ddlehury Campus S Ea Vol. 109, No.1.” Thursday, January 13, 2011 Since 1905 Porter sustains burglary damage By Jess Berry timeline for the crime is believed STAFF WRITER | to be sometime between Dec. 27 The Office of Public Safety and Dec. 28. continues to investigate the forced However, one day a year all entry and burglary of Porter roadways on campus are closed House, which was discovered on in order to meet requirements ianaAcn ahna n i aea for maintaining their status as Dec. 28. Officer Chris Thompson, College roads instead of public who discovered the break-in ones. This keeps the Middlebury around 5:20 p.m. that day, report- Police off campus. The night that ed the crime. At 11:15 p.m., stu- Porter Field Road was closed off dents, faculty and staff received an to public use, making it unable to e-mail informing them about the be patrolled, was Dec. 25, so it is break-in. unclear whether or not this was a A number of items have been factor in the crime. reported missing by residents Residents of Porter were no- of Porter, and there was damage tified of the break-in through the Neekta Abossein within the house. Several doors same e-mail that was sent to the were broken as the intruder or entire College community. Poetry REVIVED IN Nicat KITE REVIVAL intruders gained access to the “Residents were provided de- Derrick Brown, alongside spoken word poets Taylor Mali, AnisM ojgani and Buddy Wakefield, perfonaed his residents’ rooms. As of press time, tailed information and instruc- tions shortly after the Crime work during a sold-out show last Thursday in the McCullough Social Space. Stude nt poets opened the act. there are no reported suspects. The Middlebury Police Depart- Notice was sent,’ said Officer Faculty earn titles, tenure ment (MPD) has gathered evi- Thompson. “I was finishing up dence and is currently performing my report at the time and the an investigation. Crime Notice was sent to make “I was checking buildings the community aware so anyone around campus and as I patrolled with information regarding the By Cedar Attanasio new endowed chairs port was meaningful at a time near Porter House, I noticed that incident could report it to Public STAFF WRITER Essig’s tenure was met with when she was being criticized for the freeze light was not in the Safety and the MPD.” Laurie Essig, assistant profes- enthusiasm from students and re- her teaching. window, said Thompson. “As I Johna Iannitto *11, who lost sor of sociology and anthropology cently graduated alumni. “{It] was devastating, be- walked up onto the porch, I no- $600 worth of personal belong- and women’s and gender studies, “I am ecstatic to learn of her ing a good teacher is central to ticed that the window in the en- ings as well as her birth certificate alongwith four other professors, tenure,” wrote Baylie Roth ’09 in my identity, Essig said. “It was trance door was ajar. As I looked and passport, was not satisfied were approved for tenure this past an e-mail. Roth, a former stu- really overwhelming to get that into the building, I found evi- with the way officials handled the fall. The Geology and Classics de- dent of Essig’s, started a Facebook much support from students and dence that the -house had been situation. partments also announced two group in 2008 to fight the pre- it’s the teason I decided to stay at “We should have been noti- forcibly entered.” tenure committee’s initial recom- Middlebury,” she said in response Based upon dates and times fied separately from the entire mendation not to renew Essig’s to whether or not she had consid- Tenure Track that Facilities Services and Pub- tenure-track contract. ered accepting outside offers to lic Safety checked the house, the SEE PROPERTY, PAGE 2 Laurie Essig, SOAN “Middlebury culture is such teach and write. Febe Armanios, HIST a privileged, ableist, upper class, Though happy to have re- Matthew Kimble, PSYC white, heteronormative space ceived tenure, she has recently Hedya Klein, ART that it is important (albeit diffi- critiqued the concept in The Sefano Mula, ITAL cult) to be critical of our place in Chronicle of Higher Education, that culture,’ he added. “[Essig’s] where she is a regular contribu- Endowed Chairs brilliance and influence will con- tor. The process discourages pro- Robert R. Churchill tinue to make Middlebury a criti- fessors facing pre-tenure review Professorship in cally aware and amazing place to from sharing and publishing their Geosciences: Ray Coish learn.” opinions openly, she wrote. Essig explained that the stu- “Who in their right mind James I. Armstrong dent outcry did not have a direct would risk ‘job security for life’ in Professorship in Classical impact on the decision. However, Studies: Jane Chaplin she did acknowledge that the sup- SEE COLLEGE CREATES, PAGE 3 LENAClJEoaeU smE ETse L Grille hours remain limited By Kathryn DeSutter the Snow Bowl, announced their probably be a four to six week News EDITOR retirement, setting back plans for turnaround,” added Spears. “Opti- Despite promises made last extended hours until their former mistically, [expanded hours will go October for expanded operating positions can be filled. into effect during] the beginning hours at the Grille on Sundays and Vice President for Administra- of spring term, which I know is not Mondays, administrators now pre- tion Tim Spears said that the Col- the answer a lot of people want to dict new hours will not go into ef- lege has “hired a couple managers,” hear.” fect until the beginning of spring but still needs to hire a General Grille hours were originally re- term, at best. Manager for all retail food loca- duced at the beginning of the fall Last October, Dining Services tions, including the Grille. semester last year. Although Direc- hoped to expand the operating Spears emphasized that the tor of Dining Services Matthew hours of the Grille to 5 p.m. to Grille can’t “open up on Sundays Biette hoped that these reduced 12 a.m. on Sundays and until 12 and Mondays until they have this hours would be only “temporary,” a.m. on Mondays by the end of next hire.” the Grille still closes at 5 p.m. on the month. The Grille is currently Business Manager Thomas Mondays and is closed entirely on closed on Sundays and closes at 5 Corbin explained that the recruit- Sundays. p.m. on Mondays. In early Novem- ment process for the General Man- The SGA passed a resolution Andrew Podrygula, = ber, former Grille managers Mi- ager is still ongoing. He hoped that to examine the Grille hours and WINTER TERM BEGINS | chael Glidden and Dave Kerin, who telephone interviews would be their impact on student life on Sled tracks in front of Mead Memorial Chapel leave evidence of stu- also ran Wilson Café, MiddXpress, completed this week. dents ~ time enjoying the:m ore lenient o Ten schedule. the Ralph Myre Golf Course and “Once they make the hire it'll SEE GRILLE, PAGE 4 Cabot Creamery J-term, play term Ezra Axelrod ’08 Check out the behind-the- Get the scoop on the best ways A review of Saturday’s scenes of Vermont dairy, to spend the month of January, concert in the CFA, page 5. pages 12-13. page 18. 2 13 January 2011 Property stolen during break-in CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 desk was rummaged through, my room was a desire for enhanced security at the house. pillaged. They broke into my safe that had “Tnitially I was dissatisfied with not be- campus,’ said Iannitto. “We asked [Thomp- my passport and birth certificate in it, so ing able to get any help and feeling like I son] to give us more information, and he now I also have to be worried about iden- just lost $600 worth of my stuff,’ said Ian- did tell us about some of the damage, but tity theft.” nitto. “I should not have to put insurance I was completely surprised at the extent of Mori Rothman 711 had his longboard on my ski pants because I’m worried they the damage.” stolen, and was also unhappy with the reac- will be stolen from my locked house behind Ove srda o> a The house was wrecked when residents tion of the administration to the incident. my locked bedroom door. That bothered er Ber ot z returned to campus. Many of the locks on “Officer Chris and the other public me at first, and also the fact that this is not briefing doors had been broken off, and rooms were safety officers were really sympathetic, but the first time Porter has been broken into torn apart. we were not contacted by anyone else in the is upsetting. The school obviously needs to “The house was destroyed, most of thé school administration, either to talk about reconsider the security of this house.” by Jack Maher ’12 bedroom doors had their locks smashed insurance things, or even to say We are According to Thompson, Public Safety off,” said Jannitto. “The front door was really sorry to hear this,” said Rothman. and the College will be reviewing the in- BEIJING — It was somewhere between smashed into; the glass was broken. My “That would have been nice.” cident to see if any action can be taken to the instant noodle aisle and distilled rice spir- room was really obliterated. I came back to Although Rothman and Jannitto both help prevent this type of incident from oc- its section that an unsettling sensation started all of my stuff strewn across my room, my still feel safe living in Porter, they expressed curring in the future. in my stomach. Caught in the whirlwind of a sudden onrush of shoppers scrambling for half-priced yogurt, I lost track of my friends. The first few days in Beijing had been a blur of excitement and rediscovery. It had been five years since I had last lived in China and I couldn't wait to be a first-hand witness to the endless changes taking place there. But at this moment, the surreal thrill of arrival gave way to the present reality of the situation. After that, getting lost has become a daily occurrence. Usually it ends up with a pleasant surprise, such as finding a delicious back al- ley dumpling shop or having a chat with an elderly tai-chi master in the garden. Other times your unintended destination might not be as desirable, like ending up an hour out of your way on the other side of town because of sloppy pronunciation. Despite the steep learn- ing curve, life in Beijing hums with possibility. Every street offers a new discovery just around the corner if you can survive the crossing with all limbs intact. Just like that one bite of street food can give you moments of delicious sat- isfaction or hours of misery at the nearest URE squatter toilet. I just fell in love with a restau- Andrew Podrygula, Photos Editor rant yesterday when an old man shot off an Though it remains unclear how many intruders were involved in the December break-in of Porter House, rooms on both the first and awe-inspiring snot rocket onto the floor then second floors were forcibly entered, and their occupants lost many of their belongings. proceeded to clear out the other nostril. Places I used to know are barely recogniz- able. Cranes loom across the skyline, erecting Power Down 2010 shimmering new buildings at a frenzied pace, while bulldozers tear down condemned blocks of old neighborhoods. Beijing is happening, a place where the only constant is change. I’m The results of the Power Down are in — see which resi- not sure it’s possible to fully experience culture — dential buildings saved energy and which, well, didn’t. shock in a city this Westernized but beneath its newly applied glossy veneer lies a gritty au- Courtesy Clare Crosby thenticity just waiting to be tapped. You can feel it in the Beijing accent that comes on as LaForce Hall J $142 thick as the smog. You can hear it in an under- ground rock bar where local bands reinterpret Hadley/Milliken/Kelly/Lang aaa post-punk in the context of contemporary AtwaterA p China. Despite all the chaotic energy of relent- Painter f less change I’m starting to settle into a routine. Classes have made me realize the true mean- Forest fa ing of Maoist-style re-education through la- bor, but interactions in the language with my Hepburn f Chinese roommate and people around the city _ make it all the more bearable. I’ve been think- Gifford f. ing about the ways in which language shapes Coffrin Hall f the way we process the world around us. I’m MAD PRESENTS THE JOSHUA a week and a half into a language pledge, and Battell PANDABAND although the modes of expression are limited, TONIGHT // 9-11 P.M. // THE GRILLE there is something freeing about immersion Palmer // DRINK SPECIALS, SUNDAY BAR AND and the possibility for screwing up and learn- ing from those mistakes. Minor aspects of dai- Chateau PRIZES // 21+ BRING 2 FORM OF Ib. ly functioning are suddenly transformed into critical tests of your ability, where even getting Starr FFF: THE SOCIAL NETWORK on the right subway line can be a major ac- FRIDAY // 7 & 10 P.M. // DANA Allen Hall complishment. AUDITORIUM Pve kept in touch with my old host fam- Brackett ily, and the lasting connections made with them have made my experience here all the MIDDHARD WITH DJ’S SANCHEZ Pearsons richer. Despite the ironies of living in the fast- AND TECHNIQUE ing changing society on earth, their warm wel- Brooker { FRIDAY // 10:30 P.M. // MCCULLOUGH come was an unwavering constant throughout SOCIAL SPACE // TICKETS $3 ADVANCE all the transition Beijing has experienced and Stewart | the hot pot was great. Reuniting with my host Modular Houses {| CARBON LEAF parents while speaking only Chinese made the whole experience come full circle, and 64 RAISE THE VOLUME CHARITY A Prescott this time I have even more of an opportunity CONCERT // SATURDAY // 9:00 P.M. to soak up the language and culture over my | Atwater B // MCCULLOUGH SOCIAL SPACE // semester abroad. I’ve already reached my des- TICKETS $7 ADVANCE tination, but the real trip hasn’t even started. -$67 i 7) Voter Sometimes getting lost along the way can be the best itinerary. In the words of Confucius, -750 -500 -250 “Life is a garden; dig it? Kilowatt hours saved and dollars earned 13 January 2011 3 MMLA adds site at Swarthmore By Jake Nonweiler Conroy added Muddlebury-Monterey shorts ~ STAFF WRITER — that the MMLA’s ap- The Middlebury-Monterey Language proach to learning LANGUAGE ACA DBM Y Academy (MMLA) has announced the ad- languages through by Adam Schaffer, News Editor dition of Swarthmore College to the sum- immersion helps LIVE. LEARN. . a mer school’s locations for 2011. Located in the students learn Swarthmore, Penn., the school and its new important skills not Study sheds light on the program will draw 70 faculty and staff mem- always taught in the The Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy (MMLA) site at bers and over 250 students. classroom. effects of being dumped Swarthmore will offer programs in Spanish, French and Chinese. The MMLA was created by the Language The MMLA Schools of Middlebury College and the Mon- strives to meet the to come.” According to a recent study by the terey Institute of International Studies in different learning styles of its students, incor- The MMLA also recently became part University of Michigan, being dumped Monterey, Calif., one of the College’s graduate porating cooking classes, group hikes, soccer of Middlebury Interactive Languages, a tech- has a negative effect on a person’s attrac- schools. tournaments and other social events. Students nology-based education company and leader tiveness to the opposite sex. The MMLA at Swarthmore will feature attend language classes, live in language-spe- in online learning that the College launched, The study, published in the scien- Spanish, French and Chinese and will host cific housing and speak the target language through a partnership with the education tific journal Evolutionary Psychology, middle and high school students from around during daily activities. company K12 Learning, in the spring of 2010. tracked how 198 U. Michigan students the country. The MMLA also adapts the program to The company’s goal is to create more oppor- reacted to various advertisements for MMLA also has programs in Vermont, each student’s experience with a language, re- tunities in which students can further their potential mates. Each advertisement California, Illinois, Ohio, Rhode Island and gardless of skill level. language skills using video communication. specified whether the person had been South Carolina. Together, the locations offer “We think that MMLA is a good match “MMLA’s immersion approach to teach- dumped by his or her last partner, done courses in Spanish, French, Chinese, German for Swarthmore, both for the richness and ing language and culture — like that of the the dumping or preferred not to say. and Arabic. rigor of its curriculum and for its tradition internationally recognized Middlebury Lan- Women, the study found, felt more “We are excited to be partnering with an of successfully preparing students to further guage Schools — is an ideal way to provide strongly than men about not dating a institution that understands and values the their academic goals,” said Swarthmore Pro- today’s young people with the skills and re- person who declined to share how their importance of foreign language skills,” said vost Constance Hungerford. “We hope to en- sources to become tomorrow’s citizens,’ Con- last relationship ended, and were more Kevin Conroy; MMLA'’s director. joy a relationship with MMLA for many years roy said. sexually attracted to those who dumped College creates new professorships their past partner. Men did not show greater desire to have sex with women who dumped their previous partner, though did show a lower desire to have a long term rela- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 College Ronald D. Liebowitz. The chair, career also shared parallels with Chaplin’s, tionship with her. Mayer added, allows Churchill’s legacy to intersecting at Princeton. order to say they think the administration continue. “To have the chair be named after — U Wire is wrong, or the chair is wrong, or even that “I think that the chair is a great tribute someone who’s done so much for the in- torture and preemptive war are wrong?” to him. Just perfect.” stitution [is an honor] ... and then I got Essig was joined by four other faculty Professor Coish mainly researches to meet him, which was absolutely terrific,” Study shows “helicopter members receiving tenure: Febe Armanios volcanism in of the history department, Matthew Kim- tAhpep alnaocrhtihaenr.n Being a good teacher is central parents” too involved ble of the psychology department, Hedya Klein of the studio art department and Ste- He has taught to my identity. fano Mula of the Italian department. classes on Parents are increasingly involved in Old- Chapel also announced the cre- Earthquakes the admissions process, a survey by Ka- ation of two new endowed chairs. The and Volca- — Laurie Essig, plan Test Prep and Admissions found. Robert R. Churchill Professorship in Geo- noes, Bedrock The survey also stated that the greater sciences in honor of the former college Geology of Assistant Professor role played by parents in the process may not be in students best interest, either. president was awarded to Professor of Ge- Vermont and ography Ray Coish. Mineralogy, Wren Singer, director of the Center “Bob [Churchill] was a huge presence among others. for First-Year Experience at U. Wiscon- in geography and environmental studies,” The second chair, awarded to Profes- said Chaplin. The pair had a formal dinner sin, believes that allowing children to Professor of Geography Tamar Mayer said. sor of Classics Jane Chaplin, honors Presi- to celebrate the endowment, and read each speak for themselves and ask their own “[He] started as a physical geographer, dent Emeritus Jim Armstrong. other’s academic work. questions is important. She emphasized and taught classes on geomorphology. “[Armstrong] is the person who According to the Office of the Provost, that the primary role of parents should And then, he trained himself in cartogra- changed Middlebury from a local college both chairs cost around one million dollars be that of supporter. phy and ... really started the whole GIS to a national college,” said Chaplin. to endow, and were made possible through For those students who felt their program at Middlebury.” Churchill hired He is also credited with fully integrat- a donation from the Peterson family. The parents were hovering a little low, Sing- Mayer in 1987, three years after he hired ing coed student life, and creating the fac- awarded money goes to the scholars to er recommended they give friendly re- then geography professor President of the ulty leave program. His teaching academic support their research. minder to their parents saying gently but firmly that they need independence in the process, but still would like their update parents involved. by Christine Wemette, Staff Writer — U Wire Senators discuss newspaper subscriptions, ROTC Colleges consider ROTC after repeal of DADT In their first meeting of Winter Term of throwing them away, leaving them on to more efficiently use its time. on Jan. 9, the Student Government As- tables or carrying them from the dining Sophomore Senator Charles Arnow- sociation (SGA) sought to address com- hall. itz 13 also spoke briefly about two future plaints about the lack of available news- Discussion about old business car- resolutions to be introduced at the next After the recent repeal of the con- papers in the dining hall and continued ried over from the 2010 fall semester also meeting. The first resolution will support troversial “don’t ask don’t tell” legislation discussing old business, such as Pass/Fail resumed in the new year. Cook Commons the reinstatement of the R.O.T.C. pro- banning gays from openly serving in the and Midnight Breakfast. Senator Michael Polebaum °12 has con- ‘gram on the College campus. The pro- military, elite universities are consider- Currently, the SGA funds The New tinued working with the Old Stone Mill in gram was ended in the 2001-2002 school ing welcoming the military back to their York Times, The Boston Globe, and USA an attempt to gauge and increase faculty year, primarily because of the military's campuses now that the armed forces do Today — the three papers currently de- support for a Pass/Fail option for classes perceived discriminatory policy against not violate the universities’ respective livered on campus. They plan to address taken at the College. To be implemented, gays and lesbians through the Don’t Ask antidiscrimination policies. the newspaper shortage by ordering 30 Pass/Fail would have to be supported by a Don't Teil legislation. Since the Vietnam War, universities extra New York Times papers on Monday majority in a full faculty vote. Because Middlebury lacks its own including Harvard, Yale and Columbia through Friday. Doing so from now until However, the existence of a majority R.O.T.C. program, participating students have outlawed the Reserve Officer Train- the end of spring semester will cost ap- in favor of Pass/Fail remains uncertain. must travel to the University of Vermont ing Corps (ROTC). proximately $1,125. : Until a majority is believed to exist, the in Burlington. The repeal alone, many observers The option of decreasing the number SGA is unlikely to push for an immedi- The second resolution would focus comment, may not be enough though to of USA Todays was also suggested. How- ate vote because a failing vote on the Pass/ on raising the SGA’s profile at the Col- bring the military back to these institu- ever, because the specific number of de- Fail issue could seriously hinder progress lege, both by encouraging more voter tions, but it raises the issue. livered papers are part of a contract with and undo much of the previously accom- participation in elections and by rais- As these institutions cost as much the Collegiate Readership Program, this is plished work. ing awareness for SGA issues. A possible as double their public counterparts, the currently impossible. Further discussion of old business component of this resolution could be an military may not be able to continue to In addition to increasing the paper included the issue of institutionalizing amendment to bylaws streamlining how. afford to offer scholarships that cover subscription, other proposed possibili- Midnight Breakfast, instead of annually elections are run. as much as the entire tuition of partici- ties to increase the availability of papers introducing a resolution to fund the pro- Further information on both of these pants. in the dining hall include signs encour- gram. While some senators questioned new resolutions will become available at aging students to return newspapers after the wisdom of this decision, others pro- the next meeting, on Jan 16 at 7 p.m. in — The Chroncicle of Higher Education they have finished reading them, instead posed that doing so would allow the SGA the Crest Room. 4 13 January 2011 the bubble by Bronwyn Oatley, Staff Columnist Political officials have also tried to sim- serves are theirs for the taking. On Jan. 9, citizens of South Sudan plify the actual process of voting to combat The former rebel Sudan People’s Lib- began the seven-day process of voting for their independence. The vote represents the illiteracy. Ballots are not written in English, eration Movement (SPLM) government Arabic or any native dialects, but will in- that has taken control over Southern Sudan culmination of a desperate 50-year struggle stead use symbols to illustrate state unity or is largely inexperienced. Evidence of this of South Sudanese citizens to secede from schism. The first symbol shows two hands fact was seen last year when the govern- their neighbors to the North. Government clasped together in solidarity, representing ment unveiled plans for new southern cit- officials from both sides will continue to a unified country; the second, symbol will ies shaped in the form of animals and fruit. discuss the terms under which the largest show two hands open, with one hand di- As one BBC report seems to sarcastically country on the African continent might be divided in two. rected away, as if weaving goodbye. In order note, “The reason for these shapes is not to voice their option voters need only dip entirely illogical — they match the symbols South Sudanese liberators have had to their finger in ink and draw a circle over the that appear on the flags of southern Sudan’s overcome a series of unthinkable obstacles. bring this issue to the attention of a wider symbol they wish to select. states.” In the earliest days, the freedom fighters audience. As The Globe and Mail noted, Although this vote for independence If initial plans are carried out, the clashed militarily with much more heavily “Film star George Clooney flew into South- has generated much excitement, many re- new capital city of Juba will be shaped as trained soldiers from the North. They had ern Sudan this week to monitor the referen- main unsure of the fate of the Sudanese a rhinoceros, with the office of the regional no money for proper equipment, as many dum, with moral support from Hollywood people if they are successful in the secession president situated where the rhino’s eyes in the region live on less than 75 cents per day, so they began fighting with their pals such as Brad Pitt and Matt Damon.” movement. should be. In order for the north to recognize The Southern half of the state has a Humorously, the BBC also noted, “In hands. As the unlikely rebel force continued to regain territory from the Northern gov- the legitimacy of the vote, there must be a much less developed infrastructure than its Wau, the sewage treatment plant is appro- turnout of at least 60 percent of registered northern region. There are very few roads priately placed under the giraffe’s tail.” ernment, they amassed machetes, Molotov voters. The majority of these citizens must within the South’s territory, and levels of While a vote for the independence cocktails and guns. This guerilla warfare vote for secession. sanitation and education are lower than in African citizens, so illogically grouped to- resulted in the death of over two million In order to try and encourage south the North. On average the southern part gether during de-colonization seems pro- Sudanese citizens. Sudanese people to vote, their government of the state also has higher levels of infant gressive endeavor; such actions could spell While the independence vote became officials have tried to make the process as mortality and greater food insecurity. disaster with such a weak infrastructure in popular cause in recent years, for many de- simple and accommodating as possible. The unequal distribution of natural re- place. Intervention from abroad, though ef- cades the international community largely The majority of possible voters are no- sources has also been a point of contention fective in certain instances, must be wary of ignored the plight of the South Sudanese madic herders for whom it will take over in recent years, as the two sides have strug- being heavy-handed. This vote represents a liberators. Though humanitarian groups one day to walk to a polling station. In light gled to reach consensus during peace talks. movement undertaken by south Sudanese attempted to provide aid to the struggling of these facts, South Sudanese officials have Though the South contains more of the oil citizens for their own independence — the citizens of the region, diplomatic aid re- decided that the vote will occur over seven fields within the state, the North claims that popular will of the people must be allowed mained largely absent. consecutive days. 50 percent of the resources within these re- to decide the nation’s fate. This tide has shifted in recent years however, with American government offi- cials, Christian rights groups and celebrities January 2 - January 10, 2011 alike taking up the cause. In 2005 the Bush government medi- ated negotiation between North and South 0102/11 12:05am. The Snowboard Starr Hall Open officials. The talks proved successful, and a peace treaty was signed. Such diplomatic 01/ 03/i 1:20 p.m. Povey confiscated Bicycle locked to College Hadley Referred to Commons Dean actions have halted the fighting between the property two opposing forces and paved the way for OOO 9:35am Vehicle Vehicle damage 637 CollegeSt, Referred toR isk Management _ current talks. Christian rights groups worldwide 01/05/ u 215 a. Disturbance Noise complaint Hadley Referred to Commons Dean have also taken up the cause of the South 01/0! 10 pa | Propertyfound Wallet” McCullough RefertorC oemmdon s Dean Sudanese people. Citing the religious per- secution of their fellow spiritual devotees, 01/06/11 : 5 : Dee ad ae Atwater Dining Referred to Commons Dean they have called on the primarily Mus- lim, northern population to cease fighting with their Christian neighbors from the 01/07/11 1:09 a.m. Disturbance Noise complaint Munford House Raed to Connon Dean south. Though the religious and ethnic 01/07/11 10:12pm. DrugViolation Possession © Kelly RefetroC rommeonsd De an lines throughout the region seem much more blurred than Christian rights groups 01/08/11 1:55 a.m. Die Violation Paraphernalia Milliken : : Referred to Common: Dean ONOB/II 9:13am. Property Damaged Window Harris Farm _ Cd claim, such pressure has proved successful in bringing attention to the cause of the 01/09/11 unknown Vandalism Fire extinguisher Forest West Referred to Commons Dean South’s liberation movement. The Department of Public Safety reported giving 15 alcohol citations between January 2 and January 10, 2011. Celebrity involvement has also helped Grille hiring procedures underway CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Oct. 10 of last year, one day before Spears’ announcement for expanded hours. In an e-mail written last October, SGA President Riley O’Rourke *12 explained the SGA‘s will- | ingness to take action on the issue before the | announcement for College-funded expand- ` ed hours. “Tf they do not change it soon we will We need Op-Eds. Write one about your favorite person on pass something else, and if we have to we will pay a student to stay in the space so we can campus. Can be your Proctor crush, that kid who always at least get the room open for people to work uses big words during discussion, your adviser, your FYC in,” wrote O’Rourke. “It is embarrassing that or Vincent A. Jones. Op-ed must include a detailed and a school like Middlebury does not have a [separate dining operation] open on Sunday heartfelt argument, limited to 600 words, of why your or Monday. Also, it is ridiculous that there is favorite person on campus is the awesomest. Submissions no place to get food in this town after 9 p.m. subject to disqualification if they concern Proctor chicken on those days.” parm, the dog statue or the comfy chairs in BiHall. Send Spears apologized for the delay. “Tt has been a more protracted process your submission to [email protected], and include than perhaps we thought it would be,” said a picture of you with your Midd hero. Op-eds persuasive Spears. “As I understand it, they just haven’t enough to sway the Campus editors may be published in found the right candidate yet. We’re all hope- next week’s issue. 5 points. ful that we can expand the hours ASAP.” sbhae‚gnt,og a avei s i!ty out hinse edJ an uar 7 and eo aa be emailed o info@blueber elev atthieorne, i st ihen fleeo ro eir Te AT Feeda ctorsa nd wood. € best part g pa T Said. fmsraloyendt dbieon fg f Macehiianldgl siCnoh matLephi aentccl oo mlwopnane,sl t yiV tti»o n.a bT ohuet L3i0n cmoilnn utGeasp Rforaodm The Middlebury | There is nO ips to the dis venturing t° Mountain ekend, so the treache to join the group MneMxtC toc ot-hep reLsiindceonltn, Gap, grooms packed down. you get 4 really “It is a very i ave to steer some. hikeT hupe £h0i0l la lsloe ads to the® Meet Lissy Heminway L o ~ il ives out her dog sled din dan otC reamery, located sharing her passion with othe lnews 6 13 January 2011 Vermont Folklife Center finds unique voices By Charlotte Gardiner school classes. The center worked with the Migrant Coalition Sarah Stahl is also the store’s buyer. Stahl has worked in retail Locat News EDITOR on what Bjorkman believes was a “provocative” project. since the age of 18 and attends regional shows and church fairs This September marks the 27th anniversary of the Ver- A Scandinavian American, Bjorkman understands the im- to find Fair Trade products. She has many Northeast produc- mont Folklife Center. Minnesota native Brent Bjorkman, an portance of family history. He says his relatives share countless ers, but also has several international contributors, as countries experienced folklorist who took over as executive director stories, narratives and food and holiday traditions. This is why like China have now created Fair Trade markets. three years ago when Jane Beck stepped down, has three goals he began studying folklore and treasures the fellow folklorist “I buy items that stay within our mission,” she said. “Many for the center: to validate voices across the state, to educate the Barre Toelken’s quote: “Folklore comes early and stays late in of the goods are handcrafted, like our recycled African and public and to preserve Vermont’s history. life.” Vietnamese ornaments.” “I get to discover the everyday culture of the world local- The Vermont Folklore Center is a non-profit group and The center’s store sells books on ethnographies, as well ly,” he said. Bjorkman explained that folklore is essentially the is free to the public. It fundraises and also benefits from the as on the history of Vermont. This year Stahl was especially knowledge of people. private donations of individuals and foundations. Individu- thrilled with the center's annual gingerbread house celebra- Once the associate director of the American Folkorist So- als who choose to become members of the center receive dis- tion, which garnered approximately 70 entries. ciety, Bjorkman, who graduated from Western Kentucky Uni- counts on store purchases and often give generous donations. Next month and continuing into March, the center has versity, enjoys talking to Vermonters. Many times individuals The archives at the center are plentiful, which is why organized an exhibit titled “Women Town Clerks of Vermont.” the center chooses to interview question why anyone would Bjorkman believes the college sees the center as an asset. Two Bjorkman believes these women are the “first entry into the care about them and their stories, but Bjorkman is happy to years ago College Professor Emeritus, John Elder, taught a state government” and the people “who you go to with gripes.” share their unique tales with others. The cen- Eight different women will be profiled with ter currently has five thousand oral interviews both text and sound for all to visit. As always, in its archive. Most were recorded on cassettes admission is free. There is also an active com- and will soon be converted to digital media. The ponent to the programming: each of the three interviews will be available online for all to ac- Thursdays in March, the center will feature a cess, as well. different presentation. The eight town clerks “We have people call us and ask if we still will come to the first meeting, the second have the interview someone at the center con- meeting is a discussion about the new Austra- ducted with their grandparent in 1991,” he said. lian ballot system in Vermont town elections According to Bjorkman, finding people and the third is a talk by Frank Bryan, politi- to interview is an “organic” process. He often cal science professor at the University of Ver- determines what group of people the center mont, who will discuss town meetings and the has yet to target or what “emergent” topics are role of women. especially pertinent. Currently, the Vermont “The center is a portal to the culture Folklife Center is interviewing those individu- and traditions of Vermont, most importantly als involved in sustainable energy (both solar through its own respectful, inquisitive and and wind). high-spirited links to local communities and “These are stories of everyday life and of individuals,” said Elder. people who you will not read about in a history Photographer Ned Castle has also teamed book,” said Bjorkman. “Vermont is a microcosm up with the Folklife Center on a project he of innovation and we discover how people got Courtesy calls “HighLow,” which will be shown until started and learn about their journey.” Founded in Sept. 1984 by previous Executive Director Jane Beck, the Vermont Jan. 29. In each case, there are two different An important part of the center’s mission Folklife Center is a source of knowledge and history with over 5,000 oral interviews. photographs of a Vermont teenager, one in a is also to establish resources for the public’s high and one in a low period of his/her life. use. These opportunities include radio programs, exhibits class called “Portrait of a Vermont Town” in which students Accompanying audio is also available. Castle worked with the and courses. From March through May, the center holds day- interviewed residents of Starksboro, Vt. The following year his Vermont Coalition of Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs long classes. to teach those whọ arei nterested about folklore. “Farm Stories” class talked to local farm families that live near on his project. In addition, for the past six years teachers have been invited the College. Both classes attended ethnographic workshops at The center’s shop is open from Tuesday to Saturday from to attend the Discovering Community Summer Institute. The the center and ultimately created an exhibit. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the archive is open Wednesday through weeklong course teaches professors how to create digital audio “In each case, excellent sessions on interviewing by Greg Friday, though appointments are necessary. Contact the office and videos, which they can use to profile individuals. It is a way Sharrow helped them [the students] to develop meaningful at (802) 388-4864, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 to “create and share knowledge” and to blend oral history with conversations and relationships with the people they were p-m., for more information. If you are interested in an intern- digital media. meeting,” said Elder.“Context is meaning. If our students can ship or work-study position at the center, please contact Bjork- Last year, the center organized an exhibit titled “The Gold- relate their classes to the surrounding history, culture and con- man at [email protected] or at (802) 388- en Cage.” The in-depth study of Mexican migrant workers and cerns of western Vermont, they will be enriched in many ways.” 4964. Vermont dairy farmers. 4,000 individuals visited, including 40 Now in her 12th year as operations manager at the center, one in 8,700 where the personalities of middlebury proper are celebrated By Maddie Kahn “I wasn’t a purebred kind of person, and wasn’t a racing STAFF WRITER person either,” said Heminway. “I loved the big strong, freight In the middle of a field in Whiting, Vt., white snow blan- dogs that had as big a heart as the things they pulled.” kets the rolling hills and dusts the evergreen trees. A sled glides Knowing that these mutts would not take her gracefully swiftly through the powder, carving a double crease into the down a trail, however, Heminway contacted a fellow musher snow blanket’s perfection. The only noise for miles is the soft in Maine and began to inherit her “rejects.” pitter-patter of dog paws accompanied by their faint panting. In a few years, Heminway inherited enough true sled Lissy Heminway, a local musher who has been dog sledding for dogs to make her first real team, and her first real adventure. over half her life, alternates between hollering at the dogs and Though she had learned from other mushers in the area, ac- talking to them as if they are old friends. cording to Heminway, “when you get a passion, nobody can It started as a child fantasy. Heminway grew up on a farm tell you otherwise how to do it.” So Heminway began to teach with five mutt farm dogs. herself. She learned from her dogs and they learned from her, “For some strange reason I wanted them to be huskies,” creating the unique bond between mushers and their dogs that said Heminway. is impossible for anyone else to comprehend. Heminway even Then, when she was in college, a stray Siberian husky end- says that some of her dogs are telepathic; without any com- ed up in her car when she returned from a hike — an act of mands or direction, they know which way to go. fate. Heminway could not find a home for the dog, so decided After six years of running her dog team, Heminway had to take him in as her own. a revelation. “That was the beginning of the end for me, the tip of the “It became clear to me that this was my calling,” she iceberg,’ she said. “From there everything just started to fall said. “This is what I should be doing to make money.” At 28 into place.” years old, with 10 dogs, Heminway began her own dog sled- Heminway trained her husky dog to pull her bike to cam- _ ding business, running day and half-day trips for tourists who pus everyday, storing him at a kennel while she went to class. wanted a slightly different Vermont experience. Dog sledding When it came time to graduate, she knew that what she really is the second most popular tourist attraction in Vermont, and wanted to do was work for someone who ran dogs, so that she Heminway’s business has skyrocketed. could “get it out of her system.” Heminway went to work for After five years and the birth of two of her children, Ed Blechner in Vermont, and after one season with him, she Heminway decided that the business was beginning to be too was ecstatic. overwhelming so she cut back on the tourism side. Instead, “Fireworks were going off in my brain,” she said. she began to work with school groups and community ser- Heminway continued working for Blechner for another vice programs in the area that allowed her to educate children season while also beginning to volunteer at the local Humane about her passion. To this day, Heminway continues to work Maddie Kahn Society. It was there that she began to gather her own motley mainly with Youth at Risk as well as several elementary schools Lissy Heminway’s dogs provide their owner and tourists team of dogs. in the area. with exciting rides through Vermont’s snow-covered slopes. 13 January 2011 T (LOCALVORE: L'AMANTE LS 4 BURLINGTON ADVENTURE is making a final decision for a main course. bitterness from the sprouts, and marries the STAFF WRITER Options range from paella-like risotto to lob- earthy flavors of the potatoes and quail into a ster; the secondi options will leave you equally remarkable whole. It is also excellent accom- To experience truly great food is to fall in love. It is an act of quiet passion conceived and astounded and indecisive. panying the polenta fries of the steak frites. _ Musicalbroadcast Both the steak frites and the quail at the The variety of the wine selection begs carried out through exacting quality and ar- end of the menu are delicious as well. The similar attention. By the glass, the Umberto resting flavor. It is the kind of meal that leaves Jan. 13,7 p.m. — 9 p.m. steak is cooked expertly to order, and at me- Cesari Moma is an astounding Tuscan red, you at a loss for words, in the end both sated dium rare the taste is front and center, its rich- warm and plum-like with a spice that bright- and desirous. _ The Town Hall Theater is bringing a big ness highlighted by sautéed onion and the ens without becoming too sweet. The staff, © LAmante, located at 126 College Street show to the small town of Middlebury, caramel-bitter sharpness of balsamic. For his who serve attentively without imposing, are in Burlington, Vt., not only understands this as it shows the Broadway musical “Fela!” frites, Cleary has created a kind of parmesan knowledgeable and happy to provide tastes to truth, but revels in its execution. Serving con- tonight. The musical, a story abouta _ polenta fry, dusted in flour and then fried to those of age and interest. temporary Italian cuisine in a peaceful envi- ` Nigerian activist and musician, will be ronment, chef Kevin Cleary and his staff regale broadcast from the National Theater of their patrons with a gustatory redefinition of Great Britain. The show also features what it is to be a lover — un amante — of food dances choreographed by Bill T. Jones. - with every dish they offer. Buy your tickets ($17) today at the THT The menu is a thoughtful, well-conceived box office, or visit the theater's website at whole, which stands not as a group of dispa- http://townhalltheater.org. rate dishes but as a conversation of the palate; there are certain themes in Cleary’s creations, Winter farmer’s market such as the varied and nuanced use of balsamic and the warming recurrence of truffle oil. The Jan 15,9 :30 a.m. — 1 p.m. result is elegant without an ounce of showi- ness, a kind of art without affront. To begin, Middlebury’s famous farmer’s market will | LAmante, which opens at 5 p.m. for dinner be held at American Flatbread in Marble- | Monday through Saturday, boasts a familiar Works, just a short move inside from its | but playful host of antipasti — including the Claire Sibley outdoor summer location.A s always, you calamari standby and several local salads — Burlington’s L Amante offers customers a true taste of Italy, from their first bite to their last. __ can find fresh produce from local farm- that gives a nod to traditional Italian cuisine ers and buy baked goods, meats and even - without being bound by it. The mushroom remind diners of the most perfect version of L’Amante’s signature basil ice cream is the crafts. Stopb yo n Saturday morningt o bruschetta is a glorious play on the old bread- the original potato: perfect crispness and soft- crown on the perfect meal. It is rich and subtle and-tomato, and surpases its inspiration in ness upon the first bite. The quail, accompa- without losing any of the herb’s flavor and stock up with great food for thew eek,o r _ texture and flavor. The mushrooms arrive in nied by small, golden fingerling potatoes, is an complemented by a balsamic reduction and just to sample what the vendors have to offer! all of their earthly splendor, a subtle and nutty equal delight. But the true genius of this dish fresh strawberries. The house-made Limon- | flavor complemented deftly by the rich halo- is found in the brussels sprouts — delicate and -cello makes a perfect pair with the ice cream. _ Classical piano concert yolk of a fried egg atop a thick, fresh piece of succulent, even to those who claim not to be LAmante offers a warm atmosphere, and house Italian bread. The rich salt of pancetta, lovers of the green. The accompanying sauce, has a competent and dedicated staff. What | a type of Italian bacon, makes the dish. though called marsala on the menu, seems the restaurant does to food, with unsurpassed Jan. 15, 7 p.m. ~9 p.m. | Perhaps the worst part of the experience to deserve another name entirely. Made with grace, is in fact an act of art, and one of great a butter base, the sauce dispels any possible beauty. Give your earsa treata nd your bodya r est It’s “grate” to be a Cabot consumer this Saturday night at Brandon Music, lo- cated on 62 Country Club Rd.i nB randon, Vt. Peter Seivewright, a talented concert pianist and a music professor at the produces a quality product, as a sample from packaging. University of Trinidad and Tobago, will be By Joanna Lyons all incoming milk is analyzed in the lab before Perhaps most impressive, the factory performing. Seating is limited, so call (802) Loca News EDITOR 465-4071 or email clare@brandon-music. the cheese is made. The plant is also certified never stops operating. Though it is thorough- Located at 869 Exchange St., tucked a few net to purchase a $15 ticket. Don’t miss out to test samples from other factories if they is ly washed for three hours every day, it never hundred yards off of the road, is the Cabot unsure of their test results. shuts down. on what is sure to be a delightful concert! Creamery. Though one could easily drive This time and care is evident in all stages “We run 365 days a year,’ said Boudreau, by without noticing the building, the.s tate- in the cheese making process. The fresh milk who is quick to note that the entire cheese- Community theater social of-the-art factory, which opened in 1995 from local dairy farmers arrives in trucks each making process is energy-efficient as well. and operates year round, uses 1.6 million day and is first run through a series of pipes The plant uses Efficiency Vermont, an en- Jan. 15, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. pounds of milk to produce 160,000 pounds of that pasteurize the milk to ensure the liquid ergy efficiency utility, to help cut costs where cheese each day. The vast majority of cheese has no bacteria. Entering one of six large possible. Over the last year, the factory has in- Join the Little City Players for an evening is shipped to Cabot, Vt., home of the well- cheese vats, the milk soon coagulates, turn- troduced energy-efficient light bulbs. In addi- - of theatrical fun! The group calls for all known cheese company, though the factory ing into a jello-like substance. Agitators in tion, the water that is extracted from the whey those with afiy interest in acting, produc- also sells some of its product to other brands, the vats move the milk and it begins separat- is used to wash the equipment and to pre-heat ing or managing to gather at the Vergennes including Kraft, the factory’s previous op- ing into curds and whey. From the vats, the incoming milk plate pasteurizers. This re-use Opera House. There will be a cash bar and erator, and Sargento. In the late 19th century, cheese curds enter the cheddaring process, is only made possible by a state-of-the-art pu- a silent auction as well. Test out your act- Cabot suffered financial difficulties, so farm- moving along a perforated belt for two and rification system in which water goes through ing skills and have a great time. Admission ers from the dairy co-operative, Agri-Mark, a half hours before they are sprayed with salt filtration units, reverse osmosis and UV light. is free. voted to buy the Cabot name. on another belt. The cheese then enters ched- According to Boudreau, the plant’s UV light “{Cheese] is probably one of the oldest daring towers that are full of holes, which al- unit is the only one in the 15 surrounding products that was made in Vermont,” said Pancake breakfast lows the whey to be extracted from the cheese. states; both the United States Department of Bernie Boudreau, the plant manager. “Cabot’s Once at the bottom of the towers, the cheese is Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug an important piece of it because we make it a Jan. 16,7 a.m. — 11 a.m. pressed into 42 pound blocks, 16 of which can Administration (FDA) have visited the factory sellable product to put it on the shelves.” fit into large wooden storage boxes. The boxes in Middlebury to see how the device works. Yet for every 100 pounds of milk the plant Start your Sunday off right and head are then moved to storage rooms, which are Though the plant’s advanced technology uses, it can only produce 10 pounds of actual to the Addison Fire Station to enjoy an kept at cool temperatures. The longer cheese makes it an important component of Cabot’s cheese. The other 90 pounds are whey, a clear all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. The sits after being made, the sharper the flavor. cheese production, the company’s main fac- liquid that is extracted at multiple steps in the event is sure to be a great community Some blocks are sharp after a few months, - tory is in Cabot, Vt. There are also stores in cheese making process. In 2001, Cabot built a get-together, as all funds raised will go to though others can sit for as long as three Waterbury Center and Quechee, Vt. whey plant, which is as big as the cheese plant, purchase new equipment for the fire de- years. One block from each vat is deemed “[Cabot] is a rapidly growing company, and Boudreau said it is just one of four like it partment. Who wouldn't want to eat some the sample block, and testers from Cabot, Vt. said Boudreau. “We make the most money we in the entire world. From the whey, which is blueberry pancakes for a good cause? visit the Middlebury factory to test the flavor can for our farm members.” dehydrated, the plant produces two proteins: Tickets are just $6 for adults and $4 for and determine whether the cheese is ready for lactoferrin (140 pounds/day) and WPC-80 children under 12. For more information, (14,000 pounds/day), which is a protein con- call (802) 759-2237. centrate found in sports drinks. These pow- ders are sold all over the world, including in Fiddlers club meeting China, Argentina and Brazil. The factory plays an important role on a Jan 16, 12 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. local scale as well. Boudreau knows all of the approximately 200 farmers who choose to sell Add a little groove to your Sunday! Head their milk to the company. down to the Middlebury VEW, located The plant also employs 110 people, from at 530 Exchange St., for the Champlain both Vermont and New York. While most em- Valley Fiddler’s Club Meeting. You don’t ployees specialize in one aspect of production, have to be an expert fiddler to enjoy the those who can perform multiple jobs do re- music and dancing. Free refreshments are ceive higher wages. available. A donation of $1 is encouraged, “This plant is probably the top plant though students can get in for free. Sup- in the northeast,’ said Boudreau, who has port a local group and have a great time! worked for Agri-Mark Cabot for 39 years and Joanna Lyons For more information call and started with a factory job himself. He The Cabot Creamery, on 869 Exchange St., is a cheese lover’s heaven. In addition to the (802) 771-7122. takes pride in the fact that the factory always cheese plant, the factory has a state of the art whey plant, built in 2001. opinions he Middlebury Campus a CONE~OISSEURS Che Middlebury Campus . Managing Editor Editor-in-Chief Business Manager Jaime Fuller Lea Calderon-Guthe Ethan Schmertzler News Editors Online Editors Opinions Editors Kathryn DeSutter Sarah Pfander Kevin Carpenter Kara Shurmantine Ben Pruitt Isabel Shaw Ian Thomas Ian Trombulak Features Editors : Leah Pickett Photo Editors porn Eoo Michelle Smoler Eleanor Horowitz Di & H e Andrew Podrygula Sn OPP Daisy Zhuo Katie Siegner Arts Editors : Toren Hardee Layout Editor Local News Editors Amanda Pertierra lan Stewart Charlotte Gardiner Deirdre Sackett Joanna Lyons E] u $ “Ohhh, yeah. This one’s nice. Reeeally nice.” Editorial : Kathryn DeSutter The staff editorial represents the official opinion of The Middlebury Campus as decided by Read this while checking your BlackBerry the editorial board. Multitasking plays the dual role of virtue and have a little faith. Believe in your ability and the abil- An inspiration revival vice. While some list it under the skills section on ity of the rest of the human race to adapt to techno- their resumés, others condemn its effect on our at- logical changes. Most importantly, give multitasking a It is a rare thing in life to be aware of the fact that you have just tention spans and our ability to retain information. chance to be used in positive ways. experienced something special. Many times we look over photos with In order to prevent us from multitasking, my Winter I believe in the potential productivity of multi- fondness or back on memories with awe, but seldom do we stand in Term professor has banned laptops in our classroom, tasking. If Ic heck my e-mail during a lecture, doesn’t a room, buzzing with the energy of this collective recognition. That is and I’m confident she’s not alone in this decision. that make my life more productive? Take any class in something incredibly unique, even for a campus like Middlebury. Last There’s no doubt disadvantages to multitasking the Economics department and they'll teach you that Thursday night in McCullough, however, a room filled to capacity hosted exist — just ask anyone who has had their bumper everything has an opportunity cost, but that those bent by a driver on a cell phone. As researchers con- costs can be hard to measure. It’s hard to definitely one of these matchless moments. tinue to explore the topic, studies across multiple say whether a lecture or an e-mail from another pro- The College, through the efforts of the Mountain Club and Ross fields have found that multi- Commons as well as various other clubs, offices and organizations on tasking is weakening our abil- Since no one can bfeusts oirn tihse meonrde, it’ism pmoyr taendtu,- campus, presented Night Kite Revival — a group of award-winning spo- ity to learn, increasing our definitely predict cation and I’m the person ken word poets consisting of Anis Mojgani, Derrick Brown and Buddy stress levels, breaking down who has to live with the Wakefield — with special guest Taylor Mali. These four performers, along the structure of the family and the future, I find consequences, so Id like to with seven Middlebury student poets, put on a show with over two hours changing the way we interact make that decision without of poetry, music and comedy. as humans. it unproductive judgment from my profes- The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. As students Researchers also believe sor and classmates. streamed out the doors, they looked to each other to confirm the un- that people become addict- to condemn the It’s important to note mistakable electricity. Conversations were filled with plans to explore, ed to multitasking and have that except for simple activi- progress of the reassess their own use of words or just “do something.” The number of trouble turning off multitask- ties like walking and chew- journals that were later scribbled in might have even exceeded that of the ing tendencies. I met someone ing gum, true multitask- present. I'd like evenings late-night Grille visitors. recently who told me that she ing is impossible. Instead, And that buzz was due to the grassroots effort of a few passionate doesn’t watch movies because to ask everyone youre actually switching students. Time and time again, whether it is Quidditch, Campus policy or she can’t “do something for back and forth between one of our varsity teams, we are astounded by the results of such personal that long.” Maybe she’s not — behavioral each task, usually at a fast dedication and commitment. And we should take the time, when given watching the right movies, but pace. Turning away from the opportunity, to applaud such achievement and our fellow students’ it’s easy to recognize the irony psychologists, something and returning to willingness to share it with us. It is not often that we see our student body in feeling the need to be fur- it can offer the opportunity ther entertained during some- professors and showcase its talent along with the people that inspire us, not to mention to discover a new perspec- National and Individual World Poetry Slam Champions. thing that’s supposed to be a tive with the renewed atten- As a school, we are incredibly good at supporting extracurricular form of entertainment in and especially my tion. As an editor, I’ve been of itself. academic pursuits. There is accessible and ready funding for scholarships mother — to have a told multiple times that the Much of the research sur- best way to catch mistakes and research projects of a wide variety. What we seem to lack, however, is rounding multitasking focuses in writing is to “sleep on it” visible monetary support for efforts of artistic expression. little faith. on the use of technology as a and return to the work for a We encourage the College not only to continue supporting events multitasking tool. Cell phones, final edit the next day. Well, like last week’s, but also to promote other options, such as the James M. laptops and any Apple gadget that begins with a low- it’s 2011 now, and checking Facebook just became the Meyer grant, which funds students pursuing non-fiction creative writing ercase “i” all have adamant opponents who believe new “sleeping on it.” projects during the month of January. technology unnecessarily clutters our everyday lives. By stigmatizing our attention spans as shallow But more importantly, we urge you to come out and support But people often hold mistaken opinions, especially and unfocused, educators and employers alike not campus groups like Verbal Onslaught, because these are the people that about the potential effects of technology. My dad only discount most of our generation but also fail to make events like the Night Kite Revival happen. It only takes one person loves to tell the story of the former board chairman of capitalize on a beneficial skill. Meet us halfway. Accept to inspire another. And what better way to show the College what we care IBM who predicted in 1943 a world with “maybe five that our attention switches quickly and recognize that about, what turns us on as a student body, than attending your friend’s computers.” Now that individual households some- this plays to our advantage when we’re simultaneous- photo exhibit or concert? times have more than five computers, it’s just as pop- ly brainstorming product ideas while also in a meet- Slam poetry reminded us of the importance of expression. It forced ular to lament the negative effects of these machines ing discussing how to strengthen alliances with other us to marvel at the power of a passionate few and consider the potential on human interaction (see the most recent blog post companies. While we may not be fully focused, we’ve for individual creativity. So, in the spirit of Winter Term, let’s not let last by Dean of the College Shirley Collado) as it is to gotten a head start on a new idea. We can flesh out the Thursday's experience be a fleeting one. Because if there has ever been a praise the opportunities for connections provided by details later while we’re eating lunch, checking the lat- month to try new things, dive deeper into the old or just allow yourself to the boom of social media. est headlines, uploading photos and working on our be blown away, Middlebury, this is it. Since no one can definitively predict the future, I laptops — yep, you guessed it — all at the same time. find it unproductive to condemn the progress of the The Middlebury Campus (USPS 556-060), the student newspaper of present. I'd like to ask everyone — behavioral psy- KATHRYN DESUTTER 713 iS A NEWS EDITOR chologists, professors and especially my mother — to Middlebury College, is published by The Middlebury Campus Publica- FROM MOORESVILLE, NC. tions. Publication is every Thursday of the academic year, except dur- campus policies and information ing official college vacation periods and final examinations. Editorial and business offices are located in Hepburn Hall Annex, Middlebury College. The Middlebury Campus is produced on Apple Macintosh The Opinions pages of The Middlebury Campus provide a forum for constructive and respectful dialogue on substantive issues. With computers using Adobe InDesign CS4 and is printed by the Press Re- this in mind, The Campus reserves the right to deny publication of all or part of a submission for any reason. This includes, but is not publican in New York. The advertising deadline for all display and clas- limited to: the making of assertions based on hearsay; the relation of private conversations; the libelous mention of unverifiable events; sified advertising is 5 p.m. Friday for the following week’s issue. Mail- mthoev eudse boeff ovruel gpaurb lliacnagtuiaogn.e Coor npterrisbountaolr sa twtialclk sb.e Aanlylo wseedg mteon tre foefr ean cseu bpmriitotre adr tiacrlteisc lep utbhlaits hceodn taiinn tsh ea nOyp ionfi otnhse asfecotrieomne notr iaonnendo unwiclelm been trse- ing address: The Middlebury Campus, Drawer 30, Middlebury College, for the public record. If a reference is made to prior articles, the submission will be considered a letter to the editor. The Campus will Middlebury, Vt., 05753. Business phone: (802) 443-5737. Please address not accept or print anonymous letters. The opinions expressed by contributors to the Opinions section, as well as reviews, columns, distribution concerns to the Business Director. First class postage paid editorial comics and other commentary, are views of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the at Middlebury, Vt., 05753. newspaper. The Campus welcomes letters to the editor at 250 words or less, or opinions submissions at 800 words or less. Submit works directly to the Opinions Editors, Drawer 30, [email protected] or via the paper's web site at www.middleburycampus.com. To be considered for publications, submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Sunday. The Campus reserves the right to edit all submissions. sampusopinions 13 January 2011 9 The Id and the Eco: Rhiya Trivedi heard ] campii: The Corporate world of greater good Middlebury culture ii s such In 2004, UPS decided to stop making left responsibility. Correct me if Pm wrong, but turns. With a tweaked GPS system, they elim- we generally don’t think about multinational a priviledged, ableist, upper inated all left turns from the routes that their corporations as potential places to live out 95,000 delivery trucks would take — except lives devoted to a greater good. for those absolutely necessary to avoiding ri- But what if we did? What if in addition class, white, oaan diculously circuitous journeys. By eliminat- to each being socially responsible and active ing the need to idle at red lights where right consumers, we signed up to work at Exxon turns were allowed, they reduced the number Mobil, General Mills, Nike or any other of space that it is important (albeit of vehicle miles driven by 28.5 million and the multinational corporations we all love to saved 31,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. hate? What if we were the ones campaigning difficult) to be critical of our In 2009, responding to the growing for initiatives like the ones mentioned above; alarm that honeybees were disappearing, the ones that leverage these companies’ scale Haagen-Dazs decided for initiatives that serve to What if in place ii n that culture. to create a microsite improve the world around devoted to raising us? addition to awareness about the is- The state of the cor- sue. The company do- porate world is such each being nated a portion of pro- that companies, with the — Baylie Roth ’09 ceeds to research on slightest supply chain socially the topic and launched change, marketing cam- a Twitcause campaign paign or market expan- responsible sion ca (#HelpHoneyBees) sometimes that raised $7000 and achieve more than some and active generated 643,748 small countries can with tweets in two days. federal policy. It will no Quickie Cross a last year, Coa ÇOnsumers, we doubtbe diffic—u mlotre Cola moved to invest often than not I hate ev- signed up to By Kevin Carpenter, Opinions Editor in Haiti’s mango juice erything these companies IVIL market. This initia- stand for; understanding — work at Exxon UBD tive alone has helped the need for profit mar- 25,000 mango farmers gins and growth, but not w gain access to markets, Mobil, General at all comprehending why iacc t © more efficient technol- the margins have to be so ogy and associated in- Mills or Nike? wide that slavery and en- 2 frastructure, like roads, vironmental annihilation etc. are necessary conditions. cvi.v i A little while ago, I wrote a column about But in the end, multinational corpo- S= the value of consumer awareness and activist rations represent a unique opportunity to LanguGirdo wNso campaigns — about how everyday people move mountains. With carefully thought could force the hand of multinational corpo- out company policies, regulations and initia- rations at scale. But as I have been thinking tives — that continue to generate profits but Volcanic discharge increasingly about what I want to do for the also other kinds of wealth — we might find rest of my life, I realized that my initial think- ourselves just a few steps closer to a world ing was incomplete. where a 7.0 magnitude earthquake doesn’t Eager I meet people everyday at Middlebury kill 200,000 people and where climate change whose main goal in life is to make the world does not threaten entire nations and peoples. a better place. Be it through journalism, po- Hearts and minds that can be won run these Sixth Greek letter litical activism, academia or art, they strive corporations that we both rely on and simul- to deliver people from poverty, restore the taneously despise. Maybe we should think Belgian river environment or pursue a world of greater about making our living by striving to win equality and justice. But very few people them over. think about pursuing a life in the private sector, devoted to the gruelling, often super- RHIYA TRIVEDI 12.5 IS FROM TORONTO, ficial, incremental world of corporate social CANADA. : Ben Johnston ‘Dessgate’ The subject of this month’s column is misinterpreta- The joke was based on the fact that Beyoncé is the cess of their prank, enjoying the confused comments and tion facilitated by technology. Now, I’m sure you all have Managing Editor of The Campus, and thus breaking news - frantic chat messages they were receiving while still logged saved every one of my past columns and reread them every from her Facebook feed would carry more weight than in. However, they soon were made aware of a Middblog night before bed, so I’m sure you're thinking: “Ben you re- random posts on most others. Given this extra credibility, post written concurrently to “officially” document the im- petitive hack! You talked about Facebook and other forms Ken and Jerry took care to make sure the story was too ri- minent end of the Liebowitz era. Reactions to this post of electronic communication in your last column two diculous to be taken seriously. Over the course of an hour, (which can be seen at go/dess) caused a cascade of panic weeks before winter break!” If anyone fails to remember Jerry made no more than five status updates on Beyoncé’s throughout the campus. Phone calls were made to Tim my last column (a.k.a. everyone except me), I talked about account, spreading the word that Delilah Dess was suing Spears, college lawyers and even the county courthouse in how interactions via Smartphones and social attempts to verify the Facebook status claims. Luckily, thanks to the quick ac- networking hamper understanding of all but A stressed out Beyoncé, who beforehand had the simplest communications. I didn’t really do been frantically putting finishing touches on it justice, though, as 1 ended up complaining tions of Beyoncé and the good her thesis, stormed into Ken and Jerry's head- mainly about my inability to convey complex quarters to inform them that she had been try- emotions with Gchat smileys. Luckily, that very humor of the administration, ing to sort through the chaos since almost the week something happened that demonstrated instant they made the initial update. The situa- my point better than I could ever imagine. ‘Dessgate’ ended without per- tion finally ended with a personal call from Be- It began, as many disasters do, with a prank. yoncé to President Liebowitz, reassuring him “Ken” and “Jerry” (names changed to conceal manent repercussions. that he would not meet his demise at the hands identity of those involved) were tired of the of Ms. Dess. same old Facebook pranks — such as chang- Luckily, thanks to the quick actions of ing a profile picture, birthday or the “Interested Beyoncé and the good humor of the adminis- in” tab. So when their friend “Beyoncé” left her the college for libel, copyright infringement and defama- tration, ‘Dessgate ended without permanent profile logged in on Jerry's computer, they decided that it tion of character. These charges themselves are preposter- repercussions. But it caused significant awkwardness for would be pretty funny to make a series of status updates ous; unless Aunt Des was instigating hate crimes against all parties involved, for which Jerry and Ken (whose name intended to inform the Middlebury community of an in- Ms. Dess involving dirty dining hall dishes as projectiles, almost coincidentally resembles my name) apologize. Still, flammatory yet totally ridiculous event. defamation of character was unlikely. Another key part of this illustrates what can happen when people take online Several ideas were tossed around for a possible story, the Facebook story was the possible impeachment of our communication too seriously, If in doubt, do it in person. including a hostage situation at Carol’s or an interdepart- President of the College. Correct me if I’m wrong, Mr. Li- Dont worry, Beyoncé, your Facebook is safe from us this mental sex scandal. They ultimately decided that a ficti- ebowitz, but I don’t think any college president has or ever April lst. Just make sure we don’t know where your clothes _ tious member of the Middlebury community named Deli- will be impeached. The cherry on top was Delilah Dess’ are. lah Dess was enraged over the College’s use of Aunt Des official statement that the college was run by “a bunch of to promote the dish return ae and had taken the sloppagees.” matter to court. Over the next hour, Ken and Jerry marveled at the suc- BEN JOHNSTON 1115 FROM BEDFORD, Mass. opinions 1 0 13 January 2011 ver: Jaime Fuller -Ed: Ray-Mazumder, Radu, King, Mulligan MiddHaiku The Gender Council: Grassroots Policy Change The spoken word event last Thursday, These two “poems” are ripe with pos- Night Kite Revival, was phenomenal. Lis- sibility as for how to interpret them, and To the Campus, ed to gender, so the work of GC would not be tening to Taylor Mali turn Microsoft Word I’m going to avoid giving any analysis so I done once it completes its initial stated tasks. into spoken music was inspiring, and when don’t taint your understanding of these po- In November 2009, a group of students I walked out of McCullough there were so ems. Let’s just say that last haiku might have and college employees asked a simple ques- 3. But Community Council passed All- many things I suddenly had to accomplish. I changed my life when I realized that the poem tion: What if campus activists and experts Gender Housing with no problems; why wanted to write five poems, change the life of is most likely an allusion to Anna Karenina interested in gender, sexuality, race, disabil- can’t it just deal with all gendered policies? an impressionable youth, fall in love and do and “checking procedures” is an allegory for ity, ethnicity, class and nationality could have According to the College Handbook, Com- something stupid that would become pro- class struggle. Out of all the haiku I found a permanent voice in Middlebury’s policy- munity Council only has authority in nonaca- found 10 years later. Instead, I had to write lurking on the College website, my favorite making process — much like environmental demic areas. While it can address the issue of this column. was one from a commencement speech given activists and experts have a permanent voice housing, it cannot address the issue of, say, I refused to be deterred. There needed at Breadloaf by John Elder in 2007: through the Environmental Council? Over gender-in-the-classroom. Furthermore, the to be some way to fit poetry into my column. a year later, these same folk have developed students who organized around All-Gender Translating spoken word into written spo- -They were to be called, a proposal to create a Gender Council (GC) Housing and brought a proposal before the ken word sounded like a bad idea. So did ap- and I’m not making this up, — a permanent body comprised of students, Student Government Association and Com- pealing to the Opinions editors to get one of Edith and Gertrude. staff and faculty that would advise Admin- munity Council are exceptional activists who those sound things you put in birthday cards istrators on gendered policy issues — that devoted hundreds of hours to this project. for my column this week. Inspiration finally I was amused by the mostly nonsensi- would be a resource to help the College re- They also worked collaboratively with and came, when I looked at the website Haiku- cal poetry produced by the faculty and staff solve issues related to gender before crises are active proponents of GC (in addition to Leaks, which collected the 65 coincidental of Middlebury College, and was thirsty to occur. Although difficult to explain in so few being co-authors of this piece). Students like haikus found in the State Department cables find poetry elsewhere. One of the slam poets words, here are some answers to frequently this don’t come along often, and we cannot released by WikiLeaks. Poetry constructed equated poets and politicians on Thursday, asked questions: afford to deal with pressing issues like hous- with vision and passion undoubtedly makes so I went on a search to see if he was correct. ing only once every few years. In the absence us feel, makes us think, makes us sigh when Turns out politicians are poets, if only acci- 1. Why is this called the “Gender Coun- of a standing body comprised of students, we read the last of the carefully chosen words. dentally. In the keynote speech at the Demo- cil” if it deals with more than just gender? staff and faculty, there is likely to be little HaikuLeaks reminded me that the accidental cratic National Convention in 2004, Barack GC is neither exclusively about women’s institutional memory of such activism, and placement of words into a poetic rhythm can Obama rose to the national spotlight, and issues nor about gender alone, but about en- when a new gender-related concern arises, be beautiful, but most of the time it probably produced a few clever haiku: tanglements — how it is impossible to discuss students will need to start afresh in mobiliz- won't make any sense. I was on a mission to “gendered” issues in isolation from other cat- ing support for their plans. Beai penrmagne nt find poetry that inadvertently enters our lives They must be pursued egories of identity. Many colleges have an LG- body, GC will not rely on individual activists, without us noticing. and they must be defeated. BTQ Council; however, GC would recognize but would institutionalize a commitment to The Middlebury College Course Catalog John Kerry knows this. that gendered experiences often extend far gender diversity, reducing periodic lulls in ac- 2010-2011 is surprisingly lyrical. The course beyond the range of sexuality. For example, tivism by providing a constant push to pass description for PHYS 155: An Introduction to and we cannot address the experiences of Mus- more progressive policy related to gender. the Universe has a very profound haiku hid- lim women on campus without bringing. den in its details of course requirements: We coach Little League together race, ethnicity, gender, national- 4. Would GC take work away from or in the Blue States and have gay ity, and religion (at the least). Likewise, GC challenge the legitimacy of other so- How did it begin? friends in the Red States. would work cooperatively with ongoing cial justice or diversity organizations? Will it expand forever, Diversity efforts to examine issues of race, No. GC would help make Middlebury rad- or how may it end? Obama continues sprinkling his speeches gender, and socioeconomic status that may ically democratic and thus support the work with haiku in the White House, but they aren’t play into the challenges of recruiting and re- of Diversity initiatives on campus, but would Wow. Deep. The course description of as heart-stirring ... or melodic. For example, taining students, staff, and faculty of color at do so through a gendered lens. GC would co- Professor Stanger’s The Politics of Virtual Middlebury. GC would be attentive to these operate with other organizations by offering Realities also features an inadvertent haiku: It is great to see nuances, and would incorporate the specific- seats to their members every year, by gath- all of you here for our first ity of these unique gendered experiences in ering institutional memory (reports, etc.) How can we uphold White House science fair. college policy. We do not just want to make from other organizations before beginning the ideals of liberty Middlebury more diverse, or more “tolerant” a project, and by drawing on other organi- and equality? The United States Constitution has sym- of diversity. We want to restructure power zations’ experience and networking poten- bolic importance and lyrical moments with- at the College so as to foster a community tials when organizing an event or project. In Other accidental poems would not be out being organized into a series of haiku, where all students, staff, and faculty can feel turn, GC would be an intellectual resource recognized as poetry in their native prose and it had its moment in the limelight the like they belong, and flourish. to other organizations by providing exper- form, but open up to literary interpretation same day Night Kite Revival performed in tise when requested on their projects, and when reorganized into haiku. For example, Middlebury. For the first time in our history, 2. Why can’t existing organizations would be a political resource to them by the Constitution was read on the House floor, do the tasks that GC is proposing? providing an avenue for proposing policies. Equivalent work but the document was not read in its entirety. There is currently no organization on cam- Gender is something that affects all of us. in other media is When there were places in the text where the pus dedicated to addressing the needs and ex- This is an opportunity for Middlebury to also possible. changes made in amendments superceded the periences of students, staff, and faculty based demonstrate its stated commitments to di- original text, the original text was removed. on gender. Additionally, GC would act as a versity, inclusivity and progressive change by and For example, the three-fifths compromise, an sounding board for existing organizations and creating a uniquely grassroots policy coun- important, if uncomfortable reminder that would centralize their efforts, rather than add- cil that gives passionate students, staff, and Thesis or essay the United States has made many mistakes, ing new tasks to already busy councils. Cur- faculty a direct avenue to policymakers. To prospectus is the final was not read because of the subsequently rati- rently, there are three councils tasked with show your support, please join our Facebook product of this course. fied 13th and 14th Amendments. the responsibility to create or propose policy group (go/gcfb)! To’ read our formal pro- The Constitution should have been read based on their expert knowledge: Communi- posal and executive summary, head to go/ Is “course” a metaphor for life? And in its entirety. Life isn’t always poetic, and it ty Council, Environmental Council and Sex- gendercouncil. when they say the thesis is the “final prod- shouldn’t always be poetic either. Without ual Assault Oversight Committee (SAOC). uct” does that mean we die after we turn it the context, the reasons for why the changes The people on Community Council and En- Sincerely, in? Right now, that interpretation doesn’t to our Constitution are important evaporate vironmental Council do not necessarily have Viveka Ray-Mazumder 711, Joey Radu 713, seem too far-fetched. The College Handbook from our consciousness and all we are left the background to deal effectively with sensi- Elizabeth King ’13 and Lark Mulligan 711 has some poems waiting behind the academic with is the sunny afterthought, or a nonsen- tive issues of gender/sexuality/etc., and have policies and toneless descriptions of how to sical, if well-rhythmed sentence. As the acci- enough on their plates as it is. The members transfer course credit. dental haiku I found littered throughout dry of the SAOC may have that background, but This article is submitted with support from: documents show, when poetry is stumbled many of the tasks GC proposes are beyond Lark Nierenberg, Kevin Moss, Kevin Brous- Two credits can be upon or forcefully built out of boring sen- the scope of sexual assault. And other cam- sard, Anna Mysliwiec, Cat Campbell, Rebec- earned by participation tences, it can sometimes be brilliant, but most pus organizations that do have sufficient ca Harper, Tony Huynh, Nate Kerr, Rebecca in two different sports. of the time it just doesn’t make sense. Maybe background and interest in gender issues Wear, Shawna Shapiro, Natasha Chang, Linda poetry is best left to those with the vision and aren't recognized as policymakers, and again White, Michelle McCauley, Heidi Grasswick, and passion to bring it to life. have enough work as it is (e.g., Center for the Mary Hurlie, Ximena Mejia, Ellen Oxfeld, , Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity, Gary Margolis, Jodi Litchfield, Matt Longman, checking procedures Chellis House/Women’s Resource Center and Sujata Moorti, Laurie Essig, Roman Graf, Mi- are followed consistently JAIME FULLER 711 1S FROM MOQA). Additionally, the College will al- chael Sheridan and Karin Hanta, Director of throughout the party. NORTH CREEK, N.Y. ways be making and enforcing policies relat- Chellis House, Women’s Resource Center “Say, isn’t it J-term? Now that you finally have the ex- tra time to express yourself, why don’t you submit a little something to The Campus? I hear they'll print just about anyone's opinion on anything” It’s true. We will. Submit your opinions to [email protected] by 5 p.m. on Mondays.