Dear Chris: I spend all day doing work and, every night when I get into my bed, right as I close my eyes, I can’t help but hear a rhythmic pounding coming from the room above me. I hear grunts, and for the life of me I can’t figure out what they’re doing or how to stop it.

-From, Restless

Chris: Ah! They’re probably just dribbling a basketball around or practicing their tennis grunts. Basketball and tennis are things that young adults do, so don’t be frustrated. However, playing tennis indoors could get dangerous. Maybe slip an informational pamphlet about the game of tennis to ensure the people in the room above you practice safe sets.

Dear Chris: Tests always remind me that no matter what I do, I get the lowest result. Is there anything I can do to change this?

-Yours truly, Hopeless

I am afraid not. But, you should see this skill as a gift. You should try golf.

Dear Chris: There’s a “Dear Chris” column in my school’s paper, and, no offense, Chris gives terrible, useless and unusable advice. Can I fix this?

-Please help, Flustered

Chris: I think the first thing you should do for this writer, Chris, is to try to get in touch with him. This could be with an email, a letter or even confronting Chris in his column. I think if you pointed out his inadequacy in the form of a question, there would be absolutely no chance he could overlook or misinterpret your criticism, unless he is a completely incompetent fool.

Dear Chris: I am a senior in high school, and currently my choices for schools have been narrowed down to UR and RIT. I envision completing my undergrad at UR, but RIT seems to be just as enticing.

-Thank you, Unsure

Chris: This is a tricky scenario, so I actually had to do some research on this one. As it turns out, according to a few reports, attending RIT would significantly reduce your chances of graduating from UR. If you are really 50-50, you could always try flipping a coin. Heads you attend UR; tails you don’t attend RIT. Also, one thing that makes UR different from a lot of schools is its Rochester location, so you should take this into account when picking between the two schools.

Dear Chris: I found someone’s wallet full of money  and a driver’s license on the ground today, what should I do with it?

-Sincerely, Huckle Buckle Beanstalk

Chris: For one, don’t message them on Facebook or email them, that’ll be what they’re expecting. It’s too predictable. Right now, you have the upper hand, and you don’t want to lose it.

Horgan is a member of
the class of 2017.



Dear Chris: Common problems solved

The majority of the populations of both the U.S. and the U.K. evidently understand the need to move towards a renewable energy model for their countries. According to the DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker, 80% of British adults support the use of renewable energy as of the summer of 2025. The Pew Research Center has reported that 86% of American adults support expanding wind and solar power as of May 2025. Read More

Dear Chris: Common problems solved

Despite all of the surprising conversations about previously unknown connections between friends, the deep sense of community and connection I feel within URochester’s “just right” campus size really makes me feel at home. Read More

Dear Chris: Common problems solved

It’s no secret that reading for pleasure has been linked to a host of emotional and mental health benefits. With national readership plummeting across the past decade, a question arises: What role should campus libraries play in leisure reading? Read More