The Wall

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Why doesn’t any BC service (not SHC) provide any birth control/STD prevention. Isn’t that just ignorant and damaging to students?

Why doesn't any BC service (not SHC) provide any birth control/STD prevention. Isn't that just ignorant and damaging to students?
Why doesn’t any BC service (not SHC) provide any birth control/STD prevention. Isn’t that just ignorant and damaging to students?

The Catholic Church’s position on birth control is longstanding and relatively recently updated (http://bit.ly/bc-bc), so from that perspective it would be strange for a Jesuit school to offer those sorts of services. The New Catholic Encyclopedia’s article on birth control has a good overview of the history of Church thought on the subject (http://bit.ly/bc-bc2). Professor Massa recently wrote a book on the evolution of theological thinking on it. (http://bit.ly/bc-bc1) You’re asking a practical question, but in this case the theology and history are the reason for the policy.

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When will the Dodgers win a World Series? :-(

When will the Dodgers win a World Series? :-(
When will the Dodgers win a World Series? 🙁

Since moving to LA in 1958, the Dodgers have won the World Series every 9.8 years on average (let’s round it to 10). It’s worth noting that they won the year after moving to LA, so that average is probably on the low side of what’s actually representative. Still, the Dodgers last won in 1988, so we would expect to see them win again in 1998 (oops), 2008 (huh), and 2018 (?). So they’re defintely overdue and have gotten close. 2028 is your year!

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Can I pet a campus bun?

Can I pet a campus bun?
Can I pet a campus bun?

So tempting, isn’t it – those adorable furballs! But best to leave all wild creatures alone. They can carry diseases and parasites (see: bit.ly/BunZoonoses), and also may not welcome your attention.

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How often should I call my parents?

How often should I call my parents?
How often should I call my parents?

This would be a good issue to discuss with them: how often do they want you to call? How often do you want to call them? Do you want to set up a specific schedule (like every Sunday evening at 8 PM) or be more organic about it? In general, I would recommend erring on the side of calling more than less – even just a short call to let them know you’re ok and thinking of them is very nice.

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Is it OK for a junior to hook up with a sophomore or freshman or is it just gross?

Is it OK for a junior to hook up with a sophomore or freshman or is it just gross?

The age difference seems pretty negligible (though one concern is it might be possible – though highly unlikely – for a freshman to still be below the age of consent).Whether hooking up is a good idea is another question, though. I would recommend the junior and the sophomore/freshman get to know each other better, before deciding on any further action.

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What is 0/0?

What is 0/0?
[Response: It does not exist. 0 can't be at the denominator. Hope that's correct.]
[Response: It does not exist. 0 can’t be at the denominator. Hope that’s correct.]

The operation x/y asks what you must multiply y by to get x. For 0/0 the answer is “anything you want.” Because 1 times 0 is 0, but 3 times 0 is also 0 and 452 times 0 is zero, etc. So no single number is THE answer and it is considered indeterminate.

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How do I make Thomas love me back?

How do I make Thomas love me back?

You can’t make someone love you. All you can do is be a loving and respectful person to him. If he doesn’t love you back, you have to find someone else who will.

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Why I always feel helpless?

Why I always feel helpless?
Why I always feel helpless?

I am sorry you are feeling that way. Life doesn’t have to be like that. I recommend contacting University Counseling Services ( bit.ly/BC-counseling ) and they may be able to give you some strategies for coping and for recognizing that you are, in many ways, not helpless at all.

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My beloved Wall…

My beloved Wall, What is more beautiful, love lost or love found? What is more refreshing, to love or to be loved? What is more of love & humane to embrace love or to let love go?
My beloved Wall, What is more beautiful, love lost or love found? What is more refreshing, to love or to be loved? What is more of love & humane to embrace love or to let love go?

Love found, to love, and to embrace love. I never want love to end, and it doesn’t need to end, although it may morph into other forms of love over time. (P.S. impressive post-it printing)

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I’m so sad that Professor Maksym Fedorchuk is not teaching undergraduates next semester…

I'm so sad that Professor Maksym Fedorchuk is not teaching undergraduates next semester... He's the most talented and kind professor I've ever seen. Is there any chance to convince the chair of math department to let him open a course for math majors? (BTW WHY are there so few math courses I'm frustrated.)
I’m so sad that Professor Maksym Fedorchuk is not teaching undergraduates next semester… He’s the most talented and kind professor I’ve ever seen. Is there any chance to convince the chair of math department to let him open a course for math majors? (BTW WHY are there so few math courses I’m frustrated.)

🙁 The Wall feels for you. There could be many reasons why he is not teaching a course for undergrads this semester. Faculty have to balance research, publishing, teaching, and life all at the same time. This semester might just be especially busy in one of those areas for him. As to why their are so few math courses, our department is fairly small – nearly half the size of MITs (and that’s just full-time faculty, not even counting adjuncts and graduate students). BC is historically a humanities driven school, and some of the STEM subjects are still growing here.

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Should I ask her out? I’m afraid of the friend zone!

Should I ask her out? I'm afraid of the friend zone!
Should I ask her out? I’m afraid of the friend zone!

You should totally ask her out if you want to. But let’s reframe the “friend zone” concept. If you ask and she says no, you have the option to be friends or not afterward. But don’t be the kind of “friend” who’s secretly resentful or scheming to make something else happen.