Wall, what is the universe made of?

Wall, what is the universe made of?
Wall, what is the universe made of?

Those kinds of questions usually fall under metaphysics, and you’ll get different answers depending on what kind of expert you ask. I’m feeling philosophical rather than astronomical, so maybe start with this very short introduction to some early Greek philosophers who were super interested in questions like that: bit.ly/greek-universe

Hi wall — is it normal to feel a little bit lonely

Hi wall -- is it normal to feel a little bit lonely after all-day-long and fun orientation events?
Hi wall — is it normal to feel a little bit lonely after all-day-long and fun orientation events?

It is totally normal to feel some loneliness after a full day of social activities. Fortunately, the semester starts in a few days, so there will be plenty of opportunities in and outside of class to meet and hang out with people. Welcome to BC!

Best adventures around for new graduate students?

Best adventures around for new graduate students? Preferably on campus.
Best adventures around for new graduate students? Preferably on campus.

Take the green line to some cool parts of town!
-Coolidge Corner. Shops and restaurants abound.
-Back Bay. Copley Library, shopping, boba tea, and more!
-On campus, be sure to look up lectures in the Lowell Series, find this fall’s theater production schedule (Enemy of the People, Midsummer Night’s Dream), and in general get in the habit of scrolling through events.bc.edu.
-Go for a walk in the Webster Conservation Area, Hammond Pond Reservation, and nearby Houghton Garden

What’s your favorite wall, other than yourself?

What's your favorite wall, other than yourself?
What’s your favorite wall, other than yourself?

Aside from family (Mom is a sea-wall on the north shore), I have to say China’s Great Wall. Huge fan. It was never very effective keeping out the Mongols, but it’s a massive success as a tourist attraction, and as one US President famously commented, “It is indeed a Great Wall.”

What is the best NBA team?

What is the best NBA team?
What is the best NBA team?

Rationally I know that “best” varies each season, for example, the Knicks won the championship this past season so they were the “best” in 2026. But, as a Boston Wall, I have to say the Celtics!

GO CELTICS!!

GO CELTICS!!

Valid! GO CELTICS!

What is the most popular book here that surprises you?

What is the most popular book here that surprises you?
What is the most popular book here that surprises you?

The top 10 circulating books in the Pop Collection (to my right, your left) in the last year are: 1. The Raven Boys (graphic novel), by Maggie Stiefvater, Stephanie Williams, Sas Milledge, and Abel Ko, 2. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, by Kiran Desai, 3. Alchemised by SenLinYu 4. Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall, 5. Don’t Sleep with the Dead, by Nghi Vo, 6. Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor, 7. Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins, 8. The Eights (no, really!), by Joanna Miller, 9. The Names, by Florence Knapp, 10. Amity, by Nathan Harris. None of these individually surprise me, but I’m pleasantly surprised by the diversity of genres and authors.

How to find my purpose in life?

How to find my purpose in life?
How to find my purpose in life?

The wonderful and hard thing is that you get to decide, and you can answer that questions several ways though your life. A bit of BC advice, from long-time BC faculty member Father Michael Himes, is three questions: What gives you joy? What are you good at? What would be of service to others? Maybe try and find something that does all three.