Middlebury College magazine. Vol. 76, No. 4 : 2002

84 Pages·2002·72.4 MB·English

by  Middlebury College

i m s I P E
F A L L 2 0 0 2
18
SPORT REPORT
Julia Bergofsky ’02 adds one of
Division Ill’s highest honors to an already
crowded trophy shelf.
20
STUDENT SCENE
Bulls, bears, buy, sell. While many stock
analysts flounder, a group of Midd kids
soars.
22
BOOK MARKS
Many voices, many tales in our fall
reading list.
24
OLD CHAPEL VIEWS
President John M. McCardeU,Jr.,
examines one of higher ed’s hot topics:
early decision.
78
ROAD TAKEN
William Dalsimer ’62 discovers an
unconventional route to Middlebury.
80
HINDSIGHT
Once a staple of Middlebury football
h
Saturdays, cheerleading was an all-male
Z
endeavor until l^ottie Laux O’Brien ’45
u came along.
g
H
ce
<
a
u
a
Couer:Tliinkit{^ outside the box is commonplace iti
Bicetttemiial Hall. Photoi^raph by Bob Haiidelman
Contents: Apples at Happy Valley Orchard, Middlebury.
Photoc^raph by Jack Gifodman
Inset phoki^raph: Students at first-year seminar by Bob
Handelman

YiiîEkW,
gF I N D E R Middlebury
M A G A Z I N E
Fall 2002
Volume 76, N umber 4
Matriculation, Again
Editor
M att Jennings
Alumni Editor
NEVER THOUGHT I’D FEEL LIKE A COLLEGE FRESHMAN AGAIN. Yet when I arrived D otty M c Carty
at Middlebury this fall, just a week or so after the first-years stepped on campus, a
Designer
flood of emotions, previously stored in the far recesses of my mind, washed over me
Pamela Fogg
in waves. How will I remember everyone’s name? Will my new colleagues like me?
How different will everything be? In a brief moment of panic, as 1 walked through the Copy Editor
door of Meeker House, I found myself wondering if I had on the right clothes. R egan Eberhart
After seven years of managing a publications office and editing the magazine at
Assistant Editor
Sidwell Friends School, in Washington, D.C., I feel like I’ve graduated from one stage of
Jan Bark
my life and moved on to another. Now, along with nearly 700 first-years, I’m wandering
around campus figuring out where everything is. I have Old Stone Row and Mead Editorial Assistant
Chapel down cold; I’m stUl trying to find my way around McCullough. Lindsey W hitton ’05
That’s not to say I haven’t learned a lot already. With the Alumni Leadership
Conference rolling into town at about the same time I stepped off a plane from D.C.,
Editorial Office
my first 48 hours here turned into my own Middlebury immersion experience. Over
Meeker House
the course of a weekend at Bread Loaf, I learned about the Commons and the new
Middlebury College
library; I talked to an Italian professor, alumni of all ages, and a senior from Texas, who
Middlebury,VT 05753
spent her junior year at the London School of Economics; I heard so many stats about
Phone: [phone]
the incoming class, the endowment, and the College’s finances, my head was spinning
E-mail: [email protected]
by the end of it all.
On-line: www.middleburymagazine.org
Have I mentioned I loved evety minute of it? Having grown up in a small college
town, I have a deep appreciation for what both the College and the conmiunity have to Advertising Sales Office
offer. Within a span of two weeks, Elie Wiesel, Edward Albee, and Scott Ritter spoke on Smart Communication, Inc.
campus. On September 11, writer-in-residence Julia Alvarez ’71 was a guest on NPR’s P.O. Box 283,Vergennes,VT 05491
Talk of the Nation, yet she spoke not fi-om a studio in Washington, but from the office Phone: [phone]
directly below mine. I used to live acro.ss the Potomac River from the Kennedy Center, E-mail: [email protected]
yet I managed to attend a performance there only one time during my seven years in D.C.
Other College Offices
This fall. I’ll hear the Emerson String Quartet and the Vermont Sympliony Orchestra on
(all area code 802)
back-to-back weekends (I have to admit, my wife has a hand in this as well).
College Information: 443-5000
I’m told the weather will be a little different from what I’m used to, having spent
Alumni Office: 443-5183
most of my life in Virginia. Parkas and warm boots seem to be mentioned often, and the
E-mail: [email protected]
other day I was told it snowed four feet last March. I’m still waiting to be told that’s not
Admissions: 443-3000
true. In any case, while I may be trading cherry blossoms for snowdrifts. I’m also leaving
behind steamy days for blue skies so sharp they make your eyes water and vistas so stun­
The views presented are not necessarily those of
ning they leave you breathless. The other morning, as I cut across campus behind Old the editors or the official policies of the College.
Chapel, I glimpsed the moon hanging in the azure sky, framed by the chapel spire and
Middlebury College of Middlebury,VT 0.S7.Ô3,
the trees off to the side. I had to blink twice to make sure it wasn’t some sort of mirage.
publishes Midilkbur)' .Magazine (ISSN 074.S-2454)
When I was a kid, each Tuesday night was Movie Night, not at the local movie
four times a year: winter, spring, summer, and fell.
house, but at the college, where my dad was showing that © 2002 Middlebury College Publications. Middkhur)'
week’s selection to his film class. 1 grew up with multiple .Magazine is printed at The Lane Press in South
Burlington,VT. Nonprofit standard mail postage paid
viewings of Citizen Kane, llie Cabinet of Dr. Caiigari, llie
at Middlebury,VT, and at addirional mailing offices
Searchers, and countless other classics. One of the first things
(USPS 964-820). POSTMASTER: Send address
I did when 1 got to Middlebury was check out the schedule changes to .Middkhnr)' Magazim’, Middlebury
for the Hirschfield Film/Video Series, and 1 smiled when College, Middlebury, VT 0.57.5.3.
Printed in U.S.A.
I saw that Cal[^ari would be playing on September 23. Pm
starting to feel right at home. —.V/J
Photograph of .Mall Jciiiiiiigs by Ikb Haiidvbiiaii
M idd lebu r y M agazine
L E T T E R S
Middlebury
students have
R escue R ew ard s served as i
volunteers with
Riding with the Middlebury Volunteer
the ambulance
Ambulance Association was one of the association sinlf^
most rewarding experiences I had at
Middlebury (“To the Rescue,” summer
2002). 1 loved how I could learn a skill
one day and be using it in the real world
the next. A refreshing break from my stud­
ies. It was exciting, fun, and a great way to
interact with the community. I learned a
lot about myself and, quite frankly, found
the experience to be addicting. I encour­
age others to volunteer for the emergency
services in their community. It is a great
way to give back to your community and
is an immensely rewarding experience.
Miles Canfield ’92, Captain /Paramedic,
Ketchum Fire Department,
Ketcluim, Idaho
P ra ise for EMTs
1 very much enjoyed reading 1 )avid Mills’
(’02) article about Midd student EMTs
(“To the Rescue,” summer 2002). During
my time at Middlebury, I had several
friends who participated in the program, ous friends: the almost universal reaction of a biker who has thrown away the
and their dedication was inspiring. has been one word: “beautifi.il.” advantages given to her or a musician
I have also benefited from the incredi­ Talbot F Hamlin '40 scarcely known outside the Middlebury
ble efforts of student EMTs like Scott Wellesley, Massachusetts campus. But, when someone such as Dr.
Faucett ’02. My brother, Matthew Stephen Freeman, who put Middlebury
Slautterback ’93, was involved in a skate­ C om m ents from P oland on the map, dies, there is no more than a
board accident on the Middlebury campus Our copy of the Middlebury Magazine short obit inside the issue.
in the spring of 1992. Midd student often arrives late in northern Poland, but You might like to know that the Poles
EMTs were the first to the accident scene we always look forward to reading it. Then were fascinated—and not at all judgmen­
and managed to stabilize Matt long it is placed in the Americana section of tal—about the article of the two gay men
enough for my parents and me to fly from the general library in Sopot where we who adopted. Such adoptions are not yet
California to be by his side. While Matt have our offices, where it attracts a certain possible in Poland, so the adoption itself
succumbed to the injuries he suffered, we amount of interest from Poles of different was of interest. What intrigued the Poles
owe otir final two precious days with him age groups and backgrounds. Most Poles even more was the idea that two people
to the quick thinking and skill of those like to read current publications in who had made a success of their lives
student EMTs. English, and most arc curious about any were giving the possibility of doing the
My family is forever indebted to stu­ aspect of life in the USA. same to others who might not have had
dent EMTs frtim the Middlebury However, they are confused by the the opportunity otherwise. So, you can
Volunteer Ambulance Association. Plea.se Middlebury Magazine as they have been well imagine the appeal of the last issue
keep up the amazing work. told that the College it represents is concerning a Middlebury graduate, Ari
Courtney Slautterback '96 known to be a prestigious one in the Fleischer, and his role in the White 1 louse.
Neu’York, SewYork USA, and it is quite obvious that the pub­ Again, the Poles were not discussing poli­
lication itself is costly to produce. The tics but, rather, admiring his achievements.
Life's L ang u ag e consensus is that form is more important Fnid Mayberry, M.A. French '61
“The Simple Present " (spring 2002) is not than content. Personally, 1 am embarrassed Director, Anglo-American-Polish Associatioti
only an extraordinarily moving personal enough about the choice and publication
document, it is also a striking affirmation of certain articles to have written to say Fd.: A feature article about Stephen Freeman
of the complex and vital relationship so. I know I am not alone in my percep­ appeared in the winter 1998 issue of
between language and life.Thank you tor tion of the image the magazine presents to Middlebury Magazine.
publishing it. I h.ive sent copies to numer­ the rest of the world. We get cover issues
I'II O 1 O (. R .M'II 11 Y lion H .S N D M M A N [• .\ 1 I 2 0 0 2
Middlebury C'ollhce
Board cif Trustees
B lu e b e rry
I-’1^. E S ! D £ N T
H ill John M. McCardell, Jr.
A secluded inn Fellows
Peter 1. Bijur
for all seasons.
Paula Carr Cummings ’82
James S. 1 )avis ’66
www.blueberryhillinn.com
Churchill G. Franklin ’71
Frederick M. Fritz ’68
1-800-448-0707
Nancy CofFrin Furlong ’75
Goshen. Vermont 05733
Drue Cortell Gensler '57
Robert C. Graham, Jr. ’63
Betty Ashbury Jones, M.A. '86
FREE Color Catalog
Robert A. Jones ’59
1800 456-0321
- - James R. Keyes ’71
William H. Kieffer 111 ’64
Ask for Dept. 17502 Roxanne McCormick Leighton ’67
Louis Marx, Jr.
Hundreds of styles, fabrics and colors to
choose from...something for every style Garrett M. Moran ’76
of home. Plus matching bedding, and
Michael C. Obel-Omia ’88
accessories. Marvelous decorating
Conner &Buck solutions ... wonderfully affordable Frank WSesno ’77
. . . from Jane and Jack (’48) Fitzpatrick! J. Lea Hillman Simonds ’69
DESIGN BUILD CONTRACTORS CounüyCurtains. John Spencer
802-453-2756 • [email protected]
Karen A. Stolley ’77
Dept. 17502Stockbridge, MA01262
16 Main St., PO Box 248 • Bristol, VT 05443
www.sendcataIog.com (Dept. 17502) John R.Tormondsen ’82
Polyvios C.Vintiadis
Mary MacArthur Wendell ’69
Marna C. Whittington
Kendrick R.Wilson 111
Emeriti
James 1. Armstrong
Mary Williams Brackett ’36
Dort A. Cameron III '67
Allan R. Dragone, Sr. ’50
Willard T. Jackson ’51
C. Irving Meeker ’50
Jonathan O'Herron
Patricia Judah Palmer 57
Milton V. Peterson '58
W Kyle Prescott ’49
Raymond J. Saulnier '29
David E. Thompson '49
Hilton A. Wick
Robert P.Younginan '64
Officers of iiie Corporation
Churchill G. Franklin '71, Chair
James S. Davis '66, Vice Chair
Betty Ashbury Jones. M.A. '86. Vice Chair
Betsy Mitchell Etcheils '75. Secretary
F. Robert Fluth.Jr.,Treasurer
www.basinharbor.com " 1.800.622.4000
M id d lebu r y M ag azine
LETTERS
R e m e m b e rin g Lake
Ple ia d
VERMONT’S
When I saw the cover of the summer
issue, I immediately thought of my many
OLDEST
visits to Lake Pleiad near the Middlebui-y
College Snow Bowl. A friend in the NURSERY
French School introduced me to this gem
my first summer, and I was hooked. The offers the Rnest balsam
swinuning was divine, and the lake, which wreaths. Handcrafted in
was more like a large pond, featured lively Vennont’s Northeast
beaver activity. 1 remember watching the Kingdom, our wreaths
creatures swim across the water in the wiil add the look and
twilight, their crossings punctuated by an scent ofVermont to your
occasional startling slap of the tail. Christmas. Each wreath is
Many thanks for stirring this remem­ double-sided, measures 24" and
brance of things past. is tastefully decorated-with pine-
Carl Little, M.A. French ’86 cones, berries and a red veivet bow.
Mount Desert, Maine wiil gladly enclose a giftcard.
Green w ith A d m iratio n Wreaths will arrive
The summer 2002 edition contained within 10 days of ordering.
To order by phone call
numerous items to which I’d like to
respond. 802425-2811 $24.98
As a federal prosecutor for the United
www.HorsfordNursery.com
States Environmental Protection Agency, or write V/MC or personal check
and as a conservationist, I was delighted to Horsford Gardens & Nursery
HORSFORD *Plea.se add $6.50 per wreath to cover
2111 North Greenbush Road
see that Michael Silberman ’02 brought shipping and handling- Wreaths shipped
Gardens & Nursery Charlotte, Vermont 05445 to VT pletise include 5% sales ia.x.
the green pledge to Middlebtii-y gradua­
tion. I strongly urge that this tradition be
carried on and that the pledge be extend­
ed to include the words “and in my daily
life.” ("I pledge to explore and take into
account the social and environmental
a /? r/ a /
consequences of any job I consider and
will try to improve these aspects of any
organizations for which I work, and in
my daily life.”)
I’m in my 17th year with the agency;
the present administration is, in my opin­
ion, orders of magnitude more wrong­ Vermont's Only
headed than even the Bush I or Reagan Life Care Retirement
administrations in terms of environmental Community
policy and enforcement. Still, I respect the
fine job Ari Fleischer is doing, and he cer­ • Picturesejue Natural Setting
tainly reflects well on Middlebury. I do • Hiking and Walking Trails
not know Mr. Fleischer, but he embodies
on 135 acres
my sense of Middleburv as being com­
posed largely of liberal students and con­ • Time to Pursue your Interests
servative alumni. • New Friendships
Congratulations to Dane Springmeyer
• On-site Long Term Health Care
’02 on winning a Watson Fellowship. 1 am
Residents enjoy a scenic bike ride in the • A Gift to your Children
an a\'id hawk watcher, a member of EPA’s
Wake Robin connniinity.
Partners in Flight program, and a member
of the 1 lawk Migration Association of For information about our 1- and 2-bedroom apartments and cottages and our
North America. 1 urge Dane to contact Life Care Contract, call 1-802-264-5100 or wiviv.ivakerobin.com
me as I know several people involved in Wake Robin • 200 Wake Robin Drive • Shelburne, VT 05482 l=ïfij.plrlinTv"’’
fCC I l 2 0 0 ’
LETTERS
international raptor migration programs Industrial Complex.” Perhaps Ms. Coles
who may be of some assistance. should ask her neighbors in Oxford, those
Congratulations too to Ron Schildge who experienced the blitzkrieg, what
’03 on his creative use of used vegetable their opinion is of America’s “Military
oil to fuel his cfiesel Jetta. Ifwe are ever Industrial Complex.”
Plants • Flowers
to make any progress on the immense 1 truly sympathize with Afghans who
Balloons • Goody Baskets
global environmental problems facing us, lost loved ones in accidental bombings
we must make huge improvements in and readily admit to not understanding Silks & Dried
our use of fossil fuels. Ron, must you the culture of Central Asia. But keep in
drive a diesel car? mind that this culture forced women to 56 College Street • Middlebury
Karl Lindholm’s (’67) article on cover themselves from head to toe in 388-3900 Toll Free 1-866-388-3900
Mchakamchaka running and singing public and stoned them (only the women, e-mail: [email protected]
brought tears to my eyes. What a beauti­ mind you) for the sin of adultery. I cannot
ful picture. fathom a culture that advocates the
I was heartened to see such fond rec­ removal of a hand for petty theft (aboli­
After Dark
ollections of Dean Erica Wonnacott. My tion of cruel and unusual punishment,
experience with her was not so fond. She another obvious, enviable tenet). I find the
summarily tossed me from my senior tradition of emptying automatic weapons
MUSIC SERIES
class dorm. Forest, and stuck me in a into the sky at weddings to be quite for­
sophomore ba.seinent, Lang, after another eign and wonder if their past use brought
802-388-0216
student complained about my partying. about more somber family gatherings. I www.afterdarkmusicseries.com
As a lawyer 1 now realize that what infu­ hope these images are myths popularized
riated me about the incident was the lack by the Disney/CîE/Westinghouse/AOL Jez Lowe
of“due process.” media conglomerate, but I fear they are and the Bad Pennies
Finally, Andrew Beierle’s (“Magic not. One wag opined that bombing
is “the best sougiiriter to come out of
Mountain,” summer 2002) mention of a Afghanistan into the stone age would
Entrlaiid in a loiitr time. ”
woman named Fancake winning an advance their culture by generations.
—Richard Thompson
award called Bakeless struck me as The only responsibility the United
humorous. 1 was heartened to see the States bears is to prevent events similar to Saturday, November 23rd
Bread Loaf tradition of excellence con­ those on 9/11 from ever occurring again,
tinued as my uncle, Bob Back, ran it with anywhere. How we accomplish that is up Chris Smither
such love for many years, years ago. for debate, but, rest assured, diplomacy is
'lliink of a wanderiiii’ Zen
Carl R. Houwd ’81 not a viable option for those who
troubadour with a blue q^tdtar.
New York, New York 1 ) claim no sovereignty, 2) would steal
Saturday, January 4th
large jet planes and fly them into the
Don't Blame U.S. planet’s most populated buildings. It their
The letter in your summer issue by 1 )ana message is other than one of hatred, 1 John Gorka
Wentworth Coles ’72 saddened and have yet to hear it explained. Perhaps
“The preeminent male siujt^er-souj:’-
angered me. The fact that Middicbur]' “French, German and Italian television”
writer of the New Folk Mouement. ”
Matraziiie would lend credence to the has a more enlightened view, but Ms.
—Rolling Stone
misguided thinking she espoused by pub­ Coles failed to share it.
Sunday, February 16th
lishing her diatribe is shameful. Peter D. Ylilkey ’80
Suggesting that “we, America, must Moiiiil Kisco, New York
bear some responsibility for what hap­ Greg Brown
pened on September 1 1 ” is plain wrong. C o nfounded by
An intricate mix oftrospef folk,
A society that promotes the equality of R a n k i n g s
blues, rock and fazz.
all peoples, freedom of religion, meritoc­ U.S. News has come out with yet another
Sunday, March 16th &
racy in free markets, and government of, set of college rankings, available online.
by and for the people (1 could list many I was wondering if someone from the Monday, March 17th
other obvious and enviable traits) should College would be so kind as to e.xplain
Shows arc held at Ihc United .Methodist
not he made to pay for its way of life what in the world U.S. News is up to in
Church, oil the corner of Route 7 and
through the mass murder of thousands of its rankings. In particular, I find the fol­
Seiiiiiiar)’ Street (on the east side of
innocents and deliberate destruction of lowing quite contusing:
Route 7 Just north of the center if
property. Any argument to the contrary 1. How is Middlebury seventh in
Middlehuryj.
carries no logic, notwithstanding “selectivity” if it has the second lowest
America’s operation of a “Military acceptance rate?
M M ) I ) I i: [) U k Y M A U A z ] N K
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iddlebury
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LETTÆ..R.S_______
2. What does being 29th in facults’
resources mean? I remember much dis­
cussion my last year at Middleburv' (i.e.,
two years ago) that Midd was moving to
increase its salaries to the middle of the
top third of the 21 schools to which we
are compared—that would mean some­
where around 3-5 in faculty salaries
among the 21. According to U.S. Sews,
35 percent of the faculty-resources rank­
ing is based on salaries (adjusted for cost
of living, which should also help Midd,
where cost of living is certainly lower
than in many places). Meanwhile, 30 per­
cent of the score is based on the percent­
age of classes with 20 students or fewer,
in which Midd is ranked 11th, better
than Williams and Amherst—both have a
far better “faculty-resources” score than
we do. So does anyone at Midd have an
idea why we rank so low in faculty
resources, even though in uvo of the
biggest components of faculty resources
(65 percent of the score) we should do
very well?
It seems to me that these two ele­
ments of the ranking (faculty resources
and selectivity), alongside the dismal
alumni-giving rate compared to the
schools above us (that’s something that
we alumni all could do something
about!), and what seems to me to be a
very unfair (and subjective) peer-ranking
score of 4.3 on a scale of 5, are what
bring Midd to seven, rather than one,
Elegant Lodging
two, or three in the rankings.
Weddings
Private Dinner Parties It amazes me that Smith, with no
money and an acceptance rate of 54 per­
cent, is higher in peer review than we
are, but that is something we can do little
[phone] www.swifthouseinn.com about. I guess.With 29 in faculty
Stewart Lane ■ Middlebury, Vermont 05753
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M 11) 1) L E B u it Y M agazine