News Windham County Legislators Take Part in Public Discussion during Marlboro College’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, May 4

Marlboro, VT -- (April 24, 2008) -- On Sunday, May 4, Marlboro College will honor its 60th Anniversary with a series of events that commemorate its history and embrace its democratic culture – all that and birthday cake, too!

Eight legislators from Windham County have confirmed they will be attending the celebration: Sen. Jeanette White (D-Putney), Sen. Peter Shumlin (D-Putney), Rep. Sarah Edwards (P-Brattleboro), Rep. Mike Mrowicki (D-Putney), Rep. Dick Marek (D-Newfane), Rep. Virginia Milkey (D-Brattleboro), Rep. Daryl Pillsbury (I-Brattleboro) and Rep. Ann Manwaring (D-Wilmington). All will be part of a public discussion on issues facing Vermont in Ragle Hall at 1:30 pm.

In early April, a resolution honoring Marlboro College on its 60th anniversary was introduced by Senator White and passed by the Vermont State General Assembly. The resolution will be read aloud at a community luncheon held at 12:00 noon in the dining hall, followed by birthday cake and a preview of the Early Voices documentary -- an oral history project about the school's origins produced and directed by Marlboro College graduate Carrie Sterr.

Events will be taking place across the campus starting at 11:00 a.m. with the dedication of the Roderick M. Gander Center for World Studies. Ongoing throughout the day will be tours of the new Total Health Center, discussions of ''Greening from the Heart'' campus projects such as the construction of the new Outdoors Program building using sustainable methods, and views of historic Marlboro moments.

The day's activities conclude at 3:00 pm in the Whittemore Theater with a rare public reading by poet Hayden Carruth. Carruth published his first volume of poetry, ''The Crow and the Heart,'' in 1959, and has since published more than 30 books. Several of Carruth's best-known poems are about the people and places of northern Vermont, where he lived for many years with his wife, the poet Joe-Anne McLaughlin. His poetry is informed by his political radicalism and sense of cultural responsibility, as well as rural poverty and hardship.

Marlboro requests that people interested in attending RSVP by contacting the public relations office at 802-251-7644 or pr@marlboro.edu.

Celebrating 60 years, Marlboro College offers undergraduate education in the liberal arts and, since 1997, graduate study focused on Internet technologies. Its 330 undergraduate students enjoy an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, a voice in governing the community and individualized courses of study on a 350-acre campus in the hills of southern Vermont.

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