Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
Dogs! Brain Break! Next Wednesday, April 10, O’Neill 3rd Floor Reading Room, 7-11pm. Dogs, chair massage, desk yoga, origami, button-maker, games, puzzles, coffee, snacks… .
While you wait for the Brain Break dogs to appear, why not vote on cute dogs and help a student philosophy project? Visit the Cute Dog Project, an online experiment in democratic theory, social choice theory, value theory, critical theory, philosophy of science, and information ethics. And cute dogs! bit.ly/neu-cute-dog
Lots of schools do that. Catholic ones don’t. bit.ly/bc-bc
I will have my assistants let it be known to the hole punch and stapler departments.
I don’t have any hard data on the least used, but one of my helpers tells me that the one in Robsham is on the quiet side.
Tall order! Start local: be an examplar of how to live with minimal harm, with respect for others. (And when that fails, at least patience & tolerance.) Do more asking and listening than making yourself heard. Make room for voices that aren’t often heard. Grant those around you dignity and agency. When you encounter injustice, say so, and do what you can to correct it, because peace is unlikely without justice. When you make mistakes, apologize and make amends. There are many courses at BC in political science, philosophy, sociology, and theology that address issues of peace and justice.
One can plan paths around aesthetic principles or one can plan paths by observing where people actually walk. The latter method is known as a “desire path” in urban planning: bit.ly/desire-paths. If there’s no signpost about staying off the grass, walk where you need to walk.
It’s tomorrow – I’m not great at predicting the future, but I will predict that there will be some amazing dancing! Best of luck to all contestants!
I’m sorry you feel that would be necessary. Not every higher ed institution is a perfect match for everyone. And to answer your question, no. It’s a big investment, so that’s a hard pill to swallow, but your coursework from BC will count at any institution you’d like to transfer to. Colleges & universities try hard to make sure applicants fit the school and vice versa, because it’s such a big investment for everyone. Whatever happens, I hope you find what you’re looking for.
BC probably doesn’t support systemic racism more or less than most other American institutions. Assumptions about race are inevitable in a nation with several hundred years of chattel slavery followed by 100 years of legally enforced racial laws (that ended during the living memories of Americans over 60). These assumptions take active attention to bring to light, and often take difficult conversations to dismantle. BC does make efforts through the Office of Institutional Diversity (bit.ly/BC-OID), and has publicly stated a commitment to nondiscrimination (bit.ly/BC-nondiscrimination). Please help BC maintain its promise by talking to the OID & other offices about deficiencies you’ve seen.
Baldwin the Eagle. Doug Flutie is second.
Thanks so much for the generous offer! But I’m a) a Wall, and finding a sweatshirt that fits has always been challenging and b) I’m at BC, and there’s plenty of good team gear here. So, no thank you, but I’ll keep an ear out for my California cousins.
I would start by contacting Facilities at 2-3048. I expect that having bringing in a cat would be problematic for a variety of reasons, but you could suggest it!
![I noticed the same person posted 12 or 13 notes on suicide/sec 12/LOA... are you alright? I mean that completely in an "I care about you" way. I see you, I hear you, and I worry it's not just for info/research but for yourself. Holding hope for you. [response1: Speak up--you matter. Stay Fearless. Always. Response2: Thank you for the kind words. Yes -- I'm alright. BC has great support & resources the Dean of Students Office, UCS, this wall, and everyone. So I do also encourage ppl reach out should they need help, and pls show great appreciation to the faculty/staff. P.S. The question are mostly about resource & policy, NOT suicide. But, still appreciate your kindness]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/aw032219-8.jpg)
Thank you for your care and support! Your caring note has inspired this Wall to help people care for people. Many people around us are suffering silently. If you know of someone who’s suffering, put a note of care & support here for them. (No names, please, to protect privacy.) [posted on a temporary wall annex in O’Neill Library: I’m sorry, there’s no capacity to accept notes of care and concern on this blog.]
You’re welcome. I hope your posts have inspired other people who need help to seek it.
It would be the same as for any hospitalization, such as for a broken bone or an acute infection. I’d stay in close contact with your advisor, who can send notices to your professors about a medically-excused absence. It would be wise to contact your professors yourself, too, when you’re able, in order to arrange ways to make up lost work, get class notes, etc.
Mice move into many buildings at BC during the colder months. I don’t know specifically if Walsh does, but it wouldn’t surprise me. They’re probably cousins of the mice who live in O’Neill’s walls.
UCS has responded about Section 12 #’s: “We do not have a number of people who have been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital (section12), so I cannot provide that. You are correct to say that it is quite low. Most people who go to a hospitalization do so collaboratively rather than involuntarily.”
BCPD actually has a webpage for safety tips (bit.ly/BCStreetSmarts) where they recommend you call Eagle Escort for late night trips. Some of my favorite tips are to travel with other people, always be aware of your surroundings, and call for a ride if you’re alone. Call Eagle Escort! BCPD encourages it because they are here to keep you safe. You might feel guilty for calling, but they’ll feel guilty if something ever happens to you – God forbid.
It sounds like what you need is assurance that you won’t lose control over decision-making in the process of healing. Those numbers may or may not provide that assurance for you, even if they’re quite low. I do recommend you contact the Dean of Students office for your questions about policies & how you might be affected.
The senioritis struggle can be so real for a lot of students. You’re so close to the end of your time in college and while you know it’s important to study and finish strong, you want to spend as much time as you can with your friends, doing activities that you may not be able to do when you leave. Try to enjoy the rest of your time here but remember that you and your friends can have a great time studying in O’Neill!
