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(03/16/06 12:00am)
Author: Rachel Greenhaus Students, faculty and townspeople gathered in Dana Auditorium this past Thursday to view a program devoted to exploring and celebrating the work of Larry Kramer. Kramer, a renowned gay rights and AIDS activist as well as a playwright, novelist, screenwriter and non-fiction writer, came to Middlebury this past week to speak specifically on the subject of his newest book, "The Tragedy of Today's Gays." The evening's program began with a reading from his 1985 play "The Normal Heart," followed by Kramer and a question - and - answer panel with members of the student body and the faculty. The reading from "A Normal Heart" was performed by Middlebury students Lucas Kavner '06, Rishabh Kashyap '08, Kevin Tierney '08, Paul Doyle '07 and Lauren Kiel '07 and Professor of Theatre and Women's and Gender Studies Cheryl Faraone. Assistant Professor of Theatre Claudio Medeiros introduced the scenes, saying that "The Normal Heart" "is not fiction - it is a document of a crucial moment in cultural history and a poignant reminder that even today, silence still equals death." The students performed three scenes centering around the semiautobiographical gay male activist character of Ned Weeks (Kavner) and his doctor Emma Brookner (Kiel) and the way these two cope with the overwhelming enormity of the AIDS virus in its early years.Doyle explained the value of the play for audiences today: "It's important for us to read it now and understand the voice of anger, to see where we come from. It helps us appreciate what we have and to see where we can do more. It's given me a lot of food for thought." Later in the evening, Kramer voiced what was on everyone's mind when he remarked that "The Normal Heart" "could be performed today as though it were happening today. Every word is still applicable." Kramer's speech was brief but vitriolic. Introduced by Dean of Cook Commons David Edleson as a "hero," and "the loudest and most fabulous mouth of all," Kramer took the floor to a standing ovation from the crowd. He spoke about topics ranging from corporate conspiracy to the current AIDS "plague," to the apathy of today's youth and the history of gay activism. Unafraid of offending anyone or everyone, Kramer accused the audience of being passive and powerless. "I don't feel very hopeful," he said, "and that's a terrible message to come and bring to kids today. But you have to fight every single day of your life. Activism is salvation. I haven't in any way changed, I've only gotten angrier." The student and faculty panel was comprised of students from the Middlebury Openly Queer Alliance (MOQA) and the Diversity Committee: Sam Shoushi '09, Colin Penley '06, Tamara Vatnick '07 and Lauren Scott '09, plus Professor of Theatre Richard Romagnoli and Professor of Russian and Women's and Gender Studies Kevin Moss. Each member of the panel was allowed to present two questions to Kramer. Often the exchanges between Kramer and the panelists walked a fine line between discussion and debate, but the tension only illustrated the highly personal and controversial nature of many of the topics that were brought up. These included the question of what young people should do to become involved, a question which Kramer claimed not to have the answer to, insisting you must "make it up as you go along," and urging those present to find an issue that they cared about to pursue. In response to a question by Professor Romagnoli, Kramer dismissed the theater as a method for social change in 2006. He urged the "correct" teaching of American history, claiming a systematic elimination of gay figures - including, he says, Meriwether Lewis and Abraham Lincoln - from canonized history books. Calling civil union bills such as that in Vermont "little more than a feel-good exercise," Kramer called for gays to be allowed all the federal benefits of full marriage. He insisted that, in today's political climate "…if you are a sentient human being you wake up every day frightened." Yet when a member of the audience stood up at the end of the night and challenged Kramer and the grim picture he had painted, asking to know what it was that made him get up in the morning, Kramer ended on a positive note: "I'm not being facetious when I say it's a challenge. But I like to fight. It's possible to be very angry and to despair over the state of the world and to be very happy." Students in attendance voiced varied reactions to this final statement and to the program in general."I think that Larry Kramer brings a type of reality that you don't see at Middlebury. There's something to be said for seeing so much activism in one person," said Michael Jou '07. "I felt extremely empowered by it," said Pauley Tedoff '06. "He talked a lot about activism in general. It wasn't just about gay activism or even about AIDS - it's about any social movement worth effort. It was uninhibited and refreshing and open and being open is what makes a movement, what creates action."Allison Corke '08 voiced a different sentiment, stating, "While I respect Mr. Kramer's history and the amount he has done for gay rights and the AIDS movement, I felt that his overwhelming anger lacked hope or any suggestion for improvement of the situation of homosexuals in the United States and the world. He bemoaned the passive nature of the present gay rights movement, while belittling the new marriage rights in Massachusetts."
(03/16/06 12:00am)
Author: RYAN GAMBLE '06 At Middlebury, we students have the opportunity to not only gain an understanding of the current state of the world, but also to practice the valuable critical thinking skills that will allow us to succeed in diverse occupations and to live purposeful lives. How we discuss important issues such as global warming reflects a more personal matter of what we, as students, take these critical thinking skills to be. Michael Jou's article in The Middlebury Campus two weeks ago ["Think about it, global warming does not exist," March 2] was "written to incite the reader to question global warming." I believe in testing the quality of our knowledge, but I'd like to contribute a better representation of what I believe critical thinking skills should entail. Thinking critically about a topic requires accurate and precise knowledge of facts. For example, while it is true that glaciers in Greenland are not receding, that does not mean that climate change is not affecting Greenland. In fact, the glaciers are sliding into the sea. A recent Science article (v. 311, pp. 986-990) finds that the speed at which Greenland glaciers are moving into the sea is twice what was previously thought and is accelerating, due to warming. Beyond understanding the facts, there is a more important issue of the construction of arguments and what constitutes "thinking critically" about a topic. Probably not unlike many other Middlebury students, I learned to write five-paragraph essays in middle school. This was how I was formally introduced to the idea of a persuasive essay where a main argument is proposed, and supporting evidence is presented. But should we give equal weight to any opinion that can be supported with evidence? For example, if we can give some evidence of cooling in some parts of the world, is this evidence against global warming? In examining complex issues, the paradigm that any opinion that can be supported with some evidence must be valid breaks down rather quickly. In terms of the case in question, the scientific community has increasingly emphasized that global warming is a component of global climate change, a model in which increased climate variability and the complex effects of changing climate patterns imply that some regions may undergo periods of cooling. Evidence pointing to slight cooling in specific regions is thus not evidence against global warming, but fits in with the global climate change model. These facts bring to light a fundamental problem of applying the simple argument/supporting evidence model to writing about real world issues - sometimes the world turns out to be rather complex. When I think about the issue of global warming and Michael Crichton's "State of Fear," a number of questions come to mind. Firstly, what does Crichton actually believe related to climate change? In a radio interview with NPR's Ira Flatow addressing "State of Fear," Crighton said, "No one is denying that temperature is increasing, it is." Secondly, what is the issue in question? Crichton is questioning whether the rise in temperature is due to anthropogenic emission of CO2. So the issue is really whether global warming is anthropogenically caused. Crichton is accusing environmental scientists of academic dishonesty - is this plausible? Throughout history have there been any examples of an entire field of scientists falsifying knowledge? Is the system of writing grants set up in such a way that there is pressure on scientists to present false data that global warming is anthropogenically caused? Personally I would be more inclined to think that corporations, entities that are legally bound to exploit their workforce and the environment when it is in the interests of their shareholders, would have a stake in suppressing information about the cause of global warming. And since the media are owned by corporations, well, I'm just glad information about global warming is available. In any case, these are the kinds of questions we need to address to have an informed discussion of Crichton's version of global warming. And, in a broader sense, these questions help us examine global climate change from multiple perspectives. For me, critical thinking must always involve this strategy of studying a single issue from varying viewpoints.One example of an environmental problem that has been solved is that of ozone depletion. Science informed policy, and governments signed the Montreal Protocol banning CFCs, the cause of the depletion. That was a problem that was relatively easy to solve. In the case of CO2, reducing emissions will entail large-scale economic, if not lifestyle change. This is a challenge that we, as a generation must face. But to do so we need to think critically about the problem and about potential solutions.
(03/16/06 12:00am)
Author: Trista McGetrick Global warming is more than just the concern of a few antisocial environmentalists. It is essentially a humanitarian concern. Environmental justice initiatives seek to address the social, political and economic aspects of climate change. In addition, they hope to remedy the fact that those with the least political and economic power are suffering the havoc that the consumptive habits of industrialized nations have wreaked on the environment.Citizens of small Pacific islands are already becoming refugees from increasingly violent weather patterns and rising sea levels. At last fall's Clifford Symposium, citizens of Tuvalu, a nation 10 feet above sea level, bore witness to this fact. In addition to an increase in severe storms, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that within 50 to 100 years, melting ice caps could cause the complete disappearance of Tuvalu.The people of colder climates also stand to lose. National Geographic reports that hunters in Greenland are already finding their traditional routes impassible due to thinning and breaking ice in areas once firmly frozen. Increasingly, they are faced with having to choose between giving up their livelihoods or risking injury and death on the now precarious hunting routes.The social and economic effects of climate change are felt closer to home as well. Minorities living in the United States are much more likely to be uninsured and living in poverty. Because of the precarious living situations of the poor in many cities, minority citizens may be the most harshly affected by the hurricanes, droughts and other disasters scientists believe are the results of global warming. This was widely viewed as being the case with low-income New Orleans families following Hurricane Katrina.Considering the direct impact that it is having on communities everywhere, global warming can no longer be dismissed or taken on only after other problems are solved. The lifestyles common in many western nations have very real consequences for people in other, poorer parts of the world. In the United States, the spread of suburbia, an increase in the number of personal vehicles, the lack of effective public transportation and the indifference of voters and policy-makers all contribute to the consequences felt by those elsewhere who make less of an impact on the global environment.There is no denying that the individual lifestyle decisions we make have a real impact on the world as a whole. Climate change is one of the ways in which this impact becomes apparent. By altering our personal habits- driving less, turning down the heat and hanging up laundry to name a few - and by discussing these issues rather than ignoring them, each of us can address environmental injustice at its roots.
(03/16/06 12:00am)
Author: Julia McKinnon When climatologist Michael Mann appeared at Middlebury to give this year's Margolin Environmental Affairs lecture, Benjamin F. Wissler Professor of Physics Richard Wolfson mysteriously presented him with a Middlebury College hockey stick.Why? Because Mann is nationally renowned for his work in calculating the globe's change in atmospheric temperature over time. And the graph he has come up with to measure global temperature takes the alarming shape of a hockey stick turned on its side.In his work, Mann strives to use statistical methodology to show that global temperatures are rising at an unnatural rate. His "hockey stick" graph shows global temperatures over the last millennium, relying on indicators like the width of tree rings and health of coral reefs to show temperatures in the years before thermometers existed. His graph illustrates gradual but steady global cooling over the thousand-year period until the 20th century, at which point temperatures began to increase. The end of the graph shows a dramatic upward thrust - the "hockey stick blade" - indicating that the last two decades have consistently seen record-high temperatures. Mann believes this increase to be caused by human activity.Mann came to Middlebury as this year's Scott Margolin Environmental Affairs lecturer. He works at Penn State University in the Departments of Meteorology and Geosciences, as well as in the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. His famous graph was accepted for publication in 1999 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).As this year's Margolin lecturer, Mann joined the good company of many other famous individuals in the environmental world. In previous years, the Margolin Environmental Affairs lecture has brought to campus environmental historian William Cronon, climatologist Steven Schneider, Paul Ehrlich, author of the "Time Bomb," and Eileen Clausen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.According to Wolfson, Mann was an interesting Margolin lecturer because, unlike many of the speakers from past years, "he's not at the end of his career." Instead, "Mann is up and coming," said Wolfson.Mann is indeed up and coming in that he still plans on conducting extensive research. So far, he has achieved much acclaim. Mann's hockey stick graph is what he calls "iconic." Since publication by the IPCC, it has served as evidence of anthropogenic-related climate change. An article by John Daly states that Mann's graph "in one scientific coup overturned the whole of climate history.""For policymakers, his graph became a symbol of how unusual climate has been over the last one hundred years," said Wolfson.A large group of environmentally-minded students had lunch with Mann and got to know him on a personal level before his talk. "Having lunch with Mann was a unique experience," said Lynne Zummo '06. "We all had the chance to sit down and talk with a brilliant climatologist about ideas that weren't necessarily science-oriented," she said.Mann seemed to be intrigued by the number of involved Middlebury students. "We talked a lot about big versus small colleges - he is at Penn state - and he was praising Middlebury for having an active student body," said Dan Berkman '06, "especially when it comes to environmental issues."Mann's lecture, entitled "Global Climate Change: Past and Future," was packed full, even though he had already given a lecture to about 100 science-oriented students earlier that day. Many students had to sit on the floor in the front and back of the room in order to hear Mann speak.Mann somehow managed to engage the diverse crowd. He stood before an audience in John M. McCardell, Jr. Bicentennial hall and explained climate change to English majors, members of the environmentally-oriented Sunday Night Group, hockey players and senior citizens from the town of Middlebury, all interested in what he had to say. "I was very impressed that he was such a good public speaker and people person," said Emily Egginton '06. "I thought his scientific presentation was [strong] because it was meant for a more educated audience but was still easy to grasp since he presented it so well."The overwhelming size of the audience suggests a great depth of interest in climate change issues at Middlebury. "This is the big issue of the century," said Wolfson. Mann's ability to achieve a well-designed scientific graph to depict human influence on climate change has brought him much recognition. Wolfson believes that the message Mann conveyed to Middlebury and to the IPCC is a crucial one. Climate change, said Wolfson, "is going to affect all of us. I don't think it's going to make the world uninhabitable, but it's going to cause other problems that exacerbate the injustices in the world. It will cause a strain for everybody."
(03/16/06 12:00am)
Author: SALIM SAGLAM POITIERS, FRANCE - Concerned with their post-university career, the French students are on strike against Contrat Première Embauche (CPE), the new employment law proposed by the French PM Dominique de Villepin. This law enables the employers to fire newly hired employees between 18 and 26 years of age without showing due cause during the first two years of their employment. In protest of the new law, Université de Poitiers, excluding the schools of medicine and higher sciences, has been blocked by politically minded students since Feb. 13. Desks and chairs are piled in front of the entrance doors behind which the protesters camp. It is a common scene to see them with dirty pots, pans and other supplies camping behind the blocked doors.A movement, which started in 13 universities in early February, is becoming national fast. About 40 of France's 84 universities saw student occupations to varying degrees on Friday in protest of the new law. Police intervened for the first time early Saturday to empty the main building of the Sorbonne, which had been occupied by student protesters for the past three days. According to BBC News Europe, tear gas and batons were used, at least two students were injured and some arrests were made. A demonstration will take place today in Paris with the participation of thousands of students from all over France. Recent police intervention and the memories of May 1968 in mind, security is already a concern.France has the highest unemployment rate among youth in Europe swaying at 23 percent, and it goes up to 40 percent among the unskilled youth. According to Villepin, this new law aims at loosening the protectionist state policies concerning the labor market, rendering it more flexible and encouraging the employers to hire more employees. On the other hand the loosening of such socialist state policies, which the French take pride in, arises an anxiety among the youth who think that they will be more likely to be exploited by the employers under the new employment law.Though students are against CPE, opinions on the strike, particularly on the blockage vary. A widespread sentiment among the student body is that the blockage impedes students' right to education. They also find it immature, disorganized and undemocratic, especially that around 300 student protesters shut down a university of more than 15,000 students. The protesters on the other hand assert that the blockage is their means to mobilize people against CPE. They say that there is a general assembly (assemblée générale) about the future of the blockage once in every three days open to the entire student body and those students against the blockage never show up to vote against it. Attendance at general assemblies so far has never exceeded 2,500.With an annual economic growth rate below two percent over the last decade, France is finding it difficult to create new jobs for the 2.6 million unemployed. Though weakening of the socialist system is a likely consequence of CPE, it certainly is an attempt by the French government to tackle unemployment. Therefore, the latest developments constitute, on a governmental level, a good example for how a socialist system with a stagnant economy is readjusting to the new world rule. On the other hand, the French students' revolutionary enthusiast nature, their willingness to take the matter into their own hands and change it in their favor is certainly something to be respected. With the national protest in Paris on March 16 approaching, the political climate is heating up in France. We will see if it ever gets as hot as it was in May 1968.
(03/09/06 12:00am)
Author: Lynne Zummo '06 Two years ago, I cursed my wet jeans. The rolled up cuffs were soaked, dripping with water, cutting into my calves and filling me with a hate for life so strong that focusing on physics Professor Rich Wolfson's mad chalkboard scribblings was hardly an option. It was December of my sophomore year, and thick sheets of rain were pummeling every building, sidewalk and wormhole in the state of Vermont. It was December, 45 degrees and torrential downpour, and Professor Wolfson was spewing out parts per million, constants, equations, climate models, ice cores and everything else that we have to tell us that what we have been doing to our planet has forever changed its atmospheric system. There I was, abhorring every sopping cotton fiber on my body and aching to ring the necks of all disciples of the SUV faith, every oil kingpin and every nay-sayer who deemed global warming a myth of the liberal conspiracy, all while scratching away at a soggy notebook. They should climb down from their earth-eating vehicles, I thought, and try trudging across campus in this alleged winter. They should sit through an hour of physics chaffed by rain-soaked denim.I first learned about global climate change in eighth grade science class. Mr. Sonne, a middle-aged man consumed in a battle against male pattern baldness, mentioned something of greenhouses and oil and cows, but I was 13 and preoccupied with surviving junior high. It was not until four years ago, when I first saw the Tetons in late November, bald and dry, that I first understood global climate change. The year before I came to Middlebury I had flown west with new tele-skis and a fantasized notion of jagged Rocky Mountains peaks frosted with snow, but found the mountains wearing nothing more than a sere crust of mud for the first sickly weeks of winter. When I returned home in January, Connecticut's snow had already melted into spring. Every trek through the backyard was a muddy battle that reinforced the idiocy of my ski purchase. But that was just the start, for now I know climate change-the warm days, the heavy rains, the sudden melts-like I know the fat campus squirrels, neither one because I particularly want to, but both because they are here. Both, because they are here, and are as much a part of Vermont as the maples that crawl up the crumbling Green Mountains, and as much a part of my life as geology textbooks and senior seminars. I grew to know climate change well last year, when my final December days at Middlebury were soaked and humid, and when drumming rain tapped as the background of Christmas Eve Mass. And then a little bit better when I coughed my way through the streets of China, vendors with smoking coals on either side of the narrow asphalt strip clogged with rumbling cars, speeding to a future of industry and progress. But this year, this is the year in which I have come to know climate change the best. Not only did the rain fall on Christmas, but on New Year's, too, and then on and off again throughout this strange season. I went rock climbing in the dead of January, on a 50-degree day when it should have been bitter cold instead of melty spring. The warm, dry rock was inviting and fun, but deep down I wished it coated thick with ice. I wanted to hate the day, to curse the nice weather, to damn the carbon dioxide. I wanted winter back.Two weeks later, from the hooded cave of my rain jacket, I watched a drenching rainstorm batter a defeated looking tent city. January's Get Outside Week, my frozen brainchild, was drowning in mud. Winter felt lost.Another week after that, winter returned. It snowed, and a friend and I taught our annual snow shelter class. A week later, our quinzee had shrunk to a dirty lump of slush on Battell Beach, a muddy tumor on a stagnant plain of water.There is more. I wore shorts for one February morning run.My Sorrels have seen more mud than snow.My nordic skis have made better house decorations than functional sports equipment.Although there is snow on the ground today, winter still feels lost. To those who deem climate change a lie, a mad environmentalist extension of the truth, I encourage you to open your eyes. Forget the papers for now-the media, the politics, the campaigns. Instead, look outside. Feel the thaw. Touch the mud. Talk to skiers and maple farmers. Ask Bread Loaf how many days they have opened their trails this year. Walk across campus in a winter rainstorm, and then sit through class with wet pants. Wake up and open your window. Our world is changing.
(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.
