[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 106 (Tuesday, September 12, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8423-S8424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 355--COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

  Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Jeffords) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 355

       Whereas in the fall of 1800, a group of distinguished 
     Vermonters, including Jeremiah Atwater, Nathaniel Chipman, 
     Herman Ball, Elijah Paine, Gamaliel Painter, Israel Smith, 
     Stephen R. Bradley, Seth Storrs, Stephen Jacob, Daniel 
     Chipman, Lot Hall, Aaron Leeland, Gershom C. Lyman, Samuel 
     Miller, Jedediah P. Buckingham, and Darius Matthews, 
     petitioned the Vermont General Assembly for the establishment 
     of a new institution of higher education in the town of 
     Middlebury, Vermont;
       Whereas on November 1, 1800, the Vermont General Assembly 
     adopted a law to establish a college in Middlebury and named 
     this group of distinguished Vermonters to be known as ``the 
     President and fellows of Middlebury college'', and designated 
     Jeremiah Atwater as the new college's first President;
       Whereas on November 5, 1800, less than 1 week after 
     receiving its Charter, Middlebury College opened its doors to 
     7 students and 1 professor using space at the local grammar 
     school for instruction;
       Whereas by 1810, the college had grown to 110 students and 
     needed space of its own, and the campus of Middlebury College 
     was built, and on May 19, 2000, the United States Postal 
     Service issued postcards to commemorate the Old Stone Row and 
     the first 3 buildings of the Middlebury College campus;
       Whereas over the last 2 centuries, Middlebury College has 
     evolved from 1 of the first colleges in the United States 
     into 1 of the most respected liberal arts colleges in the 
     Nation, with more than 2,000 students, almost 200 professors, 
     and a main campus of over 250 acres;
       Whereas the Middlebury College Bicentennial Planning 
     Commission has designed Celebration 2000 to commemorate this 
     milestone in Vermont's and the Nation's educational history;
       Whereas this bicentennial is a celebration honoring the 
     people and events that have made and continue to make 
     Middlebury College a leader in higher education;
       Whereas Celebration 2000 features concerts, plays, and 
     symposia, both on campus and at additional locations such as 
     the New York Public Library, and the dedication of a new

[[Page S8424]]

     science building, Bicentennial Hall, with an exterior that 
     resembles the Old Stone Row and the early architectural 
     history of this 200-year-old school; and
       Whereas the year-long celebration of 2 centuries of quality 
     higher education will culminate during Founders' Week, 
     November 1st through 5th, 2000, when a variety of events will 
     occur in honor of Middlebury, the college, and Middlebury, 
     the college's town: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate commends and congratulates Middlebury 
     College on the completion of its first 200 years of 
     educational excellence and wishes the college continued 
     success as it commences a third century of educational 
     opportunity and leadership; and
       (2) the Secretary of the Senate shall send a copy of this 
     resolution to the Middlebury College President, John M. 
     McCardell, Jr.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce a resolution on 
behalf of myself and Senator Jeffords to commemorate 200 years of 
quality higher education at nationally acclaimed Middlebury College 
located in Middlebury, Vermont.
  In the fall of 1800, a group of distinguished Vermonters petitioned 
the Vermont General Assembly for the establishment of a new institution 
of higher education in the small agricultural town of Middlebury. On 
November 1, 1800 these efforts proved successful when the Vermont 
General Assembly adopted a law to establish a college in Middlebury. 
Less than one week after receiving its charter, Middlebury College 
opened its doors to seven students and one professor in space at the 
local grammar school.
  Over the last two centuries, Middlebury College has evolved from one 
of the first colleges in Vermont into one of the most respected liberal 
arts colleges in the Nation. Today, Middlebury has more than two 
thousand students, almost two hundred professors, and a main campus of 
over 250 acres. The campus of was first built beginning in 1810 with 
three larger stone buildings, each sharing a unique architectural 
style. On May 19, 2000, the United States Postal Service issued 
postcards to commemorate the Old Stone Row and the first buildings of 
the Middlebury College campus.
  In recognition of 200 years of educating students from across this 
country and the world, the Middlebury College Bicentennial Planning 
Commission has designed Celebration 2000 to commemorate this milestone 
in Vermont's and the Nation's educational history. The year-long 
bicentennial celebration honors the people and events that have made 
and continue to make Middlebury College a leader in higher education. 
Celebration 2000 features concerts, plays, and symposia, both on campus 
and at additional locations such as the New York Public Library, and 
the dedication of a new science building, Bicentennial Hall, with an 
exterior that resembles the Old Stone row and the school's early 
architectural history. This year-long celebration will culminate later 
this fall during Founders' Week, a series of events on campus during 
the first week of November.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to offer this resolution to commend and 
congratulate Middlebury College on the completion of its first two 
hundred years of educational excellence. I hope my colleagues will join 
Senator Jeffords and me in honoring the contributions of the school, 
its students and its alumni.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr President, I rise today to join my good friend and 
colleague from Vermont in introducing a Resolution commending and 
congratulating Middlebury College on 200 years of providing quality 
higher education in Vermont. It gives me great pleasure in wishing this 
prestigious institution a very happy anniversary.
  When Middlebury College first opened, seven students and one 
professor made up the entire faculty and student body. Two hundred 
years later, this institution has grown to include over 2000 and nearly 
200 professors, and continues to remain a top rated liberal arts 
school.
  As Middlebury College nears the culmination of their year-long 
celebration of their bicentennial, it is only fitting that we take this 
opportunity to recognize the accomplishments and achievements of 
Middlebury College and the many graduates thereof.
  Therefore it gives me great pleasure in joining Senator Leahy in 
introducing this resolution and I urge my colleagues to support its 
adoption.

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