The Wall

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WHY DOES SHE LIKE BITING ME?

WHY DOES SHE LIKE BITING ME? [Response: SHE IS A VAMPIRE -- or worse -- a cannibal.]
WHY DOES SHE LIKE BITING ME? [Response: SHE IS A VAMPIRE — or worse — a cannibal.]

Could be any number of reasons; vampire or cannibal top the list, for sure. However, is the “she” in question a toddler? Could be teething. A cat? Cats just dig that sort of thing. A grown up woman? It could be physically arousing. Or, if you are being very, very annoying – sometimes you just want to bite someone.

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What is the best dog insta account to follow?

What is the best dog insta account to follow? [Response: Norbert!] [Response: my dog @finding_nola she's a pug! ?
What is the best dog insta account to follow? [Response: Norbert!] [Response: my dog @finding_nola she’s a pug! ?

I think you’ve got your answers! Norbert and finding_nola are good dogs. 13/10, for sure. I might add, for big variety, WeRateDogs, which will make it clear very fast that all dogs are the best dogs.

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help I don’t want to do my homework

help I don't want to do my homework
help I don’t want to do my homework

I can understand that. There are so many exciting things to do around here, and assignments can seem tedious in comparison. I’d say, keep the goal (learning? grades? graduation?) in sight, and maybe set up a system of small rewards for getting chunks of the work done.

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Any suggestions for lots of GAS

Any suggestions for lots of GAS
Any suggestions for lots of GAS

If you mean leaking natural gas pipes or appliances, definitely get them repaired. Natural gas in high concentrations can be toxic and explosive, and incidentally includes methane, a potent greenhouse gas. If you mean in your digestive tract, here are some suggestions from Mayo Clinic: bit.ly/mayo-gas.

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If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? ❤️
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? ❤️

Borrowing an answer from 2017 because it was so good: The answer would depend on your interpretation of the word “sound.” If by sound you mean the vibration that propagates as an audible wave of pressure through air, water, or other transmission medium, then the tree does make a sound when it falls. However, if by sound you mean the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing, then the falling tree does not make a sound because no one is there to hear it. (Following this rationale, this answer will only exist once you read it.)

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According to the Dean of Students Office’s email communication, students may not attend classes, activities, or be presented at residence hall after hospital discharge until they clear the record w/PEC and AOC.

According to the Dean of Students Office's email communication, students may not attend classes, activities, or be presented at residence hall after hospital discharge until they clear the record w/PEC and AOC. (Yeah, it's not LOA but they are still banned from campus.) As previous mentioned, U Maryland students campaigned against similar policy last year. I'm just curious as don't you feel this policy potentially sends the message that's stigmatizing/punitive toward mental health resource/support-seeking?
According to the Dean of Students Office’s email communication, students may not attend classes, activities, or be presented at residence hall after hospital discharge until they clear the record w/PEC and AOC. (Yeah, it’s not LOA but they are still banned from campus.) As previous mentioned, U Maryland students campaigned against similar policy last year. I’m just curious as don’t you feel this policy potentially sends the message that’s stigmatizing/punitive toward mental health resource/support-seeking?

I’m sorry; I clearly misunderstood the question. I’m willing to bet there would be less opportunity for confusion about policy issues if you were to reach out directly to the Dean of Students office: Please contact Caroline Davis, Associate Dean for Student Outreach & Support at caroline.davis.2@bc.edu, 617-552-3470 or by stopping by 448 Maloney Hall to schedule an appointment.

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Will BC notify parents if a student is hospitalized?

Will BC notify parents if a student is hospitalized? (In the case if the parents are not listed as the emergency contact). Isn't this information supposed to be protected under HIPPA? Does that mean that UCS, Dean of Students or other administrative teams won't/can't/shouldn't notify parents at all, unless they have a ROI form signed?
Will BC notify parents if a student is hospitalized? (In the case if the parents are not listed as the emergency contact). Isn’t this information supposed to be protected under HIPPA? Does that mean that UCS, Dean of Students or other administrative teams won’t/can’t/shouldn’t notify parents at all, unless they have a ROI form signed?

I’ve had my assistants reach out to UCS and the Dean of Students office for an answer, but I recommend you call the Dean of Students office directly, since you have a number of related policy questions you need answered. “Please contact Caroline Davis, Associate Dean for Student Outreach & Support at caroline.davis.2@bc.edu, 617-552-3470 or by stopping by 448 Maloney Hall to schedule an appointment.”

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How do I deal with turning 20?

How do I deal with turning 20?
How do I deal with turning 20?

Own it; rejoice in it; experience it. The future is still vast ahead of you, but you’re old enough now to be feeling your independence, making your own decisions, and discovering what a meaningful life is for you. Happy birthday!

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What should I talk about on a first date?

What should I talk about on a first date?
What should I talk about on a first date?

You should talk about the person you are with. After all, the point of a first date is to get to know each other. Hopefully the other person will also ask you questions, so it feels like a date and not a one-sided interrogation. Above all, have fun!

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Question for UCS/Dean of Students office (or whoever you think is appropriate): Next time, can you make sure to let the student know that BC won’t overuse the involuntary LOA policy, and that hospitalization is not meant to be punitive to the best possible?

Question for UCS/Dean of Students office (or whoever you think is appropriate): Next time, can you make sure to let the student know that BC won't overuse the involuntary LOA policy, and that hospitalization is not meant to be punitive to the best possible? Cuz the university policy on the website wasn't very clear or helpful at the moment. It's very scary that the nurses and doctor at the hospital use that to scare you--such as telling you not to argue for outdoor fresh air time, or to take whatever medication or treatment suggested (Or school won't let you back, as they said.) I think the treatment works better when it doesn't come as a threat.
Question for UCS/Dean of Students office (or whoever you think is appropriate): Next time, can you make sure to let the student know that BC won’t overuse the involuntary LOA policy, and that hospitalization is not meant to be punitive to the best possible? Cuz the university policy on the website wasn’t very clear or helpful at the moment. It’s very scary that the nurses and doctor at the hospital use that to scare you–such as telling you not to argue for outdoor fresh air time, or to take whatever medication or treatment suggested (Or school won’t let you back, as they said.) I think the treatment works better when it doesn’t come as a threat.

That does seem like a way that could risk damaging a patient’s trust & confidence. I’m sorry that happened. Please reach out to the Dean of Students office. I’m sure they would be interested to hear about your experiences, and would be attentive and compassionate. Here is the contact invitation in response to another post: “Please contact Caroline Davis, Associate Dean for Student Outreach & Support at caroline.davis.2@bc.edu, 617-552-3470 or by stopping by 448 Maloney Hall to schedule an appointment.”

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HAVE YOU SEEN KURT?

HAVE YOU SEEN KURT? [drawing of skunk]
HAVE YOU SEEN KURT? [drawing of skunk]

Kurt does not seem to grace the library with his/her presence, perhaps because the library’s waste is uninteresting (at least dietarily) to a skunk.

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How can I focus better when I sit down to do HW/study?

How can I focus better when I sit down to do HW/study?
How can I focus better when I sit down to do HW/study?

Everyone’s most effective approach is a little different, so there’s a lot of advice available. The Wall suggests running a few simple experiments. 1) Some people need absolute quiet to focus, others like some background hum. Try doing the opposite of what you usually do for a bit and see if it’s better. 2) Some people cram immediately before exams, others space it out in smaller chunks thorugh the semester. Most people have done the first; try the second if you haven’t. 3) Take care of your body and mind. It’s really hard to focus if you’re hungry, or falling asleep, or stressed out. You can also talk to my friends at the Connors Family Learning Center down one floor–they can get you set up with an academic coach to give you more detailed advice. http://bit.ly/BC-connors

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I’m NOT the wall, but you know….. this question about the tree falling always makes me wonder

I'm NOT the wall, but you know..... this question about the tree falling always makes me wonder: If a child is abused but no one sees that or believes in the child, then is that suffering really validated? how much effort will the child need to put into, to understand she's hurt & it's not her fault, but she has to learn to heal?
I’m NOT the wall, but you know….. this question about the tree falling always makes me wonder: If a child is abused but no one sees that or believes in the child, then is that suffering really validated? how much effort will the child need to put into, to understand she’s hurt & it’s not her fault, but she has to learn to heal?

?Yes, so true. It takes so much effort and time to recover from childhood abuse, especially if the victim is surrounded by people who either don’t validate the reality or worse, actively deny it. Finding compassionate people who do believe the victim’s recollections can help them regain confidence in their own perceptions. Therapy can help a person nurture an adult perspective in which the harmed child is recalled with love and respect as a hero who created coping methods that helped them survive. The adult can then set those childhood coping methods aside, because the threat is in the past. Individual experience with the effort involved with healing varies a lot, but it’s always worth it. I believe you can do it.

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Just FYI, approximately 17%~35% of college students engage in Non Suicidal Self-Injury behavior.

Just FYI, approximately 17%~35% of college students engage in Non Suicidal Self-Injury behavior. (At least that's the data I found on Mental Health America._ So I'm not sure if u want to recommend ALL those students to go to hospital, as your previous post says. We probably should think about some better, more efficient, and less traumatizing resources.
Just FYI, approximately 17%~35% of college students engage in Non Suicidal Self-Injury behavior. (At least that’s the data I found on Mental Health America._ So I’m not sure if u want to recommend ALL those students to go to hospital, as your previous post says. We probably should think about some better, more efficient, and less traumatizing resources.

It sounds from other responses as if the Dean’s office would be interested in hearing what you have to say about less traumatizing options. Please reach out to them. This wall (and librarians who help answer it) are not equipped to give medical or medical policy advice. However, library staff *are* equipped to evaluate sources. If you click through to the sources for those figures, you’ll find that the lower % was established by a non-random internet survey, and asked about lifetime harm; it is both a low standard for evidence, and not necessarily about behavior during college years. The higher % was a very small sample (159) of a wide range of ages in UG classes at U. Mass Boston, and was intended as an instrument validation study for the Deliberate Self Harm Inventory (DSHI). Researchers caution that the results should not be used to estimate population prevalence for self-harm behaviors. If you are interested in further uses of the DSHI, I recommend searching for it in the PsycInfo database and selecting “test and measure” in the search drop-down menu.