The Middlebury Campus: "Great Sexpectations" Column
In 2015, Maddie Orcutt '16 (she/her/hers), launched a column called "Great Sexpectations." She facilitated student storytelling surrounding sex through the column. "My goal is simple: to create a space where Middlebury students can learn through the anonymous (s)experiences of their peers," Orcutt wrote in the inaugural column article. Consent was a key issue that the column aimed to tackle as a whole.
March 4, 2015
Fraker Prize Awarded by GSFS Department
Reporting in The Campus on the 2017 winner of Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies student-award, the Alison Fraker Essay Prize.
March 9, 2016
The Campus: "Chinese Feminist Fights Guerrilla Wars"
This 2017 article in The Campus reports on “Feminism in China: Women’s Bodies on the Frontline.” The speaker, Chinese feminist activist Lu Pin discussed feminist issues and activism efforts focused on achieving justice for Chinese women during her talk.
May 3, 2017
The Campus: "College Hosts ‘What Can Feminism Speak To?’ Dialogue"
A report on the college-sponsored talk, “What Can Feminism Speak To?,” which featured feminist writer Katha Pollitt and feminist scholar Janell Hobson.
October 4, 2017
The Campus: "Afghanistan, an 'elephant in the room'"
In her opinion piece titled "Afghanistan, an 'elephant in the room,'"Sajia Yaqouby '25.5, reflects on the inaction of the world when it comes to the atrocities that Afghani women have been forced to endure in the wake of the Afghani government's collapse and a resurgence of Taliban rule in August 2022.
January 26, 2023
The Campus: "Home"
In her opinion piece titled "Home," Sajia Yaqouby '25.5, reflects on what it means to be "home" after escaping Afghanistan following the collapse of the country's government and a resurgence of Taliban rule in August 2022.
March 10, 2022
(May 9) The Campus: "Open your mind, Mr. Upham"
This op/ed is a direct response to David Upham's second article written two weeks prior in the April 25 issue of The Campus. Spangler begins by pointing out that expression of opinions cannot be called out to someone from dorm windows or passing cars, this is hate speech. Next, she notes that there is a "rich and diverse" culture of homosexuality and that those who identify as homosexuals are unique individuals just as straight people are. Spangler also points out that although Mr. Upham discusses a Winter Term Psychology course on homosexuality to buttress his argument, he is wrong about the subject of the course, and would perhaps be more informed if he had actually taken it. Furthermore, although Mr. Upham claims to want to engage in meaningful classroom dialogue, he has never once engaged in conversation with multiple members of the MGLBA (including Spangler) who sit next to him in class three days a week. Looking at Mr. Upham's sources, Spangler comments that the existence of certain sources are questionable and that the ones that could be found were often taken out of context by Upham. Finally, Spangler tells Mr. Upham that she too is catholic and would be willing to engage in open discussion with him any time, promising not to oppress him for his ignorance. Here is the article from The Campus' archives, as well as photos of the article as it was originally printed.
M. Carrington Spangler (Member of MGLBA)
May 9, 1991
(May 9) The Campus: "Free speech for whom?"
This op/ed puts the Middlebury PC debate in conversation with national narratives about PC and a reactionary speech by President Bush. It also describes an SGA meeting on April 28, during which straight white men voiced protests to the new sexual harassment policy. Cornwall directs "Mr. Bush" and "Mr. Defensive Heterosexual" to attempt to understand what real threats/discrimination looks like before they claim victim status. He then lays out three examples in which an LGBTQ+ student or professor might be silenced due to their identity. Finally, Cornwall addresses the cherry-picking of Christianity involved in homophobia, and emphasizes that it is minority groups who actually experience offensive speech and silencing. Here is the article from The Campus' archives, as well as photos of the article as it was originally printed.
Richard Cornwall (Economics Professor)
May 9, 1991
(May 9) The Campus: "Upham misunderstands PC"
This op/ed is a direct response to David Upham's second article written two weeks prior in the April 25 issue of The Campus, and also references Kevin Moss's rebuttal to Upham's first letter. This article describes how Political Correctness has become a popular scapegoat for public actions that people dislike. Coyle points out that even as Upham targets Political Correctness as a problem and claims Middlebury is stifling discourse, his articles continue to be printed uncensored. Coyle also notes that if Upham's crusade against homosexuals succeeded, then they would be silenced and criminalized. So it seems Upham isn't actually arguing against persecution or censorship, just for his beliefs to be the dominant world order. Coyle makes an analogy to the persecution and murder of left-handed people in the olden days who were also viewed by some as "intrinsically evil." He looks to a scientific study which shows that about 10% of the population is left handed and about 10% is homosexual, and states that Upham gives no rational argument as to why one would be any more harmful to society than the other. Coyle concludes by saying that PC embodies a greater sensitivity to diversity and inclusion, and though Upham is resentful of having to follow the administration's code of ethics and morality, everyone is accountable to the sexual harassment policy. Here is the article from The Campus' archives, as well as photos of the article as it was originally printed.
Hugh Coyle (Administrative Director of
the Bread Loaf School of English)
May 9, 1991
(April 25) The Campus: "Homosexuality is unnatural and evil"
This op/ed follows a previous article from Upham (2 weeks prior), and articles that were written in response to it (1 week prior.) Upham makes his position on homosexual acts as "both unnatural and intrinsically evil" very clear. He says that he wishes to appeal to those who support his right to express these opinions, whether they agree with them or not. Upham then engages in conservative fear-mongering, claiming that Middlebury will begin prosecuting students for "politically incorrect ideas" in totalitarian style and that the sexual harassment policy puts an end to discussion. Finally, Upham restates his claim (which had already been disproven) that homosexuality as a mental disorder was still a matter of debate in the professional field of psychology and in the psychology department at Middlebury. Here is the article from The Campus' archives, as well as photos of the article as it was originally printed.
David Upham
April 25, 1991