Author: mayaklu

James: The Case for Jefferies Point

By James Mcintyre

Look, I understand as well as anyone that leaving BU Campus can be hard, especially during a busy week! From BU alone, you get the joys of the GSU food court, BU Beach, COM Lawn, Agganis Arena, and so on! If you need a short trip out, Brookline and Allston are great changes of pace that are easy walks from any point on campus. A step further, the T can take you downtown in 20 minutes. Who’d need anything else? 

That’s why I want to take time and make a point of Jefferies Point! It was the first place I had gone to when I visited BU, and since then, it has held a special place in my memories. Piers Park holds one of the best views across the water of Boston from any point in the city. Gorgeous in the summer and tolerable in winter for the view, the park stands out with its proximity to the water. After a quick walk, head to one of Boston’s best chains in Smoke Shop BBQ. Well, it has sibling restaurants in Cambridge and central Boston, neither quite offers the view of the “Eastie” location. If you eat wings, it is a must stop. Going further in unlocks a plethora of restaurants any Bostonian could happily eat before going to Logan, only a few T stops away! Once home to the East Boston immigration station, the region houses a diverse food scene.

Everyone will walk away from their time in Boston with their own slice of memory. Their own favorite park. Favorite restaurants. For the sake of experience, give the one that overlooks the waterfront of Boston a shot! 

Teagan: Why COM 101 Is the Class That Helps You Find Your Path at BU

By Teagan Keane

Every COM student starts in the same place: COM 101. It is the kind of class you hear about long before your first semester begins, usually described as “the intro class everyone takes.” What you do not hear as often is how grounding and surprisingly motivating it can be, especially when you are still figuring out what you want to study.

COM 101 combines a large weekly lecture with a smaller discussion section, which creates a useful balance. In lecture, you are introduced to the broad landscape of communication fields. One week, you might learn about journalism’s responsibility to the public, the next week you might explore how public relations shapes brand reputation, and another week you might dive
into media production or advertising strategy. Even if you arrive on campus already confident in your major, the class invites you to understand how all of COM’s disciplines connect and overlap.

The discussion section is where things become personal. This smaller setting gives you space to ask questions, hear perspectives from other majors, and talk through what parts of the field excite you most. Many students say this is where they first realized what they actually want to pursue. It is also where you start meeting people who may become future group-project partners, internship tip-sharers, or close friends.

What makes COM 101 especially helpful is that it offers a low-pressure way to explore. You are not expected to know everything. Instead, you are given a chance to test your curiosity and see which topics spark something. By the end of the semester, you gain both a clear overview of the communication world and a better sense of where you want to fit within it.

If you are heading into COM 101 soon, keep an open mind and pay attention to what interests you most. This class may be your first step at BU, but it is also the one that helps you picture the path ahead.

Diya: A Reflection On My Senior Year

By Diya Shah

As a senior this year, I want my blog post to reflect on the past few years here at Boston University. Since my first semester, I have added two minors in Journalism as well as Entrepreneurship. I have joined and left several clubs. I will be completing all of my Hub requirements this semester. I went abroad to London last fall and lived there for 4 months while pursuing an internship. I joined a dance team and am now the senior advisor of the team, where I am able to coach and support the team in a unique way. I have met hundreds of people since freshman year. I have also not seen some people since freshman year. These past years have been all about reform, change, and growth. I am excited to continue doing so even afterwards as well. Good luck to all the freshmen this year. Just know that by senior year, you will be a whole new person.

Kyla: Being a Boston Tourist (The Correct Way)

By Kyla Foreman-Andrade

I spent this past summer in Boston. Without school and film shoots, I had a lot of free time and I realized that I have never done a lot of touristy things. I made it my personal mission to explore as much of Boston as possible. Here are the places that I think you should find to be the ultimate Boston tourist.

  1.  Harvard Square

Although Harvard Square is not in Boston, it is only a bus or T ride away. Obviously, you can see the amazing Harvard, but if you stop for a second and actually soak in the square, you can see some amazing historic buildings as well as eat some amazing food (I would personally recommend the new Popup Bagels). The area is pretty walkable and is the perfect place to people watch.

2. North End

I have to admit, I had been to the North End before. But after talking to my friend from Charleston, I realized that I had never truly taken in the sites. This is the most historical place in Boston; it truly feels like a different world as soon as you enter the neighborhood.. You can walk the freedom trail and see where Paul Revere took his historic ride. All the buildings still have their historic charm. Some of the oldest bakeries and Italian restaurants are in the North End. While you’re there, you need to stop by Bova’s, a 24 hour Italian bakery. Their pastries are actually to die for and they are my pick in the cannoli war over Mike’s Pastry and Modern Bakery.

3. Esplanade

As a BU student, I am very familiar with the esplanade and it wasn’t a summer discovery. However, I still think it reigns as a top tier place to visit as a tourist. There is something so calming and beautiful about walking along the Charles River. It’s the perfect mix between city and nature. Whether you’re taking a midday stroll or a late night walk, your mind is guaranteed to be calmed and you will feel revived. Bonus points if you go at night, sit on the dock, and look at the stars plus the lights from Cambridge.

4. Take the T

I’ll admit, this doesn’t sound touristy at all. What is there to see by taking an underground train? I’d argue that is where you see the city’s real charm. Yes, it’s hot, crowded, and somehow always delayed, but the view you get of the Charles River when you take the red line is unbeatable. The feeling of listening to music while you people watch on a long T ride is fantastic. The history showcased at Park Street station is unmatched. It may not be the most luxurious, but it is technically a historic landmark as it’s the first subway system in the United States. Bonus: If you can balance on a moving T, you know that you were truly built for the city.

Ian: Four Ways to Get Around Boston

Boston University’s stretch of Commonwealth Avenue is a great place to live, study, and hang out, but there’s more to Boston than just our campus. To get out and explore the city, the T is a great start, but what other ways exist to get around?

Commuter Rail

Everyone’s familiar with the T that runs down Comm Ave and takes you all over the city, but what if you want to go a little further from Boston? The Commuter Rail is the T’s big sibling, and has 12 lines that radiate out from downtown and across Eastern Massachusetts. In just over an hour on the train, you can spend the day in Providence, visit the coast in Rockport, or take a hike at the Blue Hills Reservation outside of Readville. Even better is the fact that the Commuter Rail offers unlimited rides with $10 weekend passes. 

Bluebikes

With more than 550 stations around the city and surrounding neighborhoods, the Bluebikes network is an extensive collection of bikes and e-bikes that makes short trips and exploratory rides a breeze. The Bluebikes app offers everything from single-rides to annual memberships, and BU students can get discounted annual memberships through BU Transportation Services. 

Car Rentals

Though more expensive than other choices, car rentals are a good option to keep in mind if you need to carry a lot of items or want to go further than train lines will take you. Zipcar is a service that allows you to rent cars around the clock and has vehicles available throughout Boston, including at a number of on-campus stations. Enterprise also has an office near West Campus, and especially when split with a number of friends, these car rental services make day trips around New England easy.

Walking

If the weather allows or all else fails, don’t overlook walking as a great way to cover ground and see the area up close. For a major city, Boston is incredibly walkable and small enough that you can cover big distances in a short time. Going from campus to Boston Common downtown only takes about 40 minutes, and there are beautiful areas in Cambridge and Brookline within easy walking distance. 

No matter how you do it, get out there to explore and enjoy Boston!

Anaya: Five Simple Joys that Helped Me Slow Down

As high achieving college students, we often put a lot of pressure on ourselves. To be brilliant at everything we try, be a caring friend, a well rounded student, and have interesting hobbies as well. For a long time, I dreaded the question, “So, what are your hobbies?” because honestly, I didn’t know what to say. Between classes, internships, and everything in between, I barely had time, let alone pursue something “fun.” But here’s what I’ve learned: hobbies don’t have to be impressive or productive. They don’t have to turn into side hustles or perfectly curated Instagram posts. They can be small things that make you feel a little lighter, calmer, or more like yourself.

Here are some things I have taken time to do recently, that have slowed me down and brought me joy.

  1. Painting
    My roommate brought a set of water color paints to school this semester. One afternoon, I joined her while she sketched. I looked to Pinterest for inspiration, and began to draw and paint. I found myself feeling a little calmer after, and the hour without a device seemed to slow time down a little. Now, my wall is slowly filling with pieces of art that symbolise moments in time, each one holding a different memory of a burst of creativity.
  2. Lego
    Recently, I also got gifted a set of Lego flowers. Similarly to the painting, one afternoon I found myself exhausted from a long day, and craving a bit of calmness. So, I put on my Olivia Dean playlist and I built a couple of the lego flowers. I think something about the tactile feeling of doing a task and building one piece at a time is really relaxing.
  3. Reading
    I love to read. But I always find ways to validate the voice in my head that says I don’t have time to read. Recently at the airport, I bought a book before a flight. Not a “classic” or a “bestseller”-- just a book that caught my eye. I read half there, and half on the way back. Now, I have a book on my bedside table, ready to go for when I have just a moment to read a chapter or two.
  4. Walking
    Though the weather is gloomy and grey, getting outside always shifts my mood. In fact, most days I choose to walk down Comm Ave instead of taking transport, even when it’s miserable. On weekends, a long walk on the esplanade, or a stroll after picking up a coffee or even going out of state for a hike, are ways I stay active that are actually enjoyable to me.
  5. Cooking
  6. Living off campus, I thought cooking would slowly but surely turn into a chore. But after two months, I can confidently say that hasn’t been the case for me. As a foodie, I am never satisfied with a cup ramen meal for dinner, and so I’ve actively made time in my schedule to make sure I can cook meals. Wednesdays are my favorite day of the week, because I have a long afternoon break, where I typically make dinner for my roommates that reminds me of home. I take the time to buy ingredients, and make something new each week like my favorite Asian curry or Indian dish. It’s a small ritual that reminds me of home and is made more meaningful because I get to share it with others.

We’re often our own harshest critics. We want to do everything, be everything, and still somehow stay balanced. We can continue to be dedicated, tenacious students, and still find time to build a Lego flower a day. Joining 3 clubs doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have time to read 15 minutes of a book before bed. Having early morning classes doesn’t stop you from walking to them.

Our lives are made up of little pockets of joy. We just have to notice them. And if you don’t have a hobby right now that brings you joy, that’s okay too. Keep exploring, keep trying new things, and remember: hobbies aren’t checkboxes. They’re just small ways of caring for yourself.

Kristin: Best Classes to Take Outside of COM

By Kristin Rosenmund

Being a COM major, it can be hard to find classes that interest you outside of COM, as many of us are used to constantly being creative. However, due to the BU HUB, there are instances where classes outside of COM need to be taken. Below I have listed the three most interesting classes I have taken for HUB outside of COM, but also walked away from having learned a great deal about a new subject.

  1. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
    I took Social Psychology to receive my Social Inquiry hub. This class allowed me to learn about the ways people interact with the world, and delve into different subjects of attraction, love, and even narcissism. This class wasn’t just helpful for navigating the world, but also useful to my Film and Television major. Now when I am writing scenes for a screenwriting class, I recall the information I learned about people's behavior in this class when I write a character doing something or acting a certain way. The class was comprised of three exams and homework, so
    it was a nice balance of workload but also appreciating what I was learning.

2. INTRODUCTION TO HOSPITALITY
Introduction to Hospitality is a great way to knock out a few Hubs in a relatively easy class, but also opens you up to a whole new industry. Prior to this class, I had never taken a hospitality class or something even similar to a business class, but I left feeling like I gained a variety of skills that I will be able to use interchangeably. I learned about customer satisfaction, and studied a hotel business introspectively, that gave me a better understanding of how hotels and businesses run in general. For the final activity, you are assigned a group to complete a scavenger hunt of hotels all around Boston. This way you get to bond with new friends as well as see iconic hotels in Boston you may have never seen before or gotten the chance to.

3. ARTS IN AMERICA
For anyone who loves analyzing or knowing more about different kinds of art, I highly recommend taking Arts in America. From this class, I have learned various different techniques in how to analyze artworks, as well as learn about different paintings and pieces I have never heard of before. The professor is also passionate about the subjects, always making the lectures interesting and interactive, as he cares very deeply about students opinions on paintings, and enforces the idea that much of it is interpretation, leaving hardly any room for wrong answers.

Jack: 5 Boston Green Spaces You Should Visit While The Weather’s Still Good

By Jack Schwed

Amid the vast urban landscape of Boston, there is a treasure trove of gorgeous lush plots blanketed with grass and overflowing with colorful flowers and trees. Here are just some of these many green spaces:

  1. Charlesgate Park: In the 1950s, this green space was severely impacted by the construction of Storrow Drive and the Bowker Overpass. However, in recent years, The Charlesgate Alliance and Emerald Necklace Conservancy have come together for an ongoing revitalization project that would improve the natural feel of the park and add several amenities. Last year, a dog-friendly farmer’s market was opened here, welcoming many local vendors and live music every Sunday from June to October.
  2. Fenway Victory Gardens: During WWII, over 20 million “victory gardens” emerged across the country, which served to feed troops overseas. This garden, located in the Back Bay Fens area, is the only one that continues to operate continuously. Today, the 7.5-acre site is home to more than 500 individual garden plots tended by Boston residents, and it is open to the public from dawn to dusk.
  3. Ramler Park: Tucked away in the Fenway neighborhood is a half-acre park with a majestic fountain sitting at the center. Surrounding this centerpiece is a variety of vibrant flora, which are there to attract migrating birds. Over the summer, jazz bands liven up this usually quiet space for small, intimate performances that are open to the public.
  4. Amory Playground: If you want a wide open space to play a recreational game of soccer, tennis, kickball, or a number of other activities, this park is the perfect place, with a full-sized baseball diamond, six clay tennis courts and an open field. The playground also includes an off-leash dog area where you can bring your dog, or just sit, relax and watch others’ dogs run about and play. The park is conveniently located minutes away from west campus, and is also connected to Hall’s Pond Sanctuary, one of the last remaining natural ponds in Brookline.
  5. The Esplanade: If you cross the bridge connected to BU Beach, you will find yourself on a three-mile long path along the Charles River. Here, you can bike, walk, run or take a seat on a bench with a beautiful view of the city skyline. Due to its proximity to BU, many students are familiar with this space, but you may not have walked far enough to find the Hatch Memorial Shell. This half-dome art deco outdoor concert venue hosts performances across a wide range of genres and movie screenings for all to enjoy.

Morgan: My Ranking of Boston University’s Dining Halls

By Morgan Oakes

I believe that all dining halls have their own pros and cons, and all are convenient at different times. Freshmen, if you’re trying to decide which dining hall to go to, let this be your guide. 

4. Warren Towers

Warren has its own charm. When I lived in A Tower my freshman year, Warren was my most frequented. But unfortunately, when choosing where to eat, this dining hall is my last pick. I don’t typically go for their eggs, and I often find the layout of the space to be crowded due to many students going after class. In addition to this, the Warren dining hall simply doesn’t have as many options as the others. That being said, the Warren Towers dining hall is in a convenient location, and the sandwich station never disappoints.

3. Marciano

Some people will disagree with me on this, but I find Marciano to be a bit overhyped. Obviously there’s the benefit of this dining hall having two floors, and many options. I love their grill station, and the Concept Kitchen is fantastic. They tend to have fun desserts. The atmosphere is nice. But compared to the others, Marciano falls short because the next two are simply just better.

2. Fenway Campus

The only reason the Fenway dining hall isn’t at the top is because of the distance it takes to get there. It’s the perfect size. It’s perfectly tucked away. The food is always fantastic. It sounds basic, but my favorite thing to eat in Fenway is their grilled cheese (with fries). Then I like to mix in a few of the many condiments they have. Fenway also has the best salad bar out of all four dining halls.

  1. West Campus

I live in 610 Beacon now, but when I return to this dining hall (typically post-fitrec) I almost miss living in Claflin. The pizza is always fantastic. The vibes are always fantastic. The middle of the dining hall (the fishbowl) is my favorite place to sit. Then I like to go to hockey games. West is best!