Hi, I’m the Answer Wall! I’ve been perched in the O’Neill Library lobby at Boston College since February 2017, except for a year in 2020 when I went fully online. Ask me a question by posting a post-it on me in O’Neill Library. I’ll answer within a day on weekdays. I snooze on the weekends, because answering questions is hard work!
my girl swiftys got a new boyfriend
There seems to be a connection between the word ‘right’ (not left) and ‘rights’ (law) in many languages.
It might not seem like it, but to a linguist or etymologist, right, recht, derecho, and droit are all the same word, or at least all related to the same root, Latin “dīrēctum” which according to one of my favorite books, the Oxford English Dictionary, meant: “straightened, straight, right, direct n.; as noun, a straight or right line; in late Latin right, legal right, law”, from the root rego/regere, to guide, govern, from the Proto-Indo-European word hrege, to stretch or direct. A cognate in old Persian, rastaa, meant straight, right, or true. IOW, the associations are very old! And because etymology is an inexact science, it will likely remain a little mysterious.
Another word for “overthinker” is curious, a demeanor we try to encourage in education.
What are the best classes to fulfill the History I and II req with?
Maybe try something non-modern (Roman History) or non-Western (African Diaspora & The World). I’ve also heard good things about the new core fusion classes like Geographies of Empire and Making The Modern World.
Why can’t students use the dark-room on campus?
GRRM should be finishing up his book!!
Making us wait is kind of his thing, though, isn’t it?
Should I sacrifice the Rook?
Depends on the situation, but if you can really derail your opponent or set yourself up better it can totally be worth it.
Are you a Taylor Swift fan? What’s your fav TS song
Yes! For today, my favorite song is Long Live. I’m feeling sentimental <3
Moon Club was great tonight
So glad you were able to enjoy it!
春天快些来吧![chuntian kuai xie lai ba]
Soon there will be flowers all over campus!
I didn’t do so well on my midterm and now I think I’m gonna fail the class and not be able to graduate. What can I do if I fail? Can I still graduate in May?
Talk to your academic advisor and your professor right away. See what your options are to bring your grade up, and whether your graduation in May is really in jeopardy. I also recommend getting peer tutoring at the Connors Family Learning Center bit.ly/BC-connors. And if your fears are realized, this is not the end of the world. I know many folks who have failed a class or not graduated on time who have gone on to do great things… and be great people.
It’s very difficult to find famous influential, and widely cited books on psychedelic drugs in the BC libraries. Are these discreetly “banned”?
Libraries like ours don’t do book bans except at gunpoint. Like most academic libraries what we buy is shaped primarily by what’s in the curriculum and what faculty are doing research on, and where there are gaps in the collection that’s usually the reason. 1) You always have the option of requesting an interlibrary loan for things we don’t have. Usually takes about a week, and if another library can loan it, we’ll get it for you. 2) We’re happy to take suggestions on books to add.
got a battery leak in my calculator…should I take it in to get repaired or buy a new one?
Maybe take a look at these repair guides and the forums at iFixit. If there isn’t a lot of damage you might be able to get it working yourself for cheap. The trick with small electronics is that the repair bill is often as much or more than a new device. https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Calculator
Which 3 teams are going down?
I can say with absolute certainty that it will be the 3 teams that aren’t going up. The long-shot teams are all out, so it’s a pretty level field now of perennial powerhouses.
Favorite math subject?
Real Analysis. It was challenging but really satisfying. But I was at a college for walls, not here at BC.
Does the library have cardstock I can use
We do not, but Eagle Print in Carney can help you. They will print on cardstock for about 30 cents per page. You can email them at Eagleprint@bc.edu
I live to drink when I’m stressed but I’m not addicted. Advice?
I hear you that you’re not addicted, but working on a healthier relationship with alcohol seems like worthwhile path. The Center for Student Wellness has resources on alcohol awareness, and you can schedule an appointment with a wellness coach: bit.ly/BCStudentWell
Why can’t students use the dark-room on campus?
Here’s what art department staff said: “Thanks so much for the question! Sadly, we only have 14 working enlargers in the darkroom in the art department, and usually between 40-60 students taking photography classes at a time. The space is tight and we need to reserve it for those students, since the lab is only open for 20 hours a week. We have limited hours because it has to be staffed to prevent broken equipment, flooding, you name it, but also to provide assistance with students who need help with their printing. I encourage students to take our Photography 1 class, which is also offered this summer!”
What should I do when I feel like Im better…
If you’re concerned about your behaviors or thoughts, I recommend talking to someone about it. You could talk either to a student wellness coach (bit.ly/BCStudentWell) or a counselor at BC Counseling Services (bit.ly/BC-counseling), either of which would be confidential and supportive.
Tips for getting post-bac research positions in psychology/neuroscience (besides the obvious work your connections and checking job boards)? Feel like I am swinging and missing!
I recommend speaking to as many people in that area as you can: IOW, professors of psychology and neuroscience at BC and beyond, to ask what they did. Don’t be afraid of cold-calling (or emailing), but be sure to personalize them in some way: speak about their specializations & your interest in them. It’s probably somewhat akin to sending early-career fiction manuscripts for publication; one writer said “you’ve sent almost enough when you can wallpaper a room with rejections.” I’d also talk to the career center: bit.ly/BC-career.