Middlebury Readies for Impact of War

Author: Claire Bourne

As the United States stands on the threshold of war, effects of the escalating tension between Washington and Baghdad have already manifested themselves on Middlebury College's campus. Cancelled overseas travel plans, postponed classes and a blueprint for streamlined emergency communication among members of the College community are sure signs that Middlebury, despite its bucolic setting, is not immune to the anxiety and safety concerns sweeping the nation.
Provost Ronald Liebowitz has appointed "a working group" to generate a communication plan that would go into effect should the conflict "disrupt the campus." Although the Office of Public Safety is prepared to respond to any unanticipated emergency related to U.S. military action in Iraq, Liebowitz said no detailed plan of action has been outlined. "Taking specific measures of one kind or another to prepare is not generally helpful and, in fact, could make the situation more difficult if preparations were inappropriate for the given emergency," he explained.
The administration announced Friday the cancellation of the Chamber Singers' Spring Break tour to Greece and is now requiring all athletic teams traveling over the holiday period to provide Public Safety with names, itineraries and contact information for all participating students.
Although the College intends to send an all-campus travel advisory before the end of the week, a number of students have already called off trips abroad because of the unstable international situation. Jonathon Wang '05 was scheduled to fly to Taiwan over Spring Break to visit relatives but said his parents deemed the trip too dangerous. "My mother told me, 'Stay put at Middlebury where nobody can get you,'" he said. Wang acknowledged the gravity of the global political climate but said that were it not for his parents' request he would probably "risk it."
Director of Off-Campus Study David Macey said Middlebury would not close any of its programs abroad, noting that the College has never shut down one of its overseas schools due to international conflict. Directors of the schools abroad have recently conducted meetings to bring students up to date with emergency procedures and have tested phone trees and other possible communication patterns, including links on the College's Web site to State Department travel advisories.
As for students who are studying under the auspices of other American providers, Macey said he had "complete confidence" that the security standards of these programs were comparable to those of Middlebury.
Supporters of U.S. military action against Saddam Hussein have been encouraged to keep their opinions to themselves. Macey also said he discouraged participation in anti-war demonstrations. "You can never tell if it is going to turn violent," he explained.
David Paoli, director of the School in France, said many of the 90-plus graduates and undergraduates on his program have engaged in conversations about anti-Americanism in Europe as well as anti-French sentiment in the United States. "All our students are calm. They have not expressed the desire to leave France before the intended date," he stated.
While war has affected international travel plans and forced overseas programs to enhance their communication networks, the conflict has touched members of the College's Vermont community in less obvious ways.
According to College Psychologist Gary Margolis, anxiety among the student population is on the rise. Several students have approached him in recent days to talk about the situation. Some have family in the region, while others are haunted by memories of other conflicts. Margolis also pointed to students' political beliefs as a source of distress in this time of uncertainty.
This unease, he continued, has been most visibly expressed in public places -- at discussions, demonstrations, panels and vigils. "We're anticipating that as the conflict is engaged, it is going to impact students and student life in a variety of ways," he said. Returning home or traveling during Spring Break will prove grimmer this year. Coupling college or family life with war "is not the same light-hearted fun" as it has been in past years, he explained.
The Student Government Association (SGA) is also doing its part to provide the community with informational resources and forums for open discussion. SGA President Ginny Hunt '03 said the SGA was working on an initiative to supply local and national newspapers to the dining halls. She said she hoped that weekly SGA-sponsored lunches in Ross would allow students, especially those in the "silent minority" who support the war, to express their opinions in a safe environment.
David K. Smith Professor of Applied Economics Michael Claudon said he has seen so many students "who are having trouble focusing" over the past couple of days that he has cancelled classes for the remainder of the week. "Now is not the time to force work on [my students]," he commented. "Our attention must be directed elsewhere right now. Economics will still be there after Spring Break." Claudon has also opened his office up to students wishing to discuss issues related to the "worrisome" world situation.
For Juan Garcia '03, the attack on Iraq hits especially close to home. His father is in the Army Reserves and, according to Garcia, faces "a really good chance of being called up" to duty. Garcia, himself, enlisted in the Army before matriculating at Middlebury and is now enrolled in the University of Vermont's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program.
In early September 2001 after he had finished basic training, a friend asked him if he was concerned that war would break out during his ROTC tenure. "I told him there was no way there was going to be a war. Then September 11 happened," said Garcia. "I was sure nothing major would happen."
Upon graduation in May, he will be commissioned to the Army's field artillery division and anticipates being stationed in the Middle East "at some point" during his four years of mandatory service. He said that the possibility of being conscripted to engage in combat against Iraq was "not the best thing to think about."
Jonathan Erwin '05 also enrolled in the ROTC program to fund his college education. When he graduates, he will join the Army as a second lieutenant. Should he be called up for active duty at that point, he said he would not hesitate. "It's part of my job," he stated.