MiddNews - September 2006
A monthly update of news and events from Middlebury College
Institutional Diversity Dean Hired
On Thursday, Middlebury announced that Shirley Ramirez, executive vice president of the New York City-based Posse Foundation, would join the College as dean for institutional diversity.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University, she was the first member of her family to attend college. She was also a member of the first "Posse" class-public school students recruited by the foundation to form multicultural teams and attend top colleges and universities nationwide. And she is the first Posse scholar to earn a doctorate.
For more, see: http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200609ramirez
New Class in Town
The Class of 2010 arrived on campus just after Labor Day. Of the 560 first-years enrolling in the fall, just over half are public school graduates and more than three-quarters come from outside New England.
Of course, incoming first-years aren't the only new faces on campus. The office of the vice president for academic affairs reports that 36 new faculty members will be teaching at the College during the 2006-07 academic year. The faculty hires include tenure-track appointments, instructors, lecturers, assistants in instructions, and positions replacing faculty on leave.
Russian School Named
For the first time in its 92-year history, one of the Language Schools has received a commemorative name.
At last month's Language School commencement exercises, President Ronald D. Liebowitz announced that the Russian School would be named the Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian, in honor of the longtime philanthropist and Russian scholar.
For more, see: http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200609davis
Faster than a Speeding Bullet
This summer, physics professor Frank Winkler joined a NASA scientist in successfully clocking a neutron star traveling at more than 1,500 kilometers per second-one of the fastest traveling neutron stars in recorded history.
For more, see New Scientist magazine.
Surveys Say!
'Tis the season for college rankings. Since U.S. News and World Report first started ranking colleges and universities in 1983, more and more publications-from Washington Monthly to CosmoGirl-are trotting out "Best of" lists. As most would expect, Middlebury appears on most lists; in the 2007 U.S. News rankings, Middlebury moved up to 5th from 8th, among liberal arts colleges.
Middlebury's affiliate, the Monterey Institute of International Studies, was recently recognized as one of the top graduate schools in the nation for entrepreneurs. After surveying more than 700 schools, the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine rated the Institute's MBA program 8th among all programs in the nation for entrepreneurs.
The Princeton Review has also had its eye on Middlebury's undergraduate programs for quite some time, and this year was no exception. Middlebury nabbed the top spot in the category "Professors Get High marks," the 14th slot in "The Toughest to Get Into," 7th in "School Runs Like Butter," 12th for "Best Campus Food," and 8th for "Best Quality of Life."
Happy 30th!
Middlebury's Chinese department turns 30 this year.
In October, the Chinese department will be holding a conference up at Bread Loaf celebrating the anniversary. On tap for the weekend are panel discussions with returning alumni, meet-and-greets with current faculty members, and a gala banquet.
For more, see: http://go.middlebury.edu/chinese?reunion
Tragedy at the Dog Team
The Dog Team Tavern, a popular eating spot for multiple generations of Middlebury students and parents, was destroyed in a fire in the early morning hours of September 1st.
More than 70 firefighters battled the blaze that gutted the building and took the life of the owner, Christopher Hesslink.
For more, see the Addison Independent.
Bird's Eye View
This fall, the College has engineered a new way to check out the campus. Through Google Maps, one can now take an interactive tour of Middlebury and its environs-as well as get integrated driving directions, dining choices, and WiFi hot spots.
For more, see http://go.middlebury.edu/campusmap
Golden Treasures
Nearly 200 treasures discovered in the Royal Tombs of Ur in 1992 are currently on display in the College's Museum of Art.
The exhibit, "Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur," features jewels, weapons, and everyday items forged from precious metals, allowing visitors a glimpse into the art and culture of Sumeria, the world's first civilization.
For more, see the museum web site.
Decoding the Urban Landscape
The annual Clifford Symposium will take place on campus during the last weekend of September. The topic this year is "Urban Landscapes: The Politics of Expression," a discourse on the make-up of American cities.
For more, see: http://go.middlebury.edu/middnews?200609clifford
Kelly Returns
Kelly Brush '08, the Middlebury skier who sustained a severe spinal cord injury last winter, has returned to campus this fall after spending the past three months rehabilitating in Colorado. Brush has regained the use of her arms, as well as feeling above her chest.
This weekend, the Middlebury ski team will inaugurate the Kelly Brush Century Ride, a benefit organized to raise funds for the Kelly Brush Trust, which will allow Brush to purchase adaptive sports equipment. During the ride, team members will complete 50- and 100-mile bike loops that wind through Addison County.
Game Time
Most of the sports teams-football being the exception-have kicked off their fall seasons.
For up-to-date scores, schedules, and other information, check out: http://www.gomidd.com
Helpful GO Links
Admissions: http://go.middlebury.edu/admissions
Alumni: http://go.middlebury.edu/alumni
The Arts: http://go.middlebury.edu/arts
Athletics: http://go.middlebury.edu/athletics
College Bookstore: http://go.middlebury.edu/store
Feedback
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