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(04/30/03 12:00am)
Author: Lanford Beard Slanted, inaccurate and misrepresentative: these words came to mind while reading last week's article on Riddim's Spring show ("Riddim Rolls Out the Red Carpet," The Middlebury Campus, April 23, 2003). The Campus wrote, "The production truly reflected the Club's multi-cultural purpose." Unfortunately, this statement is nowhere near the truth for the article.As an aspiring journalist, I see journalism as a way of preserving the realities of its time and subject. With articles like the one in last week's Campus, no one will know the truth about what Riddim stands for as a troupe. We in Riddim work hard. Not only do we work hard to choreograph, learn and perfect our dances, we work hard to add a sense of diversity to Middlebury that is often lacking. People respond to these efforts year after year by coming to our shows to support us.Your visual representation of the show betrayed all of these ideals. People did not come to this spring's show to see the Riddim Rejects. They are great performers and truly supportive friends, but they were a surprise addition that we did not advertise. People came to see Riddim and only Riddim. Through the collective vision and dedication of many people, we organized this show to showcase solely our increasing scope, breadth, humor and development as a group. Thus, when the article begins by mentioning the "chaos" of all the people waiting to see the show, and when 60 percent of the pictures visually portray less than five percent of the actual show, the truth is grossly misrepresented and will, thus, be grossly misconstrued by anyone looking back at Riddim in years to come. Of the five photos of the show, three of them (including the front page photo) were of the Riddim Rejects. The other two were weak - a shot of four of the troupe members sitting and the other of the uncredited Toni Spence, who is barely distinguishable because the photo is blurred.We are denied our names and our credibility by your decision that Riddim should play second fiddle to the guest performers at our own show. Moreover, you derogate our artistic credibility by placing the article in the Features (not Arts) section and by allotting a single paragraph of the entire article to the nine dances in the show.Another essential error in judgment is the inclusion of The Campus' assessment that "Music ranged from gospel to ghetto." We in Riddim would like to know exactly what "ghetto" music is and what such a derogatory term implies not only our group but also for the campus and The Campus. Since I have been back from studying in England this Fall, I've noticed The Campus making a significant shift in the direction of conservative ideology and insensitive reporting.I am not alone in my belief that the media has a responsibility to lean towards liberal - read: inclusive and diverse - thinking. This point is especially crucial considering The Campus is Middlebury College's only newspaper, and (as it is funded by college money) it must represent all of the student population. If The Campus will not take care to accurately and appropriately represent groups at the College now, what will prevent it from being overtly, blatantly demeaning in a few issues, months or years? This carelessness (both from writers and editors) cannot continue. As a staff writer for the Campus and a past-and-future Riddim board member, I am disappointed with the article's depiction of our show.Long by Campus standards, the reporting managed to remain superficial and inaccurate through a variety of thematic, typographical and visual errors. The overall product displays an unintentional but flagrant bias against multiculturalism. It strives to glorify our overall efforts but contradicts itself through politically incorrect terms and heterogeneous imagery. Most importantly, it does not emphasize Riddim's primary goal: to educate and diversify the campus community through dance forms from all over the world. As a member of Middlebury's vast white majority, I implore The Middlebury Campus to consider its work more carefully next time. Riddim is a rare, popular source of diversity education. Please don't whitewash us.Lanford Beard is a English/film and media studies joint major from Birmingham, Alabama.
(04/30/03 12:00am)
Author: Edward Pickering Autobiographies rarely attain 'classic' status. Most are of the airport newsstand variety. Retired generals and politicians transcribe blow-by-blow testimonials and actors and athletes fill pages with self-pity. The life of these autobiographies is short: they fly off the shelves and into oblivion. Rapid disappearance and vapid content are their defining characteristics. Robert Graves' memoir "Goodbye To All That" stands as antithesis to these run-of-mill works.First published in 1929, "Goodbye to All That" is a searing book, full of vitriol, thought and conviction. Robert Graves-noted poet, novelist, critic and translator- was 33 when he wrote it. Imagine writing an autobiography at such a young age and then seeing it endure for decades. The raw material of the autobiography-Edwardian England, the trenches of World War 1 and the ensuing emotional and social devastation-grips the reader. The voice that tells it is strong, embittered, incisive and honest. In "Goodbye to All That" Robert Graves says farewell to England and English society, to innocence itself-and to a world irrevocably shattered by world war.Born in England, with considerable German ancestry, Graves grew up privilege, attended prestigious schools and then, like his peers, went to fight in France. A third of his classmates died in the War, earning his generation the title, 'the Lost Generation.' Severely wounded by shrapnel, Graves distinguished himself for bravery in battle. His battlefield heroism and personal disillusion with the war would seem to be at odds, but he proves they are not. Physically weak and mentally shaken at the time of his discharge, Graves entered academia, accepted overseas teaching posts, and then permanently departed England for the Spanish isle, Majorca. Toward the memoir's end he describes his reaction at the time to news of the Armistice:"In November came the Armistice. I heard at the same time of the deaths of Frank Jones-Bateman, who had gone back again just before the end, and Wilfred Owen, who often used to send me poems from France. Armistice night hysteria did not touch our camp much, though some of the Canadians stationed there went down to Rhyl to celebrate in true overseas style. The news sent me out walking alone along the dyke above the marshes of Rhuddlan (an ancient battlefield, the Flodden of Wales), cursing and sobbing and thinking of the dead.Siegfried's famous poem celebrating the Armistice began:"Everybody suddenly burst out singing, / And I was filled with such delight / As prisoned birds must find in freedom . . ."But everbody did not include me."
(04/30/03 12:00am)
Author: Alison Damick Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 marked the second ever French Colloquium at Middlebury College. From 4:30 p.m. Friday, when the colloquium's principal convener, Professor of French Edward Knox, introduced the opening address of Jeremy Shapiro, associate director for the Center on the United States and France, Brookings Institution, to the 5 p.m. closing discussion of the weekend's events the next evening, the Robert A. Jones House was alive with conversation, lectures and film. While all official speakers addressed the audience in English, French was overheard just as often throughout the room, an indication of the array of people in attendance.Titled "France in 2003: The Challenge of Change," the colloquium featured speakers from all over the country and the world. Speakers presented topics on a wide range of issues concerning the changes occurring in France and how these changes affect the French sense of identity. Lectures ranged from Harvard University's Jonathan Laurence's "Multiculturalism in France," Associate Editor of Le Monde Thomas Ferenczi's "France and Europe," and former advisor to the French Labor Minister Nicolas VÈron's "Workplace Issues in France." "Etre et Avoir," a 2002 documentary by Nicolas Philibert about a one-room schoolhouse in France, was also shown on Friday. Knox states that in organizing the colloquium with Professor of French and French Department Chair Bethany Ladimer and Assistant Professor of Political Science Erik Bleich, "our goal was to put forward topics that would show France in a process of change, or not, but also how France perhaps takes different approaches from the U.S. on similar problems. The speakers were selected in concert with the French Cultural Services."This year's colloquium was organized after a positive response to last year's colloquium, "DÈj‡ Views: How Americans Look at France." Last year's event prompted the French Cultural AttachÈ from Boston to express interest in cosponsoring an event this year. According to the colloquium Web site, this year's colloquium was geared towards "ringing changes on the old French adage of plus Áa change, exploring both how and how much things are changing, and whether in fact the more things change the more they stay the same." Knox considered this symposium a "big success" due to the "heavy attendance, the distances some people traveled, the comments and the quality of papers." The room was indeed filled to capacity with students, professors and visitors.Knox also reported, "For the record, the colloquium and the topics were put together before diplomatic relations deteriorated in late fall 2002." However, the fact that so many people came out to the symposium despite the political situation was a satisfying sight for many French students. "There was a great turnout at all the presentations, both on the part of the students and the town," Erin Bell '06 said. Bell attended all the Colloquium events as part of her French class, and says she is very glad she did. "It's comforting to see that so many people are still open to and interested in learning about France and the French in a time when there's such a tension between our nations."
(04/30/03 12:00am)
Author: Crystal Belle With such a headline as "Riddim Rolls Out The Red Carpet" (The Middlebury Campus, April 23, 2003) one would imagine that the article which ensued would contain cultural, factual, unbiased information. Yet once again that failed to be the case, as a prominent dance group like Riddim here at Middlebury College was once again horribly misrepresented in an article drenched in mediocrity. Something was immediately wrong as I observed the photo spread which contained two pictures of the Riddim Rejects who are not even members of the troupe. Why would The Campus choose to depict a group of white guys in an article about an organization that is mainly comprised of minorities? No, race is not the issue here, however, justice is. Those photos should have captured the diversity of Riddim, which is reflected through our members and choreographed pieces, which range from hip-hop to Salsa. One does not use the word ghetto to define any form of music: "Music ranged from gospel to ghetto." Let me thus educate you on the word. According to the Oxford American Dictionary ghetto is defined as "a part of a city or region in which members of a minority group live as a result of social or economic discrimination." With that said, one can infer that The Campus was in fact alluding to the notion that hip-hop is only heard in the "ghetto." I guarantee you that if you go into any white suburban community, you will hear sounds of Nelly, 50-Cent and Tupac echoing through the rows of neatly painted houses and freshly cut lawns. So it is in fact a myth that hip-hop is "ghetto music" as it has transcended racial and socioeconomic barriers worldwide. Secondly, there are many variations as to what a ghetto consists of and trust me it is not constricted to media imagery of baggy jeans, Ebonics and drive-by shootings. Instead of relying on the media for your information, try reading a book or better yet visiting the so-called ghetto yourself. Maybe then you will have somewhat of a concept of the politically, socially and ignorantly incorrect term the article used.As the article continued to list everything that occurred in the show in chronological order, it failed to offer any form of critique. How can an article on the subject of a performance lack any kind of commentary or criticism? Nine dances in the show included modern dance, hip-hop, salsa and even the sounds of Tahiti as the beautiful women of Riddim rolled their waists seductively to fast paced drum beats. Also, the behind the moves footage captured the acting talents of Riddim members as there were spoofs like the "Real World" and "American Idol." To add to the variety in the show, there was also poetry. Speaking as the author of the poem performed, I must clarify one thing - I am a poet. Yes, I do in fact write slam poetry, however, I am still a poet. Although my writing style differs from the traditional European standards of poetry, I find it discriminatory and ludicrous to categorize myself and every other poet who writes and performs slam poetry separately from the more traditional poet. For future reference, those who perform slam poetry are referred to as spoken word artists/poets. I hope The Campus and every other Middlebury student realizes that Riddim did in fact roll out the red carpet, although the article failed to portray that. Our group has some of the most talented people this campus has to offer. We are dancers, actors, choreographers, poets and most importantly - we are people.Crystal Belle is an English major from Brooklyn, New York.
(04/30/03 12:00am)
Author: Daryn Cambridge Even though Saddam Hussein may be considered an "evil" dictator, that does not mean that, by waging war against his regime and working to dispose him of power, it makes George W. Bush a "good" leader, a liberator, or, in any way, justified in his actions. As much as Bush would like to believe the contrary, those who fight "evil" do not immediately become "good" (to borrow the bellicose black and white vocabulary of which Bush is so fond). In many cases those who claim to be "liberators" exercise similar modes of domination, control, suppression of opinion and military power to exercise those means. Bush has condemned Saddam Hussein for attempting to dominate the Middle East by intimidating his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction.How is Bush any different? He has prefaced his reconstruction goals by utilizing the intimidation factor, "shocking and awing" those around Iraq's borders to follow suit and obey American orders. The unification of both neo-conservative ideologies and corporate interests has provided the Bush administration with an agenda that will define peace in American terms for the advancement of American interests. The reconstruction of Iraq is the first step in the implementation of this "Pax Americana". So, when "Operation: Iraqi Freedom" gets flashed on the television screen do not be fooled. The word "freedom" should be understood in neo-conservative terms: Iraqis will be "free" to do what Americans allow. After all, as Donald Rumsfeld said - when questioned about the disorder and anarchy that has been sweeping Baghdad - "freedom can be untidy." Hence those with American ties should be there to maintain order, restructure the government and control the future of Iraqi freedom. Whether it's Jay Garner, Ahmad Chalabi or some other pro-American elite, whoever holds positions of power in post-war Iraq will be sure to advance the security/economic interests of the individuals and administration that helped put them in power.In addition, many people, including former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, who served under President George Bush Sr., have speculated that the diplomatic failure at the United Nations was intentional so as to ensure the Bush administration's sole claim to post-war reconstruction. Basically, since certain governments did not support the war and did not commit any troops, they therefore have no say as to how Iraq will be rebuilt. The problem with this childish refusal of help is that if Bush were truly concerned with liberating and helping the Iraqi people, he would want as much international support and aid as possible. All things considered, it must be understood that the primary and central goal of the Iraqi reconstruction is to serve American interests. The neo-conservatives have been brewing this concoction of increased American hegemony since before Bush took office. In the spring of 1997, the American Enterprise Institute, a neo-conservative think tank, established the "Project for the New American Century." They drafted a document called, "Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategy, Forces, and Resources for a New Century." This document was distributed to Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and other influential individuals in the administration. It explicitly outlines that "at no time in history has the international security order been as conducive to American interests and ideals." It goes on to say that, "unless the United States maintains sufficient military strength, this opportunity will be lost." The time is now, and the Bush Administration is working to create this "new American century," which might seem innocent enough until it is understood militarily. In an article called "Constant Conflict" published by the U.S. Army War College Quarterly, Major Ralph Peters writes, "There will be no peace. At any given moment for the rest of our lifetimes, there will be multiple conflicts in mutating forms around the globe. Violent conflict will dominate the headlines, but cultural and economic struggles will be steadier and ultimately more decisive. "The de facto role of the U.S. armed forces will be to keep the world safe for our economy and open to our cultural assault. To those ends, we will do a fair amount of killing" (www.informationclearinghouse.info).Finally, the Bush administration stinks of corporate favoritism. Iraq's reconstruction has energy companies licking their chops at potential control of the world's second largest known oil reserves. Halliburton, of which Vice President Cheney was CEO from 1996 to 2000, was the first company awarded contracts in Iraq. The multi-billion dollar Halliburton contract has been fraught with controversy since it was done in secret and without any competitive bidding from other companies (www.cnn.com). In addition to Halliburton, Bechtel has been awarded one of the most lucrative contracts in rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure. George Schultz, who is on the board of directors of Bechtel, is also chairman of the advisory board of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, a pro-war group with close ties to the White House (www.nytimes.com).With information such as this, the reconstruction of Iraq can be seen only as neo-conservative ideology working to further American imperialism, in addition to corporate interests awarded by Bush and co. in the White House all at the expense of an entire country. Where is the liberty in that?Daryn Cambrige is an English/philosophy joint major from Arlington, Virginia.
(04/23/03 12:00am)
Author: Grace Armstrong On Wed., April 16, members of the College community filled Dana Auditorium to hear author and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Steven Pinker speak on "Language Acquisition." Pinker is the author of several books, including "The Language Instinct," which Scientific American honored as one of the "100 Best Science Books of the Century." For his work, Newsweek named Pinker to its list of "100 Americans for the Next Century," and his speech attracted an audience with interests in everything from linguistics to biology and neuroscience. Pinker began his talk by having his audience reflect on how often the nature of language is taken for granted. "Language comes so naturally to us that it's easy for us to forget what a miraculous gift it is," he said. "Right now, I have coded ideas into this precise sequence of hisses, squeaks, and pops... somehow, your brain has the ability to decode these noises." And not only decode them, but form them into complicated, abstract ideas. According to Pinker, there are two aspects to our ability to communicate through "arbitrary" sounds. The first is the memorized word, which stands as a symbol for the actual thing or idea, and the second is grammar. "The word 'duck' doesn't look, talk or quack like a duck, but it gets you to think of a duck," Pinker said. Of course, he pointed out, "This system only works if everyone has memorized the same words." Knowing a word that no one else knows is pointless. Pinker also noted that memorized words can only communicate predetermined concepts. This is the reason for combinatorial grammar, the second "trick" of communication. Grammar provides rules to arrange old words to form new concepts. Pinker, however, said, a system of communication based entirely on rules would have disadvantages, too. This is why "we have words for common activities and grammatical entities for novel concepts." Next, Pinker spoke on regular and irregular words. This is an area that fascinates linguists, but Pinker managed to explain his subject in a way that even the uninitiated could follow. "There are only 165 irregular verbs in the English language, and no new ones have been added in the last 100 years," Pinker said. He explained several different theories about why verbs become irregular or regular, but held that the basic rules of memorization and symbol combination (grammar) apply here as well: regular verbs are created using a rule, while irregular verbs are memorized. He cautioned, though, that there was more to the concept."As an experimental psychologist, I'm not supposed to believe anything until it's been tested on rats or sophomores," Pinker said. Based on his research, he proposed a modified form of the "words and rules" theory. Basically, he said, each form of an irregular verb is memorized as a separate word, but the memory is partly associative. And people will apply regular patterns when their memory fails. Pinker pointed out that in English, the 10 verbs that appear most often - including be, have, do, say, make and go - are all irregular. The same is true in many languages. What is the connection between irregularity and frequency of use? To answer that, Pinker described how irregulars are created. "Irregular forms are fossils of dead rules, rules that once operated but were too hard to memorize," Pinker said. He explained that when the rules get too messy, verbs are memorized as irregular. Because irregular words are memorized, they can be forgotten. In general, speakers default to regular forms if their memory fails them. This explains why there are so few irregular verbs in the English language. "Over the centuries, common words stayed irregular, and rare ones switched to regular," Pinker stated. If they are used at all, the less frequent irregulars begin to sound strange. Pinker kept the audience's attention by pointing out a few of the odd word forms in the English language. He had plenty of examples, from slang terms (Why do certain phrases sound so strange in past tense?), to brand names ("Ever since Sony invented the Walkman, people have been unsure of what to call more than one,") to nouns that have become verbs. With each of these examples, Pinker aimed to prove one of his points. And although the explanation became technical at times, the audience was able to share his fascination with the topic. At the root of his study of words, Pinker said, is "a general interest in how the mind works." "The same rules that allow us to say that a dog bit a man also allow us to say that the Big Bang created the universe," Pinker said. "This is what I think of as the miracle of language: its vast expressive power." Pinker's lecture was sponsored by the foreign language division and the C.V. Starr Foundation and co-sponsored by the Psychology Department, the Psychology Club, the Teacher Education Program, the Neuroscience Program and Cook Commons.
(04/16/03 12:00am)
Author: Edward Pickering Elspeth Huxley's "The Flame Trees of Thika: Memories of an African Childhood" brings to mind a book previously reviewed in this column, "My Family and Other Animals" by Gerald Durrell. In content and sensibility, the two books mirror one another. For readers looking for nonfiction writing of the highest caliber, evocative and exotic, these books form an ideal set. Durrell recounts his childhood on the Greek isle of Cos. Elspeth Huxley recalls growing up on a coffee plantation in Kenya during the First World War.To call Elspeth's memoir "a powerful evocation of time and place" might sound trite, for the phrase is worn out, overused. Yet, it accurately describes the book. Descriptive passages, diffuse and brilliant as the African sunlight, illuminate the pages. For sheer splendor of writing Elspeth's work surpasses, albeit narrowly, Durrell's more innocently delightful memoir. If Durrell's account can be likened to mischievous romp through olive groves, Elspeth's might be likened to a circumspect walk through tall savanna grass. In Kenya, however, those grasses might conceal a lion or leopard.Young Elspeth arrived in British ruled Kenya in 1913 with her mother and father, who had determined to carve out a living as coffee planters. They began with nothing more than a land deed and devoted the sequent years to constructing and husbanding the plantation, all the while relying on the native Kikuyu people. The account of these years of toil and hardship, discovery and enlightenment is simply mesmerizing. A cultural Proteus, young Elspeth moves easily between the Kikuyu and colonial societies that bound her existence. The animals, the people, the sights and sounds of Africa rush upon her. An imperious intoxicant, the African landscape overwhelms the reader. Even when professing her inability to describe the scene, Huxley, a master writer, triumphs:"One cannot describe a smell because there are no words to do so in the English language, apart from those that place it in a very general category, like sweet or pungent. So I cannot characterize this, nor compare it with any other, but it was the smell of travel in those days, in fact the smell of Africa - dry, peppery yet rich and deep, with an undertone of native body smeared with fat and red ochre and giving out a ripe, partly rancid odour which nauseated some Europeans when they first encountered it but which I, for one, grew to enjoy. This was the smell of the Kikuyu."Africa provides the raw material; Huxley shapes it into a literary wonder.
(04/16/03 12:00am)
Author: Dayn Cambridge and Brian Vito The United States Fails to Uphold Geneva Convention StipulationsEver since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, President Bush has constantly referred to the United States as the "brightest beacon of freedom" and as a "nation based on fabulous values." He asserts that it is these characteristics of America that the terrorists seek to destroy. These statements about American values could not be coming from a less deserving mouth than that of our president. If anyone has challenged and attempted to destroy the values we so cherish in this country (e.g. freedom of speech, right to an attorney, writ of habeas corpus, human rights and basic civil liberties) it has been George W. Bush and his junta. One of the most pertinent examples of the Bush administration's hypocrisy in "defending" American values has been their treatment of prisoners and civilians during their massive assaults on Afghanistan and Iraq.A set of conventions were held to establish the proper treatment of civilians and Prisoners of War (POWs) during times of war. The Geneva Conventions ensured that, in the future, warring aggressors did not commit crimes against humanity and that people involved in these conflicts did not suffer any unnecessary damage.Ever since the Bush administration has embarked on its "war on terrorism" the terms, conditions and agreements of the Geneva Convention (of which the United States is a signatory) have been dropped like a bad habit.The Bush administration has been able to dodge certain conditions by introducing new military terms, relocating terror suspects and implementing military strategy that flies in the face of protecting and ensuring the safety of civilians. First, the term "unlawful combatant" was specifically used by the Pentagon to omit Al-Qaeda and Taliban troops from receiving any of the rights that the Geneva Convention would grant them. By denying them "POW" status, the Pentagon is not required to seek guidance into how the prisoners are to be treated, because, as Donald Rumsfeld said, "technically unlawful combatants do not have any rights under the Geneva Convention." With the introduction of this new term, international law pertaining to these prisoners is moot.Second, why were the "unlawful combatants" shipped to and detained in Cuba of all places? By detaining the prisoners on non-U.S. soil, they are denied any rights American constitutional law would provide them. In addition, since Cuba is not voluntarily hosting the detention camp, the Cuban government has no say as to how the prisoners are to be treated. This gives the Pentagon the power to treat the prisoners in any way they see fit without adhering to any law but their own - a situation that is in direct violation of the basic principles of the Geneva Convention.In addition, according to diplomatic and intelligence sources, "Since Sept. 11, the U.S. government has secretly transported dozens of people suspected of links to terrorists to countries other than the United States, bypassing extradition procedures and legal formalities." By transporting suspects to countries such as Egypt and Jordan, where the intelligence services have close ties to the CIA, suspects can be subjected to "...interrogation tactics - including torture and threats to families - that are illegal in the United States" (www.washingtonpost.com). This is a blatant violation of Article 31 of the Geneva Convention, which states, "No physical or moral coercion shall be exercised against protected persons, in particular to obtain information from them or from third parties" (www.unhchr.com).Finally, the "shock and awe" campaign waged against the Iraqi capital of Baghdad by the Bush administration was one of the most disgusting displays of their disregard for innocent civilians since their dropping of "moral killer" cluster bombs in Afghanistan. I don't care how precise Donald Rumsfeld claims his precision guided missiles to be, when you launch an aerial attack of that magnitude on a flourishing, highly populated capital city, civilian causalities are obviously not of extreme importance. If the Bush administration deplores the Taliban and Saddam Hussein's regime for their violent actions against aggressors, why do they then avert the terms and conditions of the Geneva Convention so they themselves can employ similar tactics of torture and the killing of innocent civilians? Is this not blatant hypocrisy? When the Bush administration implements actions such as the ones I have listed above, it is a disgrace to even hear President Bush and his cronies abuse such words as value, freedom, liberation and justice. Daryn Cambridge is an English/philosophy joint major from Arlington, Va.Iraq Violates the Geneva Convention, Not the United StatesFour Geneva Conventions adopted in 1949 today serve as the current codification of the law of war. These conventions encompass the three major issues of conflict regulation: the treatment of wounded military personnel, the treatment of prisoners of war and the treatment of civilians. The conventions deal mainly with traditional, limited warfare between states and mandate that wounded personnel must be allowed proper medical attention. They also stipulate that prisoners of war must be treated with a certain level of respect and dignity and must be offered certain fundamental rights and that civilians must not be the target of military operations. Ultimately, those persons outside of combat, for reasons of sickness, wounds, detention, or simply those taking no active part in the hostilities, must not be subject to violence, murder, hostage situations, outrages upon personal dignity, humiliation or degrading treatment or the passing of sentence without a regular court trial. Finally, an international body such as the International Red Cross must be allowed access to all injured or detained personnel. When looking at the United States' action against Iraq, a reasonable person could not argue that fallen Iraqi soldiers are not being provided with proper medical attention or that Iraqi prisoners of war are not being detained and treated in compliance with the Geneva Conventions. A quick glance at the New York Times or a similar newspaper will suggest that Iraqi prisoners of war held by the United States military are currently being allowed access to medical attention and proper registration with the International Red Cross. Iraqi prisoners are also being treated in compliance with the requirements of the conventions and are given a hearing on their statuses as mandated by the conventions. U.S. troops are going out of their way to assist injured Iraqis and putting themselves in increased danger. Iraq, also a party to the conventions, has beyond all doubt horribly and heinously violated all the principles of the conventions.So what about the civilian casualties in Iraq? The Geneva Conventions do not prohibit civilian deaths but prohibit the targeting of civilians. Traditionally, as long as the act that caused a civilian harm is a legitimate act in warfare had the civilians not been involved, the act is justified. This is provided that the act's main effect is securing a military objective and that its intention is not to cause civilian harm. Also, the military accomplishment of the act must compensate proportionally for the civilian harm it caused. Given these circumstances, the act is consistent with the aim of the Geneva Conventions, which was to prevent civilian-focused attacks. Recently, some philosophers, Michael Walzer for example, have argued that there should be a moral effort to take due care, or additional risk, in avoiding civilian casualties, but even this added stipulation would not criminalize purely accidental civilian casualties. Even with the military technology that we have, accidents outside of our control still do occur and civilians are unfortunately the collateral damage of military operations. However, if these operations me
et the above criteria they cannot be illegal by the Geneva Conventions. "The allies have not breached the conventions by causing civilian casualties. The rules do not speak of eliminating such casualties, upholding instead the principle that non-combatants should be spared as much as possible" (London Financial Times). Many of the civilian casualties are due also to Saddam Hussein's own plans: "Knowing Western public opinion correctly has little stomach for civilian casualties, the Iraqi regime has deliberately placed military hardware in residential areas of Baghdad, where it plans to exploit allied reluctance to kill or maim non-combatants by mounting a bloody street-to-street defence" (Australian Financial Review).Another question is the recent outbreak of lawlessness in Iraq following the eradication of the former Iraqi regime. While it is the occupying nation's responsibility under the Geneva Conventions to ensure a state of laws and prevent chaos in the wake of an overthrown government, there is only so much 120,000 U.S. and British troops can do without the help of Iraqis - who must share the responsibility in recreating an orderly society. The U.S. and British goal is not to occupy Iraq and run it as a militarily controlled and alien policed state, but rather to allow the Iraqi population to rebuild a free, representative government of its own, and it is this new Iraqi state that has the obligation under the conventions to establish order and laws and to police its own citizens in order to protect its population. It is the Iraqis' responsibility to create a legitimate, functioning state and government from within their own ranks, not the U.S. and Britain's responsibility to run their government for them.Regardless of whether or not you support the United States and Great Britain's war effort in Iraq, the question of the United States and Britain's status as violators of the principles of the Geneva Conventions does not seem to be legitimate.Brian Vito is a philosophy major from Needham, Mass.
(04/09/03 12:00am)
Author: Edward Pickering At Monday's faculty meeting President John McCardell named New Mexico Governor William Blaire Richardson as this year's commencement speaker.In the course of his long and varied career Richarson has held public office, worked in the private sector and taught in academia. Best known for his work in public service, Governor Richardson began his career as representative of the 3rd Congressional District in northern New Mexico, an office he held for 15 years. In 1997 Richardon served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The following year President Clinton named him Secretary of Energy. Finally, on Jan. 1 of this year Richardson took office as Governor of New Mexico.A talented diplomat, Richardson has represented the United States in a variety of capacities through the years. During his tenure as congressman Richardson acted as a special envoy on a number of international assignments. He negotiated and won the release of American servicemen, and prisoners of war in North Korea, Iraq and Cuba. While Ambassador to the United Nations, Richardson advocated human rights and democracy, fought terrorism and the proliferaton of biological weapons, promoted the rights of women worldwide and drew attention to the issue of global warming. In recognition of his diplomatic work and concern for human rights abuses Richardson was nominated four times (1995, 1997, 2000, 2001) for the Noble Peace Prize.Richardson tackled a number of issues during his tenure as Secretary of Engery under then President Bill Clinton. He worked to regulate gas prices, improve security at nuclear weapons laboratories and advocated renewable technologies and a greater dependence from foreign sources of energy. Fiscal responsibility and accountability were high on his agenda.As a Representative Richardson won every election with more than 60 percent of the vote. The creation of the Jemez National Reservation area ranks high among his many achievements dating from this period. Richardson also fought to protect the Rio Grande River and San Juan Basin. During one campaign for Congress Richardson set a world record by shaking over 8,000 hands in a single day. While a Representative Richardson held 2,700 town hall meetings, an average of 180 per year.Beginning in 2001 Richardson taught at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and the United World College in Montezuma, N.M. Around this time he also assumed the chairmanship of Freedom House, a private, non-partisan organization that promotes democracy worldwide.Secretary of the College Eric Davis considers Governor Richardson particulary well suited to deliver the commencement address at Middlebury College. Davis points out that Richardson graduated from a NESCAC college, Tufts, where he received his a B.A. and a Master's in International Relations from the Fletcher School. In addition, Richardson, said Davis, possesses "strong interest and experience in international and environmental policy- two of Middlebury's 'peaks of excellence.'"Richardson, Davis continued, has proven a loyal friend and supporter of the Bread Loaf School of English, which has a summer program in Santa Fe, N.M., among other locales. In the interval of time between his departure from the Clinton administration and his election as governor, Richardson was a faculty member at the United World College in Montezuma, N.M., a school from which a number of Middlebury College's Davis-UWC Fellows have come.Finally, and most obviously, Richardson's distinguished career in public office (15 years in the House of Representatives, 4 years in the Clinton administration, and Governorship) would make him a formidable speaker for any occasion.Six others will receive honorary degrees along with Governor Richardson at this year's commencement excercises. These are, as announced by McCardell at Monday's faculty meeting: Frederic W. Allen (Doctor of Laws), Deborah Bial (Doctor of Humane Letters), David Herbert MacDonald (Doctor of Letters), Eve Ensler '75 (Doctor of Letters), Julie Johnson Kidd '67 (Doctor of Humane Letters), and Ruth Stone (Doctor of Letters). Bial founded the Posse program.Past commencement speakers have included Dana Sobel (2002), Fred Rogers (2001), Lech Walesa (2000), John Wallach '64 (1999), Barbara Johnson (1987), David McCollough (1986) and Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1976).
(04/09/03 12:00am)
Author: Dan Phillips At the April 7 faculty meeting, the Educational Affairs Committee (EAC) proposed restricting the use of Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores to admissions and placement only, thereby preventing students from receiving AP credit toward degree requirements. The EAC brought before the faculty an amendment to a December motion which was designed to limit AP course credits to a maximum of five towards graduation. The amendment, which the faculty narrowly agreed to consider at their May meeting, would instead grant no course credit for AP exams. Current policy usually awards credit for scores of four or five. According to the EAC plans, "the intent of this procedure is to give us the opportunity for an up-or-down vote on the question of whether any credit toward the degree should be available for Advanced Placement scores." If the proposal meets faculty endorsement in May, it would take effect starting in the fall semester of 2005. Publications would be issued next year to explain the new policies to incoming students.Dialogue on AP credit grew out of an EAC discussion held two years ago about transferring credit from abroad. Both issues involved awarding credit for work completed outside of the College's curriculum.AP credit is increasingly important as more students are coming into the College with numerous credits. Monday's faculty meeting decision on whether to discuss the EAC proposal was close: 34 voted in favor, 26 were opposed. Discussion of the topic also took place at an April 6 meeting of the the Student Government Association (SGA). The SGA hosted an hour long session on Sunday concerning the EAC's motion. Secretary of the College Eric Davis and Dean of Faculty and Chair of the EAC Robert Schine led the discussion with SGA President Ginny Hunt '03. Schine explained at the SGA discussion that the EAC's position on awarding academic credit for AP exams has changed since the initial proposal in December to simply limit the numbr of AP credits that could be counted towards graduation. It is now the EAC's position that the College should not grant college credit for classes taken in high school since a "demonstrated competency" in a particular area of the curriculum is not sufficient. "The EAC believes that students should receive Middlebury College course credit only when they have taken a course that has been determined by the relevant department chair or program director to be comparable in its objectives and academic rigor to Middlebury College courses," said Schine. He elaborated that "the credit you earn in high school should not be double-counted in college." Davis outlined the four ways students can currently use AP credit at Middlebury. Students initially use the examinations for admissions purposes, along with SAT scores, to bolster their application packet. The AP exams can also be used for placement purposes allowing students to bypass introductory courses and enroll in higher level classes. These two treatments of AP credit would not be affected by the proposal that awaits consideration by the faculty. However, students would no longer be allowed to count their AP scores for college course credit, nor would they be able to satisfy the two culture and civilizations requirements. The EAC distinguishes between a course taught in high school and a course handled by a college-level faculty member who is conversant with the newly-published literature in his or her field, and who has also done extensive research. There also exists a higher level of expectations and discourse from the student body at college, which is drawn from a wider background than most high schools. Yale University physics professor William Lichten, who worked as a fellow at Educational Services Testing (ETS), points out that AP courses only prepare students to take the specific AP test, particularly in the math and science fields. Departments under the current policy, such as the English department, defer AP credits towards the student's major. Davis explained on Sunday that departments generally do not allow students to reduce the number of classes required for their major. Other departments, such as the Spanish Department, do not grant AP credit until the student enrolls in a 300-level course. The system of discontinuing AP exams for course credits has already been adopted by other highly competitive academic institutions such as Harvard University, Amherst College and Hamilton College. The notion that the more talented applicants who want to utilize their numerous and laudable AP credit could be driven away from Middlebury has been refuted by the Admissions Office, which thinks that the move might even help raise the College's reputation by setting a higher standard. The issue of AP's has been equated with the awarding of academic credit for IB exams, A-Levels and courses taken abroad, since only 18 graduation credits are required to be obtained on campus. Schine addressed their deliberate lack of mention at Sunday's meeting. "[These international programs] occupy somewhat of a twilight zone in American education, and we recognize that." A staggering 111 students in the Class of 2006 have six or more AP credits, but AP courses are unavailable at various high schools across the country, thus the college is not granting an equal opportunity for all students at Middlebury to benefit. Only 55 percent of Middlebury students have taken one or more AP exam.Many students present at Sunday's SGA meeting, along with Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson, expressed their concerns for the "safety valve" that AP credit has always offered by helping some students to graduate on time and providing relief for the mental health of Middlebury students. The AP credit gives students the option to venture into new fields of study. Many seniors take three classes while writing a thesis and applying for jobs. Students present at the meeting expressed concern that the motion to discontinue AP credits contradicts the integrity of the liberal arts education that Middlebury College strives to uphold. As of now, no decision has been made regarding the fate of AP credits. The issue will be resolved at the May faculty meeting.
(04/09/03 12:00am)
Author: Grace Armstrong Nanako Kurihara, producer of the documentary "Ripples of Change," spoke on April 2 about the Japanese women's movement. Drawing on her experience with social issues, journalism and filmmaking, Kurihara related events in her own life to broad topics such as the goals and significance of the women's liberation movement in Japan. Kurihara has an extensive background in journalism and has written articles for major Japanese and English publications, including Asahi Shimbun (the Japanese equivalent of the New York Times) and Journalism Review. She recently co-founded an organization promoting women's independent filmmaking in Japan, and is also interested in social issues such as holistic health care. Kurihara titled her speech "Ripples of Change: The Contemporary Impact of the Women's Movement in Japan," and began by giving a brief history of the women's rights movement in Japan and her own early experiences. According to Kurihara, it was ironically not until she left Japan for New York City that she became connected to the Japanese women's movement. A friend of Kurihara introduced her to a community of activists, and when that friend died in 1990, Kurihara's desire to explore the women's movement crystallized. Having taken a documentary-making workshop one summer in New York, Kurihara already had the skills she needed. "Once you take the class, you want to make something," Kurihara said. Her friend's death "made me committed to making this documentary." "For three years," said Kurihara, "my documentary was my life." Kurihara traveled and filmed in locations across Japan before editing a preliminary 40-minute version. After securing a government grant, she finished the final version in 1993. When asked how her Japanese relatives reacted to her documentary, she laughed. "My father hated my documentary," she said. But her work with the film had cemented her desire to contribute to the women's movement in some way. Making the documentary has also given her an understanding of some of the differences between the women's rights movements in the United States and Japan. One of the main differences, she said, was that the Japanese movement has a strong ecological and health dimension. Kurihara became interested in health and wellness while in New York. "If you threw a stone, you could hit someone who was taking Prozac," she said. Upon returning to Japan, she found depression there also. She noted that 30,000 people in Japan commit suicide each year, and added, "This really made me think about where the society was going."These experiences inspired Kurihara to set up a wellness center in Japan. "Tokyo is a public health disaster," she said. "I'm hoping that the wellness center will put [people] in a different context ... give them a different perspective and an opportunity for reflection."In Kurihara's opinion, this concern for health is an important aspect of the women's movement in Japan. "I think that one goal of the [Japanese] women's lib movement was to change society to promote the well-being of humans as organisms," she said, noting that Japanese activists "didn't go for equal rights, as in the mainstream women's movement in the States."Of course, this does not mean that the women's movement in Japan has had no mainstream success. "The movement has significance," she said. "Although it is in a small way, Japanese women are making connections to become a political power."Kurihara's talk was co-sponsored by the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs, the Henry Luce Foundation, the Department of Japanese Studies, Women's and Gender Studies, and Wonnacott Commons.The speech followed a showing of Kurihara's documentary, "Ripples of Change," on April 1. Both the documentary and speech were presented in conjunction with Sexual Violence Awareness Month.
(04/09/03 12:00am)
Author: Claire Bourne Picture this. It is your wedding night. The ceremony is over, and you and your betrothed have returned to your Baghdad apartment. Suddenly, your residence is rocked by an explosion, as a bomb from a passing warplane meets the city landscape. Debris rains down on you, and you are forced to flee the building into an urban war zone dressed in nothing but bedclothes. You run, and you never come back.As a therapist to 58 Iraqis displaced by the 1991 Gulf War, Beth Sandel '79 has to picture scenarios like this every day. Sandel works for the multicultural services division of a Seattle-based community agency that oversees the resettlement and assimilation of 500 Iraqi families. Many of her clients spent as many as seven years in Saudi Arabian refugee camps before the United States accepted them under refugee status. They settled in subsidized housing in the northern Seattle suburbs. With the help of Sandel and others like her, they are in the process of rebuilding their broken lives - a feat that has proved much harder than Sandel expected.She counsels mostly women, 98 percent of whom suffer from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she said. "Theoretically, I am there to help them stabilize emotionally," she explained. "It has been interesting because I'm dealing with so many different layers of issues." Not only has Sandel had to overcome a towering language barrier (the majority the women under her purview are illiterate in both English and Arabic), but she has also encountered enormous cultural disparities."The big question is what kind of psychological concepts we can agree on," she said. "There is all this talk nowadays about whether Iraq is open to democracy. Thirty-five years of dictatorship has its impact on the way people relate to each other." The memory of Saddam Hussein's authoritarian regime haunts those refugees who spent years under his rule. "I have one client who landed in the United States on Sept. 10. It is very real and fresh to her what Saddam Hussein has done to [Iraq]," related Sandel. Similarly, the first Gulf War has left many of these expatriates suffering from open wounds. For example, the woman who fled the Iraqi capital on her marriage night still jumps every time the phone rings or the door slams. "I have scaled back my expectations," Sandel noted. "It is a foreign concept for them to be in control of their own existence and experience. If we can focus on slow breathing for three minutes, that's a success. How can you be a vibrant human being when you are living with a gut fear?"The recent outbreak of war in Iraq has not helped the situation. "In the last two weeks we have been in a holding pattern," she said. "They are glued to the T.V. I call to confirm an appointment and I can hear the news in the background." Despite the refugees' meager residences, they closely follow Arabic television networks by way of satellite feeds since all of them still have family in the region. Fear for their relatives coupled with hope that the conflict will ultimately improve the state of their mother nation places them in "an odd space of fear and hopelessness," Sandel said. Although the refugees have displayed more pronounced PTSD symptoms since the United States launched its military campaign against Hussein, they have become mentally "more present and accounted for, more focused," Sandel pointed out. She has been instructed to avoid broaching political issues during her group and individual sessions, a directive she said she finds hard to follow given that all of those being counseled want to express their opinions. "One point of view is that if the war hadn't started, Saddam would have inflicted more injury than war. Another point of view is that since we supported Saddam in the past, it behooves the States to fix it. A handful says, 'Boy, is the West in big trouble,'" she elucidated.Today, Sandel finds herself in the unique position of seeing the decade-long tension between Iraq and the United States from both sides. "It is very evocative because I lived in Egypt. The buildings look the same. The civilians pictured on the news could be my brothers-in-law," she said. "I am in an ambiguous situation because I am not of the culture, but I lived in the culture."While at Middlebury College, she majored in French, spending her junior year abroad in Paris. While looking for a way to get back to Paris after graduation, she decided to enroll at the College's summer Arabic School. She attended the program's inaugural session in the summer of 1982 and followed up her first-year studies with two subsequent summers at the College. Thanks to a family friend, she ended up working as a translator in Egypt, where she met her former husband, an Egyptian citizen. Following a year in the Arab nation, she moved to Washington, D.C., and secured a job with the Egyptian Embassy's educational programs division. In 1999, she completed a master's degree in counseling, which, when coupled with her uncommon Arabic language skills, opened the door to her current employment. Working with the refugees has provided Sandel with a pretext for introspection. "I am exploring for myself how much cultural baggage is blocking me from being a support to them," she explained. She knows she must continue the uphill battle to improve their quality of life in the United States. "I am supportive in questioning and exploring and leave room open for their own questioning and surviving," she said. A hard task given that the current war in Iraq will postpone her chance to erase the recurring nightmares of dictatorial control and American bombing raids that have troubled the minds of these displaced Iraqis for more than 10 years.
(04/02/03 12:00am)
Author: Dan Phillips On Wed., March 18 the musical performers Barachois came all the way from Canada's smallest province of Prince Edward Island to entertain a packed McCullough. The event, organized by the French Department and open to the public, provided Middlebury College students with much relief from mid-term exam anxiety.The quartet represents the musical heritage of the Acadians, descendants of 17th-century French settlers. Each Barachois member descends from the same Acadians who left Nova Scotia hundreds of years ago. Although Barachois does not play in the same style or with traditional instruments, each song pays tribute to their culture, and they have crafted several of their own instruments to achieve their truly authentic sound. Barachois first formed in the mid 1990s, and their sound is a synthesis of up to four-part vocal harmonies with dual fiddles playing on top of a piano foundation with the occasional blend of assorted percussion and brass instruments. Albert Arsenault plays the fiddle and bass with occasional percussion, while his sister HÈlËne Arsenault-Bergeron was on the piano and pump organ. Chuck Arsenault is the guitar player, even adding a trumpet and sousaphone into the mix. Louise Arsenault, who plays the fiddle, learned how to play and dance while seated from her father. All members grew up with music in their families, yet only HÈlËne and Albert are immediately related, despite the shared last name among group members. Barachois lights up the stage by incorporating step dancing into every song - tap dancing with driving foot rhythms while seated and playing an instrument, or even when there is no instrument to be played. As they constantly switch places and microphones, change instruments and play jokes on one another while on stage, the careful, intricate choreography only enhances Barachois' performance. As a prelude to each song, the group included some Acadian history and lore behind each tune, speaking alternately English and French. Its music follows lasting Acadian traditions since much of the music is about marriage and relationships.The Canadian government provides them with financial assistance for touring. They have won an award for preserving their heritage. Barachois does a lot of shows for English-speaking children in Canada to educate them about their culture. As Acadians, they are not supposed to speak English, so they need to incorporate a strong visual element into their performance. The high-energy show was, as a result, filled with endless on-stage antics, jokes and storytelling, as the dancing and foot-stomping beats had audience members laughing out loud and clapping their hands along to every song. The cleverly creative group of four played a repertoire of 15 songs, ranging from traditional Acadian tunes to Cajun music and a medley of the Rolling Stones' "Can't Get No Satisfaction," Glen Campbell's "Like a Rhinestone Cowboy" and The Beegees' "Stayin' Alive," complete with costumes and impersonation dances by Chuck. At different points in the show, Albert played a cardboard box and frying pans, unlaced and retied Louise's tap shoes while she continued to dance and play, performed a kazoo solo and played a lumberjack's saw with a violin bow after sawing a block of wood as percussion. He even used drums on helmets atop four randomly-selected audience members' heads as a demonstration to create their own on-stage co-op to split the donations given by the audience earlier in the show. The group explained that nearly 350 Acadian families exist with over 20 different co-ops, or joint organizations that split profits, making their culture the largest per capita co-op capital in the world. By its last song, Barachois compelled one audience member to perform his tap dancing skills in front of the stage, where he was promptly incorporated into the act in its final hoorah that impressed the crowd to an exuberant standing ovation.
(04/02/03 12:00am)
Author: Erika Mercer Imagine a summer day so sultry that the heat is actually visible as a blurry miasma between you and the rest of the world-a humid, wavering layer of warmth that bathes you and oppresses you at the same time. The ice in your water glass melts so rapidly you barely notice, and the outside of the glass seems to sweat almost as much as your skin. You take huge gulps of the water, momentarily cooling, and attempt without much success to fan yourself, noticing how the heat seems to wrap itself around you, lulling you into a hot, hypnotic haze. True to its evocative title, "Reckless Burning," the debut album by Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter proves to be as dense and smoldering as an August day in the far south. Released Jan. 21, 2003, on Barsuk Records, the album marks the band's noteworthy entrance into the independent alt-country music scene-an entrance guaranteed to make other musicians sweat with jealousy at the band's instant critical success.The inspiration for "Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter" came in 1998 when Jesse Sykes (previously of the alt-country group, "Hominy") and Phil Wandscher (former "Whiskeytown" guitarist) met in Hattie's Hat Bar in Seattle and became quick friends (and later more than friends). Not long thereafter, Sykes and Wandscher joined forces to begin collaborating and performing as a duo in venues around Seattle. Sykes commented on the evolving partnership, "I had just come out of a divorce and the breakup of my band, Hominy, and Phil had come out of "Whiskeytown. I think when we met, we both just needed to have fun, and we did that." Eventually adding Annie Marie Ruljancich of the Walkabouts on violin, Bill Herzog on upright bass and Kevin Warner of Evangeline on drums, the band created sounds that formed the basis for their album's lush, romantic country-noir music."Reckless Burning," a collection of folk tales ripe with mystery and wisdom, lures the listener into a trancelike state with its lonesome, haunting sounds and its dark, wryly humorous lyrics. It is both the soft breeze on a summer day and the stifling, oppressive heat. Bleak and bewitching, charming and smooth, the album draws from both American country music and English folk, combining the two sounds to create songs that are rootsy yet contemporary, languid yet dynamic. Throughout, the album remains grounded in the natural world-it consistently evokes outdoor scenes: lush fields with long, swaying blades of grass, vast, cloudless skies and heavy, dense air. This consistent quality is perhaps due to the location of the album's creation - most songs were written outdoors: "that natural darkness suffuses 'Reckless Burning' with a slow, consuming heat that takes the listener to a private emotional geography.""Reckless Burning" truly distinguishes itself from other albums of its genre through Sykes' rich voice - a voice capable of sounding simultaneously vulnerable and strong, gentle and dangerous, innocent and sexy. It soothes and forebodes at the same time, longs for genuine comfort and yet seduces falsely and cunningly. As one critic described, Sykes' voice is that "of a fallen angel"-an angel hurt yet hardened. This unique quality of her voice embodies itself most passionately on the album's opening song, "Reckless Burning," - a song described by Sykes to be about "the way in which you fall in love and you feel willing to be vulnerable." Yet despite this professed sense of vulnerability, Sykes sings with a confidence and potency that creates the juxtaposition of emotion which characterizes the entire album. She masks any weakness with a muscular huskiness, a reluctance to admit to the loneliness that underlies her songs.The songs on "Reckless Burning" sculpt both a physical and emotional landscape and invite the listener to venture into unexplored territories. Sykes describes this effect: "Our record isn't something that confronts you. It takes you by the hand and leads you somewhere."
(04/02/03 12:00am)
Author: Sara Yun As soon as the crisis in Iraq dies down, the American eye will inevitably refocus on the Korean peninsula. So before we are hit once again with abundant headlines dealing with North Korea's monster of a leader, Kim Jong Il, and the evil his communist dynasty is cooking up for the world, I feel it's necessary to educate the Middlebury community. America needs to employ a more informed approach in its relations with the Korean peninsula.As a Korean residing in the United States, I am outraged by the media's coverage of my country. After 58 years of deep involvement in Korea, America still knows relatively little about Korea. Editorials are quick to condemn Koreans as ungrateful for American military protection. Meanwhile, magazines do not hesitate to propagate the image of Kim Jong Il as a North Korean monster. I am compelled to ask whether the leader of a Caucasian nation receives similar treatment. Also, it is blatantly foolish to interpret sporadic anti-American protests by a minority of the Korean population as representative of general public opinion in North and South Korea. Truthfully, what underlies much of the hysterical anti-Americanism this past year in the Korean Peninsula is a Korean spirit yearning, albeit too fervently and too soon, for a chance at autonomy and self-identity. Now their fate hinges upon the successful resolution of a nuclear crisis, which rests largely on American policy concerning North Korea. Thus I plead my case.North Korea is different from Iraq. North Korea has reasons to pursue a nuclear agenda given its position as a small power. For example, soon after the signing of the 1994 Geneva Agreed Framework, the United States planned not to meet its end of the bargain, instead believing that the North's regime would not live to see the day of the provisions. Such an attitude is fatal, particularly when dealing with a North Korean government that possesses an iron will to unify the Korean Peninsula by force. To date, there are no serious signs of collapse or social unrest. Professor David C. Kang of Dartmouth argues that while Kim Jong Il is brutal and repressive, he nevertheless exhibits extraordinary political savvy. Then why do President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dismiss Kim as an idiot to be loathed by all Americans?Yes, I too wish Kim Jong Il never existed and that communism had never tainted Korea. But I accept the reality of North Korea's circumstances and I hope only for a more conciliatory, accommodating approach.Leon Sigal of the Social Science Research Council and Bruce Cumings of the University of Chicago both declare with confidence that North Korea is fully capable of pursuing an underground nuclear program if it so desired. It chose, instead, to publicly state its activities, an indication that North Korea seeks to use weapons as a bargaining chip. After adhering to its commitment to a moratorium on testing ballistic missiles for four years, North Korea's patience expired while the promises afforded them by the Clinton administration appeared forgotten or abandoned.As for the future outlook, North Korea has thankfully implemented economic reforms and shows visible signs of progress. Professor Kang points to efforts by North Korea to normalize relations with many nations, allow the market to set prices, mandate the teaching of English in high schools and restructure national law to accommodate international trade. On a humorous note, which indicates the acculturation of American entertainment, this hermit state has displayed a particular affinity to pizza and films like "The Little Mermaid" and "Titanic!"We should applaud these moves and aim for greater improvement. The Bush administration should cease contemplating a military agenda and start envisioning a diplomatic victory in Korea. If North Korea is attacked, it could, out of desperation, destroy South Korea, a country that has built itself up to be the 12th largest economy in the world. Ever since President Bush shunned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kim Dae Jung in 2001 for his idealism, the United States has only managed to consistently reach new levels of confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.Seo Young (Sara) Yun is a political science and Italian major from Seoul, South Korea.
(03/19/03 12:00am)
Author: Daryn Cambridge When the First World War broke out in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson initially proclaimed United States neutrality in reference to the European war. It would take the sinking of the Lusitania (1915) that killed over 1,000 people, and the sinking of five U.S. vessels (1917) by German forces, for Wilson to finally declare war on Aug. 6, 1917. With the accumulation of three years of violent conflicts and the death of many Americans, resentment towards the Germans started to pop up back home. In many restaurants sauerkraut was renamed "Liberty Cabbage" and hamburgers were renamed, "Salisbury Steaks" (www.usembassy.de). Do I sense a bit of history repeating itself once again, just as "Duck and Cover" was revived as "Duct Tape and Plastic Sheet Covering?"Present Day, 2003: there seems to be a returning trend of renaming foods in order to express American resentment towards a certain European country. In many restaurants across America and most shamefully in the Congressional cafeteria, French fries have been renamed "Freedom Fries," and French toast renamed "Freedom Toast." All the while, some Americans have taken to the streets to dump their French wine down gutters, and publicly dispose of their French cheeses and other "Old Europe" products. This is quite possibly the single most embarrassing and shameful act America has perpetrated -- except perhaps the possibility that the CIA fabricated evidence alleging the existence of an Iraqi nuclear program -- in this inane debacle to garner support for a war against Iraq, to which France has vehemently objected. This is the case for two reasons.First, it can be seen that certain Americans have revived this form of World War I protest in attempts to display their disapproval of French actions within the United Nations. Bringing into account the historical roots of these name-changing forms of propaganda (of which I am sure our Congressmen and women are well aware), the connection that is created between what Germany had done to Americans in World War I compared to what France has done in reference to a potential war with Iraq, is a disgrace to what some Americans find as a way to protest.Second, some people think that France's ties with Iraq are evidence enough to boycott French products and they accuse France of opposing war to protect their oil interests and trade relations with the "rogue" nation. This is a blatant attempt by the American media to turn one of the most popular arguments used to protest this war away from the oil drunk United States and instead towards France. The United States media would lead us to believe that France's economy has strong trade relations with Iraq. This is absolutely absurd. The French Ambassador to the Unites States, Jean-David Levitte, said that trade relations with Iraq represent only 0.3 percent of France's total trade. He also said, "If we wanted to protect our supposed trade or oil interests in Iraq, at the moment when war has been decided by Washington, we would jump-in the American jargon-to participate fully and share the benefits of the victory" (http://www.info-france-usa.org). And again, if the media wants to bring up French ties with Iraq since the 1970s, should they not mention that France had no qualms in voting in favor of the U.S. led forces in Desert Storm in 1991. Could it not be that the legitimacy of this proposed war is suspect, especially coming from a country that, in the last two years, cannot drop enough bombs to demonstrate its might to impoverished countries, and whose administration is made up of big business, corporate energy swindlers (Dick Cheney - Halliburton, Donald Rumsfeld - Occidental, Condoleezza Rice - Chevron-Texaco, Gale Norton - BP-Amoco, George W. Bush - Harken). The ulterior motives behind a U.S. led war in Iraq are far too blatant to be ignored by the international community.Finally, if one finds the need to condemn France for its ties with Iraq and its oil interests in the region, their efforts would be better directed towards the United States. The desire the U.S. has in establishing energy contracts in Iraq to sustain a highly oil-dependent economy -- making rich energy executives even richer -- is far greater than any interest France has in establishing dominance in the region. And as far as "ties" go, the U.S. gave Saddam Hussein the chemical and biological weapons technology that he used to kill Iranians and the Kurds -- an act which the media constantly deplores while rarely mentioning our involvement (www.washingtonpost.com). Vice President Dick Cheney sold oil equipment to the "the world's most brutal dictator" after the Gulf War, when sanctions had already been put in place (www.newsmax.com). Finally, the war has not even begun, yet American energy companies are already lining up to bid for oil contracts in a "liberated" Iraq; and you guessed it, the top of list reads: Halliburton. Daryn Cambridge is a English/philosophy joint major from Arlington, Va.
(03/19/03 12:00am)
Author: Tom Drescher On March 7, the Women's and Gender Studies Department awarded the Alison Fraker Prize to Margot Simpson '03 for her paper "Sex and the City: A Cultural Forum on Gender Dynamics."The Fraker prize is presented annually to a Middlebury student for the best work, excluding theses and senior projects, on a topic related to Women's and Gender Studies, said Chellis House Director Deborah Grant. The Prize is named for Allison Gwen Fraker, who died during her final semester at Middlebury in 1989 while pursuing a concentration in Women's Studies. The Gensler Prize is also awarded annually for best thesis or senior project related to Women's and Gender Studies. Simpson, a senior from West Hartford, Conn, is an English major with a minor in American Civilization. In her paper, Simpson argues that the television program Sex and the City stimulates discussion of gender and relationship dynamics. "The focus of the program is to raise questions instead of provide answers," asserts Simpson in her introductory paragraph. "Sex and the City challenges, questions and redefines societal norms," she writes later in the paper."It was a great honor to be nominated," said Simpson, "an especially to have my piece selected as the winner. Women's rights and issues of gender roles are important to me -- whether the issues are involved in politics or in popular culture -- and this paper was a great opportunity to take a fun element of popular culture and examine it with a critical eye." The Fraker Prize Reception is held annually on March 7 to honor International Women's Day. "Hopefully in the future, Middlebury will do more to showcase and celebrate the significance of the occasion," said Simpson. "The purpose of the Day is to emphasize the effect that ordinary women can have (and have had) on history. It's not only important to recognize individual achievements, but also to question the roles and boundaries that are currently ascribed to women." That is exactly what Simpson did in her award-winning paper. Next year, the senior English major is planning to move to North Carolina, take a year off, and eventually attend graduate school in either English or American Studies. Currently, Simpson is involved in a number of organizations on campus, including Operation Smile and FAM. She is also a research assistant for Professor Jason Mittell in the American Civilizations Department and a head mentor for the Foundation for Excellent Schools.Other nominees for the Fraker Prize were Allyson Burke '05 for "Hush," Alexandra Castillo-Kesper '05 for the web project "Sophie Calle totally WIGS out," Rebecca Evans '06 for "The Controversial Brett Ashley: A Hemingway Heroine," Erin Kunkel '03 for "Sarah Kane" and "Crave," Miranda Lantagne '05 for " A week in the Life of Margherita Datini" and Hannah Osier '04 for "Pulcheria and Theotokos: Reflections of the Female Divine." In addition to the award, there is also a reading room at Chellis house named for Alison Fraker.
(03/19/03 12:00am)
Author: Chelsea Coffin Last week, Middlebury's Page 1 Literacy Project celebrated National Literacy Awareness Week with its own Middlebury Literacy Awareness Week.Page 1 promotes literacy in Addison County through its volunteer commitments to reading, writing and tutoring programs in local schools, as well as annual events geared toward children. Although the illiterate 10 percent of Addison County are mainly adults, the organization hopes the enthusiasm they foster in children will transfer back to their parents.Not only do the children benefit, but the volunteers also reminisce about their initial passion for reading. At Thursday's conversation with Stewart Professor of English and Enviornmental Studies John Elder, one volunteer said she used to love a place where there isn't the pressure of impressing others around her. At Wednesday's Coffee House, Brian Radley '03 explained that reading children's books allows him to re-experience the feeling of losing track of time and place.To promote literacy in Addison County, Middlebury Literacy Awareness Week featured a book drive, a screening of "Dangerous Minds," a coffeehouse reading of children's books and a talk with Elder entitled "Power of Words."The Book Drive began outside the dining halls on Monday and continued throughout the week. Middlebury students chose their favorite books to donate to Addison County organizations, including local libraries, community service offices and local schools. Old friends like "Good Night Moon" and "Harold and the Purple Crayon" brought back memories of books that sparked the students' initial interest in reading.On Tuesday night, Page 1 organized a screening of "Dangerous Minds," a film starring Michelle Pfieffer that depicts a teacher's struggle to educate students in an inner-city school. On Wednesday night, Page 1 organized readings of children's books in a coffeehouse setting in The Grille. Students, professors and other faculty, including President John McCardell, gathered to read old favorites. Three readers truly got in the spirit as they read Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax" with tall striped hats of "The Cat in the Hat." Rich Novak '05, the emcee, told guests of his passion for reading as a child. "At the breakfast table, I'd read the back of the cereal box. At night, my parents would have to come into my room and take the flashlight away. I loved the feeling of leaving your own home and going to a faraway place," he said.Elder, addressed the impact of literacy in his talk. This conversation between Elder and a small group of interested students led to an examination of literacy as it applies to Middlebury students and the world.Although literacy may not seem to be a salient issue among college students, Professor Elder described the complications that accompany reading and writing at the college level. Higher education can make students too self-conscious and reduce their spontaneity in these areas. "If you can plan a paper from the start, you aren't saying anything interesting," explained Elder. In addition, he commented on the distinct languages of each discipline at Middlebury and the remarkable skill of many well-rounded students to switch between writing a lab report for a biology class and a poem exposition for a literature class.Elder also explained the impact of literacy beyond the Middlebury campus by defining key terms. For example, many Americans are currently questioning what it means to be patriotic, to have peace or to do civic duty. Phrases used in speeches, such as President George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil," have inspired further rounds of rhetoric. In addition, the symbolic meaning of words can be so politicized that cafeterias on Capitol Hill recently renamed French toast and French fries "Freedom toast" and "Freedom fries" due to our nation's current relationship with France.Middlebury Literacy Awareness Week and the Page 1 Literacy Project offer Middlebury students opportunities to give back to the community. Improving literacy is a relevant goal for Middlebury students. "Here at Middlebury, we tend to take the ability to read and write for granted," said Meaghan McCormick '03, even though 23 percent of the United States is functionally illiterate and 43 percent cannot read beyond a fourth grade level.Page 1 Literacy Project's upcoming events include a Reading Carnival in April during which student organizations will put together booths with their favorite books.
(03/19/03 12:00am)
Author: Pierce Graham-Jones This year, three Middlebury College students received highly competitive Thomas J. Watson Fellowships. Of the 50 prestigious colleges that participate in the program, Middlebury was the only institution with three students chosen. The College has seen three Watson Fellows chosen from each of its graduating class for the past six years. Director of Student Fellowships and Scholarships Arlinda Wickland said, "Two awards is considered a very good yield in light of the competition, so our record is truly exciting." Only 11 other colleges had even two students chosen for fellowships this year. Middlebury's recipients for 2003-2004, announced last Saturday, are Robert Chisholm '03, Kaitlin Gregg '03 and Alexandra Wang '03. Approximately 1,000 students nationwide vied for the fellowships. The Watson Fellowship, a program of the Thomas J. Watson Foundation, describes itself as "a one year grant for independent study and travel outside the United States awarded to graduating students at one of 50 participating institutions." By prohibiting applicants from studying at an academic institution, the Watson, according to its Web site, aims to allow its fellows to "have some surcease from the lockstep of prescribed educational and career patterns in order to explore with thoroughness a particular interest." Selected students receive a stipend of $22,000, allowing them to pursue proposals that could -- and often do-- span multiple continents. In order to be eligible, students must be in their final year at one of the 50 liberal arts colleges invited by the foundation to participate in the program. Each college conducts its own application process, and chooses a predetermined number -- usually four -- of students to compete for the fellowships. This year, Middlebury nominated four students from an applicant pool of about 50. The process demands a huge commitment from the College's Watson selection committee, namely Assistant Professor of History of Art and Architecture Pieter Broucke, Lecturer in English and Film and Media Culture Don Mitchell and Mead Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Steve Trombulak. Wickland attributes Middlebury's success with this particular fellowship to the hard work and dedication of the selection committee as well as to faculty advisers' intimate relationships with their students. An important part of the application is the faculty recommendations, so an honest personal account of the candidates' qualifications is crucial. Gregg, one of the recipients, was eager to also acknowledge the help of the administration: "We also have a wonderful support network of people who help students to get through the process, most notably Arlinda Wickland in the office of Scholarships and Fellowships," she said. It then becomes what Wickland calls, "a self-perpetuating cycle." Since students are aware of the success of previous years' applicants, more are apt to apply in future years. This year, Middlebury had a larger number of applicants than other colleges, which meant that, according to Wickland, "most of our 15 short list applicants are viable candidates." The informational meeting for students interested in applying for next year's Watson Fellowship is Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 in Bicentennial Hall 104. Middlebury College Winners of Watson Fellowship Rob Chisholm -- Environmental Studies major "Fishing Places, Fishing People: Inshore Community-based Fisheries Management" Locations: Philippines, Costa Rica, Australia, Kenya Kaitlin Gregg -- Environmental Studies major "Harnessing Hope: Sustainable Cities and the Earth Charter" Locations: Australia, Costa Rica, Italy Alexandra Wang -- East Asian Studies major"The Role of the Violin and its Indigenous Variations from East to West" Locations: China, Mongolia, Turkey, Austria
(03/12/03 12:00am)
Author: Daryn Cambridge Many people admire President George W. Bush for going to the United Nations and seeking international support for a potential war against Iraq. At first, I also admired such an effort, until I realized he would have been in breach of the U.N. Charter had he proceeded to attack Iraq without first making his case to the United Nations.As far as the Charter goes: no country -- in this case the United States -- can decide to unilaterally attack and force a regime change in another country -- in this case Iraq -- unless certain conditions apply. Unless the United States is attacked by Iraq and is acting in self-defense, or if the United Nations sees Iraq as a threat to international peace and security, the United States cannot legitimately use military force in Iraq. This criterion was satisfied when Iraq slipped into the American conscious of fear in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Some may argue that Saddam Hussein and Iraq may have been supplying terrorist organizations with weapons of mass destruction, although this has yet to be proven. Article 39 of the U.N. Charter states, "The Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations, or decide what measures shall be taken ... to maintain or restore international peace and security" (www.un.org). This caveat has proven to be insufficient for the Bush administration, for they constantly release speculative evidence that is used to make inspections look like a frivolous attempt at disarmament. I will, however, trust the intelligence and information from the U.N. Chief Weapon Inspector Hans Blix and the International Atomic Energy Association's (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei -- those who have actually been on the ground in Iraq and doing the actual inspecting -- before I trust President Bush, who has not even set foot in Iraq. Hans Blix, in his report to the United Nations on Friday said, "In matters relating to process, notably prompt access to sites, we have faced relatively few difficulties and certainly much less than those that were faced by United Nations Special Commissions (UNSCOM) in the period 1991 to 1998" (www.un.org). In addition, International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed El Baradei said, "After three months of intrusive inspections, we have to date found no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapons program in Iraq" (www.iaea.org). Those in charge of the inspections do not see Iraq as an imminent threat to peace.Finally, one of the Bush administration's most popular arguments is that the United Nations will lose its integrity and international legitimacy if they are not willing to enforce the resolutions that they themselves have passed. This is an interesting and poignant argument until you realize the United States -- in disregarding the opinions and votes of the Security Council and waging war against Iraq without sufficient international support -- are themselves discrediting and stripping integrity from the United Nations. President Bush has made it clear that they are going to invade Iraq even if the new resolution is not passed by the United Nations. This is a complete disregard for the world's sole international governing body and in, yet again, breach of Article Two of the U.N. Charter, which reads, "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations" (www.un.org). I will not praise Bush for doing what a world leader and permanent member of the United Nations is supposed to do. Acting otherwise would have been a direct violation of the basic principles of the United Nations, which was formed to create international cooperation in maintaining peace and security in the world. It seems as though he may choose this path anyway, and in doing so create an image of America as an arrogant state that has little or no concern for the opinions of other countries -- an image that will increase the hatred directed at the United States and is antithetical to the promotion of peace, diplomacy and global cooperation.Daryn Cambridge is a senior English/Philosophy joint major from Arlington, Va.
