<p>I saw a video on racism at Bowdoin. I am a young, black, gay man and have concerns about what life will be like for me if I got in. Any Bowdoin students have an opinion about this subject?</p>
<p>You definitely shouldn’t feel threatened from applying. Bowdoin is an extremely accepting campus, and the LGBTQ community here is also very large. Two of my friends here are minorities and also gay males; they haven’t had any problems.
I guess the one thing I’d say about Bowdoin is that it does feel a little white. I don’t think it’s generally something that people have a problem with, but if you want more info, I can ask a close friend of mine here for his thoughts on being a black student at Bowdoin.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, what video did you watch?</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. The video is under College Confidential’s “Recent Videos” and it is titled, “Bowdoin College is Racist”. It is also on You Tube. If you could talk to your friend that would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I think OP is referring to this:</p>
<p>[Bowdoin</a> College is Racist - YouTube](<a href=“Bowdoin College is Racist - YouTube”>Bowdoin College is Racist - YouTube)</p>
<p>I’d be more concerned about this:</p>
<p>[I</a> AM BOWDOIN - YouTube](<a href=“I AM BOWDOIN - YouTube”>I AM BOWDOIN - YouTube)</p>
<p>Im an international student from S. Korea, so i should be one of the minority of the minority given that I don’t speak perfect English or so. </p>
<p>Yet, I don’t think anyone here is racist or have stereotypes against anyone. LGBT activism is really vibrant, and there also are very many LGBT ppl, so you shouldn’t be threatened by that. In fact, I’d say Bowdoin’s pretty much really liberal. … </p>
<p>When ppl ask about gay marriage or so, honestly im not so sure. (don’t have voting right here any way) but majority of Bowdoin supports it i think it is nearly 70 percent or sth. </p>
<p>So you really shouldn’t be worried</p>
<p>I’m coming to Bowdoin next fall and I’m definitely a minority as I’m an Asian. At first it slightly worries me but now, with many conversations with other prospective students, I believe that I’ll be doing find. Bowdoin is such a friendly and welcoming place to be (:</p>
<p>Joycool, 92% of the student body was in favor of gay marriage. [Election</a> calls into question free speech, balance of discourse on campus — The Bowdoin Orient](<a href=“http://bowdoinorient.com/article/7672]Election”>Election calls into question free speech, balance of discourse on campus — The Bowdoin Orient)</p>
<p>As to the videos… It’s really tragic that those incidents occur. Unfortunately, I think you’re going to find some degree of idiocy and bigotry anywhere you go. These videos are supposed to direct attention towards the problem of racism at Bowdoin – that’s an important discussion to be having and I’m all for it. However, I’m afraid they overstate the pervasiveness of the problem on campus by trying to draw as much attention as possible.</p>
<p>Trust me, you do not want to go to Bowdoin. Kids here have a very limited perspective, most have spent their entire lives growing up in the same small town and think that their week long community service trips to other countries are enough to lend them a more cultured and worldly view on the world.</p>
<p>People are superficially supportive of LGBT, diversity, minorites, etc. The student body here is more concerned with being politically correct than it is with fixing any issues. Discussing racism and sexuality here is a very delicate thing, you’re treading on a minefield because everyone wants to maintain a facade of sympathy and understanding. In truth, most people here are retardedly ignorant and have nothing constructive to say. They listen without understanding, and learn without appreciating. </p>
<p>If you come from a city, or any other play where multicuturalism is a big theme, do NOT come here. Bowdoin is a bland tasteless place where art goes to die and where everyone fits into the same goddamned mold.</p>
<p>As a black first year student at Bowdoin, I am undeniably part of a minority. While it is evident that perhaps the college should take more strides to diversify the student body – there are approximately 50 other black male undergraduates, and many of the students come from prestigious prep schools – I can honestly say that everyone I have met here has been friendly and accepting. Apparently, Bowdoin has a very high quality of life.</p>
<p>At any college as historically liberal as our own, some people will always be superficially supportive of diversity. This does not reflect the general population in anyway. From what I have experienced at Bowdoin, my peers are always willing to discuss the sensitive issues of race, sexuality, and the like. While I do not think it is true that everyone here is super-intelligent, I cannot agree that most people here “are retardedly ignorant and have nothing constructive to say.”</p>
<p>Be less concerned about the racial divide, and more about the economic divide. But expect the polar bears to be open-minded and collegial towards each other even if consensus cannot be attained. Can’t know everything when you’re 17.</p>
<p>I’m a minority first year at Bowdoin and I’d say that the community is generally accepting and liberal (although there’s nothing that needs to be “accepted” about being a minority). I’d agree with the idea that many of the students are more concerned with being politically correct than anything else, and that can be annoying, but many of them are just young, underexposed students so you can’t expect too much. I’ve never experienced any racism here at all, and there is quite a large LGBTQ community on campus that the Bowdoin community as a whole supports. I’m from nyc, and people there are a lot more diverse and educated on matters of race and diversity and whatnot, but I don’t see any reason to not come to Bowdoin because it’s less diverse than what you might like, because that’s life after college. I would say there is more of an athlete/non-athlete divide than any racial or sexual orientation divide here at Bowdoin. If you decide to come, it won’t be difficult to find a solid group (regardless of your race), the college does a great job of helping students form bonds. Good luck with everything!</p>