OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
October 19, 2009
Dear Students:
On behalf of the Division of Student Affairs I am proud to support the 30th Anniversary of the AHANA acronym. Over the next year Boston College will commemorate the anniversary with programs and events that bring to life the history and significance of this acronym, and I invite each of you to engage in and take advantage of these opportunities.
Created in 1979 to describe individuals of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent, the acronym now represents the breadth of diverse cultures that compose the Boston College community. In celebrating this we must honor the vision of two students, Alfred Feliciano ’79 and Valerie Lewis ’79, who recognized the growing diversity on campus and developed the AHANA acronym to replace the term “minority.” Life on campus in 1979 was quite different, and it is important for us to understand how significant their vision and leadership was in helping to create a welcoming environment on campus. All students at Boston College see the impacts of these student pioneers. Today the AHANA acronym represents more than just a descriptor, it’s a way of describing the community value of diversity—and not just at Boston College, but at other campuses as well.
Diversity and difference strengthen our community and your education, and we have a chance to celebrate this fact over the next year. Each department in the Division of Student Affairs will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the AHANA acronym by supporting events and spreading awareness on campus. I encourage you to attend an event commemorating the anniversary, talk with friends and fellow students about what the AHANA acronym means on campus today, and seek out opportunities to engage with faculty, staff, or alumni of Boston College who have witnessed some aspect of the remarkable development—the gift and the promise—that is represented by the AHANA concept.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Rombalski
Vice President for Student Affairs