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(04/10/02 12:00am)
Author: Gillian Wood As a friend of a girl who has been prostituted against her will, I had to walk out of "The Art of Kissing" show when master of ceremonies Michael Christian so casually and bluntly insinuated that "the majority of men prefer bad girls. Pay her if you have to, like a prostitute." As a matter of fact, he is right on target. The National Task Force on Prostitution suggests that 1 percent of American women are involved in prostitution (the majority not by free choice as most of us would understand it), while according to the Kinsey report on sexual behavior, 69 percent of males admit to buying sex (Kenneth Cauthen, 1999). This is an overwhelming number of men exploiting the most vulnerable women in our country. To try and counter-argue that most prostitutes are not exploited and vulnerable is both nauseating and factually incorrect. My problem with this comment made by Mr. Christian is that he took a very real, serious issue that affects many of us and made it into a joke. He also made other suggestive comments such as "Oh, Daddy" (a reference that triggers incest for many) and "80 percent of women prefer men who do bad things to them." (What kind of sample did he use?!) Considering that between a quarter and a third of women are battered in their homes by men and that 38 percent of girls are sexually molested inside or outside of their families (Catharine A. MacKinnon, 1987), this does not strike me as something about which to joke. There were probably many women in the audience who may have been taken aback by these issues portrayed in such jest. I was one of them. It is not the humor itself that is the problem, nor is it that people cannot tell the difference between humor and seriousness. It is that here the humor was placed in a dangerous context. There are too many people in the world and on this campus who have to deal with abuse and its repercussions every day of their lives. It is utterly appalling to have the seriousness of such crimes trivialized and thrown back in the face of its victims time and again. Is not once enough?The words stated by this man seeped into the ears of everyone who was there. Whether people recognize their own desensitization or not, every time violence against women is presented in such a way, as comical and acceptable, especially without objection (which was attempted but silenced!), it is reinforced. By joking about this type of violence and prostitution in such a humorous and entertaining context as was seen Saturday evening, he desensitized people to these very real issues, and desensitization leads to inaction, if not more drastic repercussions. If you were not taken aback by such comments as these, you live in a protective world where ignorance is bliss and you are lucky. If you were offended by these comments, I am truly sorry that you had to be reminded … again. It should not be so.If no one speaks out, if no one challenges or protests, nothing will ever change and society will go on, driven by the 'moral majority' and its sexist, racist, heterosexist, classist rhetoric and values. I take a lot of crap from friends and enemies alike for being a radical feminist, but it is worth it to me. If it makes one girl feel safer in this world, if it means one survivor's shattered heart can find solace in what I have to offer; if I can un-blind some eyes and un-deaf some ears along the way, if it means one more gentle-man or one less hurt woman, then it is worth it to me. On behalf of the other concerned women and men offended by comments made in the show and on behalf of all of the women on campus who have been hurt and silenced either by fear, shame or policy, I am speaking out. You are not alone. Silence is the voice of complicity, folks. You are either part of the solution, or you are part of the problem. There is no in between.
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Drew Bennet First, I would like to commend The Campus' staff editorial for finally taking a controversial stand on an issue rather than spouting moderate rhetoric overly informed by the Student Government Association (SGA) and policies favored by the administration as per their usual method. Unfortunately, the editors of The Campus, in their article refuting the need for an African-American Studies Department at Middlebury, have taken a stance mired in a misunderstanding of the meaning of diversity and the College's failure to achieve it. The editorial claims that it is impractical for the College to have an African-American Studies Department because, logistically, there is neither the infrastructure nor the faculty resources for it. This is like saying a college shouldn't have a campus newspaper because there is not an adequate staff or technology to run it. Wake up! We lack the resources for expanding an African-American Studies Department because there is no department! There is, however, a demand for such a department among the student body (see the following page after said editorial in last week's newspaper), and it is only through such demands that the administration will act to remedy our current lack of diversity among the faculty and the College's course catalogue.The editors of The Campus argue that this remedy, in terms of African-American Studies, would divert resources away from the teaching of "Irish-American, Asian-American, German-American and Native American" studies. This is an extremely narrow view of the potential for an African-American Studies Department at Middlebury, one that would recognize (as it does at most institutions) the fact that the history of Irish-Americans, etc. is directly linked to the history of the African-American and that we cannot learn "what it means — socially and culturally— to be an American" without learning what it means to be African-American. The authors essentially charge African-American Studies programs with "diminishing our understanding of this and other nations." This logic astounds me and seems to be in itself the biggest threat to our understanding of the world through diverse perspectives. The reality is that this campus is in desperate need of an African-American Studies Department, which could open doors of opportunity for a better understanding of American history and for a more diverse campus, especially in terms of our faculty and courses. The current American Civilization Department is insufficient in achieving such a goal. There is an African-American "program" (you can focus in it and minor in it) within this department, yet it has no budget, only two tenured professors (one just this year), and slim course offerings found in assorted departments. The Campus editors cite the ridiculously slow process/torture by which the Women and Gender Studies program had to come into existence and claim that "the momentum [for such departments and majors] should come from within the faculty." In fact, faculty at Middlebury have been critiquing the lack of diversity in College courses and professors since the King Report in 1968 and student demand for an African-American Studies program dates back to the mid '80s. So, to the editor: How long do we have to wait? How long until people within the academy realize that African-American and other minority studies are not simply a conglomerate of abstractions that you can discard as political rather than academic? Middlebury College can only afford to debate the structure of such a program, not the necessity for it. It is this College's mission to foster an understanding of the world through diverse perspectives, and only by addressing current deficiencies in the institution's diversity can progress towards this mission be made. The editors of The Campus, on the other hand, would rather we be satisfied with the "College's acknowledgement of its [an African-American Studies Minor] importance." Well, thanks for the acknowledgement, but the students who The Campus voice doesn't speak for should opt for real change.
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] 35 Percentage of Vermont criminal defendants whose fingerprints are taken by police, according to the Vermont Criminal Information Center. This number puts Vermont behind 46 states in the country that fingerprint 100 percent of criminals. Lawmakers are attempting to pass a bill that would give police more authority for arrests, including the power to fingerprint all suspects. Fingerprinting benefits police investigation by securing a suspect's identity and determining his or her past criminal record. 460,000Gallons of maple syrup made annually in Vermont, the nation's largest producer of maple syrup, with approximately 2,000 producers in the state making a total of $13 million worth of syrup each year. Due to this year's mild winter, the increasingly warm temperatures have resulted in the earliest onset of the maple syrup season on record. For most sugarmakers the season began in the middle of February, which is about two weeks earlier than usual. The labeling of maple syrup products and the authenticity of actual Vermont products have spurred controversy recently. A petition is circulating to encourage lawmakers to pass a law requiring more specific labeling in order to distinguish between the syrup tapped in the state from the 3.2 million gallons that are imported. 65 Years since the Woodstock Regional Correctional Facility has had no inmates, part of a process to gradually relocate and release prisoners and ultimately close the facility. The jail, which normally houses 80 people and is the oldest and least efficient jail in Vermont, is closing as a result of a Corrections Department plan to save $1.1 million this year and $2.8 million next year. Eighty inmates will be released from jails statewide during this closing process, but they will continue to be supervised by Corrections Department personnel. 500Number of covered bridges in Vermont in 1927. Due to flooding, however, only 114 historic bridges remained by the 1980s. Currently there is a statewide covered bridge revival program that has placed all the remaining bridges on the National Register of Historic Places. Statistics courtesy of The Rutland Herald and The Burlington Free Press.
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Lindsey Whitton I found out last night that an old friend had been found dead in New York City from a drug overdose. He was 18 years old. My mom spent this morning at his relatively poorly attended funeral, surrounded by anonymous elderly parishioners who seemed to have accidentally gone to the wrong service. Now, as I try to concentrate on writing a history paper, all I can do is wonder how this boy could have drifted from bouncing around the back of a yellow school bus just four years ago to his lonely death in some small dingy room in New York. I keep wondering, as I stare at my blinking cursor, if his cheeks had still been red and chubby and if he had still giggled in that goofy way with his addict friends. Suddenly, it occurs to me that he may not have had any friends. It appears as though they didn't show up at the funeral. A few Middlebury students who I mentioned this terrible incident to expressed the same shock that I felt. Do kids in our generation really die from drug overdoses? Of course, we know it happens, but I thought of drug deaths as only black and white statistics on a glossy magazine page, a product of the 1980s that we still study because it used to be an issue. It seemed that in real life even the worst cases find their way to the hospital and are saved by modern medicine and modern addiction therapy. The deaths, I thought, were mostly over the drug business — late night drive-bys and tragic inner city clashes over bags of cash. Our generation, dubbed the Millennials, has been hailed as "the next Great Generation," and President McCardel reminded my class of this esteemed prediction in his Convocation speech last year. We have been told that we are conservative, choosing chardonnay before vodka and Advil before heroine. The most popular drug at my high school seemed to be different kinds of Ritalin that were ground up and snorted — not for a high but for concentration when the desire to succeed went beyond the body's ability to stay awake. Millennials are told that we look and act like our grandparents' generation, only with a little more diversity and a lot more stress. We don't want to be bad to stand out — we want to be the best. So where does that leave us with the drug problem? Was my friend's death just an anomaly, an insecure upper middle class disaster that shouldn't be used as an example of a trend or a significant problem? In the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 27th annual study conducted in the spring of 2001, their organization found that for the fifth consecutive year elicit drug use has remained the same or declined in certain cases. Although the use of ecstasy has been rising over the past couple of years, between 2000 and 2001 the rise slowed significantly for students in all three grades studied. The use of heroine, which had also been rising slightly over the past few years, decreased conspicuously between 2000 and 2001 among 10th and 12th graders. Inhalant use also fell, especially among 12th graders. Cocaine abuse in general has fallen off since the mid '80s, when the NIDA estimated that 5.7 million Americans age 12 or older were using the drug. Now the organization estimates that 1.5 million Americans, or .7 percent of the population, use cocaine. In Vermont, however, the state's heroine problem was highlighted recently, especially after the thirteen deaths as a result of the drug in the year 2000 and a recent article examining the issue in The Burlington Free Press. Experts cite the relatively new, more pure form of heroin as the cause of the drug's comeback. Since needles are no longer necessary and heroin can be snorted or smoked, some potential users may find the drug less daunting and may consider it less dangerous. When I went through the brief biographies of the 13 Vermonters who fell victim to heroin in 2000, however, I noticed that the vast majority of them were older I calculated the average age to be 35. There were two 19-year-olds that died, one of whom was a student at Bennington College, but the next two youngest victims were 26 and 30. Only one of the victims was a college graduate. I went to see the movie "Traffic" three times in one week last year. My friends and I were fascinated by the cinematography, the interwoven plot lines and the concept. We all agreed, however, that the idea of upper middle class successful students in the year 2001 falling victim to cocaine and heroine seemed foreign. The use of hard drugs among the Millennial generation seems to be less prevalent and less popular than it may have been for the generations preceding it.I do, however, want to stress that although my generation may be less likely to shoot up heroin or snort cocaine, this is only a positive trend and not a uniform phenomenon. As I learned yesterday, some of my peers still seriously abuse hard drugs and let the habit drag a chubby-cheeked, goofy little boy under the crushing wheels of addiction. Maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised. Maybe the current achievements and sunny forecast for the future of the Millennials made us and our parents less aware of drug deaths than teenagers and parents in the '80s and early '90s. Maybe the only people who weren't surprised were the elderly parishioners who filled the pews at his funeral.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Anne Jennings On March 6, Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah presented her new parking plan to the town's Planning Commission. This plan includes expansion of the Center for the Arts (CFA) parking lot and a new lot between Porter Hospital and the baseball fields. Residents raised concern about potential traffic and lighting disturbances at the new lots. In addition, homeowners behind South Street, where the planned lot will be constructed, "raised significant concern about speeding cars," said Middlebury Town Planner Fred Dunnington. "The road is very wide and straight, and there is a tendency to speed." According to Dunnington, traffic controls will most likely be placed to control this potential problem. Residents also expressed misgivings about increased traffic at the new four-way intersection at the entrance of the proposed CFA lot expansion, with Route 30 and Stewart Hill Road. This intersection is a component of the College's long-term plan to connect Route 125 to Route 30 with a circular course."Construction of that new road would involve cutting down some of the oak and spruce trees at that location, or damaging their roots," Dunnington cited another local concern. "They are trying to wind the road somewhat around the trees, but construction will actually cut through some of the roots." Solutions to these concerns are currently being worked on, and there will be a second hearing on March 20. Possible solutions if the plan is not approved, said Dunnington, include an alternative parking lot to be built on Route 125. Detailed plans for that lot are not yet available, but according to Dunnington, the construction of that lot has been included in current planning anyway."Everyone agreed that there was a definite need for more parking," said Dunnington, but the question was where this need would be accommodated.The College needs additional parking due to plans for a growing student body and the necessary replacement for the spaces that will be lost during construction of Atwater Commons and the new library. Bouhah's plan listed a total of 1966 available parking spaces on campus as of September 2001: 1006 for students, 960 for faculty and staff (within the 5-7 minute walking distance) and 175 for visitors (60 at Kirk Alumni Center, 10 at Hadley, 25 at Emma Willard and 80 at Kenyon Arena). There are 971 vehicles currently registered, of the 2328 students enrolled in fall 2001. The plan anticipates student vehicle registration to reach 1100 by the end of the year. Of 1399 employees on the College's active list, all have at least one registered vehicle. Furthermore, Boudah highlighted the need for "convenient parking" at the CFA, athletic facilities and auditoriums to accommodate numerous guests on a weekly basis. Because of the limited number of spaces, visitor parking is restrained. "Some signs on campus still read, 'faculty, staff and visitor parking,'" commented Boudah. These plots, she explained, are used by faculty and staff because of the parking jam, thus less are left for visitors. Student parking at Kenyon Arena and the CFA also pose a problem because these areas in particular draw visitors during College events. "If we fill up these spaces with faculty and student [vehicles], essentially we are saying we have no visitor parking," continued Boudha.The parking problem can get worse as construction begins. Not only will some parking spaces become unavailable, but also the College will be housing more students in the new facilities. Aside from these circumstances, "the plan for more parking was well received overall," said Dunnington. He commented that although the entire plan was not approved at the first hearing, there is no implication that parking will not be expanded. The parking plan awaits revision and approval from the community.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] A GUY'S PERSPECTIVE...By Raam WongSoon into their first year at the College, most students will realize that the "freshman 15" has transformed into the "freshman 50 and one extra chin." Faced with the prospect of showing up at a McCullough dance party wearing the only clothes that still fit them — sweat pants and a T-shirt that reads "I Completed Biff's Steakhouse 2-Pound Prime Rib Challenge" — students usually force themselves to go to Middlebury's purgatory, commonly referred to as the gym.Middlebury's Fitness Center is a culture in itself. I hate to stereotype, but at any given time of the day, you will always see at least one person representing each of the following groups:"The Health Fanatics." Sprinkled about the gym are usually men with iron chests who kiss their throbbing muscles each time they do a bicep curl and rail-thin, muscular women who resemble what Tom Wolfe refers to as "boys with breasts." It is my suspicion that these beautiful men and women are actually in training to one day be on Fox's "Temptation Island" on which they can parade their toned bodies for America's viewing populace. (Visit the Career Services Office for details.)"The Browsers." Though clad in full workout paraphernalia, you will never see the Browser actually break a sweat. The Browser's gym time usually consists of looking at himself in the mirror, going to the drinking fountain, watching ESPN, and then taking a break to go to the drinking fountain. Often, just as you are vigorously climbing the hardest level on the Stairmaster and sweat is streaming down your red face, the Browser will saunter over to you and insists on starting a conversation. No matter how much you turn up your Walkman or peer down into your Newsweek, you can't avoid an exchange with the Browser. After 20 minutes of trivial small talk, the Browser will finally end the conversation by saying: "Well, have a good workout.""80s Spandex Queens." Dressed in leg warmers, black spandex and a hot-pink thong, the Spandex Queen arrives at the gym apparently expecting to audition for "Footloose." Without doubt Spandex Queen and her wedgie will get on the Stairmaster directly in front of yours. Her high-riding, dental floss-thong is like a car accident on the side of the road — repulsive to look at, but too alluring to avoid as her buttocks swaggers in front of your eyes. Still, you force yourself to flee the scene faster than you can say "Jazzercise." "Fan Hogs." These ogres of the gym need no introduction. It is the Fan Hog that bikes 2 m.p.h. yet insists on having every fan in the gym directed towards him. "Sweaters." These are the people whose shirts are completely soaked through with sweat. It is the objective of every person in the gym to do whatever necessary to avoid coming within 10 feet of the Sweater or accidentally getting on his dripping-wet bike after he's done riding it. In the rare but tragic occasion that the Sweater and the Fan Hog happen to be the same person, then it instantly becomes monsoon season in the Fitness Center. So where do I fit in? I suppose I am my own kind of oddity, having had my own share of embarrassing experiences in the gym. Once during a particularly packed day at the gym, I was changing in the entrance hallway that everyone in the gym can see into. It wasn't until my sweatpants were halfway down my legs that I realized I had forgotten to wear gym shorts. Luckily I had on a clean pair of Scooby Do underpants, which spared me any further humiliation. (Of course, I think I just made up for that embarrassment by being the first person to use the word "underpants" in The Campus.)Despite its drawbacks, I suppose we will continue going to the gym in the hopes of finally reaching one of those goals of obtaining cannonball biceps, losing the freshman 15 or finally being able to pull off a hot-pink thong. A Girl's PerspectiveBy Ashley ElpernThe gym. It has been like my second home since I arrived at Middlebury almost four years ago, a place where I can go to unwind from a stressful day, catch up on the latest sports news on ESPN, read a magazine and check out some of Middlebury's most attractive while getting a great workout at the same time. No one's room can provide so much enjoyment, nor can studying in Bicentennial Hall or Starr Library. Even dinner at Proctor will not provide as many social interactions as the gym does on a daily basis.But don't get me wrong. The main reason I go to the gym is to use its cardio machines and weight equipment; taking advantage of the gym's other amenities is an added bonus. I discovered the gym early on in my first-year experience and it soon became my favorite hangout from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with one hour devoted to working out and the other hour to waiting for machines or socializing. The first thing one learns about the gym is that the machines are hot commodities. Sign up sheets are thus required to work out, although some deviants try to cheat the system and simply get on a machine without signing up. Within minutes, they are typically evicted by the owner of that 30-minute segment, hopefully learning their lesson and not inconveniencing honest exercisers in the future. That leads to gym secret number one: Always sign up in advance, for instance, if you want to bike and then run on the treadmill, sign up for both at the same time and you will not have to wait.Another lesson learned at the gym is that working out in the morning or at night is the best way to avoid crowds and maximize the efficiency of one's workout. But the social aspect declines exponentially, decreasing the overall experience for many exercisers. I guess I'm one of those people who thrives in the crowded gym atmosphere. It's a great time to catch up on the gossip from friends you haven't seen since your last time at the gym, or, if you want to combine work with exercise, catch up on some last-minute reading for class.For some, gym appearances are crucial. I will admit to seeing many girls working out in full makeup, with coordinating outfits and not a drop of sweat on them. It seems like they put more time getting ready to work out than they do exercising! There are also those so engrossed in their routines that the prospect of looking good while working out must not have crossed their minds. I think I fall in the middle. Although I get a solid workout, I don't let that wreck my appearance, for you never know who could get on the treadmill next to you!Guys at the gym are not spared from this mindset. While not making generalizations, it is common to see large groups of heavily muscled male gymgoers decked out in clothing to display their toned bodies. They are usually positioned near a mirror to admire their stunning physiques as well. On the flip side, there are just as many if not more guys who focus more on the actual benefits of a workout, not just lifting the occasional weight and peering into the looking glass.Ideally, the gym becomes what you make of it. For some, there is the possibility of being healthy and exercising. Others go more for the social interactions, and many go for a combination of the two. I don't know how many people go to the gym to actually meet members of the opposite sex. One of my male friends, who will remain nameless out of embarrassment, asked a girl he noticed at the gym out on a date. She denied him and he was never the same, and subsequently put even more effort into his actual workout following that incident. From that experience, we learn a lot about the gym mentality. My friend did not stop working out after he was rejected; he instead put more effort into exercising and less into checking out girls.Obviously the point of going to the gym is to take advantage of Middlebury's excellent exercise equipment, and I think that at heart, that is the prime reason why so many people trek to the Fitness
Center each day. But if you can get a workout and "see and be seen" as well, then the benefits of going to the gym are even greater.
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Matt Klein I have seen an entirely unreasonable number of concerts in my time. Somewhere around 80 I stopped counting. In the summer of 1998 I put 10,000 miles on my car in the span of three weeks following Phish, the Vermont touring phenomenon currently on "indefinite hiatus," with my best friends.Phish's hiatus — not necessarily a breakup — naturally left me scurrying for live music. There is a certain intangible energy that flows through a roaring audience at a Phish show. As far as I am concerned, no band can match the experience of a Phish concert. The crowd at Phish shows is so incredibly diverse, so open, so silly and so indescribably unique. I am accustomed to parking lot parties, dancing and feasting on homemade snacks after shows; I long for the opportunity to hit the road once again with no idea of what to expect, savor great music and revel in the company of close friends.Well, I came close on Saturday. Close. A friend who I know only from the Phish tour called me last Wednesday offering a ticket, front row center, to the Government Mule concert at the Flynn Centerlast Saturday.To be honest, I had no idea what to expect. I envisioned a parking lot scene similar to those found at Phish shows but encountered no such thing. After all, the Flynn has no parking lot. I stood outside, waiting in line with ticket in hand, surrounded mostly by middle-aged married couples holding hands. Inside, the diversity of the crowd was a bit more pronounced, but I never ran into any real "characters" like one finds at a Phish show.Any self-perceived deficiencies in the crowd were forgotten when the foursome took the stage. The middle-aged married couples were screaming and dancing together. I knew a few of the songs, but still have no idea what they are called.Mule takes their time, led by guitarist Warren Haynes, crafting soulful and passionate music. Haynes' hypnotic, groovy licks made my night. Bassist Dave Schools provided a steady yet ever-morphing foundation that never overpowered Haynes. Drummer Matt Abts filled in the holes with keyboardist Rob Barraco. While Haynes clearly is the leader of this band, the spotlight was shared through the course of nearly three hours of music. I am unable to make any intelligent commentary on the music itself, as concerts for me are comparative experiences. By 'collecting' hundreds of shows on digital audio file, I've been able to become intimate with the music and savor the differences and spontaneity of the live experience. I have one Government Mule show on my computer and have no basis for comparison. I can safely and surely say that I will be actively seeking live recordings to learn more and accustom myself to a personally unknown band. I had a blast, and that's the most important thing.It was a completely laid-back evening off campus, and it happened to take place in the first row. I can't ask for more, except the comeback of Phish.Check out www.jambase.com for information on upcoming local shows. There's no better way to spend off-campus time. I heartily recommend the Jazz Mandolin Project, playing in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on March 8; and Charlie Hunter, at the Flynn on April 20.
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Athenia Fischer This past weekend about 80 students, including both Posse Scholars and regular students at Middlebury who later became honorary "Posse Plus" students, went on a wilderness retreat. Professor Catherine Wright, mentor of Posse 3, organized the Posse Plus Retreat. The students, faculty and staff were asked to come to the retreat by invitation by the Posse Scholars. Throughout the weekend, we talked about issues of awareness starting from how aware people are of the world, then of the United States, then of Middlebury and finally of the individuals that came on the trip. The Posse Program was started by Debby Bial while she was doing her dissertation at Harvard University. One day, while visiting a prestigious liberal arts college like Middlebury, she learned that a young man from the city had dropped out of the school. She approached the young man and asked why he had left. The young man said, "Well, if I had my posse with me maybe I would have stayed at school." Back in the 1980s the colloquial term for a group of friends was 'posse.' So, Debbie Bial sent a group of students from New York City to Vanderbilt College. This spurred the beginning of the Posse Program. Posse Scholars themselves are no more different than any other students on campus. However, they have been trained with 10 to 12 other Posse students for eight months prior to coming to Middlebury College. The training that the scholars receive helps them to build bonds with each other and inspires them to consider what they could potentially do once they do get on campus. Posse Scholars and later Posse Plus students become one. Once you go on a Posse Plus retreat, you are trained to take on issues with an open heart and mind, which is all Posse really requires of us. During this retreat, professors and staff from all areas of the College, such as the Office of Academic Support, deans and faculty heads of the Commons, Commons Residential Advisers (CRAs) and even Acting President Ronald Liebowitz came out to indulge in the hot topics of discussion spurred by the Posse Scholars. The retreat's focus was basically about how people's levels of awareness and how they might increase it. It was the best experience that I have ever had at Middlebury College. There were people there from all backgrounds ethnically and socially and they were willing and able to talk openly about how aware they are or how unaware they are of racism, social class and sexism on campus.However, the best part of the entire weekend was when we came back to Middlebury, got off the bus from the retreat and walked to Proctor to eat. Most of the 80 people that went on the trip sat together at some pushed together tables, all the while listening to some music playing from a radio. People talked about how they did not want the weekend to end and how beautiful it was to see all of us sticking together like one big family. Comments were filled with words of nothing other than respect and awareness toward one another. The conversations were nothing like some of the lip service conversations that usually go on at Middlebury's tables. When I say 'lip service' I mean no disrespect to anyone, but that is merely what it is. People pass by with "Hello's" and "how are you doing's," all said in an effort to be friendly but with no true intention to get to know anyone or anything about a person. That night in Proctor was unlike anything that Middlebury has ever seen before. It was such a great feeling that we as a group decided to continue the conservation by eating together every Sunday at 6 p.m. So, if you want to become part of the diversity at Middlebury and become aware, please come and join us at this Sunday. You can find us by looking for the happy, diverse faces sitting together.
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Meghan Michelson In a state that has struggled with the battle and ultimate victory of civil unions, it comes as no surprise that another controversial issue regarding homosexuality in Vermont was recently brought to the public's attention. This time, the political debate lies between state representatives in support of a bill that directly counteracts and reinterprets the purpose of one local agency and programs of the state Department of Education. A bill was proposed last year by Representative Nancy Sheltra of Derby, Vt., that seeks to prohibit educational programs that encourage homosexuality. The bill, which was sponsored by 32 lawmakers, states its purpose is "to prohibit an employee of a school district from encouraging, promoting or sanctioning homosexual conduct." This also includes forbidding discussion that leads students to believe that homosexual orientation is an innate or unchangeable behavior. Sheltra is now attempting to move the currently idle bill along in legislation by sending letters to every selectboard in Vermont encouraging voters to sign petitions that would place the bill on the agenda at this month's statewide annual Town Meeting Days. The petition requires signatures from 5 percent of registered voters in order to be placed on a ballot. The bill has been sitting in the House Education Committee due to discussions related to the extent to which legislature should interfere in regulating public educational programs. The bill has not gained sufficient support to be brought to the floor for a vote. Representative Howard Crawford of Burke, Vt., chairman of the Education Committee, said in a recent interview with The Burlington Free Press, "I don't want the state mandating curriculum to schools in the state, and when I say state I mean either the Legislature or the Department of Education," he said. "I don't want the state to micromanage beyond the [educational] standards that are already in place." Sheltra feels that the state interference is necessary in order to eliminate what she calls the "homosexual agenda" of Vermont's schools. The Department of Education and programs that promote acceptance of diversity deny that they have such an agenda. One program under attack by Sheltra's accusations is the Burlington-based Outright Vermont, an agency whose mission is "to foster sensitivity and understanding of the issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth." The organization "seeks to challenge stereotypes and prejudice and create an environment in which all young people can realize their full potential, free from the weight of hate and fear." Outright Vermont accomplishes this by offering education and outreach programs throughout the state and drop-in counseling at their center in Burlington for youths under 22 years of age. Speakers visit high schools and colleges only upon invitation and address various issues depending on the types of requests. "In some cases we are invited by gay/straight alliances or health classes. Every time we address specific requests by the school," explained Executive Director of Outright Vermont B.J. Rogers, who assumed this position in February, 2001. The requests can include health-related topics, instruction on the formation of gay/straight alliances and how to increase participation in these groups. There are 30 Vermont high schools and middle schools and seven Vermont colleges with gay/straight alliances."We always represent a thematic agenda of respect, safety and human dignity. We discuss the realities that face this specific population of youth and what they can do to create a more healthy environment," said Rogers. He rejects using the word "tolerance" and instead promotes not merely the acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual or other youths, but rather their total inclusion.Next week, the gay/straight alliance from Otter Valley Union High School in Brandon, Vt., will meet with Rogers for suggestions on improving their student group and becoming more involved in their community. When asked if the group of 12 to 15 students involved in the gay/straight alliance at Otter Valley has been affected by the lawmakers' attempt to rid schools of educational programs accused of promoting homosexuality, Jennifer Amsbary, school counselor and faculty advisor for the gay/straight alliance, said, "They haven't been affected too much by the controversy, just with the prejudices that exist within our school and community." In defense of Outright Vermont, Amsbary said, "For the most part, we've had a lot of support, and Outright has been a wonderful resource in terms of providing us with information and helping us stay connected." In reaction to accusations made against the productivity of programs like Outright Vermont, Rogers claims a need for reevaluation of what benefits and harms young people. "Their [those in opposition of Outright Vermont] responses are in the name of protecting young people in our state, but my reaction is that they are doing just the opposite. They're presenting a clear and dangerous message that queer people don't deserve the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens." Rogers added, "They are suggesting that queers should not be afforded the same human dignity, and this is truly damaging."In the year 2000, Outright Vermont conducted upwards of 80 presentations at high schools and colleges in the state. In 2001, however, this number dropped to 17. Although 2002 has shown some signs of increase from last year, Rogers claims that recent political debates and fear are to blame for this significant decrease in schools requesting their services. "We directly attribute the decrease in presentations to the civil unions battle and negative publicity about what it is that our program does. Schools are afraid of the political ramifications of bringing in a program like ours," he commented.In addition, the Department of Education withdrew the $12,000 of state funding that was offered for one year to Outright Vermont as reimbursement for when schools were unable to afford their in-school presentations. "The cut in funding did have an impact on Outright's ability to get into schools, but not it alone. The civil unions debate had a significant impact," said Douglas Dows, director of Safe and Healthy Schools at the Department of Education. The Department of Education continues to support Outright Vermont's programs, despite the cut in funding, and is pursuing their own efforts offer programs that address prejudice and discrimination. A "safe schools" coordinator is now responsible for training and intervention programs for schools that have suffered from harassment of any kind, be it sexual, racial, religious or other. These programs help "to look at the broader picture of school safety policies," according to Dows and achieve the department's goal of "making schools safe for all students."
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Andrew Zrike When bands lose their chief singer and songwriter, they often break up or disappear into rock 'n' roll obscurity. Strangefolk's performance last Friday night at Lupos Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, R.I., however, made it evident this is not the case with this Vermont-based band. When co-founder Reid Genauer played his last show with the band in September, 2000, the future of the band was in jeopardy. However, after sitting down, the three remaining members of the group, singer/lead-guitarist Jon Trafton, bassist/singer Eric Glockear, and drummer Luke Smith, decided that unlike Reid, they still wanted to make music and tour. Soon thereafter, the band held auditions that produced two new members, Luke "Patchen" Montgomery and Scott Shdeed. Thus began the next chapter in the 10-year history of Strangefolk.In the last year the new and rejuvenated Stangefolk has hit the road with an incredible amount of energy. Though still sticking to their traditional folk-based, rock 'n' roll sound which had garnered them an extensive national following, in the last year the band has expanded their sound with the assistance of their new members and the addition of keys in their on-stage instrumentation.Though only playing together for a little over a year, the band already has incredible chemistry. It has added many new tunes to an already extensive catalog of songs written by three talented and extremely distinct singer/songwriters in the band. The band's incredibly rapid cohesiveness culminated in the release of Strangefolk's fourth album at the end of the summer, "Open Road," which was made up entirely of new material since Genauer left the band.At Lupos, Strangefolk demonstrated to a packed club why they are still drawing crowds across the country. The band quickly got the almost 1,000 person audience dancing with the aptly titled, "Gets You Moving," as the always energetic Patchen sang "it's nice to have a little piece of music for your feet. It's all you need." As the first set progressed, each song displayed the immense talent of the musicians in the band, and each member was given a chance to stand out and take the spotlight. For instance on "See To," Jon Trafton took over lead vocal and guitar details, and demonstrated why he is considered such a talented guitarist. Later on, with bassist Glockear on lead vocals, the group played a jammed-out version of the popular song "Paperback Book." It was evident that each member plays an integral role in rounding out the band's sound and adds to the diversity of Strangefolk's song catalog.Another standout song during the night was "Stout-hearted," which is one of the few songs penned by Genauer that still appears in the set list. Patchen handled singing duties, and easily matched the intensity with which Reid used to sing this Strangefolk classic. The song has taken on a new sound with the addition of keyboards and the interplay between Patchen and Trafton's guitars near the end of the song.The band closed the night with the 80s classic "Electric Avenue," which was presented in a truly funked out form that had everyone of the floor dancing. By the end of the song both band and crowd where covered in sweat, a testament to the band's hard work on stage and their ability to get the crowd moving.Strangefolk now embarks on a huge two-month national co-headlining tour with mid-west rockers Big Wu. If the band continues to play with the intensity they had on Friday night, their once uncertain future will be nothing but bright.
(02/27/02 12:00am)
Author: Jen LaRosa There are no classes on Friday, dinner is actually looking quite appetizing and there is a late night McCullough dance party two nights in a row. This can only mean one thing: Winter Carnival. Each year, Middlebury College faculty, staff and students get together to arrange a weekend filled with good food, ski races, ice shows, night clubs and a formal ball, bringing a needed dose of excitement in the doldrums of winter.This year, following the fantastical "Once Upon a Carnival" theme, the weekend kicked off with the "Be Our Guest" jamboree dinner. There were delicious appetizers, evident from the 25-minute line, a pasta garden, a stir fry station, glazed duck and, of course, Disney character "The Beast." Coincidentally enough, Proctor Hall seemed to be serving very similar meals the next afternoon. But make no mistake: even though the alligator did not return this year, "the dinner here," as the song goes, "is never second best."The dinner was followed by fireworks behind the Center for the Arts and a cultural gala based on themes from "The Jungle Book." The night ended in McCullough, with students dancing to the '80s cover band Orange Crush. Jen Nightingale '04 said that "there was such a variety of '80s songs that were very upbeat and easy to dance to. The decorations were very colorful and there were many students dressed up in good old eighties garb!" Ski races started the next day at 9:30 a.m. at the Snow Bowl. This year there was quite a large turnout thanks to both home team pride and the beautiful weather. Most people milled around the finish line, but a few brave souls scaled the slippery slopes to get an even better view. Every time a Middlebury skier raced down the mountain the crowd went wild, yelling in encouragement and banging cowbells. A "commons afternoon" also took place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Bicentennial Hall and on Battell Beach, but unfortunately a few of the activities had to be canceled or changed due to the lack of snow. The "Bedtime Stories" ice show, featuring children from the local community in attire inspired by the book "Where the Wild Things Are," area students who are heavily involved in ice skating competitions and Middlebury's own multi-talented student body, was sold out Friday night. With renditions of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and songs by the Spice Girls, the ice show was simply warming to the heart. The annual Night Club, hosted by Damian Washington '03 and featuring three "celebrity" judges, took place at both 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. that evening. Performing to sold-out houses, the Night Club showcased an impressive array of student talent, featuring singing, dancing, juggling and magic.As spectators enjoyed the performances, student hosts circulated through the audience offering complimentary smoothies from The Grille, contributing to the nightclub-like atmosphere.At the event's conclusion, the judges unanimously selected Brain Fletcher '04 as the best performer for his awe-inspiring juggling skills.Other noteworthy performances included the vocal and piano duet of Gabe Epperson '02.5 and Maressa Perault '03, the solo strummings of solo guitarist Jason Lockhart '05 and On Tap's energetic tap dances. A late night McCullough dance party ended that night as well. There was no theme or cover band, just some good old-fashioned college dancing. On Saturday, the last day of Winter Carnival, ski races kicked off yet another gorgeous day. Dave Reisman '04 said that he thought that "both the men and the women skied beautifully. She continued, "I was very impressed with the not only the racers, but also the large number of enthusiastic fans." Students barbequed, skied and rolled down the Bowl, all in the name of the Panther ski team, which ultimately placed second behind the University of Vermont but ahead of perennial ski rival Dartmouth College.Winter Carnival concluded with the "Happily Ever After" ball. With The Marcels, a traditional cover band, providing entertainment, Nelson Arena was transformed by beautiful lighting and decorations. A skillfully-arranged beer garden was partitioned off, accessible only to those over the age of 21.Nightingale added that there was a "good turnout at the ball. She continued, "Everyone who attended was very enthusiastic, which made for a genuinely good time."Despite the lack of winter weather, Winter Carnival carried on the long-standing Middlebury tradition of a mid-February celebration in grand style.
(02/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Matthew Christ As winter drags on and we begin to settle into the routine of a new semester, a weekend approaches that can only be described as "fantastical." With promises to destroy the mid-February monotony, Winter Carnival 2002 will officially commence on Thursday."It is going to be the biggest social event of the year," said Lisa Bennet '02. Bennet is the Administrative Chair of the 20-person strong Social Board, which has completely planned and organized this weekend's events. The execution of the carnival has proved to be a daunting task since the Social Board receives little to no money from the College, despite the fact that Middlebury College's Winter Carnival is the oldest and largest in the country.The board has been working since early October to raise the necessary funds, which they have accomplished by selling tickets at sporting events, soliciting the commons for donations, and selling student Carnival packages.Although Middlebury hosts a grand Winter Carnival, many Eastern schools with elite Division One ski teams also host their own events over course of the ski season. All carnivals have both nordic and alpine skiing competitions, but what distinguishes Middlebury's Carnival is that for years the National Collegiate Athletic Association has graced Middlebury with the honor of hosting Division One Skiing Finals. Like other NCAA championships, such as the Rose Bowl or the Final Four, this weekend's athletic competitions will prove to be extremely exciting. Winter Carnival weekend, which began as a celebration of the Middlebury skiing tradition, has evolved into a gigantic party, complete with a fireworks display, an ice show, a cultural gala and a semi-formal ball. Carrying on the "fantastical" thematic tradition, the Social Board established this year's theme to be "Once Upon a Carnival."The weekend will begin on Thursday night, with a fireworks show above the Center for the Arts. A cultural gala with an African flavor will follow inside the CFA. According to Bennet, this event is a must-see since the performances are all "fun and classy." Think of Thursday night as the Opening Ceremonies, minus the child of light.After taking in all this culture, be sure to take in Orange Crush, an 80s cover band who will be playing in McCullough as part of the "Under the Sea" dance party and concert. The fun starts at 9:15 p.m., with the first 100 people through the door getting prizes. The celebration continues on Friday morning with nordic and alpine skiing competitions. Be sure to check out the barbecue at 11:30 a.m. on the Snow Bowl deck. The best way to watch the alpine competitions is to be actually skiing at the Bowl as the races are in progress. Just position yourself somewhere along the course and watch some of the best skiers in the country fight for glory.Make it back to campus for Commons Afternoon, which follows a Robin Hood theme. The activities will range from jousting to snow sculpture building with most of the action taking place on Battell Beach. This is the time to take advantage of the official college holiday.Friday night features an exciting ice show based on traditional bedtime stories. Some of the best young skaters in the country have been brought in to participate in this theatrical event, including the 2002 New England Regional Novice Pair Champions Chad Brennan and Renee Laverdiere. The same show will repeat on Saturday afternoon, so if you miss it on Friday, you'll have another opportunity to witness the magic. The ice show will definitely attract many members of the Middlebury community, so expect to see a diverse crowd of students and area residents in Kenyon Arena. After the ice show, head over to the special Winter Carnival night club, Where the Wild Things Are. There are two shows, one at 7:30 p.m. and another at 9 p.m., both of which will contain impressive talent mixing up hot beats. Later at night there will be a huge dance party, so make sure to end your night 'Where the Wild Things Are.' The Carnival will close with the Happily Ever After ball on Saturday night in Nelson Arena. The attendance is typically extraordinary, and this year over 1500 people are expected. Alcohol will be served, but make sure you have your MiddCard and a governmental I.D. This is a great chance for those of you who did not have the valentine of your dreams to have a magical evening with the person you have eyed since September. When I asked Bennet what event she was most nervous about pulling off this year, she responded, "None of them, all the events will be great!" With this in mind, there is no excuse to miss any of this year's incredible Winter Carnival activities.
(02/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Laura Rockefeller Although most Middlebury students only know Matthew Dickerson, Daniel Scharstein and Bill Frey separately in the classroom as professors — associate professors of mathematics and computer science and former professor of psychology, respectively — together these three men make up the blues band Deep Freyed. In 1995 this group of musical scientists began meeting in Scharstein's basement to have jam sessions and play the blues. Initially, they had no intention of performing professionally."For a long time we were just getting together for fun," explained Scharstein. However, they soon found that they really enjoyed playing as a group. They were creating music that they hoped other people would enjoy as much as they did. One thing led to another and the group began performing all over Vermont, and even beyond.The group came together by chance. Having met when they began teaching at Middlebury, Dickerson and Frey often went fishing together and found that the conversation soon turned to their mutual love of music. In fact, Frey was already playing in another band. It was this connection that brought Scharstein into the group. He auditioned to be a drummer with Frey's band, but the final result was different to what either had expected. Frey had been craving an opportunity to play more of his own music, so he left his band and suggested that he, Scharstein and Dickerson play together on their own. They started having jam sessions in Scharstein's basement and the group took off from there.Since that time the group has played in numerous locations. Many of their gigs have been at places like the ski resort Sugarbush, or out of state at performance venues at Dartmouth College, Tufts University and the Sit'n Bull nightclub outside of Boston. Closer to home they have performed for "First Night" at the Middlebury Inn, the Red Moon Café in Rutland, the Holly Hall in Bristol and for the Young Writer's Conference at Bread Loaf. Coming up this semester Deep Freyed will be returning to perform on campus at the party Ross Commons is hosting for the release of their latest CD, "Faces of Blue."The music that the band plays is a fun, toe-tapping blues, mostly written by Frey and Dickerson, although some songs, like the instrumental first track on the most recent CD, came from jam sessions where Scharstein was able to create interesting rhythms with his percussion skills. Many of the songs make one want to sing along, not only because of the tune, but also because of the stories they tell or the universal feelings that they express. When asked where the ideas for his music came from, Dickerson explained, "Our songs just come from the experience of every day life." They are inspired by "the experiences of being a father, a husband and the world in general." Dickerson pointed out that, after all, it is not surprising that their songs should be so heavily based on observation since their main lyricist is a member of the Psychology Department.The group's first CD was released two years ago and the second, "Faces of Blue," has just appeared. The time between CDs has been taken up by writing and arranging new songs to be recorded. The process was elongated by the need to renew old songs for the frequent gigs the group was playing. However, the members of Deep Freyed found time in between performances to work on developing and refining new material to be recorded. Two of the songs on the latest CD were put on the track listing only after the recording date had already been set.New exposure for the group is on the way as one of the pieces from their new CD is about to be featured on a nationally syndicated radio program, "Blues Deluxe." Dickerson had dropped off their first CD for a Vermont radio station to listen to two years ago. The DJ at that time decided to sent it on to the national "Blues Deluxe," which played one of the tracks from the first CD and now plans to feature one from the second. "Statue Man" will be featured on the show, which reaches approximately 2.1 million listeners and over 80 radio stations across the country. "Deep Freyed" has certainly come a long way from their jam sessions in Scharstein's basement.
(02/13/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] I was only half-watching the Superbowl the other day because I'm only a half-hearted football fan. Something caught my attention pretty solidly at one point, though, and it wasn't Britney Spears. It was an ad with kids talking about kidnapping tourists and murdering judges. I was curious for a second about how kids like this went about committing such heinous crimes. They answered the question for me: they did drugs. I'll tell you one thing, when I do drugs, I generally don't commit acts of terrorism. More often, I lie around in the grass or go out dancing. The concept that by doing drugs, you, the unassuming partier, are inadvertently killing people is incredibly stupid.The next day, I thought about it for a while and decided that maybe the Office of National Drug Control Policy had simplified their message because ad time is so expensive. So I went to their Website, www.theantidrug.com, and took their quiz about my knowledge of drugs and terrorism. The first question asked about how many terrorist groups fund themselves through drugs. The answer was 12 (of 28). The Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) gets about 90 percent of its $300 million budget from cocaine. Their archrival, the ultra-right wing paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Columbia (AUC) similarly gets 50 percent of their budget that way. The Taliban made $50 million from producing heroin. Interesting stuff, I thought, but how many kids really do heroin or coke?Anticipating my skepticism, the next question was about pot smokers. It asked how much pot comes from outside the country. The answer? 1.5 million pounds were seized at the border last year. About one-third of that came from Mexico, a known corridor for terrorist drug smuggling. The other two-thirds apparently came from Canada. There's no connection made between terrorists and pot. That is probably because there is no connection. The majority of marijuana consumed in the United States is grown in British Columbia, Northern California and Mexico, none of which are terrorist-harboring regions. Not to mention that pot is worth a piddling $400 or so an ounce. Cocaine can be worth nearly $2,000 an ounce. I moved on to a question about Ecstasy. Apparently about 80 percent of the Ecstasy in this country is produced in the Netherlands. The implication seems to be that the Dutch fund terrorism. This apparent non sequitur is resolved with the insightful statement that "[d]rug traffickers and terror groups both undermine democratic institutions and the rule of law and distort legitimate economies. They engage in widespread violence and corruption and use similar methods, such as money laundering, arms deals and document falsification to do their work." It might be interesting to note that well-respected organizations such as Royal Dutch Shell and Lockheed are also guilty of these things. This also happens to a non sequitur: Just because terrorists, drug traffickers and multi-national corporations use some of the same means doesn't mean they have the same ends.Frankly, I'm pretty unenthusiastic about this campaign. I am glad that the Drug Czar has stopped exaggerating the effects of drugs on users, but I don't appreciate him distorting their effects on other people. The links between marijuana, Ecstasy and basically every other drug and terrorism simply don't exist. The two drugs that do support terrorism, and which the vast majority of users do not do, are cocaine and heroin. The key to the whole deal is that these drugs are astronomically valuable. I just noted that cocaine can be worth nearly 10 times as much as gold. Not only that, but it doesn't require massive, environmentally destructive mines to get at. Anyone can grow the plants and the processing is fairly simple. The same goes for heroin. Cheap to make? Exorbitant prices? Guaranteed market? Sounds like a fail proof business model fit for any American company.Our leaders have the chain of causation a little screwed up. Drugs are so valuable because we've spent billions of dollars making them dangerous to produce, dangerous to distribute and dangerous to possess, artificially distorting their worth. Terrorists are able to effectively make use of the money because it's entirely unregulated in the black market. It is not the user that's supporting terrorism, but the War on Drugs. Were these two hard drugs to become legal, their prices would drop to reasonable levels, they would be produced here and their profits would be subject to government oversight, much like tobacco and alcohol. Poof! No more money for terrorist groups.Of course, I'd like to legalize all drugs, not just the heavy hitters. "But what of the social costs?" you ask. The myth, highly popular with nearly everyone in this country, is that drugs screw up people's lives. I bet you, a Middlebury student, could prove this assertion wrong for me. Our school is a place full of undeniably successful people. Yet one need look no further than the free flowing beer at social house parties or the pungent smell wafting through the halls to see that this country's two most popular drugs, alcohol and marijuana, are flourishing here. It is undeniable that drugs, including alcohol, have negative physical and mental effectives if used irresponsibly. But the majority of the problems associated with drugs (going to jail, losing student loans, losing government contracts or being disbarred) are all policy choices in the war on drugs that would end with legalization.In support of our government, though, I like how our President is thinking 'outside the box' about the war on terrorism, however poorly; it gives me hope. In the spirit of creativity, I'd like to offer my own, non-traditional solution to our current terrorist problem. We should capture Osama bin Laden and then give him and George Bush healthy doses of LSD and let them sit outside on a warm spring day at Camp David. They wouldn't become raving schizophrenics, as Jon Walters might assert; they'd laugh about how absurd politics and government are, how beautiful the bright green new leaves of the Eastern hardwood forest are and how stupid it is to screw it all up by killing each other.
(02/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Meghan Michelson I spent the February break in my home state of California. Contrary to popular belief and assumptions related to the Golden State, I was not sunning on the beach with my blond, surfing friends all week. There are common misconceptions surrounding California that are typically associated with 80 degree temperatures, Hollywood movie stars and beach attire. I hereby declare that these images are exactly that: misconceptions. California, like most other states in the country, suffers from labeling and prejudices that need to be expelled. Icons in shows such as "Baywatch" and "Beverly Hills 90210" are not realistic portrayals of the state of California. I will therefore attempt to create, for those of you who have taken these false notions as truth, a more authentic description of California and in turn eliminate conventionalized ideas about other states that have consequently been formed.Most stereotypes are created with the help of film and television industries, which often establish incorrect associations with specific locations. If we never traveled and relied strictly on television to gain perceptions of the world, we would be led to believe the delusions created by shows like "Sex and the City" to be typical of New York City. Based solely on assumptions, one would think that everyone in New York is a bad driver, everyone in Texas wears cowboy hats and everyone in Iowa lives on a farm. People assume everyone in Vermont must ski and milk cows, and everyone in Oregon must climb trees and be a vegetarian. In addition, everyone in Alabama must eat grits and fried chicken, and everyone in Montana must drive a pickup truck. But we know none of this is unanimously true, and generally it is never safe to make such broad assumptions about any location. The same theory goes for California, which maintains a deeply engrained set of stereotypes that affect me personally on a somewhat regular basis. I frequently find myself explaining and discouraging several commonly held and widely misconstrued beliefs about California. First of all, it does snow in some parts of California. It is not summertime year round, and it is impossible for the entire state to be oceanside. There are mountains and deserts and plenty of geographical diversity. Not everyone is blond. I, for example, have brown hair, and believe it or not, there are others in California like me, as well as those with many other hues of hair color. Not everyone surfs daily or even knows how to surf. And since they do not all surf, California residents are not all tan. There are not celebrities on every street corner, and no, I do not have a cell phone. Not to imply that these images do not exist at all. In certain areas of Southern California, they most certainly do. There is no widespread phenomenon, however, and in reality these ideas are limited to a rather miniscule area of the large state. It is important to keep in mind that California is as large as about five states on the East Coast combined, and its size does not permit any statewide trends. Especially the ones displayed by popular television shows set in permanently sunny California. To dispel these misunderstandings about California, we need to accept that no state should be subjected to any preconceived notions. Nearly every state engenders generalizations, but these should not dominate how people from that state are perceived. Even if there is such a thing as a typical resident of any given state, one should not be led to believe that the entire state is made up of clones. If that were the case, what is to distinguish me from Tori Spelling?
(01/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Raam Wong We're all familiar with the "church lady" stereotype: the faithful organizer of suppers and pageants, she never misses a Sunday. Until recent reforms, Jewish women were traditionally relegated to the back of the synagogue. In news reports following the September terrorist attacks, countless images of Muslim women concealed by burkas have appeared in both print publications and on television. All these images contribute to the popular misconception that women are invariably in the background of religious life. Middlebury College's Charles P. Scott Symposium, conducted from Jan. 14 to 18, unveiled and discussed the development of women's role in religion.Professor of Sociology and Religion E. Burke Rochford organized this year's symposium in conjunction with four Winter Term courses pertaining to the topic of women in religion. "I think the symposium is important for the College community because these issues are current and significant," Rochford remarked. By considering the "women question," he explained, one learns a great deal about the state of contemporary religion and modern culture. In light of recent events in Afghanistan, the issue of women in religion has become a particularly important area of inquiry. "In opposing gender equality, more conservative religious groups are signaling their opposition and seeking to draw boundaries between themselves and mainstream culture," Rochford commented. "We see images from Afghanistan with women covered [with burkas] and we are left to wonder why. We see the [World] Trade Center attacked and wonder what is at stake for those who commit such acts of violence? While there are many interconnected issues, the question of women and their place in society is clearly one part of the explanation."Rochford's own research on the Hare Krishna movement also provided inspiration for the symposium's topic. "I have been trying to trace the rise of women's consciousness and mobilization as well as the backlash from the more fundamentalist elements of the Krishna movement," Rochford said. "Here in the midst of a very conservative religion we see the rise of an active, and in many ways successful, women's movement." Several religious organizations in the United States now embrace gender equality, with increasing numbers of women taking leadership roles in their congregations. The diverse group of speakers at the Scott Symposium — from local clergy to women's studies and religion professors — addressed both the contemporary and historical importance of women in religion. "For some, the idea that women have been a major force in religious history is news," Rochford noted.The symposium began on Monday Jan. 14 with a community forum entitled "Redefining Women of the Spirit: Reflections on Women in Religious Life." Members of the interdenominational panel included Catherine Nichols of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Middlebury, Johanna Nichols of the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, Father John McDermott of the Catholic Center at the University of Vermont, Jill Colley of Vergennes United Methodist Church and Ira Schiffer, associate chaplain of Middlebury College and rabbi of Havurah Addison County. An enthusiastic audience of students and community members, from ages 18 to 80, crowded into the Robert A. Jones '59 House. This first event set the tone for the symposium, seeking to question and discuss how women have been treated by different faiths over time and how ordained women are adjusting to their new role as leaders."The panel was a great way to start off the symposium," Sarah Goodwin '04 commented. "Each religion has its own story of how women broke into leadership roles. It was fascinating to hear personal accounts from people who participated and observed women who had such a strong influence on their religious groups." Stirred by the first panel, I next attended a powerful talk given by Ann Braude, director of the Women's Studies in Religion program and senior lecturer in American religious history at the Harvard Divinity School. Braude's lecture, entitled "Women's History IS Religious History," grappled with the enduring paradox of women's numerical dominance in organized religion versus their exclusion from power. Braude called attention to the irony of religious history. "Women have made American religion possible through participation at many levels, but that doesn't mean women have had power," she said. Referring to Spiritualism, a popular female-driven movement of the mid-19th century, Braude demonstrated that women have, in fact, played a pivotal role in shaping American religious history. Many such important instances of female leadership in religion have disturbingly fallen into obscurity. Braude concluded that our lack of attention to women's history itself has generated a version of American religious history which fails to give proper credit to female leaders. The symposium continued with a talk by Paula Nesbitt on Christianity in America, as well as a discussion about "The Reframing of American Judaism," led by Karla Goldman, Historian-in-Residence at the Jewish Women's Archive. Rita Gross, professor of religion at the University of Wisconsin, gave a lecture on Buddhism and gender."From what I can tell the response to the symposium has been uniformly positive," Rochford said. "I think many students were largely unaware of the issues that were discussed by our speakers." The symposium compelled students to expand their horizons during our notoriously "interdisciplinary" Winter Term. For me, Braude's words best conveyed the message of the symposium: "We must learn to retell the stories of our own history."
(01/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Lindsey Whitton Cold weather, especially six months straight, is my worst enemy. I walk outside and no matter how many layers I am wearing, my body temperature plummets. I shiver uncontrollably, rapidly reaching a semi-convulsive state. Recently, walking from Bicentennial Hall to Hamlin, the person behind me thought I was having a seizure. A lifetime spent living in New England and generations of stoic Yankee ancestors have not even slightly immunized me. My only solace is to fantasize, as each blast of north wind sends me reeling, about a week in Florida at my grandparents' place over the February break.Unfortunately, my current bank account did not include the resources for the plane ticket. Luckily, I had an epiphany in early December — I would work as a ski instructor over Christmas break! I have skied the same Vermont mountain my entire life, shivering my way up the chair lift and down the icy trails, so I might as well get paid for exposing my body to the elements. I pictured the scene: happy little kids trailing me down the mountain having the time of their lives, grateful parents showering me with generous tips, time by the fire with all the other great ski instructors.I should have been suspicious when the ski school hired me without verifying that I could ski. Skiing, I was to learn, was not necessarily a key component of the job. My boss was named Cherry, and she sported permanently bright red cheeks (residual frostbite damage no doubt) and a walkie-talkie covered with Winnie-the-Pooh stickers. When I reported for duty the day after Christmas, Cherry hissed at me, "Here, take Damian, and SMILE." Damian…wasn't that the name of the devil-child in one of those horror movies from the '80s? I forced such unattractive thoughts from my mind. Damian, age four, seemed incapable of standing up on his own, of looking me in the eye or of responding to the simplest questions. "Nothing wrong with him except he's spoiled rotten," another ski instructor told me. Obviously Damian was the proverbial hot potato passed to every unsuspecting rookie. Well, I would be up to the challenge. I managed to find his skis, which his parents had helpfully labeled Lu Lu and Poo Poo, and stuffed him into his layers of outerwear. "I have to go bathroom!" he then wailed, the first real sign of life.I spent the day scraping Damian off the snow and hauling him up the Magic Carpet, the rubberized purgatory where all novice skiiers and their hapless instructors live. Lu Lu and Poo Poo appeared to have minds of their own; on or off Damian they made frequent contact with my shins, knees and other innocent body parts. But there was good news also. Sweaty and struggling to survive Damian and the Magic Carpet, I had spent the entire day outside without getting cold. The next morning cheery Cherry handed me five kids. Four were sobbing. One unfortunate soul was on the floor writhing with abandoned-to-ski-school agony. Several of my charges had noses running like faucets, and I could swear one had conjunctivitis (pink eye, highly contagious, but maybe it was just swelling from all the hysterics). We spent the day on the rope tow, one step up from the Magic Carpet, one giant leap up in stress for me. The kids held onto the rope until they felt like dropping, randomly and like flies. I ran up and down the hill removing them from the oncoming traffic flow and carrying them the rest of the way to the top. Once again, I felt no cold. By the third day I could hardly drag myself out of bed at 7 a.m. I gazed wistfully at my three friends and my cousin who were sleeping peacefully in my room. Keep your eye on the prize, think Florida, think warm, I thought.I lucked out this morning: eight children actually capable of skiing on the mountain! I felt like it was Christmas all over again. Not even the crushing weight of carrying all their skis while we waited in the gondola line dampened my spirits. We found a nice intermediate trail but then it branched out into a couple of expert trails. Hundreds of holiday skiers and snowboarders swooped in and around us. My eight little kids were behind me and I began to ski backwards, counting desperately. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. One, two, three, four, five, six… seven. Oh no!!! Not a good thing to lose a child on the first run. And which child? They all looked alike in their helmets and Patagonia clothing. A small voice piped up from within the bowels of a neck warmer. "I tink it is dat whittle guil with da flowa on her helmit." Yes! Chapin was her name. She had a red jacket on. Now I was on a mission. I was skiing a bit quicker than I would normally ski with a class, but we had to find Chapin. Suddenly, we hit a big patch of ice. One boy slipped and slid off the trail into the snow making equipment. He was still conscious, a good sign. When we reached the bottom we were still Chapin-less. I made the dreaded call to Cherry, who was suddenly not so cheery. A squad of ski patrollers was dispatched to locate the little fallen angel. My remaining class, in a strong show of solidarity, were grinding each other's faces into the snow. My friends, sister and cousin skied by. "Yeah Linds!!" they all shouted. "Oooo, you look so professional!!" And then, as if on cue, a tall man stepped out of the crowd and called out to me. "Hey! You're Chapin's instructor aren't you? I'm her father. Where is she?" And so the week went on. After wiping 300 noses, putting on mittens 450 times, desperately counting my group 200 times, mis-counting and panicking 15 times, having two children almost fall off the lift, losing (and finally retrieving) Chapin and best of all, pulling one bloody tongue off the frozen chairlift bar, I was $400 richer. The hidden benefits of such work? They included 15 babysitting requests (none of which I accepted), a summer job offer from Chapin's father, lots of gooey kisses at the end of each day, an enduring case of pink eye and a decision to put off having children of my own for as long as possible. Oh, and I never felt cold.
(01/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Jasmin Johnson and Nicha Rakpanichmanee Sunday, Jan. 20: Chapel ServiceWarm light flooded Mead Chapel on a snowy Sunday morning. Approximately 80 alumni, students, staff, faculty and community members gathered for a service to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrate the Alumni of Color Weekend. The service began solemnly with hymns and prayers. Francois Clemmons, Twilight Artist-in-Residence, led the Middlebury College Choir through King's favorite hymn, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." After College Chaplain Laurel Jordan's prayer, guest preacher Reverend S. Isaiah Harvin stepped onto the pulpit. From the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, D.C., Isaiah Harvin brought insightful words as well as good humor.Harvin alluded to the Civil Rights Movement in his sermon's theme of "separate but equal." However, revising the phrase within contemporary context, Isaiah framed the notion in a positive light. "As long as we all have a reason for being here, we are separate but equal," he said. He further emphasized everyone's need of each other.Provoking more thought on King's fight for racial equality, Isaiah noted that the church is "one of the most segregated institutions" in today's society. He encouraged unity while noting, "Blacks go to one church; whites to one; Asians to their own. And on Monday morning, everybody goes to school with a different religious experience."One could feel a change of mood as Harvin concluded his sermon and as the sun made way across the zenith. "The Peace" was passed around afterward: the congregation rose and wished each other—strangers and friends—peace and love. The Choir then sang "The Storm is Passing Over" while Harvin joined in with spontaneous hallelujahs.College Organist Emory Fanning drew the service to an end with a postlude hymn. Old friends greeted one another afterwards. Jake Nicholson '05, who woke up early to attend the service, was "touched" by Harvin's sermon. "The church needs more people like him," added Nicholson. "This is the most people I've seen in church since convocation."Damon Haynes '93 was on his annual visit back on campus for the Alumni of Color Weekend. "The sermon was very applicable and very direct," he remarked. "It was also a good message that everyone needs to put into practice."Monday, Jan. 21: Prayer Breakfast"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed." Martin Luther King Jr.'s quotation was inscribed on bookmarks distributed at the Prayer Breakfast, courtesy of the African American Alliance. The fourth consecutive Prayer Breakfast in honor of King was sponsored by Ross Commons. The McCullough Social Space was filled with solemn spirit and hundreds of alumni, students, staff, faculty and community members. After a spread of muffins, croissants, fruit salad and other savories, Athenia Fisher '04 gave an informal welcoming address, representing the Ross Commons Council in warming the crowd on King's birthday. College Chaplain Laurel Jordan followed with the invocation."[The invocation] was meaningful," said Reverend Johanna Nichols, pastor of the Congregational Universalist Church in Middlebury. She was one of the many community members who wokeup early to attend this special event. She said that she had a keen interest in King's life and work.A musical tribute by self-described "diva" Clemmons followed. He sang "Higher Ground" with Reverend Thomas Dorsey, who had been a great influence to black gospel music. Clemmons' rich and soulful voice rang across the room, as he seemed to effortlessly sing the hymn. Before he began, Clemmons talked about his treasured personal encounter with King. Clemmons remembered being the enthusiastic youth who admired King so much he could "never stop talking." King told him to "keep on keeping on."Middlebury Minority Research Fellow Sholomo Levy '86 gave the faculty address. Entitled "The Mind of Martin Luther King Jr.," his speech set out to provide a "new perspective" on King, in addition to the more publicized aspects. Levy presented many peculiar and less well-known facts about King to emphasize that the legendary activist was not just a media personality. King had been very much a scholar and an academic in thoughts and actions, despite being very occupied with other matters. Almost all the chairs in the room had been turned to face Levy in this captivating speech. Chigozie Ogwuebu '02 and Melissa Camilo '04 read two pieces with calm and poignant voices that moved some audience members to tears. Camilo read an "apocalyptic" speech, which King made shortly before his assassination. While longevity did "have its place" in his heart, said King, his priority was to serve the people by staying in his course. The Middlebury College Choir performed a musical tribute, with joint participation from members of Clemmons' Winter Term class, the Negro Spiritual. Mariana Mujica, a community member, mesmerized the crowd with her passionate and powerful voice in "This Little Light of Mine," backed by the choir. Choir members sang a few more spirituals and then the benediction, which Associate Chaplain and Rabbi Ira Schiffer read aloud as well. As the Prayer Breakfast ended, crowds lingered in discussion.Other Events on Monday, Jan. 21A similar crowd of alumni, students, staff, faculty and community members attended the afternoon lecture and film viewing of "Men of Bronze." Lifelong researcher of African-American history, William Milies produced and directed this award-winning documentary. The hour-long film followed the black soldiers of the 369th United States Regiment to their historical World War I fight in France and back home.Miles shared memories and inspirations with his audience afterwards, and also attended a informal dinner at the Cook Commons Dining Hall.Posters from the Civil Rights era, King's books and magazines from the 1960s were showcased on the Juice Bar Stage at McCullough. Accompanying the presentation was a video of King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
(01/16/02 12:00am)
Author: Dan RussellStaff Writer The Middlebury College men's basketball team returned from their break with renewed enthusiasm, as they resumed practice on Dec. 30 in preparation for a grueling winter term schedule, consisting of seven games over the course of 13 days. The new year began on a somber note for the Panthers, however, as they were forced to cope with the unfortunate loss of influential senior forward/center Chris King for the rest of the season to an ankle sprain. As one of Middlebury's co-captains and its lone senior, his quiet but strong presence and veteran leadership proved invaluable in helping the youthful Panthers adjust to their new roles and the rigors of Division III basketball. His loss is perhaps all the more saddening in that this season was to be, in many ways, his first full season, having waiting patiently as an understudy to a team which graduated nine seniors last year, and finally getting the chance to assume his role as a starter. He made his presence felt immediately, showing enormous potential and flashes of brilliant play.The Panthers proved their resiliency, however, as they banded together to face their first true test of the new year against Springfield College (Mass.) on Jan. 6. It was a tightly contested match from the very beginning with the lead changing hands several times throughout the first half. Middlebury was able to hold Springfield (9-1), and its All-American Michael Parker in check with a trapping press defense and entered halftime with a 34-31 lead. Springfield regained the lead in the second half, leading at one point by as many as nine. The Panthers promptly responded with an 8-0 run of their own, cutting the lead to one with 9:27 left in the game. Eric Bundonis '03, the lone remaining upperclassman, turned in a very strong performance, leading all scorers with 17 points and six rebounds, aided by the play of point guard Koby Altman '04 (10 points, 4 assists.) The game also saw the emergence of Michael Salek '05 who, in an offensive explosion, scored 12 points in the space of 12 minutes of play, including a barrage of 3-pointers - 3-of-6 from behind the arc. In a thrilling series, with Springfield up by three with only two minutes left to play in the second half, Salek showed incredible poise by hitting a clutch three pointer to tie the game. Springfield was then unable to score on their last possession, sending the game into overtime. Springfield's experience gave them the advantage in overtime however, as they made 12 of their 13 foul shots, and gradually edged out Middlebury. In a valiant effort, with Springfield ahead by three, Salek hit another three-pointer to tie the game. Yet Springfield was able to score inside on the next series and Middlebury was unable to answer on the other end, as Bundonis' shot went wide. Middlebury was then forced to foul, and Springfield converted their last four free throws, finally winning 81-74. It was a good test of the Panthers' mettle against a very good Springfield team and is an encouraging sign of things to come. The team achieved some measure of redemption against Norwich University following the tough Springfield loss. The game was never really in doubt as the Panthers led from the start and shot 5-10 from behind the three-point line while holding the Cadets to only 36 percent shooting in the first half (as well as out-rebounding them 46-35 in the game); going into halftime leading 33-26. In the second half, they went on a 16-4 run to pull away eventually winning 64-48. Bundonis turned in another find performance with 18 points on 8-15 shooting as well as hauling down four rebounds, and Nate Anderson '04 and David Coratti '04, chipped in with nine and seven points, respectively. The Panthers then traveled to Keene State (9-1), and played perhaps their best game of the season in another fiercely competitive matchup. The Panthers guarded a one-point lead 37-36 at halftime, and led by as many as eight points with 14:59 left to play in the second half on a three-pointer by freshman Adam Sinoway '05 who had 10 points on 2-6 from behind the arc. The Owls gradually fought their way back into the game and regained the lead however, and pulled away for good in the last eight minutes on a flurry of three-pointers and second-chance shots, eventually winning 88-73. The loss of King was perhaps most keenly felt in this match as the Owls exploited the Panthers' weakness inside, out-rebounding them on the offensive boards 23-8. Anderson led the Panthers with a team-high 19 points. The Panthers then returned to Pepin Gymnasium and beat Castleton State handily 80-61, finishing with a 6-6 record overall. The game against Keene State, one of their stronger opponents this season, was an excellent gauge of their ability. The Panthers begin New England Small College Athletic Conference play against Trinity this Friday and then against Amherst the following day, both at home. The Panther's played a late game on Tuesday, Jan. 15 in which they beat Union at home in the newly renovated Pepin Gymnasium. With the 64-58 victory the men's team now moves above .500 sporting a 7-6 record.
(12/05/01 12:00am)
Author: Jasim Johnson "Student teaching is a daily dose of inspiration," said Peter Day '01, who is currently completing the student teaching program at Middlebury Union Middle School and High School. Day is one of 12 members of the Teacher Education Program at the College who are student-teaching at local schools in Addison County this fall. The Teacher Education program, founded over 80 years ago, is a small department dedicated to exposing its students to prominent educators that can use the strength of their liberal arts education to contribute to the community.The department offers five minors: education, elementary education, secondary education and the latter pair plus recommendation for the licensure necessary for teaching in public schools in Vermont. The Vermont licensure is reciprocated in 37 other states. Students who want to pursue this minor are required to take courses in psychology and education, student teach for a full semester (the experiential learning portion of the curriculum), complete a teacher licensure portfolio and pass two state exams, Praxis I and II. Participants usually complete their student teaching in a ninth semester, most often the one following their graduation. However, there are also alternate routes to obtaining a minor in teacher education here at Middlebury. "I came to the ninth semester as 'non-traditional student' which means nothing more than that I had been out of the Middlebury system for more than one year. Leaving for a year after graduation before returning to teach was perhaps one of the best decisions I made; I feel I was able to tackle the professional semester with more experience and energy," said Carina Beyer '00.The course is definitely one that requires energy. "People say Middlebury is known for its dedication to foreign language study, but little do they know that the Teacher Education Program may be the most intense immersion program. Student teaching is really like stepping into another culture and country where you have traveled before but have forgotten the language," observed Rosemary Nash '01, who is currently teaching English at Middlebury Union High School.Another student, Katherine Batty '01, says that a lot remains that is not known about the option. "I think that there are many student misconceptions of the Teacher Education Program as being easy classes to take to get an A. The truth is, I have never worked as hard in my academic career as I do now. Because of the long hours in the classroom and the really early mornings, I barely have time for myself and for friends. But, I make sure to always have time for the students at Mount Abe [in Bristol]."A successful program, Middlebury's Teacher Education Program has produced hundreds of licensed teachers who go into the field of education as well as many other professions. The student teacher element of the course is one of its most demanding and effective. Through a multifaceted partnership with kindergarten through twelfth grade schools called Partners in Education, a collaborative program offering extended opportunities has been made possible. "I have learned more about teaching this semester from my cooperating teacher than I have in any semester at Middlebury. You really need to immerse yourself in the daily life of a class to know what teaching is all about, " said Hannah Ritchie '02, who teaches first grade at Weybridge Elementary School.The program does not just benefit the students by allowing them to familiarize themselves, hands-on, with the classroom experience. This program also brought about communication with the community, which is a two-sided advantage. Amy Shanks '01, a Spanish major, noted that, "over the past four years I have become a member of the Addison community through my work in the local schools. I have been able to take what I have learned through my courses in psychology, education and Spanish and have been able to apply them to my daily life. Not many college students can say that." Bob Prigo, director of Teacher Education at Middlebury, explained that besides the daily supervision of the cooperating teacher during his or her semester of student teaching, each student is also supervised by a teacher education faculty member and by a liberal arts professor (known as a liberal arts mentor). Many of the students reported that these support persons have provided tremendous inspiration for their teaching methods and in their lives in general. Understandably, there can be times when understanding the students can be difficult for the brand new teacher. Teaching is, after all, a skill acquired and perfected over a lifetime."There are cooperating teachers and colleagues who help translate so the dialogue of learning can flow fluidly," said a grateful Nash."Joy has been a great role model for me, and I will take many aspects of her teaching style and professionalism with me as I move on to my own classroom," says Ritchie, of Joy Dobson, her cooperating teacher at the Weybridge Elementary School.Beyer's mentor at the College is Prigo himself. "Bob is hysterical! The kids love him and frequently ask, 'Where is Bob?' He is incredibly helpful in every respect and has clearly found his niche in the department. He and Gregg [Humphrey, the College's Elementary Teacher Education Coordinator] are a dynamic duo that makes the sometimes stressful teaching semester very bearable. Between the two of them, there is never a dull moment, always a fountain of knowledge and resources. Most incredible is that they always have time for us!"
