Money talks

Editorial: Vote Nelson

One of the student body’s most important collective decisions will be made this weekend as the votes are tallied in the election for the 2013-14 Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) Executive Committee. Sarah Nelson has our vote for president of next year’s assembly.
Nelson’s diversity of experience, established relationships with members of the administration, and realistic outlook make her a strong choice to broaden BSG’s impact. Her work for Residential Life and Student Activities has proven her ability to collaborate with a wide variety of groups on campus, and she demonstrated her natural talent for organization on a campus-wide level when she co-chaired Winter Weekend in February. As a former class treasurer and community outreach officer, Nelson understands fiscal responsibility and the importance of Bowdoin’s relationship with the Brunswick community.
Clear, feasible goals make up the bulk of Nelson’s campaign platform. She stresses improving communication through the development of a unified Bowdoin app, facilitating student leadership outside of existing organizations, and fostering open dialogue with administrators. She has already begun to work toward creating a $10,000 “Good Ideas” fund to provide financial resources for students outside of clubs. A Nelson presidency would improve cohesion across all class years to work toward larger goals, such as revising the College House application process.

Editorial: Boston strong

This has been a hard week for the United States, and a hard week for Bowdoin. The American flag flew at half-mast in honor of those who were killed and injured in the Boston Marathon bombings, some of whom had close ties to the Bowdoin community. No sooner had the Orient confirmed the safety of over 100 alumni and students in the vicinity of the bombs on Monday evening, than did we learn of the death of beloved alumnus and former Orient columnist Jose Cespedes ’12, who lost his battle with liver disease last Friday. And as the editorial board convened yesterday evening, news broke of continued bloodshed in and around Boston like an unending nightmare.
The violence, terror, and loss that has marked the past few days and hours has forced us to take a step back and reflect on the fragility of life and the senselessness of random violence.
The marathon finish line, where the bombs went off, is just one mile from the street named for James Bowdoin, a testament to the College’s deep roots in Boston. With almost a fifth of the student body hailing from Massachusetts, the unfolding tragedy hits close to home. Many students from the state are affectionately known around campus as “J.O.B.s” for hailing from “Just Outside Boston.” They had friends, parents and neighbors in the vicinity of the bombs, and spent hours on Monday afternoon anxiously wondering if their loved ones were among those killed or injured in the attacks. This morning, many students will wake up to the news that familiar streets around Watertown and Cambridge are the scene of a massive manhunt for a suspect in the bombings. This week, “just outside Boston” took on a new meaning.

Editorial

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

April 12, 2013

Bowdoin’s “need-blind” admissions policy ensures that students from all walks of life can attend the College. Forty-six percent of Bowdoin students received need-based financial aid as of the 2011-2012 academic year, and the average grant was over $35,000 this year. The strength of the College’s financial aid program is especially notable in an unstable financial climate, which has led many colleges to abandon need-blind admissions policies.

The College’s commitment to recruiting and admitting qualified applicants of all income levels is crucial to our mission of creating a diverse student body. However, this is not feasible without considerable donations from alumni who want to make the Bowdoin experience accessible to all. Earmarking donations expressly for financial aid is the best way to ensure that deserving students of all backgrounds can continue to attend the College.

Some students will only have the opportunity to engage with such a diverse group of students during their time at the College. Many are understandably hesitant to discuss financial matters with their peers, but having those types of conversations can add a new dimension to our education outside of the classroom—that’s part of the reason that Bowdoin brought us all together in the first place.

For some, money has no effect on academics or social life. For others, it is a constant concern. Every student’s financial situation is different and comes with unique stressors; we encourage the student body to be aware of the potential obligations and constraints on our friends and classmates.

This editorial represents the majority view of the Bowdoin Orient’s editorial board, which is composed of Nora Biette-Timmons, Garrett Casey, Linda Kinstler, Sam Miller, Sam Weyrauch and Kate Witteman.

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