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(04/14/11 3:58am)
On April 14, the College will kick off its fifth annual Spring Student Symposium. This year, 268 students from all classes will present their work across 24 disciplines.
Led by the Center for Teaching, Learning and Research (CTLR), this year’s symposium will be even larger than previous years. The events will open Thursday evening at 7 p.m at the Kevin P. Mahaney ’84 Center for the Arts with a keynote address by Brad Corrigan ’96, followed by various arts presentations.
“[The evening] will be like a festival of the arts,” said Kathy Skubikowski, director of the CTLR and co-chair of the 2011 Spring Student Symposium Committee.
Following the arts presentations Corrigan, a founding member of the band Dispatch, which was founded at the College in 1996, will give a special performance. The concert will, which will last roughly 45 minutes, will start at 10:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
On April 15, the symposium will move to McCardell Bicentennial Hall and Johnson Memorial Building for the other student presentations.
“[At the symposium] students from all disciplines come together [to showcase their work],” said Yonna McShane, director of learning resources, lecturer in psychology and member of the symposium committee.
The range of topics and the enthusiasm present throughout the community is “stunning,” added McShane.
This year’s presentations will showcase work across various disciplines, including one presentation on “Evaluating the Performance of Multiple Model Estimation Algorithms” and another on “Vincent A. Jones IV: A Sociological Analysis of the Matrix of Domination on Middlebury’s Campus.”
Carla Cevasco ’11, who will be presenting her senior English and American Literatures thesis, “From ‘It-girl’ to Forgotten Poet: A Cultural Reading on Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Reputation,” also helped organize this year’s event as the symposium’s project manager in addition to her work on her presentation.
While this will not be her first time presenting at the Symposium, Cevasco said, “This is my first time actually working for the symposium so it’s been fun to see how the event is put together.”
The organizers of the symposium have been working since early September and they are excited for the event to take place.
“I don't know much about the classes my friends are taking on a daily basis, but the symposium is a chance to see what everyone's been up to this year,” said Cevasco. “It’s like a buffet; I'm going to go see presentations and posters on Chesapeake Bay children's literature, medieval punctuation, honor killings in Turkey, neurotransmitters and [more].”
“For presenters, the symposium lets you present on subjects you care about to a cheering section of your friends and faculty, plus probably quite a few people you don't know,” Cevasco added. “That's what makes the Middlebury symposium so unique — where else can you do something like this as an undergraduate?”
Both Skubikowski and McShane share Cevasco’s enthusiasm for the possibilities that can come from the symposium, for both presenters and audience members alike.
Skubikowski hopes that students will be inspired by the work that their peers have completed. In addition, she hopes that attending the symposium will get other students excited about the potential to present at next year’s symposium.
“I’m excited for that general buzz [present at the Symposium],” Skubikowski said. “This is a moment where the student is the expert.”
“[The Symposium] is wonderful modeling for students,” added McShane. “It allows students presenting to feel like they are moving towards a professional setting.”
In preparation for event, Skubikowski and McShane encourage students who are presenting to send out some form of communication to fellow students, professors, deans and anyone else who is important to them to tell them where and when they will be presenting.
Cevasco also encourages member of the College community to attend the symposium.
“Don't just sleep in on your day off from classes — you'll miss out,” she said.
(04/14/11 3:58am)
Few could disagree that in the past decade the practice of music sampling has become over-hyped, even over-used. No longer a technique exclusive to producers of hip-hop, the borrowing of song elements is a method that has been adopted by artists running the gamut of musical styles.
Canyon Candy, the new album from electro sampler duo Javelin is their take on the traditional Western songbook. A blitzkrieg of lo-fi crackle and hiss, showdown dust whistling and flickering guitars, the album is proof that while the process of sampling has in some ways become irreversibly convoluted, it has not yet reached the end of its rope. Inspired by their travels through the Southwest, cousins Thomas Van Buskirk and George Langford began to compile and record the short LP during their tour with Yeasayer last year. Given that the record took much less time to develop than the slew of mixtapes and remixed singles that culminated in the release of their first full-length No Más (also last year), it is undeniable that the underlying concept gives the album a much more cohesive feel than can be found in their previous work. In only a minute and a half’s worth of steam train, deep marching drums and a noble horn melody, the first track on the album, “Fievel Goes West,” perfectly embodies the spirit of Manifest Destiny. (Or, if you prefer the modern Kerouacian concept of the open road as inspiration … that works, too). While some of the tracks like “Estevez” and “Strawberry Roan” are rich with the placid melodies that help give the duo their signature recycled sound, it is the impeccably calculated brevity of the songs that makes Canyon Candy a Javelin record.
Their implicated desire to defy genre is present but, rather than a sound collage, the album is a successful reconditioning of the obsolete noises of the Wild West — its tired horses, lonesome cowboys and the brutal beauty of the unknown. Accordingly, familiar elements of the Western soundscape — jaw harp, harmonica, pithy vocal hymns, gunshots — abound on the album, particularly on “Winchesters” and “Saddle Sores.” And yet, the end product, which combines Javelin’s tireless crate digging/sample reconstruction with original contributions, is ultimately a hybrid Western. “Colorado Trail,” for example, pits repeated baritone vocal growls against a hip-hop drum machine. Similarly, “Trembler,” one of the most gorgeous moments on the record, opens with a massive yawning voice and pouring rain. When the background noise fades into ethereal humming that floats amidst a background of warm electric bossa rhythms, plangent strings and rattlesnake vibrations, the song beautifully invokes the desolate cold of the nighttime desert.
While Tom and George certainly owe credit to the many sources from which they have constructed their tribute, Canyon Candy might just secure Javelin their own place in the Western canon.
(04/14/11 3:57am)
From April 13-15, the annual spring preview days for admitted students will flood the campus with 350-400 admitted students and their parents, according to Dean of Admissions Bob Clagett.
Of the 8,533 applicants, 1,675 students were accepted for both the September and February terms. The class of 2015 acceptance rate — 19.6 percent — is higher than last year’s acceptance rate of 17.5 percent.
Clagett says that the higher acceptance rate is because the admissions office can now better predict how many students will matriculate to the College after acceptance.
“We admitted a few more in Regular Decision this year than we did last year, since we are now better able to predict our yield with not having a supplemental essay question for the second year,” he said.
Clagett explained that although this year’s initial acceptance rate may be higher than the previous year, he anticipates that the final matriculation rate will be “about the same” as last year.
“Last year we had to be fairly conservative with the number of Regular Decision admission letters that we mailed in March, because it was especially important that we not come in with a higher number of first-year matriculants than we had targeted, since we have an especially large senior class this year,” wrote Clagett in an email. “This year we admitted a somewhat higher number of students in Regular Decision, and we anticipate admitting fewer students off the waiting list.”
“Overall I anticipate the final admit rates for last year's and this year's classes to be about the same,” added Clagett.
28.4 percent of the incoming class are U.S. students of color — a record number. The College admitted more African-American and Hispanic-American students than ever before.
Clagett commented that the number of U.S. students of color has increased over 100 percent over the last five years.
“That is a result of a concerted effort by the Admissions staff to reach out to schools, college-access groups and other organizations around the country to increase awareness about the educational opportunities available at Middlebury,”
explained Clagett.
The admissions office gives each applicant an academic rating from one to seven. Seventy-one percent of the admitted students received the top to ratings.
According to Clagett, a six or seven academic rating equates to being in the top 10 percent of a high school class and averaging above a 2,200 SAT or 32 ACT.
The class of 2015 boasts many unique talents.
“We have admitted a champion unicyclist, three of a set of quadruplets (the fourth did not apply), a student who performed in a cultural troupe at the Beijing Olympics, a student who can solve a Rubik's cube in 15 seconds and a woman who is co-owner of two companies that create apparel for Ultimate Frisbee!” said Clagett.
Ben Wessel ’11.5, a senior admissions fellow, echoed Clagett’s enthusiasm about the incoming class.
"Based on the kids I've met while giving info sessions in the admissions office, I'm pretty stoked about the class of 2015,” wrote Wessel in an email. “While I'm not at liberty to diverge any super-secret admissions data that I may or may not know about the class, it seems like there was more competition this year than ever before. I've got high expectations and high hopes."
(04/14/11 3:57am)
Warning: this article contains spoilers pertaining to the games BioShock, Braid and Limbo. But honestly they’ve all been out for more than a year, so if you haven’t played them yet you probably don’t have the intention to.
This week, I wanted to do something different — hopefully something that can become a trend. I want to use this space to discuss video games as a whole, and their place in our popular culture. I decided to start things off with one of the oldest video game-related debates right now: “Are video games considered art?” I began to think about the question more recently after a chance conversation with a particular professor of art history. I told the professor that I was writing for the Arts section in the Campus. Excited, the professor had asked me what stories I had written. When I responded with, “I write One Life Left, a video game review column,” the professor responded with a quick chuckle and said, “Oh, I don’t read that,” and left. I just laughed it off and had a desire to explore this side of gaming again.
Almost exactly one year ago, renowned film critic Robert Ebert expressed his opinions on the medium of video games, claiming, “Video games can never be art,” as he picked away at video game producer Kelle Santiago’s side of the argument that she gave during a TED talk.
I’m not here to discuss why I believe Ebert is wrong; I just want to throw in my two cents. Personally, I do believe video games to be art, and they should at least be acknowledged by the general public. But I know this is much easier said than done. I guess this all stems back to what a proper definition of “art” is. I feel that art is such an expansive realm of raw human expression that it is impossible to limit it to any few actions or words. But for the sake of clarity, I feel I would have to point back to the definition of art given by Scott McCloud, author of Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, in 1993: “Art, as I see it, is any human activity which doesn’t grow out of either of our species’ two basic instincts: survival and reproduction.” Obviously this is not a perfect definition, but it is the one that resonates most with me.
Video games allow the player to enter a world that could otherwise not be reached. They allow the player to take control of their immediate environment, and depending on the game, allow players to forge their own paths while following an interesting narrative. Video games are capable of storytelling techniques that other mediums, such as literature or film, are just not able to achieve because of their limitations. A prime example of this is BioShock. In BioShock, the player is thrust into an Atlas Shrugged-inspired underwater utopia called “Rapture” where absolute freedom reigns in all realms, from education to scientific development. Of course, by the time you arrive, the entire place has gone to hell. You find a radio and get in contact with Atlas, a man who is just trying to find his family and escape Rapture. He gives you a series of mission objectives that the player completes to progress through the game (always asking you with a “Would you kindly…?”) Once you meet with the city’s founder, Andrew Ryan (who is assumed to be the game’s antagonist), you find out that Atlas had been manipulating you the entire time à la Manchurian Candidate (the phrase that activated his control over you was “would you kindly”). As Andrew Ryan lectures you about the nature of free will, he forces you to kill him with his golf club. As the player is forced to slowly beat him to death, Andrew Ryan only repeats the phrase, “A man chooses, a slave obeys.”
While this may not seem impressive on paper, this moment shook me to my very core. After the scene ended I had to stop playing and go reflect about what had just happened and what it meant to my entire life. For the first time ever I had asked myself, “Who really is in control?” How can something that summoned such a powerful emotional response for me not be art?
Even if we set storytelling aside for a bit, video games are to art mediums as mashups are to music. They’re both collaborations. Video games use visual design for almost every aspect of the game. Level design, set pieces, character models, enemy design and even the more “technical” aspects of a game (health bars, radar, etc.) take artistic prowess to master.
Moving away from the visual and onto to the audio, video games use music to set and/or enhance the mood. It is no longer a rare occurrence for a game to have a full orchestral score. Just look at all the Halo games. There is also the sound design within the game itself. A “witch” enemy in Left 4 Dead cries in a manner that is intrinsically creepy, but at the same time, the sound allows us to infer that these creatures were once human. In addition, the overwhelming explosions and gunfire of the Call of Duty games can elicit tension within the player, among many other examples. Even the distinct lack of music can also be an artistic choice, such as in Limbo, where the only thing the player hears is the character’s footsteps and the rain falling around him to create a sense of hopeless loneliness.
Video games are a collage of almost every major field of artistic expression. In this way, how can they not be art? But that’s not to say the medium isn’t without its garbage. Sure, if one focuses on the moral panic that the media likes to paint video games under with headlines such as “SexxxBox” and “Level in Call of Duty causes airport bombing,” I can see why those who have never been exposed to them can think otherwise. Like any other medium, it has its fair share of trash. But would you seriously consider someone’s opinion about literature as a whole when you know for a fact the only books they’ve ever read are those thick “erotic” romance novels one finds on standees in super markets? I sincerely hope not.
Interestingly enough, the Smithsonian Institute is actually preparing a new major exhibit entitled “The Art of Video Games” that will explore the medium and its various evolutions in the last 40 years. It is set to open March 16, 2012 at the American Art Museum. Surely this will be an accessible way for the general public to get a first glimpse to the world of gaming.
I finish my little spiel with a quote by Penny Arcade author Jerry Holkins: “If one hundred artists are creating art for five years, how can the result not be art?”
(04/14/11 3:54am)
On March 8, Root arrived in Syria to study Arabic at the University of Damascus.
On March 14 Root began classes.
On March 18 Root was arrested by the Syrian secret police as he was walking in Old City after the Friday prayers. When the people began coming out of the mosques, Tik took a photo with his BlackBerry. Plain clothed members of Syria’s secret police immediately arrested him, and ushered him into a Suburban. He attempted to use his passport as evidence that he was an American exchange student, but Syrian authorities believed he was a CIA agent or a journalist.
He was interrogated twice over the course of his time in prison, though was never physically abused.
From March 18-March 24 Tik was kept captive in a secret prison on Baghdad Street in Damascus. He was put in a 3 foot by 7 foot holding cell with one other Syrian captive.
From March 24-April 1 Tik was moved to a larger holding cell, approximately 10 feet by 12 feet, with about 22 other people. Most of the other prisoners were uneducated Syrians.
On March 31 Tik was taken out of his holding cell and moved to an immigration hall where the Syrians “pretended to be nice to him.”
On April 1 Tik was released. The U.S. Embassy official came to the integration hall to get Tik and then he went to the US Embassy.
On April 2 Tik was deported and flew into Boston’s Logan International Airport, where, after an extensive interrogation by immigration officials, he was received by his parents and members of the Boston Globe staff. By the time he got home, he had over 250 emails and many interview requests, about half of which he turned down.
Looking forward Tik is taking the rest of the semester off, and plans to take time to thank all those involved. He has no summer plans as of yet. To the student body, he says “Don’t let this stop you from going abroad … especially in the Middle East. The Arab people are just absolutely amazing. You learn something new every day.”
(04/14/11 3:53am)
Following a wave of action by the College and media outlets from around the world, Middlebury student Pathik (Tik) Root ’12 was released from prison in Damascus, Syria on April 1. Root was held for two weeks by Syrian authorities after being arrested near a protest on March 18. See a timeline of his incarceration here.
An international politics and economics major, Root was originally planning to study at the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in the Middle East in Alexandria, Egypt for the semester, but he was forced to evacuate in late January as protests gripped the nation.
Root and his parents, Tom Root and Andi Lloyd, along with Middlebury faculty, felt Syria would be a relatively safe alternative for study.
“I did my homework,” Root said. “I prepared, I took every precaution I could [to make sure I was not in danger.]” According to Root, it was thought that extreme state repression in Syria would deter protests of the level reached in Egypt.
Dean of International Programs Jeffrey Cason seconded Root, explaining that in February, Syria was viewed as a safe place to study.
“When students were evacuated from Egypt, Tik (and others) were looking for alternative places to study in the Middle East,” he wrote in an email. “Two places viewed as stable at the time were Syria and Morocco … Neither had a [U.S.] State Department travel warning, and other students were studying in both places.”
While detentions similar to Root’s occur with some frequency to Syrian nationals, it was a surprise to experts in the region that this would happen to an American.
“The fact that it happened to [Root] as an American, that was surprising,” said Quinn Mecham, assistant professor of political science. “But the context in Syria has shifted in the last month or so. The Syrian government is trying to figure out what’s going on … so they’re looking for all possible causes. I’m sure they were very happy to round up anyone, regardless of background in those early protests.”
Root agreed, adding that “[arbitrary arrest] is something the Syrians experience every day.” Syria operates under emergency law, giving police broad arrest and detention powers.
Once the College became aware of Root’s disappearance on March 19, Old Chapel “reached out to people who might have contacts in Syria, through [the College’s] various networks, and asked people to inquire about him,” Cason wrote.
Contacts involved in the process included Middlebury alumnus and former trustee Frank Sesno ’77. Sesno is currently director of the George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. Root himself also commended the work of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) and Ambassador of Syria to the United States Imad Moustapha for their tireless efforts. The College declined to outline in greater detail specifically who was involved in securing Root’s release, citing privacy concerns and the fragility of the situation.
Nevertheless, it was over a week before it was confirmed that Root was, in fact, in Syrian custody. Complicating the matter, added Mecham, was the fact that only recently has the United States had direct diplomatic relations with Syria.
“[The United States] has only recently appointed an ambassador to Syria,” Mecham said. “So the fact that the United States only has a relatively small presence there means that they don’t have extensive experience working with the Syrians on all of these issues … it’s not that surprising that the United States and the Syrian government would have some difficulties communicating.”
Root’s story also gained notoriety through a “tweet” from 2010 Commencement speaker and New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof, as well as through coverage by national and international news organizations.
Root, however, remained unaware of the efforts on his behalf while incarcerated. Denied consular contact, he did not learn of the concerted effort to achieve his freedom until his release. Hearing about the dedication of those involved, he wanted to emphasize his gratitude.
“The College community has just been so amazing throughout [the process],” as well as Leahy’s office and the Syrian Embassy, he said.
However, whether those concerted efforts influenced the Syrian government’s decision to release Root remains unclear.
“I felt that the College was very proactive in its response,” Mecham said. “What I don’t know is if any of it ultimately helped to set the terms of his release. In the end it’s all up to the Syrian government … if they’re going to let him go.”
“The end effect of the notable efforts made by the College and friends in publicizing his case in the media is unclear, but it certainly demonstrated the extent of support for him at home,” Mecham added in an email.
(04/14/11 3:52am)
On April 7, Associate Professor of Biology Jeremy Ward was awarded the 2011 Perkins Award for Teaching Excellence. The annual award honors outstanding teaching in math and science, with a specific focus on the natural sciences.
Dean of Curriculum and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Bob Cluss presented the award at a ceremony Thursday afternoon in McCardell Bicentennial Hall.
“The Perkins award is a great opportunity to celebrate teaching,” Cluss said. “Professor Ward’s comments today really show his passion for teaching and spoke to the heart of what the faculty and students envision at Middlebury.”
The Perkins award is presented to a single professor each year, alternating between the mathematics and science departments yearly. Made possible by Middlebury graduate Dr. Ruth M.H. Perkins ‘32, the award was established in memory of her husband Professor Llewellyn R. Perkins. The recipient receives a grant for the support of further professional development and is determined by a vote from both students and faculty.
For many students, Ward is a deserving recipient of this year’s award.
“I think that he is one of the best teachers on this campus because he epitomizes accessibility, efficiency and downright intelligence in his classes,” said Alex Lin-Moore ’12. “I've taken three classes with him since [my] first year, and every time I am amazed not only by just how much information he knows, but also by how accessible he makes it to all his students.”
Additional presenters of the award included Anne Runkel ’11, who spoke to Ward’s dedication to teaching and his students.
“Professor Ward works with his students in a way that reinforces class material with encouragement and enthusiasm,” Runkel ’11 said. “His own thirst for knowledge and the energy he puts into sharing it ignites student interest into learning far beyond class material.”
Ward was especially proud of the award because it reflected appreciation of his teaching.
“I think one of the most gratifying aspects of the Perkins award is that the nominations come from the students,” he wrote in an email. “It means a tremendous amount to any teacher when their students voice such positive and public appreciation.”
Ward has been a member of the Middlebury faculty since 2003, after receiving his B.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University in cell biology and genetics. He is currently teaching courses in Human Genetics and Bioinformatics and Genomics.
(04/14/11 3:50am)
In the Community Council meeting on April 5, the Council reviewed the Social Houses. The Social House review subcommittee, composed of Cook Commons Coordinator Linda Schiffer, Assistant Professor of Italian Andrei Barashkov and SGA President Riley O’Rourke ’12 made a recommendation in favor of continuation of all the Social Houses after examining public safety reports, damages, programming, membership size and adherence to College policy.
It was also announced that the Redfield Proctor dining hall on the upper floor of Proctor would be open to students during lunch to create more student seating.
“This will be especially valuable during peak lunch hours when Proctor was so crowded that student had to sit on the floor, which is just insulting,” said O’Rourke.
The Council then discussed changes to the Community Council itself, such as giving full voting rights to alternates, creating an official term length for members and amending the election process for the student co-chair of the Council.
Members debated whether eligibility of co-chair should be limited to students who have previously served on the Council, concluding that they should keep the elections open.
“However valuable experience is, all students should have the option [to run],” said O’Rourke.
In the meeting on April 11, Doug Adams joined the Council to talk about Academic Interest Housing, which includes language houses, PALANA, Weybridge House and the Queer Studies House. The Council reviews these houses every other year, while social houses are reviewed annually.
Officially, Academic Interest Houses are required to have a departmental affiliation, though PALANA, Weybridge House and the Queer Studies House do not have such affiliation. The Council discussed whether there should be a separate category of housing created for interdisciplinary houses, which do not fit into the current system as neatly as language houses.
The Council also talked about the Brooker House, which recently became a permanent house with a similar standing as the other social houses. There is still debate about whether that is the right status, or whether it should belong to a separate category of special interest houses.
It was also proposed that every house be reviewed every year, but with a larger subcommittee than the current one, which has only three members. This subcommittee could incorporate members from other parts of the community, including Public Safety and the Commons leadership.
No official decision was reached. However, the Council plans on revisiting the issue before the end of the year. It must review both the Academic Interest Houses and the Social Houses next year, so any policy changes would not be felt until the 2012-2013 school year.
(04/07/11 3:14pm)
Chris Waddell ’91, the most decorated male skier in Paralympic history and founder of the nonprofit One Revolution, will address the class of 2011 as the commencement speaker on May 22. Waddell is one of six honorary degree recipients, including economist Padma Desai, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), volunteer service activist Dottie Neuberger ’58, geneticist Edward Rubin and civil rights activist Maxine Atkins Smith.
In past years, the commencement speaker has been announced as early as December, but according to President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz, the administration was waiting to release the commencement speaker with all of the honorary degree recipients.
“We wanted to wait until we heard from the full slate of honorary degree recipients, and some honorees needed more time to get back to confirm their ability to attend our commencement,” said Liebowitz.
Dean of Planning and Assessment, Director of the College's Self-Study, Professor of Psychology and Liaison to the Ad Hoc Honorary Degree Committee Susan Campbell pointed to the challenge of arranging for all of the honorary degree recipients to be present at commencement.
“It often takes quite a while to finalize the full list of honorary degree recipients,” said Campbell. “Given the busy schedules of those we seek to honor, individuals sometimes need time to arrange their lives so that they are able to attend commencement.”
This year, the honorary degree recipients will play a larger role in the commencement weekend as students, their families and the Middlebury community will have a chance to interact with them in a series of “Conversations with Honored Guests” scheduled for Saturday, May 21. Traditionally, Liebowitz has hosted a private dinner on the eve of commencement to honor the degree recipients, and Vice President for the Administration and Professor of American Studies Tim Spears said that the idea for a less structured event grew out of the dinner.
“The idea for having these conversations on Saturday afternoon stemmed from everybody’s awareness that this event that takes place on Saturday night is really special,” said Spears. “There was the sense that we bring these extraordinary people on campus, they come up on stage, they get their degrees and off we all go. It’s been a missed opportunity.”
The plan for these conversations has not yet been finalized, but each degree recipient will likely give a short speech followed by open discussion according to Spears.
“In particular we want our degree recipients to talk about how they came to the position they now have, how they’ve made their way in the world — the kinds of things that you think that graduating students would want to hear about,” said Spears. “We wanted to create a chance for people to get to know these honorary degree recipients.”
The Honorary Degree Committee, made up of the Board of Trustees, Stephanie Halgren ’11, Sara Cohen ’12, Assistant Professor of English and American Literature Dan Brayton and Professor of Japanese Studies Stephen Snyder, selected the degree recipients from a pool of nominees recommended by the College community.
“We try to choose individuals whose accomplishments are significant and who have contributed to society in a meaningful way, and to select a Commencement speaker who can speak to the challenges facing today’s Middlebury graduates,” said Campbell. “This year’s slate of honorees represents all of these qualities and will be inspiring to all those in attendance.”
The extent of the recipients’ accomplishments is not the only factor in the selection process; the diversity of professions and fields of interest among the degree recipients is also important, and it is meant to reflect the diversity of interests among the student body.
“Middlebury students graduate with different interests and different aspirations —there are lots of different ways to make an impact and change the world — and that’s what’s cool about the honorary degree recipients,” said Spears.
Commencement speaker Waddell was a talented skier at Middlebury when a 1998 skiing accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. He was back on the slopes again a year later, and two years after his accident he became a member of the United States Disabled Ski Team. He has since won 12 medals over four games in his 11 years on the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, and in 2009, he became the first paraplegic to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro unassisted. In 2010 he was inducted into both the Paralympic Hall of Fame and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
Waddell frequently speaks about the resilience of the human condition; his signature motto is: “It’s not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you.”
“I think that it is implicit in the [Commencement] ceremony that honorary degree recipients at a place like Middlebury are there to inspire graduates to go off and make the most of their lives,” said Spears. “The commencement speech itself — it’s job is to send people off with a message and even a mission, and I think we’re definitely going to get an inspiring one from Chris Waddell.”
Liebowitz agreed in his statement for the official press release.
“Chris Waddell has lived his life in an inspiring and thought-provoking way,” said Liebowitz in the release. “He has demonstrated that practically anything is possible as long as one remains determined and open-minded. It is an honor to have him speak at commencement and we are proud that he is a Middlebury alumnus.”
More than 5,000 family and friends are expected to attend the commencement ceremony, which will be held on the quad behind Voter Hall at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 22.
Look for extended coverage of the honorary degree recipients in our April 14 edition of the Campus!
(04/07/11 5:00am)
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(03/28/11 2:58am)
It was around this time two years ago that I was a second semester freshman still unattached to a student organization. My Friday nights remained un-programmed, forcing me to tag along with my more involved friends to Hillel Hookah Hangouts and, at times, bi-weekly Stuck in the Middle a cappella concerts. But I wanted more than to follow Jacob Udell ’12 wherever he went. I wanted to belong! Thus began my one month shopping period during which I demonstrated my lack of athleticism at a late-night Pranksters practice, loitered in front of the Alliance for Civic Engagement offices (too timid to ever actually enter) and participated in a tragic RIDDIM-sponsored Latin dance class and subsequently an even more embarrassing audition. Anyway, I imagine that a few net savvy ’14 and ’14.5ers are probably in the same situation as Freshman Joanna so I compiled this list of 3 student orgs I wish I had had the guts and know-how to join as a youth:
1) Scandinavian Student Organization: CollegiateLink describes this gem of a club as “a cultural group which connects all Scandinavian students at Middlebury.” Let me tell you what really happens: good-looking Swedes and Norwegian fairies participate in exclusive gatherings featuring Bjork, Akvavit and magic.
2) Middlebury College Organic Garden: I have drastically over-romanticized the idea of farming, but let’s face it: food activism is all the rage and an appropriately outdoorsy dreadlock is cooler than a lot of things.
3) GlobeMed: Saving the world, unusually attractive members. Although I generally hate this expression… ‘nuff said.
Other groups to check out now: Big Sky Society (Montanan Culture Appreciation), Flying Fists Juggling Brigade
(03/25/11 4:52am)
As of Friday, March 25, Tik Root ’12 has been missing for a week while studying abroad in Damascus, Syria. His last known contact with friends was March 18.
According to a Statehouse employee, on Thursday, March 24, the Vermont House of Representatives received notice that Root is currently being held by Syrian authorities for his involvement in a protest on Friday, March 18. A campus-wide email from President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz, also on March 24, gave the same information to the College community : “According to Tik’s family, the U.S. State Department learned from the Syrian government that Tik is ‘almost certainly’ being held by Syrian authorities.”
Courtesy
Root was one of 22 students evacuated from the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in the Middle East in Alexandria, Egypt on Jan. 31 during the protests against former President Hosni Mubarak. He told the Campus in a Feb. 11 article that he planned to return to the Middle East this semester if possible, and he began an independent study at Damascus University the week of March 13. Root’s father, Professor of Biology Tom Root, last heard from his son on March 16. He told the Burlington Free Press he had no information to suggest that Tik was involved in the demonstrations that occurred in cities all over Syria last Friday, including Damascus, but he also said it would be consistent with Tik’s general attitude to observe what was going on.
Tom Root contacted the State Department regarding his missing son earlier this week and the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs made inquiries at the Syrian Ministry of the Interior as to Tik Root’s status.
Syrian citizens began peaceful protests in the middle of February against the long-standing political regime. The Ba'ath party took power in Syria in 1963, banning political opposition and enforcing a state of emergency. Emergency law suspends most constitutional protections and authorizes the government to conduct precautionary and arbitrary arrests without arrest warrants. Suspects may then be detained for prolonged periods without charge, trial or access to lawyers. Representatives of the Syrian government told Sky News on Thursday that the government was considering lifting the state of emergency after a series of escalating, bloody protests beginning last week.
In his email, Liebowitz reassured the College community that “the College is doing everything it can to assist in the effort to locate Tik."
Liebowitz also offered his support to Tik Root’s parents, Tom Root and Professor of Biology Andrea Lloyd, and promised to update the College community if circumstances change.
UPDATE 3/26/11
The College has created a web page where updates about Root will be posted, and Root's friends created a Facebook group where other friends can show their support. Root's parents, Root's sister Radhika Root and Professor of Geography Tamar Mayer have also been posting updates on the Facebook group page.
Tom Root wrote in a letter on the Middlebury College web page that Root "is being held for unwarranted reasons by the Syrian Government in violation of the Geneva Protocols." Syrian authorities told Root that if they are holding an American, it is "a misunderstanding."
On Friday, March 25 at 7 a.m. EST, Tom Root heard from the U.S. Embassy in Damascus that several protesters who had been held as long as Tik Root were released, but Tik was not with them. Tom Root wrote in his letter, "It is unclear why the Syrian government refuses to act in his specific case, why they are resisting pressure from the embassy and why he has not already been released."
The U.S. Embassy in Damascus, the State Department, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and House Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) are all aware of Tik Root's status and working to bring about his release.
After initially keeping the situation as quiet as possible, Tom Root and Lloyd have since attempted to bring Tik's case to the attention of as many helpful parties as possible. They have been interviewed by the Addison Independent, WCAX TV in Burlington, Vt., WBUR in Boston, Mass. and Eliot Spitzer on “CNN In The Arena." Midd-Blog also has more frequently updated coverage.
UPDATE 3/27/11
Syrian authorities have located Tik Root and confirmed that he is "safe and well," according to a statement from his father. Tom Root heard from Leahy and others on Saturday, March 26 that the Syrian Embassy had found Tik. They have not yet publicized when he will be released, only that "[Tik] remains in the hands of the Syrian authorities, who are currently responsible for him."
(03/24/11 9:48pm)
Nicole Wilkerson, the women’s track and field assistant coach was recently honored by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as the Division III indoor track and field New England Region Coach of the Year for the 2011 season.
A Rice graduate, Wilkerson spent three years at Texas A&M before coming to Middlebury 10 years ago. Working with both the cross country and track and field teams at Middlebury, she has coached close to 30 All-American athletes.
After serving as the assistant cross country coach for the last nine years, Wilkerson will assume the role of head coach of the team this fall, replacing retiring head coach Terry Aldrich.
She will remain assistant coach of the track and field team, continuing to coach distance runners to success and hopefully more NCAA championships for nine months of the year.
(03/24/11 9:46pm)
For sports fans, applying to college usually means making a decision between big-time athletics and big-time academics. Sure, there are select schools where you can find both, such as Duke (gross), Georgetown (you better be a basketball fan), and Stanford (good luck getting in), but for the most part finding a top-tier school with top-tier athletics is almost impossible. After a historic run by the men’s basketball team that nearly culminated in a National Championship, I think you can add a new school to that list: Middlebury College.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not comparing a trip to the Division III Final Four to Division I March Madness- I understand that they’re very different. But this team has shown that there is a beauty to division three athletics that even division one sports cannot eclipse.
Take the past two weekends, for example, when I joined a group of students on trips to Rochester, N.Y., and Salem, Va., to support the Middlebury men’s basketball team in the NCAA tournament. We temporarily forgot about our midterms and the mountains of homework we had to do in the pursuit of witnessing Middlebury College history. For two straight weeks we rode the emotional highs and lows of a team that we actually felt a part of; a team that we felt we could will to victory if we could only yell just a little bit louder or inspire the bench that much more with our chants of defense.
The Middlebury men’s college basketball team proved this season that you could find excellence in athletics and academics at the same school, even at one the size of Middlebury. The Panthers, who finished the season at 28-2 earned a berth to the Final Four in Salem, Virginia last weekend as the top remaining seed in the NCAA tournament.
Although they didn’t win the National Championship as many people thought and hoped they would, these Panthers accomplished more than just a Final Four appearance– they energized a campus around their success. They inspired students to make the 13-hour road trip to Salem last weekend and six hours to Rochester the weekend before. In the past four years they have turned this campus from a hockey-school into a hockey-school with a basketball team that is way too good to be ignored.
Over the past four seasons alone head coach Jeff Brown has won 96 games and made the NCAA tournament each year. The Panthers won their first tournament game ever last year, but couldn’t advance past the second round of the tournament. This year they came within a game of the National Championship.
“For me, success in a huge spectator sport like basketball represents the ultimate opportunity for us to put our school pride on display,” said Craig Thompson ’13.5, one member of a contingent of students who made the trips to Rochester and Salem. “It’s truly special to see Middlebury spirit personified by the dedication of Midd’s fans. I love that the Middlebury team showed that their abilities merit more than just casual rooting interest, and I hope the success of our team can be reciprocated by even more voracious fan support in years to come.”
(03/24/11 9:41pm)
After holding off a scrappy, out-of-conference Springfield team on Wednesday afternoon at Kohn Field, the fifth-ranked men’s lacrosse team traveled to Wesleyan on Saturday to play the then 4–0 Cardinals. In Connecticut, 29 seconds into the first overtime period, Middlebury suffered its first defeat, falling to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. In the process, Wesleyan avenged a 12-5 regular season defeat at the hands of Middlebury last year.
Coming off an impressive five goal performance just three days prior, the squad’s leading scorer and this week’s NESCAC Player of the Week, David Hild ‘11 faced stiff resistance from the Wesleyan defensive zone in the form of individualized preparation and aggressive sliding- special treatment he can expect from defenses all season long.
Not to be denied, the senior co-captain netted four of his team’s eight goals as well as an assist. With the aid of fellow starting attack men, Mike Giordano ’13 and Tim Cahill ’12, who complement his brute strength with innovative mobility and field awareness, Hild kept the team within reach the entire game. With 9:41 left in the fourth quarter, Cahill dove across the face of net, slipping his second equalizing shot past the Wesleyan goalkeeper and forcing the final deadlock.
Although the Panther midfield core found the back of the net early with two goals from John McGoldrick ’14 and Erich Pfeffer ’13, they were largely quieted as the afternoon wore on. A struggle to find a consistent rhythm and to establish lasting momentum was evident in the lack of assists tallied in the box score, just two, and the number of face-offs won by the Cardinals, 13 of 19.
While the Middlebury defenders played physical, disciplined ‘on ball’ defense, their opponents capitalized on seams, which opened up on the crease and the backside. Matt Rayner ’12, the undisputed leader of the defense, was forced to leave the field with what appeared to be a shoulder injury after nearly ending a Wesleyan player’s athletic career with a jarring hit.
Last year the Panthers played Wesleyan in their third game of the season just like this year, but beat them 12-5.
Despite this fact, Peter Jennings ’12 saw the game as a learning experience for the team looking forward to the rest of the season.
“Wesleyan exposed flaws in both our offense and defense that we can fix going forward,” Jennings said. “They managed to disrupt the flow of our offensive attack. This will be a big week of practice as we try to fix some of these problems and get guys healthy to come out strong against Conn.”
The team will have much time to improve on this loss with 10 more games, seven of which are NESCAC games, before the NESCAC playoffs which begin May 1.
Middlebury returns to action on March 26 when it hosts Conn. College before traveling to Washington D.C. over spring break to take on Washington and Lee. From there, the team will be thrown into the heart of their season, playing both Amherst and Bowdoin their first week back.
(03/24/11 9:37pm)
The women’s hockey team ended their season Saturday in dominant fashion, skating past Gustavus Adolphus 5-0 in the third place game of the NCAA tournament. The impressive victory came after the Panthers fell 5-2 in the Frozen Four to top-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology. With a national championship in their sights, the Panthers couldn’t complete their title run but finished the tournament with one of their most impressive performances of the season.
“Although we did not make it to the championship game, I do believe the weekend was a success,” said goaltender Lexi Bloom ’11. “Once again we showed our true character by coming out on Saturday and taking it to the Gusties. We tend to joke about playing a game after a bad loss because we take all our anger and frustration out on the next team.”
The win over Gustavus Adolphus also sent a talented core of seniors off with a win in their final game. Bloom, who was named an All-American on Thursday, recorded her nation-leading 12th shutout of the year in the win while Anna McNally ’11 recorded two third period goals in the rout to give her 10 total goals on the season. Senior forward Julia Ireland ’11 also recorded her ninth assist of the season to go along with 12 goals,
The Panthers got out to an early lead when Lauren Greer ’13 scored her second goal of the weekend on the Panthers power play less than halfway through the first period.
The Panthers converted two of their six power plays against Gustavus, a stark improvement over their Frozen Four game against Rochester in which the Panthers were just one of eight on the power play while conceding two goals in three penalty situations.
The Golden Gusties meanwhile failed to score on any of their five power play opportunities, as they couldn’t beat Bloom who made all 30 saves in her final game as a Panther.
Sara Ugalde ’14 doubled the Panthers lead to 2-0 14:52 into the second period after Gustavus Adolphus defender Lindsey Hjelm was penalized for checking in a goal-scoring situation, giving the Panthers a penalty-shot, which the first-year player put in the net for her 13th goal of the season.
Maggie Melberg ’12 made it a 3-0 game less than two minutes later when she scored her seventh goal of the season. Maggie Woodward ’13 and Madeline Joyce ’14 assisted the goal.
Already leading 3-0 going into the final period, McNally put the finishing touches on the game with two evenly spaced goals in the third period, one at the 9:21 mark and her second 18:42 into the period.
For the senior co-captain from St. Paul, Minnesota, the two-goal performance was an appropriate end to a great career at Middlebury, but not the ultimate goal.
“It was definitely bittersweet to have ended my career in the third place game,” she said. “It was a hard pill to swallow knowing that we weren’t playing for a national title, but I am grateful to have been able to put on the jersey one more time with my best friends.”
The Panthers had a chance to knock off Rochester, who would lose to Norwich in the NCAA finals, but couldn’t capitalize on key chances, the most notable of which were their eight power plays.
After a scoreless first period, during which the Panthers failed to score in three advantage situations, RIT jumped out to a quick 3-0 advantage over a stretch of 8:12 in the second period.
The Panthers fought back however, as Maggie Melberg grabbed the first goal for the Panthers, 15:18 into the second period. The goal was a turning point of sorts for the Panthers who closed the Rochester lead to 3-2 11:32 into the third period when Greer beat the Tigers goaltender Chamberlain,
“After we scored the first goal to make it 3-1, I knew that we were right back in it,” said line-mate McNally. “We were getting a lot of chances and their freshman goaltender had one heck of a night.”
Chamberlain made 34 saves in the game and proved to be the difference for the Tigers. The first-year player finished with the best winning percentage of any goaltender in division three hockey and second in goals allowed per game, trailing only Bloom.
The Tigers took advantage of a tripping penalty on McNally 12:30 into the third period by scoring on the power play just 12 seconds later.
It was just the Panthers third penalty of the game, but RIT, whose special teams are among the best in the country, took advantage of the limited opportunities. The Tigers led the nation in penalty kill efficiency, while converting over 26 percent of their own advantage situations.
The Tigers fifth and final goal was an empty net goal that Kolbee McCrea put between the posts with 1:15 remaining in the game, sealing the Panthers fate. Head coach Bill Mandigo put things in perspective after the Panthers loss.
“I think when you go to the Final Four you only have one thing on your mind and that is winning the 7:00 game on Saturday night,” he said. “I thought we competed hard, never quit and left Rochester with our heads held high. But, we did not play in the game we wanted to on Saturday.”
The Panthers rebounded from the loss in the semifinals to play one of their most complete games on Saturday.
“I think the players had a sense of purpose to make sure the seniors went out winners and to show all that when you put the jersey with an ‘M’ on, it matters,” Mandigo said.
McNally echoed her coach’s comments. “This year has been incredible and I truly feel so lucky to have had the privilege of playing with such a special group of girls,” she said. “I will never forget this team and I wish them the absolute best in the seasons to come. I know that they are capable of achieving anything if they stay together, stay focused, and as we say, ‘Hold the rope.’”
(03/24/11 9:36pm)
The 13th ranked Middlebury Panthers had a definitive victory over the Wesleyan Cardinals this past Saturday on Kohn Field. The Panthers improve to 2-0 in the season with both victories against NESCAC opponents.
The win was a solid team effort, as seven different scorers netted goals. Sally Ryan ’11 scored the first goal of the game off a free position, before the Cardinals responded with a goal of their own.
From there, Middlebury broke away with a five-goal run and would continue to hold the momentum for the rest of the game.
Ellen Halle ’13 scored three goals during the first half, ending the Panthers’ five goal run at 9:43 off a feed from Ryan. The teams then exchanged a pair of goals leaving the score at 8-3 at the intermission.
Ryan set the tone for the second half, adding two more goals to her tally including one in which she forced a Cardinals turnover, setting up her own score at 20:32.
Wesleyan’s Kaylin Berger responded with a goal, her third of the game, before Chase Delano ’11 fired back with a score for the Panthers. Berger would score again setting the score at 11-5 with 11:27 left to play.
From there on out, Middlebury controlled the game, answering Wesleyan’s pair of goals with four of its own– two for Ryan, one for Halle and one for Liz Garry ’12.
Goalie Lily Nguyen ’12 had another great game making twelve saves while only allowing five goals during her 57:42 time in net. Alyssa Palomba ’14 stepped in goal for the final 2:18 of the game, making one save in that time.
Halle, Ryan and Coach Missy Foote all attributed the team’s victory to the hard work they put in practicing fast breaking off the draw and goalie clears this past week.
“Fast break goals always boost the energy on the field,” said Ryan, “and made Saturday’s game fast paced and exciting.”
“We were able to play with composure while also taking some risks,” said Halle, “which really paid off.”
Moreover, the team remained consistent throughout the game, a promising improvement from last week’s victory against Bates. This complete game can be attributed to the fact that many members of the team stepped up, producing multiple standouts in the mind of Coach Foote.
Foote commended Liza Herzog ’14 on “scoring her first collegiate goal and having six ground balls and two caused turnovers.”
Moreover, she applauded her veterans for their leading roles in the game. Foote recognized, “Sally Ryan’s five goals, one assist, three ground balls and four draw controls; Halle’s four goals; Hannah Epstein ’12 held their leading assister to no assists; Nguyen had 12 saves, and Steph Gill ’12 did an incredible job changing up the draw and had four draw controls herself.”
The team will hope to continue this winning streak Thursday against Babson, who the Panthers lost to last year in a close 15-13 match.
Both Foote and Ryan are ready to work on their offensive plays, midfield transition and fast break in anticipation of their matchup against the Babson Beavers.
While off to a great start, Foote noted that the team’s goals for the season are to “play as a cohesive group and surpass our potential.” The Panthers will host Babson at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24th.
(03/24/11 9:31pm)
In their third match of the season, the women’s tennis team came out victorious, beating Rochester 9-0 at home. So far this season, the team lost only one match out of the 27 played, and entered the match against Rochester ranked 12th nationally.
This week 16th ranked Victoria Aiello ’12 beat 17th ranked Lia Wiener in only two matches for the number one singles match. Both sets were close, but Aiello pulled away victorious, winning 7-6 and 7-5.
In the number two doubles spot, Leah Kepping ’13 was able to pull out victorious after losing the first set 5-7, winning the next two 6-1, 6-4 in order to beat out Rochestor’s Frances Tseng. Sally Wilkey ’12 also won her match in the number three singles spot after losing the first set 5-7, easily beating Alexandra Goodman in the next two sets 6-1, 6-2.
Finishing out the singles matches were Anna Burke ’13, Dorrie Paradies ’14 and Whitney Hanson ’11. All three of them won their matches in just two sets; none of them letting their opponents win more than three games.
In terms of doubles play, in 27 games played over three separate matches, Middlebury players only let three games get away. In the number one doubles spot Brittany Faber ’13 and Kepping let two games through to win 8-2 against Alexandra Goodman and Frances Tseng of Rochester.
Both the team of Aiello and Burke and the team of Wilkey and Paradies easily won their matches, both winning 8-1.
“The team put in a lot of time during the off season which is already paying off as we head into the spring,” said tri-captain Hanson. “Everyone on the team has gained confidence this year after our successful fall season, our off season training and our strong start to the spring season. We have a very energetic team and everyone is excited and prepared to play well.”
Over spring break the team will be playing four separate matches as they travel to the south for a training trip. The team will start off by playing Emory University this Friday in Atlanta, Georgia. They will then play Mary Washington and Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday and Monday respectively at Emory University. The Panthers will complete their spring break matches on April Fool’s Day against Savannah College of Art and Design in Hilton Head, S.C.
“The team is excited to finally play outdoors this coming Friday,” Hanson said. “We are traveling to Atlanta for the first half of our trip to play 3 different teams. We are especially excited to play Emory who is one of the top ranked teams in the country.”
The team will then quickly be in the heart of their season, beginning at Hamilton on the 10th. In the two weeks following, the team will play four matches all against NESCAC teams. Just five weeks after returning from spring break, the team will compete in the NESCAC Tournament.
(03/24/11 9:25pm)
All good things must come to an end as the Middlebury Men’s basketball team record-breaking season came to an end Friday at the ends of St. Thomas (29-3), narrowly missing the team’s first Division 3 Championship appearance. However, the Panthers did not go down without a fight.
Middlebury jumped out to an early lead to start the game after a basket and pair of blocks by leading scorer Ryan Sharry ’12 gave the team a 7-2 advantage. After battling back to an 11-11 tie thanks to tight defense and quick three point shooting, the Tommies kept the game close through most of the first half. However, a 10-2 run in the final two and a half minutes of the first half gave St. Thomas a 32-25 lead going into the locker room.
Uncharacteristically, the Panthers shot just 33 percent from the floor in the first period, missing on all nine of their three point attempts.
“They cranked up defensively and I have to give St. Thomas credit” said head coach Jeff Brown.
Meanwhile, the Tommies made four of their seven three point attempts, shooting 41 percent from the floor on the top-ranked defensive team in the tournament.
Unlike the first, the second half proved to be a series of runs and droughts by both teams. Middlebury scored the first three shots of the half, cutting the lead to just one. However, the Tommies struck right back, going on a 9-0 run of their own thanks to four points from Tommy Hannon to take an eight point lead, the largest of the game.
The Panthers quickly responded, going on a seven minute, 18-3 run which found Jake Wolfin ’13 and Nolan Thompson ’13 finding Middlebury’s three point stroke while the team took a 50-43 lead.
Slowly chipping away with lockdown defense, the Tommies found themselves ahead by five with just a minute remaining in the contest.
However, Middlebury was still not done. After an enormous three by Thompson cut the lead to two, Senior Jamal Davis ’11 stole the ball with 16 seconds remaining, giving the Panthers one last chance.
Following a timeout, the Panthers tried their best to get the ball inside to Sharry for the tie. Denied by the Tommies, Thompson shot one last three for the win as the buzzer sounded, barely missing as the ball clanked off the front of the rim. St Thomas escaped with a 59-57 victory as the Panthers incredible season came to an end.
Despite the loss, the Panthers season has been quite a historic one. The team finished a school best 28-2, reaching the sweet 16, elite eight and final four for the first time in school history.
On an individual note, Ryan Sharry became just the second player in school history, after Ben Rudin, to receive All-American honors. The Panthers say goodbye to Davis, Andrew Locke ’11, Ryan Wholey ’11 and Andrew Plumley ’11 this season, yet return with a group of players ready to continue the success that has come to mark Middlebury Basketball.
(03/24/11 7:07pm)
On Friday morning, I opened my window for the first time since November.
Sunlight lay in long strips across my quilt and I could feel the warmth on my face as I
struggled with the crank, still half lying in bed, my mouth full of the rosemary bush that
dwells on my windowsill. Rising to my knees, I leaned heavily on the brass and the
window swung outward, screeching with the released pressure of a long winter. The
sound of the world immediately rushed into my room, like ears popping after a plane
ride. A truck rumbled up College Street and the side door to Munroe opened and swung
shut. I’d forgotten what really listening was like. I held my fingers to the screen and
tested the breeze gingerly, then spread my palm across the mesh and smiled, feeling the
warm air against my skin.
Each year spring catches me by surprise. In mid-February I tell myself that I can
see it coming – the light is changing, I say, and think I know what I’m talking about – but
soon it snows again, the sun goes flat, and I give up. My hat stays resolutely on my head
and I drag my feet through the resilient grayness and then one day I open my window and
its spring and I’ve missed it all over again.
In class, I am often told to rely on reason. A sharp mind can carve understanding
out of the bones of the past. But as much as I would like to, I am never quite able to
apply it to the natural world. Professors beseech us to run order through chaos, but nature
leaves me with a pile of unanswered questions and a dull pen. Spring is chaos, and it is
because I cannot understand it that I love it. Reason does not apply to spring, and the
more I miss it happening, the more I realize I will never be able to see it all happening,
and, somehow, I am comforted. Would Friday have been so pleasant if I had known it
was coming?
I woke up this morning to snowflakes clouding my window, and grinned – there
was nothing else I could do. Spring had ducked its head again, slipping off into the
darkness like so many dance floor lovers on a Saturday night. I located the hat that I had
blissfully ignored for the last few days, pulled it low over my ears, and felt the familiar
quiet of winter again. Tomorrow, maybe, I’ll have another shot at really listening.