The Bowdoin Orient - Vol. 150 Issue 18 - April 6, 2021

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The Nation’s Oldest Continuously Published College Weekly Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Volume 150, Number 18 bowdoinorient.com

This newspaper is undergoing talks of renaming. For more information, please visit page 9 to read a letter from the editors in chief about the motiva-
tions and background surronding this conversation.

College to facilitate access to vaccines for students living in Maine


Coordinator Mike Ranen an- several weeks in order to make which is located at the Brunswick to all students living in Maine on from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and
by Nina McKay nounced in an email to students sure the larger community also Parks and Recreation Center at CampusGroups at 5 p.m. EDT Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15
Orient Staff
on Thursday afternoon. This continues to have access to vacci- Brunswick Landing. The College on Sunday, April 4. Beginning on p.m. This schedule will repeat each
The College will work with will include all students who are nations as doses are made avail- will provide transportation to and April 7, 50 vaccines will be admin- week until Monday, May 3.
Mid Coast Hospital to provide living in Maine, regardless of able,” Ranen wrote. “We expect from the location. istered to Bowdoin students on “Students who receive their
Pfizer vaccinations to all Bow- whether they are living on or off this partnership will allow all stu- On Friday morning, Ranen Mondays from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 first dose through this partnership
doin students after vaccine eli- campus and whether or not they dents to be fully vaccinated before followed up with an email to all a.m., Tuesdays from 11:45 a.m. to will schedule a second dose at
gibility is extended to all Maine are in residence. the end of the semester.” students in which he announced 12:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 2:30 the clinic, which they will receive
residents over the age of 16 on “These vaccinations will be Both vaccine doses will be ad- that registration for initial vac- p.m. to 3:15 p.m., Thursdays from twenty-one days later,” Ranen
April 7, COVID-19 Resource provided to students over the next ministered at Mid Coast’s clinic, cine appointments will open up 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., Fridays wrote.

Combining new and old facilities, College Bazelon gives talk on


mass incarceration
set to meet demand for housing next year by Jane Olsen
Orient Staff
Bazelon said. “Our prosecutors are
taking advantage of new powers
that they’re given by state law.”
On Tuesday evening, journal- Bazelon emphasized that the
ist and bestselling author Emily power wielded by prosecutors
Bazelon spoke to the Bowdoin allows them to exercise racial bias
community about the role of pros- and augment the system of crim-
ecutors in contributing to systemic inalization to be consistent with
mass incarceration. Bazelon is a their own internalized beliefs.
staff writer at the New York Times “One of the key ways in which
Magazine, the Truman Capote prosecutors come into office and
Fellow for Creative Writing and try to reshape the criminal justice
Law at Yale Law School and co- system is by changing the very na-
host of the Slate Political Gabfest ture of who is a criminal,” Bazelon
podcast. said. “But I think it’s important to
The talk was part of the Ken- also remember that we are effec-
neth V. Santagata Memorial Lec- tively criminalizing Black people
ture series and was hosted by Janet for doing something that white
Lohmann, senior vice president people are also doing.”
and dean for Student Affairs, who Though this disproportionate
has a PhD in sociology and has power has deep systemic roots,
taught courses in criminology and Bazelon expressed that voter mo-
race relations. bilization, especially at the local
In the midst of the Derek Chau- level, has begun to produce positive
vin trial and the national focus on change through opposition to ex-
criminal justice reform, Bazelon’s isting norms.
expertise on systemic issues con- “As mass incarceration became
tributing to mass incarceration more and more of a problem in
provided context for discussing the the United States, and addressing
current moment. it more of a political cause, local
Bazelon opened her lecture groups and national groups and
by outlining the thesis of her new civil rights groups, but even some
LILY WEAFER, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT
book, “Charged: The New Move- Black Lives Matter groups, started
STILL STOWE-ING STUDENTS: Stowe Inn, which is currently being used as isolation housing, and Pine Street Apartments were originally slated for decom- ment to Transform American really getting behind a new kind
mission last summer. The College plans for students to reside in both residences to meet the increased demand of housing in the coming years. Prosecution and End Mass Incar- of candidate for office for District
by Hayden Redelman increased demand for housing plans were delayed for the 2020- Zoom interview with the Orient. ceration.” While factors such as Attorney,” Bazelon said.
Orient Staff because of the recent openings of 2021 academic year. Randall ex- Combined, Pine Street and mandatory minimum sentences Lohmann expressed her ap-
Harpswell and Park Row Apart- pects students to live in Pine Street Stowe Inn house approximately and three strike laws contribute to preciation of Bazelon’s attention to
More students are expected ments. Apartments and Stowe Inn for the 116 students; Harpswell Apart- rising incarceration rates, Bazelon grassroots efforts.
to live on campus next semester Lisa Rendall, director of Resi- next couple of years in an effort to ments alone houses 132. Factoring explained how the role given to “She helped show that crimi-
than in past years, primarily due dential and Housing Operations, accommodate increased demand in the additional 88 beds in Park prosecutors grants them influence nal justice policy is local and that
to returns from personal leaves of confirmed that the College had for housing. Row, the College will see a net gain on incarceration rates. community involvement can
absence, gap years and decreased previously intended to decom- “Once the flexes because of of 104 beds even after the planned “The power of prosecutors is change how policies are enacted,”
participation in study abroad. De- mission Pine Street Apartments COVID[-19] level off, the new decommissions. this underappreciated factor in Lohmann wrote in an email to the
spite the projected increase in the and Stowe Inn last summer. Met apartments [will] make up for Additionally, ResLife has in- explaining how the number of Orient.
on-campus student population, with a need for extra quarantine [beds] lost in Pine Street and people incarcerated in our country
the College is positioned to meet and isolation housing this year, the Stowe Inn,” Rendall said in a Please see HOUSING, page 3 has quintupled since the 1980s,” Please see LECTURE, page 3

Lex Horwitz ’19 leads virtual programming series with athletic community
ty, providing insight into how to community and how we can start related [LGBTQ+ topics and is- about Sexuality,” introduced lis- “I felt very comfortable being in
by Josie Tidmore
Orient Staff cultivate a more inclusive and sup- talking about those experiences,” sues] to Bowdoin specifically, as teners to the terminology and those spaces to say, ‘Hey, we need
portive environment for all. Katie Greene, assistant athletic opposed to just this broader topic tools necessary for understanding to start to think critically.’”
In a three-part virtual pro- “We channeled a lot of our director and diversity, equity and that maybe you don’t focus on if the distinction between gender Henry Somerby ’23, a member
gramming series, Lex Horwitz ’19, [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion inclusion coordinator, said in a it’s not right here in front of you,” and sexuality. of the men’s squash team, said he
a queer, non-binary transmascu- (DEI)] efforts into race education Zoom interview with the Orient. Greene said. “There are so many spaces found Horwitz’s first two talks to
line LGBTQ+ educator and activ- in the first semester, and our goal Greene emphasized that Hor- The third and final session of [that] actively—both directly and be a helpful way to engage in con-
ist, and a former member of the moving into the second semester witz’s familiarity with Bowdoin Horwitz’s series, titled “Lex’s Jour- indirectly—uphold cisnormativity versation around queer and trans
Bowdoin men’s squash team, has was to broaden that umbrella and made their contributions especial- ney and Q and A,” was held on and heteronormativity … and it’s topics.
returned to Bowdoin to share their start looking at some wider-rang- ly valuable for the community. March 30. also a really strong, prevalent fac- “I think that [Horwitz] has a
knowledge and experiences with ing topics … one of the topics that “What I really enjoyed about Horwitz’s first two talks, tor in athletics,” Horwitz said in a
the Bowdoin athletic communi- we talked about is the LGBTQ+ [Horwitz’s series] is that it really “What’s Gender?” and “Let’s Talk Zoom interview with the Orient. Please see ATHLETICS, page 3

N SPRING BREAK F BAY BOWLS A SENIOR STUDIO S NOTHING BUT NET O RENAME THE ORIENT
Students discuss the impact of a Looking for a fresh acai bowl? Brunswick’s Spencer Wilkins ’21 will release his Adrienne Shibles, head coach of the women’s Emily Ha’ 21 discusses the Orient’s name
shortened spring break. Page 3. newest business can help you out! Page 4. production, “WALDO,” on April 8. Page 6. basketball, is the new U16 nationals coach. Page 8. and its implications on campus. Page 11.
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PAGE TWO
Tuesday, April 6, 2021

BEN MATTHEWS, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT


NEW NEIGHBOR: Sal and Soraia Matari P’20 opened Bay Bowls which servers smoothie and acai bowls. Bay Bowls is located on Maine Street. See page 4 for full story.

SECURITY REPORT
3/12 to 4/1
Friday, March 12 · After several complaints Brunswick Apartment W was campus trespass warning to abdominal pain was taken to damaged a granite post on
were received, three groups caused by cooking smoke. a local man who had been Mid Coast Hospital. College Street and left the
· A staff member reported that of students on the Bruns- aggressive with security offi- scene. The vehicle has been
a local man was preaching wick quad were asked to · Parents requested a health cers on two occasions this · High winds caused pine tree identified and the matter is
homophobic messages from disperse. and wellness check on their week. Friday, March 26 branches to fall on a parked under investigation.
a public sidewalk on College student whom they were un- car on South Street near
Street. No action was taken. · A fire alarm at Harpswell able to contact. The student · Security responded to Howard Hall. Wednesday, March 31
Apartments was caused by was located and asked to Brunswick Apartments to
· An officer spoke with a cooking smoke. contact parents. assist a student reporting a Tuesday, March 30 · A commercial delivery truck
group of students outside bleeding nose. struck a College vehicle at
Harpswell Apartments about · A student reported finding Tuesday, March 16 · A student requested a the Thorne Hall loading
a noise complaint related to religious solicitation mate- · An officer escorted a student security escort to Mid Coast dock. Damage was minor.
their activities. rials left on a porch at Pine · A student experiencing chest having an allergic reaction Hospital.
Street Apartments. pain was taken to Mid Coast to Mid Coast Hospital. Thursday, April 1
Saturday, March 13 Hospital. · The dean’s office asked
Sunday, March 14 Saturday, March 27 security to checked on the · An officer checked on a man
· Excessive noise was reported · A student with severe neck wellbeing of a student at seen sleeping in a vehicle
at Brunswick Apartment M. · Security and Brunswick police pain was transported to Mid · An officer checked on a Chamberlain Hall. while it was charging at the
worked together to locate Coast Hospital. student’s wellbeing at the Russwurm charging station.
· An honest student reported an off-campus student for request of the dean’s office. · A student in Chamberlain
accidentally scratching a well-being check. The Wednesday, March 17 Hall using a hair straighten- · A tractor-trailer truck maneu-
another student’s car door student was found safe. Sunday, March 28 er accidentally activated a vering in the Druckenmiller
when the wind caught their · At the request of counseling smoke alarm. parking lot collided with a
car door and struck it. The · An officer checked on a stu- and wellness services, a · A fire alarm at the Moulton student’s parked vehicle,
student who owned the car dent who was experiencing student was escorted to Mid Dining kitchen was caused · A student reported being damaging the vehicle’s
was notified, said not to dizziness and nausea. Coast Hospital. by excessive cooking smoke. the victim of incidents of hood. The Brunswick police
worry about it, and thanked bias. The matter is under took an accident report.
the student for letting them Monday, March 15 Thursday, March 18 Monday, March 29 investigation.
know.
· A smoke alarm activation at · Brunswick police issued a · A West Hall student with · A vehicle backed into and

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GRAB A
B A S S P B S T H A T S
13 14 15 16
A F T E R Y E T R O L E S
17 18 19
N I E C E T A U U R I N E

COPY March 15
20 21 22
G R E T A T H U N B E R G
23 24 25 26 27
S E P L E O A T O N C E

crossword
28 29 30
A M A N D A G O R M A N
31 32 33 34 35
B U R N E S S E N D

PRINT EDITIONS answers


36 37 38
O N E S A M P U N D O
39 40 41
A I M M A O S T O W
LOCATED IN SMITH 42

48
S
43
T A C
44 45 46 47
E Y A B R A M S
49 50 51 52

UNION, H-L LIBRARY, T Y


53
R A N T
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R U T H B
55
A
G I
N A
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B
B A A
U R G
MOULTON AND
57 58 59 60
P O I S E R O D K O R E A
61 62 63
S N E E R I R E S T R A P
THORNE 64
T O D D S
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E E R
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H O S E
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 NEWS 3

NEWS IN BRIEF Students and faculty weigh in on shortened break


COMPILED BY REBECCA NORDEN-BRIGHT AND NINA MCKAY

RHODES HALL CLOSED FOR THE by Ayub Tahlil comfortable striking because
of certain limits on classes you
within the student body after
BSG had been discussing the
demic started.
“At least for me personally,
WEEKEND AFTER TWO COVID-19 Orient Staff
could miss, which is difficult to break issue at length. I did think that this semester
A College employee who works in Rhodes Hall tested positive for This semester’s academic deal with. One of my professors “I think a lot of times people was going to be a bit more of
COVID-19 in Wednesday’s testing, COVID-19 Resource Coordinator calendar designated two days cancelled class and that helped think that the student govern- a marathon, especially since
Mike Ranen announced in a community-wide email Thursday after- for spring break, rather than the a lot,” Carillo said in a Zoom ment doesn’t try to do things, we weren’t going to have any
noon. traditional two weeks, leading interview with the Orient. and so we had to say that, ‘no, more breaks in it.” Ogunnaike
According to Ranen, this case is the second positive reported in many students and professors Even with her reservations, we’re actively on your side when said. “I wanted to make sure
Rhodes Hall in seven days. As a result, the building, which houses Se- to extend the break themselves. Carillo also signed the petition we’re doing our best to support that [we were] a bit more
curity and Facilities Management, will be closed through the weekend. A letter circulated among to show support. all of us by any way we can,’” laid-back at certain points,
Facilities staff who need to enter other campus buildings over the next students and staff on March 18 Senior Vice President and Williams in a Zoom interview just because I knew it was
two days will receive an antigen test prior to entry. announcing a “Mental Health Dean of Academic Affairs Jen- with the Orient. “So, we want- going to be a wild one. Being
Through contact tracing, the College determined that no additional Strike,” encouraging those who nifer Scanlon acknowledged ed to be transparent, especially on the edge all the time was
employees are required to quarantine. There are now three active stu- participated to extend their that she was aware of the letter about how we feel and that we clearly not going to work for
dent cases and two active employee cases on campus, as numbers rise spring break themselves to the and addressed faculty about it tried [to do something].” anybody—for me, or for stu-
in Maine as well. entire week by not returning to at one of their monthly meet- Organizing any formal dents.”
“Today Maine announced 283 new cases of COVID-19, the highest class on Wednesday. The letter ings. demonstration beforehand Dean Scanlon said she also
one day total since February 4,” Ranen wrote. “We hope that everyone began circulating on an anon- “I thought it was really im- proved challenging, so striking appreciated student feedback
in the community remains committed to physical distancing, using face ymous Instagram page titled portant that I spoke about it at seem like the most feasible op- regarding courses and mat-
coverings, and practicing good hygiene.” “BrunswickIdea.” the faculty meeting, [explaining tion. ters in which her office could
“The Bowdoin community is it to] faculty who I believe have “It was difficult to do any sort directly intervene.
STUDENTS RELOCATED AFTER FIRE struggling and going through been exercising a tremendous of event or public demonstra- “If we heard that an in-
AT BRUNSWICK INN; NONE INJURED a mental health crisis. We de- amount of flexibility this se- tion because of COVID[-19] dividual faculty member
mand a longer break in order to mester,” Scanlon said in a Zoom guidelines and overall exhaus- scheduled an exam during the
Jacob Trachtenberg ’24 was eating lunch early in the afternoon of adequately rest in the face of the interview with the Orient. tion of [students], so when break or something like that,
Monday, March 29, at the Brunswick Inn, where he and a handful of pandemic and in recognition Similarly, the Bowdoin Stu- the break finally came, it was an associate dean reached out
other first-year students are living this semester, when a fire broke out of the fact that this semester dent Government (BSG) sent much-needed time for students to those individual faculty
upstairs. Trachtenberg and other students left the house when they is NOT NORMAL,” state the out a campus-wide email on to just catch up with them- members to have conversa-
heard the fire alarm sound. letter that was signed by 184 March 19, echoing the letter’s selves,” said Williams. “I offered tions,” Scanlon said.
“It was pretty hectic,” Trachtenberg said in a Zoom interview with students. frustration with the College’s to help organize logistically but Kong canceled both of
the Orient. “We sort of watched the fire response from the patio of a Aminata Harley ’23, a stu- actions. it was not feasible.” her classes that week, while
nearby law firm.” dent who signed the letter, “We’re stressed, disappoint- Some professors took issue Ogunnaike canceled one of
Trachtenberg and other students whose personal belongings were highlighted how she felt unsup- ed, exhausted, and, quite frank- with the shortened break, es- his courses and adjusted as-
salvageable were able to retrieve them from inside the building where ported by the college thus far ly, fed up. We’re students too, pecially considering their own signments for the other. Both
they had been staying, but smoke damage rendered the building unin- this semester and thought stu- and we know how draining work. stressed their appreciation for
habitable for the time being. dents deserved a longer break. this semester has been and how “My two classes are broken direct student feedback re-
Some students, including Katalina Echavarri ’24, in whose room the “I think Bowdoin has created frustrating it is that we don’t into smaller sections … some garding workload and stress.
fire occurred, were not as fortunate. an unhealthy culture regarding have a real break this year,” the meet on Monday or Tuesday, “If I feel like a class is com-
“My … room in the Brunswick Inn caught fire due to an electrical working and people are for- BSG wrote in an email to the and others later in the week. fortable with me, then they
accident,” Echavarri wrote in an email to the Orient. “I lost almost all getting how taxing this year student body. “As the BSG we’ve Since the break only cancelled a will tell me, ‘okay, we’re strug-
my belongings including my laptop, all my clothes, and items from my has been to all of us. We’re not reached out to the administra- few of the sections, it only felt gling here,’ and I always am
childhood. Students and professors have been so supportive towards me students first, we’re people and tion and faculty about extend- fair to cancel the others,” Belin- receptive to that,” Kong said.
throughout all this. I am very thankful for these two groups of individ- have to take care of ourselves,” ing the break as well as allevi- da Kong, John F. and Dorothy “But when there’s a slightly
uals.” Harley said in a Zoom inter- ating workload to help general H. Magee Associate Professor larger class and people don’t
The College did offer students beds in Stowe Inn on a temporary view with the Orient. stress levels on campus. Our of Asian Studies and English, feel comfortable with each
basis, but the students were able to move to the Brunswick Inn’s other Similarly, Thais Carrillo ’23, efforts haven’t been met with said. other, it’s hard to gauge how
building, where they are all now staying. shared similar sentiments but an adequate response, but our Ayodeji Ogunnaike, asso- they’re doing, especially over

LECTURE
felt that skipping class didnot work has also been lacking.” ciate professor of Africana Zoom. Sometimes, they’d
experience under-protection of solve the problem. BSG President Marcus Wil- Studies, explained that he’s bring up an article in the Ori-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the law and over-policing of law “I’ve been struggling this se- liams ‘21 said that the email had to be flexible since he be- ent or an editorial asking if I
enforcement,” Purnell said in a mester, and have missed some was intended to facilitate trans- gan at the College in the fall read it to help highlight issues
Bazelon argued that elected of- phone interview with the Orient. classes already so I wasn’t very parency and communication of 2019, just before the pan- which I’ve also appreciated.”
ficials are not only becoming more “In the current system, statistically,
representative of their communi- culturally, politically … [the] war
ties, but also enacting effective and
progressive change.
on crime and [the] war on drugs
[have] been [wars] on Black peo- ATHLETICS understanding of the power of
language.
simple step, Horwitz argued that
gender-inclusive and expansive
ly start to heal.”
Through sharing their story
“These progressive prosecutors ple. Is there such a thing as a good CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Every single day, hearing signage can go a long way to cre- and providing tangible, progres-
were taking office, [and] incar- prosecutor?” really nice way of kind of starting gendered language and associa- ating an inclusive and safe envi- sive steps, Horwitz hopes to help
ceration was starting to drop in Bazelon emphasized that in with the basics,” Somerby said in tion to myself for a gender that I ronment. Bowdoin Athletics and the Bow-
their cities,” Bazelon said. “They addition to electing progressive a Zoom interview with the Ori- was not a part of really started to Returning to Bowdoin to give doin community at large begin
were doing other really interesting prosecutors, community invest- ent. “The first talk was definitely chip away [at my mental health] educational talks, albeit virtually, thinking critically about how to
things like addressing innocence ment is instrumental to mitigating more about the terminology to in a really disheartening way, and has presented Horwitz with the better cultivate an affirming and
cases from the past and trying to incarceration. However, this effort use for people who didn’t neces- took away from my experience as added opportunity to process and inclusive community for all indi-
come up with diversion programs is not without its challenges, as sarily know or weren’t engaging an athlete,” Horwitz said. heal from some of their experi- viduals.
that bring social work services into alternatives to incarceration are in conversations in the past, [so] After doing their own research ences as a Bowdoin student. “Visibility changes everything.
people’s lives.” difficult to implement. that they had the vocabulary to be on the options available to trans “I still was battling with what If you are in an environment
Associate Professor of Africana In a time where cases relating able to talk about that.” athletes, Horwitz worked with [it means] to love a place that has where people can openly talk
Studies and History Brian Purnell to criminal and racial justice are Somerby found Horwitz’s final Ashmead White Director of Ath- caused me harm,” Horwitz said. about identities and not only
attended the talk on Tuesday eve- drawing national attention, Ba- session to be particularly helpful letics Tim Ryan to join the men’s “What I didn’t know at the time— openly talk, but feel supported
ning and explained that his class zelon encouraged students to act in terms of providing tangible squash team, which most aligned but am beyond grateful to report and affirmed, it’s going to change
“Race, Crime and Law in the Unit- on the sense of urgency they may steps for teams to create a more with their gender identity. now—is that, through producing people’s lives,” Horwitz said. “My
ed States” has also considered the feel in order to implement change. inclusive environment for athletes Horwitz also worked with the series that I gave at Bowdoin goal has always been to just create
role of progressive prosecutors in “It’s one thing to have principles of all identities and experiences. Ryan to create signage in the this year, I was able to start to con- these conversations to be able to
enacting change. and ideas in the abstract, and it’s Horwitz, who joined the squash facilities which mark scious process and work through cultivate safe and judgment free
“[In the class] we examine how another one to lift them out,” she women’s squash team when they the building as safe spaces for a lot of the experiences that I had environments where people feel
Black people in the United States said. arrived at Bowdoin, has a unique all gender identities. Although a at Bowdoin and to be able to real- comfortable asking questions.”

HOUSING bedrooms. However, Rendall is


confident that the College has the
This change would allow
sophomores and juniors will
Rendall also said that she does
not expect a change in College
encourage more current sopho-
mores to apply, there are less spots
Stretch agreed that upperclass-
men living in College Houses
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
capacity necessary to house all live together in the same College House roles and leadership. for [first years],” Megan Stretch might allow first years to have an
creased the cap for students living students in the fall within College Houses next year. Rendall could “Officers [will still be] people ’24 said in an interview with the even more fulfilling House expe-
off-campus for the upcoming facilities. yet not provide a projected ratio who are interested and passionate,” Orient. rience.
2021-22 academic year. This In a departure from other of current to new residents, as ap- Rendall said. “I’m not anticipating Liliana Lines ’24, who is also “Since [first years] did not get a
was done to accommodate what years, ResLife has sent out appli- plications are not due until April that first-time members will have applying for a spot in a College real semester on campus, it might
will likely be higher-than-usual cations to current College House 11. a different role than they usual- House, said she hoped that cur- be nice to have a few upperclass
enrollment numbers for the fall residents inviting them to reapply Rendall noted that there is a ly would due to the presence of rent College House residents mentors who have spent at least
semester. to live in a College House again precedent for mixed-year College returning [College] House mem- would seek housing for next year part of a normal year on campus
The College approved 136 stu- next year. Houses. bers.” in dorms traditionally occupied [living in the College Houses],”
dents to live off campus next year “There are many current Col- “Over the years that I’ve been Some first years, however, are by upperclass students, including Stretch said. “[The current first
in the annual lottery. That num- lege House residents who feel like here, we’ve had Houses with a worried about the repercussions Park Row and Harpswell Apart- year class] hasn’t actually seen
ber is well below the cap of 175. they didn’t have the full … experi- combination of sophomores, ju- of allowing upperclass students to ments. [College House] events.”
For the Spring 2021 semester, ence that they really wanted when niors and seniors,” Rendall said. re-apply for College Houses. Rendall, however, said that a Rendall will address questions
the College secured additional they applied. I think many of “Howell House often has a hand- “We have all gone through [a more mixed House composition or concerns about housing for
housing in the Brunswick Hotel them have a strong interest in ac- ful of seniors that get in, because lot]. It’s a bummer that the soph- could be an opportunity for “fresh next year in a series of informa-
to make it possible to house all tually having that … experience [some students] really like [be- omores don’t get a full year in the experiences” regarding College tion sessions, with the dates to be
on-campus students in single they hoped for,” Rendall said. ing] in that … environment.” Houses, [but] I worry [that] if we House programming. announced later this semester.
F FEATURES
4 Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Bay Bowls: Brunswick’s new spot for a technicolor refreshment

BEN MATHEWS, THE BOWDOIN ORIENT


BAY BOWLS: On March 21 and 22, during the College’s Spring Pause, students were able to enjoy free Açai and smoothie bowls due to a partnership
between Bay Bowls and the Bowdoin Student Government. The popular new establishment is owned by the parents of a recent Bowdoin graduate.

by Sophie Burchell opened the business this past moved to Maine in the midst reception.
Orient Staff January, and while they are of the pandemic and began “We had such a welcome
During the College’s two- new residents of Maine, as planning their new business, from the community,” said
day break, many Bowdoin parents of a recent graduate, from name and store design to Soraia. We [had] a line going
students living on campus they are no strangers to the the menu items. around [the store]. So we were
found a moment of refresh- Brunswick area. They opened The Mataris purchased the very excited! The Brunswick “I know that people have between 500 and 600 bowls
ment while enjoying free Bay Bowls after hearing about location in September and be- community has been abso- a lot of frustrations with ad- before they opened to hand
smoothie bowls sponsored by their daughter’s experience at gan renovations shortly there- lutely amazing. From asking ministrative calendar issues them out to Bowdoin students
the Bowdoin Student Govern- Bowdoin. after. Opening their business ‘how’re you guys doing?’ to around spring break, but throughout the day. At the
ment (BSG). More than 1,000 “The idea [for Bay Bowls] during the pandemic allowed saying ‘we’re so happy you’re hopefully this was just some- end of both days, all the bowls
students picked up a bowl came from my daughter that them to design the layout of here!’” thing that made the short were gone.
from the newly-opened Bay went to Bowdoin. We’ve al- Bay Bowls to accommodate Bowdoin students were first weekend a little bit better,” said Bay Bowls currently has six
Bowls on March 21 and 22, ways loved smoothies and açaí for COVID-19 safety precau- able to come to Bay Bowls BSG Chair of Student Affairs employees, not including the
and the store’s owners are ex- and would make that at home, tions—instead of coming in- when Bowdoin went into cam- Lily Tedford ’22 in a Zoom in- Mataris. Two of them are cur-
cited to continue serving the and while Leah was at Bowdo- side the store, customers order pus status level “yellow.” How- terview with the Orient. “We rent Bowdoin students, and
Brunswick community. in, she craved something like at a counter outside the front ever, most Bowdoin students wanted to give people some- two more are recent Bowdoin
Bay Bowls is located at this,” said Solaria. “But there door. got a taste of Bay Bowls with thing that felt special. And it graduates. The owners hope
210 Maine Street and serves was nothing like [that] here.” On January 30, Bay Bowls a free bowl sponsored by BSG also worked well because we to expand their hours and
bowls of blended açaí or pi- Seeing the opportunity to opened for business. Despite as part of the its Polar Pause wanted to support a new local hire more employees soon,
taya topped with colorful provide Brunswick with what opening day being one of the programing, which was meant business.” and they are already consid-
fruit, granola and syrups. their daughter was missing coldest days of winter, the to help students de-stress over In preparation for Bowdoin ering opening a second loca-
Sal and Soraia Matari P’20 from home, Sal and Soraia Mataris were received a warm the two-day break. students, Bay Bowls pre-made tion.

The Mail Art Collective forges connection through crafted postcards


by Hayden Redelman Sparrow expressed an inten-
Orient Staff tion to expand the Collective
This semester, Elena Spar- outside of the Bowdoin com-
row ’22 and Dalia Tabachnik munity, sending art to resi-
’21 started the Mail Art Collec- dents of the Mid Coast Senior
tive, a student group dedicated Health Center.
to building a sense of commu- “We are only just getting
nity by creating and sharing [started], and we’re hoping to
postcards. According to the also include food pantries and
group, participants are now in other organizations,” said Spar-
their second round of cards, row. he also hopes that more
centered around the theme of members of the Bowdoin com-
“the old and the new.” munity, including faculty and
“[Art] is a gift. It’s some- staff, will get involved, even if
thing we make basically for they don’t have as much artis-
free, and that we can give tic experience. Sparrow herself
away for free. We give a piece had never taken an art class
of ourselves…We share some- before last semester.
thing we care about,” said “Neither [Tabachnik] nor I
Visiting Professor of Art Mary are art majors… We want peo-
Hart, who serves as an advisor ple to know that you don’t have
to the group, in a Zoom inter- to be an artist to be part of the
view with the Orient. club,” Sparrow said. “You can
Sparrow said that the club write a poem [instead] on the
was inspired by Hart’s Painting card.”
I class, which involved a home- Ambrosio says she appreci-
work assignment that required ates the club’s flexibility with
students to send artwork to respect to her busy schedule,
classmates through the mail COURTESY OF ALISON AMBROSIO allowing her to work individu-
to build community and con- PUTTING IN THE WORK: The illustrated postcards of Alison Ambrosio ’22 (left) and Elena Sparrow ’22 (right) crafted with the Mail Art Collective, a ally while building community
nection. Tabachnik, who Hart student initiative aimed at spreading community and connection through hand-crafted postcards. with others. For Hart, the Col-
described as having a “caring lective has helped her set time
sensibility for those around aside to make art after a heavy
her,” approached Sparrow and pandemic. paired students and emailed Hart says mailing art to cre- Ambrosio says the Collec- year of learning new technol-
Hart with the idea to grow the “[The Collective] is a nice them contact information for ate community is not a new tive has helped her cope with ogy and how to teach online.
assignment into a club. They way to connect and to get to their partners. idea; it first became popular in uncertain times. When she fell Ultimately, Sparrow says she
met over winter break to dis- know more people, which is Ambrosio says she was as- the 1960s, when artists like Ray out of a routine of making art, hopes the Collective can help
cuss logistics and completed cool, especially during these signed to someone living in Johnson sought to share art the club gave her something connect participants during a
their first round of mailings times when you cannot have New Haven, Connecticut—a outside of conventional means. to do, instead of just walking time of social distancing, re-
shortly thereafter. Now, over 50 any real connections with peo- stranger and soon-to-be ac- It was an era, Hart says, that around the house. Addition- mote learning and podding.
students are registered partici- ple,” said Ambrosio in a Zoom quaintance. is not totally dissimilar to our ally, Ambrosio said she didn’t “It’s a way to reach out and
pants on CampusGroups. interview with the Orient. To “[Mailing art] is something own. have access to a wide variety give someone something that
One of those students, Al- start off their club activities, you can do for a person… [it “As we’re all feeling stressed of art supplies—and the Col- shows you are thinking about
ison Ambrosio ’22, described Sparrow and Tabachnik sent reminds them] ‘there’s some- and disconnected, [sharing lective let her use what she had them,” she said.
the initiative as a welcome out a google form to interest- one that doesn’t know but still art] seems really valuable right in meaningful and intentional Dalia Tabachnik ’21 is a
relief during the COVID-19 ed students. From there, they cares for me,’” she explained. now,” she said. ways. member of the Orient.
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 FEATURES 5

The longest road: A journey to self-care


forbidden to disagree with in a rigorous course load? is no shame in asking for in turn building the support any other clinically depressed
by Carlos Campos or, God forbid, talk back to The first step to my recov- help, even if it meant seeking system which I did not have friend, could have easily been
Columnist
parental or family authority. ery became acceptance: both out counseling. As my first- before. in his position. I would hope
I never saw it coming. It If they say the solution to of my depression and of the year dean put it: “You are not My final step, the one I am every one of us has someone
hit me like a truck, and every your “depression” is praying fact that I needed help. As a machine. You have needs currently in, is taking action. who supports them through
time I tried standing up, it just more, working harder (i.e., an immigrant, I had become and emotions to care for, and My experiences with depres- their mental health difficul-
turned back to hit me again. “get over it!”) or enduring a trailblazer for my family’s you should not feel ashamed sion became the darkest mo- ties, but that may not be the
It is an expert thief because it punishment, then the deci- American Dream and devel- about it. If your mind is not ments of my life, but I believe case for everyone. Therefore,
stole my hopes, happiness and sion is final. This especial- oped a prideful sense of inde- healthy, how can you suc- that these experiences are I urge the Bowdoin admin-
energy while only leaving me ly applies to men, because pendence where I had to work ceed?” not unique. Depression does istration to seriously expand
with numbness. Living with talking about your sadness, like a machine to meet my The second step became not discriminate; it does not mental health services (e.g.,
it was like watching all my or even showing it, is con- goals, even if it meant ignor- understanding where my de- care about socioeconomic hire more full-time coun-
friends enjoy a sunny day on sidered a symbol of weakness ing my emotional needs. For a pression came from. In con- status, it does not care about selors to meet demand) to
the quad but being unable to and sometimes a disrespect long time, this “might makes fronting my past, I began to the color of your skin and it address the health of our
join them. I could describe to your family’s honor. right” philosophy worked, understand the toxic cultural certainly does not care who students, especially those
it forever, but unfortunately, This is why the first thing and it seemed to work for my dynamics which gave me the it strikes. I wrote this column without the luxury of feeling
these metaphors do not suf- I felt when I received my friends here at Bowdoin, too. mindsets that bred my hope- not because I wanted to in- comfortable in sharing their
fice to describe the parasite diagnosis in the spring of Unfortunately, underneath lessness. Many types of stu- cite pity, but rather because experiences.
which took hold of my life: 2020 was shame. How could my facade of playful jokes lay dents, from first-generation I wanted to demonstrate To my Bowdoin peers, I
major depressive disorder. I, a low-income Latino man, a yearning for a shoulder to immigrants to low-income through my storytelling that hope you feel validated when
I denied even the pros- explain to my professors, cry on. students to people of color, we as students should not telling your experiences and
pect of associating myself parents and friends that I I love Bowdoin. However, carry the weight of their fam- suffer from depression in have the support you DE-
with depression. I had al- had been seeing a therapist because of how busy people ily’s expectations, dreams and silence and that recovery is SERVE in navigating difficult
ways been told depression without being labeled insane are all the time, it can often trauma. As educated people, possible. times. Your emotions and
is a myth or even a weak or weak-minded? How could become isolating. Opening up we have the difficult task of It can certainly be difficult how you feel are important,
excuse used by unproductive I balance taking care of the to the right people cured that understanding and challeng- to come forward and tell these and I am sorry if someone has
bums to mask their laziness. needs of those I love, like my sense of loneliness, and I was ing the generational cycles of types of stories, especially taught you otherwise. For the
My culture, just like many brother, while also taking care surprised by both the level of sexist, racist and emotionally in the face of stigma. When sake of our community, we
in Latin America and other of my own needs in this en- empathy (and, unfortunately, oppressive norms for future a close childhood friend of must show that we care and
regions of the world, is cer- ergyless state? But most im- also apathy) that was shown. generations. For me, that task mine committed suicide in that we are here to listen. If
tainly guilty of stigmatizing portantly, how do I begin to In this journey of emotional became confronting the toxic November 2019, I became you see me on campus, know
mental health. For one, it is recover while trying to excel maturity, I learned that there masculinity of my family, and haunted by the idea that I, or that I care, too.

Pandemic Picks: Returning myths to their gay glory


but I am reading as no such scholar. Instead, she not why I’m recommending
by Mitchel Jurasek much queer literature embraces the love between you read it. You see, I think
Orient Contributer as I can get my hands these two men in this recre- you need a break—just like I
I will never forgive people on. This is where ation of the myth. Told from do. Spring is here and we’ve
who make fun of other people this week’s Pandemic the point of view of Patro- been trying to live our lives
for reading shitty, gay fan-fic- Picks comes in. Part clus, the story follows Patro- in a pandemic for officially
tion. In a country where people ancient Greek myth, clus’s banishment from his over a year now. Let’s be hon-
still ban books because of the part well-written father’s realm, the creation of est with ourselves—Bowdoin
sexual and romantic identities fan-fiction, this is a his and Achilles’ bond, their didn’t really have a spring
included in the pages or where novel worth celebrat- training and burgeoning love break. And if we are being
a movie about gay characters ing for both its beauti- at Chiron’s cave in the moun- really honest with ourselves,
can’t include a single fricking ful prose and its com- tains (a centaur who taught we’ve all been running on
accurate sex scene, you’re just mitment to returning the best of Greek heroes) and high-anxiety mode for the
a downright terrible person if mythology to its gay the devastating Trojan War. entire pandemic. It’s time to
you hate on queer people for glory. Through troubles with gods take a step back and get lost
looking towards obscure Tum- The Book: “The and goddesses, hiding—then in a good book. “The Song of
blr posts or websites for some Song of Achilles” by celebrating—their affair, Achilles” can be that book.
form of media representation. Madeline Miller discovering what it means I know it’s hard for some
The first “gay” novel I ever While the title may to love and, finally, what it people to think that they can
read was “Maurice” by E.M. make you think that means to die, this book keeps take the time out of their
Forster—and God, did I think this novel centers you glued to its pages. And schedule to read a book for
it was good. I wasn’t looking for around Achilles, it although the myth is thou- pleasure. Hell, some of you
a gay novel when I happened actually focuses on sands of years old, Miller reading this probably ques-
upon this classic; rather, I was his partner Patroclus, spins a magical tale that al- tion why you would take a
merely completing a project the love of his life. lows you to view the most washed-up senior’s advice
for a high school English class The story of Achilles, intimate moments of these on taking a break. The truth
where we read as many books the greatest warrior of men’s lives. In doing so, she is, however, that in the broad
by a certain author of the Ancient Greece, and not only gives a glimpse of scheme of things a lot of this
“canon” as we could. I knew I Patroclus has been the eternal love that is pos- shit doesn’t matter. That thing
was queer by this point (hell, debated for centu- sible for queer people but you are supposed to do, that
I knew I was queer at age six), ries. And although shows that history validates grade you hope to get, that
but I hadn’t really chosen to the Greeks were queerness with all of its stress you are putting your-
explore queer media because I never conservative quirks and complexities. self through, it isn’t going
most definitely was not out. I’m SOPHIE LIPSETabout this relation- Why Bowdoin should read to immortalize you in the
not going to say that a gay nov- ship, contemporary it: way Achilles and Patroclus
el gave me the courage to come of three men in a love triangle. continues to do so. These scholarship often still tries No doubt there are many are—because only myths are
out as queer. However, what I The point is, queer media days I’m no longer staying to argue that these two were valuable and scholarly read- immortal. So take a f*cking
will say is that I came out two had a huge impact on me up late and watching every “just friends.” Luckily for her ings that can be done of “The break, and read this book.
months after I finished this tale when I was young and still Troye Sivan YouTube video, readers, Madeline Miller is Song of Achilles,” but this is Happy reading.

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A ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 6

Spencer Wilkins ’21 to premiere senior studio, “WALDO”


by Jane Godiner “WALDO,” it will enter post-pro-
Orient Staff duction. Sydel and Hawkins look
forward to the opportunity to
Spencer Wilkins ’21 has known experiment with camera angles,
that he wanted to write a play since movement and green screens, and
the fall of his junior year. Four se- to add more dimension to the vi-
mesters later, he is preparing for sual aspect of the performance.
the premiere of his senior studio “I learned a lot about video
project, “WALDO,” an original, editing during this summer and
87-minute Zoom play that will be this winter break as well—it’s been
pre-recorded and streamed to the really fun to learn how to take a
Bowdoin community on April 8. COURTESY OF LOU SYDEL piece of footage and chop it up and
“I had a lot of difficulty stick- A SHOW IS BORN: Ellie Pike ’22 and Wayne Harding ’21 rehearse a scene from “WALDO,” written by Spencer Wilkins ’21. A scene between Pike and tell a narrative in that way,” Sydel
ing to one sustained narrative,” Harding in one of Wilkins’s earlier works was the catalyst for “WALDO,” and Wilkins wanted to re-involve these actors in his senior studio project. said. “I think this whole process
Wilkins wrote in an email to the has been me taking it one step at
Orient. “The idea for ‘WALDO’ Sydel ’22 to be involved in direct- continuously adapted the play’s just happy to support him in what- Altschul said in a Zoom interview a time.”
was really a result of intaking so ing the final performance. format in order to comply with ever way would be best.” with the Orient. “The fact that it’s With the premiere less than a
much world news while being “[Sydel is] the best director on COVID-19 precautions. While Because “WALDO” could not on Zoom and recorded definitely week away, Sydel and Hawkins
completely isolated.” campus by far—I’ve been watch- they originally planned to stage have the range of movement of a makes it a lot more low-stakes continue to hold company run-
While living alone in rural Ver- ing theater productions since my “WALDO” in person, the produc- stage play, Sydel had the opportu- than a normal play would be.” throughs, with the focus of pre-
mont last semester, Wilkins began first year here, and I’ve just been tion format went through many nity to spend more time discuss- Cast members have also ap- serving Wilkins’ message and ac-
drafting what would soon be the blown away by how good they iterations before the team decided ing the significance of Wilkins’ preciated the opportunity to work curately portraying his characters
script for “WALDO.” Inspired by are,” Wilkins said. “I’m not really to pre-record and stream the play writing with the cast. not only with a contemporary and story.
the work of creatives such as David a theater person; I’m a writing over Zoom. “It’s mostly just doing lots of playwright, but also on a play that “I love [Wilkins’] writing. I
Foster Wallace, Charlie Kaufman person, so I wanted someone in “We got very excited about it text analysis with the actors and features contemporary subject cannot wait to see it come to life,”
and Steven King, Wilkins set charge who could direct and get and we came up with some ideas really honing character and what matter. Hawkins said. “I want people to
“WALDO” 15 years in the future, the most out of these actors.” that would have been really amaz- the play is about and sharing my “It’s not like we’re doing like hear how clever and sensitive and
where elements of Trump-era so- Once Wilkins had finalized his ing, but it just wasn’t the right vision with everyone, and less Hamlet, or something with a mil- impactful what he has put togeth-
ciopolitics and disease control still script, he and Sydel began work- time,” Hawkins said in a Zoom about big blocking because it’s on lion interpretations,” actor Ellie er is.”
hold relevance. ing collaboratively during winter interview with the Orient. “Obvi- Zoom,” Sydel said. “It’s been fun Pike ’22 said in a Zoom interview As Wilkins prepares to release
“I took a pickaxe to a few tap break to cast the play and discuss ously, everyone stepped up, and for me to really work with the with the Orient. “It has been really this culminating project, he is not
roots—mainly identity, commu- rehearsal plans for the upcoming where we are now is amazing, but I actors so they understand their cool to be the first people to attack only excited to share his work with
nity and safety,” Wilkins said in a semester. think it’s always hard to get excited characters best, because at the end the script.” the Bowdoin community, but for
Zoom interview with the Orient. “I’ve been really grateful for about something and then have it of the day, that’s something that we “It’s a really interesting piece the chance to share his success
“On a construction level, it’s a work how much [Wilkins] has trusted change.” can do regardless.” of theater,” added Matthews. “Ev- with his collaborators.
of hyper-compression, [both] spa- me with his words,” Sydel said in Despite the uncertainty about While actors such as Lyle Alt- ery time I watch a different scene “Before, I did a lot of writ-
tially and within each character. I a Zoom interview with the Orient. the final format of “WALDO,” schul ’23 miss rehearsing in per- from it, I feel like I get something ing stuff and I did a lot of music
crammed every shade of disease “I’ve been able to ask him lots of Wilkins’ cast remained enthusias- son, they believe that the schedul- different in terms of how I under- stuff, but it was all very singular,”
prevention into one coastal town questions about what his inten- tic and optimistic throughout the ing and format of Zoom rehearsals stand the piece. I’ll connect it back Wilkins said. “It’s very exciting
in New Jersey, and there are a lot tions were, which has been really production process. have allowed for much-needed to something that is more than to be a part of a group effort
of ideas being put into just a few cool for me.” “I just trusted [Wilkins’] vision flexibility during a turbulent relevant right now, with the po- that came from something that I
people.” From the commencement of with it,” Chanel Matthews ’21, an spring semester. litical climate, social climate and made. I have not had that experi-
From the play’s inception, rehearsals, Wilkins, Sydel and As- actor in the play, said in a Zoom “It’s been a weirdly good pro- everything in between.” ence before.”
Wilkins knew that he wanted Lou sistant Director Alice Hawkins ’22 interview with the Orient. “I was cess—it’s gone very smoothly,” After the cast finishes recording

Rhea Banker shares value of Greenlandic quamutit


by Lucas Dufalla plorers for generations. the communities that dot Green-
Orient Staff “With both historic and cur- land’s coastline. Because of the vast
rent sleds, you see the same beau- distance between towns, the sleds
For photographer Rhea Banker, tiful weaving of the sinews on the act as the primary means of trans-
qamutits, or Greenlandic ice sleds, sled that hold all the pieces togeth- portation between communities.
are more than just a vehicle for er,” Baker said during her lecture. In her photography, Banker
traversing an unforgiving arctic “If you put the sleds together with tried to capture this sense of com-
landscape—they are objects that nails, the sled will be too stiff to munity and separation.
tell unique cultural stories. In her handle the bumps along the way.” “I do black and white, usually
virtual lecture, “Qamutit: Portraits While discussing the topogra- to stress the feeling of isolation,”
in the Landscape,” hosted by the phy of Greenland and the sleds, she said. “The isolation of the sleds
Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum Banker emphasized that the qamu- and the isolation of where you are
on Wednesday night, Banker spoke tit act as not only a means of trans- share the same feeling.”
about her work in the Arctic, where portation, but also as a vessel for During her lecture, Banker de-
she photographed Greenland and creating cultural meaning because tailed the relationship between the
the ice sleds that dot its terrain. of their ability to facilitate travel beauty of the sleds themselves and
Banker, a Massachusetts-based between distant Greenlandic com- the terrain on which they travel. LUCAS DUFALLA
photographer and book designer munities. The crafting and design Banker believes that the qamutit A SPIRITUAL GIFT: Rhea Banker shared the significance of her research in Greenland and of quamutit sleds.
whose work focuses on the land- of the sleds requires intense care, are extensions of the Greenlandic
scapes of the world, began her and they are a distinct piece of the terrain and focuses on the more region. With rising sea levels and graphs will highlight this sense of Banker believes that her work
lecture by discussing the history native culture of Greenland itself. narrative aspects of the landscape increasing global temperatures, cultural decay. wouldn’t have been nearly as im-
of qamutits in Greenland and the Annually, members of indig- in her photography to highlight it is more difficult for qamutits to “The way of life is at risk. The pactful as she has intended. At every
broader Arctic area. Dog and ice enous and non-indigenous com- the ways in which the two are in- traverse the ice, and consequently, environment is at risk. I’m trying turn, Banker prioritized interacting
sleds have been used across the munities across Greenland come tertwined. Greenlandic communities have to show the shared elements of with the communities that she was
Arctic for 4,000 years but only ap- together to race dog sleds on the “The curves of the rudders are even larger feelings of isolation. decay,” said Banker. photographing and having her work
peared in Greenland around 1,000 ice as a means of honoring their in harmony with the curves of the Additionally, since the local fjords Banker concluded with a dis- displayed in local museums, fish fac-
years ago. Because of the compat- heritage. The practice is an import- stone,” Banker said. “You can’t re- have not stayed frozen for long cussion of how integral commu- tories and libraries.
ibility between their structure and ant historical and cultural event to ally separate the subject from the enough this past year, Greenland- nity involvement was to her work, “My soul has been deepened,”
the Greenlandic terrain, qamutits the people of Greenland. However, environment.” ers have been unable to practice emphasizing the human element of Banker said. “The journey… was
have remained the primary meth- these sleds also act as a way of rep- Baker also discussed the im- for their annual sled races. Banker her collection. Without the support the beginning of a spiritual gift for
od of transportation for arctic ex- resenting the relative isolation of pacts of climate change on the hopes that some of her photo- of communities she photographed, me.”

TALK TO US.
Ranging from lighthearted moments to serious reflections
about life at and beyond Bowdoin, Talks of the Quad feature
the Bowdoin community’s best short-form writing. They are
published every other week and can be written by any member
of the Bowdoin community. Generally 700-1,000 words.
EMAIL ORIENT@BOWDOIN.EDU
7 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Katie Semro ’03 curates and releases audio art project


long-term focus for her work.
by Clara Jergins “It was interesting, because
Orient Staff
I obviously wasn’t feeling
Katie Semro ’03 has always good and I didn’t know why,”
enjoyed interdisciplinary Semro said “[The diagnosis]
work, and her creation of a se- gave a lot of answers, but it
ries of audio art projects is an also led me into alternative
extension of this passion.. Her medicine.”
most recent project, a podcast Inspired by her own desire
called “Mother Mine,” is a col- to better her health, Semro
lection of stories about moth- trained to be a functional
ers from all over the world, as health coach, and started
told by their children. a podcast called “This Pa-
Since her time at Bowdoin, leo Life” in 2019. This was
Semro has embraced the op- Semro’s first entrance into
portunity to apply skills from the audio art world, and she
multiple disciplines, frequent- found herself intrigued by the
ly combining a number of her offerings of the podcast medi-
passions into a single project. um. By March 2020, she was
“I think that sense of the convinced that she wanted to
liberal arts, where I did a lit- pursue audio arts in a full-
tle bit of everything, carries time capacity.
through to this where I’m do- “I really fell in love with
ing a little bit of everything,” audio,” Semro said. “I really
Semro said in a phone inter- liked health coaching, but the
view with the Orient. “I’m audio felt like it used all of my
doing a bit of marketing; I’m strengths and passions. I was
doing a bit of the actual au- trying to figure out how to
dio work; I’m doing the story make that transition.”
work—there’s all these differ- At the onset of the corona-
ent parts, and liked pulling all virus pandemic, Semro saw
those things together rather an opportunity to explore au-
than just doing one.” dio more deeply; she started a
COURTESY OF KATIE SEMRO
Semro’s refusal to confine podcast called “Transmission
herself to one discipline or Times,” and collected au- THE MOVE TO MAINE: In the summer of 2014, Katie Semro ’03 moved to South Berwick, Maine with her son, daughter and husband. There, she main-
vocation was evident in her dio diaries from around the tained a fermented vegetable business and later trained as a functional health coach.
career path following her world about the pandemic.
graduation from Bowdoin. The podcast ran nearly week- have a very different answer about the immediate reaction nents to the narrative. She especially during the uncer-
After completing a year-long ly from April 2020 to January to the question.” of the interviewer.” intends to use sound in a way tainty and turbulence of 2021.
master’s degree program in 2021, and allowed Semro to The production process for Semro then breaks down that emphasizes the words of “I believe in the power
England, Semro stayed in immerse herself in the audio “Mother Mine” first involves their submissions and com- her participants, rather than of stories to bring people
England and ran a wedding art world through profes- participants sending in their piles them together into a competing with them. together, to bridge divides,
stationery business for five sional associations and work- audio files, which are usually narrative arc. “I’m trying to use sound in and to make a real difference
years. The summer of 2014, shops. She began branding about eight to fifteen minutes “I plot the points that a way that’s evocative,” Sem- in how we view and interact
she moved back stateside her podcasts as “participatory long. Semro prefers that her I think are really salient,” ro said. “Sound that maybe with each other,” Semro said.
with her son, daughter and audio projects.” participants self-record, part- Semro said. “It might be just brings out more of the emo- “I think that when listeners
husband, to South Berwick, “I try to be really open-end- ly because it frees up more of a snippet; It might be just tional content, or that echoes of the podcast hear people
Maine. In addition to taking ed, because I’m always cu- her time, but also because she a section, or it might be a that or heightens it, or maybe talking about their mothers
care of her children, Semro rious to see how people in- believes it increases the au- longer story or I might have I’ll use a heartbeat if some- they will be able to relate to
also ran a fermented vegeta- terpret the question,” Semro thenticity of their words. like a bunch of little sections thing’s kind of intense.” those experiences—even if
ble business. said. “It’s neat to see how peo- “I think [they can be] a little that kind of go together and Semro hopes that “Mother they didn’t have the exact
In 2017, after she was diag- ple who seem really different bit more candid,” Semro said. just give an impression of this Mine”—as well as her other same experiences themselves,
nosed with Hashimoto’s Dis- might have a very similar an- “They’re talking to themselves, person and their mother.” audio passion projects—will and they will feel connected
ease, an autoimmune disease swer to a question, and people so they can just be themselves, Later in the process, Sem- inspire her listeners to exer- to people who may otherwise
of the thyroid, she found a who seem really similar might and they don’t have to worry ro adds other audio compo- cise compassion and empathy, be very different to them.”

Skyrim’s blueprint for popular single-player games


The only other single-play- Steam concurrent players. Of first feeling—a feeling Sky-
by Diego Turturro er game to claim this sort of course, it only counts PC play- rim is able to maintain for
Columnist longevity is Grand Theft Auto ers, but those players make your entire first playthrough
To have been remastered V. It’s a game with a sprawl- up the majority of the con- (over thirty hours). The game
is a point of pride for video ing open world, a complete sole-gaming population. More keeps things simple: you have
games. The game gets updat- 30-hour main story and lim- people are playing Skyrim an item, three bars on your
ed graphics, more press and, itless possibilities—but that’s right now than Cyberpunk screen and a world to explore.
most of all, a port to newer not the reason it has been 2077, a recent single-player When looking back on the
consoles. This shift to new- so successful. Rockstar (its release, and The Witcher 3, a successful single-player titles,
er consoles reinvigorates the producing company) imple- 2015 well-renowned game in simplicity is key. You want to
player base and introduces mented a multiplayer mode. the same genre as Skyrim. be able to go back to a game
newcomers to the series while Now, all of that single-player So, why Skyrim? Over the after a year and be immersed
enticing veterans with a sec- fun can be explored with a past decade, there have been right back into it. Maybe the
ond playthrough. By mixing friend. There are new quests numerous single-player ex- controls take a little time to
these types of players, the and heists, which take days of periences, ranging from the remember, but the under-
game achieves longevity. planning and hours of game- big-budget Triple-A titles to standing of your character is
In recent years, this type play to complete. This change shorter indie games. None there. Skyrim and the Dark
of renewal—a remastered has made Grand Theft Auto V of them has come close to Souls series do this beautiful-
edition or a re-release on an- virtually immortal. Originally achieving Skyrim’s longev- ly, with a simple set of con-
other console—has become released in 2013 for the Xbox ity. In a sentence, Skyrim trols and a straightforward
progressively skewed towards 360 and PlayStation 3, the is just able to capture this inventory management sys-
multiplayer games. However, game transitioned smoothly magic. The feeling of escap- tem. The Witcher 3, arguably
there is one game that defies to the Xbox One and PlaySta- ing a dragon within the first the most critically-acclaimed
this categorization: The Elder tion 4. In the following years, hour and being unleashed single-player game ever, has
Scrolls V: Skyrim. Released in it became such a phenomenon KAYLA SNYDER upon this continent is tough nine separate menus within
2011, Skyrim is a single-player that Sony used the remastered ample of a multiplayer rush rare. While most Triple-A to replicate. There are also the inventory. The bounty of
game. It has undergone mul- version during its PlayStation that’s hard to top. But this single-player titles will have more technical reasons, such items and abilities is enter-
tiple re-releases and updates 5 launch event. will get boring against bots, the dedicated few gamers who as the simple-but-clear user taining on a first playthrough,
for current consoles, and the Games normally achieve no matter how much pro- pour hundreds of hours into interface and the abundance but it bogs down return play-
player base is still strong al- this kind of immortality be- gramming goes into the game. its open-world, those games of full side questlines, as well ers if they want to pick it up
most 10 years after its initial cause of multiplayer options. Multiplayer has the allure of will generally see their player as the modding communi- after playing other games. To
release. To this day, Skyrim is The randomness of solo queu- unpredictability—a virtue numbers dwindle within the ty, where players create free, be remastered, you have to be
well-recognized in pop cul- ing in Counter-Strike: Global that players obsess over. first year. I’m writing this on a downloadable packs to add accessible. Skyrim is the bar
ture and continues to appear Offensive, released in 2012 This phenomenon makes weekday afternoon, and Sky- weapons, clothing and quests. against which any game’s lon-
in memes and all over You- and one of the most played the emergence of a long-last- rim is, at this exact moment, But all of these attributes still gevity will be measured—and
Tube. Steam games today, is an ex- ing single-player game very the 40th most played game by pale in comparison to that boy, is it a high one.
S SPORTS
8 Tuesday, April 6, 2021

HIGHLIGHT
REEL
Adrienne Shibles named Head Coach of USA
THE YEAR OF
RETIREMENT
A flurry of retirements
have been announced in
Basketball Women’s U16 National Team
the past month, with three
long-term members of the by Jade Cromwell Shibles expects to confront to them is really important as I Shibles’ coaching philosophy they are young teenage girls,” said
department announcing Orient Staff new obstacles coaching the na- think that builds confidence in has helped the team successfully Shibles. “There’s a lot of pressure
that they plan to step down tional team, but she remains the student athletes.” compete with and win against on them, and I want to develop
from their roles at the end On March 17, USA Basket- optimistic. In addition to her experience most Division III schools across them not only as players but again
of this academic year. ball announced that Adrienne “I’ll be dealing with a diverse at the national-level, Shibles the country, regardless of their as leaders and to be resilient and
Head Coach of Men’s and Shibles, head coach of Bowdoin group of student athletes, and coached at Babson College for a size. bring all those qualities to the
Women’s Cross Country women’s basketball, will serve so really bringing that mindset year, at Colby for two years and at Shibles emphasized the im- floor that are going to also help
and Men’s Track and Field as the 2021 head coach of the to the table and being present to Swarthmore for nine, all of which portance of working with players them in life.”
Peter Slovenski announced U16 National Team. Shibles will support them is going to be really honed her coaching abilities and who share the team’s values as Shibles also sees the opportu-
on March 23 that he will
step down after coaching be responsible for developing important,” Shibles said. “There shaped her coaching philosophy. one of the keys to success. nity to coach the U16 national
for 102 consecutive the team throughout the year will be pressure, and so manag- As the current head coach for “There’s definitely an element team as a chance for professional
seasons. He has been at and will take a month off from ing the pressure as a staff but also women’s basketball at Bowdoin, of hard work, both from the play- growth. And, with the help from
Bowdoin since 1987 and Bowdoin women’s basketball to for the student athletes is going to Shibles has focused her efforts ers and recruiting, with myself Assistant Coach Megan Phelps,
coached 122 All-Americans lead the national team in a tour- be really important.” on developing her players on and and my assistant coach,” Shibles Bowdoin women’s basketball
during that tenure. Lynn nament run by the Federal Inter- Shibles spent time as a court off the court as both athletes and said. “Most importantly, we look will remain under great leader-
Ruddy, the current assistant national Basketball Association coach for the USA Women’s U16 young women. “My coaching for the right people who share ship during Shibles’ month away
coach for track and field (FIBA). National Team in 2019, which philosophy is really centered our team values, and we are really with the national team.
and swimming and diving “We start competition June 20 gave her a base understanding around the notion that coaches intentional about that.” “Even though it will be chal-
and former
ormer coach for in Santiago, Chile,” Shibles said in of what to expect going forward are educators and that basketball Shibles also hopes to build lenging to have me gone for one
women’s volleyball and a Zoom interview with the Ori- with this new team. is a tool to teach women lessons strong relationships with the month, and that will all fall on
softball, announced on ent. “It’s about a ten-day to two- “I learned that even though about themselves and how to rise young women on the national [Phelps], I do think that in the
March 25 that she will
week competition, which I’m these are the top players in the as leaders,” said Shibles. “Every team like she has with her team long run it’s really going to pay
also be stepping down.
She is the longest tenured really looking forward to. There country for their age, they are day I’m showing up looking to at Bowdoin. off,” Shibles said. “I will learn
member of the Bowdoin are still some question marks young women who come from a develop the players as far more “I think it will be even more and grow from this process, and
Athletics Department and with regards to COVID[-19] and wide range of backgrounds,” said than just basketball players.” important that we as the staff work I know that [Phelps] and I can
is the associate director how it’s all going to happen, but Shibles. “Keeping things really Bringing Bowdoin to two Di- to make those connections to sup- balance this load together while
of athletics. Finally, USA Basketball is confident that simple and not skipping ahead vision III national championship port them because as much as I’m gone, and I’m just again so
Head Coach of Men’s it will happen.” to teach more intricate concepts games in the past three years, they’re the top talent in the nation, blessed to have her here.”
Basketball Tim Gilbride

Athletes pleasantly surprised with spring competition


made his announcement
to step down on March
30. Gilbride is the most
successful men’s basketball
coach in school history and
has coached for 35 seasons.
He has a record 494 wins. guidelines that are in place by represent the college,” Ryan said. MacKenzie is not the only pressure situation,” Gunther
by Katie King NESCAC, and in addition to that Ana Gunther ’23, a member one unable to compete this sea- said. “I think it’s going to be re-
Orient Staff
BOWDOIN SHAPES we’ll be doing antigen testing of the track and field team, was son. Due to many athletes haven ally fun and joyful, and with the
WOMEN’S RUGBY Catching many athletes off on the day of competition. All surprised to hear that she would chosen to live outside Bowdoin’s cheering and the energy, I think
Bowdoin was recently guard, yet pleasantly surprised, positive antigen tests will result have the opportunity to race this testing bubble and off-campus is going to be really nice.”
featured as one of 15 President Clayton Rose an- in the cancellation or postpone- season. first-years being unable to par- Despite the excitement, Cox
colleges that shaped nounced in a campus-wide email ment of a contest,” Ashmead “I was honestly shocked. I ticipate, many teams are unable knows that the opportunity to
women’s rugby by the on March 9 that the NESCAC White Director of Athletics Tim wasn’t even sure we’d be having to field a full roster. compete will be determined
U.S. Women’s Rugby has decided to conduct limited Ryan said in a Zoom interview practices this semester, much Yet, there is still optimism for based on COVID-19 cases and
Foundation (USWRF). competition for spring sports. with the Orient. less racing,” Gunther said in a next year. the risks of interaction.
The USWRF placed While many athletes and ath- Along with the antigen tests, Zoom interview with the Ori- “I’m excited to be back next “I think if we focus on what
Bowdoin as the eighth letics staff members are excited athletes will also be required to ent. year and to be practicing and we can control and ‘this is what
most impactful college,
for this opportunity, they know wear masks during competi- Cameron MacKenzie ’22, a competing as most people prob- we have to do,’ then that will
along with rugby
powerhouses such as that competition is not guaran- tions. member of the track and field ably would be,” said MacKenzie. help us in the long run,” said
Harvard, Stanford and teed and is dependent on the rate “Masks will be worn in all of and cross-country teams, will Katelyn Cox ’21, a member Cox.
UCLA. of COVID-19 cases on Bowdo- our competitions,” Ryan said. not be allowed not to compete of the softball team is planning Regardless of what this
in’s campus and at other colleges. “The lone exception is swim- this season because she is not in on enjoying every competition spring’s outcome is, Ryan and
TRACKED DOWN In his announcement, Rose ming when our athletes are in residence. However, she is ex- during her final season. the other members of the athlet-
The Bowdoin Athletics outlined a number of precau- the water.” cited for her teammates to race “My mindset is to take every ic department are already look-
Department announced on tionary measures that the athlet- Despite these differences in and is looking forward to the fall game like it’s going to be my last, ing ahead to the fall season.
April 1 that Head Coach ic community will take, includ- structure, Ryan is excited for season when she can participate because you never know what’s “We’re optimistic that there
of Women’s Track and ing a new NESCAC regulation Bowdoin athletes to compete too. going to happen the next week will be a full athletic schedule in
Field and Assistant Coach this year requiring antigen tests this season. “I’m definitely excited that in terms of [COVID-19] cases,” the fall. There are a lot of factors
for Men’s Track and Field for all athletes on the day of “The experience won’t be my on-campus teammates have Cox said. that will come into play before
Lara-Jane (LJ) Que will be competition. what it is like during a tradi- the chance to compete, and I’m Athletes have also voiced an we know if that will be a reali-
promoted to head coach
of both men’s and women’s “We’re really fortunate at tional year on campus, but I’m excited to be able to support appreciation for the more laid- ty, but we’re planning for that
track and field beginning in Bowdoin that our testing pro- glad that our students will have them virtually or from afar,” back atmosphere of competition and hope to be welcoming our
Fall 2021. She will replace gram that’s in place for our the chance to play with their MacKenzie said in a Zoom in- this season. students back to campus in late
current head coach of students exceeds a lot of the teammates in various forms and terview with the Orient. “I don’t expect it to be a high August,” said Ryan.

BSAAC and SAAC launch #NESCACares


men’s track and field Peter
Slovenski, who is retiring at
the end
nd of the academ
academic
year. Que has been at
Bowdoin since 2017 and
prior to that served as an pecially important role with their SAAC meeting in February and [terms of] how we go about pro- teammates and friends,” Wolfson
assistant coach at Smith by Marisa Shorrock programming this year. took off from there, with all of the viding programming that does said.
College. Que has made Orient Staff “We spent a lot of time brain- schools in the NESCAC partici- a great job of starting these con- Because of limits on in-person
a significant impact on
Through the #NESCACares storming ideas, themes, a kind pating this past week. versations without over-engaging programming, most of the events
Bowdoin athletics through
her work behind the scenes Mental Health Awareness Week of collective campaign … and In the past, the program has it. .” were held through the BSAAC’s
on improving diversity, campaign, the Bowdoin Student we slowly put those into motion. focused more on educating stu- Wolfson explained that the social media accounts, and each
equity and inclusion in Athlete Advisory Committee It’s been a month and a half of dent athletes about the symptoms BSAAC worked with Counseling day had a specific theme. Monday
athletics since her hire (BSAAC) and the NESCAC Stu- work,” Owen Wolfson ’22, a lead- of mental health conditions, but Services to develop resources for was about inspirations, Tuesday
in 2017. Que plans on dent Athlete Advisory Committee er of the BSAAC and a member Wolfson highlighted the prob- the program, which program be- was about de-stressing, Wednes-
restructuring the track and (SAAC) are changing the narra- of the men’s soccer team, said in a lems with conducting the pro- gan on Monday, March 29 and day was about self-positive affir-
field program by merging tive on mental health in athletics. Zoom interview with the Orient. gramming in that manner. will run through this coming mations and Thursday and Friday
the men’s and women’s The Mental Health Awareness “I believe we did a mini-week last “At the end of the day, we are Saturday, April 3. The BSAAC is were dedicated to starting conver-
teams to create one, larger Week campaign has happened year, but … it was right up against college kids, and while a lot of us making an effort to ensure that sations within teams.
track and field team, similar in previous years, but with the spring break and COVID[-19]. I have experience with this topic, the materials they provide are en- “We are using social media a
to the sailing and swim and pandemic and a shortened se- don’t think it was as robust as it is we don’t have professional expe- gaging and helpful. lot because virtual forms are nec-
dive teams. mester presenting unique mental this year.” rience,” said Wolfson. “We don’t “We are providing resources essary, but then we’re also trying
health challenges, the SAAC and The idea to run the program have credentials … so we found and mechanisms to spark the to have multiple ways [of reaching
COMPILED BY SEAMUS FREY BSAAC are hoping to play an es- again this year originated at an the line to be very delicate in conversation on teams and within people],” Wolfson said.
O Letter
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 9

OPINION
from the Editors:
Reflecting on our name As a Korean American woman,
To Bowdoin students, alumni, faculty and staff; Orient staff members past and pres-
ent and members of the Brunswick community:
When we joined the Orient nearly four years ago, we, along with many other then-
first-year staff members, had questions about the name of the paper. When we asked
what happened in Atlanta hurts bility is often belittled into something parodied in South Park and hurled in
upperclassmen, we heard that the name came from the Latin word “oriens,” for sunrise, by Kyubin Kim negligible by virtue of our race and middle school hallways at Asian fe-
Op Ed Contributer
and that the paper was given this name because the College is one of the easternmost gender. We’re a racial minority, and male classmates. Maybe you’ve even
institutions in the United States (although the University of Maine in Orono and Colby On Tuesday evening on March we’re the subjects of the patriarchy. said it or had it said to you. “Me love
College had already been established at the inception of the Orient). We were also told 16, eight people were shot in three We are part of the demographic tar- you long time” has been defiled and
that the name was connected to the sun on the College’s seal, as the term “orient” was massage parlors in the “red-light geted by “Kung Flu,” and we, too, are mimicked so many times that it has
more widely used to describe the rising sun; daybreak, dawn—a definition now labeled districts” of Atlanta, Georgia. Six part of the demographic targeted by lost its seductive meaning when spo-
“obsolete” by the Oxford English Dictionary. of those murdered were Asian—all “me love you long time.” This is not to ken by the Asian female sex worker.
Since the paper’s establishment in 1871, the connotations surrounding the term “ori- of whom were women—and two frame the narrative of Asian women Because we know there is no seduc-
ent” have changed drastically. According to the Washington Post, the term “oriental” were white. Four of the women were as one primarily associated with vic- tion in this power dynamic; Asian
was used to describe people of Asian descent by mainstream media up until the 1960s confirmed to be of Korean descent. timhood but to recognize that there’s women are the sexual conquests of
and ’70s. But since the start of the 21st century, both state and federal governments have The suspect in custody, Robert Aar- a multiplicity of structures that force the American patriarchy. Its com-
begun outlawing the use of the term to refer to individuals in official documents, recog- on Long, is white, and he’s 21 years us to occupy a position of smallness. bined racist and sexual fantasies pen-
nizing its association with America’s extensive history of anti-Asian racism, including old—the same age as I am. But Rob- There’s a whole sleuth of Asian male etrate our bodies. They prey on our
imperialism, the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese internment camps and racial quotas. ert Aaron Long is a white, churchgo- keyboard war- exotic non-whiteness, our vulnera-
As members of the Orient’s staff, we had access to the story of how the paper got its ing man who shoots six Asian women riors dedi- bilities, our policed-until-it’s-self-po-
name. But, as the experiences of other Bowdoin students clearly demonstrate, many dead, and I am a Korean American cated liced silence. We are both the danger
never have the opportunity to have such conversations. With the problematic and oth- woman writing this essay in Cali- to of the Yellow Peril and the foreign al-
ering connotations the term has accrued, some may spend all four years on Bowdoin’s fornia, trembling and feeling as lure of Yellow Fever. “Love” does not
campus encountering the name “the Orient” multiple times every day, wondering what if a bullet is tearing my heart exist in “me love you long time”; only
justification could exist for the college newspaper at a predominantly-white institution to shreds. the thrill of dominance by men like
with a wealthy, male history to be named “the Orient.” When news of the Atlanta Robert Aaron Long.
It is not the responsibility of students outside our organization to seek out these jus- shooting first broke, people, It’s not time, it’s been long over-
tifications. And even if they did, the term carries too much weight for many to ever specifically Asian Amer- due, to start an ongoing conver-
comfortably identify with it. Students have a right to exist on their own campus without icans, began connecting sation on anti-Asian racism and
the additional emotional labor imposed by the fact that their school newspaper’s name the dots, even when initial sexism in the Bowdoin commu-
could be said to normalize the language of anti-Asian discrimination. reports were reluctant to nity. I’ve been so used to silencing
As a staff, we have begun having internal conversations about the history of the condemn the shootings as and minimizing myself as an Asian
name, the weight a name carries and our role in working toward racial equity within “racially-motivated.” Why? woman at Bowdoin that it almost
our own organization and on campus. We have continued conversations started by staff Because this hit too close to feels unnatural to have an audience
members well before us about how the connotations surrounding the term “orient” home. The shooter targeted for thoughts I’ve been grappling
have changed since 1871. On the near eve of our 150th anniversary, we are talking three Asian-owned spas, one with for a long time—ever since my
about what the next 150 years may look like and how our institution will reflect the of which included “Asian” in first-year move-in day. So listen and
values of our staff and the broader Bowdoin community. its name. Thirty-eight hundred check in with your AAPI friends, and
IZ
More often than not, we are proud of the newspaper’s commitment to serving as an anti-Asian racist incidents have RT be open about mistakes made in the
NAO
open forum for thought and discussion on issues of interest to the community, as well been reported this year (reported; SHO past, “jokes” that shouldn’t have been
as its history of reflecting diverse opinions of students, alumni, faculty and staff. We meaning this number is not inclu- laughed off and comments you’ve
hope to continue to serve these roles as we engage in this conversation. We understand sive of incidents that have not been calling us race made toward Asian women during
the nostalgia that many members of our community feel as they read the Orient from documented). We’ve witnessed the traitors if we date non-Asian men. parties. Anti-Asian attitudes have
wherever they are in the world, and we hope that conversations about our name both aftermath of U.S. President Trump’s I’ve been told that we should feel been normalized, so the first step is to
honor these connections and signal towards a future that reflects the current values of mockery of the coronavirus as “Kung lucky to be fetishized and to be cat- learn to notice them.
the community, namely a commitment to racial equity and inclusion. Flu,” fueling existing Sinophobia in called, even when it’s not just because But most of all, I wrote this to hon-
So, as we continue these conversations internally and with you, and as we move the United States. We’ve seen and re- we’re sexy women but because the or the victims of the Atlanta shootings
forward with the next steps of this process, we invite you to do the same. Talk amongst peatedly condemned white suprema- man on the street wants to pay for a on March 16. Learn why they came
your community, educate yourself on the history of the term and share your thoughts cists’ refusal to differentiate biolog- “Chinese girlfriend.” I often silenced to America and know why they died
through an Op-Ed or a letter to the editor. ical viruses from personhood. We myself because I was conditioned to at the hands of a white terrorist. Put
We sincerely hope we can all learn together in the coming months. continue the same conversations over doubt and feel shameful of my own the most vulnerable Asian women—
Best, and over again about how grouping truths. So let’s unpack that. Because Asian undocumented workers, min-
Kate Lusignan and Nina McKay Asians as a monolith is reductive, God forbid we can’t handle racism imum-wage laborers, non-English
Volume 150 Editors in Chief classist and East Asia-centric. But and sexism at once. speaking immigrants and refugees—
what was missing from the analysis The phrase “Me love you long time” at the center of your anti-Asian rac-
was the public media attention grant- originated from Stanley Kubrick’s ism awareness and reeducation. I’m
ed to the treatment of the most invis- 1987 film “Full Metal Jacket,” where a sending prayers out to Atlanta and the
ible yet hypervisible demographic of Vietnamese prostitute solicits Amer- grieving families, love and support to
ESTABLISHED 1871 Asian women. Sixty-eight percent of ican GI-s with promises that she will the tireless organizers and gratitude to
the past year’s racial incidents were serve her john beyond a “short time” BIPOC communities who have been
bowdoinorient.com orient@bowdoin.edu 6200 College Station Brunswick, ME 04011 reported by Asian women, and 29 one night stand. It perpetuates the supporting us since day one. Like
The Bowdoin Orient is a student-run weekly publication dedicated to providing news and information percent by Asian men. As an Asian fantasy of a submissive Asian woman many of you, I’m still angry, I still cry
relevant to the Bowdoin community. Editorially independent of the College and its administrators, woman, I felt angry and powerless and the history of American impe- at night when I crawl into my thoughts
the Orient pursues such content freely and thoroughly, following professional journalistic standards in and embittered. rialism with soldiers bringing Asian too much, I still think I’m insignifi-
writing and reporting. The Orient is committed to serving as an open forum for thoughtful and diverse Asian women are hypervisible by wives home from war. cant at times. But, I’m also becoming
discussion and debate on issues of interest to the College community. virtue of our race and our gender; But, like racism, sexism spreads more clear-headed and open-minded,
Kate Lusignan Nina McKay we are fetishized and objectified and contagiously until it is normalized and I’m learning from my mistakes to
Editor in Chief Editor in Chief even desired. We’re a lucrative Porn- into a funny pick-up line. “Me love find ways to move this forward. This
hub category for straight men and you long time” has now become a rite op-ed is flawed and incomplete, but it
Managing Editor can become wives of powerful white of passage for white men when they exists and it’s my start.
Digital Director Sabrina Lin News Editor men (check out the alt-right’s Asian travel to Asian countries for sex tour- Kyubin Kim is a member of the
Steven Xu Dylan Sloan Halina Bennet fetish). But at the same time, our visi- ism; it is now repeated in rap lyrics, Class of 2022.
Emily Staten
Ayub Tahlil Rebecca Norden Bright
Photo Editor
Mindy Leder Features Editor
Mackey O’Keefe Associate Editor
Sophie Burchell Tianyi Xu LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Layout Editor Julia Jennings

Thank you guerrilla stone artist


Miki Rierson A&E Editor
Jane Godiner
Head Copy Editor
Social Media Editor Lily Anna Fullam Sports Editor
Aadhya Ramineni Seamus Frey
Sophia Wei To the Editor:
Copy Editor
Opinion
Head Illustrator Sofie Brown Lily Randall
To the guerrilla artist who leaves painted stones on campus: THANK YOU! I find myself walking
Kayla Snyder Katie King across campus looking for new stones and surprising myself by how much I enjoy discovering a new
Jacob Rose piece of pebble art. And pieces of art they truly are; they are beautiful. So, thank you for these under-
Business Manager ground acts of kindness and for greeting me with playful beauty on my daily walk to work!
Kathryn McGinnis
Sincerely,
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 Thomas Baumgarte, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Physics.
expressed in the Orient do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.
10 OPINION Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Counseling isn’t enough, turn to institutional change


by Safiya Osei ing to produce work I felt would be Over this past year, I’ve been I am still waiting for my official be deducted of a grade and into a convoluted and indigestible? K-12
Columnist acceptable. Unless an assignment reading more about the onset of diagnosis, I’ve been prescribed lucrative job on Wall Street where schools in Maine have already be-
interested me or was a group as- mental illnesses, disabilities and medicine to address symptoms of you can snort your days away. gun to shift to a proficiency-based
When I was younger, I would signment, it would fade to the back poor coping mechanisms once ADHD. But as I mentioned before, The “breaks” we’ve had during the learning model where the focus is
slightly bend the pages of the book of my mind. Although being in students make it to college. The without a formal diagnosis, my hardest year of our lives have been more on “do you understand the
I was reading and tap them with a sports helped me with scheduling stress and competition at schools professors aren’t required to offer inadequate in healing us from the material” rather than “can you
pencil to stay focused. This habit my day, ultimately, if I didn’t want like Bowdoin forces students to me extensions (and even if I had a harms of hyperproductivity, and I regurgitate this information in an
of mine occurred often; I would to do something, it would get either stay caught up or get left formal diagnosis, most professors know that professors haven’t been academically elitist way.”
rush through my classwork so I pushed to the last minute. behind and suffer the consequenc- don’t respect students enough to faring well either. TW: Suicide
could get back to reading books I Then I came to Bowdoin. While es of academic probation or a remember to acknowledge their “Safiya, I know everyone on I don’t know how much more
was actually interested in. My love I felt prepared academically due to year-long mental health medical accommodations). In a school campus is miserable and burnt of this students will be able to
for reading led me to a love for the quality of my public school leave. While accommodations filled with students worried about out, but that’s just the way things take; a first-year student at Yale
libraries. I would walk down the in northern Virginia and the 4.0 are offered if you can prove you grades and getting into top grad- are!” Who says we have to con- recently took her life, and while
aisles as I tried to find the perfect GPA I had managed to achieve, I need them after rigorous testing uate programs and receiving the tinue the cycle of misery because we can never know the particu-
books to take home, devouring struggled in my chemistry class (ADHD screening in Brunswick highest praise, it can be extremely those who came before us went lars of her situation, going to an
ten at a time and then returning to and pulled many all nighters try- takes six hours), some of us don’t daunting to push for institution- through it? If we are to have a elite liberal arts institution takes a
check out even more. Reading was ing to turn in papers before my have access to them. For others, al changes that would not only better future, we must imagine heavy toll on the body and mind.
my favorite pastime, and the char- professors woke up. Something like me, who have been told their benefit neurodiverse students, but it and make it a reality ourselves. I myself was unsure if I would be
acters were easy to understand and wasn’t clicking, and it wasn’t until whole lives they are smart because would release a lot of neurotypi- Imagine a campus where there are able to graduate on time had I not
connect with. All of their thoughts the end of my first year, when I was they were able to get exemplary cal students from the bondage of more classes like my Intro to Afri- been able to take much-needed
and emotions were laid out on the packing up my room to go home marks in this neoliberal system of functional alcoholism and other cana class, where we were allowed time off when I studied abroad.
page, and though moving around and still had four papers to finish, ours, the thought that I may not be harmful coping mechanisms to curate our own grades, doing Factoring in the pandemic on top
a lot provided me with lots of op- that I realized something wasn’t neurotypical takes a lot longer to prevalent on college campuses like various assignments worth dif- of things that are going on back
portunities to make new friends, quite right. I knew I was smart; I process, and thus so does figuring ours. ferent points to get the grade we home and the uncertainty of our
books were a constant. was at Bowdoin for a reason, right? out my options. Late-stage capitalism—a term wanted, utilizing videos, songs, futures, it’s a miracle people show
In high school, I was still far- I knew I was capable and on track Black women are often left be- dating back to 30s and 40s Euro- discussion sections and posts, lec- up to class at all. It is time to re-
ing well academically—at least to become an amazing doctor; hind when it comes to healthcare. pean sociologist circles—asks you tures, papers and projects to create think higher education beyond
on paper. In reality, I would start the adults in my life never failed With the highest maternal mor- to take a “mental health moment” a well-rounded and fully accessi- adding more counselors and yoga
assignments late, remembering to mention it. But as I sat writing tality rates, it’s not surprising that before diving right back into a ble class for people of all learning sessions. The energy on campus
them at the last minute, and while research papers the first few weeks we also constitute the highest per- workload that prevents you from styles? Imagine if we did away has been extremely draining
I managed to turn them in on of summer, I started to internalize centage of people over the age of 16 organizing a strike, waking up with penalties for late work and lately, and now more than ever
time, the teachers didn’t know that the thought that maybe I wasn’t who are diagnosed with ADHD, without worrying about how a looked to readings that were easy we need to change the way we do
I was up late the night before try- that smart after all. according to a UK study. Although late assignment will cause you to to understand rather than overly higher education.

Dear readers: Let me make myself clear


by Lyle Altschul demic workload, etc.) creates an #3. To the deans and admin- Bowdoin’s mental health prob- standards. Now more than ever, be given at least a full week off
Op-Ed Contributor environment ripe for the onset istration at Bowdoin, I quote lems, but we’re bleeding out. Bowdoin’s “academic rigor” is during this semester, which ne-
of many mental health issues. Taylor Swift: “Band-aids don’t So, let me provide five real, forcing students to choose be- cessitates an April break.
I don’t think I made myself COVID-19 has merely exacer- fix bullet holes.” A weekly email attainable, systemic solutions tween their mental well-being Fifth, reading period must be
clear. bated this and brought it to the telling us to get more sleep and for the College. These are no and their academic success. That extended back up to four days.
Over a month ago, I wrote attention of many who were not two days without classes will longer suggestions—they are is not healthy and not okay. To study for the entirety of our
an op-ed regarding the Col- directly affected by it. This cra- never solve the systemic mental demands, because Bowdoin Third, on a similar note, final exams in two days is not
lege’s mental health crisis. I told zy, COVID-19-filled year has health problems at Bowdoin. students deserve better than the classes must return to credit/ feasible for most students and
you to check in with each other created an opportunity to final- To be frank, “mental health lacking mental health support no credit grading, at least until will cause more stress and men-
because, chances are, not every- ly reckon with the U.S. higher moments” and the troublingly we currently receive. the pandemic is over. Students tal health issues for many. It runs
one around you is okay. That’s education system’s failings in short two-day “spring break” First, the counseling center should never be forced to choose counter to a goal of improved
still true. But given the state of mental health support. And it’s are extremely tone-deaf to the needs more staff and resources. between staying mentally well mental health at Bowdoin.
the world, the College’s mental an opportunity we must take to nature of Bowdoin’s academics. Waiting weeks to see a counsel- and getting a good grade; credit/ I didn’t make myself clear
health response and the Op- sustain our mental wellbeing, It’s not feasible to put screens or is not healthy and, for some no credit removes that horrible before, so let me do it now: stu-
Eds written about this topic, I’m both during the pandemic and away an hour before sleep when students, is outright dangerous. dilemma. dents should never, EVER, have
beginning to realize my points when it ends. all of our work is done on them. Second, academic expecta- Fourth, students need at least to choose between their mental
may not have come across ex- #2. Checking in on those Many students didn’t get a break tions must be lowered for the another short break in April. well-being and academic suc-
actly as I intended. So, let’s clear around you should be a basic during the spring recess because duration of the pandemic. Fac- We normally receive two weeks cess. This choice is a systemic
up three major points. human kindness we all give each they were catching up on work ulty, staff and students alike are off during our 15-week spring problem that requires systemic
#1. The College’s mental other—it is not the solution to the entire two days off. Often, constantly fighting battles that semester and one week off (in solutions. Bowdoin students de-
health crisis existed before this crisis. The solution comes students don’t have time to work aren’t visible on the surface, total) during our 15-week fall serve better, and I’ll keep fight-
COVID-19. The nature of the from systemic changes to the on healing their soul exhaustion especially in a pandemic. Yet semester. This semester, in the ing until changes are made. Do I
American college education academic culture at Bowdoin (whatever that means) because all are expected to complete middle of a literal pandemic, we make myself clear?
system (e.g. living alone for the and colleges across the country. they are too busy doing school- the same workload as before have received a measly two days Lyle Altschul is a member of
first time, the increase in aca- And on that note… work. These are band-aids to the pandemic with the same without class. Students need to the Class of 2023.

“Social justice burnout”: the burden of the expectation


by Afia Oduro-Manu country, can see your post and to release innocent Black men a post about lynching statistics made BLM look like a trend and tions of Asian America,” I am
Columnist share it, like a butterfly effect,” I on death row, only to find out with a light pink background drowned out Black voices that truly learning about the plight
promised. that the man that I was looking won’t change anything.” were actually providing infor- of Asian people in this country
Last summer, Black Lives By the end of the summer, at on the petition website was Since the summer, this guilt mation. by reading novels, articles and
Matter (BLM) finally got the though, my posts were becom- now dead because the Trump has been almost eating me Posting should not be oblig- short stories. That is more effec-
attention of white America ing less and less frequent: my administration doesn’t really alive, especially with the rise atory, it should be done out tive, at least for me, than swip-
with the murder of 46-year-old fire had gone out. Why? It’s look at Whitehouse.org peti- of anti-Asian hate crimes that of genuine care and regard. ing through pastel pink posts
George Floyd at the hands of something I like to call “social tions anyway, making my sig- have been happening recently. Because, as aforementioned, about violence towards Asian
police brutality. Like many oth- justice burnout,” which de- nature meaningless. Seeing that I have seen posts that run along “forced” posting ends up over- people.
er Black people who felt directly scribes the often detrimental no matter how hard I work I the lines of, “If you like anime, shadowing already marginal- I don’t expect everyone to
connected to the issue, I took to emotions experienced when will never be able to beat a white K-pop and other East Asian me- ized voices. And sure, you can agree with the rationale behind
social media to post frequently becoming aware of the over- man: Black women with degrees dia, then you should be bringing show your concern about social my lack of posting. But what I
about BLM, as well as to express whelming plethora of seemingly from America’s pinnacle of to light these issues that affect justice issues through posting want to emphasize is that we
my pain in hoping for a bet- unsolvable social issues in to- higher education, Ivy Leagues, the Asian community.” I was on social media, but is that the should respect a person’s rea-
ter America. I texted my high day’s society. I soon found my- make less than white men with compelled to post. Almost. But only way to do so? At the end of sons for not frequently posting
school friend group chat, telling self becoming numb, and was degrees from state schools. as of late, I have been thinking: the day, is education, whether it on the internet. Western society
them how much it hurt me to tired of: With these emotions whirl- what should drive posting about be on social media or through has a problem with aestheticiz-
not see some of them post. With Seeing videos of Black people ing inside of me, I became pas- social justice issues? It shouldn’t literature, not the ultimate ing trauma and violence, which
a fire fervently burning in my dying. Seeing people aesthet- sive on social media; I was view- be because your friend is, or goal? Or is it only valid when is something, especially in
heart, I urged them to post on icize BLM and George Floyd. ing, not posting. I had become because you consume a type of it is broadcasted to the entire regards to social movements,
social media, talk about these For example, there is a popular what I hated most: a hypocrite. media. This is the same thinking world? I have not been post- that can affect people’s mental
issues with friends and family post that surrounds him in flow- Every day my mind would flip that inspired the #Blacksquare, ing on social media often, but and emotional health. So, I ask
members and donate if they had ers, which I know is an artistic a coin: heads for “hey, I should which ultimately did more harm through John F. and Dorothy everyone to be kind and, most
the money. “Each of you has a attempt to counter his tragic really repost, this is important,” than good. People thought, “Oh, H. Magee Associate Professor importantly, educate yourself in
platform,” I wrote. “You don’t death but is still sickly-sweet to and tails for “this is all futile, well I like rap, I guess I can re- of Asian Studies and English the way that works best for you,
know who, even outside of this me. Seeing and signing petitions America is systemically racist, post this Black square.” But this Belinda Kong’s class, “New Fic- offline or online.
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 OPINION 11

Rename the Orient


by Emily Ha invented any number of explana- Bowdoin that I walk past tables That’s normally how I tell Japanese of police agencies to acknowledge on the grounds that they were all
Op Ed Contributer tions for why our student newspa- and racks stacked with copies of people apart from everyone else.” and report when acts constitute a assumedly sex workers—a senti-
February 19, 2019; The Walker per was named after the “Orient.” a student newspaper whose very Both of these incidents occurred hate crime all contribute to artifi- ment that the 21-year-old Atlanta
Art Museum. A birthday party of Most often, I told myself that Ori- name is antithetical to the lessons within my first semester. cially low numbers. I have carried shooter echoed in his claim that
sorts, celebrating the Museum’s ent must refer to the verb—to the of inclusion and sensitivity that Off campus, COVID-19 anxi- the weight of this knowledge with “sex addiction” motivated his kill-
125th year. I was standing in a act of orienting oneself—and not this campus purports to teach. I eties have caused anti-Asian sen- me for months; I shouldered it ing spree, reenacting America’s
throng of people in the lobby, the place. I could internalize my have to ask: what right do we—a timent to skyrocket. On a grocery every time I left my apartment, long-held tradition of sexualiz-
half-listening to a speech about the pain for as long as I could believe majority white college situated in trip last April, my mother warned refusing to ever speak aloud that I ing Asian women and punishing
Museum’s opening. The speaker that Orient existed in terms de- this so-called “Western World”— me as we drove to the store: “we wondered, as I walked to the post them for daring to be the object
said, “I will now read a passage fined by magnetic north, a state of have to claim the word “Orient” as can’t spend too much time there office, as I shopped for groceries: of others’ sexual desires. History
from the March 7, 1894 issue of the how Asian do I look? Identifiably does not vanish; it only finds new
Orient,” and I, lost in a reverie of so? Enough to place a target on my faces to wear.
people-watching, flinched so hard back? Today marks 54,790 days since
that more than half a dozen people And then mere hours after Stop the publication of the first ever is-
around me turned and stared. AAPI Hate published their report, sue of the Orient, a number equal-
I’ve been a Bowdoin student for a white gunman massacred eight ing just three days more than 150
over three and a half years now, people in Atlanta, Georgia, includ- years. We’ve arrived at the Orient’s
and I’ve never experienced the ing six Asian women. 150th anniversary with too much
privilege of forgetting what “Ori- How do you describe that for changed within that timeframe
ent” means for people like me— which there are no words? How do to ignore, both in the span of the
that is, for Eastern bodies inhab- you stop existing in the space be- whole century-and-a-half and in
iting Western spaces, never mind tween breaths and compel yourself this last year, month, week. What
the fact that I was born in upstate to a point of after? After the trag- right does Bowdoin, a predomi-
New York. Even in the context edy? After the pain? I have been nantly white institution, have to
of this college and this campus, I trying to quantify events to con- continue using language that per-
hear the word “Orient” and pause. vince myself that there can be such petuates the Otherness of persons
I think not of newspapers, but of a thing as “after.” It’s been 21 days who are ostensibly American?
prejudice and exclusion, and for since the Atlanta shootings. Twen- Language evolves, and so, too,
the split-second it takes for my ty-one days since the Stop AAPI must we. “Orient” is not merely
brain to catch up with my body, I Hate report. Three-hundred and a word, but a concept. “Orient,”
am frozen. forty-seven days since my mother even the “Orient” that exists safely
Though it was first used to de- told me it wasn’t safe to be out too ensconced within the Bowdoin
scribe countries immediately east long, her voice hushed but matter- bubble, does not exist divorced
of the Roman Empire, and later, of-fact. Three-hundred and nine- from history. Rename the Orient.
the direction of the sunrise, “Ori- LILY ANNA FULLAM ty-two days since former President We would not be the first. The
ent” has long since been co-opted change that seemed to align with our own? Trump first publicly endorsed University of Nevada Las Vegas
by the United States as a synonym the College’s promise that I could This question has become espe- because it isn’t safe. People have usage of the term “China Virus” changed their student paper from
for Asia, especially East Asia, as a reorient myself towards a different cially fraught as I navigate my final been attacking Asians.” Indeed, by way of a Charlie Kirk retweet, “Rebel Yell,” a term associated with
way of emphasizing the apparent understanding of the world and semester here and reflect upon on March 16, 2021, the advocacy heralding an entire body of rheto- the Confederate Union, to “Scarlet
irreconcilability between East and my place within it. my experiences with race, both at group Stop AAPI Hate released ric metastatic with anti-Asian hate and Gray Free Press” in 2016. In
West, Asia and America. This at- And then the Occident was Bowdoin and beyond. The offens- a report stating that it received and blame-assignation, as well as 2018, the College of the Holy Cross
titude extends not only to the ge- released. For those unfamiliar, the es I’ve faced are minor in compar- 3795 reports of anti-Asian hate sentiment to match. Innumerable renamed their student paper from
ography, but to the people of these Occident is a final, annual joke ison to others, but they’ve still left incidents within the past twelve days since innumerable acts of ha- “The Crusader” to “The Spire,”
regions. Here, “Orient” and its issue of the Orient, meant to com- lasting impressions. I can vividly months—a 2,302 percent increase tred and violence. stating, “No matter how long ago
derivative “Oriental” are not mere- plement a year of serious report- recall members of my first-year from the FBI’s 2019 statistic of 158 This doesn’t even begin to the Crusades took place, this paper
ly words, but instruments that ing. Likewise, “the Occident,” first floor poking fun at the Asian Stu- anti-Asian hate incidents, if those touch on America’s centuries-long does not wish to be associated with
perpetuate a systematic Othering taken to mean a West that centered dent Alliance’s #Thisis2016 photo numbers can be trusted. “If,” I say, history of codified maltreatment the massacres… and conquest that
of the Asian body and self. This itself around the Roman Empire, series, a project designed to expose because they’re too small to be and prejudice against Asian bod- took place therein.” There is prece-
doesn’t even begin to touch upon then later, the direction of the microaggressions and misconcep- believed, even by the most hope- ies, from the self-explanatory dent to change.
the fact that there’s an entire body sunset, is now widely understood tions associated with being Asian ful parts of myself. “If,” because in Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to I am tired of carrying this with
of theory dedicated to the way the to mean “the Western World,” a in America. In one photo, some- 2017 the US Bureau of Justice Ser- the Japanese internment camps me. I am tired of flinching and feel-
West stereotypes and generalizes perfect opposite to “the Orient.” It’s one holds a sign saying, “I say Hel- vices released the data of their Na- during World War II, when over ing my mind stutter and go quiet
the Orient, aptly named “Orien- a joke that only makes sense if we lo not Herro.” For weeks, I heard tional Crime Victimization Survey, 120,000 people were imprisoned as I process this word that has trou-
talism.” take “Orient” to mean “the East,” “Herro, it’s me,” crooned to the which cites 250,000 as the average in terrible conditions for four bled me for so long. I have been
In my early days at Bowdoin, at which point the joke isn’t funny. tune of Adele’s “Hello,” followed total number of hate crime vic- years, with untold financial and exhausted by history and by recent
those weeks and months following There is a bitter irony to the fact by raucous laughter. Another time, timizations in a year, compared to emotional consequences. Or events. Let me lay this down.
my first day on campus—the day I that Bowdoin is where I learned a girl giggled and told me, “Wow, the FBI’s 2019 total of 8,812. How consider the 1875 Page Act, an Rename the Orient.
first laid my hands upon the 2017 to critique the racist dealings of I wouldn’t have guessed you’re many stories remain untold? Poor immigration act leveraged to ban Emily Ha is a member of the
Orientation issue of the Orient, I Western culture, yet it’s also at Chinese because you’re so pretty! records, no records and a failure the entry of East Asian women Class of 2021.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR QUESTION OF THE WEEK

The Orient’s football coverage SHOULD THE ORIENT CHANGE ITS


To the Editor, As athletes, we certainly can always
push harder and do better, but lack of
NAME?
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered effort and an absence of discipline is not
the college recruitment and selection pro- the issue at Bowdoin. Both coaches and
cess for the majority of graduating high players are putting in the extra work to
school seniors. We have relied on so many turn this around. Winning is about small

Answer at bowdoinorient.com/poll.
unconventional approaches to research adjustments, both physically and mental-
colleges and athletic programs. When be- ly. Can things change? I won’t speak for
coming involved in the Bowdoin football the entire recruitment class or team, but I
recruitment process, one way I attempted would not have even considered Bowdoin
to learn more about the program was to as an option if I didn’t believe things will
read articles from The Bowdoin Orient.
Recent team history is what it is, so I
change.
Change takes effort and support from Last issue’s response:
found the articles fair and informative but an entire community, so I hope The Bow-

Q: ARE YOU VACCINATED?


certainly not inspirational. doin Orient is on board and will focus on
However, I would like to share my spin the process, seeing the positive changes
on the program and why it will be turned along the way.
around: losing has created a weight on the

25% YES
minds of this team. The concept of having Sincerely,
a short-term memory when it comes to

75% NO
losses and bad plays sounds easy in the- Austin Hiscoe ’25
ory, but it can be challenging when the
pressure to win grows heavier.

Based on answers from 113 responses.


12 Tuesday, March 9, 2021

MARCH 9-16

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