Inside Construction Begins on Pipeline
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October 23, 2014 | Vol. 113 no. 6 | middleburycampus.com College Announces Interim HOMECOMING Administrative Positions By Joe Flaherty tailed several other administrative critical areas of responsibility that I On Oct. 17, President of the shifts that will occur through the oversee. Given the leadership tran- College Ronald D. Liebowitz an- 2015-2016 school year. The vari- sitions at the institution, I think it nounced several administrative ous changes are due in large part to is wise to appoint three outstand- changes in an all-campus email. Collado’s multiple responsibilities ing individuals to oversee student Included was the news that Dean at the College, which include serv- life, diversity initiatives and Title of Students and Assistant Professor ing as the College’s Title IX Coor- IX responsibilities,” Collado wrote. of the History of Art and Architec- “There are a variety of ways that ture Katy Smith Abbott will serve as These roles are now being divided this work can be structured, but interim Dean of the College begin- among several administrators. what is most important is that Mid- ning in January. Smith Abbott is re- Liebowitz explained that the cre- dlebury must remain deeply com- placing Vice President for Student ation of these positions as interim mitted to these goals and areas. I Affairs and Dean of the College roles and the division of Collado’s have no doubt that dividing up the Shirley Collado, who is departing responsibilities are because of the roles with three talented individu- Middlebury to become Executive broader changes underway at the als is the best way to address our Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initia- College during the presidential institutional needs and strategic tives and Executive Vice Provost at search. In his email, he wrote, “This goals at this time.” Rutgers University – Newark. will provide important continuity Smith Abbott brings years of ex- Collado wrote in an email to The for the community while giving the perience in student life to the Vice Middlebury Campus that Smith next president of Middlebury the President for Student Affairs and Abbott is the right person for the opportunity to consider and make Dean of the College position. She, position. “I am thrilled that Katy long-term administrative leader- along with her husband, Profes- will assume this interim role,” ship decisions.” sor of Mathematics Steve Abbott, Collado believes that the deci- served as co-heads of Ross Com- Collado wrote. “She has been an College Communications sion to separate these roles into mons from 2002 to 2008. In 2011, incredible colleague and leader Students and alumni cheer on the Middlebury Football team, as the Dean of Students, and I am different positions will ultimately SEE ADMINS, PAGE 3 which beat Bates 35-6 at the Homecoming game this past weekend. leave the College in a strong posi- vision, experience and a student- tion when a new College President centered approach to her work with takes the reins. “These recent ap- our Student Life team.” pointments demonstrate the Col- lege’s serious investment in the The Exit Interview, Part One: In his email, Liebowitz also de- A Q&A with President Liebowitz Construction By Joe Flaherty Ronald D. Liebowitz (RL): Like nate to have known the institution many things, it had its advantages as well as I did when I began my and disadvantages. In my particu- term as president. Begins on Pipeline SPECIAL feature lar case, I was a tenured member of the faculty, which means I went MC: And I think a lot of people The Middlebury Campus sat through the tenure process and forget that it has only happened By Jack McLaughlin number of reasons,” said Isaac Bak- down with College President then I served in two major academ- three times in the College’s his- er ’14.5, an Environmental Studies Ronald D. Liebowitz to discuss ic positions before becoming presi- tory. Over the past few weeks, there major who wrote his senior the- his time at the College. The con- dent — the dean of the faculty and sis on the pipeline. “Some felt that versation ranged from when he then provost. Having had these op- RL: Yes, I like to remind people South Main Street where workers they were being bullied into sign- portunities, I was able to learn a lot who are not knowledgeable of dug a trough and buried a natural ing a lease they weren’t happy with, of the changes he has seen at about the institution, seeing things Middlebury’s history that the col- gas distribution line leading to the some wanted a lawyer present but the College in the past years. Li- from many angles, and working lege has had a president from College’s service building to provide couldn’t afford one and many envi- ebowitz will depart the College at with major committees along the within three times in 214 years the campus with a new source of ronmentalists objected to the idea of the conclusion of the school year. way, all of which was so very valu- – once in the 19th century with energy. This is the local extension investing in fossil fuel infrastructure able and a real advantage for me. Ezra Brainerd, once in the 20th of Vermont Gas’s highly contentious on principle. Middlebury Campus (MC): The disadvantage coming “from century with John McCardell and Addison Rutland Natural Gas Proj- As opposition grew along the What was it like moving from inside” the institution is that, hav- me in the 21st century, so maybe ect — a 41-mile service extension path of the pipeline, signs reading a role as a Professor at the Col- ing had to make some tough de- that means we can expect outside south from the Burlington area to “Stop the Fracked Gas Pipeline” - cisions, sore feelings sometimes presidents for the next 85 years! Middlebury that, despite growing began popping up along the road- cally Provost and Executive Vice linger. When you come into the controversy in the state, is now par- side throughout Addison County. President), and then to the Col- presidency with a history, you face MC: Do you think your back- tially in the ground and will soon be In 2012, the state banned hydrau- lege President? What was it like, some additional challenges when ground as a specialist in political operational. lic fracturing, or “fracking,” the ex- as someone within the College, trying to move the institution for- Back in March 2011, the Col- traction process used in Canada to stepping up to become College ward. So, there are pluses and mi- that you have embarked on during lege wrote a public letter of support supply much of the energy in Ver- President? nuses to both, but I feel very fortu- your time as President? Examples for the pipeline project along with mont Gas’s pipeline. The towns of include new schools abroad, new many other businesses in the area Cornwall, Shoreham and Monkton language programs, and Mon- hoping to diversify their energy op- all passed non-binding resolutions terey. tions and support economic devel- against the pipeline, while Ver- opment in the state. These letters, gennes and Middlebury, which will RL: I have never given this much in combination with testimony from receive more distribution, voted in thought. I think my background the community and many of Ver- favor of the pipeline. as a Russianist and also as a po- mont’s agencies and departments, At the College, a student group litical geographer had some im- were presented to the Vermont Pub- led by Cailey Cron ’13.5 and Anna pact but I would like to think that lic Service Board (PSB). Shireman-Grabowski ’15.5 gath- most academics today, regardless In Dec. 2013, the PSB granted a ered over 1,000 signatures in a week of one’s discipline, would see the with their online petition, encour- changing world in which we live aging the College to revoke its sup- and how that relates to the type of natural gas’s lower cost and cleaner port of the pipeline. Many profes- education that our students need sors simultaneously signed letters and by which they would be best economically while simultaneously prompting the Administration to served. I would hope that most reducing carbon emissions. The reconsider its position. academics would see the direction project will also create opportunities On May 6, 2014, President Ron- we’ve taken as complementary for biomethane development. ald D. Liebowitz wrote an all-school rather than in competition with a The PSB decision in favor of the email indicating that the Adminis- traditional liberal arts education pipeline authorized Vermont Gas tration had noted the community’s to establish lease agreements with concerns, particularly around frack- to Middlebury and higher educa- Vermonters whose land would be ing, but remained unchanged in its affected by the proposed path of the support for the pipeline. our students) way. pipeline. Many of these landowners, “Ultimately, we believe the pipe- however, refused to accept Vermont line will contribute to the economic Gas’s offers. courtesy college communications “Landowners objected for a SEE PIPELINE, PAGE 2 College President Ronald D. Liebowitz spoke with the Campus. SEE SPREAD, PAGES 10-11 VT GOVERNOR’S BIKE FIX-IT COCOON BACK AND DEBATE PROVES STATION TO COME BETTER THAN EVER ENTERTAINING TO CAMPUS IN PAGE 14 PAGES 4 & 5 NOVEMEBER PAGE 12 inside 2NEWS | OCTOBER 23, 2014 Pipeline Construction Causes Concern Community CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 welfare of the region,” wrote Liebowitz, “and Council that it would be unacceptable for us to stand in the way of real and measurable progress to- ward goals broadly shared in our community.” Update Beyond these broader economic goals, the College also supports the pipeline project be- By Emma Dunlap cause it is tied to the 2016 carbon neutrality goal.