the commons system

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

<p>I'm looking to hear from current Middlebury students for an honest assesment of the commons system. I have gone to the school's web page and read the school's campus newspaper. There are many opinion and letters to the editors about what seems to be widespread disatisfaction with the system from a social and other standpoints. The administration seems to be ignoring growing discontent among students who dislike the system. Long range planning seems to fostering growth of commons. Added to this is the loud protests about the Alcohol police inspector.(a secondary issue)</p>

<p>I had been very high on the school but over the last year I seem to sense a large degree of student disatisfaction with their social life, dorm life and growing work stress with ever more unreasonable homework the keeps the students from non classroom activities.. Also the recent school poll shows a lot of unhappiness about unfair grading in same departments. What is going on at Middlebury? I hope to hear from students with true scoop and not thru rose-colored lenses. Thanks</p>

2

<p>Hey where are all of you Middlebury students? This thread is one of significant interest to any high school student who is seriously considering your school in their future. I would really aprreciate someone's thoughtful reply. It is certainly more interesting than someone with great grades asking if they will get into Middlebury.</p>

3

<p>Either the only people who look at the Middlebury site here are parents and high school students or the Middlebury students don't have an interest in sharing their thoughts on this controversial but highly significant campus issue. The commons system defines the living and social life of the campus or at least that is what the administration wants it to be and I can't get any current student to respond. Sad, sad sad! All the other lacs have students that respond. Where are you Mids?</p>

4

<p>My guess would be that they're all too busy being involved in life at Midd to bother. Take that as a good sign.</p>

5

<p>To be honest, I have not posted before this because I am saddened that my fellow students complain about Middlebury. It is true that there are voices on campus showing dissatisfaction with the commons system and the administration, but there are also those people who are happy with the school and have no desire to change it...such as myself. It is also true that the majority of opinions voiced about the commons and the administration are negative. I'm willing to bet that the mentality is this: why should the people who are happy voice an opinion if they have nothing to complain about? The commons and the administration do have their supporters, but human nature is such that contentedness is not nearly as interesting as dissatisfaction.</p>

<p>Being a sophomore, the commons system is the only system with which I am familiar and I have no basis of comparison. Nor do I have any complaints. In fact, I am quite happy with it. Brainerd holds weekly dinners at which you can meet your professors and new friends; they also had a very successful screening of Jaws in the pool. (I attended and never had so much fun). Wonacott has Fondue Fridays. Ross holds bingo nights and "gambling" nights in its dining hall. Cook has its Fall Festival and Atwater has its Holly Ball. These are only a few examples of the very fun events that the commons hold and I have always wondered what there is to complain about. It has been said that events such as the Jaws screening were a waste of money to buy the food and the floaties--I don't see why Brainerd can't hold an annual or semi-annual screening in the pool of a water-themed movie and put the water toys to good use. If $6,000 is going to an all-students-welcome event to have some fun--and if the money is purposefully set aside for that use--then what's the problem?</p>

<p>People also worry that the commons sytem is divisive, that students don't make friends with people in other commons because they don't live together. That is hardly true. I have friends in other commons that I have met through other friends, through class and through clubs. They just happen to live in another dormitory; it would be no different if there were no commons system at all.</p>

<p>As for the alcohol inspector--well, I don't tend to go to events at which the alcohol inspector might appear, so I have no complaints. Complaints about the restrictions on people getting sick to their stomachs and quite possibly worse (yes, it happens at Midd, no place is perfect), are in my opinion senseless. The law is the law and it's for our own health and safety.</p>

<p>Unreasonable homework that keeps us from fun? Never seen it happen. We may work hard, yes, but we also have our fun and we have plenty of clubs and events at which to do it. We just had finals and the college had three nights during which they showed fun movies--I remember one was Dazed and Confused and anther was Robin Hood: Men In Tights. They also offer stress breakers like yoga and massage. I think the students are very well taken care of.</p>

<p>As for grading, I know very little about that. I don't know what grades my friends get because we don't discuss it, so I cannot compare one person's efforts and grades to another's. Grade inflation seems to be a concern everywhere. My philosophy is to do my best: that is all I or anyone else can ask of me.</p>

<p>Please, if anyone has any questions or concerns about Middlebury's atmosphere, send me a message. I love Midd (although I'm also a realist and realize that it is not perfect and not everybody loves it as much as I do) and would hate to see a student not attend because he or she perceives an unhappy atmosphere that does not exist.</p>

6

<p>Thank you Lindy for your thoughtful reply. Dana</p>

7

<p>Hello- Never posted here before, but stumbled upon it and felt compelled to reply. Lindyhopper did a nice job summing it all up, but I thought a secondary affirmation would do some good...</p>

<p>The commons system can be a drag, but there are plently of ways to get around it and live elsewhere if you so desire. When it's all said and done, you can't lose on housing, though. People are great, rooms are great, so it's a true can't-lose situation.</p>

<p>The alcohol policy can be limiting, but there are plenty of ways to get around it if you so desire. I'm underage and have never had an issue being served a beverage. The policy has been tightened, but not a whole lot has changed.</p>

<p>Middkids are the most active people I've ever met. Everyone has a passion they're following in their spare time. Workloads can feel overbearing, but people always find time to do what they love. I'm involved in all sorts of clubs and I still find time to relax and kick back when I need to.</p>

<p>Grade inflation's a problem everywhere. It doesn't come into play that much unless you make it an issue you're concerned about. I've found that a college campus has a relaxing effect on the way people perceive grades, but those are the circles I run in, I suppose. I was a top-tester, top grades, extracurricular kind of guy in high school, but the beautiful thing about college is that you can still do everything and have time to enjoy yourself. Basically, college is awesome.</p>

<p>Okay, I certainly haven't been as eloquent as Lindy, but I suppose I've done what I set out to do...</p>

<p>Come to Middlebury. It's basically the greatest place ever. I'm a realist, too, but Midd has more things than I can count going for it.</p>

8

<p>Thanks Middkid for your reply which was appreciated. I have convinced my dad to drive from Philly to Vermont for a visit now I am working on my mom. We are taking snowshoe lessons. Thanks,Dana</p>

9

<p>Good deal. Hope you love it as much as everyone here does. Maybe I'll guide your tour...</p>

10

<p>My only issue with the commons system is that I think our student body is too small for our housing lottery to revolve around. It can be hard for some to stay in their commons if too many people who pick before them are drawn in from other commons, or not enough people go abroad.... but that's a whole different story. Basically, I like everything about it except for the fact that our room draw procedures don't quite match up with the commons system ideals. It's still very much a work in progress though, and I am sure they will eventually work out something that works a little better.</p>

<p>What's really great about the commons, though, is it's at the point now where it's really having effects on who you form relationships with. The commons you're in dictates your seminar (or vice-versa... I don't know which one they pick first) and who you live with in the years following, where you eat (in college, this is a very social activity :)), etc. Intramural sports are commons-based as well. There are lots of commons events, as mentioned, like dinners and outings and fondue parties (my personal favorite).</p>

<p>And as far as work goes... I was struck by the word "unreasonable" in your post. I most certainly do not feel like the amount of work we have could be described as unreasonable. Enough to keep you ridiculously busy, yes, but I have never questioned the worth or value of an assignment. Everything I've written or worked on here has a purpose and has given me a chance to apply my knowledge. In some classes, some of the assigned reading is more than I think needs to be done, but that's when you learn to prioritize. I didn't get ALL of my reading done this semester, but I got through what I needed to and did just fine. Also, I agree with the other people who've replied to you in that Middkids are known for being really active people with lives outside of the library, and professors know that and I think they take it into account. We are really, really busy.... and that's the way we like it. There are times that are more stressful than others- we just finished exams, for example- and you may have to sacrifice going to a show or volunteering or what have you- but Middlebury is amazing. I hope you get the chance to come check it out for yourself.</p>

11

<p>Thanks shiny for your post. With each new response I learn a little bit more. As a matter of fact I am rereading the material that admissions sent me and looking for a nice place to stay for a few days when we visit in the spring. Could one of you Middkids tell me when your spring 2006 break is so I don't visit when the school is empty and also when your finals are so I avoid that time of year.
By the way the orriginal motivation for starting this thread was what I had read in your student newspaper's opinion section. Thanks again. Dana</p>

12

<p>March 17-27</p>

<p><a href="http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/catalogs/catalog/general_info/calendars/calendar_0506.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/catalogs/catalog/general_info/calendars/calendar_0506.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

13

<p>Thanks middkid. We are visiting April 13-15. That is Good Friday and Passover. Will students be missing that Thurs. thru Sat. or will there still be kids there to talk with. The Admissions office told me they will still be doing info sessions and tours. By the way does it still snow there by mid April or can I leave my long underwear at home?</p>