<p>While I agree with you that celebrating someone’s death – even one as hateful as Bin Laden – is unsavory at best, we must appreciate that after ten, long years a cathartic moment was ignited.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, when those moments are awakened in a crowd an inevitable excess grows from it which casts its effect on the entire scene . It really makes one step back upon seeing how pathetically human beings can act. The idea of celebrating a death is just plain ugly – no question. I think that many who participated in the spontaneous ‘celebrations’ are now feeling rather embarrassed by it all. </p>
<p>As a BC alumnus, I do hope you will enroll there. Such thoughful intelligence as yours would be most welcome, and I am sure you will find many kindred souls there.</p>
<p>Personally, it was the PLACE of the so-called celebration that I fervently object to. While most of BC’s students are wealthy (and can live off of daddy’s money and daddy’s job connections, so grades may not matter to them), a small proportion of the student body is on big time finaid. Since BC is not generous with $$, students NEED to work to pay the bills. Many of them had worked all weekend, perhaps the late shift. Some had just completed a PULSE (volunteer) placement that required overnight hours. Since it is extremely difficult to study in dorms – BC is way too social for that – students need the library to work and be a place to block out the excesses, not party in it.</p>
<p>For example, George Washington students were “celebrating” in DC on the streets, not in their library. </p>
<p>Too me, it just comes off as selfishness and extremely inconsiderate. Too bad the Administration didn’t take faster action to move the “celebration” outside, or was it raining (and little Johnny and Suzie would get wet?).</p>
<p>Folks: don’t you just love spurious moral equivalencies? This guy wouldprobably pet and preen the rats chewing on the toes of his infants – all life is sacred, right? Get a brain . . . </p>
<p>No, this is NOT just “someone.” This “someone” was evil incarnate. If my family had been tortured, crushed, and killed by this “someone,” and if I could have found him and killed him, I would have. And I would have stomped on his face and spit on his genitals. You bet I’m on the streets like a drunken slob celebrating and hooting. “Revenge is mine, sayeth the Lord,” and SEAL TEAM SIX was His instrument.</p>
<p>I am so glad to hear from someone like you from Boston College and it really makes me want to go there — I was really shocked at the video and was waiting for someone like you to come convince me that the place isn’t at all like that. Would you happen to know about how the gay community is treated there? I went to the LGBT club’s website and read their history; it seems they have had a difficult time getting their club approved, etc. but there also seem to be people supportive of it in the community. I would like to know the University’s official position on gay rights, but have no idea where to start looking for information.</p>
<p>placido240: I understand what you are saying, and the equivalency may seem rather spurious. I understand that it may seem naive, but I believe everyone, no matter what deeds they commit, have some good in them. In the end, celebrating the death of a terrorist leader would spur the hatred of others and continue the cycle of violence and hate. It is difficult, but someone has to begin by forgiving. [Oh and nothing to do with the argument, but I’m not a guy, I’m a girl : ) And I wouldn’t pet and preen the rats, I would remove them without doing them any harm. ] I just believe some things are worth dying for, but nothing is worth killing for.</p>
<p>I must tell you that my knowledge of the current culture at BC is minimal, as I graduated more than 35 years ago! But, I believe that, as a Catholic – albeit Jesuit – college, it is coming 'round as regards to the gay community. If ever there was a place where strict, Catholic doctrine is questioned and examined from many angles, it is at places like Boston College. And, if ever the Church reconsiders its stance on such issues it will be because of that – where BC, and others, are at the forefront of this very perplexing problem.</p>
<p>Try the BC forum here on CC for more up to date information.</p>
<p>You are of course welcome to your sentiments. You will continue to be able to enjoy them thanks to Seal Team Six, who felt (and acted) quite differently.</p>
<p>I must tell you that my knowledge of the current culture at BC is minimal, as I graduated more than 35 years ago! But, I believe that, as a Catholic – albeit Jesuit – college, it is coming 'round as regards to the gay community. If ever there was a place where strict, Catholic doctrine is questioned and examined from many angles, it is at places like Boston College. And, if ever the Church reconsiders its stance on such issues it will be because of that – where BC, and others, are at the forefront of this very perplexing problem.</p>
<p>Try the BC forum here on CC for more up to date information.</p>
<p>Wow, 35 years ago…that is a long time ago. But the fact that there is a gay community in a Catholic school, I think, is amazing in itself. I’m definitely considering Boston College now. </p>
<p>Anyway, thank you so much for coming to the rescue. I am just a 19-year-old kid sitting in her bedroom thinking about where to go for college, so that I can change the world for the better. I was rather depressed and felt hopeless at the number of people who would not forgive but rather celebrate a death. To know that you see what is wrong and and to know that there are people like you who can step back and think, “wait a minute, there is something wrong here,” instead of giving into our animal instincts, has restored my hope for peace in the world (I know this sounds blown out of proportion, and flattering, but this is how I felt).</p>
<p>Wherever I go for college, I hope to uphold these beliefs and I know I will meet people like you and me.</p>
<p>"While most of BC’s students are wealthy (and can live off of daddy’s money and daddy’s job connections, so grades may not matter to them), …and little Johnny and Suzie would get wet?). "</p>
<p>Students with full pay parents can be found at all universities. I am not ashamed that we are paying full tuition for all of our kids and I do not look at the students who are on financial aid any differently than I do the full pay students. There are serious, intelligent, hard-working, moral unselfish students in all socioeconomical backgrounds. Judging an individual based on how much money his/her parents have is not something to be proud of, IMO.</p>
<p>Also, I wonder how many of the posters upset with the bin Laden celebrations were actually present or are just opining based upon some short clip on YouTube. HAFH, you cannot understand why the BC students were celebrating? It would be wonderful if was no such thing as evil in the world, but there is and thankfully we have a brave military to protect us and our freedom.</p>
<p>No, I cannot understand why people are celebrating the death of an individual. I would rather die than have a brave military protect me, if “protection” involves killing someone else. There are other ways to protect our freedom besides killing. I saw the bin Laden celebrations everywhere — sadly, they were present even in my country, outside of the U.S. </p>
<p>I actually am able to find one cause of celebration — it is that troops will hopefully be able to start pulling out now and be reunited with their families.</p>
<p>SMC Guy — thanks for the info…I noticed when I visited ; ) I’m still torn between the two colleges.</p>
<p>Thank you, again! I am so glad to have helped restore some of that faith…which we all can use.</p>
<p>One of Boston College’s main selling points, if you will, is (actually this is part of its Jesuitness) is to be “men and women for others”. That each may do his or her part to help change the world for the better, no matter how large or how small. If we make the effort and and keep making it even after failing then we will be fulfilling the most basic tenet of Jesuit education. It is to that tenet that all our knowledge, training and talents must be applied. Indeed, that is their purpose.</p>
<p>To those who think celebrating Bin Laden’s death is perfectly fine, consider where our own humanity has gone when we cannot see the humanity in our most hated enemies…</p>
<p>“To those who think celebrating Bin Laden’s death is perfectly fine, consider where our own humanity has gone when we cannot see the humanity in our most hated enemies…”</p>
<p>I guess everyone is basically good right leanid? Nonsense! The worst kind of cowardice is to recruit others to do your evil work. Osama’s death should be a cause of celebration to remind others that justice ultimately prevails and hiding out trying to escape it has its consequences.</p>
<p>I did not say that people are “basically good”. I said that they are human and as such make mistakes. Do we want to make mistakes that we can avoid? Perhaps, Bin Laden’s death was inevitable – and even the best thing that could happen to the world for the moment – do we still need to make the mistake of celebrating a fellow man’s death?</p>
<p>When Christ said, “what ye do to the least of you, ye do to me” Was he not referring, also, to miscreants like Bin Laden as one of the “least”?</p>
<p>My kids both attended USC & have been extremely happy there. They did NOT have a car, tho I finally let S have one for his senior year of college. D will be a senior next year & still doesn’t have a vehicle. There is a good bus service that serves the USC area that only costs like $.25/trip and can take folks quite a distance from campus. Also, many students DO have cars and are able to provide transportation. There is also a SMARTCAR system, where you can rent a car by the hour or day, if you have a driver’s license (for you, an international one).</p>
<p>My D was a transfer student and was able to live in an on-campus apartment. She also got herself a job on campus in her intended major & made a significant number of friends & acquaintances that way, even tho she started school in January rather than the fall. She has not really missed “the freshman experience” all that much. If you can reserve a spot at Gateway or similar apartment near campus, it may provide you with decent socialization without being Greek (sorority).</p>
<p>There are tremendous media opportunities at USC, particularly if you major or minor in cinema. They do encourage students to get double majors or major & minor in different fields to add depth and breath to their college. The last I heard/read, they were offering free promotions to folks who signed up to live in the Gateway apartments that were just completed last fall. D lived there & found it very convenient. It has a pool & gym, as well as study rooms, computer room, nice lobby, laundry & other amenities.</p>
<p>I know someone who attended BC in the late 70s and found it quite conservative. Do not know anyone who has attended it recently. Don’t know much about Tufts but most of those who have attended there appear to have liked it.</p>
<p>Anyway, hope the above about USC is helpful to you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information HImom — the part about the bus was really helpful, as I had heard different stories about the convenience of transportation at USC. I’m also glad to hear that if I go as a transfer student, I won’t miss the freshman experience…that was one of my biggest concerns. The apartments sound really nice and I suppose they’re close to campus so there’s as much socialization as in the dorms.</p>
<p>Haha, difficult decisions and I have until June 1st. Thank you all for the info and stimulating discussion ; ).</p>
<p>The Gateway Apartments are directly across the street from campus and have their own pharmacy, market, coffee shop and other conveniences located there. It is very new and nice (tho pricier than the apartment my D will live in next year). It also comes with a flat-screen TV & fully furnished. You can look on-line for a better view of the building. D says they sometimes do promotions there & give out things. She’s gotten a free bag and she says sometimes they also have free snacks, water, fruit in the lobby for everyone. She wanted to live there because she was at our flagship community college as a freshman & wanted “the freshman experience.” </p>
<p>There is also a significant international community of students at USC, if you’re interested in meeting up with them. Many are studying engineering, but there are others studying pretty much everything. It is definitely a liberal campus and there appears to be a significant GLBT presence on campus.</p>
<p>Good luck in your choice–you will likely be happy at any of your 3 choices.</p>