Middbriefs

Author: Michelle Constant, Kathryn Flagg, and Scott Greene

Battle joins Middlebury as new Health Educator

Alicia Battle recently assumed the position as Middlebury College's Health Educator, a position that had been vacant for the past four years. Battle said that she found the prospect of creating a curriculum that will allow students and faculty to collaborate in forming a cohesive, practical Health Education Program truly exciting. She has already met with professors, staff and coaches to assess the main health concerns on campus, which include alcohol, sexual assault and eating disorders.

Battle plans on forming focus groups consisting of social house members, athletes and members of large student organizations to evaluate these issues and hear student perspectives. "If students are interested in working with me, I'm very open to mapping out a plan," said Battle. "The students should really be a huge part of whatever we come up with."

Battle hopes that her current office within the Parton Health Center would be the beginnings of a future "wellness center" at Middlebury College. She not only believes in social, physical, emotional and intellectual health, but also seeks to improve students' vocational and spiritual health as well. Battle plans on partnering with Career Services and offering free yoga and stress management courses two nights a week.

Battle would like her office to serve as a resource to support safe, responsible actions that will make the College experience for students more positive. She will hold an open house in mid-October to introduce herself and is looking for student volunteers and workers to help set her plan in action.


Geographer gives Clifford Symposium keynote speech

Urban geographer and social theorist David Harvey will deliver the keynote lecture of the Clifford Symposium tomorrow evening, signaling the kick-off of the two-day event. The symposium - "Urban Landscapes: The Politics of Expression" - will include a series of lectures and a musical performance exploring the union of power and creativity in this country's cities.

The internationally renowned keynote speaker will address the community in Mead Chapel at 7 p.m., delivering an address titled "Neoliberalism and the City." Harvey will speak on New York City since the 1970s, but his speech will also explore the urban environments and cultural spirits of cities from around the world. Harvey has authored several books and articles relative to modern geography, and is currently a professor of anthropology at City University in New York.

Other Symposium events this weekend to be held include a light brunch and lecture on Saturday by music critic Bakari Kitwana, a lecture on Chicago's Millennium Park on Saturday afternoon from author and historian Timothy Gilfoyle and a musical performance by The Welfare Poets, a New York-based group of activists and musicians that performs social commentary and expression through hip hop and other musical traditions.


President challenges Midd community with initiative

President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz encouraged all students to submit an entry for the 100 Projects for Peace initiative in a student-wide e-mail on Monday afternoon, Sept. 25. The initiative asked students at 76 campuses across the country to submit proposals "that address the goal of improving the prospects for peace in the 21st century," and is funded by 99-year-old philanthropist Kathryn Wasserman Davis to celebrate her upcoming centennial birthday.

"I want to use my 100th birthday to help young people launch some immediate initiatives that could bring new thinking to the prospects for peace in the world," said Davis, who pledged $1 million dollars to the fund.

The top 100 submissions, including at least two from the College, will receive funding of $10,000 from Davis so that students can begin implementing various projects throughout the world during the summer of 2007. Liebowitz called upon students of all majors to contribute proposals and vowed to fund a third "excellent" proposal from presidential discretionary funds.

"The values that this project represents touch on what I believe are among the most important ones a liberal arts education can impart to its students - clear analytical thinking, excellent communications, self-confidence, creativity and initiative," he wrote.

Proposals must be submitted to projectsforpeace@middlebury.edu by Jan. 15.