Notes from the desk: In favor of a less outrageous, more authentic online presence
By Lily Laesch | May 7, 2020"The human experience was never meant to be replicated digitally."
The Middlebury Off-Campus Project
Let’s take grades off their pedestal
By Kemi Fuentes-George | May 7, 2020"Let’s be real. Grades are reductive."
Acknowledgements
By Benjy Renton | May 7, 2020A project of this size and scope cannot be accomplished with many individuals whose insights, guidance and assistance were invaluable to our process. In its second year, Zeitgeist was made possible by the input and support of Dean of Students Baishakhi Taylor. Additionally, we would like to thank Executive ...
Facing the Covid-19 crisis
By The Committee On Diversity, Equity And Inclusion | May 7, 2020"While the economic crisis is a reality out of our control, our reaction to it and its outcomes are not."
Our approach to changing the grading policy shows how a Middebury education is failing us all
By William Kelley | May 7, 2020"Our mission statement claims to welcome change. But we were so caught up in trying to preserve our grading system that we were unable to think of creative solutions to this problem."
Methodology
By Benjy Renton | May 7, 2020In designing this year’s survey, The Campus’ Zeitgeist team reviewed questions from last year’s survey (both those that were on the survey itself and others that were submitted but did not make it into the survey) and then distributed a form to solicit questions via The Campus’ social media ...
When it comes to students’ politics, climate change is center stage
By Hattie Lefavour | May 7, 2020This year — right before the turn of the decade — we asked students what they believed the most pressing issue of our day to be.
Sexual health on campus: contraception, STIs and Title IX
By Rain Ji | May 7, 2020Since last year’s Zeitgeist, there have been more efforts to promote sex and consent-focused education on Middlebury’s campus.
Students from historically marginalized groups more dissatisfied with mental health resources
By Hannah Bensen | May 7, 2020Over the past 20 years, counseling appointments at Middlebury have increased nearly 3.5 times, according to data from Parton.
Athletes tend to get drunker, spend more time in Atwater than non-athletes
By Max Padilla | May 7, 2020On average, athletes get drunker than non-athletes, according to Zeitgeist data. About 48% of non-athletes said they tend to “get drunk” when they consume alcohol, compared to 58% within the varsity-athlete population — a 10% difference.
Students define "hook-up," discuss romantic scene at Middlebury
By Benjy Renton and Ariadne Will | May 7, 2020The Campus asked Middlebury students to participate in the second annual Zeitgeist survey in November, looking to gain insight into campus culture by asking the questions that are often not discussed. This year’s survey included an exploration of love, relationships and the ever ill-defined “hook-up ...
From Proc to TikTok: social life on campus
By Elsa Korpi | May 7, 2020From social media to partying, students reflect on social life at Middlebury.
Large number of students have considered transferring from Middlebury
By Riley Board | May 7, 2020While only an average of 15 to 20 students transfer out of Middlebury in a given year, Zeitgeist data from this fall shows that 43% percent of survey respondents, or 451 students, have considered transferring during their time at the college.
Students feel intellectually stimulated at Middlebury; mental health top reason for skipping class
By Riley Board and Nicole Pollack | May 7, 2020Students cited mental health as the most common reason for skipping class, with mental health being the cause of 23% of missed classes, followed by feeling overwhelmed by assignments, 21% of the time.
Who makes up Midd? Students by the numbers
By Hannah Bensen | May 7, 2020Zeitgeist gives a snapshot of the student body by demographics: sexual orientation, gender, race, socioeconomic background, among others.
Zeitgeist 2020
By Benjy Renton | May 7, 2020At times, students' concerns at Middlebury can feel amorphous. Through the second annual Zeitgeist survey, we hope to bridge the gap between data analysis and journalism.
Remembering William Garrett Nash ’20
By Sadie Housberg | May 2, 2020Will Nash will be remembered for his ability to live with joy in the present, his passion for innovating and the boundless love he held for those around him.
Three Vermont state colleges face uncertain futures
By Jack Summersby | April 30, 2020Increased financial stress has put the future of three public Vermont colleges in question.
With lack of storage and low demand, dairy farms resort to milk dumping
By Anna Wood | April 30, 2020The state’s already struggling dairy industry has been destroying its sitting supply of milk in a reluctant response to Covid-19 economic realities.