Letters to the Editor

Author: [no author name found]

To the Editor:

September 14th's Middlebury Campus lead article ("Administration cutting back on Feb admissions") may have generated some unnecessary concerns and I write to add perspective.

Adjustments to the Feb program will continue to be made very gradually, and the results will be assessed with an eye toward making the program still better for those who do become Febs. The College will welcome those admitted students who want to begin in February as well as some who prefer to defer their entrance for a full year. While we prefer the ideal of not forcing anyone who doesn't want to be a Feb to do that, I believe that even if we were to have just 60 or 70 Feb positions, we would still need to require some admitted students to become Febs when that is not their preference. The change is simply that we would do this somewhat less often.

The Campus article did not report fully on the positive aspects of the Feb program. Many Middlebury faculty and staff members have worked successfully over many years to make the program work for most students who have been Febs, in spite of some inherent disadvantages. The spirit that develops among Febs, and that is retained by them as alumni, attests to the success of these efforts. Febs bring energy and a freshness to our community in the sometimes bleak Vermont mid-winter, and that is sure to continue for the foreseeable future. Febs often assume leadership roles while they are at Midd and they continue to lead after their graduation. They also make significant contributions in their classes, labs and discussion groups. I acknowledge all who have contributed to the continuing success of the program, especially the Febs themselves.

Sincerely,
John Emerson
Dean of Planning


To the Editor:

After reading last week's sports preview article, I am disappointed to see no mention of the women's rugby team. This amazing group of women athletes takes the field and practices as hard and often as any other sport on campus, travels long distances for matches against rivals and enjoys being in the presence of living legend and coach K.O. Onufry (a former women's national player and founding member of women's rugby).

Although we are underfunded and fly under the radar of most people on campus, and, apparently, under the radar of The Campus, this team does not lack heart or perseverence and plays a sport that is one of the most mentally and physically taxing.

Good luck this season girls. I will be cheering you on from abroad.

Sincerely,
Jessica Brittany Weiss '08
Montevideo, Uruguay