1. Bates dance program and Marcy Plavin celebrate 35th anniversary
More than 150 Bates College alumni returned to campus from as far away as Japan to attend or take part in a performance marking the 35th anniversary of the college's Modern Dance Company, and to honor its founder, Marcy Plavin, who is retiring this year. Several dance alumni working with the Advancement office have raised more than $450,000 from Plavin's former dancers, friends and the Plavin family toward two new dance studios in her honor. www.bates.edu/x50641.xml

2. New listing of faculty accomplishments on Bates Web
The Dean of Faculty's Office has produced a new Web page that offers an annual overview of presentations and publications of Bates' amazing faculty. The page also offers links to their internal and external grants, and to tenure and promotion decisions. "We are proud of the broad and deep reach of contributions the Bates faculty make to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields of study," said Jill Reich, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. "Moreover, as teachers, these accomplishments represent the kind of thinking, critical analysis, creative ideas and commitment to ongoing learning, persistent growth and translation into action that we seek to pass on to our students." www.bates.edu/faculty-accomplishments.xml

3. Lewiston profiled in Washington Times
Lewiston's transition from a primarily industrial to a primarily service economy is described in a lengthy April 22 Washington Times story. Among those quoted in the article is Banknorth Group senior vice president Brian Arsenault '69. www.washingtontimes.com/business/20040421-114515-3667r.htm

4. All alums invited to Reunion
Reunion is only six weeks away! All alumni are welcome to attend. For an update on weekend activities and to register, click on www.bates.edu/reunion.xml, or contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs by calling (207) 786-6127 or e-mailing alumni@bates.edu.

5. Memorial set for Emeritus Professor Richard Sampson
A memorial service during Reunion celebrating the life and work of Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Richard W. Sampson will be held at 3:30 p.m. June 11 in Olin Concert Hall. Sampson taught at Bates 38 years before retiring in 1990. Sampson, known for inspiring his students through both his passionate and creative teaching of mathematics and his active interest in their lives, died April 1. He was 81. A story about his contributions to Bates, including memories from his longtime colleague and friend, David Haines, mathematics professor and department chair, is here: www.bates.edu/x50099.xml

6. Latest issue of humanities e-zine now online
In fulfilling one charge of the Mellon Foundation's grant to the humanities at Bates -- to create a journal "devoted to humanistic pursuits"-- students at the College have published Volume 2, Issue 2, of the electronic magazine, E-clectic. www.bates.edu/eclectic/

7. Bates Business Network programs slated in 4 cities
The Boston and New York City Bates Business Networks host events on May 4, with Chicago and San Francisco following suit on May 25. The Boston event features trustees Bruce Stangle '70, Michael Bonney '80 and John Gillespie '80. Neal Neilinger '85 headlines the program in New York. Erin Lydon Hart '92 and Director of Career Services Charles Kovacs will speak in Chicago, and four alums -- N. John Douglas '60, Karl-Olof Mills '82, Andrew Gorayeb '86 and Ashley Parker-Snider '86 -- fill out the panel in San Francisco. For more information on these events, visit the Alumni Events Calendar at: www.bates.edu/alumni-events-calendar.xml

8. National update on private colleges, universities
From time to time, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities publishes a profile of the status of independent colleges and universities, including some comparisons of public vs. private education. See a summary, with a link to the entire NAICU report:
www.bates.edu/x50799.xml

9. Bates alumni sail for charity in Boston
Scott Elliott '82 and Jacob Kasper '00 will represent Bates in the Courageous Sailing Center College Bowl on Saturday, May 22, to benefit the Courageous Sailing Center Youth Program. Scott, a two-time U.S. national champion and a coach of the 1996 Olympic Sailing Team, has been ranked as high as third in the world. They will compete against alumni teams from Harvard, Yale, MIT, BU, Boston College, Michigan, and many others. The free youth program teaches Boston children to sail and served more than 2,300 children last summer. The event is held at the CSC, Pier 4, Charlestown Navy Yard, in Boston.

10. Give a hand to a student
The economy may be warming up a bit, but we can always use help in our work with students. You can help an undergraduate by sending us summer job and internship listings, or by offering a graduating senior a full-time employment option through the OCS Web site: www.bates.edu/career/employ/newemploy.html

For additional information on the service of the OCS for students and alumni: www.bates.edu/career/

11. This month in Bates history: Bobcat water skis across Lake Andrews
The early '60s are considered Bates' prime prank years (a Volkswagen Bug in Coram Library, livestock in the President's Office), but if there's a category for best "approved" stunt, then the 1997 water-ski dash across Lake Andrews, featuring Stu Abelson '97 dressed in the Bobcat suit, is a paws-down winner. Story and photos: www.bates.edu/x50652.xml

12. Earth Day event draws 4,000 Lewiston-Auburn residents
More than 4,000 barbeque meals -- a new record -- and 6,400 gladiolus and lily bulbs were distributed to all comers Thursday as Bates invited its Lewiston and Auburn neighbors to its annual Earth Day celebration. www.bates.edu/x50529.xml

13. Bates People in the News
Twice within a week, The New York Times quoted President Elaine Tuttle Hansen on the mixed messages that colleges send students about the preciousness of unstructured time for contemplation, on the one hand, and on the other, the importance of intense work and high achievement. Bates faculty, too, turned up in print: Vanity Fair talked to Stephanie Kelley-Romano, assistant professor of rhetoric, about conspiracy rhetoric associated with UFOs, and The Toledo Blade quoted Claudia Aburto Guzmán, assistant professor of Spanish, at a Latino issues conference. Closer to home, the Portland Press Herald covered an alum making good as the Portland advertising and marketing firm founded by Brenda Garrand '79 prepared to sign what it called the largest single ad account ever for a Maine company. www.bates.edu/bates-in-the-news.xml