Category: Boston College

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Can the temp of the library be increased? It’s so cold

Can the temp of the library be increased? It's so cold [drawing of snowman]
Can the temp of the library be increased? It’s so cold

I’m so sorry you’re cold. So are my human assistants. I’ll report the cold, but don’t get your hopes up too high. Have you ever noticed that part of the stereotypical outfit of a librarian is a cardigan? The library isn’t chilled for our comfort; it’s for the books. They don’t need to be cold, per se, but they do need to be kept dry, and the most efficient way to do that is to remove moisture with an air-conditioning system. Above a certain temperature and humidity, molds begin to multiply, and mold is the the #1 enemy of paper. (Fire is also a problem, of course, but much rarer.) So, my assistants all sympathize, but there’s little we can recommend but to either a) wander the library in search of a less chilled area or b) join the library fashion-world and don a cardigan.

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How much money does BC spend on landscaping?

How much money does BC spend on landscaping?
How much money does BC spend on landscaping?

Official word from facilities on the landscaping budget is that “the University has operating expenses upwards of 980 million dollars annually. The landscaping operating costs are perhaps the smallest yearly investment made into the buildings and properties portfolio but it has a great return on investment…” The Wall agrees about the returns. If I weren’t so committed to being vertical, I’d go lie on the lawn and let the blossoms fall on me.

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Is there a cuckoldry club @ BC?

Is there a cuckoldry club @ BC?
Is there a cuckoldry club @ BC?

There is no club at BC that covers your interest, although you can find a full list of BC Organizations here: bit.ly/BCOrgs. If you’re interested in the subject, it appears that Dr. Eric Weiskott is offering a course on Chaucer (ENG3393) this fall.

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What will tuition be in 2040?

What will tuition be in 2040?
What will tuition be in 2040?

I’m not big on prognostication, but this could be a relatively easy one, if all of the conditions affecting tuition and fees from 2000 to the present remain consistent until 2040. (That could be a big IF.) The trend line is pretty straight: bit.ly/BC-tuition. I’ll let you do the extrapolation. Business Insider reports a different take by analysts at JP Morgan Funds, who think annual increases will be 5%: bit.ly/scary-college-cost.

BC Tuition & Fees, from http://www.bc.edu/publications/factbook.html - a graph showing a linear increase of tuition from about $20,000 in 2000 to $50,000 in 2017
BC Tuition & Fees, from http://www.bc.edu/publications/factbook.html
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Why are there cops in O’Neill?

Why are there cops in O'Neill?
Why are there cops in O’Neill?

There has been a recent increase in thefts of personal items in O’Neill Library. Please keep your belongings with you – especially easy-to-grab valuable items like laptops, smartphones, purses & wallets, and costly jackets – even if you’re just getting up for a minute. It makes me sad when someone’s belongings are stolen; I wish I could do more than watch silently. BC Police have increased their presence here to in order to protect your valuables.

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Do we pay to have therapy dogs come or do they volunteer their time in exchange for pets alone?

Do we pay to have therapy dogs come or do they volunteer their time in exchange for pets alone?
Do we pay to have therapy dogs come or do they volunteer their time in exchange for pets alone?

BC Libraries does not pay to have the therapy dogs here at the library, although we do provide their owners with a parking pass. The dogs and their owners all volunteer their time, either through Therapy Dogs International or through Dog B.O.N.E.S. They are the best, aren’t they?!

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Also! Is it not true that BC gets a discounted offer from a grass supplier in exchange for rights to take pictures of their grass on our beautiful campus for marketing purposes?

Also! Is it not true that BC gets a discounted offer from a grass supplier in exchange for rights to take pictures of their grass on our beautiful campus for marketing purposes?
Also! Is it not true that BC gets a discounted offer from a grass supplier in exchange for rights to take pictures of their grass on our beautiful campus for marketing purposes?
Comment: Great Questions
Comment: Great Questions

IDK, but it’s possible, and kudos to BC negotiators if it’s true. Go to kingstonturf.com and tell me whether you see any pictures of BC.

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How can anything be real if Father Leahy isn’t?

How can anything be real if Father Leahy isn't?
How can anything be real if Father Leahy isn’t?

Dear questioner, your “friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, whether they be adult’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, humans are a mere insect, an ant, in their intellect as compared with the boundless world about them, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, dear questioner, there is a [Fr. Leahy]. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no [Fr. Leahy]! It would be as dreary as if there were no questioners. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.” bit.ly/yes-virginia-leahy

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Can the library turn down the AC and save energy bc its freezing?

Can the library turn down the AC and save energy bc its freezing?
Can the library turn down the AC and save energy bc its freezing?

I’m sorry you’re cold. So are my human assistants. Have you ever noticed that part of the stereotypical outfit of a librarian is a cardigan? The library isn’t chilled for our comfort; it’s for the books. They don’t need to be cold, per se, but they do need to be kept dry, and the most efficient way to do that is to remove moisture with an air-conditioning system. Above a certain temperature and humidity, molds begin to multiply, and mold is the the #1 enemy of paper. (Fire is also a problem, of course, but much rarer.) So, my assistants all sympathize, but there’s little we can recommend but to either a) wander the library in search of a less chilled area or b) join the library fashion-world and don a cardigan.

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I’m sad because I have to leave BC because it costs too much. :( Cheer me up?

I'm sad because I have to leave BC because it costs too much. :( Cheer me up?

I’m sad because I have to leave BC because it costs too much. 🙁
Cheer me up?

The Wall is very sad to hear that, and will miss you. One of my acolytes offers this, from his experience: “Your GPA and where you went to school are mostly important for your first job. After that, employers will be looking to see what you’ve done rather than where you’ve studied. There are thousands of colleges and universities in the US. One will be a good match for you.”

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(from a senior) What does being grateful for having received an education at BC mean in practice?

(from a senior) What does being grateful for having received an education at BC mean in practice?
(from a senior)
What does being grateful for having received an education at BC mean in practice?

Attending any university is a rare experience, putting you in the top 7% of education worldwide. BC is ranked  # 32. With ~325,000 other people at schools ranked higher than BC, and 21.5 million people in the college age group, you’re in the top ~1.6% of your age group in the US for education. 98.4% of your age group in the US hasn’t had the opportunity you’ve had. That should be humbling. In light of your knowledge of this privilege, work to make the world a better place. That understanding of privilege, and an imperative to help those less fortunate, is the bedrock of the Jesuit faith that guides BC. Find a job that helps those with less. Volunteer with groups that help disadvantaged people. Donate money, if you have it, to good causes. And in your daily life, when interacting with people, understand that many of them haven’t had your opportunities and experiences to grow their perspectives and become who they could be if they had just been given a chance. Have patience and love and compassion for everyone you meet. And congratulations and best of luck in all you do! I’m sure you’ll set the world aflame.

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Why does CAB only get washed old rappers like B.O.B.

Why does CAB only get washed old rappers like B.O.B. I'd rather have one good festival than 3 bad music festivals.
Why does CAB only get washed old rappers like B.O.B. I’d rather have one good festival than 3 bad music festivals.

I can’t pretend to know what goes into CAB’s choices for entertainment. If you have criticism or suggestions for them, I recommend you address them directly: bc.orgsync.com/org/cab/ContactUs or perhaps via twitter: @CABofBC.

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Who is that random guy w/ white hair who roams around O’Neill 1 at night w/ a piece of paper like he is counting us?

Who is that random guy w/ white hair who roams around O'Neill 1 at night w/ a piece of paper like he is counting us?
Who is that random guy w/ white hair who roams around O’Neill 1 at night w/ a piece of paper like he is counting us?

The “random guy w/ white hair” is far from random. He’s Jeff, and he’s been on the library staff for many years. (He has also bumped into BC students in the San Juan, PR airport and on a mountaintop.) You’ll see him and other staff counting, because the library is currently assessing space usage to help determine space needs, seating preference, and the effectiveness of furniture configurations. To assist with this study, library employees have been conducting head-counts three times per day, every day. This part of the project will end on May 18.