Category: Joe P

With the final weeks of classes coming up and exam season following, here are some spots to look out for if you’re in need of a go-to study space.

1. CAS Classroom

If you know, you know. Obviously, you would not be sneaking into a full class in session, but instead find an empty room to set up shop and get working. It’s extremely versatile; if you need quiet, a room to yourself is the perfect place. If you are working on a group project, there’s plenty of space for your teammates to work together. Some rooms have whiteboards that can be great for brainstorming or problem solving. It’s also one of the few academic buildings that does not lock its doors on the weekend, so it’s almost always accessible.

 

2. COM Student Lounge

Speaking of team projects, the study lounge is a great spot for collaborative projects. With tables and access to charging blocks and other tools, the student lounge is a convenient spot for any COM student. It’s not a silent study space, which makes it good for collaborative studying, but if nothing else you could plug in headphones and lock in alone if that’s more your speed. If all else fails, look no further than COM.

 

3. Data Science Building

The new “book stack” building across from Warren Towers has already become known as a solid study space. With an elevated study space at the lobby window overlooking Comm Ave, and a Saxby’s right inside, you can’t do much better than that when it comes to the atmosphere.

 

4. The Charles River Esplanade

With the weather getting nicer, a peaceful outdoor study space can never go wrong. Whether you’re using a bench along the scenic river or setting up a blanket on the grass, there’s plenty of room to get your prep in for exam season while still getting some much needed sun and fresh air. Just make sure to stock up on allergy medicine first.

They say Boston is the City of Champions, and while the days of Tom Brady winning Super Bowls for the New England Patriots is over, Boston sports are still synonymous with success. Aside from the professional teams, the countless college sports teams competing in the area mean exciting sporting events are happening every day.

Here are some events you should look to check out in November, whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or just like the atmosphere of big games:

Monday, November 7 - BU Men’s/Women’s Basketball vs. Northeastern - Case Gym

Basketball season is right around the corner, and both the men’s and women’s teams at BU will be tipping off their slate during a Monday doubleheader at Case Gym.

Both teams should be competitive in the Patriot League, and starting the year against a local non-conference rival will make things all the more exciting.

The women play at 4:30 p.m. followed by the men at 7. 

Monday, November 7 - Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues - TD Garden

In a rematch of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, where the Blues beat the Bruins 4-3 in the best-of-seven series, emotions still run high in the city of Boston when St. Louis comes to town.

Several key players from both sides of that championship matchup are no longer with their team, but a lot of good players remain, and the Bruins currently have the best record in the entire NHL (5-1-0).

Not to mention, former BU Terriers Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie Coyle and A.J. Greer all play for the Bruins, and injured Charlie McAvoy will be returning soon. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Friday, November 11 - Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets - TD Garden

The Celtics fell just short of the 2022 NBA Championship, but return what should be a competitive team in the Eastern Conference. Coming from the West is Denver and the two-time reigning league MVP, Nikola Jokic.

With Jokic going against Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, there’s no shortage of star power in this matchup that will be fun to watch for even the casual fan. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 19 - Harvard Football vs. Yale - Harvard Stadium

While Cambridge is not Boston, the Harvard football stadium is located in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, and with no football team at BU, this historic matchup must be circled on the calendar.

The first meeting between the two Ivy League rivals took place in 1875, and “The Game” is among the longest-standing and most-respected college football matchups in the country.

With “The Game” alternating host sites each year, and with the pandemic canceling Ivy League sports in 2020, Harvard has not hosted “The Game” since 2018 when the two sides played at Fenway Park. With this year being the first time back at Harvard Stadium since 2016, it’s hard to resist going out to witness the latest chapter of a historic sporting tradition. Kick-off time is yet to be determined.

Wednesday, November 23 - BU Men’s Hockey vs. Notre Dame - Agganis Arena

The BU men’s hockey team is currently ranked top 10 in the country, and with renewed hopes under first-year head coach Jay Pandolfo, the Terriers will be welcoming a high-profile opponent to Agganis Arena before Thanksgiving.

The Fighting Irish are currently ranked 13th in the country, and are one of the best teams on the Terriers’ schedule. Kick off Thanksgiving weekend watching two iconic programs face off. Puck drop is at 5 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday, November 26 & 27 - Boston Pride vs. Toronto Six - Warrior Ice Arena

Finally, make sure to check out the weekend series of the two-time reigning Premier Hockey Federation champions face off against Toronto. Boston’s professional women’s ice hockey team is by far the most accomplished in the PHF’s short history.

Playing in nearby Brighton, the Pride boast former Terriers Sammy Davis, the 2020 First Overall Pick, and Kaleigh Fratkin. The Saturday game starts at 7 p.m., and the Sunday puck drop is 2 p.m.

 

You Won't Want to Miss These Upcoming BU Games

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it’s hard not to get excited about the fast-approaching holiday season. Before diving headfirst into the festivities, there are a handful of exciting BU sporting events coming up that warrant the strongest possible showing from the Dog Pound.

Hockey season is in full swing already, with high-profile matchups coming soon, while basketball is starting this month. Without further ado, here are four can’t-miss matchups in Terrier athletics:

Women’s Basketball: Nov. 9 vs UMass Lowell (6pm)

First is the women’s basketball home opener against the River Hawks. Although it’s a non-conference matchup, it will be the start of a new era. It will be Head Coach Melissa Graves’ first game at the helm of the program after the previous coach, Marisa Moseley, departed for the University of Wisconsin.

While First Team All-Patriot League guard Katie Nelson, who led the team in points and assists per game last year, joined Moseley at Wisconsin, the rest of the top 10 scorers on the team are returning. 

Junior guard Sydney Johnson was second on the team with 11.9 points per game and led the team with 1.8 steals per game. Senior forward Riley Childs also returns after leading the team with 8.0 rebounds per game.

Last year’s team fell just short of a Patriot League championship, and with a similar roster, the Nov. 9 opener will give you a chance to witness the start of what could be a special season.

Men’s Hockey: Nov. 12 vs. UMass (7:30pm)

There are numerous good matchups coming up at Agganis Arena this month, including the first matchup against Northeastern since Mar. 2020, but the one highlighted here is a home date against the reigning national champions.

The Minutemen again look like one of the top teams in Hockey East, and while BU is hovering around .500 so far this year, the Terriers swept UMass in a two-game weekend series last year.

Junior forward Wilmer Skoog leads the team in goals (4) and points (7), while junior defenseman Domenick Fensore leads the team with five assists. Sophomore goaltender Drew Commesso is 3-3-0 on the year with a .901 save percentage and a 3.27 goals-against average.

When the puck drops against the reigning champs, it will be a must-watch.

Men’s Basketball: Nov. 16 @ Northeastern (7pm)

The men’s basketball team opens their season at URI before hosting Division III Gordon College, but if you’re willing to trek into enemy territory, the Terriers will travel to Matthews Arena to face Northeastern.

Despite it being a non-conference matchup, tensions always run high between the two Boston schools. The Terriers have lofty expectations this season, and the early test against Northeastern will require some help from the stands.

The Terriers are led by Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year Javante McCoy. The senior guard led the Terriers in scoring and assisting with 16.1 points and 2.2 assists per game last season.

Like the women’s team, the men retained most of their roster from last season and should be among the top teams in the Patriot League this season.

Women’s Hockey: Nov. 21 vs. BC (3pm)

We couldn’t get through a list like this without including the Battle of Comm Ave.

The Terriers will play the Eagles for the first time this season just days before Thanksgiving at Walter Brown Arena in a Sunday matinee.

Regardless of where each team stands, BU vs. BC promises to be hotly contested any time the two sides face-off.

This year, senior forward Courtney Correia leads the team in scoring with [points], and senior goaltender Kate Stuart is leading the charge in the net with a .926 save percentage and 2.16 goals-against average.

Whether you can make it to all four of these games or just one, make sure you don’t miss out on some of the best games BU has to offer this month.

 

Best ways to overcome end-of-semester burnout

In an academic year leaving many students to feel in the dark, there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. We don’t know for sure when the pandemic will be over with, but with just a few weeks left in the semester, an academic year as mentally taxing and demanding as ever is nearly complete.

With summer on the horizon, it’s easy to get distracted thinking about what the next few months have in store. If you’re reaching your breaking point and need to stay productive through the next few weeks, here are some tips:

1. Plan each day out in advance, especially on lightly scheduled days

On weekends or days with a light class schedule, I find myself getting caught up in all my free time that my productivity goes out the window. It’s much easier to stay on track by blocking off different times each day to accomplish anything I may need to, while also setting aside time to relax.

It’s a simple concept, and easier said than done. It’s ultimately up to you to stay disciplined to the time commitments you set for yourself. I’ve found that committing to zone in for an hour on a given task produces much better results than just saying, “Yeah, I’ll get to it at some point within the next eight hours.”

2. Find a study partner

If you’re the type of person who needs someone else to hold you accountable, find a classmate/friend to keep you focused. It may be tricky to find someone to work with in-person during these times, but even setting up a Zoom meeting can be sufficient.

Getting another person to talk concepts out or go over a study guide with is a great way to engage with the material instead of just staring at a semester’s worth of slides. It’s much easier to get through these last few weeks with help rather than facing it by yourself.

3. Improve your eating/sleeping habits, at least temporarily

I could live on pizza and burgers if I needed to, but in times where energy and concentration need to be at an all time high, taking better care of yourself physically will pay dividends for you mentally. Get ahead of the all-nighters during finals week by fueling up with extra sleep now, and attack all the main food groups at the dining hall to keep you feeling energized enough to get through a productive study session.

You can get back to the daily trips to Cane’s and video games till 3 am once summer hits. For at least these next few weeks, try to switch things up and help fend off burnout.

These are just a few general tips to help you get started. There’s obviously more that can be done, and what I listed may help some more than others. What matters most is setting yourself up for a final burst across the finish line, rather than a slow crawl.

Thanksgiving is all about great food and taking time to appreciate the good things in life while surrounded by family and friends. There’s still room for all of that this year, but chances are you won’t be surrounded by as many people.

Many families like to play games during the holiday, whether it’s football in the backyard or a card game in the living room, and while the pandemic will put a damper on this holiday season, there’s still an opportunity to have some fun with friends and family.

Of course, depending on who you’re spending Thanksgiving with, some of the close-proximity games may not be the best idea, but luckily there are several variations of classic games that you can play over Zoom. If you won’t be able to spend Thanksgiving with the people you usually celebrate with, this can allow you to at least keep some sense of normalcy.

In any case, here are a few games to get you started:

Uno

Starting off with a classic, Uno is a great source of fun and frustration, and the best part is it’s one of the more versatile games to play virtually. iPhone users can play each other in a knock-off version through GamePigeon, but there are also apps that allow you to play with anyone locally or online. 

It’s an easy game that practically everyone already knows how to play, and you can play with anyone who owns a phone. Maybe parents won’t like the idea of everyone staring at their phones during the holiday, but it’s a strong option you can’t really go wrong with.

Pictionary

Another party classic, Pictionary is an easy game that anyone can play. Not everyone owns a dry-erase board and markers, but by using Skribbl.io online for free, you can start a private game where anyone with the link can join. Set up a game, log on to Zoom, and suddenly you and your friends are having fun roasting each other’s artistic ability (or lack thereof). 

Cards Against Humanity

Be careful who you play this with; you may get into some uncomfortable situations. With the right group of people, though, it can turn into the highlight of your night. This popular card game is loaded with dark, adult humor, and you can play the game online for free.

There are several websites you can find with a simple Google search, but one that I like to use is called “All Bad Cards.” This allows you to set the game rules the way your group wants, and is pretty easy to operate.

Much like Pictionary, you can create a game, send your friends/family the link and hop on Zoom to play with those who are not with you in-person. It’s the perfect game for anyone who’s graduated from the kids’ table.

Get creative

If you don’t feel like playing any of the games above, there are plenty of other options to go for, as long as you can think of ways to play virtually. Games like Charades and Celebrity don’t require many materials in order to play, so it’s easy to sort out how to play over Zoom. Some rules may need to be tweaked to play other games virtually, but as long as it’s still fun, that’s all that matters.

No matter how you spend Thanksgiving weekend, the most important thing is to be able to safely relax and spend time with the people you’re celebrating with — even if it has to be online.

Anytime students head off-campus, the Boston Common, Newbury Street and Fenway Park are all popular destinations. However, if you’re interested in learning more about the city’s past, in addition to how it is today, grab some friends and spend a couple hours walking along the city’s Freedom Trail.

Starting in the Boston Common (between the Boylston and Park Street T stops), the 2.5-mile trail loops through 16 historical stops in downtown Boston, ending all the way up at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown.

Amongst the stops along the way are the Massachusetts State House, the site of the Boston Massacre and the Paul Revere House. In a city so important to America’s establishment, the trail serves as a fantastic opportunity to walk through history. 

Not a history buff? The trail brings you straight through the heart of downtown, so you can enjoy the contemporary sights of the city as you take in the fresh air. The back half of the trail takes you through some beautiful neighborhoods in the North End, and plenty of restaurants that serve delicious food and provide an incredible atmosphere if you’re looking to make a stop along the way. Or you could just grab Chipotle that stands on the site of the Old Corner Bookstore, if that better fits your style (or budget).

Another cool part of the trail is toward the tail end. To get to the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument, you cross the North Washington Street bridge. With East Boston on one side and TD Garden and the Charles River to the other, you can get stellar views of a different part of the city. If you’re a photographer looking for a new spot to take photos, this part of the trail is calling your name.

And really, any part of the trail has great photo opportunities. Whether it’s the bustling squares surrounding Faneuil Hall or the cozy brick neighborhoods in the North End, there are countless places that you can document forever.

With the usual weather in Boston, it’s important to take advantage of the nicer days. The next time we get some nice weather, and you and your friends have a few hours to kill, try taking a walk down the Freedom Trail to learn more about this great city we live in.