Showing 1 - 10 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.