BU Posthumously Honors Two Students, Menino and Morgan Freeman at Commencement

Boston University hosted its 140th graduation at Nickerson Field on Sunday.

At Boston University's commencement ceremony on Sunday, the university honored two students who died this year, just a few months before their graduation. Graduate student Lu Lingzi, who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombing and Binland Lee, who died in an off-campus apartment fire, were both posthumously honored at Sunday’s graduation ceremony. Boston University also honored Zhou Danling, who was friends with Lu Lingzi and was injured in the marathon bombing. Nearly 6,700 graduates and almost 20,000 guests attended the university's 140th commencement at Nickerson Field. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was awarded a Boston University Medallion and actor Morgan Freeman was presented an honorary degree. Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for …

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BU Scholarship Honoring LU Lingzi

The university has established a scholarship in the memory of the graduate student who died at the bombing of the Marathon.

BU Student Remembered As 'Bright, Intelligent, Beautiful'

Boston University student Lingzi Lu died in Monday's Boston Marathon bombings, but her family and her university are hopeful her memory can inspire others.

Lingzi Lu’s family remembers her as the “joy of [their] lives,” an ambitious young woman, full of dreams and hopes and love for her friends and family. An outpouring of comments on various articles remembers her as an “amazing girl,” with a “beautiful smile.” All that spirit, all that life, was cut tragically short Monday, April 15, when Lu, 23, was killed in the bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, a terrorist act that also claimed the lives of 8-year-old Martin Richard of Dorchester, and 29-year-old Krystle ­Campbell, of Medford.  In an open letter, Lu’s family said Lu "was a bright and wonderful child." "We were thrilled to watch her grow into an intelligent and beautiful young woman," the letter reads. "She was a positive…

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Family of LU Lingzi Issue Statement: "She was the joy of our lives."

The following statement was issued by LU Lingzi’s family.

The following was sent to BU Today We are grieving and at a loss for words to describe the pain and sadness we are experiencing following the sudden passing of our dear daughter, Lingzi. She was the joy of our lives. She was a bright and wonderful child. We were thrilled to watch her grow into an intelligent and beautiful young woman. She was a positive role model for many others. It has always been her dream to come to America to study. While she was here, she fell in love with Boston and its people. She loved her new friends and her professors at Boston University. She wanted to play a role in international business, specializing in applied mathematics. She has been studying very hard toward her goal. Sadly, it was not to be. While her …

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Five Things, April 12: BU Graphic Design MFA Thesis Show

Here are five things going on in town today.

1. Weather: The National Weather Service predicts some ugly weather. The morning will start off raining, then it will turn to sleet, then back to rain with a high of 39. The evening will cool off to 38. 2. Lower Your Home Energy Costs: Do you want to increase the comfort of your home or apartment, lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint?  Join members of theLeague of Women Voters of Brookline to hear Carrie Watkins of Mass Save explain how you could join the over 1200 Brookline residents who have already done so at the Panera at 9:30 a.m. 3. Brookline Chamber of Commerce Leaders Lunch Networking: Join The CHamber Friday, April 12, 2013 from noon to 1:00 p.m. for a weekly casual networking lunch at Olecito. 6 Cypress Street…

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After 40 Years, BU Hockey Coach Jack Parker Retires

The longtime coach of the BU Terriers men's hockey team announced his retirement at Agganis Arena on Monday afternoon.

After four decades, Boston University's hockey coach Jack Parker has decided to step down at the end of this season, he announced on Monday afternoon.  Parker, who turned 68 on Monday, told a roomful of former players, fans and media gathered at the Agganis Arena on Commonwealth Avenue, that the time had come for him to end his career as head coach.   "It's been a great run and I've had a great time doing it," he said.  Parker's "great run" has included three national championships, the most recent in 2009, seven Hockey East titles and 21 Beanpot Tournament crowns. He has 894 wins as head coach of the BU Terriers Men's Hockey team. “Jack has had an outstanding career at Boston University,” said Dr. Robert A. Brown, Boston University’s …

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Father: BU Student Died from Lethal Alcohol Consumption

Anthony Barksdale died from a lethal amount of alcohol at a fraternity party.

The father of Anthony Barksdale II told WCVB Channel 5 News that his son died after drinking a lethal amount of alcohol at a Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity party.  Barksdale II was found unconscious inside an Allston apartment on Wadsworth Street around midnight on Friday, March 1. Anthony Barksdale II died early Saturday morning. Tony Barksdale received a phone call at 1:21 a.m. from his son’s cellphone, according to Channel 5. A doctor was on the other end, calling to inform Barksdale of his son’s condition.  Barksdale would have turned 19 in April. He was studying aeronautical engineering at Boston University. Boston University has suspended the Sigma Alpha Mu chapter as a result of Barksdale’s death. The apartment on Wadsworth Street in …

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BU Fraternity Suspended After Student's Death

Police continue to investigate the death of Anthony Barksdale, a freshman at Boston University.

A Boston University fraternity has been suspended after the death of a BU freshman last weekend, according to BU Today. Amherst, NH native Anthony Barksdale II, 19, was taken to the hospital early Saturday after being found unconcious in an Allston apartment. He passed away in the hospital a few hours later.  Boston University identified Barksdale as a new member of the BU chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu. The apartment in which he was found had housed a fraternity function that night, school officials said. The university's Dean of Students, Kenneth Elmore, told BU Today the event was unregistered and there may have been underage drinking and severe intoxication. “Based on that and the action of the national organization,” he said, “we have …

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Anthony Barksdale Wake, Celebration of Life

The BU freshman passed away on Saturday after being found unconscious at a fraternity event.

A young Boston University student's life was tragically cut short over the weekend, and the cause is still under investigation. Anthony W. Barksdale II, a 19-year-old Boston University freshman, passed way early Saturday. The 2012 Souhegan alumni is remembered for his great sense of humor and his love for athletics.  A wake for Anthony Barksdale will be held Friday, March 8, from 3-8 p.m., at the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford. A celebration of his life will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 9, at Souhegan High School, 412 Boston Post Rd., Amherst. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, 545 New Hampshire 101, Bedford, NH 03110. A full obituary for Anthony W. …

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