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I hate writing Ｔ▽Ｔ

I hate writing Ｔ▽Ｔ
I hate writing Ｔ▽Ｔ

Most writers would agree at one time or another. If you take it seriously, writing is really, really hard. Most writers go through many revisions & get lots of input on their way to a finished piece. If you think about it, it’s a weird behavior: you put marks on a piece of paper that some other people will decode into words. You have to anticipate all manner of possible interpretations and misinterpretations & account for them ahead of time, not really knowing for sure what your words will mean to someone. That’s double-black-diamond communicating. To do it well takes a whole lot of practice. You have my complete sympathy! And I think you’ll master it.

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More therapy dogs?

More therapy dogs? [response: I want cats!]
More therapy dogs? [response: I want cats!]

They are still coming: Saturday, Campbell will be here from 2 pm to 6 pm. Charlie will be awaiting your visit on Monday between 5 pm and 7 pm. And Sailor will end this semester’s visitations on Tuesday with a visit from 7 pm to 9 pm. [As I mentioned yesterday, we would love to have cats and other animals, but the university prefers we stick to dogs. But here’s another picture–Scarlet and Henry!]

Two long-haired cats, one gray and white, one orange and white, on cat perches, looking at camera

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What is love?

What is love?
What is love?

Lots of angles on this big one — here’s an interpretation from the Buddhist perspective: “Love creates a communion with life. Love expands us, connects us, sweetens us, ennobles us.” Jack Kornfield, The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace

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I literarly despise chemistry but am taking it again next semester. Am I an idiot?

I literarly despise chemistry but am taking it again next semester. Am I an idiot?
I literarly despise chemistry but am taking it again next semester. Am I an idiot?

Far from being proof of idiocy, your persistence in the face of adversity is admirable and scholarly. Perhaps you are taking chemistry for a major or pre-professional requirement. Maybe you’re just trying to prove something to yourself. In any case, I wish you the best with it. Do visit the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) for peer tutoring whenever you need assistance.

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do you think university tenure policies should have some sort of clause that if students don’t like a prof-teaching style, approachability, etc.-that tenure should become null and void?

do you think university tenure policies should have some sort of clause that if students don't like a prof - teaching style, approachability, etc. - that tenure should become null and void?
do you think university tenure policies should have some sort of clause that if students don’t like a prof – teaching style, approachability, etc. – that tenure should become null and void?

Faculty are evaluated on research, teaching, and contributions to the university and the scholarly community. Student feedback and evaluations are part of that. bit.ly/bc-faculty-bylaws. Tenure was designed to protect faculty from being fired for not being popular with donors or governments, so whether students “like” a professor seems potentially like a similar issue. More info on tenure and why it’s useful: bit.ly/bc-tenure.

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:-/ I want to go home, yet I don’t want to go home.

:-/ I want to go home, yet I don't want to go home.
:-/ I want to go home, yet I don’t want to go home.

As you grow and mature as your own, independent person, you will begin to find that “home” feels less like home. Your home is here, or maybe somewhere else that you feel most comfortable. That doesn’t make you a bad person – it means that you’re gaining an independent sense of self and that’s a good thing. BUT, home is also where your family will be and that can be a double-sided coin: it’s common to love your family, but also get tired of them after a while (and not to look forward to being with them). We’re excited to have you back in January, fam!

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In OK we have the flag at half when someone close to us has passed away. Why is the flag in front of O’Neill always on half?

In OK we have the flag at half when someone close to us has passed away. Why is the flag in front of O'Neill always on half?
In OK we have the flag at half when someone close to us has passed away. Why is the flag in front of O’Neill always on half?

Sometimes, as with President Bush recently, it’s a federal law. But each state and commonwealth makes its own decisions, and my helpers who have lived elsewhere say the flags are at half staff more often here. Right now it honors President Bush, and a Massachusetts firefighter, Christopher Roy, who died over the weekend. If you’re ever curious, the state has a web page which will tell you why: bit.ly/bc-flag

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How do I unnumb my legs from sitting & studying too much :/

How do I unnmb my legs from sitting & studying too much :/
How do I unnumb my legs from sitting & studying too much :/

The best plan is to not sit for too long at one time. Get up and stretch and walk around at least every hour. And make sure you strengthen and stretch the muscles that get out of balance from too much sitting. The trainers at the Plex can probably help set up a program. But enough preventive solutions; you need immediate solutions, right? Try one of these if you’ve stiffened up. When you stand up, first do a few stretches–a quad stretch, a hip flexor stretch. Or try some bouncing and shaking: stand up (shoulder width stance), starting from the bottom of your feet, gently shake up and down for a minute or so, then make your motions smaller and smaller until you are still again. Good luck with finals!

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If silence is complicity when dealing with racial issues, does that make Fr. Leahy complicit in racism?

If silence is complicity when dealing with racial issues, does that make Fr. Leahy complicit in racism?
If silence is complicity when dealing with racial issues, does that make Fr. Leahy complicit in racism?

Fr. Leahy usually asks other BC administrators speak on issues such as racism, and the BC administration has not been silent. After the most recent incident, the Provost, the VP for Student Affairs, and school Deans have all made public statements condemning racism and offering support to anyone affected by it.

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Can you kill a bacteria by squashing it? If a bacteria falls, does it make a sound?

Can you kill a bacteria by squashing it? If a bacteria falls, does it make a sound?
Can you kill a bacteria by squashing it? If a bacteria falls, does it make a sound?

You can squish bacteria, but it’s not easy. Bacteria are tiny (about 2 micrometers long, or 2×10−6 meters), which means if you stepped on one even on a smooth floor, the microgrooves in the floor would be plenty big to protect them. If scientists aren’t careful, they do squish them with microscope slide glass or by stirring too long & vigorously with a glass rod in a petri dish. Sturdy little guys, though: they populate the bottom of the Marianas Trench at pressures that would crush us instantly: bit.ly/bacteria-marianas. I don’t know if they make a sound when they fall, but bacteria apparently do make noises: bit.ly/bacteria-sounds.

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I once found someone masturbate in the library. How does library deal with such situation

I once found someone masturbate in the library. How does library deal with such situation
I once found someone masturbate in the library. How does library deal with such situation
I didn't jack off I came during my sleep!
I didn’t jack off I came during my sleep! <–

The appropriate thing to do would be to contact campus police and leave the area. You can also inform a library staff member, and they will call campus police. As to the post-it response, that’s quite common, and nothing to be embarrassed about.

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Can we get therapy CATS too?

Can we get therapy CATS too?
Can we get therapy CATS too?

My helpers have asked about cats, small rodents, lizards… a whole menagerie! We were led to understand that the university prefers we stick to dogs. I know it’s not quite like actually having a purr-machine in your lap, but here are some kittens:
photo of two kittens cuddling

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Why is it so hard for Father Leahy to say something?

Why is it so hard for Father Leahy to say something?
Why is it so hard for Father Leahy to say something?

Everyone has a role at BC, and Fr. Leahy is ultimately responsible for everyone doing their jobs well. I can’t be certain why Fr. Leahy speaks about some issues and not about others, but I am certain that he makes sure the Provost addresses academic issues, the VP for Student Affairs addresses student issues, the VP for Human Resources addresses staff issues, and so on.

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Head hurts from writing

Head hurts from writing
Head hurts from writing

Well, no wonder with all the work you’ve been doing. Each person is different, but there are a few things you can try to alleviate the hurt. Make sure you’re well nourished. Get up and walk around at least once an hour, or stare into the distance for about five minutes each hour. Go visit the therapy dogs. If you’re totally non-productive, you might need a longer break and some sleep and/or exercise. I’m sure you’re getting the picture … do something totally different for a little while and then go back to your writing. All the best; I know you can get through this! <3