op-ed Why Winter Carnival matters

Author: Josh Chan

For 85 years, longer than Battell, Ross and Atwater have existed, Middlebury College's Winter Carnival has been a three-day event. It is a historic and incredibly important Middlebury institution, and is the envy of college carnivals throughout the Northeast. It is a time when students, faculty and staff can collectively lay down their burdens and come together as a community to celebrate our college - and winter itself. Despite all this, earlier this year the Administration decided that the Friday off was not necessary to continue the Winter Carnival tradition.

There is nothing that could be further from the truth. The enthusiasm, activities and excitement surrounding this year's Winter Carnival are clear testaments to this fact. Certainly in recent years, Winter Carnival had lost some of its luster. The disappearance of snow sculptures, a kick-off event and other traditional elements had hurt the image of Winter Carnival, which in large part lead to the administration's decision. While this decision came as a shock, it did serve one purpose: it forced us to reexamine and to return to the fine Winter Carnival traditions of old, as established by the Mountain Club 85 years ago. As a result, this year we had a bonfire, fireworks, snow sculptures, increased attendance at the ski races, a Winter Ball the likes of which we had never seen and an overall increased participation in Winter Carnival events. The Middlebury community joined together to honor one of our finest traditions.

Some question what we really lose if the Friday is eliminated. My answer is that we lose the heart and soul of Winter Carnival itself. The Friday off is essential to provide time for people to make their way up to the Snow Bowl and Bread Loaf to watch our Division I ski team's only home meet. This Friday allows students the opportunity to construct snow sculptures and participate in the Northern Lights, as well as other daytime events. Winter Carnival is a time when we can embrace the (often otherwise inhospitable) cold of winter in celebration, instead of just struggling to stay warm. One need look no further than this year's Thursday night opening ceremony to see that the Winter Carnival spirit is alive and well. At this event, over 700 people huddled outside to drink hot cocoa, bask in the warmth of a bonfire and watch a magnificent fireworks display.

Let me be clear that I have no objection to a student symposium. We should definitely take time to recognize our fellow students' academic accomplishments. However, it is not necessary that we sacrifice one of the few days when students have the opportunity to celebrate the place where they live and the people with whom they.

Rather, a compromise can be arranged. A day could easily be subtracted from the spring term reading period, which is one of the longest amongst the NESCAC schools. Surely, Winter Carnival, which is as old as the Winter Olympic Games themselves, is deserving of this minimal tradeoff.

What will we remember from this year's Winter Carnival? Fireworks illuminating the night sky? Snow sculptures carved by the hands of the commons? The fine performance by the ski team at Bread Loaf and the Snow Bowl? A Winter Ball with all the fixings? Absolutely. The question is, will we also look back years from now and lament that this was the last true Winter Carnival in the history of Middlebury College? Remember: Great Memories Never Melt.

Josh Chan '08 is a Neuroscience Major and Chief of Staff for the Student Government Association.