COM Ambassador Blog

Hannah C: Cool People You Didn’t Even Know Went to BU (And Some That You Did)

If BU’s impressive list of notable alumni didn’t influence your decision to attend the university, at least now as a current student you can enjoy the pride that comes with knowing you’ll join an awesome network when you graduate. It’s impossible not to know about some of the superstars that once graced the sidewalks of Comm Ave. That Martin Luther King, Jr. was once a BU degree candidate is a selling point on campus tours, and word on the street says Howard Stern offered COM a sizable donation to name his alma mater after him. It is undeniable that BU churns out some of the most influential people in a number of different fields. And chances are, you’ve spent at least one conversation your freshman year trying to come up with as many famous alums as you can.

You know about Jason Alexander’s BU history and you’re aware that Uzo Aduba ran track as a terrier. But did you know the duo who founded Burger King or the lyrical genius behind some of your favorite Disney songs were also BU students? Read on for a complete list of Cool People You Didn’t Even Know Went to BU and Some That You Did.

Other than MLK and Howard Stern, here are some other famous alums of BU.

VIPs You Knew Were Terriers

Andy Cohen

Bill O’Reilly

Ginnifer Goodwin

Julianne Moore

Geena Davis

Jenna Marbles

But you knew that already. How about this next list? They’re people you recognize, but it’s not common knowledge they went to BU.

Big Names You Didn’t Know Went to BU

PSY, “Gangnam Style”

Olivia Culpo, Miss Universe 2012

Tipper Gore, Former Second Lady

Nina Garcia, Fashion director of Elle magazine and “Project Runway”

Johnathan Goldsmith, Portrays “The Most Interesting Man in the World”

Also note these former BU students whose relatives are household names.

BU Alums Related to Cool People

Emily Deschanel, sister of Zooey Deschanel

David E. Kelley, married to Michelle Pfeiffer and son of Coach Jack Kelley

and Karen Kwan, sister of Michelle Kwan

Next, their names are not recognizable, but they did some awesome work post-grad.

BU Legends You Don’t Know of But Probably Should

David Edgerton and James McLamore, co-founders of Burger King

Howard Ashman, lyricist for Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid

Edgar J. Helms, founder of Goodwill Industries

Elizabeth (Sadie) Holloway Marston, creator of Wonder Woman

Helen Magill White, first woman to earn a Ph.D

and Mickey Drexler, CEO of J. Crew

And finally, since this is a COM blog…

BU Alums Killin’ It in the Media Industry

Bonnie Hammer, President, Sci-Fi Channel

Ted Harbert, President, E! Networks

Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment

Allison Davis, Vice President, CBS Television

and Shari Redstone, Vice Chair Viacom and CBS

Jen: The Great Boston University Egg-Off

Egg sandwiches are a staple in my diet. I probably eat between one to three egg sandwiches a week. Nothing makes me happier than a toasted breakfast bread, with crispy bacon and, a properly cooked egg. No joke, I sometimes plan my day around when I can stop by a place to buy an egg sandwich. Throughout campus, there are multiple places to go and get egg sandwiches and it can sometimes be overwhelming and even disappointing if you end up getting a sad egg sandwich. Right now you’re probably asking, “So Jen, where can I find a good egg sandwich?” Well my curious reader, I am here to guide you to egg sandwich heaven.

Rhetts: If you have been to the GSU between the hours of 9:00am-12:00pm, you’ve probably seen a huge crowd of people lining up to get their egg sandwich. Here, you can order an egg and cheese sandwich on a bagel of your choice. You can also add bacon, ham or sausage. Rhetts’ egg sandwiches are one of my favorites because there is nothing better than something that is warm, greasy and gooey. Be warned though, excessive consumption of these egg sandwiches may lead to extreme belly patting and craving seconds and thirds.

Rize: Do you live in/frequent East Campus? Feel like you don’t have time to dine in the dining hall yet you need fuel before class? Stop at Rize for one of their amazing egg sandwiches! Not only can you get an egg sandwich (with either bacon or sausage or neither) on a bagel but also **add Aziz Ansari voice** on a croissant! I like Rize’s egg sandwiches because not only are they delicious and decadent, but they remind me of the egg sandwiches at Dunkin Donuts. So, if you enjoy Dunkin’s egg sandwiches, but maybe want to feel less guilt, hit up Rize! (Also, if egg sandwiches aren’t your thing, they have great egg burritos!)

Pavement Coffeehouse: Let’s say one day you’re craving an egg sandwich but one that is a little more on the gourmet side, Pavement Coffeehouse should be a name on your list! What’s great about Pavement is that there are many varieties of egg sandwiches on their menu. You can get one that is strictly bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel, or you can get one that comes with red onions, tomatoes and jalapeno cream cheese or one with sundried tomato, pesto and arugula. If you’re tired of the same old typical egg sandwich and want to try another variation, Pavement is the place to go!

Obviously, I’ve missed some other spots on campus (ex. Tatte Bakery, Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts, Einstein’s Bagels, etc. ), and I know I’m only hitting the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Boston-area restaurants/cafes with great breakfast sandwiches. However, if you happen to be around campus, and need to squeeze in a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner, these are some great places you should check out!

Kevin: Battling that mid-semester slump

The mid-semester slump is real. The stretch between Columbus Day and Thanksgiving can start to feel like you’re on mile 25 of a marathon. Luckily, there are some easy tips and tricks you can do to keep yourself motivated and your spirits high.

Go for a walk

It sounds cliché and boring, but give it a try. Stand up from that desk you’ve been sitting at all day, and just go for a walk. Doesn’t have to be long, can just be down the street. But while you’re on that walk, let your mind wander. Maybe think about the fact that in a month, there will be a new Star Wars movie. A brand new Star Wars. Directed by J.J. Abrams.

Make your favorite food

There’s nothing like having your favorite comfort food on a cold fall day. No matter what it is, your favorite food will always put you in a better mood. Maybe it’s some mac and cheese, or maybe it’s some tomato soup as red as Kylo Ren’s lightsaber. Did you see that thing? Remember in the first trailer when he lit it up and we were all like “oh, ok,” but then the crossguard lit up and we were like “WHOAAA???” Yeah, we’ll get to see more of that in a month. Over 2 hours of it. How awesome is that??

Go to Fitrec

It’s been scientifically proven that exercise will improve your mood and energy. It’s hard sometimes to get the motivation to go in the first place, it seems like the last thing you want to do is get all sweaty and tired like John Boyega was in that first Force Awakens trailer. Why was he dressed like a Storm Trooper though? I mean, obviously it’s been what, 30 years since the originals? So they clones can’t be the troopers anymore, but is he a rouge trooper? The later trailers make it seem like he’s a good guy, so maybe he was in disguise like Luke and Han in Episode IV?

Hang out with friends

It’s easy to get so caught up in work, you forget to just get out and have fun. And nobody likes that friend who’s never around, kind of like how Luke Skywalker hasn’t been in any of the posters or trailers. Where is he? Did he turn to the dark side? There was that one shot in the first trailer where we saw R2D2 and somebody with a robotic hand, maybe that was him? He lost his right hand in Empire Strikes Back so it totally could be him, but we didn’t see his face so who knows. Also, how cool was it that they used the voiceover from Return of the Jedi? Super cool.

Esra: 5 Songs to Add to Your Playlist

I’m not the most musically educated person in the world, but I do know what I like. I’ve been playing these 5 songs on repeat for the past week (maybe two) and I think they’re definitely worth giving a listen.

Blame It On Me by George Ezra - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mt5d5hSyv8
Never Forget You by Zara Larsson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlARJAmytnk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5X5ZUvq5XY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thUXXhWdqd8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LwyWm6HiT4

Perfect to add to your “walking to class” playlist (because we all know when you can’t catch the bus you grab your headphones and make the trek easier with some music).

Eliza: What is “El Niño” anyway?

If you have left your dorm/apartment/bed in the past week, week & a half, you’ve probably noticed that the weather is, like, seriously wack. And we’re not talking crazy rain or early snow – no that would be almost normal. We’re talking it was 70 degrees yesterday, and it’s November in New England. For those of you that are new, that is definitely not normal.

So yeah, global warming is real – but people also keep throwing around this “El Niño” term to explain the seriously weird weather. I had barely any idea what it actually meant though, so I decided to investigate.

It turns out that El Niño is “an oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And it seriously can change the weather around the whole globe.

For North America, it means different things depending on where on the continent you are. In big news, it tends to mean a less severe hurricane season. In the Upper Northeast it usually means a drier and warmer than average winter – meaning less snow.

I guess our random 70-degree days could have to do with this warmer winter that’s coming our way, and after last year, that doesn’t seem like such a bad thing, right? According to the NOAA, there’s over a 90% chance that El Niño will last though winter, so that seems to makes sense.

HOWEVER: The other major weather predictor of the world, the Farmer’s Almanac, is predicting a winter that will be VERY much the same as last year. (Read: Lots of cold lots of wind lots of snow). With these conflicting predictions, it’s pretty hard to say what’s coming. At least we can definitely say that these days are super weird, but not bad either.

Zach: Best of BU Burgers

Hello friends! The rankings are back! Today I’ll be ranking the burger places on our stretch of campus, because these are IMPORTANT things to think about before coming to BU.

I work rank from worst to best:

5: Burgerfi

The buns are too oily for my tastes, and the shakes are just thicker than tar, but I’ve heard amazing things about their quinoa burgers (if you are into that vegan kind of lifestyle). Their fries are blasé and while its a nice showing to have onion rings, they don’t pass my tests. Also this costs real money. DID I MENTION THE SERVICE IS ATROCIOUS? Do not go in thinking you’ll spend any less than an hour there.

They do serve coke.

4: Dining Hall

They are fine. I would not say that they are bad whatsoever, but I also would not call them good. The plus sides is that they are *free* with a dining plan. Toppings are limited and the buns are a bit too soft, and the patty is fair. There are rotating options of fries at all dining halls, and those fries can range from “this is not a fry whatsoever” to “oh my god i’m gonna eat 14 plates”.

They serve pepsi, not coke, ugh.

3: Sunset Cantina

I know what you are thinking? Sunset? The nacho place!? How is this on the list? But they actually have some very good traditional burgers! One of the burgers even has guacamole on it! OMG! The fries are crisp and good, and you can get those famous nachos as an appetizer (or desert nachos for afterward!).

They serve pepsi, not coke, ugh.

2: Rhett’s

The looks are deceiving! My entire first semester at school I assumed Rhett’s would be disgusting… wrong! Rhett’s is incredible. They have a huge selection of burgers and fries, and literally ALL of them are good. (In the morning their bagels are TOP NOTCH!) They also have super long hours, for when you need to eat on campus but other places aren’t open. Did I mention this is on campus? So yes it is dining points but it is yet again free(ish).

They serve pepsi, not coke, ugh.

1: UBurger

OMG UBURGER! I crave UBurger, I cry when I am at Uburger and when I am not at UBurger. I live, breath, and obviously eat UBurger. They have so many options (I personally get the A+ burger which feature A1 sauce and crispy onions!) and also some sweet salads. ALSO THE SWEET POTATO FRIES ARE GAME CHANGING. They also serve coke on one of those new ~fancy~ dispenser machines with a touch screen, AND GLASS BOTTLES OF COKE. It’s too much. I love Uburger. Also, the location is prime with one by Myles and one by 1019, so they catch both ends of campus!

NOTE: SHAKE SHACK DOES NOT COUNT! IT IS TOO FAR AND IT IS NOT GOOD! IT DOES NOT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE!

Kreag: “Major” Problems

One problem I have faced since my freshman year here at Boston University is whether or not I want to take on a second degree. For a long time, I thought that along with film I would be doing something else, maybe journalism, or maybe something outside of COM, like sociology. However, the past year and half have led me in a completely different direction. While there was a brief time when I considered picking up a minor in journalism, mainly because it was something I did and enjoyed in high school, that never really became a reality. After a while I tossed that idea aside and decided that I was going to dedicate all of my time to the field of film and television.

That all changed when I entered the summer before sophomore year. I guess you could say I had a crisis of sorts, mainly inspired by my family’s desire for me to study something that they viewed as “more secure” in terms of future job possibilities. That resulted in my brief foray into the Questrom School of Business. That was a journey that I quickly ended due to my lack of math background and complete inability to understand anything with the word “calculus” in the course title. My family was not happy that I decided against a Business degree, but I can pretty confidently say that it would not have gone very well.

Well, here I am, a few months later, again back to the singular track of Film and Television. And again, I am considering picking up another major. This time its PR (which is actually a track in the Mass Communication major, but basically its the same thing), which I’ve actually discovered is something I enjoy. Next semester I’m going to take the Intro to PR class, and if all goes well, maybe I’ll pick up a dual degree or a Communication minor!

I guess the moral of the story here is that you don’t have to know what you want to do in college right away! That was something I struggled with for a long time, not just because other people pressured me to find something else, but also because I have a huge range of interests and a huge amount of things that I would like to learn in college. Don’t be afraid to browse the variety of classes that your college has to offer, and don’t be afraid to change your mind even if you’ve taken classes towards a certain track! And don’t forget that you can’t please everybody; if you love film, take film classes if you can. Just because your friends or family think you’re perfect material for the pre-med track doesn’t mean you are; do what you love and what you enjoy!

Stacy: FALL CHECKLIST:

With October behind us, winter is coming.

Before it gets too cold to frolic outside and adventure without wearing parkas... here is a list to make sure you're covering all your bases this year in enjoying the fall weather:

1. Apple Picking

Not only will you get those ~basic~ instas and a new profile picture... but you will also get apple cider, cider doughnuts and all the apples you could want.

Check out Honey Pot Hill Orchards - http://www.honeypothill.com

Also, Connors Farm in Danvers, MA - http://www.connorsfarm.com

2. Visit a Pumpkin Patch!

Whether you take one home and carve it, or just adventure... it's a fun way to take a break from your school routine. (Bonus points for drinking Starbucks out of their holiday cup at the same time).

3. Salem, MA

While this is the hub for Halloween, Salem is fun year round. There is so much history here, great places to eat and it's only a quick ride on the Commuter Rail that leaves from North Station.

4. Be the first one on the ice

Skating at the Frog Pond is a Boston staple. It's cheap to do, a fun way to get off campus and it's a nice way to transition into the upcoming winter months.

http://bostonfrogpond.com

5. Coolidge Corner Theatre

My favorite place to catch a movie in the Greater Boston Area. They have fun events to attend, they replay older films and they also play the latest movies. The theatre is gorgeous and in a fun area to explore.

http://www.coolidge.org

Hope this helps!

Donald: Bursting the BU Bubble – Finding Boston’s Less-Frequented Neighborhoods

Last fall, I took a fascinating class called Urban Sociology (SO 244). One day, we had a guest speaker who was an expert on Boston come give our class a lecture. To start off, he gave us a blank map of the city of Boston and told us to fill in all of the city’s neighborhoods. Like most BU students, I quickly found Kenmore/Fenway, Allston, and I managed to scribble in Brookline. Yet, after that, even if I could name other neighborhoods, I had no idea where they were.

As BU students, I’m sure we’ve all heard of the “BU Bubble” - an imaginary boundary that includes our campus and nearby areas - that BU students never seem to escape. During my sophomore year, I realized how true this assertion was, and I took it upon myself to explore the actual city of Boston before I graduated. Here are just a few spots that I’ve loved exploring that aren’t so close to campus.

Jamaica Plain
Overview: Jamaica Plain (JP) is an eclectic community that truly has a small-town feel. The neighborhood, with large LGBTQ+ and Latino communities, is a diverse conclave with a very activist-minded vibe. This is exemplified by some of the shopping spots in the neighborhood, such as Boomerangs, a thrift store whose proceeds all benefit the AIDS Action Committee.
Favorite Spot: It’s honestly hard to pick. Although the first ever J.P. Licks ice cream store is located in JP, I’m going to go with the Jamaica Pond for this one. If you’re looking to feel like you’re away from the city for a while, the Jamaica Pond is a beautiful getaway, while miles of running/walking/biking paths around it.
How To Get There: Getting to JP is a little tough. However, there are several stops on the Orange Line that will land you in JP, including the Jackson Square and Forest Hills stops.

Somerville
Overview: Often referred to as the “Brooklyn of Boston,” Somerville is a trendy, hip neighborhood home to a lot of recent college graduates and young professionals. Just past Cambridge, Somerville has a number of excellent restaurants and cool sites to visit.
Favorite Spot: By far, my favorite place to visit in Somerville is Union Square, especially during one of weirder community festivals they have. In the past, I’ve been to Fluff Fest - a festival dedicated entirely to marshmallow fluff. A few weeks ago, they hosted Pity Party, an event celebrating sadness and sulking. Definitely check out a calendar to see what cool events may be coming up soon.
How To Get There: Somerville is a bit tricky. But, if you hop on the B line to the Chestnut Hill Ave stop, you can hop on the 86 bus and be there in a few minutes!

Central Square
Overview: I mean this in the best way possible, but if you’re looking for a crowd of weird people, Cambridge is the best place to be. And no other area of Cambridge exemplifies that like Central Square. With a mixture of restaurants, concert venues, and small shops, Central Square is an eclectic group of both college students and older adults.
Favorite Spot: Out of the Blue Too is an art gallery and concert space in the heart of Central Square. It’s one of my favorite venues to visit because it usually hosts local bands in a small, intimate setting. Plus, there are a ton of really cool art piece along the walls, so you can peruse some cool art while listening to great music.
How To Get There: It’s super easy! Just hop on the 47 bus, which has a stop in South Campus close to Warren Towers, and you’ll be there in 15 minutes!

Roxbury
Overview: Many BU students talk about being afraid to visit Roxbury, but it’s actually a very welcoming and warm community that deserves more attention than it gets. Roxbury is the heart of the African-American community in Boston, with many family-owened establishments and a vibrant community-feeling.
Favorite Spot: I love the Hayley House in Roxbury, a great cafe with some of the best quesadillas I’ve had in Boston. The Hayley House often has spoken word poetry nights, which are a must-see!
How To Get There: Roxbury isn’t super accesible via public transportation, but there are several stops on the Orange Line which can get you there if you have time to spare.

Kate: Spring Break 2016

Hey COM student! Hey, what? Hey COM student! Hey, what? Did you love FYSOP 26 as much as I did? If so, you should consider participating in Alternative Service Breaks this winter or spring break.

As described on their website, Alternative Service Breaks (ASB) promotes community service, develops leadership skills, and creates strong bonds among its participants. Since its founding in 1988, Boston University student and faculty/staff volunteers have spent their spring breaks participating in volunteer work throughout the country with focuses such as the environment, affordable housing, hunger, education, public health, and disabilities. Each of the trips is comprised of two Coordinators, seven to twelve volunteers, and one faculty/staff Chaperone.

There are 38 trips this year- 36 trips for spring break and 2 trips for winter break. During winter break, you can learn, serve and reflect in Boston or Philadelphia. Trips for spring break range from Georgia to Utah to even Puerto Rico!

To learn more about ASB, attend one of the two info fairs, on Oct 28 7-9pm and Nov 10 7-9pm. You can also check out the trip locations online! Registration for volunteers opens at 9am on Sunday Nov. 22nd. More details can be found on their website buasb.squarespace.com!

Questions? Visit the Community Service Center anytime Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and ask for CiCi or Josh, the ASB program managers. You can also email them at altbreak@bu.edu!