Remarkable efficiency kept Bowdoin Student Government's (BSG) meeting moving this week as the body spoke with Dean for Academic Affairs Cristle Collins Judd. President Sophia Seifert '09 opened the meeting by welcoming Judd, who promptly launched into a description of her office's range.
According to Judd, she and her staff oversee all matters of academic import at Bowdoin. Three years ago, Judd arrived at Bowdoin after 13 years at the University of Pennsylvania with three core goals: to retain a faculty composed of the best teachers and scholars, to support a culture of academic inquiry among students, and to promote arts and culture on campus.
After providing this brief introduction, Judd opened the floor to questions from BSG members. Vice President for Facilities Mike Dooley '10, thanked Judd for making Arabic a reality and asked her what would happen next year with the program. Judd voiced her hope that "there will be a second-year [course] offered next year," but cautioned, "It is a work in progress."
Questions soon moved on to the effect of the economic crisis on Bowdoin programs, a topic prevalent lately in campus discourse. In response to a question from John Connolly '11 on the issue, Judd said, "I don't see any scaling back. The place where we'll be cautious is adding new [faculty] positions."
She went on to explain that the College must take long-term financial projections into account when it hires a faculty member who could be employed?and seek to continue his or her research here?for as long as 30 years.
Throughout her conversation with BSG, Judd remained very cordial. As her visit neared its end, she said, "First and foremost, what the faculty wants for every person here is a successful academic experience."
After Judd's departure, a rare usage of public comment time followed from the Bowdoin Evergreens about their initiative to largely eliminate bottled water from campus. In a PowerPoint presentation, members underscored the fact that "there is no such thing as an Eco-friendly bottle of water." BSG plans to vote on officially supporting the Evergreens' initiative in the near future.
Also on Wednesday, BSG approved new Student Activities Funding Committee rules and discussed the creation of a liaison position to the Brunswick Town Council. Next week, the body plans to vote on initiating a Thursday night bowling bus or taxi service. In its final act of the evening, BSG approved the purchase of more discount student movie tickets since its supply has been exhausted. Next week, BSG plans to meet with President Mills during their Wednesday meeting.