The Cape and Broom Fund Must End

Dear Annual Giving Office,

Recently, I received a letter in the mail asking to contribute to the annual giving office to help alleviate the financial hardships the school has undergone in the current economic recession. This marks my first donation request as a Middlebury Alumnus -- a time that should be a happy and joyous occasion celebrating the long journey from acceptance to graduation to joining a proud group of Alumni who contribute to the school to ensure the College upholds its high standards of learning.

Yet, this is no such time.

Before I decide to donate some of my hard-earned dollars to the College I love, I would like to express a few grievances about the financial allocations process, mainly about the absurdity of providing funding to Harry Potter wannabees who trounce around with brooms that don't fly between their legs and put my beloved Middlebury on the national radar for its Quidditch 'team.'

The fact that the Quidditch program receives school funding while other legitimate programs go unfunded puts an unfair burden on the students who are involved in real, worthwhile projects and organizations that would benefit greatly from the money being allocated to the Cape and Broom fund.

While I firmly believe that every person has an equal right to participate in any and all activities that spark their interest, a major problem arises when money from my (very expensive) tuition is being used on fruitless expenses such as custom capes and brooms for the Quidditch 'team.' It's one thing to pick up a broom from a closet to play a little make believe, but its something altogether different for a reputable school such as Middlebury to facilitate the continuation of a 'fantasy-land meets college campus' environment by paying for such ridiculousness.

Before I continue on the absurdity of having a college funded (partially funded to be fair -- they did sell shirts saying "I've Got 99 Problems but a Snitch Aint One" to raise some money,) Quidditch program, let's take a look at some of the school's most recent cutbacks and programs that lack funding.

The most notable cutback is dining. Middlebury closed the newest dining hall for the 2009-2010 academic year. I'm not saying that this was a bad move, given the current economic climate, but how about reinvesting money spent on, say, capes and brooms and put it towards things students need to live, you know, like food.

Our 2009 National Championship-winning Rugby team traveled to California for the national tournament, yet received no financial aid from the school. In fact, athletics across the board have taken a financial hit with the exception of Quidditch -- that is if you do indeed believe this fictional game falls under the category of athletics.

The decision of what gets funding and what does not has created a preferential hierarchy as to what are deemed important programs by the school. As a recent alum, I am concerned with the direction the school is headed if it continues to endorse the Quidditch team while issuing cutbacks across the board and turning its back on longstanding programs that could greatly use the help.

What people do on their own free time is completely up to them. But when an institution of higher learning charges $50,780 in tuition and allocates some of that money to the cape and broom fund, something is not right.

Now, on the other hand, if the school decided to invest that money to research for inventing brooms that actually fly, we can talk. The game might then be more exciting and would bring something to the table other than a bunch of young adults (I use that term referring only to age) who think Halloween is more than once a year. In fact, discovering flying brooms would be a worthwhile investment and I would support it wholeheartedly, if for nothing else, than to keep me out of the security lines at the airport.

Financial matters aside, Middlebury -- ranked the 4th best liberal arts college by US News -- is a place that should be preparing future world leaders and pioneers of industry for the reality of life beyond the campus walls. Instead, we have students living a fantasy by playing a game from a fictional book about wizardry and witchcraft. Let's leave the Quidditch games for the land of fiction, the young children (perhaps we need a disclaimer saying: 'Quidditch suitable for children UNDER the age of 12,) and the movies.

After all is said and done, Middlebury is getting on the national airwaves for Quidditch. Not for the top ranked languages program, the dynasty that has become Middlebury Hockey, or our virtually unstoppable 11-0 Rugby Team who has outscored their opponents 541-74 this season. This is a shame that does a disservice to the Middlebury name and tradition and its alumni everywhere.

I will donate if and only I can be guaranteed that the money will NOT be spent on any capes whatsoever. As for brooms, as long as they are used for cleaning and not for holding between their legs and pretend-flying, I have no problem with that.

Sincerely,
Chris Sesno
Middlebury Class of 2009