By MATT EPSTEIN
News Editor
 

In a change from last year the committee seating process was a relatively painless process, with considerable competition for many positions.

In 1997, under the previous Executive Board, committee seats were left vacant for some time after the start of classes, and few people volunteered for many positions. Several committees were filled only when then President Liam Clarke appointed individuals to them.

Committee seatings are made by the Committee on Committees, which is chaired by Vice President David Kirby. The RA as a whole may amend the assignments, however it has not done so once in the past two years.

The RA also passed a bill to address apathy on campus regarding student government. A new publication, the RA Times will be printed every few weeks this year to keep the student body informed of events in the RA.

The Times is the body's response to concerns about the fact that most students know almost nothing about the operation of their student government, and to correct possible misconceptions.

It is projected to cost approximately $10 per hundred copies, which is substantially cheaper then past proposals to purchase space in the Student (approximately $6 per column inch).

The final business of the meeting was the approval of a bill to help students move in at the beginning of a semester. Starting in January, RA members will be available as a "welcoming committee" to drive a van carrying students and their packages from the Maintenance Center to their residences.

This week's session was also the first under tighter rules of parliamentary procedure. Visitors to the RA will now find themselves asked to conform to particular rules governing how and when the speak to the body.

On Tuesday, October 13, elections for the Dean's, President's and Trustee's Advisory Committees will take place outside of Commons. All students are eligible to vote in these elections. Candidates have been campaigning for the past week, with several posters appearing around Chase Hall.

Back to Bates Weekend next week.

Back to Bates, the college's answer to a fall homecoming takes place next weekend, October 16-18.

Although Lenny Kravitz's performance has been cancelled, numerous activities are planned for the weekend. A full schedule will be published in next week's paper.

The weekend is traditionally a major one for campus parties as recent alums return to visit younger former classmates.

Men Stopping Sexual Assault holding next meeting.

"Men Stopping Sexual Assault," a new organization on campus made up of men, and devoted to preventing the crimes of rape and sexual assault in the Bates Community, will be having its second meeting of the year in the Garcelon Room of Commons on Monday, October 12, at 6 PM. All men are welcome.

The discussion will focus on ways to eduacate the campus about the issues of rape and sexual assault.