Midd Briefs Enhanced Access System

Author: Andrea Gissing

The Enhanced Access System, proposed and adopted last year, is on its way to being a reality at Middlebury. Installation has already begun and will occur in residential halls with 10 or more beds.
The system is scheduled to be completed by the final week of Winter Term 2003. The system will be tested then and will be in use when spring term starts.
Once the system is operational, doors will be locked in the same manner they are now: during the day, doors will be unlocked allowing students free access; at night, doors will be locked but can be opened by a proximity card students will receive early 2003. The card will "unlock" the dorm six to 18 inches from the door, and works through material such as wallets, pockets, and backpacks.
"The implementation of this system will solve many of the problems created by locking doors last year," said Ben LaBolt, '03, student co-chair of the Community Council. "[The Enhanced Access Committee is] pleased the goal of achieving increased access while maintaining a safe environment could be done so quickly."

Parking

This summer, the College began work on three parking areas: the new Western Ridgeline lot, the Center for the Arts lot expansion and the expansion of C-lot, by the Freeman International Center.
Western Ridgeline lot construction began early July and finished the end of August. The lot provides 95 student spaces. Workers are currently building a guardrail for the wetland area at the west side of the entrance.
After recieving Act 250 approval to expand the CFA lot, constrction began July 29. Completion of the lot is scheduled for early November; when finished, there will be 99 additional spaces for faculty, staff and event parking.
C-lot construction, started the week of August 12, continues through this week and includes the addition of 46 student spaces. Once complete, students parking in D-lot, by Coffrin Hall, will be required to move their cars to C-lot and D-lot will be closed for Atwater Commons dorm construction.

Honor Code Changes

As a result of the work put in by the members of the Honor Code Review Committee in spring 2001, implementation of many of the recommended initiatives is now possible.
This year, the major change implemented was to combine the Judicial Review Board and the Student Judicial Council into one board, the Academic Judicial Board, that will hear all cases of academic dishonesty.
Another recommendation put into place this year was to have first-year students sign the Academic Honesty Statement during their first-year seminar class, as opposed to receiving and signing the statement at home and then mailing back to the College. "Having students and faculty members discuss the Academic Honesty Statement on the very first day of class followed by each first year student's formal signing of the Statement is a way to open the door to further discussions about the importance of the Honor Code at Middlebury College, as well as to provide information to first year students about the proper method of citing sources, and the various guides to writing that are available," commented Marichal Gentry, associate dean of student affairs.
For the first time, student Judicial Board members met with first-year students by commons to discuss the Honor Code. Also addressed at these meetings were non-academic matters pertaining to conduct and the alcohol citation policy.
More information about the changes made to the honor code can be found on the newly-designed Honor Code Website (www.middlebury.edu/honorcode) will have up to date information for students and faculty.