MiddNews
The 570 members of the Middlebury College class of 2006 have been on campus since Sept. 1. Coming from 38 foreign countries, 47 states, and the District of Columbia, the students took part in a week of orientation events and trips. The "Middlebury Outdoor Orientation" (MOO), "This is Vermont," and "Volunteer Preview" programs allow students to get to know one another and introduce them to the state, its beauty, and its culture. International students participate in the "Friends of International Students" program, which involves host families in the community.
Classes began on Sept. 9.
The first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was marked on campus by a quiet observance at 8:46 a.m. when the bells of Mead Chapel tolled, and faculty, staff, and students reflected during a period of silence. A memorial service was held at 12:30 p.m. in Mead, where the names of those connected with the Middlebury community who lost their lives were read.
The previous day at 4:30 p.m. human rights advocate Elie Wiesel delivered the annual Fulton Lecture. His talk, "Reflections on September 11 One Year Later," attracted a crowd that filled Mead Chapel. Several hundred others listened to the address outside on loudspeakers as they sat on the hillside under the trees, or viewed a televised feed to the McCullough Student Center.
The September 11 anniversary coverage on National Public Radio (NPR) included an interview with best-selling author and writer-in-residence Julia Alvarez '71. She participated in a discussion with other prominent writers on the "Talk of the Nation" segment of NPR's all-day coverage. Alvarez joined the discussion from the Middlebury campus using a live audio feed from the public affairs office.
Alvarez was also the recipient of a 2002 Hispanic Heritage Award in the literature category. She and other recipients were honored at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Aug.1. The awards are considered a pinnacle of achievement in the Hispanic community. Other recipients of 2002 Hispanic Heritage Awards include recording artist Ricky Martin and Olympic skater Derek Parra. The awards program will be televised by many NBC stations across the country on Oct. 12.
During the 2001-2002 fiscal year, 27 faculty members were awarded over $1 million for a total of 42 grants and fellowships to support faculty research and other scholarly activities. In addition, faculty efforts resulted in three institutional grants to support the academic program, bringing the totals to 29 faculty members and 45 grants.
U.S. News & World Report magazine ranks Middlebury College seventh among national liberal arts colleges in its annual "Best Colleges" issue. The controversial college rankings ran in the Sept. 16 issue of the magazine. Amherst ranked first in the liberal arts category. (See: http://www.usnews.com.)
The College's annual Septemberfest celebration was held outdoors at the site of two newly opened facilities-Ross Dining and LaForce Hall dormitory. The two new buildings were dedicated during the annual fall event. With their completion, these new facilities make Ross Commons the first of Middlebury's five commons to be fully configured.
The dedication ceremony was preceded by a staff recognition ceremony, which honored four members of the Middlebury College staff: Tom Cutter, director of network services; Paul LaRocque, head chef at Bread Loaf; Linda Ross, assistant director of custodial services; and Charlotte Tate, assistant director of the Center for International Affairs.
Gary Margolis, associate professor of English and director of the College's counseling center, has been named the first recipient of the annual Sam Dietzel Award for Mental Health Practice in Vermont. The award, presented by St. Michael's College in honor of a deceased member of its graduate school faculty in clinical psychology, was presented to Margolis for his abiding commitment to the developmental issues faced by college-age students.
Grace Spatafora, associate professor of biology at Middlebury, has been named as a member of the Oral Biology and Medicine Study Section of the Center for Scientific Review at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Members, who are selected on the basis of achievement in their scientific discipline, review grant applications submitted to the NIH, make recommendations, and survey the status of research in their fields of science. Spatafora's research focuses on microbial pathogens in the mouth that promote tooth decay and contribute to heart problems.
This year's Middlebury seniors will face a particularly difficult job market, according to Don Kjelleren of the Middlebury Career Services Office (CSO). More than 300 seniors were presented with this harsh reality at a recent meeting sponsored by the CSO. The students were directed to various resources such as the CSO Web page (http://www.middlebury.edu/cso/); Middnet, which puts students in touch with alumni who have volunteered to help guide the career interests of Middlebury students; programs that help students develop networking skills; and resume writing workshops.
New CSO services for seniors this year include programs about jobs in the nonprofit sector and in socially responsible careers, and trips to Vermont businesses to meet with alumni working in various fields. The "Career Directions" program involves academic departments, which host gatherings of students, faculty, and career services staff who discuss career opportunities related to particular academic majors.
The Middlebury College Center for the Arts (CFA) will celebrate its 10th anniversary during the 2002-2003 arts season with a diverse array of museum exhibitions, live performances, and special educational events.
Since its opening in 1992, the CFA has served as a performing and visual arts center for the campus and surrounding communities, exposing audiences to local, national, and international artists. For information about performances and exhibits see the CFA Web site at: http://www.middlebury.edu/cfa/.