Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
According to Facilities Management, it’s grown on a sod farm in Rhode Island called Kingston Turf Farms. They’ve been the supplier “for a number of years, except in circumstances when a specialized growing medium is required.” (Kingston Turf Farms is also the supplier for MetLife and Meadowlands stadiums in New Jersey, among other clients.)
Despite their organized appearance, research libraries are hoarders by nature and get rid of very little. The BC Libraries do take books out of circulation, but they are not the cool ones. Items are removed usually because they are falling apart, have been superseded by later or digital editions, or have not been used in many years. Trust me when I say they have little value except to the recycler.
![can you please find whoever bought the ultra fine toilet paper for campus and ask them to stop being so cheap? its inhumane, i'm cutting my hands trying to get TP out of the holder because it rips when you pull it. [Reply 1]: I second this. The paper is so thin that I need to get a lot of it and fold everytime. And also it rips easily. [Reply 2]: Yes!!!](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw022618-10.jpg)
Facilities Management says they have received a few other complaints as well, and are meeting with the vendor to look at better options.
Sigh… if I had legs & arms & could walk and feed and snuggle with puppy, I’d want more than one. I’ll put in a word with my assistants, but don’t hold your breath. I suspect there might be a hitch or two, such as a responsibility to patrons who are afraid of dogs or allergic to them, and I’m sure the lawyers will have something to say about liability. Being human must be so difficult!
As much as I would love the company, unfortunately, you can’t sleep in the library overnight. And, this is probably for the best since I doubt you would find the library particularly comfortable for a full night’s sleep. But, if you want to extend your visit as long as possible, you can stay on the first floor of O’Neill until 2 am on weekends!
I’m sorry you’re having a hard time finding a place to study. You’re correct that you shouldn’t register for a group study room when your intent is to study alone. I’m sorry to report that O’Neill Library – fine establishment though it is – does not take reservations for other seating. I recommend checking out other spaces on campus, such as in our other libraries (e.g. Bapst Art Library, Educational Resource Center, Social Work Library, Theology & Ministry Library) and other spaces on campus conducive to study, such as common areas in academic buildings & residence halls, empty classrooms, or even dining halls, if you don’t mind a general hum of activity.
Who is BC, though? It’s all of us, collectively. I (and my helpers) care very much about you guys. And I’ve seen many students being very kind and generous with their time for other students as well. Not to mention the many faculty who go above and beyond, because they do care. Are there likely some callus individuals among us, sure, but I am sorry you are only “seeing” them.
Thank you! And Happy Lunar New Year to you, too. I agree, BC is a beautiful place.
The Wall’s acolytes are very excited about this idea. From our collection, you might enjoy this Culinary Arts Career Starter: bit.ly/bc-culinary, or this film on starting a catering business (bit.ly/bc-catering), or this catchy title from 1688: The gentlewomans cabinet unlocked. Wherein is contained many excellent receipts for neat dressing of divers sorts of meats; as flesh and fish, with their proper sauces· Also directions for the best way of making pancakes, fritters, tansies, puddings, custards, cheesecakes…. (bit.ly/bc-ca). You could suggest it to Dining Services, they’re nice: bit.ly/bc-dining. The Wall also has suggestions for places to go for more information on starting a business–ask again if that’s what you’re after.
The Board of Trustees picks the Commencement Speaker, but it sounds like they’re open to suggestions. From the commencement director: “Students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends are all welcome to send suggestions for speakers and honorary degree candidates to the University Commencement Office, 110 College Road.”
Every school is a little different about which holidays are days off. Colleges and universities have to fit a certain amount of classroom time into each semester to keep their accreditation, and it’s a balancing act. Lots of schools don’t get Good Friday off, which we do.
A million dollars is a lot of money for a person, but not for an organization the size of BC. According to the BC Fact Book (bit.ly/BC-FactBook) the university had almost a billion dollars in expenses last year. A million pennies stacked on top of each other would be about a mile high. A billion would be 870 miles high. (bit.ly/BC-million). It doesn’t seem to the Wall like a bad investment in keeping campus looking nice, or out of proportion to the rest of what BC spends money on–see the Fact Book for more detail.
Fashion has a lot to do with identity, both group and individual, judging by how many books are available on the subject “clothing and dress — social aspects” in BC Libraries: bit.ly/BC-clothing. Browse among them, and I’m sure you’ll find some compelling answers about the tribal adornments of your fellow students.
If this is in response to the yet-unanswered question, please know the Wall’s helpers have been in contact with BCPD, who have said they will have an answer soon. If it’s not about that, are you asking whether they’re sad? 🙁 I don’t know. I’m sure police work is challenging, especially in that officers are often exposed to the worst moments in people’s lives. That could certainly make a police officer sad.
The north end contains St. Mary’s Chapel and access to upper floor living quarters for the Jesuits. The non-public areas of the first floor include the Jesuits’ dining room, common room, and a small library.
If you mean room selection, it’s an unfortunate truth that many students will not be able to get their choice of housing. Often students do find they are quite happy in their not-first-choice housing, according to my sources in Res Life. If you have more specific issues with housing, I suggest their FAQ (www.bc.edu/offices/reslife/faq.html) or giving them a call: 2-3060.
It might be worthwhile inquiring at the church (was it St. Ignatius?) what they do when people who seem to be sick and unable to care for themselves come to the church. Some churches provide some care (such as food or temporary shelter), and many can refer people to social services (such as the ones listed by Boston Public Library: guides.bpl.org/guide4help). Policing is also mixed on its relationship to social services: some departments have tried closer links with social services, but many haven’t. It’s a widespread problem (bit.ly/police-social-work) owing to changing policing priorities as crime falls and substance abuse and poverty and homelessness rise. I’d like to think that officer meant BCPD wasn’t equipped to solve that kind of problem, not that they shouldn’t be expected to be humane.
![Why is [redacted] (2021er MCAS) so nice!!!!! [phrase in Chinese]](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw02122018-7.jpg)
There’s just no explaining some people, whose nice-ness (niceousity?) is so radiant that you just have to stand back and appreciate it, and hope you can absorb some yourself. I recommend giving your friend a shout-out in person. (Sorry I had the name redacted: I follow a privacy policy so strict that it makes my assistants think I’m a little obsessive.) “And old”? Is that an in-joke in Beijing or something? I don’t get it.
I spoke with a real person in the transportation office (I’m not sure they have a wall), and she said “Students can only park in the mod lot at that time if they are a grad student with an SGS-2 permit. If not, they are welcome to use the Commonwealth or Beacon Garages, but they will have to pay.” I hope that helps, and I hope you are coming back to visit me!
While hippos are adorable, you may want to reconsider this idea between now and next Christmas. Like all wild animals, hippos aren’t ideally suited to being house pets and it wouldn’t be fair to keep them in such a small (and dry) space. In particular, if you live near campus, it would be tough to find a home for a hippo. The BC residence halls do not allow pets other than tropical fish (bit.ly/BCHalls) and local apartment buildings also tend to have strict limitations on the types of pets allowed. However, if you would like to admire a hippo from afar, you might follow this playlist of videos of Fiona the Hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo: bit.ly/fiona-hippo
