Sofia
Anna
Pablo
Letter from the Editors
The Gavel has always been a place on campus where students can meet like-minded people and express their true selves. These types of spaces on campus are necessary because the climate at Boston College can feel rather limiting or pressurized. Students can internalize “typical” BC culture in many ways relating to materialism, social media, academics, socio-economic status, to name a few. We felt that these pressures highlight general expectations that BC students often feel compelled to meet. For this print edition, we gave our writers an opportunity to explore “expectations” within the BC community. Our general concept was made great by our phenomenal staff writers who brought the theme to life, highlighting their own experiences on campus.
This fall, we have experienced many difficulties and moments of joy, including the reintroduction of print! Given our short break, this edition is incredibly special to us. We would like to give a special thank you to Joel Iglesias Lopez, Kaitlyn Williams, and Maddy Esser for their commitment to bringing back print and helping us through this process. This truly would not have been possible without them. The Gavel holds an incredibly special place in our hearts, and having a physical representation of our time here means a lot.
This edition is for those who don’t fit expectations, those who are currently struggling to maintain them, and those who break the mold of what is and is not acceptable at Boston College. We want to celebrate anyone who is not the “typical” BC student and continues to be themselves, despite the chance of rejection, harassment, or isolation. Progressivism is established in identifying societal norms and challenging them. Without this, justice, equality, and peace would cease to exist. Please enjoy Print Fall 2024!
Bang, Sofia & Maddy
NeglectingCuraPersonalis: ProductivityCulture atBostonCollege
ByMaliaRobinson
Asstudentswalkacrosscampusbetweenclasses,theyare surrounded by their peers’ conversations. Amid the banter and friendly discussion, questions such as, “Have you found an internship yet?” “Have you made your course schedule for next semester?” “How much are you going to study for this exam?” are ever-present. Boston College studentsworkdiligentlynotonlyontheircoursework,but also their LinkedIn profiles, internship applications, and resumes. The Bapst and O’Neill libraries are consistently filled with students bent over laptops and notebooks, drafting essays and preparing for exams. While this culture of productivity can contribute to academic success, the expectation of constant excellence and efficiency can degradestudents’wellbeing.
Productivity culture is defined as the societal pressure to maintain a high level of efficiency. As college students, we value productivity not only in our classwork, but also in our career planning and extracurriculars. BC students generallyhavetightlypackedGoogleCalendars,andpride themselves on their lists of accomplishments. Students havetheprivilegeofaccesstothiseducationandoppor-
tunity,soitmakessensethattheyaimtomakethemostoutofit.Thecostlytuitionalsoemphasizestheimportance of gaining the most possible from our education– each missed class is a loss of money. However, the validation of academicaccomplishmentsandefficiencycanbecomeaddictingandall-consuming.Thisnarrowsstudents’perspectiveanddistractsthemfromotherimportantareasoflife,suchastheirsocialrelationshipsandmentalwellbeing.
OnesophomoreintheMorrisseySchoolofArtsandSciencesexplainsfeelingthat“youcan’tgoanywherewithout seeing people studying on this campus.” She says the culture of constant productivity presents challenges because “when you want to take a break, it feels like you aren’t matching the standard of those around you.” BC students usually aren’t afraid to discuss their academics or career plans, which she says “makes it difficult to stop yourself fromcomparingtheworkyouaregettingdonewiththosearoundyou.”
Tocombattheobsessivecultureofproductivity,sheremindsherselfto“recognizewhat[she]needsbeyondhowshe compares herself to others.” She acknowledges that the school has resources and support networks for those strugglingwiththepressureofproductivity,referencingUniversityCounselingServicesandresidencestaffsuchasRAs and RDs. However, she says that “because productivity is so deeply embedded into the culture, it is hard to notice whenitistimetoreachout.”
TheBostonCollegeCenterforStudentWellness(CSW)iscommittedtoprovidingresourcesforstudentstotaketime fortheirmentalwellbeing.JeannineKremer(MSW)isalicensedindependentclinicalsocialworkerandthedirector oftheCSW.KelleyHughesistheAssistantDirectorofMentalHealthandWellness.KremerandHughesexplainthat
“productivityculturefeedsonadeficit-basedperspectiveofourselvesratherthanastrengths-basedperspective… thus,equatingpersonalaccomplishmentsandachievementswithoursenseofself-worthandself-esteem.”
Thiscausesthelackofproductivitytobecomea“threattoouridentityandself-concept.”Whenstudentsassociate theirintrinsicvaluewiththeirabilitytoaccomplishtasks,theycreateharmfulandunrealisticstandards.Students whocramtheirschedulesfrequentlyexperience burnoutandfeeloverwhelmed.KremerandHughesask,“What if,insteadoffocusingourattentiononallthewayswearenotbeingproductive…weshiftedourattentiontowards the ways inwhichwe arestriving todo our best?”Theyemphasizetheimportance oftakingcareof oneself and growingandevolvingthroughoutcollege.Collegeisaboutexploration,notperfectionandconstantaccomplishments.
Productivityculturecancreateanunhealthyrelationshipwithrelaxation.Itisessentialforstudentstotakebreaks, eveniftheyhaven’tcompletedtheirto-dolist.However,ifmostofyourfriendsarepullingall-nightersinO’Neill, visitingtheCareerCenter,orattendingnetworkingevents,takingabreakcanfeellikeawasteoftime.Thepressuretobeproductivecancausestudentstofeelguiltyabouttakingbreaks.
Resisting the pressure of productivity culture by taking genuine breaks is essential to maintaining a healthy student mindset. Kremer and Hughes highlight theWellness Center’s Health Hub asa spacewhere students can maketeaorcoffee,takenaps,workonpuzzlesorlistentothewaterfountain.TheHealthHubisaspaceinwhich studentscanphysicallyseparatethemselvesfromtheacademicenvironmentandtakeaconsciousbreak.
The Wellness Center also offers peer wellness coaching, which Kremer and Hughes reference as a helpful way toaddressindividualneedsandsupportwellnessgoalsandstrategies.Theysaythat“connectingwithapeerina private space is a great way to process, especially connecting more with a student’s strengths and skills.” Leaning on others for support is something students should value, rather than be ashamed of. University Counseling Servicesisanotherimportantresource,wherestudentscanschedulecampus-basedorcommunity-basedtherapy.
StudentsshouldstrivetoprioritizetheirmentalwellbeingamidBC’scultureofproductivity.KremerandHughes emphasize the importance of making a “commitment to self-compassion.” Instead of expecting constant excellenceorfeelingguiltfortakingnon-productivebreaks,studentsshouldmakeanefforttobekindertothemselves. Asstudents,weareoftenschedule-driven.Byincorporatingintentionalbreaksintoourday-to-dayschedules,we areprioritizingratherthanneglectingwellbeinginourto-dolists.
AlthoughBostonCollegeisa competitive academic institutionwithhighexpectations, cura personalis, or“care of the whole person” is highly encouraged. Practicing self-compassion allows students to care for themselves holistically.Throughincreasedawarenessandhonestconversation,theBostonCollegecommunitycanliveupto itsidealof cura personalis andprioritizewellbeingoverproductivity.
Policieslike thatof Section11.8arerareamongJesuitCatholicUniversities.There isnoprohibitionofsex(outsideofinstancesofsexualmisconduct)listedinthestudentcodesofconductforGeorgetownUniversity,Loyola University Chicago, Fairfield University, The College of the Holy Cross, or any other Jesuit institution whose CodeofConductcouldbefoundonline.Otheruniversitiesthatprohibitpremaritalsexontheircampusesinclude Notre Dame, Brigham Young University, Catholic University, and Liberty University. BYU and Liberty specifically have fallen under fire in recent years for their draconian rulebooks which prevent students from watching R-ratedmoviesor havingpiercingsortattoos.These far-right institutionstrytocontrolstudents’self-expression, mediadiets,anddailylifetothehighestdegreepossible,sowhatdoesitsayaboutBCthatitsharesafringeconductpolicywiththem?
Tobefair,it’sunlikelythatSection11.8isbeingenforcedorthatstudentsarefacingconducthearingsforviolating it.It’sunknowntowhatdegreethispolicyisbeingenforcedsincetheOfficeofStudentConductdidnotrespondto myrequestforcomment.However,basedonconversationswithformerresidenceassistants,itseemsthatSection 11.8islessofanexplicitprohibitionofsexoncampusandmoreofasilentpolicymeanttodiscourageit.OneformerRAtoldmethepolicywasnevermentionedduringhistraining,andthatsexwasonlydiscussedinthematter of responding to and reporting sexual misconduct.This is a significant oversight ofRAtraining considering that manyBCstudentsdochoosetohavesexduringtheirtimeoncampus,andtheirRAsareill-equippedtohelpthem navigate safe and healthy sexual relationships. Further, knowing that they are explicitly forbidden from having sex in their on-campus living spaces, students may be less likely to consult RAs or campus health officials with questionsorconcernsaboutsexualhealthbestpracticesforfearofretaliation.
It’snosecretthatBCdoesn’tpromotesafesexpracticesinitsJesuitCatholicethos.Oneofthebiggestdifferences betweenBCandpeeruniversitiesistheavailabilityofcontraceptivesoncampus.AtBostonUniversity,avending machineoncampusdispensesPlan-BEmergencyContraceptionfor$7.25apop,compared to$50whichthepill goesforatmostmajorpharmacies.Conversely,studentsatBCareunable toobtainanycontraceptivesanywhere on campus.According to the University Health Services website, “Due to the moral values that Boston College espouses, [UHS], by policy, does not provide materials for the purpose of preventing conception or counsel that wouldencourageabortion.”Thisquotecomesfromthe‘women’shealth’sectionoftheirwebsite,andthereisno equivalentinthe‘men’shealth’section.Thisplacementreinforcestheregressiveadagethatpreventingpregnancy isthe responsibilityofcisgenderwomenintheir sexualrelationshipswithmen.Subtletiesincampusculture like alackofreadilyavailablecontraceptivescreateanenvironmentthatpromotessilenceandshamearoundsex.It’s worthnotingthatUHSdoesprovideSTIscreeningsandpregnancytestingtoBCstudents.
Onestudentorganizationistryingtocombatinaccesstocontraceptionandsexualhealthcare;StudentsforSexual Healthprovidescondoms,dentaldams,lube,andevenPlanBtothestudentbodyduringtheirtablingsessionson CollegeRoad.SSHisnotarecognizedstudentorganization,andthereforeisnotallowedtogatherorhostevents oncampus.ThisiswhytheytableonthepublicsidewalkjustoutsidetheBCcampuspropertyline.Unfortunately, arepresentativefromSSHwasnotabletoprovideacomment.
Bysettingtheexpectationthatstudentscan’thavesexoutsideofmarriage,BCissettingitsstudentsupforfailure anddoingthemagravedisservice.UniversityadministratorsknowthatSection11.8can’tpreventpremaritalsex amongst students, and yet they do nothing to educate or protect the student body. Further, the culture of silence aroundpremaritalsexespousedbytheuniversitycreatesastigmaforstudentswhoneedhelpandmaydiscourage themfromspeakingupaltogether.Inmyresearchforthispiece,Icouldfindnoonewillingtospeaktomeonthe recordabouttheirexperiencewithBC’sdraconiananti-sexethos.However,nothingisgoingtochangeunlesswe start having the conversations that university administrators so badly want us not to have. The truth is that BC students are going to have sex, as is their right as consenting adults.To continue to ignore this reality is frankly, neglectful. Instead of willing its 9,000 plus undergraduates not to have sex until marriage, BC should equip its residence assistants and University Health officials with all the tools necessary to help them facilitate safe and healthysexualrelationships.
However, everything changed when I discovered the student clubs. They are an excellent opportunity not only to meet new people but also to learn and develop academically. It’s through these extracurricular activities that you can make the most of BC’s offerings, and they provide that much-needed space to meet people outside of the exchange student circle. That’s why I joined the Parliamentary Debate Union, where I finally overcame my fear of public speaking in English; BC MUN, where I met incredible people, like my good friend Mariano, and traveled withthem; and,of course,The Gavel,whichhasgivenme aplatformtoexpressmyselfwithout fearof judgment. While BCis aPWIand it’snot aseasy asit seemsto connectwithotherstudents, especiallyAmericans,there are plentyofopportunitiestointeractandgrowbothpersonallyandacademically.
Lastly,Iwanttotouchonparties.AsaLatinAmerican,andnooffensetoAmericans,thepartiesherearegenerally not my style. In Colombia, at least, we’re used to a more lively atmosphere with dancing and tropical music. In Boston,ontheotherhand,atypicalAmericanpartyusuallyinvolvesdrinkingbeerfromaredsolocupwhilelisteningto2010spopmusic.Thatsaid,withagoodgroupoffriends,they’restillenjoyable.Similarly,whenitcomesto nightclubs,anothernotabledifferenceisthatAmericanpartiesdon’tusuallyhave“dancecircles.”InLatinAmerica,it’s very commonfor friends—orevenstrangers—to formcircleswithina party wherepeople dance(personal space is relatively respected). On the other hand, here, dance circles don’t exist, mainly because dancing doesn’t reallyhappen.Andbydancing,Imeanactualdancing—notjustjumpingaround.Additionally,personalspaceisn’t muchofaconcern;peopleoftenpushorbumpintoeachother—notideal.Anotherthingisthatpartieshereendvery early;by1a.m.,peoplearealreadyleaving.InColombia,that’swhentheparty’sjuststartingtogetgood.But,well, theseareculturaldifferencesthat,forbetterorworse,existandthatyouhavetoadaptto.
In conclusion, what a Latin American student can expect from BC is a university that, despite being a PWI, has professorsandstudentswhoareopenandwillingtohelpwheneveryouneedit—allyouhavetodoisask.It’salso a university that offers opportunities that are unimaginable in SouthAmerica, and not taking advantage of them, considering it’s a privilege to be in Boston, would beunforgivable.And yes, eventhough both LatinAmerica and the United States are Western regions, cultural clashes do exist. However, these are things that, as foreigners in a different country, we must respect. So, to answer the question of what expectations to have as a Latin American student at BC, the answer is simple: a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will challenge you, and if you make the mostofit,willbeoneofthebestexperiencesofyourlife.
On the morning of November 5th, the quad in front of O’NeillLibrarylooksjustthesameasanyotherdayofthe year. It’s Election Day, but nothing is really out of the ordinary. Across other Boston-area universities, last-minute ‘Get Out the Vote’efforts serve as reminders of the day’s gravity. But here at Boston College, activity on campus seems exactly as it did during the lead-up to the election, whichistosaythatthereisn’tmuchgoingonatall.
At BC, our homogenous culture entails more than adherence to social norms. Expectations extend to political engagement,andinthelead-uptothe2024Election,thepoliticalatmospherewasdampenedcomparedtoother schools.Ofcourse,manyBCstudentsdon’tinherentlycarelessaboutpartisanissues,outcomesofourelections orotherwise.Nevertheless,campusculturediscouragesopendiscourseoverissueslike these,somethingwhich maybeexplainedbyunspokenexpectationsabouthowstudentsshouldtalkaboutpolitics,challengepower,and protest.
To better understand these assumed standards on campus, consider some of the more politically active student groups. Out of the many such clubs, Climate Justice at Boston College has positioned themselves as a large, active, and vocal opponent of the BC administration. They co-hosted an event at the beginning of November – a divestment town hall – advocating for BC to reallocate the university endowment into investments outside the fossil fuel industry. Notably, this was the firstevent CJBC has hosted on campus since they wereplaced on probationin2022.Theuniversityissuedthissentencein response to aclubevent whereCJBCdeliveredletters advocating for divestment and climate action to the administration. Due to the strong content of messages authored by students unaffiliated with the club, CJBC was subsequently placed on a year-long probation. To this day, they remain blocked on BC’s Instagram and members have expressed concerns over disparate treatment fromthe university. CJBC’shistoryof buttingheads with the administration shows that deviating from campus normsrelatingtopoliticalexpressioncanlandgroupsintrouble.
Ofcourse,CJBCfindsthemselvesinhotwater,notjustbecausetheydeliverapoliticallychargedmessage.Rather,itseemsreasonabletoconcludethattheirfocusedcallsforaconcertedchangeatthelevelofBC’sleadership contribute to this treatment.After all, consider another vocal student group – Students for Life of BC.Astaple of the McElroy Commons experience includes seeing the BC Pro-Life table while walking upstairs to Eagle’s Nest. Students for Life might not be the largest or most active club on campus, but they stand among the most visible.And while they too present politically (and religiously) charged arguments, theuniversity largely gives themagreenlight.Thedifferencebetweenthesetwoclubscomesdowntoeach’sgoals:StudentsforLife’sview doesn’tcallforarealignmentoftheadministration’sCatholicvaluesormissionstatement.Yet,intheirtargeted advocacyfordivestment,CJBCcallsBC’sactionsandvaluesintoquestion.
While it’s useful to consider various student groups, the past year has also seen widespread protests against university investments in companies profiting from Israel’s war in Gaza. The tumultuous spring semester culminated with arrests at the Northeastern Commencement and walk-outs at Tufts and Boston University. But at BC, events like these were few and far between. At the end of April, BC Buddies for Palestine registered a protest for students to call for solidarity and peace, with an additional focus on challenging what they identified as an indifferentandreservedresponsefromtheBCcommunity.Theeventunderscoredtheexpectationsthatprotesters at BC faced – and defied – were different from the ones other students confronted. Unlike schools that organized encampments and boycotts, BC activists simply focused on challenging the pervading culture on campus by amplifyingvoicesthathadbeenpalpablyquiet.
So on November 5th, there wasn’t much out of the ordinaryontheacademicquad.Butwhatwastheretoexpect? After all, there exists a strong political culture at BC –onenotofsilence,butratherofapathy.Atsuchaprivilegedschool,itcanbecomeeasyforstudentstodetachfrom thenews,politicalengagement,andothermainstreamissues.Adayaftertheelection,theWalshmailroomthrew outdozensof mail-inballots, whichstudents hadrequestedbutfailedto fill out andreturn. Eventssuchas these standmerelyasamicrocosmoftheapathyatBC.
Especiallyin light of thisrecentelection, the culture here hasbeen permeated byfeelings of apathy, resultingin ataboo.We’reencouraged,evenexpected,toremainsilentonissuesthataskforfundamentalchangesintheuniversity’s stance.Apathy therefore manifests itself in pervasive expectations of silence affecting everything from activist clubs to campus protests. Most clearly, students calling for divestment, either against fossil fuels or the military-industrial complex, find themselves met with both institutional resistance and indifference from a large partofthestudentbody.
Apathy presents an onerous challenge to activists at BC. It takes courage, energy, and tenacity to oppose a culture of silence. Doing so is therefore no small feat. Even The Gavel, the progressive student voice of BC, only published a single election-related article in the entire month of October.At a time when politics can feel overbearing,uncertain,andturbulent,namingandidentifyingdominantculturesbecomesallthemoreimportant.And ifelectionweekhasdemonstratedanything,it’sonlybychallengingthestatusquothatwewillforgeanewpath forward.
