Three Decades of Middlebury, Political Science and Brilliance

Author: Lindsey Whitton

"No doubt about it — Murray Dry's legendary PS 101 is one of the hardest classes in the school," a member of the Class of 2000 wrote in a course evaluation on Middkid.com. "Professor Dry is hands down one of Middlebury's best scholars and best teachers — a rare combo." A student in the Class of 2002 added: "Great professor, best I've ever had, but should be a bit easier on the grades." Another student, also from the Class of 2000, remarked that he or she "came to Middlebury to study with Mr. Dry, and would suggest to anyone who has any desire to study the great thought that has shaped who we are, and the nature of our regime to study with him. Definitely one of Midd's best!"

For over three decades, Murray Dry, Charles A. Dana professor of political science, has stood in front of rooms filled with Middlebury students and, whether it be an intimate discussion or a crowded lecture, has interspersed his famous instruction with difficult questions directed at individual students. The students, however, rarely stutter or shrug when confronted with Aristotelian dilemmas or Platonic allegories. Usually they pause thoughtfully and try their best to answer intelligently, relying on the copious amount of reading assigned and the wisdom that the professor has already shared. Most students find that while his questions may be intimidating, Dry himself is approachable and interested, which makes it easier to stretch intellectually in his classes.

David Salem '78 has kept in close contact with Dry, his former professor, even traveling abroad with him. "I owe everything to Murray Dry," Salem said, "who taught me to be not only a critical thinker but, more importantly, an effective and efficient writer. I do an enormous amount of writing in my work. Whenever I sit down to write, I can hear Murray's words (repeated countless time during my Midd days) echoing in my brain: "Make every word tell. Every word."

Dry grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Chicago Laboratory School from third grade through high school. He described the Laboratory School as "a wonderful school." After attending Union College for a year, Dry returned to Chicago to complete his undergraduate studies at the University. He went on to receive his masters and doctorate degrees from Chicago.

Dry became interested in political science and political philosophy when he took a course from University Professor Joseph Cropsey during his senior year. As a graduate student, he studied under the famous political science professors Leo Strauss, Herbert Storing and Cropsey.

His first job was at Middlebury College in 1968, and he has remained at the College since. "It was easier to get jobs then," Dry remarked. During his tenure at Middlebury, which began in 1975, Dry has seen four different College presidents. He credits President James Armstrong (1963-1975) with "transforming the institution," President Olin Robison (1975-1990) with "expanding Middlebury's international reputation," President McCardell (who took office in 1992) with the commons system and expansion of the physical plant, which Dry admits that he was initially skeptical about, "but it seems to have worked." 1990, the year that Timothy Light was President of Middlebury, Dry described as "an extraordinary year."

Another recent change that Dry has noted is "the presence of international students on campus." Middlebury can attract more international students, he explains, because the College's "need blind" financial aid policy includes international students.

He has not noticed a significant change in the quality of the students, although more Middlebury students today are attending their first-choice school. He has noticed, however, that current Middlebury students are "less activist, less left-liberal, in general more diligent, too cautious academically, too concerned about grades, more involved in a wide variety of extracurricular activities — sometimes devoting too much time to them," in comparison to students during his initial years at the College. "You will hardly find a student who is unhappy to be here," Dry noted, "which is good."

A big difference that Dry has encountered is that his class sizes have diminished. He has never limited his class size, but now there are about half as many students enrolled in his lectures as there were years ago. He attributes this decline to the fact that the courses are "just too demanding. It is not that students couldn't do the work, it is just that they don't want to."

While admitting that larger universities may have some more broad-based offerings, Dry said that "Middlebury offers a lot. Access to faculty is clearly superior to what students can expect to find [at larger universities]." He notes that when it comes to faculty recruitment, the "pecking order" has changed since he first began working at Middlebury. The value of the education offered at small colleges has become more recognized, and Middlebury is now able to compete with the largest and most prestigious universities while recruiting professors.

"I have been very happy living and teaching here," Dry commented. His wife, Cecelia Dry '72, began attending Middlebury as a student the same year that he began teaching. She took two of her future husband's courses. "This kind of faculty-student romance probably could not take place today," Dry said. C. Dry is the Assistant Comptroller at the University of Vermont. They have two daughters, Rachel. a sophomore at Harvard University and Judith, a freshman at Middlebury Union High School who will be attending Phillips Exeter Academy next fall.

Recently Dry has taught three students whose parents had also studied under him. Hillary Waite, '05, whose mother had studied with Dry, has taken two of his courses this year. Steve Pritchard '72, now deceased, who Dry described as "a student who later became a good friend," was the father of Dry student Zack Pritchard '00. My father, John Whitton '78, has always talked about the formidable impression Dry's classes had on him, one of which I took this fall.

Next year Dry will spend the summer and fall trying to finish a book that he has been working on for six years. The book explores First Amendment freedoms in political philosophy and constitutional law, material that Dry covers in three of his courses. "The book's breadth reflects the breadth of my own teaching interest," Dry said. He has already written and published parts of the book.

Next spring Dry will move to Cambridge, Mass., where he will be a visiting professor at Harvard University. He will teach two classes in Constitutional Law, a large lecture with teaching fellows and one small seminar. Dry is looking forward to the new teaching opportunity and the chance to compare the two institutions.

"I am going to have to change my teaching ways at Harvard," Dry admitted. In a very large lecture he will no longer be able to have "a directed conversation" with his students.

"Teaching at a college like Middlebury is easily an all-consuming activity but if you really love it as I do then it is very gratifying," Dry said.

After three decades of teaching at Middlebury, Dry has a devoted following of students and former students who have a profound respect for their professor. "Murray is quite simply the most dedicated teacher I've ever encountered," Salem said.