The Bentley Buzz

Since COVID-19 vaccine eligibility was expanded in Massachusetts to anyone 18 and older on April 19, the number of daily vaccinations administered has steadily increased, with 68.7% of the total population having received at least one dose. In that time, public health metrics have continued to trend in the right direction with daily positivity and infection rates on the steady decline. Adding to the welcome news, earlier this week the state of emergency was officially lifted in Massachusetts.

The COVID-19 vaccine represents an important tool in the fight against the pandemic and poses the best chance for a return to the "new normal." At Bentley, on-campus vaccination clinics have played a key role in ensuring our community has access to this critically important resource. "We’ve had a longstanding partnership with Osco Pharmacy and had been in conversation with them since COVID vaccines were being made available," said Health Center Director Julia Matthews on the efforts to bring vaccines to Bentley. "Massachusetts had strict eligibility criteria and we had to abide by those guidelines. Once college-age students were eligible, we immediately organized our first clinic."

Just one week after expanded eligibility opened in Massachusetts, the Health Center team was working alongside Osco Pharmacy health professionals to operate Bentley's first on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic. On April 28 and 29, students, alumni, faculty, staff and their family members were welcomed to the Dana Center for their first or second dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine days before the spring term was set to end — a fitting send-off for students who had persevered through a challenging term.

Additional clinics were held on campus in May and June to provide the community with second doses and to give those who weren't able to attend the earlier clinic a chance to begin their vaccination process. When the Pfizer vaccine was approved for anyone age 12 and older in May, the Health Center invited family members in this new age group to attend the clinic.

In total, over 1,200 vaccines were administered to the Bentley community on campus over the course of three clinics. "We’ve had a very positive response from students, faculty and staff who were grateful to have a convenient way to get vaccinated and to even have the opportunity to have their family members vaccinated," said Julia. "One person who dropped into the clinic for a shot noted that, 'It makes a difference to get vaccinated in our own community.'”  

In addition to ensuring the vaccination clinics run smoothly, Julia and the Health Center staff have also played a key role in reassuring people who are anxious about getting vaccinated. "No one likes getting shots, right? So we as humans always weigh the advantage and disadvantages of anything we don’t like to do," said Julia. "Fortunately, we have excellent data showing the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccine. Vaccines are the best way — and really the only way — we are going to put this pandemic behind us and get back to our normal lives."  

As the summer term continues, the Health Center is evaluating the on-campus need for future clinics and will plan to support international students arriving in the fall who have not yet been vaccinated in their home countries. When students arrive on campus in need of vaccination, the Health Center will be ready to help them. "Getting the COVID vaccine protects yourself and perhaps more importantly, your community and people who are more vulnerable for whatever reason," said Julia. "The more of us who are vaccinated, the safer we are."
 

Juneteenth is celebrated each year on June 19 to commemorate emancipation and the ending of slavery in the United States following the Civil War. In recognition of this important holiday, check out the essay below written by Professor of English and the Inaugural Maurice E. Goldman Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences Dr. Barbara Paul-Emile. 

Celebrate Juneteenth: Emancipation of the Last African Americans in the Confederacy 

Juneteenth, an amalgamation of June 19th, is also known as Freedom Day and Jubilee Day. It commemorates the arrival of Major General Gordon Granger to Galveston, Texas, on June 19th, 1865, ahead of thousands of Union troops where he read Federal Order #3 declaring that the war had ended and that all previously enslaved people were free:

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation
from the Executive of the United States all slaves are free. This involves
an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between
former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing
between them becomes that of employer and hired labor. The freemen
are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. 
They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts
and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”

What is interesting about this announcement is that it was being made two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which had become effective on January 1st, 1863. Why did the federal proclamation take so long to take effect in Texas?

Several reasons for this late pronouncement have been offered. Some believe that the federal government did not have the power to enforce its proclamation over a recalcitrant state, hence the delay. Yet others believe that news of the emancipation was deliberately withheld from the black population by slave owners so that they might have the profit from more cotton crops. Whatever the reason, African Americans labored in slavery in Texas for two and a half years after national emancipation was declared.

The general’s announcement produced shock followed by jubilation on the part of the newly freed slaves. The freed men and women wanted to leave the plantations to escape from servitude but they did not know where to go. Indeed, they had nowhere to go. Some were shot and killed as they endeavored to head north. Others tried to escape to neighboring states. But at whatever cost, freedom had come and there was no looking back.

At first, because of segregation, there was much difficulty in finding parks for the yearly celebrations. Former masters forbade the use of public parks and even interrupted private celebrations on church grounds demanding that the celebrants return to work. Over time, the freed men and women saved their own money and in the 1870s purchased 10 acres of land that they named Emancipation Park in the Houston area. It was the only park in the state open to Blacks until the 1950s. Blacks also funded other parks such as Booker T. Washington Park in Mexia, Texas, in 1898.

At Juneteenth gatherings, attendance could run into the thousands. There was a range of festivities: fishing, barbecuing, baseball and rodeos in the west. There was also a focus on self-improvement, and guest speakers were invited to present on the challenges facing African Americans. All of these activities were followed by prayer services. Savory dishes were offered in great abundance as everyone brought their best to the table.   

Over time, Juneteenth festival waned as the pressures on Black lives increased under Jim Crow. Martin Luther King, however, planned his Poor Peoples March in the '60s to start on Juneteenth, and the marchers returned to their home states to revive this holiday. Today, 47 states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday.

Everyone is invited to celebrate Juneteenth in the name of human freedom and in memory of the 250,000 African Americans who achieved their freedom late, two and half years after the national proclamation. Juneteenth honors Black achievement and reminds us that no one is truly free until we are all free. 

Barbara Paul-Emile, Ph.D.
English and Media Studies Department

Jim “Pouli” Pouliopoulos, MBA '94, founding director of Bentley's Professional Sales Program and senior lecturer in the Marketing department, received the Faculty Mentor of the Year award in the Northeast-10 Conference. The NE-10 Conference awards the honor each year to a faculty member from who has helped student-athletes to achieve their academic goals.

Since joining Bentley’s Marketing department in 2002, Pouli has been an avid supporter of athletics and believes strongly that they play an important role in the college experience. “These students sacrifice a lot to represent the university,” said Pouli. “I’m happy to support them and work with them so they can learn inside the classroom and pursue their passions outside the classroom.”  

Join the Buzz in congratulating Pouli on receiving this notable award!

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