The Bowdoin Orient

Places like Little Dog Coffee Shop are filled with a certain kind of person. A young person who enjoys the outdoors, supports local businesses, and is devoted to using his or her experience in a poor region to do something more. These people want to save the world, and their enthusiasm can convince you that it is possible.

The tragic events in Arizona two weeks ago resulting in the death of six people have brought forward a constitutional issue that strikes the soul of many Americans. Westboro Baptist Church announced plans to picket the funerals of the victims in the Tucson shooting, and brought the question of whether America's most sacred doctrine of free speech was intended to support radical discourse intent on injuring those whom most of the American public hold in highest valor to the forefront of the American conscious.

During a quick run to Hannaford one morning last week to cure my craving for chocolate-covered almonds, I was struck by an unexpected realization regarding the changing American Dream. While standing in the express checkout line, I overheard two women behind me discussing their shared passion for baking. However, the conversation quickly turned a more pressing issue. One of the ladies spoke about her enjoyment of cookie-baking at work. With this comment, their shared passion for baking was quickly overshadowed, since one lady was employed and the other was not.

I have a bone to pick with both the economy and Bowdoin right now. I am sure people can sympathize with this in many ways, but my bone is not over our endless recession or pricy tax hikes. Nor is my issue over too many dollar signs and too little dough. No, this little bone I have consists of two words: toilet paper.

The Polar Bears rounded out their season with a strong performance in at the University of Southern Maine in the New England Division III Championships last Saturday. Strategy helped push the women through the rainy weather and secure a solid finish on the Twin Brook Recreation Center course.

The women's cross-country team began to round out its season last Sunday with a sixth-place finish in the NESCAC Championships hosted by Trinity College at Wickham Park in Hartford, Connecticut.

The women's cross-country team will look to rebound this coming weekend at the NESCAC Championships at Trinity College after falling short of Colby in the State Meet last Saturday. The Bears' second-place finish in an eight team field did, however, put them in a competitive position as the meet at Trinity approaches. The trip to Hartford will yet again put Bowdoin up against the best of the best.

The well-traveled women's cross country team will head to the State Meet hosted by Colby this weekend after strong performances at the Connecticut College Invitational and the Open New England Championships in Boston.

The women's cross-country team has its sights set on outpacing both Colby and University of Maine-Farmington in this weekend's meet at Colby, after a strong performance last weekend. The Bears look to quicken the pace after a third-place finish last Saturday in the Connecticut College Invitational.

The women's cross country team opened its season with a tough loss to Bates last Saturday, but as the State Meet and NESCAC Championships approach, the Polar Bears may prove that their peak is at a new and higher level this season.