With over 10 representatives absent, a scant Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) assembled on Wednesday to discuss the contentious issue of extending Thanksgiving break by two school days.
The increasing geographical diversity of the College—over 59 percent of the Class of 2015 is from outside New England—has prompted concerns regarding students' inability to travel home during the holiday. In the past few years, more and more students have been unable to return home and have been forced to remain on campus during Thanksgiving due to the brevity of the three day break.
"We got a lot of concerns, particularly from students not from the New England area who didn't have the time to be able to go back home and have a rewarding and relaxing Thanksgiving break," said BSG Chair of Academic Affairs Jordan Francke '13.
Certain faculty members have argued that the extension would not be in the students' best interest, stating that they would get distracted and lose focus of their studies right before final exams. Others have argued the opposite, asserting that more time off would give students the opportunity to unwind, rejuvenate, and rid themselves of stress before studying for the last leg of the semester.
The BSG representatives will have one week to gauge student reactions before reconvening and deciding whether they will endorse the proposal for the extension.
A faculty committee will vote on the three-year test run extension on December 5. If approved, Bowdoin will join three other NESCAC institutions—Amherst, Bates and Hamilton —in allowing their students at least a week off during fall break.
The BSG also voted on, and unanimously approved, a proposal that will allow those students who remain on campus during the break to take a Black Friday shuttle to Freeport and Portland Thanksgiving night.
Approximately $150 will be allocated toward the six shuttles that will run from campus to various shopping areas on November 26.