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(11/19/15 4:41am)
“Tell mom you love her,” my youngest brother, William, told me last Friday evening. I had answered the call in the midst of an economics assignment, and assumed he wanted me to respond to a text my mom had sent in our family group message – “Love you!” – about thirty minutes earlier.
(05/08/14 12:19am)
On Tuesday, April 29, Twilight Auditorium was filled to capacity by 4:30, the start time for the Inaugural Lecture “The Case for Marx,” given by Christian A. Johnson Professor of Economics and Department Chair Peter Matthews. Jim Ralph, Dean of Faculty Development and Research, had to turn away students, professors and Middlebury residents after all of the seats were filled.
Professor Matthews’ talk centered around the question “should there be room in modern economics for a much vilified but seldom read nineteenth century thinker?”
President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz introduced Matthews, who spoke briefly of his path to becoming an Economics Professor at the College.
The lecture began with the slide “Karl Marx n’est pas mort (translation: Karl Marx isn’t dead).” Marx’s association with socialism and unjust actions committed by Stalin in his name was immediately acknowledged, and Matthews suggested that this lecture was purely to explain Marx’s economic insights and how they could be applied to the modern economy.
“[I gave the talk] to encourage people to read about Marx, and to know the difference between Marx the economist and Marxism,” said Matthews.
The lecture explained how Marx’s view of class struggles may seek to explain inequality, its causes and possible solutions. Marx’s notion that capitalism may eventually give way to some sort of socialism was explained as well.
Listeners considered the words of Marx’s good friend Engel and how Marx thought it was productive to question society and consider alternatives when problems arise.
“I gave the talk purely because I wanted to say ‘There is a wide range of theories about the world around us, and here’s one.’” The lecture argued that the current gap between the 1 percent and the 99 percent isn’t sustainable.
Matthew’s slides also featured a quote by Lawrence Klein in April 1947: “Marx did not fully anticipate the Keynsian Theory of Effective Demand… [he] laid the groundwork for a complete equation system to determine the level of income… [t]he primary advantage of the Marxian Model, however is that it provides more information.” This citation from over 67 years ago acknowledges the flaws in Marx’s theory, along with many other past and future citations that Professor Matthews posed.
The lecture also touched on a popular modern analysis of the economy: Thomas Piketty’s book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century. The text “gives data about the total level of private capital and the percentage of income paid out to labor in England from the 1700s onward” according to Mike Konzcal’s spring 2014 article in the Boston Review titled Studying the Rich: Thomas Piketty and his Critics. Professor Matthews and Konzcal’s article explained that economists with more right-wing ideas criticize the fact that Piketty does not have enough economic models to prove his theory, and economists to Piketty’s left say he over emphasizes mainstream economics and does not say enough about politics.
Matthews indicated the importance of young people being exposed to a diversity of opinions. He suggested that college is the first time that many young people have the opportunity to explore a full set of alternatives and values — often different systems of values then those that they grew up with.
“I hope that attending a lecture like this helps students consider how philosophers have previously theorized the world. It isn’t to say Karl Marx is right and another philosopher is wrong — it’s merely to start the discussion,” concluded Matthews.
(05/08/13 8:52pm)
Last Friday afternoon the Davis Library hosted a reception to honor all 22 members of the faculty and staff who have published works in the last year. The works were displayed in the Special Collections room, and after each author gave a brief overview of their book, the staff mingled and had a chance to take a closer look at each other’s work.
“It is always great to see what your colleagues are up to,” said Paul Monod, A. Barton Hepburn professor of history and acting dean of international programs, who recently authored Solomon’s Secret Arts: The Occult in the Age of Enlightenment.
According to Monod, Solomon’s Secret Arts “is a study of occult thought in England and Scotland, including alchemy, astrology and ritual magic.” This is his fifth book, but not the last — a sixth, a short book on British politics in the period of the American Revolution is in its early stages.
Christina Cartwright, German School coordinator, and translator of Zoo Station, agreed with Monod and commented on how “nice it is to feel recognized” by other members of the staff faculty. Zoo Station was originally published as Christiane F. – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo in Germany in 1979. It is an autobiographical piece by a former drug addict on her troubled teenage years. The book is very famous in Germany and is required reading for most high school age students.
“Teens of Addison County and Middlebury students [should] read it as well,” said Cartwright. “It may be based in a different culture, but the issues the book confronts carry over. It is a tough story, but a good one.”
Another Middlebury author also has published a work confronting the same issue, but from another direction. Rebecca Tiger, assistant professor of sociology, recently published Judging Addicts: Drug Courts and Coercion in the Justice System. Tiger was not able to attend the lecture, as she is on leave this year, mainly researching from New York City and working on another book about addictions. Rock Bottom: Celebrity and the Visual Culture of Addiction focuses on the representation and construction of drug use and addictions in popular press and reality television shows.
Juggling teaching and writing on campus this semester is Visiting Lecturer in Spanish Ricardo Chavez-Castaneda, who has had four works published in the last year, and 40 in his lifetime. He writes narrative literature for children, young readers and adults. In 2012, he received the “Premio Iberoamericano” for his short story Julio Cortázar, along with numerous other awards. His book El Libro que Se Muere was selected this year by the “Banco del libre de Venezuela” as one of the 10 best books published in the Hispanic world and in Spanish.
“Writing and teaching is like a blood transfusion,” said Ricardo, “students constantly give me a fresh look at all the things around us, and they renew my curiosity about life and the world. With that renewed curiosity, perplexity and fresh perspective, those of us that dedicate ourselves to teaching are stimulated to explore many new ideas.”
Another book published by a member of Middlebury’s languages department was Assistant Professor of Spanish Luis Castaneda’s Viaje al Norte de Verano, a coming-of-age novel for young readers, set in the northern coast of Perú, dealing with father-son conflicts, romantic relationships and personal ethics.
Two works by Middlebury professors were published in the Latin language in the past year. Professor of Classics Randall Ganiban collaborated on Vergil: Aeneid, Books 1-6, containing the first half of Vergil’s Aeneid with line-by-line commentary and other material to aid college-level students in translating and appreciating the classic poem.
“I’m lucky to be able to write on authors I teach in my courses,” said Ganiban. “I have my own students in mind when I draft the commentaries. The opportunity to ‘test’ these commentaries in class has been invaluable.”
Associate Professor of Classics Christopher Star published The Empire of the Self: Self-Command and Political Speech in Seneca and Petronious, a book on Latin literature and philosophy. Star has received a grant from the Loeb Classical Library Foundation, and agreed with Ganiban that his “classes at Middlebury have all been helpful in refining ideas.” Star has nearly completed his next book, an introduction to the life and works of Seneca.
Many of the works written will be helpful to the Professors in their classrooms as well as aid the teachings of their colleagues. For example, Larry Hamberlin, associate professor of music, co-authored a college textbook on American music. Director of the Breadloaf Writers Conference, Michael Collier, most recently published his sixth collection of poems, titled An Individual History. He was the Poet Laureate of Maryland from 2001-2004, and teaches in the creative writing program at the University of Maryland. Retired professor Gary Margolis published A Poets Journey to the Shamans in Ecuador, and his previous work, Fire in the Orchard, was nominated for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. Charles A. Dana Professor of Philosophy Emeritus Victor Nuovo edited and introduced John Locke: Vindications of the Reasonableness of Christianity, which looks at several writings by John Locke on religion. He also is a senior research fellow at Oxford University.
Director of Arts and Associate Curator at the College Museum Pieter Broucke, editor of Edward Burtynsky’s Vermont Quarry Photographs in Context, made a point nearly all writers agreed on. “I just love it when I learn from my students,” he said. All authors also repeatedly thanked their colleagues for the continued advice and editing.
This is just a selection of the 22 works published by Middlebury faculty and staff in the last year. The full collection of works is housed in the Davis Family Library, to the left of the Circulation Desk.
(04/24/13 1:04pm)
Last Wednesday, the College Democrats and College Republicans joined for a debate on the legacy of Margaret Thatcher. The event was the second of a series, following a recent debate on gun control.
These events are part of a larger push to alter the political discourse on campus.
“There are a lot of politically active people on campus — this is a great place to be if you’re interested in politics,” said College Democrats President Emily Wagman ’13. “But what we’re doing now is trying to foster a real, bipartisan debate that I don’t think we’ve had between the two groups.”
Prior to these debates, the primary collaborative effort between the College Democrats and Republicans has been MiddVote, the bipartisan voter registration event that takes place before elections.
Building on this election-based effort, the debates function to maintain political engagement even in the face of the “post-election hangover” tendency. Incoming College Democrats President Matthew Hall ’14 believes that keeping debate alive between election seasons remains an important goal of his club.
“It’s crucial that we are active during this transition period because there is another election coming up in a year and a half and that’s when it becomes important,” he said.
Professor of Political Science Matt Dickinson noted that student activism remains alive and well among students.
“There is quite a vibrant interest in politics, and among a smaller group there’s significant participation,” said Dickinson. “I had several students who were phone-banking and driving to New Hampshire to campaign during the last election.”
Elias Gilman ’15 — who debated for the College Republicans on Wednesday -— and Wagman noted a decline in participation and membership of both political clubs in recent years. Hall agreed that students seem involved on the surface but remain hesitant to delve deeper.
“I think people are politically engaged or aware, but the question is how do you translate awareness to activism,” Hall said. “You walk around this campus and you see people with Obama/Biden stickers on their computers or on their bumpers, and yet they’re not at the meetings. The question is, how do we engage people in democratic politics?”
Associate Professor of Political Science Bert Johnson believes that students of this generation attribute more of their activist efforts to “causes and issues” rather than politics.
“Maybe people feel that politics generally is a ‘dirty business’ but that activism on behalf of a cause is purer, more accessible and more fulfilling,” he said. “It may just be a reorientation of people’s activism, not necessarily a decline.”
According to Hall, the College Democrats are hoping to work with this interest group-oriented political culture through collaboration with cause-based groups. “We share a lot of values and opinions with these groups as Democrats, and yet there’s been little to no coordination between us in terms of political action or even meetings and discussions,” he said. “That’s something we’re trying to change for next year.”
Amidst a liberal-leaning playing field of interest groups and activism, the College Republicans often fight an uphill battle. Gilman views the uneven dynamic as an obstacle to fostering well-balanced political debate, but believes it can make debate stronger in the end.
“It can be really stifling. But it does make you better — you have to be,” he said. “You have to have your facts and you have to think through your argument before you get into any discussion.”
Former Republican Governor of Vermont Jim Douglas graduated from Middlebury College in 1972 and currently acts as an executive in residence at the College, teaching a course on Vermont politics during winter term.
Douglas explained that when he attended the college, during the Vietnam War, the issues at the forefront of students’ minds were different, but that “the complexion of the campus is about the same.”
As a member of the minority who went on to become a Republican Governor of Vermont, Douglas also recognized the implications of being a Republican on campus.
“You are who you are,” Douglas said. “You have a set of beliefs and they probably are going to be sustained through whatever adversity there might be. I understood my minority status, but I didn’t feel any personal pressure or problems. I had friends that were hippies, with hair down to their waists, and war protestors, but we all seemed to get along.”
In the face of lopsided demographics, however, Dickinson believes that respect for other students’ political views has also been valued and upheld.
“Although the sentiment is overwhelmingly liberal, students are very receptive to conservative viewpoints,” Dickinson said. “I may have fewer conservatives [in my classes] but when they speak, the other side listens.”
The discrepancy does not, however, come without a decided effort.
“The hardest thing I have to do is make sure my conservatives feel that their views are valued and that their causes and the people they want to see are equally valued,” added Dickinson.
In general, students involved in the College Democrats and Republicans affirm the need for polite discourse.
“Passion is good, partisanship is good,” said Hall. “Vitriol and meanness aren’t helpful. As hot-button issues gain steam on campus, people have to be careful not to fall into that trap. You don’t want to let the issues you have with somebody on policy become the issues you have with that person personally.”
With recent debates and a future emphasis on collaboration, both College Democrats and Republicans seek a real and open debate on campus.
Gilman is optimistic about the College Republicans’ role on campus.
“The biggest challenge for us is to say to conservatives on campus, ‘it’s ok to say no, I don’t exactly agree with divestment. It’s ok to get into a heated argument in the dorm room. Don’t fail to have the conversation because you think it will blow back on your social life negatively.’”
(04/10/13 8:15pm)
This week marked the kickoff of Gaypril, a month hosted by Middlebury Open Queer Alliance (MOQA) that is dedicated to raising LGBTQ awareness and celebrating “queer” life at Middlebury.
The inaugural event was a joint Atwater dinner co-hosted by Women of Color (WOC), Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM) and MOQA with the theme of “Good Food and Talking.” It was a big success, according to MOQA co-chair Petre Knor ’15, who said, “we had to turn 50 people away at the door.”
This year, Gaypril has a packed calendar, with some stand-out events including a panel on international queerness, an awareness workshop on HIV/AIDS by Vermont CARES and a talk by Lesléa Newman, author of the first children’s book featuring a non-traditional family, Heather Has Two Mommies.
MOQA co-chair Emma Ashby ’13 is particularly excited about Lesléa Newman’s visit.
“I’m really interested in her,” said Ashby. “I think its cool that [her book] overlaps with the political world and the literary community.”
Newman’s book was published in 1989 and was widely banned upon release and remains so in several places.
The panel on international queerness will, said Knor, “focus on masculinity abroad and how it is different from the U.S. … like how, in Europe, it’s not ‘gay’ to wear tight, colored pants and in India men can hold hands.”
“It’s basically how do you know a hipster from someone international, from a gay man. It’s a very discussed topic in the queer community when guys are scouting for other guys,” Ashby added.
Some of the more social events include a Fri-Gay party at Munford on Friday, April 12, and a “Barbe-queer” behind Chellis House that Ashby hopes “everyone will come to.”
She added, “As you can see, we had a lot of fun naming the events!”
Gaypril this year is emphasizing collaboration with multiple co-hosted events — for example, a recent pride Shabbat service and dinner at Hillel House.
Hillel President and MOQA member Dave Yedid explained that after the Shabbat dinner there was a discussion of sexuality and faith, and how Jewish values fit in with LGBTQ issues.
“I think that a lot of people see faith and homosexuality as exclusive,” said Yedid. “LGBT communities tend to be secular or even denigrate religion. So my favorite part about Judaism is its diversity and inclusion.”
April is the perfect time for LGBTQ awareness month for reasons apart from the pun — Gaypril happens when many prospective students come to visit campus.
“You gravitate to places that are more accepting,” said Ashby. “I’ve heard from many students that when they visited they saw the gay flags flying everywhere and the huge Gaypril posters, and it really affected their decision to come here.”
“One of the reasons I chose to come to Middlebury was I saw the Gaypril calendar and I was like yes, there is gay activism here!” added Yedid.
Despite the bright energy that Gaypril exudes, MOQA does face some obstacles on campus. Knor points out that Middlebury lacks a college employee dedicated to LGBTQ issues that many other colleges provide.
“It’s hard because then the responsibility to organize everything falls on MOQA,” said Knor.
But this year MOQA has pulled together a full schedule of events, and each individual involved has their own hopes and goals for Gaypril’s effect on campus life.
Yedid sees Gaypril as an avenue for “welcoming allies and uniting the gay community.”
“I’d love to draw in someone who has never thought about queerness in their life, maybe the male lacrosse player who comes by himself to a screening just because its something he’s never been involved in before,” said Ashby on her goals for the month.
CHARLOTTE BOGHOSSIAN also contributed reporting