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NESCAC News

By Kirsty Warren '18

October 31, 2014

Bates College cancels Halloween “Trick or Drink” party

Many Bates students were upset when a campus tradition called “Trick or Drink” was canceled by the administration. Trick or Drink is an event during which a group of upperclassmen living in off-campus houses host themed parties for the entire campus. Students travel from house to house where there are different mixed drinks at each location. According to The Bates Student, Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs Joshua McIntosh explained in a message to the student body that the binge drinking and underage drinking that often accompanies this event do not align with the College’s goal to create a healthy, respectful social environment on campus. McIntosh also expressed concern that the event caused tension between the college and surrounding community. 

In response, a group of 40 student leaders met to discuss the issue. “Some people are trying to portray this as fighting for their right to drink, but what we’re really trying to face is the fabric of community that makes Bates special,” said Peter Tolosky ’18 who organized the meeting. The group proposed six recommendations to improve communication between students and administration.

“I want it to be about compromise in that I don’t think the administration is completely right in what they’re doing and the student body isn’t completely right, so there needs to be a middle ground that will be sustainable over the next few years so that we don’t create a problem again,” Tolosky said.

Other aims  included promoting safe drinking instead of binge drinking, and preventing a dichotomy between students who drink and students who do not drink.

“The image we need is that people who drink can go, and people who don’t drink can go, and everyone will feel comfortable,” Tolosky said. “It’s something we have the power to change.”

Tufts provides pay raise, improved job security to part-time professors

According to The Boston Globe, part-time professors at Tufts University will get a 22 percent pay raise over the next three years as well as improved job security.

Part-time faculty members will generally receive at least a one-year appointment and adjunct professors will also receive first notice and a guaranteed interview for full-time openings.

“Previously, we had some benefits and advantages to working at the university, but they were not protected at all,”said Andy Klatt, who has taught Spanish and translation part time at Tufts for 18 years and helped lead the unionization and negotiation efforts. “Now we have an agreement and some security.”

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