Have you ever wondered what it would be like to jump from climbing the wall at Merrill to then being the Bates Musicians Union technical director? Well Will Cohen does it all, from playing music in St. Mary’s recovery room to then dressing up as Oasis at the Halloween Dance, what doesn’t he do? As your trusty insider into the lives of Bates students, The Student has chosen Will Cohen ‘28, a History major and Chem minor from Portland, Oregon to feature this semester.
What made you choose Bates?
Well, I am from Portland, Oregon, but my mom is from Belfast, Maine, which is a little north of Bates, and every summer when I was growing up we would come visit her family out here. That made me realize that I wanted to go to college on the East Coast and my older brother did as well.
One specific time that I knew I wanted to go to Bates was when we were visiting my mom’s family in Belfast, and on the way up we stopped at Colby, Bates and Bowdoin. I chose Bates out of the three because it felt like the community that I really belonged in which was really important to me.
What are you involved in on campus?
I am mostly involved in music-related things. I am the Technical Director of the Bates Musicians Union. Additionally, I am a part of a lot of bands on campus. Last semester I was a part of three but this semester I am only a part of one because of the junior class going abroad. But the one that I am currently a part of is the one I have been a part of the longest. It is called “Call Doug” and it began in the beginning of freshman year and we have been playing together ever since. We’ve played in Lewiston a few times, the Halloween Dance sponsored by Bates, the orientation week barbecue, and of course some basement shows.
I also do jazz guitar lessons through Bates which is pretty fun. I am enjoying them a lot with Pete Herman. Shoutout Pete. He’s a good dude and he is the best guitar player I’ve ever seen in person. It is unreal. And lastly, I do a few small things like intramural basketball, dodgeball, and I like to do climbing at the wall in Merrill.
But that is primarily what I am involved in. I’d probably say that music is the biggest thing that I spend my time doing other than school work. If I’m not doing practices I’m doing school work.
What have been a few of your favorite memories at Bates?
Off the top of my head, the puddle jump this year was really fun. I didn’t do it last year because I had the flu. But I did it this year and I got the hype. It was very fun and it honestly wasn’t as cold as I was imagining. It was like I stopped feeling anything after like 30 seconds so it was good.
Another recent memory was the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Music Festival last year. It was at Bowdoin and we played there which was a ton of fun. It was one of my favorite memories just because I was getting to go to a different school and see what their bands were like and see their campus. But it was a pretty big deal and I think we are doing it again this year ideally.
My last favorite memory was when we played the Halloween Show last semester; it was really exciting that it was a Bates sponsored event. There were other bands dressed up as different real bands and played their music.
If there is one thing Bates could do differently, what would it be?
Yeah that’s kind of hard. I feel like I’m pretty happy with everything, and the way that my time here has gone so far. The only thing that I could think of that I wish I had done differently was gotten more involved in clubs last year cause I think that’s something that I’m starting to do more this year. It is also something that I feel like I’m benefiting a lot from like doing intramural sports and getting more involved with Bates Musicians Union.
How have you gotten involved in the Lewiston Community during your time at Bates?
I am starting this that was organized by Gina Fatone, who is Chair of the Music department, and we are going to St. Marys to play short concerts in the recovery center. I have yet to do it but they did one earlier this year that I couldn’t go to. I’m looking forward to doing that more this semester and getting more involved with that. I think this is a really good way to get me more involved with the Lewiston community.
Editor’s Note: Cohen’s answers have been edited for length and clarity.