MIDDBRIEFS

Author: KATHRYN FLAGG AND DANIEL L. J. PHILLIPS

VCC honors College community members

Three members of the Middlebury College community received 2006 Vermont Campus Compact (VCC) awards today at the VCC's third annual award ceremony. The ceremony, conducted at the Vermont State House in Montpelier, recognized Assistant Professor of Economics Jon Isham, College senior Erica Goodman and Assistant Professor of Geography Peter Nelson.

Isham was recognized by the VCC with the Vermont Campus Compact Engaged Scholar Award, which honors one faculty member in Vermont for engagement inside and outside of the classroom. Said Susan Campbell, dean of the faculty, "Jon is getting things done, and perhaps even more importantly, he is empowering students to find their voice and take action to effect positive change on their own."

Goodman was the recipient of the TD Banknorth Commitment to Service and Engagement Award, which was given in recognition of her dedication to community involvement. During her time at the College, Goodman has served as co-chair of the Volunteer Service Organization and has also recruited volunteers for the Middlebury Area Land Trust. She has also worked with her basketball team to create a Vermont registry for the National Marrow Donor Program.

Nelson received the Excellence in Teaching award, given each year to a faculty member in Vermont. The award recognizes innovative teaching methods and service-learning initiatives, and Nelson regularly offers two courses in the geography department that include service-learning components. Nelson's students, under his guidance, have worked with local organizations to address real-work situations. Said Nelson's student Philip Picotte '08, "He incorporates social awareness and activism into each course, giving each student the opportunity for experimental learning. He is among the most effective and committed professors I've met."

VCC is a statewide consortium of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public good. The VCC annually honors students, faculty, college staff and community members with whom they work. Today's ceremonies also included presents from students from five Vermont colleges regarding their volunteer efforts, including a talk by Middlebury sophomore Theo May and Ashley Vale on their volunteer experiences in Argentina.

Book donation benefits New Orleans library

In a collaborative effort with Middlebury College students, staff and volunteers from town, April 10-14 will bring Hurricane Follow-Up Week to campus. According to Emily Peterson '08, the primary organizer, the week was conceived to "keep the Katrina dialogue going and to remind people about why the Gulf Coast should remain on the national agenda and consciousness."

The schedule of events will include a lecture on tsunamis, a panel on climate change/increasing hurricane intensity and a campaign to write letters to members of Congress about the wetlands awareness.

The most time-sensitive event on the agenda will be a book sale to generate proceeds for the New Orleans Public Library. The collection for used books will start on Monday, April 3, in order to accumulate enough donations to sell before the deadline on April 9. The College's participation in the book drive is being organized by Joseph Watson, LIS facilities coordinator. Collection points will be placed at locations in each of the libraries, dining halls and in McCullough Student Center. All used books will then be sold on April 10 to the local Middlebury town library, and proceeds will be sent to the New Orleans library. The town's library has already begun accepting used book donations, and a few of the local churches have collection points in place.

According to Katie Hawkins '06.5, one of Follow-Up Week's organizers, Middlebury is one of many schools participating in the book drive for New Orleans.

Watson plans to send an e-mail to the College community to advertise the book drive, and the list of other events of Hurricane Follow-Up Week will be sent in a later message by Peterson.