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(09/14/17 4:01am)
On Tuesday, Sept. 5, the Justice Department announced that DACA, an Obama-era executive order also known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, would be terminated unless Congress could pass a bill in the next six months. As it stands, the program allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children by their parents to remain in the country. Currently, the program protects roughly 800,000 immigrants.
As Attorney General Jeff Sessions articulated in his announcement of this decision, the Trump administration would stop adding new applicants to the program, but would continue to recognize existing DACA authorizations until their two-year lifespans expire.
Elected officials and advocates across the country have come out strongly against the Trump administration’s decision to end DACA.
Vermonters Insert Their Voice
In Vermont, it is clear that those in power stand with the Dreamers.
According to Congressman Peter Welch (D), the impact of Trump’s DACA Decision would leave upwards of 42 Vermonters at risk. President Laurie L. Patton and Chief Diversity Officer and DACA point person, Miguel Fernández, released a joint statement that was sent to the entire Middlebury community extending their support to DACA recipients.
President Patton and Professor Fernández stated, “We are writing to state clearly that no matter what the Administration decides to do, we will stand by our students, protect their rights, and continue to provide them an outstanding education. We are proud of the accomplishments of our DACA students and will continue to support them in every way we can.”
The pair continued by saying, “Middlebury is and will remain unwaveringly committed to providing educational opportunities to students without regard to nationality, place of birth, immigration status, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or economic status. We evaluate applications from undocumented prospective students under our need-blind admissions policy with a commitment to meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need regardless of country of citizenship or immigration status.”
Senator Patrick Leahy (D) expressed his disgust with President Trump’s decision in a press release.
“After promising to show DACA recipients ‘great heart,’” Senator Leahy began, “the President has revealed he is as heartless as he is uninformed. We live in an unprecedented time when our President seeks to divide us, not to unite us. He rallies his dwindling supporters by exploiting fear and resentment, marginalizing those who are vulnerable and even those who risk their lives for our country and their communities. It is shameful and far beneath the office he holds.”
Senator Bernie Sanders (D) echoed the sentiments of his colleague by releasing a statement that said, “Trump’s decision on DACA is the ugliest and most cruel decision ever made by a president of the U.S. in the modern history of this country.”
Even Governor Phil Scott, a republican, released a statement that denounced Trump’s decision.
“It is my hope Congress will take action and continue this policy, which I believe provides long-term benefits to American culture, the economy and the prosperity of our country,” the governor said.
UVM Humanizes the Stakes
In response to the growing frustration and shock brewing amongst lawmakers, advocates and educators alike, University of Vermont president Tom Sullivan hosted a press conference on Monday at the Larner College of Medicine featuring House Representative Peter Welch (D) and Juan Conde, a first year medical student who is a DACA recipient, to emphasize why action must be taken.
President Sullivan began the press conference by reaffirming the university’s commitment to protecting its undocumented students.
“I want to reiterate here today at this gathering on our university campus that we take our students’ rights seriously,” President Sullivan said. He went on to say, “as members of our university community, we will work proactively together and in solidarity to ensure the safety, well-being , and educational success of all of our students.”
Congressman Welch went on to pledge his support to the DACA program.
“DACA is what is the best in America,” the congressman explained, going on to promise, “I am here to say to Juan, to say to the university community, that I am going to do every single thing that I can so that at the end of this six month period Juan and his fellow 800,000 DACA dreamers have continued legal status.”
Welch Clarifies his Position
Unlike his colleagues, Congressman Welch was not as quick to denounce President Trump; Congressman Welch believes that DACA should exist not as an executive order, but as an indisputable law, and that the six month time period that President Trump has given Congress serves as an opportunity take action.
“I agree that President Trump telling Congress to do our job is correct. We should do our job. We should pass by law legal protections for individuals like Juan who were brought here when they were young by their parents. So I think that’s a fair challenge by the President of the United States.”
As Congressman Welch explained, the challenge in getting a DACA bill passed is not convincing members of congress on both sides of the aisle to believe in the dreamers, but to make sure that politicians don’t use this vote as an opportunity to maneuver other contentious immigration issues, such as questions of border security and building a wall, into the conversation.
“What I am going to object to,” Congressman Welch explained,” is my republican colleagues using the Dreamers as a hostage so they can talk about the wall.”
He concluded by urging his fellow members of Congress to do the right thing by saying, “Let’s have a clean vote.”
Juan Conde’s Perspective
Standing in front of his peers and the press, Juan told his story. He shared how he came to Eagle Pass, Texas from Mexico when he was nine years old with his mother and brother. He explained how his mother instilled the American dream in him.
“My mother taught me that with hard work, dedication and grit you could accomplish anything that you dreamt,” Mr. Conde said.
Mr. Conde explained that his mother’s death from cancer in 2007 solidified his desire to become a doctor. At the time however, Juan was in college and could not apply to medical school because of his status as an undocumented resident. Instead, he pursued a masters degree in chemistry and a Ph.D. in biochemistry.
Then, in 2012, when the DACA program became a reality, Juan was able to apply to medical school, resulting in his matriculation at the Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont.
Explaining his own perspective of the DACA program, Mr. Conde stated, “what DACA meant for me was my country believed in my dreams.”
When the Justice Department announced the decision to rescind the program, Mr. Conde had to make a choice of whether he wanted to stay in the shadows or come forward. He chose the latter.
“I am tired of being afraid,” Mr. Conde said. “This is my home. The American people are my people.”
Mr. Conde also did not shy away from giving advice to other dreamers who have not publicly taken a stand.
“I would tell them to hang on, to continue doing everything that they’ve done so far, and to believe that America will take care of them, will not forget their contributions, and just to have a trust that the American people will do the right thing.”
President Sullivan, Congressman Welch and even his classmates commended Mr. Conde for his bravery and his accomplishments.
Mr. Sullivan emphasized Mr. Conde’s exceptionality.
“He is a great example of the kind of young person we want to keep in the United States — one with character, demonstrated talent, high competence, persistence through success, and real accomplishments.”
Congressman Welch further applauded Mr. Conde by saying, “Juan, your comments about your life and what motivated you and your embrace of the American dream is inspiring to all of us.”
Reed Hausser, a classmate and friend of Juan’s stood up and stated, “I just wanted to let Juan and other students like him know that we as a community are behind you and continue to support you and fight for you as much as we can.”
Juan Conde’s story could only be possible in the United States. But it is up to Congress and the American people to see how a story like Juan’s ends.
(03/10/17 12:59am)
Our campus is divided and wounded. Our story has been co-opted by the national media, and we have become an example of a larger narrative. Our path forward is unclear. I’m struggling to find clarity surrounded by all of this noise.
I think what scares me most is that we cannot all agree on how to classify Thursday’s events.
In her March 6th statement, President Laurie Patton wrote, “we have much to discuss — our differences on the question of free speech and on the role of protest being two of the most pressing examples.”
While some argue that what happened as a result of Murray’s visit demonstrates the lack of tolerance our campus has for free speech in academic discourse. Others claim that Murray should never have been given a platform from which to speak, and that his racist ideas have no place being discussed in an academic context.
In their The Wall Street Journal article, Professors Jay Parini and Keegan Callanan wrote, of their interpretation of what Middlebury’s principles should be, “exposure to controversial points of view does not constitute violence.” Indeed, they add, “a protest that prevents campus speakers from communicating with their audience is a coercive act.”
By contrast, Professor Lioness van Pelt put forward a different point of view in “Coming Together and Coming Apart,” which was published on Medium. He wrote, “I am angry that free speech is conflated with civil discourse, which is then equated with allowing a known racist and pseudo-scientist to stand on stage and gain the legitimacy of being on our campus, and only then we can ask smart and devastating questions in return. That’s one model, sure, but it’s not the only one. Students have speech rights, too. There is no right to that others will remain silence, that you have the right to be heard.”
If we continue to fundamentally disagree on how we should characterize the events that unfolded on our campus on March 2nd, how are we going to move forward? If we cannot agree on how to demarcate free speech from hate speech, and how each form of speech should be handled, how is our community going to come to any sort of understanding?
I do not want to go to a college that is plagued by divisions, where each side accuses the other of being blinded by its own bubble. If neither side is willing to engage with the other, we will be the cause of our own demise.
I personally am embarrassed and saddened by what unfolded on our campus on March 2nd. Although I do not agree with Charles Murray, I believe he should have been heard. I think the way the protest turned violent and how our community turned against each other has left an ugly stain on our community.
But I want to talk to those who participated in the protest. I want to engage in a dialogue with people who believe Murray should never have been invited, even those who argue that the violence was warranted. Explain your perspective to me. Hear mine.
We can’t allow our community to turn into polarized niches of like-minded individuals. I believe we can do better.
Say what you want about Charles Murray, but I think he got one thing perfectly right; in his piece detailing his experience on AEIdeas, he wrote, “much of the meaning of the Middlebury affair depends on what Middlebury does next.”
We may never come to a consensus on Charles Murray or on free speech. But we cannot let our disagreement over these issues let the reputation of our institution become tarnished beyond repair.
Annie Grayer is an Editor for the Local section of The Campus. Although she is a member of the Editorial Board, her piece is not necessarily endorsed by other Editors of The Campus.
(12/10/15 4:04am)
I completely stand behind this week’s editorial. Cultural appropriation is real on this campus and the voices of those who have been offended need to be heard and validated. The editorial’s call for increased understanding, empathy and awareness is an important one that hopefully going forward, we as a community can collectively address.
However, what the editorial fails to acknowledge is how our community should handle and discuss instances of cultural appropriation going forward. To begin with, there is a clear difference between someone who is a racist and an incident of cultural appropriation, like wearing a sombrero. Although the former is undoubtedly inexcusable, I am suggesting that the latter does not warrant the same treatment. While wearing a sombrero is insensitive, and fails to realize the implications of doing so, it does not inherently make someone racist.
In instances of cultural appropriation, what is most important to acknowledge is that offended parties are completely entitled to their anger. It is not the job of those who feel offended to explain to their offenders why they feel the way they feel and the argument that those who feel offended are overly sensitive should be eliminated from our collective discourse.
However, we need to somehow balance between recognizing the harm done and those affected while also refraining from labeling someone permanently. Pushing the student that we have collectively labeled “sombrero girl” into the periphery of our community will not make the larger issue of cultural appropriation go away. It could even alienate someone to the point where they no longer want to learn from their actions. Those who commit acts of cultural appropriation should feel shame and remorse, but should the also feel shunned? If the goal is to address and eliminate cultural appropriation on this campus, then we must think about what types of conversations will foster the most change and reach the silent, indifferent and negligent voices that we must reach. I think the town hall meeting is a perfect way to facilitate this type of engagement. I hope conversations like these continue.
(12/10/15 12:13am)
On Saturday, Dec. 5 the John Graham Shelter in Vergennes hosted its second annual sleep-out at the foot of Otter Creek Falls near Marbleworks.
The fundraising event raised over $35,000, which surpassed last year’s total of $30,000. All of the money raised will go directly into helping homeless individuals find housing.
Last year, approximately 40 people participated in the event. This year, the number of participants was nearly 70.
Elizabeth Ready, Director of the John Graham Shelter articulated the importance of this event.
“The event is to bring awareness to the problem that so many of our neighbors have,” Ready began. “We are talking about families with children, we are talking about individuals, we are talking about people of all ages.”
Dan Adamek ’18, who works part time at the John Graham Shelter as a service coordinator and serves on the shelter’s board of directors, echoed Ready’s sentiments.
“I think that a lot of people are just unaware that there is a homelessness problem in Vermont,” Adamek said.
Adamek pointed out that living in a rural area is part of the reason such unawareness exists.
“I think to a lot of people, especially in rural areas, homelessness can be very invisible because it’s very easy to not see homelessness in places where people are so spread out.”
In addition to helping raise awareness, Ready emphasized how the event gives participants perspective.
“When you think that we’re only here for one night, whereas other people face uncertainty every night, it puts the situation in context,” Ready said.
Personally, Ready said the event helps her think twice about how she responds to those who call the shelter in need.
“Sometimes I thought ‘oh well, we’re full, let us take down your name and number,’ and now I feel like ‘oh, yeah we are full, but let’s see what we can do.’”
On how this event can help bring perspective to the College’s community specifically, Adamek said, “we live in such a privileged bubble on top of a hill, at an institution that has a lot of money concentrated in one place. But there are so many people around us who are working poor and working class people who are either homeless or on the brink of homelessness.”
Ready was quick to point out the gap between wages and housing costs as to why she believes Vermont has seen a spike in homelessness in the last five years,
“Bottom line,” Ready said, “most of the people at the shelter are working.” Guests come to the John Graham Shelter who work at grocery stores, nursing homes, farms, convenience stores, and other jobs because their wages are not keeping pace with the cost of housing.
Ready addressed how the John Graham Shelter has tried to deal with the growing demand for its services and the chronic problem that persists from the state having a high cost of living.
“What we try to do at the John Graham Shelter is we try to figure out some answer to the economic riddle by helping people get vouchers, helping people get benefits, helping people advance their income [and doing] whatever it takes,” Ready said.
The sleep out event began at 4 p.m. with a candlelight vigil on the green in town.
Diane Lanpher, Representative (D) of Vergennes, spoke about her experience doing the sleep-out last year and her role in the fight to end homelessness.
“It was a very cold night, but it was an eye-opening experience,” Lanpher said, recalling her sleep-out experience.
Specifically, Lanpher explains, “I had a lot of things that you don’t necessarily have. I didn’t fear for my safety that night. There were people around. We had access to a bathroom that most people wouldn’t.”
Lanpher recounts waking up at 4 o’clock and shivering in the bathroom because it was the only warm place she could find.
“I had to ask myself in the mirror,” Lanpher began, “would I be able to prepare to go to a job interview in two hours? Would I be prepared to go and find services that day? Thus, Lanpher stated, “people in that situation need our help, to give them the step up … we need to do the wrap around services, not just finding a place, but putting everything else that they need in place.”
Kesha Ram, Representative (D) of Chittenden, who is currently running for Lieutenant Governor, also spoke to those attending the vigil.
Put simply, Ram stated, “we have too many homeless Vermonters.”
To expose the severity of the situation, Ram stated, “right now we have people who sit in prison because they can’t get housing on the outside.”
Ram shared the first-hand experience she acquired while working as the legal director for Women Helping Battered Women before she entered municipal government.
“We watched so many families struggle to find access to housing, whether it was for one night or in the long term,” Ram said.
Ram also discussed the work she has done since joining the legislature and her work on the housing committee with Lanpher and others the last three years.
“A lot of our programs are not built well to support families and individuals as they transition,” Ram explained.
“We’ve sought to advance a lot of new and creative solutions in trying to create more access to supportive, service rich housing,” Ram continued.
As an example, Ram detailed how the committee has sought to allocate money spent on motels, which create an isolating housing experience, towards housing that is supported by housing trusts or into services from other organizations.
In her closing remarks, Ram spoke about the need to view homelessness as a human right.
“We have to turn the conversation around and remember that everyone deserves to have the dignity of being housed, of being supportive, or just having a warm place to stay,” Ram said.
Furthermore, Ram urged her audience to remember “anyone who is homeless is someone who has a family, had a family, deserves dignity, deserves somewhere warm to stay, deserves friendship and breaking the silence of the isolation of homelessness.”
Participants of the event expressed their passion and connection to the issue of homelessness.
For Fernanda Canales, principal of Salisbury Community Schools, and her husband, Chad Chamberlain, a teacher at Salisbury Community Schools, this was their first sleep out.
“I think we encounter families who are in this situation time and time again, and I just felt like I wanted to experience it,” Canales explained as to why they chose to participate.
Chamberlain agreed with his wife and also added that he felt that families in his community who were either homeless or struggling with homelessness neglected to reach out for support.
Canales agreed by saying: “A lot of times there is a stigma, they don’t want us to know that they are living under certain circumstances.”
Bringing awareness to the issue and approaching the situation with empathy, as the John Graham Shelter is committed to doing, will help Vermonters become more invested in the cause and learn how to deal with the issues more directly.
(11/19/15 3:52am)
Nov. 14 through the 22 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. This national social movement is held every year on the week leading up to Thanksgiving in order to reflect on and raise awareness for the hunger and homelessness that exists in our country.
Hunger Free Vermont is a statewide nonprofit education and advocacy organization whose goal is to provide “nutrition education and [expand] access to nutrition programs that nourish Vermont’s children, families and communities.”
Katie Green, Adult Nutrition Specialist from Hunger Free Vermont, commented that, “[the] organization’s mission is to end the injustice of hunger and malnutrition in the state of Vermont. We go about doing that in a holistic way, and really trying to get at the root causes of food insecurity.”
Using U.S. census data from 2010-2012, the organization exposes the prevalence of hunger in the state and Addison County.
At the state level, Hunger Free Vermont reports that 13 percent of all Vermont households, or 83,200 Vermonters are food insecure. According to the organization, this means that 19 percent of Vermont Children live in food insecure homes and 7.5 percent of Vermont seniors live with food insecurity. Further, the organization found that 12,290 Vermont Children depend on emergency food from food shelves each month.
In Addison County specifically, Hunger Free Vermont states that one in five children are food insecure. Of grade school and high school students, 38 percent are eligible for free or reduced priced lunches. However, there are zero after school meal programs in the county even though six towns are eligible. In addition, ten senior community meal sites serve meals at least twice a week.
To help people afford three meals a day, the USDA funds 3SquaresVT, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.
“I think that all programs have room for growth … but that program serves over 82,000 Vermonters and helps them afford nutritious food, and put better food on the table for themselves and their families. So I would say it’s a very successful, and very essential program,” Green said on the effectiveness of 3SquaresVT.
According to a report conducted by the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), the budget totals for 3SquaresVT in 2014 were $867,138. While the federal share made up 50 percent of SNAP funds for 3Squares VT, state funded dollars amounted to $346,214 and private discretionary funds totaled $87, 355.
In 2001, Hunger Free Vermont found that there were 38,558 3SquaresVT participants in 2001. Today, there are over 93,000 participants. According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) as of 2015, the change in participation in the last five years has increased by 39.4 percent. Although the number of participants in 3SquaresVT is rising, Hunger Free Vermont reports that about one in five eligible individuals do not yet have access to the program.
While 3SquaresVT fails to reach everyone who needs SNAP benefits, Green points out that Vermont is taking some key steps to address this shortcoming.
“In the state of Vermont we have expanded eligibility for the program,” Green said. “Some states do not allow expansion eligibility, but we allow up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. So this in Vermont makes a lot more people eligible for the program.”
Based on the inherent need for food stamps, 3SquaresVT created certain parameters for eligibility. For one person, an individual must have a monthly gross income limit of $1,801. An individual who qualifies for benefits based on these standards would receive approximately $37 a week from 3SquaresVT. For a family of four, the household income must have a monthly gross income limit of $3,678. A family of four who is eligible to receive benefits would receive approximately $99 a week from 3SquaresVT.
Although the number of participants is on the rise, Green acknowledged the stigma that is still attached with the 3SquaresVT program.
“There shouldn’t be stigma or shame associated with just trying to provide healthier and more nutritious meals for individuals and their families,” said Ms. Green. “Changing the name to 3SquaresVT was something that we did as a state to try and alleviate some of that stigma … the fact that eight out of ten people in their life will experience economic hardship at some point [means] it is sort of a myth that this is a program that only a few people use and rely on”
In addition to food insecurity, homelessness is also a prevalent issue in Vermont.
According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 25 percent more homeless Vermonters in 2013 than there were in 2012. Based on data collected in 2013, the report found that in total there were 574 people in emergency shelters, 215 people in transitional housing and 160 people who were unsheltered.
Given the growing need of homeless shelters throughout the state, United Ways of Vermont identified 16 locations that offer emergency shelter, transitional housing, and community shelters.
For example, the John Graham Shelter, located in Vergennes, has been open for 38 years. The shelter itself can house up to 25 residents at a time. By owning scattered transitional housing, the John Graham has been able to increase the number of people they serve up to 75 people at a time.
The Charter House Coalition, located in Middlebury, was founded in 2005. According to the Coalition’s website, the Charter House served 24,000 meals in 2014 and housed 79 adults and children. Doug Sinclair, the Coalition’s Volunteer Executive Director, also added that the Charter House’s volunteer ranks have tripled to over 970 in 2014, as with their donations from individuals and organizations. Furthermore, Sinclair reported that the Charter House is already housing 26 people a night. Sinclair compared this figure to back in 2008, when the Charter housed about 20 adults and children over the entire winter.
With these impressive figures, Sinclair highlighted how the Charter House has been quick to respond to the community’s needs.
“Thanks to the increasing support our organiation receives across Addison County, especially from churches and Middlebury College students, more and more people have become part of our community of neighbor helping neighbor ... simply stated, as the need has grown, so has the response,” Sinclair said.
When asked why he felt the number of guests eating and sleeping at the Charter House had been increasing steadily, Sinclair pointed out numerous examples.
With the economic downturn in 2008, Sinclair explained how low and middle income families have become unable to keep up with meeting their basic necessities such as food and housing.
In addition, Sinclair suggested that challenges relating to mental illness and substance abuse have led more locals to turn to the Charter House.
“While we do not have hard local data to back that up,” Sinclair stated, “our experience with our neighbors who are served by our programs is consistent with the national data. There is no question, we are seeing more challenges related to mental illness and substance abuse.”
Additionally, Sinclair pointed to senior citizens, especially those who do not qualify for health care, who find it increasingly difficult to stay in their homes.
Sinclair noted, “[seniors] seeking to maintain their independence strive not to take advantage of government programs, but will accept the support of organizations like Charter House Coalition.”
Vermont Foodbank is responsible for 225 food shelves and meal sites, feeding as many as 153,000 Vermonters each year.
In addition to hunger and homelessness, this week also raises awareness about the prominence of poverty in the state and the county.
According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) as of 2015, the poverty rate in Vermont is 12.3 percent. In comparison to other states, this statistic ranks Vermont 40th out of 50 overall. In addition, American Fact Finder published that in 2013, Vermont had a 4.6 percent unemployment rate and that 7.6 percent of families and people had incomes in the past 12 months that fell below the poverty line.
The Addison County Community Action Group (ACCAG), who started Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects (HOPE), is a local poverty relief organization that has been working to address the mounting poverty in Addison County since 1965. According to their website, HOPE’s vision is that “all people in Addison County have access to the tools and resources necessary to meet their own basic needs.”
Jeanne Montross, Executive Director at HOPE described the work of the organization.
“We are a first response, and a last resort. We do what no one else does. Many other local agencies refer people to us when they don’t know where else to turn,” Montross said.
Montross explains that unlike other government assistance organization, HOPE doesn’t use formulas.
Instead, Montross said, “we sit down with people and ask them what they need. If it makes sense, if no one else provides the resource, and if we can afford it, we do it.”
For Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week, the College’s Community Engagement Office has planned many events.
Elle Bacon, the College’s AmeriCorps Vista member, organized the week’s events along with several students, including Bella Carey ’17.5, Julia Trencher ’18 and Abla Lamrani-Karim ’16.
Bacon prefaced by saying, “these events are by no means a holistic discussion of both hunger and homelessness and they do not encompass all that could or should be discussed.”
However, she then explained, “my intent for this week is to continue current discussion on campus about these issues, while also (hopefully!) sparking new conversation and action.”
Through Volunteer Service Organization (VSO), 14 students went to HOPE last Friday and helped prepare holiday food for their food shelf.
Julie Ehrlich ’17.5, one of the volunteers, said, “HOPE is an amazing organization that works really hard to fill a lot of the gaps caused by poverty in Addison County ... HOPE does the best they can, but there are only so many people working there full time. In a short time, a group of many volunteers significantly helps HOPE accomplish what would have taken them hours or days.”
Ehrlich continued by saying, “the take away message of volunteering at HOPE is that in order for an amazing organiation to do amazing things, it really needs support and volunteer help from the community.”
On Tuesday Nov. 17, Katie Green from Hunger Free Vermont came to speak at an Atwater dinner.
Green first talked about the issue of food insecurity and hunger in Vermont, and went into detail about the history of hunger. Green explained, “I think that a lot of people who aren’t familiar with the issue of hunger … can be surprised that hunger is such a far reaching issue today.”
Then, Green discussed the ways in which Hunger Free Vermont uses advocacy and legislative means to work to end the injustice of hunger, and the ways in which the organization works within a community.
On Wednesday, Nov. 18, there was a screening and subsequent discussion of “A Place at the Table.” The documentary, released in 2012, is told through the lens of three individuals and examines the issue of hunger in America.
Bacon explained why she chose this movie.
“This documentary, I think, does a pretty good job acknowledging the devastation of food insecurity in the United States,” she said. “It connects individual stories with the larger systematic issues that prevent individuals and families in poverty from ‘making ends meet’ and debunks the myth that there is a certain type of person that is ‘hungry” in the U.S.”
On Thursday, Nov. 19 at 4:45 pm, the Community Engagement Office is sponsoring volunteers to attend Charter House Community Supper.
Bacon highlighted the community-based ethos of the Charter House supper.
“While we will not be serving the meal, my intent is to ask students to share a meal with those they might not otherwise,” she said. “I hope students will engage in community beyond the campus and get out of their comfort zone. Community Supper is more than a meal, it is a social event for a lot of the people that attend, and I think one way in which students can bridge the campus-community gap is by showing up, conversing and listening as a willing and open participant in such social events.”
In addition to publicized events throughout the College, some professors have taken it upon themselves to focus on the issues.
For example, in her class ‘Hunger, Food Security and Food Sovereignty,’ Professor Molly Anderson gave her students the opportunity to participate in the SNAP Challenge. Each student who participates was given the allotted $37 to spend on food for the week.
“Since our class is about hunger and food insecurity, and how various agents are trying to address these problems,” Anderson explained, “I wanted students to understand that food insecurity is significant in the US as well as in other countries.”
“Although the SNAP Challenge is just a small window into the kinds of difficult decisions that food insecure people make on a daily basis,” Anderson pointed out, “It is a way to raise our awareness and understand better at a gut level the issues that are caused by lack of jobs with a decent wage, lack of job training, poor daycare options for our next generation and insufficient food stamp allotments.”
“For me, I think the take away [of this week] is just to raise awareness on the issue, and get some talking points out there,” Green commented.
(11/13/15 4:42am)
In their annual announcement of objectives for the year, the Community Council identified “installing a living wage for all workers campus-wide” as of primary importance for their faculty and staff goals.
A living wage, according to the Harvard Living Wage Fact Sheet, is a wage that “takes into account the area-specific cost of living” so that people working in a given community can afford to live there comfortably.
Community Council member Dan Adamek ’18, who first raised the issue, cited the College’s pay scale as evidence that it was failing to pay its employees the wages required to live comfortably in Addison County.
“Somebody in Addison County can’t have all of their basic needs fulfilled if they’re making $10 an hour working at the College,” he said. “It’s impossible.”
Adamek made an astute observation on the disparity that exists between the cost of living estimated by he National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the College’s pay scale.
According to a study conducted by the NLIHC, in Vermont, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,007. That means that in order to afford rent and utilities, “a household must earn $3,356 monthly or $40,272 annually.”
Conceptualizing this number in terms of a 40-hour workweek, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into an hourly wage of $19.36.
According to Patrick Norton, the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, the College uses the MIT living wage calculator to determine that the livable wage for a single adult living in Addison County is $10.86 per hour.
This data assumes that people are working 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.
By further examining the Middlebury College Staff Pay Ranges report published by the College’s office of Human Resources on July 1, 2015, the truth behind staffers wages at the College can be brought to light.
The report is separated into hourly and annual salaries. Then, it is broken down into two separate pay ranges. Within each pay range, there are four band/levels: specialist, management, operations and administrator. Each band/level is then further separated into the lower third, middle third, and upper third of possible pay scales. Each third is then further broken down into the ranges of minimum and maximum wages of that third.
In the lower third of the operations band/level, the lowest possible wages range from $9.74 per hour to $11.68 per hour.
According to Patrick Norton, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, 26 full-time employees working in operations are making $9.74 an hour. This means that currently, 26 employees fall short of the livable wage benchmark as stated by the MIT living wage calculator.
Although the wage of $9.74 an hour is above the state’s legal minimum wage of $9.15 an hour, it clearly does not meet livable wage standards.
In response to the pay ranges report, Patrick Norton stated, “While our lowest pay range OP1 has a starting salary of $9.74 ... the average rate for that subset of workers is $13.15 per hour, well above the starting salary amount and the relevant livable wage benchmark.”
Although only 26 full-time employees fall below the living wage standards according to the MIT living wage calculator, many more would fall below the living wage standards when using the NLIHC study.
According to the NLIHC study, the average wage for a renter in Addison County is $11.83 per hour. Based on the College’s pay ranges, staff workers working in operations who make $9.74 an hour and $11.68 an hour would fall below the average wage that a renter in Addison County makes.
The inconsistency that exists between the living wage data that the College and the Community Council provide suggests that the community needs to use comparable data moving forward, and needs to develop an agreeable definition of what a living wage in Addison County means.
Even though the College has met all of its legal requirements, many staff members have indicated that the salaries that they receive are not enough to comply with a living wage in Middlebury.
When asked about whether or not he thought he was paid enough, another anonymous member of the dining hall staff retorted, “No, absolutely not.” An anonymous member of the dining hall staff commented, “I actually bought a house in Brandon because I couldn’t afford living in Middlebury.” “I had to get a second job to be able to live here,” commented another anonymous dining hall staff member. Before simply pointing fingers, it is important to acknowledge that some of the imbalance that exists between pay scales and cost of living is outside of the College’s control.
For example, the Institute for Energy Research released data in 2010 that showed Vermont’s electricity prices as 29 percent higher than the national average.
In addition, Sperling’s Best Places, a website that ranks cost of living indices, states that cost of living in Middlebury is 19.60 percent higher than the U.S. average. This statistic takes into account grocery, health, housing, utilities and transportation costs for the town.
In light of the high cost of living in Vermont, USA Today ranked Vermont the fifth worst state to make a living.
Heather Pipino, the Development Coordinator for the Vermont Workers Center, which fights for the workers’ rights in Vermont, high-
lights her frustrations over the current circumstances.
“It’s been an untenable situation with people not being able to afford the high cost of living here in Vermont,” she explained.
Although there are certain constraints that make creating a living wage difficult to achieve, the College is situated in a unique position to make positive change.
Through the study “the Economic Impact of Middlebury College” conducted by Northern Economic Consulting Inc. in November 2014, the central role that the College plays in the town of Middlebury and in Addison County is evident.
Middlebury College is the eight largest employer in Vermont and provides one out of every ten jobs in Middlebury. In 2011, the College was responsible for creating 437 jobs in Vermont above the 1,983 jobs it created in Addison County.
In addition, about 45 percent of the College’s payroll goes to town residents. Explained another way, in 2011, wages paid by the College accounted for at least 17 percent of the income of Middlebury residents.
Given its status as a huge economic force, many believe that the College has an obligation to support the local area.
“It is illogical,” Adamek said, “for a college with institutional goals of positive global engagement to pay its workers less than a living wage.” “I saw a wonderful op-ed that Laurie Patton wrote in the Addison County Independent about positive community engagement,” Adamek continued, “and I don’t think there’s anything that’s more positive community engagement than paying those who work for your institution a living wage.”
Tiff Chang ’17.5, the Council’s student co-chair, agreed. “It’s one of the most basic things we can do at the College to affect change,” she said, “and it’s just so simple compared to anything else we could address.”
Chang, who thinks about Community Council through the lens of inclusivity, also added, “based on the current system, we have failed to be inclusive of the entire College community.”
Further, Heather Pipino commented, “I think the Middlebury community should hold the College to a higher standard and make sure that the people that working there are able to afford to live in Middlebury and contribute to the community.”
Comparing the concerns from workers themselves with the College’s recent efforts to address these concerns, it seems that there is still a lot of work to be done. There still remains confusion and frustration over how raises are distributed.
According to one anonymous dining hall staff member, raises range from 2.5- 2.75 percent of their annual salary. In response, another anonymous dining hall staff worker added, “I think most of us think we should get a higher raise here. I mean come on, wouldn’t you think it would be higher?”
A third anonymous dining hall staff worker continued by saying, “They tell us every year how well we are doing and how we are under budget and saving money, but our raises won’t ever go up.”
“They tell us great job, but here, have this little bit,” he added.
From the College’s perspective, raising wages is something taken very seriously.
Tim Spears, Vice President for Administration and Professor of American Studies, created a blog titled “Across Campus,” which is meant to update the College community on administrative projects. On February 4, 2011, Spears published a three-part post that detailed the efforts be- hind the Revising the Staff Salary Increase Program.
For starters, Spears wrote that the College has a stated goal of “paying staff in the top 20 percent of the market for their jobs.”
Spears then explained how the College reorganized its compensation structure in 2006. First, Human Resources arranged similar positions into their own band and level, and calculated the minimum, mid- point and maximum of each grouping’s salary.
Spears wrote, “when the SRC (Staffing Wages Committee) and Wage and Salary Committee reviewed the spectrum of staff salaries [in 2011] it discovered that 808 employees were at or below the midpoint of their salary ranges; 366 were between the midpoint and the maximum; and 118 were at the maximum. (Note that these 1292 employees also include part-time workers).”
“In order to move more employees in the lower half of the salary range toward the midpoint,” Spears wrote, “the committee realized that it would need to find a way of redistributing the funds going to the top of range.”
Patrick Norton reiterated the validity of the Revising the Staff Salary Increase Program by clarifying that the program’s key principles are, “(1) recognizing individual performance, as determined through an annual performance summary (APS) process and (2) providing greater opportunity for individuals to move up within the salary range for their position.”
Staff workers who commented for this article found the redistribution of funds unfair. One anonymous dining hall staff worker commented, “The hiring wage goes up about what the raise is and so if someone has been here ten years, and then some new person gets hired and they’re making only 10 cents less than you, it’s very frustrating.”
Another anonymous dining hall staff worker echoed his co-workers' sentiments.
“Some of us, you know, may have 15- 20 years of experience, if not more,” he said. “That guy coming off the street, that has maybe two years of experience, is making pretty much exactly what I’m making.” In addition, staff workers felt that raises based on performance were nonexistent. “I also feel,” one dining hall staff worker lamented, “that there should be some sort of discussion about perhaps merit wages where I work better than the next guy, why should that guy that doesn’t work as hard as I do get the same raise that I’m getting, or a bigger one because he’s making less? That’s a little frustrating.”
What workers are responding to might simply be the College’s effort to rectify the imbalance that may exist within a certain pay scale. Although the College’s initiative to create equality within a certain band is important, it clearly has the potential to marginalize the efforts of a hardworking, dedicated individual.
Despite the overarching complaints about not receiving a living wage, staff members were sure to commend the College’s generous benefits package.
“I can’t complain about the benefits,” one anonymous staff member said. “I’m 45, and they are contributing 15% [towards my retirement]. I mean that’s huge.”
Overall, Chang said that she believed the implementation of a living wage would be generally uncontroversial, explaining, “everyone I’ve mentioned it to gets behind it very quickly.”
Adamek echoed her sentiments. “I’ve never heard a single person not say, ‘Yeah, we’re a wealthy institution and people should be able to live on the wages that we pay them. That makes sense, it’s normal. Wait, we don’t do that?’”
Most importantly, both Chang and Adamek stressed their hope that any recommendation the Council may make going forward would be paired with constant dialogue and collaboration with the administration.
Heather Pipino agrees that the answer must be community based.
“It’s good to have faculty, students and staff all standing together,” Pipino said, “I mean that’s the way we win things, is when people stand with each other.”
Ms. Pipino was also quick to add, “We [the Vermont Workers Center] would love to find out how to be more involved, how to be more supportive.”
“The conditions are not easy,” Pipino said. “But it’s when we stand together, and when communities stand to support workers living right in their town that we have our strength and when we can push back against this race to the bottom.”
This report includes anonymous interviews with three dining hall staff members. It does not reflect the official position of Middlebury College staff. They were granted anonymity so they could speak candidly about their experiences.
Additional reporting by Nick Garber.
(10/08/15 3:02am)
On September 15, the makers of Trojan Brand Condoms released its first annual State by State Safer Sex Index ranking. The study found Vermont to be the state with the best sexual health in the country.
Trojan Brand Condoms, America’s number one condom, was led to produce the study based on reports that there are still nearly 20 million new cases of STDs being documented every year, and only one in three sex acts involve a condom.
The study used the criteria established by the Third Edition of the Sexual Health Rankings to rank states based on contraception use and the extent of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
To measure contraceptive use, the study looked at whether or not state mandated sex education in schools covered contraception and STD/HIV education, the percentage of high school students who were taught by their teachers the essential condom use topics, and the number of births by mothers aged 15-19.
To measure the prevalence of STDs, the study looked at the number of HIV diagnoses, Gonorrhea cases, syphilis cases, and HIV tests conducted in a given state.
In order to understand why Vermont ranked so highly in this study, it is important to consider how the legal and education systems work together to promote sex education.
For starters, Vermont state law requires schools to teach sexuality education as part of its comprehensive health program.
According to the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education (NCSSE), this wide-ranging program has ten parts. NCSSE also specifies that Vermont’s sexuality education program is enforced by an advisory council, elected by the commissioner of education, who works directly with the department of education to figure out how this program will be best incorporated into the curriculums of public schools.
Ms. Jill Krowinski, the Vice President of Education and Vermont Community Affairs at Planned Parenthood, elaborated on some of the topics that Vermont public schools are required to cover.
“By law, schools are required to teach human development, sexuality, and reproduction; information about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and prevention; decision making about sexual activity including abstinence; and information regarding the possible outcomes of premature sexual activity, contraceptives, adolescent pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, and abortion as part of comprehensive health education,” said Krowinski.
Ms. Erin Randall-Mullins, a health educator at South Burlington High School, further explained the goals behind Vermont’s comprehensive health program.
“We emphasize comprehensive health education,” explained Ms. Randall-Mullins. “Students will receive current health information, and practice using it. The decisions they make are ultimately up to them- we feel like it’s our job to give them all of the information, and the tools to utilize it.”
Randall-Mullins also spoke about her own curriculum, and the way in which she facilitates discussions about how the media portrays sex.
“We try to rewrite what the media says is ‘normal’ with regard to healthy sexual behavior,” Randall-Mullins said. “We want students to know that asking a potential partner about their sexual history is normal. Discussing what forms of protection you will use is normal behavior.”
Instead of focusing on an abstinence based curriculum, Vermont, as with most high schools in the northeast, teach a sex education curriculum that has proven to be very informative. Studies from organizations like AVERTing HIV and AIDS (AVERT), have found that students will practice safer sex when given the proper information about it.
Randall-Mullins therefore accredits Vermont’s high ranking in Trojan’s recent study to the strength of sexuality education in Vermont.
“I think Vermont is ranked as having the safest sex because we do have a state law that all students will receive health education- students need to take a high school health course prior to graduation,” said Randall-Mullins.
To further understand why Vermont’s sex education program is so strong, Planned Parenthood’s role in supporting the public education system must be realized. For starters, Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest provider of sex education.
“Our Education Department supports the everyday work being done by Health Educators in their classrooms and school nurses in a variety of ways,” Krowinski began. “We are available to come into classrooms and talk about services available at local health centers. We also provide professional development opportunities for health and PE educators, the annual Working With Youth Conference, and through participation on community health coalitions.”
In terms of how Planned Parenthood increases student involvement, Krowinski pointed to Planned Parenthood’s Peer Education Program in Chittenden County. This program trains high school student volunteers to talk to their peers about the information and resources available to them.
Krowinski described the program as one that “seeks to empower high school students with accurate, factual reproductive and sexual health knowledge to benefit themselves, their peers and the community.”
To further supplement the curriculum being taught in schools, Krowinski highlighted the role parents play in enforcing a child’s learning and understanding of the material.
“By supporting sex education in schools and by having conversations at home, parents can impact the sexual health of their children,” Krowinski explained. “October marks Let’s Talk Month, aimed at getting families talking about sexuality and relationships. It’s a great time for parents to go beyond “the talk” and instead have ongoing conversations throughout their children’s lives about critical topics that can help young people make healthy decisions.”
In addition to enforcing the information being highlighted in the classroom, Planned Parenthood offers Vermont teenagers, especially women, excellent access to health care.
With 12 Planned Parenthood locations across the state, Vermonters have the opportunity to receive affordable services such as birth control, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screenings.
As reported by Ms. Krowinski, in 2014, 25,634 people visited one of these health centers, of which 94% of them were seeking preventative care services. Krowinski also made sure to note that Planned Parenthood provides free condoms to all of their sites, and are available upon any visit.
In addition to Planned Parenthood, students and adults also have access to organizations like Outright Vermont, Hope Works, and Women Helping Battered Women.
The combination of the state requiring a strong sex education program coupled with access to health services like Planned Parenthood explain why Vermont would be at the top of any study measuring safe sex.
(09/24/15 12:31am)
This past July, the Skihaus of Vermont located on 6 Merchants Row closed its doors. In its place, Edgewater on the Green Gallery and Otter Creek Kitchenware Electronics have opened.
The Skihaus has been a fixture of downtown Middlebury for over 51 years. After an extended period of vibrant success from the 1960s through the mid ‘90s, Skihaus closed in 1998. However, it reopened a few weeks later under the new name of Alpine Shop, an extension of a parent store in South Burlington. By 2009, the owners of Alpine Shop were ready to sell their Middlebury branch, allowing the
Skihaus to reopen in 2010 under the ownership of Barb Nelson and Anna Boisvert. Under its new leadership, Skihaus stayed open until the summer of 2015.
There is no public knowledge as to why the Skihaus decided to close its doors.
In response to this question, Mr. Jamie Gaucher, Director of the Middlebury Office of Business Development and Innovation, answered, “I can say that businesses start and close all the time.”
Regardless of why the Skihaus decided to close, it is clear that the neighborly sentiment its presence represented will be missed.
In light of the role that the Skihaus had in the community, Gaucher said, “I think the Skihaus was a great member of our business community for many, many years.”
Katie O’Neill ’17.5 felt a similar void due to the store’s absence.
“I think Skihaus really appealed to the needs of our college community, and I’m sad to see it go,” she said.
Although Skihaus’ closing marks the end of a definitive chapter in the town’s history, it also allows for the corner spot of the Battell Building to develop a new beginning.
Edgewater Gallery on the Green opened in this space. This new location is in addition to the gallery’s original location at One Mill Street, which has been open since 2009.
“With the availability of the Merchants Row location, we saw this as an opportunity to increase exposure for our existing artists, add new and diverse artists to our collection and expand the art footprint in town,” Rachel Teachout, who oversees both galleries, explained.
Ms. Teachout also noted how the expansion of the gallery allows each location to diversify the kind of work it represents.
She said, “we are focusing on smaller more intimate works at the Mill Street location, and capitalizing on the tall ceilings and windows and natural light to exhibit larger works at the Merchants Row location.”
According to Ms. Teachout, the artistic focus of the gallery features exhibits from both “traditional regional artists as well as contemporary works from local, national, and international artists. Our artists work in many different mediums and styles.”
In terms of how Teachout sees the gallery impacting the community, she said, “Edgewater Gallery is committed to building Middlebury’s reputation as an arts community. We continuously seek out new works from artists that complement the existing aesthetic at our two locations, but offer a diverse selection that appeals to locals and visitors alike.”
Specifically, Ms. Teachout is interested in the gallery’s relationship with the College. “Edgewater is always looking for new opportunities to collaborate with the College,” she explained. “We continue to support the mutually beneficial intern program and have enjoyed working with several outstanding interns. Edgewater has also partnered with student musicians for our special events. We intend to continue these relationships and look forward to new ones.”
On plans for the gallery moving forward, Ms. Teachout noted that the Edgewater Gallery at Home, located on Mills Street “will eventually move to the downstairs at the Merchants Row location.”
Katie O’Neill’s reaction to the gallery’s expansion is a mixture of uncertainty and enthusiasm.
“Although I am skeptical of how an art gallery will do financially in the new space, I am excited to learn what the creative voices from our local community have to say,” she said.
In light of the opening of Edgewater Gallery on the Green, Mr. Gaucher commented, “I think having Edgewater open an additional gallery downtown...[is a] welcomed [addition]. I think [it brings] energy and additional customers to our central downtown intersection.”
(09/17/15 6:19pm)
Throughout July and August, Middlebury residents and state officials have debated whether to replace two state-owned rail bridges in downtown Middlebury.
Originally built in 1850, the two bridges, which are located on Merchants Row and Main Street, are in poor condition and in need of constant repair.
According to the state and The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), renewing the railroad infrastructure is long overdue, and will help revitalize passenger and freight traffic from Rutland through Middlebury.
With the help of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (VHB), a South Burlington engineering firm in charge of the project, the current goal is to create higher bridges that meet federal height standards, to improve drainage near the tracks, and to expand the town green near where the trains pass.
Jamie Gaucher, the town’s Business Development Director, highlighted the necessity of this project.
“I think everyone (federal government, state government, local government, Vermont rail, local citizens, business owners, etc.) recognizes that the bridges need to be repaired.”
In an attempt to be sensitive to the central location of the bridges and railroad, the state has agreed to make this a locally managed project.
Dean George, chair of the Middlebury Selectboard and head of the subcommittee that deals directly with the local project manager of VTrans said, “essentially what that does is it allows the town to work with the state and to figure out the best way to replace those two bridges, and at the same time to upgrade the rail…and to have passenger rail traffic in the not so distant future.”
Rich Tatro, the chief engineer at VTrans, also expressed the collaborative nature of the project.
“We have everybody at the table that needs to be at the table.”
However, what began as a 1-year project with a $10 million budget has transformed into roughly a 3 year project with a $55 million budget.
Susan Shashok, a member of the Middlebury Selectboard since 2012, condemned? this change of plans.
“It went from being an acceptable amount and impact to unacceptable,” Ms. Shashok explained.
Some local businesses owners and members of the community support Ms. Shashok, because they are afraid that prolonged reconstruction will disrupt their businesses.
Nancie Dunn, owner of Sweet Cecily, stressed all the negative impacts the construction will have on local businesses.
“I think that the town in general is very very concerned about a three year project that can put some of the stores right out of business if there is not adequate access, and not adequate parking redesigned during that time.”
Ms. Dunn continued to explain how the current plans for reconstruction will also deeply affect town camaraderie and tourism.
“We’ve heard really terrifying reports of how long things are going to be, and how much upheaval there is going to be in the town, which is very scary for a townsman.”
In addition to highlighting the negative impact that the bridge and railroad reconstruction would have on business growth, members of the community have also raised concerns about safety.
Locals recall the damage caused by the 2007 train derailment, 1 of 22 in the town’s history, as reason to avoid further construction on the current bridges and railroad tracks, and to instead consider creating a bypass two miles outside of the downtown area.
Ms. Dunn highlighted some of her safety concerns about the reality of having freight trains pass through the town in the future.
“Having a double decker train going through our town carrying loads of things that could be dangerous, and we don’t know what they are necessarily, doesn’t thrill me.”
Mr. Gaucher explained that the town’s request for a bypass is directly correlated to safety precautions.
“I believe any suggestion of a bypass is rooted in concerns around safety – in light of the most recent train derailment in Middlebury and the prospect of additional hazardous materials travelling through town via rail.”
The suggestion of a bypass however was denied in the most recent meeting on the issue.
To shorten the length of construction, VHB proposed that the firm increase 8 hour shifts twice a day to 10 hour shifts twice a day. Although this change would prevent the construction from lasting three years, it would mean that the town would be subject to 20 hours of noise per day.
In response to the pushback that came as a result of this idea, Mr. Tatro remarked, “those estimates are from quite awhile ago. They’ve been thrown around a little loosely.”
However, Tatro does acknowledge that give and take is required to make this project successful.
“There are some things that can be addressed, but there are some things that are just constraints of working in a small, tight community and incorporating all the design features that need to be incorporated.”
Going forward, Mr. George and the rest of the Selectboard plan to remain highly involved.
“We’ve been involved in this for the last few weeks and we’ve had a couple of small meetings with them, and we asked them to return and look at other alternatives before we agree to go forward with the tunnel aspect of this. We anticipate another meeting at the end of the month where we will be presented with the other potential alternatives”
Although Mr. Tatro sympathized with the complaints coming from local businesses, he also added a dose of reality.
“It’s a complicated, complex project in a village setting,” Mr. Tatro explained, and it’s going to ultimately involve some hard work, some noise, and some dirt along the way like any construction project does, but at the end of the day the town of Middlebury is going to have a really nice center there, which we will all be proud of when it’s all said and done.”
Whatever the next step of the project may be, it is clear that communication and collaboration are necessary in order to guarantee that all voices are heard and considered.
Throughout July and August, Middlebury residents and state officials have debated whether to replace two state-owned rail bridges in downtown Middlebury.
Originally built in 1850, the two bridges, which are located on Merchants Row and Main Street, are in poor condition and in need of constant repair.
According to the state and The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), renewing the railroad infrastructure is long overdue, and will help revitalize passenger and freight traffic from Rutland through Middlebury.
With the help of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (VHB), a South Burlington engineering firm in charge of the project, the current goal is to create higher bridges that meet federal height standards, to improve drainage near the tracks, and to expand the town green near where the trains pass.
Jamie Gaucher, the town’s Business Development Director, highlighted the necessity of this project.
“I think everyone (federal government, state government, local government, Vermont rail, local citizens, business owners, etc.) recognizes that the bridges need to be repaired.”
In an attempt to be sensitive to the central location of the bridges and railroad, the state has agreed to make this a locally managed project.
Dean George, chair of the Middlebury Selectboard and head of the subcommittee that deals directly with the local project manager of VTrans said, “essentially what that does is it allows the town to work with the state and to figure out the best way to replace those two bridges, and at the same time to upgrade the rail…and to have passenger rail traffic in the not so distant future.”
Rich Tatro, the chief engineer at VTrans, also expressed the collaborative nature of the project.
“We have everybody at the table that needs to be at the table.”
However, what began as a 1-year project with a $10 million budget has transformed into roughly a 3 year project with a $55 million budget.
Susan Shashok, a member of the Middlebury Selectboard since 2012, condemned? this change of plans.
“It went from being an acceptable amount and impact to unacceptable,” Ms. Shashok explained.
Some local businesses owners and members of the community support Ms. Shashok, because they are afraid that prolonged reconstruction will disrupt their businesses.
Nancie Dunn, owner of Sweet Cecily, stressed all the negative impacts the construction will have on local businesses.
“I think that the town in general is very very concerned about a three year project that can put some of the stores right out of business if there is not adequate access, and not adequate parking redesigned during that time.”
Ms. Dunn continued to explain how the current plans for reconstruction will also deeply affect town camaraderie and tourism.
“We’ve heard really terrifying reports of how long things are going to be, and how much upheaval there is going to be in the town, which is very scary for a townsman.”
In addition to highlighting the negative impact that the bridge and railroad reconstruction would have on business growth, members of the community have also raised concerns about safety.
Locals recall the damage caused by the 2007 train derailment, 1 of 22 in the town’s history, as reason to avoid further construction on the current bridges and railroad tracks, and to instead consider creating a bypass two miles outside of the downtown area.
Ms. Dunn highlighted some of her safety concerns about the reality of having freight trains pass through the town in the future.
“Having a double decker train going through our town carrying loads of things that could be dangerous, and we don’t know what they are necessarily, doesn’t thrill me.”
Mr. Gaucher explained that the town’s request for a bypass is directly correlated to safety precautions.
“I believe any suggestion of a bypass is rooted in concerns around safety – in light of the most recent train derailment in Middlebury and the prospect of additional hazardous materials travelling through town via rail.”
The suggestion of a bypass however was denied in the most recent meeting on the issue.
To shorten the length of construction, VHB proposed that the firm increase 8 hour shifts twice a day to 10 hour shifts twice a day. Although this change would prevent the construction from lasting three years, it would mean that the town would be subject to 20 hours of noise per day.
In response to the pushback that came as a result of this idea, Mr. Tatro remarked, “those estimates are from quite awhile ago. They’ve been thrown around a little loosely.”
However, Tatro does acknowledge that give and take is required to make this project successful.
“There are some things that can be addressed, but there are some things that are just constraints of working in a small, tight community and incorporating all the design features that need to be incorporated.”
Going forward, Mr. George and the rest of the Selectboard plan to remain highly involved.
“We’ve been involved in this for the last few weeks and we’ve had a couple of small meetings with them, and we asked them to return and look at other alternatives before we agree to go forward with the tunnel aspect of this. We anticipate another meeting at the end of the month where we will be presented with the other potential alternatives”
Although Mr. Tatro sympathized with the complaints coming from local businesses, he also added a dose of reality.
“It’s a complicated, complex project in a village setting,” Mr. Tatro explained, and it’s going to ultimately involve some hard work, some noise, and some dirt along the way like any construction project does, but at the end of the day the town of Middlebury is going to have a really nice center there, which we will all be proud of when it’s all said and done.”
Whatever the next step of the project may be, it is clear that communication and collaboration are necessary in order to guarantee that all voices are heard and considered.
(05/07/15 3:04am)
In the coming weeks, the parking lot of Cornwall Elementary School will change dramatically. The vacant school bus currently parked at the school will transform from a typical school bus to a Dream Bus that grew out of the imagination of Lena Jacobs ’17.5.
Having received grant money from MiddChallenge and the Future Project, the Dream Bus, which will be constructed as a mobile classroom, will stop in 12 cities at various high schools and community centers across the country this summer.
As Jacobs describes it, the Dream Bus is “a collaborative space for people to pursue projects of any type.”
Jacobs’ idea for the Dream Bus sparked from her previous involvement with the Future Project, which is a national campaign focused on promoting entrepreneurial skills in young people. The Future Project trains dream directors, who embody the organization’s mission, to partner with various high schools, and implement a specific curriculum that fosters creativity and unconventional learning.
Participating in Future Project One, in which she proposed her idea to various business executives and dream directors, Jacobs describes her experience as transformative.
“I all of a sudden realized that there were people that were older than me…that could help me. And I ran home that day because I was so excited about what the potential for why my school year could look like...and the idea that realizing a dream, and that anything is possible was so real in my mind that I literally couldn’t sit still,” Jacobs said.
After that unforgettable encounter, Jacobs became further drawn to the Future Project and the impact it has on the schools it gets involved with. She specifically became focused on how she could give someone the opportunity to experience what had had such a positive impact on her.
Jacobs began to think about accessibility. The Future Project currently exists in 7 cities. By creating the Dream Bus, Jacobs is able to deliver the mission of the Future Project to more cities and therefore impact more students. With 4-6 rotating dream directors, 1 national dream director, and various community members on board, the Dream Bus is well-equipped to make an impact.
The process behind the Dream Bus is based off of the curriculum of the Future Project, and will go as follows. The bus will arrive at a given school or community center parking lot where students will be waiting to get on.
First, students will be asked what their process is, and then will workshop their idea with the dream directors on the bus to figure out what their next step will be.
Next, dream directors will redirect each student to community members on the bus, who are people that the Future Project has on the ground that can expose students to specific networks in their community.
Then, the student will continue to further develop his/her idea, until it is solidified and ready to be pitched to a camera. These videos will be posted on dream.org. Finally, the student will walk off the bus and take part in the knowledge party, which is meant to celebrate the beginnings of an idea.
In addition to Jacobs, the Dream Bus team is comprised of architecture studies majors Brandon Gell ’16, Morgan Raith ’16.5, and Josh Epsy ’17.
As the architecture advisors of the project, Gell, Raith, and Epsy spend a lot of time thinking about how the mission and function of the Dream Bus can be complimented and bolstered by the design and layout of the bus.
“As architectural studies majors at Middlebury,” Raith said, “we are often asked to consider all of the psychological, environmental, and specific implications of what you do when you implement an intervention into a space…so having that mindset, and that ability to think of people in that space in that way- of how will people interact with space- is sort of where we come in.”
ell continues by saying, “we want the design of the bus to reflect the process in which students are moving their ideas forward. So a very important part of the bus will be a space in which students can talk to each other, and also talk to dream directors. So there will need to be a pretty large table that is versatile. And then moving off of that, there will be a couple of work stations. Also, there will be a large portion of the bus will be designated to sitting space. Like a couch, or a hangout spot because that’s where most amazing ideas come to fruition. And then we will have another spot where once a student is done developing their idea, can go to pitch their idea to a camera.”
For Epsy, he sees his role as an architectural advisor as in charge of creating “the vessel through which we show kids that their ideas and their ambitions have real merit.
When asked about whether this process allocates enough time for students to create an idea, Jacobs responded confidently, by saying, “I do just because I was given split second moments, and that was all I needed. If you’re with the right people, at the right space, at the right time, and everything around you just feels like the right energy, it’s totally possible. It’s happened to me, it’s happened to my friends, and I’ve seen it happen to other kids I’ve been speaking with too.”
Epsy further accounts for what may off as far-fetched in the eyes of skeptics.
“I know that this all sounds a little bit idealistic, and I think it is in some ways, and that’s beautiful, that’s the wonder of this project, but these kids are amazing. And they do amazing projects, and they really execute…so it is a big dream, yes, but it is becoming a reality. And that is why I am so excited about this project.”
The team also reflected on how the process of making the bus into a creative space has stimulated creativeness within them.
On the innovativeness and self-empowerment the bus is meant to motivate, Epys summarizes, “a lot of this bus is about allowing students to realize that their dreams matter, their ambitions matter, and that these are concrete ways that they can start to follow those passions.”
Gell then reveals how this process has directly impacted him.
“The dream bus,” Geil explains,” is doing exactly what it’s doing to these students to me. The bus for us, along for those getting on it, is about applying your education rather than just brushing it on.”
Raith agreed and further stated that “having the opportunity to envision [the bus], and sketch [it] up, knowing that it’s actually happening is really empowering.”
Jacobs further articulates how her idea of thinking outside the box is exactly what she wants to inspire in the students that walk on the bus.
“So that idea of reimagining places that are dark and dreary for students, whether that’s your school or a school bus, or a certain aspect of your life” Jacobs explains, “is just really inspiring to students, and I hope that we can show a lot of students across the country what that looks like.”
Raith continues with the notion that much of this project is taught by example.
“I think just the presence of a student-run, organized developed, executed project like this bus is kind of a model for inspiration,” Raith said. “Showing these kids that change happens from the ground up, not top-down. We have the power as young people to create a shift. We can be the change that we want to see.”
Gell agreed with this sentiment when saying that when each kid who steps on the bus will think “if I put my mind to something I can do it. Just like these kids put their minds to something and built this bus. It’s entirely supposed to be inspirational. You know maybe this idea is a miss, but the other one is going to be a hit.”
Just as the bus exudes creativity from all avenues, it also promotes community at various scales and within different spheres.
For the students who the bus is meant for, the community directors present students with local networks and opportunities that can be utilized long after the Dream Bus has left.
As Jacobs explains that after the bus leaves, “the people that stay are [the students], and all of the community directors that [they] know can help [them]. So we are sourcing these people locally…we are allowing students to connect with people, and say, ‘it’s now your job to continue these connections.”
Raith adds, “I think its going to do a lot to open kids’ eyes to help them realize that their resources are wider than just the classrooms that they walk into the morning. By showing kids that by reaching out to the community members close to you, by people around you who inherently care about the posts they are in, and will therefore care about you, is going to be far more successful that you maybe get frustrated with.
At a national level, the team hopes to mark trends and create a broader network of entrepreneurs.
“Our hope is,” according to Raith, “that we are going to be able to match interests across certain regions. And start creating a platform for private investors, companies, to sort of look at these young entrepreneurs and see what they are up to, and latch onto these creative minds, and give them an outlet for what they are thinking about.”
Further, the video component to the bus, where anyone can log on and watch what the students on the bus are creating, will also help inspire students nationwide.
Epsy explains that the video project tells students, “ ‘you matter. Your ideas are important, and your ideas are realistic. We can make this happen. And you have peers doing similar things. So if they can see where the bus has gone, and if they can see all of these cool projects popping up all over the nation, in this wave of creativity, that’s a really powerful experience.”
Community has also been important for the Dream Bus team itself as they get their project under way.
For starters, Cornwall Elementary School was the only place to agree to allow the team to park their bus while it is being renovated.
Jacobs comments that Abi Sessions, the principal of Cornwall “was incredibly supportive of the idea and has been really helpful thus far.”
In return for the support that Sessions has offered, the team plans to host their first event with Cornwall elementary school students. In addition, Benjamin Vessa, owner of the Right Fix since its founding in 2009, has helped the team solve mechanical problems as they have come up along the way.
“It’s good to help out the local community,” Vessa began “and it’s good for kids to learn. It’s a great opportunity to help teach.”
Employers at Sherwin-Williams also have donated paint supplies, and offered their time to help the Dream Bus team with the construction process. Matt Parker, a sales representative at Sherwin-Williams, explains his commitment to the project.
“I feel very strongly that this is a project worth being involved in, and I really appreciate being given the opportunity to help Lena and the rest of the team.” Therefore, just as community leaders on the Dream Bus will be instrumental to students in forming local connections, so has the local Vermont community been vitally important to helping the Dream Bus team realize their goal, and get their idea off the ground.
As Epsy phrases it, “we’ve already had tremendous support from a few companies doing donations and sponsorships and giving of themselves to help this project go through. That’s huge because they understand the merit of this project, and they understand that they can be a part of something that is much bigger than a school bus. It is a chain reaction that is going across this country. And so we are so appreciative of their support, and are very encouraged by the support from the community we are getting so far…. part of this project is about building a coalition to do this project.”
With renovations hopefully done by June 20, and the tour set to leave by June 22, the Dream Bus inspires all who come into contact with it.
Further, it is clear that the Dream Bus is not only for local communities, but also a product of our own.
As Epsy phrases it, “don’t wait to jump in when the bandwagon is built. Help us build this bandwagon.”
(04/16/15 3:14am)
This June, Peter Jensen, the Foundations of Engineering and Architecture Instructor at the Hannaford Career Center, will be retiring. After working eight years in his current position at the center, and forty years overall in the Middlebury education system, Jensen and his career of dedicated work deserve to be celebrated.
After receiving his teaching degree in 1971, Jensen joined the army and was an officer for three years. When his tour was over, however, Jensen immediately went into the field of teaching.
“I left my career as an officer because I really had a passion for teaching,” Jensen explained.
Once he transitioned into the education sector, Jensen was immediately drawn to STEM programs. “Right from the beginning, I got into programs that allowed kids to make things … the concept was to be creative and innovative,” Jensen said.
Throughout his career, Jensen felt firmly rooted in his role as an instructor. “My job as an instructor,” Jensen said, “I have always felt is to essentially be the person who creates the environment in which learning can take place.”
Jensen continued: “If I structure the units carefully enough, and introduce them clearly enough, then the students have an opportunity to be encouraged and the desire to be innovative.”
When asked how his style of teaching developed over his career, Jensen said, “I think it has been honed over time.”
Jensen was sure to make clear, however, that his fundamentals remained constant. “I always had a passion to interact with young people, to allow them the freedom to expand and grow, to develop in whatever was their passion,” he said.
In addition, Jensen believes that his core responsibility is to defy the stereotype that the subjects of architecture and engineering are rigid. “I see my job,” Jensen explained, “as connecting creativity within those rigid subjects.” For example, Jensen referenced the groundbreaking work of Bjarke Engels as the level of originality he encourages his students to strive for. When talking about Engel’s work, Jensen said, “Now that’s innovation. That’s the freedom to be creative. That’s the change that the world needs.”
At the Hannaford Career Center, a state-funded public education center that offers students the opportunity to be engaged in learning at a broader context, the general focus is to present students with a variety of opportunities to expand their interest in technical skills, the workplace and future educational opportunities.
Jensen advises that the career center is “a wonderful opportunity to discover through a year or semester-long program whether or not an interest of yours is strong enough to continue into the future.”
“With the incredible cost of post-high school education now presented to a lot of these kids,” Jensen continued, “using their time in high school to make some discovery is really valuable.”
Jensen’s course, which is a semester-long course that splits the time evenly between engineering and architecture, is built around five basic concepts: investigate, innovate, evaluate, fabricate and communicate, which are applied to a variety of specific tasks and activities.
“Whether you are designing a house, or a new iPad … I use the same basic elements, so in essence a lot of my assignments are mini tasks, which give students the opportunity to be creative,” he said.
In his curriculum, Jensen places a strong emphasis on making his content engaging.
“One of the precepts I believe very important for kids nowadays,” Jensen explained, “is to be excited about what they are doing and if a kid is adventurous, than they are going to be less likely to be fearful of failure.”
Jensen makes his goal therefore to encourage and foster his students to “get into the software, get into their personal motivation as to what they’d like to create, and be creative with that as their vehicle.”
As a facilitator of such creativity, Jensen relayed incidents where some students needed a little extra encouragement.
“I had one student, let’s call him Bill, who was very nervous about the software. He did not have much experience with computers, and this was in the engineering phase of the course,” Jensen said. “I helped him gain familiarity with the software, and asked him what he was interested in. He was interested in pool. So with my help he went from building a pool stick, to a set of balls, to a rack to put the balls into, and before he knew it, Bill had built an entire pool set.”
Reflecting on this experience, Jensen revealed that “to see a student, who started in a relatively timid way, without a lot of self-confidence, grow into an understanding of his ability, and feel his ability his expanding within him, allowing him to take more risk, and to try different things, that’s one of the joys of teaching.”
Having dedicated his life to public education and parenting four children, three of which went to four year college institutions, and one who attended a two year automotive school, Jensen is in a unique position to comment on the value of a liberal arts education in comparison to a career-oriented program.
First, Jensen was clear to address some of the stigmas associated with the value of technical schools in this debate. “Perhaps part of an academic stigma is that a technical school is for students that won’t be doing too much after school. That’s not true at all. In fact, it’s anything but that.”
To further emphasize his value of technical schools, Jensen explained that he had all four of his children take his class at the Hannaford Center, knowing that three of them would continue onto a four-year college institution.
Next, Jensen began to distinguish the different skills each type of education provides. Jensen categorizes technical schools as those that provide a student with “a hard skill, or a hard resume.” In comparison, Jensen views the liberal arts education as the development of “the soft skills.”
Ultimately, Jensen believes that the two sectors of education work best when incorporated together. “In other words,” Jensen continued, “I can be a brilliant architect, and be hired by one of the most wonderful firms in New York City. If I don’t have the ability to connect with people in a team setting, communicate effectively, compromise, take criticism…those skills will force me to lose my job.”
One of Jensen’s four children attended Middlebury College, and he praised the establishment. “Middlebury College is a fantastic institution. Through my own son’s experience, and my awareness of the College, I’ve come to understand that oftentimes the first degree that we choose is not the last degree. And the first job that we enter, is by no means our final job, or a big extensive career,” Jensen said.
“The experience that you have at Middlebury College is more about some intrinsic things that occur within you, that give you guidance and maturity, that help you to develop as a person that then can be more successfully applied to the passion, and the direction you want to take your life,” Jensen continued.
He also made sure not to undervalue those skills. “If you can gain a feeling and understanding about yourself, a real candid awareness about who you are, and develop the ability to take risks and to get out there and discover, then maybe that degree has served you well.”
With his distinguished career beginning to enter the rearview mirror, Jensen makes it clear that the most rewarding part of his career has been working with young people. “Young people are very interesting. They’re dynamic, they’re full of effort and energy…they are the entire reason I came into education in the first place.”
Jensen then recalled an interaction with his father, a science and chemistry teacher in a barrio school in Arizona, that fully encapsulates the heightened sense of importance he places on the career of teaching. The summer before his father died, Jenson was building a rather large house. In response to his father lamenting that he had never done anything as creative as building a house, Jensen responded, “‘Wait a minute. How many years did you teach? Dad, you encountered, inspired, encouraged thousands of young kids, haven’t you?’ And he began to think back, and I said, ‘What is more powerful than that?’ One kid is way more powerful than a room in a house, than the entire house structure.”
When asked if there is any downside to his job, Jensen responded, “You’re asking the wrong guy. I have enjoyed my career so much. I don’t think there is a down-side for me.”
With a smile on his face, Jensen concluded, “I am enjoying it as much today as I did forty years ago when I started, just out of the service.”
(02/25/15 2:05pm)
William F. Brooks, Jr., the Executive Director of the Henry Sheldon Museum, radiates passion for his work. Since he was appointed in 2012, Brooks has worked extensively to foster a cohesive relationship between the town and the museum.
(02/11/15 2:53pm)
In light of a recent measles outbreak, which originated at Disneyland in December and has since grown to 102 cases in 14 states, the debate on child-vaccination laws in Vermont has been reignited.
According to America’s Health Rankings, which is funded by the United Health Foundation, Vermont is ranked 22nd nationwide for its child-vaccination laws. The Boston Globe reports that this is one of the weakest standings in New England.
Since 1979, parents who do not want to vaccinate their children can check a box on a state form that says they have a philosophical objection to the vaccination. Based on research reported by Valley News, 400 kindergartners statewide, or 6.1 percent of the population, used this philosophical exemption to avoid the measles vaccine. In August 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that 21 public schools in the state had vaccination rates below 90 percent. In addition, the CDC reported in a separate report in October 2014 that only 91.2 percent of Vermont kindergartners had a measles vaccination.
In 2012, State Sen. Kevin Mullin, (R) Rutland, introduced a bill that would eliminate the philosophical exemption to vaccines. Opposed by various senators and Gov. Peter Shumlin, Sen. Mullin’s efforts were championed in the Senate, but defeated in the House. Instead of the elimination of the philosophical exemption, the bill resulted in a compromise, requiring a detailed reporting of vaccination rates from each school district.
This past week, State Sen. Kevin Mullin, the lead sponsor of the 2012 legislation, made a motion to reintroduce the 2012 bill based on his belief that the current school reporting law does not go far enough in response to the current outbreak.
Sen. Mullin comments, “once again we see where people are basing their decisions on old studies and old information, and I think we need to have that discussion again in the Statehouse.”
At a Statehouse news conference last Thursday, pediatrician Lou DiNicola urged Vermont parents to vaccinate their children, and expressed his support for the reintroduction of the bill.
“What we’re dealing with is misinformation,” DiNicola said as to why he feels parents oppose vaccinations. Furthermore, DiNicola disapproves of the state’s current regulations. “The law,” DiNicola explained, “reinforced that it’s okay to make this decision not to vaccinate your child based on whatever you find out on the Internet.”
In contrast, Jennifer Stella, head of the Vermont Coalition for Vaccine Choice, explains that at its core, this issue is about fighting for parental rights.
“I understand that he [Mullin] may want to make vaccines an exception to the rule that parents are really charged with making those medical decisions for their children,” she says. “But my question I guess to him would be, where does it stop?”
Gov. Peter Shumlin’s skepticism towards the removal of the philosophical exemption from the bill bolsters Stella’s point of view. Shumlin not only expresses the need to create a distinction between state and individual rights, but also questions whether the vaccination law falls under the state’s jurisdiction.
“There’s just no doubt that it makes really common sense to vaccinate your kids against horrible diseases that used to take our ancestors from us and that we’ve now got the medical capacity to avoid,” Shumlin said. The governor still believes, however, that “we have to find the balance between what we believe and individual liberties.”
In response to sentiments felt by Stella and Gov. Shumlin, Sen. Kevin Mullin disregards the notion that this issue is about parent’s fighting for their individual freedoms, and instead demands that it be approached as a health concern.
“This isn’t about eliminating choice. It’s about protecting all Vermonters,” Sen. Mullin said.
Josh Allen, a father of four, who sends his children to Bradford Elementary school, echoes Sen. Mullin’s sentiments about parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. “They’re endangering other people by not doing it,” Allen said.
Christine Finley, Immunization Program director for the Vermont Department of Health, introduces the element of fear as responsible for this contentious debate.
“I think we need to understand where the fear is coming from,” Finley said, “and where the concern is coming from, and try to address that.”
In light of Finley’s remarks, the cautious mentality of House Speaker Shap Smith, (D) Morristown, can be put into context.
“I really think that before we go into what is going to be a really difficult debate, based on past experience,” Smith said, “we need to understand how the education effort is working.”
The vaccination debate raises questions about how the state should manage individual rights and public health concerns. Both sides of the debate are fueling up to argue over how each sphere intertwines and diverges. Although the success of State Sen. Kevin Mullin’s bill remains uncertain, recent events have made it clear that vaccination law is contentious in Vermont.
(01/21/15 11:53pm)
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, Cursive Coffee posted on its Facebook page that it would be closing its doors as of Saturday, February 21. Located at 58 Main Street, this progressive espresso bar will shut down just eight months after it’s opening on Friday, June 13.
Jim Osborn and Sam Clifton, who met working at Uncommon Grounds, co-founded Cursive Coffee in June 2013. After running a successful pop-up espresso bar inside of Barge Canal Market, an antique shop in Burlington, the team was ready to advance their business to the next level.
“What sincerely makes our product unique,” Jim Osborn articulates, “is a relentless emphasis on transparent quality. We buy exceptional coffee, roast it with neurotic affection, and do our best to ensure that its flavor profile evokes what makes it inherently special and absolutely delicious.”
With their success building, Cursive Coffee caught the attention of Anne Barakat, a Middlebury-based architect and designer, who was in the process of launching Boo + Roxy, a design collaborative. Together, the two companies launched their Main Street storefront to combine a collaborative workspace with an artisanal espresso bar.
Alexis Hughes ’17.5 expressed her appreciation for the coffee shop. “I like Cursive Coffee because it is an atmosphere that isn’t present in any other part of Middlebury – this new-age kind of coffee shop that’s simple and quiet, reminiscent of some of my favorite places back home.”
Sue Stroud-Spyers a Middlebury resident who works at the local library, Sweet Cecily, and takes classes at CCV, voiced a different sentiment. “When Cursive Coffee opened I wanted to try it out. I went twice, but it was closed each time I went, even though it was during the middle of business hours. Carols has always been more convenient for me, so I just went back to my normal routine and sort of forgot about it.”
Despite its initial promise, Cursive Coffee will be closing its doors because its owners were unable to negotiate reasonable terms for the renewal of their lease; its closing sparks questions about the town of Middlebury’s ability to create lasting upward mobility for its local businesses.
Jim Osborn describes the uphill battle for small businesses as “very unpoetic,” and further suggests, “it’s the sort of situation that forces many businesses to vacate their storefronts prematurely. Increasing expenses at a rate that is grossly disproportionate to rate of growth stymies financial sustainability before it has an earnest chance to be assessed for future viability.”
Nancie Dunn, owner of Sweet Cecily, whose store has been in business on Main Street for 28 years offered what she believes, is required for a local business owner to find success in Middlebury. “I think in general you have to know your market and understand the town. You have to have a good product mix and be on top of the vibe of the town. You have to know where you are and what the community is like, and realize that you need to serve and appeal to a mix of locals, tourists, and college-aged students.”
Since announcing the store’s closing, Osborn has had time to reflect on the store’s identity and possibly what went wrong.
“I don’t think that we were truly given enough time to garner widespread community support. Furthermore, we have always been aware and unapologetic about our oddities- lack of food, lack of drip coffee, lack of tea, lack of wifi, lack of ample seating, lack what we perceive as frivolous appeasements to arbitrary conceptions of what a café needs to contain- but all of this was completely deliberate. These choices may have lost us business, but I don’t we had enough time to be sure. Either way, they were fundamental to our identity.”
Jamie Gaucher, Middlebury’s first-ever director of business development, whose role marks the mutual effort of both the College and the town to bring new economic vitality and more jobs to the town of Middlebury, offers his own comments on the vitality of local businesses in Middlebury.
“I think it demonstrates that Middlebury is not unlike any other community in Vermont or New England where some businesses experience exponential growth and some struggle or are unsuccessful,” said the New York native. “I remain convinced that Middlebury is and will continue to be a place where entrepreneurs can be successful.”
Cursive Coffee’s unique identity only targeted a niche market, and although it did create a particular, dedicated following, its expensive prices and uncompromising style did not accommodate to the larger community.
Despite Cursive Coffee’s short-lived career in Middlebury, Mr. Gaucher remains hopeful. “I don’t anticipate any negative effect associated with the unfortunate closing of this business,” said the New York native. “Middlebury’s designated downtown district has experienced change over the years and consequently, I’m hopeful that the space will be occupied by another business shortly.”
(11/13/14 3:03am)
Ryan Brewster ’14 wanted to capture the true community-based ethos of Middlebury College. Seeking to highlight the pride associated with the College’s spirit, Brewster spent his last semester at Middlebury wondering how he could best contribute to this dialogue.
“You go to the bookstore, and you see normal, generic, preppy clothing that doesn’t speak to the character of Middlebury,” Brewster said. “When it comes to capturing the real pulse of students, it’s lacking.”
From Brewster’s realization of this disconnect, Ron’s Closet Apparel Company was born.
“I saw it as my job to break down the gap between the students desire to identify themselves as a Midd student and their actual ability to do so,” he said.
Ron’s Closet Apparel Company, founded in February 2014, seeks to preserve and celebrate the many unique traditions of the College through clothing design. Brewster is in charge of all external facets of the company, such as design and marketing, while Jake Lessing ’13.5 plays a supportive role and is in charge of the legal side of the company.
For Brewster, clothing design seemed like the natural avenue to achieve his goal because he views fashion as a direct manifestation of personal expression.
“Midd students have this niche community that they are a part of,” Brewster said. “I thought clothing design would be a really great way to represent that culture. I really see one’s identity and self-expression communicated through what they are wearing. It’s what is right in front of you, and it’s the first evaluation you have.”
After its initial launch, the company experienced significant growing pains. At first, Brewster tried a top down business model approach in which he made all of the company’s inventory available upfront. With little marketing or advertising experience, Brewster realized that selling his product was more nuanced and complicated than he anticipated. With time however, Brewster realized how to create a business model that would best reflect this clientele.
“We are such a small, tight-knit group of students with, for the most part, shared beliefs and values,” he said. “I realized that the business model that would stem from that is one that takes advantage of this kind of tight-knit group of thinkers.”
Brewster credits Tee Spring, a company that helps designers sell custom apparel online, as the platform that really propelled Ron’s Closet Apparel forward. Tee Spring helps Brewster set a sales goal and give an estimate of how much each shirt will cost.
Then, Brewster launches a social media campaign to publicize his product. From there, when enough enthusiasm is solicited and the initial goal is met, the product can be printed and sold to the individual buyers. If the sales goal is not met, the buyers will receive a complete refund of their order. Brewster values this business model because it emphasizes the grassroots nature of the company, putting the prerogative on the consumer.
“The fact that the campaign cannot succeed unless people are involved makes buyers feel invested in the company,” he said. “It’s in the buyers’ best interest to promote the shirts and make sure they get printed. This is how I really want it to stay. This crowd-funded model really helps the products to have character behind them.”
Under its newfound business model, the company has had five complete campaigns. The company has sold around 70 shirts, of which the “Like a Prayer” shirt accounts for 25. In addition, Ron’s Closet Facebook page has over 300 likes. To help the company gain visibility, Ron’s Closet has started offering pro-bono services for clubs or events on campus that need marketing materials.
Brewster explained that his path to graphic design was not a typical one. Although Brewster has been an artist his entire life, he was not introduced to graphic design until his senior year of high school. His career as a graphic designer started to take off in his sophomore year at the College when he was asked to design that year’s orientation t-shirt and brochure.
As Coordinator of Communications and Social Media for GlobeMed, Brewster was offered a graphic design internship at Gardens for Health International in Rwanda, the club’s partner organization. With the pressure to minimize the budget as much as possible, Gardens for Health International had very limited and outdated communication with the outside world. By working to create infographics that brought life back into the organization, Brewster began to see graphic design in a new light.
“Through my work, I developed a greater passion for design work and how it can actually do good in the world,” he said.
As a Molecular Biology and Biochemistry major who is currently working at Harvard Medical School, Brewster exemplifies how the success of his business is a direct reflection of what he learned from a liberal arts education.
“The liberal arts really taught me to think holistically and be critical of existing models,” he said. “It also encouraged me to think outside of the box and be willing to fail.”
Brewster calls for artists from all backgrounds to get involved, and stresses that experience is of little importance.
“We are looking for young designers, creative minds, anyone who wants to get involved with the company. Experience is really irrelevant here because we are really naïve as well.”
As for the future, Brewster hopes to build Ron’s Closet as both a clothing brand and a collective of like-minded graphic designers who want to use their artistic abilities to give back to the College community.
“My vision is for the company to serve as a guild, and a marketing hub for the college,” Brewster said. “I hope in years to come that students will be eager to follow up what I’ve started and make this a clothing initiative where designers not only can submit to Ron’s Closet but also gain visibility and experience as artists and learn important marketing skills.”
(10/30/14 2:43am)
Middlebury College’s student-run darkroom lies tucked away in the basement of Forest Hall, proving that hidden amongst the drone of washing machines, Forest basement is also a place of creativity.
Previously, the darkroom existed out of necessity and was used by Campus photographers shooting film. Caroline Fernandes ’14.5, the Darkroom club’s current president, recalled her first impression of the run-down darkroom.
“There were signs everywhere advertising phone numbers for the Campus, and old issues strewn about,” she said.
Currently, the darkroom is run by the Darkroom club, and embodies an escape into the past and defies the notion that technological advancements lead to superior results.
“In terms of feeling satisfied artistically, I always shoot film,” Fernandes said. “I just find that I get really bored with digital. You have so much control very quickly, and anything can be altered on Photoshop. I like the nostalgia of film.”
The darkroom therefore offers students an unregulated space where they can have free reign over the creative process.
“The darkroom is a really nice place on campus that is pretty rare,” Fernandes said. “People who are not in the art program and have not taken any art classes have a space where they can just use it and do whatever they want in a non-academic related way.”
To gain access to the darkroom, students can either pay $65, which includes admission for one semester and J-term, or $100, which allows for use for the full year. The fee covers 24/7 access, all chemical materials, occasional film and paper handouts, equipment to borrow and cheap film for purchase.
“I’d like to be able to lower the cost of access,” Fernandes said. “Although the darkroom’s prices pale in comparison to real world prices, I think the price tag is what turns people away. I think if more people used it, the SGA would be willing to give the club more money just to make it free for everybody. However, making it free and open to everybody could potentially be a real issue because it’s a scary thing to grant open access to all of the serious chemicals that are used in the dark room.”
Fernandes points to the free admission of the ceramics club as a model that she hopes her own club can emulate. She eventually withdrew from this notion however, by saying, “a fee is necessary because it shows you are really serious about doing this, which is necessary considering all of the unmonitored access your membership gives you.”
SGA Treasurer Ilana Gratch ’16 further explained why the darkroom club requires a fee.
“Every student organization has different needs, which is why we have a committee responsible for allocating the Student Activities Fee [SAF], as opposed to an automated process. In some cases, there are hard and fast rules [the Student Government Association Finance Committee guidelines] to which we always adhere. In other cases, we must use discretion to determine how to most appropriately respond to budget proposals. So, for example, while it is feasible for the Finance Committee to allocate funds to enable the ceramics studio to function without a cost to the students, the same isn’t necessarily true of the dark room, and this is due to specific differences in the costs required to maintain these studios, as well as the estimated cost per student.”
Gratch continued, “The Finance Committee is working with a finite sum of money and, as a result, there is sometimes a cost for participation in an event or activity. In the case of the darkroom, there is a relatively high cost per student, a cost that would not be sustainable for the Finance Committee to carry out for every organization. As a committee, we do our best to subsidize as many costly events as we can, but again, we are not working with endless funds.”
Despite the club’s fees, the darkroom’s popularity is on the rise. With over 70 people on the email list and 12 students actively using the darkroom this semester, it is clear that Fernandes is not alone in her call to nostalgia. Support from Commons Coordinator Lin Schiffer, the club’s faculty advisor, and Commons Dean Ian Sutherland, who donated a camera to the club, demonstrates that the community wants to see the club succeed.
The club also has big plans for the future. Fernandes will host a J-term workshop that covers an introduction to darkroom photography, specifically how to use a manual camera, how to develop film and how to print photos from the enlarger and from negatives. In addition, Fernandes and Schiffer have discussed the possibility of producing a show to be displayed in the McCullough Social Space or the M-Gallery.
With her graduation this February, Fernandes stressed her need to find a replacement to take over the club.
“I just need to find someone interested who wants to make the darkroom a really nice spot for people to use,” she said.
The darkroom serves as a reminder that a return to simplicity and artistic control cannot be ignored.
(10/23/14 12:57am)
On Thursday, Oct. 9 at the Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs, Asaaf Gavron, an Israeli author, came to speak about his recently published book The Hilltop. Considered one of the most accomplished young Israeli authors of our time, Asaaf Gavron aims to capture all aspects of Israeli experiences.
Winner of the prestigious Bernstein Prize, and described as “The Great Israeli Novel” by Time Out Tel Aviv, The Hilltop focuses on a fictional settlement, Maale Chermesh C, in the West Bank in order to reveal the real-life controversies and complexities that come with living in Israel.
From Gavron’s perspective, the reader learns that hilltop settlements are full of contradictions. While the Israeli government claims that such settlements do not exist, the military firmly believe that such settlements must be defended. In addition, such hilltop outposts are home to both religious, right-wingers and socialists who simply want to live minimally off the land. Illegal yet still practiced, hilltop settlements are, according to Gavron, a “volatile and political issue” that cannot be ignored.
The director of the program in Modern Hebrew, the Program in International and Global Studies, the Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs and Professor of Geography Tamar Mayer adds perspective to the dichotomies Gavron highlights.
“These settlement are born not always because of politics and ideology but they survive and flourish because of them,” she said.
In addition, Gavron explores how his fictional settlement is an extension of a traditional kibbutz. Built on socialist and Zionist ideals, a kibbutz is a collective community firmly based in agriculture. Gavron argues, that modern day hilltop settlements are the new frontier of Israel in that they reject the country’s transition to an industrial, privatized economy and instead yearn for the country’s socialist, manual labor roots.
Gavron spent five years researching for this book. In addition to traditional research in the library, Gavron went to various settlements in the West Bank every week for two years. When asked about his extensive research methods, Gavron stressed his belief that “a writer needs to have authority in order to be believable.”
With the mindset of “trying not to judge, but just ask why,” he wanted to add an unbiased perspective to the international conversation about the existence of hilltop settlements in Israel.
In response to Gavron’s research approach, Mayer said, “He is in the unique position to share and illuminate what life on the Hilltop is about.”
Mayer also applauds Gavron’s ability to depict the diverse community that exist in hilltop settlements.
“Gavron populates Maale Chermesh C with characters that well-represent Jewish hilltop settlers in the West Bank,” she said. “He brilliantly weaves their interactions with their Palestinian neighbors, the media, politicians, one another, and with both the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and civil administration — two arms of Israeli government that are charged, on the one hand with evicting the illegal Jewish settlers and, on the other, with supporting their presence on the hill.”
“I wanted to break stereotypes and find the motives behind people’s behavior,” Gavron said. “I wanted the novel to show the reality, and let readers decide.”
Although the novel has received significant praise from the international community, Israelis have voiced mixed reviews. While leftists accuse the author of wrongfully legitimizing such settlements by bringing it to the spotlight, rightists feel Gavron’s depiction of the characters within the settlement are too stereotypical.
Gavron remains indifferent to the variety of reactions his book has received.
“People warned me not to go near this topic because it’s too sensitive an issue, but I like taking those risks,” Gavron said. “It’s important for me to not only understand these people and their interactions, but also to get it right. I’m ready to take the backlash for that.”
Jeremy Vandenberg ’17 commended the author for his effort to remain impartial.
“I really enjoyed his principle as an author of doing his best at looking at both sides of the issue and remaining unbiased,” he said. “I thought it was very scholarly, even though I haven’t actually read the book to see if it worked out.”
Satirical yet sincere, The Hilltop raises more questions than it provides answers. Through writing fiction based heavily on reality, Gavron refuses to tread lightly and instead embraces some of his country’s toughest, most unspeakable questions.
(10/01/14 11:44pm)
Humans of New York (HONY) is not simply a blog on Tumblr or a Facebook page. With over 9.8 million followers and 6,000 posts as of August 2014, the blog has offered a worldwide audience a lens into the lives of strangers in New York City.
These accomplishments have led to numerous awards and recognitions. At the 2013 Webby Awards, the blog was the recipient of the People’s Voice Award for “Best Cultural Blog” and “The Best Use of Photography.” In addition, Brandon Stanton, the blog’s creator, was named one of Time Magazine’s 30 under 30 People Changing the World.
Humans of Middlebury aims to build off of HONY’s model. August Laska ’17.5, its founder, believes that this blog will add to the College’s social fabric because it will add depth and perspective to the members of our community.
“I think here,” Laska said, “even though we are such a small school, you see someone new everyday.” This blog will force viewers to see, notice and learn about people they haven’t met or have been too scared to approach.
Laska has never taken a photography class, or had a photography blog. However, he hopes to use his passion for photography to break out of his social bubble.
“As a sophomore Feb, I have my 100 friends — if that — and Humans of Middlebury will give me a reason to walk up to people I don’t know and say hello.”
Although Humans of Middlebury does not have access to the same sample size as HONY, it will aim to capture and embody all aspects of life on campus.
The blog’s first post came unexpectedly. Laska was sitting alone doing homework in Proctor lounge when all of a sudden a girl he didn’t know joined him at his table. Instead of avoiding eye contact and ignoring the urge to engage in conversation, Laska changed an awkward moment into what will hopefully become the first of many great first encounters.
This first photo was posted on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. By midnight, the photo had 50 likes. A day and a half later it had received 400. It is important to note that these likes were not just from Middlebury students, but also a compilation of parents and friends from a larger community. This spark of interest speaks to our campus’ desire to learn about each other. Humans of Middlebury challenges the need to be rooted in routines and comfort zones and forces us to notice new faces.
(09/25/14 1:06am)
Within the Center for Teaching, Learning and Research (CTLR), the Writing Center is dedicated to helping students through every stage of the writing process. The Peer Writing Tutor Program is the workhorse and heart of this center.
Senior Lecturer and Tutor in Writing and Director of the Writing Center Mary Bertolini is in charge of training, assigning, evaluating and supervising her Peer Writing Tutors. Maggie Morris ’15 is the head peer writing tutor and is responsible for approving tutoring sessions, running evening make-up sessions and assisting the Program Director. Cate Costley ’15 is the head mentor and manages and guides the Writing and Academic Mentors attached to First-Year Seminars.
She also runs evening make-up sessions and assists the Program Director. Robert Silverstein ’15 is the manager of drop-in tutors, and therefore manages, supervises and assigns evening shifts, while also creating publicity for the program and assisting the Program Director.
Peer Writing Tutors and Writing Academic Mentors are trained mentors designed to aid first-year students with writing and presentation skills. Described by Bertolini as “approachable, courteous, knowledgeable, patient, diplomatic and generous,” tutors are expected to meet with their students individually for up to sixty hours over the course of the semester, and are also made available to each Commons on frequent occasions.
To receive the honor of becoming a Peer Writing Tutor, students must either have been nominated for the Paul W. Ward ’25 Memorial Prize, an annual award given by the faculty to those first-year students who are identified as producing outstanding essays, or specifically requested by a faculty member to join their first-year seminar or college writing course.
Before becoming a peer tutor, students receive extensive training from the CTLR. Bertolini describes the training as including “practice writing conferences, instruction in starting with macro problems and moving to micro problems, thesis and organization review, oral presentation training, dealing with a variety of specialized student challenges and problems, support for international students, information about writing in different majors and disciplines, grammar review and information about other support services on campus.”
In addition, Writing and Academic Mentors, who work exclusively with First-year Seminars, work with Director of Learning and Resources Yonna McShane to receive training in time management and study skill strategies. New peer writing tutors attend six training sessions, while experienced tutors attend three. All tutors receive paid compensation from the CTLR for their time.
Peer writing tutors were designed to help students grow as writers. Their motto is “help the student write the best paper the student can write, not the best paper the tutor can write.” Peer tutor Madelaine Hack ’17 spoke to this issue of preserving academic integrity.
“Students look at us like we are the quick fixes, but we can’t tell them what to do,” Hack said. “We can only guide them to create a finished project of their own. All I can do is help to lead them in the right direction.” Bertolini also recognizes the delicacy of the issue.
“The easiest thing for tutors to do would be to fix papers, but that violates the Honor Code,” she said. “Most of our training consists of ways for tutors to help students make their own revisions on their own papers.”
In order to emphasize that tutors are trained to grow writers, not to fix papers, all Peer Writing Tutors must take the Academic Honesty Tutorial and participate in at least one practice writing conference a semester.
However, there is a growing sentiment from students that meetings with peer tutors are ineffective. Jake Brown ’17 verbalizes this dissatisfaction when describing his interactions with his peer tutor.
“It was only for ten minutes,” he said. “It was really awkward. I just showed her my paper, she said it was good, and I left. I would prefer to ask a friend for help than a stranger.” Although Brown’s experience only represents one voice, his opinion speaks to the larger problem of a disconnect between the expectations of peer tutors and their actual role.
The issue facing the peer tutors is an expectation gap. Students too often enter a session with their peer tutor with the expectation that their paper will be fixed by the end of the meeting, and peer tutors approach the session with the anticipation of being able to answer all of the students’ questions. The writing process often involves many revisions and drafts and the generation of new ideas takes time and cannot be manifested on the spot. Once peer tutors are viewed as authorized aid and not a cheat sheet, progress and perspectives can change. When asked about changes she would like to make to the program, Bertolini had some promising ideas.
“I would like to offer more varied training opportunities for my trained writing tutors and mentors,” she said. “Carrie Macfarlane, Director of Research and Instruction, has offered research workshops for the writing tutors and mentors, and I would like to offer more training in presentation technologies for those tutors as well. We now have writing tutors available in all five Commons on various evenings. I hope more students will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity right in their own dorms. Finally, this fall, we’ve launched a Writing Center Word press site (go/writingcenter), and we’ll be tweeting from the Writing Center (@MiddWritingCent or go/writingtweets).”
It is important to recognize the faces behind the Peer Writing Program and the students who make it all possible. The training and expectations are immense and should not be taken lightly. Hopefully by understanding the perspective and role of Peer Writing Tutors, students can be better equipped, and in the right frame of mind, for their next paper.
(04/30/14 11:48pm)
In anticipation of the Student Government Association (SGA) elections, a discussion was held on Wednesday, April 23, between Taylor Custer ’15, the candidate for SGA president, and Ben Bogin ’15 the Student Co-Chair of the Community Council candidate. Editor-in-Chief of the Campus, Kyle Finck ’14, and General Manager of WRMC, Ben Goldberg ’14, moderated the discussion.
From this guided conversation, the panel learned the goals and objectives of each candidate and their stance on some of the current issues the campus faces.
The discussion began with a conversation about the honor code. In light of the New York Times article and recent debate on campus, Finck asked Custer if the honor code was dead and if so, how it could be revitalized. Custer responded, “Although I do not think it is dead, I think the honor code could die if we don’t do something about it.”
Custer suggested that the honor code be moved out of McCullough and into the Davis Family Library.
“If we are serious that the honor code contributes to culture,” Custer argued, “then putting it in a building that most of us only go to on Friday and Saturday nights really detracts from it.” Custer also suggested that the presentation and display of the honor code be altered, highlighting that the little details must be taken seriously.
The conversation of the honor code was narrowed to whether or not the code should adopt a one-strike policy. While both candidates were open to it, they each pointed to the need for nuance and flexibility. Bogin proposed that the judicial boards be awarded more jurisdictions so harsher punishments can be given when necessary.
The conversation shifted to the swipe-card system being implemented next year. Custer urged the student body to see the benefits in this change and hopes that the transition will be executed properly. He described an app that was designed at a MiddCore workshop, in which data from the swipe system would be used to tell the viewer how many people were in Proctor or Ross at any given time.
Bogin also supported the swipe card system because it will help the budget, but opposed the idea of a meal plan because he believes that such a change would detract from the current dining hall culture.
Also discussed was the possible change to the AAL requirements to which both candidates acknowledged the commitment from students and disinterest from faculty.
“Students care very deeply about the issue,” Custer acknowledged, “but pushing it even though we know we will not see effective change is not productive and is a losing proposition for everyone.” Custer promised to make sure faculty are told students care about the issue, but admitted, “it is not useful for the SGA to do anymore than its done.”
Bogin also acknowledged the current stalemate and disconnects. He added, “We do not have a large stake in academics, so we can do less than SGA.”
Prompted on where improvements from this past year will be made, Custer recognized the need for more public relations in response to the current disconnect “between what the SGA can get done and what students think the SGA can do,” he said.
Looking forward to his time on the Community Council, Bogin said that he hopes to make it more action-oriented, rooted in concrete ideas instead of abstract, philosophical ideals.
The candidates were also asked how they plan to boost the social life, student programming, and entertainment on campus. Custer referred to his idea of local restaurant partnerships and also proposed making McCullough a host for more musical events. Bogin added that he would like to see more programming the first six weeks of school to help ease the turbulence of the adjustment period for incoming students.
The topic of dorm damage and distruction, both on and off campus, was addressed. On suggestions for how to limit dorm damage, Bogin debated that instead of installing security cameras, efforts should be focused on creating a social honor code that would instill a culture of integrity and eventually help curb dorm damage.
Bogin used Haverford’s social honor code as a guide, and said he hopes the code will create a strong tradition “with simple, clear definitions of what those ideals look like.”
In terms of tensions that currently exist between the student body and local Middlebury residents, Custer emphasized his restaurant platform and hopes his efforts to enhance the prevalence of the service cluster board will help demonstrate that students have a vested interest in the community.
Although neither candidate will play an important role in choosing the next president of the college, they each discussed the qualities that are important to them. Both candidates agreed that the next president must be sensitive to structural changes and stay on top of things that students care about. Willingness to engage students and faculty and take their opinions seriously was also highlighted as an important trait.
Although each candidate ran unopposed, Custer emphasized the importance of voting because it instills confidence in the platform of each candidate and legitimacy in the eyes of the administration.
“If you support us,” Custer stated, “then you need to vote to show the administration that is how you feel.”
“Regardless of whether or not it’s fair, the election will be interpreted by the administration as a referendum on me and my platform,” he added. “If people come out and vote, that shows that students care about the issues.”