The Boston College Urban Project recently received approval for its establishment as a student organization from the Office of the Dean for Student Development (ODSD). The new student organization will serve to engage the BC community in public policy questions about city life and governance, especially in relation to the greater Boston area.
"We heard from professors who work on urban issues that BC used to be Boston's college, but in recent years with its expansion, it's moved away from an active partnership with the city," said Tina Corea, co-founder of the BC Urban Project and A&S '06. "It's not that BC students aren't involved, but this project will serve to bring back actual city issues and increased student involvement from that side and make BC Boston's college again."
"The BC Urban Project is an opportunity for students to get involved in the city in ways other than through service," said Stephen Cote, co-founder of the BC Urban Project and A&S '05. "It's an opportunity to engage in the city in various policies, projects, and other urban issues without actually going into a service component. It will have more of an academic focus."
In a proposal submitted to ODSD, Cote and Corea delineated that the BC Urban Project will "serve to illuminate larger systemic issues of city life for students who are involved in volunteer organizations on the BC campus and who encounter poverty, homelessness, educational inequality, and oppression through their volunteer work; or for those who simply have an interest in urban affairs."
Both felt that the new organization was a much needed aspect missing on campus.
"BC students do so much service in general, but that service brings out a lot of questions about urban life and Boston," said Corea. "They might ask themselves, 'Why are people in the situations they're in?' We want to engage students in the awareness of the issues behind the service."
"Ultimately, this will be a good complement to what at BC has become an overwhelming service component. The BC Urban Project is sorely needed," said Cote. "Boston has always been at the forefront of city planning, and it's a shame that more BC graduates don't know what is going on inside the city in terms of public policies."
The BC Urban Project will meet twice a week to discuss urban life and public policy issues, especially those pertaining to the greater Boston area. Initially, Cote and Corea hope to engage students and faculty in discussion through various speakers, as well as trips into the city to experience it firsthand. "The idea is that we want to have 'synergy' groups where students look at particular issues like urban education, racial concentration, socio-economic demographics, or a particular neighborhood of Boston," said Corea. "The students would take their ideas and collaborate with those in their group, incorporating them into the trips they take into the city."
Cote expressed other advantages of joining the project, including increased alumni relations and an increased knowledge of job opportunities.
"It will reestablish connections with BC alumni who work in the city and improve the quality of relations we have with city leaders as a whole," said Cote. "It's a good way of representing BC students to the city.
"The BC Urban Project will provide a nice backdrop for students to look at different careers as well by going to different agencies and institutions," he continued. "The experience gained there will be conducive to any city and job. They can get an idea of career paths that aren't as traditional as a liberal arts major might produce."
Student and administrative response to the group has been positive according to Cote.
"Student response has been very positive for a new club and the interest has been very high," said Cote. "People are really excited about it."
"It was also one of the few proposals getting through ODSD this year," said Cote. "Administrators jumped at the chance of supporting a non-service academic focus group."
Cote and Corea also noted that the BC Urban Project will lay the foundations for the Center for the Study of Cities and Culture, a proposed interdisciplinary center for urban studies.
"The Center for the Study of Cities and Culture is taking shape to the academic interest, which is a larger initiative in the planning stages brought forth last year by professors," said Corea. "Our group will not be directly affiliated with it, but it's good to lay the framework for that center, which is more professor-driven."
The BC Urban Project is currently recruiting members. Interested students should contact either Cote or Corea.
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