<p>mini, what part of this excerpt from the statement of Community Standards and General Policies doesn't make sense to you:</p>
<p>"...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>If you take into account the smashed phone, you add "theft or the destruction of another's property"</p>
<p>"mini, what part of this excerpt from the statement of Community Standards and General Policies doesn't make sense to you:"</p>
<p>The part about the President of Middlebury saying there was an honor code violation (as well as one of the general code), as did the student writing to the Voice. I've now read the honor code three times, and either the President of Middlebury doesn't know what's in it, or there is something more going on completely different from our speculations.</p>
<p>
[quote]
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>We'll likely never know....
[/quote]
Mini, why do you keep bringing up the homosexual angle. Are you implying knowledge that has not been reported in any of the news articles?</p>
<p>I'm implying - no, I am outright saying - that there is a LOT that hasn't been reported in the ONE news article, starting with the honor code violation that wasn't even hinted at.</p>
<p>As for knowledge, if I had any, you'd be the first to know. ;)</p>
<p>The Middlebury stance is honorable - they need to defend themselves but cannot violate the students' privacy rights. Having visited Mid with my D, having met with many students, and alums, we were surprised to hear about the situation and read the article. The article appeared a bit one-sided. Considering Mid's track record of acceptance of minority students, and history, I was shocked, but the response was a well-thought out response within the constraints under which the college is placed. The article gave one person's twist on the situation, a very biased one, at that. The suspension was definitely an extreme consequence, due to its timing, so perhaps there was more involved to which we are not privy?????????</p>
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[quote]
Middlebury College - 71.6% acceptance rate for black applicants </p>
<p>Considering Mid's track record of acceptance of minority students
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</p>
<p>The numbers are all relative. If only 4 peopel apply to middlebury and they accept 3 then yes they have accepted 75% of the students who apply. </p>
<p>However According to thier own common data set for 2004-2008 (class of 08) </p>
<p>Schools such as Middlebury and UVA seem to take these honor codes to an insane degree. While the intention of them is noble, it seems that the schools with the strictest rules also have the least due process and highly corrupt systems that can result in being thrown out for nothing.</p>
<p>
My kid was so offended that he deleted the Midd line off his college spreadsheet.
</p>
<p>I wouldn't consider Middlebury either - exactly because of BS such as this.</p>
<p>I have never visited Middlebury, so I have no opinion on its attitude towards black students. Of course I don't know what really went on in this case. </p>
<p>It is interesting to compare two top liberal arts colleges- Mid and Oberlin, on the numerical experience of black students. At Midd the gap in 6 year graduation rates between white and black students is 18%. At Oberlin the gap is 4%. Of course there could be lots of reasons for the difference, but it makes you wonder whether this was an isolated incident, or whether Midd is really not a good place for black students to consider?</p>
<p>If the case ever does get to court we will find out what really happened.</p>
<p>I do not believe that this is a race issue. Schools tend to do this with their handbooks and codes. The way those things are written, every possible situation falls into a failsafe clause somewhere so you can't win. The college got what they wanted in punishing the young man and showing the student body what happens to kids who get caught crossing the line somewhere that the university was concerned and this dorm/room crashing thing had become a concerned. If a school truly observed its own code and cracked down on some pretty obvious transgressions specifically covered in their rules and regulations, I doubt it would have many graduating students, particularly if it looked at illegal substance abuse. This became an issue for Middlebury, a warning was issued, and this kid was caught crossing the line.</p>
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[quote]
I did find it amusing that a professor at Middlebury is not allowed to be in the room when students are taking an exam.
[/quote]
Stanford honor code had a similar feel when I was there (20 years ago) ... while professors were allowed to be in a room while students were taking an exam the students did not have to stay in the room to take the exam. The basic idea was that everyone was expected to follow the honor code and be trusted to follow the honor code (so students do not need to be monitored).</p>
<p>What I find so interesting about this thread is how it contrasts to a different one about a month ago....a kid at some school, maybe in Ohio? who was having a very difficult time with his roomate, asked for guidance on the parents forum....and every response seemed to demand action by the school against the roomate... now here we have a situation where the school actually took action and it is all about racism and homophobia. </p>
<p>I am in the camp with Arcadia and Evitar.....I do not think a 4 yr scholarship student was in Middlebury's line of sight 3 wks before graduation unless something SERIOUS happened that demanded action from the college. That is my gut reaction. </p>
<p>As to statistics on % accepted vs matriculation rates....all I can volunteer is that Middlebury is a GREAT school......GREAT people have graduated from there......I have never met anyone who is an alum that I did not like and respect. But, it is Vermont, not everyone loves remote and cold. I have an adult friend, went to Middlebury for 2 yrs then transferred to Miami. Those VT winters drove him CRAZY. </p>
<p>Anyway, I have a gut sense that this kid did something to merit a "timeout" and they will have a chance to cool off and come back in the fall to complete graduation. </p>
<p>Finally, who doesn't think articles like this exist to fan flames? Please, it is 2005.......</p>
<p>Some comments on this thread are ridiculous, and a couple are out of line.</p>
<p>Middlebury's having to throw out someone that they go out of their way to admit and nurture is embarassing to them. You can be certain they would not have done it if there were a reasonable alternative. What it shows about Middlebury is that either their identification and selection process for these special opportunity programs is fallible, or that their socialization process for developing those identified into good citizens isn't perfect. However, in either case, when something shows you its not working, and where the safety of other students may be involved, you need to make some hard choices.</p>
<p>On graduation rates, I don't think one can blame the isolation or weather. Williams has a vastly better graduation rate for African Americans and it is quite cold and remote.</p>
<p>It seems the controversy revolves around whether the student really did violate any rules. The VV article makes the identification sound highly suspect and the Middlebury response does not address this problem. I hope the case does get to court where the details become public. If he Middlebury can produce some proof that he really is guilty of something then this will put the "suspension" 3 weeks before graduation in perspective. If there was not reasonable evidence of guilt, then letting the sunshine in should at least reverse this decison- although it is too late for him to graduate with his class.</p>
<p>At this point, if I were the father of an african american kid headed for a liberal arts college I would be terrified to send her/him to Middlebury.</p>
<p>Afan, if you were the father of an african american kid headed for a liberal arts college, hopefully your college research would go beyond reading an inflamatory article and a thread on a discussion board before ruling out any school, including Middlebury. </p>
<p>Middlebury's location and weather are indeed considerations for ANY applicant. Some people love small towns and snow, and some don't.
Some applicants seek a warm, urban setting, and some don't. </p>
<p>You have very little to go on, yet seem comfortable passing judgement on an entire school based on one incident.</p>
<p>the schools with the strictest rules also have the least due process and highly corrupt systems that can result in being thrown out for nothing.</p>
<br>
<p>Bryn Mawr has a very strict honor code (though not quite as strict as Haverford's), yet the honor court was very serious and fair. It was entirely student-run. There was a great deal of due process afforded to an accused student, and people were not thrown out for nothing. It can work, at least as far as serious crimes are concerned.</p>
<p>"Afan, if you were the father of an african american kid headed for a liberal arts college, hopefully your college research would go beyond reading an inflamatory article and a thread on a discussion board before ruling out any school, including Middlebury."</p>
<p>"I have a gut sense that this kid did something to merit a "timeout" and they will have a chance to cool off and come back in the fall to complete graduation."</p>
<p>Well, at least that is what Middlebury concluded. The questions are whether he really did it (whatever "it" was) and whether the punishment fit the crime. </p>
<p>Again, hard to know what to make of it without more information, but I do not read the Dean's comments as promising readmission in the fall. Besides, if he was three weeks from graduation, what more could he have left to do?</p>