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(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: Adam Clayton I picked up my California absentee ballot the other day, and as a second time voter re-enforced a habit I hope to extend for the rest of my life, turning my gaze immediately towards the back of the ballot. This gives me the greatest hope at socializing the world I live in, and while I ponder for a few seconds on whether to vote conservatively and pick a democratic president, the state funding initiatives are where I take the most pleasure. I read and re-read the short description on developing a high speed rail network through southern California, even though I live in northern California, rubbing my eyes at the enormous numbers popping off the page. Nearly two billion dollars for something I will never see or use? Why not, I always liked travelling on trains in England, and I feel sorry for Americans who have only ever seen them on television. Should I force my neighbors to pay another two billion dollars to reform the criminal system? Sure, after all, according to television and Hollywood ninety percent of Englishmen in America are criminal masterminds, and they probably don't have dual citizenship like me, so I might as well represent the unrepresented. Big infrastructure and massive social welfare projects arouse my hidden political fantasies, and this is a good way to anonymously support them, while cost-saving initiatives are boring and backward.Interestingly enough, two of the most important measures being considered across the country are on my ballot, but unfortunately do not involve massive government expenditure. The first one concerns farm animals, and requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely. Given this only costs a few million of state expenditure, I wasn't too excited, but it was saddening. In fact, it was SHOCKING. Is it that hard to put animals in cages large enough so they can stretch out and turn around? What if they got itchy, or wanted to look in another direction at the endless cages and pens that make up their known universe? Unfortunately, this will be a heated measure, because as soon as pigs realize that pregnancy gives them rights to lie down and stand up, young promiscuous pigs will surely start running around looking for anything to impregnate it, possibly even different animals, and conservatives have been trying for decades to suppress this liberal immoral practice. On second thought, if they can't even turn around, there's not much risk of them running around hopped up on hope and hormones. Perhaps if we cooped up teenage girls in small cages conservatives would be a little happier.A second massively important ballot measure is number eight, which eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry. It's rare to see conservative ballot propositions these days, because they usually fail to qualify. It doesn't help when you insist on including God created all life on a proposal to make abortion illegal. I would most certainly support this issue if the state financed elaborate honeymoons and lavish wedding ceremonies for gay couples, but instead I'll just have to support it luke-warmly. If this holds, I can solve all those awkward bar conversations around where I live in San Francisco by simply saying I'm married, and not sacrifice the free drinks I had been enjoying. Now is the time of year when you can decide how the hundreds of tax dollars you contributed through cigarettes or the state lottery are spent and, even if you draw different conclusions to me, work together to make government bigger and better. So remember when you cast your ballot this November that voting for Obama is only one way to make this country better, and don't forget to turn the page.
(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: Rodrigo Seira Ethan B. Linck, an explorer, ornithologist, and high school senior, spoke last Thursday in Bristol about his latest exploration trip. In a presentation entitled "Dispatch for the Last Unknown: Ecology, Culture and Exploration in Papua New Guinea," Linck discussed his experiences during a summer trip to the island and gave an overview of the country's geography, history and culture. While Ethan Link is only a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School, his will to explore is undaunted. Drawing from his research last summer, Linck is in the process of crafting a scientific paper on the bird life of the Pawaian conservation area in the Gulf province and plans to write an in-depth narrative of his travels. Additionally, Linck is applying for a National Geographic Explorer's Grant to fund "Expedition Bewail." The grant is intended by National Geographic to "foster the next generation of researchers, explorers and conservationists," and if it is approved, the grant would send Ethan along with fellow CVU senior Nicolas A. Armas to "document and assess relative abundance and distribution of selected fauna, determine the level of habitat diversity, and identify potential environmental threats in an unexplored region of the Bewani Mountains of northern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea." The island of Papua New Guinea, which Linck describes as having the shape of "a prehistoric bird perching on top of the Cape York Peninsula of Australia," is world-renowned for its diversity - culturally, geographically and biologically. A country of about six million people, Papua New Guinea is "the second largest island in the world and the largest tropical island," Linck explained. It is also home to "over 1,000 indigenous languages" and is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. The country's geography is similarly varied and, in places, extremely rugged. A harsh mountain range runs the length of the island, forming a large highlands region. This terrain has made it difficult for the country to develop transportation infrastructure.A veil of mystery, has covered all this richness because the country is one of the world's least explored. Many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist there. It was Linck's passion for this country and his drive to "promote the conservation of primary forest habitat in Papua New Guinea" that pushed him to volunteer for the Research and Conservation Foundation of New Guinea. As he showed a slideshow composed of impressive photography, Linck told the story of his exploration. After arriving at Port Moresby, one of the most dangerous cities on earth, Linck made his way to the highland settlement of Goroka. There, he volunteered with the local NGO, the Research and Conservation Foundation of Papua New Guinea. "There were circular grass huts, known locally as haus kunai, and garden plots of sweet potato, or kau kau, and bananas." Linck recalled of his arrival.He spent several days in Goroka preparing to fly into the main project - the 3,000 square kilometer Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area where he was able to help map clan boundaries for future conservation efforts. "Living on passion fruit and biscuits, I was able to make use of their conservation education library and the unfailing friendliness of everyone to start learning Tok Pisin, the local lingua franca," said Linck.After a brief stay in Goroka, he then flew to the village of Haia, a large rural settlement in New Guinea that had been unconnected from the rest of the world until 1960. "Mountains, rivers, and forests stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction, without a single obvious relic of humanity," Linck said. From there, Ethan completed the first ever avifauna survey of traditional Pawaian tribal lands in the rich hill forest of the Yamo Valley. He was the first Westerner to ever visit the area, and to meet the indigenous locals of the Puzano Village. "Topless women with painted faces and grass skirts coated me in flowers and broke the ground before me with an adze, chanting and wailing. Nearby, several elders stood clutching spears, with engraved boar tusks through their septums," said Linck of his arrival to the village. After completing a three-week stay in the bush, Linck traveled to the far-flung New Ireland Province. He crisscrossed the long and skinny island made up of "one stunning white sand beach after another" where he "worked photographing and describing the environmental riches and challenges facing the outlying island." Linck's presentation was made possible with the support of the "One-World Library Project" in the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol. The project has a two-pronged approach that is composed of a growing collection of personally recommended books, films, and other media about world cultures and monthly programs around a variety of themes related to world cultures. "The One-World Library Project's goal is to bring the world to our community," explained one of the board members.
(10/09/08 12:00am)
Author: Andrey Tolstoy One night, when I was three years old, my mother told me to pack my things and get ready to leave. I grabbed a stuffed animal along with a bag of pretzels, and climbed into the cab with my sister. Four hours later we were in Paris. We stayed in a dingy hotel, the first one we could find at 3 a.m. There was no food left in Russia, my parents explained, so we were going to live here for a while.It was hard starting from scratch. My father, a former dissident, worked at a Russian-language newspaper, earning peanuts. My mother, a genetic engineer, got a job babysitting for wealthy Russian families. Our first Christmas we didn't have money for a tree, and we waited until our Catholic neighbors threw one out, so we could put it up for Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7th.One of the many freelance jobs my mother took up that first year was in cinema. She was hired by a studio to coach local star Nathalie Baye in speaking French with a Russian accent for a film about a Canadian cleaning lady of Russian descent, who returns to the motherland to get in touch with her roots.I'm not sure whether my mom was amused or horrified by the plot. Russia was then run by Boris Yeltsin, an alcoholic who had a degree in construction (senior seminar in cement mixing and all that jazz) that rose through the ranks of the Communist Party as part of Gorbachev's plan to enliven the ranks of the aging and discredited political apparatus. Sensing the imminent decline of his mentor, Yeltsin put himself in opposition, breaking from the establishment and arguing for an independent Russia. The public was captivated by the fact that he rode the bus to work, didn't hide his village accent, and was once caught on camera in a documentary taking shots of vodka after work. Yeltsin was a maverick, in that if there was a number of ways you could do something, he would almost invariably pick the worst. His extreme free-market policies, known as "shock therapy" by their supporters and "economic genocide" by their detractors, left the country in shambles, run by thugs and highway robbers. In the second year of his presidency, he used tanks to shell an uncooperative parliament. Because he was not gifted intellectually, he was easily enamored of various "progressives" and criminals that bled the country dry in the eight years of his reign. He left office with a 2% approval rating.In real life, the village where Nathalie Baye's character ended up is called Provideniya, Russian for "providence." It is inhabited by two thousand Yupiks, a branch of Eskimo, and was administered until two months ago by Roman Abramovich, more famous for his ownership of Chelsea FC. The Yupiks and ethnic minority Russians make most of their money in tourism, showing neighboring Canadians and Alaskans what their homes look like from the other side of the Bering Strait. They also have a statue of Lenin in town, which is kind of a pain to dismantle, so he just stands there, a sixty-foot tall anachronism, with his right arm still pointing toward the bright future. And today, we can hear the echo of bygone lovers, whispering across the Strait:"Darling," he slurs, "I'm going away to Moscow, to serve in the government."A sullen look comes across her imperfectly aligned eyes, and she snuggles into the moose carcass keeping her warm. "Is that far away?""Eleven time zones.""What are those?""It's far." "Like can't-see-it-from-Alaska far?" "Yeah." "Doggone it...""
(10/02/08 12:00am)
Author: Ilsa Shea and Grace Duggan "I'm Right, You're Wrong," a Big Action Performance Ensemble (Big APE) multimedia production performed twice this weekend in the Mahaney Center for the Arts, was an exposition and exaggeration of the vulnerable parts of us that we conceal and will away: mania, hysteria, spasmodicism, panic, exhaustion, depression. Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance and Big APE Artistic Director Tiffany Rhynard's focused on "taking away the cultural façade," one which she feels we have been conditioned to put on. "We as humans are so groomed, so socially cultured to present a façade. It's not okay to do things in public we do as humans," said Rhynard. Rhynard, who originally studied metalwork and thought she would be a jeweler, founded Big APE earlier this year. The entire company - James Gutierrez '07, Luisa Irving '07, Adriane Medina '08, Yina Ng '09 and Simon Thomas-Train '09 - is made up of current students or recent graduates of Middlebury College. The interests of Big APE lie in exploring human vulnerability and ethical dilemmas, with aims at de-marginalizing the contemporary dance world, affirming Rhynard's claim that "I don't make work for dancers."Collaborating with dancer/new media artist Marlon Barrios, and Jennifer Ponder, Middlebury's lighting designer and technical director, Rhynard realized an environment in which improvisational software manipulated the performers' movements and, conversely, the performers' movements influenced the environment. Said Rhynard, "[Dance] has the potential to really move people. It's a very powerful medium…So many serendipitous moments emerged that I didn't plan." One such moment came when Gutierrez and Thomas-Train shouted "Come on!" to audience members in different flanks of the performance space's L-shaped seating arrangement, demanding them to cheer. So enthusiastic were audience members' yells that when Ng authoritatively voiced, "You can be quiet now," I was overwhelmed with embarrassment, and stupefaction. They had provoked enthusiasm in me suddenly and intensely, and it was instantly silenced. Ng then commanded, "Subject one, subject two enter the space, approach each other, identify yourself." A fight ensued in a simultaneously comedic and violent manner of eight- and ten-year-old brothers playing at dinosaurs. Was this at the same time? Irving's back to the audience, with her mouth tensing, chewing and miming enigma, was projected on the wall in the back of the performance space. This was set in an environment reminiscent of a criminal warehouse interrogation scene, an atmosphere created by lighting and projection elements.When prompted by Ng's resounding command to "do what you think is wrong," Gutierrez and Thomas-Train then groped and molested Irving. Gutierrez's consequent physical paralysis explicated the manifest trauma of ethical transgression. Irving, wearing one red pump and repeatedly falling to the ground was expressive of the destabilizing, debilitating effect of sexual abuse. Ng responded to Irving by yelling, "Trying to stand on one leg, everyone stands on two legs…You like it. That's why they touch you like that."Talking about the Big APE company, Irving stated, "We created a world with the piece." Medina echoed these sentiments when she pointed out that the piece "was not just dance. The movement is important.""'I'm Right, You're Wrong,' is about relationships, society, community, [and] self…coming up against yourself and coming up against each other," said Rhynard. "It's an exaggeration, distorting, distracting…[it's] not a prescription for how it should be." The intent, Rhynard stated, was to invoke self-reflection, an emphatic articulation of the animalism of humanity and human relationships through a performance with the audience playing an important role as part of the experiment.
(10/02/08 12:00am)
Author: Andrew Throdahl The strings of the Vermony Symphony Orchestra, under veteran conductor/violinist Jaime Laredo, stopped at the Mahaney Center for the Arts on Sept. 18 for their Made in Vermont Music Festival Tour. As far as how Vermont was made apparent during the concert, a white love seat cluttered with Vermont merchandise (like mulch, pumpkin and stuffed animal spiders) stood perplexingly off-stage. Vermont native Pierre Jalbert was present for the premiere of his "Autumn Rhapsody," which sounded suspiciously, if not alarmingly, similar to John Adams' "Shaker Loops."The real highlights of the concert, however, were unrelated to Vermont. Grieg's charming "Holberg Suite" and Vivaldi's inexhaustible "Four Seasons" formed the main attraction. The ensemble was well-balanced and full-bodied, and it carefully articulated the familiar "Four Seasons." Laredo's interpretation of Vivaldi's intricate solo part was satisfyingly precise and detailed, and his direction was refreshingly relaxed.
(09/18/08 12:00am)
Author: James O'Brien Inspired by Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser's lecture, I've decided to take on a few weeks of semi-investigative journalism. I'll admit that the extent of my investigation thus far has included accosting people who happen to be walking by or standing next to me, but, acknowledging that every future award-winning journalist needs to start somewhere, here are some quotations I've gathered on relationships at Middlebury."I hook-up every weekend."This young man - I think he was a first-year - seemed eager to impress me. Not quite sure why. But what he didn't seem to realize is that the difficulty level of "hooking up" at Middlebury is orange - that is, if difficulty were rated on a color coded system and orange denoted the highest level of simplicity. I didn't really want to rain on his parade, so I made the face I would have used if I'd been present when the floods came in the time of Noah's Ark - absolute shock and disbelief. "Oh come on! What were the chances that the old guy with two of every animal wasn't crazy?" He seemed to notice I was patronizing him. "The girls are hot, too," he quickly added."I've had a boyfriend since last year, but we're breaking up. He doesn't actually know that yet though."This was my favorite quote thus far. Clearly this young woman has been thinking about breaking-up with her counterpart for some time, most likely the whole summer. But she decided to take the time to explain her situation to some random kid she had never met instead of telling her boyfriend first. I do sympathize though. The summer is just not good for college relationships. Those working in the Love & Condoms Department of the Health Center should start looking into abolishing summer vacation. Much like the Amethyst Initiative, this sort of movement may turn a few heads at first, but lobbyists for true love - and/or sustainable hooking up - would all vote in favor.This girl then went on to admit to "cheating" on her boyfriend, an act that she blamed on the "long-distance" nature of their relationship. Long-distance relationships are the worst. Everyone understands that they won't work, and yet they've heard a story about this cousin of a friend's brother's dry cleaner who was somehow able to weather the storm of being miles apart. So then they think, "If Frederico and Marge pulled it off, why can't [insert significant other's name here] and I do that?" while they proceed to barge headlong into several months of misery. As a quick bit of advice, please never utter the phrase, "If they can do it, why can't I?" to yourself. You just can't… I don't know why.One young woman I talked to had been "looking to date" for four years, but hadn't been pleased with results.This doesn't give me a lot of hope. This girl I was talking to was attractive-about a 7 out of 10 on the Magnificent Middlebury-modified objectification scale (also known as the Mmm scale)-and she hadn't had any luck. What hope do the rest of us have?"Are you hitting on me?"When you decide to do relationship research on Friday night outside of a themed party, you run the risk of these sorts of responses. And yes. I was hitting on you. But don't blame me. If there's one thing I learned from my semi-research, it's that if a person is going to have dating success at Middlebury, they have to cast a very wide net.
(09/11/08 12:00am)
Author: Maeve McGilloway This past weekend the Middlebury women's soccer team participated in the fifth annual Stevens Institute of Technology tournament in Hoboken, N.J., which resulted in a mixed bag - a tie on Saturday, Sept. 6 to Stevens (1-1) and a loss on Sunday, Sept. 7 to NYU (0-1). The squad had to travel without its two first-years, Devin Perkins '12 and Kaitlin Surdoval '12, who remained on campus to take part in Orientation activities. The Panthers first game of the tournament was against the Stevens Ducks. Although ducks would be no match for panthers in the animal kingdom, these ducks were not only the 'Engineering Cup' hosts but also the tournament winners last year. After a scoreless first half, midfielder Margaret Owen '10 converted a well-placed lead pass from fellow midfielder Anne Ford '10 to put Middlebury on the scoreboard. Stevens goalkeeper Jenn Pontier stepped out of the goalmouth as well as her comfort zone. Owen took advantage of Pontier's vulnerability and broke away from three surrounding defenders, scoring a straight-on goal. The Panthers lost their 1-0 lead twenty-five minutes into the second half when a Stevens defender tied the game with a long-shot goal in the upper ninety. Officially the game ended in a stalemate and will be recognized by the NCAA as a tie, but for tournament purposes the two teams needed overtime play to determine an outright winner. The Panthers fought through two overtime periods but the game came down to penalty kicks, pitting Middlebury sophomore goalkeeper, Lauryn Torch '11, against Stevens goalkeeper Pontier. In this shootout ,Panthers Anjuli Demers '10, Ashley Pfaff '09 and Tiffany Orlowski '09 were all able to place the ball out of the goalie's reach in the upper corners. Stevens scored on all five of its opportunities, resulting in a 5-3 penalty kick advantage that gave the Ducks the win. However, the Panthers played tough, reflecting the experience they gained abroad, having played club teams from the Netherlands and Germany on their 10-day tour of Europe this past August.The following day, the Middlebury blue and white encountered the New York University (NYU) purple and white. With less than 10 minutes left in the game, NYU scored what proved to be the winning goal, and went on to win the tournament. Owen explained that the challenge now facing the Panthers is to "extend our strong first half play to a full ninety minutes." Middlebury will also need to continue pressuring the goal, and this will most certainly be aided with the return of Pfaff and Nora Tomlinson-Weintraub '10, the two points leaders last season. Senior tri-captains Zoe Victor '09, Caitlin Parker '09 and Orlowski, along with Coach Peter Kim, feel that the team is more mature than previous years and therefore will not lower its expectations for the season. Owen jokingly added, "We are still undefeated in NESCACs!" Striker Lindsay Walker '10, temporarily sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury, acknowledged the defeat but looked to the future optimistically. "We just need to take it game by game, day by day and not look too far in advance," she said. Fellow junior Valerie Christy '10 agreed. "The losses were a learning experience," said Christy, "and the team accepts and understands what we now have to do to keep on improving our game each and everyday." Christy added that Walker's return to the field this week will most definitely get the team on the right foot.
(05/08/08 12:00am)
Author: Rachael Jennings From noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, a white tent near Coffrin Lounge was host to delicious food, exquisite costumes and cultural celebration during the College's first-ever Haru Matsuri - or Japanese Spring Festival. Traditionally, the College has celebrated Yuki Matsuri - a Japanese winter festival - but after taking part in the annual Haru Matsuri at St. Michael's College the previous year, the Japanese Club (with the help of the Japanese Department, Japanese House and Wonnacot Commons) decided to bring the cultural merriment to the campus and it proved a great success.With over $800 of catered sushi, face-painting booths, calligraphy, anime, karate and Aikido demonstrations, Japanese food and a tea-tasting station, the slightly dismal weather did not damper the excitement of the celebration, which was attended by a large crowd. "We had the students as well as faculty from the Japanese, English and Theatre Departments come with their children," said Christine Chung '10, a key planner of the festival. "The event was opened to the community, so some members of the community brought their children wearing cute Japanese clothing. We had various students come, and not just from our club membership."The attendees were fortunate to take part in some of the added features to the format of Middlebury's Japanese Winter Festival. To begin with, the idea to hold the event outside was not part of the original plan - the event scheduled to be held inside Coffrin Lounge.Furthermore, groups from outside the campus were brought in - the Taiko Drumming Group from Burlington provided wonderful rhythms and extra flavor to the spirited event. Also, a Soba - a Japanese buckwheat noodle - eating contest brought much amusement. "I was very pleased with the turnout, all the booths and how the board members and other volunteers cooperated and helped out in terms of preparation, and during the event itself," said JeeYeon Park '08, one vital member in the planning and execution of the event. This event is one of many that the Japanese Club has hosted this year. Last semester, the organization teamed up with the Korean Club for a very successful Asian Dolci Night. This semester, the Japanese Cub held a shabu-shabu lunch event in the Freeman Dining Hall where over 200 people attended. Additionally, this spring semester brought out some members of the Club to Mary Hogan Elementary School, where they taught Japanese classes.Another old favorite that reappeared this year was Izakaya Night - a Japanese-style bar night at the Japanese House. "We made finger foods that would be served in Japanese bars," explained Park, "and concluded the night with a successful dance party."Even with such an active agenda on campus, the members of the Japanese Club devoted countless hours to planning such a colorful Spring Festival. Preparation began three months beforehand. "Nothing beats the satisfying feeling that comes after arduously planning each event and seeing how pleased all the guests are with the final product," said Park. Indeed, the content of the crowd was proof of a job well done for the Japanese Club. As Lecturer in Japanese Kyoko Davis beautifully played a Japanese string instrument with her friend and Professor of Japanese Studies Nobuo Ogawa and Associate Professor of Japanese Studies Stephen Snyder provided the harmonious sounds of the Japanese flute, little children ran around giddily with kites and bubbles. "My favorite moments were when I looked out into the crowd and saw so many culturally diverse people enjoy the cultures of Japan," said Chung.
(05/08/08 12:00am)
Author: Eleanor Buechner, Michelle Cady and Elizabeth Kelley If you have ever gone on a run down Weybridge Street or cruised the drive up to McCardell Bicentennial Hall, chances are that you have seen the Scholten Family Farm. Its twin silos and silver barn are nestled on the rolling hills just north of the College and are home to 35 Dutch Belt cows, famous for their Oreo-like pattern of a creamy white middle sandwiched between black flanks and shoulders. Currently, the farm's sole product is milk, but in a few short weeks, cheese - made by the friendly and ambitious Patty Scholten - will appear on the local market under the name "Kaas by Cass." The catchy and unusual name requires some explanation. "Kaas" is the Dutch word for cheese - an identity consistent with the Dutch Belt cows on the farm - and "Cass" is Patty Scholten's maiden name. This unique and tasteful soft ripened cheese will make its first public appearance at the Middlebury Farmer's Market in Marble Works in a few short weeks.Roger and Patty Scholten, who lease their farm from the College, have been dairy farming in Addison County for 13 years. They have raised their 35 Dutch Belts and 45 crossbred cows organically. In May of 2007, their farm became officially certified organic. Patty Scholten explained that organic farmers follow a certain set of technical practices as well as a complementary philosophy. Her cows are pastured for six months of the year and no antibiotics are used on the animals. Additionally, no herbicides or pesticides are used on the farm. By following organic standards, the Scholtens grow healthier animals and cultivate a product that is tastier and more nutritious. The College recently accepted Scholten's request to build a cheese house on the property to pasteurize her cheese.Scholten originally became interested in making cheese through a cheese course she took with some friends, where she "fell in love with cheese." While she enjoys the process of making cheese, the prospect of extra income from cheese production has enabled her to leave her desk job at the College's Financial Services and return to life on the family farm. Producing her soft-ripened organic cheese is not only pleasurable - it is a way to spend more time with her family. Additionally, her cheese gives nutritional benefit to the community and inspires other family farms to consider adding a sustainable value-added product to their repertoire. Locally sold farm produce cultivates community ties and strengthens the local economy. "I am being proactive with the whole community," Scholten said of her by production and sale of cheese locally. Her local innovation in small-scale local cheese production sends the message to other local farmers that it can be done.Those who frequent the Middlebury Farmer's Market will soon see the appearance of "Roger's Robusto," "Danny's Delight," "LeAnn's Leyden" and "Patty's Plain." Scholten's cheeses - each inspired by members of her family - offer tasters a variety of choices and flavors to try. The four cheeses resemble the taste and texture of goat cheese or chèvre. "Roger's Robusto," named after her husband, is made using a secret family recipe that blends oregano, basil and other herbs and spices. "Danny's Delight" is made with a medley of garlic and chive, while LeAnn's cheese is coated in caraway seeds. As for Patty Scholten's, the name says it all. Organically produced, free of trans-fats and hydrogenated oils, the cheese is delicious and nutritious. Scholten provides her customers with a perfect summer snack, great for hors d'ourves, sprinkled over fresh salads, spread over a toasted baguette or for inclusion in your own favorite recipes.Lucky for Middlebury students, Scholten is currently negotiating with Matthew Biette, director of Dining Services, on the prospect of adding her yogurt to the College dining halls. "I am very excited that this is finally happening and that I can be a part of this community and give back to the town of Middlebury and Addison County," Scholten said.
(05/01/08 12:00am)
Author: Kelly Janis "For years, they've been fighting," said Cowasuck tribe member Todd Hebert, pointing to portraits of several Abenaki tribes, situated side-by-side on the walls of the Ndakinna Cultural Center. "They've been against each other. And now, here they are in the same room, facing each other."Such unity was apparent as members of Native American bands from across the state converged in drum circles, singing and craft demonstrations to celebrate the grand opening of the Abenaki Indian Museum - dedicated to the preservation of native heritage by means of classes, workshops and exhibitions - on April 26 and 27 in East Montpelier, Vt."This museum was created for the people in honor of our Grand Mothers and Grand Fathers that walked on this beautiful Mother Earth before us," reads a sign in the Campbell Museum room, which showcases a wide array of Native American artifacts, including a dugout canoe, medicine bag, turtle rattle and soapstone pipe, examples of traditional regalia, jewelry and a selection of reading materials. "The spirits of our ancestors are here with us today. They are guiding us to teach now that it is okay to share some of our secrets and some of our past."For the Abenakis - whose homeland extended throughout much of northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes - the past is, at many junctures, a painful entity with which to grapple.In 1931, the passage of An Act for Human Betterment by Voluntary Sterilization as part of the eugenics movement in Vermont caused Indian identities to dart underground."During my grandfather's time, you could get hung from a tree," said Roger Longtoe Sheehan of the Elnu tribe, who spent Saturday afternoon selling handmade pipes, war clubs, tomahawks and arrows on the lawn outside of the museum. "Being Indian wasn't a thing you wanted to go telling too many people.""If they found out you were Abenaki, you could get sterilized," Hebert said. "People came up missing. It was genocide. That's what it was."Although conditions have improved considerably in the ensuing decades, the dynamics of the former half of the 20th century have left an indelible mark. This is evidenced most prominently in the false - but widely held - belief that the majority of the Abenaki people long ago fled to Canada. "We're here now," Hebert said in protest. "Nobody left. This is us. This is who we are."In May of 2006, Gov. Jim Douglas signed a bill recognizing the Abenakis' presence in Vermont."Basically, they said we exist," Sheehan said. Nevertheless, flaws in the measure continue to prevent Native Americans from promoting their products as "Indian-made.""I can sell my items as a descendant of the Abenaki," Sheehan explained. "I can't say I am an Abenaki and sell them that way."As tribes campaign to rectify this caveat, they struggle against unfavorable representations in popular culture and the media. "We're trying to get recognition just to be able to label our crafts as Indian-made," Hebert said. "And people tie it into casinos and land claims and all of this stuff constantly, every time."Hebert indicated a cartoon which ran several years ago in The Burlington Free Press, depicting casino-laden squalor under the heading "Welcome to Abenaki Country.""It puts a misconception about us out there, and it's used every time," Hebert said. "And all of a sudden the fear comes up."The Abenakis of Vermont are striving to combat the fear by which they have been beleaguered in preceding centuries with the revitalization of their heritage. "We're trying to rebuild our culture," said Whisper, an elder from the Northeast Kingdom. "We've got remnants of it, patches of it. And we're all trying to share it and bring it back into a cohesive whole."Whisper described spiritual teachers as paramount to the preservation of this culture."When a people are being conquered, the first thing they lose are the medicine people, the elders, the people who know the old wisdom," she said. "It has to be a very quiet and low-key effort to recover the spiritual teachings that underlie the old ways, but are still applicable.""A lot of culture was lost," said Roger Longtoe Sheehan's cousin, Vera Longtoe Sheehan. "So what we do have is important to share."Vera Longtoe Sheehan has valued this process of sharing since an early age. "I wanted to know more about my culture, and when I was very young, trying to know more, I had a hard time finding adults to mentor me," she said. "So I started delving into history books, and finding elders who knew information."In turn, Sheehan imparted these relics upon her own family. Her 5-year-old son dances and sings Wabanki music at pow-wows, while her daughter experiments with finger-weaving and sewing."I like to focus on the young girls," she said. "They are going to be the mothers someday. A lot of cultures are passed on from mothers as they have their babies sitting on their lap."This transmission of heritage also takes place on a public scale, in the form of the clothing, jewelry and baskets Sheehan produces, as well as the educational programs she leads at schools, museums and historic sites. Such programs often include what are known as living history villages."We come dressed in traditional clothing from a certain time period and set up an entire village," she explained. "We'll set up wigwams, lean-tos. We'll do traditional crafts, cook on the fire and show people what it would be like to live in the 17th century."George Peskunck Larrabee offered similar experiential learning on Saturday as he led visitors in the construction of a wigwam, the dome-shaped shelter of choice for traditional Abenaki tribes.According to Larrabee, such workshops do not always proceed as planned. As evidence, he recounted the precarious attempt of local high school students several years ago."They basically got everything wrong," Larrabee said, cringing as he described pieces inserted backwards and a plush poison ivy lining. "It looked nice, though." This time around, Larrabee was equipped with plenty of competent aid. John Avery - a Williamstown, Vt. resident attired in a Harley Davidson t-shirt and maroon sweatpants and wielding a tomahawk - revealed himself to be surprisingly astute for a novice as he sorted pieces of wood in preparation for the project. As it turns out, Avery was hardly a newcomer to the construction of Native American dwellings. Last year, a family friend decided she wanted a wigwam of her very own - a desire which some savvy online shopping translated into reality. As with many products, however, assembly was required. Thus, Avery and his adventurous compatriots were charged with gathering two dozen 32-feet long wooden poles into a coherent form. "It took two days - the first time," Avery said. "It came down three times. Twice, the whole thing had to come down and we started all over, because the door has to be pointing east. It's a lot of work. It was quite a chore putting it up."His perseverance at the task yielded fascinating lessons. "I learned quite a lot about the symbols on wigwams," Avery said. "You shouldn't copy them. It's disrespectful. Each one of those symbols means something to the person who wrote it. It's his life. Each symbol is something that guy has done. Like, a sword means that he's killed so many animals or whatever."As a consequence of his exposure to native culture, Avery is smitten with the image of what he believes would be a more desirable lifestyle than his own."It wouldn't even bother me to head out into the wilderness and live like these guys did," he said. "I'd love to get away from everything. Phone, TV."Ultimately, however, a certain practical impediment to this impulse exists."My wife wouldn't go with me," Avery said, adopting the same tone of disappointment with which he lamented her unwillingness to sleep in a wigwam in the middle of winter with an open flame, for fear of dying of smoke inhalation. "She has to have running water and take showers."
(05/01/08 12:00am)
Author: James O'Brien I've decided to begin this week with two moralizing haikus.Some animals watch The other animals fall,Happy it's not them.The frog eats the fly.The frog is suddenly scared-Prays for its frog soul.These haikus, besides being quaint and amusing, are meant to illustrate a topic that has been on my mind for awhile - individuality. Please, do not be an individual. I care about you.Remember the story of George Washington and his honesty regarding that felled cherry tree? Or the Boy Who Cried Wolf? As children, these stories taught us lessons about honesty. They taught this lesson, which our society thought we should know - if you tell the truth, your Dad will hug you. If you lie, wolves will eat you. As we got older, we realized that these scenarios were a bit over the top, but they did teach us a general rule about how society feels about lying. Today we still learn from certain books, but we mostly just sop up the culture around us. We receive a loud and clear message that we are individuals in constant competition for a pot of gold.This pursuit of an end goal can tire us out, and sometimes we just want to take the weight of being an individual off of our shoulders. When people want to feel like part of a whole rather than a single human being, I think the first thing that they turn to is religion or spirituality (and when I say spirituality, I mean some sort of activity that tends to give us a sense of relative insignificance, and subsequently, peace). It probably seems paradoxical that insignificance can bring us peace, but I think it is a sense that we are part of some greater system at work takes a bit of the pressure off.Often spirituality can take the form of practicing music or basketball. It could be taking a walk with a mentor. But whatever it is, it helps us to put ourselves in the context of the world as a whole. It helps us to feel small for a moment and still be happy. In terms of my own spirituality, when I was younger, it took the form of Roman Catholicism. Consequently I've come to find how Church teaching can inadvertently lead toward a goal-oriented life. While Catholicism certainly promotes helping your fellow human beings, it also emphasizes that your reward for doing so is individual salvation. We are trained to look for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and completely overlook the rainbow itself. I'm not sure exactly who decided it and when, but American culture, like my Sunday school books, seems to teach us that we need to invent a pot of gold because the rainbow just isn't good enough.We might just be willing to say, "Oh well. That's the way things are. Plus, I like gold, because it is shiny, and I hate rainbows, because I once had a bad experience I don't want to talk about." Fair enough. But I think many of us have bought into the idea of being individuals without even knowing it. It doesn't exactly have to be this way. It would be just as easy to see ourselves as part of a whole if that was the way our culture operated. Rather than the spotlight always being on you, perhaps it could shift to others in your life. Your focus could truly be on the idea of the people themselves rather than what you get from them and what they get from you, physically and emotionally. You may think that you do this already, but think about it for a second. There are times when people lose their humanity in our minds only to become a means to an end. If we could only view our school and our world as one whole entity, this almost-innocent selfishness we've fallen into could be thrown out the window. The idea of going through life as a solo journey is an unsatisfying one. Granted, we are physically confined to our own individual minds and bodies. We are unable to truly understand what another person is thinking, but the communication aspect of living, that act of crossing the divide, is life. Communication is not a means to something else, and we are not individuals but an interconnected whole. It is not an idea that can be proven, I assume, but try thinking about life in that way for a second just to see how our ideas about individuality, no matter what they are, are not intrinsic. They are contingent on our upbringing and the essence of competition around us. What if we all exist as one living, breathing entity? Maybe this is what my old friend Jesus meant when he said, "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do to me." The world may be static, but it is our perception of it which affects our actions. So if we view ourselves as individuals responsible for achieving status, money or most poor people served, we've actually learned our lesson well. We can, however, choose to be poor students and reject that lesson. We can choose to consider ourselves part of a whole. Believe it or not, there is a way to enjoy the rainbow, and it tastes just as good as it looks. Just ask Skittles.James O'Brien is an English major from Medfield, Mass.
(05/01/08 12:00am)
Author: Tess Russell If you have been frequenting www.middleburyconfessional.com since the controversial Web site went live last week, you have probably had at least a few good laughs. You might also be grappling with certain important questions regarding the darker, more vicious elements at work on our seemingly cordial campus. Still, despite these weighty concerns about our sensitivity as a community toward issues like cheating and diversity, one query has pretty much superseded the rest in the mind of the casual confessor - who is Kyle Howard, and how do we separate the man from the myths?"It's all true," Howard, a San Francisco, C.A.-native, joked over dinner at Ross Dining Hall. "I think it got started because I have this habit of answering every question with the word 'party.' I should warn you that you're probably not going to get very far with this interview."Indeed, Howard's cyber-celebrity was originally borne of the thread naming the "Biggest Party Animals" at the College, though his name immediately began to pop up in almost every other context imaginable. "Kyle Howard played Beirut on a 1000 ft. table with Yahweh and won." "An asteroid didn't wipe out the dinosaurs - Kyle Howard did." "Kyle Howard makes mean backcountry pizza." And, as part of a deleted conversation about attractive non-white students, "Kyle Howard's mom is one-eighth African." (Howard maintained that he is at least as African as Leonardo DiCaprio's character in the film "Blood Diamond.")The identity of the phenomenon's instigator is unconfirmed, though sources close to Howard believe the perpetrator is none other than "Bob Dylan kid" himself (real name - Matt Shandorf '10). Howard, for his part, is taking it all in stride - he noted that his friends have always seemed to get a rise out of messing with him and that he is "happy to be along for the ride." Thus far, his newfound notoriety has been treating him well. One of Howard's professors, Assistant Professor of American Studies and Film and Media Culture Jason Mittell, recently engaged Howard and classmate Steve McCombe '10 - the prolific "I'M A DINOSAUR" poster - in a lively verbal contest. Howard has also witnessed a dramatic swell in the ranks of his female admirers. "It's been the best four days of my life," Howard said. "I introduce myself as 'Kyle," but once they hear the 'Howard,' it's like a constant stream. We've had to institute a waiting list."That is not to suggest that Howard has ever had trouble wooing the ladies. A few weeks ago, finding himself with the urge to hone his athletic physique and further improve his "dexterity" (Howard is a karate enthusiast and skied competitively until he tore his ACL), he ventured out onto his Lang floor at 12:30 a.m. to make use of a ceiling protrusion particularly well-suited for pull-ups. Within minutes, three girls had emerged from adjacent rooms, complaining that he was groaning too loudly.But Martin Box '10, who identified himself as Howard's "publicist" and tried to hold out for front-page coverage, set the record straight. "Actually, the girls sat and watched with pleasure," Box clarified. "Sometimes Kyle gets confused about these things."Box also encouraged those interested in seeing the legendary Howard in action to attend an upcoming Kyle-themed party that will be held in Gifford this Friday. The first 100 entries will be rewarded with masks featuring Howard's likeness and revelers will undoubtedly catch a glimpse of the guest of honor doing what he loves most - partying.Appraising Howard's nocturnal talents, Box remarked, "Kyle Howard once did a root beer kegstand for 12 seconds."But if Howard, who does not contribute to the wealth of commentary about him on the site that everyone loves to hate, had to write his own confession, what would he say?"I have a theory," Howard explained, "that every guy is secretly gay for himself."And there you have it.
(04/17/08 12:00am)
Author: Tamara Hilmes If having a tree as its namesake was not quite hint enough, you need not look further than the Magnolia Bistro's 100-percent-recycled menu to realize that this cozy little cafe is dedicated to the "green" effort. The Magnolia Bistro, located at 1 Lawson Lane in Burlington, is the only establishment in Vermont to be certified by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a national non-profit organization that is dedicated, according to its Web site, "to creat[ing] an ecologically sustainable restaurant industry." Magnolia Bistro has not only adhered to the 12 environmental guidelines laid out on the GRA's Web site, but has managed to complete 32 of the organizations "environment steps." These steps include everything from using energy-efficient lighting and "Recycled, Tree-Free, Biodegradable & Organic" take-out containers to serving up dishes made from "sustainable" locally-grown options."From the 100-percent recycled paper the business plan was printed on," the bistro tells visitors to their Web site, "to the biodegradable paint stripper used during renovations, to the use of LEED certified carpet and everything else you can see or touch in the restaurant, we keep the environment in mind first and foremost."The restaurant's fierce devotion to the environment becomes immediately apparent when you first step foot into the exposed-brick interior that is covered in botanical-themed artwork, including a large mural of a magnolia tree. The fresh flowers that sit in the vases littering the cafe also infuse the space with an aura of Mother Nature that is difficult to ignore. Once seated at one of the small and sleek wooden tables or at the bar, your attention is sure to be drawn away from the fresh decor, but certainly not from the bistro's green tendencies. The menu, even without the recycled paper symbol in the corner, reaks of the Co-op with such offerings as their Cinnamon Raisin Bread French Toast, described as "hand swirled organic cinnamon raisin bread in our own french toast wash" and their Homemade Granola. Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends, the bistro specializes in sumptuous breakfast as well as lunchtime fare - and their midday offerings are no less organically inclined. From the Tarragon Chicken Sandwich made from "free range chicken" to the "locally-marinated" Open Faced Steak Sandwich, the bistro serves up true Vermont specialties from morning til afternoon.The bistro also caters especially to vegetarian and vegan patrons by marking animal-product-free items and by making accomadations for those that are unmarked. Now, most Middlebury students know that being environmentally conscious certainly does not come cheap, but the Magnolia Bistro manages to keep their prices surprisingly low despite their use of alternative and organic products. A dish off of the breakfast menu will only cost you between about $6-$8, while all of the sandwiches stay around the $8.50 price range. The Magnolia Bistro manages to stay true to its green roots while still providing a relatively affordable meal in a beautiful atmosphere - a task not accomplished by many. So the next time you are wandering down Church Street or waiting for a flight to arrive, you might want to make the extra effort and walk a couple blocks over to the Magnolia Bistro where you will be sure to find local fare at its finest.
(04/10/08 12:00am)
Author: Emma Gardner While the Middlebury Equestrian Club has not garnered quite as much media attention as the Quidditch team this year, the riding team has nonetheless seen a great level of success during its fall season and currently this spring. Adding a significant number of ribbons and accolades to the team's collection over the past four years has been Ptarmigan Abbott '08, assistant captain and star rider of the Equestrian Club. On March 15, Abbott earned the High Point award for Middlebury at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Equestrian Meet, attaining the most prestigious distinction in equestrian competition.Since her arrival on campus in the fall of 2004, Abbott has brought a level of talent and expertise to the riding program that has consistently produced impressive results. In her sophomore year, she became the first recipient of the High Point award in the history of Middlebury's Equestrian Club. After studying abroad last year, she returned to campus this fall to captain the team and now holds the only two High Point awards in the program.The Middlebury Equestrian Club operates somewhat differently than other athletic programs at the College. Riders of all capabilities are encouraged to participate in weekly lessons at a stable in New Haven, about 15 minutes outside of Middlebury. There riders range in experience from those who have never seen a horse before to those who were raised on equestrian competition. Seasoned athletes train alongside beginners in an environment that remains at once relaxed and focused, but is "very different from what I grew up with," according to Abbott. Working alongside coach Kate Selby, the riders who are registered with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) compete in both the fall and spring seasons. While 20 students are currently enrolled in the program, only seven are members of the IHSA and attend shows, at which they compete in divisions according to skill level. At the culmination of each event, individual points are tallied and team totals ranked. Though Middlebury's equestrian team rarely produces enough riders to fill each spot in each division, Abbott and her teammates have in the past managed to overcome the size of the program to achieve high standings in overall school rankings. At the UNH meet, for example, Middlebury "only had four people, but we ended up doing really well," said Abbott.On the morning of March 15, Abbott prepared to learn the names of the horses she would ride later that day. Instead of accompanying their own horses to events, riders are assigned horses through a random draw. "You never know what you're going to get," said Abbot, as a horse may be particularly temperamental.For Abbott, size has often proven an issue in the past. "I'm one of the smallest riders on the team, but for some reason, I always draw the biggest horses," she noted. Competing in both the jumping class and flat class events, Abbott drew horses Whisper and Lefty. "I was the last one to ride Whisper, so I'd watched her with other riders and she had refused a fence with each one of them," said Abbott. "Needless to say, I was not that excited about getting on her, thinking she was a bad draw."After completing one practice circle with Whisper, Abbott began the course. Riding from jump to jump, she guided her horse flawlessly through the course, mastering the previously unruly Whisper to finish first in her division. Thrilled with this initial success, Abbott moved onto her flat class event with anticipation. "I was definitely nervous before my flat class as I knew I had placed first in jumping and had a shot at High Point, especially since I had drawn a good horse for flat," said Abbott. Once again, Abbott proved her outstanding ability as she completed various trot and canter exercises in front of a panel of judges. After earning the top score in her class, she learned that she had won the High Point distinction for the second time in her career.For Abbott, the most rewarding aspect of riding is not the accumulation of ribbons (of which she has many), but rather the experience of working so closely with another animal. "It's really cool to be able to get to know a horse really well, and both of you can progress together a lot, which is great," she said. Though she graduates in May, Abbott's achievements will have made a mark on the Middlebury riding program that will assuredly last long after she leaves campus. The one who will miss her most? Her horse, Dan.
(03/20/08 12:00am)
Author: Lucas Yoquinto Quite a few people around here talk about "the Middlebury Bubble." This figurative barrier supposedly separates the student body from the rest of the world, keeping out current events and keeping in some of the most devastating diseases ever to make you think twice before opening a bathroom door with your bare hand. When I think about this phenomenon, I picture something out of "Logan's Run" or "Total Recall" - a big glass dome covering up our futuristic city, enclosing our air supply. All that's missing from this scenario are a monorail and laser weapons.However, even as winter turns into … a wetter version of winter, and you are more likely than ever to eat dinner from a vending machine rather than hike over to Atwater, I have some good news. Unbeknownst to most, the Middlebury Bubble is full of holes, perforated like the glass dome is after the bad guy starts shooting at Arnold. You only need to know where to look to realize that we are, in fact, part of the rest of planet Earth. You need to look at the ground. From there, if you keep careful watch, you might see a queen bumblebee the size of the end of your thumb come out of her hole.Bumblebees, unlike honeybees, their famous cousins, can increase their body temperature by shivering their internal flight muscles. In fact, that urban myth you've probably heard is true in a way. A bumblebee does not violate the laws of theoretical aerodynamics when it flies - that rumor is based on fixed-wing aerodynamics, as in an airplane, and does not take into account a bumblebee's helicopter-like rotational wing movement. However, a bumblebee cannot take off unless its muscle temperature is higher than 86 degrees Farenheit, or 30 degrees Celsius. As a result of their thermoregulatory abilities, in the very beginning of spring you're more likely to see a furry Bombus impatiens flying around than just about any other insect.The first bumblebees of the year are always the queens. These are larger than other bumblebees, and you're most likely to see them searching for nectar on the first flowers of the year, dandelions, which will become omnipresent on the less-kempt lawns of campus. Despite her size and her sting, the attribute of a queen bumblebee that most interests ecologists is her potential. When she finds a suitable nest site - usually an abandoned mouse hole - she will lay between eight and 16 eggs. This modest-sounding brood is the genesis of a colony of dozens or even hundreds of workers, fertile males and new queens. In every queen bumblebee you see in the next month on your walk back from class, there is an insect civilization waiting for its chance to exist.Given that this is an ecology article written in the 21st century, you've probably been bracing yourself for it - the bad news. Unsurprisingly, like just about every other wild animal you've probably heard about recently, bumblebees are declining in number. Although this phenomenon should not be confused with the Colony Collapse Syndrome that has been lately plaguing honeybees, it threatens similar effects. Due to declining floral diversity, loss of nest and hibernation sites, pesticide usage and habitat fragmentation, bumblebees are less able to perform their function as pollinators, which is vital to both the ecosystem and agriculture. For you economists out there, pollinator loss comes at a price that is difficult to pin down, but it is decidedly large - estimates for the value of pollinator contribution to agriculture in the U.S. range from $1.6 billion to $40 billion per year. Of this total, most is attributable to honeybees, but many crops are primarily, if not solely, pollinated by bumblebees. Every tomato you eat, for instance, is likely the work of a bumblebee.I didn't write this article to guilt-trip you into getting involved with ecological conservation. If you're a student at Middlebury, you're probably already involved with this already. However, I do want to help lend some perspective. Even as you rush to your room carrying three pieces of pizza in your hand so you can eat while studying for your weekly Orgo quiz, look to your left and right, and most importantly, underfoot. You might see something that's bigger than all of us.Lucas Yoquinto '08 is a Biology and English double major from Clifton Park, N.Y.
(03/20/08 12:00am)
Author: Sasha Swerdloff I have always learned best at the table, surrounded by good food and good conversation. I found both at The Inn at Baldwin Creek outside of Bristol, Vt. The Inn hosts the Table Talk Series - a monthly dinner event exploring various food-related topics. The subject of the March 14 talk was "A Celebration of Regional Artisan Cheese" featuring Jeff Roberts, author of "The Atlas of American Artisan Cheese" and a true connosseiur. I descended into a rosy, warm dining room, with a low ceiling supported by robust wooden beams. A wood fire crackled in the fireplace and a pair of antique skis rested in the corner, depicting the scene of a quintessential Vermont country inn. I was ushered to a table where a young couple sat, casually conversing with a portly, gray-haired, balding man with round glasses, who introduced himself as Roberts. It was not long before I learned all about Roberts' fascination with cheese. Sitting back in his chair, belly protruding, lips pursed tight over his teeth, Roberts explained, "I like eating." So do I. Over the course of the meal, we heard Roberts' life story - a non-linear progression from History major studying the spatial patterns of Philadelphia, to Navy meteorologist and veterinarian, through his work with the Vermont Land Trust, and finally to his part-time teaching job at the New England Culinary Institute. Over the low buzz of conversation and jazz music his intonation rose and fell as we savored the rich earthiness of mushroom Wellington and pork loin, filling our stomachs as he filled our minds. Backlit by the fireplace, Roberts delved into the recent expansion of artisan cheese making. He cited the fact that 345 artisan cheeses are now made in 44 states, half of which have emerged in the last decade. In his talk Roberts touched on the link between the artisan cheese market and the growing slow-food movement in a changing economy. Finally the highlight of the evening arrived. Jeff began his survey of seven American artisan cheeses from across the country. Saucers of local honey and jam hovered in the hands of the waitresses before settling onto the table, followed by a round plate with an assortment of cheeses. "Use your fingers," said Roberts and we all giggled with childish delight, letting go of the formalities we assumed throughout dinner. We began with a triple cream from Vergennes, Vt. Each cheese-tasting was accompanied by a brief explanation by Roberts. According to Roberts, this cheese, made from cow's milk, is designated as triple cream because of the level of extra cream added after the whey is removed. I held the morsel of pale, runny cheese between two fingers and inhaled its clean aroma. Popping the entire piece into my mouth, I immediately felt the thick, rich substance coat my palate. My taste buds drowned in the freshness of mushrooms and the bitterness of the rind. Sucking on a crostini dripping in honey, I prepared for the next sample. The second cheese, Humboldt Fog, is a goat's milk cheese from Arcata, Cal. It is made from frozen curd and layered and coated in vegetable ash, changing the ph and encouraging fermentation. Tying in a bit of cheese history, Roberts explained that the ash was originally used to keep flies from destroying the cheese and to separate the morning and afternoon milk. I scooped up a piece and one half crumbled as the other seeped through the tongs of my fork. I rolled it around in my mouth, savoring the tingling saltiness.The third cheese, from Niwot, Colo., is called Red Cloud for its bright orange, undulating, brine-washed rind. "Remember, cheeses are alive," warned Roberts. I inhaled deeply and impulsively recoiled. A typical "stinky" cheese, the Red Cloud suffused the air with a pungent aroma and my mouth with a complex evolution of flavors. Its crystallized texture coupled with spiciness faded into a dry, sticky, sweet finish. Dipped in honey, this cheese enveloped my senses.Ben Nevis was the next cheese. From Craftsbury, Vt., this is a raw sheep's milk cheese with a sweet nutty smell and a dry, crumbly texture. Hints of butter and caramel mirrored the candlelight in the room. The fifth cheese was a Grand Cru Gruyère Surchoix from Monroe, Wis. aged for nine to 19 months. The sweet smell and mild taste morphed into a spicy, sharp finish with every nibble. The sixth cheese was a Smokey Blue from Central Point, Ore. I gingerly raised a piece to my nose and inhaled the sweet, herby smell while examining the blue veins of mold. The mold is inserted into vats of milk, then, once the cheese sets, air pockets are created that help oxygenate the cheese, encouraging the mold to grow and spread. "The Chinese call cheese 'rotten milk,'" said Roberts. I sucked on it, letting it dissolve on my tongue. It left memories of wood fire smoke in the back of my throat.Finally, we came to the mystery cheese. I tasted the dry, sourness of the cheese, but barely had time to guess what it might be before Roberts announced that it was a Grafton cheddar, not yet released on the market. Several things make it unique - it is made in the style of a traditional English cheddar, cloth wrapped and aged for 11 months, it is made with animal rennet and it is heat treated, a process that kills pathogens without destroying the quality of the milk. As the tasting drew to a close, we nibbled on the crumbs of cheese left on our plates, savoring the flavors and immortalizing them in our minds, linking them to concepts and ideas - learning at the table.
(03/13/08 12:00am)
Author: Kelly Janis On March 4, the Town of Middlebury cleared the final significant hurdle standing between it and an effort to assuage the traffic congestion for which it is notorious when residents voted 1,535 to 673 in favor of authorizing a 30-year, $16-million bond issue to fund the construction of a new in-town bridge spanning Main Street and Court Street across Otter Creek. Additionally, voters agreed 1,358 to 829 to request permission from the Vermont Legislature to amend the Town's charter so as to allow the Selectboard to levy a local tax option which will aid in funding approximately $7 million of the bridge's construction. The one percent tax - details of which are expected to be presented to residents for approval in mid-spring - will apply to sales, rooms, meals and alcoholic beverages, and be restricted in scope to the period in which raising funds for the venture is relevant.The remainder of the project's costs will be absorbed by the College, which in November announced its agreement to make an annual donation of $600,000 to the undertaking in the 30 years subsequent to its completion, which Town officials believe may occur as early as the fall of 2010. "We have been trying to work within the regular state and federal bridge construction system and, unfortunately, there are so many demands on that funding source that there is not enough money available for all of the projects that need to be done," said Town Manager Bill Finger in a Dec. 6, 2007 article in The Middlebury Campus. "So what we were hearing from the state and federal governments was that it would probably be anywhere from 15 to 20 years before we could even begin to think about getting another bridge built," said Finger at the time. "The consensus of the town - and, apparently, the College, too - is that we really can't wait that long."At a public informational hearing on the proposal held immediately following the March 3 town meeting, numerous residents expressed their enthusiasm in response to the project, which, in addition to the bridge situated at its crux - an innovation expected to provide a detour in the event of necessary repairs to nearby bridges and railroad overpasses and relieve stress on the 115-year-old Battell Bridge, across which an estimated 16,000 vehicles travel each day - entails the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Main Street and College Street, the conversion of part of College Street into a one-way road, the addition of a new connector street behind the Municipal Gym and the installation of a traffic light at its intersection with South Main Street."The timeline is ambitious," Selectman Dean George said. "It is our goal to keep this in perspective. We have not made any final decisions yet. But the Selectboard, along with the public … will be looking at this process. We have a very unique opportunity to make this more than 50-year-old project finally happen."As evidence of the effort's lengthy history, George brandished a copy of the Vermont Department of Highways' 1955 "Middlebury village highway report" and recited a passage extolling the virtues of a bridge in the very location currently proposed to a round of laughter.Residents echoed his excitement, while expressing high expectations for the bridge's execution. A paramount issue of concern broached in this vein is pedestrian safety. "Pedestrian movement is particularly important to us," Selectboard Chair John Tenny said in response to several remarks about the necessity of easy foot and bicycle access to the bridge. "As we are faced with increasing costs of moving ourselves in our cars, our goal is to provide more opportunities for residents to not have to use them within our community. Hopefully this will encourage the development of some new businesses, so people won't have to travel outside of our town to shop." Though widely supported, the project is not entirely without its critics.Roger Desautels, for instance, took issue with an artist's rendering of the proposed roundabout which the Selectboard presented, questioning whether it was accurately positioned and proportioned. Officials conceded that minor adjustments to the plan may be necessary as the project advances, but assured residents that their scheme is feasible. Encapsulating a pervasive attitude presiding over the hearing, resident Steve Myer marveled at a computer-animated simulation of traffic flowing in a steady, unobstructed stream through the roundabout and across the bridge. "The first time I watched this, I was amazed," he said. "Watch those little cars. They just keep moving!"
(03/13/08 12:00am)
Author: Andrew Piccirillo Before continuing reading, I would like you to consider where you obtained this copy of The Campus.I'm a student employee at Proctor Dining Hall and I have a request - please bus your own tables. It's not my job or the job of anyone else in the dining halls to do this for you. You may or may not have noticed the signs in the dining halls that read "Please bus your own tables."You may wonder how much of a problem this really is or whether to take me seriously. Well, consider this - in Proctor alone it usually takes two people half an hour to pick up the messes people leave behind, and that's before even starting to wipe down the tables. Now that might seem fairly insignificant compared to global hunger and AIDS, but what does it say about our community as a whole?It's not just the fact that the College has to pay people to pick up after students. Students leave behind things they've been taught to pick up since childhood, including dozens of plates, bowls and glasses, even more utensils and literally hundreds of used and unused napkins.I understand the fact that every community produces waste that requires cleaning. However, I frequently find myself wiping down a table right next to an obnoxiously loud group of five or 10 people who get up to leave, look at me as they file past and leave several glasses, utensils and dirty napkins on the table, seats and floor. If I can, I politely request that they go back and get whatever was left behind. Sometimes this results in everything being removed from the table. Usually, though, I end up following them to the dish conveyor to dispose of the last few items anyway.The unwillingness of people to pick up personal items like dishes and ice bags reveals a lack of social responsibility within a student body that claims to pride itself on its social activism. How can students preach responsibility on a global scale when they fail to practice it in their daily lives? This hypocrisy has become apparent to me not only from my experiences at Proctor, but in a variety of other situations.Students at Middlebury regularly and almost systematically avoid responsibility when the consequences cannot be traced back to them.Do I really go to a college where people urinate in the corner to avoid waiting in line for the bathroom (at The Bunker)? Do people really leave boxes full of dirty dishes in the dorms for weeks? Does the administration really have to send out e-mails reminding us how to behave? Was the Hepburn kitchen really shut down because of an insect problem related to dirty dishes? Who are these mysterious irresponsible people?The event that finally motivated me to write this was a recent op-ed in The Campus entitled "A Preface to Lunch: 'Think about this' - I wanted some tea not scuzz in my glass." Mr. O'Brien spends a large portion of the article complaining about dirty dishes. I agree dirty dishes are a problem, but I'm sure the problem would be solved if Mr. O'Brien volunteered to spend his time scrubbing each dish clean after dinner. I'd also bet that Dining Services would be happy to pay him. He goes on to suggest that people shouldn't return their dishes to the dining hall. But what really got me was when he ponders responding to his janitor's complaints about dishes in the bathroom: "our commons dean has more important things to do than worry about one dish in the bathroom."I understand that the article was intended to be at least as humorous as serious, but this is just plain arrogant and offensive. Let me point out that many College employees regularly read The Campus. It's one thing to be lazy and irresponsible, but it's another to openly complain about and mock people for reminding you how to behave.I experienced something similar several months ago when I received a well-intentioned e-mail from the SGA informing students they had scheduled a meeting with the head of Dining Services in response to student concern over increasingly dirty tables. The response to the students' complaint was humorously appropriate - Proctor now makes a bucket and rag available for student use. I haven't seen it used in over three months.The fact that students do not appreciate the services provided here could not be more readily apparent. The sense of entitlement here is overwhelming. The freedom of college is not a license to behave like an animal. Freedom, politically and socially, is a responsibility. So the next time I see you in Proctor, please don't make me ask you to return this paper to the newspaper rack when you're done eating.Andrew Piccirillo '10 is from Lyme, Conn.
(03/13/08 12:00am)
Author: Alex Garlick With so much going on in presidential politics this week I decided to let the politicians ask some questions.In the words of Will Hunting, "How do you like them apples?"-Hillary, New York.I must say I am impressed, Hillary. During Obama's "winning streak," it appeared that March 4 was going to be his knockout punch, but Hillary proved the pundits wrong. Clinton's victory demonstrates two things. One, it lends credence to Professor Matt Dickinson's disdain for "momentum." He considers each state an independent contest, with structural and demographic factors being more important. Second, it vindicates the claim in this space from a couple weeks back - the Clintons are political animals that are most dangerous when backed into a corner. Am I going to be the First Gentleman?-Bill, Little Rock.Not so fast. Even after winning Ohio and Texas, Hillary didn't actually pick up that many delegates. In short, Hillary will not be able to get enough delegates to win the nomination in a traditional manner before the convention. However, it does not look like Barack will either - he would have to win the remaining states near a 77 percent clip. Should I get my flag pins and red ties ready?-Al, Tennessee.Not yet, Mr. Gore. These next few months are sure to be interesting, but I believe the Democrats will have it figured out by Denver. This is Obama's nomination to lose. If he splits the remaining contests 50-50, he would only have to get about a third of the superdelegates for the nomination, and recently he's been picking them up with ease - about 3-1. But there's always Michigan and Florida. The Democrats cannot get through an entire election cycle without a Florida controversy. Is Hillary serious with this "Dream Ticket" talk?-Barack, Chicago.Yes, she is - a Clinton-Obama ticket (with her on top) really would be her dream. However, Obama is right to shoot it down. If he gets the nomination there's no way he'd want Hillary anywhere near his candidacy. She wouldn't win him any particular state and due to her high unfavorability rating, she could even hurt him. Also, as he's been saying this week, he is in first place and shouldn't have to concede to his top contender. Since we are discussing all things presidential: Can you tell me what Liebowitz Day is?-Ron, Old ChapelIt's an honor that lies somewhere between the Nobel Peace Prize and a Darwin Award.Who should be my Vice President?-John, PhoenixIt is always fun to field a GOP question here at Shenanigans HQ. Conventional wisdom suggests McCain should pick a social conservative along the lines of Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney to help him in the Bible Belt. However, I would not be surprised if he looked to a minority candidate that could balance the Obama/Clinton historical angle, helping him across the country - someone like Condoleezza Rice. Other than that, it's time for McCain to have a lemonade, fund-raise and rest his 71-year-old bones for a couple months. He may also want to have his lawyers double-check that he is constitutionally eligible for president after being born in the Panama Canal Zone. Alex Garlick '08.5 is a Political Science and Economics major from Needham, Mass.
(03/06/08 12:00am)
Author: Thompson Davis Based On a True Story 1980/2008A Play in two actsACT I(1980. Citibank headquarters in Manhattan. Thompson Bennett Davis III walks into an office extremely hung-over or still drunk*)CITIBANK: Jesus, are you all right?TBDIII: Yes. Actually no, I'm going to be level with you here Mr. -CITIBANK: My friends call me JacquesTBDIII: The truth is I feel like crap. I went to a friend's bachelor party last night and simply put, I got plastered. I knew I had this interview in the morning and I take my career very seriously but - you know how it is, right? I have my best friend, in my lap, sobbing like a baby telling me, "I don't know if I love her, man," and over my shoulder is his bonehead uncle, screaming in my ear, "SPIRIT OF '76' DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!," so one thing leads to another and I drink like 15 shots.CITIBANK: Interesting.TBDIII: Look, I feel like a total jerk. I don't normally go to interviews hung over and I don't usually drink 15 shots. But the reason why I came here today, the reason why I didn't stay in bed, is because I really want this job. What happened last night was a special occasion I guess. I grew up with this guy, I went to school with him, and there was no way I was going to let him do something stupid like back out on his fiancée. I had to get down there in the trenches with him. It couldn't have gone any other way.(CITIBANK lets out a big laugh. TBDIII is so embarrassed that he gets up to leave.)All right, ok. Thank you Jacques for this opportunity and I, uh, hope to hear back from you soon.CITIBANK: Sit down Mr. Davis. TBDIII: How do you know my name?CITIBANK: Because I have your resume right in front of me. Do you know what else this resume tells me? It tells me that out of all of the candidates for the position, you're the least qualified. You have no experience with finance and you went to a college I've never heard of. You also seem to be quite a party animal. However.TBDIII: However?CITIBANK: Out of all the candidates, you're the only one with what we French like to call "joie de vivre." You were caught up in the moment at that bachelor party. You had life by the god damn reins! HOHN! HOHN! HOHN! But in all seriousness, what impresses me is that you were dumb enough to come here and tell me the honest truth. And that's what Citibank needs, Mr. Davis - honest people who look out for their friends, welcome to the team.ACT 2(Summer 2008. Citibank Headquarters in Manhattan. Thompson Bennett Davis IV stumbles into an office extremely drunk.)CITIBANK: Jesus, are you all right?TBDIV: I'm fine as a philistine, my man. I'm telling you I got "joy de viver" from here to Madagascar.CITIBANK: You smell like wine, sir.TBDIV: I graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in Music.CITIBANK: Middlebury?TBDIV: It's in Vermont.CITIBANK: Get out of here.*Author's note Thompson Davis III graduated from Middlebury College in 1977 with a degree in French. He started his I-banking career at Citibank in 1980 and has been doing it ever since. He is not a degenerate or an alcoholic.
