Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
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
Ah, Amy.. I remember her fondly. When I was young, she & her friends’ laughter graced this building on occasion. I know she’s become quite the star because we have many tv series and films that feature her, and her book Yes Please (O’Neill PN2287.P565 A3 2014). Little known story: her road to stardom started with seeing an audition poster for the BC improv troupe My Mother’s Fleabag taped to a walkway, and spontaneously deciding to try improv (and acting) for the first time. Read more in this 1991 Heights article: bit.ly/bc-amypoehler.
I’ll be celebrating Chinese New Year with the entire library on February 16th when we are having multiple therapy dogs visit (in honor of the Year of the Dog, of course) as well as a new year’s wishing activity and some traditional giveaways. All of the events will be in the Reading Room on the 3rd floor of O’Neill. Watch the space across the lobby from me for a related book display too!
According to the article in the Heights yesterday (bit.ly/VouteRomanceIsGone), the administration decided too few students were benefiting from the program to justify the resources necessary to keep it going. Sounds like many students are quite unhappy about this; I think it’s a good idea to let the decision-makers know how their decisions impact you.
The machines can’t be programmed to accept credit cards, however they do take Eagle Bucks and Optional Dining Bucks, which you can buy with a credit card via the Eagle One Card services on Agora.
I’m sorry you’re feeling that way – it’s hard to feel like you don’t belong. Depending on your reasons for thinking you don’t belong, you may want to speak to your academic advisor, Advising Center staff (bit.ly/BC-advising), or Counseling Services ( bit.ly/BC-counseling). I hope that they are able to give you a reason to stay, but if you find your best option is to transfer, I wish you all the best!
My assistants have tracked down an answer! Music is played in McElroy during dinner, though some late-night managers also choose to play music. The dinner and late night managers in McElroy get to choose it; they usually stream either a YouTube set list or Pandora. The choice is entirely up to them, as long as it’s appropriate.
That would be a good question to ask Father Leahy. BC’s public position is similar to arguments made by Columbia (bit.ly/bc-columbia) recently. A BC FAQ (bit.ly/bc-unionfaq) addresses questions about Catholic social teaching and other issues from the administration’s perspective. The BC Graduate Student Employees Union addresses those issues this way: bit.ly/bc-grad-union. You might also be interested in the work of the Catholic Labor Network (bit.ly/bc-CLN), and this brief history of Catholic institutions and collective bargaining in America: The Jesuit Review (bit.ly/bc-am).
Ecuador sounds like a great adventure. If I weren’t so attached to the Library, I’d book a seat and go with you! I don’t think I know your parents, so in response to your second question, I have to agree… who knows! Just read up on safety and health precautions so you arrive prepared. The U.S. State Department travel site is a great place to start your research. Go to: bit.ly/usdos-ecuador
You’ll get some chances to ask BCPD directly: BCPD is planning to carry out a series of “knock & talks” among off-campus dwellings in conjunction with the Boston Police Dept. The first ones are actually tonight (Wednesday, 2/21). That might be a good time to ask about patrols & parties. There will also be a “Police & Pizza” event tomorrow (2/22) at 2150 Comm Ave, 5-7pm: bit.ly/BCPD-pizza-feb22.
Here is some coverage in The Heights about the BCPD/BPD initiatives & outreach about break-ins among off-campus housing: bit.ly/BC-break-ins
I will make sure my library assistants are made aware of this need.
The Wall believes the weather has to be hazardous to humans, rather than just annoying, for BC to close. You can also try one of the snow day superstitions, such as sleeping with your pajamas on backwards, a spoon under the pillow, or flushing an ice cube down the toilet. (Though I wouldn’t count on it!) Ask again if you’d like a more detailed answer.
You are not the first to request this. Library staff met with people to determine the logistics and cost. Apparently it is not so simple or cheap. I’ll forward your request and try to start the conversation yet again, even if I end up IN hot water rather than supplying it.
Facilities Management designated approximately 50 single-occupant restrooms across campus as gender neutral. The single-occupant bathrooms at O’Neill’s first and third floors were among the bathrooms that received this new designation. The Library will submit your feedback.
