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News

Partial government shutdown affects science research

As the government shutdown drags on for more than a month, it has begun to affect scientific research on campus, already forcing some faculty and students to adjust their plans. “The shutdown has definitely affected my ability to do collaborative projects,” said Patsy Dickinson, Josiah Little professor of natural sciences.

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Jonathan R. Farmer ’03 among Americans killed in Syria

Bowdoin graduate and U.S. Army Green Beret Jonathan R. Farmer ’03 was killed in action in Syria on January 16 along with three other Americans. He was 37 years old. The Islamic State took credit for the attack in the northern city of Manbij, which killed 19 people in total after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest inside a restaurant.

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College offers first annual MLK day programming

For the first time when the holiday fell during the semester, the College did not hold classes on Martin Luther King Day. In lieu of beginning the semester on Monday, students were encouraged to participate in programming that focused on the life and legacy of Dr.

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Midyear approval ratings

This past week, the Orient sent out its semesterly approval ratings survey. The survey was sent to all 1,805 students and yielded 475 responses (26.3 percent). Support for the Brunswick Police Department declined sharply from last year amid controversy over off-campus enforcement.

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First year dies in car crash

Henry Zietlow ’22, from St. Paul, Minnesota, died in a car crash in Wisconsin on Monday. According to a release from the Wisconsin State Patrol, Zietlow and his mother were headed north on Highway 63 near the town of Hayward when a southbound pickup truck lost control and crossed into the northbound lane, where it collided with their car.

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Politics becomes personal as students advocate for climate change policy in D.C.

Politics doesn’t always happen during an optimal time—a lesson Bowdoin students learned last Sunday as they headed to Washington D.C., two days before finals period began. Sixteen students joined 1,000 protesters in the nation’s capitol this weekend to sit-in and encourage House Representatives to support a resolution for a Select Committee for a Green New Deal proposed by newly elected U.S.

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Flying squirrels take up residence

The Northern flying squirrel can glide 135 feet through the air—and a few of these furry mammals have landed in Quinby House this fall. Jeff Tuttle, senior associate director for facilities operations and maintenance, says the squirrels appear to be gone from the House but advises students to take certain precautions to prevent similar infestations in the future.

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Students express concern over proposed changes to Title IX

On Tuesday, six students sat in the Pickering Room of Hubbard Hall with Benje Douglas, director of gender violence prevention and education, to discuss the changes to Title IX put forth by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and to voice concerns about how these changes could affect college campuses like Bowdoin.

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‘Dawnland’ confronts brutality toward Wabanaki

Bowdoin College sits on stolen land. The area campus occupies today was once part of the Wabanaki Confederacy and was integral to the cultural identity and survival of a network of indigenous tribes. When Europeans colonists arrived, they embarked on a program of erasure and cultural genocide that continues today.

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Bowdoin senior challenges Georgia election

The day after the midterm elections, Arah Kang ’19 received a call from the director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), a national organization that advocates for civil and human rights for Asian Americans. Three hours later, Kang found herself boarding a flight to Atlanta, emailing professors to let them know that she would not be able to make class.

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Define American shines a light on immigration

When Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas came to Bowdoin to speak about his experience as an undocumented immigrant last year, his words hit particularly close to home for Kathleen Armenta ’21. Armenta, the daughter of immigrant parents, said that she was fortunate to attend Vargas’ event and talk to him about her own ambitions of advocating for immigrants and defining American identity.

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College launches new plan to attract veteran students

Although Bowdoin announced a new initiative to enroll military veterans last week, the strategy the College will employ to integrate these non-traditional students into campus life once they are admitted, remains to be seen. With the absence of a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Bowdoin, this is a surprising development for the College.

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Dean of Student Affairs Tim Foster to leave the College

Dean of Student Affairs Tim Foster will be leaving Bowdoin at the end of this academic year, citing a desire to spend more time with his family before figuring out his next plans. In an email to the student body announcing Foster’s departure on Monday, President Clayton Rose noted the dean’s “profound impact” on the College and said he has already begun a national search to fill Foster’s role.

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Library acquires 6000 DVDs from Bart & Greg’s

When Bart & Greg’s DVD Explosion, a DVD rental in downtown Brunswick opened by Bart D’Alauro ’95, closed at the end of 2017, D’Alauro’s beloved collection had nowhere to go. Recently, the College announced a plan to purchase 6,000 DVDs from the collection.

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BSG votes on amendments to bylaws, social code revisions

Among the issues Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) members discussed Wednesday at their weekly meeting were amendments to the bylaws and potential revisions to the College’s Social Code. The changes in the bylaws, a motion from Vice President Amber Rock ’19, are intended to match the language of the BSG constitution.

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Test Center eases implementation of accommodations

Students who receive academic accommodations now have a reliable place to take proctored tests. After the Test Center opened this fall, Anne Lamppa, assistant director of student accessibility and test center coordinator, is continuing to adapt the space to work for all students.

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First years lead charge on Native American Heritage Month

Led by two first years, the Native American Student Association (NASA) is recognizing Native American Heritage Month this November with speakers, food and a documentary screening. The group has the twin goals of deepening awareness of Native American issues on campus and building up its own presence after a lull last year due to lack of membership.

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Concerned students denounce anti-trans graffiti

Update Friday, November 9 at 5:28 p.m.: Today at 4:59 p.m., Michael Reed, senior vice president for diversity and inclusion, sent an email to the Bowdoin community on behalf of the Bias Incident Group (BIG) regarding “an anonymous act of defacement and transphobia” that took place in a women’s restroom in David Saul Smith Union.

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Spring 2019 schedule tweaked after feedback

After modifications to the course schedule increasing the time between classes debuted this fall, class times for the spring will see a few small changes in response to student and faculty feedback. The opening of Round I of registration on Monday marked the end of a process that occurs behind the scenes in the months leading up to each semester.

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College unveils first redesign of bowdoin.edu in 13 years

The new Bowdoin website, bowdoin.edu, launched on Tuesday night after undergoing its first major revamp in 13 years. The complete overhaul of the website, which has been in the works for the last three years, went extremely smoothly, said Janie Porche, the director of content for Bowdoin’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs.

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Anti-trans language targets bathroom menstrual products

A sign advertising free menstrual products in the bathroom on the first floor of David Saul Smith Union was defaced with trans-exclusionary language this week. In an email to the Orient, Director of Gender Violence Prevention and Education Benje Douglas said that the Bias Incident Group (BIG) would be convening next week to discuss the incident but declined to comment further.

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New discussions and programming headline Sexual Respect Week

Bowdoin Healthy Relationships’ (BHeRe) Sexual Respect Week is getting more intimate this year. Yesterday, BHeRe kicked off a week of concentrated programming dedicated to creating discussion and awareness around sexual respect, boundaries and healthy relationships. “The goal of the week is really to get these ideas of sexual respect out there in the open because sometimes it’s a very taboo topic or it’s talked about only in a very restricted context, so hopefully having this week will make sexual respect something more prominent that students think about in their day-to-day lives,” said Monica Xing ’19, a co-leader of BHeRe.

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Studzinski debates highlight differences, turn testy

Candidates for two of Maine’s seats in Congress took to the stage in Studzinski Recital Hall on Tuesday afternoon for two debates preceding the November 6 election. The first debate, for U.S. Senate, featured independent incumbent Angus King and two challengers—Republican Eric Brakey, a current state senator, and Democrat Zak Ringelstein, a former teacher.

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Visiting lecturer contends that the world would be a better place if the #MeToo movement had never happened

Last night, journalist Helen Andrews gave a talk at Bowdoin titled “The New McCarthyism” in which she compared today’s culture of “political correctness” with Joseph McCarthy’s persecution of accused communist sympathizers in the 1950s. Andrews argued that McCarthyism was aimed at “an existential threat” and all accusations were supported by evidence, but said the #MeToo movement has created a similar atmosphere without clearing the same evidentiary hurdle.

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Dr. Amer Ahmed talks intersections, Islamophobia

After a quick introductory breath, Dr. Amer Ahmed kicked off No Hate November with a rap. “I stand poisoned by religion / the decisions of sin / while television spins the lies of white men / I see no friends as the media sends / the myth of the truth to fear my brown skin,” he performed to a surprised audience in Kresge Auditorium last night.

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Student frustration comes through at Town Hall

At today’s Bowdoin Student Government (BSG)-led Town Hall, students expressed frustration about perceived inertia in response to bias incidents—most recently, a swastika that was reported in the Hubbard Hall Stacks at the end of September. In total, four swastikas have been reported on campus in the past two years.

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BSG to hold Town Hall, swastika from 2017 reported

Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) will hold a Town Hall at 4 p.m. today to discuss campus bias incidents in light of swastika graffiti found in the Hubbard Hall stacks last month. “There will be space for students to share honest reactions to this bias incident, and community leaders from both the administration and student body will be present to hear and grapple with these concerns,” wrote Nate DeMoranville ’20, BSG chair of facilities and sustainability, in an email on Monday afternoon on behalf of the BSG Executive Committee.

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BSG meeting addresses Title IX, No Hate November

Title IX Coordinator Benje Douglas came to Bowdoin Student Government’s (BSG) General Assembly meeting on Wednesday night to talk about the culture surrounding sexual harassment and assault on campus and answer questions about the resources available to survivors.

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Alcohol-related summonses issued to eight students

Eight students received court summonses last weekend after several separate off-campus incidents that occurred late Saturday night and shortly after midnight on Sunday. Brunswick Police Department (BPD) issued summonses to two 21-year-old students for allowing a minor to consume liquor and to six students under the age of 21 for possession of alcohol by a minor or consuming liquor.

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BQSA organizes allyship conversation

On Tuesday evening, the Bowdoin Queer-Straight Alliance (BQSA) led a program in Daggett Lounge called “Allyship, A Campus Discussion.” Falling just two days before Yellow Shirt Day during OUTtober—a series of programming BQSA organizes to promote awareness of and allyship around the experiences of members of the Bowdoin community who identify as LGBTQIA+— this discussion brought a renewed level of thoughtfulness to a campus tradition.

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‘Take Back the Night’ to train focus on survivors

Student leaders, Safe Space volunteers, faculty from the Office of Gender Violence Prevention and Education and members of the Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM) will all come together at 7:30 p.m. tonight to host the annual “Take Back the Night” event.

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Organizers direct student attention to Maine elections

As midterm season approaches and lawn signs appear, political organizations at Bowdoin have been bringing local candidates to campus to discuss Maine politics. The Bowdoin Republicans, the Maine Democratic Party (MDP) and Bowdoin Democrats are encouraging student involvement in Maine politics due to the potential impact student votes could have on the contentious gubernatorial race.

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What you didn’t know: BQSA launches queer history poster campaign

As part of OUTtober, Bowdoin Queer Straight Alliance (BQSA) launched a new poster initiative: “Queer History You Didn’t Know and History You Didn’t Know was Queer.” The idea arose out of a discussion among BQSA members about how many people, including members of the LGBTQ community, lack an understanding of queer history.

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With Halloween coming up, BSG assembly warns against cultural appropriation

Wednesday night’s BSG meeting focused on the recent bias incident report released by President Clayton Rose and included a discussion on cultural appropriation centered around Halloween costumes. In discussing the Bias Incident Group’s report on the swastika found in the Hubbard Hall stacks, Senior Class President Henry Bredar explained his frustration with the lack of closure after such incidents are reported.

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Swastika etched on desk draws contempt

In an email to the campus community on Tuesday, President Clayton Rose announced that a swastika, drawn on a carrel and accompanied by the phrase “Heil Hitler,” has been deemed a bias incident. It is the third time the Nazi symbol has been found on Bowdoin’s campus since early 2017 and comes amidst an uptick in white nationalist imagery at colleges and universities across the nation.

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In run for governor, Hayes ’80 fights against partisanship

Terry Hayes ’80 says she never planned on running for office. The first time she did, she lost, only to rebound and win six races over the following decade. After eight years in the Maine House of Representatives and nearly four as the State Treasurer, she has identified partisan bickering as the central cause of the state’s problems.

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Town council candidates find common ground

Sande Updegraph and Dan Ankeles are two candidates approaching an at-large Town Council seat in Brunswick—the town’s only contested election at the local level this November. Despite their differing prior experiences, the two have similar opinions on several political issues.

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Counseling introduces confidential, 24-hour phone service

In response to concerns about accessibility of services, particularly outside normal hours, Counseling Services announced its partnership with ProtoCall, a telephonic counseling service available 24 hours a day. The partnership, announced on October 1, is designed to increase the number of counseling services available by providing students the opportunity to receive counseling both after hours and on weekends.

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Grace Hopper aims to inspire women in technology

Last week, 13 Bowdoin students attended the 18th Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) in Houston, Texas. The conference is meant to encourage the next generation of female innovators in STEM fields. The conference has been held most years since 1994 in cities around the U.S.

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BLA petition sparks living-wage conversations with alumni

Still unsatisfied with Bowdoin’s commitment to its hourly employees, students involved in the Bowdoin Labor Alliance (BLA) kicked off what is likely to be a year of activism with a targeted plea to alumni. After two hours spent during Homecoming Weekend speaking to alumni outside of HarvestFest (colloquially known as “the beer tent”), BLA received signatures from 60 former Bowdoin students pledging that they would not donate to the College until a living wage policy is established for all Bowdoin workers.

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Roux Center open for interdisciplinary innovation

The Roux Center for the Environment, located on the corner of Harpswell Road and College Street, was officially dedicated yesterday. Beyond additional classrooms, study spaces and offices for students and faculty, the newest academic building represents an approach to innovation and interdisciplinary learning for the College moving forward.

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Cynthia Lee Fontaine’s advice: ‘be friendly’

Cynthia Lee Fontaine, a Puerto Rican drag queen best known for her performance on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” joined the Bowdoin community in Morrell Lounge on Wednesday night for an interview and a musical performance. Student organizers hoped the event would bring greater intersectionality to Latinx Month programming, which runs from September 15 to October 15.

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BSG prepares for a productive year under new constitution

Working under a newly updated constitution that prioritizes inclusivity, the general assembly of Bowdoin Student Government (BSG)—which includes both first years and seasoned veterans—kicked into full gear on Wednesday night. BSG President Mohamed Nur ’19 said that the constitutional amendments, which were passed with the support of 76 percent of student body voters last March, put the BSG in a better position to execute the ideas of its student representatives.

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Peer 2 Peer: mentors meet with first years

From this week until Thanksgiving break, Peer Health will hold its annual Peer 2 Peer conversations with first years. According to the website of the Office of Residential Life (ResLife), these conversations aim to help first year students navigate their transition to college by providing them with the opportunity to discuss alcohol and drug use with trained upperclassmen and to reflect on different aspects of their Bowdoin experience thus far.

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Men’s Ultimate Frisbee placed on ongoing probation

The men’s Ultimate Frisbee team has been placed on probation in response to an email accidentally sent to first-year members. The email contained language that was hostile towards new members. On Tuesday, September 4, the first-year Frisbee members received an email inviting them to attend a social gathering the following Thursday evening.

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Bowdoin students protest Kavanaugh nomination

Last Friday, three dozen Bowdoin students protesting the potential confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh were featured on national news. The demonstration, held in Portland at the office of U.S. Senator from Maine Susan Collins, was in opposition to Kavanaugh’s position on women’s rights and his opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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College encourages wellness with 10% Happier: Meditation app

Bowdoin students now have access to a significant portion of the 10% Happier: Meditation app. Ben Painter ’19 brought the app to Bowdoin after he interned at a meditation organization over the summer. He considered several different apps but ultimately chose 10% Happier: Meditation for the quality of teachers and variety of meditations available.

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Changes to alcohol policy afford seniors more flexibility

Two revisions to Bowdoin’s Alcohol Policy aim to ensure compliance with state and federal laws while affording more privileges to older students. The two primary changes address event registration and discussions around outdoor events. Before the revisions were made, the policy required all events to be registered with the Office of Residential Life by noon on Thursday, either one or two days before the event would take place.

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Activism

Students protest Collins’ office over Kavanaugh nomination

Chanting “Kavanaugh has got to go” and “this is what democracy looks like,” approximately 30 students marched down Congress street in Portland this afternoon en route to the office of Senator Susan Collins. Bowdoin Climate Action organized the rally in response to Collins’ position as a key vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who students criticized for his position on women’s rights issues and his opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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First-year survey results: breaking down the class of 2022

Last year, when the Class of 2022 first began talking about which colleges they were applying to, 33 percent of them were not sure whether they should be saying “Bo-do-in,” “Bow-do-in” or “Bow-din.” Since then, they have learned how to pronounce the College’s name and developed dining hall allegiances—Thorne Hall comes out on top with 61 percent of the vote.

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Tons of toppled trees: storm clean-up stretches on

A week after last Thursday’s storm damaged their apartment, the four residents of Pine A are still staying elsewhere. Facilities Management has estimated that it will take about a month for the total damage from the storm, which involved 69 mile per hour winds and caused 30,000 power outages in the Brunswick area, to be fixed completely.

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Departmental consolidations make way for collaboration

The start of the semester brings changes for several departments as professors prepare to move into new offices around campus. Many professors in the Earth and Oceanographic Science Department (EOS) have moved from their previous offices in Druckenmiller Hall to new spaces in the Roux Center for the Environment.

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New hires—a veteran, a globe-trotter, a teacher of an Olympian

A trio of new staff members in the Offices of Student Affairs and Residential Life hail from vastly different backgrounds, but each expressed similar desires to get to know students at Bowdoin. Chad Coates, the associate dean of students and dean of first-year students, is an avid traveler and aims to visit 50 countries before he turns 50.

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Continued construction noticeable across all parts of campus

This past summer was particularly busy for development on campus. In addition to the construction of the Roux Center for the Environment, projects included new student housing on Park Row, the renovation of Boody-Johnson House into an eventual College House, the second phase of construction on Whittier Field, renovations at the Career Planning Center and the addition of a designated testing center in Hawthorne-Longfellow library (H-L).

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Leana Amaez leaves college after eight years

At the end of August, Leana Amaez, former associate dean of students for diversity and inclusion and co-director of the Sexuality, Women and Gender Center (SWAG), left Bowdoin to accept a position as the director of pro bono services at Pine Tree Legal Assistance.

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Activist and educator DeRay McKesson ’07 publishes book

On Tuesday, Viking Books released “On the Other Side of Hope: The Case for Freedom,” a collection of essays written by educator and civil rights activist DeRay McKesson ’07. The Baltimore native’s debut presents his experiences and memories alongside his suggestions for addressing a range of social problems.

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Academic

New director looks to refresh CPC

Over the summer, the Career Planning Center (CPC) found itself in a new space with new leadership. Since beginning her position in July, the new Director of Career Planning Kristin Brennan has set new targets and reestablished old goals in an effort to make the CPC accessible to more students, alumni and parents.

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Frustrations persist after pay raise for hourly employees

As Bowdoin students and faculty returned to Brunswick for the fall semester, they took in scenes typical of late summer at Bowdoin: well-manicured lawns, stately buildings, lobster for dinner and a welcome back message from President Clayton Rose, which this year included a note about pay for hourly employees.

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