Middbriefs

Author: Dean Atyia

Commons-sponsored events kick-off Halloween festivities

Atwater and Wonnacott Commons hosted Halloween events this past weekend, seeing a mixed result of student attendance.

A Wonnacott-sponsored dance party, held in Prescott House, "never had more than 30 people at one time," said Lindsay Oliver '07, a Wonnacott Commons co-chair. The event was part of an initiative to promote more commons-based activity. While the turnout was slightly disappointing, Oliver said, "It helped people branch away from their class and dorm."

Despite Cameron Kowall's '09 musical prowess and the inviting setting, the party lacked that which students avidly seek. "I think providing alcohol might bolster attendance," said Oliver.

The Atwater-hosted Halloween event in the Freeman International Center, however, merged with VACA's party efforts to create a club-like scene that attracted a large crowd. The party was scheduled to last until 2 a.m. but the unexpected turnout coupled with the presence of alcohol at the event resulted in an early ending.

Matt Boucher '08, an Atwater Commons co-chair, felt that it was disrespectful of students to so blatantly disobey the rules in bringing alcohol to the party. "While we were glad that people had such a fun time, the party would have been a much greater success had students respected the Catering staff allowing us to run it until the 2 a.m. end-time we had planned on," Boucher said.

Despite putting six and a half hours of preparation into a party that ended early, Jennifer Brenes '09, co-chair of Atwater Commons, said, "It was my first event and I had a great time. I was shocked at how many people showed up from all over campus."


Snow Bowl goes carbon neutral as ski season nears

Middlebury College has purchased $7,138 worth of carbon offsets to support an environmentally-friendly Snow Bowl in the 2006-2007 ski season, according to a press release earlier this week.

"The Middlebury College Snow Bowl may well be the first ski area to take carbon neutrality to this level by offsetting electric, gas, propane, diesel and biodiesel usage, as well as skier transportation to and from the ski area," said Tom Corbin, assistant treasurer and Director of Business Affairs, in the release.

Students in Associate Professor of Economics Jon Isham's class on environmental economics first suggested the initiative in the Spring of 2006.

"Working with NativeEnergy to make the College Snow Bowl and our ski teams carbon neutral reinforces the College's longstanding commitment to the environment both academically and in terms of institutional operations," said President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz in the release. "The fact that the project was initiated by a diligent group of students in an academic class further underlines the importance of fostering and empowering the ideas of the next generation."

Many involved in the effort believe that the Snow Bowl is the perfect forum for initial efforts aimed at environmental protection because of the threats posed by global warming to the ski industry's reliance on natural snowfall and consistent cold weather for survival, according to NativeEnergy President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Boucher in the release.


Curwood preaches hope over global climate crisis

Steve Curwood, host of the weekly environmental news program, "Living on Earth," spoke Monday in McCardell Bicentennial Hall. The Robert W. van de Velde Jr. '75 Memorial Lecture sponsored his address, entitled "Media and the Environmental Crisis."

Established in 1981, the van de Velde Memorial Lecture hosts annual talks on the convergence of public affairs and journalism. In the context of broadcast journalism, Curwood spoke of the two-pronged danger facing mankind and our environment, addressing both the current chemical crisis and climate change.

Because of toxic waste practices in the past and the overabundance of chemicals in now outdated consumer products, he contended, most of our water sources have become dangerously contaminated. Curwood warned of chemical side-effects ranging from influence on sexual preference to socially deviant behavior.

In discussing the global warming crisis, Curwood approached the topic in an unconventional way. Assuming familiarity with the problem, Curwood focused his argument instead on that challenge - and the opportunity - that he feels climate change produces. Sierra Murdoch '09 said, "After attending so many environmental lectures, it was really inspiring and interesting to hear someone with so much hope for the future."