<p>If Aina Hunter's story "Busted for Blackness at Middlebury" [June 1-7] were an accurate report of what actually transpired here, it would indeed be cause for concern. But it is not an accurate reflection of the conduct involved, the penalty imposed, or the nature of the process that resulted in the imposition of a penalty. </p>
<p>Middlebury College did not summarily expel a student on the basis of race: Two separate panels composed of college faculty and fellow students found the student in question responsible, after extended hearings, for an offense that they deemed serious enough to warrant a temporary suspension from the college. The student subsequently pursued legal action against the college in an effort to void that suspension and graduate this year, but the Addison, Vermont, Superior Court denied that request for immediate relief. The college's suspension is not permanent. Middlebury will welcome the student back if he completes the terms of the discipline imposed for the offense in question. </p>
<p>It is indeed unfortunate that Hunter failed to include comments from college officials that would have provided some balance to a very one-sided, distorted account of what happened. Instead, she chose to listen only to the suspended student's lawyer's claims of racial bias. The student in question was brought to Middlebury through the Posse Foundation, given a full scholarship by Middlebury, and offered special academic and social support as a student identified by Posse as an outstanding candidate for success. It is absurd to suggest that Middlebury College would expel such a student on the basis of nothing more than race. Unfortunately, it appears that Hunter did not want to hear or include in her story anything that would undermine the inflammatory theme she apparently had in mind for her article. </p>
<p>Timothy Spears
Dean, Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont</p>
<p>Again, the article fails to address the reason which the Middlebury student was expelled, omitting that which will potentially clear Middlebury's reputation of committing an act of racism.</p>
<p>Funny thing, Midd put up a story on their website last year about some of their alums (I think) that are associated with the current administration. My kid was so offended that he deleted the Midd line off his college spreadsheet.</p>
<p>Do you know what an honor code is or why violating it is a big deal? The Honor Code is the foundation of the college. Violating the honor code leads to suspension. Lying during a judicial proceeding is a violation of the honor code. I'm not privy to all the information, but even if all Walker did was crash on someone's floor, the college must have adequate evidence that he lied about it to a jury of his peers and faculty members.</p>
<p>In one of Walker's own emails to other students, he mentions that the perp smashed a phone in Hawkin's room. That was never mentioned in the VV article. So it wasn't just for crashing on someone's floor.</p>
<p>Two other letters from the VV that raise good points, one from an alum and another from a student:</p>
<p>Welt-an-chek-ung </p>
<p>Hunter apparently saw fit to represent the Middlebury student body with one quotation: "This place is apathetic as ****." The same person who supplied that quote, Nolan Weltchek, also supplied the accompanying photograph, and his father supplied another quote. Questioning the way Hunter presents what happened is not a red herring. Racism (clearly the charge implied) should be treated seriously, and as 2003 graduate and a concerned citizen, I'm hurt by Hunter's portrayal of the college on more than one level. I can only disagree with Mr. Weltchek's assessment. I have one voice, as does he; I wish Hunter had sought more. </p>
<p>Also, Hunter's description of the accuser as "athletic-looking, blond" is confusing and disturbing. What do you mean by athletic looking? Are athletes racist? Are blonds racist? With an article titled "Busted for Blackness," I do not think I am reading too much into the intent. The left-of-center viewpoint of the Voice is important; I think that believing poor journalism to be a useful way to advance a serious cause is a mistake. </p>
<p>Peter Hennessy
East Village </p>
<hr>
<p>Honor coda </p>
<p>As a student at Middlebury, I was surprised that Hunter didn't mention the honor code. Our community is based upon trust, honesty, and individual integrity. For example, students are not policed during exams or in residential life. However, when the community finds that an individual does not fulfill the spirit of the honor code, there is little leniency. To many who do not have an understanding of the honor code, it may seem that the judicial board acted in an inequitably severe manner. I am sure the committee used the same standards for Mr. Walker as it did for any other student. </p>
<p>Well, I'm not privy to ANY of it! Middlebury isn't saying if he lied, or if he floor-crashed - as far as I know he was the gay lover of the guy who turned him in, and he covered up in order not to out him.</p>
<p>I'm SURE Middlebury will WELCOME him back.</p>
<p>As for the paper owned by Rupert Murdoch, well, what would you expect? (I shouldn't complain, though, my college is getting rich as a result.)</p>
<p>Well, either Middlebury is being honorable, or they spinning this in the same fashion they are accusing the author of. Or, the truth is somewhere in between.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Funny thing, Midd put up a story on their website last year about some of their alums (I think) that are associated with the current administration. My kid was so offended that he deleted the Midd line off his college spreadsheet.
[/quote]
Ari Fleischer, the President's press secretary during the first term, is a Midd alum. If your kid makes his college choices on such a basis, I'm sure he would have exploded trying to figure out what to do about Yale.</p>
<p>Midd is under no obligation to say anything just as a private employer has no obligation to say why they fire someone. It's a private matter that the perp took public. Others have been kicked out of better schools for not turning in someone they knew to be violating the code--not even a direct violation by themselves.</p>
<p>Actually, I should have said "formerly owned" - he owned it during its liberal heyday (1977-1985). He's still getting paid for it.</p>
<p>Anyhow, the whole thing doesn't make sense. I don't for one minute think Middlebury was out to get black people. On the other hand, what they've offered up seems so nonsensical that one has to believe there is much more to the story.</p>
<p>Can anyone figure out which section of it he might be guilty of violating? Do their own students (as per above) know what is in their honor code?</p>
<p>I imagine this whole thing is going to get settled out of court, with Walker and his attorney walking away with a pile of money, not because he is right or wrong, but because the College will go into damage-control mode, as they already have.</p>
<p>"The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education often has informative research data on how African Americans fare in the acceptance process and makes a good first stop. If you're looking at liberal arts colleges, for instance, JBE has pulled together numbers black applicant admissions at the highest-ranking liberal arts colleges over the past decades - information not easily found in most guidebooks. According to the article's findings, The top five colleges in terms of acceptance percentages for African-American applicants are:</p>
<ol>
<li>Middlebury College - 71.6% acceptance rate for black applicants</li>
<li>Macalester College - 56% </li>
<li>Trinity College (CT) - 54.4%</li>
<li>Oberlin College - 52.2%</li>
<li>Pomona College - 51.5%"</li>
</ol>
<p>This part of the Midd code is more likely the one.</p>
<ol>
<li>Respect for Persons and Property</li>
</ol>
<p>The College expects all members of the College community to respect the dignity, freedom, and rights of others. Violence in word or deed against another; incitement or provocation to violence; conduct that exploits or coerces another; theft or the destruction of another's property; prevention of another's free expression of ideas by intimidation, abuse, or physical force; defamation; violation of another's privacy; unauthorized entry and, specifically, uninvited hostile presence in another's room or office, are all considered serious offenses. Any one offense may lead to disciplinary proceedings with penalties up to and including suspension or expulsion.</p>
<p>Where verbal or physical altercation has occurred, where harassment or hazing has been alleged, or where otherwise deemed appropriate under the circumstances, the deans have authority to issue a "no contact" order to the persons involved, whether or not disciplinary action is taken. Refusal to adhere to the order after notification of its terms, which notification may be verbal, may lead to disciplinary proceedings, up to and including suspension or expulsion.</p>
<p>The College has adopted a statement on harassment, which states the College's opposition to any form of sexual, racial, ethnic, religious, or other forms of harassment, as prohibited by the College's policies. It also sets forth procedures to be followed in the event of an incident of such harassment.</p>
<p>So Walker was harrassing Hawkins, who wanted to break off their relationship, and then refused to out him? Hence the "uninvited hostile presence"? </p>
<p>Let's give the school and the students the benefit of the doubt, and leave the racial/sexual speculation to the Village Voice. This is apparently a complicated situation. Everyone here is adept at reading between the lines and it is tempting to speculate, but let's resist. Middlebury would not suspend a senior - of any race - three weeks before graduation, without reason. You can be sure that Middlebury was not thrilled about suspending a Posse Scholar. The Middlebury president has cited both the behavior code and the honor code in this case. Think about it.</p>
<p>"The Middlebury president has cited both the behavior code and the honor code in this case. Think about it."</p>
<p>Got it, and I'm thinking about. I've read the honor code, and I've posted the link to it. The President has made it that much more mysterious. Was there an exchange of "favors" for academic dishonesty gone wrong? Or does even the Middlebury President not know what it is in the school's "honor code"?</p>