The Bentley Buzz

Hello, Bentley colleagues! Kevin Wong here, associate director of internal communications and writer of the Bentley Buzz. In honor of the Halloween season, I'm sharing the tale of a mysterious discovery that I stumbled upon in the fall of 2018. Be sure to check out the next issue of the Bentley Buzz for part two! 

Old washing machines. Garden tools. Overworked water heaters.

These are some things that one might expect to find in the basement of an average multifamily unit in a place like Allston-Brighton. I was born and spent most of my life in the Boston neighborhood, and I’ve been in more than a couple of cellars. None of which prepared me for what I stumbled upon on a fall night a month before Halloween 2018.

While moving friends into a unit of the Allston home where I'd lived for four years, I found a crawl space tucked under a staircase in a section of the basement once occupied by former tenants. Out of curiosity, I opened the door and discovered what looked like an excellent Halloween prop for the upcoming season. After taking a closer look, though, the find proved to be far more interesting. Sitting on top of an old bag of concrete was the tombstone of a child who lived from 1889-1893. The inscription on the stone featured a resting lamb at the top and read:

CLAUDIE T.

Son of

T.N. & I.C. FEEZOR

BORN

Feb. 7, 1889

DIED

Aug. 30, 1893.

After setting aside my initial amazement, I began researching former homeowners and city records of past residents. Interestingly, I found that the house I lived in was not approved for construction until 1905 — 12 years after Claudie’s passing. Maps found at the Allston-Brighton historical society showed that before 1905, the land was mostly undeveloped. The street I lived on was itself not even yet paved, possibly serving as a cattle-grazing area consistent with the neighborhood at the time. With no record that a Feezor ever owned the house, I started searching on ancestry sites.

My search led to a man named Thomas N. Feezor, who married one Ida C. Waldrop in the 1880s just outside of Paducah, Kentucky. Though the initials T.N. and I.C. on the tombstone could have been a coincidence, I dug deeper. Listed descendants of Thomas and Ida were Elgie, Ivy, Odus, James, and Rubie, but no Claudie.

Initially disheartened by an apparent dead end, I began searching for records of the children of Thomas and Ida. From there I discovered that all of their children died young, leading me to believe there still may be a link to the tombstone in my basement.

Continued searches yielded photographs of the burial sites of the Feezor children in a small cemetery in Graves County, Kentucky. To my amazement, I found family stones that were identical to the stone in my basement—right down to the resting lamb at the top. I was certain that the Feezor family I had been researching was Claudie’s family.  

Now, with a fair degree of certainty, I continued to research this particular Feezor family—poring over census records, pulling death certificates, contacting historical societies. Most people were skeptical of my asking about a tombstone found over 1,000 miles from the speculated burial site.
 

In an effort to link Claudie to Thomas and Ida, I tried pulling the 1890 census record for Graves County, the only public report the young child would have appeared in. To my disappointment, the 1890 Graves County census was destroyed in a fire in 1921. Dead ends continued to arise.

Finally, after my second or third try on an ancestry website, I found my first listing of Claudie T. Feezor. The publication, titled Graves County, Kentucky Cemeteries Full Name Index, listed Claudie as having been buried in a plot in the county, though no direct cemetery or location was listed. 

On a whim, while discussing progress in my mission with a friend, I joked that I should just go to feezor.com to find the source of the stone. Following a hunch, I found that the domain was unclaimed. Yet to my amazement, feezor.org was not.

The website, created by members of the Feezor family to detail their origins and lineage, featured an extensive list of descendants—two of which were Thomas N. and his spouse Ida C. Unlike my research from ancestry sites, this family tree listed Claudie T. Feezor as having been a son of Thomas and Ida, the first such link to the family I had been researching. It was a big break in the case. More quickly now, the answer to the mystery was beginning to reveal itself.   

Check back in the next issue to find out what happened next to the stone in the basement!

Did you find a strange old item or make a discovery in your home? Let us know about it! 

Email the Buzz

Did you know that Oct. 16 was World Food Day? At Bentley, the Office of Sustainability recognized the day by continuing to promote the Bentley partnership with Swipe Out Hunger, which supports students who are experiencing food insecurity on college campuses. First brought to campus last November, Swipe Out Hunger allows Bentley students to donate meal swipes from their plan to a collective pool that other students who are in need of a meal swipe can claim, no questions asked. Faculty and staff can also contribute to the fight against food insecurity by making donations toward future meal swipes for students in need.

The national program partners with more than 140 colleges and universities across the country and has helped provide more than 2.5 million meals to students. Though college campuses may seem like a place where all of a student’s needs can be met, the reality is that 1 in 3 college students across the U.S. face food insecurity, which can have lasting negative impacts on mental health, class attendance and academic success.

In its first year at Bentley, students have donated close to 1,500 meal swipes for their peers in need. All undergraduate and graduate students, whether living in a residence hall or off campus, are eligible to apply for meal swipes using a simple submission form. “We’ve seen a higher need for people who live off campus,” noted Associate Director of Sustainability Natalie Hayes. “They often have a more demanding budget because of rent and expenses, so they can be at a higher risk for food insecurity.”

“Food insecurity can be an invisible problem,” said Natalie. “If we aren’t paying attention, we can feel that it doesn’t exist in our community. But we’ve seen that there is a need and that it does have an impact. As a community, Bentley has a responsibility to help these students, and I’m glad that our partnership with Swipe Out Hunger can do just that.” 

Each semester, students can donate up to five meal swipes from their plan, and often do so as the semester comes to a close and meal plans have remaining swipes. These swipes then help to prepare the pool of donations for the next semester, ensuring there is always a resource for students facing food insecurity.

Interested in providing a swipe to a student in need? Click here to donate to Bentley’s Swipe Out Hunger initiative.

Learn more about Swipe Out Hunger at Bentley

Since June 2020, divisions and departments across campus have committed to doing their part to ensure that Bentley continues to grow as an inclusive, anti-racist community. From the work of the Racial Justice Task Force to the ongoing university-wide strategic initiatives for racial justice, so many across campus have worked at identifying where we collectively can do better and enact plans to promote racial justice, equity and inclusion at Bentley.
 

For University Police, that meant continuing to do their part to ensure students and the community can look to them as a fair and approachable resource on campus. To support his department, Chief of Police Frank Bourgeois has committed to bringing outside experts each year to campus to gain a fresh perspective on diversity and continue the department’s ongoing growth and development. This fall, they welcomed Bridge Builders Academy—an immersive training that helps organizations to cultivate an environment where individuals from different backgrounds are valued and appreciated—to campus for a department-wide day of training and discussion.

This year’s training, which was specific to law enforcement, was attended by all University Police officers and staff and provided the team with an opportunity to talk about how others are approaching racial equity and inclusion. “One of our goals is to understand more about how we can recognize our biases and be more conscious of them and consequently, be fair and impartial,” said Chief Bourgeois. “This training was also a great avenue to learn new ideas from outside experts on how we can continue to build positive relationships with all members of our community.”

In addition to University Police, the 8-hour session was attended by law enforcement departments from across Massachusetts, giving the attendees an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with fresh perspectives. “I’m glad to see Bentley doing so much to open conversations about inequity and racism, and I wanted to be sure University Police is a part of the solution,” said Frank. “Dialogue is so important, and this training will help us engage more with the Bentley community and together turn dialogue into action.”
 

While this training aims to provide University Police with the tools to engage in new conversations on campus, Chief Bourgeois is glad to see his officers already making strides in connecting with the community, and especially students of color. At the start of the semester, a group of officers met with incoming students to take part in the MOSAIC Experience, which provides students of color and their allies with an opportunity to receive tools and training to prepare them for academic success and make meaningful connections within their new college community. During their meeting, officers and new students had an honest conversation about racism and its impact on a community. “Relationships were built that day, and they continue to grow strong,” noted Frank.

In addition to meeting MOSAIC students, University Police looks forward to its annual Bridging the Gap event later this fall, where officers and students meet to have an open conversation about current events and biases. Last spring, they partnered with the Multicultural Center and center director Michael McCorvey to host a Know Your Rights event where students were educated on their rights when interacting with law enforcement, and officers discussed how they can best work within the parameters of the law. Both events have been well attended, and Frank is looking forward to continuing to find new ways to connect with students. 

“I’m proud of where we are and I am proud of where we’re headed,” said Frank. “Dialogue is an important part in curbing the impacts of racism, and I’m glad we’re continuing to openly engage with our community towards this unified goal of peace, equality, growth and inclusivity.”

Patrick Couillard Hale joined Bentley as the new director of diversity and inclusion this August. As he continues to meet our community, he took some time to answer a few questions about his path to Bentley and what he hopes to accomplish here. 

What experiences from your past do you hope to bring to Bentley and this position? 
I’m so fortunate to have worked in higher education for the last 11 years. My experiences have informed my understanding of how to work across silos and professional lines to do the important work of supporting the success and wellbeing of our students, from managing residence halls to overseeing multicultural programs to leading strategic initiatives designed to increase belonging within higher education spaces. Beyond my professional experiences, I believe that my personal values align with those of Bentley’s, and I bring an approach that is very community-centered and rooted in a philosophy of believing in the inherent dignity and worth of all people. 

And building on that, what are your goals moving forward? 
My main goal and motivation is to help Bentley continue advancing the good work that they’ve already started. I was immediately drawn to the amount of time and energy put into the discovery process led by the Racial Justice Task Force, and it seemed clear that Bentley was a place that knew it had not just a desire to be better but had the drive and the commitment, and I wanted to choose a place where I could be part of that change. Additionally, I hope that I can support Bentley in elevating its investment in Inclusive Excellence by working to support the improvement of the culture and climate for all community members and expand access to the opportunity of living, learning and working within an educational environment. 

Read the Full Q&A

Undefeated Bentley Football Moves Up to #13 in AFCA Division II Coaches Poll
Following their 34-20 victory at Southern Connecticut State, the undefeated football team climbed four places to this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II coaches poll to #13. It's the highest ranking for Bentley in the history of the program, surpassing the #17 ranking from the 2003 season. At 7-0, you can catch their next game on Oct. 30 when they take on Franklin Pierce at home. 

#10 Ranked Field Hockey Earns Fifth Straight Win
Bentley Field Hockey has won five straight games and nine of their last 11, a streak that has them at #10 in the NFHCA Division II rankings. Following a decisive 19-3 win at home against Franklin Pierce, the team has improved to an impressive 10-4 record on the season. 

Ellie Wheeler Selected as NE-10 Rookie of the Week
Bentley sophomore outside hitter Ellie Wheeler has been selected as the NE-10 Conference Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Week for her standout performance last week. On the season, Ellie is averaging 3.95 points for the Falcons, who have improved to 9-7 on the season after winning nine of their last 12.

Cybersecurity month is almost over, but the chances to learn more about best practices are still to come! Remember to stop by IT's interactive, Halloween-themed event on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the Executive Dining Room. The event is open to all members of the Bentley community and will feature food, games, giveaways, prizes and raffles, which can be enjoyed all while improving your cybersecurity knowledge!