809 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(02/28/07 12:00am)
Author: Polly Johnson With the three-day weekend behind us, we can now reflect upon the glory that was the 84th annual Middlebury College Winter Carnival celebration. Including such festivities as the ice show, cultural gala, Nordic and alpine ski competitions and the ball, the Carnival, with "Jet-Set" as its theme, did not disappoint. The weekend kicked off on Thursday afternoon with the Cultural Gala at the Center for the Arts, an event that included a capella groups and activities for children. Following the gala was the "Around the World in 80 Days" Ice Show, held at Kenyon Arena and featuring guest skater Ross Miner, the 2006 United States National Intermediate Men's Champion.Those who trekked to either the Rikert Ski Touring Center or the Middlebury College Snow Bowl on Friday and Saturday were treated to exhilarating ski races and enthusiastic fans.Post ski race-watching, students stripped off the ski gear and got dolled up for the annual ball. Nura Suleiman '07 reflected on her experience with winter balls past and present. "Freshman year," she said, "I got dressed up for the ball, took pictures and then didn't go. Sophomore year, a whole year wiser, I didn't even contemplate dressing up. Junior year, well, I was abroad, and unless you consider Syria 2006 on par with the winter ball, I guess I didn't go...again. This year - veni, vidi, vici baby. I came, I saw, I conquered - end of story."Winter Carnival Committee member and co-organizer of the ball Oona Cassidy '07 explained that the "idea for the ball came from nightlife around the world - we picked Tokyo, New York and Chamonix." But the highlight of the night, perhaps, was the announcement of the Winter Carnival King and Queen. A male, Amaury Sosa '07, won the title of queen and a female, Milena Flament '07, won the title of king! Flament noted that she "only found out she was nominated when the names of the nominees were released," which "was a scheme" on the part of her and Sosa's friends. She added, "I don't think anyone expected their king to be wearing a dress."Sosa was clearly touched by his win - "As an international, queer student of color I was both shocked and honored to see the enthusiasm with which the Middlebury community welcomed the idea of having a guy for queen and a girl for king. I could not have asked for a better gift. My love goes out to those who made the nomination and to those who voted for the both of us."
(02/21/07 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Relay for Life aims high with fundraising goalsThe second kickoff event for the College's Relay for Life was held Feb. 17 in McCullough Social Space. The event raised awareness about the relay and other related events, all of which benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS).As of Feb. 19, participants had raised a total of $7,288 dollars, according to the Middlebury Relay for Life Web site, with a final goal set at $220,000 to be raised at this year's Relay. The event raised over $198,000 last year. Nationwide, Relay for Life events raise about $1 million a day for cancer related causes. Currently, 36 teams have registered for Middlebury's Relay for Life. The first place team had raised $955 as of Monday. The College's Relay for Life, organized by co-chairs Alex Braunstein '09 and Chandler Koglmeier '09, will be held April 20-21. Last year, the event raised over $80 dollars per student, the most money per capita raised by any youth event in the country.Rights activist to speak at energy conferenceOn Feb. 27 in Dana Auditorium, a College symposium on energy independence will feature a keynote address by Van Jones, human rights activist and founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, Calif. Jones will discuss challenges facing energy independence and social justice."Van has a powerful message to spread," said organizer David Dolginow '09. "He believes that green collar jobs can unite the country to overcome global warming while also fighting against poverty."Jones has won numerous awards for his efforts in the areas of social and environmental responsibility, including the Reebok International Human Rights Award, the Ashoka Fellowship and the Rockefeller Foundation "Next Generation Leadership" Fellowship.The symposium is organized by the college's chapter of the Roosevelt Institution and the Sunday Night Group. Creativity gets boost from new alum grantPresident of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz announced on Monday a program to encourage students to pursue creative and innovative projects beyond their academic work. Funded by a grant from Middlebury alumnus Rory Riggs '75, the program will rely on the support of interested faculty members who wish to serve as advisers for the student projects."The initiative is likely to take shape, first, as a series of campus-wide competitions for which students will compete, through self-assembled teams, to solve specific challenges for tangible rewards," said Liebowitz in an e-mail. The announcement from Liebowitz comes after 18 months of reviewing other colleges' efforts to support student creativity and consulting with students and faculty. "This program seeks to supplement what our students learn in class with opportunities to enrich their out-of-class experience," said Riggs.
(02/21/07 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Patterson In basketball, momentum is crucial, and sometimes a game's outcome is determined simply by which team is able to string together a better run at the end. That was certainly the case in Middlebury's NESCAC quarterfinal game, in which the Panthers ended their 2006-2007 campaign with a heartbreaking overtime loss at the hands of Colby, 91-79. In defeating Middlebury, the Mules avenged their loss to the Panthers at Pepin Gymnasium earlier in the regular season. Despite the fact that Middlebury played brilliantly in stretches, the men were unable to garner the type of consistency necessary in playoff games. Most importantly, however, the Panthers were unable to execute down the stretch."It was a game of runs," said Aaron Smith '09. "We just made mistakes down the stretch, and they hit their shots and free throws and used their momentum in overtime."The game was a see-saw affair for much of the afternoon. After the opening tip-off, Colby immediately grabbed the momentum by opening up a quick 11-2 lead while the Panthers struggled to find the basket. The Middlebury faithful, fired up at the game's outset and looking for any possible chance to scream their lungs out, was left anxiously subdued as the Colby lead grew to 21-10 at the 12:48 mark.Their suffering was short-lived. Down by nine points at the 9:48 mark, the Panthers responded with a 12-0 spurt to grab a 26-23 lead, sending the packed student section into an absolute frenzy. Neither team could open up a sizeable advantage for the rest of the first half, and Middlebury headed into the intermission holding a three-point lead, 37-34.The second half could not have started any better for the Panthers. Within three minutes, Middlebury roared out to a 49-38 lead behind dead-eye shooting from Andrew Harris '08, who hit a pair of two's and a three during the spurt. A basket by Mike Walsh '08 at the 13:12 mark extended the Panther lead to 14. With the noise deafening and the student-section bleachers literally shaking, it seemed unfathomable that Middlebury would relinquish the lead.But then the unthinkable happened. Colby raced out of a timeout with an 8-0 run that ended in a three by Nick Farrell. Farrell ended the game with 22 points for the Mules. According to Evan Thompson '07, Farrell was pivotal in getting Colby back into the game, and ultimately in securing the victory."Once Farrell hit a couple of shots from three," said Thompson, "not only did he decrease our lead, but he also opened things up for his teammates." After that run by Colby, the game remained close down the stretch. The Panthers, nursing a five-point lead at 72-67 with 1:31 to play, failed to make any field goals in regulation. The Mules scored five consecutive points and sent the game into overtime. In overtime, the Panthers simply went on a cold stretch, as the hot shooting that had propelled them to such a large second half lead abandoned them. The Panthers were forced to start fouling as they trailed 80-74 at the 2:46 mark, but to no avail, as the Mules connected on 11 of 13 shots from the free throw line to seal the win. For those seniors playing in their last game, it was an unfortunate way to go out. For the returning players, this game can only serve as a learning experience as they look to advance deeper into the playoffs next year. "This year, we set the bar for future Middlebury teams," said Smith, "and I think those returning will work even harder to continue this year's success."
(02/21/07 12:00am)
Author: Tamara Hilmes PeekVid and YouTube may be offering students free, criminal access to tv shows and movies online, but for those who tire of watching films in small, three-inch boxes, there's still the video rental store.Whether you are looking for the complete second season of "Lost," a sophisticated foreign film to impress your girlfriend or the 80s classic, "The Breakfast Club," the newly remodeled Waterfront Video, located in Marble Works, has every movie that could possibly suit your whim.Waterfront Video, which has an additional branch in Burlington, first opened in Middlebury in September of 1998. Until this past summer, the building had not undergone any restorations since its opening. "It badly needed to be repainted," employee Joi Hart said. This past summer the staff of Waterfront Video all worked together to give the "eclectic" video store a new look. "We cleaned everything, put it back up and added colorful and tropical decorations," explained Pam Davis, another Waterfront employee. "We also reorganized the store. We moved things around to make it easier for the customers."The renovating involved expanding the family and children's sections which now stretches the length of the side wall and is low to the ground, making it accessible to children so that they can "look for a movie while their parents browse," said Davis.Although the look of the store may have changed, its extensive selection remains not only intact, but enlarged. Because their expansive collection including Sports Action, 80s Bliss, Kung Fu and Anime may be overwhelming to first-time customers, the staff has placed a shelf labeled "Waterfront Top 50, You Know You Want 'em" at the front of the store. "This way, when customers come in saying 'I don't know what I want,' they can just grab something that's popular," Davis explained. Indecisive customers also have the option of using the in-store database to look up movies and create a viewing "wish-list," or they can simply visit waterfrontvideo.com/midd.html and look through the store's latest list of titles.If you do dare to venture beyond the front of the store, long shelves decorated with toy trucks and paper umbrellas lie in wait, full of movies labeled "Cultural Dissidents and Other Crazy Geniuses," "BondÖJames Bond Action" and "Directors (these guys aren't quite right)," which includes the likes of Peter Jackson. The store is most proud, however, of its extensive VHS collection. "We have the best VHS old-style collection," Davis claimed. "People come from Boston, New York and L.A. and have seen nothing like it." Better yet, if the Middlebury location does not have the video you are looking for, they can order it from the Burlington store. "Students and faculty come in all the time and just give us a title," said Davis. "If we can't find it, we can call over to Burlington." Waterfront also offers several promotions throughout the week. If you venture to the store on a Monday for some mid-week movie-viewing you can get your second new-release rental for just $1. "We have this great deal where you can rent four older titles for four days for only eight bucks," Davis noted. "We just want to make it easy on folks." If the extensive movie collection and sweet deals are not enough to tempt you, you can always stop by the store for some of Leonardo's Italian Gelato and Sorbet or a "tasty" beverage from the "funky" vintage cooler at the front of the store. As Davis put it, "It's the odd little things that make it fun."
(02/14/07 12:00am)
Author: Kelsey Smith I spent my last Thursday before Feb break peering into a vast expanse of young Manhattanites with rich parents who seem to be on a treadmill of hopelessness. "This is Our Youth," American playwright Kenneth Lonergan's first play, follows two disillusioned Upper West Side kids who are trying to deal with life and failing. Largely in part because their parents, who went from liberals to financial have-it-alls, imparted upon them some serious emotional baggage and family issues that made it nearly impossible for their kids to function. "This is Our Youth" struck me in a particular way. Maybe it's because my high school years were spent wandering around the Upper West Side with kids similar to Warren and Dennis, the two main characters, though we were never in the market to score a large amount of cocaine. We were, however, plagued by a particular brand of malaise that hits well-off kids who don't quite know what to do with their lives and who are not exactly being driven to immediate action in the way that financial motivation alone can provide. It is a type of ennui that sneaks in here at Middlebury as well - you know that feeling you get when you're slightly bored, slightly depressed and you cannot quite put your finger on what's causing it. You feel like a spoiled brat because here you are with everything you need and more than you probably deserve and yet you are still not entirely happy. It was for this reason that I found it particularly interesting that Lucas Kavner '06.5 chose to direct this piece as his senior work. It made perfect sense, really, standing at the cusp of supposed adulthood, that he should choose to bring something to the stage that dealt with all of these issues we will face, some of us sooner than others. Once again, despite the fact that most of us aren't escaping from manipulative, abusive fathers or figuring out how to score a large amount of cocaine, the underlying concerns are the same - relationships, to each other and to our parents, grief, happiness, fulfillment - on the whole, how to make sense of life. The choice of Freeman International Center (FIC) as the setting for the show was a particular stroke of genius, whether it was intentional or a matter of space due to the prodigious amount of theatre produced at the end of J-term, and set designer Maria Galvez '06.5 should be commended for her success in turning a dining hall into a studio. The awkwardness of the space conveyed the trapped feeling one gets from living in small apartments. The fact that the audience was so close to the actors and the actors' ability to perform without acknowledging the audience members left viewers feeling like voyeurs into this life that exists in spades behind the doors of the Upper West Side. The dynamic between Warren and Dennis is a definite power struggle that left us wondering if Warren would ever be able to find himself in a relationship of any kind that was not abusive in some way - "I'm like the basis for half your personality," Dennis tells Warren. While Warren is physically abused by his father it is clear that Dennis' constant teasing has left an impressive emotional scar. When Warren tried to bring this to Dennis' attention, Dennis replied, "We all talk that way - it doesn't mean anything." There was a definite obsession with "youth culture" intermediated by a specific way of speaking that was used throughout the play. This "youth speak" was never abandoned and even made its way into the director's notes. This way of speaking, unique to young city-dwellers in the '80s with a new brand that exists today, showed us that Warren and Dennis were man-children each in their own way. Though Dennis was on his own while Warren was still forced to deal with his father on a daily basis, it was implicit that Dennis relied heavily on his (artistically famous) father for financial support. The suitcase of childhood memorabilia that Warren carries around represents his child-like qualities to a certain degree, though it should be understood as a lot more. With a pained expression continually plastered on his face, Willie Orbison '08 was more than convincing as the neurotic, confused Warren, his character easily manipulated by the booming baritone of John Rayburn '06.5. There was a certain vulnerability added to Orbison's performance by Veracity Butcher '09, who played Jessica, a cute FIT student who sleeps with Warren, and helped him realize that perhaps he could follow someone besides Dennis around. The cast and crew of This is Our Youth created an evening of theatre that didn't feel like one, and I mean that in a good way. From the location to the luminous duck in the corner to the soundtrack of The Smiths and Bowie, we glimpsed into our future, some of us glimpsed into our past, and were greeted with smart, convincing performances that were clearly guided by sound direction with an ultimate vision on the horizon.
(02/14/07 12:00am)
Author: John Glouchevitch '10.5 In my second class today, my sociology professor asked, "Why did you come to Middlebury College?" The question at hand was a question I had often been asked by friends and relations from my hometown, sunny Los Angeles. This was indeed my second class, which meant that I had survived the first and in all likelihood would survive the second. As to why survival was an issue, today was the first day of classes I've had in eight months. It is to be noted, that the ambient temperature when I left was around 80, and the temperature when I arrived was around 8. But I most certainly didn't come for the weather. No, I came because Middlebury fits like a good pair of jeans. Or perhaps in my case a Helly Hansen foul weather jacket. I mean, we've just started our relationship, Midd and I, but I'm already catching myself using the notorious "L" word. I know so little about this place, but I also know I'm not the only guilty party when it comes to throwing the word 'love' around. I hear it all over the place; "I love the food," "I love my room," or even "I love everyone so much." It is strange but wonderful to finally be here. At times it feels like Yosemite Sam is shooting at my feet, as my first days are going by in a cacophonous, joyful blur. I'm trying hard not to run up to everyone and say "Hi I'm John and I'm a new feb and I did a NOLS semester in the Pacific Northwest and I live in California but not really anymore because I live in Milliken and we should hang out and it is so cool to finally be here." Then there are of course other times where I'll find myself lying on my bed alone staring at the ceiling wondering where everyone else is. But there is comfort in knowing that there are probably 50 other Febs who are doing the exact same thing. I have a lot on the to-do list, simply put. Besides learning social norms (for example, does anyone use trays?), classes and learning a song for my a cappella audition tomorrow, I have 500 people to meet who have been here for a semester. Sometimes this is overwhelming, but I'm still going to bed grinning every night. I'm trying hard to pace myself, but there are a lot of things to do, sights to see, buildings to find and friends to make. Lets just say it's going to be a fun four years.
(01/24/07 12:00am)
Author: Tom Brant On Sunday afternoon, a peculiar chant echoed throughout McCardell Bicentennial Hall. "It's too hot in here! Carbon action, lets get some satisfaction!" The chant was the closing flourish of the Carbon Neutrality Summit, which ended Sunday, leaving its excited participants informed about the problems of global climate change. The three-day summit, which attracted 80 student representatives from nearly 15 schools across the Northeast, was sponsored and organized by students in the college's Sunday Night Group (SNG). Events included panel discussions with climate change experts, small group sessions and the first steps toward drafting a "Climate Neutrality Statement." "This was a historic event," said Jamie Henn '07, who helped organize the summit. "It shows that there's a growing movement on college campuses to do something about climate change, and I'm glad we were able to bring together so many people who are really wanting to make a difference."On Saturday morning, the summit participants met with Dan Worth, from the National Environmental Law Society, and Mark Orlowsky, from the Sustainable Endowments Institute in an informal panel discussion."The goal of the talks was to give people resources," Henn explained. "We didn't want to have [the speakers] lecture." The panel discussions with Worth, Orlowsky and other activists and experts gave participants advice on everything from reducing one's carbon footprint to investing in corporations that are socially and environmentally responsible.A second panel discussion included representatives from Native Energy, which invests in alternative energy sources, and Bright Planet. A Middlebury start-up, Bright Planet plans to introduce a bank rewards program that will work much the same way an airline credit card does - except instead of the user getting airline miles, the bank will invest a small amount of every purchase in clean-energy projects. On Saturday afternoon, students met in smaller groups to discuss specific efforts to combat carbon emissions and global warming. Andrew Karp, a first-year at Bates College, attended a group that discussed green building techniques, including the widely accepted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system used by the United States Green Building council. "It's interesting how important the green building movement is," said Karp. "One example is the attention that these buildings get just because they have a plaque on them saying that they are built to LEED standards. I've heard stories of students visiting colleges who see the plaque on a building, and are impressed so much that they decide to apply." Hannah McHardy, a first-year student at tiny Sterling College in Craftsbury, Vt., attended a discussion on education."People from all walks of life are agreeing that [climate change] is a definitive issue," McHardy said. "In the education group, we talked about ways to implement climate issues into the classroom." The climate summit brought together students who were all united in their efforts to promote climate change awareness, but who came from different colleges with different levels of environmental activism. This collaborative effort was one of the most beneficial aspects of the summit, said SNG member Sierra Murdoch '09. To help students from colleges with less environmental activism, the summit included a one-hour session on Saturday evening that provided tips and advice on how to gain student support on college campuses. On Sunday, the group made the first steps toward larger goals. It discussed ways to make the carbon neutrality issue important not only to college students, but to society in general. It also drafted a rough statement taking a stance on the climate neutrality issue, which SNG hopes to use as a way to expand the movement. Asked what she considered the most beneficial part of the weekend, Gaia Oyarzun, a first-year at Smith College, said, "It made me see how we can actually come together and change things. There are honestly a lot of people who I met that are committed to raising awareness of the climate change problem."Begun by student activists in January 2005, SNG promotes the awareness of environmental issues both on campus and in the Middlebury community. This weekend's summit was part of the group's current effort to make the College carbon neutral - essentially reducing the total amount of harmful carbon emissions to zero.
(01/24/07 12:00am)
Author: Kate Lupo From the spire of Mead Chapel to the intimate setting of the Ross Fireplace Lounge, the message of Martin Luther King, Jr. pervaded the College last week. Through joyous singing, compelling speeches and meaningful discussions, the College community collectively celebrated King's massive contributions to civil rights in America. Two highly anticipated and memorable events occurred on campus on Jan. 15th, King's birthday - "Remembrance and Reflection: A Tribute to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." and "Let Freedom Sing! Martin Luther King Day Concert." The tribute to King featured a talk by Dean for Institutional Diversity Shirley Ramirez follwing remarks by President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz and Governor Jim Douglas (R-Vt.). Excerpts from King's speeches were read aloud by students while Twilight Artist-in-Residence FranÁois Clemmons provided musical contributions to the event. Later on in the evening, anticipation mounted as students, faculty, staff and Middlebury residents readied for, "Let Freedom Sing! A Celebration of the American Negro Spiritual and the Life and Words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," held in Mead Chapel. The program, directed by Mike Kiernan, featured dramatic readings of King's speeches by New York actor Esau Pritchett and Negro spirituals performed by Clemmons and 80 members of the Middlebury Spiritual Choir. Pritchett hopes he can come back again next year "because events like this are truly valuable. It doesn't matter what color you are, everyone can enjoy and celebrate the overall message of a performance like this," he said. Furthering Pritchett's sentiments, Clemmons said, "For the past eight years I have been able to watch the support for this great man's legacy grow more and more into today's community-wide celebration. It's most heartening to see the College and the community join together in song and spirit to dialogue, examine and share the true meaning of non-violent civil disobedience, which was at the core of Dr. King's civil rights message."Blake Johnson '10 said of the event, "I found the MLK Memorial Event to be not only a worthy tribute to one of the greatest men of the twentieth century, but also a vehicle for bringing people together for a common goal - peace and equality among people of all races, creeds and faiths."In addition to Monday night's events at Mead, Tuesday night brought a special performance to Ross Fireplace Lounge when Esau Pritchett re-emerged alongside actor Christopher Burris to star in Blue Door, a new play written by Tanya Barfield. The show, originally intended for two men, was extended to include five College students - Ekow Edzie '10, Sparkle Joyner '10, Sheyenne Brown '09, Muchadei Zvoma '07 and Knef King '08. The script revolves around Lewis (played by Burris), a mathematician who has spent his whole life trying to escape his identity as an African American. One night, however, Lewis is visited by the ghosts of his ancestors - men and women who have lived through significant times in African American history from the pre-Civil War era, Reconstruction, and the Black Power movement. These figures from the past recount scenes of their lives, narrating their struggles, loves, happiness and pain.Edzie, a member of the show, said, "Acting in this play was a great experience. Essau and Chris are phenomenal. I went into it thinking it would just be an interesting thing to try, the whole storytelling aspect of theatre. After reading over the script I knew there was obviously something more to it, but I honestly didn't realize the show's power until the opening night," he said, adding, "It was definitely one of the most rewarding plays I've been in." Visiting Lecturer in Theatre Dana Yeaton, an organizer of the event, hopes that the performance of Blue Door could become an annual event. Next year though, he "hopes to open up the play to not just African American students, but to anyone who wishes to participate."Finally, King's spirit was solemnized through the video displays of Eyes On The Prize, a 14-hour television series produced in 1987. Television sets in Bi-Hall, McCullough, and the entrance of the New Library looped the movie throughout the day. The series contains exclusive interviews with Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and MLK himself. This footage brings to life the people, places and events that made the Civil Rights Movement one of the most turbulent times in American history. King's short life stirs "what-if" conversations even today. "If Dr. King were alive today I'm sure he'd be involved in many of the important and often controversial issues which occupy us now like global warming, stem-cell research, white privilege, discrimination based on sexual preference, our war in Iraq and Afghanistan, modern slavery, etc.," said Clemmons. He added, "Dr. King was not a fearful man and I'm sure he would have spoken out on all of these issues."
(01/10/07 12:00am)
Author: Jessica Cox It would be impossible to miss the many Teach For America posters around campus, or the chalkings, the info tables and the Campus advertisements. Sure you've seen them and you've seen the statistics:Nearly 1,000 low-income students started school without teachers in Phoenix this fall, and that number was over 5,000 students in the New Orleans Recovery District. Fourth graders in low-income areas are already on average two to three grade levels behind their peers in higher-income areas. While students in low-income districts are struggling to read at the Berenstein Bears' level, their peers in the higher-income suburbs are breezing through the Harry Potter books. With teacher shortages in these communities, what chance do these children have in overcoming the way our education system leaves them behind?Compounding our nation's education gap are the many struggles these kids fight outside the classroom. Children in the communities Teach For America serves face everything from homelessness to a lack of basic healthcare, from gang violence outside their schools to parents who have to work several jobs. Entering kindergarten, these kids are facing adult challenges that are still foreign to most of us in our early twenties.There is no easy answer to this problem, and there might not be any answer at all, but that doesn't mean we can't change things.Since 1990, nearly 80 Middlebury alumni of all majors and career interests have committed two years to teaching in these low-income classrooms across the country through Teach For America. These teachers not only get their students on grade level, they get them ahead of their grade level. They also create tutoring programs, clubs and sports teams to offer their students the opportunities we have been lucky to enjoy.Today, nine members of the class of 2007 have already committed to Teach For America next year, and even more will have been accepted by the time you read this. Teach For America has become one of the single-largest employers of Middlebury graduates, as recently featured in Fortune magazine and The New York Times. Because of the academic gains they inspire in their students, and the life-changing influence they have on them, Middlebury seniors are among the most sought-after candidates by Teach For America recruiters.The incredible inequities in our nation's education system and the realization that I could have a life-changing impact on "my students," is what led me to join the 2007 Teach For America Chicago corps. Tonight, Teach For America Alumni Audrey Geisler, a 2004 Chicago corps member, and Jen Ellis, a 2000 North Carolina corps member, will be on campus for this year's final Teach For America event in John C. McCardell Bicentennial Hall 219 at 5:30 p.m. Students of all years and majors are invited to attend. In addition to seniors for the 2007 corps, Teach For America is also seeking underclassmen interested in paid summer positions at their training institutes across the country.The student-centered discussion tonight will let you in on the truth behind all of those Teach For America flyers: You can land a leadership position out of college. You can give something back. You can change things.Jessica Cox '07 is a religion major from Missoula, Mont. and a Teach For America Campaign Manager.
(12/07/06 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Dynamic vocals and rocking beats captivated concert-goers last Friday in McCullough Social Space at Sepomana, the annual music festival sponsored by Middlebury College's student radio-station, WRMC. After careful debate by the Board of Directors, WRMC brought three up and coming artists to the College in a raucous show. Baby Dayliner, Mobius Band and Andrew Bird came together in what was arguably the most impressive Sepomana turnout in years.BABY DAYLINER: reviewed by Melissa MarshallArmed only with a suitcase full of equipment and a voice compared to Sinatra and Bowie, Baby Dayliner strided onto the McCullough stage in front of a crowd that would have made even the most seasoned Proctor patron nervous. With his eclectic musical influences ranging from 80s synth pop to underground rap to Japanese Kabuki Theatre music, the somewhat awkward Ethan Marunas (later dubbed Baby Dayliner) seemed to win over the elite audience. Praised by hipster-hyped music magazine XLR8R as "the white, bequiffed, male vocalist brilliantly repackaged for the iTunes generation," Baby Dayliner did not disappoint. Was it his off-beat, cabaret-lounge vocal stylings that endeared him to Sepomana specators? Perhaps it was his beats reminiscent of techno darlings Daft Punk. Or maybe the secret to his success lay in his stiff dance moves that caused some in attendance to cringe in communal awkwardness. In any event, Marunas' originality and provactive bebops comprised an opening act appropriate for a festival bent on broadening musical horizons. This baby, however, is going to have to work on his stage presence and delivery if he hopes to one day be a headliner. MOBIUS BAND: reviewed by Starrett Berry Catchy, yet complicated, Mobius Band was a perfect group to bring in for Sepomana. My friend coined a fitting phrase for this band: Postal Service on steroids. This electro-rock trio got everyone in McCullough moving. Their music was enthralling, fun and epic all at the same time. Their electronics blended well with the instruments, painting a cinematic soundscape around the social space. The band, hailing from Shutesbury, Mass., built up their music from small simple riffs to an explosion of sound that kept the audience dancing through every single song. Their stage presence was contagious, and everyone responded well to it even after they broke the atmosphere to ask the sound technician to fix the monitors. Despite a few jarring technical difficulties, Mobius' resonant vocals and driving beats filled the room, creating a strong connection between the audience and the three Wesleyan University grads. Even though most of those in attendance didn't know the words, this did not prevent them from having fun. The band is sure to take off with success - good news for the avid indie/electric listeners on campus.ANDREW BIRD: reviewed by Jordan NassarTwo poached eggs, homefries and herbal tea. Whole wheat toast to the left, he heaped black pepper all over his food before asking for hot sauce. Andrew Bird enjoyed lazy late brunch at Steve's Park Diner, the afternoon after Sepomana - it was the first time Bird seemed to relax since he arrived in Middlebury the night before.Andrew's experience at Sepomana was not what one would immediately refer to as "going off without a hitch." After having spent almost a day in airports - a storm getting in the way of the otherwise quick trip between Chicago and Burlington redirected him through D.C. - and exhausted from driving alone from the airport to Middlebury during Friday's wintry thunderstorm, he arrived at McCullough only an hour or two before the show was supposed to begin. Whether his unkempt and somewhat agitated demeanor was a product of his treacherous journey or just a side-effect of his genius, I am unsure, but after his sound check, Baby Dayliner and Mobius Band played their sets and Andrew was up, ready or not.It seemed that a little nap, a few espresso shots and well over 400 people staring at him were suitable conditions for Andrew Bird to play some music. His music, as those at Sepomana witnessed, is not something one merely plays. A one man show, Andrew seemed to build the songs in front of the audience. Beginning with a simple violin line, he recorded himself on stage and looped that back, adding another melody to it, plucking out a bass line and some harmonies. Quick transitions to his glockenspiel and guitar, all the while recording the instruments separately and playing them back together, grew into multi-layered songs, with his voice and whistling completing his strikingly unusual and brilliantly unique performance. Those who heard Andrew's music before Friday's concert were, from what I could tell, more than satisfied with his performance. Having played some of his most popular songs like Sovay and Measuring Cups, and then treating us to a new one on his record planned for release early next year, there was not much to complain about. I imagine some Sepomana-goers, having expected a more danceable rock band, would have been disappointed by Andrew's acoustic, slower melodies - had they not been in awe of his remarkable performance.After a gracious encore, the exhausted Andrew Bird retired from stage, the lights went on, and the show was over. On their way out, the audience looked satisfied, some buying Andrew Bird merchandise and most discussing highlights of the show. And so, another Sepomana by WRMC came to a successful close.
(11/30/06 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Klein With both the talent and unity to make a serious run in this year's NESCAC tournament, the Middlebury men's basketball team looked to start off the 2006-2007 season on the right note. Playing three consecutive road games to open the season, the team showed stints of promising play but failed to sustain that effort in an 80-64 defeat to St. Lawrence.The Panthers played a solid first half against the Saints, capitalizing on 42.4 percent shooting to take a 34-30 halftime lead. Middlebury increased their lead to 57-51 with 9:51 remaining, before a 17-0 run by St. Lawrence, which completely changed the momentum and put the game out of the Panthers' reach."Our ability to play with poise is going to be a huge factor in how successful we can be," said Captain Wil Hyatt '07 in reference to the second half meltdown. The Panthers will need to learn to maintain their poise late in games if they want to make noise in late February.Four days earlier, the team opened its season at the Gordon College Tip-Off Tournament, where it followed an 83-73 loss to M.I.T. with a record-breaking 120-61 win over Mt. Ida. In the game against M.I.T., the Panthers found themselves in the opposite position they had been in against St. Lawrence. This time they trailed virtually throughout, as M.I.T. built an early ten-point lead it would never relinquish. The lead grew to 17 by halftime, and Middlebury could narrow the deficit only back to ten points for the final margin. Despite the loss, the Panthers did exhibit a balanced scoring attack. Ben Rudin '09 led the way with 16 points, and three other Panthers scored in double digits. In the consolation game against Mt. Ida, Middlebury's team play and balanced scoring was again evident, but this time they provided the desired result as the Panthers roared to a 59-point victory. Every Panther scored in this lopsided contest, and the 120 points is a new school record, topping the 117-point efforts by the teams of '88 and '60. As indicated by the score, the Panther offense was unstoppable, with the Panthers using their superior talent, depth and transition game to overwhelm Mt. Ida."The Mt. Ida game was our system working to perfection," said Ben Ehrlich '09. "We caused turnovers and turned them into quick points, and we shot the lights out. With our depth, we look to wear teams down that only play seven or eight guys."Despite the offensive explosion, Hyatt still sees room for improvement. "We have been able to run in spurts," he said, "but we need to be more committed to rebounding the ball in order to be a more effective fast-break team."The Panthers have emerged from their first three games of the season with mixed results and attitudes. While the team knows it could have performed better in the Gordon Tournament and against St. Lawrence, it also understands that it is too early to panic."Adversity introduces us to ourselves as a team," said Ehrlich. "We go through it together and become stronger because of it."As the Panthers know all too well from last season, where they started 7-0 before stumbling to a 12-12 finish and missing the NESCAC tournament, early season success can mean relatively little. "It's not about where you start - it's about where you finish," Ehrlich said. "We want to finish at the top of the NESCAC."Middlebury returned to action Tuesday at Castleton State and plays its home opener tonight in the Pepin Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. against Rensselaer, who just beat Williams 64-57 on Nov. 26.
(11/30/06 12:00am)
Author: Ben Salkowe Last August, just a month before Todd Swisher '10 was to begin his Middlebury career as a first-year, he received an e-mail from another soon-to-be MiddKid from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. They were going to be roommates, the friendly e-mail said. Swisher had not found the site to check housing assignments, so he took the guy's word for it and wrote back. That is how Swisher met Norbert Vaughn '10, his roommate for the first five weeks of the semester. And that eagerness to meet others and hear their stories is how smiley, 18-year-old Vaughn began endearing himself to the Middlebury community over the short time he was able to spend here. "He seemed extremely friendly right off the bat, and he had a way of being sincere in all forms," said Swisher about Vaughn's letters, conversations and even his freestyle rap. "He really liked conversation and talking to people. I remember being amazed at his ability to engage others," said Swisher. "A lot of my memories are when we both were going to sleep, but we couldn't do it because we kept talking." Catharine Wright, lecturer and tutor in writing, said her first introduction to Vaughn was his arriving late to her first-year seminar because he had been out in the hall talking to a young woman."He was a funny figure," said Wright. "He was a little of this and a little of that, a little bit of the 'Got to keep your eye on him 'cause he might pull something over on you' and on the other hand, just absolutely right there in discussion, seeing into something or through something."Academically, Vaughn's friends and educators said he was a standout student. Coming from a math and science background at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tenn., Vaughn took Middlebury as an opportunity for new studies. He enrolled in an Arabic course he came to love, as well as Wright's first-year seminar on stories and rituals."His parents said one of the reasons he went to Middlebury was that he had a goal to challenge himself and not jump straight into the science stuff that he had been doing," said Sam Shoutis '08, Vaughn's junior counselor on first floor Stewart. "He wanted to explore and broaden his horizons."Vaughn's intelligence and humor made him a witty contributor to his classes."His initial presence walking into a room was quiet, but he had a strong voice in the class and he always spoke, and he spoke whether he had done the reading or not!" said Wright with a smile. "He was sometimes the one who would come in, and I knew he hadn't read something, and yet he would often pick up on something we were talking about and say something really useful to the class discussion. He was very, very smart."Wright remembered that Vaughn would casually suggest creative research projects and papers in class when an interesting question was raised."I was always saying 'Yes, Norbert, that would be a good research project,' and everyone in the room would look like, 'Oh, Norbert, thanks a lot for coming up with another research project which we're not going to do because we already have a ton of work!'" said Wright.But even more than academics, Vaughn loved meeting his peers, hearing their stories and getting to know them outside class. "He really met so many people in the time he was here," said Swisher. Swisher said Vaughn was a creative person who went so far as to write rhymes and songs for people and even freestyle "pretty well." "He was very into the 80s dance, and I saw him walk into my hall wearing the shortest shorts that I could imagine," said Shoutis. "They were girls' shorts he'd borrowed from a girl upstairs, and the first thing he said was, 'You gotta have balls to wear these shorts.'"Although friends say he did not complain of headaches in the beginning of the semester, during fall break Vaughn went to the health center with severe migraines. College staff sent him to Porter where CAT scans found a brain tumor was causing his symptoms. Vaughn next went to Fletcher Allen in Burlington for a procedure that drained fluid from his skull so he could travel. Vaughn withdrew from Middlebury and his parents took him back home for surgery to remove the tumor at Vanderbilt Medical Center.All the while, friends said, he remained optimistic and planned to come back to Middlebury in January."Even when he had to go home he was trying to keep up with Arabic," said Shoutis. "He was attending a class at Vanderbilt just to sit in and try to keep up with the Arabic."At Middlebury, Swisher said students did not realize the risks of the surgery Vaughn needed to receive."I don't think anyone really considered what the implications of the surgery were," said Swisher. Immediately after the procedure, Swisher said, students heard the operation had been successful.But several days after the surgery, Vaughn died from complications related to the procedure. He passed just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, with his mother, father, sister and priest at his side. When his friends back at Middlebury found out, the news was devastating. "It was a shock," said Shoutis. "Everyone was really just a little bit off for a few days and didn't know how to handle everything right away. There was a gathering for all of Stewart the night we found out that he had passed away. I think that helped everyone but for the next couple days, everyone was stressed out and having trouble focusing.""I just went for a jog to clear my head and tire myself out," said Swisher.President Liebowitz sent an e-mail to the community to report Vaughn's death, and the College paid for Shoutis, Swisher and two other students to travel to Tennessee for the service."It was really good for us to be there, and it meant a lot to the family," said Swisher.Vaughn is survived by his mother, father, grandfather and an older sister who graduated last year from Harvard.However brief his time at Middlebury was, students remembered Vaughn as someone who both shaped and was shaped by Middlebury College."He was interested in what people had to say and getting to know them as a person no matter what," said Shoutis. "And he was always an enthusiastic person, he always had a smile on his face and was fun to be around.""He was very happy and he loved Midd," said Swisher. "He came back to our room every day just exhausted because he did so much."-Editor in Chief Ben Salkowe can be reached at bsalkowe@middlebury.edu
(11/09/06 12:00am)
Author: Thomas Phillips College degrees pay, Census Bureau saysA student who has a bachelor's degree is likely to make $23,000 more a year than a student who does not have one, according to a recent report by the Census Bureau. The study compared adults with bachelor's degrees to those who only have high school diplomas.The Bureau reported that college graduates, on average, made $51,554 in 2004, whereas adults with high school diploma made $28,645. Additionally, adults with advanced college degrees made an average of $78,093 while high school dropouts made an average of $19,169. The report did not factor in gender or ethnic differences.Just as salaries for B.A.-holders are on the rise, more people are attaining high school and college degrees than in previous years. In 2000, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, 80 percent of adults had a high school diploma, compared to just over 50 percent in 1970. The most recent figures also show that about 28 percent of adults have at least a bachelor's degree, compared with about 24 percent in 2000 and 11 percent in 1970. -www.cnn.comMinority stats up in higher ed surveyMinority enrollment in higher education increased by 50 percent nationwide between 1993 and 2003, according to a recent report by the American Council on Education. The same report, however, showed that minority enrollment still trails white enrollment.The "Minorities in Higher Education 22nd Annual Status Report" found that 27.8 percent of the 17 million students enrolled in American colleges and universities are "non-white students." The previous report, released in 1993, found this number to be 21.8 percent, marking a six percent increase over ten years.According to the report, Hispanic students have led minority growth in the pursuit of higher education between 1993 and 2003. The number of Hispanic college students grew 68.8 percent to more than 1.6 million during this time, whereas the number of black students enrolled in college rose 42.7 percent to 1.9 million.More recently, between 2002 and 2004, nearly half of all white high school graduates between 18 and 24 years of age enrolled in college. During the same time period, 41.1 percent of black and 35.2 percent of Hispanic high school graduates decided to pursue a college degree. -U-WireCrimson suspends plagiarizing staffersThe Harvard Crimson, Harvard University's student newspaper, recently suspended two of its staffers for plagiarism. On Oct. 29, Harvard undergraduate cartoonist Kathleen Breenden was suspended by the newspaper after four of her published cartoons appeared to copy some already published elsewhere. One was a political cartoon, published on October 25, meant to support Democrats in the Nov. 7 election. The cartoon, however, resembled one published by Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist Walt Handelsman in Newsday on Oct. 16. In a note posted on its Web page, The Crimson wrote, "The Crimson regrets the publication of these cartoons, and would like to publicly apologize to the offended publications and cartoonists. We also apologize to our readers for the breach of trust that has occurred."Only two days earlier, the paper had suspended columnist Victoria Ilyinsky. One of her columns, "This Word is Killing Me, Literally," dishonestly drew information from an article published by the online magazine Slate.-www.cnn.com
(11/02/06 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Glaessner Next Monday, Nov. 6, International Paper Company (IP) plans to begin testing the environmental effects of burning rubber for fuel at one of their mills located in Ticonderoga, N.Y., about 50 minutes southwest of Middlebury. IP accepted free tires and rubber from other corporations and plans to burn the rubber for fuel. IP's plan is to conduct a test burn starting next Monday and continuing for two weeks in an attempt to secure permits that would allow the plant to continue to burn rubber for fuel into the future. But for the past three years, furious environmental activists and local citizens have been actively working to circulte information about the effects of tire burning on people's health and on the environment. Barbara Ernst, executive director of the Northeast Clean Air Coalition, is one of the leading environmentalists working to stop the test burn. Ernst has spent the past three years accumulating a wealth of research on IP's evidence in support of tire burning. In a phone interview, Ernst explained why IP insists on burning tires for fuel despite intense protests from local citizens. "Tires are not designed to be burned. They are not 'free' fuel for companies [nor are they] free permits to pollute limitlessly, destroying our health, air, water and our environment." said Ernst. "[Because] tire [companies] don't want to recycle, they want to have them burned and get rid of any environmental liabilities they would have from having an old tire with their name on it hanging around in the environment. And because our EPA is ineffective at protecting the health of Americans and the environment, corporate greed is taking over and the Rubber Manufacturer's Association, lobbyists are selling these tires as free fuel - no pollution controls needed - and they are getting away with it and weakening the Clean Air & Water Act."Ernst claims to have discovered multiple connections between IP and other profit-seeking individuals and organizations. According to Ernst, the members of IP's support group range from politicians like Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), to corporations like Green Mountain Coffee who use IP paper for their cups. Ernst wrote to John Faraci, CEO of IP, asking him to halt plans for the tire burn. Ernst wrote, "The NYDEC, along with Region 2 EPA regulators have provided the necessary permits, allowing the plant to start burning a proposed 72 tons, 144,000 pounds, daily of TDF, tire derived fuel, and 80 cubic yards - the size of a football field cubed - of toxic sludge, at their plant in Ticonderoga, NY, without the industry standard pollution controls." Ernst said that IP is supposed to have a full environmental impact study and the NYDEC "weaseled around it, saying [IP has] a type 2 factory which didn't need the study, which would reveal what potential harm [exists]." According to Ernst, the NYDEC also "set up a permit that's very deceptive [and does not] even test for PM 2.5 particulate (2.5 microns)" which is particulate matter that is so fine it is invisible, yet it is one of the most deadly effects of tire burning. In fact, IP's existing permit allows their emissions to double. IP was unable to comment for this article, however IP spokesperson Donna Wadsworth has confirmed in multiple local news articles that the test design is safe. Ernst attributes many politicians' inaction to stop the test burns to personal interests and connections with the billion dollar paper corporation. According to Ernst, Senator Clinton has refused to respond to calls to speak out against IP's planned tire burn. The governor of New York, George Pataki, also declined to comment.But Vermont politicians are not so silent on the tire burn, though they have been criticized for a lack of action. On October 26, governor Jim Douglas posted on the front page of his website a press release speaking out against IP's tire burn. In the release, Douglas explained his recent efforts to stop the IP tire burn, saying, "In an effort to open a responsible, neighborly dialogue that might render ongoing legal action unnecessary, I wrote last week to the CEO of International Paper asking him to meet with me; even offering to fly to their headquarters in Tennessee. The response I received today makes it very clear that he is not interested in such a dialogue." According to the Burlington Free Press, Faraci wrote a letter responding to Douglas' request to engage in "neighborly dialogue" on the tire burn. In the letter, Faraci wrote, "the planned trial follows an extraordinary and detailed public review. We will abide with the health-based environmental standards required, and we will base our decisions regarding future operating plans at the mill on the scientific data obtained from this safely conducted trial." In his press release Douglas also explained his past efforts to stop IP's plans to destroy Vermont's breathable air. Douglas wrote, "That is why I offered to work with IP and the State of New York to help finance the installation of necessary pollution controls on this plant." But, Douglas continues, "Unfortunately, from the first announcement of their plan in late 2003, IP has rejected our offers and marched forward as though they're entitled to burn tires without regard for the views of Vermonters."Douglas has been also been involved in the protests. Last year, in a large protest against the tire burns, over 300 Vermonters boarded eight yellow school buses and headed to the Ticonderoga plant. Douglas was on board one of the buses, side by side with the protestors to protest against the paper company's test burn set to begin next Monday.But Bill McKibben, who spoke at the Middlebury Mountain Club annual Pumpkin Tumble last Saturday evening, said that Douglas' performance has been less than satisfactory, arguing that the governor has not done enough to stop IP. In an email, McKibben wrote, it remains to be seen if Governor Douglas is really serious about stopping the tire burn. Earlier this year, when he wanted to wreck the Vermont wilderness bill that had been painstakingly fashioned over half a decade, he found just the right politicians to turn to; now, to prevent environmental disaster, he's making a big noise but not accomplishing much of anything."Other protestors feel that big noise can actually create big waves, and politicians have the responsibility and the power to stop the tire burns. At a rally held at Middlebury Union High School this past Saturday, Marian Greenberg, Board of Directors for People for Less Pollution, commented that her organization has joined with the Vermont state government and the New England Coalition in filing a brief to support a lawsuit for injunction against the tire burning. "We are concerned because of the prevailing winds that bring toxins across Lake Champlain and also concerned about the health of New Yorkers. The EPA is ignoring scientific knowledge. The government should be doing this for us," Greenberg said.But, with politicians on the whole largely absent from the debate over the tire burns, with the exception of Governor Douglas, Greenberg and others at the rally have sent hundeds of letters to CEO John Feraci and to Governor Pataki. Ernst is calling on everyone who finds IP's plans to be egregious acts of flagrant disrespect for the health of its own consumers to make their voices heard. IP could not be reached for futher comment.
(11/02/06 12:00am)
Author: Astri von Arbin Ahlander Halloween may be all done here, but in Sweden it hasn't even begun. Though I'm famously in favor of my Mothercountry, I must admit that the land of the midnight sun has failed me this time. When Sweden adopted Halloween as a holiday a couple of years back, it did so with the intention of fully embracing the economic benefits of an admittedly completely commercial holiday. Halloween is not like Christmas, where we at least pretend to care about Jesus a little more than the shiny gifts under the tree, or Valentine's Day, which hides the millions spent on pointless gifts behind the irresistible idea of an internationally designated day to be in love. The name Halloween may come from "all hallows eve," but throughout the centuries it has basically been brought down to the level of the "Two C's": Candy and Costumes. And that's just fine with me. I can appreciate hyper-consumerism as long as it can stand up for itself.So, then, what does Sweden go and do? It messes up the dates! Instead of writing Halloween correctly into the calendar on October 31, as any respectable American would tell you to do, it decided to put it a week later on the very real, very un-consumerist and very momentous All Saints' Day in Sweden. This is traditionally the night when families unite and visit the graves of loved ones. For once, there is no profit to be made on this holiday, unless you count the candles that people buy and put on the graves. All around the pitch-black November night, the graveyards are lit up with thousands of candles. For years, when I still lived at home, I would go with my family to the graveyard. It was a time to pay your respects and be together. Now when my grandmother goes to visit the graves of those who have passed away, she is met with packs of roaring trick-or-treating or prank-playing children, faces painted, fake blood perfectly smeared, fangs glues on. What?! Who is the mastermind behind this offensive set-up?In the midst of my anti-Swedish Halloween wrath, it feels good to be celebrating a true, commercial-only Halloween here at Middlebury. When you read this, the great day (or night?) will be over, and you will have long ago discarded this year's costume. Perhaps you're already scheming about next year's unbeatable get-up. I want to offer a little recap of what your Halloween experience on campus probably was like. At Middlebury, Halloween is the perfect time to dress in something so skimpy your roommates wouldn't let you out of the house in it on any other day, and call it a costume. So, chances are, you went as "Sexy Witch," "Sexy Cowgirl" or the classic "Sexy Character from the 80's." Add near freezing temperatures coupled with high chances of snow, and you were pounding that holiday punch just to fend off pneumonia, which you're sure to get symptoms of soon anyway when you're diagnosed with Mono after that not-so-thought-through Halloween Hook-up. There's nothing like waking up with Michael Jackson in your bed. If a vampire or zombie was your choice of meat for the evening - the fake-blood dribble may have looked hot under the dimmed lights of FIC on Saturday, but, honestly, blood is never really a welcome component in the bedroom. To sum up: you dressed-up, you partied and maybe you conquered, but either way, you should be proud to be an American wearing your commercialism on your sleeve, and wearing that sleeve on the correct day. I, on the other hand, will be sporting my "Sexy Stupid Swede" outfit on the 4th of November.
(11/02/06 12:00am)
Author: Michelle Constant Most students at the College believe room draw needs reform, according to a recent campus-wide survey conducted by the Student Government Association (SGA). Senators spoke at length about the survey results during an Oct. 29 meeting, though they could not decide upon a definitive course of action.The survey, administered online last week and completed by 840 students, asked respondents about their feelings regarding the current room draw system and then allowed them to choose among competing proposals to change the process. Proposals included reallocating some rooms to different commons, offering open draw for all students and making room draw open for seniors only.Although many students, particularly underclassmen, were neutral on the current room draw system (33.3 percent), more either disapproved or strongly disapproved (43.6 percent). Only 22.1 percent of students approved or strongly approved of the current system. Indicating the particularly strong dissatisfaction with inequities in room quality, 63.8 percent of students believe that reform is important or very important and 73 percent of students said facilities were the biggest issue within the commons system - choosing room quality over location, having friends in a commons or the staff and social programming of a commons. Interestingly, students' commons largely affected their viewpoint, as 80 percent of Brainerd students said they supported room draw reform while only 35 percent of Atwater students wanted changes.While SGA President Alex Stanton '07 said that "there is no foolproof way to fix [the room draw system]," he recognized that action must be taken because, in general, "students are not happy with housing and they do want reform." Though the SGA reached no consensus during its meeting as to which proposal to follow, Stanton indicated that they seem to be leaning towards suggesting open draw for seniors only because right now, "the difference between good and bad [senior] housing is very big." However, Stanton expressed Atwater students' concerns that with such a change, students who live in Coffrin for two years may not draw their anticipated Atwater Hall A or B suite during senior year. Valerie Weed '08 thinks it is "a good idea for commons regulations to be eliminated for upperclassmen," but "important to stay with the same groups of people when your just starting out" as an underclassman. Stanton also said that he thinks a completely open room draw for underclassmen would be too complicated, offering them too many choices.Cook Commons Dean David Edleson said that room draw has "always been a source of tension," even before the Commons system was established. Though Cook Commons always has an issue with housing, especially for sophomores, Edleson said that room draw complaints have decreased greatly over the past few years. As the chair of the committee that reworked the room draw system a few years ago, he believes that "the commons system needs to be a four-year neighborhood," fitting with what the Strategic Plan refers to as the College's commitment to "a system of five Commons with contiguous living and social spaces."Edleson sees the clear inequities in housing, but also pointed out that when a few rooms are reallocated "in one dorm, it messes things up pretty broadly." Edleson expressed his concern that the students who filled out the surveys are the people who are least happy with the current room draw situation, skewing the results. While open to new, thoughtful proposals from students to balance flexibility with the structure of the commons system, Edleson wants to "make sure we're not reinventing the same mistakes" from past unsuccessful room draw policies.Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson expressed that even in room draw systems preceding the Commons system, "there have always been students who have been disappointed with their room draw results." As Edleson stated, the goal is to provide the best housing to the largest number of students possible - the response is "to the whole, not to individuals."The College has been developing the "Enhanced Residential Plan" since 1998, with the commons system as the "vision for residential life at Middlebury." The College's Strategic Plan, adopted last spring, proposes to provide better housing for seniors, improve public residential spaces such as lounges and kitchens and consider revising the room draw process "until attractive senior housing is available in all five Commons."
(11/02/06 12:00am)
Author: Melissa Marshall Las Vegas: shiny lights, scantily-clad women and excess. New Jersey: flat landscapes, industrial towns and weary diners. The Killers: part 80s new wave, part new-millennium post-punk and one hundred percent androgynous synth-rock for the suburbanite Caucasian masses. Bruce Springsteen: gritty vocals and stripped guitar riffs fused among blues rhythms matched by a coal miner mixed with mechanic sex-appeal. There may be over 2500 miles dividing Las Vegas and Asbury Park, and more than thirty years separating the Boss's sophomore attempt with that of The Killers', but spatial discrepancies did not deter Brandon Flowers from wiping off the eyeliner and molding Sam's Town in the Mid-Atlantic tradition. In their October 2006 release, The Killers decided that they want to be taken seriously. And the most effective way to accomplish this? By growing facial hair, of course! Long gone are the fitted suits, styled hair and boyish charm sported by the foursome dubbed by critics as the ushers of a new era of alternative rock. Mr. Brightside and all the retro-glamour which he embodied has been effectively burnt out by Flowers' coarser vocals and somber melodies. The title of their new album is indicative of this change of heart. Sam's Town is christened after a casino in their hometown of Vegas. However, it's not one of the glitzy, commercial giants typical to Sin City, but instead a dive located on the outskirts of the neon oasis in the desert. And just like the cover of Hot Fuss features a city skyline that conjures notions of synthetic beats and quick tempos, Sam's Town portrays a world-worn beauty queen shot in the grainy, artful, Anton Corbjin photography style that graces the rest of the CD booklet. So what inspired The Killers to place The Cure and Duran Duran records back on the shelf next to their make-up and move on to a more grounded sound?Realistically speaking, if the quartet from The Strip released Hot Fuss Part Deux, featuring the same catchy pop hooks and shallow subject matter, the critics would have Joan of Arc-ified pretty boy Flowers. In an attempt to create a more mature-sounding album, Sam's Town emulates Springsteen and U2. However, though they successfully alienate the post-punk fan base that catapulted them to the covers of Spin and Q, they also fail to convince the more skeptical listeners of heartland rock to which Sam's Town tries to appeal. It's not that the tracks featured on Sam's Town aren't pleasing to the ears, it's just that The Killers don't possess the same level of musicianship as the E Street Band and Brandon Flowers can't match the intensity that seems to simply exude from the Boss's vocal style and presence. The first single off the October release, "When You Were Young," is in the tradition of "Thunder Road" while "This River is Wild" is reminiscent of Springsteen's "The River" - complete with a reference to Bruce's muse Mary. The allusions continue in full force in the construction of their narrative lyrics and mentioning of "the promised land." While imitation is the highest form of flattery, it seems that the whole point of a more defined sophomore attempt is to establish a band as veritable creative craftsmen. Sam's Town, however, is less of a growth spurt and more like boys clumsily trying to walk in their father's three-sizes-too-large work boots. So, not surprisingly, my favorite track off their new album is "Uncle Jonny," which showcases Flowers' distinctive high-pitched vocals and the band's sexy, driving rhythms which were prevalent on such former stand-out releases as "Somebody Told Me" and "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine." With Sam's Town, The Killers try to cement themselves as the next generation of American bards. Regrettably, their lyrics fall short of profound and their melodies just miss memorable. What they have succeeded in accomplishing is creating another quintessential Vegas album - on the surface, well constructed and alluring, but underneath the beguiling beats it completely lacks substance.
(10/26/06 12:00am)
Author: Aylie Baker The sky is heavy with darkness and the trees stand submerged by gauzy mist as several cars trundle into the Dead Creek Wild Life Refuge on Route 17. It's 6:30 a.m. and Middlebury is well-awake. Rendered virtually unrecognizable by their assortment of lumpy, woolen clothing, a group of about 30 students crowd around Joel Sartore in hopes of gleaning some advice from this visual expert. In his photography workshop and lecture, "Oil vs. Wilderness: Selling Alaska's North Slope," delivered on Oct. 12, Joel Sartore imparted much more than technical advice. While perhaps first distinguished by his glib, jovial rhetoric, the message he chose to convey to students was tinged with considerable gravity.Sartore is a leader in one of the most coveted professions. A photographer for National Geographic, he has spent the last 17 years wending through virtually every conceivable ecosystem - marshland, rainforest, desert, tundra - capturing the natural world through his camera. Yet, he insists, there are caveats in this seemingly blissful existence: "It's not what you call 'fun.'" Take into account the number of times Sartore has found himself wet, chilled to the bone and tortured by pangs of hunger, and suddenly all the fantastical notions one has about wildlife photography are cast in a more sobering light. It's imperative that one has a type A personality, insists Sartore. The 30 to 40,000 pictures he takes for each story will eventually boil down to 12 to 20 photos in the issue, with only 50 pictures showcased. Because he hails from Lincoln, Neb. Sartore jokes that he was forced to be innovative in crafting his early photography. Anyone can take pictures of wildlife. Sartore sought to push the envelope, to capture emotion. His early portfolio includes subject matter ranging from rodeos to clams. As his portfolio grew, it appears that his progression as a photographer was simultaneously mirrored by a mounting awareness of environmental as well as developmental issues. Through photographing endangered species, Sartore has been confronted with some harsh realities. Why should anyone care about a clam, Sartore asked himself, upon receiving an assignment to photograph mollusks. Indeed, it seemed a particularly dry choice of subject matter for a magazine that is heralded for its avant garde exposés."75-80 percent of clams are functionally extinct, threatened or endangered" said Sartore. "50 percent of amphibians are set to disappear in the next ten years." These are "living monitors." "What happens to them," said Sartore, "Do you think that could happen to us?"Active preservation and veneration for the natural world seem to be diminishing in the face of industrial expansion and commercial interests. Yet it is in Pantanal, Brazil, the world's largest marshland, insisted Sartore, where veneration is paramount. Perhaps it is here, that we can unearth some environmental solutions. Every niche is brimming with some form of wildlife - caimans, giant otters and hyacinth macaws vie for time at the lens. Locals even contend that "fish rain from the sky." What are the motives behind the preservation of this plush landscape? "It's loaded because the people of Pantanal are good stewards," said Sartore. As a veritable dream for wildlife photographers, naturalists and tourists, Pantanal is the quintessential example of eco-tourism.Sartore's most recent assignment, "Selling Alaska's North Slope," draws particular attention to the dichotomy existing between preservation and commercial interest. The North Slope is the largest tract of wilderness in the United States. It also holds roughly 48 billion barrels of oil. "As I was photographing the slope," Sartore said, "one thing is running through my mind. What is the value of wilderness? Does it have any value - or is the value only in what we can extract from it?" The oil fields surrounding Prudhoe Bay comprise 16 percent of the country's oil supply, and make up 90 percent of Alaska's state revenue, according to National Geographic. Yet if the U.S. were to tap into Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the fragile ecosystem would likely shatter. "It is estimated that there are nine months to a year of oil in the North Slope," said Sartore. One year of oil in exchange for the devastation of America's largest wilderness can make one stop and think.Given what is at stake in Alaska's frontier, Sartore was particularly disheartened to see the lack of responses to his piece by National Geographic readers. The general indifference was "dismaying to me," explained Sartore. "[I] got zero. Nada." It says something about the state of the world "when Jackass is the number one film," he offered, malignantly. Such indifference triggers a bleak outlook on the Slope's future. Americans are characterized by their "panic, [their] knee-jerk, bombastic tendencies," said Sartore. They "wait until the absolute last second, thinking they can smother [the problem] with money, hoping it will solve all their problems." "I've done my part," said Sartore, resignedly, "I've told my story." Yet despite such glum desperation with the state of affairs, Sartore ultimately does shed some light on ensuring a positive future for the Slope and preservation in general. Ultimately it is the "rich, developed countries" that have the potential to make a difference, said Sartore. If we can alleviate human strife and elevate the standard of living, environmental preservation can simultaneously rise in the list of priorities. It is hard to fault someone for poaching or clear-cutting when they are hungry, explains Sartore. How can one point fingers at someone who, upon being asked about spotting a rare animal," replies innocently, "Yes, it was delicious?"What would assuage his dismay at such apathy? "I live in Lincoln, Neb. On any home Saturday I hear 80,000 people screaming [at the football game]. I want 80,000 people to scream about the state of affairs," said Sartore. To students, he offered, "Visit some of these places. Read. Study up…Look at things critically. Make up your own mind, go out and vote."The lecture was sponsored by the Middlebury College Academic Enrichment Fund, the Environmental Studies Program and the Christian A. Johnson Economic Enrichment Fund.
(10/12/06 12:00am)
Author: Leigh Arsenault Nine-year-olds growing up in low-income communities are already three grade levels behind their peers in high-income communities. Half of them will not graduate from high school. They are seven times less likely to graduate from college. These are the facts Teach For America corps members use to define their challenge. The national teacher corps of recent college graduates, now in its 16th year, believes it can expand educational opportunity in the United States by recruiting outstanding recent college graduate to serve two-year teaching commitments in low-income communities, before these future leaders go on to become doctors, lawyers, businessmen or, in many cases, career educators.Serving as a member of the Teach For America corps is no small undertaking, but one that nearly 80 Middlebury students have pursued since the program's inception. Next week four Middlebury alumni return to campus to participate in a panel discussion and dinner, "Why I Teach For America: Middlebury Alumni on the Corps Experience" that will take place on Friday, Oct. 20th in Redfield Proctor Dining Room. "Once you do decide to make the commitment, and once you have begun your two years in the corps working for kids who have been overlooked by too many others, you will realize the strength, the perspective and the unbelievable capacity for love those years will give you," explained Lauren Guza '05, now in her second year with Teach For America. Teaching English as a second language to ninth through twelfth graders at a high school in south-central Los Angeles, Guza said she is inspired by her experience and dedicated to the success of the program. When asked what the most fulfilling aspect of her time has been, she exclaimed, "My students!" "I get to hang out with rooms full of kids who challenge me, need me and make me laugh like nobody else can," said Guza. "There are a thousand little moments that make every day feel important - seeing James lose his tough-guy façade long enough to get giddy about his first passing grade on a quiz, watching Gladys's excitement at a Tuesday night slam poetry performance, dancing raggaeton with my ESL students during passing periods."Teach for America corps members often find themselves leaving prestigious colleges and universities, only to be placed in schools situated amongst poverty and distress. Coming in on emergency teacher certifications, most of the Corps members lack formal training in education and are shocked to realize that imagination paired with ambition alone will not power students to success. Discipline and respect are necessary to make a classroom run smoothly. It is easy for young teachers to lose perspective in the sometimes hostile company of children and teenagers. Guza warned, "Only those who are truly serious about the mission and able to commit themselves to the challenge should take this on, because it is far too important to be taken lightly." Given the ups and downs of the jobs, Guza does not regret her membership in the Corps. "Once I learned to focus on the positives every day brought, to turn the negative into opportunities for improvement, and to see everything that I did as part of a larger learning experience, I was able to move away from this self-doubt and into a more assured, proactive state of mind."Teach For America is not for everyone, but for many the experience provides a sense of confidence that leads Corps members into strong careers and relationships. In 2006, almost 19,000 individuals applied to Teach for America, including dozens of Middlebury seniors. Thirteen matriculants were Middlebury alumni. Guza said that her Middlebury experience led her to question her world and her place in it. She applied to Teach for America knowing the power of social activism and the opportunity for individuals to work collaboratively and effect large-scale change. "My college years taught me to balance creativity and spontaneity with structure and organization, and that balance is exactly what I need to be successful with my students," she said. She is helping high school students question their own spheres of experience, expand their minds and reach out to others. Across the country millions of kids struggle to get by in educational systems that do not offer anything near the same amenities that Middlebury students know. For those students Teach for America is working to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots by bringing more and more dynamic teachers into the classroom. These students are not the only ones, however, to benefit. Guza reflected, "Everyday I get to say, 'Today mattered.'"
(10/05/06 12:00am)
Author: Geoff Homer Alex Scott victorious againRiding high from his victory in the Middlebury Invitational, Alex Scott '07 continued his success at the ITA New England Championships hosted at Williams College. Scott was undefeated at the tournament, winning both its singles and doubles titles. Scott won every one of his singles matches, en route to a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the finals. With his victory, Scott receives an automatic bid to the 2006 ITA National Small College Championships in Florida. In the doubles finals, Scott teamed with classmate George Mayer '07 to defeat their teammates Conrad Olson '09 and Filip Marinkovic '08 by a score of 8-2. With their victory the Scott/Mayer tandem also qualified for the ITA National Small College Championships.Vollyball sweeps Vt. matchesLast week the women's volleyball team played two matches in Vermont, winning each by a score of three to zero. The Panthers captured their home-opener in the Pepin Gym against Union on Sept. 26 before traveling to the college's hockey rival, Norwich two days later for the first ever meeting between the two schools in volleyball.Offensively, over the three games Josie Keller '09, Lexie Fisher '08 and Kate Heath '09 each contributed ten kills to lead the team. In addition, Lacee Patterson '06.5 was a major contributor in the game, with 11 digs and 43 assists. Traveling to Norwich, the Panthers disposed of the Cadets with relative ease. Every member of the team saw action, with Fisher, Kelly Nichols '09 and Kate Lupo '10 getting ten kills. Olivia Minkhorst '09 had 19 digs, while Reisa Bloch '09.5 had 12 and Nichols 11. The Panthers host Tufts on Sunday at 2:00 in the Pepin Gym. Hauschka receives NESCAC awardAs a result of his extraordinary efforts on the football team's special team Steve Hauschka '07 has been named NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week. Hauschka's honor is Middlebury's second-straight defensive player of the week award after Erik Woodring '08 garnered the honor last week. Hauschka's powerful right leg got a good workout in Saturday's contest against Colby. He punted the ball eight times, for a total of 345 yards; and averaged of 43.2 yards a punt. His long was 52 yards, with four of his punts landing inside the 20. Hauschka's efforts ensured that Colby's average starting position was at the 20 yard line, 80 yards away from the goal line that they never saw. In addition to his punts, Hauschka also kicked a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter. Woodring, last week's Defensive Player of Week, also led the Panther defense with 14 tackles, including two for a loss. Senior freak Kevin Ryan set a Middlebury and NESCAC record with six sacks in the game. Water Polo swims at DartmouthOver the weekend, the Panthers competed in four games at Dartmouth, compiling a .500 record. The water polo team won their first two games against UVM and Colby, before falling to Boston College and bitter rival Dartmouth. After cruising through their first two games, the Panthers felt confident heading into the BC match. BC stormed out with an intensity that the Panthers were not expecting, and could not match, as the team's mind was on the upcoming matchup with the Big Green. BC was able to get out to a five to two lead, and never looked back, finally taking the victory with a score of 12-5. After the disappointing defeat to BC, the Panthers were determined to show Dartmouth a good game. The first half did not disappoint, as the Panthers battled to a seven-to-seven tie going into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the defense couldn't sustain their momentum, and gave up seven points to eventually lose by a 14-11 score. This weekend the Panthers look forward to the chance to avenge their loss to Dartmouth when they travel to Bates for their annual tournament. The Panthers will host the League Championships on Oct. 28-29.Despite the mediocre play the team has shown recently, they are still in contention to make it to Club Nationals, however, it will not be as easy as the team previously anticipated.
