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Top of the heap Since 1993, MHC has become one of the top recyclers in the Pioneer Valley. And Superintendent of General Services Mike Buckley notes that this year for the first time the College hit a new high in recycling. During August, 40 percent of the waste removed from campus was recycled, leaving 41,880 pounds of refuse to be landfilled. (Compare this with 92,120 pounds landfilled in February 1994, the first month for which complete recycling/landfill data were kept). In addition, at least 30 percent of the "waste stream" from MHC was recycled for eight of the last nine months. This continued improvement in the College's recycling is due to the efforts of everyone on campus; the recycling program is coordinated by the Environmental Resource Council, which is made up of students from the Campus Conservation Coalition and Buildings and Grounds staff.

In a related story, there is a nationwide contest as a part of the November 15, America Recycles Day. People who pledge to recycle more will have their names put into a drawing for prizes. The top prize is a $200,000 house. Add your name by visiting the Web site at http://www.massrecyclesday.org.

No lie An October 19 story in the "Chicago Tribune" discusses the way professors sometimes name their courses in order to attract student attention. Thus, the current Stanford University course catalogue offers classes in "Punishment" and "Is Morality Too Demanding," and George Washington University offers a class called "Snow." Not to be outdone, Mount Holyoke offers a course entitled "The Art of Lying." That course will be taught this spring by Professor of English Virginia Ellis and will look at various texts including Oscar Wilde's "The Decay of Lying."

Speaking of Tobacco Wendy A. Ritch '90, head resident in Abbey Hall and chair of the Smoke-Free Residence Halls Task Force, has coauthored (with UMass professor Michael Begay) a monograph, "The Battle to Appropriate Tobacco Tax Revenues in Massachusetts." It will be published shortly by the UMass School of Public Health and Health Sciences. Ritch also presented a paper based on the monograph at the November 5 National Social Science Association conference, and will present her findings November 16 to the American Public Health Association.

Grants granted The Hall Family Foundation has awarded $40,000 to the MHC Art Museum, to support the exhibition "Picturing the Sublime: The Expeditionary Photographs of Vittorio Sella." The exhibition will be on display January through March 2000.... The Massachusetts Cultural Council has awarded the museum a three-year grant totaling $42,090 as part of the council's organizational support program.... The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has awarded SummerMath for Teachers a grant of $28,600 for redesign of teacher preservice experiences in partnership with the Southwick/Tolland schools.

We want your news - Send items of interest to Emily Weir, Office of Communications, or email eweir@mtholyoke.edu.