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(11/20/08 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] To the Editor:Once carbon levels in the atmosphere reach 350 parts per million, drastic changes will occur in the global climate, according to Bill McKibben. The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is currently at 387 ppm and the world is in need of a leader who will recognize and face this problem. A US president who effectively addresses climate change and the environmental crisis will not only be taking action on the most important international issue of our time, but will be taking huge strides towards improving America's image abroad. President-Elect Obama, you ran on a platform of change, and this challenge will unflinchingly demonstrate the extent to which you intend on keeping your promise. Reduce carbon emissions; increase funding for research on renewable energy sources; sign on to the Kyoto Protocols; yes, you can.Sincerely, Katie Siegner '12
(11/20/08 12:00am)
Author: Jesse Davidson If you want to call yourself an athlete, but don't want to deal with physical contact, sweating, or heavy breathing, I think I have found your sport. You need only three accessories - a big stick, a piece of metal, and fondness for all things slippery. In a competitive sport known as "worm grunting," found in Florida and other southern states, an "athlete" sees how many earthworms he or she can pluck from the ground in a limited amount of time, the record firmly standing today at 511 worms in 30 minutes. There is no digging involved, though. The competitor stabs the stick into the ground, shears the top with a metal file or saw (creating a grunting sound), and waits eagerly as earthworms struggle to the surface of the soil for immediate capture. While this technique has been used for many years by fisherman to score some free bait, not until last month has science swooped in and found that this shearing of metal-on-stick produces the same sound frequencies as a burrowing mole - an earthworm epicure. A worm gets fooled into coming to the soil surface to escape death, but ends up in a tally as a sports statistic. Humans have a lot more to attribute to earthworms besides entertaining country bumpkins, though. In 1881, Charles Darwin warmly described them as such: "It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures." If they weren't already red, I'm sure they'd be blushing. In giving credit where it is due, worms are our most respected underground act (sorry, haus) because they do the same thing as farmers before planting crops: they till and aerate the soil. More importantly, though, several types of worms have been receiving waves of media coverage in the past decade because they have the ability to turn all kinds of toxic waste into nutrient-rich compost, usable as detoxified fertilizer. The best part about worm labor is that they don't care about their working conditions, as long as there is garbage or something funky to munch on - one species' idea of a corner office is a pile of manure. Landfill waste management today makes use of these worms to break down organic materials before bacteria can do so, preventing the release of noxious gases like methane and nitrous oxides (which are much more potent effectors of climate change than carbon dioxide).Although I sing their praises in this column as some of our most significant sustainability leaders, I have to make a personal apology to earthworms. I have no regard for them. When I see them splayed out on the sidewalk after a heavy rain, I have to bite my lip and trudge on to BiHall, trying not to cringe when I feel their soft ketchup-packet bodies under my feet. Horrible, I know. With a thesis looming, my "move it or lose it" attitude does not give me time to tiptoe up College Street. The next time you find yourself in a similar situation though, try your best not to look down; you may begin to feel differently about your carbon footprint.
(11/20/08 12:00am)
Author: Layout by Hannah Wilson, Photos by Andrew Ngeow and Angela Evancie From our earliest discussions of making this issue, we knew the most effective approach would be twofold - the week's content would focus on pressing environmental issues, of course, but we would also endeavor to change certain aspects of our normal production in an effort to fully understand the implications of green publishing. Below are examples of some of those adjustments that we made, or at the very least, of ideas that the past week has inspired us to explore._____________________________________________________________ What do silver halide particles, mercury, table salt, and egg whites have in common? They have all been employed in the taking and making of photographs. Beginning in 1837, with the invention of the daguerreotype, scientists and artists alike began to experiment with different combinations of chemicals and processes, all in the name of finding the perfect balance of light sensitivity and image longevity. But besides being messy and emitting strange odors, these processes proved wasteful. Even today, the production of a single traditional photograph could mean toxic chemicals and 20 gallons of fresh water washed down the drain, not to mention lots of failed attempts that end up crumpled in the trash.With the inception of digital photography in the l980s, this mess gave way to thousands of neat little pixels comprising an image file. No more egg whites, no more mercury, and a reduced environmental impact for a once materially extravagant medium. Our very own Campus photographers used to spend hours in the darkroom on production night; these days we tinker with Photoshop and never print a page. And while there is something quite pleasing about a vintage black and white photograph, for our purposes you really can't beat a memory card and a USB cord.- Angela Evancie, Photography Editor One of the questions that often goes unasked (and necessarily unanswered) about those newspapers waiting patiently for readers in the dining halls, library, Grille or myriad other places on campus is how they got there. To minimize the negative environmental effect of delivering our papers, we purchased carbon offsets from Vermont-based NativeEnergy to offset the trip from Plattsburgh, N.Y. (the location of our printer) to Middlebury. We bought $12 worth of offsets, which neutralized the 0.056 tons of C02 emission from driving a total of 114.55 miles. Once in Middlebury, The Campus editorial board delivered the papers by foot or bike, a route that is normally done by car.- Jack Lysohir, Managing Editor The obvious irony of a newspaper producing a green issue is that it has to print thousands of pages of paper in order to highlight environmental issues. Though it draws about 80 percent of its readership online, The Campus distributes over 2,000 hard copies of every weekly 24-page issue. As a result, challenges existed to make the printing process as environmentally friendly as possible. Fortunately, The Press Republican (our printer) assured the editorial board that the paper was already in good, green hands. The paper used for each issue of The Campus is 80 percent recycled and completely biodegradable. Furthermore, the Press Republican uses soy-based, petroleum free and compost-friendly ink when printing. Despite our initial thinking that a black and white newspaper would be more environmentally sound, the difference of printing in color turned out to be negligible The process requires minimal electricity as well, with The Campus taking all but ten minutes to completely run off the presses. - Scott Greene, Editor-in-Chief Our office is located in a dark, leaky basement where, on a good day, the climate seems to vacillate between arctic and tropical. As such, we sometimes forget the good conservationist measures that Middlebury has instilled in us and throw caution to the wind, leaving lights and monitors on, opening windows when the heater is churning, and printing article drafts in - gasp - single-sided mode. Recently, we employed brilliantly named "Kill A Watt" devices to discover that, if left running indefinitely, our seven computers normally use around eight dollars of electricity on a weekly basis. And so, to pay homage to the Green Issue (and, perhaps, to absolve our guilty consciences), we decided to be extra mindful of our paper and energy usage this week, making all of our edits directly onto our computers (thus saving over 200 sheets of paper) and working during the daylight hours whenever possible.- Tess Russell, Features Editor
(11/06/08 12:00am)
Author: Eleanor Horowitz On Oct. 29, a group of over 50 students gathered to watch Al Gore's live webcast for Power Vote. The Sunday Night Group (SNG) and the College's chapter of Power Vote sponsored the event held in the Orchard in the Hillcrest Environmental Center on Wednesday night while American Flatbread provided two dozen pizzas to keep supporters energized.Middlebury joins hundreds of other college campuses in supporting Power Vote, a national nonpartisan initiative organized by the Energy Action Coalition. The group aims to promote a green political platform and to hold elected officials accountable for their decisions regarding the climate crisis and clean energy.Former Vice President Al Gore addressed a live Internet audience about the importance of voting on the basis of a Power Vote agenda and on his Repower America challenge.Emphasizing the connection between the current climate crisis, energy crisis, economic crisis and national security crisis, Gore said that the answer to all of the crises is to switch to renewable carbon-free energy."All of these crises have a common thread running through them," he said. "That common thread is our ridiculous, absurd, dangerous over-dependence on carbon-based fuels."The half-hour webcast opened with the theme of "We Can Change" and concluded with the same message. Gore compared the clean energy movement to the Civil Rights movement and said that the days before this election will be a time that young activists and voters will look back on for the rest of their lives.Before the webcast began, organizer Ben Wessell '11 played video clips from 350.org to raise awareness for additional environmental action initiatives, such as urging the President-elect to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland this December. The GoreCast attracted other "get-out-the-vote" movements on campus. Members of MiddVote and College Democrats attended the event and responded to the webcast. "He just rallied the base. You need to do what Gore didn't do," wrote Vice President of College Democrats Jeff Garofano '10.5 in an e-mail to SNG members just hours after GoreCast aired. Garofano urged students to participate in phone banking and a trip to New Hampshire in an effort to rally undecided voters. With less than a week until the election, Garofano's message focuses on getting out the vote, regardless of its focus on energy and climate. "I would argue that the practical matter of getting [Obama] elected is a more worthwhile use of time than the moral victory of baptizing someone into climate change rationality, given that there are only six days until the election," he wrote. "You need to speak directly to the voting priorities of undecided voters. They think of the economy first, and usually think of climate change near last."Power Vote consists of a pledge declaring, "I pledge to make clean, just energy a top priority in my vote this election." The Power Vote platform includes a commitment to create more green jobs, invest in a clean energy economy, cut global warming pollution and end dependence on dirty energy. During the GoreCast, organizers passed around a computer and pledge sheets for attendees to join the Power Vote pledge.
(10/30/08 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] The long, arduous trail to the White House will reach its conclusion this week, with Election Day serving as the summit that will motivate the American electorate through the final days of the uphill climb that is partisan presidential politics. On this greatest of days for American democracy, we enthusiastically endorse Senator Barack Obama for the office of President of the United States. While we respect Senator John McCain's service to his country and the United States Senate, we feel that Senator Obama epitomizes the ideals that Middlebury holds dear. He is intellectually curious, an able communicator, and understands the value of community. We do not endorse Senator Obama to rubber stamp his candidacy in this generally liberal atmosphere; we support his candidacy because we feel he is the candidate that best understands the challenges that this country will confront, and that our generation must overcome.Symbolically, Senator Obama's election would also turn the page from the current Bush administration, which we feel has failed to lead our country in the right direction these past eight years. The most senior class at the College, the February Admissions Class of 2008, arrived on campus only two weeks after President George W. Bush's second inauguration in 2005. The political climate of that time dispirited many young people hoping to affect political change, and spawned a great deal of activism these past four years. This election embodies that change, as issues that are important to Middlebury students are at the forefront of the debate.The candidates' positions on the challenges this country will face have been well documented in the press and these pages, and while these are of great import, our decision to support Senator Obama is firmly grounded in his impact for our generation. His economic plan is a refreshing break from the current administration's, and should be more sustainable. Stepping out from behind the veil of ignorance, we also realize it could have tangible effects on recent Middlebury alumni who will be paying taxes as non-dependants for the first time, in tax brackets far below the much discussed top five percent. And while Senator Obama's approach to rebuilding our financial institutions is not yet apparent, we trust his executive abilities. Senator Obama's call to service for young people resonates with us. We have yet to face a generational challenge along the lines of a military draft or even a race to the moon to unite us; we believe Senator Obama has the ability to inspire this unity as our country faces an unraveling economy and looming environmental crisis. Regardless of the candidates, we also celebrate the democratic process that will anoint one of them on Tuesday. This fall has brought interest and excitement in politics that our country has sorely lacked with regard to important decisions in our recent past. For proof, consider the surge in interest for Saturday Night Live's political satire. The activity on campus has also been commendable with the College Republicans, Democrats, and non-partisan organizations like the Roosevelt Institution and MiddVote taking the lead. We applaud the effort of these groups and all Middlebury students that have taken the time out of their busy academic schedules to fulfill their civic duty. It is often said that "This election is the most important of all time," and while we resent that declaration's decay towards cliché, we do acknowledge that what happens on Tuesday will have a profound impact on both the immediate future of the United States and our collective future.
(10/30/08 12:00am)
Author: Will Bellaimey "This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly," Franklin D. Roosevelt told the country in his first inaugural address, "but let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."The policies Barack Obama offers are nothing revolutionary. For years Democrats have proposed similar plans to slow climate change, to reform our broken health care system, and to restore a vibrant middle class based on equal opportunity for all.What is revolutionary about Obama is his willingness to speak the truth, frankly and boldly. Throughout this campaign he has spoken to Americans with an eloquence and maturity that we imagined had been lost to the era of the five-second sound-byte. Democrats from Bill Clinton to John Kerry believed that liberals could only succeed with laundry lists of issues and poll-tested buzzwords. They ceded morality and guts to the Republicans, who gave us fear and blind machismo in return.Words matter. The most important job of the next President will be to articulate a compelling vision of America at home and abroad. Barack Obama can't deliver all the changes we need by himself. That will take a decades-long movement and a broad political coalition. But he can speak the truth like no one else and inspire hope, yes hope, that oft mocked antidote to the fear that has paralyzed us for far too long. We cannot retreat.
(10/30/08 12:00am)
Author: Jaime Fuller Rolling Stone magazine editor Eric Bates gave an opinionated address on the presidential election on Oct. 28 as part of the "Meet the Press" lecture series. Bates spent half-an-hour giving his perspective on the candidates, the campaigns and the mainstream media before relinquishing control of the conversation to the inquisitive audience.Bates has been executive editor of Rolling Stone since February 2008 and recently conducted a one-on-one interview with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for the magazine. Previously, he worked as the magazine's political editor, and also has experience as an investigative editor at Mother Jones and as editor-in-chief of the political journal Southern Exposure.When Scholar-in-Residence in English Sue Halpern, organizer of "Meet the Press," rose to the podium to introduce the journalist, she recalled the inaugural lecture of the "Meet the Press" series, which occurred exactly four years ago with the same speaker. "A lot has happened in those four years," she said. "I thought it was only fitting that Eric come back and help sort it all out, and I'm hoping to make it a tradition."She also gave the audience a disclaimer, noting that last time she remembered that Bates made an incorrect prediction that John Kerry would win the 2004 presidential election."Thanks for reminding me how much I suck," Bates responded as he took the podium.Bates began the lecture by reiterating Halpern's point that much has changed since the last election."We tend to look at past elections to predict what is going to happen, but often times the rules have changed."He argued that this is the reason that Senator Hillary Clinton was unsuccessful in the Democratic primaries, that "playing by the old rulebook" doesn't work when the old rules don't apply anymore. Obama's success, on the other hand, he believes is a direct result of his ability to respond to the changes in the political climate. "His path to the election is inspiring," Bates said. "It's a reminder to us that far more is possible than we could ever imagine. He saw that the conditions were such and the rules were changing so he could take advantage of the moment."However, Bates doesn't take stock in those who cite the polls as an augury of an Obama victory next Tuesday."Obama could be 30 points ahead in the polls and we'd still be biting our nails," he said. Republicans never get like that … but [Democrats] always think something is going to go wrong."The reason he doesn't trust the polls is because he believes that like the Clintons, the polls are still playing by the old rulebook. He cited the polls' reliance on landlines, their ignorance of new voters and the unknown impact of the Bradley effect as reasons why the public shouldn't get too comfortable with the current media narrative. Despite his distrust of the polls, he still is confident that Obama will be successful on Nov. 4."The Republicans really only have two things going for them this election: racism and the ability to rig the vote."Bates believes despite the Republicans' dominance in politics over the past few decades, that this election is going to recreate the political landscape in the Democratic Party's favor in a way not seen since the era of the Great Depression. What is even more important, according to Bates, is that larger shifts are happening in the American electorate. Some he sees as positive and diversity enriching, such as the impending loss of majority status for whites and the increase of unmarried and alternative families in the populace. The shift he finds more worrisome is the increasing homogeneity of the electorate."The world is starting to look like the Internet," he said. "People are only grouping together with like minded people and they don't have any idea what the other group is like or about." He then turned the discussion to the possible problems of an Obama presidency."There is eight years worth of pent-up Democratic energy where they didn't get jack done," he said. "Now [Democrats] are going to have their hand in the cookie jar, and Obama's going to have to manage this. The Democrats could easily blow it."He also noted that Republicans should be glad that they might lose the majority in Congress, as it would "restore [them] to the job they were meant to do-the opposition""Republicans don't believe in government," he said. "They really suck at government, but they don't suck at being the opposition. They're really good at that."At the end of the lecture, when the audience assumed the role of the press, many topics were discussed, including the nomination of Governor Sarah Palin, the potential for bipartisan action in an Obama administration and the role of David Axelrod in the Obama campaign. He ended with an analysis of journalistic responsibility in the political process, and the changing role of the mainstream media in an increasingly cacophonous arena of media outlets and opinions. His conclusion is that despite criticism that the media is biased, the media has "done a good job," and that fairness, not objectivity, should be the goal of journalism."The media plays a role in being combative, skeptical, funny and occasionally tasteless," he said. "The media puts things into perspective in a way candidates can't."The "Meet the Press" lecture series is presented by the Middlebury College Institute on Working Journalism and is designed to bring distinguished journalists to offer their experience and opinion to the campus community. The event was co-sponsored by Brainerd Commons and the Department of English and American Literatures.
(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: Ian Trombulak The College's weeklong Food Symposium kicked off on Oct. 20 in the Orchard at Hillcrest Environment House, where Professor of Environmental Studies John Elder gave a lecture about local food and its potential to help fight climate change.Elder began the lecture discussing the beauty he found in the process of sugaring maple trees: how the sap is sucked up to the branches when it freezes at night, and then trickles down as it thaws during the day. He related this to the process sugar makers themselves go through, before going into the ways in which our increasingly warmer winters have hindered the production of sap and thrown a wrench in the system. "As I became more aware of the impact of climate change on Vermont forests," he said, "it became hard for me to maintain this lyrical pitch … it sapped my confidence in the future."He followed this with excerpts from his current writing project, which illustrated how he regained his confidence that the hard times we now face should not be met with more negativity, but rather community organization and celebration. He then related the local foods movement to Mardi Gras, saying that both help people through hard times: sugaring through the winter, and Mardi Gras as preparation for Lent. "Celebration is a response to life's fragility and to the world's peril," he said, stating his belief that more positive feelings, such as delight in eating homegrown food, will be beneficial to the fight against climate change. "If you think of it as a party, there's no need to punch a time clock."
(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: Kelly Janis Last week, the non-profit organization founded by President Emeritus John M. McCardell Jr. in 2007 to foster dialogue about underage drinking relocated from the cramped Middlebury store front in which it was born to a new office in southeast Washington, D.C., just blocks from the Capitol. Although McCardell will continue to live and work in Vermont, he plans to travel regularly to the new headquarters, where a small staff - including Grace Kronenberg '06 and Nick DeSantis '07.5 - is still slogging through unpacked boxes."I think having a presence in Washington makes a statement that you mean to be a serious player in these discussions, and I think the fact that we have gotten the level of financial support to be able to do this means that there are at least some people out there willing to support us in getting the discussion and the debate going," McCardell said in an interview with The Campus on Tuesday evening, prior to addressing several hundred students at American University's Bender Arena. The event was organized by Kennedy Political Union, a student-run speakers' bureau, in conjunction with National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. McCardell responded with a smile when a student informed him that AU is a dry campus, on which alcohol consumption by any student, regardless of age, is prohibited."You mean it's not even a little moist?" he joked, before resuming a serious pose. "You tell me how that's working."According to some students, not particularly well."Drinking goes on, even on a dry campus, " said Bryan Avolio, a junior in AU's Kogod School of Business. "But it's closet drinking, which is more dangerous than open, leisurely drinking."Carlos Guruceaga, a sophomore in AU's School of International Service, had his first beer with his father as a 14 year-old growing up in Venezuela, where the legal drinking age is 18."It's something you have to be introduced to," he said. "You can't learn by yourself. I know the effects of it. I'm not holed up in my room, drinking shots, trying to get drunk.""I am!" exclaimed Emma Hardy, a junior in AU's College of Arts and Sciences, only half-jokingly. "High five!"Hardy recalled her experiences studying abroad in Mexico this summer."I would just sit and have a beer and there was no pressure, because I could drink legally," she said. "It was kind of like, 'well, this is anti-climatic!' I feel like lobbyist groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving that have a lot of influence. And younger people don't have that influence. So I'm glad these college presidents stepped up and said 'maybe we should take a look at this.'"AU President Neil Kerwin has refused to join 130 presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities across the United States - including current Middlebury College president Ronald Liebowitz - in signing the Amethyst Initiative, a public statement declaring that it is "time to rethink the drinking age" in response to the "culture of dangerous, clandestine 'binge-drinking'" which has cropped up around it."I am interested in the policy debate underway and the arguments and alternatives," Kerwin said in an Oct. 2 article in the University's student newspaper, The Eagle. "At this time, however, I have not seen compelling evidence to suggest that dropping the drinking age will deter the epidemic of destructive behavior prompted by alcohol abuse that we've seen on our own campus."McCardell takes Kerwin's decision in stride. In fact, the majority of the schools at which he has spoken this fall - including St. Michael's College, Keene State College and Ball State University - are headed by similarly weary administrators. But the notion that such institutions are willing to engage the issue by inviting him to campus anyway, he said, demonstrates that they are "Amethyst in spirit, if not in fact."In his talk, McCardell praised signatories of the Initiative for "acknowledging the fact that alcohol is a reality in the lives of young adults." The United States can either change that reality, he said - likening such a recourse to prohibition - or it can "create the safest environment possible" in which to contain itNot everyone in Washington is welcoming the organization and its goals with a warm embrace. "College officials who have signed on to the provocative proposition that the legal drinking age of 21 isn't working say that they just want to start a debate," wrote The Washington Post in an Aug. 24 editorial. "Perhaps when they get done with that, they can move on to whether Earth really orbits the sun. Any suggestion that the current drinking age hasn't saved lives runs counter to the facts."The piece goes on to reference findings that rates of alcohol-related traffic crashes involving young people have decreased since the legal drinking age was raised from 18 to 21 in 1984.In his presentation, McCardell disputed the precision of such statistics. He noted that fatalities began to dip two years prior to the increase in the legal age, shot up subsequent to its implementation and have stayed mostly flat for the past 12 years. In addition, he said, automobiles have become safer, and "designated drivers" more common."Certainly, raising the age was a factor," McCardell said. "But that's the most and best that can be said about it."McCardell believes it is time for a change."I think we can do better," McCardell said. "I think the status quo is unacceptable. I think young people - having reached the age of adulthood - can and should be entrusted to carry out adult responsibilities, with care and with judgment. And most of the time, they will award the confidence placed in them with appropriate behavior."He concluded by emphasizing the movement's urgency."The longer we delay in recognizing the unintended consequences that our current policies have wrought, the more at risk we put the long term health and safety of our population, off the highways even more than on.'"
(10/09/08 12:00am)
Author: Miles Abdilla and Ian Trombulak PROFESSORS EASE STUDENTS' FINANCIAL FEARSIn response to a bombardment of questions from both students and faculty members regarding the state of the U.S. economy, Professors of Economics David Colander, Peter Matthews, Scott Pardee and Bob Prasch held a discussion panel on Oct. 1 at Dana Auditorium. Aptly titled "The Financial Crisis" the professors hoped to answer the simple question: what is going on with the economy? "What got us into this [financial crisis] is greed," said Pardee. He added that Americans, in buying new homes, relied on mortgage brokers that offered subprime loans to consumers who were not necessarily able to pay for it. What ensued from this risk were scams and fraud. "Finally, the market collapsed," Pardee continued, "and as prices began to fall, people didn't want to buy. This is greed."With no credit and no capital and with failing firms such as Wachovia, what can be done? Matthews suggested the Paulson plan-giving $700 billion for U.S. Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson to spend. "If we're going to do socialism," said Matthews, "we should do it right."Associate Professor Prasch shifted the discussion to areas that college students can relate to. "Students and poor folks tend to have unmet needs," said Prasch, "[Students] are reliable spenders." Money given to students will no doubt be spent. This spending will go to the infrastructure and, as Matthews stated, "what we ought to get is wholesale infrastructure investment. [A] crumbling infrastructure is an impediment to long run growth."CARBON NEUTRALITY 101 FOR PARENTS' WEEKENDProfessor of Physics and Environmental Science Rich Wolfson gave a lecture for parents and students on Oct. 3 in the Axinn Center regarding climate change in the world and the College's own goal to be carbon neutral by 2016. Wolfson, who describes himself not as an "environmental activist, but really just a scientist," spent the first half of the talk explaining how we know we're experiencing a significant climate change, why it's happening and what can be done to counteract it. He indicated weather patterns and certain biological indicators, including coral reef bleaching and the increase in the growing season, as signs that global climate change "is occurring in a very real way.The talk then moved to what the College is doing to reduce its own carbon footprint. "Vermont doesn't release much carbon from electrical sources," Wolfson commented, belaying many peoples' assumptions that wind turbines and solar panels may be enough to counteract a large chunk of emissions. Instead, Wolfson noted, "we are planning to reduce by a million gallons the amount of #6 oil used on this campus." This plan comes in the form of the $12 million Biomass Gasifier & Boiler currently set to open in January of this year, which would cut in half the largest contributor to carbon emissions on campus."Our red buildings are a huge disaster right now," continued Wolfson, referring to buildings like Munroe Hall, which are out of date and should, he says, be made more environmentally friendly through increased insulation.The lecture drew a full crowd of students and parents, including Ellen Coccoma '75, who is "very interested in energy conservation" and "very intrigued by the idea that the College is trying to go carbon neutral." The engaged crowd seemed to share Coccoma's view of Wolfson as a "great lecturer," and questions continued following the conclusion of the lecture of roughly 10-20 minutes.
(10/09/08 12:00am)
Author: Jessie Singleton Sarah Palin did a fine job of memorizing her foreign policy vocabulary words for the VP debate last week; however, I'm not exactly sure what she said, or what she meant to say, or what questions she thought she answered. I get it: Iran hates Israel, Ahmadinejad is a really mean dude, and Hamas is the wrong leadership for Palestine (thank you GWB). But I still want to know what she and John McCain are going to do about it. After digging through JohnMcCain.com, I finally found a bullet point-press release outlining the McCain-Palin approach: "diplomacy." Did the third graders in Alaska get extra-credit for helping draft this, too? Let's get real: ignoring the people who hate us does not punish them, nor does it teach them a lesson the "hard way;" it appeases them, adding fuel to the fire in their fight against Western values, American elitism, and the failed Bush policies of the last eight years. John McCain, you should know better, America cannot put other nations in "time-out." I care about our country's position and prestige within the world community and I want to make sure my vote goes to the best team to restore both the influence of our soft power, and also our legitimacy in using hard power when necessary. The Obama-Biden plan does this, taking a few hints from the godfather of diplomacy, Henry Kissinger. Kissinger still insists on the value of communication, the importance of bringing friend and foe to the table, and the need to garner widespread support through inclusion. The Democrats know that the challenges of the global fight against terrorism, climate change, disease, and poverty can be addressed through America's restored leadership in the world. But we can't do it alone, and we can't do it if we're acting like children. Sorry, Sarah. I guess it turns out third grade foreign policy doesn't work in the 21st century.
(10/02/08 12:00am)
Author: Derek Matus The Sunday Night Group (SNG) is sponsoring the national initiative Power Vote in hopes of spreading environmental awareness as we approach the 2008 elections, joing an effort which has already sprung up at dozens of campuses around the country. SNG hopes that the initiative's message makes an impression on the student body in the upcoming weeks.The Energy Action Coalition, a collection of social activism and justice groups with like-minded environmental concerns, established Power Vote to bolster its green political platform. Power Vote's mission is to generate awareness for the environment and environmentally safe energy among young voters in November. Its method is an online petition which affirms "I pledge to make clean, just energy a top priority in my vote this election." The petition relies on the circulation and publicity created by local groups of young people in communities and on college campuses. By setting the ultimate goal of 1,000,000 signatures, the effort hopes to create at least a wave of environmental sentiment in this historic election. The SNG hopes to contribute a significant chunk of those signatures to the national total."We're hoping to get 1000 signatures, which would be awesome," said Ben Wessel '11, President of SNG, "seeing as that is such a large part of the student body."The fact that this initiative is specifically targeted at the young voter legitimizes the growing influence of this demographic. According to the Power Vote website, the millennial generation, ages 18-34, now comprises a quarter of the entire American voting population. This influence was seen during the last presidential election in 2004 when a similarly youth-based initiative called Rock the Vote mobilized an army of new voters through the music industry and celebrity endorsements. Even during the primary season this year, the youth vote was instrumental in securing the outcome; newcomer and Senator Barack Obama only slightly edged out the early favorite, Senator Hilary Clinton, for the nomination. Obama's victories, especially the kick-off election in Iowa, are ascribed to the support of young people, who pundits said connected more with the young senator than his senior counterpart. In the general election this fall, the youth contingent will likely hold a significant influence over the outcome.Like Rock the Vote, Power Vote is a non-partisan venture. For some, this may seem a contradiction, given the historical tendency of the Democratic Party toward environmental protection. This election, however, has witnessed both presidential candidates stressing environmental issues, albeit with differing views. The Republican candidate, Senator John McCain, a staunch advocate of the environment compared to the conservative base, has voiced concern about climate change and the environmental effects of foreign oil. On the other hand, Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama, who served as a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works during the 109th Congress, has also shown regard for global warming and the energy crisis, pledging to reduce greenhouse gases and promote alternative energies if elected.Co-President of the College Democrats Will Bellaimey '10 appreciates bipartisan efforts for environmental action. "I look forward to the day when climate change is treated with equal urgency by politicians on both sides of the aisle," he said. Bellaimey believes, however, that in regard to picking the candidate with the better environmental policy, "the choice couldn't be clearer. I hope [Power Vote] will push millions of people to take environmental issues seriously this November. If they do, Barack Obama will be elected in a landslide." Heather Pangle '10, President of the College Republicans, declined to comment. Instead of entering the partisan debate, however, Power Vote seeks to improve the visibility of the environmental issue with positive attention.Not all students are as environmentally avid as the SNG. First-time voter Tyler Norris '12 said, "Yeah the environment is important, but I don't think it's the most important thing. I'm still more concerned with Iraq and Afghanistan, now the economy and even poverty than I am with the environment which isn't that urgent." Norris' comments are not isolated from her peers; many fellow young voters share similar thoughts that there are more pressing matters for the average American voter. Nevertheless, Vote Smart and the SNG will circulate the petition at Middlebury to publicize environmental issues and voting on campus. The Power Vote subgroup will hold meetings after SNG meetings Sunday at 9 p.m. in the Grand Salon of Le Chateau. The SNG will officially launch the Power Vote initiative in campus dining halls Oct. 7 by selling green t-shirts to raise money. The SNG also plans to host a "green" party in the Bunker Oct. 25 with the help of a local band in anticipation of the general election on Nov. 4."Middlebury Power Vote will hopefully show that Middlebury students are some of the most engaged students in the country concerning climate and environmental issues," said Wessel.
(09/25/08 12:00am)
Author: Emma Stanford Last Friday Middlebury students and community members alike flocked to "The Boycott," the inaugural production sponsored by Middlebury College in the recently renovated Town Hall Theater. The show cast a new and whimsical light on an issue that lies near the hearts of many Middlebury students: climate change."The Boycott," written and performed by touring actress Kathryn Blume, is based on Aristophanes' play "Lysistrata," in which a band of Spartan women led by the title character attempt to end the Peloponnesian War by withholding sex. In Blume's adaptation, the central action revolves around Lyssa Stratton, First Lady of the United States. The issue at hand is global warming instead of war, and Blume led the audience on a giddy adventure punched up by talking frogs, hazes of absinthe and a scene in Congress where a construction of foam, softballs and pantyhose illustrated the senators' sexual frustration. "Open scene," Blume shouted gleefully, waving her prop on high, "and insert giant phallus!"The lavish and expensive renovations of Town Hall Theater were completed just seven weeks ago, and it was clear Friday night that the new performance space has already found its niche in the community. Audience members arrived early to soak in the eccentric and utilitarian stage set, where a collection of chairs, tables and plastic storage bins reminded college students of their own dorm rooms. When Blume swaggered onstage, she began with a classic opener. "Once upon a time," she said. "I've always loved that beginning. When you hear that you know it's time to settle in for something good."Blume did not disappoint. She punched up her pell-mell comic storyline as a would-be screenplay, complete with cameos of famous actors and a musical score pirated from "Lord of the Rings" and "Mission: Impossible." As the sole performer, Blume portrayed a dozen different characters, dashing from one side of the stage to another to capture each perspective. She was most convincing as her good-natured lead, Lyssa Stratton. Lyssa, wife of swinging President Jack Stratton, is rudely awakened to the climate crisis by an ambassador from a small island nation. After going on a bender fueled by Abraham Lincoln's hidden stash of absinthe, Lyssa resolves to confront global warming in her own way: a nationwide sex strike. Her campaign lobbies the President to take aggressive measures against global warming, drawing activists all across the country. The result is a phenomenon of national abstinence that affects America in some surprising ways. In time, of course, the President caves in, the planet is saved and the camera pans out on a global love-fest.Unfortunately, standards of comedy have grown subtler since the days of Aristophanes, and Blume's determination to entertain grew tiresome. The show would have been better without the number of comic accents, suggestive props and grating references to "The Princess Bride." The play was saved, however, by Blume's decision to juxtapose its plotline with a memoir of her own journey as as activist. After every sexual innuendo or Secret Service joke, the stage lights came up and she told the audience about her doubts that a theater performance could stop global warming. Later, she entered a hysterical tailspin describing the predicament of buying groceries: plastic bags, paper bags, canvas bags and organic canvas bags. "Look at me!" she shrieked, dropkicking one of her plastic storage bins. "I'm doing this show, and I've got plastic on the stage!" When she sensed that the audience was nearing emotional overload, she squatted on a table with her cheeks puffed out and said, as her character Iniga Frogtoya, "You killed my planet. Prepare to die."In the end it was not the pop culture gimmicks or the funny voices that made the show compelling, but Blume's earnest concern about climate change. Flitting between giddy parody and wide-eyed sincerity, she hammered home her cause from every possible angle, desperate to convey its urgency. She was, of course, preaching to the choir, here in Vermont. But after Lyssa Stratton got her happy ending and the world was put to rights, there were few in the audience who could doubt Blume's faith in our planet's potential for "blazing, unquenchable hope."
(09/18/08 12:00am)
Author: Tess Russell On Sept. 10, acclaimed author Eric Schlosser - most famous for "Fast Food Nation," his radical critique of "the All-American meal" - addressed a packed Dana Auditorium in which the student crowd overflowed onto the stage. Schlosser, who began his career at The Atlantic Monthly and has since written for Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and The Nation, was on campus in connection with the Meet the Press Lecture Series. Co-sponsored by Brainerd and Atwater Commons and the Department of English and American Literatures, Meet the Press has brought reporters and other newsmakers to the College since its inception in 2003.Scholar in Residence Sue Halpern introduced Schlosser by invoking the tradition of muckraking, an early form of sensationalist American journalism that sought to expose the harsh realities of industrialized society and reached its peak at the beginning of the 20th century under forerunners like Upton Sinclair and Ida Tarbell. Halpern identified Schlosser and documentarian Michael Moore as possibly our most visible modern-day muckrakers.When Schlosser took the podium, he was quick to point out that there are many other contemporary investigative journalists doing good work that goes widely unread in today's harsh publishing climate, but not before good-naturedly chiding his audience for staying indoors on such a beautiful day. He soon explained that his lecture would be more concerned with his own process of writing in general than with any of his specific subjects."It's my old-fashioned aim to leave my familiar surroundings and explore worlds rarely depicted in the mainstream media," said Schlosser, "to bring to public attention the realities and the voices that you never hear. It's a great time to be a muckraker, because everywhere you look in society, the levels of corruption are extraordinary."He would come back to this theme again, noting Fast Food Nation's primary success among young people."I wasn't intentionally targeting the book towards young readers, but it has affected them the most," he said. "Your generation has been exposed to more disinformation, to more outright lies crafted by people trying to deceive you, than mine was. I see my work as a pushback against that and it is encouraging to me that the people who have been the most targeted by advertising have also been the most willing to question the practices of these [fast food] companies.Still, Schlosser maintained that even when his research has taken him to the lowest depths of misery - as with his current undertaking, an exposé of the nation's deeply flawed prison system - he has never felt depressed or begun to view our societal problems with a sense of futility. Instead, his work has made him "angry and energized.""I never bought into the idea of inevitability," he said. "If you don't believe things are inevitable, then they don't have to be the way they are. That's an empowering notion, that all problems have direct causes and can be changed. But it can be amazing how long it takes for that change to happen."Schlosser cited the recent agreement between Whole Foods Market and the Florida-based Coalition of Immokolee Workers, with which he is active, as an example of that sort of positive change. He criticized, however, the narrow, elitist approach of the Slow Food Movement in general."Slow Food dictates that food should be three things - good, clean and fair," he said. "That last component refers to social justice and that's where the movement has been less effective. Does it matter if a piece of fruit is local and organic if it's harvested by slave labor? The scope needs to be broadened to bring in ordinary working people and one of the big concerns is making food cheaper versus making sure Americans have a decent minimum wage. The stagnation of household wages has corresponded directly with the rise of the fast food industry in this country."Because his projects tend to make public information that powerful corporations and institutions have spent large sums of money trying to suppress, Schlosser has often found himself under attack. He stressed the importance of transparency in his work, referencing his time-consuming but necessary system of footnoting that allows readers to access his sources firsthand, if they are so inclined.In Schlosser's mind, the most important measure of success is how his work is received by his disenfranchised sources."One of the best lessons I've ever gotten is, 'There But For The Grace of God Go I,'" he said. "I've realized how thin the line is between privilege and devastation - between who is fortunate and who is miserable - and I've gotten a sense of our shared humanity. If the people I write about feel that I have accurately portrayed what they have to say, then I've done my job.Finally, Schlosser warned Middlebury students that, while we should enjoy our idyllic environment here, we should never become complacent and "mistake this for the real world.""I can't urge you strongly enough to use the knowledge you acquire here to leave your comfort zone," he said, "and to push yourselves into the real world. It is so fulfilling to see reality clearly and not to live in a state of denial and self-absorption, not just because of the effect that you have on others, but because the process of taking those risks is a pleasure in itself."
(09/18/08 12:00am)
Author: Jaime Fuller The polls open today at noon for the annual Student Government Association (SGA) Senate Elections, in which students will vote for two senators for each class and one senator for each Commons.SGA President Bobby Joe Smith III held an informational meeting last Friday for all students considering running for office. He outlined the duties of the Senate as well as the terms of campaigning. Smith established that it was the Senators' responsibility to "get the vibe of their constituency" and that the campaigning process is an excellent time to start their duties. "Campaigning is the fun part," Smith said. "You get your name out, meet constituents … I cannot stress the importance of going out and meeting the people voting for you." At the meeting were some faces familiar to the campus government scene, like Katie Hylas '09, Vrutika Mody '10 and Derek Sakamoto '10, who have held senator posts in previous years. But first-years were by far the best-represented class at the meeting, with nine students vying for a seat in the SGA Senate. The SGA Constitution states that the Commons Senators' duties include "reporting to their Commons Council on a weekly basis" and "[reporting] relevant Commons' activity to the SGA as well as their weekly activity with relation to their job as a student Senator." The Class Senators have to "report the current concerns of their constituents to the SGA at each regular meeting" as well as report their weekly progress in advancing their constituents' needs. Smith told the potential candidates that the only specific commitment senators have is to come to the weekly SGA meetings but that he hoped that "SGA would come first for people running for Senate."The SGA's role in the College community is unique, and it doesn't have the power that most of the student body ascribes to it. The SGA does not have a role in policy making; that task is given to the Community Council, which is headed by Student Co-Chair of Community Council Antoinette Rangel '09. Smith explained at the meeting that the SGA's power lies in recommendation, not policy."The real power of SGA is the power to suggest what the administration does," Smith said. "And the great thing is that [the administration] cares very much about our opinion." The SGA has had an important role in changing the campus over the last couple of years. Some of the more controversial initiatives they debated last year included the campaign to save Winter Carnival, the Queer Studies House and their proposal to integrate public speaking into the curriculum. Smith is relying on the power of suggestion to carry his platform from idea into reality in the upcoming year. Like most elected officials, Smith's goal this year is to improve the life of students on campus. One of the ways he envisions doing this is by streamlining the massive amount of information students are burdened with each day. His platform last year included his promise to investigate the unwieldy campus e-mail system and create "information kiosks" for campus events. One of his initiatives that sparked the most conversation last year was the proposed Middcard, a multipurpose access card that would be a big step in achieving his goal of streamlining students' daily lives on campus. He and the SGA were quick to act after his inauguration this spring. One week after Smith was elected president of the SGA, the Freedom of Book Information Act was passed, which will one day allow students to find out what their books for the next semester are online before classes start. Although this has yet to translate from the abstract to something tangible, Smith hopes that the senators who will be elected this week will be able to aid him and the SGA in suggesting more effective paths for the administration to take. Students seem to agree with the actions the SGA has taken in the last couple of years, especially in regard to the Freedom of Book Information Act."I like the idea of releasing book lists," said Rachel Pagan '11. "That would be nice."But some students appreciate the improvements that have been made to campus life from afar, without paying attention to details. "I'm an uninformed voter," said Laurel Wickberg '09. "I didn't really pay attention to what happened with the book lists." Whether the student body closely follows the SGA elections like the U.S. population at large has followed the 2008 presidential elections, whoever claims victory is sure to have an important role in how the 2008-2009 year plays out.The SGA Senate ballot will be available online for 24 hours, with the voting period ending Friday at 12:00 p.m.First-year SenateJedidiah Kiang '12 "Though the location definitely reduces many distractions from the academic life, there is also a less intense exposure to a larger political and social climate than there would be, say, in a modern metropolis. It is obviously harder to directly engage these important issues here than in Boston or New York City. Nevertheless, there are easy ways to improve awareness and influence."Teresa Wolverton '12 "In addition, I plan to observe closely the development of campus-wide wireless internet in an effort to ensure that wi-fi is always available. I also want to examine the laundry system and develop ideas for more convenient washing and drying."Armaan Sarkar '12"If elected to the Senate, I will focus my efforts on enhancing the interaction between the first year's and the rest of the community. For somebody who is new to the campus, the vast number of activities and opportunities often seem overwhelming, resulting in some people failing to realize opportunities that may be suited for them. Vincent Alexander Recca '12"As we are about to begin the second week of classes, I am excited about the many opportunities and great potential that lie ahead.Alyssa Limperis '12"Though we come here as strangers, I am confident that we will soon become a cohesive and motivated team. As First Year Senator, I will work to transform the Class of 2012 from individuals to a unified group. I am eager to create this change through employing my unique ideas as well as listening to your inputs."Tik Root '12 "If I don't engage people, I will not only miss out on a potential personal friendship, but the campus as a whole will lose out on someone's brilliant idea…If I can get my fellow classmates interested in contributing to campus governance, then I will consider that a success. This is the students' campus and we DO have the power to make positive change."Sydney Alfonso '12"While many of my fellow freshman have suggested that I propose vending machines with weed or drinking fountains of beer, my goal is to become the liaison between our class and the administration. As your senator, I will do my best to tackle all issues, no matter how impossible the task. If anyone can make pigs fly, I can."Sophomore SenateJohn Tyler Birnbaum '11"I … am running for sophomore class Senator for the following reasons: to uphold the Middlebury College SGA constitution, represent the views of my peers and improve the college in manners beneficial to all.David Peduto '11 "All I would like to say and for you to know is that if you have a problem, a question, a concern, an idea, a plan, anything that could help make this school a better place I'm available for discussion. As great as Middlebury is, I always believe that there is room for improvement, improvement that I am willing to work for."Ashley Quisol '11"If elected senator I will propose a weekly podcast that wi
ll feature upcoming events and general information for students. If there is an upcoming a cappella concert, a sample of the group can be featured on the podcast, or if the soccer team has a game a player can give a quick advertisement to encourage a large crowd turnout."Junior SenateMichael Panzer '10"Because I ran against Bobby last spring, I am very familiar with what he is trying to do with this school, and have found we share a common goal in having a transparent student government that not only continues to fight for the students, but is armed and ready when new problems arise during the year."Nicolas Sohl '10"The SGA can make all the bills they want, but if they can't convince the administration then they serve no purpose. I look forward to continuing my work in the SGA senate by continuing to dedicate my time and energy to affect real change on campus. I understand the amount of commitment it takes even to get the most trivial things done on campus."Senior SenateRoger Perreault '09"Imagine a politics in which department coordinators collate lists of course material and publish them online or e-mail them to students, saving Middlebury faculty from boatloads of tedious cut-and-paste. Students who prefer to order their books online then get their books on time rather than 6 days into the course, setting them up on a path of tardiness on which all their assignments are exactly 6 days late for the rest of the course."Ross SenateDerek Sakamoto '10"My platform is quite simple and relies on two questions: Does this favor the student body? And will this have a significant impact on student life? I am not the senator that proposes any pet peeve."Annie Weinberg '10"I think you should choose me as your senator, I will work to better integrate our Commons ... I would love Ross to be a place where grade level, country of origin, sports team or campus organization has no bearing on friendships."Cook SenatePaul Rosenfeld '12"I am most eager to enhance the interactions between upperclassmen and lowerclassmen within the framework of Cook Commons, especially working to integrate all four years of students through academic forums as well as cultural and social events."Jonathan Kay '11"By integrating pleasure and intelligence into campus life, those of us in Cook Commons can find the perfect balance between recreational and academic pursuits. It is clear that the administrators of Middlebury trust us enough to uphold the Cook name and tradition, and I would be honored to represent the most free-spirited commons on campus."Wonnacott SenateLoren Mejia '09"With all of the controversy surrounding the commons system since the housing rules have changed, and all the adversity from the student body geared towards it, I believe the many benefits of the commons system have been looked over. "Atwater SenateEthan Schmertzler '12 "I have developed the required qualities of determination, leadership and just that slight tinge of lunacy that are necessary to help coordinate and bring the needs and desires of the Atwater Commons to fruition."Brainerd SenateVrutika Mody '10"I know Middlebury runs like butter. But, I also know there are some things here and there that you want tweaked or even revolutionarily altered (we will always want juice back in the dining halls...)."
(09/18/08 12:00am)
Author: Cloe Shasha This July, Middlebury College released a Master Plan for a campus layout proposal to be applied over the next 50 years. Project Manager Jennifer Oster Bleich worked on the plan, along with a team of experts, over the past two years. She emphasized that the plan is not a blueprint for construction but is a layout of the way that the campus will evolve in a sustainable manner in the next half century.While there are spaces allocated for future buildings already drawn onto maps included in the plan, no detailed architectural guidelines have been laid out other than the proposal to build sustainable structures consistent with the style of buildings that already exists within the College's landscape.The plan is, according to Bleich, a collaborative effort. The Master Planning Committee, the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees, the President's Staff, Michael Dennis and Associates of Boston, and various campus constituencies contributed to the plan.For some students, the Master Plan poses a threat to the architectural feel of this campus."The planners are interested in constructing artificial quads on campus and we would lose part of Middlebury's loose mountainous feel that students love so much," said Ben Wessel '11. "If we wanted that we would have gone to a college that had that. The plan makes changes that I don't believe are necessary."What the College community now knows as Battell Beach will be developed into a more deliberately crafted and partially leveled open space called Battell Field. According to Visiting Instructor in Geography Jeff Howarth, the fact that Battell Beach is the way it is today was not part of the plan but rather a byproduct of the spaces between selected locations for construction in the nineteenth century. The way the buildings are being planned today, however, is different."The plans for new buildings are allowing function to follow form," Howarth continued. "The plan focuses on form and beauty."Because of this focus, the Master Plan is more structured for outdoor renovations and looser on its specifications for the patterns of use in new indoor spaces.Robert Huth, the College's Treasurer and Executive Vice President who oversees facilities planning on campus, explained the level of detail that the Master Plan provides for future landscaping."There are no immediate plans to build buildings," Huth said. "However, when they are built, each will be designed individually and placed in a spot identified by the Master Plan. The Master Plan is a guide that informs future construction and should prevent building facilities in locations that may prevent future desired outcomes."With the plan, the Battell first-year dorms will be removed and replaced with two smaller buildings slightly shifted from the current positions of Battell North and Battell South. In addition, three other new dormitories will be built around the rectangular contour of Battell Field. Some students believe the plans will bring spatial benefits to Middlebury's layout."As much as I like Battell, I feel that separating the buildings will make the campus feel more open," said Roman Mardoyan-Smyth '11. "At the moment, Battell is a long narrow structure blocking the view of Battell Beach, and forcing students to have to walk around or through the structure. By separating the buildings, the students will be able to move around more freely. Battell Beach can be connected with the Chateau Quad." The Master Plan divided the campus into three precincts, giving each one at least one quadrangle and courtyards. Within these three divisions are 12 designated locations for improvements and alterations, including new power lines, and a reconfiguration of College Street.Because sustainability is the first priority of the plan, Middlebury will consult national leaders in sustainable design before beginning any new construction projects.The costs for the construction plans have not yet been publicly predicted. Potential plans have been listed but no landscape or construction projects are going to begin in the near future. "Given the current state of the global economy," Bleich said, "it is expected that for the next few years the College will only undertake new construction or major renovation projects that are fully funded by donors or by the College's renewal and replacement reserve funds." Director of the Arts and C.A. Johnson Professor of Art Glenn Andres, a professor of architecture, explained that he believes the Master Plan will enhance the best parts of Middlebury."The plan has sought to clarify campus spaces and vistas, rationalize vehicular and pedestrian circulation and place buildings where they will reinforce the basic structure of the campus," Andres said. "What may change is the specific character of the landscape."The goals of the Master Plan do not only focus on the human experience, however. The plan takes into account the natural habitat and landscape of Vermont in a way that strives to minimize impact upon the environment."Rather than undifferentiated lawn and exotic trees, there is an attempt to adjust the landscape to utilize native species and to recognize different land slopes and conditions by appropriate plantings that will enhance wildlife corridors and micro-climates while framing major campus spaces and reducing water-consumptive and carbon-producing maintenance," Andres concluded.
(09/18/08 12:00am)
Author: Will Bellaimey, Middlebury College Democrats Okay, maybe "Bush's Third Term" is a little harsh. Nobody likes to be serving out someone else's term. Al Gore hated it in 2000, when people said he was just another four years of Clinton. That wasn't true. A Gore presidency was going to be sooo different from the job-creating, welfare-reforming, longest peacetime expansion of the economy-overseeing, nightmare that was the Clinton administration.Gore and John McCain both know what it's like to be held responsible for someone else's record. They both were disappointed when their president failed to take serious action on climate change. They both wished their president had kept the focus on curbing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. They both watched in horror as their president held and tortured hundreds of people, some of them under 16 years old, without even telling them what they were accused of. Actually, Gore probably doesn't know what that last one feels like.The point is, though McCain may have some minor differences with this president, on the central issues of our time, he might as well be Dick Cheney.He will continue Bush's occupation of Iraq, straining our military with fifth and sixth tours of duty, and alienating a whole new generation in the Middle East.He will expand inequality and balloon the deficit, making permanent and extending Bush's tax cuts to the super-rich.He will appoint Bush style judges to the courts, the kind that think if a woman needs an abortion, she should get it in a back alley instead of a hospital.He will continue avoiding serious health care reform, maintain No Child Left Behind, and keep tapping Americans' phones without warrants.George W. Bush and the Republicans have the ship of state heading off a cliff, and John McCain suggests we turn the ship ten degrees to the right. We simply cannot take that risk.
(09/18/08 12:00am)
Author: Bill McKibben, Scholar-in-Residence For a while, it looked as if the 2008 presidential election might be one of the first to really tackle the single biggest problem facing the planet, the threat of runaway global warming. With the Arctic now an island for the first time in human history (and long before); with drought and flood increasing dramatically as hydrological cycles start to tilt; and with oil prices rising rapidly as supplies dwindle, it seemed the perfect moment for a serious debate on energy and climate.And John McCain and Barack Obama seemed the best duo to have that debate. McCain was out in front of almost all his GOP Senate colleagues in addressing global warming - after he was dogged by student protesters in New Hampshire during his 2000 bid, he returned to Washington and held hearings that produced the first attempt at even modest legislation. I spent a couple of days in Washington interviewing him at that time, and was impressed with his candor. Meanwhile, Obama responded to protesters of his own - after last year's nationwide StepItUp demonstrations, organized primarily by Middlebury students, he signed on to the call for 80 percent carbon reductions by 2050.Unfortunately, the debate has yet to materialize. Partly that's because the media has focused attention elsewhere, rarely raising the issue in debates. And partly it's because McCain has steadily backed away from his aggressive stance. Though his Website continues to say that he views global warming as our primary environmental challenge, he has endorsed (like Hillary Clinton) a 'gas tax holiday' to drive down the price of fuel and dampen the price signal sent by dwindling supplies. He has also appointed a vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, who has said she is unsure if human beings even cause climate change (which is a problematic stance, since if we're not causing it, it's hard to imagine how we could slow it down). The floor of the Republican National Convention last month was crowded with adults chanting "Drill, Baby, Drill," which in a global warming context really is another way of saying "Burn, Baby, Burn."Obama, meanwhile, has been more straightforward. Despite a continued weakness for so-called 'clean coal,' especially when giving speeches in the Appalachian mining states, he's mostly advanced a platform of strong action on global warming. Earlier this month he endorsed the innovative SkyTrust program, which would charge the big energy companies for the right to emit carbon dioxide and send a check to each American ever year for their share of the proceeds - a scheme that has some hope of maintaining broad political support for higher energy prices in the years ahead. Such straightforwardness makes Obama the obvious choice on climate issues, and is the reason I joined Environmentalists for Obama.But both candidates will need a healthy push from the populace if they're going to make real progress on this most difficult of issues. In particular, they need to be persuaded to take a real lead on the upcoming international negotiations, the kind of talks the U.S. has boycotted for the last eight years. 350.org, led by recent Middlebury graduates, will next month launch a campaign to get people from across the country and around the world to send invitations to each candidate, urging them to come if elected to international meetings scheduled for Poland in December. That would be a real chance to demonstrate their intent to lead, not follow, on this most crucial question.
(05/01/08 12:00am)
Author: Anthony Adragna While gender relations across campus have generally improved over the last decade, sexism remains a dominant and controlling facet of social life, a report released April 29 from the Task Force on the Status of Women (TSW) at the College found. In the report, the group acknowledges gains made by women, but stresses the amount of work remaining for the community, while also raising broader issues, irrespective of gender, for the College to consider. "The status of women has clearly changed in many ways in the past decade," the report concluded, "but there is still much to be done."Compiled by a student and faculty group of 13 that was chartered in 2007 to study the state of gender relations at the College, data for the report were gathered from group interview sessions, focus groups, one-on-one interviews and an electronic survey that garnered over 900 responses. Included in the 40-page report are 74 recommendations which President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz and the administration will have the task of considering and implementing. Carrie Rampp, director of Resource Development & Services for Library & Information Services and chair of the Task Force hopes broader discussions about the report's conclusions will come in the fall.Alcohol, males dominate social sceneFor students on campus, these discussions could well focus on the social scene at the College, which, according to the report, revolves around alcohol and fosters sexism and negative gender relations. Parties at the College, according to the report, tend to be organized by students who are "male, upper-class and athletic," and who sometimes use alcohol and their control of parties to take advantage of women. "Female students also reported that in their first year at Middlebury, they were invited to parties by older classmen who they felt specifically targeted them for their inexperience with alcohol so they could make inappropriate advances," the report found. According to Rampp, the unhealthy social scene could be attributed to a number of factors, but alcohol is one of the driving causes behind problematic elements of the social scene. "When looking at the extremely micro-level you can come up with a whole host of symptoms that you might tackle, but we noted this broader root cause behind so many of the challenges," she said. The report additionally concluded that, within the context of this social scene, women often act in a hypersexual manner due to preconceived expectations about the promiscuity of college students. "Part of the reason they do not set boundaries," according to the report, "is that they need to fit into a social scene dominated by men, who are also often unaware or dismissive of safe sex and sexual assault issues."Other aspects of the social scene that are faulted in the report include the sexual-themed parties on campus, which induce women to dress in a demeaning manner to gain access, and the workload, which forces many to "squeeze 5 days' worth of social interaction into a 2-day weekend," leading to meaningless relationships and unsafe sex. The report additionally found that this sexual environment results in women under reporting assaults and confusion about what constitutes a sexual assault. "Many have been the cases when my women friends have been afraid to speak up regarding sexual assault," one survey respondent reported. Concerns arise in the report over the current system for reporting sexual assaults which some feel "is not designed to serve the interests of the victim." The conclusions do note great improvements on issues of safety on campus over the past 10 years, including more blue light telephones, better lighting and late-night ride options.Tina Coll '08, who served on the TSW, said the current sexual assault policy needs review and revamping. "There seems to be much confusion about the definition of and procedure for addressing sexual assault, which leads to thorny situations for women and men alike," she said. Rampant eating disorders, however, remain a large issue on campus. While the Parton Health Center has resources for students, many students surveyed indicated that these resources are inaccessible. Others feel it is hard to recover from an eating disorder at the College. Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology and member of the TSW Michael Sheridan said addressing the problem of eating disorders would require persistent work. "Eating disorders relate to the extremes of the 'work hard, play hard' idea that is a deeply embedded model shaping student behavior, which means that both need coordinated attention," he said.At the root of all of these social problems, according to the report, is the male treatment of women on campus, but additional criticism is leveled at the system that forces men to demean women in an effort to fit in. "Heterosexual males who do not fulfill this stereotype [locker room behavior] report having to change their behavior to appear more masculine, at the risk of being 'fag-bated,' or socially marginalized in other ways," the report found.More broadly, students cited the workload at the College as another cause of many negative behaviorsThe report hailed progress made towards creating a safe and friendly campus for GLBTQ, but stressed more work was necessary. It acknowledged the additional challenges faced by women students of color and less socio-economically advantaged students as well. New initiatives like the Queer Studies House were applauded.Work-life balance, respect top female faculty concernsIn addition to this thorough evaluation of student social life at Middlebury, the report also tackled the status of female faculty and staff members. Of concern to many female faculty members was the amount of work they faced, suggesting it was a main factor in their happiness with the College. "I think work-life balance needs the most attention," one survey respondent said. "I feel that women have to do more at work in order to succeed at the same level as men. If women make compromises for their family, it seems to come off as being weak or not professional."Another area of concern remains assisting female faculty members in locating employment for their spouse. "Given we are located in an isolated rural area, we believe that as we move forward in our efforts to hire and retain the strongest candidates, particularly more female colleagues of color, the College must take a more proactive role with regard to partner employment," the report concluded. Implicit sexism also appears to emerge in classroom settings, the report found. Female faculty members encounter aggressive male students with regard to grading and many reported receiving less respect than male colleagues in co-taught classes. One female member of the faculty described the climate in a survey response."It is clear that the students have very stereotypical presumptions about the characteristics faculty should possess to be 'professorial,' especially for certain disciplines," the respondent wrote. "Many of my female colleagues feel that we have to work extra hard to prove ourselves in class."Rampp said the report did not find significant evidence of prejudice in academic departments against female faculty. "I believe the findings in this area suggested that even in male-dominated departments the trends of our survey were very much in line with the broader community," she said. "While I wouldn't say none exists, it wasn't a significant finding of our report."Although the report found these trends of concern, it generally lauded great strides made throughout the College in the last 10 years. It points especially to the increase in female administrators, the greater gender
balance on the Board of Trustees and the equality of pay for men and women at the College.Challenges remain when looking to hire female faculty members, though the College has made improvements in that arena. Childcare, though improved, is another area of concern and the report urges greater time off for new parents. Additional work should be done to promote a healthier environment for GLBTQ female professors, to attract and retain female professors of color and to counteract a 'glass ceiling' that emerges after a female becomes 50, the report found. Task force hopes report will help communityAll of the 74 recommendations in the report address distinct goals, though they vary from broad to specific, from gender-specific to all-inclusive initiatives. Topics range from the very broad - "Be more proactive on a variety of gender-related issues" - to the very specific - "Create a signature GLBTQ event each year." There is little concrete said about how to achieve these goals, though it is not the goal of the TSW to implement them. "As a task force, we are not necessarily responsible for providing remedies for all the challenges we find," Rampp said. "In fact, that can sometimes work against you as your readers may instead focus on the flaws in your strategy and less so in the merits of your recommendations. We haven't said precisely how to do this, but that it should be done."Some of the most telling parts of the report came from the quoted comments before each section. Those selected for inclusion were not unique. "None of them are abnormal, and all of them are, sometimes unfortunately, 'normal,'" Sheridan said. "We put those quotes in there precisely because they are troubling. Reading an abstract report with quantitative data can make you forget that you're talking about real people's lives."Sheridan stressed that only time will lead to concrete and lasting changes to attitudes on campus. "Many of the issues we describe in the report are not isolated 'problems' that can be 'solved' with quick and separate fixes," he said. "Some of this stuff is systemic and complex. So I don't think there's a single easily isolatable 'first thing' to start with if I was prioritizing."Coll hopes the entire College community can become more involved in the process during subsequent reviews. "I hope that more men will get involved in future task forces," she said. "They have a lot of useful insight to provide on gender issues. It's not just a one-sided deal."Rampp suggested the report taught members of the community the universality of many of these issues."So much of what we found or that people brought to us couldn't be characterized as a woman's issue, or at least not any more," she said.While many of the issues raised in the report are troubling, Sheridan thanked the community for their cooperation and thought the report will lead to positive results. "I am particularly thankful to the many brave people who told us their stories, even when they hurt," he said. "I'd like to see this report become a tool for empowering everyone on this campus to change what we don't like about us, and to be very proud of what makes us such a good place to learn, work and live."
(04/24/08 12:00am)
Author: Tamara Hilmes Though most of the events sponsored by PowerShift Vermont occurred on campus earlier in the weekend, the environmental conference culminated events that linked the climate change movement on campus to efforts for change in the greater community of Vermont. On April 20, Vermont Speaker of the House Gaye Symington was featured in the closing address, and on Monday, a group of Middlebury students and community members traveled to Montpelier to lobby for climate legislation. On Sunday, during the closing address of the PowerShift Vermont 2008 line-up, Symington was featured along with the Luce Professor of Environmental Economics Jon Isham and Middlebury alumnus Will Bates in discussing the climate change movement in Vermont. Isham kicked off the lecture by giving his eight points, each addressing a specific aspect of the movement. His first point was that calling the movement a "climate change movement" is actually inaccurate."It's a misnomer," Isham said. "This is not a global warming movement - it's about something bigger. It can't be about all good things, but it is about fighting hard on the behalf of Earth, social justice and people born in certain places that are currently being threatened."Isham continued by addressing the impact of technology on the movement, declaring that we need to "embrace the technology" because that will be what "gets us there." Before Isham handing over the floor to Symington, he closed by blatantly stating to the future climate change activists in the audience the difficulties involved in inciting change. "This movement can get you good grades and good jobs," he said, "but it can be discouraging."Symington began her part of the lecture in agreement with Isham, stating that she finds it "frustrating that we are where we are." She continued by informing her audience made up of students from the College and high school as well as townspeople that "change is hard, change is scary. Change involves reaching outside ourselves."One issue related to the movement that Symington stressed was the need for improved communication. According to Symington, the language being used by climate change activists is hindering the movement."I think our language is getting in the way," Symington said. "How we talk about change matters - we should be explaining things through images and stories."Symington went on to explain that it is highly important that Vermonters understand that climate change is, in fact, a Vermont issue."Oftentimes, it is a real stretch for Vermonters," said Symington. "They need to understand that it will result in lower bills and more jobs." She went on to talk about how weatherizing houses, while it will cost money, will essentially save Vermont citizens money on heating bills as well as create more job opportunities in the state. Symington brought her talk to a close by lauding a group of seventh grade lobbyists who recently presented their research on bus emissions to legislators and wishing the group of Middlebury lobbyists luck in their endeavors to take place on the following day.On Monday, at 10 a.m., a group of 10 Middlebury students and five students from Mt. Abraham High School in Bristol, Montpelier High School and the Lake Champlain Waldorf School arrived in Montpelier prepared to lobby in favor of Senate Bill 350 (S.350). Coincidentally, 350 is also the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as measured in parts per million. This bill would make efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions."Although we were there to express our support for S.350 and urge legislators to make it stronger before they pass it," said Kate MacFarlane '10, one of the Middlebury students who participated in the lobbying, "our main objective was to let lawmakers know that their constituents want meaningful action climate legislation next year. S.350 does some good things, but it is more of a baby step than anything else."Through the day, the students talked with James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group and Johanna Miller of Vermont Natural Resources Council, as well as Representative Tony Klein, Representative David Ainsworth, Representative Rachel Weston, Senator Dick McCormack and Senate President pro-tempore Peter Shumlin. Each meeting was about 45 minutes long, and during their free time, the group wrote letters to other legislators to let them know why they had come."It was an amazing experience," said MacFarlane. "Many people don't realize how accessible the Vermont legislature is. We had the opportunity to have some really candid talks with the people who are actually making Vermont's laws."
