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(01/27/05 12:00am)
Author: Zamir Ahmed The Middlebury men's and women's indoor track teams recently completed a busy week, competing in three separate meets throughout the region. The team performed well in each meet, gaining valuable experience for the rest of the year and getting the opportunity to size themselves up against the rest of their NESCAC competition.The team first traveled to Wesleyan College on Jan. 15 to participate in the Wesleyan Invitational. Against tough competition, Neiman Groce '07 won the men's only individual victory, clinching the long jump title with a jump of 20 feet- 4 1/4 inches. Kevin Bright '06, an All-American in outdoor track, also had a good meet for the Panthers. Bright finished fourth in the 200m with a time of 23.54 seconds and second in the 400m, just beating out first-year teammate Patrick Swan by .02 seconds.For the women's squad, Sarah Berkowitz '05 won the pole vault, clearing a height of 9 feet- 6 inches. The relay teams also added impressive victories for the Panthers. The 4x200m team of Berkowitz, Erin Oliver '07, Elysian McNiff '08 and Lizz Huntley '08 won the event with a time of 1:53.78. The 4x400m team of Melissa Thacker '05, Alice Flanders '07, Jessie Evangelista '08 and Heather Bessette '08 won also their event with a time of 4:19.80.Since there was no team scoring at the meet, the Panthers used the opportunity to prepare themselves for future meets. Said co-captain Thacker, "We used this meet to provide a foundation for the spring season and to stay in shape for the year."On Jan. 19 the teams traveled to Burlington to compete against the University of Vermont and St. Michael's College. The men's team, competing without their distance runners, fell short against the Catamounts, losing 69-50. The women's squad performed admirably but was alsoovermatched by a strong UVM team 97-30.For the women, Huntley had the Panthers' only victory, claiming first in the long jump with a mark of 15 feet- 7 3/4 inches. Another bright spot for the women was a second-place finish in the pentathlon by first-year Meredith Downing, who led in the event for most of the meet. Said Coach Martin Beatty of Downing, "It was an impressive performance, especially for a freshman because of the different techniques one has to master."On the men's side, Steve Atkinson '06 had a dual victory, taking first in the shot put and weight throw. Groce again added a win in the long jump for the Panthers, this time with a leap of 20 feet- 1 1/2 inches. Other winners for the men were Greg Lazerus '06 in the 55m, Bright in the 200m and Alex Wellman '07 in the 55m hurdles.On Jan. 22 the teams traveled to St. Lawrence University to compete in the Saints Indoor Classic. Both the women's and men's teams finished fourth against some of the top teams in the region. Said Beatty, "I was really pleased by our performance. We did well to finish in the middle of those seven teams, considering their size and talent."Two school-record performances highlighted the Panthers' meet on Saturday. Nick Digani '05 provided a spark-plug for the team for the rest of the meet, taking the 1500m in a school-record time of 4:04.84. Digani was also a member of the school-record breaking 4x400m relay team, along with Bright, Matthew Malek '06 and Swan. The team won the event in a time of 3:25.04, eight seconds faster than the second-place team.The women were led once again by Huntley, who finished second in the 55m and third in the 200m. Alli Williams '05 finished third in the 500m while Bessette finished fourth in the long jump. The 4x200m team of Huntley, Berkowitz, Oliver and Evangelista also took second in a time of 1:52.03.The team has the next week off, with their next meet coming on Feb. 5 at the Dartmouth Invitational.
(01/27/05 12:00am)
Author: Matt Kunzweiler I couldn't point to an exact date or place, but somewhere in the not-so-distant past, the '80s lost their endearing retro glimmer and many of us have grown blasé about the prospect of finding the neon clothing in our closets and getting into costume for another uninventive theme party. It was fun at first, but thanks to some relentless party-planners at this college, there is an '80s party every weekend. And now look what they've done: the music, the dress, the attitude - all dead, beyond recovery. It's true that we love to dress up like idiots (some people do it every day without even knowing it). But there's more to it than that. I believe that many of us have a secret lust for trashy pop music, but we are afraid to admit it. However, we are able to satisfy this desire by listening to '80s trashy pop music, as we feel there is a crucial degree of detachment. We can look down on it and laugh because the genre is dated. We moved on and the music didn't. We are not expected to take the songs seriously, but we still reel from the forbidden enjoyment of listening to bad pop - the type of music that would be unacceptable to play in any other context. So we can stroll into 80s parties and congratulate each other for our second hand clothing while some jerk on the dance floor makes a depressing attempt at the robot. I missed the '80s the first time around, since I spent most of my time learning to read, standing in time out, jumping on trampolines and stumbling around in a giddy euphoria induced by abusing my asthma inhaler, which is now off the market. So when the '80s Revival began a few years ago, I was readily on board. I thought that I could finally experience those magical years by stepping into a foreign image and dancing to goofy songs I never remember being popular. But my glee proved short-lived. For me, there isn't any nostalgia tied to the music, the dress or the image. The decade is essentially meaningless to me and I feel like an imposter when I steal someone else's style. If I found out that a 12-year-old thought it was funny to dress up in flannel and listen to Nirvana, I'd probably suckerpunch him. I couldn't tolerate that type of disrespect. And I'm sure that if more Gen-Xers knew about our little fun, they'd drive their VW Golfs straight to campus and box our ears.But with the death of the '80s, a new retro obsession must be found. And many people are shifting to (big surprise) the '90s to get their fix. VH1 has already purchased the exclusive rights to the entire decade, and I want nothing to do with it. Instead, I'm throwing a Nihilist party this weekend.
(01/27/05 12:00am)
Author: Lauren Armstrong Whether you're a slave to the Proctor panini machine, a faithful Freeman International Center (FIC) goer or willing to face the masses at Ross, food is inevitably an important part of your day. With many changes occurring in Middlebury's dining services, including the construction of the new Atwater dining hall and the incorporation of more local food products into the daily menus, there are many opportunities to influence the type of food we find at the dining halls every day. Classes and workshops offered during J-term are great resources for learning to appreciate the food that we eat, and to put it in the context of the greater community and world food systems.Many efforts have been made to include locally and sustainably produced food in the dining hall selections. Matthew Biette, director of Dining Services, estimates that 25 percent of the budget currently goes toward the purchase of local food products, such as eggs, milk, bacon, sausage, apples and seasonal vegetables. While it is clear that unless we give up everything that does not grow in Vermont during the winter - and let's face it, that includes just about everything - we will not be solely dependent on local produce. However, a large portion of the local food products used by dining services are eggs, dairy and meat, which are produced year round. Dining Services has recently added bacon from the Farmer's Diner in Barre, Vt., a restaurant that supports local farmers by purchasing about 80 percent of their ingredients from within 50 miles of the diner, and soon plans to offer a locally grown hot cereal at breakfast. Local food is incorporated whenever it is economically feasible, and products that are not found in Vermont, such as salmon, are often obtained from sustainable sources. There are many advantages to using as many local products as possible, from boosting the local economy to reducing the expenses and environmental impact of transporting food over long distances. There is a certain joy found in the knowledge that being conscious about what you eat can support the livelihood of the people that form the community surrounding Middlebury and make Vermont the agricultural Eden that it is. Winter Term is a great time to expand your appreciation and knowledge of food, with workshops such as "Lebanese Cooking" with Nola Kevra, a farmer in Ripton, and "Tasting and Touring Vermont Farmstead Cheeses," led by Amy Trubeck, director of Vermont Fresh Network and Brad Koehler, director of Ross Dining Services. Classes such as "Eat Locally, Think Globally," taught by local farmer Will Stevens, and "Eat Your Words: Food, Culture and Communication," taught by Middlebury alum and Linguistics professor Shannon Finch, help introduce students to the politics surrounding food systems. In addition to classes and workshops, there are other discussions and events going on. For example, last Wednesday's "Food for Thought" roundtable discussion about the politics of food, which brought together members of the dining staff, visiting Winter Term professors, farmers and scholars. The discussion, moderated by Scholar-in-Residence Bill McKibben, focused on various perspectives about food in different cultures and regions as well as locally and sustainably produced food. In February, the College's Organic Garden will be hosting a symposium entitled "Golden Beets or Golden Arches: Exploring the Culture and Politics of Food," featuring Burlington farmer and member of the state legislature David Zuckerman as a keynote speaker, tours of organic farms in the area and a panel discussion on the politics of food on a local, national and international scale. Members of the Organic Garden Club have been working with the dining staff to provide some of the fresh veggies that are offered at meals, and there are plans underway to expand the amount of produce that can be supplied by the garden. One way to reward the efforts being made by Dining Services to include local fare, such as Vermont apples, milk and vegetables in the daily meal selection, is to eat the local food. By looking for signs in the dining halls that say "local" and taking food from them, you are sending a simple message to Dining Services - I want more local food - and also supporting the farmers in our local community and in Vermont. And as for the much anticipated Atwater dining hall - maybe we should just give up waiting for it. But seriously, it is going to open, hopefully at the beginning of spring semester. The opening of Atwater will alleviate some of the crowding at places like Ross, which sometimes handles 2,000 people for lunch, with a seating capacity of only 275. Ross plans to revamp its menu to include some of the FIC theme nights, as well as a New Orleans style dinner. Other changes will occur for better or for worse, depending on your personal taste. FIC will be closed for meals and become the new headquarters for catering, and Proctor will be closed on weekends and become the new site of Dolci operations.The new dining hall will carry much of the staff over from FIC, but the format will be decidedly more Ross-esque, with all food prepared before your hungry eyes. This type of food preparation significantly decreases the amount of pre-consumer waste because everything is prepared only as it is needed. Unfortunately, this type of service actually increases the post-consumer waste because the food looks more appealing, so people take more than they can eat. The amount of food that is wasted contributes to the College's rising comprehensive fee. Therefore, the argument that paying as much as we do to go here entitles us to waste food on a regular basis is illogical, since the more we waste, the more we ultimately pay. With all of the changes that are occurring with Dining Services, now is the perfect opportunity to take responsibility for what you eat and how much you waste. As we eat, we should all be mindful of where our food comes from, and the effect that we can have on the local economy by consciously eating food that is produced locally. So the next time you go to Proctor and dive for the bin of Cap'n Crunch, at least consider the hot cereal or fresh (albeit hardboiled) local eggs. Who knows, they might even taste better.
(01/27/05 12:00am)
Author: Audrey Nelson I couldn't point to an exact date or place, but somewhere in the not-so-distant past, the '80s lost their endearing retro glimmer and many of us have grown blasé about the prospect of finding the neon clothing in our closets and getting into costume for another uninventive theme party. It was fun at first, but thanks to some relentless party-planners at this college, there is an '80s party every weekend. And now look what they've done: the music, the dress, the attitude - all dead, beyond recovery. It's true that we love to dress up like idiots (some people do it every day without even knowing it). But there's more to it than that. I believe that many of us have a secret lust for trashy pop music, but we are afraid to admit it. However, we are able to satisfy this desire by listening to '80s trashy pop music, as we feel there is a crucial degree of detachment. We can look down on it and laugh because the genre is dated. We moved on and the music didn't. We are not expected to take the songs seriously, but we still reel from the forbidden enjoyment of listening to bad pop - the type of music that would be unacceptable to play in any other context. So we can stroll into 80s parties and congratulate each other for our second hand clothing while some jerk on the dance floor makes a depressing attempt at the robot. I missed the '80s the first time around, since I spent most of my time learning to read, standing in time out, jumping on trampolines and stumbling around in a giddy euphoria induced by abusing my asthma inhaler, which is now off the market. So when the '80s Revival began a few years ago, I was readily on board. I thought that I could finally experience those magical years by stepping into a foreign image and dancing to goofy songs I never remember being popular. But my glee proved short-lived. For me, there isn't any nostalgia tied to the music, the dress or the image. The decade is essentially meaningless to me and I feel like an imposter when I steal someone else's style. If I found out that a 12-year-old thought it was funny to dress up in flannel and listen to Nirvana, I'd probably suckerpunch him. I couldn't tolerate that type of disrespect. And I'm sure that if more Gen-Xers knew about our little fun, they'd drive their VW Golfs straight to campus and box our ears.But with the death of the '80s, a new retro obsession must be found. And many people are shifting to (big surprise) the '90s to get their fix. VH1 has already purchased the exclusive rights to the entire decade, and I want nothing to do with it. Instead, I'm throwing a Nihilist party this weekend.
(01/13/05 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Gissing At times it seems as though every third student organization is some form of music ensemble, particularly of the a cappella persuasion. Towards the end of the semester, everywhere one turned there was a sidewalk chalking or a poster announcing another show being put on by one of Middlebury's a cappella groups, be it the Dissipated Eights (D-8), the Mischords, the Bobolinks, the Mamajamas, Stuck in the Middle (SIM) - whose December show featured Middlebury's newest group, the all-female Paradiddles - the Christian People Get Ready (PGR) or the Mountain Ayres who specialize in madrigals. Despite the seemingly disproportionate number of groups present for a small school, the shows all drew large crowds. What makes a cappella music fun for performers and audience members alike?To start, every group has their own unique style. Mamajama Ryan Reese '06 said, "I would say we have more flare for the crazy side of things. We're pretty dramatic in our presentation style and have a lot of fun each other and choreography during concerts." Veteran Bobolink Alissa Villarreal '04.5 described Middlebury's first co-ed group as having a very choral approach to the background of their songs. "In the beginning, the Bobolinks lended themselves to the awesome genre of 80's classics, but today we choose songs based on popularity and musicality."While for the past 10 years there have been two co-ed a cappella groups that sing more modern, popular songs, until spring of 2003 the D-8s had been the only all-male ensemble since their founding in 1952. Since the formation of SIM a cappella skeptics have questioned the "need" for two such similar groups, however SIM quickly emerged into the scene and has settled into a niche of its own. "There are certainly easier things than starting an a cappella group," said Jason Lockhart '05, SIM's business director, but it has been a fun process that I'm very proud to be a part of. We started the group because there were many guys on campus who could sing well and wanted to be in an all-male a cappella group. The stars aligned correctly and SIM happened. We've been going strong ever since.""I'd say the only real commonalities between the two are they're both all-male, they're both musically talented and they both aim to give audiences a good time," said Kevin Velez '06 of the D-8. "But to me it's like comparing two different rock bands. Each has its own unique style, chemistry and sound. Do people ever ask if there's enough room in the world for Maroon 5 and the Darkness? Of course not, because they're entirely different."Similarly, with the start of the Paradiddles, there is greater opportunity for women to sing. "Because a cappella is so dependent on good blend, the Mischords often can't take as many people as we'd like because we can't lose our balance of sound," said Ellen Whelan-Wuest '05.5, musical director of the Mischords. "So if there is a new group on campus where more girls get to sing, than I think that's great.""Honestly, I sing because it's fun," she continued. "When that turns into competition or some kind of lifestyle, it kind of weirds me out." "There's a myriad of specialty groups," said Molly Bowman '07. "Because they are well established, D-8 and Mischords tend to perform together and support each other. SIM has been instrumental and inspirational in our formation. Therefore, within the a cappella community on campus, it seems that we are anything but extraneous. But now it is up to us to prove it. We hope to establish ourselves soon as a novel and enthusiastic stripe of Midd's varied a cappella zebra."A cappella singing offers performers a very different outlet from the more traditional concert hall sound. The Paradiddle's Lynn Gray '07.5 said, "I feel much less confined to conventional singing techniques I practiced while in various choruses and choirs - one minute I'm picking out a melodic tune on "doo" and the next minute I can be imitating an electric guitar on a "zsh." "[A cappella] is portable, organic music that can be as serious or ridiculous as your voice," said Tony Belanger '05 of SIM.Singers all agree, one of the best parts of being in an a cappella group is the friends that one makes among group members. "As far as my experience with the D-8 is concerned," said group Music Director Nathaniel Langer '05, "the best part about singing in the group is without a doubt the other guys. I have met many of my best friends through the group and after four years I still look forward to going to rehearsal and spending time with the other guys."
(11/20/03 12:00am)
Author: Joshua Carson, Ilyse Mehlman and Myra Palmero Debate Tournament Takes over BiHall Debate teams from across the Northeast converged on Bicentennial Hall this weekend to participate in an American Parliamentary Debate Associate tournament hosted by the Middlebury Debate Society (MDS). Because Middlebury hosted the event, the team was not able to participate in the actual debates, but instead acted as judges. The final round pitted Harvard against Boston University but after a seven to two decision passed by the Middlebury judges, Boston University walked away with the victory. The event hosted 32 debate pairs from Cornell, Brown, Boston University, Vassar, Hamilton, Brandeis, Amherst, Williams, Wesleyan, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who participated in the "Oktoberfest in November" themed tournament. Capped by a catered banquet from Dog Team Tavern and a party with a live performance by Penelope, debaters argued over topics ranging from "global politics to questions of constitutional law to hypothetical moral dilemmas," according to Vice President of MDS Andrew Gustafson '04. While the issues were heavy, Gustafson promises that "the atmosphere was very relaxed and informal, though that is not to say the actual debate rounds were any less intense." The tournament was organized into five rounds followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and a final round. The two opposing teams were split - one formulating the argument for the government and the other for the opposition. The government team is allotted 10 minutes to prepare and organize an argument, which it then presents to the opposition, who must make a statement and rebuttal without any prior knowledge of the topic. Teams are awarded points based on "organization, compelling speaking style, confidence, clarity, good analysis and sound logical argumentation," said Gustafson. Overall, Gustafson concluded, "most of the rounds were marked by good humor and spirited engagement."Seniors Nominated as Rhode Scholar Candidates Three seniors, Douglas Haber '04, Simon Isaacs '04 and Joseph Palombo '04, were nominated as candidates for the 2004 Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University. Granted to exemplary students in all facets of academic and extracurricular life who maintain a GPA of 3.7 and higher, Rhodes scholarships honor the ideal student. Every year, 32 American students between the ages of 18 and 24 are awarded the scholarships, which allow them to study at Oxford for two years. In the past, Middlebury students have been awarded the scholarships in 1980, 1989, 1993 and 1994. Since 1998 Middlebury has sent one or two of its students to district interviews annually. Because of the frequency of its students ending up as Rhodes finalists, Middlebury has recently been surveyed as part of a study that looked into the life and work of former Rhodes Scholars.To apply for the scholarship, students must first be nominated by the College. The current Rhodes nominees have gone through a screening process performed by the British Scholarship Selection Committee, consisting of Professor of English Elizabeth Napier, Charles A. Dana Professor of Political Science Murray Dry, Associate Professor of Economics Peter Matthews and Professor of History Paul Monod. The committee reviewed initial applications and conducted selection interviews to determine whether the students were qualified for a formal application. The initial application consists of five to eight letters of recommendation, a 1,000-word personal statement, a mock interview and a list of activities. Students are encouraged to apply at the time when their application appears most competitive, because winning a Rhodes scholarship through a second application is difficult.On Nov. 19, the three candidates attended the Rhodes scholarship state interviews. Vandalism Plagues New DormsWhile many students boogied to 80s hits in Ross Dinning Hall during "Viva Ross Vegas" last Saturday night, others took to vandalizing college property within Ross Commons. Assistant Director for Administration for the Department of Public Safety Melody Perkins said, "At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, one of our officers was patrolling Milliken, Hadley, Kelly, Lang and Ross when she came upon vandalized college property in several areas of the complex. On the third floor of Hadley, she found a broken wall mount hallway light." Perkins confirmed that three more hallway lights were found broken outside of the fitness area. At around 2:00 a.m., another patrolling officer came across further damage. An exit sign was torn from the ceiling of Hadley's first floor and ceiling tiles were broken and strewn all over the hallway. Another wall mount lighting fixture was broken. Later a third officer identified a student in the process of committing an act of vandalism.So who will pay for the necessary repairs? Perkins said, "The student who was observed damaging College property outside of the complex will be responsible for that damage." Ross Commons Dean Janine Clookey was unavailable to answer questions regarding the overall costs of the damage and who will pay for repairs.
(11/20/03 12:00am)
Author: Caroline Stauffer United States Presidential hopeful Lyndon LaRouche spoke on Friday at Middlebury College as part of a series sponsored by the College Democrats.The 2004 election marks the 80-year-old's eighth bid for the presidency.Leaders of the College Democrats said they hoped to ignite political discourse on campus by hosting a more controversial speaker, following earlier visits by representatives of the Howard Dean and John Kerry campaigns."The goal in bringing LaRouche to campus was to stimulate political discussion on this somewhat politically apathetic campus and eventually increase political participation and awareness," College Democrats co-chair Jon Brand '05.5 said.Indeed, the club's decision to host LaRouche certainly came under fire. The announcement of LaRouche's invitation drew several e-mails from alumni and objections by students and professors."We knew that he was a controversial candidate, but we were not fully prepared for some of the backlash that we received via alumni e-mails," Brand said. An atmosphere of nervous anticipation surrounded Chateu Grand Salon prior to LaRouche's speech. Some students sat holding newspaper clippings eagerly awaiting the opportunity to question LaRouche on some of his policy stances, while campaign supporters were positioned around the perimeter, surveying the audience. Both campaign literature and anti-LaRouche flyers were circulating through the small room, which was filled to capacity.According to College Democrats co-chair Laura Kelly '06 the presentation was "all on his [LaRouche's] budget."Kelly opened the event by introducing Bruce Marshall, who had put the group in touch with the LaRouche campaign."The lecture does not reflect the beliefs of the College Democrats," Kelly said. She also explained that the forum following LaRouche's speech would be moderated by having the audience write questions on index cards instead of moving directly to open dialogue.Marshall began by pointing out that Middlebury College was the first institution in the nation to call for the abolition of slavery, which demonstrates "a historically significant message of fair play," he said. He continued the slavery metaphor by suggesting that the state of modern politics could be interpreted as "slavery against the mind." "The life passion of LaRouche," he said, "was to remedy these evils."LaRouche's speech focused mainly on the "unnecessary war" with Iraq and what he called an "economic crisis."LaRouche claimed U.S. involvement in Iraq was "designed by civilian nuts who don't know what they are doing." The entire operation, he said, is "under the grip of the Vice President [Dick Cheney]," who he called a neo-conservative with imperialist designs for the United States. LaRouche's second point was that the United States is in an economic crisis comparable to the situations in 1928 and 1933. He cited 1963 as the height of American economic power, but since then, he said, "we have destroyed our society and our culture." "We are bankrupt," he proclaimed. LaRouche blames the current state of affairs on "post-industrial society," a non-productive "40 years of folly." He also drew widely on historical examples throughout his talk, likening the United States' current position to that of Greece after the Peloponnesian War.LaRouche's final point was that "informed youth are the most effective per capita political force in America." He claimed that his youth league in Los Angeles "almost stopped Schwarzenegger." The reason for the tremendous power of youth, LaRouche said, is the influence youth have over their parents to "get them to correct their mistakes." He also urged the continual pursuit of knowledge, especially through the study of history.During the open question period, LaRouche was interrogated about his alleged anti-Semitism, racism and conspiracy theories. LaRouche denied the accusations, claiming the citations had either been misquoted or were entirely fabricated. Some members of the College community believed LaRouche should not have been allowed to deliver his talk on campus, given his position as a convicted felon for mail fraud and conspiracy. In fact, LaRouche ran his 1992 campaign from prison. Thus, LaRouche cannot even vote for himself. Mike Crowley '05 handed out anti-LaRouche flyers at the lecture. "The talk did accomplish the goals of the College Democrats for the students from Middlebury. Certainly, there was a lot of debate afterwards," Crowley said. "As neat an opportunity as it was, I think it reflects poorly on us." Crowley's main concern was the College's linkage to the event. He believes it would have been better if LaRouche had spoken in town to eliminate any connections."Regardless of what the College thinks about his policy, there is almost a tacit support if you allow someone to come in," Crowley said. "I don't think we should associate with someone whose ideas are so hateful and dangerous. We shouldn't be linked to anything close to what he espouses." "As a demagogue and convicted felon, Lyndon LaRouche is highly unlikely to promote meaningful discussion of serious issues," Director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs and Professor of Political Science Allison Stanger said. "I do not object to his right to speak on campus, but I do object to the College promoting and endorsing his talk on its main Web page."The LaRouche campaign also had its own complaints about the event."The problem that arose was that the College Democrats came under severe stress because they sponsored the forum," said Angela Vullo, LaRouche's campaign coordinator. "They said it was a free and open forum, but under pressure, they controlled the questions that were all based on slander."Vullo claimed supporters were "very upset that LaRouche was treated this way." "The debate and discussion around LaRouche's ideas were completely stifled," Vullo said. "When the College is ready for an honest, forthright debate to discuss LaRouche's preemptive war policy and his view of the economy," Vullo said, "we recommend that it invite him back.""There were people in the meeting that were there to ensure that LaRouche's ideas couldn't get out," she said. "Our purpose [the College Democrats] of bringing LaRouche here was not to offend anyone on campus or involved in some aspect with Middlebury," Brand said. "I think that the response by Middlebury students in coming to the event and challenging him [LaRouche], as well as the response from many alumni, show that there was no support for his racist and xenophobic beliefs, as well as none for his conspiracy theories."
(11/20/03 12:00am)
Author: Abbie Beane Only in a setting so accepting of such a vast spread of musical genres and in a time when tastes in music are so diversified, could you find your listening preferences so threatened - often by bands and singers who fall outside the celebrity bracket. Such an overwhelming academic environment can be like a pressure cooker for "mainstream" tastes and artists who shamelessly sell themselves to the commercial music industry. In a random survey last weekend of 100 students' music preferences, the questions raised were more plentiful than those asked. The main issue is not only, "What are we listening to these days?" but more importantly "Who are we listening to on low volume? And why?" When did it become a near "taboo" to listen to popular music and artists - something one now feels he or she must either completely deny or tout proudly in an effort to fend off any forthcoming criticism. One theory could be that in the close confines of the small, New England, liberal arts "almighty intelligence arena" where everyone's watching your style as well as your scores, simple lyrics (even if against the catchy back drop of a smashing dance beat) are seen as cheap and vapid - devoid of the necessary ingenuity that comes from artists who write their own, often more abstract lyrics and music. Somewhere along the way the synthesizer lost its "umf" and its popular appeal, which isn't to say it won't or shouldn't make a comeback in the future. As one sophomore told The Middlebury Campus, "I think it's very much taboo here to like non-obscure, popular music like 80s cheese, for example Def Leppard. There is nothing wrong with liking music that is or has been popular. Long live good, old fashioned rock and roll." Yet in some cases students feel that it's not just the general Middlebury College public heckling the media hogs - it's everyone, though we're naturally fascinated by them as a culture. Maybe their unpopularity simply seems more pronounced here. Furthermore, this is not to discount those who simply don't give a "flying Figaro" about what other students think regarding their musical favorites. Several of the 100 students surveyed in a music poll last weekend claimed that they simply "don't care" what people think about their music tastes. The pie charts below pin-point more specifically what we're talking about, showing where student music preferences stand in the here and now. The five student voices featured to the right delve into why exactly students feel certain artists and genres are strictly forbidden from the bragging rights section of that old "case logic."
(11/20/03 12:00am)
Author: Daniel Phillips Last year, there were on average four members at the College Democrats' bimonthly meetings. Currently boasting a total of 87 names on their mailing list - a number that surpasses membership of many political organizations at Middlebury - the College Democrats are proof that political activism is a new trend on campus. The liberal presence of Lyndon LaRouche, presidential hopeful, was felt on campus long before his visit here last Friday, which placed many skeptical Middlebury eyes on their College Democrats who sponsored his visit."We are really setting up a new chapter here, and the event of this past weekend was the jumpstart," said Jonathan Brand '05.5, co-chair of the club. By bringing events like these to the College community, the campus liberals have recently basked in a surge in interest, attracting record numbers of students including new seniors. Brand noted that some first-years have already filled leadership positions for the Democrats, making them more likely to remain onboard for four years. "That's where you get a strong organization on campus," said Brand. On assuming club-wide support of issues such as abortion, income taxes or gun control, Brand noted they have yet to distribute a memo on such policies. "That's not where we are in terms of a club," Brand said. He claimed that the vast majority of members harbor different political views, but that the group's mantra promotes political activity and political awareness. "We are really more about promoting the Democratic process. The idea that Democrats are the majority [on campus] is somewhat justified by the people who go here. It makes for an interesting debate," he said.Defending Liberal LabelsBrand echoed the position of Tabby Connor '05, president of the College Republicans, in his belief that the Middlebury campus is not so much apathetic as it is unaware. "That does not - and should not - hinder anyone, especially at a campus with such open policies. You are not going to know all of the information unless you actively pursue it," said Brand. He described the most common response he receives concerning political activism at Middlebury as, "This is where I'm coming from and this where I want to go.""In my experience," said Brand, "I feel like people do not hesitate to speak up about political issues. This is a pretty accepting campus." Fellow Co-Chair of the College Democrats Laura Kelly '06 agreed with Brand's observations. "The forum of class discussion at Middlebury is tolerant and respectful of a plethora of ideas," she affirmed. There is a commonly held perception that Vermont has a liberal identity, but Brand sees Vermont as "politically progressive, active and aware." He said the engaging political environment "gives every club the chance to get off campus." Brand explained, "Once you get the real world feeling, you get the idea of what you need to accomplish on campus."On the AgendaApart from LaRouche's campus-wide address, the College Democrats have also hosted other awareness speeches at their meetings such as Addison County's Howard Dean campaign organizer Amy Morsman, campus representative for the Kerry campaign Chris Shields '04, Clare Studwell '04 for Teach for America and Liz Lyon '06.5 for the Prisoner's Rights Group. Kelly noted that the club is working to make absentee ballots more accessible to students. They have been collaborating with the College Progressives and the College Republicans to increase voter registration on campus. Preparations have also been made for a legislative breakfast in April. The club also embarked on an e-mail campaign called Head Start, chaired by Arielle Knudsen '06. The campaign"tried to address the issue that President Bush wants states to take away federal standards and oversight of the Head Start Program," said Kelly. Knudsen's campaign attempted to make representatives aware that states strapped for cash might be tempted to cut corners on such a successful program, according to Kelly. The club has recently compiled a Democratic campaign binder that "identifies the numerous candidates running for the Democratic Presidential Primary and summarizes their platform," said Kelly.2004 Presidential ElectionWith calendars turned to election month, presidential campaign fervor is already budding on campus. According to Eric Davis, professor of political science and secretary of the College, "The student vote will be very important in the 2004 election. Because the 'baby boom echo' generation is now of voting age, there will be more first-time voters - voters between the ages of 18 and 21 years old - in 2004 than in any previous election in our history."As part of the club's guidelines, according to Brand, the College Democrats are not permitted to collectively endorse a candidate until the end of the primary elections after the Democratic National Committee has chosen their frontrunner. Kelly elaborated, "The Middlebury College Democrats do not have a unified stance on a variety of issues because we value the different opinions that our members have." It has been difficult for the club to form one solid opinion because many of its members are working for various Presidential campaigns. However, Brand added that their participation "makes it less intimidating for people to get involved." As co-chair of the campus Democrats, Brand cannot say who he will support personally, so he must take more of an objective look at the election. From the campus Conservative's standpoint, Connor pointed out that many of the Democratic presidential platforms emerge in reaction to the Bush campaign and how it should be reformed. She expects nearly every member of the College Republicans to back Bush in the next presidential election. However, Vermont primaries do not occur until three to four months before the elections.Last month, Harvard University's Institute of Politics released a poll of 1,202 college students nationwide. The results showed that President Bush's approval rating has not declined since April and that he is currently favored by 61 percent of undergraduates, which is about 10 points higher than the general public. The Harvard poll also mirrors earlier results taken from the University of California at Los Angeles, that indicated that 31 percent identify themselves as Republican, 27 percent Democrats and 38 percent filling out the Independent or unaffiliated contingency.Davis published an Op-ed column in The Addison County Independent, in which he claimed, "The principal explanation for what appear to be the internal contradictions in this poll - general support of George W. Bush coupled with serious reservations about his Administration's policy in Iraq - is that students do not consider 'agreeing with me on the issues' or 'being attuned to the problems and needs of young people' as primary considerations in their judgment of presidential candidates."More than two-thirds of the students surveyed are registered to vote, and over 80 percent plan to vote in 2004 and think their participation will "make a difference in the Presidential election," as the press release claimed.Davis told an interviewer from WCAX Channel 3 News two weekends ago, "If Howard Dean ends up as the Democratic presidential nominee that President Bush would probably win 35 to 40 states and over 400 electoral votes." With the exception of New Hampshire, Davis does not see Dean winning any states outside New England, New York, Washington D.C., Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and probably California, since Schwarzenegger's win in the recall election shows more Republican tendencies than some analysts thought. Davis also suspects that the Middlebury student opinion about Bush might reflect the
regions of the country they are from. "I believe Bush would beat any of the leading Democratic presidential contenders, although Gephardt would probably be more competitive in some Midwestern states, such as Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri, while Edwards would be more competitive in some southern states, such as Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida," said Davis.By analyzing the Bush-Gore exit poll data from November 2000, the map provides these results: Republicans won the West, South and Midwest, while Democrats won the Northeast, the West Coast and several Midwest industrial states.Davis felt this might explain why student opinion at the most highly selective colleges and universities, such as the Ivies or NESCACs, might be very different from the national student opinion reported in the Harvard poll.
(11/13/03 12:00am)
Author: Lanford Beard Just in case some of you less pop-oriented folks out there didn't know, there's an official category for cheesy schlock music. It's called Adult Contemporary.In this category belongs my dear friend Clay Aiken. The second big loser on Fox's "American Idol" has joined the ranks of pop stars who have recently snatched themselves up a piece of urban allure with videos in the streets of New York.U2 led the charge in the 80s with its video for "Where The Streets Have No Name." If you were, like me, a loyal viewer of "Pop Up Video," you'll realize that the police intervention in the end was real.Flash forward to the new millennium when Avril Lavigne rabble-rouses for the fans with her popalicious single "Sk8er Boi." This time, however, that little Canadian rapscallion Avril has staged her riot and embellished her own fandom to force out the SWAT team to shut that show down.Very recently a handful of male pop sell-outs are trying to rough up their images with the flava of the streets. Most successful, I would argue, is Justin Timberlake with his "I'm Loving It" video, which is a pretty apparent rip-off of Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and the new McDonald's jingle. JT's "Like I Love You" set outside of a quickie mart, and his Mexicali saloon setting for "SeÒorita" also embraced a certain macho, trashy playa aesthetic, so we'll take it on the chin that this is the image he's building for himself and - love it or hate it - we might as well get used to it.Sadly, Mr. Aiken's addition to the white-boys-on-the-streets canon is less plausible. The assumption that people will accept Clay as putting on some rag-tag show to communicate that he too is one of the people is utterly ridiculous. I love the guy (I admit), but he is known for his studio-produced, over-orchestrated pop schmaltz. That is the appeal of "American Idol."When Kelly came out with the videos for her singles, they were cheesy, softly lit and smattered with fountains and formal wear. This was appropriate.When Ruben (the big winner of "AI" and my hometown neighbor) returned to Birmingham to film "Flying Without Wings," he embraced his roots and his man-of-the-people status. That was appropriate.And I understand that this video capitalizes on the live performance element of "AI," but Clay trying to ape Bon Jovi's "It's My Life," Avril or even Bono will not fly for those of us who have any idea of the image he worked so hard to build on the show.I'm a firm believer that pop videos are relevant cultural texts, so let's be all academic about it and examine the video, shall we?Clay kicks off this rock show with a melodic "Ooooooooooh." Jeepers he's masculine!The power of the song begins to draw innocent bystanders. The 13-year-old white girls and old ladies naturally migrate first, but lo! The punk rock kids, sk8er bois and even the neighborhood's 'ghettoboys' (as I'm sure they were dubbed in the video's call sheet) are eventually transfixed by the song. And, of course, in mid-diva, Clay embraces a crying fan, whose name I can only assume is Dorothy. This shows that Clay is so awe-inspiring that he can make young girls cry with joy by his very presence.Clay is clearly a man who knows how to bring together all walks of life and likes to cuddle. When they recall the governor of North Carolina, I'll be achin' for Aiken.
(11/06/03 12:00am)
Author: Peter Yordan In a stirring show of force and perseverance the Middlebury women's rugby team overcame injury, stormy weather, determined opponents and the burden of an up-and-down regular season to win their first ever New England Championship at MIT this weekend. After a convincing 10-0 win over the University of Maine - Farmington, the Panthers needed a last gasp penalty kick to win a thrilling 3-0 overtime victory over Worchester Polytechnic in order to secure the title and advance to Regionals this weekend at UMASS-Amherst. Even more importantly, with the victory Middlebury qualified to become a full time member of the elite Division II national rugby conference. The Panthers picked an opportune time to find their momentum. A month ago the squad was 2-2 and the playoffs were very much in doubt. It took a pair of gut-check victories over Keene State and Castleton in the Panthers' last two regular season games to see the team through to New Englands, where much to their surprise they were awarded the number one seed. The squad was not about to let their newfound ranking lead to overconfidence, however. "We knew we had the one seed, but since it's rugby and it's a new game, anything can happen, so we didn't want on prestige to win us anything," said Kate Nerenberg '05.First on the horizon was the University of Maine - Farmington, a big, physical team nearly unknown to the Panthers. Middlebury quickly set about turning Farmington's strength advantage into a weakness, using their superior speed and technical skill to grind down their opponents on route to a powerful 10-0 win. "We were a better coached team with better athletes," said Nerenberg. "We went into it pretty confident we could win." Relying on speedy wing play from Trilby Reeve '05 and Joannah Opot '05, the Panthers were able to outflank the soon-winded Mainers again and again. Field Captain Katy Hoeschler '04 powered in with a try in the first half to give the team a 5-0 lead as Middlebury dominated possession. The Panthers doubled the scoreline on a Reeve try in the second half and then relied on stalwart defense to keep their hapless adversary at bay until time expired.The team had little time to congratulate itself on its impressive performance, however, as Middlebury had to turn around and face off against a determined Worchester Polytechnic Institute side in the tournament final the very next day. "It was tough," said club President Devin Green '04, "we were all really sore and we knew that the team we would be playing was going to be a lot harder to beat." The Panthers were also without Green herself, whose scratched cornea forced her to the sidelines. On the line too was a critical promotion to Division II athletics for the program, a move that would push the squad into a whole new universe of competition. Middlebury would need to pull together another commanding performance to carry the day.The game that followed, however, went beyond anyone's expectations. "I've never been a part of any game that was so even, it was really, really tough," said Green. "It was so intense, with all of the parents and the fans. Even people who weren't rooting for one team or the other were really impressed by how even the two teams were." Through 80 brutal minutes the two sides fought back and forth in a vain but determined attempt to score. "You could hardly hear your teammates screaming, it was so loud," said Nerenberg of the atmosphere on the field. "We definitely had a lot of confidence. We just knew that if we did all the little things right and played as a team we could come out on top."Unable to score, however, Middlebury was forced to put its season on the line in overtime. The Panthers desperately worked to hold themselves together as WPI began to crack and bicker under the pressure. Yet still the game went on through two overtime periods without a breakthrough on either side. The game seemed destined for penalty kicks when Middlebury was awarded a crucial penalty kick two minutes from the end. That unenviable task fell to Nerenberg, who had missed an easier kick earlier in the game. "I was pretty frustrated and tired and I just wanted the game to be over," said Nerenberg. "I tried to kick it just like in practice." With the tension ratcheted up still higher, the team watched as Nerenberg's shot rose through the uprights. "It was scary, we were pretty nervous," said Green. The minute she scored everyone just erupted. I've never been so excited in my life." The Panthers held on for two more endless minutes until the final whistle blew, leaving the team to collapse on Nerenberg in a pile of joy and relief.The horizon suddenly seems bright for a women's program that has long languished in the shadow of the dominant men's rugby team. Middlebury now heads off to UMASS-Amherst for the Northeastern Regional Tournament. "We're just expecting to go out and play our best no matter who we play," said Green. "The worst thing in the world is just to walk off the field knowing you didn't play your best."Even more importantly, the New England victory qualified the team to become a member of Division II rugby, an important step in the development of women's rugby at the College. "We have always played up to our competition," said Nerenberg. "I have confidence that we'll be able to make a statement in Division II, and it's really a great step for our program."
(11/06/03 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Gissing, Joshua Carson, Myra Palmero Twelve students were inducted into Middlebury College's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Saturday, Nov. 1, at a ceremony held in the Redfield Proctor Room. Professor of History and President of the Middlebury Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Don Wyatt gave the welcoming address to the 80 audience members, consisting of a diverse group of parents, siblings and extended family members of the inductees, College faculty as well as the inductees. President John McCardell followed with the introduction of the new members of Phi Beta Kappa and the presentation of the historical Phi Beta Kappa Keys. "Induction requires exceptional and broad academic achievement, mainly as reflected in fabulous grades on one's transcript," said Wyatt. "The students who become Phi Beta Kappans are - to a person - intellectually driven and committed to high personal achievement." This year's inductees, elected to the chapter after three years of study at Middlebury College were Ryan Abernathey '04, Paul Armstrong '04, Claire Bourne '04, Lila Buckley '04, Dimiter Kenarov '04.5, Pascale LaFountain '04.5, Mary Montgomery '04, Emily Peterman '04, Kaelin Rasmussen '04, D. Hunter Smith '04, Richard Chesley Thurber III '04 and Kyle Viani '04.Wyatt continued by saying, "Induction also thrusts certain lifelong obligations upon the inductee - not the least of which is continued intellectual leadership, regardless of what career one pursues after graduation."
(11/06/03 12:00am)
Author: Edward Pickering Having travelled relatively little in my life, I am unqualified to discuss the comparative drinking habits of countries. I have only the United States, Scotland and perhaps Australia to work with. Well, let's temporarily forget Australia. Various statistics, all equally astounding, are quoted concerning the pub-to-person ratio in St. Andrews. That there are numerous pubs is indisputable. That you may take your pick of them on any night of the week is one of St. Andrews' prime pleasures. As far as I can tell, and I've done a little investigating, pubs acquire and lose reputations with surprising ease. That the trendy students frequent pub X this year is no guarantee that they will two years from now. Presently, I spend a considerable time at Broons and Westport, two of the "classier" establishments. For me, it all boils down to location and layout: I am an incipient connoisseur of pub design. The infrastructure of space in which I am drinking determines, to a large extent, my enjoyment. Do I feel cozy? Exposed? Can I freely and inconspicuously people watch? How high are the ceilings? What emotional adjustment is occasioned by this sunken recess? For these and other vital musings I must thank a Middlebury architecture professor. But I digress.The point is, a great many factors contribute to producing a favourable or unfavourable pub experience. Pubs are as variable as the drinks they serve, which themselves are as variable as the different palates they please. The student union attracts hordes of penurious students. Here, the drinks are cheap. Elsewhere the drinks are sometimes free. Go to the Gin House on a Tuesday night and you'll receive a free shot of Bailey's whenever a U2 songs airs. The Castle, a rather homely little den on North Street, serves all pints for one pound and 80 pence from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. When the drinks in question vary as much from Guinness to Tennets (not recommended) a flat rate can prove quite enticing. Last Thursday I bought my professor a whiskey and soda at this very pub. I myself drank a pint of Velvets, a creamy concoction half way between a liquid and a meal.The pubs exert a strong pull at all hours of the day. No, I do not have a drinking problem. I just suffer from a deep appreciation for the pub atmosphere. After a solitary afternoon of reading and running on the beach (industrious pursuits) what better than a single, slow drink with a friend? For such an occasion head to the Victoria. On a Saturday night buzzing with excitement and romantic possibility, head just about anywhere, but make sure to stop by Westport or Lizard at least once.As for the comparison between drinking habits in Scotland and America, I wouldn't really know. Age (I'm only 20) has limited my stateside experience to closed rooms and kegs. Not much of an experience if you ask me. I warned you I wasn't qualified.
(10/30/03 12:00am)
Author: Abbie Beane Each year the College finds an increasing number of ways to explore what a liberal arts education is all about - comparing and contrasting a variety of subject areas to create interdisciplinary programs, projects, performances and symposiums. Most recently the arts and history departments did just that, collaborating to piece together "St. Peter's Dream" for the annual R. Clifford Symposium, and on Oct. 30 the sports program and the arts departments will do it again, joining forces to present the first symposium on "Inspiration and Perspiration." Scholar-in-Residence in environmental studies Bill McKibben will convene a group of experts to discuss the theme of endurance, where an eclectic group of athletes, scholars and artists will offer their varied perspectives. Not only will the symposium feature the American record holder in the 100-mile run, a reason in and of itself to attend, but also a couple of renowned biographers and authors and the College's Dance Company of Middlebury. According to McKibben, who also serves as faculty advisor of the college's Nordic ski team, he wants to more tightly weave together the College's "high-caliber athletics and world-class academic program." McKibben told The Middlebury Campus, "The idea came to me because, as a relative newcomer to Middlebury, I was struck by how seriously people took both their studies and their athletics and also by how little those two worlds seemed to overlap. When people went down the hill to the gym they left one part of them behind, and vice versa when they walked back up to the classrooms."When asked about the most trying experience personally on his endurance, McKibben remembers skiing the Norwegian Birkebeiner one March a few years ago. "It was perhaps the toughest big ski race in the world, 45 miles or so with immense uphills. But 10,000 people ski it and some of them are in their 80s or 90s. I remember skiing alongside them thinking that many of these people were skiing in these woods as a part of the Resistance in World War II and they've kept at it, year after year - not because they're going to win the race, but because we're all finding out things about ourselves, cataloguing our strengths and weaknesses more thoroughly than we've done before. It's this process of self-discovery that's so interesting to me."It's particularly interesting to talk with McKibben about the nordic ski team, an extremely serious bunch of athletes, which frequently triumph over numerous schools with Division I programs that recruit from overseas. McKibben boasts that they are also "some of the most reflective people I know, perhaps in part because they spend many hours every week out in the most beautiful world I can imagine, the world of Addison County in its winter glory."The symposium will also feature a talk by Jay Parini, professor of English at the College and renowned biographer, on "Endurance and the Writing Life." Parini has just recently finished a biography of William Faulkner and is also known for his biographies of Robert Frost and John Steinbeck, who, according to Parini raise fascinating questions about endurance and how writers pace themselves through a lifetime of hours at work with the pen and typewriter. "I think the idea of endurance is fascinating," Parini says, "How did Faulkner, for example, manage to write so well for so long, to produce so many masterworks. To go back to the desk day after day, in good and bad emotional weather?" Parini also mentions his admiration for author Charles Dickens, who had a capacity to keep inventing and transforming his vision throughout his entire life, and poet William Butler Yeats, who "never stopped thinking and working, writing and rewriting." This is not to say that Parini is any stranger to athletics either. Being an avid basketball fan and author of an essay titled, "No Tenure in the Gym at Noon," Parini claims that he has always loved athletes who overcame some sort of obstacle - "the Lance Armstrongs." He mentions Michael Jordan in particular, a man who has the "ability to create shots on the court, even when double or triple-teamed," and a man who played in "that big game (the finals) in 1997 when he was sick with the flu, scoring at crucial moments. That is somehow heartening." Parini played quite a bit of basketball himself, and though he admits to being a terrible player, he keeps at it, knowing that no one cares if he's good or not in his prime. "I think athletes have a lot to teach us about how to conduct our lives (on the court that is). If we're talking about NBA players, they often show no restraint off the court," he wittingly reminds us. One other important Middlebury representative who will be getting in on this game is Associate Professor of English at the College Gary Margolis, who will read one of his works out of his collection of "American Sports Poems." Many may not know that Margolis is also a Middlebury alumni who played football, basketball and lacrosse back in his day as well, while at the same time allowing poetry writing to creep into the mix. "The language and drama, as well as the body-centered aspect of athletics, has always felt of one fabric to me. So I have a number of poems where football, basketball, lacrosse, golf and swimming are the central themes and metaphors." One of Margolis's works, an ode to Michael Jordan, was even lauded by the former Bulls star himself. "The Burning Bush of Basketball" tucked into his new book, "Fire in the Orchard," focuses on the playoff game between the Celtics and the Bulls during which Jordan broke the all-time play-off record by scoring 63 points. Margolis told The Campus that the poem was published in Middlebury Magazine where a Chicago Midd alum discovered it and carted it back to her health club where Jordan received whirlpool treatments. "She took him the poem, he read it and said that he liked it," said Margolis, so he then "signed the poem and asked her to bring to me. I have it in my office here in Centeno and it is one of my treasures."Personally, I would reserve courtside seats for this symposium, which will not only feature these talented athletes, but a score of others, lending themselves to one of the most interesting interdisciplinary symposiums of the semester. Besides, wouldn't want to get in on a little discussion about stamina?
(10/23/03 12:00am)
Author: Suzanne Mozes A uniquely egalitarian art exhibit opened Friday, Oct. 10 at the Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts in Burlington. Giving artists of all abilities an opportunity to display their work, "The Fourth Annual Firehouse Open" now showcases the first 50 artists that arrived at the Firehouse doors on Monday morning, Oct. 6 and runs through Nov. 16.Toting single pieces of artwork prepared for installation, artists began assembling at 5 a.m. on lower Church Street. When the Firehouse doors unlocked five hours later, the line had wormed its way down the street with approximately 70 to 80 pieces of artwork in tow.The artists' range of ages - 20-something college students to an 80 year-old woman - bridged a gap as wide in years as the show itself bridges the breach between diverging styles, materials, subject matter and artistic messages. The purpose of creating "The Open" is "to support a wider range of artists, with diverse disciplines, styles and backgrounds," according to the mission statement on the gallery's wall. Despite its arbitrary "first come" submission process, the system yielded representation in almost all medias - painting, sculpture, photography, sound installation, cartoon and pen and ink.For six hours following the morning registration, Jessica Dyer, director of exhibitions and curatorial services, designed the exhibit with her staff. Emily Currin, a member of Dyer's staff, explained that the artists' "high energy" that morning made it particularly exciting to "find the flow" of the show. In spite of the indiscriminate collection of artwork, many of the pieces found natural connections among themselves that allowed for a predominantly easy installation. For example, Emily Kalina's oil painting of a female nude with her head bowed in shame, entitled "Don't Look at Me," perpendicularly faces Jonathan Wolloch's collage piece, "Wreckless Abandonment," made of acrylic, watercolor, marker, pen, pencil and whiteout pen. The two yards separating the works almost suggest that Kalina's nude abandoned Wolloch's unorthodox, wild piece in shame. Moreover, Joshua Highter's untitled monoprint strangely reiterates the female profile of Gampo Wickenheiser's granite sculpture of a female bust, "Heather," on a flat, two-dimensional surface. Dyer told The Burlington Free Press, "In some cases, it may not be a style of work that we typically accept at this particular gallery for a show, as we focus on more avant garde, contemporary pieces." While the show undoubtedly does present a contrast to The Firehouse's characteristic exhibits, many contemporary pieces made the cut.Jennifer Pond's "Dark and Stormy," placed in the front of the gallery, lures passersby in from the street. Chiefly using blues and whites, Pond creates a tension of soft lines, reminiscent of a sea anenome, pulling the viewer into the disturbingly dark depths of the piece. By assuming an intrinsic human emotion expressed through body language, the line work exceeds artistic motion and illuminates an emotional storm beneath the waves of the flailing activity on the canvas' surface, suggesting a depth of despair that the viewer still cannot access.Neth Urkiel-Taylor's "Mother's Womb" proved to be a highlight at "The Open." A bulbous rustic basket encloses a handwritten letter from a birthmother asking to make contact with her son. The piece, dated 1998, echoes the same year as the letter. Quietly letting viewers draw their own conclusions, "Mother's Womb" passively evokes emotion by establishing unique maternal connections through identification with a nest and its feminine counterpart with natural materials. While the artist could simply be making a statement, the letter seems to be written by Urkiel-Taylor's own mother, as he now has appended her last name onto his own, reinforcing the importance of the mother-son relationship that resounds inside the belly of the basket.The liberal acceptance process allowed for several pieces that failed to actually communicate with its audience such as Brian Guercio's untitled sound installation. Emanating from a plastic tub covered in cloth, the listener, aided by a stethoscope, hears a heartbeat interrupted occasionally by a voice whispering "I'm going to share some personal information with you." This submission failed to interact on either an intellectual or artistic level and seemed to have been presented simply for the sake of submission.While engaging the viewer with images like little girls playing in the water, the photography submissions were slightly lacking in originality. However, Kate Rower's "Speedqueen," an Iris print featuring dryers in laundry facility, stood out as a positive example of experimentation with angle and composition.Despite the range of ability displayed, "The Open" has given the somewhat inert artistic community in Burlington a chance to display its work, discuss its ideas and interact in the process. Marketing and Public Relations Director Ted Fisher told The Burlington Free Press, "It's a very democratic way to have an art show. It's based strictly ont drive, enthusiasm and persistence."Essentially, the Firehouse has eliminated any pretentious undertones in the exhibit. By arbitrarily accepting artwork on "first come first serve" submission basis, the gallery has chosen to let the art speak for itself.
(10/23/03 12:00am)
Author: Emily Thaler Keith Williams, a first-year from Manchester, N.H., will be representing Middlebury College in this year's "Jeopardy" College Week series, which airs beginning Nov. 10. Williams has been an avid "Jeopardy" fan for years and claims to have first watched the show when he was three years old. In addition to his interest in the show, Williams also has experience as a game show contestant. Throughout high school, he participated in an interscholastic quiz bowl, which featured longer format questions than those asked on "Jeopardy." Williams' high school team made it to the state semi-finals, where he was selected to be part of an all-state all-star team. The all-star team traveled to a larger tournament in Florida, where it lost in the second round. Williams attributed the loss to the competition's "unusual format for questions."The format of "Jeopardy" questions should pose few problems for Williams, though, given his long-standing interest in the game show. He prepared for "Jeopardy" primarily by watching the shows or reading old questions and learning the correct answers. A potential political science major, Williams' strongest categories are geography, science and math. He admits that he is "all right" at pop culture and celebrity gossip but doesn't really like it. World Capitals is the only area Williams actually studied for prior to the competition.Williams found out about the college series while watching "Jeopardy" and then signed up online. After registering, he was selected at random to try out for "Jeopardy" in New York City. The game show recruits potential contestants and tests them at four different sites around the country: Los Angeles, New York, Indianapolis and New Orleans. Williams, the geography expert, noted "they cover pretty much all areas except the Rocky Mountain states." The "Jeopardy" test-date was initially set for Aug. 16 but had to be rescheduled for Sept. 6 due to a blackout in the Northeast. The make-up date wound up coinciding with Middlebury College's First-Year Orientation, and Williams was left to "wrestle with going to 'Jeopardy' or finishing orientation." He eventually realized, "Hey, this is my one chance," and left orientation early to travel down to New York City. Ironically, the Vermonter had to switch out of his MOO trip and into "This is Vermont" so that he would be able to leave early. On the Saturday, Williams took a written test with about 80 other "Jeopardy" potentials, at the Times Square Westin Hotel. The test consisted of 50 questions, each representative of a different category, and participants needed to get 35 right to pass the exam. Announcer Johnny Gilbert read the question via recording, and contestants were given eight seconds to respond correctly. In addition to William's testing, there were two other testing times that day, as well as on Sunday which gives some indication of the size of the contestant pool.After the written test, Williams and 14 others in his testing group who had passed the exam were asked to stay and compete in a mini-game, complete with buzzers and a game board projected onto a screen. In the mini-game, each group of three was asked 12 questions. Williams admitted that he did not do as well as he would have liked in the mini-game, but it didn't matter, as the mini-game was simply a test for "TV compatibility." He had already proven that he could answer the questions in the written exam.The Tuesday after he tested in New York, Williams received a call from "Jeopardy" asking him to participate in the college series. The taping would be at Yale, and representatives from the show made plans for his travel and accommodation. Williams was reunited with a fellow competitor from the tryouts on his flight from Burlington to Albany to Hartford.Throughout the early days of the tournament, the two contestants hung out with another contestant from Carleton College, whom they met in the elevator of their hotel. Despite the fact that "Jeopardy" did not want the contestants to associate with one another prior to the tapings, the trio spent some of their down time seeing the sites in New Haven.During the first week of taping, Williams and 14 other college students competed in groups of three until the field could be narrowed down. Confidentiality agreements made by all contestants forbid Williams from revealing the outcome of his stint on the show, but the results will air soon in Middlebury. Williams' first game will air on Wednesday, Nov. 12, on Channel 5 at 7 p.m. "College Week" will run weeknights at 7 p.m. from Nov. 10 to 21.
(10/23/03 12:00am)
Author: Edward Pickering The words "wilderness" and "wasteland" are used interchangeably to describe any barren, imposing landscape. To say that the Western Highlands of Scotland are barren would be an understatement - a failure of description. The West Highland Way stretches from Glasgow north to Fort William, 95 miles of moorland and mountain bisected by a single highway. The Bridge of Orchy, a collection of mostly white buildings grouped around a hotel, sits astride the road and in the shadow of the 3,000-plus foot peaks Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh. From their summits one can see clear to the horizon, bare mountains and sheer valleys extending on all sides. Not a single unplanted tree adorns the denuded slopes of this range; aside from rock, sheep are the only projections. Man has left his foot trails and cairns, but nothing more. Even Nature, elsewhere so liberal, seems to have begrudged the place its tiny stock of plants and animals. To return to my original question: are the Highlands a wilderness or wasteland? Or, what is the distinction? And why, on the summit of Beinn Dorain, was I reminded of Greece, and then Vermont? I'm told that the Highlands were blanketed by forest a mere few thousand years ago. Moose, bear and lynx inhabited these wilds. But these species and many more vanished from Scotland, the victims of deforestation largely caused by agriculturally and pastoral-ly minded humans. The same goes for the Peloponnese, the birthplace of ancient Greek civilization, home to Corinth, Sparta, Pylos and Argos. Since time immemorial the Peloponnese has borne the rustic face with which we, in the modern age, instinctively associate all things Greek, past and present. Burnished hillsides with low growing shrubbery, the odd cluster of attenuated trees, a prevailing midday sun - that is our conception of Greece. Yet, bears and lions used to roam the Peloponnese and forests were once abundant and extensive, at least, until man did away with them sometime in the B.C.'s. The landscape we think of as uniquely Greek - as "natural" - is in fact an environmentally degraded one. So, too, are the West Highlands. All of which makes me think of Vermont and a startling statistic I was told by a professor. In 1900 farmland covered 80 percent of Vermont, forest 20 percent. By 2003 the numbers had reversed: forest 80 percent, farmland 20 percent. To think that Vermont's woods, so characteristic of the state, were reclaimed from pastureland. Vermont has always seemed so "natural" to me, so "untouched."The next time you cross a stonewall crumbling in the middle of the woods, stop and consider why it is there; consider how different New England must once have looked. Of the Peloponnese, West Highlands and New England, I cannot say which is most pristine, least touched. It all makes me wonder if I have ever seen a true "wilderness," or if all the locales of my life are, in some respect, semi-"wastelands."
(10/23/03 12:00am)
Author: Daniel Phillips Last winter during the Atwater dining hall construction excavation, the icy runoff from the site froze into a 15-foot cascading ice flow that lured an extreme group of on-campus climbers for several ascents in the middle of the night. However, their undercover escapades are on the verge of becoming an organized sport at Middlebury College as part of the Middlebury Mountain Club (MMC), pending grants of the Finance Committee expected later this week.MMC Gear Guru Andy Hale '06, noted that there are already four pairs of ice axes - or "tools" in climber jargon - on campus, and nearly 100 students have actively voiced interest in ice climbing by signing a petition drafted by MMC. The only remaining obstacle is securing enough funding from the College to purchase at least six new sets of equipment.Hale explained that part of the reason MMC decided to incorporate an ice climbing option was due to the "phenomenal amount of interest out there. Ice climbing is hard to get into," Hale continued. "You either need all the equipment yourself or know someone who has the tools and the know-how. It's not like getting a pair of running shoes." Michelle Long '04, president of MMC, has been working with Hale to get ice climbing off the ground at Middlebury. She was inspired by a particular trip that she went on last winter - she stopped by the climbing wall and mentioned that she was going ice climbing and 10 people said they wanted to come along. Long felt as though she were leading an MMC trip, and decided that there should be room for ice climbing within the Mountain Club itself. Hale and Long went to the Finance Committee yesterday to put forth their ice climbing initiative, and should know the extent of funds by the end of this week. If all goes according to plan, MMC plans to have ice-climbing trips embarking as soon as Winter Term.Apart from the unprecedented student support and enthusiasm for the sport on campus, the other driving force behind the development of ice climbing at the College has come from the new Assistant Director for Outdoor Programs and Events, Derek Doucet, who recently replaced Megan Smith. Long explained that the topic of ice climbing was one of the first she proposed to Doucet upon his appointment, to which he was extremely receptive. He has already been more than helpful in obtaining a wealth of manufacturer discounts for the purchase of new equipment, which at retail price amounts to over $6,000 for six pairs of crampons, 12 pairs of boots and three pairs of tools, according to Hale. Additionally, Doucet has arranged for an insurance company to cover the MMC from the potential liability associated with the new program. Doucet noted, "The enthusiasm and motivation to bring ice climbing to the MMC has been entirely student generated. I've just been happy to be able to assist by providing the expertise to get the program off the ground." Doucet has experience in risk management in outdoor programming with numerous guide services, colleges and universities and different Outward Bound schools. "So far, my role has been advising the club on selecting and purchasing the equipment needed for an institutional ice climbing program," Doucet added. "As we move forward, I'll be implementing a training seminar for MMC leaders that will address institutional climbing leadership in the winter environment. The training will be focused on risk management in ice climbing, participant care and group management in cold weather environments, suggested teaching strategies and progressions and general outdoor leadership theory, among other topics." Doucet continued, "It will also include an orientation to various nearby ice climbing sites appropriate for institutional use, and a discussion of what makes sites suitable and unsuitable for MMC ice climbing trips. I envision this training being at least one and possibly two weekends in duration."After the training, the MMC may begin running ice climbing trips just as they do with other activities such as rock climbing, backpacking or canoeing, which customarily includes a sign-up in the McCullough mail space, a meeting of the guides involved and a status check of all equipment for the trip. "The one crucial difference," Doucet pointed out, "is that since ice climbing is a completely new activity for the MMC, I'll be going in to the field to directly supervise the trips as the student leaders become comfortable with the new program. This will serve as additional hands on training time for the student leaders, with me serving as an experienced set of eyes to back them up. The idea is that they will actually run the trips, and my role will be to only intervene if risk management or program quality issues make it necessary to do so, or if my assistance is specifically requested."There is a plethora of ice climbing options available to interested adventurers during the Vermont winter. At the nearby Bristol Cliffs, nestled just west of the Green Mountains south of Burlington, a quarter-mile hike up a steep, wooded slope leads to the base of an 80-foot-wide, 220-foot high face of sprawling ice, tumbling down from the roof in a 40-degree pitch, with a swath of vertical ice at the top - any ice climber's ecstasy. Hale also pointed out that the Adirondack Mountains boast some of the best ice climbing in the country, and not too far from Smuggler's Notch or Huntington Ravine, the east face of Mount Washington, Middlebury is smack in the middle of the New England's premier destinations. Long is confident that the sport will catch on at the College since no prior experience is necessary to participate, and those avid ice climbers who need no further instruction would have the opportunity to lead future trips as guides.Hale describes the experience as "absolutely different than rock climbing. It's different in that you are absolutely relying on your gear and your ability to use that gear correctly." He referred to ice climbing as being a "very ephemeral" and "surreal experience" due to the unnatural process of harnessing the elements, for in a week's time, a perfect ice flow may entirely vanish.
(10/23/03 12:00am)
Author: Jake Donaldson What started as a season full of hope and confidence ended inauspiciously this week, when the final glimmer of optimism for the men's golf team's fall season was extinguished at the 69th annual New England Inter-Collegiate Golf Association Championships (NEICGA) in Brewster, Mass. After a week's rest during which the team tried to regroup from its fourth place NESCAC finish, the Panthers once again received no help from mother nature, who assaulted Cape Cod with rain and wind over the weekend, making it difficult for Middlebury to ever completely gain its focus. "Heck, I'll be the first to admit that the weather bothered us. This whole season, we just can't catch a break," said a frustrated Jay "future" Yonamine '07, who also noted that the team was "miffed" that the New England tourney took away their fall break. Indeed, with midterms behind them, and more to come in less than a week, our student-athletes had a tough time working up motivation for the weekend's cold, gray battle. Especially since their real season, which ended at Williams two weeks ago, was no longer of any consequence. "There were more things on our minds than [golf]," admitted Mitch St. Peter '06.5, "I hate to say it, but with nothing really on the line, we didn't bring everything to the table." The field of competitors at the NEICGA was filled with daunting competitors from the most prestigious Division I and II programs, as well as a few other D-III squads, including a thinned NESCAC lineup of Amherst, Trinity and Wesleyan, as well as the Panthers. None of the D-III teams finished near the top of the 45 team pack. In fact, it is estimated that all finished in the last 10 spots (final results were not yet posted at press time).Middlebury was not without some individual highlights, however. Chad Bellmare '07, shot a first- day 79, the only Panther to break 80 on either day. Chuck Clement '04, who has been a pivotal member of the team in terms of morale, turned in a solid two-day score of 172, 2nd best on the team, and Derek Singer '05 shot a 175 total. One disappointing finish was St. Peter, who started the season in a blaze of glory but finished with a tumultuous lack of confidence in his short game. He failed to keep his composure. "What can I say?" a defeated St. Peter said hours after he got off the course. "It was a disappointing end to a disappointing season."Certainly, none of the Panthers were happy with the end of their season. But the players are keeping a positive attitude about the spring. Bellmare expressed eagerness for another crack at rival Williams, and Clement is looking towards a strong finish to a storied Middlebury career. So, the desire is definitely there for Coach Beaney to channel. "Chekhov, when looking at winter, spoke of a season cold and bereft of hope," waxed St. Peter, "but after the encouraging attitudes I saw [after the weekend], I think the coldest time of year will serve to heat our drive for a spring title."
(10/23/03 12:00am)
Author: Jake Heller This is the year. At the beginning of every baseball season Red Sox fans forget about the disappointment of the season before and reaffirm their steadfast belief that in fact this is the year. This is the year in which the Curse of the Bambino will be lifted and Boston will take home its first World Series since 1918. Allow me to bring some people up to speed with a brief history lesson. In 1919 the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Since then the Yankees have gone on to win 26 World Series titles while the Red Sox have come up empty. The Red Sox have been to four World Series since 1918, losing each one in a deciding Game 7. As an outsider to the Red Sox nation I am always utterly amazed at Sox fans ability to actually argue with a straight face why the Sox will finally win after years of heartbreak. One would suspect that after 80 years of failure these people would realize the baseball gods are not with them and acknowledge that most likely "this is not the year." No chance. Red Sox fans believe they are a chosen people and only through complete faith will the team ever have a chance to reach the Promised Land.Perhaps it is time for Red Sox fans to change tactics. My grandfather passed on at 74. He was another lifelong Sox fan who never saw them win one. When Grady Little passes on, man is he going to hear about it for leaving Pedro in that game. Maybe they should take the Chicago Cubs fan perspective and accept the inevitable while hoping for a championship instead of feeling they are entitled to one. The Cubbies never win anything so "getting close" is a real change of events for their fans. The Red Sox always get close. This season added on to the legacy of brutal Red Sox playoff exits - a game 7 ALCS loss at the hands of the hated Yankees. Watching the games with Red Sox fans I was struck by what I must admit is the most passionate following of anything I have ever seen. I love Red Sox fans. We always win but these fans have given their souls to this team.I am genuinely jealous that there is a chance I will see the Red Sox win before I die because to be a Sox fan on that day will be far greater than any Yankees championship. Rooting against the Sox made me feel as if God was going to strike me down for teasing these "spiritual" fanatics. As always, each Sox win exponentially increased the confidence of their fans to the point of frequent comments such as "This series is ours." The fans knew the history. These Sox made them forget all of it. This team was going to do it. Boston would party like its 1918! And then it happened. Once again this was not the year. So I offer this advice: Kick the habit Sox fans. Surrender to the Dark Side. In the baseball world there is only one God, Babe Ruth. Remember he walks around the eternal hall wearing pinstripes.
