Mock Press Release (Oct.12, 2012)
Many students, staff and faculty receive an email from the “Office of Communications” with the subject line “Middlebury College Divests from War on Eve of Dalai Lama Visit.”
MiddBlog Post (Oct. 12, 2012)
MiddBlog, an alternative news source for students about current events on campus, posts a news brief about the press release of “dubious origin” that quotes Ben Chute ’13.5, leader of Middlebury’s Socially Responsible Investment group (SRI), specifying that while the SRI had no prior knowledge of the press release, they were hopeful that this release held some validity.
Sarah Ray Responds to Press Release Email via MiddBlog Post (Oct. 13, 2012)
Sarah Ray, Director of Public Affairs for Middlebury College, responds to the MiddBlog post, stating that the press release was “fraudulent” and that the college did not issue this information.
Tim Spears’ Responds to Press Release Email (Oct. 14, 2012)
In response to the mock press release, Tim Spears, Vice President for Academic Affairs, issued an email to all staff, students and faculty clarifying that the press release was a “hoax and that neither the e-mail nor the press release it contained came from Middlebury College or its Communications Office.”
Students “Come Clean” in Letter (Oct. 16, 2012)
The five students of the self-titled Dalai Lama Welcoming Committee “come clean” in a letter posted online and across campus. The letter calls for the College to effectively follow their demonstration of transparency and provide the College community with information about the companies in which the College is invested. The group’s letter was posted on large plotter-printed posters in the dining halls and in the library, and was canvased in dorm rooms, classrooms, offices and buildings across campus.
Meeting with Administration (Oct. 17, 2012)
The five students of the Dalai Lama Welcoming Committee meet with Dean of the College Shirley Collado and Dean of Students Katy Smith Abbott to discuss the press release email. Students of the group's “growing contingent” joined the five students in Old Chapel, but were not permitted to partake in the meeting.
Vermont Public Radio Report (Oct. 18, 2012)
Steve Zind, a correspondent for VPR, reports on the “Call for Middlebury Divestment” on air with sound clips from interviews with Molly Stuart and Sam Koplinka-Loehr.
VTDigger.org Report (Oct. 18, 2012)
VTDigger, a non-profit news website dedicated to Vermont politics, public policy, business, and consumer affairs, publishes an article on their website reporting on the mock press release. The story quoted Student Co-Chair of Community Council Barrett Smith ’13, and referenced the question that Smith posed to a representative of Investure, a third party entity managing Middlebury’s portfolio, during a public forum last spring. The article explains that the Investure representative stated that the college’s endowment is likely pooled with funds that invest in military contractors, arms manufacturers and fossil fuel companies.
Seven Days Report (Oct.18, 2012)
An article posted by Kathryn Flagg on the Seven Days website quotes Sam Koplinka-Loehr in his assertions of the College’s unethical investment. In the article, Koplinka-Loehr questions the viability of the College’s outsourced investment strategy.
‘My Middlebury’ Action (Oct. 21, 2012)
The Dalai Lama Welcoming Committee and their “growing contingent” post a banner outside of Proctor Dining Hall during brunch on Sunday that reads, “My Middlebury Divests from Violence.” This action coincided with the tri-annual meeting of the Board of Trustees at the College. The group asked students passing by to “lend their hands” in order to show their support for responsible investment. Handprints were marked in College’s trademark blue in celebration of Homecoming Weekend, as well as to demonstrate school pride and the spirit of community. Several students signed their names next to their handprints.
Editorials in the Middlebury Campus (Oct. 25, 2012)
The opinions section of the Middlebury Campus is filled with editorials both showing support for and criticizing the Dalai Lama Welcoming Committee. In addition to an op-ed by the group, perspective and current students, faculty, and the Campus' editorial board released pieces on the issue.
General Assembly (Oct. 26, 201
The Dalai Lama Welcoming Committee holds a general assembly in the Warner Hemicycle, in which organizers and participants discuss a wide range of issues, but generally focus on the available tools to move forward in their cause. The General Assembly was captured by the Campus' Maggie Cochrane in the following video.
Public Hearing Before Community Judicial Board (Nov. 1, 2012)
In the College's first public hearing in five years, the five students take part in legal proceedings lasting six hours at Dana Auditorium. After four more hours of deliberation, the Community Judicial Board finds the students guilty and issues a reprimand; however, they will not be subject to any official College discipline. Additional coverage of the hearing, including interviews with attendees, is available at MiddBlog.
GREGORY WOOLSTON contributed to this report.
