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(02/12/09 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Who says romance is dead at Middlebury? Don't let all of their different last names fool you; many of your professors are romantically involved. Just in time for Valentine's Day, The Campus uncovers how faculty members paired off and shacked up at the College. Whether they bonded over Shakespeare or science, these smarties found that a shared love for academia strengthened their bond.MARY ELLEN AND JOHN BERTOLINIPerhaps the most cohesive and confused couple - no, no, the most droll and disillusioned - no wait, the most romantic and reasonable faculty couple on campus is…You know what? Let's hear the story straight from the Bertolinis themselves:Recalling how they met, John explained, "My college buddies discovered that an all-women's college within driving distance was auditioning men for George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man. As an experienced Shakespearean leading actor, I thought I would give them the chance to cast me. We also thought this was an excellent opportunity to, er, meet girls. After my triumphant reading, as I walked back to my seat, a beautiful young female winked at me. I realized how impressed she was with my audition, and thought to myself, 'Zowee!' We were both cast as the romantic leads; since our two characters married in the play, it seemed the only logical thing for us to do was to do likewise, and we did."As Mary Ellen recalled, he seemed a little nervous during his audition, so I winked at him to give him a little encouragement. We were both cast in the leading roles, and that incident has produced two daughters and three books on Shaw."According to John, they moved to Middlebury because of "the need for an income to support us in our book-and-record-buying, movie- and theatre-going habits. Middlebury was the closest place to New York City I could find that would pay me a salary to talk about books. Only later did I realize we would have to live here." Mary Ellen added that "when New York City went broke in the '70s, John received a job offer from Middlebury College. When we arrived we were shocked to hear that the biggest news in the state was that a moose had been sighted in downtown Burlington. We almost left."John also remembered the couple's first date. "Ah yes, I remember it well," he said. "We met at 9; I was on time, a tenor sang. A dazzling April Moon. She lost a glove. A carriage ride. That brilliant sky. Those Russian songs. She wore a gown of gold. . .or did she?""John asked me to go to the cast party for Arms and the Man with him," said Mary Ellen. "We were both going anyway, but going together was a big deal. I was pretty relieved because I had been dating the young man who played my father in the play. Going with John reduced the creepiness a bit. "Of course, there are both ups and downs of being a faculty couple. John's ups: "Since her office is in the library, I can get her to return all the DVDs I take out. She loves to help me out in little ways like that." His downs: "Sometimes I have to pick her up on campus when her car won't start for some reason."Mary Ellen's ups: "I can get a ride to campus when my car breaks down. We can also talk in shorthand about whatever is going on here." Her downs: "He's always asking me to take his videos back to the library."Lastly, John gave some advice about his personal approach to Feb. 14 festivities. "St. Valentine's Day is such a wonderful holiday," he said, "it should be celebrated any day of the year - arbitrarily. I myself, for example, choose to celebrate it on Feb. 15 - when boxes of chocolates are 50 percent off.""Our children practically grew up on campus, and our oldest daughter graduated from Middlebury in 2000," added Mary Ellen. "Our youngest daughter decided not to attend college here. She thought three Bertolinis in one place were enough and she enrolled at NYU. Both of our daughters have escaped to New York, which is now going broke again. By the way, I love Valentine's Day and think it should always be celebrated on February 14th."Mary Ellen Bertolini is a professional writing tutor and a lecturer in the Writing Program.John Bertolini is the Ellis Professor of English and Liberal Arts.-Kaylen BakerJAMES BERG AND MARTHA WOODRUFFOnce upon a time, in the summer of 1998, James Berg spotted Ancient Greek buff Martha Woodruff at a Breadloaf faculty meeting, when he came to work for a one-year visiting position at Middlebury College. It was not quite love at first sight, but rather detection at first sight for Berg. Still, Eros' arrow certainly hit the mark.A friend of Berg's had met Woodruff at a philosophy conference in Italy, and when this friend discovered Berg would be working at Middlebury, she had told Berg he would like Woodruff. (Here the story becomes a little fuzzy, since it is hard to decipher if Berg's friend meant "like" or meant like like. Perhaps she meant "friendly like" and hoped any emotional attachment would grow. This distinction shall be left for the reader to imagine.) Nevertheless, Berg recognized the young Woodruff instantly from his friend's description: "She's ethereal, wears scarves and teaches philosophy," he was warned.They met at the luncheon following the meeting, and in an attempt to appear intelligent, Berg asked Woodruff, who was preparing her course on the boundaries between Philosophy and Literature, "Are they boundaries, or are they borders?"His question fed the fire of the "Ancient Quarrel" between philosophy and literature, which they debated over lunch. When they bumped into each other in Alexander Twilight Hall a few days later, they sparred again in the vernacular over Diotima's definition of love from Plato's Symposium. But Woodruff's lack of a vehicle and Berg's lack of dancing feet officially brought the two together, when Berg proposed they play hooky and swing by the Chinese restaurant instead of swinging partners around at a faculty dance lesson.When the year was over and Berg left for a tenure-track position in Iowa, the Fates could not seem to separate their strings. The two worked to stay together through a confusing tangle of highway commutes, incorrect watches and post-time-zone-change headaches. Finally, they were married in a ceremony beautifully conducted and designed in a philosophical/literary style by Middlebury Professor and Dana Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Victor Nuovo. Of course, a bit of Diotima's speech was thrown into the wedding ceremony - life among Iowan flatlanders - "a sign of true love," Woodruff explains, along with a baby named Noah, and a Harvard position.Finally, a full-time place opened up for Berg in the English Department at Middlebury. With the geography struggle between two full-time teachers and a swelling toddler settled once and for all, they have managed to live happily ever. after.James Berg is a visiting assistant professor of English and American literatures.Martha Woodruff is an associate professor of philosophy.-Kaylen BakerREBECCA BENNETTE AND JAMES FITZSIMMONSWhen Rebecca Bennette and James Fitzsimmons met during graduate school at Harvard University, they had no idea that their first date would eventually lead to years of marriage and a move into the arctic isolation of Middlebury, Vt.Bennette described their first date as, "Good, though he made us go Dutch.""He claims that he thought the emancipated woman in me might be offended if he offered to pay for my meal," she explained. "I think he was just trying to save money!"Does her husband remember his real motives for not footing the bill?Fitzsimmons cannot actually remember what they did on their first date. He noted, though, that the details may not be as important as the outcome. "As for what it was like, well, we've been together for over 10 years and I still love her," he said. "So my guess is that it probably went well."Since that fateful day, the couple has enjoyed many memories together - memories that span years, terr
ains, and continents. "Some of my favorite places we've been together include Angkor Wat and China," said Fitzsimmons. These expeditions have included vacations they have saved up for and Fitzsimmons' voyage to conduct research in Germany early in their relationship. Bennette and Fitzsimmons also enjoy playing it low-key with a picnic or an outing to walk their dog.During one of their more recent escapades, while they were visiting Bennette's family in Japan, the two were enjoying dinner at a distant relative's house, trying to be on their very best behavior, when Fitzsimmons picked up a piece of food from a platter. "I knew he thought it was natto (fermenting soy beans)," explained Bennette. "But I also knew it was not natto, but uni (sea urchin gonads). I told him that's not what you think it is, but you should probably eat it anyway since you've taken it…Needless to say, I don't think he'll be making that mistake anytime in the future."When asked to describe his wife in three words, Fitzsimmons did not choose any negative adjectives, even with his less-than-enjoyable urchin gonad experience."Honest, caring and beautiful," were the words he landed on. "I would have included good judgment, but it's two words … 'Smarter than me' would also work, but then I'd have to use up my other words," he said.The two share a definite love, a passion for their academic fields and a fun-filled relationship. Why not share the same last name?The first reason pertains to academics: it is difficult to track a person's publications if some of them are under one name and others under another."Second," said Bennette, "and this may give my husband's explanation of our first date some more weight: I like my last name just the way it is!"Rebecca Bennette is an assistant professor of history.James Fitzsimmons is an assistant professor of anthropology.-Rachael JenningsANTONIA LOSANO AND DANIEL BRAYTONProfessors Antonia Losano and Daniel Brayton have seen many states and shorelines, but through their travels, two things have always endured: their love of literature and of course their love for each other.Turn the clock back nearly 20 years. It is 1991 and the first day of graduate school. The new year harbors excitement, anxiety and a fresh academic start under the warm stretch of North Carolina sky.Losano settled into her seat in Victorian Nonfiction Prose at UNC Chapel Hill, and who else found a spot in the class? Daniel Brayton."He sat down two seats away from me and made a very intelligent comment about Heidegger," said Losano. "I was impressed."That day began the journey of their friendship that eventually turned to romance."Classes are dangerous!" commented Losano, speaking to the risk of finding your soulmate in an intellectual environment.After about a year of friendship, the two began dating and then moved to Ithaca together to obtain their Ph.Ds at Cornell University. Once she acquired hers, Losano received a job offer from Middlebury College, which was soon followed by a call about her partner's specialty in Shakespeare and an offer for him as well.Up they trekked to Middlebury, Vt., where College Chaplain Laurie Jordan married them two years later. They enjoyed a "friendly, local wedding" at Mead Chapel."I remember waiting outside [of the Chapel], holding Dan's hand, as students we knew walked by," reflected Losano.The Chapel still smiles over the couple who have recently, over Winter Term, picked up their belongings and settled down in a new house closer to the College. The more convenient location has allowed them to get rid of their car and walk everywhere: commuting to work, taking the kids to school and strolling through town. From North Carolina to New York to Vermont, Losano and Brayton have shared many memories: arguing about literature, building their own furniture, sailing and traveling. They also have two young children, ? Nell and Niko, who share their parents' love of literature, always asking for a new story or book. How could they not? Their parents' most frequent argument is, "Who is a better writer? Charlotte Brontë or Joseph Conrad?""Nobody ever wins," Losano said.Will their children go on to share the couples' passion for literature later in life?"Let's hope," said Losano. "I mean, I don't think they have much choice. That's all we have in the house ... but maybe they'll go on to be astronauts or scientists!"Antonia Losano is an associate professor of English and American literatures.Daniel Brayton is an assistant professor of English and American literatures.-Rachael Jennings
(02/12/09 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] MEXICO/ARIZONAA group of twenty migrants comes in, maybe more. All at once, all of us grabbing mugs and switching to Spanish. We finally get all of them some chairs, burritos, all that. I've had groups that wanted nothing but water and a place to sit but this one was particularly tired, I could see it in their eyes. They stay for a while and I start washing dishes. I come out to see Lisa speaking English to a tall man who speaks softly, showing her pictures of his kids riding on tricycles and toddlers hugging his legs. They're back in Oregon, he says. He shows pictures of his house, modest with a green lawn, and brick landscaping he put in himself - because then he could afford it. He lends out his calling card to another migrant who was robbed by a man with a gun at the border then starts making the rounds to thank us before he leaves. I come out of the bathroom, my hands covered in dirty coffee grains from the dishes and he sticks out his hand and shows that same soft smile. I hesitate and tell him my hands are wet and gross from the dish-water. He looks back at me and smiles warmly and says not to worry, "Mine are dirtier." Then he shook it and left.Friday came fast. Itineraries and Highs-and-Lows and night shifts, abnormal sleeping patterns and the (very) occasional shower, my sense of time is thrown off. The week went by fast, but it's got this really long feeling at the same time - like enough has happened to make it feel like I've been here, and I could almost say "lived here" for months. Maybe years…I feel like I've seen so much while being at the center, sitting next to them when they're so vulnerable like that, hearing what they have to say. It has made me….I don't know, softer. It's gotten me down to that softest part of me. While I've taken so much from all the things I've seen here, seeing the scared face of a fifteen-year- old boy sitting across from me, holding all he's got in a clear bag, and seeing my brother. Fifteen, too. While just that's been worth every lost hour of sleep and everything, it's been incredible to see everyone here with me experience it all too, to see their reactions, the way their eyes grow big or what they've got to say while we're on a blanket going around the circle. I guess I've experienced and understood a lot of this trip through the people here with me as much as I've been using my own eyes. And I think that's really valuable. Having chamomile tea just hours before our morning shift, laughing about Cedar saying something about dolphins, hearing everyone and feeling the hot mug, together, understanding and experiencing it at the same time, it has made the trip for me. - Brian Watroba '11DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: COMMUNITY PHOTOGRAPHYSeven ball, corner pocket. Next, the four, side pocket. Then the three, banked off the opposite rail into the corner. Finally, in the same pocket, the eight ball, bounced off three rails for effect. Easy.I wish I could say that I was the one who made these shots, running the table and ensuring the lasting embarrassment of my opponents, but I wasn't. No, I was the one leaning against the damp wall of a "colmado" in the mountains of the Dominican Republic and watching, dumbfounded, as my challenger ran the table while I missed every shot. My opponent smiled to himself as he racked up the pool balls for another game, hopefully against a more competent player.As one of the Dominican men who ringed the table stepped forward to take my cue, I glanced out towards the muddy road. Past the chain-link fence that surrounded the pool area, the rain seemed to veil the vibrant greens of the forest and dim fried-food outlet across the street, where a faint fluorescent light was just starting to flicker. When it rains in the Dominican Republic, everything stops. After all, why go outside when you would only get wet and muddy? Occasionally a motorcycle would roar by, but not much else.The relatively busy colmado - a sort of bar/pool hall/dance floor, was an exception, a party started thanks to the presence of Americans in town for the week. We were in the colmado to relax, dance, and have fun. Gradually the local residents filled up the area, drawn by the endless bachata and merengue music that signaled the beginning of a party. With the onset of the music and the dancing, I lost my already tenuous sense of time, only vaguely sensing the gray light's gradual thickening into night. At some point, a fluorescent light came on, throwing the pool player's shadows across the tables. Behind me, rain dripped from the tin roof into a puddle on the ground.Standing in the semi-darkness of the colmado, I remembered what a friend had said to me the day before-that the first time you really visit a third-world country, that you spend time there and see beyond the tourist spots, is an unforgettable experience. All I could think was that here, amidst the dancing and the pool and the rainy night, it was the U.S. that seemed like the third-world, not the Dominican Republic. After learning the stories of the children from the community through photos and interviews, their lives and those of the other members of the community became more real and tangible than anything I could think of from the so-called "first world." What I had deemed important the week before was so distant that I couldn't really remember it, and the U.S. was only an idea, and not a very interesting one at that. It was one of those moments that we search for when we travel - the moment when, if someone asked you to go back to the country that you had left, you would never want to. - Sean Dennison '11DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: AGRICULTUREDominicans do not like working in the rain. As the mist rolls up the mountains and the sky opens up with big fat drops falling on the lush tropical forest paths, they will stay in their homes. As we gringos pass in our colorful raincoats, shouting "hola," they shake their heads and chuckle bemusedly. Dominicans have an interesting, somewhat vague sense of time. Take ahora and "ahorita" for example. In Dominican they can mean anything from "in a while" to "soon" to "eventually, we'll see" - certainly not their literal translations of now or right now. In fact, it was not uncommon for our friends to use the past tense to describe actions that would happen in the near future, emphasizing something that was happening immediately. We heard many yells of nos fuimos (we left!) just before groups of Dominicans decided to get up and go about their business.Our MAlt trip focused on sustainable agriculture and coffee farming and took place on the farm of Alta Gracia in the mountainous northern region of the Dominican Republic. We were based in a town called Los Marranitos, which a small village comprised of clusters of houses of both Dominicans and Haitians on the sides of a very steep dirt road. The landscape was green in every direction, with the stunning forested mountains of the Cordilla Central on all sides and views of the small city of Jarabacoa in the valley below. Food was fresh and delicious, and copious amounts of coffee were available - a simple but delicious luxury. When the rain interrupted our coffee picking or community garden work plans, as it did on two of our work-days, we found other things to do. We hiked up through the hills to the village's water source, picked passionfruit, starfruit and tomates de arbol, visited a bamboo school where locals learn the trade of growing and making bamboo furniture, read to neighborhood kids, or tried our hand at pottery in the Taíno Native-inspired art center near the farm. In the evenings, we would either stay in to play cards and dominoes (hugely popular in the Dominican Republic) or go out dancing merengue and bachata. Even the six-year-old son of our cook could dance, and sometimes treated the girls of the group to a dance before breakfast.
- Rowan Braybrook '09.5 and Annabelle Fowler '10SAN FRANCISCOI'm sitting in a fish theater next to Rachel, the seven year old I'm tutoring. We're staring at the fish tank from our velvety-soft seats. "That one's fat and ugly," I say, jokingly. "Don't judge the fish," she scolds, reading off one of the many purposely coffee-stained signs that decorate the Pirate Supply storefront whose profits support this writing center.I've been working with Rachel at 826 Valencia, a writing center in San Francisco, all week - she's incredibly bright, and enjoys doing her homework backwards while consuming Oreo snacks one after another, the way some college students down energy drinks. Marisa, an 826 employee, encourages me to write a story with her to submit to the "young writers' wall," a shrine to those tutees who exceed the expectations of their teachers by writing inspired non-required essays, poetry, and fiction.Although only six students can be featured on the wall at a time, I'm impressed with all the tutees and how well-behaved they are considering the freedom they're allowed, the endless sugary snacks they demolish, and the fact that they've been cooped up in classrooms all day.The other MAlt participants and I have been enjoying the busy city's 60-70 degree heat - tropical in contrast to Middlebury's single-digit depressing cold. This week of February break has improved my winter mood tremendously - the only equivalent elixir might be running on a treadmill under a SAD lamp, listening to John Mellencamp hits. Not only is the weather wonderful here, but the children, though tiring at times, say funny things and remind me of my humanity - it wasn't long ago that I was struggling through pre-algebra.We have also volunteered at the Glide Memorial soup kitchen for early morning breakfasts, and at the San Francisco Food Bank sorting goods to be driven to programs that help families in need. During our short hours off work we have napped, explored the DeYoung museum and the shopping district, enjoyed burritos at the "best taqueria in the whole world," and consumed gelato nearly to the point of abuse.The other Malt participants seem to be enjoying the city. I've helped show them the distinctive neighborhoods and laid-back quality of the west coast many of them have never experienced. I'm from San Francisco - I went to school here - yet I'm even more enamored by the city the longer I'm on this trip. Volunteering has made me more impressed with the constructive kindness people like David from the soup kitchen or Jory of 826 display through their enduring commitment to their respective organizations. Jory has been working at 826 Valencia almost as long as it has been around, and though he goes home exhausted, I overhear him say that he can't envision his life without the organization that's become a second home to both student and teacher.826 feels like home to me, too. I'm encouraged to express a sense of humor here, and Rachel enjoys that. As we gaze absentmindedly at long skinny fish and fat ones swimming lazily, I know she appreciates my company, and that maybe I'll get to help her write a story, find a place on the Young Writers Wall, and achieve the same sense of pride I feel sitting here with her. - Miranda Tsang '09
(02/12/09 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] SEEKING WOMENNo words, no touching, no problem. 3692.Corn-fed Midwestern boy looking for a lady who likes the cut of my jib. Come rock my boat in the high winds until I get blown off shore. 3442.ROAR. I AM A DINOSAUR. 3986.What's the best thing about "twenty six" year-old girls? There are 20 of them. 3576.You and me, bubbeleh, are like charoset and maror/Can't wait to break the fast with you next year on Yom Kippur. 3657.Prankster looking for a new experience. Must love crosswords, ending friendships and cuddling. Meet me in the Grand Salon, baby. 3983.Seeking a squash-playing, skiing, Nantucket-loving life partner. 2246.Can you teach me to count to ten? 3878.... Looking for my first lady. And no, the GOP isn't dead. 3847.NOT F@!#$%& EMO. 2255.Me: awkward in real life, sexy in Second Life®. You: speak Klingon? I might be willing to cross light sabers. 2975.Water-loving mammal looking for someone who possesses a scintillating wit and a captivating personality but won't compete with me for attention. 2372.Just "say yes!" 3600.Man known as "Crystal" seeks a female Crystal to call his own. Susans, Katies and Sarahs should head elsewhere. 2013.Looking for a fit girl to share fro-yo (not full fat ice cream) with me. 2219.Distressed male trying to find missing - what's it called? - primate. Be advised: I require extensions on everything. 2562.Freshman girls call me "Joe Mods" for a reason. 4351.Classics boy seeks his own Athena. Must love instrumental rock, alpaca and shredding gnar. 3854.SEEKING MENNice Southern boy seeks same for platonic bonding at society barbecues. You provide the bromance, I'll provide the bourbon. 4325.Desperately seeking athletic male. Did I mention my father owns a strip club? 3323.Like Hot Pockets? Serenade me. 2574.My requirements: a great smile, an obnoxious personality, a conservative agenda and an exact likeness to Peter Murphy. 2730.Petite domestic goddess seeks male who can help me make our house a home. 4172.Looking for an Italian stallion? Sorry - I may have giant (soccer) balls, but you'll never "score" with me. 4473.Me: sexy AIDS nurse with BlackBerry. You: Year 9 and under with European mullet. 3893.Does Middlebury have a semi-pro hockey team? I'm tired of this one ... or are they tired of me? 2693.Not yet a girl, not yet a woman: just a slave 4 u and your toxic love. 2044.Granola-addict looking for man with flowing blond hair. I love fondue and maybe you will too. 2647.Texas belle seeks gentleman who enjoys marathons of "Murder She Wrote." Terrible taste in documentaries also a must. 3663.Cute, cuddly "floofy" seeks caretaker to rub her back and read her bedtime stories. 3151.A real man would wear Old Spice, take me on dates in a hot air balloon and propose to me in the Costco floral department. 3964.Austen-lover seeks dashing beau who (somewhat anachronistically) also enjoys "The Office." 4561.Looking for a cuddle buddy with an appreciation for Mac-n-Cheese and Applegate's finer literature. 2825.Sarcastic sophomore seeks partner who enjoys long hugs and singing "L is for the Way You Look at Me" frequently. 3027.WHATEVER I CAN GETThe darker the berry, the sweeter the juice. 3296.Crazy gem with a lotta spirit. 4560.Most desirable man in the World (of Warcraft). 3665.7 ft., 300 lbs. Can you handle these handles? 2989.Heady bro seeks morally liberal hipster. Did I tell you about my movie, yo? It's so deck. Have you heard the new TV on the Radio Album? Straight chillin'.Yo, I copped those new Nike sneaks. 2656.Snarky, cardigan-wearing half-Jew seeks someone who spks txt fluently. If u have a phone, I have game. 4110.I'll be like, "Oh yeah," when I t-t-taste your Bath & Body Works. Open to all flavors, from warm vanilla to roast beef. 4414.No standards? Me neither. 3820This blonde with cups that runneth over is not tryin' to get aggressive unless you have either an accent or a bro-flow. 4514.Wo ai ni. Help this stellar student of Chinese rejoin the tally. 4459.Pull my hair, biotch. 2589.STAFF PERSONALSTall, gentle soul in search of equally compassionate wordsmith for frolics on my native shores. Must love awkward waves. 2091.Smokin' cougar seeks lanky prey with tarnished lungs but an unadulterated heart. Come on baby, light my fire. 4198.Westchester-bred basketball savant seeks comfort until Summer 2010. Eagles fans need not apply. 3325.Female vegan-sexual seeks companion with a shared love of corny, rhyming greeting cards. 3233.Curly-haired gal returning from abroad thinks English lads are more than just O.Kay. 3390.Piano man who hits all the right notes. 4448.Meet me in the RAJ basement after hours for a good time. Open-minded types preferred, as Facilities may "join" us come daybreak. 2682.Let me fix your finances. Meow. 2469.Lovely "local" girl seeks synesthesiac writer who savors every single bite of a baked good (and then some). Come visit me in my dairy barn. 4067.This febulous guy's ex is applying here. Want to help him show her that it's over for good? 2476.Editor extraordinaire is waiting for the one that stops him in his (Yak)Trax. Just don't expect any Monday night dates. 2597.
(02/12/09 12:00am)
Author: Tamara Hilmes On Jan. 22 Reginald L. Cook Professor of American Literature and Chair of the English and American Literatures (ENAM) Department Brett Millier invited both ENAM and English Literature (ENGL) majors to attend an open meeting allowing students to express their opinions regarding the upcoming changes to the major. On Jan. 19, Millier had sent out an e-mail stating that the Comprehensive Exam program will not continue beyond this academic year, and that all ENAM majors, beginning with the Class of 2013, will be "required to write a senior essay or thesis in order to graduate." Though Millier intended for the meeting to be focused on changes to the curriculum and major requirements, students turned out to discuss one thing - and one thing only - Comps. Around 18 concerned majors attended the meeting, most of them speaking highly of the current Comps program and expressing the shock they felt upon hearing the news. In an effort to reverse the decision, many of the students cited the importance of the community-building aspect of the program, fondly describing their interactions with fellow majors both during small class discussions and during more relaxed gatherings where they analyzed the plays of John Stoppard over a glass of wine. "This is actually the only time that I've felt like a part of the department," said Michael Nevadomski '09, a senior ENAM major who was participating at the time that the meeting took place. He stated also that the survey style of Comps mirrored very nicely the all-encompassing classes with which he began his major.Despite the students plight, however, Comps will no longer exist in its present form after 2009 - a decision that, according to Millier, is linked quite directly to the decision made by the Educational Affairs Committee (EAC) last year to require all College seniors to complete some form of individual senior work before graduation. According to the EAC, said Millier, Comps does not count as independent senior work. Though Comps will end after this year, the senior work requirement will not be implemented until the class of 2013. According to Millier, all ENAM majors will be required to do a one-semester senior essay, and students with special permission will be allowed to continue their work into a second semester. Creative work, she said, will still count.As for those students eager to participate in the Comps program, they will still have the chance, said Millier. "The classes of 2010 and 2011 will be able to have a Comps-like experience if they so choose," she said. Millier went on to explain that these would be a smaller-scale version of the traditional program and would be optional. Many other students mentioned the feeling of unity among senior ENAM majors that the Comps program had produced for them, a sentiment that ENAM professors shared. "It's near and dear to our hearts," Millier said of the community-fostering aspect of the program. "We just have to come up with something else."That "something else," according to Millier, could be anything from some form of year-long senior program that would incorporate visiting writers and speakers, similar to symposia. This could include colloquia, or some event series, said Millier, that would bring all of the senior ENAM majors together at some point in the year prior to the senior picnic held at the end of the spring semester. Professor of English and American Literature and Environmental Studies John Elder offered several suggestions for suitable replacements for the program, such as a sequence of seminars that would "give way to something.""I've never heard this many students so excited by Comps," he said, "and I was chair for several years. I constantly have to ask, exactly what was it that people liked so much this year?"Although the decision to eliminate Comps would not affect them, seniors continued to advocate the continuation of the longstanding ENAM department tradition."It's something to be proud of," said Peyton Coles '08.5, who graduated along with the rest of the Feb class on Jan. 31. "I'm going to graduate in a couple of days, and it's a great way to leave. I hope that's not lost."Toward the end of the meeting, Millier attempted to bring up the issue of the major requirements, the topic that she had hoped would be the central topic of discussion at the Jan. 22 gathering. "There are too many requirements - too many things to keep track of," said Millier. "There is a general level of confusion about what you're expected to do." This, she hopes, is something that the department can improve upon with input from students. Suggestions included minimizing the number of pre-1800 courses that an ENAM major is required to take, as well as eliminating the specific Shakespeare and 204 requirements."As a department we have not been good about simplifying," said Millier. "But we will come back to [students] with what we hope to do. We are very interested in how the curriculum strikes students. This will be followed up. Truly nothing has been decided."
(02/12/09 12:00am)
Author: Beth Connolly I spent thirteen hours aboard Trenitalia. In English, this is called learning things the hard way; in Italian one would say, essere una stupidona. It all started well enough. The train departed from the ancient Greek city of Siracusa and traveled up the Sicilian coast. Outside my window I saw the Sicily I'd imagined: rows of lemon and orange trees, the blue sea peeking out from behind laundry hung on terraces, Mount Etna looming in the distance. I was on my way to Rome to visit family after a sunny week backpacking through Sicily with friends. At 11 a.m., my train pulled into Messina, a city on the northern coast of the island. It started to rain. Everything went dark. The smell of gasoline permeated the six-person compartment where I had spread out by myself. With concern I stuck my head out the door of my compartment into the hall to ask someone what was going on. This being Italy, various men loitering immediately looked over to size me up. I spoke to the nearest one. "Scusi, ma dove siamo?" "We are in a boat, crossing the strait," he told me. "Come up, you can see the most beautiful part of Italy." He suggested that I leave all my luggage with the people in the next compartment. Umm ... is that safe? Diciamo di si. We'll say it is. Turns out our train had boarded a ship, and my new friend Giovanni, a naval officer, escorted me to the top level. On the right side the pastel-colored buildings of Messina lay spread out against the Sicilian hills. On the left was Calabria, the southernmost part of the Italian mainland: the tip of the boot. Getting to know Giovanni better as I did over the next five hours, after he declared that he would move himself into my compartment because his was full of anziani (old people), I discovered that he was on his way home to Napoli for a oneweek vacation with his family, that he loves to travel and that he wants to learn more English. Every time that our train slowed to an inexplicable halt in an overgrown field, Giovanni told me, "Thirty minutes more delay." Apparently everyone knows that trains from Sicily will run late. Okay, so maybe I will always forget to allow a few extra hours for travel in Italy. And I don't think I'll ever get used to 24-hour time. But there are a sacco of things that I will never forget from these five months. Like the delight of having the language explained to me by an eight-year-old, my host parents' granddaughter. Like the pleasure of mangiare bene, eating well. Like Chianti wine, called the blood of the earth. Like watching an episode of an American TV show from the 70s dubbed in Italian, and for the first time tonight being able to understand everything. Rolling into Roma Termini at 9 p.m., the voice crackled over the intercom, "Signori e signore passaggeri, benvenuti a Roma Termini. Ci scusate per il ritardo di cento quaranta minuti. Grazie per aver scelto Trenitalia. 'Welcome to Roma Termini. Please excuse us for the one hundred and forty minute delay.'" Thank you for choosing Trenitalia. And I am so grateful that I did.
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Grace Duggan and Melissa Marshall We are senior English majors. We spend winter term Friday nights explicating Milton instead of trying to dissect the ingredients in the punch at the Mill. We are some of the only students setting up camp in the blue library chairs on Sunday afternoons (anyone taking Organic Chemistry for the month has our empathy). While many other Middlebury students zip down slopes at the Snow Bowl, we trudge through Eliot. You won't find us sipping hot chocolate at Rosie's Diner, but buying strong coffee with an underlined copy of a Stoppard play in tow. We are senior English majors, and because of it we still operate under our sleeping schedules from the fall and find ourselves unable to get through a dinner in Atwater these days without arguing over the redeeming qualities of Austen or the dramatic tropes of Shaw. The rumors are true: this class takes over your life, but to borrow from another well-loved dramatist, it's a wonderful life.We write to express our disappointment and disagreement with the English and American Literatures Department's decision to cease teaching Comps after this year. If we had received an e-mail in December publicizing the demise of this famously time-consuming legend of a class, we would have said, "Great! Want to cancel it for us, too?" Once class began, all of the apprehension and anxiety we had felt - some of which had been developing since we declared - disappeared. Call us nerds, call us crazy, but we love Comps, and talking to our classmates last Thursday when we heard the news showed us that we are not the only ones.We take issue with not receiving this significant piece of news in the spring, when it was voted on within the department. You expect articulate opinions on The Waste Land, a work that has influenced poets for decades. Why, then, didn't you ask the English majors what they thought about Comps, a course that has shaped generations of Middlebury graduates? Febs in the major have the choice to take Comps as either senior or super senior Febs. The ENAM Department should have informed its majors of this change in the spring so that rising senior Febs could have chosen whether or not they wanted the dubious distinction of taking part in Comps' bittersweet last hurrah. In three weeks, Comps has succeeded in making us feel like part of a large, academic family. After three and a half years of reading, writing, analyzing and absorbing (Rossetti makes us think in lists, swapping fruits for gerunds), we find ourselves enjoying this seemingly larger-than-life rite of passage. We can think of no better capstone to our time spent studying literature than to speak with our fellow senior English majors this month in an intimate and dynamic setting previously unknown to us at Middlebury. We know that the administration has decided on a mandatory senior work requirement beginning with the Class of 2013. As valuable as the experience of writing an essay or thesis can be, reading JSTOR articles and attempting to chain ourselves to our carrels cannot help us question and shape ideas like our peers can.We'd like to thank everyone who was involved in organizing this course, especially Sue Coburn and Professors Berg, Bertolini, Napier and Price. We've read too many good endings from the likes of Shakespeare and Dickens to try and come up with a satisfactory closing of our own. It's the middle of the night, and we may or may not have some reading to do.
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Glaessner "It's the economy, stupid," seems to explain the retail and restaurant scene across Vermont these days. As Americans pinch those pennies and start holding back on excesses, local restaurants find themselves in a position to change. Tully and Marie's, the eight-year-old restaurant that sits aside Otter Creek, is trying to lighten up and tap into the broader market of casual dining. "We want to get students in," said Carolyn Marie, co-owner of Tully and Marie's. "I think we have a reputation of being more exclusive and expensive, special occasion kind of dining. But we want to get away from that. We stopped using tablecloths and it's kind of economic but also environmental. We're trying to change a little bit with the times."Tully's, as it is affectionately termed in the local dialect, has made itself adaptable in a time when change is welcome. Tully's is a great option for a pleasant - and surprisingly inexpensive meal - and the brunch is exceptional. Here is a review of the new weekly specials at an old favorite:Two for One Pad Thai TuesdaysAlthough it is nothing new, the two for one Pad Thai deal at Tully's demands some recognition. What began as an attempt to lure College students to Tully's during the week for a laid-back and inexpensive meal, has become relatively successful since its inception. The deal makes the food worth the value. At a price range of $16-19 depending on your choice of chicken, shrimp or tofu, the Pad Thai is overpriced during regular hours. It is certainly not authentic, but at a price of two for one, how can you turn down two plates piled high with flat Thai-style noodles mixed with slivers of scrambled egg, crunchy bean sprouts, chicken, shrimp, tofu or all three, and flecked with bright green scallion and crumbled peanuts? It is a lot of food - certainly more than one meal's worth - and at under 20 bucks for two, there is no question it is a good bargain for a night out on the town.Wednesday Burrito NightsIt is not hard to make a good burrito, but it is almost impossible to make a great one. Tully's Wednesday special certainly fulfills the demands of the former, but in all honesty, leaves something to be desired. Whether you've got a taste for chicken with all the fixings, including a delightful homemade chorizo or the Vermont beef burrito with black mole, you will not leave hungry. There are, however, questions left unanswered. First of all, if you are eating a burrito without guacamole somewhere in the mix, you might as well be starting a revolution that's doomed to fail, like the time someone suggested replacing brunch with "dunch." Secondly, that atmosphere at Tully's, with their creek-adjacent view and quirky but charming staff, calls for something more than pre-mixed margaritas. For $4 a pop, it is a pretty good deal for an exotic mixed drink, but I can not help but imagine how much better things would be with the real thing. But in the end, a good burrito in the middle of winter is certainly worth the $10 dollar trade, but you might want to try a mojito pairing, just for kicks. Thursday Burgers and Beer Burgers, beer and the dream. That's Thursday night at Tully and Marie's. Okay, I will admit that at first glance it seems like a very masculine meal, but actually, even with three girls, it is - frankly - quite pleasant. What consistently amazes me about Tully's is the kitchen's ability to add something new to the most traditional of dishes. I don't know if it is the more novel combination of additives or the way the burgers are cooked, but this meal works on a Thursday before a long night out. You might be looking forward to the rapture or you might be waiting for that special someone to give you a wink and a smile. Either way, take a second to enjoy. Hot, salty, crispy and with that perfect pinch of oil on a soft Kaiser bun, the McDonald's on Rt. 7 is going to have to step up its game. Sunday BrunchBrunch, by far, is Tully's best special. It is not only the most innovative, it manages to take what is traditionally delicious and transform it into something more delicious. There are three variations on the traditional Eggs Benedict - one is, obviously, the traditional two poached eggs served over a homemade English muffin and coated in decadent hollandaise sauce. That sauce is rich, and when combined with a hint of chipotle to make the memorable sauce that it is, becomes almost indigestible - but not quite. It is still just so tasty. The chorizo is a nice touch - not too greasy and flavorful to the nth degree - and the homefries are a welcome addition to any of the brunch entrees. In fact, the garnishes are worthy of mention. Just as the chipotle mayonnaise stood out on the burrito platters, the homemade croutons in the soup specials are a lovely touch, standing up for the authenticity that was questioned in those margaritas.The breakfast burrito was a delightful example of the way Tully's puts those homefries to use, stuffing them into a thick burrito full of fluffy egg and other vegetables in order to create, essentially, a vegetarian dream come true. In reality, though, the vegetarian dream is the Tofu Scramble - a mix of curry, turmeric, onion and other zesty flavors. But like the Pad Thai, do not be fooled: it is just not the real deal. It is not the best tofu decision, and might be better if it were spongiefied, fried or even fermented. Essentially, Sunday brunch makes up for everything that Tully's lacks Monday through Friday.
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Andrey Tolstoy College, I gather, is a formative experience for the young Americans who elect to take part in this fine tradition. It is a place where they not only acquire a deeper and broader understanding of the world around them, but also learn savvy social skills, explore one another's anatomy and develop stamina for the ingestion of animal end-products referred to by some as "beer." As the representative of a nation most arbitrarily selected as the world's symbol for alcoholism, I cannot hide my anxiety regarding this last fact.Every time I see a $50,000 suburban assault vehicle pull up to Adirondack Circle and discharge four freshmen laden with 30-racks of light beverage, I lose a good portion of my faith in humanity. Drinking quality alcohol is a matter of self-respect, and it's a pathetic reflection on our collective ethos that Keystone, Busch and other brands of carbonated bongwater remain staples of Middlebury's party scene. In an effort to help my transatlantic fellow man, I have compiled this brief Middlebury Sommelier's Guide to Drinking with Dignity.Locally available beer is divided into three categories. The first category comes in blue packaging and under names commonly referring to "ice" or other states of water, since there is little beer involved. Price range (you guessed it): $15 for 30. Don't touch that. More importantly, don't let your guests touch that - out of respect for them. The second category is Vermont beer. It's more expensive - $12-15 for a case of 12 - but definitely worth the cost. I would stay away from the lighter brews, since they tend to be on the watery side; however, the darker ones are excellent. Because they are also heavier, reserve them for smaller occasions, like picnics or barbecues, where you don't intend on drinking much.Finally, you have the imported brands, which are usually a dollar per case more expensive than Vermont brews. After many years in Prague, I'm a strong advocate of Czech beer. Unfortunately, the Czech Republic's primary export is Pilsner Urquell, which is inferior to most of its domestic competitors. Of course, this is no reason to underestimate its power: Urquell is divine nectar compared to other light beers you'll find in the supermarket. (If you ever come across Staropramen, know you've struck gold). Heineken is always a good choice and comes in a variety of convenient serving vessels, including mini-kegs. For the best lager experience, get Stella Artois.Poor people in Russia drink counterfeit cologne and ethanol extracted from anti fungal foot ointment, but that's no reason to drink Popov or Fleischmann's. The lowest common denominator of drinkable vodkas is Smirnoff, because it is supposedly distilled three times. (Note: American Smirnoff : Russian Smirnoff :: American Budweiser : Czech Budweiser). Acceptable for use in punch or, minimally, in mixed drinks. For all other uses, stoop no lower than Absolut. The Swedes have led a phenomenal marketing campaign, but their product has a funny, sharp aftertaste which makes flavored varieties preferable to the original. The best option - both in terms of taste and budget - is "Three Olives," an English brand with a remarkably smooth taste compared to its price tag of $30 per handle.Although Dmitry Mendeleev created the modern recipe for distilling vodka (hence the Russian claim to it being a national beverage), the drink originates in Poland. For a real treat, try the Polish brands Belvedere or Pravda, both available at Hannaford. If you like vodka with the "peppered" taste so popular in Russia, our local supermarket also carries "Russian Standard."The point of my column is not to advertise the products I have listed (though I am interested in their financial success), but to promote a more gourmet approach to drinking. The consumption of alcohol should not be something one is inured to by weekend habit, but rather by the careful selection of personal preferences. So, choose responsibly. Cheers!
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Jaime Wheeler I am surrounded by family and friends in the finance world and, somehow, painful discussions concerning the economy as a result. But their proximity only heightens my sense of ignorance. Shall I use my English major to solve the nation's economic problems? Shall I offer my analysis of Act One of The Tempest? But given the amount of times I've heard idiots liberally toss about precursors implying their understanding of today's problems, maybe it's time we all act. Here's how to apply the economy to your life.1. On academia: Did you happen to turn in that final paper a bit late during exam week? Well, it's not your fault. With the economy being what it is, as I'm sure you know, it was best for the library to shut down all printers. That conserved paper should be used for drafting new economic plans or starting fires in trashcans to stay warm.2. Though once you found a printer in, say, Bicentennial Hall, did you then need to drive it to Axinn, for instance? But what's this? A ticket! In this economy, can we really afford a 10-dollar ticket tacked onto our tuition? No. Do you not even have a car on campus? Woe the economy!3. With a vacation and time to yourself, did you go and see "Twilight?" Were you bothered by porcelain pouts and teen angst so suffocating it crippled all dialogue? Well, of course: scripting words from a book costs money and with today's economy, we can only afford the most crucial ones. Glares must suffice.4. Did you join the masses in going to the gym during the first week of J-term in hopes of shedding the holiday pounds, attempting to stay faithful to your new year's resolution, or in anticipation of normal J-term behavior? No matter what your reason: good for you. If we're headed towards another Depression, at least look the fit and famished part. My advice? Two to a treadmill both saves the environment and allows for greater influx and, with today's economy, we're all in this together.5. On that note, did you happen to attend the Bunker the other night, where you found yourself swapping sweet, sweet sweat and saliva with another (or perhaps more than one other - at the same time)? Thank you. Your commingling is the first step towards proper team building, an all but essential trait if we're to solve the riddle that is our economy.6. Speaking of wet love, are you perhaps a younger woman infatuated or involved with an older member of, say, the men's lacrosse team? Well, why shouldn't you be; you would otherwise only be hurting yourself. Given today's economy, it is understandable to want to secure one's future with a man who, upon making said team, simultaneously secures his own future with either Bear or the Brothers Lehman.7. But if you're not getting it, you should at least be able to read about it, right? Wrong. We watch as the sun of the Sex Sage filling our heads with erotically charged fantasies - sets and the, well, incandescent ginger light bulb of the Sex Guy flickers. But, given the state of the economy, sex would be wasteful of energy that could otherwise be used for developing new economic plans and thus should be deemed selfish.8. But did I intentionally rip this format off the New Yorkers "Shouts and Murmurs"? Absolutely. Am I deeply troubled on a moral level? Stop. An economy such as ours suspends all general notions of plagiarism as well as the College's own Honor Code.9. And finally ... well, on second thought, another point merely proves excessive and, with the economy being what it is, I think we should all learn to be content with a little less.
(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Tamara Hilmes On Jan. 19, Chair of the English and American Literatures (ENAM) Department Brett Millier sent out an e-mail to all ENAM and English (ENGL) majors outlining changes that the department has already voted to set into motion next year. According to the e-mail, the ENAM/ENGL Senior Comprehensive Exam program (Comps) will not continue, and all ENAM majors, beginning with the class of 2013, will be required to write either a senior essay or thesis in order to graduate. The e-mail arrived in majors' inboxes shortly after students had begun to buzz about the decision toward the end of last week. According to Assistant Professor of English and American Literatures Daniel Brayton, however, these changes have been a long time coming. He said that the department voted down the Comprehensive Exam program last spring."I have been telling students for a year now," Brayton said, explaining that he had shared information with anyone who had asked. Brayton also went on to explain that the department had voted to eliminate the program by an overwhelming majority, although three members of the department remained partial to keeping the current program intact.Despite the results of the vote that, according to Brayton, the department is "bound by," nothing has yet been decided. Brayton stressed that due to the "flighty" tendencies of his department, things could very well change in the coming months. C. A. Dana Professor of English and American Literatures David Price also emphasized how up in the air the decisions continue to be. Price said that although the vote was already taken, there has been an "impulsive reconsideration," and that the department is continuing to discuss whether or not the program will continue in its present form. "It's a developing story, as they like to say," said Price. "Nothing has been decided yet." In Monday's e-mail, though, Millier stated that these two decisions have already been made and that the department is now focusing on "designing a coherent and workable set of course requirements that will prepare students to do independent senior work." ENAM major Max Sinsheimer '09 expressed his discontent upon receiving the department message. "I'm a bit upset that the senior English majors weren't brought into the process until the decisions were already - I wish we had been brought in earlier," he said. The e-mail included an invitation to all ENAM majors as well as any other interested parties to a meeting, to be held on Jan. 22 at 3:00 p.m. in Munroe Lecture Hall. Millier asked those interested to attend and "offer your thoughts and hear the details" about the "intensive discussions" that the department has been having regarding curriculum and senior work for the major. Price said that they are hoping to have others "weigh in" and to "reopen a kind of discussion. Nominally, the meeting is about curriculum changes," Price explained, though he went on to say that the discussion will also provide an opportunity for "seniors to add a voice." "I believe that Professor Millier is prepared to listen to what they have to say," he said.Though several professors within the department declined to comment on the possible changes as they currently stand, Professor Brayton described what he saw as a probable transformation from the traditional Comps program to "more intensified studies of narrower topics" for senior ENAM majors. Brayton, though originally opposed to eliminating Comps, said that he has come around to the wisdom that the decision encompasses. He explained that the current program creates serious staffing issues each Winter Term because four or five professors are always needed to lead the Comps classes. Without the existing program, these same professors would be free to offer additional senior seminar-type courses that would offer "depth, rather than breadth," he said. This leads into the second issue Brayton noted regarding Comps - the fact that many of his colleagues have found the program to be too focused on a comprehensive review of the entirety of English literature, a tradition that is rapidly falling out of favor in the world of higher education. "[Comps] have really gone by the wayside," said Brayton. He went on to explain that Middlebury is one of the last institutions, if not the last, to continue to utilize the Comprehensive program for seniors. "I've always enjoyed it," he said. "I see it as a tradition, a rite of passage and a form of community building." Many seniors currently going through the Comps program this month share this nostalgic viewpoint, and are reluctant to see it go. "I like, as an English major, that we start freshman year with an intense writing seminar, and that we return in senior year to another intense, discussion-based format," Sinsheimer said. To him, the idea of the additional senior seminar-type courses that Brayton mentioned as a possibility seems a bit "redundant."Others, however, look at the change in a bit of a different light. "It's a truly rigorous experience," said senior English major Daniel Roberts '09, "and I guess I'm a little jealous of the current junior English majors, since all of a sudden they won't have to take Comps."
(01/15/09 12:00am)
Author: Eric Bartolloti Everyone knows about culture shock. In a nutshell: 1. You travel somewhere. 2. You stay there awhile. 3. You start to feel weird. This is a very watered down version - a version that may belittle the trials of any currently abroad students reading The Campus online in internet cafes* - but I think it will suffice. After all, everyone knows about culture shock. There are advisory pamphlets. There are culture classes. There is a Wikipedia article (in nineteen different languages, no less). While culture shock still looms over any prospective study abroad student, this is precisely why it is a beatable enemy: we expect it. We have resources to fight it. To flip a cliche on its side, "what you do know can't hurt you."So, writing about "return" culture shock, I feel the need to clarify. Return culture shock is classic culture shock's dark cousin, the kind that strikes after re-entering the borders of the homeland. I had never thought about the idea. As I myself am nearing my own year-long study in Egypt, it is certainly something that concerns me. To better understand the nature of the beast, I visited the Center for Health and Wellness, whose staff has experience counseling troubled returning juniors and seniors.In our discussion, Counselor Virginia Logan and I uncovered a few big ideas. The first was that studying abroad is a leap forward in maturity. Students may live in their own apartments, cook their own meals and interact with strangers and authorities without backup. After all that, dorms and dining halls seem almost childish. The second was the common complaint that life at Middlebury had gone on while they were away. People had morphed. Protocols had melded. Proctor had been sacked.It is obvious to us here that things will keep happening back in Vermont - albeit at a charming "Vermontly" pace - but why could not that be obvious on the other side of the ocean? The answer is that overseas students will often glorify their memories of homeland as a coping mechanism while abroad. They expect their glorified version to be there when they return, but often, it is not. When searching for reasons for the change, one's own personal maturity and development often deserve the blame just as much as the homeland itself.Then I asked the obvious question: about how many students come in for counseling on return culture shock? The answer - not many, even during peak times like Winter Term and the following September. The Center has excellent resources and staff, but if students are not coming to them, they cannot be of much help. By contrast, counseling resources overseas are utilized by students much more frequently. You are even allowed to break the language pledge for support, meaning regular culture shock counseling is taken pretty seriously.Still, just because the Center has few reports of this return culture shock phenomenon, it does not mean that its effects are insignificant."For reasons I don't quite understand, my English is a little clumsy," admitted Andrew McDonald '10, who spent time abroad in Russia. "Earlier today I called a bottle of ketchup a bottle of toothpaste, and later mixed up the words 'revolution' and 'evolution.' And now, whenever I walk into a restaurant, the first thing I do is look around for a place to hang my coat - as is custom in Russia."Kristen Faiferlick '10 recalled different difficulties with the language change."I will miss the really bad English. In China, clothing with English is really popular, but unfortunately, the companies that deisgn the shirts don't use the best translators," Faiferlick said. "Some examples of shirts that I saw were 'Short and Stubby,' 'Little miss jail bait,' 'I love your muscle, your power. Very very much. Catch me!' and 'Just like a clear glass purity hatchet. Why do you think so far?'According to an article on the College's Study Abroad Website, return culture shock is significantly more harmful than its classic counterpart. This article, titled "Coming Home: Life After Study Abroad," offers a detailed explanation of the phenomenon and how to cope with it. Unfortunately, this useful resource is buried in a corner of the site under the obscure "Returning Students" label."I was really really reluctant to leave, and it was hard to wrap my head around the fact that abroad was over, and I had to move on the next semester," Faiferlick said.Students need to expect return culture shock so that they don't expect something else: namely, their homeland as a shelter and refuge from their foreign location.*If you are studying abroad and are still loyal enough to keep up with The Campus' happenings, then you win ten points for Gryffindor.
(01/15/09 12:00am)
Author: Jessica Kissinger MOVIE: Mister LonelyDIRECTOR: Harmony KorineSTARRING: Diego Luna & Samantha MortonA forlorn little film, "Mister Lonely" whizzed in and out of theaters, and yet, despite its rather quirky premise - the story primarily concerns a commune of impersonators - the film teems with melancholic beauty as director Harmony Korine performs an incredible visual experiment, setting historical and literary figures fully decked out in exuberant costume against the gloomy Scottish countryside."Mister Lonely" opens when a dejected Michael Jackson (Diego Luna) meets Marilyn Monroe (Samantha Morton) while performing at a nursing home in Paris. After spending the afternoon together, Marilyn invites Michael to live on a commune. They arrive at a lush farm in the highlands topped with a luxurious castle where Charlie Chaplin (Denis Lavant), Abraham Lincoln (Richard Strange), Buckwheat (Michael-Joel Stuart) and the Pope (James Fox), among others, tend to animals and the land and put on a variety show. Korine joins this narrative with a secondary story about nuns who jump out of an airplane without parachutes to prove their faith in God. The two plots never meet; however, be it a story about faith in God or the refuge of a commune, both share the notion that illusions mask human frailty. With these illusions, characters forget that, in Marilyn's words, "it takes longer to live than to die." Korine expertly highlights this idea by coupling the characters' suspension of reality with visual suspension, frequently dipping into slow motion or allowing the wind to catch the nuns' robes and lift the hems of Marilyn's white dress.The film brims with several tangential episodes that contribute more to a philosophy than a plot. Soon after Michael joins the commune, men in full body suits, fit more for toxic chemicals than veterinary work, extract blood samples from the sheep, determining that the animals are infected and must be killed. Abraham Lincoln decides that it would only be appropriate for the members of the commune to kill the animals, so they all huddle together for the death of the sheep as the three stooges shoot them execution style. Most of the characters have private moments with the camera, which Director of Photography Marcel Zyskind takes full advantage of by stringing together a series of stunning (though disassociated) images. These private shots seem to stand outside of time, briefly seizing a character's interiority, just as Michael attempts to slow time and capture others' essential selves by speaking into his tape recorder. His thoughts become a sparse narration that wafts over film like the highland haze.Though decked in fantastical attire, all of the actors gve fairly muted and internal performances, the only exception being a short tempered Lincoln who laces his every phrase with more four letter words than standard English ones. Still, much stirs beneath sad-eyed smiles of these characters - especially the ever-tragic Monroe. "Mister Lonely" becomes an examination of human frailty and loneliness, a film that speaks to quiet sadness and an odd sense of beauty that accompanies the dejected.
(01/15/09 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] 1977. The time of punk rock, "Happy Days," "M*A*S*H," "Charlie's Angels," and Jimmy Carter. This year, Debbi Fields was opening her first store, which she called "Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chippery." The average household income was $13,572. "Dancing Queen" premiered on the sound waves.That was where America was standing when January 1978 came and opened a new chapter of history, which spiraled all the way to 2009: the era of iPhones, Macs, Smartboards, fast food, fast communication and fast-paced lifestyles.In January 1978, Middlebury students were getting excited for the freedom, snow and the general laziness of Winter Term while seniors stressed about the future and juniors returned from abroad (quite similarly to students today). In fact, many things have not changed too drastically ... in some cases."My plans for next year are set. I expect to teach English in Germany, at a Berlitz school or in the army. However, I'm engaged to an Iranian. He'll be in Germany next year but if he weren't, I wouldn't have the faintest idea of where I would be."- Sarah Eddy in "Seniors Look Ahead with Mixed Emotions""It seems most of the opportunities I want are in the city and I'm scared of the city."- Debbie Kittay in "Seniors Look Ahead with Mixed Emotions""I'm not emotionally stable in these types of things. I feel a mixture of nervous to apathetic. It matters how sober I am."- Carlo Lucchesi in "Seniors Look Ahead with Mixed Emotions""Every Sunday, Bloody Marys are only 50 cents."- "Get 'Up's' In Time for Brunch" by Diane Goldner"A professor from the history department said that although his students sometimes 'jibe' at him for smoking in class, he would be hard-pressed to stop. 'I'd have to cut my wrists,' he said jokingly. The professor said he is 'vaguely' aware of the Handbook regulations."- "Smoking in Class" by Carola Wilder"Leaving Middlebury might be compared to leaving Momma's womb."- Gregory Goth in in "Seniors Look Ahead with Mixed Emotions""This impressive conservation effort [achieved by the Middlebury College Energy Council] has gone relatively unnoticed by the college community because members of the college have not been asked to sacrifice their comfort for conservation."-"Energy Council Promotes Conservation, Sacrifice" by David Magida-Archived by Rachael Jennings
(01/15/09 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Glaessner While most Americans ring in the new year with promises to cut back on everything from carbs to cigarettes, Otter Creek Brewery shows no signs of holding back with the release of four creative brews due out this spring season. The local craft brewery has upped the ante on its selection of microbrews with the introduction of its new, high-alcohol content Imperial series. First up in the series is the new Russian Imperial Stout, containing 10.6 percent alcohol for the noblest of beer connoisseurs. Balancing out the global with the local, Otter Creek has also just released the latest addition to the Farmers' Series - Pat Leavy's All-American, made with all-organic and all-American ingredients. Brewed with Leavy's organic Fuggles, Goldings and Magnum hops, Pat Leavy's All-American is the second beer from Wolaver's to be named in honor of an American organic farmer, following the Will Stevens' Pumpkin Ale, which is brewed with local Vermont pumpkins. To top it off, the brewery is also bringing back two all-time favorites - the Kölsch style Spring Ale, as well as the infamous Mud Bock. As usual, the brewery is keeping its doors open for customers to stop by and sample the new (and old favorite) beers on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. When a reporter was sent to weigh in on the four spring '09 brews, the response was overwhelmingly positive - two thumbs up for the new Russian Imperial Stout, the Pat Leavy's All-American and the returning Mud Bock. The Kölsch Spring Ale will not be out until next month, as it has yet to be tasted by brewmaster Mike Gerhardt. Originating from Cologne, Germany, the bright golden Spring Ale Kölsch is a pleasing brew for everyone - complex enough for craft beer aficionados but mellow enough for lightweights. Pat Leavy's All-American Pale AleTumbling into the glass in a rich caramel stream topped with a slightly frothy head, the floral aroma of hops filled the room. But instead of finding bitterness that is standard in most floral-smelling brews, the beer was surprisingly "biscuity" with hints of toffee and caramel. Crafted to showcase the organic hops grown on Pat Leavy's certified organic farm in Oregon, the All-American is loaded with a variety of hops that present unique characteristics to the pale ale style. Determined to find hops closer to home, Otter Creek's owner Morgan Wolaver, who formed a relationship with Oregon hops farmer Pat Leavy years ago, recently offered to purchase a portion of Leavy's crop output and reserve it for use in Wolavers' all-organic beers. Leavy took up the offer, agreeing to convert a large portion of his commercial hops farm to organically certified crops, allowing Otter Creek to replace the organic hops that used to come from New Zealand with Leavy's organic hops grown right in the States. "We were getting our stuff from New Zealand, so it's really nice to know where, I mean exactly what field, your hops are coming from," said Gerhardt.Otter Creek hopes to boost the volume of organic hops coming from Leavy's farm over the years. "Now we have contracts with Pat and we're going up in volume each year, so that we're making a commitment to him and to the brewing industry as well to push it to become 100 percent organic," said Gerhardt.Although the beer proudly boasts its American-ness on the label and in the beer itself with organic ingredients that hail from the homeland, Otter Creek brewer Ron Cotti explained that the brew is actually styled after the English pale ale. According to Cotti, the English-style pale ale provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the flavors of Leavy's hops and also serves to differentiate the Pat Leavy All-American from the Otter Creek Pale Ale."The body and alcohol content in the Otter Creek Pale Ale is greater, but the amount of hops is the same, so the result is that the [Otter Creek] Pale Ale has a more bitter aftertaste than the Pat Leavy," said Cotti.The beauty of the All-American is its wide appeal to beer drinkers from novices to experts. It wins praise from the craft beer community for its unique flavor, yet at the same time, die-hard Bud fans will have a hard time turning their noses from this straightforward, flavorful brew.Mud BockNext on the sampling tour was the Mud Bock, and this tasting took place behind the glass doors in the bustling brewing area where Gerhardt and Cotti's creative concoctions come to fruition. The beer was tasted fresh from the tank - the last stop before it is kegged or bottled into 22 oz. bottles for the World Tour and 12 oz. bottles for the variety pack.The Mud Bock was resurrected this January as the 2009 stop on the Otter Creek World Tour, bringing devoted followers back from Japan - last year's selection was a sake-infused rice brew called Otter San - to the hills of Vermont. A dark amber brew with a deep, roasted flavor that recalls the chocolate and coffee notes of stouts and porters, the Mud Bock falls somewhere in between the Stovepipe Porter and the Pat Leavy's All-American. And whereas the Pat Leavy showcases the hops, the Mud Bock is all about the malts. Light enough to be enjoyed with a hearty meal, but with a heavy set of complex flavors, Mud Bock has acquired a cult-like following since its introduction as a spring seasonal offering about five years ago. The last batch of Mud Bock was brewed in 2004, and devoted fans have been asking for it ever since. Finding a niche for the beloved brew in the World Tour series, the brewery decided to put the global beer concepts on hold and focus on styles closer to home for the 2009 World Tour selection."This year we're staying American. It's like a staycation," said Otter Creek marketing manager Kate Corrigan. Russian Imperial StoutBoasting a much higher alcohol content than any other Otter Creek brew, the Russian Imperial Stout takes the meaning of Imperial to a whole new level. In this rich stout, the flavors and the alcohol were "kicked up a notch," according to Gerhardt, creating a rich, dark brew infused with chocolate and coffee flavors that pack a punch thanks to the higher-than-usual alcohol content created by using copious amounts of specially selected malts. The new brew puts Otter Creek on the map along with other American craft brewers developing intensely flavored, high-alcohol content beers that only get better with age. Although the fine beer fad is relatively new to American beer drinkers, consumers are quickly picking up on the trend with more and more beer drinkers preferring better-tasting, fresher, complex, albeit pricier brews like the Russian Imperial over corn-pumped "Pilsners" like Budweiser and Coors."Years ago," said Gerhardt, "people were content with India Pale Ale. Now they want to know about the hops, yeast and malts used in their beer. It's actually kind of flattering when people want to take your beer and replicate it at home."According to Gerhardt, the new craft beers like the Russian Imperial have complexities that rival a lot of great wines out there. "Not to knock the wine industry but there's a lot more going on in these beers than many wines out there," said Gerhardt. Like wine, Gerhardt explained, the Russian Imperial gets better with age, making the brew a target for "vertical tasting" - beer tasting that involves drinking consecutively dated beer to pick up on the complexities and flavors that evolve over time.Yet even amateur beer connoisseurs can appreciate the thick, frothy stout which makes for a perfect match with a chocolate dessert, a hearty meal, or, as Gerhardt suggests, poured over vanilla ice cream for a Russian Imperial float - a truly decadent dessert fit for the aristocracy. "The whole idea is you're not going to drink a whole bottle by yourself," said Gerhardt, "You're going to open it up among a few good friends over dinner
and really enjoy it, like how you would enjoy a good bottle of wine."At $6.99 a bottle and a 10.6 percent alcohol content, the Russian Imperial Stout is not meant for penny-pinchers nor the faint of heart. But expensive ingredients often mean better beer, and Otter Creek brewers are not concerned that the price will deter beer aficionados. "This is not your daddy Schlitz," said Ron Cotti, a brewer at Otter Creek. "People will pay that money because they see the value." And as Kate Corrigan, Otter Creek's marketing director cleverly pointed out, the Russian Imperial is enjoyed differently than the chugging approach one might take to imbibe a Natty Light. "In terms of alcohol content, one bottle is equal to about four beers," said Corrigan.The Russian Imperial Stout is meant to be served in a glass, among friends, at cellar temperature, which is 55 degrees.
(12/04/08 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Professor of Environmental Studies and English and American Literatures John Elder was named the Vermont Professor of the Year by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education on Nov. 20. Elder is known for his work bringing together knowledge of the local area and the broad perspectives of liberal arts education, serving on the Vermont Land Trust and Vermont Family Forests.
(12/04/08 12:00am)
Author: Grace Duggan Say what you will about the word "networking," but sometimes it really is about who you know. In this case, it was Melissa Hammerle who proved to be a useful connection; this local resident put D.E. Axinn Professor of English & Creative Writing Jay Parini in contact with her a friend of hers, none other than Breyten Breytenbach, the world-famous poet, fiction writer, painter and activist. Breytenbach graciously accepted an invitation to come to the College, which culminated in a standing-room only reading in the Axinn Center's Abernethy Room on Nov. 20.Interspersed between riveting introductions brimming with anecdotes seemingly out of the movies, Breytenbach read selections from "Windcatcher: New and Selected Poems, 1964-2006" and "Lady One: Of Love and Other Poems." Said Parini, "He has a wonderful sense of language: highly particular, musical, and full of vivid images. He has an appealing sense of place, and he has a strong political angle."Breytenbach's reading was an apt inaugural event for the Axinn Center's Abernethy Room. Sponsored by the Creative Writing Program as well as the Axinn Fund, the afternoon was much more than a poetry reading; for many it was the chance to hear a rare first-hand account of life both under and fighting against the now defunct - but still influential - Apartheid system. A prominent member of the resistance group "Okhela," Breytenbach was arrested and sentenced to nine years in prison in South Africa. He spent over seven years in jail, a time during which he continued to write poems on whatever scraps of paper he could find. Breytenbach complemented his beautiful, haunting and lyrical poems with candid responses to audience members' probing inquiries into his past. Questions from students prompted him to reflect on his many years as an expatriate - he has traveled extensively, settling for some years in places like northern Spain, Paris and New York City - along with topics as varied as his time in prison, the nature of multilingualism, the meaning of "home" and his favorite used bookstores. First and foremost a poetry reading, the reading's true success stemmed from Breytenbach's willingness to discuss his part in South Africa's scarred past and still-healing present.
(12/04/08 12:00am)
Author: Melissa Marshall Crafted in Dublin and performed in the Champlain Valley, "Tiny Geniuses" by joint English/Theatre major Emily Feldman '09 takes audiences to the elementary school classroom. Feldman spoke to The Middlebury Campus about the inspiration behind the humorous work. The Middlebury Campus: Of all the creative mediums, why playwriting? What drew you to the drama side?Emily Feldman: Theatre is an electric medium of art, and that is what drew me to it. There's an immediacy inherent in having bodies on stage that audience members are forced to engage with, and that doesn't translate to television or film where you can separate yourself a little bit from the piece you are experiencing. I've been involved in theatre from a couple of different angles, but playwriting has been one of the most rewarding. It is exciting to see an idea move from a computer screen into the mouths of actors, and the process of creating a piece together and learning what works and what doesn't in a workshop process is the ultimate collaborative experience. TC: So, 'Tiny Geniuses.' Was there a specific moment that was the basis for the play, or was this an idea that you have been tweaking for a long time?EF: As for 'Tiny Geniuses,' a beloved teacher at the school where I grew up was forced out of her career by parents who felt that their money gave them power to force change, and I got mad. Sitting at my kitchen table last summer, holding a letter from my high school principal asking alums and community members to support the school in fair and equitable decision making processes in the best interest of its students was a surreal experience. I felt like I had been lifted from the moral universe and thrown into a dystopia I could hardly have invented. When I looked up from the page, however, my dog was staring at me through the window from the same suburban backyard I have called home for the past seven years. The realization that my values seemed to be at odds with my community's drove me to my computer, and I began work on 'Tiny Geniuses.'TC: In an environment as academic as Middlebury, students are used to a certain amount of stress and intellectual rivalry. Why did you decide to move the competition to a younger grade level? How do you find your play translates to college-age audiences?EF: I wanted to set 'Tiny Geniuses' in an elementary school because it is a play about what happens when dueling visions of moral order collide, and what this means for kids who are brought into our existing realities with only what we teach them as ammunition. The relationships we have with children who only know what we teach them says a lot about who we are as a society and what we value. Kids are also really funny. TC: We're all aware of the stage mom, helicopter parent phenomenon. Did you have a specific cultural commentary in mind when writing 'Tiny Geniuses?'EF: I wasn't really thinking about cultural commentary as much as I was focused on having fun while I've been working on 'Tiny Geniuses.' I've been really lucky to have been able to develop it here at Middlebury with some incredibly talented actors and professors who have helped me hone the humor and laughed at some of my sillier jokes. The social critique part of things came later, but the fun and the storytelling was my main concern. While studying in Dublin, Ireland last spring, I circulated my script to a new group of peers and faculty members, who encouraged me to strip away some of the theatrical devices I had been exploring, and to pare my play down to its most basic constituents. 'The simpler, the better' became the mantra of the semester, and the revision strengthened my understanding of the project.TC: Sorry to drop the 'f-bomb,' but any future plans for playwriting? Do you think you would ever consider transferring over to screenwriting?EF: Ah the future - I'm not sure what I'll be doing next year, but I just found out last week that I've won a season-long 'Core Apprenticeship' at The Playwright's Center in Minnesota, so sometime this spring they will be flying me out there for a 10-hour professional workshop. I'm very excited about it, beyond that my plans are up in the air. I hope to keep writing, collaborating, and having fun.
(12/04/08 12:00am)
Author: Andrey Tolstoy Non-native English speakers arriving in Middlebury will be quick to discover the inadequacy of their own mother tongues when it comes to describing emotion. Far from the dispassionate academics the media portrays them to be, students here are adept at describing a whole gamut of feelings, including "happy," "tingly," and "the Fed should cut its key interest rate by an additional .25 percent." The campus in daylight is a sanatorium, with group therapy sessions held across all departments. Patients have the opportunity to share their feelings about English and Theatre, as well as the traditionally less emotive disciplines like Physics and Chemistry.The colloquial transition from "I think" to "I feel" was probably gradual, but it only caught my attention this fall. Perhaps, the trauma induced by the economic crisis has blurred our cognition; or maybe we've cut down on our video game time and become more sensitive. Whatever the reason, people afflicted with the verbal syndrome are either up to something genius, or up to something that isn't.After all, one could read this use of the verb as a cunning rhetorical device. Feelings, unlike thoughts and opinions, are immune to attack; or prickly at best. The next time someone responds to an "I feel" statement by making a logical dent in it, counter by saying your feelings have been hurt. The next time a professor expresses a point of view you disagree with, let him know he can't tell you how to feel.In reality, though, "I feel" is just another example of sloppy language becoming a fad. The trouble is these fads usually stick. Separate words first grow hyphens, then morph like Siamese twins (to-morrow eventually becomes 'tomorrow'). The stately William Strunk, in The Elements of Style, lambasted us for confusing "hopefully" with "it is to be hoped." That battle is long lost. Grammatical genocide is committed daily when "people who" (implying that the subject is, or once was, a living, breathing human being) are cast into mass graves of "people that." Here are a few more culprits in the vocabulary department: "Actually" should not be used unless subsequent information actually warrants it. "Basically" all synopses start with this word. In 99 percent of cases when it's used in speech, it shouldn't be. "Like" seriously.My fear is that we are underestimating the impact of language on our thought process. We naturally discern feelings (physical sensation) from thoughts (mental process), and therefore have separate names for the two; but when we start using "I feel" and "I think" interchangeably, we eventually forget that they aren't the same. Academic discussion is grounded in epistemology, and saying that the means by which you arrive at a logical conclusion is physical sensation is absurd, if not plain stupid. Stephen Colbert described this phenomenon in an interview with The Onion's A.V. Club: "It used to be, everyone was entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. But that's not the case anymore… Truthiness is 'What I say is right, and [nothing] anyone else says could possibly be true.' It's not only that I feel it to be true, but that I feel it to be true. There's not only an emotional quality, but there's a selfish quality."I'm glad there's a celebrity who feels the same way I do.
(11/20/08 12:00am)
Author: Grace Duggan Most people probably would not take their last semester off from Middlebury to spend several months working in West Virginia to promote the nationwide prioritizing of alternatives to clean coal technology, but Sierra Murdoch - now a member of the Class of 2009.5 - is doing just that. Following an internship she will complete on campus with seven other Middlebury students this Winter Term, Murdoch, who has been hired in part by Project 350, expects to remain in West Virginia through July facilitating continued discussion of the issues surrounding the ominous consequences of the continued use of coal as an energy source. The impetus for this internship - as well as the continuation of Murdoch's efforts through the spring - grew out of a fruitful conference held this past April and attended by Luce Professor of International Environmental Economics Jon Isham at the Garrison Institute. These three inspiring days looked to the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and prompted Isham to consider how Gandhi - whose grandson attended the conference - may have approached the current climate crisis. Following his return to campus, Isham continued the dialogue started at the Garrison Institute with other Middlebury faculty, including Associate Professor of Religion Rebecca Gould, Professor of English and American Literatures John Elder and Scholar-in-Residence in Environmental Studies Bill McKibben, along with a number of Middlebury students who showed interest in participating in what is already an important national and global issue.Though still in the preliminary planning stages, the internship marks a collaborative effort between Murdoch, Eleanor Horowitz '11, Michaela O'Connor '11, Lois Parshley '11, Katelyn Romanov '11, Peter Spyrou '10.5, Matt Vaughan '09 and Ben Wessel '11, each of whom brings to the table varying levels of familiarity with this particular component of the overall climate movement. The students will tackle the complex web of issues surrounding coal, one that includes learning about mountain top removal, alternative energy sources and the possibility of facilitating the development of a green economy in coal country.Given the magnitude of success Middlebury students have had participating in past initiatives, both locally and nationally, standards for Murdoch and the other interns are high. Isham hopes that efforts from environmentalists, including Middlebury students, will also feed into legislative measures, both in the United States and abroad. Once in West Virginia, Murdoch will build off of her internship by working with organizations like the Alliance For Appalachia and iLoveMountains. Following successful models from history as well as recent initiatives like Step It Up and an internship 10 Middlebury students had with 1Sky last Winter Term, at least one meeting has been set before January to plan for the upcoming internship and Murdoch's continued involvement through the spring.The issue of coal is already on the national radar, having received attention from a number of activists, including Al Gore and both 2008 presidential candidates. As recently as Nov. 9, Gore published an op-ed in the New York Times emphasizing how unrealistic "clean coal" technology is as a viable component for solving the current climate crisis."It's a wonderful idea," said Isham, "but as Al Gore pointed out, it's not yet anywhere close to being valid. 'Clean coal' is just hype right now."The term "clean coal" obscures the magnitude of the issue, as the technology does not currently exist. Both Isham and Murdoch cited a profound lack of research into the idea and asserted that it cannot be viewed as a sensible option given the current speed of climate change."Clean coal is not a possibility within the timeline we have to act on global warming," said Murdoch. "We have to do something else. We need to look to wind, solar and innovative technologies we've already developed, and integrate these into an economic system that creates new jobs and lifts a lot of communities out of poverty."Noah Brautigam '12, who recently wrote a piece on carbon capture and storage for Isham's first-year seminar - titled "Can We Really Do This? Finding Global Warming Solutions" - had similarly mixed feelings about clean coal."The way I see it is that clean coal is a political construction. Politicians need to appeal to Appalachia, and to do that they can't say, 'Moratorium on coal' to get elected. I don't think [clean coal] is the most viable option right now. It's not a permanent solution … it's a band-aid until there are better solutions found."Isham emphasized the urgency and importance of engaging the problems of coal in the United States as well as on the global level. With over half of the electricity produced in the United States coming from coal and a rising number of coal plants opening in China - the origin of approximately 25 percent of all current greenhouse gases - coal's status as a cost-effective, readily available energy source will be hard to change."Coal is an exceptionally difficult challenge," he said. "The alternatives are to ban using coal for reasons associated with the injustices of it, figure out some technological fix or move as quickly as you can away from coal. But of course you have to have the clean energy alternatives … By some estimates up to half a million people in China die every year because of the burning of coal. In the United States it's certainly in the tens of thousands."With language colored by earnest references to other movements, such as abolitionism and Gandhi's movement against British colonial rule, Isham acknowledged the formidable task that lies ahead, one that involves framing coal use as a moral issue."If it's not seen as a moral issue, it's just going to be one more in a list of things that we should be doing, and the key is to make it a moral issue that one can't ignore," said Isham. "A great analogy is the abolitionist movement … The reason they succeeded is because they made [slavery] a moral issue. It's hard for us to imagine that slavery wasn't a moral issue, but it wasn't until they came along … We want to use the climate change story to say, just as abolitionists did over 200 years ago, that this core engine of our economy can't be defended because of the injustices associated with it."
(11/20/08 12:00am)
Author: Jack Lysohir The Office of International Programs and Off-Campus Study, as well as the Sustainability Integration Office, have begun a yearlong effort to assess the environmental practices of the C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad. Director of Sustainability Integration Jack Byrne and Assistant Director of International Programs and Off-Campus Study Stacey Woody Thebodo are leading the Sustainability Assessment Project.The Project will analyze the sustainable practices of the C.V. Starr-Middlebury schools, beginning with the schools in Spain. Thebodo wrote in an e-mail that "students and faculty are working to develop or adapt a sustainability assessment tool that helps define what sustainability in Schools Abroad means, and that helps each School evaluate its own status with regard to the definition." "The plan is to see how this research develops over the course of the 08-09 academic year, then the Directors of the Schools Abroad will meet next summer to assess the project and figure out next steps and how to implement this in other sites," she added.This comprehensive study of the environmental practices of the C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad comes in the wake of major changes in environmental policies at the College. In May 2007, the Board of Trustees voted to make Middlebury entirely carbon neutral by 2016. The Trustees' resolution, however, strives to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality only for the "College's Vermont campus," omitting the College's 30 abroad sites as well as domestic sites such as the Monterey Institute of International Affairs, and the Language Schools' and Bread Loaf School of English's satellite campuses.In recent years, the Office of International Programs and Off-Campus Study has attempted to educate directors of the Schools Abroad about ways to "go green." However, these green initiatives pale in comparison to those taken on by the College's Vermont campus. The initiatives for the C.V. Starr schools are outlined in a guide called the "Middlebury Study Abroad Going Green Guide for Schools Abroad Directors." The guide recognizes Middlebury as one of the preeminent liberal arts colleges in the field of environmental sustainability (pointing out that Middlebury is one of only four institutions nationwide to win the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)'s Campus Sustainability Award), and endeavors to help the C.V. Starr schools achieve parity with the College's central campus in the environmental realm. The Study Abroad Office also stresses environmental consciousness to its departing students. Students are briefed on environmental issues associated with traveling and studying abroad both in pre-departure materials and meetings. The office recommends that students participate in the "Green Passport" program, which consists of a pledge stating that, when studying abroad, green passport holders will minimize their impact on the environment and take into account the social and environmental consequences of their actions. A carbon offset program is also offered by the Office of International Programs and Off-Campus Study, whereby students may purchase carbon offsets to neutralize the impact of their air travel. For $36, NativeEnergy of Vermont will offset your carbon emissions, and give you a certificate as well as a pint of Ben & Jerry's upon your return to America. Finally, the Study Abroad Office offers a more academic option to engage in environmental issues while abroad. The "Sustainable Study Abroad Grants" of up to $500 are awarded to students for projects related to the environment or sustainability issues to be pursued while studying abroad. Recent grant winners have utilized their money by working on projects as diverse as sustainability in modern Parisian architecture, to China's abundance of waste, to geothermal power in New Zealand. Thebodo was quick to point out that "discussions about study abroad and environmental sustainability are relatively new to the field of education abroad, so we have a long way to go as a field." Thebodo has been at the forefront of the discussion on sustainable study abroad, having presented on a panel entitled "Sustainability in Education Abroad: Reducing our Global Footprint" at the Association of International Educators conference in Washington, D.C. last May. Nonetheless, the Study Abroad Office and the Office for Sustainability Integration feel it is necessary for the Schools Abroad to begin to hold themselves to the standards of the Vermont campus.The Study Abroad office said that implicit in their mission of exposing students to cultures different from their own, they are doing a small part in improving sustainability practices. Thebodo wrote, "the average Western European uses half as much energy as the average American … We hope our students learn about these practices when they are abroad, adapt more sustainable lifestyles and bring back what they have learned."
