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(04/21/17 12:42am)
The Center for Community Engagement is hiring for two AmeriCorps VISTA positions, a Poverty Initiatives Coordinator, and a Youth and Mentoring Programs Coordinator, to serve a one-year term starting in August 2017. Emma McDonald ’16 and Katie Carpenter, who are currently serving in these roles, share about their experience so far this year and what drew them to these positions.
Emma (Poverty Initiatives Coordinator):
With graduation just a month away last spring, I wasn’t sure what I would do next. I thought first about far-away options and exciting, new places, as Middlebury students often do. But as I reflected on my experiences at Middlebury and all the opportunities I didn’t have time for (or didn’t make time for), the idea of sticking around for another year became more and more attractive.
It took me a while as a student to get outside the Middlebury “bubble.” By the time I realized how much there was to learn from the Middlebury community beyond the College, it was time to graduate. Many students figure this out before I did, but for me, another year here let me make up for lost time. Without academic responsibilities, I have had time this year to think deeply about Collegecommunity connections, to better understand the nuances in these relationships, the complexities of a liberal arts institution and what it means for Middlebury to be “the town’s college.” There is so much going on in Middlebury that many students don’t see – and adding a year of awareness to my narrow student perspective has impressed upon me how much there is to learn at Middlebury outside of the classroom.
I have learned about the complexities and sensitivities of community and higher education work. I understand better the challenges Vermont faces, and the efforts of different organizations to combat issues like hunger, homelessness and racial discrimination with skill and nuance. I have gotten to know community members working in government agencies, schools, and nonprofits, and I have seen how community meetings like the Addison County Hunger Council enhance their collaboration on important issues. I have observed staff and faculty facilitate students connecting theories from their coursework to local contexts and narratives through the Privilege & Poverty Academic Cluster, the program I help to coordinate.
I came to Middlebury for the classes, but I stayed for the community. I’ll leave knowing that I am grateful to Middlebury for both of these things. To students preparing to graduate: there is value and merit in moving on from Middlebury, but there is also promise in staying put.
Katie (Youth and Mentoring Programs Coordinator):
Unlike Emma, I didn’t go to Middlebury, so moving to the area was a new experience for me. I primarily chose to do a service year because I liked that AmeriCorps, rather than running a top-down service year program, places its members directly with agencies that plan out what the AmeriCorps member will be doing. I felt that this approach would allow me to do service that was well integrated into the organization and communities I was living and working in. I haven’t been disappointed, and through my role supporting youth and mentoring programs, I have gotten the opportunity to live in Addison County and learn about the area schools and organizations that form a network of support for children and youth. Similarly to Emma, I feel that being at meetings where organizations come together and discuss shared challenges has been a valuable learning experience for me, and has given me a sense of what a wellfunctioning professional network can look like.
Most of all, I have really loved my service year so far because of the work I’ve gotten to do. This VISTA role acts as a youth and mentoring programs coordinator for CCE-advised student organizations (like DREAM, MiddCAM,and Community Friends) and promotes College Positive Volunteerism. College Positive Volunteerism is the idea that children and youth who spend time with college students, hang out on college campuses, or talk about college with an adult role model will more easily envision themselves attending a postsecondary institution. To this end, I get to work with students who are connecting with children and teens in the area by leading after school programs, building one-to-one mentoring relationships, participating in group mentoring, running healthy food taste tests or supporting youth through their college application process. These programs give children and young people space to feel seen and heard by a caring, non-family adult, and encourage them to pursue their interests and practice decision-making. I also support these programs by connecting with professional school staff such as guidance counselors and afterschool program coordinators. Helping to facilitate these relationships being built by Middlebury College students and young people has been a deeply rewarding experience that has given me a greater sense of clarity and purpose about what I want from my professional life going forward.
To find out more about these positions and how to apply, please visit go/ middVISTA
(11/12/15 12:25am)
What matters to our President Laurie L. Patton, and why?
(01/22/15 1:23am)
I’ve been in Madrid, Spain for the past week, beginning my semester of study abroad at the Middlebury School in Spain. Though Madrid has been amazing thus far, there are times of homesickness, stress, exhaustion and culture shock.
Though these experiences are normal and common amongst those who study abroad, they are often glossed over when recounting experiences abroad. Though it is usually good to focus on the positive parts of study abroad, it’s also useful to be realistic and prepared for the some of the low points.
Being abroad is not going to be 100 per cent comfortable all the time. It can be frustrating and hard to adapt to a new culture and new language. These difficulties can have an impact on mental health and wellness, which makes it of paramount importance to be prepared mentally to study abroad.
If you struggle with mental health, there are many useful steps to take prior to going abroad that can ease the transition and reduce chances of serious problems arising. With a little preparation, studying abroad with a mental health condition is certainly possible and may even help you manage your condition.
If you take medication, it’s important to have a plan for how to access medication while abroad. In some cases, doctors can prescribe enough medication in the United States to last your entire time abroad, but you should still get educated on how to properly carry medications while travelling internationally (check out the State Department’s website for useful information on traveling with medication: http://travel.state.gov/content/studentsabroad/en/health/prescriptions.html).
Those going abroad for longer periods may need to get prescriptions filled while abroad. Working with your psychiatrist or doctor and the staff in the study abroad office can help sort out prescription issues prior to going abroad – make sure you know the names (including generics) and dosage of your prescriptions, and, if you’re going to a country that operates in another language, learn the vocabulary words for your condition and medication. Make sure your doctor knows you’re going abroad and discuss possible challenges beforehand.
Doing research online and talking to the counseling center about mental health resources in various cities can be a great start to a healthy semester abroad. Some larger cities will have mental health resources in English – for example, Madrid has a variety of psychiatrists and psychologists who operate in English. Smaller cities or less-developed countries may have limited resources or no resources in English.
If weekly therapy is a part of managing your condition, it may be wise to choose a study abroad site with mental health resources available. You can also talk to your psychiatrist or psychologist about the possibility of Skype sessions or strategies for self-management while abroad.
Another factor is international insurance and mental health. In Madrid, for example, we received a list during orientation of health and mental health resources that accept HTH Worldwide Insurance, the standard Middlebury Schools Abroad insurance. You may want to check in advance whether the place you plan on studying has mental health resources that accept this insurance, and if not, plan accordingly.
Take time to consider how housing options, university options and program size will affect your time abroad and impact management of mental health issues. It may be that a smaller program with more individualized attention and housing with other students you already know may be a better fit for you. If you feel comfortable, you can discuss mental health resources abroad with the study abroad office or students who have studied abroad before. This may give you a better idea of what to expect and how to approach any issues that arise while abroad.
It’s important to have realistic expectations. Studying abroad can be overwhelming. Don’t expect everything to go perfectly, but don’t expect to be miserable all the time (that’s a sign that something may be wrong). Reading other student’s blogs can help prepare you for possible cultural differences and give you an idea of the typical range of reactions to studying abroad.
Once abroad, it’s important to maintain contact with others – don’t isolate yourself just because you feel overwhelmed and out of place. Chances are other students feel the same way.
Do your best to make connections to people in the host country and explore your surroundings, but don’t feel bad if you need time to indulge in American comforts, like favorite TV shows or peanut butter.
Finding ways to get outside of your apartment or house to get some exercise and stimulation is vital.
Researching beforehand can help make it easier to find your favorite activities abroad – in large cities, there are likely to be sports teams and gyms you can join, dance classes to take and free walking tours of the city.
Make a list beforehand of things you’d like to do and see in the place you’re going; pre-made lists can provide extra motivation to get out of the house and experience the culture of an unfamiliar place.
Journaling can be helpful to reflect on your experiences abroad and your feelings toward various aspects of the semester or year.
This sort of reflection may help you identify healthy and unhealthy patterns of coping in a new setting and can better prepare you for future mental health issues that might arise.
Keeping in contact with those at home is important but can become a problem as well: make sure you aren’t spending too much time in contact with those back home, even at the beginning. This can lead to more extreme homesickness and dependence and can start an unhealthy pattern for the rest of the semester.
Nutrition, adequate sleep and moderation in use of alcohol and drugs are important as well. Make sure to eat enough and eat well; branch out and try new foods, but don’t use that as an excuse to eat unhealthily (e.g. do not go to France and eat only croissants and Nutella).
It can be hard to get adequate amounts of sleep while abroad, especially with the different eating and sleeping schedules of many cultures. Putting in the extra effort to get enough sleep can have a huge impact on how you handle being abroad; fatigue combined with the unfamiliarity of a different culture can make small problems seem like crises.
Alcohol and drugs can also make small problems more severe. Though being abroad is a great time to try wine in Italy and beer in Germany, moderation and control are important, especially at first, when you may not know the layout of the place you’re studying, sketchy areas and how to avoid being mugged, or who to contact in emergency situations.
It is important to be realistic in your expectations for how you’ll feel abroad. It’s normal to feel sad, frustrated and angry while abroad, perhaps even more frequently than at home.
A new culture can be challenging to adapt to. That said, it is not typical to be sad, depressed or miserable all the time. If you’re having trouble getting out of bed every day or find yourself crying all the time, you should talk to someone and find out what resources are available to get help.
If you’re in a place with limited resources, there is lots of helpful information online for ways to cope with feelings of depression, anxiety and more while abroad.
Many universities have guides for mental health condition management while abroad; one example is Northwestern University’s “Mental Health Abroad” (found here: http://www.northwestern.edu/studyabroad/guide/health-and-safety/health/mental-health-abroad.html).
Studying abroad is an invaluable experience for many students; having a mental health condition does not mean you can’t take part in it. Like physical health issues, mental health conditions require extra consideration when deciding whether to study abroad and extra preparation when getting ready to go abroad; with a little preparation, study abroad can still be a success!
(12/03/14 11:29pm)
Many students are presently surprised during finals to find free snacks in BiHall and Davis Library, but few know the source. So who provides these treats? The Student Wellness Leaders. Though their finals snack initiative may be their most well-known (and perhaps most appreciated) project, the Student Wellness Leaders, (SWLs) do a lot more than provide food.
As SWL Grace Trueman ’15.5 informed me, the mission of the SWLs is “to first become informed about student wellness so that we are a resource for knowledge of student wellness on campus and then to also distribute that information to students.”
This semester, the SWLs are in the process of learning about female condoms and barrier methods. In January, they will get educated on mental health and nutrition.
As they learn more about health and wellness issues, the SWLs, with help from advisor Barbara McCall, Director of Health and Wellness Education, can raise awareness and educate others about these issues in many ways.
Informally, they talk with friends and classmates about wellness issues.
“The approach we have taken is more of an inter-personal dialogue with our peers, instead of making it such a formal, scary thing,” SWL Emma Erwin ’15.5 said.
More formally, they may reach out to organizations and groups on campus, such as social houses, in order to provide workshops on various aspects of wellness. SWL Oliver Wijayapala ’17 remembers facilitating a workshop last year with a social house on sleep: the members of the social house made pillows while the SWLs presented information on sleep.
The SWLs also help bring speakers to campus by contributing funds and support; for example, Wade Davis was brought to the College to give a talk titled, “From Former NFL Cornerback to LGBTQ Advocate.”
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the SWLs hosted a tea-tasting event in Crossroads Café in which the Stone Leaf Teahouse provided samples of various teas that are good for wellness. Tonight at 9 PM in Crossroads, the SWLs will have a category on health and wellness in the MCAB Trivia Night, another way to get students thinking and talking about wellness.
Part of SWL’s mission is “creating an open dialogue and creating more conversations about health and wellness … as student wellness leaders, we don’t know all the information as we are still learning, and we’re not here to spout information out,” Wijayapala said. “We want to create these dialogues and conversations and make more people aware.
With that in mind, the SWLs have planned three Atwater dinners for the rest of this year. One will be focused on “Beating the Winter Blues,” with information regarding resources for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Another will provide a chance to talk with Parton Counseling staff so that students are more familiar with the mental health and counseling resources on campus. A third will target stress and stress-busting techniques, which is something that could benefit most college students.
Events like these can serve as reminders for students to take time for themselves.
As SWL Leslie Panella ’15.5 points out, “There’s this pressure for perfection at Middlebury … most of the clubs on campus are centered around helping others, not ourselves … which is a cool thing, but we need to bring it back sometimes.”
As crunch time nears, we need to remember to take time to take care of ourselves both physically and mentally so we can finish the semester strong. And remember, if you’re in the library or BiHall during finals week, look out for snacks in the lobby or the Great Hall – and don’t forget to thank Middlebury’s Student Wellness Leaders!
(11/20/14 4:04am)
Mental health dialogue often begins after tragedy, for instance, the death of Robin Williams sparked debate and conversation on depression and suicide. Despite differences in opinion on how to properly address these issues, the one thing everyone seemed to agree on was that it was too late to help Robin Williams. Often, people find out about the mental health struggles of a family member or friend only after tragedies like this, when it’s too late. Often, people aren’t comfortable sharing their battle with mental illness because of the stigma attached to it – but if we were able to erase some of that stigma, perhaps more people would reach out for help when they need it, before it’s too late.
Mental health isn’t the only issue that is hard to talk about – things like sexual assault and racism can be uncomfortable to bring up in the classroom or casual conversation – but that does not mean we have the right to ignore these issues.
Events like It Happens Here provide space on Middlebury’s campus for people to share personal stories on issues that may not be talked about otherwise. It Happens Here has proved to be very successful in promoting sexual assault awareness on campus: in the three-day following last Monday’s event and the It Happens Here website received over 1000 distinct visitors who spent an average of 10 minutes on the site, according to It Happens Here organizer Kate Preston ’17.
“You can hear counselors or administrators talk about mental health or sexual violence all day … but you don’t often get to hear the voice of the person who’s going through that struggle,” said Maddie Orcutt ’16, another organizer of It Happens Here. “I think that’s really important. We’re raising awareness of these issues, but we’re also getting as close to the source as we possibly can.”
In recent months, students have begun to share stories of their struggles with mental health online and through forums like Wordpress and Facebook. These personal stories shared through It Happens Here have raised dialogue in the Middlebury community and inspired others to come forward and share their stories.
“It’s a huge thing for someone to come out and say I’m struggling with sexual assault or I’m struggling with mental health issues … it takes a lot of courage,” Orcutt said.
More dialogue around mental health is being raised. Emma Erwin ’15.5 recently founded a project called Resilience, a website that asks students, “What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?” The mission of this initiative is to “share our stories, support each other in our struggles, and commend one another’s strengths.”
Erwin’s initiative provides a constructive way to combat the loneliness and stigma associated with mental health and other struggles we are often confronted with. Like It Happens Here, Emma’s project will bolster efforts to start and sustain the tough conversations.
“It Happens Here and Emma’s project can be demonstrative of the general culture shift of trying to bring awareness to topics that are often ignored,” It Happens Here organizer Michelle Peng ’15 concluded.
By framing these conversations as empowering, students have been able to make issues like sexual assault and mental health more prevalent in the minds of those at Middlebury. Sharing these stories not only increases awareness of these issues but also makes those suffering feel supported and included in the community. The loneliness of sexual assault and mental illness is, for some, the most debilitating part. In being willing to share these struggles with others at Middlebury, we allow ourselves to come together as a strong, supportive and compassionate community, as shown by the recently-founded and well-attend sexual assault survivor support group hosted by WomenSafe (Fridays 3-4:15 PM; email middstudentsupport@aol.com for location).
“Much of life is beautiful and joyous, but there are some pretty big parts that can be horribly dark, scary, hopeless and completely terrifying—especially when its something that you feel like you can’t talk about, and you seem to be all alone,” Erwin said. “But you don’t have to be. Let’s shine some light in those dark places.“
(11/13/14 2:57am)
Many people might blame unhappiness or stress on technology, but could technology help combat those things as well? Many new smartphone apps target wellness — from apps like MyFitnessPal that deal with exercise and nutrition to ones like “The Worry Box,” an app that works to reduce anxiety in a password-protected journal-like format. I’ve used some of these new apps and reviewed them below.
HAPPIFY
New website and smartphone app “Happify” claims to use research from studies done at Harvard, UPenn and Stanford to help you get happier without looking up from your phone. Research has shown that happiness involves five essential skills: savoring, thanking, aspiring, giving and empathizing. Happify makes games and activities that target and develop each of these skills. It might ask you your goals for the day or week, or a time that you helped someone else.
One of my favorite activities on Happify is “Uplift” where you get points for pressing hot air balloons with positive words on them. After playing on Happify for one week, I found that the app helped me to slow down and focus on gratitude, the things I like to do, my friends and family and my goals. I do not condone spending more time on one’s phone than most already do, but this app does provide a simple way to make use of the five minutes before class starts that you may normally spend on Facebook. Happify is free but prompts in-app purchases if you want full access; I found the free version was plenty to occupy me during the week.
SMILING MIND
Smiling Mind is a meditation app that is designed to help add tranquility and balance to the lives of the tech-savvy. When signing up, you choose your age and it tailors the app to your choice. It focuses particularly on meditation for young people and incorporates a body-scan guided mediation technique to begin. The non-profit that offers the app (free of charge!) is running a pilot program in Australia involving meditation in schools to help children cope with the stresses of school and social life.
Smiling Mind takes research showing meditation’s positive effects on anxiety, depression and stress and transforms it into a simple and useful app. It’s incredibly easy to use Smiling Mind and it is available on the web for those who don’t have smartphones. Like Happify, it provides a constructive and relaxing way to spend a few minutes that you might otherwise waste.
Smiling Mind guides those unfamiliar with meditation through basic exercises and gets more sophisticated the longer you use it. It sends you daily reminders (if you want) that gently coax you into a daily meditation routine. Smiling Mind also gives you the opportunity to rate how you feel before and after the meditation – an interesting way to reflect on whether you found that particular exercise helpful. As a free and simple app targeted toward young people, I would recommend Smiling Mind to any stressed or unhappy college student.
T2 MOOD TRACKER
This app allows people to monitor moods on six scales: anxiety, stress, depression, brain injury, post-traumatic stress and general well-being. Every time you use the app, you rate and record your mood.
The app plots all your ratings on a graph so that you can track your mood over time. Notes recorded simultaneously with ratings can help determine what can be causing mood changes in your life, whether it be academic stress, new medication or hormones. This app is very useful but could use a few minor tweaks; sometimes the graphs are hard to read and the reminder system only works sporadically. However, as an alternative to hand-notation of moods and well-being, this app provides a much more convenient and useful way to look at mood, especially over time.
(11/06/14 1:11am)
It can be hard to cope with extreme stress or a mental health condition, especially during college. On particularly difficult days, it helps to have strategies in place that you know can help you get through a rough patch. It is important to be patient: sometimes it may take a few days or more to feel better, but perseverance, optimism and distracting yourself can definitely help. For some people, keeping busy and finding distractions may be a good solution; for others, taking time to focus on yourself, your talents and your goals can give you confidence and make you feel better.
A great way to stay upbeat is to exercise. Though it can be hard to drag yourself out of bed during the cold Vermont winter, exercising has been shown to boost mood and confidence.
It is also important to eat healthy. Feeling down can easily lead to eating only junk food, or around this time of year, leftover Halloween candy. Try replacing that with fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks, like nuts or sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of magnesium, which has been shown to be a mood-booster! Eating healthy and making sure you get enough vitamins and minerals each day can have a profound effect on how you feel and think about yourself; do not discount the power of food!
Even though you undoubtedly have mounds of homework, find time to do something fun or relaxing. It could be cooking, knitting, singing, watching a movie, going on a hike, finding a dog to pet — anything that cheers you up! Find a friend to go with you! Finding activities in which you can express yourself can be helpful as well — painting, journaling, dancing and drawing can help you recognize your thoughts and feelings and can provide a break from a dull reading or a long problem set. Try making a quote book with meaningful quotes you have encountered — once you make it, you can return to it for comfort and inspiration.
If you’re having trouble being productive with schoolwork, take a break and find something else on your to-do list to tackle. Try doing something completely different – write a letter you’ve been meaning to send, clean your room, do laundry. Productive procrastination is always better than just going on Facebook!
Do your best to get enough sleep. Sometimes listening to soothing music, reading a boring book, or drinking tea made for bedtime can help you fall asleep. Avoid computer screens, caffeine, exercise and bright lights as much as you can in the hours before you try to go to sleep.
Some find it helpful to establish a weekly routine in order to organize a schedule of classes, extracurricular activities, activities with friends, as well as self-care and wellness practices. Penciling time into your schedule just for you is often forgotten, but make sure you have that on your schedule at least a few days every week, if not every day!
Try going to yoga or participating in a new mindful activity on campus. Learning simple breathing exercises or doing guided meditation can facilitate relaxation and relieve stress. Focus on your body language and posture; having good posture and paying attention to your movements can often help with confidence and how others perceive you. If you are feeling angry, you can scream into a pillow, rip up paper, or crush empty cans (and then recycle them!). Invite your friends to have a pillow fight! Go into the woods and yell as loud as you can! But take a buddy so you don’t get lost.
Try to focus on others: when you aren’t feeling your best, try to make someone else feel better or improve someone else’s day. Seeing someone else cheered up by something you’ve done can help you as well as the other person!
Feeling down can ruin your week, but it can provide a wake-up call to spend a little more time taking care of yourself. If you’re prepared, you can avoid making yourself feel worse and be productive despite not feeling your best. Paying attention to the things that make you happy and confident and making note of those can come in handy when you feel down. Though you should take time for yourself, do your best to reach out to friends and family; don’t withdraw. Finding balance in your life and a good routine can help stabilize your mood and make stressful weeks just a little bit easier.
(10/30/14 2:54am)
“I’m totally addicted to Sour Patch Kids,” said everyone ever. You have probably heard someone say something along those lines recently, or have said something similar yourself. Similar to saying, “I’m so depressed,” or “I’m starving,” most of us do not mean we are “addicted.”
Despite our casual use of the word, addiction can be a big problem for young adults. Addiction is a chronic disease involving compulsive substance use and abuse, often with harmful consequences. According to the American Psychiatric Association, drug and alcohol abuse are the leading causes of preventable illnesses and premature death in society today. In 2012, 17.7 million Americans, or 6.8 percent of the population, abused or were dependent on alcohol, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Though this was a decrease from the 7.7 percent found in 2002, this still constitutes a large number of people.
Perhaps more worrisome is the fact that 19 percent of college students meet the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, according to the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Heavy drinking, especially when occurring outside of a college party culture, can lead to alcoholism, a disease that can wreak havoc on one’s physical and mental health: it is often associated with depression and can cause severe liver damage, impotence, infertility, premature aging, birth defects and increased risk of heart disease — not to mention problems with relationships, careers and finances.
Fortunately, alcoholism and alcohol dependence can be treated, especially if you do not allow it much time to develop. In college, it may be the norm for some to drink more than 5 drinks in one night or at one time. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, five drinks at one time or in one night more than 5 days per month constitutes “heavy drinking.” That may not seem like a whole lot of alcohol in a college setting, but in any other setting, this behavior would be seen as worrisome. It is important to stay vigilant and monitor your own alcohol use and that of your friends. Maybe it is the norm for you to be drinking a lot with your friends here at the College, but when you or a friend start drinking alone, drinking before going to class or blacking out every single weekend, this is cause for concern.
If you’re worried (or just curious!) about your alcohol consumption, it is worth making an appointment at the Parton Center for Health and Wellness counseling to do the BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students) Assessment. This is a confidential assessment for college students that assists them in understanding where their drinking habits fit on the continuum of drinking behaviors, helping students assess the relationship between their alcohol habits and life goals and provide resources to reduce harms. It does not tell students not to drink, nor does it involve judgment or confrontation. This personal report can be reviewed with a nurse or counselor to help identify how to reduce further risks and to provide local resources if desired.
You can call counseling services at 802-443-5141 to make a BASICS appointment. Another great resource is a blood alcohol calculator (BAC), which can now be found the form of an smartphone apps: DrinkTracker, available on the iPhone, is one example. This allows you to input the drinks you’ve had and does the work for you, so you can monitor your own alcohol use.
Some basic information to be aware of: the average person’s liver can digest one drink per hour and for a 185 lb. male, 2 drinks in one hour will yield a BAC of 0.025. For a 130 lb. female, 2 drinks in one hour cause a BAC of 0.053. Women have less dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol, than men, so the same amount of alcohol will produce a higher BAC in a woman as compared to a man. In addition, a higher percentage of body fat and hormone fluctuations can contribute to a higher BAC.
A common misconception is that drinking will cure a bad mood. In reality, drinking alcohol can cause sadness or anxiety to get worse, in addition to changing how alcohol is processed in the body. Feelings of fatigue are also exacerbated by alcohol consumption — fatigue leads to a more inefficient liver, leading to a higher BAC than normal.
Another important thing to be aware of is alcohol’s interaction with other drugs. Some antibiotics, when taken with alcohol, can have unpleasant and even serious side effects. Diabetes and hypoglycemic medications combined with alcohol can cause severe and unpredictable reactions, so alcohol should be avoided in these circumstances. Alcohol combined with antihistamines can cause severe drowsiness, while opiates combined with alcohol can enhance the sedative effects of each, increasing the risk of overdose. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure leading to stroke, and should never be taken with alcohol.
Many over-the-counter medications and vitamins come in a time-release capsule; however, alcohol dissolves the coating, leading to the immediate release of the full dose. It’s vital that you keep track of any medication you’ve taken before drinking alcohol, as some of these interactions can occur with both heavy and light drinking. Most medications have warnings explaining any drug interactions, but information can also be found online on a certain drug’s interactions with alcohol or other drugs. It’s never a bad idea to ask your prescribing physician whether it is okay to drink alcohol in conjunction with medication, and if so, how much.
It is important to be conscious of your alcohol consumption habits, and if necessary, seek treatment and more information from Parton. Drinking responsibly and looking out for your friends can help prevent injury, assault, sexual abuse and death. The College’s Good Samaritan policy states: “There may be times when safety concerns arise from a student’s excessive drinking or drug use, and in these situations, students should not hesitate to seek help from the Student Life staff, Public Safety, medical or counseling professionals, and/or local or state police out of fear of disciplinary action. Under this Good Samaritan policy, neither the student in distress nor the student or organization seeking assistance will ordinarily be subject to disciplinary action for the possession, provision, or consumption of drugs or alcohol.”
If you see someone who looks like they may need immediate help due to alcohol or drug use, call Public Safety, who will be able to provide rides to Porter Hospital. For more long-term concerns, Parton can be a valuable resource.
(10/23/14 12:49am)
Healthy relationships are a crucial element in mental health; mental illness can often wreak havoc on one’s life and damage relationships. By contrast, mental illness that is supported by healthy relationships can be managed far more easily.
Friendship is one of the most valuable relationships for people. In regards to mental health, friends can provide an outlet, a sympathetic ear, a distraction from our problems and a way to keep us grounded.
But it can be hard to maintain or grow friendships when mental illness is involved. According to the Mental Health Foundation, people with more severe forms of mental illness may have fewer friends and more family members in their social circles. In addition, people with severe mental illnesses may find themselves befriending those who also suffer from mental illnesses. It is also common that those with mental illnesses will avoid social contact because of mental illness stigma, thereby limiting opportunities for initiation and maintenance of friendships.
Another important thing to note, however, is that friendships can change and grow over time. Sometimes, we grow apart from those who we used to consider our closest friends.
Onset of a mental illness, like other major life changes, can affect our friendships and how we act around friends. Activities, conversation topics, frequency of hanging out can all change when mental illness is involved. However, acknowledgement of and reflection on these changes can help maintain a healthy form of friendship, whether that be a closer or more distant relationship.
Family relationships can be even more complicated with mental illness in the mix. Sometimes, people lean on their family members for all their support before telling friends.
Other times, people may keep their struggles a secret from family members, out of fear, distrust, worry, or conflict. Understandably, this can be a hard decision to make and it is completely up to the person experiencing mental illness to decide.
Sometimes, it can be a relief to reveal this personal struggle to a friend or family member; other times, it can cause more stress than relief, as reactions to it can be powerful and varied.
A common reason to keep mental illness under wraps is stigma. Mental illness is generally seen differently than physical illness; people may think a mentally ill person is “crazy,” incapable of thinking rationally, at fault for his or her illness, or “faking” to get attention or sympathy. Explaining your illness to someone and educating them on its causes, symptoms, treatments and prevalence can help reduce stigma.
When revealing something like a mental illness to family or friends, it is important to be prepared. Providing them with resources, understanding rash reactions and having realistic expectations are vital for healthy relationships going forward. It may take some work before friends and family are able to recognize and accept this illness as a temporary or permanent part of you, but honesty, empathy and patience on both sides can help make this process easier.
Information on mental illness can be found online at nami.org. Options, such as a free 12-week course for family members of those with mental illnesses are available through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as well.
Mentalhealthamerica.net also provides support resources for friends and family of those living with mental illness. For individuals involved in psychotherapy, a meeting involving family members and the therapist is often an option to help family members gain insight into the specific illness and its symptoms and treatment. Talking to loved ones about mental illness can be a challenge, but with some simple preparation, this process can maintain the healthy, supportive and flexible nature of close relationships.
(10/08/14 11:33pm)
Having depression can add to an already-stressful life, especially for college students. Oftentimes people experiencing depression feel exhausted and cannot bring themselves to do much at all. Most students at the College barely have enough time to get all their work done when they are at their most energetic, so when depression is added into the mix, it is almost impossible to accomplish what you need to to be a successful student.
Depression is a “common but serious illness typically marked by sad or anxious feelings,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
When untreated, depression lasts for a lengthy period of time and interferes with daily life. In their 2011 report, the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment found that 30 percent of college students said they felt “so depressed that it was difficult to function” at least once in the past year.
There are multiple types of depression. Major depressive disorder involves disabling symptoms interfering with daily activity, perhaps occurring only once in a person’s lifetime, but more likely coming back repeatedly. Dysthymic disorder is a kind of mild but chronic depression spanning at least a two-year period. People with dysthymic disorder can also experience an episode of major depressive disorder. Minor depression is a more mild and short-term form of depression that can develop into major depressive disorder without treatment.
Several factors, including genetics and environment, can lead to depression. For many, going to college can be a source of stress that can increase your risk for depression. Being far away from home, bombarded with schoolwork and trying to manage your finances can play into depression as well. Depression can be treated effectively, typically with antidepressants and/or psychotherapy.
Antidepressants affect neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are involved in the regulation of mood, but research is inconclusive in showing exactly how they work.
Researchers originally thought that antidepressants worked by raising serotonin levels in the brain, though this theory was never fully substantiated. Though research confirms that serotonin is involved in mood functions, it remains a mystery how exactly its levels affect mood; indeed, the connection seems not to be a causal one, but something more subtle.
Some research shows that antidepressants prove very effective in treating major depression, but do little more than a placebo for minor depression. Other more alarming effects of antidepressants involve increases in suicidal thoughts and behaviors among children and young adults, leading to antidepressants receiving a black-box warning because of their increased risk for these groups.
Psychotherapy can also prove effective in treating depression. Therapy can involve Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy that works to change negative patterns of thinking that can contribute to depression. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) can also be helpful — this type of therapy helps people work through their personal relationships that may contribute to depression. Therapy can be both short-term and long-term, depending on the individual.
There are many other resources and strategies to manage and treat depression. Going to counseling at Parton is a great way to start the treatment process — the sooner treatment begins the better. Breaking up assignments and tasks into smaller tasks can be an effective way to get work done while coping with depression. Exercise and healthy eating can help boost mood: exercise releases endorphins in the brain and certain vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin D and magnesium, can help boost and stabilize mood, especially during the winter months — almost every month here in Vermont!
If an episode of depression is brought on by a specific event — such as the end of a relationship — short-term therapy, engagement with activities and spending time with friends may be the best ways to make it through that tough time. Depression stemming from an emotional event — say, a breakup — can often improve over time. Depression unrelated to any specific event or trigger, however, may require more long-term treatment and more rigorous effort.
Depression is extremely common among college students — almost 50 percent of college students report having felt the symptoms of depression at some point. For some, maintaining healthy habits can help you alleviate or avoid the symptoms of depression. For others, psychotherapy and medication may be needed. It is important to be conscious of your mental state and your outlook: if you’ve been feeling more negative, sad, tired or hopeless than usual, it may be time to visit the counseling center and reevaluate your habits. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of, but it should not be taken lightly either. With proper attention and treatment, people suffering from depression can recover and go back to enjoying life!
Do you have something you’d like to contribute to the mental health conversation at Midd? Visit go/unspokenstigmas to make your voice heard.
(10/01/14 11:34pm)
This week, I caught up with Casey Watters ’15, a psychology major from Dallas, Texas who has been involved in various mental health initiatives on campus. After co-founding Active Minds at Middlebury, a club that provided information on mental health to students and hosted mental health awareness events, Watters saw first-hand the stigma often associated with mental illness. After most of the Active Minds leadership team graduated or took time off, Watters moved on to the Wellness Committee, where she continues to play an important role as a student advocate for mental health awareness and wellness.
Middlebury Campus: Why is mental health and mental health advocacy important to you?
Casey Watters: Transitioning to college is hard and a major trigger for numerous individuals. Simple activities may be stressful, like not knowing whom to eat your first meal with or how to talk to a professor, and I wish I had known about the many resources Middlebury offers when I was a freshman. Frankly, I was so clueless I didn’t even know that Parton Counseling Center even existed! There is a strange unspoken sentiment that mental illnesses have a degree of fault that physical illnesses don’t — like if someone just worked harder, they would be happy. Stigmas like these make it difficult for students to seek help and I hate to think of the number of students on this campus suffering and afraid to speak up. Though my impact may be small, committees and organizations like the Wellness Committee make it known that mental health is important to individuals and to the college—that’s a step in the right direction.
MC: Do you find mental health to be a topic people are willing to talk about, or is it uncomfortable? How do you think we could make it easier to talk about (if you think it is indeed hard)?
CW: Talking about mental health is undoubtedly hard. It is personal, subjective, and often perceived as embarrassing, vulnerable, or weak. To admit that you are not okay and seek professional help takes a lot of courage and it is important to see strength in seeking help rather than weakness. The field of psychology itself is in its infancy, as my professors constantly remind me. It’s important to educate ourselves on how to maintain our own health and wellness and know when, how, and to whom to reach out to. Most people know or have known someone who struggles with mental illness and it is also important to supply friends and family members with support. I am a strong believer in positive psychology notions of prevention and day to day striving for wellness, for if we all prioritized our health as much as our grades, we’d be a much happier campus.
MC: Why do you think people stigmatize mental illness as opposed to physical illness?
CW: I think one of the biggest factors in stigma surrounding mental illness is the notion of fault. No one blames someone for breaking their leg in a soccer game, but some blame someone with an eating disorder or suffering from depression. I think this fear of being at fault for something that feels so out of control is a huge part of the stigma.
MC: How do you think Middlebury can improve in relation to mental health awareness?
CW: In my four years here, I have already seen improvements in Middlebury’s discussion about mental health awareness — like body image events and It Happens Here. But change starts at the level of the individual and it is up to us to question our own attitudes towards mental health … and be willing to engage in a conversation about how to better our campus.
MC: How does the Wellness Committee relate to mental health discourse on campus?
CW: Mental health, like wellness, is a term that could be interpreted in many ways. And like wellness, it is often placed in a box as an entity separate from academic, social and physical spheres. Something the Wellness Committee works to accomplish is the integration of these “separate” spheres of daily life — it is impossible to spread awareness about anxiety disorders without addressing weekend life or academic stressors; it is impossible to spread awareness about eating disorders without addressing physical wellness or social norms and it is impossible to spread awareness about depression without addressing homesickness or winter weather. Mental health or psychological disorders can succeed in creating a positive feedback loop that is detrimental to all aspects of an individual’s life; so why do we so often refuse to talk about them until they have become a problem? We hope to affect students’ lives on a daily basis with easy tips for maintaining happiness.
MC: Who is involved with the Wellness committee?
CW: A number of faculty members are involved in the committee and a few students, with faculty and staff representatives from a variety of departments and disciplines, such as Mike Roy from the CTLR, Ellen McKay and Laurie Jordan from the Scott Center, Matthew Kimble from the Psychology Department, Virginia Logan from Parton, Barbara McCall of Health & Wellness and Francisca Drexel from Film and Media to name a few. We have over 20 members, each of whom provides their own expertise as well as a unique perspective on the desires and necessities of their department.
MC: What is your role as a member of the Wellness Committee?
CW: I am a student representative of the Wellness Committee and often find faculty members turning to me for a student perspective. It’s been an amazing opportunity to work with faculty members who strive to use their department’s resources to improve overall health and wellness of the student body. It can be tricky to be the voice of the desires and needs of the student body, but we work to provide enough variety in our events that everybody’s passions can be fulfilled.
MC: Do you feel the committee is filling a role on campus that was lacking previously? What role or function would you say that is?
CW: I definitely feel that the Wellness Committee is fulfilling a crucial role that was previously lacking on Middlebury’s campus. With representatives from numerous departments, our resources range from those equipped with technical skills to those trained to provide spiritual guidance. Together, we are able to not only brainstorm ideas and discuss what the faculty, staff and students of Middlebury College need but we have the means to implement those ideas and see them through. Regardless of how many students choose to attend the events we plan or access the website we make, the fact that those resources are there speaks to the priorities of the college.
MC: What events is the Wellness Committee putting on this semester? When are they?
CW: We have a number of events still in the works such as cooking lessons in Atwater Dining Hall with an accompanying cook book, and some events already planned such as weekly Nia classes now offered for students, Tai Chi for faculty and staff and speaker Emily Nagoski coming to campus October 6 to give a talk on love, attachment and relationships. We’re really excited about all of these events as we’ve been planning them for a while and are constantly brainstorming new ideas as a group.
You can attend Nagoski’s lecture on love, attachment, and relationships on October 6 at 7:00 PM in Dana Auditorium.
Would you like to share a mental health-related experience or feedback (anonymously) with the Unspoken Stigmas column? Go to go/unspokenstigmas to contribute.
(09/25/14 1:09am)
Stress is an inescapable part of college life: probably of life in general, too. Stress can be good: it can be a motivator, it can bring out the best in us, but too often it becomes a burden. Being stressed stresses us out! Sometimes, stress is a product of biting off more you can chew, poor time management or an unlucky schedule. Other times, stress can be caused by relationship troubles, family issues or health concerns.
Finding ways to alleviate stress is very important and can often be a trial-and-error process: what works for some people may not work for others. But one great way to reduce stress, no matter the cause, is to talk to someone. Many times, talking to a friend can be a great way to let it all out. But other times you might need some extra help: after all, our friends are often just as stressed out as we are! Luckily, people at the College are here to help.
One of the functions of the Counseling staff at Parton Center for Health and Wellness is to help students who are feeling overwhelmed by stress. Some people may assume the counseling center is only for students having “serious problems,” or something requiring a diagnosis, but the counseling center is there for you for much more than that: homesickness, relationship problems, sleep problems, stress, adjustment to college – these are all things the counselors at Parton can help with.
“All students who are registered at Middlebury College are eligible to seek support from counseling without a fee. The majority of students who seek counseling are going through a developmentally appropriate crisis such as family or relationship conflict, adjustment to college, questions surrounding individual’s identity, grief, stress management, etc,” Director of Parton Counseling Ximena Mejia said.
Mejia estimates that students usually meet with a counselor at Parton for 4-5 sessions; for more long-term concerns, therapists in town can be of help.
Some students may come to Parton seeking psychiatric services.
“About 15 percent of students who come to counseling seek psychiatric services and Counseling provides referrals to Counseling Services of Addison County who manage all students who need psychiatric services. There is a wide range of psychiatric diagnosis but among the top are generalized anxiety disorder, depression, trauma, and substance abuse, ” Mejia said. She points out that the College’s rural location and the condition of Vermont’s mental health services in general means that, “we have limited specialized mental health resources in the area.”
Within Addison County, Counseling Services of Addison County is the only psychiatric service. More resources can be found further away in Burlington, in Chittenden County.
“There are very good psychotherapists in town and their availability varies throughout the year depending on the clinical loads … with the latest substance abuse epidemic, most mental health resources are saturated,” Mejia said. “We encourage students to maintain psychiatric support at home due to the State’s limitations.”
In addition to talking with a counselor, Parton Counseling offers the opportunity to cuddle with Lily, a therapy dog, on Fridays from 1:30 to 3pm. Parton also holds a variety of support groups every semester, including a Grief and Loss support group as well as an Introduction to Mindfulness and Self-Compassion group and a Sexual Violence support group.
“Please join a group as it is a great way to get support and relate to other students who are perhaps going through similar circumstances,” Mejia said. She also noted the availability of sobriety support groups through Center Point, located in Marbleworks. More information on support groups can be found online at the Counseling at Parton website.
Students can also talk to their Commons Dean if they’re feeling overwhelmed by stress – Commons Deans are able to help with academic, personal and housing issues. Students can also go to the Chaplain’s Office for pastoral counseling . If the problem is academics-related, students can go to the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research in addition to their Commons Dean – the CTLR offers tutoring and time management resources that can help reduce stress. In addition, students can participate in stress-reducing activities – the Yoga Club offers a variety of weekly classes, there are meditation classes weekly around campus and opportunities to work on arts and crafts in McCullough’s Craft Corner.
Being stressed out may not be avoidable, but it can be manageable. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress and are at a loss for how to manage your stress, try meeting with your Commons Dean or heading to the Counseling Center. The College has resources available to help you deal with stress and mental health issues – don’t be afraid to use them.
(09/18/14 2:21am)
Many people might be surprised to hear that the most fatal mental disorder is anorexia nervosa. According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, anorexia nervosa has an estimated mortality rate of between four and ten percent, higher than the death rate for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Even more troubling is the fact that according to the Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, 25% of college-age women use bingeing and purging as weight-management techniques, and over 24 million people suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder) in the United States. Despite the prevalence of eating disorders today, research published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders indicates that only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment, and only 35 percent of people that receive treatment for eating disorders get treatment at a facility specializing in the treatment of eating disorders.
Two of the most common and well-known eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (others include Binge Eating Disorder and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder). It is important to recognize the symptoms and warning signs of these disorders and to understand how to help someone that may be struggling with an eating disorder.
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Symptoms include inadequate food intake, intense fear of weight gain, obsession with weight, taking extreme measures to prevent weight gain and low self-esteem directly linked to body image. Anorexia can involve bingeing and purging, where one consumes a large amount of food very rapidly and then tries to get rid of the ingested food through self-induced vomiting, laxatives, and/or diuretics (water pills).
Warning signs of anorexia include dramatic weight loss, anxiety about gaining weight, frequent comments about feeling overweight despite weight loss, consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes, extreme exercise regimen, denial of hunger, development of food rituals and withdrawal from friends and family. When left untreated, anorexia can have dire health consequences, both emotionally and physically. Because the body is not getting the nutrients it needs to function, it has to slow down all its processes to conserve energy. This can lead to serious medical consequences, including an abnormally slow heart rate, low blood pressure, reduction of bone density, muscle loss and weakness, severe dehydration, fainting and fatigue and hair loss. Anorexia has been linked to depression and can increase risk of suicide.
Treatment for anorexia involves psychotherapy and counseling as well as nutritional and medical counseling, sometimes even inpatient care, depending on the severity of the case. An early diagnosis and immediate treatment can significantly help recovery and help avoid adverse health effects. Without treatment, anorexia can become chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening.
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that involves cycles of bingeing and behaviors that prevent weight gain, often self-induced vomiting. Warning signs of bulimia nervosa involves evidence of binge eating such as the disappearance of large quantities of food, evidence of purging behaviors such as frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, extreme exercise regimen, swelling of the cheeks or jaw area, calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles, discoloration of teeth, obsession with food, weight loss, and dieting, development of rituals around bingeing and purging and withdrawal from friends and activities.
Bulimia can have devastating effects on the human body: the binge-and-purge cycle is extremely damaging to the entire digestive system and purging causes electrolyte imbalances, which can in turn cause irregular heartbeat and even death. Bulimia can also lead to inflammation and rupture of the esophagus, tooth decay and staining from stomach acids in the mouth during self-induced vomiting, chronic irregular bowel movements due to laxative abuse, as well as gastric rupture.
Many people assume that those with eating disorders are skinny or seem underweight. However, this is not the case, as many people struggling with bulimia appear to be of average weight. Treatment for bulimia may be similar to treatment for anorexia in that it primarily involves psychological counseling, including interpersonal therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy and nutritional help. Depending on the length and severity of the disorder, the patient may need to be treated for some of the adverse effects of bulimia — such as dehydration or electrolyte imbalance — before the disorder is addressed. Medications may be used in conjunction with psychotherapy to reduce binge-purge cycles and to treat conditions often associated with eating disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
Eating disorders can be very difficult to treat and recovery may take months or years. Because of the severe health problems they can cause, as well as the likelihood of an eating disorder worsening without treatment, it is extremely important to seek treatment if you are struggling with an eating disorder, or to help a friend get the treatment he or she needs if you suspect he or she might have an eating disorder.
If you think someone you know may be struggling with an eating disorder, try to find a way to meet with that person one-on-one.
Make sure you communicate your concern for their well-being, citing specific examples of times when you felt that their eating or exercise behaviors were worrisome or extreme. Make sure you do not accuse him or her of anything: avoid placing shame, blame or guilt. Instead, offer your support and use “I” statements. Let him or her know that there are resources both at Middlebury College and in the community that can help.
Parton Health Center has resources to help those who might be struggling with an eating disorder, and if you think someone you know may have an eating disorder, you can meet with a staff member at Parton Health Center who can educate you and help coach you as you prepare to talk to your friend. The counseling center can be reached at 802-443-5141 and can provide information on local nutritionists, support groups, and private practitioners. You can also call the National Eating Disorder Association’s toll-free, confidential help-line during weekday business hours at 1-800-931-2237.
(09/10/14 7:49pm)
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there were an estimated 43.7 million individuals 18 years or older living with mental illness in the United States in 2012, or about 18.6 percent of the adult population.
In a survey of 157 colleges and universities, the American College Health Association found that 31 percent of college students have struggled with depression that affected their collegiate performance and more than 50 percent have felt overwhelming anxiety. 7.1 percent of students surveyed reported having seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months. In a survey conducted by the Na- tional Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), college students diagnosed with a mental health condition reported that stigma was the number one barrier to accessing mental health services and supports. 40 percent of students surveyed who reported having diagnosed mental health problems did not seek help. According to NAMI, over 90 percent of people who die by suicide struggled with mental illness. There are many factors involved in treating mental illness and preventing suicide, but it begins with people getting the help they need. Reducing stigma around mental illness plays a vital role in encouraging people to get help for mental illness.
Throughout the semester, I will be profiling various mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and anorexia, by giving an overview of each disorder, as well as student perspectives on what it’s like to live with a mental illness.
This week, I am going to focus on suicide prevention: how to tell if someone might be suicidal and how to help him or her get help. September 10 was World Suicide Prevention Day. The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) explains the mission of World Suicide Prevention Day as “[representing] a call for action and involvement by all governments and organizations worldwide to contribute to the cause of suicide awareness and prevention through activities, events, conferences and campaigns in their country. By collaborating together in this endeavor, we can indeed save lives.”
Suicide is not a common conversation topic because it can sometimes be uncomfortable to talk about. Unfortunately, though, it’s an all-too-common tragedy in the United States and in the world today. According to the AAS, approximately one million Americans at- tempt suicide each year and five million living Americans have attempted to kill themselves at some point. Every year in the United States, more than 19,500 men and women kill themselves with a gun, which is 66 percent more than the number who use a gun to kill another person. It is estimated that 4.8 million Americans have survived the suicide of a friend, family member or loved one.
Suicide’s prevalence in our culture requires our attention. In order to prevent suicide from continuing to take the lives of one million people per year worldwide, it is important that we know the risk factors for suicide, common behaviors before suicide and how we can help people around us get the help they need. The warning signs of suicide include hopelessness, rage, revenge-seeking, reckless or risky behavior, increased alcohol and drug use, withdrawal from friends and family, anxiety, agitation, trouble sleeping, dramatic mood changes and loss of purpose. More explicit signs include someone threatening to kill or hurt him or herself, looking for ways to get access to pills, firearms, or other weapons and talking about death or suicide when that behavior is out of the ordinary. Risk factors for suicide include prior suicide attempts, family history of suicide, family history of mental illness, physical or sexual abuse, having firearms in the home, chronic physical illness or pain and incarceration.
If you see someone exhibiting behaviors that indicate that they are po- tentially suicidal, you can help. You can call 800-SUICIDE or 800-273-TALK, as well as the Counseling Service of Addison County 24-hour hotline, 802-388-7641. If someone seems to be at risk of committing suicide and you are with them, remove all weapons from the area and seek help by calling 911 or one of the hotlines mentioned above. Do not try to handle the situation by yourself. Do not act surprised or shocked to hear that they may be considering suicide, as this may cause them to withdraw from you. Offer hope that there are alternatives and continue talking to the person.
If you see the warning signs of suicide in the behavior of another person, you can ask them if they are considering suicide — this will not “put thoughts into their head,” and it could be the question that saves their life.
(05/07/14 8:22pm)
Last weekend, five members of the Middlebury Cycling Team traveled to Richmond, Virginia to the Cycling National Championships. Without a coach, Zack Isaacs ’15.5, Jake Barker ’16, Matt Gilbert ’16.5, Kai Wiggins ’16.5, and Sam O’Keefe ’16.5 reeled impressive results, including six top-twenty finishes and a top-ten finish in the team time trial.
The team competed in four events at the National Collegiate Championships: a Team Time Trial, Individual Time Trial, Criterium, and the Road Race. As the team explained, “In the [Team Time Trial], four cyclists race together against the clock, sharing the draft and working with each other to finish the course as fast as possible. The [Individual Time Trial], known as the “Race of Truth,” is held at the same course as the [Team Time Trial]. It is a test of raw fitness, as athletes race alone in pursuit of the fastest time. The Criterium is the most exciting spectator event, as a field of 100 cyclists races around a closed circuit for 75 minutes in the heart of the city. The road race is the main event. Racers complete 7 laps of a ten mile course that features technical descents, steep climbs, and cobblestone roads.”
In the past, the team has sent individuals to nationals, such as Ted King ’05.5, Lea Davison ’05, Macky Franklin ’11, and Alex Abarbanel-Grossman ’12.5 – these athletes have continued on to race on national and international levels. Sam O’Keefe ’16.5 traveled this winter to the cyclocross Collegiate National Championships and came away with a second place finish in the Division II field. This spring, an entire team traveled to Richmond to compete in Nationals; compared to the fact that the team sent no athletes to Nationals last year, the team felt that sending a full team was in itself a success. They made the trip to Richmond in two personal cars without any coach or adult accompaniment.
As is the case for many athletes, the hectic post-season makes the end of semester academic rush all the more difficult. The team is appreciative of the support and understanding they have received from faculty and staff in helping them balance school and cycling.
“Though the race only lasts three hours, the psychological and physical demands of that race extend through the entire day,” the team explained. “Beyond that, our bikes require lots of maintenance and attention, we have to eat more food than humanly possible, and we also handle all of the logistical issues that come with traveling and racing. Our professors were very understanding with all of this, and because of that, we’ll be able to finish off the year in a good place.”
The team valued the experience of going to Nationals, especially as a team.
“We raced around the most beautiful historical and cultural areas that Richmond has to offer. What makes it even more special is that these are the same courses that will be featured in the 2015 World Championships for Road Cycling. To be there, racing with our best friends, surrounded by family — this experience was truly an honor, and something we’ll never forget.”
Championships aside, it’s the love of cycling that has brought the team together the most. Despite their varied backgrounds, they share the same passion.
“It is the level of camaraderie on this team that has made Middlebury Cycling so special. You can’t find a better friend than the one who rides alongside you as you do the thing you truly love.”
After a successful trip to Nationals this year, the team hopes to continue the tradition of success, and more importantly, continue to enjoy the sport.
“With some new racers coming in and an even stronger team for next season, we are hoping to podium in every event. However 2015 works out, though, we really just want to have as much fun as we did this year.”
(05/07/14 2:52pm)
After blowing past Bowdoin 5-0 in the NESCAC semifinals on Saturday, May 3, the Middlebury men’s tennis team could not cap their conference tournament with a championship-game victory on the following day, losing to fourth-ranked Amherst 5-1 in the title match. Third-ranked Middlebury fell to an 18-3 record for the season, while Amherst claimed its third NESCAC title in the last four years.
In the Bowdoin match, Middlebury swept doubles play, with wins by pairs Ari Smolyar ’16 and Peter Heidrich ’15, Brantner Jones ’14 and Palmer Campbell ’16, and Andrew Lebovitz ’14 and Alex Johnston ’14.
Johnston and Smolyar put points on the board in singles to bring the score to 5-0, while the other singles matches of Jackson Frons ’16, Courtney Mountifield ’15, Campbell, and Jones went unfinished.
The Panthers advanced to the finals where they played Amherst, falling 1-5 in a tough indoor match. Johnston and Lebovitz were defeated in doubles by Lord Jeffs Joey Fritz and Justin Reindel, followed by a defeat of Smolyar and Heidrich by Michael Solimano and Anton Zykov. Jones and Campbell were defeated by Andrew Yaraghi and Aaraon Revzin to give the Lord Jeffs a 3-0 sweep of doubles.
The team moved on to singles, with a lone point for Middlebury coming from a win by Frons at number-six singles.
Amherst claims the NESCAC’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA tournament by virtue of their conference-tournament win, leaving Middlebury to await an at-large bid to the national tournament.
The women’s tennis team blew past Tufts on Friday, May 2 in a 5-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC tournament, only to fall to Amherst 3-5 in the semifinals on Saturday.
The women started of the tournament with a sweep of doubles with wins by Dorrie Paradies ’14 and Katie Paradies ’15 as well as duos Lily Bondy ’17 and Lauren Amos ’16 and Ria Gerger ’16 and Kaysee Orozco ’17. Margot Marchese ’16 and Orozco brought home singles wins to give the Panthers the team win, with the four other singles matches going unfinished.
Coach Mike Morgan praised the drive that his team showed in the Tufts match.
“I thought they focused in well and controlled what we could control – they focused on the details – what works with our energy and our mindset,” said Morgan.
The Panthers moved on to face Amherst in a rematch of last year’s NESCACs semifinals. The Lord Jeffs got the better of the Panthers for the second year in a row, winning 5-3 to move on to play Williams in the title match.
In doubles, the duo of Bondy and Alexandra Fields ’17 was unable to pull out a win for the Panthers, and Gerger and Orozco faced a tough loss as well. In number-three doubles, the Panthers put their first point on the board with duo Amos and Marchese beating Amherst’s Safi Ali and Sarah Monteagudo.
In singles, Bondy put another point on the board with a victory in the fourth position, but losses by Gerger and Fields kept the lead with Amherst. Orozco had her third win of the tournament with a victory in the third spot. Dorrie Paradies was unable to pull out a win in the sixth spot as Monteagudo came back from being a set behind to win in three sets.
Despite the loss, Coach Morgan thinks the close match had very positive points for the team.
“They responded after going down 2-1 in doubles, they responded with a lot of heart – we won four of the first six sets,” Morgan said. “They showed that they could play and beat anyone in the country – they are capable of beating anyone.”
Morgan singled out young players Bondy, Marchese and Amos for their exceptional performances over the weekend. Compared with an older Amherst squad, Middlebury’s young talent shows that they can feel confident about improvement in the future.
Middlebury hopes to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this Monday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Coach Morgan says the team is hoping to play in the tournament, but wants them to focus on just one match at a time.
“The team sees just taking it match by match and knowing that were capable of beating anyone is enough to know – the rest we take moment by moment,” Morgan said.
(04/30/14 4:45pm)
As April winds to a close, the College wraps up a month of events focused on raising awareness about sexual assault. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and new Health and Wellness Director Barbara McCall launched a series of events throughout the month in order to “recognize and support survivors in our community and create and maintain spaces for healing, allow program attendees to deepen their understanding of sexual violence at global, cultural, community and individual levels, and recognize sexual violence as a topic worthy of time, care and conversation in our community.”
The events included “Meditation for Survivors,” a workshop in which participants were guided through healing visualizations and breathing exercises to quiet the mind, “Sex, Relationships, and Consent: What You Need to Know,” a workshop by Keith E. Smith, the Men’s Outreach Coordinator at the University of Vermont, which discussed sex, relationships, communication, violence and what it really means to have consent, and “B.R.A.V.E. (Be Ready Aware Victorious Empowered),” a personal safety training workshop for both physical and mental empowerment. According to McCall, these events were well-attended and received positively. McCall emphasized the expansion of the sexual assault conversation as one of the goals for not only this month but for the entire year, too.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women and one in 71 men will experience attempted or completed sexual assault at some time in their lives, a majority of those assaults happening during college. Though students consistently seek to increase awareness through certain events like “It Happens Here,” Wellness Committee member Casey Watters ’15 points out that the discussion may not always continue after such events.
“The lack of discussion afterwards takes away from some of the immense potential such a powerful event has on this campus,” Watters said.
In the media recently, apps such as “Kitestring” have received attention for their possible efficacy in preventing sexual assault. Kitestring is a “safecall” service (available for use by smartphone and non-smartphone users alike) that will automatically alert your emergency contacts if you do not check in with the app after an allotted amount of time. It can be used generally to get someone from Point A to Point B safely: you know you are going to be walking home alone, so you tell Kitestring to check on you in 15 minutes. Kitestring will then either text you or the app will send you an alert after 15 minutes have passed to make sure you have made it to your destination safely. If you do not answer the text or confirm with the app that you are safe, Kitestring will text one or more emergency contact numbers you gave it with a generalized message or a custom one you made: for example, “Hey, this is [insert your name here]. I’m walking back from this concert to my apartment by myself. If you’re getting this message, I may not have made it back safely. Give me a call?” You can text the app to extend the amount of time you have allotted if you are delayed, and you can add additional secret code words so someone else cannot check in with the app for you. Unlike other safecall apps, Kitestring relies on SMS instead of a data connection or just an app, so it is available to millions more users than other options. Some have suggested it could be used to prevent sexual assault.
But McCall pointed out that apps like Kitestring are far from a perfect solution. “Best practices in bystander intervention education do not rely on apps,” she said. “They are focused on communication between friends and community members to assess risk and act accordingly.”
Former Sexual Assault Oversight Committee Member Fritz Parker ’15 agreed, saying, “While apps like Kitestring certainly have their place, I think it is important that they not distract from the real issue: there are people who don’t feel safe doing something as simple as walking home. These emergency services don’t help us address that issue, only deal with their consequences more efficiently. That’s something, but it’s not a solution.”
GSFS Major, MiddSafe advocate and Feminist Action at Middlebury President Alexandra Strott ’15 highlighted one major issue with the app.
“I’m glad that [Kitestring] exists if it has the potential to help someone out of an uncomfortable or even dangerous situation, or even just to give someone peace of mind on their way from Point A to Point B, or while they’re out on a first date with someone they’ve never met before, for instance,” she said. “I’m a little wary of an app like Kitestring being branded as a solution to rape culture and sexual assault rather than as a precautionary measure. It doesn’t really address sexual assault that occurs between intimate partners or acquaintance rape.”
Watters believes that Kitestring may be effective in more urban areas and thinks there are better ways to address sexual assault on campus, like the workshops and discussions that took place this month.
“At Middlebury, I see our solution more through empowerment and discussion teaching students their rights and resources: to remove blame from the victims in realizing that it is always okay to say no halfway through or change your mind, to stand by a belief that you want your partner to use a condom, even if it may not feel as good and to stress to all students that a maybe is not a yes, and a no is not a maybe,” she said.
Sexual assault is not the only way that sex can introduce complications in the lives of young adults, and the app world has realized as much. Fears of STIs and pregnancy can often add to the stress of college life and app-creators are tapping into this with a variety of apps, primarily targeted toward females, to improve reproductive health and awareness and help optimize (or minimize) risk of pregnancy.
One such app is “Glow.” Originally targeted toward women who were having trouble conceiving, Glow analyzes data on a woman’s menstrual cycle, basal body temperature and medication history to predict when a woman is most likely to be pregnant. Though at the start it operated as an encouragement to try to conceive on certain days, the app now has many different interfaces depending on whether the user is trying to conceive or trying not to conceive, and whether the user is sexually active. For those who are not sexually active, the app focuses on reproductive health tips and provides alerts for the user as to when to expect her next period; for those who are sexually active and trying not to conceive, the app alerts the user at “high-risk” times of the month. All of Glow’s alerts and tips are based on the data provided by the user; the more information the user provides, the more accurate the app’s information will be.
This app is not a substitute for gynecological visits or pelvic exams, nor does it mean that one no longer needs to practice safe sex.
As Strott points out, “Apps like these can be really useful for students who are concerned about becoming pregnant, if it gives them peace of mind, but I think it’s important for them not to use these apps as a substitute for practicing safe sex (whatever that looks like for them) and getting exams and tests regularly.”
Though both of these apps do not provide fail-safe solutions to sexual assault or unwanted pregnancy, they can be helpful tools to use in conjunction with healthy practices, good communication and increasing awareness and education.
(04/30/14 2:54pm)
The Middlebury women’s tennis team finished their 2014 regular season last weekend with one win and one loss, falling to fourth-ranked Amherst 0-9 on Saturday, April 26 after a 7-2 win against number-18 Tufts on Friday, April 25.
The Panthers faced Tufts in their last home match of the season. They managed to pull out a win with a 2-1 record in doubles and 5-6 record in singles. In doubles, duo Ria Gerger ’16 and Kaysee Orozco ’17 took the first match, with the second point coming from pair Lily Bondy ’17 and Alexandra Fields ’17. The Paradies sisters – Dorrie ’14 and Katie ’15 – fell narrowly in doubles in the third spot. Gerger, Orozco, Bondy and Fields were all victorious in singles as well. Dorrie Paradies grabbed the seventh point for the Panthers win.
“[The team] played a really great match against Tufts – the most challenging aspect of the weekend was carrying the positive energy and confidence from Tufts into the Amherst match,” said Fields.
The Panthers concluded their regular season with a tough loss on the road the following day to Amherst, who remained undefeated in the NESCAC.
“The loss to Amherst was definitely disappointing but now we are even more motivated to beat them next week in NESCACS,” said Field. “Each of us learned a lot about how to play and compete against the Amherst team, and I’m sure we will take that competitive and motivated energy into practice this week in preparation for the weekend.”
The Panthers now look to the 2014 NESCAC Championships, hosted by Bowdoin on May 2-4, in which the team will look to improve upon their narrow semifinal loss to Amherst in last year’s tournament.
Fields is looking forward to the tournament and the possible success it could bring for the team.
“For now our team is really focusing on performing well during NESCACs and NCAAs,” she said. “These tournaments should be really fun because other teams won’t really know what to expect from us since it will be the first time we have our full line up playing.”
The team’s performance in the NESCAC championship will determine whether or not its name is called on May 5 when the NCAA announces the Championship field.
The Middlebury men’s tennis team, ranked second in the Northeast Region behind Amherst, finished their season strong with a pair of wins over conference foes Amherst and Tufts.
The Panthers upset Amherst, ranked third nationally, in Nelson Recreational Center on April 26 with a close 5-4 score before cruising to its 10th-straight win against 24th-ranked Tufts on April 27.
In double action against Amherst, the Panthers gained a 2-1 record, with duos Ari Smolyar ’16 and Peter Heidrich ’15, along with Brantner Jones ’14 and Palmer Campbell ’16, putting points on the board for the Panthers. In singles, Alex Johnston ’14 and Smolyar added key wins for Middlebury.
The critical points came from Jones, who rallied from a losing first set to win his singles match from Amherst in three sets. With losses in singles from Jackson Frons ’16, Campbell and Courtney Mountifield ’15, the Panthers managed to scrape out a 5-4 win.
The Panthers concluded their season with a road match against Tufts. With doubles wins by Jones and Campbell, and Johnston and Andrew Lebovitz ’14, the team moved onto singles play with a substantial lead. In singles they won four matches in straight sets. Smolyar, Johston, Jones and Mountifield all picked up points for the Panthers, while Frons and Campbell conceded to their Jumbo opponents to bring the score to 6-3 in favor of Middlebury.
Like the women, the Middlebury men will travel to Bowdoin for this weekend’s NESCAC championships. With their victory over fellow championship contender Amherst, Middlebury is an early favorite for this year’s team championship. The Panthers fell 5-4 to Williams in the semifinal round of the conference championship a year ago.
The D-III team selection release for the men’s side will also be held on May 5.
(04/24/14 3:38am)
The Middlebury women’s tennis team faced Bowdoin on Saturday, April 19 in a matchup of national top-ten teams and potential national-championship contenders, with the Panthers falling to the Polar Bears in a close contest 4-5.
In doubles, the team was excited to see sophomore Ria Gerger ’16 return to play after an injury.
“It was great to have [Gerger] back,” said coach Mike Morgan. “She’s obviously a talent. We certainly loved having her in the lineup.”
Gerger and doubles partner Kaysee Orozco ’17 gained the team’s lone point in doubles. In singles, Alexandra Fields ’17 beat Bowdoin’s Tiffany Cheng 6-1, 6-2 to tie the match. Orozco grabbed another win in number-two singles with a 6-3, 6-4 score.
The Panthers could not hold on to their lead however, as Polar Bear Samantha Stalder defeated Margot Marchese ’16 in the number-four spot, and Lily Bondy ’16 lost in number-three singles. In the final two matches, Middlebury gained one last point with a victory by senior Dorrie Paradies ’14.
Morgan emphasized the team’s focus throughout the game, saying that the team had “overall focus, especially during singles: they were mentally tough, especially in managing their own court. They focused on the one goal of winning the match.”
After falling to 8-5 on the season with the loss, the Panthers fall to a disappointing seventh place in the NESCAC standings. The team will have to regroup for a pair of key conference contests this weekend. After hosting Tufts on Friday, April 25, the team will travel to Amherst for a date with the first-place Lord Jeffs on Saturday, April 26.
Despite the disappointing loss, says Morgan, the Panthers will head into two games next week against Amherst and Tufts ready to win.
“The team is getting into a great mindset heading into next week,” said Morgan. “We’re fired up.”
The eighth-ranked Middlebury men’s tennis teams gained two wins on Saturday, April 19 in matchups against Bowdoin and RPI to run their winning streak to seven games.
In the first match of the day, the Panthers picked up two of three doubles contests and five of six singles matches to beat conference foe Bowdoin 6-3. Top-ranked pair Brantner Jones ’14 and Palmer Campbell ’16 secured an 8-3 victory, with a second victory coming from Ari Smolyar ’16 and Peter Heidrich ’15, who beath their competitors from Bowdoin in the number-three doubles spot. In singles, Alex Johnston ’14 secured a win in three sets against Polar Bear Noah Bragg.
Middlebury’s sole loss against Bowdoin came in the number-two singles spot where sixth-ranked Luke Trinka of Bowdoin defeated 18th-ranked Campbell 6-3, 6-2. Jones, Smolyar, Courtney Mountifield ’15 and Jackson Frons ’16 picked up wins in singles as well to help Middlebury defeat Bowdoin.
The Panthers continued the day with a second match against RPI, finishing victorious with a 6-3 win, their seventh straight win of the season.
The Panthers were again 2-1 in doubles, with wins by Johnston and Andrew Lebovitz ’14 as well as Chris Frost ’15 and James Burke ’14. In singles, Middlebury’s Zach Bruchmiller ’14 and Johnston both fell to their opponents, while Teddy Fitzgibbons ’14, Lebovitz and Jones all picked up wins over their Engineer opponents to bring the score to 6-3.
The Panther men return to the court on Saturday, April 26, when they face perennial conference favorite Amherst in a potential dress rehearsal for the NESCAC tournament final. With both teams bringing their unblemished conference records into the weekend, only one will sit alone atop the NESCAC after Saturday’s matchup.
The Panthers then wrap up their regular season with a road contest against Tufts on Sunday, April 27. With a 3-5 conference record, the Jumbos should not represent a significant challenge for Middlebury.
After this weekend, the Panthers will play in the NESCAC tournament at Bowdoin. Even if they come up short in the conference tournament, Middlebury is virtually assured of a berth in the NCAA tournament, held May 22-24 in Claremont, CA, where they will look to improve upon last year’s quarterfinal loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
(04/16/14 5:16pm)
Last Thursday and Friday, April 10 and 11, students, faculty, staff, community members and guests filled McCardell BiCentennial Hall, Johnson Memorial Building, Wright Theatre and Mahaney Center for the Arts for the eighth annual Spring Symposium, a celebration of research, creativity and the liberal arts. With classes suspended on Friday, April 11, students and faculty alike were able to attend a plethora of oral presentations and poster sessions in Bi-Hall throughout the day, with topics ranging from a Sociological and Linguistic Analysis of “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (William Painter ’17) to the Effect of Invasive Garlic Mustard on Northeastern Tree and Fungal Communities (Morgan Childs ’14).
Oral presentations were organized into themed sessions, with researchers from a variety of fields presenting under the same theme. These themes showed the interdisciplinary nature of a liberal arts education and gave students the opportunity to explore topics completely new to them. Oral presentation sessions were punctuated by poster sessions in BiHall’s Great Hall. These colorful visuals and the more informal atmosphere turned the symposium into a more social and communal event, allowing fluid movement between posters and lively chatter amongst the many attendees.
The celebration began in the Center for the Arts with a keynote address by San Francisco-based author and Middlebury graduate Vendela Vida ’93. Vida’s keynote address began the two-day symposium, in which more than 350 undergraduates participated. Vida acknowledged the impact of her professors on her success in writing, highlighting the impact of the College’s faculty on the intellectual creativity and curiosity as professors at the Symposium guided the research presented, moderated each oral presentation session and attended to support their students.
The Thursday evening portion of the symposium continued with an opening reception with performances by the Middlebury Swing Club and MiddJazz, followed by “Music in the Museum,” a preview of the senior thesis dance concert, a “Kuchipudi-Swing” dance performance, as well as screenings of student films, reading of student plays, and a musical showcase. In Wright Memorial Theater, “A Clockwork Orange” had its opening night, continuing with a performance on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, Johnson Memorial Building featured open studios of current studio art students as well as studio art and architecture displays. In Bi-Hall, the day began with oral presentations organized around themes such as, “Globalizing Our Conflicts,” “Declaring Whom We Love,” “+/-: Polar Oppositions,” and many more.
A Bidirectional Blessing
Becky Wasserman ’14 presented a portion of her senior thesis in an oral presentation entitled, “A Bidirectional Blessing: Contemporary Jewish Synagogues and the U.S. Sustainable Foods Movement.” Wasserman discussed how the sustainable food movement has developed in a Jewish context, explaining terms such as “eco-kosher” and “tzedek,” or justice. She illuminated how the Jewish focus on ethics extends to the realm of sustainable food and enhances secular sustainability practices, observing more generally that secular and religious motivations often enhance motivation for and dedication to a practice, such as being vegetarian. She explained how this phenomenon benefits both the synagogue and the sustainable food movement because it attracted more young people to participate in religious events in the synagogue, while benefiting local food pantries and creating urban gardens in cities and spreading the sustainable food movement. She concluded that this would have an even greater impact in the future because young children growing up in a context of this kind will have food sustainability as a “foundational element of their value system.
The Neurobiology of Nurture
Senior Simran Sabharwal ’14 presented research on education and neuroplasticity in a presentation entitled “The Neurobiology of Nurture: Strengthening Resilience in ‘High-Risk’ Youth through Mindfulness, Compassion, and Empowerment.” Sabharwal, who plans to pursue a career as a teacher after graduation, explained how adversity in childhood – violence, poverty, substance abuse, etc. – is manifested in the limbic system of the brain. This can sometimes affect a person’s ability to regulate their emotions even in adulthood. Through programs of mindfulness, compassion and empowerment, teachers can create an environment to help students escape the adverse effects of extreme stress. She used local examples, such as the MindUp program at Bridport Central School, to illustrate how this concept is already being successfully implemented today and can be expanded to positively affect others, including the more than 46 million Americans living below the poverty line. Her presentation highlighted the role of the symposium as a reminder of Middlebury’s commitment to the liberal arts: she observed, “Often times the “hard” sciences are so isolated from the social sciences and humanities. I think the symposium could be a great way to reintegrate the liberal arts by encouraging students to share research across academic disciplines.”
Arts for Economic Development
Though many presenters were seniors discussing a portion of their senior thesis or a senior project, younger students were able to get involved as well. After he wrote a research paper for her freshman seminar “Voices Along the Way,” Professor Kathy Skubikowski encouraged Sebastian Fica-Contreras ’17 to present it at the symposium. In his paper and presentation, Fica-Contreras pondered the question, “Could Arts Education Be Important for Economic Development?” He discussed how many schools emphasize science and the STEM fields, depriving students of the many benefits of arts education, such as development of creativity, innovation, higher GPAs, higher confidence levels, and decreased levels of stress. He showed that those participating in the arts were more likely to attend and graduate from a four-year college or university and successful companies often emphasize creativity as a skill when hiring. He called for more research to be done to investigate how arts education could impact the economy on a macro scale. Leif Castren ’14 discussed research he started on his year abroad in Chile, studying the 2008 and 2009 eruptions of the Volcán Chaitén in the lake region of northern Patagonia. He explained how the eruptions deposited a thick layer of nutrient-deplete tephra on top of the nutrient-rich soil, completely changing the ecological landscape of the area. He included graphics of his own creation from Adobe Illustrator as well as field drawings from his trips to the volcano site to shed light on why the plants he found were able to grow where they did, despite the lack of nutrients in the soil.
Preventative Care in Medicare
Alex Ruocco ’14 presented research on a portion of his thesis investigating eligibility for Medicare and the utilization of preventive care. Preventive care includes measures aimed at identifying patients at risk for serious conditions and preventing those potential illnesses. Among the examples Ruocco highlighted were cholesterol tests, mammograms and colonoscopies. He used a Regression Discontinuity Design to investigate how turning 65 (and thus being eligible for Medicare) affected the probability that a person would use various preventive measures. He found an increase in the amount of people obtaining the services but pointed out that other factors, like education, would increase utilization of preventive care, which is currently under-utilized in the United States. Ruocco predicted that the implications of Obamacare may not be as far-reaching as they could be because it does not take into account factors other than monetary accessibility, such as education and free time.
Takeaways from Symposium
These are only a few of the vast array of presentations and creative works displayed at the symposium, but no matter which events you attended, the talents of Middlebury students were on display. Thomas Lu ’16 highlighted the hard work put into all the works displayed and presented at the symposium: “I found the Symposium truly remarkable. It was humbling to be able to see the hard work and labor that many of my peers have put into their presentations, talks, and demonstrations.” Attendee Richard Brach ’16 observed that at Middlebury, “work is primarily exchanged between students and professors. The symposium provides an excellent opportunity for this exchange to be between students. And it’s cool to see your friends through this academic lens that you don’t normally think of when you see them.”