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(10/09/02 12:00am)
Author: Alexandra Hay On Oct. 5, Mead Chapel was illuminated by François Clemmons, Twilight artist-in-residence, dressed in a bright gold jacket and enshrouded by the sound of his own glorious tenor voice, which was accompanied by Assistant in Music Cynthia Huard on the piano. The theme for this fifth annual Clemmons Consort performance was Broadway show tunes. Clemmons opened the show with informal good humor, pointing out friends in the audience and jokingly warning the crowd to have their hankies ready because "there's going to be some crying music." As promised, the familiar show tunes brought to mind many "wishes, dreams, memories" with songs such as "Memory" from Cats, "Try to Remember" from "The Fantastics" and "Some Enchanted Evening" from "South Pacific." Broadway songs are a recently discovered passion of Clemmons; he describes them as "the dessert that someone kept away from me all my life." Before singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" he quipped that transposing the song wasn't particularly difficult as it passed "from one diva to another diva."This self-proclaimed "diva's" long list of credentials includes directing the choir, serving as an adviser to students, delivering guest lectures in classes and performing on campus and for town events. Born in Birmingham, Ala., Clemmons moved to Youngstown, Ohio, at the age of five, earned a bachelor's degree at Oberlin College in 1967, a Master of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University in 1969 and received an honorary doctor of arts from Middlebury College in 1996.Winning the regional auditions in Pittsburgh for New York's Metropolitan Opera and placing third in auditions in Cleveland landed him a Kathryn Long Fellowship with the Metropolitan Opera Studio and ultimately launched his career as a singer. Clemmons' many outstanding achievements include singing with the Metropolitan Opera Studio for seven seasons and performing with other companies, including the New York City Opera. In 1974 he made his debut with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera in the role of Sportin' Life in "Porgy and Bess," and then went on to receive a Grammy Award in 1973 for his recording of the role on London Records with the Cleveland Orchestra.Clemmons also created and performed the role of Officer Clemmons on "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" for 27 years.A versatile and accomplished artist, his deep interest in spirituals led him to found and direct the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble that now performs regularly around the world. He describes his work with spirituals as "the hobby that became my life's work."Onstage Clemmons clearly exhibited the joy brought to his music and song, and when asked to elaborate on what music means to him, he said simply, "Music is my life; it's a way to communicate, to say I love you." Today he "adds a little spice to the [Middlebury] campus," in the words of Leslie Thompson '05. Creating a small stir everywhere he goes, he is never seen without an eye-catching outfit adorned with exotic accessories, such as the hand-carved cane from Ghana. He toted the cane Saturday in a dashing manner as he strolled up and down the stage during "It Ain't Necessarily So," from "Porgy and Bess." His gold jacket is only one of many he has collected over the years, some worth $1,000 or more due to the fine beading or hand-painted decoration. He describes himself as having "inherited Liberace's closet."The tradition of Clemmons' signature jackets began in Italy in the early '80s when he was touring as a member of the cast of Porgy and Bess. He "found this beautiful material in a shop and a cast member convinced [him] to buy it." It was a year before it was transformed into a smoking jacket for a debut performance onstage. Since then Clemmons has "not worn a tux in 20 years, except when required, of course."Clemmons will perform again, most likely next fall. For now he is working on Portuguese songs with the College's newly established Portuguese department in preparation for a trip to Brazil. He is also in the process of learning Russian songs to prepare for a trip to Moscow in April where he will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Language Schools.
(10/02/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Last week, Scott Ritter declared that Iraq poses no threat to the world and demanded evidence "before military action is taken." He obviously didn't read the authoritative December 1998 New Republic article asserting that Iraq was "not nearly disarmed," that in all likelihood, Saddam Hussein was hiding everything from nerve gas to anthrax, as well as his "entire nuclear weapons infrastructure." Ritter didn't read the article; he merely wrote it. Back in 1998, Ritter also testified to the Senate that Iraq could within six months make its weapons of mass destruction operational. According to the 1998 Ritter, Saddam remained "an ugly threat to his neighbors and to world peace." When at the end of his lecture, I quoted a few of Ritter's own lines from the New Republic article to him, asking "Which Ritter should we believe, the new or the old Ritter?" he offered no explanation for this glaring inconsistency and provided no persuasive evidence to account for the U-turn he has recently made. Yet since 1998, when he resigned in disgust that neither the United States nor the United Nations had the guts to disarm Iraq or go to war, he has had no access to intelligence; his sources of information are the same as yours or mine. Today, among the several hundred weapons inspectors who worked in Iraq until 1998, Ritter's perspective represents a small minority. So why the 180 degree turn? Recently, Ritter has also acknowledged (as I mentioned at the lecture) taking $400,000 two years ago from an Iraqi-American businessman named Shakir al-Khafaji to visit Baghdad and make a documentary about weapons inspections. Ritter's cut was $80,000, though he claims he put some of that back into the film production. My mention of this provoked considerable irritation on Ritter's part, leading him to declare, "My personal finances are none of you damn business" (which, incidentally, is the only part of the exchange The Campus reported correctly). Ritter is badly mistaken. His personal finances are everybody's business. He is a highly visible public figure and a leading critic of the Bush administration who has entered into a major debate that this country must conduct on the eve of a possible war. Therefore, Ritter's sources of funding for his activities are decidedly not a private matter. In fact, they cast a long shadow over his credibility. Al- Khafaji is openly in bed with Saddam and frequently sponsors anti-American conferences in Baghdad. Iraqi officials were so happy with the Khafaji-funded Ritter documentary that they distributed a CD-ROM version at an international conference to press their case. This September, Ritter was a guest of the Iraqi government in Baghdad. His speech to the Iraqi "parliament," according to the London Times, handed Saddam "a propaganda coup," for Ritter found Iraq to be a threat to no one.Ritter neither admits nor explains why his view of the threat posed by Iraq has radically changed. Nor does he seem to realize that his actions matter, that in allowing himself to be used by a regime that has, by all accounts (including those of non-partisan human rights organizations, such as the Human Rights Watch) committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, he has forfeited our trust. While he implores us to "get all the facts," he obviously doesn't like the uncomfortable facts that get in the way of his story. Though a case against the war on Iraq can be made, Ritter unfortunately lacks the credibility to make it. Michael Kraus is Frederick C. Dirks Professor of Political Science. He spent last academic year at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
(10/02/02 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Gissing Explosive Discovery at U. MontanaA sophomore at the University of Montana was arrested last Wednesday night after Public Safety officers discovered explosives in his dorm room. The student, Dereck Stairs, has been charged with felony possession of explosives. Public Safety officers, responding to a call from two resident assistants in Stairs' dorm, found a prescription bottle filled with gun powder, with a hole in the lid and a fuse next to it, primer blasting caps and matchstick heads in the microwave of Stairs' room. After Stairs was arrested he was turned over to the Missoula Police Department. Director of Residence Life Ron Brunell commented that the incident was "the most disturbing incident to happen in the dorms this year" and one of the worst in the 15 years he has been in his position.According to court records, Stairs admitted to the Public Safety officers that the explosive device was his. The Resident Assistants called security when they saw Stairs walk into the dorm carrying what appeared to be shotgun shells or dynamite, and an electric cord with exposed wires. Another unidentified suspect was detained, questioned and then released. Stairs will appear in District Court for his preliminary hearing on Oct. 10. The penalty for possessing explosives is up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.Source: U-WireColumbia Turns to a More Scientific CourseA new science course built with the purpose of introducing students to modern topics in science, is being considered as an addition to the core curriculum at Columbia University. The currently unnamed course will cover subjects ranging from cosmology to genetics. Its main purpose, according to David J. Helfand, the Columbia astronomer heading the campaign to establish the course as a requirement, is to teach students "scientific habits of mind." The core curriculum, which was established over 80 years ago, has placed a strong emphasis on the humanities. Students are required to take seven prescribed courses in various fields of the humanities, and while they are also required to take science courses, there is no one required course.A pilot program will start sometime this month. The course will differ from the other core courses in that instead of being limited to 22 students to facilitate discussion, they will mostly be large, weekly lectures given by leading researchersKathryn B. Yatrakis, dean of academic affairs for Columbia University, says that while it is not certain that the course will be added next fall, she is hoping and thinking that it will, though it is dependent on the results of the evaluations of the pilot course. Source: The New York TimesEarly Vacation Rumors Dry Up at UVADespite rumors that Charlottesville, Va., reservoirs might dry up in 88 days, there are no plans for classes at the University of Virginia (UVA) to end early. Rumors of the university closing for Christmas break around Thanksgiving were so widespread last week that college officials sent out a campus-wide e-mail denying plans to send students home early in order to conserve water. Though not drastic enough to warrant sending all 18,000 members of the student body home early, the water shortage in Charlottesville is causing no shortage of alarm. UVA's water is supplied by the municipal system, whose reservoirs are at 54.1 percent of capacity. According to city officials, unless rain falls and water usage practices are not changed significantly, the reservoirs will dry out in three months. The effects of the water shortage have definitely been seen on campus; university workers have been around campus changing showerheads and faucets, closing pools and fountains, turning down air conditioning and setting up portable toilets at the stadium. Also over the summer break water-conserving washing machines were installed in dormitories and the dining halls are using paperware to avoid dishwashing. Though water use has decreased by a third since the city and university instituted mandatory restrictions, it has not been enough. The municipal government is asking UVA and other customers to reduce water use by an additional 20 percent and is increasing water rates to encourage conservation. Officials say, however, that closing the university is included only in "doomsday scenarios." University officials said that the fall classes and exams would end as planned, 82 days from now.Source: The Washington Post
(09/25/02 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Martin The Middlebury Panthers golf team continues to lower its team score with every tournament. Its hectic fall schedule last week included an impressive victory over the field at the Skidmore Fall Classic, before enduring a rain shortened Williams Invitational over the weekend.The low-pressure system that moved over the Northeast on Saturday afternoon brought the Williams Invitational to an abrupt finish, along with any hope of a Sunday turnaround for the Panther golf team. Williams head golf coach Rick Pohle commented, "The heavy overnight rains and unplayable conditions forced tournament officials to cancel the second day of the event." It was the first time in the 18-year history of the tournament that the weather abridged play at the Taconic Golf Course. Emory College was the fortunate victor in this unpredicted one-day event with a round of 285. Ross Morgan, the tournament's medallist, shot a 68 for the second place Skidmore Thoroughbreds. The Panthers chimed in with a round of 304 on Saturday, a round they had hoped to improve upon on Sunday. However, that not being an option, the Panthers settled for a 10th place finish in the 24-team field. Ryan Birtwell '04 remarked, "I can undoubtedly say that I was frustrated about the shortened match. I love battling it out in treacherous conditions, and I really feel that we could have pulled away from the field if we had played on Sunday." Individually, the Panthers had a number of bright spots as Brad Tufts '03 continued his torrid play with an even par 71, placing him fifth on the individual leaderboard. Tufts offered up that it was "one of my better rounds, but it could've been a bit lower, the course played easier than normal due to the humidity and slower green speeds. It stinks that the second day had to be cancelled, as we were looking forward to making a move up the leaderboard that was stacked with several very good schools from down south." Other members of the team including Damon Gacicia '02.5 and Birtwell shot solid rounds of 73 and 77 respectively. Mike Walsh-Ellis '03 and Ryan Simper '03 were equally as frustrated not to have another crack at the Taconic on Sunday. The Panthers did, however, fair tremendously well last Wednesday, Sept. 18, as they took home the trophy at the Skidmore Fall Classic. Middlebury narrowly escaped the grasp of long time nemesis Williams as the two teams tied atop the leaderboard with rounds of 305. When the teams top four scorecards match they use the fifth player's score as the tiebreaker and fortunately Middlebury was able to better its Williams foe. The real headline during this event was the re-emergence of Gacicia, who splendidly captivated the galleries with a one-under round of 71, earning him tournament honors. Gacicia added, "I hit the ball incredibly well, it was one of my more solid rounds this entire year, which included three birdies in four holes towards the middle of my round." Not far behind was Tufts with a steady round of 74 and a fourth place individual finish. Furthermore, the Panthers received an incredible lift from Walsh-Ellis, making his Middlebury varsity golf debut with a healthy 78 (14th place overall). Walsh-Ellis commented, "First off, the best part about beating Williams is that they all play with their collars up and think that they are the hottest [stuff] around, but once they found out that they lost, they started bickering. I had no familiarity with the course and it was my first tournament for Middlebury, so I almost soiled my pants on the first tee and it didn't help when I hit my first tee shot off the hozzle of the club for an 80-yard, hard slice. Things were made exponentially worse when I was 1-under par after nine holes. I was in unchartered territory and felt like Tiger Woods. However, after soiling myself a second time, I quickly came back down to earth, but finished with a score that I was pretty happy with."The Panthers will return home to the Ralph Myhre Golf Course this weekend as they play host to the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championships beginning at 1pm on Saturday. Families and friends will be admitted at no charge.
(09/25/02 12:00am)
Author: Kelsey Rinehart It is sometimes difficult for students, bent on juggling a life of academics and socializing, to sympathize with the plight of the working parent. Yet for some faculty and staff, contemplating such a life is not so hard — especially for those with families. Life as a working parent can be difficult on many levels, and one of the most important factors in raising children is very often finding good, affordable child care.When asked about their experiences with child care, Armelle Crouzieres, assistant professor of French, and Brett Millier, professor of American literature, gave varied answers. "I heavily rely on child care," Crouzieres commented. "It was very hard finding child care my first year in Middlebury. I had twins, [so] I needed two spots for children of the same age."It was not as difficult for Millier, who said, "I have been fortunate in having as much child care as I wished for throughout my children's baby and toddler years." Yet both agreed that child care options for the more than 37,400 working parents in Vermont were insufficient.The Economic Impact of Vermont's Child Care Industry, a report put out this June by Windham Child Care Association and the Peace and Justice Center, claims that in Vermont, 80 percent of women who have children under age six were in the workforce in 1998. The child care industry, therefore, is crucial to the Vermont economy, allowing many parents to return to work soon after starting a family. In addition, child care is a crucial part of the Vermont economy, directly and indirectly providing 5,000 Vermonters with employment. Overall, the economic impact of child care spending in Vermont is $426 million.Locally, child care has an exceptional reputation. Kimberly Waterman and Doumina Noonan, associate director and executive director, respectively, of Otter Creek Child Center (OCCC) in Middlebury contend, "We are fortunate in the Middlebury area. The local child care centers are nationally accredited and involved in current quality child care practices, self-study and improvement." Still, Waterman and Noonan agreed with Millier and Crouzieres that, overall, child care options are insufficient. As Elizabeth Meyer, president of the Vermont Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies put it, "Finding options for affordable, high-quality child care that is available when and where parents need it is a perennial struggle."Low wages and poor benefits for employees make it extremely difficult for child care providers to find well-qualified workers. The Economic Impact of Vermont's Child Care Industry report noted that in 2000, the average hourly wage for employees of licensed childcare facilities was $7.60. The lack of funds hurts many chil care providers. Waterman and Noonan said, "Tuition at OCCC only covers 80 percent of our operating expenses, and the rest we need to scramble for by fundraising and grant writing. If there was more of a partnership and a sharing between child care providers and community businesses, everyone would benefit, especially families."Millier suggests more government funding for child care centers, and comments, "I am in favor of universal [state-funded] pre-school for three- and four-year- olds. Every child should have a safe and productive place to go every day, at little or no cost to the family." Funding, however, is often hard to come by, as Anne Gleason, School Age Care Programs coordinator at Mary Johnson Children's Center in Middlebury, noted. She said, "The state of child care in Vermont is … in need of constant support to keep its precarious balance as both a resource and a liability in the minds of legislators and policymakers. Influential supporters are sometimes hard to find when bills are needing to escape a heavy budget cut."Meyer said, "More, better child care is what's needed in Vermont. Greater partnership between parents, providers, employers and private and public funders are needed to make it happen. Without child care, Vermont does not work."
(09/18/02 12:00am)
Author: Liz Lathey This summer, I experienced a phenomenon that I did not realize is as prevalent in Vermont as it actually is: the bus tour. As a waitress at an inn in Killington, Vt., I was privy to the subculture of those people we waitstaff referred to affectionately as "the bus people."I'm sure that many of you, as do I, have various relatives who partake in these tours. If you're like me, you probably assumed they travel to interesting parts of the country and sightsee, toting along cameras most likely manufactured at the dawn of the Industrial Age. Well, they do travel around and they do have the cameras, but the trips these people take seem to me more like first-grade field trips than interesting national expeditions. If I were to say that some place is interesting and fun to visit, Killington in the summer is certainly not one of them. In the winter the place is crazy with tourists, but in the summer it is about as remarkable as a ski resort in July. Which is exactly what it is.I remember the people on one of the bus trips bantering at their table about their trip to the Rutland farmer's market that day. First of all, I'd like to say that Rutland is a perfectly fine town, but I just cannot imagine actually wanting to visit there on vacation. And going to a farmer's market seems to make it all the funnier. I mean, if I had paid as much as those bus people probably did to go on their tour, I would definitely have a problem with wandering around the Rutland Wal-Mart parking lot checking out baskets of zucchini and homemade soap. Luckily, the farmer's market episode is the worst trip to which the bus people were subjected. Most of the tours went on the standard trips to the Shelburne Museum, the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and the Ben & Jerry's Factory. Although I thoroughly enjoyed all of these places when I visited, I was also under the age of 12 when I saw these tourist sites. Maybe it's just me, but I find that there is something rather amusing about a group of 50 people, all over the age of 65, shuffling around the Ben & Jerry's Factory trying to snag as many free samples of Heath Bar Crunch as possible. I can just imagine them shoving each other out of the way to see in the window to the factory. Pure entertainment.The thing about the bus people was that we could always tell who they were. When we had bus groups stay at the inn, there were also always regular customers who would also eat in the restaurant. We referred to these guests as the "normal people," differentiating them from "the bus people." The bus people were pretty easy to tell apart. First of all, they always asked us to turn off the air-conditioning as soon as they entered the restaurant. I've noticed that they all seemed to consider any temperature under 80 degrees "chilly." Also, they would often sit at large tables of 10 or 12. These would be the tables that needed everything that we serve cooked to their specifications, until it did not look like anything remotely similar to the original menu item. Also, there were always drinkers. Every once in a while, there would be a large table at which everyone ordered a drink, and then ordered two or three subsequent drinks until they were yelling and laughing at the top of their lungs about the funniest thing that had happened on the bus that day.There were some positive aspects to the bus people, though. Many of them acted very grandmotherly to me and the other waitresses who were around my age. I know I got a lot of tips because of them seeing me carry large trays around the restaurant. Whenever I heard the phrase, "Look at that poor little girl with that big tray," I knew a tip was on the way. I often considered stacking a tray with a bunch of empty plates and walking around just to pick up more tips. I sometimes would give the bus people little extras to make their stay in Vermont more pleasant, just because so many of them seemed so excited to be here. As their waitress, I was the authority on everything Vermont, even though half the time I had no idea about what they wanted to know. I know that for everything they asked me, I must have given quite a few people wrong directions to Woodstock, misinformation about Robert Frost's life in Vermont and bad suggestions about what they could do in their off time. But, no matter how much the bus people annoyed us sometimes, one thing I know for sure is I never recommended that anyone go to the Rutland farmer's market.
(05/08/02 12:00am)
Author: Ben Gore "The urge to destruction is also a creative urge." — Mikhail Bakunin"Argentina is on the brink of anarchy." — Argentine President Eduardo DuhaldeArgentina is currently in the midst of a complete political and financial breakdown. The middle class have lost their savings, the economy is stagnated and the government holds onto its power by the thinnest of margins. This vacuum has the potential to be a laboratory to test the power and pragmatism of new ideas, ideas that could stand Latin America and much of the world on their heads.The Financial CrisisSince 1989, the government of Argentina has implemented a neoliberal economic model: opening up trade and finance, deregulating the economy and selling off state run enterprises. These policies were implemented at the 'suggestion' of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and with the collusion of economic and political elites. In 1991, the government pegged the peso to the dollar by an act of Congress. The GDP of Argentina grew quickly during most of the '90s with an influx of direct investment, portfolio investment and cash from the sell off of state industries.The miracle began to run out in 1997 as Brazil and much of Southeast Asia slid towards financial crisis. The sell off of industry finished and investment slacked off on fears that the crisis would spread to Argentina. Since 1995, the government of Argentina had been borrowing some $7.4 billion a year to prop up the peso/dollar peg. By 2001 capital flows were negative as they had been in the '80s, and foreign investors worried about the country's ability to pay its debts. This worry led to extremely high interest rates, worsening the recession. The IMF stepped in with a large package that did nothing to help (not surprisingly, the IMF is more often encountered with riots than success). In August, foreign exchanges stopped accepting Argentine debt vehicles. There was a run on the banks, and nearly 20 percent of all deposits were withdrawn.A central myth of the crisis is that it was due to profligate spending by the government. This is simply untrue. During the period of escalating crisis the government never ran a deficit of 2.5 percent. Meanwhile, Brazil, a healthy economy, ran deficits of 8-10 percent. The Political CrisisThis fall, President Fernando de la Rua and his economy minister Domingo Cavillo decided, at the request of the IMF, to run the government with no deficit. To do this, they proposed to cut deeply into social services and eliminate thousands of jobs. It was at this point that all sectors of Argentine society joined together and toppled the government. Thirty people died in the rioting. A period of turmoil ensued, and the government went through a number of presidents before the current one, Eduardo Duhalde, came to power.Argentina has a two party system similar to the United States, though even more corrupt. The parties are run much like political machines. Many Argentines understand this and view the entire political class as illegitimate. This is not helped by the banking freeze or the government's current flirtation with the IMF backed idea of cutting 350,000 government jobs. Duhalde is holding on to power with one finger.Popular Responses and HopeIn response to the illegitimacy of the political class and the impotence of their economic ideas, the people of Argentina have done a number of things. There have been raucous demonstrations almost daily, many of which end with the destruction of banks to protest the freeze on withdrawals. Two tactics stand out amid the seeming chaos.The first tactic is factory occupations. In many cases owners and managers have simply abandoned their factories. In a number of cases, especially in the provinces, the workers have occupied the factories and continue to produce and sell their goods as best they can. Profits are distributed equally. The unions in Argentina have no part in the occupation movement. Occupations are not yet widespread, but as the financial crisis deepens, they may become more prevalent.The second tactic is the neighborhood council. There are over 200 neighborhood councils in Buenos Aires and many more in the provinces. These are people's assemblies that meet to decide the business of the neighborhood, to plan demonstrations and arrange for the implementation of basic services. Every week there is an inter-council meeting. These non-hierarchal institutions represent an organizational structure with the potential to utterly change the political landscape. They function not from an ideological perspective, many expel left-wing party activists who try to meddle, but from necessity. Everyone is allowed to participate because there are no other options left for ordinary people.Who is Utopian? What is Practical?Pundits in the United States worry that "Argentina will turn away from democracy." What they mean when they say this is that Argentina will turn away from corporate capitalism and its political partner representative democracy. They invoke the image of the caudillo to frighten us. But what is happening in Argentina, no matter on how small a scale, is the birth of something new, something the pundits don't understand.Corporate capitalism, representative democracy and their collective philosophy, called neoliberalism, are about abstraction and alienation. Production is separated from place. Power is separated from the people. An abstract idea, 'the market', governs most interactions. Macroeconomists mask the misery of people and the destruction of the environment with fancy theories and statistics. Free market ideologues claim that they are only being practical with their suggestions; that the real problem is that Argentina hasn't gone far enough. They never stop to consider that it may be impossible to implement their plans. Argentina went as far down that road as was politically possible, and then its people said "Enough." If a blueprint for society works beautifully in theory but can never be implemented in the real world, what is it? Utopian.The global counter-movement, which is growing strong in Argentina, is an inversion of neoliberal values. It says that people and their environment come first. Global markets are ignored to produce for local needs. Power is spread at the lowest level possible so that everyone may have a say in running their own lives. Worker control of the factories and the direct democracy of the neighborhood councils are only the tip of the iceberg. These trends are weak now, but neoliberalism, the path Argentina's so-called leaders continue to follow cannot solve the problems it created. As the crisis deepens the counter-movement will strengthen.The unimaginative and ideologically stiff will shout "Utopian!" at the countermovement until they are red in the face. But who is utopian when those who lay claim to pragmatism have brought nothing but hunger, poverty and political collapse?
(05/08/02 12:00am)
Author: Lindsey Whitton Marjorie Lamberti, Charles A. Dana Professor of History, is one of the most memorable members of the Middlebury College faculty. She is a world-renowned scholar who is well published and often speaks at professional conferences. She is an inspired teacher who anticipates her discussions with students with great excitement and gently guides students to think historically and to form their own opinions. Most importantly, however, Lamberti is a remarkable person who has enriched the lives of thousands of members of the Middlebury College community during almost four decades of service to the College. This spring Lamberti will retire, but her colleagues and legions of students past and present will never forget her charisma, her commitment and her kindness. Travis Jacobs, Fletcher D. Proctor Professor of American History, said that Lamberti "has earned the respect of students, alumni and colleagues during her impressive career at Middlebury College."Lamberti grew up in New Haven, Conn. She attended a public high school with a college preparatory academic program that "prepared students extremely well for college," she said. She matriculated to Smith College, where she was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She continued her education at Free Universit in Berlin and at Yale University. Lamberti began teaching at Middlebury in 1962 and she has been at the College "happily ever since." She has taken "quite a few" sabbaticals throughout her tenure, however, which included fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, and the Woodrow Wilson Center. She is an expert in German history and the history of Europe Jewry, a specialization that was inspired by many of her former teachers. "In my education," Lamberti said, "I had the good fortune to be taught by refugees from Germany and Italy." These "individuals are extraordinary," she continued. She began to study German in high school and has had a passionate interest in the culture ever since. She personally knows many of the historians in her field and facilitates lively debates in her classroom over different historians' arguments. Jacobs commented on his admiration for "how she has devoted herself to her students and teaching while at the same time she has established a fine record as a scholar." "She is a world-renowned expert in her field," President John McCardell agreed. "And she has brought great credit to Middlebury through her publications and her involvement in the wider world of scholarship."Lamberti began teaching classes in Dana Auditorium with large enrollments. She was the teacher of the foundation course The Formation of the Nation-State in Western Europe, and was one of three professors who taught Revolutions in the Modern Era. She also taught two courses on the history of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. McCardell remembered this period in Lamberti's teaching career. "For many years she taught a heavy load in the History Department," he said. "Generations will recall being simply transfixed by Marjorie's classroom presence — a combination of dynamism, expertise, focus, and eloquence that merits the overused term 'unique'." Associate Professor of History Jim Ralph '82 was one of her students. "I first met Marjorie Lamberti when I took her class on the making of the nation state in the spring of 1979, my freshman year at Middlebury," he said. "She lectured in Dana Auditorium. The class filled the hall, and she kept us enthralled with her dynamic and thought-provoking lectures. Each was a gem — well argued and expertly presented." In the 1990s she switched her teaching style to reflect her more narrow specialization, offering classes on the history of Germany and the history of Jews in Europe. She continued to volunteer to teach an intensive writing first-year seminar every year because, she commented it is a wonderful way to get to know first-year students. "It is also a way of keeping my own writing skills sharp," she said. "I love teaching first-year seminars!" Lamberti, despite her expertise, continues to work on her own distinct prose style. She still appreciates the art of writing, which she has always enjoyed immensely. "When I joined the faculty a decade [after having taken Lamberti's class as a student] Marjorie was as enthusiastic a teacher as ever," Ralph said, "and she has remained so over the last years of her tenure here." Her classes are very interactive, and she allows her students to "set the agenda" for many discussions. Students comment on aspects of the assigned readings that interested them most, while she elaborates, encourages and writes their comments on the board. When everything pertinent has been aired, she numbers the comments in the order that they should be discussed and asks the class if they are happy with this agenda. When everyone has agreed, the class discussion begins. She is always encouraging and kind, and compliments students often on their insight and perception. "It has been both a pleasure and an honor to have had Professor Lamberti during her last semester here at Middlebury College," current student Anna Kasupski '04 said. "Her enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of the material taught have provided me with a truly valuable learning experience."Over the course of the last decade "Marjorie has continued to be a true force in the classroom," McCardell commented. Though her teaching style has changed from the traditional large lectures many alumni may remember, she is a wonderful facilitator of small seminar discussions. "Teaching is not simply working in the classroom," Lamberti is careful to note. "It is important to engage in a dialogue outside."Her dedication to, and passionfor her students and their education has not gone unrecognized. Last year, Lamberti was the recipient of the Faculty Appreciation Award from the Student Government Organization. Despite the numerous distinctions she has achieved over the course of her career, it was this honor that has meant the most to her. "This is something I will treasure," she said, "because it is from the students."Middlebury students' academic interest, motivation and capabilities, Lamberti noted, have not changed over the years despite monumental changes in facility and in the size of the applicant pool. There is a "larger reservoir of young talent" from which current Middlebury students are chosen, but she remembers classes from the '60s, '70s and the '80s "where students were also critical thinkers and very engaged.""Middlebury has always had a large number of talented, gifted, intelligent students," she said. "My classes in earlier years were also very exciting and there was a dynamism in those classes just as there is today," she notes. "The student body was strong then and it is strong now." Lamberti is familiar with thousands of alumni since for years her classes were fairly large. "Whenever I meet alumni I am stunned at their accomplishments," she said. "It is extraordinary what they have done!" Invariably they remember her also: her vibrant presence in the classroom, her dedication for her chosen profession and for her selfless commitment to her students.Her career at the College will be celebrated this spring with two parties, one hosted by Jacobs, the other by McCardell. Jacobs, who joined the History Department one year after Lamberti, has described her as "a terrific colleague."Lamberti will continue to live in the Middlebury area after her retirement and said she looks forward to seeing students and her former colleagues. She sees herself going forward as a scholar. She has already published three books, and written sections of numerous others, but she plans to embark on a new project, a study of refugee scholars from Germany and Italy. She will research and write about "this migration of knowledge across the Atlantic," that initially inspired her field of study many years ago."I am
leaving a department with such strong leadership," she said. "In the past few years the history department has lost some of Middlebury's finest teachers but yet we have recruited such a strong younger generation that there is still a department, in my view, that is one of the strengths of Middlebury." She praised that younger generation of history professors as exceptional teachers and contributors to the college community. "I will miss teaching," she said. "It has been such a rich life! It has been a life in which all of my dreams have come true. Sometimes I can scarcely believe that so many opportunities have come my way! I am happy and I feel this joy so deeply." "Marjorie is one of the most talented and committed members of our faculty," McCardell commented. "She will be difficult to replace, impossible to replicate. I know I speak for her colleagues as well as her present and former students in thanking her for her selfless and distinguished service to Middlebury over a long and remarkably productive career."
(05/08/02 12:00am)
Author: Abbie Beanne On the first clear, warm night in several days, the air was laden with spirited energy, infectious sexuality and Jamaican chicken. Amidst marble-colored clusters of balloons strung with iridescent ribbon, black and silver draperies and tasty foreign food stood an enormous crowd struggling to find extra chairs and pulsating to the rhythmic beats of popular and techno music, which would soon provide the inspiration for numerous amazing acts, ranging from the provocative to the truly unique. As a bright blue bulb illuminated the curtains, a voice off-stage proclaimed: "We are our past, but we have new thoughts with new ideas. We play in the present and form our future, building a blueprint for those after us." These were the words imparted at the commencement of the spring 2002 Riddim show "Past, Present, Future" last Saturday night as a benefit to the Angels Fund, etablished in honor of the four students, formerly members of Riddim, who passed away in April 2000.The troupe currently has 30 members, all part of the 80 member Riddim World Dance Club. The show included not only forms of dancing, lindy hopping and bombshell stepping but singing and juggling as well. The opening dance, "What It's Like To Be Me" elicited a succession of catcalls from the audience and ignited the energy in the room. The choreographer of this piece, Lanford Beard '04, explained that the most difficult part of choreography is teaching the dances and "explaining the moves to a group so that everyone can do it the way you see it in your head, because everyone approaches dances from different perspectives."From the looks of these incredible moves, however, it seemed that the ideal image was achieved, as were those in the acts that followed, adding more fuel to the flames. Especially flammable was the second piece, choreographed by David Yi '04, featuring (among others) Yi and Morgan Jones '04, who are known within the troupe as the "resident break dancing/popping-and-locking experts," which involved spectacular break-dancing and even some tantalizing clothing removal.Other particularly popular numbers included a sensual song and sassy attitude compliments of Mailyssa Gueray-Adodo '02, who sang "Tyrone" by Erykah Badu, and Middlebury College's master of entertainment, Brian Pletcher '04, who mesmerized the audience with his popular contact juggling. Surprisingly, Pletcher only practices for about an hour every couple of days now, a significant decrease from his earlier practicing days. When asked why he became interested in contact juggling, he said, "It just seemed like an interesting and different thing to do." Other performances included a traditional Indian dance by Mallika Kao '05, who is not in the troupe, and a visiting group from Brazil called Capoeira de Brasil. The latter has already made several appearances at the College and each time has rendered the audience speechless with their radical gymnastic stunts and intense musical style, which is a collaboration between drums and feet.One other number, which spawned an uproar within the audience, was "Oops ... I Did It Again," originated by Britiny Spears, and performed by Associate Professor of German and Associate Provost for Institutional Diversity Roman Graf, Brainerd Commons Residential Assistant Anna Benvenuto, Associate Dean of Student Affairs Kathy Foley-Giorgio and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Karen Guttentag. Graf commented, "If I had the oppertunity to do something like this 20 years ago, I might have chosen a different profession.""Foley came up with the idea," said Benvenuto, "because she thought it would be a fun way to honor [Riddim's graduating seniors] and give something back." As one member of the Riddim troupe reminded the audience after this number, "Three dollars for a 'panther burger;' watching faculty dance: priceless." Yet, the finale, said Beard, "really embodied what Riddim seeks to do with dance," alluding to the piece choreographed by Toni Spence '04, Beard described as having "several different layers and movements, which all came together at the end."Founder of the Middlebury College Riddim troupe Tessa Waddell '02 explained that the title of the show, "Past, Present, Future," symbolizes the growth of the organization."She continued, "It's kind of like seeing your child grow up and letting it loose to the world. I have to let go of Riddim and let other people shape it."The original board, consisting of six seniors, including Waddell and her "right-hand," Eve Coronado '02, will be graduating this year. Waddell concluded, "It is obvious that we are more than just a group of people dancing. We are a big family. We love to dance, we love to dance together and we love to dance for you."
(05/08/02 12:00am)
Author: Chris Shields For me, April 20 has never really held any high level of meaning. This year I decided to do something. The weekend of April 20 proved to be one of the most dynamic and active weekends that Washington, D.C., has seen in years. From across the country and around the world activists representing myriad causes convened on the District for one weekend of activism, direct action and education. "So what are you protesting?" I asked as I arrived at Adirondack Circle."IMF/World Bank," a protestor responded while sitting on the wall. As we talked for a few minutes about the upcoming weekend, and why I hadn't bothered to go to any of the pre-departure meetings, others started to arrive. By 4 p.m. there were 24 of us, an eclectic bunch. Half of the group was newly arrived bubbly Febs, a townie with her kid and his friend (who looked about as happy as I would've been if my mother dragged me on a nine hour car ride for something I didn't care about) and a handful of us who consider ourselves regulars to such protests. The talk quickly turned to whether or not the Washington, D.C., police had granted a permit for the march against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that many of us would be partaking in the following morning. We then discussed horror stories of past D.C. protests as well as the violence that erupted last April 20 while many of us were in Quebec protesting the Free Trade of the America's Agreement. I looked over at the luxury that the crew team was accommodated in with their bus while I climbed into the back seat of one of two College vans. The lack of legroom forced me to align my legs diagonally since they didn't fit straight, and so my nine hour ordeal commenced. Sometime Saturday morning we arrived at the house where we were going to spend the night. I crawled into my sleeping bag and tried to catch some sleep to the tunes of numerous snores.Early the next morning we all got up and started to pack for that day's activities. Automatically I packed up all the first aid supplies and my gas mask, which I would typically expect to use at a protest of this scale. As those of us that have attended other protests this size started to pack our gas masks and our riot helmets, the Febs stopped being so bubbly. A glance at the paper had a quote from the police commissioner bragging about his baton being the same one that he had used during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. In addition to the report that 40 arrests had been made the day before, this didn't help the situation.When we arrived downtown, people began to split up in order to attend different events: IMF/World Bank protests, Columbia teach-ins, protest the Israeli occupation of Palestine and protests against the U.S. war on "terrorism."In an attempt at diplomacy, I tried to talk to the row of police guarding the IMF building, hopefully they would take pity on me when the violence started. Officer Malcolm assured me that he hoped the protests remained peaceful, as did a few other officers. Officer Bruce just looked like he wanted to assault me then and there.Suddenly I turned around. It was probably about 11:30 a.m. and all I could see were Palestinian flags coming towards me. The pro-Palestinian march had started earlier and was meeting up with the IMF protest to march through the city and onto the Capitol. We started walking.Alongside 80-year-old women dressed in traditional headcoverings were black masked anarchists. Alongside militant Palestinian teenagers was a group marching behind the banner "nerds for peace." Little girls no more than five walked alongside their parents carrying miniature Palestinian flags as Orthodex Jews walked hand in hand with Palestinians carrying signs which read "Jew's for peace" and "Jews against the occupation." A dozen Middlebury College students found themselves in the middle of this melee. Words cannot really describe the emotions that I felt at that moment. Here we were, thousands of us marching peacefully and in solidarity through the streets of our nation's capital in an eclectic show of support for peace on both sides. It gave me hope. The march continued through the city under the constant supervision of police snipers on rooftops and numerous police helicopters beaming video back to their central command. Last year in Quebec they used their helicopters to blow tear gas at us, so this was an incredible change of pace.As we continued to march there were certainly numerous pockets of extremism within the larger crowd, such as little girls being carried on stretchers with fake blood to symbolize victims of Israeli killings and chants calling for Sharon's death. These elements of the march certainly gave me the impression of a Hamas rally straight out of Ramallah. But fortunately enough, this was by far the minority. The protest wound its way in front of the Capitol and convened on the Mall with members of the anti-war protests in front of a series of stages with speakers and music. I looked around, and I looked behind me. I have never seen so many people before in my life. For those of you that know Washington, D.C., imagine the mall covered in people for as far as you can see. The surrounding streets became clogged with marchers, flags and chants as the police coolly looked on.
(05/01/02 12:00am)
Author: Abbie Beane From the outset, I wanted to establish only one thing. "So, do you spell theater like a Frenchman?" I asked. He replied in the affirmative, yet followed through with his defense, asserting that 80 percent of theaters now spell "theater," "theatre." "He," is the increasingly famous Dana Yeaton, and though he is partial to the French spelling of theater, he is in fact a native Vermont playwright and professor of theater at Middlebury College.Yeaton has drawn much attention in recent months as a result of yet another scripted success, "The Big Random," which has launched him into a position as The Vermont Stage Company's "playwright in residence" at the Flynn Space in downtown Burlington, Vt. Graduating from Middlebury as an independent scholar, Yeaton has been teaching dramatic writing to graduate and undergraduate students since 1991 at places such as the Vermont Summer Writing Institute, and sharing his crafty techniques with Middlebury students for approximately four years He teaches the classes Play Writing I, Play Writing II and Going Solo, a class designed specifically for writers who wish to be published. Mark Jacobson '02, one of Yeaton's former students, commented, "[He] loves theater, and he communicates that love to his students. Even if a student starts the semester hating stupid theater, their attitude will change to one of real respect by the course's end. It's unavoidable." Jacobson continued by attesting to Yeaton's patience and the positive classroom environment he creates, concluding, "Dana has truly become an important benefactor of student-written theater here at Middlebury." Yeaton is also the recipient of the Heidman Award, which he won at the Humana Festival ("the biggest new play festival") in Louisville, Ky., and the Moss Hart Award, which he received at the New England Theatre Conference for his piece "Mad River Rising," among other honors. All are testaments to the recognized successes of his numerous plays. His most recent accomplishment has been The New Voices in American Theatre award, which he accepted in Kansas last week at the William Inge Theatre Festival for his latest work, "The Big Random."Artistic Director of the Vermont Stage Company Mark Nash revealed his affinity for the piece, saying, "We're so pleased to be presenting the work of one of Vermont's finest playwrights, and one of its most celebrated. We are so thrilled to be bringing this new play to life." According to Yeaton, "The Big Random" is his personal favorite out of all of his plays. The weight of the story falls on a girl named Claire who escapes a psychiatric ward with a man of French Canadian descent, who also speaks French but is from northern Vermont. He claims to be her godfather, yet Claire harbors some uncertainty about him. Nevertheless, Claire decides to trust him, whereupon these two strangers embark upon a road trip through the Vermont wilderness and various engaging regions of Quebec. As Yeaton explained, the entire time this road trip is "under duress," where the audience feels that the godfather is "haunted" and that Claire is getting closer and closer to reality. "All along we want her revolutionary sprit to win out," says Yeaton, and as Claire begins to put herself into her own fantasies, which she has been constructing like scripts in her mind, we begin to see this evolution unfold. The play's New York-based director Jim Gaylord admitted, "I have a prejudice for smart characters, but I also like characters with heart, and I think that "The Big Random" is a good example of setting a very smart character opposite a character who isn't as smart, but has a great heart."When asked why he is attracted to this piece in particular, Yeaton explained that it is what matters to him "culturally" right now. He has always been fascinated by people he cannot understand, such as those from different cultures, and particularly French speakers whom he grew up with in Vermont. He says that he wanted to "dive into diversity, Vermont style." Furthermore, Yeaton is more specifically intrigued by Claire's character, due to the fact that he is currently raising children himself and extremely interested in children's issues and depression.At the same time, Yeaton explains that this play also "tries to use humor to get under the surface," and concludes "just when the story becomes unbearable, the laughter makes it bearable again, only to make it unbearable again later." Yeaton admits that he uses this tactic to discover just how far he can go, and still get people to laugh.As for the effort, that Yeaton invested in "The Big Random," it is best described by the stories Yeaton recounts, of nights when he would spend hours of precious time secluded from his family, sometimes to be productive and other times to be disappointed. Yet for every draft he wrote, Yeaton said he felt that "there was a deepening of where it had come from before. He explained that one last revision can be everything; it can "double or triple" the significance and intensity of the play. "The ending is all anyone ever talks about after the play," Yeaton recalled, "and this is very interesting, because people can love [a play] for 59 minutes and if you disappoint them during that last minute, that's all they'll talk about." This, he admitted, is one of the most difficult aspects of play writing. As for writing in general, Yeaton explained that it is even difficult to write something very mediocre. "You have to be incredibly skillful and incredibly lucky," he says. "Not every work will succeed, but you must mix up the chemicals and hope that you mixed the right ones."Nevertheless, Yeaton seemed to think that this dangerous chemistry experiment is well worth the effort as long as one has a passion for what he is doing. As he wisely advised, "If you do the thing that makes time disappear for you, you win, and you win every time.The Vermont Stage Company will be presenting "The Big Random" on an extended run from April 24 to May 5, at the Flynn Center in Burlington. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Flynn Box Office at 86-FLYNN ((802)-863-5966).
(05/01/02 12:00am)
Author: Rafat Kapadia How does a man deal with his son being burnt alive, his 80-year-old mother and 14-year-old daughter being raped, his pregnant wife having her stomach slashed and her foetus killed and then, all of them burnt alive? Horrifying as this sounds, these incidents have become a part of many a Muslims life in Gujarat, India. Thousands have been massacred, raped and rendered homeless. Mobs of extremist Hindus, supported by both the state and central government, went on a rampage against Muslims and thus destroyed the already tattered secular fabric of India. Officially, the number of people who have died in the past two or so months is 800. Non-government organization's (NGO) have put the toll at about 2,000, and most of the dead are Muslims. The riots were sparked off when a train, carrying mainly Hindu activists, was torched by a Muslim mob in Godhra. This served as a reason for the extremist Hindus to unleash their act of vengeance. The misbehaviour of the Hindu activists in the train, their communal chants asking Muslims to leave India, their offloading the Muslim passengers on the train was quickly forgotten and their death was used as a reason to systematically destroy Muslim citizens in Gujarat. This systematic killing puts one in doubt about the "spontaneous" nature of the violence as claimed by the central and state government. The BBC obtained an internal report in which British officials state "the violence, far from being spontaneous, was planned, possibly months in advance, carried out by an extremist Hindu organisation with the support of the state government." The aim of this violence was simply ethnic cleansing — to purge the Muslims from the Hindu areas. Muslim houses and shops were singled out and targeted. Survivors speak of the mob having sheets with the name and addresses of Muslim residents, of checkpoints being established on highways where cars were stopped and the occupants killed if they had Muslim names, of entire colonies being torched and worst of all, police aiding the mob. The Gujarat police force, comprising mainly of Hindus, has been accused by certain NGOs of firing on Muslims who were being attacked, of looking the other way when the mob attacked, of covering their faces and joining the mob in raping and murdering. The victims were at the mercy of the mob. Hundreds have been killed this way and are still being killed. Raping was used as a tool to carry out this brutal pogrom. Thousands of Muslim women were raped. One NGO, Communalism Combat, compiled a report in which the survivors spoke of the horrors of the riots. There were cases in which a family saw their neighbour's 14-year-old daughter and 80-year-old mother-in-law raped before she herself was raped. They were then torched to death. Fear and concern for the safety of their own womenfolk paralysed them and they couldn't go and help. Women speak of no one being spared, not young minors, not pregnant women. Pregnant women had their stomachs slashed and their foetuses killed before their own eyes. Rape victims were burnt to death, in order to leave no evidence of the mob's heinousness.Ghettoizing of the Muslim community is another disturbing trend that has been observed in Gujarat. Flyers asking Hindus to boycott Muslims, not to do business with them, to rape and destroy them have been found circulating in various cities of Gujarat. These bear the name of prominent Hindu organisations that are associated with the central and state government.Despite repeated demands by the opposition and NGO's to replace the chief minister, Narendra Modi, who belongs to the ruling party, the central government has refused to do so. They have staunchly supported his actions and his handling of the riots. The prime minister himself praised him. A man who is responsible for a massacre that "cleansed" Gujarat of the Muslims has been supported by the elected leader of the country. In fact, a few days ago, the prime minister, addressing a rally in Goa, stated that Muslims are the root cause of all the riots and fights that happen in India and thus denounced the entire community. This leads us to doubt the very essence of the secular nature of Indian state.The government has drawn flak from the international community and is finding it increasing difficult to answer it. British officials have severely censured the actions of the state government and have even stated that peace between the two communities is not possible as long as the current chief minister remains in power. International recognition of the ills plaguing Indian society provides hope to ordinary Indians, both Muslims and Hindus, of better times to come in which the government will not be biased towards any particular community and strive to make India truly secular.
(05/01/02 12:00am)
Author: Ami Kilchevsky This campus has been subjected to an onslaught of facile rhetoric which attempts to portray support for Israel (in its continuing struggle with the Palestinians) as "blind," uncritical, entirely one-sided, lacking in compassion and understanding for the plight of the Palestinians, etc. Can we move beyond the propaganda and spin to a reasonable discussion of opposing views?The vast majority of Israelis, American Jews and their supporters believe in the following: a two-state solution. Territorial compromise, meaning an eventual withdrawal from occupied territories on the basis of secure and recognized borders (grounded in United Nations Resolutions #242 and #338). Support of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and harmony with Israel. Absolute opposition to the current methods employed by the Palestinian Authority to achieve their ends — support of terror, violence and incitement of violence. A just settlement to the refugee problem.Why does any country, let alone Israel, have to apologize for taking actions against homicide bombers and violent militants to safeguard the lives of its own citizens? Where are the condemnations against terror and atrocities from the Palestinians and Islamic clerics? When will the Palestinians be led by statesmen who are more concerned about the welfare of their own people than with killing Israelis? Israel and the Jewish people need not apologize for their persistence in desiring to survive. At the same time, our heritage teaches us never to rejoice at the fall of our enemies. Israel takes no pleasure in being forced to retaliate and to kill Palestinians, including innocents who are unintended casualties. The United States government supports and will continue to support the security and well-being of the state of Israel for the following reasons: First, Israel and America share a common ideology based on both western political and cultural norms along with a common Judeo-Christian heritage. Israel, like America, is a multicultural nation comprised of people from more than 100 different countries. As in America, immigrants have gone to Israel in the face of religious persecution to build a better life for themselves and their families. Even with minimal resources, these citizens have achieved a relatively high standard of living and outstanding achievements in science, medicine and agriculture in a short period of time. Israel has absorbed more refugees than any other country in the world relative to its size, many of whom were displaced from Arab and Islamic countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt and Yemen.Second, in a region characterized by non-democratic regimes, Israelis, like Americans, have demonstrated a strong commitment to democracy and the rule of law. All citizens of Israel, regardless of race, sex or religion are granted full civil rights and equality before the law. Arab citizens vote and elect officials who represent them in the Knesset (Israel's parliament). They are free to serve in the army if they wish. They own and circulate their own newspapers. They practice religion without interference and choose their own religious leaders. There are many interest groups and human rights organizations that advocate on behalf of the Arab minority and other causes. Moreover, these rights and protections are staunchly upheld by an independent judiciary and the Israeli Supreme Court.Third, Israel, as one of America's most dependable allies, is of the utmost strategic value to our country. Since American involvement in the Middle East began more than 60 years ago, no other state in the region with the exception of Turkey could contribute to Western defense. The United States-Israeli alliance came to full maturity at the height of the Cold War when Israel presented itself to America as a country that would keep the Soviet-aligned Arab states in check, and it came through in both the 1967 and 1973 wars deterring Soviet domination of the Middle East. This alliance is still vital today. With the war on terror currently in progress, we cannot rely on Arab countries that harbor the very terrorists that we are pursuing to earnestly ally themselves with us. A recent CNN poll shows that nearly 80 percent of the respondents believe that Saudi Arabia, supposedly America's closest and most moderate friend in the Arab world, is not trustworthy. After all, would you trust a government whose inflammatory domestic policies, including media-saturated contempt for America and Jews, ultimately led 15 of its citizens to kill 3000 Americans? Compare this to a recent Harris poll showing that 86 percent of Americans considered Israel a close friend and a dependable ally. Why do most American's feel this way? Because, unlike other countries in the Middle East, Israel's friendship with the United States does not fluctuate based on American foreign policy. Israel will continue to support the United States in its war on terror and that is one of the many reasons why America will continue supporting Israel. The bond between these two nations is too strong to let terror and its supporters break it.
(05/01/02 12:00am)
Author: Paul Barnwell The International Student Organization (ISO) elected Namik Kirlic '05 to serve as president of the group for the 2002-03 school year. Amine Bouchentouf '03 and Kiddo Kidolezi '04 were chosen as co-vice presidents at the elections, held on April 21.The new administration's goals include increased communication and awareness between the ISO and the campus community, attracting more United States student participation and revisions to the Cultural Show."Very few students recognize that the ISO, in terms of membership, is the largest student-run organization at Middlebury," Bouchentouf said. "Secondly, there seems to be a widely held view that the ISO is strictly reserved for international students. This is a misconception that this administration will try to rectify."According to the ISO Web site, the group's membership includes over 300 students from 80 countries. Every incoming international student automatically becomes a member. Kirlic said the ISO would try to increase membership by openly inviting American students to participate in shows, symposia and other functions next year.In an effort to increase communication with the rest of the College community, last year's administration established an ISO-run book exchange program, Bouchentouf said. He said the service has been underused and encouraged students to visit the Web site, where users can buy, sell or trade books online with each other.Both Kidolezi and Kirlic cited the need to expand the annual ISO Cultural Show as a main objective for the upcoming year. "In past years people have expected to see international students dress up in fancy clothes and dance around," Kidolezi said. "We hope to incorporate more than just international fashion, with elements like short skits, literature and poetry.""It seemed like we were just puppets putting on show," Kirlic added. "I think all of us feel like we want to do more. Every country and culture has its own traditional skits and stories."Kirlic also outlined preliminary plans for ISO community service work, in which group members would give back to the town of Middlebury. Formal arrangements have not been established, he said, speculating that the work would likely start out as individual efforts and eventually expand to group projects.The ISO is in the midst of finalizing plans to provide international students who remain on campus for the summer with services, in addition to helping students arrive or return from abroad. "We will help with moving international students in, and also have a bunch of summer activities planned, including trips to Burlington," Kirlic said. "We're also reviewing applications for next year's social, symposium and Cultural Show committees."Current ISO President Prashanth Srinivasan '02 said he expects the incoming Class of 2006 to continue to invigorate the group. "Most of the first-years that arrive at the College become quite actively involved in helping the Board organize events. They often tend to participate in almost all of the events," Srinivasan explained. "It's definitely an advantage that international students automatically become members of the ISO."
(04/24/02 12:00am)
Author: Erich Kahner Throughout the long track season, which has stretched as far as November for some people, resilience has been the key for the Panther tracksters. The team has had to deal with many injuries, including an inimical epidemic of IT band inflammations. From Friday to Monday, nature bore down on the team, rearing her head in the form of a balmy summer day in the upper 80s, an earthquake, the menacing Aurora Borealis, a winter snowstorm and, in the middle of all the turmoil, a track meet. Despite all of these things, last Saturday, during a tune-up for the NESCAC Championships, the Middlebury men's and women's track teams could not be deterred.The women saw their winning effort championed by the unit representative of the team's resilience: the sprinters. Jess Kosciewicz '04 led the charge with individual victories in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and she also ran legs on the winning 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays. Gillian Wood '03 also turned in a strong performance, and between her and Kosciewicz the sprinters got a much needed boost."We've had a lot of injuries, and our sprinting squad has been reduced in numbers," teammate Allie Williams '05 remarked. "Jess and Gillian keep coming up big for us." Before the season even started, the women's sprinting core suffered serious blows with season-ending injuries to a couple key components to the team. It has been a huge boost to have these sprinters step up and fill the void.Middlebury showed flashes of domination on Saturday by sweeping many of the top spots in several events. The men's and women's 800-meter run saw Middlebury competitors take the top four spots in each event, while Panthers in the women's hammer, 1500-meter run and 400-meter hurdles won first through third. Sprinter Liam Aiello '05 had a career day, running to personal bests in the 100-meter dash and his victory in the 200-meter dash, holding off several opponents at the end of the 200 for a very strong win. Craig Parker '04 took the men's discus with a monstrous throw of 133'02". First-year and February admit Jeff King impressed the crowd, and himself, by out-kicking the field at the end of the race and winning the 400-meter hurdles in his first competition at that distance this year.Also having breakout performances on Saturday were seniors Jennifer March and Bryan Black, who were both able to make some noise on the national scene with extraordinary performances. March, with her victorious throw of 148'08" in the women's hammer, qualified provisionally for the Division III National Championships set to take place from May 23-25 at Macalester College in Minnesota. Black, currently ranked first in the nation for the men's javelin, extended the gap between himself and the rest of the country by setting a personal best of 218'08" in that event."This is the best track team Middlebury has had in years," said former captain and All-American Ethan Barron '01, and the Panthers will work hard to put this statement to the test this weekend when they head to Bates College for the NESCAC Championships.
(04/24/02 12:00am)
Author: Ben Gore Last year some intrepid activists hung a 10-story banner off of the front of the World Bank building on H Street in Washington, D.C. It denounced Bank funding of the Chad/Cameroon Pipeline, a project undertaken in two of the most corrupt countries in the world, which called for oil drilling on rich agricultural land, bulldozing thousands of acres of rainforest and displacing indigenous peoples. The government of Chad got wind of this banner hanging, and to make sure something like it never happened again, sent the army as well as some of ExxonMobil's private security force to gun down 50 villagers sympathetic to the opposition.In the 1970s and '80s Nigerian dictator President Osabanjo took out massive loans, some of them from the World Bank, most of which disappeared without a trace. In order to repay this debt, working with the Bank, the new civilian governments of Nigeria ramped up oil production in the Niger Delta. The Ogoni people who lived there were not consulted. Over 80 percent of their farmland was destroyed, the groundwater was polluted and the air made unbreathable. When they organized against the pipeline, nine of their leaders, including noted playwright Ken Saro-Wiwa were hung. The World Bank's slogan is "A World Free of Poverty," and if you talk to many of the people who work at the Bank they seem to feel as if this is what they really want. If you talk to people in affected countries (ordinary people, mind you, not finance ministers) you'll generally get a different story. In fact, whenever the Bank or its evil stepsister institution, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), implement an "austerity program," there are riots. In Ecuador, two governments have fallen because of this. Where does the disconnection lie? Why do people who seem so sincerely bent on helping people provoke riots and intense hatred almost everywhere they go?Joseph Stiglitz famously proclaimed, just before he was forced to resign as the chief economist of the Bank, that the problem was that these institutions were full of third rate economists from first-rate schools. I think the problem is somewhat deeper than that. The problem is twofold: the people who run the Bank still believe in the failed notion of trickle down economics and they also subscribe to the newest utopian philosophy of our day — neoliberalism.The rationale behind projects like the Chad/Cameroon Pipeline is that they will bring in foreign money that can be used to raise living standards or that by providing infrastructure they will allow development. The vast majority of the revenue from projects like this go to the corporations that build them, in this case ExxonMobil. The host countries get royalties, generally less than 10 percent. And in places as corrupt as Chad where does that meager amount of money go? In this case, a good chunk of it is going to buy guns to suppress an Islamic insurgency in the north of the country. The Bank often helps build dams or power plants in developing countries where 80 percent of the country is off the power grid. Or they build highways through rainforests in places where no one owns cars. These projects only enrich the corporations that help build them and the elites that got the World Bank to finance them in the first place. The concept of enriching the poor by enriching the rich was discredited even before Margaret Thatcher introduced it in the early '80s and it remains that way. Well over 70 percent of the Bank's large infrastructure projects fail to meet their stated goals. Neoliberalism, the theory that most problems can be solved with open markets and export oriented production, is the other thing hindering the Bank's work. Neoliberalism is a utopian theory; it promises good outcomes for all, after a period of painful adjustment. The only problem is that it has never worked as a model for development. Ever. Though it is espoused in every major school of economics in the world and from every presidential palace, a country has never pulled itself out of poverty with this model. The countries that have 'developed' have aggressively promoted local industry, education and food production. Half of the World Bank's work currently focuses on helping countries find ways to pay back their foreign creditors by restructuring their economies. This restructuring includes: ending subsidies on basic foods, imposing user fees on health care, privatizing services, shifting production from local consumption to exports and removing barriers to foreign ownership of resources. The Bank and IMF asked Bolivia to privatize its water supply a few years ago. When they did it, prices skyrocketed and three quarters of the people lost access to clean water. Only after massive civil unrest was this decision reversed.But, you might object, the countries in question bring the Bank and IMF in of their own free will. Yes and no. On major projects, the Bank consults with the finance ministers and other high officials of the affected countries. These officials are often unelected and often work for dictators. In any case, they are partisans of the neoliberal cause (less than 50 percent of Americans believe in neoliberalism, but all our financial policy makers do). Sometimes, the Bank consults with the local population. Usually these people are terrorized first. In the cases where fair consultations are held, the results are often discarded. When it comes to structural adjustment, countries have almost no choice but to bring in the Bank and Fund. When a country can no longer pay its debts or get new loans, the only places to turn are the Bank and IMF. These institutions then have almost free reign over what happens.The Bank has good projects. Whenever the Bank works on small, decentralized projects, they succeed. Whenever the Bank invests in community infrastructure, through education or microgrants to small businesses, their success rate is close to 90 percent. Whenever the Bank invests in massive infrastructure projects, they are almost always failures. When one of these projects fails, people die, forests are destroyed and agricultural land is ruined.There are many ways to help move the Bank towards adopting more sustainable policies, including one we can use right here at Middlebury. The Bank's biggest arm raises 80 percent of its money through privately held bonds. A movement is currently afoot to boycott these bonds until the Bank meets certain conditions including: more transparency, an end to funding of fossil fuel projects, an end to structural adjustment and cancellation of the illegitimate debt owed it. This is not a divestment campaign, we wouldn't have to sell any bonds if we do own them, only publicly declare our unwillingness to buy more until our basic demands are met. Already 48 institutional investors around the world, with total assets of $13 billion have joined the Boycott. Middlebury was in the front lines of anti-sweatshop work a few years ago; it's time to keep ourselves in the vanguard of the movement for global justice and democracy by joining the World Bank Bonds Boycott.
(04/24/02 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Martin The Panther golf team finally knocked the dust off their bags this past weekend to commence their grueling spring schedule. The team shot an inspiring 311 to finish third at the Williams Spring Challenge, held at the Taconic Golf Course.On Sunday, the best golfers from Middlebury competed against 14 other golf programs at the Williams Spring Challenge, and finished behind only Amherst (305) and Williams (308). The Panthers' round of 311 included the lowest scores from four of their five competitors. Leading the entire field was Damon Gacicia '02 who shot a sweltering 71. Multi-talented Dave Greiner '03 eagled his final hole to place him in a tie for fourth place with a round of 75. Middlebury's other three competitors Ryan Simper '03, Brad Tufts '03 and first-year Adam Sureau also contributed to the team's scorecard. Simper finished third for the Panthers shooting an 80 on Sunday, and had this to say about his round. "It was cold and breezy at Williams, and my round was unspectacular so it doesn't warrant any special recognition."Gacicia and Greiner both did receive special recognition making the "All-Tournament" team, and the players received a fine orange hat for their efforts. Panther golf member Ryan Birtwell '04 commented, "Someday I would like to wear an orange hat." Furthermore, Greiner remarked that "my mental preparation more than my on-course practice really carried me through the round. Battling the cold weather, fast greens and playing with and against Williams all contributed to the high scores. I am sticking to a strict practice regiment at this time period to allow my game to stay in top form." Gacicia, the veteran and tournament medallist, noted that, "I have been working to rehabilitate my shoulder over the past few months, and I believe that my performance this past Sunday speaks for itself." Panther head coach Bill Beaney remarked on the teams play over the past weekend, "Overall, we had good results for the first tourney of the year. Everyone has been working hard and it seems that the practice is paying off. I hope that we will be able to continue to build upon this performance next weekend." The squad will regroup itself for action, after the disappointment of a snowed-out Skidmore Tournament on Monday, before heading back to Williams this coming weekend for the District Shootout. On returning to Williams, Grenier said "I am very excited about the opportunity to spend the weekend down in Williamstown to show the purple eye sores that we can and will take them on their own course."
(04/10/02 12:00am)
Author: Claire Bourne In March 1989 the faculty voted 113-13 to "abolish" Middlebury College's six fraternities by severing ties with their national affiliations and transforming themselves into "coeducational residential units," wrote David Stameshkin in "The Strength of the Hills: Middlebury College, 1915-1990." This action was prompted by several incidents that suggested the organizations promoted sexist attitudes and hampered the College's vision of "multicultural appreciation, understanding and compassion," Stameshkin continued.Prompted by this convincing majority, President Olin Robison formed a task force to further assess the role of the fraternity system at Middlebury. In November 1989, the group voted 11-5 in favor of terminating fraternities on campus by May 30, 1990. The fate of the fraternities rested with the Board of Trustees, which, in January 1990, rejected the recommendation for abolition, stipulating that the traditionally all-male social institutions "could continue to exist if they became truly coeducational and called themselves 'houses,'" wrote Stameshkin.The spring of 1990 was a turbulent time for the fraternities. Each faced an ultimatum: decide whether to heed the Trustees' proposal or disband altogether. Most chose the former, giving rise to the current social house system.Twelve years later, the review process that monitors the houses' progress is more stringent than ever. The annual evaluation, administered by the Community Council subcommittee on social and academic interest houses, has many social house members worried that the current administration is out to get them. Alpha Delta Phi's (ADP) premature acquisition of this year's subcommittee report, which includes recommendations for all six of the College's social houses but more importantly suggests that ADP be disbanded at the end of the semester for noncompliance with stipulations issued after last year's assessment, confirmed for some the uncertain future of the social house system.Additionally, although Community Council has not officially released the report, sections of the document have reached other social houses on campus. Because the subcommittee's report is only a recommendation to the Council, which has yet to finish discussing all aspects of the suggestions and issue its own recommendations to Acting President Ronald Liebowitz, rumors about whether or not ADP will be suspended abound. While some argue that the secrecy maintained by the subcommittee and the Council perpetuates unnecessary anxiety, others assert that rumors are simply rumors and that the process needs to be completed for the evaluation to have any effect whatsoever.The Role of Social Houses at MiddleburyAs the Community Council subcommittee examines the success, or lack thereof, of each house, it is also indirectly considering the role the social house system as a whole plays in student life on campus.Kevin King '02, a member of Community Council and of Omega Alpha, popularly known as Tavern, defined the houses as "one of a kind student-run communities that make learning and living on campus more meaningful."Zeta Theta Phi (ZOO) President Mike Frissora '03 said that the social houses "provided an outlet" for students. "They offer something different, and they don't restrict you to a hallway," he elucidated. "Because the campus is so spread out, they present students with a central place to gather."King emphasized the familial aspect of social house life, saying that even if the houses did not hold weekend parties they would still have a positive impact on the College community. "Those who think the social houses are epicenters of bad behavior are wrong," he asserted. Speaking for Tavern, he said, "You have to be inside the house to see its value because a house is only as strong as the personal relationships it fosters. The College doesn't care to give us credit for it."Dean of Advising and Assistant Professor of American Literature and Civilization Karl Lindholm disagreed. Lindholm, who served as dean of students at the time the fraternities were "ending," said that he did not think the social houses "advance[d] the social and academic mission of the College" because they "are not places of great diversity." Nevertheless, he affirmed that "historically" they had a "legitimate place" on campus."The social houses on their worst days are better than fraternities were on their best days in the '70s and '80s," he said.The Inter-House Council (IHC), a governing body comprised of presidents and vice presidents from each social house, exists to ensure that the "worst days" are few and far between. Frissora called the IHC "an incredibly effective body," adding that one of its main objectives was to improve communication between the Dean of Student Affairs Office and the houses. "Once that line of communication has been established, we have a better sense of what they want out of us," he explained. After ZOO was put on probation for several party violations in January, Frissora and ZOO Vice President Mike Velez '04 wrote a four-page proposal to Karen Guttentag, assistant dean of student affairs and IHC advisor, "about how to run safer open parties." As a result, since the beginning of the spring semester, the social house has not encountered any significant party-related issues.The Review Process: Is It Effective?Opening dialogue in such a way between the houses and the Dean of Student Affairs office appears to be an effective method of helping the social houses improve their standing within the College community — in the eyes of non-members, faculty, administrators and local residents. Because of such conversations, Frissora explained, the IHC "recognizes poor decisions before they occur."Although, according to Director of the Center for Campus Activities and Leadership Doug Adams, who chairs the Community Council subcommittee, the IHC advisor and president have been "active members" of the subcommittee, both Frissora and ADP President Bob Wainwright '03 have acknowledged the lack of such dialogue between the social houses and the subcommittee charged with reviewing them. "When rumors spread about houses being kicked off campus, I think, 'What? Why do I have to hear about it like this?'" Frissora said. Wainwright said that he had only met with members of the subcommittee once to discuss the status of ADP, and even then he was given "no indication that the house might be disbanded."He continued, "As the incoming president, I wish I had been made aware of the possibility of house disbandment by someone other than the former president [of ADP]."Many complained that on a broader scale, the terminology associated with the evaluation process — permanent status, provisional status and disbandment — is not clearly defined. A house placed on provisional status — different from the IHC-issued probation — is given a list of recommendations that it must address by the following year's review. If all the stipulations are not met, the subcommittee could recommend that the house be disbanded, or suspended, said Adams in an interview with The Middlebury Campus last November. However, it is also possible for a house on provisional status to be continued on provisional status if it does not meet all the requirements issued in the report.Student Co-chair of Community Council Erica Rosenthal '02 recognized this ambiguity as "a dilemma." She added, "Grounds for termination are not cut and dry." Lindholm, a member of the subcommittee, suggested, "The important issues in the review should be the acknowledgement of law and of safety. Nobody mandates that social houses have parties. They use the defense that dorm damage, for example, is not done by members, however the College is their landlord, and a landlord doesn't care if yo
u did it or your guest did it," he continued.Frissora said that the IHC has discussed "where the line should be drawn," however King claimed that the IHC has not done enough to ensure that the Community Council subcommittee completes an accurate evaluation of the houses. "The IHC dropped the ball," he asserted, adding that the it should take a more "proactive" stance by performing an annual report comparable to that of the subcommittee.The Future of the Social House SystemThe College community — the social houses, student governance and the administration — needs to "find middle ground between house autonomy and being held to a community standard," Lindholm affirmed. The existence of the IHC already ensures that the houses meet "the community standard" while maintaining some degree of independence from the College, evident in its decision to suspend social house pledge events for two days last fall when an ADP pledge flashed inappropriate body parts to the crowd during Middlebury's Homecoming football game. The social house system, said Lindholm, has to understand that "it is only as strong as its weakest link. When a house meeting the standards allows a house to defy the standards, it is only hurting themselves." Some claim that suspending or disbanding a social house could result in its relocation to an off-campus site and thereby increase the risk of dangerous alcohol consumption and drunk driving. "This would be an unfortunate consequence of the review process," said King. He added, however, that this argument was "not enough because the houses consist of so much more." According to King, the social houses "should not be zones of lawlessness" and "the rules that govern them need to be clearer." He was quick to say that the current house system "has enough critical mass to respond positively" if one house was disbanded. "New houses might come online," he explained. "That would be a real test of the College's view of the houses. Not allowing a new house on campus would reveal the administration's commitment to eliminate the houses."Lindholm said he recently overheard students discussing the future of the social houses on campus. "Everybody knows the College will get rid of social houses in five to 10 years," he said he heard one of them say. "I don't know that," he affirmed. "I've never heard that mentioned in any official meeting. If that's the perception of the social houses, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy."
(04/10/02 12:00am)
Author: Erich Kahner Amid the snow flurries and chilly temperatures last Friday, the Middlebury track team played host to six other schools during an early season meet. There was talk among the athletes before the meet of the difficulty they might have in performing up to their standards in such conditions, but these rumors were quickly dispelled as the meet got underway and the Panthers began to generate a little heat of their own on the track. On the women's side, the first event proved an omen of things to come, as Middlebury swept the top six places of the 3000-meter steeplechase. Although this was a foregone conclusion before the race even started, since Middlebury was the only team that could provide girls willing enough to brave the water-pit in the freezing conditions. This is understandable considering that, after the race, a drenched competitor was overheard remarking on the lack of feeling she had from the waist down.The women's steeplechase is a new event to NESCAC and the NCAA this year, which made every competitor a rookie in the event. "I think we can do some damage in the steeple at NESCACs," distance coach Nicole Wilkerson commented. "We definitely have the strength to do it."Victory was never in doubt for the Panthers, and they would go on to win 11 of the 18 events. This allowed them to easily outdistance the second place team, scoring 240.5 points to Colby-Sawyer College's 101.5. A few individuals were multiple victors on the day. Senior Heidi Rothrock scored well for the team, winning both the 100-meter hurdles and the triple jump, while Jess Manzer '05 captured first place in the steeplechase and 800-meter dash. Middlebury also received first place points from Melissa Cohen '03 in the 5000-meter race, Heather Tory '03 in the high jump, Melissa Thacker '05 in the 400 meter- hurdles and Erin Jensen '04 in the pole vault. The women's throwing unit also chipped in with some big points with wins from Renee Courchesne '05 in the discus and Kristin Wilson '02 in the hammer throw.Not to be outdone, the men's track and field team also displayed their dominance over the competition, beating the second place team by a margin of 80 points. Bryan Black '02 continued his early season prowess in the throwing events, easily outdistancing the field in the javelin and hammer throw. Yuri Lawrence '02 was also a double winner in the long jump and 400 meter hurdles. Nat Silverson '04, Mike Deleo '03, Craig Parker '04 joined seniors Joe Lewis and Andy Boyer in winning their respective events. The Panthers travel to Williams on Saturday to take part in the Williams Relays, and now that the season is underway, the team has a full slate of meets, with the NESCAC Championship in three weeks and the team hopes to send players to the following championships.
(04/10/02 12:00am)
Author: Nicha Rakpanichmanee "If I want to overthrow democratically elected governments, is there a specific department for that?" Wells Lyons '04.5 asked on Monday night at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) information session, a regular recruitment event sponsored by the Career Services Office (CSO)."I'll give you one more [question] before leaving," replied Regional Recruiter Bryan Peters. Lyons had earlier raised his hand and asked which department he should join "to help torture citizens." Lyons said he "just cracked up" when Peters' answer was the CIA Operations Department.Lyons walked out to put on a T-shirt labeled "human rights activist" in large print. With imitation blood splattered over his torso and arms, he joined nine other Middlebury College students who spread across the floor outside Bicentennial Hall 220 for nearly an hour. Their t-shirt labels included "freedom fighter (not a terrorist)," "environmental activist," "labor union organizer" and "student demonstrator." All 10 students appeared dead in small pools of red dye while some lay with duck-taped ankles and eyes wide open.The two CIA recruiters saw the protesters on the ground as they were leaving the session. Peters and Sandra Graham continued on their way towards the building's exit, stepping over a few inert bodies on the way. When asked to describe their reaction to this student protest, the recruiters both said, "None."Ben Brouwer '04 said he heard Peters remark "nice Kool-Aid" while crossing over Brouwer's "Chilean citizen" t-shirt. "I would like to have seen him stop and talk to us," Brouwer added, "but he obviously had a different agenda."Ben Gore '04 also came to protest the CIA's recruitment at Middlebury, though he stood around the pretend corpses with Trevor Snapp '02, who handed out to every passer-by a four-page flyer with headings like "The CIA and Terrorism" and "What You Should Know About the CIA and Torture."Gore explained that students came together spontaneously "to show that the CIA isn't particularly welcomed here at Middlebury, at least not by everyone." He called the CIA "a secret-police-type organization" that "undermines legitimate governments, shoots people and trains terrorists." Many international terrorists today, said Gore, received training and funding support through the CIA's involvement in their respective countries.In an interview yesterday, Peters stressed that, "Those are policy questions. I'm here to discuss only recruitment issues." He said that the information session was "not the venue [for] historical or covert news related" issues. Peters described his past three years of recruitment visits to the College as "favorable." He mentioned "a good number" of Middlebury students whose applications to the CIA are in the works. "I hope students are more passionate about their employment endeavors," Peters continued.CSO Executive Director Jaye Roseborough elucidated that the CSO welcomed recruitment efforts of any employer who signs the College's non-discrimination statement. The statement proscribes discrimination "on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, place of birth, Vietnam veteran status or disability." Roseborough noted one exception to the agreement — the CIA's policy to employ only U.S. citizens whose spouses and potential spouses hold the same citizenship."It's federal law," said Peters in the interview. He explained during the information session that the policy is established for reasons of "loyalties." Peters told his audience that extensive background checks and verifications such a two- to three-hour polygraph tests were essential to the employment process to ensure that CIA employees are "loyal U.S. citizens with integrity" and "not counterintelligence hired by some opposition or some bin Laden organization."At the information session, Michael Silberman '02.5 asked Peters and Graham whether "political consulting with other countries" is the CIA's "only operation." Peters replied, "Covert actions are very small and are authorized by the President. You're voting for him. So if you don't like what he does, then don't vote for him."Later, standing by the crowd of Bicentennial Hall frequenters and the "dead" bodies, Silberman said he was initially "just curious" in the CIA but was "disappointed" that the recruitment session was "a really arrogant presentation." "I haven't formed any opinions yet about the CIA despite rumors," continued Silberman. "But it was encouraging to see activism back at Middlebury. I think they raised awareness."Andrea Templeton '04 was studying in Tormondsen Great Hall during the student protest and commented, "I had no idea it was going to happen, and it was startling to see, some of them being friends of mine" She said the protest "reinforces the idea that there are two sides to every issue," particularly regarding the "good and bad things that the CIA does."Templeton called the imitation blood "a graphic piece of the protest" and said the silence of the protesters was "appropriate because they are protesting for a group of people who are silenced."Tommy Wisdom '05 sat in a chair next to the crowd of protesters in Great Hall, where he was reading and listening to music for the entirety of the protest. "I think the protest was a really drastic way to get [one's] point across and definitely drew my attention," he said. "I figured it was some sort of protest against something, but I don't know what it was about. After what I've seen, it probably had something to do with human rights or people in poor countries not being treated fairly." Assistant Professor of American Literature and Civilization Karl Lindholm '66 arrived at Middlebury as assistant dean of students in 1976. During his term in office following the Vietnam era, "students didn't trust the government," he recalled."But then the world of young people became more conservative," continued Lindholm. "In the Reagan years in the '80s, especially, there was less collective objection to the CIA." He said he remembered when CIA recruiters returned to college campuses such as Middlebury. "Those of us who had been here earlier, when we saw a sign that said 'Welcome CIA,' we were amused because it was so different in the '70s.""There's always a sense that the CIA might be up to some dirty trick somewhere," said James Jermain Professor of Political Economy Russel Leng. He put those suspicions in two categories, one of "dirty covert activities against governments that the CIA considers too far on the left" and another of "support for oppressive regimes." Leng noted, however, that covert activities are a "very, very small part" of the CIA's operation because "not many people want to gather intelligence at the risk of [their] lives."Leng pointed out one quandary of the protest — that liberal arts colleges are exactly the source for "good people" who will improve the CIA. "We need intelligence as long as there are security threats to the U.S.," said Leng. "The way to reform is not to get rid of your intelligence service."
