STUDENT LIFE

Live and Learn

2006

Students in their home away from home.

One of the “recreation” or “lounging” rooms at 921 Boylston Street, 1934

Student Life as We’ve Known It

BY J. ANDREW SHEPARDSON

IT IS FITTING THAT THE STUDENT AFFAIRS PROFESSION TOOK SHAPE IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, JUST AS HARRY BENTLEY

WAS STARTING HIS OWN EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOR. Our founder cared very much about students’ development as professionals and for them personally (in lending money to those in need, for example). The sentiment carries through our history, more evident now than ever as we aim to develop students who go on to have great careers and great lives.

True to form, Bentley approaches student life with a distinctive philosophy. An education here was never meant to separate students from the real world, but rather to prepare them for that world — whether at work or at home. By helping students form relationships, develop autonomy, balance emotions, discover what inspires them and, of course, celebrate their successes, we graduate alumni who are more engaged at work and report higher levels of well-being than their national peers, according to a survey by Gallup Inc.

ROOM TO GROW

Until the 1960s, student life outside the classroom was virtually nonexistent. Becoming a four-year college spurred change and the new Waltham campus made room — literally — for wide-ranging programs and activities.

Today, student life is a key element of the university’s strategic plan, recognizing the educational value of a fully immersive residential experience for undergraduates.

Multicultural Center, 2012

Opportunities come in many forms: living and learning communities in residence halls, such as the Global Living Center or the Women’s Leadership floor; social activities nearly every night of the week; concerts that boast an attendance of 3,000; spirited hockey games; a signature trip to the Bahamas just before Commencement.

Students themselves are strong partners in shaping campus life. They serve as effective advocates for their community, balancing academics with opportunities to gather around common interests and causes.

Looking back and ahead, student life is rooted in three commitments: engineering change, building community and developing services. A handful of stories illustrate these themes.

RAISING SCHOOL SPIRIT WITH ATHLETICS

An athletics program did not exist at Bentley until the early 1960s. This was due in part to a lack of space on the Boston campus, but also because students were encouraged to devote themselves fully to academics.

It was students who lobbied for change. David G. Kennedy ’65 shares his pride in “convincing the triumvirate of [Thomas] Morison, [Rae] Anderson and [E. William] Dandes — with an assist from [Henry Y.] Porter — that as Bentley was about to transition to collegiate standing with a vision for a ‘real’ campus, there needed to be embracing of an athletic program. Bowling on Wednesday afternoons with [Accounting] Professor Harry Zerigian, while a delightful break, would not suffice!”

Most recently, students were staunch advocates for the multipurpose arena rising on the south campus. The Student Government Association was instrumental in proposing the venue to trustees. The facility will host events such as concerts, academic lectures, and career and activity fairs, along with providing a first-ever home for the university’s Division I hockey team.

STANDING UP FOR DIVERSITY

Unlike the university today, Bentley was an all-white school until the 1930s and men only until 1942 (though women were admitted for a brief period during World War I). Sadly, enrollment reflected the workplace of the time, as employers rarely hired either women or men of color as accountants.

Still, the school strived to be an inclusive place for women and students of color. The Black United Body, established in the 19691970 academic year, is one of Bentley’s oldest student organizations. Student groups now represent and support a wide range of cultures and ethnicities. Students have been at the center of ensuring tolerance on campus. An incident of intolerance in the 1990s, when posters for cultural organizations were defaced and torn down, demonstrates this. Bob Minetti, retired vice president for development, corporate and alumni relations, shares this story.

“Following the incident, a group of students organized a nighttime walk around campus to post flyers with the message ‘This is our home. Bigots not welcome.’ It not only brought the campus together but forced the institution to confront racial issues. It was phenomenal because the student body enlisted the support of faculty and staff; they saw Bentley as their community.”

My immediate predecessor as vice president, Kathleen Yorkis, was an early supporter and leader of the Multicultural Center. She credits the center for “providing support to a great community, whose presence contributes to the cultural richness of Bentley as a whole.” Today, with the Center for Women and Business and programs like Bentley Brave, we move from reflecting the workplace to influencing the workplace.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Fraternities and sororities, established at Bentley in the 1920s and 1940s, respectively, had a large influence on social life. Their fundraisers, dances and annual banquets presented opportunities for connection.

Campus-wide events have been important community builders, and none more so than Spring Day. It marks the end of classes and serves as a last hurrah before finals begin. The event started with carnival rides on the library quad before moving to the Greenspace and featuring local musicians (though one year a rainstorm relocated revelers under the Miller Hall parking deck). Spring Day now centers on a concert by well-known musicians that is held in the Dana Center. The theme of friendship and community connects all of these iterations.

DEVELOPING SERVICES

Bob Minetti and Kathleen Yorkis were instrumental in building the professionalism of the Student Affairs division. Their work took Bentley from a “suitcase campus” to one that operates 24/7. Accordingly, the commitment to student life stretches across the organization. Collaborators have included faculty, according to Bob. “I’m hard-pressed to recall a time when I didn’t receive support. Faculty respected work we were doing, which was rather unique. They understood that what happened outside the classroom was important, too.”

The support came from the top, Kathleen Yorkis recalls. “President Greg Adamian often said, ‘After we’ve taught you everything there is to know about money, we’ll teach you that money isn’t everything.’ To me, that was a powerful statement about student life, as a complement to academic accomplishment.”

This approach extends to the services provided by University Police, where Kathleen believed relationships were key. “We did not just hire people who wanted to be officers. We hired people who wanted to subscribe to a community policing model in an educational setting.”

In health care, we have progressed from one nurse hired on a contract basis to today’s Center for Health, Wellness and Counseling. While we hope someday to have a stand-alone wellness center, the staff work in concert to promote students’ physical and mental well-being.

A VITAL PARTNERSHIP

Working with students day in and day out as vice president for student affairs, I have plenty of experiences that speak to their active role in campus life. But there is a single story that demonstrates the spirit of partnership: the senior class trip to the Bahamas.

Commencement Week has been a long tradition — a time of fun but also practicality, by giving time to certify grades before Commencement. In the mid-1990s, it seemed like the sun and warm weather of May lasted only while students were taking finals. As soon as Commencement Week came, it would get cold and rainy. We tried to find events that would keep students entertained, for example, a field day at the Meadows in Connecticut or trips to Newport. Still, in the end, students came back to a wet, cold campus; the result was some bad behavior.

Bentley could have chosen to simply eliminate the program. In fact, many peers did. But one of the events — an overnight cruise on the Scotia Prince — showed us how much students enjoyed being away with all their friends. Attempts to arrange a five-day cruise did not pan out, but we found a resort willing to host Bentley’s senior class in 1999. The Bahamas trip was born.

Today’s trip looks very different from the early years. More than 600 students attend and activities include community service on the island. One highlight is the police escort from the Atlantis resort to the home of the island’s governor general, who welcomes Bentley students and thanks them for their commitment to service.

To me, the story underlines a central tenet of student life at Bentley — a commitment to work with students and do so in a way like no other school.

J. Andrew Shepardson is vice president for student affairs and dean of students. The narrative draws on research by university historian Cliff Putney.

A Home Run Experience

BY JENNIFER SKUCE-SPIRA

1982, Fenway Park: Jim Rice, Wade Boggs and Dwight Evans lead the Red Sox, as former Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski begins his penultimate season with the team. Mark Balaban ’84, P ’20, then a Bentley sophomore, takes the “T” from Waltham to Yawkey Way more than 30 times from April to September. His seat in the sunshine costs $7.50.

More than 30 years later, Balaban keeps this Bentley tradition alive as a partial season ticket holder — paying upwards of $100 for a box seat — with a thriving law practice in Middletown, Conn., and three college-age sons. His youngest, Jordan, is a Bentley freshman.

“I tell Jordan that I learned just as much outside of class, from Bentley professors and activities I was involved in, as I did inside the classroom,” says the former Management major. “That was a huge segment of my education.”

Inspired to enroll after visiting a friend on campus, Balaban made quick work of getting involved. He joined the Academic Affairs Board, became a resident assistant and pledged the Kappa Pi Alpha (KPA) fraternity.

“They required a 3.0 GPA for membership. I’m not embarrassed to say I had to obtain a waiver my first semester in order to join,” he says with a laugh.

Long before Dunkin’ Donuts came to campus, the KPA brothers sold coffee and donuts to evening students to raise funds for local charities and their own social events. The caffeinated enterprise — a simple cart on wheels located in the former Classroom Building — brought in more than $500 per week.

Weekends were lively, he says. “I remember the campus being very active, and enjoying events every Friday night. Organizations were always bringing in entertainment and speakers.”

Balaban’s extracurricular education included stopovers in the office of Professor William Kimball, for lively exchanges on government, law and politics. He also describes an impromptu lesson on the stock market, delivered by Professor of Economics Claudio Krauss — at Thackery’s Bar & Grill.

“There were paper tablecloths you could write on,” he remembers. “Over two beers I learned all about calls and puts. It was fascinating.” This year Balaban adds another dimension to his Bentley experience: “I’m proud to be a legacy parent. As much fun as I had, I hope my son can exceed it.”

Home Making

1969 Global Living Center, 2012

Above: Examples of student residences from the Bentley Views brochure published in 1934. Students lived primarily in rooming houses throughout Boston and Brookline at the time.

1970s

2012 1970s

Three students in one of the newly opened Waltham dorms in 1969

Good Times

Students bring “supplies” home to their dorms to wait out the Blizzard of ’78

In 2015, the Dear World storytelling project asked students to convey a personal message

These hats were all the rage at Reunions and Commencements through the 1970s

Field Day, now known as Spring Day, was the first Bentley community activity, and commonly took place in Newton, Mass., on the day after exams ended

Far left: In the 1970s, students formed the Bentley Beautification Committee. They raked leaves, picked up trash, planted flowers and trees and more.

2002

Orientation, 2011

Student Organizations: Then & Now

BY JENNIFER WRIGHT ’16

Study and work were the predominant student activities for most of Bentley’s first 40 years. The Boston campus lacked spaces to gather other than smoking lounges.

Moreover, socializing was not a priority, says university historian Cliff Putney: “Students commuted to school, often on public transportation and from some distance. After classes, most headed off to jobs, which they needed to put themselves through Bentley.”

The earliest extracurricular options included a handful of fraternities and sororities, beginning with Kappa Pi Alpha in 1922 and Delta Omega in 1940; a student council formed in 1926; and a yearbook called The Benboo, published only in 1932 and 1933.

ENTHUSIASM RISES

Boom years for student organizations arrived with Bentley’s rise to collegiate status in 1961. Putney’s research notes that members of the Class of 1964 were the first to elect student officers (including George Fantini, see page 5, and Katherine O’Keefe, page 32); create a student event that endured for many years (a talent show, page 66); and precede their Commencement with special activities (Senior Week, page 54). “New organizations reflected students’ interest in business, culture, religion, politics and academics,” Putney says of groups such as AIESEC, the Paideia Club, Newman Club, Young Republicans and Young Democrats, and Systems and Procurement Club. “Bentley’s president at the time, Thomas Morison, saw extracurricular activities as key to earning accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as in ‘producing graduates of broader education and competence.’ He urged Bentley students to create additional societies, which they did with great enthusiasm.”

Students remain the driving force in establishing and running organizations. There are now more than 100 options, clustered in the general categories of academics, Greek life, student government, religion and service, social causes and politics, arts and media, culture, and recreation and athletics. Students whose interests are not represented can propose a new organization and petition the Association of Bentley Activities (ABA) — also run by students — for official recognition. The ABA also establishes policies for student organizations and hosts a campus-wide activities fair every fall and spring, among other duties.

LEADERS IN PRACTICE

Each organization determines its own leadership structure, often an executive board with president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Some add web designers or marketing officers.

Staff members in Student Programming and Engagement (SP&E) work closely with these student leaders, for example, by hosting the Winter Leadership Conference. The annual event, made possible through a donation by Kurt Heinrich ’87, gathers members of all executive boards for training and tips on running their respective organizations.

“Students are very passionate about their causes,” says Doreen Floyd, associate dean of student affairs. “They know that, at Bentley, ‘I can have my major but still make a difference in all these other areas I care about.’ Organizations are a great way for students to engage with the campus community and apply their business skills outside the classroom.”

Below: Brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon regularly held charitable fundraisers, including this one for St. Jude. Right: Black United Body in 1971

Acronym Appreciation

Some of the many organizations that run on student power and creativity:

CAB

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD

It takes seven student committees to orchestrate some of the biggest events on campus. These teams — Concerts, Box Office, Comedy, Event of the Month, Game Show, Sports and Recreation, and Traditions — form the CAB. Members collaborate to plan, promote and host events for fellow students throughout the year, typically, five to 10 per month. Examples include Bubble Soccer and Color Runs, along with trips to off-campus sites such as Six Flags.

Signature events for CAB are Super Bingo and an annual concert during Spring Day. The former brings out nearly the entire student population, to compete for prizes such as flat-screen televisions. The concert has featured Ludacris, Kellie Pickler, T-Pain and other well-known musicians.

BUB

BLACK UNITED BODY

Diversity, equality and inclusion. These are the tenets of the BUB, established by students in 1969 with help from John Hawkins, director of student activities at the time. BUB is one of Bentley’s oldest and largest student organizations. Events such as an annual fashion show, poetry slams and music concerts welcome all members of the campus community, regardless of race.

At the same time, BUB members take an active role in ongoing conversations about racial equality that take place on campus. In particular, student leaders from BUB participate in the new Bentley Brave program, which includes “Real Talk,” a semester-long intergroup dialogue program, as well as other events featuring key players in the racial equality movement in America.

BIG

BENTLEY INVESTMENT GROUP

BIG started in 1997 with $250,000 provided by the Board of Trustees. Today, that investment tops $800,000, thanks to the skill and commitment of BIG members.

While all Bentley students learn about the stock market in their freshman Accounting and Finance course, those with a passion for finance — more than 200 students, both undergraduate and graduate — get to invest real money as part of BIG. Members meet weekly on campus during the academic year and virtually during the summer; they work in teams responsible for six industry sectors, performing research and pitching proposed investments to the group. Their record of success includes outperforming market expectations during the financial crisis that started in 2008.

SGA

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Ranked No. 8 for Most Active Student Government by the Princeton Review in 2016, the SGA is the voice of Bentley’s student body. Elected by their peers, members provide input on policies that affect campus life — everything from dining hall changes to making the campus smoke-free — and ensure that student concerns are heard by Bentley administrators.

At one time, SGA had oversight responsibility for student organizations, including approving new clubs and maintaining constitutions. This created a potential conflict of interest given that organizations’ needs and concerns differ from those of the individual students SGA members were elected to represent. In the 1990s, the Association of Bentley Activities was formed and assumed oversight of organizations. From top: Student Council with Sister Mary Peter (front row) in 1964; Bentley Investment Group in 2013; Delta Omega sisters in the 1960s

The intramural basketball team in 1930-1931

More Than a Game

BY RICHARD LIPE ’77

There are reports of a football game that occurred against MIT when what was then the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance was only a couple of years old. And there’s a picture of a basketball team from the early 1930s. But for most of the first half-century in Bentley’s history, the only organized sport at the school was candlepin bowling on Wednesday afternoons.

Things began to change in the early 1960s when Al Shields was hired to serve as Bentley’s first athletics director and basketball coach. More than 50 years later, only two people have have held the position: Shields and Bob DeFelice, who succeeded him in 1991 and has since taken Falcon athletics to another level. New fields have been constructed, the Dana Athletic Center has been expanded, and in early 2018, a multipurpose arena — the future home of Bentley’s Division I hockey team — will be completed.

“I was the sports information director at Northeastern, and I was sitting in the office with [Northeastern] coach Dick Dukeshire one day in 1962,” Shields told The Boston Globe in a 1965 interview. “Professor Frank Porter came in and asked ‘Duke’ if he knew of anyone who might be interested in supervising an intramural program at Bentley two afternoons a week. Duke looked at me and said, ‘There’s your man,’ and there I was, involved in coaching.” After competing on an informal basis for a year, the basketball team — men only at that point — became one of Bentley’s first five varsity sports, joining cross country, tennis, golf and skiing. The Falcons finished their first official season, 1963-1964, with 16 wins in 21 games.

As Bentley was still located on Boylston Street, the Falcons were nomads for the first decade, playing home games at the YMCA, Brandeis University and Waltham High School.

That changed in 1973 when the Dana Athletic Center was constructed; the first game was a victory of 105-63 over Lowell Tech on December 1 of that year. Four months later, the new building was the focal point of Division II basketball in the region, as the Falcons hosted the NCAA New England regional tournament.

The Dana Center was Bentley’s second oncampus athletic facility, the first coming three years earlier when a baseball field was built at what is now the location of Fenway Hall.

Hockey debuted in the late 1960s, and more sports were added in the next few years, including track and field, soccer and football.

Football, which became a varsity program in 1988 after succeeding at the club level, has made its mark over the years. There was a New England record 30-game winning streak from 1993-1995 and NCAA Division II playoff games at home in both 2003 and 2004. Offensive lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau ’08 became the first Falcon to play a regular professional season in one of the four major sports, spending four years with the Carolina Panthers and another four with the Dallas Cowboys.

WELCOMING WOMEN’S SPORTS

Coinciding with the addition of the Dana Center, women’s sports came to Bentley during the 1973-1974 academic year and made their varsity debut a year later. Basketball, field hockey and softball were the first three, with Daryl Leonard serving as head coach of each.

Leonard’s work with those early teams helped laid the groundwork for what has been a very successful women’s program at Bentley, one that has included the only two NCAA Division II national championships in the university’s history. The field hockey team won theirs at home in November 2001, dispatching East Stroudsburg by the count of 4-2.

A little more than a dozen years later, in March 2014, legendary women’s basketball coach Barbara Stevens guided her team to not only the national championship, but also to a perfect 35-0 record. The Falcons, who captured the title with an incredible comeback against West Texas A&M down the stretch, became only the second undefeated women’s basketball champion in Division II history.

The national championship, earned under the leadership of one of the winningest coaches in NCAA women’s basketball history, was the pinnacle moment in what has been an amazing run for Falcon hoops. The men’s and women’s basketball teams have combined for 17 regional titles since 1989 and made a dozen Division II Final Four appearances during that span.

Highlights include a remarkable stretch for the men’s team that over four years featured three Elite Eight trips (2007, 2008, 2010). Coach Jay Lawson’s team won a Division II record 55 consecutive regular season games from 2006 to 2008, breaking a standard that had stood since the 1940s, and reached the Final Four in both 2008 and 2010.

CONFERENCE CHAMPS

For most of the first 20 years, Bentley athletics competed as an independent with no conference title to shoot for. That all changed

Members of the bowling team, around the 1950s. The team practiced after classes and held a yearly awards banquet.

in 1980, when Shields and other Division II athletics directors created what was then the Northeast-7 Conference. Now a 15-team conference known as the Northeast-10, no NE-10 institution has won more league championships than the Falcons. There have been a total of 143, including 110 in the DeFelice era.

Eight times since 1996, Bentley has won the prestigious President’s Cup, given annually to the best overall program in the Northeast-10. Taking that further, the Falcons have finished in second place 17 times since 1987-1988. Their 25 top-two finishes during that time is unparalleled; no other institution had more than seven.

Ice hockey became Bentley’s first Division I sport in 1999. The team competes in the Atlantic Hockey Division, along with such institutions as Air Force, Army West Point and Holy Cross. Last year’s team swept Northeastern home and away, and the Falcons have beaten a Hockey East opponent in seven of the past nine seasons following a season-opening win over New Hampshire in October.

EXCELLING IN CLASSROOMS AND FIELDS

Bentley student athletes have a history of excelling in the classroom as well as on the playing fields. Over the years, 72 have earned Academic All-America recognition from the College Sports Information Directors of America, one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate athletics. Included on that list is former Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Year Lauren Battista ’14, who was named the Division II Academic All-America of the Year for all sports in 2014, months after leading the Falcons to the national championship.

During the 2015-2016 academic year, all of Bentley’s 21 athletic teams posted a grade point average exceeding 3.0. More than half of the university’s 500-plus student athletes earned President’s or Dean’s List recognition.

In a 2001 Boston Globe article, DeFelice commented, “The school grew and made a major commitment to athletics and hasn’t done anything to compromise its academic integrity, and so we really are a great product. Right now, Bentley is very attractive for a kid who still wants to continue in athletics and get a great education.”

Those words are still true some 15 years later.

Late 1970s 1964

2015

Team Spirit for All

Harry Bentley loved all sports, everything from baseball to horseback riding. He was even known to do gymnastics on the Boston Common during his lunch breaks.

Years later, students also found a way to play sports wherever they could. In 1962, before the college even had access to a gym (which wouldn’t be until 1973), Bentley adopted an intercollegiate sports program.

These first sports teams were not varsity but intramural, with Bentley students competing against one another. The teams included basketball, skiing, tennis, softball, weight training, candlepin bowling and golf.

Though not all of the original sports are still offered, the dedication of students remains firmly in play.

INTRAMURAL SPORTS

For many students, club and intramural sports truly define their college experience, with their common love of the sport bringing them together as family. In addition to several hours of practice a week and frequent games, many also choose to live with their teammates or hang out with them on weekends. Several members of the triathlon team even traveled to Iceland to compete during the summer.

There are more than 100 intramural teams at Bentley, including coed soccer, men’s soccer, flag football, ultimate Frisbee, men’s A-league basketball, men’s B-league basketball, women’s basketball, coed dodgeball, coed volleyball and coed softball. Teams are overseen by the Intramural Executive Board and are part of the Bentley Athletics department.

CLUB SPORTS

Club sports play against other universities and are overseen by the Student Activities department. Teams include cheerleading, men’s rugby, women’s rugby, sailing, equestrian, dance, men’s ultimate, women’s ultimate and triathlon.

These clubs mean business. The men’s rugby team, for example, meets four times a week for practice and team conditioning. The equestrian club managed to find a nearby horse stable and create a team despite the lack of horses on Bentley’s campus. And in 2014, several seniors in the Bentley Ultimate Society decided to forgo walking in their own graduation ceremony in order to compete in the DIII National Championship in Westerville, Ohio — which they won. — Jennifer Wright ’16

FIRST PERSON

Robert DeFelice

Director of Athletics and Head Baseball Coach

“I came to Bentley as the men’s baseball coach in 1968. The day I arrived I thought, Oh my God, what am I doing here? I’d gone to Boston

College and played minor league baseball for the Red Sox. I was coming to my first coaching job at the college level and walked onto a campus with no fields, no facilities, and five buildings being built.

This was just a year after we joined the NCAA. We only had five teams: skiing, basketball, golf, cross country and tennis … all men’s sports at that time, of course. I came in right as things started to change, and they changed quickly. Bentley added indoor and outdoor track, and baseball, in 1969. In 1970, we got our own baseball field, too. Our game against Tufts in April of that year was the first official athletic event to be held on campus. In the 1974-1975 school year, we added our first women’s sports: field hockey, basketball and softball. All three were coached by Daryl Leonard. She was the best: about 5-foot-1, a former player herself, and out there to compete — but a sweetheart. The kids related to her. The Dana Athletic Center opened in 1973. It was the cornerstone of development for school athletics: We had our own place on campus. I came to Bentley as a part timer, and stayed that way for nearly two decades. In 1986, Al Shields, the father of athletics here, hired me full time to be the assistant athletics director. By then we had 17 teams. He turned me loose and kind of let me do my own thing. All my development and growth was directly related to him. When he stepped down in 1991, I became the athletics director. I’ve been in that role now for 25 years, and the baseball coach for 48. I like coaching and being around people involved in athletics. Every day is a joy for me. You get an injection of life, especially after you’ve been around so long. Coaching helps me as an athletics director since I’m still involved with athletes at the school. This fall, construction started on our new arena, which will be a home for men’s ice hockey but also give the school space for seminars, concerts and guest speakers. Much like the on-campus baseball field gave us that home base in 1970, having our own ice rink will be another step in the progression of sports at Bentley. Of course, progress didn’t happen in a vacuum. Athletics is part of the Bentley community, and we have, in my 48 years, always put academics first. Not one team at Bentley has under a 3.0 grade point average. People ask me, what’s the greatest recruiting item you have? And I say the school. The school is our best recruiter. ” — As told to Jen A. Miller

Winning Ways

2008

2015

Right: The basketball team, with Coach Al Shields (front row, far right), in the Dana Athletic Center during the 1980s

2014 Below: The NCAA champion women’s basketball team in 2014

Traditions You Can Count On

FIELD DAY/ SPRING DAY

In 1918, Bentley students organized a Field Day to celebrate a year of hard work. Over the next few decades, Field Day was commonly held at a park near the Riverside MBTA station in Newton, Mass. Students could escape the city to canoe on the Charles River, play games, hold contests and attend dances. Field Day transformed over the years to become the Spring Day we celebrate now.

SENIOR WEEK

Since the 1920s, Bentley has held a banquet to send its graduating class off in style. Through the decades, a full slate of Senior Week events developed. Seniors have listened to the Boston Pops, celebrated Pub Nights, visited the Playboy Club (1973) and taken many a cruise on Boston Harbor. Ocean views have became even more expansive: In 1999, Senior Week added a trip to the Bahamas — an event that continues today.

TALENT SHOW/ BEAVER BOWL

Student activities grew exponentially at Bentley in the 1960s, and one of the first to emerge was a talent show. Beginning in 1963, the show featured skits, musical performances and more. Individuals received cash prizes. The best group performance earned a coveted silver cup known as the Beaver Bowl.

HOMECOMING

In the early 1970s, a scrappy group of club football players raised money to establish a full-fledged football team on campus. By 1975, Bentley had its own gridiron — and Homecoming celebrations could begin. Barbecues, parades, carnival games and more have been hallmarks of Homecoming throughout the years. And from the very earliest days, Flex the Falcon has been on hand to help cheer on the home team.

RAINBOW BREAKFAST/LUNCH

The first Rainbow Breakfast kicked off in fall 1999 with a performance by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. Organizers were from what was then known as the Sexual Orientation Action Team. The intent was to recognize the LGBTQ community and create a welcoming campus for all. Today’s Rainbow Lunch, hosted by Bentley PRIDE, champions the same values of courage, diversity and inclusion.

Above: “No Pants Nite” was a short-lived tradition in the 1970s. (Others included a banana-eating contest and an event where cars were smashed for charity.) Right: Snapshots from the 1932 Benboo yearbook

Moments & Memories

THE EARLY YEARS

I enjoyed the bowling league on Wednesdays. I commuted by bus and trolley to the Boylston Street campus. I met my wife of 64 years on the bus going to school and one of our first dates was to a Bentley school dance.

Robert Cowie ’50

Social life was nonexistent back in the Boylston Street days, so we had to be content with the total learning experience ... which was often a challenge for me, as I was a kid from New Hampshire, never having had bookkeeping or any other business class in high school. I never studied so hard, and yet there was both the tension of doing homework and preparing for exams, and the relief of having done a good job. Harold (Hal) Chiasson ’62

In the early 1960s, the largest percentage of students were local commuter students. That began to change and by the mid-1960s there was a need for more social events at the college. The success of the 1966 Winter Carnival demonstrated the need for more social events at Bentley. While fraternities provided some social activities, and there were athletic events held out of Boston, there were no concerts or social events. The Student Council was able to convince the faculty adviser for Student Activities that we needed a separate Student Activities Committee that would organize events. I was the first president of the Student Activities Committee, and as such attended a Student Activities Planning Conference held in Columbia, S.C., in the spring of 1967. It was very exciting to learn how other colleges ran such a committee and how events were put on. While there I met some entertainment groups like the Beach Boys, who we subsequently brought to Bentley as its first large social event during the 1967-1968 year. Running student events, chairing the Student Activities and attending the conference in South Carolina were highlights of my student life while at Bentley. Bob Boehm ’68

1970s

On May 4, 1970, a tragic event took place at Kent State University. Four students died, which sparked a more intense round of student rallies that were happening almost on a daily basis. I was a long-haired hippy living with my roommate, Elliot Hesselson ’71, a student who wore a tie to class. Bentley was the least likely college to be involved in the student movement. I called for a rally to discuss that tragic day as other colleges protested to close their schools in solidarity with the shootings. The rally took place in an auditorium on campus. I stood up and called for the school to close, as other schools had, to protest the shootings. Two rows behind me sat Elliot, dressed in a jacket and tie. He stood up and seconded my motion. I turned with a tear in my eye. It was done, Bentley went on strike. Elliot has been my best friend to this day. I’m still wearing jeans; he’s still wearing ties. Vincent Altomare ’74

During the 1969-1970 school year I was one of the four founding managers of the Rathskeller that was opened in the basement of the Tree dorms. The other managers were Chris Joyce ’72, Bill Rogers ’72 and Joe Stirrup ’72. We directed the construction and decoration phases, purchasing of secondhand tables and chairs, etc. to outfit the only on-campus place to gather in the dorm area. Additionally, we contracted with sandwich, snack, beverage and amusement vendors as well as continuously met vendors for deliveries. We held parties and had a fantastic experience running a small business and bringing an enhancement to the dorm life! Jimmy Disken ’72

I spent every summer between the ages of 10 and 20 attending a YMCA summer camp as a camper and staff, so any cafeteria food was fine with me! Too many people grew up on their mother’s cooking and couldn’t adjust to the dining hall menu, but I was perfectly happy with all of the options! Joe Shapiro ’79

1980s

Some memories stand out: Monte Carlo Night — the annual gala of organized fake casino-style gambling with great fun, great prizes, and all for a great cause. Lobster and steak night each semester in the dining hall. Thirty-eight inches of snow in the Blizzard of 1978! Jim Hathaway ’80

The Blizzard of ’78. Coming from New Jersey, I never saw that much snow, or thunder and lightning during a snowstorm. The school shut down for the week during the storm and cleanup. I think the cafeteria started running out of food, since no trucks could get in. We hiked down to D&L Liquors to stock up and enjoyed the time off. There was some kind of winter festival on the upper campus with snow sculptures. The winner did a snow sculpture of President Adamian and his wife in their car, including his cigar! Good times. John O’Rourke ’80

For me, it was the very first activity — Orientation! You arrive alone and apprehensive and you leave confident and connected! It was so impactful that I applied and became an Orientation leader. Fun evolved into a foundational experience that influenced how I lead today! Gino DeSimone ’85 Being inducted to the Falcon Society at the President’s House was special. Other favorite memories include taking the shuttle to Harvard Square to spend an evening; the Bowles Performing Arts Series; stealing the pizza delivery guy’s car and hiding it in the president’s parking spot behind Morison Hall. I also remember when WBTY Radio won approval and financing to build a studio in the LaCava Campus Center! Jay Tropea ’87

I had such an amazing experience with Bentley clubs and campus activities that I pursued a career in student affairs immediately after graduating. I loved the creative outlet Bentley’s program provided, including the resources and staff to support the clubs. I really enjoyed being part of the Campus Activities Board, where I chaired the Special Events Committee. We were able to do anything we could dream up, including the Bentley Bloodfest (when we turned the 2nd floor of LaCava into a horror maze) and a capture the flag/water balloon fight down on the football field. A fondest memory is when the water balloon contest was over: We had so many unpopped balloons left over that the audience rushed out of stands, armed themselves and started bombing each other with screams of laughter. Ben Alvarez ’89

1990s and 2000s

My very first day on the Bentley campus, when I was just there to look the place over, I ordered a cup of coffee in the campus center. There was some sort of a delay in getting it to me, and they said, “Your coffee’s free” as a way of making it up to me. And that little thing impressed me. Bill Hecker, MSA ’93, MST ’98

Diversity and my professors. Elizabeth Kugell ’00

My favorite memories are attending summer courses followed by an Ultimate Frisbee pickup game, and finishing with Thai food on Moody Street. Miguel López de Veraza ’00

Perhaps my favorite memory is being part of the 2001 women’s field hockey team that brought the school its first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship. Bentley was chosen to host the tournament, and the chance to go after the championship on our home field was incredible. It’s a moment I will never forget and it will always encompass for me so many of the things I learned while at Bentley — namely, the value of teamwork, discipline, preparation and hard work. Kristin (Cronin) Leighton ’03

I served on Black United Body and the Bentley Step Squad. I also sang in the gospel choir which I loved. Rebecca (Roseme) Obounou ’06

Being an Orientation leader for the incoming Class of 2008. Not only did I get to have an impact on the Orientation group I led, but I also built a lot of new friendships with other Orientation leaders that would turn out to last through my time at Bentley and thereafter. It was one of the best decisions I made at Bentley and it motivated me to become a resident assistant on campus! Jonathan Bazarian ’07, MSF ’08

2010s

I loved going to Harry’s for late night food ... those pizza bagels and mozzarella sticks, YUM! Alexa Zozzaro ’11

Along with a fabulous platform to launch my career, Bentley gave me friends for life. I met people from all over the world; I found them so different and yet so similar in our goals and desires. I attribute part of my personal growth as a professional and as a person to the student diversity at Bentley. Shaheel Dholakia, MBA ’12 Winning a national basketball championship was one of the greatest moments I experienced at Bentley University. The joy it brought not only to myself, but to my teammates, coaches and to the Bentley community is something that will stay with me forever. Seeing hundreds of fellow students, faculty, fans and alumni in the stands in Erie, Pennsylvania, that day was one of the strongest feelings of support imaginable Being a part of the women’s basketball program helped me grow as a person and build friendships that will last a lifetime. Courtney Finn ’13, MBA ’15

I was lucky to attend Bentley through the Division I hockey program. The sport opened up so many doors for me, including getting to play a regular-season game under the bright lights of Fenway Park. A true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I even got to sit in David Ortiz’s stall to get ready. I thought it would bring me some good luck. We couldn’t have had a better temperature to play under and the conditions were perfect. Coach Soderquist’s message to us before the game was simple: We need to win this game to make it a perfect memory for us to have for the rest of our lives. You better believe we did that. We beat Holy Cross 3-2 with our families and classmates cheering for us in the crisp December air. It was a memory that I will cherish forever and hold it very close to my heart. Bentley has given me so many memories and I am so thankful for all of them, but winning this game in Boston’s cathedral will always be my favorite. Alex Grieve ’15 My favorite activity at Bentley was Alpha Psi Omega — Chi Iota Cast! It was (and still is) an incredible org. I made lifelong friends and memories I’ll never forget. Ashley Perssico ’15

Dancing with CRAZE has been one of my favorite activities at Bentley. It is a group of incredibly talented and fun individuals who have become my second family! Kendra Zdanowski ’17

One of my favorite experiences is cheering on our football and basketball teams during the intense home games. As a Bentley cheerleader, getting the fans pumped up and tossing mini footballs into the stands always makes me feel so proud of our energetic, school-spirited fans! Karen Eaton ’19

My favorite activity is Residence Hall Association. I met so many dedicated students and faculty members through RHA and am beyond excited to be a part of this organization! Adina Sklar ’19

Running the Commuter Association, and spending all day on campus. I helped start the Muslim Student Association to bridge misconceptions after 9/11.

Esel Shemmeri ’03, MSF ’06

Read more stories and add your own at bentley.edu/ 100

Blizzard of ’78

1980s

The pasta-heavy menu in dining halls prompted students to stage a “protest,” ca. 1971

A Day in the Life: Then & Now

AS TOLD TO MICHAEL LYNCH

MORNING

Rich Caturano ’74, MST ’85

Gloucester, Massachusetts

National Leader of Culture, Diversity and Inclusion at RSM International; Former Chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

AFTERNOON EVENING

I was up at 6:00 a.m. I’d grab a quick breakfast, and be out the door around 7:00 a.m. I commuted with two other classmates from Revere (Mass.) High School — Bob Picardi ’74 and Les Vitale ’74, MST ’01, P ’10. Typically, at least one of us had to be on campus for an 8:00 a.m. class.

The commute wasn’t too bad. Usually less than an hoπur. Our soundtrack? Les wouldn’t stop talking from the minute I picked him up until we arrived on campus.

Once we got to Bentley, I’d either head to class or to the cafeteria. As a commuter, you would spend most of your time between classes in either the library or cafeteria. Not many other options. I’d use that downtime to get my homework and studying done or just hang out.

To this day, I can vividly remember Joe from the cafeteria. He was a friendly guy — the custodian who cleaned the cafe. Each morning, I’d ask him: “How’s business, Joe?” He’d reply: “It’s picking up.” Got me every time.

I don’t remember the specific classes I took in the morning versus the afternoon, but I do recall a couple of professors who had a significant impact on me.

Professor Marion Willis [who, in 1962, became the first full-time female professor in Bentley’s history] taught English and was constantly trying to explain the benefits of being able to write and speak articulately. I’d think, “Why do I need to be an expert in English if I want to be an accountant?” I couldn’t see outside of my accounting bubble. It didn’t take long for me to realize just how right she was.

Professor Dick Cross was my freshman accounting professor. He was a nice guy, but tough. Very disciplined. He was really the accountant’s accounting professor. He approached teaching in such a methodical manner. His approach and demeanor made the content easy to understand. Every day, my mother made my lunch. It was usually something with eggs — like pepper and eggs. She was a good cook. The challenge for me was waiting until around noon to eat it.

The afternoon was much like the morning. Go to class, or study in the library or cafeteria. The day was pretty full. I was either studying or doing homework. There wasn’t much time for student activities.

After our last class, usually around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m., we’d head back home to Revere. When I got home, my mother would serve the family dinner. Most of my classwork and studying was already done. So, soon I would be either off to visit my high school sweetheart (now my wife) or off to bed — and ready to do it all again tomorrow.

During my three years at Bentley I never once went to a party on campus. The parties we had were off-campus with some of our fellow commuters.

What’s Old is New Again: Throughout my Bentley life, I drove a 1964 Chevy Impala. Recently, I bought almost an exact replica. I have it sitting in my garage now. It sure does bring back some great memories.

Happily Ever After: After my sophomore year, I got married to Bob’s sister, Bob married my sister, and years later Les and I became business partners. We’re one big Bentley family, I guess.

While Bentley’s commitment to providing a world-class business education has not wavered throughout the decades, the university’s student life experience has changed dramatically. Here is a snapshot of an average day in the life as told by students from two distinctly different eras in Bentley’s history.

MORNING

Elaine Tai ’17

Cupertino, California

Major: Economics and Marketing Minor: Computer Information Systems

AFTERNOON EVENING

My alarm goes off at 7:30 a.m., and rings about seven times. Every two minutes I shut it off. I just can’t bear to get out of bed.

Once I finally rise and shine, I do my morning routine. I shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, etc. Then I’m off to the kitchen to make breakfast. Yogurt. Granola. Cereal. Oats. Fruit. I like to mix it up.

I live on the north campus [near Gann Academy], so I take the shuttle to the main campus each morning. You have to time it perfectly. The shuttle consistently leaves two minutes early, and if you’re not running to try and catch it, then it’s not waiting for you. Everybody on the shuttle is scrambling, talking about how tired they are from staying up late studying. Once we’re dropped off, I run to a 9:30 a.m. class. I typically have classes from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

I’ve been fortunate to take some great courses and have some outstanding professors.

I took Intermediate Macroeconomics with Professor Aaron Jackson, who is the director of the Honors Program. It’s great. He’s also from the West Coast, so during the winter we’ll commiserate about the weather. I really enjoy his class, because he uses a lot of visuals. Whether it’s the Smart Board or PowerPoint, he makes it easy to understand the interactive graphs. The technology really helps, and he’s a wonderful teacher.

Professor William Clarke teaches Intermediate Price Theory. He’s always injecting funny stories when he’s explaining a concept. The humor really helps, and it’s a very interactive class. He knows how to relate to his students, and I learn so much during each session. After morning classes, I hop on the shuttle back to my apartment for a 20-minute nap. Any shorter is not enough, and any longer is too much; 20 minutes is optimal. I wake up make a quick salad or sandwich and head off to work. I work in the Advancement Communications office in LaCava. Great people. I work from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., and then it’s off to class, again!

Let it Snow & Snow & Snow:

My first winter here was the historic “Snowmageddon” of 2015. Growing up in California, I was never subject to extreme cold or snow. It was definitely my “welcome to New England” moment.

The City of Lights: I’m spending the fall semester [2016] in Paris. I am so excited to immerse myself in a different culture and experience all that the city has to offer. My 5:00 p.m. class gets out at 6:30 p.m., and then, depending on the day of the week, I might have a meeting with the Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC) or head outside for a quick run. Next — dinner! This meal is a bit more chill. My roommates and I generally cook together, each making our own dinner in our shared kitchen. Whatever is quick and easy, but we try to eat as healthy as possible.

After dinner, I relax for about 30 minutes, until about 8:30 p.m., then it’s off to do my school work with friends. Back to the shuttle!

Around 9:00 p.m., my friends and I go to either Smith or the library to study. We always bring snacks — not usually of the healthy variety — and coffee. Of course, coffee! We study for about three hours or so, then it’s back home to get ready for bed and crash for the night.

Ugh, it’s a long day.

Camaraderie by Design

BY JENNIFER SKUCE-SPIRA

Putting a career on hold for graduate study can make for some anxious moments. Frances Karandy, MBA ’04, MSHFID ’05 took the plunge in 2002, while living and working in Boston after receiving a BA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

“It was a sacrifice to stop making an income,” she says. “But what comes with that is the chance to dive deeper into something that you’re passionate about.”

For Karandy, that passion was — and is — an emerging field: user experience design. She enrolled in a Bentley program to earn both an MBA and the Master of Science in Human Factors in Information Design (MSHFID). She and fellow students developed a quick camaraderie.

“Here you are with peers who have also left their jobs, who are taking this on full time with you. We were always respectful of each other. Given the group projects we often were assigned, you got to know everyone very well.”

She appreciated the depth and diversity of experience among fellow students in both programs.

“There’s such value in sharing a classroom with others who have already been working for 10 years,” says the Miami native, who completed the MBA in 2004 and the MSHFID a year later. Her classmates hailed from health care, finance, software and marketing, representing countries as far away as Uzbekistan and India.

Accessible and supportive professors are an important part of the graduate student experience.

“Mark Davis [professor of operations management] had a very down-to-earth, approachable way of connecting with students,” says Karandy, now the principal user research lead for Internet music service Pandora. “He brought a lot of color and experience to the courses. He was very personable and funny, which made a huge difference.”

She also praises Bentley’s User Experience Center. “It puts you right into the professional lab environment,” she says of the high-tech facility where graduate students work on projects for corporate clients. “You’re being taught by faculty who are pioneers in the field.”

Though more than a decade has passed since Karandy earned her degrees, Bentley remains a steady presence in her life. It was an alumni connection that helped her land a UX job after graduation. Karandy is active in an online community of Bentley HFID grads who regularly share ideas, strategies and job opportunities with one another.

“Product design is still a niche career, so you form a very tight network,” she says. “We know and trust our professional experience. That has lived on in a very strong way, long after finishing our degrees.”