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(05/01/02 12:00am)
Author: Claire Bourne Anne DeWitt '02 was awarded one of 85 Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies to pursue a doctorate in 19th century English literature at Yale University next year. For the second consecutive year, Kaitlin Gregg '03 garnered a Morris K. Udall Scholarship for her commitment to the environment.DeWitt will graduate in May with a chemistry major and an English minor. This combination, said Director of Student Fellowships Arlinda Wickland, made her "somewhat unconventional" in the competitive pool of national applicants vying for the fellowships. "She probably stood out … because she is a chemistry major who developed a love of literature during her junior year," Wickland said. Assistant Professor of English Antonia Losano, who DeWitt called her "unofficial grad school advisor," pointed out that DeWitt's acceptance into an English graduate program was "even more telling of her talent" since she was competing with "students from all over the world who had more traditional credentials."DeWitt said she declared a major in chemistry before she realized that she "liked English better." Sticking with her decision for "various reasons," including the rationale that it was "practical" to have knowledge of a hard science under her belt, DeWitt participated in lab research with Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Jeffrey Byers during the summer between her sophomore and junior years. She said that throughout the summer she kept noticing the passion for the science other student lab employees expressed. "I realized that I didn't have that for chemistry but I did for English," she explained, adding that she can sit "for hours" reading literature. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life doing this," she affirmed. "I think she won because she is interested in bridging science to literature in ways that she will be uniquely qualified to do," said Wickland.Losano said that DeWitt's "diversity of knowledge – from mathematics to chemistry to English – is what makes her so extraordinary."English Department professors who have had DeWitt as a student "consistently remark on her wide range of reading interests and her elegant writing style," Losano continued.According to its Web site, the Mellon Fellowship, which was first awarded in 1982, is "designed to help exceptionally promising students prepare for careers of teaching and scholarship in humanistic disciplines." As a fellow, DeWitt will receive funds to cover tuition and other "required fees" for the first year of her graduate studies in addition to a $17,500 stipend. DeWitt said she applied to 10 graduate schools. Of the ones to which she was accepted, Yale had "far and away the best [literature] program," she maintained.Gregg, an environmental studies and American literature double major from Durham, N.H., is deeply involved with environmental affairs at the College and in the local community. She is an active member of the College's Environmental Council and that body's carbon neutral subcommittee. A resident of Weybridge House, Gregg also sits on the board of directors of Spirit in Nature, a locally based interfaith environmental group working to promote "spiritually-sensitive concern for the environment." In addition, she interned with the Seattle-based Daily Grist, which, according to Christopher Klyza, professor of political science and environmental studies and director of Middlebury's environmental studies program, is "one of the leading Internet sources of environmental news and opinion."These activities, coupled with her strong academic performance, have made Gregg "an outstanding candidate" for the Udall Scholarship both this year and last, said Klyza.Gregg's interest in the environment began when she was growing up in New Hampshire. She said she was excited when she realized that her relationship with the natural world could extend into the academic arena."There is an urgency around the field [of environmental studies]," she said, pointing out that many important environmental issues would "have to be addressed by our generation."The Morris K. Udall Foundation awards 75 scholarships to undergraduates from around the United States each year. "Students need to demonstrate a commitment to a career in the environmental field" to be eligible for the award, Klyza explained. Middlebury has boasted a Udall Scholarship winner each year since 1997, one year after the scholarship program was established. Past winners from the College include John Mauro '98, Nicholas Tuff '99, Eve-Lyn Hinkley '01 and Dane Springmeyer '02.Gregg said that scholarship winners would be invited to an August weekend retreat in Arizona to meet with people who work in the environmental policy arena. The gathering is also designed to educate winners about Representative Morris K. Udall's legacy. Udall, who served in Congress from 1961 until 1991, prompted the passage of the Alaska Lands Act of 1980, which doubled the size of the national park system. His tenure in the national legislature was characterized primarily by his concern for Native Americans and by his love of the environment.Gregg said she would put the $5,000 prize towards her Middlebury tuition.
(04/24/02 12:00am)
Author: Ashley Elpern It was a winning weekend for the Middlebury crew team at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass., with four first places between the women's teams and both men's teams turning in solid performances, just one week before the New England Four's Championship.The varsity women showed the power and determination that has been present all season, as both the lightweight four of sophomores Susannah Cowden, Hope Steege, Becky Latka and Carolyn Gersh and the open eight dominated their competition with wins, as the two open fours garnered third and fourth in their race. "Every one of these 15 women invested a tremendous amount of effort into this weekend's racing," said Coach Alex Machi. "It isn't just pulling hard but being totally focused on the job of competing and totally together as a boat."The eight, rowing in a brand-new lineup of Anne Thompson '02, Cowden, Lisa McAndrews '02, Taylor Bolz '04, Becky Sullivan '04, Maria Stern '02, Catherine Foster '05 and Emily Loesche '05, overcame the competition from the University of Vermont (UVM) and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell (UMass Lowell) without any practices before actual race. "It was great to beat UVM as they are our perennial rivals and we have struggled against them in the past," said McAndrews. She noted that although the open fours lost to UVM, all Middlebury rowers in the open four race had competed in the eight, but the UVM boat had fresh rowers, giving them an edge. Machi echoed these thoughts, deeming the fours' performances "really impressive" given the earlier race.With the New England Four's Championship coming up this weekend, the open fours are currently seat racing to create the best lineups for the race, in what McAndrews calls "a very strenuous practice as each set is like a mini race," as the boat lineups are switched to find the fastest combination of rowers.The women's novice team continued to shine, as the eight won its third victory in three races and the four won its first race of the season, and Machi has deemed them the "stars of the season." Racing against two UVM boats in the eight race, the novice women "had them from the start," according to Sara Hayes '05. "We thought they would be tougher," she commented.The newly created four of first-years Hayes, Lauren Miller, Julie Stevens and Emily Berg raced later in the day, beating 2 boats from Assumption College as well as one from UVM and one from UMass Lowell. "We had no idea what to expect at first, but we were ahead from the start and only had to fend off one of the Assumption boats," said Hayes. "Our motivation allowed us to win, and it was great to hold off the rest of the boats."Although the lightweight varsity men have had a tough season against open-weight rowers, the four of Brian Ambrette '02 and sophomores G.P. LeBourdais, Luke Mueller and Jeff Koppernolle came in right behind a powerful UVM squad and beat three other boats They also defeated the four from Franklin Pierce that eluded them two weeks ago, in what Machi called "a good omen for our season ending competition" in two weeks at the New England Championships.Ambrette said that in the first 500 meters, all boats were neck and neck, but that by the halfway point UVM established its lead and Middlebury then overcame Franklin Pierce by over a boat length at the finish. "It was a really strong race, and we felt really smooth throughout," he commented.The novice men's four of first-years Hans Manzke, Ian Tyree, Bryce Roche and Steve Venturi placed a second behind UMass Lowell, a boat that "came out of nowhere" according to Manzke. He said UVM had been the boat to beat, and they accomplished that by over six boat lengths but had not expected UMass Lowell to be such competition. "It was between us and UMass Lowell in a really intense race," Mazke said. "We had some tough breaks but had a really good last sprint and ended up losing by about a boat length."Machi applauded the hard work of Tyree and Roche especially, who began rowing just this semester. "Considering how raw they are, it's amazing that they were out in front of both Assumption and a powerful UVM team," he said. As next weekend marks the end of their season, Manzke said the boat is looking to medal, as the only boats they have lost to have been Amherst College, Bowdoin College and UMass Lowell, and all by eight seconds or less. "We definitely have the ability to win if we race the best we can," he asserted.
(04/24/02 12:00am)
Author: Claire Bourne Tensions ran high at a Student Government Association (SGA) emergency meeting last Thursday night as senators and presidential cabinet members struggled to come to a consensus on protocol to govern the operation of computerized voting stations in Thursday and Friday's elections for SGA president and student co-chair of Community Council. The 11 p.m. meeting, called by current SGA President Brian Elworthy '02.5 and Student Co-chair of Community Council Erica Rosenthal '02, followed a 7:15 p.m. gathering of eight senators to discuss the same issue. Senior Senator Kevin King convened the first meeting after students working for presidential candidate Neil Onsdorff '03 set up three laptop computers near the bussing station in Proctor Hall during dinner hours Thursday. Chair of the Elections Council Sara Schuman '02 said she gave the staff members, who wore stickers endorsing Onsdorff on their shirts, five minutes to dismantle the station."It was the decision of the Elections Council that it would be unfair to set up those computers," said Schuman. The presence of campaign material so close to a voting station, she continued, might "put pressure on voters."A resolution passed in 1998-99, when voting took place on paper ballots at designated locations, stated that no campaigning could take place within 500 feet of these polling stations, Schuman explained, adding that the language had been amended "to include computers." Whether Onsdorff violated campaign regulations "was not black or white, but remains questionable," she continued.King said he wanted to draft language outlining fair use of electronic voting stations as soon as possible. The group of eight senators passed a resolution that King presented to Elworthy and Rosenthal by 8 p.m. Elworthy and Rosenthal called King's resolution "illegitimate" in an e-mail to SGA senators and cabinet members announcing the 11 p.m. meeting. They said they were "both extremely offended that the chair of [Thursday's] meeting sought fit to circumvent us and our Cabinet members.""A necessary quorum to hold a meeting was not reached," Elworthy and Rosenthal wrote. According to the SGA Constitution, because the senate is comprised of 17 voting members, a quorum would consist of at least nine voting members, not eight, they continued. Policy also states that "every possible effort to contact all members of the SGA shall be made" when calling an emergency meeting. "We did not receive voice mails informing us of the meeting, and the time the e-mail was sent was 7:14 p.m. One minute notice via e-mail does not constitute every possible effort," Elworthy and Rosenthal asserted in their e-mail.Elworthy and Rosenthal drafted a new resolution for the later meeting, which was ultimately endorsed by the Senate at midnight. The new language permitted candidates to set up computerized voting stations but required that such stations be manned by members of the Elections Council "in order to maintain neutrality." The language also allowed individuals the right to campaign "within any proximity" of the voting stations as long as voter privacy was maintained.Two computers, overseen by Schuman, were available for student voting in Proctor during election hours Friday.Conversation during the second emergency meeting, however, focused primarily on the "illegitimacy" of King's resolution and broke down several times into disorder. King and Elworthy sparred across the conference table, leaving few other senators the chance to call the resolution to a vote. At one point during the meeting, Junior Senator Simon Isaacs called King's refusal to amend the speaker's list "ridiculous."Cook Commons Senator Jacob Carney '04 asserted, "Let's cut the crap and vote on this."Schuman called the campaigning guidelines as outlined in the SGA Constitution "admittedly insufficient" and said they pertained "almost entirely to campaign finance." However, she affirmed, "If the discretion of the Elections Council is not respected, then emergency meetings of the Senate will be called every time anything in the gray area occurs."
(04/17/02 12:00am)
Author: Erich Kahner As the dreary winter months came to an end this weekend, the clouds parted allowing sun to shine down on Middlebury and spring to finally commence. Along with the trees and flowers, the Middlebury track team began to blossom last Saturday at the Williams Relays with many breakout performances.The day started with junior Mike Mazzota's stellar performance in the men's 10,000-meter race. Mazzota placed third in his debut at this distance. "I was nervous going into it, considering I've never ran it before," Mazzota commented on his race. The 10,000 is just one of many breakthrough performances for Mazzota this season, a trend that extends to the entire team. Moriah Cooperson '02 knocked considerable time off her 1,500- meter best en route to third place with a time of 4:49. Captain Joe Lewis '02 appeared primed to improve on his third place showing in NESCACs last year in covering 800 meters in 1:57.4 and placing fifth in a high-octane field. Newcomer to the 3,000 meter steeplechase Jeff King '05 continued to impress by garnering third with a 10:29. Mazzota, along with the other athletes, attributed the team's strength to the coaches. "The coaches have helped our training a lot," Mazzota explains. "Most of us feel more confident going into competition than we did last year."The field events also profited from the fruits of their training. Captain Bryan Black '02 easily outdistanced the second place performer in the javelin by nearly 40 feet with a throw of 205'11". Yuri Lawrence '02 sprung to a first place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 44'8". The women's throwing team yielded a host of fourth place finishes. Andrea Hersh '02 came in fourth in the women's javelin with a toss of 110'9". Jenny March '04 duplicated her feat in the hammer by letting loose a throw of 145'7" and placing fourth. Renee Courchesne '05 made it a three woman affair with a fourth place heave of 122'5" in the discus.Senior hurdlers Heidi Rothrock and Andy Boyer won their respective events, while the women's 4x400 meter relay proved victorious. The lone field event relay to provide Middlebury with a win came from the team of Nicole LeBeouf '02, Jess Kosciewicz '04 and Gillian Wood '04 in the women's long jump. The season really begins to heat up this Saturday when Middlebury plays host at Dragone Field. Saturday's meet acts as an important tune up as the postseason gets underway next weekend with the NESCAC championships.
(04/17/02 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Gissing Although this year's warmest recorded winter in the history of Vermont brought a relatively quick end to the winter sports season, it did allow maple sugar producers statewide to begin their harvests in mid-February. This early onset to the maple syrup season was two weeks ahead of schedule, and for some sugarers, the earliest start on record. According to Larry Myott, University of Vermont (UVM) Extension Maple Specialist, a normal sugaring year statewide will yield about 450,000 gallons of maple syrup. Last year's crop produced only 275,000 gallons. This was due to the heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures that both inhibited sap flow and increased the difficulty of collecting the sap. George Cook, a maple specialist at UVM, said that the water needed in the sap making process could not penetrate the frozen ground and reach the roots of the trees. The snow also kept the trees cold, preventing the sap from running. Myott predicted that with the increasing number of people sugaring and the producers adding to their number of taps, Vermont should be able to make 500,000 gallons this year. Sugarers statewide agree that the syrup produced this year has been of high quality. Lots of golden-colored fancy and medium amber syrups were made early in the season, and with rising temperatures, producers in the final part of the season are now making darker syrups. The sugaring season for 2002 is drawing to a close as evening temperatures have been rising steadily. For the sap to run during the day, temperatures must drop below freezing and preferably be near 20 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours overnight. Buds starting to appear on trees are the signs that the season is coming to an end. Sap from budding trees produces bitter tasting syrup. The sap from those trees is also very pungent, making it difficult for sugarers to handle.The overall opinion about the season is a positive one. "We're just ecstatic about this year," said Steve Glabach, Dummerston maple producer. "I would say the southern end of the state has done very well ... just excellent, excellent syrup this year. We're tremendously happy." Sugarer Peter Purinton of Huntington agreed. "I think generally speaking most people are generally happy. They're happy to get a decent crop of syrup," Purinton said. The state of Vermont is the largest maple syrup producer in the United States. There are around 2,000 maple sugarers statewide. The syrup, which retails for $30 to $35 a gallon, represents $13 million of the state's revenue.Dakin Farms, in Ferrisburgh, is one of the many producers of maple syrup in the state. Its owner, Sam Cutting III, was honored for maple industry service on Jan. 29. Governor Howard Dean presented him with the Summer Hill Williams Award at the Vermont Farm Show. The leaders of the Vermont Maple Sugar Maker's Association and the Vermont Maple Industry Council gave him the award to recognize the achievements made in his lifetime and the contributions he has made to the maple syrup industry. Cutting has been working in the maple industry for more than 40 years. To celebrate the completion of the first harvest of the season, the 36th annual Vermont Maple Festival will begin in St. Albans on April 26. The festival, which will run through April 28, is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors. The largest maple syrup contest in the world is held at the festival and it will decide who produced the best maple syrup in Vermont this season.
(04/10/02 12:00am)
Author: Nicha Rakpanichmanee Pro-Palestinian College Movement Emerges in Middle East ViolenceWith the escalation of violence in West Bank and Gaza, many pro-Palestinian groups have grown more prominent on college campuses nationwide. The pro-Palestinian student groups have developed campaigns based on justice and human rights, while pro-Israeli student groups have refuted with accusations of Palestinian terrorism and, more importantly, with better funding and more established networks of activism.However, about 100 pro-Palestinian students of the University of Michigan sponsored three demonstrations in March alone, in addition to the increase of other high- and low-profile strategies. At Berkeley University, 500 students of various nationalities and religious affiliations voted in February to support the national effort of the Palestine Solidarity Movement in sending money and supplies to Middle Eastern civilians this summer. Students from across the nation — Palestinian, Jewish, non-Arab and non-Muslim alike — have come out in support of the Palestine Solidarity Movement.Pro-Israeli and Jewish student groups, especially national and even international organizations like Hillel, have also focused their campaigning efforts against supporters of the Palestine cause. These groups usually outnumber pro-Palestinian students. For example, there are 6,000 Jewish students and only 2,000 Arab or Muslim students at University of Michigan. Source: The New York TimesComputer Game Design: From Hobby to Masters Degree ProgramThe Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) recently established the first master's program in computer game design, in response to the exponential growths of the computer game industry and culture.The master's program at RIT is the latest development in nationwide debates on an interdisciplinary program that combines artists with software engineers to create interactive artificial intelligence that looks like Lara Croft. In January, the Art Institute of San Francisco offered game design courses for an undergraduate degree, after Carnegie Mellon University began its Entertainment Technology Center three years ago, with a variety of non-degree computer animation and special effects classes related to game design.The academic status of game design is still disputed at many colleges, oftentimes where there is a disparity between arts and computer science faculty and departmental resources. One certainty, however, appears to be the computer game industry, which is estimated to grow five times in the next decade, from $20 to $100 billion annually.Yet because technology grows even faster than the business, new computer game design graduates may be rebuffed in the company of more experienced designers, since all would have to be trained on the job. While many supporters of the degree program cite employment readiness, an average entry-level designer's salary is no more than $45,000. Other scholars argue that the synthesis of artistic and technological skills is more valuable reward from a computer game design degree.Source: The New York TimesHarvard Pleads for West to StayHarvard University students delivered a petition signed by 1,200 students, faculty and alumni yesterday to Professor Cornel West, imploring him not to leave his leadership role at Harvard's Afro-American studies department for a professorship at Princeton University.West has been identified with Afro-American studies nationwide after authoring many influential works, such as "Race Matters" and "The American Evasion of Philosophy: A Genealogy of Pragmatism and Post Analytic Philosophy." He teaches an introductory course in Afro-American studies, one of the most popular at Harvard. He is also the second-most cited black scholar in the field of social science from 1996 to 2000, according to The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.It has been rumored that Harvard President Lawrence Summers made an offensive comment to West last fall, prompting West to consider the open position at Princeton. Summers said Monday that he has been urging West to stay.The Princeton Board of Trustees meets today, and West would have to file an application by today in order to be considered for appointment. As of Monday, the Princeton spokesperson said West's name has not been included in the list of appointments to be discussed at the meeting. The next opportunity, if West decides to move to Princeton, is June 3. Source: UwireToday.com
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] 35 Percentage of Vermont criminal defendants whose fingerprints are taken by police, according to the Vermont Criminal Information Center. This number puts Vermont behind 46 states in the country that fingerprint 100 percent of criminals. Lawmakers are attempting to pass a bill that would give police more authority for arrests, including the power to fingerprint all suspects. Fingerprinting benefits police investigation by securing a suspect's identity and determining his or her past criminal record. 460,000Gallons of maple syrup made annually in Vermont, the nation's largest producer of maple syrup, with approximately 2,000 producers in the state making a total of $13 million worth of syrup each year. Due to this year's mild winter, the increasingly warm temperatures have resulted in the earliest onset of the maple syrup season on record. For most sugarmakers the season began in the middle of February, which is about two weeks earlier than usual. The labeling of maple syrup products and the authenticity of actual Vermont products have spurred controversy recently. A petition is circulating to encourage lawmakers to pass a law requiring more specific labeling in order to distinguish between the syrup tapped in the state from the 3.2 million gallons that are imported. 65 Years since the Woodstock Regional Correctional Facility has had no inmates, part of a process to gradually relocate and release prisoners and ultimately close the facility. The jail, which normally houses 80 people and is the oldest and least efficient jail in Vermont, is closing as a result of a Corrections Department plan to save $1.1 million this year and $2.8 million next year. Eighty inmates will be released from jails statewide during this closing process, but they will continue to be supervised by Corrections Department personnel. 500Number of covered bridges in Vermont in 1927. Due to flooding, however, only 114 historic bridges remained by the 1980s. Currently there is a statewide covered bridge revival program that has placed all the remaining bridges on the National Register of Historic Places. Statistics courtesy of The Rutland Herald and The Burlington Free Press.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Laura Rockefeller A man dressed in traditional shtetl costume walks softly forward out of the woods. He greets us in Russian, Yiddish and English with a caution that we should only follow him into his world if our hearts are open and our eyes and ears are ready to take in every possible sensation.So began Tamar Rogoff's film "Summer in Ivye," shown in Dana Auditorium last Thursday. It described the creation of Rogoff's experimental theater production, which commemorated the massacre of 2,500 Jews on May 12, 1942, in Ivye, Belarus.Through interviews with Rogoff, members of her international cast, villagers of Ivye and clips from the final production, the film leads the audience on a journey through the process of recreating history.When Rogoff first visited Ivye while working on another project in Eastern Europe early in 1994, all she knew about the town was that her family's roots were there. A conversation with a local she met on the street gave her a new perspective on the place and on her connection to it.Soon after the outbreak of World War II, Ivye fell under Soviet occupation, but on July 1, 1941, the German military took control of the town.Nearly a year of terror followed for the 3,700 Jewish inhabitants of the village. The pogroms and persecution culminated in the mass murder of the remaining 2,500 Jews in the village on May 12, 1942.Villagers, some of whom remembered the episode and the members of Rogoff's family who had been killed in the massacre, recounted this story to Rogoff. Already an acclaimed choreographer, Rogoff decided that she would use her artistic skills to create a theatrical piece that explored the world of Ivye before the arrival of the Nazis.The film allowed the audience to watch this theatrical piece develop over the summer of 1994, from the assembly of the cast through to the first performance.As her stage, Rogoff chose the forest around the mass burial site of the massacred Jews just outside of Ivye. The audience watched as Rogoff and her cast — including performers as diverse as Kostas Smoriginas, an acclaimed actor of the Lithuanian National Theater, and David Rogow of New York City's Yiddish theater — battled the mosquitoes and the heat to bring together dance, music and spoken word to tell their story.In clips of the final stage production, audience members were given green cloaks so that they would blend into the forest as they followed Rogoff's uncle, played by Smoriginas, back in time to see the life of a village that was destroyed by prejudice. The audience was exposed to a series of vignettes: a school scene where local children played the parts of their ancestors who had been killed in the tragedy, and a scene where actual survivors of the May 12 massacre gave their treasured samovar to Christian friends for safe keeping.The production values of the film itself were sometimes shaky, with periodic black spaces mid-scene and the camera sometimes being slow to focus when it did not seem intentional, but the story of self-discovery was powerful. Watching this story of loss and hope come together moved Rogoff, the actors and the Middlebury audience.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Suzie Mozes Even the most casual students donned navy coats and patterned ties or ruffly skirts and heels as they came out on Saturday evening to support the "Fifty Faces of Middlebury" exhibition, which presented the work of Morley McBride '02 and Jen Bloomer '02 in Johnson Memorial Building.After rooming together sophomore year, the two girls decided to collaborate on their 500-level studio art project. They finally settled on the idea of drawing 50 face portraits of Middlebury students. Bloomer had recently attended a gallery showing of Alice Neel. She admired Neel's ability to convey a subject's personality through portraiture, which became the purpose of the project.The artists posted their mission statement by the gallery entrance: "An exact likeness was not our goal (so if it doesn't look like you, we don't really care)." They undertook an in-depth study of a single medium, attempting to capture each subject's personality. As McBride explained, "We tried making something instead of someone." Rather than focusing on photographic accuracy, the artists were concerned with composition and creating "full" paintings.Essentially, the artists attempted to transform the intangible essence of their peers, friends and acquaintances into a visual image with ink, charcoal, pastel or oil — quite an ambitious task.Painting and sketching from January until the day before the show's opening, McBride and Bloomer each completed 25 pieces, working from both photographs and models. While some pieces only required 15 minutes, others demanded countless hours of labor. According to their mutual friend Sam Dabney '02.5, both artists were driven by self-motivation.Although not working together, the two girls helped each other through endless critique sessions. McBride and Bloomer linked arms as they maneuvered through an obstacle course of dwindling time, paying for all of the supplies, receiving permission for their show as non-art majors and organizing their gallery opening. Grinning, McBride declared, "Organizing a show is like having a wedding."McBride, a joint major in environmental studies and geography, came to the College from Chevy Chase, Md. Bloomer, an international studies major with a focus in Latin America, hails from Boulder, Colo. Both girls remember their mothers painting with watercolors as children, establishing art as a constant presence in their lives. Although McBride favors charcoal and Bloomer prefers oil, both artists played with all media in this show. Amidst the transformed walls of Johnson, white Christmas tree lights welcomed guests to the clinking of wine glasses, while strewn blue and green gauze enveloped the the room as gentle notes of Pachebel's "Canon in D" floated up from the string quartet playing on the lower level. The visitors wandered in and out of the gallery, distracted by the elegance of the well-attended event set against Johnson's cold, inhospitable gray concrete.The artists successfully varied the compositions of their "experiments with paint." Only one or two portraits attacked the subject directly with a full frontal of the face. In these cases, the choice to portray the model contributed to the expression of their subject's personality. Standing out in the gallery among primarily color images, the black and white "stick and ink" sketches, such as the one of Nat Kellogg '01.5, proved to be the most effective in delineating facial expression and emotion. The artists played with warm and cool colors in many of the pieces. Specifically, they juxtaposed the portrait of Matt La Rocca '02, employing ice-cool blues with purple shading, next to Carlos Lopez-Hollis '02, created with warm colors in the pensive face above a dark olive shirt. The artists were not afraid to go out on a limb with their creativity. While some of it worked, some of it did not, which is the beauty of experimenting. McBride successfully applied a liquid effect with smooth lines and soft lighting in her portrait of Jenny Levin '02 to emphasize the subject's sweet, peaceful sleep. However, the oil pastel of Piper Platte '02 incorporated too many pastel colors with a dark purple background that impeded overall unity. Using a texturing technique by attaching canvas to canvas or leaving excess pockets of paint, both Bloomer and McBride generated intrigue in their self-portraits that set them apart from the rest of the show. The disruption in the surface of the canvas forced viewers to look even harder at the colors.When the wine and cheese ran out, the guests remained — a true testament to the quality of the show. Both artists plan on keeping art in their lives and hopefully in their professions. While McBride will be moving to the West Coast after graduation, Bloomer will be spending a year in Peru to paint. The four hands that created these 50 faces will undeniably continue on in the future to develop and surpass their highly regarded achievements here at the College.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] — The average ejaculation contains between 200 and 500 million sperm.— The average time a sperm survives in the female reproductive tract is three to four days.— 90 percent of Middlebury students had not engaged in high risk sexual behavior such as having sex without a condom.— According to Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates, one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. — 75 percent of sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance.— The American Medical Association estimates that a woman is sexually assaulted every 45 seconds.— Over two-thirds of men involved in sexual assaults at one university had been drinking at the time of the incident, compared to half of the female victims.— The higher the average number of drinks per week, the lower the grade point average. —Studies of suicide victims in the general population show that about one-fifth of such victims are alcoholics.— 30 percent of colleges reported at least one suicide in 2001.— 9.5 percent of college students have seriously contemplated suicide.— 1.5 percent of students have attempted suicide.— Most headaches (95 percent) are either migraine or tension type (muscle contraction) headaches.— Headaches can be reduced by eliminating caffeine and alcohol.— Nearly one third of those infected with hepatitis B don't know where, when or how they were exposed. — 24 percent of college students use tobacco products more than three times a week.— 16 percent of Middlebury Students use tobacco products more than three times a week.Sources: ETR Associates, American College Health Association, U.S. News and World Report and VAX.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] 690Votes to reject the proposal to move Middlebury's municipal office complex to the site of the Maple Manor Motel. The number opposed defeated 500 votes in favor of the relocation of the town offices for $3 million offered by Middlebury College which seeks to convert the current site into a park. A majority of voters at the Town Meeting suggested that preserving the municipal building's current central downtown location is in the best interest of the town. 23School budgets defeated at statewide annual town meetings last week, the most defeats of its kind in Vermont in five years. All school boards will meet this week to consider alternatives. Those in opposition of the schools' budgets claim that the school boards added unneccessary expenses. Superintendents claim that the high number of statewide school bugdet defeats are due to the slow economy and effects from the common level of appraisal, which affects property tax revenue.1,000New homeowners created in the next three years as part of The Vermont Homeowner Intitiative Fund, which will contribute $1 million to provide more homeowner education and lending programs for middle and low income Vermonters.96 Percent of registered voters in Vermont who wish to see labels on food products that contain genetically modified organisms (GMO), according to the Vermonter Poll of 734 registered Vermont voters. Although the poll found that most Vermonters were aware of the GMO issue, very few had access to information on exactly how widespread they are in food supplies.6 Firefighters from the Vermont Air National Guard to head to unidentified regions in the Middle East on Monday as part of the United States' war on terrorism. The firefighters are scheduled to spend six months overseas responding to aircraft and structure fires and medical emergencies.18Age of Will Webb, a write-in candidate who was selected on Town Meeting Day as representative of the town of Addison on the Vergennes Union High School board. He beat out one other write-in candidate to win the three-year job as a member of the high school's seven-member school board.Statistics courtesy of The Rutland Herald and The Burlington Free Press. Compiled by the Local News Editor.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Crystalyn Radcliffe Our society is afraid of what it does not understand. We call this fear by many names: racism, sexism, homophobia — fear of anything that is different. We do not understand because we cannot see the other side. We feel threatened by what lies outside the norm and prefer to push it under the carpet to make it invisible. "Lonely Planet," which was performed in the Hepburn Zoo last weekend, is a play about seeing that other side and finding out what it feels like to be the one who is different, the one who we fear.The play forced us to look at that which we do not want to see and to identify with that from which we want to distance ourselves.It puts on display what we would hide and speaks to a part of us that is universal: our fear. "Lonely Planet," written by Steven Deitz in 1992, was directed by Jacob Zell Studenroth '03 as his Theatre 500-level project.A two-person play, the script was based on the friendship of two gay men, one of whom presumably had AIDS. Both characters were absorbed in escaping their reality. Jody, played by Asa Thomas-Train '05, hid from the outside world and his fear of possibly having AIDS by hiding in his map shop.Carl, played by John Stokvis '05, attempted to create a new reality without illness by lying about his occupation as a worker in a glass shop and in a museum and fabricating stories about his day-to-day life. Much time and thought were put into the blocking of the scenes. The symbolism of the accumulated chairs representing the victims of AIDS had an overwhelming visual effect. This was felt most keenly when, during a very tense scene, Carl surrounded Jody with chairs until he trapped him in a circle three rows deep. In a moment of breakthrough, Jody and Carl shouted at each other over the barrier of the chairs, eventually wading through them to meet each other halfway. The play was painfully intimate, compounded by the physical interactions between Jody and Carl.The costumes were reflective of the two characters' personalities. Jody's conservative turtleneck sweater, fitted khaki pants and reading glasses added to his sense of quiet intelligence. Carl's loud ensemble of plaid wool pants, clashing vest and beret set him in opposition to Jody's style and reflected his irrational, quirky personality.The set design was well thought out and engaging. Illuminated maps floated from all sides of the room, framing the set nicely. A map of the globe was at the center back of the stage, reminding us of its isolation in space and the title of the play.The blocking was arranged so that these maps were referred to implicitly in action and often directly in speech throughout the play, creating a sense of cohesion between the actors, the script and the set.In addition, the lighting was very powerful and effective in highlighting certain actors and props on stage. For instance, towards the end of the play when Carl brought his own white chair onto the stage to signify his death, it was left at center stage, illuminated, while the rest of the room was dark. The lighting changed depending on who was on stage and the tone of the conversation between the two men. It softened when they were comforting each other or sharing an intimate moment and brightened when the mood was more humorous. Overall, the acting was engaging and well rehearsed. Thomas-Train's stooped posture and shuffling mannerisms leant his character a sense of aged dignity that was not as evident in Stokvis' part, which was more lively and demonstrative. Although at times it was not entirely convincing that the actors were the age of the characters (who were at least in their thirites), this did not detract from the quality or credibility of the performance.Many audience members were moved to tears or stifled sniffles by the end of the play.After the final applause the audience was asked to contribute to the Gay Men's Health Center, an AIDS charity in New York City, by placing a dollar in Carl's cap. The goal for the four shows was to collect $150 in donations, and inside sources have said the goal was exceeded."Lonely Planet" was a touching play which was described best by Stokvis's character when he said, "It might change you."This weekend the Zoo will open its space for the perfomance "TseProTNISTKA: The Secret Project That Nobody Is Supposed to Know About."
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Shannon Egan In 1966, the men's swimming and diving team from Williams College began a 35-year New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) winning streak. It lasted until Sunday. Now, thanks to the men from Middlebury, it's over. For the first time in as long as anyone can remember, Williams lost and the men from Middlebury were declared champions.The meet, which lasted three days and saw an extraordinary amount of NCAA qualifiers, NESCAC records and varsity records on the part of the swimmers and divers, couldn't have been more perfect. Middlebury finished with 1,544 points, followed by Williams with 1,422 points and Amherst with 1,301 points. From the very first race, it was obvious the meet would be a close one. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of David Hawkins '05, co-captain Scott Strickler '02, Jason Korsmeyer '05 and co-captain Grayson Stuntz '02 took second with a National B consideration time of 1:24.85. Other highlights from Friday night began with the 50-yard breaststroke, in which senior Mike Malloy took fourth with a time of 27.43, followed close behind by Steve Kinney '03, who took sixth in 27.56. Stuntz won the first event for the Panthers, taking the 50-yard butterfly in a new NESCAC meet record of 23.23. Also in the 50 butterfly, Max Ovsjanikovs '05 took sixth in 23.74. Sophomore Karl Whittington started off the distance races on a good note, as he took seventh in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:47.54. The 50-yard backstroke, a race Middlebury traditionally dominates, saw Strickler, Andrew Boyce '02 and Korsmeyer take first, third and eighth, respectively. Strickler's 24.52 was a new NESCAC meet record. Stuntz, up again, took second in a very close race in the 200- yard individual medley, finishing with a National A qualifying time of 1:53.04. Finally, Hawkins took fifth in the 50-yard freestyle in 21.60. Friday night ended as the Panther's took second in the 400-yard medley relay. The team of Strickler, Mike Malloy '02, Stuntz and Korsmeyer finished with a new NESCAC and meet record and National B consideration time of 3:27.69.Saturday night's session began on a high note as well, as the 200- yard medley relay team of Strickler, Malloy, Stuntz and Matt Clark '04 took first, dominating the field with a National B consideration time of 1:34.11. In the 1,000-yard freestyle, Whittington broke the varsity record, finishing fourth with a time of 9:50.45. Junior Andrew Sterling took seventh in the same race, in a time of 10:05.16. In the 100-yard butterfly, Stuntz captured his second NESCAC title and new meet record of 50.70, a National B time. In the 100 butterfly as well, Hawkins took fourth in 52.01. Also on Saturday, first-year Adam Rahal had an impressive 200-yard freestyle, as he took eighth in a time of 1:46.60. Malloy took the consolation heat of the 100-yard breaststroke and took first in his career-best time of 59.84. The trio of backstrokers, Strickler, Korsmeyer and Boyce, took second, third and sixth in the event. Strickler's 52.49 and Korsmeyer's 52.99 were both National B qualifying times. Finally, the relay team of Hawkins, Rahal, Whittington and Korsmeyer finished up the session with a 7:03.70 in the 800-yard freestyle relay. The final night, the Panthers held their ground. They knew the best would come. In the first event, the 1,650-yard freestyle, Whittington took sixth in 16:45.87, followed closely by Sterling, who captured eighth in 16:50.00. In the 200-yard backstroke, Strickler took first with a National B time of 1:54.49. Korsmeyer took fifth (1:56.55) and Boyce took seventh (1:57.48). Hawkins made another strong appearance in the 100-yard freestyle, as he took fifth in 47.61. First-year Rob Norman made his first National B consideration time in the 200-yard butterfly, taking fifth in 1:56.17. In the 100-yard IM, Kinney took second in 54.66, followed by Ovsjanikovs who finished eighth in 56.88. In the final relay of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle, the team of Hawkins, Strickler, Korsmeyer and Stuntz earned a National A time, finishing second in 3:07.13.The divers were, as always, an integral part of Middlebury's success. On Friday night, in the one-meter competition, captain Derek Chicarilli took first, scoring 473.60 points. First-year diver Blake Lyons also had an amazing performance, finishing fifth with 402.90 points. The results on Sunday night were similar, as Chicarilli captured his second win with 500 points on the three-meter board. Lyons scored 378.55 points, finishing fifth once again. Middlebury dominated the awards podium as well. Lisa Gibbs, head diving coach, was selected as the NESCAC Diving Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year. Chicarilli was given two honors: he was selected as the NESCAC Diver of the Year and was also awarded Senior High Point Winner, for scoring the most points over his four years. Head Swim Coach Peter Solomon was selected as the NESCAC Swimming Coach of the Year. Solomon agreed that it was the depth of the team, the energy and the enthusiasm that, together, led to the win. He said he was confident in the team all along, knowing that a championship is always where Middlebury swimmers and divers perform best.At the beginning of the season, Solomon made a deal with his swimmers that if they won NESCACs, he would shave his head. Upon receiving their first place plaque, the swimmers and divers sat him down in a chair on the pool deck, and each senior took his chance at payback.Up next, the men who qualified will head to Miami University of Ohio for NCAA Division III Championships.
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Michael Stahler Junior Year Abroad. It is an opportunity for Middlebury students to get away from the College and all its quirks, including some interesting late night McCullough dances, and venture out into the larger world for a peek. As I looked into the opportunity, I did not fully understand at the time that I was not just traveling to another country, but would also be studying in another atmosphere besides Middlebury College. So why is this Opinions piece, originating 3,000 miles from campus, relevant? In light of the recent increase in tuition, as well as the flood of prospective students that will be barraging the campus in a few weeks, I felt that this was a good opportunity to reflect on the one thing that distinguishes a 'good' school from a 'great' one. Is it location? Is it reputation? Is it something else? I currently am in the second semester of my year abroad at Scotland's University of St. Andrews. I can recall looking at the colorful promotional material and trying to imagine the University — much to my dismay, I let my 'Middlebury vision' paint a portrait of a school on the North Sea with many of the same amentities that our school has to offer. When thinking of the small things, such as the residence halls and the food, I could not help but envision the interiors of New Dorms and the culinary delights of Proctor or at the very least Hamlin. My friends who had been to St. Andrews told me that the food was bad and the 'such and such a hall is nice,' but nothing prepared me for what I was faced with. Please note that this is not an article bashing St. Andrews — those considering coming here should indeed come. St. Andrews has a lot of benefits that Midd does not. It is located a mere 55 miles from Edinburgh and about 70 miles from Glasgow. Both cities have populations of over 500,000 people, making them great places for museums, night clubs,and — as long as my credit card is not involved — shopping. St. Andrews is also nicely integrated into an easy-to-use public transport system consisting of trains and buses. Of course several of the University's buildings are within sight of the famous Old Course for those interested in a game of golf or just snagging the flag from the 18th hole after a night of partying. Middlebury's location, on the contrary, is rather isolated. Those without cars can tend to feel a bit stuck at times due to the lack of public transportation. However, much like St. Andrew's golfing reputation, Middlebury is very close to some of the finest skiing and riding in New England. These same mountains offer great hiking as well. It is important to note such differences, but these are things that the institutions have little or no control over. The real distinction that I have seen lies in the schools themselves. The organization of the two schools is extremely different. St. Andrews, with a student body of approximately 6,000 students, is very decentralized administratively. Such decentralization makes things extremely difficult for students to navigate. On my first day here I visited three different offices before finally getting the information that I needed. Some junior semester abroad students were even bounced between four offices before getting the information that they needed. Although many students think that Middlebury is too small, it seems as if our size certainly benefits the organization of the school and ultimately the students. Why? Communication. We all have an idea of what is going on in Old Chapel and officials there have a good idea of what is going on around campus. Although it may seem easy to criticize the administration, and many students do so, I feel that Middlebury's administration deserves credit for their visibility at events such as the hockey games, concerts and other functions. I have seen Principal Lang, the head of St. Andrew's, twice this entire year — once at Chapel and once on a visit to our hall. I cannot think of a Middlebury hockey game where I did not see at least one College administrator in the crowd. This idea of the administration being in touch with the students that they work for also leads into my next and the single most important distinction that I have noticed. St. Andrews was founded in 1411 and has remained a reputable institution ever since. Middlebury, founded in 1800, has also worked hard to build a reputation as solid as the marble in Mead Chapel, but it is still working hard to preserve that image and to improve on it and the quality that lies underneath such a reputation. When meeting with Lang I mentioned the minor shortcomings — including the communications issue between departments as well as the quality of food and housing. His response was in fact a question: Why did you come here? After a few seconds, the word "reputation" emerged from my mouth. Later that night, I thought about the discussion and Lang's response to my constructive criticism. I couldn't help but feel as if Lang had not registered what I had said and maintained that the University's reputation alone would compensate for the shortcomings. I agree that the reputation of the University is key, but people must be careful not to rest on their laurels. Indeed, I could see how the University may have been taking this approach in recent years, reflected by the fact that such shortcomings I have mentioned have not been rectified for whatever reason (most likely due to the lack of funding, since St. Andrews is a public school). However, a look at the old buildings and other pieces of the University's past revealed the grandeur to which Lang referred — a grandeur that seemed now to be fading with cuts in courses offered and inadequate computing facilities. This idea of a great image of the past alone though does not help the school. Where is the inspiration for scholars to investigate? How will the University compete with other schools that are working hard to expand not just their infrastructure, but also their resources for students? Applying Darwinism, simply relying on the past will not help to improve the University and may serve to weaken it. Even though I hear some students state that Middlebury is not in the most exciting place in the world, it seems as if that the location is irrelevant when considering the effort the trustees, alumni and the administration have put into continuously improving Middlebury with not just new buildings, such as Bicentennial Hall, but also new programs such as the new Portuguese language school. Innovation drives a lot of things in the world: New computers are always being developed, researchers are working hard to discover cures for diseases. If the institutions that create such innovators are not themselves trying to constantly improve, then isn't something wrong?
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] 100 billionTimes per second that the new silicon germanium chips, made by Vermont's IBM plant, will be able to turn on and off. The plant, located in Essex Junction, Vt., will be the only factory in the world to produce the world's newest and fastest computer chip. 2 percentAmount of teachers in Vermont schools who come from diverse ethnic backgrounds. In order to increase the amount of diversity among Vermont teachers, Vermont State Colleges is overseeing a program called "Coming Home," which offers tuition scholarships to ethnically diverse teacher education students. Currently, the program offers $21,000 to five Vermont students from money raised by foundations and the Legislature.$400,000Amount raised by Vermont firefighters to benefit families of firefighters hurt or killed in the events of Sept. 11, an amount that far surpassed their expected total of $100,000. In combination with the monetary donation, Vermont firefighters hosted two New York City firefighters in Burlington as part of a national program to show appreciation to the firefighters involved in the Sept. 11 efforts. 99Age of Gertrude Robinson Mallary, a former Vermont state legislator and collector of Vermont books, at the time of her death on March 2. Mallary served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1953 and 1955 and a member of the Senate in 1957. She was a fan of books on Vermont history, politics and literature. .26Amount, in inches, of rainfall above normal precipitation that fell in Vermont during the month of February. This is the first month since August that the state has received more rain than the recorded average, which is a blessing for farmers who are worried about the current drought's effect on the land and the fact that Vermont has suffered its warmest winter in recorded history. Legislators met recently to discuss the impact of the drought, water conservation and possible help from federal resources. 23 Number of armories in Vermont that were closed after Sept. 11 due to safety concerns regarding the military facilities. Several state senators want to pass a law requiring state armories to re-open with the same level of public access to the state-owned buildings, which were previously used by youth groups conducting after school programs. $10,000Price per plate at last week's fundraising dinner and lecture for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, an event that raised a total of $6 million and attracted over 500 viewers. The featured speaker was Vermont Senator James Jeffords, the former 30-year Republican who switched parties to become an Independent, a decision that allowed for Democratic control of the U.S. Senate in 2001 and postponed President Bush's domestic agenda. The speech was Jefford's first appearance at a Democratic fundraiser. Statistics courtesy of The Rutland Herald and The Burlington Free Press. Compiled by the Local News Editor.
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Erich Kahner They are friends, counselors and physicians to hundreds. Patrons flock primarily on weekends or after hard days at work seeking the help of these people and taking advantages of the services and products they offer. In their world, the night scene is their playground and the alcohol flows like water. Who could these individuals be, and how do they become who they are? Bringing temporary relief and friendly conversation to people throughout the United States are the Professional Bartenders of America (PBA).The PBA is not an exclusive club. In fact, it is looking for new recruits, and the Professional Bartending Schools of America (PBSA) are located in 11 states and 21 cities nationwide. PBSA has trained over 60,000 students between all of its schools since its establishment in 1978 and currently instructs approximately 8,500 people per year.A few of these institutions of higher learning are found right here in New England, with the closest only 40 miles away in Burlington, Vt. The New England Bartending School in Burlington explores subjects ranging from alcohol awareness to the art of succesful tip making. Absent from the course list is any type of "ology." Except, of course, for mixology.Seasoned veteran bartenders with mandatory experience in bar management teach the classes and often receive praise from students. Boston instructor Tom Abisso was voted Instructor of the Year for 2000. "I just finished the course in Boston with Abisso and it was incredible," remarked recent graduate Brenden Simms. "The man is a god." Miller Genuine Draft recently put the supremacy debate among Ivy League schools to rest. The beer company snubbed the likes of Harvard and Yale in electing PBSA's Boston branch "The Best School in New England."Aside from its notorious role models and recognized reputation, the registration process at the New England Bartending School is a simple one. Unlike other prestigious New England schools, the PBSA avoids the hassle of applications and personal essays. Applicants just pick up the phone and dial a toll free number, and admission is granted. Five four-hour sessions later and students are nationally certified bartenders ready to test their luck in the job market. PBSA graduates have a recorded 90 percent chance of immediate job placement.The Middlebury College tuition for the 2002-2003 academic year is scheduled to skirt the $36,000 mark, which towers in comparison to the tutition price of $350 for a PBSA education. Andy Buxton, a local bartender at Angela's Restaurant, who makes upwards of $100 in tips alone on any given night, commented on why he chose his profession. "I like the money, the company and the environment," Buxton said. "I have fun doing it."
(02/27/02 12:00am)
Author: Tim McCahill The future course of black studies has come into focus among American academics in the field following a series of comments made by Lawrence Summers, the recently appointed president of Harvard University. Middlebury College professors in the field have heard much of the debate, but speculated that it had little bearing on the evolution of black studies at the College. Summers, widely known for his combative style of management politics, raised eyebrows inside and outside academic circles for his criticism of Cornel West, a pioneer in the field of black studies and one of Harvard's most recognized professors. Summers' comments, detailed in a Feb. 12 article published in The Christian Science Monitor, were centered around West's recording of a rap CD and his close affiliation with controversial politician Al Sharpton.The article cited Summers' comments as touching off a debate among black studies scholars on the nature of the discipline and its future in American colleges and universities. As an academic discipline, black studies emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s charged with the energy of the social activism of the era, maintaining its close affiliation with the Civil Rights Movement. According to The Monitor article, the first black studies department was founded in 1967 at San Francisco State University, representing a path-breaking approach to weaving a variety of academic disciplines — including political science and history — into a single program. Development of black studies was accelerated by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, and by 1975 "there were 65 academic departments offering bachelor's degrees in the field at various U.S. colleges and universities," according to The Monitor piece.As black studies evolved, however, its activist roots were gradually supplanted by an orientation that was more scholarly in nature. The Monitor article cited the field's expanding interdisciplinary approach to detailing the African American experience, with many institutions of higher learning adopting an even more diverse approach to instruction. In this shift from the activist to the scholar lie the seeds of the current debate. Widespread recognition of black studies as a formal discipline has paid off, with universities like Harvard now offering some 43 courses taught by 11 professors, according to the article. But some fear that, as the field grows more diffuse academically, it may lose its grounding in the activist roots that originally defined it.The Middlebury Interpretation"The event at Harvard is revealing, it's troubling and it's puzzling in that it seems to suggest that it really does break into two camps," commented Associate Professor of History William Hart. "One asking, 'What is African-American studies really all about?' and the other one saying, 'Don't worry what it's about. We'll make it what we want it to be.'"Hart offered a broad definition of black studies, describing it as "an interdisciplinary program that examines African-American life, culture, life-ways, history, literature — you name it. It's all of the above."Hart conceded that Summers' comments had "touched a nerve" not only at Harvard but among black studies scholars across the nation. "I see this as a squabble between Summers and West and not between Harvard and African-American studies or African-American studies within the academy," he said. Jim Ralph, who is also an associate professor of history, went to Harvard for graduate school and studied under Nathan Huggins, the director of African-American studies at the Harvard University for most of the 1980s. "I find it striking that, a decade later, the president is wondering if the people connected to it [black studies] are as committed to scholarship as they are to public presentation," he commented."The Harvard of the 1990s is a very diverse school," Ralph said, citing the number of black studies scholars the University has hired since the 1980s. "Harvard has become a first-choice school for a lot of African-American students. What this shows is that you can have a strong program [that will] have an effect on the changing admissions profile of Harvard [at the undergraduate level]."The Middlebury ConnectionHart speculated that "it was too early to tell" what the Harvard debate meant for a smaller college like Middlebury, but admitted that it would most likely have only a minimal effect. Both he and Ralph played key roles in establishing the African-American Studies minor program at Middlebury in 1999. The professors manage the minor program along with Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Ellen Oxfeld and Assistant Professor of American Literature and Civilization William Nash. Students that elect to pursue the minor must take a total of four courses from disciplines that include history and sociology and complete either a "relevant 400-level course or an independent 500-level project," the College course catalog stipulates. Ralph, who graduated from Middlebury in 1982, explained that when he was a student the College offered a course in black history taught by Thomas Cox, with an additional course in black literature emerging in the 1980s. "What are our aspirations [for the minor]? We certainly want to strengthen the minor; we certainly would like to see more offerings in a variety of fields," Ralph said.Possibilities do exist for transforming the minor into a major program, but, as Ralph conceded, "I don't know what to say about the future. It would require substantial resources." The FutureSuch aspirations could coincide with the College's commitment to diversity, formalized in October of 2000 with the creation of the Office for Institutional Diversity. The Office is headed by Associate Provost for Institutional Diversity and Associate Professor of German Roman Graf who, since assuming his position, has made strides to enhance Middlebury's incorporation of diversity — in its numerous socioeconomic, racial and sexual orientation manifestations — into its operating, admissions and instruction practices."These guys are major players [in the black studies field]," Graf said of Hart and Ralph, "and are really well known outside of Middlebury.""I think this is a good time, because we do have the Office for Institutional Diversity, because the College has made a commitment to diversify the student body, the staff and the curriculum," Hart explained. While no specific plans as of yet exist for expanding the African American Studies minor, initiatives that fall under Graf's supervision — such as implementing an expanded Cultures and Civilizations requirement, beginning with the Class of 2007 — will undoubtedly complement any efforts in this direction.
(02/27/02 12:00am)
Author: Abbie Beane Last week's Winter Carnival kickoff event brimmed with fairy tales, juicy cuts of meat, tall cakes, African lore and fiery dancing.As a prelude to the various festivities of the Cultural Arts Gala, held in the Center for the Arts (CFA) on Feb. 21, many Middlebury College students, faculty and staff attended the annual Winter Carnival dinner in Nelson Arena. This year's theme, "Beauty and the Beast," a tribute to the Disney movie classic, boasted everything from roast beef to towers of cakes piled with fluffy layers of pink icing, all victims of the ravenous mouths of 2,500 insatiable college students. Strings of lights hung like a luminous overhead jungle, and below proud animal sculptures arched their backs on the tables while workers dressed as characters from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" walked about in costume. Students gorged on tasty meats with their bare hands as a result of the ineffective plastic utensils. "I feel like a nomad," Matt Coons '04 said, picking up a slab of beef with his fingers. Eating selections of meat from "the beast" section of the dining event as well as feeling like primordial characters ourselves added to the amusement of the grand charade. Immediately following this culinary experience, Lisa Sammet, a self-described "tale singer," provided one of the numerous performances held that evening as part of the Winter Carnival Cultural Arts Gala, which incorporated music and creative dramatics. Entertaining a crowd of moderate size in the CFA Concert Hall, Sammet began with a piece playing the kalimba, a South African instrument made of various bits and pieces such as boards, boxes and hairclips. In celebration of Black History Month and her own experiences in Africa, she wore a colored mask and a blue and white outfit called a bubu, the traditional garment worn by men in the Ivory Coast. Sammet explained that she had taught English as a foreign language for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Ivory Coast. She also served as a recruiter for the Peace Corps for two years in the United States. Her performance, a tribute to her time in Africa, blended songs and chants from the Ivory Coast, classical African stories and frequent explanations of her African souvenirs, which still enchant her.Among her stage decorations was a blue shirt, made with the dye of an indigo plant and fabric made of a flax plant, which was traced with a design in goat dung. Her most prized instruments included the calabash, a large African gourd often used as a tambourine and the balaphon, a type of West African xylophone made of wood.Fighting a disruptive and restless crowd crawling with small children and parents trying to subdue them, Sammet sang a few songs and encouraged the audience to chant along with her. One particular tune, which she learned from the children of the Ivory Coast after starting a music club there, was "Everybody Loves Saturday Night," composed of verses in English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese, typifing the multilingual nation. A man in the audience was quick to inform Sammet that the song was originally written in Bantu, a language of central and southern Africa. He left soon after this remark, though Sammet thanked him profusely for the knowledge he shared. At the close of this extremely informal and interactive performance, Sammet graciously invited the audience to speak with her about her experiences and investigate her instruments. At the same time, on the lower floor of the CFA, crimson waves of energy resonated off of the granite walls and wafted enticingly up to the second floor. It was Jeh Kula, an African Dance Troupe from Burlington, Vt., with a few members originally from Senegal and Guinea, who offered an amazing performance and instructional dance workshop. The room barely afforded enough space to the electrically charged scores of people, who were dancing intensely in their bare feet. They were all captives of the infectious beats of the Ganba and Samba, the two types of drums used by Jeh Kula. It was difficult to believe that such an intricate sound could be born of only two instruments. Walking in midway through the instructional dance workshop was analogous to entering someone's bedroom and catching them dancing wildly in their underwear, inspired by the freedom of their privacy. It was as if their bodies were mere vessels of their spirits, bending and twisting in ways only possible after shedding the shell of social inhibition. The crowd clapped incessantly, laughing and smiling and gasping for breath despite the fact that they were sitting still. The leader of the troupe, a man cloaked in shiny, tan African dress, then arranged the group into a circle and gave one person a piece of cloth — requiring that he dance for a minute inside the ring before passing the cloth to someone else.It was refreshing to see the people find such release in their unrestricted movements, fully submissive to the intensity of the music and their own passions.The atmosphere reeked of adrenaline and endorphins as the Troupe enticed the audience to expose their true nature to the public. Later, a few of the professional dancers put on a choreographed performance to the beats of the Samba and the Ganba as well. The drums were played by four people in Jeh Kula towards the back of the stage. With the powerful waves of energy carrying the audience through to the last beat, it would have been impossible to fall asleep. And if the hot mustard at the dinner did not penetrate your skin, this heated unveiling of the confident performer behind the mask of the everyday man could surely meet that challenge.
(02/27/02 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Gissing U. New Hampshire Student Sued for Using a Fake IDAfter a recent settlement between a Durham, N.H,. storeowner and a University of New Hampshire student, New Hampshire alcohol sellers are now able to file suit against underage customers using fake identification to buy alcoholic beverages.The student, who was cited by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission for alcohol possession, was caught using his older brother's valid driver's license after successfully buying alcohol from a local market. The owner of the store, Chuck Cressy, sued the student after he himself was fined $250 for selling alcohol to a minor.This settlement provoked widespread responses from businesses that sell alcohol and could handle customers with fake IDs. Jack Stinson of Stinson's Village Store in Hanover, N.H., said that he would take "full legal advantage of the new precedent," and that minors who knowingly misrepresent themselves are as guilty as those who sell alcohol to them. Storeowners in New Hampshire have taken numerous preventative measures against underage buyers, including ID scanners, employee training and posted notices. For businesses, this settlement gives the owners recourse against the customer who puts the store at risk. If caught selling alcohol to a minor, a store faces fines ranging from $100 to $500 and, more importantly, the loss of their liquor license for one to 10 days.Source: The DartmouthNorwich U. Eliminates Secret SocietiesThe recent discovery of the Left Out Society (LOS), an unauthorized secret society, prompted administrators at Norwich University in Norwich, Vt. to expel and discipline students who were members. The school, where no fraternities or sororities exist, prohibits the existence of such groups, likely because of the strong presence of a military training program, the Corps of Cadets, on campus. This has been the case since 1999, when University President Richard Schneider prohibited any secret society or similar organization from existing on campus. LOS was discovered over the December break when, during routine dorm inspections, officials found stolen school property in students' rooms. Since the discovery, three students withdrew from Norwich University, three were expelled and 11 more were disciplined on campus.Further investigations are being conducted with evidence that was turned over to local police.Source: The DartmouthHarvard to Give College Credit Only to Top AP MarksHarvard University will no longer give college credit to freshmen who score lower than a five on advanced placement examinations. While most colleges award credit for scores of three, four or five on the tests administered by the College Board, many selective schools are debating over limits on credits for the scores. Harvard is the first to require scores of five for advanced standing. This decision was based in part on studies showing that second-year economics and chemistry students who scored a four on the AP exam and had no previous Harvard courses in the subject did noticeably worse than students who scored a five, and worse than the class in general. Some schools are concerned by the fact that students who score well on AP tests may be unprepared for high-level college work. While representatives of the College Board say, "those who scored well on the tests were ready for advanced courses," professors at universities disagree, arguing that while the students may be prepared for the AP tests, it does not necessarily mean they know how to use the information at a college level.Source: The New York TimesNYU Denied Reimbursement for Sept. 11 ExpensesNew York University (NYU) was recently told that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would not reimburse any of the $25 million that the university spent as a result of the World Trade Center attacks.NYU had requested FEMA to reimburse it for $5 million spent housing students displaced from downtown dormitories and supplying rescue workers, as well as another $3.5 million to pay for the cost of repairing buildings damaged in the attack. FEMA's reason for denying the university the funds is because NYU is a private, nonprofit institution, which is not considered a "critical" entity. Critical entities include hospitals and utilities. NYU has filed an insurance claim to cover the Sept. 11 costs and FEMA, in most cases, only reimburses costs not covered by insurance.Source: UwireToday.com
(02/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Bob Wainwright With the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics drawing to a close this Sunday, there have been many memorable moments that will be etched in our memories. The Opening Ceremonies were unforgetable as the tattered United States flag from ground-zero was cause for a moment of silence to remember the victims from Sept. 11. United States athletes jumped out of the gates in the sport of snowboarding never looking back. Who can forget the controversy surrounding the pairs figure skating competition? And with many competitions yet to be completed, more memories are bound to be made. Here is a look at some that will remain with us. Snow Boarding In its first stint as an Olympic sport, snow boarding has really taken off. Vermont native Kelly Clark won America's first gold medal of the Winter Olympics last week as she performed more dangerous tricks than any of her competitors in the halfpipe even last week. Her final mark of 47.9 was well above that of silver medalist Doriane Vidale of France, who scored a 43.0. With headphones on throughout the competition, Clark also became the first Olympic gold medalist to compete while listening to Guns 'n' Roses. Snowboarding remained a truly American event at these Games one day later, when Ross Powers led a U.S. sweep of the men's halfpipe. Americans Danny Kass and Jarret Thomas came in second and third, respectively, giving the United States its first Winter Olympic sweep since men's figure skating in 1956.Figure SkatingIn one of the most bizarre stories of any Winter Olympics, the final decision in the pairs figure skating competition was to award gold medals to both the Russian team of Anton Sikharulidze and Elena Berezhnaya and to the Canadian team of David Pelletier and Jamie Sale. Originally, the Russians had been awarded the gold and the Canadians the silver, but after the French judge admitted to being pressured into giving the Russians higher marks, the decision was changed to allow for two sets of gold medals. The International Skating Union is currently working on a massive overhaul of its scoring system. In the women's competition that began last night, American favorite Michelle Kwan did not disappoint as she skated flawlessly, giving her a small lead after the short program over her Russian rival, Irena Slutskaya.SpeedskatingDerek Parra set a world record in the 1,500 meters to claim Olympic gold last night, becoming the first double-medalist for America. His time of 43.95 was more than a second lower than the pre-Olympic world record. Parra had already surprised many by winning silver in the 5,000. Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated cover boy and short track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno was literally one turn away from his first Olympic gold when suddenly he found himself skidding into the boards, the hapless victim of a competitors tumble. Still, Ohno managed to crawl on his hands and knees the final few yards to take home the silver. Ohno is expected to be in great shape for his final three events. BobsledA 46 year drought in Olympic bobsled competition for the United States has finally ended, and it took two women to get the job done. In the first-ever women's bobsled competition, Americans Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers used a tremendous start to help propel them to Olympic gold. Their combined time of one minute, 37.76 seconds was just enough to place them ahead of Germans Sandra Prokoff and Ulrike Holzner.
