M A G A Z I N E Reversing Tides Can this woman halt a changing clir:' g Perhaps—with som e help. WALL FLOWERS A row of tulips peeks over in the top of a stone wall. h Z U P H I L L / D O W N H I L L U 1 8 COLLEGE STREET S The history department sparks a h global debate on Wikipedia, PC a campus landmark aUs, and researchers put a Vermont staple under the microscope. a U 22 Q STUDENT SCENE Before leaving Middlebury, a Feb had one last challenge to tackle. C L A S S A C T I O N 44 PURSUITS With his hometown still reehng in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, an architect sets out to rebuild a neighborhood. 46 BOOK MARKS In her moving second novel, VendelaVida ’93 takes the reader to the edge of the Earth. Cover (Uid inset phoWi^raphs by CiUherine Kanioiv Contents photoi^raph by Bob Hiindehnan 26 SAY WHAT!?! To become true citizens of the world, students must learn to argue effectively. 30 GREEN IS GOOD Eco-consciousness is rising at a rapid rate. Meet a handful of alums making a difference and gauge your own level of green sawiness. 40 ENDINGS Long synonymous with beginnings, spring portends something else for Jay Parini. 2 VIEWFINDER LETTERS ■r r - 3 4 CONTRIBUTORS 1 6 NORTHERN EXPOSURE 2 4 f'. CLASS NOTES 4 8 f. ,:.r ■ CLASSIFIEDS 7 7 ROAD TAKEN 8 0 ■* ■ * ' 4 ■J / ; t ' V I E WF I N D E R M i d d l e b u r y Earth's B est MAGAZI NE Doing one's part to save a warming planet. Spring 2007 Volume 81, N umber 2 Editor Matt Jennings t ’s hard to pass a newsstand these days without spying a handful of magazine covers trumpeting a special “green” issue. Whether it’s Arnold Art Director Pamela Fogg Schwarzenegger on Outside, Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard {Fortune), a lonely penguin on a melting ice cap (Time), or the oh-so-Vanity Fair quartet of Julia Assistant Editor Roberts, A1 Gore, George Clooney, and RFK Jr., each cover has the perfect R e GAN E berhart pitch person for its audience (I’m omitting the current issue of Washington Flyer, Grophic Designer because I think it’s been a while since Leo DiCaprio flew commercial). In Amy Lynd Carey Bass ’99 Liters ’88, we have that perfect cover person, too. Alumni Editor Amy is the California climate manager for the Union of Concerned Scientists, Sara Thurber Marshall a nonprofit organization comprised of scientists and policy experts who are tackling some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. She recently coauthored a report—Our Changing Climate: Assessing the Risks to California—that has led to some of Editorial Office the toughest global wanning legislation enacted in the United States. This much 5 Court Street I knew when I asked Brian Eule, a San Francisco-based writer and frequent Magazine Middlebuty' College contributor, to sit down and chat with Amy. What I didn’t know (and what Brian Middlebuiy, VT 05753 illuminated) was that Amy came to Midd planning on majoring in physics, ended up Phone: 802-443-5670 concentrating on philosophy, and spent a number of years working in Nicaragua E-mail: nTiddmag@middlebur\cedu before earning advanced degrees in international policy studies and environmental Online: www.middleburymagazine.org science. We had found our cover subject. Advertising Sales Office Of course, other Midd folks are having similar impacts on our planet, and we Smart Communication, Inc. tell a number of their stories in our ten-page “green” feature package. We’ve also P.O. Box 283, Vergennes, VT 05491 included a couple of pieces that have more of a reader service component. Ben Phone: 802-877-2262 Jeiwey ’oi, the author of The Big Green Apple: Your Guide to Eco-Friendly Lining in New E-mail: [email protected] York City, offers 12 steps to living a greener life; and Jack Byrne, the College’s campus sustainability coordinator, crafted a quiz that will help give you a sense of how eco- Other College Offices sawy you are. (all area code 802) Before testing your green IQ, I’d encourage you to visit the website wumc. College Infonnation: 443-5000 myfootprint.org to detennine what your ecological footprint is. I took the quiz and Alumni Office: 443-5183 learned that my ecological footprint is 24 acres, which happened to be the average Admissions: 443-3000 ecological footprint for a U.S. resident. Not bad, I thought. Then I saw that the planet contains 4. 5 biologically productive acres per person and that if everyone lived The views presented are not necessarily those ot like me, we’d need 5.3 planets to support this lifestyle. the editor or the official policies of the College. Oops. Chagrined, I asked our art director, who I Middlebun' College of Middlebury, VT 05753, consider to be significantly more eco-conscious than publishes Middlcbur)' Magazine (ISSN 0745-2454) four times a year: winter, spring, summer, and me, to take the quiz. Her eco-footprint is 21 acres. fall. ©2007 Middlebury College Publications. Better than me (as I expected), but not by much. Middlebiny Xlaf^azitie is printed at The Lane Press We—and I mean this in the most collective way in South Burlington, VT. Nonprofit standard mail postage paid at Middlebuiy, VT. and at possible—have a lot of work to do. —MJ additional mailing offices (USPS 964-820). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Middtebur)’ Magazine, Middlebur\’ College, Middlebuiy, VT 05753. Printed in U.S.A. Plioiograpli of Man Jennings by Boh Handchnan MiDDLEBURY M.YG.'tZINE ' ■ L E T T E R S ! D is tu r b in g T r e n d s Thank you for your candid and brave piece about the uneasy place of personal faith in a secular setting such as Middlebury (“Of Faith and Reason,” winter 2007). Too often this is the white elephant in the room that everyone sees and no one wants to talk about—this in a setting that professes openness to all perspectives and passions. Most clarifying were the terms that Stanley Fish proposed: are we talking around the edges of religion at an arm’s length, as a subject of curiosity, or taking it seriously, as a candidate for truth that can’t be construed from other disciplines? That is the essential question. Finally, on the very day when I read “Of Faith and Reason” in your fine magazine, I noticed an Associated Press story underscoring the urgency of the subject. “Today’s college students are more narcissistic and self-centered than their predecessors, according to a comprehensive new study,” it stated. undermines all that separates the mind CUP RUNNETH OVER “Five psychologists worry that the of a critical thinker from the phantas­ A number of readers weighed in trend could be harmful to personal magoria of the Natioiial Enquirer? Does on last issue's cover story "Of Faith relationships and American society.” anyone question the notion—appar­ and Reason." As one would expect, Absent seriously engaging religion ently taken for granted in much of the readers' opinions covered a wide range. on campus and without its high ceilings activity reported in the article—that we beyond the isolated self’s narrow version can assume a foundational link between of truth, count on the disturbing trend to religion and ethics/morality? continue. Frankly, that is reason enough Most decent people have the ability a free ride with respect to its preten­ to advance the conversations on religion to distinguish between right and wrong sions to intellectual and moral respect­ you so helpfully broached. without reliance on religious dogma, ability. Undoubtedly there are people Date Rosenberger P’og which is why they can read the Old Tes­ at Middlebury who are critical of the Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts tament and be outraged by its views on whole enterprise of religion. 1 would women, slavery, and punishment, or the urge the editors to make their views New Testament’s nonchalant condemna­ known. Are there courses where students T a k e th e G lo v e s O ff While reading “Of Faith and Reason” tion oflarge numbers of people to eter­ read works by lucid critics of “faith” like (winter 2007), I kept waiting for some nal torture. As Plato’s Socrates pointed Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris? Are mention of voices at Middlebury who out long ago (Euthyphro lo-ii), the there forums that welcome real “gloves would reject many of the fundamental gods favor the good because it is good; off” examinations—rather than the usual assumptions reflected in the article. Are it is not the case that the good is good deferential pabulum—of religion? Is any­ there professors or students or people because the gods favor it. Ethics/morality one at Middlebury openly and explicitly occupied with “student life” at Middle­ is not intrinsically tied to religion. critical of the pretensions of religion? If bury who hold that “faith,” i.e., believ­ No one can be opposed to study­ so, let’s hear about them! ing things without evidence or contrary ing about religion: its history, sociol­ Richard Hogan ’67 to available evidence, is not a virtue ogy, anthropology, psychology. But the Fairhaven, Massachusetts but is in fact incompatible with genu­ claims of religion to truth and author­ ine intellectual integrity? Does anyone ity cannot be accepted without rigorous O u r C u ltu r o l V a c u u m defend the notion that “different faith critical scrutiny, in the fuzzy atmosphere I immediately thought of Middle­ traditions” getting people—especially of “interfaith dialogue” and “spiritual­ bury—and specifically the winter 2007 young children—to believe in such ity”—apparently enthusiastically encour­ magazine story “Of Faith and Reason”— absurdities as virgin births, ascents into aged and handsomely underwritten when I recently read the following pas­ lieaven, and adventures with angels at the College—religion seems to get sage from The Iraq Study Group Report: P n O T 0 c; U A P II BY B U 1 D C Ü T B B S A w S p K 1 N (; 2007 M id d l e b u r y C o l l e g e B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s Alum ni College 2007 P r e s id e n t Ronald D. Liebowitz for alumni, parents, & friends F e l l o w s Louis Bacon ’79 Pamela Tanner Boll ’jS William Delahunt ’63, P’97 Donald M. Elliman.Jr. ’67 Frederick M. Fritz ’68, P’93, P’97, P’oo Richard S. Fuld, Jr. P’03, P’07 Nancy CofFrin Furlong ’75, P’02, P’04 Charles Gately ’62, P’05 Robert C. Graham, Jr. ’63 Olivier P. L. Halley ’91 Beverly L. Hamilton Betty Ashbury Jones, M.A. ’86 James R. Keyes ’71 William H. KiefFer ’64 111 Roxanne McComiick Leighton ’67 Patrick L. McConathy P’04, P’05, P’o6 Stephen McDonald Michael C. Obel-Omia ’88 Kimberly Collins Parizeau ’79 Steven B. Peterson ’88 Elisabeth B. Robert ’78 Felix G. Rohatyn ’49 David A. Salem ’78 Endless Learning Susan J. Scher ’86 Jed A. Smith ’88 John Spencer P’88, P’94 Karen A. Stolley ’77 A u g u s t 2 9 —S e p te m b e r 2 , 2 0 0 7 Deborah G. Thomas ’75 John R. Tormondsen ’82 James Edward Virtue ’82, P’lO T h e f o llo w in g c o u r s e s w ill b e o f fe re d : Marna C. Whittington P’99 Linda Foster Whitton ’80, P’05, P’o8 Global Climate Change Kendrick R. Wilson III P’oi, P’03 R ic h a r d W o lf s o n a n d J o n a th a n I s h a m E m e r it i James I. Armstrong Mystery and Detective Novels Mary Williams Brackett ’36 Dort A. Cameron ’67, P’92, P’95, P’oo, P’05 A n to n ia L o s a n o 111 Churchill G. Franklin ’71, P’02, P’05. P’07 Claire Waterhouse Gargalli ’64 Modern Chinese Painting: Willard T. Jackson ’51 Innovations during the Past Century John M. McCardell, Jr. C. Irving Meeker ’50, P’78 J o h n a n d A lic e B e r n in g h a u s e n Jonathan O’Herron P’8i, P’88 Patricia Judah Palmer ’57, P’89. P’92 Strategy and Ethics in the War on Terrorism Milton V. Peterson ’58. P’84. P’86, P’88 W. Kyle Prescott ’49, P’73, P’76. P’77 K a te r i C a r m o la Raymond J. Saulnier ’29 David E. Thompson ’49, P’72, P’75, P’77 L’avenir de l’Europe: économique ou politique? Robert P. Yoiingman ’64, P’87. P’90 (taught in Erench) O f f ic e r s o f t h e C o r p o r a t io n T h ie r r y W a r in Frederick M. Fritz ’68. P'95, P’97. P’oo, Chair Ronald D. Liebowitz, President Roxanne McComiick Leighton '67, Vice Chair F or a b roch u re and further in form ation p lease visit Kendrick R. Wilson III P’oi, P’03, Vice Chair w 'w w .m id d leb u ry.ed u /alu m n i or call (8 0 2 )4 4 3 -5 3 3 5 . Betsy Mitchell Etchells ’75, Secretary F. Robert Huth,Jr., Treasurer M idd leb u r y M agazine L E T T E R S “All of our efforts in Iraq, military and Matt Jennings’s excellent article, clearly chology and anthropology). However, I civilian, are handicapped by Americans’ demonstrates that Middlebury is no! a think Middlebury would serve a greater lack ot language and cultural under­ microcosm of society, contrary to state­ good if the focus of its curriculum were standing. Our embassy of i,ooo has 33 ments elsewhere in the magazine. The to provide a framework for students Arabic speakers, just six of whom are at Harris Poll states, “79 percent of Ameri­ to develop a “moral compass” without the level of fluency.” cans believe there is a God, and that 66 relying on 2,ooo-year-old creation and The vacuum of cultural understand­ percent are absolutely certain this is true. salvation myths. ing and linguistic skill at the heart of the Only 9 percent do not believe in God, The writer appears to bemoan it, but American enterprise in Iraq, and more while a further 12 percent are not sure.” find it praiseworthy that Middlebury 1 broadly in the Middle East, urgently Middlebury students need education has more than twice the national per­ needs to be filled. Middlebury has the in religious thought and conflict if they centage of freshmen who indicate they resources to meet the linguistic needs of are to serve society as leaders. I congrat­ have no religious preference, and I hope our government. Now I read that reli­ ulate the College for taking this chal­ that after four years at the College the gious study is taking off with new vigor. lenge seriously. percentage will be even higher. Serious study of Islam will take students DanielJ. Urbach ’S2 Peter Holm ’S6 a long way toward cultural understand­ Portland, Oreg^on Waterbury Center, Vermont ing of Iraq and the Middle East. Religion is the central focus of the F a ith Is B e y o n d D is c u s s io n B lo g A p p r e c ia tio n Islamic world’s conflict with the West. There was much m Matt Jennings’s I read with great interest “Of Faith and The life and thought of the Middle East, article “Of Faith and Reason” that had Reason” by Matt Jennings in the winter and the West’s trouble with and inter­ me grumbling in agnostic indignation, 2007 issue. It my memory is accurate, est in the Middle East, is inexplicable but I'll limit my commentary to a few religion was a “conversation stopper” without an adequate understanding of points and begin by simply pointing out during my years at Middlebury (1959— Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. That the irony of any faith-oriented organi­ 63). I am very happy that it is a conversa­ adequate understanding apparently is zation (or writer) calling for an intel­ tion starter now. I remember the days of lacking in all of our current political lectual environment where “boundaries compulsory chapel, when the chapel ser­ leaders, and seemingly in our entire soci­ are stretched, beliefs challenged, and an mons were very secular. And I remember ety, with the exception of a tiny number ethos of inquiry embraced.” By its very the days when there was really no one I of scholars. definition, faith demands the unques­ could find on campus who would share Religion is one of the key elements tioning opposite. Perhaps the language their faith concerns with me. of the American way of life, for better of religion is a “conversation stopper” Paradoxically the nonreligious intel­ and for worse. Reactionary religion is the for nonbelievers on campus because ulti­ lectual atmosphere at Midd made me driving force of those who would censor mately faith is beyond discussion. anxious to learn more about my own our schools and libraries and create intel­ Religion is a fine thing for many faith tradition, Roman Catholicism, so lectual malformations in our children. people. Its various forms of practice much so that I became a Roman Catho­ Distortion of the Bible is the excuse should be welcomed, even encouraged, lic priest in 1970. But I believe that my for the willful ignorance of a powerful as part of campus life. Academically, Middlebury education also kept the spirit minority in our society. its history, art, and thought should be ot inquiry alive in me to the extent that I That 39 percent of Middlebury’s taught—as it was in my time at Middle­ left the Roman Catholic fold to become incoming student body declares no bury—in the context of world history, a conservative Missouri Synod Lutheran religious preference, as reported in art, and philosophy [and science and psy­ pastor some years later. _ .'U~------------------------------------------ lebuiy Alimni and Students! ^ h e 3 ^ id d le b u ry Q n n A n e w b o o k a b o u t th e fa m o u s B ro o k sv iJle (N e w H av en ), V e rm o n t F O O D • DSRinIcNe K1 82• 7L O D G IN G Middlebury, resta u ra n t. T h e D o g T e a m T a v e rn . $25.(X ), 1 4 0 p g s w ith h isto ric p h o to s. V erm ont 0 5 7 5 3 - W 'ritc: R a lp h E . B ro o k s, 2 1 4B , M ain S treet, I'o x b o ro M A 0 2 0 3 5 -1 3 2 1 ; 8 0 0 8 4 2 - 4 6 6 6 w w w .m iddleburyinn.com eM ail; rb ro o k s(^ b u .e d u o r p u rc h a se it at th e H e n ry S h e ld o n M u seu m . 2007 S p r in g L E T T E R S Smart is Sexy! My real reason for writing, how­ Europe ever, is to commend Karina Arrue ’07, \ U nited States whose blog. Upsurge, I read about in the JOIN THE Introduction Jennings article. have read Ms. Arrue’s NETWORK EXCLUSIVELY FOR C anada 1 ^ GRADUATES, FACULTY AND interviews with Middlebury people of /!\ ■ STUDENTS OF MIDDLEBURY, diverse religious backgrounds, as well \ T THE IVY LEAGUE. STANFORD. as her reflections on how she integrates AND A FEW OTHERS her faith with the other ethnic, intel­ lectual, social, spiritual, and purely personal dimensions of her student life. Her writings are so insightful that I have - recommended them to friends who are 8 0 0 9 8 8 - 5 2 8 8 WWW.RGHTSTUFFDATNG.COM involved in campus ministry. 1 1 Roger Newton '6j PIiiladelphia, Pennsylvania T h e D a r k A g e o f F e a r It is important that the College com­ ^y)(QDDLEBUiafJjkANSIT munity engage the question, “Does God Personalized R egional Transportation Exist?” (winter 2007). The phenomenon Travel In Style In O ur of recent bestsellers such as The End of L uxurious C ustom C onversion Vans Faith by Sam Harris and Why Christian­ • .Virport & A m trak Station Transportation ity Must Change or Die by Bishop John • Business M eetings 802-388-3838 Shelby Spong is surely not a coincidence • Family Excursions 800-388-1002 in light of “culture wars” that have con­ • Special Events Owned & operated by Bill & Sara Fuller of Cornwall tributed to a polarized American politics www.MiddleburyTransit.com and the Middle Eastern conflict, which can be seen as a clash of religious funda­ mentalisms—Jewish, Islamic, and, not least, Christian. Basin HarLor Clun I think it’s time to examine our notions of faith when a prominent O n Lahe d ia m p la in Christian fundamentalist can be seen on television proclaiming in violent imagery and with gusto to a large and Join us this spring and see w hv generations of rapt audience that he is ready to “blow fam ilies have celebrated xvith us. away” his Islamic enemies. It is time to examine our notions of “Judeo- Christian” values when a former candi­ Stay In unparalleled date for president of the United States accommodations, host a and president of the “Christian” Family graduation brunch, Research Council, declares on Sunday BBO picnic or formal morning news that the tragic figure dinner. of a heroin-addicted youth is, in fact, the devil and should be locked away in prison for life. And, think it’s time to examine 1 the theistic image of God, the paternal And dance like there’s no father figure up in the sky, when Presi­ school tomorrow! dent George W. Bush explains to Pales­ tinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, that, as president, he took the U.S. to war with BASIN HARBOR ClOB Iraq at the beckoning of God. My God wasn't supportive of an invasion ot Iraq. 4 8 0 0 B asin I larb or R oad V ei'gen n es, V erm o n t 05491 8 0 0 .6 2 2 .4 0 0 0 Isn’t this theistic God the product of magical thinking in a dark age ot fear 6 M iddleb ury M agazine I ^ R Ê L B W O R K S " R E S lb È N C È S 1 4th floor east i’ Stunning Downtown Middlebury At Your Own Front Door. M id d le b u ry s p re m ie r d o w n to w n re sid e n c e s— ju st a few m in u te s’ w a lk to th e C o lleg e, sh o p p in g , d in in g , c u ltu ra l e v e n ts a n d m o re . S p acio u s, e le g a n tly -a p p o in te d 1, 2, a n d 3 b e d ro o m h o m e s. H e a te d u n d e rg ro u n d p a rk in g , A d iro n d a c k s a n d O tte r C re e k v iew s. Living at Marble Works Residences means the simplicity, security, and convenience of downtown Middlebury, all at your own front door. F or fu rth er d eta ils, v isit w w w .m a rb lew o rk sresid en ces.co m o r call In g rid P u n d erso n Jack son R eal E state 8 0 2 .3 8 8 .4 2 4 2 L E T T E R S and ignorance, adopted to explain the unknown at a time before science and reason? It we embrace the notion ot a theistic God, always there to intervene, to make things right if we’re righteous, and as a convenient rationalization for our actions, then it would seem we are freed of any obligation to take responsi­ bility for those actions. By all means, carry on this discussion of “Faith and Reason” at Middlebury. The clash of those ideals is a major his­ torical force with which today’s students will have to come to terms. As for me, I will continue to embrace the wisdom of Jesus, the man, as well as the mysteries of the spirit. We can’t be sure what’s down the road. Dave Brautigam ’6g But at Prentiss Smith & Company we believe that Huntington, Ventiont a disciplined investment approach, and attention to each client's individual situation, can take an investor a long way. For a brochure that includes our performance record please call. R e c o m m e n d e d R e a d in g Your cover story, “CTf Faith and Rea­ TOLL FREE 800-223-7851 son,” caught my eye, especially with the cover heading, “Does God Exist?” PRENTISS SMITH & COMPANY, INC. Unfortunately, I was completely misled Portfolio management for the socially conscious investor since 1982 by the scrawl on the board. There is no OFFICES IN BRATTLEBORO & BURLINGTON, VERMONT • www.SOCialinvesting.com mention whatsoever of the existence or non-existence of a Creator Being. As an atheist, I am quite shocked to read that Harvard is contemplating the incorporation of religion as required study. On the other hand, it is also enlightening to find that Middlebury is “areligious” and even antireligious. For readers to get a different view­ point from Matt Jennings’s one-sided assessment of the benefits of religion, I recommend Richard Dawkins’s new' book. The God Delusion. Gerald Lnnderville, M.A. Spanish, ’6g Long Beach, California E x p la in Y o u r s e lf Admittedly a casual reader of your magazine, I nonetheless found myself w'ondering about editorial choices—how' you decide what to include and w'hat to omit, or w'hat perspective to take. For example. I asked myself whether or not the discussion of religion (“Ot Faith and Reason,” winter 2007) w'as illuminated by the unrelated question— “Does God Exist?”—promiscuously scrawled across the cover. Similarly, in the piece on John G. Roberts Jr. (“Hail to the Chief”), I M iddleb ury M.yg .yzine