Rural Realities

Author: Crystal Belle

In a nutshell, Middlebury College has an aesthetically appealing campus - meticulously manicured grass, dorm buildings that resemble castles, and luxury SUVs lined up on College Street. We also have a reputation of being one of the wealthiest liberal arts colleges, as affluent alumni are sure to donate healthy portions of their six-figure salaries. With that said, I want to direct your attention to a not-so-beautiful and not-so-wealthy aspect of the Middlebury campus - PALANA house, a.k.a. Carr Hall. For those of you who are in the dark, PALANA is the multicultural house (Pan-African Latino Native American House) located in Public Safety's old stomping ground, Carr Hall.

What is the purpose of having a having a house like PALANA? The significance of the house is to promote and support diversity on campus, which is also the rationale for its new and improved central location. Students of multicultural and diverse backgrounds, as well as non-ethnic students, live together in the house, which creates an environment where one can indulge in complete cultural exchange. In rural and often homogenous Vermont, this opportunity is crucial.

Unfortunately, PALANA has been experiencing some technical difficulties as a result of its new and improved location. Cracked ceilings, chipped paint and flooding whenever it rains or snows are only a few of the facility woes. Students are frustrated because they thought that the new Carr Hall location would be comparable to PALANA's old home in Fletcher House. Such is not the case, even though the Health Center and Public Safety headquarters were beautifully relocated without a scratch. Why was PALANA placed on hold, while other projects received immediate assistance? It is a question that both students and faculty must ask themselves.

Last week, PALANA had a Halloween party, which was planned months in advance. Unfortunately, it rained during the week and flooded the PALANA basement. The party, which was planned for both students, faculty and community members, had to be suddenly relocated to Forest basement. Although the event could have been catastrophic, PALANA house members pulled together and had an amazing party. However, the point is that as residents of the diversity house, students should receive the same recognition as those who live in other academic houses like the environmental house or language houses. Living on a multi-million dollar campus should at least assure students the right to freshly painted walls, and mildew-free lounges.

Your sympathy for PALANA residents is not what I expect you to get from this. Instead, think of other students on this campus who have no idea that Middlebury even has a diversity house. Educate them. Tell them about what you read, and why we need to come together as a student body and as a college community to make sure that PALANA pulls together soon. Let us as students show everyone that Middlebury College is more than just a pretty face. We are a community, leaning on each other to create a replica of how we would like the world to be.