Bowdoin Welcomes the Class of 2030
By Rebecca Goldfine
As the cars rolled in, volunteers swarmed, ready to grab bags, mirrors, plants, mini-fridges, and more to haul up flights of stairs or into elevators.
The weather on arrival day was sunny and warm, but not too humid. The move-in day uniform for volunteers—a cotton T-shirt—was a rich teal this year, eliciting positive feedback from those who wore it. The sweet chords of a marimba band floated across campus, keeping people on beat as they carried luggage. Student attendants in reflective vests stationed themselves at recycling bins to break down cardboard boxes.
President Safa Zaki was seen riding in a cherry-red motorcycle sidecar as she crisscrossed campus, introducing herself to first-year students and their families.
After everyone was more or less moved in and had their free lunch in Thorne Dining Hall, Zaki spoke to families and students from the steps of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art. Some in the audience sprawled on the grass to take advantage of the shade. Dean for Academic Affairs Rachel Beane and Dean for Student Affairs Jim Hoppe also shared brief remarks.
First-year students leave for their Orientation Trips Wednesday. Classes begin on September 1, Tuesday.
Move-in day is filled with funny, touching, or emotional moments in between the ordinary business of unpacking and finding where you put your toothbrush. We tried to keep our ears open for a few of these throughout the day.
Student Mover 1, carrying a mini-fridge by himself: ”So this is going to 001?”
Student Mover 2: "Yeah."
Student Mover 1: "Oh, thank God."
Father to son, in response to a question about what was the most important object to bring to college. “I thought you'd say your gi" (for karate).
Clueless communications person: “Your Indian butter?”
Father: “No! That's hilarious.”
Mother to another parent: “Elias is my youngest—my last.”
First-year, to movers: “You guys are the best. Thank you so much for helping.”
Cardboard-flattening attendant (a student), at recycling bin, explaining his mission: “We want to recycle as much as possible—we don't want the recycling bin to overflow and people to start putting cardboard in the trash. Bowdoin is all about sustainability!”
1st Parent: “Did you guys drive here from Georgia?”
2nd Parent: “No. Florida.”
Student: “Has anyone seen my mini fridge?”
Mother to student organizing their room: “Don’t forget to leave some space for knowledge!”
Customer to the cashier in the C-Store: “What are you reading?"
Cashier: “A Gentleman in Moscow. I need to finish it before it gets very busy here!”
Father, to move-in volunteer: "I'll take the snow and the cold as long as the sun is shining.”
One move-in volunteer to another: ”Getting your steps in?”
Mover 2: ”Quite.”
Mother, in her cellphone: ”Where'd you go, sweetie pie?”
Passerby to parking attendant looking at a car's parking pass: “Are you giving out a ticket?”
Attendant: “We wouldn't ticket them! That would be mean.”
First-year student, after getting out of his car: “It's sooo pretty here.”
Check-in volunteer asks a family where they're from. When they reply New York, she asks if they're returning that day.
Father: "No, we're spending the night here. [Beat.] In the dorm."
Check-in volunteer: [Speechless.]
Father: "I'm kidding!"
Mother, taking a family portrait: “Everyone say Bowdoin!”
Facilities employee: “Did someone report a bee's nest here?”
Volunteer: ”What do you do with the nest and the bees?”
Facilities employee: “We try to save them if we can.”
President Zaki talking to students about quints: “There's power in numbers, right?”
A student checking in at Farley: “I'm sorry I'm late. I just rode my new bike from Walmart; it didn't fit in the car, and I had to teach myself how to ride a bike so I could get it to Bowdoin.”
Dean of Academic Affairs Rachel Beane, in her address to first-years and their families: “I hope my enthusiasm for Bowdoin will help ease your transition just a bit.”
Photographs by Andrew Estey.