Appropriate for the sub-zero temperatures freezing much of the East Coast this week, Bowdoin’s Student Activities office hosted a semi-formal event for students last Friday at the Peary-Macmillan Arctic Museum.

Like last semester’s kick-off event “Night at the Museum” at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, this reception was designed to bring students to a space they might not otherwise visit. Despite being one of the college’s most unique resources, the Arctic Museum’s traffic is generated mostly by campus visitors.

The reception also provided students an opportunity to dress up and socialize with their peers. “We’ve always heard that students like to dress up and mingle with other students, faculty and staff, so this event offers the opportunity to celebrate the beginning of the spring semester in that way,” explained Silvia Serban, Assistant Director of Student Activities.

Graham Edwards ’14 said he enjoyed being able to share his love for the Arctic Museum with his peers. A tour guide for the museum, Edwards circulated through the crowd during the festivities, holding show-and-tell pieces from the museum and offering “fun facts” about them. When asked what his favorite thing about the Museum was, Edwards responded, “I really like the natural history part of the museum. Narwhals are a personal favorite. In the museum, there is a narwhal tusk that can be touched.”

Thanks to Bowdoin’s award winning Dining Service, students enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the second floor of Hubbard Hall before making their way back to the first floor to enjoy the Arctic Museum’s exhibits. With special features such as a performance by the Meddibempters, cranberry-infused “arctic water” and polar bear-shaped cookies, the event delighted arctic enthusiasts and newbies alike.

Story by Margot Fay Howard ’13, Photo by Michele Stapleton