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Posts tagged ‘political science’

Poli Sci Professor Charged With Embezzlement

As was reported in the Addison Independent on Monday, Middlebury College Political Science Professor Kateri Carmola has been charged with one count of felony embezzlement for allegedly siphoning $4,500 from the Salisbury Historical Society over a three-month period last year.

Carmola was acting treasurer of the Salisbury Historical Society last July when she allegedly made the first of 11 withdrawals from the organization’s savings account to pay expenses associated with some Middlebury College-related trips. The 11 transfers ranged from $200 to $1000, between July 6 and September 8, 2010. The financial discrepancy was only first noticed this fall, as Carmola had begun to pay back the amounts. Carmola confessed her actions to the historical board, who at first were willing to let the actions slide until some community members became aware of the incident.

As Vermont State Police Trooper Joseph Szarejk told the Independent, Carmola ”did not think anything was wrong with borrowing the money at first until she was confronted about this issue.” She was officially cited for embezzlement on Dec. 23, 2010 with Addison County State’s Attorney David Fenster deciding on Jan. 26 to prosecute the case. She pleaded innocent to the charge in District Court on Feb. 7.

She is due in Addison County District Court on April 4 for a status conference on her case. Officially an Associate Professor of Political Philosophy here at Middlebury, the college has yet to make a comment on the incident.

EDIT 3/23 4:30 pm. For those of you who attempted to read the Addison Independent article earlier and were unable to do so: the editors of the newspaper have informed us that they have removed the paywall from the article. It can now be accessed by nonsubscribers, in full, for free. (Use the link in the first sentence of this post.)  To get the most complete picture of the issue available, we encourage you read the full piece.

The Campus should also be posting an article on the case soon. Their piece will appear online (tomorrow’s paper has already been sent to be printed), and we will link to it when it is ready.

EDIT 3/24 9:15 am. The Campus article.

Honoring Professor Dry

Professor Dry back in the day

An all-campus email this morning announced the Political Philosophy and the Constitution Conference, which will take place on Oct 22nd and 23rd in honor of one of the stalwarts of Middlebury College, Professor Murray Dry.  Professor Dry has been at Middlebury College for 43 years. Over the course of his career, he has published, testified in Congress as a constitutional expert and, as his students and alumni can tell you, he’s motivated his students to do the best they can.  He’s also sincerely committed to teaching and helping students pursue their interests. Professor Dry’s name commands respect on this campus (and in the world of academia) for good reason.

In addition to the this conference, five of Professor Dry’s former students who have gone into academia are raising money to create a Professorship in his honor. From a recent email to alumni:

Establishing a Professorship in Political Philosophy at Middlebury in Murray’s honor—to be named for him at a later date when he retires—will create a permanent legacy for him here.  An endowment of $2.5 million is necessary to underwrite a professorship at Middlebury, and while we have already received roughly $900,000 in gifts and pledges, we have $1.6 million to go.

If you’re out in the real world and you feel so inclined, donate to the professorship here.  If you’re still a student at Middlebury College, take a class with Professor Dry. It’ll be worth it.