Sophomore Qualifies for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”

Samantha Ross ’07 recently qualified to compete on an episode of the popular television trivia show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”

Ross, a native of New Jersey, read about auditioning on the show’s web site and tried out for the show in New York this summer. Based on the results of a preliminary 30-question multiple-choice trivia quiz, she was selected by “Millionaire” producers for an interview.

Ross learned a week later that she was selected to be part of the contestant pool, she said. But even that didn’t mean a guaranteed appearance on the show.

About two weeks ago, she was picked to film an episode on the syndicated version of the series.

“Because this is the syndicated version, the ‘fastest finger’ part of the show has been eliminated, so I am guaranteed a spot on the ‘hot seat,’” Ross said.

Ross will film on Oct. 22 at ABC studios in New York, and she said that her episode should be shown Feb. 2, 3, 4, or 21, 2005. The syndicated version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” airs locally weekdays on KARE 11 at 4:00 p.m.

For now, Ross will work on planning her “lifeline” strategies. She said she is already thinking of whom to list for her “phone a friend” lifeline.

“My friend [and captain of her College Bowl team] Ben Livingston ’07 will likely be one, and I may get some of my high school teachers to help me out, too,” she said.

-Brief written by Staff Writer Rebecca DeJarlais
 

Mac First-Year Figure Skating Champ

While the rest of first-year class adapts to college-level workloads, Rachel Baisch ’08 is learning how to balance a full load of classes with a competitive figure skating schedule.

Baisch competed at the U.S. Collegiate Figure Skating Championship in August and won the Junior Ladies event, earning first-place votes from each of the nine judges.

At press time, she was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, competing at the Upper Great Lakes Regional Competition, two steps away from her goal of qualifying for U.S. Nationals.

The regional competition sends the top four skaters to sectionals. At the sectional meet in November, the top four move on to the national competition.

This is Baisch’s first season competing in the U.S. Although she was born in Minnesota, she grew up in South Korea where she skated for Korea’s Junior National team. Baisch and her family moved back to Minnesota last June.

Baisch said that she skates twice daily at Pleasant Arena, which is about 3 miles from campus. “[Balancing school and skating] has taught me to be disciplined and love the sport even more,” Baisch said. “It’s great being able to go skating and leave the academic world for small parts of the day.”

-Brief written by Staff Writer Rebecca DeJarlais
 

RPC Plans Debate on Need-Blind Admissions

The Resource Planning Committee (RPC), whose 72-page report on Financial Aid is currently the only proposed alternative to our need-blind admission policy, is planning a public debate for the coming Tuesday to discuss the issue. In addition, the President will hold two “Fireside Chats” in the next two weeks to talk with students about financial aid.

The RPC debate is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Oct. 12 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the John B. Davis lecture hall.

Math Professor Tom Halverson, who chairs the RPC, said that he consulted with Political Science Professor Adrienne Christiansen regarding potential formats. Christiansen recommended a “modified parliamentary debate format” which allows two representatives from each side of the issue to speak for ten minutes and then gives audience members two-minute chunks to respond. She said that such a structure best suits the committee’s primary aim of informing the community.

Halverson said that Dean of Multicultural Life Joi Lewis will moderate the debate and Math and Computer Science Professor Danny Kaplan will be one of the RPC representatives. Peter Rachleff, who advocates keeping the policy, has also said that he will participate. As of press time, the panel of participants has not yet been finalized and the structure is subject to change as well.

-Brief by Editor in Chief Lizzie Tannen