791 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Craig Brown Emma Hart Willard, an early advocate and pioneer for women's rights, found her roots here in Middlebury, Vt. Born on Feb. 23, 1787 as one of 17 children, Willard grew up on a small family farm in Hartford, Conn. Her father, Samuel Hart, recognized his daughter's inquisitive and dynamic nature right away, when at age 12 she began to teach herself geometry. It was due to her father's forward thinking that Willard was educated, considering the male-dominated system available during her life.As a teenager, Willard taught at several institutions then referred to as girls' academies, which were essentially finishing schools. In 1805, Willard was asked to direct the town of Middlebury's institution for young women. During this time, the girls' academy was housed above the boys' grammar school, with Willard in charge of both.Willard's experience in Middlebury spawned many of her innovative ideas about creating an exciting and provocative learning experience for students. "My neighborhood to Middlebury College made me bitterly feel the disparity in educational facilities between the sexes," Willard said around 1805. In 1809 she married Dr. John Willard, a widower 28 years her senior. She withdrew from teaching, apparently having no further professional designs. Like Willard's father, the younger Willard was not put off by his wife's intelligence, but rather enjoyed it.While raising the doctor's children and her own baby, Willard studied the books her oldest stepson brought home from Middlebury College, which was then open only to men. She began to get a very strong taste of the breadth and depth of the educational opportunities off limits to women.Willard's husband managed a bank, which was robbed in 1812. Driven by this economic crisis, and fueled by her desire to teach, Willard decided to open a school. The school, a small, unassuming enterprise open to women, was located directly across from what was then the Middlebury College campus. Now the Emma Willard House, home to our admissions office, the school was only in existence for a short period of time. Willard's request that Middlebury allow women to take classes at the College was rejected, and she realized that her goals for female education would not be realized in Vermont. "Even though she was turned down by the College, Emma influenced Middlebury's growing attachment to furthering women's education. We were one of the first small liberal arts schools to become co-ed in 1886, and Emma no doubt had influenced this in previous years," said Jim Ralph, associate professor of history at Middlebury.After her defeats in Vermont, Willard traveled to Troy, N.Y., where she founded the Troy Female Seminary in 1821. This seminary eventually became the Emma Willard School.The success of this school was decisive in her long career. She began to teach the higher subjects, notably mathematics, which had not been systematically introduced to women before that time, and she invited scholars and prominent citizens to witness the girls' proficiencies at examination time.Amid growing public awareness of her work, Willard formulated her ideas about women's education in a draft she called "A Plan for Improving Female Education." Willard envisioned not a private academy, such as those that already existed, but a publicly endowed seminary supervised by a board of public men, precisely as the best institutions for young men were governed. Willard is quoted as saying, "Genuine learning has ever been said to give polish to man; why then should it not bestow added charm on women?"For a few years the Troy Female Seminary was the sole beacon of education for women in the United States, but its success soon spawned many competitors, some by example, others by the labors of its graduates. Willard remains today one of the most influential catalysts for female education in history.Willard's experience in Middlebury is seen as an influential phase of her life where she realized that she needed to raise the standard for female education. The College and the town of Middlebury's attachment to Willard is ever present. The College's admissions office bears her name, a portrait of her is displayed at the Henry Sheldon Museum and a marble monument sits in the Middlebury town green.
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Danielle Perkins A debate has recently been spurred by Senior Kevin King's article regarding the pop quiz posters. Myself, as well as other Campus readers, have watched people battle with letters over the meaning of the article and sometimes even the point of the posters. I do not wish to enter into the name calling and finger pointing match that has begun. Instead, I hope to offer a new possibility: everyone is right.Two weeks ago when I read Mr. King's article I thought I agreed with him. He made some very good points regarding the inefficiency of verbal battery as well as the inconsistencies of claims made by some members of Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM) who did not seem to be living up to their own advice. He spoke to a well known, and slightly clichéd adage that Americans should know well: divided we will fall and united we stand. Mr. King pointed out, and I'm sure many of you will agree, that attacking people with what you say does not get much accomplished. Unfortunately for him, a few members of the Middlebury College community seemed unable to see past his disagreement with the posters. It seemed as though his final words "so long as your audience is more alienated than persuaded, you will have done nothing beneficial" were forgotten and his message overlooked. Since I agreed with his ideas, I was quite surprised to open to the Opinions section last week only to find an entourage of people voicing their vehement objections to his ideas. As any well reasoned Middlebury student would do, I decided to consider these differences in my decision and read their take on the situation. What I found were students speaking to slightly different issues and also making excellent points. What was I to conclude then? The answer I came to is just the question that I hope to pose to you: can't they all be right? We don't have to agree on the best way to inform the campus about the issue of rape. Mr. King had a good point that alienating people may not be the best policy. Nahal Batmanghelidj '02 also spoke the truth in highlighting the fact that posters are a plea to unite against this issue. Elizabeth Brookbank '04 also reminded us that however unappealing, such posters do spread awareness. Senior Samantha Severin's push for posters that challenge us is also a valid idea. My final conclusion about the situation came after I read sophomore Alexa Varriano's statement that "rather than arguing over men versus women or bringing up the ludicrous threat of litigation against the writer of the poster, perhaps we should be a little humane about the situation." I would like to take this idea one step further. Now that we have all had our little yelling match over how we feel about graphic posters, let's consider the issue behind the message. To me, arguing over the best way to spread awareness is a moot point. We must agree to disagree on this issue so that we can move forward in finding the best way to battle the appalling outrages occurring here at Middlebury. I have learned something from the rhetoric that took place in The Campus over the last few weeks. Rape is a touchy issue that we are supposed to feel uncomfortable about — this is nothing new. Furthermore, when people feel too passionately they are apt to become defensive against anyone who seems to disagree with their views. As a woman, I understand the rage that can pile up if someone tries to undermine me because of my sex. I do, however, realize that yelling at them is not going to change their views, but more likely only further their stereotype of feminists as raging, man-hating beings. Attacking people will only prompt further argument, only making it harder to reach them. It is only through understanding the views of another that we can help enlighten them with our own ideas. In the end, we don't need to fight against each other — we can all be 'right' in our own way. Rather than butting heads on the best way to inform, let's work together to change a problem facing all of us. My hope for you as students as well as people is not to reject someone's view just because they disagree with yours, but to challenge yourself to see their perspective and learn from it. Even if you do not agree with one another, it is only through understanding and unity that we can prompt change. I worry that we are reducing the issue by attacking one another rather than focusing in on the underlying problem and doing something about it. Women have been deeply hurt by what is going on here on campus and I want to help them in whatever way we can. Even more sadly, women have been reduced to putting up posters to be heard. I hope that we will take what everyone is saying and learn from it. We know that rape happens, so let's stop fighting, take action, and provide some options for stopping this situation all together. After all, aren't two heads better than one?
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Nicha Rakpanichmanee As anonymous posters flooded public and residential facilities at Middlebury College in the past two weeks, their cries of "silenced" rape have proven pervasive in the minds of students, staff and faculty alike. One of the earlier posters claimed that "one in four college women are raped" and that only one rape has been reported at Middlebury since 1997. The poster criticized the College for "silencing" the voices of rape victims, particularly women.According to crime statistics compiled by the Department of Public Safety, there has actually been a total of four reported sexual assaults since 1997 — one in 1999, another in 2000 and two in 2001. Sexual assault is distinguished from sexual harassment in that an assault involves physical contact."Information can have an appearance, but because I lack information, that doesn't mean that somebody is withholding information from me," commented Lisa Boudah, director of Public Safety. Among a few inaccuracies in the posters, Boudah noted one "grievance" anecdote that to her knowledge matched a publicized court case which resulted in felony charges.Statistics concerning rape "are always misrepresentative," acknowledged Health and Wellness Education Director Marianna McShane. "Certainly we've had more sexual assaults than that." She explained that many rape victims, at Middlebury or any other place, do not choose to report the crime. Of the reported cases, many do not become public data because victims choose to maintain confidentiality, she added."Survivors really get to stay in charge of where the information and numbers go," McShane continued. Among recommended on-campus services for rape victims are the Department of Public Safety, the Parton Health Center, the Center for Counseling and Human Relations, the commons deans offices and the Chaplain's Office. According to Boudah, reported rape cases are kept strictly confidential by the first informed source. For example, a rape victim who called Public Safety would be invited to speak to an officer, who would document the report but would not share it with any other College office unless permitted by the student. In addition, there would be no duplicate effort to obtain information from the victim, she said."Our first question is, 'Are [the rape victims] injured?'" said Public Safety Officer Julia Nadeau. "The biggest thing is their well-being. We have to go by what they want. Things can be suggested to them, but we can't push them." Nadeau explained that suggestions of further action usually include medical and counseling services and further investigation by either Public Safety or the Middlebury Police Department. Boudah explained that a Public Safety officer would have to document the reported rape with "as much information about what happened as possible," such as the victim's name and that of the alleged rapist, or a physical description to assist identification of the attacker.Rape victims can give as little or as much information as they wish to their deans, according to McShane. While deans can assist rape victims by reducing academic responsibilities or contacting the Health Center or Counseling Services, they are compelled to keep any information private upon the student's request. McShane herself has over the years been contacted by a number of residential life staff members who call simply for advice on assisting unnamed students.However, some students see a gap between anonymity and confidentiality. Current College protocol eventually informs the accused, in an official letter, about the case if he or she is to face disciplinary action. According to some students, this is a violation of confidentiality and thus proves the need for anonymous reporting. "I wish that every woman could feel like she could report [rape]," said Elizabeth Brookbank '04, president of Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM). "But [the rapist] is going to know. His friends are going to know. People are going to talk. That's the way it is. We're such a small campus.""Because we're a small community, some people are afraid," McShane said. In regards to official rape reports, she "[doesn't] believe that there is an anonymous mechanism. I think it might be good to have forms that people can fill out through counseling or [Public Safety]."Boudah acknowledged that anonymous reports would be difficult in confirming the rape, and without details like date or site, records of such reports can be limited in accuracy. "The more information given, the more likely we'd be able to record it," she said.Additionally, it is Public Safety protocol to follow up on phone calls that suggest dangerous situations, said Nadeau. Because Public Safety can identify the location of all incoming calls, an officer would routinely be sent over to the caller in certain situations. Boudah recognized the potential conflict with anonymous reporting, "but safety is our main responsibility. We'd be negligent to not send an officer to make sure that the environment is safe." Boudah said that officers, upon arrival, would not refer directly to the call about rape, but offer to address questions or concerns"It's not possible [to be anonymous]," said Katie Mae Simpson '02. "I'm aware of several women who have been sexually assaulted, and I have friends who know several others who have been as well." Simpson brought up another concern that the only nearby medical service with a Sexual Assault Kit is Porter Medical Center. "The problem with not having it available at the Health Center is that to get a ride from [Public Safety] you need to give your name."Simpson put up the first claimed rape-related poster, which distinguished between consensual sex and rape. "I can tell [people who disagree] my side of the story," she explained. "I can handle that. I'm someone who hasn't been raped but who is fighting to eradicate rape."According to Brookbank, FAM views the posters as "fantastic" although she said the organization is not responsible for the posters, some of which were claimed by an unofficial group called The Goddess. She said that other women "felt empowered" by The Goddess' posters and added their own to the walls of Middlebury College.Kevin King '02 thought the posters were "violent and very incendiary," and the details "very poorly chosen." He questioned the "accountability" of the anonymous posters and "wondered if the fervor of [the posters' authors'] rhetoric encourages them to stretch things a little bit.""I have enough faith in people that I don't think they would run around making these things up," said Nahal Batmanghelidj '02. "I feel sorry for the person that feels the need to do this rather than seeking redress through the College."Assistant Professor of French Armelle Crouzieres-Ingenthron, who has her office in the May Belle Chellis House, commented on the posters. Last week, "[the posters] suddenly appeared," she said. One copy of the "one-in-four-women" poster was put on the front of her office door. A few days later, almost all of those posters were removed from Chellis House, and the one on Crouzieres-Ingenthron's door was moved to the door of an unoccupied room. "I didn't feel it was offensive," she said, and she put the poster back on her door, where it remains. "I think maybe something is happening and students are not ready yet. But in a way, it's healthy to think that they're thinking about it. The posters have stirred something. It's a delicate issue to talk about."She added, "I don't think when one is talking about rape one can talk about gender-bashing. If it is anything, it is female-bashing.""The posters scare me," said Rob Oller '05. "Can you imagined being pinned down for rape? I saw people laughing at the posters, and I didn't appreciate it. In an environment where drinking and joking about sex are casual,
some guys wouldn't think twice."A male first-year, who asked to remain anonymous, said, "The posters could be more informative," with cited statistics and clear definitions of terms like rape. "They're more for shock value," he added. "Middlebury is a big drinking school, but it's not a violent school. And especially when people get drunk, wake up the next morning, what's the difference between regret and someone being raped?"Despite a spectrum of reactions, Brookbank said FAM "wanted to take advantage of the momentum these posters have created." Currently, the group is composing a multiple-page rape survey, with the help of professors, in order to show "different numbers" than the current statistics.Brookbank noted that many people in the administration were supportive of FAM's caue. "People who really care still have to work within the system," she said. "The policy gets in the way."
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Suzie Mozes Visiting Instructor in Theatre Claudio Medeiros '90 flaunted the strength of the Theatre Department this past weekend in "The House of Bernarda Alba," a Spanish play written by Frederico Garcia Lorca.Lorca, who challenged the oppression of women in the early 20th century, explores the relationships among the female characters within the play.Using an "economy of language," Lorca creates potent emotional scenes as the despotic widowed mother, Bernarda Alba, confines her five daughters to their home for eight years in mourning out of respect for their late father.According to Visiting Professor of Spanish Isabella Estrada, Lorca "brings together popular with elitist language," a synthesis that appeals to everyone.The overwhelming talent of this year's senior theater majors persuaded Medeiros to opt for this extremely complex Spanish play. After seeing a production in Spain five years ago, he originally felt it would be "too hard" both for him to direct and for college students to perform.After reviewing many scripts, however, Medeiros remembered the effect this play had on him and the thrill of "seeing a play about women with only women onstage." Moreover, he favored the idea of producing a Spanish play that accommodated the disproportionate number of female versus male actors in the senior class.Medeiros wanted to design an ultra-minimalistic set; however, he realized that a very simple set would place extra responsibility on the shoulders of his actors. Without a detailed period set, the actors in the piece had little help in transporting themselves and their audience back to turn of the century Spain.Medeiros worked with the cast for two intensive weeks at the end of January just doing "physical work," experimenting with movement impulses and "finding their bodies in space." Working individually and as a group, they explored the differences between their real limits and the limits that they imposed upon themselves.Together, the group found a common language, which built the strength of the ensemble.While this minimalism was most evident in the set, the theme extended to the characters' costumes and lighting scheme as well. Clothing the actors in black and white, Medeiros stayed true to Lorca's stage directions for creating an effect of old-fashioned photographs onstage. However, Medeiros deviated from Lorca's somewhat obvious casting — he cast males for the roles of Bernarda and Poncia. Surprisingly, this risky decision proved interesting and successful. Both of these characters are old-fashioned women lacking characteristic feminine gentleness. The male actors in these roles set up a strong contrast with the younger generation of daughters.Visiting Lecturer in Theatre Christopher Marshall floored the audience in the title role of Bernarda. His masculinity commanded the attention that would be expected of his authoritative character. As a result, his sex was not a distraction for the audience. Jennie Luening '02 probed the character of Adela and represented the youngest daughter's unfathomable passion. The extensive preparation done by Susie Carter '02.5 for portraying the sickly hunchback Martirio definitely heightened her performance. Parker Diggory '04, with bleached and teased hair towering above her head, hurled herself into her role as Maria Josefa, Bernarda's psychotic mother, by making bold choices with her intonation, movement and wild eyes. Although a smaller part, Emily Wasserman '02 performed skillfully as Prudencia, who was attached to wires while eating at the Albas' dinner table, emphasizing the restrictions imposed on women by other women and by society. It was evident from his convincing female mannerisms and the use of his handkerchief that Joe Varca '02 fully committed himself to playing La Poncia, a maid who has long served as Bernarda's confidante.With the exception of some unbelievable tears, the play was successfully delivered. While this story of women locked up in a house for eight years may seem preposterous to modern audiences, the director and cast aptly related its relevance to Middlebury College. Emphasizing motifs such as repression of passionate desires, the play delved into the oppression that women still force upon each other, and scratched the surface of heterosexuality versus homosexuality. "The House of Bernarda Alba" proved to be a universally timeless piece.
(03/20/02 12:00am)
Author: ELizabeth Logue In this week's column, I humbly acknowledge my discovery of a new art form. Had you asked me weeks ago my definition of acceptable arts discourse in The Middlebury Campus, martial arts would not have been among them. To steal a sentiment from Harry in "When Harry Met Sally" when he realizes that he finally has a female friend with whom he does not want have sex, I feel like I'm growing.Last Saturday I attended a kung fu tournament at New York Kung Fu and Kickboxing. You had to be buzzed in twice to get to the place, a security measure which struck me as odd since being trained in kung fu designates one's hands as deadly weapons. I was told, going into the tournament, that it could last anywhere from two hours to all day — depending on the outcome of certain fights and on other factors that escape me now as they did then. I admittedly have difficulty picking up the basic rules of any game. A kung fu fight, I imagined, would be over when one opponent was on the ground and incapacitated. What can I say: I have brothers, I grew up watching the World Wrestling Foundation. So it was confusing to me when the bell signaling the end of the fight would ring, and the two fighters would embrace and walk to their respective corners. ("Wait, how do they" — please don't ask who "they" is — "determine the winner of a fight?" I asked about two hours into the tournament. "The three judges decide.") I swear to you I saw no judges, but I didn't press the question.The tournament was much like I would envision a boxing match. The fighters wore extensive padding and protective headgear to block punches and kicks from the opponent.What I saw on Saturday was nothing like the martial arts of the movie "The Karate Kid," which admittedly was the only preconceived image I had about martial arts. ("The Karate Kid" and Jackie Chan, I guess, though Chan's execution of martial arts is no doubt complemented by risky stunts and special effects.) Most remarkable about what little I've learned about kung fu and martial arts in general is the considerable aesthetic differences between all of them. The influences are astounding too; the art of kung fu is thought to have originated in China over 2,000 years ago with influences from an even earlier combat method practiced in India. Karate was directly influenced by earlier methods of Chinese kung fu. Still, to someone as naïve about the martial arts as myself, there does seem to be an overwhelming force through all of the forms — the promotion of discipline, loyalty and respect. Prior to Saturday's fights, of which there were 20, competitors from schools throughout the Northeast warmed up for the tourney. Some kept their warm- ups more internalized by stretching or exchanging whispers with their coach. Other competitors were more visible prior to the fights, and could be heard kicking and punching some poor soul with arm pads; it seemed they were using energy that could have aptly been used during the actual fight. But like any pre-performance or game ritual, to each his own.To my knowledge, there were three minor catastrophes during the tournament. One of the competitors in the first fight injured his thumb during round one of the 19th match, but continued for two more rounds after that. Despite this, the fights truly were pleasurable to watch, and even for someone as squeamish as myself, rarely was I shocked or appalled at the fighting; everyone involved in the tourney — from the referees, to the judges, to the fighters — was highly trained. It was far from an out of control brawl and instead appeared almost choreographed, with the same precise kicks and punches seen time and time again. The tourney, as it turned out, was only about three hours in duration. It had been the first fight for some of the competitors. To one coach about a first-time fighter — a rather petite female — my friend remarked that it appeared her inexperience was the only thing that prevented her from winning her match. She had put up an excellent fight, he said, to which the coach replied, "It's not about winning or losing. It's about getting good competition under your belt and gaining experience." In addition to being a form of exercise and self-defense, it is this sentiment that really does constitute kung fu, and, for that matter, martial arts in general, an art form worth talking about. Unlike other competitive sports, in which victory is the most important part of the game, martial arts, even if at a competitive level, holds etiquette and experience in the highest regard. The same can be said for dancers, actors, cinematographers — all of whom view each performance as a means to gain further insight into their respective arts.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Ben Gore On the far fringe of human thought, all divisions are meaningless. When you move beyond Democrats and Republicans, socialism and capitalism, punk rock and boy bands, you move into a realm where all facets of existence are simply about existence. Music is about life. Economics is about life. Politics is about life. A man and a woman meet in a desert. There are no other people in the world. Every thing they do with each other is politics. Every time they eat it is economics. Every moment of their existence is art. So what?The purpose of this column: Move beyond the boring "politics" of Washington (my hometown). Washington is only relevant because of its police and army. Its thoughts are old and stale. This is quickly becoming obvious in a world embroiled in deepening crisis.Nota bene: The U.S. is a great country filled with great people (and a few grizzly bears). Our government is silly. The status quo is un-American. So what?The purpose of this column: Stop playing the game because the rules are killing us. Walk out of bounds and into the woods. Come back and try to convince everyone else that the game is dumb and that they should take off their clothes and roll in the leaves.Protest has many uses and exists everywhere and at all times. It is inherently political because everything is inherently political. Protest is not necessarily rational; it can be a visceral reaction to wrong. Rational is not always good. Conventional politics are not rational: Trent Lott argues that he needs an SUV to see his grandkids. So what?All politics is conflict. All conflicts contain some degree of polarization. Each side demonizes the other out of necessity. They do battle and the stronger side wins. This is not bad; this is the way things are supposed to be. Polite discussion of politics is only possible when both sides are equal. The only way people can oppose amassed power is with anger. Polite discussion is an excuse by apologists of the status quo.To say that civil disobedience, and protest generally, is theoretically and practically weak is the position of authority. The 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed because of massive PROTEST across the country and for no other reason. Protest is a direct manifestation of people's will, as opposed to the manipulated, mediated manifestation of representative government. Laws are meant to promote good. If they don't do that, they are useless. The world can and has existed without laws or governments and probably will again. The nation-state is withering under the dual attack of corporate globalization and regionalism. This is not necessarily bad. We would do well to think of what comes next. So what?The purpose of this column: To provoke discussion about what comes next.Seattle was not a particularly violent protest. A few windows broken; a few heads broken (by cops). It was not mindless. Any civil disobedience or destruction was well thought out and executed with discipline. You don't have to agree with it. November 30, 1999 destroyed the Washington Consensus that had prevailed for 50 years. The anti-globalization movement is a response to the mental and physical alienation of corporate capitalism and its manipulation of our desires through advertising. Since corporations and their messages pervade all of life, everything the movement does — eating, sleeping, making love, shutting down cities, lobbying — is political. The movement is suggesting, by its existence and in writing, solutions. If you don't know that, you aren't listening. All protests offer solutions; if they don't they aren't protests, they're art and they are their own solution. Think about that when you look at our campus. The purpose of my last column: To discuss the nature of our government and what we can do to make it better. Energy policy was an example. I could argue it as well as anyone if I chose, but that's boring, that's not the point (I've already done it).Speaking of me: Who am I that I can make such ridiculous statements? I'm a writer and an activist. I've been involved in politics since I was 13. I've stopped highways and subdivisions, protected forests, and implemented recycling at most of the schools in my county (138). I've lobbied in my city, state and in Congress. I've blocked roads and I've been to jail. I know how conventional politics works because I've made it work. I know the President of the Sierra Club. So what?People like to talk about the activists here alienating or marginalizing them. It's funny how the bourgeoisie co-opts the language of the revolution. What's not funny is that, everyone, Middlebury included, is now part of the alienated and marginalized class. Watch "The Matrix." It's true. Watch "Fight Club." That's true, too. Easy to laugh at, though, because they're movies.Activists here don't alienate people; we couldn't possibly push you any farther that direction than you've already been pushed. When we're not being cute and cuddly (painting yellow bikes, making biodiesel, doing energy audits), we offend a good portion of the people here. Two reasons for that: Our silly button pushing brings you too close to your alienation for comfort. Or, you actually become less alienated, come closer to the real root of things and it makes you scared or angry. Pretty presumptuous, huh? So what?I came to Middlebury for the mountains and stayed for the English department. I like it here. But we, the future ruling elite, talk too softly and play too safe. The world is dangerous, violent and exciting. Getting things done means stepping on toes, shouting in ears and maybe even tearing down some fencing. Having fun means taking risks.Suggestion: If the 'activism' that happens on campus, the posters that go up and the columns that get written still make you uncomfortable or angry, do something positive. Don't write thousand word essays about how other people are stupid. Do something daring in support of something you like or against something you hate. Telling other people the right way to act is an existential dead end (Sartre was avant-garde).Suggestion: If you're not getting all this, try the following: Go for a walk in the woods. Have sex in a public place. Think about something in your room, or Proctor, that really pisses you off and break it. Don't write that paper that's due tomorrow if you'd rather go jogging. Act as if the police didn't exist for a day. If that doesn't do it then there's nothing you can do but wait and see what the world can dish up.Conclusions: Stepping out of bounds might be insanity. So what?
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Alexa Varriano A crime has been committed on this campus. A heinous atrocity. Period. The fact that a person could have understood the "pop quiz" poster as declaring warfare against men on a battleground where the two sexes are pitted against each other rather than against rape absolutely disgusts me. It makes me believe that some men, which implies just what it reads (not all men), are so frightened by "members of the feminist persuasion," whatever that's supposed to mean, that they were unable to look at the poster for what it was: a cry for awareness. That cry for awareness does not pertain solely to "members of the feminist persuasion," but rather to all human beings. It is a cry that should be resonating very loudly on this campus. And I agree with Kevin, everyone should be offended by that poster, offended that such appalling acts were inflicted on someone without their consent. If you were offended by the poster, then you should ask yourself why. Was it really the language used? Was it the shock of seeing those words blatantly staring you in face? Or was it something else. Why did you feel that the poster was "gender bashing"? Why did you feel that it was an unfair attack on all men or, as Kevin so brilliantly took the liberty to infer "men on Middlebury campus"? The poster did not say "men on Middlebury campus." It said "some men" and "a guy." Can you deny that "some men" have committed sexual violence against women? Do you know where every guy on this campus is at any given moment? And can you therefore assert that "a guy" did not commit this appalling act? If none of the choices presented on the poster are ones you would make then you should not feel offended. You are not being attacked.I would like to present my thought process while I was digesting that poster's message. Immediately, it hit me that this was not merely a homogenous poster feeding me a meaningless statistic — it was a true story. When you think of rape, is the first thing that pops into your mind a man masturbating in front of a drunk, half-conscious girl because "someone has to get [him] off"? As soon as I read option D on the poster my stomach practically lurched into my mouth from disgust because of the repulsive act that I just read about and, more so, because of the realization I came to. It was real; this happened to someone on this campus. And it was not just a girl who experienced a bad hook-up or regretted drunken sex; it was someone who had clearly been violated. Would you be creative enough to put such a colorful idea on an anti-rape poster? Would you really be capable of conjuring up that image if this did not actually happen to you? Rather than arguing over men versus women or bringing up the ludicrous threat of litigation against the writer of the poster, perhaps we should be a little humane about the situation. There is someone out there who feels so isolated that she thought the only way she was able to reach out to people and tell her story was through such a shocking poster. Instead of hurting her further by criticizing her tactics, perhaps we should ask ourselves why she was forced to resort to those tactics, and how we can help everyone who has been violated, especially those too frightened to even write a poster. This should be seen as a wake up call, to the administration and to the student body as a whole, not as a scare tactic employed against men. There is a girl out there who has been victimized and is screaming for our help — will you continue to ignore her?
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Jack Thurston No sex. No kissing. No self-gratification. These are some of the rules the main character in the recent "40 Days and 40 Nights" imposes upon himself. The new Miramax comedy from director Michael Lehmann ("The Truth About Cats & Dogs," "Heathers") is currently enjoying success at box offices nationwide and will be screened for free on campus on Sunday, March 17. The film's screenwriter, Rob Perez, graduated from Middlebury College in 1995. The Film/Video Program and the American Movie Club (AMC) collaborated to bring Perez to campus for the screening and a meeting with students enrolled in Lecturer in English Don Mitchell's screenwriting workshop.This film, a first in the "no sex comedy" genre, stars Josh Hartnett as Matt, a girl-crazy Web site designer who gives up sex for Lent because of the heartbreaking end to his most recent relationship. Immediately after he takes the vow of abstinence, Matt meets the woman of his dreams, and his buddies make bets on their friend's chances of keeping his promise. The script is partially based on Perez's personal experience. In an interview with The Boston Herald, he revealed he made a similar vow approximately six years ago. He told the newspaper, "Back when I was 23 or 24, it was the hardest thing I could think of doing."Roger Ebert, of The Chicago Sun-Times, wrote, "Rob Perez's dialogue about sex has more complexity and nuance than we expect." Ebert cites two scenes as particularly memorable: one where Matt's father, showing off his new hip replacement, coaches his son on sex positions, and another where Matt must subject his bed to an ultra violet lamp to check for, ahem, secretions.Los Angeles Times film critic Kevin Thomas wrote, "Hartnett is the film's star through and through, and he reveals his versatility as a sophisticated, urbane male challenged by the depth of feeling he discovers within himself — a discovery that is totally at odds with the aggressive hedonism that rules his rigidly conformist world."Desson Hower of The Washington Post glowingly reviewed, "It's funny! It's not Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' or anything, but it's pretty darned good! Hartnett makes an excellent withstander of urges. And first-time scriptwriter Rob Perez tweaks the familiar formula to maximum comedic capacity. Thanks to Lehmann and Perez, this abstinence comedy is a smooth, if occasionally very crude, riot. [Hartnett's Matt] understands the movie's unpretentiously wise message: Sex is life's blindfold. You gotta lift it from your eyes — at least for a while — to see things clearly."Benefiting from a dearth of date movies in the current marketplace, "40 Days and 40 Nights" nabbed second place and $12 million at theaters its first weekend in wide release. This past weekend, the film added another seven million to its box office tally.Sunday night's screening is at 7 p.m. Tickets are required for admission to the event. They will be available at the Wonnacott Commons office in Battell Hall South starting today.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] — The average ejaculation contains between 200 and 500 million sperm.— The average time a sperm survives in the female reproductive tract is three to four days.— 90 percent of Middlebury students had not engaged in high risk sexual behavior such as having sex without a condom.— According to Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates, one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. — 75 percent of sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance.— The American Medical Association estimates that a woman is sexually assaulted every 45 seconds.— Over two-thirds of men involved in sexual assaults at one university had been drinking at the time of the incident, compared to half of the female victims.— The higher the average number of drinks per week, the lower the grade point average. —Studies of suicide victims in the general population show that about one-fifth of such victims are alcoholics.— 30 percent of colleges reported at least one suicide in 2001.— 9.5 percent of college students have seriously contemplated suicide.— 1.5 percent of students have attempted suicide.— Most headaches (95 percent) are either migraine or tension type (muscle contraction) headaches.— Headaches can be reduced by eliminating caffeine and alcohol.— Nearly one third of those infected with hepatitis B don't know where, when or how they were exposed. — 24 percent of college students use tobacco products more than three times a week.— 16 percent of Middlebury Students use tobacco products more than three times a week.Sources: ETR Associates, American College Health Association, U.S. News and World Report and VAX.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Chris Shields Rape happens at Middlebury! Sorry to burst anyone's bubble who believed that a college as quaint and idealistic as Middlebury was free from sexual assault, but as a community we must stand and deal with the issue of sexual assault on our campus. It is in this spirit that I respond to Kevin King's article in last week's Campus. The "pop quiz" poster as well as the "1 in 4" posters that have been up around campus are a direct response to silencing of this issue. Last November, I met with President McCardell to discuss the issue of blue lights, or rather our campus' lack thereof. One point that he made was when he referred to the annual security reports that state that there has been one recorded rape or sexual assault on campus for the past five years. Forgive me if I view those members of the student body who continue to believe this as just as naive as I view President McCardell. Within the administrative framework of the College, one of the reasons that such lies continue is the lack of anonymous reporting. Survivors of sexual assault must give their name and the name of their attacker to the Department of Public Safety in order to obtain help, and Public Safety has proved to be completely inept in terms of handling cases of sexual assault that have been reported to them. The other reason lies within the student body, and how we approach issues of rape. When radio DJs on the College station are allowed to freely discuss sticking sophomore women in the trunks of cars and taking advantage of high school girls, there is something fundamentally wrong with the way in which our campus as a community (not the administration but the student body) deals with issues of sexual assault. The posters, which by chance had no connection to Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM), were a direct result of the frustration and helplessness that occurs when a college silences the survivors of such assaults. I would also state that these posters where removed by members of the custodial staff by the orders of the administration, heaven forbid a tour group or a trustee saw that there was indeed a darker side of Club Midd. I vehemently agree with Mr. King that issues of rape must be dealt with by both genders together. Rape is not simply an issue that affects women. For us guys, it's our friends, our sisters and our girlfriends who are raped. The posters therefore should not put a "wedge" between the sexes, but they should unite us. Rape is an issue that affects the community as a whole, and an issue that the community as a whole must respond to. We must together demand that the process through which rape and sexual assaults are reported changes so that survivors can keep their confidentiality. We must hold each other responsible for our own words; rape can't be marginalized, not even in the name of free speech. We must all stand together and demand that the administration deal with these issues, that procedures are changed so that we can obtain a true gathering of the number of rapes that occur each year. We must demand the immediate installation of blue safety lights, so that the women on this campus are able to walk freely around campus without having to be scared of the dark. We must break the silence.
(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.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Andaleeb Choudhury I find it hard to understand how someone, who, ostensibly, seems to be a perfectly normal, intelligent member of our College community could suddenly, one day, sit down and dash off an irresponsible, baseless and, worst of all, prejudiced article such as the one published in The Campus last week by Kevin King. When a writer expresses his opinions, I would assume that he has had the courtesy (not to the people he is bashing of course), but to his readers, at least, to check his facts. I would have thought that he would address a real issue of concern being presented by the topic he chose to address the posters crying rape on campus. I did not, however, expect a writer — no matter how opinionated — to spin a peculiar tale he created out of thin air to get air-time on a newspaper. Before I am accused, in true King style, of being some man-bashing rally- attending feminist monster — not that there is anything wrong with being a man bashing rally- attending feminist monster (its a lifestyle choice, after all) — let me clearly state some facts. I am one of the many Middlebury Campus readers who read the paper now and then, looking forward, with interest in seeing how the student voice and opinion is shaping my living enviornment. I do not write heated articles to papers, frothing at the mouth at some imagined wrongdoing. I usually laugh with my friends over a cup of coffee at hot-headed writers who do so. But I have a conscience, and in all good conscience I have to say that Mr. King's article was offensive, ridiculous, and saddest of all, completely besides the point. The posters that have since been removed from most public areas on campus did not bash men in Middlebury, they did not even bash men in general. No, I didn't put them up, and no, I dont know who did. I do know that Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM) did not do so because, unlike Mr. King, I didn't assume things, I just went and asked them. I do know that they represented some deep pain and anger, and was the outcome of someone's horrific experience because again, unlike Mr. King, I bothered to read the whole of the poster and didn't go running to my laptop to accuse people of being mean to me again. And I know this: there are many girls on this campus who have had experiences with assault, with harrassment, and even, on several occasions, with rape. I have heard whispers, I have seen friends cry after a night out which went too far in spite of them saying no. I have not experienced it, thank God, but I know that there are those who carry anger and resentment within them because they simply cannot believe that they will be believed. I never thought like this, I always assumed, if this crime happens to me, or to someone I love, I will speak out and I will be heard and taken care of. However, after reading Mr. King's article, that is one belief that I am giving up on. I can't help but imagine what it was like for that unknown girl, that anonymous victim who tried so hard to get her voice heard, and whose cry for intervention became so grossly misintepreted.It's a double whammy, Mr. King, to be raped, and then to be accused of victimizing others. It's double the heartache when some girl on this campus tried to be heard, no matter how controversial a platform she chose to do so, only to get shot down by an unfeeling, pointless diatribe against a community group. Rape is not something to be taken lightly; it relieves me, and many of my equally angered friends, that you say you take this issue as seriously as we do. Rape is a crime, an abomination of power, it's not about sex as much as its about control, and you, and the majority of men on Middlebury grounds will agree with me that only sick, perverted criminals choose rape as a means to establish themselves. But face it Mr King. We don't hate you, that anonymous girl doesn't hate you, each person who writes today angered by your thoughtless article doesn't hate you. You are not the issue, and thankfully, you never really are. But someone on this campus was raped. Someone is walking the halls of this College with that crime on his hands. And in spite of the false start that you provided to this dialogue, we, as the College community need to do something about it.
(03/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Nahal Batmanghelidj In last week's Campus Kevin King attacked an editorial written by Elizabeth Brookbank and me, as well as "pop quiz" posters that were displayed around campus. He referred to both the editorial and the posters as a form of "gender bashing" that borders on harassment. His editorial is problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, he contradicted himself more than once. He claimed that our editorial intended to "remind us all of thinking before we speak." Yes, Mr. King, that was exactly our intention. Thank you for the clarification. That said, what evidence can you provide for your assertion that our editorial functioned to "divide, rather than unite men and women"? Put differently, if our editorial simply intended to request that students consider what they say before they say it, then how could our writing be construed as a form of "gender bashing"? Our editorial was a plea to all students. Just so there is no confusion, we did direct our response more towards the men on this campus than the women. Does that mean that the sentiments we expressed were limited to men? Certainly not. But let's not kid ourselves. How many times do you hear women aspiring to "be dirty old men when they grow up" or advocating "throwing girls in the back of trunks"? By condemning these comments we were not condemning all men on this campus. That Mr. King perceived our editorial as a form of "gender bashing" reflects more on him as a person than the feminists on this campus. The questions he asks should be directed more at why he and so many others misconstrue our sentiments, rather than the content of our editorial. Similarly, rather than attack the "pop quiz" posters, he should consider what motivated a student who was sexually victimized to plaster posters all over campus documenting the event, rather than seek redress through the College administration. I have no idea who was behind the "pop quiz" posters. But I formulated an entirely different conclusion than he did about the purpose of the posters. I saw the pop quiz as attacking the cultures that give rise to sexual violence, not men in general. I read the posters as a plea for people to unite and address the problem of violence against women and not as an effort to "gender bash", as you, Mr. King, so eloquently point out. Finally, Mr. King, you referred to the person who created the posters, as well as Elizabeth and I, as "of the feminist persuasion." Not only is that statement a poor attempt at humor, but it indicates your failure to understand what feminism is. I am a feminist. And lest there be any confusion, allow me to inform you that feminism is concerned with human rights, not just women's rights. Consider a society where all women are not reduced to their value as sex. Don't we all, men and women alike, stand to benefit from such a society? Your failure to understand that as being my point, indicates your inability to make distinctions at the most basic level.
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Kevin King "Pop Quiz: If you are in a girl's room and she is so drunk that she can barely stand up on her own, do you a.) demand a blow job, b.) sit on her and stick your **** in her mouth when she says no, c.) have sex with her when she starts gagging (you've got to get off somehow right?), d.) masturbate in front of her (someone has to get you off), e.) leave her alone … she's half unconscious anyway." Such were the opening words of a poster distributed across campus dormitories and academic buildings this past Thursday, presumably by members of our community of the feminist persuasion. The posters continued on with more rhetoric equally as heated, offensive and angry as that quoted above — but more on that later. The posters could not come at a more perfect time, given that FAM recently intimidated two WRMC DJs for far less incendiary gender-motivated commentary and that Nahal Batmanghelidj '02 and Elizabeth Brookbank '04 took it upon themselves to remind us all of the importance of thinking before we speak in last week's newspaper. I write today not to demand an apology from or threaten litigation towards whoever posted the messages in question, but rather to respond to Batmanghelidj and Brookbank and urge those who advocate feminist agendas on campus to do so in a manner that unites, rather than divides, men and women. The poster quoted above went on to state that "In an attempt to 'prove their manhood,' [men on Middlebury's campus] have chosen to overpower … drunk women who have momentarily lost their power," that "[men on Middlebury's campus] will not control [women]" and that "A guy on this campus chose and acted on all of 'a-d.'" This poster, like others I have written about in the past, are phenomenally offensive to self-respecting males, particularly in that they imply that all men at Middlebury are rapists who are unable to control their libido, and furthermore, in that serious allegations are leveled against males which are totally unsubstantiated. The tone of the message, its blanket negative assumptions about males and the fact that it seeks to incite anger on the basis of gender makes it a perfect candidate for jurisdiction under Middlebury's Harassment Policy. Furthermore, I submit that had the genders been reversed on this poster, an outcry from womens' groups would already be underway seeking to intimidate and punish whoever printed them, no questions asked. Communication of meaningful messages relating to issues such as rape, which our College community has both endorsed and deems important, is not above the rules governing fair and free speech. This realization leads to the crossroads between my concern over the "pop quiz" poster and the editorial submitted by Batmanghelidj and Brookbank in last week's Campus. The poster, like the editorial, sought to point out to conscientious readers that that rape or "normalization" thereof is something that should be combatted within our community. To be perfectly clear about it, I agree with this message wholeheartedly. Despite my agreement, both the editorial and the poster also employed scare tactics and intolerant rhetoric to communicate the important underlying message. In particular, Batmanghelidj and Brookbank used the example of John Joy '02 and Andrew Zrike '02 to indicate their success in securing apologies from those whom they viewed as gender antagonizers, and that intimidation by FAM, if perhaps not legal action would face those who might offend them in similar fashion in the future. The poster, on the other hand, employs exactly the same gender antagonizing tactics decried by Batmanghelidj and Brookbank in order to deliver its anti-rape message. I have a serious problem with the fact that some feminists on campus continue to try to silence and intimidate those whose views they deem "offensive" while at the same time making use of speech which creates a hostile environment for males in order to promote their own views. The hypocrisy inherent in the actions of such feminists, for better or worse, undermines the positive work of all feminists on campus, as it informs the discerning observer that feminists at Middlebury are telling the rest of us to do as they say, not as they do. Though I personally object to all of the scare tactics, gender-antagonizing and inconsistencies detailed above, I fundamentally believe that Batmanghelidj and Brookbank, as well whoever put up the posters, have every right to express their views exactly as they have, regardless of how much I or anyone else may be offended by them or whether they may violate our Harassment Policy. The realization I have come to time and again, and that which I hope readers of this editorial take away with them, is that the instinct to silence those with whom we disagree is strong, and that the more we are able to resist it, the better our campus dialogue will be. In that regard, I firmly believe that feminism on this campus, or at least recent practice thereof has taken a turn towards tactics which drive a wedge between males and females, thereby setting the two at such irrevocable odds that no forward progress can be made. By using accusatory and inflammatory language and propaganda, feminists (not necessarily FAM) do their cause a great disservice. Put differently, the fight to end rape on and off of campus need not be between males and females, but rather between attackers and non-attackers. To those who have been posting signs and initiating campaigns on campus I say this: Keep in mind who you are trying to convince, and what you are trying to achieve. So long as your audience is more alienated than persuaded, you will have done nothing beneficial.
(03/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Bob Wainwright Perhaps the one truly sad aspect of going abroad to Australia is the fact that once you leave, the country seems to go away as well. The reason for this is that Australia is a very self-contained place. Case in point: it's the only country to ever lose a prime minister. The man (Harold Holt was his name) simply vanished one day while walking his dog along the beach.This happened in 1967, and it was days before then-President Johnson was informed of who Holt actually was, much less of the fact that the man had disappeared. Basically, very little of what goes on in Australia makes its way across the ocean to us. It definitely exists, but here in America we seem content with that notion alone. Anything else is simply extraneous. It's a sad thought that already I can feel so distant from the country where I learned to surf, play rugby and nurse infant marsupials born to kangaroos with substance abuse problems back to health. But I can't help feeling that it wouldn't be as big a problem if I hadn't decided to choose philosophy as one of my three classes last fall. So, in an effort to relive a little of my meager Australian education as well as my first column, let's get philosophical. After taking philosophy at Sydney University, I was left knowing only one thing for sure: in philosophy, you learn just enough to mess you up for the rest of your life. Perhaps Australian philosophers are different, but as far as I can tell, philosophers don't give the answers to questions such as "What is the meaning of life?" Instead, they give various possibilities, and then they leave you with about 25 questions to the one you came in with. You see, in philosophy, first you learn about a smart guy — take Confucius for example — who told everyone that human nature is good. So you figure, "That's great, I'm not so bad after all." But then you learn about a really smart guy like Freud who brings you back down to earth by explaining that you're only motivated by sex. As a college student, I have to hand it to Freud on that one. Still, after that initial confusion, things only get worse. You then learn about the existentialists, namely Sartre and Camus. These guys were so intelligent that they didn't even write what they had to say in English. They wrote it in French, which is amazing because it took me eight years just to learn, "May I go to the bathroom, Madame?" with the proper accent.Yet, in order to understand philosophy, they tell you, you must understand existentialism. You're also told that existentialism is a very hard concept, and that you would do well to enlist some help. So you decide to pray. But once you're done, they introduce you to a German named Nietzsche who emphasizes that the prayer you just finished is moot, seeing as how God is dead. What to do? Well, Sartre clarifies the entire situation with his deduction that existence precedes essence. None of us came here with a purpose at all. We just happened to happen. The best analogy I can come up with is the short-lived music career of Hanson. One day they're hmmm bopping, the next day they're gone, and nobody really talks much about them anymore. In order to make his existentialist theory clear, Sartre wrote a long work called "Being and Nothingness," which was number one on the best-seller list in 1943, just barely beating out "Let's All Just All Be Ignorant and Happy" by a few copies. At this point, you've come to the conclusion that any purpose you have on earth is up to you and your own consciousness. Yet you are driven by your desire for sex, and unfortunately God is not there to help because he passed away a few years before Nietzsche. Unfortunately, that's just about where my Australian philosophy class left off. I wouldn't know for sure, as I missed the last week in an effort to save money on bus fares. But I'm telling you, I haven't been the same since. Take last week for example. From Wednesday to Friday, I felt famous because I had my picture in The Campus next to my look-alike. And there's a part of me that's thinking, "This is so cool." But then I remember studying Sartre and I think, "It's all meaningless and ephemeral, and I'm not even the best-looking kid that looks like me." In the end, philosophy left me with two things: a bad grade and a lot of questions I could do without. I suppose the only logical thing is to follow Freud's advice and devote my life to pursuing sex.
(02/27/02 12:00am)
Author: Alison Hertel "Sex and the City." Maybe you watch it. Maybe you don't. But I'm willing to bet you've at least heard about it. Magazines have written articles about the popular series, questioning whether a mere TV show has changed women's attitudes toward men and relationships. I think that's attributing a little too much power to HBO, but maybe I'm not giving "Sex and the City" enough credit. I must admit that my friends and I have been known to sit around discussing which character each of us is most like — Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda or Samantha. One undisputed power that the show does have is its influence over fashion. It's done wonders for publicizing the name Manolo Blahnik — Carrie's favorite brand of shoes. And, ladies, don't tell me you haven't caught yourself oogling at one of the outfits donned by one of the show's four divas. I just reread that last line, and I think it sounded like something Joan Rivers would say, but we're going to let it go.Since HBO is not a part of life at Middlebury, my friends and I are watching the most recent season on a tape sent up by my roommate Jess's mother. We are four episodes into the six-episode season, and I'm dying to know what happens. But please don't tell me what happens if you see me. Jess won't let me watch the last two episodes without her, and her boyfriend was here this weekend, so watching "Sex and the City" wasn't her main concern. Strange how some people's priorities get so mixed up. With that observation, I ask, should I take a stab at being Middlebury's own Carrie Bradshaw, the show's protagonist who writes a weekly sex column? In a recent episode a man told Carrie that she was his "New York survival guide." Could I be your Middlebury survival guide? It was a nice idea, but since I still get "the ranch" and "the farm" mixed up I don't think I'd be much help. Besides, what would my grandparents think if I grew up and became a sex columnist? It's just not the kind of thing you talk about at Sunday dinner (or maybe it is the kind of thing you talk about at your family dinners, but if so the "Jerry Springer Show" might be interested in your family dynamics). So since being a sex columnist is out and I'm not your best bet Middlebury survival guide, let's turn to relationships. I'm not very good at them (the romantic kind I mean), but what's the old adage? Those who can't, teach. That's me. So with that glowing endorsement, here goes.I'm sure that more than one of you reading this (if more than one of you is reading this) was dateless at the ball. I was dateless, and a good number of my friends were dateless as well. We proud single women donned our dashing dresses, primped our hair, put on our most uncomfortable shoes and headed off to the ball in hopes of meeting the handsome prince. On a side note — one of my friends was offered a glass (okay, plastic) slipper by an intoxicated underclassmen toward the end of the night — surprisingly, the shoe did not fit. Back to my subject. I was dateless, but I still managed to have a fabulous time. And let me tell you, there were some things that could have gotten me down — I was (and still am) recovering from the flu and I fell in my previously mentioned uncomfortable (and by the way slippery) shoes on the ice on the way to my car to drive to dinner. We dined elegantly at Mister Up's downtown, pre-partied a bit and then headed down to Nelson Arena to dance the night away. I will admit to escaping to the bathroom during a rare slow song and making some mean faces at some very cute, very happy, perfectly harmless couples. But what do you want from me? I am human, after all.So for you ladies out there (and I think this goes for guys too) who've kissed what feels like more than your fair share of frogs, your handsome prince will come. For some reason your prince (as well as mine) has decided to take the scenic route with the help of an old slow horse and a poorly marked map. But don't worry, he's just slow. And he hasn't forgotten about you.
(02/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Nate Marcus (Disclaimer: the author does not accept any liability should the general public choose to follow the advice listed herein.)I can think of nothing funnier (when it happens to you) and nothing more embarrassing (when it happens to me) than falling flat on my face. I believe it's time to give what I call "slippage" at Middlebury due consideration. Icy conditions mean more and more students are carrying around living wills; the most severe spills, for instance three-person pileups, have caused unconsciousness and loss of fertility on campus.Now, I know what you're thinking: slipping doesn't happen to me. Wrong attitude! Sheer numbers show that most students on campus have no center of gravity (motor skills regretfully weren't required for admission). People on crutches now represent half of the campus. Besides, as your parents might have told you, it's not your slipping to watch out for, it's the other guy's.Despite the seriousness of this topic, very little has been done on campus to address it. The Department of Public Safety has only very recently been briefed on recent research reports indicating that icy conditions may cause slipping. (Previously, Public Safety linked this phenomenon to lost MiddCards and unlocked doors.) "Slippage," indeed, has gone under-diagnosed throughout Middlebury's vibrant history, yet has ranked among its earliest problems, even before the debate on whether first-years should be able to register their horses on campus.I henceforth present some suggestions from and for my peers on saving face after a tumble because, rest assured, you will find yourself in a scenario like the following: Say you're walking up from Bi-Hall (we shall liken this to a moving treadmill), or walking across the "tundra," or down from Stewart or up to Proctor. Suddenly you step on a concentrated patch of crystallized dehydrogenate oxide (that's ice, I think) and you experience gravity upheaval (fall) because you are an idiot (have a genetic normalcy maladjustment). You are now Neo from "The Matrix" dodging bullets … only not in slow motion. Pop quiz: in the above situation, what do you do, hotshot? Okay, time out. The truth is, there is no saving face from a slip. However, many peers have offered suggestions to alleviate the tension after a fall. The first best thing to do in this situation is to take deep breaths. If you've had Lamaze training, use that. Next, look around to see if you've been spotted. The bare branches, stripped of their leaves, do nothing to cover your slip from the gaze of others, so you will feel extremely exposed, akin to that feeling of being caught making a naked run by your professor, who then tries to make you feel more comfortable by telling you how especially convincing he thought your paper on primitive behavior was.But, of course, any serious spill only happens when there are five or more people around you who are not your friends. Sometimes we can find relief in thinking, "At least there was no one attractive around." Be sure to say this loudly enough for the giggling group of the opposite sex to hear you clearly. Keep in mind that in slipping, you might look more stupid than if you actually fell down. You might then consider just going for the fall. Be a hero!There are other ways to feel good about suddenly getting lucky with the ice. You might choose to warn others of the slippery spot — "Yeah, that's slippery, watch out, I thought so." You might even be impressed — you've never seen yourself do a split! But perhaps the best way to connect with reality after this sobering hook-up is through Zen practices. Just repeat the following chant:"Fuel the Zen. Be the Zen. Be the ice. There is no ice. Did I really fall? It is all an illusion. This blood, it's not really there. Those people, they're not really laughing."Should in your personal scenario you find yourself on the ground just as a large tour group is passing by, veteran survivors advise a hair flip (this works best for blondes) and a disinterested aura.One girl suggests that if you go down, cry. Guys will flock to help you up. Suddenly you will be the envy of passers-by, flanked by four to eight dutiful citizens.And guys, I'm surprised at you for not taking advantage of the icy conditions! Being present when girls slip is actually one of the best ways to meet new people. Pick them up (literally). Comment on their rosy cheeks and on their beautiful fall. Pick the most slippery place to hang out, and wait to meet them there. If all the good spots have already been taken, get yourself a jug of water and wait with your trap set.Here's another scenario: you're walking along, appreciating our so-called "green campus," when someone you don't know has a nasty fall. What do we say to someone in this critical situation? Cheer them up with a few encouraging words. "Are you okay?" and "Have a nice trip" are outdated. Try instead, "Was that a triple axle?" or, perhaps, "You ate beans tonight didn't you?" Remind them at least they are wearing clean underwear. If you really want to be helpful, point out that that the spot is very slippery. They will be happy to know this in case they pretend not to understand the cause of their fall. But please, beware of trying to help these people up; disaster always ensues (with exception to guys "pimping it," in which case falling on prey could be suitable).Tour guides may praise the snow removal system on campus. They may say, "You don't just slip in the wintertime." That will be the focus of my next seasonal article. But we all know that slippage has significantly shaped our lives here at Middlebury. After playing shirts and skins, broomball players will pause to consider wearing their helmets off the "rink" and back to their dorm rooms. Safety kneepads and elbow pads, highly tempting, are resisted at Midd only for fright of fashion, as these articles have not yet been premiered in J-Crew catalogues. And many upperclassmen have expressed disdain for the new sidewalk leading from Stewart to McCullough. But they're missing out on that freshman experience of falling on the way! Slippage has been a prime source of mass humiliation (especially for Febs) and much organic waste for those who bumble out of Proctor and spill their tray (why are they eating outside, anyway?). But there is hope: if we all remember to keep these principles in mind, perhaps we would become better, more expert slippers in the future. Amen.
(02/20/02 12:00am)
Author: Yvonne Chen We have no idea what wonders lie hidden in the people around us. Nor do we have any idea of the wonders that lie hidden in the women around us. Compelling, in addition to courageous, racy and funny, Middlebury College's recent production of Eve Ensler's Obie Award-winning play, "The Vagina Monologues," attracted a fleet of spectators to the McCullough stage last Thursday, Valentine's Day. Dressed in red and black garb to commemorate those women affected by domestic violence, the cast of 17 Middlebury students scintilated and shocked the audience throughout the performance."I bet you're worried," one castmember abruptly burst out. "I bet you're worried about vaginas," she continued. Other members chanted "vagina" repeatedly as the audience sat in unchecked confusion. What followed was a surge of candid monologues from the actors depicting women from all stations of life, ethnic backgrounds and ages. What did they have in common — besides you-know-what? Characters talked about a range of profoundly personal and deeply political topics that permeate the female experience. All characters were portrayed as having faced adversity in a male-dominated system in which oppression of female sexuality governs all. In one of the funniest, if not most revealing soliloquies, Liz Myers '04, who played a 72-year-old revealed her fear of "flooding" down in her "cellar.""It's closed due to flooding. It's a place you don't go," the old-fashioned dame admitted. Myers' portrayal delivered some of the performance's funniest moments as the sophomore's character described the first time she took a look at her own genitalia: "It took me an hour because I'm arthritic." Myers delivered, in a well-timed and genuine New York accent, an engaging portrayal of a woman's rediscovery of her sexuality.Claire Wyckoff '03 'says it like it is' in another crowd-roaring and edgy account of her character's vagina. She opened with, "My vagina is angry. My vagina is pissed off. It needs to talk … about all this [expletive]!" Wyckoff's character lamented that her vagina "shuts down." "That boys, is what foreplay is. Introduce it. Engage it," her character instructed. Her character bluntly pointed out the separation of women's vaginas from women themselves: "Stop trying to clean me up. Stop the dry-wad of cotton. Stop telling me it smells like [expletive] rose water … I want to smell the fish. That's why I ordered it." With her played down and matter-of-fact attitude, Wyckoff's character went on to complain of other forms of genital torture, denouncing thong underwear and proposing instead French ticklers. "Women would be coming all the time," her character said.The tone changed from side-splitting to somber, however, as Seda Savas '05 divulged a testament that was full of hatred and betrayal. She played a Bosnian rape survivor, who in a poetic and moving five minutes brought to life the reality of having a "long thick rifle" shoved into her insides and "canceling [one's] heart." The offending soldiers "were the worst, the evil of no mercy. They were merciless." The trauma of torture was irreconcilable as the victim entertained a memory of having seen part of her lacerated vagina in her hand. Here, we heard the woes of womanhood and its tragedy in the face of war. The Bosnian who once treasured her womanhood like a "village" now cursed it as a "cavern of poison." The narrator suggested that soldiers are not the only parties in war. Although "in theory women are not war," they suffer from the inherent aggression and moral breakdown that characterizes war. In practice, unlike theory, women bear little power against any form of male violence.Some other notable performances include Marieka Peterson '04's inspirational and engaging portrayal of a female character and Maria Ostrovosky '02's "the woman who loved to make vaginas happy." In this episode Ostrovosky played a lawyer-turned-lesbian sex therapist. Ostrovosky's witty delivery celebrated women and their sexuality as she described the various moans that women are capable of. The funniest one might have been the WASP moan (Ostrovsky stood wide-eyed and speechless for this one). Melissa Camilo '04 delivered a series of unforgetable and touching — if somewhat clichéd — outbursts in "Little Coochie Snorter that Could," in which a young urban female described her coming of age under after having been raped by a family friend, later reclaiming her sexuality with an older woman friend. There was also Kristen Connolly '02's "The Vagina Workshop," in which she portrayed an offbeat intellectual attending a workshop that advertised the "vagina wonder" and ended up discovering more than she had hoped for by educating herself on the "hidden layers" of her so-called "clam."Underscoring these touching and outrageous were issues that were not so light-hearted. In an age in which pop culture objectifies women's bodies, rape, genital mutilation and other male-driven forms of oppression linger in the face of female empowerment. The benefit performance and celebration of domesitc violence awareness recognized the gender issues permeating women's lives. Spectators learned that somewhere in America a woman is raped every two minutes. Approximately 28 percent of victims of sexual violence are raped by their husbands or boyfriends, 35 percent by acquaintances and five percent by other relatives. The awareness continued, as everybody who expected a show about vaginas laughed and cried, but above all, hopefully left more thoughtful of the female experience.
(02/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Liz Logue For the spring term, this former Arts Editor thought it sensible to leave the Middlebury utopia for a while and venture to the center of the universe, New York City. Rest assured that arts — particularly dance and theater and, OK, movies and television too, are in my blood, so I'll be visiting a lot of performance venues in the hopes of satiating my appetite for all that is creative.New York is, not surprisingly, a changed city since Sept. 11. I can vouch for the fact that it's more than just the conspicuous absence of the city's Twin Towers, but the mentality of New Yorkers and the very aura of the city that have changed. Performances these days, more than ever, are showcased with a sensitivity to the fragility of New York. On Sunday afternoon, two dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet — a Russian company and one of the most prestigious in the world — performed without music on a makeshift stage at Ground Zero. The New York City Ballet shared the stage at State Theater with several companies, including the Bolshoi, on Monday evening to raise money for the families of World Trade Center victims, a far cry from the usual fundraisers held by the City Ballet to raise money for the company itself or the current Lincoln Center project. Relations between strangers, too, have been changing: bars have been emptier, commuters a little more patient and New Yorkers a little more giving. (An extreme example of generosity includes a gentleman with a thick Southern drawl, who, a couple months ago, stood outside midtown's Manhattan Mall and handed out hundred dollar bills to passersby.) By way of promoting Broadway, the theater community began an "I Love New York Theater" campaign, which offers a menu of specials on accommodations, restaurants and other events in conjunction with theatergoing. New York is also home to the sexiest, if not most popular, show on HBO, "Sex and the City," which has attracted devout viewers and has received Golden Globe awards for both its script and characters. In fact, all but one of the main characters on the show has been nominated for at least one Golden Globe. The show, which has been called by many as a new vehicle for female sexual liberation, is infamous for its frank discussions on dating and sex. The four female stars are each dynamically different, running the gamut from relatively conservative and family minded to sex crazed and anti-monogamistic. The Feb. 11 issue of New York Magazine cites a conversation between the four characters: Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall), during which Samantha regretfully declares that she "caught" monogamy. (Samantha has, since the show's creation in 1998, been the vixen who would try anything once, unless it involved commitment or emotional vulnerability.) This season, the girls settled down. Samantha enters a monogamous relationship; Miranda is getting ready to be a single mom; Carrie is engaged; and Charlotte is trying to work out her rocky marriage. What used to be a show about one-night stands and genital endowment had morphed into one that is more sentimental, more family-friendly. The sentimentality is coincidence.The six-episode season, which aired throughout the months of January and February, had been taped months earlier. What was not coincidence, however, was the titling of the season's final episode: "I Heart New York," an episode in which Carrie tells an ex-love who is moving out of the city that he owes it to her and New York to go out on the town one last time. What had been written and taped before Sept. 11 was, in essence, exactly what New York needed: a reminder to be loyal, a reminder to go out and spend some money and, above all, the message was told in the backdrop of traditional values ( marriage, family, monogamy) that had never before been seen on "Sex and the City." A poll conducted in the same issue of New York Magazine shows that New Yorkers are, more than they ever have, embracing tradition. The aftermath of Sept. 11, according to the poll, has left 46 percent of New Yorkers seeking long-term, monogamous relationships, and 63 percent of those already in relationships at the time say that their relationship has gotten stronger. Perhaps our own minds created the apparent departure from casual sex in this past season's "Sex and the City" as an attempt to change our favorite characters along with us. There is little doubt, however, that the show will change for real in upcoming seasons. (The show's star, Sarah Jessica Parker, and creator, Candace Bushnell, have already acknowledged the imminent change.) Unlike the performance artist that might perform for himself (not the audience, as we'd hoped) television exists for the viewers, and "Sex and the City," at least in New York, exists for New Yorkers alone: when they changed, the show changed too.Regarding the broader scope of performance in New York, I believe it was said best by writer Sally Singer in the February issue of Vogue magazine: "Who could be better equipped to lead New York through its darkest days than stubborn, show-must-go-on, I-will-survive thespians?" I believe it is both important and necessary to discuss the arts in New York, not just because it is the place where so many artists start, but because the city is widely regarded as the hub of the international arts scene. It is owed to New York to acknowledge at least some of the artistic brilliance that make the city what it is, because without that type of acknowledgement, it risks losing its culture and even its identity. The truth is that New York has simply lost too much already.
(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?
