Middbriefs

Author: Trevor Lee

Elevator outages trap several students in Bicentennial Hall

Students were trapped multiple times in the elevators in McCardell Bicentennial Hall last week.

"We have been experiencing an intermittent problem recently where one or both of the passenger elevator controllers has been shutting down unexpectedly," said Building Director Tim Wickland. "I know that at least a couple of times this has happened, there have been passengers in the elevator."

The incident is just one in a series of problems that have plagued the building's elevators this semester.

"I was leaving Bicentennial Hall after finishing a problem set," said Adam Morgan '08.5, "and saw [Public Safety] Officer Chris [Thompson] shouting instructions into the left elevator door about some button that would make the elevator go down to the next floor and open up. I offered to help, but he said there wasn't anything to do."

Facilities Services is working with Bay State, the elevator maintenance company, to fix the elevators, but "unfortunately," Wickland said, "intermittent problems are the hardest to diagnose because the technician needs to be able to catch the misbehavior when it occurs."

"This behavior," Wickland said, "has been very annoying to users and is unacceptable to the College."


College warns trail runners about presence of hunters

Public Safety reminded students last week that hunting season is now open in Vermont and students who participate in activities in rural or wooded areas should take precautionary steps to remain highly visible.

Middlebury students should "understand that there are other people around participating in other activities," said Assistant Director of Public Safety Dan Giaotti about the reminder Public Safety has issued every year since 2002.

The notice was directed as much toward students participating in activities off-campus as toward those participating in activities on and around campus. Giaotti said that students who hike should "be aware, be visible and pay attention."

"It doesn't really affect us," said Bruce Hallett '10, a runner on the College's cross-country team. "We run in a big enough group that we are pretty easy to notice. [Men's Cross Country Coach] Terry [Aldrich] would probably be the one out hunting anyway."

Although Giaotti said he knows of no accidents involving hunters and Middlebury students, he said there has been at least one incident in which students have been concerned after seeing a man with a bow and arrow. The goal, Giaotti said, is to prevent accidents by raising awareness about recreational activities like hunting in the area.


Dining Hall vaccinations mark onset of flu season

More than 250 College community members received vaccinations against the flu last week at stations that nurses from the Parton Health Center set up in each of the College's three dining halls. The Health Center said Wednesday that this year's flu has already been confirmed on campus, and added that Nurses will continue to supply students with vaccinations at Parton.

The vaccination, which costs twenty dollars, has been offered at the College every year that it has been available.

Associate Director of Parton Health Center Terry Jenny noted that students are one of the at-risk groups for catching the flu.

"We ordered and received 1,000 doses of vaccine this year," Jenny said, but it would be "unprecedented" if all were used. Last year the Parton Health Center used only 225 doses of vaccine. The students who choose not to get vaccinated, Jenny said, usually do so because of the cost of the vaccine or doubts that the shot was necessary.

Aside from "bona-fide" religious or philosophical reasons, Jenny said, there is no reason to not get vaccinated. The flu, although usually lasting only a few days, can last much longer and turn into pneumonia. Getting vaccinated is extremely effective, but cannot prevent other "flu-like" sicknesses. For this reason, Jenny said, it is important that students remember to wash their hands, stay home when sick, eat healthily and get enough sleep.


Student organizers to host weekend workshop on race

This weekend the College will host "Double Standards of Justice: A Weekend Workshop on Race, Class and the Death Penalty." The student-organized event will include a film screening, guest lecture by political analyst Ryan King and a keynote address by Darby Tillis titled "From Death to Life: The Horrors of Death Row."

All events are free and open to the public.