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News

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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Labor shortage delays Roux completion

Several weeks ago, upon moving into the Roux Center for the Environment, professors were asked to don hard hats as they carted books and furniture into new offices. Originally scheduled to be complete before classes started, the building remains unfinished, with tarps covering a large portion of the building and pipes exposed in several classrooms.

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Student Government

Impeachment thwarted at BSG

After an election marred with misunderstandings and an inconsistent enforcement of rules, Aneka Kazlyna ’20, multicultural representative to Bowdoin Student Government (BSG), introduced articles of impeachment against two members of BSG on Wednesday night for actions that occurred during the BSG chairs election.

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Admissions

Over 500 commit to Class of 2022

As of the May 1 commitment date, 525 students have submitted a deposit to Bowdoin for the Class of 2022. Following the College’s most selective admissions season yet, this number is greater than the class of 500 students that Bowdoin planned would matriculate in August 2018, according to Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Whitney Soule.

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Ivies

One transport during Ivies

With a few exceptions, students celebrated this year’s Ivies Weekend responsibly, according to the Director of Safety and Security Randy Nichols. There were multiple incidences throughout the weekend that required Bowdoin Security to intervene, but none involved the Brunswick Police Department (BPD).

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Student Government

Rule violations mar election for BSG chairs

Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) canceled and then re-held its election for six Executive Team positions this week after concerns about possible violations of election rules. After a meeting of the Election Commission, Nora Cullen ’18 and Justin Weathers ’18, chair and vice chair of the Judicial Board, respectively, presided over the new election independently of the BSG Executive Team.

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Academic Affairs

Psych department struggles to meet demand

During Round 1 of course selection for the fall 2018 semester, there were 62 requests for 35 spots in Abnormal Psychology, reflecting a strong student interest in clinical psychology and an under-resourced department, according to Samuel Putnam, professor of psychology and chair of the department.

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College to open testing center for accommodations

Bowdoin will hire an additional employee who will be fully devoted to accommodating students with disabilities who will start next year, pending Trustees’ approval of the budget this May. Additionally, the College will create a testing center in Hawthorne-Longfellow Library where students who receive academic accommodations such as extra time will be able to take exams.

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Academic Affairs

Professors propose urban studies minor

A group of professors has submitted a proposal for a new urban studies minor as result of growing interest in the topic amongst students and faculty. Though this is not the first time an urban studies minor or major has been proposed, faculty believe that there are now enough courses, drawing from various departments and areas of study, to sustain a minor.

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College announces carbon neutrality

On Thursday, President Clayton Rose announced that the College has achieved its goal of being carbon neutral by 2020 two years earlier than expected, after years of planning and implementing energy-saving measures across campus and beyond.

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Student Government

Mohamed Nur and Amber Rock win BSG election

Mohamed Nur ’19 will be the Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) president during the 2018-2019 academic year and Amber Rock ’19 will be BSG vice president for student government affairs. The results of this weekend’s election were announced in an email to the Orient Sunday night from BSG President, Irfan Alam ’18.

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Admissions

Dept. of Justice investigates Bowdoin’s early admission practices

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating Bowdoin and at least eight other colleges and universities regarding potential violations of antitrust law in their early admissions processes. The investigation concerns the behind-the-scenes exchange of information between colleges about their admitted early decision (ED) applicants, a practice intended to ensure prospective students have not submitted binding applications to multiple schools.

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College invites 21 students to join Geoffrey Canada Scholars Program

A cohort of Bowdoin students from the Class of 2022 will arrive on campus six weeks before the start of the fall semester as part of the recently-announced Geoffrey Canada Scholars Program. The program, named after the educator and activist, is part of the College’s THRIVE initiative, which aims to better support low-income, first generation and underrepresented students.

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Chemistry fund honors former professor Dana W. Mayo

Professor of Chemistry Emeritus Dana W. Mayo, who passed away in November 2016 at the age of 88, played a pivotal role in the growth of the College’s chemistry department. With the support of his family, former students and the College, “Doc Mayo,” as he was known by his students, was honored this week through the creation the Dana Walker Mayo Fund.

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Events

Students, community share different perspectives on guns

Bowdoin students and Brunswick residents gathered in Morrell Lounge on Wednesday night to share their perspectives on gun rights and gun control. The conversation was part of the What Matters series, organized by the Joseph McKeen Center for the Common Good and Makeshift Coffee House, an organization that facilitates open conversations about various topics all around Maine.

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Asian Heritage Month

Asian Heritage Month spreads cultural awareness

This month, Bowdoin’s Asian Students Alliance (ASA) will host Asian Heritage Month, an opportunity to reflect on and discuss the importance of Asian and Asian American identities and to celebrate their diversity. Inspired by the nationwide observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, which commemorates important dates such as the first arrivals of Japanese immigrants and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, Bowdoin’s Asian Heritage Month will include discussions with artists, media icons and other prominent figures in the Asian American and wider Asian community.

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Events

Peter Skerry on immigration: ‘It’s not about your grandmother’

Yesterday afternoon, Peter Skerry, a professor of political science at Boston College and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, shared his views on immigration policy in a talk titled “It’s Not About Your Grandmother! Some Dispassionate Reflections on Immigration.” Drawing on trends and attitudes towards immigration to the United States the past three decades, Skerry aimed to point out flaws in both the left’s and right’s dominant narratives on immigration.

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Events

Roxane Gay talks #metoo, Black Panther and imperfection

In the introduction to her book “Bad Feminist,” Roxane Gay accepts the moniker because she is “flawed and human,” but that she feels a responsibility to raise her voice “to show all the ways we have room to want more, to do better.” At Gay’s Monday night talk, the Bowdoin community proved anxious to listen to that voice.

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Safe Space introduces hotline for survivors of sexual assault

Safe Space launched a support line for students who have experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault on Wednesday. Student representatives of Safe Space, previously accessible via their mailboxes, emails or social media, will now be on-call every night of the week, including later hours on weekends, to provide confidential assistance and support.

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News in Brief

Orient named best college newspaper in New England

The Orient was named the 2018 College Newspaper of the Year by the New England Society of News Editors (NESNE) and the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) in an announcement on Wednesday. In an email to the Orient, Sydney Conway of NENPA, wrote “It is clear that in the past year you have produced great material, and that lots of hard work has been put in by the newspaper’s staff.” The editors of the Orient will travel to a reception at the Boston Globe on April 19 where all NENPA AND NESNE honors will be presented, joining editors and reporters from news outlets across New England.

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News in Brief

Council approves second phase of Whittier Field plan

The Brunswick Town Council formally approved the second phase of Bowdoin’s plans to renovate Whittier Field, the Forecaster reported yesterday. The project includes building a new road to connect Pine Street and Bath Road. The decision this Tuesday followed a vote in December to allow the College to discontinue Pine Street in order to build new athletic facilities alongside Whittier Field.

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D.R.A.M., AJR to headline Ivies

Rapper D.R.A.M. and indie-pop band AJR will headline this year’s Ivies weekend, the Entertainment Board (E-Board) announced last night at a silent disco in Jack Magee’s Pub and Grill. D.R.A.M., who will be performing in Farley Field House on Saturday, April 28, is best known for the song “Broccoli,” which features Lil Yachty.

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Security Report

Security Report, 3/19 to 3/29

Monday, March 19 An employee at the Hawthorne-Longfellow Library was reported to be choking on an object that was stuck in her throat. A security officer performed the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the obstruction. Tuesday, March 20 A local man was asked to leave campus after he was observed doing skateboarding tricks on the flagpole memorial near Gibson Hall.

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Student Life

New apartments announced, to be completed for fall 2019

The College plans to introduce two new upperclass student living spaces in fall 2019—four suite-style apartment houses as well as the conversion of Boody-Johnson House into a College House. Born out of more than 1,600 survey responses from students, faculty, staff and neighbors as well as the efforts of a working group on off-campus and upperclass housing, these two changes to Bowdoin’s campus work to address student desires and entice students to remain living on campus.

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Events

Jose Antonio Vargas discusses immigration, discomfort and finding home

Jose Antonio Vargas is home. His California driver’s license may look a little different than a citizen’s, but—in front of a packed Kresge Auditorium last night for the Kenneth V. Santagata Memorial Lecture—he shared his personal struggle to feel like he belongs in America as an undocumented immigrant, and he challenged Bowdoin students to undertake the uncomfortable conversations necessary in today’s immigration debate.

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