middbriefs

Author: Jaime Fuller, Andrew Fuller and Anthony Adragna

Blood drive suffers lower donation levels

Atwater Commons sponsored its biannual Red Cross Blood Drive in the McCullough Hall Social Space on Sept. 26. Altogether 106 students donated blood, but some potential donators were deferred because of low iron levels or extensive traveling.

"Comparing yesterday's blood drive to last year's, I did get an impression of it being a little slower," said Kensuke Shimokawa '09, an Atwater co-chair and one of the main coordinators of the event. "We didn't have a sudden rush of people during the lunch hour, which usually is the case."

Shimokawa named sports conflicts, busy schedules and the unusually nice weather as the major culprits for low attendance. He added that Atwater brings the Red Cross to the College every semester and that the Commons will be "putting in even more effort into the next one to get better results."

In the United States, someone needs a blood transfusion every two seconds, so volunteer blood drives such as the ones held at the College are imperative.


After two-year hiatus, eco-friendly bus returns

The Middlebury Mountain Club (MMC) brought a bus fueled by vegetable oil and powered by solar panels to campus on Sept. 27. Organizers collect used vegetable oil from dining facilities and restaurants to power the bus' diesel engine. Solar power is stored in batteries, so the bus can be run regardless of the weather.

Run by the National Outdoor Leadership School with the financial support of Stonyfield Farm, the bus has traveled to 48 states over the past three years. It last visited Middlebury in the spring of 2005.

"Their mission is to raise climate change awareness and bring attention to alternative fuels that already exist," MMC President Philip Picotte '08 said.

The bus has 18 trips planned for the next nine weeks. In addition, MMC is investigating ways to help support Middlebury's efforts at carbon neutrality by adopting alternative fuels.


Eckert to perform play as tribute at Midd

Award-winning performer Rinde Eckert will perform his play "Horizon" at Wright Memorial Theatre on Oct. 8.

In the play, Eckert pays tribute to Reinhold Niebuhr, who is considered one of the most influential theology scholars of his day. The play centers on Reinhart Poole who teaches ethics at a seminary and his crisis of faith as a theologist. "Horizon" opened to excellent reviews at the New York Theatre Workshop in June.

Also acting in the play is Middlebury graduate David Barlow '95. He acts along with Howard Swain and Eckert in the finished play.

Eckert has a vast array of talents including acting, directing, composing abd writing. His works have been seen in Europe and Asia, along with various venues in America.