The Bowdoin Orient

Protest signs bearing phrases like "People Before Profits" and "What About Economic Justice?" lined the hallway leading to Smith Auditorium on Tuesday. Over 100 individuals gathered in the auditorium that afternoon to partake in the inaugural Occupy Bowdoin Teach-In, organized by Robbie Benson '14 and Ricardo Zarate '13.

Controversy has enveloped Colby College in wake of allegations of sexual assault involving multiple members of its football team. The Colby administration has disclosed neither when the alleged assault took place, nor the details of it, but suspended three football players on November 11, just one day prior to the game between Colby and Bowdoin. The school did not explicitly state that the players were responsible for the alleged assault.

Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) voted 20 to one in favor of a proposal to extend Thanksgiving break to a week. The faculty will vote next Monday on the proposal.

Orville Ranger, the owner of the 45 Maine St. property that was destroyed in last April's fire, pleaded guilty in court two weeks ago to a civil violation of the Uniform Fire Code and Life Safety Code. He will pay a $500 fine for failure to provide more than one means of egress from the second floor of the building.

Joseph Sewall '43, former Republican president of the Maine Senate and prominent businessman, died at the age of 89 on November 23.

For the past few weeks, the Colby community has been largely absorbed in a discussion about sexual assault on campus in response to allegations against several students. Other students have since come forward with tales of their own experiences with sexual assault. Federal law prohibits Colby from releasing information regarding the details of the recent incident. However, an email from Colby students who were attempting to organize a protest at the Bowdoin-Colby football game states that the investigation involves members of the Colby team.

Over the last year, the repercussions of what Marxian political economists might call the "neo-liberal regime," have started coming home to roost. An economic issue that has laid dormant for decades is stretching its arms, rubbing the sleep out of its eyes, and even contemplating getting out of bed. That issue is income inequality.

What does the enemy look like? If you were to ask Jack Bauer, of "24" fame, he could tell you any number of things, but his response would likely focus on a few key characteristics: dark, shifty and Muslim.

Yesterday was World AIDS Day, a yearly event intended to unite people from all around the world in the difficult fight against this disease. It's an opportunity to show support for those living with HIV and to remember those who have died of AIDS. Yet beyond this yearly day of remembrance, it seems that AIDS is mostly forgotten by the world.

To the Editors: I read the Bowdoin Orient article "NAS research now occurring on campus" (November 18). Michael Toscano, the primary researcher for this project asks the question, "What does Bowdoin teach?" I too would like to know what Bowdoin teaches. Oh, not the names of courses and programs.

Thanksgiving, the break that seems too short when you're making travel plans but too long once you get home, just passed by, and if your Thanksgiving was anything like mine, it involved a brew or two.

Although Portland is the closest place to campus that can call itself a city, I've noticed that students rarely venture there for dinner.

After weeks of painstaking sketching, crafting and creating, the senior visual arts majors will display their work in a one-night show tonight in Portland. No Bowdoin students in recent memory have exhibited their art in Portland without faculty work alongside it.

This year's December Dance Concert is particularly notable as it marks the stage debut of Bowdoin's repertory ballet program. Charlotte Griffin, assistant professor of theater and dance, was brought to Bowdoin in 2010 to expand the dance department's offerings.

Though campus audiences are used to students taking the stage as actors, it is a little rarer to find them in the director's chair. This semester, however, students enrolled in Professor of Theater Davis Robinson's directing class learned the tricks of the trade and will showcase their self-produced scenes Monday and Tuesday.

This week, the cast of the NBC sitcom "Community" will grace the cover of TV Guide. The show just won the magazine's Fan Favorites Award after garnering hundreds of thousands of votes online. One place you won't be able to see "Community", however, is on the air.

Although many have considered Donald Glover's forays into the rap game to be something of a side project for the actor, his latest release as Childish Gambino has solidified his place in the contemporary music scene.

When it first aired in 2009, "Parks and Recreation" suffered both poor reception and little acclaim in its first season; many critics failed to see how the show was any different from "The Office."

Heading into arguably its two biggest games of the year this weekend against Colby, the men's hockey team is in a solid position after playing to a 2-1-1 record in its first four official games of the season. Bowdoin began the season facing tough competition from Williams and Middlebury.

The men's basketball team has opened up its season with a 3-2 record, with both losses determined in the final seconds. In their opening game, the Polar Bears traveled to UMass-Dartmouth where they won the 2011 Hampton Inn Classic. After a routine 72-38 win over the University of Maine-Farmington, the Polar Bears overcame their hosts in the tournament final 66-61.

I think Andy Williams sang it best with his famous line calling the Christmas season "The most wonderful time of the year." Between the decorations, parties, holiday cheer, ugly sweaters, eggnog, and endless repeats of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey, what's not to love? What really revs my engine during the holiday season is simple: the movies.

The men's and women's cross country teams ended their seasons successfully at the NCAA D-III championship in Winneconne, Wis. on November 19. Coby Horowitz '14 earned All-American status by coming in 13th place overall with a time of 24:30 on the 8K course.