At SGA Forum, Students Stand Together on Winter Term Debate

Author: Megan O'Keefe

Students who attended the Student Government Association's (SGA) first forum on Winter Term held Nov. 17 expressed unanimous support for the continuation of the current calendar.

Chair of the Student Educational Affairs Committee (SEAC) Stephen Clarke '04.5 moderated the meeting, which was attended by approximately 30 students including SGA President Sam Rodriguez '04 and Student Co-Chair of Community Council Erin Sullivan '04.5.

Clarke began the meeting by soliciting student input. "We have our thoughts on J-term but we want to hear from you," said Clarke. "We could very well be headed towards two 14-week semesters with no J-term. It's the student input that will make that vote go one way or another."

Students shared varied responses, but agreed overwhelmingly that Winter Term is a vital part of the Middlebury student experience. While some students argued that Middlebury's 4-1-4 calendar sets the school apart during the college search process, SGA Press Secretary Andrew Carnabucci '06 shared a different point of view. "It wasn't a big factor in my decision to come here, but it was a big factor in my deciding to stay here. Friendships I made in J-term are now my strongest."

Students discussed the academic benefits of Winter Term during the forum, focusing heavily on the perceived benefits of concentrating intensively on only one subject for a month. Andrew May '05 said, "Middlebury, to a large degree, teaches you how to cut corners. But in J-term you can just do one thing." Rodriguez spoke enthusiastically of Winter Term as a space to experiment and explore new academic interests. Describing his initial reaction to Winter Term when he learned about the calendar from a Middlebury admissions officer, Rodriguez said, "That's fantastic. I might be an econ major that takes a dance class."

Other students pointed to Winter Term as a time for internship opportunities and unique academic experiences. "It's really the one place where real life experience comes into the curriculum," May said.

Among other concerns raised at the forum was the way a calendar change might limit study abroad. Because fall terms at many European universities conclude at the end of January, Middlebury students may be unable to study abroad during the fall semester if they must return to Middlebury to begin spring classes in the middle of January.

Social and extracurricular themes were also discussed during the forum. Sullivan pointed out, "You expand yourself academically as well as extracurricularly." Asher Burns-Burg '05 attempted to dispel the myth that students are inactive during Winter Term, saying, "I was so busy. But it was a different kind of busy. I played on 5 intramural teams."

Students noted that the term is a time to build friendships and meet new people, often in classes that meet intensively and act as a "bonding" experience. "It is the most social term even inside the classroom," said Kathrin Schwesinger '06.

When SEAC member Mary Clare Feldman '04 solicited criticisms of Winter Term, students were thoughtful and forthcoming. Some students noted the existence of academically non-rigorous classes that should be filtered out of the course offerings, but they were quick to point out that this is not the responsibility of the students.

Jimmy Hickey '05 said, "I feel like there are a lot of professors I really would like to see teach a class during J-term and they don't."

Clarke concluded the meeting by sharing with students a brief outline of the preliminary two-semester calendar drawn up by the faculty Educational Affairs Committee. Clarke revealed that in one tentative two-semester calendar fall classes would begin the day after Labor Day. Students and faculty would likely have a weeklong break at Thanksgiving with two to three weeks of classes after the break before an exam period that would be shortened from eight days to about six. Winter break would start slightly later than it currently does but will extend until around Jan. 19. Spring break will probably remain one week long, making commencement fall one to two weeks earlier than at present.

Students also shared opinion on a Winter Term structure that would require students to complete three out of four Winter Terms. Student opinion was mixed on this possible change, but many were maintaining the current requirement. "It's the one part of the academic year that students are excited about," one student concluded.