the American Catholic laity, that contraception constitutes a breaking-point issue. Catholics have done better historically for themselves and for pluralistic democracy when working within the system, and Dolan’s brand of punditry threatens to endanger that tradition. Matthew DeLuca ’11 New York, New York There should be little doubt that the U.S. Council of Bishops is carrying out a plan to discredit the incumbent U.S. president. Does not this create a church-state conflict? Of course, it does! Vito Tamboli ’56 Saint Louis, Missouri Benefits program
Re “Runners’ World” by Tim Czerwienski (Spring 2012): Thank you for recognizing the efforts of the Campus School marathon team, a crucial branch of the Campus School Volunteers. The marathon team is the largest fundraiser for this undergraduate club, which annually raises more than $100,000 for the Campus School. On Marathon day, Campus School families set up a cheering section at Boston College’s main gate at Linden Lane. Campus School marathoners are recognizable in their yellow marathon shirts (donated to the team by the Boston College Bookstore). Hundreds of Campus School marathoners reach their personal goal of finishing a marathon. In addition they create bonds with Campus School students and become part of a legacy. Don Ricciato, Director Sean Schofield, Volunteer Coordinator Campus School Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts mixed message
Re “Close-up: Holy Makeover!” by Thomas Christopher (Spring 2012): Although the general public may think that the “Immaculate Conception” refers to the conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit, it is distressing to find this misinterpretation in a Boston College publication. Jesus was conceived at the time of the Annunciation, which the Church celebrates on March 25. Mary, the daughter of Anne and Joachim, was conceived naturally but without original sin; we
celebrate this on December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception). In the picture of St. Joseph (page 9), the angel Gabriel is telling him of Mary’s miraculous pregnancy, not her Immaculate Conception. Rebecca Valette Professor emeritus Department of romance languages Editor’s note: This error was also reported by Vincent Gallagher ’67.
Events: Celebrating 150 years October 5 • Education and Its Role in Democratic Societies A day of panel discussions with a keynote address (“What Community Provides”) by Pedro Noguera, the Peter L. Agnew
O’Connor remembered
Professor of Education at New
About 10 years ago, I was invited to contribute to a book of short tributes titled I Remember My Teacher. Thomas H. O’Connor ’49, MA’50, H’93, who passed away May 20 at age 89, came immediately to mind, and I recalled that while he specialized in teaching “the time between the revolution and the Civil War, he was proof that there is no dull period in history. . . . He brought Calhoun, Webster, Van Buren, Clay all to life. He taught me that history is not a dull and dusty thing, but full of life and rich in humor—like Thomas O’Connor himself.” Martin Nolan ’61 San Francisco, California
York University. Sponsored by
updates n In
fall 2010, BCM reported on a project by assistant professor of English Joseph Nugent to create an electronic guide to the Dublin of James Joyce’s Ulysses (“Bloom’s Way”). With the help of successive classes of Boston College undergraduates, Nugent produced an interactive, multimedia guide to both Ulysses and Dubliners that was launched as an iPhone app on June 14. Called JoyceWays, it contains historical and contemporary photos, video clips, and maps detailing more than 100 locations along the routes traveled by Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus. Details are available at www.joyceways.com. n A 40-foot long replica of a section of the Berlin Wall that was created in 2009 by fine arts lecturer Mark Cooper and students to mark the 20th anniversary of the Wall’s demise (“Wall Space,” Fall 2009) has been re-erected in Northern Ireland as a peace memorial. Originally installed on the Dustbowl, the canvas and wood structure was moved to Strabane, a city much damaged during the Troubles, where local
the Lynch School of Education. October 10 • Drew Gilpin Faust An address by the president of Harvard University. Sponsored by the sesquicentennial speakers series. November 8–9 • Religion and the Liberal Aims of Higher Education Two days of panel discussions featuring college presidents, scholars, and journalists. For registration information on these and other events during the sesquicentennial celebration, visit www.bc.edu/150.
schoolchildren worked with area artists to add a new layer of art and commentary. Corrections: In “Identification, Please” (Spring 2012) the man identified as John Tebnan in the lower right photo on page 18 was John E. Tevnan ’51, P’88. Our thanks to Richard Schrader, professor emeritus of English, for bringing this to our attention. In Steve Pemberton’s autobiographical piece “Marian’s Children” (Spring 2012) the newspaper cited in the caption on page 30 as the New Bedford Times Standard is the New Bedford Standard Times. BCM welcomes letters from readers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and must be signed to be published. Our fax number is (617) 552–2441; our e-mail address is bcm@bc.edu.
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