The campus buzzed as nervous-looking parents and smiling students carried blankets, food, pillows, lamps, and other essentials during move-in days at ÁÔĆćÖŘżÚĘÓƵ State University.   

“The energy is definitely up this year,” said Chris McKenney, â€™26, a second-year resident advisor and one of the volunteers manning a check-in table at Shea and Durgin residence halls last Wednesday. â€śI’m looking forward to having students be more engaged. I think overall, students are more excited this year.”  

Seniors and members of the BSU women’s softball team, Janet Jolly, ’24, Molly Thibaudeau, ’24, and Ava Novakoski, ’24, agree, things are different from when they first enrolled at ÁÔĆćÖŘżÚĘÓƵ in the fall of 2020, which was smack dab in the middle of the pandemic.   

“During COVID, it was hard to meet people,” she said. “I didn’t live on campus because classes were online, but now it feels like people are out more and able to really socialize.”  

Last year was the first time the majority of COVID restrictions were lifted, but this year brings a renewed sense of normal.   

“Things do feel different,” Janet said. “I find myself on campus more, using the gym more. There is definitely more of a social feel.” 

“And we get to have an actual graduation this year, we didn’t get to have one in high school,” Molly said.   

Amherst, New Hampshire, native Dante Nieto, ’27, came to ÁÔĆćÖŘżÚĘÓƵ State to study aviation and play football. He, as well as the other fall student-athletes, moved onto campus two weeks prior for preseason training.   

“Things feel more normal again, more social and I like that…I look forward to meeting new friends and flying planes,” he said.   

Childhood friends and incoming freshmen, Hannah O’Neill and Maddie Bianchi, both class of ’27, opted to be roommates this year and coordinated all summer how they were going to decorate their shared room. The Taunton residents looked forward to seeing their new digs in Shea Hall.   

Maddie admitted to being a little anxious about the shift from high school to college but rooming with Hannah erased some of those nerves.   

“I don’t think I could live with anyone else,” she said.   

“Same,” Hannah said, “But we are looking forward to meeting new people, being in a new environment, and making new friends.”  

“It’s a fresh start,” Maddie added. “In a way it’s like starting kindergarten all over again.”  

As the members of the class of 2027 start their BSU journeys, Ava and Janet offered some advice.   

“Speak to as many people as you can,” Ava said.   

“Yes, and remember, everyone is just as nervous as you, so don’t worry about what others think. Get out there, get involved and make friends," Janet added.

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The energy is definitely up this year. I’m looking forward to having students be more engaged. I think overall, students are more excited this year.

Alumna reflects on painting this year’s mural inside campus tunnel 

This summer, alumna Samantha Cushman, ’19, G’23, was back on campus, paintbrush in hand, to continue the tradition of creating the annual Turchon tunnel mural.    

ÁÔĆćÖŘżÚĘÓƵ State University has commissioned an artist for each of the past six years to paint the campus landmark named after former BSU Foundation member Carolyn (Van Buskirk) Turchon, ’62.   

Cushman currently works as an elementary art teacher in Rockland and is the first BSU alumna to create a mural for the tunnel.   

“It makes me feel so proud to be able to do this, to have my work featured at a place I spent so much time at,” she said. “It’s very validating and surreal.” 

When it came time to select this year’s artist, BSU Associate Director of Collection and Exhibitions Jay Block knew he wanted to hire Cushman.   

“Her message of ecological diversity and accessible imagery made her a great candidate for a public work like the tunnel, matched with her professionalism as an artist,” Block said.   

It isn’t the first time Cushman has shared her talents with the BSU community. As a graduate student, Block asked Cushman to paint one of the university’s fiberglass bear statues (it still stands by the East Campus Commons). Using only black and white colors, she decorated the bear with an array of native Massachusetts plants.   

“That project turned into my thesis project for my master’s degree where I focused on the importance of native Massachusetts flora and how it’s affected by invasive species,” Cushman said.   

For this year’s mural, while she did use some native floral imagery, Cushman abandoned her usual black-and-white palette and instead infused bright colors throughout the mural.   

“I don’t usually work in color. I stepped outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “It’s very striking, and I’m happy with how it turned out.”  

Along with the flora, multiple buildings from across campus are included, such as Boyden Hall and the Art Building. Cushman also used personal symbols to reflect her time as a student at BSU.   

“It’s a very reflective piece, very full circle. It’s symbolic of all the time I spent at ÁÔĆćÖŘżÚĘÓƵ. From the times I stayed overnight on campus in the art building getting my work done, to just sitting on campus and taking in how beautiful it is,” she said.   

The project has boosted Cushman’s confidence as an artist, and she is thankful to Block for believing in her.   

“This is a big opportunity, that I get to be an artist and not just a student anymore,” she said. “It’s been a fun transition...to be an actual working artist. I’m dedicating the mural to Jay and all members of the art department, as they’ve been a second family to me during my time at ÁÔĆćÖŘżÚĘÓƵ.” 

Cushman hopes those who view the mural will enjoy it while it is on display during the 2023-24 academic year.  

Does it bother her that her work will eventually be replaced?  

“Not at all,” she said. “I think having these opportunities available for multiple artists is important and I think, especially when it comes to public art, when you leave it up too long people tire of it,” she said. “Being able to offer this opportunity to the next person who needs is, that is really cool.”  

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

It’s a very reflective piece, very full circle. It’s symbolic of all the time I spent at ÁÔĆćÖŘżÚĘÓƵ. From the times I stayed overnight on campus in the art building getting my work done, to just sitting on campus and taking in how beautiful it is.