-
Appreciating the People Who Keep Colby Fed
Dining halls are an essential part of the College, both physically and culturally. Arguably the heart of campus, they serve as the main spot where students run into classmates, catch up with old friends, and sit down for meals together.
During their four years at Colby, students spend far more time in the dining halls than they probably realize. Despite this, few pause to consider the immense daily effort and care it takes to maintain these spaces.
Having not attended the College before Parkhurst Dining took over operations, I cannot offer comparisons between past and present catering companies regarding food quality, nutrition, or dietary options. What I can speak on, though, is the human aspect behind those meals.
Keeping up with peak lunch and dinner rushes takes a level of coordination that students might not notice when they’re preoccupied with hunger. Julia, a recent addition to the Roberts Union staff, explained how communication keeps the dining hall running smoothly during peak hours.
“Everyone’s so good at communicating really well,” Julia said, reflecting on the workplace dynamic. She noted that despite being only a month into her position, mutual support defines the staff group. “It’s a very friendly environment… everyone’s very willing to help each other.”
While new staff adapt to the environment, established workers build relationships that stick with students for years. Dorinda — a veteran staff member currently assigned to Dana who has also worked in Roberts Union and Foss — seems to know the name of nearly every student who walks through the doors.
“This has been the most exciting, rewarding place to work for me,” she said. For her, the job means much more than serving food. It involves learning students’ routines and building bonds that extend beyond the dining hall.
“The seniors this past year wanted me to go to graduation, and they wanted me to meet their parents and grandparents,” Dorinda said. “I did get a chance to go to their graduation… it was just perfect.”
That same care greets students before they even enter the dining hall, too. Tammy, who has worked at Roberts Union for the past four years, is preparing to retire at the end of this semester. She treats her spot at the door as an opportunity to connect with students and is known for handing out stickers in the mornings.
“My goal is that you start your day with a smile from me,” Tammy said. She added that the reciprocated warmth from students makes her job a pleasure: “You guys have definitely made it the best experience for me.”
As students rush to eat between classes, practice, and study sessions, it is easy to view the dining hall as nothing more than a quick stop in a busy schedule. But acknowledging the staff who maintain these spaces offers a necessary perspective. The dining hall may be the social heart of Colby, but the community within it does not build itself. It is held up every day by the staff who remember our names, share a smile at the door, and make this campus feel a little more like home.
~ Sadie Gardner `28
-
The Mixing Club and Studio Is One of Colby’s Best-Kept Secrets
Do you want to be the next Taylor Swift, John Summit, Drake, or even Alessia Cara? Well, the perfect place to start if you don’t have time for a music theory class is the Mixing Club. Whether you are a true beginner and have no knowledge of music, or if you already have a few albums under your belt and just need help mastering the craft, the Mixing Club can assist you in any way.
Most Colby students will never enter the studio. While the Gordon Center opened in late 2023, the studio was not finished until early 2024, and even after, students were not allowed to use the space without proper training. Now that has changed. Located on the basement level of Gordon, the state-of-the-art studio is accessible for any Colby student to use (given supervision from a member of the Mixing Club).
The studio is run by students who previously took a JanPlan course and were tested on all aspects of the studio. They are paid and trained to run sessions for anybody in the Colby community; all that is needed is signing up, made accessible by handy QR codes scattered on posters around campus. This will lead you to a form where you are able to pick a dedicated time slot, usually two to four hours, with a certain student manager. Each manager has their own schedule and specialties, whether a preference for rap and hip hop beats or a knack for folk and the blues. Regardless of their expertise, they are all able to assist students in learning the fundamentals of music production and performance.
Training is one of the real draws to the club. The engineers learned Pro Tools, Ableton, and Logic, and are working on procuring FL Studio. If a student works on a different platform, the managers are able to ask the music department and obtain approval within a week or so. Managers are always willing to teach and mentor students who are interested, and can help explain uncertainties.
The studio is more than just a place to make music, though. “It’s really a hub for student artists to both work together and also learn from each other,” Rafi Aronson `27 said, “And I think that’s very special to have that with institutional support.” There is ample space in the recording room to bring in any instrument, and with the help from managers, it is easily recorded and transcribed.
The Mixing Club is in addition to studio time. Every Monday at 4:30 p.m., students gather in the film screening room bordering the studio to produce a song. Alex Fulton, an instructor of audio engineering and music production, hosts the session.
Fulton picks a track that the audience likes from Spotify or another music-streaming platform, and the group dissects the song together. Aronson, a member of the club and an engineer, says they are taught to ask: “What are the secrets here? What can we learn from that in our own mixes?” One week may be about reverb while the next highlights chord changes.
As the club and studio continue to grow, so does the appetite for music on Colby’s campus. Regardless of current knowledge, I encourage Colby students to sign up for a studio time and try it out. There is no judgment. The studio is a place for growth and discovery.
~ William Maasbach `29
-
Three Women in Politics We Should Be Paying More Attention To
It is not often that I am made explicitly aware of my sex. Quite possibly, the sexism which I most frequently experience is subliminal. My life is sheltered. I am surrounded by good people — people who care; people who are conscious and perceptive and giving; people who shelter me in terms of what I am exposed to or from the pain which I barely know.
But, last weekend, in Cleveland, Ohio, crouched in the backseat of my Uber driver’s Honda Civic (for simplicity sake, I will refer to him henceforth as the anonymous, “John”), I discovered my gender. And though discovery may seem like a strong word, I cannot describe it as anything other than realization. A realization of the implications of my sex, of how my femininity is perceived, of how being a woman, in our society, is concrete. Defined. I did not know how unalterable my gender was.
Ohio is among a number of states with tight Senate and gubernatorial races that pose potentially key wins in 2026 for the Democratic Party. Bowling Green State University polling reports Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown leads by six percentage points against incumbent Republican senator Jon Husted. Amy Acton, Ohio’s Democratic nominee for governor and former director of public health, leads Vivek Ramaswamy by similar margins.
I’m not sure how our conversation started, but, a few minutes into our ride, it became clear that John had fallen victim to the media.
After referencing a Super PAC attack ad in circulation, inaccurately claiming Brown voted in support of irreversible sex changes for minors, John said: “Sherrow Brow — is that his name? I doubt I’ll be voting for him.”
The ad features biological female, Soren Aldaco, who consented to a double mastectomy at a clinic in Austin, Texas as an adult. Aldaco has no connection to Brown, Ohio, or operations on the youth transgender community.
When John was made aware of these facts, he brushed it off with a joke.
“Maybe I’ll just vote for a woman.”
He laughed.
“Women are some of the strongest leaders we know,” the car chimed in, “Intelligent, introspective, and capable.”
But, he doubled down, “Really? I don’t think a woman can lead. Or at least, not well.”
We live in a world where trustworthy information can be difficult to find. Politics is an echo chamber. Opinions and facts are evermore segregated. I wasn’t surprised someone saw blind truth in a false campaign; but observing a person so easily, so directly, so rashly assert the ineptitude of all women, was a fresh wound.
With just a few sentences, John suggested a woman’s insufficiency. He encouraged comparison. He endorsed with such vehemence and conviction that some tasks are innately impossible, for a reason as arbitrary as sex — that one tiny X chromosome made me, made four billion other people, inadequate.
So, in defiance of this delusion, and in anticipation of election day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, I’m spotlighting three women running for office, beginning with Minnesota Lieutenant Governor, Peggy Flanagan.
According to The Hill, Flanagan leads her Republican opponent, Michele Tafoya, by four percentage points, though this is within the poll’s margin of error. Flanagan was significantly involved in dismantling Operation Metro Surge, a massive deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement federal agents across the Twin Cities, culminating in the arrests of an estimated four thousand undocumented immigrants, legal residents, and U.S. citizens. Flanagan established the operation in partnership with Governor Tim Walz, which probed and recorded ICE’s impact via executive order.
In Georgia, the former Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, looks to turn a Republican seat, currently held by term-limited governor, Brian Kemp. According to InsiderAdvantage, Bottoms polls two percentage points behind her conservative opponent, Rick Jackson. Bottoms was endorsed by Barack Obama and Joe Biden. If elected, she would be the first Black female governor in U.S. history.
Bottoms’s record includes documented support for a temporary pause on data center construction, efforts to expand voting accessibility, and the prohibition of the Atlanta jail’s possession of ICE detainees. Bottoms issued the Drive Plan, part of her economic relief blueprint, which, according to reporting by CBS, proposes 2.5 percent fuel and car insurance tax cuts that would save families with two vehicles around 140 dollars a year.
Returning to Ohio, Amy Acton, a Democrat from Youngstown, is running for governor against her Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy gained national attention after campaigning in the 2024 Presidential Primary and was later selected to lead DOGE alongside Elon Musk, although he eventually stepped down.
Ramaswamy continues to advocate for pro-life policy, resulting in endorsements from the Ohio Right to Life doctors’ PAC. He supports the elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies in higher education and favors expanding traditional energy production and fossil fuels. His pledge to deliver free electricity to residents via data centers is widely criticised as impractical and economically undefined.
By contrast, Acton runs on a pro-choice platform, though she remains relatively moderate in many of her approaches and is careful to separate herself from political characterizations as a radical DEI supporter. Still, Acton advocates for anti-discrimination policies regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, and religion.
As Election Day approaches, these women, along with many other candidates, mark a significant effort to include more diverse voices in politics. To find more female, democratic, pro-choice candidates on the ballot, visit “emilyslist.org/state-and-local-candidates/.” To learn more about women running for elected office, regardless of political affiliation, visit “cawp.rutgers.edu/data/candidates-women-candidates-2026.”
~ Maya Corrie `29
-
Europe’s Endangered Honeybees Are a Warning for Maine
Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about bees. We notice them when they are buzzing around our food outside or when one gets a little too close; otherwise, they’re just another part of the natural world that we assume will always be there.
Recently, wild honeybee populations in Europe were classified as endangered, raising concerns about the future of a species that plays an important role in our ecosystems. According to the World Bee Project, habitat loss, pesticide use, disease, and climate change have all contributed to their decline. None of these threats are particularly surprising, but the fact that such a familiar species is now endangered is still difficult to ignore.
At first, this might seem like an issue that has little to do with us or that we need to care about. Europe is thousands of miles away, and the decline of its wild honeybee population probably is not something most Colby students are thinking about as they go through their day. But the same environmental pressures affecting bees in Europe are also present here in Maine. So why does it matter?
Bees are essential to agriculture, pollinating crops like apples, blueberries, and countless other fruits and vegetables. Maine’s wild blueberry industry, in particular, depends on a combination of native pollinators and managed honeybee colonies. While the endangered status of Europe’s wild honeybees doesn’t directly threaten Maine’s agricultural production, it points to a much larger problem that extends well beyond Europe.
Climate change is shifting seasonal patterns, potentially disrupting the timing between when flowers bloom and when pollinators are active. At the same time, habitat destruction and pesticide use are making it increasingly difficult for bees to survive. These problems aren’t new, and they certainly aren’t limited to one continent.
It’s also important to recognize that not all honeybees are endangered. Managed honeybee colonies are still widespread, and the recent classification specifically concerns wild populations in Europe. Still, the distinction doesn’t make the situation any less concerning. It shows that even species we encounter regularly can become vulnerable when the environments they depend on begin to change.
For Colby students, this issue is a reminder of how connected we are to the natural world, even when the connection isn’t immediately apparent. However, the connection is real and tangible. The farms surrounding Waterville, the food in our dining halls, and even the flowers growing around campus are all part of ecosystems that rely on pollinators.
There are relatively simple ways to help, from planting native flowers to reducing pesticide use and protecting natural habitats. But beyond these individual actions, the decline of Europe’s honeybees raises a broader question about how seriously we’re taking the environmental changes happening around us.
We tend to think of environmental crises as dramatic events, something sudden and impossible to miss. But often, environmental decline happens much more quietly. There are fewer bees in the garden, fewer insects moving between flowers, and eventually, changes to landscapes we have grown used to seeing.
The news from Europe isn’t necessarily a prediction of what will happen in Maine. But it is a reminder that the species we take for granted are not guaranteed to remain, and that we might not notice what we’re losing until it is already gone.
~ Jane Kulevich `29
-
CCAK Commences!
Colby Cares About Kids, or CCAK for short, is a long-standing community service–oriented club, organized by the Office of Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships. This week, new members begin training before the club officially begins in the spring.
Founded in 2001, CCAK is a mentorship program that pairs Colby student mentors with K–8 students in local Waterville schools. Mentors work one-on-one with their student mentee for an hour every week. Students in the program are required to work with their mentee for a minimum of three semesters; however, many students participate beyond the requirement.
The goal for this program is to provide consistent guidance and support to Waterville students. Mentoring sessions allow K–8 students to take a break from their day-to-day schedule, creating space for them to engage in activities of their interest, such as sports, crafts, or playing games.
Mentor–mentee sessions aren’t structured around a specific program, but rather, mentees plan activities for their personal interests. “In my sophomore year, on a nice day in the spring, I brought some of my baseball equipment with me to CCAK, and my mentee and I went out to the field and played baseball together for our entire time that week,” Josh Rubin `27, a program student leader, said. “It was something we’d been talking about doing for over a year, and it was so fun!”
At each of the 13 local schools, site coordinators, including social and guidance counselors, communicate closely with CCAK leaders to facilitate meeting times for each pair and provide strategies for how to best support mentees. At Colby, CCAK is led by Paige Begley, associate director of Civic Engagement, and Emma Farnham, a fifth-year fellow of Civic Engagement. In addition, several passionate upperclassmen with previous experience with CCAK serve as student leaders.
“Being a part of CCAK has allowed me to have a consistent opportunity to engage with the Waterville community, and even more so to develop a really meaningful relationship with my mentee,” Rubin said. “Time and time again, he has offered me the perspective needed to realize my problems aren’t so big, and he has been a joyous, younger brother–type figure in my life.”
Throughout the fall, CCAK leaders organize office hours for prospective mentors and facilitate three one-hour mandatory online training sessions. Here, prospective members learn strategies in mentoring and connecting with children in Maine. Once they complete this onboarding process, members will be paired up with their mentee to begin mentoring sessions in the spring.
“I hope that I can build a deep relationship with my mentee and help the kids in the greater Waterville area,” Hana Cheng `30, a prospective mentor, said. “I joined because I wanted to continue volunteering with children at Colby.”
At the end of the school year, CCAK hosts a large barbecue for mentor–mentee groups and students’ families. This event includes outside activities, food, and arts and crafts. This long-standing annual tradition allows Colby to connect with the children and families of Waterville.
“My favorite CCAK memory was last year’s BBQ, when my mentee’s excitement to see me reminded me of how meaningful our connection is,” Priya Raskin `28 said. “It has been so meaningful to watch my mentee grow throughout my time at Colby, witnessing his maturity develop, his interests flourish, and our connection grow stronger.”
~ Elsie Scott `30
-
In the News with Chi Ossé
Last Wednesday evening, Oct. 14, New York City politician and activist Chi Ossé visited the College as part of In the News. The program is run by the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and occurs each week in Page Commons. The purpose of In the News is to encourage and facilitate dialogue among students, community members, and visiting speakers who are involved in politics and journalism.
Ossé grew up in Brooklyn and began his career in the entertainment industry, working as a promoter. In 2020, he rose to prominence as an organizer within the Black Lives Matter movement, and that same year he announced his campaign to run for New York City Council to represent the 36th district. He was the farthest-left candidate in the race, which also included district leader Henry Butler. His win, as a 23-year-old with less political experience and fewer traditional endorsements than his opponents, was seen as a significant upset. He retained his seat in the 2025 election.
The event was advertised with posters reading “Is the Democratic Party ready for Gen Z?” Throughout the event, Ossé emphasized his support for getting younger people into politics, and an audience member asked a question that referred to the U.S. government as a “gerontocracy.” Ossé’s win in the 2021 NYC Council election made him the Council’s only Gen Z member.
Students who attended the event felt that his youth contributed to making his perspective feel more accessible. A first-year student who preferred to remain anonymous shared, “He did feel very relatable, like, the conversation was easy, there wasn’t any crazy jargon… just a down-to-earth guy who’s trying to get younger people involved in politics, which I think is what this country needs right now.” Catie Corkery `28, another attendee, called it “engaging,” “easy to listen to,” and “entertaining” and said, “He talked a lot about how politics is kind of performance, and I think he definitely tapped into that.”
Even students who were opposed to his ideas enjoyed his communication style. Brooke McCraley `28 expressed, “I thought he was a really good speaker… I think that’s kind of natural because he’s closer to our age range… but generally he was pretty charismatic and engaging to listen to. He just knows how to talk to people, and for an audience… it was easier to listen to, but I wouldn’t say I agree with a lot of the things he said.”
Corkery was impressed with how directly he communicated his beliefs, and felt that the authentic and unyielding way he presented himself was aligned with his approach to policy. She explained, “He’s very much so going to stand and fight for what he believes in, even if that means he won’t compromise. And I think that definitely came out.”
The anonymous first-year agreed and was particularly struck by Ossé’s description of his recent arrest outside the home of a constituent who “was dealing with an alleged deed theft issue.” Ossé recounted, “the marshals ended up coming to try to evict her and her grandchild from the home, and I put my body on the line and ended up getting arrested and, like, slammed to the ground… that constituent of mine is still in her home with her family.”
The anonymous first-year said, “A lot of politicians will say stuff and they’ll be, like, ‘I stand with this,’ but not a lot is ever put on the line. I thought that was pretty admirable to be willing to go that far, especially when you have something to lose, like he did.”
McCraley felt that the audience gave him an easier time than many past In the News guests. She explained, “People were a little bit less provocative in their questions… a little bit less combative… they were clapping when he was talking; a lot of the other ones where people don’t agree, you can tell. It’s pretty silent when they’re speaking.” She felt the positive energy and engagement from the crowd may have helped him deliver his message more convincingly, and said, “He kind of knew that he was, like, more free to talk about what he believed in than a lot of the other speakers… that probably helped a lot of his confidence and the way he spoke.”
At the end of the event, Ossé was asked whether in the coming years he might consider running for a higher office, to which he replied, “Um, I don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow,” and was met with a chorus of laughter from the crowd. Then he continued, “I don’t know what my future holds and whether that’s political or otherwise. What I will say is that I am very stressed about the state of affairs within our society, within our country, and I care about this country, and I care about my neighbors, and I care about the people that I represent, my friends, the people that I love, and I know that we can be better… however I can add myself… in that fight, to make our lives a bit better, is someplace that I want to be.”
Readers who wish to learn more about Ossé may visit his page on the New York City Council website or follow him on social media. Students or community members who would like to spend time engaging in discussion about current events with knowledgeable professionals should consider attending a session of In the News. Upcoming In the News events will feature exciting speakers such as Chellie Pingree, who is the U.S. Representative for Maine’s 1st Congressional District, and Jackie Northam, who is a former International Affairs Correspondent for NPR.
~ Anna Izquierdo `29
-
“Women speak out on frats”: An Analysis
In the recent wake of the Cornell 7 scandal, attention has turned to fraternity houses around the country, with public outcry rallying against continued Greek culture on college campuses. Decoding and learning Colby’s true history in different ways shows new perspectives that are rarely heard.
When I investigated an archived 1980s Compass report, “Women speak out on frats,” a historical dynamic becomes clear: female students were forced into unfair trade-offs, having to decide whether to engage in campus social life and risk harassment or isolate themselves from the Colby community, which gave me a much more informed perspective on Colby’s history.
While the title seems to imply an open and honest opinion from women on campus, self-censorship was deeply embedded. Women were censoring themselves in fear of being shunned from the fraternity-focused social life. When considering how to even begin the reporting process at the time, it seemed like an unimaginable hurdle to climb. Social infrastructure at the time did not support victims of assault and rape with the care needed, causing deep-seated skepticism towards the survivor. Coupled with this, the unimaginable social backlash they might receive at a small college in rural Maine with a heavy fraternity focus would likely lead to whistleblowing about the perpetrator, effectively rendering their daily college experience unlivable.
We see examples of the deeply ingrained self-censorship through the repetition of “horror stories” throughout the text;most senior women on campus attesting to having experienced these “horror stories” within the campus fraternal system. While left clearly undefined by many interviewees, it shows the level of self-censorship of the time; the context surrounding these accounts points directly to severe encounters with sexual harassment and assault. This fear was indoctrinated into women through the fraternal system. Women would not be viewed as equals; they were seen as “girls” or “pickups” in purely sexual terms, with an accepted societal standard that they would have to earn their respect by proving they are competent individuals. This labeling system created an unfair social dynamic where women felt inferior to the men hosting and organizing the social scene on campus. They lived in a reality where they could not fight back against these overarching powers and are forced to accept it.
The accepted injustice continues with an event hosted by the women’s group “Take Back the Night.” The goal of this event was to bring awareness to the violence and unfairness targeted towards women and the gay community being harassed and feeling uncomfortable when walking down fraternity row. The event was a three-mile walk around campus in silence, holding candles. However, this was a peaceful form of protest against injustice, as it ended in harassment and personal attacks on the women involved by the fraternity houses and their members. The administration’s response was limited to an informal discussion between the dean and the fraternity presidents. The lack of punishment for blatant harassment of the women and non-heteronormative community on campus is another example of the violence and a lack of respect towards women becoming an accepted part of Colby life.
Not only are there the common themes of fear of the frat houses, but as a whole, many women shared the common thread of experiencing their “most embarrassing moments” within fraternity walls. This common view of oneself ties back into the deeply embedded self-censorship on campus, showing that they likely all have been exploited to be embarrassed, exemplifying the growing divide in the power dynamic between women and the frat houses.
Even when considering all this information, it paints a terrifying reality for women on campus: women do not blame the men for how they act; they blame the fraternity culture, claiming, “they don’t think the fraternity members would act that way without the fraternity behind them.” This shows the deep empathy and hope women have for men on campus, which they do not receive in return.
With fraternity members having these harsh preconceived notions of women before ever speaking to them, it understandably creates an understanding gap where neither party ever truly understands one another. We still see this power dynamic and injustice perpetuated today through recent news, coupled with the recent sexual violence task force making it clearer than ever that these systemic issues did not disappear with the abolition of frat; they simply manifest in new ways today.
~ Lukas Frenes `30
-
Fall Break in Québec City
Fall break: four precious days in the middle of the semester where you feel like you can finally catch a break, for many of us after midterm exams. Many Colby students use it as a long weekend to head home or to catch up on some much-needed sleep. I spent mine in Québec City, Canada, and I think you should consider doing the same next fall.
Getting there is a lot easier than you would expect. Although it is across the Canadian border, it’s only a four-hour drive from the College. Most of the route runs through Maine forests, which are at peak foliage during Fall break, so the drive itself becomes a memorable part of the trip.
The moment you reach the city, you’ll forget you were in Waterville earlier that day. Old Québec is filled with stone buildings, cobblestone streets, and it offers views of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a castle-like hotel that towers over most of downtown. The city is straight out of a Christmas postcard, and one of the best parts is that it’s very walkable. Once you park, you can (and should) see most of the city on foot. It’s hard to believe this city is just a few hours’ drive from campus.
Then there’s the language. French is the official language of Québec, and you’ll notice it right away. As soon as you cross the border, street signs and storefronts suddenly switch to French. Nearly everyone will greet you with a “bonjour,” but most people will speak English as soon as they realize you aren’t a local. Even so, ending a conversation with “merci” is a small gesture that many locals will appreciate. And if you’re taking French classes at Colby, there’s no better way to put your French skills to use.
Restaurants are where things can get trickier for those of us who don’t speak French. Having an English translation is not always guaranteed, so I’d recommend using Google Translate or asking a staff member. But the food there makes all the effort worth it. Getting poutine in Canada should definitely be on your list; it seriously gives Pinky D’s a run for its money. Maple syrup also shows up everywhere, so if you have a sweet tooth, you’ll have lots of options for dessert.
You should be warned, though: pack more layers than you think you’ll need. Québec City was noticeably colder than Maine, even in October. You’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors, so bring layers to make the long walks more enjoyable.
Luckily, the people are much warmer than the weather. Locals in Québec are so friendly and welcoming, even though I didn’t speak French. Nobody seemed bothered when I was fumbling my way through a menu or asking for help with directions. It felt like they were genuinely happy to help. Canadians leave an impression that leaves you wanting to come back.
There’s far more to Québec City than I could fit in one article, and the best way to understand is to go! So next fall break, consider skipping the extra sleep and dare northward instead. You’ll come back to campus a little tired, but it’ll be worth it.
~ Pamela Swartz `28
-
Why Pumpkin?
Miller Lawn was flooded with pumpkins last Thursday morning. The College has an annual tradition of installing a miniature pumpkin patch mid-October. This year, Dining Services hosted the event, furnishing the quad with orange pumpkins weighing between ten and 20 pounds and smaller white “ghost” pumpkins. Soon, carved jack-o’-lanterns flanked the walkways in front of the Mary Low and Foss residences.
The pumpkin patch was followed by Fall Fest on Saturday. The Student Programming Board hosted the yearly event, which was moved indoors due to “forecasted high winds and low [temperatures].” The celebration consisted of a free beer garden in the Bobby Silberman Lounge, a bull-riding machine in Cotter Union, a food truck selling pretzels and bratwurst, and a free photo booth. The beer garden was accompanied by a performance from the student band Free Candy, and beer and hard cider were available for students of drinking age. Pumpkins were also available for carving. These were a smaller variant than those in the pumpkin patch.
Seasonal changes are often associated with physical objects that symbolize transformations within the culture we belong to. For many, the arrival of winter is closely associated with hot chocolate, Christmas lights, and snow. Such affiliations may stem from the Protestant influences that shaped American culture, specifically the celebration of Christmas. Similarly, we celebrate autumn by interacting with objects that signify the season, as conditioned by our culture; these include pumpkins, apples, fairgrounds, and cinnamon-flavored pastries.
What are the cultural conditions that shape our association of autumn with pumpkins? The celebration of Halloween is one possibility, as the holiday is celebrated by carving hollowed-out pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns. Halloween can be traced back to two closely related origins, one from the Celtic celebration of Samhain and the other from the Catholic celebration of All Saints’ Day. Samhain, or Sauin, begins on the evening of Oct. 31 and lasts until sunset on Nov. 1. The celebration marks the end of the harvest season and the commencement of the “winter half” of the year. The day is deeply embedded in Irish mythology; according to Tochmach Emire — a written work on Irish mythology by Christian monks in the Middle Ages — Samhain is the first of the four seasonal festivals during the year, during which a “great gathering” of meetings, drinking, feasts, and contests take place. From the Catholic tradition, Halloween is the day before the celebration of All Saints’ Day. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III changed the date of the celebration to Nov. 1, and in the 9th century, Pope Gregory IV made the date a church-wide celebration. Though scholarship is mixed on the relation between the two origins, it is widely believed that the church made this decision as a reaction to the pervasive Celtic mythology.
Pumpkins became part of the holiday through the legend of “Stingy Jack,” an Irish folktale about a local drunkard. After making deals with Satan to avoid his death, Jack lives a life of deceit and drinking until he dies and begs both God and Satan for admission into the afterlife. God denies his request due to Jack’s sinful lifestyle and a former agreement, where Satan promised not to send Jack’s soul to Hell. Instead, Satan gave Jack a piece of ember — a glowing fragment of coal or wood from fire. According to the story, Jack is not allowed in either afterlife, and only has an ember in a hollowed-out “turnip” to light his way.
~ Benjamin Ha `27
-
The College Tightens Parking Rules
The College increased parking fines beginning Oct. 1, raising the cost of a first violation to $25 and each subsequent violation to $100. Additional consequences for repeat violations include towing and the potential loss of parking privileges.
Anna Brookes, associate vice president of Campus Safety and Security, said the changes are intended to ensure that members of the College community can park in their assigned lots, particularly during busy times.
“Colby’s comprehensive parking plan is based on the expectation that all members of the community park in the lots to which they’re assigned,” Brookes wrote in an email. When people park outside their designated areas, she said, lots can fill up, leaving faculty and staff without available spaces.
“Graduated enforcement — increasing fines, then towing, then removal of privileges — is part of an effort to encourage behavior change so that those who commute to Colby daily can park in their designated areas,” Brookes said.
The new fines apply to several violations, including failing to display a parking permit, parking in the wrong lot or zone, violating winter parking and snow removal rules, misusing electric vehicle spaces, blocking fire lanes or emergency access areas, and parking in accessible or visitor spaces without authorization.
Brookes also said the College wants to make parking easier for campus visitors, who are directed to designated spaces throughout campus. When students, faculty, or staff use those spaces, visitors may have difficulty finding somewhere to park.
“We want to welcome our visitors warmly, not make things challenging for them upon arrival,” Brookes said.
While the fines have increased, Brookes said Campus Security’s enforcement process remains the same. Officers continue to patrol parking lots and respond to calls involving vehicles blocking fire lanes, emergency access areas or service vehicle access, as well as vehicles interfering with snow removal.
Vehicles parked without authorization in accessible spaces or fire and emergency access areas may be towed immediately. Vehicles that obstruct snow removal may also be towed. After five parking violations, a vehicle may be towed, and after ten violations, parking or other privileges may be revoked for the following semester or longer.
For students, however, the consequences of a parking violation can go beyond the cost of a ticket. A $100 fine may be difficult to manage on a student budget, and having a vehicle towed can create additional financial and logistical challenges, particularly for students who rely on their cars to travel off campus.
A student who requested anonymity said over text that the increased fines add to the stress students already experience when trying to find parking on campus.
“I don’t know much about the inner workings of parking at Colby, but the prices are really high,” they said. “There’s a general lack of parking on campus and that causes stress for students already, so being worried about a $100 fine on top of that is ridiculous. That might not be a feasible fine for some students, let alone taking care of retrieving their car if it gets towed.”
The policy also establishes consequences for unpaid fines. Payment is required within 20 days of a fine’s issuance. After five unpaid violations, the College may place a hold on course registration until the fines are paid.
When an officer issues a violation, a physical ticket is left on the vehicle, and an electronic copy is sent by email within a few minutes. Students are responsible for keeping track of their violations, but those unsure of their total can contact Campus Security at security@colby.edu with their permit information.
The College’s parking webpage provides information about permits, designated lots, and parking regulations. Permit stickers identify the specific lots where students are allowed to park. Commuter permits allow students to park in the designated commuter area in Roberts lot, as well as the Lower Athletics or West lots.
Students who believe they received a ticket in error can appeal by contacting Campus Security. Brookes said the appeals process is included on the physical ticket and in the email notification. Students are encouraged to address or appeal violations before the 20-day payment deadline.
While the College maintains that stricter enforcement will help ensure parking remains available in designated areas, students point to the financial strain that fines and towing can create amid existing frustrations with campus parking. How the updated policy will affect students’ experiences remains to be seen.
~ Mia Dinunzio `28
October 28, 2026
Colby College's weekly, student-run, editorially independent newspaper.