MONTPELIER — Public furor over a plan announced last Friday by Jeb Spaulding, chancellor of the Vermont State College System, to close three state colleges by the fall prompted him to withdraw the proposal on Wednesday. “It was pretty drastic proposal given that it would close half the system,” State Sen. Ruth Hardy said before Spaulding’s change of heart was announced. Like most other members of the Addison County Legislative delegation, Hardy received a torrent of calls and emails criticizing Spaulding’s … (read more)