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(01/25/03 12:00am)
Author: Alexandra Hay Stripes of light shine on the pale golden stage, a grotesque mask sits on a pole upstage left -- a hideously distorted papier-mache` image of a man's face, or a monster's. A Cuban song plays softly, the woman's voice full and rich. The first dance in Artist-in-Residence Amy Chavasse's Cuba Project dance performance, "The Fruit Axiom," is about to begin. A companion piece to her earlier work, "Death, Beauty, and Flying," "The Fruit Axiom" was inspired by the late Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas' novel, "Farewell to the Sea." At first the interpretation seems almost too literal -- the dancers hold hands and rush towards and away from the audience, echoing the sounds of crashing waves that flood the theater. Then the dance shifts, as the dancers speak one after another, using text drawn from both Arenas' book and Chavasse's own inspiration. They relentlessly describe the ocean in hauntingly detached voices, "glittering, black, deep, black, echoing, blue, immense." The sound of the ocean shifts into an evocative melody that blends into a soft piano section. The music, however, remains a backdrop to the dance itself, a framework within which the dancers create texture and meaning. Described as "a long, rambling, hallucinatory exposition,""Farewell to the Sea" centers on a husband and wife at the seashore. The tension between their grating, strained relationship and the beautiful imagery of their physical setting emerges. This disturbing juxtaposition seems to have fueled Chavasse's piece, "The Fruit Axiom." The dancers evoke the internal sensations of the novel as their distant, detached faces stare out at a plane of existence more spiritual than corporal. Solos, trios and full company sections flow by in sweeping, off-balance gestures, periodically interrupted as a dancer shakes or jerks, trying to reinhabit a physical reality but never fully succeeding. Text scattered throughout the piece draws the audience even further into this world, coaxing laughter as one dancer, resting her hands on her knees, challenges the audience: "This is not some new form of transportation," she says, "you won't be going anywhere." She continued, "This is not real fruit; the taste will disappoint you." Chavasse describes her choice of title, "The Fruit Axiom," as an attempt to capture the "dark underside and layers of subterfuge," which permeate Arenas' work. "You expect fruit to taste wonderful, but what if it's rotten inside?" An axiom being something that is accepted as universally true, "The Fruit Axiom," challenges the audience to look for the dark layer of trick beneath the truth. The Cuba Project traces its origins to the early 90s when Chavasse first started choreographing a duet that eventually grew into "Death, Beauty and Flying." It was influenced by her experiences in the early 80s when she was working in New York City and living with Juan Gonzalez, a Cuban painter who was HIV positive and later died of AIDS. Her time in New York was a combination of "the most wonderful and terrifying things," as she danced professionally, faced her mother's death, and saw Gonzalez deal with his mortality, painting graceful scenes of "life, death and redemption." When she started work on "Death, Beauty, and Flying" shortly after his death, she says her inspiration came from "his work, him, and my time with him it was a full and rich time for me." Reflecting this, "Death, Beauty, and Flying" begins with slides of Gonzalez's paintings projected against the backdrop of the stage. Many of the paintings feature images of birds and themes of ascension, as haunting figures gaze out of the frames, beautiful and scared. The dance echoes the paintings, as one dancer lifts another who flaps her arms, aching to fly. The tone of the piece is similar to that of "The Fruit Axiom," but darker. The dancers seem to reach repeatedly upward, straining towards something higher, before falling back down to a world of regret and pain. The dance moves through a series of bleak portraits, evoking a sense of disconnection and loss before ending as it began, with the paintings of Gonzalez projected on the back wall. During Feb. break, the Dance Company of Middlebury College will take its production to Cuba. The trip presented some difficulty to organize, as travel to Cuba is restricted and approval for "educational" or "cultural exchange" programs is required. Chavasse said, "There was a lot of red tape, channels and protocol" to be completed in order to plan the event. Music Contact International, a firm based in Burlington that plans many of the high school and college arts exchange programs, organized the trip, developed the itinerary and will be providing an escort to accompany the group. The Dance Company will stay in hotels, perform informally throughout the week, give at least two formal performances, and participate in Master Classes and workshops every day. It will be dancing primarily with the Narcisco Medina Dance Company of Cuba, which has its own dance venue. The Cuban company presents primarily Afro-Caribbean dance and is excited to see what the contemporary, post-modern dance world of the United States is like. The Dance Company of Middlebury will also visit other dance groups, including Cienfuegos and the Yuruba Folkloric Group, although they do not know what to anticipate. Chavasse is prepared for the facilities to be "falling apart a little," and the need to adjust the performance for different technological capabilities. She repeatedly reminds the dancers to have "very loose expectations" of what they will find. "That's what I like about it," Chavasse says, "I don't know what will happen, what to expect. It's an adventure."
(01/25/03 12:00am)
Author: Lindsay Whitton In the winter during high school, my friend Libby would often nap for a few hours a day. This was a strange occurrence in the context of our structured, boarding school life, where every moment was programmed and nobody had anytime for themselves. We were surprised at her sleep schedule, and she was surprised at our surprise. We lived on the same hall, and I would stop by to rouse her for class, dinner, assembly or co-curricular activities, but she would create convincing excuses -- mumbling that her coach had said to skip practice, her teacher had canceled Latin or that the health center nurses had sent her back to her room to recover. Hours later, when she arose, she wouldn't remember our conversation. Eventually, Libby was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a condition with symptoms that include general lethargy, sadness, increase or loss of appetite, lack of motivation and the urge to sleep constantly. Doctors and researchers attribute SAD to lack of sunlight, explaining why symptoms usually appear in the fall, peak during the winter and subside in the spring. Some people, however, who work or live in rooms with no windows, experience similar symptoms throughout the year. During a Middlebury winter, people are at risk of suffering from SAD due to the lack of daylight, and this winter the record breaking cold temperatures may increase the risk by forcing people indoors. Although 70 to 80 percent of the estimated 10 million Americans SAD suffers are women, many of them over the age of 30, there is an even greater number of people who suffer from the "Winter Blues," a milder but similar condition.While light therapy and anti-depression medication can effectively battle the blues, most doctors agree that the ideal treatment is an hour of sunlight a day, especially when combined with exercise. The Middlebury environment provides outlets for outdoor winter exercise ranging from skiing to simply walking to class. Such solutions are easier to preach then practice, however -- I know that I have no desire to walk around when it is 20 degrees outside, let alone ski for five hours, and I don't even have SAD decreasing my motivation. But as for Libby, she made it through boarding school, doing much better than those of us who went to all of the required activities in the winter, and she is now sleeping happily through cold winter afternoons at Yale.
(01/25/03 12:00am)
Author: Erika Mercer A stage bathed in red and yellow light, a hovering layer of thick smoke, a crowded room of fans anxious for music -- this was the setting at Higher Ground on Sunday, Jan. 19, for the awaited performance of indie rock bands The Static Age, Calla and Interpol, sponsored by 99.9 FM The Buzz. The night began when the local Burlington band, The Static Age, took its place on stage and began its first song, following an apology by the charismatic lead singer, Andrew Paley: "My guitar's out of tune and I've got laryngitis."Despite his laryngitis, The Static Age performed a satisfying set: the prominent keyboards and Paley's raspy voice provided an electronic '80s flavor, while the strong beats and dark lyrics added a depth and intensity. Calla, the second opening act, performed more opaque, Radiohead-esque music, though with less variation and mystery than Radiohead. Each song revolved around a mounting tension, beginning slowly and hypnotically and building to a loud, pounding climax. The lead singer, Aurelio Valle, opened his songs by crooning sometimes menacing lyrics into his microphone -- "Sorry for the inconvenience / It's only 'cause I'm losing patience" -- then allowing his voice to rise, wail and moan. While dramatic and mesmerizing, the songs soon became predictable and somewhat repetitive. After a lengthy set change, the headlining band, Interpol, graced the stage under pink and red lights, immediately launching into a short intro while the lively audience bustled and cheered on the New York Citybased quartet. The intro melted almost imperceptibly into Interpol's first song, "Roland," an energetic introduction to their minimalist '80s post-punk sound. The soft-spoken lead vocalist, Paul Banks, clad in a dress-shirt and tie (over which he'd casually pulled a plain black v-neck T-shirt) sang in a low, droning voice that was charmingly juxtaposed with his boyish face and scruffy hair. Like each of the band members, he appeared completely absorbed in his own character and role -- formal and disheveled at the same time. The base player, Carlos Dengler, sporting a tight, posh suit and tie, danced constantly in a jerky, erratic craze, while beside him the touring keyboardist banged frantically at his keys like a mad scientist stirring a potion. The drummer, Samuel Fogarino, played coated in shadows, almost undetectable at the back of the stage, and guitarist Daniel Kessler played quietly off to the far left, modeling striking Elvis-impersonation sideburns and a black suit. Each played in their own mad reverie, apparently oblivious to all around them, yet miraculously and flawlessly creating layered, interwoven music. The set contained mostly songs off of Interpol's 2002 release, "Turn On the Bright Lights," an album that won the band its current fame among other post-punk bands such as "The Strokes," "Spoon" and "The White Stripes." The highlight of the performance came halfway through the set when Interpol played "NYC," one of their slower, more moving songs. The crowd swayed in unison as the band members shrouded themselves in clouds of cigarette smoke. Banks' unique voice, a chilling low monotone, took on a pleasingly larger and more apparent role in the band's Sunday night live performance than on their recorded albums, where it remains much more muffled and hidden behind the instrumentation. Due to the vocal prominence onstage, the live music assumed a level of emotionality and expressiveness not present on the mastered albums. The live performance offered a satisfying change from the album's more produced feel, creating a high-energy, rewarding show. The night ended with an anxiously awaited two-song encore. Finishing their last song to a room full of excited, pleased fans, Interpol played the songs, "The New" and "Obstacle 2."
(01/25/03 12:00am)
Author: Lindsay Whitton On Monday, Dec. 9, the Middlebury College faculty voted to include all grades received while studying abroad in student grade point averages (GPA). The Educational Affairs Committee (EAC) had planned on proposing that abroad grades and course titles be listed on students' permanent transcripts but not factored into their GPA regardless of whether students attend Middlebury Schools Abroad or other universities. Hours before the vote, however, the EAC decided to endorse an amendment to their proposal that dictated all grades, from any university, be factored into students' Middlebury GPA. No students were made aware of the amendment before the vote.Previously the College's policy was to factor grades received from Middlebury Schools Abroad into student's GPAs but not to count grades from other universities. The EAC, in an effort to promote consistency, had planned on suggesting a universal policy of listing, but not counting, all grades received abroad. The faculty vote, according to David Macey, director of Off- Campus Study, "gave accountability equal billing with consistency" by deciding to list and count every grade. Ben LaBolt '03, student co-chair of Community Council, identified study abroad as the major academic issue that the faculty are reviewing this year and has been working with Meaghan McCormick '03, Student Government Association (SGA) director of academic affairs, on communicating student opinion to the faculty throughout the process. Many faculty members are concerned that students' academic standards slip during and after studying abroad, and the faculty is thus reconsidering the entire program with a stress on the academic merit of abroad experience. "It's a genuine problem," Macey said, "when students come back from being abroad and tell their academic advisors about all the beer they learned to drink." The majority of faculty members decided in December that one way of assuring an academic focus was to make students accountable for their grades.LaBolt, however, is concerned. "In general," he said, "what passed is a negative policy because now we are pouring 80 different grading systems (or whatever number of schools students go to) onto the same page and throwing it into the GPA." Ginny Hunt '03, president of the SGA, voiced her apprehension on counting different systems into academic honors and awards, such as membership into the Cum Laude Society.Macey, however, is confident that although the new policy might be more labor intensive, his office will be able to accurately and fairly translate all abroad grades into Middlebury's system. "It's a task," he said, "but by no means an impossible task. There are a whole range of guidelines."Hunt is unconvinced. "I think this will have more consequences then were considered when the vote took place," she said.Hunt and LaBolt are most concerned over what they both described as "a breakdown of communication between the faculty and the student body" when the decision was made, especially since the Dec. 9 vote was the first in a yearlong review process. The SGA had endorsed the original EAC proposal, but when the last minute amendment was added, no students were informed. When, in the open forum on Monday, SGA Press Secretary Katherine Milgram '03 asked President John McCardell why the "student voice was missing in the decision," he responded by saying that, "the reason it was missing was not because anyone consciously tried to keep it out. The reason it was missing is that it chose not to be there." The SGA and Student EAC had assumed that the original proposal would be passed and, since the faculty vote was held during exam week, had not attended the meeting. "I will take part of the blame for not going," Hunt said, "but I don't even receive the faculty meeting agenda." In the future, she will request the agenda and attend all faculty meetings with LaBolt. She still thinks, however, that in this case, the SGA should have been made aware. "Procedurally, I think that it was a mistake that no students were consulted. It was a wakeup call for everyone." Hunt and LaBolt are still unsure how to respond. They are deliberating whether they should have a faculty member bring the matter up for reconsideration. LaBolt admits that reconsideration of a vote is "not frequently effective or used, but procedurally, we really object to what happened." They have decided, however, to focus on furthering their agenda in other parts of the study abroad review, most importantly encouraging a policy of "portable" financial aide. Currently Middlebury students have difficulty transferring their financial aid if they are not attending a Middlebury School Abroad. Hunt thinks that since the faculty adopted a universal grading policy, they should implement a similar approach to financial aid. "If GPAs are going to be considered," she said, "then all students should have the opportunity to study abroad."
(01/25/03 12:00am)
Author: Campus Editor in Chief The Middlebury Campus has learned that local Driving Under the Influence (D.U.I) violations spiked in 2002, with arrests climbing to 80 from just 65 the year prior. The upward trend was driven by a particularly dramatic leap in the 18- to 24-year old category, which accounted for 40 violations in 2002 and 18 in 2001. The local D.U.I statistics, tracked by the Middlebury Police Department, add urgency to the on-campus dialogue about drunken driving. Administrators and students alike perceive a shift towards more off-campus parties, which increase the likelihood that students will drive under the influence."I'm not surprised by the number of arrests, nor am I surprised by the increase in the 18-24 age bracket," said Student Government Association Senior Senator Maggie Goedecke '03.She suspects more off-campus parties might be the culprit, pointing to College data that show a decline in registered, on-campus parties in the fall of 2002. "There are more students in every class going to parties off campus," she said.Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah noted an increase in the number of students cited for drunken driving last fall, even though that rise came amidst increased enforcement by the Middlebury Police Department.Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley confirmed that enforcement has been stepped up in recent months. "We're out looking for indicators of someone who's under the influence," said Hanley. "We have an increased presence on the streets that we haven't had for the past few years."
(01/15/03 12:00am)
Author: Suzanne Mozes As the quilts of Gee's Bend, Ala., hang in their unnaturally vertical positions on the walls of the Whitney Museum of American Art, I am immediately reminded of Alice Walker's "Everyday Use." Walker's short story depicts Dee, a young citified woman, returning home to her unsophisticated mother and sister from the city. Dee fails to understand the true purpose of the quilts, a dowry for her sister, and insists on taking them back with her to hang as art on a wall. Objectifying and alienating the art form, she claims her sister would "be backward enough to put them to everyday use." While it seems too cruel to strip these blankets from their natural environments and function, their exhibition admittedly honors the hands that wrought their original and intricate designs. Representing four consecutive generations over the past 80 years, the 46 female artists hailing from Gee's Bend patched the 60 quilts. Almost all 700 inhabitants of this isolated village descend from the slaves of the original Pettway Plantation, most still bearing the owner's surname. The land, a peninsula encased on three sides by the Alabama River, finally gained access to the mainland in 1967 with first paved road out of town. At the same time, the ferry service, a more direct means of transportation, ended when the whites across the river in Camden did not appreciate the citizens of Gee's Bend crossing the river to vote.Their style of quilting seems to have thrived on this forced isolation.The quilts diverge from the expectations of classic American patchwork quilts to create a modern design of blocks and shapes. As Curator Debra Singer told the NY Daily News, "Their extraordinarily painterly approach, and deliberate paring down to the point of minimalism comes from this being such a close-knit community. It has placed a great value on personal inventiveness."In such a depressed area, the limited fabrics would curb their creativity. However, by incorporating old work clothes with old voter registration ribbons, khaki surplus fabric, polyester leisure suits, denim, brilliant dashikis, corduroy and even the bloody mattress ticking, unimaginable designs emerge from the women's hands. Several original patterns repeat such as the "Housetop" or "My Way." William Ferris of the University of North Carolina's Center for the Study of the American South told the NY Daily News that the Benders' quilts cannot be separated from "a history of textiles that goes back to African roots." Yet, the artists emphasize the importance of creating one's own patterns in the documentary film that runs continuously in their gallery. As the voices of these women echo among their quilts, the quilts' significance emerges as not only an art form, but also as stories, history, love and the cycle of human life.Linda Pettway explained, "I loved to make my own patterns. .... I be knowing where I'm going."Civil rights activists helped the village establish the Freedom Quilting Bee during the 1960s. Eventually, this group sold their quilt designs to Bloomingdales, which eventually ended because of the irregularity of their shapes. Several years later, Sears hired the town as an assembly line for making quilted corduroy pillow shams, introducing corduroy as an available textile.The quilts gave these women a reason to gather during their hard lives. Singing hymns, they would assemble on their front porches to socialize and create beauty from recycled fabrics that their families have worn. Amidst an oppressive society and poverty, these women brought beauty into their own lives.While most of these quilts were crafted in the 1960s and '70s, the art form seems to be in decline as the need for the quilts wanes with modern technology and textiles. Young girls no longer need to learn the craft. The generational instruction has come to a staggering halt.While celebrating the homemade beauty of these quilts, the museum patrons seem to leave with a pensive silence. The awe of Gee's Bend lies in making beauty out of utility. Tattered rags become valued spreads for warmth and decoration.However, a sadness hangs in the gallery with these quilts because they no longer serve their original purpose. The dichotomy of their beauty lies in their artistic merit and foregone utility. However, they now fulfill a new purpose -- as art objects in the art world, to be appreciated, not put into use.William Arnett of Atlanta took note of these quilts, which were then bought by the nonprofit Tinwood Alliance. The show originated at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and it was eventually introduced at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, where it is now on exhibit.
(01/15/03 12:00am)
Author: Nicolas Emery Middlebury College recently signed a $509,000 contract with Island Pond Woodworkers, a Vermont employee-owned co-operative that will provide custom-built items for the College's new library. The woodworkers will provide the new study carrels, book stack end panels and media stations, delivering the first items in July 2003. The library is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2004. The Island Pond Woodworkers are located in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. The co-op was formed by former Ethan Allen employees who decided to start their own operation in Island Pond after Ethan Allen closed its plant there in July 2001. At least 75 to 80 percent of the wood used for the Island Pond products will be green certified, meaning that it meets standards that conform to sustainable forest management practices. The remaining 20 to 25 percent will also come from managed woodlands. All of the wood will come from Vermont forests. In addition, the wood will be processed in Pittsford, Vt., and the boards will be dried in St. Johnsbury, making full use of local services. Most of the wood will come from Addison County, with the sugar maple coming directly from College-owned land at the Bread Loaf campus in Ripton. According to Don Maiolo, president of the company, the Woodworkers currently employ 12 people. He hopes to raise this number to 19 as a result of the Middlebury College project. In a press release issued by the College, Maiolo commented that "the College's contract for millwork has been instrumental in supporting the resurrection of the Island Pond Operation."This contract and the cooperation between the College and Island Pond Woodworkers is an example of the College's commitment to environmentally sound practices and the use of local products and labor wherever possible. According to Sustainable Campus Coordinator Connie Bisson, the College decided to award the contract to Island Pond with the intention of salvaging the company and providing local jobs. "It's more about the jobs than the wood," Bisson said. "We are looking for ways to stimulate the local economy with our purchasing power whenever feasible." The College makes such environmental and economic efforts as a member of the Montpelier-based Cornerstone Project, which focuses on promoting the use of green certified wood from Vermont forests. Other members include the State of Vermont, University of Vermont, St. Michael's College, Vermont State Colleges, Fletcher Allen Hospital and Sen. Patrick Leahy's Office. The new library will be the fourth College building to use Vermont green certified wood, along with Bicentennial Hall, LaForce Hall-Ross Commons and the Recycling Center.
(12/04/02 12:00am)
Author: Daniel Wolf Roda Two Fridays ago, Middlebury music aficionados were treated to a captivating performance by the sad-core music minimalism of Bill Callahan. Think of hard-core, slow it down to a crawl, drown it in a birdbath full of self-indulgent teardrops and that's what I mean by sad-core minimalism. Callahan created a profound and chilling emotional experience for those who were brave enough to bear the pain and frustration transmitted through his songwriting.(Smog) performed several songs that dated back to the early '90s with Callahan, enlisting band members whom he had met only a couple of weeks before this short tour. A look at (Smog)'s history shows us that this is not unusual for Callahan's method of assembly, both in the studio and on tour. I asked him a little about the chronic impermanence of his band-mates before the show. "It's a good way to meet people," he claimed. "It adds a different feel to each song." According to the unremittingly jaded Callahan, meeting people is his favorite activity other than music, but I believe that there certainly are better ways to meet people than to hire them as musicians.The only time he put together a steady band for a full album was on his "Rain on Lens" release in 1998, which sounds almost like a pop album. It is surprising how far Callahan's sound has come: since (Smog)'s emergence in the early '90s, their releases have become progressively more hi-fi. In fact, the albums "Julius Caesar," "Wild Love" and "The Cow Tapes," a series of early recordings by Callahan and friends, amount to strange minimal guitar melodies interspersed with somewhat avant-garde noise experimentation.I asked him whether he had compromised his art with his recent use of cleaner production and more straightforward writing techniques, and he gave me this parable: "For me, making records is like ornamenting a Christmas tree. Each release has characteristics that are different from the last, but they all convey the same spirit and compliment one another."His music is both relaxed and serious. During his performance he disregarded the audience altogether. Whether we were cheering, laughing, crying or cutting each other with razor blades, he seemed totally indifferent, which is fitting, as it preserved the focus and purity of his numbing, bitterly ironic art form. Callahan conveyed a deeply rooted, hardened sadness, the kind that takes years of isolation and scenes of failed relationships to develop; call it overdone, or even self-indulgent, but it is credible, and Coltrane Lounge was most definitely filled with a strange and beautiful aura.Callahan grew up in Maryland where he witnessed the punk rock explosion in Washington, D.C., during the '80s. He recalled seeing Bad Brains and Minor Threat as a teenager. Oddly enough, the music that he makes now is slow and progressive; his vocal lines are deep and lingering; his voice might be compared to the likes of Lou Barlow, Leonard Cohen or even a rather sedated David Bowie, though he told me that he "doesn't think that anyone would want to be compared to anyone else."It doesn't surprise me that he was not very talkative when being interviewed. In a track entitled "Stick in the Mud" he claims to "hate songs with questions in them" and in the chorus of another song entitled "In the Orange Glow of A Stranger's Living Room," he complains of being "scared s***less." The floor above Coltrane Lounge was no orange living room, but one can see the similarity of our situation: Callahan embodied the still paranoia of one who simply does not want to be noticed.Callahan's lyrics are clever and ironic, filled with angst that is a mature detour from the sophomoric emo-punk and indie-drama of our day. Dark, self-loathing lyrics such as "the type of memories that turn your balls to glass, turn your balls to glass," were juxtaposed against a very faint, almost happy mixture of guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer and the occasional flute.For several days after his performance and the interview I was overcome with subtle and philosophical commiseration. I honestly think that Bill Callahan of (Smog) is one of the saddest people I have ever met.
(11/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Kelsey Rinehart Middlebury College students and parents arriving in September or reuniting on Fall Family Weekends know that finding a place to eat in town is a daunting task. Those who forget to make reservations or rely on luck to find a table are often left to scrounge around the dining halls or drive for miles to a faraway restaurant. The Middlebury College community — students, parents, faculty and staff — rely on Middlebury's restaurants. Whether they provide faculty with a quick bite to eat between lectures or give students a welcome escape from Proctoresque banality, Middlebury restaurants cater to the needs of the College. These restaurants, in turn, depend on College-related business and student employees to bring life to their businesses.Middlebury restaurateurs estimated that College students and faculty provide as little as 10 and as much as 80 percent of business at any given time. At Two Brothers' Tavern, which opened in October, students make up about 10 percent of the dining clientele, 50 percent of the customers at the bar and 40 percent of the workforce.Mack Lindsey, general manager of Mister Up's, said that around 30 percent of his business is College-related. "Every night this summer was packed. After graduation, it lulled, and then everything came back," Lindsey said. He observed that the combination of patrons from the Language Schools, the Bread Loaf writing program and camping and tourism create an influx of customers in the warmer months.Paris Rinder-Goddard, dining room manager of Fire and Ice, said that the College brings a lot of revenue to the restaurant. Fire and Ice, started in 1972 by two Middlebury graduates, was originally a "rock and roll bar," as Rinder-Goddard called it — a place that catered largely to work-worn, hangout-seeking students. Over the years, Fire and Ice has grown significantly to become a dining hot spot on the College's big weekends. Rinder-Goddard noted that on Family Weekends, 75 to 80 percent of customers are students dining with their parents. Rinder-Goddard said he enjoys getting to know families that eat at the restaurant for the first time when their children arrive as first-years, and then make a reservation every time they come to Middlebury over the next four years.Carolyn Dundon, a Middlebury native, runs Tully and Marie's, another place where a table is a hot commodity on a Family Weekend. Dundon, who once worked in the Glass Bead Game, a clothing store across the street from Tully and Marie's, accredited much of the restaurant's success to Middlebury College, in particular to customers from the College's summer programs. "At least 50 percent [of business] is College-related," Dundon estimated, noting that this figure fluctuates depending on the time of year. Dundon, like Lindsey, noticed an influx of patrons over the summer due to Middlebury College programs and tourism. "The customers from the Language Schools are excellent customers," Dundon said. It's not just the revenue from Language School students, however, that pleases Dundon. "I've met so many interesting people. I really enjoy the people aspect of it," she said.Shanny Singh of Taste of India said that the College likely provides 60 percent of his customers. Like other restaurateurs, he pointed to the College as a crucial part of his business' success. When students leave for the summer, Singh said, "It [business] kind of drops 60 to 70 percent." He agreed with other restaurant owners, however, that the Language Schools contribute greatly to his summer business.Singh's views on the subject of student employment are largely concurrent with other owners' perspectives. Singh said that student employees are a great asset to his business. "When they're here, they do a great job," he commented. Most restaurateurs would agree with Singh that College students make great waiters, waitresses and kitchen staff. Middlebury College students are "predisposed for success," noted Rinder-Goddard. "With the odd exception, they've been reliable and hard workers," he said.Lindsey of Mister Up's said that he has had more positive than negative experiences with student workers. If there have been problems, however, they have concerned students' reliability and work ethic. Lindsey described more generally his restaurant's relationship with the College as "love-hate.""In one sense, it's great to have business," Lindsey said. He is delighted to provide meals for the majority of College-related clientele, whom he described as well-behaved and courteous customers. He noted, however, that some students drink too much, get out of control and become destructive. "That's the hate part of it," he said. Overall, Lindsey is glad to have the College in Middlebury and providing business to Mister Up's. "Without the College, Middlebury would be just another tiny New England town," he said.For the most part, Middlebury restaurateurs, like innkeepers and hotel managers, are very glad to have College-related business as a source of revenue. Many try to attract more College students by posting advertisements in The Middlebury Campus or by offering coupons and specials on Middkid.com. All owners agree that, throughout the year, Middlebury College provides workers and, from its various programs, a continuous and vital influx of patrons.
(11/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Richard Lawless Middlebury College welcomed acclaimed hip-hop group The Roots to its cavernous Nelson Arena last Saturday. Performing for a packed crowd, the group unleashed such favorites as "The Next Movement" and "You Got Me" from their breakthrough 1999 album, "Things Fall Apart." Highly regarded for their amazing ability to do live shows, The Roots did not dissapoint their audience, running through a solidly packed, high-energy set of nonstop grooves, never once pausing for a breather until 60 minutes into the show.Opening for The Roots was Baba whose poetic rapping style and thought-provoking lyrics fused with infectious musical waves, setting the stage for the inspiring rhymes and rhythms of the headliners.The Roots took the stage around 10 p.m., whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Composed of vocal turntablist Scratch, rapper Black Thought, drummer ?uestlove (a.k.a. Amhir Thompson), keyboardist Kamal, bassist Hub, rapper Malik B. and Godfather of Noyze Rahzel, who performed at Middlebury last fall, The Roots are a musical force to be reckoned with.Throughout their set, the group went from contagious beats to mellow instrumentals to intense hardcore punk (thanks in no small part to their new guitarist), switching between these styles on the fly to create an amalgamation of sounds that was impossible not to dance to. Rahzel, ?uestlove, Hub and Scratch provided one of the tightest rhythm sections in existence, while Black Thought and Malik raced around the stage delivering their provocative lyrics to the accompaniment of Kamal's infectious keyboard melodies.After about an hour of continuous songs, The Roots went offstage for a few minutes, with only drummer ?uestlove remaining at his post. During this interval, the drummer had a chance to show off his unparalleled skill at carrying a groove on his drum kit, performing a percussive blowout complemented by rapturous applause from the crowd. By the end of his solo stunt, no doubt remained about ?uestlove's place as the best drummer in hip-hop.Soon ?uestlove was accompanied by a couple of his fellow bandmates on percussion, adding to the complexity of the groove until reaching a pinnacle of rhythm that drove the crowd wild. The rest of the members came out shortly after and the band launched into the second half of their set.While the first half of The Roots' set was a nonstop jam created by fusing their songs together, the second half of the show was a musical smorgasbord of styles, solo performances and covers. The group took the opportunity to introduce its members individually, each offering up their own solo performance, which was then built upon by other members of the band, developing into freestyle jams.Bassist Hub attacked his instrument, evoking a variety of tones expressed in an intense rhythm, while keyboardist Kamal similarly showed off his incredible skills, gliding over the keys and letting flow a cascade of notes. Each of the members was given his chance to shine, and when their newest member was given the opportunity to show off his guitar, the band suddenly commenced on a medley of '80s and '90s hard rock/metal songs, playing snippets from such classics as Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle," AC/DC's "Back in Black," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Black Sabbath's "Iron Man." The group then switched styles with ease, turning to more freestyle jams and showing their incredible knack for carrying a groove and elaborating upon it. Switching gears, the Roots began a medley of recent hip-hop favorites, like Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back" and Nelly's "Hot in Herre," before going into the concert's final stretch. The Roots triumphantly finished with a massive blowout of jams, reaching an emotional climax as ?uestlove's drums thundered, the guitar crunched, the keyboards wailed and the bass thumped intensely. The group ignited the stage while the audience roared with applause and shouts, culminating a highly successful show.The Roots formed in 1987 as a partnership between ?uestlove and Black Thought (a.k.a. Tariq Trotter) at Philadelphia's High School for Creative Performing Arts. Focusing on a live sound with real instruments, the duo used existing record samples to supplement their recordings with ?uestlove on the drums and Black Thought on vocals. Next to join the group were Hub and Malik B., and as the group increased its size, The Roots' popularity grew in the Philidelphia and New York areas.The group released its first album, "Organix," in 1993, signing to David Geffen's label DGC before the year was done. Two years later the Roots made its major-label debut, releasing "Do You Want More?!!!??!" and adding Rahzel and Kamal (a.k.a. Scott Storch) to their ranks. The following year The Roots released the jazz and old-school inspired "Illadelph Halflife." Yet their artistic and commercial breakthrough came with 1999's "Things Fall Apart," which took its name from the celebrated Chinua Achebe novel about the decline of an African village from imperialism. On this album, The Roots delivered a set of solemn jazz-oriented tracks as well as the hip-hop anthem "The Next Movement."The Roots are currently on tour to promote their new album, "Phrenology," which will hit stores this month on Nov. 26.
(11/13/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] As drivers make their way north across the Massachusetts border towards Middlebury by way of I-91, a sign sits cheerfully by the highway. "Welcome to Vermont," it reads. But the area can also be defined by another geographical likeness, one that is not marked by any signs. For roughly 10 miles after crossing the border from Massachusetts, drivers make their way through the nuclear emergency evacuation zone of Vermont Yankee. Indeed, for these several miles, drivers unwittingly put themselves at risk both of exposure to routine radiation emissions and, in the event of an accident, something far worse. As the new Republication-dominated government moves to pass an energy policy for the country — for the most part, seemingly unaware of new technologies for harnessing renewable sources such as from the wind and sun — the debate over nuclear energy has intensified. Here in Vermont, the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, located just outside of Brattleboro in Vernon, is small compared to its counterparts in nuclear-rich New England. But it is plagued with many of the same problems associated with privately operated power plants from across the country.No less than 80 percent of electricity produced in Vermont comes from Vermont Yankee, and according to Entergy Nuclear, which operates the plant, enough energy is produced to power 500,000 homes. Consequently, the state of Vermont bestows much trust in the plant's operators, and much of the opposition to Vermont Yankee has come from neighboring states, especially Massachusetts, thanks to its proximity to the plant. And yet, Entergy Nuclear and Vermont Yankee have recently given the people of this state much to worry about. In the weeks and months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the operators of reactors were subject to increased pressure from the federal government to protect the plants against attack. Of the 105 commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, Vermont Yankee tied with one other plant for having the worst security rating. Fifteen months and eight million dollars later, the Associated Press reported, the picture has improved, though critics have continued to keep a particularly careful watch on the plant. On Oct. 6, Entergy Nuclear suffered another great embarrassment, which has caused even greater doubt about the ability of the company, which purchased Vermont Yankee last summer, to run the reactor safely. On that date, employees reported a safety concern to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Apparently, there was a problem in the cooling system of the reactor core; specifically, a certain valve could not be fully closed. On Oct. 11, Entergy issued another correspondence to the regulator — this time to say that Yankee workers must have made some sort of mistake. Indeed, they wrote, the plant "does not have this aforementioned trip devise." Public outcry immediately followed. The New England Coalition, whose principal focus is on the so-called nuclear pollution of Vermont Yankee, joined forces with the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists and demanded that the Yankee staff submit to an immediate review. Vermont residents deserve an assurance that those who are operating the power plant are intimately acquainted with the design of the reactor — most especially in what is perhaps the most important, and indeed dangerous, part of the reactor. The Green Mountain State works hard to promote an image of environmentalism, and Vermont Yankee is a blemish on the state's admirable record on environmental issues. The debate over nuclear energy is ongoing; in the meantime, let us not wait for blunt signs to remind us that we must be asking questions. Edith Honan '03
(11/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Gissing Ball State U. Students Take Shelter as Tornado HitsStudents at Ball State University sought shelter in lower levels of residence halls and departmental buildings Sunday afternoon as violent winds rushed through east-central Indiana. The tornado touched down in Blackford County a little after 2 p.m. Sunday. Three people were trapped in a supermarket when the roof partially collapsed and a wall was blown out. Ball State geography professor David Arnold, supervisor of the university's storm-chasing team, said that the winds at the supermarket were probably 80 to 90 miles per hour. Arnold explained the violent storm was not necessarily a tornado, but was the result of a micro-burst, or straight-line wind, that can sometimes be stronger and can do more damage than tornadoes.Arnold noted that the likelihood of tornadoes to occur in November is almost as high as that of the usual tornado season, the period of time from April through June. "Fall is a transition season, and there is a tremendous difference in temperatures," he explained. Tornadic activity often occurs once every two years; already this season two violent storms have caused concern in the east central areas of the state. Pertaining to wind damage, Arnold said people should be most concerned about roof damage. If the roof of a building is not securely anchored to its foundation, it can easily be picked up by a strong wind; once the roof is off, the rest of the building normally collapses. A resident assistant at Tichenor Hall, a residence hall at Ball State said the past two tornado warnings were the first time he has participated in such safety precautions in his five years as Ball State a student.Source: U-WireUVM Officer Investigated for Racial ProfilingA police officer working at the University of Vermont (UVM) has been reassigned to office work following allegations of racial profiling. The officer reportedly handcuffed a female student at gunpoint last Wednesday during a search for a male armed robbery suspect. Both the suspect and the female student are black; that is the only physical similarity they share.Daniel Fogel, president of UVM, wrote a campus-wide e-mail saying: "While not prejudging the outcome of the investigation of police conduct, we all understand that the detention of an innocent student raises serious questions about the campus climate for persons of color." The suspect held up a 19-year-old walking in Tupper Hall, a residence hall on UVM's East Campus around 3 p.m. The suspect has not yet been caught. University officials are investigating the racial profiling claims leveled against the officer.Source: The Rutland HeraldStanford, Yale Change Early Admissions PolicyStanford University and Yale University announced Nov. 7 that they would no longer offer the binding early decision option to applicants. The change in policy for both institutions will not take affect until next year's admission cycle for the Class of 2008. Under both Yale and Stanford's policies, students will only be able to apply early to one school. The change would also give all applicants more flexibility and time to consider their options.Yale President Richard Levin announced on Wednesday that Yale would adopt a non-binding early action policy beginning next fall. This announcement came almost one year after he initiated a national debate on early admissions policies. Levin said the decision was the first step made towards encouraging the elimination of all early admissions programs. He expressed concern that high school students making a binding decision so early in the year, saying some students were strategizing instead of choosing their first choice schools, putting students applying for financial aid were disadvantaged.Hours after Levin made his statement, Stanford University President John Hennessy announced that Stanford would no longer offer its binding early decision to applicants. The new policy proposed is a "unique blend of traditional early action and early decision options offered by other colleges." According to Christina Wire, associate dean of undergraduate admissions at Stanford, the new policy "is certainly closer to early action than it is to early decision, however we have not thought of a specific name for it yet." It differs from regular early action policies in that the policy does not allow early applicants to file early applications at other institutions. "This new policy offers those who have set their hearts on attending Stanford the opportunity to apply early in their senior year without the additional pressure of having to commit before they are ready," Hennessy said. Source: The Stanford Daily and The Yale Daily News
(11/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Claire Bourne PARIS – The Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, known simply as Paris III, is not an attractive edifice. It is a stark, colorless monstrosity stuck awkwardly in the middle of an older — and prettier — neighborhood. It quite frankly resembles a sanatorium. Inside, graffiti strangles stairwell entrances and the walls of the fire escape. The hallways scream for a splash of color. The doors, shut tight, prevent the offices and classrooms behind them from breathing. This building, the cradle of literary studies among public Parisian universities, does not invite reverence. It is simply a stretch along each one of its students' educational superhighways. It is not a home away from home. It is rather a learning space.The idea of a "campus" does not exist in Paris. Most Parisian étudiants (students) live and take meals at home during their studies — maybe because it is cheaper than renting an apartment at city prices, or perhaps because the universities at which they are enrolled offer no alternative.It costs approximately $140 per semester to attend a public university like Paris III, and while these institutions are not raking in $36,000 per student per year, their rigorous tertiary education program rivals curriculums at American colleges and universities, public and private alike. In addition, the French state-sanctioned university system is naturally diverse — anyone who has passed the baccalaureate can attend. Participating in extracurricular activities and community service projects for the purpose of going to a university is a completely foreign idea here.The negligible tuition fee and the lack of an admissions office as we know it, mean that continuing one's education after high school is a right rather than a privilege reserved for those with bursting pockets. (Of course, there are the Grandes Écoles — the French Ivy League equivalents that not only cost a fortune, but also require two years of preparatory classes between high school and matriculation, hiking the fees even higher.)Students are ready and willing to fight to protect this right, as a recent campaign against the privatization of French public universities illustrates. Spearheaded by the student synidicat, or union, the battleground shifted to the road outside the National Assembly last Friday where government ministers were supposed to bring the privatization issue to the floor.This is not the first time (and it will not be the last time) that French students have fought to protect social égalité, or equality. Most notably, in 1968, some 30,000 students took to the streets to protest the social disparity created by consumer society. Their efforts prompted a general strike, the dissolution of the National Assembly and new elections. Maybe this new round of protests will not reach as far, but it proves that the French impulse to demonstrate is not dead.Similarly, recent protests at Middlebury College confirm that students still have opinions, just when people were beginning to worry that the socially and politically aware generations of the '60s (anti-Vietnam) and '80s (anti-apartheid) had long since graduated, taking their dissenting voices with them. Last year's anti-CIA protest coupled with open opposition to "The Art of Kissing" lit a small fire that was kindled a few weeks ago during Ari Fleischer's visit to campus. And now, with the American government several large steps closer to confrontation with Iraq, Middlebury's current student population seems poised to be part of the next war generation. On a tranquil campus where graffiti and suffocating classrooms are unfamiliar entities and where $36,000 per year served up on a silver platter is not an unusual occurrence, the question that must be posed is this: Are we ready?
(11/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Neil Onsdorff Last weekend the Middlebury College Panthers made the trek to face off against Hamilton College in what has been called the "Rocking Chair Classic." Still feeling the pain of last week's demoralizing loss, the Panthers came out strong and absolutely punished the Continentals 41-21 for their seventh straight victory in this rivalry. This was Middlebury's best game from an offensive standpoint all season, as itsbig-time weapons put up some huge numbers to ensure an easy Panther victory.As opposed to other contests this year, the start of this game was highlighted by some huge defensive rather than offensive plays. On Hamilton's first play from scrimmage, Middlebury defender Pat Allen '03 was able to intercept a ball as if it were intended for him. On the Panthers resulting drive, they were unable to cover any ground, but were not kept out of the endzone for long. Defensive back Ernie Miller's '03 fumble recovery, which marked Hamilton's second turnover in as many plays, led to a one-play drive in which quarterback Michael Keenan '05 hit wide-out Denver Smith '03 in the end zone for a Panther 7-0 lead. The remainder of the half saw little action, as both coaches played the field position card during a wet and intermittently snowy afternoon. But, with 1:35 left in the second quarter, the Middlebury offensive two-minute drill looked to break a 7-7 tie. The Panthers executed this to perfection as running back William Lazzaro '03 and wide-out Tom Cleaver '04 brought the offense close enough for Keenan to knife a pass to double-covered Smith, who leapt into the air for a fantastic touchdown and a seven-point Middlebury cushion going into halftime. Playing with confidence and a sense of pure adrenaline on every play, the Panthers exploded in a fire of offensive fury in the second half and scored three touchdowns in four minutes. Running-back Lazzaro took the ball 64-yards in two plays, for the first of the offensive onslaught. After another Middlebury-forced turnover, Keenan lofted a perfect 25-yard pass to an outstretched wide-out Cleaver for another easy score. Like a broken record, the Panthers once again forced a defensive turnover, one of seven on the afternoon. Free safety Craig Schuette '03 got involved in the action by picking off a pass across the middle and then returned it deep inside Hamilton territory. One play later Lazzaro found himself in the end zone after an untouched 13-yard run."This is just a testament to how well our offense, and especially our offensive line, played during the game, in that we were able to recover from our slow start," said offensive lineman Ross Carbone '05. "And then we came out and capitalized on some great scoring opportunities." Middlebury finished its scoring bonanza for the day on a more conservative 80-yard drive. The drive was highlighted by fullback Christopher Davis's '03 pass reception in which he went "rumbling, stumbling, bumbling" down the field for 49 big yards, leaving helpless Hamilton defenders just ruined in his wake. The drive finished with Dom DiDomenico '06 hitting the end zone for the first time in his Middlebury career with a 13-yard run, giving the Panthers 41 points for the day, their biggest point output of the season. After the victory, Coach Bob Ritter, on his third win of the season said, "It was an exciting day for our squad, as every Panther player saw action on Saturday, many stepping on the field for the first time in their young careers. It was a great feeling to see the team play at such a high level and take a close game at halftime and turn it into a blowout by midway through the third quarter. Forcing seven turnovers and capitalizing on the opposition's mistakes proved to be the key to victory." This Saturday, the Panthers will play their final home game of the season against a solid Tufts University squad. For many seniors, it will be their last game. "We will have 15 seniors playing in their last football game of their careers on Saturday," said Ritter, "and it will surely be an emotionally- charged finale to the 2002 campaign." While in retrospect the 3-4 season may seem a dissapointment on paper, the seniors are well-aware that such a presumption would be inaccurate. To be sure they set straight any doubters, the squad will treat Saturday's game as if it were its first — full of promise and anticipation. And just like the first game, the seniors will lead the way.
(10/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Andrew Zimmermann It has been a busy and successful two weeks for the Middlebury men's soccer team. Since falling to Williams on Oct. 12, the Panthers have gone 3-0-1 by defeating Norwich, Bates, St. Micheal's and tying Tufts. Middlebury now sits in a tie for third place, and is vying for home-field advantage in the New England Small Colleges Athletic Conference (NESCAC) playoffs that start this Sunday.On Oct. 16, the Panthers took to the field against Norwich in what proved to be a showcase of Middlebury's blossoming prowess. Scoring started early on with a goal from Conor Shapiro '03. Middlebury kept up the pace, adding another goal from Kellan Florio '05 with 10 minutes left in the first half. Up 2-0 at half time, Middlebury didn't let any slack into its play and was able to easily add two more goals from Kyle Dezotell '03 in the second half.Middlebury's 4-0 trouncing of Norwich marked a special day in Middlebury men's soccer history for senior forward Dezotell. With eight goals tallied so far this season, he surpassed Tor Hultgren for the record of all time leader in points with 80. He now needs only one goal to tie as Middlebury's all- time goal scorer with 32. When asked about his astonishing Middlebury career, Dezotell remained modest and replied, "It is an honor. Middlebury has a great soccer tradition, and a great soccer history, but right now I'm just letting the season happen. When it's over, I'll be able to look back on it and appreciate what I was able to achieve with the help of my great team."Coming off of their resounding victory over Norwich, the Panthers faced NESCAC foe Bates on Oct. 19. In the pounding cold rain, Middlebury dominated the field, opening the scoring up with 12 minutes to play in the first half on yet another goal from Florio. One minute later, the energized Panthers struck again on a beautiful header goal from the unstoppable Florio. Coming out of the half time break, it took the Panthers only 10 more minutes to add a third goal to their tally with a goal from Shapiro. Play evened out over the remainder of the game, Middlebury looking lazy at times as it toyed with Bates and their 3-0 lead. With 19 minutes to play in the game, a rocket of a shot from Bates silenced the exuberant crowd. Bates was back in the game. Just 10 minutes later, a slippery ball and sloppy defense allowed for another Bates goal, and a one-goal game. Needless to say, Middlebury tightened its grip. The final minutes of the game resulted in several close calls for Dezotell, but the Panthers were unable to add to what should have been a more resounding win.This past Thursday, while most of the campus was on Fall Break, the Panthers took to the pitch for a friendly contest against St. Michael's. Momentum was hard to find, and motivation for a winwas lacking, but the Panthers were still up to the challenge. With an early goal from Dezotell, Middlebury's defense was able to hold strong for the remainder of the game, not letting St. Michael's have any chances on goal.With three wins in a row, Middlebury faced Tufts last Friday in its second-to-last NESCAC game before playoffs. The Panthers started slowly and couldn't find the momentum necessary to generate any effective offense. Tufts used with four forwards a formation the Panther's defense had a hard time dealing with throughout the first half. The half time break didn't prove to work in Middlebury's favor either, as Tufts finally found a hole in the defense and scored with 22 minutes to play on a beautiful volley from six yards out.Tufts' goal proved to be exactly what the Panthers needed to get their game in gear. Freshly awakened from the lurking smell of defeat, Middelbury turned on the offensive heat and tied the game with less than two minutes to play on a goal from Captain Todd Malony '03. In the two overtimes that followed, Jason Griffiths '04 scored, but the linesman called back the goal on what has proven to be yet another in a long list of bad reffing judgements.Middlebury will take the field one last time in regular season play this Saturday when they travel to New London, Conn., to face the Connecticut College Camels. This final game should solidify the team into third place and secure home field advantage for a first round matchup against likely competitor Tufts University in the NESCAC playoffs.Recommendations made by The Ad Hoc Committee on the Future of Athletics:1. Admission of recruited athletes should be curtailed so other student-athletes have ample opportunities to participate in intercollegiate sports. 2. Infuence by coaches and the athletics department on admissions decisions should be limited to student applicants who rank relatively high among those students who are admitted. 3. By their graduation, student athletes should achieve academically at levels that are not different from those of their peers who are not athletes. 4. The important gains for women in athletics, originating in the passage of Title IX in 1972, should be maintained and further advanced. 5. The desire for success in postseason competition should not compromise the fundamental educational mission of our athletic conference. 6. Middlebury and NESCAC should consider working within the NCAA toward the establishment of a new division of highly selective liberal arts colleges that place academics clearly at the center of their missions. 7. The following should be the definition of a recruited athlete: any potential intercollegiate athlete who is rated by a coach and recommended for admission to the college. 8. Middlebury and the NESCAC should develop plans for gathering the data needed to monitor our progress toward the ideals that we have identified.
(10/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Josh Axelrod It has been a busy and successful two weeks for the Middlebury men's soccer team. Since falling to Williams on Oct. 12, the Panthers have gone 3-0-1 by defeating Norwich, Bates, St. Micheal's and tying Tufts. Middlebury now sits in a tie for third place, and is vying for home-field advantage in the New England Small Colleges Athletic Conference (NESCAC) playoffs that start this Sunday.On Oct. 16, the Panthers took to the field against Norwich in what proved to be a showcase of Middlebury's blossoming prowess. Scoring started early on with a goal from Conor Shapiro '03. Middlebury kept up the pace, adding another goal from Kellan Florio '05 with 10 minutes left in the first half. Up 2-0 at half time, Middlebury didn't let any slack into its play and was able to easily add two more goals from Kyle Dezotell '03 in the second half.Middlebury's 4-0 trouncing of Norwich marked a special day in Middlebury men's soccer history for senior forward Dezotell. With eight goals tallied so far this season, he surpassed Tor Hultgren for the record of all time leader in points with 80. He now needs only one goal to tie as Middlebury's all- time goal scorer with 32. When asked about his astonishing Middlebury career, Dezotell remained modest and replied, "It is an honor. Middlebury has a great soccer tradition, and a great soccer history, but right now I'm just letting the season happen. When it's over, I'll be able to look back on it and appreciate what I was able to achieve with the help of my great team."Coming off of their resounding victory over Norwich, the Panthers faced NESCAC foe Bates on Oct. 19. In the pounding cold rain, Middlebury dominated the field, opening the scoring up with 12 minutes to play in the first half on yet another goal from Florio. One minute later, the energized Panthers struck again on a beautiful header goal from the unstoppable Florio. Coming out of the half time break, it took the Panthers only 10 more minutes to add a third goal to their tally with a goal from Shapiro. Play evened out over the remainder of the game, Middlebury looking lazy at times as it toyed with Bates and their 3-0 lead. With 19 minutes to play in the game, a rocket of a shot from Bates silenced the exuberant crowd. Bates was back in the game. Just 10 minutes later, a slippery ball and sloppy defense allowed for another Bates goal, and a one-goal game. Needless to say, Middlebury tightened its grip. The final minutes of the game resulted in several close calls for Dezotell, but the Panthers were unable to add to what should have been a more resounding win.This past Thursday, while most of the campus was on Fall Break, the Panthers took to the pitch for a friendly contest against St. Michael's. Momentum was hard to find, and motivation for a winwas lacking, but the Panthers were still up to the challenge. With an early goal from Dezotell, Middlebury's defense was able to hold strong for the remainder of the game, not letting St. Michael's have any chances on goal.With three wins in a row, Middlebury faced Tufts last Friday in its second-to-last NESCAC game before playoffs. The Panthers started slowly and couldn't find the momentum necessary to generate any effective offense. Tufts used with four forwards a formation the Panther's defense had a hard time dealing with throughout the first half. The half time break didn't prove to work in Middlebury's favor either, as Tufts finally found a hole in the defense and scored with 22 minutes to play on a beautiful volley from six yards out.Tufts' goal proved to be exactly what the Panthers needed to get their game in gear. Freshly awakened from the lurking smell of defeat, Middelbury turned on the offensive heat and tied the game with less than two minutes to play on a goal from Captain Todd Malony '03. In the two overtimes that followed, Jason Griffiths '04 scored, but the linesman called back the goal on what has proven to be yet another in a long list of bad reffing judgements.Middlebury will take the field one last time in regular season play this Saturday when they travel to New London, Conn., to face the Connecticut College Camels. This final game should solidify the team into third place and secure home field advantage for a first round matchup against likely competitor Tufts University in the NESCAC playoffs.
(10/30/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Lighting Evaluatedby Layla kattanA professional analysis revealed many opportunities for Middlebury College to improve exterior lighting around campus. Recommendations included the relighting of social houses, the Center for the Arts (CFA) parking lot and Graveyard Road.Nancy Clanton, of Clanton and Associates Lighting Design and Engineering Colorado, compiled the analysis following her visit to the college Sept.12. While at Middlebury, Clanton held meetings with faculty, Facilities Management, the Facilities Planning Group and Public Safety. On the evening of Sept. 12, representatives from each of these groups joined students to help Clanton survey lighting during a walk acoss campus.Clanton's report laid out specific opportunities for improvement. Clanton recommended that lighting on College Street near the Hillcrest and CFA crosswalks be "replaced with low-glare lighting that is located such that pedestrians are easily seen." The report also gave special mention of the prevalence of bright, glaring lights. Many walkways throughout campus are lit with 'acorn' top luminaries, which sometime inhibit pedestrians from seeing well. As a result, the report deemed it necessary to replace the se light with fully shielded ones to reduce light pollution and light trespass.Clanton also drew attention to areas she found to lack security lighting. Social houses, Graveyard Road, the CFA parking lot and the walkways from Mean chapel to Old Chapel received poor ratings. In these locations the report called the lighting "too dark, too patchy, too limited and poorly matched to site." Despite much night-time activity in these areas, the limited lighting makes pedestrians feel unsafe. The report concluded with recommendations for the development of an exterior lighting master plan. If attention is given to quality lighting criteria, according to the report "the campus can better provide a safe and secure night-time environment for students while being environmentally sensitive to the sky and the community."Donation Revokedby Edward PickeringTyco International recently informed Middlebury College that it will not be paying the remainder of a $2.5 million pledge it made to help fund the College's child care initiative.The donation is included in a list of grievances compiled by Tyco International as part of its $600 million suit against Dennis Kozlowski, its former chief executive officer. Kozlowski, who resigned as a Middlebury College trustee last month, has been under criminal investigation for tax evasion since last spring.Although the money came from Tyco itself, the child care endowment was named the Kozlowski Fund. Director of Pulbic Affairs Phil Benoit said it is not unusual for corporate gifts to be named in honor of a specific person, and that there was nothing odd in the Tyco gift bearing Kozlowski's name.Middlebury College will retain the $1 million it has already received from Tyco. The Kozlowski Fund helped keep the child care center at 228 College Street running. To help compensate for the $1.5 million loss, the College will direct more of its own money toward the initiative.According to a conservative estimate by Middlebury Executive Vice President and Provost Ronald Liebowitz, the College at present gives about $300,000 per year toward child care in Addison County. The donations are made through the Vermont Community Foundation and the United Way.Scholarships set up by Kozlowski at Middlebury College are still functioning. One endowment is named after Kozlowski's daughters, who are alumni of the College. The other is the Tyco Fund for International Students.Gordon Perine '49 Diesby Andrea GissingGorgon C. Perine '49 passed away after a long illness Monday, Oct. 22. He died at home and in the company of his immediate family. He was 80 years old. He is survived by his wife, Alice Perine '47, whom he met at Middlebury College as a first-year. After being recalled for service in the Marine Corps following graduation, Perine returned to Middlebury in 1951, where he worked as assistant director of admissions. He later held the positions of director of placement, director of alumni relations, director of planned giving, and senior development officer. He retired March 1994 after 42 years of service. A memorial was held for Perine Oct. 26 in Mead Chapel where the College and local community celebrated the life of a man who selflessly gave much time and service to Middlebury College. It was followed by a reception in Kirk Alumni Center. A formal obituary for Perine will appear in next week's issue of The Campus.
(10/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Angus Birchall This weekend the Middlebury men's rugby club took its 5-0 record into the New England Championship tournament at Babson college. On Saturday, the Midd Ruggers faced driving sleet and rain, and nearly freezing temperatures in their match against a formidable Coast Guard Academy team. For 80 minutes, the squad demonstrated the capabilities that everyone knows they have — tackling, rucking, mauling and running themselves to near exhaustion. With the inclement weather inhibiting their usually fluid game, Middlebury was forced to play down to the Coast Guard game, but showed that even in the most adverse of circumstances, passion, heart and determination can lead to victory. On numerous occasions, Middlebury ruggers were faced with an onslaught of Coast Guard crash-balls, but stood their own defensively and turned their opponents away from as many as four ominous goal line pushes. Tries were scored by Angus Birchall '03.5, and penalty conversions by Raiden Tsuboi '03.5 to bring the final score of 13-8. Great games were also had by Jody Kramer '03, Ben Herter '03, Matt Dragunat '03 and Tim Tutsch '04. But individual accolades are mere side notes to the exceptional team play presented by the entire Middlebury squadron. On Saturday, the team demonstrated that rugby is a game that is played by 15 players, and no less. This group mentality carried the Midd ruggers into Sunday's game against Babson with visions of another New England championship appearing faintly on the horizon. Beautiful weather and great fan support from parents and some Boston area alums allowed for Middlebury to really show what it was made of. With excellent ball control in the forwards, and amazing running in the backs, the ruggers ran all over their opponents, silencing the crowded Babson sideline. Backs such as Epeli Rokotuiveikau '04, Kramer, Ngetha Waithaka '04, Doug Haber '04, and tight forwards Spencer Godrey '02.5, Dave Wisner 04 and J.P. Aldi '05 contributed outstanding individual efforts to the team's 39-3 trouncing. The team continues its drive towards the Northeastern Championships this Saturday at home against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
(10/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Martin The Middlebury Panther golf team concluded its fall season on Oct. 21 and 22 with another gleaming performance. This time it was a second place finish among Division III teams at the New England (NEIGA) Championships in Brewster, Mass.The squad capped off its most impressive season in years, perhaps in the College's history, by finishing second at the 68th annual NEIGA Championships. The Panthers' effort placed them eighth overall in a field of 46 teams that even touted Division I programs. Outpacing the Panthers combined rounds of 633 were: Rhode Island (600); Central Connecticut State (605); Hartford University (613); Dartmouth (619); Husson College (627); Bryant College (628); Brown (630). Maine's Husson College won the Division III team aspect of the tournament by six strokes over Middlebury, however the Panthers did boast the Division III medallist in Brad Tufts '03. Tufts' rounds of 72 and 78 (150) also positioned him in a fifth place tie for the best weekend at the NEIGAs. Thomas Rogers of the University of Vermont was the Division I medallist with a pair of two-over 74s. Besides the phenomenal play of Tufts, the rest of the Panthers also faired well in their culminating fall tournament. Chuck Clement '04 continued his late season surge with rounds of 75 and 80 — good enough for a 17th-place overall finish out of 227 scoring golfers. Damon Gacicia '02.5 shot a 79 on Sunday, while Ryan Simper '03 also pitched in with an 81 on Saturday. Derek Singer '05 participated in his second major tournament, and his strong showing proved that the Panthers possess valuable assets in their up-and- coming young golfers. As far as conditions at the late October event on Cape Cod, the Panthers seemed relatively pleased. Tufts commented, "The conditions were the best we've had all four of my years, but even that was only 55 degrees, breezy and partly cloudy. The courses they use, Captain's Port and Starboard courses, are always hard when you add the cold, wind, pressure of the biggest tourney of the year and the fact that they both play over 6,700 yards." The Panthers' tournament performance came at a fortunate time, as they once again defeated 12th-place finishing Williams College. In so doing, the team helped provide validity to a recent Sports Illustrated letter to the editor in which it was suggested that the magazine overlooked Middlebury when it proclaimed Williams as having the strongest athletic program in Division III. Drawing upon the number of national titles won by each school in recent years, the letter advocated that the Panthers sport a superior program than the Ephs. Simper added, "We beat Williams four times: NESCACs, Skidmore, Eph Classic and NEIGAs. Our goal isn't to beat Williams; that's just a positive outcome of playing well." The team will take a well-deserved break from competition during the upcoming winter months before returning to action for the remainder of their academic season. Tufts commented on the team's fall campaign, "I don't know if this is best Middlebury golf team that we've ever had, but I bet we would be right up there with the best two or three if we weren't number one. This is the first time we have had seven or eight guys with handicaps under 10 in a long time." Simper further remarked, "Again, its the best season for this group of seniors. I've been told that our team was pretty good in the glory days of our assistant coach, George Phinney, but this seems to be one of the stronger seasons in recent memory. We just need to play a strong spring season and hope to earn a berth in the Division III National Championship tourney in May."The end of the storied Gacicia Era in Middlebury golf history spurred comments from many of his teammates. Tufts remarked: "I want to say that we will miss Damon on the team in the spring, and we are working on Dave Greiner '03 to come out of retirement to bolster the squad." Gacicia himself fittingly reflected upon his time as the Panther's captain, "It was just great for me to see how everyone came together and achieved what we had set out to do from day one. We accomplished our goals as a team, when in fact the idea of a 'team' in an individual sport like golf is truly rare. When a group of individuals comes together like we did this season, it really pushes everyone to feel a great sense of pride in their own contributions toward the team's cause."The Panthers will take to the links again this spring when league play resumes. While Gacicia's presence will most certainly be missed, his ethos will linger over the Ralph Myhre Golf Course and inspire his former teamates to succeed.
(10/16/02 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Martin The Middlebury Panther golf team continued its utter domination this past week with a blistering round of 292 at the Eph Classic en route to winning its third tournament of the fall season. The Panthers also placed second at the Goss Invitational, to which they played host on Oct. 10. The host college was not only defeated on its home turf, it was humiliated. The Panthers tore apart the field shooting a school record 292, which was only a combined eight strokes over par for four players, placing them seven strokes ahead of host team Williams. The Williams squad finished third with a round of 306, followed by the 307 posted by Trinity. The rain-shortened tournament restricted play to just a single round on Sunday, which played right into the Panthers' liking. Even Williams' Head Coach Rick Pohle gave much praise to the Panthers' effort. "You have to take your hat off to them, that is a great score under the conditions." Leading the way for the victorious Panthers was a harmoniously balanced attack, with the team placing an unprecedented four golfers within the top eight individual standings. Damon Gacicia '02.5 and Brad Tufts '03 both shot a one-over 72 to finish tied for second on the scoreboard. The tournament medalist, Paul Winkler of Western New England College, shot an even-par 71. Only three shots over-par were Ryan Simper '03 and Chuck Clement '04, whose rounds of 74 solidified the best team mark ever posted by a Panther golf team. Clement was one of the most instrumental contributors toward Sunday's victory. "It felt great to post a low number. I knew it was in us; we were just waiting for it to all come together and it did. I was still pleasantly surprised when I came in and saw that we already had two 72's and a 74 on the board, he remarked." Also participating in the Panthers' record-setting day was Derek Singer '05, who also gave a solid effort for the squad. Added Simper, "This was Damon's last tournament at Williams, and we wanted to send ol' Cheech out with a bang. I'm sure he'll show his face again, though. Somehow I don't think he can resist the idea of spending more time with me, Brad, Beaney and the gang." Also partaking in the Eph Classic was the female contingent to the Middlebury golf program. Emily Lord '03.5 and Mackenzie Gowdey-Backus '06 both played during Sunday's event. Lord placed third in the women's division, hinting that the College's fledgling women's golf program should have no problem asserting itself as a credible threat in New England play. In the meantime, tournament experience like the Eph Classic should help the program grow swiftly.Last Thursday the Panthers fought fierce winds as they hosted the Goss Invitational, which has become known as the 'Battle of Vermont'. The team placed second by a mere two-strokes to the Catamounts of the University of Vermont, who shot 329. Despite not winning state bragging rights, the Panthers did have the tournament medallist, Gacicia, who was the only player in the tournament to break 80 under the brutal conditions, shooting 78. The team consensus was unanimous in feeling upset about its play during the Goss. Clement commented, "The Goss was very disappointing. The wind was definitely a factor, and I don't think I have seen such difficult pin positions in a long time. It's easy to get unexpected kicks on chips and because of the hole positions, putting was a challenge." Gacicia summed up some other rather explicit comments concerning the round. "We got a little lax out there and really didn't play well. However, I felt as though the round and Coach Beaney's ensuing comments catapulted us into the weekend, forcing us to get our act together." Next up for the red-hot Panthers will be the New England Championships on Oct. 21-22, which will take place at the Captain's Courses on Cape Cod. This will be the last tournament for the squad this fall, as well as the final collegiate event for Gacicia, who will graduate in February. Looking back on the season, Gacicia was more than pleased. "We really came together as a team during the Eph Classic, and dominated the field. I hope that we will be able to continue to add to our most successful season, which already boasts three tournament victories."
