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(11/02/06 12:00am)
Author: Jessica Singleton As a self-proclaimed "old-fashioned" woman, Kansas State Senator Kay O'Connor argued that if men would just take care of women today, we women wouldn't have to vote. If Mrs. O'Connor really believes her farcical surrender of the nineteenth amendment, she better start registering every woman in Kansas to vote, since whoever's down there in Washington isn't getting the job done for women. Mrs. O'Connor, a wife and homemaker, may not believe that her voice in society means as much as her husband's; after all she's just staying at home with the kids - wink, wink. But is it possible that when raising six children, she found it difficult to cover prenatal, infant and pediatric medical bills on her husband's income alone? And now that she is a grandmother of 13, would she want her grandchildren, girls and boys, to have equal access to education, jobs and wages? These issues and others aren't getting the attention they deserve because historically homogenous gender-politics of Washington have allowed a white-male majority to dictate the legislative agenda. The truth is that women like Mrs. O'Connor exist in every state, with opinions equally important as their husbands, as they contribute to society in arguably the most meaningful way possible. But this old-fashioned attitude of complacent apathy has allowed the neoconservatives to rise to the top and lead threats not only to women's interests, but to women's rights. Thank goodness women have started to take these threats seriously. On Nov. 7, women are poised to make the biggest gains for their gender in Washington in years. eight states will have the opportunity to send a progressive woman to the U.S. Senate; 93 districts will decide whether or not to let a progressive woman represent them when Congress reopens in January. But these women can't do it alone, and this time around we need more women than ever. And we need women in leadership roles more than ever. We need to secure reproductive health rights for all women. We need economic equality, equal access to education, livable wage laws, healthcare and welfare funding. We need to build an America that works for working families. We need government to perform at its best and women to be a part of it.Washington Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell is up for reelection, continuing the fight for quality after school programs. Connecticut's Diane Farrell faces a close election against Republican incumbent Chris Shays. If elected, Farrell will bring to Congress her real life experiences as President of PTA, Girl Scott Troop Leader and President of the local League of Women Voters - experiences closer to home for regular families across the country than Congress' current membership. From these experiences, Farrell has realized the importance of affordable and reliable childcare. She also plans to introduce legislation that would allow women and minority small business owners to have better access to startup capital. It says something about our sociological reality that in more than half a dozen states, political analysts consider the "mom vote" to be the tipping point on E-day.Women provide a unique feminine perspective and qualities that improve government and bring people more fulfilling lives. Women are generally more prone to compromise - with partisan bickering at an all-time high, compromise is a virtue we should value more than ever. Vermont is among the five states that have never sent a woman to Congress. Society, women and government lose in this situation. So Mrs. O'Connor, as you seek election to become Kansas' next Secretary of State, I beg you to update your old-fashioned values. Use your vote as your voice to let all the women know "when women vote, women win."JESSICA SINGLETON '08.5A FELLOW FROM THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTION'S CENTER ON WOMEN AND GENDER
(10/12/06 12:00am)
Author: George Mayer "Cheer boys cheer, 'cause Middlebury's here. Fight boys, fight, fight with all your might."The football team is starting to play like we've known the hockey teams to - now they are even starting to sing like them. After disposing of Amherst on Saturday, the entire Panther team gathered in the center of Youngman Field and chanted this rhythmic fight song in unison. They have reason to celebrate. The team is off to its best start in 14 years. Going into Saturday's game versus Amherst, the Panthers knew they were going to be tested. The Lord Jeffs were 2-0 and soundly shut out Middlebury 15-0 last year. This year's Middlebury team is different, however, and they showed exactly why in their 7-3 win that moved them to 3-0 for the first time since 1992, when the team opened the season 5-0.After a scoreless first quarter, Amherst took a 3-0 lead with 7:47 left in the first half on a 29-yard field goal by Matt Eberhart. For the remainder of the half, each team lacked any legitimate scoring opportunities.Early in the third quarter, Amherst drove the ball to the Middlebury 27 before the tenacious Alex Buggy '07 forced a fumble that was picked up by defensive back Brian Young '08. On the ensuing drive, quarterback Tiger Lyon '07 led the Panthers on a 13-play, 79-yard drive for the game's only touchdown. Following a 10-yard sack by Amherst's Mike Flanagan, Lyon hit tight end Jamie Staples '07 for a 26-yard gain on second and 22. Two plays later, Stefan Hrdina '07 ran in from one yard out to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead they would never look back from.Captain Scott Secor '07 emphasized Staples' acrobatic 26-yard reception after the game. "Jamie came up with a huge catch that completely changed the complexion of the game," Secor said. "That really was the turning point. That throw and catch gave the offense the spark they needed to get a score."For the remainder of the fourth quarter, Middlebury's defense remained dominant. Defensive back Mac Conn '07 ended the Jeffs' first fourth quarter drive with an interception in which he showed ridiculously soft hands. The Jeffs were finally able to put together a nice little drive at the end of game, although the Middlebury 36-yard line was as close as they would get.Led by defensive linemen Kevin Ryan '07, the Middlebury defense was once again phenomenal. The Panthers have failed to allow a touchdown in the last two games and are allowing just 3.33 points per game this season. Ryan has been an absolute juggernaut, recording a Middlebury-single-season record 9.5 sacks in just three games."K-Ry is in a league of his own," Staples said. "Every team plans around him and can't stop him. They double-team him and put their best offensive linemen on him, but he still gets at least two sacks a game."As Secor stated, "The thing about our defense is that even when a team starts to drive on us you get the feeling that somebody is going to make a play to shut the offense down. We have so many playmakers on the defensive line, at linebacker and a defensive back. Ryan and Erik Woodring '08 have been unreal but there are also some other players that have been getting the job done as well. Our corners have been locking people down and the front seven continues to dominate."The key to Middlebury's success thus far, in addition to their defense, has been the minimal amount of mistakes on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Lyon is well aware of how good his team's defense is and has minimized penalties and turnovers. As a result, the Panthers are serious contenders to finish first in the NESCAC standings this fall.Next up for the Panthers is what may very well be their biggest test of the season. The Panthers travel to Williamstown, Mass. on Saturday to face-off against an undefeated Eph team that soundly defeated Trinity, a team that had not lost in three years, in a 41-17 game earlier this season."Williams is a very good team with some explosive offensive weapons," Secor said. "This will be our biggest challenge yet but we are going to work hard in practice to get prepared. This type of game is why you play football.""Our mindset for Williams is trying to be 1-0 this week, just like every other week," Staples said. "We are really focusing in on just them and not letting the middle of the season or our record distract us."There is no doubt that this Saturday's game against Williams is going to be a showdown. Williams absolutely embarrassed the Panthers last year 39-18 on Middlebury's homecoming weekend. However, this year's team is led by a strong group of seniors, does not make mistakes and boasts an impressive defensive line and secondary. If the Panthers can sustrain their momentum and play how they have been playing, they could be leaving Williamstown as the only undefeated team in the conference.
(10/05/06 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] In this battle of unbeatens, and with no such thing as a tie (see Telling Number), something will have to give. Amherst comes into the game after handily handling two Maine opponents, Bates and Bowdoin, 31-6 and 20-7, checking off victories against the two in alphabetical order. The Lord Jeffs hold the series advantage 18-13, which dates back to 1908 when Amherst destroyed Middlebury 51-5. However, with a total of 44 first-years on both teams, this year is a new one. Saturday's game falls during Fall Family Weekend and conseqently may draw one of the biggest crowds of the year, approximately as big as the biggest Lord Jeff, #69 offensive lineman Nick Mancusi, who is 6'5" and 345 pounds. Bring a cushion for the small of your back as you watch the smallest Lord Jeff #24 defensive back Fran Florio, who is 5'8", 162 pounds and enjoy the game.Players to WatchOn the Offense:#11 Nick Kehoe, QB (Leads the NESCAC with 235.0 yards passing per game).#1 Mark Hannon, WR (Leads the team with 15 catches, 187 total yards receiving and two touchdowns this year). On the Defense: #55 Brendan McKee, DL (Tied for the team lead with 14 tackles. He has 2.5 sacks through two games). #7 Chris Mottau, DB (Fourth on the team in tackles; has one INT).On Special Teams:#43 Matt Eberhart, PK (75 percent with a long of 30 yards). #1 Mark Hannon, P (The WR punts too - his longest went 46 yards).Word on the StreetThe problem is with our mascot. As a sports editor, it has always bothered me when we refer to our Amherst athletic teams as "the Lord Jeffs." Not only does the nickname leave more to be desired as a means of identifying our school as a menacing athletic opponent, it also pays homage to a man whom I can only describe as abominable. -Ryan Yueng, in The Amherst Student, Sept. 15, 2001Telling Number: 0-0The score of Amherst's final game of the 1995 season, which was played on Veteran's Day against archrival Williams. This scoreless draw marked the last time there was a tie in an NCAA football game. This unique feat is now likely to stand forever, since the rules have changed. In 1996, overtime was implemented, thereby eliminating ties. In the game, there were 19 punts, only 16 first downs and a combined 237 yards of passing offense. With the tie, the Williams Ephs finished the season undefeated (7-0-1), while the Amherst Lord Jeffs were 5-2-1.
(09/28/06 12:00am)
Author: Geoff Homer Woodring bags defensive player of weekErik Woodring '08 was named NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in Middlebury's season opening 10-7 win versus Wesleyan at Alumni Stadium. Flying all over the field, the 6'3'' 220-pound linebacker had a great day on defense, recording 14 tackles, eight of which were solo. He was also responsible for breaking up two passes. Woodring was a vital part of the Panther defense, which collected two safeties and only gave up a touchdown. The defense gave up only 247 total yards on offense, impressive for the season opener.The football team will look for Woodring and the defense to carry the Panthers this weekend in what is shaping up to be a bloodbath at Colby.Plunkett named Player of the WeekMiddlebury women's soccer goalie Adele Plunkett '09 earned NESCAC player of the week honors. Plunkett stopped 13 of 14 shots this past week as she helped the team earn key victories over Keene State (3-1) and Wesleyan (1-0). Plunkett, who has given up only two goals in five games, is quickly making her case for being the best goalie in the league. She trails only Liza Benson of Colby College in the goals against average and save percentage categories. Plunkett has improved all of her statistics since her freshman season and is on her way to eclipsing the single season records for lowest goals against (.52), highest save percentage (.928) and most shutouts (10). In front of Plunkett, the undefeated Panthers have outscored their opponents 7-2 in four games.She has a chance to go head-to-head with Benson this Saturday as the Panthers travel to Waterville, Maine in what looks to be a defensive showdown. Golf fares well in MassachusettsThe women's golf team continued its undefeated streak as it took first place last weekend at the Mt. Holyoke Invitational. The Panthers won the 15 team match, in which four Division I teams competed, with a total score of 655. They finished 18 shots ahead of the next closest team. Karen Levin '08 captured medalist honors after winning a three-way playoff after shooting a two-day total of 157. The rest of the team finished in the top 20. The men's team competed at the Williams Invitational, finishing seventh of nineteen teams and behind winner Salem State. The tournament applied a new format in which the four out of the five best scores from each individual hole applied, rather than the four best overall scores. George Baumann '08 led the Panthers with a two-day total of 152, including a 73 on the final day. Right behind him was Harrison Bane '08.5 with a 154, followed by Chad Bellmare '07 with a 155. If the Panthers win the NESCAC Championship this weekend they will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division-III golf championship.Reilly and Lawson to be inducted into NE Basketball Hall of FameOn Oct. 6, three members of the college community will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. Former Athletic Directors (A.D.) and Coaches Tom Lawson and Russ Reilly will be inducted, along with John Humphrey '88. Russ Reilly will be inducted with a distinguished achievement award. Reilly coached the Panthers from 1979 until 1997, when he became A.D. until his retirement this July. Lawson served as coach from 1971-1977, when he relinquished his duties to Reilly. He served as A.D. from 1977-1997. He will enter the Hall in the category of men's Division III coach. Humphrey is the all-time leading scorer of the Panther basketball squad. In his career, he scored 1,844 points in four seasons. He holds the record of most points in a game and in season, with a 20.5 point per game average. He will be inducted as a top scholar-athlete.
(09/21/06 12:00am)
Author: Zamir Ahmed Man opens fire on Montreal campusOne person was killed and 20 others were wounded after a 25-year-old man opened fire on the campus of Dawson College in downtown Montreal on September 13. The gunman later shot himself in the head after a shootout with police.Witnesses say that Kimveer Gill, wearing a trench coat and carrying a semiautomatic rifle and two other guns, started firing at students near an entrance to a building on campus without provocation at 12:41 p.m. After police responded to the initial attack, Gill entered the building and continued to shoot randomly as he made his way to a crowded cafeteria. Police followed Gill inside the building and wounded him in the arm before he turned the gun on himself.Initial reports said that there were multiple shooters on campus, leading police to block off the 12-acre college and shut down a nearby major subway line in an effort to prevent an escape. Police searched the college door-to-door but believe Gill acted alone.There appears to be no motive for the shooting but Montreal police do not believe there was any racist or terrorist connection to the attack. Investigators were looking into disturbing pictures and writings Gill had posted on a Web site called "vampirefreaks.com," including a number of posts made just hours before the shooting. Gill was not a student or former student of Dawson College and did not have a criminal record.Seven of the wounded remain in area hospitals, including two who are in critical condition. The college, with an enrollment of 10,000 students, reopened on Monday but many students were reluctant to go back because of stress and anxiety. Montreal hospitals have received a large number of phone calls since the shooting by people seeking psychiatric support to cope with the trauma while drop-in centers have been opened near the college for people looking help.- CNN.com and The New York TimesWomen's college to admit men in 2007In a move that has drawn the ire of faculty, students and alumnae, trustees at Randolph-Macon Women's College have voted to admit male students to the college for the first time starting in Fall 2007. The trustees hope that the move will help the college stabilize its financial struggles after years of declining enrollment.Officials at the Lynchburg, Va. college first proposed the idea last month, igniting agitation and anger among the student body and alumnae. Students organized campus protests to demonstrate against the measure while others created online petitions to submit to the administration. One alumnae group hired a lawyer to use legal concerns to dissuade the decision.On September 9, in front of 400 jeering students and alumnae, the college's trustees president announced that the board, in a 25-2 vote, had decided to become coeducational for the first time in its 115-year history.College officials said the move was necessary because enrollment this fall is only 700 students, down from almost 900 in the 1960s. With enrollment falling, the college has had to dip into its $140 million endowment for operations.According to the Women's College Coalition, only 60 women's colleges remain across the United States, down from nearly 300 in the 1960s.The college will change its name before going coed as there is already a Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., which is a former men's school. - CNN.com
(09/21/06 12:00am)
Author: Geoff Homer Bob Ritter to talk on ESPN 1490Followers of Middlebury football will be pleased to learn that WFAD, a division of ESPN radio, channel 1490, has expanded it's coverage of the football team, and will include a new segment titled, "The Coaches Show with Bob Ritter." The first scheduled airing will take place on September 21 at 7 p.m. The show will continue throughout the Panther season. ESPN 1490 Sports Director Chris Fells, who is also the play-by-play voice of the Panthers, will host the show. Fells hopes that the program will bring more exposure to Middlebury football, both within Addison County and across the country. Tune into ESPN 1490 or visit the website at www.wfad1490.com to listen to the games. IM sports kicks off its fall season"I'm excited for IM sports."The semester doesn't officially start until you get an e-mail from reigning NESCAC baseball coach of the year Bob Smith explaining which sports are on the intramural tap. On Friday, Sept. 15 at 9:09 a.m. all students received it.This fall, touch football, soccer, volleyball, badminton and tennis will be played on the fields behind the athletic center and on various courts all over campus. Former high school captains and other exceptional athletes will compete for the most desired gray shirts at Middlebury. Wear the tee that proclaims you are a Middlebury Intramural Champion and people will know you are something special.September showers may muddy up the fields or turn the Proctor Tennis courts into a slip n' slide, but most of the time, the games will go on.Men's tennis travels to CornellOver the weekend the men's tennis team competed in the Cornell Invitational, which was the season opener for the Panther squad. The annual fall tournament was stacked with Division I teams, but Middlebury held its own. In each of the singles brackets, a Panther individual advanced to the semi-finals. Each player lost to a Division I opponent, but the team's strong showing spoke volumes about its strength. Captain Kevin Bergesen '07, pictured right, lost in the semis but had to be proud of his team's success.In doubles, Conrad Olson '09 and Fil Marinkovic '08 won the B flight bracket, while Alex Scott '07 and George Mayer '07 lost in the finals of the A bracket. Volleyball drops two of threeFollowing its impressive start to the season at the Potsdam Invitational Tournament, the women's volleyball team went 1-2 this past weekend in its first NESCAC quad at Bowdoin College. The Panthers began the weekend against host Bowdoin on Friday night, with a contest in which they lost 3-1. Middlebury jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but the home team won the final three and the match. Lexie Fisher '08 led the way with 14 kills and 3 blocks. On the defensive front, Olivia Minkhorst '09 had 17 digs, while Lacee Patterson '06.5 added 16 digs and 30 assists and newcomer Reisa Bloch '10 chipped in with 15 digs.The following day the Panthers squared off against Colby, last year's NESCAC champion, and Bates. In Saturday's first match versus Colby, the Panthers were again defeated 3-1. All of the game scores were close, but Colby was too much down the stretch. Fisher was once again impressive, adding 19 kills and 4 blocks to her 29 digs. Lacee Patterson continued her solid performance with 9 kills, 19 digs and a noteworthy 40 assists, while her sister Lindsay Patterson '08.5 contributed 13 kills and 27 digs. Minkhorst had 27 digs in the losing effort. The Panthers finished the weekend on a positive note, with a 3-0 drubbing of Bates, where they outscored the Bobcats 90-52. Lacee Patterson lead the team with 31 assists, while Fisher added 11 kills and Minkhorst came up with 10 digs. Currently the Panthers are 4-3 overall, with a 1-2 record in the NESCAC. The team will look to build upon the momentum from its victory against Bates when they head south this upcoming weekend for the Amherst Classic. - Seth Miran, Staff Writer
(05/11/06 12:00am)
Author: Sarah Luehrman The Panthers captured their sixth straight NESCAC Championship on Sunday right here on Kohn field with a 14-8 victory over Bowdoin College after ending their regular season undefeated in the league. "We're right where we want to be at this point," says captain Elizabeth Renehan '06, who led the Panthers' offense with four goals on Sunday. In the last 12 games, the Panthers have outscored opponents by nine goals, on average, and the offense averages 15.92 goals each game. Their regular season culminated in an 11-3 road victory over Amherst on Sunday, April 30 following a 19-11 win against Williams on Kohn Field a few days before. Both league games came on the heels of big wins at Bates, 13-9, Skidmore, 15-8, and Wesleyan, 18-6. Middlebury will host the NCAA regionals this coming weekend as they set their sights on the national championship coming up soon. With 14 victories and only one loss, the Panthers have reason to be optimistic. "We're going into this week knowing we still have some things we need to improve on to be at the top of our game next weekend," Renehan commented. "But we're excited."The rainy Saturday afternoon game on Kohn Field proved highly suspenseful, as Middlebury took on the sixth-seeded Williams in the NESCAC semifinals. Captain Allison Perencevich '06 tallied twice in the first five minutes of the game, the first two of five goals for her on the day, and was answered each time with a rapid goal from Williams, tying the score at 2-2 with 25 minutes to play. The Panthers then took off on a four-goal streak, with another from Perencevich, two from Michele Bergofsky '06 and one from Channing Weymouth '06, all in the span of about four minutes. Williams came back with two in a row, but the Middlebury offense stayed ahead of them for the rest of the period, with two rapid goals in the final minute from Perencevich and Kim Walker '07, ending the half with a comfortable 13-8 lead. A harrowing second half was in store for the Panthers, but; after Bergofsky scored on an assist from Walker, the Ephs embarked on a dramatic comeback with four goals in a row, narrowing the score to 14-12. Perencevich broke the streak, scoring on an assist from Bergofsky, but Williams responded with two more goals. With five minutes left in the game and a slim 15-14 lead, Weymouth and Perencevich both scored on assists from Claire Edelen '07 to end the game 17-14. "They were a challenge right to the end," Renehan said of Williams, "as they came within a goal several times."The Panthers returned to Kohn Field the following day to face fourth-seeded Bowdoin in the finals. "Going into it we knew that they're a fast team like we are," Renehan commented, "and that we were going to have to play smart and really value our possessions." Indeed, Middlebury managed to stay on top of Bowdoin for the entire game; no goal from the Polar Bears went unanswered by the Panthers. After a relatively even first half that ended with a close score, 7-5, Bowdoin scored with 20 minutes left to play in the second half to narrow Middlebury's lead to 7-6, to which Liza Humes '07 and Renehan responded in rapid succession with a goal apiece. The Polar Bears would come no closer to their opponents; in fact, they scored their last goal with 15 minutes left to play, in which the Panthers would tally four times in a row. Edelen's second goal of the day ended the game at 14-8 with 20 seconds on the clock. Blair Bowie '09 made 15 saves in goal against the Bowdoin offense with the help of a competent defensive squad. Midfielder Kim Walker '07, was even named NESCAC Player of the Week after the tournament for her total of six goals and two assists over the course of the weekend, not to mention "stellar defense, while earning five draw controls," according to the NESCAC weekly release. "Everything came together," says Renehan. "It was a pretty big win for us."The Panthers await the winner of a game between Union College and Eastern College. The team that emerges from that matchup will face the Panthers on Sunday morning in an NCAA regional match on Kohn Field. Middlebury looks poised and ready to conquer the regional and advance further into national play.
(04/27/06 12:00am)
Author: James Kerrigan Middlebury played host to the 2006 Women's Water Polo New England Division Championship this past weekend in the Natatorium. Six teams from five schools crammed in a total of 11 games over a 30-hour stretch, culminating in a thrilling championship game that saw the Yale squad prevail 7-4 over Middlebury. After finishing the 2005 season with a 6-6 record - including a third-place finish last year at the same event - the Middlebury women came into this year's campaign with high expectations. Since the program's inception seven years ago, Coach Brian Goodwin has been committed to providing a fun atmosphere while still striving for development. With a history of perennial improvement and a growing talent pool, Middlebury was set to shine at last weekend's tournament. This year, Goodwin organized scrimmages each week against the men's team to boost the quality of competition and to simulate tough matches. When it came time for league play, the Panthers were ready. In addition to game-like practices, the team "got to know each other's playing style a lot better and the players are supportive of each other and want to improve as a team," according to Pam Chatikavanij '08.Captain Robin Cornuelle '06 has witnessed the growth of the program firsthand: "The team went into this season with a 'winning' mentality, and everyone was incredibly dedicated to, and focused on, the goal of qualifying for nationals, which no Middlebury women's team has done before." Sixteen teams from 13 regions qualify for nationals. The remaining spots are filled by a second team from the two regions that reached the 2005 final, and one additional team from the host region. Because Dartmouth reached the final last year, the top two New England squads will travel to Northwestern University for the national competition.Coming into the tournament with a 6-2 record - Yale is responsible for both losses - the Middlebury team was granted a number-two seed. Two contests on Saturday determined which opponents the Panthers would face on Sunday, when the stakes were raised.In the most productive offensive performance by any team in the entire tournament, Middlebury took care of Wesleyan 18-6, thus setting up a showdown between twin-state rivals Dartmouth and Middlebury. The "night-cap" attracted both fans and excitement. Coach Goodwin recognized the importance of the crowd. "The place was packed on Saturday night. There must have been 300 people. Their enthusiasm was very helpful," he said. With dog-days-of-August conditions in the Natatorium to start, the extra fans raised the temperature, and as the game headed into overtime, things in the pool began to heat up as well. After a hard-fought regulation, the teams rested and prepared for two extra mini-quarters, each of which lasted three minutes. Middlebury and Dartmouth scored one goal apiece in the overtime session to tie the game once more at 9-9. Water polo rules call for a sudden-death period to determine a winner. After Dartmouth won the "swim-off" to gain first possession, the Middlebury defense swam and swarmed, ultimately forcing a turnover. In the ensuing possession, the Panthers converted, won 10-9 and beat Dartmouth for a second time this year - Middlebury had never beaten them before this season. Beating Dartmouth was a huge accomplishment, but there was still more work to be done. One of the three top teams (Middlebury, Dartmouth and Yale) wasn't going to make the final game - Sunday morning semifinal matches were unavoidably important.Middlebury was confident they could take care of Williams, and they did so 12-9. Earning a spot in the national tournament was thrilling. Cornuelle '06 was happy to see such success in her final season on the team. "Middlebury has never even made it to the New England championship game before, and we had never beaten Dartmouth before this season, during which we won both times we played them... so everything about this season has been monumental for our program."Just a few hours later, Middlebury squared off with Yale, the league's top-ranked team in the tournament final. They kept it close through the end of the third quarter (4-4) but three late goals by the Bulldogs gave them the title and the number two seed for the national tournament. Goodwin sited "mental fatigue" and a "key player lost in the fourth quarter" as factors contributing to the loss. Middlebury finished with a 9-3 record, good enough for second in the division. In preparation for the May 5 opening-round game against Miami (Ohio), the team will keep working on the things they have been all year. Goodwin affirms, "Once you get the skill level up (passing, shooting, swimming and conditioning) then it's all about adapting a style based on the opposition and execution." Middlebury will travel to Chicago to do their best, but as Chatikavanij says, "just getting to the nationals is a reward all together in itself."
(04/27/06 12:00am)
Author: Jason F. Siegel and James Dolan In 2003, Addison County, home to one of the richest liberal arts institutions in the nation, was also home to nearly 3200 poor people. Despite this great inequity, the College has taken steps to alleviate the problem.Living below the poverty line means that one does not have enough income to pay for every day needs. In other words, they do not have any disposable income. Different social factors can contribute to increased poverty among a group of people. Areas with higher percentages of high school dropouts, teenage mothers or unemployment are likely to see more people living below the poverty line. The poverty line is subject to change from year to year and is set by the United States Office of Management and Budget. The poverty threshold can also vary from person to person depending on someone's age or the number of people living in their household. The percentage of 8.7 in Addison County is very similar to the average percentage of people living below the poverty line in Vermont, which is about nine percent. It is also lower than the 2003 national average of 13 percent.Local Anti-Poverty MeasuresPoverty in Addison County is an issue that several organizations have been attempting to solve in recent months. Three main groups which have headed this effort are the People of Addison County Together (PACT), United Way of Addison County (UWAC) and the Middlebury College Alliance for Civic Engagement (ACE). Last fall, the groups sponsored study circles that were designed to get the community involved with the problem and foster dialogue on how they can improve economic security for all residents. According to the "Summary on Poverty Study Circles," provided by AmeriCorp volunteer and ACE affiliate Meredith Billings, 26 members representing all different areas of the community met to discuss issues such as livable compensation, affordable and quality healthcare, access to healthcare and affordable housing. A variety of suggestions were made to tackle these problems. Most of the suggestions focused on educational programs. For example, in issues of healthcare, many believed in universal healthcare for everyone, but they also wanted to provide nutritional and fitness education in order to alleviate preventable health issues. Also, community members discussed the possibility of educating tenants and landlords concerning their responsibilities and rights. This, they hope, will improve the quality of living in affordable housing. These circles were designed to aid the recently formed Addison County Poverty Task Force in tackling short- and long-term goals. The task force came at the request of members of the community who attended a Community Summit on Poverty in Addison County in March of 2005. According to the summary, PACT, UWAC and ACE were given a grant from the Middlebury-based Vermont Campus Compact to form this task force, as well as the study circles, in hopes they could suggest tangible solutions to the problem.The College's RoleAccording to College Treasurer Robert Huth, although the College does not officially commit parts of its endowment to local businesses, it provides many resources to alleviate poverty in Addison County.In consideration of the economic hardship that paying for high-quality child-care can cause a low-income family, the College pays around $300,000 to a local child-care consortium through the United Way, much of which goes to support local families who are not affiliated with the school.In addition, the College provides some money to Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR)-of which Huth is a board member-which contributes to funding for services such as free transportation to many of the county's busiest spots and special rides to work or medical care if a low-income person has exceptional difficulties in getting to a bus route.Middlebury is also conscious of its effects on poverty when making business deals. On the statewide level, the College is the largest investor in FreshTracks Capital, a Middlebury-based venture fund that invests in Vermont businesses. The College's holdings in the firm are around $2.5 million. When Middlebury sold its Maplefield lands in the fall, part of the land was set aside to go to affordable housing.As the largest employer in Addison County, Middlebury's internal policies control to a slight degree the level of poverty in the county. The College increases its staff's earning potential by participating in Vermont adult education programs, augmenting such skills as literacy levels among employees.The College has also had the challenge of determining a livable wage for all its employees when marital/civil union status varies widely from person to person. Nonetheless, the College has several progressive policies in place to keep its employees out of poverty. Employees who do not make much money have a smaller contribution to their medical bills than those who earn more, and the administration has implemented a "safety net" to prevent employees from spending much more than five percent of their income on medical bills.Huth summed up Middlebury's position, saying that with its role as the area's largest employer and its progressive policies, the College raises the bottom line for local employers.On-Campus ResourcesACE is one way that students can get involved and help alleviate poverty in both the community and country. ACE provides summer opportunities to work with both the Homelessness Prevention Shelter and the John Graham Shelter. The office also offers paid summer internships that are available to students. ACE is interested in raising campus awareness of poverty as well. One event that ACE hopes to see integrated into the Middlebury calendar is a Hunger Awareness Week in November, which multiple New England schools already recognize. Another event that began at the University of Massachusetts is the Hunger and Homelessness Conference, which provides workshops for students regarding these issues.The College curriculum also provides students with possibilities to understand poverty problems and develop strategies to solve them. Hepburn Professor of Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies, Peggy Nelson, is teaching "Poverty and Public Policy," which focuses on understanding poverty. More specifically, the class analyzes problems involving childcare, healthcare, food, housing and education. The purpose of the class is for students to "understand the sociological causes and consequences of poverty and the policy that is inspired by those consequences" said Nelson. The class brings up questions as to what kind of policy is needed to help the problem. For example, many teen parents are subject to impoverished conditions It is hard to know when policy should focus on decreasing the number of teen parents, and when programs should be implemented to aid teen parents and make it easier for them to rise above the poverty threshold? Even though the class focuses on poverty in general, students are encouraged to use local sources for their "analytical papers in which they try to understand the problem," said Nelson. Students' papers often include pamphlets in order to guide or inform people of services they can use to help them.Similarly, students in Associate Professor of Economics Peter Matthews' class "Inequality, Poverty and Distributive Justice" are taking what they have learned about measures of poverty and inequality as well as the role of outside factors such as education, health and discrimination in affecting poverty. The class' final project involves applying the students' knowledge to the economic situation in Vermont.Rachel Sommer '06.5 spoke highly of the course. "This class has been both extremely informative and inspiring. While poverty and inequality ar
e issues I have been previously committed to on a personal level, this is the first time I've had the opportunity to thoroughly explore these issues from an academic perspective," she said.In addition to teaching her class, Nelson is also hoping for the creation of a series of courses that focus on poverty. Students would take introductory level courses in which they would learn about these issues. Then, after their sophomore or junior year they would have a paid internship where they could apply their knowledge to areas such as legal studies, health clinics, poverty agencies, and NGOs. Finally, the curriculum would offer a senior seminar where "students would be able to make sense of these issues," said Nelson. The program is currently in its preliminary stages, as it looks for the necessary funding. It will most likely not begin for another two years.Student and faculty involvementMany students and faculty take their interests beyond the classroom. Two students who have recently begun to work with homeless shelters are Andrew Haile '07 and Jono Newton '06.5. The two studied abroad in Paris last fall and were immediately struck by the number of homeless people they saw on the streets. "You just don't see homeless people around here."Upon their return, the two went to Burlington with several other students to look for volunteer opportunities with the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), a well-funded shelter where they served lunch but had little contact with the residents themselves. They soon found the John W. Graham Shelter in Vergennes, a smaller operation with a budget only five percent that of COTS and in need of volunteers. Haile said that although it is too late in the year to build any momentum for a formal relationship between the College and the students, he hopes that in the fall there might be funding available to get the efforts going.Haile also noted the efforts of Steve and Katie Smith Abbott, faculty heads of Ross Commons, for spearheading an effort to pack leftovers from commons dinners to go to homeless shelters. Logistical and legal obstacles impede Dining Services from sending all leftovers to the shelters.As explained in the April 13 edition of The Middlebury Campus, there is a significant population of undocumented migrant workers in the area. These men and women's cheap labor on dairy farms often allows the farm to stay open in the face of increasing competition from agribusiness. Assistant Professor of Spanish Gloria González Zenteno has recently received grants to study such undocumented Mexican workers in the area.Other students choose to go a bit farther away to gain knowledge of the ramifications of poverty and to perhaps use it in the future. First-years Caitlyn Olson was among several students who traveled to UMass-Amherst for a conference sponsored by National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness over Winter Carnival weekend. Said Olson, "I had worked with the low-income/homeless population back at home in Seattle and had received an introduction to the same out here on the East Coast during the MAlt trip to Boston in February but still wanted to learn more."The problem of poverty in Middlebury's backyard provides ample opportunity to learn more.-Jason F. Siegel and James DolanFocus Editors
(04/20/06 12:00am)
Author: ZAMIR AHMED, TOM MCCANN & RYAN W. REESE Lanahan '08 earns POTWAs the Middlebury baseball season has come into full swing in the past few weeks, so has John Lanahan '08. This past week Lanahan was dominant in games against Massachusetts College and Tufts University. Over a course of five games, the sophomore made a mockery of opposing pitchers as he collected nine hits in just 16 at-bats.This .562 batting average included highlights like three triples and a homerun. Along with all these rips, Lanahan scored four runs and knocked home a dozen others over the course of the last week. His on-base percentage was an astonishing .600 while his slugging percentage was an even more impressive .938.All of this offensive output led to the naming of Lanahan as the NESCAC Player of the Week. The native of Jacksonville, Fla., along with the rest of the Panthers, will look to continue their current winning ways when they encounter Amherst over the weekend. The Panthers (13-5) are currently in first place in the NESCAC's Western Division and Amherst (14-7) is following closely behind. With playoff implications in the air, this weekend's games promise to be just as exciting and intense as last weekend's nailbiters against the Jumbos from Tufts.Search for new AD heats upThe search for a new Director of Athletics has been narrowed down to four finalists, with a decision expected to come by early May. The search was sparked by the upcoming retirement of Russ Reilly after nine years on the job and 29 years at the College.The nationwide hunt began almost three months ago with between 75-100 applicants. A search committee of Dean of Faculty Susan Campbell, Dean of the College Tim Spears, Professor of Computer Science Bob Martin, Associate Professor of History Kathryn Morse, Women's Lacrosse Coach Missy Foote, Football Coach Bob Ritter and Lacey Hebert '06, captain of the women's basketball team, narrowed the field down to eight candidates over the next two months. The committee conducted off-campus interviews of the eight applicants before cutting the field in half. Two of the four finalists visited the campus last week, taking part in two-day interviews, with the other two finalists expected to visit the College this week.In addition to the challenge of making already successful athletic programs more successful, the new Director of Athletics will also face challenges involving Title IX, building relationships with Middlebury's strong coaching staff and finding a balance between athletics and academics at the College.N.F.F. honors Armstrong '06The Vermont Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF) recently announced that Middlebury's Ryan Armstrong '06 has been named a 2006 Vermont Collegiate Scholar-Athlete. The senior will graduate in May with a major in American Civilization, but not before being honored at an awards banquet at Middlebury College on May 7.Armstrong completed four years on the football team, appearing as wide receiver, running back and full back during his time on the team. He finished his career with 505 receiving yards from 58 receptions, including five touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns came in his final year where he finished second in receptions with 27 catches for 220 yards. Armstrong's sporting prowess is not limited to the football field either. A captain and an outfielder on the baseball team, he broke the single season batting average record last year, with an incredible .495 on the season. This season also marks Armstrong's fourth on the baseball team, illustrating his phenomenal dedication to Middlebury athletics throughout his career at the College.
(04/13/06 12:00am)
Author: Sarah Luehrman Three NESCAC victories in a row have boosted the Middlebury women's lacrosse team's position in the league as well as its determination. A 19-6 victory over Tufts on Kohn Field Tuesday afternoon fueled a five-game winning streak for the 7-1 Panthers, and this weekend they travel to Bates undefeated in the conference. "The team has really come together over the past couple games," said captain Alison Perencevich '06, "and we've been improving our game all over the field."Last Sunday was "a great day to be a Panther," according to assistant coach Melissa Hopkins after Middlebury's home game against Bowdoin. After a brief lead for the Polar Bears in the first 10 minutes of the game, the Panthers turned it on and scored five goals in a row, two of which came from attacker Schuyler Winstead '06, the leading scorer for the day with four total goals. Perencevich also scored on a defense-initiated fastbreak with four different assists, beginning with a ground ball by Natalie Shettle '07 passed on to Reid Berrien '08. Berrien then streaked down the field and passed to captain Emily Erickson '06, who fed the ball to an away cut from Winstead to Perencevich for the goal. Perencevich commented that the team has been focusing on "applying pressure all over the field" and maintaining a high intensity on attack and defense - the tight collaboration employed in the Bowdoin game serves to showcase their progress. "We really gelled," she said, "and accomplished a lot of what we've been working hard on in practice." The team ended the day with a 15-6 victory to show for it.The Bowdoin win came on the heels of a 16-11 victory at Trinity the previous weekend. "We really worked our fast-break well [at Trinity]," noted Perencevich, "and had good transition with the ball." With 10 minutes remaining the first half and a slim 4-3 lead, the Panthers took off on a six-goal streak, after which the Bantams scored once more to end the half at 10-4. The second half started well, highlighted by five saves from goalie Blair Bowie '09. Trinity answered, however, with a six goal run of their own, narrowing the Panthers' lead to 13-11. An unassisted goal by Winstead broke the streak, followed a minute later by a high shot from captain Elizabeth Renehan '06 on a pass from Mimi Schatz '08. The game ended with a final shot from Perencevich with a feed from Renehan, "the most selfless play of the game," according to Hopkins. Renehan's four goals and two assists made her the offensive leader, followed closely by Michele Bergofsky '07, with three goals and two assists, and Winstead with two goals and four assists.The team's current winning streak began at on the Connecticut College fields on Monday, March 27, the first day back from spring break. The Panthers ran circles around the Camels and walked away with an easy 21-9 victory. The statistics speak for themselves - Middlebury outshot Connecticut 32-18 and mastered them in draw controls as well, 17-12. Bergofsky scored the first goal of the game, capturing a groundball on the left side then scoring on the right with a sidearm release - Connecticut goalie Alix Werner must have known she was in for it then. Six goals later, with the Panthers leading 7-0, the Camels answered with a few of their own, but they were no match for Middlebury's aggressive offense and zone defense. Perencevich led the offense with five goals, bolstered by three each from Channing Weymouth '06 and Winstead. Just two days later, the Panthers finally got to play on Kohn Field, the first home game of the season, against Union. After an initial 2-0 lead, Union came back with a pair of goals to tie the game before Middlebury's offense fired up and scored five of the next six goals. The half ended at 7-3 after a nice free-position shot from Winstead and a low shot by Renehan with an assist from Bergofsky. Middlebury and Union exchanged goals for the first 14 minutes of the second half, when Union scored for the last time and the Panthers took off on a six goal run to end the game at 15-5.The Panthers suffered their only defeat of the season in Florida over spring break at the hands of Salisbury, the same team to serve them their only regular season loss in 2005. Hopkins called it "a battle of possession and finesse," a wake-up call after an easy 21-1 victory over St. Lawrence two days earlier. Salisbury was first to score, but Renehan answered on a feed from Bergofsky just moments later. Fourteen minutes of play followed with no goals scored, but "a lot of great focused Zone defense intermingled lots of shots at both ends of the field," recalls Hopkins. "The Zone was a loud coop using very direct communication that you could hear all the way at the opposite end."Salisbury scored, however, and began widening their lead slowly. The half ended with Salisbury leading 36-3 after Kim Walker '07 scored on a free-position shot. Middlebury and Salisbury had each totaled 13 offensive possessions thus far. In the second half, the Panthers had 11 possessions over the Sea Gulls' seven, the latter applying a patient offense to Middlebury's pressure. In the last 10 minutes of the game, with Salisbury leading 8-4, the Panthers started going after their opponents, making their last two minutes of the game "the most aggressive minutes on the field," according to Hopkins. Weymouth scored on a fastbreak with an assist from Winstead, and Renehan tallied moments later on a free position to end the game at 6-8.Bates, 0-2 in the conference, will have much to contend with this weekend when they host Middlebury, who is yet to be defeated by a NESCAC team, this Saturday, April 25. The game will be the Panthers' fourth conference game, and they will rush the Bobcats' turf hoping to continue their streak. "We are headed into the core of our season," says Perencevich, "and we're excited for our upcoming games."
(04/06/06 12:00am)
Author: ZAMIR AHMED, SPORTS EDITOR Renehan '06 grabs POTWMiddlebury's Elizabeth Renehan '06 was named the NESCAC Women's Lacrosse Player of the Week on April 3. The co-captain recorded six goals and three assists as the Panthers picked up two wins during the week to move to 5-1 on the season.On March 28, Renehan notched two goals and added an assist as the number-two ranked Panthers cruised to an easy 15-5 home win over number-12 ranked Union College. Renehan followed up this performance with one even more impressing on March 30, this time netting four goals and tallying two assists in the Panthers' 16-11 win over NESCAC rival Trinity.Renehan currently leads the team with 13 goals to go along with her three assists for a total of 16 points on the season. The midfielder has made herself known in other ways as well, picking up a team-leading 16 ground balls and causing 17 turnovers.The Panthers currently sit at the top of the NESCAC standings with a 3-0 conference record. The team is looking to continue its divisional excellence this season. Middlebury has won all five NESCAC crowns since the league started deciding conference champions in 2001. The Panthers' next game will be April 8 at Kohn Field against Bowdoin College, the team most likely to challenge Middlebury for the conference title and presently undefeated on the season at 7-0.Fly Fishing Club casts offThe Middlebury College Fly Fishing Club (MiddFly) will hold its first meeting of the Vermont fishing season on Thursday, April 6 at 8 p.m in the Gifford classroom. The club is open to fishers with skills ranging from expert to beginner as well as both students and faculty. The organization currently boasts an official membership of 200.This season, MiddFly is looking to become more of a social club and expand its involvement in the College community. In the past, the club has mainly provided equipment for interested fishers to rent as well as providing information about local fishing areas. The organization hopes to expand its services this spring, with ideas such as free casting clinics, guided trout and salmon fly fishing trips in Vermont, a spring stream cleaning and a fly tying night. One major event the club is looking forward to holding this spring is a fishing competition against Yale and Harvard. During the 1920s, these colleges traveled to Nova Scotia for a deep-sea fishing tournament in search of giant tuna but the event eventually came to a end. MiddFly hopes to revive this tradition with a competition against the colleges for steelhead, brown trout or rainbow trait. The meet will most likely take place in New Hampshire and Maine before the end of the academic year.For those anglers looking for a more casual fishing experience that still would like to test their skills, the club's Web site is a place where College fishermen can send in pictures for the photo gallery as well as statistics of their best catches to compete for a place in the club's Trophy Room.The fishing season runs from April 8 to Oct. 31 and offers students a chance to get outdoors and appreciate Vermont's majestic rivers and streams.
(03/30/06 12:00am)
Author: Jake Cohen The Middlebury women's hockey program won its third consecutive NCAA National Championship last week with a 3-1 win over number one-seeded Plattsburgh in Stafford Ice Arena. Led by Coach Bill Mandigo, the second-ranked women fought their way through the playoffs beating Manhattanville and Gustavus Adolphus in the quarterfinals and semifinals. This historic title marks the fifth women's hockey championship and 25th title for Middlebury College in the past 12 years. The Panthers ended their season with a 27-2 record, tying the '99-'00 women's team for most wins in a season. The Panthers advanced to the title game by sneaking out a 2-1 nail-biter against Gustavus Adolphus on March 17. The Gusties looked strong as the game opened, outshooting the Panthers 12-4 in the first period. But Middlebury goalie Kate Kogut '06 was up to the challenge, keeping the score 0-0 after the game's first 20 minutes. The Panthers broke onto the scoreboard just 6:45 into the second period as senior Emily Quizon knocked a goal home on a breakaway. Junior Shannon Sylvester tallied the eventual game-winner later in the period on another breakaway and the Panthers skated into the second intermission with a 2-0 lead. The Gusties got on the board with 7:18 left in the game but the Panthers survived a late charge for their ninth victory in nine meetings between the two teams.In the NCAA final on March 18, the Plattsburgh Cardinals got started early, firing seven unanswered shots on goal to start the game but Kogut was once again posed to win. As Shannon Tarrant, junior defenseman, put it, "Kogut is really the backbone of our team." Middlebury quickly responded to the Cardinal attack on its first two shots of the game. Shannon Sylvester '07 stuffed a rebound into the back of the net on a power-play for the first of the team's three goals. As the first period was winding down, the Panther offense heated up when first-year Annmarie Cellino scored her nation-best seventh shorthanded goal with 13 seconds left of play. Though Plattsburgh won the shooting battle 11-8, Kogut's skill in the net was too much for the trigger-happy Cardinals. The second period saw less action until the Panthers once again gained momentum at the end of the period. An errant play by Plattsburgh sophomore Sharis Smith left Quizon with a penalty shot. With only 55 seconds left to play in the second period, the National Player of the Year scored with authority giving Middlebury a 3-0 lead. Plattsburgh sophomore Elise Campbell scored the only goal of the third period and the first of her season at 9:21 with a power play goal. Plattsburgh rookie Danielle Blanchard tried to cut Middlebury's lead to 3-2 late in the third, but all-American Kogut came up big once again. The Cardinals had a few chances late in the period but could not manage to find the back of the net. The first-seeded team converted only one of five power play opportunities in the period, and only one of 10 for the game. Kogut was stellar in net for Middlebury, stopping 24 of 25 shots to earn the win. Breanne Doyle, senior goalie for Plattsburgh, made 17 shots between the pipes. Kogut, Cellino, Tarrant and Quizon were all named to the all-tournament team for Middlebury, while senior Chantalle Rye and junior Jessica Moreau earned honors for Plattsburgh. All four Panthers were also named to the All-American team by the American Hockey Coaches Association. The season has been an interesting journey for the women's hockey team. The team started 18-0 but hit a bump in the road with two consecutive losses, the second of which was in Plattsburgh. "We had a couple of rough games in the middle of the season," says Kogut. But the losses served as motivation for the team. "I think [losing] helped us play even harder when we were playing [Plattsburgh] again in their rink for the NCAA championship." Middlebury's win against the Cardinals ended Plattsburgh's 29-game home unbeaten streak.But the most remarkable story behind the women's squad is how it has developed into more of a family than a team. "I absolutely loved the playoffs this year, but what made it special was the girls who were in the locker room. They are really my 21 best friends!" said Tarrant. Moreover, the seniors on the team led with inspiring passion. Quizon, one of the team's two captains, played her final two games with a torn ACL and still scored two goals. Liz Yale-Loehr '06 was consistently a positive, encouraging figurehead for new and experienced players alike. Kogut stopped 47 of 49 shots in the semifinals and finals and sported a .926 career save percentage, the second best in school history. "With those captains, our team was held to the highest standards, we didn't want to let any of them down and we wanted to play for all of them," said Tarrant. The team did, in fact, play to the highest standard. "We waited all season to play our best game, and we pulled it off just in time." The women's hockey team has once again continued a tradition of athletic excellence at Middlebury that will stand unrivaled for years to come.
(03/30/06 12:00am)
Author: Geoff Homer While all of us enjoyed the sun and sand, the men's lacrosse team was hard at work competing in three games. The Panthers won the first game at home before going south for their annual spring break trip, during which they compiled a .500 record on the road. On Saturday, March 18, Middlebury played host to 11th ranked Stevens Institute on Kohn Field. In a hard-fought battle, the Panthers prevailed 13-12. The first half was evenly scored, with the Panthers ending it with a 5-4 advantage. Both squads came out firing to begin the third quarter, with each team trading goals before the Panthers went up by a score of 12-8. Not conceding defeat, the Stevens Ducks scored the next three to bring the game down to the wire with Middlebury holding a 12-11 advantage. Aaron Herter '06, who earlier scored two goals, netted the game-winner with seven minutes to play. Stevens seemed poised to tie the game but time ran out. Henry Sheehan '06 led all scorers with four points, while Jim Cabrera '08 and Jon Sisto '06 each contributed two goals. The following Wednesday, the Panthers played their first road game of the season at Gettysburg, in what now is an annual match-up between two of the top three teams in the nation. Despite a strong effort by the defense led by Gabe Wood '06, the Panthers were on the wrong side of the contest, losing 7-4. According to Co-Captain J.P. Coviello '06, "We played well, but they managed to keep the ball out of our offense's hands for the majority of the game. When we had the ball, our possessions were often short-lived, which didn't help the situation." Gettysburg opened the game scoring the first few goals before the Panthers rallied with goals by Captain Travis Meyer '06, Jeff Pello '06 and Frank Granara '08, who received a rare feed from Wood. The Panthers entered the second half down 4-3 before Gettysburg struck again to go up two goals. Middlebury responded immediately as Cabrera rifled a shot to the back of the net, but that would be the end of the day for the Panthers as the Bullets played a possession game, denying Middlebury more scoring opportunities. Hoping to end the trip on a positive note and pick up their first road victory, the team regrouped and traveled to Connecticut to take on the Camels of Connecticut College. As is the norm for any Middlebury opponent, the Camels showed up with their A game, and left nothing on the field in their battle with Middlebury. "Once again, this team's goal from the first whistle was to possess the ball and keep it out of the hands of our offense," said Coviello. "They realized their goal for the most part, giving us limited possession time throughout the game. When our offense had the ball, we seemed fairly impatient initially, with hopes to put the ball in the net immediately rather than being patient and waiting for beneficial match-ups to develop." Led by Meyer, who had a strong first half and ended the day with two goals and two assists, the Panthers were able to leave New London with an 8-6 victory. As was customary throughout the trip, the defense played great as Wood, Scott Atkinson '06 and Ben Raymond '07 all made key stops and takeaways. Alex Palmisano '07 was stellar in goal with 13 saves while Cabrera continued his scoring streak, tallying two goals. Nick Bastis '07 and Sisto each contributed two goals as well. The Panthers currently sit in second place in the NESCAC standings, half a game behind Bates College. The team must continue their high level of play to ensure success as they enter the month of April, playing arguably the toughest schedule in all of Division III. The Panthers look to continue their success as they host Wesleyan, a contest that features a rematch of last year's NESCAC championship.
(02/16/06 12:00am)
Author: ZAMIR AHMED, SPORTS EDITOR Carnival provides wintery mix The 83rd Middlebury College Winter Carnival, running from Feb. 23-26, will feature a number of athletic events for students that do not require varsity status. The Carnival, a four-day festival celebrating a ski meet hosted by the Middlebury alpine and nordic ski teams, will include athletic events for both spectators and competitors. The celebration will provide Middlebury community members the chance to celebrate and enjoy the winter season despite the general lack of snow on the ground and unseasonable warmth. On Feb. 23, Kenyon Arena will play host to the Winter Carnival Ice Show titled "Warning: Keep Frozen." The event is the first one of the Carnival and goes along with the general theme of "Iced Out." The featured skaters for the event come from the Middlebury Figure Skating Club, which is composed of both local community members and Middlebury students and staff. Joining them on the ice will be guest performers Ross Miner and Katrina Hacker. Miner, who is only 15 years old, is the 2006 United States National Intermediate Men's Champion, and Hacker finished 7th at United States State Farm Championships and won the 2006 North Atlantic Regional Junior Ladies Championship. The show runs from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. with tickets for sale at the door for five dollars. Admission is open to the public. An encore performance of the show will run on Feb. 24 beginning at 7:30 p.m.For those students who want to get outside during the break and have gotten into the Olympic spirit, this year's Carnival features a new event. On Saturday, Feb. 25, the Winter Carnival Social Board and the Middlebury Mountain Club will sponsor "Cabin Fever: Winter Olympics," which will be held on Battell Beach and McCullough Lawn. The event features activities such as sledding, snowman building, human bobsled races and snow football. The event runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public.The main focus of the Winter Carnival will begin on Feb. 24, when the skiing events begin. The alpine events of the meet will take place at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl while the nordic events will be run at the Rikert Ski Touring Center. All the skiing events are open to the public. So far this season, the Middlebury ski team has finished second to the University of Vermont at all four of its meets. If the team is able to overcome the Catamounts, the Panthers would certainly give the College community something to celebrate. Olympic fever hits Vermont Unless you have been sitting in a dark room for the past few weeks with your eyes and ears shut, by now you probably know that the XX Winter Olympic Games from Torino, Italy have kicked off. The Games, which began on Feb. 10 and end on Feb. 26, feature high-class competition in a variety of events in 15 different athletic disciplines. Bringing more reason to watch the Games for Middlebury students, this year's United States Olympic Team features four athletes with Vermont roots, who have already proven that they belong with the best in the world.Perhaps the most recognizable Vermonter at these Games is Hannah Teter, who grabbed gold in the women's snowboarding halfpipe on Feb. 13. Teter, who won the event at the 2004 Winter X Games, took home the top prize after completing the two best runs of the competition. The 20-year-old, who was born and still lives in Belmont, Vt., has brought a little bit of Vermont with her to the Games. Teter carried with her to Italy some homemade maple syrup, which she has been helping her family make since she was young.Though a long-shot for a medal, Andy Newell is America's best cross-country sprinter who has improved greatly in a short amount of time. Newell, who lives in Shaftsbury, Vt., went to Stratton Mountain School, which Lindsey Jacobellis, a favorite for the gold in the women's snowboard cross, also attended. Newell is the leader of a group of cross-country skiers who call themselves the Vermont Militia and live by the motto, "I'm from Vermont; I do what I want."Jimmy Cochran, who was born in Burlington, attended Middlebury for a year but transferred to the University of Vermont (UVM) for his sophomore year. He is currently taking time off from UVM to make his Olympic debut, where he hopes to medal in the slalom.
(01/12/06 12:00am)
Author: Zamir Ahmed Raeder earns POTW honorsThe Middlebury men's hockey team's first-year goaltender Doug Raeder was named NESCAC Player of the Week for men's hockey for his work during the week of Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. Raeder guided the Panthers to two wins in the Middlebury College Holiday Classic as the team took home the trophy and remained undefeated on the year.In the opening round game of the tournament on Dec. 31, Raeder stopped 27 of 28 shots against Babson College as the Panthers cruised to a 6-1 victory. On Jan. 1, the Panthers began the new year with a 4-1 win over Amherst College in the finals as Raeder made 20 stops on the day to earn tournament MVP honors.Raeder was not the only star for the Panthers at the Holiday Classic. Defenseman Brett Shirreffs '07 and forward Scott Bartlett '08 were both named to the tournament All-Conference Team for their impressive offensive efforts. Shirreffs broke a 1-1 tie in the finals against Amherst with a power-play goal to give Middlebury a lead it would not relinquish and keyed a defense that gave up only two goals during the tournament. For the year, he has two goals and four assists in 11 games. Bartlett scored a goal in each of the Panthers' games to earn tournament honors. He currently has three goals and five assists on the season.On the year, Raeder owns a 5-0-1 record and sits in second in the NESCAC with a 1.83 goals-against-average, behind only teammate Ross Cherry '08. Raeder is also fourth in the league with a save percentage of .921. The Panthers currently sit atop the NESCAC with a 7-0 league record and a 11-0-1 record overall. The team will be challenged to stay atop the standings this weekend when it takes on Colby on Jan. 13 and Bowdoin on Jan. 14 at Kenyon Arena.The future of Midd sportsOn Jan.4, the Middlebury College Planning Steering Committee and the President's Staff released a draft of 82 recommendations they plan to make to the College at the end of the spring semester entitled "Knowledge Without Boundaries: The Middlebury College Strategic Plan." The draft lays out proposals for the development of the College in the near future, focusing on the human dimension of the community. While focusing mainly on the academic and student life, the draft does put forth two suggestions for the development of Middlebury's intercollegiate athletic department.The first recommendation from the committee proposes that the College continue to lead the development of a strong relationship between athletics and academic study. The draft recommends the continuation of collaborations between the NESCAC colleges that examine the interplay between athletics and academics. These collaborations have led to recommendations to NESCAC presidents and have resulted in changes in athletic policy at a number of colleges and universities. These collaborations are part of the College's principles that athletes should be at the same academic level as their peers and should have every chance to participate in other areas of college life.The second recommendation in the draft plan calls for an increased interaction between coaches and other faculty members to create a dialogue about the balance of athletics and academics within the College community. Currently, the College has in place the Faculty Affiliate Program that recruits faculty members to volunteer to spend time with athletic teams. The program is designed to foster communication between students and staff about the relationship between athletics and academics, yet no such program exists that deals with communication between coaches and the rest of the College staff. The draft proposes that three coaches and three faculty members meet once a semester to open a dialogue concerning issues such as recruiting, scheduling of practices and athletic discipline. The goal of these meetings would be to create a model for the ideal student-athlete at Middlebury.The recommendations made by the committee would help Middlebury remain one of the national leaders in the development of the scholar-athlete as an important member of the college community. Middlebury has already made important strides in dealing with the relationship between athletics and academics and the plan set forth by the Planning Committee, when finalized, would continue this process.
(12/08/05 12:00am)
Author: ELI BERMAN '07.5 & FRANCIE KAMMERAAD '08.5 Earlier this month, the SGA and Student Educational Affairs Committee (SEAC) administered a 15-question survey to the student body to ascertain students' perceptions of grading trends and policies at Middlebury. There was no lack of interest: over one third of the student body (870 students to be exact) completed the survey. Firstly, although the majority of students acknowledge that grade inflation exists within particular courses or departments at Middlebury, only 8.7 percent of students suspect that overall grade inflation at Middlebury is the greatest problem confronting them. Instead, the majority of students, about 70 percent, feel that the disparity in grading between academic departments and courses is of greater concern. Many students acknowledge the differences between the kinds of work assigned as well as the varying methods of grading among different disciplines. However, those students in academic departments with lower GPAs are nonetheless disappointed and frustrated. Science majors especially expressed anger at receiving on average lower grades despite feeling that they do much more work while also spending more time in scheduled classes due to labs. There was likewise concern that disparity in grading occurred within departments, and students were especially rankled by disparity of grades between different sections of the same course taught by different professors. Many cited the popular introductory economics classes as examples of how one's grade can greatly depend on who teaches the course. Thus students are emphatically not bothered or worried by overall grade inflation, but rather are concerned more with GPA disparity between departments and courses.Although the survey did not intend to investigate student workload, the essays indicated that the workload at Middlebury is of paramount student concern, far more so than grade inflation. Students believe that there is an excessive amount of work assigned at Middlebury and that it is not only detrimental to their academic growth but also hinders their commitment to and involvement in the Middlebury community. The time needed to complete work causes students to participate in fewer social and extracurricular activities; but interestingly, despite this shared sentiment, 54.1 percent of students said that if their grades were lowered, they would work harder to raise them. Many students cited the increase in unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as lack of sleep and an increasing use of Ritalin and Adderall as evidence that students will do whatever it takes to work harder and achieve higher grades. There is an unequivocal connection between workload and the grades students feel they deserve, and as summarized by Andi Lloyd of the Ad Hoc Faculty Committee on Grading (AHFCG), "students feel that they are working so hard on classes, that they are sacrificing other aspects of their lives, and yet this hard work does not always translate into the grades they feel they deserved given their input and effort." Thus the seemingly ubiquitous statement espoused by students was that if any policy is enacted to combat grade inflation, it should not incorporate a higher workload.Middlebury students value high grades, yet they also strongly value the academic persona at Middlebury, where high-caliber, high-achieving students are able to work together and perceive classmates as friends rather than competitors. Thus, many students expressed concern that a systematic change in grading aimed at combating grade inflation could foster a more cut-throat, less accepting environment, an environment that many find undesirable. Few acquiesced to the idea of change, feeling that it should simply not be a tenable option. As indicated by the survey, 56.7 percent of students stated that Middlebury should discuss the issue but not make radical changes, followed by 13.9 percent of students who felt that Middlebury should do absolutely nothing, and 13.7 percent of students who felt that Middlebury should enact grading policies to combat the inflation. The rest were uncertain of how best to react. Thus many students felt that discussion and communication between students, faculty, and the administration is the best place to start. The AHFCG has received the results of the survey and met with the SEAC to discuss them, and as suggested, more discussions over grades will occur. The AHFCG is working on a report outlining possible policy responses. The SGA will continue communicating with the faculty, the Educational Affairs Committee and the AHFCG in hopes of providing an accurate and representative student viewpoint.
(12/01/05 12:00am)
Author: Steve Beslow After opening the season with decisive wins at Tufts and Connecticut College, Middlebury's men's hockey team maintained its untarnished record at this weekend's PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout at SUNY Potsdam. Generally considered Division III's most competitive in-season tournament, the eighth annual Shootout pits the Panthers against regional rivals Potsdam, Plattsburgh and Norwich. This year, however, the competition could do little to stop the high-flying Panthers.Middlebury's first test was Friday night against Norwich, the team that matched the Panthers in last year's PrimeLink and took home the trophy after a dramatic shootout victory. Middlebury had its revenge this time out, taking down the Cadets 4-3. Middlebury started off the scoring when Brett Shirreffs '07 found the net off a Scott Bartlett '08 feed at 13:41 into the first period. Middlebury's lead was relatively short-lived. By 7:51 into the second period, the Cadets scored two powerplay goals, taking advantage of a couple of the Panther's eight penalties to take control of the game. Middlebury struck back with a powerplay tally of its own when Kyle Koziara '09 put the puck home off an assist from Justin Gaines '08.The Panthers controlled the third period, regaining the lead when Tom Maldonado '08 scored on a powerplay at 9:00 with assists from Mickey Gilchrist '08 and Jamie McKenna '09. Just over four and a half minutes later, Koziara scored his second goal of the night, and his fourth of the young season, at 13:36, with McKenna and Gilchrist again credited with the assists. Koziara's second mark turned out to be the game-winner, as Norwich's Rick Cleaver scored the last goal before Middlebury closed the door, making a winner of rookie goalie Doug Rader '09, who stopped 24 shots along the way.With last year's finals avenged, the Panthers did not let up, bringing their A game to Plattsburgh, which had defeated Potsdam 5-1 on Friday night. Just as they had against Norwich, Middlebury struck first, with Gaines putting them on the board at 5:05 with assists from Gilchrist and captain Jeff Smith '06. The Cardinals responded, however, with Deryk Whitehead knotting the score at 16:41 of the first period. Penalties were a problem for the Panthers all night, but Middlebury's penalty killers were more than up to the task of working away the 20 minutes of box time. At 3:03 in the second period, Yev Saidachev '07 took a pass from defenseman Rob MacIntyre '08 and deposited it, under pressure, in the top-left corner of the net for Middlebury's first short-handed goal of the year. Plattsburgh stole back a bit of the momentum going into the locker room when T. J. Cooper put a rare score past Panther goalie Ross Cherry '08 with less than five minutes to play in the period. Cherry would finish with 22 saves.As with the night before, the Panthers refused to be denied. At 7:22 in the third, McKenna put Middlebury ahead for good, with MacIntyre getting his second assist of the evening. McKenna's first career goal came at just the right time, securing the game and the tournament for the Panthers, who yet again won on the wings of a first-year player.Besides the tournament trophy, the Panther players also took home some serious hardware. Saidachev, fresh off being named NESCAC Hockey Player of the Week, was tabbed as the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Koziara was named the top freshman of the weekend. Gaines and Maldonado were also recognized, garnering all-tournament honors.Having faced serious competition in the Great Northern Shootout and coming out unscathed, the Panthers find themselves in a fantastic position. The men's hockey team will now return to Middlebury to prepare for its home opener this Friday night. Look for hard hits, sharp skating and plenty of brotherly love as Middlebury head coach Bill Beaney takes on younger brother Jeff, who leads the Southern Maine Huskies at 7:00 in the Chip Kenyon Arena.
(11/17/05 12:00am)
Author: ZAMIR AHMED, SPORTS EDITOR Lyon '07 is offensive POTWFollowing his impressive performance in Middlebury's 21-16 win over Tufts on Nov. 12, quarterback Tiger Lyon '07 was named NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week for this week. Lyon completed 24 of 37 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns and led the Panthers to the game-winning score with less than five minutes to go in the game.With the win over the Jumbos in their season-finale, the Panthers finish the year with a 3-5 record and a sixth-place finish in the NESCAC. The team closed the year with three wins in their final four games for the fifth straight season. On the year, Lyon threw for 1,204 yards, completing 54.7 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He also added 98 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.All-NESCAC Panthers aboundMiddlebury College athletics were well represented this week when the NESCAC announced its all-conference teams for men's and women's soccer, field hockey and women's volleyball. Overall, 11 athletes were selected to either the first or second-teams when the honors were handed out last weekend.Co-captains Derek Cece '06, John Sales '07 and Zach Toth '07 were all named to the all-conference first-team for men's soccer after guiding the Panthers to a 10-4-1 record on the year. Cece, named to his second straight All-NESCAC team, tallied five goals on the year while Sales, named to the first-team after two years on the second-team, helped lead a stingy Middlebury defense that only gave up nine goals all year. Toth had a great year as the Panthers' goalkeeper, leading the NESCAC in save percentage and goals-against-average.From the women's soccer team, Caitlin Fabian '06 and first-year Ashley Pfaff earned All-NESCAC honors after a 7-6-2 record for the Panthers. Fabian, co-captain on this year's squad, tallied a goal on the year and led the Panther defense. Pfaff accumulated 10 goals on the year, tied for fourth in the NESCAC, to earn a spot on the second-team.Jamie Wong '06 was the lone Panther chosen to the All-NESCAC teams for women's volleyball, garnering a second-team selection. Wong led the team with 500 digs on the year, bringing her career mark to a school-record 2,074 in her four years on the team. Wong's play also earned her a trip to Boston to take part in the All-New England Volleyball Tournament on Nov. 13.After earning a spot in the NCAA tournament, the Middlebury field hockey team was well-rewarded as five players earned all-conference honors. Allison Smith '06, Janie Mackey '06 and Reid Berrien '08 were named to the first-team while Channing Weymouth '06 and Claire Edelen '07 were chosen to the second-team. Berrien tallied a NESCAC-leading 33 points on the year after scoring 15 goals and three assists. Weymouth led the NESCAC with 11 assists on the season and will play in the North/South Senior All-Star game.
(11/17/05 12:00am)
Author: Jonathan Brand After a dismal start to the season for Middlebury's offense - at one point they went scoreless for nine quarters - the unit has recorded at least 40 points in two of their last three games. They carried this momentum into Saturday's season finale, scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to defeat Tufts 21-16. Junior quarterback Tiger Lyon led the Panthers (3-5) to their first come-from-behind win of the season. Lyon, who was named the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week, completed 24 of 37 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Lyon's success was partially due to a change in the team's offensive philosophy. Middlebury, who came into the game averaging 127.8 rushing yards per game, accumulated just 39 yards on the ground but passed for 313. Middlebury displayed some ingenuity on offense early in the game, as senior wide receiver Ryan Armstrong took the ball from Lyon at the Tufts 48-yard line on a reverse and flung it to fellow senior receiver Cole Parlin for a 30-yard gain. Four plays later, Lyon connected with junior tight end Jamie Staples for a five-yard score to put the Panthers up 7-0. Staples had a stellar receiving day, catching 10 balls for a season-high of 123 yards and one touchdown. Parlin, playing in his last game as Panther, had a career-high 93 yards and one touchdown.Tufts (2-6) responded immediately as quarterback Casey D'Annolfo found receiver William Forde for a 70-yard score as the first quarter wound down, but kicker Brian McDavitt's extra point attempt was blocked. The score was knotted at 9-9 at the half and throughout the third quarter. In the fourth, Panther sophomore receiver Derek Polsinello fumbled the ball at his own 37-yard line after catching a strike from Lyon. Tufts recovered the ball, marched down the field, and D'Annolfo lobbed the ball to Steve Menty for a 10-yard score to give the Jumbos a 16-9 lead. The Panthers started their only comeback of the year with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter, when Lyon heaved a ball 43 yards that landed in the arms of Parlin for a touchdown. However, Tufts blocked junior kicker Steve Haushka's extra point and Middlebury still trailed by one point. After a bold stand by the defense against Tufts running back Scott Lombardi, who rushed for 41 yards, the Panthers regained possession at the Tufts 46-yard line. With 6:00 left in the game, Parlin caught a 10-yard pass to get into the red zone and then Lyon scampered for six yards down to the 11-yard line. On the next play, Lyon dropped back to pass and delivered a perfect ball to a wide-open Armstrong in the end zone. The Panthers attempted the two-point conversion but failed and had to defend a 21-16 lead with just 4:59 to play. The Middlebury defense, which has been excellent all season, protected the lead late in the fourth quarter and cemented the win. On Tufts' next series, Panther senior defensive back Phil Ford caught his second interception of the day. Ford ran the ball from Tufts 37-yard line down towards the end zone before being stopped at the 12. After Middlebury was unable to score from the 12, Tufts got the ball back one more time, but failed to produce. Ford led the defense with two interceptions, followed by senior co-captain Coleman Hutzler with 13 tackles and sophomore Eric Woodring, who recorded 11 tackles. After an 0-4 start, this season looked all but lost for head coach Bob Ritter and the Panthers, but a 3-1 finish in the second half showed some promise for next year's campaign. While the defense will lose some of its leaders this season - certainly the graduation of Hutzler will leave a void - a number of the younger members of the squad have shined during this season and the bulk of a very competitive unit will be back for next season. Offensively, the Panthers will return their top rusher, passer and receiver. With an experienced cast of characters returning, next year's team will attempt to improve on this season and hopefully compile Middlebury's first winning record in five years.
