The Wall

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How to choose a major when you are a junior and don’t know yet?

How to choose a major when you are a junior and don't know yet?
How to choose a major when you are a junior and don’t know yet?

The Academic Advising Center has this wonderful piece on choosing a major: bit.ly/choose-major. It serves as a reminder that choosing a major isn’t the same as choosing a career and that you should study what brings you joy. The Center also has more resources at bit.ly/BC-academic-advising, including videos/transcripts of how other students have chosen (and changed) their majors. You can do it; I have faith in you! <3

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Do we live in a computer simulation?

Do we live in a computer simulation?
Do we live in a computer simulation?

There was a conference about that a couple of years ago and a number of prominent scientists and philosophers weighed in: bit.ly/bc-cs1. You can look up their work in the library catalog or articles search. The article by Bostrum mentioned there is here: bit.ly/bc-cs2. If you want to dig a little deeper, discussions of the nature of the physical universe usually go under cosmology–here’s an article which covers scientific and philosophical positions equally: bit.ly/bc-cs3

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How do I make a cross-ethnic and cross-SES relationship work?

How do I make a cross-ethnic and cross-SES relationship work? Any useful studies out there?
How do I make a cross-ethnic and cross-SES relationship work? Any useful studies out there?

When two people have different experiences, assumptions, and family life, they likely have to work harder to understand each other. Since you asked about studies, here’s a literature review of 50 years of research on interracial marriages: bit.ly/50-years-loving (BC access only). For a more narrative perspective, try the recent film Loving (Law Library feature film collection), about the couple in the landmark Supreme Court case. The advantage of ethnic and SES differences is that you can’t help but recognize & address them; many couples have differences they never acknowledge until it’s too late. In that sense, differences are universal, and you just need to focus on honesty, trust, and compassion.

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How do I read my philosophy HW and actually understand it? Why is Aristotle so EXTRA?!

How do I read my philosophy HW and actually understand it? Why is Aristotle so EXTRA?!
How do I read my philosophy HW and actually understand it? Why is Aristotle so EXTRA?!

Aristotle can be tough, partly because some of what we have of his is kinda like lecture notes. I’m told he’s much clearer in Greek…but assuming that isn’t feasible, here are a few things you could try. 1) Try a different translation–we have lots of all of his works. Sometimes that can make a confusing passage make more sense. In addition to reading the Aristotle, you could 2) Try reading something that tries to summarize Aristotle, like this Very Short Introduction to Ancient Philosophy. bit.ly/bc-vsi, or a general history of western philosophy. 3) Mortimer Adler’s Aristotle for Everybody was written for exactly this reason. bit.ly/bc-aristotle-everybody.

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Fourth floor next to the grouped cubicles/Elevator side there’s a horrible clicking noise, like there’s a mice-[crossout]

Fourth floor next to the grouped cubicles/Elevator side there's a horrible clicking noise, like there's a mice-[crossout]
Fourth floor next to the grouped cubicles/Elevator side there’s a horrible clicking noise, like there’s a mice-[crossout]

Thanks for the update on possible small furry quadruped guests. I prefer larger bipedal guests, who don’t tend to chew on wiring. (It tickles.) I will pass along your observations to those who can do something about the situation.

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My roommate smells bad i don’t know what to do about it. Help

My roommate smells bad i don't know what to do about it. Help
My roommate smells bad i don’t know what to do about it. Help

Smelling bad could just be a result of a casual approach to hygiene – IOW they don’t shower as often as the norm, or don’t use as many products to obscure body odor. I’ve known people with sensitivities to a lot of those products & can’t use them. OTOH, if it’s really strong, perhaps there’s a contributing medical condition. Tread carefully: scent is linked primally to feelings of self-consciousness. Maybe The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College, by Harlan Cohen (O’Neill Library LB2343.3 .C62 2017) has some sage advice.