Friday, March 27, 2020

Thirty-six Students Test Positive for COVID-19, BC Suspends Nonessential Services

Thirty-four Boston College students who are off campus had self-reported that they had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday. Two students still living on campus have also tested positive—both are in isolation at 2150 Commonwealth Ave. One BC employee has tested positive, but this employee has not been on campus since March 5, according to the University.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has ordered a closure of all nonessential businesses in the state, which went into effect Tuesday. The University issued a letter to employees saying that all nonessential on-campus services would be suspended, with remote work continuing where feasible. Employees performing services essential to the University’s “critical infrastructure,” remote teaching, security, and support for remaining students will continue coming to campus.

Petition Calls For BC to Hold In-Person Commencement

An online petition calling on BC to hold an in-person Commencement now has more than 2,600 signatures. Quenton Koch, CSOM ’20, started the petition after learning that the University of Pennsylvania would be holding an online Commencement for its Class of 2020. “Even if graduation is postponed to the distant future, we will not settle for an online graduation ceremony,” Koch’s petition reads. “We have worked too hard for the past 4 years to have commencement taken away from us.”

BC Mission and Ministry Cancels In-Person Mass Services

After BC canceled all in-person Mass services by order of Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston, Rev. Casey Beaumier, S.J. began celebrating the Candlelight Mass online via Zoom. While virtual, the Mass continues to be celebrated every Monday through Thursday at 10 p.m. Many of the students that attend Candlelight Mass during the school year are regulars, who have dubbed themselves the “Candlelight Crew.”

BC Coaches React to the Coronavirus Outbreak

Joanna Bernabei-McNamee
Women's Basketball: Second-year BC women’s basketball coach and ACC Coach of the Year Joanna Bernabei-McNamee was on pace to lead the Eagles to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 14 years when the tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus. Bernabei-McNamee’s Eagles broke the program record for ACC wins and put together a winning season for the first time since the 2010-11 season. In a recent interview with The Heights, the coach said she has high hopes for the future of the team.

Jerry York
Men's Hockey: BC men’s hockey was riding a nine-game winning streak and had recently captured the top seed in the Hockey East tournament when the cancellations of both the Hockey East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament stopped the Eagles in their tracks. In an interview with The Heights, Jerry York explained how proud he was of the seniors on the team, who lost the chance to win a national title. “There’s just no playbook for this,” York said. “This is way bigger than what’s happening in Conte Forum.”

Jeff Hafley
Football: Head football coach Jeff Hafley has plans to ensure that his team gets into shape by its Sept. 4 matchup against Syracuse, even with the possibility that the team will not be able to return to campus full-time until late in the summer. Hafley was able to squeeze in five of the 15 NCAA-alloted spring practices before the University required students to vacate their residence halls. Hafley said in a recent phone press conference that coaches will continue to meet with players virtually for the time being.

Who's Who?

The University of Buffalo defensive lineman Chibueze Onwuka announced that he would be joining BC football as a graduate transfer on Wednesday. Onwuka started his college athletic career wrestling at Niagara County Community College before walking on to Buffalo’s football team his sophomore year.

Top Tweet

The legend of Matt Ryan starts with this one. Tune in at 7 p.m. for The Comeback at http://bit.ly/BCWake05 #WeAreBC

—BC Football
(@B CFootball)

March 26, 2020

Heights in Depth

A proposal for an initiative that would be funded by the Charles Koch Foundation and housed in the political science department has sparked controversy on campus. Learn more about the Koch Foundation and the recent developments with the
proposal in this episode of
The Heights In Depth.

COVID-19 Coverage

In between newsletters, keep up with The Heights’ coronavirus coverage here.

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