J-Term à la carte students pick their specials

Author: Mallika Rao and Rachel Durfee

J-Term proposes that filling a Midd-kid's day with a less traditional curriculum will inspire him or her to seek out interesting ways of filling it. The best way to see this theory in action is through the unique J-Term classes and workshops - a combination of practical and transcendental classes all aimed at bettering the students who choose to participate. This year's courses taught by visiting professors and workshops filled to capacity range from "The Art of Bicycle Maintenance" to "Arachnophobia, Arachnophobia." One of the first workshops to fill up was the "Introduction to Ice Climbing," a cheery reminder that the average Middlebury student does not fear even the harshest of winter climates. Here is an introduction to some of the more innovative curricular and extracurricular activities, some of which are still open to faculty, staff and students.

Workshops

Cricket for the Clueless:

This workshop aims to publicize the internationally popular sport of cricket in the Middlebury community. Students Owais Gilani '08 and Dhruv Dharnidharka '09 are the instructors, teaching interested students how to play and enjoy the game. Those students who show real promise will be eligible candidates for the Middlebury College Cricket Club Team. This workshop could count as a PE credit as long as the requirements for attendance are fulfilled.


Establishing Credit and How to Manage Your Account:

For those clueless consumers slightly frightened by their own power with a credit card, have no fear. Here you will learn to understand the consumer loan and credit card application process, at the same time receiving the inside scoop on a bank's analytical process. An instructor from the National Bank of Middlebury will teach all of these essentials, as well as guide you on how to establish a credit history and manage an enviable credit rating. The task of managing your bank account will be discussed and hopefully conquered. You will leave convinced of the importance of record keeping, capable of balancing your statement and a soon-to-be pro at Telebank and Online Banking.


Art of Home Brewing - Dank Microbrews:

College and beer. There is no need to stress the connection further. Why not learn to produce some of the sought-after stuff on your own? You just might make more friends! This hands-on workshop, taught by Matthew Osterman '07 and Joe Powers '06 promises to teach you everything you need to know about home beer brewing, starting with the materials needed for the actual process itself. Aside from learning to brew your own beer, each class will introduce you to the taste and history of different types of beer. Each wannabe brewer will participate in the brewing of four different batches of beer, culminating in the creation of 12 absolutely new beers made from scratch by each student. Additionally, the new brewers will leave with what will undoubtedly be a deeper and more sincere appreciation of beer and its history. For this, as in all of the alcohol-related workshops, attendees must be 21 years old. IDs are checked at the time of sign-up and again at the first class.

Korea 101: An introduction to Korean Culture, Language and Cuisine:

Split into two parts, this workshop begins with an introduction to the Korean language and moves into cooking-focused classes. Students will leave with basic conversational and survival phrases, as well as with an understanding of traditional Korean cuisine. The proposed meals range from dishes like kalbi, (Korean barbeque sauce) ribs to kimchi, (spicy pickled cabbages). One will be able to converse, survive and be a foodie in Korea, all thanks to the efforts of instructor Sarah Kim '07. More importantly, whether previously interested in modern Korean culture or not, workshop attendees will hopefully gain a special appreciation from this hands-on introduction.

Courses
Big Noise

Look out Mozart: co-taught by Crispin Butler, the laboratory supervisor for the Physics Department at Middlebury, and Visiting Instructor Jessica Nissen '90, an artist who lives and works in New York City, this J-Term class, is now in its second year and is making itself heard across campus. Students first study the basics of sound, sculpture, electronics and performance. armed with that knowledge, each student next builds an amplification system and gathers objects to serve as instruments. At the end of the month students debut their creative sound systems at a final presentation/performance. So. if your neighbor plays his or her music so loud it sounds like it is coming from your own speakers, he is probably enrolled in this course this month. Hopefully time in this class will keep his own "big noise" down to a minimum. Concertgoers beware: No prior music experience was required to enroll.

Arachnophobia, Arachnophilia

This interdisciplinary course examines why the arachnid family, which includes spiders, scorpions and tarantulas, elicits "irrational reactions" from the human species. Whether you see them as terrifying (like the 1990 movie "Arachnophobia") or inspiring (think "Charlotte's Web"), there is a proliferation of arachnids in stories and images throughout history. Says Professor of Biology Tom Root, whose research focuses on arachnid behavior, "My goal for the course is to have students understand why arachnids are both loved and feared in different cultures." The class will explore the duality of the simultaneously repulsive and exalted arachnid and the differing psychological reactions these eight-legged creatures evoke. The course begins with an introduction to the arachnid's natural history and historical portrayals, moving to an examination of the role of arachnids in literature, mythology, music, film and art.

Katrina and Its Aftermath: A Service Learning Course

This course, organized and taught by Associate Professor of American Literature Will Nash, seeks to literally break students out of the Middlebury "bubble" and put them on the scene of one of the most major events in recent U.S. history. The most unique aspect of the course is a weeklong trip to New Orleans where students will take part in an education project at a public high school as well as help with community relief efforts. Before departing for New Orleans (where January temperatures average a balmy 52 degrees) students will study issues of urban planning, social and environmental justice, educational policy and the cultural impact of Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans. Coursework includes articles and other journalistic coverage as well as Tom Piazza's "Why New Orleans Matters". Senior Emily Egginton will use the course as a starting point for her independent project and is most interested in environmental aspects, such as coastal erosion and water, soil and air quality. "But," she adds, "the class will also examine the city from a social and cultural perspective, particularly since the reconstruction of New Orleans will require an interdisciplinary approach." When asked why they enrolled in the course, students responded, "Because I wanted to make a difference for someone affected by Katrina." Adds Nash, "I share that hope."

The History of The American Negro Spiritual
and Its Influence On Western Civilization

This exceedingly popular J-Term class is taught by beloved Twilight Artist-in-Residence Francois Clemmons and enrolls almost 30 students each year. The course focuses on influences, changes and trends in the American Negro spiritual, and students are encouraged to combine modern-day hip-hop with traditional spirituals to create what Clemmons calls "unique and…insightful compositions." In addition to regular class hours, students rehearse with the community chorus throughout the month in preparation for a final performance at the Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast. Says fi
rst-year Kevin O'Rourke, "Simply put, Francois Clemmons is the diva-man. The class is nothing less than a perfect blend of hearty laughter and emotional frankness, just like its professor." Says Clemmons, "It's great to see so many 'non-singers' trying and enjoying singing…The event we put together for our MLK concert will be remembered by many students for its uniqueness and for community involvement for years to come. The joy that this brings to me keeps me 'high' for the whole month of January."