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(03/21/07 12:00am)
Author: Brian Fung The hubbub and commotion typically associated with lunch hour at Proctor Dining Hall ceased briefly on Monday afternoon as Daniel Kane '09 stood on a chair and called for attention. Proctor diners then paused in a campus-wide moment of silence meant to honor those who had fallen in Iraq.Thus did the College mark the fourth anniversary of the United States' second invasion of the Middle East country. Since March 2003, more than 3,500 American soldiers have been killed either as a direct result of hostilities with regular Iraqi forces or due to the ongoing postwar insurgency.On the Proctor patio, volunteers from the student organization Hope for Peace braved wind and snow as they read the names of American servicemen and Iraqi civilians killed in the violence. Loudly or softly, slowly or quickly, the names were read whether people stopped to listen or not."The goal is just to give students a better idea of how many people have been killed in this war," said Jamie Henn '07, "and it's much more powerful to go through name by name as opposed to just reading off the number, '3,500 killed.'"Henn and others began the memorial readings on Sunday at midnight and continued through the next 24 hours."We had two lists," said volunteer Will Bellaimey '10.5, who read from 11:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Monday night. "We had one list that was of U.S. soldiers killed in battle, and the other list was of civilians. I think I read about five or six pages." The list of Iraqi civilians was especially revealing, according to Henn."You realize that these are bakers and TV journalists," he said. "These lists give their occupations and gets these snapshots of people's lives, which is so much more than you usually get in a newspaper."Though the organization boasts roughly 25 volunteers, many readers were recruited literally right off the street. "It's exciting," said Henn. "A lot of energy builds up really quickly."Meanwhile, students walking down Storr's Walk on Monday could hardly help noticing the thousands of tiny American flags poking out of the snow. According to Bellaimey, who helped place the flags, each represents one of the 3,500 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq to date. "We tried to get the Arlington Cemetery kind of feeling," said Bellaimey. "In the light, now, it actually looks pretty good."According to Bellaimey, the idea to commemorate the invasion's fourth anniversary originated with Nate Blumenshine '08, and was a collaborative effort with another group, Iraq Veterans Against the War. The two groups plan to continue their activist efforts in the coming weeks."I know some people drove down to DC [for a protest] last weekend," said Bellaimey. "There's also a big rally in Burlington this weekend that anybody not going away for spring break is going to try to go to."But until then, midterms - and lunch - are likely to remain foremost on students' minds. Once the moment of silence was complete, Kane stepped down off his chair."Thank you," he said quietly.
(03/21/07 12:00am)
Author: Sage Bierster Spring Break is coming and that can mean only one thing - spring break sex. Glorious, commitment-free, wild, spring break sex. Of course there are those who will go home and sit on the couch downing mom's cooking and won't see the light of day for a week, but for much of America's college population, Spring Break means Panama City, Galveston, Miami - you name it and if it has a beach and a wet t-shirt contest you'll find Spring Break. What is the attraction of spring break sex? Why does the combination of alcohol, sunshine and thousands of people we have never seen before send our hormones into overdrive? There are parties every weekend on campus where alcohol is readily available and occasionally we see the sun, so why are we getting all worked up over a bunch of scantily dressed strangers? I suppose there is something to that, because as we all know at Middlebury it can feel as if you know everyone. This can make it difficult to let loose and sow your wild oats when you see the same people all the time. Couple this with the well-known fact that we are all stressed out by the time the break rolls around and that sex on campus ranges from rare to non-existent for most students, and what you get is a bunch of horny, pent-up twenty-somethings who are itching for an excuse to get naked.So we drop a couple of hundred dollars on flights and hotels in some sandy or other warm-weather locale hoping to cash in on what MTV has turned spring break into: an orgiastic free-for-all of liquor, sunburns and sex. But what if the local population has a different plan. Yes, there are several beach communities that are adamant about stopping our mojo. This past October for example, Daytona Beach banned "tini bikinis" and levied a $500 fine for all violators. This is sacrilege! A spring break fling should be a way to broaden your sexual horizons, to explore a side of yourself that you don't feel comfortable showing when you are here, and it should be fun!Of course, Mexico can be a great alternative to our increasingly puritanical U.S. of A., luring around 170,000 Americans every year with cheaper trips and alcohol laden parties. The attitude in Mexico is also generally hospitable to American tourists - nobody's banning bikini's in Cancun.While Cancun can be exciting, don't forget how important it is to always protect yourself while in a party atmosphere. Sexual assualt can happen to anyone, anywhere, especially in an environment where the booze is flowing, there is little feeling of responsibility and no one really knows each other. The same factors that make spring break so much fun can also turn it into a nightmare if you aren't careful. So enjoy yourselves next week, wherever you go, and revel in the fact that whatever happens during spring break stays there. However, please remember to go easy on the drinks when you are looking to find some company for the night, and if you go with a group of friends look out for each other. That way you can have your spring break and get off too.
(03/14/07 12:00am)
Author: David Infante College mourns death of former trainer WatermanThe Middlebury athletic community suffered the loss of one of its own this past week. Dick Waterman, Middlebury's former head athletic trainer for 37 years, passed away on March 3. Waterman was a fixture of the athletic department for almost four decades, and was a major factor in the expansion of both the College's sports medicine facilities and the field of sports medicine in the New England region. After serving as head athletic trainer at the Northfield Mount Hermon School for nine years, the Norwich-born Waterman joined the college in 1956 as the sole athletic trainer. During his tenure, which concluded with his retirement in 1993, Waterman greatly extended the role and capabilities of Middlebury's sports medicine department and made great steps to provide consistent and intensive medical care and physical therapy to innumerable College athletes. His contributions beyond Middlebury reflected his admirable commitment to the field. As a member of both the National Athletic Trainer's Association and the Eastern Athletic Trainer's Association, Waterman was integral in the founding of the Vermont Association of Athletic Trainers in 1982. Waterman was influential in the englarement of the present Middlebury College Sports Medicine Department to its seven current full-time members, as well as the construction of the 2,700-square foot trainer's room housed in the athletic complex. The family plans to hold a service in the spring, and asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard W. Waterman Foundation. Tennis sweeps Brandeis and Connecticut College The men's tennis squad had a great weekend, registering two sweeps in matches against both Connecticut College and Brandeis University. The season-opener against the Camels went according to plan for the second-ranked Panthers from the outset. Through all six singles matches, not one of the Panthers gave up more than three games in any set. Eliot Jia '10 started the season off strongly with a pair of perfect 6-0 sets against his opponent. Later in the contest, which was held on Saturday at the College, the squad continued its stellar play against Brandeis, again denying even a single match to the visiting squad. The team will travel to Tufts University next weekend for its second conference meet of the year. Women's swimming places sixth at NCAAsThe Middlebury College women's swimming and diving team performed impressively at the 2007 NCAA Swimming and Diving Tournament, with several competitors earning podium honors this past weekend. Marika Ross '08 took first place in both the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly events, and also set school records in the 500-yard freestyle and the 100 fly. The 400-medley relay team, comprised of Catherine Suppan '09, Katie Chambers '08, Ross and Barbara Van der Veer '07, set a new school record as well. Other notable contributions included Alana Hanson's '08 sixth-place finish in the three-meter dive and first-year Katie Soja's eighth- place result in the 1,650-yard freestyle. The Panthers placed eighth in the competition overall with a points total of 179, and were one of just three NESCAC teams in the top 10 finishers, behind Williams (sixth with 220 points) and Amherst (second with 320 points).
(03/14/07 12:00am)
Author: Ceara Danahar When asked about the best sugaring winter he's ever seen, Steve Fisher is quick to reply: 1980, hands down. That year, Fisher recalls, he boiled down enough sap to make 500 gallons of maple syrup. He accomplished that feat by using about 1,500 taps, one per tree. Now, a couple of decades later, the native Vermonter has decreased the number of taps he puts out and produces-on average, 150 to 200 gallons of syrup each year. Does he think the warmer winters Vermont has experienced in recent years have had an effect on syrup production? "They certainly have," Fisher replies without hesitation. Fellow sugarmaker and Professor of English John Elder echoes Fisher's sentiments. On sabbatical this year, Elder is studying food, conservation and climate change. He is writing "with a special emphasis on sugaring in Vermont.""Sugaring off"-as the pros call it-is often a family act. The Williams Farm of Middlebury, which sells its goods on Route 30, is a family-run business that began in 1976. Williams runs a slightly larger production than Fisher, who works as a stonemason full-time and calls syrup-making "mostly hobby, part business." However, the affable 50 year-old has been tapping maple trees since childhood and his family has been involved in the practice for nearly a century now. The sugar house that he operates out of was built during the late 1800s. His grandfather purchased it in 1945. It is located in nearby Grafton, where he lives with his wife Gail Ann. Fisher sells his products under the label "Wright Orchard Sugar House," and describes his setup as a "mid-size" production. He explains that "a lot of backyard makers put in 10 to 30 taps," while "some of the bigger outfits have 10,000 or more," or even up to 50,000. In the past few years, he has put out 600 to 800, while the Williams family has a few thousand taps.In the case of quantities of syrup that number in the hundreds of gallons and are obtained through thousands of taps, to create a single gallon of maple syrup, it is necessary to boil down approximately 40 gallons of sap. Fisher points out that "generally, if you can get a quart of syrup for ever tap you have, you've done good." In 1980, he and his family far exceeded that. Their remarkable outcome that winter prompted a televised tour of his sugar house on Good Morning America with Julia Child. The most ideal conditions for tapping trees depend on the levels of frost, snowfall, temperature and buds on the maple trees, which means that warmer winters have serious consequences for syrup producers. The goal, Fisher said, is to have deep frost coupled with temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 20 degrees Fahrenheit at night. It is imperative that the trees do not bud during sugaring-once they begin to grow buds, the sap starts running freely and can freeze by nightfall. Winters with abnormally warm temperatures can cause this sort of unfavorable early budding. Deep frost is desirable in its ability to prevent this occurrence. Typically, Elder says, these conditions occur "in March and April, with many sugarmakers in Vermont traditionally tapping the day after Town Meeting." However, Elder points out that "the transitions from winter to spring become even more erratic and unpredictable than usual" as a result of global warming. The dilemma of early budding, Elder said, involves the germination of maple seeds, which occurs at 34 degrees Fahrenheit. In an early thaw, these seeds can sprout. They will subsequently freeze and die when cold temperatures return, "thus endangering the regeneration of the forest," Elder said.Again in 1980, "the best year we ever made syrup," Fisher described the winter as having been very cold, totally lacking snow and having frost that extended four feet into the ground. This created a prolonged season where "the sap ran so pure and so fast, we made syrup that looked like water." Besides early budding, another result of unnaturally warm winter weather is the possibility of disease entering the maple trees. Insects that are generally killed off by cold temperatures may survive. Some, like pear thrips, can eat away at a tree's buds, thereby affecting its foliage. Others can enter the tree through the holes left by the syrup taps. Fisher said that he has already noticed changes in the trees. He warned, "I think a lot of diseases would come into play the warmer it gets."Lucille Williams of the Williams Farm said she was most concerned with the present. Fisher offered hopeful predictions for this sugaring season, noting February's frigid temperatures and their resulting frost. When asked about her expectations, Williams cautioned, "You can't tell until the season's over."Williams asserted that her family's previous year of sugaring off "wasn't a great year. It was an average year." When asked about the future of her livelihood, she, however, responded with deference, "We just take it as it comes. Mother Nature determines what we do."It is with an uncertainty about the future of his craft that Fisher spoke of the challenges which face today's maple syrup industry. "I read some articles saying that in 50 years, the maple trees will be gone," he said. "It's kind of a sad thing to think. I see it already." Elder spoke with equal anxiety. "Some experts estimate that unless we reverse the current climate trends, maples could largely die out in Vermont by 2050," she said. "As a person for whom sugaring is an important way to be rooted in this region, I find such a prospect devastating."However, Elder was adamant about the potential for change. "Global climate change will not be reversed," said Elder. "But it can be significantly mitigated with concerted action on a national and international scale. We have inspiring leadership in our community from people like Bill McKibben, John Isham and members of the Sunday Night Group. It's time for sugarmakers, Middlebury students and others who love this landscape to be creative and determined activists, too."
(03/07/07 12:00am)
Author: Ben Salkowe Here's something you probably did not know: The Student Government Association paid me about $30 to manage production of the newspaper you are reading. As part of my $1,200 stipend for the academic year, I consider the paycheck a generous token of appreciation for the time and energy it takes to keep this paper going. But honestly, I would like more.I am not talking about a raise. In fact, next year student leaders will be lucky to receive any form of compensation. Administrators are at odds over whether it is legal to pay someone so much less than minimum wage - my stipend works out to about $1.20/hour - or whether it is ethical to pay students for extracurriculars at all. But given the announcement that the College is planning to offer $2,500 stipends to junior counselors next year, it seems any logistic or ethical questions are negotiable. It was that news that junior counselors would be receiving stipends for their work, which set me thinking: paying junior counselors shows just how conflicted administrators are over how to recognize the hard work of student leaders.The problem is, extracurriculars that consume student leader's lives are never really jobs, but they are always more than benign side activities. So why not treat these positions like classes? Take the junior counselors, for example. Rather than bribe upperclassmen to become junior counselors with a paycheck, why not give them the option of enrolling in a counseling class so they could receive academic credit for their mentoring and advising of first-years. Their leadership positions would no longer be "jobs," but field placements for a greater academic experience. With only three other classes, they could devote more time to their first-years and exemplify the Commons spirit of learning beyond the classroom. But why stop there?For leaders in the Student Government, why not allow them to enroll in a bureaucracy course where their work in the Student Government could become an on-campus internship? Maybe it would raise the prominence of SGA elections. Maybe it would help committees to get more things done beyond the classic online survey. And I'm not done yet.For the editors of this newspaper, why not allow them to enroll in a journalism workshop for which their work on this paper would be real-world training? Having a set-time to study journalism each week would allow us to examine what we do and discuss our work.Or maybe it would be enough to make one big seminar on leadership for students at the head of all these organizations to meet each week, brainstorm ideas, troubleshoot problems and learn from one another's experiences?To be fair, it is currently possible for students to create independent study projects for just about anything, but then the burden falls on the student to not only manage a student organization, but to also lead an independent study.So why not take those thousands of dollars that are about to be smothered all over the junior counseling program, and think of a solution that's more creative? Appoint an inventive professor or staff member to identify learning opportunities outside the classroom that are significant enough to count for course credit. And hey, you could even give us a raise, too.Ben Salkowe is a senior political science major and the Editor in Chief of The Middlebury Campus.
(03/07/07 12:00am)
Author: Brian Fung The number of Commons Residential Advisors (CRAs) at the College will be reduced from 10 to five next year, Dean of the College Tim Spears confirmed last Saturday. The change has drawn mixed student reactions and, along with plans to offer junior counselors (JCs) $2,500 stipends next year, has some Commons staff in open protest of the changes.The prospect of increased pressure for future CRAs, according to Cook Commons CRA Jess Horner '05, is unsettling and has driven her, along with a number of colleagues, to speak out against the administration on the issue."I am so discouraged by what's going on," Horner said. "Moving to just five CRAs is a huge mistake. [It] is just unfathomable the amount of work that [next year's CRAs are] going to be shouldering."According to Spears, the plan to eliminate one CRA position from each Commons will reflect a return to student-run residential life. To compensate for the loss, JCs, who will be called First-Year Counselors (FYCs) next year, will assume many of the responsibilities now shared among the 10 CRAs on campus. "In effect," said Spears, "we are shifting resources within the Commons system to current Middlebury students and, I believe, empowering them as well."Initial recommendations for changes in the residential-life system emerged out of a 2006 report by the College's Human Relations Committee, which explicitly advocated revisions to the JC program. "[Providing stipends] would allow students from lower socio-economic backgrounds to serve," the report read. Furthermore, "rising seniors and qualified juniors" who applied for the FYC position could conceivably bring invaluable experience to the mentoring role.According to Horner, however, CRAs already provide effective service under the current system."People come to us all the time, but nobody sees it because it's behind closed doors," she said.CRAs' apparent invisibility has, according to a number of current CRAs, affected the degree to which their concerns have been taken into consideration. Ross Commons CRA Eric Vos '05 claimed that Spears' decision to slash CRA numbers by half was taken unilaterally and with minimal input from the College Commons."My experience at Middlebury taught me that inclusive dialogue and informed decision-making were the hallmarks of a liberal arts education," said Vos, "and yet the process of making these changes has been anathema to these ideals."Cook Commons Dean David Edleson echoed Vos' remarks. "I would have thought that our collective direct day-to-day experience and expertise would have been key in creating the best system," said Edleson. "Instead, we were asked for our reactions after key decisions were made. That was disappointing and for me, somewhat demoralizing."Current first-year students delivered both positive and negative reactions to Spears' plan. Sylvia Mendez '10 praised the move, saying that it would likely draw more applicants to residential-life positions and offer economically disadvantaged students an opportunity to volunteer."Maybe people who wouldn't have considered it before will be encouraged to apply," said Mendez. "I was thinking of applying as a JC next year. Once I saw there was a stipend, I considered it even more."According to Matt Lowes '10, however, offering a stipend may actually draw focus away from the position's mentoring duties. "The money is almost too much," said Lowes. "If incentives could be ranked, this would be way off the deep end."Lowes also addressed concerns that removing one CRA from each Commons would have consequences for other residential-life staff."As they reduce the number of people like that on campus, the pressure will fall on those who remain," he said. "I would definitely be sad if there were only one CRA to go to, one less place for kids to unwind."Serving as a CRA is an intense full-time job in itself, according to Wonnacott CRA Jasmin Johnson '05."Very often, you are the first-call person for students," said Johnson. "The CRAs spend their weekends in the dorms; they're on call 24 hours a day. We help with the move-ins and move-outs, the day-to-day counseling, the roommate conflicts, the custodial and facilities issues, and the Commons events."As the scaleback in CRAs takes effect next fall, Spears said he expects many of the FYCs to take up the slack, but that they will not be alone in doing so."The FYCs will likely pick up some of the responsibilities now assumed by one of the two CRAs in the Commons," said Spears. "At the same time, you need to keep in mind that the Commons are connected to a broader network of people and student life resources."Still, many wonder whether the system can handle the additional strain. Though CRAs have traditionally borne the brunt of student counseling work, some fear that their role on campus has been overlooked and their contributions underestimated. "The CRAs do a lot of unseen work with students that helps keep many situations from getting out of control," said Edleson. Disappointment with Spears' plan is not limited to Cook Commons. According to Edleson, Horner and Vos, virtually all of the College's CRAs and Commons Deans hold reservations about the changes to come and the consequences those changes will have on their ability to serve their respective Commons.Qualms raised by the residential-life reshuffle largely concern the quality and motives of next year's FYC applicants. Some suggested that the shift might adversely affect the relationship between first-years and the administrative structure in place for their support. "It's going to stratify the campus because seniors won't connect with the first-years," said Horner. "It's going to be more of an authoritative role versus a mentoring role."In addition, by treating the FYC position as more of an employment opportunity rather than a chance to meet and mentor new students, new FYCs may diminish the very meaning of the position itself, according to Edleson."[The JC position is] such a great example of giving back to your community, volunteerism and leadership that it saddens me to see it changed in this way," said Edleson. "I think in many ways, the JCs exemplified what I find most valuable in the Commons system and I'm concerned that in the new model, we might lose some of that heart."According to Horner, the shift may actually cause fewer students to apply for residential-life positions, not more."You're going to get a restricted group of [FYCs] that isn't as diverse and exciting as the JCs we get now," said Horner. "I wrote my thesis in Battell [Hall] and it was not easy. A lot of seniors aren't going to want to forfeit senior housing and do their senior coursework in a freshman dorm."Though neither the CRAs nor the Commons Deans intend to draft a formal letter of opposition to Spears' plan, Horner said that many CRAs are considering the possibility of submitting letters of disagreement on an individual basis. Thus far, Spears said he has received three correspondences regarding the issue, but that he could characterize only one as expressing overt dissatisfaction."I have tremendous respect for the work that the CRAs do, and I would certainly understand if they were uncomfortable with these changes," said Spears. "They are a dedicated group, and their concern about how their position might change is a sign of how much they care about the College and its students."
(02/28/07 12:00am)
Author: Kerren McKeeman Beginning next year, Junior Counselors (JCs) will receive a stipend of $2,500 instead of an extra room draw housing point, according to a Feb. 26 e-mail to sophomores and juniors from Dean of the College Tim Spears. In addition, the position will be renamed "First-Year Counselor" in an effort to attract upperclassmen applicants.Currently, most JCs are sophomores or juniors. In exchange for the mentoring they provide to first-year students, they receive an extra housing point. JCs live on first-year residence halls, serving as a social and academic resource.The changes proposed by Spears will make the JC position similar to the current Resident Advisor (RA) position, which is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. RAs are required to act as a mentor to other students and live in upperclassman dorms. The RA does not receive housing points, but does receive a monthly stipend. "We are all aware of the important role that JCs have played over the years," said Spears, "and we very much want to build on these successes in moving forward with these refinements." "In making these changes," said Spears, "we are following up on recommendations that came of out of the Strategic Plan and the Human Relations Committee report." Commons Heads and Commons Deans have also been instrumental in providing feedback that has contributed to the proposed changes to the JC position. The switch to a stipend-based First-Year Counselor position is part of a College effort to attract senior applicants who would not benefit from a housing point at the end of their college careers. "We obviously need to offer more than Commons points," said Spears, "hence the move to stipends."According to Brainerd Commons Resident Advisor (CRA) Melissa Simpson, the proposed changes may eliminate advantages enjoyed by current JCs. "JCs are close in age to the first-years," said Simpson, "and JCs can then maintain friendships and act as role models to the [first-years] for the next two years." If First-Year Counselor seniors live in [first-year] halls, "this defeats the purpose of senior housing," said Simpson. Transforming the JC position into a paid job may create other drawbacks, according to Becca Marcus '07.5, who believes that instituting a stipend may motivate people to volunteer for the money, instead of participating in order to meet and mentor first-years. "It may be hard for hired students to stay motivated throughout the year," said Marcus, "if they know that the $2,500 will come into their pockets regardless of the amount of hours they put in." Emily Eliot '07.5 said she appreciated the need for interaction between upperclassmen and first-years, but that such interaction should take place in other venues. "If the goal is to expose [first-years] to seniors who have come back from study abroad, then this is not right way to go about it," said Eliot. "[That exchange] should take place in other venues or other programs," said Eliot, " and should not be included in the First-Year Counselor program." Additional adjustments to the current JC position will include changes to the orientation period that takes place during the week prior to the beginning of Fall semester."First-Year Counselors will receive additional preparation [and] training," said Spears, "so that they can help support the academic growth of first-year students." The proposed alterations to the JC positions will not affect those who currently hold JC positions this academic year. "Current JCs will be able to use their Commons points in drawing a room for next year," said Spears.
(02/28/07 12:00am)
Author: Anthony Adragna Following an announcement at last week's faculty meeting that the College would provide free trips to campus for highly qualified applicants, the Office of Admission explained how the program would benefit Middlebury, and said that free visits are already offered at a number of other shcools.Dean of Admissions Bob Clagett said the College's offer of a trip to campus is a relatively common program. "Many colleges have these programs," he said. "Carleton does and so do other colleges that are a little farther away from major metropolitan areas, like Middlebury, so it's not at all unusual. It's actually been going on for quite a while."Dean of Admissions at Hamilton College Monica Inzer said her school does not have a formal program like Middlebury's but does occasionally offer students trips to campus. "There are times that the Hamilton Admission Office offers 'travel scholarships' for select groups to come to visit our campus - sometimes to decide whether or not to apply, and sometimes for targeted admitted groups," she wrote in an e-mail. "We assess our needs each year and make decisions according to our enrollment priorities."Cliff Thornton, associate dean of admisson at Wesleyan University, said his office regularly pays for students to visit campus. Every spring, Wesleyan invites around 50 students to its campus, and in the fall, around 100. "We look for students that are outside the Northeast, haven't visited the university and had no direct contact with us," Thornton said. "We've been doing it for almost two decades."The College will send letters offering roughly 100 of its most highly qualified applicants a free trip to campus this spring in the hope of encouraging the applicants to matriculate, according to Clagett. He hopes that the College's offer will draw between 50 and 60 students to campus, with the ultimate goal of convincing 30 or more to attend. The College identified the students who would receive the offer through a committee process. "As we're reading folders we have various indicators to try and identify the very top students," Clagett said. "There were about 200 students who got that indicator. A week and a half ago we went through those names and selected those 101 who would get those letters. The students who received these excel academically but they also tended to have extracurricular talents that we're looking for - and excellent personal qualities of course."Clagett said many of the students are considering Middlebury among other prestigious universities, including Ivy League schools. "No question about it, they are potential Ivy League students," he said. "We think that in terms of the quality of the educational experience, Middlebury is comparable. We want to show them that."Clagett pointed out that offering prospective trips to students has become necessary due to the nature of the application process. "We fear the college selection process has become a far less thoughtful process," Clagett said. "They may not be thinking, 'What college is the best fit for me?' We want to make sure that they've gone through that thoughtful process. We think that if they see Midd that more will actually be attracted here."Clagett said the trips will have no financial effect on current students. "There is zero financial impact on students," he said. "When we had the Strategic Plan last year, the President set up a fund to help fund aspects of the Strategic Plan, including attracting highly qualified students."While the cost of trips will vary, Clagett said the program will cost less than one normal scholarship to fund. "It's not costing the College that much," he said. "We'd estimate that it will run $400 to $500 per student. For someone from Boston it won't be much; for someone from San Francisco [will be] a little more." Inzer said she supports Middlebury's program. "I have enormous respect for Bob Clagett and I know that he would only pursue initiatives that are in the best interest of the College and [its] students," she said. Clagett stressed that the College did not wish to change the composition of the student body. "These tend to be the strongest academic applicants in the pool but they also have the strong extracurricular and personal qualities," he said. "These are the most sought after students in the country so we want to make sure Midd is on their radar screen."
(02/28/07 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] They clean your dorm, wash your dishes and sort your mail. You see their faces everyday, but rarely do you get a glimpse into their lives. The Campus has torn down the wall between student and staff to reveal the stories, interests and hobbies behind Midd's everyday heroes.Kirk Sabourin: From the Battlefield to Midd's Battell"Middlebury is my home stomping ground," says Custodian Kirk Sabourin with a smile as he wipes off the mirrors in the Battell South men's bathroom. Raised on a farm in the Addison County area, Sabourin attended class in Twilight when it was a middle school and graduated from Middlebury Union High School in 1976. Multi-talented, he has held a variety of careers in Vermont. After receiving an Associate's Degree in Education from Castleton State College, Sabourin worked with children with special needs at the Vermont Education Center. At the same time, he served as a herdsman on a 500-cow farm and sold feed for the Paris Farmers Union before becoming employed by the College in 2004. Sabourin says he particularly liked farming, specifically matching bulls and cows to breed in order to ensure the passing on of specific traits.But Sabourin's life has not always been that of a rural farmer. An eight year member of the National Guard, he was stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1990-1991 during the Gulf War. Sabourin felt "surprised" when he heard that he would be defending his country abroad. As a member of the National Guard, he said he had expected to serve mostly within the state, but "when you put on a uniform, you're a soldier first before anything." He soon found himself in the Middle East. There he was ranked as a Specialist and worked as a welder in a machine shop. He still recalls the demanding state of always being ready with a gas mask and weapon, which was "nerve-wracking and quite broadening." Sabourin is nonetheless glad that the goal of liberating Kuwait was accomplished.These days, when he's not in Battell, Sabourin stays busy with a range of activities. Every day after work he takes his 17-year-old Australian shepherd, "Checkers," for a walk. He also sings in the Catholic Church choir. Family-oriented, Sabourin lives with and cares for his mother. He has three brothers who live in surrounding states and looks forward to spending the holidays with them. Although he has never been spotted dancing down the dormitory halls, Sabourin swing-dances with other members of the community on Monday nights at the athletic center. It seems only fitting that Sabourin now works within a liberal arts community, as he truly is a Renaissance man.-H. Kay Merriman, Staff WriterDavid Larose: Signed, sealed, delivered, he's yoursMail Center Supervisor David Larose detests liver and onions and cell phones. When not pampering his cat or watching "Law and Order," he is probably off in the mountains camping. Larose has a soft spot for "old gangster movies of the 30s," and if he had a day off he says he would spend it at a state camping ground, hiking, starting a fire, listening to a baseball game on the radio or sitting back watching a movie with a glass of Merlot and some cheese and crackers. He's also a Vietnam War veteran. Larose is one of the people responsible for the "half-price" textbooks and every other package students receive in the mail at Middlebury. Having worked as the College's Mail Center supervisor since 1985, along with Mail Clerks Pam Sands and Tracey Smith, he is responsible for distributing over one million pieces of mail every year to students, faculty and staff. Larose moved from Bristol to Middlebury 25 years ago after marrying his wife Carolyn, who works as the administrative associate in the Athletics department. He loves the camaraderie of the College and enjoys riding to work and eating lunch with his wife, which he does nearly everyday. At the Mail Center, his pet peeve is people who lack manners. He wants people to understand the amount of physical work his team endures in order to distribute nearly fifty thousand packages a year. Having spent half of his life as the supervisor of the Mail Center, he has found that "please" and "thank you" go a long way. A fan of the New York Giants, Boston Celtics and New York Yankees, Larose hopes to spend two weeks traveling on a baseball tour around the United States (his wife willing) once he retires. Some of his most enjoyable moments at Middlebury have been his 10 years keeping the clock for the basketball team and making signs in the wintertime for the NCAA hockey playoffs. Larose also loves music, television and movies - he has over 700 CD's and 800 albums. He vividly recalls attending some of his favorite concerts, including the last concert of the Bruce Springsteen tour and a concert by U2, where he says his "hair stood up on [his] arms and the music hit [his] soul." He also attends a blues festival in Canada every year because he loves to hear "something that's different." Some of his favorite movies are Field of Dreams and They Shoot Horses Don't They, which is about marathon partner dancing. The last movie he watched was Flags of Our Fathers with his 80-year-old father.So the next time you need to pick up your home-baked cookies, or that Amazon shopping order, don't be afraid to talk to Larose about the hockey game, the Beatles or, maybe if you're daring, you can even try to convince him that a cell phone is a good idea.-Oscar Loyo, Staff WriterStephen Draper: The Dr. ProctorWhen Dining Room Servery Worker Stephen Draper - or more fondly known as Dr. Proctor - recalls the Middlebury of his youth, it is clear that he is somewhat of a Middlebury legend. It will have been 18 years ago on Mar. 4 that Draper joined the College dining staff. Some of the older students know Draper for his ability to offer comforting conversation after a stressful day of class. "If it wasn't for some of the students, I wouldn't hardly know anybody," Draper said, adding, "I don't know very many people.""A lot of the students call me The Doctor," Draper said. "Why they did this was because I was the only one who could keep up and deal with the students at the same time."Draper is more than just the man the students see so attentively arranging the stacks of tumblers and wiping up spills at Proctor Dining Hall. He lives a quiet life outside of his time spent amongst the chatter of hungry students. It's as if you can see the years flip by as he delves into the far reaches of his memory for thoughts of long ago. Draper moved to Middlebury when he was 16 and has witnessed the slow small town changes that have slowly infiltrated the town. "Well, there have been a lot of changes over the years. Everything is a lot different now, a lot of changes," he said. Maybe now at times we've got more people than we can deal with. With the increase in people they don't try to make changes with increase in people and buildings."Some of his most vivid memories recall the extended camping trips he took in earlier years to places like Yellowstone National Park. He fondly recalls the freedom and vitality that surround these memories. "When I was youngerÖI went where I wanted to go," he said. "Now, I still do a little camping. I go to New Hampshire and Maine and some of those places."After a long week of putting other's needs before his own, Draper enjoys relaxing at home with his dog Punky, a blue-tipped Pomeranian. "Friday and Saturday I'm here about half a day," Draper said, "[After that] I spend some time with the dog, spend a little time at home."An admitted sports fanatic, Draper pays close attention to college athletics. In the evenings and on the weekends he tunes into hockey games on WFAD and talk radio."I go to a few games. I watch cross-country, basketball a little bit. I
like the hockey very well, although I don't get into it as heavy as I used to," Draper said.On those nights spent next to the radio, Draper enjoys the luxuries of his woodstove and the cheery heat it provides. Maintenance of the woodstove requires time and skill, but Draper finds it a simple pleasure."I have a woodstove at home, so I have that to deal with right now. I have electric heat, but I use the woodstove," Draper said, "I am not that crazy about electric heat."Although Middlebury has been constantly evolving, Draper has remained much the same through these times of change, living a modest life end enjoying it to its fullest. -Sara Black, Staff Writer
(02/28/07 12:00am)
Author: Derek Schlickeisen Middlebury raised more money than any other liberal arts college in 2006, signaling a robust start to the likely $500 million Middlebury Initiative to be announced next fall. The $61.5 million total exceeded the College's fundraising goal by more than $10 million.The year's record total gives the school a chance to help close the gap in endowment size between the College and its peer institutions, according to Dean of Planning John Emerson. Middlebury's current endowment currently stands at over $880 million. With its swift rise to fifth place in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of liberal arts schools, the College now finds itself in a bracket with such institutions as Williams and Amherst, whose endowments exceed $1 billion."Middlebury is competing head-to-head with top colleges whose endowments on a per-student basis are substantially greater than ours," Emerson said. "Given this, it is hard to overemphasize the importance of successes like [last year's]."The current Strategic Plan calls for greater financial resources in order to support additions to the faculty and an expansion of student financial aid programs. The College is now in a pre-campaign "silent" phase of the Middlebury Initiative that has already yielded more than $200 million in pledges. "Success in achieving the goals of the Strategic Plan is entirely dependent on our success with the Middlebury Initiative," said Emerson.The record fundraising comes as just the latest in a string of financial triumphs for President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz and his staff: the new total exceeds a previous school record of $42 million in 2005, and growth in the College's endowment has surpassed expectations for three years running."We also count on a particular rate of return on the endowment each year (nine percent) to support the operating budget," said Liebowitz, "and if the return on our endowment is less than the nine percent for a given year, the higher fundraising helps fill the gap."A $23 million gift from philanthropist Shelby Davis helped put the College over the top, edging out Wellesley College by nearly $6 million. With high hopes for continued success in coming years, Liebowitz gave special credit to Davis."Our financial model calls for slightly less than $50 million in cash per year over the next few years," said Liebowitz. "Those are big totals, so the $61.5 million exceeded what we set as a goal and we are delighted. Then again, it is not every day when a college of our size gets a $23 million gift."The gift from Davis, whose family also funds the United World College Davis Scholars program headquartered at the College, is reserved entirely for financial aid given to international students. The Davis Scholars program brings 800 international students to U.S. colleges each year, including approximately 95 to Middlebury."Strengthened financial aid is the very highest priority in the Strategic Plan," said Emerson, "so the Davis gift is critically important and especially welcomed."
(02/28/07 12:00am)
Author: Sara Black A grassroots student initiative promoting the foundation of a Korean language program at the College was launched last week. In a campus-wide e-mail, Ilhan Kim '07 outlined the first stage of a campaign to garner support for his movement: a petition. "I would like to set in motion plans to incorporate the Korean language into Middlebury's academic curriculum," he announced in the e-mail, which contained a link to an online petition that has received over 500 signatures. "If you look at the petition, a lot of the names aren't just Asian names," said Kim in an interview. "A lot of non-Asians are also supporting the petition. They see the benefit of this initiative as a way of encouraging the administration to continue expanding its language program." Kim said he noticed the absence of a Korean language program at the College upon his initial arrival as a first-year student, but said it did not occur to him to promote the change he wanted to see until recently. "I believe this school needs to not just rest on its laurels, but actively search for other languages that are critically needed in this world," said Kim. "Middlebury shouldn't wait for these languages to be available elsewhere, but should really step up to the plate and be very proactive about starting new language programs." Demand for fluency in the Korean language has grown as Korea emerges as a world power. In recent years, Korea has made a home in the global economy with such commercial giants as Samsung, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group and Helio. The conflict between South and North Korea has also slowly been evolving into a political vortex, making Korean a more prominent language on the global stage.Enrollment in Korean language programs at institutions of higher education in the United States increased by 16.3 percent between 1998 and 2002, according to a 2002 survey conducted by the Modern Language Association. However, the increase in Korean language students was not as significant as the rise during the same period seen by other languages the College has debated adding to the curriculum such as Modern Hebrew, which will be offered as a language course beginning in Fall 2007.The prominence of the Korean language on the worldwide scale has also prompted the College to explore its inclusion in the Summer Language Schools."Korean is definitely one of the languages that has been considered for introduction to the Language Schools in the past, along with a number of others" said Michael Geisler, dean of Language Schools and Schools Abroad. "If you were to introduce Korean right now, the numbers are telling us the constituent base isn't there for a language school." Andrea Bolivar '10, currently a student of Chinese at the College, expressed interest in a Korean language program. "There is so much going on in Korea now that is historically imperative," said Bolivar, "and I would like to be able to understand and experience Korea more fully."According to Kim, the College is home to a sizeable group of Korean-American students, many of whom have lost touch with their culture and want to reconnect with their language and heritage. There are also many Koreans who were adopted at birth and want to learn more about their birth country in an effort to find their own identity."When Korea's cultural influence throughout Asia is so defined and prominent to spawn the creation of the term hallyu [Korean Wave]," Kim said, "Middlebury College should take notice. When Kim Jong-Il fires off nuclear missiles on the Fourth of July, Middlebury College should take notice."DongHee Janet Kang '10, founder of a club at the College named "Midd on the Globe," has also found the nine languages of the Middlebury language department limiting and wanting in variety. In response, Kang has created a club to bring students fluent in variety of languages together with students who want to learn about language and culture."I've met a lot of international students who want to express their culture and teach their language to a lot of people and there is basically no outlet for that," said Kang. "I'm hoping that through this club students can not only express their language, but also their culture." Additional reporting by Zamir Ahmed
(02/14/07 12:00am)
Author: Justin Boren Since 1993 the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) has pursued a strategy of "Prevention Through Deterrence." The basic strategy is two-fold: building physical barriers and increasing surveillance using advanced technology along the border and increasing surveillance along major arteries leading away from the border will allow them to effectively combat illegal immigration into the United States. This, however, is far from accurate. Despite tripling the size and quadrupling the budget of the USBP in the last decade, the estimated number of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. annually has remained at a relatively constant 500,000. What Prevention Through Deterrence has produced is a situation in which human lives are lost in greater numbers along the border every year. Human smuggling networks are growing in size and resources and environmental degradation is occurring on a massive scale. The USBP has, so far, been responsible for building "fences" in four high-traffic corridors including San Diego and El Paso. Rather than slowing immigration, these fences have pushed the influx of illegal immigrants into increasing remote and harsh environments. Crossing the vast desert often requires a trek of up to four days. Most illegal immigrants undertake this journey with just a plastic one-gallon jug of water and a small backpack. They are forced to cross through mountain ranges to avoid the USBP surveillance vehicles and aircrafts. In the mountains, temperatures can reach over 100*F during the day and drop to near freezing temperatures at night. The increasing frequency of treks through unknown and dangerous terrain has produced a spike in deaths, despite greater difficulty in locating the deceased. In 1994, there were only 23 reported crossing deaths. Since October 1, 2006 there have been 205 reported deaths in Arizona alone. Due to the length and difficulty of crossing routes, immigrants are relying on human smugglers more than ever. Those who cannot pay are frequently forced to put up their homes, or the homes of relatives, as collateral for the journey. Those who cannot pay are often used as drug mules or sold into prostitution and indentured servitude upon reaching the United States. The consequences for trafficking people across the border have increased as part of Prevention Through Deterrence. The increased risk for smugglers has led to higher prices and ruthless behavior. The slowest members of a group are left behind to die. Oftentimes smugglers will give their clients large, occasionally lethal, doses of amphetamines to keep them moving quickly. There are also accounts of smugglers taking the money of a group and leaving them alone in the middle of the desert.The U.S.-Mexico border crosses some very rugged terrain. USBP efforts to secure the border involve large-scale construction projects and increased activity in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. USBP vehicular traffic and construction projects have destroyed large parts of several National Parks, which has, in turn, led to a drop in tourism. They have also put several endangered species of animals and plants at great risk as their habitats are invaded by bulldozers, 4x4's, floodlights and impenetrable barriers.Despite the rhetoric of the USBP and many U.S. Politicians, Prevention Through Deterrence is not accomplishing its objectives. Comprehensive immigration is necessary and urgent, not only to effectively combat illegal immigration but to protect human lives, national security and the environment.
(02/14/07 12:00am)
Author: Andrew Donnantuono The women's basketball team clinched a spot in NESCAC tournament with a win over Connecticut College 51-40 on Feb. 9 at Pepin Gymnasium. Despite suffering a five-game losing streak that lasted well into February Break, the Panthers finished the regular season with three conference wins and a .500 record. Middlebury (12-12, 3-6) will face the second-seeded Tufts Jumbos on Saturday Feb. 16.It was a "win and in" situation for Middlebury heading into the game against Connecticut College, and the Panthers knew a win would guarantee them a playoff position, albeit at best a sixth seed. The Camels needed help from other games around the league but were looking for a win to keep their tournament hopes alive.The visitors looked dangerous and poised for an upset, jumping out to a 9-1 lead by 15:38 in the first half. Unfortunately for the Camels, Captain Carlie Harrington '07 came off the bench and added nine crucial points en route to a 27-17 lead at halftime. Middlebury made the going especially tough for Connecticut College by applying defensive pressure, forcing 18 turnovers in the first half. The Camels coughed it up seven more times in the second half for a total of 25 turnovers, 15 of which were Middlebury steals.Connecticut College refused fold after the break and tied the game at 28 apiece. However, Middlebury's bench stepped up and turned in two big performances, one from Harrington in the first half and the other from Kaitlyn Fallon '10 in the second. Middlebury retook the lead, which hovered at around five for most of the second half before Fallon, who scored ten points in 16 minutes, put the game out of reach. She converted from the charity stripe after being fouled on the way up during two late lay ups. Those six points proved too much for the Camels to overcome.Both teams had sub-par games on offense as each made only sixteen buckets even though Middlebury took 12 more shots. Star sophomores Emily Johnson and Ashley Barron, who currently lead the team in scoring, struggled mightily, hitting only one shot each from the floor. On 23 total attempts, they contributed fourteen points, their lowest combined output of the season. Johnson did contribute on the defensive end, collecting five of Middlebury's 15 steals and Barron brought down three offensive rebounds to help the Panthers. Just a day earlier, Wesleyan came to Middlebury and escaped with a 54-52 when Johnson's triple for the win was blocked by the Cardinals' Kelly Bowman. In addition to her decisive block, Bowman, a starter, made all four of her shots on the night. Middlebury would have locked up a spot in the tournament had Johnson's shot found its way home. Still, Middlebury only had itself to blame, for it failed to take advantage of a 31-23 lead at halftime. The game was consistent with the adage that the team with the least turnovers wins: Wesleyan had only 14 to Middlebury's 18. Barron and Wesleyan's Meredith Lowe shared the game lead with 15 points. Lani Young '08 and Johnson also hit double digits for the Panthers with 13 and 12 points.Middlebury played a total of five games during Feb. Break. The first two were losses at Tufts and Bates. The Panthers broke their losing-streak at Plattsburgh State University and grabbed a 66-53 victory. It was the fourth game this season in which all twelve players on the roster saw action. Young was outstanding for the Panthers with 20 points. The Jumbos will be heavy favorites to advance into the second round of the NESCAC tournament on Saturday. Tufts beat Middlebury in Pepin Gymnasium 61-50 on Feb. 2. But do not be surprised if Johnson and the rest of the Panthers turn in an outstanding performance.
(02/14/07 12:00am)
Author: John Glouchevitch '10.5 In my second class today, my sociology professor asked, "Why did you come to Middlebury College?" The question at hand was a question I had often been asked by friends and relations from my hometown, sunny Los Angeles. This was indeed my second class, which meant that I had survived the first and in all likelihood would survive the second. As to why survival was an issue, today was the first day of classes I've had in eight months. It is to be noted, that the ambient temperature when I left was around 80, and the temperature when I arrived was around 8. But I most certainly didn't come for the weather. No, I came because Middlebury fits like a good pair of jeans. Or perhaps in my case a Helly Hansen foul weather jacket. I mean, we've just started our relationship, Midd and I, but I'm already catching myself using the notorious "L" word. I know so little about this place, but I also know I'm not the only guilty party when it comes to throwing the word 'love' around. I hear it all over the place; "I love the food," "I love my room," or even "I love everyone so much." It is strange but wonderful to finally be here. At times it feels like Yosemite Sam is shooting at my feet, as my first days are going by in a cacophonous, joyful blur. I'm trying hard not to run up to everyone and say "Hi I'm John and I'm a new feb and I did a NOLS semester in the Pacific Northwest and I live in California but not really anymore because I live in Milliken and we should hang out and it is so cool to finally be here." Then there are of course other times where I'll find myself lying on my bed alone staring at the ceiling wondering where everyone else is. But there is comfort in knowing that there are probably 50 other Febs who are doing the exact same thing. I have a lot on the to-do list, simply put. Besides learning social norms (for example, does anyone use trays?), classes and learning a song for my a cappella audition tomorrow, I have 500 people to meet who have been here for a semester. Sometimes this is overwhelming, but I'm still going to bed grinning every night. I'm trying hard to pace myself, but there are a lot of things to do, sights to see, buildings to find and friends to make. Lets just say it's going to be a fun four years.
(02/14/07 12:00am)
Author: Allison Ortega While many Middlebury students were enjoying sunny beaches in the Caribbean or the comforts of home, the men's and women's swimming and diving teams remained hard at work at the Natatorium during the break in preparation for the upcoming NESCAC Championships. In addition to valuable practice time in the water, captain Liz Rice '07 noted, "We spent some time doing team bonding and we have just been relaxing together - it is nice to have the time to spend not doing schoolwork. It gives us the opportunity to get pumped up for championships." After dropping the season's opening meet to Amherst, the team has cruised to six straight victories, including the first victory in the history of the program over Williams on Jan. 27. On that historic afternoon, the 200-yard medley relay team of Catherine Suppan '09, Katie Chambers '08, Marika Ross '08 and Barbara Van der Veer '07 got the team off to a fast start claiming victory in the meet's opening race. "There was a team-wide level of energy and adrenaline that just caught Williams by surprise, said Rice. "Our excitement over our victory in the first relay event really carried over into the rest of the meet."In addition to her role in the relay victory, Ross also captured three individual events, winning the 200 free, 100 free and the 100 fly. Ross noted that Coach Peter Solomon adjusted the team's line-up in order to pick up points in events that Williams was not expecting. "I was just really excited and nervous," said Ross. "The 100 and 200 freestyle are not my usual events, so I was very nervous about performing well. Pressure is a good motivator for me." Katie Soja '10 picked up two key victories in the 500 free and the 1,650 free. Chambers added two victories of her own in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and Alanna Hanson '08 triumphed in the one and three-meter diving competitions. "The girls came together in an extraordinary way that made beating Williams a true team-wide effort," said Rice. Despite several recording-setting swims, the men lagged behind the Ephs, who earlier this season had beaten Division I Boston College.In the first event, Zach Woods '09, Tim Lux '07, John Rayburn '07 and Rob Collier '07 set a new record with their victory in the 200 medley relay. Later, Rayburn teamed with Kevin O'Rourke '09, Schuyler Beeman '10 and Jake Pepper '08 to set another record in the 200 free relay.Woods, who captured the 100 and 200 backstroke, was the lone Panther to pick up two individual victories. However, Lux, Beeman and John Dillion '10 also won individual events.The Panthers also competed in the non-scoring MIT Invitational on Jan. 2 and 3. "It was a good opportunity for the team to race in a well-known, fast pool and to compete against some teams that we usually do not," said Rice.The women will return to action on Feb. 16 at Williams for the NESCAC championships, while the men have an additional week to prepare before heading to Bowdoin on Feb. 23.
(01/24/07 12:00am)
Author: Andrew Donnantuono The women's basketball team fought hard for a split against Amherst and Trinity this weekend in Pepin Gymnasium. In both games, Middlebury held double-digit leads only to see the opposition chip away at them. Amherst successfully completed their comeback and finished off a 65-59 win on Friday evening, but Trinity's efforts on Saturday were in vain and Middlebury escaped with a close 73-69 victory. Middlebury's 73 points were 11 above their season average."We played hard against Amherst and we beat the team (Trinity) that knocked us out of playoff contention last year," said Emily Johnson '09.Trying to get back on track after losing at NESCAC-leading Bowdoin on Jan. 13, Middlebury pounced on Amherst in the early-going courtesy of three three-point bombs by Emily Johnson '09, the second of which was nearly from NBA range. The Panthers played with a high level of intensity, particularly on offense, and had their biggest lead of the game at 25-14 at 6:18 in the first half. Amherst, who used only three substitutes, cut into the lead with such determination that Middlebury was up just three at the break, 28-25. Although Middlebury had a sizeable lead out of the gates, possession was back and forth, and, besides Johnson's triples, they never truly owned any facet of the game in the first half.Middlebury made it to 39-29 at 16:52 in the second half, but then the game for the Panthers spiraled out of control. Amherst used their height and speed to take advantage of fast break opportunities, eventually tying it at 41-41. "I think there were a combination of things that let them back in the game," said Johnson. "For one, we didn't shoot well."Middlebury began missing some easy shots inside, and the gap continued to increase. Despite taking nine more shots than the Lord Jeffs in the second half, the Panthers could only muster 12-34 from the floor, for 35 percent shooting. None of the starters had an exceptionally productive game statistically, although Jennifer Kelleher '08 contributed nicely off the bench with 14 points on 6-9 shooting. Amherst's Kerry O'Loughlin and first-year Samantha Swenson led their team with 15 and 14 points respectively in the Lord Jeff's victory.Middlebury returned to Pepin Gymnasium less than 18 hours after their defeat to Amherst in hopes of returning to .500 in conference play with a solid, fundamental game. The Panthers delivered just that in a team effort against Trinity, shooting consistently and hustling for loose balls. Middlebury made thirteen shots both in the first and the second half. Three minutes into the second half Middlebury surged ahead to make it 40-24, but foul trouble plagued the Panthers, and their lead. Aylie Baker '09, Middlebury's strongest presence inside, got her third foul as the lead was at its biggest and Coach Noreen Pecsok was forced to sit Baker for ten minutes. Lani Young '08, however, did her best to fill the void inside by playing what was arguably her best game of the season. In the loss Young recorded a double-double: 17 points and 12 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive end. The aggressive play of Katie Fisher '08 and Ashley Barron '09 provided the spark and energy that has fueled the Middlebury basketball team all season. Barron, who was involved in a collision late in the first half, walked to the locker room with her foot wrapped, but she was back on the court after the break and played most of the final 20 minutes.For Trinity, star Sarah Cox played an immense game. She was on the court for all 40 minutes in the loss, finishing with a double-double on 29 points and ten rebounds. Nevertheless, ten of those points came in a flourish in the last five minutes which ultimately proved to be in vain.Pecsok used her bench effectively, splitting time - and 15 points - among sixth-woman Kelleher and captains Carlie Harrington '07 and Dana Weissman '07. Forward Kaitlyn Fallon '10 also contributed four points off of two inside buckets.The weekend's games move Middlebury to 10-6 on the season and 2-2 in conference play. The Panthers will host the Keene State Owls on Tuesday night before traveling to northwest Massachusetts to take on the highly-touted Williams Ephs on Saturday.
(01/24/07 12:00am)
Author: Astri von Arbin Ahlander There is something of the fairy-tale prince in Evan Dumouchel's face, a genuine sweetness that his scruffy cheeks, bad-boy swagger and love for action flicks can do nothing to subvert. His enchanting blue eyes are probably already familiar to you. As a double major in Theatre and Film, he appears frequently on stage and screen around campus. Dumouchel, who will be graduating this February, has left a distinguishable mark on the Middlebury art scene through his talented work onstage and behind the scenes. The Campus met with Evan Dumouchel, Middlebury actor and director extraordinaire.The Middlebury Campus: Do you consider yourself an actor primarily?Evan Dumouchel: For a long time, I saw myself only as an actor. I didn't get into production until much later on when I realized there were a lot of other things I could do as well. I found that I got more respect from the theatre faculty as a director than I ever did as an actor. TC: What's the difference between acting for the screen and the stage?ED: Film acting isn't easier, you can just make use of your skills in a different way. Like theatre acting, it should be a continuous piece inside of you, even if you don't perform it in a continuous way. TC: Do you feel as though there is a conflict between your two majors?ED: The theatre department is like a tribe, a tribe of theatre people that really support each other. The film people are like nomads. Making movies on the Middlebury campus is a one-man show. Or, at most, a one-man-and-five-of-his-closest-friends-who-are-willing-to-die-for-him show. The theatre department tells you early on that in order to survive, you have to work together. The film department doesn't reinforce that. At Middlebury, the attitude is like this: you make movies for fun, but you live and breathe theatre. I think that's ridiculous. TC: Are you trying to combine your two interests in your 700 Theatre project that is going up this J-term? ED: My 700 project is a play called, "On the Open Road," written by Steve Tesich. Last year, I took a class where we had to write a manifesto on what we think theatre should be. My manifesto, "The New Climax," was about how theatre would benefit from a full integration with film. Originally, I was going to realize this for my 700. I wanted to use multiple television screens, each projecting a different person's body part so that, when the screens were piled on top of each other in a certain way, it created the illusion of a whole human-like an entirely filmed character. I also wanted to integrate the screens as a visual component in the set. But just last night, I decided I wasn't going to be doing it after all. Too complicated. Too little time. And I'm a perfectionist, so I didn't want to do something that wasn't exactly as I wanted it. TC: Your 500 project in film, a short entitled "Portraiture," which you both directed and starred in (together with friend Macleod Andrews), was screened on January 14th in Dana Auditorium. What was your vision?ED: On the page, it was an impossible screenplay. There was too much visual description without enough dialogue to back it up. The screenplay would never have been sellable. But I'm proud that I was able to tell the story despite that. Personally, I like to both watch and make testosterone-infused movies. They have so much masculine vs. feminine energy, so many polar emotional values that work well on film. It's not because of the blood and guns that I like them, it's because they lend themselves to extreme emotion.TC: What about the future? ED: I would love to move to LA and work on an HBO miniseries. I don't want to be a celebrity. Then again, I want to be respected, like Matt Damon or Dustin Hoffman - quality actors. But I don't want to be a celebrity just for the sake of it. That is a scary thought.
(01/10/07 12:00am)
Author: Ben Salkowe Former President Bill Clinton will deliver Middlebury's 2007 commencement address on May 27, marking the first address by a modern president to the College. The 42nd President of the United States will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the commencement and address an expected crowd of more than 5,000."It is a great honor to have President Clinton as the Middlebury College commencement speaker," said President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz in an official statement released to The Campus. "His dedication to a career in public service and the philanthropic work he has done since leaving public office are an inspiration to college students seeking ways to change and improve both our country and our world."Clinton will be joined by six other honorary degree recipients - Robert De Cormier, Janet Tiebout Hanson, James Gustave Speth, Marc A. and Dana Lim vanderHeyden and Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi. College officials are expected to formally announce Clinton's commitment, and the other honorary degree recipients, later this afternoon.The idea of bringing Clinton to campus was first proposed by the College's Board of Trustees, who secured the commitment with some assistance from a Middlebury alum who had worked for the former President.Since leaving the Oval Office, Clinton has worked for a range of major national and international causes through the William J. Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS initiatives and prominent collaborations with former President George H.W. Bush to raise funds for victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Clinton has also remained in the media spotlight as the nation's potential first First Man, should his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), enter the 2008 presidential contest. Sen. Hillary Clinton has not committed to attending the commencement with her husband. Before first running for the presidency, Bill Clinton served as the governor of Arkansas, chairman of the National Governors' Association and had been an attorney general of Arkansas. Elected president in 1992, and again in 1996, Clinton was the first Democratic president in six decades to win a second term in office. His administrations' accomplishments included a significant economic expansion, major welfare reform, budget surpluses, lower levels of unemployment, poverty and crime and high home ownership and college enrollment rates. While political and personal scandals clouded his later presidency, Clinton largely regained popularity after leaving office. The William J. Clinton Foundation has reduced the cost of antiretroviral drugs for over 500,000 people and works in 25 countries to provide medical services and treatment to adults and children living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, the Foundation's initiatives focus on international development, climate change, the childhood obesity epidemic in America and economic empowerment. Clinton graduated from Georgetown University and in 1968 won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University. He received a law degree from Yale University in 1973, and shortly thereafter entered politics in Arkansas. In addition to Clinton, six other individuals, all with ties to the College or local community, will be awarded honorary degrees.Robert De Cormier, founder and director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus, will receive an honorary Doctor of Arts degree. De Cormier graduated from the Juilliard School of Music and was the former music director of the New York Choral Society. De Cormier has conducted and composed for engagements ranging from Broadway to opera to television. Janet Tiebout Hanson, founder and chairman of $2 billion Milestone Capital Management, and a managing director at Lehman Brothers, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Hanson's Milestone Capital Management is the only women-owned institutional money market fund management company in the U.S. Hanson is also the founder of 85 Broads, an internet-based global network of former and current Goldman Sachs women professionals. Hanson's sister, Mary E. Tiebout, is a 1975 Middlebury graduate.James Gustave Speth, Dean and Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor in the Practice of Environmental Policy at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Speth was the administrator of the United Nations Development Program, the founder and president of World Resources Institute and a co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council. He is the father of Catherine McCullough, a member of the Middlebury College class of 1991.Marc A. vanderHeyden, the president of Saint Michael's College, and his wife, Dana Lim vanderHeyden, will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. St. Michael's 15th president assumed the presidency in 1996 and announced last year that he would step down from the position in June of 2007. Dana vanderHeyden, who has served in various roles as a professor and academic administrator for almost three decades, is currently a member of the board of Vermont Public Radio, Burlington City Arts and the Region I Board of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi, a professor in the Baylor College of Medicine Departments of Pediatrics, Molecular and Human Genetics, and Neurology and Neuroscience, and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Center, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree. In 1999, Zoghbi discovered the gene mutation that causes the rare, disabling neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome. She is the mother of Roula Zoghbi, a member of the Middlebury College class of 2007.
(01/10/07 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] 1 Students stunned by loss of Norbert Vaughn '10 (Nov. 30)2 Professors challenge Rehnquist Professorship (Nov. 2)3 Delta Social House evicted from Prescott (June 19)4 College upholds early admissions program (Oct. 12)5 Friends mourn Mark Southern (March 30)6 Popular Dog Team Tavern destroyed by fire (Sept. 14)7 Forum reaffirms Commons' future (Dec. 7)8 College jumps in the guidebook rankings (Sept. 14)9 Students face Facebook's realities (Sept. 21)10 Rehnquist protesters engage Old Chapel (Nov. 16)11 Late-night fight reveals racial tensions (Feb. 23)12 Students literally living in the library (Dec. 7)13 Swim team's season ended in controversy (Feb. 16)14 College remembers Sammy Muhlfelder (Dec. 7)15 Feb program scaled back (Sept. 14)16 Winter Sports Preview (Nov. 16)17 Liebowitz setting $500 million goal (Nov. 16) 18 Mr. Ups cited for serving minors (Mar. 9)19 Admissions numbers up (Jan. 26)20 Early applications up (Nov. 9)21 Local press pries into assault case (May 4)22 Police investigate assault in Delta case (April 22)23 Fall Sports preview (Sept. 14)24 Roberts at Mead (Oct. 26)25 Kelly Brush recuperating from ski accident (May 4)Based on article hits as of December 31, 2006.
(01/10/07 12:00am)
Author: James Kerrigan Senior Co-Captain Hannah Baker, of the women's squash team, has an individual record of 4-1 on the season, but more important to the squash star is the team's record of 2-3. According to her housemate Leigh Polfer '07, she has "a deep affinity for bonding" and has always put the team first. The psychology major from New York City has been a part of three winning seasons in her career and hopes to make it a perfect four and finish her career on a positive note. With 10 matches remaining on the schedule, the door is still wide open. Baker challenged Coach Seward to a high-stakes match earlier this season and emerged the victor. As a result, Seward is obligated to dress up as Elmo. This is about as likely as Baker following through on her J-Term goal of catching up on current events, which she admits is doubtful.Liz McMorris '09.5, who is not even half-way through her first season on the team, has dueled the captain many times, but has she gotten to know Baker in a residential setting?Polfer, one of Baker's Washington St. companions, has shared many late nights and lazy mornings with the senior squash player, but does she know what is it like inside the locker room?The housemates/roommates have kicked off 2007 with a crucial victory. Polfer nudged out McMorris with her knowledge of the past and present and distinguished herself as the Baker-trivia expert. As evidenced by the diversity of answers in response to the question of what Baker enjoys most about squash, she is motivated by a combination of things. McMorris suggested it is because the sport shares its name with a vegetable whereas Polfer thought the thrill of destroying an opponent in a crucial match or playing really old men on her abroad club team most inspired Baker. Whatever the reason, Baker is doing what she likes and liking what she does. It appears Baker has emerged from her traumatizing childhood experience at her local Sea World. She survived a frightening afternoon with Shamu and lived to tell her roommate. Baker and the squash team travel to New Haven, Conn. this weekend to compete in the Yale Invitational. They will look to get back above .500 and be considered one of the teams in the upper echelon of the NESCAC league.The NESCAC Tournament, which will take place at Trinity College is only 24 days away.
