Bowdoin Student Government

I'd like to expand on the Labs for Credit idea. As someone who has taken courses in just about everything, and a proponent of it, I have some input.

There should be some system in place to give certain labs credit. In the sciences a lab is like a fifth class, only for no credit. This means that if you're taking two classes with a lab (in the sciences) you're essentially taking the workload of about six classes, only you get credit in four. Over the course of a science major one may take 10 lab courses, being very conservative this is like taking 5 extra courses for no credit...but from my experience the labs are never half the work of the normal course. If labs were half a credit students could take two or three lab classes in order to satisfy the many requirements necessary in the sciences, and concentrate on doing well in them, and not feel the added pressure of extra classes. Lots of people end up having to take summer classes because of the workload, which inhibits their ability to find jobs/internships too.

My experience with the fine arts has been different. Film doesn't have labs, only viewings, which kind of go with the territory. You can also watch it on your own time. It's essentially just enjoyable homework. For other fine arts "labs" might be debatable and might need case by case attention. The one music lab I've taken for example was 15 minutes; obviously that wouldn't be counted. Math labs are tricky, the ones I've experienced have been pretty light. Computer science might also be debatable.

Perhaps the way to go is to have the professors set the standard. If they've determined on their syllabus that a lab is going to be worth 20%+ (or some other percentage) of your grade, plus/or the time spent in lab will equal or exceed the time spent in class, it should count for half a credit. Some system like that might be reasonable. Just because it's a sticky situation doesn't mean it should be avoided.

this way, we can hang out on the quad even when the ground is wet. plus, it would draw more people to the quad when the weather's nice, which would be wonderful.

please give us nickelodeon back!!!!

Could the Watson Fitness Center stay open later on Fridays and Saturdays? Right now it closes at 7 pm. I don't understand. I would think that on the weekends people actually have more time to exercise. (Even if they go out to party, it would be later anyway.)

Would it be possible to let Brunswick Taxi know in advance how many shuttle tickets have been sold so the driver brings the right size vehicle? It's frustrating to wait for the driver (who is already late) to go back and get a van because only two people used the service last weekend, but this weekend there are 15.

Hello honorary Bowdoin Student Governement officals,

It has come to my attention that the constituents of the college could greatly benefit if couches were placed in the laundries rooms in all of the dormitories.

I request this because it will allow students to do their laundry in a more convenient manner. Students are usually busy during laundry time, and in an absence of a system that allows them to wait until the moment their laundry is done and move it, students leave their laundry in machines for hours, making doing laundry tedious. Also, because of the amount of washers and dryers that exist in each of the dormitories, students will regularly take laundry, of other students, out of washers or dryers in an effort to get their own laundry done. This can cause great frustration among the students who have their laundry tampered with, as this laundry is often excessively crumpled.

Having couches in the laundry rooms will allow students to be more flexible with the movement of their laundry. These coaches will allow students to come to the room before their laundry is done, and do work or relax while they wait for their laundry to be done. This will allow laundry to be done more efficiently if students can wait and move their laundry when it is done.

I hope that the Bowdoin Student Government will seriously consider this suggestion. I believe that adding couches to the laundry rooms will considerably increase the efficiency of the laundry process at Bowdoin. Thank you for your time.

How come every time we get out on break everyone has to stress about finding some way to get to the airport? I know there's Student Digest and the ride board, but I don't think we should have to do that. It would be so much easier and more efficient for everyone if we could get shuttles to the airport, right?

Also about shuttles: could we run some to Cook's Corner, Target, Maine Mall, etc.? There are some necessities you just can't find in Freeport.

Thanks.

I really wish there could be summer storage space for us at Bowdoin. I've heard the closest place is at Frontier, and we have to pay for this ourselves. I don't have a car, and I'm already worrying about how to lug all my stuff down there. This is such a huge problem for international students in particular, and I think we really ought to do something about it.

Is there any way the Course Reviews all students write for their professors at the end of each course could be used for the student course reviews site? I think it would be so helpful to have an extensive, mandatory- and thereby whole representation of students perspectives, which will make the reviews much more powerful and important.

I also agree with Brian Fry that the Versus channel is needed in the cable package. Versus allows us diehard hockey fans to occasionally view games during the week that are unavailable anywhere else. There is the option of NHL Center Ice for computers, but the cost for the package is 160 dollars, and the computers of some may not support the video capabilities of the package. Versus would satisfy this request without the burden of paying the money and updating computer software. PLEASE ADD VERSUS!

The theater department stores furniture and props in Mustard House. To strike a show last semester a group of students had to cross the street from Wish to Mustard carrying three couches and then had to lift the couches over their heads to put them into the top story of the Mustard House. A student could have very easily been injured. There should be a better place for prop storage, or at the very least a new mechanism or system for getting large set pieces in and out of`Mustard.
Thank you!

A lab requiring a substantial amount of work should count for half a credit.

Bowdoin should not close down the cafe and the grill for limited hours during exam period. If anything, they should be open for more hours to accommodate the increased workload and stress that students are experiencing at this time. While the college has argued that this is because students staff these positions in the past, and they need to be let go to study, how difficult would it be for the college to hire non-student employees to work the hours for this one week per semester?

Bowdoin should broadcast BBC1 or BBC America over its cable system.

Okay, okay, I've got it: A potential solution for the social house system... How about a Juniors/Seniors ONLY social house (or two)???

This would appeal to upper classers by being a great option to live in large groups together on campus, and would create an outlet (and a prestigious one too if the houses are limited to one or two for the upper classmen only) for upper class social house parties (you know the Junior Senior ball made you nostolgic of the Mac House / Ladd dance floors...). Underclassmen would never be excluded, of course, but the affiliates would be the junior and senior classes as a whole, not something based on freshmen housing (that's for the other social houses).

And, by having juniors there too, it would still create the feeling of tradition and house ID, as the juniors could return the next year.

Think about it....

now back to my other brainchild: I Law essay...

1) Integrate the College Calendar into the Student Calendar so that there aren't two.
2) Students should absolutely not require approval for their postings. You have to sign in to post so there is a built in mechanism for accountability. The Digest, for example, which is viewable everywhere on campus, does not require prior approval. It is personally offensive that we are not trusted by our student leaders to make appropriate postings yet trusted by the Administration to do the same thing on the Digest. Just reading the introduction to this form I am reminded of the same thing.

Could you please stop overloading our in-boxes with pointless e-mails? As a club leader, I have been advised to avoid sending all-campus e-mails unless I have an important event to advise to the student body. I understand that, as the BSG, you may have more occasions to send all-campus e-mails, but I do not feel that your e-mails regarding your "Twitter", your meetings, or your dinners merit such frequent e-mails. If you want to make announcements about these things, can you please use the Student Digest, just as other club leaders are supposed to do?

LOGO is a relatively new channel created by CBS/Viacom aimed towards Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered people. The programming is great and very relevant to this community. I would like to see Bowdoin add this channel to the current television line-up and since there are other special-interest channels, I think this would be a great inclusion. I know the GLBT community on campus would definitely appreciate adding this channel!

Today I found myself going to Coles Tower's CSTV only to find the area where you insert cards jammed, H-L Library's CSTV was temporarily closed due to low paper and my final stop Hatch has the only functioning CSTV on campus.

While I'd much prefer to just have these at every laundry facility so we could load money there (and in the comfort of our dorms), I know it wouldn't hurt to add one or two more machines in popular locales like Smith Union and even a dining hall like Thorne or Moulton. Please consider this!

It would be really great to get a printer in the art library.

I think the Smith Union weight room should be open later on Fridays--7:00 is far too early.

We need more shortcut lighting to pinestreet!

Both Gyms close at 10:00. I love playing pick up basketball and many times the gym is very busy with sports practice and IM sports untill 10:00. Could the gym be opened as lateas the union? There is no one staffing the gyms so it seems there would be no extra cost. Especially on weekends, partying every weekend night can get old. Allowing the gym to stay open as late as the union offers a sober, fun alternative to parties.

Before a decision is made by the Bowdoin Student Government, send out via student digests a note of what the decision entails, along with the emails of BSG representatives and a message that encourages readers to contact them if they have any opinions on the matter. most people read the digests, as they do come out every day and people are sifting through piles of emails, so i think it would help.

Watson fitness center should be open all day-- instead of being closed from 9:30 to 11 AM. The fitness center is crowded all day, every day, so the least the college could do is keep it open all day long. They say it's closed for cleaning, but I've never seen anyone actually cleaning it for an hour and a half every morning...

The Language Media Center's weekend hours are practically nonexistent. It's not open on Saturday and doesn't open until 2 pm on Sunday. Can we extend these hours, so students can watch films for class on Saturday and earlier in the day on Sunday? Weekends are often the best time to do homework, but we don't have that option if the films are unavailable and non-circulating.

I really think that students running for any class officer position should be required to make some sort of speech.

I believe that this is especially true for first year representatives who are most probably unknown to most of the class mates who they are soliciting for a vote.

Thanks!

It would be nice if we moulton opened at 10:45 AM instead of 11:00 AM for lunch so we don't have to rush so much if we want to eat before 11:30 classes.

I think that there should be a way to donate books that actually assures that they'll go to people who need them. Today, I tried to donate a bunch of books, but the bookstore discouraged me by telling me that putting them in the box could well just land them in the hands of a Bowdoin kid looking for free books. Even as it's a theft to take things from Dump-and-Run, it should be considered theft to take books from a donation box. If a real donation program requires having the box behind the counter, that would seem like an easy solution. Books are such an incredible resource to those who don't have them... and I'd love to be able to share books without feeling that they're likely just to go to a Bowdoin kid. Thanks!

There needs to be more plugs in H-L. It is annoying walking floor upon floor to see if you are lucky enough to be near a plug. Hatch has plugs in the desks...can H-L get something like that? Or juts run an extension cord up the isle?

We should have patio seating outside Moulton or Thorne when the season's right. Bag lunches get old really fast.

It would be great if Library Reading Period Hours could start earlier, on the weekend preceding the last week of classes.

The quad is wonderful and it's great that people want to use it, however I think that there should be more seating options. We could have moveable wooden benches to start with, and maybe even picnic tables. They would definitely get use!

there should be pictures of the candidates so we know who they are

We should be able to use our Polar Points downtown at Scarlet Begonia's, Wild Oats, Frontier, Big Top and other restaurants and cafes.

I agree with Brian Fry that we need Versus added to the cable package. The school has chosen for our viewing pleasure no less than 12 foreign language channels. For a student population that is often chided for its homogeneity, it is clear that 12 channels that barely anyone understands is too many. It would be very easy to leave 11 of the channels, and replace one with Versus. I disagree, however, with Mr. Fry's notion that we should give up ESPN Classic, considering that they show American Gladiator marathons everyday. I know I am not the only person here who wishes they didnt have to walk to an off-campus location just to watch a hockey game, and considering that the Bruins (the only team we can watch) are terrible, I think it's time we had a wider range of available hockey. Thanks

I posted this as a reply to a previous Versus post, but I though it would be better viewed as its own suggestion. This is why we need the Versus network added, or at least why relatively few should object to having it added. The Bowdoin cable network has some 75+ stations, and I will bet that there is at least one station that practically no one watches. Why not add Versus, instead of the station that gets no views? Not only would adding Versus give hockey lovers like me consolation because we could watch playoff hockey and a ton of regular season games, but it has some pretty good outdoor shows for those who like cycling, fishing, hiking, hunting, etc (Let’s not forget that Versus used to be the Outdoor Life Network, or for acronym lover, OLN). To further this point, we have five ESPN's, and though I love ESPN, the network carries few to none NHL regular season games and absolutely no playoff games, and that won’t change for at least a few years. Why not exchange ESPN Classic for Versus? I’m not sure that anyone ever watches ESPN Classic except in RARE cases of EXTREME boredom, so the trade seems logical to me. We also have many language channels which I think are great, but I don't know anyone who watches channel 89 "Galavision" or channel 95 "Univision". Why not switch in Versus for Univision or Galavision? On the whole, adding Versus would not only make hockey lovers very happy, but it would also provide some entertaining outdoorsy shows that I think a lot of people would come to appreciate and maybe even regularly watch.

I think Bowdoin should have a file sharing service (Like limewire). Maybe it could be based at WBOR so we'd have access to their extensive library of music, not to mention all the files others would contribute. It could also be used as a database for the LMC so students could watch any movie, whenever and wherever they wanted. People could also share software, pictures, whatever.

The fake congress election class shouldn't exist. At an institution like Bowdoin, we don't really need to be graded on popularity or who can give away the most free ice cream, right? Let's have some real academic work, folks. Usurp this election by writing in ANTHONY REGIS for congress. If it's a sham anyway, we might as well go ahead and elect the best man for the job.

When was the last time you saw anyone use the arcade games on the top floor of Smith Union? No one carries change on them, and if they do they won't spend it on some broken 80's motorcycle game. If the arcade was free, it would actually get some use. Free the arcade.

There should be a camera in the Safe Van on weekends...taxi-cab confessions style...oohh the stories and sights I've seen.

I really wish that the Versus Network could be added to the cable. They bought out the hockey playoffs and a lot of NHL games during the season and I'm pretty annoyed that we can't watch the NHL playoffs right now.

Do you like Super Snacks? Wouldn't they benefit from being more SUPER? The same snacks get boring after a while…you know they do. They always have the same 3 or 4 snacks (I don't know about you but this doesn't sound super...more like Sub par. Let's make the snacks SUPER SUPER snacks!!!

On the quad, around the dorms, so that when the weather's nice you can do work outside, actually have a picnic, or just sit. The grass is alright, but a picnic table is better!

The language media center is a wonderful resource with an enormous library of films. However, we have very little access to them sine they can't be taken out of the building or be taken over night. My request is that we be able to take films out over night and return them early the next morning.

It would be helpful to have Professor's office hours posted online, perhaps on their personal websites where it lists their current classes, so that students who were not in their class but wanted to meet with them for other reasons (advisees, independent study students, etc) would be able to go to office hours. I know that some professors may do this, but it would be a nice campus-wide policy.

As a club leader this year I faced the challenge of trying to get safety equipment for my club. We were denied after we had went to the trouble of finding storage space and after waiting many months asking if we would order the equipment. The other leaders and I were under the impression that all safety equipment would be funded with out question. We were told that the reason was that we had nothing to show for it. Considering that the equipement is need to show our abilities, and this was known, we felt like there was another reason that was not voiced. I would like to see SAFC make an unbiased decision reguarding safety equipment and fund any such materials that clubs and club sports ask to be funded.

The bowdoin cable network has obviously made a commitment to having a wide range of sports channels (having almost every espn). But, as every hockey fan knows, espn no longer carries our great sport. I may be the only one who feels a void in my life, but I think that the sports coverage of our cable package is severely lacking without a hockey channel.

I think we should get C-Span 2 and C-Span 3 on our standard student cable plan. As someone studying and interested in politics, I'm often frustrated when I want to watch important political events that are relegated to C-Span 2 or 3 because there is something else important on C-Span. As an institution of learning, I think it is worth looking in to.

Thank you.

I am tired of going to the second or third floors of H&L to find that all have the desks have been covered with personal items and library books. The library is a public place and neither the students nor the library staff should tolerate such selfish use of the desks.

With the library and tower doors closing at 1am, Chambo students must trek all the way to the end of campus to print.

Installing a print station in Chambo in one of the common rooms would allow residents from Brunswick Apts to access it too.

Like many other members of the campus, I am on full-board. Given various time constraints, I am not able to make it to every meal. It is unfair that these unused meals that are paid for by our already overwhelming tuition just go to waste. These unused meals should be transfered into polar points as if it were for board transfer i.e. $1.75 breakfast, $2.50 dinner, etc.

Brunch should go later on the weekends - especially at Moulton.

We should have supersnack Sunday nights too - I cannot count the number of times I've heard (or thought to myself) "I wish they had supersnack tonight" on a Sunday.

why not have a machine in the union for putting cash on cards!?! it's such a central place and a basic function--they should align.

thanks!

There really needed to be clarification on what each voting item was about. For example, what does it mean that one amendment would have brought the status of the Treasurer in line with that of other BSG officers? I only voted on three or four measures because most of them simply make reference to bringing Item X in line with the way related items are currently dealt with. If I don't know how related items are currently dealt with, why would I simply assent to having yet more things dealt with in the same way? In short, there should be explanatory blurbs accompanying each voting item, so that it is clear what it means when I vote "yes" or "no." Thank you.

I'd love to get express meals on the weekends. Often weekends can be even busier than the week and it can be even harder to make it to meals.

The dining halls should play WBOR on the speakers, considering it is the campus' radio station and we should support it.

A speaker should be installed in each of the tower elevators so WBOR can be heard there all day every day. It would make elevator rides more enjoyable and would provide great exposure for Bowdoin's own radio station.

Lazer tag (or paintball, depending on available supplies). At night, on the quad. I always would have loved to try it in the library or Hubbard, but somehow I don't think that would be allowed :-)

The shuttle should run to the Maine Mall, and should run on Sundays too. The new system is not well-regarded by the shuttle drivers, Bowdoin students who need to have transportation to someplace besides the OldPort "club scene." It's insane that Bowdoin offers no way for students to get to Portland besides a $100 round-trip cab. (Even if the shuttle ticket fee went up to account for rising gas prices, it would still be worth it).

Board plans should include three or four visitor meals per semester, so when friends come to visit it will be less of a hassle to treat them to our award-winning food.

The new fitness center should have a feature similar to Laundry View so that people can check machine availability online before trekking over to find all machines in use.

BSG and Class Governments should be required to post financial reports in a timely manner so that we, as members of a democratic society, can see how money is being spent. After all, it's our money.

Those reports should be on-line so that they will be accessible to members of the community as public records.

It would be helpful if professors were required to have at least one office hour per week that doesn't conflict with sports practices.

I think that on Bearings course info/ description section, all classes should have a break down of how your grades are computed (i.e. in terms of tests, papers, homework, presentations, etc). Many other colleges, such as Princeton and Harvard, have this as apart of their course registars website. In addition, I think that students should have the ability to view other courses' webpages on blackboard. This would allow students to preview potential courses that they might be interested in for upcoming semesters.

I think there should be a library of movies that people could take out for a night behind the info desk, just like they can take out pool balls.

It would be really cool if one night towards the end of the year (when the weather's nice) people were encouraged to bring their sleeping bag and spend a night on the quad. Also, there could be activities before "bedtime" such as watching a movie on a projector screen outside, midnight snacks, games/arts&crafts, etc. This would be a great way for students to enjoy the night sky, get outdoors, and spend time with friends without as much time commitment as going on a camping trip. Also, everyone loves to spend the day on the quad- why should we stop enjoying it just because the sun has gone down?

the desks in the library should have lockers next to them where people can put laptops and other valuables they want to leave at the library (when they go to dinner for example).

Jack Magee's should deliver.

To those of you who didn't realize this, Bowdoin use to have a Pass/Fail system where you could take classes you did not feel confident in doing well in, but wanted to take anyways just simply to expand your horizons, without the fear of destroying your overall grade point average. However in recent years, Academic Affairs changed the policy to become Pass/D/F which means if you receive a D in the class, it counts on your transcript. I believe strongly that this removes the element of academic exploration that is so necessary in a liberal arts institution. I believe BSG should fight to have the decision reversed. Just like professors receive the academic freedom in the classroom provided they receive tenure, I believe students should receive the same academic freedom to explore all the different fields of academic pursuit without fear their GPA could all of a sudden crash. The opportunity for Academic Exploration is key to what Bowdoin makes the great school it is. Let's see our school return the glory it once had when you would not be penalized for taking a class over your head, but somehow benefited your overall learning.

I was helping a certain very drunk somebody the other night so they wouldn't fall into the toilet, and I was thinking that people should really be better informed about how to care for their innebriated friends, roommates, partners, and themselves. Maybe part of orientation or a reslife function or something should teach students how to take care of themselves and others when somebody's had too much to drink. A lot of people may not know... should I let him throw up or put him in bed? Should she drink lots of water or will it make her puke more? Who can I call for some help? Does my girlfriend need to be put in the shower? Should they eat something before they go to sleep or not? (THINGS LIKE THIS.)

Everyone loves jukeboxes, it wouldn't have to be on all the time, and it would pay for itself.

I would like it if there were sheep that grazed on the quad.

I know that Williams recently hosted a speed-dating party where 40 girls and 40 guys sat in a room and went on 3 minute dates. After 3 minutes, a bell rings and all the guys move on place to the left. You have a card with your dates' names on it, and you put a check next to their name if you liked them. Then, you turn in your card at the end of it, and the cards are processed and you are sent an email with all the names of the people you checked that also checked you. It could be fun.