Talk to someone at the financial aid office. They should have some useful advice about next steps: bit.ly/bc-fin-aid.
I am $150k+ deep in student loans, what do I do?
Do you like Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon 1900?
THE BEST! For those who don’t know The Legend of 1900, it’s a treat of a film. Watch a clip: bit.ly/1900-storm-dance. You can also check out the full film and watch it: O’Neill Library, near Reference Collection, 3rd Floor: PN1997 .L4446 2002
How do I know if I should break up? I can’t see us together long-term and I don’t want to become the kind of person he is.
Ideally, communicating about your doubts will give you a better idea about what decision you should make. In regards to the future, what you see may be very different from what he sees. Discussing what you both want from your relationship hopefully leads to you making an informed decision about your futures.
Two questions: 1) What font are your responses? 2) What is your favorite font besides that one?
The responses are in Courier, derived from the font created for IBM selectric typewriters in the 1950’s. One of my other favorite fonts is a recent one: UglyGerry. Go to UglyGerry.com to see it for yourself, or @UglyGerry on Twitter.
How to accept your (own) flaw? One you have no control over.
One possibility is to think of it as a challenge, and all challenges are character-building. What you do to adapt to the flaw becomes part of your character – perhaps even one of the best parts of your character – that you wouldn’t have without the flaw. In essence, turn the “flaw” into a source of growth, something that anyone without that flaw doesn’t get to experience. Another possibility: recognize that everyone has limitations of one kind or another, many of them invisible. IOW, you aren’t alone in the challenge of accepting yourself as you are.
What’s up with the weird sculptures/art at the main lobby? They look super interesting.
The “sculpture” is actually display shelving designed and built by Prof. Mark Cooper. Students in the ceramics classes will be displaying their artwork on the shelves. The exhibit will be up from Nov 18th to mid-December.
Why can’t I focus on study when I stay with my friends???
Because they are great friends and just too much fun! Three possible solutions: find some study buddies who aren’t your regular friends, but are very serious students; make a pact with your friends to study for x amount of time and reward yourselves with a specific fun activity; or make studying a solitary habit, and meet up with your friends later.
Why does only one bus shelter (the one on college Rd.) have a heater?
I don’t know! But I can have my assistants find out.
if I walk up the Million Dollar stairs every day, will I get a big booty by the end of the semester?
I’m not sure if you’ll get the results you’re hoping for in about a month’s time, but initiative is key.
Boston College marching band?
Not sure what you’re asking, but I am strongly in favor.
Do you answer all these Qs?
Pretty much. Very occasionally there’s something mentioning a specific person or some other reason I need to redact some info when answering, but I hope to consider any questions with the gravity (or levity) they deserve. It is the meaning of my existence.
I love Economics. But why am I losing interest in it due to the pressure of exams?
Stress can do that. Make space in your schedule for the parts of it you enjoy, rather than the stuff you’re working on for class. Or take a break for a while and do other things. Sometimes coming back to it fresh helps with that kind of thing.
My friends make me so stupid happy everyday!
Mine do too; ridiculously stupid happy. Revel in it!
Thoughts on the Oxford comma?
It’s beautiful, useful, and necessary. I know some folks differ on this opinion, but they are just misguided, confused, and wrong. 😉
Quick Q: Anyone know what the point is yet?
It’s okay if you don’t know what your point is, just know that everyone has a point. You’ll discover yours eventually- no rush. There is a great recording from 1970 called “The Point!” which uses a fable to say essentially that. Sadly, the library doesn’t own it, but there is a good plot synopsis here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Point!
Can I “check out” a book from the collection in Gasson Commons?
One of my helpers had a chat with Maureen Burke in the Dean’s Office (Gasson 103), and she said that while there’s no policy about this, if you want to take out a book, just bring it to the office and she will OK it. However, I should add that the Gasson Commons is currently closed until the 16th.
Best bathroom on campus?
A recent post had the math dept. restroom (with shower!) on a bucket list, so it must be pretty special. It also has the virtue of being nearby… which could be the most important criterium when it’s, uh, urgent.
Do the ends justify the means?
![Do the ends justify the means? (...ever?) [Kant says no]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AW11142019-04.jpeg)
Kant says no; that’s correct. Aristotle has some useful things to say on this matter, too, in the Nicomachean Ethics (O’Neill Library B430.A5): action falls in a situation-dependent range, and virtuous action generally falls somewhere in the middle–the “golden mean” (e.g., neither overly brave nor overly timid, but adapted to the needs of the situation). You could take a deeper dive into ethics by looking up virtue ethics, deontological ethics (duties and rules) and consequentialism in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (plato.stanford.edu).
Though there are some philosophers who argue that Machiavelli is not merely a political and historical thinker, but a political philosopher, few would credit him with a consistently reasoned ethic. Read this entry in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: bit.ly/SEP-machiavelli. He was concerned primarily with the behaviors of heads of non-democratic states, who, he argued, were not bound by the morals that constrained non-rulers. If this concern is important to you, I recommend a course in ethics in the philosophy department, such as Ethics of Peace and War or Ethics, Religion, and International Politics.
Book recommendations for someone who likes fantasy/scifi?
Here’s a recommendation in podcast form: The Incomparable network hosts podcasts with smart funny nerds talking about the movies, books, and TV they love, and one of their annual traditions is reading all the books nominated for the major sci-fi and fantasy awards and talking about them: bit.ly/bc-incomparable
How to become a tutor in the Connor’s Learning Center?
It is paid. You can tutor for one or more courses. To become a tutor for a course, you need to have gotten at least a B+, and have a recommendation from your professor. The CFLC suggests you talk to the professor about the recommendation first, and then drop in to the center to fill out a form. It’s serious work and you will need to get some training, but it seems like a very worthwhile and rewarding job.