Freshmen are placed in one of the five "Commons." Each Commons has its own housing plan, starting with freshman dorms and moving on to better campus housing as students move up the ranks. The Commons offer several housing options, and students can quickly establish their preferences. In Ross Commons, for example, it's possible to wander four different hotel-like dorm complexes and eat at the dining hall without ever leaving the building. Some students stay in their commons for all four years and are rewarded with more Commons "points," while others choose to move closer to their friends.
The freshman dorms consist mostly of double-occupancy rooms that are single-sex by floor. Many students meet their closest friends in their freshman halls. As students move forward, they can choose from larger singles, two-room doubles, suites, or "Mods," which are basically trailers with kitchens and living spaces shared by five or more students. Senior students often try to secure one of the Middlebury-owned campus houses, and a small percentage move into apartments off-campus or larger houses further off the beaten path.
Ronald Liebowitz is the third faculty member to be named Middlebury’s president, having formerly served as a professor in the geography department. Liebowitz took the job in 2004 and has since become something of a legend on campus. “Liebstock” and “Liebowitz Day” are two popular campus events that may or may not be celebrated ironically, although they're definitely fun.
Since taking office, Liebowitz has implemented the Middlebury Initiative, brought the Monterey Institute of International Studies under Middlebury's institutional umbrella, and shaped a comprehensive “strategic plan” for the college's future. He has been criticized for his droll public speaking and extensively "marketing" the Middlebury "brand."
Julia Alvarez (1971) is an award-winning poet and novelist.
John Deere (attended) founded the John Deere line of tractors and steel plows.
Dispatch (Chad Stokes-1998, Brad Corrigan-1996, Pete Heimbold-1999) is a folk/rock band that formed at Middlebury.
Eve Ensler (1975) is a playwright whose work include The Vagina Monologues.
Ari Fleischer (1982) is former White House press secretary for the Bush administration.
Dana Reeve (1984) is a philanthropist and wife of the late Christopher Reeve.
Vendela Vida (1993) is a well-known author and, along with her husband Dave Eggers, runs the "826" tutoring programs across the country.
