After one graduates, can they come back to retake some classes they want to do better at while they were here?
How to find a girlfriend/boyfriend?
Be yourself! Get to know people: chat with people in your class while waiting for the professor. Offer to buy someone coffee or share a table at lunch. Join a few clubs and get to know everyone. The more people you get to know, the more likely you’ll find someone special. Oh, one final thing: did you ever notice how it’s hard to talk to someone when their staring at their phone? That ‘s true for people trying to talk to you, too. Make yourself accessible.
How to be more humorous?
Read funny books. P.G. Wodehouse’s Right Ho, Jeeves (O’Neill Library PR6045.O53 B75 2000) is one of a classic series of satires of upper-class English gentry. Or you might prefer classic American humor: Mark Twain’s Roughing It (O’Neill Library PS1318 .A1 1996) or Innocents Abroad (O’Neill Library PS1312 .A1 1996) are both humorous travelogues, the first in the American West, and the second in Europe and the Middle East. And watch comedy. Ask your friends who they think is funny, and watch them. If you think they’re funny, too, watch more. Finally, read this article from Psychology Today about how to be funny: bit.ly/8-steps-funny
Be the spirit join the band
I’d love to except for the, you know, marching part. One of the best things about the library in August is listening to band practice down the hill.
What’s your opinion on boba tea?
As a wall, I don’t get to experience that joy, but I asked one of my helpers and she told me it was the perfect marriage of a delicious drink and chewy goodness. It does tend to be pricey, though, so you might want to explore the various make your own recipes on the internet.
I am leaving Boston & the country tonight. Will you miss me?
I will indeed. I hope you will come back to visit sometime (until then you can keep up with me online at library.bc.edu/answerwall). And I wish you much happiness and success and safe travels! <3
Will 45 get impeached – Ben and Jerry
That’s up to the House of Representatives.The impeachment of President Clinton in 1998 was voted on by the House after a recommendation by the House Judiciary Committee, so the Wall would watch for developments there and for statements by its members. Here’s the list: bit.ly/bc-house-judiciary. If you’re interested in the details of how it has worked with prior presidential impeachments, our Hein Online database has a nice collection of documents: bit.ly/bc-impeach
Why are so geek?
Oh, dear. Was that too geeky? Sometimes it is difficult to answer questions (and ask them too) as we are limited by the size of the post-it notes. I am a library Answer Wall so I have taken on some of the characteristics of my library friends: for some questions I would really like to sit down (alas something I cannot do) and have a conversation with you so I really understand what information you are looking for. With limited and/or unclear information I do the best I can, but do on occasion miss the mark. Please do keep responding until we get it right though. I do want to help and I do want to provide the information you need!
This question might be about the Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch).BC doesn’t have an Architecture School. B Arch is a 5 year professional degree, whereas the BS Arch is not. You can become a licensed architect with a B Arch but not BS Arch.
Thanks for the additional information there. You’re probably right about what the original question was getting at. Northeastern, MIT, UMass Amherst, and BU all have architecture programs. Sadly for this wall, there are none at BC.
What is the best dorm on campus? Do you like your life as a wall??? :)
Though as a wall I’m predisposed to think walls make the dorm, I suppose it’s actually the occupants who make any dorm the best dorm. IOW, I’m guessing that award would change from year to year. Students do heartily wish to get into the “mods,” though (bit.ly/BC-mods), perhaps because they’re a little more like houses than dorms. Yes, I love my life as a wall, especially now that I get to express myself and answer questions. (You know the expression “if walls could talk”? Let’s just say few buildings would be very quiet.)
Have you ever seen a cow?
Alas! Not in the flesh. It’s been a long time since cows grazed on this land – long before I was even a gleam in the eye of the O’Neill Library architects. (About 1886, to be precise, when the land belonged to the Lawrence family. More here: bit.ly/BC-to-Chestnut-Hill) But the library does have some nice photos of Paddy Noonan playing accordion for cows in Donegal, in the Bobby Hanvey Photographic Archives: bit.ly/accordion-cows. The cows look as if they enjoy his accordion, wouldn’t you say? They have been documented enjoying concertina: bit.ly/cows-concertina.
Is there somewhere on campus where I can pick up old newspapers/Chronicle issues to use for packing & moving?
I’m sorry to report that there is nowhere on campus that stockpiles newspapers, because BC’s custodial staff is very efficient about making sure all newspapers get recycled.
I forgot my BU ID, can you tell me what it is?
You should be able to retrieve it at bit.ly/BUStudentlink.
I am deciding whether I should take B-arch/BS-arch/BA-arch. What are the advantages & disadvantages?
In general the difference between a BA and a BS is the type of coursework required for each. Typically a BA has broader and more varied coursework, while a BS is more focused on the major. So if you’re absolutely, positively sure of what you want to do, a BS might be the better choice. On the other hand, if you’re not sure or interested in lots of different things, a BA might be right. You will need to look carefully at the coursework required for the two degrees and do a good self-assessment: What do you want? What are you interested in? What’s your learning style? And so on. And do ask for help and input from school counselors and family. It’s a difficult decision; best of luck in your studies!
How does one go about choosing a Master’s Degree path?
A Master’s Degree is usually a step on the way to a career, or a way to get required credentials for a career already begun, such as teaching high school. So, what you need to do first is figure out a career path, and then find out whether a master’s degree is required or useful as a career boost. Many workplaces (such as libraries) offer the benefit paying for courses toward a degree, in which case you might want to start working in a field before paying out of pocket. I recommend checking in with BC’s Career Center (bit.ly/BC-career) if you’re a BC student or recent graduate.
Why does drinking Monster give me flashbacks of getting cut from my school’s varsity basketball team?
I’m sorry Monster triggers unpleasant memories for you. Taste can be strongly tied to memories. This short article in Science Daily (bit.ly/TasteMemories) explains some of the underlying mechanisms. Maybe get your hydration and caffeination needs met with something else that doesn’t bring you back to a bad time?
What does the Gasson Hall mean to BC students?
I cannot tell you how students feel about Gasson, as they have not divulged that information to me, but I can tell you a bit about Gasson and you can perhaps infer its meaning. Gasson was the first building built on this campus, in 1913. It houses many classrooms and department offices and a few very special places as well. One is room 305, the Fulton room (actually an amphitheater) and home to the Fulton Debating Society, with a Gothic arch ceiling adorned with a variety of oratorical quotes. Painted on the walls is the list of all Fulton debate winners, from 1890. Another notable place is the big function room on the first floor: Gasson 100 (aka “the Irish room”) was originally used as an assembly and lecture hall and now hosts everything from concerts to parties to Irish dancing. Just outside this room is the rotunda, with a very large and impressive white marble statue of the Archangel Michael overcoming Lucifer. And, finally, let’s not forget the Gasson Tower and its four bells that chime the passing day. I can hear them here and they certainly remain in my memory!
How does one stop being too sad?
It’s fine to be sad sometimes – everyone is – but if you are “too sad” it’s probably time to look for some help to deal with it. Counseling Services has lots of experience helping sad students, so please consider contacting them (bit.ly/BC-counseling or call 2-3310). The Wall hope you find more joy very soon and is rooting for you.
How can I encourage people in my department to follow a brand standard without making the standard mandatory?
Getting voluntary compliance with any sort of standard is always difficult. The Wall has 2 suggestions: 1) Have a carrot. Find a way to reward those who do follow the standard without punishing those who don’t. 2) Start ’em young. Students, junior faculty, and early career staff are far more receptive to the idea that presentations and work need to follow standards, even if it’s not a requirement. The more that brand standard pops up around the department, the more normalized it will be such that anything different looks strange. Good luck!
Do you like Taiwan? Why? What is your favorite food in Taiwan (:?
I love Taiwan. It’s such a crazy blend of Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese culture, with Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist temples of all kinds, all of which have intricately carved & colorfully painted walls. I don’t eat (I am a wall), but one of my library assistants says to get scallion pancakes from one of the many walk-up windows, oolong tea, and if you’re into that kind of thing, squid-on-a-stick, a popular snack at seaside places like Yehliu. But you need more walls on tall subway platforms in Taipei, or else all the babies will blow away!
