<p>“I know someone who attended BC in the late 70s and found it quite conservative.”</p>
<p>So? Weren’t most colleges relatively conservative over thirty years ago?! I doubt one would find the kind of ‘conservatism’ your statement implies at BC today.</p>
<p>Also, I believe one should be cautious about using the word ‘conservative’ as if it is, de facto, something that is necessarily a bad thing…it does, after all, depend on WHAT is being conserved, does it not?</p>
<p>HAFH, it seems you live in a philosophical dream land. The world runs on raw emotion, that’s how we are born. My father died on 9/11, and neither I, nor anyone I know, is ashamed for straight up cheering the death of another person. Bin Laden lost his status as a human being long before 9/11.</p>
<p>And oh yeah, I’m going to BC next year.</p>
<p>bronovan,</p>
<p>I am very sorry to hear you lost your father on 9/11. Most cannot know the immense pain and suffering that must have caused, and may continue to cause, you and your family. </p>
<p>You are very young and have a long life ahead. I hope that in time you will find the kind of meaning and fulfillment that enables you to express the more noble sentiments that lie within you rather than the ones you are now feeling (justifiably so, perhaps), as to what it is that makes the world “run”. </p>
<p>For much as our entry to life is “raw” and almost violent, it does not mean that life has to be that way from that point on. It is, after all, what gives us our humanity, that is, our ability and determination to turn away from those base, unworthy impulses and, instead, embrace actions that we can live with and won’t haunt us as life continues on its long road.</p>
<p>You made a good choice in going to Boston College. Best wishes on true success.</p>
<p>HAFH - We’re not judging you on your opinion, or on your post-9/11 experiences. We’re objecting to you labeling other folks as “simple-minded” and “irrational” because you disagree with them.</p>
<p>I don’t call people simple-minded or irrational because they disagree with me. When I say simple-minded, or irrational, I was looking at people who revel in that emotion of revenge; remember I was looking at the video of the screaming mobs and not reasoning with people here, with words. I didn’t mean to insult anyone’s intelligence and I’m sorry if I did. I also don’t think I live in a philosophical dreamland----I think the ability to control those savage emotions is part of what makes us human. </p>
<p>HImom thanks again, it seems like your D and I have a similar experience and what we’re looking for. I think I’ll add those apartments to my list when i
submit my housing app.</p>
<p>bronovan, if I end up going to BC I hope I could meet you and talk to you—I think it would help us understand each other.</p>
<p>Once again, you insult the good folks you disagree with, and mischaracterize their behavior and motives - all while pretending to apologize. Very unattractive.</p>
<p>No, I really do apologize if I insulted anyone. Please take this apology as you will; there is nothing more I can do to convince you that I did not mean to insult anyone. I was mereley stating my opinion on how I honestly felt when I saw those mobs, and how I saw them.</p>
<p>HAFR,</p>
<p>These are some of your statements:</p>
<p>What made me sort of frightened of Boston College is that I remember seeing a video on YouTube where Boston College students stormed the library and celebrated Osama Bin Laden’s death, singing the national anthem. It was scary, and I didn’t think that kind of mob-mentality could take over students in such a good academic institution.</p>
<p>And …thought that in such a good academic institution, people will not be as simple-minded as “yay a terrorist is dead, God bless America.” That whole mob just seemed to contradict the ieals Boston College was based on, but now that I’ve done more research, those people simple-minded people seem to be the minority. </p>
<p>Then you state As for the Bin Laden discussion, I knew I was bringing up something sensitive but it’s difficult to believe that roaring crowd at the college and Times Square were rational-thinking human beings. It’s probably true that there are people who celebrated like that everywhere and not just at BC </p>
<p>and The drunken screaming mobs didn’t look like the intellectuals these colleges are famous for — that is what prompted me to call them “simple-minded”. They looked like people who were consumed by revenge who hadn’t thought out the consequences of their actions.</p>
<p>Comments: You are quick to make very biased judgments based on little information: Boston College Students storming a library? Really? I saw students deliriously happy and reacting accordingly. I didnt see furniture being destroyed, massive rampaging or anything of the like. You see mob-mentality and I see a group of students (there are many students on college campuses, a collection of students doesnt constitute a mob). Then you expand your description of the mob to a roaring crowd and then to drunken screaming mobs consumed by revenge Amazing. You got all this information from a YouTube clip. </p>
<p>Then you judge people with different opinions and refer to them as simple-minded and irrational while maintaining that you are above being judged Please don’t judge that I “haven’t truly lived in the aftermath of 9/11”. So let me get this straight. You can make unsubstantiated judgments about others but others are not allowed to judge you. You call for others to practice peace (by the way, who doesnt want peace) but you refer to yourself as a fighter The phrase “fight on!” is also very much…like me. </p>
<p>At least you did temper your statements somewhat with but now that I’ve done more research, those people simple-minded people seem to be the minority. However, HAFR, you need to do a lot more research, for there are many, many other Americans who are very happy that bin Laden has been eliminated. (I guess this means that the majority of Americans are simple-minded since we dont share your opinions). Here are just a few other YouTube clips (you seem to get so much of your information from this type of source) for you to peruse: </p>
<p>Harvard: [YouTube</a> - Harvard Students Celebrate the Death of Osama bin Laden](<a href=“Harvard Students Celebrate the Death of Osama bin Laden - YouTube”>Harvard Students Celebrate the Death of Osama bin Laden - YouTube)</p>
<p>Penn State: [YouTube</a> - Penn State students celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden!](<a href=“Penn State students celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden! - YouTube”>Penn State students celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden! - YouTube)</p>
<p>Iowa State: [YouTube</a> - Iowa State students celebrate death of Osama Bin Laden, sing national anthem](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>Students all over America: [YouTube</a> - College Students Celebrate Death Of Bin Laden](<a href=“College Students Celebrate Death Of Bin Laden - YouTube”>College Students Celebrate Death Of Bin Laden - YouTube)</p>
<p>Differences of opinion and debates are healthy and stimulating. However many of your statements are not factually based and are colored by naïve and lofty ideology as evidenced by your above comments. One cannot have a debate with you because you do not have an open mind. But you don’t want a debate, right HAFR? You attempted to sway the readers with the words stormed, then roaring crowds. Then after instilling these descriptions as fact you moved on to drunken screaming mobs etc. Your attempt at manipulation is interesting but very transparent.</p>
<p>HAFR: I am a current BC student and I agree with what you have said about the students celebrating. It really rubbed me the wrong way (when I was studying in the library and they stormed it), and I don’t think anyone should be celebrating death. But I don’t really think that says anything about the intelligence or nature of BC students. Those types of celebrations happened all over the country at every college and university. As you can see from the video posted, Harvard students similarly celebrated.</p>
<p>HAFH,</p>
<p>I’m a current BC student and from everything I just read in this thread I really think you would fit in at Boston College. The videos of BC students celebrating Osama’s death are only one small fraction of the student body and one night out of the entire school year. While you may disagree with what took place, and trust me, MANY professors and students at BC do not agree with what happened, the emotions and camaraderie that took place that night were felt and shared across the entire country. Most likely every school in the country had some sort of celebration, and some students (I know at UMass Amherst at least) were not as respectful and destroyed property of their school. There was some damage at BC: a few ceiling tiles destroyed in one of the dorms, but that was at the fault of a small group of students.</p>
<p>In my theology class the day after the whole mob thing happened we spent the entire class discussing Osama’s death and the following reaction by our school and the rest of the country. It was truly an enlightening discussion and is something I think that is important to an Jesuit education to really address those issues and allow people to judge their own perceptions of things like this.</p>
<p>In terms of student body, it is a little bit more conservative than most college campuses but definitely more liberal overall. There is an arts scene but not that many people that would be labeled as “artsy.” I know BC has a great Communication department and I know someone who has an internship at a record label in NYC this summer.</p>
<p>I think if you came to BC you would definitely like it. You might find it hard to find people you’re similar to at first, since it can seem overwhelmingly preppy and homogenous wen you don’t know anybody but trust me, with time you will find your group. There are really so many different personalities here, it is hard to not find one you mesh with.</p>
<p>HAFH, this has morphed into a discussion all about you and your feelings. But its not about you. Its much larger-it is about us, collectively, as a whole. You treat it as though it’s just another topic in a history book. 9/11 isnt for us, as you so dismissively put it, just something sensitive. It’s a national tragedy. More than 3000 of us died on 9/11. The pain, suffering, agony, the loss is very real. In a few weeks I have to see a couple of kids graduate from high school whose parents cant be there, they perished-theyre gone- forever. Almost everyone in my town and nearly all the towns around us knew somebody or knows somebody who knew someone who died on 9/11. Our town, as do most of the other communities here, have 9/11 memorials. We dont just walk by these memorials without remembering, there are always flowers at the site, put there by someone who is in pain. There are lots of flowers there. There are lots of people hurting. Loss is permanent. Every time we go into the city we see reminders of that day. There is increased security at Penn Station and subways, throughout the city and surrounding areas. Signs with the words if you see something suspicious report it are plentiful. The loss of a mother, father, sister, and brother- this is very real, very painful, and it doesnt go away for us. And we suffer together. We help each other out. We are there for each other. We also understand that 9/11 can and probably will happen again.</p>
<p>It doesnt matter to others what you think about 9/11. You are just one out of millions of people in the world with an opinion and your opinion isnt more valuable than anyone elses. You have the right to express your opinions but please dont disparage others for thinking differently than you. For goodness sake, dont rub more salt into our wounds. </p>
<p>Im sorry that I hijacked this tread. But it hurts so much. I wont make any more comments about this, I promise. Today is Memorial Day. Im going to Ground Zero.</p>
<p>can anyone comment on the safety of the USC campus and surrounding area? hopefully HImom and others who have children or relatives attend can comment</p>
<p>pretty safe. DPS patrols everywhere. I walk around the area at 2 am, never felt unsafe.</p>
<p>celebrating bin laden’s death was a great moment everyone stormed the library and then the mods it was sick the only people who wouldn’t enjoy such a thing are communists, terrorists and hipsters</p>
<p>thenatural:</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you are serious or…but if the former, you should note that your judgmental post does not reflect too well on the type of student at BC. (Hint: calling folks names just bcos they have a different opinion than you is probably not what BC teaches in Philosophy and Theology. However, it is great practice for a future lawyer!)</p>
<p>^^^ It’s actually kind of funny. Ironically, BC might be a great fit for HAFH, with people on both sides of an issue calling each other names when they disagree. </p>
<p>“You simple-minded drunkard!” “You communist hipster!”</p>
<p>I would definitely attend BC were I in your situation 
Seems like a better fit.
Can’t beat on campus dorms anyhow!</p>