![The Bates Bobcat (played by BCO writer Freddie Wright) tours Lake Andrews and the historic Quad with BCO designer Kirsten Burns. On left, in brown shirt, William Spencer Orto Symmans ’23, whose neuroscience thesis is titled “ A Data-Drive Taxonomy of Olfactory System Principal Neurons.” On right, in striped shirt, Evan Koch ’23, whose neuroscience thesis (adviser: Jason Castro) is titled “A Comparative Analysis of Gene Expression in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex of Autistic Individuals Across Age and Sex.”](https://www.bates.edu/news/files/2023/06/2-230506_Bobcat_Sightings_0494-200x133.webp)
Busy isn’t always better, but in the case of This Month at Bates, it’s best.
See why as you scroll through these moments generated by the start of a new academic year that practically explodes with excitement and exploration.
We greet you with…
Open Arms
Longtime Associate Dean James Reese pivots from the Opening Convocation procession on Sept. 3 to greet his friend Karl Lindholm of Middlebury, Vt., who was on campus bringing his daughter, Anne Lindholm ’20, back for her senior year.
Karl is the son of the late Dean Emeritus of Admissions Milt Lindholm ’35 and Jane Ault Lindholm ’37.
Opening Song
Mark Su ’22 of Beijing plays an interlude on the violin during the memorial tree planting ceremony on the Historic Quad. Held annually following Convocation, the ceremony honors members of the college community who died during the year.
Together Again
Julisa De Los Santos, director of the Office of Intercultural Education, addresses an OIE welcome-back-to-school event in Chase Hall in early September.
Power Poetry
Jesse Saffeir ’20, an environmental studies major from Pownal, Maine, holds a book of original poetry inspired by her summertime Otis Fellowship experience, which took her across Maine to visit and consider the swaths of land cleared for overhead electrical transmission lines.
Getting There from Here
On the first day of classes, Daphne James ’22 of Sausalito, Calif., gives directions to classmate Anna Rozin of Ontario, Canada.
Young Leader
Michael Morgan ’22 of Kingston, Jamaica, a double major in politics and rhetoric, represented his country at the United Nations Youth Climate Summit on Sept. 21. Before heading to New York City, he said he was eager to “meet other young people from across the world who are passionate about climate change and get more information on the solutions that are being advanced to tackle the climate crisis.”
Up Hi
![Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College](https://www.bates.edu/news/files/2019/09/190903_Convocation_2191.jpg)
Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College
From their hammock perches on the Historic Quad, Brady Orozco-Herman ’21 of Needham, Mass., and Maya Matlack ’21 of Arlington, Mass., greet fellow senior David Ingraham of Larchmont, N.Y.
Run Around
Elise Lambert ’22 of Amherst, N.H. (left), and Lily Harding ’23 of Kenfield, Calif., navigate the 5K course during the Bates Invitational cross country meet at Pineland Farms in nearby Gray, a tuneup for October’s Maine State Meet, which the Bobcats have won three straight years.
Continent Considerations
On the fall semester’s first day of classes, Assistant Professor of History Patrick Otim meets with students in his First Year Seminar, “Beyond Nelson Mandela: Themes and Personalities in South African History” and asks them to consider myths and misconceptions about the African continent.
Arriving and Leafing
Outside Libbey Forum, students in Assistant Professor of Biology Brett Huggett’s dendrology course identify trees during a tour of the neighborhood at the foot of Mount David. Along with the sugar maple they’re examining here, species they spotted included catalpa, butternut, red pine, and ginkgo. From left, Bridget Tweedie ’21, Eric Viera ’20, Zander Schmidt ’20, Sarah Delany ’20, and Saylor Strugar ’21.
Passing Along
Quarterback Brendan Costa ’21 of Westport, Mass., looks to pass during the Bobcats’ home opener vs. Middlebury before a large crowd at Garcelon Field. (Theophil Syslo/Bates College)
Animal Instinct
During the initial session of her course “Living with Animals,” in Roger Williams Hall, Clark A. Griffith Professor of Environmental Studies Jane Costlow asked students to introduce themselves by describing an animal they especially liked.
Power vs. Power
Muskan Verma ’21 of Shimla, India, addresses a crowd of 2,000 at Portland City Hall during the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20. Afterward, expressing the frustration felt by many over inaction on global climate change, she said, “I can’t believe I’m even having to protest this.”
True That
During the Sept. 19 faculty panel discussion “Truth and How One Teaches It,” a comment by Carrie Diaz-Eaton, assistant professor of digital and computational studies, elicits a reaction from Charles Franklin Phillips Professor of Economics Michael Murray.
The event served was a prelude to the annual Kroepsch Lecture by Stephanie Kelley-Romano, in which she offered a field guide to conspiracy rhetoric, particularly in the political realm.
Point Made
Reacting to a winning point vs. Amherst during their match on Sept. 21 are volleyball players Samantha Schecter ’20, Emma Eide ’23, Delaney Mayfield ’21, and Olivia McCulloch ’21.
Play’s the Thing
Enthusiastic members of the college’s student theater club, the Robinson Players, participate in an annual activities fair in the Gray Athletic Building where members of the college’s 80-plus clubs outdo one another to attract new members.
Fit to Be Tied
Historic foes Bates and Bowdoin played to a thrilling 1-1 draw under the lights at Garcelon Field on Sept. 18. Here, after first-year Jacob Iwowo (left) of London, England, tied the score in the 89th minute of regulation play, teammates Frederick Hohmann ’22 (center) of Bonn, Germany, and James Peter of York, Maine, join the celebration.
Paradise Found
On a stone bench beside Lake Andrews, Julia Feist ’22 of Burlington, Mass., reads Milton’s Paradise Lost for a course taught by Professor of English Steve Dillon.
Quad Cover
Prepared for a rain shower, politics major Kyle Larry ’20 of Chicago returns to Page Hall, where he is a Junior Advisor, after attending Professor of Politics Steve Engel’s course, “Problems and Progress in U.S. Political Development.”
Bates 4 Ever
After a 100th-birthday cake — baked and delivered by Dining Services staff — arrived at her table, Dorothy Foster Kern ’42 rises to thank everyone for her celebration lunch at Commons.
“Thank you so much,” she said. “I am so proud to have gone to Bates!” Also joining the lunch were students Vanessa Paolella ’21, at left, Abby Hamilton ’21, seated next to Paolella, and James Jones ’20 (not pictured).