The Nation’s Oldest Continuously Published College Weekly
Friday, April 5, 2019
Volume 148, Number 20
bowdoinorient.com
e D g e S I L I l l S A A P o A C e M L n i C . g a o t t S s . s d 1 U o w P o B
13 students issued court summonses last weekend by Kate Lusignan Orient Staff
he first weekend back from Spring Break was a busy one for both students and the Brunswick Police Department (BPD). hirteen students received alcohol-related court summons and one student received a warning between last Friday and Saturday nights. he unusually high number of summonses reflects an upward
trend in student interaction with BPD and has caused anxiety among students. his year, BPD was one of 25 Maine law enforcement agencies that was awarded an Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) grant by Dirigo Safety, LLC—a private organization that provides monetary support and training to law enforcement agencies in Maine. According to the Dirigo
Safety website, the primary focus of the EUDL program is to “systematically implement best or promising practices that attain the objectives of increasing the enforcement of underage drinking laws and enhancing research-based prevention planning.” On uesday, BPD announced that, in addition to the EUDL grant, they department received a grant from the Maine Centers for Disease
Control to focus on the enforcement of underage drinking laws in the months of April and May. According to BPD’s Facebook post announcing the grant, the funds will go towards educating minors on the dangers of alcohol and “looking for violations and enforcing the laws as practical.” Te post me ntioned th at officers looking for violations may be plainclot hes police offi cers.
Five of the summonses from last weekend were issued at Helmreich House (Helm) on Friday night at a registered party after a wellness check was requested. At around 11:30 p.m. on Friday,, the event host (E-host) Friday at Helm called Bowdoin Security for a routine wellness check for an intoxicated student. Upon examination, Security concluded that a medical transport was necessary.
As is standard, two BPD officers arrived at Helm with paramedics from Brunswick Rescue. At the time of BPD’s arrival, there were five students in the house: three underage students, who were friends of the transported student, the E-host and the alcohol host (A-host). he E-host was also underage.
BUSTED,, page 3 Please see BUSTED
Unclear support animal policy frustrates students available policies about emotional support animals and other Orient Staff assistance animals. Bowdoin When Jordan Hsia ’19 was does not. diagnosed with general anxDirector of Student Accesiety disorder, depression and sibility Lesley Levy said that post-traumatic stress disorder the process for obtaining an earlier this year, she found a sil- emotional support animal, or ver lining. Tese Tese official diagno- any other service or assistance ses, she thought, would allow her animal, is the same as Bowdoin’s to keep an emotional support standard accommodations proanimal in her dorm. cedure, and that decisions are But instead of receiving per- made on a case-by-case basis. mission to bring her emotional Te animals are covered as a reasupport cat to Bowdoin, Hsia sonable accommodation by the found the accommodations pro- Fair Housing Act. A Challenging Challenging Process cess to be confusing and opaque, with her emails going unanHsia has struggled with her swered or being passed between mental and physical health since administrators until her request she started at Bowdoin, with was officially denied last week. symptoms including an elevated Bowdoin is far from the only heart rate and a tendency to fall college to grapple with policies asleep during class. She sought on emotional support animals help from both the Health Cenin the last few years. However, ter and the Counseling Center other Maine colleges, including and was prescribed Adderall for Bates, Colby and the University of Maine, have detailed, publicly Please see ANIMALS see ANIMALS,, page 4
by Jessica Piper
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
Women’s water polo players warm up for a game against Bates in Greason Pool last weekend. The Polar Bears came away with the win and are getting ready for their championship tournament later this month. SEE PAGE 13.
How Ho w does Bow Bowdoin doin get g et its money? Endowment returns and tuition fund normal operations, donations drive construction by Rohini Kurup, Diego Lasarte and Jessica Piper Orient Staff
In recent months there has been a pattern of stories in the O rient exploring the complexities and limitations of Bowdoin’s endowment and operating budget. o o add context to the series of articles and opeds, the Orient has decided to break down the numbers behind the money that makes Bowdoin run. Tis is Part 1 in a two-part series examining Bowdoin’s budget. Tis week, we look at the College’s sources of revenue. Te second installment, published published next week, will examine its spending. Bowdoin draws its revenue from three main sources: tuition, returns on the endowment and donations. he money that the College spends each year is generally split into the operating budget and the capital budget. Understanding the finances of an institution as large and multidimensional as Bowdoin is complicated, but breaking down the data from the Office of the reasurer makes it a little easier.
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A MONTH EARLY EARLY
Operating Budget vs. Capital Budget Each year, the Office of the reasurer prepares two distinct budgets: the operating budget, which is the annual cost of running the College, and the capital budget, which is spent on construction projects and renovations. he operating budget pays for everything from financial aid for students, to the food in the dining halls, to faculty and staff salaries.
his academic year, the funds available for the operating budget are $168.4 million, up 3.4 percent f rom last year’s budget when accounting for inflation. On the spending side, the College is spending more on student wages and financial aid. Net tuition and fees (the total amount of tuition due to Bowdoin minus the amount of financial aid distributed) cover 47.1 percent of the current operating budget. Funds from the endowment pay for 38.8 percent. Unrestricted gifts, which are donations that the College can use to its discretion, cover 5.6 percent. he remaining 8.5 percent comes from other sources, such as revenue from renting out facilities and sponsored research. he capital budget, meanwhile, pays for larger projects and maintenance in excess of
A ART IN THE HOUSE
Annual art show at Reed aims to highlight Bowdoin begins its Asian Heritage Month celebration this week. Page 3. POC talent. Page 7.
$500,000, including construction projects such as the Roux Center for the Environment and Park Row Apartments. he College is currently in the midst of a $153 million capital plan, which spans six years: fiscal year (FY) 2017 to FY 2022. Of that, reasurer Matt Orlando anticipates spending $35-40 million this fiscal year on projects such as the construction of Park Row Apartments and the renovation of Boody-Johnson House. he capital budget varies year to year and is unusually high this fiscal year, which Orlando attributes to the several ongoing construction projects. From FYs 2012 to 2016, capital budget spending ranged from $5-10 million per year. For the most part, capital projects are financed through
COURTESY OF GEORGE J. MITCHELL SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING: BEGINNING:James James Bowdoin III started Bowdoin’s endowment when he gifted the college 1,000 acres of land and $1,000. His CASHFLOW,, page 6 wife, Sarah, later made a contribution of her own. Please see CASHFLOW
DENOMINATIONAL NAL DIFFERENCE F DENOMINATIO
S RACE ON THE FIELD
O ON SECOND THOUGHT
Multifaith fellows organize programming Page 9. for the spring semester. semester.Page
The football team in the 1970s was a different experience for black players. Page 13.
Brooke Vahos Vahos ’21 discusses the benefits of long-distance relationships. Page 14.
Friday, April 5, 2019
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PAGE TWO STUDENT SPEAK:
SECURITY REPORT
3/29 to 4/3
What is your spirit flavor?
Friday, March 29 • Several traffic cones were lined up on top on a student’s car at Pine Street Apartments, as an apparent practical joke. • A fire alarm at the Burton Little (Admissions) building was caused by an apparent system malfunction. • An intoxicated minor, minor, who sh owed up at Helmreich House while a registered event was in progress, was transported to Mid Coast Hospital. Saturday, March 3 • he Brunswick police issued alcohol law violation summonses to five students at Helmreich House—two for furnishing and three for possession by a minor. • Students and staff reported a suspicious acting man loitering in the Coles ower ower lobby and at Smith Union. he man left campus before being lo cated. • A noise complaint in West Hall resulted in three students being cited for possession of alcohol. •Neighborhood noise complaints were received from residents of Longfellow Avenue about loud groups of students walking on the street and using foul language. • Brunswick police cited a minor student for possession of alcohol on Harpswell Road near Chamberlain Street. • Brunswick police cited a minor student for possession of alcohol on B elmont Street. Sunday, March 31 • Bunswick police warned a student for drinking in public on a town street near campus. • Brunswick police responded to a large gathering an off-campus student apartment complex on Carlisle Avenue. he gathering was dispersed. Five students were charged with furnishing a place for minors to consume and one student was cited for possession of alcohol by a minor. • A noise complaint at Hyde Hall resulted from loud music. Students were asked to asked to lower the volume. • Loud noise was reported on the seventh floor of Coles ower. Monday, April 1 • A burnt chicken being cooked on a stove caused a
Thomas Freund ’20
“Bacon-infused-bourbon baby.”
Natalie Youssef ’19
“Anything spicy.” SYDNEY SYDNEY REAPER
’20 0 Brine ’2 Elle Elle Brine fire alarm at Brunswick Apartment A. • A minor student who was smoking marijuana in Hyde Hall was cited for a drug law violation. • A security officer found a lost black lab dog wandering outside MacMillan House. he dog and its owner were reunited. Wednesday. April 3 • Evidence of marijuana smoking was reported in the Chamberlain Hall north basement stairwell. • A student vaping inside Pine Street Apartments activated the fire alarm. Brunswick Fire Department responded.
“Barbecue sauce.”
Cirque Gammelin ’20
“Butter.”
IN MEMORIAM: With deepest sympathy in memory of Maine State Trooper/Detective Trooper/Detective Benjamin Campbell, who was killed in the line of duty on April 3, 2019 in Hampden, all Bowdoin College Safety and Security of ficers will wear black bands on th eir badges until after the funeral.
COMPILED BY THE OFFICE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
COMPILED BY HAVANA CASO�DOSEMBET
Paging Patricia: A bi-weekly bimonthly advice column just bee n on or hours and the air smells o carcinogenic particles. We went out to dinner Best, the other day at Shere Punjab Patricia and I can’t stop thinking about Orient Contributors Hello Patricia, her and the smell o Indian I’ve recently taken up the ood. However, I think she has Hi Patty, holistic craf o candle making been stealing her roommate’s I’ve recently attended a using wax rom local bees and clothes to make candle wicks! wedding in the great state o occasionally my own ears and Massachusetts. However, not wicks made o my roommate’s Tanks, only was her wedding cake clothes. Due to last week’s imothy not organic, but she had the events, this business has now audacity to serve it to us on become extremely elusive. I’m Hey imothy, paper plates with plastic uten- making big money but my First things �rst. Your sils! PLASIC UENSILS. roommate might be on to me. knowledge of the panini press Tis leads me to my question, How do I hide my lucrative temperature is shocking. Promy dear Patty, is it rude to beez-ness? fessor Battle is doing climate bring your own silverware to -Anonymous Pike research this summer, and I’m parties? sure would love your input. In Hello Anonymous, reference to your sticky situTanks, You should probably not ation (assuming you ate with Zero Waste Zoe make candles. Bowdoin policy your hands, shout out to Benjais that candles are �re. In fact, min Felser), everybody knows Hi Zoe, please send me your ID num- that you have a huge crush on You know what they say, ber. Mr. Nichols should be in Ellie Pike. Everybody does. “Bring some for everybody or contact shortly. NEX. don’t bring anything at all.” So, this means, please don’t forget Cordially, Sincerely, to pack a suitcase of cutlery. Patricia Patricia We here at Paging Patricia apHi Pat, Dear Patricia, preciate your futile efforts to Me and my co-worker have How should I handle a boymake yourself look like a better person before we all go up in been �irting all semester. She riend who is on risbee? He’s �ames, but would be amiss if makes a mean salad at Moul- begun bringing this strange we didn’t teach you what you ton, (i.e. she can �ll up the plastic plate to Moulton: he should have learned in pre- spinach bin). She might be won’t eat out o anything else. hotter than the panini press In the evenings, he is ofen school. Sharing is caring. Start forking over that mon- at the end o lunch when it’s ound scrolling through the
by Maria Camila Riano, Atticus McWhorter and Andre Sloan
ey for 287 cake spoons.
risbee highlights instagram. He has changed his name to Proessor M. Snodgrass the ourteenth, and reuses to go by anything other than Pro Snots, and he has started wearing backward caps and saying words like huck. Last night I ound him in the bathroom drinking water rom his plate and timing himsel. Patricia, he’s changed so much.
neighbor’s plants’ does not reer to a palm tree. How can I avoid witnessing my roommate embarrass hersel or another weekend? -Spiteul Susan
Dear Sue, What are you talking about? Tat was so funny! Tere was that part with the building that looks like a penis, but it’s a building? Maybe you just
didn’t get the joke. I still can’t believe it wasn’t scripted! Tat stuff is hilarious, and besides who doesn’t love to see Andrew reat laugh at himself awkwardly? Golden. Perhaps if you spent less time lugging around a suitcase full of forks, you could appreciate a funny joke when you hear one! With improvised loathing, Patricia
Sad and conused, Samantha
Dear Sam, Tere is no hope. Leave him. Regretfully, Patricia Dear Patricia, I hate improv. My roommate is in Offi ceabilitie s, and the past six Saturdays have rendered me incapable o ever eeling love. Te group perorms what seems to be an icebreaker activity or a crowd, who �nds it hilarious. Patricia, what are they laughing at?? Te duration o last weekends show containing ‘proessionals’ was revolting. I witnessed a terrible job interview: the clarinet is most de�nitely a hobby, and ‘the
PHOEBE ZIPPER
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Friday, April 5, 2019
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NEWS IN BRIEF Asian Heritage Month celebration COMPILED BY JESSICA PIPER
FACULTY APPROVE MINORS IN ARABIC AND MIDDLE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAN STUDIES Students of Arabic will �nally be able to put their language classes toward an o ffi cially recognized academic program starting next fall, a fer faculty unanimously voted on Monday to approve a minor in Arabic and a minor in Middle East and North African Studies. Rising juniors and seniors will be able to declare either minor in the fall, assuming they expect to meet the requirements by the end of their senior year and do not already have a minor. Both minors require � ve courses. ered Arabic courses continuously since 2008, Te College has o ff ered but students have not previously been able to count them toward any major or minor. Te two new minors will bring the number of minors available at Bowdoin to 43.
BUSTED
need for this to happen,” said Clifton. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In the official statement Although there was no al- from the College, Randy Nichcohol on the premises at the ols, director of safety and setime of BPD’s arrival, BPD curity, wrote: turned the conversation away “The College has been in from the details of the trans- communication with the poported student to College lice department in order to House policies. clarify what took place during “She asked questions like: this incident, and we won’t be what it means to be an E-host, commenting further until the what it means to be an A-host, police investigation has conwhy we had those roles, what cluded. We are grateful to the the house was, [who was] liv- student who called for a welling in the house, how we could ness check, and we continue host this event,” said Kendra to urge all students to contact Clifton ’21, the E-host at Helm security when they are conon Friday. cerned about the health and During the conversation well-being of another student.” student.” with BPD officers, the three The eight other summonses friends reported that the stu- received by Bowdoin students dent had consumed alcohol at last weekend were given late an undisclosed location before Saturday night. Six students arriving at Helm. All five stu- were cited for alcohol law viodents said that the transported lations at Carlisle Apartments, student had not consumed al- known colloquially as Lightcohol at Helm. house. The police investigated Clifon noted that it is not the off-campus location after a against College House policy to noise complaint was reported. host events where both alcohol In unrelated cases on Satand minors are present, as long urday, two minor students as the minors are not served. received summonses for carAfter speaking with the of- rying an open container. One ficer, all five students present student was cited on Harpreceived a summons. Clifton swell Road near Chamberlain received a criminal charge Street and the other was cited for furnishing a location for on Belmont Street. minors to consume alcohol. Students of all class years Simon Chow ’19, the A-host, have noticed the increase in received a criminal charge for interaction with BPD at both furnishing alcohol to minors. on- and off-campus events. The three additional students “In my four years here, I received civil charges for pos- have noticed that BPD has session of alcohol by a minor. been cracking down more on “[The officer] decided that, … College House parties,” parties,” said because there was an event Chow. “With [the] Quinby with alcohol served and intox- House and Mac House Cold icated minors were present, I War [Party] that happened had furnished the place and [last year] and then this past [Chow] had furnished the al- weekend, Helm House, I think cohol,” said Clifton. that there has been an increase In the past, BPD has mostly in surveillance and also crackissued summonses to students ing down.” in response to noise comChow raised concerns plaints or visible violations of about whether Bowdoin stuthe law, such as students car- dents could continue to use rying open containers of alco- the E- and A-host system to hol. Neither happened during host events in light of these Friday’s party. developments. “[BPD] wasn’t there to “I think there needs to be a investigate the party—[they reevaluation of College poliwere] there for the safety of a cies and also responsibility of student, so there was really no where that lies,” he said.
continues to expand programming by Lucie Nolden Orient Staff
On Monday evening, students the Center for Multicultural Life at 30 College Street for the kickoff celebration celebration of Asian Heritage Month. Tis event is the �rst of eight that will take place in April as part of a celebration of Asian and Asian American identity. Te programming has been designed to include representation for a variety of identities that exist within the broad category of “Asian,” with a special eff ort ort made to be inclusive of intersecting identities. “It’s important to create spaces for students who identify as Asian or Asian American to be able to have dialogues pertaining to their identity, discrimination [or] microaggressions,” said Arah Kang ’19, president of the Asian Students Alliance (ASA). “ Tere are a lot of great stories to be shared and voices voices to be heard heard on on this this campus campus..” Comedy, slam poetry, discussions of identity and a celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi are all coming up as parts of the series. Te month of programming at Bowdoin is inspired by the national observance of Asian/ Paci�c Islander American Heritage Month, which has been celebrated in May annually since its designation by Congress in 1992. It was �rst celebrated as Paci �c/ Asian American Heritage Week in May of 1979 a fer a Joint Resolution proclaiming it was signed by President Jimmy Carter. Its traditional celebration in May commemorates both the arrival of the �rst Japanese immigrant to the United States in May of 1843 and the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, which was built largely by Chinese laborers. Asian Heritage Month is celebrated in April at Bowdoin because May is the �nal month of the semester and is dominated by reading period and �nals week. Many other colleges and universities do the same thing. Director of the Student Center for Multicultural Life Benjamin Harris said the goal of his o ffi ce was to support student groups in creating events on campus that best re�ected students’ interests. Rather than determining and organizing all of the programming itself, the Center brought together a variety of existing organizations—including ASA, the Asian Studies Department and even the English Department—in their conceptualization and promotion of events. Kang said that ASA started planning for the celebration in November, searching for keynote speakers and performers and reaching out to agencies and notable �gures. ASA members decided on certain events from last year to keep and improve upon, but �lled
PJ SEELERT, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
SLAM: Paul Tran, Tran, an award-winning queer poet, performed in Jack Magee’s Pub and Grill for Asian Heritage Month last night. Tran is poetry editor at The O ffi ng and Chancellor’s Graduate Fellow at Washington Washington University in St. Louis. they also planned events that will be new for this year’s celebration. Kang oversaw all the planning, working with a team of six ASA executive board members and a �rst-year committee. “Tis is the largest amount of programming that we have ever done for our heritage month,” Kang said. Guests visiting Bowdoin as part of the celebration include Paul Tran, a slam poet who performed last night at Jack Magee’s Pub and Grill. and Lisa Ko, an award-winning novelist. Kang is particularly looking forward to a panel of faculty and students called “ Te Untold: Diverse Stories of Asian Americans at Bowdoin,” an intersectional con versation versation that will focus on the question, “When did you realize that you were Asian?” Tis is the third year the celebration will last for an entire month, as opposed to a week, as was the case before Harris ar-
rived at Bowdoin. Harris said the longer window for programming will make it easier to reach more students, since most have busy schedules. “With so many competing interests on campus and things that are happening, how can we get them to have programming that’s more eff ective ective and that can reach a broad number of students?” Harris said. “One week makes it a little bit challenging to try to do four or programs ams in a week. week. I’d rather rather � ve progr do four or � ve programs programs for the month, and therefore you can actually spread out some of the love and give opportunities for folks to actually attend and not have to compromise work and school.” Despite the extension, limited time and the busy lives of Bowdoin students mean that not every iteration of Asian identity can be explicitly represented during the month’s events. Still, Harris believes that April’s programming will further dialogue about the
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plurality of experiences at Bowdoin and create a space where all individuals can feel empowered to share their expression of identity and culture. “I think it’s important, when it comes to talking about di ff ererent identities, that people have an opportunity to express their culture and their contribution to the larger American experiment,” Harris said. Kang is also excited about the chance for Asian students to share the experiences related to their identities with the broader campus community. “[I hope] that there will be further understanding of the students who identify as Asian from the Bowdoin community and for students to potentially learn new things that they might not have known before,” said Kang. “I also hope the month will bring a sense of pride and a chance for Asian students to embrace their heritage and culture.”
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Friday, April 5, 2019
Executive order order links free speech to federal federal funds by Anthony Yanez Orient Staff
On March 21, President Trump signed an executive order which mandated that colleges receiving federal funds must uphold the principles of free speech. While the order has the potential to increase anxieties around what has been a hot-button topic for years, Bowdoin is not concerned. The executive order utilizes federal research funds as leverage over schools. Twelve different grant-giving federal agencies, from the Department of Agriculture to the National Science Foundation, are implicated in the order. Each has been ordered to ensure that institutions that receive grants are promoting
freedom of inquiry. The actual rules that colleges must abide by have not changed. According to the order, public institutions must comply with the first amendment and private institutions must comply with their own stated free speech policies. Both types of institutions were governed by these regulations before the order was passed. The key impact of the order is that it applies new pressure via the avenue of federal regulation of research funds. The funds the order leverages are only those involved with research. Student aid funding remains untouched. It remains to be seen what policies, if any, will be rolled out to assess colleges’ support of free inquiry. President Clayton Rose
said that the executive order really thoughtful, hard, earisn’t something he thinks nest work that is going on,” about, as no policy is likely to said Rose. change as a result. He believes He joined other college that Bowdoin students and and university presidents— the community upholding the including Bob Zimmer, presiCollege’s values of free inqui- dent of the University of Chiry and engagement with ideas cago, one of the few schools both pleasant and unpleasant, with specific free speech independent of any govern- guidelines—in denouncing ment regulation. the executive order. Like most universities, “[Zimmer] has said pubBowdoin operates without a licly that this issue is no place specific statement of policies for the government to be inregarding free speech. Rose volve d in,” said Rose . “In an says such a policy is not nec- ironic way, at the same time essarily because Bowdoin has that they are making some developed a general ethos notion of an argument about over the course of its history free speech, they're setting that guides its approach to themselves up to be one of the free speech. arbiters of what's appropriate “I’m very comfortable with speech and what is not, which how we do what we do, and is one of the things that we all having a stated policy about want to avoid.” that isn’t going to change the Senior Lecturer in Mathe-
matics Eric Gaze also warned of the potential issues that could arise from the existence of a central authority on free speech. He said it was dangerous to tie research funding to the judgments of one authority. “Who gets to decide that, ‘both sides of an issue are valid,’ id,’ or deserve s ort of the same weight?” he said. It is difficult to quantify the intellectual diversity present on B owdoin’s owdoin’s campus. Based on the events listed in the calendar and invited visitors that have spoken at the College this academic year, liberal speakers do slightly outnumber conservative speakers. Many of the speakers invited to campus receive sponsorships and co-sponsorships from a variety of student groups.
“We’ve brought a lot of speakers, but Bowdoin isn’t going to suddenly change if we just hit certain boxes, like three liberal speakers, three conservatives, we’re done,” said Francisco Navarro ’19, president of the Bowdoin College Republicans, which has sponsored the visits of several guest speakers this year. He noted that the responsibility lies not just with who brings the speakers, but with who shows up. “Things don't happen that way,” Navarro said. “Not all students go to talks.” The executive order also advocates for increased transparency in college debt data. It will require schools to report default rates on various types of loans taken out by students.
ANIM ANIMAL ALS S CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
attention de �cit hyperactivity disorder, but still found herself struggling. Since the summer afer her sophomore year, she lived intermittently with her cat, a calico named Naomi, which she found helpful for her mental health. Tis past fall, though, the Offi ce of Residential Life told her that the cat could not live in her dorm due to Bowdoin’s no-pets policy. In June 2018, Hsia reached out to a Portland-based psychologist that Counseling Services had recommended. She found it difficult to schedule an appointment, but ultimately met the psychologist in October and underwent psychoneurological testing, which included an IQ test and a Rorschach test. In February, she received her results, which included diagnoses of general anxiety disorder, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Based on these results, Hsia discussed the possibility of an emotional support animal with the on-campus counselor she had seen for several years, who agreed to write her a letter. Certain studies have found emotional support animals to be e ff ective ective in treating several psychiatric disorders. Hsia also met with Levy to discuss the College’s emotional support animal policies. While the exact rules for any assistance animal are determined on a case-by-case basis, Bowdoin requires that animals remain caged when students are not present. Hsia felt that this rule was overly restrictive and would make it di ffi cult to keep a cat. Hsia reached out to her dean about her concerns, in accordance with the campus grievance policy for discrimination on the basis of a physical or mental disability. Her dean directed her back to Levy. On March 7, Hsia completed the online form to apply for an emotional support animal, submitting documentation from both her counselor and the off -campus -campus psychologist. On March 25, she received a formal denial of her request for accommodations, via an email from Levy. Te denial noted that only Hsia’s Bowdoin counselor had
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
SEEKING SUPPORT: Following a lengthy process, students who requested support animals at Bowdoin ha d their requests denied or were unable to bring the animal their residence after approval. recommended an emotional support animal, while the o ff -cam-campus psychologist had not. “Although you may believe that having a cat in residence will help you, we have determined that authorizing the cat as a reasonable accommodation is not necessary in light of the evidence of your long history living in residence without such an aid and your excellent academic accomplishments,” the email said. Laws and Policies Emotional support animals are not covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but they are included in the Fair Housing Act. With a few exceptions, the Act requires housing providers to allow tenants emotional support animals, and—per a 2013 guidance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development—it applies to housing at colleges and universities. Since September 2017, two students have been approved for emotional support animals at Bowdoin, Levy said. Te Fair Housing Act allows for some restrictions on
emotional support animals. Individuals must “have a disability-related need for an assistance animal,” and the housing provider can ask the person seeking accommodations to provide documentation from a mental health provider. Bowdoin’s accommodation guidelines say that documentation for any accommodation must come from a professional outside of the College. According to Levy, this is standard practice among colleges and universities in order to reduce con�icts of interest. Colby’s student handbook indicates a similar policy. Levy added that several campus offices refer students to o ff -campus -campus health care pro viders. Hsia found this policy frustrating, noting that she cannot aff ord ord to regularly see an off -campus -campus provider and had to wait four months to see the psychologist that the College recommended. She has worked with a counselor at Bowdoin for several years but only met with the o ff -campus -campus psycholo-
gist twice before receiving her diagnoses. Te Fair Housing Act also gives housing providers the right to deny a request if it “would impose an undue �nancial and administrative burden,” or if the speci �c animal threatens the health or safety of others or would cause substantial property damage. To address these issues, many colleges have rules for students who obtain an emotional support animal. For example, Bates, Colby and the University University of Maine all require students to fully vaccinate their animals and keep them in their rooms except when entering or leaving the building. None of those three colleges require animals to be caged, as Bowdoin does. Another current senior, who asked to remain anonymous, sought out an emotional support animal in August of their junior year with a recommendation from their longtime therapist back home. Te process was long, but the student ultimately received approval the following April. But when
they tried to work through the logistics of bringing their cat to campus, they found the additional rules to be overly restrictive. First, they would have to keep their cat in a cage when they were not in the room, which they thought would be harmful for the animal’s health. Tey considered buying a fence in order to create a su ffi ciently large cage, but then learned that emotional support animals were not allowed in Coles Tower, where they were planning to live as a senior, due to the building’s relatively open �oor plan—bathrooms connect each of �oor’s quads. “I was approved, but no one was willing to actually successfully help me bring my cat on campus,” campus,” the stude nt said. Te student felt that changing living situations in order to keep the animal would further isolate them from their friends and be harmful for their mental health. A fer a process that they described as “a really not fun, stressful, prolonged for no reason challenge,” they decided
that having an emotional support animal was not worth it. Moving Forward In the fall of 2017, following a student petition, Bowdoin launched the Accessibility Task Force—a group of students, faculty and staff who who were entrusted to examine the College’s accommodations policies, think holistically about issues of accessibility on campus and ensure legal compliance with the ADA. Te recommended changes so far included the introduction of the Test Center, where students who receive academic accommodations can take proctored tests. But several members of the Task Force said that the group has not discussed mental health issues or accommodations. None of its 18 staff members are a ffi liated with CounselingServices. Hsia, who will graduate in May, doesn’t expect that she’ll get her cat on campus this year. But she hopes that speaking up about her experience will lead to a broader discussion of mental health issues and accommodations at Bowdoin. “It’s clearly a national conversation at this point,” she said.
NEWS
Friday, April 5, 2019
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College House verdicts verdicts released for Class of 2022 by Jessica Troubh Orient Staff
On Monday evening, College House decisions came out. Two hundred sixty students applied to live in the College Houses, an increase from 247 applications for the 20182019 academic year. The most popular houses were Quinby House and Boody-Johnson House, which is new this year. Stephanie Patterson, associate director of residential education and residential life, who is new to Bowdoin this year, does not believe this year’s year’s application differed much from last year’s. However, she does anticipate a few changes to College House life. “I think that the first year class gets a lot of support and attention—as they should, be-
cause they are transitioning into a completely different en vironment —but sometim es I think that the sophomore class is expected to know everything since they’ve been here for a year. In reality, when you start your sophomore year, you are essentially a first year and a day,” she said. Accordingly, Patterson would like to rid sophomore house members of some of the pressure and responsibility that comes with mentoring first years. In particular, Patterson plans to move away from the current buddy system that pairs house members directly with first year students. “There have been a few occasions where I’ve heard it’s it’s been successful … but I’ve heard a lot more instances
where people have not met their buddy … The mentorship piece will still be there, but I’m working to find ways that will make [the connection] a little more intentional.” Another change to the College House system will be the addition of Boody-Johnson House, which will house approximately 26 students next year. According to Patterson, the renovations of Boody-Johnson are going smoothly; she is particularly excited about the layout of the house. “I think one of the coolest things about [Boody-Johnson] is that Chase Barn is adjacent to it, but it’s separate from the house, so the social space will be a completely separated area from where people are living,” she said. She added that applicants
were excited for the chance to be the first students to live in the house and start to shape its character and legacy. “I’m really excited that [Boody-Johnson] hasn’t been a house in the past, so we are the first class that can really establish what it’s going to be like and the vibe that it has,” said Fiona O’Carroll ’22. “I think it will be cool to get to be the founders of a new house.” house.” Additionally, Boody-Johnson helped to make up for some of the house spots typically occupied by sophomores that were lost after Ladd became an all-senior house this year. While Patterson acknowledged that the construction of Park Row is on the forefront of many students’ minds, she does not believe it impacted the number of appli-
cants to Ladd, especially once However, many first years rising seniors considered how were excited about the possimany students the Park Row bility of participating in the apartments can realistically College House system next accommodate. year. As part of the selection “I think it’s a really great process, first year applicants opportunity to have access to were interviewed by a faculty the space and the money to inor staff member and a student; fluence campus culture,” said the interviews allowed appli- Irene Brogdon ’22. “I want to cants to demonstrate how they live with an eclectic group of would contribute to the Col- people and have the commulege House system. nity that comes with living in Some first years, including a College House.” Angelina Joyce ’22, decidEmilia Majersik ’22 agreed, ed not to apply to a College noting that life in College House due to the sizable time House would allow her to incommitment. crease her involvement within “I am involved in athletics the B owdoin community. and other extracurriculars, “I feel like the stage of and I feel that living in a Col- meeting people has kind of lege House would be a big time ended this year, and I want commitment with planning the opportunity to meet more and hosting events and other people and make more friends house activities,” said Joyce. next year,” she said.
Inaugural lecture probes model minority mi nority myth by Ian Ward Orient Staff
Imagine walking into a bookstore and seeing a bookshelf labeled “Asian History” that includes volumes on Chinese history alongside volumes on Asian-American history. Now imagine a bookshelf labeled “African History” that includes volumes on the history of Nigeria alongside volumes on African Americans in the United States. Why is the former a commonplace while the latter virtually unheard of? That was the question that Nancy Riley, the A. Myrick Freeman Professor of Social Sciences, used on Thursday evening to launch her inaugural lecture, entitled “Producing Foreigners: China, Orientalism, and Asian Americans in U.S. Racial Construction.” Riley, who joined the Bowdoin sociology faculty in 1992, received the appointment to the endowed chairship this past July. July. Her talk was the fifth and final inaugural lecture of this academic year. Riley’s research interests include social demography in China and East Asia, feminist and critical demography and the comparative study of family. She said in her opening remarks that her interest in the experience of Asian
Americans was spurred by the decade she spent living in Hawaii, where she received her Master of Arts and Master of Public Health at the University of Hawaii, and by the experience of having an ethnically Chinese daughter. At Bowdoin, she noted, she has sought to create arenas, such as her ongoing course “Asian American Experience,” for students to engage critically with the historical and contemporary dimensions of the Asian racial experience in the United States. In her lecture, Riley argued that the social construction of Asian Americanness in the United States is profoundly shaped by Americans’ perspectives of Asia broadly, as well as of China specifically, as a type of catch-all embodiment of Asian otherness. American perceptions of Asia, Riley argued, are in turn colored by the dynamics of “orientalism,” a concept first expounded upon in 1978 by the Columbia University literary critic Edward Said to explain the ways that the West has defined itself as the bastion of civilization, rationalism and liberalism in contradiction to the barbarism, superstition and despotism of an imagined “Orient.” As Americans’ perceptions
of China evolved—from that of an exotic and almost mythical culture in the first half of the nineteenth century, to a peaceful ally during the Second World War, to a “red menace” during the Cold War and today as an economic and military rival—Americans’ perceptions of Asian Americans have adapted accordingly— from an alluring exotic attraction, to a potentially-subversive ally, to a general cultural threat. Riley focused specifically on how the cultural myth of Asians as the so-called model minority continues to shape the experience of Asian Americans today. Though superficially flattering, the myth of the model minority, Riley argued, both homogenizes a great deal of cultural, economic and political diversity within the Asian American population and implicitly positions other racial and ethnic minorities, specifically African Americans, as Asian Americans’ undesirable double. Most perniciously, Riley argued, the myth of the model minority placed Asian Americans in a double-bind, extending the promise of cultural acceptance and economic success in exchange for political submissiveness, all the while erecting an insurmountable
% for student-led 0 on-campus organizations. 5 bowdoinorient.com/advertise off ads ads
GRAHAM BENDICKSON, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
MODEL MINORITY MYTH: In her inaugural lecture, Riley argued that the myth of the model minority hardened a racial barrier between white Americans and Asian Americans and required political submissiveness from the latter. racial barrier between Asian obscures systematic patterns Americans and whites. The of discrimination behind a question so often asked of veneer of individu al economAsian Americans—“Where ic striving, falsely promises are you really from?”—Ri- commodity consumption as ley argued, embodies white the path to cu ltural citizenship Americans’ conviction that, and undermines racial and while Asian Americans might class solidarity by placing mibe American in name, in real- norities in economic competiity, they are always and every- tion with one another. where foreigners. Ultimately, Riley argued Moreover, Riley argued, that a close analysis of the the discourse surrounding the Asian American experience myth of the model minority in the United States suggests reinforced the values of a neo- a need to move beyond the liberal economic order, which white-black binary in discus-
sions of racial politics while encouraging a greater awareness of the ways that global geopolitics shape America’s collective racial consciousness. The lessons of th is study, Riley urged, should be lost upon members of the Bowdoin community. “Bowdoin is not that much different than the rest of U.S. society,” said Riley in conclusion. “But I, like most people here, would like to believe that Bowdoin can be better than the rest of U.S. society.”
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NEWS
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CASHFLOW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
donation, debt or a combination of the two. Financing through debt means that the College issues bonds which are purchased by banks, or— more commonly—purchased on the public market. Proceeds from bond sales contribute to the capital budget. The bonds with interest may be paid off either incrementally or all at once, and the payoff term is typically 30 years. The College prefers to finance capital projects through debt because the interest rate the College has to pay back on bonds tends to be lower than the rate of return on the endowment, which means the College is getting more money from the endowment every year than it is paying in interest on the money it borrowed. Most recently, the renovations of Boody-Johnson House and the construction of Park Row Apartments were financed through debt. Capital projects can also be financed through donations. The Roux Center for the En viron ment, for exampl e, was paid for by a donation of over $12.5 million from David and Barbara Roux. Endowment Bowdoin’s endowment is as old as the College itself. Shortly after Bowdoin received its charter in 1794, James Bowdoin III gifted the college $1,000 and 1,000 acres of land and later endowed a professorship in mathematics or natural and experimental philosophy. In 1802, his wife, Sarah Bowdoin, endowed a professorship in modern languages. Several centuries later, the endowment has become crucial to Bowdoin’s finances. For this academic year, returns from the endowment made up roughly 38.8 percent of the funds available for the operating budget. Bowdoin has had particularly strong endowment growth over the last decade. It made headlines last fall as one of the best performers among any college or university in the United States, with a 15.7 percent rate of return. As of June 30, 2018, the endowment was valued at $1.63 billion. Strong endowment growth is good, but it doesn’t mean that the College has $1.63 billion at its disposal. Endowments are designed to pay out interest, often around five percent, each year. If the endowment grows at a rate higher than the payout, it will be positioned to continue generating income for the College year after year, for an unlimited amount of time. The recent strong returns have allowed both the endowment and the operating budget to grow significantly in recent years. Bowdoin draws out between four and 5.5 percent of the endowment’s 12-quarter moving average to fund a year of expenditures. The 12-quarter moving average means that the College chooses an amount based on the average value of the endo wment over the previous three years, rather than its current value. This
is designed to prevent significant market swings from affecting the payout. The exact percentage that Bowdoin withdraws each year is recommended by the College’s administration, reviewed by a committee within the Board of Trustees and then voted on by the full Board during its May meeting. For the FY 2018-2019, Bowdoin withdrew $67.7 million from the endowment. For the coming fiscal year, the College expects to withdraw roughly $71.8 million. Endowment growth can happen two ways. Endowment returns, which amounted to more than $200 million last year, are the primary driver of growth, but the endowment is supplemented by donations. During the FY 2017-2018, the endowment received $16.5 million in donations. These donations become part of the core of the endowment that will generate returns in the future. However, most of the endowment is donor-restricted, meaning that the College is legally required to use it toward a certain cause specified by a donor. For instance, returns earned from Sarah Bowdoin’s donation can only be used to fund a professorship in modern languages. Roughly 46 percent of the endowment is restricted for financial aid; 21 percent is for instruction; seven percent for libraries and museums; three percent for technology; one percent for lectureships and four percent for other programs, including the McKeen Center and the Outing Club. Thus, only 18 percent of the endowment is available to fund the College’s other expenditures. Going forward, Bowdoin’s endowment will run into one additional challenge: the endowment tax. Passed in December 2017, the policy imposes a 1.4 percent excise tax on colleges and uni vers itie s wit h end owm ents greater than $500,000 per full-time student (Bowdoin’s endowment sits at nearly $900,000 per student). The tax will take effect for the first time for the 2018-2019 FY returns, although, in the absence of federal guidance, the College is still determining exactly how its finances will be affected. Tuition Tuition dollars make up 47.1 percent of Bowdoin’s budget. This figure reflects net tuition—the hypothetical total amount of money the College would receive if all students paid full tuition minus the amount of financial aid administered, or a simple sum of all students’ tuition payments. Though tuition dollars play a significant role in funding the students’ day-to-day experiences, tuition doesn’t cover the whole cost of the Bowdoin experience. The operating budget divided by the number of students provides a glimpse into how much it actually costs to educate a Bowdoin student: $92,315 per year. How is this money spent? Check back next week.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Tuition
17 M
79 M
Donations 7M
14 M*
Endowment Returns 68 M
Operating Budget
Capital Budget
HOW THE MONEY FLOWS: Donations at Bowdoin fund both the capital and operating budgets, and also go into the endowment. Returns from the endowment (along with tui tion) are the largest sources of funding for the College’s yearly operations. *Donor-funded *Donor-funded capital projects often span multiple years. This figures reflects the donations for the Roux Center for the Environment and the second phase of the Whittier Field expansion, both of which were completed during the 2018-2019 academic year. year. The capital budget is also funded through debt.
Funding sources for the operating budget 8.5%
Net tuition and fees
5.6%
Endowement Donations 47.1% Other 38.8% YEAR AFTER YEAR: The funds allocated for Bowdoin’s operating budget come primarily from tuition and returns on the endowment, with donations playing a smaller role. The “Other” category includes revenue the College generates from auxiliary services, such as renting out facilities, and sponsored research.
38.8%
BOWDOIN COLLEGE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019
Donor-restricted Donor-restricted funds in the th e endowment 21%
Technology (3%) Lectureships (1%) Other restricted funds (4%)
7%
Discretionary funds Financial Aid 18% Libraries and museums 46%
Instruction
DONOR DECIDES: Donors to the College have the option of restricting their donation to fund a particular aspect of Bowdoin’s operations—from financial aid to holiday wreathes. Only 18 percent of endowment funds are unrestricted and thus available for any use the College deems worthy. BOWDOIN COLLEGE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019
Friday, April 5, 2019
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ARTS � ENTER ENTERT TAINMENT A ARTS ‘Art and Color’ seeks to open up white spaces by Sabrina Lin and Esther Wang Orient Staff
Walking into Reed House basement on Tursday night, you might have been pleasantly surprised—gone are the toppled red solo cups and sticky beer pong table. Te space has been scrubbed anew, with colored lights and works o art adorning the walls. Te third installment o Reed House’s annual “Art and Color” exhibit opens with a night o spoken word, music and visual arts, all with the intent to highlight talents o artists o color traditionally underrepresented in the College House environment. College Houses have long been criticized or being exclusive spaces and contributing to the monolithic nature o Bowdoin’s party scene. Tis year’s organizer, Kevin Chi ’21, recognizes the stereotypes conventionally associated with Reed House and expressed the house’s wish to create a riendly space or people o color within the College House system. “Te goal o the show is to allow POC members in the community to eel vulnerable in a space that they couldn’t previously,” Chi said. In planning or the show, Chi and ellow Reed members sent out numerous emails to affinity groups, clubs and the student body at large. Initially, they struggled to get enough submissions, so they instead began to reach out to potential partici-
pants individually. “We made a point that individually reaching out adds meaning to this event, because we are individually making a gesture o welcoming everyone,” said Chi. “Spaces like Reed, where the stereotype is [o a] very outdoorsy, outdoorsy, white House, I think it’s really important that every member o the House reaches out to one person.” Tey eventually received around 20 submissions, ranging rom poetry and video to live perormances o spoken word and music, spanning the living room, hallway and basement. Chi explains that members did not actor in curatorial decisions with the selection o artworks; instead, all submissions were accepted in the hopes o being as inclusive as possible. “We kind o just accepted everything that [was] submitted, because we didn’t really want to exclude anything,” Chi said. “We aren’t trying to set standards or anything—we’re trying to make Reed as inclusive as possible.” Te show’s curators hope to create an inclusive environment set apart rom Bowdoin’s general art scene and bring in artists who might not have previously had opportunity to showcase their work. “Tere’s something about the art o Bowdoin in the more ormal setting that is just a little more white. I you go to the more ormal shows you will see that there are a lot o artists that are white and very ew artists o color,” said Ural Mishra ’20, who
curated the show last year while living in Reed. Te show was ounded two years ago by Senay Yibrah ’19, who was a Reed resident and elt prompted by his own experience as a person o color in a predominantly white House. “I kind o expected coming into to Reed to be the one to change [the social environment], and I was doing that through the music scene,” said Yibrah. “I designed this art show or artists o color only … [and it has] kind o involved into like a bigger thing than I thought it would, which is really cool.” Te opening o “Art and Color” in 2017 was signi�cant, as it marked Reed House’s �rst ever party in collaboration with the Arican American Society Indeed, College Houses still (AAm). It also coincided with a have a long way to go in their tense period on Bowdoin’s cam- pursuit o more representation pus ollowing a series o bias in- and diversity. As the show’s cidents, when issues o race were original ounder, Yibrah urges constantly on everyone’s mind. organizers to engage with diNow in its third iteration, verse groups o campus in the the show continues to mark this long term. important legacy. At the same “Now it eels a little more like time, issues o how to properly these white College House resiapproach “diversity” come into dents just reaching ou t to affi nquestion. Despite the organizers’ ity group to make their House best intentions, they unavoidably less white,” he said. all short in certain aspects. “[Tey should work on] the “Musicians—wise it was kind commitment to working with o diffi cult to �nd �n d bands that th at are affinity gr oups, as opposed to composed o [just] POC[s],” Chi just sending an email out to said. “I de�nitely hear a lot about them,” he continued. “Just beit rom my riends about how jazz ing more passionate or direct at Bowdoin is so white, how they about working with different don’t eel like they can be part o it groups—that’s how you get to … so I de�nitely eel like that kind meet people.” o speaks to the [general] music Editor’s note: Senay Yibrah ’19 scene at Bowdoin as well.” is a member of Orient staff.
DEVAKI RAJIV, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
ART ANGLES: The third installation of “Art and Color,” hosted by Reed House, seeks to highlight talented students of color in conventionally white-dominated spaces, calling for greater diversity and inclusivity in College Houses.
Creating change through ‘Power of Literature’ by Ayub Tahill Orient Staff
As contemporary interests drif away rom physical books in avor o online media, people are beginning to doubt the power o literature. Yet, Wednesday night in the Beam Classroom, Dr. Alaa Al Aswany, world-renowned author and Egyptian reormer, reclaimed the agency o the written word in his lecture titled “Power o Literature.” Currently a visiting proessor in Middle Eastern studies at Dartmouth College, Al Aswany is best known or his 2002 work, “Te Yacoubian Building,” which offers a poignant dissection o modern Egyptian society under the acade o �ction. Te novel is an Arabic bestseller, translated into 23 languages and adapted into a movie, a V series and a play. Al Aswany’s visit was supported by the George M., Massoud Y. and Saada J. Barakat Memorial Fund, as well as sponsored by the Departments o Religion, Sociology and Anthropology, History, Art History and the Aricana Studies Program. Literature has immense power in the eyes o Al Aswany, a second-generation writer. Tis power is inspired by the work o his ather, who �rst taught him
how to write �ction and the secret to making it relatable to an audience. “I use to say that there were our o us, my ather, my mother, mysel and literature,” Al Aswany said. Al Aswany de�nes literature as “a lie on the papers that is similar to our daily lie but more proound, more signi�cant and more b eautiul.” eautiul.” Tis de�nition stems rom his own career path in the literary world. He was a ull-time licensed dentist who used this career to �nance his pursuit o writing. He also used his dentistry to ormulate characters rom a mixture o patients. His societal status as a dentist offered some protection rom trouble. While writing “Te Yacoubian Building,” he visited impoverished areas o Cairo and observed them to capture a real sense o the city. He even ventured into illegal bars and when the police came, he was able to stay out o trouble by re vealing his identity as a dentist. Al Aswany incorporated these interactions and observations into his novel, making the book relatable to the everyday people o Cairo. Al Aswany’s critical portrayal o government corruption and
LAUREN CAFFE, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
wned author Alaa Al Aswany spoke in the Visual Arts Center on Wednesday night about his literary career and his WRITING REVOLUTION:World-reno REVOLUTION: World-renowned best known work, “The Yacoubian Building,” which inspired widespread social debate and engaged the literary community in the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. social issues proved hugely in�uential. Te book’s treatment o homosexuality was especially taboo-breaking or contemporary mainstream Arab literature. “Te Yacoubian Building” enjoyed overwhelming support and popularity among Eg yptian readers. Al Aswany is aware o the global platorm that came with his success. He wrote weekly articles or various news outlets,
many o which centered around politics and literary critique, and held a weekly literature salon in Cairo, which was in�uential in engaging Egypt’s literary and intellectual community in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. With the transgressive nature o his work and the unrelenting realism in his writing, Al Aswany came ace to ace with the current regime’s crackdown on literature and public knowledge.
“I am currently being called a spy or the CIA, Morocco and other countries,” he said. Al Aswany says that he is also being sued in military court by the government or deamation and several other crimes, but he reuses to appear, knowing he would not receive a air trial. Te power o literature has allowed Al Aswany to not only reorm the government, but also the people. He believes
that readers will heed his messages and take action afer they see the world as depicted in his writing. o achieve this effect, he does not create characters who simply represent his opinions, but rather those who are in opposition to his belies in order to call attention to a need or change. “Literature will never change the government, but literature will change the people,” he said.
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ARTS � ENTERT ENTERTAINMENT AINMENT
Friday, April 5, 2019
KAYLA SNYDER
Alll you need to know about the Ivies acts Al The Aux Cord columnists preview LION BABE, Jamila Woods and Mick Jenkins The Aux Cord by Sebastian de Lasa and Chris Ritter
The concert formerly known as Ivies (if we’re calling it Bowchella Bowchella)) has been announced. An email sent out to the entire student body—with the subject heading on the email as “No Bamba”—announced the lineup, with Lion Babe playing Thursday, April 25, and Jamila Woods and Mick Jenkins playing Saturday, April 27. The previously mentioned “No Bamba” is a reference to the smash Sheck Wes hit, “Mo Bamba,” which took the nation and small liberal arts campuses alike by storm this fall. Many students speculated that Sheck Wes was set to play Ivies this spring, but Bowdoin’s E-Board decided to take a different route and recruit other artists. Justine Skye, ex-girlfriend of Sheck Wes and sing er, act ress a nd m odel , acc used the r apper of ph ysic al ab use a nd st alki ng, whic h led to E-Bo ard d roppi ng ou t of t alks t o br ing S heck Wes to ca mpus. To say that thi s is o ne of the most controversial Ivies situations to date would be an understatement. This year’s performers, to say the least, are wildly different from Sheck Wes, and individually talented and creative in their own right.
LION BABE
JAMILA WOODS
MICK JENKINS
Kicking off Ivies season with Tursday’s time slot is LION BABE, the dancey singer-producer duo o Jillian Hervey and Lucas Goodman. Teir 2015 debut album, “Begin” placed LION BABE in the middle o a swarm o R&B up-and-comers dropping stunning early projects, including SZA, Ravyn Lenae, Anderson .Paak and Ivies-mate Jamila Woods. Tough LION BABE has mainly stayed on the periphery o that renaissance, their contribution shouldn’t be overlooked. Unlike all o those artists, LION BABE is a duo, and that duality is elt in their music. Hervey’s talent is undeniable: her voice has earned her endless comparisons to soul legend Erykah Badu but is perhaps even punchier than the R&B great, itting right in with Goodman’s dance-oriented production. Which brings us to Goodman, whose presence is elt throughout “Begin” with beats that eel unkily stitched together. he grainy sample o “reat Me Like Fire” provides a pleasant backdrop or Hervey’s Erykah-esque r uminations on love and pain. But when the beat picks up (as it does on most o “Begin”), the duality o LION BABE shines its brightest. Childish Gambino stops by or a verse on “Jump Hi,” but he certainly doesn’t carry the song: Hervey struts her verses iercely and Goodman comes up big on the instrumental, sampling Nina Simone to make a gritty unk jam. he duo carries the same energy on songs like “Where Do We Go,” which toes an electriying line between trap and pop unk. Like many LION BABE songs, it eels engineered to rock a dance loor, with Hervey’s vocals hitting as hard as Goodman’s beat. Tough LION BABE is years removed rom their debut album, Bowdoin might have caught them at the perect time. Teir sophomore album “Cosmic Wind,” released just last week, added a slew o new material to their potential set. With an R&B sound crafed so �ttingly or dance (and Hervey’s got stage presence too: she �rst pursued a career in dance music), LION BABE has the power to light up Smith Union.
Headlining Ivies is Jamila Woods, the Chicago singer-songwriter who has made some o the most innovative soul music o the past decade. You’ve probably heard Woods’ voice beore: it’s warm and unmistakable, appearing alongside Chance the Rapper in “Sunday Candy” and “Blessings.” Woods came rom the same Chicago scene that raised Chance, Noname, Saba and countless other artists pushing the industry orward as independents. For ans o that crowd, there’s a amiliar energy with Woods’ music too: rich in black empowerment and a tireless search or joy. Woods �nds plenty o joy on her debut album “HEAVN.” With a bright-eyed nostalgia reminiscent o Chance, she paints a vivid image o Chicago, telling stories o hand games and jumping in puddles without losing sight o the injustice happening down the street. “VRY BLK,” captures that whole image, as Woods uses a playground melody to critique police brutality: “My brothers went to heaven, the police going to … hello operator.” Along with its prideul hook, “VRY BLK” eatures a quirky beat that bumps hard, produced by ellow Chicagoans oddCouple and Kweku Collins. Just as much o a jam is “LSD,” a windows-down ode to Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive, and one which shows off Woods’ voice in a chorus o s oaring harmonies. Li ke “VRY BLK,” it’s a song that captures Woods’ complicated love or her hometown and or hersel, and all the emotions th at go along with it: “I won’t let you criticize / My city like my skin, it’s so pretty / I you don’t like it just leave it alone / You gotta love me l ike I l ove the lake.” Students should look orward to Woods’ words o sel love on Saturday afernoon, especially on the triumphant “Holy,” where she lets out the rerain, “Woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me,” as i she’s convincing both hersel and her audience to love themselves. With a ull band coming in support, Woods is the 2019 Ivies headliner we needed.
Admittedly, I didn’t know much about the artists coming to play Ivies this year. Te one that was the most on my radar was Mick Jenkins, and I can honestly say that I had never in my lie elt any urge to listen to Jenkins. Tat’s not saying that I thought his music was bad—his eature on BADBADNOGOOD’s “Hyssop o Love” is a highlight o their album “IV”—but I never elt super compelled to listen to him more than anyone else. So going into this review, I knew very little about the sound that Jenkins goes or on his albums, his �ows, etc. I was essentially unaware o his entire discography. When people discuss Jenkins, the word lyrical ofen pops up. Tis can be both a derisive comment and a compliment, depending on the complex. Many artists who get dubbed with the lyrical rapper tag come off yearning or past days o hip-hop, ofen coming off sounding corny. Others are lauded or their meticulously crafed lyrics, like Jenkins’ peers such as Noname or Kendrick Lamar. While I’m not as much o a Jenkins an as I am a an o the two previously named artists, his lyrics ofen come off as intelligen intelligentt and insightul (his “drink more water” lines on the other hand, are pretty corny). As is ofen the case with rap music, good production drastically changes songs. Jenkins’ music is no different. He has antastic songs with producers and groups like the aorementioned BADBADNOGOOD, Kaytranada and Black Milk. On these tracks, lush instrumentation creates a perect atmosphere or his variety o vocal styles. Jenkins will rap in a straightorward near-baritone and croon in a alsetto in the same song, and, surprisingly, it pays off. Tat being said, all the Jenkins songs I really liked were the ones with higher pro�le producers, and he bene�ts rom working with artists with like-minded taste. I think his style o rap—heavy on lyrics and intricate rhyme schemes—will create an atmosphere similar to the Milo concert at Ladd House last semester. Jenkins isn’t going to have outright bangers like previous Ivies artists (Waka Flocka Flame and A$AP Ferg come to mind), but it will be exciting to see the show he puts on.
Essential racks: “Jump Hi,” “Rockets,” “Where Do We Go,” “Western World,” “Te Wave.”
Essential racks: “Sunday Candy,” “LSD,” “VRY BLK,” “Holy,” “Bubbles,” “GIOVANNI” N.B.: o avoid Bowdoin students mass-mispronouncing yet another Ivies headliner (it was DRAM, like “mom”), it’s Jamila like “Ja-mee-luh.”
Essential tracks: “Hyssop o Love,” “Drowning,” “What Am I o Do,” “Padded Locks (eat. Ghostace Killa).”
Friday, April 5, 2019
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FEATURES
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
SPREADING THE GOSPEL: Multifaith fellows Caleb Perez ’20, Nick Suarez ’21, Abigail Wu ’21 and Lucas Johnson ’22 promote interfaith dialogue by studying major religious texts and hosting events for the Brunswick community.
Students share interfaith interfaith dialogue across campus campus by Emily Staten and Penelope Mack Orient Staff
Many talks around aith this year have involved violence, oten ocusing on shootings in places o worship. But at Bowdoin, around the couches in 30 College and through events all across campus, members o the Brunswick community have gathered to engage in interaith dialogue in a collaborative and optimistic manner. hese discussions were led by our students—Caleb Perez ’20, Abigail Wu ’21, Nick Suarez ’21 and Lucas Johnson ’22—who are part o Bowdoin’s new Multiaith Fellow-
ship. In the all, the ellows met weekly to explore their dierent understandings o religion and aith, and analyze portions o the world’s major sacred texts. But this semester, their talks have branched out into campus-wide events. he Multiaith Fellowship is spearheaded by Eduardo Pazos Palma, director o religious and spiritual lie, and unded by th e Interaith Youth Core, an American non-proit that works on college campuses to promote dialogues about religious diversity. he unds covered the ellows’ stipends in the all and event costs in the spring. “he central core o what
we were learning [in the irst semester] was really trying to understand how religions engage one another; it was a lot o introspection,” said Johnson. he ellows read portions o the Old and New estaments, the Qur’an and the Book o Mormon, as well as other major religious texts. hey were each tasked with hosting a community event in the spring that drew rom their learning this past all. he topic and organization o the event was up to each ellow. Wu’s event beore spring break explored the new trend o yoga and mindulness and
their potential cultural appropriation. Last week, Suarez led a discussion at Howell House about womanhood and Islam, which ocused on veiling in Islamic countries and highlighted how some Muslim women eel that the practice has aected their aiths and their lives. “[Each event] is a s ample o the diversity o what we were talking about in our meetings, except with a narrower ocus and more people coming out to learn,” Suarez said. “Tere is a lot o emphasis on being able to get people to learn what we learned but in a much more concise and easy to understand way,” Johnson added.
his Wednesday, in the panelists all stressed the imRoux Center or the Envi- portance o discourse and coronment, the ellows hosted operation between people o a panel o religious leaders varyi ng aiths a nd emphas ized rom the Brunswick area who the similarities rather than the discussed interaith dialogue. dierences that people share. he panel was composed o “When you get to know our clergy leaders rom the someone personally, o a vastarea: Presbyterian Pastor Gor- ly dierent religion, it just don Cook and Pastor Jonathan enriches your lie so much,” Larssen, both o whom work said Cook. “I can’t overstate or the Spiritual Wellness how important that process o Program at Mid Coast Hospi- listening and growing is. is.”” tal; Reverend Sylvia Stocker, Stocker agreed and exminister at the Unitarian Uni- plained that cooperation versal ist Chu rch o Brun swick between aiths could have Maine; and Reverend Mary concrete beneits or multiple Baard, the Senior Pastor at the people. First Parish Church. “I think or me, there’s a Despite their varying backgrounds and experiences, the Please see MULTIFAITH , page 10
Oil, gas and other precious commodities commoditi es Deep in the Heart by Surya Milner and Phoebe Zipper We talk a lot about hometowns, both in our casual conversations and within the pages o the Orient. Given that this is a column on our home state o exas, we elt it’d only be �tting to pay our respects to our home cities in the Lone Star State—places that, by virtue o their complexity and size, dazzle and conound us, ofen at the same time. What ollows is part-rumination, part-co part -conve nversa rsatio tion n on wha whatt we we’v ’vee learned about our homes since being removed rom them or the past ourr year ou years. s. Tis Tis isis Hous Houston ton..
Phoebe: here’s a dark grey cloud blotting out the sun. I ’m home again or break, and my mom and I sit in the Houston traic, trying to puzzle out what’s going on with the sky. A tropical storm maybe? But hurricane season doesn’t start or months. he cloud’s borders are unnaturally blunt and precise, graphic like a pop art cartoon. It’s less o a og and more o a charcoal smudge against the sky, trailing down to the ground in a neat plume. he cloud, our local news anchor tells us, is actually smoke, the result o a ire at the Deer Park petrochemical plant in east Houston. en days later, a sickly pink, dead dolphin washes ashore in Gal veston , a neigh borin g city on
the gul coast. Whether or not there was a connection remains unclear. For many o us at Bowdoin rom the American South, it can eel like we’re here partly because we cultivated a mild disgust or where we come rom. A resentment towards exas and the oppressively conservative culture o my private high school were certainly large reasons behind why I looked almost exclusively in the northeast during my college search. People gathered in dimly lit rooms around wooden tables discussing, you know, great works o literature. Surya: @PeucinianSociety? Phoebe: Something like that. Knowledge like a petrochemical haze in the air, students picking apart history to get at kernels o
reality and truth. Tat was the antasy. Surya: Tis rings so true to me and reminds me o the nagging eeling that comes over me so ofen when talking politics with Bowdoin riends (i.e. I lef exas thinking that outspoken exas conservatives were the devil, but have ound, in time, New England liberals to be just as insidious in some ways). Phoebe: Right? Up until recently (thanks, Beto), i you were a liberal in exas, you really had to get behind your politics in a way that isn’t required o you in New England. Or just shove them down and never talk about it. It’s probably a cliché at this point, but our years and many miles o distance between me and Houston have allowed me to
recognize the ways in which my suffocating in its humidity. Surya: As an Austinite who hometown holds truths equally as important and complex as the only visited Houston or weekones studied in the classroom. end soccer tournaments, I’d also Houston is a place that ofen like to add that Houston’s humid conronts you with ugliness and climate boasts some o the most without illusion. Te city sprawls bountiul greenery west o Louout endlessly in all directions, isiana. My memories o Houston the �at landscape blanketed by a are shrouded in sof green grass constellation o mega-highways and storybook mega-mansions. that make a modern, nightmar- Te money made the place all the ish mockery o the phrase “every- more unreal to me. Phoebe : Yeah, it’s this thing is bigger in exas.” Tere’s no escaping the energy industry, strange juxtaposition o rom the petrochemical re�n- the lush and nearly tropical eries that mushroom along the alongside exas as the edge ship channel in east Houston to o the southwest and also the businessmen that commute alongside the southern charm. downtown every day to bundle, here’s deinitely a media buy and sell the natural gas that narrative out there these days powers our lives, my dad among that loves to lit Houston up them. Tere’s equally no escape rom the heat—relentless, nearly Please see IN THE HEART , page 10
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FEATURES
Friday, April 5, 2019
Big [Bowdoi [Bowdoin] n] Brother Brother:: managi managing ng online onli ne privacy privacy compliance regulation now con- companies are pressured to ad- but we do not publicize those concern some had about the U.S. cerning the Bowdoin website here to these standards as soon as records or sell them to a third census. At Bowdoin, i or examsince we have students around possible or run the risk o �nes, company. In act, we have tight ple, a survey was being analyzed by Sasa Jovanovic the globe who are interested in such as the $1.67 billion �ne that controls over who has access to or a small major where individthe College,” Finneran explained. Google was charged with earlier them even on campus.” uals might be identi�able, the As students, we are constant- “We have Bowdoin students who this year or antitrust violations Cato and Finneran cited other Office o Rese arch, Analytics and ly generating data on campus, are Europeans and who might in the online advertising market. ways Bowdoin reinorces student Consulting aggregate the results whether we know it or not. From travel home and want to use the “We do not collect inorma- privacy such as controls over the over a ew years so as to add a using Blackboard to Polaris to website or other services or a tion about casual observers or sharing o students’ academic layer o privacy protection. Outlook, we are engaging in con- aculty member might be on sab- website visitation records; that is and health inormation. BowdoDigital privacy is inherently versations versations with these channels channels batical or conducting research in not the type o business we’re in- in incorporates privacy measures different rom other orms o prithrough our actions online. How Europe.” volved volved in,” Cato elaborated. elaborated. “Te in their survey policies as well, vacy, vacy, and there there is good reason reason to does Bowdoin treat this inorTus the College must be ways you’re using wireless, those so that one cannot triangulate be on the side o individual privamation? Tis week, in an effort aware o and be quick to incor- records are collected or the pur- someone’s identity through sur- cy. Both Cato and Finneran have to learn more about the ways porate privacy laws enacted in poses o bettering our system, vey results, results, which was a recent recent cited situations in which they’ve in which Bowdoin handles our nations across the globe. seen an individual’s privacy data and keeps up with emerging “Te way the and security violated Y D N N N E industry standards, I sat down GDPR regulation with major costs to Y K E L L Y M O L with Michael Cato, senior vice is set up is that an institution. At president and chie inormation it covers peoone large institution officer o inormation inor mation technoltechno l- ple who are in where Cato previogy, and Christina Finneran, Europe at the ously worked, the vice presiden presidentt o institutio institutional nal re- time, but not cost was $3 million search, analytics and consulting. necessarily Euto rectiy the results One o the latest develop- ropean citizens. o a data exposure. ments in data regulation is the Let’s say you’re a “We had to send General Data Protection Regula- student studying out noti�cations to all tion (GDPR), which was passed at the Sorbonne 50 states,” said Cato. by the European Union (EU) in France and you “355,000 records, inin 2016 and came into effect in receive a survey, how cluding social security 2018. Te regulation intends to are we obliged then number and personal provide individuals control over to manage these sitinormation o every their data and to standardize uations?” said Finsingle student that such practices or businesses neran. had ever been at within the EU. I was surprised She added that institution, when the regulation came up in that GDPR sets were leaked.” the �rst minute o my conver- a precedent or Why was the sation with Cato and Finneran other countries cost so astrosince I thought o the GDPR as to add similar nomical? Because contained to the EU vacuum. regulations. the school had “We certainly have GDPR International to hire a team o con-
tractors to rectiy the situation, track down all the individuals whose inormation was leaked and expand the institution’s I team rom one person to a team o eight in a span o six months. And then there are privacy cases that are less clear to resolve and that lack legal precedent. Cato cited a situation concerning a ormer employer in which a student had given another student, whom they were dating, their institutional login inormation. Afer they broke up, the ex used their account with malintent. When I asked Cato and Finneran how they would de�ne privacy themselves, they stressed the importance o inormed consent. “Understanding how I am using these tools and how they are using me is important, so that I can make an inormed decision about how to use them. It is only then that I eel like my privacy is respected,” said Cato. “I like to be in control o what inormation organizations have about me. Te idea that there are organizations that are making assumptions about me is what bothers me,” added Finneran. So we can rest easy now, right? Our privacy is being protected on campus? “My latest avorite search engine is duckduckgo,” joked Finneran.
IN THE HEART
Tere is no escaping the ossil uel industry, it’s true, or the overt bigotry that still permeates many corners o exas. But in Houston, it is also impossible to run rom the realities o American lie—where it has been, where it is going. It’s there in the post-Civil War reedmen’s cottages in the Fourth Ward, in the immigrants that continue to arrive not just rom Latin America, but rom India and Nigeria and Vietnam, in the Hurricane Har vey wrecka wreckage ge piled piled in the bayou bayou like an omen o climate change to come. But where there’s ugliness, there are always ways in which it is intertwined with beauty. In early March, the Houston air starts to grow heavy with humidity again, and azalea blooms gush orth against that dark, prickly exas grass: red, magenta and white brushed with the barest hints o pink.
Cyber Chase
MULTIFAITH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
very practi cal applicat ion o interaith relations and it has to do with inding the common ground so that we can all serve the common good,” said Stocker. “And yes, we could pick and pick and pick and ind the dierences but there’s really a lot we share across the board.” board.” Much like the panelists, Pazos Palma and the ellows elt that interaith work is becoming more crucial both in the United States and around the globe. “I think there’s an absolute necessity o being able to understand and comprehend other individuals’ religions, traditions and aiths, especially as we look orward in the United States,” said Johnson. “I think or any o us in the next 20 years, we’re going to be having colleagues, neighbors, riends who are o dierent aiths and backgrounds … and the ability to understand where they’re coming rom and who they are as spiritual individuals is incredibly necessary.” While the discussions throughout the year have been ruitul or the ellows and have begun to reach a wider audience, ellows wor-
ry that not all are willing to engage in these events. “When I was telling some o my riends to go to my Modesty, Women and Islam [event], they were like, ‘I eel like it’ll be weird or us to go [because] we’re not Muslim,’” said Suarez. “But that was kind o the point, to get people uncomortable talking about something that they don’t usually talk about; bridging that gap is really awesome.” Pazos Palma hopes to continue this uncomortable discussion. Next year, the Oice o Student Aairs and the Center or Religious and Spiritual Lie will incorporate the Multiaith Fellowship into their budgets and Pazos Palma will work with Perez to redesign the curriculum and choose next year’s group o students. “here’s a really good con versati on to be had around the role o religion in public lie, in the ace o an increasingly secular society, and also the role o religion in a increasingly glob alized so ciety,” said Pazos Palma. “here’s a lot to be said about religion and human rights, religion and morality. So there’s just many ways in which religion and spirituality are intersectional to a lot o the interests that Bowdoin students have.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
as an incredibly multicultural society, but I think what makes the city so interesting is the ways in which these oten struggling immigrant communities exist alongside a parallel culture o vast, ostentatious oil wealth. It certainly made or an interesting mix in my high school. So, like all great cities, Houston is a place o contradictions. Te oil and gas industry generated the money that made the city a great center o philanthropy and public art: we would not have the Rothko chapel i it wasn’t or Schlumberger.
Surya: Surya: Again, Austinite and art novice here: what’s a Schlumberger? Phoebe: Phoebe: It’s an iconic oil�eld services company. Te heiress to the money rom that company, Dominique de Menil, went on to ound this amazing, tranquil oasis o an art museum. Te Menil campus is lush Houston greenery at its �nest. But anyway, the money rom the energy industry is the money that’s bubbling under the melting pot o diversity that the city has become, money intertwined with a sprawling story o immigration, economic development and the birth o a sort o uniquely exan cosmopolitanism. I’m not really
tribal or emotional about my hometown, the way I think it’s easy to be in this age where we’re all globally connected but also constantly displaced and shuffl ed away rom r om our ro ots— in search o the next job, degree, line on the resume. Surya: Surya: And why would you eel tribal about exas? Our amilies are both transplants. Phoebe: Phoebe: Right, like who even knows where I’m supposed to locate my roots at this point? But I am deeply appreciative o Houston. I love the way perumed 20-somethings wear cowboy boots to brunch even though we live in a swampy urban jungle, the way that we’re always the underdog, the act that the things that make Houston great also make it diffi d ifficult.
When you get to know someone personally, personally, of a vastly different religion, it just enriches your life so much. I can’t overstate how important that process of listening and growing is. –Pastor Gordon Cook
P P E R E Z I P HO E B E Z P HO
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FEATURES
Friday, April 5, 2019
Talk of the Quad DEFENSE OF RAIN PANTS: ON RAINY DAYS, THEY’RE HERE TO STAY
It’s 8:34 a.m. and I awaken to the pitter patter o rain on my window. “Guess it’s time to put those rain pants to good use,” I think. Tey’re nothing special—just a kid’s large rom Amazon that pro vide vide the same same �t and and utilit utilityy I’d get rom an adult small, but or $10 less. I get out o bed, get dressed, put on my rain jacket over my sweater and pull my rain pants over my leggings. I bike to Torne or breakast and arrive with legs dryer than the Mojave desert. “Wow, good thing I invested in these rain pants,” I think. “Now I don’t have to go through my entire day soaked and uncomortable.” Little do I know, I’m in or a storm ar worse than that o rain—insults rom my riends and acquaintances pour down on me all day long. “Oh my god, are you seriously wearing rain pants?” asks Johna. “Amanda, you WOULD own rain pants,” says Nell. “Are those rain pants???” asks a judgmenta judgmentall strang stranger er..
“Rain pants are the kind o thing that’s on a packing list or summer camp, but only the worst kids actually bring them,” articulates Calder McHugh, editor-in-chie o the Bowdoin Orient. And the list keeps going. One day in October o my �rst year, it poured so hard I went through two pairs o shoes beore lunchtime. I remember deeming it my �rst bad day at Bowdoin as I attempted to walk rom Osher to Moulton. Te rain was coming down so hard it �ooded College Street, covering the curb and orcing me to step into a stream o water that went up to my knees. I still remember the smushing sound my soaking wet hiking boots made with each step as I schlepped over to Searles or Microeconomics (I needed my MCSR). Squelch, squelch, squelch. Disgusting. My toes were wrinkly by the end o the day, and my legs were damp and dirty. I reused to let it happen again. It was time to invest in some rain boots, and a pair o water-repellant pants was an obvious supplement. I haven’t seen it rain as hard here since that
day, but I’ll be darned i I’ll ever again risk soaking my clothes when it could easily be prevented. Sure, maybe they’re a little gooy. Maybe they make a swishyswashy sound when I walk. And maybe people stare as I go through the �ve-minute routine o taking off my boots, pulling down my rain pants and then replacing my boots to enter a dining hall or academic building with crispy dry legs. Would Would you rather I start my day uncomortably soggy afer the long trek to campus rom Harpswell Apartments? I wouldn’t. And i you’re my riend, you shouldn’t either. Plus, i you’ve ever had to bike in the rain without a plastic bag to cover your seat, you know that unpleasant eeling o sitting on a wet seat and then having to walk around with an embarrassing water stain on your crotch. Or maybe you know that eeling or other reasons; I don’t judge. And neither should you, especially not when it comes to rain pants. Wearing rain pants only makes lie better and much, much dryer. I’m no ashion queen, but I do care about my appearance. Tat
being said, I eel there’s a time and place to avor practicality over looks. I’ll also add that rain pants provide great protection rom the wind, which is especially important when I reach blisteringly high speeds on my bike in the chilly early mornings. I’m not telling you to go buy rain pants (though I highly recommend that you do). All I’m saying is that I eel it’s wrong to criticize somebody or taking steps to ensure their outerwear stays dry—no matter the toll it takes on their look. When you get a car wash, do you leave all the windows down instead o keeping them up, soaking your upholstery? O course not! Tis is basically the same thing, but my legs are the upholstery. You don’t have to wear rain pants (although I think you should). All I ask is that when you see somebody (me) wearing them, don’t make them (me) eel bad about it. Just let them (me) live! Amanda Amanda Newman Newman is a member member of the Class of 2019.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY MAMMOGRAMS
During my �rst mammogram, I put my shoes in a locker beore entering an inner waiting room. Afer I passed the ront desk and made my way down a hallway, I was handed a robe the color o chewed bubblegum. For some reason I was reminded o when I went to a spa and shuffled around textured rock tiles, bareoot and sweaty. But this was not a spa, it was a proessional, medical building, and everyone in the waiting room was wearing shoes. I retreated to my locker. Shoes stayed on. During my second visit, I put the robe on backwards by accident. Te shoulders were huge, and, when the belt was tied tight, I looked like a wasp with scrubs on, which I ound simultaneously amusing and chic. Again, when I entered the waiting room, I knew something was off. Right afer I realized what separated me rom the others, an attendant said “your robe is on wrong, sweetie.” I put on my best “Ah! I see now!” ace and went back. During my third visit, I had a sneaky idea that I would put on multiple robes, just to see i I could. “But, you’re not here or that,” I reminded mysel and continued to the waiting room—
MOLLY KENNEDY
shoes on, robe tied correctly. wo years ago, I ound a knot curled up, tight beneath my skin. It was not small, and this was the rationale I used to believe that it was not harmul. I I really had a tumor this large inside o me, I would be in trouble. I didn’t eel in trouble, thereore it could not be a problem.
But when my doctor elt it and said “Tere’s a lump,” I elt a cold rush o terror. Tere was silence, then I said, “Am I going to die?” “No,” she replied. “But it should be checked out and monitored.” All I elt was panic when I scheduled an appointment. Panic with my mom in the car. Panic in the waiting room while
drinking a cup o hot chocolate. Panic with the robes. Panic as the technician spread goo across my chest while humming an upbeat tune. Panic when I saw a oreign body on the monitor, pulsating with the beating o my heart. Each visit I received good news, but also lef with a sense o powerlessness, eeling at the mercy o an amorphous shape on the screen. Tis eeling was not unamil-
KAYLA SNYDER
iar. Freshman year, I had come to the realization that the landscape o my physical health had changed. No longer was I �t and healthy; I was anemic, exhausted and covered in rashes. I now had inections and appointments. o my great displeasure, I elt that I had become one o the sick kids. For some reason, in my high school these kids seemed to be members o the landed gentry. I was always envious o how they got to skip tests and gym class to stay in their suburban compounds, in their tricked out basements; but despite this, they always seemed unh appy. appy. Now I understood. We oten hear the phrase “listen to your body,” but my body and I were speaking dierent languages. My initial reaction was to think, ofen and bitterly, “I am too young.” But then I decided to try. I thought I had �gured everything out: I paid attention to what I ate; I took my supplements; I reorganized my sleep. But December o sophomore year, I dragged mysel to winter break with a sinus inection and a mysterious pox-like rash. It was so bad that one o my riends simply said, “woah,” when I turned around to greet him in Torne, like I had revealed that I was the Bride o Chucky. “Woah.” Back home, a dermatologist
chalked this odd reaction up to allergies, weather and stress. I was rustrated, not just because now I had our different creams, but also because these were all actors that were, mostly, out o my control. Men and women brandishing acai bowls on Instagram sell not only an image o psychical perection, but one o total control over their bodies. Tis may become dangerous when people try to mimic their S-curved torsos, or their magical vegetable-based cures or cancer. But it is a lie. Many health issues are beyond our control and won’t ully resolve, despite our best attempts. What consists o health is a complicated nexus; and, or everyone, the exact calculus that makes up “physically healthy” is ofen in �ux, and our control over our health differs. We mainly talk about knowing yoursel as an emotional journey. journey. Tis is true. However, However, it is also a physical one. And a large part must be learning what I can help, and what I can’t lose sleep over. I eel nauseous when I touch the lump on my chest. It’s not my riend; I wish it would leave. But it reminds me, too, that perect control over my physical health is an illusion. Aleksia Aleksia Silverman Silverman is a member member of the Class of 2019.
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Friday, April 5, 2019
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SPORTS
HIGHLIGHT REEL WONDER WOMAN:
Women’s lacrosse player Eliza Denious ’21 was named Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III Offensive Player of the Week. Denious, who was also named NESCAC Player of the Week, scored seven goals in last week’s 1715 victory over Trinity, Trinity, with four of her goals coming in the game’s final 11 minutes. Leading the team with 15 ground balls and 35 points overall, Denious is a key member of the Polar Bears’ offensive front. SHIP IN A BOTTLE:
The sailing team competed in three regattas last weekend, finishing 7-2 at the Harpswell Sound Team Race. Two Two more crews travelled to the Marchiando Team Race hosted host ed by MIT and the Dellenbaugh Trophy hosted by Brown, finishing with a 12-10 record at MIT and placing ninth at Brown. In all three locations, the Polar Bears were up against harsh winds and stiff competition. The team’s next regatta will take place this weekend at the Coast Guard Academy. BANANA SPLIT: In an upset victory last Friday the nationally-ranked women’s tennis team (7-2, 2-1 NESCAC) defeated seventh-ranked Tufts (3-4, 2-2 NESCAC) 7-2. Hot off the heels of a win, the 14thranked team went on to compete against Wesleyan (8-1, 3-0 NESCAC) on Saturday, losing 6-3. However, doubles partners Sasa Jovanovic ’20 and Fleming Landau ’22 defeated both Tufts and Wesleyan, ending the matches with records of 8-3 and 8-7, respectively. TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME:
The softball team (12-7, 1-2 NESCAC) suffered a series of setbacks last weekend with back-to-back losses against Trinity (9-4, 2-1 NESCAC). The Polar Bears were unable to score more than two runs in either game and gave away 10 runs in total to Trinity. Three Bowdoin athletes hit doubles, including Kasey Cunningham ’22, Caroline Rice ’19 and Maddie Rouhana ’21.
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
TENNIS TAKEOVER: Captain Grant Urken ’19 competes in a doubles match against Colby last spring. The Polar Bears are off to a hot start this year after returning from California.
Men’s tennis defeats top-10 team Wesleyan 6-3 by Ella Ell a Chaffi n Orient Staff
Afer returning to New England rom spring training in Caliornia with new players and skills, the �fh-ranked men’s tennis team (8-1, 2-0 NESCAC) deeated the seventh-ranked Wesleyan Cardinals (9-2, 2-1 NESCAC) 6-3 last weekend. In Caliornia, the Polar Bears were able to compete against strong teams while solidiying their dynamics and individual roles, ultimately �nishing with a 7-1 record and their �rst NESCAC win o the year against rinity. Tese strategies were on display again during their victory over Wesleyan. “rying to orm a team identity [in Caliornia] is de�nitely a
key part to that trip,” said captain Grant Urken ’19. “Especially with so many young guys, it was a good way to begin to orm what we hope to become towards the end o the season.” “[Spring training is] always our avorite time o the season,” added captain Jerry Jiang ’19. “Tere is no school—just playing tennis and enjoying the weather. We try to improve our skill as much as we can. [But] at the same time it’s a team bonding trip, which is why I think the Wesleyan match was an indicator o ... people getting more connected.” Te team’s �rst two NESCAC matches o the season provided the athletes with needed con�dence to ace upcoming competition. “Coming off our strong spring
break training it was something we wanted to continue once we came back. We have had lulls in the past once we come back,” Urken said. “It was really good [to win] rom the team morale perspective.” Te team entered this season afer graduating three high-perorming seniors, all o whom held Bowdoin records. Tough they lef big shoes to �ll, their absence has not held the team back. “We are a pretty young team, and the younger guys really stepped up,” Jiang said. “It was important to us because this program is about development. Seeing the reshmen and sophomores step up was really important to set the tone or the uture matches. We were still trying to put it together, and at Wesleyan
our way.” Going into the rest o the year, the team aims to reach its peak perormance in May in order to prolong its season. Te Polar Bears will compete against top NESCAC contenders in the coming month with the hope o continuing its strong perormance earlier in the season. “Right now, we want to ocus on every weekend match,” Jiang said. “From now on it’s going to be [against] very strong teams. O course we care about winning and losing, but at the end o the day we want know that we did everything right and leave no regrets.” Te Polar Bears will ace MI at Maine Pines today at 3 p.m., ollowed by Brandeis at home on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Women’s lacrosse rebounds with four-straight wins by Jessica Troubh Orient Staff
Since opening the season with a decisive 12-7 victory over Connecticut College (3-7, 0-6 NESCAC), the women’s lacrosse team’s season has taken a turn or the indecisive. Afer dropping our o its next �ve games, the team has h as rebounded over the past two weeks, recording our straight victories, including two conerence victories against Bates (7-4, 3-3 NESCAC)
and rinity (7-2, 3-2 NESCAC), to enter April with a 5-4 record overall, 3-3 in NESCAC play. Te string o early losses, a number o which came in close games against top-ranked teams, has motivated the team rather than discouraged it, said captain Natalie Rudin ’19. “We are using [the losses] as motivation to work harder, train harder and make sure we are ready or our next competition moving orward,” said Rudin.
“We have been working hard and getting better every day.” Afer the slow start, the team seemed to turn a corner in its 1715 victory over rinity last Saturday, said Paige Brown ’19. “I think at the start o our season, we were getting used to each other,” said Brown. “We really hit our stride this past weekend with our win against rinity.” Te team has set its sights on one goal in particular: winning the NESCAC Championship.
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT COMPILED BY KATHRYN MCGINNIS
everyone ound their role.” “We were de�nitely super excited about our reshmen,” Urken Urken agreed. “Tese are big-time matches that de�nitely count towards our end goals. For them to be able to be resilient in those situations was huge or us.” Moving into next weekend’s matches against MI and Brandeis, the team is trying not to be results-oriented; rather, it aims to perorm the best it can in every match. “For us it’s really about improving everyday,” said Jiang “Results-wise it’s always ideal to get the win but the process is really important. We are a process-oriented team, and we keep our blue collar mentality and grind or as long as we can. Hopeully the results will go
FINGERS LACROSSED: Natalie Rudin ’19 races a Trinity opponent downfield last weekend. The Polar Bears defeated the Bantams 17-15 and then continued their win streak by defeating Bates 14-2 victory Wednesday.
“Coming off o last season, in which we lost in the [NESCAC Championship game], we are really motivated to redeem ourselves and get that title this year,” said Rudin. Erin Morrissey ’19 said that she would love a rematch against Middlebury, who deeated the Polar Bears 6-3 in last year’s NESCAC championship game. “We really want to see Middlebury again because we barely lost to them a ew weeks ago, and we kind o want revenge rom that game and rom the NESCAC Championship last year,” said Morrissey. In the meantime, the Polar Bears are looking orward to a competitive competitive season against strong NESCAC teams. Seven NESCAC teams are currently ranked in the top 20 o the DIII Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association standings. Bowdoin is currently ranked 14th overall and seventh in the NESCAC. “Te thing that is exciting about playing lacrosse in the NESCAC is that the level o competition is extremely high, [and] every in-conerence game is big
competition,” said Rudin. Accordingly, the team has been working hard in preparation or its upcoming games. “We practice or two to three hours every afernoon, and we participate in in-season lifs once or twice a week to maintain our strength,” said Morrissey. While the Polar Bears are working hard, Brown, Morrissey and Rudin have all been enjoying their last season on the team. “It’s super rare that you get to run around with your riends or two hours afer school everyday, so I think we really take advantage o that and enjoy each others’ company,” said Morrissey. Te Polar Bears have two home games scheduled in the coming week, the �rst against Plymouth State (3-3) on Sunday and the second against Colby (62, 3-2 NESCAC) on Wednesday. I the team’s last three games are any indication, there is cause or excitement. excitement. “I think the best is yet to come,” said Brown. Te Polar Bears will play Plymouth State at home on Sunday at 12 p.m.
13
SPORTS
Friday, April 5, 2019
The racial playbook: African Americans and Bowdoin football by Kathryn McGinnis Orient Staff
On a humid August night in 1970, Maurice “Moe” Butler ’74 dropped his trunk at the steps o Smith Union as he headed to dinner. A day early or �rst-year orientation, orientation, Butler could not access his dorm and, with $20 lef in his pocket, looked or a patch o �oor to spend the night. One o just 25 Arican Americans enrolled on campus at the time, Butler lef Washington D.C.’s predominantly black inner-city or the whitest state in the Union. “You have to understand, the College made a decision to go into the inner-city and get some o the best and brightest to integrate the school,” Butler said. “Tat was a movement beore I got the re.” Among Bowdoin’s previous recruits was a talented running back named Al Sessions ’73. Sessions was the inspiration inspiration behind
a character Butler included in his book, “Te Blue Dilemma.” “His only problem was that he was black, and at that time, blacks weren’t supposed to be intelligent enough to play the quarterback position in college,” wrote Butler. On the eve o move-in day, Sessions was eating dinner with the ootball team when Butler walked in. Te two became ast riends, and although Butler had never played beore, he joined the ew black athletes on the team. “[Bowdoin] wasn’t really the type o school that you had to have a whole lot o experience,” said Butler. Locked in the gridiron, race may seem like an aferthought as long as the player can “do a job” in the words o ormer Head Basketball Coach Ray Bicknell. But the playing �eld’s ability to equate racial differences ignores the social challenges o true integration.
On the �eld, Butler and teammate Phil Hymes ’77 remember sharing a close bond with teammates on the �eld, orged through exhausting two-a-day workouts and weekend trips. However, there was a subtle split in the team’s social lie. For example, most black students only roomed with black teammates on away trips. When asked about the personal backgrounds o their white teammates, Hymes and Butler offered similar answers. Tey didn’t know. “I would say most o them came rom New England schools,” Butler recalled. “I don’t know i they were wealthy or not, I didn’t have that type o relationship with most o my teammates to be talking. [Tere was] a polarization on campus.” Growing up in an inner-city, Butler did not encounter overt racism until he came to Bowdoin, where the majority o students were white. Some people
would exit an elevator when a black man stepped on. Others would yell, “I’m going coon hunting tonight!” Hymes joined the Bowdoin ootball team in the all o Butler’s junior year. Afer graduating top players the season beore, Head Coach James Lentz announced all positions were open. Starting positions would be decided purely on talent and commitment to training. In the 1974 season, two top athletes vied to be running back: a white player and Sessions. “Coach said Sessions was the one or the job,” said Butler. “When he said that everybody said, ‘Whoa, can you believe this guy?’ But when I got into the locker room, I heard ‘nigga, nigga, nigga,’ and I was like where is this coming rom? Tey were angry.” Te night beore the season’s �rst away game Butler roomed with Sessions in the hotel. A recent convert to Islam, Sessions prayed or courage and
COURTESY OF DR. MAURICE BUTLER
LIVING HISTORY: (LEFT) Maurice Butler ’74 at practice. (RIGHT) Running-back Al Sessions ’73 before he quit the team in reaction to unfair treatment on the field.
the strength to perorm well or his team. But the next day, every time Sessions touched the ball, he was instantly tackled. Te team reused to block or him, Butler remembered. Unable to gain substantial yardage, Coach Lentz removed Sessions rom the game. “Man, he was crushed,” Butler said. “He was almost in tears, and when we got back to the school, he quit.” Against the backdrop o the Civil Rights Movement, this was a highly unusual event to happen at Bowdoin. In act, it was the worst and, thankully only, racist display Butler encountered on the ootball team. “But it was ugly,” Butler said. In a move o solidarity, the majority o Arican Americans lef the team with Sessions. Butler stayed. He began to notice a small crowd o black students gathering at Whittier Field on Saturdays, only to leave when Butler wouldn’t play. No longer playing or himsel or his team, Butler worked hard to entertain his loyal ans. Football took on a new shape in Butler’s lie. It became a much darker and physical game than beore. Each hit was an opportunity to not only execute a play, but harm the man on the other end. “I was angry with white people,” Butler said. “I was raised to judge people by the content o their character, not what they look like. But you know, at that time, I was just enraged.” In the mid-1970s, the College began to conront underlying racial tensions. Butler, and oth-
er prominent athletes such as Geoffrey Canada and Stephen Morrell, established a commission to investigate the athletic department. Yet when Hymes graduated in 1977, there were no marked improvements in place. More than wanting close relationships to their teammates, Arican American students wanted a place to call their own at Bowdoin. Established in 1969, the Arican American Society served this purpose, but among white students, its message was lost. “Some o our classmates did not have that understanding o why it was important to us,” said Hymes. “Tat was always the question.” Te Arican American Society celebrates its 50th anniversary in November this year. Outspoken proponents in Bowdoin’s mission to create an inclusive society, such as Butler, will return to campus or the celebration. And while it is important to recognize the achievements o the current administration, it is even more helpul to remember a time beore race and sexuality were common topics at Orientation. One racist act does not de�ne a campus, but the collective response and uture work toward prevention, can de�ne an entire movement. “Lots o things you have to learn through experience,” Butler said. “It was one incident. I dealt with it, but that was not my total experience on the ootball team, and I love and enjoy playing o otball.” otball.”
Wome Women’ n’ss water water polo pol o team t eam prepares prep ares for champi cha mpions onship hipss by Lauren Katz Orient Staff
Te women’s water polo team is gearing up or a championship tournament at MI on April 13 and 14 afer winning both o its home games last Sunday against Coast Guard Academy and Bates. o prepare or the season, captain Raquel Santizo ’19 said the women’s team scrimmages against men rom the all coed team. Both teams are club sports. Te scrimmages, Santizo said, along with the coed season,
helped boost her con�dence going into this spring. “I went to an all-girls high school and never really imagined mysel playing a contact sport with men,” Santizo said. “But you learn how to play smarter. I’ve had games where I’ve had to deend against a 6’1 guy who’s maybe 250 pounds. It’s very dierent rom when I’m deending someone my size or a little smaller. Also, in the coed season, goalies tend to have the wingspan o the entire goal, so I need to learn how to shoot d ifferently. ifferently.” As the sixth seed in the MI
tournament, Santizo hopes Bowdoin’s team can beat Wellesley, its �rst round matchup. “Just like any team sport, it takes a bit or us to understand how to work well together, to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses—I think we’ve �nally gotten to that point especially afer Sunday,” Santizo said. “Winning is un and great, but the score doesn’t necessarily re�ect how well you play. I I know that we’ve improved as a team and we’re doing better than we were at the beginning o the season, then I’m happy.”
As quasi-coaches and players, Santizo and ellow captain Molly Foley ’19 design and run practices, coach during games and organize transportation, ood and pool setup. In addition to these responsibilities, they also recruit high school and college students. “Te challenge o recruiting is real because you need to have people who eel comortable in the water and eel comortable in their swimming abilities,” Santizo said. “Many people have access to doing a sport on the land, but having swimming as a
prerequisite is an added barrier.” In addition, Santizo commented on the challenge aquatic sports teams ace to recruit athletes rom diverse backgrounds, since zoning, �nancial barriers and state-sanctioned segregation o the 1950s contribute to limited access to public pools. “I’m always trying to make it a very inclusive and open community, even i you’ve never played beore,” Santizo said. “We get someone who used to swim or used to lieguard, or maybe they never swam—they’re a high school athlete looking or
something that’s not at the varsity level.” Foley said the team tries to make the sport as accessible as possible by providing suits, goggles and other equipment. equipment. Looking ahead to their tournament at MI, Foley said it’s not necessarily about winning but having a good weekend away. “We have a lot o [players] on our team who learned [this semester] how to shoot and pass, how to tread water, how to swim reestyle,” Foley said. “It’s been un to get to see the players learn to love [the sport].”
Bas Baseebal ba ll t eam s till searchin hi ng for first win of season by Danielle Quezada Orient Staff
It’s been a tough �rst hal o the season or the men’s baseball team. Te Polar Bears (0-14-1) currently have no wins under their belt and have averaged just 2.67 runs per game. “Te start we got out to wasn’t what we expected,” Head Coach Mike Connolly said. “I think the best way to put it or coaches and players is that it’s rustrating.” Te team travelled to Caliornia over Spring Break to escape the Maine winter and improve its skills against top-rated teams outside o the NESCAC, but lost to all nine teams it played. “We didn’t play great while we were there. I thought the �rst week
we really struggle d,” said Connolly. “[Te] second week we played better, ar more competitive, but we weren’t able to get over the hump, and we’re still working at it.” Connolly described all the team’s spring training opponents as highly competitive, adding that those teams have been practicing outside since January—an opportunity that Bowdoin has not had. Te Polar Bears practice in Farley Field House in lieu o the outside �eld due to snow and �eld conditions. However, Connolly doesn’t believe that is the reason why they have allen short in their perormance. “Obviously, when you’re practicing indoors, it’s not ideal. But in the meantime, [Bowdoin has] had plenty o teams that have compet-
ed or championships that have had great seasons,” said Connolly. “We can certainly get prepared indoors. We get outside, we’re in a good position. I de� nitely wouldn’t use having to practice indoors as an excuse.” Connolly does not believe a lack o skill is to blame or a poor record this season either, and Dan Chapski ’21 agrees. “We have a very proportionate team,” said Chapski. “So we have a lot o good older guys that contribute. Ten we have a lot o younger guys that are going to move up here and also contribute in the uture. So I think we’re a very equally spread team.” Despite the losing streak, the team’s perormance has been looking up afer its away game yesterday
against the University o Southern the togetherness has been has hole but [it’s] certainly something Maine (USM), a team currently been phenomenal,” Connolly said. we have made our way out o and ranked in the top ten nationally. Al- “Tey really have a team, they have started playing better,” he said. though the Polar Bears lost to USM, each others’ backs, the energy on He believes this weekend they kept the �nal score within two the bench is antastic. against Colby will be a turning runs, losing 6-4, an improvement “Te effort on the �eld—I point in the season, hopeully rom their previous games. couldn’t ask or any more,” he add- putting the team in a competitive “You would have no idea that ed. “Tey are clearly working their position. we have been struggling. Te kids tails off. I believe they will turn it “I think it’s certainly importcame out, they played hard and around.” ant or us to win some games this they had each others’ backs,” said Tere are still high hopes or weekend and to play well,” said Connolly. “We put ourselves in a making it to the conerence cham- Connolly. “I think when we do, chance to beat a really good team. pionship, since the Polar Bears we’re going to put ourselves into We gave the No. 8 team in the have nine out o 12 in-conerence a position where the weekends country a run r un or their money.” games lef this season. Te team against ufs and Bates, we will be In light o a tough season, lost its �rst three NESCAC games playing or a berth, i we start playConnolly applauds the efforts and in its weekend series against ing well.” unparalleled spirit the players have rinity (14-2, 3-0 NESCAC), but Te Polar Bears will play a doudemonstrated, claiming that one Connolly remains hopeul about a bleheader against Colby in Waterlearns more rom their ailures comeback. ville ville on Saturda Saturdayy. On Sunday Sunday, the than success. “In the �rst weekend against team returns to campus and will “Te resiliency, the preparation, rinity, we slipped into a bit o a take on Colby at 1 p.m.
Friday, April 5, 2019
��
O OPINION Accessing emotional support
Embracin Embra cingg long distance
“Although you may believe that having a cat in residence will help you, we have determined that authorizing the cat as a reasonable accommodation is not necessary in light of the evidence of your long history living in residence without such an aid and your excellent academic accomplishments.” hat was the message that a student received via email from the Office of Accessibility, denying their request for an emotional support animal on campus. Bowdoin owes its students, and not just those who have requested an emotional support animal, an explanation. his week in the Orient, revelations about the difficulty of obtaining this particular accommodation illuminate a deep misunderstanding among the administration about students who struggle with mental health and the resources that they need. Emails like the one above suggest that the administration believes that past academic accomplishments indicate stable mental health. However, high academic achievement and mental health are in no way connected, and promoting this equivalency is actively dangerous. It is all too possible to be winning awards, getting straight As and breaking down on the inside. Many Bowdoin students are high academic achievers, who are doing perfectly well on paper, but are struggling with mental health issues. In fact, the push to constantly achieve at a high level and take full advantage of all the College has to offer is, for some students, the reason they struggle with mental health. Bowdoin touts its holistic evaluation of students in admissions, insisting that applicants are more than their grades, more than their test scores. However, this email suggests that the College no longer considers us in the PER SYDNEY REA SYDNEY REAPER holistic view once we enroll. Suddenly, our emotional and mental well-being is irrelevant, and our academic accomplishments become all that matter. On Second Thought he system for obtaining an emotional support animal is representative by Brooke Vahos of more structural issues. Bowdoin’s policies around mental health, from medical leave to access to counseling services, are often opaque, leaving students confused, frustrated and unable to meet their full potential or enTinking back to the beginning of joy t heir four years here. my �rst year, I remember feeling like he Counseling Center contains a myriad of health professionals who half of my class entered college with have a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with anxiety, depres- commitments to signi�cant others sion or any mental illness on our campus. However, these professionals are back home—myself included. As the not the ones structuring these policies. Rather, it is left to administrators months went on it seemed like more who are not trained on these topics and are clearly ill-equipped to deal and more people were breaking up with them. We suggest that the College leave these policies and decisions to with their partners from home and medical professionals who have established relationship with students. An joining the “single community” here easy start would be to add a representative from the Counseling Center to on campus. the Accessibility ask Force. At the time, as someone who was Bowdoin’s policies on mental health need more clarity. As administrators freshly out of a long-distance relawork toward that, they should start by believing students. tionship (LDR), it was hard for me to imagine myself ever willingly doing Tis editorial represents the majority view of the Bowdoin Or ient’s editorial board, anything like it again. For me, being which is composed of Emily Cohen, Nell Fitzgerald, Dakota Griffin, Calder McHugh in a LDR felt like I still had one foot and Jessica Piper. in the door back home, never feeling fully present here. Sometimes I would choose Faceiming my partner over hanging out with my friends, having dinner with my roommate or visiting office hours with my profe ssors. In an entirely new place, surrounded by toESTABLISHED ESTABLISH ED 1871 tally unfamiliar faces, it was comforting to have 24/7 unconditional supbowd bo wdoi oinori n orient. e nt.com c om orie or ient nt@b @bow owdo doin in.ed .eduu 6200 College Station Brunswick, ME 04011 port. But, at the same time, it limited how I participated in life here. The Bowdoin Orient is a student-run weekly publication dedicated to providing news and information relevant to the Bowdoin community. Editorially independent of the College and its administrators, the Orient pursues such content freely and thoroughly, following professional journalistic standards in writing and reporting. The Orient is committed to serving as an open forum for thoughtful and diverse discussion and debate on issues of interest to the College community.
Realizing that I was prioritizing my Te distance between my partner relationship over new experiences at and me has given me the chance to college, I became resentful towards the slow down and focus on myself. I �nd relationship itself. I blamed long dis- myself �lling the time that I usually tance for sti�ing my growth as a friend, spent with him doing activities that student and overall individual. My pes- help me grow as an individual. I feel a simism about the ability of long-dis- different, new sense of independence tance relationships to work out wasn’t knowing that I have the love and supunfounded, but it was exaggerated to port of my partner even though he is an extent that was toxic to myself and far away. Tis safety net of sorts has my relationship. In retrospect, one of helped me branch out and �nd new the main reasons I couldn’t make long ways to occupy my time. Sometimes distance work was my negative attitude this is easier said than done. While towards the distance. I would obviously love to be togethHowever, a year and some months er, I am happy to be apart so that we later, I ironically �nd myself in yet an- can both take time to grow and have other long-distance relationship. My unique experiences. current LDR is vastly different than Long-distance relationships work my last—factors such as the amount differently for everybody, but I think of time we will be apart, our ages and it is important for people to �nd the how far away we are made the circum- value in being apart. Long distance stances of this relationship a bit more can also strengthen the health of relapractical. However, the main change tionship. It is important to mourn the which is making my current LDR distance between two people; these more successful than my last is my relationships are by no means ideal. outlook. Rather than counting all the But they offer beautiful silver linings. reasons why I’m sad to be separated, More people should view long disI’m counting the bene�ts of having tance with optimism because there is some distance between us. Instead of so much to be gained from time away dreading the months we are going to from someone who you love wholebe apart, I am welcoming them with heartedly. In the end, it makes being excitement. together that much better.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Calder McHugh Editor in Chief Digital Director James Little Photo Editor Ann Basu Mindy Leder Ezra Sunshine Layout Editor Jaret Skonieczny Ian Stewart Data Desk Editor Drew Macdonald Gideon Moore George Grimbilas (asst.) Nimra Siddiqui (asst.) Business Manager Molly Kennedy Avery Wolfe
Jessica Piper Editor in Chief
Managing Editor Anjulee Bhalla Emily Cohen Nell Fitzgerald Dakota Griffi G riffi n Rohini Kurup Associate Editor Anna Fauver Roither Gonzales Amanda Newman Lucia Ryan Ian Ward Copy Editor Sam Adler Sydney Benjamin Conrad Li Devin McKinney Multimedia Editor Surya Milner Head Illustrator Phoebe Zipper
News Editor Nina McKay Features Editor Eliana Miller Sports Editor Kathryn McGinnis A&E Editor Sabrina Lin Opinion Editor Kate Lusignan Calendar Editor Cole van Miltenburg Page 2 Editor Diego Lasarte Coordinating Editor Gwen Davidson
The material contained herein is the property of The Bowdoin Orient and appears at the sole discretion of the editors. The editors reserve the right to edit all material. Other than in regard to the above editorial, the opinions expressed in the Orient do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.
Daily demonstrations of respect o the Editor, As members of the Residential Life Head Staff, we collectively live in all of Bowdoin’s residence halls and communicate regularly with Bowdoin’s hardworking housekeepers. We deeply respect our housekeepers and commend the Orient staff and contributors for their ongoing attention to the living wage movement. While we do not object to the manner in which students have been engaging with this issue on a systemic level, we believe that it is equally important that students demonstrate respect for all Bowdoin workers on a daily basis. As head proctors and RAs, we are often the first to hear about messes left by students, or their failure to comply with basic rules related to cleanliness. As students continue advocating for housekeepers on an institutional level, we must not lose sight of the fact that the easiest way for us to show housekeepers how much they are respected and appreciated is to be responsible and considerate of how we treat our shared spaces.
Sincerely, he Student Head Staff of Residential Life Anu Asaolu ’19 Henry Bredar ’19 Joshua Brooks ’20 im Bulens ’19 Mamadou Diaw ’20 Camille Farradas ’19 Ben Hopkins ’20 im Moran ’19 Paul Nardone ’19 Mohamad Nur ’19 Gardenia Pimentel ’19 Anarelis Ramirez ’19 Amber Rock ’19 Cordelia Stewart ’19 Dan Viellieu ’19 Christopher Wallace ’19 Dean Zucconi ’19
Friday, April 5, 2019
15
OPINION
Wee ’r W ’ree a l l i n t h i s t o g e t h e r Say It Like It Is by Nate DeMoranville
In September of 2018, I wrote an article about why the black kids sit together in the classroom. I argued for academic reform to engage students across difference. Crucially, my conclusion was this: “when we as students present ourselves as a unified front to the administration, how can they tell us that this system works?” Student activism was only one part of my proposed solution to self-segregation. he student body would hypothetically come together to demand reform from the administration, who would then radically revolutionize Bowdoin College. But there’s a contradiction to this logic. If the entire student body were able to come together
on its own volition, then the but it would be so easy to rep- academic rapport replicates administration would have licate. We can do this again as itself in our social lives. Just done its job. he Offer of a student-led program. as non-athletes go to sports the College would have been And already students are games, so too do athletes go realized. putting on events that bring to non-athletic events. Art his is, of course, not the the campus together. In a and Color at Reed House, for case in our current socio- couple of weeks there will be example, is a collaboration political climate, but what Ivies, which the Entertain- with the African American would this campus look like ment Board organizes every Society and will bring people if students really did come year, and the weekend after is of all demographics to Boody together to engage across the Spring Gala (all thanks to Street. difference? And what steps Jenna Scott ’19). In the meanhe College Houses procan we take as students to in- time, there are, of course, vide a unique opportun ity for clude everyone in all parts of athletic contests. Every Satur- us to come together on a micampus life? day, you can count on a home croscale. We all use them. Art As much as I disparage di- game in at least one sport, and Color is one of my favorite visio n on campus , there are and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll events, but ask another stuso many moments where I host another championship. dent and maybe it’s Cold War. feel connected to the student As women’s basketball and Or Macoween. Someone else body. My favorite moment voll eyba ll have shown , thes e might even say it’s their team’s this year was the Food ruck events also bring people to- mixer. he details don’t matter Night, which took place in lieu gether. as much as the fact that these of Pub Night. Lines stretched he beauty of a liberal Houses bring diverse groups all across Dudley Coe Quad, arts education at Bowdoin into the same space. We can and similar to the Lobster is the ability to specialize in capitalize on this momentum Bake, it was a fresh forum to one area of study but find re- with more collaborative proconnect with old friends but spect and support from other gramming. When we work also make new ones. Student students in different fields together, wonderful things can Activities planned the event, of study. Increasingly, this happen.
LA M L Y F U L Y L I L
It is our responsibility to make this campus more inclusive. I’ve spent junior year going to different events, meeting new people and getting outside of my comfort zone. Tis may be a stretch, but I think we can unite the campus if we focus on the individual. Let’s get to work.
Do I be belo long ng he here? re? Q ue uest stio ioni ning ng Bo Bowd wdoi oin’ n’ss me meri rito tocr crac acyy by Patrick Bloniaz Op-Ed Contributor
“You all belong here.” It was a statement repeated over and over again as the class of 2022 filled the seats of Morrell Gymnasium on August 25, 2018. As various faculty speakers made their way to the podium to offer welcoming remarks to the incoming class, I remember a feeling of exhaustion as students finally allowed ourselves to sit back into our chairs to relax. Once again, we were being reminded that our fight through the arduous college process had come to an end—our had efforts paid off, earning us the privilege of roaming across the quad and under the branches of B owdoin’s famous whispering pines as a freshfurred Polar B ear. Within those remarks, a prophetic narrative could be pieced together, little by little: one of the heavy workloads, late nights and difficult conversations that students would inevitably take on in their pursuit of an intellectually rigorous education. “But make no mistake,” one
speaker said, leaning forward, “through all those moments, remember that you belong here.” hese words have resonated with me more than I thought they would at the time and have taken me on a much different
LI LY F FU LL U AM
path than, I think, originally intended. When news broke of the recent college admissions scandal, I found myself listening to all the media noise. College
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
IS IT WARM ENOUGH TO WEAR SHORTS? Answer at bowdoinorient.com/poll.
officials, high school administrators and politicians came on air, one after another, to condemn the actions of those pleading guilty to the federal charges announced in Boston; each interviewee feverishly called for a return to a more meritocratic system wherein students are given the admission acceptances they rightfully deserve. his concept of meritocracy—a society or institutio institution n that selects or rewards people on the basis of their demonstrated ability alone—appears to be built into the very blood that pumps through Bowdoin, and I cannot help but think it a strange sight to see. Students are praised for the work that got them here, making them stand out among peers, setting perfection as the standard. Every student here is exceptional, but do they really belong here? he idea of a “privileged education” and a “person earning their spot” among the student body at a top-ranked college seems to be a contradiction to me. How can a per-
son have an advantage, often genuine enthusiasms of intelan unfair advantage, if they lect and rigor, there seems to fairly earned their position? be no conceivable reason for Perhaps I stand alone here in acceptance or denial in this questioning my place, but I case beyond luck or circumcannot seem to point to any stance. hey seemed like they reason why I am here at this belong here. How can a sysschool based on merit alone. tem truly make a merit-based I acknowledge that schools decision with such nuanced providing privileged oppor- differences between people? tunities have strict standards What’s worse is this arbitrary for admittance, by definition, nature of selective admittance but I wonder if this is a system assumes that everyone has an that should be left behind. even playing field; it is shockWith the release of Bowdo- ing to even look briefly at how in’s 2023 acceptance letters, I systems of prejudice skew this remember the dozens of in- process beyond any reconcilcredibly talented and unique able point. prospective students who I believe the idea of merihave come and gone from tocracy is eerily reminiscent the floor of my dorm, and I of a distant form of Social wonder what could possibly Darwinism and an example differentiate each applicant. can be seen clearly in the 8.9 hey were students whose percent acceptance rate. Who academic achievements were are we leaving behind based all so near perfection that you on a judgment call? I encourwould expect them to earn a age people to consider this spot at any school on academ- notion, particularly as they ic merit alone. From here, we look to life beyond Bowdomight look to the humanistic in: awarding based on merit features that align with the seems like an obvious way to mission of the College to dif- value peopl e, but toxic imferentiate students. alking plications aren’t far away, no with them about their dreams matter the direction we turn. of furthering the Common Patrick Bloniasz is a memGood and participating in ber of the Class of 2022.
Last week’s response: Q: DO YOU HAVE CANDLES IN YOUR ROOM? ��� YES ��� NO Based on answers from 174 responses.
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Friday,, April 5, 2019 Friday
AP A PRIL FRIDAY � WORKSHOP
He Said/She Said: Writing with Sources Director of Writing and Rhetoric Meredith McCarroll and Student Writing Assistants will give tips on how to properly cite sources and avoid plagiarism. 117 Sills Hall. 11:45 a.m. EVENT
20th Anniversary Delta Sigma/Delta Upsilon Art Show Reception A team of three art professionals will judge student pieces at the 20th annual Delta Sigma/Delta Upsilon Art Show Reception. The event will include an a capella performance as well as hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Lamarche Gallery, David Saul Smith Student Union. 7 p.m. PERFORMANCE
ANN BASU, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
A LATKE LATKE FUN: FUN: Hannah Schleifer ’20 and Zoe Aarons ’19 scoop up some latkes at Bowdoin Hillel’s Latke and Hamantaschen Debate in Hubbard Hall. This year, Professor of
SnugHouse Burnett House will host SnugHouse, a Portland-based indie-folk group which includes Nikhil Dasgupta ’16 and Sam Kyzivat ’18. Burnett House. 9 p.m.
SATURDAY � EVENT
Passamaquoddy Basket Weaving Renowned Passamaquoddy Basket Weaver Molly Jeanette Parker will demonstrate the art of basket making and teach students about its importance in Native American culture. Parker is known for her role in reviving the practice of Wabanaki basket weaving in Maine. 30 College Street. 10 a.m. PERFORMANCE
Battle of the Bands A collection of student bands will perform for a panel of judges who who will select select this year’s Ivies student student opener. opener. Jack Magee’s Pub and Grill, David Saul Smith Union. 8:30 p.m.
English and Cinema Studies Aviva Brefel defended hamantaschen and Associate Professor of History David Hecht defended the latke while Senior Lecturer in Environmental Studies Jill Pearlman moderated the debate.
MONDAY � LECTURE
DISCUSSION
“What Russia Wants, and What it Means for America”
Who are the Gilets Jaunes, and what’s happening in France?
Esteemed writer and U.S.-Russia Relations expert Julia Ioffe will discuss Russia’s intentions in manipulating American politics and democracy. Ioffe is currently a contributing writer for “The Atlantic” and is the author of an upcoming book titled “Russia Girl.” Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center. 7:30 p.m.
The Courtship of Nelson and Winnie Mandela: The Dizzying Quest to Live Exemplary Lives Professor of African Studies at Oxford and current Visiting Professor in African Politics at Yale Jonny Steinberg will discuss details and misperceptions surrounding the relationship of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. Beam Classroom, Visual Arts Center. 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY �
EVENT
LECTURE
Bowdoin College Concert Band
“An Outlook on Washington”
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EVENT
Let’s Get a Meal
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Assistant Professor of History Salar Mohandesi, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Francophone Studies Madeline Bedecarré and Associate Professor of History Meghan Roberts will host an informal discussion and Q&A about current social unrest in France pertaining to the Gilets Jaunes or Yellow Vest Movement. History Common Room, Adams Hall. 7p.m.
LECTURE
SUNDAY � Professor of Music at the University of Maine Jack Burt will perform classical pieces on the trumpet and Professor of Composition at the University of Southern California Frank Ticheli will perform “American Elegy,” a 20th anniversary tribute to the Columbine High School massacre. Studzinski Recital Hall, Kanbar Auditorium. 2 p.m.
WEDNESDAY ��
EVENT
An Evening with Governor John Kasich
DISCUSSION
A Conversat Conversation ion with with Lisa Lisa Ko Ko As a part of the scheduled programming for Asian Heritage Month, author Lisa Ko will speak to students about her career and award-winning novel “The Leavers.” A book signing in Howell House will follow the talk. Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center. 7 p.m. LECTURE
“What Do Puzzles Teach Us?”
Corporate lobbyist and Congressional Committee Investigative Counsel Member Sophia Nelson will speak on the current political sphere. Nelson is a published author and has also served as a White House reporter and columnist for several major magazines. Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center. 7:30 p.m.
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THURSDAY ��
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William Morrill Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Dartmouth College Peter Winkler will present the Dan E. Christie Mathematics Lecture on the challenging and entertaining nature of mathematical puzzles. Winkler has written more than a hundred research papers and holds more than a dozen patents in an array of academic fields. 315 Searles Science Building. 7:30 p.m.
EVENT
Alcohol Screening Day
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EVENT
An Evening with Comedian Fumi Abe
