Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
This concluding excerpt of a poem by the Qing Dynasty poet Nalan Xingde resonates with the present, or with any era, really: Looking at a prior dynasty or revolution, you see a different world. The rise and fall of empires is not man-made, but willed by fate.
Walls don’t only separate and defend. We support, both structurally and (in my case) emotionally. Still, if you insist on thinking of walls as only separating or defending, I would say that I certainly defend the books and people in this building from the elements. I separate levels of the building from one another (what is floor but a sideways wall?). I defend intellectual freedom and anonymity and support those who wish to learn.
Although there’s no reason you can’t do both (successfully?) at some point in your life, you may want to consult the knowledgeable folks at the Career Center (bit.ly/BC-career) for some guidance on your career choices. They can discuss the pros and cons of your various possible futures. Though I admit this might be a first for them…
At this point there are two very strong candidates: Ajax and Barcelona. Ajax is playing remarkably well right now. However, I think Barcelona will win it.
Breakups are hard, whichever side you’re on. Give yourself some time to process it, and some quiet time to think about it. Talk to friends. Maybe don’t rush into your next relationship.
That sounds uncomfortable. Sounds like she doesn’t feel the same way, in which case you should take no for an answer and move along.
Sure, as long as dessert & compliments come with a main course of honesty, respect, and trust.
Roommate break-ups are tough. Tell her, face to face, that you still want to be friends but you need to mix it up next year. Good luck!
The really great thing about the questions Perspectives raises is that you have your whole life to think about them. And your answers may change over time. O’Neill is a great place to explore them, too, if you want to do more reading. Come chat with our philosophy and theology librarian, Chris Strauber. Sign up for another course in theology or philosophy. Keep thinking and asking why.
You can recommend titles Pop.Reading@bc.edu or request books by Interlibrary Loan bit.ly/ILLatBC. We have books that might be considered enjoyable/recreational reading throughout the collection. Literature is on Level 4 in the P call numbers. Non fiction is everywhere – ask at the Reference Desk for suggestions in areas that interest you. And don’t forget we have popular eBooks and audiobooks through Overdrive (bc.overdrive.com). Happy reading!
As a Wall with limited gastronomical variety (I only eat post-its), appetizing pictures of food aren’t a big interest for me, but I suspect many of my assistants & viewers would enjoy tantalizing themselves with pictures of delicious meals & desserts & clicking through to the restaurants where they can eat them.
Defining the “best offensive season of all time” is one of those types of debates for which there will never the a single answer (like Bron vs. Jordan). BUT Curry’s 2015-2016 MVP season was dominant in pretty much every aspect. If you want to read more about some of the all-time stats he beat during that season, check out bit.ly/CurryMVPSeason
I think it’s “a truth universally acknowledged” that UIS has had its day, and the nostalgia of working in an eighties environment provides limited pleasure to all. There are plans to replace it, see: bit.ly/UISHeights. I am sorrow your advisor hasn’t been much use; another good option is to go to the Academic Advising Center (bit.ly/BC-academic-advising) and have a chat with them.
Some of my assistants have also had this reaction to double-parkers, who are either unskilled, unmindful, or selfish. However, I recommend patience with wrong-way drivers. Many BC visitors use the Comm Ave. garage, and someone driving the wrong way may be on their 5th college visit & can hardly remember where they are, let alone which way to drive in a dim garage with only moderately clear directional markings.
I work nights, so I didn’t see the performance, but I’d definitely say there’s something to that based on this one: bit.ly/bc-trifonov
IDK. I can’t presume to speak for BC’s administration. The student body, through UGBC votes in 2016 for an LGBTQ resource center (bit.ly/Heights-lgbtq1) and 2018 for a full-time staff member (bit.ly/Heights-lgbtq2) has made its needs clear. For a longer, in-depth view of the history of LGBTQ+ issues at BC, read this excellent 2016 article: bit.ly/Heights-lgbtq3. Keep communicating the need.
You do know the New England Classic is satire, right? Here’s an article that spells out what the NEC was up to, and how it has played out, along with some possible answers to your question: bit.ly/heights-ugbc.
One hypothesis is that around the Enlightenment, “scientists” realized that women, in fact, didn’t need to orgasm in order to get pregnant. So a woman’s pleasure during sex became less of a priority for society writ large, and this remains the case today. You might want to have a conversation with your partner(s) about your sexual preferences–being careful, of course, not to pressure them into doing anything they just don’t want to do. If they’re not into the things you’re into, it’s ok to move on. Thank u, next. (For more on the one-sex theory, see Thomas Laquer’s Making Sex: Body and Gender from Greeks to Freud, HQ1075 .L37 1992)
Aaaawwww, thanks! Glad to know I’m A Great Wall. One of my assistants just visited my cousin in China, THE Great Wall. (Psst, don’t tell anyone, butI learned something from my assistant. The Great Wall’s name in Chinese is “Long Wall,” not Great Wall. More accurate, eh? But not quite as grand.) Here are a few pictures of Long Wall.
Well, there’s the slightly bizarre bubbly chocolate; a much un-beloved former Microsoft design language, and then there’s Aerosmith, which would be my choice, because I don’t want to miss a thing….
