Why are parking permits so expensive?!? There is no way I could afford one.

Why are parking permits so expensive?!? There is no way I could afford one.
Why are parking permits so expensive?!? There is no way I could afford one.

According to the Wall’s friends at Parking and Transportation, it’s mostly two things. The first is lack of space on campus, which creates a lot more demand than supply. The second is more subtle: prices are partly high to encourage people who can to use other ways to get to campus, like the campus bus system, public transit, bikes, or feet–that makes for a greener campus, a healthier community…but it also helps with the first issue. The walls at T & P are sympathetic, as is this Wall.

Can I work here? (e.g. a position where I am in charge of answering Q’s on this wall?)

Can I work here? (e.g. a position where I am in charge of answering Q’s on this wall?)
Can I work here? (e.g. a position where I am in charge of answering Q’s on this wall?)

If you aspire to do this type of work – and who wouldn’t – perhaps you would like to look into a career in libraries. Reference Librarians specialize in being prepared to answer any questions that come at them, and the excitement of never knowing what you’ll need to research (and learn) next is real.

Where can I find people that are into acting, performing and showbusiness on campus?

Where can I find people that are into acting, performing and showbusiness on campus?
Where can I find people that are into acting, performing and showbusiness on campus?

Join a student group! BC is fortunate to have a ton of great student groups that you can connect with, including groups on everything from acting (Dramatics Society) to musical theater (Musical Theatre Wing) to the oldest collegiate improv group in the country (My Mother’s Fleabag). Check out the Student Organizations website for these & others: bit.ly/BCStudentOrg

How do I find respectable employment? :(

How do I find respectable employment? :(
How do I find respectable employment? 🙁

I would argue that most employment can be approached in an honorable manner. You will have to come to your own understanding of what is “respectable” and the standards you need to maintain to respect yourself. Do contact the BC Career Center (bit.ly/BC-career) for help in your search.

ACAB

ACAB
ACAB

One of the Wall’s acolytes reports that this phrase dates back to before World War II in Britain. Urban Dictionary and Wikipedia have pretty good articles, and there are lots of awesome tattoos online.

How do you become an NBC page?

How do you become an NBC page?
How do you become an NBC page?

I recommend three things. 1: go to the NBC Page program website: bit.ly/NBC-page, and 2: talk to the friendly folks at the BC Career Center. bit.ly/BC-career. 3: Go to the Spring Career Fair (Now! 1/24-25) at the Heights Room in Corcoran Commons. On Thursday, 1/25, there will be representatives from entertainment companies. Maybe NBC will be there. Ask the Career Center.

What is the Woods College? Is that a part of BC? Are their classes easier?

What is the Woods College? Is that a part of BC? Are there classes easier?
What is the Woods College? Is that a part of BC? Are there classes easier?

The Woods College of Advancing Studies (bit.ly/BC-Woods) is part of BC. It offers 13 undergraduate majors, 5 graduate programs, and 9 professional  studies certificate  programs. It is designed for students who have to work full time or have other daytime commitments. The courses are as rigorous as any others at BC (many of the professors also teach regular graduate and undergraduate courses.) Notable alumnus: Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

What if I didn’t make a resolution b/c I know I will fail…

What if I didn't make a resolution b/c I know I will fail...
What if I didn’t make a resolution b/c I know I will fail…

If you know you’ll “fail,” you should probably examine the goal. Is it really something you need to achieve, or is it something you think you *should* achieve (That is, is it really relevant to you?) Is it achievable? Maybe it’s too big & needs to be broken into steps or parts. Maybe in the past your resolutions have been vague, so it’s hard to say whether or how you’d achieve them. Or maybe they didn’t include a date, so you could always let it slide a little further until suddenly it was December 31 again. If it’s genuinely meaningful to you, specific, achievable, reasonable, and time-specific, and you give yourself a plan and some leeway, you have a better chance of succeeding. I believe in you. How about a New Month resolution on Feb 1?

NY Resolution: to be happy!

NY Resolution: to be happy!
NY Resolution: to be happy!

I welcome and encourage happiness. As they say, smile, and the world smiles with you. Happiness isn’t a permanent state, though; remember to let yourself experience other emotions without worry. For instance, when you’re sad (and sadness is inevitable, even for walls), know that it will pass, and happiness will return. This song might help: bit.ly/mcferrin-be-happy

Empower the proletariat to seize the means (finally)

Empower the proleteriat to size the means (finally)
Empower the proletariat to seize the means (finally)

A very ambitious New Year’s resolution! However, the move to a service-oriented society leaves much less value in owning “production”. And the proletariat is also shrinking (at least in “first-world” countries), so there is less labor available to help you with your goal. You may have better luck if you resolve instead to empower the middle class to end income inequality.

Hey Wall, I’m a freshman right now! I was wondering, what steps should we take currently to build a fantastic resume for when we apply to jobs/internships?

Hey Wall, I'm a freshman right now! I was wondering, what steps should we take currently to build a fantastic resume for when we apply to jobs/internships?
Hey Wall, I’m a freshman right now! I was wondering, what steps should we take currently to build a fantastic resume for when we apply to jobs/internships?

Write down all your projects as you do them so you’re not scrambling to remember all your skills three years from now! You can also contact our career center for more hot tips as the time approaches.

Is Fantasy Football gambling?

Is Fantasy Football gambling?
Is Fantasy Football gambling?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a yes or no answer to this question. It is a topic that is still under frequent discussion legally, ethically, and amongst academics who study gambling. The answer may also depend on the exact style of Fantasy Football you are referring to. To learn more about the current state of this question, check out the recent report from the Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies (http://bit.ly/RutgersReport) and the recent report of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Online Gaming, Fantasy Sports Gaming and Daily Fantasy Sports (http://bit.ly/MAGamblingReport).

NY Resolution: To be fearless

NY Resolution: To be fearless

As a Wall, of course I’m a big fan of Pink Floyd, and have always loved their song “Fearless,” (bit.ly/floyd-fearless) especially when I need encouragement to do something difficult. I assume there are particular things you’d like to do but have hesitated out of fear or anxiety. Fear & anxiety are quite common, and can be hard to fight, and often return against our will. If you find that’s the case, being fearless might not be an option, but doing things in spite of fear always is. That’s called courage. If you’re interested in recent research, check out Anxious: Using the Brain to Understand and Treat Fear & Anxiety, by neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux. (O’Neill Library RC531 .L344 2015)

My new years resolution is to settle, settle into university, friendships, community, church and be still.

My new years resolution is to settle, settle into university, friendships, community, church and be still.
My new years resolution is to settle, settle into university, friendships, community, church and be still.

Sheer poetry! Everyone should adopt a resolution like this. The Answer Wall loves stillness, and though I enjoy settling, building engineers tell me settling walls and foundations can cause structural problems. But you humans, please enjoy settling into your communities, and please enjoy stillness. I can’t recommend stillness enough. You might enjoy the book The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere, by the travel writer Pico Iyer. (O’Neill and TML Libraries BJ1496 .I84 2014)

I feel hopeless trying to figure out what I want to major in. Any tips?

I feel hopeless trying to figure out what I want to major in. Any tips?
I feel hopeless trying to figure out what I want to major in. Any tips?

Will your head explode if I told you this was a good thing? College is the time to sort things out, and the process you’re going through is part of you becoming the person you are meant to be. it’s not always linear, and you may change your mind; your major is not your career – it’s not even very likely your first job; and there are probably many majors that would work out fine for you. Major advice from the Advising Center (bit.ly/AdvisingCtrMajors); from the Career Center (bit.ly/CareerCtrMajors). Best wishes!