway of the Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center, where you can tee one up thanks to students in Professor John Hooker’s Three-Dimensional Design classes. 

The 16-hole miniature golf course, which is on display through Wednesday, is unlike anything most players have ever faced, revolving as it does around the theme of travel. Holes whisk players to an airport TSA checkpoint, Hawaii, the Bermuda Triangle and elsewhere.  

The project has caught the eye of passing students who stop and play a round with the provided clubs and balls.

Rachel Kennedy-Curran and Eric McCauley, both members of the class of ’21, created a hole that challenges golfers to hit balls from Earth to the Moon or, in this case, up a narrow ramp.

Rachel, who is from Hanson, said her artwork normally reaches a limited audience.

“It’s really fun to have something out in the open for everyone to see and enjoy,” she said. “I like the fact that I can contribute to helping brighten other people’s day.”

Professor Hooker, who teaches in the Department of Art and Art History, drew inspiration for the project from his time studying art education at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. He saw a miniature golf course at an art museum and wrote a lesson plan around creating courses. This is the second time he has tackled the project while teaching at BSU. Students in the Three-Dimensional Design class tackled a variety of other activities, including making life casts of their faces and creating large heads made out of cardboard, papier-mâché and chicken wire.

For the golf course, students made the holes mostly using wood and foam and learned how to use saws, drills, sanders and other tools with which many students are unfamiliar, he said.

The project also challenged them to work with partners and learn time-management skills, said Rachel.

 “I refer to it as ‘how to make stuff,’” Professor Hooker said of the course. (Story and photos by Brian Benson, University News)

Wondering what effect international students have on the local economy or what the ideal length of a hockey stick is?

Attendees to Bridgewater State University’s annual Student Arts & Research Symposium found out the answers to those questions and many more. The annual event, known as StARS, showcases the talents and research of students in a wide variety of areas.

“You can open your mind up to new ideas,” said Morgan Rowe, ’17, G ’18, who is studying special education.

Morgan examined special education classrooms with and without regular movement breaks, such as jogging, as she sought to see whether the breaks affected student behavior.

She was among almost 1,100 students who presented their projects at Monday’s 18th annual showcase, which was hosted by the Center for Transformative Learning and the College of Graduate Studies. Some students showed posters or artwork while others delivered oral presentations or performed theatrical works. Topics ranged from the causes of opioid use and addiction in professional athletes, to technology in early elementary classrooms, to redesigning BSU’s website.

“We know that when students have a chance to share their work there’s a higher level of engagement with it,” said Dr. Jenny Shanahan, assistant provost for high-impact practices. “They put in more effort. They take great pride in their work when they know there is going to be an authentic audience.”

The event, in which about 10 percent of the student body participated, celebrates accomplishments and shows students how their work can influence others, Dr. Shanahan said.

Graduate students Jenniffer Jimenez, G’19; Danya Marhamo, ’17, G’18; and Colleen Zapcic, G’19; explored the economic effects of BSU’s international students on the local and state economy. Over the past five academic years, international students contributed about $11.1 million to BSU, $1.6 million to the town of Bridgewater and $3 million to the state, their poster shows.

The estimates take into account tuition, housing, transportation and other factors, said Colleen and Danya, who hope the research helps make the case for increasing the international student population on campus.

“It was interesting to know the impact international students have on the economy,” said Jenniffer, an international student herself, from the Dominican Republic.

Undergraduate student Christopher Lipari, ’18, who is studying physical education, turned to his passion for hockey. Christopher assessed how the length of a stick affects passing by having a player make passes with three different sized sticks. The longest stick worked best, and allowed the player to be in a more comfortable position. Bending too low hurt performance, he concluded.

“I’ve been playing hockey all my life,” Christopher said. “I thought this would be a great opportunity to do something I love and further explore it.” (Story and photos by Brian Benson, University News)

After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in Florida, Bridgewater State University student Kathleen Purple, ’20, was looking for a way to speak out on campus.

Kathleen couldn’t find an event, so she organized her own – a walkout – which she put together with help from fellow student Candice Sullivan, ’18, and others.

“I hope people were inspired and that they talked to each other and find common ground,” she said.

The walkout, held Friday on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, coincided with other walkouts around the country. It brought dozens of people to the Martin Richard statute in University Park to listen to speeches, register to vote and advocate for change.

“Nobody here is here today to take away the Second Amendment,” Candice, who is from Dover, told the crowd. “We are here today because we want common sense gun laws.”

Students, spurred into action after the Stoneman Douglas shooting, are not letting their message of change go, said Kathleen Berry of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

“The students have turned their pain into power,” she said.

Regardless of people’s viewpoints, it is important to practice “muscular citizenship.” That means more than just voting in elections, said Kelly Brotzman, executive director of the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice.

“It is precisely about becoming an advocate, about finding your voice and using your voice to demand the things that you believe in,” Dr. Brotzman said.

Emma Johansen, ’19, of Milford, brought a sign advocating for change and proclaiming: “At least give teachers school supplies first,” before guns, which some politicians and the National Rifle Association have spoken in favor of doing.

Emma said she hopes students get more involved. After all, they can make a difference, she said.

“When we look back at our individual and collective legacies, would we rather say we defended our personal interests to the detriment of the population or that we saved countless lives by working for a greater good?” said Kathleen Purple, who was in high school when the Columbine shooting occurred and lives in Bridgewater. “Simple yet powerful acts like effective communication across viewpoints and exercising our right to vote are keys in our hands. Use them.” (Story by Brian Benson; photos by Ezechiaste Pompilus, '19, University News)

When Madison Forbes, ’18, was young, someone made the mistake of calling her stupid.

“I set out to prove them wrong,” she said. “Along the way I forgot about what they said and fell in love with literature.”

Madison, an English and philosophy double major with a minor in classical studies, is heading off to Fordham University this fall after being accepted for a fully funded PhD program focused on the study of early modern literature. 

Her ultimate goal is to earn a doctoral degree to live her dream of becoming a university professor.

“My whole world is academics,” Madison said.

She is also receiving the Dr. Barbara Chellis Memorial Fellowship on Wednesday during Honors Week, where she will be celebrated with other high-achieving students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. SEE PROGRAM BELOW FOR LIST OF ALL HONOREES.

As an undergraduate, under the guidance of her faculty mentor Dr. James Crowley, the North Attleboro native threw herself into academia.

“Bridgewater opened my eyes about the opportunities that I have,” Madison said.

One of those opportunities was a summer research project funded by the Adrian Tinsley Program. Her topic “Poetry of Body and Soul: Personhood in John Donne” is also the backbone of her English honors thesis. 

“Being involved in honors and this research changed everything,” Madison said.

Her love of Latin led her in Rome last summer, where she participated in the Paideia Living Latin program. For five weeks, she was allowed to speak only Latin.

“You might call it Latin-Nerd camp,” Madison said. “It was exhausting, overwhelming and life changing.”

Inspired by the experience, Madison began teaching Latin to students at the Davis Middle School in Brockton.

Not all of her success, however, involves literature. Last Spring the self-proclaimed overachiever founded the South Shore Philosophy Conference. During the event, philosophy scholars from BSU, the University of Massachusetts-Boston and Dartmouth, and Stonehill University gathered to present their research on various topics.

Whomever called Madison “stupid” clearly underestimated her potential. Those thoughtless words may have once bothered her, but no longer have an impact.

“I am excited, overwhelmed and grateful,” Madison said of a future that looks more promising by the day. (Story and photo by Heather Harris Michonski, University News)

When Anthony Hebert, ’16, G ’18, first came to Bridgewater State University as an undergraduate, he thought he might transfer elsewhere. Then he made friends, became involved in campus life, and met the political science faculty.

“Really, BSU started feeling like home,” Mr. Hebert said.

It seemed so much like home he decided to continue his education as a Bear after earning a bachelor’s in political science. He expects to graduate this spring with a master’s in public administration.

Mr. Hebert, who is from Sutton, is a recipient of the Bridgewater Alumni Association Graduate Scholarship. He is among a number of graduate students being recognized Wednesday during a special ceremony during Honors Week. SEE PROGRAM BELOW FOR LIST OF ALL HONOREES.

Mr. Hebert hopes to one day become a town administrator and is drawn to municipal service because he believes it’s a way to make people’s lives better.

“I needed to be on the ground talking to people,” he said of pursuing a career in local government. “That’s where you can see the most direct impact.”

He has already garnered professional experience through internships for the town of West Bridgewater, where he worked on conservation matters; and with the Old Colony Planning Council, which tackles housing, downtown revitalization, economic development and other topics. Mr. Hebert also interned for BSU’s Division of External Affairs, where he worked on a report about improving the town of Bridgewater’s parklands.

As an undergraduate, he was active in the Student Government Association and the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. While pursuing his master’s, he stayed involved on campus, serving as president of the Graduate Professional Student Association. He recently returned from a service trip to Cambodia where he and fellow BSU students worked to install water filters in the Southeast Asian nation.

Mr. Hebert, who says he is a naturally introverted person, credits Bridgewater State with building his ability to lead.

“BSU has had a tremendous impact on me,” he said.  “The university has given me new skills, and helped me hone the ones I had.” (Story by Brian Benson, University News; Photos by Nate Rocco, ’18)

Cybersecurity professionals are in demand – and Bridgewater State University wants to educate the next generation of students seeking careers in the growing field.

“We’ve certainly heard the feedback from employers and the industry that they are looking for more professionals in information security,” said Dr. Enping Li, an assistant professor of computer science.

In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the growth rate for information security analysts at 28 percent (“much faster than average”) between 2016 and 2026. And, some experts worry there will not be enough information-security professionals to meet growing demand from law enforcement, businesses and elsewhere in the coming years.

Security breaches are regularly making news, and more qualified personnel are needed to address the threats, said Dr. Li, who is developing new digital forensics and cybersecurity courses and helping the university prepare to launch a new major in the area.

A course in Windows operating system forensics is set for fall 2018 and courses in mobile device forensics and network and cybersecurity are planned for next spring.

The new major will be unique because it focuses on the technical skills students need for the field, said Dr. Kristen Porter-Utley, dean of The Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics.

The Computer Science program at BSU provides a strong foundation upon which the new courses and major can be added. The new classes are designed to have hands-on exercises for most of the topics. Students will gain practical skills through investigations on real-life cases.

BSU aims to meet workforce needs in cyber security by preparing students to be more competitive for an exciting career, said Dr. Li.

“I think it’s a win-win situation,” she said.  (Story by Brian Benson, University News)

A head-turning piece of art was temporarily installed on campus this week in order to shed light on the issue of sexual assault on college campuses.

Students taking Professor Margaret Bellafiore’s second-year seminar, Art as Activism, were asked to choose a topic and then work together to create a memorable work of public art. 

Sophomore Jonathan Hatchof Pembroke said that after listening to a presentation by Sexual Violence Advocacy and Support Center Outreach’s Christy Caisse, the class members were inspired to create a piece that would spark conversations about sexual assault. 

Their research revealed that one in 16 men and one in five women are sexually assaulted on college campuses each year  across the country. The artwork consisted of a simple white clothesline with 16 pairs of black men’s underwear, five pairs of black women’s underwear and one red pair of underwear pinned to it, representing national statistics concerning sexual assault. 

“We want people to know that sexual assault happens on all college campuses. A lot goes unreported, we want people to speak up and share their stories…if someone was hurt in a car accident they would report it, why wouldn’t you report sexual assault?” said North Attleboro’s Taylin Shultz, ’20. 

The piece was installed near the Moakley Center on Burrill Ave. To help passersby better understand the message, students created signs to accompany the artwork. The signs displayed a wide-range of sexual assault statistics and also featured information on where to find support on the BSU campus. 

The installation was put in place on Wednesday, fitting because that was when people across the country marked “Denim Day,” part of a national campaign in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

“We hope when people see it they know they are not alone and that BSU offers support at places such as the Sexual Violence Advocacy and Support Center. There are resources and support groups,” said sophomore Ian Byrneof Salem.

PresidentFrederick W. Clark Jr met with the students at Boyden Hall prior to the installation and thanked them for their efforts, and for creating such an important piece of impactful art.

“When you are trying to make a change sometimes you have to shock the system, and I thank you for shocking the system,” he said. (Story by Heather Harris Michonski, University News)

After three decades as a professor of music at BSU, Dr. Jean L. Kreiling continues to earn recognition in another creative field, with her publication of a second book of poems.

Arts & Letters & Loveis a collection of poems by Dr. Kreiling about her response to well-known works of visual, musical, and literary art. Three sections are devoted, respectively, to poems about paintings, musical pieces, and literature itself, and a fourth to various works about love.

Dr. Kreiling, whose specialty is music history, describes the book as “a thank-you note to the painters, composers, and authors who have opened my mind and nudged my imagination.”

“The arts enrich all our lives, but our experiences with art are fleeting,” she said. “So writing a poem in response to a work of art is an attempt to preserve that experience and make a personal record of that moment. My hope is that my response to a work of art may ring true to others or stimulate them to explore these works of art.”

Dr. Kreiling whose previous collection, The Truth in Dissonance, appeared in 2014, has received several awards for her poetry, including the Able Muse Write Prize. She is also a six-time finalist for the Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award.

Her new book reflects how poetry and music are natural complements, said Dr. Kreiling, who has been writing poetry seriously for 15 years.

“As a musicologist, my job is often to analyze or describe music as objectively as possible.” But that can be an incredibly frustrating endeavor, she added, because “music stirs us in ways that just can't be captured in technical vocabulary.”

Relating to music through the lens of poetry offers additional rewards, Dr. Kreiling said.

“Poetry offers a subjective way to respond to music that paradoxically often turns out to be a more precise response,”she said.

An overriding message of the book, Dr. Kreiling said, is that “We are free to interpret a work of art however we want,” a theme she overtly explores in the opening poem - about the Edward Hopper painting, “Rooms by the Sea.” The painting, featured on the book’s cover, “is really intriguing and I think it’s open to a number of interpretations.”

Dr. Kreiling, who has her BSU students read poems about music, said, “I’m very impressed with how they find in a work of poetic art something that helps them understand a musical work of art, how their minds can work in that inter-disciplinary way.”

“At a Performance of Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes”

By Jean Kreiling

The whole world counts to three: the singers, hoping

that love resounds in every exhalation;

the agile-fingered pianists, gamely coping

with four-hand tangles, mimicking flirtation;

the silver-haired conductor, who has led

rehearsals every week, whose heart is full

of well-tuned Viennese élan, whose head

whirls with a thousand notes, and who must pull

old ballroom glory from these modern men

and women, and disperse it to the rows

of ears behind him, so that once again

a world of two-beat patterns - valves that close

and open, limbs in pairs, the choice to be

or not - can happily defer to three.

(Dr. Kreiling says was inspired to write this poem by hearing a 2015 performance of the Brahms Liebeslieder by the Bridgewater State University Chorale, Dr. Steven Young, director, and Professor James Hay and Dr. Sarah McQuarrie, accompanists).

Arts & Letters & Loveis available at Amazon.com. Anyone interested in a signed copy at a discounted price can contact Dr. Kreiling at jkreiling@bridgew.edu. (Story by John Laidler for University News)

Ryan O’Connell, ’19, Bridgewater State University’s inaugural commuter initiatives coordinator, began his role as a resource for students in November. 

The 21-year-old senior and Bridgewater native, double majors in history and secondary education, and double minors in social studies and special education. He embodies the archetype for a successful commuter student who manages well life’s various moving pieces. He also works, substitute teaches in the Bridgewater-Raynham school district, and is a member of both the International Education Honors Society and the history department’s Honors Society. 

While sitting in the Rondileau Campus Center next to desk pods, and an electronic charging station, Ryan articulately described his perspective on managing a busy schedule and helping others do the same.

“Our job is like putting a puzzle together,” he said. “Creating a healthy environment for students who have many different responsibilities isn’t easy.” 

Ryan recognizes the impact he can have on the approximately 60 percent of the 9,500 undergraduate students who commute.to BSU. He has experienced both sides: He currently commutes to Bridgewater State and did the same while earning his associate’s degree at Cape Cod Community College. In 2016, he transferred to BSU and lived on campus his junior year. 

“You want to feel important. At times, I’ve felt, and I think commuters feel, like the school overlooks them,” he said. 

On the job, Ryan takes this into consideration and makes a point to be available for commuting students – often labeled an invisible majority – five days a week. 

The success of both commuting students and the university itself are intertwined. Which is one of the reasons a subcommittee was established on campus to study the factors that impact non-residential students. Focus groups with students were held in February and March of 2017, as well. 

Referencing the data from the resulting report, Ryan, in an informed tone, said, “There’s a direct correlation between involvement and retention. Our goal is to listen to commuter’s voices. We want to keep them feeling engaged and supported.” 

BSU immediately took action on the report’s findings. One example was built this past fall in Weygand Hall – a commuter-only lounge. 

Ryan’s wry and down to earth personality surfaced when referencing a hot topic: Parking on campus.

“Listen, I can’t make more parking spaces,” he said. “I understand it can be like the Hunger Gamesout there, but seriously, it’s not that bad. I can and will work to make sure commuter’s thoughts and concerns are heard.” 

Since his start, Ryan has led four different initiatives: cocoa with commuters, luncheons, commuter chats, and coffee with commuters. The get-togethers Ryan hosts offer commuters an opportunity to meet, talk, and relax. Those wishing to learn more about these events or to sign up for one or more can do so via the BSU mobile app or Eventpass.

“At every event, we give out BSU ‘swag,’” Ryan said, using the informal term for promotional goodies. These have included car fresheners, t-shirts and stickers. 

Ryan O’Connell can be reached during office hours: Mondays and Fridays 3 to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 to 10:30 a.m.; and Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Story by Anthony Jordan for University News)

Zachary Curtis, ’18, wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life when he arrived on campus. His father Marc and older brother Matt (Class of 2014), both work in accounting, and eventually they inspired him to follow in their footsteps when it came time to choose a major. 

“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Zachary admits, but after graduation next month, his experiences at Bridgewater will have given him the confidence to pursue a career in finance, he said. 

Zachary actually decided to double major in accounting and finance with a minor in management. He maintains a 3.939 GPA. His high marks have earned him a spot on the dean’s list each semester.

The recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Senior Student Recognition Award Zachary,is also set to receive two scholarships – from Bridgewater Savings Bank and the Patricia (Quinn) Bartlett, ’67, Endowed Scholarship Fund. 

He is just one of the students being celebrated Thursday during the Honors Week ceremony devoted to students in the Ricciardi College of Business. SEE BELOW FOR THE ENTIRE LIST OF HONOREES.

Through BSU, Zachary currently works as a financial intern in the College of Business, where Associate Dean Jeanean J. Davis-Streetsaid he, “delivered stellar results.” 

As an intern, Zachary and two other students interviewed several investment firms to determine which one could best manage the BSU Foundation’s fixed income portfolio. 

“Zachary was knowledgeable, diligent and professional during all aspects of the project, and the team gave a wonderful, well-received presentation to the BSU Foundation members,” said Dr. Davis-Street. 

The Bridgewater native is also part of the inaugural student-managed Fund Club. This the first year the group has been in existence at BSU. Alumni funded $200,000 for members to analyze, invest and make stock pitches. Zachary said his experience with the Fund Club has given him a better understanding of key financial concepts related to the creation and management of a portfolio.  

Analyzing the stock market isn’t the only way this Bear spends his time, he is also a professional cyclist and trains roughly 15 hours a week. 

Zachary has represented Bridgewater State in two collegiate national championships. The most recent race was held in Reno, Nevada, where he placed 11^thin the overall college division and 30^thin the US Men’s Pro Division. 

Being a student athlete has helped him stay better organized and create a balance in life, he said.

“It’s made me more disciplined and time-management oriented, teaching me to better prioritize,” Zachary said. 

After spending four years at BSU, he is excited and ready for what the future might hold. 

“I feel confident that what I’ve learned at school has taught me how to work hard and be open minded to learning new skills,” Zachary said. “I’ve been given a lot of good opportunities that have opened my eyes to what it will be like working in the real world.” (Story and photo by Heather Harris Michonski, University News)

This year, BSU celebrates the achievements of three young women who have been honored by the Fulbright Program. Here are their stories.

Danielle J. Lopez, ’17, is proof that one small decision can change your life.

Ms. Lopez was contemplating applying to the Fulbright Program, but after a day of classes she didn’t feel like attending an information session held on campus.

“It’s crazy because I almost did not go,” she recalled.

But, Ms. Lopez, who earned a bachelor of science degree in biology, attended the information session and a weeklong Fulbright preparation “boot camp” that followed. She applied and learned recently she is receiving a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship.

She will spend much of 2019 in a Malaysian secondary school assisting English teachers and leading after-school science-education activities. She will serve as a cultural ambassador, and work to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Malaysia.

Ms. Lopez, who is from New Bedford and aspires to become a dentist, couldn’t contain her excitement when she found out – via email while at a gas station of all places – that she’d received a Fulbright. Though nervous about her upcoming international journey, she is also thrilled to live in Malaysia and experience everyday life there.

“I want to go to a country that is majority Muslim,” she said. “That’s a culture I’ve always wanted to understand. … I’m sure I will grow to love their culture and share it back here.”

Ms. Lopez, who began her higher education journey at Bristol Community College, said Bridgewater State always feels like home, from the dining halls to the dorms to classes. Faculty and staff care and want to help students, she said.

Her journey to receiving a Fulbright, meanwhile, underscores the importance of trying.

“People will tell you because it’s so selective, don’t apply for it,” she said. “Apply for it. Apply because you can and if you don’t apply you’ll never know. It really takes one moment to change your path.”

Daniela Belice, ’18, did not know English when she immigrated to the United States after an earthquake devastated her home city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2010.

But Daniela did not let that slow her down. She learned the language, graduated from Brockton High School in 2014 and is preparing to graduate this spring from Bridgewater State University, where she is majoring in sociology and political science and minoring in Spanish and civic education and community leadership.

She also wants to give back to the immigrant community by easing the transition for people who come to the United States.

“Immigrants, when they come here, don’t have knowledge about laws, or who to go to when they need help,” she said.  “I want to work to help to better the lives of immigrants.”

One step along that journey will take her to Ryerson University in Canada, where she will study the economic integration of immigrant health care workers and pursue a master’s degree. She will travel to Canada for the 2018-2019 academic year thanks to a Fulbright Research Grant. While north of the border, she also plans to volunteer at Toronto’s Access Center for Internationally Educated Health Professionals and the Toronto Regional Immigrant Employment Council.

She hopes to use her research to educate policymakers in the United States.

“I decided to do this topic because I’m an immigrant,” said Daniela, who lives in Brockton. “I’ve always had a passion to serve immigrants.”

BSU provided her with the opportunity to research, travel and volunteer. She praised the university’s supportive faculty members, including Dr. Norma Anderson, who encouraged her to apply for a Fulbright.

“The school has impacted me in so many ways,” she said.

Daniela is not sure where she wants to work after completing the Fulbright. But, she is certain she wants to make a difference.

“I will definitely go to a place where I’m needed,” she said. “I want to make an impact. I want to see the direct result of my work.”

Mikayla Cote, ’17, has a yen for Cambodia.

Ms. Cote traveled to the Southeast Asian nation three times as a Bridgewater State University undergraduate, including working on wastewater systems.

“The culture was really striking to me,” she said. “It’s just a beautiful culture and the people were so kind. It was truly mesmerizing to see the different places.”

Now, the Plymouth resident is preparing to spend about 10 months in Phnom Penh through a Fulbright Research Grant. She will build and test a wastewater reactor with support from Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia and Wetlands Work! Ltd. The research seeks to improve public health and the environment, with the hope that it can be applied globally.

“I also want to get really involved in the community,” said Ms. Cote, who would like to raise awareness in Cambodia about the importance of clean water and sanitation.

Ms. Cote, who studied biology at BSU after transferring from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, applied for a Fulbright before and was not selected. She credited Dr. Jenna Mendell with encouraging her to apply again. 

“I love science. That was my degree,” said Ms. Cote, who would like to study microbiology in graduate school. “Another part of me really liked the Fulbright because of its mission of (fostering) mutual understanding between two different countries.”

She hopes to raise awareness in the United States about what is happening with wastewater and drinking water in places such as Cambodia.

She said she is motivated to keep visiting Cambodia by Cambodians’ attitudes.

“You don’t want to go to a place and seem like you’re pushing your beliefs on them,” she said. In Cambodia, “people are very welcoming with what you’re doing and interested in learning about water.” (Story by Brian Benson, University News)

The East Campus Commons field was filled with explosions of color as students threw bright hues of powder up into the air – and at each other – during last week's traditional Holi celebration.

“It’s a fun event for students to get outdoors and celebrate life,” said Jennifer Currie, interim assistant director for International Student & Scholar Services.

Holi is a spring festival celebrated in India that signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and the end of winter.

The BSU Holi was conceived as a cultural event by BSU’s International Culture Club (ICC) last year when Ghislaine van de Laarschot, G’18, organized the inaugural celebration.

“It’s really important to celebrate the cultures that are not as represented at the school,” Ghislaine said.

Because last year’s event was so much fun, ICC President Zachary Wright, ’18, brought it back again.

“Not only is it a great event to de-stress for the final exams, but primarily Holi is a way to simultaneously explore a new culture and have fun,” he said.

And, it wasn’t the only colorful cultural activity on campus. On Saturday, United Caribbean Culture hosted a Jouver’t event, which is similar to Holi. Attendees enjoyed music and exchanged paint and colored powder. 

“Come clean, in clothes you don’t particularly care about messing up, and leave dirty covered in culture!” organizers wrote about Jouver’t.

Back at the Holi festivities, curiosity drew friends, and swim and dive team members, Bridgette McGovern and Jenny Marmion, both members of the class of 2019.

“I had heard and knew about the festival in India and thought it would be a cool experience to do it here,” Bridgette said.

Both women jumped right in and were decorated with color when all was said and done.

Attendees were also treated to fare that included; chicken curry, gulab jamun, naan and veggie samosas.

The event was funded by the Student Government Association and sponsored by the ICC and ISSS. (Story and photos by Heather Harris Michonski, University News; Brian Benson contributed.)

At the recent Impact Awards, dozens of people and organizations were recognized for accomplishments that affected the campus and the broader community.

“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” said President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83. “It’s one of my favorites because it’s all about you – our students – and what you do to make our campus, our region, our world, a better place.”

The 22^nd annual ceremony included awards for community service, leadership, club advising, programming and student excellence.

President Clark praised the selfless commitments of the award recipients. The event, he said, recognizes “involvement in service to others.”

He recounted the same type of commitment to others manifested by his mentor, the late U.S. Congressman Joseph Moakley.

“I see in your generation some of that same public spiritedness and desire to improve the world around you,” President Clark said. “I am inspired by who you are, what you stand for and what you do. And I am deeply grateful for the work you do, both individually and collectively, giving selflessly to help others.”

This annual event is a collaboration between Student Involvement and Leadership, Student Government Association, the Community Service Center and the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

A list of honorees is attached below. (Story by Brian Benson, University News)