The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Lizzy Zevallos [Click to enlarge]

Even if you do not know him by name, you probably recognize Livingston Burgess '10 when you see him. He is the guy not wearing any pants.

Now, I do not want to give you the wrong impression - he is attired quite properly. It is just that he prefers to wear a kilt.

While Burgess's style of dress may be the most striking thing about him, he is also notable for his participation in a veritable laundry list of activities around campus­ - indeed, he is one of those Middlebury students (I am finding there to be many) who seemingly exists to make me feel about as worthwhile as a brick of cheese.

His many duties on campus include being in active player on the Ultimate Frisbee squad and on the stage - he will be assuming the role of Joe in the Middlebury College Musical Players' upcoming production of Merrily We Roll Along. You might also have come across one of his cross-country articles in the Sports section of this publication, or perhaps you have seen him running around campus on an otherwise quiet weeknight with Mchakamchaka, the College's African chanting group.

So how does he balance all of this with his demanding schedule as a Biochemistry major with minors in French and Teacher Education? (See what I'm saying about the cheese now?)

"It's just a matter of constantly reevaluating your priorities," said Burgess, who also plays in the recently-founded College Pep Band that plans to get us all, ahem, peppy at the football and hockey games with rousing renditions of old favorites like "Louie Louie" and "Build Me Up Buttercup."

The Walla WallaWash.-native maintains that if you keep your head on straight, you will be shocked at how many different things you can accomplish.

"You just have to be willing to blow something off when that is the best thing to do," conceded Burgess. "Sometimes, that thing is sleep, and other times it is a practice, but everything tends to work out, and it is absolutely worth it in the end."

One of Burgess' main outside interests is doing set construction, and much of his summer was spent working on a community college theater production near his hometown. Next year, he plans to study in Poitiers to perfect his language fluency, which he will need to fulfill his dream of joining the Peace Corps as a volunteer in North Africa.

Continued...

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