On Tap for the Spring

Social Programming

We hear it all the time: "I hate MCAB, I hate the Commons, Social Life at Middlebury is terrible." Taking nothing away from the under-appreciated students and administrators who work long hours and do great work as part of the Commons and MCAB, there is certainly work left to be done. Everyone can agree that there's no reason we shouldn't do everything we can to make social life better.

Last weekend MCAB, ICC, the SGA and Doug Adams participated in a Programming Summit to discuss the future of social life at Middlebury. The meeting resulted in many good ideas and a general consensus that a reorganization of the programming structure and mission would go a long way towards improving social life. This week, Doug, Colleen Sullivan from MCAB and Kylie Taylor from ICC will be meeting with the SGA Senate and subcommittees focusing on different areas of the reorganization will convene.

What do you think? What should we be talking about? What elements of social life need fixing?

Smoking Ban

Last year Community Council recommended changing College Handbook language after students, faculty and staff reported that smokers gathering around the entrances of buildings created an unsafe and disruptive environment for work. The enactment of a "soft radius" designed to encourage respect without forcing anyone to change their habits will be under review this spring.

What do you think? Is the "soft radius" working? Is it fair to smokers? Should we try something else?