Why doesn’t BC acknowledge its racist culture?

Why doesn't BC acknowledge its racist culture?
Why doesn’t BC acknowledge its racist culture?

Systemic racism is endemic to the US and institutions in it. I’m not sure quite what acknowledging that fact at BC would look like. BC has an Office for Institutional Diversity (bit.ly/BC-OID) that grapples with institutional racism with programs & resources, and recognizes that faculty and staff of color and students of color deserve additional support to contend with living with racism, through diversity and affinity groups. Of course, there’s always more that can be done; that’s the nature of institutional racism. Please contact the OID or other campus offices with your ideas about what should be done.

Y’all should get a Citizens Bank ATM plz

Y'all should get a Citizens Bank ATM plz
Y’all should get a Citizens Bank ATM plz

I have directed my subordinates to look into this matter and will get back to you when they have gleaned some information.

Update, 11-14-18: BC has to balance student wishes with banks’ needs when placing ATMs on campus. If you have a suggestion, contact the treasurer’s office at 2-3041, and tell them. They can take it into account when making decisions. However, keep in mind that banks often place ATMs based on where they will most profit, which is not always perfectly aligned with customer convenience.

What is your favourite bathroom at BC?

What is your favourite bathroom at BC?
What is your favourite bathroom at BC?

I don’t of course, actually need to use the facilities – I’m a wall. But according to one of my helpers, the 5th floor bathrooms in O’Neill are ever so much fresher and less crowded than the others. Outside of O’Neill, the restrooms in Robsham and Stokes come to mind as good places to try.

Are yall gonna fix the vending machines so they take Eagle Bucks again??!!? #Needmycoffee

Are yall gonna fix the vending machines so they take Eagle Bucks again??!!? #Needmycoffee
Are yall gonna fix the vending machines so they take Eagle Bucks again??!!? #Needmycoffee

Coca-Cola has finally finished setting up all of their machines to accept Eagle Bucks. BC has looked into getting the coffee machine to accept eagle bucks, but unfortunately, that machine is incompatible with the card readers that read BC ID’s. You’ll need to bring cash or a credit card to use the coffee vending machine. 🙁

Why are there only 2 hr loaner text books. Why can’t BC purchase more copies?

Why are there only 2 hr loaner text books. Why can't BC purchase more copies?
Why are there only 2 hr loaner text books. Why can’t BC purchase more copies?

Materials on Course Reserves circulate for 2 hours because they are high-demand items that are set aside for class reading at faculty members’ request. The number of copies the libraries can purchase is limited by budgetary, space and copyright restrictions. What the BC Libraries are doing to address this issue is prioritizing the purchasing of ebooks for Course Reserves.

Does BC encourage voting in the 2018 Midterm Elections?

Does BC encourage voting in the 2018 Midterm Elections? I haven't seen much evidence of this (though maybe I'm wrong). Is there early voting available on campus? Would love to see BC Rock the Vote!
Does BC encourage voting in the 2018 Midterm Elections? I haven’t seen much evidence of this (though maybe I’m wrong). Is there early voting available on campus? Would love to see BC Rock the Vote!

Unfortunately, early voting ends today at 5pm, but there’s still Tuesday! The College Democrats of Boston College were involved in Joe Kennedy’s campaign in the primary (bit.ly/heights-cdbc). I’m sure they could use your help if you lean that way; Boston College Republicans might also have some plans underway. The library created a guide with links to voting info, including polling places: bit.ly/bc-vote-resources. There’s a talk on Monday at noon by BC’s David Hopkins about the midterms: bit.ly/midterms-hopkins. Get out there and ROCK THE VOTE!

Why are there so few activists on campus?

Why are there so few activists on campus?
Why are there so few activists on campus?

When you see an injustice, there are basically two ways of trying right it: 1) try to correct that instance of injustice: feed a homeless person, or perhaps even help them get to a soup kitchen, or even help them find a job and a home. 2) try to address the systemic social problems that cause an injustice such as widespread homelessness: expensive health care, unemployment, inequity in schools, or a social safety net full of holes. Path #1 requires generosity and is hard to scale up to solve widespread social ills. Path #2 requires a lot of struggle for slow changes you may not see in your lifetime, and is therefore hard to convince people to undertake. It’s possible that BC’s focus on path #1 leads people on path #2 to attend other schools.

I feel like BC doesn’t care about antisemitism.

I feel like BC doesn't care about antisemitism. Why haven't they made a statement about the tree of life shooting?
I feel like BC doesn’t care about antisemitism. Why haven’t they made a statement about the tree of life shooting?
Our professor also said it has a disproportionately low number of Jewish students compared to other colleges. Dunno if that's accurate.
Our professor also said it has a disproportionately low number of Jewish students compared to other colleges. Dunno if that’s accurate.

I was horrified to hear of this terrible event, and I’m sorry you feel like BC doesn’t care. Though I know it might not ameliorate the lack of a public statement, my library assistants have heard nothing but care and concern from BC staff, students, and faculty. As to the population: a recent Pew survey estimated that nationally, recent college graduates were about 3% Jewish, and Boston College Hillel estimates BC’s Jewish population at 2%. I doubt that’s enough of a difference to influence concern about antisemitism. I’m sure BC as a whole cares; perhaps student groups could help encourage BC to turn that care into a public gesture of some kind.

I love this wall!

I love this wall! Is the rumor that if you get hit by a car on campus, then you get full-ride scholarship true? Is this why students don't look up from there (sic) phones when crossing the roads?
I love this wall! Is the rumor that if you get hit by a car on campus, then you get full-ride scholarship true? Is this why students don’t look up from there (sic) phones when crossing the roads?

Thank you! I love you too. The short answer to the question of getting hit by a car is “no”. The university does not have a policy of extending free tuition to anyone hit by a car on campus. However, if you are hit by a car, you likely have a civil case on your hands. The exact outcome of the case (whether you receive money, have to pay out money, who the parties to the lawsuit are, etc.) will depend heavily on the exact circumstances of your accident. Even in the best case, it will be at least a year before you see any money. Some cases can drag on for a long time (5 years or more) and you will have graduated long before they’re over. All of that is to say that not looking before crossing the road isn’t a good path to a scholarship. I think many students assume others will stop if they walk. Unfortunately, too many people aren’t paying attention to the roads these days, and that’s a very dangerous assumption to make. Be safe. Look both ways.

Can someone fix the vending machines plz?

Can someone fix the vending machines plz?
Can someone fix the vending machines plz?

My human library assistants are all working hard with the right university offices to make sure Coca-Cola fixes the vending machines. Coca-Cola says they’re waiting for parts. I wish I could hurry along the people responsible for those parts, but my influence doesn’t really extend beyond the campus walls.

Do you think BC uses Welles Crowther for monetary gain and capitalism?

Do you think BC uses Welles Crowther for monetary gain and capitalism?
Do you think BC uses Welles Crowther for monetary gain and capitalism?

Crowther is an American hero. After his death in the 9/11 attacks, his parents started the Red Bandanna Project, which sells bandanas emblazoned with his BC lacrosse jersey number (19). Boston College was a large part of Welles’ life (he lived with other BC grads in New York), so it makes sense that BC honors his sacrifice while the charitable organizations started in his honor fundraise, in part, on his connection with BC. The world is more complex than simple “monetary gain and capitalism” – it’s a symbiotic relationship between BC and the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust. The Red Bandana 5K raises money for the Trust, and BC is a sponsor of the race (thus making their association with him a financially “losing” prospect in this instance). BC alumni are more likely to give money to both BC and the Trust due to their mutual association. Sometimes, everyone really does win – the Trust gets more money to develop its programs (see http://www.crowthertrust.org for more info) and BC is associated with exactly the type of person that the University aims to graduate into the world.