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(04/14/05 12:00am)
Author: Addason McCaslin "We don't do math," explained a fourth-grader to her incredulous parents. "We don't do science or social studies either." Steven Levy, the award-winning educator and consultant for Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound, who spoke in Twilight auditorium on Monday afternoon, has an approach to education that surprises many people at first because they think that surely there can be no value in a fourth grade program that does not teach any of the basic required disciplines. Fortunately, "Mr. Levy's" students learn not only everything they need to satisfy basic educational requirements, but they also gain valuable experience tackling problems that confront many adults on a day to day basis. Levy's teaching deviates from the traditional method of fragmented and segregated subjects and tries to harmoniously integrate all disciplines into practical life problems. He elaborated, "[We] try to [set] the learning of our skills in the context of real work that we're doing and real decisions that we have to make." Levy's students correctly say that they do not approach math, science or social studies as distinct subjects, because all these are woven together into the problems they work through. "[The perfect classroom] would be empty - there'd be nothing in it. [Students] would have to make whatever they got." Levy emphasized the need for students around the age of 10 to delve deeply into the origin of the things around them, and to understand and appreciate what goes into the amenities of life that people usually take for granted. His students take a nearly empty classroom and fill it with bread, clothes and even furniture all crafted from scratch by their own hands. This aberrant method of learning provides the basis for Levy's integration of subjects into real world problem solving. His students designed and built their own desks using newly-learned mathematics and history of colonial architecture. They analyze, reflect upon and re-approach problems that appear during construction, which completes their education in a way unattainable through textbook-style learning. "I figure the world is not broken up into different subjects," explained Levy, who believes that students work and learn much better when facing problems as they naturally appear, rather than as the highly processed and idealized forms found in textbooks. Katrina Uhl '05 reflected on her experiences in Levy's fourth grade class. "It's had a huge impact upon the way I think about the way I learn, and the way I think about how to teach others. It was a completely unique experience," she said. Now that she is nearly ready to graduate as an English major with an Education minor, Uhl plans to use elements of Levy's unusual teaching style to engage young minds and help them develop a confident and mature view of the world. Middlebury College tries to educate students with a less drastic but similar style to Levy's, explained Trish Dougherty, coordinator of the Teacher Education program."The College's aim has been to educate students in the liberal arts tradition who can bring their learning to bear on practical and significant real-world problems and concerns," said Dougherty. Middlebury's emphasis upon real-world practical application of skills applies to all its students, but in particular to those studying to become educators themselves. The Teacher Education program helps graduates to nourish the minds of future generations in the same spirit of liberal education and real-world application seen at Middlebury and particularly in Levy's classroom. Uhl said she still benefits from the lessons she learned with Levy and her own experience serve as testament to the great effect teachers can have on their students.
(04/14/05 12:00am)
Author: KATIE FLAGG AND THOMAS C. DRESCHER John Elder receives prestigious Guggenheim for sabbatical work John Elder, Stewart professor of English and Environmental Studies at Middlebury College, has been selected for the Guggenheim Fellowship, a prestigious award given to only 186 scholars in the country. Elder was chosen for the fellowship from among more than 3,000 applicants. The list of newly-appointed Guggenheim Fellows was released by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation on April 7.Elder currently plans to use the fellowship during a sabbatical from teaching in 2006 and 2007. At that time, he expects to finish writing In Hardwood Groves, a book that will complete a narrative cycle that began with the 1998 publication of Elder's Reading the Mountains of Home. That cycle continues with Pilgrimage to Vallombrosa, a recently completely manuscript slated for upcoming publication. In Hardwood Groves will provide Elder an outlet for exploring the importance of forestry and maple syrup production to the character and history of Vermont, and the book will combine a narrative of the evolution of Vermont forests with personal memoirs and reflections on the future of Vermont forests.Elder is the fifth member of the College's English Department to secure a Guggenheim Fellowship since 1987. He joins Sydney Lea, Terry Hummer, D.E. Axinn Professor of English and Creative Writing Jay Parini and Associate Professor of English Robert Cohen in representing the department as a Fellow. A sixth fellowship was awarded in 1995 to Michael Collier, director of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.According to the Guggenheim Foundation, Guggenheim Fellows "are appointed on the basis of distinguished achievement in the past and exceptional promise for future achievement." Over $7.1 million have been granted to this year's Fellows, funding writers, painters, sculptors, photographers, film makers, choreographers, scientists and scholars in the humanities. 2005 Fellows represent 79 colleges and universities, though 47 of the new fellows have no academic affiliation. Community Council discusses potential student parking fee Community Council convened Monday afternoon in Old Chapel to explore a preliminary proposal that would institute a "sliding scale" student parking fee based on vehicle fuel economy. Revenue generated by the fee would be used to help minimize the College's "ecological footprint," according to the bill's text. Council members ultimately voted to support further investigation by the proposal's authors, Student Government Association (SGA) Director of Environmental Affairs Clare O'Reilly '05 and Nick Benjamin '05.The current bill, sponsored by Student Co-Chair of Community Council J.S. Woodward '06 and Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah, proposes an unspecified base fee that would be reducible based on vehicle gas mileage. In other words, students whose cars have good fuel economy according to data provided the Environmental Protection Agency would be rewarded with a significantly reduced parking fee O'Reilly and Benjamin, along with Thomas Hand '06, were on hand at Monday's meeting to present the legislative fruits of their research. The preliminary nature of the proposal - an actual base fee was not offered, and implementation research was incomplete - limited discussion, but many members expressed their skepticism regarding certain aspects. Community Council member Mike Vilarello '05 urged the authors to present their work to the SGA for initial consideration before taking on Community Council in earnest with the finalized bill. Others articulated concerns about the fairness of the fuel efficiency consideration, the complexity inherent in administering the fee and the direct application of revenue exclusively to environmental initiatives.
(04/07/05 12:00am)
Author: Kimberly Schrimsher Middlebury students and faculty discussed the College's "work hard, play hard" reputation during the Planning and Steering Committee's second open forum on March 30. While the Middlebury community fosters intellectual discourse in and out of the classroom, there is new concern that heavy workloads are preventing an over-stretched student and faculty body from taking advantage of the enriching aspects of the community. "We in the community, students and faculty, would like very much to have more time set aside for conversation, interaction and engaging each other without the pressure of scheduled activities," said Dean of Planning John Emerson, chair of Middlebury's Planning and Steering Committee and Charles A. Dana professor of Mathematics. "Some students came to see me after the meeting reinforcing the sense that students feel overscheduled and sometimes overwhelmed. Some students feel they don't have the opportunity to be reflective or think in a sustained way around an intellectual agenda.""We have a lot of work at Middlebury and it has the potential to dominate our lives, and it does for some," said Eli Berman '07.5, one of three panelists and a member of the Task Force on Commons and Student Life. "We all need to find an outlet outside of work." The March 30 forum, part of the information gathering sessions for President Ronald D. Liebowitz's Strategic Planning for Middlebury's Future, is the second event with the theme "academic excellence and reputation." Panelists Berman, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Karen Guttentag and Professor of Philosophy Stanley Bates addressed three questions: what is an intellectual community, how can we improve this community and how do people outside of Middlebury see Middlebury?"This environment is intense when it comes to work," said Berman. "We want to lessen the perception of the work hard, play hard school. For example, a student at the last meeting said that when he isn't doing work or doing something for himself, he feels guilty. It seems we're learning for the task and not for the liberal arts education.""It's dangerous for us to be working all the time," said J.S. Woodward '06, student representative for the Planning and Steering Committee. "Some students claim they'll relax more after college but after spending four years in the same behavioral pattern, it will be hard to separate work from the rest of your life. Middlebury seems to blur the lines between work and the rest of life. When you have 200 pages of reading to do that was assigned Monday for Wednesday, you're not going to reflect on it and absorb it because you're reading to get through."At least one student seemed unconcerned with the work and play cycle. "We do have a work hard, play hard environment, but I think at a school that has such academic success and stress, you need something to counter the work, and sometimes that's a lot of partying," said Lia Jacobson '08. The forum generated a lively discussion on the positive and negative correlation between Middlebury's work-obsessed culture and its strong academic reputation, and whether the College was admitting a homogenous student base of well-rounded, like-minded high-achievers. Although more faculty and staff than students attended the March 30 forum, participants generally agreed that the tendency to over-commit extended to all members of the community. "Faculty members also feel that they have too many obligations in much the same way that many students feel that," said Emerson. "There are only so many hours in a week and it's a question of using time in the best way possible. The planning process is trying to take a serious look at this."The size of the faculty, teaching loads and faculty-to-student ratio are being addressed in the planning process, according to Emerson. The College is looking at how faculty are expected to use their time and whether that time would be used for better purposes such as student engagement, a connection that Berman believes remains one of Middlebury's greatest strengths."If a student needs to see a professor, the professor makes himself or herself available, whether it is during office hours or that moment; and when a student really wants to enroll in a course, the faculty usually finds a way to make that possible," said Berman. "The accessibility and openness of the faculty and the generosity of professors with their time is especially impressive in an age when pressures on faculty members to 'publish or perish' increase every day."Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of English Alison Byerly, member of the Planning Steering Committee and the Task Force on Faculty Resources, says it is clear from students and faculty that people work hard here. "It's a broader culture issue where everyone is expected to work hard constantly and it's hard to step out of that paradigm," she said. "Middlebury lives are scheduled. How much of this is the students we bring here or the institutional culture we create is difficult to determine. They may reinforce each other."Learning to say "no" may be one simple solution, according to Michelle McCauley, associate professor of psychology and chair of the Task Force on the Composition of the Student Body. "I was surprised at the open meetings that I repeatedly heard from students about how busy they are," she said. "We have a great group of students who want to take advantage of everything. Perhaps we need to train students to say no when it comes to commitment. It's okay to be involved in a few things. It's true for the faculty as well."Middlebury staff report a different set of intellectual challenges. Supervisors, especially in the areas of dining services, custodial and facilities, regularly note self-confidence problems among their staff with regard to their roles in the community, and this translates directly into their willingness to serve on committees, to attend events and to fully participate in the life of the College, according to Guttentag. Some report that attending a lecture, let alone participating in intellectual discussions, is truly intimidating. "This raised a larger theme for us: the sense that Middlebury is not an environment in which it is comfortable to reveal ignorance or inexperience, and not just for staff, but for students and faculty," said Guttentag. "If we as an institution were to incorporate the growth that comes from intellectual risk-taking, experimentation and 'failure' into our definition of success, we might find several benefits to our intellectual community. We might improve our ability to learn and teach the essential skills of admitting those times when we are misinformed, wrong or have re-evaluated our position, without fear of losing face or intellectual credibility." Such discussion raises the question of whether there is a way to move Middlebury's mode of operating more in the direction of learning for enjoyment and away from intimidation, obligations and meeting deadlines. "I don't think we know yet how to address it," said Emerson. "We're still trying to generate options. There is a real issue here, and I have confidence in a process like this to invite a lot of creative people to develop good ideas.""I think some solutions would come from changing who we admit," said Woodward. "Maybe having students directed in their interests and who don't join every club might help. We're not academically competitive but when we hear someone doing five different things on top of class, we think we should do that, too."Although much of the forum centered on challenges to the College's intellectual community and reputation, many speakers took a moment to reaffirm that the strategic planning process is building on Middlebury's strengths - not fixing something that is broken. "Plenty of colleges around this country would die to boast about a campus full of so many bright, motivate
d and engaged students and faculty who, if anything, are so motivated and so engaged and have such lofty aspirations, that they want to be involved in too many things," said Caroline Donnan, associate director of Admissions. "If that means people here take on more commitments than are sometimes sustainable, simply because they're so interested, lucky us." Byerly agreed. "It's natural for a planning process to be analytic," she said. "We're focusing on how Middlebury can be improved, but all of the task forces proceed with the idea that Middlebury is terrific as it is. No one is anything less than appreciative about the strengths Middlebury has."The Planning and Steering Committee will review the results of this meeting, along with findings from the 11 task forces commissioned by Liebowitz by May 19. The suggestions will be prioritized for the College to begin drafting a new strategic plan this summer that will carry Middlebury through 2012.
(04/07/05 12:00am)
Author: STEPHANIE DOSCH I know what you're thinking. "Oh great, not another stupid Jane Austen remake." Or perhaps "I hate Jane Austen." Or maybe you're of the "I love Jane Austen!" school of thought. Any way you look at it, there is a little something for everyone in Gurinder Chadha's latest movie, "Bride & Prejudice."I'm a Jane Austen lover myself, and probably cannot count the number of times I've watched the six-hour A&E production (Ooh, when Mr. Darcy jumps into that lake...girls, you know what I'm talking about!). So needless to say, I was excited when I heard about this newest version of her timeless tale, by the director of "Bend It Like Beckham," another of my much loved movies.My knowledge of Pride and Prejudice ("Jane Austen and Film" was my first-year seminar - do we think I have a problem here?) was in some ways a hindrance to my enjoyment of "Bride & Prejudice." Chadha and writer Paul Mayeda Berges did an excellent job of updating the story, but of course they had to change some things. I went into the movie expecting a completely faithful remake, but of course, it is impossible to do in two hours what can be done in six."Queen of Bollywood" Aishwarya Rai plays Lalita Bakshi, a beautiful, intelligent and progressive Indian woman who meets American hotel tycoon Will Darcy (Martin Henderson) when he comes to India with his friend for a wedding. Lalita challenges her country's traditions - and her mother's plans - when she announces that she will marry for love. The headstrong Lalita and arrogant Darcy clash on just about everything but somehow can't stop thinking about each other. Two of Lalita's suitors - the cute but shady English backpacker Johnny Whickam (Daniel Gillies) and Mrs. Bakshi's choice, Mr. Kholi, an Indian accountant living in Los Angeles - come between the lovers, however, creating tension, misunderstanding and plenty of comedy The result is a gloriously colorful, raucously musical, East-meets-West version of the story. Some of the dance routines and song lyrics are a little cheesy (though Ashanti's number and some of the Bhangra music are pretty hot), but instead of detracting from the film they only add to the delicious "Bollywoodness" of it. Most of the actors are A-list stars in India, and Aishwarya Rai pulls off her first English-speaking role beautifully. Nitin Chandra Ganatra, who plays Mr. Kholi, steals the show with his hilarious performance, and Nadira Babbar is great as the busybody matchmaker Mrs. Bakshi."Bride & Prejudice," as I learned, requires an open mind to be fully enjoyed. Purists to Austen's original work will find many discrepancies, and be forewarned that this is not "Bend it Like Beckham." It is two very fun hours, a refreshing new spin on the typical ho-hum romantic comedy and an exciting musical all wrapped up into a rainbow-colored gem of a movie.
(03/31/05 12:00am)
Author: Elspeth Pierson Don't miss next week's reading by Jay Parini, D.E. Axonn professor of English and Creative Writing and renowned author, because it just may be your only chance during your time here at Middlebury. Parini, who will read on April 13 at 4:30 p.m. in the basement of the new library, explained that he rarely reads at the College because he feels that it is "putting a burden on one's colleagues to read too often - they might feel obliged to come." In spite of this reservation, Parini expressed great excitement regarding his selections for the reading, which will be taken from his most recent collection of poetry, "The Art of Subtraction: New and Selected Poems."Parini's poetry is composed at his favorite haunt, Steve's Diner in downtown Middlebury, where he works each morning for about an hour and a half. The author said that despite having published books in other genres, he enjoys writing poetry the most and considers himself mainly a poet. Parini's poems have appeared in various magazines, such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly and Harper's, as well as in numerous other publications. "The Art of Subtraction" will be the author's fifth published collection of poetry. Parini elaborated on the selection process that he used to put the book together, describing himself as "very strict, almost parsimonious" in his consideration of his work from the past three decades. Additionally, he expanded on the importance of this collection as a benchmark in his career, stating, "In many ways this is the book I am most happy about. To bring together a selection of poems is kind of a watershed in a poets life. It allows you to take stock of what you've done - in some ways to see how little you've done - but it's what you've got to show."In addition to containing poems from the past three decades, most of which have been published previously, the book opens with 54 new poems written over the last six years. Parini communicated his enthusiasm about the appearance of these new works in print, explaining that this was the first time his anti-war poems have been published. "For the very first time, I was able to write about politics in my poetry," he said. "I am a very political guy and I've been involved in the anti-war movement since the beginning." This statement is evident in the author's reaction in 2002 to being one of two Vermont poets invited to the White House to celebrate National Poetry Day. Parini accepted on the condition that he would stand up at the event and read a poem against the war in Iraq. This stipulation caused a rescinssion of his invitation by First Lady Laura Bush who commented that it was "unfortunate that poets had decided to become political."The incident inspired Parini to organize a group referred to as "Poets Against the War", which consists of such famous authors as Julia Alvarez, Jamaica Kincaid, Grace Paley and Galway Kinnell. The authors banded together to give a protest reading that year in Manchester, Vt., which succeeded in drawing over 1,000 listeners. The event received national attention, bringing in over 50 reporters and warranting coverage by C-Span and 60 Minutes, among others. Parini described the reading as a big moment both in his personal life and in American politics and poetry, adding that it "helped to propel the anti-war movement in that moment."In addition to his career as a poet, Parini also continues to write and publish many books in other genres. In addition to "The Art of Subtraction," Parini has three books coming out this year, one of which is based on his work as a professor. Entitled "The Art of Teaching," the book considers teaching from many angles, all from the point of view of a professor. Parini said that he intends the book as a source of insight and stimulation for people entering the profession, and though the central piece of the book offers a memoir of his own experiences in the classroom as a student, it is largely focused on his time as a professor at Oxford University, Dartmouth College and Middlebury College. Of his tenure as a professor here at Middlebury, Parini stated that he appreciates teaching students who are "so lively and enthusiastic about literature" and that he has been "very happy to teach at Midd all these years".
(03/31/05 12:00am)
Author: Lauren Smith The Center for the Arts (CFA) concert hall was filled on Thursday, March 17, with the sounds of the Middlebury College Orchestra under conductor Troy Peters. The performance was entitled a "Student Showcase" and featured the world premiere of compositions by Andrew Lindblad '05, Jessica Manzer '05 and Jonathan Stuart-Moore '05. The concert also featured the winners of the College's 2005 Concerto Competition - Adam Morgan '08.5, Kevin Ng '08 and Hillary Waite '05. The program began with two pieces by Handel with soloist soprano Waite. Waite is a senior English major with a passion for singing and performing. She sang "O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me?" from "Semele" and "As When the Laments her Love" from "Acis and Galatea."The orchestra then performed the playful composition "Monsters in the Dark: A Child's Fantasy" by Manzer. The students in the orchestra as well as Peters seemed to enjoy performing the light-spirited piece. Manzer commented on the product of her senior 700 project, saying, "It is a narrative piece, symbolizing the nighttime fantasies of a small child." The piece constantly featured an exchange between a playful, childish game and a simple lullaby, which was performed by the strings. As the composition progresses, the child seemed to have entered a nightmarish state. The climax of the piece, according Manger, is subdued and "followed by a final gesture indicating a concluding dialogue between the 'child' and 'monster' characters."Next was a spirited solo performance by clarinetist Ng. The piece "Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor" by Carl Maria von Weber, was fast-paced and included many complicated runs. Ng never missed a note and delighted the audience with his showmanship."On the Heavens: Thoughts on a Starry Sky" by student composer Lindblad followed Ng's solo. The composition was a brooding, dramatic piece that featured the horn section of the orchestra. Lindblad writes in the program notes that the composition was "inspired by the motions of the stars and planets, and various other celestial musings I've had over the past year or so." Lindblad not only composed the piece, but also performed it as a violist with the orchestra.After intermission, the orchestra returned to accompany solo cellist Morgan for "Elegy for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 24" by Gabriel Faure. This third solo performance by a Concert Competition winner was as impressive as the first two performances. Morgan, who was performing for the first time with the orchestra, first picked up the cello in third grade. He spent his Feb semester at the University of Georgia (UGA) studying music and linguistics, and it was there that he discovered Faure's piece. "My cello teacher there [at UGA] introduced me to Faure's 'Elegy,' and it immediately became my favorite piece," Morgan said. "I first worked on it at UGA, and picked it back up when I read about the Concerto Competition. It was my first time performing it with an orchestra."The last piece ofthe evening was by Morgan's fellow cellist, Stuart-Moore. The senior composed "Orchestral Suite: Incidental Music for Babbage's Dream" as a sort of homage to 19th century inventor, Charles Babbage. The Englishman Babbage created plans that would later become the inspiration for the modern computer. Stuart-Moore's piece is a musing on the modern computers and machines that Babbage "dreamed" of in the 19th century. The composition, according to Moore, asks the question of "whether we can model the human brain on a computer, including consciousness and creativity."The audience, consisting of mostly students, was impressed by the compositions by their fellow students. Peter John '08 enjoyed his first concert by the orchestra. "I was really impressed with the concert," he said. "Not only were the student musicians excellent, but Troy Peters did an amazing job conducting. He added charisma to the performance and really brought the pieces to life. Equally as impressive were the world premieres of the student compositions. During the entire concert, there was never a dull moment." The next performance by Middlebury College musicians will be April 16 at 8 p.m. in the CFA concert hall. Jeff Rehbach will direct the Middlebury College Chamber Singers.
(03/17/05 12:00am)
Author: BY RYAN REESE, SPORTS EDITOR Equestrian prances at Midd This past Sunday, the Middlebury equestrian team hosted its own invitational meet. With competitors traveling from throughout New England, the meet went off without a hitch. The team's stables, located in New Haven, Vt., were bustling all day as the competitors primped and prepped themselves and did the same for their trusty steeds. The English riders competed and upheld the proud and regal tradition that is equestrian, the sport of kings. With trusty mounts such as Iceman, Rowan and Hobbes, the University of Vermont (UVM) trotted and cantered their way to the title. The Panther squad did themselves proud as Coach Kate Selby noted that the meet "restored my faith in the Middlebury equestrian program." Captain, Mercy Trent '06, led the cavalry charge with a third place finish in jumping and brought home the second place red ribbon in the open flat competition. The team will not be back in the saddle again this year as the home meet was the last. As this year's equestrian season rides off into the sunset, one need not beat a dead horse in describing the 2005 campaign as a success. Men's hockey hosts Frozen Four The triumphant Middlebury men's hockey team skated to another victory this past Saturday night. The Panthers trounced visiting Curry College in a dominating display of offensive firepower and defensive fortitude. The 6-0 romp was a pleasant surprise as Curry was touted as the best offensive team in the country. Their ability to score goals did not make the trip up from Massachusetts and their golf season is already in full swing. As for the Panthers, they will play host to the NCAA Frozen Four this upcoming weekend. With the semi-finals being played on Friday, March 18 and the Champion being crowned the next day, there is no doubt that Kenyon Arena will be the site of some dramatic hockey.Middlebury will face off against New England College in the second semi-final on Friday. New England won their quarterfinal match-up against Manhattanville by a count of 4-2. In the other game of the day, the always-dangerous Trinity Bantams will be taking on the team from the west, St. Thomas. All-access tickets that grant entrance to all the weekend's games are being sold for $25 dollars. Digani '05 cruises at NCAAs This past weekend, Middlebury's human bullet, Nick Digani '05 made his way to Bloomigton, Il. in order to compete in the NCAA Division III Championships. The competition was hosted at Illinois Wesleyan University and highlighted the country's best and brightest track stars. When Digani, an Illinois native, headed home to compete, he had accomplished one of his main objectives for the season simply by being invited to the national meet. With lofty goals, the senior lined up against his competitors in the men's 800m run. Digani was put in the slower heat and concluded his impressive indoor track career with a time of 1:55.67. A few weeks prior to the NCAAs, Digani handed in a stellar 1:53 that would have placed him in the top runners. He finished fourth in his respective heat and was edged out of the finals by 0.32 seconds. This blink of an eye denied the gutsy competitor the recognition of being an All-American. The outdoor season lies ahead and there is no doubt that the accomplished senior will end his Middlebury running career in high fashion. NESCAC names smart squad Upon conclusion of the majority of this year's winter sports action, the New England Small College Athletic Conference named their prestigious Winter All-NESCAC Academic Team. This honor is bestowed upon those athletes who have reached junior academic status. These student-athletes must earn a varsity letter in their respective sports and also maintain and uphold a grade point average of 3.35 or higher. Needless to say, many of Middlebury's athletes excel both on and off the field. Their achievements in the classroom mirror their success in competition. Twenty-five Panther athletes met these standards and were rewarded with this great recognition from the NESCAC. Nearly all of the winter sports had a representative on this squad. With such high demands in the classroom and taxing workouts and practices every day, these Panthers exemplify what it means to excel, succeed and dominate in multiple areas.
(03/17/05 12:00am)
Author: Dave Barker MADRID - There exist slices of America here in Madrid. Homesick students can catch an English movie, watch college basketball at an Irish pub or visit Taste of America, where maple syrup and brownie mix fill in the gaps of the simple and meat-filled Spanish diet. I try to avoid these experiences like I do the Casa de Campo Park at night, home to Madrid's legal and bustling prostitution industry. I prefer being a looker to finding a hooker. Looking in the windows of the countless tapas bars and delicatessens, that is. One of the best ways to probe into the culture and feel Spanish is to cook Spanish. I enjoy nothing more than strolling from my apartment in the center of Madrid past curing hams, sheep's milk cheeses and Spanish tortilla. After indulging my eyes, I head straight for the San Miguel market near Plaza Mayor to please the palate. I first tackled paella.The risotto-like rice dish is as Spanish as the mournful stomp of a flamenco dancer. For the first paella go-around, I followed the step-by-step directions to a "quick and easy chicken and chorizo (sausage) paella." I took a shortcut by using three paella Valenciana seasoning packets instead of buying each spice individually. Forgive me, Julia Child, for I have sinned. Nonetheless, the final product was tasty. In the following weeks, I related my paella exploits to several Spaniards who proceeded to tell me about their grandmothers' delectable paellas. Conversations over paella have allowed me to improve my shaky Spanish and have given me new culinary ideas. Recently, I took a plunge. At San Miguel, a walk past the butcher's case recalls past dissections of various animal parts in an eighth grade science class. I told two butchers that I needed some chicken and rabbit for paella. For traditional paella, you need to stray away from traditional poultry. With the introduction of rabbit, I was graduating, getting deeper into the culture.Instead of getting a few chunks of rabbit, the butcher grabbed one of the skinned creatures on ice and gave me half. Later in the afternoon, after pondering the preparation of the rabbit in my sociology class, I confronted the little bundle wrapped in paper, armed with a frying pan and a bottle of olive oil. Maybe it was the garlic that masked the smell, but after throwing everything together in the wok, I enjoyed one of the most delicious meals I've had here, save the delicacy of the Middle Eastern kebab. I suppose I'm ready for a trip to the seafood stand at San Miguel, where the real paellas are constructed. Shrimp, mussels, and the end of seasoning packets await. For now, my paella sure beats brownie mix.
(03/17/05 12:00am)
Author: Caroline S. Stauffer Members of the Program Coordination Group investigating Middlebury's acquisition of the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) gave a presentation and answered questions Tuesday afternoon in Warner Hemicycle. President Ronald D. Liebowitz was also on hand.In a report to the faculty, the Coordination Group, which is in charge of considering implications of the College's acquisition of the program wrote, "The opportunity presented by MIIS is significant and should be fully investigated by the College." The committee found "many potential programmatic benefits to acquiring an institution whose strengths seem to complement our own in a variety of ways." The College would not make a purchase of the graduate institute, but instead would absorb the facilities and responsibilities for its programs and finances. It would function as an entity separate from the College, like the Breadloaf School of English and the graduate programs in languages. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has placed MIIS on probation, and the institute is looking for a stronger educational partner "to ensure its long term survival." Vice President for Administration and Treasurer Bob Huth is in charge of assessing financial issues related to the institute. The Coordination group reported, "While MIIS's current financial resource difficulties are a concern, it seems likely that they could be improved through more advantageous financing of current debt, increasing enrollment in selected programs, professionalizing the MIIS advancement area and focusing on programmatic offerings."The 700 students at MIIS are enrolled in one of four graduate schools - the Graduate School of International Policy Studies, the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation, the Fisher Graduate School of International Business and the Graduate School of Language and Educational Linguistics. Two research institutes - the Center for Nonproliferation Studies and the Center for East Asian Studies are also connected with the Institute. Together, the programs offer Master's degrees in International Policy Studies, International Trade Policy, Conference Interpretation, Business Administration, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Public Administration in International Management, Translation and Translation and Interpretation. "While the individual MIIS schools offer varying benefits to specific aspects of our academic program, we need to feel that the overall fit is consistent with our position as a liberal arts institution," reported the Coordination group. So far, "The strategic fit between Middlebury College and MIIS seems to be excellent," the report says.
(03/10/05 12:00am)
Author: Noelle Bullion Children entered a new world filled with underwater excitement upon entering the McCullough social space in the afternoon of Saturday, March 5. The "Dive Into Reading" Carnival 2005, which was co-hosted by Page 1 Literacy and MIX, let kids explore books with 12 stations of crafts based on popular children's literature. This is the third annual Reading Carnival organized by MIX and Page 1. The two groups collaborated their individual contributions well, with Page 1 foused on the literature component of the event and MIX on the culture component. On-campus coordinator of Page 1 Colin Meltzer '05 said the carnival's goal was to "have children from the community interact with college students in an event revolving around literacy."Upon entering, the children received a "passport" to be a "Super Cool Underwater Book Agent." The kids then had Polaroid pictures taken of them and were then sent off on a mission to "dive in and find 12 books!" The craft stations each featured a different book and were overseen by members of many other Campus and student-run organizations including Ross Commons, Xenia, Page 1, MIX, the Pre-Medical Society, Alianza Latinoamericana y Caribena, Dolci, Hillel, Middlebury Asian Student Organization, African American Alliance and Wonnacott Commons.For the event, the social space was decorated with blue and green streamers, brightly painted mermaids, crabs and a variety of other sea creatures - a vibrant set-up for a child's reading adventure. Children, carrying brightly colored winter jackets, filled the room with their laughter and excitement. About 80 to 90 children attended along with their families. MIX President Dena Simmons '05 said, "The carnival was a success. We had more families at the carnival this year than in the past two years." On the stage, a painting of a dolphin announced the "Reading Cove," where enthusiastic college students shared their station's books with the children. Dean Atyia '08.5 read Dr. Seuss' tongue twister "Fox in Sox" and said, "The kids understood it better than I was able to [when younger]."MIX provided food and entertainment, giving families a taste of different cultures with Spanish tortillas, Cajun macaroni and cheese, Japanese garlic teriyaki beef, Mexican wedding cookies, Greek spinach hors d'oeuvres and fried plantains from Ghana. During the event, they received requests for recipes from enthusiastic parents. Families also sampled some tasteful music by Los Guitarristas, a band featuring Simran McKenna '07 and Nikitas Stamatopoulos '07, who sang songs in both English and Spanish.Some of the most popular activites included making sock-puppets and balloon gags based on the book "Walter the Farting Dog." Bright butterflies and a "Harold and the Purple Crayon" coloring table added even more excitement to the room. It was the sponsors' hope that when they left, the children took, along with their passport and art projects, a better idea of diversity and a heightened interest in reading.
(03/10/05 12:00am)
Author: Kimberly Schrimsher Wired to the Internet in an airport in Bombay, Piya Kashyap '07 was overwhelmed with emotion. After receiving numerous blogs of support from friends, family and even strangers, Kashyap's J-term project, a series of weblogs chronicling her J-term travels in India entitled "A Journey Back," exploded into a work of literature. Little did she know that her en route journals would qualify her as the 2005 winner of the Alison Fraker Prize. After an official award ceremony Tuesday evening in Chellis House, Piya demonstrated her weblog Wednesday night in the library."It was a big step for the College to recognize blogging as an academic endeavor," said Kashyap, an English major. "I never expected my project to go this far."As part of her EL500 Independent Study in the English department, Kashyap turned in her journal as her final project. "It's a remarkable achievement," said Lecturer in the Writing Program Barbara Ganley, Kashyap's J-term professor, who nominated Kashyap for the award. "She took it upon herself to do an Independent Study that is exquisitely crafted. Put on top of that the fact that she was actually having these experiences in India. This project shows depth and effective use of technology. It far exceeded my expectations."As a first generation American, Kashyap had only visited India as a child. Upon returning, she met a number of family members for the first time. Kashyap transformed her trip into a personal journey. Through her blogs, she explored the idea of being an Indian-American returning to the roots of her family's heritage. Kashyap writes,I often contemplate things larger than myself. When I do I become hopeless, confused. I fear that I will never be a part of these things I struggle to understand; that I will never find something beyond my insignificant self."The utter originality of what Piya was doing in creating web log influenced our decision," said Professor and award judge Cheryl Faraone. "Her writing is fluid and communicative and it's self-evaluative and not self-indulgent. It deals with identity and displacement that a lot of people deal with."Originally the project was supposed to include a digital story of Kashyap's travels as a blog. Before embarking on her trip, she wrote to friends and professors encouraging them to respond to her blogs. Through the sheer support of her Internet responses, she altered her plans and focused heavily on her writing. Kashyap writes,I have never been a religious person. The idea of God has scared and puzzled me. I have doubted my capacity to believe. For many years I have felt that religion is the crux of all wars; of all evil; of all the world's sorrow and problems. Faith was the easy way out and I was a step ahead of all those who believed.The committee of judges, comprised of four faculty members, each read the 12 works submitted for the award. Visiting Assistant Professor of German Mark R.V. Southern was among the judges taken with Kashyap's approach."I was-- impressed with the probing, energetically driven nature of her research; the vigorous grasping of complicated and difficult issues," said Southern. "She courageously used the weblog medium to give the outside world access to her experiences and reactions as they unfolded, and simultaneously to invite the world (via responsive commenting) to shape her thinking and push it in unforeseen directions." One of the two annual awards from the Women's and Gender Studies (WAGS) department, the prize honors a student for best writing on a subject about women. "It doesn't have to be from a feminist perspective or a class in the WAGS department," said Faraone. "The focus of the paper must be women. We wanted the criteria to be general so it's an inclusive prize and not exclusive. This is not senior work and must be written by an undergraduate student."Any faculty member regardless of the department can enter a student for the award. In past years, men have been winners. "From a male perspective, I'd say that gender studies, and foregrounding all implications of gender and its exploration - social, linguistic and otherwise - are as central a component of identity questions (for everyone) as any I can think of," said Southern.The Alison Fraker Prize was created 10 to12 years ago in memoriam for the late Alison Fraker. As a Middlebury student, she majored in English but was heavily involved in theater, dance and women's studies. However, at that time Middlebury did not have a WAGS department. Her sudden death in a car accident in 1989 cast a shadow over the College. Because of her interests, her parents built the library in Chellis House and her father, an architect, designed the furniture. "We named the prize after her to keep her name alive," said Faraone. "The prize is a good idea because it increases the visibility of WAGS on campus and honors people who've done good work," said Director of Chellis House Karin Hanta."I wish we had more such awards on campus," said Ganley. "It's a moment for us to celebrate the achievements of our students."To view Kashyap's project in its entirety please visit http://mt.middlebury.edu/middblogs/pkashyap/India.
(03/03/05 12:00am)
Author: STEPHANIE DOSCH Paris, 1960s. A black woman wearing a blond wig and a green dress with white polka-dots stands seductively on a street corner. A Jewish boy in his mid-teens watches her from a window above, practicing his lines, "Hello. It's a hot one. How much?" He finally gets up the nerve to talk to her, but she rejects him. He tries his luck elsewhere, and finally, on his 16th birthday, Moses becomes a man.So begins François Dupeyron's "Monsieur Ibrahim," a touching movie about a Turkish grocer and the Jewish boy he befriends. Monsieur Ibrahim, played by Omar Sharif ("Doctor Zhivago"), runs the deli across the street from the apartment that Moses (Pierre Boulanger) shares with his father. Moses comes in every day to buy groceries for dinner, and Monsieur Ibrahim takes a liking to him, calling him Momo.Momo, however, does not reciprocate. He often shoplifts cans of food, justifying by saying he doesn't care, Ibrahim is an Arab. As if reading Momo's thoughts, the old man says "I'm not an Arab, Momo. I'm from the Golden Crescent." When Momo asks why his father always tells him to go to the Arab's, Ibrahim answers "Arab means open from 8 a.m. till midnight, even on a Sunday, in the grocery trade."But when Momo's father disappears abruptly, leaving Momo only a note and some cash, Ibrahim begins to grow on him. He is intrigued by the old man's enigmatic references about the Koran, taking Momo on walks, buying him new shoes. He even tells Momo that the boy owes him nothing for the cans he took. Throughout their relationship, Ibrahim teaches Momo the ways of the world - the power of a smile, how to deal with women. Momo falls in love with the girl who lives downstairs, but still sells his father's books so he can visit the women of Blue Road. When the police report that Momo's father's body has been found, Ibrahim volunteers to adopt the boy as his own. He buys a car, learns how to drive it and the two set off across Europe to Turkey."Monsieur Ibrahim" isn't an amazing movie, but it has many appealing qualities. Omar Sharif is wonderful as the old grocer who loves his wife and "knows what's in his Koran," and newcomer Pierre Boulanger captures Momo. The movie is lovingly filmed, with warm lighting evoking the hot summer and beautiful shots of Turkey's rugged landscapes. Perhaps most notable is the soundtrack - the American rock-and-roll and its French counterpart "le yeye," so popular with teenagers in the mid 1960s.No, "Monsieur Ibrahim," like its characters, isn't amazing - it's just a nice story about the unique friendship between two characters of different generations and faiths."Monsieur Ibrahim" is this week's Hirschfield film, and is playing in Dana Auditorium at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. In French with English subtitles.
(02/24/05 12:00am)
Author: Thomas C. Drescher and Caroline S. Stauffer Colby dining offers alcohol to of age studentsColby College is pursuing a new approach to confront the problem of alcohol abuse on college campuses. It will, in fact, serve beer and wine in its dining halls to students of legal drinking age on select Friday evenings. The College has also added alcohol-related programming, such as a lecture on Belgian-style beers by the owner of the Allagash brewery, to its calendar of events.The idea behind this new philosophy is to highlight the social norm of drinking in moderation instead of only focusing on the negative aspects of consumption. Colby Student Body President Catherine Welch proposed the idea of adding alcohol in low-key and educational settings after returning from a study abroad semester in Nepal where it was normal for her to enjoy the occasional glass of wine or beer."What Colby is doing in dining halls is exposing students to the 'true norm' of moderate, social alcohol consumption," said Michael P. Haines, director of the National Social Norm Resource Center at Northern Illinois University. "Such exposure is another way that a 'false norm' (binge-drinking-as-typical) is challenged."Not all authorities agree.Henry Wechsler, principal investigator of the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study questions the message Colby is sending to students under age 21. "This type of program must simply whet the appetite of the underage students, and remind them that college and alcohol come together," he says.- InsideHighered.comSouthern students defend accentAccording to The Collegiate Times, a student publication at Virginia Tech, southerners are beginning to question the necessity and integrity of accent reduction courses cropping up everywhere below the Mason-Dixon Line. Martin Childers, program director of a theater in Prestonsburg, Kent., said his establishment offers courses to acting students who, for acting purposes, wish to minimize their southern accents. Childers and others see the courses as a useful tool for improving the marketability of actors who might otherwise be faced with limited opportunities because of their distinctive speech.Recently, however, students and experts across the southern states have begun to question the validity of accent reduction courses, asserting that they imply a certain inherent inferiority associated with southern speech. "They should never devalue their heritage and never let anyone else devalue it," said Virginia Tech English Professor Stephen Mooney. "A man who runs from his heritage is not worth the dirt that flies from beneath his feet.""Why shouldn't we send northerners applying for jobs in the south to reduce their yankee accent?" argued Lindsay Robinson, an interdisciplinary studies major at Virginia Tech.Childers contends that the courses teach temporary accent modification and are not designed to diminish or cheapen one's heritage.- U-Wire
(02/24/05 12:00am)
Author: JACOB RISINGER OXFORD - Oxford is known across the world as being a relatively decent place to get an education. What is recognized less often is Oxford's equally impressive - if a bit complex - network of late-night, inebriated snacking facilities. Every night, as the sun slips behind the grey gothic buildings that stand at the heart of this university town, a disparate fleet of "kebab vans" invades the streets like a horde of Mongol raiders ready for the kill. They are typically white and often grease-stained, questionably hygienic and laced with a high-calorie, fast food smell that sticks to your clothes for weeks. In other words: kebab vans are sort of like the evil step-sister of quaint New England ice cream trucks. Lest all of this sound too daunting, it must be acknowledged that kebab vans are a consistently-beloved fixture of Oxford nightlife - along with cheap wine, cheesy music and bad dancing. Even the ultra-scholarly Oxford English Dictionary acknowledges kebab vans, defining them as vans "with a small cooking area and service hatch that sells kebabs and other takeaway food." Most Oxford students, however, equate kebab vans with a sobering midnight snack. Pouring out of clubs that bellow Elton John's greatest hits and swinging around light posts, Brits crowd around the "service hatches" of these roving snack shacks, anxious for fulfilment. I have never had a kebab - I don't eat cubed meat, especially when it's smeared in mayonnaise. When I first arrived in England, however, I invested a small fortune in "chips and cheese." This, my friends, is a four-star savoury delight. Big fat French fries (i.e. chips) are coated in shredded cheddar cheese, topped with ketchup and boxed in a little styrofoam crate for the long walk home. Most kebab vans, though, are strong supporters of creativity and the arts. Chips can be dressed in myriad ways to suit your fancy: buried in baked beans, sprinkled with lettuce, dashed with salt, or garnished with low-grade chicken and sausage. Health-conscious Brits can even select to have their chips with a side of hummus. After enjoying several rounds of chips and cheese - as well as the faint trace of heartburn that so often follows in their wake - I decided to restrict myself to stopping at kebab vans for special occasions only. I ordered a chips and cheese to cheer myself up after George W. Bush's inauguration, and had another last week to congratulate Prince Charles and Camilla on their upcoming wedding. Yet even when I'm chipless, kebab vans haunt my more constructive thoughts. What if we had a kebab van at Middlebury? What if you could stop for a snack halfway between Coffrin and Fletcher, or enjoy a hot burger on the coldest night of J-Term? I see potential for a multi-million dollar industry in the making. Although I'm sure Middlebury's ES majors would have to do something about those cantankerous Styrofoam crates...
(01/27/05 12:00am)
Author: Polly Johnson On Jan. 11, at the Universalist Unitarian Church on Cross St. in Middlebury, the citizens' groups Moms for Safe Milk and People for Less Pollution convened at a community meeting to discuss the impending decision of the paper company, International Paper, to burn tire-derived fuel at their Ticonderoga plant in New York.The meeting was well-attended by parents, local physicians, health experts and concerned citizens worried about the effects that the burning would have on the people and land of Vermont. International Paper, a paper mill that describes itself on its Web site as a "diversified, global company with manufacturing operations in the western hemisphere, Europe, Asia and Africa," has proposed replacing much of their current fuel source with fuel created from shredded tires. This proposal has health experts and physicians as well as local citizens extremely concerned about the detrimental health effects that would ensue. The most compelling issue is the effect of the toxic pollutants on the health of children. People for Less Pollution is an Addison County citizen's group that has continued to educate citizens on the harmful effects of the pollutants from International Paper, while Moms for Safe Milk works to keep children safe from harmful toxins and pollutants. Tensions between Vermonters and the International Paper plant in Ticonderoga have long been high due to conflicting environmental opinions and ideas about what is safe for the community. Vermonters have claimed to see the negative effects from the mill, which have included pollution blown in by westerly winds, and pollution dumped into the lakes shared by New York and Vermont, most notably Lake Champlain. Tire burning has the potential to emit such toxic metals as mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium and arsenic, as well as carcinogenic dioxin. These chemicals have been linked to birth defects and a wide variety of human illnesses. Doctors in attendance on Jan. 11 included Dr. Pierre Angier, a physician from South Burlington, and Dr. Jack Mayer, a pediatrician from Middlebury. Other notable attendees included Jeff Wennberg, the commissioner of Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation, Joanna Colwell, of Moms for Safe Milk, Kevin Leske, the assistant to the State Attorney General, State Representatives David Sharpe, Steve Maier and Willem Jewett and poet and Associate Professor of English Gary Margolis.Speaking of the possible effects of toxins on children's health, Mayer said, "Children are uniquely susceptible to the toxic effects of the pollutants that will be released by International Paper Company should they be allowed to burn tire derived fuel. These organic chemicals and heavy metals are toxins with known effects on learning and behavior in children." The conflicting interests date back to 1925, when the Ticonderoga plant was officially opened as a paper mill. In the 1970s, lawsuits erupted as citizens became increasingly aware of the dangerous effects of the pollutants emanating from the plant and making their way into Lake Champlain and the air. In 1996, the plant test burned tires without informing Vermont, and finally in 2003, International Paper formally applied for a permit to test burn tires. With high hopes for their efforts, Colwell of Moms for Safe Milk remarked, "The very least International Paper should do is to install an Electrostatic Precipitator on the boiler that would burn tires, to ensure that our children are not exposed to more toxins. We're counting on Governor Douglas to protect our communities. Real family values means keeping our children safe from dangerous pollution."
(01/13/05 12:00am)
Author: Myra Palmero In March 2004, Secretary of the College Eric Davis announced that he would be stepping down from his position as Secretary after May 2005 Commencement to join the faculty as a full-time Professor of Political Science before his final retirement in January 2008.Though Eric Davis was appointed as Secretary of the College in 1997, he had been part of the faculty since 1980 as a Political Science professor. In 1991 he was appointed as dean of academic programs, and chief information officer in 1997. In his 25 years at Middlebury, Davis has been involved with academic and curricular matters, having served on the Educational Affairs Committee or its predecessor committees for 18 of the 25 years.Before current President Ronald D. Liebowitz was appointed president in April, Davis decided to step down as Secretary, believing that whoever was to become the new president should have the opportunity to fill a senior administrative position with someone who would be able to spend years developing the changes that the new administration would be making. Though Davis has enjoyed working as an administrator, tackling the College's interesting issues, being a part of the College's changes in the last, watching Fred Rogers sing the "Mr. Rogers" theme song and being able to give Meryl Streep stage directions at Commencement, he did not want to spend the rest of his remaining years before retirement in Old Chapel. Davis said, "I have always considered myself a political scientist who has happened to be in the administration, rather than a professional administrator, and I knew it was time for me to be spending more time teaching about, reading about, thinking about, and writing about politics." Davis recounted that in his 25 years at Middlebury, three administrative accomplishments of which he is most proud are chairing the committee that developed the first-year seminar program from 1985 to 1988, participating in decisions about the 30-position growth of the faculty, and chairing the committee that developed the program for the new library.Of the First-Year Seminar program, Davis stated, "The FYS program has been one of the most significant curricular changes at Middlebury in the past quarter-century, guaranteeing all first-year students a place in a small, writing-intensive seminar in their first semester and having those students' faculty adviser be the teacher of one of their courses, whom they see two or three times a week in class." Of the new library, Davis commends Gwathmey Siegal and Associates' firm for translating the College's hope for a library that would "reflect the centrality of the academic enterprise in the life of Middlebury College" into the architecture on the historic "front lawn" of the campus, Old Stone Row. Despite the many changes and strides that the College has taken, however, Davis says that Middlebury continues to exemplify values of when he first arrived in 1980 of recognizing every Middlebury member's unique qualities and the importance of faculty-student interaction at a liberal arts college.Davis looks forward to returning to the faculty, working with students and teaching what he calls a "mix of new and old standard courses" in his last two years. In the fall, he will be teaching his final first-year seminar on the English Cathedrals, and will be doing a "farewell tour" of his favorite political science courses: the introductory American politics course, and courses on Congress, U.S. elections, and comparative elections.When Davis leaves in 2008, he will be devoting his time to study the response of the Democratic Party to the 2004 election results and the strategies the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates choose to pursue in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election.Only a few months before stepping down as Secretary, Davis is optimistic that the College will continue to make great changes. Davis stated, "I am confident that under the leadership of President Liebowitz, with an extremely committed, resourceful, and energetic administrative team, and with the generous support of an engaged Board of Trustees and alumni body, this College will make even greater strides forward in the years ahead."
(01/13/05 12:00am)
Author: Ben Salkowe In response to the tsunami tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people living along the Indian Ocean, and affected countless more, Middlebury College administrators and student leaders across campus convened during the first days of the term to discuss collaborative efforts to raise financial aid for relief organizations and educate the community in understanding the disaster. "We cannot possibly contemplate the full magnitude of this tragedy, nor what its consequences will be for the peoples and their countries directly affected," wrote President Ronald D. Liebowitz in an e-mail to the community. "However, our community can join with others across the world with acts of hope and assistance."Liebowitz outlined several immediate responses the College was making to the disaster: raising funds for relief organizations, organizing an event to discuss and understand the disaster and its aftermath and a memorial service, held Monday afternoon in Mead Chapel.Efforts to raise money for relief organizations began with a meeting of College administrators before the term. "We agreed to call together a group of students on the first day of classes to allow them to work out their plans together," said Laurie Jordan, chaplain of the College. "Since we [had] already had e-mails from some of the students who wanted to do something - we invited them and other student leaders.""The meeting was an opportunity for College administrators from the Center for Campus Activities and Leadership (CCAL), Alliance for Civic Engagement, Dean of Student Affairs and the Chaplain's office to meet with some of the College's student organization leaders to offer assistance in planning and organizing their relief efforts," said Douglas Adams, the director of CCAL."Primarily the discussion centered around what could be done on campus for relief aid and fundraising, but we also discussed long term development aid, a memorial service and educational efforts."Fundraisers have now begun appearing across campus. In recent e-mails to students, Commons Resident Advisors kicked off an intercommons "Tsunami Change Challenge" - taking the opportunity of charity to advance commons spirit. According to the fundraiser rules, the goal is "to raise more Penny Points than any other Commons, thus making your Commons superior in every way to all the others." By donating pennies or paper bills to their Commons' office, students raise their commons' "penny points." By donating nickels, dimes or quarters through another commons', they lower that commons' "Penny Points."Some of the other ideas that are being pursued include a collection drive in the dining halls, a 50/50 Raffle at a hockey game, and a benefit concert, said Adams. In a follow-up meeting the group of students and administrators chose four organizations to send collected donations to: the American Red Cross, Karuna Trust, Oxfam and Save the Children. "We discussed not wanting to work through any governments - and talked about the various problems with both poor administration and corruption that some groups have," said Jordan. "We ended up thinking that we would like to allow people to be able to make a choice and also to learn about more than one of the agencies."In addition to fundraising, the College is planning to hold an academic event for discussion and understanding of the tragedy. "A number of offices on campus are in the process of organizing an event at which those familiar with the region and expert in the nature of the natural tragedy itself will present material to help us learn about the tragedy and its aftermath," said Liebowitz.Information on the time, place and speakers at the event has yet to be announced, though interest in considering and understanding the issues of the disaster is large."I think students are interested in finding ways to help and show solidarity with the victims of the tsunami," said Jordan. "Many of them are using the internet and the news outlets to learn more about what happened and how the relief efforts are going."Finally, a memorial service was also held on Monday to remember victims of the tragedy. The service began with a procession of students from countries bordering the Indian Ocean, bearing their native flags. As Jordan read a welcome, candles were lit at the front of the Chapel. A variety of readings were then shared, showcasing the College's international character. "Our community is strengthened by the diversity of our responses to tragedy and by the respect and curiosity we hold for each other," said Jordan, introducing the readers at the service. The texts ranged from a recitation in Tamil by Vani Sathisan '07 to a Wordsworth poem read by Allison Byerly, vice president for Academic Affairs and professor of English. Students also ran a donation table at the service. The final selection before a benediction by Rabbi Ira Schiffer, associate chaplain of the College, was a moving Buddhist reading read by Nirvana Bhatia '07."May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind, instead of an ocean of sorrow, obtain an ocean of happiness and joy," read Bhatia from Bodhicaryavatara. "For as long as they remain in cyclic existence, may their mundane happiness never decline, and may all of them uninterruptedly receive waves of joy."Individuals interested in assisting with events and fundraisers, or making a contribution to a relief organization, are urged to contact the chaplain's office.
(01/13/05 12:00am)
Author: Katie Flagg Middlebury College is ringing in the New Year with resolutions of an especially bold sort, led by a new president eager to chart the College's course for coming years. Just days after the end of the Fall 2004 term, President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz announced his comprehensive Planning Committee for Middlebury's Future in a memorandum to the College community. According to Liebowitz, this long-term planning process "will focus renewed attention on Middlebury's core mission: to provide the strongest learning environment for the talented young people who choose to study here."The last major planning initiative for the College culminated in the 1992 Long-Range Plan, a plan formulated under the guidance of Liebowitz's predecessor, John McCardell. McCardell's plan focused primarily on the infrastructure of the College, fostering the construction of the Center for the Arts, Chip Kenyon Arena and the Natatorium, new Ross and Atwater Commons buildings, McCardell Bicentennial Hall and, most recently, the new library.Following the completion of many of the objectives outlined in the 1992 Plan - and, perhaps most notably, following Liebowitz's inauguration - administrators began meeting last fall to discuss the structure and direction of the new planning committee. According to convention, it is hardly extraordinary that Liebowitz should, at this point in his administration, introduce a new planning process. Said Dean of Planning John Emerson, "planning periods generally occur near the beginning of a new Presidency at a College."Emerson is adamant that Liebowitz's plan will differ in focus and direction from McCardell's Long-Range assessment. "Our present planning process is likely to differ from the 1992 planning in that this one will focus more on people and their needs, and less on building projects, the physical plant and infrastructure," said Emerson.While meetings last fall entertained discussion of the planning process and format, the President's plan was announced to the College community officially on Dec. 23. The actual strategic planning will begin during Winter Term and continue through the Fall 2005 semester. Liebowitz has expressed views that, while the planning process will be equal in intensity to past long-term processes, the process should be confined to one calendar year. The pace of planning is due in large part to the structure of the planning committee. As Emerson has written by way of introduction for the planning process, "the planning will be organized in ways that transcend traditional boundaries in our organizational structures." Eleven task forces have been formed, dedicated to evaluating specific, cross-departmental questions or challenges. A full list of task forces, along with rosters and objectives, is available at the Middlebury College Web site. Overseeing the progress of these 11 task forces is a steering committee comprised of 13 individuals, including two students."It is a complicated and large structure," said Emerson, "and it will encourage broad participation in the 11 or 12 areas represented by all the task forces. It is a structure designed to encourage fresh viewpoints and imaginative suggestions. It brings together many people with highly varied backgrounds and perspectives."But participation in the planning process is not limited to members of the task forces and the Steering Committee. "I expect the task forces to be fully engaged with a broad cross section of the College community," Liebowitz wrote in his Dec. 23 memo, "to consider the advice and perspectives of members of Middlebury's off-campus constituents - alumni, parents and trustees."A Jan. 6 town hall meeting kicked off the President's initiative to include the College community in the planning process. The question-and-answer session, with Liebowitz, Emerson and Dean of the College Tim Spears fielding questions from a small group of interested students. Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson was also in attendance."The purpose of the planning process is to chart the course of the College," Liebowitz explained. He identified the process as a "chance to be critical [of Middlebury] in both positive and negative ways."The town hall meeting, said Liebowitz, presented a forum to "engage as much of the community as possible" in the upcoming planning process.Liebowitz entertained questions from students ranging from social life on campus to financial aid, from the stability and structure of the Commons system to the effectiveness of the Feb admissions program. He also spoke on the leveraging of the C.V. Starr language schools and Breadloaf, grade inflation, comprehensive fees, diversity on campus, the role of the environment at the College and faculty tenure.While questions raised by those in attendance varied greatly, Liebowitz and company consistently echoed a similar message: such questions are important in the planning process, and students should contribute their suggestions and queries to the Dean of Planning for individual task force consideration.Liebowitz also used the forum last Thursday to outline the overview of the planning process and identifying the strategic goals of his initiative. At the top of this list is Liebowitz's commitment to strengthening the College's reputation as one of the leading liberal arts colleges in the country. In his memo to the College community, he expressed a desire to "harness and build upon" the momentum the College has generated in recent decades.Furthering the College's reputation will prove difficult, though. "I know that Middlebury has grown gradually stronger, and achieved heightened excellence, over the past three or four decades," said Emerson. "Although our reputation has grown as well, reputations tend always to lag realities. Middlebury is better and stronger than our reputation - as strong as it is - may suggest."Liebowitz is also dedicated to enhancing the reputation of the College's summer language programs and both the Breadloaf School of English and the Breadloaf Writers' Conference. "These are the best programs and the country and sometimes the world," Liebowitz said at the Presidential forum. He acknowledged a commitment to "trumpeting their excellence," noting that the College has the "opportunity to showcase those entities."An evaluation of the Commons program is also high on the agenda - an appropriate choice, considering the number of questions raised at the town hall meeting regarding the subject. Liebowitz asserted a strong belief in the housing and residential Commons system, but he quickly agreed that there remain flaws in the still-fledgling system."To me," he said, "it would be a great day when we don't talk about the Commons as separate from life at Middlebury."Liebowitz's agenda also calls for a stready growth in the annual giving to the College coupled with endowment spending reduced to and maintained at five percent. The planning process looks to reassess financial aid packaging for students, hoping to reduce financial barriers for those students who wish to study at Middlebury as well as reducing the indebtedness of College graduates. Broader objectives for the planning process will also focus on people and the community, students, faculty, curriculum, campus and infrastructure and resources.But the planning process is not without its complications. "One very tangible challenge is in scheduling important meetings and conversations," said Emerson, acknowledging the difficulties inherently present in organizing the large body of participants. "Students, staff and faculty are seemingly overcommitted and it's surprisingly hard to find a time when all can meet."What can current students expect from the planning process? Emerson warns that, because "strategic planning is inherently long range," there may be "little that we are doing right now tha
t will have a major impact on students next semester." According to Emerson, in fact, the results of the planning process are most likely to be felt by current first-year and sophomore students before they graduate."Certainly the work of the Task Force on Commons and Student Life, with its fairly broad agenda, is one that will affect students in tangible ways within, say, the next two years," said Emerson.Furthermore, as the community at large has been encouraged to participate in planning, students, faculty and alumni all share a common opportunity for input and contribution in the coming months. "Our Task Forces and our mailings and Web sites will certainly invite and encourage broad participation in planning," said Emerson. "Somewhat surprisingly, we have already had an impressive amount of voluntary input."Emerson felt that the planning process will likely affect the way the College community views itself, as well as the strengths and priorities it possesses."In the long run," he said, "enhancing Middlebury's reputation and stature can only enhance the value of a Middlebury degree and the pride that all alumni have in Middlebury College. All students - past, present and future - and all staff and faculty stand to benefit from this emphasis that President Liebowitz has made so prominent in his agenda for Middlebury."
(11/20/03 12:00am)
Author: Tom McCann Cricket. All too often that word carries connotations of a boring, slow paced, silly English game. While it is slow, it is inherently English and can at times be intensely boring, it remains a game played by a huge percentage of the world population, and Middlebury College has a team, too. Due to a shortage of other cricketing institutions, last year the Middlebury Cricket Club played four games during its season. After two games against the local Chittenden County Cricket Club and two against the Dartmouth Cricket Club, Middlebury ended the season with a 2-2 record. This season has seen Middlebury play and lose one game, but team spirits remain high and there is optimism for the upcoming cricket season. The Middlebury team is characterized by the flair of certain players including Wasil Mohar '06 who bowls with pace and accuracy as well as being lethal with the bat when he gets in the groove. Khurrum Jamali '04 is renowned for his attacking style of play that more often that not pays off immensely, resulting in hordes of runs in very few overs. John Taft-Dick '04 has returned from a semester in Florence, Italy, and the team is excited about the beautiful stroke-making and timing that he brings to the offensive side of the game. Siddharth Rajaram '06 is another player who has been earmarked for great things this coming season as he looks to pick up where he left off last year with the bat. On the team as a whole, he noted, "We're an experienced bunch this season and we're about as good as we have ever been. Up to this point we have not performed well, but we're confident that we'll get better as the season goes on."While it is a game traditionally played outdoors, the Middlebury team takes things inside and practices in the Bubble throughout the winter. Some of the experienced members of the team are going to run a workshop during Winter Term so that the current members of the team can continue to play, but also so that new recruits or simply curious students can learn to play and understand the rules of this crazy game. Last year, P.E credit was offered for those students who regularly attended the practices, and Tim Bellis '06, who did so, commented "It was good to experience a sport from a different culture, one that I would not usually be exposed to here in the U.S." With this sort of positive feedback, the clinic this coming January is sure to be a success, educating more of the student body about a game with which they may not be familiar.The coming of the spring will herald the recurrence of matches being held outside again. Until then, the team is confined to batting, bowling and fielding practice in the nets inside the Bubble. Hopefully, with the hard work, sweat, toil and effort put in during the off-season, the result will bear the fruit that it promises such that the Middlebury cricket team reaches the level of potential that the players know is possible.
(11/20/03 12:00am)
Author: Matthew Clark Spike Lee's latest joint, "25th Hour," is the first film I have seen set in post-9/11 New York. There is an American flag blowing or hanging in every scene, reminding the viewer that America and events bigger than ourselves will continue. It is a tragic movie about the 24 hours before Monty Brogan (Edward Norton) goes to jail to serve a seven-year drug-dealing sentence. The title, "25th Hour," is a revealing one. There are only 24 hours in a day. There is no 25th hour. The 25th hour is the time that might have been, that could have been if only there were another hour in the day. It isn't those seven years Monty will spend in jail - it is what his life could have been out of jail during those seven years. We will never know what would have filled that time but can only speculate about what might have been.Throughout the movie we see fate and destiny struggling against choice and chance. Monty rescues a broken, bloodied dog from traffic, naming him Doyle of Doyle's Law - "Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong." Does Monty have to go to jail? Could it have been avoided? "This life all came so close to never happening," Monty's father (Brian Cox) narrates as he drives Monty to jail. Are the choices we make in our lives destined or decided? In the end, does Monty need to be as broken as Doyle was in the beginning?Lee has done a masterful job stitching the characters together into a web that ripples through time and space no matter where it is touched. The movie moves fluidly from scene to scene, introducing Monty's buddies - an arrogant Wall Street investor, Francis Xavier Slaughtery (Berry Pepper) and a quietly fumbling English teacher, Jacob Elinsky (Philip Seymour Hoffman). We see the complexities of friendship and love, trust and loyalty in one climactic scene under an old archway. Slaughtery's anguish and Monty's taunts are unavoidably real as Monty coaxes his friend into "doing him one last favor." The bruises and blood will save him in jail, meaning that Monty must appear somewhat roughed up in order to escape the beatings of other inmates. The thuds of punches and Doyle's barking are muted as Slaughtery pummels Monty's face. All that is left is the sound of birds flying away. Where are they going? What are they taking with them? Will they be back? "25th Hour" is a film about second chances - about starting over. It makes me think of T. S. Eliot's "Waste Land" - "These fragments I have shored against my ruins." The feeling is pervasive throughout the dull blue-gray filtered light of the city. Jacob and Francis discuss Monty's fate while looking over the ruins of Ground Zero. How will they piece their fractured lives back together after Monty is gone? Later, Monty unleashes a scathing tirade addressed to every ethnic and socially distinct group in the city, hating everyone in the city and blaming them for all that is wicked and wrong with the world. Eventually, staring into the mirror, hating everything he has become and everything he has thrown away, Monty understands that it is he who must change. He has to start over. He has to begin anew with what he has left. I am left optimistic by Spike Lee's portrayal of the post-9/11 world. Wounds heal, cities will rebuild, and it all can happen in the 24 hours a day we are given.
