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(04/30/09 12:00am)
Author: Alex Lovett-Woodsum The women's tennis team closed out its regular season at home on Saturday with a tough 7-2 loss to Amherst, the number two-ranked team in the region. On a sunny afternoon that saw temperatures climb into the mid-80s, the women fought hard and demonstrated the skills they have worked to hone all season. The team finished with a winning record (9-8) in the regular season and now looks forward to NESCACs this coming weekend, which will be be hosted by top-ranked Williams.Middlebury's number one doubles team of Tri-Captains Chandra Kurien '09 and Elizabeth Stone '09 lost their match to Amherst's Brittany Berckes and Natasha Brown, who are regionally ranked number three in doubles. Despite tough play, Kurien and Stone ultimately fell 8-3, but not before serving up some intense rallies and crowd-pleasing plays. As a testament to their leadership, Kurien and Stone sat on the hot court instead of retiring to the shade after losing their match so they could cheer on the team on the adjacent court. The next court over, that sister-sister team of Tri-Captain Clare Burke '09 and first-year Anna Burke '12 won its match at number two against Amherst's Bell and Ankola, defeating them 8-4."Watching Clare and Anna play is funny because Clare refuses to get angry," said number one singles player Tori Aiello '12. "She'll just whip out some huge serves or hit the opponent at the net, especially if the person goes after her little sister. Anna is the same way. I think the other schools have learned by now not to mess with team 'Burke-Burke.'" Aiello and fellow first-year Alex Guynn '12 rounded out doubles play, losing their match 8-1 to the number three team from Amherst, leaving Middlebury trailing 2-1 leading into singles.Aiello bounced back at number one singles, going up 3-2 against Berckes, who was forced by a shoulder injury to serve underhand before retiring altogether. Aiello had a breakout season this year, ending the regular season with a winning record at number one despite coming up against many players who had three more years of collegiate level play than she did. Kurien lost a tough first set 6-2 to Carlissa King, who was fresh from sitting out in the doubles round. Kurien fought back hard in the second set but could not pull off the win, losing 7-5. The senior had a fantastic season in both singles and doubles, boasting a 7-2 league singles record - the best on the team. Following Kurien's tough loss, Middlebury was unable to turn things around as numbers three through six lost their matches. Despite this loss, the team remains optimistic. "It was a tough loss, but it was a beautiful day for our last home match and our senior day," said the elder Burke. "I think we are going to have really focused practices this week and we are looking forward to going down to Williams. We are going to have three really tough matches, but that's what we've been working towards all season." In light of senior day, some of the younger players reflected on the leadership of the three senior tri-captains. Jamie Haar '10 noted that, "when we played Williams a few weeks ago, Clare gave out little plastic bags with candy and notes with inspirational words for everyone on the team. It was a good idea and set a positive tone going into the match." Aiello added that "[Stone and Kurien] paired up over spring break to make us food," appreciating in particular the guacamole made by Stone. She also noted that, during the fitness test, "Chandra was miles ahead of everyone, setting a tough pace. I guess that explains how she's able to win such long matches." Under strong leadership by the tri-captains and head coach Mike Morgan, the team is definitely looking forward to NESCACs this coming weekend at Williams, hoping to avenge losses to Bowdoin, Williams and Amherst.
(04/30/09 12:00am)
Author: Martin Breu Men's tennis finished its regular season undefeated this weekend, taking key victories over Williams and Amherst. The Panthers were too good for Williams, winning 8-1, and while Amherst proved more difficult, Middlebury prevailed 5-4. With these wins, the Panthers earned the top ranking in the upcoming NESCAC tournament. The Panthers started off their weekend with Saturday's home match against Williams. The Ephs are a perennial rival of Middlebury and were ranked seventh in the country going into the match. The competition was held on the Proctor courts under sunny blue skies, with temperatures hovering in the mid-80s. The competition started off with the doubles matches, in which the Panthers excelled, sweeping the three games. David Farah '12 and Tri-Captain Andrew Thompson '10 showed the way with their 8-4 win over the Ephs' number one doubles team. The new Panther doubles teams - Tri-Captain Andrew Lee '10 with Rich Bonfiglio '11.5, and Tri-Captain Conrad Olson '09 with Andrew Peters '11 - collected the victories at number two and number three doubles, respectively. When the match switched over to singles, the Panthers did not give Williams any opportunity to get back into the match, taking five of the six singles games for the win. Lee clinched the match for Middlebury with his 6-1, 6-3 victory at number three singles. "Everyone came ready to compete against Williams," said Lee, adding that "it was really nice to have the momentum of that convincing win [going into] the Amherst match on Sunday." The Panthers needed all the momentum they could muster going up against the tough, fifth-ranked Amherst squad. The winner of the match was going to be assured the number one seed in the NESCAC tournament. The match started off with the Panthers taking two of the three doubles matches. The new doubles teams of Lee with Bonfiglio and Olson with Peters again proved their strength, winning 8-5 and 9-7, respectively. "The changes in doubles teams really seemed to work well," said Thompson, pointing out that number two and number three doubles went undefeated this weekend." The Panthers came back to the courts for the singles games holding a 2-1 edge over Amherst. However, the Jeffs surged back, tying the match at two-all when Thompson lost at number two singles. The match went back and forth, with Middlebury taking the number one and number four singles, while Amherst won at five and six. Ultimately, the match came down to Lee's game at number three singles. Lee's opponent, Andrew Jung, took the early lead in the game winning the first set 6-2. Lee fought back to take the game to a third set, however, winning a tight tie-breaker after facing a couple match points against. Lee sealed the match for the Panthers with his 7-5 victory in the third set silencing the large pro-Amherst crowd. "This weekend was the biggest test of the season for our team so far," said Thompson, adding that "we had a lot of guys play some great tennis for us to come out with two wins against tough competition." Looking ahead to NESCACs, both Thompson and Lee were confident, but stressed that the Panthers had some improvements to make before they were play-off ready. "We will have to bring our best tennis again if we want to do well," concluded Thompson.
(04/30/09 12:00am)
Author: James Schwerdtman This past weekend, the men's golf team had the luxury of competing on their home course, and came up clutch, winning the NESCAC Championship for the first time since 2006 and for the third time in the program's history. The win marks another high point in what has been arguably the best season ever for the program. After an exciting and nerve-wracking finish, the Panthers claimed victory in a tiebreaker over Trinity. The team got to host the tournament after winning NESCAC qualifiers in the fall, which also took place on the Panthers' Ralph Myhre Golf Course. With the victory, the Panthers gain an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in Port St. Lucie, Fla.The Panthers finished the first day down seven strokes to Williams, 306 to 313, with Trinity and Hamilton both two strokes behind the Ephs with scores of 308. "Being down seven strokes after the first day is a very good position to be coming from," said Brian Cady '11, who led the team and came in second for the tournament with a 149 for the weekend and a par 71 on Sunday, the low for the tournament. "Realistically, for a team that's not many shots down ... and when people in the lead get tight r to just relax if you're a little behind.""There were no real adjustments from Saturday to Sunday," added Ben Kunofsky '09, who had the low on Saturday with a 76, and a 156 for the weekend. "We were in a good position after the first day, and we just went out and did it. Everyone shot their scores and it worked out." The loose attitude really helped the Panthers on the second day; Williams, on the other hand, struggled, shooting a 325. "Williams is a little inconsistent sometimes," said Cady. "I think they thought they had some more strokes than they did and they choked a little."With Williams more or less out of the picture, Sunday turned into a three horse race between Middlebury, Trinity and Hamilton. "It was pretty incredible when it was all said and done," said Kunofsky. "We were all really nervous watching the scores come in." Both of Middlebury's foes on the second day turned in a strong performance, with Trinity shooting a 305 and Hamilton matching their first day total of 308. The Panthers put together a 300, dropping thirteen strokes from Saturday and tying Trinity with a 613 for the weekend. The tie was broken after looking at the fifth score for both teams, which normally doesn't matter but became crucial on Sunday. Kunofsky, who had the low with his 76 on Saturday, shot an 80 on Sunday, and was able to just edge out Josh Grossman of Trinity, who shot an 82. Those two strokes were enough to give Middlebury the win.From here, the Panthers will head to Nationals, which has become an annual goal of the program. This year, however, with the strong play all season, the goal has taken on another level. "The last few years the goal has always been to reach Nationals," said Cady. "This year we're making a new goal of being competitive at Nationals. It's definitely a step in the right direction for the program and we're absolutely going to try the make the most of it."The Panthers have already played the courses where Nationals will be held, having played at the Sunshine Invitational over spring break. "Playing in the exact same place is definitely going to help," said Cady. "We know the facilities and we're very comfortable down there." While the team isn't projected to be one of the best there, it is certainly an accomplishment worth noting."Realistically, we're not one of the top competitors," said Cady, "but we're going to go down there and try to do something."
(04/16/09 12:00am)
Author: Tom Brant Opening your wallet when someone asks you for money to eradicate cancer may seem like a no-brainer, even if you end up giving only a few dollars. But donor participation in Relay for Life, a fast-growing Middlebury tradition that benefits the American Cancer Society, is markedly down this year as compared to previous years. So is participation in the senior class gift, another tradition that has funded everything from the purchase of an outdoor clock next to McCullough Hall to the restoration of the beaux-arts reading room in Starr Library.By the beginning of April last year, teams participating in Relay for Life had already raised $49,163. This year, the total so far is just $33,503. Such sums are still impressive amounts, and last year's Relay was the first in per capita donations among all youth-organized teams nationwide. But such a decline in donations begs the question: why are people less keen to open their wallets this year? The global economic recession may seem like an easy culprit."It's pretty clear from the donor numbers that a lot of people are finding it more difficult to give this year," said Ruthie Reinken '10, who is co-chairing the Relay for Life committee at Middlebury. "It's really hard to ask people for money right now."But the sluggish economy is not the only reason for poor participation. Of the 14 Relays for Life in Vermont, only two are lagging behind last year in terms of funds raised. Likewise, 70 to 80 percent of seniors at other comparable schools have already donated to their class gift, while at Middlebury the participation rate is only 47 percent.Clearly, there is more to blame than just the economy. One reason that Middlebury's Relay participation is down, according to Reinken, may be that many teams are made up of the same groups of people year after year, who send e-mails and make telephone calls to the same potential donors. For example, one of the teams that brought in a lot of cash last year, called the Ova Chicks, is composed primarily of women from the town of Middlebury who have been participating since the Relay began in 2004. Some team members have connections to the College, like Carolann Davis, who works at the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs. Others do not."The Ova Chicks have been one of our best groups," said Reinken. "They always have a great campsite and they always dress up" during the all-night relay.But this year, according to Reinken, the team almost decided not to participate, partly because they were concerned about not being able to match last year's success. Ultimately, they decided to throw their hats in the ring, and so far have been doing well, having raised $4,325 of their $5,000 goal so far.Though donors may be tired of giving to Relay for Life year after year, the organizers of the senior class gift cannot cite that excuse. Graduating from Middlebury, at least for most people, only happens once. So the main reason for the difficulty in getting seniors to participate may just be laziness, said Gift Committee Co-Chair Geoff Edwards '09."A lot of people will put you off and say, 'Oh, I can't give right now,'" Edwards said. "But we haven't run into anyone who says that they cannot afford to donate."This year, the senior class is hoping to raise about $100,000 to cover the costs of renovating the woodstove lounge in Proctor Dining Hall, a favorite place to catch up with friends over coffee or lunch."I'm not a Proctor person myself, but the woodstove lounge has played a big part in a lot of students' college experiences," Edwards said.Fortunately for the senior class, an anonymous donor has agreed to give $100 for every senior that donates any amount, even if it's only a few dollars. Edwards said he is confident that the Class of 2009 can reach their goal, if only because the highest number of donations in previous years has come during senior week. The fact that Middlebury seniors are behind their peers at other schools in fundraising, combined with the resources of an anonymous donor wealthy enough to be insulated from unfavorable economic conditions, should prompt the seniors to meet their goal, according to Edwards."If we can use incentives like this to keep encouraging people to give, it will really help us keep our heads above water until all of this passes," Edwards said.Even though both Edwards and Reinken have run into problems that are unique to Middlebury in trying to solicit donations, no one is denying that the sluggish economy is not having an effect as well. Some of the biggest Relay donors are local companies and organizations, and many have scaled back out of budget concerns. American Flatbread, for example, used to donate all of the food for participants during the relay. This year, according to Reinken, the food will not be free, and that means she will have to dip into some of the donations in order to cover the cost."We try and cut costs as much as we can because our costs come out of the fundraising totals," Reinken said.Ultimately, Reinken views the challenges she faces as obstacles that must be overcome. "It's hard to ask the same people year after year to donate, and I think it's especially hard to ask people for money right now," she said. "But cancer never goes away."
(04/16/09 12:00am)
Author: Alex Lovett-Woodsum The Panther women's tennis team split its games in Maine over the weekend, bouncing back from a 6-3 loss to 12th-ranked Bowdoin to solidly defeat Colby 8-1 on Sunday morning. Despite the loss to Bowdoin, the weekend was a bonding experience for the team. The six-hour bus ride had the team getting pumped up to '80s specialty hit "The Break," and because of heavy rains this spring, the team's matches have averaged seven hours each, allowing the team to spend a lot of time together. The Saturday match at Bowdoin started with Middlebury going down 2-1 after doubles play. Seniors Elizabeth Stone and Chandra Kurien lost a tough number one doubles match to Bowdoin's D'Ela and Lombardi with an 8-6 score. Sisters Clare Burke '09 and Anna Burke '12 also lost a close match in a 7-4 tiebreaker, putting the Panthers down 2-0 before the number three team of rookies Tori Aiello '12 and Alex Guynn '12 put Middlebury on the board with an 8-4 win. "Our focus is now on working on our doubles play," said tri-captain Stone. "It is very difficult to go into singles being down in doubles, which has been the case in a lot of our close matches." Middlebury struggled in singles against the strong Bowdoin team, losing in straight sets at the number one, two, four and five spots. Stone pulled off a solid win at number three over Bowdoin's Hitch. Whitney Hanson '11 also won in a tough match at the number six spot, defeating Larger 6-4 in the first set and losing 3-6 in the second before bouncing back to win a third-set super tiebreaker. "Even though we came out with a loss to Bowdoin this weekend, I think it came at a crucial point in the season," said Stone. "This will give us a little bit of fire when we are playing the teams we have scheduled for the rest of the year."Middlebury started off strong in the Colby match, winning all three doubles matches. The Burke sisters bounced back from their tough loss against Bowdoin to defeat Muto and Reaves at the number one spot with an 8-2 win. Aiello and Guynn were paired together once again at the number two spot, beating Colby's Davidson and Brezinski 8-5. Coach Mike Morgan paired Kurien and Hanson together for the first time this season as the duo executed an 8-3 win over their opponents, sealing Middlebury's 3-0 lead heading into singles play. Kurien won soundly at the number one spot over Reaves without dropping a single game, followed by a solid win by Aiello at number two. Hilary Cunningham '12 also won her match at the number three spot. Hanson suffered a tough loss at number four in her second third-set super tiebreaker of the weekend. Clare Burke and Anna Burke rounded out the lineup, both capturing solid wins over their opponents to secure Middlebury's victory. According to Stone, "our match against Colby gave us the confidence we need going into the Williams match on Tuesday." The top-ranked Williams team is truly a force to be reckoned with, boasting an undefeated season so far. Still, Middlebury is confident that they have the ability to pull off the win.
(04/09/09 12:00am)
Author: Alex Blair I'm waiting for the day when noise pop breaks into the mainstream. It's going to happen. I can see it now. Miley Cyrus will pick up an electric guitar, plug it into a massive amp, and blow the heads off a bunch of screaming eight-year-olds with her roaring feedback (the Jonas Brothers will have no choice but to follow suit). Unfortunately, we're not there yet (not even close), but with The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's self-titled debut, we're moving a little more in that direction. It's an album packed with layers of fuzzy guitars and enough catchy melodies to make fans out of people who have never even heard of The Jesus and Mary Chain or My Bloody Valentine. And, like the great albums of the forefathers of noise pop, "The Pains of Being Pure At Heart" is meant to be played loud. Very loud.Besides the obvious influences of shoegaze on the album, this New York City indie band draws on a number of other sources from the '80s and '90s music scene, creating a rather eclectic mix. There are elements of jangle pop, which hearken back to early R.E.M. and the Smiths, and Kip Berman's vocals sound like a combination of Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian and Dean Wareham of Galxie 500. Although The Pains of Being Pure At Heart wear their influences on their sleeve, their sound comes off fresh and exciting when compared with all the other "music" that is released today. "Come Saturday" balances hard rocking guitars with gentle vocal harmonies while "Stay Alive" melds chiming arpeggios with distortion. In both songs, as on every track, there is a constant droning in the background, which puts the noise in noise pop. Lyrically, the album is as dark and shocking as anything I have heard in recent years. The incestuous "This Love Is F***ing Right!" describes a secret affair with a sibling: "In a dark room we can do just as we like/You're my sister, and this love is f***ing right!" Awesome. When Katy Perry notoriously declared that she kissed a girl and, God forbid, liked it, everyone was in an uproar. Berman blows Katy out of the water; he has no problem singing about getting it on with his sister. "A Teenager In Love" is about a teen who experienced a fatal drug overdose. There have been countless songs written about this subject, but The Pains of Being Pure At Heart put a new twist on it with a unique juxtaposition of words: "The way you lived your final days/A teenager in love with Christ and heroin." How many times have you heard Christ and heroin in the same sentence? I've only heard it about three times in my life. The entire album is full of sardonic lines like that, making "The Pains of Being Pure At Heart" a lyrical gem. My one complaint is that there are not enough guitar solos. "Everything With You," arguably the album's best track, has a killer solo that somehow finds the fine line between shredding and gorgeously melodic. Unfortunately, that's about it as far as solos are concerned, but it's a minor quibble. Everything else on this album works perfectly. Even if you're not into loud, ear-piercing distortion, you should still check out "The Pains of Being Pure At Heart." At its core, with its infectious melodies, it's a pop album. A great one, at that.
(03/19/09 12:00am)
Author: Katie Siegner Throughout the process of reducing the College's budget and implementing financial cuts, it has remained a priority of the administration to avoid the elimination of faculty and staff positions and increase the efficiency of the current system. The College will ideally achieve any reduction in faculty and staff through attrition, early retirement and the proposal outlined in President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz's Jan. 29 e-mail to limit the number of faculty course releases - or permission to not teach a particular class during a particular semester - granted. The proposed plan, in addition to providing budgetary savings, would increase the number of classes available to students and potentially decrease class size. "The Faculty Council will work with the Educational Affairs Committee to recommend to the administration how to reduce at least 35 faculty course releases," Liebowitz wrote in the e-mail that was sent out to all faculty, staff and students. "This change will add courses to the curriculum and make unnecessary the filling of seven replacement faculty positions, which will provide budgetary savings."Course releases are granted to faculty members who are performing other administrative functions for the College, such as those serving on an elected committee or acting as department and commons heads. Currently, 80 releases are granted per year. The College gives course releases to those colleagues who are "busy doing other things that the institution values and recognizes requires time," according to Department Chair of Geography and Atwater Commons Head Peter Nelson.Although the course release reduction may limit the workload flexibility for members of specific departments, Nelson stressed that the administration is "thinking creatively about trying to maximize the resources we have on campus" and striving to "increase the efficiency of certain service roles." The planned decrease would also reduce the need to hire new faculty, which has been necessary in the past in order to fill the void left when multiple professors within the same department were granted releases for the same semester. Because of this reduction in the need to hire new faculty, Dean of Faculty Susan Campbell said that the amount saved would be "the equivalent of at least $100,000 in a given year, possibly much more." She added, "in the long run, these reclaimed courses will help us to achieve the Strategic Plan goals of a lower teaching load and the new senior work requirement more quickly and with fewer additional faculty positions."Despite the possible effects of the plan on professors' workloads, the effort has been largely well-received by College faculty. "I think they're prepared to accept that," said Charles A. Dana Professor of Political Science Murray Dry in reference to the reduction in course releases. According to Dry, the faculty shares the desire of the administration to cut costs in a way that will minimize the impact on college life, even if this means limiting the number of course releases granted for the upcoming semesters. Dry noted that he did not take a course release this year, even though it was a fairly busy one for his department due to a recruit and a faculty member up for tenure. He also mentioned that at the March 9 faculty meeting there was "a general consensus that this [limiting the number of course releases] was a reasonable thing to do."The decision will also benefit students by increasing the number of classes available to them, because since "not all course reductions were replaced in the past, students had fewer courses available to them," said Dean Campbell. With more classes available, Campbell also said "there will be somewhat less enrollment pressure on existing classes in the curriculum, so class sizes might be marginally smaller."The process of course release distribution, however, is "murky," according to C. V. Starr Professor of Russian Michael Katz. It is unclear how exactly the reduction will take place because, according to Katz, "people get course releases mysteriously." As an example, he cited a colleague who managed to negotiate a permanent course release for Winter Term. "I have no idea how he got away with this," he said. With the administration looking to cut the number of course releases almost in half, Katz feels that it should "let people know how these course releases are determined." The current plan is focused solely on reducing fall and spring course releases, as Winter Term course releases are to be reviewed separately. This issue has not yet come up in faculty meetings.
(03/19/09 12:00am)
Author: Simran Bhalla Despite the flailing job market, the Career Services Office (CSO) has been working hard to make sure opportunities exist for the Class of 2009, venturing away from the previously advocated financial careers to offer options more lucrative in an economy where the current unemployment rate is 8.1 percent. Whereas in recent years, Middlebury graduates - especially economics majors - could rely on firms like Lehman Brothers (whose ex-CEO, Richard Fuld, is a College trustee) to recruit from the College, this route is no longer an option for most students. Several investment banks and financial firms such as Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank are not hiring undergraduates any more, and certainly not at the high starting salaries they once offered. Others, such as Lehman itself, have gone under. "Certain sectors like finance and consulting, which were popular Midd destinations, have fallen off dramatically," said Senior Associate Director of Career Services Don Kjelleren. Nonetheless, certain students have still been able to find lucrative jobs. Akshay Khanna '09 will be working as a financial analyst for the firm Audax Group after graduation. It is one of very few equity firms that hire recent graduates. "I was really surprised at how well they pay, especially for an undergraduate," said Khanna. Like many students, he decided to try to get a job right after graduation because "I'm broke and didn't want to go to grad school right after college ... and I was rejected from the [Commons Residential Advisor] CRA job." Jobs outside the finance market are easier to come by, and in some sectors - specifically non-profits and government - demand has risen. "Law, government, healthcare, education and energy jobs have all been holding their own or actually on the rise, said Kjelleren. Teach for America may have its biggest recruiting year ever at Middlebury." Several students are opting to take the path that Mairead Harris '09 has taken. The dual Spanish-Chinese major is planning to go to China and teach English, or work for an NGO and "use all the money I save from living off fried rice to pay back some loans." CSO has made a huge effort to increase recruiting on campus and bring more job options to students in anticipation of a tougher market. In addition to Senior Spotlight - a newsletter that supplies career advice - the CSO regularly conducts job fairs, seminars and workshops. There are two coming up on April 1: a "Life Skills For After Graduation" alumni panel and a "How To Get Into Graduate School" workshop. The College also has a student ambassador from the Partnership for Public Service on campus, Matt Joseph '09, to promote jobs and internships in the federal government. CSO has also managed to expand MOJO, the College's online job and internship listing. "We have 21 brand new employers this spring accepting applications through our online recruiting system," said Kjelleren. These include training track positions at companies like PepsiCo and Proctor & Gamble that usually go to MBA graduates, as well as new openings with The Brookings Institution, Radio Free Asia, American University and DC Prep, and in the public sector, Vermont Public Power Supply and the Internal Revenue Service. Kjelleren also mentioned the "hidden job market," in which he says 60 percent to 80 percent of job opportunities for recent college graduates are. These are jobs that do not get posted and are filled mostly through referrals. He emphasized the importance of "personalizing outreach" when applying for jobs or internships. Kjelleren's advice for students looking to get these "hidden" jobs is to build personal networks by using contacts. In addition to the plethora of opportunities offered by CSO, students can search for jobs and internships through Web sites such as Idealist, which was founded by the non-profit Action Without Borders, where various NGOs, non-profits and organizations in fields such as journalism and education can post listings for students and recent college graduates. However, while non-profit and public service work can be lucrative career-wise and appeal to the idealist streak in liberal arts graduates, it is not an option for many students hoping to pay off student loans or pay for graduate school. There may be other options soon: President Barack Obama plans to create a Teacher Service Scholarships program that will cover a four-year undergraduate or two-year graduate program in education for students who teach in high-need areas for at least four years.
(03/05/09 12:00am)
Author: Ben Benson With midterms fast approaching, I know I'm not the only one playing catch-up on readings and assignments. Often this requires staying up late, waking up early and a little extra focus in class. And where do most people turn when they need a little boost? Caffeine. It's common knowledge that caffeine helps people stay up later and operate on a little less sleep than usual, and nearly 275 million Americans drink caffeinated beverages regularly.The two most popular sources of caffeine are tea and coffee. Aside from water, tea is the most consumed beverage on the planet. The amount of caffeine in coffee and tea varies greatly, but typically a cup of coffee is considered to have around 100 mg of caffeine while a cup of tea has around 60 mg of caffeine. In comparison, a 12 oz. Coke has about 35 mg of caffeine, and a Red Bull 80 mg. But how much is helpful, and how much is too much?Typically two to three cups of coffee, or 200-300 mg of caffeine a day, is considered a moderate amount and perfectly healthy. Aside from the commonly known benefits of caffeine, such as increased alertness and decreased drowsiness, caffeine has been recently found to have several other benefits. For one, caffeine increases the metabolic rate by 10 percent over the following several hours after consumption, and even helps with the digestion of some fatty acids. Caffeine allows the body to burn fatty acids 30 percent more efficiently. Also, even though caffeine won't speed up the sobriety process, it can help with a hangover. A hangover headache is caused by enlarged cranial blood vessels and caffeine is known to constrict these vessels. For the same reason, caffeine can be found in several over-the- counter painkillers. Lastly, many sports nutritionists agree that caffeine can delay muscle fatigue if taken prior to exercise and can increase muscle recovery if taken after exercise, yet frequently very large amounts are needed (more than 500 mg) to feel this effect. These levels of caffeine may have several negative side effects so large doses may not be such a good idea.Ever gotten the shakes or jitters from too many late night coffees? Excess caffeine can cause a variety of issues from sleeplessness to anxiety to abnormal heart rhythms. Also, dehydration is known to be a common side affect of caffeine. It's not the actual chemical that causes dehydration, but caffeine increases blood flow to the kidneys. This causes the kidneys to work faster than normal, processing urine at an increased rate, leading to more frequent trips to the bathroom. Dehydration can be easily overcome by consuming water or other caffeine-free beverages, but not much will help with trying to avoid an overactive bladder.The most troublesome quality of caffeine is its addictive nature. Caffeine, like cocaine and heroin, increase the body's dopamine levels. Dopamine affects the body by activating parts of the brain that control other functions like sleep, mood and attention. The effects are much duller than those of heroin and cocaine, but the body still enjoys the boost. If you think you might be consuming caffeine in excess, try gradually reducing how much caffeine you consume in a day. This may help avoid the withdrawal feelings of irritability, grogginess and headaches. For tea lovers, a way to reduce the amount of caffeine in a cup of tea is to reduce steeping time. There are several types of decaf herbal teas. Caffeine is beneficial, just be aware of how much you're consuming. For a chart of the approximate mg of caffeine in different types of tea, coffee, chocolate and other beverages, check out the Web site www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ca-De/Caffeine.html.
(03/05/09 12:00am)
Author: Lea Calderon-Guthe To see Robert Jensen standing behind the wooden podium at the front of Ilsley Public Library's basement meeting room, no one would have guessed that this slight, bespectacled and amiable man, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism, would condemn the direction of today's society and paint a picture of the end of the world.But on Feb. 28. as the 15 or so audience members gasped in shock or nodded in righteous agreement, Jensen graphically described the state of pornography and used it as a measure of our society's ills. He began very simply."Pornography is what the end of the world looks like," Jensen said. "If you look at pornography honestly, what you will see is a vision of a set of values, values rooted in hierarchical systems around gender, around race and around an economic system that I think are fundamentally unjust and unsustainable. If you look at especially the direction pornography is going and is likely to continue, what you see is a very disturbing picture about what the end of these systems looks like. And it ain't pretty."The Addison County Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence organized Jensen's talk, titled "The Pornification of Pop Culture," and most of the audience members were women from domestic violence and child abuse prevention programs. Jensen's approach to pornography elicited many nods and knowing looks in these women as he stressed again and again his fundamental theory of pornography: the eroticized subordination and domination of women. He supported this theory with an explicit depiction of the evolution of the sexual script in pornographic films - these films, generally of heterosexual intercourse produced for a target audience of primarily heterosexual white men, are what Jensen meant when he referred to pornography. When pornographic films first became socially acceptable in the '50s and '60s, they featured primarily vaginal intercourse between a man and a woman. By the '80s and early '90s, anal sex was a wildly popular feature, and in today's pornography Jensen cited acts known as double penetration, gagging and a-- to mouth as common elements. Why the change in the sexual script? Jensen said an executive in the porn industry explained it to him the best when asked about the move to anal sex in the '80s."Anal sex is not part of the regular sexual preference of most straight women," Jensen said. "[The porn executive] said, 'Men know this.' He said, 'When men get pissed off at women, they think to themselves, 'Boy, I'd like to f--- you in the a--' as payback. But most men are not in situations where they can do it, so they like to watch it done to women on the screen.'"The brutality reflected in this response is the same motivation Jensen pointed to behind the more recent pornographic evolutions.He placed his theory in line with femininist critiques of pornography - that pornography itself is not a bad thing, but that the way in which it is made and the attitude it reflects towards women are horribly damaging to both women and society."We could have had pornographic scripts that were focused on egalitarian sexuality with mutual pleasure, with lots of foreplay and expressions of intimacy and caring," Jensen said. "It didn't happen."Melissa Deas of the Domestic Abuse Education Program, which works with men who commit acts of violence towards women or children, raised the issue of porn's psychological effects on men."Men objectify themselves as well as they objectify women," Deas said. "We need to go deeper into that and think about teaching men to view themselves as sacred and their sexuality as sacred and precious."Jensen acknowledged this idea, but not to the extent Deas wanted. She called for social reform at the ground level in teaching men that their bodies are sacred life-givers just as women are taught that their bodies are sacred vessels for life. But Jensen only went as far as recognizing the objectification of men. "[Men] are trained to take all of the complexity that comes with being human and reduce it to this task of obtaining sexual pleasure," Jensen said. "In a patriarchal society, that's how sex is most commonly defined for men."According to Jensen, in pornography, everybody loses their humanity, but the consequences remain considerably more dire for women than for men. To illustrate his argument, he referred to noted writer Margaret Atwood's famous description of fear between the sexes. When Atwood asked a group of men why they were afraid of women, they said they were afraid to be laughed at. When Atwood asked a group of women why they were afraid of men, they said they were afraid to be killed.Jensen's argument is that pornography increasingly propagates both of these fears, and it does so ever more effectively as it infiltrates pop culture in more seemingly inocuous realms."You can see the paradox I'm raising," Jensen said. "In a civilized society, how is it that you can have a mass media that becomes more and more accepted at the same time it is becoming more and more cruel and degrading to women and more and more overtly racist?"At the culmination of his talk, Jensen summed up his characterization of pornography as industrially produced and marketed upon the subjugation of women in a sexual way.He answered his own question using his earlier proposal of pornography as a depiction of the end of the world."Pornography calls into question the assumption that we are a civilized society, that in fact the systems out of which our society is built are truly civilized," Jensen said. "If you have an unleashed patriarchy, an unleashed white supremacy and an unleashed, predatory corporate capitalism, [pornography] is the image of the world that they produce [...] an image in which the most important feature is that there is no empathy possible."Jensen's portrayal of contemporary society is not optimistic But despite his forecast of doom and gloom he remained inspired and he hoped to spur his audience to action rather than depress them."If the world were a bad place just because people were bastards, you couldn't fight that," Jensen said. "Human beings are what they are. If you can see that human nature is channeled through institutions and systems, then you can say, 'Well, I can fight that,' and so it creates the possibility of action. "For me, that action doesn't have to come with guarantees of short-term results to be meaningful."
(02/26/09 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Located on the first floor of the McCullough Student Center, the Alliance for Civic Engagement (ACE) is Middlebury's impressively successful facilitator of volunteer opportunities, ranging from social advocacy to environmental protection to education and mentoring. Created in 2003 through an alumna's support, it has developed into a multifaceted organization that provides Middlebury students and professors with enriching opportunities. One of ACE's main goals, as expressed by its director, Tiffany Sargent, is to foster a more intimate relationship between the College and the town. It aims to achieve this by providing students with the chance to pursue their passions outside of the classroom, while contributing to the betterment of the community. The directors of ACE maintain regular communication with the town to remain updated on its needs. Such projects are often short-term or one time events. Presently, some projects that do not require a regular commitment include volunteering for the Charter House, a new transitional housing facility in town, and preparing community supper on Friday nights at the First Congregational Church.Another way ACE cultivates this symbiotic relationship with the town is through finding ways to connect coursework with community projects; thereby allowing for the practical application of skills, as well as invaluable support for the community. One project undertaken by students in a geography course helped the Addison NE Supervisory Union redirect its bus routes to be more cost-efficient. ACE's impact spans far beyond the Middlebury community, though. Through Middlebury Alternative Breaks (MAlt), students have the opportunity to volunteer both nationally and internationally. Past trips have included community development in El Salvador, trail maintenance in Utah and farming in Mexico. At present, essentially endless opportunities exist. After one trip to the ACE office you could partake in a service, volunteer or advocacy project every day. If there is a new project you would like to undertake, the ACE staff is more than willing to help. They enjoy their advisory role through which they can facilitate "networking, connections, and to a certain degree funding," said Peggy Burns, associate director of ACE. Just five years ago, a student proposed bringing Relay for Life to Middlebury. Through his collaboration with ACE, Middlebury has since raised over $800,000 through this event. This past week ACE held its biannual MiddAction Fair when many of the groups that collaborate with Middlebury congregated in McCullough to present their organizations and encourage involvement. If you missed it and are interested in incorporating your talents and interests into a service project, check out ACE online or stop by its office. The ACE staff also sends frequent emails of updated opportunities. Read their emails before deleting them! The ACE team is an invaluable resource to our community; it is worth the quick trip to their office to see what they have to offer.What follows are just a few of the clubs and organizations that help connect the College and community and work to make a difference where they can.- Corinne Beaugard, Staff WriterPAGE 1 LITERACYPage 1 Literacy exemplifies the kind of devotion and unswerving commitment that Middlebury students embody. If not the most active community service group on campus, it definitely ranks high on the list. For years now, the students of Page 1 Literacy have pledged their services to literacy in Addison Country, trying their utmost to give children a passion for reading and learning. As Molly Holmes, the group's off-campus coordinator said, "We try to promote literacy by making reading a fun and accessible activity."Every week, Middlebury students contribute their time to eight elementary after-school programs and one middle school book club. In addition, the group plans various larger events during the year to promote reading, such as a Halloween party, a Winter Reading Carnival and a Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Reading Day. Yuki Shinoda, the current treasurer, described last year's Spring Reading Carnival with enthusiasm. The carnival was held in tents to give it a jungle theme and various clubs on campus "provided books to read and craft activities related to their club[s]," according to Shinoda.Overall, Page 1 Literacy is positive about its group's efforts to create a reading culture in a fun and lively way. "The continuing interest that the schools show in having Page 1 volunteers (be it reading program, homework helpers, creative writing) tells that what we are doing is welcomed," said Shinoda.If you would like to get more involved with Page 1 Literacy, contact Rachael Jennings at rjenning@middlebury.edu.- Dana Walters, Staff WriterBEEMAN MENTORSOf the 118 kids who attend Beeman Elementary School in New Haven, Vt., 80 percent of them, in third through sixth grade, are fortunate enough to be mentored by a Middlebury College student. About an hour drive north from Middlebury, Beeman hires student volunteers from the college to tutor kids one day a week for one hour.The benefits of being a mentor is a two way street. "I think that College students would say it is just as rewarding for them as it is for us," said Julie Olson, director of Beeman's mentorship program.Beeman's program brings Middlebury students into a community that asks its members to commit to leading children towards the pursuit of a college education. Olson's long-term goal is for all students who are eligible for the mentorship program to have a mentor. Mentors from Middlebury range from hockey players to theatre majors, from the women's lacrosse team to the Nordic ski team. Scheduling is flexible: Olson ties Middlebury's and Beeman's schedules together, so students can plan mentoring sessions accordingly.Beyond the classroom, Middlebury's mentors organize activities for their kids. In the past, Beeman has come to athletic events to see their mentors on sports teams in action and has even roamed outdoors with the Mountain Club.All mentors are encouraged to stay with Beeman for four years, so the child has the same mentor from third through sixth grade This fosters a strong connection and develops a relationship that works to effectively teach and imbue a passion for learning, mentor to child and child to mentor.Contact Julie Olson at juolson@anesu.org for more information.- Carson Dietz Hartmann, Staff WriterSISTER-TO-SISTERSister-to-Sister combines community outreach, personal support, discussion of women's issues and good old-fashioned fun, described Ashley Panichelli '10, who has participated for three years. The program is a collaboration of three generations of women to establish a community and create an outlet for discussion that Panichelli termed a "safezone." Once a month, the group hosts an event paired with a forum on a related topic. Past events have included afternoons of swimming and log rolling followed by a dialogue about body image and a day cooking together while discussing what it means to be a good friend. The three generations of women involved, that create what Panichelli described as a "three-level system of mentoring" are seventh and eighth-grade students from Bristol, Vergennes and Middlebury Union middle schools, Middlebury College students and faculty and staff. "We always talk about how awkward middle school was," Panichelli said of conversations she and her fellow student volunteers have had with the older members. "One of the best ways to learn and teach someone [how to survive the 'awkwardness' of middle school] is to have experienced it yourself," she said. "We still haven't mastered some of these issues, and neither have the adults in our group, but we can show the girls that it gets easier."Paniche
lli emphasized the importance of the diversity of volunteers' interests and experiences. "Middle school is a really unsure time in your life," she said. "We are able to present to them that there's not one right way to deal with it, and it's good to be able to show that kind of diversity at what you can become and what you can achieve."Contact Panichelli at apaniche@middlebury.edu or Hallie Fox '09 at hfox@middlebury.edu, or drop by one of Sister-to-Sister's meetings at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in the Chellis House if you are interested in attending or planning an event.- H. Kay Merriman, Features EditorFeatures EditorRELAY FOR LIFEA thousand people, live music, overnight camping, food and free t-shirts? Relay for Life is certainly a unique and dynamic fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. This event's slogan, "If cancer doesn't sleep, neither do we," is championed by volunteers who gather down on the athletic fields to "celebrate, remember and fight back" for an entire night by maintaining at least one member from each team on the track at all times (from 3 p.m. until morning). One in three people suffer from cancer in their lives, making Relay a very worthy cause to support, but even if you just enjoy having fun on a spring evening you should check it out. Relay for Life is the biggest community service event on campus, have raised over $830,000 so far, but one of its co-organizers, Tiffany Orlowski, let slip that it is actually "a big overnight party." As a former participant Orlowski said, "there is an aspect of Relay for everyone and you can really make it your own." The football team conspicuously fields a relay team each walking what, five minutes? There are only a billion of them. Or if you are superhuman, you can be like one Middlebury student who has walked the entire time, about 18 hours, for the past two years. When you're not on the track, you can enjoy performances by a cappella groups, DJs and Riddim World Dance Troupe, and food provided by the Lion's Club. There is still plenty of time to sign up. Visit www.relayforlife.org/middleburycollege and participate on May 1.- Jamie Studwell, Staff WriterCOMMUNITY FRIENDSSince 1960, Community Friends has existed as a mentor-based organization at Middlebury College. Today, the group is still running strong, having already matched nearly 4,000 Middlebury students with children in Addison County."The goal is to match volunteers with children in the community that are needing extra support and a positive role model," said Betsy Mackey, assistant director for community service at the College. "It's a great opportunity for the children to come on campus so they can see college down the road for themselves."School guidance counselors, therapists and parents recommend the children for the program."A lot of the parents of the children had a mentor when they were children, so it's kind of neat to see that cycle," said Mackey.The pairs are matched according to interests and often decide together how to spend their time. Typical activities include going to hockey games, eating at the dining halls and going to movies. The ideal mentor is someone who is energetic, friendly and willing to make the commitment of about two hours a week for a minimum of a year."For a child to be matched with someone, then have the volunteer bail out - that's worse than not having anybody at all," said Mackey.Over the years, Community Friends has evolved into more than a mentoring program: it now serves as a cultural exchange and a way to put things into perspective by getting out of the Middlebury College lifestyle."I think it's a connection and a friendship and just a different perspective," said Macket. "It's great for the College students to get off campus and get to know the greater community."For more information on how to get involved with Community Friends, contact Betsy K.B. Mackey at bbassin@middlebury.edu or by phone at (802) 443-3010.- Catherine Ofelia, Staff Writer
(02/19/09 12:00am)
Author: H. Kay Merriman It's a cold Thursday night in February. Ice lines the treacherous sidewalks and frost coats the windows. Where is the best place to get warm and blow off some spring semester steam during Winter Carnival weekend? McCullough, of course! Orange Crush is performing!Orange Crush, the self-proclaimed "'80s Dance Party Band," has become a fixture that marks the high-energy kickoff to Winter Carnival. Year after year, students - dressed in spandex, neon, leg warmers and sequins - fill the social space and dance and sing along to covers of '80s classics like Tommy Tutone's "Jenny (867-5309)," Dexy's Midnight Runners' "Come on Eileen" and Middlebury's personal favorite, Madonna's "Like a Prayer." But where did these guys come from? And is the love for everything '80s unique to Middlebury? Here's your chance, before you see them perform live tonight on stage (if you were one of the lucky ones to snag a ticket), to learn the story behind the pure throwback genius of Orange Crush.Guitarist Jeremy Simonich, bassist Rich Yirga, drummer Tom Kielbania, Jr. and lead vocalist Scott Lawson came together to form an R.E.M. tribute band in 1996 in Chicopee, Mass. They named themselves after the R.E.M. hit song "Orange Crush" and also use the abbreviation "O.C."Lawson always knew he would end up in music. "I got started because it's the only thing I really know how to do well that I actually enjoy doing," he said, but when asked for the real story behind the band's origins, Lawson admitted that there was a bit of chance involved. "I was answering a personal ad that read, 'Hot sexy man wanted for salaried position,'" he recalled. "I had no idea they wanted a singer, and when I found out my first gig was in Hoboken, New Jersey ... I still wasn't sure."Clearly, the group began with a good sense of humor. Sometime around 2000, O.C. started to move away from playing only R.E.M. "REM wasn't popular anymore," Lawson explained. Accepting that fact, the group turned to the songs they remembered from when, as the The Buggles lyrically proclaimed, the "video killed the radio star." Lawson said the group's favorite songs to perform are "the ones that were played the most on MTV. We actually remember when there were all videos and no commercials."The shift to '80s covers secured Orange Crush's fame. The readers of The Valley Advocate, a local newspaper of Northampton, Mass., have voted O.C. "Best Cover Band" for nine out of the past 10 years. The group was also recently inducted into The Advocate's "Grand Band Slam Hall of Fame" under the same category. But Orange Crush has received more than simply local recognition: they tour the central and southern United States and have opened for Reel Big Fish, Guster, Young Love and OK Go! Despite their growing popularity, O.C. continues to play a variety of venues from weddings to corporate events. Still, Lawson maintains the he likes the "big rock show" most of all.The band agrees that Middlebury is one of their favorite shows. (And they are not just saying that.) "Several years now," said Lawson, recalling how long O.C. has been playing McCullough and how they joined the Winter Carnival tradition. "It started out as 'just another gig' for us, but has since become something very special and one of our most looked forward to events of the year. We recorded a DVD of the 2008 show to feature on our demo."Midd-kids are not the only ones who are proud to sport their sequins and neon spandex for Orange Crush gigs - the band is used to seeing period costumes at their dance parties and they fully support fans' dressing up. "We love it," said Lawson. "It keeps us feeling young."Simonich, Yirga, Kielbania, Jr. and Lawson need to keep feeling young because they lead very busy lives. "We really don't take much time off at all," said Lawson, who described the group's travel dynamic as working "pretty well. To play for over a dozen years, and still get along? That's saying something," he said. "It's a good idea to take a week off now and then. It gets a little slow around March, so I'm going to Saskatchewan to get as far away from human life as possible."Lawson and the rest of O.C. certainly deserve a break. They recently released a new CD under the group name "O Crush" entitled "'80s All Over" that features their original material.Aside from touring, reliving arguably the greatest decade in history and playing for hundreds of screaming spandex-clad college students, what is the best part of being in Orange Crush? "Looking back after every year and thinking, 'That was even more fun than last year,"' said Lawson.So, Middlebury, tonight's your night. Brush up on your '80s hits, tease your hair, raid your parents' closets, dance your heart out and make sure that you stay until the end. As Lawson described the highlight of playing at Middlebury, "the very first encore will always be my favorite."We are "agents of the free," and tonight, we've got our Orange Crush.
(02/19/09 12:00am)
Author: Andrew Throdahl It seemed auspicious that mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn, with her Botticellian locks expressively scarfed over her gown, performed for the Middlebury community on Valentine's Day at the Kevin P. Mahaney '84 Center for the Arts. Her program was as befitting as her appearance, with a variety of Romantically oriented, or at least Romantic-era, songs by Schumann, Brahms and Tchaikovsky.Schumann's 25-minute song cycle "Liederkreis," also known as the Eichendorff Lieder, occupied the first half of the program. Last year Middlebury was fortunate enough to hear "Liederkreis" performed by the baritone Christian Gerhaher, who brought a keen dramatic sense to the cycle. Stotijn, with her remarkable accompanist Joseph Breinl, performed the work in soft, nocturnal hues, shaping the individual songs' introspection and poignancy. While "Liederkreis" can be performed by men and women with equal success, certain movements do seem designed for men. In "Waldesgespraech," for instance, a gallant man accosts a woman who turns out to be the witch Lorelei. The lyrics and accompaniment seem suited for a great big hunk of vocal manliness. Nevertheless, Stotijn managed to sound like as much of a hunter as her range allowed, and then in turn like the castrating seductress Lorelei - which is a testament to her deft control of tone and color. Throughout the evening Joseph Breinl impressed with his soft playing. Anyone who has studied piano will agree that playing the piano piano can be an excruciating and thankless obstacle. Breinl consistently managed to distinguish pianos from pianissimos and pianissimos from pianississimos. In "Waldesgespraech" Breinl executed an evocative fade-out, and in the final song, "Fruehlingsnacht," made the repeated chords as airy as Schumann indicates. I never felt like Breinl was holding back too much, or was being so meticulous that he sounded stiff. Gerhaher's accompanist Gerold Huber, on the other hand, was as tense as a neurosurgeon, and indeed he operated on Schumann's score with a sterile scalpel. The set of seven Brahms lieder that opened the second half were played with much the same thoughtfulness as the Schumann. It seemed that Stotijn was a bit more warmed up for the Brahms - her high notes had more ring. Breinl was thoroughly at ease in Brahms' more complex accompaniments, particularly in the stormy "Verzagen" and "Auf dem Kirchhofe." After a brief pause, the duo turned to Tchaikovsky's settings of Tolstoy and Goethe texts (among others). Some of the songs, particularly "Had I only known," had the characters of operatic arias, and a few seemed to recall the lengthy "letter" aria in Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin. Perhaps I am only making this association because the music suddenly became so extroverted and schmaltzy after hearing the relatively antisocial personalities of Schumann and Brahms. Stotijn released an album of Tchaikovsky entitled "Tchaikovsky Romances," but with pianist Julius Drake instead of Breinl. Breinl was far more inspired and passionate Saturday night than Drake is on the CD, particularly in "The Sun has set" and "Whether day reigns," although he took roughly the same tempos. Stotijn's voice reminds me of that glass-shattering soprano of the '80s and '90s, Jessye Norman, who had a similarly lavish tone and regal presence. More importantly, Stotijn is an intelligent performer, and I hope that she collaborates with the equally capable Joseph Breinl for more of the lieder repertoire. Stotijn has released three albums, including the aforementioned "Tchaikovsky Romances," which can be purchased on iTunes or rented from the College music library.
(02/12/09 12:00am)
Author: Peter Baumann A day after thumping St. Michael's 12-3, the Middlebury men's hockey team established its place as the top Division III team in the state on Feb. 7 with a 4-2 victory over Norwich University. The game, which pitted the sixth-ranked Panthers against the twelfth-ranked Cadets, not only provided Middlebury with bragging rights over their natural rivals but also sent a strong message to the rest of the region that despite recent defeats against Plattsburgh and Trinity the Panthers remain a powerful ECAC contender. Separated by less than 80 miles, the hockey tilts between Middlebury and Norwich constitute one of Middlebury's top rivalries. Despite not playing in the same league, the two teams approach the game as a Vermont State Championship, bringing fire, intensity and passion normally reserved for playoff games. Close games are the norm however, entering this season the Panthers had been on the losing end of the equation the last four times the teams had met, a record dating back to the 2005-2006 season. "Our contests with Norwich are always tight and competitive," said Mason Graddock '09, "and it was important for us to be ready for the challenge ahead of us and not thinking about where we came up short a few games back." But now, with the win over Norwich, the Panthers have won both ends of the home-and-home series this season, earning themselves not only bragging rights but also important non-conference victories that could prove influential when it comes time to seed the field of 16 for the D-III national championship. With their offensive confidence high after putting up 12 goals the day before against St. Michaels, the Panthers got things started early against Norwich, with Artie Mittnacht '09 opening the scoring just six minutes into the game. The forward scored his second goal of the year with hard work, winning a draw in the offensive zone before corralling the lose puck and firing it toward the back of the net. Ten minutes later, the Middlebury power play - which at times this season has appeared unstoppable - posted the Panthers to a 2-0 lead, with Charles Nerbak '12 recording the tally after some nifty puck movement from Mack Cummins '09 and Graddock. In many ways, the goal served as a metaphor for the entire season, with one of Middlebury's talented first-year players taking advantage of the guile and leadership of two seniors.Up 2-0 after the first period, the Panthers turned the game over to their talented defense. Anchored between the pipes by John Yanchek '12, the Middlebury 'D' bent but did not break. Recently the Panthers switched back to their traditional two-forwards and three-defensemen lineup. The result has been an increased focus on defensive play - something that was noticeable against the Cadets. Middlebury surrendered fewer odd-man advantages, and as has been their focus all season the defensemen relegated the Cadets to the sideboards, forcing them to fire shots from difficult angles. Devoid of commotion in front, Yanchek was easily able to turn aside all chances in the first frame."Having solid goaltending is certainly a confidence builder for the team," said Graddock. "When he makes a big save to keep us ahead or keep us close it gives us a huge boost."After the Cadets closed the gap to one early in the second period, Graddock recorded a power-play goal - his eighth goal of the year - to reclaim the two-goal cushion. The Panthers dominated play for the majority of the period, finally opening up a 3-1 advantage when Chaz Svoboda '11 ripped a shot into the Norwich net.That would be all the scoring Yanchek and the Middlebury defense would need, as they stood tall for the rest of the frame before yielding only a single third period goal. With the 4-2 final the Panthers restored some of their own confidence while knocking off a serious in-state rival. "Beating Norwich was certainly a big momentum builder for us," said Graddock. "It has been a while since we have beaten them in that building, and beating them in a decisive manner is a big boost for the team as we head into the playoffs."Middlebury returns to action this weekend with home games against Babson and U. Mass-Boston.
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] THE FAMILY LOWES"My sister, when she was working on her thesis, would spend a lot of time in Proctor," recalled Matt Lowes '10 of Sara Lowes '07. "She would wake up early, eat breakfast, then have a second breakfast, then '11-sies,' and then lunch."Although "little Lowes" would tease his older sibling about her bizarre eating and study habits - " I think a lot of people that work in Proctor learn that you don't actually get any work done there," he said - at least Matt knew precisely where to find Sara when he needed advice on Economics classes or simply wanted to hear about her weekend.As they did at family dinners in Texas, the Lowes siblings, during their shared time at Middlebury, would use meal time to catch up, but unlike family dinners, their encounters were often unplanned."We had our own lives, but also got to see each other pretty regularly," said Matt. "I most often saw her in the dining hall. When we would see each other, it was mostly about getting to check up on each other."Despite the College's small size that allowed them to run into each other in the dining hall by chance, the siblings maintained very separate lives and identities. While Sara devoted her time at Middlebury to the frisbee and debate teams, Matt immersed himself in Christian Fellowship and volunteering at the John W. Graham Emergency Shelter in Vergennes, Vt."I think that the most interesting part about it is that like most siblings, we fought growing up and when she went off to college, the separation made us appreciate each other more," Matt said, explaining how the mutual appreciation was maintained in spite of the significantly shrunk separation. "And then coming to college, we each had our separate activities so it wasn't like growing up. We only had one year together which I think is the right amount of time because I could see how after too many years together you might start to encroach on each other's social territory… I'm glad I got to share a small part of my sister's college experience."-H.Kay MerrimanTHE FAMILY PEACHMorgan Peach '09 knows very well the beginning of his nine-member family legacy spanning more than a century at Middlebury."My grandfather actually mistakenly proposed to my grandmother when they were here," Peach said. "He was interested in her - he would give the morning announcements in chapel that they used to do - and he would see her every day. She had this wonderful posture that really appealed to my grandfather … but he was a shy, bashful guy so he sent her a telegram in Forrest where she was living. He wrote on the telegram, 'Take my hand, you already have my heart.' My grandmother misconstrued it as a wedding proposal when in fact he was asking her out on a date. She agreed to the marriage, and so it was," he recalled.Before that fateful telegram between Ted Peach '43 and Dolly Peach '45, Morgan's great-grandfather Arthur Peach had graduated from Middlebury in 1904. After the telegram, Morgan's parents, Steve Peach '71 and Laura Fuller '73, and his aunt, Chris Peach '75, matriculated. The current generation of Peaches includes Morgan, his brother Ian '07.5 and his sister Molly '11.5."It's a fairly ridiculous lineage," Morgan said. "The Peach name is reinvented with every new generation here, but the hope is that with that reinvention you're staying true to this history of what it means to be a Peach in the Middlebury world. We're an intellectual and sort of fiery bunch. Everyone has their own particular perspective to share."The Peaches share that intellectual curiosity as well as a dgree of a love of the outdoors, self-sufficiency, but they have all found their own niches in the Middlebury community. Morgan spoke of his aunt as a wild child of the '70s, his father as the 'big man on campus' fraternity president and his mother as a hard worker focused on her studies and extracurricular activities."To some degree there are shared characteristics that all Peaches have," Morgan said. "I enjoy getting a little bit wild like my aunt Chris, and I think I'm disciplined and intellectual like my mother was."-Lea Calderon-GutheTHE FAMILY SILTONThe potential beginnings of a family legacy at Middlebury, Ben '11 and Will Silton '10 followed in their father's footsteps and became the second generation of Siltons to attend Middlebury. Both brothers say Richard Silton '80 never pushed them to go to Middlebury and neither of them ever planned on it, but frequent visits to the town and the Snow Bowl as kids made the school a positive presence and a definite option."It wasn't until I saw a lot of other schools and then did a formal college visit to Middlebury that I knew I'd enjoy attending this school," said Will. "My father never put an ounce of pressure on me to apply here - he let me figure that out for myself. Perhaps that was one of the reasons I chose Middlebury because I knew it was a purely personal decision."The brothers did not plan on going to college together either, but knowing that Will was here tipped the scale for Ben in favor of Middlebury over Tufts University."It's been really nice having an older brother pave the way for me," said Ben. "He tests the waters, and I get to choose what I want to avoid and what I want to experience."Will also appreciates that he is a year ahead of his brother."I think if we were in the same year and came here together, it wouldn't have been as hard for me to adjust, but it also wouldn't have built as much character," said Will.Will and Ben have many of the same interests and they find themselves skiing together frequently, attending the same parties and playing on the same intramural basketball team, but Ben named a laundry list of differences that allow each of them their own space on campus"Will prefers a small group of close friends and I prefer a larger group of perhaps not-as-close friends; Will plays video games, I don't; Will is very messy, I am very neat; I like nature and the outdoors and Will doesn't care for it much, but I think being at Middlebury is slowly changing that," said Ben. "Being at college together has given us a deeper understanding of each other's natures in a largely social sense. I think we also appreciate the familial bond more." -Lea Calderon-GutheTHE FAMILY ADLERAfter experiencing a lifetime as "one of the Adlers," one dynasty especially magnified at tiny Middlebury College, R.J. Adler '11.5 feels that the recognition is positive. "I feel an immediate sense of pride that I get to be associated with my siblings. Normally when people meet me they say, 'Hey! Now I've caught 'em all!' as if they were the only people to have ever completed that Pokemon-esque challenge."After all, of the six Adler siblings, five attended Middlebury College.The siblings in the Adler Dynasty (R.J. '11.5, Emily '07.5, Robbie '05.5, Benjy '03 and Ted '99.5) share similar interests and values (being a Feb obviously one of them) which include skiing, hiking, camping and being outside in general. However, even with commonalities, the Adlers always found (and are still finding) their specific niches at the College, as well as very different friend groups.Emily majored in International Studies with a focus in Africa and minored in Teacher Education. R.J. Adler, the youngest of the crew, is a Theatre Major with a minor in Teacher Education as well. (But as his siblings would describe it, he is, for Winter Team at least, "a major in skiing and a minor in partying.")As R.J. watched his siblings grow at Middlebury and share their stories with him, the idea of attending the College inspired him."For me, the words 'college' and 'Middlebury' were interchangeable," said RJ, "For a few years I thought that people went to Middlebury and n
o other colleges."Yet R.J. did have quite another compelling reason to want to attend this school. He was nine years old when he went to visit his brother Ted for the night."Apparently I went to a party and spent the entire night (until 12 a.m.) dancing with one girl," said R.J. "I went back to my fourth grade class and told everybody."Though their highs and lows have differed, the Adler siblings are united in their family pride."The best, and worst [part of being a member of a dynasty at Middlebury], is that everyone identifies you as so-and-so's sister," explained Emily. "This can be both bad and good. The bad part is that it is mostly annoying. The good part though is that it can also be this amazing gift in terms of meeting people ... you make friends with a lot of folks because people associate you with your brother."-Rachael JenningsTHE FAMILY WOODThe Wood legacy at Middlebury began with a trunk. On their first day at Middlebury in 1967, Alan Wood '71 carried a trunk for Martha McCravey '71 up to her room in her all-girls dorm. 25 years later, they took a picture of all four of their kids sitting on the canon in downtown Middlebury, and eight years after that, their first daughter, Gillian Wood '04, began her first day at Middlebury College, followed by her brother Gabe Wood '06 and twin siblings Caitlin and Micah Wood '10. Ironically, Caitlin spent her first year at Tufts University before transferring to Middlebury, but as a child, she was the only one of her siblings who wanted to follow in her parents' footsteps."Out of the four of us, growing up none of them wanted to go here, but I did. When it came time to choose, they all ended up here and I went somewhere else," Caitlin said. "I took 'the road less traveled,' and it was really, really hard, but I got here. My parents have always stressed academics and education, especially a liberal arts education. They tried to push all of us in this direction."Parental push-and-pull aside, Caitlin and her siblings might have avoided Middlebury until the last minute because of each other. All hard workers and nearly all varsity athletes, the very qualities that have made the Wood family excel at Middlebury keep its members from getting too close at school, as exemplified in Caitlin and Micah's interactions."We don't see each other much at all because we're busy, competitive - our whole family is really competitive - and we fight a lot," Caitlin said. "Micah is also definitely more science- and math-oriented and he's tri-varsity, a big athlete. I get more of the language and environmental studies aspect of Middlebury, and I'm more of a reader just floating along, but Middlebury definitely suits both of our strengths."-Lea Calderon-GutheTHE FAMILY BURLEIGHEmmy and Connor Burleigh '10.5 lived their life as twins a bit differently than the norm. Instead of parting ways when they ventured to college, they reunited. The pair had attended separate high schools - Connor went to boarding school while Emmy stayed home.Though very different in terms of personality (Connor is "a bit more of a party animal" and Emmy is "a better student"), their choice about where to spend the four years of their post high school life showed that they do have similarities."We approached the college application process open to the idea of going to school together, almost like a fun bonus to a good school," explained Emmy.At Middlebury, Connor and Emmy share some of the same friends, since they both entered school as Febs. However, as the semesters passed, they have branched out and made new and separate friends, while still maintaining their roots.Connor is a History major and spends his time playing rugby, working as an emergency medical technician in town, and as an active member of Omega Alpha (Tavern). Emmy is a joint Sociology-Psychology major with a minor in Economics. Cooking for Dolci, playing for the Otters Hockey team in town and helping first-year students in Ross are some of the areas in which she focuses her time.Even with their busy schedules, the Burleigh twins still enjoy their family time."We see each other almost every day, usually just running into each other at meals or seeing each other out on weekends," said Emmy. "I think this is probably more related to the fact that Proctor is closed so we tend to eat in the same dining hall for lunch."Connor described part of the bonus of having a twin with whom to share lunch as"having someone who has to listen to you when you talk."The worst part?"Having my parents call me to tell him something," said Emmy.-Rachael Jennings
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Forrest Orme As the passionate discussions over tax policy and immigration began to simmer, Professor Francisco Del Canto sarcastically joked, "Come on, this is not Latin America, no fighting or hitting." The class "International Migrations" is taught all in Spanish and this Thursday morning the class is split into three groups: one discusses immigration policy in Spain, another weighs the effects of taxes on immigration to the Philippines, and the final argues why families immigrate within Latin America. One student pulls out a peer reviewed journal while another browses her comments in the Argentine paper La NaciónThe students were discussing issues central to the work of Del Canto. Professor Del Canto hails from Mar del Plata in Argentina where he is a professor of Latin American Studies, International Relations, and Contemporary Issues in Immigration. Distinctly tall with blue eyes and shoulder length brown hair he has a rugged demeanor. "Immigration is one of the most important aspects of International studies" Professor Del Canto told me. "What I want to show students is the complexity of immigration. I mean as soon as one individual leaves a country and moves to another country it completely changes both countries."While talking about immigration within Latin America, senior Jeff Bates '09 suggests that economic policy and gaining economic advantage is the main driving force behind immigration."Only kind of correct," Professor Del Canto replies. "For example, immigration is more complicated in Latin America because family is more highly valued in Latin America than elsewhere and therefore decisions are not made only economically. It is a post modern world."Del Canto came to his passion by way of an interest in personal stories. "I became interested in immigration because everyone is an immigrant. Everyone has an interesting story of how they came to live where they live.Professor Del Canto's class, however, focuses less on the personal stories and more on the contemporary issues-economic policies, globalization, and the "brain drain" from the "developing world" into the "developed" world."When I was in Houston I went to see the debates between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama," he tells me, "and all they talked about was immigration."While Obama and Clinton's policies showed depth and understanding, Del Canto thinks that most people only have a cursory understanding of immigration. "What I don't like is when people say 'I don't like immigration or immigrants' without a defense. We cannot have change without informed debate. That is what my class is for." Just after finishing a soccer game with the Spanish department we meet in the Juice Bar for a "café y charla" (coffee and chat) and Professor Del Canto looks at me and shivers, "It is so cold. I like it here, I mean it is pretty, but it is so cold outside. In Mar de Plata it is 80 degrees and sunny. Last night I wanted to come here for the band, but I walked outside and then walked back into my house. It was way to cold."But for Del Canto the cold is only one of the small differences between Universidad de Mar de Plata and Middlebury. He explains, "In Mar de Plata I have to have two jobs. I teach three classes, and have a day job."You are so lucky that your professors can devote themselves totally to their classes," he added. The same goes for students. "Ninety percent of my students in Mar de Plata work during the day and then come to classes at night. It is hard to force them to do all of the reading and turn in good work, because they have to work all day. Here you guys can truly devote yourselves to your studies." To forgo a summer vacation in Argentina to come to Vermont in the dead of winter must be a bit of a sacrifice, but his students are certainly pleased he did. "He [Professor Del Canto] is really funny and jokes a lots, but also offers a unique perspective that is less Eurocentric" Molly Lohman '09.5 added.
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Ben Benson Over the holiday break, as I consumed all sorts of holiday goodies, I decided that I was going to attempt to eat healthier when I returned to Middlebury for J-term. Like most people, I can tell you that eating salad instead of French fries is the healthier choice, but I'd like to go a step beyond that. To do so, I researched several nutrients that the body requires, the suggested optimal proportion of these nutrients and some readily accessible sources.As a guy, naturally the first nutrient that came to mind was protein. Proteins are one or more chains of amino acids and they are one of the three nutrients the body uses as a source of energy. The other two are carbohydrates and fats. There are several different types of proteins, including the building blocks for all enzymes - hormones and antibodies. Our hair and nails are almost completely made of protein, and of course, protein is essential for muscle growth and repair. Yet, too much protein can lead to a diet with excessive saturated fats and, resultantly several risks, such as clogged arteries.The average American consumes 50 percent more protein per day than is recommended by the Food and Drug Association (FDA). The FDA suggests that an active male should consume 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight every day that an active female should consume 1.2 grams per kilogram daily. Thus, an active, 160-lb male requires approximately 110 grams of protein per day and an active 125-lb female requires around 70 grams of protein per day.Typical cafeteria foods that are excellent sources of protein are chicken, fish, beef, eggs, milk, beans, nuts, peanut butter, cheese and some cereals. For the exact grams of protein in these foods check out the charts at: http://www.betterbones.com/bbbb_charts/protein.htm.A really great source of protein offered everyday in the dining halls that most of us walk right by is cottage cheese. The cottage cheese served here is fat free and is almost pure whey protein. A half cup contains only 80 calories, 6 grans of carbohydrates, and 14 grams of protein. It is a great option at any meal and can be mixed with many foods like fruit, apple sauce, yogurt and ketchup or placed on top of lasagna. Cottage cheese is a great option when trying to lose weight or as an addition to your diet when trying to put on mass. Also, due to the fact that it is made from soured pasteurized milk, cottage cheese is a great source of calcium. That might not sound too appetizing and maybe the texture is a little unusual, but don't let that stop you from trying it. Nearly one billion pounds of cottage cheese are eaten annually in the United States, and even Little Miss Muffet enjoys a bowl or two. Cottage cheese is not a recently-created food either. Evidence of the cooking of cottage cheese can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. It was a staple in the cottages of colonial America (hence its name) and continues to be a popularly-consumed food in Europe.So, the next time you are in the dining hall looking for a snack or something healthy, try a bowl of cottage cheese. Morgan might be upset because she'll have to refill the tub a little more often, but you'll be getting a nutritious protein-filled snack. Just remember, protein is an essential nutrient for the human body with countless uses, but overconsumption is possible and won't turn you into Ronnie Coleman.
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Klein The women's basketball team lost a pair of road games this weekend, falling to Bates 80-67 and to Tufts 60-41. The two defeats drop Middlebury's record to 6-8, a disappointing setback for a team that, before the weekend, had reached the .500 mark and was looking to begin NESCAC play on a strong note.As it is, the Panthers will have to rebound and try to move up the NESCAC ladder when they host Connecticut College and Wesleyan University at Pepin Gymnasium this coming Friday and Saturday. Against Bates, Middlebury trailed from the get-go as the Bobcats surged out to leads of 5-0, 15-7 and 19-9. Despite the fact that the Panthers out-rebounded the Bobcats by a comfortable 22-12 margin in the first half, they still saw themselves trailing at the intermission by a 37-22 score. While Bates shot a sweltering 59.3 percent from the field in that first stanza, Middlebury was a cold 30.3 percent from the floor.A three-pointer from sharpshooter Ashley Barron '09 narrowed Bates' lead to 42-30 with two minutes elapsed in the second half, but Bates gradually built its advantage back up as time wore on. A 12-4 Bates run capped by two straight layups by Lauren Dobish gave the Bobcats a commanding 58-37 lead at the 11:42 mark.Middlebury would not go away, however. Brittany Perfetti '12 nailed two three-pointers in a 13-6 Panther run that got the team to within 12 at 68-56 with a little over five minutes remaining.Unfortunately, that margin was as close as the Panthers would get, and Bates was able to secure the 80-67 victory.The following day, Middlebury found itself locked in a defensive battle with 12th-ranked Tufts, who came into the game having won its last seven contests.While the Jumbos led 12-3 at the 15:40 mark, the two teams combined to score just 16 points in the ensuing 10+ minutes.However, the scoring picked up a little bit after Middlebury had closed to within 17-14, as Tufts went on a 13-5 run to establish a double-digit lead.Once again, Middlebury had thoroughly out-rebounded its opponent in the first stanza - this time by an even bigger margin of 11 - yet it still trailed at intermission, 30 to 19. Middlebury came out of the half with renewed vigor, as it went on an early 8-0 run to cut the Jumbos' lead to 36-31 at the 14:42 mark. Four consecutive points by Alison Wells '11 brought the Panthers to within 38-35 with 11:52 on the clock, but Middlebury went ice cold thereafter, scoring just six points for the remainder of the game.While Middlebury was struggling from thefield, Tufts went on a 16-0 run in a little under 10 minutes of action, giving them an insurmountable 56-37 lead with just over two minutes to play.Allison Needham '11 led the Panthers with eight points, while Wells led the Panthers with nine boards to go along with six points.Senior co-captain Ashley Barron '09 made it clear that the Panthers have the potential to come up big in the NESCAC this season, but that every member of the team needed to get that fiery mentality and winning attitude that characterize successful teams. "Everyone needs to be mentally tougher and executing the smaller aspects of our game in order to compete with the fast pace of NESCAC basketball," she said. "We're aware of our potential to be a threat. However, the difference comes with all 13 of us having the heart, courage and confidence as individuals and, most importantly, as a group."
(01/15/09 12:00am)
Author: Mario Ariza The Large-Format Drawing exhibition, located in the Johnson Memorial Building's gallery, showcases 11 works from last semester's Studio Art I course. The featured pieces are generally charcoal- and pastel-based portraits executed on several large, stapled rectangles of coarse paper. The 11 works of art, selected from over 80 entries, are not necessarily the work of studio art majors and reveal, at times, unorthodox approaches to a medium that is neither new nor edgy. The simplest, and one of the most direct pieces of the exhibition, is by Katelyn Romanov '11. A study in contrasts, the work's only light source is weak and in the top left hand corner. It shines lightly on the back of the up-in-the-air legs of a nude, upside down female figure lying on a bed. The torso of the figure is in a deep shadow that gradually fades to pitch black, obscuring any view of anything above the figure's off-kilter breasts. Done completely in charcoal, the piece is simple and elegant in the way it relies only on the upside down figure for balance and only on the contrast between light and shadow for movement. Immediately next to it is a work by Lingji Hon '11. A riot of color and chaos of forms, this smaller charcoal and pastel work is as notable for its visual imbalance as for its rich reds, greens, yellows and blacks. Female torsos with yellow shadowed breasts emerge from a strange foliage. In the center left stands a chiseled male figure. Next to him two torsos are entwined and below that, a pair of lips are pursed in ecstasy. Motion in this piece is abstracted, and the intense sexual experience so artfully suggested and so colorfully rendered is held in stasis by the pieces' inherent imbalance. The large areas of deep red in the upper-right quadrants only enhance the sensations of pause and abeyance. Standing at the center of the exhibition is a piece by Moriel Rothman '11, an interestingly framed portrait of a muscled male, with a hat on his loins and pink hearts in his sunglasses. The piece is cheeky, and the color lacking in the black and grey male figure is provided by colorful phrases like "my goal is to live in full" and "lightning in my veins" scrawled willy-nilly across the white spaces. This is the only composition in the selection that relies on words as visual components, and they are integral to the composition's attempt at conveying the strange mix of ego and vulnerability involved in what appears to be a nude self-portrait. The strongest, and most stunning piece exhibited is by Lisa Shea '10. Done in pastel, charcoal and ink, this composition uses the white space of the paper and the suggestive power of rough, bold lines extending into nothing to forcefully conjure a female nude. The face of the nude receives the most detail, with black ink being used to coherently order the piercing gaze of the posing figure. The shock of orange hair is incoherent, flaming out from the head and falling on the hard, inked lines of the shoulders. The torso and buttocks are an expert suggestion, shaded here and there in orange, and the abdomen - mostly white space - is crowned by the belly button. The limbs dissolve into outline and finally, down to a line, (the entire left leg suggested by only that one line running down from the buttocks to the edge of the paper). The pieces on exhibit all manage to spark something in the observer, and are well worth the search through Johnson's warren-like interior that is necessary to find them.
(11/20/08 12:00am)
Author: Ahn Wei Lee If local is the new organic, then Middlebury is well positioned to become one of the trendiest towns around. With a history steeped in agriculture and deeply influenced by the changing economic realities surrounding it, Vermonters have long understood the impacts of fluctuating market conditions. In the past, economic crises have led to marginalization of the state's many small-scale operations, as consumers have turned to large grocery chains to feed themselves cheaply and free from the constraints of seasonality. Recently, however, amidst rising concerns over energy constraints, food security, and food justice, local agriculture has taken off as an important alternative to what many consider to be an unsustainable industrial food system. In this transition, Middlebury, with the help of an enthusiastic community base, has emerged as a hub of local involvement and innovation. Reflecting on the area's centrality to the local foods movement, Jean Hamilton of Northeast Organic Farmers' Association (NOFA) said that, "while the local purchasing phenomenon is sweeping the world, it's been a part of life here for decades, and so certainly boundaries are being pushed [here]."These boundaries - such as Vermont's fairly short growing season and the eternal challenge of connecting consumers to producers - are being challenged by such developments as winter farmers' markets statewide. These establishments largely resemble the warmer weather and more widely publicized farmers' markets, yet the concept is relatively new and untested in the marketplace. Overall, NOFA calculates that this year there will be at least 20 winter markets in state, with new locations being announced as the season progresses and the markets gain momentum.In Middlebury, the central organization pushing the boundaries is the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACoRN). Created in 2005 to address a multitude of challenges that will be facing citizens in an energy-constrained future, ACoRN, as Projects Coordinator Ray Slabaugh puts it, serves as an "incubator for various actions." According to the group's mission statement, ACoRN's objective is "to revitalize our local economy, to help our communities provide sustainable sources of food, water, energy, employment and other essential resources, and to promote conservation and a healthy environment." It is under this umbrella framework that ACoRN's subgroup, the Localvores, approaches issues relating to food. While ACoRN's message is broad and intellectual, Localvores has been specific and tactical in its support for local agriculture. Bay Hammond is both a local farmer and the group's local foods contact. For her, joining the Localvores was a logistical no-brainer. "I was originally involved because I was frustrated trying to get my product to consumers," said Hammond, "My operation is too small to get my food into grocery stores, but I'm also too big to keep it all in my freezer." In response, one of the first actions the Localvores took was to create a growers guide, which allowed producers and consumers to find one another without the hassle such networking once entailed. Since then, the group has expanded in multiple directions, organizing more than 80 potlucks, starting a food-focused book club and, most recently, sponsoring Middlebury's winter market. Like many other winter markets in the state, Middlebury's is new this year and was created in response to rapidly increasing levels of enthusiasm and support from the local community. The Town Hall Theater has provided space for the gatherings, which will take place on three Saturdays in November, two in December, and once a month after that, until the outdoor farmers' market reopens. Though less frequent than the summer markets, the winter market has a similar lineup of vendors. As Susan Smiley of the Localvores recounted, at the market this winter you will at least find the following: three full-scale vegetable growers, one fruit vendor, two cheese vendors, dry flowers, eggs, wool, lamb, chicken and - starting in early 2009 - beef. For these farmers, the success of the winter market will answer many of the intensifying questions over whether or not the area has a consumer base large enough to justify costly infrastructure improvements, such as root cellars and greenhouses. While economically unfeasible in the past, such improvements may prove plausible after this season, and even necessary if the community is serious about eating seasonally all year round.
