Council continues social house discussion

Author: Afsana Liza

Following up on its previous recommendation that first-years be allowed to pledge a social house during their second semester at the College, the Community Council convened on April 21 to discuss whether or not February-admitted students should also be allowed to pledge in the spring during their first semester. The discussion followed a question by President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz asking if requiring Febs to wait until the fall, while the regular first-years pledged during the spring, would put the Febs at a disadvantage.

In the current system, September-admitted students are allowed to pledge a social house during the fall of their second year. A February-admitted student would also be allowed to pledge during the same semester. Under the new recommendations, however, first-years would be permitted to pledge during their second semester. The new recommendation thus led Liebowitz to ask about the fate of the Febs under the proposed rules.

The Community Council addressed how this would impact the ongoing issue about how February-admitted students are treated differently from September-admitted first-year students.

"It affects three different groups of people - Febs, regular students and the social houses," said Abigail Blum '08.5. "I think it is a good thing that Febs and regular sophomores should be allowed to pledge at the same time. Because the Febs are so bonded as a Feb class, more integration would be a good thing in the pledging process."

Other members of the Council agreed that the February-admitted students should be allowed to pledge with the regular rising sophomores because February-admitted students in the current system have an unfair disadvantage. However, if the February-admitted students were to apply in the second semester of their first year at Middlebury, they would have an unfair advantage.

"Eighty percent of Febs have already experienced an academic semester abroad or at home," said Dean Atyia '08.5. "It is unfair for them because, although this is their first semester at Middlebury, it is not their first academic semester. Though not all Febs have spent that time in an academic environment, but most Febs have. Still your time at Middlebury should define your college experience."

Members also believed that by allowing February-admitted students to pledge with the regular students, they would be able to help bridge the widening gap between February and regular students.

Other members of the Community Council disagreed and stated that new students need time to adjust to college life and the new experiences that come with it.

Atyia agreed that the February-admitted students should not pledge early, "The only time you can limit the freedoms of an individual is when it is detrimental to community as a whole. Extending the liberty to all freshmen widens the gap between Febs and regular students, making it harder for Febs to integrate as a whole. I recommend that Febs pledge as they have always done."

A majority of the Community Council recommended that February-admitted students should continue to pledge as they have previously because it is difficult to determine whether a full semester or full year is needed to find one's place at Middlebury, and as stated by one of the Community Council members, "When in doubt, give it the full year."