MIDDLEBURY — Here come the college students.
On Wednesday, Sept. 6, about 570 Middlebury College freshmen are expected to arrive on campus for orientation.
The majority of the class of 2010 and their families are expected to arrive between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. that day. Students have been directed to go to the college’s welcome center in Kenyon Arena, and will then drive to their residence halls through campus routes. The college estimates that about 800 family members will accompany the new students.
Although all orientation activities will be based on campus, it is likely that the students’ arrival will impact traffic patterns in town. The college encourages town residents to plan accordingly, and apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
The college’s upperclassmen will return to campus beginning Saturday, Sept. 9,
Middlebury College students living on campus will pay a comprehensive fee of $44,330 for the 2006-2007 school year.
This year’s incoming class of first-years hails from 39 foreign countries and 46 states. Six percent of the students in the incoming class are from Vermont. They will take part in orientation events through Sunday, Sept. 10, ranging from small group seminars to class registration to convocation.
Of particular interest to many new students are the “Deliberative Dialogues,” which consist of cultural discussions among students, faculty and staff who differ in nationality, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, political preference and family structure. All new students participate in a Deliberative Dialogue on a topic of their choice, and each group is led by a returning student. The framework introduces a new approach to talking about provocative and potentially divisive issues in a way that focuses on common ground rather than debate. More information about orientation is available on the Middlebury College Web site, www.middlebury.edu.
From Sept. 2-6, prior to orientation, some 250 students will participate in the optional Middlebury Outdoor Orientation (MOO), which offers students the chance to choose between a variety of overnight trips. The trips feature a number of outdoor activities, including trail maintenance, canoeing, rock climbing, fly fishing, backpacking and volunteer service projects.
Currently in its 19th year, MOO trips are run by a student organization that was founded by members of the Middlebury College Mountain Club. MOO’s trips take place in Vermont and in New York’s Adirondack Mountains.
 
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MIDDLEBURY — Over the last few weeks, numerous nervous, first-time college students have bee asking, “What should I pack for college?” And what ends up in their trunks and duffel bags is a clear reflection of how technology has influenced the items now considered essential college gear. The following is a brief sampling of what past and current students have packed for college over the last five decades as compiled by the college:
Class of 1955
• one dark blue suit for seated meals
• portable typewriter
• treasured collection of 78s and LPs
Class of 1978
• AM/FM clock radio
• electric typewriter
• 10-speed bike
• Frisbee
Class of 1999
• portable fridge and microwave
• boom box and CDs
• word processor
• case of Ramen noodles
Class of 2010
• iPod
• laptop
• lacrosse stick
• Blackberry
“Students bring vast collections of media with them — their entire music, video, game, and photo collections can fit in their pockets — and thus they travel within their own personalized spaces,” said Middlebury College Assistant Professor of Film and Media Culture Jason Mittell. “The challenge for today’s students is often less about how to remain connected with home, and more about how to disconnect from their media-saturated worlds and engage in the face-to-face academic and social interaction of a smaller campus like Middlebury.”