The Bowdoin Orient

The College is scheduled to formally launch its $250 million capital campaign in Boston on Friday. Officials believe The Bowdoin Campaign will be the largest fundraising drive in Maine history.

Secretary of the College Richard "Mers" Mersereau '69 has been at Bowdoin for a long time. Starting as a student and continuing as an administrator, career counselor, and coach, he has been here, with the exception of four months in the military and a year at graduate school at Wesleyan, for more than 40 years.

After running through thigh-deep water, torrential rain, and 50 mph winds at Connecticut College's NESCAC championship race, cross-country runners would never have guessed as they crossed the finish line that their worst problem was yet to come.

The Orient found 100 students at locations around campus who said they did not vote. In order to gather as many responses as possible and to encourage candor, the Orient granted students anonymity.

In recognition of Bowdoin's ties to Maine's Franco American roots, the College is holding a three-day symposium entitled "Celebrating the Franco American Heritage of Maine." With visitors expected from Canada, New England, and Maine, the symposium will feature panel discussions, a documentary, and a closer look into the Franco American lifestyle.

An unusually long Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) meeting was also a productive one, as representatives discussed the proposed revised sexual misconduct policy with Associate Dean of Student Affairs Mary Pat McMahon and unanimously approved a pair of proposals.

When the Board of Trustees meets this weekend in Boston, they will discuss The Bowdoin Campaign, get updates on the new hockey rink, hear from administrators about Bowdoin's possible purchase of land at Brunsick Naval Air Station, and discuss the College's reaccreditation among other topics, according to Secretary of the College Richard Mersereau '69.

There is a plaque in Boody-Johnson House recognizing the Abromson family's provision of "funds for the promotion of ethnic, cultural and religious understanding in this house." However, the 2007-08 academic year may find this plaque, along with the College's multicultural student groups, inhabiting 30 College St. instead.

When the College formally announces its drive for a quarter-billion dollars amid much fanfare in Boston on Friday night, alumni and other friends of Bowdoin will be asked to give generously to this small college in Maine. In an age when there are so many opportunities for giving to worthy causes around the globe, we wish to assure alumni that Bowdoin not only remains a place worthy of their support, but also is more worthy of their support than ever before.

At the sight of children squealing with glee and chasing each other around a jungle gym, most adults will sigh wistfully and think, "Oh, to be young again!" The exception, of course, are residents of Howard and West halls?located across from Longfellow elementary?who are more likely to say, "QUIET THE $%#@ DOWN! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS!?"

American elections are often boring and easy to forecast. Ninety-five percent of incumbents win re-election, and public opinion polls do an excellent job of predicting winners. At the same time, however, we live in an age of polarized partisan politics, where "blue staters" and "red staters" battle over cultural, economic, and international issues.

As the Republicans were fond of saying in the aftermath of 2004, "elections matter." Their stunning loss of what now appears to be both houses of Congress will have ramifications abroad and at home. Within the last hour, we have learned that Secretary Rumsfeld is gone, to be replaced by Robert Gates, a member of the Iraq Study Commission.

I would like to write a rebuttal to the letter in last week's Orient from Brian Dunn and Adam Baber about the football players at Super Snack. When I suggested to Mary Lou Kennedy that we ask the Bowdoin football team to work for us, it was not to intimidate the guests coming to enjoy the meal.

Since 2003, the Sudanese government and its militia, the janjaweed, have murdered 100,000 to 400,000 people from the Fur, Zaghawa, and Masaalit ethnic groups and displaced an additional two million. Darfur may seem like another in a long list of human rights violations and armed conflicts currently occurring in the world.

Boody-Johnson House provides a place for cultural groups?some of which have been historically marginalized and have had to struggle to obtain rights in the United States?to call home. If a group of school officials were to step in and essentially say, ?You?re moving next year,? we would understand if these students were to be displeased. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened last week as administrators told the leaders of some of the College?s cultural organizations that Bowdoin will probably relocate the campus?s multicultural space to 30 College St. at the beginning of next year.

Bowdoin students who will be voting in Brunswick on Tuesday are likely to be familiar with the positions of the candidates for state and federal office, if only through the general platform of their political party. It is less likely that most of us are acquainted with the views of those people on the ballot for the Brunswick town council.

Your story, "Football Players to Police Super Snack" (10/27) initially made us wonder if the Community Service Resource Center ran out of ideas. But, more importantly, it raised a few serious and disturbing questions:

While we continue to support previous proposals for the creation of a standing "early warning" committee to identify future genocides, we understand President Mills' concern that creating such a committee might make anti-genocide activism appear to be "imposed by the College" rather than motivated by students.

Dear Dr. Jeff: "I've been thinking about getting my nose pierced. Are there any health concerns I need to be worried about?" L.S.C.

I love you. The closest I've come to hearing these words from a guy was a lame attempt to get in my pants with the classic "I want to love you." He didn't want to love me; he wanted to sleep with me. Nice try.

Dear Dr. Jeff: I've been told not to use Q-tips to clean my ears. What should I use? L.B.

Since its formation in 1996, the Pat McGee Band has earned a reputation as an East Coast college favorite. The band is known for its Southern charm, strong acoustic sound, and soulful vocals. Based in Virginia, the band is finally making its way up to Maine, with plans to play a free concert in Morrell Lounge in Smith Union on Friday at 8 p.m.

Harpoon Winter Warmer?$8.25 for a six-pack at Uncle Tom's Market Picture this: It is a Friday night in mid-November. You are sitting in your room, doodling on the margins of your problem set. The sky is overcast and spitting something that looks white but soaks you through like rain. Inside, you're huddled up on the couch, blanket wrapped around your feet, heater clunking and emitting random puffs of lukewarm air. The power goes out, the TV blinks off, and any chance you had at comfort flies out the window to join the icy winter air. Fed up, you throw on your mittens and grab a beer (can't let those get warm). Popping the cap floods your nostrils with sweet cinnamon and mild nutmeg. You smile and envision Christmas Eve dinner and your brand new pony. One taste and you're up on the coffee table, jumping around to the Mariah Carey in your head and screaming "Dance Party!"

It must be hard to be Mrs. Stephen King. You have to accompany your husband to boring book signings, deal with reporters who misspell your name, and fend off obsessive stalkers every Halloween.

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is advertising Saurday's concert by the African musical group Kakande as a chance for Bowdoin students to do "something different this weekend." By blending traditional African instruments with xylophonic talent, African musical group Kakande certainly offers "something different" than the everyday jam band or a cappella concert: an insightful first-hand glimpse into African identity. The group will perform in Morrell Lounge at 8 p.m. Admission is free for all students.

Eight years ago, Alyson Cummings left her New York law practice for a career in cooking, becoming chef and co-owner of Brunswick's Star Fish Grill. Now, a move by its landlord might leave the restaurant high and dry.

The Bowdoin College Field Hockey Team won its second consecutive NESCAC championship this weekend as it defeated Amherst in the semifinals and Middlebury in the finals.

The women's volleyball season ended with a loss to Wesleyan in the NESCAC quarterfinals (31-29, 24-30, 30-28, 30-25). But despite this loss on Friday, there have been plenty of positives this season.

The NHL is like the Power Rangers: Awesome when we were younger, then disappeared for a while, resurfaced, and it's just not the same as it was before; in fact, it's much worse.

Before America crowns the Indianapolis Colts as the best team in the NFL, it is crucial to clarify one thing. The Colts did not beat the New England Patriots on Sunday night; the New England Patriots beat themselves.

The Bowdoin Women's Soccer Team saw its season come to a close on Sunday in a battle of vengeance against Middlebury College. Due to inclement weather, the teams were displaced to St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont, where the Panthers stole Bowdoin's dream of advancing to the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament in a 3-1 victory.

The Bowdoin Football Team may get its best chance for a win this season when it faces a tired Bates team tomorrow. The 0-6 Bobcats will visit Brunswick following a 10-7 loss to Colby in mud, rain, and four overtimes on Saturday. The Polar Bears are now also 0-6, after Wesleyan defeated visiting Bowdoin 18-0 on Saturday. It was the third time in a row the Polar Bears were shut out, the fourth time overall this season. The offense contributed 171 yards, only 90 of which were through the air.