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Jane Olsen
Staff Writer — Class of 2024
Number of articles: 23
First Article: February 26, 2021
Latest Article: November 10, 2023
6 photos by Jane Olsen
Jane OlsenEXHIBITING EXCELLENCE One of Ed McCarton’s paintings on display at the Points of View Art Gallery in Brunswick. The gallery is approaching 20 years since its founding and many of the core members of the original gallery are still taking part.
Jane OlsenLOCAL GEM: A person is pictured peering over the glistening water on a sunny day at Woodward Point Reserve. Jane Olsen '24 reflects on the finale of 'A Moment in Maine' while highlighting Brunswick's Woodward Point Reserve.
Jane OlsenMAGIC IN THE MARSHES: Waves crash against rocks at Wharton Point. Jane Olsen '24 discusses conservation and explores the scenic views of this natural wonder that is located only a few minutes away from Bowdoin's campus.
Jane OlsenGENERATIONAL LINKAGE: The sun shines on a picturesque scene in Cathance River Nature Preserve. Olsen explores both the preserve and how to connect with those both inside and outside of the Bowdoin bubble.
Jane OlsenNATURAL CONNECTION: A historic boathouse rests on the edge of the Skolfield Shores Preserve and an iced covered Middle Bay Cove. Jane Olsen explores the charming trail leading from this view back to Bowdoin’s campus.
Jane OlsenNON-PROPHETS ROCK REED HOUSE The re-opening of indoor rehearsal spaces and opportunities for live performances at Bowdoin has led to the creation of several student bands including the Non-Prophets, which performed alongside other groups at Reed House's Annual Fall Fest this past Saturday.
On Wednesday night, the Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MENA) program hosted a talk titled “Difficult Terms in the Israel/Palestine Conflict” in Kresge Auditorium. Students, Bowdoin faculty and community members filled the seats to hear three professors give context to the violence occurring in Israel and Palestine.
On Friday, more than 50 Bowdoin students participated in a Justice for Palestine demonstration at the Maine State House in Augusta. Bowdoin Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organized van rides to and from Augusta, free to any Bowdoin student interested in attending the rally.
Last Tuesday, the College hosted associate professor of history and environment and society at Brown University Bathsheba Demuth to give a talk entitled “The Reindeer at the End of the World: Apocalypse, Climate and Soviet Dreams.” The lecture, sponsored by the Environmental Studies Program, expanded on themes from Demuth’s debut book “Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait.”
Professor of History and Environmental Studies Connie Chiang organized the event in conjunction with her advanced environmental science seminar.
As December begins—and the sun sets at 4:03 p.m.—winter is here. Maine’s harsh winters can be difficult for both new and experienced residents. Compiled below are voices of the Bowdoin Community speaking on some of their favorite parts of the season.
On Wednesday evening, 2022-23 Joseph McKeen Visiting Fellow Toshi Reagon performed original work in Pickard Theater that featured music and conversation steeped in themes of unity. The acclaimed creator was accompanied by a panel of professors, fellow artists and community activists.
Inside the Brunswick Business Center at 18 Pleasant Street, the Points of View Art Gallery can be found. Artwork by Maine-based artists adorn the walls between office spaces for community members, mimicking the interconnected nature of Brunswick itself.
“Grampa and Gramma called the outdoors ‘a garden of natural healing,’” reads the Grampa’s Garden Website.
From the moment you open the door to Grampa’s Garden Sensory Adventure Spa on Maine Street, it’s clear this place is unique.
After weeks of exploring the natural beauty around Bowdoin’s campus, each location has both astounded me and reminded me of the endless opportunities we have to explore the beauty of Maine. As my last column of the year, Woodward Point Preserve is no exception.
I was first introduced to seaside mudflats through Sal’s clamming adventures in Robert McClosky’s “One Morning in Maine.” Growing up far from Maine, this children’s book gave me a glimpse into life in Maine and highlighted nature’s cultural importance in the state.
Beyond the taste of Thorne’s Hungarian mushroom soup, or the power of psychedelic fungi, mushrooms offer insight into the power of interconnection.
On Tuesday evening, students filled the Roux Lantern for the Mycorrhizal Minds Lecture presented by the Bowdoin Organic Garden.
On Tuesday April 5, the Bowdoin Democrats hosted a debate between Andrew Kaleigh ’24 and Brunswick at-large Town Councilor Dan Ankeles, two candidates running for the 100th district of the Maine State House of Representatives Democratic nomination.
A visit to the Cathance River Nature Preserve in Topsham will allow you to consider the past, the future and how to stay grounded in the present. Only a 10-minute drive from campus, the preserve features miles of riverside trails winding through growing forests.
The Bowdoin Pines is a quaint trail on the edge of campus that provides access to nature only minutes from dorms, classrooms or whichever Brunswick spaces you most frequently occupy. With no need for driving or a long hike, this trail offers accessible tranquility amongst a tree that has become a symbol for Maine, and in many ways, Bowdoin itself—the pine.
If you embark on just a 10-minute drive from campus, you may stumble upon the ecological and historical gem that is Skolfield Shores Preserve. After around five minutes of walking on the preserve, you will be met with a view of the ocean.
The Bowdoin community has faced unimaginable challenges this semester, and while everyone processes hardship differently, “Polar Pause,” the extended Thanksgiving break this year, has provided students and faculty with additional time and space for rest and reflection.
On Thursday evening, the Native American Student Association (NASA) and the Office of Gender Violence Prevention and Education (OGVPE) welcomed Native American lawyer and professor Sarah Deer to speak about historical violence against Indigenous people, specifically emphasizing violence prevention for Native women.
This past Saturday, The Non-Prophets established themselves in the Bowdoin student band scene with a debut performance at Reed House’s Fall Fest. The night also included performances by En Jamb and Mistaken for Strangers.
The Non-Prophets’ formation comes on the heels of a campus-wide return to in-person, creative pursuits.
This past weekend, the men’s tennis team came back strong at the Division III International Tennis Association (ITA) tournament after two years without formal competition. For the first time in two decades, Bowdoin hosted the tournament, which gave the majority of the team its first chance to compete in collegiate-level matches.
The women’s soccer team brought energy and enthusiasm back to Farley Field for their first New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) game in 18 months. Coming off an 11-0 victory over the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF), the Polar Bears came up short against Amherst College, losing 3-0 on Saturday, September 11.
Despite uncertainty going into the semester, the softball team made the most of the abbreviated 2021 spring season. Although the team played only 12 games—compared to a usual 40 game season—with a small roster of 11 players, a focus on teamwork and enjoyment made it a season for all to remember.
On Tuesday evening, journalist and bestselling author Emily Bazelon spoke to the Bowdoin community about the role of prosecutors in contributing to systemic mass incarceration. Bazelon is a staff writer at the New York Times Magazine, the Truman Capote Fellow for Creative Writing and Law at Yale Law School and co-host of the Slate Political Gabfest podcast.
Approximately one year since their last time practicing as a full group, Bowdoin softball continues to face challenges. Prolonged distance from campus has largely eliminated opportunities for competitive play and made it hard to sustain and create new social connections.
With the return of upperclass students to campus, the Bowdoin Outing Club (BOC) has resumed COVID-19-conscious excursions and opened applications for its Leadership Training (LT) program, an intensive program that prepares students to lead trips.
Beyond limiting possible trip locations, COVID-19 has also impacted the BOC’s internal operations.