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!
What should I get my BF for a holiday gift?
Good gifts are so personal, so my general advice is: Get him that thing you saw him looking at when you were out that one time.
Why do the clocks in classrooms have four as IIII and not IV?
Actual Romans used both, sometimes in the same document. Consistent spelling and numbering are a relatively recent phenomenon. And clockmakers are making art, so they have options on how to display things. I think it looks cool and old old-timey. Check out my friend the Oxford Classical Dictionary for a discussion: bit.ly/bc-roman
What should I get my younger brother for X-mas? (He’s 20)
It depends very much on what your brother likes, but I’m going to go out on a limb and suppose he enjoys gaming. In that case, perhaps a steam gaming controller? If he’s into music and you’re flush with cash, perhaps some really nice headphones? And there are always books! Books! Books!
Who will win UFC 322, Islam or Jack?
I didn’t have access to ESPN PPV, so I missed the fight, but I see that Islam won, moving up to welterweight. Thought I heard it was a history making, I saw another fighter call it boring (bit.ly/UFC322), so this is keeping my FOMO at bay.
Why are there so many bunnies around the campus? Is it legal to hunt them? Asking for a friend…
My assistants tell me there’s an excess of bunnies all over the Boston area. Rabbits breed like… well, rabbits (bit.ly/audubon-cottontail), which may explain why there are so many. It’s illegal to hunt within 500 feet of a dwelling without the owner’s permission (bit.ly/kill-the-wabbit), so it’s unlikely your friend can realize their Elmer Fudd dreams at BC.
How can you be motivated as we see so much cruelty in the world?
It might be helpful to remember that, as bleak as the world seems right now, there are moments of beauty and joy that exist around you each day that make life worth living. Also, remember that, as cruel as others might act, you have the capacity to show compassion, generosity, and kindness to those around you.
What is your least favorite color?
I prefer earth tones because they match Boston College colors, so blue is a no for me, both because it makes me feel gloomy and because it’s one of the colors of a rival school, Notre Dame.
Hey Answer Wall! Any Relation to Dr. Tom Wall?
No relation, but a coincidence both of us enjoy.
If Boston College had to embody one of the “virtues” that the M&M characters exemplify (red = friendliness, brown = wisdom, etc.), which would it be & why?
Perhaps I misunderstood the cardinal virtue of M&Ms, which is that humans think they’re a treat. Red & Brown sounds like a good combo to me, though.
Why is the football team so bad and why can’t it improve?
As soon as they reconsider generously sharing the ball with the wrong folks (more brown M&M, less red, cf. M&M post), it’ll be all good.
Do you mean Billy Budd, the character in a Herman Melville novel? I think that poor man’s been through enough.
How many books are there in the O’Neill library?
Technically, the answer to your question (as of 9:15 am 10/27/25 😉) is 971,184. Still, please remember that this number excludes many of the resources managed by library staff—eBooks, bound journals, music scores, and material housed in offsite locations. We always have more than you think we do.
Why do all the teachers put their midterms on the same day? do they hate us?
That’s one of the ways the academic calendar is brutal, it’s not personal at all. There are thirteen Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in October this year. One of them is Halloween, one is Indigenous Peoples Day. EagleApps says there are 958 sections that meet MWF. Tuesday-Thursday has 957. I’m sure you’ll do fine, but take care of yourself. Getting more sleep than you think you need is my #1 piece of advice–sleep deprivation messes with your memory, so there’s a point of diminishing returns to cramming.
How are you doing wall, like really, how are you doing? (open up 🙂)
Thank you for asking! I’m feeling grateful for all the questions I’ve received recently and the support I’ve gotten from my library helpers, and my relationship with O’Neill Lobby Door is going strong. I have felt a lot of stress in the air from students recently, though, that’s made me sad and want to give them a big hug (if I had arms). I hope you are holding up well and get a chance to take care of yourself during the upcoming Indigenous Peoples Day long weekend.
When is Asinine’s next show?
IDK but maybe they’ll tell you if you slide into their DMs on Insta: asinine_comedy. Last year the first fall show was right after the fall break, which would be… next week!
Where is free food?
Reverend John McElroy, b. Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh in 1782, founded Boston College 1858, d. Maryland, 1877. McElroy Commons, named after him, is at the intersection of College Road and Beacon Street on the Chestnut Hill campus. It contains two dining areas: Carney’s Dining Room and Eagle’s Nest. There really should be a BC club for distributing free food. Conact the Office of Student Involvement about finding or starting one: bc.edu/osi.
What do I do about a sexist professor?
I’m so sorry to hear about this. If the professor is being sexist to you personally, I recommend reporting them to BC Human Resources through this form: bit.ly/bias-reporting. If the professor has not been sexist to you, but you’ve witnessed them use sexist language and behavior in a class or setting where students are present, I suggest reporting them to the Dean of their School or to the University Harassment Counselor (Harassmentcounselor@bc.edu).
where can I find an image of Salvelinus perisii? all fishbase has is an undetailed drawing. There has to be a photo somewhere, right?
Try searching Google Image for the common names torgoch charr, Welsh Charr, or North Wales arctic charr. But I see what you mean! Most images are of the Arctic Charr, not specifically perisii. Maybe you need to get a grant to journey to North Wales with a waterproof camera.
When does human life begin?
This is a disputed question, which is why I suspect you’re asking. Philosophers, theologians, pastors, politicians, doctors, lawyers, and many, many others have possible answers to this question. I’m feeling more medical than theological today, so I’ll suggest you start with the Blackwell Companion to Bioethics. To really answer the question, you have to answer what “human” means, and what “life” means. bit.ly/bcl-blackwell-bioethics
I need a gf
It’s natural to want to be loved! Try spending time with friends and family, enjoying hobbies, and caring for your self; this can bring you connection and joy until you find your special someone.
Favorite Dark Academia read?
The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, and The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab are three of my recent favorites. If you’re looking for more of a classic dark academia vibe, I’d check out Dracula, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Frankenstein may put you in the mood.