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.)
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.
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.”
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!
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!
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.”
How can I be accepted by/transfer to Columbia College?
Here are details, assuming you mean Columbia in NY (bit.ly/ColumbiaTransfer). If you mean Columbia in Chicago, then bit.ly/ColumbiaChicagoTransfer. Info for Columbia College in Missouri: bit.ly/ColumbiaMoTransfer There are others – let me know if you need more info. I would also check in with your Academic Advisor.
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
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.
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.
Do you ever really feel comfortable with your career choice? I think too often about the “what ifs”, especially because grad school is so expensive.
The reality is that many if not most people will change careers, sometimes multiple times. It’s not a final decision. I’d check in with the Career Center (bit.ly/BC-career) for some validation of your career choice. There will always be “what ifs”. Even I wonder once in a while if I should have studied to be a memorial wall, like my amazing cousin, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, but I know that I have a valuable role to play here at BC doing my answering.
This is ALL anonymous, right? So I won’t be punished for posting questions, right? (Or sectioned, or hospitalized, or whatever?)
Yes, this is all anonymous. I will never punish anyone for asking questions here. The only questions that are out of bounds are ones that betray the anonymity of non-public figures or use language that could harm someone, and my response to those questions is to redact the problem material, not to punish.
I texted Lean on Me and they never responded. Why??? ?
I’m so sorry to hear that Lean on Me did not respond by the time you wrote this – I hope that they eventually did. If not, I think it’s important that you provide that feedback to them at team@lean0n.me (with a zero for an O). Please continue looking for resources out there when you need someone to talk to, like Crisis Text Line. And remember that you don’t need to be suicidal to utilize a crisis line. As they say “if it’s a crisis to you, it’s a crisis to us.” crisistextline.org/texting-in
The current resident is a replica made in the 90s. The original was made in Japan and lived in Brookline for many years before coming to BC in the 50s. The original has been restored and is on display at BC’s McMullen Museum of Art, over on the Brighton campus. bit.ly/bc-eaglemania
How to approach/educate ignorant ppl? — if they are your BEST friends.
Empathy. It can be extremely frustrating to care for someone deeply (as with a best friend) and disagree with the way they view the world. Just remember that they are humans too and have experiences that have guided them to their current viewpoints. I recommend engaging them on their experiences and asking what led them to see the world as they see it today. Also remember that you should be just as open about changing your views if they’re able to present a compelling argument. Mutual respect for each others’ opinions and open dialogue are how friendships blossom – the “education” part will come naturally if you focus on the dialogue.
I want to live but how can i fight suicidality?!!!!!? Any Ideas…. (Besides going to UCS, hotline, hospital, BCPD, or books?) — I’m not in immediate risk, don’t panick!
I want you to live, too! I even want you to thrive. But I don’t really have the capacity to help those things happen other than to say that I care about you. The offices & phone numbers you list are exactly what I would tell you to try; that’s all I know to do, because I’m not a medical professional. If you’re concerned that those routes wouldn’t help, all I can say is you’re worth the effort of trying. If you’re concerned that they might hurt (by, say, triggering a mandatory leave), please read the responses from the Dean of Students office; I think their answers may allay your fears.
I am an international student on a student visa in a relationship with an American citizen. Even though I know we have a good friendship and compatible interests, sometimes I just can’t stand the priviledged way he sees the world. I feel like a parasite when his family takes me in as a guest, I feel the unbalanced power dynamic compromises our relationship. 🙁
It seems likely that you have have a much broader experience with the world than he does, and I suspect that plays a large role in the disconnect between you two on this one facet of your relationship. I don’t know how serious you are, or your life situation, but it might do you both some good to explore your native culture together. That could be as simple as scheduling video chats with your friends and family back home for the two of you, or as extravagant as having him come visit you in your home country. Seeing the human side of the “other” is a powerful way to break down privileged views of your own culture. It’s doubtful that he or his family mean any ill will when they take you in as a guest. It’s worth noting that simply by the fact that this is their home country, they will have more institutionalized power and comfort than you. I don’t think that’s right, but the opposite would be true if he were an international student in your country. No matter what, I think it’s important that you’re honest with him about your feelings. If the relationship is important, he will take them to heart. If not, then perhaps you’ve done yourself a favor long term.
![HAVE YOU SEEN KURT? [drawing of skunk]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/aw031919-10.jpg)
