One of the most problematic parts about attending a liberal arts school is the arbitrary manner in which the term “woke” is used. People use the term in their everyday language because it’s one of those buzzwords that indicates a person is “down for the cause.” But, in my opinion, I believe the term “woke” […]
Forum
On Protecting the Public: Bernie vs Warren in Democratic Primary
With time away from Bates, it has become clearer that part of Bates’ function in a political economy is to position itself outside of political economy. For one, many students who graduate Bates remain unclear on how relations to nearby institutions. As a private institution much of Bates’ funding comes from tax write offs (and, […]
What is Bates CHEWS?
Whenever someone asks me where I work, I say “CHEWS.” Instantly, their change in posture and eyebrow squinting tells me that they have no idea what CHEWS means or what it does. For the most part, no one has ever heard of my job before. And that’s okay. No offense is taken. However, I want […]
Tobacco Free vs. Tobacco Freedom: Present and Future Smoking Policy at Bates
Bates students and faculty are reviewing and working diligently to amend the smoking policy. Currently on the Bates College website, the smoking policy is defined as striving “to maintain the well-being of the campus community while considering the needs of individuals who smoke.” People cannot smoke cigarettes, vape, or chew tobacco within fifty feet of […]
Food For Thought : Notes on the New Commons Menu
CONTENT WARNING : eating disorders are discussed When one searches for the Bates Commons Menu online, a new website greets their eyes in comparison with years past. This new website is equipped with nutritional information ranging from the sodium content of buttermilk ranch dressing to the caloric value of the cookie-dough ice cream that we […]
Whose Perspective?: A Critique of The Bates Student Reporting
The article “Bates Perspective on Hong Kong” (which I will refer to as “Perspective”), featured in the last issue of The Bates Student, raises critical concerns about objectivity and integrity through biased rhetoric which overgeneralized, misinformed, and misrepresented its subject matter. By assuming to constitute a single perspective, the title “Bates Perspective” already initiates a […]
Impeachment: A Moral and Political Imperative
The President of the United States must be impeached. This is not something I say lightly; impeachment is perhaps Congress’ most significant and carefully considered power, implemented only twice in the nation’s history. But after the latest revelations about Donald Trump’s July 25 phone call with the president of Ukraine, it has become clear that […]
My Razor, My Choice
Some of my fondest memories from sleep away camp were the bi-weekly shaving parties my friends and I threw. We filled a bucket with water, brought razors and shaving cream outside to the bunk’s concrete porch, and blasted “Call Me Maybe” as we shaved the nonexistent hair off our legs. These parties began when I […]
Privilege vs Power
One of the main takeaways I gathered from the Kiese Laymon speech on Sept. 26 was this idea of “luck,” and how White people assume that the only reason a Black person could be successful is by ‘luck.” In their minds, it would be absurd for a Black person to attain success by means of […]
Stop Throwing The South Under The Bus
I completely understand. Many people, faculty and students have no love for the right in American politics today. After all, I will be the first to tell you that we deserve whatever is coming in 2020. However, there’s been a troubling hyperbole being pushed inside a classroom here at Bates that I wish to address. […]