924 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(12/07/06 12:00am)
Author: Allison Ortega Former collegiate swimmer President Ronald D. Liebowitz and his family were among the many members of the college community who showed up at the Natatorium on Saturday for the men's and women's swimming and diving teams' first dual meet of the season against Amherst. They did not leave disappointed. The exceptionally close contest provided non-stop action and featured many highlights for the Panthers. Perhaps most impressive was the men's 163-135 team victory, which marked just the second Panther win over the Lord Jeffs in the program's 20-year history. "It was obvious that our men had something to prove on Saturday in their first meet of the season. I could tell from their focus and energy all week that they were ready, but I really had no idea that we would win so many events," said Coach Peter Solomon. "Having home pool advantage with many parents and spectators cheering played into the excitement of the meet for both the men's and women's teams."The meet's opening event, the 200 medley relay, proved to be the harbinger of the impressive performances that followed all afternoon. The Panthers took both first and second places in the relay, with the "A" relay team of Zach Woods '09, Tim Lux '07, Rob Collier '07 and John Rayburn '06.5 posting a winning time that Solomon noted is currently one second better than any other NESCAC performance to date. The Panthers then proceeded to hold Amherst All-American Ethan Treat winless in his best events. First Collier edged Treat in the 200 fly. Later in the meet, after he already won the 100 and 200 backstroke events, Woods claimed his third individual victory by defeating Treat in the 200 IM. Sophomore Kevin O'Rourke's win in the 500 free with his personal best swim and Lux's multiple breaststroke victories also proved to be valuable contributions to the men's triumph against Amherst. The most significant advantage for the Panthers' path to victory, however, was diver Michael Young '07. After spending an entire year studying abroad in Germany and Russia, Young returned to competition for the first time on Saturday. Showing no sign of rust, he was triumphant in both the one and three-meter diving events. Young's gutsy performance was emblematic of the way the entire men's team swam in route to their historic victory. On the women's side, the Panthers were unable to duplicate the men's team victory as the Lord Jeffs won the meet 162-136. Nevertheless, the women had many strong performances on the afternoon as well. Maegan Olivos '07, who finished sixth in both the 200 and 500 yard freestyle, commented that the women drew strength from the supportive crowd at the Natatorium. "We had fast competition and there was a lot of energy at the pool, which was reflected in our overall performance," she said.Marika Ross '08 led the Panthers with victories in the 100 and 200 butterfly in times that met the NCAA "B" Consideration Standards. Moreover, she upset Amherst sophomore Meghan Sterns in her specialty event, the 100 free. Diver Alanna Hanson '08 helped Middlebury sweep all of the afternoon's diving events, with wins in the one and three-meter competitions. Despite the loss, the Panthers hope to exact revenge against the Lord Jeffs in February when the teams meet again at the NESCAC Championships. Solomon said he was proud of how both teams pulled together for the Amherst meet and excited by the prospect of future successes."We are on the threshold of a great season in so many ways," said Solomon.
(12/07/06 12:00am)
Author: Scott Greene A&M students post slavery video onlineThree white students from Texas A&M University in College Station recently posted a homemade video on YouTube depicting a master and slave scene in which a man in blackface is beaten for not following orders.The video, titled "The Adventures of Jeraboem," is two minutes long and, as of Monday, Dec. 4, had already been removed from the video-sharing Web site. Texas A&M easily identified the three men who made the video, and Vice President of Student Affairs Dean Bresciani said that his staff has spoken with the offenders.In the video, a white master ridicules a white student covered in black shoe polish, calling the man "boy." The scene involves a beating and simulated sexual abuse with a banana. In "An Open Letter to the Aggie Family" on Nov. 7, University President Robert Gates wrote that the video "is not simply an example of poor judgement and insensitivity" but that "it appears to have been purposefully produced to insult and demean."Texas A&M has fewer than 800 black students in an undergraduate body of 33,400. -U-WireStudents discuss sex, drugs on UPenn siteThe University of Pennsylvania has joined a small group of Ivy League campuses in embracing a Web site which offers students an alternative to Facebook and the chance to anonymously discuss topics such as sex and drugs.Launched last month by Columbia University alumnus Jonathan Pappas, the site, named BoredatVanPelt.com after UPenn's library, only allows students who submit their e-mail addresses to register.The website functions as an anonymous message board and services all niches of a school's social spectrum. Posts range from solicitations for sex to questions on how to get marijuana on campus."I'm really sexually frustrated," claimed a Nov. 21 user of UPenn's website, while a Nov. 17 post called all a cappella groups "a waste of SAC funding."The original website, BoredatButler.com, debuted last February to immediate success. Pappas created similar websites at Stanford, New York University and all of the Ivy League schools except Brown University. BoredatVanPelt is one of nine "bored-at" sites, all of which feature their respective school's library in their URL address.-The Daily PennsylvanianDartmouth Review photo sparks outrageOver 500 students, faculty and administrators gathered at Dartmouth University on Wednesday, Nov. 29 to demonstrate after The Dartmouth Review, an independent conservative student newspaper, published a front page photo of an Indian warrior wielding a scalp with the headline, "The Natives are Getting Restless!" a day earlier. The publication intended to ridicule recent complaints by Native American students regarding a series of events seen as racist.In the fall term, American Indian students protested Homecoming t-shirts showing a knight performing a sex act on an American Indian caricature, and accused fraternity pledges of disrupting a Native American drumming circle on Columbus Day. "Like an open wound, Dartmouth is hurting - we have all been insulted," College President James Wright told the crowd gathered before Dartmouth Hall. Dartmouth was originally founded in 1769 as a school for American Indians, and a mission to recruit American Indian students over the past 30 years has resulted in Dartmouth having the largest indigenous student body in the Ivy League, at three percent. -CNN.com
(12/07/06 12:00am)
Author: Derek Schlickeisen Commons Deans are bracing for a nine-year period during which the College's decision to invest in faculty resources and student financial aid will prevent the construction of any new facilities for Brainerd, Cook and Wonnacott Commons. With Middlebury's rise in nationwide college rankings, the College now finds itself competing for top students with schools like Williams and Amherst, with endowments of $1.5 and $1.2 billion respectively.President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz and others have said that financial aid must take precedence over equalizing Commons housing because the College would otherwise risk losing qualified students to institutions that offer better financial aid offers."We are first and foremost trying to level the playing field when it comes to financial aid for students who we accept," said Liebowitz. "We don't want students we accept choosing other schools because our financial aid packages[would] leave them with far greater debt upon graduation."Liebowitz also emphasized that investing in faculty will allow the College to build on its reputation for top-quality teaching - a reputation which this year's Princeton Review attests by naming Middlebury number one for "Professors Get High Marks.""Competing with our peer institutions is important so that we can attract and retain the best faculty," Liebowitz said. "I am hopeful we can raise the funds to add 25 new faculty, thereby allowing our faculty to shift some time they spend in front of the class to time with students one-on-one, or in small groups."That lofty goal will cost the College $85 million in new endowment, according to Dean of Planning John Emerson. The new endowment would support $4.25 million in new annual expenses, including professor salaries.Emerson stressed that much would depend on the College's upcoming five-year, $500 million fundraising drive. If the campaign is successful - and early signs, including advance pledges by donors to give over $200 million, suggest it will be - then it will be the largest in the history of liberal arts colleges."I am quite sure that resources of this magnitude simply cannot come out of income from student comprehensive fees, so the success of the forthcoming campaign is critically important," he said.Even as the College plans for its record-setting campaign, however, financial constraints are forcing administrators to make hard choices regarding the Commons system to which Liebowitz and President of the College Emeritus John M. McCardell Jr. remain so committed.Commons Deans worry that their residential communities, already disrupted by the more than 60 percent of juniors who study abroad, could be further damaged by a Student Government Association (SGA) proposal for "open" senior room draw - a move many students believe necessary since the administration's halting of new dorm construction nearly two years ago."We have managed to create a sense of identity and community in Cook," said Cook Commons Dean David Edleson, "focusing on the people, the activities, the atmosphere and just trying not to worry too much about the housing and any inequities there."Edleson said that while the completion of Commons housing would alleviate many of the problems the system faces, he agreed that academics and aid would have to come first."In Cook Commons, we have always had huge challenges with housing, particularly for our sophomores," he said. "But I work at this college because I believe in the academic mission, so hiring faculty and improving the education is always the top priority."Like Edleson, Liebowitz remained positive that the Commons system could continue to prove valuable for students until additional housing is completed."The strength of the system lies not in the facilities however, either now or when the system is complete," he said, "but rather in the potential for the human relationships that can develop and serve students best in their lives outside the classroom - relationships between and among students who live together, and between students and their commons heads and deans."
(11/30/06 12:00am)
Author: Allison Ortega The men's and women's swimming and diving teams opened their season, as they hostedthe Middlebury Invitational on Nov. 18 in the Natatorium. Coach Peter Solomon used the event, normally held in February, to invite Keene State, Gordon State, St. Michael's and UMass-Dartmouth, teams that the Panthers would not otherwise face. The teams were invited as a warm-up for racing and to gauge times as his team heads into its NESCAC-heavy schedule. The invitational consisted of mainly relay events, including some unconventional races like the 400-yard butterfly relay and the mixed 100-yard 4 x 25 freestyle relay for divers. Despite the uncommon set-up, both the Panthers' men's and women's teams were dominant, claiming victory in all 17 events.The 500-yard freestyle was the one exception to the invitational's relay format. On the women's side, Sara Cowie '08, who set the pool record in the same event last year, cruised to victory in 5:14.81. First-year Katie Soja finished second behind Cowie, and Middlebury showed superior depth by claiming the top six places overall. Kevin O'Rourke '09 easily won the event for the men in 5:01.67 with a time nearly seven seconds faster than second-place finisher Kyle Uricchio of Keene State.The Invitational served as a precursor to this weekend's highly anticipated dual meet with Amherst. Last year the Lord Jeffs narrowly defeated both the men's and women's teams during the regular season. The women, however, found redemption during the NESCAC Championships by edging Amherst to finish second overall. This season the swimmers expect another close match-up. "Amherst has always been a swimming rival and this year isn't any different," said Whitney Thomas '07.5. "The meet against Amherst will show us the depth of our talent and preparation as a team and as individuals. As Coach Solomon likes to impress upon us, this meet will come down to the third and fourth place finishes."With the strong start at the Middlebury Invitational, the Panther have already taken one step in the right direction towards having a successful season. "It was a good way for the team to come together. Considering how fast we went in the first meet, it is a good indication of how strong the team is going to be this year," said Cowie.
(11/16/06 12:00am)
Author: Derek Schlickeisen The College may launch the largest fundraising drive in the history of liberal arts institutions next fall, according to President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz and others in the administration. If successful, the campaign would raise nearly $500 million over five years in order to fund objectives outlined in the recently adopted Strategic Plan.The campaign, which the Board of Trustees will likely endorse in May, would require a significant expansion of the College's donor base beyond existing alumni, parents and friends of the College. To accomplish this expansion, Liebowitz said that the College would look to those who agree with its mission in a changing world."Where this campaign could distinguish itself from all others is by expanding our network of prospective donors outside of the College," Liebowitz said. "We are engaging people who understand that the world is now global, and would support institutions like Middlebury that have internationalized their curricula and focus on both linguistic and cultural competency."Though the anticipated campaign comes on the heels of three highly successful years of efforts to increase the College's endowment, the $500 million mark would signify the largest capital campaign in the history of liberal arts colleges. Wellesley College in Massachusetts set the current record in 2005 when it completed a campaign to raise just over $470 million."This is obviously a very ambitious goal for the College," Liebowitz said. "We're talking about something that is unprecedented for a liberal arts college." Ann Crumb, associate vice president for College Advancement, explained that the College is now in a pre-campaign phase dedicated to ensuring that $500 million represents an appropriate goal. Liebowitz confirmed that this "silent phase" of the campaign has already yielded over $200 million in pledges."The President and others are speaking with many of our trustees and potential donors who are closest to the College to discuss the impact their financial support could have and determine their level of funding," said Crumb.Rather than simply adding to the College's endowment, pledges from the new campaign would also support a host of initiatives approved last spring in the new Strategic Plan. In addition to construction projects like the one now underway for the Donald E. Axinn '51 Center for Literary and Cultural Studies at Starr Library and another to build an environmentally friendly power plant on campus, Liebowitz and the trustees hope to increase direct financial aid grants by up to $2,000 per student, add at least 25 new faculty positions and to construct new housing for the completion of the Commons system. "The College needs a highly successful campaign to achieve the strategic goals that have now been embraced by the President and the Board of Trustees," said Dean of Planning and Secretary of the College John Emerson, who chaired the Strategic Planning Committee last spring. "We need a successful campaign if we are to continue Middlebury's rise to the very highest ranks of liberal arts colleges."Liebowitz and others emphasized that the College hopes to reach out to both new individuals and other institutions in seeking support for initiatives like improved student aid and study abroad efforts."I am committed, as I said from the start of my presidency, to building relationships with other institutions and collaborating with them to help us achieve our goals of providing our students with the best possible educational experience and our alumni with the strongest network for their post-Middlebury lives," said Liebowitz.Other institutions, Liebowitz explained, might range from neighborhood organizations like the Harlem Educational Assistance Fund to major universities, which together would provide the support necessary to further improve diversity on campus and expand internship opportunities abroad.Emerson said that this early phase has gone well."Middlebury is already off to a very strong start in the forthcoming campaign," Emerson said. "There are many alumni and friends of the College who generously support the College and who are deeply committed to the College and especially to its students."Challenges do remain, however, and those involved in the process readily acknowledge."One particular challenge is in making our loyal supporters and potential contributors realize that much of our fundraising needs to be in the form of gifts to endow important initiatives in perpetuity," Emerson explained. "When we add a faculty position, we will be committed to it indefinitely and we need the resources to support it in the long run." According to Liebowitz, each new professorship requires an added $2.5 million in endowment to support.An official announcement of the campaign and its exact monetary goal is expected for the fall of 2007.
(11/16/06 12:00am)
Author: Michelle Constant The Class of 2007 will present the College with an environmental fund for green initiatives on campus as its senior gift, the Senior Committee announced last Friday. Called The Green Fund, the gift will support projects including biomass incentives, carbon neutralization efforts and the organic garden.Seniors voted last week on a list of proposed gifts suggested by students. The list included the Green Fund, a wall-mounted clock for the New Library, contributions to the Hillcrest Environmental Center or the Axinn Center at Starr Library, wireless Internet in Axinn or Hillcrest, scholarship money for future students or a donation to the annual fund, which is responsible for seven percent of the College's direct operating expenses. According to Leigh Polfer '07 and Brett Swenson '07, the co-chairs of the Senior Committee, close to 500 seniors voted on the class gift, making it one of the largest turnouts in years. Annual Giving Officer Heidi Webb said the Green Fund won with 146 votes. A new library clock came in a close second, down by 20 votes, while the number of votes for the other gifts fell within a lower range, with wireless Internet receiving the fewest number of votes.Webb said that seniors a few years ago donated a clock for McCardell Bicentenial Hall and said that the Green Fund is a more original gift. Webb also said that the Class of 2007 is known as "the green class," and that this fund was a characteristic choice that is "going to be a really great gift to the College." She said that the endowed fund "will benefit any project to help [the College] achieve greater goals of making the campus more sustainable," encompassing projects like the Hillcrest Environmental Center. According to Polfer, the environmental fund will consist of the seed money to begin a fund that will grow over time as continual alumni donations accumulate. The goal of the Senior Committee is for the fund to eventually reach $10 million. Polfer hopes that this fund will serve as "a model for all other environmentally conscious colleges." Swenson believes that the Green Fund is "one of the greatest senior gifts the school has ever received" and is honored that this gift will be associated with her senior class.Other seniors, however, were not as content with the chosen senior gift. Mateo Fisher '07 voted for the scholarship money. Fisher said, "we must take measures to ensure that anyone that can add to the [College's] culture, regardless of financial means, has the opportunity to be here." Fisher also expressed a strong belief that the library clock was not a useful choice for students. Micah Gurard-Levin '07 thought that it is "important to pick a class gift that contributes to the student experience on campus" and to give back to the College community for all of the ways it has benefited the seniors during their four-year tenure. Gurard-Levin said that although supporting environmental issues is important for the global community, contributing to the construction of the Axinn Center would have been a more "meaningful gift to help maintain the historical significance of that building."
(11/09/06 12:00am)
Author: James Kerrigan Senior rugger Matt Volz has seen his fair share of bumps, bruises and blood during his time at Middlebury, but he has also seen much growth and success for the Middlebury rugby team. This season, the rugby team collected its second consecutive New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) by beating the United States Coast Guard Academy once again in the finals. MCRC encountered a scare against UVM in late September, but has otherwise been dominant, beating opponents with large margins. The team has won each of its nine games this season by a combined total of 382-65. Will the Inside the Locker Room competition be as lopsided?Patrick Mott '07, who scored the go-ahead try in the 78th minute of the NERFU finals, has endured many long, demanding practices with Volz, but does he know what Volz is up to when he is not throwing his weight around?Pascal Losambe '07 has lived with Volz for three of the last four years and surely knows many of his ins and outs. Will this residential proximity be an unfair advantage?Who knows Volz better, his teammate Mott, or his long-time roommate and fellow rugger Losambe?Despite many years of sharing a room and the practice field, Losambe was unable to match Mott in the Inside the Locker Room competition. Mott helped bring the roommates back to .500 this season by matching the total number of wins recorded by the roommates (3). Perhaps it is the similarities between Volz's first name and Patrick's last name (Matt and Mott) that gave Mott the advantage. In any case, his successful recognition of Volz's nickname and medicial history was enough to take the trophy for the week. When asked about what Volz might fear most, Mott quickly responded, "Matty fears nothing." While this might be characteristic of all the Middlebury ruggers, even with limited knowldge of the sport, Volz's leadership, dedication and heart are all clearly visible. Mott also noted that Volz probably prefers to write with a stick dipped in blood. Either way, no matter what the utensil, Volz has helped write a legacy that is Middlebury rugby. The talented and tough group of men have enjoyed as much success as any other team here at the College during the past several years.
(11/09/06 12:00am)
Author: Geoff Homer The Panthers made their last road trip of the season worthwhile: after boarding their bus to travel to Clinton, N.Y. to take on Hamilton in the annual Old Rocking Chair Classic on Saturday the 4th, the Panthers were able to enjoy the four-hour trek back to Vermont following a 10-0 shutout victory. The victory was Middlebury's 11th straight win over Hamilton, dating back to 1995. On a relatively warm fall day on Steuben Field, defensive lineman Kevin Ryan '07 had a day for the record books as he recorded three sacks, which vaulted him into first place in the NESCAC single-season sack record. Ryan broke the previous record of 12 sacks, held by Colby's Ryan Aldrich and Williams' Bobby Walker, with his new record of 13.5 sacks. Ryan also recorded a team high eight tackles.When asked about the record, Ryan said, "I am not really concerned with records. I am more concerned with having fun in playing the game." Kicker Steve Hauschka '07 also had a record setting day. Hauschka booted a kick through the uprights for the ninth time this season, tying him for first for the Middlebury single-season record. The 19th field goal of his career also kicked him into first place on the career record, breaking Jon Peterson's 1985 record. "I really didn't even know I broke the record until I heard after the game. It's a great honor, and I am proud to be part of Middlebury football history," Hauschka revealed. But he noted, "I try not distract myself with things like that because it's not going to help me make the next kick."Hauschka, while pleased that he broke the record, admitted that it will be broken in the future, especially since the senior has only played for three years. "The players are more skilled each year and as soon as there is a kicker with four solid seasons it will be broken," the senior kicker said.In securing the Hamilton victory, the Panthers rallied towards the end of the first quarter as quarterback Tiger Lyon '07 connected with Evan Beilin '09 for a 20-yard touchdown pass. The scoreboard had limited activity until the end of the third quarter, when Hauschka kicked a 24-yard field goal to put the Panthers up 10-0. Co-Captain Jamie Staples '07, who was second on the team with five receptions for 58 yards, revealed that the offense did not play as well as hoped. "The high risk-high reward defense by Hamilton combined with our sub-par offensive performance meant we weren't able to score as many points as we would have liked," he said. Despite the seemingly limited offensive output, ten points was more than enough for the Panthers as the defense played spectacularly once again. The Continentals were limited to five first downs and only managed 138 yards of total offense. After Ryan's eight tackles, Nate Clancy '08 added seven of his own, while Co-Captain Scott Secor '07, Alex Buggy '07 and Erik Woodring '08 added six each.The defense has carried the Panthers this season, said Ryan. "This year has been a special year for me because our defense has the kind of attitude I like playing with. Everyone wants to bring the hit stick.""Our linebackers did an exceptional job of rerouting the Hamilton receivers, helping to disrupt the passing game," said cornerback Mac Conn '07. Secor added, "I think Mac and Nate Clancey had great games on Saturday. Both have been somewhat of unsung heros all year with how good Woodring and K-Ry have been. Mac had a huge touchdown saving tackle in the fourth quarter. He has done a great job locking down receivers all year and is probably our most reliable player on defense."At 5-2, the Panthers are guaranteed to finish the season above .500 for the first time since 2000. Middlebury concludes its season on Saturday when they face Tufts at Alumni Stadium. The seniors will be especially motivated because it will be their last football game. According to Secor, "The last game of the year is always very emotional. It is all about how you want to send the seniors out." "We've done a very good job the last few years of staying focused and concentrating on honoring the seniors with how the team finishes the year off. This year we are hoping to do the same," he said.
(11/09/06 12:00am)
Author: Kathryn Flagg Addressing topics ranging from the controversial Rehnquist professorship to the College's upcoming fundraising campaign, members of the Middlebury College faculty convened Monday for their monthly faculty meeting. In what was the most enlivened debate of the meeting, Professor of Russian Kevin Moss addressed the faculty and announced a motion to reaffirm the College's commitment to diversity despite the recent unveiling of the Justice William H. Rehnquist Professorship of American History and Culture. "Here I am again," said Moss, taking the podium. "I don't long to be the person who gets up here and says these things. I want to express just how pained I am and a number of my other colleagues were."Moss contended that the Rehnquist professorship signals a strong affront to minorities on campus. In an interview he said, "A number of marginalized groups - lesbians and gay men, people of color, women - feel alienated by the decision to name a chair after a powerful figure who did a lot of real harm to us."Moss's statement comes on the heels of widespread debate from students, faculty and staff about the appropriateness of the Rehnquist professorship, and precedes the predicted student protest slated for Friday afternoon outside of Old Chapel. During his statement, Moss called for the College to examine and question the criteria for accepting an endowed chair, and challenged members of the faculty and administration to recognize the professorship as supportive of the "real discrimination" he sees embodied in Rehnquist's decisions made during his time on the Court."Some minorities are not here and now in our position," he said. "It irks me that our anger at Rehnquist's real and on-the-record homophobia with huge repercussions for our community is met with denial, dismissal and stonewalling."Although Moss's motion will not be voted on until the December faculty meeting, his statement drew support from several faculty members. The statement also garnered a cautious response from professors. Gamaliel Painter Bicentennial Professor of Physics Frank Winkler stressed that he was "uncomfortable with the idea of having politically motivated criteria by which we choose to accept or reject the gifts made to the College. It's a slippery slope."Following Moss's motion, President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz updated the faculty on the College's current fundraising efforts, announcing an ambitious plan to raise around $500 million to fund the implementation of recommendations in the Strategic Plan. The Board of Trustees will likely set the final campaign goal by May, and Liebowitz later predicted that the campaign would have between $225 and $230 million in pledges by that time. He guessed that the campaign would go public after that point, most likely next fall. During Monday's meeting, he also announced two recent pledges from anonymous donors of $10 and $15 million, and revealed that a major goal of the upcoming campaign is to strengthen the financial aid endowment, which currently consists of $140 million of the College's total endowment. Liebowitz stressed how this might affect the faculty, noting that the funding of faculty positions resonates with donors and alumni of the College. Although the College has not officially launched the upcoming campaign, Liebowitz noted that the "silent phase" of any financial campaign is crucial to total fundraising. He explained that during this period, the College approaches top prospects for pledges and can expect to raise between 40 and 45 percent of its total goal. In addition to addressing the Rehnquist professorship and College fundraising, the faculty examined a report from the Faculty Council considering amendments and alterations in language to the review process for physical education teachers and coaches. Associate Professor of Geography Pete Nelson spoke about potential "midstream" improvements to the review process, including outlining more specifically the requisite credentials for candidates and removing the Director of Athletics and the Dean of Student Affairs from the voting process for candidates. The faculty also considered a brief report from the Educational Affairs Committee examining early strategies for tackling Strategic Plan recommendations and initiatives.At the close of the meeting, following his fundraising update, Liebowitz also addressed admissions numbers for the fall, announcing the rise in the number of early decision applicants and encouraging professors to take part in the admissions process.The faculty will convene again in December to consider, among other items on the agenda, Moss's motion for reaffirming the College's commitment to diversity.
(10/26/06 12:00am)
Author: George Mayer Any doubts as to how the Middlebury football team would respond to their disappointing 40-9 loss to Williams a week ago have been put to rest. In front of a packed house at Alumni Stadium during Homecoming Weekend, the Panthers dismantled winless Bates 31-7. While the defense continued its stellar play, the offense showed an increase in dominance as well. Less than two minutes into the game, quarterback Tiger Lyon '07 hit Stefan Hrdina '07 on a screen pass for a 59-yard touchdown."Tiger did a great job leading our offense," said wide-receiver Andrew Matson '09. "[He] continued to make the right reads and he put the players around him in good positions to make plays." Early in the second quarter, the Bobcats answered with a touchdown of their own scored by running back Jamie Walker. Walker, sporting a "flow" haircut that resembled Michael Bolton's, picked up 31 yards on the drive, including his one-yard touchdown scamper. The Panthers regained control of the game later in the second quarter after a fumble recovery by linebacker Erik Woodring '08. Following the Bates turnover, Lyon hit Matson for a 31-yard reception, leading to a 41-yard field goal by kicker Steve Hauschka '07. Each team failed to score the rest of the quarter, giving the Panthers a 10-7 lead at the end of the first half.Bates' opening drive in the second half ended prematurely as Mattthew Morrissey '07 intercepted a pass, leading to a Middlebury touchdown. Running back David Randolph '08 moved the ball up the field with a 19-yard rush, then caught a pass from Lyon for a 19-yard touchdown reception.The Panthers continued to add to their lead on Bates' Swiss cheese defense for the remainder of the second half. Lyon's third touchdown reception of the day was caught by wide receiver Chris Schmidt '07 with 5:22 left in the third quarter.Middlebury's final touchdown followed a 12-play, 70-yard fourth quarter drive. Lyon capped the drive off with a one-yard touchdown run giving him three throwing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown for the day.Despite Bates' single scoring drive, the Middlebury defense was impenetrable. "The defense really stepped up and completely shut down the Bates offense which gave us great field position," said Randolph.Captain Scott Secor '07 led the defense with 10 tackles, while Woodring had nine. The Panther defense had nine plays for lost yardage and defensive tackle Kevin Ryan '07 recorded a sack, which brough his league leading total to 10.5.Next up for the Panthers is Trinity College, who should prove to be a much tougher than the winless Bobcats. The winner of next week's NESCAC battle in Hartford will take sole control of second place in the conference. Lyon and the Panthers seemed to get going offensively this past week, so they should have plenty of confidence to face the always tough Trinity defense. The Panthers' win on Saturday guarentees that they will finish no worse than a .500 record.
(10/26/06 12:00am)
Author: Scott Greene In an effort designed to reverse the recent devolution of the College's social scene away from campus and promote more on-campus partying, at least one additional music concert will be brought to campus during Winter Term after members of the Student Government Association's (SGA) Social Affairs Committee gathered on Oct. 18 to discuss the new initiative."[The concert series] is SGA's effort to help the social problem happening on campus and provide one solution for a party on campus that kids will actually want to go to and that won't be causing strife with the administration," said Liz Parker '07, co-leader of the Social Affairs Committee. "The concerts will be predominantly off-campus bands brought in much in the same way that other organizations throw concerts."The new concert will tentatively occur in Atwater Dining Hall during the first or second Friday after students return for Winter Term in January. Another concert will be held during the Spring term, but the committee must first resolve budget concerns that have arisen during the planning process. The committee has met over the last two weeks to begin discussions about the new concert. It includes SGA cabinet members and representatives from WRMC 91.1. The initiative originally called for a monthly concert series, according to WRMC Concert Director Will Durkin '08.5, but plans have changed in light of the program's budget."We asked the Finance Committee what our budget was because originally I was told they said 'whatever you need,"' said Durkin, "but then when we asked them to give us numbers they said $1,500, which is basically nothing." The Social Affairs Committee later amended its goal to include a concert during winter term and another in the spring. "We're being given a budget to get these concerts but right now we're just trying to work out what sort of budget we need," said Durkin. "But you can't really look for stuff if you don't have a budget." According to SGA President Alex Stanton '07, funding for the event should not be a problem. However, Stanton conceded that the cost of the band will dictate the amount of funds needed for the event. "There are certain sub-costs in terms of sound system, food and beverages that are part of every concert but the cost of the band dwarfs those costs," said Stanton, "so that really gives some flexibility there." Still, he cautioned that "obviously [funding] is something to be concerned about." Stanton's disclaimer was echoed by others. Funding is quite limited, according to Amanda Goodwin '07, chair of the SGA Finance Committee. "If they want to use the remaining operating budget on concerts, and Alex approves this decision, it will mean no more money for anything else during the year, including all of SGA's other subcommittees," said Goodwin.Goodwin also cautioned that the groups might have to look outside the Finance Committee for funding. "The amount remaining in the SGA operating budget is not substantial," said Goodwin. "I would need to learn more about the prospective costs of bands, and also the subcommittee's plans to generate ticket revenue before seeing if that amount could even pay for a fraction of what this committee is thinking up."Conscious of their financial situation, the SGA has already begun to look for alternative funding opportunities. Dining Services will likely co-sponsor the event, and Atwater Commons will probably get involved as well. By joining forces with non-student groups, the SGA hopes to take pressure off of the Finance Committee. Goodwin agreed that even more funding options exist that can support the concert series."Notably, charging for tickets would help replenish the fund and could contribute to a greater number of concerts," she said.In the meantime, the Finance Committee is also working to change the way it allocates money to better facilitate new initiatives and rehabilitate the on-campus social scene, according to Stanton."In the past, we've sort of said 'let's let the student groups have all the money, and they can run social life, each student group can have their own little thing and that's great and wonderful,'" said Stanton, "but it makes it really hard to do new and big all-campus initiatives." He said that the existing funds are reserved for new student groups as opposed to new event-based initiatives.In the meantime, the group must still work out its financial plan for the concert. Durkin said that the Social Affairs Committee will probably ask for a budget of $6,000."That's what we think it will take to bring a cool band that people know," he said. "[The SGA] said they wanted name-recognition. We could have a show with $1,500, but they're not going to get what they want and I think they'd be disappointed."The Social Affairs Committee hopes that the concert series will succeed as a new initiative and gain a formalized place in the SGA's budget for next year. "The biggest issue that affects all students is the way the money is allocated, and right now there a lot of small student groups that get a lot of money for various existing events and that's great, it makes Midd unique, but at the same time it makes it hard for us to have something bigger that lots of student groups can get together on," said Stanton. "[The Concert] should be exciting for everyone. It's something new and I think it will work and be a lot of fun."
(10/05/06 12:00am)
Author: Livingston Burgess Middlebury's men's and women's crew teams opened the season on Sunday with what men's varsity captain Eric Hoest '07.5 termed "a resounding success." The groups traveled to Lowell, Mass. for the Textile River Regatta, and laid the groundwork for a season that Hoest expects to be replete with development and growth for a relatively inexperienced squad.On the men's side, the Panthers fielded teams in a pair of races, specifically the Open Four and Open Two events. The former team, made up of David Reymondet '09, Scott Robinson '09, Garrett Reynolds '09 and Jason Sanford '10 and coxswained by Nick Palmeri '09 took tenth place with a time of 18:30 in a very competitive field of 16. The A team from the Cambridge Boat Club won that race in 15:58. Hoest and teammate David Wood '07 won the Men's Open Two by default, running an unopposed time of 19:59. Hoest felt optimistic about how the races bode for the remainder of competition."I see great potential in both the men's and women's squads in the upcoming weeks," he said. "Now that we have the first race of the year under our belts, I would like to see it move up in the ranks even more."The Women Panthers entered two boats in an Open Four event marked by heavy rain and wind, placing seventh and eighth out of 19 entrants. Crew B of Maggie Smith '09, Brett Dollar '09, Laurel Wickberg '09, Abby Mayer '09, and coxswain Hana Nagao '09 clocked in at 19:59, and were followed closely by Crew A's 20:11. That team was made up of Dale Freundlich '10, Kathryn Babin '07, Emily Dawson '08.5, and Flora Campbell '09 and coxswain Brooke Adams '07. Riverside Boat Club's A Crew ran away with that race in 17:36."[Crew A] had a solid first race, passing a boat within the first 500 meters of the course, and then battling a tough headwind all the way to the finish," commented Adams. It was in mixed doubles competition, however, that Middlebury truly stood out. The A and B crews placed second and third respectively, out of six competitors - Babin and Hoest made up the A crew, and Wood and Adams the B. Babin and Hoest finished in 18:56, about half a minute off Cygnet Rowing Club's A pair's winning time. Woods and Adams posted a time of 19:35. Like, Hoest, Adams was eager for more chances for the crew teams to demonstrate what she considers a large amount of potential. Their next chance comes at the New Hampshire Championships, over the weekend of October 14.
(10/05/06 12:00am)
Author: Leslie Lim At last weekend's meeting of the Board of Trustees, the College reaffirmed its commitment to making on-campus power production more environmentally friendly. Director of Environmental Affairs Nan Jenks-Jay announced Saturday that the Board had approved a recommendation to construct a biofuels plant on campus that will reduce the College's carbon dioxide output to pre-1990 levels by 2012.The plant, which will replace a large portion of fossil fuel use with wood chips, will be attached to the current Service Building near McCullough Student Center and will reduce the College's greenhouse gas emissions by 12,500 metric tons annually. This advance represents a significant step toward reducing the College's ecological footprint, or its impact on the environment through the use of natural resources. By using biofuels, the College stands to cut in half - from two million gallons per year to one million - its use of "number six" fuel, a particularly pollutant-heavy industrial-grade fuel oil.Facing an estimated cost of $11 million, the College plans to secure loans and apply for state grants to finance the project. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2007, with the plant coming online in the fall of 2008.The plant, according to those involved in the planning process, reflects the College's objective to move away from fossil fuels towards using renewable alternatives as part of a commitment to a sustainable, local economy. Long-term goals for the plant point to using wood chips harvested in an environmentally-friendly method from local resources.Once online, the plans will reduce the College's carbon footprint by 30 percent. "The College has long been concerned about its carbon footprint and its effect on global warming," said Jenks-Jay in a press release. Jenks-Jay is also part of the Carbon Reduction Initiative, a group of students, faculty, staff and administrators that has worked on the biomass project for several years. In a statement adopted unanimously, the Board endorsed the Carbon Reduction Initiative Working Group's goal of "reducing College greenhouse gas emissions by eight percent below 1990 levels by 2012." Because of recent growth in the College's energy needs, accomplishing this goal will require a reduction of 35 percent from the 2000 - 2001 fiscal year. The plant will also have financial advantages for the College in the long term. With a plant that relies on less-expensive local resources, the College will also not be subject to rising oil prices. "It has the potential in the long run for bringing real dollar savings to the College," said Secretary of the College and Dean of Planning John Emerson.The College emphasized in its release that the new plant will provide an opportunity for economic cooperation between the College and local businesses, since the facility will require roughly 20,000 to 21,000 tons of chips per year to meet the school's energy needs. "Our search for suppliers of wood chips who use environmental principles and practices is another indication of our desire to work together with the greater community in Vermont, the Northeast and beyond to create a greener future," said Jenks-Jay. "Our hope is that the College's entry into biomass will greatly stimulate the growth of the local, sustainable wood chip market and bioenergy economy in Addison County and Vermont." The current plans originated several years ago, explained Executive Vice President and Treasurer Bob Huth. "The project occurred as a result of a winter term course in 2003 that [Luce Professor of International Environmental Economics] Jon Isham and [Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry] Lori DelNegro taught that identified an inventory of carbon-producing activities of the College and outlined ideas for improvement," said Huth. "This led to the Carbon Reduction Working Group that Nan Jenks-Jay helped to create."President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz stressed the College's leadership in renewable energy. "Middlebury has taken a national leadership role on the issue of carbon reduction among higher education institutions, and has a history of promoting sustainable economic development in Vermont," said Liebowitz. "The biomass plant exemplifies the College's longstanding commitment to the environment not only as an academic subject but also as an integral part of the institution's operations. It reflects the significance we place on the local economy as well."
(10/05/06 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Klein Ahhh man. I was pulling for the Astros to complete the unthinkable. An eight and a half game deficit to the division-leading Cardinals had dwindled to a mere half game, but Sunday's loss to the Braves assured the 'Stros that they will be watching the postseason from home. Just like me. You will know where to find me these next few weeks - on the couch in Coffrin lounge. Here's what I will be watching:Yankees vs. Tigers: What a disappointment for the Tigers. Sunday's loss to the lowly Royals, coupled with the Twins' victory over the White Sox, forced Detroit to travel to New York to face the star-studded, modern-day Murderers' Row Yankees' lineup. Morale must be pretty low in the Motor City. Okay, maybe it's because I'm from New York, but I'm not giving Detroit any chance here. They've lost five straight games, three of which were to arguably the league's worst team, and they don't feature a playoff-type batting order - i.e., they don't work the count and they strike out a lot. Not a recipe for success in the postseason. Prediction: Yankees in three games.Twins vs. Athletics: The Twins are the anti-Tigers. They have won 10 out of their last 15 games to close out the season and overtake the Tigers as AL Central champions. Their confidence must be soaring now that they have avoided a first round matchup with the talented and experienced Yankees, which would have been their third in four years - they got clobbered the previous two times. The A's, meanwhile, are not a team built to win in the postseason. Though they finished the season 24 games over .500, they have outscored their opponents by only 44 runs. Meanwhile, their team ERA is 4.18. With Twins ace Johan Santana set to start two game in a short series, the A's look to be in trouble. Prediction: Twins in four games.Mets vs. Dodgers: This intriguing battle will feature a team that has been all but assured of a postseason birth for over a month - the Mets - and one that just snuck into the playoffs as the wild-card in the final few days of the season - the Dodgers. Pedro Martinez is done for the year, but the Mets just have too much offense. Prediction: Mets in four games.Padres vs. Cardinals: Last year, the Cardinals embarrassed the Padres with a three-game sweep in the first round. The Padres head into this rematch a better team and with a chip on their shoulder. David Wells has regained his form and provides San Diego with a savvy veteran pitcher, while Mike Piazza gives them a big bat in the middle of the order to counteract the great Albert Pujols. Look for the Padres to avenge last year's defeat. Prediction: Padres in four games.
(10/05/06 12:00am)
Author: Geoff Homer Alex Scott victorious againRiding high from his victory in the Middlebury Invitational, Alex Scott '07 continued his success at the ITA New England Championships hosted at Williams College. Scott was undefeated at the tournament, winning both its singles and doubles titles. Scott won every one of his singles matches, en route to a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the finals. With his victory, Scott receives an automatic bid to the 2006 ITA National Small College Championships in Florida. In the doubles finals, Scott teamed with classmate George Mayer '07 to defeat their teammates Conrad Olson '09 and Filip Marinkovic '08 by a score of 8-2. With their victory the Scott/Mayer tandem also qualified for the ITA National Small College Championships.Vollyball sweeps Vt. matchesLast week the women's volleyball team played two matches in Vermont, winning each by a score of three to zero. The Panthers captured their home-opener in the Pepin Gym against Union on Sept. 26 before traveling to the college's hockey rival, Norwich two days later for the first ever meeting between the two schools in volleyball.Offensively, over the three games Josie Keller '09, Lexie Fisher '08 and Kate Heath '09 each contributed ten kills to lead the team. In addition, Lacee Patterson '06.5 was a major contributor in the game, with 11 digs and 43 assists. Traveling to Norwich, the Panthers disposed of the Cadets with relative ease. Every member of the team saw action, with Fisher, Kelly Nichols '09 and Kate Lupo '10 getting ten kills. Olivia Minkhorst '09 had 19 digs, while Reisa Bloch '09.5 had 12 and Nichols 11. The Panthers host Tufts on Sunday at 2:00 in the Pepin Gym. Hauschka receives NESCAC awardAs a result of his extraordinary efforts on the football team's special team Steve Hauschka '07 has been named NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week. Hauschka's honor is Middlebury's second-straight defensive player of the week award after Erik Woodring '08 garnered the honor last week. Hauschka's powerful right leg got a good workout in Saturday's contest against Colby. He punted the ball eight times, for a total of 345 yards; and averaged of 43.2 yards a punt. His long was 52 yards, with four of his punts landing inside the 20. Hauschka's efforts ensured that Colby's average starting position was at the 20 yard line, 80 yards away from the goal line that they never saw. In addition to his punts, Hauschka also kicked a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter. Woodring, last week's Defensive Player of Week, also led the Panther defense with 14 tackles, including two for a loss. Senior freak Kevin Ryan set a Middlebury and NESCAC record with six sacks in the game. Water Polo swims at DartmouthOver the weekend, the Panthers competed in four games at Dartmouth, compiling a .500 record. The water polo team won their first two games against UVM and Colby, before falling to Boston College and bitter rival Dartmouth. After cruising through their first two games, the Panthers felt confident heading into the BC match. BC stormed out with an intensity that the Panthers were not expecting, and could not match, as the team's mind was on the upcoming matchup with the Big Green. BC was able to get out to a five to two lead, and never looked back, finally taking the victory with a score of 12-5. After the disappointing defeat to BC, the Panthers were determined to show Dartmouth a good game. The first half did not disappoint, as the Panthers battled to a seven-to-seven tie going into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the defense couldn't sustain their momentum, and gave up seven points to eventually lose by a 14-11 score. This weekend the Panthers look forward to the chance to avenge their loss to Dartmouth when they travel to Bates for their annual tournament. The Panthers will host the League Championships on Oct. 28-29.Despite the mediocre play the team has shown recently, they are still in contention to make it to Club Nationals, however, it will not be as easy as the team previously anticipated.
(10/05/06 12:00am)
Author: Aylie Baker SafeRides. No more Free Pub Night. Construction on Main Street. This fall, such gripes have been noticeably discernable above the hum of SGA deliberations and general student banter. Yet such complaints quickly pale in comparison to issues such as AIDS, sexual exploitation and premature births. For Jane Roberts, co-founder of "34 Million Friends," addressing such problems is a daily priority and central to her organization. A graduate of the master's program at the Middlebury School in Paris, Roberts will be speaking on Tuesday, Oct. 10 in Dana Auditorium. Roberts never officially joined the diplomatic service. In fact, prior to becoming a good-will ambassador in 2002, the 65-year-old woman had spent most of her life as a French teacher and tennis coach in Redlands, California. Now, rather than bask in retirement, Roberts has chosen to lead a growing fundraising and action campaign. Embarking on missions in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Roberts helps alleviate strife on many levels. Often trekking across miles of barren territory, she has met with policy-makers, visited various schools and held educational sessions at clinics regarding family planning. So what triggered this drastic change of pace? When President Bush announced in 2002 that the U.S. would withhold $34 million of funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Roberts was infuriated. "I wanted to cry out against this crime against humanity," she recalls. The Bush Administration justified its decision by citing claims that the UNFPA was supporting programs in China which purportedly forced women to have abortions. "Investigations undertaken by American officials following the U.S.' aid withdrawal have revealed that the UNFPA has never condoned or supported any such activities," said Roberts. Yet despite such findings, the Bush Administration has continued to withhold its contributions from UNFPA - today totaling to nearly $170 million. Withdrawing $34 million in aid will have a devastating effect on internationational development. The UNFPA is an international development agency which tackles a wide range of global problems that are in danger of being amplified by future population growth. In addition to working to alleviate poverty and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, the organization promotes sustainable development, reproductive health and gender equality. "Since its inception nearly forty years ago, UNFPA has developed a number of initiatives which 'provide reproductive health services such as pre- and post-natal care,'" explained Karin Hanta, director of Middlebury College's Chellis House, who invited Roberts to campus. As a part of these programs, the organization provides "safe-birth kits," and is working diligently to eradicate obstetric fistula, a devastating pregnancy-related disability which "affects 50,000 to 100,000 women a year," cited Hanta. "By 2050," Roberts predicts, "The number of people living on this planet will have increased from 6.4 to nine billion. This growth will occur in the poorest countries with huge numbers of young people. They will be migrating to the cities by the millions." Unless these issues are addressed, she emphasized, such growth shall lead to "a humanitarian and environmental disaster" as well as become "a threat to peace and stability." In light of such projections, Roberts was astounded when the U.S. decided to withdraw its aid to the UNFPA. Unwilling to stand by these government actions, Roberts decided to take bold action. "Americans should be able to have their own little foreign policy," she reasoned. If 34 million Americans could each donate $1, she thought, the UNFPA would be able to overcome such a loss. Turns out she was not the only person with such a lofty idea - Lois Abraham, an attorney hailing from New Mexico and a grandmother of seven, had proposed the same initiative. What began as a fledgling e-mail campaign soon mushroomed into a cause that has raised more than $3 million. In addition to promoting their cause at a series of public lectures, NGO functions, airports and hotels, these two remarkable women have also helped lead UNFPA missions.In her campaign for world peace, Roberts places particular emphasis on the role of women. "Of the illiterate people on the planet today, two-thirds are girls," she explained in regard to UNFPA's efforts to make primary and secondary education more available to girls. "It seems as if the ability to read serves as a contraceptive. Girls who can read develop into women who play more active roles in their community and economies. When the world takes care of women, women take care of the world." Ultimately, "An annual sum of $34 million could help prevent some of the 500,000 to 600,000 deaths in childbirth each year by providing more 'safe-birth kits,'" Hanta explained. "Through various sexual education programs, it could reduce the number of abortions," alleged Hanta, "by an estimated 800,000." In the face of pressing issues such as maternal and infant mortality, one dollar suddenly rises infinitely in value, and grumbles over SafeRides and construction become muffled. Roberts will speak on Tuesday, Oct. 10 in Dana Auditorium. The event is sponsored by the Women's and Gender Studies Program, Chellis House, Brainerd Commons and the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs. Students wishing to become one of the 34 million friends can do so by offering a cash donation or writing a check at the event, by sending their donation or check to "Americans for UNFPA," 34 Million Friends, PO Box 681, Toms River, NJ 08754-9922 or by visiting www.34millionfriends.org. For further information, please contact Karin Hanta, khanta@middlebury.edu.
(10/05/06 12:00am)
Author: Derek Schlickeisen The College's Board of Trustees met this past weekend to implement priorities adopted in last spring's Strategic Plan, including a capital campaign to support added faculty members and financial aid and the construction of a low-emissions power plant on campus. The annual retreat also included a ceremony on Saturday dedicating the Axinn '51 Center for Literary and Cultural Studies now under construction at Starr Library.In private meetings, the trustees focused their attention in part on a capital campaign to reduce the College's student-faculty ratio to 8:1. With each added professorship requiring $2.5 million in endowment to support, President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz said he and the trustees will now work to add about $80 million to the College's $830 million endowment to support the new faculty and other spending priorities. Despite the endowment's third straight year of strong market performance, the added faculty commitments pose a challenge that must be met by fundraising. "My job is basically set for the next five to six years," said Liebowitz.The College's decision last spring to increase financial aid grants adds to this financial burden: as resources permit, the Student Financial Services Office hopes to replace between $500 and $2,500 per year in student loans with direct grants in order to reduce the debt held by graduates. "Having greater debt influences one's decision whether to come to Middlebury or go to a school that offers packages with less debt," said Liebowitz. "It also influences what types of jobs and careers students choose after graduation. We don't want that to happen because students should be pursuing their passions."The Board also voted to go ahead with the construction of an $11 million biofuels facility that will reduce the College's carbon dioxide output to below 1990 levels by 2012. The facility, slated for completion in 2008, will use woodchips as its primary fuel source. Said Liebowitz, "We see this as a natural continuation on something the trustees have been involved with for the last two years, which is a commitment to a carbon reduction initiative."With the faculty, financial aid and environmental goals taking priority, a third goal identified in the spring Strategic Plan - the completion of new housing for Cook, Wonnacott and Brainerd Commons - will have to wait. While plans do not call for completion of the new residence halls until 2015, both Liebowitz and Student Government Association President Alex Stanton '07 emphasized that work on integrating the Commons into social life at the College is ongoing. Stanton said he and others in student government met with the trustees on Friday to stress the importance of student input in the process. "We discussed the evolving role of the Commons at Middlebury and presented our agendas to the trustees," he said.Board members and Liebowitz spent part of Saturday afternoon at a ceremony dedicating one of the College's current construction priorities, the Axinn '51 Center for Literary and Cultural Studies at Starr Library, to Donald Everett Axinn in recognition of his support of the new facility. Axinn, a successful businessman and recipient of an honorary Doctor of Letters from the College in 1989, funded most of the renovation work.In addition to the capital campaign, the trustees spent much of the weekend developing specific steps toward implementing the 82 individual recommendations in the Strategic Plan. John Emerson, secretary of the College and dean of planning, said that Old Chapel would try to ensure that every item receives due attention by assigning ultimate responsibility for each recommendation to a different individual on Liebowitz's senior staff."We promised in the plan to hold ourselves accountable to the community for [the Strategic plan's] implementation," said Emerson. "This means that we will provide regular progress reports, perhaps two or three times during each year." Of the 82 recommendations, two have already been implemented - the adoption of a new mission statement and the development of an academic ratings system for applicants to the College.In describing the ratings system, the Strategic Plan calls for the Admissions Office to take into account "more than standardized test scores - for example, rigor of the high school curriculum, unique intellectual intensity and talent, and willingness to engage in intellectual discourse going beyond that expected by one's coursework."Following the annual fall retreat for the College's Board of Trustees, the College will host trustees from the recently-affiliated Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) in their annual meeting on Oct. 24. Nine months into the affiliation with MIIS, Liebowitz remained optimistic that the move has strengthened the College's reputation for languages and international studies."I don't think the world looks all that much at what most liberal arts colleges are doing," he said. "But in the area of languages and international studies, many are interested in what Middlebury is doing."
(09/28/06 12:00am)
Author: Dina Magaril New luxury condos in the Marbleworks complex are in the works. Construction on the newest addition to the Marbleworks community, a complex of condominium residences, began in the second week of September. The apartments should be finished by September 2007, according to Jen Etsy, the assistant for the complex's exclusive broker, Ingrid Jackson. The Redstone housing corporation that worked on such projects such as the Battell Hill Town homes located on Seminary Street in Middlebury is overseeing the new Marbleworks condominiums. The housing complex will include 30 apartments and 14 different floor plans.Aside from spectacular views of the Adirondacks, Green Mountains and Otter Creek Falls, the Marbleworks residences offer buyers private balconies and underground parking as well as a keypad entry and intercom system. The development of the apartments focuses on expanding the town center, thereby creating an in-town community and not contributing to a sprawl, Jackson said."We weren't looking for a certain demographic [to move in], but for people who were looking for a more urban setting," said Jackson. When asked why Marbleworks is the ideal setting for condos, Jackson discussed the various conveniences of living in the town center. "You don't need to own two cars," she said, adding that the new condominiums are just a walk away from the variety of restaurants and specialty shops that line Middlebury's center. Furthermore, residents looking for entertainment need not look further than the College, where lectures and concerts abound. The 30 units of the complex offer one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from $239,000 for a one-bedroom to $870,500 for a three-bedroom, 3-5 bathroom apartment that also includes a den and a roof-top deck. Etsy said some interested buyers are looking at the condominiums as a possible primary residence while others are mainly interested in buying for investment purposes and plan to rent out the units.Jackson that said the new residents included College professors, one family of a current Middlebury student and a Middlebury alum as well as several people looking to live closer to the downtown area. The condominiums are attracting higher income individuals because the apartments' price tags and the average citizen's income are incompatible. According to the U.S. Census taken in 2000 the median family income for Middlebury is $49,425 and the household income $39,710. Still, neighboring establishments such as the Marbleworks Pharmacy think the new residents will fit in perfectly and will help the community thrive. Cathy Friend, who works at the Marbleworks Pharmacy said,"[They're] in a good location in town and they'll really bring the value [of Marbleworks] up." Jackson agrees with Friend's assessment. "I think [the complex] will make Marbleworks a more vibrant community," she said. Those interested in finding out more about the complex are encouraged to visit the site's showroom or the complex's website at www.marbleworksresidences.com.
(09/21/06 12:00am)
Author: Emily Kilborn The recent hysteria over West Nile Virus (WNV) in the American media has been largely unfounded, and last week's sensationalist Middlebury Campus article ["Blood-thirsty bugs out of control"] was no exception.In truth, only 119 Americans died of WNV last year, out of a national population of around 300,000,000. That number is also expected to drop over the coming years as Americans build up immunity to the disease. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that only one in 150 infected people will get seriously ill, and only 3-15 percent of those will die, many of whom are elderly or immuno-compromised.If you have been bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, you probably don't even know it. According to CDC statistics, around 80 percent of people infected will experience no symptoms, and even if you are unlucky enough, as I was, to fall into the group of nearly 20 percent who develop West Nile Fever, you will probably assume you have an unpleasant case of the flu. In the seven years since WNV first showed up in New York City, the National Biological Information Structure reports that only 500 Americans have died. In fact, far more Americans die each year of common diseases such as chickenpox (CKP), asthma (AHA) and influenza (INF), all of which have highly effective means of prevention and/or treatment. In 2003 alone, the CDC reported that over 3000 Americans died of malnutrition. The proposed use of pesticides in Vermont's wetlands in order to control the mosquito population would be a proportional response only if these mosquitoes were transmitting something far more virulent, like malaria, yellow fever or dengue. In addition to the hazards of exposing Vermonters to large amounts of pesticides, the resulting drop in the mosquito population would have a devastating effect on our native bird, fish, snake, frog, and bat populations, all of which rely on mosquitoes for their survival. Instead of dousing Vermont's wetlands with $180,000 worth of pesticides - in order to allay the fears that articles like yours have provoked - our state government should invest its resources into efforts that could actually improve the lives of Vermonters.
(09/14/06 12:00am)
Author: Scott Greene Middlebury College vaulted into the top five of the recently released U.S.News and World Report "America's Best Colleges" ranking of the country's top liberal arts colleges, moving up from eighth to fifth place in the publication's annual calculations. Both the report and College officials attributed the rise to improvements in faculty-to-student ratio, alumni giving and the graduation and retention rate.In leapfrogging Carleton College, Pomona College and Bowdoin College, Middlebury achieved its highest ranking since 1999. "There were several items that potentially could have increased our rankings," said Becky Brodigan, the College's director of institutional research, assessment and planning. She cited Middlebury's improvement in faculty-to-student ratio (28th to 11th), alumni giving (23rd to ninth), and retention and graduation rank (seventh to fourth) as the "three big ones." The lowering of Middlebury's faculty-to-student ratio resulted from the College changing its counting method to conform to the U.S. News' definition, which its peers across the country also follow, according to Brodigan.Middlebury still trails perennial chart-toppers Williams and Amherst, as well as Swarthmore and Wellesley College. However, Middlebury tops its main rivals in several categories contained in the country's other widely referenced college rankings publication, The Princeton Review. Middlebury rates higher than Williams and Amherst in the book's more specific categories of "Best Overall Academic Experience for Undergraduates," "Professors Get High Marks" and "Best Quality of Life."While the rise in the rankings may sustain the surge in applications that Middlebury experienced, Dean of Admissions Robert Clagett played down his view of the rankings."We think we're a wonderful college but we also think it's very difficult to quantitatively rank educational institutes in the way that magazines like U.S. News think they can," Clagett said, adding that "given the name-brand approach that students take to college admissions, the likelihood is that it will contribute to applications this year."The U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" issue serves as a popular resource for high school juniors and seniors and their parents. Frequently referenced during a child's decision-making process, the bestseller offers "Exclusive Rankings" of almost 1,500 schools according to a variety of different categories. While the composite score of each school provides a simple ranking system, the scores in each individual category indicate a school's strengths and weaknesses.But Clagett also said that publications such as the U.S. News and The Princeton Review "make colleges and the quality of one's experience dependent on a ranking, which isn't as important as somebody coming to a place like Middlebury and really taking advantage of the situation." He continued, "If that ends up attracting more highly qualified applicants, that's wonderful. We just want to make sure that students are focusing more on the fit as they approach their application processs rather than where some college ranks in some list."Brodigan highlighted the need to understand the context of the annual rankings, which influence college applicants to some degree. "The rankings are not predictable," she said, pointing out that the colleges outside the top four "bounce around." Middlebury is no exception. Since 1990, its ranking has fluctuated from as low as 11th place to this year's high of fifth place. Brodigan also stressed that the data submitted for the rankings tends to lag. "The data that went into this set of rankings was for the class that entered in fall 2005," she said, adding that Middlebury's large increase in applications for entry into the class of 2006 will be reported to the U.S. News next year."Do you think Middlebury is a different place now than it was last year?" Brodigan questioned in her breakdown of the results.The same holds true when considering the impact of the new ranking on alumni giving. "To the extent that alumni feel proud of Middlebury when they see us do well in the ratings, it certainly can't hurt," said Michael Schoenfeld, vice-president for College Advancement. "However, a small change of a couple of positions every year is really meaningless in the grand scheme of things." Still, Schoenfeld did not mind the change. "We'd rather be fifth than eighth," he said.
