PoliSci Dept. appraises inertia

Author: Rich Saunders

In an environment like Middlebury's it is easy to ignore the world. The school prides itself on the awareness and involvement of its students, but many feel that the student body is not as politically active as it might like to think.

Students within the Political Science department feel that the campus is less informed and less involved than it should be. Lee Ware '06 commented on a lack of awareness about "the issues actually being debated in Washington." "It seems tragic to me that so many 'political' students have a cursory knowledge of something like global warming but know nothing about topics like campaign finance reform," she said.

Those who are concerned about politics are equally worried about the level of student apathy at Middlebury.

Concerns about student awareness are nothing new, however. In reference to the charge that students are not as involved as they should be, Murray Dry, Charles A. Dana professor of political science, commented, "That statement has been made for years." He said that it has been a common lament throughout his 38 years teaching at Middlebury, with the exception of the Vietnam era.

It has been argued that political activism is not a part of the purely academic college experience.

Dry noted a decline in enrollment in some courses with heavier workloads in his department, which he believes is an unfortunate result of cautious students not wanting to overload their schedules and preclude involvement outside the classroom. "Ten years later they'll regret it," he commented.

A leftward tilt is often visible within the student body. Neil D'Astolfo '07.5 recalled his first-year seminar in the Political Science department, noting that of 15 students, only two identified themselves as moderate or conservative.

Doug Campbell '06 said, "I think that a majority of the campus believes it is liberal," but wondered how well most students would defend their positions if confronted. He also stated that many "students on campus do not investigate issues outside of our bubble."

While the worry that the student body does not care is not unfounded, political awareness spikes during election time. D'Astolfo recalled that in 2004, the presidential election seemed to be all that students could talk about. With reference to presidential politics, Max Nardini '08 said, "Middlebury students seem to be at least anti-Bush, if not pro-Democrat," and believes that this stems more from a disapproval of the current administration's myopic tendencies than support for any of the opposition.

Nardini also stated, "An environmentalist is not necessarily pro-choice, or a gay rights sympathizer or anti-state sponsored execution. While often openly leaning left, Midd-kids form their own opinions on an issue-by-issue basis." The immensely popular Sunday Night Group allows for students to concern themselves with individual issues like environmentalism without worrying too deeply about party politics.

Bertram Johnson, assistant professor of Political Science, also noted a trend away from party politics and toward politics of causes. He remarked on a greater capacity of students to be "analytical about their [political] involvement," discussing that there is less irrationality in student activism today than in the past. This is remarkable, considering how easily present events could push students towards irrational behavior.

While Middlebury students have access to many active groups to represent political interests on campus, most do not involve themselves or display a great interest in politics. Many students in the Political Science department feel that the student body could be more active. "Why are we getting this education if not to implement it?" Ware wondered.