letters to the editor

Author: [no author name found]

To the Editor:

I'm living in Milliken next year. The first time I found out I was living in a single in "Milli," the summer before my first year, I was thrilled. The second time, I was still pretty psyched, because at least I had gotten a single when I returned from my fall abroad. That was until I found out I would be living in a room adjoined to two first-year boys. Don't get me wrong they're great guys, but the fact is, I didn't ask to live with two male roommates, which is essentially what I am currently doing. Anyway, that was the second time. The third time came a few days ago when I read my email: "You have been awarded a room in Milliken." Awarded?! I am a rising senior!

According to the Ross Commons website, Milliken is a first-year dorm, and Hadley is for upperclassmen. That's weird because Hadley will be filled with first-years next year, while Milliken will be full of upperclassmen. Why? Because the college admitted too many first-years, so they decided it would be a good idea to put them in the second-best housing in Ross. And then decided that they would reserve the basement floor of Hadley for seniors.

Can someone explain the logic in this? Is it really acceptable to give first-years choice housing at the expense of seniors who have literally paid their dues for the last three years? Why should we have to pay for the college's inability to admit the number of students that it actually has housing for?

When similar situations have occurred at other NESCAC schools, they have rented out rooms at hotels or expanded off-campus living options for seniors. But not Middlebury. The College refuses to dig into its pockets anymore than it has to. This is especially strange because its pockets, as we've recently found out, are being filled with a tuition increase beyond that charged by any of our NESCAC peers.

Sincerely,

Mercedes Huff '08

Wilson, Wyo.



To the Editor:

Does the escalation of US troops in Iraq really serve the American national interest? Or is it just making things worse? After the tragic 9/11 attacks, the US started a global war on terrorism, but the war in Iraq is widely seen as an attempt to control vital oil reserves. It has stirred up anger among both terrorist groups and the growing number of Iraqis who oppose US military occupation. Perhaps it's time for the US to use more science and technology to come up with more efficient energy resources to reduce its dependence on imported oil. Perhaps it's time to use more diplomacy and development aid to regain those friendships.

Sincerely,

Hiba Fakhoury '09

Amman, Jordan