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Women’s Lacrosse Wins Tight Battle vs. No. 5 Tufts

Fresh off another win against the fifth-ranked team in the nation, the women’s lacrosse team has not looked back, extending their record to 13-1. Rookie Jane Earley ’22, who earned NESCAC Player of the Week, led the Panthers to a 10-9 victory over fifth-ranked Tufts with four goals. Earley clutched the victory with a game-winning goal in the last three minutes of the contest, bringing the Panther record to 13-1 with just one game left in the regular season.   Momentum shifted throughout the entire game, as both teams never fell below a two-point deficit. Just as the Panthers jumped to a 2-1 start, the Jumbos responded with three of their own. This back-and-forth would continue throughout the game, reflecting the intensity of the contest.   With 4:30 left in the game, the score was knotted 9-9. The Jumbos controlled the following draw — just as they had for the majority of the game — and raced down the field to face goalie Julia Keith ’20. Keith saved a Tufts shot and Middlebury successfully cleared the ball to Earley. Earley, with less than three minutes on the clock, took the ball around her defender and rocketed the shot to the back of the net. The Panthers’ 10-9 victory puts them in a favorable position for the number one seed in the NESCAC tournament. In order to lock in their spot at the top, the Panthers will either have to knock off Williams or bank on Tufts falling to 14th-ranked Bowdoin.  Last week, senior Sara DiCenso said that their final two regular season games would be a challenge. Against Tufts, the Panther squad was able to overcome a difficult battle — one of the toughest they have seen this season. Williams will be the next bout before their postseason run.  This season, the Williams Ephs have a 7-7 record, including a 3-6 record in conference play. Williams and Middlebury both lost to an 8-6 Bates team, but Middlebury has the upper hand with the rest of its impressive play. Middlebury’s sole loss came from their first game, which was decided in a heartbreaking OT. This served to be the wake-up call the team needed, as they have been spotless since that minor setback. 

Women’s Tennis Victorious Over Maine Rivals

The No. 3 Middlebury women’s tennis team took a road trip north this past weekend, beating long-time rival No. 6 Bowdoin (8-2), before finishing off Bates 8-1 that same afternoon. With these wins under their belt, the Panthers move to 7-0 in the league and 13-1 overall. On Saturday morning against Bowdoin, Middlebury came out firing, sweeping all three points during doubles play. The No. 2 junior duo of Katherine Hughes and Skylar Schossberger posted an 8-4 win against Izzy Essi and Tasha Christ, while the No. 3 tandem of Christina Puccinelli ’19 and Maddi Stow ’20 eased past Sarah Shadowens and Fleming Landau 8-3. In the top flight, Heather Boehm ’20 and Ann Martin Skelly ’21 triumphed 8-7(2) over Julia Mark and Devon Wolfe, saving three match points along the way. Additional doubles points have gone a long way for the Panthers this season, as they have historically carried most of their strength in singles. “It’s so fun to see us improving at doubles because traditionally we have been a very strong singles team with okay doubles, but now our plays are really taking off and you can see us having fun on the court,” Boehm said. “There is no better feeling than beating a top team on their home courts.” The doubles sweep set the Panthers up well for singles play. At the top of the lineup, Boehm won for the 12th-straight time by 6-1, 6-0 scores against Marks. Puccinelli posted a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Wolfe at No. 3. Singles, while Hughes clinched a 6-4,6-0 win over over Christ at the second spot. Schossberger defeated Essi 7-5,6-4 at No. 4, before Stowe secured the team’s victory after a marathon of a match. At the No. 5 spot, she triumphed over Sasa Jovanovic (5-7, 6-0, 10-7) to give the Panthers the final 8-1 score.  “Beyond the score, we were really happy with how we competed and the positive energy that we were able to bring to every single court,” Puccinelli said. “We played with sportsmanship and class, and we all felt that we represented Middlebury in the best light.” After easing past Bowdoin, the Panthers traveled further north to Bates, where the Bobcats proved to be no match for the Panthers. Once again, Middlebury took all three double points, as Stowe and Norah Dahl ’21 posted an 8-4 victory at No. 3 over Isabelle Rovinski and Suzanne Elfman, while Hughes and Schossberger cruised to an 8-3 win against Bella Stone and Anna Rozin in the top flight. In the second spot, Skelly and Catherine Blazye ’20 secured an 8-6 victory over Hannah Sweeney and Lauren Hernandez. In singles action, Stow gave the Panthers a 4-0 lead after she cruised past Elfman 6-0,6-1 at No. 4, before Puccinelli blanked Stone in the second spot to give the team their fifth point and solidify their overall victory. Hughes triumphed over Sweeney 4-6,6-2,10-3 at the top of the lineup, before Ruhi Kamdar ’21 rounded out the scoring with a 6-4, 5-7, 1-4 win at the No. 6 spot. The Panthers will return to the courts this Saturday when they host No.7 Amherst at 1:00 p.m.

Baseball Blasts Dartmouth and Plattsburgh State

In an undefeated week, the baseball team (17-8, 3-3) defeated Division I Dartmouth College (12-21, 6-9), 15-7, on Tuesday, April 16, for the first time since 1950 and beat SUNY Plattsburgh (10-17, 5-10) 17-1 the following day. Middlebury had 18 hits by 11 different players and stole eight bases during the game, four coming from first-year right fielder Alec Ritch. The Panthers unleashed a six-run sixth inning to establish a 14-7 lead over the Big Green. Left fielder Justin Han ’20 capped the inning with a base-clearing triple.  According to director of baseball operations, Jack Langerman ’19, the team was successful by not trying to do too much.  “We are a really good baseball team, 1-34 on the roster, and at times early in the year that added stress because we tried to do too much,” Langerman said. “When we relaxed and trusted ourselves, the results spoke for themselves.” Middlebury wasted no time taking the lead, when junior catcher Gray Goolsby hit his first home run of the year for a quick 3-0 lead in the first frame. Dartmouth chipped into Middlebury’s lead with a run from senior shortstop Nate Ostmo.  The Panthers responded with two runs on a hit batter, walk, a double steal, wild pitch and infield hit in the third. First-year second baseman Andrew Gough rapped out a triple, and Han added a single to drive in two runs in the top of the fourth. Junior third baseman Hayden Smith hit an RBI double in the fifth to make the lead 8-4.  The team’s pitching staff held the Dartmouth bats scoreless for the final four frames. Sophomore pitcher Evan Stewart received his first win of the season on 1.2 shutout innings of relief.  Han went 4-for-6 with four RBIs to lead the team in the leadoff spot for the Panthers. Senior center fielder Sam Graf added a pair of hits, three runs, and two RBIs. Dartmouth was held to just six hits and stranded 13 runners.  “A win against a Division I team is huge as it’s our first win against them [Dartmouth] since 1950,” Langerman said. “At the end of the day, however, we know we are a good team, and we know if we play how we can, we have a chance to win against anyone.” In a 17-1 non-conference win versus Plattsburgh, the Cardinals recorded just five hits to the Panthers’ 19.  Middlebury scored in seven different innings in the win with thirteen different Panthers recording hits. Junior shortstop Brooks Carroll went 2-for-3 with a game-high five RBIs for Middlebury and Gough went 3-for-4 with three runs. First-year pitcher Alex Rosario earned his first career win, retiring his first 13 batters, only giving up two hits over six innings with four strikeouts and no walks. First-year Jackson Atwood got the save on three innings of relief, giving up one run on three hits.  The Panthers return to action at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 at home against Plymouth State (11-17 overall), followed by a NESCAC West matchup versus Wesleyan University beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 26 at home.  “The season is in front of us,” Langerman said. “These next games will be what defines our season, especially the six in the NESCAC. If we show up and play how everybody knows we can, there’s no reason why NESCACs won’t end in a dog pile in Waterville, Maine. That being said, we have a lot of work to do and have to keep at it.”

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Men’s Tennis’ New Energy Proves Successful Takes Weekend vs. Tufts and Williams

The men’s tennis team returned from a trip to Maine with solid wins against NESCAC foes Bates and No. 4 Bowdoin. The win came at a critical moment, after the Panthers dropped to No. 8 in the national rankings.  Middlebury’s first contest against the Bobcats was relatively smooth as the Panthers’ deep ladder swept the doubles and prevailed 7-2 overall. Saturday would prove to be the premier challenge of the weekend for the Panthers, with a rematch set against a Bowdoin team that they narrowly beat 5-3 one year ago to secure the program’s third NCAA National Championship.  Four of the starters from last year’s championship game played on Saturday, reprising the rivalry against the formerly 12-2 Polar Bears. “Both teams were going into the match ready for a war, and that is exactly what happened,” said sophomore standout Adam Guo.  This weekend, the Panthers staff decided to try out some new pairings for the doubles competition after some adverse results in recent weeks. All three of the teams were never before seen pairings, and this resulted in a 5-1 overall record on the weekend. Head Coach Bob Hansen said “we were extremely pleased with our new doubles teams and proud of the effort to establish connection and make adjustments to individual skills and style.” The change was welcome as the Panthers improved upon recent results and went 2-1 to start the day. Having just a small head start, the Panthers later found themselves knotted at 3-3 with the Polar Bears. Guo stepped up with a critical victory at No.4. After seeing minimal time in his first-year campaign last year, Guo currently leads the team in singles wins this spring. What has made the difference for Guo? Dedication in the offseason, he says. “I went back to the academy I trained at when I was a junior[...]and practiced every weekday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” said Guo. Despite his improved presence on court, the feeling of being a key starter hasn’t lost its appeal just yet. “I was both nervous and excited to play [No. 4 singles] against such a top team...but it shows that [the coaches] really believe in my success and my hard work is paying off,” he added.  Senior Noah Farrell followed suit after Guo’s victory with a three-set thriller of his own to clinch the match for the Panthers. Middlebury would go on to win 5-4 and make their case to move back up in the rankings.  Next up for Middlebury is an away match against No. 7 Amherst as the Panthers try to spoil the Mammoths’ senior day. Saturday could be the time for another big change in the national rankings, and as Coach Hansen pointed out after mixing up the ladder, “sometimes a change can bring new energy.” The Panthers will need all the energy they can get this weekend to take down the upstart Mammoths en route to a favorable seeding for the NESCAC tournament. 

Major Study of Inclusion on Campus Drops Tomorrow

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will release the findings of a yearlong “campus climate assessment” tomorrow. The assessment reviews student, faculty and staff perceptions of diversity, inclusion and other facets of life at Middlebury. In addition to painting an image of dissatisfaction with realities of diversity and inclusion on campus, the 89-page report contains a set of “actionable recommendations” that will serve as cornerstones of a strategic three-to-five year plan to improve campus equity. The report is the product of interviews with small focus groups and two campus-wide surveys. The study was conducted over the past year by the Washington Consulting Group (WCG), a firm based in Bethesda, MD the college has previously used to conduct campus assessments. WCG remained in contact with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion along the way. This report is part of a fairly regular cycle at Middlebury. Campus climate surveys have surfaced roughly every six years over the past two decades, according to Chief Diversity Officer Miguel Fernandez, and they’re usually triggered by a major event like Charles Murray’s visit two years ago.  The 2019 Campus Climate Assessment reflects tensions that have arisen in conversations at Middlebury since Murray visited campus: it paints a picture of a campus that has a long way to go before becoming an equitable space for students, faculty and staff. In writing the report, WCG sought reactions from those three groups about the state of campus life across six categories: diversity, inclusion, campus accessibility, harassment and bullying, employment practices and meaningful interactions.  The climate assessment was conducted in three phases. First, WCG collected qualitative data last spring from faculty and staff “focus groups” – small groups organized by “social identity” like ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Second, students were brought into focus groups that fall. Focus groups were small, ranging in size from two (the female students focus group) to 12 (female staff). While the focus groups’ small size limited their effectiveness as indicators of campus-wide sentiment, there were also benefits to kicking off the assessment by speaking with smaller groups.   “Sometimes that small size was very effective, because the folks running those groups were able to dig deep,” Fernandez said.  Third, campus-wide surveys were sent out last fall that asked students, faculty and staff questions similar to those posed to focus groups. Fernandez said that since the focus groups were small, more data was needed, and the campus-wide surveys gave all members of the community the opportunity to contribute to the climate assessment.  “Regarding completion rate, 617 students viewed the survey, 398 completed all of the questions and 111 started but did not answer all of the questions,” the report reads. “For the faculty and staff survey, 1010 respondents viewed the survey, 531 completed all of the questions, 145 started but did not answer all of the questions.”  Both surveys asked questions pertaining to “perceptions and experiences of diversity and inclusion, meaningful interactions with individuals of varying socioeconomic status; harassment; bullying and intimidation; physical accessibility; and disability,” according to the report. The staff and faculty survey asked questions about tenure, promotion and annual review process in addition to diversity and inclusion-oriented questions posed in the student survey.  Survey respondents and focus group participants were asked to agree or disagree with statements like “diversity is important to me” and “diversity is important to Middlebury College” on a scale from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” In the first section of the report, which showcases responses to questions pertaining to diversity, participants largely agreed with the statement “diversity is important to me.”  While survey participants generally agreed with the statement “diversity is important to Middlebury College,” with 39% of respondents strongly agreeing with that statement, few participants agreed with the statement “there is a positive atmosphere at Middlebury College that promotes diversity among students” – just 4% of students, 8% of staff and 3% of faculty agreed strongly with that statement.  Survey and focus group results also convey dissatisfaction with Middlebury’s inclusiveness. 48% of students responded “slightly dissatisfied” to the statement “Middlebury College is inclusive for students.” White students and students of color responded with striking difference to the statement “Middlebury College is inclusive for students who share my race/ethnicity”: 79% of white students strongly agreed with that statement, compared to just 9% of students of color.  One of the most notable points in the report came in the harassment, bullying and intimidation category, where Fernandez was surprised by how far-reaching the effects of harassment are on campus.  “The statement ‘Middlebury is free of harassment,’ a huge amount of faculty, staff and students disagree with that,” Fernandez said. “Same with bullying and same with intimidation. That was an eye-opener for us, seeing how many people felt that across all groupings. It wasn’t just people from minority groups.”  Data surrounding perceptions of campus accessibility, too, illustrate frustration with accomodations in dining halls, campus housing, computer labs, athletic facilities and classroom buildings.  According to Fernandez, who heads the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the report will serve as much more than a helpful indicator of how community members feel about some of the divisive issues raised in the wake of Murray’s visit in the spring of 2017. It will be used as a cornerstone of a new strategic plan that Fernandez’s office is working on as a way to affect tangible change in the areas that the 2019 report identifies as frustrations for many members of the Middlebury community.  The strategic plan, which Fernandez said will take three-to-five years to implement in full, will draw upon “actionable recommendations” included at the end of the 2019 report. The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will begin work on the strategic plan this summer, and will work with community stakeholders into the fall before presenting the plan by the end of 2019. One of the ways the report recommends changing campus culture is continued education for students around diversity, equity and inclusion, which Fernandez’s office has worked to promote with Director of Education for Equity and Inclusion, Renee Wells.  “Building on education around diversity, equity and inclusion is an actionable step that we believe will have a real effect on campus culture,” Fernandez said.  Fernandez also plans to listen closely to student concerns as the strategic plan is rolled out. A recent student campaign to diversify and decolonize college curricula is an example of a student group whose input the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hopes to hear as the plan gathers steam this fall.  “It’s important to keep in mind that student concerns change rapidly,” Fernandez said, adding that his office should be held accountable for keeping a finger on the pulse of campus opinion as the action plan is written and rolled out.  “We’re talking about decolonizing curricula right now, but that conversation could evolve drastically in three to five years, and we want to take that into account,” Fernandez said. 

Softball Comes Back from Split Weekend as They Look to Face Amherst Mammoths

While the softball team did not quite live up to last week’s strong performance, the Panthers were able to capture two wins out of five games, splitting the series against Union College and defeating Hamilton in the last game.  On Wednesday, April 17, the team played a double header against Union. They lost the first game 13-5 in only five innings but came back strong in the second game beating the Dutchmen 19-7 in six innings. In the second game, the players started out strong, making three runs in the first inning. With remarkable defense, Union was unable to score until the fourth inning. The Dutchmen, however, managed to pull ahead, bringing the game to 3-5 in the bottom of the fifth. Hungry for a win, the Panthers scored 16 runs in the top of the sixth.  Despite this amazing feat against Union, the team followed it up with a two-game losing streak against Hamilton: 7-8 on Friday and 6-18 on Saturday. They came back on Saturday night against Hamilton, defeating them by a slim 6-4. Having fallen behind in the bottom of the second 1-3, they pulled ahead 6-3 with exciting runs in the top of the third, with Olivia Bravo ’20, Sophie Bolinger ’22, Emily Moore ’21, Melanie Mandell ’20 and Liza Tarr ’19 each scoring runs. The Continentals were unable to bridge the gap and lost the third game in the series. On Monday, April 22, Middlebury matched up against Castleton and fell to the Spartans in both games. Although incredibly close, they were beat out by one run in both games; 5-4 in the first and 11-10 in the second. Despite the loss, the Panthers achieved notable feats. Mandell, Noelle Ruschil ’22, Sophia Marlino ’22, and Kaylee Gumm ’21 all scored home runs. Ruschil and Mandell both added to their collection of completed home runs against Union and Hamilton, respectively, in the past week.  The Panthers have an incredibly young team; ten of their 16 players are underclassmen (six first-years and four sophomores). In addition, the Panthers have played fewer games (and therefore far fewer series) than the teams they compete against. Hamilton, in addition to having a really solid season, has played 33 games (25-8); Castleton has played 29 (13-16), which can be compared to to Middlebury’s 26 (12-14).  The Panthers will play their final series against Amherst this weekend, and the match is expected to be close given Middlebury has not beaten the Mammoths since 2016. With the ups and downs, these last three games will be critical for a successful end to their season.

Panthers on the Track to Gold for NESCACs

The Middlebury track and field team competed in the Williams Invitational on Saturday, April 20.  Although the meet was non-scoring, the team competed hard as this was the last meet before the NESCAC Championships.   Max Memeger ’21 said, “[…]both the men’s and women’s teams were able to put up great marks across the board in the final week before championship season. Every event group stepped it up this week and there were many huge PR’s, season bests and several school records. These performances give both teams great confidence as we look to carry this momentum into next weekends NESCAC championships.” There were several notable performers for the women.  Gretchen McGrath ’19 was able to capture first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.38.  In the 800-meter run, Lucy Lang ’19 and Nicole Johnson ’22 grabbed first and second place respectively.  Lang had a time of 2:19.66 and Johnson had a time of 2:21.58.  Rory Kelly ’19 came in first and Meg Wilson ’20 came in second in the 1500-meter run.  Kelly had a time of 4:38.98 and Wilson had a time of 4:45.72.  In the 100-meter hurdles, Catherine Walker ’20 was able to get first place with a time of 15.39.   The Panthers did well in the 400-meter hurdles as they obtained the first three spots.  Julia Munz ’22 came in first with a time of 1:05.54, Emily Bulczynski ’22 came in second with a time of 1:06.77, and Anna Willig ’20 came in third with a time of 1:08.97.  Alex Cook ’20 placed first place in the long jump event with a jump of 5.55 meters and Simone Ameer ’21 got first in the triple jump event with a jump of 10.82 meters.  It is also important to mention that the 4X100 team that came in second place was composed of Lizzie Walkes ’20, Kate Holly ’21, McGrath, and Cook.   Notable performers for the men include Jimmy Martinez ’19 and Nick Hendrix ’20 who obtained first and second place respectively in the 200-meter dash.  Martinez had a time of 21.90 and Hendrix had a time of 21.92.  In the 800-meter run, Jon Perlman ’19 came in second with a time of 1:54.49, while Will Meyer ’20 came in third with a time of 1:55.80.  Memeger had a time of 15.63 to win the 110-meter hurdles.  In the 400 meter hurdles, Jonathan Fisher ’20 got first with a time of 55.97.  The Panthers had a time of 42.42 in the 4X100 meter relay.  This team was composed of Noah Wagner-Carlberg ’19, Hendrix, Arden Coleman ’20, and Conor Banky ’19.   The jumpers and throwers also achieved remarkable feats. John Natalone ’19 came in first place in the pole vault event, Dylan Mortimer ’19 was first in the triple jump event, Nathaniel Klein ’21 obtained first in the shot put event, Zack Sieb ’21 got first in the discus throw, and Minhaj Rahman ’19 came in first in the hammer throw.   Next week is the start of championship season as the Panthers take part in the NESCAC championships on Saturday, April 27.  The team is on track to perform well if they continue to show the strength and resiliency that they have shown all season.   On the NESCAC Championships, Walker said, “The team is super excited going into NESCACs this week; I’ve really never seen the group so united and determined so it’s going to be a great weekend.  Having it on our home track I think also brings another element of energy, so hopefully we get a ton of fans out there to support.” “To prepare for the championships this weekend, the team will be dialing back the training volume significantly and focusing on small technique changes to get the body ready for the big day of competition this Saturday,” Memeger said.   “We will also mentally lock ourselves in to get as amped as possible to pop off when the time comes. Finally we will of course continue our team tradition of lots and lots of Kombucha, doing a team flavor sampling event to build hype before NESCACS.”

Men’s Lacrosse Outscored in Game Against Nationally-Ranked Jumbos Invitational

In a matchup against No. 4 nationally-ranked Tufts, the Middlebury men’s lacrosse team was looking to earn a huge win and gain momentum going into its final week before playoffs. Unfortunately, the Panthers could not keep up with Tufts’ fast scoring offense and lost 23-14. They fell to 7-7 on the year, but remain in sixth place in the NESCAC standings.  The game was very tightly contested throughout the first half. Tufts opened up the scoring, but Middlebury rebounded with a goal by leading scorer Tyler Forbes ’22 at the 8:59 mark. The teams kept alternating goals, but Middlebury’s only lead in the game came halfway through the first, when A.J. Kucinski ’20 rattled off two stifling goals to put the team in the lead 3-2. At the end of the first, Tufts led the Panthers 5-4. Forbes quickly scored again in the second to tie the game. Again, it was back and forth, with both teams displaying great defense and offense. It is fair to say the game was played at a very fast pace, packed with a ton of action and great scoring plays. Middlebury scored a man-up goal towards the end of the half to put them within one of the Jumbos, after Jack Sheehan ’22 ripped a shot from about 15 yards out. At the end of the half, the Panthers were down 10-9.  In the second half, things started to go the right way for the Jumbos. Their offense really picked up and Midd had a tough time controlling the attack. Middlebury was able to hang around for most of the quarter, with Forbes and Alderik van der Heyde ’21 keeping the scoring going for the Panthers. However, Tufts scored the five goals to put them in the lead 17-13 going into the final frame. Rain started to fall as the game progressed, but that did not stop the Jumbos. In the final quarter, Tufts outscored the Panthers 6-1 and closed the game out. On the day, Forbes had five goals to keep up with his fantastic season on offense. Kucinski also netted five of his own, with two assists. In goal, Tyler Bass ’21 played most of the minutes at 57:04. He had 13 saves on 36 shots. Although it was a tough game for the Panthers, their offense showed their ability to score and the defense showed some signs of hope.  The Panthers have one game left in conference play, as they will travel to No. 8 Williams on Wednesday. With a win, the Panthers can gain great momentum going into the playoffs. They are excited for what they have in store and know what needs to be done to compete in the incredibly tough NESCAC conference.

More Details On Legutko Lecture Cancellation; Professor Promises to Re-invite

The college canceled a lecture by Ryszard Legutko, a controversial scholar and far right member of the European Parliament from Poland, on Wednesday, April 17. The email announcing the decision was signed by Dean of Students Baishakhi Taylor and Provost Jeff Cason three hours before the event. "This decision was not taken lightly," they wrote. "It was based on an assessment of our ability to respond effectively to potential security and safety risks for both the lecture and the event students had planned in response." In an email to The Campus on Thursday, April 18, Head of Media Relations Sarah Ray clarified the “safety risk” that prompted the cancellation was an inability to crowd-manage the escalating number of people planning to attend the event. “We canceled the event because we simply did not believe we could respond effectively to potential security and safety risks given the large number of people planning the two events – the lecture and the event the students had planned in response,” Ray wrote. The planned student protest, a celebration of queer identity, was intended to be peaceful and non-disruptive, and the students planned to allow Legutko’s talk to play out uninterrupted. In a second email on Thursday, Ray clarified that, "The fact that there were students who were planning to hold an event near the lecture was not an issue." "The safety concerns stemmed from the rapidly growing number of people who had expressed an interest in attending the two events," she reiterated. "We simply did not have adequate staffing to ensure the safety of all the attendees." When asked whether other students were threatening the protesters, Ray responded that she could not confirm this. In an email sent on Wednesday evening, Cason and Taylor recognized the protesters' intention to be non-disruptive. "We recognize that students worked hard and transparently to plan a non-disruptive event that would remain within the bounds of our protest policy," they wrote. "We also recognize that students, staff, and faculty planning to attend and critically engage with Ryszard Legutko's lecture lost the opportunity to do so." Legutko's talk was scheduled to take place at 4:30 in Kirk Alumni Center on Wednesday, which is housed at the college golf course. The event was moved there from Bicentennial Hall as interest in Legutko's visit grew, and to reduce potential security risks. The administrators said the college had worked with both events and protest organizers to find a new location. "However, it became clear with the increased number of participants that we didn’t have the staff capacity to adequately ensure everyone’s safety," they wrote. "We appreciate the thoughtful work of faculty and student organizers, their contributions to the planning process, and their desire to prevent disruption." They said they made their decision based on Middlebury's event policy. The college will meet with organizers of both events in the future. According to Grace Vedock '20, a protest organizer, the decision to cancel the event was made by the college's senior leadership. "It was never our intent to prevent the event from happening; we have reiterated at every step of the process that we did not want to impede his right to speak," she said. Vedock said the protest, which was to incorporate a celebration of queer identity, will be rescheduled once safety concerns are addressed. The protest group's statement can be found here.  Legutko was invited by the Alexander Hamilton Forum, a speaker series founded last year that “aims to foster thoughtful engagement with the ideas that have informed the creation and development of the American polity.” The director of the program is Assistant Political Science Professor Keegan Callanan. When reached for comment on the administration's decision, Callanan said he had already invited Legutko to speak on campus next year. "The principle of freedom of inquiry must be held inviolable, " he said. "I have asked Professor Legutko to speak at Middlebury College during the 2019-2020 academic year.  I have proposed that he speak on totalitarian temptations in free societies.  Hundreds of students now wish to hear him speak; their right to open inquiry must be vindicated." This story will continue to be updated. [related title="Related Stories" stories="44323,44320,44368" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]

VT Maple Syrup Production Rides Out Difficult Season

Vermont is the nation’s leading maple syrup producer, generating almost 2 million gallons annually — nearly half the country’s total crop. An essential feature of the state’s economy and national identity, this staple product may now be in danger as persistent low temperatures and snowfall shorten the sugaring season. While late February and early March typically mark the start of the season, a pattern of prolonged winters and heavy March snow has delayed initial sap runs, setting many sugar makers back. For some, such as Abby and Trent Roleau of Gateway Farm in Bristol, production could not begin until mid-March — over a two week delay for a season that only lasts 4 to 6 weeks. These delays can have serious implications for production, as noted by Don Gale, the owner and operator of Twin Maple Sugarworks in Lincoln. With the late start, low temps and continuing snowfall, Gale is producing, each day, less than a third of the maple syrup he produced last season. “It’s just been too cold with too much snow,” he said. The Addison County Sugar Makers Association (ACSMA), which helps producers with financing, wholesaling and retailing syrup, has yet to reach a definite conclusion on the issue. “Because the season started later and was shorter than in recent years, the production is a bit off,” explained Barbara Rainville, the Secretary and Treasurer for the ACSMA. With production disrupted, Rainville noted that there may be a subsequent rise in retail prices. However, syrup remains “a global market” and pricing will continue to be influenced by other competitors, such as Maine and Canada. Although disruptive, these ecological shifts may actually represent a return to the norm for more seasoned sugar makers. Dave Folino of Hillsboro Sugarworks described the clinging winter as feeling “more like the 1970s or some previous era.”  Rainville, whose family has been sugaring in Lincoln, Vermont for over 80 years, reiterated this feeling, sharing that, “in our family, Grandpa always said sugaring started at town meeting and ended at grandma’s birthday, which is April 10. So this year is more the norm, and the last few years historically have been outliers.” Even if these extended winters are in fact a return to a previous norm, they still bring trouble. There may be statewide repercussions if these shifts persist, as maple is a key enterprise for Vermont. According to a 2015 study by the Center for Rural Studies at UVM, the Vermont maple industry contributes between $317 and $330 million to the state in annual sales, and adds  $140 to $144 million in value to the economy each year. Additionally, the maple industry contributes heavily to Vermont’s tourist appeal as millions of Americans come to visit each year. From both an economic and cultural perspective, maple syrup is absolutely vital. Luckily, recent technological advancements in equipment may be able to offset the effects of a shorter season. Ken Hastings of Bread Loaf View Farms was actually able to exceed his goals for this years production despite a slight delay, and he attributes part of this success to advances in equipment.  “I suspect if we had the same practices as when we started, we would definitely see an impact,” he said. He also notes that the sugar content was “very high this year, resulting in a good crop of high quality sugar.”  Hastings, who began sugaring in 1985, produces roughly 1000 to 1500 gallons of syrup each year and finished his season on April 7. Located only three miles from Middlebury College, Bread Loaf View Farm is owned and operated by two alumni and often hosts pancake breakfasts, open houses and tours for students.  

VT Ranked Top in Gender Equality, But Experts Say There’s Work to Do

Vermont has been ranked number one overall for 2019 in Bloomberg's annual report on gender equality. This is the third year in a row that Vermont has led the rankings in the yearly report. The state was also ranked number 6 for women in leadership, and received high scores in the report’s five categories -- pay ratio by gender, female labor force participation, college degree attainment, health coverage and women in poverty. Rep. Linda Sullivan, D-Dorset, attributes this ranking to the priorities of the state legislature. “With a strong focus from the legislature on gender equality,” she said, “Vermont will be driven to be a leader in this area.” According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Vermont’s legislature is 39.4 percent female compared to 28.7 percent nationwide. Vermont boasts 71 female members to 109 male members. The legislature recently passed a bill requiring employers to pay sick leave, and is considering a bill allowing paternity leave -- two pieces of legislation that are aimed at increasing gender equality. “The legislature is working on bills to provide higher livable wages,” said Sullivan, “as well as to work through issues of providing other benefits to families.” Representative Mollie Burke from Brattleboro and other policymakers recently proposed a resolution which designates April 2, 2019 as Equal Pay Day, with a proclamation signed by Governor Scott that same day. Advocates for equal pay wore red during legislative sessions. Sullivan also acknowledged that there are challenges in passing legislation to eliminate the gender-pay gap. “However, these bills need to be thoroughly vetted and weighed against the costs to provide the services,” she said, “so while there are projects in the works, the roadmap to getting there must be well thought-out so as not to create barriers for the very populations they are intended to assist.”   Closing the wage gap would have many benefits for Vermont as a whole. Equal pay reduces poverty, adds money to the overall economy and attracts families to Vermont. According to a report issued by Change the Story (CTS), a Vermont-based organization working towards gender equality, Vermont does well in the categories considered by Bloomberg. Women have a pay ratio gap of 16 cents, compared to a 20 cent wage gap nationally.  For labor force participation, 66 percent of women work in Vermont’s labor force, compared to 58 percent of women nationally. “Education is a key area of focus,” claimed Sullivan. In terms of education, 33 percent of women earn a bachelor’s degree in Vermont, six points higher than the national average for women’s education. One of the indicators in which Vermont does poorly is rate of women in poverty, in which Vermont is ranked 17 with a rate of 12 percent. The CTS also found that women are significantly more likely to live in poverty than men, and 3 percent of Vermont women who work full-time do not make enough to cover basic living expenses. It’s also important to note that the Bloomberg report does not break down statistics in terms of race. For example, Vermont ranked well for the gender pay gap, yet this gap is much larger for women of color. As reported by the Vermont Commission on Women, there is a 46 percent gap for Hispanic and Latina women, a 42 percent gap for American Indian and Alaska Native women,a  40 percent gap for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander women, a 37 percent gap for African American women, and a 15 percent gap for Asian women. The CTS found that in Vermont, 13.4 percent of all families with minor children live in poverty, and that this number increases to 37 percent if a women is the single head of the household. CTS also found that the wage gap of women with dependant children increases to 26 percent, as compared to the 30 percent for women nationally. “Middlebury does well in gender equality, but there are always ways to improve,” said Ellie Broeren ’22, an active member of Feminist Action Middlebury (FAM). The college currently boasts a 48.2 to 51.8 male to female ratio for students, with a staff ration of 49.5 to 50.5 (male to female). Still, such statistics fail to account for some of Middlebury’s underlying problems. “What comes to mind for me is the lack of transparency about contraception and sexual health on campus, as this is an issue that largely affects women,” said Boeren. To combat this, FAM has created a website at go/sexysources that provides information on sexual health and are currently trying to get Plan B available at Middlebury Express. Despite the issues in gender equality that are still prevalent in Vermont and at Middlebury College, Sullivan reminds us to also celebrate our successes. “With a strong focus from the legislature on gender equality,” she says, “Vermont [has been] driven to be a leader in this area.”

Women’s Tennis Concludes Undefeated NESCAC Home Weekend

It was another big weekend for the No. 3 ranked Middlebury women’s tennis team, as they eased past No. 8 Tufts (7-2) on Saturday and No. 9 Williams (7-2) on Sunday at home on the Proctor Tennis Courts. On Saturday morning, clear skies and 70-degree weather drew an array of spectators to the courts as the team played their first outdoor home match of the season. To kick things off, the Panthers grabbed two out of three points against the Jumbos during doubles play. At the No. 2 spot, the junior duo of Katherine Hughes and Skylar Schossberger blanked Anna Lowy and Nicole Frankel, after which Christina Puccinelli ’19 and Maddi Stow ’20 doubled the lead with an 8-2 triumph over Tomo Iwasaki and Patricia Obeid. Of course, playing outdoors again for the first time came with challenges of its own. For one thing, the Panthers had to ease into the slower-paced ball and longer points that distinguish outdoor play from the fast-paced play of indoor hard courts. Moving forward, sophomore Emily Bian says that “incorporating more slices and lobs to change up the points” will be crucial to adjusting accordingly. The wind also proved to be an obstacle, but nothing that the Panthers couldn’t handle. “It was a little tricky at first with the wind, but I believe we all embraced the challenge,” Hughes said, as the team was ultimately able to persevere through the weather conditions.  In singles play, Schossberger swung past Carolin Garrido 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 4 spot, while Heather Boehm ’20 posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Iwasaki in the top flight. At the No. 3 spot, Puccinelli edged past Obeid 7-6 (2), 6-4, while Stow secured a 6-1, 6-4 win against Frankel in the fifth spot. Bian sealed the Panthers’ victory as she clinched the team’s fifth point with a 6-3, 6-0 win against Kiara Rose at the bottom of the singles lineup. The women’s tennis team increased their winning streak to five on Sunday morning against Williams, getting a sweet taste of revenge after falling to them last year during the season and in the NESCAC finals. During doubles play, the Panthers once again took two of the three points, as Hughes and Shossberger edged Emily Zheng and Korina Neveux 8-6 at the No. 2 spot. In the top position, the powerhouse duo of Boehm and Ann Martin Skelly ’21 posted an 8-4 victory against Leah Bush and Julia Pham. In singles, the Panthers advanced to a 3-1 lead when Hughes clinched a 6-2, 6-0 win against Chloe Henderson at the No. 2 spot. In the fourth flight, the Ephs closed in with a straight set win to make the score 3-2, to which Middlebury responded by taking the final four singles matches to finish. Puccinelli sweeped Neveux 6-1, 6-1 in the third spot, while Boehm cruised past Bush 6-3, 6-2 at the top of the lineup. At the No. 5 spot, Stowe put up quite the fight after dropping the opening set, coming back to win the match 1-6, 6-4, 10-3 against Pham. Bian rounded out the scoring at No. 6 with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Maxine Ng to secure the Panthers’ 7-2 victory. “This weekend was a great weekend for MWT,” Bain said. “We really showcased our grit, resilience and competitive spirit this weekend. Tufts and Williams are a loud and skillful team, but we came out swinging, executed our strategy and the score took care of itself.” The Panthers will travel to No. 6 Bowdoin next Saturday for a 9:30 a.m. faceoff, before driving to Bates that afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. match.

Reel Critic: ‘Ash is Purest White’

A few weeks ago, I watched a film with a friend at Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York. As we walked out of the cinema, I realized my eyes were dry from tearing up so much in the dark. My friend laughed at me quite heartlessly, though later she admitted shedding tears during the screening as well.  The film was “Ash is Purest White,” a 2018 drama film written and directed by Jia Zhangke, one of the leading figures of the Sixth Generation of Chinese cinema. Like several of Jia’s recent features including “24 City,” “A Touch of Sin” and “Mountains May Depart,” “Ash is Purest White” centers on marginalized characters who have no power over their individual lives as China enters the capitalist market and undergoes fundamental changes in its society.  In Jia’s typical semi-documentary style, the film unfolds the journey of Qiao (played by Zhao Tao), a quick-witted young woman, who saves the life of Bin, her gangster boyfriend, only to later discover his betrayal after she spends five years in jail in his place. The opening scene, in which the camera casually skims over passengers on a bus, takes the audience back in 2001 with old grainy footages shot in a 4:3 frame.  Situated in Datong, a northern mining city that is changing drastically, the first part of “Ash is Purest White” captures the absurdity of an old-fashioned underworld at its finest. When one of the gangsters aims the gun at another over a petty argument, the mob boss, Bin, simply appeases them with the presence of a gold statue of Guan Er Ye, an ancient general who was later regarded as a godlike figure of war. Gathered in a karaoke club, the gangsters pour nine different types of alcohol in one vessel before each scooping a bowl of the mixed drink to celebrate “loyalty and righteousness” in the underworld. Shortly after a member’s death, two fully dressed dancers are invited to perform ballroom dancing at the funeral in the dead’s honor.  All of those scenes contribute to bringing forward a real presence of the modern Chinese underworld, also known as jianghu, that may or may not be familiar to the audience. There are certain rules to be learned and values to be appreciated in this world. Even though Qiao is in a romantic relationship with this dangerously charming gangster, she does not quite understand how to navigate in jianghu and dreams of settling down with Bin one day in Xinjiang, a vast northwestern region in China. Therefore, it is not surprising that Qiao has to be the one who fires the gun to scare off a young rising gang that violently attacks Bin and claims the illegal gun only to receive nothing except for life behind the bars.  Five years later, in a ship on Yangtze River to Fengjie, Qiao embarks on her search for Bin. We hear the tour guide introducing the Three Gorges Dam project over the speaker, a real-life large-scale building project that resulted in rising water levels and resettlement of residents along the Yangtze River. Not only does this situate the audience within a larger historical context, the changes brought by the massive waves of construction also reflect the important personal changes Qiao has undergone in prison and her uncomfortable readjustment back into society. The scene where Qiao goes to the company of a previous gangster is full of displacement in time and space. Waving at the glass door several times, Qiao eventually gets frustrated by the unopened door that rejects her unwelcoming presence in this new world where Bin resides. It is only later when the receptionist opens the door from inside that Qiao gets a glimpse of the company and puts a plastic water bottle between the shutting doors. The squeezed and deformed water bottle mirrors Qiao’s situation in re-entering the society.  What fascinates me about Qiao’s character is her refusal to disclose her emotions on the screen. In a way, we never quite get to see her tears, and that emotional repression only adds to the poignancy in the scene when she confronts Bin with his betrayal. Qiao realizes that he has forgotten about their past and moved on to a new chapter of his life. She walks to the door and leaves her back to the audience. Her quivering shoulders are all we get. Just as her quivering eyelashes are depicted later in the film when she closes her eyes saying she has no feelings left for Bin, there is something touching about Zhao’s performance that does not downplay the character but rewards the audience with the greatest satisfaction with the slightest trace of her emotions.  Throughout the film, more often than not, the scene is tinged with different shades of green such as the furniture, the window frame and even the water flowing in a painting on the wall, etc. The color green is so vividly prevalent in not only “Ash is Purest White” but also many of Jia’s films that it is impossible not to notice. While this hue of green does add to the underworld feeling with an implied messy, murky chaos, it also transfixes the audience to the early time period portrayed in the film with nostalgia. It is almost always that Jia’s films present more than one time frame in modern China and fixate back in time as if the filmmaker himself lives in the past.  The final scene of the film recalls the opening scene. The audience sees Qiao through a security monitor, leaning against a wall. Blurring the line between past and present, the film leaves the audience to ponder upon this lingering question of time. 

SGA and Community Council to Hold Elections Thursday

[gallery columns="4" size="medium" ids="44527,44524,44526,44525"] SGA President As the weather on campus is warming, Student Government Association (SGA) elections are heating up. This week, the Middlebury student body will elect a new SGA president for the 2019-2020 academic year. The position involves directly overseeing the SGA Cabinet and Senate and supporting the work of 11 Cabinet committees and five Senate committees. The President is viewed as the de facto leader of the entire student body. Three candidates are running for the position this election cycle, and The Campus spoke with each of them to get a sense of their qualifications, priorities and visions for the SGA. John Gosselin ’20 Winchester, MA native Gosselin has served in several leadership roles on campus throughout his time at Middlebury, including SGA Atwater senator. He is currently treasurer of the Tavern social house and Community Council co-chair. His campaign website can be accessed at go/voteforjohn. “I feel as though I’m an effective administrator who doesn’t respond with strong emotions,” Gosselin told The Campus. “This calm temperament will help with any possible hostilities that may arise next year.” While serving with the Community Council, Gosselin was the leading student voice on the steering committee for the Residential Life Report and has been involved in the process for over two years. As SGA president, Gosselin hopes to implement the first steps of the report, and believes that having a president who understands its importance is critical as the steering committee begins to tackle long term projects like renovating Battell and building a new student center. Gosselin also wants to improve social life and late-night non-alcoholic programming. To this end, he plans to work with different organizations on campus to provide higher quality non-alcoholic programming and work with the Vermont Department of Liquor Control and the college’s general counsel to “relax policies which currently restrict many events with alcohol.” On Community Council, Gosselin strove to support students of color and worked to approve PALANA as a new social house. He said the group has and will continue to do “a phenomenal job at providing a diversity-oriented space on campus.” Gosselin also wants to find more ways to support students over breaks. He feels the lack of resources provided to students, especially in the dining halls, prevent students from “having a full and equal Middlebury experience.” He says that he expects the SGA to either work with administration or prioritize the support of such efforts with SGA funds. Varsha Vijayakumar ’20 Vijayakumar, from Harrington Park, New Jersey, is a current junior senator with the SGA. She sees SGA president as a role that supports students who are already passionate about particular causes around campus. Vijayakumar made it clear that her platform does not only belong to her, but to the numerous students from whom she’s received input and support. Her experience with the Institutional Diversity Committee and the Senate have shown her the immense power the SGA can have for students. “I want to harness the passion of students,” she said. “Their power is unstoppable.” Vijayakumar’s leadership on campus is not limited to the SGA. She serves as the president of Midd Masti, has led a MALT trip to Miami about sex trafficking and hasserved as a JusTalks facilitator. Vijayakumar feels deeply connected with many communities and spaces around campus through her extracurricular involvement and hopes to bring these connections to her role as president. Her experience with Midd Masti, for instance, allowed her to “fall in love with her culture in a way that’s loving and affirming” and hopes that the SGAcan empower groups to provide those and other opportunities to even more students. Her campaign website, go/varsha, represents a platform created by students and for students. She stresses that her goal is not to push a certain agenda but to support the work and goals of student-centered causes. She hopes to work with groups on campus to tackle issues within health and wellness, social spaces and social life, inclusivity, access to resources, and financial aid and employment. She has identified these areas as key prioritiesfor an SGA under her leadership and is excited by the upward trend in student involvement with the SGA in recent years. She pointed to divestment and to-go boxes as examples of encouraging signs of progress. Vijayakumar hopes to find ways to streamline the SGA to be more representative and more efficient. “Student engagementwith SGA is the equivalent to our success,” she said. Joel Machado ’22 Machado, a Posse Scholar from New York City, is encouraged by what underclassmen can bring tothe SGA. Machado noted that first-years “are generally the most engaged and most involved on campus, and generally have the most turnout in elections.” Machado, who is involved with First@Midd and Distinguished Men of Color (DMC), pointed to his lack of experience with SGA as “not the end all be all.” “I want to bring new energy to the SGA, whereas the other two candidates lack the lens of being on the outside looking in,” he said. He hopes that he can bring his leadership skills to the role by using first-year enthusiasm to represent the entire student body. After identifying several institutional issues at Middlebury, such as rape culture and new Title IX policies, Machado first decided to speak out through the Spencer Prize, a first-year speaking competition. Machado then submitted his speech to The Campus as an opinion piece, noting that “it wasn’t worth it to wait” to act. “I wanted to vocalize problems I saw even in my first semester here on campus," Machado said. He tried to use these moments as a form of protest and hopes his candidacy can shed more light on the issues he hopes to focus on while in office. Machado’s platform, which can be found on his website at go/ourSGA, attempts to answer four questions. First, who gets to be a Midd Kid? Here, Machado wants to focus on issues surrounding diversity and creating opportunities for marginalized groups on campus in and out of the classroom. Second, how can we improve life at Middlebury? He hopes to enact change in such areas as registration, opening up study abroad opportunities in winter term and funding individual students to host their own parties and events on campus. Third, how should the SGA operate? Machado feels as though the SGA has too much bureaucracy and hopes to simplify the body to make it more efficient. He feels it should have “less of an organized structure and be more informal and conversational.” Fourth, what can we do for our future? Machado looks to work on long term efforts like enforcing Energy2028, eliminating rape culture on campus and collaborating on a new commons system. Community Council Co-Chair The race for co-chair of Community Council, a position shared with Dean of Students Baishkahi Taylor tasked with leading discussions and action on all non-academic issues on campus, will be uncontested this year. The Campus spoke with the sole candidate. Roni Lezama ’22 Lezama, a Posse Scholar from New York City, feels that the Community Council is a unique body that brings together students, faculty, and staff for important discussions about life at Middlebury. Lezama, who currently serves on the SGA’s Institutional Diversity Committee and recently won the Spencer Prize in Oratory, wants to embrace the power of the community and empower others to voice their opinions in an open, respectful forum of ideas. “I want to work towards a Middlebury that’s for the community and empowers community members and especially those of marginalized identities to speak up and voice their opinions,” he said. Lezama doesn’t want to set an agenda because Community Council is the “most important time to hear what other people have to say.” However, he wants to hear from the community on additional programs beyond Green Dot to fight back against sexual assault as well as focusing on issues like accessibility to a Community Council that should be “a place of openness.” In general, Lezama wants to focus on issues that affect all facets of the community. He gave registration as an example of an issue that gives headaches to everyone involved. He hopes that Community Council discussions and respectful debates can bring progress and meaningful solutions to problems like these in the next year.

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