MiddBriefs

Author: Joshua Carson, Ilyse Mehlman and Myra Palmero

Debate Tournament Takes over BiHall



Debate teams from across the Northeast converged on Bicentennial Hall this weekend to participate in an American Parliamentary Debate Associate tournament hosted by the Middlebury Debate Society (MDS). Because Middlebury hosted the event, the team was not able to participate in the actual debates, but instead acted as judges.

The final round pitted Harvard against Boston University but after a seven to two decision passed by the Middlebury judges, Boston University walked away with the victory.

The event hosted 32 debate pairs from Cornell, Brown, Boston University, Vassar, Hamilton, Brandeis, Amherst, Williams, Wesleyan, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who participated in the "Oktoberfest in November" themed tournament.

Capped by a catered banquet from Dog Team Tavern and a party with a live performance by Penelope, debaters argued over topics ranging from "global politics to questions of constitutional law to hypothetical moral dilemmas," according to Vice President of MDS Andrew Gustafson '04. While the issues were heavy, Gustafson promises that "the atmosphere was very relaxed and informal, though that is not to say the actual debate rounds were any less intense."

The tournament was organized into five rounds followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and a final round. The two opposing teams were split - one formulating the argument for the government and the other for the opposition.

The government team is allotted 10 minutes to prepare and organize an argument, which it then presents to the opposition, who must make a statement and rebuttal without any prior knowledge of the topic. Teams are awarded points based on "organization, compelling speaking style, confidence, clarity, good analysis and sound logical argumentation," said Gustafson. Overall, Gustafson concluded, "most of the rounds were marked by good humor and spirited engagement."





Seniors Nominated as Rhode Scholar Candidates



Three seniors, Douglas Haber '04, Simon Isaacs '04 and Joseph Palombo '04, were nominated as candidates for the 2004 Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University.

Granted to exemplary students in all facets of academic and extracurricular life who maintain a GPA of 3.7 and higher, Rhodes scholarships honor the ideal student.

Every year, 32 American students between the ages of 18 and 24 are awarded the scholarships, which allow them to study at Oxford for two years. In the past, Middlebury students have been awarded the scholarships in 1980, 1989, 1993 and 1994. Since 1998 Middlebury has sent one or two of its students to district interviews annually. Because of the frequency of its students ending up as Rhodes finalists, Middlebury has recently been surveyed as part of a study that looked into the life and work of former Rhodes Scholars.

To apply for the scholarship, students must first be nominated by the College. The current Rhodes nominees have gone through a screening process performed by the British Scholarship Selection Committee, consisting of Professor of English Elizabeth Napier, Charles A. Dana Professor of Political Science Murray Dry, Associate Professor of Economics Peter Matthews and Professor of History Paul Monod.

The committee reviewed initial applications and conducted selection interviews to determine whether the students were qualified for a formal application. The initial application consists of five to eight letters of recommendation, a 1,000-word personal statement, a mock interview and a list of activities.

Students are encouraged to apply at the time when their application appears most competitive, because winning a Rhodes scholarship through a second application is difficult.

On Nov. 19, the three candidates attended the Rhodes scholarship state interviews.





Vandalism Plagues New Dorms



While many students boogied to 80s hits in Ross Dinning Hall during "Viva Ross Vegas" last Saturday night, others took to vandalizing college property within Ross Commons.

Assistant Director for Administration for the Department of Public Safety Melody Perkins said, "At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, one of our officers was patrolling Milliken, Hadley, Kelly, Lang and Ross when she came upon vandalized college property in several areas of the complex. On the third floor of Hadley, she found a broken wall mount hallway light."

Perkins confirmed that three more hallway lights were found broken outside of the fitness area. At around 2:00 a.m., another patrolling officer came across further damage. An exit sign was torn from the ceiling of Hadley's first floor and ceiling tiles were broken and strewn all over the hallway. Another wall mount lighting fixture was broken.

Later a third officer identified a student in the process of committing an act of vandalism.

So who will pay for the necessary repairs? Perkins said, "The student who was observed damaging College property outside of the complex will be responsible for that damage." Ross Commons Dean Janine Clookey was unavailable to answer questions regarding the overall costs of the damage and who will pay for repairs.