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The Nation’s Oldest Continuously Published College Weekly Friday, May 4, 2018 Volume 147, Number 24 bowdoinorient.com
Facilities workers
struggle to make
ends meet
Employees in grounds- and housekeeping
sometimes receive below living wages.
The College knows they struggle.
N WHY SHOULD WE CARE? F SWEET TEETH A SING THAT THING! S ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE O ATTENTION ADMISSIONS
International Week focuses on Wilbur’s of Maine satisfies cravings and Miscellania will appear on a televisied The men’s tennis seniors hope for success Adaiah Hudgins-Lopez ’18 implores Bowdoin to
conversation, not food. Page 3. supports the local economy. Page 6. competition this weekend. Page 9. in the post season. Page 11. recruit more African American students. Page 13.
2
2 Friday, May 4, 2018
PAGE 2
SECURITY REPORT 4/26 - 5/3 STUDENT SPEAK:
If you could Freaky Friday with any
Thursday, April 26 fined basement hallway near the elevator, activating a fire
• An unregistered event at Reed House was dispersed alarm. Chemical fire suppressant covered the area. Chem-
after two 911 hang-up calls from someone inside the build- ical particles filled the air until security officers were able
Friday, April 27
• Officers assisted an intoxicated student outside Farley
Field House and escorted the student and her friends to her
Gabrielle Maffezzoli ’20
• A student was spoken to about vaping inside the Mor-
rell Lounge concert. (Smoking of any kind is not permitted
residence hall.
• An officer provided first-aid to student at Farley who "Connie, because I would really like
inside campus buildings.)
• A student in Chamberlain Hall extinguished a candle
fell and scraped both knees.
• A student injured an elbow during the Ivies concert at to see how it feels to be so loved by
and set off a smoke alarm. (Use of candles is not permitted
inside campus buildings.)
Farley Field House. She reported that she was forced into
the steel barrier in front of the stage by some aggressive everyone on this campus."
• Students vaping inside of Maine Hall activated a members of the crowd.
smoke alarm.
• Two students who remained inside Hatch Library
after closing were discovered after they tripped a motion
Sunday, April 29
• An officer admonished a student who deliberately
Ely Spencer ’20
"Phil Camill because he’s chill as
alarm at 1:30 a.m. darted in front of a moving security vehicle on South Street.
• Cooking smoke activated a smoke alarm at Bruns- • Neighbors twice complained of being disturbed by
fuck."
wick apartment L. loud music coming from an outdoor event at Reed House.
• Wall damage was reported in a second floor hallway • A bicycle that was reported stolen from Reed House
at Helmreich House. was recovered at Stowe Hall.
• A local woman reported that a student referred to her • A gathering at Brunswick apartment R generated two
using a misogynistic slur. The incident is under investiga- excessive noise complaints.
tion.
• A student at the Ivies event on the Brunswick Quad
twisted an ankle and was escorted to the Mid Coast Walk-
Monday, April 30
• Excessive noise was reported coming from a small
Emma Adrain ’21
"Salar Mohandesi because I’d love
In Clinic. gathering at Harpswell Apartments.
• An officer checked on the condition of an intoxicated • A student took responsibility for vandalizing ceiling
FACILITIES
same as having two full incomes. It’s a broken down car will be the next finan- he took a two-dollar pay cut to an hour- With the jump from I to II comes an
scary thing to stop and think, ‘How do cial disaster. We are mindful of that,” ly wage of $10.50 to return to Bowdoin increase of about 50 cents in hourly pay,
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 you live on—pay a vehicle payment, in- said Spoerri. after having left originally to work at according to Spoerri. The next jump to
surance, rent?’” Spoerri mentioned that she had Walmart. Senior Housekeeper or Groundskeeper
definitely a struggle,” said Gabriel Grin- Sabrina Bouchard, a housekeeper referred employees to other forms of Bowdoin does offer good benefits, brings about a dollar more in pay.
dle, a groundskeeper who has worked at who has worked at Bowdoin for 11 charity, such as the United Way 211 compared to other low-wage employers. Nine respondents who have been at
Bowdoin for almost 15 years. “I also have years, said she used to work multiple service, an online directory of resourc- Employees have access to subsidized the College for over 10 years reported
a kid at home. That definitely doesn’t help jobs when her children lived at home. es available to people in need, filtered comprehensive healthcare plans, which that they struggle to make ends meet.
financially.” Now that they have moved out and she by location. United Way offers links to include dental and vision, life insurance, Three respondents reported that they
“We used to have to go to the food has fully paid her mortgage, she says she local food banks, resources for enrolling subsidized retirement accounts and might or might not struggle.
bank—more often than I care to have is able to comfortably support herself on in supplemental income or food assis- paid time off including short- and long- “My biggest problem here is that peo-
to admit because we just would have her Bowdoin salary. tance programs and finding emergency term disability. The College also grants ple who’ve been here for 20 years should
enough to pay rent or pay whatever be- “I don’t have to do those [extra] shelters, among other services. employees paid sick time and vacation not be struggling financially,” said Shawn
cause I had kids at home,” said a house- cleaning jobs anymore. I wasn’t doing it time. Gepfert, a manager in the groundskeep-
keeper who asked to remain anonymous. because I wanted to. I was doing it be-
A little better than Walmart “Benefits, I will definitely say, are a ing staff. “For guys who just start who
“I have a car that needs an inspection cause it was necessary,” she said. In an interview with the Orient, positive,” said Icangelo. “Even the dentist are 18, 23, 25 years old, 15 an hour is
sticker, but it’s going to cost $1,000 to get The 29 individuals who reported Spoerri and Senior Vice President for now is covered. That aspect of this is the pretty good. But a guy my age who is 40,
it inspected, and it was due last October. their current hourly wages on the Ori- Finance and Administration and Trea- best I’ve seen in any other job I’ve had.” 45, who’s been working here for 10 or 20
I’m driving around with a vehicle that’s ent’s survey had earnings ranging from surer Matt Orlando indicated that the Bowdoin employees are also guaran- years—he shouldn’t have to struggle.”
not inspected but I don’t have the mon- $12.03 per hour to $30.79 per hour. The College sets wages based on a calcu- teed a full 40-hour work week, some- Annual raises for all facilities workers
ey,” said a groundskeeper who asked to mean wage reported was $16.54 per lation of what employers nearby are thing not always available at other low- are on average 3 percent of their wage,
remain anonymous. hour. Fourteen employees, nearly half, paying. While Bowdoin’s hourly wage wage employers. according to Orlando. For a housekeep-
Last week, the Orient sent a survey to report making below $15 per hour. is comparable to that of similar employ- A raise for new workers but er making $13.09—the average wage
112 facilities employees and received 29 Within housekeeping and ers, the College hopes to attract workers reported by survey respondents who
responses. Twenty-two respondents said groundskeeping, the ranges and aver- with a significant benefits package. not veterans work in housekeeping—that equates to
that they struggle to make ends meet. ages were lower. In housekeeping, no “We look at, what does McDonald’s Low wages present challenges, but 39 cents annually.
Twelve survey respondents said that worker made over $15.42 per hour and hire? What does Amato’s hire at? What housekeepers and groundskeepers in- However, there is some wiggle room.
they work another job to supplement eight reported making less than $13 is Walmart hiring at? Et cetera,” said terviewed unanimously revealed their Direct managers have discretion about
their Bowdoin income. Six said they do per hour. The average wage was $13.09. Spoerri. “The fact is that many of those current frustration with the fact that their workers’ annual raises. Depending
so sometimes. Within groundskeeping, the highest employees don’t have any benefits. We some 10-year employees are paid just 50 on performance, workers can receive
Karen Doyle usually works at least 40 income reported was $22.42, while the offer paid time off, sick time, vacation cents more than many new employees. anywhere from no raise at all to four
hours a week as a housekeeper at Bow- six other respondents reported making time, disability.” Five respondents to the survey who percent a year.
doin. On some days she leaves work at under $16.83 and hour. In making such a comparison its have worked at Bowdoin for over eight For Gepfert, it’s frustrating that he
the end of her daily shift at 1:30 p.m. and practice, Bowdoin has tied wages and years report earning less than $15 an can’t reward his crew with better com-
drives to a house she cleans for a private Band-aid solutions benefits for its workers to employers like hour. Two workers who have been at pensation. There just isn’t any money
client. For her, this is physically exhaust- Earlier this spring, Tama Spoerri, vice Walmart, which has made headlines for Bowdoin for almost 10 years report still available for him to allocate. “It doesn’t
ing and leaves her with little time to see president of Human Resources (HR), having record numbers of workers who earning an hourly wage between $12 matter what I give them for a review, the
her partner, a meat cutting associate at put the cost of a Central Maine Power use SNAP benefits and is notorious for and $13. In order to accommodate the raise is essentially the same. Three per-
Hannaford. He left his job in Bowdoin reconnection bill for a Dining Service paying non-livable wages. Many studies rising minimum wage in Maine, at the cent. When you’re three percent of 15 an
housekeeping a few years ago because employee on her Bowdoin credit card. have documented Walmart’s ability to beginning of this year Bowdoin raised hour, it’s not a whole lot of money,” he
the pay at Hannaford was better, and The money came out of either the Paller substantially influence wages in local its minimum starting wage to $12 per said. “I couldn’t give someone a good re-
he found the benefits to be comparable. Fund or the Bowdoin Staff Assistance economies. hour, meaning all new hires earn less view and say they get four percent, and
When Doyle’s children lived at home, Fund, endowments which are specifi- Multiple living wage reports suggest than one dollar less than these 9-year someone else gets two, but we’re talking
just a few years ago, her work meant she cally designed to cover expenses for em- that many workers at Bowdoin may not veterans. pennies.”
frequently wasn’t able to see or care for ployees in times of hardship. In this case, meet a living wage, depending on their “I don’t think that somebody that’s Many workers, it appears, were giv-
them. the Dining employee had reached finan- household arrangements. been working here for 10 or 11 years en a two percent raise or less last year.
For many in housekeeping and cial dead end, Spoerri said. She had had A 2010 Maine Department of Labor re- should be at the same pay rate as some- Survey data suggests at least ten. Three
groundskeeping, the ability to meet a large medical bill, her car broke down port said the hourly living wage for a single one that’s just starting here. That just workers said they received no raise at all.
expenses depends on having anoth- and she received a disconnect notice af- parent of one in Cumberland County was doesn’t seem fair,” said Bouchard. According to Orlando, the money
er income-earning individual in the ter she wasn’t able to pay her power bill. $19.81. The wage for someone in house- The lack of disparity comes from the for larger increases just isn’t available.
household and providing for dependent After six months of work at the Col- hold with two earners and two children fact that, when the College raised wag- He says finding it conflicted with other
children. Interviewees with children lege, each employee is able to request was $14.30 per hour—nearly half of re- es for new hires, it didn’t push veteran budgetary concerns, like providing fi-
were more likely to say that they strug- support from these funds, provided they spondents reported earning less than that. workers up accordingly. nancial aid and providing good benefits
gled financially. Some reported their document need. Multiple workers in- A 2017 study conducted by research- “It’s called compression,” said Spoer- to all employees.
situations changing once their children terviewed mentioned using the funds at ers at MIT says that the Maine living ri. “We used to have a dollar difference “We do the best we possibly can to
moved out. Many interviewees who some point during their time at Bowdo- wage for a single parent of one is $24.21 or 50 cents, but the fact is, now with this advocate for our employees,” said Spo-
have a working spouse said that they in. For some, the emergency assistance and the wage for someone in a house- moving up so quickly, that compression erri. “We advocate every year. We did
only make ends meet due to the higher was a crucial lifeline pulling them back hold with two earners and two children is going to be the case.” not have to go to 12 an hour. We could
wages of their partner. from the brink of financial freefall, and is $15.82. There is a ladder of positions in each still be at 11 dollars. We go to Clayton,
One housekeeper, who requested an- they were grateful that the College could Bowdoin’s decision to supplement facilities job. In housekeeping, new em- but the thing is, is how much does it cost
onymity because she did not want to be support them. low wages with a strong benefits pack- ployees are often hired as a Housekeeper us? Because it’s more in benefits, because
identified by co-workers or management, At the same time, the existence of age appears to be working for the Col- I, but with experience and time, can it’s more in paid time off, in disability, in
said that she was in the beginning stages these funds reflects the College’s aware- lege. Housekeepers and groundskeepers become a Housekeeper II or a Senior retirement. Retirement is based on how
of a divorce and expressed concern about ness of its employees’ financial insecu- uniformly reported staying for the ben- Housekeeper. Groundskeeping has the much you earn. Every time you contin-
financial stability once she is unable to rity, and that it has adopted a system of efits. Some also talked about enjoying same position rankings. ue to do that, there’s this exponential
rely on the wages of her spouse. charity rather than a living wage to deal the work environment and the ability be However, many in housekeeping and cost associated with it.”
“How in the world am I going to be with the problem. around students. groundskeeping feel that the ladders Housekeepers also expressed anger
able to live on $12.50 an hour?” she said. “We get it—how hard it is to live pay- One housekeeper interviewed said aren’t successfully increasing compensa- that certain student employees make
“Obviously he can help, but it’s not the check to paycheck and to not know—a that because he appreciates the students, tion and fully rewarding commitment. the same as them or their colleagues.
Friday, May 4, 2018 NEWS 5
In general, student wages are set below curity officer told the Orient. Do you struggle to make ends meet?
those of full-time employees. This year, After inquiry by the Orient into this 10
guidelines for students’ wages range practice, Orlando confirmed that the
from $10 to $11.75 per hour. However, former housekeeping director routinely 9
some positions may pay more. Students accessed the Security communications 9
who work as interviewers in admissions center in Rhodes Hall with the help of a
receive $12.50 an hour. Security officer. 8
”That’s not fair,” said Bouchard. “It According to Orlando, neither he nor
makes you feel underappreciated. Espe- other administrators knew about this
cially when you’ve been here long.” practice until the Orient’s inquiry, but 7
Number of Respondents
both individuals involved have since left
Work not respected the College. 6
At Bowdoin, housekeepers are respon- “Basically the activity stopped with
sible for cleaning up vomit. It’s one of the [the officer] who was basically a bad egg
5
ways in which housekeeping is an intrin- in the Security office,” Orlando said. “It’s
sically difficult job. The repetitive motions deeply troubling that this this took place 4
of mopping and scrubbing and dusting all at all.” 4
take a toll on the body, too. Housekeep- One housekeeper, who was tasked
3
ers frequently report injuries—10 of 12 with cleaning Rhodes Hall at the time 3
housekeepers who answered the survey and who asked to remain anonymous,
question said they had been injured from said she witnessed this practice first- 2
working at Bowdoin, reporting strained hand. 2
muscles, chronic tendonitis and pinched “Say I was in the Security office, vac-
1 1
nerves among other injuries. uuming or pulling trash or something. 1
In interviews, many housekeepers Our boss at the time would come in and
felt that their hard work and physical ask me to leave so that she could watch 0 0 0 0
0
sacrifices are not only not respected by the security cameras. She didn’t tell me
Definitely yes Probably yes Might or might not Probably not Definitely not
the College with monetary compensa- that, but the security officers, when I’d
tion, but that sometimes they are denied go back in and finish, did: ‘Well she
Groundskeeper Housekeeper
basic decency from their managers or comes in and wants us to pull up camer-
HANNAH DONOVAN, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
HR. They report being reprimanded as from different areas so she can check
and feeling unheard or undervalued. up on you guys.’” sors. But given the overall… Seriously?” hierarchy of employees, housekeeping is grams—for infants, young toddlers, old-
Sometimes, it’s the small things, like While regular surveillance doesn’t “Human Resources, whether it’s at squarely at the bottom. Other staff make er toddlers and preschoolers. It is open
when housekeeping staff were not alerted continue, the practice of monitoring Bowdoin College or at Bank of Ameri- that clear to them. to all employees and strives to integrate
about a snow day until they had already employees via camera may still occur, ca, is here to protect the company,” said “It’s the—no-offense—professors, the itself into the community, according to
arrived to work at 5 a.m., even though occasionally, in the cases of employee George Hale, a groundskeeper who has other adults who work here, they some- its mission statement.
students were notified the night before— investigation. worked at Bowdoin for almost 23 years. times treat us as if we are that bottom However, not one support staff em-
Spoerri says she hears from housekeepers “If we are asked to do an investiga- “I know on the students’ end, this college totem pole type of thing,” said Icangelo. ployee has sent a child to the Center in
regularly about this. But for many, these tion, we do, generally,” said the officer is a non-profit ... common good. But in a This surely isn’t an attitude held or the past six years, according to Martha
feelings stem from specific incidents, who spoke with the Orient. facilities, dining service angle, it’s a com- expressed by all employees at Bowdoin, Eshoo, director of the center. The Center
often a few years back, under a manager The possibility of being watched pany. We work for a company. And HR but it is reflected institutionally in the does not seem to be designed with all
who was later forced to retire. Since then, sends a message to housekeepers that is here to protect that company.” benefits workers receive. As a percentage Bowdoin employees in mind. The main
under a new manager of the housekeep- they are not trusted to perform their This is a feeling shared by many em- of their income, lower wage workers pay factors preventing the children of support
ing staff, employees have reported fewer jobs independently. In addition to not ployees. They can talk to HR and their more for health insurance at Bowdoin staff workers at Bowdoin from enjoying
complaints. feeling trusted, housekeepers report not managers but in the end, the higher ups than do higher earners. With the wages the Center are its hours and tuition cost.
For example, around five years ago, a feeling heard, especially by HR. are not here for them. they make and on top of other expenses, Most workers in housekeeping are re-
housekeeper working in the basement Multiple employees reported having One result of this is that many feel this can be a significant burden. quired to arrive at work at 5 a.m., while
of Coles Tower passed out. Her partner to beg for promotions from HR. Under and know that they are replaceable. A For the same middle-priced health workers in groundskeeping are required
thought she was having a heart attack the old manager, who many housekeep- few report having been told this directly. care plan, an employee with a family to arrive at work at 7 a.m. However, the
and called 911 immediately. However, ers found to be harsh and punitive, it “Just being here for 17 and a half years, who makes the average housekeeper Center does not open until 7:45 a.m.
instead of concern for her colleague’s took a chorus of voices complaining to I’ve seen so many people come and go. I wage will spends 12.3 percent of their There’s little flexibility in this, says Eshoo.
wellbeing, she was sent to HR and repri- HR before their concerns were taken know how replaceable we are. It’s sad to income on health care, whereas an indi- Enrollment at the Center costs be-
manded her for breaking College policy seriously. say,” said Jane Davis, a housekeeper who vidual making the average faculty salary tween $1,000 and $1,160 per month,
by calling 911 before Security. In the Housekeeper Sonya Morrell was one currently works in West Hall. would spend 2.4 percent of their income depending on the child’s age. HR has
future, she was supposed to wait for Se- of the employees who spoke up about on healthcare. a program that gives a limited number
curity to assess before calling 911. the manager early on. “In the beginning Unequal benefits Vacation time and other paid time-off of employees a 25 percent discount on
“I don’t know why it matters because it was, ‘Here come the troublemakers,’ Facilities staff say that they love Bow- policies are another area in which lower tuition, but even at $750 per month, the
the phones on campus, if you call 911, but then more people started speaking doin students. The students are one of wage workers receive worse benefits. cost of care would be 33 percent of the
Security gets alerted,” she said. up. You can’t keep saying, ‘Oh it’s this the reasons why they work here—they Administrative staff, which ranges average reported housekeeper monthly
Multiple interviewees also expressed group and their trouble.’” enjoy being around and serving so from deans to administrative assistants, wage, assuming no overtime and a 40-
concern that they are watched on cam- When asked about workers not many talented and kind individuals. are granted 20 days per year of paid va- hour work week.
era by Security at the request of their feeling heard, Spoerri dismissed their Several housekeepers said that students cation time, while support-staff members Without this benefit, Bowdoin em-
bosses. complaints as those of a few disgruntled are their biggest supporters on campus. receive 10 days in their first year of em- ployees are forced to be creative about
“There have been occasions where employees. They say “Hi,” and sometimes develop ployment, 15 days in years two through finding care for their young children.
a department head or director gets in- “I could probably list off who they are,” relationships, since many spend much seven and 20 days after eight years of When Children’s Center told Hale
formation that an employee isn’t doing she said. “People lose perspective. They get of their time cleaning first-year dorms. employment. Faculty have no defined that they would not be able to accom-
what they’re supposed be doing and here and get a little entitled and whatever. Some even keep in touch after gradu- vacation, though they are afforded paid modate his hours years ago, he found a
they would reach out to us to investigate. I get that we’re not an perfect employer. ation. However, interviewees say that time off for family leave. different solution.
While that doesn’t happen often, it’s not I don’t have perfect managers out there. they don’t receive the same respect from In addition, rules for short-term “You know who stepped up? The
something that doesn’t happen,” one Se- God knows I don’t have perfect supervi- faculty and other College staff. On the disability insurance, which covers 70 Bowdoin hockey team. They lived at
percent of employees’ wages in the event Brunswick apartments. I said guys, just
Groundskeepers and Housekeepers Hourly Pay Rates of temporary impairments, are severely chill out with him. Those guys, all seven
unequal. When applying for short-term of them. They figured out a system and a
9 disability, staff members are subject schedule,” he said.
to a 14-day waiting period that faculty Others pay for childcare elsewhere.
8 members do not encounter. As such, an “It was another mortgage payment.
8
impaired worker has to use vacation and You make concessions on other things
sick time to receive an income during in your life while your kids are at day-
7 those two weeks. care,” said Gepfert.
Multiple housekeepers said that they
6
feel discouraged from actually using If you took them away...
Number of Respondents
their paid time off. Using all of the sick After last weekend’s Ivies festivities,
days can be seen as an indication that the campus was littered in trash from stu-
5 the employee is lazy or not taking the dents’ partying—the Brunswick Apart-
job seriously. ments Quad, Reed House’s backyard, the
“Sick days seem adequate, [but] its lawns next to MacMillan, Quinby and
4 being penalized for how many you use Ladd Houses and the common areas of
that’s the problem,” said one housekeep- dorms. But by Monday afternoon, these
2
3 er who asked to remain anonymous. grounds were returned to their normal
“We encourage employees to keep state of cleanliness. Housekeeping and
2 2 a bank of sick time and vacation time,” groundskeeping make Bowdoin run, and
2 said Spoerri. “If you’ve been here 5, 6, 10 the College knows this.
years, you shouldn’t be at a low vacation While Ivies, reunion and graduation
1 1 1 1 1 or sick time balance.” are especially important weekends, sup-
1
Another crucial differential between port staff works year-round.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 resources available to support staff and “In some aspects it seems like a menial
0 faculty and administrative staff is child- job. We’re not making policies for the
$12 to $13 $13 to $14 $14 to $15 $15 to $16 $16 to $17 $17 to $18 $18 to $19 $19 to $20 $20 or more care. The Bowdoin Children’s Center is a College. We’re not teaching,” said Mor-
world-class daycare and preschool locat- rell. “But if you took us away, and got rid
Groundskeeper Housekeeper ed behind Thorne Hall on South Street. of the housekeeping staff in general, this
HANNAH DONOVAN, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT The Center has four separate pro- college wouldn’t be what it is.”
F
6
FEATURES
Friday, May 4, 2018
by Surya Milner
Orient Staff
ABOUT TOWN
on individuals and relationships. schools and workplaces have be- I was a sensitive person of color, Whereas restorative approaches shamed the offenders to no avail
BURGLARY, PRISON, By shifting the conversation from gun to implement such practices. she an ignorant and unconcerned aim to examine and rectify rifts, and provided a false sense of jus-
AND PEDRO O’HARA’S: retribution to reclamation, this Fortunately, Bowdoin appears white person. We laughed at our the College’s punitive measures tice for the hurt.
REVISITING THE INFAMOUS practice lies in radical contrast to ready to hop on-board. own short-sightedness, as well as served merely to exacerbate. I remain optimistic about the
BIAS INCIDENTS the dehumanization that charac- Last September, Dean of Stu- that of the campus at-large. After Frankly, the tenets upon which College’s burgeoning attention to
terizes traditional corrective tac- dent Affairs Tim Foster sent a further discussion, we realized restorative justice was found- restorative philosophies. My love
The summer before to my tics. Within this particular prison, campus-wide email announcing that we were both fully-versed ed—restitution, encouragement for this place, in conjunction with
freshman year, a burglar ran- restorative efforts manifested the Office of Residential Life’s cu- in the principles of restorative and the pursuit of mutual un- my personal encounter with restor-
sacked my house while I was in the mentorship of inmates, ration of a set of restorative tools justice. It quickly became clear derstanding—were wholly ab- ative justice, fuels this charge. I urge
home alone. It was a lazy morn- followed by facilitated victim-of- to be employed as a means of that our conversation—and the sent from the administration’s the College to closely examine its
ing. I was reading in bed when I fender dialogues. conflict resolution. According to relationship it built—was itself response. In addition, contrary responses in relation to the tenets
heard the first knock. I continued I was assigned to mentor a Foster, these tools include “con- a function of restorative justice. to the administration’s past ac- that underlie restorative principles.
reading without pause, noting group of five juvenile inmates. flicting coaching, facilitated dia- This encounter brought far more tions, restorative practices do not Our approach to conflict resolution
that my mother—the only other As fate would have it, one of the logue and mediation.” So far, so healing than any official sanction, place the burden of restoration is in dire need of a reconfiguration,
resident of our home—was not inmates is currently serving time good. Foster then notes that the probation or College-sponsored into the hands of the affected. and I am confident that what re-
due home until lunchtime. The for two charges: home burglary administration currently applies venting session. The administration’s past mea- storative justice did for me, it can do
second knock resounded with a and the assault of the female restorative principles in response This conversation was a bless- sures were critiqued for many for our community.
greater sense of urgency, but as resident. This latter charge is the to multiple situations—including ing and the conclusions I eventu- of the same reasons that many Adira Polite is a member of the
a Memphis resident I’d always potential alternate ending—the bias incidents. This claim is wor- ally drew from it, even moreso. punitive systems are: their ef- class of 2018.
harbored a distrust of unexpected “what if ” —that I had envisioned risome, given the reality of the First, it is most evident that the forts polarized the
visitors. countless times over the years. administration’s response to the administration’s past responses community,
The third and final knock Consequently, when this inmate controversies of the 2015-2016 to bias incidents are far from
was followed by silence. Without first recounted his crime, I im- school year. restorative.
warning, the quiet was pierced mediately brimmed with con- I recently discussed these mis-
by the shrill activation of our tempt. Fortunately, an inverse guided responses with a student
security alarm. In those initial relationship developed between who was implicated in one
moments, I was thrust into an my hidden ire and the progres- of the more infamous bias
immobilizing terror. Fear began sion of the course, leading me to incidents of that year. Un-
coiling itself around my neck as eventually divulge my own expe- der the tangerine glow of
the seconds rolled past. At some rience as a victim. Senior Night bar lights,
point, instinct pulled my stupe- Over the weeks, I watched we dove into a full-
fied body out of bed and into as he realized that his loot likely blown, mostly-coher-
my closet. From inside, I listened consisted not only of his victim’s ent analysis. We’d
as a faceless stranger hurriedly cash and electronics, but also never spoken be-
transformed my safe haven into a of her peace, rest and trust. I sat fore that night, yet
crime scene. The intruder swiped with him as he gradually began to we both believed
peace from my bedside table and sympathize with his victim for the we knew exactly
removed rest and trust from my first time. I listened as he made who the other
jewelry boxes. By Grace, I was not connections between his crimes was. Within
discovered. The intruder fled, but and his childhood traumas. As the collective
the loss of these three elements this man’s heart softened towards memory of
kept me in figurative hiding. his victim, family and communi- what hap-
When the police arrived, I exited ty, a love towards both him and pened that
my closet—but I remained in hid- my own burglar arose as well. year,
ing for years. Bitterness and malice gradually
My source of healing came as vacated my heart, making
a shock. The summer after my room for the return of EN
IBS
junior year, I found myself facili- peace, rest and trust. Re- NY
JEN
tating a restorative justice course storative justice’s ability
within South Africa’s notorious to overflow and fortu-
Drakenstein Correctional Cen- itously bring healing
tre. In essence, restorative justice to a mere bystander is
is a community-based approach a testament to its po-
to conflict resolution. Rather tency. Restorative jus-
than treating crime as an offense tice continually proves
against an institution, restorative an effective means of
justice responds not to the offense conflict resolution; as
itself, but to the offense’s impact a result, many prisons,
A
9
SEE IT YOURSELF
Attend the Spring Dance Con-
cert in Pickard Theater Friday
and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
SPORTS
Friday, May 4, 2018
HIGHLIGHT
REEL
End of an era:
men’s tennis
THROWING IT DOWN:
The men’s and women’s
track and field teams
raced to fourth and
seniors aim
sixth, respectively, in the
NESCAC Championship
on Saturday at Trinity.
for memorable
John Pietro ’18 had a
spectacular performance,
winning both the shot
swan song
put and hammer throw.
On Tuesday, Pietro was
awarded the NESCAC’s
Sabasteanski Award as
the Most Outstanding
Male Performer in the
conference. It is the first
time a Bowdoin athlete
has won this award.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Kyle Wolfe ’18, Gil Roddy ’18, Luke Tercek ’18
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
his senior captains. The three of because we were smaller,” Wolfe cent genuine. When we’re out Not only did the seniors GONE WITH THE WIND:
by Kathryn McGinnis them were shoved into a leader- said. “Then we worried that this on the court and in the middle connect to their teammates, but
Orient Staff The sailing team came
ship role last year as there were year the team would be too big of a match, [we can hear] the Wolfe’s college experience was in tenth overall in the
The men’s tennis team is no seniors on last year’s team. and that it would go against ev- benched guys, and it feels like also largely shaped by the tennis New England Dinghy
heading into the NESCAC “These guys were a magnet erything we thought we were.” it’s just the 14 of us against the fans he met and connected with Championships for the
Championship on the heels of from the very beginning. When The senior captains took great world. I think that’s the coolest on campus. Coast Guard Alumni
the team’s most successful sea- they got older, they brought care to address the changing dy- feeling for me.” “Todd Hermann works in Ca-
Bowl at Brown University
son in program history. To cap everyone else in,” said Smith. namics of the team and success- The team’s three captains have reer Planning,” said Wolfe. “He’s
this past weekend, put-
off the team’s success, all three “Juniors and seniors could blow fully integrated new players into different personalities and areas a huge tennis guy [and] comes
ting them just outside of
seniors captains are graduating off the younger guys, but I think the team culture. of focus. Roddy, an older sibling to all of our matches. We’re very
contention for the ICSA
with their names on the Bowdo- [the seniors] want them to have “It’s been really awesome himself, migrated toward work- close to him. Dante, who works
National Championship.
in men’s tennis record books for even more success than they did. having a bunch of extra guys ing with underclassmen, while in the pub, is also a huge tennis
After the champion-
achievements in both doubles That’s a large part of what’s made in practice that are able to push Wolfe was vocal in team huddles. fan, and Dave, who works at
ships, Matt Kaplan ’19
and singles play. them so strong. [Their] experi- [us] and make us get better ev- Tercek was a positive example Thorne. A lot of people who have
All three—Kyle Wolfe ’18, ence absolutely helps, but they’d ery single day,” said Tercek. “On of consistent determination and made my Bowdoin experience
was named to the All
Luke Tercek ’18 and Gil Roddy probably sit here and tell you that match day, a lot of them are effort. Together, the three seniors special have been through the
NEISA Skippers Second
’18—hold Bowdoin records for a huge reason for their success awesome supporters of people brought confidence and enthusi- tennis team, and it’s been cool to
Team.
doubles wins, with Wolfe taking in leadership or as a team is as playing in the match. It’s great asm to match days. share our success with them.”
both the No. 1 and No. 5 spot much because [of] the younger for them to bring that energy “[On] match day, the three For Smith, the seniors’ impact
with different partners. Roddy guys.” and extra fire.” of them are unflappable,” said on the team for the past four
and Wolfe hold additional re- In the seniors’ first year sea- Roddy said he will miss the Smith. “I’ve seen them in so years is unrivaled.
cords for singles wins, coming in son, the team prided itself on be- camaraderie between starting many tough, pressure-filled cir- “I can close my eyes and
No. 3 and No. 9 respectively. ing smaller than other NESCAC and benched players—the large cumstances, and they all had this know what 50 percent of our HEADING FOR HOME:
The team, which is ranked competitors. This year, it added team was a motivation for him to belief [in the team], and they love singles line up has looked like The baseball team
third in the nation, finished the five additional players to its ros- play harder. to compete. That’s the common for the past four years,” he said. swept the Colby series
regular season with a 17-1, 8-1 ter, increasing to 14 overall. “A lot of NESCAC teams have denominator between them and “These are three guys I have this weekend, improv-
NESCAC record. Head Coach “We had a little bit of a chip bigger squads and will gener- [what has] allowed them to be so been able to trust for four years. ing its record to 14-17
Conor Smith attributed the sea- on our shoulders, feeling like ate a lot of noise,” said Roddy, successful. They just love to com- Not just on match day, but out- (NESCAC 7-5). The
son’s success to the strength of we were closer than other teams “But with our guys it’s 100 per- pete, and it’s all in different ways.” side [of it] as well.” team finished third in
NESCAC East, and
Women’s lacrosse heads to semis margin, topping the Cardinals four straight goals within nine “That is an example of how first time we played them, we of the top offenses in the NES-
by Ella Chaffin 13-11. minutes during the second half resilient we can be,” Logan have changed since then. We CAC. The Polar Bears, mean-
Orient Staff
“Going through the season of the Wesleyan game, making said. “We knew going [in that like to think we are a different while, are focused on having
After beating Wesleyan (10- we talk a lot about building her the top scorer for the Polar it] would be a tough game and team now than we were then. fun and working as a team.
6, NESCAC 6-4) in a close 11- resilience,” Logan said. “In the Bears. Brown noted that in- that they would be a real chal- We have learned from our mis- “We talk a lot about playing
10 game at home on Saturday, past it would either be win by dividual players have stepped lenge. We saw that in the game takes over the season. I think together and playing for each
the women’s lacrosse team (12- a lot or lose by a lot, and now up during different games we played against them on our this will be a great test for us to other,” Logan said. “If we do
4, NESCAC 6-4) advanced to we have worked up to where throughout the season. senior day. The game last week- show how we have improved.” that and we are having fun,
the semifinals for the first time we can win in close games and “We have had different play- end was another example of Since the last battle against then that’s when we will have
since 2015. The Polar Bears will that’s really important.” ers step up at different times,” how we can fight back and keep Amherst, the team has grown successes. Our goals for the
battle No. 2 Amherst (15-1, Although the game was tight, Brown said. “The first time the lead.” closer and worked on its skills. rest of the season are to have
NESCAC 9-1), to whom they the Polar Bears were ahead of we played Wesleyan, [Hannah The team will play Amherst “I think we had less experi- fun, play for each other and
lost 16-10 during the regular the Cardinals throughout the Hirschfeld ’18] stepped up, and for the second time this sea- ence,” Brown said. “That was do as well as we can out there
season, tomorrow. game, which was a point of ac- this last game Denious scored son at Middlebury, and Logan our second game of the season. and hopefully that will result in
According to captain Al- complishment for them. four goals in a row. Individuals believes that her team has We weren’t used to playing wins all around.”
exandra Logan ’18, the win “We were up the entire time,” have been stepping up when changed greatly from its loss together. Now we have more The fourth-seeded Polar
against Wesleyan proved that Paige Brown ’19 said. “Wesley- they need to. It hasn’t been just earlier in the season. practice with our defense and Bears will take on the Mam-
the Polar Bears can hold their an battled back a few times, but one person.” “It’s going to be a challenge, the attack, and everything just moths on Saturday at 3 p.m. If
own in close-scoring games. we held on to the lead which is The players attributed their but I know everyone is really works a little bit better now.” the team advances, it will play
When the teams met last, huge for us.” resilience as a key factor in their fired up about playing them The team is hungry for a win in the NESCAC Championship
Bowdoin also won by a small Eliza Denious ’21 scored victory over Wesleyan. again,” Logan said. “From the against Amherst, who has one game Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Friday, May 4, 2018 OPINION 15
FRIDAY 4
EVENTS
Blind Field Shuttle Walk
Carmen Papalia, an internationally acclaimed social practice
artist, will lead participants on a non-visual guided explora-
tion which will address the topic of access in public space, the
art institution and visual culture by having participants close
their eyes during the course of the walk.
Museum of Art Pavillion. 1 p.m
LECTURE
Beyond the Border: A Discussion with
Professor Bradley Babson on North
Korea and Life Above the DMZ
Bradley Babson, distinguish lecturer in government, will
discuss his personal travels to North Korea, misconceptions
about the region and the dynamics of change within the
demilitarized zone (DMZ). ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
Room 20, Druckenmiller Hall. 6 p.m. HOT TAKES: Amanda Redlich, assistant professor of mathematics, teaches her Probability class on the museum steps on Wednesday in an effort
to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather. Throughout the week students partook in sunbathing, frisbee games and studying on the quad.
SUNDAY 6
“space age” of the 1960s. This event is in conjunction with the Room 107, Kanbar Hall. 10 a.m.
exhibition “Richard Pousette-Dart: Painting/Light/Space.”
Museum of Art. 12 p.m. EVENT
FILM Bowdoin and the Common Good: a
Ursus Verses Spring Final Concert PERFORMANCE Spring Symposium
Ursus Verses, one of six a cappella groups, will perform its Jazz Night Students will show their community involvement through
final concert of the semester. Various jazz ensembles coached by Titus Abbott will perform. service, courses and research this semester.
The Chapel. 6 p.m. Kanbar Auditorium, Studzinksi Recital Hall. 7:30 p.m. David Saul Smith Union. 3 p.m.
Advanced Fiction
Student Readings “Lost on the Way” Dogs in the Library Beethoven Sonatas