The Bowdoin Orient

March 2, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 18

WARRIORS leads fight against eating disorders

   This past week, members of the Bowdoin community, including students, deans, professors, coaches and alums attended various events in recognition of Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Kresge Auditorium was filled to near capacity on Monday evening, when Catherine Steiner-Adair '76, Assistant Director of the Harvard Center for Eating Disorders spoke. Later in the week, a student from the class of 2000, in addition to deans, members of the counseling center and Dudley Coe, and coaches, gathered with several WARRIORS members to discuss the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Throughout the week, WARRIORS hosted a table in Smith Union where students could read literature about eating disorders, take a yellow ribbon, paint a self-portrait, and get infromation about WARRIORS meetings.
   As Steiner-Adair noted, the prevalence of eating dirosders is increasing at an alarming rate, and researchers have yet to discover a difinitive cure for these disorders.
   While such facts are disheartening, it is encouraging to note that due to the tireless efforts and awareness of some Bowdoin students, the prevalence of eating disroders at Bowdoin is finally being seriously addressed.
   Given the heavy work load and stress at Bowdoin, it is easy to become apathetic, to negelct seemingly idealistic visions of changing the world, or making any substantial social change within the College. However, four years ago, students took it upon themselves to form WARRIORS (Bowdoin's body image and eating disroders awareness group), proving that a bit of idealism can go along way in fostering change on campus. Permenant change, however, takes time.
   While WARRIORS initially stuggled to gain prominince on campus, the group has developed into a highly effective supportive presence. The very existence of the group has helped to decrease the stigma attached to eating disorders here at Bowdoin. More students are comfortable talking about their struggles with eating disorders, and therefore, the administration has become increasingly aware of the problem.
   Some of the founding members of WARRIORS will graduate this spring, and while eating disorders are still a staggering problem at Bowdoin, these students have made a substantial conrib ution to the Bowdoin community.They have provided students, the administration and other community members with the awareness and education to continue to address issues of body image and eating disorders at Bowdoin.
   Yesterday evening, WARRIORS sponsored a candle-light vigil on the Museum steps to recognize those who have struggled or continue to struggle with eating disorders.
   With the work of Steiner-Adair and current Bowdoin students and community members, it is possible that someday Bowdoin students will light candles in remebernace of a disease that was fought and won in generations past.