Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
Yes! There are therapy dogs here at O’Neill during exams. But we recognize that’s not the only stressful time when humans can benefit from dog love. They’ll be here in O’Neill (in the 3rd floor Reading Room) this week. See signs in the lobby.
Yuck! Probably the oddly-named silverfish. I advise placing a work order through the Agora Portal. “My Services” tab → “Facilities Work Request.”
BC definitely has it’s own problems with race. And it has a culture of preferring not to talk about problems. But BC is probably equally racist as most other long-extant institutions in America, no more or less – it’s a fundamental part of the makeup of this country unfortunately. The school is doing work to improve itself. The Office of Student Affairs is acting on a recent student survey that showed differences in satisfaction with BC life between students that identified as black vs. other races. Many departments (including ITS, the Provost, the Libraries, Res Life, and others) are at different stages of undertaking a renewed focus on how to better serve AHANA and other minority populations. It’s hard work that takes a long time unfortunately. But we want to be better.
That’s a very busy bathroom; the more people use a space, the higher the probability that someone makes a mistake, such as flushing something down the toilet that doesn’t belong there – the usual source of bathroom flooding. But I’ll also alert folks, in case it’s the other common cause: a plumbing problem that can be fixed.
That’s wonderful! But you should thank her yourself. And you know what’s even better… write an email to the Director of Custodial Services (Gerard Boyle, boyleg@bc.edu) and tell him. That sort of action, not just here but everywhere you go in life, is valued by employees, and can have good repercussions.
I asked one of my helpers, and she said that the vestibules as you enter Stokes N are both very toasty, and surprisingly nice places to sit and concentrate. The warmest place she’s found (she’s done a lot of research on this) is in the cloak room at the Burns Library, but it would be a terrible study space. Same for the warmest spot she’s found in O’Neill; the level 2 women’s restroom!`
You see, being a library wall, I’ve come to know academics pretty well. They’re all a little… eccentric. A whole lot of specialized knowledge does that to you. One famous academic once referred to it as the “re-entry from orbit” problem (bit.ly/percy-orbit) You spend weeks or months or even years working on an intractable problem that few people in the world even know exists. It can be hard to return to everyday life. Does that answer the specific weirdness you’ve observed?
Using Library spaces for anything other than typical library activities must be approved by library administration. I think you should start with our public services guy, Scott Britton (scott.britton@bc.edu)
It is cold, I know. We keep it colder than lots of places because books have special needs for temperature and humidity. There are some potential problems with loaning things that need cleaning regularly, but I’ll definitely pass it along to my wall friends in the Big Offices.
Audio can be found by visiting this link http://frontrow.bc.edu/program/obama/
It’s not a recording, but the ringing has been automated since the 1960s.
The number of bathrooms does not seem excessive to me, given the number of people on campus – and there’s the problem that people all get out of class at the same time and have the same need. in fact, my niece, who is a Wall in the Level 2 women’s bathroom, says the crowds in there can get pretty bad during the times between classes – it makes her feel anxious.
To paraphrase a fruit-themed company’s public statements, design is not just how it looks, it’s how it works, and the effect on the people who use whatever it is you’re designing. This sounds a little like the Jesuit emphasis on forming the whole person: mind, body, and spirit.
I don’t know! But I’ll have my assistants look into it.
I don’t see a rifle and gun club listed in the current clubs at BC. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start one (bit.ly/BCNewClub)! That’s not to say that there won’t be plenty of red tape, and you’ll likely have to find a way to store weapons off campus. I recommend talking to the Harvard and MIT clubs and getting insight on how they manage their operations before approaching BC. Good luck!
According to BC Dining, no, it’s not refundable at the end of the semester, though it does roll over till Spring if you are still enrolled then.
The semi-official nickname is “Margot’s,” but I don’t think she’d be offended if you had your own name for her.
Awwww, shucks. Thanks for the compliment! I was sorry to hear of the sad demise of my distant cousin the Express Yo’self Wall in the Brandeis Library. (bit.ly/brandeis-express-yoself) But you’ve still got plenty of fine walls, yourselves! (bit.ly/bc-brandeis-walls)
Not that I know of. BC’s big feature is hills and cliffs. If you want a campus with tunnels, drop by Northeastern. You can get lost down there. bit.ly/NEU-tunnels.
Can I ask a clarification question? Do you mean what percentage of BC Alums ever get married to anyone? Or do you mean what percentage of BC alums constitute marriages where both partners are BC alums? Finally, married by what age? It’s likely that many alums are currently unmarried, but could get married next year, or in a few decades. I’m not sure I’ll be able to find an answer either way, but defining the question is a good first step.
