Stage ready

We've got a guest photographer for the semester, Lee Patton, a senior photo student who is interning with the marketing and communications office. Patton shot this series of the BU Players' dress rehearsal of Jack and Jill. Theatre is interesting, but a little abstract to shoot because you've got these slices of life that have been lifted out of life.

Field hockey generations

In athletics, sometimes the preparation is just as interesting as the game. The story behind the story. A shoot at an afternoon practice several days ago showed BU's field hockey team has a story that runs generations deep.

Head coach Nikki Rhoads (black shirt in the center at right) is 2004 BU alumna and standout player for the Huskies, helping the team to two NCAA championships and two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles. As a coach, she's continued the winning tradition by guiding the Huskies to a 19-1 record and their fourth straight PSAC Championship in 2011.

At practice, Rhoads is joined on the field by her former coach Jan Hutchinson (pink shirt at right), who has returned as a volunteer assistant. Retired since 2010 after 33-year career at BU, Hutchinson doesn't miss the pressure and stress of being a head coach, but loves to stay involved with helping students. "I can't get it out of my system," she says simply.

The magic of band camp

The amplified metronome pumps out a continuous beat of 158 clicks a minute. Nearing weeks end, BU's band is breathing in time. Welcome to the Husky Marching band camp. To get ready for the fall semester, the band arrives on campus a week early and gets to work ... spending more than 40 hours over the next five days getting in synch.

Marching band director Gifford Howarth works with the students just outside the stadium. In addition to directing the band, Howarth is a well-known mallet percussionist whose conducted clinics around the world.

Below: One of the band's drum majors, Brittany Baselice (center, neon shirt), directs marching from the field. Senior Nathan Hawk works with the drum corps. Color guard captain Kayla Pipas demonstrates a routine.