February 20, 2014 | Vol. 112 no. 15 | middleburycampus.com Econ. Shifts to Proctored Tests By Claire Abbadi do all important decisions; as a de- partment, namely, as the result of a cheating, the Economics Depart- ment took the unprecedented step careful reckoning of the costs and of proctoring all exams in six core classes during the spring semester. Professor of Economics and Chair of the Department Peter H. Matthews. Though most Economics pro- for proctoring. fessors refused to comment on the proctoring pilot program, some students feel strongly that this is the step in the right direction, acknowl- not following the honor code both edging that it does come with draw- backs. reporting cheating,” said Associate Professor of Economics and Depart- it is understood that there is a lot ment Spokesperson on the subject - of proctored exams John Maluccio. partment,” said Nitya Mankad ’16, affects how students feel about the honor code, since now it implicitly Anthea Viragh think it made sense to consider it a seems like professors don’t trust us The semester began with a series of blizzards in rapid succession, blanketing the campus with snow. little more broadly for all of the core to proctor our own exams.” courses.” One student, who asked to re- main anonymous due to the honor College Reveals Branding Effort by Dean of the College Shirley Col- code’s policy that students who wit- lado — seemingly runs contrary to ness cheating but do not report it are By Eliza Teach and marketing is about tailoring necessity of a robust logo system the preamble of the College’s honor Ellie Reinhardt and the redesign of the website code that states: “the students of she witnessed her peers bring cheat - in the context of audience pri- information architecture as two - sheets into tests, send pictures of ence and perceptions of the orities. He emphasized that the such examples of tactical issues - Middlebury brand, the Col- goal is not to conform to the au- to be addressed. sume responsibility for their own material on computers. - dience’s priorities, but to design Since last year, the College integrity on all assigned work,” al- timore-based consultant Mark marketing in regards to those has been considering ways of luding to the College’s policy of un- students who are less affected by priorities. putting into action the sugges- proctored exams, which historically cheaters who raise their grade from a students, faculty, alumni and tions made by Neustadt and is placed the burden of integrity and is no basic disconnect among working to create a new logo honesty on students. the students who are not natural[ly the many Middlebury-affiliated that will be used as a common - suggestions to the faculty last programs, which include the mark for Middlebury and all of tend beyond the six core classes and are working really hard in the class, spring. Summer Language School, the its affiliate programs. is not a reformation of the honor it is really upsetting to see cheating.” “The core of my project, this C. V. Starr Schools Abroad, the code, but rather the Department Bread Loaf School of English, College community in the re- suggest that the Economics De- working within the honor code. As it the Bread Loaf Writers’ Confer- branding effort, six discussions partment has the highest rate of stands now, the code allows for fac- — two for faculty, two for stu- cheating. Craig Thompson ’13.5 con- ulty members to request to proctor into account all of Middlebury’s ducted research for his Economics exams in classes where they suspect - challenges facing Middlebury of Sin class and found that 35 per- academic dishonesty is occurring af- eas of expertise?” said Neustadt aren’t what he calls profound or and gain feedback on the mar- to begin his presentation. philosophical issues, but rather keting efforts. of the College. SEE SIX, PAGE 2 tactical issues such as graphic “We reached this decision as we SEE EDITORIAL, PAGE 7 standards. He mentioned the SEE COLLEGE, PAGE 4 “UPNEXT” DRAWS ALUMNI BACK Carbon Neutrality Remains on Pace By Mitchell Perry lege’s push for carbon neutral- Middlebury College’s Office ity has been the biomass plant, - which has cut the College’s use clared the College to be on track of #6 fuel oil from 2.1 million towards its goal of carbon neu- gallons to 634,000 gallons since trality by 2016 in its most recent 2009. report citing the biomass plant, Despite its success, the bio- mass plant cannot always han- campus, and the new biometh- dle the College’s large energy demand. “The next big step will progress. be the switch to using biometh- ane to displace the fuel oil we Director of Sustainability Jack still burn when biomass is not Byrne wrote, “Our FY13 car- enough to meet heating and bon emissions were 50 percent cooling demands,” according to below our 2007 baseline year Byrne’s report. emissions due to the high per- The process of switching formance of our biomass sys- - ment the biomass plant will not of the numerous energy effi- be quick and is reliant on the ciency projects the College has successful construction of the Rachel frank Christine Schozer ’13, a production assistant at NBC, returned to campus on Saturday, Feb. 15 for the years.” Systems pipeline project. The The poster child of the Col- SEE CARBON, PAGE 3 VERMONTERS ALL YOU NEED RECAP THE VAGINA TAKE TO THE ICE TO KNOW ABOUT MONOLOGUES PAGE 5 BROOMBALL PAGE 14 PAGES 13 inside 2NEWS | february 20, 2014 Midd Earns Prescott to be Offered as Superblock By Thilan Tudor tions and policies currently in place. Peace Corps Prescott House, former home to Delta an FYC in Prescott House emphasized that “We want people to follow the basic stan- dards: no dorm damage, personal account- year housing has been successful. ability and responsibility, and respect the Recognition “We’ve had very few problems from the rules and regulations with parties,” Adams - outset because [Prescott] feels like a commu- said. “You can absolutely have a party, that’s By Katie Theiss liminary rosters for superblocks and social nity. In a house like Prescott, it’s a lot easier expected. You live in a large house. We just to promote community standards because it expect you follow the rules for parties when According to a press release from the Immediately following the disbandment you throw them.” process of Delta House that took place dur- given a lot and they returned a lot,” Mattson of top volunteer-producing small colleges. said. - Adams indicated that the decision to of- able to contribute positively to the social unteering worldwide, serving in Botswana, “The housing com- fer Prescott House as a scene on campus. China, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Paraguay, ponent that went along “Whether or not a group social house or super- Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and Uganda. Since with [the disband- of students comes back block would provide scene where [Delta House] used to be and ment] was that social students a social center alumni have traveled abroad to aid in the houses are both orga- together and tries to form on campus that would said. “Whoever moves in, whether it be a su- humanitarian effort. nizations and residenc- is really going to be a be guided by student perblock or [Delta House], at least there will Zoe Armstrong, the Peace Corps volun- es,” said Doug Adams, interests. However, he be more variance in the social scene.” teer recruitment and selection representa- Associate Dean of Stu- decision for the SGA and emphasized that no tive for the College, credits Middlebury’s dents and Chair of the the Community Council.” preference would be student group that is applying for Prescott, success with the Peace Corps to the global Residential Life Com- given to social house said, “We all want to meet more people and citizenship of students and their commit- mittee. “When [Delta Doug adams or superblock applica- we feel stuck in the bubble of our dorms, our House] lost their orga- Associate dean of students tions. teams and our classes. I think people come - nization they lost their The Residential Life to Prescott events expecting a variety of pro- tions, almost all of them are dedicated to residence. So what that Committee will give in- either service or cross-cultural exchange,” left us with is this hole.” stitutional support to people that live there.” Armstrong said. “Middlebury students are Prescott House was an effective solution prospective social house applicants through- According to Adams, there is no long- already global citizens and that makes them to over-enrollment after high yield numbers out the application process and during the term plan currently in place for Prescott apart great candidates for Peace Corps service.” implementation of the new social house. If from meeting the current needs and interests “[The College] shares the Peace Corps’ the SGA decides to postpone the approval of of the student body and the College. - instead of as a summer draw offering was the new social house as an organization, the When asked if Delta House may return tions to community challenges. Middle- student group will be given the opportunity to Prescott in the future, Adams responded, bury students always impress me with in consultation with President of the College to live in Prescott as a superblock. This will “Whether or not a group of students comes their commitment to helping marginalized - give them time to continue to apply for social back together and tries to form is really go- - tion that best met the interests of the College house status.