The Bates Student

At 3:41pm on Thursday, April 16, Bates College students received notification through the Bates Emergency System text alerts of a Shelter-in-Place order. “LPD [Lewiston Police Department] responding to armed individual near campus on Central Avenue and Campus Avenue,” the message read.

We are taught very early that there is a correct way to interact with others. We are constantly trying to say the right thing, read the room correctly and land well. Most of us never question this. It simply becomes our most natural way of engaging with the world. However, a conditioned way of seeing is not the only way of seeing. Once you experience a different way of relating to the world, it becomes harder to believe that the way you’ve always done things is the only way.

No. 59 women’s lacrosse took a huge stride in the NESCAC conference last weekend with a win against No. 104 Bowdoin College and No. 95 Hamilton College on April 1 and April 4. These two games put them at a NESCAC record of 2-5 and an overall record of 6-6. The Bobcats beat the Bowdoin Polar Bears 13-12 in overtime on Bowdoin’s home turf, Whittier Field.

Boasting a fifth all-time record for the Bobcats in the shot put, Temperance England ‘29 continues to impress. Hailing from Havertown, Pa., the 5’8” freshman phenom leads the Bobcats in weight throw and shot put. Ever since quitting lacrosse freshman year of high school, England has been all in for throws.

March Madness delivered historic moments, highlighted by UCLA Bruins women’s basketball capturing their first national championship after falling to the UConn Huskies in the Final Four in 2025. On the men’s side, the Michigan Wolverines tore through the brackets, securing their first title since 1989. In typical March Madness fashion, teams proved that seeding does not guarantee success.

Ryland Grace wakes up from a coma with two dead crewmates and no idea who or where he is. What he discovers is that he is currently on a ship traveling through space, light years away from Earth, on his way to the Tau Ceti star system. He does not know how to turn the ship around to go back to Earth, nor does he have enough fuel to even get there. Ryland Grace is stranded in space, trying to remember who he is without anyone to tell him. “Project Hail Mary” was released in theaters on Mar.

With a definitive three-game sweep over rival Bowdoin College on April 4, baseball cemented their mid-season record as one of the best the team has ever achieved. On April 3 in Brunswick, Bates scored consistently in five of nine innings to take the game 5-3. Then, at home in the next day’s double-header, they won their first game 2-1 in seven innings and then put up a massive eight-run third inning to win the second game 10-1.

In their most productive season ever, men’s swimming placed sixth overall at the NCAA DIII Championships ending March 21. Women’s swimming, led by Sarah Palmer as the sole competitor, placed 26th. It was a remarkable season for swimming, spearheaded by the men’s relay team and others who broke records at the school, NESCAC, and national level. Head Coach Peter Casares was named National Men’s Swimming Co-Coach of the Year.

The Robinson Players 2026 main-stage production “A Midwinter Night’s Tale” took the stage in Gannet Theater from March 26th-28th. Directed by Lila Shamsi ‘26, the play balances modern comedic edge with a mix of classic Shakespearean texts. Written collaboratively by Anne Walaszek and Nathan Wonder, the play saw its stage premiere at Bates. Walaszek attended closing night to see her work performed for the first time on stage. Shakespeare is this play’s primary catalyst.

Which feels more rewarding: graduating from medical school or studying for one more hour when you’d rather scroll on Instagram reels? The answer feels obvious. One comes with a diploma and applause; the other passes quietly, unnoticed. But that quiet hour is what makes the diploma possible. We celebrate outcomes loudly and effort quietly, even though outcomes are built entirely from effort.