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Behind the wheel: Cars shape the Middlebury experience

While students with cars enjoy day trips around Addison County and grocery shopping at Hannaford, students without cars on Middlebury’s rural campus have historically faced a set of travel-related hurdles. And this year, these challenges have expanded to include traveling to vaccine appointments, some of which are hours away from campus. Having a car on campus shapes fundamental aspects of the Middlebury experience — and sometimes widens existing gaps in access.  Liam Ferry ’24 feels that having a car on campus has significantly expanded his area of immediate access, opening up more options for outdoor recreation in Addison County. Ferry, who drives a Subaru Forester, appreciated being able to go up to the Snow Bowl this past winter with his friends.  “It allowed me and my friends, some of whom hadn’t skied or snowboarded before, to go to the Snow Bowl and start,” Ferry said.  Liza Toll ’24, who drives a silver Toyota Prius she affectionately nicknamed “Elliot,” also enjoys exploring the local mountains and lakes that are only reachable by driving.  “It’s also been nice to get out and go for hikes,” Toll said. “I visited the lovely Abbey Pond trail this weekend, which was wonderful.”  Maggie Allen ’24 has her mom’s car on campus this semester and mainly uses her vehicle to go out to eat. She and her friends often stop by Middlebury Bagel and the Natural Foods Co-op.  “It’s definitely been really nice. Especially with Covid, it’s harder to ask someone to use their car,” Allen said. “It’s nice to have the option to go grocery shopping and little things like that.”  Having a car also allows students to have more spontaneous adventures around Addison County, since students with cars do not have to rely on others to make longer-distance trips.  “I wouldn’t have been able to just randomly drive up to Snake Mountain without a little more preparation,” Ferry said. “Although Middlebury is in such a good spot outdoor-recreation-wise, none of it is accessible without a car unless you’re willing to walk 10 miles.”  For those without a vehicle on campus, these types of planned or spontaneous outings are anything but feasible. Hugo Bocker ’22 noted feeling limited from certain activities without having his own car. “I probably would have gone skiing a lot more if I had a car. It’s just so annoying having to take the bus with all your stuff and not having the flexibility to come and go when you want,” he said. Disparities in travel opportunities may be lessened by Covid-19 restrictions, which make it so that students cannot leave Addison County this semester. Currently, students are allowed to travel within the county for outdoor recreation activities like hiking and biking, but unguided overnight outings or off-campus outdoor gatherings are not permitted at this time. Still, students with cars on campus are able to be more mobile within the county. Additionally, Vermont’s unpredictable weather — including some April snow this year — has had a role in keeping students close to campus. Allen said she hopes the weather improves in the next couple of weeks to take advantage of nearby swimming spots.  Still, having a car has also helped students more easily travel to get vaccinated. Instead of trying to find a ride to a nearby town, students were able to drive themselves to vaccine appointments even if they were far away.  Until the college began offering appointments on campus, some students without a car worried about getting to their vaccine appointments in addition to struggling to find transportation for other errands. “As an international student, for example, I need to sort out my social security number and other administrative things, which has been difficult without a car. Getting a vaccine was also a problem before they began offering them on campus,” Bocker said. Meagan Tan ’21 noted some of the inconveniences that result from not having a personal vehicle on campus, including the difficulty of making short trips to the grocery store and the inability to make excursions around Addison County. She mentioned that there is also a dimension of guilt to having to ask friends with cars for rides. “I feel bad asking more than once for rides,” Tan said. “I don’t want to impose on the schedules of others. There’s this dynamic here where people are friends with people with cars just because they have cars, so it becomes a friendship of convenience, and I don’t want my friends to feel like that.” Tan also expressed that bicycling is not always a viable alternative to transportation via car, since the roads in Middlebury are not specifically designed with the safety of cyclists in mind. “There are always huge trucks speeding by all the time when I ride my bike, so it doesn’t feel very safe,” Tan said. While some without cars on campus expressed frustration with the resulting inconveniences, other students indicated that they felt having a car on campus has not significantly changed their experience.   “I don’t think honestly it’s had a huge effect on my quality of life,” Ferry said. “If you don’t have a car, you’ll find other people on campus who do, or you’ll hang out on campus.”  Ferry added that by virtue of having a car on campus, he sometimes feels more pressure to explore the surrounding area instead of just hanging out on campus.   “Now that I do have a car, it’s like every time I have free time it’s like ‘Wow, I’m here, but I have the capacity to go be hiking or exploring Vermont, should I be doing that and taking advantage of this nice day?’” Ferry said. 

Why Do You Hate Us?

Millennials. Everyone hates us. Our propensity for arrogance and merciless decimation knows no bounds. Industries, products and practices we’ve “killed” — according to the internet — include: beer, Buffalo Wild Wings, Applebee’s, golf, cars, home ownership, Harley Davidson, the 9 to 5 workweek, focus groups, dinner dates, cruises, department stores, Home Depot, relationships, “the running trend,” wine, McDonalds, crowdfunding, credit, J. Crew, love, diamonds, bar soap, lunch, vacations, the Toyota Scion, fabric softener, Canadian tourism, light yogurt, hotels, marmalade, cereal, The American Dream, loyalty programs, loyalty, and napkins. If you type “Why are millennials . . .” into Google search, here are the top 7 autofill (aka, most commonly searched) results: Why are millennials lazy Why are millennials so liberal Why are millennials hated Why are millennials so depressed Why are millennials so poor Why are millennials leaving the church Why are millennials so stressed If you type “Why are millennials so…” into Google search, the autofill results are, well, even worse: Why are millennials so liberal Why are millennials so depressed Why are millennials so poor Why are millennials so stressed Why are millennials so broke Why are millennials so rude Why are millennials so sensitive Why are millennials so weird Why are millennials so anxious Why are millennials so stupid If you’re a millennial and you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard at least one older person bash our generation. I’m particularly curious about the effect this has on a college campus. Our professors chose to work with young adults; they are surrounded by roughly 2,400 millennials daily. Over the next few weeks, I will interview professors in various departments about their impressions of millennials. Will they admit that they hate us? That they like us? Either way, why? Which, I think, leads to an even more important question about millennial-bashing: is this sh*t okay? What are the consequences of generalizing, infantilizing and demonizing young people at every turn? What contrasts are other generations trying to create by framing their actions in opposition to ours? I’ll hold off on telling you what I think. You’ll have to wait until I’m on the brink of graduation for that — plus, can’t you guess? Tune in next week for my first interview. I’ll try not to kill anything in the meantime. Sara Hodgkins is an Opinion editor of this paper.

Full Speed Ahead: President Ron Takes the Wheel

Do you beliebowitz? (I shall not shorten this to belieb because this column does not associate with overgrown babies who stage instagram videos of their basketball skills.) Because I beliebowitz. For whatever reason the Mr. President of this fine institution and the inspiration behind my top-secret automotive rating system agreed to take time out of his day to drive with some sophomore hacks to McDonalds. So, with both excitement and trepidation, Karlo the Bosnian back seat tester (BBST) and I arrived at 11:20 in Old Chapel for our scheduled 11:30 to 12:00 run to McDonalds (ladies and gentlemen, I have no shame, I did indeed contact the President of the College about driving to McDs. This is going on the highlight reel folks.) Without further ado, this is Broke College Students in Cars Getting McDonalds: Driving Mr. President Edition. The Car: 2007 Gold Automatic Toyota Camry Car Name: Gerald The Owner: Ron Liebowitz Styling: He wore a classy suit and gave off an aura of power. Truly presidential looking. In terms of the car: well… It’s a Toyota Camry; it’s the most ubiquitous vehicle in America that’s not a pickup truck. It looks like a car. Four doors? Check. Trunk? Check. But what about windows? Oh don’t worry it has those too. Liebowitz-o-Meter: 5/5 with Ron, 2.5/5 without Ron. Interior: Honestly I was just a little too intimidated by power to give the Camry the full interior analysis. What I can say is that it was comfortable and felt like the inside of a car. The interior color scheme of this particular Camry can only be described as the Sahara option. Seriously, everything was tan, I’m pretty sure there was an oasis in the front of the dash. No reports on the speakers because I brought my mixtape to show President Liebowitz and it immediately set the sound system on fire (sorry about that, Ron, I know a guy who can fix that for you and I’ll spot you my Papercut money.) The BBST claims that he had a spiritual experience riding in the backseat of the Liebowitzmobile. Liebowitz-o-Meter: 5/5 with Ron, 3.5/5 without Ron. Handling and Performance: Well, so here’s the deal; I didn’t actually drive the sacred Liebowitzmobile. What I can say is that President Liebowitz is a master of the McDs run. Seriously, he handles the roundabout like a true professional. Liebowitz-o-Meter: 5/5 for Ron’s driving skillz, ?/5 for the actual car, but it’s a Camry, so to be totally honest, it’s probably a snoozefest (drowsy driving is no joke, everyone). Drive-through-ability: The Camry is the best selling car in America; you’d better bet your lucky stars it’s a drive-through queen. This baby is ready to get fries stuck in all the seams of the seats. Have no shame, fearless McDonalds goer; the Camry has space for whatever non-sustainably sourced food your heart desires. Liebowitz-o-Meter: 5/5 Rons. The Drive: So to be totally honest, I was pretty surprised and excited that I was even able to do this. Karlo and I were originally planning on asking a bunch of ridiculous binary questions and then filming it, but then we realized we didn’t have a car mount for a camera, and then we realized on top of that that we probably didn’t want to come off as buffoons in front of the most powerful person on this campus. So we ended up just having a conversation. Seriously though, ask President Liebowitz about his travels in communist Eastern Europe and the files those governments had on him (was he a secret agent? We’ll never know) or why the Middlebury McDonald’s has no golden arches. In case you were wondering, we all got milkshakes, Karlo and I got chocolate and President Liebowitz got vanilla. Good stuff. On another note, President Liebowitz is just very clearly a genuine guy who cares about this school. He’s an institution and we truly appreciate all that he’s done. Best of luck President Liebowitz, and thanks again for driving to McDonald’s with some random sophomores. By the way, you seem like you’re a killer dad. Liebowitz-o-Meter: 5/5 Rons, would ride to McDonalds with President Liebowitz again.

Full Speed Ahead: The Premier Car Column

Let’s just say that in the time you are reading this article, you have five thousand dollars magically appear in your bank account. Rational college student that you are, you have to spend it, as your terrible fear of hyper-inflation is driving you mad. Good news, you’re logical: you should spend that five grand on some killer wheels for college. Alright, maybe a car isn’t the most prudent of purchases, but if you do have five thousand dollars that you want to spend on a car, you have far more and far better options than you might think. Using an incredibly advanced, top-secret algorithm that combines fun, reliability, practicality and economics in perfect harmony, I shall produce a list of the three best cars for you, the Middlebury student, readily available for $5,000 or less. Disclaimer: These cars are not necessarily going to be the three best options for you. I don’t need that kind of liability. These cars are also not necessarily going to be the most mainstream of options, but c’mon, you’re more interesting than a used Toyota Camry aren’t you? Subaru Outback/Legacy Wagon. Do you have the desperate urge to blend in with approximately 50 percent of the drivers in the beautiful state of Vermont? Then a Subaru is the car for you! There’s a reason so many people buy them around here. The cars are well built, reliable and even a little fun. I’m recommending the wagon versions of the Subaru midsize platform because who doesn’t want to fit just a little more junk in their trunk? Seriously, I personally don’t get why anyone would pick a sedan over a wagon. But anyway, they all come with four-wheel drive and “I’m a Vermonter” basically smeared in massive letters all over. Most 3rd and some 4th generation Outbacks and Legacys should be available on EBay or Craigslist (especially VT Craigslist) for around $5,000. Charlie’s ideal choice: Subaru Legacy GT Wagon (4th Generation) with manual transmission. Essential stats: Carrying capacity of 5 adults or 7 college students. Approximate ly 24mpg (depends on the model chosen). Trunk space for approximately 49 30-racks of Natty Ice. Liebowitz-o-Meter: 4.5/5 Rons. Mazda 3 Hatchback. If you find yourself favoring more of a smaller car, you really can’t go wrong with the Mazda 3. Get the hatchback version because I said so. The 3 has been one of the perennial favorite steeds of our friendly northern neighbors for a while now. It’s consistently ranked as one of the best small cars because it’s fun (for real, just check out the demonic smile it has glued on its front) and efficient. For whatever reason however, no one in this country seems to get the memo and buys worse cars instead. The previous generation hatchback is just starting to dip into the $5,000 range and a hatchback from two generations ago can be easily picked up with that money. Charlie’s ideal choice: 2nd Generation Mazda 3 5-Door S with a manual transmission. Essential stats: Carrying capacity of 4 adults and a child or 6 college students. Approximate 29mpg average. Trunk space for approximately 25 30-racks of Natty Ice. Liebowitz-o-Meter: 4/5 Rons. Swagger Wagon (Volvo V70.) I, of course couldn’t go without recommending my own magnificent beast. This brick-shaped tour-de-force is in many ways the ideal college car. With space for a traditional sized black bear family and a box of Twinkies, the V70 is fully prepared to take your two-months worth of dirty laundry back to your mom on breaks. While not always the most reliable, it does come decked out with a luxurious dead-animal interior, and I mean really, what more could you want? A V70 in pretty good shape can easily be purchased with $5,000 or the rights to your first-born son. Charlie’s ideal choice: Volvo V70 R, good examples are hard to find for $5,000, but it’s just too cool not to put on the list. Essential stats: Carrying capacity of 5 adults or 7 college students. Approximate 25mpg. Trunk space for approximately 55 30-racks of Natty Ice. Liebowitz-o-Meter: 5/5 Rons. So there you have it, the authoritative answer on what you’ll spend your $5,000 on  — if only that $5,000 existed.  

Looking Beyond 2014

A few weeks ago Erin proposed that the environment and global warming would — or rather should — be a major issue this election cycle. That is simply not going to be the case. To quote President Clinton, “it’s the economy, stupid.” More importantly, that hurts Democrats and their overall standing with midterm voters. Unfortunately for Erin and Harry Reid (D-NV), in a ranking of issues and their importance to voters, a 2014 Gallup poll found that voters consistently rank economic issues and healthcare as top priorities. Gallup also found voters consistently placed social issues and global warming in second to last and last, respectively. To make matters worse for Democrats, Gallup also finds that most Americans trust Republicans more with the economy.  To make matters even worse, the Obama recovery from the 2008 recessions has been dismal. Sure, unemployment went down, but, as William Galston aptly points out, the labor force participation rate is still as bad as it was in 2009, with very little change over Obama’s tenure in office. Some of that is due to an aging workforce, but most of it is due to discouraged workers dropping out of the labor force. Median household income has also dropped for the average American under Obama’s watch. So the voters are in need of some change this November.  Take a minute to let that all soak in.  The likelihood that Obama will use the word “shellacking” this November is slim, but that doesn’t mean that he will be happy. Most polls show Republicans will gain control of the Senate and hold their majority in the House. On its face, this looks really bad for Democrats. However, if the GOP drops the ball and wastes this opportunity by grandstanding and partying (pun very much intended), the Democrats will gain it all back and more in 2016.  The goal of my columns, when I am not responding to Erin, will be to propose ways in which I feel the GOP needs to move forward to prove to Americans that we are more than simply the loyal opposition. We need to prove to everyday Americans that the GOP is the party of reform and economic growth. This entails that when the GOP controls both houses of Congress, they sponsor and pass bipartisan legislation that the President would be hard pressed to veto. The good news is that these don’t need to be new bills. The “Shaheen-Portman Energy Bill” that got tabled because of last October’s fiasco would be a great start. More good news is that there are plenty of bills (that would need to be resubmitted next Congress) that the House has passed and that Harry Reid (D-NV) has refused to put to a vote in the Senate. The GOP simply cannot afford to allow for there to be two more years of stalled government. Republicans need to do some re-branding before the Presidential race gets underway, or else we will get crushed.  This lofty goal will not be easy, and righting the economic ship going into 2016 is a must. As much as I would like to replace Obamacare (happy birthday by the way, you’re still awful; but that will be a topic for another week), the solution is putting Americans back to work and reforming our education system. Jobs and education are the best ways to combat inequality and right the ship. In my home state of California, Neel Kashkari is providing a model for what I hope the GOP will become.  Mr. Kashkari is taking up the noble task of unseating Gov. Jerry Brown on a platform of “Jobs. Education. That’s it.” This is exactly the direction the GOP needs to be going. Although I like that California is more fiscally sound than it once was, Brown and the Democratic supermajority have still managed to make the Golden State finish 46th in jobs and 46th in education. But wait, we also have the highest poverty levels in the union as well. It’s a difficult task screwing up one of the world’s largest economies (if California were its own country), but the Democrats aren’t doing it any favors. California gets low marks in business friendliness as well, says a 2014 Thumbtack report, scoring an “F.” Texas, by contrast, received the highest marks. It should also be no secret as to why Texas has been almost recession proof. Just ask Toyota and Tesla, both of which are fleeing California. Toyota is moving its US headquarters to Texas and Tesla is building its new factory in Nevada. Elon Musk (Tesla’s owner) is also moving his space company to Texas. This trend is not contained to California, it’s a pandemic among “Blue States” across the country.  With all this said, between now and 2016, Republicans have a choice to make. They can either simply oppose Obama the next two years as Americans suffer through an ailing economy, or they can put bills on the President’s desk, daring him to veto them. The GOP needs to action on the major economic issues facing our country in 2015, or we may be looking at eight more years of economic turmoil.  Artwork by VAASU TANEJA

Dining, Dating and Dashing

Ethel* and I met last year at a friend’s birthday party. Life strikes when you least expect. We only shared a few words, but she left enough of an impression that I’d intermittently make small extra efforts to say hi in the dining hall.  Beyond that, I let it be. Spring faded. December came around, and I used this column — as I said I would— as an excuse to ask her out. I picked her up on a snowy evening in a friend’s scruffy Toyota pick-up truck, a grimy ride to a fancy place: Tourterelle. If you haven’t been, go! Christine and Bill Snell, the owner-chefs, run a fabulous establishment. They serve authentic French cuisine made with local Vermont ingredients. But half of the whole experience is the suave, cozy atmosphere they’ve created in an old country farmhouse. The restaurant isn’t cheap, but the service is flawless and the food is something to write to home about. I should note, though, that whereas Otter Creek Bakery is a quick and casual spot for a first date, Tourterelle is a bit more of a serious undertaking. Factor in 12 minutes driving each way plus three courses and maybe a digestive coffee, and you’re facing two hours of expository conversation. Fear not, Ethel and I did it all, and did it smoothly. She told wonderfully entertaining stories; good because her own story is so convoluted. I felt bad laughing at her recent misfortune with frostbite (and I subsequently got frostbitten the next week) but she’d recounted the incident with a very enlightened and comical resignation. There’s something about being with an elegant woman at a nice place that will get any chump like me sitting up straight and smiling. On my side of the table, many of the nerves I had to navigate on my previous date with Belinda had dissipated. More comfortable with the inevitable first-date uncertainties, I felt less entangled by the need to react perfectly in each conversational exchange and freer to consider the broader direction of our interaction. In earlier dates, I would only respond to the last thing said. With Ethel, I could remember to ask questions after longish periods of being inevitably side-tracked. I also felt less concerned about getting everything just right.  I tried a self-deprecating joke, the surest way to get an easy laugh, describing my little brother as a natural charmer: “At least someone in our family is good with girls.”  Ethel loved that one, maybe a little too much. It was a funny to sit wondering if she was thinking, “It’s funny because it’s true!” To my experience thus far, the adage that ‘practice makes perfect’ is incompatible with casual first dates. First dates at their finest are a little rough around the edges.  Repetition just makes it a little easier to ride out the bumps. So does taking out a girl like Ethel to a place like Tourterelle. *name changed Artwork by TAMIR WILLIAMS

Cross Street Bridge Grand Opening

After 18 months of construction, the $16 million Cross Street Bridge above Otter Creek will open this Saturday, Oct. 30. Joe Colangelo, the assistant town manager, and Douglas Anderson, the executive director of the Town Hall Theater, have spent a significant amount of time preparing for the grand opening festivities. All are invited to attend the celebration, which starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday. “I think it is a historic day for the town,” said Colangelo. “Hopefully the celebration is a way for everyone in the community to take pride in what we accomplished and to have fun.” On Friday evening, the bridge will be illuminated by a variety of colored searchlights. The following morning, there is a “Fun Run” from the Town Green to the bridge. All children who participate get a free hat once they reach the new structure. After the run, there will be local food and drinks for all to enjoy from about eight of the town’s restaurants. Colangelo said there will be a beer and food tent, and Two Brother’s will only serve local alcohol from Otter Creek Brewery, Lincoln Vineyard and Woodchuck Cider. There will also be an assortment of performances from local musicians, like the Hibernators, a Celtic singing group and Va-et-Vient, a trio of Franco-American dancers. Several of the College’s groups, including the Middlebury College Community Chorus, the Mischords and Riddim also plan to perform. In honor of the grand opening, the Otter Creek Bakery has baked a Bridge Cake and the U.S. Postal Service has printed a postage stamp featuring the bridge. “The stamp has attracted much publicity from collectors all over the world,” said Colangelo. Radio station 92.1 will be broadcasting live all day, as well. The official grand opening ceremony, “First Across,” begins at 4 p.m. The Maiden Vermont chorus, an all-woman group, will sing the National Anthem. The last time they sang this piece was at Fenway Park before a Boston Red Sox game. Speeches will follow, as will a special classic car parade. There will be one car from every decade since 1891, which was when the Battell Bridge opened in the town. The first car to cross the bridge will be an exact replica of the carriage that first crossed the Battell Bridge. Two horses from Morgan Horse Farm will pull the carriage, and a member of the community will dress up like Henry Sheldon, as he drove the carriage across Battell Bridge in 1891. Colangelo said the last car to cross the Cross Street Bridge will be a Toyota Prius, and Ron Liebowitz, President of the College, will drive the vehicle. “It should be a fun day and hopefully the weather will hold and a lot of people will show up,” said Colangelo. “We hope that college students will stop by and become part of it, too.” Jer Coons, a native of the town who now has several songs on iTunes, and the Grift will lead street dancing and singing at 4:30 p.m., followed by fireworks at 6:30 p.m. The bridge will then officially be open for the town.

Overseas Briefing

NAIROBI — In Kenya, staring is okay. Actually, it is welcomed. In the U.S., if you rest your eyes on a stranger for longer than the duration of a flash of lightening you risk being identified as a psychopath. You have to be stealth: sneak a glance, wait a second, steal another glimpse. But Kenyans have no qualms with tunnel vision. As I adjust to Kenya, I am learning to accept this staring policy. I have a fascination with dreadlocks and here I have been able to stare at many entangled dreads. I now know that each dread is ripe with style - it has its own width, texture and angle. No two dreads are the same. I have also stared while full conversations unfolded. I now know that men in Kenya will openly embrace when they laugh or touch each other’s hand mid-conversation. There is no stigma associated with male-to-male touching. Life feels more whimsical, free, and natural when eyes can linger. Imagine if you could sit in Proctor and just stare at people as they walked by … life would be a whole lot easier. You wouldn’t have to exhaust your eyeballs as you study the color of someone’s cool Keds, the tone of their voice and the intricate stitching of their retro-70’s hat. Now, when I say your eyeballs I don’t mean to be accusatory because I, too, am a major culprit of dancing eyes. I love people watching. And, in Kenya, the open staring policy allows me to notice and digest details of the culture. Staring isn’t the only thing that is different in Kenya. So here are a few other Kenyan trends I’ve noticed: It seems like all Kenyans have white teeth. I kid you not. Apparently the tooth fairy has cast a spell of whiteness on this population because everywhere I look, smiles glisten. Or, perhaps Kenyans just brush their teeth a lot. After all, in the same way that Americans value turkey sandwiches with mayo, Kenyans value scrubbing with soap and water. Even in Meru, a rural Western province of Kenya, the family I lived with had me wash my feet every time I entered the home. Sanitation is highly valued, so glistening smiles are all around. I envy them. Maybe I’ll start brushing my teeth more often. Pedestrians don’t have right of way. I am used to nonchalantly crossing Main Street in downtown Middlebury. But here, the number of times that I have almost been slammed by a matatu (taxi) driver parallels to the number of times I have been called Kelly instead of Kylie – Kenyans have a lot of trouble pronouncing my name. The concept of speeding drivers is ironic though because “Kenya time” is very relaxed. So it is surprising that drivers are so aggressive. I’m still trying to figure out this clash. The men carrying security firearms in Nairobi are likely to crack a smile. Anxiety isn’t married to security. In the US the sight of a gun makes people feel as if the blood in their veins is beginning to freeze. And I had that frozen feeling the first time I saw the Nairobi security guards grasping huge guns. But, now, the cameo-dressed men smile at me and I smile back. I’m adjusting to the idiosyncrasies of Kenya’s culture. But, simultaneously, I am learning that you can’t brand people. My assumptions and general assumptions about Kenya don’t apply to all Kenyans. For instance, my home-stay father in Meru was an avid Catholic. The international media deemed that all Kenyan Catholics were against the promulgation of the new Kenyan constitution but he fully supported it. And today, a small white Toyota in downtown Nairobi stopped and let me cross the road. Maybe tomorrow I will see a Kenyan with yellowing teeth.

Zip car test drive makes for smooth green ride

Author: Emma Gardner As the College community has made strides to convert the campus into a more environmentally friendly place over the past few years, students have begun to promote energy-saving alternatives to using personal cars through the year-old Zipcar program. While the College has long permitted all students to keep personal cars on campus, the growing concern for environmental activism has propelled both students and the administration to take a closer look at alternatives, such as Zipcars, in an effort to decrease the number of vehicles crowding the parking lots.Last fall, Middlebury embarked on a collaboration with Zipcar, the country's largest car sharing company, to test the feasibility of such a program at the College. The decision to give the Zipcar program a trial run arose out of the College's Carbon Reduction Initiative, which Assistant Treasurer and Director of Business Services Thomas Corbin described as "a way to get each student to reduce his or her carbon footprint."The College arranged for two Toyota Hybrid Prius Zipcars to be made available to students on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week. Students were encouraged to try out the program as a means of simultaneously reducing their gas and car maintenance expenses as well as increasing their level of environmental activity. "If we want students to be better global citizens, we have to give them an alternative," said Corbin. "We tried bicycle sharing and bus programs, neither of which really worked. We needed something like the Zipcar program so that students weren't stranded here if they needed to go elsewhere."Since the program's launch, Zipcars have become a popular way for students to travel around Addison county. "I use it about once a week for various errands," said Alex Benepe '09. Today around 212 students hold accounts with Zipcar through Middlebury, where only 100 were enrolled by the end of last spring. "We're getting use out of them 33 percent of hours per week," said Corbin, adding that once the level of usage reaches 50 percent, the program "will be self-sufficient and at a point where we won't have to be as involved as we are now."It seems that since its inception the program has received a predominantly positive response from students, many of whom must now compete for the opportunity to use one of the two campus Zipcars. "Generally if you do not reserve [a car] at least 24 hours in advance it's hard to get one, which tells me that they are used quite a bit," said Benepe. "Frankly, I think the campus could use one more at this point."Zipcars are used most frequently by students who do not own cars or live too far away to drive personal vehicles to campus, as well as by international students. While the Zipcars do increase the number of vehicles on Middlebury grounds, students who might otherwise have used cars belonging to their friends are given the opportunity to make use of more energy-efficient vehicles at a lower price."The pricing is really reasonable, at only eight dollars an hour, and they give you a special gas card that can be used at any station," said Benepe, who also added that "the Prius gets about 50 miles to a gallon, though, so you don't need to fill it up that much."While the College has yet to generate a return on its investment in the Zipcar program, the administration maintains that "we made a commitment to stay with the program for three years because we felt it would take two to three years to build the program up to where it was self-efficient," according to Corbin. If the program continues to follow its current trajectory of success, the Zipcar will likely become the new "yellow bike" of Middlebury College - only this time, it will be more difficult to misplace and probably will not break down as easily.

Campus cars rev up students' passions

Author: Rachael Jennings If you are in love with your car - if you've "gotta feel for your automobile," in the passionate and ever-cheesy words of Queen - then you are certainly not alone. Plenty of Middlebury students love their wheels, in whatever shape they are in, from a '97 Geo Prizm to a clunky ex-army "tank." These students hold the keys to a range of interesting automobiles, and whether brandishing unique appearances or carrying the cargo of fond memories, these vehicles add distinct character to every parking lot and major highway, just as their owners add their own individuality to the culture of Middlebury.It is hardly news that Arizona is vastly different than Vermont. Kay, as Amanda Mitchell '08 affectionately calls her 1997 Geo Prizm, is a car of both these worlds. But, more importantly, she is a car of the memories that have occurred on the long voyage from sun-baked Arizona to white-washed Vermont. Last summer, Mitchell and her dad, a 64-year-old retired psychologist, journeyed cross-country with Kay, traversing the nation's highways and back routes and completing their trip in an exhausting 11 days. The adventure was cumbersome at times. Given that her father is over six feet tall, weighs about 200 pounds and has knee replacements, even getting (somewhat) comfortably inside of the tiny Prizm was an accomplishment. Those eleven days were plagued with car trouble and detours, and even before the wheels turned over the border of Arizona, they had to stop and replace the shock casings. In Illinois, Mitchell missed an exit and took her flustered father 50 miles off course - he was "literally jumping for joy" when they maneuvered their way back. Getting stuck in a rainstorm with her dad was one of Mitchell's fondest memories of her long expedition with Kay - Mitchell, a theatre major, exposed her dad to the soundtrack of Avenue Q. (She had wanted to listen to "Rent," but decided not to make him suffer, as he does not share her love of show tunes.)In many cases, the cars students currently own are not always the most important markers of their lives behind-the-wheel. Kris Wilson '08 fondly remembered the first car he ever owned - a red 1990 Toyota Corolla. He purchased it as a sophomore at Middlebury for $75 from a friend working in the Office of Admissions who was returning to Bulgaria. Splitting the cost with two international friends, Kris only had to pay $250 dollars. "It was generally a piece of crap but it ran really smoothly and didn't have any problems," said Wilson. However, his two friends had no idea how to drive a stick-shift, so after teaching them how to maneuver it, Wilson left the car in their hands for a summer, during which he received unsettling e-mails about its current state. When he reacquainted himself with the Corolla, the pedals felt like those of a manual transmission, a guest driver had cracked the muffler and the cab filled instantly with gas. Nonetheless, Wilson, who had to attend a residential life training session at Bread Loaf, hauled his friends up the hill at 15 miles per hour as they coughed and got progressively more ill from the leaking exhaust. Once conditions became too dangerous for frequent driving, Wilson and his friends retired the crumbling car to the Center for the Arts parking lot, where it remained, unattended and decaying, for a year, thanks to its staff parking sticker. Each of the three friends were studying abroad at different times, and none wanted to be the one to let their first car - so full of memories and chemicals - go. Eventually, though, they realized that it was time to move on. Now, Wilson is without wheels, but learned an invaluable lesson to take to his subsequent automobile - "I look forward to my next car which will get regular maintenance, lots of love and only good drivers at the wheel," said Wilson.It is not too difficult to spot Southern Comfort, despite its camouflage paint job. This ex-military vehicle certainly does not "blend in" with the black jeeps and red station wagons on campus. "It might be the most bad***-looking car on campus," commented Mike Bayersdorfer '10. Brad Dickerson '10 bought this car about a year ago, primarily because it has a diesel engine, and he was hoping to convert it to run on vegetable oil. It came in camouflage, and Dickerson thought that furnishing it with a more mundane color would detract from the obvious character of the vehicle. Yet, it is not just the color scheme of Southern Comfort that makes it unique - in fact, just hearing this car approach distinguishes it from the lot. Bayersdorfer, Dickerson's roommate, remembered a time that the tank-owner was trying to find his house. Dickerson called for directions, and Bayersforder could hear the clinking and roaring of the engine from quite a distance. "The street intersection he told me he was at was on the other side of town, and when I went outside I could still hear his car from my house," said Bayersdorfer. This environmentally ambitious, militant, clamorous car is certainly a celebrity at Middlebury. This last vehicle, Middlebury's very own Zipcar, is truly a champion of the people. Dotting the campus parking lots, these new Toyota Hybrid Priuses - convenient and economically friendly alternatives to the hassle of bringing and registering a car on campus - are pleasant little vehicles that not only ensure a better future for the environment, but also help diffuse local traffic. Now, anyone can jump into these automobiles with a swipe of a Zipcard, ready to hit the road on a full tank of gas. Joining Zipcar for only 35 dollars a year, along with extremely low charges for weekly or hourly rental seems easy enough. "You don't have to maintain your own car, or pay for gas or insurance. It is really a money-saver," commented Thea Francel '11, who does not have her own car at the College. By adding the Zipcar service this year, Middlebury has joined the ranks of institutions such as Yale, Carnegie Mellon and Columbia, which also offer the communal vehicles on loan. Quiet, clean, affordable and only present when desired, the Zipcar certainly lives up to its catchy slogan: "Wheels when you want them."Cars, in an isolated town like Middlebury, Vt., are students' best friends. They are there when you need to make a quick trip to Burlington, ready to take you into the lights and striking chaos of New York for a weekend and prepared to bring you safely back into the mountains when you are ready to return for class. And, though often overlooked in the peak of winter, they are omnipresent . . . under a few layers of snow. They hail from all over, come in as many colors and are decorated with as many stories as the students who drive them.

Shenanigans Al Gore brings peace?

Author: Alex Garlick Have you heard the news? Al Gore won the Nobel Prize. Al Gore, who couldn't even win the general election when he got the most votes, somehow won the most prestigious award in the world for peace. First, he turns a PowerPoint presentation into an Academy Award-winning film, then he travels the countryside in his Toyota Prius, trumpeting a prognostication of doom for the environment and now he's a Nobel Laureate. If I had to pick an Academy Award winner to win the Nobel Peace Prize, I probably would have gone with Angelina Jolie for her efforts to save the children in developing countries, one adoption at a time.Anyways, what has Al done for world peace? According to the Nobel Prize Committee, it was given to Al and the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change." I agree with what the committee has said, but before we go congratulating Gore, is anyone going to ask "what has he done for peace?" The Norwegian Member of Parliament who nominated Gore said, "climate change can lead to enormous flows of refugees on a scale the world has never seen before." Due to the unpredictable nature of climate change, that is a very speculative reason for an award that is traditionally given for retrospective action. What if climate change brings rainfall to water-starved arid regions?Does Al deserve commendation for being Press Secretary for Mother Earth? Sure. Why doesn't Time Magazine name him Man of the Year? Maybe we could get him and Bono to combine forces and do a duet on the evil of Global Warming in Africa. I'm sure he'd be in line for a Grammy for his smooth baritone? I would even be willing to throw him the Democratic Nomination and see how he does in the General Election against Mitt, John or Rudy next fall. But the Nobel Peace Prize?In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role as a peaceful activist in the American Civil Rights movement. In 1993, Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in South AfricaÌs peaceful transition from Apartheid. In 2001, Kofi Annan and the UN were given the award for making the world more organized and peaceful.In 2005, the International Atomic Energy Agency won for its efforts for the peaceful use of atomic energy.Do you see the common link between those Nobel Laureates? They all did something involving making the world a more peaceful place. Al Gore has been working to make the world a chillier place. Not to drop acid rain on Al's parade, but I just do not buy it. There is speculation that giving Gore the Nobel Prize is a slight to the Bush Administration, as Gore, along with Osama bin Laden, is one of the most painful thorns in the side of the regime. The World Socialist Web Site declared the prize "Old Europe firing back at the Bush Administration." The Nobel Peace Prize does not have to be awarded every year. Often in years of war, or in years when there is no deserving recipient, the award stays in the cabinet. If the Nobel Committee really wanted to send a message to the White House, why not hold the award back this year in recognition of the presence of American troops in Iraq as we rapidly approach the fifth anniversary of the War in Iraq? That statement would resonate louder than political recognition for scientific work. Alex Garlick '08.5 is a Political Science and Economics major from Needham, Mass.

Middlebury zips into gear, offers rental hybrid cars

Author: Molly Dwyer What better way to both save on gas and eliminate those long walks to student parking lots than to join Middlebury's Zipcar service? This year, the College will be offering Zipcars as an environmentally friendly alternative to bringing personal cars to campus. Director of Business Services Thomas Corbin announced on September 7th that Zipcar, the world's largest car-sharing service, would make its debut at Middlebury on September 17th. "Middlebury will offer the college community access to two self-service Toyota Hybrid Prius Zipcars 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Corbin announced. "ZipCars, bike rentals, ACTR and carpooling are all ways to reduce the overall impact of the College," explained Corbin. The College chose to offer the Toyota Prius as a way to advertise the effectiveness of hybrid cars, and to further the environmentally friendly nature of the program. The Zipcars will be located in the parking lot adjacent to the Hillcrest Environmental Center. The cars will be available to all faculty, staff and student Zipcar members over the age of 18. A Zipcar membership costs $35 a year and includes gas, maintenance, insurance and convenient on-campus parking. Members can use a Zipcar for an hourly rate of $8, or a daily rate of $60.Zipcar has similar programs at MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, Rutgers, American University, Harvard University, University of Minnesota, University of Toronto, University of North Carolina, and the University of Chicago. Middlebury College will be the first school in Vermont to offer the Zipcar. "This program has been very successful at other schools and we think it will be here," said Corbin.Additional Reporting by Scott Greene, News Editor

Students add fuel to global debate

Author: Polly Johnson Americans have watched over the years as gas prices have exponentially increased and recently watched in shock as the price of a gallon of fuel rose to over $3.00 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. As economic, environmental and political issues will inevitably continue to cause prices to rise, people must begin to look at fuel alternatives as ways to not only cut costs but also to protect our environment. This summer a group of proactive Middlebury students proved that global fuel efficiency can be achieved. Kicking off their tour in Tennessee, the involved students, including Jeremy Osborn '06, May Boeve '06.5, Jamie Henn '07, Thomas Hand '06 and Austen Levihn-Coon '07.5, punctuated their journey by stopping in various towns along the way to stir up excitement for the prospect of cleaner cars and a safer, more livable environment. In their daily blog, found on their Web site www.roadtodetroit.org, Osborn described the purpose of their mission: "American auto manufacturers have both an economic and moral opportunity to create clean cars. We know Toyota and Honda are kicking the Big Three's butts all over the American auto manufacturing landscape. But we also know that if Ford, GM and Chrysler shift their focus onto cleaner cars, they will regain the competitive edge, they will revitalize the Motor City with more jobs and cleaner air, they will take up the historic legacy of automotive innovation that made Detroit the Motor City in the first place." The blog recounts the daily trials and tribulations the group faced as they rallied support along the way. Their mission, as stated on the first page of the blog, is described as "seven young organizers [who] have taken to the road for a cross country tour to highlight the need to revitalize the U.S. auto industry with a more socially and environmentally responsible vision." Along the journey, the team of students met with socially and environmentally responsible awareness groups and individuals who were eager to support their cause and offer guidance and help. According to Henn and Boeve, "At each stop, the students explained to people that they are taking action against global warming not just because of some scientific statistics, but because of moral and spiritual reasons - they are acting with their hearts as well as their heads." They collected 15,000 signatures from people from all over the country. Once in Detroit, hundreds of people converged for two days of meetings to demand cleaner and more efficient vehicles from the auto manufacturers. In a rewarding culmination, the students, along with the United Auto Workers, presented the signatures at the oldest Ford factory.Although the tour has come to an end, the fight for fuel efficiency has not. Now that the students are back on campus, they know that there is much more to be done. The students, part of the Sunday Night Group, are continuing work on climate change and environmental justice on campus. Energy Action, a coalition of more than 20 organizations working together to build an energy movement in North America, has agreed to fund the group during their work here at Middlebury.The group will continue to draw inspiration from the successful summer experience of Road to Detroit. According to Boeve, "There were many times when we didn't have a concrete plan, and at those times, we always returned to the same refrain - 'the vision is what's important.' People are excited about a youth clean energy vision - it's empowering in itself. Having a roving bus tour based on a vision was something unique and powerful."The group also has the support of the College faculty. Scholar in Residence in Environmental Studies Bill McKibben has lent his full support to the group. "It's about time the next generation of motorists begin to press Detroit to change the cars they'll be driving for decades to come," he said. "Our automakers have been shameful sluggards - for 15 years we've known about global warming, and all they've done is pump out more SUVs. Thank heaven someone is finally taking them on."

Hybrid Cars, Free Flatbreads and the Phox Enliven College's Environmental Fair

Author: Dan Polifka Middlebury College hosted an Environmental Fair on the Middlebury Town Green this Sunday, drawing support from businesses, local organizations, town residents and students who shared the common goal of encouraging ecological awareness. The event, set up in conjunction with Earth Day (April 22), was well attended by both College students and town residents. Over 20 organizations staffed tables, presenting projects based on new ideas and products. Among others, local Toyota and Honda dealerships showed off their new hybrid and other environmentally friendly automobiles. "Sales [on these cars], including the Prias, our most popular hybrid, have been great," commented Paul Brown, a sales consultant from Heritage Toyota in South Burlington who came down for the day. "We are moving four to five to six models a month, and we expect that number to rise after the Prias is redesigned shortly."Test driving environmental cars was a popular event enjoyed by many fair-goers. "The car was really nice, and drove really quietly. I came down here for the food and because it was nice out, but I couldn't pass up a test drive," said Niall Sullivan '06, adding, "Fifty-two miles to the gallon would probably save me some gas money."The hybrid, a car that works with a small gas engine to supplement a smaller electric one, according to Brown, is more user-friendly than a purely electric model because it does not need to be plugged in and can always run provided gas is in the tank. The gas motor recharges the electric one as the car runs. Other models available include an economic-gas model that gets up to 43 miles per gallon and a hydrogen energy model - thus far only released in California - that converts hydrogen into water, which is released instead of carbon monoxide and dioxide. Brown was unsure of the availability of the car in other markets, but said that a hybrid Sports Utility Vehicle is currently being developed. A collection of Middlebury students also distributed information about their upcoming project to cross the country this year in a school bus powered by vegetable oil. Dubbed Project BioBus, the trip is being staffed by 13 students. "With a little tinkering to the fuel system, we were able to make a John Deere tractor and a car run on [vegetable oil]. So we saved up bought this school bus and did the same thing, and we are driving to Kentuckey, Chicago, Fort Collins and then on to Seattle this summer," explained Thomas Hand '05.5. "It is every bit as efficient as diesel and has zero net carbon emissions, so it is more than just fuel efficient." Several regional non-profit organizations were also on hand, including the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op and the Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT), which manages and preserves local land, maintains area trails and works to educate youth on the value of wilderness. According to MALT Chairman of the Board Bill Roper, the organization is grateful for the student assistance it has gotten so far, but there is "not nearly as much participation from College [students] as there could be. It is unbelievable how much good just coming out for a few hours on a nice fall day will do." On the whole, the event raised environmental consciousness, sold environmentally-friendly goods (such as bikes) and allowed residents and students to get outside for a nice day in the sun. American Flatbread doled out free organic, homemade pizza samples, for which demand far exceeded supply. A number of performers entertained the fair-goers, including the College's Anais Mitchell '04. The Phˆx, a hard rock outfit that, according to the band, is comprised of five core members from Middlebury Union High School, also serenaded the crowd. Their performance included help from a horn section and a number of Led Zeppelin songs adapted for their instruments. Though the band had no particular environmental or political message, they were glad for the work.The musical acts were followed by a play performed primarily by children, which aimed to teach the importance of protecting the earth. All the performances were well received, and each contributed to the overwhelmingly positive atmosphere of the event and the cheerful mood of its attendants. "This was a great day," remarked Brown, and added, not forgetting his businessman status, "And this really is the best state to sell these cars."

Off-Campus parties Can Lead to Wreckless Behavior

Author: Sarah McCabe "Should the Dean of Student Affairs come to believe that the activities of a [social] house are a detriment to the life of the larger College community, he or she may recommend to the president that the house be terminated at Middlebury College … In the case of a violation of guidelines and regulations, the dean of student affairs will issue a warning to a house. Further violations will result in the house being put on disciplinary probation, which will involve the loss of the right to hold parties and of other privileges to be specified by the Dean of Student Affairs..." (Middlebury College Web site ). With the probation of ZOO and ADP, many of us have been forced to search and plan elsewhere for places to party. The extent of the effect of these probations however, could be much more than a "detriment to the life of the College community" when these new partying locations frequently entail the necessity of a designated driver and a vehicle that is usually packed beyond what is considered safe. New destinations have included "the Farm," Cornwall, South Munger, "Green Porch" in the past. If the probation of social houses continues, more may accumulate. Why is this a problem, you wonder, when off-campus parties are usually so much fun? There are the simple answers, like these places being farther from a hospital, unsafe driving and the thought of being trapped when you want to leave but no one is sober to drive. A group of friends and I had heard (along with the rest of campus) that a certain off-campus location was the place to be on Saturday night. There was little talk of any social house happenings because of the probations, so we dismissed them as part of the night's itinerary. So we first asked ourselves, "Who can we convince to drive?" The only people who usually will submit to such a request are those who a) owe their buddies a big favor and will have to take the night off from drinking to drive and pay back or b) those who partied way too hard the night before and are forced to realize that perhaps their livers need a night off. So we found someone to drive (with effort) and then planned accordingly. Whose car would she take, and even better — how many people could she fit in it?But now the fun begins. Let's see how many people we can fit into a Toyota 4Runner! Lets see if we can pack eight people into an Audi A4! Is this safe? Probably not, but in our minds it sure is safer than having someone intoxicated drive. So we begin the drive to the off-campus party, 10 inebriated people on top of one another with that one sober driver praying the night will end soon — amidst drunken shouts .While most of us truly put the effort in to avoid drunk driving, you cannot deny it — there will always be some drivers who drink anyway. I am not trying to defend these drivers; I am simply stating that perhaps the number of these drivers is increasing as a by-product of social house probations. Obviously, the probations are probably students' fault and as a result, we should suffer the consequences with social house probations. In theory, this is correct. But when the fact of the matter is that students will find a place to party no matter how many houses one puts on probation, there comes an issue of safety. and the loss of the right to hold parties. I would simply like to ask which detriment is worse: a house getting a little rowdier than usual or a DWI accident taking the lives of the larger College community and students?It's a tough situation but one that I honestly feel needs to be reconsidered. When more than one social house is on probation, partying must occur somewhere. There is nothing the school can do about that. But come on — we have no fraternities, no sororities and certainly nothing resembling Animal House (darn!), and still houses are put on probation? Partying will occur. Middlebury cannot control that. But perhaps we can put a little more thought into the extent of a probation penalty when the safety of students is at risk. We all love an off-campus party every once in awhile. But every weekend … sounds dangerous to me.Sarah McCabe is a sophomore from New York.

Earth Day Preview

Author: [no author name found] Friday, April 19 — National Hanging Out Day Clotheslines will be hung outdoors around the campus for students wishing to dry their laundry outside. There will be a Charity Line near Proctor for students to hang unwanted clean clothes that will then be donated to local agencies for redistribution. In addition, the College Store is now selling drying racks and retractable clotheslines that can be used within one's room as an alternative to using the dryers in the laundry room. To support this initiative, Alexander Lee '97 (founder of Project Laundry List, www.laundrylist.org) will be speaking on campus on Sunday, April 21 at 7 p.m. in Bicentennial Hall room 219. Artists who work with Project Laundry List created an artistic piece now hanging in the Great Hall of Bicentennial Hall supporting "Hanging Out." Saturday, April 20 — Middlebury Initiative for Sustainable Development activities, 11 a.m., McCullough lawnThere will be a junk art contest with the creation of a 10-foot diameter globe. Sunday, April 21 — Environmental Fair, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Middlebury Town Green There will be over 30 exhibitors, a variety of food and music, including a drumming circle led by Professor of Biology Steve Trombulak. The list of speakers includes Benjamin F. Wissler Professor Rich Wolfson, who will speak on global warming. There will be an opportunity to test drive hybrid vehicles such as the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. There may be the newly introduced Honda Civic hybrid as well.Monday, April 22 — Rockin' Russ' Earth Day BBQ between Freeman International Center and Bicentennial Hall There will be music by World Music Junk musician Donald Knaack that will conclude a huge junk jam. Knaack makes instruments from junk. He will be offering a one hour workshop in the afternoon for members of the community who wish to create music from exceptional instruments. The workshop will be between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Freeman Dining Hall.Check with MISD about a Fun Run that will begin mid-campus around 5 p.m. with with Mchaka Mchaka, the African running chorus, who will lead a singing run through campus and end at the BBQ. Weybridge House is building an earth oven for baking of special bread or pizza for the BBQ. Check with Eric Skovsted '02 at Weybridge House or Matt Biette associate director of dining services, for details.

'Inspiring' Samson Selected to Carry Flame in Olympic Torch Relay

Author: Devin Zatorski News Editor In an event designed to ignite the Olympic spirit for the 2002 Winter Games, Katie Samson '02.5 will join the 7,200 torchbearers selected to carry the Olympic Flame on a 65-day, 13,500-mile journey spanning 46 states. The route begins in Atlanta, Ga., where the torch last touched United States soil, and concludes in Salt Lake City, Utah, the venue for this year's competition. Torchbearers were chosen from a pool of more than 210,000 nominees, each of whom had an inspirational story, according to the selection committee statement. Assistant Lacrosse Coach Missy Hopkins '99 said a large group of the Middlebury women's lacrosse alumni "sisterhood" nominated Samson for the honor. In their letters of nomination, the former players related a story that began with Samson's debut season on Middlebury's women's lacrosse team in 1999, when she was varsity goalie and received recognition as the Toyota Player of the Game. "She played every minute of every game and led the team to an NCAA title," said Head Lacrosse Coach Missy Foote, who recruited Samson out of a Radnor, Pa., high school. But January 2000 brought a sledding accident that left Samson paralyzed. Just a year later, she returned to campus determined to resume where she left off. To maintain her legacy of athletic involvement, Samson signed on as an assistant lacrosse coach.Foote noted Samson's skill as a "tactician" and her "great eye for the opponents' weaknesses," although in addition to her contributions as a coach, said Foote, Samson has also been "an inspiration to the team." When Foote heard Samson would be a torchbearer in the Olympic Torch Relay this December, she thought, "What a perfect honor for someone for whom sports has played such a significant role, and who is now inspiring so many others." Kully Hagerman '99, now the head lacrosse coach at Babson College in Babson Park, Mass., was a senior on the Middlebury women's lacrosse team when Samson was a first-year goalie. Praising Samson's "contagious" spirit, Hagerman recalled that, "Katie is the type of person that you just want to be around." "To me, Katie Samson is the Olympic spirit," Hagerman continued. "She has faced adversity and overcome it, always with a smile and a laugh." Her remark touched on the criteria for torchbearer selection, which the Salt Lake Organizing Committee characterized as "embodying the Olympic spirit and inspiring an individual or community. Foote recounted the inspiration last year's NCAA championship team drew from Samson's presence on the sidelines. At a press conference after Middlebury clinched the title, captain Betsy Wheeler '01 said that during the game, "she only needed to look towards the sidelines to be inspired by Katie sitting there," Foote explained. Hagerman holds Samson up as a model athlete with qualities she hopes to nurture in her players at Babson. "Katie symbolizes what it means to be a team player and go above and beyond the call of duty," she said. "Now as a coach myself, I can only hope that some of my players embody even 50 percent of the heart and commitment that Katie has. If they do then I will consider myself successful."Hopkins, who played defense when Samson was the goalie, commented, "Katie was a truly amazing goalie and a fierce competitor." She went on to mention that Samson's "smile, laugh and hilarious sense of humor are truly inspiring," and that Samson has taught her to "love every minute of my life."When Samson discovered that she had been selected as a torchbearer, she said that she was "amazed they picked me out of all these people in the country who were nominated for this." "Everybody thinks about being part of the Olympics when they're a little kid," Samson continued, so her selection as a torchbearer was something of a "dream come true."Assessing the significance of the relay, Samson remarked, "It's really important in times like these to carry out inspirational events that people can watch and take comfort in the unity of our country." She practices wheeling a mile a day to prepare, sporting the Coca-Cola warm up suit to advertise the relay's official sponsor. Still, she said, "I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it," but her excitement has not waned. While at home in Villanova, Pa., over Thanksgiving break, the Philadelphia affiliate of NBC News even conducted an interview with Samson. "The [television crew] came to my house, met my family and my dogs," recalled Samson. The station plans to air profiles of the 24 Philadelphia-area residents selected as torchbearers. Foote summed up Samson's effect on the lacrosse team, saying that, "Katie teaches us everyday about personal courage, poise, grace and perseverance. It is impossible for us as a team not to work a little harder and complain a little less when Katie is on the field."