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Friday, Oct 2, 2026

Opinion


The Setonian

Ethical journalism at The Campus

As a close friend of Lia Smith ’26, I was experiencing another wave of grief two weeks ago when I had a comforting realization: I did not know how Lia had died, and while I knew the information was available, it hadn’t been in the news, so as to distract from her life or blame her, as often happens. ...


The Setonian

Remembering Charlie Kirk: Man vs. The Algorithm

Right after Charlie Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10, 2025, the internet started showing me his videos. This was, initially, disappointing. After a decade of companionship, I had hoped my phone would have been able to guess that I would find his politics repulsive, his schtick shlocky. But I underestimated ...


The Setonian

Eighty Billion: An excerpt from “How to Want Better Things”

At Middlebury, we talk a lot about systems. In our environmental studies classes, sustainability-focused clubs and everyday conversation, we discuss sustainability, carbon footprints and Energy2028. Yet, every day in our dining halls, we participate in a system that is largely invisible to us.


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J-Term: Searching for value in downtime

J-Term is a defining aspect of the Middlebury education, encompassing everything it means to be a student here. From skiing at the Snow Bowl to building snowmen on the quad, it is undeniable that the lighter workload and lessened commitments slow down time, paving the way for the serenity that characterizes ...


The Setonian

The Mamdani moment and what his victory means for both parties

Tuesday, Nov. 4, was a huge night for Democrats! Zohran Mamdani, Abigail Spanberger, and Mikie Sherrill all claimed victory in their respective races. At the College Democrats’ watch party, one student exclaimed, “This is the worst night for Republicans since 2020!” But was it? Perhaps not. In ...


The Setonian

Is knowing my Constitutional rights too political?

Last spring, our college administration censored Migrant Justice at Middlebury (MJaM), a student solidarity network for Migrant Justice. In response to our efforts to keep our community informed about our constitutional rights to safety and free speech, we experienced the sudden revocation of previously ...


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Who does the SGA really work for?

The Student Government Association’s (SGA) Nov. 5 vote to reject a student-led referendum concerning rights for free speech and student protection on our campus raises an important question: Who does the SGA work for? Students, or the Middlebury College administration? We are concerned about the SGA’s ...


The Setonian

When pushing the limit becomes destructive

I give the laces of my cleats a quick tug before jogging out onto the turf. Nervously, I nod at my teammates, a conglomeration of ex-collegiate players and middle-aged men clad in fluorescent t-shirts. My first touch sends the ball six feet away, and I wince. Shoot, what was that? This is my first time ...


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SPECS Panther - Menstruation and Sports

For athletes, the phrase “listen to your body” is not foreign. However, many might overlook how listening to oneself connects to the menstrual cycle and its impacts. At SPECS, we acknowledge that not everyone who menstruates identifies as female, and many who identify as female don’t menstruate. ...


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Save small class sizes

Small class sizes and intimate academic experiences have long been a core tenet of a Middlebury education. The college proudly boasts our 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and our average class size of 16 on its website and on every tour. But this has not been reflective of our Middlebury experience for ...


The Setonian

Letter to the Editor: Response to No Kings! Except the ones we like…

In the op-ed “No Kings! Except the ones we like…”, published in the Nov. 6 edition of The Campus, the author argues that the protest movement across the country is an example of selective outrage, and that the standard for criticism and condemnation is not applied evenly. While I see merit in ...


The Setonian

Letter To The Editor: How democracies die

This Letter To The Editor is a response to Ignacio Gamero ’26’s op-ed titled “No Kings! Except the ones we like…,” published in the Nov. 6 issue of The Campus. In his piece, Gamero argued that outrage over presidential overreach is merely inconsistent partisanship and exemplifies selective ...


The Setonian

Step By Step: Bringing People Closer

Last week, I received sudden and heartbreaking news. My aunt, who was traveling from Qalqilya, Palestine (West Bank) to visit my ailing mother in Jordan, passed away unexpectedly. The news left all of us in shock. Yet, I decided to attend the inauguration of Ian B. Baucom as the 18th president of Middlebury ...


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Stop politicizing romance

I don’t think there’s a single person who lives in the U.S. who would say that our country is not going through a significant political crisis. The political conversation is ever-present. But what concerns me is the politicization of our personal lives. In particular, we need to stop politicizing ...


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Silence will not protect us

Middlebury College’s mission statement states that it seeks to “foster the inquiry, equity, and agency necessary for [students] to practice ethical citizenship.” Yet, our ability to do so is currently under attack. This is not only a result of the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic ...


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Notes from the Desk: What is the Editorial Board?

The Campus’ Editorial Board (EB) is a group of fixed student editors who meet weekly to discuss issues important to the college community, and then publish a piece reflective of our conversations. We try to reach some degree of consensus to “call for” something, whether that’s a demand for students ...


The Setonian

A Letter to Middlebury College

On behalf of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) Student Advocacy Council, we would like to share our heartfelt sympathy and support for Lia Smith’s family and friends, and to everyone at Middlebury who feels her absence.