By the Numbers
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march 19, 2015 | Vol. 113 no. 19 | middleburycampus.com Questions Surround Off-Campus Housing Lottery By Emilie Munson year’s lottery, which took place On Feb. 19, a group of 10 dis- on Feb. 17. Of these rising seniors, gruntled students shook up a approved only eight varsity ath- Community Council-sponsored letes were chosen from the lottery, By The Numbers “Community Conversation” event of the 37 varsity athletes who ap- People who applied: 111 individuals groups: (students can apply in with loud allegations directed to- plied. Three others athletes were wards the College’s Residential accepted just after the lottery approved: 58 groups of three) Life team. These ten students, all because Residential Systems Co- former or current varsity athletes, ordinator Karin Hall-Kolts, who Varsity athletes approved: 11 59 application groups complained that they had been organizes and conducts the lot- varsity athletes applied: 37 17 athlete groups applied unfairly treated in the off-campus tery, forgot to add their names to housing lottery on the basis of the pot. their identities as athletes. It was the shockingly low ac- % of student body that is ceptance rate among varsity ath- 38 groups approved, The off-campus housing lot- varsity athletes: tery is a random process through letes that caused the Community 6 groups of athletes Conversation outcry. How could which rising seniors can apply to were approved live in houses not owned by the the lottery be random if so few 28% College. Interested students can athletes were accepted, they chal- submit applications for groups of lenged. up to three people. These applica- “It just doesn’t seem random tions are then put into a pot and based on who got it,” said Riley selected at a drawing event that is Dickie ’16, a former men’s hockey Cassie Kent open to all students who applied. player who was rejected from the tion may have rigged the lottery Based on calculations per- The applications are then drawn lottery and spoke at the Commu- weren’t approved to live off cam- against varsity athletes that they formed by Paige-Wright Profes- from the pot by a random student nity Conversation event. “It just pus. I think that’s really weird.” believed were more likely to throw sor of Economics Paul Sommers who applied for off-campus hous- “I don’t think that the people and this reporter using hypergeo- ing. According to the College’s “I would like to think that it in the hat were chosen to be in the lacrosse players, these ten stu- metric probability distribution, website, the only criterion that is random because it is such an hat,” said Mary Claire Ecclesine dents claimed there was foul play. the probability that only these may bar applicants from being ac- important thing for so many stu- 11 athletes, who applied in 6 ap- dents,” added Maggie Caputi ’16, member. “I just think that maybe The Campus Investigates plication groups, would be ac- College discipline. a women’s lacrosse team member some people were taken out. And In the light of these claims, the cepted in a random lottery—and As the Campus reported on who was accepted in the lottery there’s no way that anyone could Campus decided to investigate so many others would be reject- Feb. 25, 58 rising seniors were ap- but also spoke out at the Commu- know that.” just how random the off-campus ed—is 35/10,000 chances. If we proved to live off campus in this nity Conversation. “At the same time, I think it’s really suspect that Claiming that the administra- housing lottery was on Feb. 19. SEE STATISTICS, PAGE 3 Julia Alvarez ’71 to Deliver May Commencement Address Found Across Campus By Joe Flaherty in the Dominican Republic. to speak to a graduating class at By Jason Zhang of Art, “Outside In: Art of the Novelist, poet and College President of the College Ron- an institution that means a great Earlier last week, a series of Street,” which launched on Feb. writer-in-residence Julia Alvarez ald D. Liebowitz said in an inter- deal to her. anonymous graffiti paintings 13. Other events included the view, “Julia has inspired genera- “It’s very touching to be there ’71 will deliver this year’s com- appeared across campus, spark- completion of a new Museum fa- tions. As a writer-in-residence, with a class that is about to set mencement address. Alvarez, ing debate and concern. The çade and a museum piece com- she has touched so many individ- out on the journey that I am along with four others, will re- graffiti pieces were found at Bi- menting on Andy Warhol both uals in the area of creative writ- looking back on now,” Alvarez ceive an honorary degree at the Hall, Forest Lounge, the Center painted by British street art- May 24 ceremony. ing and expression of one’s own said. “They’re saying goodbye ist Ben Eine over Winter Break self.” to a certain kind of connection for the Arts, Virtue Field House, Alvarez is the acclaimed au- Warner, Hillcrest, Ross and and a documentary screening of thor of novels, essays and books, - to the College, but this place re- Munroe, according to Facilities “Style Wars” by the co-producer including In the Time of the bury graduate to do a creative mains under your skin and in Services and student sources. and photographer Henry Chalf- and How the García writing thesis in poetry. She your bloodstream, I think.” credits faculty members such as At BiHall, one stencil spray- ant. Girls Lost Their Accents. She was The College exhibition con- awarded the National Medal of C. A. Dana Professor of English Dominican Republic when she painting depicted a riot police trasts with the black and white Arts — the highest honor given & American Literatures David was 10 to escape the regime of officer holding a baton, with graffiti that appeared outside to artists and arts patrons by the Price and Robert Pack, the poet, Rafael Trujillo. the words “TOO MANY COPS, the CFA and on College build- U.S. government — by President faculty member and longtime di- In addition to graduating TOO LITTLE JUSTICE.” The Obama in 2013. In addition to rector of the Bread Loaf Writer’s from the College, Alvarez has stencil appeared next to a large ings. The juxtaposition reveals writing, Alvarez and her husband Conference, for supporting her taught at Middlebury since 1988 sprayed security camera and the not only the different level of run a sustainable coffee farm and early writing efforts. and in 1998 transitioned from words “NO CAMERAS.” At the artistic expression, but also the literacy center called Alta Gracia Alvarez said in an interview her tenured position to become entrance of Ross dining hall, divergent destinies of the works that she relishes the opportunity writer-in-residence. She holds a a graffiti work read “BLACK by famous graffiti artists and the master’s in creative writing from POWER MATTERS”. ones that appeared on campus. Syracuse University. Addition- A stenciled rat in a suit ap- Many current social issues ally, Alvarez has frequented the peared in multiple locations: are at play in the messages in- Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference herent to the graffiti. Joanne and the Bread Loaf School of Warner, the Field House and a Wu ’15 commented on the dis- English. trashcan at the entrance of CFA. play outside of Ross Dining “The Bread Loaf Writer’s Con- Another, on the exterior Hall, which read “BLACK POW- ference, the Bread Loaf School of wall of the CFA entrance, read English — I had been trying to get “THIEF,” which is stylistically ER MATTERS.” back here ever since I graduat- different from the others. “It She said, “I think damaging ed,” Alvarez explained. “So I took does not make any sense, un- public property in any form is the job [in 1988] and here I am.” like the stencil ones, which are irresponsible, in part because Liebowitz also noted Alvarez’s better done. I think they are try- we are in this living space to- - ing to say something but just gether. There are many non- lege. “She is an inspiration to not in the right way,” said Elyse destructive ways to get out your a whole host of creative under- Barnard ’15, who saw the iso- message that are equally, if not graduates here at Middlebury,” lated one at the CFA and a few less, impactful. I do not agree he said. at Ross. with it. But I do agree that it has Alvarez, who said she antici- The appearance of the graffiti a high impact factor because it pates departing her writer-in- coincides with a wave of cam- gets people’s notice.” residence position within the pus events focusing on street On the effectiveness of the College Communications next year, sees her address as an art. Most notably, the exhibi- message, Wu mentioned the in- Author, poet, writer-in-residence and Middlebury grad Julia opportunity to say goodbye to the tion held at the College Museum stallation in the Davis Family Alvarez ’71 will be the commencement speaker on May 24. SEE ALVAREZ, PAGE 3 SEE FACILITIES, PAGE 2 CHILI FEST!!! MIDD’S OWN COLLEGE PAGE 4-5 SOCIOLOGY CELEBRATES PODCAST IRISH TRADITIONS PAGE 14 AND TUNES PAGE 17 inside 2NEWS | march 19, 2015 Sga Update CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Professor of American Studies Timothy firmed that this is not the first time graf- Spears saw the graffiti at the Athletic fiti has appeared on campus.