The Bowdoin Orient

Last spring, I and the other sophomores planning on going abroad during spring semester were told to think hard about our choice. To help us think, we all had to attend a meeting in Cleveland 151, which to my knowledge is reserved for scary mandatory meetings and the class "Death." There, Residential Life, the Off-Campus Study Office and assorted others made a convincing case for switching semesters.

Like many of you, I had alumni staying with me over this gorgeous Homecoming Weekend. It was not until these past few days that I realized there really is something to the saying, "you never know what you got until it's gone." Although I think what I am going to miss is slightly different from most. Of all the things in Maine and Bowdoin, my guest looked forward to two things: Racer X and Super Snack. And look, I get it—an 80s cover band of sweaty wig-rocking Bowdoin professor and late-night snacks with million dollar Electronic Simon Says look-a-like lights—I guess it's a little out of the ordinary. But the two girls got me thinking of all the quirk that Bowdoin has to offer.

I love Student Speak. There, I said it, for millions—or the Orient staff—to read. I by no means think that it is a perfect medium, or for that matter, funny, but I do believe with some tweaking, next week's Student Speak could be on everyone's mind. For the great majority who don't follow Students Speak, it is a last-minute section on the Opinion page featuring a question like, "What is your favorite dining hall dish?" The question is followed by five to eight answers from students collected the night before. Sans Student Speak, the section is no more entertaining than a blacked- out space, which would be a more time-efficient option for filling extra space in the Orient.