This Op-Ed piece in the New York Timesby a high school student named Lauren Edelson caught my attention because of its references to Middlebury (and Quidditch!) Lauren’s point, in a word, is that she “[doesn't] care about what percentage of the student body runs around on broomsticks.” Ouch. Although, if Lauren secretly loves Quidditch and wants to come to Middlebury (as I presume), then getting published in a prominent newspaperisn’t a bad way to start.
The Campus announced this morning that New York Times columnist Nick Kristof will deliver a joint commencement address on May 23rd with his spouse Sheryl WuDunn. In 1990, the married couple both won the Pultizer Prize for their coverage of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests. WuDunn, the first Asian American to win a Pulitzer, is now an author and businesswoman. Kristof continues at the NY Times, writing primarily on human rights conditions, development strategies, and global poverty particularly in Asia and Africa. The pair is anticipated to “ask this generation to tackle the issue of gender inequality in all its future endeavors.”
Kristof and WuDunn, quoted in The Campus, had this to say about Middlebury:
Kristoff: “Middlebury has been pretty successful at cultivating an international response ethos where students lean from the world and engage it,” Kristof said. “That’s something I admire and encourage.”
WuDunn: “Students are much more service oriented…They really feel they want to be proactive about [making a difference]. We’re seeing that and we’re extremely excited about it.”
My thought is that this is a good choice for Middlebury. Past graduation speakers have been a bit of a sore spot for graduating seniors (other than the class of 2007 who had Bill Clinton). Kristof is a well-known figure that fits Middlebury’s self-proclaimed international strengths and seniors should be glad to throw around that name when comparing notes with other college seniors nationwide (he’s a big deal, even if your friends have never heard of him). Still, I have a hard time imagining a joint-address, but I’m sure they’ve done it before.
MiddBlog wants to know: What do you think of Kristof and WuDunn? Do the pair match your expectations?
As president, Mr. Obama should use his bully pulpit to undermine the bachelor’s degree as a job qualification….The residential college leading to a bachelor’s degree at the end of four years works fine for the children of parents who have plenty of money. It works fine for top students from all backgrounds who are drawn toward academics. But most 18-year-olds are not from families with plenty of money, not top students, and not drawn toward academics. They want to learn how to get a satisfying job that also pays well. That almost always means education beyond high school, but it need not mean four years on a campus, nor cost a small fortune. It need not mean getting a bachelor’s degree.
MiddBlog wants to know: how do you see the value in your Midd degree?
Our friends over at Wesleying tipped us off that the NYTimes recently ran an editorial against lowering the drinking age:
The college executives are right to be alarmed about the binge drinking that besieges their campuses. But there is no proof that easier access to alcohol would solve that problem, and there is strong evidence that college administrations could do a lot more than they are doing to combat the alcohol epidemic.
MiddBlog wants to know: How much weight does a NYTimes editorial hold?
If any students were listening to professors across campus crack jokes about freshly unemployed MiddKids these last few days (no matter how un-funny it is), you’ll know Dick Fuld is a big name on campus. Not only is he the parent of children who attended Middlebury, but he also sits on Middlebury College’s Board of Trustees.
The Campus 
