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(03/09/06 12:00am)
Author: Peter Viola '06 As renowned television broadcaster and defender of democratic values Bill Moyers has noted, one significant trait of the current political culture is that "the delusional is no longer marginal." Rabid ideology, feeding upon so-called "truthiness" and distortion of the facts, has moved into mainstream American debate as the illegitimate heir to public democratic discourse. It postulates fiction as reality, and twists spuriousness itself to its own defense.Such is the tone, perhaps unconscious, of Michael Jou's unfortunate article in last week's Campus "Think about it, global warming does not exist, March 3". Written, in Jou's words, "to incite the reader to question global warming," the piece does little more than demonstrate that a French major with no real experience in the scientific study of climate change can choose to accept popular science fiction literature as fact. While I'm a passionate student of languages and literature myself, and no expert in science, I hold all such fields in high regard, and I do not like to play intellectual games by mixing them through uninformed guesswork and speculation. I find it mystifying that the author of the article could believe that environmental scientists are "off their rockers" while also believing that it is rational to view the work of the author of Jurassic Park as evidence that global warming is a "conspiracy."But rather than respond directly to specific points made in the article, which many others are more capable of addressing than myself, I would like to clarify more generally the double-speak of such irrational thinking. The primarily non-scientific claims against the existence of global warming, like many other patently ludicrous ideologies which attempt to deny "legitimacy" to hard observation of any kind, revolve around a faulty logic of accusation: in this case, that global warming is only a "theory," and that the evidence of its effects is "biased." Of course it's a theory, and of course it's as biased as the multitude of individuals who study it from differing perspectives. But both complaints miss the point, amounting to the willful ignorance that says objective scientific truth is found in some fluffy realm where bias does not exist, and that anything termed a "theory," which by nature is a hypothetical method of explaining universal patterns arising from everyday events, must be false. "Theories," if one may include global warming as an example, do not exist in a vacuum, nor do they need to announce themselves as the definitive Word of Truth in order to be taken seriously. They are a means to an understanding, and they survive the test of time (and attack) precisely because they prove useful to our human experience. Global warming exists, and it is real cause for alarm, but the theoretical pursuit of it through science is not - scientists are not terrorists, and education and activism on global warming do not constitute fear-mongering. On the contrary, the ever-growing movement to save this planet from the violence of man-made environmental destruction is based upon a dedication to universal human values of freedom, the right to good health and clean air and the need for a global socio-economic framework that allows everyone to live to the fullest, while maintaining the lowest possible impact on the fragile ecosystem which we all share as our living space.As Moyers acknowledges, given the truly threatening impact of global warming, it can be difficult "to tell such a story without coming across as Cassandras, without turning off the people we most want to understand what's happening, who must act on what they read and hear." In that light, it is worth noting that Jou's article, in spite of its misguided approach, has in fact given us an opportunity for dialogue, to which these editorials in part attest. But the conversation must not stop here. I would invite all those who rightly encourage others to "become informed" on global warming to take up their own challenge. Just this week, climatologist Michael Mann has already delivered a talk that would have been well worth attending for those unsure of what climate change means for our future. This spring, however, there will be no shortage of such related events, a good way to find out more would be through the Environmental Studies Website or, of course, to talk to your teachers. Finally, your fellow classmates are also an invaluable resource every Sunday night at 9:00pm in the Château Grand Salon, dozens of students are working tirelessly to stay both informed and active on the issue of climate change. The next time you feel uncertain about what global warming means to you, come join the discussion. You never know…you just might save the planet.
(03/09/06 12:00am)
Author: Bille McKibben Many thanks to The Middlebury Campus for publishing Michael Jou's essay last week "Think about it, global warming does not exist, March, 3" asserting that the theory of global warming is a hoax; it's extremely important to air these kind of views because they are fairly widespread and need to be addressed if we are to have any chance of dealing with this issue. I assume others will address the direct scientific evidence - suffice it for me to say that almost all of it is out-of-date, specious, or both. However, the novelist Michael Crichton does raise an important question in his novel, which I reviewed for Outside Magazine at the time of its publication. Crichton accuses, as does Jou, environmentalists and environmental scientists of intellectual dishonesty - of suppressing contrary information.This is a serious charge, and it is wrong. I've covered the issue of climate change pretty much from its earliest public discussions, and can say with certainty that scientists have bent over backwards to disprove the theory that the earth is warming. This is how science works - a hypothesis is proposed, and then other research teams go to work trying to knock it down. The early backers of the idea were castigated and ridiculed, but their data was strong enough to carry the day. In the years between about 1989 and 1995, this process of hypothesis-testing was at its most intense. It culminated in the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) - essentially, all the world's climatologists synthesizing all the peer-reviewed journal articles and climate models.They determined temperatures were rising, and that humans were the cause. Since then the science has continued to confirm this conclusion - indeed, the data even in the last year has made it clear that warming is proceeding far faster than we thought a decade ago.This IPCC process is a masterpiece of intellectual honesty - of weighing all the data in a neutral atmosphere and coming to conclusions broad enough for policy-makers to act on. Those who wish to challenge it need to be as intellectually honest - which means not cherry-picking a few pieces of data and then alleging a conspiracy.
(03/09/06 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] To the Editor:Recently, Middlebury first-year and senior students received e-mail invitations to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The NSSE is a questionnaire that is being given to students at hundreds of colleges and universities. Results from Middlebury students will allow the College's faculty and staff to evaluate and compare experiences at Middlebury College with those of students throughout the country. In other words, you can help the faculty and staff further demonstrate the value of a Middlebury education. The results are also covered by major media as a measure of national trends in higher education. If you have received a survey, please complete it as soon as possible. The Dean of Student Affairs Office and the Alliance for Civic Engagement are offering five $50 gift certificates for local restaurants to be awarded by lottery to students who complete the survey by Friday, March 17. If you have any questions about this project on our campus or our interest in using the results, please contact Jane Kimble at jkimble@middlebury.edu or at x5351. Thank you for your participation!Sincerely,Jane KimbleInstitutional ResearchTo the Editor:As a student who attended the forum on the cartoon controversy, I was insulted when a professor as knowledgeable as Justin Stearns said that we aren't tolerant enough of Islam. I suppose that by "we" Professor Stearns meant to suggest that the Danish cartoonists abused freedom of speech. And the immediate "we" of the forum, that is, those of us listening to Professor Stearns, are already far more tolerant than the people who rioted in Pakistan.It's freedom of speech that was on trial, as Uzair Kayani and Professor Murray Dry pointed out. And yet our school's party of "tolerance," led by Professor Stearns, persisted in asking us to be at once tolerant of Islam and to be intolerant of the Danish cartoonists: an intolerable double standard.As for the controversial cartoons, they didn't make me laugh. But I respect an individual's right to risk being humorless, especially if one is trying to speak on behalf of us all. So when Professor Stearns said that these cartoons could not have come at a worse moment, I had to ask myself, What would have been the right moment? A year ago? Next week? Freedom of speech exists so that we can speak out when the worst moment imaginable has lasted too long.Sincerely,Aaron Strumwasser '06Mercer Island, Wash.To the Editor:Last week's editorial asks "the College" to take a "proactive role" in communicating about racially charged incidents, but it says very little about the majority of people who constitute the College - the students. The editors ask for candid and open exchange, so let's start here: the administration can sponsor any number of public forums about diversity, yet until students take these matters into their own hands and affirm the importance of living civilly among one another in order to learn from their differences, no real change can take place. The role of the faculty, staff and administration is to provide the framework and resources for this education to take place and, when necessary, to enforce the policies of the College, but the responsibility of self-governance ultimately rests with students. Several years ago, the Student Government Association (SGA) considered adopting a Social Honor code that, like the Academic Honor Code, would hold students to a level of conduct consistent with the College's values. That proposal failed, but given recent events, I believe it is time to reconsider the concept.Racism, intolerance, gender inequities and uncivil behavior -these are real world problems that occasionally pierce the Middlebury bubble. The challenge of eradicating these problems is a collaborative process that involves everyone in this community. The administration is committed to dealing firmly with racial intolerance and to building a more diverse campus. But the administration does not hold exclusive rights to moral authority in this area. That belongs to all of us. Sincerely,Tim SpearsProfessor of Am. Lit. and Civ.Dean of the CollegeTo the Editor:What do you think you'll appreciate most about your Middlebury education when you leave? How to take integrals? Interpret literature? Tune your bike? Write a resume? Important skills like these helped me find a great job. But what really helped me in the "real world" are the most essential skills that Middlebury will send you off with; curiosity and the ability to critically assess information.Last week I read the Opinion article: "Think about it, global warming does not exist." I don't doubt the legitimacy of the statistics cited, but they aren't enough to base any overarching statement upon. The best way to determine what to believe about any issue is research. Don't stop when you find statements that support your opinion. Dig deeper. Get past the analysis of data, which is often laced with rhetoric. I encourage you to look at scientific journals and read methodologies. You'll find that scientists aren't just spouting off theories for kicks-a lot of very intense, and heavily scrutinized research is being done. Very few scientists still say that climate change is not anthropogenically caused; fewer believe the climate is not changing at all. Their theories aren't published in peer-reviewed journals because of questionable science, but don't take my word for it, browse their papers too. Looking for a comprehensive overview of climate science to start with? Check out the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, at www.ipcc.ch. Your education will only continue to be valuable if you remember how to educate yourself. Sincerely,Nicole Grohoski '05Farmington, MaineTo the Editor:I write to commend Michael Jou on his opinion piece in last week's The Middlebury Campus, in which he dealt a serious blow to the misguided adherents of the so-called "global warming" myth. I wish to bring the reader's attention to another commonly held fiction and the nefarious powers behind it. Danielle Steele's riveting latest opus, "The House," is unlikely to receive the critical acclaim it deserves, because in her work Steele takes issue with the popular myth of "rainshowers." Think about it. Do "rainshowers" really exist? When was the last time you were soaked by water propelled from the sky by some mysterious force? If "rain" is heavier than air, how did it get up there? Science cannot answer these questions. Consider these true facts:-San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, has seen no serious "rainshowers" in its recorded history. In some regions surrounding San Pedro, no "rain" has been reported in over 400 years! -In Rothera, Antarctica, incidents of falling water occur on average once every five years. Evidence points to the splashing of nearby waves as the likely culprits. -Meteorologists in Alert, Canada, haven't seen "rainshowers" since the station was established in the 1950s.-Finally, an overwhelming majority of the Earth's surface lacks any tangible evidence of "rainfall." Most of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans do not have permanent meteorological centers which could lend credence to the myth of "rainshowers." Given these facts, perhaps it is time we ask ourselves: who wants us to believe in "rainshowers?" Could it be the global umbrella industry, which is increasingly controlled by a few ultra-powerful Chinese firms? Could the Chinese government be responsible for the myth of "rainshowers" as a means of accelerating its mysterious, malevolent plans? Think about it. Sincerely,David
Murphy Haglund '06Kingston, Ontario
(03/02/06 12:00am)
Author: Dave Barker I caught up with SGA President Eli Berman '07.5 the other day. With over a semester in the books and a new one ahead, I thought it time to find out what students can look forward to from their representatives in the remaining three months. Judging from completed legislation, students should have high expectations. If you don't pour over meeting minutes or have been forgoing the news section for Sudoku, the SGA has set a progressive tone. Maybe you noticed a few extra greenbacks in your pocket after the book buy-back at the end of last semester. Thanks to the SGA's textbook requisition bill, many professors have quit procrastinating over book selection. Close to $19,000 ended up with students after last semester's buy-back -a $13,000 increase. "This has been a good year so far," Berman said. "We're continuing to change the culture." With further tweaking, the textbook bill will benefit students even more. There should be an enforced deadline for professors, not just an e-mail encouraging timely submission. At other schools, professors miss paychecks when they don't submit reading lists. Beyond addressing our bookish tendencies, the SGA has focused on transportation. Either this weekend or the next, look for the inauguration of a roundtrip shuttle bus to Burlington on Saturdays that will cost the equivalent of a new Grille entrée ($6). In response to the new liquor inspector, who now ranks just below the Williams Eph on campus popularity polls, the SGA unanimously approved a bill to create a student-run shuttle to and from off-campus parties. The service could begin sometime in March. Berman isn't celebrating just yet. "SafeRides is a band-aid for an open wound," he said.At the College, few wounds can be described as gaping. "We have it really good here," Berman said. Students enjoy such luxuries as three chocolate fountains at the Winter Carnival dance or a choice of major newspapers to read over Corn Flakes. Yet that hasn't kept Berman and company from giving into student apathy. "We can do things to make the SGA more effectual," he said. The SGA constitution will be revised this semester to limit overlapping committees and councils. More senators will be elected based on their commons instead of their class year. Also look for a new organization of Middlebury's music scene around a Web service called FreshTracks, which would serve as calendar of upcoming concerts and an engine to download music from campus bands and new artists.Issues in need of examination include the persistent disappearance of dishware from the dining halls that costs the College between $60,000 and $80,000 annually and further evaluation of the experience of minorities on campus. "Minorities aren't as happy as they should be," Berman said. Based on the SGA's performance in the first six months, I find it hard to believe that these issues will go unresolved. Berman has been successful in leading the SGA by seeking the advice of past presidents like Andrew Jacobi '05 and reaching out to varied groups on campus so that no one is left out when bills are being drafted. If you remain skeptical, attend a Sunday meeting. "We're always open to new ideas," Berman said. It turns out that it's not just the climate change crowd getting things done on the traditional day of rest.
(03/02/06 12:00am)
Author: Michael Jou '06 Environmental scientists are off their rockers. In the novel, State of Fear, author Michael Crichton leads the reader through a fictional story involving environmental terrorists who threaten to take over the world. However, unlike his other best-selling novels such as Jurassic Park and Rising Sun, this book will never turn into a Hollywood blockbuster. Why?Simply because Crichton negates and denies this popular theory widely accepted by the general population.Though for years mass media and environmental goodwill have told us that global warming lies behind our desire to protect the environment, what would happen if this theory (which is what it is - a theory) really were just a hoax? A conspiracy, maybe? Just think about these facts cited in State of Fear :-Ice sheets in Greenland have not receded since 1940. (Climatic Change)-Global temperatures dropped by 0.27 degrees Fahrenheit between 1940 and 1972. (NASA, Gobbard Institute for Space Studies)-Punta Arenas, the city closest to Antarctica, has experienced a decrease of 1.0 degree Fahrenheit since 1888. (NASA, Gobbard Institute for Space Studies)-The temperature in the interior of Antarctica has slightly decreased with an increase of sea ice. (It is also interesting to note that Antarctica has actually been melting for the past 6,000 years.) (Science)-Sea levels are rising, but at the same rate that they have been rising for the past 6,000 years. (Center for Space Research: The University of Texas at Austin)-The number of hurricanes in the United States peaked at 23 from 1940-1949, whereas the number of hurricanes per decade from 1970-1999 rested at about 14. (National Hurricane Center)Though many critics and scientists have discredited the scientific reliability or analysis of Crichton's novel, one must start to question the legitimacy of global warming. After the creation of the theory of global warming in 1988, the Kyoto Treaty was signed. Designed to limit the output of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, this accord aimed at reducing global temperature increase by 0.72 degrees Fahrenheit before 2100. However, temperatures in various cities across the globe have decreased, even though many countries have not met their emission quotas. Kind of suspicious, huh?This article is written to incite the reader to question global warming, to not accept science at face value and to become informed. Though data can seem convincing and quite accurate, it can always be manipulated, influenced and biased. For example, South Korean scientist, Hwang Woo-suk, had published a breakthrough study on stem cell research in the scientific journal, "Science." However, he recently admitted that he had fabricated his data - he had never actually succeeded in extracting cloned DNA material from human embryos. He lied.Though global warming might exist, what happens if it did not? There are a significant number of scientists in the world who do not support this environmental and political movement, but do not speak out for various reasons. Most of them usually protest global warming only after having retired from the scientific community. This sounds funny…With Middlebury being a school run by a strong, environmentalist mindset, I ask you to think twice now before believing what really is a liberal attitude. Does protecting the environment mean believing this theory?As a final note, think about the ozone layer. Our precious ozone layer. We have always learned about the gigantic hole developing in our ozone that threatens to give us all skin cancer. However, in a study titled, "Changes in Ozone Layer Offer Hope for Improvement," published in August 2005 by the University of Chicago, scientists present the results of their research demonstrating that the ozone layer is thickening. Though we have always been told that the ozone layer was disappearing, when was the last time that you heard anything in the news about this "problem?" How come we never hear about these positive changes in our environment? Maybe because it doesn't quite fit with global warming… If contradictory facts leaked out into the media, what would happen to this beloved theory?The next time you hear something about global warming, think twice. You might save the planet.
(03/02/06 12:00am)
Author: JAKE COHEN AND POLLY JOHNSON Three new senators join SGA ranks after Feb. 28 electionsThree senators were voted into office for the Student Government Association (SGA) on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The elections only lasted 24 hours but an impressive voter turn out and a well-publicized campaign made one day plenty of time. Seven candidates yielded three active students to the current SGA roster of representatives.Jessie Singleton '08.5, a founding member of the Roosevelt Institution and a political enthusiast, was elected as the Brainerd Commons Senator. The class of '09.5 has already made its presence known on campus by selecting Gita Elgite '09.5 as the replacement for former Feb Senator Ted King. The Middlebury student body has been reinvigorated with the recent arrival of juniors who spent the semester abroad. Leigh Polfer '07 has been chosen to represent the class of 2007 as the Half-Year Junior Senator.SGA President Eli Berman seemed ecstatic about the set of senators and sees the potential for more progress and success in the future of the SGA. Berman has fronted a senate-based initiative called "The SafeRide Program" that would provide free off-campus transportation for students attending distant events. The addition of Polfer, who served on the Senate Transportation Committee, will fortify the senate's stance on off-campus transportation and may be the impetus necessary to gain administrative approval. The smoking gunThis week's Community Council meeting saw the return of what has been an on-again, off-again contentious health issue for the College: cigarette smoking and its negative externalities from the perspective of non-smokers. Reference and Instruction Librarian Brenda Ellis, Health Center Director Mark Peluso and other concerned staff members suggested the possibility of instating a smoke-free zone around all College building entrances, a plan that has long been a pipe dream for smoke-free crusaders. Next week Community Council will transition into its annual social house review and will continue discussion of a possible localized smoking ban. Famous climatologist to speak at Middlebury for Margolin lecture Renowned climatologist Michael Mann will speak at Middlebury on Tuesday, March 7, at 4:30 p.m. in John M. McCardell, Jr. Bicentennial Hall, presenting a lecture entitled "Global Climate Change: Past and Future." The lecture is the College's 2006 Scott Margolin Lecture in Environmental Affairs. Mann holds a joint appointment at the Penn State University Departments of Meteorology and Geosciences and in the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, in addition to being the director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center.Acknowledged for his research and analysis of global warming, Mann is responsible for the "hockey stick" diagram, which he uses to describe global warming. He claims the earth is warming at an unnatural rate, with a sharp upturn in the beginning of the 20th century - the basis for the theory. Mann and his colleagues, who drew from different sources including tree rings to coral reefs to understand temperature before there were temperature records, crafted the hockey stick graph. He is firm in his belief that the Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate, and that the warming is a result of human activities.
(01/26/06 12:00am)
Author: Jamie Henn '07 The history of broomball is not written in books, but on the icy court in front of McCullough each winter. In an age when professional sports are dominated by corruption, steroids and traitors (curse you, Johnny Damon), broomball is a noble reminder of what sports should be all about. The concussions, the last minute goals, the sub-zero games: all have become the stuff of legend.As I write, this great Middlebury tradition is being swept into the dustbin of history by the broom of global warming. According to the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), since the 1960s, winter in Vermont, as marked by snow and ice cover on lakes across the northeast, has shortened by two weeks. Snowfall has also decreased by 15 percent since the 1950s.This is bad news for broomball. Who among us remembers last year, when the rink in front of McCullough turned into a swamp halfway through the season? The colder temperatures this week are heartening, but the mercury rose once again last week, turning the ice into slush. And let's face it, slush sucks. Slush means fewer days playing broomball, fewer days at the Sno Bowl and Bread Loaf, less ice fishing, and no more ice climbing. Scholar in Residence in Environmental Studies Bill McKibben once said that global warming threatens to turn our famous Vermont winters into a five-month "mud season," the name New Englanders have given the early spring, when melting snow turns the region into a giant mud pit. "Mud Carnival" just doesn't have the same ring as "Winter Carnival," does it? Another great tradition, Middlebury hockey, began as an outdoor sport in the 1920s. "On the site of what is now Munroe Hall, there were three tennis courts cut into the side of the hill and they had square wooden posts to hold the nets," recalled Paris Fletcher '24. "We secured an old two-handled cross-cut saw and cut them nearly at ground level. I don't recall consulting the College authorities in advance, but once we had removed those obstacles, we had a nice flat area large enough for a hockey rink, and it was fait accompli . . . ." Last Thursday, Jan. 19, the Sunday Night Group honored the legacy of Paris Fletcher and all the great outdoor hockey and broomball players that have graced this college campus with a "Save Broomball, Fight Climate Change!" game in front of McCullough. All were encouraged to attend to show support. On Monday, Jan. 23, all were invited to join a delegation of students who, dressed in hockey gear, rallied on the steps of the Vermont State House in Montpelier to present Governor Douglas with a "Golden Broom." The broom symbolizes our challenge to the governor to take strong actions to save our beloved sport and fight climate change. It is time to drop the gloves on global warming. That's what Paris Fletcher would have done. If you love broomball, skiing, ice fishing or any other winter sport, join your fellow students in this noble cause. Broomball needs you.
(01/12/06 12:00am)
Author: Mallika Rao and Rachel Durfee J-Term proposes that filling a Midd-kid's day with a less traditional curriculum will inspire him or her to seek out interesting ways of filling it. The best way to see this theory in action is through the unique J-Term classes and workshops - a combination of practical and transcendental classes all aimed at bettering the students who choose to participate. This year's courses taught by visiting professors and workshops filled to capacity range from "The Art of Bicycle Maintenance" to "Arachnophobia, Arachnophobia." One of the first workshops to fill up was the "Introduction to Ice Climbing," a cheery reminder that the average Middlebury student does not fear even the harshest of winter climates. Here is an introduction to some of the more innovative curricular and extracurricular activities, some of which are still open to faculty, staff and students. WorkshopsCricket for the Clueless: This workshop aims to publicize the internationally popular sport of cricket in the Middlebury community. Students Owais Gilani '08 and Dhruv Dharnidharka '09 are the instructors, teaching interested students how to play and enjoy the game. Those students who show real promise will be eligible candidates for the Middlebury College Cricket Club Team. This workshop could count as a PE credit as long as the requirements for attendance are fulfilled. Establishing Credit and How to Manage Your Account:For those clueless consumers slightly frightened by their own power with a credit card, have no fear. Here you will learn to understand the consumer loan and credit card application process, at the same time receiving the inside scoop on a bank's analytical process. An instructor from the National Bank of Middlebury will teach all of these essentials, as well as guide you on how to establish a credit history and manage an enviable credit rating. The task of managing your bank account will be discussed and hopefully conquered. You will leave convinced of the importance of record keeping, capable of balancing your statement and a soon-to-be pro at Telebank and Online Banking. Art of Home Brewing - Dank Microbrews:College and beer. There is no need to stress the connection further. Why not learn to produce some of the sought-after stuff on your own? You just might make more friends! This hands-on workshop, taught by Matthew Osterman '07 and Joe Powers '06 promises to teach you everything you need to know about home beer brewing, starting with the materials needed for the actual process itself. Aside from learning to brew your own beer, each class will introduce you to the taste and history of different types of beer. Each wannabe brewer will participate in the brewing of four different batches of beer, culminating in the creation of 12 absolutely new beers made from scratch by each student. Additionally, the new brewers will leave with what will undoubtedly be a deeper and more sincere appreciation of beer and its history. For this, as in all of the alcohol-related workshops, attendees must be 21 years old. IDs are checked at the time of sign-up and again at the first class. Korea 101: An introduction to Korean Culture, Language and Cuisine:Split into two parts, this workshop begins with an introduction to the Korean language and moves into cooking-focused classes. Students will leave with basic conversational and survival phrases, as well as with an understanding of traditional Korean cuisine. The proposed meals range from dishes like kalbi, (Korean barbeque sauce) ribs to kimchi, (spicy pickled cabbages). One will be able to converse, survive and be a foodie in Korea, all thanks to the efforts of instructor Sarah Kim '07. More importantly, whether previously interested in modern Korean culture or not, workshop attendees will hopefully gain a special appreciation from this hands-on introduction.CoursesBig NoiseLook out Mozart: co-taught by Crispin Butler, the laboratory supervisor for the Physics Department at Middlebury, and Visiting Instructor Jessica Nissen '90, an artist who lives and works in New York City, this J-Term class, is now in its second year and is making itself heard across campus. Students first study the basics of sound, sculpture, electronics and performance. armed with that knowledge, each student next builds an amplification system and gathers objects to serve as instruments. At the end of the month students debut their creative sound systems at a final presentation/performance. So. if your neighbor plays his or her music so loud it sounds like it is coming from your own speakers, he is probably enrolled in this course this month. Hopefully time in this class will keep his own "big noise" down to a minimum. Concertgoers beware: No prior music experience was required to enroll.Arachnophobia, ArachnophiliaThis interdisciplinary course examines why the arachnid family, which includes spiders, scorpions and tarantulas, elicits "irrational reactions" from the human species. Whether you see them as terrifying (like the 1990 movie "Arachnophobia") or inspiring (think "Charlotte's Web"), there is a proliferation of arachnids in stories and images throughout history. Says Professor of Biology Tom Root, whose research focuses on arachnid behavior, "My goal for the course is to have students understand why arachnids are both loved and feared in different cultures." The class will explore the duality of the simultaneously repulsive and exalted arachnid and the differing psychological reactions these eight-legged creatures evoke. The course begins with an introduction to the arachnid's natural history and historical portrayals, moving to an examination of the role of arachnids in literature, mythology, music, film and art. Katrina and Its Aftermath: A Service Learning CourseThis course, organized and taught by Associate Professor of American Literature Will Nash, seeks to literally break students out of the Middlebury "bubble" and put them on the scene of one of the most major events in recent U.S. history. The most unique aspect of the course is a weeklong trip to New Orleans where students will take part in an education project at a public high school as well as help with community relief efforts. Before departing for New Orleans (where January temperatures average a balmy 52 degrees) students will study issues of urban planning, social and environmental justice, educational policy and the cultural impact of Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans. Coursework includes articles and other journalistic coverage as well as Tom Piazza's "Why New Orleans Matters". Senior Emily Egginton will use the course as a starting point for her independent project and is most interested in environmental aspects, such as coastal erosion and water, soil and air quality. "But," she adds, "the class will also examine the city from a social and cultural perspective, particularly since the reconstruction of New Orleans will require an interdisciplinary approach." When asked why they enrolled in the course, students responded, "Because I wanted to make a difference for someone affected by Katrina." Adds Nash, "I share that hope."The History of The American Negro Spiritual and Its Influence On Western Civilization This exceedingly popular J-Term class is taught by beloved Twilight Artist-in-Residence Francois Clemmons and enrolls almost 30 students each year. The course focuses on influences, changes and trends in the American Negro spiritual, and students are encouraged to combine modern-day hip-hop with traditional spirituals to create what Clemmons calls "unique and…insightful compositions." In addition to regular class hours, students rehearse with the community chorus throughout the month in preparation for a final performance at the Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast. Says fi
rst-year Kevin O'Rourke, "Simply put, Francois Clemmons is the diva-man. The class is nothing less than a perfect blend of hearty laughter and emotional frankness, just like its professor." Says Clemmons, "It's great to see so many 'non-singers' trying and enjoying singing…The event we put together for our MLK concert will be remembered by many students for its uniqueness and for community involvement for years to come. The joy that this brings to me keeps me 'high' for the whole month of January."
(01/12/06 12:00am)
Author: ANNIE ONISHI At its Dec. 15 meeting the Board of Trustees granted tenure to four faculty members, promoting them to the rank of associate professor. Professor of Political Science Erik Bleich, Professor of Economics Jeffrey P. Carpenter, Professor of Economics Jonathan T. Isham Jr. and Professor of German Bettina Matthias were all granted tenure after a semester-long review process. Bleich published an article in the April 2005 edition of "Theory and Society" entitled, "The Legacies of History? Colonization and Immigration Integration in Britain and France." Bleich said that he is looking forward to the opportunity to "pursue more 'high risk, high reward' avenues" with his students in the coming years, but that the freedom afforded by tenure will not fundamentally change his habits, since he has "been pursuing [his] interests in teaching and research since [he] arrived and will continue to do so."Carpenter collaborated on a project called "Truckers and Turnover: Using Field Experiments to Understand Driver Decision Making." In addition, he co-authored an article in the June edition of "Theory and Decision" about aspiration-based dynamics.Isham received recognition for his collaboration on a project to facilitate the nascent climate movement. Of his recent promotion, Isham said, "To put it mildly, I am honored to be tenured at Middlebury. This is an extraordinary community, of which I am proud to be a member."Matthias, in the German department, echoed Isham's sentiments, saying, "It's a wonderful confirmation of the value of the work that I have done here since 1999, a proof that what I have to offer and can do with Middlebury's resources and great students is what the College wants and perceives as part of its mission or identity. Personally, it is an assurance that I will be able to be around the people who have been part of my life for the years to come." Ramaswamy to stand in for Dean of FacultyBeginning in July 2006, Frederick C. Dirks Professor of International Economics Sunder Ramaswamy will fill the position of acting dean of the faculty, vacated by Professor of Psychology Susan Campbell, who will be on academic leave next year. Ramaswamy has been a member of the faculty of Middlebury College for the past 15 years. His managerial resume includes acting as the chair of the economics department and serving as the director of the Madras School of Economics in India. As acting dean of the faculty, Ramaswamy's duties and responsibilities will vary greatly from his current post as professor. The dean of the faculty is in charge of making sure that the academic side of the College runs smoothly. In addition, Ramaswamy will be involved in recruiting new faculty members, will serve on tenure review committees and will participate in the maintenance and further establishment of the educational review policies.The dean of the faculty, along with most other administrators of the College, is traditionally selected from within the College community. Ramaswamy believes that this tradition maintains the close community feeling of the College, because those in charge are already familiar with the environment. However, he also believes that this practice can sometimes hinder progress, since not all great teachers make great managers in an administrative setting.Ramaswamy said of starting his new position, "Although right now I am not nervous about taking this role, starting any new job will pose challenges… for one year, it will be a good challenge." He continued, "Of course, I will miss teaching my full complement of courses and the everyday contact with my students. I intend to offer one senior seminar in economics and also be there to advise honors thesis students."
(12/08/05 12:00am)
Author: Derek Schlickeisen Approximately 120 Middlebury students spent much of last weekend making their voices heard at the United Nations conference on global warming in Montreal, Canada. The trip's sponsor, the campus climate-change organization Sunday Night Group (SNG), hoped to increase awareness of climate issues at Middlebury and influence U.S. energy policy.According to SNG member Emily Erwin '08, the Middlebury students sat in on portions of the conference as "official observers" and participated in a 40,000-person march on Saturday afternoon that coincided with dozens of other demonstrations worldwide. Said William Bates '06, who helped organize the trip, "The energy of the demonstration and the message it conveyed were truly awesome. This march was a phenomenal and unprecedented moment for the climate change movement."On the agenda for the U.N. conference, in which 189 countries are taking part, is the next phase of the landmark 1997 Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. According to the agreement, of which the Bush administration backed out in 2001 citing economic reasons, participating nations would take steps to cut seven percent of their greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. One of the Montreal conference's primary aims was to convince the United States and rapidly-industrializing China and India to commit themselves to their own emissions caps.This aim, however, has met with little success. The lead American negotiator at the conference, Harlan Watson, has come under fire from national environmental groups for his close ties to the energy industry. As first reported by The Washington Post, Watson, whom President Bush appointed to the lead negotiating job in 2001, was a favorite of oil giant ExxonMobil to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and spent years working in the energy extraction and automotive industries.The trip's organizers said they hoped their efforts would help counter these political obstacles to U.S. involvement in stopping climate change. "While the Bush administration is turning its back on global warming, citizens - especially students - are taking their own steps to work towards a healthier future," said SNG co-founder Jamie Henn '07.Henn and Bates emphasized the importance of both the conference and the students' involvement. "Global climate change will define our generation," said Henn. "We know the problem, we have the solutions and we need to take action now." He emphasized that tackling global warming represents a moral challenge to the United States. "We took action not only to demand technological changes, but changes that would help deal with economic and social inequalities as well," he said. "The effects of climate change will impact people in the developing world and low-income people in our own country the most."Citing a statistic favored by environmentalists and progressives in Congress, Bates said that the United States emits one quarter of the world's greenhouse gases and argued that it should be held accountable for this comparatively high impact on the global climate. "The United States must join the world in establishing and enacting coordinated international efforts to stop global climate change," he said.The Middlebury group met last Friday night with other student activists from around the world who had also made the trek to Montreal. The next morning, they joined others at the U.S. Consulate to deliver petitions containing over 600,000 signatures demanding that the Bush administration join the Kyoto accord. Like many others at the conference, the Middlebury group made camp at the Youth Climate Justice Center, a site created especially for activists taking part in activities at the conference.Henn said that he and three others remained in Montreal for a Monday afternoon publicity event called "Fiddling While the World Burns," a collaboration with the youth group Energy Action and puppeteers from the Montreal Marionette Collective. "The action," said Henn, "compared President Bush to Emperor Nero, who fiddled while Rome burned." The event garnered coverage from Reuters News Service, the Canadian press and Channel 4 News in London.Organizers described the trip as a "tremendous success" because of both the number of Middlebury students involved and because of the attention the demonstrations received. The trip "provided bodies, energy, support and leadership for the actions and events that occurred in Montreal," said Bates. "It demonstrated even to other activist groups the potential for increased participation [in that] no other school or youth organization brought 120 members. This trip was one of the most exciting experiences I've had during my time as a Middlebury student."In addition to the SNG, student organizers credited the Political Science Department, the Environmental Affairs division of the administration and the five commons offices for helping to fund and organize the trip.
(12/01/05 12:00am)
Author: Jason F. Siegel A recent survey regarding a decrease in the temperature of campus buildings shows that student opinion is generally in favor of the initiative to lower the temperature of classroom buildings and dormitories by two degrees Fahrenheit.The sponsoring committee, a division of the Sunday Night Group called the Middlebury Climate Campaign, started the movement known appropriately as the "Two Degrees Campaign" in late October. The goal is to lower the default temperature in all buildings on campus by two degrees and educate the student body about how the heating systems work, thereby saving around $60,000 in heating costs, according to the group.The survey was comprised of eight multiple-choice questions with an opportunity at the end to identify certain buildings on campus as being too hot or cold. The questions posed to students sought to assess how hot buildings on campus are in general, their own ability to control heating in their dorm rooms and their support for a reduction of temperatures in classrooms and residence halls. The survey received 1,112 responses, or nearly half of the student body.In general, student responses to the questions tended to be either in favor of or ambivalent towards a reduction of building temperatures. For example, more than 60 percent of respondents reported having to open their windows in the winter due to excessive heat. In addition, 71.4 percent of students supported or strongly supported the two-degree reduction of classroom building temperatures, and 72.6 percent would do the same for residence halls.When asked about which buildings were too hot or too cold, certain buildings were mentioned many times. For instance, Munroe Hall was generally considered to be too hot, with more than 100 students calling it "too hot," versus 27 who believed it is too cold. Warner Hall, Proctor Dining Hall and Twilight Hall were the next hottest buildings. Conversely, Ross and Atwater Dining Halls and the New Library were the buildings most frequently dubbed too cold. In fact, all the new buildings on campus - that is, those that have opened since 1999 - were cited more often as being too cold than too hot.The survey had long been in the works. On Sunday, Oct. 30, one of the members of the Sunday Night Group, Thomas Hand '05.5, went to the Student Government Association, requesting assistance with the distribution of an electronic survey, to be distributed to all students. After making several suggested changes, the survey was distributed to all students via e-mail on Nov. 17.This is not the first campaign of this kind. Three years ago, Hand helped organize a similar effort to encourage all students to set their thermostats to the lowest level, explaining that the amount of heat delivered to rooms in various older dorms varies because the heating plant sets a temperature for the whole building rather than individual rooms. Thus, when students returned to their rooms and turned the thermostat to its highest setting, they would receive no heat whatsoever if the building was at its ideal temperature. Then, once the room became overheated, students would open their windows, and this alternation caused expensive fluctuations in heating. The initiative to get people to stick to one level to stay more consistently warm never gained popularity, which was part of the reason for the birth of the two-degree campaign.Hand stated that the current campaign was also born out of the carbon neutrality report from two years ago. Citing a trend in the goals of environmental initiatives at Middlebury, he said that the Two Degrees Campaign was important not simply for its environmental merit, but that "it will also be a big financial benefit to the campus." The financial benefit would provide added incentive to support the cause. Hand warned that the savings would come only if people did not start to open their windows more than in the past. "When people are opening their windows and it's -25 degrees outside, a 100-degree temperature difference can erase the savings pretty fast."
(12/01/05 12:00am)
Author: Polly Johnson With all our attention focused on our own lives and our own work, sometimes we forget to look around us and notice the interests and pursuits of those close to us. Unbeknownst to many, a number of Middlebury faculty have for a year been involved in the Race and Ethnicity Reading Group, a book club that was started by Assistant Professor of Political Science Erik Bleich, who felt that he was having "difficulty in finding time to talk about the issues of race and ethnicity given our hectic schedules." Other faculty and staff members echoed his sentiment, and the book club was born.According to Bleich, "the idea is to get together a bunch of folks from different disciplines and backgrounds to talk about issues of race and ethnicity, looking at the topics from a variety of angles." With this central idea in mind, the group has read selections from such authors as W.E.B. DuBois, Frantz Fanon, Zadie Smith, K. Anthony Appiah, Charles Carenegie and Mahmood Mamdani, a political scientist. Through their large variety of selections, the group has been exposed to a wide range of books that incite discussion about global, political, anthropological and social issues - in their last meeting, "the discussion focused on the current controversy about biological definitions of race," said Visiting Assistant Professor in American Literature and Civilization and Wonnacott Commons Faculty Co-head Deb Evans.Visiting Assistant Professor of Italian and book club member Natasha Chang very much enjoys the group. She joined because she "believes that Middlebury has a long way to go in establishing a rigorous dialogue about race and ethnicity in our community." She sees "the existence of this group as one step taken toward the creation of a stronger community here, namely one that is committed to thinking intellectually about race and ethnicity in the world at large as well as on campus."On average, according to Bleich, about ten faculty members attend each meeting, which meets two or three times per semester. He cites that number of attendees as an "unqualified success," for "getting an average of ten faculty and stuff members to attend such a group on a regular basis is asking a lot of some busy people."Middlebury offers funding for reading groups, and there are currently nine in operation. According to Jean Thomson Fulton Professor of French Carol Rifelj, "funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has supported nine faculty reading groups over the past three years." Some examples of other reading groups in operation are the Medieval Hebrew Poetry Group, the Internet and Democracy Group and the Faculty Drama Group. According to Rifelj, "Each group has drawn faculty members from many different departments; and their reports at the end of the year have expressed appreciation for the significant intellectual interchange they provided."The Race and Ethnicity group has been meeting since last winter. Bleich is blown away by the impact it has had on him and other faculty members. "I think we all get out of it a wider perspective on issues of race and ethnicity, and a deeper knowledge of specific topics that are of global importance." An additional bonus of the group is the effect it is having on the professors in their classrooms. Evans said of the group and its impact on her teaching, "Without question the group is a great resource for faculty and staff members with questions about race and ethnicity, and hopefully our intellectual discussions will be reflected in our classroom teaching and work at the college." Sujata Moorti, chair of the women's and gender studies department, echoed this idea, noting, "I find that some of the ideas we share and think through in these meetings have fed immediately into my teaching, especially since these are topics I address in my classes."Aside from the intellectual pursuits of the group, faculty members enjoy the social time spent with other faculty. Professor of Anthropology Ellen Oxfeld said, "It is really nice to get together with a group of faculty to discuss works, since obviously everyone has a different point of view, and different insights, and this enables you to get a variety of perspectives."The members are overwhelmingly proud of the group, and it is clear that the ultimate hope is not only to broaden their own horizons, but also for the group to have a profound effect on campus life. Said Moorti of her hopes, "This will in the long-run have an impact on how our students engage with the topics of race and ethnicity and, I hope, will shape our campus climate at a deep structural level."
(11/17/05 12:00am)
Author: Dave Barker When I first heard about the Sunday Night Group, which was formed last January to take action on global warming, I pictured a rather smelly group of students who fresh from rock climbing or hookah smoking, needed an extra hour to wail about the Bush Administration and Kyoto. I thought of it as a rally of veggie oil vehicles, a secret society of Middlebury's own Monkey Wrench Gang. But when I entered Chateau's Grand Salon on Sunday night at 9 p.m., it became immediately clear that the secret was out on the Sunday Night Group. I arrived on time, yet there were already 45 students circling around the Grand Salon. Of course, it helped that Scholar in Residence Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature, the seminal work on global warming had come to chat, but I would soon get the feeling that the group needjfghjed McKibben there like a bald man needs a stylist.McKibben talked off the cuff for 15 minutes, relaying the good news that political leaders are finally waking up to warming. Republicans in Congress are stepping up to oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge for the first time. In China, where air quality compares to the quality of some of those trinkets they export to us - very poor - leaders are fully aware of the need to address the environmental impacts of hyper-growth.The best news of all came at the end of his talk, when he added to the list of accomplishments worldwide by mentioning the work of Middlebury students. "I don't think there's a college campus more energized around this issue [global warming] than this one," he said. He applauded last summer's Road to Detroit campaign for putting pressure on automakers. The bus used for that journey was recently spotlighted in Rolling Stone. My eyes really started to bulge when the students started sharing recent progress. Instead of talking about the latest plot to maliciously foil a developer's plans, Kat Cooley and Emily Egginton, both '06, discussed their recent trip to Ticonderoga, N.Y., to observe the re-permitting process for International Paper's proposal to test-burn tires. Other students were there with plans for issuing policy on wind energy through the Roosevelt Institution or to solicit help for a local goat farmer looking to run a farm powered by solar and wind energy. Excitement heightened over the Nov. 28 -Dec. 9 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal, the largest intergovernmental climate conference since the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997. May Boeve '06.5 and Jamie Henn '07 hope to get 100 students to attend as Official Observers and to participate in a planned march on Dec. 3, slated as the International Day of Action. As I learned, every Sunday in Chateau is a day of action. You can shrug off the group as a bunch of twenty-first century hippies, but until you sit in on a meeting, watch your mouth. These guys walk the walk more than they talk the talk.
(10/13/05 12:00am)
Author: DANIEL L. J. PHILLIPS & KATHERINE N. DOORLEY New SGA-sponsored shuttle service goes beyond the bubble Back by popular demand, the Student Government Association (SGA) is offering students a round-trip shuttle bus service to New York City and Boston over fall break. The SGA announced the service in an e-mail sent out to the College community on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Both bus trips depart from campus on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and return the evening of Sunday, Oct. 23. A round-trip fare to New York costs $75 and the price to Boston is $50."We're improving the system that was started last year," said SGA President Eli Berman '07.5, who noted that tickets can be purchased online or at the Center For the Arts box office. "The tickets are priced pretty reasonably, but we want to sell as many as we can," said Berman.In the "fine print" at the bottom of the e-mail, the SGA alerted students that the service may be cancelled if not enough tickets are sold. "If all goes well, we will continue the service throughout the year, but we need to make sure people ride the bus," said Berman, who emphasized the importance of the trips since Greyhound no longer stops in Middlebury.The e-mail message even appealed to the environmentally savvy Midd-kid, saying that the bus service "saves gas money, reduces carbon emissions and cuts the hassle by simply hopping aboard a luxury coach leaving from the middle of campus."Campus intruder issued trespass notice On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 8, the Middlebury Police Department was called to escort a suspicious male from campus after Public Safety received reports that he had repeatedly bothered female students last weekend. Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah sent out an e-mail to the College community on Monday that identified the subject as Scott Nitchie, who is "from New Hampshire and has been known to frequent New England college campuses and bother women." Public Safety described Nitchie as being 24 years old, 6'3" tall, 200 pounds and Caucasian, with short, light-brown hair and blue eyes. The e-mail also contained a description of Nitchie's car.Female students reported encountering Nitchie on campus both Friday and Saturday nights of last weekend. The subject was located near McCullough Social Space last Saturday, and was issued a trespass notice from Public Safety before being escorted from campus by the police.Professors receive research outside grants In keeping with the recent Clifford Symposium, several Middlebury professors recently received research grants to further projects examining global climates and scientific phenomena. Assistant Professor of Economics Jon Isham received a grant form the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation to support a project entitled "What Works? Using Insight from Social Change Research to Accelerate the Nascent Climate Movement." Jeff Munroe, assistant professor of Geology, was granted money from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research into the glacial and paleoclimate history of the Unita Mountains in Utah. Professor of Geology Pat Manley was the recipient of supplemental funding from the NSF's Antarctic Sciences section in order to support an additional oceanographic cruise to the James Ross Basin. Finally, Jim Andrews, research supervisor in the Biology Department, will continue his amphibian monitoring at Mt. Mansfield and the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas due to a grant from the Vermont Department of Forests, Park and Recreation, via the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative.
(10/13/05 12:00am)
Author: May Chan Amy Chavasse is a dance artist-in-residence who teaches dance regularly at Middlebury. She founded Chavasse Dance and Performance Company in 1995 and her work has been produced throughout the United States and Europe.The Middlebury Campus: You have studied dance extensively, taught and toured with choreographers and numerous groups. On what kind of dance do you focus primarily?Amy Chavasse: The term used most often for the type of dance we do is contemporary dance. There's a lot of debate about what we do now, but it's a form of modern dance that grew out of the rejection of classical ballet, so it's more of a post-modern dance. The initial forms of training started in ballet and, later on, they developed the Graham technique, which was started by Martha Graham. I studied the Graham technique in college and what I do now reflects my interest as a choreographer. It's pretty eclectic, and full of inversions and blends of Afro-Caribbean styles and Capoeira. A lot of dance today is characterized by hybridization.The Campus: How did you start getting interested in dance? Have you always known you wanted to dance?AC: Well, I danced when I was really young and it was really due to my parents taking me to lessons. They also took me to piano lessons, violin lessons, horse-back-riding lessons, all sorts of lessons. As a kid, I always put on shows in the house with my sister. I probably started when I was three or four and danced until I was 14. After that, I quit and didn't start again until college.The Campus: What experiences or figures have influenced you in your career?AC: In the past 10 years or so, work that has been influential to me and that has had a powerful impact is the kind that blends theater and dance. I'm interested in work that is politically challenging in context - there's a German choreographer, Pina Bausch, who does that kind of work. I've had a lot of opportunities to work with all these great dancers and all these experiences have affected the way I see work and make work now. All along the way, there have been iconic figures that have taken me under their wing. It was like an apprenticeship. Before Middlebury, I was teaching a lot and everyone I met has shifted my course. One figure who has also had an incredible influence on me is Peter Schmitz, who used to teach here.The Campus: You studied dance recently in Buenos Aires. How did this opportunity come about?AC: This goes back to my fascination with political art, which is a really difficult art form because you have to keep the artistic integrity in it without pounding the person on the head with the message. Last summer, I went to see this dance troupe called Grupo Krapp at the American Dance University in North Carolina and they did this piece called "Mendiolaza." I was totally blown away. I wanted to know more about the work, so I started researching the community and looking at their work. I began communicating with other choreographers down there and that's how I got involved. I worked with Brenda Angil and her aerial dance company and I would go to her studio, which was this giant warehouse with harnesses hanging off the walls. The harnesses took a while to get used to but the people were just great and so friendly.The Campus: Do you feel as if your experience in Buenos Aires has changed your perspectives on dance? Will it contribute to the classes that you teach here at Middlebury?AC: Well it was a short stay, only two weeks, and I felt like it was really laying the groundwork. I was really impressed by the passion of the performers because their economy down there has really been put through the wringer. The middle class has run out of food, there have been economic hardships and political turmoil, and when there is this disruption in a community, art is really the only place where the people can thrive. Often I noticed the students and dancers and I could not imagine Middlebury students doing this kind of work. They were totally uninhibited and doing stuff with their bodies that was very outrageous. It was just a different climate. I noticed this complete conviction and indebtedness with form and I thought, maybe I have to work harder, or push harder, maybe push my students harder. The group I was working with went to their day jobs all morning and afternoon and then they would come to dance all night. They were just so open and so willing and so hungry.The Campus: Are you currently working on any projects? Do you have any plans to go back to Buenos Aires anytime soon or tour anywhere else?AC: I'm directing the Dance Company at Middlebury this fall and it's a piece tentatively titled "Enemies." It's pretty abstract, but also still pretty loaded. This year, I'll also be doing a mini-residency at Press College, Ariz., with Andrea Olsen, a dance professor at Middlebury. We'll be attending classes, showing some work and doing some outreach at some high schools. I'm working on Buenos Aires; I've applied for some grants, but I think it'll have to wait until next summer. -May Chan
(09/29/05 12:00am)
Author: Katherine Washburn An excited crowd filed into Mead Chapel last Thursday for the launch of this year's academic symposium, "Renewal: Perspectives and Possibilities in an Age of Climate Crisis." The 2005 Clifford Symposium, focusing on current environmental issues, spanned the borders of many academic fields including politics, the arts and religion. The symposium's goals were to outline the current climate status, the impact of recent climate change on local lands, moral views on this crisis and ways to solve the problem. The symposium was also in accordance with the Environmental Studies (ES) Program's 40th anniversary. Middlebury's ES Program is the oldest for undergraduates in the United States. The wide variety of events for the symposium included lectures and panels, performances and the dedication of the wind turbine. The speakers came from all over - from the Middlebury campus to as far as Tuvalu. This three-day discussion of the climate crisis began with the keynote address "How Big is Too Big? Global Warming and Moral Choices," by Scholar-in-Residence in Environmental Studies Bill McKibben. President Ronald D. Liebowitz introduced Mckibben, author of nine published books - including his most recent novel, "Wandering Home" - to an excited crowd at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 22. McKibben began by defining global warming as "the greatest force humans have yet unleashed." Giving a brief background on the issue, he described the method through which carbon dioxide traps heat in the planet, separating the Earth as a live, lush planet from the frigid temperatures on Mars. Since humans began burning fossil fuels as an energy source, the levels of CO2 in our atmosphere have been constantly increasing. By the 1980s, computers were complex enough to show that these rising CO2 levels could be the cause of a climatic temperature increase. Nearly a decade after this discovery, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) met in 1995 and determined that something had to change. Many of the things that experts considered to be natural occurrences in the climate and atmosphere were being drastically altered by human actions. The conference met again in 2001 and determined that the planet's temperature had risen by one degree Fahrenheit. The predicted rise by 2100 was another five degrees Fahrenheit. Turning to concrete examples of the effects of global warming, McKibben went on to cite various recently published articles that describe the drastic increase in Category Four and Five hurricanes in the past ten years. He then tied these articles to the recent disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. McKibben also described the problems associated with the melting of the polar ice caps and the falling salinity of the waters. At the emotional height of his speech, McKibben declared that this "points out the fact that we live on a new world. These violent changes are a result of humans." In order to demonstrate the severity of the crisis at hand, McKibben urged the audience to remember that these changes were caused by a temperature change of merely one degree Fahrenheit. He went on to pose a question: if just one degree could cause such a change in the world, what could the predicted five degree change do? The reality of the matter is that no one person can say exactly what would happen if the Earth's temperature rose that much. McKibben suggested the startling prospect of the lack of a white winter in Vermont. Also mentioned were the possibilities of rises in malaria and other diseases. McKibben was quick to point out that it is "far too late to prevent global warming." He did not make this point to create a feeling of despair but instead to emphasize the importance of doing as much as we possibly can to stop this crisis from going further than it already has. He emphasized the need for humans to immediately reduce their use of fossil fuels by 70 percent.After saying that many countries across the globe were pledging to reduce their emissions drastically, McKibben stated that the United States has such a difficult time changing its way of life due to hyper-individualism. Americans have a hard time sharing, riding buses or generally doing things together. McKibben pointed out that we would need another five earths if the entire world population consumed the same amount as us. Yet McKibben did not say or imply that we are all doomed. There are several areas where we can change our actions, he said, such as our consumption of local foods. McKibben "salute[d] the progress of the college dining staff" for making such an effort with local produce. He also told the audience, in reference to energy usage, "Do not think it needs to be grim." In fact, within the past 50 years, as the U.S. standard of living rose, the level of satisfaction with our lives has steadily fallen. His point: humans do not need to consume heavily to be satisfied.McKibben concluded by noting that we are "in for a tremendously difficult time ahead." However, he also said that Middlebury should serve as a model, and applauded the current efforts being made on campus. As the keynote speech ended with a standing ovation, McKibben was met with much approval. Ben Grimmnitz '08.5 felt confident about all that was said, saying that he "felt like everything he said was well grounded in facts." Emily Gaewsky '09 expressed her interest in "how McKibben talked about the environmental effects on Vermont. The idea that there might not be winter, maple trees or changing foliage really put things into perspective."However, Will Martin '07.5, while truly impressed with the power of the speaker, was disappointed with the turnout in the audience. He said that "for a school so supposedly focused on environmental issues, we should have packed Mead Chapel." Regardless, Mckibben truly captivated the audience with his enlightening and thought provoking address on the impending crisis of global warming.
(09/22/05 12:00am)
Author: May Chan This Friday and Saturday, the Middlebury Dance program will bring a treat to kick off your weekend. "The Birdhouse Project", a performance directed by Andrea Olsen, Middlebury College professor of Dance, celebrates the 40th anniversary of Middlebury College's Environmental Studies Program and raises the climate issues of our time in a colorful, light-hearted approach. "The Birdhouse Project" is just one of many events that are part of the Nicholas R. Clifford Symposium on "Renewel: Perspectives and possibilities in an age of climate crisis."This will be the third performance of the project. Last spring, the group performed at the Middlebury Center for the Arts (CFA) and in New York City's Stuyvesant Cove Park in June, attracting large and enthusiastic crowds. This time, the performances will come to life in front of John McCardell Jr. Bicentennial Hall. The project will include music from David Rothenberg and feature bird calls and birdhouses designed by visual artist Carl Phelps. Over 20 faculty members, plus 20 students and dance alumni will take part in this 50-minute flight of fancy.Olsen, the director of "The Birdhouse Project," revealed that the idea came out of the desire to teach courses linking environmental studies to dance. "I like to encourage students to travel, to go out and dance on the land," she said in an interview with The Middlebury Campus. Olsen has taught at Middlebury College for 23 years, directed over 50 dances, written two books and numerous articles and adores the art of travel. And indeed, there will be a lot of traveling in the "The Birdhouse Project."The pieces will begin at the side entrance of John McCardell Jr. Bicentennial Hall, migrate to the "Smog" and finish to face the quad. The audience must move as well to follow the bright, whimsical costumes of Middlebury's talented dancers. "My real pleasure is that movement appears as part of the landscape. I encourage people to move on the landscape," said Olsen. There will be a blend of styles and the majority of the work will be created by the dancers themselves. Two of the lead dancers include Ben Brouwer '04, founder of Middlebury's Yellow Bike Project in 2002 and Lisa Gonzales '94, who previously taught at Middlebury. The performances will be an aesthetic mélange of ballet styles, contemporary dance and even a bit of break-dancing, performed by Ryan Johnson '06, who brings an urban perspective to the project.The Clifford Symposium explores the effects of climate change, and "The Birdhouse Project" illustrates this goal in a poetic way, engaging the public community in movement and appreciation for the landscape and birds. "Dancing outdoors is challenging - there's so much to be aware of, including the ground beneath your feet, and the sounds all around you..." Olsen said. While "The Birdhouse Project" will undoubtedly bring attention to local as well as to global issues, it also promises to be an intelligent and entertaining show with a touch of playfulness."The Birdhouse Project" will be shown on Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. and Sept 24 at 12 p.m. at John McCardell Jr. Bicentennial Hall.
(09/22/05 12:00am)
Author: Sean Breen This past week, I had the pleasure of spending a long evening in Ferrisburg, Vt., just off Route 7 at a small cottage of a restaurant - the Starry Night Café. At Starry Night, everything smells good. The eclectic, dimly-lit décor is a refreshing change for any Middlebury student, offering a quick trip to a distant region, if only for an evening. The food is basic, wholesome and classically "Vermont." But despite its simplicity, the menu covers all the basics, consistently offering fantastic vegetarian dishes as well as fresh game. All ingredients are "home grown" on neighboring farms and are gathered daily for each evening, while the seafood is shipped fresh directly from Boston. The menu is subtly northern Italian, generally offering such classics as fried calamari, caprice salad and a risotto dish. As of last week, the chef was still displaying his late summer menu, but with fall approaching, the dishes to look out for are the squash soup and Misty Knoll chicken lasagna. The most recent specials included a light quail appetizer and an outstanding cut of venison, prepared over scalloped potatoes with a port wine sauce. Of the usual meat entrees, the New York strip steak or the lamb chops are always a satisfying choice. For dessert, their crème brulée is one of the best I have ever tasted, in this country or elsewhere, and the chocolate martini is always a good bet.As far as beverages go, the bar offers a number of interesting, if not always delicious, cocktails, including a tasty variety of martinis - the lemonade martini is a perennial favorite for starters. Their wine list is in good shape, although heavily weighted toward California. Of the wines I have tasted, I would recommend the bigger-bodied Syrah- or Cabernet-based wines as these grapes play into California's climatic strengths and drink exceptionally well when paired with the wild game dishes. Upon my last visit, I experimented with a Valpolicella from Italy and was disappointed. Bottom line: stick with the medium-priced ($20) blockbuster wines. If you need a name, the Joseph Phelps Syrah is quite good.Most importantly, an evening at Starry Night will be a trip away from the flurry of campus life. Every once in a while, dining needs to be more than a rushed refueling at a crowded cafeteria. Dinner should be a relief from the day's troubles - a breeding ground for discussion and laughter. Starry Night may be on the pricier side, but it's worth every penny.
(09/15/05 12:00am)
Faculty Garner Summer Accolades
Several members of the Middlebury College faculty received grants and awards this summer. Professor of Geology Pat Manley was awarded a grant by the U.S. Geological Survey to further her research on Lake Champlain for a project about "Abrupt Climate Change in the Eastern United States." Assistant Professor of Economics William Pyle will be a Teaching Fellow with the Eurasia Program of the Social Science Research Council in order to develop a course on "Legal Institutions and Post-Soviet Economic Development."
In the physics department, Associate Professor Susan Watson was awarded supplemental funding from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in order to support expenses for her undergraduate students participating in an NSF program at Harvard with researchers from Middlebury, Harvard and the University of Minnesota.
Professor of Spanish Chela Andreu-Sprigg will travel to Spain to research Corin Tellado, the most well-known female Spanish writer of the twentieth century, with a grant from the Program for Cultural Cooperation between Spain's Ministry of Culture and American universities. Finally, Associate Professor of English Timothy Billings received a grant from the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation to publish a translation and critical analysis of "Steles," which is a collection of French and Chinese poetry by Victor Segalen.
College Named Climate Champion
Middlebury College was recently award a 2005 Climate Champion Award for the College's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. The award was issued by Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP), a Portsmouth, N.H., non-profit organization dedicated to fighting global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
Middlebury's Carbon Reduction Working Group, "Path to Carbon Neutrality" and "Building the New Climate Movement," J-Term courses and a spring course in "Environmental Economics" were all cited as evidence of the institutional commitment to reducing heat-trapping gases and solving the climate change problem that we would like all colleges and universities to emulate," according to CA-CP Executive Director Adam Markham. "They have worked to reduce greenhouse gases and educate people in every aspect of their mission, from the trustees to faculty and staff, to students and alumni."
Accepting the award on behalf of the College were Middlebury College Trustee Linda Whitton, Assistant Professor of Economics Jon Isham, Jacob Whitcomb '06, Andrew Rossmeissl '05, John Hanley '05, Lindsey Corbin '05 and Michael DiRaimondo '05.
Additional awards were given to Governors John Maldacci of Maine and George Pataki of New York, the Bank of America, the Timberland Company and the City of Stamford, Conn.
College Wins Mass Spectrometer with a Liquid Chromatograph
Students majoring in the physical sciences will have access to new equipment and research funding this year, thanks to grants several Middlebury professors received from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NSF awarded a Major Research Instrumentation grant for the purchase of an LC/MS System and will support research of four faculty members and 10 students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry each year.
In addition, the NIH announced that Middlebury will be one of the baccalaureate partners of the University of Vermont on a five-year research project entitled Vermont IDeA Networks of Biomedical Excellence. Among the faculty receiving one-year research grants from the program is Assistant Professor of Biology Jeremy Ward, who will study the identification and characterization of the Mammalian Meiotic Mutation mei4.
In the Chemistry and Biochemistry department, Associate Professor Roger Sandwick received a grand to study the Maillard Reaction between Ribose 5-Phosphate and Cellular Amines, in order to determine whether the natural system is capable of producing chemical poisons or cancer initiators. Professor Robert Cluss will study Lyme disease, specifically whether the two proteins produced by the Lyme disease spirochete are able to damage target cells.
Finally in that department, Professor Sunhee Choi will advance anticancer drug research through her work on Mechanism and Kinetics of Oxidation of Guanosine Derivatives by Pt(IV) Complexes, in order to understand how platinum anticancer drugs interact with DNA.
Written by KATE DOORLEY
(09/15/05 12:00am)
Author: Polly Johnson Americans have watched over the years as gas prices have exponentially increased and recently watched in shock as the price of a gallon of fuel rose to over $3.00 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. As economic, environmental and political issues will inevitably continue to cause prices to rise, people must begin to look at fuel alternatives as ways to not only cut costs but also to protect our environment. This summer a group of proactive Middlebury students proved that global fuel efficiency can be achieved. Kicking off their tour in Tennessee, the involved students, including Jeremy Osborn '06, May Boeve '06.5, Jamie Henn '07, Thomas Hand '06 and Austen Levihn-Coon '07.5, punctuated their journey by stopping in various towns along the way to stir up excitement for the prospect of cleaner cars and a safer, more livable environment. In their daily blog, found on their Web site www.roadtodetroit.org, Osborn described the purpose of their mission: "American auto manufacturers have both an economic and moral opportunity to create clean cars. We know Toyota and Honda are kicking the Big Three's butts all over the American auto manufacturing landscape. But we also know that if Ford, GM and Chrysler shift their focus onto cleaner cars, they will regain the competitive edge, they will revitalize the Motor City with more jobs and cleaner air, they will take up the historic legacy of automotive innovation that made Detroit the Motor City in the first place." The blog recounts the daily trials and tribulations the group faced as they rallied support along the way. Their mission, as stated on the first page of the blog, is described as "seven young organizers [who] have taken to the road for a cross country tour to highlight the need to revitalize the U.S. auto industry with a more socially and environmentally responsible vision." Along the journey, the team of students met with socially and environmentally responsible awareness groups and individuals who were eager to support their cause and offer guidance and help. According to Henn and Boeve, "At each stop, the students explained to people that they are taking action against global warming not just because of some scientific statistics, but because of moral and spiritual reasons - they are acting with their hearts as well as their heads." They collected 15,000 signatures from people from all over the country. Once in Detroit, hundreds of people converged for two days of meetings to demand cleaner and more efficient vehicles from the auto manufacturers. In a rewarding culmination, the students, along with the United Auto Workers, presented the signatures at the oldest Ford factory.Although the tour has come to an end, the fight for fuel efficiency has not. Now that the students are back on campus, they know that there is much more to be done. The students, part of the Sunday Night Group, are continuing work on climate change and environmental justice on campus. Energy Action, a coalition of more than 20 organizations working together to build an energy movement in North America, has agreed to fund the group during their work here at Middlebury.The group will continue to draw inspiration from the successful summer experience of Road to Detroit. According to Boeve, "There were many times when we didn't have a concrete plan, and at those times, we always returned to the same refrain - 'the vision is what's important.' People are excited about a youth clean energy vision - it's empowering in itself. Having a roving bus tour based on a vision was something unique and powerful."The group also has the support of the College faculty. Scholar in Residence in Environmental Studies Bill McKibben has lent his full support to the group. "It's about time the next generation of motorists begin to press Detroit to change the cars they'll be driving for decades to come," he said. "Our automakers have been shameful sluggards - for 15 years we've known about global warming, and all they've done is pump out more SUVs. Thank heaven someone is finally taking them on."
