Editorial Writing Samples

September 21, 2012 Staff Information Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick Managing Editor Morgan Forester News Editor Tyler Dumont Layout Editor Ashley Christie Sports Editor Daniel Weiner Photo Editor Sarah Murphy Letters to the Editor The Critic welcomes letters and opinions.

All letters must include the author’s phone number and address. The Critic will not publish letters until we have confirmed the authorship of the letter. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Critic reserves the right to edit comments. The deadline for letters is 6 p.m. the Tuesday before publication.

Please send your letters to: critic@lyndonstate.edu or The Critic LSC Box #7951 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Advertising Policy Advertising materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication.

Ads must be in PDF format and should be emailed to: ashley.seymour@lyndonstate.edu Coverage Requests Please submit requests for coverage to the editor at: Samantha.VanSchoick@lyndonstate.edu Office/Contact Information The Critic office is located in Vail 203A Find The Critic online at: lyndonstatecritic.com Lyndon State College and the Vermont State College System are not responsible for the content of this publication.

OPINION

The Critic, Page 2

Work Hard, Play Hard Samantha VanSchoick Editor-in-Chief I’ve always wondered who owned the hot air balloon that soars over Lyndon almost every week during the summer and fall months.

After wondering the question aloud to Facebook, a local by the name of David Woodcock said he was old friends with the couple who owned the balloon and arranged for me to meet them just before a launch.

As soon as I saw Heinz Fischer and Lyndy Burdet, a married couple in their early 80’s, I could tell they had a love for fun.

“We work hard at playing,” said Lyndy.

“Hienz didn’t retire until the day of his 65th birthday, and we’ve been so busy since then we don’t know how he ever had time to work!”

She’s not kidding. In 2008, Heinz and Lyndy became the oldest couple to ski the North Pole. The couple, led by guides, were dropped from a helicopter and skied the 6.39 kilometers to the North Pole.

Oh, and did I mention both Lyndy and Heinz are airplane pilots?

When they became interested in ballooning 19 years ago, both already were registered airplane pilots. The process to getting a balloon license is similar to getting a pilot’s license, with oral, written, and physical components to the test.

“For me getting the balloon license was much harder than the plane because there is so much more to know about weather,” Lyndy explained.

Photo by Samantha VanSchoick

Hienz Fischer fills the balloon as Lyndy Burdet and a crew member hold the ballon in place.

Over the past 19 years Lyndy and Heinz have been giving free hot air balloon rides to people in the area, but now they only give rides to close friends and family.

“I took a woman up and I checked everybody out for their weight and their

you okay we haven’t seen you?” Lyndy said.

“Oh, it’s a toy, but its been fun.”

Lyndy, a cancer survivor, also took part in the Willoughby Plunge last winter. The event where people jump into a frigid Willoughby Lake raises money for the American Cancer Society.

“We work hard at playing,”

It is so cliché, but after meeting Lyndy and Heinz, I found myself inspired by their enthusiasm for life. Watching them set up for the balloon launch, I could see how

Lyndy Burdet

much they loved what they were doing.

And as they floated up into the air and

health. I thought she was fine to get up there and she said ‘I never leave home without my heart medicine,’ and at that point I was like no more rides, except for maybe our family and crew,” said Lyndy.

Lyndy and Heinz have somewhat of a local celebrity since beginning ballooning.

“People I don’t even know say they saw us and say ‘Where have you been’ and ‘Are

started waving down at us, I couldn’t help but laugh. They are just the kind of people that simply being around them infects you with happiness.

Now that the semester is in full swing, we should all take a lesson from Lyndy and Heinz: Let’s get our work done, but let’s remember to have some fun.

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER 9/13-9/18 9/13 – Smoking Gazebo (Stonehenge Parking Lot) Students rearranging drainage stones

9/14 – Smoking Gazebo (Stonehenge Parking Lot)

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Unlawful mischief/gazebo damaged 9/15 – Rita Bole Residence Hall

Reckless driving; car parked on sidewalk in front of a fire hydrant 9/16 – Wheelock Residence Hall (Suite 440) Underage drinking

9/16 – Arnold Residence Hall (Suite 301) Underage drinking

9/17 – Smoking Gazebo (Stonehenge Parking Lot) Bottle rockets fired at the Gazebo 9/17 – Varsity (Soccer) Field

Report of “fire starter bricks”

9/18 – LSC-TV/News 7 Sexual harassment/intimidation/delinquent juvenile behavior Rick Wheeler P.O. Box 72 S

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246 Church Street Lyndonville,VT 05851 802 626 8235 Fax 802 626 6180

wheelersport@gmail.com

OPINION

October 19, 2012

Green and Gold Wednesdays: Corny or Cool?

Staff Information Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick

Samantha VanSchoick Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor Morgan Forester News Editor Tyler Dumont Layout Editor Ashley Christie Sports Editor Daniel Weiner Photo Editor Bryan Barber Letters to the Editor The Critic welcomes letters and opinions.

All letters must include the author’s phone number and address. The Critic will not publish letters until we have confirmed the authorship of the letter. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Critic reserves the right to edit comments. The deadline for letters is 6 p.m. the Tuesday before publication.

Please send your letters to: critic@lyndonstate.edu or The Critic LSC Box #7951 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Advertising Policy Advertising materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication.

Ads must be in PDF format and should be emailed to: ashley.seymour@lyndonstate.edu Coverage Requests Please submit requests for coverage to the editor at: Samantha.VanSchoick@lyndonstate.edu Office/Contact Information The Critic office is located in Vail 203A Find The Critic online at: lyndonstatecritic.com Lyndon State College and the Vermont State College System are not responsible for the content of this publication.

Let me preface this by saying how much I love Lyndon State College.

I love Lyndon… a lot. The last three years have been volatile ones in my personal life, and the people and connections I’ve made here have been amazingly supportive.

So yes, I love Lyndon.

I also love showing love for my school. I do so by recommending LSC to friends (and strangers!) who are searching for colleges, by dedicating time to various clubs and activities that enrich the LSC community, and by sporting a fabulous LSC bumper sticker on the back of my ‘91 Toyota pickup.

However, you won’t see me wearing green and gold on Wednesdays unless I’m at an LSC Hockey game (first game is this Saturday folks!).

Color me cynical, but it feels like I’ve time-warped back to high school “spirit week” (and at least that was only one week).

I’m having nightmares about ribbons and face paint. Okay, I’m exaggerating a bit, but the idea of a “Pride Patrol” is slightly terrifying to me. I’m imagining something like in The Godfather where I’m sitting at this table and the “pride patrol” are these Mafioso’s. You know…we’re laughing and talking and I’m the only one who doesn’t know I’m about to get whacked.

I’m not writing this to dissuade folks from wearing their green and gold.

I just don’t think the spirit is going to last. Events like these should be a once in a semester shot so people can get excited about it. Having it every Wednesday takes away from the excitement of school spirit and just makes it that “thing” everyone does every week.

Hey, maybe you’ll see me in some school colors around the winter holidays.

I mean, the G and G combination could make for some pretty cute party dresses. But then again, the “Pride Patrol” might get me before I have the chance.

Rick Wheeler P.O. Box 72 S

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wheelersport@gmail.com

The Critic, Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER 9/27 – 10/14

9/27 – Stonehenge Parking Lot Unknown person threw food on a student’s car 9/29 – Stonehenge Parking Lot Underage intoxicated females stumbling through parking lot with alcohol and unregistered guests 9/29 – Stonehenge Courtyard Underage males assisting heavily intoxicated female back to res. hall/one of the males furnished false information to public safety and res. life 9/29 – Stonehenge Parking Lot Underage intoxicated female vomits in parking lot; received escort back to room from public safety officer 9/29 – Stonehenge Parking Lot Intoxicated female tosses cigarette on parked vehicle and kick driver side door. Friend had concealed alcohol containers in backpack 9/29 – Wheelock Parking Lot Motor Vehicle Accident 9/29 – Stonehenge Courtyard Underage intoxicated male ran from public safety on foot, officer pursued but lost track of suspect; failure to comply with directions/ suspect later identified, confronted and documented 9/29 – Poland Res. Hall, Suite 502 Lost or missing student (Student disappeared for more than two hours. Found by friends with help of public safety officer.)

9/29 – Arnold Res. Hall, Suite 302 Welfare check on student with no contact for two weeks 9/29 – Wheelock Res. Hall, 1st Floor Fire Alarm Activation 9/30 – Stonehenge Parking Lot Intoxicated student fell off campus; girlfriend brought him to hospital for medical attention 9/30 - Stonehenge Parking Lot Open alcohol container in vehicle 9/30 – Stonehenge Lot Unregistered guest roaming around campus without host 9/30 – Crevecoeur Res. Hall Search of a residential room for potential weapons or fireworks. Nothing found.

10/1 – Lower Vail Lot Traffic violation: Subject sleeping in vehicle in rear of lot 10/1 – ATT Graffiti on exterior wall of ATT

CORRECTIONS

10/2 – Hornet’s Nest Larceny/attempted shoplifting: Student caught attempting to shoplift on two separate occasions.

10/5 – LAC Bag of marijuana found in stairwell 10/5 – Crevecoeur Res. Hall, Suite 202 Underage students drinking in residence hall room 10/5 – Crevecour Report of someone smoking outside student window next to building 10/5 – Bayley Res. Hall, Suite 601 Alcohol: Underage student furnishes false information 10/5 - Stonehenge Parking Lot Student caught hanging onto a truck while on a skateboard 10/5 – LAC, 4th Floor Alcohol bottles found on roof 10/5 – LAC Defacement/Vandalism: Spray painting 10/8 - Cross Country Trail Makeshift structures on campus 10/8 – Poland Res. Hall, 1st floor Damage to hand rail 10/8 – Failure to Comply with Directions Skateboarding in academic building; student disregarded warning 10/12 – Rogers, Suite 302 Alcohol discovered during fire alarm/underage drinking/public intoxication/trespassing or unauthorized presence/furnishing false information/drugs 10/13 – Bayley, Suite 701 Student arrested involved in alcohol incident that they ran from/failure to comply with directions/underage drinking/trespassing and unauthorized presence 10/13 – Lyndon State College Vermont State Police took male student into custody. Processed and issued a citation for minor misrepresenting age or procuring or possessing liquors. Transported to the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility to be detoxed 10/13 – Rogers Res. Hall Vermont State Police cite a female student for charges of minors misrepresenting age or procuring or possessing liquors 10/14 – Crevecour Res. Hall Unauthorized presence during break period

SEND IT TO

• SGA Executive Vice President Meghan Dolyak received a $500 student-paid stipend last year.

• William Johnson’s court date for breaking his window in Rita Bole is set for October 25.

To submit corrections, email: critic@lyndonstate.edu

Email News Tips to Editor Tyler Dumont at Tyler.Dumont@lyndonstate.edu

OPINION

October 26, 2012 Staff Information

The Critic, Page 2

The Facebook Addiction

Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick Managing Editor Morgan Forester

Samantha VanSchoick Editor

News Editor Tyler Dumont Layout Editor Ashley Christie

I like to think of Facebook as a friend. You know, that weird annoying friend that you don’t really want to hang out with, but you do because you’ve known them for a long time, and your mom would make you feel guilty for ignoring them?

Yeah, you know what I’m sayin’. Facebook is definitely “that” friend.

So, you might be wondering, if I’m so annoyed by this friend why am I constantly on him?

• He makes me feel so good.

Scrolling through my Facebook feed, filled by friend’s posts (and more family than I wish I was friends with), I see posts with grammar that would make every character on Sesame Street cringe and Honey-BooBoo proud.

Then I think: I might be laying in bed, wearing sweatpants, eating popcorn and staring at a screen—but at least I can spell.

• I would absolutely have no idea who to vote for if I didn’t have a Facebook. Thank heavens that I have no need for newspapers, broadcast journalists, fact-checkers, and debates. I can safely rely on memes to lead me to the right choice.

• If I didn’t have a Facebook, how would I possibly keep my title as World’s Best Professional Procrastinator? I would spend all the time previously spent hanging out with my friend Facebook doing *gag* productive things like completing homework and not writing my editorials 15 minutes before layout. The horror!

As you can see, I could never abandon my faithful friend, because with all his faults, he’s still the man.

Sports Editor Daniel Weiner Photo Editor Bryan Barber Letters to the Editor The Critic welcomes letters and opinions.

All letters must include the author’s phone number and address. The Critic will not publish letters until we have confirmed the authorship of the letter. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Critic reserves the right to edit comments. The deadline for letters is 6 p.m. the Tuesday before publication.

Please send your letters to: critic@lyndonstate.edu or The Critic LSC Box #7951 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Advertising Policy Advertising materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication.

Ads must be in PDF format and should be emailed to: ashley.seymour@lyndonstate.edu Coverage Requests Please submit requests for coverage to the editor at: Samantha.VanSchoick@lyndonstate.edu Office/Contact Information The Critic office is located in Vail 203A Find The Critic online at: lyndonstatecritic.com Lyndon State College and the Vermont State College System are not responsible for the content of this publication.

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER 10/17 – 10/23 10/17 - Vail, Second Floor Larceny/Failure to Comply with Directions: Shoplifting from snack bar (Hornet’s Nest) 10/18 – Whitelaw Res. Hall, Third Floor Sexual Assault on LSC student 10/19 – Rita Bole Parking Lot Two intoxicated males and one intoxicated underage female ran from public safety officers. Officers pursued subjects into woods; found hiding on ground in swampy area and documented subjects for public information and open container 10/19 – Vail Parking Lot, Emergency Phone Violation of State or Federal Laws: Underage subject driving under the influence of alcohol 10/20 – Stonehenge Parking Lot Student responsible for unregistered guests and one underage intoxicated male

Rick Wheeler

10/20 – Rita Bole Res. Hall/ B Wing Missing fire extinguisher

P.O. Box 72 S

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246 Church Street Lyndonville,VT 05851 802 626 8235 Fax 802 626 6180

wheelersport@gmail.com

WE WANT YOUR LETTERS! There are three ways to send in your opinions:

BY MAIL: The Critic, 1001 College Rd., LSC Box #7951, Lyndonville, VT, 05851

BY EMAIL: critic@lyndonstate.edu IN-PERSON: Drop submissions off at our office in Vail 203A

FACEBOOK.COM/

LSCCRITIC

10/20 – LSC Campus Student came back from off-campus, intoxicated 10/21 – HAC, First Floor Unlawful mischief/destruction of property: Heat duct and ceiling pulled down 10/23 – Whitelaw, Fourth Floor, Suite 901 Drugs/Marijuana

SEND IT TO

Email News Tips to Editor Tyler Dumont at Tyler.Dumont@lyndonstate.edu

November 2, 2012 Staff Information Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick Managing Editor Morgan Forester News Editor Tyler Dumont Contributing Copy Editor Haley Craig Layout Editor Ashley Christie Sports Editor Daniel Weiner Photo Editor Bryan Barber Letters to the Editor The Critic welcomes letters and opinions.

All letters must include the author’s phone number and address. The Critic will not publish letters until we have confirmed the authorship of the letter. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Critic reserves the right to edit comments. The deadline for letters is 6 p.m. the Tuesday before publication.

Please send your letters to: critic@lyndonstate.edu or The Critic LSC Box #7951 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Advertising Policy Advertising materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication.

Ads must be in PDF format and should be emailed to: ashley.seymour@lyndonstate.edu Coverage Requests Please submit requests for coverage to the editor at: Samantha.VanSchoick@lyndonstate.edu Office/Contact Information The Critic office is located in Vail 203A Find The Critic online at: lyndonstatecritic.com Lyndon State College and the Vermont State College System are not responsible for the content of this publication.

3-Day Weather Forecast Courtesy of the National Weather Service

FRIDAY

45 32

chance showers, evening rain/snow

SATURDAY

43 29

OPINION Social Media Sharing: Fact or Ficton?

Samantha VanSchoick Editor The story of Hurricane Sandy, as told by social media, went something like this: • Emotional photo of three service members guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers “in rain or shine.”

• Images of a flooded McDonalds, cups, straws, and bags soaked and floating.

• Images of the Statue of Liberty getting slammed by giant waves or surrounded by ominous clouds.

All of these images were poignant, but none of them were accurate.

The photo of service members at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers was taken in September, not on Monday as the caption proclaimed.

Many of the photos of giant waves and the Statue of Liberty were screenshots from apocalyptic movies such as “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Independence Day.” The image of a flooded McDonald’s was actually a shot from an art installation.

So the fact is, few were actually “sharing” the facts.

Social media, while helpful to those who wanted to keep in touch with loved ones in effected areas, spread so much false information about what was once Hurricane Sandy that it was scary.

Last week in my editorial, I jested about how I would never know whom to vote for if I did not check my Facebook. On Monday, I was reminded just how dangerous the spreading of false photos and information can be.

I was so annoyed by the sharing of one “fake” photo, that I shared it with the caption, “This photo isn’t real people.” One of my friends then suggested that perhaps there was no harm in sharing false photos.

As a journalist, I have to disagree.

The sharing of false information, amplified by the seriousness of the situation, can cause panic.

Sandy was terrible and destructive enough. Deceitful destruction photos are simply not necessary. The difference between sharing a “joke” photo and a simply false photo is that one is being portrayed as factual.

There is no way to stop people from sharing and tweeting false information.

It’s up to you, the individual. Please consider fact checking when posting to the world.

The Critic, Page 2

WE WANT YOUR LETTERS! There are three ways to send in your opinions:

BY MAIL: The Critic, 1001 College Rd., LSC Box #7951, Lyndonville, VT, 05851

BY EMAIL: critic@lyndonstate.edu IN-PERSON: Drop submissions off at our office in Vail 203A

A Statement from Lyndon State College President Bertolino on Hurricane Sandy While we are grateful that most of Vermont was spared the worst effects of “super storm” Sandy, our thoughts go out to those in our state and elsewhere in the northeast who suffered at the hands of this ferocious storm. Vermont’s experience last year with Tropical Storm Irene reminds us of the importance of community action in healing and helping in the wake of a weather event like this.

We are urging members of the College community to be involved in whatever way they can to aid those affected. Jonathan Ross, Lyndon’s community service coordinator, is identifying opportunities for us to roll up our sleeves and get involved. Non-perishable foods are being collected in the College’s Student Life Office on the first floor of the Rita Bole Complex through the end of this week and will be shipped to areas most in need.

We will also be posting notices on Lyndon’s storm relief efforts on the College’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/LyndonState.

Community service and supporting an ethic of caring is central to the mission of Lyndon State College. We are all in this together. Now is the time to serve.

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER 10/25-10/30 10/25 – Wheelock, Suite 110 Student in possession of drugs and alcohol/suspicious powder 10/25 –Gray House Students drinking in front of Gray House 10/25 – Whitelaw, Second Floor, Suite 702 Medical 10/26 – RHD Report/Violation of Room and Board Contract Violation of Student Guest Registration 10/28 – Gray House Destruction of Property/Windshield smashed 10/28 – Stevens Dining Hall Skateboarding inside building 10/29 – Arnold Strong smell of marijuana coming from resident’s room 10/30 – RHD Report/Alcohol Students drinking in breezeway

SEND IT TO

chance rain/snow, evening rain/snow Rick Wheeler

SUNDAY

40 21

chance rain/snow, evening clear

P.O. Box 72 S

Email News Tips to Editor Tyler Dumont at Tyler.Dumont@lyndonstate.edu

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246 Church Street Lyndonville, VT 05851 802 626 8235 Fax 802 626 6180

wheelersport@gmail.com

November 30, 2012 Staff Information Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick Managing Editor Morgan Forester News Editor Tyler Dumont Sports Editor Daniel Weiner Photo Editor Bryan Barber Letters to the Editor The Critic welcomes letters and opinions.

All letters must include the author’s phone number and address. The Critic will not publish letters until we have confirmed the authorship of the letter. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Critic reserves the right to edit comments. The deadline for letters is 6 p.m. the Tuesday before publication.

Please send your letters to: critic@lyndonstate.edu or The Critic LSC Box #7951 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Advertising Policy Advertising materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication.

Ads must be in PDF format and should be emailed to: Morgan.Forester@lyndonstate.edu Coverage Requests Please submit requests for coverage to the editor at: Samantha.VanSchoick@lyndonstate.edu Office/Contact Information The Critic office is located in Vail 203A Find The Critic online at: lyndonstatecritic.com Lyndon State College and the Vermont State College System are not responsible for the content of this publication.

3-Day Weather Forecast Courtesy of the National Weather Service

FRIDAY

21 10

partly sunny evening slight snow

SATURDAY

30 28 chance snow evening snow

SUNDAY

46 32

snow and sleet rain and snow likely

OPINION

The Critic, Page 2

Critic and The Literary Society MESH Forces Samantha VanSchoick Editor-in-Chief So you may have noticed an insert in the paper this week.

Last year, I came up with an idea: an alternative magazine on campus that features student creative writing, photography, artwork, and design.

I started asking around and found out about a club that had been disbanded called The Literary Society, which published a book of student writing and photography annually.

After talking with Chandler Gilman, creative writing professor and former advisor to LIT, I found that interest was still high.

So I got a group of students together and together we reinstated Literary Society as a club in the Student Government Association. Last year, in one semester, we published a 48-page magazine called “MESH” featuring the best submissions from professors, students, staff, and alumni. LIT sold these at five dollars a pop, a steal for this high quality magazine.

This year, I am happy to announce that Critic and MESH have collaborated to bring you this free insert of student work.

If you are a creative writer, photographer, artist, or designer, you can still submit to be published in this years magazine by emailing literarysociety@lyndonstate.edu.

Photo by Bryan Barber

Students, faculty, and staff are all anxiously awaiting for the fountain at the LSC Veterans Park to freeze so ice climbing workshops can begin.

LOOK ONLINE

issuu.com/lyndonstatecritic facebook.com/LSCcritic Critic Staff Blogs

Remember, MESH is creative candy.

Samantha VanSchoick smallpondbigsplash.blogspot.com Morgan Forester readwritecoffee.blogspot.com Tyler Dumont tylerdumont.com

Get yourself a piece—it’s calorie free.

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

Send News Tips to News Editor: tyler.dumont@lyndonstate.edu

11/9-11/28 11/9 - Wheelock, Suite 210 Drugs: Marijuana 11/10 - Vail, Second Floor Longboarding through Student Center 11/11 - Stonehenge Courtyard Medical: Student jumps in courtyard and hurts knee 11/11 - Rita Bole, Suite C210 Marijuana paraphernalia with residue 11/13 - Library and Academic Center Agitated LSC Student 11/16 - College Road Alcohol containers found outside of hockey game 11/16 - Wheelock Larceny: Theft of high chair from McDonald’s 11/16 - Whitelaw Drugs: Collected evidence from RHD Rossetti 11/18 - Rita Bole Parking Lot FYI Report: Ex-girlfriend issue 11/19 - Skateboard Court Makeshift structure with fire pit 11/23 - Rita Bole Student smoked marijuana in suite; set off fire alarm 11/24 - Lower Campus Road Student involved in a motor vehicle

Rick Wheeler P.O. Box 72 S

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246 Church Street Lyndonville, VT 05851 802 626 8235 Fax 802 626 6180

wheelersport@gmail.com

OPINION

March 15, 2013 Staff Information Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick

From the Editor

Congratulations! Let Me Clarify...

Managing Editor Morgan Forester

Sports Editor Corey Wells

I am proud to announce that The Critic has received two Society of Professional Journalists Region one “Mark of Excellence” Awards for “Feature Photography” and “InDepth reporting.”

Entertainment Editor Molly Anderson

SPJ Region one includes colleges in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Both Critic entries were classified in the “small” colleges category, which includes colleges with up to 5,000 students.

Photo Editor Bryan Barber Copy Editor Peter Nute Twitter Editor Greg Besso @lyndoncritic Letters to the Editor The Critic welcomes letters and opinions.

All letters must include the author’s phone number and address. The Critic will not publish letters until we have confirmed the authorship of the letter. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Critic reserves the right to edit comments. The deadline for letters is 6 p.m. the Tuesday before publication.

Please send your letters to: critic@lyndonstate.edu or The Critic LSC Box #7951 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Advertising Policy Advertising materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication.

Ads must be in PDF format and should be emailed to: Morgan.Forester@lyndonstate.edu Coverage Requests Please submit requests for coverage to the editor at: Samantha.VanSchoick@lyndonstate.edu Office/Contact Information The Critic office is located in Vail 203A Find The Critic online at: lyndonstatecritic.com Lyndon State College and the Vermont State College System are not responsible for the content of this publication.

3-Day Weather Forecast Courtesy of the National Weather Service

FRIDAY

33 21 Chance snow Chance snow

SATURDAY

33 14

Partly sunny Mostly cloudy

SUNDAY

31 9 Mostly sunny Mostly clear

Letter to the Editor

Special thanks to Tyler Dumont, whose investigative series on a Johnson State College professor accused of sexual harassment placed him in the in-depth reporting category. Also, a special thank you to Bryan Barber, Danielle Drown, and Sierra Willenburg for their collaborative work on the Spring Dip photography and layout that placed for feature photography.

Awards will be given at the SPJ region one conference that takes place in New Jersey at Rutgers University April 12-13.

There Critic will find out ifany entries will move on to the national competition. It is these moments that prove dedication and collaboration really pay off in the long run. Looks like all the late nights, budget meetings, huge homework/story loads and stressful weeks have paid off!

I also want to extend my congratulations to everyone in News 7 and NewsLINC for their placement in the “Best Affiliated Website” category.

Happily, Samantha VanSchoick Editor-in-Chief

To the Editor: I read with interest your page 1 story about Town Meeting Day and relevant changes made to next year’s academic calendar.

Please note that the LSC administration and the LSC Chapter of the Vermont State Colleges Faculty Federation negotiate the academic calendar. The “group of professors” who helped to bring about this favorable change is comprised of those Federation members who assisted in negotiations and those who voted for the final iteration of the AY 2013-2014 calendar.

I wish us all well.

Timothy Miles Sturm, Ph. D. Chapter Chair, LSC VSCFF

The Critic, Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER 2/15 - 3/6 3/8/13 – Crevecoeur – Underage Drinking, Drugs “Why would anyone do drugs when they can just mow a lawn?

3/8/13 - Rogers – Guest Violation “Well, Joseph went to his first sleepover last night. Didn’t go so well, he’s a cuddler, so I had to go pick him up.”

3/11/13 – HAC – Smoking Violation “Dang it Bobby!”

3/11/13 - ASAC – Larceny “Everything I love is taken from me!”

April 26 , 2013

OPINION

The Critic, Page 2 Letter to the Editor

Staff Information Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick Managing Editor Morgan Forester

Sports Editor Corey Wells Entertainment Editor Molly Anderson Photo Editor Bryan Barber Copy Editor Peter Nute Twitter Manager Greg Besso @lyndoncritic Critic Meteorologist Robert Gould Letters to the Editor The Critic welcomes letters and opinions.

All letters must include the author’s phone number and address. The Critic will not publish letters until we have confirmed the authorship of the letter. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Critic reserves the right to edit comments. The deadline for letters is 6 p.m. the Tuesday before publication.

Please send your letters to: critic@lyndonstate.edu or The Critic LSC Box #7951 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Advertising Policy Advertising materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication.

Ads must be in PDF format and should be emailed to: Morgan.Forester@lyndonstate.edu Coverage Requests Please submit requests for coverage to the editor at: Samantha.VanSchoick@lyndonstate.edu Office/Contact Information The Critic office is located in Vail 203A Find The Critic online at: lyndonstatecritic.com Lyndon State College and the Vermont State College System are not responsible for the content of this publication.

3-Day Weather Forecast

Critic Meterologist Robert Gould

Support Local Art and LSC Students My, how the world has changed. It used to be that one had to beg from rich people or huge organizations, like a church or an established studio, for the money to create works of art: a cruel system in which only the people with huge sums of money could decide who made art and who was left in the cold.

But now, in an age of mass, near-instant connection through the Internet, artists can (let’s be honest here) beg directly to the public to see their works come to fruition.

All this by way of saying that this summer, a group of talented people will join together to create a feature-length film centered around VT and NH. To donate to the creation of this upcoming project, you can visit http://tinyurl.com/ bttlql6.

The film is called Low Sounds By the Shore and will be an experiment in living with nature. Featuring Chris Mullen, former Lyndon student, living in a tent in the woods by a beautiful lake, Low Sounds will take place over the course of one week in early June. The film combines the creative talents of myself, a filmmaker and writer, Peter Nute, a writer, and Stephen Lynch, a sound designer and onset soundperson.

Each day of the week, Chris will tune in to a radio show that will feature the best in local music, including the talented Summit of Thieves and B-Wise.

Everyone involved in this film is passionate about its creation, excited to be apart of it, and ready for the challenges that come with making a film. The only thing left now is to raise the money we need to feed the crew, pay for film rentals, and cover the random expenses that pop up in any production. If you are interested and would like more information, please check out our website at lowsoundsbytheshore.com. We believe that this project is a worthy investment. We promise to make the best film possible for our supporters. Even five dollars will help us in achieving our goal.

Thank you for your time, Wesley John Hatch and everyone from Low Sounds By the Shore

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER 04/17 - 04/23 4/17 - Vail - Safety Issue - Private Eyes They’re watching you

FRIDAY

60 42

Early showers, peaks of sun

SATURDAY

65 34

Sun and a few clouds

SUNDAY

70 38 Mostly sunny

4/18 - Whitelaw – Underage Drinking-It’s a case of possession obsession Gimme Gimme 4/19 - Rogers – Alcohol - High and dry, out of the rain 4/20 – Whitelaw – Marijuana - Like the flame that burns the candle The candle feeds the flame, yeah, yeah 4/20 - Stonehenge Parking Lot – Driving while intoxicated - Love can take us so far in my Getaway Car 4/20 - Stonehenge Parking Lot – Marijuana - I can’t go for that, nooo, No can do 4/21 – Crevecoeur – Tresspassing - You’re a rich girl, and you’ve gone too far 4/22 – Stonehenge Parking Lot – Vandalized Vehicle - I’ve been practicing The art of heartbreak 4/23 – ASAC – Medical - Don’t lie When you’re hurting inside

Chris Mullen, star of Low Sounds by the Shore. To donate go to: http://tinyurl.com/bttlql6

Letter to the Editor

An Explanation Please...

Dear Critic Staff,

Just writing to ask why you feel the need to report about Weston Millers marijuana citation? Do you really have nothing better to report? Has the critic really sunk that low? The incident didn’t happen anywhere near Lyndon State, nor did it have anything to do with the college whatsoever. Also, the fact that the title had the Lyndon State Ski and Ride clubs name attached to it was rather offensive. Our club has worked really hard over the past few years, growing and raising money to try and prove ourselves.

Having an article in the critic with the clubs name attached to a marijuana felony makes the entire club look guilty.

Wes is an amazing student and a hard worker and did not deserve this negative publicity. He has done so much work for the ski and ride club and encourages other to do the same. Our entire club is very disappointed and will not be reading the critic anymore.

Krista Elizabeth

Editorial Reply

Let Me Clarify...

To answer your first question, the reason the paper reports when students are cited for crimes—on or off campus—is that our coverage area is not limited to a geographic location. The Critic covers the people of Lyndon State College.

That means students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the college. Therefore it does not matter where an event occurs. This is the same reason why we reported on Mr. Miller’s recovery from a long boarding accident earlier this year, despite the fact that the accident happened in Albany, NY. Secondly, I can assure you that The Critic has no agenda against Ski and Ride, or any other club on campus. I’m sorry you feel that the article made “the entire club look guilty.” The reason Ski and Ride was mentioned in the article is due to the fact Mr. Miller is a student leader on campus and is identified for his involvement with Ski and Ride and the Student Government Association.

If Mr. Miller were the representative for any other club, we still would have mentioned the club name (even in the case where a Critic staff member was cited).

Please consider this analogy: If LSC was a small town, and the SGA was LSC’s government, and any of the member of that government was cited for any crime, the newspaper would be obligated to mention that a government member was the person cited.

I hope my response brings clarity to the situation. Critic staff knows how it feels to report on our own club members and how it can be difficult to see (please see our November 30 edition). However, The Critic has a responsibility to the LSC community to have fair reporting practices. If we only reported some citations, and not others, what kind of publication would we be?

Thank you, Samantha VanSchoick Editor-in-Chief

OPINION

May 3, 2013

Editorial

Staff Information

A Fond Goodbye

Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick Managing Editor Morgan Forester

Sports Editor Corey Wells

Photo Editor Bryan Barber

Twitter Manager Greg Besso @lyndoncritic Critic Meteorologist Robert Gould Letters to the Editor The Critic welcomes letters and opinions.

All letters must include the author’s phone number and address. The Critic will not publish letters until we have confirmed the authorship of the letter. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Critic reserves the right to edit comments. The deadline for letters is 6 p.m. the Tuesday before publication.

Please send your letters to: critic@lyndonstate.edu or The Critic LSC Box #7951 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Advertising Policy Advertising materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Monday before publication.

Ads must be in PDF format and should be emailed to: Morgan.Forester@lyndonstate.edu Coverage Requests Please submit requests for coverage to the editor at: Samantha.VanSchoick@lyndonstate.edu Office/Contact Information The Critic office is located in Vail 203A Find The Critic online at: lyndonstatecritic.com Lyndon State College and the Vermont State College System are not responsible for the content of this publication.

3-Day Weather Forecast

Critic Meterologist Robert Gould

FRIDAY

68 40

Sunshine and some clouds

SATURDAY

74 42

Sunshine

SUNDAY

75 44 Sunshine

Letter to the Editor

Spring Day Thanks

I am writing to all the people that helped make Spring Day possible last Friday. Hold on to your seats because there are a lot of thank you’s in this letter.

Entertainment Editor Molly Anderson

Copy Editor Peter Nute

The Critic, Page 2

Photo by Bryan Barber

Critic Editor-in-Chief Samantha VanSchoick at the Critic photo booth on Spring Day.

It’s so cliché to say, “This year went so fast,” but I’m saying it: this year went so fast. This will be the final edition of The Critic for the 2012/2013 academic year, and thus, my final edition as editor-in-chief.

At the beginning of the fall semester, I was nervous because we had a completely new-to-everyone layout program (we switched from QuarkXPress to the Adobe Suite) and we were missing a previously integral part of The Critic team, our advisor Dan Williams. However, we had an ambitious crew and laid out several goals for the year, nicknamed “The Master Plan.” 22 issues later and I am happy to announce we have accomplished every goal.

We began the year with a slick new re-design and an awesome logo thanks to then layout editor Ashley Christie. We successfully built a brand new website, lyndoncritic.com, with the help of CSS whizzes Brandon Heanssler and Justin O’Riordon.

We boosted our social media presence with Facebook “likes” on The Critic page going from under 300 to 500 and going from a practically non-existent Twitter presence to having over 200 followers (shout out to Twitter Manager Greg Besso).

We won two Society of Professional Journalist Mark of Excellence Awards!

Spring Dip photography by Bryan Barber, Danielle Drown and Sierra Willenburg won second place in the “Feature Photography” category. News Editor Tyler Dumont’s series of articles about the Johnson State Professor who was accused of sexual harassment placed third in “In-Depth Reporting” category.

A special thank-you to Managing Editor Morgan Forester, who somehow balanced work, a full-time school schedule, an internship, and still managed to log about 30 hours a week in Critic time. Thank you to photo editor Bryan Barber for the countless amazing images that have adorned the paper this year. Thank you to Tyler Dumont for your services as the fall news editor and for sending me lots of news tips. Thank you to fall sports editor Daniel Weiner. Thank you to the spring sports editor Corey Wells, copy editor Peter Nute, and entertainment editor Molly Anderson. Thank you to our loyal and reliable reporters Hannah Frigon and Katy Crooks and to our correspondents Wesley Hatch and Adam Brothers. Without all of your hard work, we would not have accomplished anything on “The Master Plan.”

Fondly, Samantha VanSchoick Class of 2013

I want to thank all of the people that blew up the balloons; some of us even have blisters on our hands from it (Curt).

I would like to thank Melissa for help with purchasing all of the give-a-ways and the little things that made the event go a little smoother. Thank you to Iryna and her Leisure and Society class; each one of your tables was innovative and interesting and truly added a different dynamic to the event. Thank you to the people that helped out in manning the give away tables (Amanda, Haley, Matt, Melissa S, and Melissa N, Sean, Ashley, and Jess), and for helping me move the tables (Sean, Jess, and Joe). Jess I truly don’t know how we moved some of those by ourselves!

The DJ Booth was great. Brett and CAB’s tote bags were a good tie into Spring Day. The Critic, Outing, Spirit Squad, Twilight, and Ski and Ride all made the event better than I could have even imagined.

Thank you to the Elected Reps and the Club reps for the extra money for Spring Day (now you know what I meant by “stuff”!). And thank you Brian Martineau for running around not only to make sure that I had everything set, but so that everyone at the event was all set as well. You truly went over and beyond what you needed to do, and I truly appreciate it.

I would also like to thank Dr. Joe and Jonathan Davis for sitting down with me and in aiding with the event in the ways that they could. Pizza Man did an amazing job with the food; I have heard that the potato salad was to die for!

Thanks Larry for helping me with all of the logistics with the keg. Thanks to Cody for helping with bartending and helping me every step of the way for the keg. Cody you were so helpful; you made the idea of getting a keg at Spring Day an obtainable task. You helped me before the event with planning and during the event in almost every single way. You are the reason why I did not have a heart attack at the event.

I want to thank Mr. Nolan Pierce who went around at the end of the event and picked up the garbage on the ground, who put away tables, and was willing to do anything in order to make sure the event went smoothly, even if it was just to run across campus with me to go and get the cake.

To my executive board: this would not have been possible with out your help.

You helped me with the littlest things and the biggest things. You helped me create the vision into reality. Julie: you helped me with what ever I needed and without you I wouldn’t have thought about the raffle, or even the cake.

Last but not least I wanted to thank Ms. Samantha Lubke. This event would not have been as effective or even happened without your help every step of the way. I don’t know what I would have done without you. You helped with the planning

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER 04/25 - 04/28 4/25 – Library – Conduct violation “Misbehavin’? That’s a paddlin’” 4/26 - Stonehenge Parking Lot – Broken Window on a vehicle “Grand Theft Auto Attempt? That’s a paddlin’” 4/27 – Wheelock – Fire Alarm/ Underage Drinking / Marijuana “Settin’ off the fire alarm with your pots and alcohol? You Better believe that’s a paddlin’” Wheelock – Marijuana “More Hash? That’s a paddlin” 4/28 - Vail Parking Lot – Marijuana/ Drug paraphernalia “I think you know the drill...”

Letter to the Editor

“Thank You” From The Library The Library would like to thank everyone who participated in the recent VSC Reading & Technology survey. Almost 700 VSC students, faculty and staff took the time to tell us what you think about reading printed books and reading digital ebooks.

Your comments will help the VSC libraries to develop collections that respond to your reading needs and preferences. The Library would also like to congratulate Andrew Baughn, winner of the survey’s prize draw for a $50 Amazon gift card.

Hearing the views of the Library’s users helps us to improve our services. Thank you to everyone who took part – for your time, your thoughts and your support for library services!

Graham Sherriff Interim Library Director 2012-13 Samuel Read Hall Library phase, with emailing people, with booking people, even calling 4imprint when they almost sent us the fliers for May 2nd(thanks to her they didn’t). Thank you for planning where people were supposed to be during the day and making sure that there was always someone at a table. Thanks for sitting at the keg, and making sure that I wouldn’t have a heart attack. And thank you for legit being there every step of the way for me and helping me with every task. This event would not have happened the way I had hoped without you. You were the glue that not only kept me together but you held the event together.

There were a lot of people that helped me with Spring Day, so if I may have forgotten your name please don’t think that your work was unappreciated. Thanks again, and I hope that everyone had a great time!

Thank you, Meghan Elizabeth Dolyak Executive Vice President, SGA