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The Nation’s Oldest Continuously Published College Weekly Friday, October 4, 2019 Volume 149, Number 5 bowdoinorient.com

Faculty seek shared governance, form AAUP chapter

by Eliana Miller
Orient Staff
This fall, 60 years after
Bowdoin’s first American As-
sociation of University Profes-
sors (AAUP) chapter meeting,
a group of faculty members
founded a new chapter in the
hope of promoting academic
freedom and shared gover-
nance at the College.
This is the third time Bow-
doin faculty have established
a chapter of the nonprofit,
dedicated to supporting those
engaged in teaching and re-
search in higher education.
Faculty members formed
the College’s first chapter in
1949, lobbying the admin-
istration to improve faculty
retirement plans, insurance
plans and salaries. By 1986,
however, very few faculty
were paying their national
dues, and paying the $1 local
dues to cover the cost of beer
for meetings was not enough
to keep the chapter active. It
was re-established in 1991 but
disbanded four years later.
There are two branches of
the AAUP: the AAUP-CBC,
a labor union for faculty,
and the AAUP Foundation,
a public charity that awards
grants to projects supporting
academic freedom and higher
education quality. Bowdoin’s
latest AAUP chapter is a part
of the latter branch.
Feeling a need to collec-
tively voice their concerns
about both the direction of
the College and the direction
of higher education nation-
wide, some faculty members
decided to form this iteration
of the national organization.
“This is proactive, not reac-
tive,” said David Hecht, an asso-
ciate professor of history and a
founding member of the chap-
ter. “It is driven by a sense that
we do by and large have it pretty
good here, but there are still
things that could be improved.”
Please see FACULTY, page 4

NPR producer
Alarcón honors
voices across
Latin America
by Eliana Miller
Orient Staff
On Monday night, Kresge
Auditorium was filled with
voices from across the globe.
Carla from Cuba. Jesse from
Mexico. Hernando from Co-
lombia. Audience members
quickly realized that Daniel
Alarcón’s talk, titled “How to
Listen: Telling Latin American
Stories in Sound and Print,”
was actually a multimedia
performance, a series of per-
formed podcasts. Alarcón nar-
rated stories in English, mix-
ing in audio and video clips of
Latinos sharing their stories in
Spanish with English subtitles
on the screen.
“I love doing these kinds of
performances because it allows
me to break the language bar-
rier,” Alarcón said in an inter-
view with the Orient. “I want
people to hear the complexities
of stories from Latin America
and celebrate those stories.”
Alarcón is the executive pro-
ducer of Radio Ambulante, a
Spanish-language podcast dis-
tributed by National Public Radio.
He also teaches at the Columbia
University School of Journalism
and has published multiple nov-
els, including “At Night We Walk
CAROLINE FLAHARTY, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
in Circles,” which was a finalist for
the 2014 PEN/Faulkner Award. ON THE AIR: Ben Simonds ’21, a member of WBOR management, trains new DJ Elisha Osemobor ’22 on how to use equipment in the station’s studio.
He views his journalistic work as
an opportunity to share stories
internationally.

Please see ALARCÓN, page 3

Panelists address climate change in Maine
by Lucie Nolden
Orient Staff
This Thursday the Bruns-
wick chapter of the Citizens’
Climate Lobby (CCL) host-
ed a panel entitled “Solving
the Climate Crisis” at Curtis
Memorial Library. The dis-
cussion focused on the ways
Maine residents—farmers,
fishermen and coastal home-
owners alike—will be affected
by climate change and the
details of the CCL’s proposed
policy solution.
CCL is a lobbying nonprof-
it group that sends advocates
to Washington, D.C., every
year to speak to members of
Congress about its bill.
According to panelist Mi-
chael Jones, associate profes-
sor of economics emeritus
of the college, the CCL’s goal
is to incentivize people and
companies to make decisions
that reduce their carbon emis-
sions, rather than waiting for
individuals to change their
own behavior. As such, the
organization’s preferred bill
places a fee on each ton of
carbon dioxide emitted. The
revenue from the tax will be
reallocated evenly among
American citizens, making it
a progressive tax rather than a
regressive one.
“Yes, there will be a cost,
but the cost we will incur will
be as small as possible,” Jones
said. He noted that the carbon
tax should only be an initial
step, among a host of policy
changes necessary to mitigate
climate change.
Kathyrn Olson, who is
completing a dissertation at
Boston College which focuses
on the ways Maine farmers,
fishermen and foresters have
been affected by a changing
climate, was also a panelist.
Olson’s interviews with 15
workers from each industry
reveal an increasing aware-
ness of the damaging effects
of climate change.
In Maine, this manifests it-
self in milder winters, worsen-
ing and more frequent storms
Please see CLIMATE, page 3

First BSG meeting addresses persistent WiFi problems,

mental health and access for first-generation students
by Rebecca Norden-Bright
Staff Writer
The Bowdoin Student Gov-
ernment (BSG) held its first
AADHYA RAMINENI, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT meeting of the year this Wednes-
HOW TO LISTEN: Award-winning journalist and novelist Daniel Alarcón day, October 2, and discussed a
lectures in Kresge Auditorium. His talk focused on broadcasting authentic host of new initiatives, including
Latin American voices, complete with nuance and complexity. providing more services to stu-
dents from low-income back-
grounds and creating an ad hoc
committee to handle complaints
about WiFi problems.
The assembly also addressed
student concerns about its own
effectiveness. BSG President
Ural Mishra ’20 emphasized
that “the executive committee
has come in this year with a real
focus on trying to get things
done and being super involved
in campus, trying to reach out
to as many groups as possible.”
Ryan Britt ’22, who was re-
cently elected Chair of Student
Affairs following the resignation
of Anibal Husted ’22 at the end
of last semester, is now serving
as Interim Chair until he is of-
ficially confirmed by the assem-
bly, which is likely to take place
within the next few weeks.
Britt ran on a platform that
promised to expand mental
Please see MEETING, page 3

Twelve Bowdoin housekeepers speak about their experiences working at the College. SEE PAGE 12

N COLLEGE CRIMES F TAKING OFF A ‘THE BUS’ IS HERE S INTO THE VAULT O BARELY PASSING
Annual crime report shows fewer crimes— EOS professor works with oceanographic Student band approaches the new year Digging into the archives for the history of Does the pass/fail system encourage an
except in liquor violations. Page 4. NASA satellite team. Page 5. with flexibility and dynamism. Page 7. fraternity sports at Bowdoin. Page 9. obsession over grades? Page 14.
2 Friday, October 4, 2019
2 PAGE TWO
SECURITY REPORT
9/27 to 10/3
Friday, September 27
• A parent called for a student wellness
check; the student was located in good
health.
• A noise complaint resulted in two stu-
dents being cited for alcohol violations
outside Park Row Apartments.
• A carbon monoxide alarm at Park Row
Apartments was determined to be a
malfunction.
Saturday, September 28
• A local man loitering in the Coffin Street
parking lot after midnight, allegedly
waiting to meet with a student he met
online, was directed to leave campus.
• An officer checked on the well-being of
an intoxicated minor at Boody-Johnson
House who became ill on hard alcohol.
• An officer checked on the well-being of
an intoxicated minor at Osher Hall.
• A student reported the theft of a black
Raleigh Talus bicycle from Ladd House.
• An unregistered event was dispersed at
Brunswick Apartment D. Two students
were cited for hosting the event.
Sunday, September 29
• Officers and a counselor checked on the
well-being of an intoxicated student.
• An officer checked on the well-being of an
intoxicated student at Maine Hall.
• Several people from the Portland area
were ordered to leave campus after they
tried to enter the Epicuria event at Ladd
House.
• Three minors from Portland were given
trespass warnings and ordered to leave
campus after they attempted to enter Ladd
House during Epicuria.
• Security officers confirmed the identities
of several Portland area people who had
been seen entering Hyde Hall on Satur-
day, September 21, after which a student
reported the theft of Apple AirPods.
• A security officer assisted a student who
fell backwards over a retaining wall near
the Moulton Union loading dock. The
student was treated at Mid Coast Hospital
for a broken wrist.
• A security officer on patrol approached a
male riding a bicycle on Harpswell Road
at 12:40 a.m.. As the officer approached,
the male dropped the bike and ran. Offi-
cers quickly apprehended the person who
was identified as a Portland area juvenile.
It was determined that the suspect stole
the bike from Ladd House during Epicu-
ria. Two other juveniles nearby were with
the suspect. Security called Brunswick
police, and the suspect was charged with
possession of stolen property. All three
were issued trespass orders. The stolen
bike was returned to the owner.
• Several Portland area juveniles circum-
vented the checker and helped themselves
to plates of food at Super Snacks.
• Three Portland area juveniles stole three
bicycles outside of Coles Tower. Security
recovered all three bikes and identified the
thieves. Trespass warnings were issued.
STUDENT SPEAK:
Can you describe a photo you recently deleted?
Steven Miyawaki ’20
"My roommate wearing women’s sun-
glasses in the bathroom."
SYDNEY REAPER
Emma Hahesy ’22
"Exclusively photos with [a] thumb in
• A group of unauthorized visitors from
the corner."
the Portland area were causing a noise
disturbance in the Russwurm parking lot.
Security officers dispersed the group and
directed them to leave campus.
• Security officers obtained registration
numbers of six vehicles that were used by Fredericka Hibbs ’21
about twenty Portland area people who
descended on campus Saturday night. Ran-
dy Nichols, Executive Director of Security,
"I insta-stalked the wrong Dave and had
is in the process of notifying all registered
owners that their vehicles are henceforth
screenshots of his posts in my camera
barred from all College property. Vio-
lations will involve police action, and
roll until I realized it was the wrong
their vehicles will be towed at the owner’s
expense.
person."
• A ceiling was vandalized in the Baxter
House basement. Claudette Proctor ’21
• A student with a head laceration was
escorted to the Mid Coast Walk-In Clinic.
The student had banged his head on a
"A screenshot of a video of myself
third-floor hallway ceiling in Baxter House.
• A fire alarm was activated at Howell House.
watching ‘The Office’ bloopers."
Two students were cutting bread on a
plastic cutting board that they had placed
on a hot stove burner. The burner melted
through the cutting board, thus setting
off the alarm. Building occupants evacu- Annie Rose ’20
ated, and the Brunswick Fire Department
responded.
• Someone took several feminine hygiene "A photo of my roommate’s current
products out of a dispenser in the men’s
room on the lower level of Smith Union. boyfriend in conversation with her
The packages were torn open and scattered
throughout the rest room stalls. This inci- ex-boyfriend on the ‘Student Night at
dent is under investigation.
the Museum’ poster. "
Monday, September 30
• A complaint of loud noise was reported at
COMPILED BY HAVANA CASO-DOSEMBET
Brunswick Apartment K.
• Arson fire damage was discovered in
Sargent Gymnasium on Monday morning.
Sometime during the weekend, someone
started a fire on the wooden gym floor
Answers for Word-Up!
causing $800 in damage. Minor fire damage CREATED BY AUGUST RICE
was also noted in the rest room located in
the Sargent Gym hallway. The incident is
under investigation with assistance from
local and state authorities.
Tuesday, October 1
• An officer warned a person for soliciting on
South Campus Drive.
• A student stole a town street sign from
the corner of Federal and Franklin Streets.
The sign was recovered after the student
brought it into Coles Tower.
• A student reported seeing a suspicious man
in the area of Belmont and Spring Streets
near Mayflower Apartments.
Thursday, October 3
• A man, who had been sleeping overnights
in Smith Union and using a locker in a
Sargent Gym rest room, was served with a
campus trespass warning after he was found
inside Hawthorne-Longfellow Library.
• A student reported being approached by a
“street minister” proselytizing on College
Street. Soliciting is not permitted on College
property but is allowed on public property.
Friday, October 4, 2019 NEWS 3

NEWS IN BRIEF To increase competition, NACAC revisits ethics code

COMPILED BY EMILY COHEN AND NINA MCKAY
of its Code of Ethics and Pro- transferring, were also eliminated. the convention to vote in favor
STRICTER PENALTIES ANNOUNCED by Emily Cohen fessional Practices concerning What some observers are de- of removing the aforemen-
Orient Staff
binding early decision and ap- scribing as “a seismic moment” tioned provisions in order to
FOR CANDLE POLICY VIOLATIONS Last weekend, the National As- plicant recruiting. A provision and a venture into the “Wild avoid expensive litigation if the
sociation for College Admission was axed that forbade colleges West” for college admissions investigation continued.
The Bowdoin student body received an email on Thursday after- Counseling (NACAC), of which from offering special incentives, comes two years into a Justice Dean of Admissions and Fi-
noon announcing stricter penalties for students who do not comply Bowdoin is a member, voted to such as a better financial aid Department investigation of nancial Aid Whitney Soule wrote
with the College’s prohibition of candles in all campus housing. eliminate parts of its ethics code. package, exclusively to students NACAC’s ethics code. The in- in an email to the Orient that
Beginning today, consequences for having an open flame in cam- These sections, according to the who apply through binding ear- vestigation was opened due to Bowdoin does not currently have
pus housing may include a hearing before the Judicial Board, which U.S. Department of Justice, stifle ly-decision programs. concerns that the organization any plans to change its admis-
may result in suspension or dismissal. competition between schools and Two other provisions, one that violated federal antitrust laws sions and financial aid process.
In the email, Dean of Students Kristina Bethea Odejimi and As- limit students’ choices in the col- barred colleges from recruiting and prevented students from “The changes in the ethics
sociate Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Residential and Stu- lege application process. students once they have submitted finding the best price for their code, while important, are new,”
dent Life Mike Ranen prefaced the announcement by writing that the The changes were made at a deposit at another institution college education. Soule wrote. “It will take time to
Office of Safety and Security and the Office of Environmental Health NACAC’s national convention and one that prevented them from NACAC officials informed see how those changes may af-
and Safety found a large number of candles during the fire drills that in Louisville, Kentucky. The soliciting transfer applications be- members of the investigation fect how some colleges and uni-
they conducted during the second week of school. Odejimi and Ranen association removed portions fore a student had inquired about and encouraged delegates to versities approach their work.”
cited the two fires started by candles that caused damage and injuries
in on-campus residences last spring, saying that open flames will inev-
itably cause accidents with potentially devastating consequences.
They added that students who have candles for religious, memorial
ALARCÓN Alarcón hopes that non-Lati-
nos “see the diversity of Latin
Monday night found Alarcón’s
talk inspiring.
when it’s on the page. When I
realized this, I started to think
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
or ceremonial reasons are able to use them but are not able to bring America and the diversity of “Hearing him perform a in an entirely different way
them into their residences and should contact Eduardo Pazos Palma, “One of the powerful things the Latino experience, and podcast was really motivation- about writing.”
director of the Rachel Lord Center for Religious and Spiritual Life to about Radio Ambulante is the they don’t believe all the bull- al,” said Maria Perez Mendoza Even audience members
make arrangements. ability for us to tell a story shit about how we’re all rapists ’21. “You don’t see a Latino who could not understand the
“This is about student health and safety, which is our driving pri- about Bolivians to Domin- and drug dealers.” man speak at an event at Bow- Spanish-speaking voices in
ority,” Odejimi and Ranen wrote. “As we and other campuses have icans, and tell a story about Although he is driven by a doin every day. And [Alarcón] the performance chuckled at
learned in tragic ways, the risks associated with open flames are just Dominicans to Colombians, mission to dispel myths about talked about how Latinidad the stories those voices told,
too great.” and tell a story about Colombi- Latinos, Alarcón is careful to shouldn’t be exclusive and how understanding the humor
ans to Argentines, and on and not label himself as an activist. these voices need to be cele- through changes in accent
on,” Alarcón explained during “I don’t want to become brated.” and intonation. Through the
LOW VOTER TURNOUT MARS 2020 the event. “And of course, we an activist because I wouldn’t As Alarcón played audio subtleties in others’ voices,
also tell all those stories to our know where to begin. There’s clips of Latino voices, he dis- Alarcón taught the audience
CLASS COUNCIL ELECTION friends who are not Latino and so much to be angry about— cussed his writing process the importance of telling nu-
who are learning Spanish.” from racism to the denial of both for radio and for print. anced stories.
Only 17 percent of the senior class participated in its class council Alarcón said that a third of climate science to the deliber- “There’s a lot more to “When we started Radio Am-
election this past weekend, and two of the four available positions, vice Radio Ambulante listeners are ate centering of cruelty as part speech than just words,” bulante, we felt like there [were]
president and treasurer, went unfilled because no candidates registered Latinos in the United States, a of national policy dealing with Alarcón said during his talk. two kinds of stories about Lati-
to run. The other two races, for president and programming director, third are Latinos in Latin Amer- children and children of immi- “You can hear a lot behind nos: there was the dangerous
were uncontested. ica and a third are non-Latino grants,” he said in an interview. that voice, behind the spoken other and there was the helpless
President elect of the Class of 2020 Council Angel Ramirez and Bow- Spanish speakers and learners. “I think that people have got- words—the history in that victim,” he said. “But we want
doin Student Government (BSG) President Ural Mishra ’20 both cited His team is about to release a ten to a point where they tune voice, the accent, the tone, the to tell stories that are more in-
seniors’ stress and overcommitment as the primary reason that so few language learning app geared out activists, and I don’t want humor. It’s information that teresting, more subtle, more
decided to run. towards the last group. to be tuned out.” we carry with us in how we complicated, more nuanced and
“We’re in the midst of applying for jobs, trying to figure out what Through his storytelling, Students who tuned in on speak that isn’t entirely clear therefore more true.”
we’re going to do after college, and people are just generally busy,” said
Ramirez. “A lot of seniors are in charge of a lot of organizations on cam-
pus and clubs, and they don’t necessarily have the time to add another
layer onto their busy days.”
CLIMATE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The vice president of the class council sits on the weekly meetings of
the Student Organizations Oversight Committee, and the class treasurer and larger pest populations.
sits on the Student Activities Funding Committee. The effects can be subtle,
Ramirez is now responsible for appointing people to fill the roles. but even small changes in
He and Jane Chang ’20, the elected programming chair, are in discus- weather patterns can dra-
sion with two or three people about the vice president position and matically disrupt ecological
with Jonas Cortes ’20, last year’s class treasurer, about filling the trea- systems, often leading to fi-
surer role. nancial losses for farmers,
The lack of interest in running, said Mishra and Ramirez, contributed fishermen and foresters.
to the low voter turnout perpetuating a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. “Financially, it’s become
“I think the reason turnout was so low was because there were challenging,” said one farm-
uncontested positions, there were positions unfilled,” said Mishra. “I er interviewed by Olson. To
mean, if you feel like your vote is not going to matter people tend not some farmers she talked to,
to vote.” the threat of leaving a job in-
Ramirez noted that neither he nor Chang made efforts to campaign tegral to one’s identity means
and advertise the election, as they might have done if their races were a tragic loss of dignity in addi-
contested. tion to the loss of a livelihood.
“I wouldn’t say there’s no incentive to campaign, but you’re running Dodie Jones, co-leader of
unopposed, so we’re going to be spending money to campaign, to poster Brunswick’s chapter of the
and all this other stuff that doesn’t have to be done because we’re run- CCL, explained she wants
ning unopposed,” he said. to bring new perspectives to
Mishra also cited students’ apathy toward BSG as a contributing fac- citizens on the issues of cli-
tor. mate change and potential
“A lack of engagement with students over the past few years had led solutions to the crisis. She
people to think the BSG can’t really do anything, when it’s in fact more said part of CCL’s responsibil-
of the BSG not doing anything,” said Mishra. ity is to put climate change at
Editor’s Note: Angel Ramirez is a member of the Orient. the forefront of conversations
between community members
and to educate constituents.
MEETING his plan to provide mental
health kiosks and health literacy
Dodie Jones noted that the
CCL’s work is made easier
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
programs on campus. when constituents send letters
health resources on campus The assembly also debated of support and call politicians.
and provide support for stu- how to manage recent com- “Every year we get more of-
dents from first-generation and plaints about Wi-Fi on campus. fices that are willing to talk to
low-income backgrounds. In Mishra proposed creating an us, and they all appreciate our
the first meeting he stayed true ad hoc committee to work with style,” Dodie Jones said. “We
to his word, pushing for initia- IT and keep students informed always start out with appre-
tives that were central to his about the situation. The pro- ciation of something they’ve
campaign. posal was supported by Aoguzi done, and then we go from
“My biggest focuses are go- Muhameiti, the recently elected there trying to find common
ing to be on mental health and president for the Class of 2023, ground.”
low-income first-gen students,” and Steven Xu, president for the “We are obsessively non-par-
said Britt. “During family week- Class of 2022, as well as Carlos tisan,” Jones added. “There may
end, I want to have an event for Campos ‘22, the dining and be a value in climate strikes
kids whose families can’t come campus services representative. and protests, but if we want to
due to travel costs.” Editor’s Note: Steven Xu is a achieve something, we have to
Britt additionally introduced member of the Orient. be smart politically.”
4 NEWS Friday, October 4, 2019

Crime report shows liquor violations back up, slightly

by Anna Fauver
Orient Staff
The number of on-campus liquor
violations rose 28 percent from 2017
while the number of drug violations
dropped by a third, according to the
Bowdoin Annual Security and Fire
Safety Report. These numbers, how-
ever, follow a general downward
trend that began in the early 2010s.
There were 96 liquor violations
reported in 2018—77 of which
occurred in college residences—
which was up from 75 in 2017 but
still a dramatic decrease from the
154 violations reported in 2016.
The number of liquor violations
reached its peak in 2012 with 177
violations.
There were two on-campus li-
quor-related arrests made in 2018,
however, up from the zero report-
ed the previous six years. This in-
crease in arrests occurred in con-
junction with a perceived increase
in activity from—and a lower ap-
proval rating of—the Brunswick
Police Department (BPD). While
possession of alcohol by a minor
is not an arrestable offense under
Maine law, the distribution of al-
cohol to a minor is.
On-campus drug violations
also have steadily declined since
an apex of 55 violations in 2013.
There were only 14 reported drug
violations in 2018, which was a
decrease from 21 in 2017. There
were zero drug-related arrests last
year.
Other reported on-campus
crimes have also been decreasing in
recent years. There were seven re-
ported cases of rape in 2018, down
28%
from nine in 2017 and 12 in 2016.
These cases include both reports
made to the Center of Gender Vi-
olence Prevention and Education
and reports made to Security. There
were also two burglaries, which is
consistent with the low numbers The percentage increase of
seen in recent years.
While encouraging, these numbers on-campus liquor violations
notably only take into account activ- from 2017 to 2018.
ity which occurred on-campus or on
College-owned property and exclude
arrests and violations that occurred on
property not owned by the College,
such as off-campus houses.

Liquor and drug law violations reported Burglaries reported in the annual
in the annual Clery Report Clery Report
200 12
181 177 Liquor law violations
164 11
152 146 149 152 143 154
150
10
10
100 96
75
55
50 40 43 Drug law violations
34 30 8
23 19 17 21 8
8 14
0
2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 7
6
Calendar Year
6

Rape offenses reported in the 5

annual Clery Report

4
15
15
3
12 2
12 11 2
2
9 1 1
9

7
0
6 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Calendar Year

3 CLERY COMMENTARY: While the annual safety report found an increase in liquor law violations from 2017 to 2018,
this is part of an overall downward trend over the past decade. Drug law violations have been on a downward trend
since 2013. Burglaries have been on a downward trend in the past decade and there has been a decline in the number
of rapes reported since 2014. The report is federally mandated by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security
Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998.
0 Notes: Prior to 2014, a “forcible sex offenses” category was reported instead of the two present categories: “rape offenses” and
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 “fondling offenses.”
Calendar Year GWEN DAVIDSON AND DREW MACDONALD, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT

FACULTY of Romance languages & liter-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Another founding member,
Associate Professor of English
Ann Kibbie, said “[Professors
have been] maybe too focused
on the day-to-day stuff in our
lives. This is a moment to look
at the big picture, not just of the
College, but of the nation itself.”
In addition to advocating for
best practices in higher educa-
tion nationwide, many of the
chapter’s founding members
said that they want to be more
involved in discussions around
governance and administrative
decisions on campus.
“More and more faculty have
become more involved in an at-
tempt to understand the logic be-
hind the decisions that shape the
experience of our students,” said
Nadia Celis, associate professor
atures and director of the Latin
American studies program. “[We
want to understand] the sense
of direction, in general, that the
institution has chosen to follow,
and the larger set of values and
ethical questions that our con-
versations and our silences may
foster, both intentionally and
inadvertently.”
“It’s about being in the room
and ensuring that being in the
room matters,” said Hecht. “And
there should be systems for con-
necting those conversations to
where decisions get made.”
Matthew Klingle, associate
professor of history and envi-
ronmental studies and another
founding member of the chapter,
said that the new AAUP chap-
ter is an opportunity to have a
collective voice. He hopes this
perspective voice is present es-
“This is a moment to look at the
“[Faculty meetings] really can’t
do all of the business the faculty
might be interested in doing col- Done reading
big picture, not just of the Col- lectively,” said Kibbie. “There’s
lege, but of the nation itself.” simply not enough time. It can be
this paper?
difficult to collaborate with pro-
–Ann Kibbie, associate professor of English fessors in other departments.”
“It’s good to have an organi-
pecially in conversations around periences are. We are committed zation in place that lets us have Share it.
curricular reform. He also men- to being vigilant, exercising our these networks with each other
tioned that the group is consid- voices and to helping others ex- and with other institutions, so Recycle it.
ering pushing for the hiring of an ercise their[s],” Kibbie said. that we can make sure that we’re
ombudsperson.
Kibbie discussed the impor-
The chapter will have monthly
meetings open to students, fac-
all adhering to best practices,”
Hecht added.
Frame it.
tance of hearing from people ulty and staff. Kibbie discussed “We, being the faculty of Bow-
before mobilizing around par- potentially establishing subcom- doin, are incredibly fortunate and Compost it.
ticular issues. Accordingly, the mittees and working to bring blessed to teach here. We have
chapter’s faculty members will speakers to campus. She current- ample resources; we are well com- Eat it.
host its first open house today ly knows of around 20 faculty pensated; we have great working
where they will begin to discuss
more concrete goals.
members that have joined the
AAUP and paid their dues.
conditions, from the students we
teach to the colleagues we work Bop it.
“We want to hear what [open The group will allow for with and the community in which
house attendees and new AAUP collaboration not only across we live,” said Klingle. “That does Burn it.
members] are concerned about. departments but also across the not mean there’s not room for im-
We want to hear what their ex- country. provement.”
Friday, October 4, 2019
F FEATURES
PACE-ing herself: Collin Roesler explores the deep sea
by Andrew Chang
Orient Staff
Even in her 10th year at Bow-
doin, Professor of Earth and
Oceanographic Science Collin
Roesler’s eyes light up as she dis-
cusses her research in oceanog-
raphy. For the past three years,
Roesler has been studying how
phytoplankton in the ocean cap-
ture and export carbon dioxide
into deeper areas and remove
the gas from the atmosphere as
part of the National Aeronau-
tics and Space Administration’s
(NASA) Export Processes in the
Ocean from Remote Sensing
(EXPORTS) mission.
Now the project is going
airborne, as NASA begins the
Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud,
ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mis-
sion to send a satellite into space
that can measure, with unprec-
edented precision, the colors of
the ocean. This allows scientists
to recognize specific types of
phytoplankton and better un-
derstand ocean health.
“[With PACE’s sensors] we
could constantly be assessing
how much carbon is leaving the
atmosphere, and then we can
do a better job figuring out how
we might be able to mitigate
some of the carbon in the atmo-
sphere,” Roesler said.
For Roesler, PACE is reward-
ing not only because of the pro-
gram’s mission, but also because
Wildflours bakery blossoms in Brunswick Mae’s Café and Bakery:
by Annika Moore
Orient Staff
At Wildflours, Maine’s first
entirely gluten-free market and
bakery, customers who would
usually be limited by dietary re-
strictions can enjoy sweets, breads
and savory treats worry-free. The
bakery, located at 54 Cumberland
Street, has grown since its open-
ing in 2008. It offers wholesale
and custom orders in addition to
retail goods at its storefront.
When owner Kelley Hughes
was first diagnosed with an auto-
immune disease that meant she
couldn’t eat gluten, she struggled
to find foods that fit her dietary
needs. After experimenting with
recipes in her kitchen, Hughes de-
cided to open Wildflours 11 years
ago as a market and bakery in a
tiny storefront on Maine Street.
At that time, many people hadn’t
heard of gluten-free products.
“I could tell a telemarketer
because they would call and say
‘Hello, is this Wildflours ‘glut-
ton-free’ bakery?’” Hughes said.
Hughes planned to start by
selling flour and baking mixes
before transitioning to a full-
fledged bakery. But in 2011, two
years after the business opened,
a fire destroyed the store.
Hughes quickly found a new
location on Cumberland Street
and converted the then office
space into a kitchen.
Three years ago, the bakery
opened as a retail location. Cus-
tomers can now purchase a vari-
ety of gluten-free, dairy-free and
TAKING FLIGHT: Professor of Earth and Oceanographic Science Collin Roesler studies ocean phytoplankton and their impact on carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite team.
of its emphasis on achieving
goals through teamwork and
consensus. Typical projects in
her field are often more solitary.
“We would talk and we
would compare and have re-
spectful discussions,” Roesler
said. “By the time we came up
NO GLUTEN, NO PROBLEM: Wildflours gluten-free market and bakery offers sweet and savory treats, catering to
a variety of dietary restrictions. The bakery offers wholesale and custom orders as well as items sold at the storefront.
vegan products while enjoying
the rustic decor, aroma of baked
goods and view of the goodies be-
ing prepared in the open-concept
kitchen behind the counter.
“This is by far my favorite
version of this business,” Hughes
said. “I really love working with
other people. I have totally amaz-
ing employees.”
Many of the products at Wild-
flours are baked fresh every day
beginning at 5 a.m. About half of
the items are sold at the bakery
and the other half are delivered to
vendors in Brunswick and Port-
land. In the coming years, Wild-
flours hopes to grow its delivery
service to include more locations
in Maine.
with our final products, every-
body had vetted it [and] felt that
they had a piece of ownership.
… It’s been a really amazing re-
search project to be on.”
Roesler’s work with NASA
and her love for the ocean have
deep roots. As a child living in
Stephen Reardon, a customer
with Celiac disease, has been glad
to find a bakery that entirely ca-
ters to his needs.
“This has been huge for us,”
Reardon said. “We live about
40 minutes away, so whenever
we’re passing by we stop in to get
something. We’ve just been try-
ing to go through them all and
sample everything.”
As gluten-free eating has be-
come more popular, Wildflours
has grown to attract customers
who don’t have dietary restric-
tions but enjoy gluten-free eat-
ing nonetheless. Iggy Parker and
Izik Dery, for example, don’t eat
exclusively gluten-free, but still
enjoy Wildflours’ goods. Dery
Colorado, far from the physical
ocean, Roesler found herself
mesmerized by oceanographer
Jacques Cousteau’s weekly
television shows. Since then,
Roesler knew she wanted to
study the ocean.
“I know that it’s incredibly
GRAHAM BENDICKSON, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
said that he does notice a differ-
ence in the texture of gluten-free
items, but that it doesn’t make
them any less enjoyable.
While it can be difficult to
create new gluten-free recipes
because of the denser flours,
Hughes said she enjoys the
challenge. Bread can be partic-
ularly hard to bake gluten-free,
but it’s one of the most popular
items at Wildflours.
“I think it’s partly [that] we
have time on our side. We’ve been
making one kind of bread for 10
years and so we’ve been able to
tweak it and play with it,” Hughes
said. “We know that it can taste
amazing so we just won’t settle
with anything until we get that.”
SOPHIA WEI, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
rare, and I never tried to say to
my students ‘you should know
what you want to be when you
grow up,’ because you honestly
shouldn’t,” Roesler said. “But
when you find the thing, you
know it—you get that feeling of
‘I can’t imagine doing anything
best breakfast in Bath
Forking Around
by Will
Donaldson
Last week family friends came
up to Maine for a wedding. They
made a stop to visit me, and I
took them to breakfast at Mae’s
Café and Bakery in Bath. A
fifteen minute drive from cam-
pus, Mae’s offers a picturesque
setting, high quality service and
excellent food. My guests and I
absolutely loved it.
Mae’s is an old-fashioned
white building situated on a
hill. The inside is well-lit, wood
paneled and charming. We sat
in a window booth looking out
on a park, a church and a court
building. A local artist’s paint-
ings hung on the walls. In this
setting, our conversation could
not help but turn to the natural
beauty of Maine and the charac-
ter of the Northeast.
After being seated we were
immediately offered cups of
coffee, which were kept full
throughout the meal, and a se-
lection of tea. The food arrived
fairly quickly after we ordered
it, which was good news for
my family friends, who had
an appointment in the early
afternoon. Overall, the service
was efficient, smooth and very
friendly. We felt right at home.
The food at Mae’s was fantas-
tic. The breakfast menu is large,
5
else.’ And honestly, I can’t.”
Roesler studied aquatic bi-
ology and geology at Brown
University. She later earned
her Ph.D. at the University of
Washington for developing
algorithms that allow satellite
observation of phytoplankton
concentrations. After such
measurements became possi-
ble, Roesler wanted to push the
boundaries and began to work
on algorithms that could dis-
cern individual phytoplankton
species. Her work in that field
ultimately landed her a spot on
the PACE science team.
For Roesler, however, her
research connects to something
larger than the PACE team.
“If I can help contribute to
people’s understanding of how
the world works, maybe they
will be more thoughtful about
their actions ... and maybe
make choices that are not in
their own best interest but
in the world’s best interest,”
Roesler said. “Recognizing that
there are winners and losers in
this climate change, I think we
need to be thinking really seri-
ously about how we are going
to care for our communities
that are going to be more im-
pacted than others.”
“I think we need to be think-
ing about being a little kinder,
a little bit more giving and
thinking a little bit less about
ourselves and our needs.”
featuring all the classics as well
as bakery goods, healthier op-
tions and a number of special-
ties. I personally recommend
Gavin’s Benedict, a hearty dish
with home-made lamb sausage.
Ethan’s oats, which I had a bite
of, are also delicious. My table
also split a pecan bun—don’t
leave without trying one.
When it comes to price, Mae’s
is fair. I wouldn’t eat there every
day, but for a special breakfast
occasion with high quality food,
the value is very reasonable. I
strongly recommend Mae’s as a
destination for Family Weekend
or other special occasions. Out
of town guests will be delight-
ed with the atmosphere and
setting, and the food won’t dis-
appoint either. Though it is far-
ther away from Bowdoin than
Wild Oats, it makes up for the
distance by offering full-service
instead of a cafeteria-style line,
a bigger and nicer menu and
a better overall experience. It
would also make a nice change
of pace for parents who have
made more than one trip to
Brunswick in the past few years.
Mae’s Café and Bakery is the
best breakfast in Bath, don’t
miss it!
Mae’s Café and Bakery is lo-
cated at 160 Centre Street in Bath,
Maine. The restaurant is open
from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. seven days
a week and accepts reservations
over the phone.
6 FEATURES
ON EATING DISORDERS:
A CALL TO PAY
ATTENTION
When I was 16, I started
starving myself. Troubled
with weight issues—real and
imagined—my whole life, I
took advantage of a stomach
bug I caught while traveling.
I began a trend of underfeed-
ing myself, going hungry for
hours every day, then work-
ing out for upwards of 60
minutes, six to seven days a
week. I never ate carbs. My
stomach roared indignantly
every time I refused seconds
at a meal, and I heard myself
say, “It’s okay, I don’t need to
eat that much.”
When I look at pictures
from that time, to the average
person, I don’t look terribly
unhealthy. I wasn’t under-
weight on the BMI scale, but I
know that I was definitely un-
der a weight that was healthy
for me. My skin was sallow
and pale, my eyes blank and
staring, but a smile played
on my lips: the smile of a
girl who knows she is finally
AN EPIPHANY IN
DAGGETT LOUNGE
Growing up, the High
Holidays were the only time
my whole family would go to
synagogue. “High Holidays”
is the collective name for
skinny—and likes it. When I
was in the throes of my eating
disorder, I used to look for-
ward to mornings, especially
mornings after days when I’d
starved myself. My favorite
thing to do on those days was
stand in front of my bathroom
mirror, yank my shirt up and
examine my flat, empty stom-
ach—daily evidence of what I
had achieved.
Despite my pride, though,
I was never skinny enough.
In my mind, I would never
not be fat. During my eating
disorder, nobody realized I
had one. When I arrived at
my extended family’s house
for Thanksgiving that year,
all I heard was praise, curios-
ity at how I had achieved my
smaller body. When I visited
a family friend I hadn’t seen
in a while, she examined my
figure with admiration and
told me, whatever I was do-
ing, to “keep it up.”
It wasn’t until I visited fam-
ily in the spring of 2015 when
somebody finally recognized
the problem for what it was. I
went on holiday to Edinburgh
Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish
New Year) and Yom Kippur
(the Day of Atonement).
These holidays are among
the holiest days in the Jewish
tradition and the only days
my family would make the
trek across the Kansas City
metro area to attend services.
Even my mom, raised Catho-
lic, came along, carrying her
prayer book with
handwritten notes
in the margins.
I didn’t look
TALK TO US. Submit a Talk of the Quad to orient@bowdoin.edu.
Talk of the Quad
with my father and my broth-
er. I was slowly returning to
eating meat after being a veg-
etarian for four months—an
ill-advised yet temporarily
successful endeavor to main-
tain my skinny figure within
my meat-loving family—
when my dad, in between his
attempts to get me to try hag-
gis and Scotch eggs, noticed
something was wrong. On the
second day of my visit, my fa-
ther looked me up and down
and said, “Now I understand
how you lost all this weight.
You don’t eat.”
I don’t remember how I
defended myself against this
accurate, yet chilling obser-
vation. “Yes I do,” I probably
said. “I just eat less. You don’t
understand. I used to eat too
much. I’m finally in control.”
That’s how eating disor-
ders start, whether they in-
volve restricting, bingeing,
over-exercising, orthorexia or
a combination, like the one I
was suffering from. It was a
desire for control, or desper-
ation to relinquish it. It took
a year after my dad called me
forward to sitting through
hours-long services or hav-
ing to tell my teachers that I
was going to miss class and
have to make up the work. I
didn’t look forward to the 10
days between Rosh Hasha-
nah and Yom Kippur, when I
was expected to atone for my
sins by apologizing to people
I had wronged, because it
made me feel guilty and be-
cause I knew I wouldn’t do it.
What I did look forward to
was the familiarity of stand-
ing in the overflow room at
my synagogue next to my
parents and sister; my dad
davening, rhythmically
swaying back and forth
(which I assumed
was a symptom
of being an
older Jewish
man),
Published every other week.
out on the damage I’d done to
myself for me to attend outpa-
tient treatment. I spent weeks
trying to figure out how I’d
lost so much control of my
life in my desire to regain it.
It wasn’t until I sat with my
therapist, arguing how if I
gained 10 pounds, it would
be impossible for anybody to
love me, that I realized how
distorted my thinking had be-
come. Controlling what I ate
wouldn’t change the factors in
my life. Controlling my body
wouldn’t make anybody ap-
prove of me more. The only
person’s approval I needed
was my own.
Now, I return to that which
before made me feel like I
needed to control my eating;
I eat joyfully, taking pleasure
in the food and the people I
share it with. I exercise be-
cause I want to, because it
makes me feel good and is
good for me, and for no other
reasons. I accept my body in
this moment and every mo-
ment, sometimes with diffi-
culty, but increasingly, less
and less so.
my mom knitting, because it
was the only way she could
stay focused and my sister
and I commiserating as we
stood, sat and stood again,
reciting prayers that had been
burned in our minds through
years of Hebrew School. I
looked forward to hearing the
sound of the shofar because it
meant the end of services was
near. And I looked forward to
going to Dean & Deluca for
lunch afterward, a reward for
our, um, piety.
When I arrived at Bowdo-
in, the familiarity of the High
Holidays had evaporated,
along with the expectation
that I would attend services.
Since I always considered my
participation in Judaism to be
driven by tradition rather than
religion, I didn’t think I would
“be Jewish” in college.
KOD
IE GA
RZA
Only one person recog-
nized my shrinking body size
as a problem over
the course of my eat-
ing disorder. It has
taken me years
to realize just
how much
our society
teaches girls
to hate them-
selves. I brought me back to earth
am still
astound-
ed at how
deeply
ingrained
in my
mind
poison-
ous ideas
about love,
beauty and
worth were at the
height of my eating
disorder.
That is why we need
awareness. That is why
we need vigilance. When
one of your friends or
family members drops or
gains an alarming amount
of weight, don’t dismiss it.
But this past Monday,
there I was praying in Dag-
gett Lounge (clearly the clos-
est place to God on this cam-
pus). People came and went
from Thorne Hall, rushing to
class, and I was struck by the
realization that I, for the first
time in a long time, was not
doing the same.
I still get nervous telling
my professors that I will be
missing class for the High
Holidays—not because I
think they’ll say no or that
I’ll be penalized, but because
I feel like I’ll mess up my
routine of class, work and
everything else I’m expected
to do to be a successful Bow-
doin student.
I recently learned that the
two English words we associ-
ate with the High Holidays,
repentance and sin, have
different meanings in He-
brew; repentance, “t’shuvah,”
directly translates to “return-
ing,” and sin, “chet,” means
“to go astray.” Where repen-
tance and sin inspire guilt
and shame, the notion of
returning after going astray
seems more forgiving.
Friday, October 4, 2019
When your peers engage in
casual body hatred, interrupt
and reframe it. When your
best friend starts an elimina-
tion diet to lose weight, ques-
tion it. We cannot live as full,
unencumbered, actualized
versions of ourselves until we
love ourselves.
I don’t know where I would
be if my father hadn’t
that day when I was 16.
All I needed was one
person, one moment.
I implore you all to pay
attention, to be vigilant, to
disrupt our collective un-
healthy patterns of thought
about our bodies and our
worth.
Aisha Rickford is
a member of the
Class of 2020.
KO
DIE
GA
RZ
A
Like any New Year celebra-
tion, Rosh Hashanah is a time
to reflect on what motivates
us to be better people. It can
be easy to lose sight of these
bigger motivations when our
worth here is in part decided
by academic performance and
quantified in a percent grade.
But when we give ourselves
the chance to see ourselves as
humans who err in our pur-
suit of something grand but
always have the opportunity
to be forgiven, it can be truly
revelatory. For just a few days,
I can disconnect from my dai-
ly routine at Bowdoin to be
reminded of that.
The High Holidays remind
me to practice compassion,
forgiveness and kindness
toward others—and toward
myself. As graduation ap-
proaches, I am reminded that
I will still have a purpose
beyond Bowdoin, even if I’ll
have to find a different place
for High Holiday services.
But for now, I’ll be return-
ing to Daggett Lounge, and I
hope to see you there.
Emily Cohen is a member
of the Class of 2020.
Friday, October 4, 2019
A ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘Art Purposes’ alumni panel emphasizes a need for inclusivity
by Julia Jennings
Staff Writer
The Bowdoin College Mu-
seum of Art (BCMA) wel-
comed distinguished alumni
back to campus for a discus-
sion on Wednesday in con-
junction with its exhibit, “Art
Purposes: Object Lessons for
the Liberal Arts.” The three
alumni, all prominent figures
in the field of art, shared how
their time at Bowdoin shaped
their careers and set them on
a path of artistic discovery.
Present on the panel were
Shelley Langdale ’85, the cur-
rent curator and head of the
department of modern prints
and drawings at the National
Gallery of Art in Washington,
D.C.; Andrew Walker ’87,
director of the Amon Carter
Museum of American Art in
Fort Worth, Texas and Bryan
Ferriso ’88, the current direc-
tor of the Portland Art Muse-
um in Portland, Oregon.
Langdale, in sharing her
personal journey in the arts,
described how she first ar-
rived at Bowdoin with the
intent to study government
and history to become a law-
yer. This quickly changed,
however, after she took an in-
troductory course with Asso-
ciate Professor of Art History
Susan Wegner.
Langdale feels that her ex-
perience at Bowdoin prepared
her for a career working with
all artistic media and for the
position she now holds at the
National Gallery of Art.
“I got to learn so many
different aspects of how a
museum works,” said Lang-
dale. “But I think also just the
Telling Room x ArtVan exhibit highlights youth art
by Beth Wang
Staff Writer
Light and dark hues contrast
with sharp yet soft strokes on the
walls, filling Lamarche Gallery
with emotions. Words and paint-
ings are two of the media which
young local artists use to chan-
nel their inner creativity in the
Telling Room x ArtVan exhibit,
which opened in the Lamarche
Gallery today.
The collaborative exhibit com-
bines the forces of The Telling
Room, a Portland-based writing
workshop, and ArtVan, a mobile
art therapy organization. Where
one aims to nurture literary con-
fidence among young authors,
the other provides underserved
youth an environment for artistic
creation.
The Telling Room writers
based their work on nature-fo-
cused paintings from the Port-
land Museum of Art, embracing
themes of self, growth and re-
lationships. ArtVan artists then
created paintings and drawings
based on their interpretations of
the Telling Room students’ writ-
ing.
Julianna Kiley ’20, a summer
intern at The Telling Room, and
Jessica Bae ’22, a summer intern
7
MINDY LEDER, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE: Shelley Langdale ’85 participated in a Q&A at the “Art Purposes” panel on Wednesday, along with two other Bowdoin alumni with established careers in the arts.
whole spirit of the college that and you learn about it, it’s a diverse array of communities Ferriso cites his time at geting within a museum, the
I’ve always found is this sort really ... intimate way to learn across the world. He has since Bowdoin as foundational to panelists expressed a desire to
of interest in [how] whatev- about other cultures that are translated his artistic interests his perception of arts in the make lasting change and dis-
er discipline you’re working different from yours. And I into an initiative called Carter 21st century. He also claims cussed actions they are taking
in [applies] to engaging, ex- think that’s so vital in this Community Artists which that his Bowdoin experience to make the world of art more
panding and contributing to moment.” participates in community gave him the framework to equitable and inclusive.
the community in some way.” Walker, who also empha- outreach and education in the capture human existence in an The audience, composed of
Langdale went on to ex- sized inclusivity, detailed his greater Fort Worth area. emotional, expressive way as a members of the Bowdoin and
plain how she continues to in- experience as the director of Ferriso shared a similar in- painter. greater Brunswick communi-
corporate the College’s prin- the Amon Carter Museum and terest in accessible museums The panel drew the discus- ties, were responsive to the
ciple of the Common Good explained his intent to create which he has manifested in his sion to a close with an exam- speakers in a short question
into her curatorial work. an environment of diversity, plans to remodel the Portland ination of the broader culture and answer session. Many
“I think that, because there inclusion and accessibility to Art Museum. He identifies art of art and the contemporary comments reflected great ap-
isn’t a language barrier with all who visit the museum. museums as comprised of three issues that each panelist faces preciation for the continued
the visual, you can find more He explained that this de- components of equal impor- in their career. When asked work of the Bowdoin alumni,
points of commonality,” said sire began during his time at tance: collections, exhibitions about the implications of in- not only in the field of art, but
Langdale. “And if it’s some- Bowdoin and that his prac- and of course the people that equities surrounding the wage in the pursuit of the Common
thing you don’t understand, tice has grown to include a create the artistic experience. gap and the difficulties of bud- Good.
at ArtVan, found their respective
internships to be surprisingly
interrelated in the communities
they served. The two decided to
bridge the works done by the two
organizations.
“I chose to collaborate with
The Telling Room because I think
writing and painting are two real-
ly great ways to express how peo-
ple feel,” said Bae. “They haven’t
done a collaboration before and
it just seemed like a very natural
collaboration to have an exhibit
of the two.”
The two hoped to teach as-
piring creatives how art and the
written word are connected.
“We thought it was cool to
have Telling Room students and
Art Van students have both of
their work up on display togeth-
er [to] see how they respond to
each other and how the work is
in communication [with each
other],” Kiley said.
Since the artists and writers
ranged in age from three to 16 EMILY FULLER, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
years old, Kiley and Bae assisted KIDS DO IT BEST: Camilo Pereja ’22 peruses the artistic contributions of local youth to the Telling Room x ArtVan exhibit, now on display in Lamarche Gallery.
students with the creative pro- them a piece of paper. Instead, I tions tends to stay between the displaying. exhibit will take place today at
cess. broke up stories into sentences creators and their instructors. But “We just want to showcase 4 p.m. in the Lamarche Gallery.
“The youngest kids who did and even words and then they by giving the students a chance to youth writers and artists and the Students from The Telling Room
art for the show are just three or could paint or draw based on produce work for exhibition, Bae work that they’ve done and show and ArtVan will attend the open-
four, and they can’t, they don’t what they thought when they and Kiley aim to show the stu- that it has value. It matters,” Kiley ing, allowing them to see their
really understand words that heard those words.” dents—and the Bowdoin com- said. work on display and interact with
[well],” said Bae. “I wouldn’t give The work of these organiza- munity—that their work is worth An opening reception for the the College community.
8 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘The Bus’: a band built on flexibility and fun
by Brianna Cunliffe
Orient Staff
After a year or two of play-
ing in student bands, Musi-
cians Danny Little ’22 and
Nick Cattaneo ’21 came into
this year with a vision. They
wanted to establish a new
model that would allow mu-
sicians to rotate in and out of
bands based on availability,
while ensuring that a core
group remains.
“It would be a dynam-
ic thing, always changing. It
wouldn’t be exclusive,” said
Little.
Little, who plays the saxo-
phone, and Cattaneo, a drum-
mer, formed the core of the
group known—after some de-
liberation—as The Bus. They
have had a no-holds-barred
start to the year, headlining
at Common Good Day and
Greenstock and rehearsing for
their first College House show
at Burnett House tonight.
Because of its dynam-
ic structure, the group can
scale down for more low-key
gigs and balloon up for fun,
high-energy events like House
parties. At Burnett tonight,
The Bus will number eight
members, bringing together
musicians from all corners of
campus for an hour-long set-
list of favorites.
“[The name] works, be-
cause people can get on The
Bus. Other people can come
and play with us,” said Little.
Friday, October 4, 2019
Whether they’re the center
of attention at a party or mel-
low background music for an
official College event, student
groups like The Bus offer a
unique space for musicians to
explore their craft.
“It’s a very fun and creative
way to engage in music that
isn’t as stressful,” said Little.
“Comparing it to being in a
jazz combo—that’s also a very
good time, but being able to
self-direct is a pretty signifi-
cant change.”
The autonomy to choose
their own music results in
setlists that can vary widely to
reflect the interests of the mu-
sicians involved. For The Bus,
song choice is an intentional
process, as Little and Cattaneo
balance their love of funk with
the singers’ needs while fac-
toring in appropriateness to
the atmosphere and audience.
“A lot of the consideration
is: Do people know it? Does it
match the energy of the situ-
ation? Like for the [College]
House parties, you don’t re-
ally want ballads,” said Little.
Like any student group,
The Bus faces challenges with
finding time to rehearse, es-
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
pecially in its eight-member
DRIVING ‘THE BUS’: Danny Little ’22 performs a solo during a show with The Bus in Farley Fieldhouse on Common Good Day on September 21.
expanded form. But members
are committed enough to all about refining. Musicians unpredictability, making mu- Baxter House that will feature known option for live music
make it happen. discuss the choices in the re- sic is, for both The Bus’ per- outdoor music from many on campus.
Ideally, members of The cording, where to depart from manent core and short-term student bands. “We want to have a sound,”
Bus arrive to rehearsals know- them or follow their lead and members, just plain fun. Little hopes for the band to he said.
ing the songs on the set list how to mold the music to the In the future, The Bus perform as much as possible The Bus will perform at
already. From there, the hour- vibe of their upcoming gig. looks to FallFest and a repeat in hopes of cultivating a rep- Burnett House tonight at
and-a-half rehearsal block is Despite challenges and of last year’s fall concert at utation and becoming a well- 10:30 p.m..
Friday, October 4, 2019
S SPORTS
SPLIT SECOND TOO LATE: Two Bowdoin defenders close in on Hamilton quarterback Kenny Gray ’20 just after he releases a pass during a 37-24 loss to the Continentals in Week One.
Faced with more of the same, Bowdoin
football takes the long view
More Than a
Game
by Ian Ward
Bowdoin football has had
a historically bad start to its
season. Not just a bad start—a
historically bad start. And
history has not been kind to
Bowdoin football.
So get out your record
book and some Wite-Out, be-
cause it’s time for an update.
On September 21, Bow-
doin suffered the third-worst
loss in program history
during the modern record era
(dating back to 1921), falling
to Trinity (1-2) 61-7. Along
the way, the Bowdoin defense
allowed Trinity to rack up 572
yards of offense, the sixth-
most all time, 391 of which
came in the air, good for sec-
ond-most of all time. Trinity’s
61 points were the third-most
allowed by any Bowdoin team
during the modern record era
(the most being 63 in 1993).
Last weekend, en route to
getting clobbered 41-10 by
Williams (2-1), the defense
again surrendered 481 yards,
this time 398 on the ground.
Pencil that in for second-most
all-time.
Throughout the first three
games of the season, Bowdo-
in allowed 139 points while
scoring only 41. That’s the
largest point differential
across the first three games of
any Bowdoin football season
in the 21st century.
Got any Wite-Out left?
In the NESCAC stand-
ings, Bowdoin now sits at
0-3, tied for the bottom spot
with Bates. Out of nine teams,
the Polar Bears are eighth in
points scored, first in points
allowed, first in yards per
game allowed and second to
last in total offense. And they
have yet to face any of the
three teams tied for the top
spot—Amherst (3-0), Mid-
dlebury (3-0) and Wesleyan
(3-0).
By Head Coach BJ Ham-
mer’s own estimate, “We’re
not very good. When you’re
not very fast and you’re not
very physical, that happens.”
Mince words. I dare you.
For some, all of this might
be a cause for concern. But
not for Hammer, who doesn’t
seem too worried about win-
ning football games this week,
next week or even this season.
When it comes to turning
Bowdoin football into a pro-
gram that wins games, Ham-
mer doesn’t think in terms of
days or weeks. He thinks in
seasons, in blocks of multiple
years.
“I feel bad [for] the se-
niors, because they’ll take
lumps and then a couple years
down the road they’re gonna
see a program that’s winning
games,” said Hammer. “But
they’ll be a part of that by
their leadership and how hard
they work and contribute to
it.”
Above all, Hammer, who
has built a program from the
ground-up before, is realistic
about his prospects.
“There’s a reason Bowdo-
in’s won one game over a three
or four year period,” said
Hammer. “I’ve been coaching
for 20 years and I can tell you
when you’re outmanned and
when you’re not outmanned,
and that’s been the case.”
In other words, Hammer
seems to have all but accepted
that the season will continue
much as it has begun: with a
lot of losses.
But that doesn’t mean that
the season is totally a wash.
Hammer often refers to
the present moment as “Phase
One” of the rebuilding pro-
cess. Part of Phase One is de-
veloping talent that’s already
here—turning young players
into consistent contributors
on the field. But a more sig-
nificant part is recruiting new
talent that is bigger, stronger,
faster and more physical than
the talent Hammer’s got now.
That means tapping into new
geographic recruiting pools—
California, Arizona and Ham-
mer’s home-base in Indiana.
But none of this changes
the fact that 70 or so guys
still suit up to get clobbered
weekend after weekend. And
what for Hammer appears as a
multi-year, big-picture struc-
tural issue appears to current
players as a very immediate
problem.
“Systematically we’re in
a lot better place than we
were before,” said running
back and captain Nate Ri-
cham-Odoi ’20. “A lot of the
things we’re doing right are
working in the right ways,
but at the end of the day us as
players are shooting ourselves
in the foot.”
In this sense, Bowdoin
football suffers from a kind of
dual consciousness; winning
is a matter of effort, but effort
isn’t enough for a 190-pound
lineman to slow down his
240-pound counterpart. It’s
a problem of execution, but
even a perfectly executed pass
will rarely make it to a receiv-
er who’s being guarded by a
safety who’s an entire head
taller than he is.
And while it might be too
soon to reap the benefits of
future recruiting classes, it’s
never too soon for an attitude
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
change. And, in Hammer’s
mind, that change is a change
for the grittier.
“We need to become more
aggressive. I wouldn’t mind
a few aggressive penalties, to
be honest with you, because
we need to start developing
a little bit of an edge in the
attitude around here,” said
Hammer. “Don’t get [me]
wrong, I don’t want penalties,
but football’s not a soft sport.
You can’t be soft and play on
the edge ... in football.”
This is more than a tacti-
cal decision for Hammer—it’s
more like a life philosophy.
“In today’s society, every-
one treats you with kid gloves.
Guess what: your opponent
in football never will,” said
Hammer. “They don’t care
who you are, where you’re
from, they don’t give a crap
about that. They wanna kick
the living hell out of you, and
our guys need to recognize
that and learn to play.”
Put that on a bumper
sticker.
In this, at least, Hammer
and his players are in agree-
ment: if you’re going to lose,
at least raise some hell doing
it.
“I despise losing with an
absolute passion,” said Ham-
mer. “We need more football
players that do that.”
9
HIGHLIGHT
REEL
GIVING THEIR
OPPONENTS
A HELSINKING
FEELING:
Men’s lacrosse alumnus
Brett Kujala ’18 made
history last week at the
World Indoor Lacrosse
Championship, leading
Finland to an all-time
best sixth place finish.
Kujala put up impressive
offensive numbers all
tournament, averaging 9.0
points per game during
the group stages and 5.3
points per game in the
playoffs. Finland notched
big wins against eventual
fourth-place finishers
England and the Czech
Republic before bowing
out in the quarterfinal to
Israel.
IF AT FIRST YOU
DON’T SUCCEED...:
The women’s rugby team
exploded for 43 points in
the second half to take
a commanding 58-10
victory over Colby at
home on Saturday. After
two consecutive wins by
forfeit, the Polar Bears
took a while to get going
and entered the halftime
break with a slim 15-10
lead. However, a dominant
second half carried the
team to victory, with nine
different players scoring
tries over the course of the
game.
UNIVERSAL BASIC
WINCOME:
The men’s tennis team
posted a promising start to
their fall season at the ITA
New England Regional
this weekend at Colby.
In a stacked singles field,
all five Bowdoin singles
players won their first-
round games, with Oscar
Yang ’22 making it to the
quarterfinals. Yang and
Tristan Bradley ’23 barely
missed making the final
in the doubles bracket.
Despite a downsized
roster, this promising start
will set high expectations
for the Polar Bears at
next weekend’s Wallach
Invitational, hosted by
Bates.
IRONING OUT THE
KINKS:
The men’s golf team
struggled last weekend
at the NESCAC Fall
Qualifier, finishing with a
team score of +69, good
for last in the 10-team
pool. After an eighth-
place finish on Saturday,
the Polar Bears slipped
down to the bottom of the
table on Sunday despite
a strong performance
from first year Favian
Busnawi, who shot a 152
and finished 22nd overall.
The team will look to
bounce back this weekend
on its home turf at the
Colby-Bates-Bowdoin
Championship, hosted at
the Brunswick Golf Club.
COMPILED BY DYLAN SLOAN
10
History of interfraternity
athletics lives on in
Bowdoin archives
by Dylan Sloan
Orient Staff
Although nearly 40 per-
cent of Bowdoin students are
members of varsity sports
teams, athletic offerings on
campus range in level of com-
petition and commitment. A
variety of intramural leagues
help students find the right
balance of fun and competi-
tion in multiple sports, from
badminton to hockey. Club
and junior varsity (JV) sports
provide opportunities for
serious competition against
other schools on a local and
even national level.
However, it was not always
like this. For decades, the
non-varsity athletics scene
on campus consisted almost
entirely of a system of inter-
fraternity athletics. In a social
scene so dominated by Greek
life, fraternity influence natu-
rally bled into athletic compe-
tition as well. Over the years,
the interfraternity contests
took on different forms, but
the events themselves re-
mained hugely popular.
In its earliest conception
in the late 1800s, the interfra-
ternity system was designed
to “get the men [that are] not
varsity material … exercise
and competition,” according
to the Interfraternity Athletic
Council (IAC) minutes from
November 10, 1931.
Interfraternity contests
quickly grew in size and pop-
ularity. Participation shot up
from the original flag football
leagues as other sports were
added to the list. Baseball,
basketball, track and swim-
ming attracted more and
JV soccer team welcomes two women to roster
by Sebastian de Lasa
Orient Staff
After an undefeated 2018
season, the junior varsity (JV)
soccer team (2-1) welcomed
two new members to its team—
female athletes Lauren Hickey
’20 and Gabrielle Maffezzoli ’20.
Hickey and Maffezzoli have
played soccer their whole lives.
Maffezzoli played on the Bow-
doin women’s varsity soccer
team as a first year, but quit the
team after that season. For the
two women, soccer has been
an integral part of their lives at
Bowdoin.
“Soccer has honestly pro-
vided me with some of my
highlights [at] Bowdoin,” said
Hickey.
However, the soccer scene
at Bowdoin exhibits a strict
gender divide. That divide ex-
ists most obviously in the dis-
tinction between the men’s and
women’s varsity teams, but also
in more subtle ways within the
soccer community.
Intramural soccer, a system of
more athletes, and by the time
volleyball and bowling were
added in the early-to-mid-
1900s, hundreds of men were
participating in what had be-
come a vibrant non-varsity
sports scene.
Notably, accounts of the
proceedings of the IAC are
full of debate over whether
varsity athletes should be el-
igible to compete in the inter-
fraternity leagues. The coun-
cil devoted a full typewritten
page to establish detailed
regulations for who should
and should not be allowed to
compete for the Ives Trophy, a
prestigious award.
Despite the fact that varsi-
ty athletes were banned from
competition in any interfra-
ternity athletic event, inter-
fraternity contests frequently
attracted more attention than
varsity game results. The
Orient frequently included
coverage of these contests; a
featured article in the Sports
section published on April
9, 1952 described Chi Psi’s
victory in the interfraternity
volleyball playoffs: “A fair
crowd attended both games
and there was much excite-
ment…since this was such a
close contest.”
Capitalizing on the pop-
ularity of the non-varsity
leagues, fraternity members
sought to expand their juris-
diction from managing ath-
letic affairs to college affairs
at large.
“Confer with the Student
Council on becoming the In-
terfraternity Council instead
of the Interfraternity Athletic
Council—thereby broadening
its powers,” read the minutes
leagues that anyone can register
teams within and play against
each other, is the most popular
way to play recreationally on
campus. Within Bowdoin in-
tramural soccer there are three
leagues: A-league being the
highest skill level, B-league a step
The men on the team might ...
bump into us and be like, ‘Oh
my god, are you okay?’ They
think we’re really fragile ... We
run into each other, and they
think that they’ve killed us.
Like, no, I’m fine.
–Lauren Hickey ’20
down from that, and C-league,
which currently has two teams
that both fall under the six play-
ers per team minimum.
While the B-league teams
have a fairly even balance of
SPORTS
of an IAC meeting on No-
vember 10, 1931. However, all
records of the Interfraternity
Council and Interfraternity
Athletic Council disappear
from the records in 1943, sug-
gesting that this motion never
came to fruition.
The immense popularity
of these events threatened to
overshadow varsity teams. In
fact, the school’s administra-
tion went so far as to propose
a motion to downsize or even
eliminate the entire interfra-
ternity athletic system.
“The topic reopened the
discussion on whether the
Board was in favor of con-
tinuing intramural athletics
on the interfraternity basis.
Roland Cobb outlined the
program suggested by the
Athletic Department which
had for its aim the minimiz-
ing of fraternity feeling which
is injurious to varsity teams,”
read the IAC minutes from
May 31, 1932.
Despite the administra-
tion’s doubts, the interfrater-
nity leagues were allowed to
continue through the mid-
20th century.
Although the interfrater-
nity games featured serious
levels of competition, the
leagues were not exempt from
the realities of Greek life. Fra-
ternity members were warned
not to sabotage their own
teams by hazing their recruits
to a point where they would
be unable to compete:
“[It is vital] that freshman
football [players] should be
exempt from all kinds of haz-
ing by the fraternity liable to
injure them,” read the IAC
minutes from October 1, 1931.
men and women, there is
only one team out of seven in
the A-league that has a single
woman registered on its roster.
There are 47 men registered
on A-league teams. There are
two women.
That being said, there are
plenty of women on campus
looking to play soccer at a high-
ly competitive level. Sofia Trogu
’19 started a women’s JV soccer
team during her sophomore
year and was able to gather 35
THE FOUR COMMANDMENTS: The Interfraternity Athletic Council set guidelines prohibiting varsity athletes
from participating in interfraternity athletic events that contributed to awards like the Ives Trophy.
As engagement grew
throughout the early 1900s,
other campus organizations
and institutions blossomed to
support this form of athletics.
A set of trophies and cups were
bought to reward the winners
of various divisions of competi-
tion. For each season of compe-
tition, one fraternity was named
the champion and presented
with an engraved trophy. The
Ives Trophy was awarded to the
fraternity that accumulated the
students within a week who ex-
pressed interest in joining the
team, and she enlisted the help
of the Bowdoin Athletics De-
partment to organize the team
as an official JV program that
played other colleges.
However, due to the admin-
istrative burden of founding a
team, the women were only able
to schedule a few scrimmag-
es among themselves. When
Trogu attempted the next year
to convert the team to a club
team rather than JV, Student
Activities told her that there
was not enough field space for
them to play, and the Athletic
Department “[did not] advocate
for [the team]”
Hickey tried to play on the
women’s JV team before it
folded and expressed disillu-
sionment with the Bowdoin
administration concerning its
handling of the team. Since both
athletes were still interested in
playing soccer at a competitive
level at Bowdoin, Maffezzoli
and Hickey got involved with
the Bowdoin Pick-up Organiza-
highest point total throughout
the entire year.
One such cup, the Interfra-
ternity Winter Sports Trophy,
is still held in the George J.
Mitchell Department of Spe-
cial Collections and Archives.
In 1927 and 1928, the trophy
was won by Sigma Nu, which
existed in what is now Helm-
reich House. The trophy—
which is somewhat tarnished,
has a dent or two and still
smells faintly of stale beer in-
tion Of Soccer (B-POOS) in lieu
of an organized team.
Even joining B-POOS, a sim-
ilarly male-dominated space,
took chutzpah, said Maffezzoli.
“What Lauren and I are do-
ing, to come to B-POOS as a
woman, does require that ex-
tra,” Maffezzoli paused. “I don’t
know if it’s confidence or if it’s
just like, ‘I don’t give a crap.’”
Through B-POOS, Maffezzoli
played against most of the men
on the men’s JV team. She joking-
ly expressed her interest in join-
ing the team but was surprised
when she was met with support
from the men on the team.
“Some of them were like,
‘Gabs, you should totally do
it.’ I was like, ‘Good one.’ Then
junior year I decided ‘why the
heck not,’ especially considering
there’s no women’s JV team,”
said Maffezzoli.
Maffezzoli in turn reached
out to Hickey, knowing she
would be interested in joining
the team given their mutual in-
volvement with B-POOS. Hick-
ey was similarly a little hesitant
Friday, October 4, 2019
DYLAN SLOAN, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
side—seems a fitting tribute
to Sigma Nu’s triumph.
The current system of intra-
mural athletics is undeniably
more open, diverse and acces-
sible than the exclusive, com-
petitive system set up by the
fraternities. However, through
the Bowdoin archives and
through artifacts like trophies
and meeting minutes meticu-
lously cataloged over decades,
the history of these leagues
lives on.
before agreeing to join but even-
tually decided to go for it.
Hickey and Maffezzoli feel
wholly included by their team-
mates, but they acknowledged
that they were fully aware of their
gender while being on a men’s
team. Maffezzoli mentioned how
the psychological “stereotype
threat” comes into play.
“The men on the team might
… bump into us and be like,
‘Oh my god, are you okay?’
They think we’re really fragile
… We run into each other and
they think that they’ve killed us.
Like, no, I’m fine,” said Hickey.
Despite the dynamics that
come with being a woman play-
ing on a predominantly male
team, both Hickey and Maffez-
zoli expressed their happiness
with the situation.
“I’m grateful to all our new
teammates—the men on the JV
team—because definitely, [join-
ing the team] was intimidating
and also exciting … I do not feel
animosity or any difference in
treatment. So I’m just grateful,”
said Maffezzoli.
Friday, October 4, 2019 SPORTS 11

Despite slow start, volleyball hits stride at the right time

by Ian Ward
Orient Staff
Bowdoin women’s volley-
ball (6-6, NESCAC 1-2) en-
tered last Saturday’s matchup
against national number-five
ranked Johnson and Wales
(11-3) having lost four of their
last five games—including two
straight-set losses to confer-
ence rivals Wesleyan (10-2)
and Tufts (12-0)—and with
three times as many losses in
the past month as it had ac-
cumulated across all of last
season.
Yet, they emerged with the
program’s first ever victory
over a top-ten team in its 34-
year history.
In the first game of a day-
time doubleheader, the Polar
Bears topped the Wildcats
with a score of 3-1 at Tufts
University in Medford, Mas-
sachusetts. In the second game
of the day, Bowdoin also put
away Maine Maritime (10-3)
by the same scoreline—draw-
ing the team’s record even at
6-6 overall.
The team is adjusting to the
reality of a new season after
last fall’s record-setting cam-
paign.
“The record is a fun thing
to break,” said head coach
Erin Cady. “It’s kind of saying
goodbye to last season when
you have this remarkable 29-2
record and thinking that that’s
just going to carry you over
into this season … [We’re]
finding our new identity as
who we are this year, in 2019.”
Johnson and Wales entered
the match with an 11-1 record
and ranked fifth in the Amer-
ican Volleyball Coaches Asso-
ciation (AVCA) poll, the same
poll that ranked Bowdoin
23rd nationally a month ago.
In 2018, the Wildcats post-
ed a 33-2 record, including
a Greater Northeast Athletic
I think facing the number-five
[team] in the nation right now
was what we needed to first
bring out ... confidence, and
then also prove to ourselves that
we had what it takes.
–captain Dani Abrams ’20
Conference championship
and a trip to the finals of the
NCAA Tournament Provi-
dence Regional.
After losses to Bowdoin and
Tufts this past weekend, the
Wildcats have dropped to 15th
in the ACVA rankings.
The historic win came at the
right time for the Polar Bears,
as the team struggled to set its
season on the right track.
“I think it was definitely
a mental shift for our team,”
said captain Dani Abrams ’20.
“We started out the season fac-
ing really tough competition,
and we’re playing well, but
we couldn’t get that collective
team confidence ... I think fac-
ing the number-five [team] in
the nation right now was what
we needed to first bring out
that confidence, and then also
prove to ourselves that we had
what it takes.”
Sophia Pahl ’22 led Bowdo-
in against the Wildcats with
13 kills while adding 12 digs
and five service aces. Captain
Caroline Flaharty ’20 paired
10 kills with 17 digs, and Ella
Haugen ’23 led the team with
25 assists.
The addition of Hau-
gen, a setter, as well as Jaida
Hodge-Adams ’23, a right-side
hitter, has allowed the Polar
Bears to modify their rotation
from a 5-1 system to a 6-2
system, which gives the team
more offensive options on the
court at any given time.
“With that offense, it’s
something we haven’t run be-
fore, but it provides us more
options with having a hitter
and not having a setter in the
front row,” said Cady. “I would
say that overall [there is] more
speed in every position, and
that’s something that we [had]
on Saturday that we hadn’t
seen all season.”
Abrams said that most im-
portantly, the win allowed
the team to clear its mental
hurdles that had accumulated
over the course of the faltering
start to season.
“I think we could sense
ourselves playing with a bit
of fear,” said Abrams. “[We
were] not playing to win, but
playing not to lose, and I think
we found a way to get past that
and just play without any neg-
ative pressure.”
And the new mindset is
here to stay.
“I don’t think there’s any
turning back. I think we’re a
new team now compared to
what we were a week ago,” said
Abrams.
Bowdoin currently sits sev-
enth in the NESCAC stand-
ings, tied with Bates (9-4,
NESCAC 1-2) with a 1-2 con-
ference record.
The team plays its first
conference game at home
tonight at 8 p.m. in Morrell
Gymnasium. The game is the
team’s annual Dig Pink Night,
a fundraising initiative to raise
money for breast cancer re-
search.

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APEX PREDATOR: Sarah Evans ’23 sizes up a ball at the top of its arc in a
match against the University of Southern Maine as fans look on.
12 Friday, October 4, 2019

O OPINION
In support of those speaking up
Twelve Bowdoin housekeepers wrote an op-ed this week detailing the real-
ities of the work they do to clean Bowdoin’s spaces. The letter paints a picture
of Bowdoin as an employer that is, frankly, shameful.
The College presents itself as an institution guided by the principles of the
Common Good. Thus, people tend to expect—incorrectly—that Bowdoin
housekeeping staff are compensated fairly.
As Bowdoin students, it embarrasses us to imagine the scenario described
in the op-ed: a housekeeper had to explain the harsh reality of their life as a
Bowdoin employee to someone who assumed that they were well-paid. This
is not the portrait of Bowdoin that the College projects, either to the outside
world or to students.
But we are watching now.
It is true; many students on this campus do come from a position of priv-
ilege (about half of current students pay the full sticker price of $70,000 a
year). Even students on financial aid benefit from the abundant resources of
this College. But privilege should not excuse indifference. When courageous
people, such as these housekeepers, bring attention to problems that the Col-
lege would rather sweep under the rug, our community can begin to engage
in these conversations.
Though organizations such as the Bowdoin Labor Alliance can be power-
ful instruments of change, the first-hand accounts provided by housekeepers
are exponentially more powerful. We appreciate that it is significantly more
difficult for those members of our community to speak out, and we admire
those who have done so. We also firmly believe that they should not have
had to.
Our position as students working on a college newspaper lends us signifi-
SARA CAPLAN
cant insulation from consequences which others might face. Unlike Visiting
Assistant Professor of German Professor Andrew Hamilton, the author of a
September 20 op-ed questioning the principles of Bowdoin’s leadership, we
don’t have to worry about jeopardizing the future of our professional careers.
A piece by Radu Stochita ’22 in this issue’s opinion section calls on us to
Banding together: Bowdoin
housekeepers share their story
bite the hand that feeds us, regardless of the power (or lack thereof) we hold
on this campus. Hamilton’s op-ed and this week’s statement from the house-
keepers are courageous examples of community members doing just that.
Some people here are in positions of power—among them, alumni, profes-
sors with tenure and students who don’t receive financial aid. Others, how- Things have changed. The housekeep- President Clayton Rose’s house—and new employees to join Bowdoin is to in-
ever, are in positions of vulnerability. They include students on financial aid, ing department isn’t like it used to be. I his second house! And you don’t get any crease the starting pay.
untenured professors and support staff members. have to struggle to get out of bed to come more money. In how many companies It makes me laugh when I meet peo-
We hope you keep talking. We are listening to you, and we hope the ad- to work. I loved coming to work. But do you clean the boss’s house? ple and I tell them “I’m a housekeeper at
ministration is as well. now everything is so different. Bowdoin Parts of this campus have a serious Bowdoin” and they say, “Oh, you must
The College is apprehensive about critical messages, especially during prides itself on being a great communi- mold problem. It’s in the walls and venti- make good money.” My pay shows how
Homecoming Weekend because these messages tarnish the squeaky-clean ty in the public eye, but behind closed lation systems. This is happening all over much I am respected. We’re supposed to
image the College promotes. Alumni returning to campus ought to be doors it’s quite a different story. the place, but we’re not warned. We have be so grateful for whatever they give us,
shocked and appalled. They ought to act on that. To Bowdoin’s housekeepers: To be clear, I am not writing this to to deal with bedbugs, lice, vomit, blood like the pay raise this summer of a few
we support your fearless efforts to better this institution and hold account- hurt anyone. I love my job and the stu- and asbestos. There are no precautions cents. Now some of us who’ve been here
able those who disgrace it. dents, and have a good relationship with for us. They don’t care. At Bowdoin a long time are making the same or just a
the staff I have met. I just wish the Bow- there’s no “maximum” level of work. few cents more than someone who’s been
This editorial represents the majority view of the Bowdoin Orient’s editorial board, doin community could be in our shoes They can just keep going if they want. here a lot less time. What they did by giv-
which is composed of Emily Cohen, Brianna Cunliffe, Roither Gonzales, Rohini Ku- for a day and see what it’s like. I’m doing three buildings, and more ing everybody “raises” was to shut every-
rup, Alyce McFadden, Nina McKay, Danielle Quezada, Reuben Schafir and Jaret On my first day, I was very open if someone calls in sick, all in the same body up. To make everyone go away.
Skonieczny. about not knowing how to do things eight hours. And the buildings just keep Bowdoin can’t see how wrong they
yet. I never got training, and then I get popping up. We’re expected to hear “this are when they say “We don’t have
reprimanded. I’m even expected to train is how it’s done,” period—no talking, the money to pay you more.’’ It’s dis-
others now. My first month at Bowdoin, no input. This is physical work that will turbing to me that the college would
I was called to the child care center, told break you down and wear out even the rather hire lawyers and pay legal fees
to put my hair in a ponytail, start bagging most physically fit person, with continu- to fight against housekeepers than pay
ESTABLISHED 1871 up everything that was made of soft fab- al stress on the muscles and repetition of us a living wage.
ric and throw it in a truck. Later they told the same movements. We had this whole meeting last year
bowdoinorient.com orient@bowdoin.edu 6200 College Station Brunswick, ME 04011
The Bowdoin Orient is a student-run weekly publication dedicated to providing news and information me it was a lice infestation. This was just I’ve worked in many places since I was with administration, where they talked
relevant to the Bowdoin community. Editorially independent of the College and its administrators, the first of many infestations I would lat- 15. But here I feel so discouraged and about us being at the “top of the compet-
the Orient pursues such content freely and thoroughly, following professional journalistic standards in er take care of with no official training on disappointed. Is this how Bowdoin wants itive market.” Brunswick High School is
writing and reporting. The Orient is committed to serving as an open forum for thoughtful and diverse pest removal or any equipment suitable their employees to feel? This is what I’ve right down the road, paying their custo-
discussion and debate on issues of interest to the College community. to do the job well. felt like since day one. Do I feel respect- dians 21 bucks an hour. We have house-
We have to go to Mayflower Apart- ed? Nope. If we were respected the way keepers that have been here 20 years and
Emily Cohen Alyce McFadden ments, Pine Street and Stowe Inn. We we should be, instead of being treated more not making that. It’s a disgrace.
Editor in Chief Editor in Chief have to use our personal vehicles, or like children, maybe we would have re- It’s disturbing to see all my coworkers
we’re supposed to walk to our buildings spect for management. We are afraid to afraid for their jobs, afraid to speak up
Digital Director Managing Editor News Editor and tear our shoulders out carrying smile. If we say or do the wrong thing about being overworked and underpaid.
Steven Xu Maia Coleman Andrew Bastone things. These are all off campus, miles we could be sent to HR. Management I am sick and tired of the bosses saying
Anna Fauver Aura Carlson away, and we’re not reimbursed for gas. If encourages hostility and divisiveness to us, “you chose to be a housekeeper.” To
Photo Editor Roither Gonzales
Rohini Kurup Features Editor we can’t make it in time, we’re told we’re between us. They encourage us to tell on me that is so disrespectful. I fell in love
Ann Basu Emma Sorkin taking too long and asked why we’re late. each other, and it’s contagious. They even and had my own family. I put my family
Mindy Leder Nina McKay
Ian Ward How many housekeepers or even cus- want us to take pictures if someone hasn’t over finishing college. But I am proud to
Sports Editor
todians have to walk with their supplies a gotten to clean something. be a housekeeper and feel it’s rewarding.
Layout Editor Dylan Sloan
Executive Editor mile down the road? How many schools I feel like I am in lock down. We are Bowdoin should respect us housekeep-
Emma Bezilla A&E Editor call their cleaning staff housekeepers? constantly being checked on. If we are ers and dining and facilities staff as much
Jaret Skonieczny Kate Lusignan
Eliana Miller Cole van Miltenburg How many housekeepers have to start sitting down we are asked what we are as they do everyone else that makes this
Ian Stewart
Opinion Editor work at 5 a.m.? How many housekeepers doing, all the time. We are always being college run. We are just as important.
Associate Editor Diego Lasarte have to clean sticky, beer-stained floors watched to see what time we get to the They don’t make penny candy any-
Data Desk Editor
Kathryn McGinnis after parties, or wax and buff floors with time clock to punch out. A lot of us are more. Those days are long gone. I can’t
Gwen Davidson Lucie Nolden Page 2 Editor large machinery? upset and frustrated and have no one in live on what my husband and I bring
Drew Macdonald Lucy Ryan Lily Randall When we’re working overtime and management anymore that we can go home monthly. I feel like we should have
George Grimbilas (asst.) Reuben Schafir
Nimra Siddiqui (asst.) Calendar Editor big jobs like graduation, newer house- to, but when you ask people to go to the a living wage so that we can afford to buy
Jane Godiner keepers will ask me for guidance. I’m Bowdoin Labor Alliance meeting they steak sometimes and so we can pay our
Head Copy Editor
Head Illustrator given all this responsibility but manage- choose not to or are afraid. mortgages and everyday bills. I don’t feel
Devin McKinney Senior News Reporter
Sara Caplan ment still won’t promote me to “Senior So many people are looking for oth- like we are asking a lot.
Nate DeMoranville Housekeeper.” er jobs. If the position of housekeeper Bonnie Perkins, Beth Icangelo, Jane
Copy Editor Horace Wang
Social Media Manager Sebastian de Lasa When the events setup crew is at Bowdoin is so desirable, why have Davis, Laura Leonard, Melanie Craig,
Ayub Tahlil Danielle Quezada Senior Sports Reporter swamped, we are also called upon as there been four vacant positions since Michael Gilman, Mickey Brockett,
Sophie Friedman Emily Staten Ella Chaffin backups. We get paid housekeeping wag- last November? We’re so understaffed Pamela Weeks, Sandy Green, Sherry
The material contained herein is the property of The Bowdoin Orient and appears at the sole discretion of the es but are expected to work harder than that we can’t take vacations––they have Cousins, Tenaj Ormsby and Tracey
editors. The editors reserve the right to edit all material. Other than in regard to the above editorial, the opinions two job titles combined. them blocked off so you can’t take a day Taylor are all currently employed as
expressed in the Orient do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors. Housekeepers even have to clean off. And the only way we are going to get Bowdoin housekeepers.
Friday, October 4, 2019 OPINION 13

Stop giving bigots platforms at Bowdoin

by Mitchel Jurasek
Op-Ed Contributor
Two weeks ago, at an on-cam-
pus event highlighting the authors
Richard Ford and John Banville,
President Clayton Rose intro-
duced Ford, saying that “he has
been awarded too many prizes
to count.” While Ford’s resume
boasts impressive prizes includ-
ing the Pulitzer, it hides a part of
his character that Rose chose not
to highlight. To be brief, it’s easi-
est to simply say Richard Ford is
a racist.
A 2017 article in The Guardian
titled “Richard Ford should swal-
low his pride over Colson White-
head’s bad review” gives ample
evidence.
In 2001, Colson Whitehead, an
African American writer, reviewed
Ford’s “A Multitude of Sins” in
the New York Times. His review
asserts that Ford’s characters in
the collection are “nearly indis-
tinguishable” and writes that “if I
were an epidemiologist, I’d say that
some sort of spiritual epidemic has
started to afflict white upper-mid-
dle-class professionals.”
Two years later, Ford met
Whitehead at a party and spat in
his face.
While it’s hard to think of a
decent person who does such a
thing to a critic, this form of be-
havior is not unusual for Ford. Af-
ter Alice Hoffman similarly gave
Ford a bad review, he took one of
her novels, shot it with a gun and
then mailed it to her.
And although I personally
feel that racism is explicit in the
exchange with Whitehead, little
doubt is left after thinking criti-
cally about the reaction, his past
(and present) comments and even
his writing.
Ford’s reaction to Hoffman is
one that at least levels some type
of revenge on an equal (albeit a
deranged type of revenge): You
give my book a bad review, I shoot
your book in my backyard and
mail it to you.
In the other case, Ford’s reac-
tion was to simply spit on a black
man.
As the essayist Rebecca Solnit
put it, “that’s just a white creep
spitting on a black man.”
An even further appalling part
of this story is that in 2017 Ford
wrote in Esquire that he still be-
lieves it was the right reaction.
Whitehead’s exchange with Ford
is one of a string of racist interac-
tions and remarks the author has
hidden in the resume President
Rose spoke of. The fact that Ford
once told the Kenyon Review that
the relationship he has to his char-
acters is “master to slave.” He add-
ed that, “sometimes I hear them at
night singing over in their cabins.”
The event two weeks ago left
me sitting half-way around the
world and staring at the Facebook
livestream and fuming, as I sat
and watched this bigoted man
receive so much power at my
school. This is not the first time
Ford has been given a platform at
Bowdoin (in fact, he taught here
once), but it should be the last.
Bowdoin needs to do a better
job at vetting its candidates for
lectures, fellowships (I’m look-
ing at you Arthur Brooks and
the McKeen Center) and every
other position at the college. We
especially should not be giving
up valuable positions of power
to racists. It’s a waste of—not to
mention an insult to—students’
time and education.
Mitchel Jurasek is a member of EMMA SORKIN
the Class of 2021.

The Fox Box: on the optimism of Generation Z
by Jared Foxhall
Opinion Contributor
The first few essays from the
Fox Box will be a deep dive into
the particulars of what makes
Gen Z different: Who are we as
consumers? As activists? What
do we care about and how will
we shape the world to come? In
this column, I hope to draw from
analytics and research, as well as
interviews and anecdotes to probe
the soul of who we are as a demo-
graphic cohort.
Because the kind of internet
we use today was designed by
Millennials for Millennials, Gen
Z—those born between the mid-
1990s and early 2000s—often get
mistakenly clumped into their de-
mographic cohort. The purpose
of this column is to assert the op-
posite: that Gen Z is unique and
actually more optimistic than our
predecessors for several reasons.
My sister and I are both Gen
Z, babies of internet 2.0 (the high-
speed, semantic systems web). She
is 17 and I am 20. The web shapes
not only how we communicate
and stay in touch, but also the
nature of the relationship itself.
The late nights we spend on our
living room couch, each on our
respective devices sending each
other memes, are actually how we
spend many of our most intimate
moments. We relate to each other
through images and the immedi-
acy of information and connec-
tion. And when an image doesn’t
send in a millisecond we act as
if the world owes us something.
My father can easily recall a time
when a PNG file took a day and a
half to load.
The way my sister and I use the
internet has been bemoaned since
we were children by our parents
and by virtually every Gen X (born
between within 1965 to 1980) out-
SHONA ORITZ
sider looking in. To our parents
and grandparents we are apathetic,
politically unengaged, distracted,
screen whores, “more disconnect-
ed than ever” and the most ADHD
generation in history. Much of
their criticism makes sense as our
parents were raised out of the con-
text of meritocratic capitalism and
political transformation.
Outcry from Gen X is noth-
ing unfamiliar, especially not for
Millennials who are labeled as
hopelessly entitled and endeav-
oring for instant gratification and
recognition. Born on the cusp of
the internet from the 1980s to
the mid-1990s, Millennials can
remember seriously using things
like VCRs and MySpace and in-
venting things like Facebook and
Netflix. Millennials are seen in
the workforce as being flexible,
collaborative and valuing work/
life balance. They denounce the
kind of corporate drudgery their
parents went through and as a
result, seek jobs that drive their
interests instead of careers.
Our context as Gen Z is some-
what different. Millennials were
raised in the context of economic
prosperity and a transitional peri-
od of barely any internet to the ex-
ponentially smarter and infinitely
connected internet we currently
use. By contrast, members of Gen
Z are true digital and smartphone
natives. Social internet networks
and the “multiple realities” and
identities that the internet har-
bors have defined our behaviors
and our search for truth from a
critical age. While we are arguably
less self-oriented or entrepreneur-
ial than Millenials, we are com-
munaholic-realists facing larger
existential threats like irreversible
debt and financial burden, climate
change, and political disunity and
unrest. As climate change activist
Nadia Navar puts candidly, “We’re
the first generation that’s being
significantly affected by climate
change, and the last generation
that can do something about it.”
A recent study from McKinsey
& Company says that as consum-
ers we value “uniqueness” and
“ethics” while our parents con-
sumed with a bend toward luxury
items and brands. McKinsey char-
acterizes our behavior as “uniden-
tified id,” (seeking user unidentifi-
able platforms such as Snapchat)
“communaholic,” “dialoguer” and
“realistic.” The underpinning trait,
above all, centers around a search
for truth: expressing individual
truth, connecting through differ-
ent truths, understanding differ-
ent truths and unveiling the truth
behind all things. As a result, we
are more willing to join someone
who thinks differently if there is
a shared cause and we are more
likely to stop buying from brands
that aren’t woke by our standards.
Though young, the leading
edge of our generation already
defines themselves as do-gooders
and activists. A Pakistani teen,
Malala Yousafzai, became the
youngest person ever to win the
Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at age
18. A study by cultural forecasting
firm Sparks and Honey found
that 26 percent of 16 to 19-year
olds volunteer on a regular basis
and 76 percent are concerned
about humanity’s impact on the
earth. And for some reason, even
though we are consistently de-
fined as the “realist” generation,
results from polls conducted by
Heartland Monitor Polls showed
that we (by an overwhelming
amount) find “enjoyment” and
“ability to make a difference”
more important than money and
skills when it comes to finding a
job. As we age and rise to greater
influence, it will be fascinating
to see how these demographic
temperaments reflect outwards in
structuring society.
Today, 25 percent of Amer-
icans are Gen Z, between the
ages of 4 and 24 years old, which
will be decidedly the largest con-
sumer and voter base. What do
we demand of the world and of
each other? How will we engage
with our political economy and
with our identity to shape a better
world for our offspring than the
one created for us? I invite you
to consider these questions with
me and decide where you lie. It
is important because our next
generation depends on it. Because
you depend on it.
Jared Foxhall is a member of the
Class of 2022.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLL OF THE WEEK

The time of Richard Ford is over ARE YOU PROUD TO BE A BOWDOIN

To the Editor,
The day following a 16-year-old female’s
indictment of the devastation wrought by
white western men at the United Nations
General Assembly Climate Change Action
Summit, Bowdoin hosted a conversation
by two proud members of another flank
of that canon—the part reserved for great
important self-awarding white male writers
(Richard Ford and John Banfield). Coinci-
dence, maybe, but the speakers reified the
problem a 16-year-old had the moral cour-
age to identify. They didn’t seem to notice.
“Man is a god in ruins,” Member Banfield
said, quoting Emerson. In describing his
agonizing daily descent into personlessness
as he picks up his pen, he acknowledged
stealing the line and made reference to his
STUDENT?
Editor’s comment: “He said it was the most
brilliant sentence.” or some such squat.
I heard no protest from his fellow Mem- Answer at bowdoinorient.com/poll.
ber interviewer. At which point, I left. I fear
the oblivion of both members to the sexism
that takes nice little girls like Greta Thun-
berg and finds a place for them where they
are shamed into silence and personless-
Last issue’s response:
ness. Donald Trump is doing his part but I
have to say both Members of the Canon at Q: DO YOU FEEL SAFE GOING TO AN
Bowdoin did a pretty good job of it them-
selves—albeit coming out of a habitual sec-
ond nature.
OFF-CAMPUS PARTY?
Shameful, as a morally courageous
16-year-old might say. 61% YES
Susan Cook 39% NO
Based on answers from 135 responses.
14 OPINION Friday, October 4, 2019

Pass/failing is an act of academic cowardice

by Ella Crabtree
Op-Ed Contributor
As the leaves change color
and students trade their flip-
flops for Bean Boots, profes-
sors begin handing back as-
signments. Essays and exams
return marked up, commented
upon, praised and construc-
tively criticized. Concurrent-
ly, the school approaches its
Credit/D/Fail deadline. At this
point, students must choose
whether to “pass/fail” a class
or receive grades on a typical
letter scale. Students may take
up to four of their required 32
graduation credits on a pass/
fail basis. “D’s” and “fails” fac-
tor into student grade point
averages as 1.0s and 0.0s.
However, if a student receives
“credit,” their grade point aver-
age remains unaffected. Thus,
by employing the pass/fail op-
tion, one may receive medio-
cre passing grades without fear
of compromising their overall
academic standing.
Some students are honest
about their impulse to pass/
fail classes. “I don’t want to
put all of my efforts into this
class,” they say. Or, “I don’t
think I’ll be able to get an A
in this class.” However, people
cite less genuine motiva-
tions as well. Students
frequently claim
that pass/failing di-
vorces the learning
experience from the
grading system. “I’m
not so focused on my
grades,” they say. “I just
care about the learning
experience.” If this were
true, students would pass/
fail so-called ‘easy-A’ classes
at the same rate that they do
difficult ones. Anyone can see
that classes get pass-failed as
a function of their difficulty.
We’ve all watched the process:
students receive their first
grades, become intimidated
and excuse themselves from
rigorous and potentially hum-
bling academic experiences.
Contrary to popular senti-
ment, this does not de-empha-
size grades. It rather demon-
strates that Bowdoin students
are obsessed with grades. It
shows that we are over-accus-
tomed to excelling and are un-
able to stomach the possibility
of B’s and C’s.
For a student body that
prides itself on intellectual
curiosity and espouses the
importance of rigor, the preva-
lence of pass/fail at Bowdoin is
evade much of the revis-
ing, rewriting, quizzing
and serious studying they
would otherwise engage
with. Taking classes
without conse-
quences for our
grade point
averages there-
fore deprives
us of valuable,
challenging
learning expe-
riences. Without
these experiences,
what are we here for?
Of course, in some
cases, pass/failing may
be necessary. For
example, a student
with a concussion
may need to curb
shocking. the rigor of their
When he schedule and re-
welcomed duce their work
AM
the Class of LILY FULL load. In this case,
2022, Presi- Credit/D/Fail is an excel-
dent Clayton encourages just the opposite: lent option. However, pre-
Rose discussed it encourages academic cow- cluding such circumstances,
the importance of intellectual ardice. For most Bowdoin stu- I do not think that students
fearlessness. He encouraged dents, merely passing a course should pass/fail their classes.
students to break out of their is not a difficult task. Con- In fact, without a note from a
comfort zones and take diffi- sequently, pass/failing allows dean, I do not think Bowdoin
cult, unfamiliar subjects for students to slack off. Rather should give them the option
the sake of learning. I believe than putting in the serious to do so. I understand that
that pass/failing, in its absti- work required to get A’s in this will have implications
nence from real consequences, demanding courses, students for students’ post-graduate
options. However, over time,
Bowdoin’s reputation will ad-
just— graduate schools and
employers will understand
that Bowdoin has become
more difficult overall, and
adjust their qualifications ac-
cordingly. Personally, I’d rath-
er have a transcript with a few
B’s than a transcript from an
institution which unnecessar-
ily and artificially protects our
averages.
For better or worse, we are
in a reputable, rigorous and
exclusive academic environ-
ment. As such, most students
should receive B’s and C’s.
They should receive B’s and
C’s that factor into their grade
point averages and affect their
standing. And guess what—it’s
OK! Bowdoin does not need
to replace these grades with
ambiguous “credit” marks,
only serving to safeguard stu-
dents’ averages and preserve
their egos. Consistent with its
self-proclaimed quality and
rigor, I implore Bowdoin to
stop allowing such a cop-out.
In the meantime, out of re-
spect for themselves, I implore
students to step up and forgo
the pass/fail option.
Ella Crabtree is a member of
the Class of 2022.

Why it is your duty to bite the hand that feeds you

why should you complain?” behave like others do: show
by Radu Stochita This philosophy domi- gratitude, smile and abstain
Op-Ed Contributor
nated my life back home in from criticism. “It won’t
Throughout my childhood Romania, where one had to do you any good,” she said.
I was reminded that I should adapt, to tacitly accept the Living her entire life under
never bite the hand that feeds wrong-doing of others, with a system that pushed aside
me. I should just smile, sit the hope that one day it would those that had the courage to
quietly and accept what I re- get better. Did it ever get bet- speak up had left her with the
ceived without further ques- ter? We still ask this question impression that change was
tioning it. As some people 30 years after the Revolution impossible. The idealism that
have put it: “At least you opened our borders and al- once dominated the rebirth
got something, lowed “freedom” to be born. of my nation after 1989 has
Before I left for college, my slowly faded. Some people
mother reminded me that I still have it, marching into the
was to be a guest at the streets whenever something
table and that outrageous happens, but the
I should vast majority of my country
will sit quiet and accept it.
The vast majority witness
the wrong-doing and
the things that might
be unethical or
questionable in
some circumstances. The vast trucks are waiting for us at
majority witness how some the beginning of the year and
programs are made solely even free swag can sometimes
for the reproduction of the be found in Smith Union.
wealthy class and how much There are programs for people
individualism is promoted. of color, LGBTQIA+, low-in-
The vast majority accept this, come or first-generation
adapt to it and promote it as a students. There is something
way of life. happening here that can fit ev-
We are reminded daily eryone’s needs. It sure seems
that we are privileged to be like we have everything we
at Bowdoin and that we have want here, but to me, some-
the chance that others don’t. thing seems to be missing.
We clearly are, in a place that What is missing is the
tries to ensure that we are very courage to bite the hand that
comfortable and have every- feeds you. It is not a bad thing
thing that we need. In some to do, as no one should think
ways it makes it seem utopian, that we are not grateful
because the moment we leave when we
the campus, we enter a differ- express
ent reality. We are wel- criticism
comed with snacks or heavily
at events, food target some
school in-
stitutions
with our
concerns. It
is not negative
for students to be
N aware of their environ-
TA
KY
RA ment, and it is natural
for them to want to
express their opinion.
It is not a bad thing
to criticize the place
that offers you a free
meal, provides a roof
over your head and
gives you an educa-
tion. It is not a bad thing, and
we should be encouraged to
speak up and question every-
thing that we take for granted
in this school to see if there is
room for improvement.
Should we have a student on
the Board of Trustees? Should
Bowdoin encourage its work-
ers to form a union? Should
Bowdoin Student Government
take a stronger stance regard-
ing the workers’ situation on
campus? Should the Board of
Trustees include more people
who work outside of the fi-
nancial sector? Should we have
more exposure to arts opportu-
nities in Career Exploration &
Development? Should we hold
our class councils accountable
to better inform us of what
they are actually doing?
These are some questions.
More are to be asked. Bowdo-
in is a place which welcomes
us with arms wide-open,
pampers us and gives us a lot
of comfort. Still, it should not
be left without criticism. We
need people that can speak
up, not ones that sit quietly
and accept everything.
This article was inspired by
Andrew Hamilton’s op-ed and
his commitment to biting the
hand that feeds him.
Radu Stochita is a member
of the class of 2022.

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Friday, October 4, 2019
Why revising your past ideas is important
by Holden Turner
Op-Ed Contributor
I would like to revise my
Common App essay. Thank
you, admissions office, for
seeing the potential in what
I wrote and inviting me to
enroll, but my priorities then
do not match my beliefs now.
And for this reason I have a
few changes to make.
I wrote my essay reflecting
on a multi-day outdoors expe-
rience in a close-knit group.
This sort of theme is not
unique: camping programs,
backcountry experiences and
even family trips are excellent
topics to explore when look-
ing for personal qualities to
express to college admissions
and I admire those of you
who submitted one of these
for your love of the places you
saw and people who joined
you. These memories contain
crucial lessons. I applaud
what you wrote in your es-
says about leadership, inner
strength and stewardship of
beautiful landscapes.
The issue that I take with
my own essay is that I wrote
it as a blind lover of wilder-
ness. Bowdoin courses have
changed that. Four semesters
in the Environmental Studies
(ES) program here will not
let anyone get away without
confronting this word, “wil-
derness.” American scholars
have interrogated the con-
cept and found it complicit
in unjust treatment of people
and landscapes. According to
what is read in ES classes, the
wilderness myth has support-
ed the Romantics and their
erasure of other cultures, the
HAVE AN
OPINION?
Submit an Op-Ed or
a Letter to the Editor
to orientopinion@
bowdoin.edu by 7
p.m. on the Tuesday
of the week of
publication.
Include your full name
and phone number.
conservationists and their ur-
ban-centered objectives and
the deep ecologists and their
radical actions against devel-
opment. While this is far too
general of a summary, the the-
ory is not my subject matter
here. Knowing what I know
now about the history of the
term, I would choose to take
back some of what I wrote.
To quote myself at age 17:
“It’s so liberating to be in the
wilderness!” I recall writing
this while staring into a deep
and dark maple forest next to
my tent. I reproduced it verba-
tim in my essay to show how I
reveled in an authentic sense
of place. Another example
of what I wrote: “Wilderness
should not be taken lightly.”
This time, I was referring to
the lichen on rocks above the
tree line. Hikers should know
this alpine ecosystem is very
fragile. I imagined I guarded
life from the polluting im-
pact of our footsteps. I wrote
about its fragility to show
that I could be a protector of
vulnerable places. I thought
wilderness was inherently
valuable. I thought wilderness
always implied getting near-
er to the quick of life. Out of
the 650 words allotted for the
Common App essay, I used
the word “wilderness” seven
times. All the better to sketch
myself as an advocate of the
best land in our country.
But this is what I just wrote
in the margins of my readings:
Wilderness cannot be an end
unto itself. I smile at the iro-
ny. Three years ago I believed
fully that I would support
the wilderness preservation
movement in college, but
OPINION
learning more fully about the
public lands problem—and
about any complex issue—
now gives me pause. And
makes me want to revise. And
revise. And revise again.
When once I wrote that
I felt free in the wild, I now
cringe to think of my tactless-
ness in acknowledging why
I could feel the privilege of
freedom in this space. In this
case, I was further supported
by precedent of my cultural
ancestors. Male Anglo-Euro-
pean writers had also written
of their awe when walking
under bare-topped mountains
and through pine forests.
And though I intended to
describe fragile ecosystems, I
also reproduced the problem
of denying that humans had
domination over the land,
and calling that natural. My
experience was not in pristine
nature – it was in a landscape
set aside to seem that way. Its
architects intended to deliver
the sort of experience I wrote
about, but that experience
is an illusion. An American
landscape has not gone un-
trammeled by human actions
in any recent history.
Reckoning with my essay
now leaves me hoping to start
over from that story I was try-
ing to tell about myself and
makes me try to think more
carefully about the weight of
every word before I set it down
in type and have it diffused
across whoknowswhere. My
essay was not written careful-
ly. But painstakingly choosing
words has me questioning
the effect of each one before
I cause an impact of some
unknown rippling reach. This
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15
logophile’s anxiety makes
me want to commit:
that I will not
hesitate to
take back my
words when
I speak in ig-
norance. And
everyone
speaks from
a position
of some
ignorance.
Talking of
the wilder-
ness when
I was barely
acquaint-
ed with
the threads
leading to
and from that
word is a
good exam-
ple. And
so I would
LAM
like to take
FUL
back my
LILY
admissions
writings,
maybe cast them
like old journals into
a fire, because they represent once wrote? Would
someone who is not me any- you revise it if you could? And
more. At least, I would not how might someone come to
write in the same way now. terms with their past igno-
I’ll end this op-ed with a rance? This may seem like a
few questions to think over. small question, but its answer
For anyone who has recently determines the difference be-
written application essays that tween burning out of fear all
demonstrate your personal the notebooks you ever kept
values: Are you prepared to and letting them accumulate
find that after a year, or more, on the shelf to keep you hum-
you may no longer see your ble. For now, I opt to let the
topic in the same way? How dust settle on my writings, and
might you revise your theme in the meantime I patiently
to respond to a greater aware- nurture my words along until
ness? And for those who wrote I am satisfied enough.
an essay years ago: Can you Holden Turner is a member
see any issues with what you of the Class of 2021.
16
EVENT
FRIDAY 4
Audubon’s “Birds of America” Page-
Turning with Katie Galletta ’21
The George Mitchell Department of Special Collections and
Archives, along with biology major Katie Galletta ’21, will host
its monthly page-turning of John James Audubon’s double-
elephant folio, “Birds of America.”
Special Collections, Hawthorne-Longfellow Library. 12:30 p.m.
LECTURE
“Elucidating Proton-Coupled Electron
Transfer Mechanisms Underpinning
the Catalytic Generation of
Renewable Fuels”
Jillian Dempsey, associate professor of chemistry at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will lecture
on her work researching avenues to convert energy-poor
feedstocks into energy-rich fossil fuels using multi-electron,
multi-proton transformations.
Room 20, Druckenmiller Hall. 3 p.m.
SATURDAY 5
HOMECOMING
Homecoming at 24 College
The Sexuality, Women and Gender Center will host an event
for Bowdoin students to meet alumni affiliated with 24
College. Gelato will be provided.
24 College Street. 2 p.m.
HOMECOMING
Homecoming Harvestfest: A
Celebration of Autumn in Maine
The Bowdoin community will celebrate the fall season
with lawn games, craft beer and a concert by Tricky
Britches, a Portland-based folk band.
Dudley Coe Quad Tent. 3 p.m.
HOMECOMING
Lunch at the Center for Multicultural Life
Benjamin Harris, director of the Center for Multicultural
Life, and Eduardo Pazos Palma, director of the Rachel Lord
Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, will host lunch and a
casual conversation for alumni and students.
30 College Street. 11:30 a.m.
SUNDAY 6
FILM SCREENING
Aquarela
Frontier will screen Viktor Kossakovsky’s “Aquarela.” The
film is captured at a rare 96 frames-per-second and aims to
capture the beauty and power of naturally flowing water.
Tickets are available online.
Frontier. 3 p.m.
11 12
Friday, October 4, 2019
OCTOBER
MINDY LEDER, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
COAST IS CLEAR: Construction continues on the Schiller Coastal Studies Center, which will include a “Living & Learning” building and a residential
component. The College expects the project to be completed in late August 2020.
MONDAY 7 WEDNESDAY 9
LECTURE
In My End is My Beginning: An Artist’s
LECTURE
“Carbon Dioxide Removal Approaches:
Talk by Bruce Herman Their Potential Role in Addressing
Bruce Herman, painter and holder of the Lothlórien Climate Change”
Distinguished Chair in Fine Arts at Gordon College, will give Wil Burns, professor of research and founding co-executive
a lecture on the themes present across his artwork. director of the Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy at
Peter and Rosanne Aresty Digital Media Lab, Edwards American University, will weigh the risks and benefits of various
Center for Art and Dance. 4 p.m. carbon dioxide removal options, as well as the government’s
role in combating climate change at the international level.
EVENT Lantern, Roux Center for the Environment. 4:30 p.m.
Henni and Harry Friedlander Award for
the Common Good
Ryan Speedo Green, an inspiring bass-baritone at the
Metropolitan Opera and the holder of many prestigious music
awards, will receive the Henni and Harry Friedlander Award
for the Common Good in recognition of the adversity he has
THURSDAY 10
overcome and his many musical achievements. LECTURE
Kanbar Auditorium, Studzinski Recital Hall. 7:30 p.m. The Sourdough Project: How Public
Science and History Reveal Stories
EVENT Behind Our Daily Bread
Meditation Matthew Booker, associate professor of American
Bernie Hershberger, director of counseling and wellness environmental history at North Carolina State University, will
Programs, will lead an afternoon meditation session. present the initial results of the Sourdough Project, an initiative
Room 302, Peter Buck Fitness Center. 4:30 p.m. to map and genetically source the yeasts and bacteria in
sourdough bread.
Lantern, Roux Center for the Environment. 7 p.m.
TUESDAY 8 LECTURE
“The Transnational Framework of
DISCUSSION Modernism’s Many Emergences,
“Chance Encounters” 1900-1950”
Jay Sosa, assistant professor of gender, sexuality and women’s Independent scholars Roger Conover ’72 and Laurette
studies, and Shu-chin Tsui, professor of Asian studies and McCarthy will discuss international artwork that laid the
cinema studies, will discuss the photographs in the Museum’s groundwork for modernism in Europe and North America
exhibition “Art Purposes: Object Lessons for the Liberal Arts.” during the early twentieth century.
Museum of Art. 12 p.m. Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center. 4:30 p.m.
13 EVENT 14 15 16 EVENT 17 EVENT
Vinyasa Yoga Take Back the Music at the
Night Museum