Across the United States, controversies are erupting over race relations on college campuses. The responses to these controversies reflect a range of emotions — from revulsion to surprise and even defiance that such issues still plague our nation. These outside events are incredibly relevant to our ...
I recently read Heinrich von Kleist’s short essay, “On the Marionette Theatre,” in which he recounts a conversation with a dancer friend, known as Mr. C. To von Kleist’s surprise, Mr. C expresses delight in watching marionettes. Von Kleist “had regarded the handling of marionettes as something ...
“We apologize that we offended with our poster. We care about the role of comedy in discourse on this campus. As intentional members of the community, we take this issue seriously. We look forward to reflecting and engaging in future dialogue.” The Otter Nonsense Players are an improv comedy ...
Recently posters advertising an improv show, an athletic event and more have been circulating around campus with jokes evoking marginalized identities — specifically race, class and ability — and their corresponding stereotypes. These posters have been met with opposition from marginalized people, ...
I read with interest the opinion piece by Ethan Brady, “The State of the Endowment,” and I feel it’s important to address some of what Ethan discussed in his piece and to provide some important context and facts that readers of the Campus can use to make up their own minds.
Last Thursday, film enthusiasts and our friends across the pond celebrated Guy Fawkes. He wasn’t the greatest guy to grace the planet, nor was he particularly successful in his endeavor to blow up government. But he became iconic. He’s a symbol for resisting government oppression; thus, he’s especially ...
This past Friday, the Middlebury faculty met for its monthly session to discuss the AAL requirement and whether or not to renew the pass/D/fail option. Representatives from the Campus and the SGA were present, as is sanctioned by the College’s bylaws. When the conversation turned to student stress, ...
As the faculty prepare to discuss and possibly even vote on distribution requirement changes this Friday, as a community, I encourage us to reflect on what we mean by “liberal arts” education. What is it that we, the Middlebury community, seek to achieve here? Though 2015 Vermont is not Ancient ...
It is easy to discount “American Culture” as a loose, insufficient, reductionist term for the patchwork heritage of the U.S. As we all know, America is called a “melting pot” for a reason – this country is primarily composed of people who have cultural roots elsewhere, often across several ...
“What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we love black culture?” Amandla Stenberg, teen actress and pop prophet, asked exactly that in a videopublished on Tumblr nine months ago. She wasn’t the first, but she fanned the question’s popularity. Since then it has blazed ...
I am disappointed by this paper’s recent coverage of the endowment return for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2015. Let’s get one thing straight: Middlebury’s endowment had a terrible showing this year. The return on investment was 6.9 percent, which equates to a $19.1 million increase from ...
Four years ago as a sophomore enjoying my first summer at Middlebury, I would also have another first — giving my first accessible tour. Up to this point during my career at admissions, and in the three subsequent years I spent working there, not once did I tour an individual in a wheelchair or see ...
Below is a letter drafted by Lauren Kelly ’13, Dan Egol ’13, and Barbara Ofosu-Somuah ‘13. It aims to communicate interest and concern regarding accessibility in the four new residential buildings currently under construction at Ridgeline. It is currently a Google document that is being signed ...
The construction of a new residence hall—the first at Middlebury in more than a decade—has sparked an important discussion in our community over what standards we should set for ourselves regarding the accessibility of our campus. I’m sure we all wish this question had arisen last spring during ...
Passion is palpable on Middlebury’s campus. As students, we devote ourselves to a wide variety of causes – perhaps best evidenced by the College’s 169 clubs and organizations. While we are certainly an engaged student body, we do not always act constructively on our passions. The Campus editorial ...
This Monday night will be the first official “10 o’clock Ross.” (Translation: continental food will now be available in Ross Dining Hall from 10 pm to 11 pm every Monday-Thursday night.) We are very excited that the folks in Dining Services were willing to work with us on this initiative. If you ...
To the Editor, The Campus opinion pages have included a number of references as of late to the Center for Careers & Internships (CCI) and its perceived role in not only adding stress to students’ lives as they consider summer plans and/or life after Middlebury, but also for doing too little in offering ...
Every culture, no matter what country or government, develops traits that distinguish the socially privileged from the impoverished. Usually, they’re ridiculous societal quirks. Cars in Manhattan are a fantastic example. You neither need nor benefit from one, which means you’re driving to show something. ...
For five decades Middlebury College has been an outstanding leader in promoting environmental studies and international studies and in adopting sustainable operating procedures. Laurie Patton has shared with me her commitment as the College’s new president to build on and extend this admirable record ...
One year ago, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund divested $860 million from the fossil fuel industry. Now it’s our turn. The philanthropic fund bears the well-known name of John D. Rockefeller, philanthropist and founder of Standard Oil, the company we now know as ExxonMobil. His heirs’ uncoupling from ...