2008 Woodie Awards
Skeptical Sisson: Transparent Administration
Douglas Sisson
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Opinions
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A lack of transparency is evident between Middlebury's administration and the community at large. Without open, honest and direct dialogue between students and its administration, the College community has no choice but to rely on campus rumors and gossip to find closure for pressing issues.
Old Chapel is currently publishing two blog online, one by President Liebowitz and the other by Dean of the College Tim Spears. Still, both members of our administration are selective with what information is provided to the Middlebury College community.
The Middlebury Campus publishes a weekly log of incidents reported by Public Safety detailing the date, time, incident, category, location and disposition of each incident. I'm always intrigued by the weekly log, each with a story about an incident where something somehow went wrong or could have been prevented. Like any Midd-kid starving for excitement, I have my theories about the places and people that might be involved in the incident reports. After all, Middlebury College is a small campus with noses keen to the smell of marijuana, ears to hear the sometimes-obnoxious intoxication of students and ultimately, a voice to call on Public Safety when its authority is warranted. Publishing a weekly Public Safety log holds students anonymously accountable for their actions while informing the College community of any violations in school policy.
Why doesn't The Middlebury Campus anonymously publish the outcomes of judicial and community board hearings? The College community would benefit from knowing that students who break the rules are punished accordingly. It's important that students are aware that a violation of the Honor Code results in a suspension of one semester, a physical fight with another student is grounds for expulsion, or that racial slurs and/or use of homophobic speech may lead to either a firm conversation with the Commons Dean and/or official college discipline. As students, it is our right to know that our college is safe and has judiciously brought a level of closure to otherwise toxic issues.
Old Chapel is currently publishing two blog online, one by President Liebowitz and the other by Dean of the College Tim Spears. Still, both members of our administration are selective with what information is provided to the Middlebury College community.
The Middlebury Campus publishes a weekly log of incidents reported by Public Safety detailing the date, time, incident, category, location and disposition of each incident. I'm always intrigued by the weekly log, each with a story about an incident where something somehow went wrong or could have been prevented. Like any Midd-kid starving for excitement, I have my theories about the places and people that might be involved in the incident reports. After all, Middlebury College is a small campus with noses keen to the smell of marijuana, ears to hear the sometimes-obnoxious intoxication of students and ultimately, a voice to call on Public Safety when its authority is warranted. Publishing a weekly Public Safety log holds students anonymously accountable for their actions while informing the College community of any violations in school policy.
Why doesn't The Middlebury Campus anonymously publish the outcomes of judicial and community board hearings? The College community would benefit from knowing that students who break the rules are punished accordingly. It's important that students are aware that a violation of the Honor Code results in a suspension of one semester, a physical fight with another student is grounds for expulsion, or that racial slurs and/or use of homophobic speech may lead to either a firm conversation with the Commons Dean and/or official college discipline. As students, it is our right to know that our college is safe and has judiciously brought a level of closure to otherwise toxic issues.
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