On my long-term relationship with the internet
By Christine Mcdow | April 16, 2020"My relationship with the internet was fine until Middlebury announced that it would be closing as a precautionary measure due to the Covid-19 crisis."
Opinion
In support of passionate, progressive politics
By Keith Chatinover | April 16, 2020"Instead of allowing yourself to become disillusioned by the prospect of a Biden candidacy, I challenge you to channel the disgust you might very well feel after this primary to motivate yourself. Get, or stay, involved."
An open letter to faculty on the opt-in policy
By Quinn Boyle, Rati Saini and Jack Brown | April 15, 2020"Stripping students of grades raises serious concerns about Middlebury’s commitment to academic freedom, a principle outlined in the college’s handbook. Even off campus, we know the product we signed up for. Honor that."
We endorse the mandatory credit/no credit grading system
By Editorial Board | April 14, 2020"We recognize that this debate has been a contentious one, with arguments on both sides meriting careful consideration. That said, we find the sheer amount of waffling — on the part of both administration and faculty — unsettling."
Desperate times call for flexible measures
By Editorial Board | April 9, 2020"We started out this remote experiment thinking about how to adapt the structure of lecture halls to our laptops, but we should also be envisioning ways to bring the intimacy of our Zoom screens back to our classrooms."
We are in a global crisis, with or without Covid-19
By Divya Gudur, Claire Contreras, Jaden Hill, Hannah Laga Abram, Sophie Chalfin-Jacobs and Asa Skinder | April 9, 2020"The economic restructuring and dramatic lifestyle changes we have seen in the past weeks prove the kind of large-scale action needed to address climate change has been possible this whole time."
Let’s talk about accountability
By Myles Maxie | April 9, 2020"Especially in times as turbulent such as this, it is imperative to have student leadership that listens to the voice of the community."
Notes from the desk: Having a parent on the frontlines
By Lily Laesch | April 2, 2020"My mom stays at work for you, miles and hours away from her loved ones. Please, please stay at home for her."
Here-Being
By Ben Beese | April 2, 2020"At a time when nearly everything has been put on hold, it is so much more important not put our lives on hold as well."
In praise of a humbler, more human Middlebury
By Editorial Board | April 2, 2020Not many would characterize Middlebury’s student-administration relationship as “simple.” Mere weeks ago, the college faced intense, sustained outcry from students protesting Charles Murray’s third controversial invitation to speak on campus. On Murray and other issues, students have critiqued ...
It’s time to change how we think about grading
By Jason Mittell | April 1, 2020"Increasing transparency and student agency improves learning."
Optional Pass/D/Fail is community failure
By Lily Colón | April 1, 2020"What drives the pushback against universal pass/fail is the unwillingness of privileged Middlebury students to forego the unmerited benefits they receive from said privilege."
Notes from the desk: In support of universal Pass/D/Fail
By Bochu Ding | March 28, 2020"The current opt-in Pass/D/Fail system presents an illusion of choice."
Universal pass/fail puts grades before learning
By Tim Hua | March 28, 2020"We should not ask ourselves how we can make sure everyone receives the same on-paper outcome, but rather how we can help those who need support."
Current grading options are an equitable compromise
By Tommy Eastman | March 28, 2020"In these difficult times, we have to be honest with ourselves about our goals and the effort we’re planning on putting into our work."
Students need grades, and we can have grades without sacrificing equitability
By Tianzhi (Lambus) Li | March 28, 2020"Despite imperfections, the letter grading system is the last guardian of fairness in an inherently unfair society."
Circumstance is not choice, but community is
By Arthur Martins, Daleelah Saleh and Jackson Tham | March 28, 2020"We cannot choose the circumstances we live in, but we still have a choice about the kind community we want to create."
Make all courses pass/fail now
By Allison Stanger | March 28, 2020Students aren’t having a real college experience. We shouldn’t pretend that they are.
What happens now that we’re all in long-distance friendships?
By Genevieve Herron | March 24, 2020Genevieve Herron '23 proposes a solution to the difficulty of long-distance friendships: letter writing.
Online dating in the era of Covid-19
By Sex Panther | March 22, 2020Our Sex Panther has compiled all the best coronavirus references from the dating apps she's been scanning while sheltering in place at home.