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XC Readies for NESCACs

After weeks of anticipation and hard work, the NESCAC Championships are on the horizon for the men’s and women’s cross country teams.  The Panthers’ most recent meet was the Connecticut College Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 13. At the meet, the men were able to obtain third place in a field of 27 teams.  They had a score of 96, while Amherst came in first with 72 points and Williams came in second with 76 points.  The top three runners for the Panthers were Matt D’Aquila ’21, who placed seventh, Theo Henderson ’20, who placed 10th and Henry Fleming ’20, who placed 15th.  D’Aquila finished in a time of 25:09.0, Henderson finished in 25:19.7 and Fleming finished in 25:23.4.  “As a whole, both the women’s and men’s cross country teams did a great job at Conn,” Rory Kelly ’19 said of the Panthers’ performance at the meet. “The women’s team had a particularly strong day as we came away with the win, beating strong competition. I was overjoyed with my performance and even more so for our team win. It was a great day for us.” With a score of 67, the women captured first place in a field of 25 teams. Kelly was the top runner for the Panthers, and she came in fourth place with a time of 21:38.2. Next up for the Panthers was Cassie Kearney ’22 with a time of 22:07.5 which got her seventh place. Then came Tasha Greene ’21 in 14th place with a time of 22:19.0. “I think that going into the race, our strategy was to not be afraid to push ourselves and to trust in the training that has built us up to be this strong at this point in the season,” Kearney said when asked to describe the women’s race strategy.  The Panthers will be competing in the NESCAC Championships on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Franklin Park in Boston.  If the team competes as hard as they always do, they should be able to make a statement at the championships.    “We are very excited for NESCACs,” Kelly said. “This race is a major culmination point in our season. In terms of preparation, we are getting our bodies and minds rested and ready to throw down.” Additionally, Kearney said, “I think collectively we share a really positive mindset going into NESCACs after last week’s win. We’re getting so much stronger each week, so I’m super excited to see how we do next Saturday at Franklin Park.”

Field Hockey Cuts it Close in Win Over Jumbos

With family and friends cheering it on, the Middlebury field hockey team extended its streak to 10–0 on Saturday, beating the Tufts Jumbos 2–1 in overtime. The Panthers took the lead after just four minutes of play, when junior Marissa Baker scored as part of a penalty corner. Tufts managed to tie it up about 20 minutes later, also on a penalty corner. The game was incredibly tight for the remainder of regulation time, with Middlebury marking just five shots on goal compared to the Jumbos’ three.  “We spend a lot of time watching film to understand our opponents’ strengths and weaknesses,” said defender Olivia Green ’20. “For Tufts, we knew that they set their press high, meaning they pressured us when we tried to advance the ball from our defense to our midfield. We responded by playing fast, keeping the ball moving and tiring out their forwards by making them run.”  BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS The high-pressure game was the first time Middlebury was forced into overtime, a scenario the Panthers work on a lot in practice. When the final whistle blew, they knew what to do.  “When the clock ran out we got in our huddle and Grace [Jennings] said, ‘this is our ish!’,” explained goalkeeper Megan Collins ’18.5. “We know that OT lends itself to our way of playing — it stretches the field out so that we have more space to keep possession through long passes and gives us an opportunity to play our game.”  The Panthers’ preparation certainly paid off, as sophomore Erin Nicholas found the back of the cage just 1:15 into overtime, for her sixth goal of the season.  “The interesting thing about this game is it was the first time that we played really well and we still had to fight for that outcome,” said senior captain Grace Jennings. “It really challenged things that we thought we had figured out and showed us what else we have to work on moving forward. We realized that there is another level that we have to get in order to accomplish our goals for this season.”  Despite the challenge, the Panthers proved once again what they are capable of when they work as a team. Middlebury also bested Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 4–0 on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Up next, the Panthers will take on Trinity this Saturday, Oct. 13 during Fall Break. 

Demonstrations Continue as Kavanaugh Takes Seat as Nation’s 114th Supreme Court Justice

The hearings and subsequent confirmation of now-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sparked national outrage that resonated with many members of the college community over the past two weeks. Across campus, students and faculty publicly expressed their support for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and survivors of sexual assault with signs, a “Walkout Against the Patriarchy” and chalked messages on pathways. Signs Supporting Survivors “WE BELIEVE SURVIVORS,” declared signs that surfaced across campus after the tumultuous Senate hearing addressing Dr. Ford’s sexual assault allegations against Justice Kavanaugh. The lead organizer of the postering campaign, who requested anonymity given her probation status from the Charles Murray protest, printed several posters and emailed the PDF file of the posters to multiple co-activists including Grace Vedock ’20 and Taite Shomo ’20.5.   “I wanted to do something to help make women and survivors feel supported on this campus. To help them feel heard. Believed. Safe. They were my motivation,” the student wrote in a message. “Beyond campus, my sisters were my motivation. My mom. My friends. My future nieces.” However, responses have not all been positive. Certain signs, such as one posted outside of Proctor Dining Hall, were almost immediately ripped down. Throughout the next few days, additional signs were vandalized and restored. Soon after the initial incident, the Community Bias Response Team (CBRT) weighed in, condemning the vandalism in an all-school email and noting that it violated “the general principle of respectful behavior and community standards.” A similar action took place outside the suite of Juliana Dunn ’19.5, Vee Duong ’19 and Nathan Nguyen ’19. In a Facebook post, Dunn shared that a student continued to erase the “WE BELIEVE CHRISTINE” text on the whiteboard outside their suite and remove similar paper signs. As of Tuesday evening, the messages had been collectively vandalized nine times.   [pullquote speaker="" photo="" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]Supporting survivors should be the norm, not a radical act.[/pullquote] “As a suite we are unsurprised but still stung by the ripping down and erasing of our signs of solidarity; it felt particularly painful to those of us who are survivors,” the suite members collectively wrote in a message to The Campus. “Supporting survivors should be the norm, not a radical act. We want to expect more of our peers and the institution, but our experiences on campus have largely taught us to prepare for less.” The primary organizer of the poster campaign also wrote “BELIEVE SURVIVORS” on the chalk message board next to the mail room, including the hotline for WomenSafe (800-388-4205). Throughout the twenty-minute setup process, dozens of women stopped to express their gratitude and identify themselves as survivors.   Protest Against Patriarchy A “Walkout Against the Patriarchy” started small but grew to a crowd of about 40 professors and students outside of Proctor on Oct. 4. Participants gathered in front of the steps to the dining hall with signs protesting Justice Kavanaugh’s nomination and many passersby joined in after seeing what was occurring. The mood was somber. Participants expressed their frustration at the Republican Party’s continued support of Justice Kavanaugh despite the accusations of sexual assault, and shared their belief that recent events put women across the nation at risk. Many said they were afraid that Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court would threaten the right to abortion protected by Roe v. Wade. Participants also discussed concrete ways to make a difference, such as voting and talking about uncomfortable issues with family members and friends. Some suggested that to create change, they would need to look outside of the “Middlebury bubble” and engage with the world at large.  The professors in attendance hoped that their students and their students’ generation as a whole would work hard to protect sexual assault survivors and improve the lives of all women. Gender Studies professors Laurie Essig and Sujata Moorti, Writing and Rhetoric professor Catharine Wright and Director of Chellis House Karin Hanta arranged the event with help from other faculty members.  “It was last minute,” Essig said. “We got some posters up and put it on Facebook on Wednesday, the day before.”  “I just happened to stumble upon the protest on my way home and stayed a bit to hear people’s thoughts and responses to the situation,” Melisa Topic ’19 said. “I appreciated the mixed student-faculty attendance because I believe it showed both unity and support from all sources on this campus, and demonstrated the diversity in individuals that are feeling some type of way about the Kavanaugh nomination.”  The next day, Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM) and the Student Government Association (SGA) encouraged students to participate in a “blackout” by wearing black to show support for survivors of sexual assault and for Dr. Ford, Ramirez and Swetnick.  On Saturday, the Senate voted 50-48 to confirm Justice Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. He was sworn in later that day. Chalk in Solidarity Using a rainbow of chalk, students scrawled messages of frustration, despair and support in response to Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Some of the messages were longer: “Men Need to Hold Other Men Accountable” and “Age Does Not Excuse Assault,” while others were simple and impactful: “Believe Survivors” and “We Believe Dr. Ford.”  The chalking was organized by Taite Shomo ’20.5 and executed on Monday and Tuesday.  “I happen to believe those allegations, but his appointment to the Court is much larger than just him. It’s a symbolic message to survivors of sexual assault and abuse that our experiences don’t matter,” Shomo said.  [pullquote speaker="Shomo '20.5" photo="" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]The idea that a person can inflict something so painful and traumatizing on another person with no consequences is devastating.[/pullquote] “I was assaulted when I was 13, only a little younger than Dr. Ford when she was assaulted,” she said. “The idea that a person can inflict something so painful and traumatizing on another person with no consequences is devastating.”   Shomo wonders if she, or other survivors at Middlebury, may someday have to experience what Dr. Ford has gone through, and if they do, whether their story will even matter.  “Chalking campus felt like a cathartic and immediate way to channel some of the anger and sadness I’ve been feeling since Kavanaugh’s appointment in a constructive way” she said. The purpose of the chalking was not only personal expression. Shomo also hoped to send a message to both survivors and assaulters on campus.  “There are people here who care about what survivors have been through and care about assaulters being held accountable for their actions — even if those actions took place in high school or college,” Shomo said.  Shomo described one moment of the chalking that was particularly rewarding. As she and her girlfriend were writing in front of Proctor, a student walked up to them and asked to borrow their chalk. The student scribed two powerful words: “Me Too.”

The Lookbook: Fashion Prescription Glasses

This past summer, I purchased a new pair of prescription glasses from Vision Works. I got a pair of dark brown Kate Spade glasses which were square-shaped and tortoise-patterned. This was the first pair of glasses I bought since switching to contacts in high school, so I was excited to get something new and more mature. I paid for the glasses using the money I had earned interning in Boston this summer. This was the first time I, and not my parents, paid the couple hundred dollars for the frames and prescription lenses. It wasn’t until it was time to pay and I heard the price, that I began to wonder why prescription glasses are so expensive. The first time I failed a vision test and realized I would need to get glasses, I was in the third grade. I felt ashamed and weirded out by the idea of needing help to see, something that all the other kids seemed to have no problem doing. Over the years, my glasses became a part of my identity and I haven’t thought much about my vision since.  However, I have thought about how expensive and time consuming having a visual aid can be. Nowadays, glasses are deemed a fashion accessory and you can find a stylish but fake pair at almost any clothing store.  I find it comical walking into these stores and seeing “fashion glasses” for people who do not need glasses but want to try out the look. It is unfortunate that for individuals who actually need visual aid, real glasses are so expensive. Many people all around the world wear prescription glasses, but it turns out that only one company has been behind most of the production. Luxottica is an Italian eyewear company that, one could argue, has a monopoly over the eyewear industry. Given so little competition from other eyewear companies, Luxottica is able to dominate the industry and set steep prices for their eyewear frames. The company is considered “vertically integrated,” meaning that they are in charge of the design, manufacture and sales of all their frames. They even own the vision insurance company EyeMed. Though the company’s representatives have argued that they do not have a monopoly on the industry, it is interesting to note that Luxottica possesses the largest market share within it. They have their hand in retail stores such as LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, SunGlass Hut International, Sears and Target. They are also responsible for brands such as Chanel, Burberry, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Coach and Ralph Lauren. Needless to say, Luxottica is omnipresent and able to control a reported 14 percent of the eyewear industry.  The company with the next largest market share is Essilor — a French-based lens manufacturer. In contrast to Luxottica’s specialty in frames, Essilor credits its 13 percent market share to being the biggest manufacturer of lenses. Given that the two companies provide the only real source of competition in the market for each other, it is concerning that in 2017, Essilor and Luxottica announced plans for a merger. While they are still seeking approval from governments around the world for their plan, many are concerned that this would lead to complete domination over the eyeglass industry and an uncontrollable monopoly. What will happen if the world’s biggest manufacturer of frames merges with that of lens?  If there is one thing I remember from Professor Sommers’ 100-level microeconomics class, it’s that monopolies are not good for the consumer. Being the largest or only supplier in an industry allows the company to set whatever prices they want for their products. This means high cost for customers and little to no competition to give customers other options.  Given that many people depend on prescription glasses to see and live their daily lives, I have personally found it difficult to accept that something I need to survive costs so much. Paying for yearly eye exams, frames, lenses and then waiting five to ten business days for my glasses to arrive seems unfair considering the accessibility of fashion glasses at the local Forever 21.  I am very happy with the way my new Kate Spade glasses look and I think they are a nice item to complement my preppy aesthetic. But every time I put them on, I remember the hours of work I spent interning to pay for them. Visual aid has become like any other accessory, inspiring new styles and fashion trends, I just wish I didn’t have to pay so much to be able to see.

Women’s Golf Takes Bronze at NESCACs

The women’s golf team took to their home tees last weekend in the 2018 NESCAC Women’s Golf Championship/George Phinney Classic. The Panthers were in mid-season form, considering they had competed in four tournaments and invitationals throughout the fall season.  The Panthers ultimately placed third, and rival Williams captured the Women’s Golf Championship title. Chloe Levins ’20 carded the best tournament score with a pair of 76s for a total of 152. She outcompeted her opponents by four strokes, which allowed her to capture medalist honors. The Panthers shot a total score of 663 (326–337) over the weekend, putting them in third place out of the 11 competing teams. The Panthers were 20 shots behind the winning team, Williams (643), and 13 behind Amherst (650). Williams, by the end of the first round, led at the par-71 Ralph Myhre Course with a score of 320. Amherst, meanwhile, trailed by one stroke at 321. Middlebury followed in a close third, carding a Saturday score of 326. Cordelia Chan of Williams led competitors with a score of 74; next was Hamilton’s Celia Lau, teeing a 75.  Levins was Middlebury’s top scorer with her score of 76. In the second round, Williams increased its one-point lead to seven points. Middlebury carded a day-two score of 337, which was 11 strokes worse than Saturday. While it wasn’t quite what the Panthers had hoped for, their consistency kept them in third place.  In addition to Levins’ top performance, Blake Yaccino ’20 also had a great showing, shooting a two-day total of 160 (79–81). She tied for third place overall. Helen Dailey ’19 was another solid contributor, hitting an 87 and an 88. Following Dailey was Anna Zumwinkle ’20, who posted up a two-day total of 176 (84–92). Rounding out the scorers was Maddy Cordeiro ’22, with a total score of 192. While they did not win the NESCAC title, they are optimistic about their spring season and are proud of how they finished strong with a small but mighty team of six. “Although our team is small, it has great potential,” Levins said. “We’ll do our best to prepare by putting ourselves in the best position mentally and technically each week. If we’re able to do that successfully, the results will come.”

Middlebury's Most Magical Tournament

There is no better location for a game of Quidditch than Battell Beach, where the sport was introduced back in 2005 by a group of Middlebury College students who had no idea of the impact they would make. On Sunday Sept. 30, Quidditch came home in the form of the Middlebury Quidditch Classic Festival. The tournament was a fitting tribute to the origins of the sport that swept the nation. Two tournaments comprised of thirteen teams representing seven colleges and the five commons played, along with eight organizations and six food vendors to keep spectators more than occupied between matches. It was a perfect day for Quidditch, warm and sunny. The butterbeer was flowing, the taco and crepe stands had roaring business and the Quaffles were flying. Plenty of kids (and more than a few adults, too) were seen walking around decked in their finest Hogwarts robes.  Forty-six-year-old Phil Johnston and his 11-year-old daughter Sophia drove down from Vergennes, VT to watch the tournament. When asked to explain why she decided to come, Sophia replied, “Because I love Harry Potter.” Kate, Harper and Freja, ages 39, 13 and 12, came from Shelburne, VT to watch. The three were in agreement that what they liked the most about the Classic was the atmosphere. “[I loved] the fun of it,” Kate said. “No one worries about anything but Quidditch [at the tournament].” In the round-robin Quidditch pools of the morning, the play was loose and fun, as nobody would be eliminated until later. The announcers were members of Middlebury’s various improv groups, providing commentary that, while not always relevant, was plenty entertaining. One highlight from the announcing booth: “Oh, he got the pants, but not the Snitch!” In the competition to win the Commons Cup, it came down to Ross and Cook in the final after Ross defeated Wonnacott 120-50 and Cook beat Brainerd 130-120. It was a close match, and at one point Ross appeared to get the Snitch for an upset victory. However, the play was recalled and Cook’s strong offense was the deciding factor in their 170-90 acquisition of the Commons Cup. In the college bracket play of the afternoon, the playful atmosphere of the morning was mostly forgotten. In the opening round, Middlebury beat Vassar 150-60, led by spectacular goaltending by Ian Scura ’19.5 which allowed the Panthers to increase their consistent lead. Meanwhile, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) knocked off the Dumbledore’s Army wing of the UVM team in a lopsided 130-10 match. While Tufts cruised to a 170-60 victory over Providence, Skidmore put up 170 points in a victory over UVM’s Fellowship team.  In the quarterfinals, Middlebury took on Skidmore. Within five seconds of the match starting, Skidmore had scored a goal. Not to be outdone, Middlebury came back with one of their own just moments later, kicking off a fast-paced duel that saw the Panthers and the Thoroughbreds exchange 5 goals in the first minute and a half. In the end, though Skidmore had some good breakaway goals, they struggled to field a cohesive offense, and excellent play by the Middlebury beaters and a relentless offense that gave them a 150-70 victory. Meanwhile, RPI proved to be too much for Tufts in a hard-fought game where they came away with a 130-50 victory.  So it was onto the finals, with the hosts facing the powerhouse from Rensselaer, who had yet to lose a game during the day. The game took off at a blistering pace, with RPI’s thunderous offense led by chaser Chris Lamonica keeping the heat on the Middlebury defense. Middlebury’s offense matched their opponents goal-for-goal in the early going, but as the match progressed, RPI pulled in front and slowly lengthened their lead. After a slight delay of game due to an injury to the Snitch, RPI caught the golden prize and it was over, 160-60.  At the closing ceremonies, as trophies were awarded and the teams gathered on the pitch for a group photo, there were no hard feelings anywhere. Rather, each player was only too happy to celebrate the thing that had brought them together one last time before heading home: good, old-fashioned Quidditch. Click here to see more photos from the day. [gallery size="large" ids="40428,40429,40430"]

Commons Review Shows Discontent in Student Life

An internal review of the college’s commons system revealed a significant disconnect between students and their commons, and highlighted key areas of concern within residential life, including a lack of student spaces and a strong feeling of disconnectedness among minority students, low income students and Febs.  Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Baishakhi Taylor presented the results of the “How Will We Live Together” study at a Community Council meeting last month. The study was conducted last spring by a team of students, faculty and staff, and was the first such review since the commons system started in 1998.  Psychology professor and faculty co-chair of the review Robert Moeller gathered data in focus groups, and developed and distributed a survey to 440 students in the classes of 2018-2021.5. Of the surveyed students, 27 percent identified as a racial or ethnic minority, 27.6 percent played at least one varsity sport, and 15.4 percent were Febs. Taylor said the student sample was highly representative of the larger campus. Students participated voluntarily and remained anonymous. They demonstrated their level of agreement with given statements using a five-point scale, ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” More than half of those surveyed students responded “agree” to the statement, “I am satisfied with the residential experience at Middlebury,” with another 10.5 percent strongly agreeing. However, responses relating specifically to the commons system were more neutral or negative.   About two-thirds of students surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement: “My Commons is a strong part of my identity,” while 13.7 percent agreed or strongly agreed. For other questions, students were more ambivalent — a strong majority of respondents neither agreed nor disagreed with statements such as, “I like being a part of a Commons for all four years” (45.7 percent), and “I feel like I am a valued member of my Commons” (43.4 percent). Responses were spread more evenly across the five options in response to, “The Commons system is a valuable part of my experience,” and “My Commons FYC or RA is a valuable resource to me.” Minority students and low income students reported a drastically lower sense of belonging compared to other students.  “The theme of not belonging at Middlebury was strongly expressed among racial/ethnic minority students and students who described their family socioeconomic statuses as low,” the summary reads. The summary reports that most students socialize in the dining halls, but a division between minority and non-minority students reportedly exists there as well. 93.8 percent of respondents said they used the dining halls as a social space and 94.9 percent said it was important to them that all students have equal access to the dining halls. However, several students reported that “students of color tend to eat lunch in one dining hall, while other groups of students may eat in another.” Though the How Will We Live Together team could not confirm this alleged trend, they write that “the perception of segregated spaces in the dining halls was pervasive.” Students reported frustration with the college’s requirement that they live in their commons during sophomore year. 25 percent agreed or strongly agreed that “picking a sophomore year roommate from my same Commons is a good idea,” with 37 percent disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. Many said the requirement prevented them from forming “meaningful communities of their own.”  Dislike for the two-year requirement was even stronger among feb participants. Feelings of isolation and disconnectedness “persist through their sophomore year, due largely to the 2-year-in-Commons residency requirement that forces them to remain housed in a Commons with which they feel little affinity.”  The summary directly implicates the commons system as a potential obstacle to an inclusive community.  “The decentralized nature of the Commons system may in some ways unintentionally limit movement towards full inclusion, as their largely autonomous natures make coordinated cross-commons programming difficult and further divides students,” the report reads.  The internal review details an insufficient number of social spaces on campus, and recognizes that this lack could contribute to general student unhappiness.  [pullquote speaker="" photo="" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]Spaces for socializing, both informal ones such as residence hall lounges, and reservable spaces for events of all sizes, are extremely limited and in some cases and buildings, nonexistent[/pullquote] “Spaces for socializing, both informal ones such as residence hall lounges, and reservable spaces for events of all sizes, are extremely limited and in some cases and buildings, nonexistent,” the summary reads. “The loneliness and isolation many students report is consistent with the availability and organization of spaces we provide students.” John Gosselin ’20, a member of the How Will We Live Together team, shared his thoughts on the results in an interview with The Campus.  “My preliminary takeaways are that the commons system is working to a certain extent, but could work better, that the current student center is wholly ineffective as a social space, and that the sophomore housing requirement may be detrimental to students’ general development, although I would like to reserve my final judgment until the external review is complete,” Gosselin said. Moeller sees the study as an opportunity to change several aspects of student life for the better.   “We’re trying to improve the student living experience, make meaningful improvements to the student social experience, which has been declining, find opportunities to make this a community all students feel welcome in and better integrate the Febs, among other things,” he said. Student activities dean Derek Doucet was the other faculty co-chair of the study.  [pullquote speaker="Derek Doucet, student activities dean" photo="" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]They suggest, not surprisingly, that students’ perceptions of the present system are mediated by their various identities, and so it would be a mistake to imagine a single student experience of residential life and the Commons[/pullquote] “The findings are fascinating,” Doucet said. “They suggest that there is much that our present system does well, and also that there are areas for considerable growth and improvement. They suggest, not surprisingly, that students’ perceptions of the present system are mediated by their various identities, and so it would be a mistake to imagine a single student experience of residential life and the Commons. “Overall, I’m more excited than ever to see where the project takes us from here,” he said. The study is only one half of the review process. During an external review that will begin in late October, residential life experts from similar colleges will come to campus and submit their own report. Moeller said that the How Will We Live Together committees will then look at both the internal and external reviews, draft recommendations and present them to the college community.  As a final steps, the committee will consider feedback and submit the final recommendations to Taylor, who will then decide which recommendations are implemented. The executive summary of the review’s results and the survey data can be found at go/commonsreview.  *Editor’s Note: News Editor Bochu Ding is a member of the How Will We Live Together steering committee. Ding played no role in the reporting. Any questions may be directed to campus@middlebury.edu.

Julia Alvarez’ Border of Lights Organization to Host Commemorative Vigil to Parsley Massacre

Border of Lights (BOL), an organization founded by the college’s Writer-in-Residence Emerita Julia Alvarez, will be holding a spiritual gathering on campus on Oct. 5 to mark the 81st anniversary of the Parsley Massacre. In 1937 Dominican troops slaughtered over 13,000 Haitians under the orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. The event became known as the “Parsley Massacre,” because one’s pronunciation of the spanish word for parsley – perejil – indicated whether they were native to the Dominican Republic or secondary Spanish speakers from Haiti. Though the massacre would fuel Haitian-Dominican strife for several more decades, it went largely undocumented and is not even a commonly known event in the Haitian community.   In attempt to raise awareness about this tragedy and retroactively heal, Alvarez founded BOL in 2012. BOL annually commemorates victims of the Parsley Massacre and leads community projects to mend the residual ethnic tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. “The reason we call it Border of Lights is because we are not looking to erase the differences, but show that there are spaces for illumination, connection, curiosity, and care.” Alvarez said. She warned that as much as borders act as the foundation for national identity and culture, one must also look beyond them to uncover the true power of community. “When does a border become a fortress?” she asked. “There is a connection and synergy that can only happen when we step outside of our safe spaces. How else can we survive on a planet with diminishing resources if we do not find mutuality and understanding?” Each year in October, BOL organizes a vigil where Haitians and Dominicans can meet at their border. While there, participants light candles as a symbol of remembrance and solidarity and place them on the barb wire fence. Since its inception six years ago, the organization has grown significantly in scale. Alvarez attributed the success of BOL to its younger participants. “The second year we marched to the border there were big barracks erected,” she said. “(The government) didn’t want us to go but the young Border of Lights people said ‘well, a group of us will go symbolically and get as close as we can, take a selfie, and then make it an online vigil…’ What ended up happening was that instead of hundreds showing up [in person], there were thousands for the online vigil.” The campus vigil will begin at 7 p.m. outside of Old Chapel and participants will walk up the hill toward Mead Chapel. Following the procession there will be an open mic at the Gamut Room’s Amphitheater, where Alvarez along with Haitian and Dominican students will pay tribute to the massacre victims. The event is open to the community and all are invited to speak, perform or contribute to the event’s altar built to promote peace, community and healing. This year’s vigil will be held in collaboration with Chellis House and the Anderson Freeman Resource Center. *If you would like to participate in the online vigil, you may post photos of yourself with a candle on Oct. 6 between 7-9 p.m. using this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/702906540072319/   Amanda Rodriguez contributed reporting.

Cross Country Passes the Competition

Another week brought more great performances from the Panthers. On Saturday, Sept. 29, the men’s and women’s cross country teams took part in both the Paul Short Invitational and the Vermont State Meet. “We’re preparing to race at Lehigh’s Paul Short Invitational and the Vermont State meet just as we would any other race,” siad Matt D’Aquila ’21 beforehand. “At Lehigh we’re anticipating seeing how we can compete against the best of the best in the NCAA. At Vermont State, guys will not only be gunning for the win, but will also be testing their ability to run hills at a very challenging course. Ultimately, these are just two more races to prepare us in our pursuit for dominance in the championship season.”   At the Paul Short Invitational, the women recorded 855 points. This placed them at 37 in a field of 41 teams. The top three runners were Rory Kelly ’19, Katie Glew ’21 and Anna Willig ’20. Kelly had a time of 21:58, Glew with 22:40, and Willig with 22:45.   At the Vermont State Meet, the women placed first in a field of six teams with a score of 32. Abigail Nadler ’19 captured third place with a time of 22:35.1. Chloe Smith ’21 and Olivia Mitchell ’20 came in fifth and sixth place respectively, with times of 22:47.9 and 23:16.3. “The team was super happy about our performance at Vermont State,” Nadler said. “It was an extremely hilly and tough course but everyone gutted it out for the team.” At the Paul Short Invitational, 550 points netted the men twentieth place out of a total field of 42 teams. D’Aquila was the top Middlebury runner with a time of 25:22. Next up for the Panthers were Jon Perlman ’19 with a time of 25:38 and Miles Meijer ’19 with a time of 25:50.  At the Vermont State Meet, the men got first place in a total field of six teams with a score of 15. The men happened to capture the first six places. The top three were Ben Hill ’19 with a time of 29:39.2, Quin McGaugh ’22 with a time of 29:50.6, and Noah Whiting ’22 with a time of 29:59.4. Even though the NESCAC Championships are looming, the Panthers will have a couple of free weekends and one more meet before then. The Panthers’ next meet will be Saturday, Oct. 13 where they will face off with their competition at the Connecticut College Invitational.  “Our team is looking really strong going into Conn, and we are looking forward to having next weekend off in order to train and rest,” Nadler said.

Men’s Soccer reMaines in Control

On Sept. 29 and 30, the men’s soccer team headed to Maine for a doubleheader against rival Colby College on Saturday, and then with University of Maine Farmington on Sunday. Against Colby, the Panthers struck first on a penalty by Daniel O’Grady ’19 in the 22nd minute. The rest of the half remained scoreless and the Panthers headed into the locker room holding onto a slim lead. In the 56th minute, Colby found the back of the net, equalizing the score. Lucas Pereira assisted Cam Cloude as the Mules managed to even the score at 1. At the end of 90 minutes, the match remained tied and the teams headed into overtime. Middlebury was the dominant team throughout, outshooting Colby 16-8, and earning 13 corners as opposed to the Mules’ lone two. Colby’s goalkeeper was busy in the net, making nine saves while Midd’s Matt Hyer ’21 only made three. Midd kept pressing for the go ahead goal and they almost found it. As Midfielder Michael O’Herron ’19 recalls, the Panthers really deserved the win, except a missed call cost them a penalty.  “We had one play where Donski (Brandon Reid ’21) had a one on one with the keeper and he touched it around the keeper and got tripped, the ref fully missed the call.”  Regardless of the pressure from Middlebury, Colby wasn’t going to drop the game just yet. Deep in the second half, they had a close chance, but the ball hit the crossbar. Had the shot been a few inches lower, the Mules would have stolen 3 points from the Panthers. Middlebury and Colby would eventually tie, 1-1. Raffi Barsamian ’21 noted “It’s one of those games were the better team didn’t end up coming out on top.” Moving on from the disappointment, the Panthers competed in a non-conference matchup with U-Maine Farmington on the following day. The Panthers were a level above their opponents from the start. Brandon Reid ’21, one of the Panthers most prolific goal scorers, tallied on a breakaway assisted by Drew Goulart ’20 in the 10th minute. Goulart was in a giving mood; in the 21st minute, Goulart assisted Ben Potter ’20, who scored on a header. In the 38th minute, Shams Mohajerani ’20 gave the Panthers a 3-0 cushion. The Panthers went up 4-0 just before the half when a player from UMaine Farmington scored on his own goal. With a four goal lead heading into the second half, the Panthers distributed playing time for every single member of the team.  Michael O’Herron ’19 noted that these fresh faces stood up to the challenge. “Everyone on the team played so it was nice to get the freshman out there,” said O’Herron. “It was a tough surface, and not an easy place to play, so it was nice to see them play well.” The Panthers rounded out the goal fest by finding the back of the net two more times. Henry Wilhelm ‘20 and Brendan Berry  ’22 scored in the 50th and 81st minutes respectively. The final score was 6-0 in favor of the Panthers. Coming up this weekend the Panthers face their biggest test of the season yet: a home matchup against third-ranked Tufts. “Tufts is the team to beat in the NESCAC” said Kyle Moffat ’19. “You get that honor from winning two national titles in four years.”  O’Herron also noted that Tufts brings a high level of quality to their game in contrast to the typically physical NESCAC style.  “They play a possession oriented, ball on the ground style, they are high quality and technically very sound,” O’Herron said.   The Panthers will look to disrupt that style, but they also think they can play along with the style of the Tufts team when necessary.  “It will be important to affect their style given that one of our strengths is the physicality of our game,” O’Herron said. “That being said, we have some really technical players who can match that style as well.” The match this weekend should be an exciting one. Bring your family out and show your Panther Pride!

Panther Football Sends Polar Bears Back Into Hibernation

The Middlebury football team tacked on its first win of the season for the Panthers’ 2018 home opener, taking down the Bowdoin Polar Bears, 37-24. Increasing the rush game by 317 yards and total yardage by 247 yards from the previous week, the Panthers defeated the Polar Bears in the last quarter of the game. For the first three quarters, both teams kept one another on high alert. Momentum flipped back and forth as the game approached halftime. Head Coach Bob Ritter was pleased with how the team kept their composure throughout the bout and finished the game strong. “I told the team I was pleased at our resilience during the game,” Coach Ritter said. “Despite going behind and having some big plays go against us we kept our composure and continued to play with the intensity I like to see.” Middlebury capitalized on a few key plays in the first half that provided a cushion for the team throughout the game. Led by quarterback Jack Meservy ’19 in the first and second quarters, the Panthers put 23 points on the scoreboard, along with a safety caused by a blocked punt on part of the defense, which gave the squad some leeway. Two Bowdoin touchdowns and a field goal, however, kept the competition in play during the first half. By the end of the second quarter, the Panthers had only a five-point lead over the Polar Bears.  However, a combination of key plays in the fourth quarter and an upheaval of Middlebury intensity brought the Panthers to victory over their NESCAC opponent.  The third quarter only saw one touchdown. With about one minute left before the fourth, Bowdoin tossed a 20-yard touchdown and completed the two-point conversion to take the lead by one point, 24-23. Backup quarterback Will Jernigan ’21 took control of the game in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. The team traveled 48 yards in nine plays to set itself up for a Jernigan touchdown. His 16-yard touchdown run regained the lead for the Panthers, but a failed PAT attempt kept a mere five-point lead. Though the Panthers were winning, they were far from safe. Around the seven-minute mark, Conrado Banky ’19 drove through the end zone for the final score of the game. The completion of a two-point conversion set the Panthers up for victory, 37-24. The Middlebury defense put on a show, intercepting three Bowdoin passes, causing a fumble and blocking a punt, all of which set up the offense for scoring opportunities. Jonathan Hobart ’21 was chosen as NESCAC defensive player of the week, in response to his interception, fumble recovery and nine tackles against the Polar Bears. Coltrane Marcus ’20 also posted an impressive performance with 12 solo tackles and 13 total. Offensively, the O-Line, comprised of Kevin Woodring ’20, Chris Taylor ’19, Connor Roche ’19, Andrew Rogan ’19, Ian Arthur ’19 and Jack Purcell ’20 opened the way for Peter Scibila ’21, who rushed 184 yards on 22 carries, one of which included a touchdown. According to Ritter, the team will do everything in its power to keep improving. “[We will be] making sure we are concentrating on the things we can control so we are putting ourselves in position to make plays,” Ritter said. The Panthers will travel to Waterville, Maine, next Saturday to face the Colby Mules for their third game of the season.

The Snitch on The Middlebury Classic Quidditch Tournament

Each Sunday at noon, the familiar, sleepy view of Battell Beach is disrupted as tens of cloak-wearing, broom-carrying, Snitch-catching students march onto the field. Middlebury’s favorite Muggles have been hard at work, preparing to compete at the annual Middlebury Classic Quidditch Tournament this Saturday, Sept. 29. The Classic, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature 13 competing teams and hundreds of fans from all over New England. “[The aim of the Classic is] to have a family-friendly and community-focused event that celebrates our sport and the fantasy of the Harry Potter series,” tri-commissioner Andrew Plotch ’18.5 said. “[The Classic] focuses on the literary components [of the series] and not just the sport.”  True to Plotch’s sentiment, the Classic will feature Harry Potter-themed face painting and yoga, magic potion demonstrations and a green screen photo booth where participants can “fly” over the field. Food trucks featuring beloved Muggle foods, including the likes of Skinny Pancake and Lu-Lu Ice Cream, will be open during the competition.  According to Plotch the Middlebury Quidditch team has been working hard to prepare for the festival since March.  “Our goal is [to have] 1,200 to 1,500 people,” Plotch said enthusiastically. “We are advertising more aggressively this year. We are reaching out to school districts around Vermont, and we have posters out…[from] Middlebury to Burlington.”  Treasurer Anne Loewald ’21 sounded equally excited, though she said the journey to the Classic has not been easy.  “[The budget has] been pretty restrictive,” Loewald said. “Trying to get the budget for the events has been pretty challenging [because] we have a [budget] cap that we are figuring out. Luckily, we [didn’t] have too many expenses in the Classic in the end.”  All five residential commons teams will be competing at the Classic and the recruitment of players has been intense. In Ross Commons, each first-year walked into their room to find a red advertisement featuring Rocky the Rhino riding a Quidditch broom, in addition to emails asking them to join the team.  Anne Staab ’21 was especially passionate about newcomers joining the Quidditch teams. According to Staab, the Quidditch community is like “a home away from home” and all students are welcome.  Be sure to join the magic and cheer for the Middlebury teams on Saturday at the Classic.  

Men’s Soccer Shocks, Beats Amherst on Home Turf

The Middlebury men’s soccer team headed into their September 15 game against Amherst, ranked 10th in the nation, with a winless record. The Panthers and the Mammoths battled it out for a tough 90 minutes with Middlebury coming out of the match with 14 shots compared to the Amherst’s 13. The match was physical from the start, and each team committed over 15 fouls; the referee dished out a whopping six yellow cards, four to Midd and two to Amherst. The tussle finally paid off when junior defender Henry Wilhelm brought the Panthers to glory with an unassisted goal in the 72nd minute. The Panthers locked down the defensive side of the field for the next 18 minutes, leading goalkeeper Matt Hyer ’21 his second shutout on the season after making four saves during the match. With three games in a six day span coming up this week, a win was vital for the team atmosphere under its new coaching staff. “This game meant everything for the direction of this program,” Raffi Barsamian ’21 emphasized. “It gave us a snapshot of what we can be -- which is the best team in the country.” Barsamian noted that the Panthers were able to handle the Mammoths by outperforming them at their own style of play, while still maintaining their own flair. “Typically Amherst is the team that comes in and is going to bully you and play in the air -- a really scrappy team,” Barsamian said. “We did that to them. We outfought them, [and] outworked them, while still conforming to our style.” Alex Elias, first year head coach ‘08, said he could not have been more proud of the Panthers after the win. Barsamian noted that when the match was over, Coach Elias approached them in the huddle and applauded them for their dedication and effort to the team. “[He said], ‘do you feel that energy? Do you feel this? This is what every game should feel like. You guys battled, and you won the fight,” Barsamian recalls. As previously mentioned, Panthers have started a busy week. On Tuesday, September 18 the men headed to New York to face Mt. St. Mary at 7 p.m.. This weekend, September 22-23, the Panthers will play a NESCAC doubleheader with a home game against Bowdoin on Saturday, followed by an away game against Hamilton on Sunday. As usual, the NESCAC battles will not be easy. When asked about how the Panthers can keep up the same energy that propelled them to the win against Amherst, Fazl Shaikh ’20 noted that it comes down to focus. “We have the capabilities to do that game in and game out, [but] we need to focus on battling for 90 minutes,” Shaikh said. “‘It’s easy to say but harder to do. The games we lost, we had 50-60 good minutes. We need 90 good minutes every game.” Greg Conrad ’17, first year assistant coach, is prepared to help the men find this focus. “This upcoming week will be a good test for the group as mental preparation will be the biggest key to our success,” Conrad said. “We put together a great 90 minutes on Saturday and will need to continue to find that type of attention to detail throughout the year. Training this week will be very deliberate, and we hope to capture the intensity of the weekend and make it the standard.” The players aren’t the ones who should be delivering intensity for those 90 minutes every game. To all fans, you are encouraged to come out and support the Panthers this weekend. The team's energy is electric and contagious; let's show them we have their backs.

"He was too good": Remembering Former College Employee Suad Teocanin

For three days following the tragedy, the public did not know his name. It was in the early morning of Saturday, Jan. 13, that Middlebury police found the body of a man who had frozen to death overnight off a path on the Town Green, covered with snow and sleet. The following Monday, local media began to report his identity: Suad Teocanin, a 45-year-old Middlebury resident who had been living at the Charter House during a recent period of homelessness. Following a night of drinking, Teocanin tried to make his way back to the Charter House before apparently collapsing, just yards from the shelter’s front door. Reports of Teocanin’s death circulated around Middlebury that week, accompanied by photographs of his smiling face, descriptions of his recent homelessness and statements by police that alcohol had been a “significant factor” in his death. What these relatively brief media accounts could not capture, however, was the totality of Teocanin’s experience before his death — a life that began in the Bosnian city of Zvornik and led to ten years of employment at Middlebury College and another decade in the kitchens of several restaurants in town. To the many people who knew him at the college and in town, Teocanin was not only a friend and coworker, but also a generous neighbor, a fellow immigrant and a bright spot amid the stresses of college life whose broad smile was cited without exception. “The best antidote” Teocanin came to America as a war refugee. From 1992 to 1995, Bosnia was torn apart by ethnic conflict, as Serbian forces targeted the Muslim Bosniak population, burning cities and towns and massacring entire communities. In Teocanin’s hometown of Zvornik, tens of thousands of residents were driven from the area, and almost 4,000 were killed. Teocanin was not Bosniak, however, but Romani, the historically itinerant ethnic group known colloquially as gypsies. Romani people, persecuted in Bosnia as they are in much of the world, were targeted specifically in the killings that took place in Zvornik. Those who knew Teocanin in Middlebury would recall that he rarely spoke about his life in Bosnia, or about the family he left behind. One former Proctor Dining Hall colleague, however, said Teocanin had spoken of witnessing the deaths of his parents and siblings. Over 1,700 Bosnian refugees were resettled in Vermont between 1993 and 2004, and Teocanin was one of them. In Middlebury, a small community started to form by the mid-1990s, centered in the Pine Meadow Apartments near the Pulp Mill covered bridge. From their homes in the apartment complex that became known as Little Bosnia, Teocanin and his fellow refugees began to rebuild their lives in Vermont. Jovanka Jandric was among the Bosnians who settled in Pine Meadow during that time, along with her husband, Refik, and their children. Refik came to the United States first in 1994, to a New Hampshire hospital, having lost both of his legs in Bosnia after stepping on a landmine. Jovanka came with their children several months later, and the family moved to Middlebury. The older couple found jobs in town — Refik at Danforth Pewter, and Jovanka at the now-closed Greg’s Meat Market — and cared for Teocanin, who, in his early twenties, had arrived in town alone. “I loved him like a son. I’m old enough to be his mother,” Jovanka said. “He was too young.”    Teocanin’s childhood education had been minimal and he never learned to read or write. In order to communicate with his brother, who fled to Germany, Teocanin brought his letters to Jovanka, who would read them and help him compose replies. Teocanin, after a stint at Mister Up’s restaurant, found his way to the college, where he began work in 1998 as a pot washer in Proctor Dining Hall. His coworkers, several of whom remain at Proctor today, were struck by his ability to adapt in what must have been a daunting new environment. “You always start out in a different place, not being sure of yourself,” said Claudette Latreille, who still works at the college. Colleagues watched Teocanin transform from an inexperienced new hire who spoke little English to a skilled worker who mastered the language and the intricacies of food service. “He was the kind of guy who fit in by watching, and then doing what the cooks were doing and saying,” said Richard O’Donohue, now retired, who worked as Proctor’s head chef. Coworkers helped Teocanin study for a driving test, went with him to college hockey games and invited him to Middlebury Union High School to watch their children play sports. A few years into his time at Proctor, Teocanin began to work in the main dining area known as the servery, and students began to gravitate toward his warmth and near-constant smile. “College can be a little intense, and literally, Suad was the best antidote for that,” said Megan McElroy Rzezutko ’04, who formed a close bond with Teocanin at Proctor. She recalled the feeling of “being in the library for many hours and then seeing his smiling face, so elated to see you.”  Libby Pingpank ’04 remembered meeting Teocanin soon after her arrival on campus. “It was the first time we were away from home,” she said. “He was just this welcoming, friendly face that we always knew we would see when we went to eat.” Teocanin became known for stopping by tables to chat and joke with students, and for his vast collection of movies on VHS tape that he offered up as gifts and even as betting payments, when a group of fellow employees began placing bets on football games. “Suad had some money, but not a whole lot, and he’d make side bets,” O’Donohue said. “When he couldn’t pay the bet, he’d bring in a bag of VHSs. Everybody got to the point of, ‘No, Suad, we’re not doing VHS.’” To employees like Dawn Boise, the current Proctor manager, memories of Teocanin’s socializing feel like symbols of a bygone era, when the smaller student population meant that staff could talk freely with students without the looming threat of the mealtime rush. “You used to have a little down time, where you could chat with people,” she said. “Now, you really don’t have time to get to know a lot of the students, which is hard.” For the students who knew Teocanin, memories of those conversations have only grown in value in the years since their graduation. “Honestly, when I think back, it’s my advisor and Suad who had the most impact on my time in college,” McElroy Rzezutko said. “There’s obviously faculty and administrators there that are a part of your life, but this was different. It was comforting, and wasn’t forced.” “He was too good” After over a decade, Teocanin left the college in 2010 after accepting a voluntary separation package offered by Middlebury following the 2008 financial crisis.  “When he decided to leave, we were pretty upset,” O’Donohue said. “But we couldn’t talk him out of it. He had his mind set.” Years earlier, during his stint at Mister Up’s, Teocanin had worked alongside Megan Brady. When she and her husband Holmes Jacobs prepared to open Two Brothers Tavern, Brady insisted they hire Teocanin. “He had a reputation of being a golden soul, a great person, a great work ethic and just a big heart,” Jacobs said. Teocanin remained at Two Brothers until his death, working his way up from dishwashing to food preparation. There, like at the college, he became a beloved and visible figure, famed for his humor and, of course, his enormous grin. “Even though he had so many things stacked against him, he brought out the best in other people,” Jacobs said. Work was steady, but Teocanin’s personal life was not. Over the years, the Bosnian community in Middlebury splintered along many of the same ethnic lines that had been present during wartime, and prejudices welled up against Teocanin’s Romani heritage. “Not so many people liked gypsies,” Jovanka Jandric said. “Some people would open the door for him, some people would close the door.” To make matters worse, friends say that a girlfriend extorted Teocanin out of what little money he had. Generous to a fault, Teocanin supported her unquestioningly. “Suad was one of those rare people who gave of himself to anyone without expecting anything in return,” Jacobs said. For years, Teocanin had moved around frequently, often camping or living out of a truck when he had no reliable source of housing. As cold weather approached in the fall of 2017, Jacobs helped Teocanin move into Charter House. “We’re so grateful for the Charter House,” Jacobs said. “But if he had been less generous with all of his time and money he probably would have had a housing setup that was more permanent.” “He was too good,” Jovanka Jandric said. “Too naïve.” “Richer and happier” Jacobs remembers the day of January 12 vividly.  “It was a really weird, beautiful, sunny, 60-degree January day,” he said. “As the sun fell, the weather turned really quick.” Temperatures that night dipped to 30 degrees and falling rain turned to snow. And Teocanin failed to make it home to the Charter House after a night of drinking in town. The amount of alcohol that Teocanin had ingested came as a shock to those who knew him, as alcohol did not seem to play a major role in his life. News of Teocanin’s death left many in the community with the impression that he had long struggled with drinking, a notion that Jacobs feels compelled to refute. “I don’t believe that he had a real substance abuse problem,” Jacobs said. “But that’s how he died, and that’s perhaps part of the perception that comes from that.” In the days and weeks following his death, posts made on the Two Brothers Tavern Facebook page memorializing Teocanin garnered hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments.  “We have lost one of the biggest hearts we have ever known,” the first post read. “But deep down, somewhere hard to find tonight, we realize, as we always have, that each of us is so much richer and happier for having had Suad in our lives.” However, months later, his friends still puzzle over the circumstances of his last night, and why Teocanin was in such a situation in the first place. “It still confounds me a bit how he was left alone,” Jacobs said. “It’s unclear to me why the police weren’t called sooner to try to find Suad, especially when there had been witnesses to where he was. I feel like a phone call to the police could’ve saved him.” Of all the ironies surrounding Teocanin’s death, including that he passed out just steps from shelter and that alcohol, a substance he seemed to use only rarely, was involved, what most disturbs those who knew him is the disjunction between the way he lived and the way he died. “To me, the most horrific thing is that he was alone,” McElroy Rzezutko said. “This person that created such warmth, human-to-human.” Amid their grief, James and Jacobs planned a memorial befitting Teocanin’s legacy at Middlebury’s Congregational Church. After first offering a small room, a church official eventually agreed to open up the entire building for the January 27 service. Among the many attendees were Jandric, Jacobs and several Proctor employees. Speakers recounted how Teocanin made an impact on their lives in Middlebury. “Everyone had a story, even if they didn’t really know Suad, about how he would help them cross the street, or [how] he would hold the door for them when he was walking into their shop with a big smile,” Jacobs said. Since January, mementos of Teocanin have accumulated inside Two Brothers Tavern. A framed photograph hangs on the wall in the dining area, near the bar. Another sits above the sink, where Teocanin spent many hours washing dishes. And Jacobs is proudest of the life-sized poster of Teocanin, showing him beaming in his cook’s uniform, that now sits in the kitchen to greet Jacobs every day as he walks into work. “It’s not Suad,” he said. “But it still makes me smile.”

2018-19 Print Issues

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Cross Country Continues to Improve

Yearly improvement seems to be the constant aim of the men’s and women’s cross country teams. Throughout the season, the Panthers are looking to improve their placements in the NESCAC and NCAA Championships. In the 2015 season, the men came in 26th and the women came in 14th at the NESCAC Championship, and in the following year, the men improved to 15th place and the women improved to 11th place. Both teams placed second in the 2017 NESCAC Championship. Leading the charge for these improvements are the new captains: Miles Meijer ’19 and Andrew Michelson ’19 for the men, as well as Claire Gomba ’19 and Alexis Jakubowski ’19 for the women. These four individuals earned their leadership positions through impressive outings in previous seasons. The Vermont Tech Invitational, the first meet of the season, occurred on September 8. The men’s team secured first place out of four teams. The Panther men scored in 16 of the top 21 places, holding spots one through nine. The top three runners in the race were Meijer, Theo Henderson ’19 and Matt D’Aquila ’21, finishing with times of 26:58.81, 26:59.93, and 27:04.93, respectively. In a total field of three teams, the women also gained first place at their meet and captured 13 of the first 15 places, holding the first 10 places. The top three runners were Talia Ruxin ’20, Rory Kelly ’19 and Katie Glew ’21, with times of 19:35.59, 19:45.81 and 19:57.24, respectively. With wins from both teams, it seems they are prepared for the upcoming season’s challenges.  Next week September 15, the Panthers will compete in the Aldrich Invitational at home. If they continue to improve and follow their strategies throughout the season, victory should be a common theme.

From the Internationally Cluttered Desk of Jenny Moss: September 13, 2018

Lil Dinky Comics: September 13, 2018

La Chancleta: September 13, 2018

On the Road: Snapshots from a New England Summer

[gallery ids="39645,39647,39646,39644,39643,39648"] This summer, one of our writers took a road trip around parts of New England before returning to campus. She took a journal and a camera with her. Our adventure began with a text message sent in early April, suggesting an end-of-summer, sophomore year send-off trip. We had one week to travel, a limited budget and no ideas for a location. So we picked the obvious choice: road trip. Four months later, we found ourselves sitting on top of a mountain in Maine, snuggled up in our sleeping bags, watching the sunrise and sipping hot, bitter tea out of a thermos. After spending the summer on campus, getting to know Vermont, I was ready to discover more of the Northeast. So, my friend Nancy and I made up a half-baked plan to drive from Middlebury across to Maine and back through New Hampshire. We bought a road map, chose a couple destinations along our route, and began counting down the days until our “junior,” as we branded it, road trip. On the morning of August 24, we set off for Maine. Our first stop was Killington, Vermont, to pick up our friend Gabe. Forty minutes later, we passed over a deep gorge (Vermont’s deepest, in fact), and pulled over to explore. Standing on the bridge, we dangled our arms over the guard rail and stared down into the 13,000-year-old canyon.  We hit the road again. We arrived in downtown Portland in the late afternoon. After hours spent on interstate highways, we found ourselves yearning for the ocean. We wandered past red brick storefronts and seafood restaurants advertising a seemingly endless array of lobster dishes. We headed down a pathway bordering the water, and slipped under a wooden fence onto a rocky stretch of beach, the perfect place for basking in the warm evening sun.  We breathed a collective sigh of relief. For all of us, having grown up in New Jersey, the crashing waves and salty sea breeze smelled and sounded like home. Portland was a welcome respite before the anticipated grunginess of the coming days. August 25: We stuffed ourselves and our already disorganized gear back into the car, and set the GPS to Acadia National Park. We took the scenic coastal route, stopping to purchase blueberries from a bearded old man on the side of the road and to fuel up on coffee at a combination diner and shoe store.  It took us twice as long as the GPS had predicted to get to Acadia. The park was overrun with families fighting for parking spots and arguing loudly over who should stand where for vacation photos in front of picturesque mountains and lakes. We drove the winding road around the island to the infamous Thunder Hole, where we were told the waves smashing against the rocky cavern would make a sound just like thunder. They did not, but we found a nearby cliff with a lovely view of the moon and the sea, where we cooked dinner over our camp stove. I was only slightly disappointed by the thunderless evening. August 26: At 4 a.m., we were up and en route to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. The car was running on empty. So were we. But we made it to the top. We hiked through the dark woods, wrapped in our sleeping bags, until we found a secluded spot to watch the sunrise. We passed around a mug of thick mate, watching the sky turn pale pink and purple over the water. Post-sunrise viewing, we drove one and a half hours to Orono, to meet up with another friend. After a (very) brief discussion, Nancy and I decided to break our vegetarianism for some Maine lobster. We decided it was an essential part of the quintessential Northeast road trip. We ordered at a roadside restaurant that serves an all-you-can-eat fish fry three times a week. When in Maine, we agree. Stomachs full, we determined it was time for a hike. Our friend directed us to her favorite trail in Orono, where we trekked to the summit in the 90-degree heat. We reminisced about previous, similarly poorly planned camping trips as we took in the incredible views. Next stop, New Hampshire. We left Maine in the late afternoon, driving back inland towards the White Mountain National Forest. August 27: The White Mountains offered a change of pace with campgrounds and hiking trails much emptier than those in Acadia. We started the day off with another hike, another spectacular view. We stopped at a stream, where we attempted to scrub off some of the grime that accumulated over the past few days without showers, sleeping in the back seat of my car. We packed up the car a final time, and all piled in. Despite griminess and sleep deprivation, I left the White Mountains that afternoon feeling recharged and balanced — two feelings I was sorely in need of by the end of freshman year.  As we headed back to Vermont, I had a strong sense of returning home. I loved the rocky coasts of Maine and impressive mountains and forests of New Hampshire, but something about the familiar rolling green hills and sprawling pastures of Vermont resonated with me upon my return, in a way that I had not experienced before.