809 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(05/02/07 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Patterson The Middlebury men's and women's golf teams enjoyed a rare treat when they played together in the first-ever Williams Coed Invitational. In addition to the individual team tournaments, there was also a combined men's and women's tournament. The men finished the day third out of nine teams while the women finished second."This weekend was a pretty special event because it brought together both the men's and the women's programs to play at the same course on the same weekend," said Karen Levin '08.The weekend was made more special as the Invitational was hosted at Williams' Taconic Golf Course, a par-71 course that is one of New England's most prestigious and challenging courses. "The Taconic course is notorious for having very fast greens, and on many of the holes the strategy is to stay below the pin or you could have a dangerous putt coming down a steep hill," said Levin.Helping the teams out in their two days at Taconic was the weather, which remained kind to the golfers as a lack of rain belied the threatening skies. However, the course itself was still damp and played longer than usual.On the men's side, after a fine showing in the fall, during which the team clinched a berth to the Division III NCAA championship, the third-place finish this weekend was not exactly what the team was hoping for. The men finished with a two-day total of 617 (+49), 22 strokes back of pace-setting Skidmore. The team was anchored by the performances of third-place finisher Harrison Bane '08.5 (72-75, +5), and Michael McCormick '09 (77-74, +9). Following them were Ashley Miller '09 (79-81, +18), George Baumann '08 (81-79, +18) and Chad Bellmare '07 (84-80, +22)."As a team I think we are a little disappointed in our weekend and are going to work real hard in the next two weeks to be ready to play well at the national championship," wrote Baumann in an e-mail.As Baumann noted, the primary goal in sight for the Panthers is, of course, Nationals. The spring season for this team is seen more as a long tune-up for the players, a time to iron out the kinks in their swings, to develop more feel around the greens and to hone their putting strokes."As a team, we need to manage our rounds better, while we are on the course, making better decisions and leaving shots on the right side of the hole," wrote Bane.The men have one last match, this Saturday at Williams, to prepare for Nationals, which will be held in Indiana.The women, who played with the added pressure of an NCAA Tournament berth at stake, finished solidly in second place, only two strokes behind hosts Williams. The women closed the weekend with a two-day combined score of 668 (+100). Leading the charge for Middlebury again was Captain Heather Gallagher '07 who fired a two-day 161 (+19), good for fourth place overall. She was followed by Allison Ortega '07 (81-86, +25), Kerry Ortega '07 (80-89, +27), Julie Ellenberger '09 (89-84, +31) and Levin (87-89, +34).The scores were quite solid - all the women placed in the top-20 - especially in light of the fact that the Taconic Golf Course is unforgiving. "I think that there were a lot of shining moments and some great shots," wrote Levin. "We know we still have a lot to tune up in our golf games in order to put a whole round of golf together." And there will surely be more golf to play because on late Monday night the women received word that for the first time in its four years as a varsity team they will be heading to the NCAAs."It represents a culmination of hard work by our forbearers and the dedication of our coaches Bill Beaney and George Phinney," wrote Kerry Ortega '07. "We are all very excited to represent Middlebury on the national stage." Nationals will be held at the El Campeon Golf Course, which is just outside of Orlando, from May 8-11.
(05/02/07 12:00am)
Author: Derek Schlickeisen With his first 100 days in office, a traditional Congressional landmark, behind him, freshman Representative Peter Welch (D) of Vermont has moved quickly to follow through on campaign promises by building a legislative record on climate change and the Iraq war. From announcing a carbon-neutral Capitol Hill office to opposing President Bush's Baghdad troop surge, Welch is gaining a reputation that fits with Vermont's political activism.Speaking about Welch's carbon-neutral office, Press Secretary Andrew Savage '03 said that his boss' home state has reflected in his work both on and off the House floor."The Congressman is taking some of the practical leadership demonstrated in Vermont and applying it to his job down here," said Savage. "He sees the office as an interim step towards making substantive changes as he pursues comprehensive global warming legislation in Congress."Welch's carbon-neutral initiative, much like Middlebury College's, stands symbolic of the desire among Vermont activists to effect immediate change while waiting for the federal government to act. Though the Democratic Congress in its own first 100 days split its focus between "bread and butter" issues like the minimum wage and the challenge presented by the Iraq war," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pledged to pass a comprehensive bill to combat global warming."Being in the majority makes an enormous difference. I think there was a sense throughout the campaign that the priorities needed to chance in Congress," said Savage. "Demonstrated by the first 100 days here, a new majority really does make a difference."Welch's actions in that majority have also, however, attracted criticism from across the aisle."The agenda Rep. Welch is pursuing in terms of politics and policy appears to be more geared toward currying favor with the Washington establishment than with serving Vermont," said Rob Roper, Chairman of the Vermont Republican Party.Welch paired public support for the recent Step It Up demonstrations organized by Middlebury graduates and Scholar-in-Residence Bill McKibben with sponsorship of the Safe Climate Act, which shares Step It Up's goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050."The activism demonstrated by Step It Up events across Vermont and the nation serves as an inspiration for me," Welch said in a press release on April 14, the day on which more than 1,400 Step It Up demonstrations occurred simultaneously across the country. "I am proud of the role Vermonters are playing in stepping up and providing the necessary and urgent leadership to tackle this critical issue."Welch could not attend Step It Up's largest rally, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., because he was on a Congressional trip to Iraq.Roper criticized Welch's stance on climate issues, however, singling out in particular his sponsorship of legislation authorizing federal agencies to buy carbon offsets for their fuel-burning activities."Welch's own bill calling for taxpayers to fund carbon offsets for government officials and agencies is truly awful when you look at it," Roper said. "A carbon offset is using money to buy your way out of the sin of emitting greenhouse gasses. It's like paying someone to exercise for you, while you sit on the sidelines and eat cookies. It's one thing to do this with your own money, but to take the taxpayers' money to do it is really outrageous."Welch has made his opposition to President Bush's troop escalation in Iraq as clear as his support for climate-change legislation."The previous Congress was a rubber stamp for this President's Iraq policy," said Welch, echoing rhetoric he often used on the campaign trail last fall. "Those days are over."Welch signed on as a co-sponsor to Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha's (D) bill calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, and supported legislation from Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey (D) that would prevent the President from spending funds that would escalate the troop presence there."The Congressman is committed to a policy that demands accountability of both the president and the Iraqi leaders and revokes the president's blank check in Iraq," said Savage. Looking ahead to coming months, Savage stressed that although Welch is only a freshman in Congress, his many years in the Vermont legislature (he served as President pro tempore of the State Senate before his election to the U.S. House) will help him adjust to governing at the national level."He is going to use his leg experience and commitment to serving Vermonters in any way he can," said Savage. "He's pleased to have been successful in the passage of a couple amendments within his first 100 days in office."
(04/25/07 12:00am)
Author: H. Kay Merriman It's 3 a.m. on Saturday morning and the hundreds of walkers who swarmed the soccer field Friday afternoon to participate in Middlebury's annual cancer fundraiser Relay for Life have dwindled to just over two dozen to partake in the "Brave Souls" lap. At random, yawning students receive prizes for their efforts. But there are two brave souls who can't go unrecognized in Relay's success.Meet "Chalex," the duo who lost far more than a single night of sleep in the process of organizing Relay for Life. Alex Braunstein '09 and Chandler Koglmeier '09 were the co-chairs behind this year's Relay. They affectionately refer to themselves as "Chalex," and the nickname speaks to their ability to work together. All school year, they have been overseeing a 60-person Relay for Life Committee of students, faculty and community members, holding monthly committee meetings and interacting with Relay team captains and participants all in anticipation of April 20th. "We make sure all the hard work of our committee members gets meshed together," said Koglmeier. This past Friday night, their hard work reached fruition as students, professors and community members came together to console those who had lost family and friends to cancer, celebrate with those who had overcome the disease and raise money for future cancer research at Middlebury's fourth annual Relay for Life.This year, explained Koglmeier, Relay was the largest student-run fundraiser Middlebury has ever experienced. And it is no small feat to gain such a large backing on a campus that has so many student activists competing for student interest in so many different causes.This year's event drew 80 teams and an estimated 1,000 walkers. Participants said they are involved with Relay for a myriad of reasons. Some participate because they have witnessed the pain that cancer can cause. "Two of my grandparents have died of cancer and I figure I'll probably get it some day. So, I want the cure," said Miranda Tsang '09. Others who have not been directly effected by cancer participated in the event to support those who have and to share in the sense of community Relay for Life provides. "It's like a big block party!" commented Maria Dickinson '07. But what about those who make Relay happen? Why do they Relay? Braunstein commented on the effect of having such a large group of people work together. "I couldn't help smiling a little seeing over 1,000 people gathered together in the middle of the night, even when most of them were crying. Because that's what Relay does - it brings people and community together," she said.In addition to working diligently before the event, Chalex truly experienced every minute of it. They spent many a sleepless night ensuring that the event ran smoothly and reminding themselves to step back and take in the power of it all. "I didn't realize how emotionally invested I was until I started walking away at 9 a.m Saturday morning, having been on that field and awake for more than 26 hours straight, and felt physically unable to just leave it behind," said Braunstein.So, why does Chalex Relay? "I Relay because as I get older, most of the people I know will probably have cancer or have someone really close to them with cancer. I Relay for the future generation," said Braunstein. Koglmeier characteristically echoed his partner's sentiments exclaiming, "The same goes for me!"And although the event was a success, Chalex's duties are not quite finished. "My plans now consist of some follow-up meetings, planning our VIP reception at Otter Creek, picking new co-chairs for next year, writing up a committee, sending out some thank-you notesÖ" Yet perhaps her most important plan for Relay wrap-up, says Braunstein, is "actually having a healthy phone and e-mail relationship with Chandler." And next week if you see Chalex around campus walking in circles at 3 a.m., thank them for their hard work, and remind them that it's okay to stop now.
(04/25/07 12:00am)
Author: Simon Keyes After stumbling out of the starting gates on April 14 at the Vassar College Invitational, the women's golf team seems to be regaining its Fall season form. The Panthers placed second in the Jack Leaman Women's Championship this past weekend in western Massachusetts.The field was one of the most competitive fields the Panthers have seen all season, as it featured not only NESCAC rivals Amherst and Williams, but also six Division I teams, including eventual winner Boston College.The biggest challenge during the weekend, however, may have been the courses, which showed signs of the late arriving Spring. The moist fairways, rough and greens made the courses play exceptionally long as shots would either land softly on the ground or plug into the earth. Fortunately for all the golfers, beautiful weather all weekend made the golfing quite pleasant.The two-day tournament started on day one at the par-74 Hickory Ridge Golf Club, Amherst's home course. After the first 18, Middlebury found itself in second place behind only Boston College. The day-one surge was led by Captain Heather Gallagher '07 who posted a 78. Karen Levin '08 was not far behind with an opening day 80. Rounding out the Panthers were Allison Ortega '07 (82), Julie Ellenberger '09 (87),and Kerry Ortega '07 (88)."We bounced back nicely from our disastrous performance last weekend at Vassar and ended the day in second place only behind Div. I Boston College," wrote Kerry Ortega in an e-mail.Day two was a special day for all the golfers as they were given the privilege of playing on the legendary golf course, The Orchards, host of the 2004 U.S. Women's Open. The course, a par-72, requires incredibly precise shot-making as it is ridden with hazards and false fronts on the greens.Middlebury was up to the challenge, however, and fended off Williams by four strokes to secure second place with a team two-day total of 676 (+92). Boston College won the weekend with a combined 633 (+49). Gallagher challenged The Orchards all day and finished the day at a notable four-over-par 76. Her two-day total of 154 (+8) gave her second overall in individual play, only two strokes back of Boston College's Katie Napleton."Heather had a fantastic round, shooting 76," wrote Kerry Ortega. "It was especially impressive because we were on a difficult course that played really long because it was wet."Besides Gallagher, the rest of the Panthers finished no lower than 40th overall. Levin finished tied for 15th with a 168 (+22), Kerry Ortega finished tied for 26th with a 177 (+31), and her sister Allison posted a 180 (+34), good for a share of 35th overall. Ellenberger rounded out the team tied for 40th with a 183 (+37). Next weekend, the team will continue to enjoy playing on another well-known course when it travels to Williams College's Taconic Golf Course for the Williams Coed Classic on April 28-29.
(04/25/07 12:00am)
Author: Zamir Ahmed The Citadel to install dormitory locksIn response to the shootings at Virginia Tech last week, Charleston, S.C.-based military college The Citadel will install locks on all cadet rooms by next semester in an effort to increase student safety. The installation of locks breaks with the college's tradition, which is based on the sparseness of military life and the school's honor code.The proposal to install locks on all residential doors had been under discussion before the Virginia Tech tragedy. According to school officials, the shootings highlighted the need for locks to protect students, as well as to protect the college from legal action.Currently, male cadets do not have locks on their room doors. Female cadets have locks on the inside of their doors. The Citadel's Board of Visitors, which is responsible for the direction and supervision of the college, approved the installation of locks at its regularly-scheduled weekend meeting. It is estimated that installing locks on all barracks doors will cost the college $125,000.-CNN.comStudy finds gender wage gaps emerge earlyA recently released study by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation found that a pay gap exists between females and males only one year after graduation. The study also found that the gap in wages widens after multiple years in the work force. The study found that women make only 80 percent of the salaries of their male counterparts after only one year after college graduation. After 10 years in the work force, women on average earned only 69 percent of what their male peers made.Despite taking into account factors such as hours, occupation and parenthood, the study found that one-quarter of the wage gap could not be explained. The group speculated that the gap was the result of gender discrimination.The study also found that, on average, a woman's salary did not accurately reflect her level of education. Although females average a marginally higher grade point average than males in every major, according to the study women who attend highly selective colleges have the same salaries as males who attend less-selective colleges.≠-MSNBC.comBU student arrested for shooting-related threats A part-time Boston University (BU) student was banned from campus on April 19 after pleading not guilty to charges stemming from threats he allegedly made regarding recreating the Virginia Tech shootings.Twenty-year-old Andrew Rosenblum, who is enrolled at the BU-affiliated Metropolitan College, allegedly sent online instant messages to a Wheelock College student he dated in 2005, purportedly threatening to kill her and her friends just hours after the shootings in Blacksburg, Va.Rosenblum was arraigned on three counts of threatening to commit a crime at the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal District Court on April 19. He was released after posting a $50,000 bail.Rosenblum is being monitored by a 24-hour GPS monitoring device and is under house arrest. In addition to not being allowed on the BU campus, he is prohibited from entering Wheelock premises and from contacting the people he allegedly threatened. He will return to court on June 13 for a pre-trial conference.-The Daily Free Press
(04/18/07 12:00am)
Author: Kelly Janis Whether as part of a bagpipe-led procession in Shelburne, a bike ride in Brandon, a ski-down in Killington or a trek from a sugaring shack to the statehouse in Montpelier, Vermonters turned out en masse on Saturday to "Step It Up" and demand that Congress pledge to cut the nation's carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050.Residents of the town that spawned the national movement proved no exception in their zeal. An estimated 300 people gathered on the Middlebury Town Green to enjoy live music and drumming before assembling on the footbridge near the Marble Works complex for a group photograph.An hour later, the crowd poured into the Middlebury municipal gym for an environmental fair, kicked off with a performance by the Ripton-based folk trio Bread and Bones.As the twang of a guitar and string bass dissipated, the fair's coordinator, Stacey Lee-Dobek, took to the stage to welcome revelers to the event, which featured presenters from a wide array of local organizations committed to curbing climate change. "I want people to leave learning something," Lee-Dobek said. "And if you already know something, tell someone else."Lee-Dobek introduced Professor of English John Elder, widely respected in the community for his environmental activism. "In my brief remarks, what I want to focus on is the relationship between what we need to do and how we feel," said Elder. He proceeded to address three distinct sentiments. The first was that of grief and loss."We all know that climate change is already a very serious fact, and it is going to become worse even if we do everything right," Elder said. "The carbon is already in the atmosphere." Such a reality, however, is not cause for hopelessness - a notion underlying the second feeling Elder expressed. "This is a moment in which I think we need to feel powerful. Powerful for change," said Elder.As a consequence of this power, Elder said, we ought to conjure celebratory feelings, and orient ourselves toward "inclusive, pleasure-oriented environmentalism."Elder's commentary was proceeded by that of Ron Slabaugh, president of the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACoRN), which, according to brochures distributed at the event, aims 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." The organization, which was established in late 2005, meets monthly to discuss actions pertaining to such issues as local food, renewable energy and idling."We need to fashion a future in which we live with less energy," Slabaugh said. "It is time to move from despair into empowerment."The program continued with a performance by musical guest Catch Betty. "This first song is dedicated to the largest contributor to global warming in our area," she said. "It's called 'We Must Breathe Free.' International Paper in Ticonderoga, this one's for you." "We will not close our eyes to your deeds Ö the air and sky belong to us all," Catch Betty sang as fair-goers milled about with buttons declaring "I love wind power" pinned to their shirts, and giggling youngsters ran in circles with construction paper kites and streamers in tow. The gym's walls were festively adorned with colorful banners bearing such messages as "we are all a part of this chain" and "good planets are hard to find."A clothesline hung along another wall, brimming with eco-friendly suggestions attached to clothespins: "repair old things Ö give something away Ö donate old cell phones Ö ride the bus Ö walk Ö build bike paths Ö turn down water heater Ö replace lawn with native plants Ö collect rain water Ö no topping off gas tank."Against this backdrop, the crowd circulated to a selection of entertaining and informative stations. Among them was Vermont Soap Works' Sudzy Putty Fun Center, where, alongside a selection of the company's organic products, an extensive offering of soap scraps were available to be molded into a flurry of forms. "Instead of throwing them away, we've turned it into a way for kids to learn about scent, touch and shape," said Soap Works employee April Marble."We're in the market of helping the environment," Marble said. "We're very pleased to be here." Also represented was Rutland's Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS). "We're beginning a new renewable energy project here in Vermont," said Senior Energy Consultant David J. Dunn. "This fair seemed like the perfect place to highlight that, and support others who are fighting global warming."The project, known as "Cow Power," entails "a voluntary service rider that promotes development and reliance on renewable energy in Vermont." Its aim is to craft a market for energy generated from the burning of methane from cow manure. CVPS customers can opt to contribute an additional monthly fee to facilitate the company's quest to "deliver renewable energy one cow at a time."Idle-Free VT coordinator Wayne Michaud also turned out to promote his cause. The non-profit, grassroots campaign addresses unnecessary vehicle idling in the state and works toward the enactment of an idle-reduction law.Michaud was inspired to pursue the issue after witnessing trucks idling at the Chittenden Solid Waste District's drop-off center in Hinesburg. "They would go on for ten minutes," he said. "Finally, I decided I was going to call Chittenden Solid Waste."Subsequent to his phone call, the center posted anti-idling signs."They took my concern and did something about it," Michaud said.Idling at the center, and in other locations, did not cease altogether, however. "It's a long, drawn out process to make change," Michaud said. In spite of this, he is optimistic that his "business idle-free" initiative - one which he calls a "win-win" situation for businesses and the environment alike - is capable of garnering the support of lawmakers.This optimism seems to be contagious.Representatives of SolarFest 2007 - a two-day summer event in Tinmouth which brings together over 90 renewable energy and sustainable future exhibitors for a music, theater and dance festival dedicated to environmental activism - said they were motivated in their cause by the work of Bill McKibben. "We're very excited that he's doing that work and raising awareness," said Hugh Coyle '83.Middlebury's rally registered as an apt venue for similar work. "This event brings together a community of like-minded individuals," said SolarFest's Bud Yost.Coyle and Yost are unique in their attitude and approach. "People like to talk about the problem, and we like to provide the solution," Coyle said. "It's not just theory, it's not just ideas. We can do this."In an event report on Step It Up's website, Middlebury resident Greg Dennis concluded that the environmental fair and rally's "amazing turnout [is] proof that many, many Vermonters are committed to doing what it takes" to salvage the ailing environment.Much of this turnout may be attributed to the event's upbeat atmosphere. "It's not merely a guilt-ridden, hand-wringing, dramatic crisis," Coyle said. "There are exciting, joyful, good things out there to celebrate. We want to show the positive spirit of this movement."Elder echoed this sentiment in his remarks. He noted that, in some years, the shift in the sugaring season from March to February has caused tree-tapping to coincide with Mardi Gras celebrations, which he compared to Middlebury's environmental rally."Mardi Gras is a wonderful festival for us to think about at this time of loss, aspiration and potential," Elder said. "All over the world, in different religious traditions, there are ways to express what I think is essentially a sp
ring ritual of partying. Winter is almost over. Put on your dancing shoes, walk around the streets with your friends wearing bright clothes and then get serious about renewal: personal transformation, community celebration, and, finally, transformation of our whole system into something not only more sustainable, but more festive and fun."
(04/18/07 12:00am)
Author: Allison Ortega Ranked second in the most recent national poll, the Middlebury women's lacrosse team showed their offensive firepower early and then held on for victory on Saturday at Kohn Field in a NESCAC matchup against Trinity. Playing in front of a large crowd assembled to celebrate the team's annual Alumnae Weekend - incidentally including first-year Trinity coach Kate Perine '03 - the Panthers set off to a fast start. "We were all really excited to play for our big group of alumnae that came back this year," wrote Lindsay McBride '09 in an e-mail.Midfielder Reid Berrien '08 opened the scoring just over a minute into the game with a shot past Bantam goaltender Michelle Smith. While Trinity countered to even the score at one just a minute later, the Panthers respond swiftly. Showing off its superior depth, Middlebury then poured on six straight goals. First-year Dana Heritage tallied back-to-back scores, before Berrien added her second of the game. Caroline Kirkendoll '09, Katherine Entwisle '08 and Tri-Captain Claire Edelen '07 then helped the Panthers build a 7-1 lead before nine minutes had elapsed in the game. The Bantams managed to stop the barrage with a goal past Middlebury's Blair Bowie '09 about a minute later. Yet, this was only momentary as Panthers subsequently continued their offensive onslaught.After assisting on three previous goals, Liza Humes '07 notched a tally of her own to resume Middlebury's scoring spree. Tri-Captain Kim Walker '07 and Amanda Smith '08 followed with two goals each, while Kate Barton '09 picked up a single tally to round out the first half scoring. At halftime the score was Middlebury 13, Trinity 2. "We came out really strong in the first half, moving the ball quickly, working the fast break, and holding Trinity to only two goals," wrote Edelen.Despite its first half domination, Middlebury was unable to maintain its torrid scoring pace during the second half of play. The Bantams responded to their large deficit with renewed energy and gradually moved back into the game. Less than a minute into the half, Trinity scored the first goal of the second half. Although Barton answered for the Panthers, the Bantams then went on an 8-0 run. "Trinity proved to be a strong opponent," wrote Edelen, "and after scoring a few goals, they gained the momentum of the second half."Smith's third goal of the game ended the Panthers' scoring drought and increased the lead to 15-11 with just under five minutes left. However, the Bantams would not relent in the game's final minutes, scoring another two goals. With the lead at just two, the Panthers' strong defensive play preserved the victory. "Fortunately we were able to hold on to the lead and pull out the win," wrote Edelen.Bowie finished the day with nine saves in the first 43 minutes of play and Whitney Wildrick '08 picked up an additional four saves over the final 17 minutes in a relief appearance. It was the Panthers' sixth straight victory, and it increased their impressive season record to 7-1. In addition to the hard fought victory against Trinity, Middlebury used the occasion to participate in another battle - this one against global warming. Joining with participants throughout the country, the team partook in the "Step it Up" National Day of Climate Action on Saturday afternoon. An initiative formulated by Environmental Studies Scholar in Residence, Bill McKibben, the Step It Up campaign is calling on Congress to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. The Panthers created a banner and close to 250 Middlebury and Trinity players, parents, alumni and fans posed for picture with it following the game to show their support for the cause. The next three games for the women's lacrosse team are against NESCAC rivals. Bates comes to town on Wednesday April 18, before the Panthers head to Connecticut to face Wesleyan and Connecticut College. At 5-0, the Panthers will be looking to maintain their current undefeated record in league play so far this season.If last year's victories are any indication of what is to come, the Panthers should have a lot of confidence going into these games. In the 2006 season, Middlebury outscored the Bobcats, Cardinals and Camels by a combined 28 goals.
(04/18/07 12:00am)
Author: Derek Schlickeisen The largest global warming demonstration in American history took place on April 14, all thanks to an idea conceived by six recent graduates of the College and Scholar-in-Residence Bill McKibben. Step It Up 2007, a campaign of more than 1,400 coordinated demonstrations in all 50 states, called on Congress to pass comprehensive climate change legislation aimed at cutting carbon emissions by 80 percent before 2050.From an online launch in January with the modest goal of organizing 100 events, Step It Up 2007 rapidly grew into a national phenomenon that exceeded McKibben and his students' wildest dreams for the project."Step It Up was an incredible success that surpassed all of our expectations," wrote Jamie Henn '06.5, one of the project's earliest staff members, in an e-mail. "More than thirty senators and congressmen attended rallies. John Edwards attended one of our rallies and pledged 80 percent cuts by 2050. This is becoming a national priority."While the campaign enjoyed widespread support around the nation, organizers were pleased that the idea for the movement originated at the College."Step It Up took the incredible energy around climate change on the Middlebury campus and made it something national," wrote McKibben in an e-mail. "We were able to find people who cared passionately around the country and link them together in amazing ways that really demonstrated to Congress that this is not a second-tier issue for Americans. It's the beginning of a movement."While that movement may end, as McKibben and others hope, in congressional action to curb global warming, it certainly began in part at Middlebury."For anyone who thinks it is difficult to make change from the bubble of Vermont, Step It Up is a testament to the fact that big changes can ripple out from small places," said Jon Warnow '06.5, another one of the project's original staffers.Fellow project member May Boeve '06.5 agreed that Middlebury has a special place in the movement towards action on climate change, adding that the experience for her illustrates the opportunities available to students at the College."For any Middlebury student who has ever considered going out on a limb after graduating," Boeve said, "Step It Up showed me that not only is that possible, it's life changing."With sponsorship from major environmental groups like the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Step It Up 2007 organized rallies at some of the nation's most environmentally symbolic landmarks. Particularly poignant demonstrations took place on top of the once-broken levees in New Orleans, as well as on top of the melting glaciers at Mt. Rainier and underwater near endangered Key West coral reefs."Overall, we have been stunned by the number of successful actions and the reports we have gotten from participants," wrote Henn. "It was a powerful day for many people."The New Orleans demonstration proved to be among the most powerful, with over 500 city residents and activists turning out in red T-shirts that read, "Save New Orleans, Stop Global Warming." Together with many environmental scholars, the event's organizers stressed that they saw a strong connection between climate change and Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the city in 2005."Global warming is going to affect us and our children most," Tulane University student organizer Abbie Kamin reported on the Step It Up Web site. "Global warming is real, we have experienced it firsthand, and we can't afford to wait any longer to address it."More than one thousand marchers also converged on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to form what they called a "human postcard" delivering a simple message to Congress: "80% By 2050!"Though McKibben and his Middlebury graduates purposefully chose to organize local events around the country rather than a "march on Washington" reminiscent of the Civil Rights movement, their efforts have sparked comparisons to both the urgency and the moral imperative of that era.McKibben said "that to stop global warming, we need a cause with all the passion and moral urgency of the 1960s civil rights movement," read a story on Friday in The Philadelphia Enquirer. The Enquirer's home city played host to dozens of students dressed as endangered arctic wildlife who, in the shadow of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, witnessed a modified rendition of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin" that lamented, "The Climate, It Is A-Changin."Will Congress respond to Step It Up's call to action? McKibben certainly hopes so, particularly in light of the Democrats' takeover of both chambers in last November's midterm elections."There's a possibility, especially if control of one or both of the houses of Congress changes hands, that we'll see some legislation finally," McKibben told The Campus just days before the election. "It's beyond belief that the United States hasn't passed a single real law to begin to deal with this problem."In the wake of Saturday's nationwide demonstrations, the banner that now headlines Step It Up's Web offered a pointed challenge: "Your move, Congress."
(04/11/07 12:00am)
Author: Chi Zhang The first annual Spring Student Symposium, which will display the fruits of student research, will take place on Friday, April 13, in McCardell Bicentennial Hall. The half-day symposium, the result of a recommendation in the Strategic Plan, will showcase more than 50 multi-disciplinary research projects undertaken by students. At the symposium, students will take to the podium to demonstrate their expertise in their respective fields. Faculty and the local community have also been invited to witness the product of student research efforts. By housing the event in a centralized location, the audience will be able to attend several presentations that they are interested in and stay on to explore others. "We have 80 percent of the departments represented by at least one project," said Professor of Geology and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Research Patricia Manley, "and we have freshman, sophomore and junior projects as much as senior projects."Many students participating in the symposium based their projects on personal interests.McConnell Franklin '10, one of nine first-year students participating in the symposium, translated his fondness for maps into a self-initiated project named Mapping Middlebury. With a GIS meter, a bike and some help from Library and Information Services (LIS), he recorded the trails around the greater Middlebury area and uploaded the data onto Google Earth to construct a topographical map."I am going to carry this project through the rest of my Middlebury years," said Franklin.The symposium will also feature a number of science projects that will provide an opportunity to access topics that are normally highly specialized and not easily understood. The majority of the science projects will be presented in poster form to facilitate understanding of unfamiliar concepts.In addition, Associate Dean of Student Affairs Karen Guttentag highlighted projects that are set against the background of the Middlebury community. Karina Arrue '07, for example, started a blog project that explored the topic of religion and spirituality at Middlebury College and how it intersects with academia. She praised the symposium for allowing such intimate issues to be raised and discussed in the community in which they originated."We are delighted to be able to offer those presentations in the context of larger themes," said Guttentag, "because students can see it locally and then explore it nationally and internationally."Other featured projects include a cross-disciplinary examination of immigration and dance titled The Colombian Diaspora in Paris, an incisive introduction to dental health, Cavities 101, a performance presentation of original jazz compositions and Vermont Maple Syrup Flavor Profiles and Possible Geochemical Determinants, where audience members will be able to taste-test the famed local product.Student presenters will share with the College community not only the results of their projects, but also the spirit of research, and the projects, Guttentag hopes, will "fascinate students and inspire all to explore research topics and opportunities on their own.""We believe the more experiential, hands-on learning opportunities we offer, the better the educational experience will get," Guttentag added. "We have myriad opportunities on campus, and we want to excite the students about the possibility of a research project."Guest speaker Erich Osterberg '99 will open the event with a speech following introductory remarks by President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz. A Fullbright scholar who has done extensive research on underwater chimneys and canyons on New Zeland's continental shelf, Osterberg will explain how his undergraduate research experiences are basis of and starting point for his future project goals.The projects will be grouped not by disciplines, but by theme, thanks to the meticulous efforts of the organizing committee. Themes range from Representations and Reality, Health and the Human Body, to The Natural Environment of Vermont, Space, and Mutual Reflections: Politics and the Arts."It is not easy to identify unifying themes," said Guttentag, "but we wanted to have interesting cross-disciplinary presentations."The symposium has received significant support from the faculty and administration, and will be thereafter included in the Strategic Plan. Manley and Guttentag hoped that the germinal practices of the Symposium could be expanded and fine-tuned in the future. "There are, for example, creative works to be done in terms of integrating foreign language projects into the symposium," said Guttentag."The Symposium could be expanded from a half-day event to a one-day celebration on campus," said Manley.The event will conclude with a reception replete with menu items that are produced locally and/or through sustainable practices. The complete schedule is available online at the Office of Undergraduate Research Web site.
(04/11/07 12:00am)
Author: Tom Brant, news editor Energy efficiency and landscaping issues were the main topics of discussion at the second forum for the Master Plan on Monday in Dana Auditorium. Administrators and professional planners identified significant weaknesses with the College's infrastructure and grounds, and explained their strategies to make the campus more sustainable over the next five decades."We're trying to look into our crystal ball and predict what Middlebury will need in 50 years," said Susan Personette, associate vice president for Facilities.The plan, whose chief architect is Boston firm Michael Dennis & Associates, outlines seven areas in which the campus needs to be improved, including everything from academic space planning to landscape design. According to Michael Dennis, landscape design and improving the aesthetics and functionality of the campus grounds are the first priorities."It's not the buildings that make the campus, it's the open spaces," he told the audience of about 75 people, almost none of whom were students.The worst of the problems with landscaping come from the College's vast expanses of grass, which account for more than 100 acres of the 225-acre main campus, said Jose AlmiÒana, of Philadelphia-based Andropogon Associates, another firm working on the Master Plan. After collecting data on where campus activities take place, AlmiÒana's team found that the vast majority use either Battell Beach or the main quad between McCullough Student Center and Voter Hall, two of the grass-covered areas with the worst drainage on campus. Besides the drainage problems, maintaining such a large area of pure grass is expensive and harmful to the environment, AlmiÒana said.He proposed changing some 12 acres of lawn, mostly around McCardell Bicentennial Hall and Old Chapel Road, into wetlands and rain gardens, which are more suited to their location. "Battell Beach and the main quad would remain lawns, but other areas, including the area behind BiHall, would be changed into meadows or wetland," he said.To alleviate drainage problems on Battell Beach and the main quad, the soil quality will have to be improved, as well as the location and type of trees, according to AlmiÒana.In addition to landscape issues, the other problem that occupied most of the forum's discussion was improvements to campus buildings, including the completion of Commons infrastructure. Besides landscaping, the biggest problem to face the College over the next five decades is the rising cost of energy, according to Dennis. A renowned architect and an authority on American college landscaping, Dennis is also Professor of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He used his background to his advantage in calling on the audience to support the part of the Master Plan that calls for making buildings on campus more sustainable, including using alternative forms of energy to reduce costs and protect the environment"Now I'm going to step into my MIT professor role and go on a rant," he said, taking off his coat and loosening his tie. "The most important thing you can do to make this campus sustainable is fix your buildings."Dennis showed results of a recent energy audit that rated more than a dozen buildings as poor, the lowest category for energy efficiency. "The worst-performing buildings in this audit were some of the College's most important buildings," he said, pointing to Painter Hall and Old Chapel on a campus map. "The world's oil supply is going to run out in the next 30 years, but we can't spend all that time doing nothing. We need to make our buildings more efficient today."According to the audit, oil accounted for nearly 80 percent of the college's energy use and carbon emissions. Dennis also expressed concern about the lack of students in the audience. "As I look out into the audience today, all I see are people that look slightly used," he said. "Where are all the students? A Master Plan should be supported by the entire college community. If it's not, it probably won't be successful."
(04/11/07 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Patterson There are nine days in a weeklong vacation, nine judges on the Supreme Court and there have been nine-nothing scores in almost every Middlebury men's tennis match this spring. Whether facing a local challenger or a faraway foe, Middlebury has been far and away the supreme team on the court."We have definitely had some great results so far this spring," said Tri-Captain Kevin Bergesen '07. "Our schedule gets progressively harder as the season continues, so we try to focus as hard as we can in the early matches and beat teams as efficiently as possible. In the next three weeks we play five huge NESCAC matches, which will be a true test of how we stand and how we have progressed since March."On Saturday April 7, the men's team made light work of Villanova and Colby-Sawyer, blanking both of them by nine-nothing scores. The Panthers won 17 of their 18 matches in straight sets, winning 70 percent of the games against the Wildcats and 80 percent against the Chargers. "It's definitely pretty cool beating a Division I team, especially one in the Big East Conference," said Tri-Captain George Mayer '07, a 6-4, 6-3 winner against Villanova's number- three singles player Scott Fahrendorf. "We always knew that we were capable of beating a lot of respectable Division I teams, and beating Villanova certainly backed that up."Tri-Captain Alex Scott '07, the third-ranked singles player in Division III easily took care of Villanova's number one Sean Daly 6-1, 6-2. He also combined with Mayer to win their number one doubles match 8-3.The infamous early morning workouts are definitely paying off. "Our team's win over Villanova Saturday is a reflection of how hard we have been working so far this season," said Scott."Teams like Villanova face great competition in every match, so they are always ready for us," said Bergesen, who came back from being down a set and a break in the second to beat number-four singles player Dimitri Chimerakus. "All of our guys really stepped it up today. Beating Villanova 9-0 is a very solid result."Bergesen solidified the team's shutout of Villanova after he made some advantageous adjustments. "I knew that I had been a little off the whole match, and I was confident that I could turn it around," said Bergesen. "I played two great games to make it 2-2, then pretty much had my way in the rest of the match."This spring, the Panthers have been treating their foes like fellow felines - giving them nine lives to try to survive - but in seven out of their 11 matches, Middlebury has completely killed the opposition with its sharp canine molars and even sharper volleys.Given the Panthers' numerous nine-victory matches, it stands to reason that the International Maritime signal for nine is a flag made up of blue and white stripes.On Wednesday at 4 p.m. the third-ranked Panthers will host sixth-ranked Williams in an important match. "Williams is always one of the most intense matches of the year," said Mayer. "They are without a doubt our biggest rival in the NESCAC. We have been fortunate to come out on top against them every time we have played them since I have been here. Several of the matches were 4-3 decisions though, including the national championship in 2004 and the NESCAC championship last year, and they could have gone either way.""They are definitely going to be fired up to play us, but I think we'll be ready to battle," he said. "We'll work pretty hard Monday and then have an easier practice on Tuesday so that we are ready to roll. Hopefully we will utilize the home court advantage."Bergesen has a game plan. "We just have to stay confident and make the most of the opportunity to play them on our home courts," he said. "We've been waiting for this match since the beginning of the season, and I know all the guys are really pumped for it."In China, the number nine is viewed as a lucky number because it sounds like the word for "long lasting," but across the East China Sea, the number is considered unlucky, because of its similarity to the Japanese word for "pain." Without a doubt, Middlebury has been playing as fine as china, while many of their opponents - Villanova and Colby-Sawyer included - have been experiencing plenty of distress.
(04/11/07 12:00am)
Author: Brian Fung The inauguration of Bill McKibben's Step It Up environmental campaign will be marked this week by over 1,000 demonstrations across the country. Step It Up's primary goal - to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent nationwide by 2050 - has even received the support of U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). As exciting as McKibben's movement is, however, legislators should be wary of endorsing a proposal that is both overzealous and unrealistic.According to a report last November by the Energy Information Administration, total carbon emissions in the United States reached 6,008.6 million metric tons (MMT) in 2005. Step It Up's campaign would see emissions reduced by 4,806.88 MMT over a period of more than 40 years - but to succeed, the U.S. would be required to reduce its carbon output by an annual 111.78 MMT. And these numbers assume that emission levels will remain steady in coming years, which they most certainly will not.Since 1990, CO2 emissions in the U.S. have risen at an average rate of roughly 67.9 MMT per year, with little in the way to limit that output. Considering the task ahead, I fail to see how Step It Up expects to reach its objective without eventually moderating its position. To even approach the annual target of 111.78 MMT would require still greater, perhaps Herculean, efforts to offset the additional 67.9 MMT of carbon currently being added to the atmosphere every year.Then there are the politics of actually pushing the carbon bill through Congress. Suddenly slamming legislators with a number as high as 80 percent will likely turn away conservatives who believe in the primacy of other priorities. Meanwhile, critics of the bill will castigate its supporters for being alarmist and overly dramatic in their crusade to save the planet. "An 80-percent cut in carbon emissions by the year 2050," wrote incredulous LaRouche Youth Movement member David Dixon in a recent Executive Intelligence Review article. "Precisely the deindustrialization and genocidal scheme presented by Al Gore to a credulous U.S. Congress on March 21."This political brinkmanship will likely have the additional consequence of stifling into submission potential moderate backers - and does little to help the environment, anyway. While the urgency of global climate change cannot be adequately underscored, the reality is that, unpalatable as it may sound, McKibben and Step It Up may have to settle for compromise.Brian Fung is a Freshman News editor who hails from Rockville, Maryland.
(03/21/07 12:00am)
Author: Melissa Marshall It started with the whisper of a spark, slowly leaping from laptop to laptop, airwave to airwave, setting the indie music scene aflame. In the fall of 2004, mourners of a genre which seemed to be suffering from an incurable case of apathy and staleness threw off their bereavement black and slipped on their headphones as Montreal's experimental rock quintet The Arcade Fire ushered in a morning of articulate symphonies and wavering vocals. Funeral, the band's debut, put to rest any early criticism of the group's eccentric mixing of bossa nova and classically tinged rhythms as repeated spins of the virgin disc baptized the five-piece outfit fronted by husband-and-wife team Win Butler and Regine Chassagne into the reflective-rock canon. Funeral may have pumped blood back into the heart of the college music scene while The Decemberists' The Crane Wife and The Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America kept the circulation moving, but in 2007 the dramatic post-rock junkies are jonesin' for a new fix. The Arcade Fire has answered with their highly anticipated March release, Neon Bible. I don't want to mimic the call of the wild hipster, claiming, "Their first album was better, their first album was better." But Neon Bible, with its over-the-top organ accompaniment and charged religious and political imagery, seems ostentatious when compared to the more low-fi sound of its predecessor. However, despite lacking the indulgent, cathartic nature that made Funeral so comforting, you still have to give the band credit for looking outward instead of inward on Neon Bible. Their sophomore release is concerned more with worldly affairs than familial - targeting the government, the church, the music industry and even human nature. The opening track's title, "Black Mirror." references the centuries-old device famed to have the power to foretell future events and offer insight into the hearts of men. The song features the line, "Mirror mirror on the wall, show me where them bombs will fall," laced over synth drum beats and sung in a retro-80s style resurrected by such acts as She Wants Revenge and Interpol. Granted Butler's poetry has a tendency to fall flat, but it's always been his impeccable delivery that has given his words their resonance, and when he does miss a note, Jeremy Gara's steady drums and Tim Kingsbury's driving bassline sweep it back into the forward motion of the album. While the conception of Funeral is often attributed to the influences of Bowie and Byrne, The Arcade Fire took a page from The Killers in their writing of Neon Bible - Butler's low growl, blue-collar references and steady acoustic strumming on "Antichrist Television Blues" play as an obvious reincarnation of Bruce Springsteen. And while the subject matter is more grounded and Butler's voice lower on Neon Bible, there is still an essence of the ethereal which was so poignantly present in Funeral's epic closure, "In the Backseat," tip-toeing among the tracks of the band's follow-up. While the incantatory church organs and Calexico horns dappled throughout the album make you feel the angst of a service, it is the clarion voice of Chassagne that moves the spirit. Her more prominent presence on their sophomore release is certainly praiseworthy, as her contributions to tracks such as "The Well and the Lighthouse" and "Black Wave" float in stark contrast to Butler's heavy-handed singing technique. The Arcade Fire's daring endeavor ends with "My Body is a Cage," a track whose slow heart-beat melds with a melodramatic melody that permeates the entire disc. While Neon Bible is impressive in its ingenuity and social conscience, the Montreal post-rockers seem to be trapped not by their flesh and blood, but by their high-minded ideal of what a follow-up album is "supposed" to be. Neon Bible may be a slightly lackluster second-coming from a band that shook the industry's foundation in 2004, but you still have to genuflect before their undying efforts to resurrect reflection and creativity in a genre littered with false prophets and iniquitous imitations.
(03/21/07 12:00am)
Author: Miranda Tsang Each dining hall has its fanatics. Atwater Commons students seem to love Atwater's dining hall so much that they never leave the grass-roofed building. Their dining hall boasts a piano, a comfortable sitting area, delicious garlic bread, pizza and fresh pasta. Ross residents come to eat in flip-flops regardless of the weather and wait in long lines for the latest and greatest from the famous Mongolian wok. Proctor fans praise the dining hall's panini machine and the fully stocked salad bar, some advertising their Proctor passions with t-shirts that read, "The Strength of the Terrace is His Also." Who and what are responsible for the variety and difference between dining halls? "When there was only Proctor and Freeman International Center (FIC), the dining halls used to share the same menus," says General Manager of Commons Dining Bradley Koehler. The chefs spend between 10 and 15 hours per week conceiving and posting their menus. A lesser known fact is the extent to which menus are shaped by student feedback and suggestions. Thanks to the comment card system at each of the dining halls and the Grille, students are able to voice their opinions on not just what the dining halls serve, but their thoughts and opinions about how they serve it.And commenting just got even easier, as comment cards are receiving a technological makeover. "We've recently put comment cards online, since so much of what students do is on the computer," says Koehler as he pulls up the Dining Services Web page to demonstrate. Nobody remembers exactly when the comment card system first began - no one asked seemed to remember when the system began, nor could they recall a Middlebury without this avenue of discourse between students and staff. In any case, the possibly-ancient system is still functioning today, and students continue to take advantage of it on a regular basis. "I once requested more Roman sandwiches in Proctor," says Michael McCormick '09. "They said they'd eventually have them again, and then, well, they did." Kelsey Nelson '09 confesses that she has never filled out a comment card, but says that her friends did all the time. "The realistic ones get acted on pretty quickly," she says. In fact, the managers and chefs who answer the cards do so daily on weekdays, and those posted on weekends are answered on Monday."I'd say 80 to 90 percent of the comments we receive are positive," reflects Koehler. Sometimes students even ask for recipes. "Usually graduating seniors," adds Brent Simons, dining manager of Ross Commons. But, don't the comments ever get annoying? Wouldn't the chefs rather make their menus and not have to deal with students' opinions? Koehler and Simons said no way. "The only way that we can improve is with the feedback from the students. For example, there was a comment on thick corn chowder at Proctor," says Koehler. The two men stressed the importance of constructive criticism. "We want to figure it out. Why was the chowder too thick? Who was making it that day? Was it the starch?" says Koehler.Often, students make requests that the Dining Services staff simply can't provide. "We're honest," says Koehler. One student had written earlier that day asking where the fruit was now that the freeze in California was over. Ross Commons Chef Christopher LaFramboise responded that even though the freeze was over, prices were still high. Simons noted that there just isn't as much fruit to be had either, as a result of the freeze. Kenneth Lazo '09 remembers that he once asked for a certain flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and was told that that flavor did not come in large quantities. According to Koehler, the approximately 10 percent of comment cards which are not positive are not necessarily negative. "When Ross first opened, we received a comment card specifically for me that said, 'You rock! I want to have your babies!'" says Koehler, laughing. A few weeks ago, Ross received a card saying, 'The guy on the Mongolian grill is hot!' which, Koehler and Simons speculated, refers to a high school staff member. While Koehler, Simons and the rest of the dining staff can't bring a panini machine to Atwater or a Mongolian grill to Proctor, comment cards allow students to make their dining hall their own in more subtle ways.
(03/21/07 12:00am)
Author: Michelle Constant The introduction this past fall of a newly developed vaccine that prevents the contraction of human papillomavirus (HPV) has been met with success, according to Parton Health Center staff, with approxiamately 25 female students receiving the vaccine per week since September. Gardasil, which first entered the market in the summer of 2006, requires patients to receive three doses to guarantee seroconversion, or the development of specific antibodies to the virus. According to Terry Jenny, associate director at the health center, many students who received their first dose of the vaccine "have the misconception that they have to return to their doctors at home for all three doses." But with proof of the date of previous doses of the vaccine, students can receive their second or third doses at the College, she said.The College charges $139 per dose, but does not charge administrative doctor's fees, as with any vaccine offered. Jenny said that most insurance companies cover at least a large portion of the cost of the vaccine. HPV includes over 100 different strains of one virus, more than 30 of which are sexually transmitted. It affects more than 50 percent of sexually active people over the course of their lifetime, and 80 percent of women by age 50. Most people who become infected with HPV will not show any symptoms, and the virus will eventually disappear on its own. However, some strains of the virus can lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus or penis, while other lower-risk strains can lead to genital warts.According to the Department of Health Services Web site, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved the use of Gardasil to prevent HPV in June of 2006. The vaccine protects against four HPV types that are known to cause 70 percent of cases of cervical cancer and 90 percent of cases of genital warts."The vaccine is so new that people are still developing procedures for administering it," said Jenny. The administration at the College is discussing how to best offer the vaccine. It is not currently stocked on campus because it is very expensive and expires quickly. Students requesting the vaccine must call in a prescription to the pharmacy. The vaccine can then be delivered to the College, to be administered by nurses at the Health Center.According to Jenny, there are no restrictions on female students who can receive the vaccine. Females aged 12 to 26 are covered under most insurance companies. "We'll do anything here at the Health Center that is appropriate and reasonable," Jenny said. "It's part of our general policy and protocol for general College healthcare." Gardasil is offered at the College in the same way that available vaccines against all STDs are offered."The new HPV vaccine seems to be a great idea," said Director of the Health Center Dr. Mark Peluso. He hopes that the federal Food and Drug Administration will consider approving it for men in the near future as well. According to Peluso, genital warts affect both sexes and homosexual men can also contract anal condyloma through anal sex, which can lead to invasive anal cancer. Condoms and abstinence are currently the only preventative measures available for these men.Peluso said that the vaccine has not been available long enough to gauge long-term effects, but that the pre-market data seem to indicate it is a safe method of prevention. However, Jenny emphasized that, even with the introduction of this new vaccine, women should continue to regularly get Pap smears to get screened for cervical cancer. She said that the vaccine only prevents four strains of HPV, and other strains can still be contracted through unprotected sex."The biggest controversy surrounding Gardasil is that it is currently the most expensive vaccine on the market," said Elizabeth Lyon '07, one of two co-presidents of Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM). "If my insurance doesn't cover Gardasil, I'm basically deciding between buying books for a semester or protecting myself against cancer." Lyon believes that this is not a decision students should have to make and that, although availability of the vaccine is crucial, it also needs to be made more affordable. Despite student complaints of the vaccine's cost, the College has no plans to offer completely free vaccinations in the near future. Meanwhile, some states are considering passing legislation that would make the HPV vaccine a school requirement, much like the measles vaccine. On February 5, Texas Governor Rick Perry issued an executive order requiring all schoolgirls to receive the HPV vaccine before entering the sixth grade.
(03/14/07 12:00am)
Author: Zamir Ahmed Members of the faculty discussed a proposal to restrict the number of majors and minors students can declare, and when they can declare them, at the monthly faculty meeting on Monday. The proposal drew immediate objections from faculty members of smaller departments who felt that the strategy would hurt their ability to attract students who become interested in a field as juniors or even seniors.The proposal, which was introduced by the Educational Affairs Committee (EAC) and calls for the elimination of triple majors, stems from recommendation number 37 of the College's Strategic Plan and is aimed at taking pressure off the curriculum and faculty. The measure would allow students to declare at most two majors without the option for a minor or one major with at most two minors."We felt that the faculty was almost unanimous in wanting to eliminate the triple major to work towards reducing some credentialing," said Baldwin Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy Pete Schumer, a member of the EAC. In his presentation of the bill to the faculty, Schumer said that the proposal will "add a little bit of structure to what students can choose as far as majors and minors, to allow departments to plan ahead in a more timely fashion."Some members of the faculty took issue with the scope of the proposed limitation on majors and minors."If the purpose here is to eliminate the possibility of a triple major, which is one of the rare occurrences, then it seems like a big flyswatter for a small fly," said Cut C. and Else Silberman Professor of Jewish Studies Robert Schine.Faculty members also objected to a proposed change in the deadline for officially declaring majors and minors. Under the EAC's measure, all students would have to officially declare a major by the end of their fourth semester of study at the College, while all minors would have to be declared by the end of the sixth semester of study. "Currently our regulations state that students must declare a major by the end of their third semester," said Schumer. "This does not replace that but forces students by their fourth semester that want to add a second major [to do so]. This doesn't allow students, most importantly, to declare a major or second major for the first time when they return to campus in their senior year."The proposition drew opposition from professors mainly in departments that tend to attract students looking for a secondary major. Language, humanities and social science professors argued that the new guidelines would make it harder to recruit students later in their academic careers."Sociology and anthropology would be one of those departments which is frequently a second major," said David Stoll, associate professor of Anthropology. "One of the reason is that I think most students have to be here at least two semesters before they are even aware of what sociology and anthropology is. I have the impression that I've recruited some very good majors in their junior year, and even at the start of the senior year."Faculty members in other departments that see a late influx of secondary majors echoed Stoll's sentiments."At least for some of the language [departments] it happens fairly often that people will take Russian, for example, and go abroad and change their minds about what they want to do in that junior year," said Professor of Russian and chair of the Russian Department Kevin Moss."I would not only add Religion's voice to the chorus of small departments worried about this early cut-off," said Assistant Professor of Religion James Davis, "but also it seems to me that the logic of the rationale does not line up with what the proposal actually says. If you're really worried about students backing into a major in their senior year, why cut it off at four semesters? Why not cut it off after six semesters."Schumer explained the EAC's rationale for introducing the proposal as an attempt to increase communication between students and their advisors before students go abroad to study, while also helping departments plan"For many departments, once [students] go abroad we really don't see them again until their senior year," said Schumer. "The end of their sophomore year is really the last chance we have to talk to them in person. A lot of declaring a major is the one-on-one discussion with your advisor and we're trying to put into place as much thoughtfulness on the students and from the departments on planning ahead as much as possible."If adopted, the measure should not affect a large portion of the student body. Less than 15 percent of students currently are working towards a double major while there have only been a handful of triple majors over the past few years, according to Schumer.The EAC will hold an open meeting on March 14 for faculty with questions or suggestions regarding the proposals, which are scheduled for vote at the April faculty meeting.The faculty also continued its discussion on terms of eligibility for faculty committees. In an amended proposal that was introduced at the meeting by the Faculty Council, faculty members would be allowed to take a hiatus after their term on a committee ended before they had the possibility of being elected to another committee position. Although the measure was schedule to be voted on at the meeting, discussion on the length of the hiatus, as well as the necessary length of time served on a committee before being eligible for hiatus, delayed vote on the measure, which was tabled until the April faculty meeting.Associate Professor of German Roman Graf, a member of the EAC, updated the faculty on the committee's study into consolidating the College's distribution requirements, a recommendation made by the Strategic Plan. The study found that the requirements current meet student needs and do not need to be amended, although the committee is still exploring the option on a lab science requirement.Professor of Geology and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Research Pat Manley also addressed the faculty about the Spring Student Symposium, which will feature presentations by 80 students in early April.The faculty will convene again on April 10 at 4:15 p.m. for its second-to-last meeting of the academic year.
(03/14/07 12:00am)
Author: Emily Temple Today's MTV mainstream is moving towards the catchy and danceable, while holding tight to - and mixing itself up with - the hip-hop and rap traditions that have been so prevalent in recent years. This kind of fare is perfect for late night dance parties and club-hopping, not to mention backdrops for perfectly scandalous music videos, but I personally am unable to stomach an entire album's worth - not to mention an entire night's worth - of Top 40 hip hop. Despite numerous Get Emily To Like Rap mix CDs, good memories of foreign spots attached to certain tracks and even a somewhat heartfelt effort on my part, I just get bored. Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, has an answer, at least for me. He creates music almost completely out of pre-existing songs by other artists, sewing samples from as many as twenty different songs into each of his tracks. This guy is a biomedical engineer by day, and you can tell: each sample is meticulously laid down to line up with the rest of the beats in a way that oftentimes sounds decidedly mathematical. Gillis even claims to use a calculator when composing his pieces. His songs are a mishmash; he uses lots of Top 40 tracks, especially grungy hip hop and rap, plus 80s pop songs, seamlessly blended with classic alternative rock, newish indie rock and songs I don't think anyone but Gillis has ever heard of. For some it might be fun to hear radio favorites, but for someone like me, who is mindfully unexposed to such things, I wasn't totally sold on Girl Talk until I recognized a sample of Neutral Milk Hotel's "Holland, 1945" on "Minute by Minute." Like with any weekend consumption, I need to cut the rap with something a little sweeter.Something about his composition makes even the staunch non-believer appreciative - it's like he takes the one gem of quality from each of the twenty different songs and melds them to build something spectacular. Or more to the point, he cuts off the hip-hop before I can't take it any more and replaces it with something else, Elton John, for instance. At the same time, it can get a little tiring; the novelty wears off when you're not actually dancing to it, and the pounding backbone actually makes me a little bit sick to my stomach. There's also the stigma of the mash-up; and although Gillis's brand is much more eloquently executed than most, he's still playing the dance club DJ role. He also has to fight against the snobbery of many of his fans, or potential fans. In an interview with Pitchfork, he said, "It's funny when you're pushing it on this Pitchfork crowd and all of a sudden I'm presenting these songs that people are supposed to hate for whatever reason. The whole point of not liking something is being defensive because you're scared of not being cool." Well, I'm not sure. There are some songs that people are supposed to hate because they're, well, bad. But, and I think this is in a way what Gillis is getting at, a song being bad doesn't necessarily mean it's not fun to dance to, and therefore doesn't mean it is valueless. And bad dance songs are admittedly much more fun in context than a traditionally good song would be. It all depends. But I reject the concept that the only reason not to like something because one is scared of being uncool. Obviously that happens, but come on, "My Humps?" That's not sonic quality. There's some question as to the legality of sampling at all. Supposedly it's acceptable if the borrowed section is completely re-contextualized, and there's something else about a certain percentage that has to be new, but Gillis doesn't seem overly worried. After all, the name of his label is Illegal Art. U.S. Representative Mike Doyle brought up Girl Talk in a congressional hearing last Wednesday during a discussion of digital copyright issues to suggest that perhaps some ownership laws are being made obsolete by the evolution of the art form, but there's always a certain amount of subversive glee in creating and supporting illegal art. Gillis, however, has said that even if he did receive a cease-and-desist letter, he would continue to make music, and just switch to giving it out for free. After all, he has a day job.
(03/07/07 12:00am)
Author: Melissa Marshall It was a problem that I could no longer ignore: my hips did lie, and they were laying completely and utterly still. When I would go to parties, I would try to drop like it was hot, but the closest I could get was lukewarm. I did not have an answer for what I was going to do with all that junk, all that junk up in my trunk, and my humps were most certainly no competition for the excess of cheap beer in terms of intoxicating the masses. I had backed my thang up against a wall of boredom and musical apathy. Fortunately, the help I need seems to be on the horizon. In their infinite wisdom, the International Students Organization has planned a Global Underground Party, which is to take place this Saturday evening. With the promise of lucid techno rhythms and grammatically incorrect lyrics, I now harbor the dream of becoming an expatriate of Cristal-coated poetry and repetitive beats that short-wire the brain, causing the listener to simulate mating. With these artists, you too will be inspired to bust moves that shine brighter than P Diddy's neck at a Grammy after-party. Brazil has finally given America something joyful enough to neutralize the pain and suffering introduced by the Brazilian wax: Cansei de Ser Sexy. Their 2006 self-titled release has wormed its way into the head and hearts of ragers and indie-boppers alike - their single "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above" solidifying itself as a mainstay on many self-proclaimed DJs' playlists. Although the band sings almost entirely in English, their often quirky and sometimes bizarre lyrics seem to mock the pompousness of the American music scene. All thirty-four minutes of the art rock act's virgin disc are rooted in danceablity. From "Music is my Hot Hot Sex" to "Off the Hook," Cansei de Ser Sexy will certainly exhaust your feet and hips, but don't worry, there will still be an excess of sexy. And if CSS doesn't convince the masses of the miracles that can occur when the genders unite, then Sweden's own, The Sounds, will easily convert the few disbelievers. Their 2003 release Living in the America plays like a collection of A-sides and their single "Dance with Me" even enjoyed a few seconds of fame as a float in the parade of omnipresent background music employed by VH1. Even though their sound swirls like a throwback to such 80's darlings as Blondie and the Cars, Maja Ivarsson's powerfully throaty vocals over multi-layered tracks more than compensate for the comparisons. Their 2006 sophomore effort, "Dying to Say this to you," manages to evoke the same feel good euphoria as their debut, however, it fails to capture the catchy cohesiveness cemented throughout Living in America. On one track, Ivarsson croons, "I've got a nasty habit called rock n'roll," and after a few spins on the dance floor, The Sounds will become your new favorite addiction. Now that you've wiggled and gyrated your way from the cusp of the Euro-trash to treasure genre, you're ready to cross the language barrier. Introduced to the states during the regrettable Latino invasion in the late 90's (my bon-bon was all shook out after three weeks of constant Catalan clones) Columbian-born Juanes produced music whose beats need no translation. Gaining critical acclaim, including five Grammy awards, for his 2002 release Un DÌa Normal, Juanes' music is slightly hackneyed yet heartfelt. While his third full-length album, Mi Sangre, lacks the same teeming tempo as Un DÌa Normal, tracks such as "La Camisa Negra" and "Amame" compete with such classics as "La Noche" and "Fotografia" in terms of arousing manic-maneuvers. So tell Justin Timberlake to concentrate on patching things up with Cameron, sexy has been brung, and inform Missy Eliot that the only "dutch" I'll be passing will be in the form of Doe Maar records. Thanks to ISO's dedication, overseas is no longer under-exposed, and neither will be your dance moves. I may have ninety-nine problems, but now rhythm ain't one.
(02/28/07 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] They clean your dorm, wash your dishes and sort your mail. You see their faces everyday, but rarely do you get a glimpse into their lives. The Campus has torn down the wall between student and staff to reveal the stories, interests and hobbies behind Midd's everyday heroes.Kirk Sabourin: From the Battlefield to Midd's Battell"Middlebury is my home stomping ground," says Custodian Kirk Sabourin with a smile as he wipes off the mirrors in the Battell South men's bathroom. Raised on a farm in the Addison County area, Sabourin attended class in Twilight when it was a middle school and graduated from Middlebury Union High School in 1976. Multi-talented, he has held a variety of careers in Vermont. After receiving an Associate's Degree in Education from Castleton State College, Sabourin worked with children with special needs at the Vermont Education Center. At the same time, he served as a herdsman on a 500-cow farm and sold feed for the Paris Farmers Union before becoming employed by the College in 2004. Sabourin says he particularly liked farming, specifically matching bulls and cows to breed in order to ensure the passing on of specific traits.But Sabourin's life has not always been that of a rural farmer. An eight year member of the National Guard, he was stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1990-1991 during the Gulf War. Sabourin felt "surprised" when he heard that he would be defending his country abroad. As a member of the National Guard, he said he had expected to serve mostly within the state, but "when you put on a uniform, you're a soldier first before anything." He soon found himself in the Middle East. There he was ranked as a Specialist and worked as a welder in a machine shop. He still recalls the demanding state of always being ready with a gas mask and weapon, which was "nerve-wracking and quite broadening." Sabourin is nonetheless glad that the goal of liberating Kuwait was accomplished.These days, when he's not in Battell, Sabourin stays busy with a range of activities. Every day after work he takes his 17-year-old Australian shepherd, "Checkers," for a walk. He also sings in the Catholic Church choir. Family-oriented, Sabourin lives with and cares for his mother. He has three brothers who live in surrounding states and looks forward to spending the holidays with them. Although he has never been spotted dancing down the dormitory halls, Sabourin swing-dances with other members of the community on Monday nights at the athletic center. It seems only fitting that Sabourin now works within a liberal arts community, as he truly is a Renaissance man.-H. Kay Merriman, Staff WriterDavid Larose: Signed, sealed, delivered, he's yoursMail Center Supervisor David Larose detests liver and onions and cell phones. When not pampering his cat or watching "Law and Order," he is probably off in the mountains camping. Larose has a soft spot for "old gangster movies of the 30s," and if he had a day off he says he would spend it at a state camping ground, hiking, starting a fire, listening to a baseball game on the radio or sitting back watching a movie with a glass of Merlot and some cheese and crackers. He's also a Vietnam War veteran. Larose is one of the people responsible for the "half-price" textbooks and every other package students receive in the mail at Middlebury. Having worked as the College's Mail Center supervisor since 1985, along with Mail Clerks Pam Sands and Tracey Smith, he is responsible for distributing over one million pieces of mail every year to students, faculty and staff. Larose moved from Bristol to Middlebury 25 years ago after marrying his wife Carolyn, who works as the administrative associate in the Athletics department. He loves the camaraderie of the College and enjoys riding to work and eating lunch with his wife, which he does nearly everyday. At the Mail Center, his pet peeve is people who lack manners. He wants people to understand the amount of physical work his team endures in order to distribute nearly fifty thousand packages a year. Having spent half of his life as the supervisor of the Mail Center, he has found that "please" and "thank you" go a long way. A fan of the New York Giants, Boston Celtics and New York Yankees, Larose hopes to spend two weeks traveling on a baseball tour around the United States (his wife willing) once he retires. Some of his most enjoyable moments at Middlebury have been his 10 years keeping the clock for the basketball team and making signs in the wintertime for the NCAA hockey playoffs. Larose also loves music, television and movies - he has over 700 CD's and 800 albums. He vividly recalls attending some of his favorite concerts, including the last concert of the Bruce Springsteen tour and a concert by U2, where he says his "hair stood up on [his] arms and the music hit [his] soul." He also attends a blues festival in Canada every year because he loves to hear "something that's different." Some of his favorite movies are Field of Dreams and They Shoot Horses Don't They, which is about marathon partner dancing. The last movie he watched was Flags of Our Fathers with his 80-year-old father.So the next time you need to pick up your home-baked cookies, or that Amazon shopping order, don't be afraid to talk to Larose about the hockey game, the Beatles or, maybe if you're daring, you can even try to convince him that a cell phone is a good idea.-Oscar Loyo, Staff WriterStephen Draper: The Dr. ProctorWhen Dining Room Servery Worker Stephen Draper - or more fondly known as Dr. Proctor - recalls the Middlebury of his youth, it is clear that he is somewhat of a Middlebury legend. It will have been 18 years ago on Mar. 4 that Draper joined the College dining staff. Some of the older students know Draper for his ability to offer comforting conversation after a stressful day of class. "If it wasn't for some of the students, I wouldn't hardly know anybody," Draper said, adding, "I don't know very many people.""A lot of the students call me The Doctor," Draper said. "Why they did this was because I was the only one who could keep up and deal with the students at the same time."Draper is more than just the man the students see so attentively arranging the stacks of tumblers and wiping up spills at Proctor Dining Hall. He lives a quiet life outside of his time spent amongst the chatter of hungry students. It's as if you can see the years flip by as he delves into the far reaches of his memory for thoughts of long ago. Draper moved to Middlebury when he was 16 and has witnessed the slow small town changes that have slowly infiltrated the town. "Well, there have been a lot of changes over the years. Everything is a lot different now, a lot of changes," he said. Maybe now at times we've got more people than we can deal with. With the increase in people they don't try to make changes with increase in people and buildings."Some of his most vivid memories recall the extended camping trips he took in earlier years to places like Yellowstone National Park. He fondly recalls the freedom and vitality that surround these memories. "When I was youngerÖI went where I wanted to go," he said. "Now, I still do a little camping. I go to New Hampshire and Maine and some of those places."After a long week of putting other's needs before his own, Draper enjoys relaxing at home with his dog Punky, a blue-tipped Pomeranian. "Friday and Saturday I'm here about half a day," Draper said, "[After that] I spend some time with the dog, spend a little time at home."An admitted sports fanatic, Draper pays close attention to college athletics. In the evenings and on the weekends he tunes into hockey games on WFAD and talk radio."I go to a few games. I watch cross-country, basketball a little bit. I
like the hockey very well, although I don't get into it as heavy as I used to," Draper said.On those nights spent next to the radio, Draper enjoys the luxuries of his woodstove and the cheery heat it provides. Maintenance of the woodstove requires time and skill, but Draper finds it a simple pleasure."I have a woodstove at home, so I have that to deal with right now. I have electric heat, but I use the woodstove," Draper said, "I am not that crazy about electric heat."Although Middlebury has been constantly evolving, Draper has remained much the same through these times of change, living a modest life end enjoying it to its fullest. -Sara Black, Staff Writer
(02/28/07 12:00am)
Author: George Heinrichs In recent years, colleges and universities across the country, including Middlebury, have been under siege by the music, television and film industries because of the use of their servers by students to illegally share files. In order to fight back against illegal downloading, some institutions have developed policies to prevent its spread on campus in order to protect both students and the institution.According to Jeffrey R. Rehbach, the Designated Middlebury Copyright Agent, the music industry has "crawlers" looking for illegally shared files in specific networks, including Middlebury's. When the crawlers find an illegal download, an e-mail is sent by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to the College indicating the file shared, the time it was shared, the method of sharing and the user's IP address. If the e-mail is received within 24 hours of the activity, Rehbach then sends an e-mail to the current user of the IP address. The e-mail asks the user to "please check [their] computer to make sure it is not set up to share any copyrighted files over the Internet." It also tells the user how he or she can contact Rehbach or respond to a false accusation.According to Rehbach, users may not even be aware they were sharing the file. If an individual is cited more than once by the RIAA, and he or she does not respond to the e-mail sent by the College, local Internet access is cut off in order to induce a response. By copyright law, the College has to inquire into any reported act of illegal file sharing, but as a service provider, it is also protected against lawsuits by the property holders. While the College does try to stop illegal downloading where it can, it does not limit bandwidth, or try to stop the downloading of large files. Rehbach said that it is nearly impossible to tell legal from illegal downloads, and that it is more important for an intellectual institution to enable students to download what they need, rather than to make sure students are downloading what they should. To ensure that academic and administrative activities receive priority over other traffic, the College utilizes traffic shaping on its computer network, a common practice among service providers. Traffic shaping became necessary after the rise of file sharing in the late 1990s. "It was done in order to better restrict, not with the purpose of eliminating, but to prioritize," Rehbach said. In the past few years the number of notices received by the College has varied. Forty notifications have been issued since September 2006, while 20 were issued in the last academic year (2005-2006). Seventy notifications were received in spring 2004, and during one period four years ago, as many as 10 notifications were issued per week. The offended parties change from year to year, and includes music studios and television networks. Most of the 20 complaints filed last year were from HBO concerning illegally shared TV shows. Rehbach said that the introduction of a free Napster service provided to students in a deal between the College and Napster reached three years ago, along with the rise of iTunes and other legal file-sharing services has contributed to the drop in notifications over the past several years.In an informal student survey conducted by The Middlebury Campus, 32 out of 70 students admitted to using illegal file sharing services, including Soulseek and uTorrent. Services like these are used to download as many as 243 million illegal files a month, according to Music United, an organization of many of the top recording firms and music associations. In the student survey, over 80 percent of those asked used iTunes. New software is being introduced, including Audible Magic, that can sort through ownership rights of material being shared and can prevent illegal sharing of owned material, without stopping the downloading of public material. For many Middlebury students, the main concern is simply getting the music or movie downloaded. The end of the College's free Napster service may make this more difficult. One student, who requested that his name not be used, said "well, I just hope I stay connected long enough to finish getting that movie."
