Showing 1 - 37 of 37 Items
Interview with Edward Koch (Class of 1958) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-01
Creator: Edward Koch
Access: Open access
- Edward Koch (Class of 1958) discusses the story behind his admittance to Bowdoin, his adjustment from a Minnesota upbringing, and his favorite memories. He describes his involvement in the hockey team and Glee Club. He also describes his involvement with the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, recounting hazing stories from his time as a pledge. He speaks of his friendship and tennis rivalry with future-College president Roger Howell, Jr. Koch reflects upon his sociology major and finance career, and gives advice to current and future students about designating an area of study.
Interview with Maura Allen (Class of 2014) and Laurel Mast (2014) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: Maura Allen, Laurel Mast
Access: Open access
- Maura Allen (Class of 2014) and Laurel Mast (Class of 2014) describe the transition to Bowdoin and meeting each other on the rugby team. Mast talks about taking extra courses many semesters, participating in plays, and being an avid sports fan. Allen speaks about being a year-round athlete, a facilitator for V-Space, and living in Quinby House. The pair discuss their love for the state of Maine but acknowledge the unique challenges that come from being so far from their homes in Colorado and Oregon. Allen and Mast also reflect on the burgeoning discussions surrounding cultural appropriation and hookup culture on campus.
Interview with Richard Lustig (Class of 1974) by Meagan Doyle
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Richard Lustig
Access: Open access
- Richard “Rich” Lustig (Class of 1974) shares how his childhood vacations in Maine led him to Bowdoin. He speaks about the serendipitous nature of making friends and the enjoyable times he spent playing music with friends. Reminiscing on a study-away experience at St. Andrews University in Scotland, which turned into an independent study on early music, Lustig speaks about how Bowdoin allowed him to pursue a wide and varied array of passions. He describes directing a play through Masque and Gown. He also describes how he ended up joining Alpha Delta Phi, despite a general distaste for fraternity life. Additionally, Lustig reflects on the drinking culture and the lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity at the College.
Interview with Michael Jeng (Class of 1989) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Michael Jeng
Access: Open access
- Michael Jeng (Class of 1989) describes living in Winthrop Hall and building lifelong friendships with his roommates. He speaks about challenging himself to take classes outside of his Biology and Philosophy majors. He discusses various on-campus jobs, like selling ads for the Orient, and extracurricular activities such as playing squash and tennis. Jeng remembers organizing a 10k run for Bowdoin students against apartheid in support of divestment from South Africa and attending pro-choice rallies in Washington, D.C. He reminisces on volunteering for a variety of organizations, mentioning the Big Brother Little Brother Program. Jeng also reflects on learning more about himself while at Bowdoin, including exploring his sexuality, leading a balanced life, and interacting with people from all walks of life.
Interview with Frank Skornia (Class of 2004) by Meagan Doyle
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Frank Skornia
Access: Open access
- Frank Skornia (Class of 2004) describes how he found his way to Bowdoin, including a Class of 1968 alumnus who mentored him. He discusses pre-Orientation trips and settling in to Hyde Hall. He reminisces about his deep involvement in the technical side of theater, including working for both the Theater department and Masque and Gown, and innovating ways of utilizing the new Wish Theater. Skornia speaks about taking advantage of the wide range of courses and the support of faculty advisors and mentors, and talks about his decision to spend a year abroad at the University of York. He discusses the increasing environmentalism and political tensions of the time, and the atmosphere and feelings on campus surrounding the September 11 Terrorist Attacks.
Interview with Paul Todd (Class of 1958) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-02
Creator: Paul Todd
Access: Open access
- In this interview, Paul Todd (Class of 1958) recounts how his upbringing in Brewer, Maine, contributed to his decision to enroll at Bowdoin, as well as the College’s influence on his interest and eventual career in physics. He discusses his experience with a 5-year Bowdoin/MIT program, comparing both schools, and identifies the adjustments he made in transitioning to each. Todd tells a hazing story from his time as an Alpha Delta Phi pledge and describes the various social events hosted by the fraternity. He speaks of interactions with close friend and classmate Roger Howell, Jr., as well as anecdotes about some of his favorite professors: William Root, Charles Livingston, and Roy LaCasce. He also touches upon other aspects of campus life, mentioning the Alpha Rho Upsilon fraternity, his time as a violinist with the Brunswick Choral Society, and his involvements with the track and debate teams.
Interview with Jenna Burton (Class of 1994) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: Jenna Burton
Access: Open access
- Jenna Burton (Class of 1994) describes the process of making friends through Hyde Hall and the sailing team. She also speaks about her experience being part of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and becoming its first female president. Burton reminisces about the hurdles and triumphs of starting the women’s rugby team and discusses the camaraderie and support she found within the team. Additionally, Burton talks about her on-campus job as a Resident Assistant, her Biology major, and reflects on working with Safe Space to critically examine the College’s sexual harassment policy. Finally, she touches on some of her favorite memories, like long brunches in Thorne Dining Hall and broom hockey on the quad.
Interview with Mariya Ilyas (Class of 2013) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-02
Creator: Mariya Ilyas
Access: Open access
- In this oral history, Mariya Ilyas (Class of 2013) discusses transitioning to Bowdoin and the effect her identity as a Pakistani Muslim woman had on her transition. She talks about her on-campus job, favorite professors, and most memorable classes. Ilyas also describes how her pre-orientation trip sparked a lasting interest in public service that manifested itself in a White House internship, Fulbright Scholarship, and career in diplomacy. She also speaks of her role in beginning the Muslim Student Association, and the support that the College provided. In addition, she recounts how her racial and cultural identities sometimes created instances of discomfort on campus.
Interview with Madelena Rizzo (Class of 2014) by Meagan Doyle
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Madelena Rizzo
Access: Open access
- Madelena Rizzo (Class of 2014) talks about moving from Pennsylvania to Maine and the central and important role that Bowdoin’s community, including peers, faculty, and staff, played in her college experience. She describes her decision to join the Cross Country and Track teams, as well as other extracurricular activities like working with Amnesty International and babysitting for faculty and staff. Rizzo speaks about her French immersion study-away experience in Poitiers, France, and the following summer she spent back in Maine interning at Long Creek Youth Development Center. In addition, she reflects on the stress of Bowdoin academics and adjusting to life away from home.
Interview with Sally Spencer-Thomas (Class of 1989) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Sally Spencer-Thomas
Access: Open access
- Sally Spencer-Thomas (Class of 1989) describes deciding to apply to Bowdoin after feeling valued during her campus visit. Considering fraternities, she recalls both the benefits of making friends through Delta Kappa Epsilon, but also the challenges of the heavy drinking culture and problematic attitudes about sex and relationships. Spencer-Thomas comments on her study-away experience at the University of Stockholm. She reminisces on studying Art and Psychology and mentions her painting sessions in the old morgue at Adams Hall. She reflects on the support of the Bowdoin community since the death of her brother, also an alumnus. Finally, she comments on her multi-generational view of Bowdoin by sharing her impressions of the College through the eyes of her father and son.
Interview with Mara Gandal-Powers (Class of 2004) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Mara Gandal-Powers
Access: Open access
- Mara Gandal-Powers (Class of 2004) discusses adjusting to life far from her home in Maryland and learning how to structure her time at College. She mentions trying out for the tennis team and how that impacted her first year. She reminisces about spending time with friends at nearby beaches, in Brunswick and Portland, and navigating the new Social House system as part of the first class without fraternities. Talking about her major in Women’s Studies, Gandal-Powers mentions her thesis, organizing Bowdoin’s involvement in the March for Women’s Lives, and her major’s impact on her career. Additionally, she reflects on campus’s atmosphere of activism at the time, specifically in reference to the 2000 Presidential Election and the September 11 Terrorist Attacks.
Interview with Bruce Blaisdell (Class of 1969) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Bruce Blaisdell
Access: Open access
- Bruce Blaisdell (Class of 1969) talks about finding Bowdoin through the advice of a neighbor who was the daughter of Donovan Lancaster, head of the College’s Dining Services. He discusses living away from home for the first time and acclimating to the boisterousness of fraternity life in Phi Delta Psi. He talks about finding a passion for biology and learning to balance his social life with academics. He touches on his on-campus jobs, including being a steward in the fraternity, and extracurricular activities, like the swim team and the Outing Club. He reminisces about the Senior Center Program. Reflecting on the world outside of Bowdoin, Blaisdell mentions the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement and their impact on campus.
Interview with Whitney Sanford (Class of 1983) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-02
Creator: Whitney Sanford
Access: Open access
- In this oral history, Whitney Sanford (Class of 1983) describes her decision to enroll at Bowdoin and her experience with the different aspects of the College’s social scene. She discusses the impact of the liberal arts on her eventual career as a professor at University of Florida and mentions her involvement in Bowdoin’s first women’s rugby team. Sanford also recounts her affiliation with the Theta Delta Chi fraternity, as well as her activity on the women’s field hockey team. She also discusses the impact of the opening of a campus pub on the College’s social structure.
Interview with Noah Gavil (Class of 2014), Marta Misiulaityte (Class of 2014), and Shannon Grimes (Class of 2014) by Meagan Doyle
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: Noah Gavil, Marta Misiulaityte, Shannon Grimes
Access: Open access
- Noah Gavil (Class of 2014), Marta Misiulaityte (Class of 2014), and Shannon Grimes (Class of 2014) reflect together on the way their different paths led to Bowdoin and to friendship with one another. They speak about the trials and triumphs of trying to find one’s place as well as the difficulty of learning to manage the pressures and expectations that they felt as Bowdoin students. Additionally, they comment in depth on their study-away experiences and describe the passions and interests their abroad experiences sparked in them. The three touch on a wide range of extracurricular activities, on-campus jobs, and areas of study, and reminisce fondly on the relationships they built with peers, faculty, and staff.
Interview with Kailey Bennett (Class of 2014) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: Kailey Bennett
Access: Open access
- Kailey Bennett (Class of 2014) speaks about how Bowdoin’s walkability and adjacent transit services drew her to attend, while also discussing the difficulties of transitioning from southern Texas to Brunswick. She reflects on the importance of having a supportive host family with whom she has remained in touch post-grad. Bennett describes the stigma surrounding chem-free housing and her participation in efforts taken by spaces like Howell House to combat it. She also talks about spending summers at Bowdoin, her on-campus jobs in Special Collections & Archives and Dining, living on the “tour floor” in Hyde Hall, and her love of Visual Arts and Earth and Oceanographic Sciences.
Interview with Edward Langbein (Class of 1957) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Edward Langbein
Access: Open access
- Edward “Ed” Langbein, Jr. (Class of 1957) describes adjusting to Bowdoin’s small size and the freedom of college life. He discusses rushing Alpha Tau Omega, fraternity culture, and two stories of hazing which included excursions called “Quests.” Langbein speaks about participating in the White Key, an interfraternity sports organization, and rising through the managerial ranks of the football team. Additionally, he comments on the events and atmosphere of Ivies weekend, having helped to plan it one year. He reminisces on the faculty and staff who mentored and supported him and offers advice to current and future Bowdoin students.
Interview with James Pierce (Class of 1969) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: James Pierce
Access: Open access
- James A. “Jim” Pierce (Class of 1969) recounts his sight-unseen arrival to Bowdoin in 1965. He speaks about the fraternity system’s dominance over everything from food and lodging to social life. He describes the fraternities’ drinking culture and hazing rituals, as well as the “eccentric” nature of his own fraternity, Alpha Rho Upsilon. Pierce comments on the milieu of “rugged Christianity” he felt at Bowdoin, especially through mandatory chapel attendance. Additionally, he talks about his experiences with the Glee and Drama Clubs, Bowdoin’s academic rigor, and the prank group the Green Hornet Construction Company. Pierce also reflects on feeling the presence and impacts of the Vietnam War on campus.
Interview with Christopher Lierle (Class of 1989) by Meagan Doyle
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Christopher Lierle
Access: Open access
- Christopher “Chris” Lierle (Class of 1989) discusses adjusting to Bowdoin life from the West Coast and making close friendships despite the culture shock. He speaks about the importance of extracurricular activities during his time at Bowdoin and reminisces on his experiences with the football team and winning the Best Actor award in the One Act play competition. Lierle also reflects on not completing his Bowdoin education and the events in his life that led him to reconnect with the Bowdoin community twenty-five years later. He discusses the cherished relationships he forged during his time on campus and how they defined his time at college.
Interview with Cathy Scheiner (Class of 1979) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Cathy Scheiner
Access: Open access
- Cathy Scheiner (Class of 1979) describes the culture-shock she felt when transitioning to Bowdoin from public high school. She speaks about meeting many different types of people in Hyde Hall and joining various extracurricular activities like the Outing Club, the Sailing team, and the Cross-Country Ski team. She talks about being independent from the Greek system while navigating the fraternity-dominated social landscape. Scheiner reminisces on her classes and professors, adventures around Maine with friends, and being a Biochemistry major. Also, she reflects on the discussions of the time surrounding efforts to not be just a Bowdoin student, but a member of the broader Maine community as well.
Interview with Richard Burns (Class of 1958) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-08-16
Creator: Richard Burns
Access: Open access
- Richard “Dick” Burns (Class of 1958) describes being “very impressed” by Bowdoin when he first visited and the busyness of his first few weeks at the College. He talks about how the social life of the school revolved around fraternities and his own experience joining Chi Psi, despite ambivalence about the Greek system. Burns reminisces about various mentors and memorable professors, including his long-standing friendship with former athletic trainer Mike Linkovich. He talks about his job washing dishes in his fraternity, Ivies Weekend, and the drinking culture of the time. Finally, he comments on his multi-generational view of Bowdoin, Brunswick, and New England, and remarks on some of the most notable ways that the College has changed.
Interview with Abdullah Muhammad (Class of 1973) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-01
Creator: Abdullah Muhammad
Access: Open access
- Abdullah Muhammad (Class of 1973) discusses his decision to attend Bowdoin, his on-campus activism, and his involvement with the John Brown Russwurm African American Center. He describes his role as the creator of the Center’s library, as well as his broader position as the Center’s house manager. Muhammad also recounts a specific instance of protest, which occurred in response to the College’s administration reneging on their promise to ensure that at least 10% of an admitted class was African American. He tells of how his passion for activism inspired his studies in government and English, and finishes with several pieces of advice for current and future Bowdoin students.
Interview with David Anderson (Class of 1955) and Phoebe Girard by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-01
Creator: David Anderson, Phoebe Girard
Access: Open access
- In this interview, David Anderson (Class of 1955) talks about his decision to attend Bowdoin, favorite campus traditions, and how Bowdoin helped him post-graduation. He reminisces about his days as a Psi Upsilon pledge and member, and describes his involvement with The Bowdoin Orient. Anderson emphasizes how Bowdoin and the connections he made during his years as a student opened the doors to opportunities after graduation, including working for Congressmen Lud Ashley of Ohio and Henry Reuss of Wisconsin.
Interview with JoAnn Chrisman (Class of 1973) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-01
Creator: JoAnn Chrisman
Access: Open access
- In this interview, JoAnn Chrisman (Class of 1973) discusses her experience as one of the first women to attend Bowdoin College. She explores her decision to transfer from Scripps College in California, the reactions of students to women enrollment, and her time as a social member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Chrisman also describes her favorite activities, on-campus job in the Rare Books Room of the library, and how the skills she gained as a history major aided her in her corporate career.
Interview with Jon Fuller (Class of 1968) and Beverly Fuller by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-02
Creator: Jon Fuller, Beverly Fuller
Access: Open access
- Jon Fuller (Class of 1968) speaks of himself and his great-grandfather, Arthur Taylor Parker, class of 1876. He describes two items that he donated to the Bowdoin Special collections and Archives: Parker’s diploma, bearing then-president Joshua Chamberlain’s signature, and a Class of 1876 ivory-handled cane. He also discusses his own experience transitioning from a small, rural town to Bowdoin, meeting people of different backgrounds, and mentions his involvement with the Psi Upsilon fraternity.
Interview with Nancy Prince (Class of 1974) by Meagan Doyle
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: Nancy Prince
Access: Open access
- Nancy Prince (Class of 1974) shares her long-held desire to follow in her family’s footsteps and attend Bowdoin. Her goal was realized when she came to Bowdoin as part of an exchange program and then transferred. She reflects on the pressure and difficulties of being one of only a handful of women on campus. She discusses her study of English and Studio Art and the important spaces and places on campus where she pursued these passions. Describing her extracurricular activities, Prince speaks about photography, the Orient, leisure time with her close friends, and editing the yearbook.
Interview with David Treadwell (Class of 1964) by Meagan Doyle
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: David Treadwell
Access: Open access
- David Treadwell (Class of 1964) talks about his arrival at Bowdoin and the hectic atmosphere of his first two months. He reminisces about being a member (and eventual President) of the fraternity Zeta Psi. Describing his extracurricular activities, Treadwell mentions Glee Club, interfraternity singing competitions, and playing on the golf team. He also speaks about time spent relaxing with friends playing bridge, participating in sports, and hitchhiking around the region, as well as his summer abroad working and touring in Europe. Treadwell reflects on the academic difficulties of his first year. He finishes by talking about his lifelong involvement with Bowdoin and its community and offers advice to current and future Bowdoin students.
Interview with Nicholas Lewis (Class of 1974) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Nicholas Lewis
Access: Open access
- Nicholas “Nick” Lewis (Class of 1974) discusses arriving at Bowdoin sight-unseen and adjusting to life at a rural, all-male college. He describes the atmosphere of Hyde Hall during his first year and the “crazed” drug and alcohol usage on campus. He reminisces about his deep involvement in theater, a passion he pursued throughout a yearlong study-away experience. Lewis speaks about the transition towards coeducation, which occurred during his sophomore year, and the resulting changes he felt on campus. He comments on his fraternity, Alpha Rho Upsilon as well as the effects of the Greek system on Bowdoin more broadly. Lewis remembers his class’s year-end festival The Carnival of the New World and the eclectic musical concerts of Professor Elliott Schwartz.
Interview with Laura Daly (Class of 2009), Hannah Hughes (Class of 2009), and Emme Duncan (Class of 2009) by Meagan Doyle Access to this record is restricted to members of the Bowdoin community. Log in here to view.
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Laura Daly, Hannah Hughes, Emme Duncan
Access: Access restricted to the Bowdoin Community
Interview with Emma Johnson (Class of 2014), Chelsea Shaffer (Class of 2014), and Hannah Tennent (Class of 2014) with Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Emma Johnson, Chelsea Shaffer, Hannah Tennent
Access: Open access
- Emma Johnson (Class of 2014), Chelsea Shaffer (Class of 2014), and Hannah Tennent (Class of 2014) describe their memories of meeting one another as first year roommates in Coleman Hall. Johnson, Shaffer, and Tennent discuss their on-campus jobs as well as various extracurricular activities, including the Generous Enthusiasts, the Judicial Board, and the Outing Club, respectively. The three reminisce about some of their most impactful courses in departments like Anthropology, Earth and Oceanographic Science, and Visual Arts. They reflect on cultural conversations happening on campus during their tenure and mention hazing, the Social House system, and discussions of diversity. Additionally, the group comments on the life lessons they learned at Bowdoin and what the College means to them as alumni.
Interview with Ken Carpenter (Class of 1958), Deborah Jenson (Class of 1983), and Jim Jenson (Class of 1982) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-02
Creator: Ken Carpenter, Deborah Jenson, Jim Jenson
Access: Open access
- In this oral history, Ken Carpenter (Class of 1958), Deborah Carpenter Jenson (Class of 1983), and Jim Jenson (Class of 1982) reflect on their respective experiences at Bowdoin. Ken speaks of his background as an “orphan” (his father had died and his mother could not afford to raise him) attending Girard College for Boys, his transition to Bowdoin life as a first-generation student, and his involvement with the Delta Sigma fraternity. He also explores how the research skills that he gained at Bowdoin influenced his career as a cataloger, librarian, and author. Ken and his daughter, Deborah, go on to explain that, during his time at Bowdoin, Ken met his future wife, Mary Carpenter, at a boarding house in Brunswick run by Mary’s mother, Elizabeth Wilson. They later explain that Mary Carpenter had also lost her father and that Mary’s subsequent career in academia influenced Deborah’s career path. Deborah also recounts the factors that affected her decision to attend Bowdoin, as well as a hazing story from her early days at Delta Kappa Epsilon. Jim tells of his decision to enroll at the College, his transition from California to Maine, and his experience in the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. The three also discuss their thoughts on Bowdoin’s decision to eliminate fraternities.
Interview with Jean Brountas (Class of 1983) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-01
Creator: Jean Brountas
Access: Open access
- Jean “Jeannie” Brountas (Class of 1983) describes growing up in a Greek Orthodox family and the role that played in her transition to Bowdoin. She also discusses how she has applied her Bowdoin education to her career in business. She describes some of her jobs and other activities, including working for Residential Life and the Library and volunteering at a local middle school. She lists some of her favorite professors, including Professors William Watterson and William Whiteside. She recalls a prank by her freshman proctor that led to Brountas becoming more sociable, and tells of her later experience in the Chi Psi fraternity as a nondrinker.
Interview with Jane Warren (Class of 1983) by Ben Bousquet
Date: 2018-06-02
Creator: Jane Warren
Access: Open access
- In this interview, Jane Warren (Class of 1983) discusses her experience transitioning to Bowdoin’s social environment and her role in the development of several campus activities. She describes the influence of college housing in forming lasting friendships, her time studying abroad in Paris, and offers a multigenerational perspective on the College’s evolving culture. Warren also describes her involvement in the creation of a women’s synchronized swimming club and women’s volleyball team, as well as her early participation in women’s rugby, which coincided with Bowdoin’s relatively recent decision to admit women.
Interview with Eric Luft (Class of 1974) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: Eric Luft
Access: Open access
- Eric Luft (Class of 1974) recounts a feeling of liberation upon arriving at Bowdoin. Luft describes becoming a double major in Philosophy and Religion, and building relationships with professors both in and outside the classroom. Luft mentions participating in Masque and Gown and the rifle team and also reflects on Bowdoin’s social environment as it related to fraternities and the College's transition to coeducation. Additionally, Luft speaks about student activism and protesting the Vietnam War off-campus. Finally, Luft reminisces about finding community at Bowdoin and emphasizes that while the academics were difficult there was a palpable sense of support.
Interview with Todd Caulfield (Class of 1989) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: Todd Caulfield
Access: Open access
- Todd Caulfield (Class of 1989) talks about the insecurities he felt coming to Bowdoin, in terms of both his academic preparedness and the College’s lack of socio-economic diversity. He describes how he found his social footing through the fraternity system, the sailing team, and the theater department. Reflecting further on fraternities, Caulfield remembers a tension between the independent and initiated members of campus and discusses his own choice to remain independent rather than initiate fully into Zeta Psi. Additionally, he speaks about how he spent his time and how he came to major in Biochemistry. Finally, Caulfield speaks about the ethics and implicit lessons he feels he absorbed through his time at Bowdoin and their lasting impact on his life.
Interview with Joan Britt (Class of 1979) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-05-31
Creator: Joan Britt
Access: Open access
- Joan Britt (Class of 1979) talks about falling in love with Bowdoin while visiting her older brother when he was a student. After matriculating, she joined Chi Psi fraternity as a social member, was a student representative for the Economics department, and spent time as a volunteer Sunday school teacher. She speaks about her studies as an Economics major and the relationships she built with her professors and mentors. Britt also reflects on being a member of one of the early coeducated classes and the slight feeling of “second class citizenship” she sensed on campus, especially in the fraternities. Additionally, she talks about her year abroad in Vienna and reintegrating back into the Bowdoin community afterward.
Interview with Melissa Hudson Howard (Class of 2005) and John Howard (Class of 2009) by Meagan Doyle
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Melissa Hudson Howard, John Howard
Access: Open access
- Melissa Hudson Howard (Class of 2005) and John Howard (Class of 2009) describe what brought them each to Bowdoin. The first few weeks of Hudson Howard’s first year were marked by the September 11 Terrorist Attacks and Howard’s by Hurricane Katrina, and both speak about the atmosphere of campus during those times. The pair reminisce about their engagement in Theater and Dance, the Bowdoin Outing Club, Obvious hip hop group, African American Society, and Residential Life. Both Hudson Howard and Howard studied abroad, in London and Paris, respectively, and they reflect on the lasting impacts of those experiences. They comment on student activism on campus and mention the Iraq War and the 2008 Presidential Election in particular.
Interview with Nessa Reifsnyder (Class of 1986) by Emma Kellogg
Date: 2019-07-26
Creator: Nessa Reifsnyder
Access: Open access
- Nessa Reifsnyder (Class of 1986) describes feeling “a little out of step” while transitioning from urban life in New York City to Brunswick, despite the summers she had spent in Northern Maine. She talks about finding a strong support system in the fraternity Alpha Delta Phi, whose culture felt “evolved” compared to the rest of campus. She discusses feeling “disaffected” from the College’s academic life. She reminisces about the important life lessons she learned during her time in the fraternity, especially about interpersonal skills and feminism. Reifsnyder speaks about finding a grounding comfort in the “working class element” of Brunswick. Finally, she discusses her role in the negotiations between Bowdoin and ADP when the College decided to phase out fraternities.