Breakin' Out

Author: Lauren Smith

You took a first-year seminar on the weird connection between physics and art, and then realized you were completely in love with U.S. history. Your choice of a first year seminar landed you in Stewart Hall, square in Brainerd Commons with your friendly physics and art geeks. Now all your U.S. history class friends are in Cook Commons. You want out. What do you do? Sneak out all your stuff one cold February night and move onto the futon in your Cook Commons friends' room? Suffer through another year as part of Brainerd Commons? In fact, the answer is much simpler than that and the solution much easier to accomplish then you would think. All it requires is a little finagling with the system and you are out the door and on your way to Pearsons.

Breaking out of one's assigned commons is a mission on which few embark. Many believe it is too difficult, too much paperwork or simply not worth the effort. But the courageous do try. Elizabeth Ryer '07 broke out of Brainerd Commons after her sophomore year in order to live as a sink mate to a new friend in Painter Hall, part of Wonnacott Commons. Her friend had a good number was able to pull Ryer into Wonnacott rather easily.

According to Cook Commons Dean David Edleson, who ran the room draw show last year, switching commons is not too difficult a task. "It is not hard to shift, unless you are going to a single [in a different commons] then it can be somewhat difficult." He continued, "The easiest thing to do is draw into a double with a roommate from a different commons." Edleson points out that the disadvantage to switching commons is lowered points, which can have an effect when trying to get into a block during your junior or senior year.

The commons system is in place to develop a community within the Middlebury campus where students can feel some camaraderie and all that, but if, during the course of your four years here at Middlebury, you develop a community elsewhere, in a different commons, do not feel like a deserter of the commons cause. As Edleson said, "We want people to be happy. We want you to be able to be with your friends." No one will sneak into your room at night and write "commons traitor" on your chest in magic marker. In fact, no one will really care. And do not be afraid of the bureaucratic stuff that may try to stop you from switching because it is really not all that bad. We should all be in the commons that makes us feel good and "breakin' out" is easy if you know your way around.