Students offer views on 4/2

Author: Cloe Shasha

President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz and Dean of the College Tim Spears held the first of two meetings on Oct. 18 to discuss the "'4/2' Commons (Draft) Outline." Though students from four out of the College's five commons were present, the meeting was sparsely attended.

Spears began by reviewing the basic structure of the 4/2 proposal, and emphasized both the sophomore experience and equitable senior and junior housing opportunities. Topics covered included commons-specific housing allotment, the management of the Feb program, the connection between commons deans and students and the housing lottery process. The discussion concluded with questions put towards the students about the pros and cons of the 4/2 Plan.

Before the meeting began, Student Government Association President Max Nardini '08, a resident of Wonnacott Commons, said, "I have not yet heard much objection to the idea of the 4/2 Commons Outline."

Under the 4/2 Plan, students will still be part of one of five commons for all four years at Middlebury. After sophomore year, senior and junior draw will be conducted via lottery for all Middlebury housing, based on seniority.

"The idea is that Ö the kind of support that students need and appreciate are present during the first two years," said Spears. "Students, particularly older students, complain that they cannot live with their friends from other commons. There is a sense that, because this is a small campus, students do not want to be confined to a particular location. With the 4/2 Plan, we will build on the strength of the commons as they are currently constituted."

Most of the College's structural traditions will either remain intact or improve with the 4/2 Plan, according to College officials. Students will retain the same dean and heads throughout all four years. The first-year seminar program will become fully commons-based. Sophomores will still have the option of living in non-commons-affiliated academic interest houses or social houses.

In addition, Spears and Liebowitz mentioned the potential implementation of a sophomore-year "common program" developed by the Faculty Heads of each commons. This experience could comprise a class, a series of symposia or a volunteer service project. The first-year seminar program's structure would serve as a paradigm for the sophomore experience.

Nardini was optimistic about the idea of a sophomore program, but argued that it made little sense to tie such an experience to housing.

"It seems to me that as a freshman, you have a support structure," said Nardini. "By sophomore year, you have moved so you don't have as much commons-office proximity Ö I do not, therefore, see the value in forcing people to live within their commons as sophomores. I think they will probably do it anyway."

Liebowitz replied that discussions have not yielded a uniform consensus on the value of commons.

"People have said that freshman year is the most important for a commons," said Liebowitz. "Some say it is the first three semesters. If you believe that the idea of geographic proximity is important - although, obviously, human relationships are the most important for community - then the sophomore housing continues the grouping of commons, and forges a sense of identity."

With the system today, approximately 43 percent of students switch commons. Ideally, fewer students will attempt to change commons after their first year, with open housing opportunities for seniors and juniors. Therefore, more deans and students could have the opportunity to bond over four years with the 4/2 Plan.

Towards the end of the meeting, most students expressed positive responses to the details of the proposal.

"I think the 4/2 Plan is a much better system," said Kris Wilson '08, a member of Brainerd Commons. "It gives students a choice. It's a bigger playground for the students."

Liana Sideli '08.5 of Atwater Commons believes that the 4/2 Plan could reduce intercommons competition by diminishing commons inequity.

Student leaders differ in their views on the proposal.

"I think that the 4/2 Plan is a good temporary fix for students' complaints about the housing system," Cook Commons First-Year Counselor David Ozimek '09 said. "At the same time, I think that Middlebury students complain too much and not about the right things."

Steven Gordon '08 of Ross Commons expressed a different viewpoint.

"They either need to keep the commons system as they have it or else they need to get rid of it entirely," said Gordon. "I think having juniors and seniors live wherever they want defeats the purpose of the commons system. I would be in favor of completely getting rid of the commons system."

Although first-years have not yet experienced the housing lottery process, Cook Commons First-Year Senator Jonathan Kay '11 presented an opinion of the 4/2 Plan.

"I can see the argument that the 4/2 Plan would dissolve the commons system and therefore dissolve the miniature community created on campus," said Kay. "But I think the 4/2 commons system will give upperclassmen more freedom - which they deserve."

College officials have yet to decide when to bring the 4/2 Plan into effect, though Liebowitz alluded to the possibility of implementing it in the fall of 2008 so that students are not disadvantaged by the current housing process.

A second meeting about the plan is scheduled for on Oct. 31 provided an additional opportunity for students to contribute to the 4/2 planning process.