The Boston College Chronicle

Around Campus

Giving Season

The Graduate Student Association’s Spirituality Committee has taken to heart the Thanksgiving spirit by organizing two special outreach activities open to members of the Boston College community.

Earlier this week, the GSA committee arranged visits to elderly Jesuits at the Campion Center in Weston. The committee also has collaborated with the Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly to conduct home visits and give holiday gifts to elderly citizens in the Boston area this coming Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Spirituality Committee member Stefaan Deschrijver, a student in the School of Theology and Ministry, says the Nov. 25 outreach will rely to a great extent on the diversity of the Boston College graduate student body.

“Many needy elderly barely speak English, so we will be looking for people with Russian, Hebrew, Haitian, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian, German and other language skills, and cultural connections,” he explains. “These visits are very rewarding: The elderly often have marvelous stories to tell.” — Sean Smith

Spotlight at STM

On Nov. 12, Jesuit priest and author Uwem Akpan of Nigeria read excerpts from his best-selling book to a crowd gathered at the School of Theology and Ministry Library and answered their questions about culture, religion and politics in Africa as well as the priesthood, spirituality and writing.

Fr. Akpan is the author of The New York Times #1 best-seller Say You’re One of Them, a collection of short stories told from the perspective of children from different African countries. The stories depict the difficult situations facing these children from poverty, prostitution and slavery to religious conflict and genocide.

When Oprah Winfrey selected Fr. Akpan’s book for her popular book club, the priest and his book became an international sensation. Fr. Akpan, who was ordained in 2003, visited Boston College as part of a tour of US Jesuit colleges and universities. His BC appearance was sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry.

The audience was “very moved by the book,” reported Terry Lima, assistant to STM Dean Richard Clifford, SJ. “He was a wonderful speaker, very engaging.” Fr. Akpan signed copies of his book after an extensive Q&A following his reading. - Kathleen Sullivan

Newton's Eagle

Newly elected City of Newton Mayor Setti Warren shouldn’t have much trouble finding his way to, and around, Boston College. After all, he earned his undergraduate degree in history at the Heights (in 1993) and served as assistant director for leadership gifts in the University’s Development Office from 2001-03.

Warren — who went on to become a staffer under US Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and also served as Federal Emergency Management Agency director for New England — was the Undergraduate Government of Boston College president as a sophomore, the second African-American to hold the position. It was during his term that he took the class French Revolution and Napoleon taught by History Professor Paul Spagnoli.

“I’d say the course more than prepared him for anything he should encounter in Newton politics,” says Spagnoli, “which I hope won’t involve any guillotines.

“The other thing I remember about Setti is that a year and a half after he took my course he invited me to his graduation party — at the Copley Plaza, as I recall,” he adds. “I haven’t gotten too many invitations like that from students in my teaching career. Perhaps it signaled his thoughts of a future career in politics.” — Sean Smith