The Offer of the College is a sort of mission statement for Bowdoin. And, though its meaning holds up through the years, it has undergone several revisions since it was written in 1906. This week, we made some changes of our own to reflect the new reality that we face as a College.

TO BE AT HOME in all lands and all ages;
To count your backyard a familiar acquaintance, and Netflix an intimate friend;
To gain a standard for the appreciation of the work of medical professionals and essential employees,
And the criticism of your own (but don’t be too hard on yourself);
To carry the keys of the world’s library as a JSTOR login,
And feel its resources (still) behind you in whatever task you undertake;
To make and keep hosts of friends on Zoom… Who are to be leaders in all walks of life;
To lose yourself (and your sanity) in generous enthusiasms, like baking sourdough.
And cooperate with others for common ends by staying home to flatten the curve-
This is the offer of the college for the best (almost) four years of your life.

This editorial represents the majority view of the Orient’s Editorial Board, which is comprised of Emily Cohen, Roither Gonzales, Ellery Harkness, Julia Jennings, Alyce McFadden, Rebecca Norden-Bright and Jaret Skonieczny.