CANTON -- Hoping to retain its first place title in the New York Six Negawatt Challenge, St. Lawrence University students will need to turn off a few more lights in order to improve their current third-place standing.

A consortium of private liberal arts colleges including Colgate University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Union College, Hamilton College and Skidmore College have been competing with St. Lawrence to see which school can reduce electricity the most in student residences over a three-week period. Students are also competing on campus among residence halls and theme cottages for the grand prize of a Pub Cookie. The competition ends Nov. 19.

Last spring semester, St. Lawrence won its first Negawatt Challenge with a 3.3 percent reduction in its electricity usage in student residences, saving a total of 5,911 kilowatts over three weeks. St. Lawrence is currently trailing Hobart and William Smith and Union colleges.

The EAO student group will also sponsor an Hour of Darkness during the upcoming Relay for Life event Friday, Nov. 14 in the Newell Field House. Starting at 10 p.m., the lights will be turned off, and participants will carry paper bags with glow sticks to honor those with cancer.