O’Neill Library

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!

Can you recommend more books about cats or that have cats prominently?

Can you recommend more books about cats or that have cats prominently?
Can you recommend more books about cats or that have cats prominently?

In our collection I highly recommend The amazing Maurice and his educated rodents by Terry Pratchett, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot and if you are thinking something rooted in our contemporary world there’s a strong cat presence in A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. At Boston Public Library they have We’ll Prescribe You a Cat
by Syou Ishida which is also very good.

How do you get up to the Gasson Bell Tower?

How do you get up to the Gasson Bell Tower?
How do you get up to the Gasson Bell Tower?

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, I’ve had my assistants poke around a little. There’s 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 you’d probably still have to watch out for the laser-activated alarm. I recommend getting a campus job with facilities. Those folks know everything. But you’ll have to earn their trust before they share.

Will Nathan get a girlfriend this year?

Will Nathan get a girlfriend this year?
Will Nathan get a girlfriend this year?
OH Hell NAW
OH Hell NAW

While I can’t predict whether Nathan will find love, it can happen. I suggest he talk to different people on campus, learn if their interests are similar to his, and see if a mutual attraction develops. Campus-wide (https://bit.ly/bc-wide-events) and student organization events (https://bit.ly/bc-student-events) are good places to do this.

What is the point of spending 90k a year at BC?

What is the point of spending 90k a year at BC?
What is the point of spending 90k a year at BC?

A Jesuit education aims to make you the best possible version of yourself and includes spiritual and ethical elements that not every degree program does. Being at an elite school in Boston puts you in proximity to influential people and institutions. I can’t say whether those things are worth it to you. I can say that BC decides whether to admit you without checking to see if you can pay, https://bit.ly/bc-price

Thoughts on Trump’s plan to take Greenland, Canada, or Mexico & incorporating it into the Union?

Thoughts on Trump's plan to take Greenland, Canada, or Mexico & incorporating it into the Union?
Thoughts on Trump’s plan to take Greenland, Canada, or Mexico & incorporating it into the Union?

Conversations like this would fit better in late 19th century US politics. Maybe check out the Cambridge History of American Foreign Relations (bit.ly/bcl-cambridge-am-foreign-relations) for a little context on how old an idea this is and how the people advocating expansion to Canada and Mexico sound.

Do you have any favorite books on the philosophy of science? Or scifi like Ted Chiang! Thanks sm [crying emoji]

Do you have any favorite books on the philosophy of science? Or scifi like Ted Chiang! Thanks sm [crying emoji]
Do you have any favorite books on the philosophy of science? Or scifi like Ted Chiang! Thanks sm [crying emoji]

We do have Chiang’s Stories of Your Life and Others, which includes his short story, “Story of Your Life,” on which the film Arrivalwas based. Thanks for your interest! I’ll have my assistant order more of his work. Thomas Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions(O’Neill Library Q175 .K95 1974) is a classic in science epistemology. For a more recent work, try Nancy Cartwright’s The Dappled World (O’Neill Library Q175 .C37 1999).

Are the Lions going to win the Super Bowl?

Are the Lions going to win the Super Bowl?
Are the Lions going to win the Super Bowl?

I’m not a prognosticator; I leave prediction to my cousin the magic 8-ball. Regardless, it seems a little premature to ask the question; post-season play can be unpredictable. But if their commanding offense can continue to stay ahead of an injury-hobbled defense, the odds aren’t bad.

Would 5 lions beat a T-rex in a fight? If not, how many lions would it take? (asking for some friends)

Would 5 lions beat a T-rex in a fight? If not, how many lions would it take? (asking for some friends)
Would 5 lions beat a T-rex in a fight? If not, how many lions would it take? (asking for some friends)

T-Rex would have been about 40 feet long and weigh 11,000-15,000 lbs., somewhat larger than a big African Elephant. As lions tend to limit themselves to hunting young, sick, or elderly elephants, it’s unclear whether they’d even take on something as large as a T-Rex. The website of a S. African game reserves relates an anecdote of a pride of 26 lions taking down an adult elephant cow. It’s also unclear how a T. Rex’s teeth or claws might have compared to an elephant’s tusks as defensive weapons. Researchers also think T. Rex likely moved slowly, putting it at a disadvantage.

How many rate cuts in 2025

How many rate cuts in 2025
How many rate cuts in 2025

The Federal Open Market Committee at the Federal Reserve makes these decisions, and they don’t even know yet, because they make their decisions based on economic factors that have yet to unfold. Here’s more info: bit.ly/fed-monetary

Below some typing on a yellow post-it is the handwritten note "cop out answer"

If you’d like a prediction, I have to refer you to my cousin, the Magic 8-Ball.

How can I become a better person?

How can I become a better person?
How can I become a better person?

Self-improvement takes time so be kind to yourself! I recommend setting a goal for what you’d like to change and ask family, friends, and others who care about you to keep you accountable. Working with a counselor can also help you identify what needs to change and create a plan to do it. BC Counseling Services (https://bit.ly/BCUCSOptions) is just one of many supports on campus that provides this kind of service.

Can I majoring in sleeping?

Can I majoring in sleeping?
Can I majoring in sleeping?

Wouldn’t that be cozy? The closest majors would probably be psychology or neuroscience, both of which study sleep behaviors. But I suspect that isn’t what you mean. If you’re sleeping more than usual or have difficulty getting out of bed, it’s possible it’s just seasonal, and/or you’re exhausted after a tough semester and need some rest. If it persists, it’s worth checking in with a doctor. Meanwhile, why not read (in bed of course!) a history of sleep science called Mapping the Darkness? bit.ly/bcl-mapping-darkness