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A Violation of Both the Law and the Spirit – New York Times: “Imagining that late December night of long darkness, you can almost hear these youths of Vermont tramping up to the isolated farmhouse to intrude upon the sanctuary stillness. The break of snow beneath their feet would be the least of it. They had driven or walked a half-mile up a snow-covered lane called Frost Road, then trudged past a large blue sign that explained the historic significance of the farmhouse and the cabin beyond. And now they were entering the coldness of an uninhabited place, carrying with them cases of beer, bottles of rum and a store of ignorance about things that matter here.”
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January 28, 2008 at 6:42 pm
marshall '04
As a recent Midd grad (’04), I recognize the importance of Robert Frost, both in the history of literature and the story of Middlebury. There is no doubt that the Robert Frost cabin is/was a real tribute to the beautiful outdoors about which he wrote.
And there is no doubt that these High School students made some really poor decisions (a euphemism for saying they are dumb teenagers), both in choosing to drink underage –but let’s be honest, that happens daily on the Middlebury Campus– and in deeming it necessary to enter and destroy a small log cabin with priceless historical significance.
And yet, these party-goers really only committed some (most likely) random acts of vandalism. I admit I may have missed some details, but as far as I know, there was no hate involved, no one was physically hurt, the damage was done to some inanimate objects that, in a tangible practical sense effects very few if anyone. Far greater crimes are committed regularly.
And so, while I think it was obvious that the students should pay for the damages and maybe have further punishments as well, I hardly think that this story deserves the amount of attention that both the media and Middlebury College has given it.
Some dumb kids threw a party in the woods. I’m pretty sure that’s been going on for a while.