The Bowdoin Orient

When it comes to "walking pneumonia," Bowdoin is not out of the woods yet. According to Geoff Beckett, assistant state epidemiologist for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), although the numbers have not increased this week, it does not mean that the outbreak is coming to an end.

The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs continues to look into alleged incidents of hazing that may have taken place at a squash team party in 2005 and a sailing team party in 2004. "We're still doing our investigation at this point," Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs Margaret Hazlett said.

Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) approved a resolution on the funding of academic instruction on Wednesday at a meeting that also included a conversation with Judicial Board representatives and a rare executive session. According to the funding resolution, BSG hopes to direct students with "an interest in pursuing academic endeavors beyond those currently available in the curriculum" to the College's Academic Affairs division for funding.

Bowdoin has seen a considerable rise this fall in the number of seniors applying to the Teach for America (TFA) program, which places graduates in low-income communities to teach in local schools for two years. By the November 2 second-round deadline, nine Bowdoin students had applied for the program. Though there are still two application rounds remaining, the figure represents a 33 percent increase from last year's number of second-round applicants.

Facilities Management has decided to replace an estimated 1,500 electrical outlets in Coles Tower after an assessment of the building's electrical outlets showed some signs of deterioration. The initial decision to inspect the outlets was prompted by an October 10 arc-flash incident, when Megan Waterman '08 injured her hand while plugging in an extension cord.

Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) unanimously approved resolutions on Arabic instruction and language tapes Wednesday, ending two weeks of debate. The Arabic resolution outlines the benefits and problems that may be involved with Arabic instruction at Bowdoin. "Despite these concerns," the bill reads, "it is the opinion of BSG that the Academic Affairs division of the College should address these requests for the teaching of Arabic."

Several of Bowdoin's peer schools have announced new plans to ease student debt in the face of rising tuition costs. Colby College announced Monday that it will eliminate loans from all financial aid packages for students from Maine, replacing them with grants beginning next fall.

With black students comprising 8.8 percent of the Class of 2011, Bowdoin has moved toward the top of an annual survey of enrollment of black students at top-ranked liberal arts colleges.

Last Sunday, our country observed Veteran's Day?a day on which Americans reflect on the sacrifices of the soldiers who have served throughout our history and those who continue to do so today. Because modern military conflicts tend to happen overseas, it is easy to forget those who work hard so we can live safely and comfortably. But recognizing their service is important. Of course, American military personnel are not the only ones who work hard to preserve the safety and comfort of Bowdoin students, nor are they the only ones deserving of our gratitude.

Seniors, amidst this semester's confusion, there are few shinning moments?little glimmering bits of hope to grab hold of as the whirlwind of career searches and nights in the library pass you by.

To the Editors: The news reached the Middle East that the Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) unanimously passed a resolution recommending the acquisition of Arabic and Swahili language tapes. Needless to say, we are thoroughly disappointed that Bowdoin champions this as an acceptable and practical measure?that the sheer availability of Arabic language tapes will suffice as a legitimate resource for students with a real interest in learning Arabic.

To the Editors: It seems a waste of space to include weekly the ill-considered viewpoints of Conscious Consumerism supporters in the opinion section. Their submissions are more political advertisement than letter, and their opinions may in fact more appropriately belong chalked on a sidewalk somewhere.

To the Editors, Exiting the front door of Sargent Gym this past Monday, something written in chalk on the walkway caught my eye. There it was: "Thank You Veterans." Flags flanking the walk to the Polar Bear monument completed the scene.

To the Editors: Everyone loves to advertise campus events electronically. Unfortunately, abuse of Bowdoin e-mail lists is causing students to ignore the lists completely, deleting important e-mails along with the junk.

To the Editors: Friends, Romans, countrymen, Bowdoin students. As the holiday season approaches and you make your way home to your respected and modest villages, far along the shores of Connecticut, deep within the fields of Upstate New York; the ever-beckoning question and music of that old lapland song beckons still.

Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) approved two resolutions this week: one supporting Arabic instruction at Bowdoin and another urging the Language Media Center to purchase Arabic and Swahili instructional tapes. These were important first steps in the process of filling current gaps in the academic curriculum.

It's hard to argue that a Bowdoin education prepares students for the "real world" when many of us never cook our own meals, wash our own dishes, scrub our own showers, or shovel our own snow nine months out of the year. Many of us have become so accustomed to having our messes cleaned up for us at Bowdoin that we've forgotten how to do it ourselves?or have at least appeared to, based on housekeeping's recent reports of the consistently sloppy and occasionally repulsive states in which many students leave their common spaces at the end of each fast-paced weekend.

The issue of whether Credit/D/Fail should be applicable to distribution requirements is one that has been extensively debated for much of the past year. While the venues have varied, the content of such talks has remained largely the same. As these discussions continue, we find ourselves concerned with a number of issues.

Like any fashion-conscious guy, I demand style from my clothing and accessories... always! No exceptions. This was precisely my mindset when I eagerly burst through the doors of the D&G (Dolce & Gabbana) boutique in Bologna, a mere 36 hours after arriving for my study abroad program.

After a kitchen fire wrought havoc on last month's Taste For Change event, the charity dinner series will look to bounce back today with its final meal of the semester.

Though many Bowdoin students are concerned primarily about their test scores, Kristina Dahmann '10 is trying to get them focus on their credit scores.

When an ill student stumbles into the bathroom at 2 a.m. on a Saturday morning, he might not think about who will clean up his vomit if he misses the toilet.

Julia Bond '09 wants Bowdoin students to start using the words "healthy" and "sex" in the same sentence.

I am writing this column at a sad and difficult time in my life. Robert Goulet, one of my role models and a defining personality of the entertainment industry, tragically passed away on October 30, 2007, at age 73.

The closest you can get to the sound of '60s rock and roll without buying a DVD of "The Ed Sullivan Show" is the Philadelphia-based band Dr. Dog, which will rock the stage with psychedelic sounds and retro beats today at the Pub.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is the most popular day of the year to go shopping. Window displays are inevitably full of holiday suggestions before the last turkey is gobbled.

Between the releases of "Assassin's Creed" (multi-platform) and "Crysis" (PC) and the introduction of the Check Mii Out channel to Wii gamers, this has been a busy week in the gaming world. It was hard to choose the focus for this week's column, but the release of "Super Mario Galaxy" for the Wii ultimately came out on top. "Assassin's Creed" looks absolutely amazing, but "Super Mario Galaxy" is just, naturally, in a stratosphere all its own.

Allagash Brewing Company's Tripel Ale should have a disclaimer: "Do not drink if you have recently been racing around on your old, rickety bicycle. Especially not on a late-fall, blustery night in Maine."

The word "orchestra" might bring to mind a sea of formally attired musicians playing Beethoven or Brahms in front of a quiet and contemplative audience.

Discreetly tucked away in the corners of the Daggett Lounge are a couple of photographs that arguably belong in the Walker Art Museum. They are the works of Abelardo Morell '77, whose unbelievable pictures will have students penciling in Photography on their spring enrollment forms.

Any runner knows that the sport of cross-country gives no guarantees. Four wins in the first five races and a third-place ranking in the NESCAC would not grant Bowdoin a free ride to the NCAA finals. But after a fifth-place showing at New England's and their season's success as whole, the Bears received an at-large bid to Nationals.

Returning to the course infamous for giving runners the "NESCAC rash" last year, the Bowdoin women faced their toughest competition of the season at the New England Division III Championships held at Connecticut College last Saturday.

Despite receiving last week's well-earned season extension, the Bowdoin Women's Soccer Team saw its run come to an end last Friday in a 2-0 loss to Ithaca College. The Polar Bears were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament after getting an at-large bid to the national competition.

The cacophonous sounds of basketballs hitting the floor of Morrell gymnasium signal the beginning of the women's basketball season.

The $67.5 million man, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo lined up under center on first and 10 on New York's 25 yard-line with a receiver to both his left and right, his backs lined up in an I-formation. Carrie Underwood's fiancé-to-be then got the snap and dropped back, utilizing the play action (and subsequently Madden's vision cone, of course), then slung the ball deep down the right sideline, hitting Terrell Owens, who was torching Giants corner Sam Madison in the process, perfectly in stride for the touchdown and a 24-17 lead.