MiddNews - February 2006
A monthly update of news and events from Middlebury College
Hello, Goodbye
It felt more like late March, but that didn't stop more than 90 "Feb" students from celebrating the mid-year completion of their academic requirements with the annual ski down at the Snow Bowl on February 4.
Though the graduates won't officially complete their course work until March 1, it has become tradition for the mid-year grads to process in cap and gown down the Snow Bowl slopes at the conclusion of Winter Term. And while a spate of unusually warm weather had threatened the proceedings, there was enough snow cover to ensure that the grads could ski down in style.
As the 2006 Febs prepared to leave Midd, a host of the February Class of 2009 arrived on campus. For an inside look at all that awaits the new first-years, check out the February Orientation web site:
http://www.middlebury.edu/campuslife/events/orientation/feb/
Planning Update
A draft of Middlebury's strategic plan—Knowledge Without Boundaries—was presented to the Board of Trustees at the February Board meeting.
During the coming weeks, the Planning Steering Committee will work with leaders on the Board of Trustees to develop a final draft of the plan.
In the meantime, the College is inviting the Middlebury community to read the latest version, which can be found here:
http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/planning/draft_plan/
For more, visit the planning web site.
Primary Source
Middlebury economics professor Jon Isham was a recent guest on the popular public radio program "Open Source," where he took part in a discussion on the future of the environmental movement.
To listen to the program, visit "Open Source" on the web.
To read more about Isham and his research see:
http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200602isham
Art Meets Science
For years, the instruments sat in dark storage spaces around the campus, but now hundreds of brass, mahogany and glass-blown scientific relics are seeing the light of day in an exhibit titled "Beauty, Ingenuity, and Function: Rediscovering Middlebury's Philosophical Instruments."
On display in the College library, the exhibit grew out of a winter term course taught by physics professor Frank Winkler and museum designer Ken Pohlman.
For more, see:
http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200602scienceart
Should They Stay or Should They Go?
A few weeks ago, the Middlebury community spent the better part of a day discussing and debating the issue of military recruitment on campus.
To read more about the symposium sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs, see:
http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200602soloman
High Tech
On Monday, President George W. Bush presented Middlebury alum Roger L. Easton '43 with a National Medal of Technology at a ceremony at the White House. Easton was recognized for his pioneering achievements in spacecraft tracking, navigation, and timing technology that led to the development of the NAVSTAR-Global Positioning System.
For a transcript of photos of the event, see:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060213.html
Peace Train(ing)
Twenty one Middlebury alumni are currently serving in the Peace Corps, which places the College eighth among smaller colleges and universities in the number of alumni serving as Corps volunteers.
Since the Peace Corps' inception, more than 400 Middlebury grads have volunteered their service, some more than once.
For more, see:
http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200602pcorps
Destination: Biloxi
While most college students around the country spent their winter holiday celebrating with family and friends, Ali Perencevich '06 spent an unconventional vacation volunteering in Biloxi, Mississippi.
For more, see:
http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200602biloxi
Inside the Admissions Office
It's the busy season in the Admissions Office. How busy? Well, consider this: 6,187 students have applied to Middlebury for a place in the Class of 2010—an 18 percent increase over last year's applicant pool.
Early Decision I applications were up 19 percent, while Early Decision II applications showed a 16 percent increase. In addition, the College received 24 percent more applications from Hispanic and African American students than it did last year.
Another interesting trend concerned regional interest in Middlebury. Applications from the Mid-Atlantic region were up 20 percent; from the South, 23 percent; from the Midwest, 15 percent; and from the West, nearly 10 percent.
And a good note for the trees: Roughly eighty percent of those who applied to Middlebury College did so online.
Life, Interrupted
Tara McMenamy Sheahan '82 is the subject of the cover story in the winter issue of Middlebury Magazine.
Sheahan's quest for a berth in the 2006 Olympic games ended earlier this year, but she's ok with that. Why?
Find out here:
http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200602sheahan
Democracy Now?
Surprised by the recent legislative election in the Palestinian territories? Febe Armanios, an assistant professor of Middle East and Islamic history, isn't.
Find out why:
http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200602febe
Carnival Time
Middlebury's 83rd annual Winter Carnival commences next week.
The oldest and largest student-run carnival in the country opens on Thursday evening, February 23, with the Winter Carnival Ice Show. In addition to the ice show, the four-day event will feature a snow festival hosted by the Japanese Club, a cultural gala, and alpine and Nordic ski competitions.
For more, see:
http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200602carnival
Alumni College Goes West
Join professor Sallie Sheldon, faculty from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS), and scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium for an on-site course on marine biology. The Alumni College course will take place March 22-26, and will include a trip to the renowned aquarium and a tour of MIIS.
For more information visit:
http://www.middlebury.edu/alumni/events/monterey.htm
Sports Report
The Panther Nordic and alpine ski teams finished second overall at the Dartmouth Carnival last weekend. Senior Garrott Kuzzy dominated Nordic events, capturing both the 10K and 20K races.
For complete results, visit:
http://www.eisaskiing.org/BART/Results06/doc06.htm
The women's hockey team clinched the top seed for the upcoming NESCAC tournament with a convincing 4-1 victory over Amherst last Saturday. The Panthers skate at Hamilton and Trinity this weekend, with the NESCAC tournament to follow on March 4 and 5.
For all your Middlebury sports news, check out:
http://www.gomidd.com