Category: Boston College

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Don’t you agree that the Jesuits should give back to Boston’s cardinal his house on Brighton Campus …

Hey Wall: Don't you agree that the Jesuits should give back to Boston's cardinal his house on Brighton Campus instead of converting it into a lousy museum?
Hey Wall: Don’t you agree that the Jesuits should give back to Boston’s cardinal his house on Brighton Campus instead of converting it into a lousy museum?

Museums are wonderful spaces for the community. Cardinal O’Malley himself quickly moved out of the home, even when the diocese owned it. Given that, and the fact that the property was sold to fund a settlement for hundreds of children abused by members of the Archdiocese, it would seem in poor taste to give it back. With Boston College as the ultimate purchaser, one could consider the matter a simple shifting of columns in the total balance of items the Catholic Church owns. The Catholic News Agency has more: bit.ly/BCLandSale

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Why is BC ignoring the importance of art?

Why is BC ignoring the importance of art? Look around O'Neill and I don't see any art-related things around us. And I think the art department is just a side program that nobody values.
Why is BC ignoring the importance of art? Look around O’Neill and I don’t see any art-related things around us. And I think the art department is just a side program that nobody values.

I can’t speak BC’s valuation of the art program, but the libraries encourage art displays and frequently host artistic and educational exhibits. All of the BC Libraries have exhibit spaces. Check out the “Trapped In The Middle” photo exhibit showing now at both O’Neill and the SWL, and the colorful Alfred Manessier print exhibit at the TML. In O’Neill, students can display art on the first floor, and proposals are welcome for use of other spaces. Did you see the ceramics exhibit in the lobby last fall?

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Why Is BC a white-student school?

Why Is BC a white-student school?; Is BC a racist school at all? :(
Why Is BC a white-student school?; Is BC a racist school at all? 🙁

It sounds like you’ve had a bad experience here, and I’m sorry about that. A core Jesuit value is “cura personalis,” care for the person. If you’ve been subjected to racism you’ve felt the pain of that value failing you. Another core Jesuit value, Magis, involves striving to be better. To be better, we have to examine the places where we fail. BC is a school with thousands of people, each with their own feelings and experiences about race. It is likely there are individuals at BC who are racist. It is also likely that others participate unwittingly in structural racism. We all need to examine our own behaviors and rise to the challenge of caring for each other more mindfully.

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Last semester I’d asked why Allston Brighton residents are no longer allowed access to the gym free of charge.

Last semester I'd asked why Allston Brighton residents are no longer allowed access to the gym free of charge. Either a reply was NOT provided or I missed it...
Last semester I’d asked why Allston Brighton residents are no longer allowed access to the gym free of charge. Either a reply was NOT provided or I missed it…

I did answer, but sometimes the little post-its go off and hide! You can always see my answers on my blog: https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/. The answer was: 12/11/19 from Campus Rec: “Campus Recreation allows community members to purchase memberships during the Summer, but not during the academic year. We keep the facility foot traffic during the semester to the students and faculty/staff that are directly affiliated with BC.”

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Why is B.C. housing such a pain?

Why is B.C. housing such a pain? I have 6 friends but we need one more to make an 8-man! what do we do?
Why is B.C. housing such a pain? I have 6 friends but we need one more to make an 8-man! what do we do?

BC housing… sigh… . Res Life knows, believe me. They do what they can to alleviate the pain. (Imagine having to find rooms for 8000 students in such a short period! Non-trivial problem, as engineers would say.) Solutions: Have all of your friends talk to their friends? Put up signs? Put the word out on insta/snap/fb/twitter? I’m sure you’ll find another likeminded person to join your group of friends. Make contingency plans for smaller groups, though, just in case the 8-man doesn’t work out.

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Why don’t we have a full week of study days…

Why don't we have a full week of study days like some other universities?
Why don’t we have a full week of study days like some other universities?

Academic calendars are horribly complicated, but basically it’s a balancing act where you try to fit the number of instruction days required by accreditors into the space between or around Labor Day and Christmas, while accounting for holidays in between. Lots of schools start before Labor Day….

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Are you allowed to answer Questions that Go against BC Views or Actions?

Are you allowed to answer Questions that Go against BC Views or Actions?
Are you allowed to answer Questions that Go against BC Views or Actions?

Yes. I aim to provide the best available information in answer to your questions, including ones critical of the University, or on topics that people might be critical of. Occasionally my helpers and I have a chat about how to answer a question, but not whether to answer one. I also redact personal names to protect anonymity and remove hurtful language in the rare instance it has appeared.

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Why don’t UCS bring in some dogs? or maybe a hedgehog? =)

Why don't UCS bring in some dogs? or maybe a hedgehog? =)
Why don’t UCS bring in some dogs? or maybe a hedgehog? =)

Dogs! Hedgehogs! What a great idea! I think UCS may be too busy arranging human care to spare time to arrange cuddle animals, and that’s why O’Neill Library steps in. Keep your eyes on the doggo schedule in the lobby (and on Insta, FB, and Twitter) and come for doggo love in the new 5th floor study space. (I wish we could bring kitties and hedgehogs, too, but for now we’re limited to pups.) Meanwhile, enjoy these cute animal pics!

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How do I divorce my direct roommate?

How do I divorce my direct roommate?
How do I divorce my direct roommate?

Sorry it’s not working! “Students with roommate concerns should first speak with their Resident Assistant, who will work with them to mediate roommate conflicts. If the mediation process is not successful, students should then speak with their Resident Director, who will evaluate the situation to determine if a room change is necessary and, if so, assist students with that process.” bit.ly/BCHousingProb