Last year, faculty members permanently approved a week-long Thanksgiving break, setting the stage for President Safa Zaki to put the extension into action. This decision came as a result of advocacy from faculty and students alike, following an original two-day extension of break in the fall of 2021. Bowdoin students will now enjoy a ten-day break, as opposed to the previous five-day long vacation. Though Thanksgiving break has now been extended, not all students have the means or opportunity to return home, and we hope that the administration can spearhead more programming for students for future week-long breaks.

Thanksgiving break was extended to be a week long, but not everyone can make it home nor has the means to catch a flight back home. This can be a significant obstacle not only for aided students, but all students who choose to travel during the holiday season—a time notorious for spiked prices. Students are then forced to plan early during the fall semester and get the tickets. The process of searching for affordable tickets becomes increasingly tedious when added to an overwhelming fall semester. It is a relief to all to have a week without classes, but this break creates an alienating expectation that students will have the means to go back home. What happens then to the people who stay on campus?

Some programming has been available for students staying on campus during the Thanksgiving break that has historically been hosted by their peers for the past few years. Howell Thanksgiving is held annually on Thanksgiving Day to provide students with a hot meal and a sense of community on the holiday. Professors may even choose to open their doors to some of their students during their own time off.

While there are opportunities for students to find pockets of community during the break, this care is largely on the shoulders of students (and professors) who choose to hold space for those staying on campus. During a “break”—a time for rest—those leading this programming are extending their homes, providing meals, funding events and cultivating a supportive environment that the College has the capacity and responsibility to provide.

Although we appreciate these opportunities on the day of Thanksgiving, we notice a general lack of programming outside of sporting and fitness events during the break organized by the administration. Regardless of the break extension, students will still be on campus searching for activities to do. Not all of them have cars or access to transportation outside of the Amtrak or Greyhound Bus, which further limits their ability to enjoy time off campus during the break.

We call on the College administration to provide more programming for students who are spending their break on campus. The work of community building relies on the administration to support students during their entire Bowdoin career—in and outside of the classroom.

This editorial represents the majority view of the Editorial Board, which is comprised of Juan Chang, Chayma Charifi, Catalina Escobedo, Campbell Treschuk, Amelia Jacobson, Kristen Kinzler and Vaughn Vial.