WBTN On-Air Personality Tim Thompson Interviews SVC Cross Country Captain, Bennington, VT

Thompson & Captain Alisha Somero take a break during an interview about SVC's successful 2002 cross-country season.

 

2002 Southern Vermont College Women's Softball Team Photo (Mountaineer Pride)

Lady Moutaineers ready to take the field. Spring, 2002.

 

'Toilet Talk' Was Newsletter to Be Read on the Can - Southern Vermont College Dorms

 

In a pre-smart phone era, SVC students caught up with campus news during their most vulnerable moments.

College students have always been busy, so the SVC Residence Life Department came up with an ingenious way to keep everyone up to date on campus happenings: posting a newsletter directly across from the toilet!

Toilet Talk dates back to the early 2000s, before the days of smartphones, tablets, and social media. Back then, a trip to the bathroom offered a rare moment free from digital distractions, making it the perfect opportunity for the Residence Director to share important news with students living on campus.

The topics reflected everyday life in the residence halls. One issue tackled the SVC fire extinguisher policy, while another outlined spring break housing guidelines. Students were also tempted with free food and phone cards if they volunteered for the annual Phone-a-thon. Whether it was reminders, campus policies, or upcoming events, Toilet Talk made sure students stayed informed—even in the most unexpected place.

Publications like Toilet Talk have largely disappeared in today's connected world, replaced by emails, text messages, and social media posts. Still, it's hard not to smile when looking back on those simpler days at the foot of Mt. Anthony, when life moved at a slower pace and the evening's biggest decision might just have been choosing between a Bud Light and a Busch.

Bennington, VT Mansion - Mount Anthony
by Fiedler_Mundt

Southern Vermont College (Bennington) Track & Field - Williams College Relays Results - April 13, 2002 (SVC Athletes Set Several Records)

Several SVC athletes set new records and personal bests at the 2002 Track & Field Williams College Relays.

What SVC lacked in size, it more than made up for with skill, perseverance, and sheer grit. A glance at the championship banners hanging in the Fieldhouse—or the trophies and plaques lining Athletic Director Scott Kilgallon's office—was all the proof anyone needed. Together, they told the story of the many SVC teams that rose to the top through determination, teamwork, and talent.

Watercolor Painting of Everett Mansion Lawn, Southern Vermont College (Watercolors 101 with Professor Greg Winterhalter)

Student created watercolor of Everett Mansion lawn.

Nobody will mistake it for a masterpiece, but this is my watercolor interpretation of the Southern Vermont College campus. It was my sophomore year, and my course load was looking pretty intimidating. Hoping to balance things out, I enrolled in Introduction to Watercolors as an elective, taught by the legendary Professor Greg Winterhalter.

The start of the fall semester always meant long lines in the basement SVC bookstore. I knew I was in for a treat when manager Wanda handed me paints, brushes, and a palette—but no textbooks. At last, a class where I could relax while learning a new skill.

Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. Greg's trademark slide presentations taught us the fundamentals of watercolor technique and color theory. Once we had mastered the basics, he gave us a demonstration of his own. The class watched in amazement as he transformed a blank sheet of paper into a stunning watercolor in just a matter of minutes.

After a few sessions painting fruit and still lifes, we graduated to bigger and better subjects: the great outdoors. Armed with jackets, coffee, and the occasional cigarette, we gathered on the Everett Mansion's tiled patio, where sweeping views of Bennington and the Green Mountains served as our classroom. Stone walls, fiery autumn leaves, stately evergreens, and the Battle Monument rising in the distance—an aspiring artist couldn't have asked for a more inspiring landscape.

More than 20 years later, this watercolor still brings a smile to my face. Life at SVC wasn't always easy. Between demanding classes and a part-time job, there was rarely much time to slow down. But Introduction to Watercolors offered a welcome escape from those daily pressures. Sitting on the Everett Mansion patio on a crisp autumn afternoon, paintbrush in hand, surrounded by good friends and spectacular scenery—that's the kind of college memory that stays with you for a lifetime.

Bennington, VT Vintage Map
by Fiedler_Mundt

Southern Vermont College (Bennington) 2002 Honors Convocation Ceremony Booklet (Awards, Scholarships Presented)

The 2002 SVC Honors Convocation recognized student achievement and advancement.

I can't remember whether Friday, May 3, 2002, was a beautiful spring day, but I'm sure there was a sense of excitement in the air as President Barbara Sirvis welcomed students, faculty, and staff to the 2002 Southern Vermont College Honors Convocation at 1:30 p.m.

Southern Vermont College (Bennington) 2002 Alpha Chi Vermont Delta Induction Ceremony

 

Vermont Delta Chapter number 351 was installed at SVC in 1999.

SVC was home to a chapter of the Alpha Chi honor society, and this flyer from 2002 details the new member induction ceremony.