endowment consistently outperformed peers in market returns, particularly against fellow NESCAC colleges and the Ivy League from 2010 to 2018. Its low endowment-to-student ratio increases the college's fee dependency and therefore overall sticker price, frequently making Bates one of the most expensive colleges to attend in the United States. As of the 2016 fiscal year, the college received $28.2 million in overall donations demonstrating a 134% increase in giving since 2013, and breaking the previous 2006 record of $24.8 million. In May 2017 president Clayton Spencer announced the "Bates+You" fundraising campaign, the largest ever undertaken by the college, due to close out on $300 million. In 2014, members of the student advocacy group, Bates Energy Action Movement (BEAM), requested the college divest from 200 companies that held the largest fossil fuel reserves. In response the college asserted the board of trustees had a fiduciary responsibility to the growth of the endowment and declined to specifically divest from the companies. However, in accordance with the student's request the college did disclose its full investment strategy, and commented on the long term implications of divestment by saying: In fiction and literature Throughout its history, the college has been featured in literature, artistic works, and overall popular culture. See also New England Small College Athletic Conference List of colleges and universities in Maine Hidden Ivies: Thirty Colleges of Excellence Liberal arts colleges in the United States List of colleges and universities in Maine Notes References Further reading Alfred, Williams Anthony. Bates College and Its Background. (1936) Online Deposit. Stuan, Thomas. The Architecture of Bates College. (2006) Chase, Harry. Bates College was named after Mansfield Man. (1878) Woz, Markus. Bates College – Traditionally Unconventional. (2002) Bates College Archives. Bates College Catalog. (1956–2017). 2017 Catalog. Bates College Archives. Maine State Seminary Records. Online Deposit. Bates College Archives. Bates College Oral History Project. Online Deposit. Clark, Charles E. Bates Through the Years: an Illustrated History. (2005) Smith, Dana. Bates College – U. S. Navy V-12 Program Collection. (1943) Online Deposit. Eaton, Mabel. General Catalogue of Bates College and Cobb Divinity School. (1930) Larson, Timothy. Faith by Their Works: The Progressive Tradition at Bates College. (2005) Calhoun, Charles C. A Small College in Maine. p. 163. (1993) Johnnett, R. F. Bates Student: A Monthly Magazine. (1878) Phillips, F. Charles Bates College in Maine: Enduring Strength and Scholarship. Issue 245. (1952) Dormin J. Ettrude, Edith M. Phelps, Julia