the ethicist

Author: Amanda Greene

Classes have started. Again. The magic surrounding J-term is definitely gone. It's goodbye to hour-long dinners, extended knitting sessions and pick-up poker games. That whole "really being able to nurture your social life" feeling is as gone as the euphoria surrounding Christmas morning.

Yet, the spring semester is accompanied by the anticipation of all things new. Change is exciting and challenging. The spring is a chance to start over, to find new favorite seats in classrooms and to develop new relationships with professors and your gym crush.

My recommendation: avoid shyness. You know that girl who says hello to everyone who walks by? Try to be like her! Do you sit next to four unfamiliar faces in your lit class? Make friends. Remember that unbelievably intense midterm that you have in a few weeks? You'll want someone to study with, or at least someone to complain to. Misery loves company and builds a sense of camaraderie.

Middlebury students have a tendency to forget that friendships are often the product of unusual circumstances. That person you vaguely remember meeting at a party, who your friend quickly introduced you to, who happens to sit a few rows behind you in bio, could be the person who inspires you to do Teach for America. We are surrounded by a group of students who all chose Middlebury, and our decision to go to school here gives us a connection that cannot be overlooked. You have more in common with the person behind you at the salad bar than you think. I promise. It's never too late to meet new people and to cultivate new relationships.

This past Saturday I saw David Coleman, the Date Doctor, and he emphasized the importance of paying attention to the people that you pass on a daily basis, who become part of the background if we are too comfortable with our surroundings. There are so many people that we see, but don't see. Middlebury College, keep your eyes open! It's a crazy world out there, with so much to explore right here on campus, in Vermont.



And now for this week's question:



Q: I'm a senior so I have first choice when registering for classes. This past semester I had one elective left to fill and had heard from my friends that a particular English class was incredible. The class was something that I was not considering enrolling in, and I had never heard of it before. I signed up for it, and was in line for breakfast last December when I overheard a group of English majors lamenting their inability to get into the class. I felt guilty because I had a spot, but remained in the course until I dropped it last week on BannerWeb. Was it unethical for me to register for and remain in the class when I had little intention of taking it?

- Anxious-about-Attendance



A: You are a senior and registration occurs based on class standing. When you were a freshman you registered last and had to take whatever classes had available spots. You are entitled to register for whatever classes you want, and to decide to take them, or not to take them, on your own timetable. After three years the system favors you and is yours to navigate. That said, it would be admirable for you to consider your peers who do not have such desirable registration access. It's not unethical to register for the most popular classes, but I would advise you to be compassionate and to only sign up for classes that genuinely interest you.

Want to consult the Ethicist? Send submissions to amgreene@middlebury.edu