Note: This used to be the school page. I’m no longer in school, so I’ve converted it to a post and backdated it to the morning of my graduation. Enjoy!

I am currently a senior Economics major at Carleton College. My academic interests include resource, environmental, and development economics, as well as public policy.

Last summer, I interned in the field of Microfinance with BASIX India. For this, I received a grant through the Initiative for Service Internships in International Development.

In the summer of 2004, I attended the Carleton Economics Seminar in Cambridge, England.

Papers and Projects

Papers are in Adobe PDF format. If you have any questions or comments about any of these papers, please Email me.

• “How does Hosting the Olympic Games Impact Employment in the Host City?” - My senior thesis: an econometric analysis of employment surrounding the Summer Olympic Games from 1984 - 2004 [PDF]
• “Nonpoint Source Pollution and the Tragedy of the Commons” - An analysis of economic policies for dealing with nonpoint source water pollution [PDF]
• “Reforming Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education in the United States” - Economic arguments for and against USDA reform [PDF]
• “Fuel Cell Power: A Viable Alternative Energy Source?” - Website on the pros and cons of current fuel cell policies and projects [HTML]
• “Ebonics: Educational Solution Masked by Rhetoric” - Discusses the sociological arguments for and against institutionalizing Ebonics [PDF]

Note: These papers are for viewing only. They are undergraduate level papers; I am not an expert, and I cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of any content here. Feel free to use my references, but do NOT cite me or my writings. Do NOT plagiarize my works; academic dishonesty is a serious offense, and neither myself nor the person who catches you will have any sympathy on you. I appreciate your understanding and compliance.

Posted on June 10th, 2006 by Lee
Tagged: College, Economics, Life | No Comments »

The last few weeks of Carleton definitely go out with a bang. Lots of socializing, lots of free food. My liver hates me these days. I’ve done something social basically every night but one in the last two weeks. It’s really put a great cap to my school experience.

But that’s not true of schoolwork. Today is the last day of classes. At 4:15 this afternoon I will walk out of my last college class ever (French coffee and news, and actually in a coffee shop this week). That’s crazy. That’s pretty monumental. Yet somehow the last day of classes just seems like a footnote to a time in my life that’s too full of fun to even notice.

The end of the year is usually an academic blowout. You work and work and work and at some point it’s done and you collapse. Senior year, it’s almost exactly the opposite. The work just trails off. What’s left will get done, of course, but it’s on its own time. You’re too busy visiting friends, attending dinners and buying drinks to even care. Work doesn’t really matter.

There’s something unbelievably refreshing about this attitude. Knowing that the things that seem important really aren’t gives you a great sense of perspective. Life is an adventure, and sometimes you just have to relax for a bit and realize just how far you’ve come. Carleton has really changed me in a lot of ways. Good ways mostly. Not to steal too much of the alumni association’s thunder, but I’ve been a big fan of Carleton. It’s served me well, and now I guess it’s time not to go to class anymore.

Wow. This is just weird.

Posted on May 31st, 2006 by Lee
Tagged: College, Life | No Comments »

Near the end of every year Carleton holds a very special event. The “Annual Intergalactic Superhero Supervillian Convention” (AISHSVC) better known as the Superhero Party. This being the 79th annual (I’m not really sure how they count this stuff), I figured a superhero of my stature wouldn’t want to miss it.

What superhero am I, exactly? Why, of course, I’m “Jeopardy Loser Man.” I have the power to provide the question to any answer.

Seriously though, I thought I would never have a use for all this merchandise they gave me. Turns out I was wrong. Not only did I get to wear my Jeopardy! t-shirt, but I got to carry around my Jeopardy! bag, pull out my Jeopardy! travel mug to drink my (not Jeopardy! branded) booze. It was great.

Take three distinct lessons from this. Firstly: Free stuff. You never know when it will come in handy. Secondly: You can never sink too low when it comes to self-deprecation. Thirdly: Alcohol does not lower your inhibitions. It increases your courage. There is a difference.

I’d better hope I’m never on “Before They Were Stars.”

Posted on May 28th, 2006 by Lee
Tagged: College, Fun | 3 Comments »

I found the free food!

Yesterday marked the official beginning of the Senior Eating Season.

With only two weeks until graduation, Carleton kicks it into high gear. They know that the quickest way to get us to give gobs of money for all eternity is to enter through our stomachs. So we’re wined and dined left and right. It’s fabulous.

Last night was the annual Carleton Senior Dinner, where the alumni–who have been through this before and know what it’s all about–bought us copious amounts of wine. There’s nothing quite like leaving dinner, realizing you’re too drunk to do school work, and recognizing that you only have two options: either you go to sleep or you keep drinking.

Guess which one I chose. (Of course, the Senior drinking season has long been in full swing, and although college-bought booze is a little more elusive, the taps certainly have been flowing).

Tomorrow is the Economics department picnic, followed on Tuesday by the Econ department senior dinner. The music faculty are taking me out to breakfast on Friday, and that’s not even counting all the free food that I’ll be getting during Senior Week (the college pays for all of those meals).

It’s good to know that somebody in this administration has been reading my blog carefully.

Posted on May 26th, 2006 by Lee
Tagged: College, Drink, Food | 1 Comment »

It’s now 5:53 AM. My Math Structures exam is due at 9:50. There are nine problems, I’m on #2. This has to be healthy.

On the plus side, the Twins beat the Indians 6-5 in 10 innings last night night. I know; I was there. After all, who’s going to pass up free tickets?

Remember the times when I had the motivation for these things…

Posted on May 24th, 2006 by Lee
Tagged: College, Procrastination | 1 Comment »