Notes From the Desk

Author: Tom McCann

Middlebury College has a few policies that baffle me, such as the one that admits students in February, undeniably halfway through the year, then prohibits them from putting the '.5' on anything official.

However, the policy that really gets me is one that was brought to my attention by posters for Dan Saper's '06 election as SGA President next year. According to the College handbook, a Middlebury College student "must complete two different physical education courses by the end of sophomore year. Each course carries one unit of physical education credit. Students may also earn one unit of physical education credit by participating in a season of varsity or junior varsity intercollegiate athletics," and then goes on to state, "two credits can be earned by participation in different sports."

On face value this seems like a sensible ploy on the part of the administration. It forces students to leave their comfort zone a little and perhaps play and learn something they haven't done before. Unfortunately, face value isn't the only value, and in actuality, the Physical Education Requirement, as it stands, is absolutely ludicrous.

Members of the football team, a fall sport, are up and running at 6 a.m. in April in preparation for a season that won't start for another five months. They will earn one credit. The men's and women's tennis and golf teams are starting their spring season, just a few months after the conclusion of their fall campaign, yet they can expect just the one credit from not just both of the seasons in this academic year, but for potentially all eight of them over four years.

How about the equestrian team? It's a little known fact that riders on the equestrian team do not earn a P.E. credit for their endeavors, yet by paying a small fee and signing up for a crash-course in "Riding," a student can pick up one of those two credits. Where is the sense in this?

Six one-hour lessons in cricket will grant you a P.E. credit, but shedding blood, sweat and tears on an intramural sports field, rink or court for a semester will do nothing of the sort. Madness.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for learning and trying new things, but let's keep things in perspective here. A little common sense would go a long way. If you can change this Dan, you have my vote.