After Student Government Association clerks counted and recounted hundreds of ballots cast by seniors for the 2002 Charles Bassett Teaching Award, they declared a tie. Who better to be in such a problematic vote than elections expert Government Professor Tony Corrado, who finished in a dead heat with Assistant Professor of Chemistry Das Thamattoor?

The winners addressed an audience in Lorimer Chapel on May 2. Thamattoor, sporting the Red Sox cap presented to him by the seniors, said he was honored, thrilled, excited--and puzzled--by the award. "You see, I teach organic chemistry," he said, describing it as a subject generally avoided by students.

Organic chemistry plays a role in cars, houses and food, he said. It also allows terrorists to make bombs out of the same stuff that grows crops. Organic chemistry can have a hand in the poisoning of food, environmental damage and drug abuse, but September 11 underscored the importance of the anthrax vaccine. "How can we not learn more about science?" he asked. "It's part of the intellectual equipment of an educated person."

Make choices, make a difference, Thamattoor counseled graduating seniors. "The dedication, passion and talent shown here [at Colby] will keep you in good stead. It's up to you."

When Corrado spoke he offered lessons learned from campaign finance reform work. "Always be willing to challenge conventional wisdom," he said, stressing that "individuals can make a difference." Dozens of his Colby students researched thousands of political commercials to debunk the arguments made by opponents of campaign finance reform, he said, adding that this work, done at Colby, paid off when reforms were enacted.

"It really does make a difference who serves in office," Corrado told the seniors. Stay educated about issues, bring about dialogue in the political process, then vote, he said. The 2000 presidential election was a good example that everyone's ballot is important, he said, going on to offer an even better one: "One more vote to Das, and you wouldn't have had to listen to all this."