Middlebury College magazine. Vol. 86, No. 1 : 2012

2012·90.3 MB·English

by  Middlebury College

W I N T 2 0 12
M A G A Z I N E
What kind of tools
are needed to build
a house for
'ft
the 21st century?*
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Hint: The same
O tools you'll need
to build the
liberal arts
college of the
future.
U P H I L L / D O W N H I L L
18
COLLEGE STREET
Say goodbye to So Inclined', say
hello to a new mobile site and new
visual identities to some familiar
Midd places; and tell us: what do
you prefer in winter, pajamas or
parkas?
24
OLD CHAPEL
Looking eastward at the
Middlebury network—^past,
present, and future.
C L A S S A C T I O N
48
PURSUITS
If, Say what? Muze Clothing
E- wears its inission on its sleeve,
so to speak.
2
U
50
t BOOK MARKS
E- Chilly out? Cozy up to the
PC fire -with a couple of winter
recommendations.
tt
0.
K
2 V I E W F I N D E R
3 L E T T E R S
16 C O N T R I B U T O R S
26 N O R T H E R N E X P O S U R E
54 C L A S S N O T E S
94 C L A S S I F I E D S
96 R O A D T A K E N
Cover illiistratiofi by Patrick Latimer
Contefits photoj^rapli by Brett Simison
Inset photoi^raph by Mark Ostow
28
DEPTH OF FIELD
A young conflict photographer wants
to see the toughest things.
36
DIRTY JOBS? M
Not to Linda Ross.
Î1
38
THIS IS HOW THEY DID IT
By creating a home for the future,
a group from Middlebury not only
captured hearts and minds at the ii
30
Solar Decathlon, they helped illustrate
the very evolution of the liberal arts.
i V I E W F I N D E R
M i d d l e b u r y
A H eads Up MAGAZI NE
Winter 2012
By plugging in, are we checking out?
Volume 8 fi, Number i
Editor
Matt Jennings
Art Director
Pamela Fogg
T he other day , I was in Otter Creek Bakery just up the street from
our editorial offices here in Middlebury, part of my daily morning ritual Assistant Editor
of ensuring “adequate” caffeine and caloric intake, when a comment Regan Eberhart
from a fellow patron really caught my attention.
Designers
Carey Bass ’99, Sepi Alavi
“Now that’s what call multitasking.”
1
The comment was directed at me as stood before one of the coffee receptacles, Alumni Editor
1
Sara Thurber Marshall
using my right hand to fill up my cup with a selection of the bakery’s darkest roast—
while using my left to hold an iPhone, my attention riveted to the tiny screen while Contributing Editors
my thumb was busy scrolling through my Twitter feed. Stephen Diehl , Robert Keren ,
Blair Kloman , MA English ’94
I chuckled, muttered something about a guilty habit, and went on my way. But
as walked back to my office, couldn’t help but think: What was so important, so
1 1 Editorial Office
interesting to a) divert my attention from the scalding hot liquid that was flowing
152 College Street
nght before me, and b) perhaps more pertinent, though less imminently dangerous,
Middlebury College
have me ignore the very real people who were standing around me? Was it the latest
Middlebury, VT 05753
political gossip concerning the Republican primaries? The “news” that someone I’m
Phone: [phone]
following didn’t sleep well last night? Could this not have waited—at least until had
1 E-mail: [email protected]
filled up my coffee cup? Now some may want to accuse me of Twitter-bashing, of
Online: www.middmag.com
unfairly maligning the utility of the social media tool; so, let me acknowledge that
1 finnly believe that it can be useful—even revolutionary—in the dissemination of Advertising Sales Office
infonnation. What woities me is this: at what cost? Fl.Abby Flummel
A year ago, Shirley Collado, the dean of the College and chief diversity officer at 18 Garfield Street, Bristol, VT 05443
Middlebury, addressed this very question in a blog post titled “The Disconnection of Phone: [phone]
Being Connected.” In that post, she wrote: “As walk about campus, see something E-mail: [email protected]
1 1
that worries me. Many students are so profoundly connected online that fear they
1
are disconnected from life right here. 1 often see students glued to their cell phones, Other College Offices
disregarding people in the same room. 1 see students with laptop lives, peipetually (all area code 802)
College Infomiation: 443.5000
Facebooking, tweeting, scanning YouTube, weblogs, podcasts, and wikis. The face-
to-face conversation, the handwritten note, and the reassuring touch have given way Alumni Office: 443.5183
Adnussions: 443.3000
to the casual, distant interaction that sometimes comes with living life virtually.”
Collado, who possesses a doctoral degree in psychology, went on to say that she
The views presented are not necessarily those of
wonied “that this may be the first generation without sufficient e.xperience in making the editors or the official poUcies of the College.
human connections, that we are encouraging the development of individuals who
Middlebury College of Middlebury, VT 05753.
will not know how to talk directly to each other and resolve conflict across human
publishes Midiilebury Magazine (ISSN 0745-2454)
lines. We may run the nsk of simply becoming observers, passive nonparticipants in four times a year: winter, spring, summer, and
our own lives. 1 worry that technology, to some extent, is pacifying and paralyzing us.” fall. © 2012 Middlebury College Publications.
Miâdlchur]’ Magazine is pnnted at The Lane Press
In a wonderful recent essay in the New York Times titled “The Joy of Quiet,” Pico
in South Burlington, VT. Nonprofit standard
Iyer points out that “the urgency of slowing down—to find the time and space to mail postage paid at Middlebury. VT. and at
think—is nothing new, of course,” but he adds that cacophony of noise is at an all- additional mailing offices (USPS 964-820).
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
time high. “We barely have enough time to see how little time we have. . . . And
Middlebury’ Magazine, Middlebury College,
the more that floods in on us, the less of ourselves we have to give to every snippet.” Middlebury, VT 05753. Printed in U.S.A.
It’s a dual threat, then: We ignore what’s aU around us, while less and less of what
we are paying attention to is actually being absorbed in any meaningflil way.
Now, I’m not ready to give up Twitter or Facebook or blogs or (heaven forbid!)
“old technology” like magazines or books; nor am 1 advocating that you do so, either.
But let me join Iyer and Collado in suggesting a modification of both our media diet
and means of accessing infonnation. Take a moment to recognize the people in your
midst; your Twitter feed can wait. —MJ
M i d dl e bu ry M agazi ne
L E T T E R S
Mr. Neuberger
Thank you , Juua Alvarez ’71, for
the beautiful image of Fred Neuberger
(“ThankYou, Mr. Neuberger,” fall 2011).
Your prose made me cry.
Fred was my friend and a colleague,
and he helped me help students like you
find Middlebury.Tom, my youngest child,
graduates from Middlebury this Febru­
ary. Fred would have been proud of his
accomplishments.Thank you, Julia—you
captured the essence of Fred!
Alan Crocker
Ashbumham, Massachusetts
Never Forgotten
R E M E M B E R IN G
1 HAVE MY OWN Fred Neueerger story. F R E D D IE
In 1969, when applying to Middlebury.
1 W riters respond to
flew up for an interview, my first time
Julia A lvarez's
traveling on my own.The night 1 arrived essay an d fondly
had about a foot and a half of snow, and by recall a M iddlebury
the time got to the Middlebury Inn, after legend.
1
midnight, it was dark and t]uiet, with only
a night clerk there to let me in. When 1 We chatted a bit more, still at the fast, and my white shirt suddenly had a
awoke the next morning, 1 knew some­ bench, and he managed to make me feel new color.
thing was seriously wrong. like I still had a prayer. Six months later, We arrived in town about a half hour
My watch said 8:50! My interview when that acceptance letter somehow before we were to be at the admissions
was for 9:00! 1 showered and dressed in a came, there was a note attached to it— office, with no money, no credit card, and
panic and ran from the inn, barely getting from him: “So how are you feeling now, an ugly white shirt.
directions to the Emma Willard House. Andrew?” White’s Cleaners had no fast turn­
A window thermometer in town read 1 never forgot that—and 1 was sad­ around service, but happened to have a
minus 10 degrees! 1 ran the whole way, dened to learn of his passing. white shirt that had never been claimed.
in my suit and loafers, pushing back the Andrew Gross '74 (It must have been a size 18" that engulfed
biting cold and a growing tightness in my Purchase, Neu'York my 15" neck, but it was my only option.)
chest, which by the time 1 burst through Amazingly, the interview began on
the doors, 15 minutes late, had grown Mr. Middlebury to Me time and at the end 1 felt compelled to
into a major asthma attack. My chest was Julia Alvarez ’s recent essay reminded mention the change of shirts. So, Fred, as
heaving so badly, 1 couldn’t even speak my me of a few things: The wonderful ex­ only he could do, said, “McKeown, don’t
own name. perience my daughter Kelly McKeown worry about a thing. 1 won’t tell the
They laid me down on a bench and Gaudet ’95 had learning from Julia during review committee of your inability to
went to get an inhaler. It took another half her time at Middlebury, the unforgettable drive and drink at the same time, or that
hour until my breaths finally subsided. 1 service for Fred to which Julia referred you wore a shirt many sizes too big for the
thought 1 was screwed. I'd messed up my in the essay, and my interview with Fred interview.”
one chance to get in, wasted my parents’ back in 1959. Needless to say, we had a few choco­
money, made a total fool of myself Back then 1 was a Lake Placid boy, late shirt chuckles over the years. I’m
Mr. Neuberger came out and kneeled applying from the Northwood School. 1 happy we got a chance to catch up at the
next to me and tried to make me feel okay. headed to Middlebury for an interview hockey reunion last winter.To me, Fred
“Son,” he said, trying to lift my spirits,“it’s with a fellow classmate, and we decided to was Mr, Middlebury,
not the most important part of the inter­ stop for a bite in Port Henry. With a quart Jim McKcowii '64
view process.Your grades and other things ot chocolate milk and sandwich in hand, West Lebanon, New Hampshire
do count something too!” we continued on to Vermont.
Then 1 knew 1 was screwed. My For those who know the route be­ Priceless Mistake
grades and "other things” were less than tween Crown Point and Middlebury, it is Fred Neuberger admitted me to
stellar.That interview was how I was plot­ rather curvy. And with the chocolate milk Middlebury, and when reminded him of
1
ting to get myself in. in my lap, 1 took one of the curves a bit that years later he shot back:"Biggest mis-
I I I, U S T U A I 1 0 N BY A U I II U U Cî IRON W 1 N T 1-, R 2 0 1
M C'
The newest place 1 D D L I:H U H Y () I 1 1. C I.
T
B () A R I) O I R U S I i I S
fora R I.S I 1) 1. N T
ILonald I). Liebowitz
Middlebury Wedding F!•;I LOWS
Louis Bacon ’79
is one of its Adrian Benepe ’78
Anthony M. Cavale ’96
oldest landmarks! Allan R. Dragonc.Jr. ’78
Donald M. Elliinan.Jr. ’67
Frederick M. Fritz '68
Charles M. Gately ’62
www.townhalltheater.org • - Amy Geier
802 388-1436
TOWN HALL THEATEROn Jane Rosenthal Horvitz
th e G reen
Ann Williams Jackson ’74
Catherine Lee ’92
Russell J. Leng ’60
Carol Levitch
Patrick L. McConathy
David R. Mittelman ’76
Ciarrett M. Moran ’76
Michael C. C')bel-Omia '88
Kimberly Collins Parizeau ’79
Professiofss: Steven B. Peterson '88
Where
Tralhmg S. Carolyn Ramos ’93
Elisabeth B. Robert ’78
♦mmersive Susan J. Scher '86
will your
Educational Jed A. Smith '88
Experiences
Deborah Ci. Thomas ’75
John R. Tormondsen '82
masters International
James Edward Virtue ’82
Student Body
Marna C. Whittington
Linda Foster Whitton ’80
degree *■ Global Alumni
Kendrick R. Wilson III
Network
E
.M t R I I I
take you? Comprehensive' James I. Armstrong
Academic & Dort A. Cameron III '67
Career Advising James S. Davis '66
Churchill G. Franklin ’71
Nancy CotFrin Furlong '75
Claire Waterhouse Cîargalli '64
W here do you w ant to be tw o years from today? H alfw ay to a P h.D ., Robert C. Graham, Jr. ’63
o r halfw ay around the w orld? M aking it to the w eekend o r m aking a Willard T. Jackson '51
difference? L ocated on C alifornia’s spectacular C entral C oast, the M onterey Betty Ashbury Jones, M.A. French '86
Institute’s intim ate cam pus and 11 degree program s attract students from William H. KielTer Hi '64
John M. McCardell. Jr.
m ore than 60 countries every year. From the halls o f the U nited N ations
C. Ir\’ing Meeker ’50
to the boardroom s o f H ong K ong, from the B razilian rainforest to the
Jonathan Ci)'Herron
villages o f sub-S aharan A frica, M onterey Institute graduates are teaching Patricia Judah Palmer 57
and translating, building coalitions and building com panies - connecting Milton V. Peterson '58
the w orld, and m aking a difference. W. Kyle Prescott '49
Felix G. Rohatyn '49
Choose the degree that will get you to your destination.
David E. Thompson '49
Robert P. Youngman ‘64
O l l IC IiR S 01- I M l. C o R R O R A T IO N
Monterey Institute
Frederick M. Fritz '68, Chair
of International Studies Ronald I ). Liebowitz. President
A Graduate School of Middlebury College John R.Tormondsen ’82. Vice Cihair
Mama C. Whittington. Vice Chair
Kendrick R. Wilson III. Vice Chair
David A. Donahue '91, Secretary
Be the Solution • www.miis.edu
Stephanie M. Neil. Assistant Secretary
International Business |MBA| • International Environmental Policy • Public Administration (MPA) Patrick J. Norton, Treasurer
International Policy Studies • Nonproliferation & Terrorism Studies • Conference Interpretation
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) • Teaching Foreign Language • Translation
Translation & Interpretation • Translation & Localization Management • Peace Corps Master's International
4 M 1 n n I E B u R Y M A {; A /- 1 N I.
L E T T E R S
take I ever made!” Knowing Fred’s sense Jay’s article last week, 1 have been using it Eimronnicnt
of humor, I suspect 1 am not the only everf day to make up for lost time. 1 spent
graduate to have received that accolade. five summers at Bread Loaf, but must have and
Another thing know about Fred is missed the day that one of my professors
1
how proud he was to have been part of went over the word in class. Paradigm was
Object:
the legendary loth Mountain Division the buzzword in and around the Barn in
during World War . So if I may pre­ the early eighties. Had it only been sweet
11
sume to speak for aU those other “biggest eitargial Recent
mistakes” who have had the priceless op­ William “Wim” Hart, MA English '84
portunity of having gone to the College Canaan, Neii> Hanipshire African
on the Hill under Fred’s watch, I’d like
to say, as they say in the loth, “Climb to The writer teaches English at the Cardigan Art
Glory!” sir! Mountain School in Canaan, New Hampshire.
Dick Wien ’66
NewYork, New York The Answer Is No January 27—
Can wit be taught ? Ifjay Heinrichs
The Word ’77 can teach creative wit making, he has April 22
I WAS THRILLED TO MEET the WOrd my admiration. 1 suspect that in this game,
eiiarfiia, which Jay Heinrichs ’77 defines as knowledge of the rules does not suffice. 1
“making an account appear live before the believe that witticisms well up unsolicited
audience’s very eyes” in his article “Can and unstudied only from those who are
Wit Be Taught?” (Fall 2011) endowed with a good sense of humor, and
I have been teaching middle school a sense of humor cannot be taught.
boys for 35 years and have never heard Elaine King Dandh ’45
the word. After yapping about “showing Donna, Texas
not telling” forever, etmrgia has become
the new word in my classes. Since reading
m id d leb u rysh o p o co n n
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Buried Treasure
I t WAS NICE TO SEE WlLI.IA.M DoUGI.ASS
getting some attention (“His Story,” fall
2011 ). In the spirit of piling it on, write
1
to pass on some unverified gossip that
came my way when I was a Middlebury
student in the late ’80s.
The story I heard about Douglass was
this: Douglass had left Middlebury with
his family, abandoning a homestead, early
in the war on account of local Tory activ­
ity; Douglass had buried the family silver
nearby for safekeeping.The house they left
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behind was either burned or in enough a lesson in how fragile historical memory
disrepair to require substantial rebuilding (perhaps an oxymoron) is, since I cannot d istinctive
when Douglass and his sons returned in even recall how this story came to me
collectible
1783; the tree that killed him—near to the only 22 years ago. (Though might sus­
1
gravesite—was felled in aid of rebuild­ pect Bob Buckeye was the storyteller.)
ing that house. He was the only one who So I can’t really recommend digging
fin e a rt and c ra ft
had known where the silver was buried; up the golf course to any useful purpose.
consequently, there is not only a gravesite But It is another part of the tale that makes
on the golf course, but a house site and a that “sound of that tree falling in the forest
cache ofburied 18th-century silvenvare [get] louder all the time.”
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NETW ORK EXCLUSIVELY FOR
GRADUATES, FACULIY. AND
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W I N T r H 2 0 12
he Biology Department
for a
Hibernator Hike
w ;v ^ ''
Wednesday at io:oo a.m. "more than a stor\
Trail Aroiinr) • ^T'''
an inspiration
■iliii
Senior Thesis Presentation
Sociology of Giving
T fie
1 A Give-Back Production
Empirical data suggest high alun
and long-term loyal
J O I N WlE
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2012
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encourage participation « a
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45 to stay conr
'04 '05 '06 '07 08 '09 '10 rT" '
Alumni Participation
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• • •