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!
Who’s gonna be the next Pope, wall? Obviously we can’t know, but who’s likely?

I can’t make predictions but my Italian relatives inside the Sistine Chapel might be able to answer (though they go silent during Papal elections). If you are interested in the history of how Popes are chosen, I recommend the book The conclave: a sometimes secret and occasionally bloody history of papal elections (https://bit.ly/bcl-the-conclave) in our library catalog. Major news sources like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal have good coverage of the Vatican, and there are also solid Catholic publications like America (the Jesuit Review) and the National Catholic Reporter to watch for developments.
Who is winning NBA Playoffs? (It’s the Knicks fs)
My roommate is engaged with a girl who doesn’t respect him and he keeps going back because idk he’s stupid?? What do I do to him?

The thing with friends is they’re your friends even when they’re being dumb, or when you disagree with them. Be there for them. It’s OK to comment once or twice when their partner does something disrespectful. But your friend’s only going to change their mind about the relationship when they decide they want to.
What if I want to cut off my current roommate?
![What if I want to cut off my current roommate? She's always so rude :( [response: be gracious always it makes YOU BETTER :)]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/aw0416725.jpg)
Though I agree to a point with the reply, one also needs to set boundaries. If you can ride out the last few weeks, you can find a better situation for next year. Meanwhile, if you’re willing to go there & think it might have an effect, maybe a conversation with your roommate about hurtful comments would chasten her.
How do I reduce every problem in the world to a Turing Machine?

At the very least you’d run into problems with the computability of real numbers.

Taking a class is a great idea if you want to learn more about something. I also agree that machines can’t solve every problem (yet).
How to best remember Boston College?

If you are a graduating, it might be helpful to remember how Boston College personally impacted you: maybe it was a friend, a club, a professor, or an event; it can be anything that has shaped the person you’ve become and what you are going out into the world to do.
What is the best 1980’s show to watch?

One of my Gen X helpers got so excited about this question that they offered more than one to binge–check out: The Golden Girls, Murder She Wrote, Cheers, The Wonder Years, Silver Spoons, Moonlighting, Night Court, A Different World, Growing Pains, Murphy Brown, and St. Elsewhere. Happy Nesting!
How do I get up to Gasson Bell Tower? (it’s my dream)

This dream seems to be shared by many! Here’s the answer I gave a few months ago: My cousin the bell tower, in spite of their frequent ringing, has been mute on the subject of access since Gasson Hall’s renovation in 2007 when it was silenced temporarily. Since they aren’t talking, Iāve had my assistants poke around a little. Thereās a clue in this Boston College Magazine alumni-submitted story: bit.ly/bells-clue, but as the story predates the renovation, there might not be a door ajar, and youād probably still have to watch out for the laser-activated alarm. I recommend getting a campus job with facilities. Those folks know everything. But youāll have to earn their trust before they share.
Who will win RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7?
how to keep going when you feel like the effort is going nowhere?
![how to keep going when you feel like the effort is going nowhere? [different handwriting] wait until the evening to do dopamine-releasing activities of any sort. game changer.](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/AW040825-2.jpg)
It depends. It’s normal when you’re learning something for there to be plateaus where the daily effort feels like it’s accomplishing less. Sometimes that unlocks big changes, but sometimes you only see the cumulative effect over a long period of time. If it’s a person or a relationship you’re feeling that way about, totally different advice.
wait until the evening to do dopamine-releasing activities of any sort. game changer.
So great that works for you! For other folks it might or might not, so my unsolicited Wall advice is to take this part of your life to experiment with what works for you. Try and find the times of day when you’re naturally energetic and put your hard and thinky work there. Make space for natural low energy times. Give yourself space to find out the best time for you for what you need to get done.wait until the evening to do dopamine-releasing activities of any sort. game changer.
Why am i getting so skinny?

Stress and diet can often cause weight loss but can also be a sign of something more serious. I recommend visiting University Health Services (bit.ly/BostonCollegeHealth) or scheduling an appointment with your personal care physician to find out what’s going on. I wish you well!
How do i stop eating so much?

I like eating colorful post-it notes a bit too much, so I don’t think I’m the best person to ask. I’ve heard the Center for Student Wellness (https://bit.ly/BCStudentWell) has some quality resources and programs around physical health, so they might be worthwhile checking out.
Tralalero Tralala or Bombardiro Crocadilo
What do you do when your room-mate walks in on a sexual activity you are engaging in?

If walls could talk⦠. Just kidding, they can! I think I’ve heard everything at this point from my dorm wall friends. If I were a human in that situation I’d probably apologize for not alerting them, and if the two of you haven’t talked through some ground rules, I’d suggest doing that as well, to avoid it happening again.
How do I stop being a burden on my colleagues? I feel like me saying “I know I am a bit much” can get annoying but me saying that I bc of my anxiety.

I’m sorry you feel like you’re a burden. What an awful feeling! Please know that you are enough, and not obligated to be change to satisfy other people. Several of my assistants who felt anxiety was limiting their lives have benefited from counseling: bit.ly/BC-counseling.
Snowfall in spring???
How do I deal with emotional unavailability?
What are the origins of the heart hands emoji?

Some say the hand heart comes from Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan in a photo titled “Family Syntax” in 1989. Others say it comes from poppin’ dance moves from the 1970’s. Regardless, it became really popular as a gesture in around 2010, then became an emoji after that.