The Bowdoin Orient

Bowdoin's number of black faculty is the lowest among highly-ranked liberal arts colleges, according to a recent study by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (JBHE). A summer 2005 article in JBHE showed that of Bowdoin's 152 faculty, only three, or two percent, are black. Of the 21 liberal arts colleges that gave statistics to JBHE, Bowdoin's percentage is the lowest.

Bowdoin's first ever Gay/Lesbian/ Bi/Transgender (GLBT) faculty, staff, and friends ad-hoc organization recently convened to discuss the prospect and mission of an official organization. The group was started from a student-initiated effort to solidify support for GLBT students and friends, according to Bernie Hershberger, licensed psychologist and interim director of the College's counseling services.

One year into the behind-the-scenes phase of the capital campaign, Bowdoin is gauging interest from its biggest potential donors to determine if its goal of $250 million is too high?or not high enough.

Bowdoin Student Government has decided not to take a stance on broad political issues, such as Question 1 on the November ballot. After a lengthy discussion at last Tuesday's meeting, BSG informally voted 19 to 6 to disapprove taking positions.

The Board of Trustees meets this weekend to discuss pressing College issues, including the current construction of the concert hall, higher energy costs, and next-year's re-accreditation process.

"We're connected to 86 buildings, with 250 systems, containing more than 13,000 ports." All Mitch Davis can do is smile as he gazes at walls of wires and computers in the basement of Hubbard. "No matter where you plug in, it all comes here," he says. According to Davis, Bowdoin's Chief Information Officer, the College's computer network is a vast and powerful machine. This semester, the whole system is about to get even better.

There is something inherently unfortunate about end-of-the-semester evaluations: they are at the end of the semester. Students will soon be off to other corners of campus, taking different courses with different professors.

We've all done it. Boy, girl, firstyear, senior, every single one of us has, at some point in our lives, stalked an object of our affection. I use the word "stalk" in this article to describe all the things we do as a result of our innate and uncontrollable desire to be near someone we really, really like. Whether it is in the library or at a meal, online, or in the union, we have all stalled or dawdled, double-clicked or feigned interest in the latest piece of useless campus-wide mail in order to merely catch a glimpse of our crush. Bowdoin is an environment that is extremely conducive to "stalking." We are a small, close-knit community where everybody knows your name. And your face. And who you like and who likes you and who you liked very publicly outside Harpswell Apartments at 1 a.m. last Saturday night.

I wanted to take a minute to compliment the people of grounds and facilities on the beautiful flowers recently planted outside of the library.

While perusing the Bowdoin web site recently, I happened across the Orient editorial regarding the Bowdoin Studnet Government (BSG) and the Maine ballot question on sexual orientation ("Stick to your mandate, BSG"). I wish to applaud the Orient editorial board for its wisdom in opposing this proposed statement.

Whenever politics has arisen as a subject of introduction, I have only been left with two options: am I a Republican or Democrat? In his article on the state of party politics, Evan McLaren is right in pointing out the similarities of the Democrats and Republicans; they lead to the same ends. The inane bipartisan arguments seem to eclipse any meaningful or constructive political discussion.

In your recent article about intellectual property rights and internet privacy, the text of the article places my comments in the correct context. However, the headline and my prominent quote below provide a very misleading context.

Boston-born comedian Dane Cook, hot off the release of his latest two-disc album, Retaliation, will perform tonight at Colby College's Wadsworth Gymnasium, as part of his promotional "Tourgasm" tour.

Bill Murray returns as the master of moribund in Jim Jarmusch's latest effort, Broken Flowers. Murray plays the title role of Don Johnston, a successful but aging bachelor who's all wilted jowls and waning sexuality. After receiving an anonymous letter informing him that he may have a son from a long-gone fling, Don is pushed back into his past to search for the possibility of a fulfilling future.

Pacifico ($6.99 for a six-pack) Though brewed in Mexico, this beer is classified as an American-style Lager like PBR or Bud. The taste, however, is not nearly as bitter as its associates. Rather, it is sweet and almost fruity. Imagine what Corona would taste like if it were a dark, brown beer?funky enough to drink during Spring Break on the beach, but heavy enough for a night indoors and without the feeling that you're taking down liquid candy. Pacifico's composition goes wonderfully with Mexican food because it quells overstimulating spices.

As the autumn sets in, I begin to think of my favorite wine accompaniment: food. Something about the cool weather makes me want to cook large quantities of tomato sauce, or soup, or any number of rustic foods. Below are two fall-themed dishes that feature yummy wine, one for a shoestring budget and one for the more flush among us.

What is the best song ever made? DW: I'm a huge fan of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. After that, "Some Skunk Funk" by the Brecker Brothers, or "Squib Cakes" by Tower of Power. ED: "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix, or "Blue in Green" by Miles Davis, or "If You Want Me To Stay" by Sly and the Family Stone. They all are masterpieces. PF: "It Makes No Difference," off of The Last Waltz, by The Band.

After taking first place out of six teams at the University of Maine-Farmington Invitational two weeks ago, the Bowdoin Men's Cross Country Team once again claimed the top spot at the Westfield State Invitational, returning home with an apple pie as a prize.