Affirmative action, remembering Troy Pappas, Wesleyan abandons need-blind admissions

News Briefing: The Bowdoin Project, Colby summons, and interims gone permanent

Roundup of news from March 1–14

The Orient is on a short hiatus for Spring Break, but a lot has happened since our last issue went to print. Here's a roundup of Bowdoin-related news from the last two weeks.
The Bowdoin Project in preliminaries
The National Association of Scholars (NAS) rolled out more installments of The Bowdoin Project, its critique of Bowdoin's liberal arts curriculum. In a report on the study in The Chronicle of Higher Education, NAS's Michael Toscano is quoted arguing that the College's academic requirements are defined by "'curricular incoherence,' setting students 'loose to find themselves.'" The Orient spoke to Toscano when he was on campus researching "The Bowdoin Project" in fall 2011. The College continues to decline comment on the NAS report, as it has ever since it was first announced. The release of the study is the inevitable conclusion of a long debate on and off campus, which began with President Barry Mills' September 2010 convocation address. Here are some additional stories on the study from our archives:
Professors react to charges levied in Claremont ReviewKlingenstein's article gives an inaccurate account of Bowdoin curriculumKlingenstein defends Claremont Review essay, responds to criticismNinety Colby students summonsed
Ninety Colby students attending a party at an off-campus residence were summonsed by Waterville Police last weekend, the Press Herald reports. Eighty-one were charged with possession of alcohol by a minor. Most students cooperated with police, but Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey told the Press Herald that five students attempted to hide in the house's attic by covering themselves with insulation, and one resident of the house attempted to run away from the police on foot.

News Briefing

Affirmative action, remembering Troy Pappas, Wesleyan abandons need-blind admissions

A roundup of developing stories this week

October 9, 2012

The Supreme Court began hearing arguments for and against affirmative action today. The court is expected to issue a ruling in early 2013. Bowdoin, along with 36 other schools, signed onto a brief in support of the University of Texas that defends the right of colleges and universities to take race and ethnicity into account in admissions. Yesterday, Dean of Admissions Scott Meiklejohn told MPBN, "At Bowdoin we have spent almost no time, certainly as an admissions staff, talking about what we would do if things were to change."

Friends and family of Troy Pappas have created a memorial website in memory of the Bates College freshman, who died on October 5 at Central Maine Medical Center following serious injuries from a fall down a stairwell in his dorm. Those who knew Pappas are invited to post messages remembering him, and can contribute to a memorial fund in his honor.

Wesleyan University announced that it will abandon its need-blind admissions policy. At a forum with students in September, Wesleyan President Michael Roth said of the change, "“If I did say that this is a policy that’s good for underrepresented groups—it’s not. That’s overselling. It’s not a policy that I like. I think it’s the least-bad policy.” (Footage, via Wesleying)

The Judicial Board's 2011-2012 annual report, released on Friday, records five cases of academic dishonesty—including one instance of self-plagiarism—and six violations of the social code.

A new online feature from the Chronicle of Higher Education shows how Bowdoin views itself in relation to colleges. Bowdoin selected 98 colleges as peer schools, though only 31 of those schools also chose Bowdoin as a peer school. In total, 40 colleges nationwide listed Bowdoin as a peer.

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