The Bowdoin Orient

Bowdoin faculty is considering a proposal that would create a specific mechanism for increasing faculty racial and cultural diversity. The proposal would authorize the allocation of "special opportunity positions," or SOPs?new tenure-track faculty posts for exceptional minority candidates.

Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) quickly and unanimously approved 16 of 23 constitutional amendments up for vote at the group's Wednesday meeting while two other amendments involved debate and tension among students, forcing the assembly to stay beyond its 10 p.m. automatic adjournment.

Nine newly tenured professors at the College?five of whom currently teach at Bowdoin, four of whom were hired from other institutions?will occupy their new positions this fall.

Students currently living in chem-free dorms will get a leg-up in the housing lottery this spring if they opt to apply for chem-free housing next year. Director of Residential Life Kim Pacelli said the change was prompted by the belief that the chem-free lottery is currently "manipulated by students to secure specific housing, even though they do not actually intend to abide by the chem-free expectation."

Despite the closing of the Brunswick Naval Air Station (BNAS) in 2011 and mounting evidence of a national economic slowdown, work on a multi-million dollar development project adjacent to college property presses forward.

Chamberlain Hall residents awoke to an unexpected alarm at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning: the paralyzing sound of a fire alarm. When the motor starter in the elevator machine room overheated and began to produce smoke, the building?s smoke detectors were activated and its fire alarms were set off.

The Common Hour lecture begins at 12:30 p.m. in Pickard Theater, Memorial Hall.

Director of Residential Life Kimberly A. Pacelli, known for her competence, intelligence, sense of humor, and penchant for impromptu Boggle games, will leave Bowdoin at the end of this academic year to enroll at the University of Maine Law School.

When members of the Class of 2012 arrive on campus in the fall, they will enter a community rooted in safety, trust, and collaboration?values that attest to the legacies of Kim Pacelli and Mike Brown, two departing staff members whose leadership and vision during their tenures have improved the ethos of the College for the better.

At first glance, it might seem as though the Democratic Party is in trouble with regard to its presidential nominee. The party is locked in an intense battle over who will bear its standard in the 2008 election.

It was bound to happen, and I suppose if ever a time to have one, it's better to have your first car accident in the comfort of Bowdoin College. Okay, so full-fledged accident may be the wrong way to describe it, but even a fender bender causes a certain amount of stress, though my air bags were never deployed

To the Editors: While we appreciate Steven Bartus's attempt to promote discussion in "'Vagina Monologues' attacks allied males in mission to stop sexual violence," (Feb. 29, 2008) we feel compelled to respond. Bartus argues that "The Vagina Monologues" attacks allied males, particularly the heterosexual male. We, however, would like to propose the idea that not only is the play not attacking men, but it is simply not about men.

Being the journalistically acute sleuth that I am, and acting upon a stern warning from an editorial staff craving a juicy story about something relating to sexuality, I solemnly stomached my new assignment, boarded a plane, and stormed the beaches of Acapulco in search of that elusive blockbuster story.

Just because you live in a war-torn country ruled by repressive fundamentalists doesn't mean you can't listen to Iron Maiden.

The weekend that Spring Break commenced, "Super Smash Brothers Brawl," available for Nintendo Wii, finally made its U.S. release after numerous delays, and the anticipation was palpable. For the first time, I went to a midnight launch of a game; I wanted it in my hands as soon as possible. I was not the only one. During the first week of its release, "Brawl" sold at a rate of 120 units per minute.

In the space of two weeks, I read three articles about Charles Bock and his debut novel "Beautiful Children." I was impressed.

Aly Spaltro's tender-trebled voice belts out ballads like Joanna Newsome.

In the beer world, the standard six-pack has become the norm for anyone looking for "nice" beers in the $6-to-$10 range. While many stores offer an impressive selection of such beers, there is another, far better option for those looking for the next level of beer-drinking experience that is only offered in larger, individual bottles.

Top five desert island albums? PL: N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton," Silver Jews's "American Water," The Dismemberment Plan's "Change," Wesley Willis's "Fabian Road Warrior," Suburban Kids with Biblical Names's "#3." SD: The Unicorns's "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone," Modest Mouse's "The Lonesome Crowded West," Bob Marley's "Legend," DANGERDOOM's "The Mouse & The Mask," Justice.

Over Spring Break, the Bowdoin College Softball Team went 14-2 in 16 games in Ft. Myers, Fla., marking the best start in club history. Playing a large hand in the Polar Bears' success was sophomore pitcher Julia Jacobs, whose efforts were rewarded when she was named NESCAC Softball Pitcher of the Week. In eight starts, Jacobs posted a 6-1 record with an opposing batting average of just .167 and a 0.58 ERA.

The women's lacrosse team soundly beat Wheaton College (4-4 Overall) 14-4 on Wednesday in Norton, Mass. The midweek travel was a challenge for the Polar Bears, but the team's strength and skill showed as they outscored Wheaton in both halves. Bowdoin was paced by senior Lyndsey Colburn, who scored a career-high seven goals in the game. The Polar Bears are currently 5-2 and ranked No. 10 in the latest IWLCA Poll.

The game was tied at four in the top of the seventh and last inning when Head Coach Mike Connolly pulled aside Jason Koperniak '09, Nick Tom '10, K.J. Kozens '08, and Adam Marquit '11. "This is what is going to happen. Jason, you're going to get a hit," Connolly said. "Nick Tom, you're going to go in for him and steal second. K.J., you're going to bunt him over to third. Adam, you're going to squeeze him home. I'm not going to give any signs, that's what's going to happen." Koperniak doubled. Kozens bunted Tom to third. Marquit squeeze-bunted him home and Bowdoin won 5-4 over Hope College.

Walt Shepard '10 captured three U.S. National Championship Titles this week while competing against the United States and Canada's top biathletes at the North American/U.S. National Biathlon Championships, held at the Mount Itasca Biathlon Facility in Minnesota.

America's pastime is resurrected every year at the perfect moment. Spring is in the air, while splotches of snow gradually start to disappear, the sun's light pervading the campus well into the 7-7:30 p.m. range, giving us all a gratifying sense of renewal and hope, life and baseball are all back. So rather than struggle to express another sentence of just how overjoyed I am at the changing of seasons, let me give you the top 10 storylines for Major League Baseball 2008 or 1 A.B. (After Bonds) which has the potential to be one of the greatest seasons in history.