The Bowdoin Orient

The Office of Admissions has sent acceptance letters to 802 of 5,829 regular decision applicants, resulting in a 13.8 percent regular decision acceptance rate. Overall, 1,079 prospective students have been admitted to the Class of 2016—a 16.1 percent overall acceptance rate. The College received 6,716 applications this year, marking a 2 percent increase from last year. There was an 18 percent rise in applications from students of color compared to last year, a 13 percent increase from international students, a 29 percent increase in the number of applications from students in the Southwest, and a 22 percent raise in the South.

The annual Spring Gala almost fell off this year's social calendar after the event was left without a overseer. In past years, an ad hoc committee comprised of students has collaborated with the Office of Student Activities to plan the event, but this year no such committee was formed, an oversight that was not caught until two members of Bowdoin Student Government discovered that financing for the event had not been secured.

The film studies department will grow into an interdisciplinary program next year, the culmination of a nearly decade-long effort. As a program, more courses will be offered and professors from other disciplines will receieve joint appointments in film studies. When Tricia Welsch, chair of the film studies department, came to Bowdoin to replace the only member of the department in 1993, she sought to broaden the course offerings, and helped film studies become an approved minor in 2001.

Boy meets girl at a party. Boy and girl hook up. A common scenario at Bowdoin College. Then boy gives girl a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), or vice versa—a scenario that seems to be recently spreading on campus. Earlier this month, Coordinator of Health Education Whitney Hogan sent an email to all first years as well as Peer Health regarding the recent upswing in diagnoses of STIs on campus. The email was then circulated to many other groups and individuals.

Tim Foster, dean of student affairs, made an appearance at this week's Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) meeting to address preliminary data from the recent NESCAC-wide alcohol survey administered in early March. The academic affairs committee also proposed providing new funds to students who exceed their printing allocations. Of all nine of the NESCAC institutions that took part in the conference-wide survey—Amherst and Wesleyan did not partake—Bowdoin had the highest participation rate, with 78 percent of students filling out the questionnaire.

On the Wednesday before spring break, students were alerted to an uptick in diagnoses of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) on campus, including chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, and gonorrhea. The news came in the form of an email from Whitney Hogan, coordinator of health education. While the College has not released the exact number of confirmed cases, there have clearly been enough to incite concern.

A 17-year-old man walked down the street. He wore a hooded sweatshirt and carried only a bag of Skittles, iced tea, and a cell phone. He was unarmed. A 28-year-old man bearing a handgun called 911 and began to follow this "suspicious" young man against the advice of the emergency operator.

About a month ago, the Chem- Free Housing Review Committee submitted its proposal for modifying first year chem-free housing. I would like to air some concerns about this proposal, even though I no longer live in chem-free housing

When New York City's drag queen sensation Manila Luzon arrives on campus next Friday as the star host of the drag ball, what kind of campus will greet her? The ball will be one of the most high-profile Bowdoin Queer-Straight Alliance (BQSA)-organized parties on campus in recent memory. With its celebrated cross-dressing host and conspicuous location in Jack Magee's Pub, the ball might not have taken place even a few years ago.

Since coming to Maine, I find I don't get to drink bubble tea as often as I would like to, but when I do I always remember how much I enjoy the contrast between the chewy tapioca balls and the smooth, sweet tea.

Bowdoin College is worlds away from Haiti, and Dany Laferrière is worlds away from the young man he was when he fled his native Haiti and sought refuge in Montreal at the age of 23. Today, the 58 year-old has earned international esteem and numerous accolades as a novelist, journalist and screenwriter.

Anyone who has been a fan of Chiddy Bang since their first mixtape—"The Swelly Express"—will be disappointed by the hip-hop duo's lack of passion in their latest release. Their first release was brimming with a heartfelt desire to stay young—"I ain't ever growing up!" Chiddy says in "The Opposite of Adults"—as well as a hope to make it big in the rap world.

In sight of the lackluster premiere of "John Carter" two weeks ago, Disney already projects that they will lose upwards of $200 million this quarter on the Martian epic, making it the most colossal failure in motion picture history ("Cutthroat Island" 's inflation-adjusted loss of $145 million in 1995 now ranks a distant second).

Writer Heidi Julavits will read excerpts from her newest novel, "The Vanishers," when her book tour for the work hits campus today

The men's baseball team kicked off its season in Florida over spring break, winning its first five games and finishing with an overall 10-6 record. Bowdoin outscored its opponents 72-61, while holding them to just 19 runs in their 10 wins. "It is harder to grind through physically and mentally pitch to pitch when you've played that many games in a short amount of time," Head Coach Mike Connolly said. "But it doesn't mean it can't be done."

Spring break was no vacation for a handful of winter sports teams whose seasons continued into March. Headlining the group was women's basketball, Bowdoin's only entrant into an NCAA tournament. The team made it to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year before being ousted by George Fox, the No. 3 team in the country and eventual runner-up to the title. With a final record of 21-8, the Polar Bears reached 19 victories for the 12th consecutive season.

The women's tennis team faced a slew of nationally-ranked opponents in California over spring break, returning to the East Coast with a 4-3 record. The team, ranked 15th nationwide, won handily against UC-Santa Cruz, Washington University in St. Louis, Sewanee, and Chapman University, all top-30 teams. Its three losses were to No. 8 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, No. 9 Pomona and D-I Cal-State Northridge.

The men's tennis team closed out a California trip with a 9-0 shutout victory over Salisbury last Wednesday. Bowdoin, ranked No. 14 in D-III, is now moving into conference action and will play Wesleyan and Trinity tomorrow. Against Salisbury, doubles teams of Sam King '14/Oscar Pena '12, Kent Winingham '12/Noah Bragg '15 and Alex Jacobs '12/Peter Davis '14 all claimed victories.

Three weeks into its spring season, the sailing team is looking like a national-caliber squad. The Polar Bears finished 10th at the Navy Women's Regatta, featuring 20 of the nation's most competitive teams, on March 10. Kaylee Schwitzer '15 sailed with Ayaka Okawa '14, Emily McNeil '14, and Isabel Low '13 to take second place in the B division.