
Sorry, I can’t do political or commercial endorsements here. Part of my contract.
Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
BC highly regards Tip O’Neill because he was a graduate who had a very distinguished career in state and national politics, including US Representative for Cambridge and Boston for sixteen terms and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. There are numerous anecdotes of people who called his office and were surprised to hear him answer. He is also remembered as someone who listened and addressed his constituents’ problems as best as he could. BC has honored him many times, and he attended the opening of this library in 1981. I recommend visiting the Burns Library Reading Room to see an exhibit of items from his life and career.
Have your friend visit the counseling center (or call 617-552–3310, extension 2) right away and ask for a Psychological Emergency Clinician (PEC). More info: bit.ly/bc-pec. If you’re interested in longer-term skills & training for suicide prevention, this mental health & wellness page has strategies and training opportunities: bit.ly/bc-mental-health-wellness.
Not all locked buildings are empty. My awesome colleagues in facilities and housekeeping use this time to ensure buildings are well maintained and clean.
“It’s complicated” is the answer to almost any question related to a building that lots of human need to use. It might be that there are people working 24/7 in the space, it might be housekeeping staff, it might be some specialized equipment that needs to be on all the time and that the lights are tied to it. When I’ve asked my friends in facilities about specific buildings at specific times there’s always a reason the lights are on. What makes sense at home doesn’t always work the same way for commercial or academic buildings.
Just hangin’ out, like I do.