MIDD BRIEFS

Author: MATTIE GRATCH, RACHEL GREENHAUS, KATIE FLAGG AND CAROLINE S. STAUFFER

Library to extend hours for exam period

No longer will students frantically studying for final exams find themselves facing closed library doors in the middle of the night. Last weekend, Elizabeth Schaumberg '06, Cook Commons senator to the Student Government Association (SGA), announced that the library, in an unprecedented move, will be open 24 hours a day from May 3 through the end of finals. While overnight services will be limited, Schaumberg feels that the extended hours will provide students a much-needed public study space during exams.

"I thought it was necessary," said Schaumberg, "because during the end of term and exams, the library will be in the greatest demand." Currently, the library is only open, at its latest, until 1 a.m. The Grille, another popular public study locale on campus, closes at 2 a.m. In previous semesters, no extensions have been made to these hours of operation.

The extension, which was approved by the SGA on Sunday, is modeled after policies at other schools. Schaumberg hopes that, should this change go well, normal hours can be extended as well.



Admitted students slated to invade campus April 11, 18 for spring preview

On Monday, April 11 and the following Monday, prospective members of the Middlebury classes of 2009 and 2009.5 will visit campus for the College's annual accepted student days. According to Associate Director of Admissions Kathy Lindsey, approximately 25 percent of accepted students usually attend.

Including students and their families, there will be approximately 800 visitors on campus the next two Mondays.

Most prospective students stay with current students - first-years or sophomores - for a more authentic Middlebury experience.

Approximately 60 Middlebury students each weekend, 120 in all, have volunteered to host students on each of the Sundays before the prospective days. Students and their parents that arrive Sunday evening will be greeted with special entertainment in McCullough Hall.

Events will include panels and question and answer time hosted by faculty, students and administration, extra tours and classroom visits. There are also special discussions for students accepted for the class of 2009.5 to give provide Feb perspectives and discuss what to do with one's Feb semester.

This year, President Ronald D. Liebowitz will address the visitors on both Mondays. His speech at 11:15 a.m. in Mead Chapel is open to all visitors, as is the talk on liberal arts education in Dana Auditorium featuring a panel of various Middlebury professors.

Lindsey said, "We're so proud of this campus. If we can just get [the accepted students] here we figure we have them at least 90 percent of the way to convincing them to choose Middlebury over any other schools they might have applied to."



SGA prepares for campaign season

The season of Student Government Association campaigns is fast-approaching. Candidates for student body president and student co-chair of the community council must turn in their petitions and statements of intent on Friday, and the senate will approve candidates at Sunday evening's SGA meetings after hearing a brief speech from each candidate.

Campaigning can officially begin on Monday. The candidate debates will take place in the grille on Wednesday, April 20 and will be broadcasted over WRMC radio.

Elections will take place via online polls on April 25 and 26.