The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Avery Rain Some students bring a favorite stuffed animal to campus, others bring their entire collection. Either way, these friends make good listeners. [Click to enlarge]

During their initial months at the College, many first-year students struggle with the transition to a different environment, with new friends and new responsibilities. Luckily, they can rely on a group of silent supporters who are there to help comfort them through these bouts of homesickness.

These eager listeners are less celebrated for their good deeds than First-Year Counselors, but are vitally important on campus. Wondering how can you take advantage of this secret resource? You might want to check next to your pillow.

That's right, we are talking about your stuffed monkeys and floppy dogs, patched bunnies and soft woodland creatures. Stuffed animals are more than just a youthful distraction to be abandoned

When the time comes to gain more independence and an access card at college. In fact, a significant number of Middlebury students still depend on their furry friends for comfort and constancy - after all, many years of cuddling with a beloved bear or ratty rabbit is a hard habit to break.

Indeed, some of our plush buddies are world travelers. Maddie Niemi '11 has a "Sleepy Bear," so named because his eyes are perpetually sewn shut. The sporty critter has accompanied her on every vacation she has taken, dabbling in everything from soccer (at Niemi's camp in Florida) and skiing (in the Swiss Alps).

These childhood friends can also serve to keep students tied to their lives before Middlebury. Many attach a memory of a person or a group of friends to a specific animal. Adam Dede '11 cherishes a Kent State squirrel his friend sent to him earlier this year.

"I'm not embarrassed to have it," Dede said.

Others are equally forthcoming about their emotional attachments to their cherished toys. Alison Fonseca '11 lugged along a bunny named Lola when she moved here from Florida. Lola symbolizes her good memories of the animal with her friends, with whom she purchased the rabbit.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools