BATES:
Last weekend, members of the Brooks Quimby Debate Council attended their last tournament before Nationals (this weekend, April 9-11). At the tournament, which took place at Clark University, the team walked away with the first, fourth and fifth place speakers in the Novice bracket, as well as a sixth place speaker in the Varsity bracket. In a separate “teams” category, Bates also won first and second place in the Novice bracket and second place in the Varsity bracket. These recent wins mean Bates will be sending four teams to Nationals this weekend, tying the team with the University of Maryland.

In an effort to reduce toxic emissions, 49 Students in Econ 222, “Environmental Economics,” recently raised enough money to prevent nine tons of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) from entering our atmosphere. Every year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sells pollution permits to keep the rate of pollution to a minimum. Every year, environmental groups across the country attempt to raise money to buy the permits, which are then “retired” (not used). Each permit allows one ton of SO2 to enter the atmosphere. Between 2001 and 2003, the class had retired only three permits. The University of Maryland School of Law and affiliated organizations purchased 75 permits, the most of any college in the U.S. Bates, with 12, purchased the second most permits.

NESCAC:

BRUNSWICK, Me. – An electrical malfunction of a light switch set the press box at Bowdoin’s Whittier Field ablaze several weeks ago. Authorities believe the fire may have been caused by prolonged neglect considering that the press box has been unused since the end of the Bowdoin football season in November. The Brunswick Fire Department had trouble combating the fire due to the height of the press box. “We were very fortunate to have been alerted to the fire’s existence quickly on the night that it occurred… the fire department was able to rapidly contain the blaze to the press box area [resulting] in less damage caused by the fire,” said Bowdoin Director of Safety and Security Bruce Boucher. It is still unknown when the press box will be rebuilt.

LOCAL:

LEWISTON, Me. – Lewiston recently received a $200,000 federal grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to train up to 80 residents to clean up the local environment. Lewiston was one of 16 cities nationwide to receive a grant from the EPA. The grant will be used to fund a two-year training program to qualify local workers in environmental cleanup methods. Employees will be trained in lead and asbestos management and removal as well as hazardous waste hauling. The new jobs will pay between $12 and $13 an hour, according to local officials.

LEWISTON, Me. – 77 people in 7 teams took part in a “treasure hunt” to benefit Lewiston’s Public Theater last Saturday. The 77 participants paid money to participate in the game. The teams piled into limos and solved clues which led them around the city. The game, that lasted from 2:00 to 4:30, raked in an estimated $5,500 for Lewiston’s Public Theater. Each team had 12 clues to solve. An awards ceremony was held a few hours later at the theater. The theater plans to make this an annual event.

COLLEGE:

WASHINGTON, DC – With a vote of 2-1, the Georgetown University Student Association Constitutional Council recently overturned the results of their February election declaring Kelley Hampton ’05 and Luis Torres ’05 president- and vice president-elect of the Student Association. Hampton and Torres, who received the majority vote, were not allowed to accept their positions because they surpassed their campaigning budget by $4.

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