September 20, 2018

VOL. CXVII, No. 2

MIDDLEBURYCAMPUS.COM

MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Cavaliers GM Koby Altman ’04 Talks Life with the Liberal Arts By JAMES FINN Senior Opinion Editor

MICHAEL BORENSTEIN/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Senior Opinion Editor James Finn ’20.5 interviewed Koby Altman ’04 (right) last week. The interview was broadcasted via Facebook Live from the college’s athletic center. It can be found at www.middleburycampus.com.

Remembering a Former College Employee Who Froze to Death NICK GARBER Managing Editor For three days following the tragedy, the public did not know his name. It was in the early morning of Saturday, Jan. 13, that Middlebury police found the body of a man who had frozen to death overnight off a path on the Town Green, covered with snow and sleet. The following Monday, local media began to report his identity: Suad Teocanin, a 45-year-old Middlebury resident who had been living at the Charter House

during a recent period of homelessness. Following a night of drinking, Teocanin tried to make his way back to the Charter House before apparently collapsing, just yards from the shelter’s front door. Reports of Teocanin’s death circulated around Middlebury that week, accompanied by photographs of his smiling face, descriptions of his recent homelessness and statements by police that alcohol had been a “significant factor” in his death. What these relatively brief media accounts could not capture, however, was

the totality of Teocanin’s experience before his death in January — a life that began in the Bosnian city of Zvornik and led to ten years of employment at Middlebury College and another decade in the kitchens of several restaurants in town. Continued on Page 4

Otter Creek Bakery For Sale, Owners Want Right Buyer By KENSHIN CHO Local Editor On the patio of Otter Creek Bakery, a group of students pet an elderly couple’s golden retriever. Inside, a mother with a stroller walks up to the counter, greeting staff like old friends. For over 32 years, owners Ben and Sarah Wood have been building a beloved neighborhood institution, churning out pastries, sandwiches and cakes for the Middlebury community. Now they are preparing to take a step back, putting the bakery up for sale. The couple’s decision marks the latest change in a town whose landscape has dramatically shift-

ed over the past year, including the closure of Carol’s, the Lobby and other retail businesses, like Ben Franklin. The bakery appeared, for a moment at least, to be the next victim of a difficult economic environment. But unlike many of the businesses, Otter Creek is neither struggling nor shutting down. Through the financial crisis in 2008 to the disruptive construction of a rail bridge in downtown Middlebury, Ben and Sarah have weathered multiple storms over the years, unfazed by the problems that seemed to cripple their neighbors. Continued on Page 4

Monterey Receives $4.5 million From Developer’s Estate

By KATE CRISCITIELLO Staff Writer The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) has received a $4.5 million gift from the estate of Samuel F.B. Morse, a conservationist and developer. Morse founded the area now known as Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula. The donation is the largest that MIIS has received. After the recent passing of Morse’s longest-living child, Mary Morse Osborne Shaw, Morse’s trust was divided between three educational institutions, including his alma mater Yale University and two schools located on the Monterey peninsula, the Stevenson School and MIIS. Morse was an early supporter of MIIS, and worked throughout his life to support education with an international and foreign language focus. While MIIS has known of the bequest since Morse’s death in 1969, the amount remained un-

known until the gift was recently divided. There are no restrictions or conditions on how exactly this money should be used, but according to Jeff Dayton-Johnson, dean of MIIS & vice president for academic affairs, they plan to integrate it into its endowment so that it will contribute to student support and their educational experiences. “My priorities are very much in line with President Patton’s,” Dayton-Johnson said in an interview. “Number one is support for students, that includes financial aid to offset the cost of their tuition, but also support for programs that our students do here, just as undergraduates do at Middlebury, where they will spend a semester or a year at one of our cites abroad or doing field research or doing an internship-like opportunity.” Continued on Page 2

NEWS

Student entrepreneurs launch SheFly Page 2

COURTESY PHOTO

Former Middlebury College employee Suad Teocanin.

Continued on Page 12

What is Envisioning Middlebury? By SARAH ASCH Editor at Large The community-initiated conversations have been hosted, the survey results analyzed and invitations to facilitated talks no longer populate student inboxes. The next phase of Envisioning Middlebury begins this semester, the phase in which the framework will start to have a concrete impact on the institution. Yet, despite the fact that this process has been in the works for well over a year, many in the broader Middlebury community still do not understand what it is. That is in part because Envisioning Middlebury is not the typical strategic plan college presidents implement upon assuming their roles. Instead, it is a set of guidelines and values that inform decision-making, big and small, across the institution. Since Envisioning Middlebury’s adoption in 2016, members of every facet of the Middlebury community have engaged in dialogues centered around the future of the institution. Those discussions shaped and in-

formed Envisioning Middlebury, and under President Laurie Patton’s direction, then-Provost Susan Baldrige took the lead in developing the new framework. The Board of Trustees approved the framework last October. The decision to create a framework, rather than the typical checklist plan, came after issues that arose with the institution’s last 10-yearplan, Knowledge Without Boundaries, implemented under then-President Ronald Liebowitz in 2006. Knowledge Without Boundaries took a more traditional approach, offering 82 concrete recommendations that were hindered when the 2008 financial crisis interrupted the subsequent fundraising process. According to Vice President of Communications Bill Burger, Envisioning Middlebury is intended to be “crisis proof,” to provide more flexibility and withstand unknown future obstacles. This fall, the project will move into the implementation stage. With all the major building blocks of the proContinued on Page 2

NEW PHONE LINE SERVICE WILL SAVE YOU TIME AT PARTON By BEN DOHAN Staff Writer Parton Health Center has added a triage phone line which will enable students to schedule appointments with nurse practitioners and physicians without having to first go there to be evaluated by a nurse. President Laurie L. Patton announced the development in an all-school email on the first day of classes. Although it has always been possible to talk to a nurse over the phone, a nurse will now be dedicated to the triage phone line. Mark Peluso, director of health services, said the system should

streamline operations, which will likely result in students spending less time at Parton. He hopes the triage line will enable students to get appropriate care as quickly as possible. Peluso cited the establishment of the phone line as a response to student feedback. “Some students expressed frustration with having to visit Parton for a nurse evaluation, only to have to come back later that day to see a nurse practitioner for their complaint,” Peluso said. “When volume was high, they were scheduled for the next available appointment that day or early the following day.”

The triage system will not change how students interact with Parton when they walk in for an appointment, but is another way for them to receive medical attention. Students can still call to make appointments with nurses or walk in to see a nurse. Students seemed to welcome the news of the new phone line. “I can make an appointment and miss fewer classes,” Alyssa Crogan ’20.5 said. “That’s great,” Taite Shomo ’20.5 said. “There have been times when I’ve gone in and seen a nurse for something that needs immediate treatment and then had to go Continued on Page 2

SILVIA CANTU BAUTISTA/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Dining hall staff hard at work preparing burgers for the all-school picnic on Friday.

LOCAL

Runners hit the trails at the TAM Trek Page 3

When Koby Altman talks about his time at Middlebury, one of the first things he shares is how he once had a profound dislike for a centerpiece of the liberal arts curriculum. “Thinking back to my Middlebury experience, I had to write like 500 papers,” he recalled during his visit to campus last weekend. “And at first, I hated that. I hated every second of writing papers.” The Brooklyn, N.Y. native weathered his early writing struggles, though. Now, in his role as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager — one of the NBA’s most visible positions, even after superstar LeBron James departed for the bright lights of the West Coast earlier this summer — Altman leans every day on the writing skills his liberal arts education gradually pounded into him. “I eventually became a really good writer,” he said proudly. “And that’s needed in any profession because at the end of the day you have to make arguments, support them with data and analytically drive home the points you want to make. Every day

that we discuss players, I’m making an argument.” The story of the former liberal arts student’s ascent to sports management stardom is one of facing challenges, like those droves of essays, head-on and passing them with flying colors. A Posse Scholar and hardnosed point guard for Jeff Brown’s basketball program, Altman graduated from Middlebury in 2004 with a degree in sociology and anthropology. He then spent a few years working the treacherous New York City real estate market with no business background (where he “did very well” for himself), but then ditched the lucrative desk job to pursue his dream: a career in pro hoops. That financial success in the sports world was improbable didn’t matter. He missed the game too much to stay away, and his corporate job just was not doing it for him. Something was missing, he said. So, he dove into basketball: for several years he coached at Amherst College as a graduate assistant while working towards a sports manage-

Dogs pose at Homeward Bound’s “Woofstock” Page 3

ARTS

Students examine power, rebellion in painting Page 8

SPORTS

Women’s soccer 5-0 after last weekend Page 11

2

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS NEWS SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Pee Empowered: SheFly Brings Gender Equality to the Outdoors

NEWS IN BRIEF By CAMPUS STAFF NEW EQUIPMENT TO COME TO FITNESS CENTER

By SARAH ASCH Editor at Large

New fitness center equipment will be arriving by the end of this week to replace older machines which had stopped working and were removed over the course of Sept. 10, 11 and 12. The removal of the older equipment was also done in conjunction with the arrival and installation of the new equipment on the cardio balcony. This new equipment included a rubber floor, light dumbbells and a new TRX station. — Catherine Pollack COLLEGE RISES IN RANKINGS Middlebury rose from sixth to fifth in the most recent edition of the U.S. News & World Report’s “National Liberal Arts Colleges” rankings. Previously surpassed by Bowdoin in 2018, Middlebury is now tied with the school for fifth place. Middlebury and Bowdoin are joined by Carleton and Pomona in the four-way tie. U.S. News and World Report made significant changes in the 2019 methodology, placing a higher emphasis on student outcomes. It also includes new social mobility indicators gaging institutional efforts at enrolling and graduating students from low-income backgrounds. — Bochu Ding SAMWICK LECTURE Dr. Andrew A Samwick, professor of economics at Dartmouth College, will give a talk next week focusing on the income tax and its decline over the last forty years. He will discuss how it has been undermined during that time, the impacts of key related policy changes, and the ways that alternative strategies can be employed in the future. He will also discuss the potential effects of the recent income tax legislation passed by President Trump. Samwick served as the chief economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers in 2003. In 2009, he received the New Hampshire Professor of the Year accolade from the Carnegie Foundation and the Council for the Advancement of Education. He has testified multiple times before Congress on his economic research covering retirement, taxation, and executive compensation. Phanindra Wunnava, an economics professor at Middlebury, organized the talk. “Samwick brings his enormous expertise to the ongoing debates on contemporary public policy,” he said. The lecture, titled “Income Tax Policy and Economic Growth,” will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 4:30 p.m. in the Robert A. Jones ’59 House Conference Room. — Nicole Pollack

MONTEREY RECEIVES RECORD DONATION Continued from Page 1 internship-like opportunity,” he said. Dayton-Johnson also plans to use the money for faculty development. As resources increase, he hopes that this will encourage collaboration and further connection of faculty and students between MIIS and the undergraduate college. “What we have found is that to have third or fourth year undergraduates here in our classes is tremendously successful,” Dayton-Johnson said. “Our classes are pretty mixed in terms of age and disciplinary background and professional background,” he said. “And so if a few current Midd kids are thrown in there, they do great and they add a lot to the process.” Bill Burger, vice president for communications and chief marketing officer at the college, also hopes for a greater connection between the schools in order to fully take advantage of the opportunities the college and MIIS have to offer. MIIS has been steadily recovering from previous financial problems, and this gift will aid to further its recovery. “This kind of a gift most definitely helps to strengthen the financial liability of the institute, and it is important for us to diversify the sources of revenue for academic programming,” Dayton-Johnson said. “The principle source of revenue here, as it is at the college, is what students pay to be here,” he said. “And while that will always be true, to the extent that we can increase the inflow of resources whether from gifts like this or grants that sponsor research, the better we are.”

MICHAEL BORENSTEIN/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Parton Health Center recently established a new phone line for students.

NEW SERVICE STREAMLINES PARTON CARE Continued from Page 1

to urgent care because I couldn’t see a doctor that day.” The triage system will be in place only for the health services part of Parton, and will not affect how the counseling department

operates. Appointments for counseling can be made online, a feature not available for health services. To make an appointment through the new triage line, call 802-443-3290.

Envisioning Midd, Explained Continued from Page 1

gram now in place, centered around a new mission statement, the institution is ready to accept proposals for “first moves” that will lead to changes based on the values and goals laid out in the strategic framework. FRAMEWORK COMPONENTS Envisioning Middlebury is comprised of five distinct pieces. First, a new institution-wide mission statement, which emphasizes immersive, engaged and creative learning. Second, a vision statement, which underlines the need for a “robust public sphere” in which citizens work across boundaries. Burger said the goal of the vision statement is to provide a more short-term focus in service of the broader mission statement. The framework also highlights “distinctions,” or areas in which Middlebury already succeeds, and “directions,” which are areas for growth. Distinctions include Middlebury programs around the world, as well as more local programs like MiddCore and Oratory Now. The “directions” aim in part to bolster existing resources and programs, like the Anderson Freeman Resource Center and the Middlebury School of the Environment. Lastly, the framework includes four principles: promoting community, making intentional choices, responsible use of resources and committing time and space to collective goals. Burger explained the principles as values that would guide intentional choice making. “That means holding ourselves accountable for the fact that Middlebury tries to do so much, or not allocate sufficient resources to our ambitions.” he said. “We have a tendency to stretch ourselves a little too thin sometimes and so these exist to help check ourselves as an institution.” The entire framework can be found at go.middlebury.edu/envisioningmiddlebury. With the framework in place, the Envisioning Middlebury Committee set about developing transformational goals, which the Board endorsed in January 2017. The three goals are to turn Middlebury into a center for persuasive and inclusive dialogue, a laboratory for curricular innovation and experiential learning and a globally networked changemaker. Each goal now has a working group led by a senior administrator who is responsible for brainstorming programs in pursuit of that goal. ALL OF THE INSTITUTION The framework also incorporates for the first time each part of Middlebury: the Language Schools, C.V. Starr Schools Abroad, Bread Loaf School of English, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, School of the Environment, Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) and the undergraduate college. Amy Morsman, interim dean for faculty development and research, believes the broad framework model is particularly useful for an institution with so many branches, though she acknowledged that it may feel undefined. “It is a set of guidelines and that sometimes can feel frustratingly vague, but Middlebury is a big place and it doesn’t make any sense to create a fixed plan that is one-size fits all,” she said. “Some folks may not like that, but that is the reality of Middlebury, and so our strategic planning process should reflect that.” The Campus reached out to three of the four undergraduate students who served on the advisory committee. Two felt that the inclusion of MIIS and other branches of the institution in the Envisioning Middlebury process made it harder to address issues specifically related to the college during the conversation phase. “I had to keep reminding myself that Envisioning Middlebury was about all of the programs that fall under Middlebury’s umbrella,” said Tabitha Mueller, who graduated last May. “I’d hoped Envisioning Middle-

bury would be a campaign to develop and strengthen the undergraduate college, but it took a macro-scale approach rather than a micro-scale one,” she said. “This macro-scale approach may have achieved the administration’s goals, but as a student, I remember getting frustrated because there was so much I hoped to address at the more micro-scale.” Morgan Rawlings, a MIIS student, served on the advisory committee and wished more students and staff at the institute had participated. She felt the Envisioning Middlebury process was relevant to MIIS and hopes the framework will have an impact in Monterey. She also felt, like many at the college, that students at MIIS did not understand what Envisioning Middlebury was. NEXT STEPS Jeffrey Cason, the interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, began overseeing Envisioning Middlebury on July 1 after Baldridge stepped down, and has been tasked with moving the framework from conversation to implementation. “Envisioning Middlebury was designed to hear from as many voices as possible across Middlebury,” Cason said. “Now that those voices have been distilled into strategic directions and transformational goals, we have a solid foundation from which to act, and to build.” According to Cason, the next stage of the process, which is already underway, is to solicit ideas from programs, departments, offices and self-organized groups on how to move forward within the framework. Cason received initial proposals for programs and initiatives on Sept. 14, though he says the submission process will be ongoing. Working within budget constraints, academic leadership will determine which projects have priority and help refine proposed ideas. “There will also be some great ideas that we will have to say no to, because they require resources that we don’t have or don’t align with the strategic directions,” Cason said. Cason acknowledged that resource allocation is especially important since Envisioning Middlebury took shape as much of the institution is working to cut costs and rein in financial deficits. But he argued that a strong strategic framework is exactly what Middlebury needs in the face of tough financial decisions. “In a sense, the Envisioning Middlebury process is even more important now, when we know we have to limit our expenses,” he said. “We need to decide what is most important to invest in, and we need to prioritize.” ENDURING CHANGE Envisioning Middlebury is designed to create change gradually while asking big, complicated questions about what Middlebury is and where it is going. Given the wide scope of the project, it is unclear whether current students will see the effects of the framework before they graduate. With time, though, the foundation laid so far during Envisioning Middlebury, and the work that has yet to be done, could fundamentally change the character of the institution. For that to happen, Morsman believes, faculty and staff will need to continue to frame their work with the aforementioned directions and principles in mind. She acknowledged that this can feel like a big ask when everyone is already so busy. “If people don’t stay engaged, then they are just leaving decisions to be made by a smaller group who have to pay attention to this, and that will reinforce the notion I have heard several times on campus that the administration is ‘just going to do what it wants anyway,’” she said, adding that the framework can create lasting change. “I see the possibility of a Middlebury that is more focused, more collaborative among faculty and staff as well as students,” she said. “And more in tune with helping learners become highly capable participants and contributors to the world that is developing in this century.”

Peeing on an Alaskan glacier was so frustrating for Georgia Grace Edwards ’18 that she decided to start an outdoor clothing company. “I was spending anywhere from eight to 12 hours a day on the ice,” she said. “I found myself having to trek across the glacier for privacy, completely remove three to four layers in freezing temperatures, do my thing, put it all back on, and hike back.” It was enough of a hassle that Edwards, who was working as a glacier guide, began drinking less water on the job, as many women do in outdoor settings. She thought to herself: “There has to be a better way to do this.” Several years and many hikes later, she developed a solution: SheFly Apparel, a company she founded alongside Bianca Gonzalez ’18 and Charlotte Massey ’19. SheFly designs outdoor pants with a zipper that runs along the crotch so women can relieve themselves without removing all their layers. SheFly is currently testing prototypes of thermal leggings, snow and hiking pants, with all of their products made from recycled materials. Their solution is so good, they recently flew out to the Bay Area to pitch at the Movers and Makers Pitchfest hosted by Title Nine, a women’s activewear company looking to invest in female-owned startups. SheFly was among nine companies out of hundreds that were invited to compete in the event and

friends’ old hiking pants. “Women have to go out of our way to avoid being exposed to other people, and even then, we still often have to deal with the cold, bug bites, and thickets of trees,” Gonzalez said. “I sat on Georgia Grace’s floor in LaForce for hours with her, tearing apart pants and modifying while our friends brought us food and encouragement.” The pair presented their ideas to Middlebury Entrepreneurs, a winter term course designed to provide mentoring to fledgling companies and ideas. By the end of the term, they had won Vermont’s first SOUP Pitch Competition in Burlington, which gave them a couple hundred dollars to start designing their own products. It was around that time Massey joined the team. Since then, all three women have experienced the excitement that comes with launching a new business, as well as the learning curve that goes along with it. “One of our biggest challenges is figuring out what order to complete steps in,” Massey said. “Should we start marketing before we get the design patented? How are we going to pay for all of the prototypes before running the Kickstarter?” Despite the challenges, Massey said her favorite part is trying the “revolutionary” product out herself. “I’ve been able to pee safely while roped up on glaciers, which I never thought possible,” she said. “It’s really empowering.” The team has spent the summer laying the foundation for the company to grow. They have worked on se-

COURTESY PHOTO

Members of the SheFly team hit the slopes. From left: Bianca Gonzalez ’18, Georgia Grace Edwards ’18 and Charlotte Massey ’19. Massey said they gained valuable mentorship connections. The team also competed in the Central Vermont Road Pitch competition in late July. The event was hosted by FreshTracks Capital, a group of bikers with entrepreneurial experience who ride around the state and listen to business ideas. SheFly took home the People’s and Rider’s Choice awards, which meant $1,250 in prize money. It was the first time Edwards had pitched the product to a group that was not SheFly’s target market. “I got on stage and talked about pants women can pee out of to a crowd of 40 white, middle-aged male motorcyclists,” she said. “Even though this is not a product they will use, they were convinced of its necessity and importance.” In addition to prize money, SheFly earned the opportunity to compete for a $5,000 prize in the Road Pitch state finals in Oct. Before they won any awards or even had their own products to pitch, the SheFly team started small last winter, inserting zippers into their

curing patents, incorporating SheFly into an LLC, and completing orders for prototypes. They are currently preparing a Kickstarter campaign, which will launch their product and reach a wider audience. Currently patent pending for their design, several other students — Allyson Stevens ’19, Gabby Davis ’19 and Alexis Hughes ’18.5 have joined the company. The team also recently began working with a student PR team through an experiential learning class at Emerson College in Boston to form marketing and advertising strategies. For now, Edwards said it is satisfying enough to see her product become a reality. “The most exciting part of SheFly has been watching my idea morph from an abstract idea in my head into a real-life product I can wear,” she said. “It excites me to imagine a world where one day, women don’t have to think twice about using the bathroom outside in group settings or cold environments, and I’m really proud that SheFly is playing a small role in helping to craft that future.”

Understanding the Role of the Community Bias Response Team By ELAINE VELIE News Editor The Community Bias Response Team (CBRT) will continue its work in the 2018-19 academic year. CBRT informs the college community about instances of bias through allschool emails. While planning and initial CBRT activity began in 2016, the committee officially formed in early 2017 in order to address incidents which the college does not publicize. “There was this silence. Some of these incidents people knew about, and this silence almost gave the perception that it was okay,” said Chief Diversity Officer Miguel Fernández, who heads CBRT. However, CBRT only details instances of bias and not instances of harassment or assault. Those incidents are left inside the Title IX office, where they may not be reported to the community at all. Examples of incidents of bias reported by CBRT include the removal of white nationalist propaganda

found in the library. One of the team’s earliest reports detailed an incident at the Sean Kingston concert in May 2017, where an Asian student expressed discomfort in seeing a non-Asian student wearing a Chinese farmer’s hat. Before the team had fully formed, they issued statements as early as Nov. 2016, after acts of intolerance occured on campus after the U.S. Presidential election. CBRT consists of seven members: the college’s associate chaplain, associate dean for judicial affairs, Americans with Disabilites Act (A.D.A) Coordinator, chief diversity officer, human relations officer, a commons dean and a faculty member appointed by the faculty council. A student position may be created later. CBRT is also working toward creating an online reporting system, but is still resolving issues surrounding anonymity. Students can report bias incidents to CBRT directly, to the Dean of the College or to Public Safety.

3

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS LOCAL SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Makerspace Opening Date Set at Hannaford Career Center

Theo Henderson ’20 Wins 15th Annual TAM Trek

By WILL KELLEY Contributing Writer

By NICOLE POLLACK Contributing Writer

MIDDLEBURY — After months of hard work and preparation, the long-anticipated Addison County Makerspace will be open to the public at the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center beginning the first week of November. After a pilot period this summer, the Career Center plans to roll out various programs at the Makerspace throughout the fall, launching with an open house on October 4. Attendees of the open house will even have the opportunity to sign up for secondary education and adult education courses being taught throughout the fall. According to the Career Center website, the Makerspace will be integrated into existing programs offered on site for students before opening up to the greater community. Three of the space’s “labs” will be open for one day each week from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the rest of the year as a way to gauge interest and collect data on how the facility can best fit the needs and interests of the community. Since the Career Center was founded in 1971, it has focused on providing experiential learning opportunities for teenagers and adults from around Addison County. The new facility will combine its existing resources with new tools to help facilitate the creative process. The Makerspace project comes amidst a larger nationwide movement to promote and assist a “doit-yourself” attitude among potential inventors that has arisen over the past decade. The maker movement encourages collaboration and the recycling of ideas to invent new technology and improve old models, a process aided by design sharing or “open-sourcing.” Makerspace sites take the idea of “open-sourcing” one step further, by not only creating an in-person forum for the exchange of ideas and methods, but also by providing the physical tools and materials that makers might need for their inventions. But the Makerspace is not just oriented around inventing new technology. “The impression should be of making anything, not just things with heavy machinery,” said Devon Karpak, a Career and Tech Ed instructor at the center. Indeed, the facility has various “labs,” that range from costumrey to 3D printing and woodworking.

Early Sunday morning, about 150 runners from Middlebury College, the town of Middlebury, and surrounding counties gathered in Wright Park for the 15th annual TAM Trek. The race was put on by the Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT), a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining the Trail Around Middlebury (TAM), and offered three loops: a 19.2-mile run around the entire TAM, a 10K and a two-mile Family Fun Run. The staggered start times allowed participants in every event to finish together. Both the 19 and 6-mile races were professionally timed. Theo Henderson ’20 crossed the finish line first, completing the full loop in a new course record of 2:07:24. Morgan Perlman ’19 finished closely behind in 2:08:22, also beating the previous course record. Middlebury resident Jessie Donavan, 42, was the first female finisher in 2:40:09, while Katie Beebe ’20 and Alexis Clay ’21 placed second and third, with times of 2:52:24 and

COURTESY FILE PHOTO

Last year’s Maker’s Faire at the Hannaford Career Center. The launch of the Addison County Makerspace coincides directly with the opening of the Middlebury Environment for Making Everything (MEME) on campus. The creators of this student-inspired makerspace share similar aspirations for MEME as the Career Center has for its own facility. Bill Koulopoulos, the Director of Academic Technology for the College, sees the practical value of these new makerspaces, as well as their educational potential. “Places like the Makerspace are involved in the liberal arts education and principles,” he said. “Communicating with somebody, critical thinking skills, problem solving, articulating your design, plus actually building something, I think it all comes together.” Administrators from the Career Center and from the College are attempting to unite their efforts to make the two new facilities as beneficial as possible for both the College and the community of Addison County. “There is the desire to make the connections, to have members of the Middlebury College community participate in the Middlebury community, sharing expertise and seeing where we can connect,” said Koulopoulos. “There is a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of interest. It takes a lot of work, effort, understanding and back and forth to make this happen but it is highly rewarding. Once you open the door, more and bigger things can happen.” Dana Peterson, interim superintendent of the Career Center, agreed, adding that the space is intended to be one “where people of all ages come together to learn and share, and where everyone can be both a learner and a teacher.”

Koulopoulos has also taken advantage of the enthusiasm for collaboration in the maker community across Vermont. “I visited the Williams makerspace, I went to St. Mike’s, Champlain College and the Generator in Burlington,” Koulopoulos said. “We’ve had conversations, and what I like about all of these people and what they support is that they are all very willing to share expertise and advice.” Many others are on the same page as Koulopoulos. Last year, Professor Noah Graham of the Physics Department, David Cole ’91 and Dana Peterson were awarded the Middlebury Fund for Innovation Grant. The three put the grant towards creating paid internships for Middlebury students both at MEME and the Career Center Makerspace. “Our goal is for the college students to gain both technical and teaching experience while also contributing to technical education at the career center and in the broader community,” said Graham. While Graham sees the Makerspace as a great opportunity for STEM students, he added that there may also be internship opportunities in other areas, including architecture, education studies, environmental studies, the sciences, studio and performing arts. They are currently accepting applications for the internship through Handshake. Cole does not want student involvement to stop there. “Beyond the Fund for Innovation grant, there are a lot of incredible things that Middlebury students have to offer from their experiences that they can share,” Cole said, encouraging lasting student involvement.

Dogs and Owners Parade through Town at “Woofstock: A Walk for the Animals” By BRIDGET COLLITON Local Editor

MIDDLEBURY — The town was overwhelmed with furry paws and barking as dogs and owners alike thronged to the Middlebury Memorial Sports Center on Saturday, September 15. Woofstock, the annual walk aimed to raise funds for Homeward Bound, the humane society of Addison County, drew all number of four-legged friends and many an excited onlooker. “All of the proceeds from the event go directly to providing the homeless animals of Addison County with food, shelter, veterinary services and compassionate care,” said Hannah Manley, the Director of Development at Homeward Bound. Although the total amount of funds raised has not yet been calculated, it appears Homeward Bound will exceed its $25,000 goal. Volunteers completed a one mile walk from the Memorial Sports Center into downtown Middlebury and back. 157 people and 90 dogs participated in the walk. “This is a slow-moving, leisurely walk, with a lot of water for dogs and people,” Manley said. Several new activities distinguished the walk from previous years. Prior to the walk, dogs could complete an agility course on the hockey rink or have their photo taken by a professional photographer in a setup similar to that of a school photo. Likewise, an “ask a trainer” booth run by Emily Lewis, a trainer who works as a consultant for Homeward Bound, gave pet owners the opportunity to ask any questions they may have had.

Pups bask in the sun. As in past years, dogs splashed about at a pool party following the walk. Although the Middlebury community pool closed three weeks prior, Homeward Bound was still able to use the space for the event. Manley described the pool party as her favorite part of the event. “It’s really awesome,” she said. “You really have to see it to believe it. As an animal lover, it’s just a really cool way to cap out the summer.” Many of the dogs who participated in the walk were Homeward Bound alumni. Abby, age 10, brought Samantha, the dog she and her family adopted from Homeward Bound last year, to the walk. “We really like the people and the dogs,” Abby said. “[Samantha] can jump super high.” Those who attended the walk cited a love for the dogs as their main reason for participation in the event.

BRIDGET COLLITON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Britney and Mercedes of Lincoln, VT brought their four dogs, Diesel, Remington, Mosheus and Crosby, to the walk. “I had a dog [that] I got from the humane society two years ago. So we just like to support the society,” Britney explained. Christine Blakeney, a professional dog trainer and volunteer for the humane society, who attended the event echoed this sentiment. “I love dogs and cats and rescuing them, and they all need a good home while they are in transition, which is what Homeward Bound does,” she said. Homeward Bound is located on 236 Boardman Street in Middlebury. For more information about volunteering, donating or adopting an animal, visit homewardboundanimals. org or email shelter@homewardboundanimals.org.

COMING SOON: The Middlebury Campus newsletter! Please visit our website and subscribe under the “Newsletter” tab to receive weekly article highlights, info on local and on-campus events, featured photos and more!

thanked the race’s sponsors, IPJ Real Estate, Brennan Punderson & Donahue PLLC, Co-Operative Insurance and WhistlePig. The sponsors are all local businesses, which matched new or increased business sponsors dollar for dollar, up to $2,000. According to Mike Corbett, the MALT treasurer, while the Land Trust promotes the TAM Trek as a fundraiser, it generates more money through its general fundraising. The TAM Trek’s main purpose is increased exposure, both to sponsors and to the community. “One of the things we try to get people to understand is that the MALT is also the TAM, and those two things are synonymous,” Corbett said. “I think the biggest thing is just that to understand the amount of work and time and money that goes into [MALT]. It’s a great resource that we provide, and we don’t charge for it, but it’s unique and special in that way, and it’s special to the community.” He explained that the TAM is more expensive to maintain than many of its users may realize. For

TAM Trekkers prepare for the fun run. 2:53:04, respectively. All three events began in a clearing at the end of Sycamore Street Ext, where orange cones marked the starting line. An eclectic but energizing mix of 2010-era pop songs played over the speakers while MALT staff and volunteers manned the surrounding tents. Participants received their numbered bibs, entered their complementary raffle ticket toward a prize and fueled up on apple cider, chocolate milk, fresh apples, homemade baked goods, freeze-dried chicken and rice and maple syrup energy shots. It was still cool and misty at 8 a.m. when Jamie Montague, the MALT executive director, stepped into the flag-lined finishing chute. She wore pink-and-turquoise running shoes and a red “MAKE EARTH COOL AGAIN” hat. “Okay, TAM Trekkers,” Montague said into a microphone. “It’s time to line up.” The nearly 70 runners attempting the entire TAM laced up their running shoes, adjusted their CamelBak packs, jogged their last warm-ups and gathered at the starting line. After a quick review of course markings and logistics, Montague blew an air horn, and the first race began. By 9 a.m., the cloud cover had parted and the day was getting warmer. Everyone else, including families with small children, middle- and high-school cross-country runners and the Middlebury College Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams, stepped to the line for the 10K and Fun Run. Montague returned to the finishing chute, repeated her directions and blew the air horn for a second time. She also

BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

example, when the Vermont Rail System discovered a railroad crossing that did not meet its standards a few years ago, it cost MALT and the College together $30,000 to remodel it. Corbett added that MALT is composed almost exclusively of volunteers. Its staff is passionate about preserving the TAM and its other properties as community resources, particularly in the weeks leading up to the TAM Trek each year. As the TAM Trek went on, the day continued to heat up, with the temperature eventually surpassing 80 degrees. Benjy Renton ’21 called out the bib numbers of participants ranging in age from two to 83 as they crossed the finish line, so that their names could be announced over the speakers. Once most people had finished, MALT staff began giving out the raffle prizes and medals for the top finishers. “It was a lot of fun,” said first place finisher Henderson, “and really, really hot.” Other finishers echoed his comment, calling the race a “freakin’ blast,” and encouraging other students to participate. “It was really fun, very challenging, but it went faster than I thought it would,” said Clay. “I think it’s one of my favorite things about Middlebury,” said Alec Fleischer ’20.5, who finished the race for the second time this year. Corbett said he would like to increase Middlebury student involvement with the TAM and TAM Trek. He invited anyone interested to contact MALT at info@maltvt.org.

A dog gets air at the pool party at Woofstock.

COURTESY PHOTO

4

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS LOCAL SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Otter Creek Owners Look Towards Retirement Continued from Page 1 In fact, this summer brought one of the most profitable seasons in recent memory, with language school students and community members alike flocking to their store even in the sweltering heat. Wood is optimistic that the shop’s growth will continue in the close-knit community that is Middlebury. “People do want to shop locally,” she said. “They do want to know who’s behind the counter.” At the same time, she recognized the need to be careful not to invite unsustainable competition, refusing to crowd the limited market with offerings similar to those of other stores in town “We don’t make bagels and doughnuts, it’s too small of a population,” Wood explained, referring to Middlebury Bagel and Deli. She attributes part of her success to the niche she and her husband were able to build. It’s led them to focus their attention on a few items they know how to make well, like their famed chocolate cake and their unique sandwiches.

The Woods’ love for food has deep roots. For years, they spent summers training at a French bistro in Nantucket, learning the basics of cooking and baking. In the winters, they travelled to various cities to find off-season work. One of those places was Vermont, where they also fell in love with the land. By the time they left the Nantucket bistro in 1986, Ben had more than a decade of experience with French cooking, and Sarah in baking. Between the two of them, they had also accumulated a restaurant’s worth of industrial kitchen supplies, from an oven to sets of copper pots, pans and knives. When they saw that the café on Frog Hollow Alley was up for rent in Middlebury, they jumped at the opportunity. They’ve stayed ever since. For years, Sarah would come into the store before sunrise, and work until 8 a.m. “Baker’s hours,” Ben joked. He would take over to prepare for the lunch rush, building off his early menus from the bistro. “I do the sweet, and he does the savory,” Sarah said.

Their dynamic has helped them succeed, appealing to a wide range of customers without stepping on each other’s toes. They hope to find a buyer with similar skills and strong determination, able to handle the numerous dimensions of the business. Until they do, they have no intention of shuttering its doors. “We’re not in a hurry, so we want to make sure it’s the right match,” she said. “Or we’re not doing it. I’ll wait five years if I have to.” The new owners will inherit a daunting responsibility. To the Middlebury community, Otter Creek is much more than just a pastry shop. Its food is often present for life’s most important milestones, a staple at weddings and birthday parties. The bakery is also an important

“I’ll wait five years if I have to.” link between the town and the college. Located on 14 College Street, it is one of the few places where the two often-divided communities interact. For the business, that has also meant a diverse set of customers and a steady stream of new faces.

MICAHEL BORENSTEIN/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Otter Creek Bakery pictured on a sunny day. “With the college, there’s a lot of diversity that you don’t have in other towns — people with different ideas, from all walks of life,” Sarah said. Ben and Sarah Wood even hoped that the college would buy their store. They reached out to the administration, proposing to move the admissions office to the bakery. “The admissions office up there is kinda sterile,” she said. “Visitors could just hang out here, and you can have a cappuccino, crois-

sant, see the town. It’s the threshold to Middlebury.” But with little interest from the school, they are still searching. In the meantime, they continue to work at the store as they did for decades, with the same passion and quality. Though, at the end of the day, they remain committed to selling. “The bakery’s sort of like our first child,” Sarah said. “It’s ready to get booted out of the nest and grow up.”

Friends and Coworkers Remember Suad Teocanin Continued from Page 1 To the many people who knew him at the college and in town, Teocanin was not only a friend and coworker, but also a generous neighbor, a fellow immigrant and a bright spot amid the stresses of college life whose broad smile was cited without exception. “THE BEST ANTIDOTE” Teocanin came to America as a war refugee. From 1992 to 1995, Bosnia was torn apart by ethnic conflict, as Serbian forces targeted the Muslim Bosniak population, burning cities and towns and massacring entire communities. In Teocanin’s hometown of Zvornik, tens of thousands of residents were driven from the area, and almost 4,000 were killed. Teocanin was not Bosniak, however, but Romani, the historically itinerant ethnic group known colloquially as gypsies. Romani people, persecuted in Bosnia as they are in much of the world, were targeted specifically in the killings that took place in Zvornik. Those who knew Teocanin in Middlebury would recall that he rarely spoke about his life in Bosnia, or about the family

said. “He was too young.” Teocanin’s childhood education was minimal and he never learned to read or write. In order to communicate with his brother, who fled to Germany, Teocanin brought his letters to Jovanka, who would read them and help him compose replies. Teocanin, after a stint at Mister Up’s restaurant, found his way to the college, where he began work in 1998 as a pot washer in Proctor Dining Hall. His coworkers, several of whom remain at Proctor today, were struck by his ability to adapt in what must have been a daunting new environment. “You always start out in a different place, not being sure of yourself,” said Claudette Latreille, who still works at the college. Colleagues watched Teocanin transform from an inexperienced new hire who spoke little English to a skilled worker who mastered the language and the intricacies of food service. “He was the kind of guy who fit in by watching, and then doing what the cooks were doing and saying,” said Richard O’Donohue, now retired, who worked as Proctor’s

“Suad had some money, but not a whole lot, and he’d make side bets,” O’Donohue said. “When he couldn’t pay the bet, he’d bring in a bag of VHSs. Everybody got to the point of, ‘No, Suad, we’re not doing VHS.’” To employees like Dawn Boise, the current Proctor manager, memories of Teocanin’s socializing feel like symbols of a bygone era, when the smaller student population meant that staff could talk freely with students without the looming threat of the mealtime rush. “You used to have a little down time, where you could chat with people,” she said. “Now, you really don’t have time to get to know a lot of the students, which is hard.” For the students who knew Teocanin, memories of those conversations have only grown in value in the years since their graduation. “Honestly, when I think back, it’s my advisor and Suad who had the most impact on my time in college,” McElroy Rzezutko said. “There’s obviously faculty and administrators there that are a part of your life, but this was different. It was comforting, and wasn’t forced.” “HE WAS TOO GOOD”

NICK GARBER/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Refik (left) and Jovanka Jandric fled Bosnia with their children, and took care of Teocanin after settling in Midlebury. he left behind. One former Proctor Dining Hall colleague, however, said Teocanin had spoken of witnessing the deaths of his parents and siblings. Over 1,700 Bosnian refugees were resettled in Vermont between 1993 and 2004, and Teocanin was one of them. In Middlebury, a small community started to form by the mid-1990s, centered in the Pine Meadow Apartments near the Pulp Mill covered bridge. From their homes in the apartment complex that became known as Little Bosnia, Teocanin and his fellow refugees began to rebuild their lives in Vermont. Jovanka Jandric was among the Bosnians who settled in Pine Meadow during that time, along with her husband, Refik, and their children. Refik came to the United States first in 1994, to a New Hampshire hospital, having lost both of his legs in Bosnia after stepping on a landmine. Jovanka came with their children several months later, and the family moved to Middlebury. The older couple found jobs in town-- Refik at Danforth Pewter, and Jovanka at the now-closed Greg’s Meat Market-- and cared for Teocanin, who, in his early twenties, had arrived in town alone. “I loved him like a son. I’m old enough to be his mother,” Jovanka

head chef. Coworkers helped Teocanin study for a driving test, went with him to college hockey games and invited him to Middlebury Union High School to watch their children play sports. A few years into his time at Proctor, Teocanin began to work in the main dining area known as the servery, and students began to gravitate toward his warmth and near-constant smile. “College can be a little intense, and literally, Suad was the best antidote for that,” said Megan McElroy Rzezutko ’04, who formed a close bond with Teocanin at Proctor. She recalled the feeling of “being in the library for many hours and then seeing his smiling face, so elated to see you.” Libby Pingpank ’04 remembered meeting Teocanin soon after her arrival on campus. “It was the first time we were away from home,” she said. “He was just this welcoming, friendly face that we always knew we would see when we went to eat.” Teocanin became known for stopping by tables to chat and joke with students, and for his vast collection of movies on VHS tape that he offered up as gifts and even as betting payments, when a group of fellow employees began placing bets on football games.

After over a decade, Teocanin left the college in 2010 after accepting a voluntary separation package offered by Middlebury following the 2008 financial crisis. “When he decided to leave, we were pretty upset,” O’Donohue said. “But we couldn’t talk him out of it. He had his mind set.” Years earlier, during his stint at Mister Up’s, Teocanin had worked alongside Megan Brady. When she and her husband Holmes Jacobs prepared to open Two Brothers Tavern, Brady insisted they hire Teocanin. “He had a reputation of being a golden soul, a great person, a great work ethic and just a big heart,” Jacobs said. Teocanin remained at Two Brothers until his death, working his way up from dishwashing to food preparation. There, like at the college, he became a beloved and visible figure, famed for his humor and, of course, his enormous grin. “Even though he had so many things stacked against him, he brought out the best in other people,” Jacobs said. Work was steady, but Teocanin’s personal life was not. Over the years, the Bosnian community in Middlebury splintered along many of the same ethnic lines that had been present during wartime, and prejudices welled up against Teocanin’s Romani heritage. “Not so many people liked gypsies,” Jovanka Jandric said. “Some people would open the door for him, some people would close the door.” To make matters worse, friends say that a girlfriend extorted Teocanin out of what little money he had. Generous to a fault, Teocanin supported her unquestioningly. “Suad was one of those rare people who gave of himself to anyone without expecting anything in return,” Jacobs said. For years, Teocanin had moved around frequently, often camping or living out of a truck when he had no reliable source of housing. As

COURTESY PHOTO

Teocanin, pictured in an undated photo, came to Middlebury in his early 20s. He remained here until his death. cold weather approached in the fall of 2017, Jacobs helped Teocanin move into Charter House. “We’re so grateful for the Charter House,” Jacobs said. “But if he had been less generous with all of his time and money he probably would have had a housing setup that was more permanent.” “He was too good,” Jovanka Jandric said. “Too naïve.” “RICHER AND HAPPIER” Jacobs remembers the day of January 12 vividly. “It was a really weird, beautiful, sunny, 60-degree January day,” he said. “As the sun fell, the weather turned really quick.” Temperatures that night dipped to 30 degrees and falling rain turned to snow. And Teocanin failed to make it home to the Charter House after a night of drinking in town. The amount of alcohol that Teocanin had ingested came as a shock to those who knew him, as alcohol did not seem to play a major role in his life. News of Teocanin’s death left many in the community with the impression that he had long struggled with drinking, a notion that Jacobs feels compelled to refute. “I don’t believe that he had a real substance abuse problem,” Jacobs said. “But that’s how he died, and that’s perhaps part of the perception that comes from that.” In the days and weeks following his death, posts made on the Two Brothers Tavern Facebook page memorializing Teocanin garnered hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments. “We have lost one of the biggest hearts we have ever known,” the first post read. “But deep down, somewhere hard to find tonight, we realize, as we always have, that each of us is so much richer and happier for having had Suad in our lives.” However, months later, his friends still puzzle over the circumstances of his last night, and why Teocanin was in such a situation in the first place. “It still confounds me a bit how he was left alone,” Jacobs said. “It’s unclear to me why the police weren’t called sooner to try to find Suad, especially when there had been witnesses to where he was. I feel like a phone call to the police could’ve saved him.” Of all the ironies surrounding Teocanin’s death, including that he passed out just steps from shelter

and that alcohol, a substance he seemed to use only rarely, was involved, what most disturbs those who knew him is the disjunction between the way he lived and the way he died. “To me, the most horrific thing is that he was alone,” McElroy Rzezutko said. “This person that created such warmth, human-to-human.” Amid their grief, James and Jacobs planned a memorial befitting

NICK GARBER/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

A life-sized poster of Teocanin now hangs in the kitchen at Two Brothers Tavern.

Teocanin’s legacy at Middlebury’s Congregational Church. After first offering a small room, a church official eventually agreed to open up the entire building for the January 27 service. Among the many attendees were Jandric, Jacobs and several Proctor employees. Speakers recounted how Teocanin made an impact on their lives in Middlebury. “Everyone had a story, even if they didn’t really know Suad, about how he would help them cross the street, or [how] he would hold the door for them when he was walking into their shop with a big smile,” Jacobs said. Since January, mementos of Teocanin have accumulated inside Two Brothers Tavern. A framed photograph hangs on the wall in the dining area, near the bar. Another sits above the sink, where Teocanin spent many hours washing dishes. And Jacobs is proudest of the life-sized poster of Teocanin, showing him beaming in his cook’s uniform, that now sits in the kitchen to greet Jacobs every day as he walks into work. “It’s not Suad,” he said. “But it still makes me smile.”

5

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS OPINION SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

THE EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Will DiGravio MANAGING EDITORS Nick Garber Rebecca Walker NEWS EDITORS Elizabeth Sawyer Catherine Pollack Elaine Velie Bochu Ding OPINION EDITORS James Finn Chellsa Ferdinand Diana Diaz Kyle Naughton Joana Salievska Ellen Colton LOCAL EDITORS Sadie Housberg Ellie Anderson Kenshin Cho Bridget Colliton ARTS & ACADEMICS EDITORS Finne Murphy Sarah Boyle April Qian Yvette Shi SPORTS EDITORS Benjy Renton Nicole Hong Miguel Espinosa Erin Kelly EDITORS AT LARGE Sarah Asch Emma Patch Amelia Pollard PHOTO EDITORS Michael Borenstein Van Barth Silvia Cantú Bautista ONLINE EDITORS Joey Lyons CARTOONS EDITOR Kaitlynd Collins COPY EDITORS Maja Cannavo Dani Skor BUSINESS MANAGER Evan Chaletzky ADVERTISING MANAGER IVY HOUDE The content written within the Opinion pages may cause emotional distress. Please exercise discretion. The Opinion pages of The Middlebury Campus provide a forum for constructive and respectful dialogue on substantive issues.With 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 limited to: the making of assertions based on hearsay; the relation of private conversations; the libelous mention of unverifiable events; the use of vulgar language or personal attacks. More information about the paper and its submission policies can be found online at www.middleburycampus.com. Follow us on Twitter @middcampus. Follow us on Instagram @middleburycampus. And on Facebook: The Middlebury Campus.

Where Did the Small School Go? By THE EDITORIAL BOARD Just one week into the Fall semester, a sense of crowdedness has overtaken Middlebury’s campus. Classrooms feel more packed than in years past, peaktime mailroom queues extend outside McCullough, and dining hall lines feel longer than ever. Despite its marketable emphasis on the value of smaller, intimate educational settings, Middlebury has a growing student body that appears to be creating an increasingly inflexible student life framework, threatening to jeopardize some of the more intimate aspects of campus culture in the process. In 2018, a total of 765 stu-

Professors are now forced to make a difficult choice: either reject students hoping to add their class or agree to excessive amounts of grading and class preparation. “I feel terrible having to turn students away,” Evans said. “In that sense, it’s harder.” An expanding student population poses additional problems for common areas on campus, particularly in first-year residence halls. Many former common spaces in dorms such as Battell, Hepburn and Coffrin have been converted into sleeping spaces as a way to accommodate over-enrollment. These room conversions both prompt overcrowding in the few

In that same vein, simple errands, like picking up a package at the mail center, can become challenging. Last Friday afternoon before the mail center closed for the weekend, students rushed to pick up their packages. A line formed at the mail center and stretched outside of McCullough and around the building. While it’s certainly tiresome to have to wait in a line for half an hour after a day of class, what deserves most attention is the effects on the mail room staff whose job it is to process packages; when lines stretch down the hall and outside day after day, their job becomes more taxing than it likely should be. Though the beginning

dents accepted Middlebury’s offer of admission and enrolled at the College as members of the Class of 2022, the highest number of students to accept admission in college history. This year’s yield rate of 45.1 percent is 2.3 percent higher than that of 2017, a year when students already began to notice that campus was feeling overcrowded. Traditionally, many students choose Middlebury College for its small student-to-faculty ratio. Indeed, admissions materials emphasize professor availability and course flexibility as defining characteristics of the college’s small liberal arts culture. However, as admission yield rates increase, this accessibility is gradually decreasing; while the student-to-faculty ratio was 8:1 in February, 2018, it’s now 9:1, according to the “Quick Facts” section of the college’s website. As this ratio grows, the advantages associated with smaller ratios are in jeopardy. Professors have already noted effects of this year’s over-enrollment. “It does feel like I have more students showing up to add and fewer students ready to drop a spot in a class,” American studies professor Deb Evans said in an email.

common areas that remain and decrease the total number of social spaces accessible to first-year students. Based on the experiences of this editorial board, common areas play a central role in the first year experience, allowing for students to develop close, personal relationships with one another. The fact that these spaces are being lost due to enrollment numbers forces us to question whether recent over-enrollment will be detrimental to new students’ experiences as they attempt to situate themselves in their new home. Dining halls have also confronted the negative repercussions of a larger student body. Lunch lines have become unreasonably long and frantic, forcing staff members to work overtime to accommodate increased demand. Last week, during the notorious Thursday 12:15 p.m. lunch rush, Atwater Dining Hall staff stopped scanning students’ IDs to avoid making lines longer. Further, dining employees no longer have time to spend conversing with students. “Sometimes [the dining rush gets] so crazy that you can’t get to know students,” said Proctor Manager Dawn Boise, “and my staff would like to.”

of the year is traditionally a busy time at the mail center, this year seems to be a special case. A larger freshman class certainly provides a set of campus-wide advantages, specifically increased extracurricular participation, additional admission opportunities for diverse and first generation students, in addition to more overall social engagement. That this year’s freshman class was the most diverse in the college’s history should not be ignored, and the financial upside to admitting more students is understandable. However, this school’s population appears to be growing at a rate that encroaches upon the intimacy that is fundamental to the liberal arts experience. We encourage the administration to be more aware of the ways in which over-enrollment has begun to affect our campus and the intimacy traditionally associated with it. If Middlebury is to preserve the essential aspects of a small liberal arts culture, it should not continue to increase enrollment without first implementing additional measures to adequately accommodate that growth. Cartoon by Millie von Platen.

The Lookbook: Calvin Klein Sneakers By CLARK LEWIS This column will showcase one piece from my wardrobe and discuss its historical, cultural or industry significance. This week, I bought a pair of gold Calvin Klein fashion sneakers. Featuring a one and a half inch platform, complementary white shoelaces and a fifteen dollar price tag, these shoes were a gem I found at the T.J.Maxx in town. I, like many people, love a good bargain and constantly find myself in discount stores on a fashion treasure hunt. In an age of technology and the rise of mega online retailers, many conventional retailers have struggled to maintain a consistent customer base. Online retailers like Amazon have begun dominating the retail industry with their abundance of clothing options, cheap prices and fast shipping. Consequently, American staples such as Macy’s, J.C.Penney and Sears are struggling as their customers are moving to online options. The time for walking into brick and mortar stores is evolving to one-click shopping and “omnichannel” e-commerce. This is why one might be confused as to why discount retail stores, like T.J. Maxx, seem to remain unaffected. Well, the answer is this: People like myself. Or should I say, people who love searching through the racks at discount retail stores for that designer bargain. The treasure hunt is T.J.Maxx’s selling point; it’s their niche that makes them resistant to the plague of online fashion. While it is very convenient to shop online and wait for your

clothes to ship to your mailbox in McCullough, T.J.Maxx’s consistent sales prove that people are still willing to trek out to stores to hunt for that brand-name item at a discounted price. Many discount stores are allowed to sell “premium” items at cheaper prices with the contingency that they do not advertise such prices to the public. Ever wonder why you see T.J.Maxx advertisements but no specifics about what is going on sale? The ambiguity of knowing there are deals to be found but not knowing where or when they’ll be available is how discount stores have been able to stay relevant in an era of e-commerce. The fun is not in the shopping but the surprise bargain, or treasure, at the end. However, many bargain shoppers are often ignorant of the actual process that outlets and discount stores go through to get their inventory. I think many of us assume that all items found at discount retailers were either surplus or flawed items from the designer’s original inventory. In recent years, many articles and class action lawsuits have arisen, shedding light on the marketing practices and supply chain management behind discount retailers. Angry shoppers have found that many items for sale at discount and outlet stores are often designed and produced separately from the named designer. In 2017, Gap Inc. was accused in a California case action lawsuit of labeling price tags with the “original price” scratched out and a new “discounted price” placed beneath in order to mislead customers into thinking they were buying items on sale. According to the lawsuit, these items were pro-

COURTESY PHOTO

Calvein Klein fashion sneakers purchased at the TJ Maxx in Middlebury. duced specifically for their Banana Republic outlet stores and were never intended to be sold at a higher price. Another method of stocking store shelves with “bargain” items has been to allow discount retailers licensing deals. In such deals, discount retailers are responsible for the production and sale of the items that ultimately get slapped with the designer label post production. The initial designer is then paid royalties for allowing their name to be put on an article of clothing that they had no hand in producing. Take, for example, my new fifteen dollar Calvin Klein sneakers. It is very possible that these shoes were made completely separate from Calvin Klein Inc. Licensing deals

allow discount retailers to sell more cheaply made designer items. This relieves designers of the responsibility of production and sales and gives them a little extra cash. There is an evident push from consumers for companies to be more transparent in the production of items they are selling. I am someone who loves my clothes and going shopping. So, while you will see me around campus in my new metallic gold sneakers, I find it important to be knowledgeable about where and how these shoes came to be. I believe there is room for our consumer society to hold retailers more accountable in their business practices. Clark Lewis is a member of the Middlebury College class of 2019.

Practicing

Hospitality By DEBORAH AND MATTHEW DICKERSON

One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a part of the Middlebury College community over the past nearly thirty years has been engaging with students as well as fellow staff and faculty beyond their names, where their family resides and the surface-level questions of majors or job title. These opportunities have most often come as a result of some act of hospitality, ours or that of some other member of the college community. Over the years, students have joined us at our house boiling maple sap into maple syrup while drinking tea (made from the boiling sap) and sharing favorite poems around the boiling pan. They have hiked the woods around our house identifying trees and watching our honey bees fly laden with pollen back into our hive. Numerous students and colleagues have even traveled with us on weekend-long trips to our favorite lake in Maine. Important conversations happened over a mug of tea, preparing a meal together, or washing dishes after the meal: hopes, dreams, life and death, faith and politics. Connections were made. Longtime friendships have evolved from these interactions. Currently, we live in the Cook Commons House at the edge of campus and host meals around a table with students and faculty sometimes several times a week. Though only Matthew works officially for the college and Deborah works in town, we both take part in the meals. Matthew appreciates getting to interact with a broader segment of the student body than the smaller number of students or colleagues he might meet in a class taught within his major. Conversations around the dinner table often center around life experiences, current challenges and the important art, places and people who have shaped our lives. Another significant experience of hospitality for us has been as hosts for the Fresh Air Fund, a program which has matched low income inner city youth from New York City with host families in rural communities since 1877. The program allows urban children the sort of summer experiences common to children from rural or suburban communities: splashing in a lake to cool off on a summer day, catching fireflies and frogs, running barefoot over green grass through a sprinkler, or heading off for a day at Addison County Fair and Field Days seeing farm animals on display or in competition. On June 28, 2003, Israel Dudley, an 11-year old African American boy with a shy smile and a slight build stepped off the bus wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “Shoot Hoops, Not Guns.” He was the first of five boys we hosted over the years and he stayed with us for two weeks that summer and then the following three summers. After he aged out of the Fresh Air Fund program, he continued to come for visits when we could arrange it, often for Christmas or other school breaks. And then he came to live with us in Middlebury from May 2014 to May 2018 in order to have some space to think about his future, apply for college, and earn some money for that endeavor. He became even more connected to our family and this community as he shared a room with our son Mark (Midd ’16), worked at 51 Main, played noon hoops at the college gym (with numerous other staff and students), and audited classes in psychology and philosophy with Professors Matt Kimball and Matty Woodruff. Although we hope that the various guests we have had over the years have benefitted from our hospitality, we know it is also true that we have benefitted at least as much from the giving of hospitality as the recipients have from receiving it. Practicing hospitality, especially to somebody with a different background, or beliefs, or experiences, helps to shape us. It broadens our world, and changes how we think. It is a way of tearing down walls rather than building them. One of the best ways to begin to free oneself from the sorts of prejudices that culture often builds by giving us stereotypes is to replace those stereotypes with personal relationships. The school year is underway. We encourage you to embark on the adventure of offering hospitality: a mug of tea in your dorm room, an invitation to lunch at Ross Dining, becoming a Community Friend, preparing a meal for Charter House or a Community Dinner. Invite someone to explore the town or the local trails. Middlebury is a great place to step out of our self-imposed bubbles and social media echo chambers, a great place to make connections that last for a lifetime. Matthew Dickerson is the Cook Commons faculty head and professor of Computer Science.

Deborah Dickerson is a guardian ad litem and is currently writing “Snapshots in Black and White” about the love story between their family and Israel Dudley.

6

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS OPINION SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Foreign Correspondents: Maggie Joseph ’20 in Bordeaux, France By MAGGIE JOSEPH Bonjour de Bordeaux ! I write this column to present a counter-narrative to all of the Amsterdam photos you’ve been seeing on Instagram recently. For the last two weeks, I’ve been having a different experience (or different from what we choose to share on social media). So far, I’ve found there’s no coincidence that the French adjective “to be abroad,” étrangère, shares the root as the French adjective “to be or to feel strange,” étrange. Even though I was given a whole week to reflect on my experience, I can only describe it as being profoundly étrange. Though this piece may be personal, I believe that it is more honest for me and hopefully more interesting for my cult of dedicated readers to share my thoughts that way. Y’all, studying abroad (in Bordeaux, at least) isn’t just about $3 bottles of wine, the Amélie theme song, photogenic cats and trampoline parks.* Studying abroad is

a humbling experience. Two weeks ago, I left my comfort zone far behind me to live in a new city, with a new family, all in a new language. I know this isn’t uncommon, and it’s not the first time I’ve done it, but still, for some reason, this go feels different. And it hasn’t been easy. I did not anticipate feeling like a lesser version of myself because I was living in a foreign language. But it’s true, I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of my favorite things about myself to stick to my language pledge. In the beginning, I felt I had lost the capability to entirely express myself, and I would easily become frustrated. I was no longer as quick to respond, for example, or authoritative in topics I know well. I also think much of my initial silence was due to my own personal judgment – not wanting to expose my rudimentary grammar, limited vocabulary, and little to no understanding of French slang. But all of this has significantly improved, even after just two weeks. And I attribute much of this to sticking with the language

COURTESY OF MAGGIE JOSEPH

Joseph visited the Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux, France.

pledge. It really gave me hell at first (and it still does), but because of this same commitment, I’ve also learned a great deal about the importance of persistence, being able to let things go and embracing my mediocrity, which will hopefully prove to be useful at some point in my life… And yet, despite all of the difficulties that I’ve described above, I’m laughing harder than I ever have. I’ve met the most wonderful people, tasted the best wine and seen glimpses of the potential results of full immersion. Additionally, I’ve found that I experience at least one weird, inexplicable moment of triumph every day. It’s fleeting, of course (because it only takes some old man to scream in my face or some hungover chick to throw up on my shoes to snap me out of it), but I’ve learned to revel in these moments, and take the time to appreciate what I’m accomplishing. It may not be pretty, but I get through every day with a smile on my face. And though it may not sound like it after what I’ve just described, I’m genuinely loving what I’m doing because I can already feel my growth. I leave you with an on-going list of my personal development over the last two weeks and a quote from the very quotable Cannon Gill ’20. Growth is continuing to speak French to the waiter even when he replies in English (nevertheless, she persisted). Growth is practicing radical self-love. Growth is learning punchy responses to street harassment. Growth is finding French music that isn’t tropical house. ** Growth is kicking harsh self-judgment to the curb. Growth is admitting you understood none of that question? Growth is becoming a bisous -master. Growth is taking your coffee

COURTESY PHOTO

Maggie Joseph ’20 is spending the fall semester in Bordeaux, France. black and learning how to roll that goddamn cigarette. Growth is understanding the importance of not taking yourself too seriously. Growth is celebrating the small victories (e.g. taking the right tram at 2 a.m.)! Growth is being comfortable being uncomfortable. Growth is embracing an abroad experience that will be fraught with contradictions. “It’s important to push yourself. Or so it seems. I don’t know, everyone just keeps saying that.” -- Cannon Gill * I mean it’s not not these things either. ** If you have any good French music recs, I’d love to hear from you. And even if you don’t, I’d still love to hear from you. Maggie Joseph is a member of the Middlebury College class of 2020.

The Charlotte Letters: A Chance Encounter, No Thank You By CHARLOTTE FRANKEL

If, by chance encounter, our eyes meet in the sunlight as we pass one another on the slender walkways of campus, I invite you to give me a cordial smile and nod. Out of respect and, depending on who you are, perhaps deference, I will do the same. As the sun sets behind ‘The Knoll, or, the Organic Farm and a Bunch of Other Things That Also Happen Here (Please Continue to Fund Us),” and the shadows gain weight, so does my patience for niceties. I have found others on this campus who understand the significance of nightfall. That once darkness hits and the moon glides gently past our eyes, the time for niceties ceases. We become solitary creatures, silhouettes rather than substantive beings. Unlike the moon, we wish our presence to be immaterial to the happenings of the darkness. The odd duck, however, might find night to be a time for socializing, and this is a grave error I find in need of rectifying. This is all to say, if you see me on the pathway in front of Johnson at 1AM, do not make eye contact. Do not smile. Do not acknowledge my presence, for anyone who journeys out at night inherently does not wish to be seen. These rules apply strictly to the natural world. Children, you may think yourselves clever, as it appears I have allowed for a loophole in my philosophy. Unfortunately for you, you are not more cleverer than I. For I have considered this, and will allow for the following exception: parties. Night may also be a time for revelry, and if you choose to spend the darkness bathed in the sticky sweat of others, I will not be the one to stand in your way. However, if you find yourself journeying alone along the pathways at eventide, and think it smart to attempt to engage another solitary, you might consider thinking again. Author and fellow Oxfordian J. R. R. Tolkien wrote, “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” Well, I do not consider myself faithless, but I will mostly say farewell when the road darkens. In fact, I will dance a farewell dance and skip back to my cocoon, where I must rest and rejuvenate before beginning another day in full. It is in fact my opinion that Tolkien wrote Gimli as saying these lines as an indication that the author himself is not a total believer in what was written, since it is universally acknowledged that Gimli is only the fourth coolest and second sexiest member of the Fellowship (the first on both accounts being Gandalf.) Anyway, who’s your favorite ghost? Mine is the ghost of Michael Furey from James Joyce’s “The Dead,” whose story is one of a love so powerful it leads to his demise. That or The Ghost of Captain Cutler from the episode “A Clue for Scooby Doo” of the original “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” It’s probably a tie. Feel free to send me correspondence of your favorite ghost. Just not at night on the pathways between campus edifices (ha-ha!)

r r n , . n g r -

o e s , P , d n e , d h s g

s e e e g e

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

GREEN PEPPERS Restaurant

Official pizza of the Middlebury Campus local • handcrafted • freshly prepared

(802) 388-3164

y e

e r -

r -

y s y , d , n d e m g n g

-

y h d ” a t e s y l

COFFEE & ESPRESSO GRAB N’ GO MEALS FREE WIFI FREE PARKING

e , d n s

, s e .

t y a . g g s

n

Middlebury ID Card Holders get 10% off select CAFE purchases! Open 7am to 2pm Monday — Friday 1197 Exchange St. • Middlebury • VermontCoffeeCompanyCafe.com

7

8

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS ARTS & ACADEMICS & CARTOONS SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Meditations on Fear, Reverence and Revolt: ‘Portraits of Power’ By BEN BEESE Contributing Writer In the heart of the brutalist bunker that is the Johnson Memorial Building, a small collection of thought-provoking paintings and ceramics can be found. “Portraits of Power” is a formidable exhibition of work by the students of Jim Butler’s Portraiture in Ceramics and Oil Paint class. The works span a range of topics, from violence to religion, and a myriad of styles, from abstract impressionism to realism. They are united by their representation of that which is uncontrollable yet which controls, that which may inspire fear or reverence or revolt, in short, that which is powerful. Take, for instance, one painting hung on the south side of the gallery. It portrays an expressionless Christ as he condemns a man to hanging and damnation. Unlike in traditional representations of a vengeful god, here the man found guilty is no obvious sinner, no demonic form of evil, but an average, sweater-and-jeans-wearing guy. Despite his apparent lack of incriminating evidence, there is no hope for appeal, no ability to persuade the blank face of his judge. The man’s fate is in the hands of the supernatural. And yet, even Christ has a hint of powerlessness. The leaping flames, a violence reminiscent of Jonathan Edwards’ famous “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon, are mirrored by the streaks of fresh blood running from Christ’s own wounds reminding viewers that he too was executed by vengeful judges. In this depiction, even the son of God cannot escape the seemingly arbitrary judgement that plagues humankind. One wonders who controls our destinies — is it the god from whose hand we dangle or from some other, unforeseen force that punishes our gods? On the opposite side of the gallery sits another image, less concrete in its depictions and yet perhaps more primal than the first.

SILVIA CANTU BAUTISTA/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS The gallery of the Johnson Memorial Building once again hosted the artwork of Middlebury students. “Portraits of Power” included the work of students in Jim Butler’s Portraiture in Ceramics and Oil Paint course.

A serene expanse of blue, like the night sky as seen through a distant metropolis, spreads across the canvas, interrupted by a fiery intrusion of hot pink and yellow. There is a tension that ebbs between these two forces, and an electric dynamism plays across the image. Each field is poised to overpower the other, and yet they are balanced. The colors take up nearly even amounts of the canvas with equal force. They seem to be perpetually in turmoil and yet always held in equilibrium. Although modern in look, this piece seems to draw from the same primal idea from whence came the Yin and Yang and the Tao Te Ching. Conflict and turmoil, it seems, is an omnipresent fact of reality. Always in balance, al-

SILVIA CANTU BAUTISTA /THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

ways present, yet constantly shifting and changing. Nothing stays the same. As Robert Frost said, “Nothing gold stays,” or in the immortal words of Marx and Engels, “All that is solid melts into air.” This piece seems to be a glimpse of a truly frightening yet familiar sense of the universe that makes one wonder: what can be done when the whole of reality is always churning in an equally destructive and productive rage? How do we weather the perpetual storm? In the back, on the east wall, stands another image of a slightly different nature. Both realistic and abstract, it leaves behind the tension and drama of the aforementioned pieces for the sort of calm of promised but insofar unspoken wisdom. A young woman, perhaps a student (the distinctive boots suggest a member of our own campus) leans against the frame, gently clutching a novel at the edge of a field of constellations.

It is a simple, contemplative piece that resides in the gray area between uncertainty and certainty. Is she lost in the disorder of an

hope that there is indeed a way to make peace with the powerful forces that overshadow our lives. The diverse pieces in this ex-

SILVIA CANTU BAUTISTA/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

ever-churning universe or has she come to peace with her place among the stars? Is the title of her book a plea for “just ‘A Little Life!’ Please?” or is it a contented acknowledgment of the little life that we each have? Do the stars stretch between her fingers at her command or has she simply come to grasp her place in relation to them? These questions remain unanswered, but the possibility of answers is enough to give one

hibition number just a few, each representing its own unique perspective on life, power and ourselves. These artists have inventively combined various media including oil paint, ceramics, and paper, to form truly wonderful pieces of art. Beyond that, they have embraced vulnerability, peered into often uncomfortable truths and created an exhibition that, if not directly instructive, is certainly inspiring.

KAITLYND COLLINS

JENNY MOSS

MILLIE VON PLATEN

9

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS ARTS & ACADEMICS SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Diverse Islamic Art The Librarian Is In Exhibition Opens at College By KATRINA SPENCER Senior Columnist

Literatures & Cultures Librarian Katrina Spencer is liaison to the Anderson Freeman Center, the Arabic Department, the Comparative Literature Program, the Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies (GSFS) Program, the Language Schools, the Linguistics Program, and the Department of Spanish & Portuguese.

By EZRA NUGIEL Staff Writer

An exhibit featuring over 100 exquisite works of Islamic art is now on display at the Middlebury College Museum of Art, making it the first Islamic art exhibition in a Vermont museum in at least 30 years. Located on the first floor of Mahaney Center for the Arts, this rich collection embodies the long history and intercontinental reach of Islamic art. “Wondrous Worlds” features artwork in nearly all media, including ceramics, clothing, glassware, jewelry, metalworks, musical instruments, paintings, photographs, prayer rugs and textiles. Highlights include 19th-century Indonesian crowns (fashioned from palm leaves, gold wire, animal fibers and wood), prayer-books adorned in leather and gold, Egyptian tent hangings inscribed with calligraphic and geometric patterns (measuring 160 square feet) and much more. “Wondrous Worlds” officially opened at the Middlebury College Museum of Art on Sept. 14 and will stay through Dec. 2. Middlebury community members and college students gathered for a first look at the exhibit during an opening reception at 5 p.m. The diverse media presented in “Wondrous Worlds” reflect principles and practices of Islam across the world and throughout time, including pieces that date back to the ninth century as well as contemporary works. However, the exhibit is organized in a thematic sequence rather than a

“Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up In Turkey” by Ozge Samanci, 2015

“Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey” is a graphic novel and memoir that tells the story of Ozge Samanci. The second daughter of two teachers, Samanci’s work recounts her growing up in Izmir, Turkey and how she became a cartoonist. Pulling in her country’s political tensions during the late 20th century, Samanci shows the many ways in which nationalistic regimes, militaristic propaganda and religious ideals can stifle secular and liberal minds. As Samanci tries to please her parents, map a path to a stable future and indulge her creativity, she encounters academic discipline, failing grades and crumbling self-esteem. She knows that she is artistic, but how will she pursue a career that will allow her to pay her bills? While her mother is optimistic, her father makes it

clear that her whimsical plans of studying anything but engineering simply won’t do. I saw this book in another university library in Los Angeles and both the title and the cover art drew me in. The title caused me to start thinking about the ways I have been a disappointment. My grandfather, for example, asked me to study medicine, something I had never expressed interest in. And my father didn’t think creative writing, one of my majors, would be terribly lucrative. (So far, he was right. ;)) I think a more productive conversation would have centered the question, “Katrina, what do you enjoy, what are you good at and how can you shape a career around your talents?” I’m sure many readers of this column are asking themselves just that. The work is both a “bildungsroman,” or a “coming of age novel,” and a memoir. For other memoirs that include characters surrounded by less-than-desirable circumstances and descriptions of how they beat the odds, see one of my all-time favorites Angela’s Ashes (Davis Family Library E184. I6 M117 1996) by Frank McCourt, which engages Ireland and poverty, or comedian Tiffany Haddish’s recent release The Last Black Unicorn (General Browsing-Davis Family Library PN2287.H144 A3 2017), which speaks of how she navigated her life in years of foster care.

Packert’s request inspired Paul to turn the collection into a moving show. Two recent Middlebury graduates were interns at the Newark Museum and helped put together objects and information for the original opening. Since its inception, “Wondrous Worlds” has had an active life. After its debut in Newark, it moved to Houston, Texas. After its time at Middlebury, it will travel to Emory University. Packert emphasized the importance of bringing an exhibit

like “Wondrous Worlds” to Middlebury. “It makes all the difference in teaching and understanding the arts if you actually have real works of art to look at,” she said. “My hope is that after seeing this exhibition [audiences] will emerge with a much richer appreciation for the diversity and complexity of the arts of the Islamic world.” More information can be found at go.middlebury.edu/ museum.

190 pages Call Number: Browsing Graphic-Davis Family NX565.Z9 S26 2015 COURTESY PHOTO Floral and geometric patterns feature prominently in much Islamic art.

chronological one. The show opens with an introduction to the Five Pillars of Islam: declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, fasting for Ramadan and the Hajj Pilgrimage. The exhibition then expands upon five themes, ranging from calligraphy and architecture to clothing and food. Each theme provides perspective into the utility, artistry and cultural history of the featured objects. Because the Islamic faith discourages the creation of images

COURTESY PHOTO The inscribed coffee pot and cups are remnants of early Algerian life.

of sentient beings, Islamic art is largely dominated by traditional geometric patterns and calligraphy. Not all Islamic art is strictly religious art, as it also includes the art of the varied cultures of Islamic societies. Cynthia Packert, a professor of Art History and guest curator of the collection, gave opening remarks while guests snacked on tasty Middle Eastern delicacies last Friday. Packert highlighted the cross-cultural nature of the exhibition. “In the centuries before amazon.com there were still lots of things moving around the planet in both directions,” she said. The rapid spread of Islam was accompanied by the development of trade networks for material goods. Objects with imagery of carnations, tulips and birds reflect European influence. Packert also discussed her role in Middlebury’s acquisition of this exhibit, which had been a three-year process. “Wondrous Worlds” originally opened in February 2016 at the Newark Museum of Art in Newark, N.J. A few years ago, Packert spoke with the museum’s Curator of Asian Art, Katie Paul, about obtaining Islamic art for Middlebury’s collection. At the time, the Newark Museum was renovating its Islamic art section and

FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX

Climate Change at Home: Kathryn Olson ’05 Discusses Growing Threat to ‘Farms, Fish and Forests’ By SARAH HOLMES Staff Writer

As the Carolinas reel from the destruction caused by Hurricane Florence, the quiet coast of Maine is experiencing climate change in a much slower, yet still threatening, manner. Kathryn Olson ’05 discussed the impact of climate change on this area in her talk entitled “Farms, Fish and Forests: An Ethnography of Climate Change in Maine.” In Maine, temperatures have risen twice as much as those in the rest of the United States, and the Bay of Maine is the fastest-warming body of water in the world. Maine has a highly resource-based economy with industries in fishing and forestry, and for the past several years, Olson has been using ethnographic interviews, demographic surveys, observations and visual data to inform her work. Olson has focused her recent research on what she calls the “Living Change Project” in which she investigates the subtle changes in identity, work and place in the wake of climate change, especially in her home state of Maine. Farmers have been adapting to winters with shorter freezes and

Recitatif

drought alternating with heavy precipitation in the summers and longer falls. These changes in the seasons have had a harmful impact on harvesting seasons and crop yield. Foresters, too, are experiencing environmental and economic changes. With unpredictable freezing and thawing patterns, new populations of invasive species of animals and plants are wreaking havoc in Maine. Despite these obvious concerns, Olson found that foresters are more reluctant to admit the negative impacts of climate change, and they tend to view the forests as controlled by man rather than by nature. Fishermen have faced perhaps the most significant plight. The number of soft shell clams, a specialty from the coast of Maine, are down by as much as 70 percent in some places on the coast due to a recent explosion in the population of green crabs, an invasive species that thrives in warm waters. Development of houses and tourist destinations along the coast has also greatly diminished fishing areas accessible to fishermen. These challenges have forced the industry to adjust. For example, some have turned to aquaculture, the practice of farming fish, as a way to protect soft shell clams, as

This performance reimagines the story of two girls who become friends despite the racial and social differences of their mothers. After the performance, the creators and performers will open a discussion of the challenges of staging Morrison’s unexpected treatment of race, color and the coded language we use for both. Friday, 9/21, 7:30 p.m. & Saturday, 9/22, 2 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts Dance Theatre

well as mussel populations, from the green crabs. Many Maine locals in the culinary industry are beginning to harvest the green crabs and popularize them on the market, with slow but promising success. According to an interview that Olson conducted with a fisherman, the fishery is only able to produce around ten percent of what it once could. Olson’s talk drew the attention of many students and faculty, as her presentation highlighted the imminent issues facing local communities due to climate change. Here in Vermont, farmers and beneficiaries of resource-based industries are at risk in ways similar as those in Maine. “Having spent the summer living [on] sailboats along the coast of Maine dodging lobster pots every day, I was particularly interested in the invasive green crabs and in the lobstermen’s pragmatic view of climate change,” Hannah Redmon ’20 said. “I appreciated how [Olson] examined the effects of climate change on Maine’s major industries through the eyes of people working in these industries every day. The way she combined science, sociology, creative writing and photography made her project both useful and engaging, no matter where her

The Foreigner’s Home

readers are coming from.” acting large-scale policy changes Alec Fleischer ’20.5 said that for mitigating climate change to Olson’s talk “clearly showed [that] bolstering grassroots participation climate change is already altering in the fight against climate change, Maine’s formerly-stable marine Olson encourages working beyond and forestry sectors. academia and using social media “These highlighted effects only and blogs, to spread positive mesmark the beginning of unprece- sages. Olson left the audience feeldented problems that our genera- ing positive about how experts are tion will face in Maine, in Vermont, addressing climate change, noting and across the world,” he said. “We that the people she interviewed need to rapidly transition [away from all different economic and from] fossil fuels and begin invest- social backgrounds were working ing vast sums in climate mitiga- hard to adapt to the changes comtion.” ing their way. Maine’s future, according to OlFor more information on Olson son, lies in economic diversification and her work, see her blog: and developing long-term sustain- www.livingchange.blog/ able industries. Throughout this project, Olson has spent much of her time engaging with climate change skeptics and deniers, and encouraging tolerance and understanding of other perKathryn Olson spectives. Clam harvester Chad Coffin in Freeport, Maine, goes through From en- concentrated mud where green crabs have killed native grasses.

The documentary film explores the vision and work of Toni Morrison through the 2006 exhibition with the same name that she guest-curated at the Louvre. The film combines unreleased footage of the her in dialogue with artists with extensive materials to present exchanges about race, identity, “foreignness,” and art’s redemptive power. Pre-screening talk led by producers begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 9/20, 8 p.m., Wilson Hall

2018 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour

See seven short films selected from the Sundance Film Festival, including fiction, documentary, and animation from around the world. The 2018 program offers new audiences a taste of what the festival offers, from laughout-loud comedy to contemplative reflections of the world we live in. Saturday, 9/22, 3 p.m. & 8 p.m., Dana Auditorium at Sunderland

10

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS SPORTS SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Field Hockey Remains Undefeated, Duh

Emma Johns ’20 pursues the ball during Saturday’s field hockey game against Amherst. The Panthers defeated the Mammoths 5–4. By CAROLINE BARTLETT Middlebury extended its winning streak to five games and remains on top of the NESCAC after defeating Amherst and Hamilton this past weekend. The Panthers took an early lead in Saturday’s home game against Amherst, with Emma Johns ’20 (this week’s NESCAC Player of the Week) scoring two goals in the first eight minutes. Toward the

end of the first half, captain Grace Jennings ’19 carried the ball up the left side of the field and sent it toward the net, where Molly Freeman ’19 tipped it in. Jennings set up another goal early in the second half, passing to sophomore Danielle Brown, who scored her fourth of the season. Amherst initiated a quick comeback, managing to score three goals in less than 10 minutes to make the score 4–3 at 47:08. Responding to the challenge,

Johns completed a hat trick just a few minutes later, scoring Middlebury’s final goal of the game. Though Amherst managed to find the back of the net one more time, the Panthers walked away with a 5–4 win. “Every game is an opportunity for us to learn and grow as a team,” assistant coach Lauren Schweppe ’18 said. “The Amherst game was very competitive and showed us which areas of our game we could improve upon.”

Sunday’s decisive 4–0 win against Hamilton exemplified the team’s ability to adjust quickly. Middlebury posted 12 shots on goal — three times as many attempts as Hamilton. Goalkeeper Megan Collins ’19 stopped all four Hamilton shots, adding another shutout to her record and upping her save percentage to .692. “Every year we start out with so many unique ingredients, and we are still trying to find out exactly what this team will look like

BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

and how we will accomplish our goals,” Jennings said about the ups and downs of the weekend. “But, even now, we are pretty excited about what we have so far and our journey ahead.” Next up, the team takes on its longstanding rival Bowdoin at noon on Saturday, Sept. 22 at home. Come out to cheer on the Panthers as they battle to keep the top spot in the NESCAC.

BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Meg Fearey ’21 scored her first goal of the season against Hamilton on Sunday.

Women’s Tennis BEGINS SEASON WINNING STREAK Grace Jennings ’19 scored the first goal of the game against Amherst.

BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Panther Volleyball Wins Against Trinity By ERIN KELLY

COURTESY PHOTO

By NICOLE HONG

BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

The women’s volleyball team cheers after bouncing back to defeat Trinity in the final three sets, leading to a 3–1 victory.

The Panthers opened their season this past weekend at the Lindsay Morehouse Invitational hosted by Williams. While no individual tournament winner was awarded due to the invitational’s round-robin nature, the Middlebury women’s tennis team came back home with wins in their hands. To start off, doubles partners Christina Puccinelli ’19 and Emma Gorman ’22 led the team with an 8–3 win on Saturday. Following this victory, the new members of the team stepped up to the court. Gorman and Nora Dahl ’22 each earned two wins in singles, and Ruhi Kamdar ’22 had one. Experienced players Puccinelli and Emily Bian ’21 also

won one singles match each. The Panthers continued to dominate the courts on Sunday with doubles duo Gorman and Puccinelli, who tallied two wins, and Dahl and Kamdar, who defeated Skidmore in a match. Not only did the women’s team boast their athletic abilities this weekend, but they also demonstrated class and sportsmanship. Puccinelli was presented the Lindsay Morehouse Award, a distinction celebrating positive character, friendship, perseverance and sportsmanship. As the Panthers start their season off with multiple victories, we look forward to their performance at the ITA Championships hosted at Williams from Friday, Sept. 28 to Sunday, Sept. 30.

11

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS SPORTS SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Football Defeated at Wesleyan, 52-21

Women’s Soccer, Like Butter, On a Roll

EMMA STAPLETON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

By LAUREN BOYD

The Panther football team suffered a loss in its first game of the season this past Saturday while on the road at Wesleyan, falling to the Cardinals 52– 21. Though the team started the season on a low note, the players will work to improve upon their game this weekend against Bowdoin. Middlebury relied heavily on its passing game to increase its offensive yardage, recording about 100 more passing yards than the Cardinals. The first drive of the game emphasized the strength of the passing game for the Panther offense, as quarterback Jack Meservy ’19 led the team down the field in nine plays. Middlebury scored the first seven points of the game in the first quarter. Wesleyan, however, stole the Panthers’ initial momentum and flipped the game quickly, first answering with a touchdown of its own, and then using a Middlebury turnover to claim the lead. By halftime, the Panthers were down by 10 points, but could not make up the deficit. Wesleyan hit the field stronger in the second half, outscoring the Panthers by 21 (21–0) in the third quarter alone. Both teams matched touchdown-for-touchdown in the fourth, leaving the final score at 52–21. Though Middlebury’s passing game was more impactful than Wesleyan’s, the total Panther offensive yards couldn’t match the Cardinals’ running game. They fell 293 yards to the Cardinals’ 358. This difference came as a

result of Wesleyan’s ground game and Panther turnovers. Panther highlights include an impressive performance from senior linebacker Kevin Maxwell, who led Middlebury in tackles on defense. Senior Conrado Banky and junior Maxin Bochman each assisted quarterbacks Meservy and Will Jernigan ’21 in the passing game, recording 61 and 52 yards, respectively. Wesleyan intercepted three of Middlebury’s passes and recovered one Panther fumble, which ended up aiding the Cardinal victory. Senior wide receiver Jimmy Martinez viewed the loss as an opportunity for the Panthers to improve their game as a team. “After Saturday, we realized that we just need to make more plays and take advantage of opportunities. In order to win this week, and win out like we plan to, more people need to step up,” Martinez said, “I’m positive that with more mental focus and a positive attitude going forward, ... we will begin to dominate.” Though this past Saturday was a tough loss, Martinez and the team are excited for what lies ahead. With a whole season ahead of them, the Panthers have time and room to make improvements. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t put it together this week, but I promise, we’ll make Bowdoin sorry they got off the bus,” Martinez said. The Panthers will face Bowdoin on Saturday at 1 p.m. for their home opener.

Photos of the Week MIDDLEBURY CROSS COUNTRY RUNS THE TAM TREK

BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

MICHAEL BORENSTEIN/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Sabrina Glaser ’20 prepares to strike the ball during the game against Amherst. By JENNY LANGERMAN Last week, the women’s soccer team extended its winning streak to five, after pulling off a three-point shutout at home against Plattsburgh State on Wednesday and then a 3-1 win on the road versus Amherst. Wednesday’s win over Plattsburgh displayed the strength and depth of this year’s roster. Sachi Howson ’21 started in goal, tallying two saves throughout the first half, and Ursula Alwang ’20 closed it out with another two saves in the second. This marks Howson’s first time seeing the field in her collegiate soccer career, as she was out with a broken finger and a concussion during

BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

before they even happen.” The team’s intensity certainly carried over to their matchup against the Amherst Mammoths over the weekend. The Panthers fiercely came back to score three consecutive goals after being down by one in the first half and facing multiple close calls from Amherst’s attackers. Attacking midfielder Sabrina Glaser ’20 proved valuable in securing the win, scoring two of the team’s three goals, while Ellie Greenberg ’20 tacked on the third. Glaser’s showing against Amherst will likely not be her last star performance, as the junior already holds three of the team’s sixteen goals this season -- matched only by three from Leah Salzman ’21.

Men’s Tennis Competes at Home By MIGUEL ESPINOSA Both the Proctor and Nelson tennis courts were busy on Saturday, Sept. 15 and Sunday, Sept. 16. The Middlebury Invitational, hosted by men’s tennis, brought together Division III teams located throughout the Northeast. NESCAC rivals such as Bates, Colby and Tufts were present, while out-of-conference teams such as RPI, Skidmore and Brandeis were also invited. The invitational consisted of six brackets over the course of two days. Four of the brackets were singles, while the remaining two were doubles. Men’s tennis senior captain and two-time All-NESCAC First Team selectee Lubomir Cuba was placed on the ‘A’ Singles Flight, along with fellow senior captain Noah Farrell and sophomore Nate Eazor. First-year Stanley Morris and David Vilys were on the ‘B’ Singles Flight, while juniors Weston Brach, Aleks Samets and sophomore Thorne Gregory competed in the ‘C’

Singles Flight. Senior captain Cole Sutton and Zachary Hilty ’22 were the last Panthers playing singles in the ‘D’ Flight. For doubles, two pairs of Panthers, Cuba and Eazor and Farrell and Martin, were placed in the ‘A’ bracket. Sutton and Gregory were paired together in the ‘B’ Bracket. Middlebury saw varied success in the singles brackets. Most notably, Stanley Morris won the championship within the ‘B’ Singles Flight against Brandeis’s Anupreeth Coramutla. Morris was originally the second seed in the bracket and had defeated Tufts’ Zach Shaff, Skidmore’s Jack McClaren and even fellow Panther Adam Guo ’21 before advancing to the championship round. In a shocking upset, top-seeded Cuba fell to Bates’s Pieter Wernick in the first round. The other Panthers of the ‘A’ Singles Flight, Farrell and Eazor, were also eliminated in the same round. Vilys, Martin, Samets, Hilty and Sutton advanced to the quarterfinals, while Brach

managed to reach the semifinals before losing to Brandeis’s Rajan Vohra. “I was able to serve and return well in both matches, which allowed me to be more offensive than my opponents early on,” said Brach. “Since I served well, I was able to approach the net a lot and hit some volley winners. “Vohra did a good job of pushing me back in the court with high topspin shots, making it difficult for me to approach the net and put away volleys. I also had a low firstserve percentage, which limited my ability to dictate early on in the points.” For doubles, pairs Cuba and Eazor and Sutton and Gregory finished at the quarterfinals for their respective brackets. Farrell and Martin managed to reach the semifinals. Currently, the men’s tennis team is preparing for the ITA Regional Championships taking place from Friday, Sept. 28 to Sunday, Sept. 30.

Women’s Golf Sub-Par (In a Good Way) By EMILY BIAN

At the annual TAM Trek on Sunday, Sept. 16, the Middlebury cross country teams raised over $1,100 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The team participated in the event and supported Miles for Maeve, a fund dedicated in honor of Middlebury resident Maeve Hammel, 16, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age two. Hammel benefits from a medication that was developed as a result of the funds raised by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

the 2017 season. “Once I got the message [about starting], I just tried my best not to get too nervous about the game,” Howson said. “I had never started before or even played in a collegelevel game really, so it was super exciting for me. I had to make sure I was focused in warmups so I could be the most confident when the game started.” Howson humbly attributes much of her successful debut to strong play from her defenders. “I think that the key to the game’s shutout was making sure our team stayed organized starting from the back,” Howson said. “If you are able to organize the team and defense and put them into the right places, you are able to shut down attacks

The Middlebury women’s golf team opened its fall season on the weekend of Saturday, Sept. 8 with a fantastic start, placing second among 11 teams at the St. Lawrence Invitational. The Panthers teed a two-day total of 625, consisting of a 317 score on day one and a 308 on day two. This past weekend at Wellesley’s Ann S. Batchelder Invitational, the team came in fourth with a total of 675. After a summer of good practice, the Panthers were fired up to compete as a team. Coming out swinging at St. Lawrence, Blake Yaccino ’20 led Middlebury in the tournament, finishing in a fourth place tie with a pair of 75’s for a

total of 150. Another strong contributor was Chloe Levins ’20, who placed seventh and carded a 151 (75–76), with her fellow teammate Helen Dailey ’20 following in a tie for ninth place with a 154 (78–76). After graduating three seniors last year, it wasn’t clear how the team would perform with only six returning players. However, the Panthers’ strong performance at the first tournament of the season proved that they are ready to compete as one fierce unit. As Levins put it, “Having such a small women’s golf program this season will require higher focus and dedication out of each player. Not only will every member of the team play a vital role this season, but the attitudes we

approach practice with will also affect the team much more. It will be important to remain positive, patient and constructive in our preparation for tournaments throughout the year.” Levins, a consistent performer, tied for third overall this past weekend at Wellesley. She carded a 75 on Saturday and a 77 on Sunday for a total of 152. Dailey followed with a 171 (87–85), Maddy Cordeiro ’22 with a 175 (88–87), Erika Nakagawa ’21 with a 179 (89–90), and Anna Zumwinkle ’20 rounded out the scorers with a total of 181 (87–94). Planning to build off this weekend’s momentum, the Panthers will return to action at the Mount Holyoke Invitational on the weekend of Saturday, Sept. 22.

Men’s Golf Hosts 36th Duke Nelson Invitational By MIGUEL ESPINOSA The Ralph Myhre Golf Course at Middlebury was buzzing with activity for the 36th Duke Nelson Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 15 and Sunday, Sept. 16. The invitational was hosted by the men’s golf team. Twenty-two colleges were represented that weekend, including Nescac rivals Williams, Trinity, Amherst, Tufts and Wesleyan. Other schools included New York University, Springfield College and Endicott College. Weather conditions were perfect

for attacking the par-71 course. The summer heat had decided to extend its stay on campus for the tournament, allowing golfers to squeeze in a final tan. While the Panthers may have returned with sun-kissed glows, they were unable to bring home new hardware. Middlebury finished seventh overall. The Williams Ephs captured first place after shooting a total of 584, and were followed by the Trinity Bantams, who tallied just four more strokes at 588. Middlebury was 12 shots behind first place with a score of 600.

The Panthers’ performance improved from day one to day two, when they shot 303 and 297, respectively. Middlebury’s second-round score of 297 was better than those of third-place NYU, fifth-place Johnson & Wales and sixth-place Amherst. The Panthers’ six-shot improvement, unfortunately, would not prove to be enough to capture first. Ironically, their position dropped from sixth place after round one to seventh place after the tournament ended. Middlebury’s performance was led by David Packer ’20, who shot consistently at 74 and 73. Packer

ultimately tied for 10th overall on an individual basis. “Coming off our first round of tournament play for the season, I think the biggest factor [behind our improvement] was just a higher level of comfort competing again,” said Packer. “[It involved] getting some of those first-day jitters out of the way and being more confident standing over the ball.” “The team was able to settle down after day one of our first tournament, and trust the process,” said senior captain Philippe Morin, who was tied at 48th after hitting 77 and 76. “We do not try

to think too much about physical changes during tournaments, but mentally we commit to each other and every shot while on the course — a mindset needed to score well.” Captains Reid Buzby ’19 and David McDaniel ’19 finished tied for 26th and 65th, respectively. Sophomore Jordan Bessalel ’21 also placed at 26th. The Panthers will be looking to exact revenge on Williams this weekend at the Williams Fall Invitational this weekend, Saturday, Sept. 22 and Sunday, Sept. 23.

B8 12

THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS SPORTS SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Koby Altman ’04, Cavs GM, Returns to the 05753

MICHAEL BORENSTEIN/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

While visiting Middlebury on September 14-15, Koby Altman was featured at a CCI Sociology and Anthropology Field Guide and cheered on the Panthers at numerous sporting events.

S

p s s e n g s

a s g

r y n y

l t r e ” d d . 1

g s ,

Continued from Page 1 -ment degree at UMass Amherst. He then assisted with USA Basketball for a while, where, he jokes, “I was the best towel-washer around.” He rose through the ranks steadily, working as a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois University for the 2009-2010 season, then as a full-time assistant at Columbia University. At no point was it easy. “Every step along the way, you certainly have to prove yourself,” Altman said of his early years in the world of professional basketball management. “For me, personally, I had to figure out if I had the confidence to do this. When I was with USA Basketball, [I was] working with some of the best Division I coaches in the country and some of the best

players in the country that [were] going to be top-10 draft picks at the time. That was when I really realized I can play in this space.” Altman doggedly made connections during those early years, and by 2017 he had been hired by the Cavaliers as a scout and had worked his way up the ranks of the organization’s front office. Then, when David Griffin was let go as general manager that summer, Altman was tapped to take his place. His peers and mentors say he accomplished it all due primarily to a skill that Middlebury preaches as a foundational part of its educational mission: the ability to sit down with anyone, look them in the eye and connect. Debbie Bial, president of the Posse Foundation, told Middlebury Magazine that Altman has the

“unique ability to make people feel comfortable no matter what the topic of conversation is.” Reflective and self-aware in tracing his development (as both a basketball executive and a human being), Altman remembers Middlebury as a place where his people skills could develop and shine. “Being from Brooklyn, which is this dynamic, diverse place, coming here, getting an amazing education, meeting new people ... helped me become the person I am and enlightened me,” Altman said. “I grew immensely in terms of my intellectual curiosity at this place. That’s helped me relate to so many different people, and this place pushed that on me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was really growing intellectually and in terms of being able to converse about

a variety of topics.” Altman’s penchant for human interaction was on full display last weekend when he visited campus, attending a variety of gatherings for student-athletes, sociology majors and Posse scholars. At a breakfast for student-athletes interested in careers in sports management, Altman walked around the room, introducing himself to every student present. He looked each attendee in the eye, asked his or her name, where they were from and what they were majoring in. When he came across students from the San Francisco Bay Area, he was quick to poke lighthearted fun at their Warriors fandom. “He brings such a light and fun, positive energy to the room that was pervasive throughout all of the athletes,” said Kira Waldman ’20, a var-

sity basketball player who attended a dinner with Altman and the men’s and women’s basketball teams. “He genuinely wanted to know what we were each interested in and a little bit about our backgrounds.” Based on Altman’s weekend on campus, it seems he is as appreciative of creating meaningful connections as he is adept at engaging in that process: he spoke to hundreds of students throughout the weekend, and not once did his interactions appear anything less than sincere. “I think what Middlebury gave me was a curiosity for all these different things and different people,” he said. “It’s great to be back.” Editor’s Note: James Finn is a member of the men’s basketball team.

Men’s Soccer Shocks, Beats Amherst on Home Turf By ERIK ARVIDSSON

MICHAEL BORENSTEIN/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS

Drew Goulart ’20 prepares to pass the ball to a teammate during the match against Amherst on Saturday.

The Middlebury men’s soccer team headed into its Saturday, Sept. 15 game against Amherst, ranked 10th in the nation, with a winless record. The Panthers and the Mammoths battled it out for a tough 90 minutes, with Middlebury coming out of the match with 14 shots compared to Amherst’s 13. The match was physical from the start, and each team committed over 15 fouls; the referees dished out a whopping six yellow cards, four to Middlebury and two to Amherst. The tussle finally paid off when junior defender Henry Wilhelm brought the Panthers to a 1–o victory with an unassisted goal in the 72nd minute. The Panthers locked down the defensive side of the field for the next 18 minutes, leading goalkeeper Matt Hyer ’21 to his second shutout of the season after making four saves during the match. With three games in a six-day span coming up this week, a win was vital for the team atmosphere under its new coaching staff. “This game meant everything for the direction of this program,” emphasized Raffi Barsamian ’21. “It gave us a snapshot of what we can be, which is the best team in the country.”

Barsamian noted that the Panthers were able to handle the Mammoths by outperforming them at their own style of play while still maintaining their flair. “Typically Amherst is the team that comes in and is going to bully you and play in the air — a really scrappy team,” Barsamian said. “We did that to them. We outfought them [and] outworked them, while still conforming to our style.” First-year head coach Alex Elias ’08 said he could not have been more proud of the Panthers after the win. Barsamian noted that when the match was over, Coach Elias approached them in the huddle and applauded them for their effort and dedication to the team. “[He said], ‘Do you feel that energy? Do you feel this? This is what every game should feel like. You guys battled, and you won the fight,’” Barsamian recalled. As previously mentioned, the Panthers have started a busy week. On Tuesday, the men headed to New York to face Mount St. Mary at 7 p.m. This weekend, Sept. 22 to 23, the Panthers will play a NESCAC doubleheader with a home game against Bowdoin on Saturday followed by an away game against Hamilton on Sunday. As usual, the NESCAC battles

will not be easy. When asked how the Panthers can keep up the same energy that propelled them to the win against Amherst, Fazl Shaikh ’20 noted that it comes down to focus. “We have the capabilities to do that game in and game out, [but] we need to focus on battling for 90 minutes,” Shaikh said. “It’s easy to say but harder to do. The games we lost, we had 50–60 good minutes. We need 90 good minutes every game.” First-year assistant coach Greg Conrad ’17 is prepared to help the men find this focus. “This upcoming week will be a good test for the group, as mental preparation will be the biggest key to our success,” Conrad said. “We put together a great 90 minutes on Saturday and will need to continue to find that type of attention to detail throughout the year. Training this week will be very deliberate, and we hope to capture the intensity of the weekend and make it the standard.” The players aren’t the only ones who should be delivering intensity for those 90 minutes every game. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Panthers this weekend. The team’s energy is electric and contagious; let’s show them we have their backs.

Cross Country Dominates at Aldrich Invitational By JORDAN HOWELL The men’s and women’s cross country teams continued their excellent start to the season as they proved their dominance at Middlebury’s Aldrich Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 15. Both teams placed first. The men won with a score of 17, while the women won with a score of 18. “Both the women’s and men’s teams ran really well at Aldrich,” said Rory Kelly ’19. It was a big day because it was the first-years’ first races for Midd, and we also had a lot of alumni come back to campus for the race. Despite the heat, everyone put out great efforts, and it was a good day to build off of as the season continues.” For the women’s race, Middlebury came in first place, the University of Vermont came in second, and Saint Michael’s College came in third. Rory Kelly ’19, Katie Glew ’21 and Cassie Kearney ’22 finished in the top three, with times of 19:30.9, 19:39.5 and 19.53.1, respectively. The women also captured six of the first nine places with Phoebe Colvin Oehmig ’20.5 coming in fifth, Claire

Gomba ’19 coming in seventh, and Tate Serletti ’20 coming in eighth. For the men’s race, Middlebury also finished first, and was followed by Vermont and Norwich. Incredibly, the Panthers were able to capture the top three finishes. Harrison Knowlton ’19 came in first with a time of 26:29.0, Miles Meijer ’19 came in second with a time of 26:31.0 and Matt D’Aquila ’21 placed third with a time of 26:37.6. Overall, Middlebury finished with seven runners in the top 10. The other members of that group were Henry Fleming ’20, Zander Kessler ’22, Theo Henderson ’19 and Thomas Tarantino ’21. Meijer is excited about the team’s prospects this season, and holds high expectations. “This is one of the best teams that we’ve had in a while, top to bottom, so our goals definitely reflect that,” said Meijer. “We would like to BENJY RENTON/THE MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS place well at the NESCAC, region- Both Harrison Knowlton ’19 and Rory Kelly ’19 placed first in their respective races. al and national championships. “For next week’s race, we are to the typical running training, to continue their momentum and It’s exciting to think about what move closer toward their ultimate looking forward to getting to race we will be working on getting our this team is capable of.” goal of reaching NESCACs. The with strong competitors,” said minds ready, too.” The Panthers will have anPurple Valley Classic will be an Kelly. “One of our main focus other opportunity next week at away meet taking place on Satur- points as a team is the mental Williams’ Purple Valley Classic game of running, so in addition day, Sept. 22.