Bates Student: Sports: Let the battle begin

- October 9, 1998

Let the battle begin!

By PAUL ZINN
Staff Writer

Freshmen? Sophmores? Juniors? Seniors? Have you ever wondered which class would win in an athletic competition? Well, this just may be the year we find out. Last weekend, the inaugural "Battle of the Classes" competition began with a full slate of events consisting of Table Tennis, Horseshoes, and a Tug-o-War. The contest runs a full year and involves a lot of different events, and in the end one class will stand tall amongst the others. Last Sunday, October 4^th, each individual class had a tournament to determine its team for each of the first three events. This Sunday, as part of Parents' Weekend festivities, these teams will enter into competition against teams from the opposing classes in each event at 12:30. The Horseshoes and Tug-o-War Competitions will take place on the Library Quad, while Table Tennis will be held in the Gray Cage. The first segment of this three part competition features the Freshman vs. the Sophmores and the Juniors vs. the Seniors. The "Battle of the Classes" emphasizes class unity and togetherness, but it should be a hard fought competition considering class bragging rights are on the line.

The "Battle of the Classes" is part of the Healthy Choices Program, and this program is a result of the two-year joint commission on alcohol. The competition between classes will try to boost the participation and the number of activities in the intramural program. One of its main goals is to provide a fun alternative to drinking.

Another important goal of the Healthy Choices Program is to benefit first-years. Through the program, a group of upperclass leaders will be selected to be peer educators for first-year students at Bates. Upperclass varsity athletes will also be selected because they are used to being committed to a team and doing what is best for the team. The program will really try to reach first years. The reason for this is, as Marsha Graef (one of the coordinators of the "Battle of the Classes") put it, "Statistically, it has been proven that first-years have a higher rate of binge drinking than upper class students. We want to teach them the detriments of binge drinking from the beginning." (This is a nationwide statistic.)

It is very easy and not too late to be a part of the "Battle of the Classes." If you want to get involved, just pay attention to the display cases to see when the winter teams are being compiled. These display cases are located in Merrill Gymnasium, Alumni Gym, and on the Housing Bulletin Board located by the student mail boxes. Then, just show up on the given date to compete, and try to represent your class in one of the events. However, the "Battle of the Classes" will not just involve physical activity. As Marsha Graef put it, "We want it to be a way for students to socialize." Last Sunday, towards the end of the activities there was a dinner barbecue, on the Library Quad, for all students on the meal plan.

When the entire competition ends in the spring, the winning class will receive a plaque or a trophy for its victory. The winners of each event will also receive T-shirts. As of now, only some of the events for the winter and spring have been chosen. According to Chris Sporcic '01 (one of the student coordinators), the events that are definite for the winter are a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, hockey, and the annual intramural basketball league. The only event secure for the spring is softball.

The "Battle of the Classes" figures to be a fun and exciting way for students to engage in competition, meet new people, and get to know each other better. Another student coordinator, Renee Marchant '99, said, "I think it will be a good opportunity for the classes to get together for some good, healthy competition." Hopefully, it will also be a great addition to an intramural program that the Bates community has supported so well in the past. So, if you have some free time this weekend, get out and support the "Battle of the Classes", and then get involved in the winter.

If you would like to recommend an event for the "Battle of the Classes," contact Marsha Graef at mgraef@abacus.bates.edu.

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