Staying swine-smart

Editorial: Economic expectations

Bowdoin has seen a lot of change recently.
Despite talk about tough times and harsh economic realities, we've seen large-scale projects involving first year bricks, the Museum of Art, Studzinski Recital Hall, Watson and Dayton Arena, and most recently, the Peter Buck Center for Health and Wellness.

Editorial: Health care reform

As seniors put finishing touches on their résumés, sharpen their interview skills, iron their suits, and make plans for life beyond Bowdoin, there's one important consideration that seems surprisingly neglected: health care. It's a debate that is raging in both houses of Congress but, aside from these pages, is absent from our politically minded campus. Despite its current ubiquity in the news, we would be hard-pressed to find the phrase "public option" uttered anywhere at Bowdoin outside of a government class. But it's time to face the facts.

Editorial

This piece represents the opinion of The Bowdoin Orient editorial board.

September 18, 2009

With swine flu infecting students at an increasingly ferocious pace, the virus is no longer novelty?rather, it is a routine inconvenience. On late Thursday, 116 students had presented flu-like symptoms, and though the number is large in comparison to peer schools, it still represents less than 10 percent of the student body. Given that national predictions claim infection rates of up to 50 percent on college campuses, it is likely that Bowdoin is not done with the swine flu.

Though Bowdoin has gone to extensive measures to stem the spread of H1N1 and to quickly recuperate those students who have exhibited symptoms, the fact that there is no definite end of swine flu in sight suggests that additional long-term considerations might be beneficial.

Professors have urged students to miss class if they are sick, but it is undeniable that missing academic commitments is difficult for students and teachers alike. Class time can rarely be made up, but an informal system of volunteer note-takers might alleviate stress for students who miss class. Though we should do our best to avoid sickness by washing our hands and getting immunized when seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines are delivered to campus, sickness may be inevitable for some of us. It may help to know that while we lie in isolation, hoping for a quick recovery with the help of TV box sets and YouTube, someone out there is looking out for us.

The editorial represents the majority view of The Bowdoin Orient's editorial board, which comprises Piper Grosswendt, Will Jacob, Gemma Leghorn and Seth Walder.

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