2017 vol 133 issue 26

BURLINGTON, VT

VTCYNIC.COM

VOL. 133

ISSUE 26

APRIL 12, 2017

life pg. 10: Uvm Ben & Jerry’s to close

PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic Left to right: SGA President Jason Maulucci and Vice President Tyler Davis sit and watch the SGA Presidential Debate March 27.

Jason Maulucci, Outgoing President

Tyler Davis, Outgoing Vice President

Lauren Schnepf Senior Staff Writer

Lauren Schnepf Senior Staff Writer

SGA President Jason Maulucci had been working 11 hours when he sat down in his office to reflect on his presidency at 7 p.m.

Maulucci was wearing a button-down shirt and a tie under a sweater. He sat in his executive office on the second floor of the Davis Center– an office that he’s occupied for the past two years Maulucci will finish his time as SGA President on April 19, completing a two year term, something that has only happened five times since SGA was founded 75 years ago.

“Even in two years, nothing ever goes

through fast enough,” Maulucci said.

While Maulucci is proud of what he accomplished in his time in office, he is hopeful that some of his unfinished initiatives, such as reinstating reading days, will be completed under the leadership of newly elected SGA President Chris Petrillo and Vice President Nicole Woodcock, Maulucci said.

He felt that his longer term brought continuity to UVM’s student government leadership, which helped SGA better accomplish its goals, he said.

In his two years as president, Maulucci has spearheaded a few SGA projects, including the Peer Mentorship Program, the Catamount Innovation Fund and a movement to bring back reading days.

The Catamount Innovation Fund, once completed, will provide students with funding for entrepreneurial business ideas, said Maulucci in an October 27 Cynic article.

Outside of the 30 hours of work a week Maulucci does for SGA — and his work for classes — Maulucci, a political science major, spends 40 hours a week working for Gov. Phil Scott in Montpelier, Vermont.

Maulucci Continues on pg. 2

A look back:

Oct. 6, 2015 Signed Peer Advising for Learning Success Act which set forward plan to improve academic advising for students

March 25, 2015 Jason Maulucci and Tyler Davis elected as President and Vice President of SGA

facebook.com/ thevermontcynic

Feb. 9, 2016 Signed resolution supporting restoration of reading days

@vermontcynic

On SGA Vice President Tyler Davis’ desk sits a little wooden bear he purchased after his mother discovered the artist on one of their many trips to Vermont.

“My mom is a funky lady. We always used to go to this resturant in Smuggler’s Notch called the Hearth and Candle,” he said. “There was this bear statue there, and my mom wanted to know where it was from, so she tried to flip it over and knocked over all the mints. Classic Marcia,” he said with a laugh.

Davis’ mom found the artist’s name, W. Freeman, looked him up in the phone book and found his address.

“He was living in this old sugaring house two miles off the grid,” Davis said. “She went to visit, and later I went back on my own and bought the figurine.”

Vermont holds a special place in Tyler’s heart as he has been visiting here since child-

Feb. 16, 2016 Signed resolution supporting bill to reinstate the property-exempt status of Fraternity and Sorority Life houses

hood.

“I have a deep appreciation for Vermont. I find that people here are a lot nicer than where I’m from, and there are a lot of genuinely good people here,” Davis said.

Davis gazed down on the view of Main Street from his desk chair in the SGA executive office.

“UVM is a special place to me,” he said with a smile. “If I could stay up here, I probably would.”

Davis has served as SGA vice president for the past two years, but said that if someone suggested the role three or four years ago, he would have never seen himself in this position, he said.

While in office, his greatest accomplishments have been spearheading the SafeRide Program and having the highest retention rate of senators in the University’s history, Davis said.

The vice presidency role has helped Davis become more comfortable with his leadership abilities, he said.

Davis Continues on pg. 2 Oct. 4, 2016 Signed resolution supporting student advocacy during collective bargaining between UVM and United Academics

March 29, 2016 Jason Maulucci and Tyler Davis re-elected as SGA President and Vice President. They were the first pair of SGA executives to run unopposed since 1941.

instagram.com/ vermontcynic

youtube.com/ cynicvideo

vtcynic.com

NEWS

2

UVM pilots on-campus electric bus Craig Pelsor Staff Writer UVM is trialing the use of a 100 percent electric bus.

An all-electric bus pilot took place the week of March 20 in an effort to test its feasibility and further reduce the University’s environmental impact.

Transportation and Parking Services was responsible for bringing the bus to campus with the eventual goal of replacing current campus buses with electric ones said Caylin McKee, education and outreach coordinator for of the Office of Sustainability.

The electric bus was provided by BYD, a company that manufactures and has run pilots of zero-emissions vehicles in New York City and other places around the world, according EvObsession, a website that promotes electric vehicles.

In addition to the weeklong pilot, students who rode the electric bus were encouraged to take a survey from the Office of Sustainability.

Nearly 40 percent of UVM students who responded typically use on-campus buses to get around, according to the survey.

“The natural gas buses

MAX MCCURDY/The Vermont Cynic A current UVM bus is pictured. Last month, UVM tested the feasibility of an all-electric bus in order further reduce the University’s environmental impact. we currently have run much cleaner than the diesel buses they replaced, and longterm, TPS would like to go all electric,” said Abby Bleything, coordinator of the UVM Trans-

portation Research Center.

There were multiple responses to the survey.

“I love it tremendously,” one stated. “I think it’s wonderful that UVM is taking more

steps to becoming an even more eco-friendly school.”

Many respondents stated they would be more likely to ride the bus because it is running on clean energy.

“It made me feel good to ride on something that upholds UVM’s sustainability values so strongly, and I can’t wait to see more of it on campus,” another respondent stated.

Davis Continues on pg. 2

PHIL CARRUTHERS/ The Vermont Cynic SGA President Jason Maulucci in his office days after deciding to fly the Black Lives Matter flag above the Davis Center. Maulucci will end his two-term presidency on April 19.

Maulucci Continues on pg. 2 His greatest challenge while serving as SGA president has been time mangement.

Maulucci considers himself fortunate to have had a team he could trust during his time in office, he said.

One member of that trusted team is Vice President Tyler Davis. Maulucci said their different approaches to things have complemented each other well.

“Working with Tyler has been incredible; he’s one of my best friends,” Maulucci said.

“Everything we’ve done has been a part of a team.”

Maulucci and Davis have lived together for the past two years, which Maulucci says allows them to tackle problems more effectively.

“When issues arise regarding the SGA, it’s easy to quickly discuss them, though we try to limit the amount we talk about the SGA outside of the office,” Maulucci said. “It’s tough to separate this at times, but we do a pretty good job overall

not talking about work when we’re at home with our other roommates.”

Senator retention rates have been at an all-time high during his two years in office, according to Davis.

Maulucci said he and Davis have not been afraid to set challenging goals, which has led to many of their successes.

“We weren’t afraid to take on big things,” Maulucci said.

“At our first executive committee meeting, we went around and said ‘What big, bold things can we do? Say things even if you think they’re impossible.’”

SGA Sen. Jake Guarino said Maulucci’s passion and leadership skills have taken SGA to new heights over the past two years.

“Jason is one of those people who can capture a room when he begins to speak,” Guarino said. “Just being around him, you can see he is a natural born leader.”

Those who work with Maulucci commend both his professionalism and his approachability.

“Jason is an approachable

student leader who sets high standards for himself and others,” said Pat Brown, director of Student Life. “He has a wicked sense of humor, but also takes his job responsibilities seriously.”

SGA Sen. Andrew Dazzo said Maulucci’s dedication and selflessness have been admirable throughout his presidency.

“Jason’s devotion to the University, its students and alumni, as well as the state of Vermont, has inspired many,” Dazzo said. “He has been a selfless civil servant.”

Maulucci hopes there will be a greater awareness of what SGA does in upcoming years, but is happy with the work he has done during his time in office, he said.

“The SGA is full of incredible people who work so hard and put in so many hours to try and make this a better place,” Maulucci said. “I think that Tyler and I can leave with our heads held high, knowing that we’ve made at least somewhat of a difference for people and that was what it was all about in the first place.”

“I’m a very Type B kind of person…I had never used an agenda, I kept everything in my head. I learned very quickly that I had to keep a calender,” Davis said, laughing. “Jason’s always been the one who’s more organized in that regard.”

The role has also taught him how to be more comfortable with himself. As a firstyear, he rarely left his room.

Being vice president helped him become less introverted, he said.

Davis’s best friend and roommate, SGA President Jason Maulucci, has been right alongside him these past two years.

Davis said they balance each other out, as they have a tendency to get fired up about different matters.

“I love working with Jason,” he said. “It’s effortless in the best kind of way.”

The SGA office has been an inclusive and productive environment in the past two years, which is partially what has added to the success of senator retention, Davis said.

“I don’t want to take too much credit,” he said. “I made an effort to be aware of problems and talk about them, which I think people appreciate.”

SGA Treasurer Alyssa Johnson disagrees with Davis’ modesty.

“Tyler deserves much of the credit for the inclusive and productive environment of Senate for the past two years,” Johnson said. “He is passionate about ensuring the SGA is a place where people can do their most impassioned work.”

RYAN THORNTON/ The Vermont Cynic Tyler Davis in his office. Tyler finishes his vice presidency April 19.

One of Davis’ greatest challenges in the beginning was understanding social justice and privilege. It was the challenge he worked on the most in his first year as vice president, Davis said.

SGA Vice President-elect Nicole Woodcock said she admires Tyler’s awareness of social issues and hopes to continue that legacy in her time in office. “[Tyler] is so good at his job because he is so well-versed in social justice, and he uses that to be productive,” Woodcock said.

Davis plans to spend the last few weeks of his college career being a student and wrapping things up with school and his job search.

And if Woodcock or Petrillo need his help, he wants to be a resource for them, he said.

“It’s bittersweet,” Davis said. “I’m going to miss the role and miss what I do.”

NEWS

3

Opioid-related deaths nationwide

In 1999, 8,200 people died each year from opioid abuse in the U.S.

In 2015, that number nearly quadrupled to 33,000.

2.5 million Americans are addicted to opioids

Journalist discusses opioid crisis Erika B. Lewy Assistant News Editor Before the Mayor’s Book Club began, City Hall had already run out of chairs for the audience.

Some attendees stood at the back of the room. Some sat on the ground. Others climbed to the second floor to listen to the author’s thoughts.

This semester, the UVM Humanities Center combined forces with Burlington officials to bring journalist Sam Quinones in to talk about an issue high on the list of Weinberger’s concerns for the city: the opiate crisis.

Through funding from the Mark Rosen Lecture Series, the University brought Quinones into town to talk about his nonfiction book Dreamland, which explores the history and

spread of opioid addiction in small towns in the US. “We now know that this problem is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. That’s certainly true here in Vermont,” Burlington mayor Miro Weinberger said. “Despite having been totally focused on this problem as a state now for three plus years, we saw an increase in our overdose deaths related to opioids.”

In 2016, Vermont’s opioid death toll increased by 38 percent, said Weinberger.

According to the Vermont Department of Health, the state’s number of heroin-related deaths rose from none in 2010 to 34 in 2015.The total number of drug-related deaths rose from 75 to 108 in the same time period.

On March 17, Weinberger

held a town hall meeting to discuss the crisis. He brought together Stephen Leffler, chief operating officer of the UVM Medical Center, Rep. Selene Colburn (D/P-Burlington) and Burlington police chief Brandon del Pozo to talk about different approaches to addressing the epidemic.

The evening of April 4, Weinberger and the UVM Humanities Center partnered to host a Mayor’s Book Club at City Hall to discuss Dreamland. Mayor Weinberger said that this book has inspired him and del Pozo and him to consider new ways of fighting the opioid crisis.

Quinones gave another public talk on April 5 in the Grand Maple Ballroom, and visited a few undergraduate classes.

“Many of the stories from

his career seemed like they came out of a show like Narcos,” said sophomore Emily Horgan, who was in a public communications class that Quinones visited.

She said the stories Quinones told about his career in class– of run-ins with the Mexican government and calls to the U.S. embassy– grabbed her class’s attention.

Quinones also stressed the need for doctors to stop overprescribing pain medicine, Horgan said.

Burlington should engage different community groups in conversations about addiction and that the government should reinvest taxpayer money in prison recovery programs, where people who would be otherwise incapable of getting clean are forced to detox, said Quinones.

“It’s the most enslaving substance that people know,” Quinones said.

Del Pozo agreed that Vermont should not shy from using prison and jail to jumpstart recovery, he said.

“Odysseus had to tie himself to the mast to keep from swimming to the Sirens,” del Pozo said. “Compare that to the need for jail for addicts. We need to be rethinking jail.”

Immigrant arrests impact Vermont’s dairy industry Chloe Chaobal Staff Writer Recent immigration-related arrests in Vermont have caused some people to worry about the future of farming in the state.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Enrique Balcazar and Zully Palacios, who are married, March 17 in Burlington. Balcazar came to Vermont at age 17 and has worked on dairy farms across the state, said Will Lambek, communications correspondent for Migrant Justice.

“It would be disastrous to Vermont if you deported all the undocumented people,” said Matt Cameron, Balcazar and Palacios’ lawyer. “Their industry badly needs them.”

There are an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 Latino farm-working families in Vermont, according to a study by UVM professor Dan Baker.

Senior Haley Macomber grew up in Fairhaven, Vermont, which she called the “slate capital of the world.”

Growing up, Macomber saw migrant workers, but didn’t know about the specific challenges they faced, she said.

“I just kind of saw it but I didn’t know any of the negatives,” Macomber said.

Some of the problems

Photo courtesy of Migrant Justice A migrant worker works in a cow milk processing area with her child. Migrant workers contribute significantly to the Vermont dairy economy. migrant workers experience include long hours, insufficient housing and low wages, according to Migrant Justice, an activist group in Burlington.

“Dairy farming is hard work,” said junior Gus Slater-Dixon, who grew up on a farm in southern Vermont.

Slater-Dixon sympathizes with migrant workers because of their living conditions, he said.

“ After a day of working on the farm, you’re sweaty and disgusting and smell like milk and sour milk and sweat and hay,” Slater-Dixon said. “To not be able to shower after that would be horrible.”

Migrant workers are cheaper to employ because they are willing to work at a lower wage than most Vermonters, according to Law. “People in Vermont generally don’t want to work on a farm,” Slater-Dixon said. “Kids

don’t really want to work on a farm; that I’ve seen a lot.”

The impact of removing undocumented workers from the dairy industry depends on how quickly farmers can find a new source of labor, Marc Law, associate professor of economics, said.

One way to supplement migrant labor would be through the use of new technologies. Dairy farming can now be done entirely by robots, associate economics professor Art Woolf said.

“However, it is a very expensive technology that requires dairy farms to be very large,” Law said.

Most of Vermont’s dairy farms are very small, averaging around 80 acres, according to a VPR article published in Feb. 2014. The average American farm size is 434 acres, according to 2012 USDA census data.

Vermont’s dairy farm average 200 cows, Woolf said; this is slightly average than the national average of 187 cows per farm, according to 2012 USDA census data.

“In the absence of migrant workers, most existing dairy farms would be uneconomical,” Law said.

Dairy farming is 70 to 80 percent of Vermont’s agricultural production. However, ag-

riculture only makes up two to three percent of the Vermont’s total economy, Law said.

“So while this is bad for dairy farmers, the impact overall might not be so dramatic,” he said.

Vermonters not involved in the dairy industry might not feel the impact directly, Law said.

“Living in Burlington, it’s not like we’re not going to be able to get milk,” Law said.

“Because if the milk’s not gonna come from here, it’ll come from somewhere else, right?”

While the impact of deporting undocumented workers might not affect individual consumers dramatically, there still would be large effects on certain people, Law said.

Baker said he thinks about the families of migrant workers in Mexico and Guatemala when considering the impact on Vermont of increased deportations.

“I would worry about the economic impact of those on those families,” he said. “We have a population of honest hardworking people who are here supporting both our agricultural economy as well as their families and who are being targeted.”

NEWS

4

WE organizes second annual 4/20 5k

Lucy Bisselle Staff Writer Students in UVM’s Wellness Environment will be lacing up their sneakers at 4:20 pm to participate the 4/20 5K for Wellness.

WE will host its second annual 4/20 5K race April 20.

By participating, community members show their commitment to fitness and healthy living instead of taking the opportunity to use marijuana on 4/20, according to UVM’s website.

Jeffrey Retew, the assistant director of WE, said that Jim Hudziak, the director of WE, wanted this event to showcase wellness.

“He wanted to create an opportunity for students and the community to practice the four pillars of wellness: fitness, mindfulness, nutrition and mentorship,” Rettew said.

First-year Owen Molind, a WE student, said this race is exactly what WE is all about.

“WE wants students to make healthy choices in their lives to both better themselves and the community around them, and the race is clearly a great example of that,” Molind said. “Being active and spending time with others are definitely things that WE wants to promote.”

The race course begins at the Archie Post Athletic Complex on the south side of the Recreation and Fitness Center and runs in a loop, according to UVM’s website.

“It’s about building community around fitness as a choice,” Retew said. “The race is a way of engaging in fitness that is open to a lot of different people. You can say: look, there’s the mayor of Burlington; look, there’s my professor; look, there’s my resident adviser; look there’s all these other people in my community.”

KELSEY NEUBAUER/The Vermont Cynic UVM Wellness Environment Director Jim Hudziak and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger speak at the first annual 4/20 5K last year. WE will be hosting the second annual 4/20 5K April 20.

WE has had 552 participants registered for the event as of April 3, and expects over 600 to participate; last year there were 877, program director Breanna Pletnick said.

“My idea is pretty simple,” said Jim Hudziak, director of the Wellness Environment.

“The WE team and partners at UVM offer wellness activities to UVM students on nights or days where other less healthy choices are made.”

The purpose of the 4/20 5K is to provide the UVM and Burlington community with an opportunity to come together and celebrate wellness on a day that traditionally is associated with other choices and activities, he said.

“I think what WE does a lot of time is they offer alternative events for things that are happening on campus,” said

sophomore Rachel White, an RA for WE in Patterson Hall.

“WE wants to provide alternative events for people who might not be comfortable with what is happening on the green at the same time.”

Because the smoking on 4/20 happens right outside of the WE community on the Redstone campus green, WE wants students to participate in the race as a healthier alternative, White said.

“I hate smoking,” Molind said. “I think it’s disgusting, terrible for your health and is a bad influence on people and on the UVM community; plus, I enjoy running races.”

Running this race with other members of WE is important to the program, Molind said; events like this have helped build the friendships he has made.

“I’m going to sign up for the race and I’m going to run it sober,” White said.

Other students in WE value the practice of healthy living, but believe recreational marijuana use is okay and should be celebrated with an event like 4/20.

“I live in WE and am an active member of its community, even though I don’t live a substance-free lifestyle,” said a sophomore WE student who asked to remain anonymous.

“The problem I have with WE is the concept that health and recreational substance use are mutually exclusive. I don’t break any of the rules. I keep my substance use outside of WE.” UVM students think it’s ridiculous that weed is illegal and the green allows students who feel their rights are

infringed upon this to make a statement within a large group, the student said.

Though this statement of smoking on 4/20 may be important to some UVM students, Molind disagrees.

“I think it is super hypocritical for anyone who is in WE to smoke,” he said. “They shouldn’t be in WE if they’re thinking of smoking. I also find it hard to believe that people still do it after hearing all the things that WE has taught us.”

Unlike Molind and White, the anonymous WE student does not plan on participating in the 4/20 5K. “I’m not sure if I’ll smoke on 4/20 or if I’ll get high by other means, i.e. edibles,” the student said, “but my plans have nothing to do with my not running the 5K.”

Campus conference to discuss rape culture Joey Waldinger Staff Writer 11.2 percent of undergraduate students experience some level of sexual violence, according to RAINN, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the country.

In order to educate UVM faculty and staff about rape culture, the UVM Women’s Center will host the 12th annual Dismantling Rape Culture Conference April 13.

“The DRCC will uncover various aspects and systems within society that perpetuate, maintain and sustain rape culture,” Alex Spannaus, a member of the conference planning committee stated.

Zerlina Maxwell, a TV political analyst, speaker and writer for a variety of national media outlets, will headline the presentations, according to the press release.

“We felt it was important to bring someone who could really speak about rape culture and campus sexual assault, who could bring an

intersectional lense,” said Jean Kaczka-Valliere, education and outreach coordinator at the Women’s Center.

Maxwell, who worked on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, is a survivor of sexual assault, said Kaczka-Valliere.

Though the Trump administration is not a focus of the conference, Maxwell will host a roundtable to discuss working in politics while holding that identity, Kaczka-Valliere said.

Booking a speaker as high profile as Maxwell required a great deal of financial support from all across the University, she said.

“The administration has been really concerned with addressing campus-wide violence,” Kaczka-Valliere said.

Students have also shown a lot of interest in addressing gender equity issues, Spannaus said.

“At the Women’s Center, we’ve had a lot of different student groups who want to reach out and partner,” Span-

PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic The Women’s Center at UVM is pictured. The center will be hosting UVM’s annual Dismantling Rape Culture Conference April 13. naus said.

Despite the willingness of people from all across campus to tackle these difficult issues, rape culture persists at UVM, Spannaus said.

“If we look deep, we find examples of this happening on our campus,” Spannaus said.

Schwartz said that despite UVM’s imperfections, the University is still better than some other schools.

“It’s going to be a long time until our campus is rid of rape culture,” Schwartz said. “But it is not as embedded into our campus as it is in others.”

Rape culture is so hard to combat because it is so misunderstood, Kaczka-Valliere said.

One of the biggest misconceptions about rape culture is that it only affects certain groups of people, when in reality it impacts everyone, Kaczka-Valliere said.

To examine rape culture from all angles, the conference will feature presentations on a wide range of topics, Spannaus said.

However, there is an added a focus on activism through art and education this year, Spannaus said. Organizers have included a yoga class and sign-making party in the lineup of events, she said.

We added these aspects because we had a sense that students on campus and members of the community are excited to make a difference, Kaczka-Valliere said.

“We hope that participants will leave with new knowledge and action items to use for resistance in their own circles,” Spannaus said.

OPINION

5

SGA executives have transformed UVM Staff Editorial

EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Neubauer editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Bryan O’Keefe newsroom@vtcynic.com Assistant Managing Editor Mariel Wamsley newsroomassistant@ vtcynic.com OPERATIONS Operations Manager Ryan Thornton operations@vtcynic.com Advertising Manager Cole Wangsness ads@vtcynic.com

D

uring the past two years, the entire student body of this University has been blessed to be led by two incredible student leaders.

Since April 2015, Jason Maulucci and Tyler Davis have led this campus with strength, integrity and intelligence.

Everything they have sought to complete was done with one thing in mind: the interests of the entire student body.

The majority of students on this campus are disengaged with the student government.

Just over 13 percent of students cast their votes in the latest SGA presidential and

vice presidential election.

Despite this disengagement, however, members of SGA continue to work in pursuit of a better academic experience.

In April 2016, Jason and Tyler were the first SGA executive duo to run unopposed since 1941, a testament to their firm position as trailblazers of this University, and dedication to their roles as student leaders.

It is because of Jason and Tyler that the faculty of this University are working with SGA to restore essential reading days to this campus. It is because of them that CatAlerts regarding sexual assault no longer contain any language

that can be misconstrued as victim blaming. It is because of them that students will have easier access to transportation during late hours downtown.

Their passionate advocacy for the students of UVM is an honorable public service, and their steadfast loyalty to this University is admirable.

We applaud them on a job well-done. To the incoming team, we are excited to watch you take this legacy and build on it. You can only go up from here.

Staff editorials officially reflect the views of the Vermont Cynic. Signed opinion pieces and columns do not necessarily do so.

LILY KEATS

The Cynic accepts letters in response to anything you see printed as well as any issues of interest in the community.

Please limit letters to 350 words. The Cynic reserves the right to edit letters for length and grammar. Please send letters to opinion@vtcynic.com.

EDITORIAL Arts Benjamin Elfland arts@vtcynic.com B-Side Margaret Richardson bside@vtcynic.com Copy Chief Lindsay Freed copy@vtcynic.com Layout Kira Bellis layout@vtcynic.com Life Greta Bjornson life@vtcynic.com Multimedia William Dean Wertz media@vtcynic.com News Olivia Bowman news@vtcynic.com Opinion Sydney Liss-Abraham opinion@vtcynic.com Photo Phillip Carruthers Max McCurdy photo@vtcynic.com Social Media Liv Jensen socialmedia@vtcynic.com Sports Eribert Volaj sports@vtcynic.com Video Molly O’Shea video@vtcynic.com Web Connor Allan web@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Ariana Arden (Opinion), Bridget Higdon (Arts), Locria Courtright (Sports), Erika B. Lewy (News), Lily Keats (Layout), Karolyn Moore (Copy), Izzy Siedman (Life) Page Designers Tiana Crispino, Ed Taylor Copy Editors Brandon Arcari, Hunter Colvin, Michelle Derse Lowry, Rae Gould, Adrianna Grinder, Linnea Johnson, Kira Nemeth, George Seibold, Meline Thebarge ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu

RORY CLANCY

Colleges must stand for free speech Kate Lipman

M

iddlebury College recently received author Charles Murray to speak at an event hosted by a student group and co-sponsored by the school’s political science department.

I had never heard of Murray before the event became a national news story; he is a conservative author and social scientist known for his controversial book “The Bell Curve,” which discusses his theory on IQ and society.

The protesters shouted Murray down, and Middlebury College professor Allison Stanger was even injured by protesters as she was escorting Mr. Murray off campus.

Once they got into the car to drive away, protesters violently attacked the car, trying to prevent them from leaving, according to the Washington Post.

We are seeing examples of this all across the country, where conservative speakers on campuses cause an uproar and violence breaks out to “protest.” Whether or not one agrees with Murray’s opinions is not the issue.

Our country was founded on the principles of free speech, freedom of expression and the need for open and honest debate.

In fact, these principles are enshrined in our First Amendment, which the left pretends to hold dear.

Shutting down free speech through violence goes against the very concept of our country, where debate and critical thinking are encouraged for the continued progress of our nation.

Resorting to violence every time we do not agree with someone is not only childish and irrational, but also promotes the idea that if

someone does not agree with you, it’s okay to infringe on their constitutional rights, not to mention physically attack them.

It is important to listen to both liberal and conservative voices — indeed, all voices — thinking critically and making an informed decision based on the facts, not hearsay.

I only know the views of Charles Murray filtered through the protesters and the media, as I have not read “The Bell Curve.” I seriously doubt any of the protesters have either.

No matter his views, I defend his right to speak, and all colleges should too.

Especially as college students, we should be encouraging more speakers to come to visit our campuses, not less.

The speakers should present their ideas to the public, and then it is our job as intelli-

gent and participating citizens of this country to make our own decisions and choices based on what we learn and the facts we know.

If you live in a bubble where everyone has the same view, and you not only refuse to hear another perspective, but you violently protest and riot to shut down the event when you think you disagree with them, you are not only attacking free speech; you’re shutting down the opportunity for debate and discussion.

So, I suggest that all the protesters go out and actually read “The Bell Curve” to learn what exactly it was Murray said, as I will be doing, and then try and form real opinions on the matter.

Kate Lipman is a senior Russian and Eastern European studies double major. She has been writing for the Cynic since 2014.

Correction: Last week, the Vermont Cynic published a story about how student bands get their start. In an editorial oversight, the Cynic mistakenly referred to a growing student band, Tongue in Cheek, as an established local band, 2%.

OPINION

6

Housing & local employment for refugees Gabriella Marchesi Sarang Murthy Housing The Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program handles all refugees’ housing needs from the time they arrive in Vermont.

A housing manager secures an affordable apartment for the family, assists in setting up the apartment and utilities and supplies basic household furnishings.

To ensure refugees are being treated fairly despite their many language barriers, the VRRP housing manager is also responsible for maintaining a relationship with the landlords and speaking on behalf of the refugees when necessary.

Seventy-eight leases were signed in 2015, with average rent ranging between $1000 - $1500, according to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

Most apartments rented in this period were in Burlington, Winooski and Essex Junction, Vermont.

As many of us know, Burlington has a housing shortage.

It is becoming harder for VRRP to secure good homes for refugee families in the Burlington area. Because of this, Rutland has begun opening its doors to refugees.

Rutland Mayor Christopher C. Louras said bringing refugees to Rutland is a win-win situation; Rutland has plenty of housing for the refugees, and these newcomers will be able to fill the many job vacancies that exist in the local economy, according to National Public Radio.

Many community members in the historically working-class town in central Vermont disagree. The community has been divided over plans to bring in refugees for several years, according to NPR. Many argue that the staunchly Eurocentric town will not be able to absorb that many newcomers from such a different part of the world, especially considering the fact that the town is 96 percent

GENEVIEVE WINN

white, according to NPR. Many community members are also concerned about the cost of the program, as well as dangers to national security.

“Rutland First,” an anti-refugee group originally created on Facebook, bears the slogan “Rutland before Refugees.”

The group strongly disagrees with the mayor’s claim that bringing in refugees to their community will fix their economic distress.

Another group, “Rutland Welcomes,” aims to ease tensions in the community and make the transition to Rutland as smooth as possible for the refugees.

Volunteers for the group have filled warehouses with donated household and

personal supplies, organized school registrations and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newest community members.

Local Employment Opportunities Starbucks announced it is against Trump’s initial travel ban that targeted immigrants and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

In response, Starbucks said that it would hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years according to CNN on Jan. 29.

In the current polarizing — and often nasty — political climate, it was not surprising that the reaction was either to hail the company for being bold in its mission and steadfast in its core-values, or

calling to #BoycottStarbucks, as the company was publicly defiant of the president’s orders.

Amidst another “polarizing issue” back in 2013 concerning same-sex marriage, Starbucks publicly showed its support.

“Not every decision is an economic decision,” CEO Howard Shultz said to Forbes Magazine in 2013. “The lens in which we are making that decision is through the lens of our people.”

Starbucks has outperformed the food services industry, particularly the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, since 2013.

As you may have gleaned from making it this far through this article, we, like Shultz, value not just the economic

impact made by refugees but also the increased social and cultural diversity that they bring to America: the original melting pot of the world.

In this small state, there are efforts underway to increase the participation of refugees in the workforce, and in doing so, make them more economically and socially mobile.

One of the many success stories of refugee entrepreneurship in Vermont comes from the owner of Nepali Kitchen in Essex Junction, Vermont.

Jeetan Khadka was a Nepali refugee who was resettled in Burlington about a decade ago; he and his family were among the first Bhutanese to move to Vermont, according to Seven Days VT. The restaurant is highly rated. It promises to take your taste buds through an authentic trip to India and Nepal.

On a personal note, I, Sarang, have had the pleasure of meeting with Jeetan on a few occasions. His community involvement is admirable, and the food at his restaurant is very good. 10/10 would recommend.

Some refugees even hold jobs at UVM; many work for UVM dining.

A Burmese refugee named Ko Gyi works as a cook at the Davis Center.

Gyi told Seven Days VT he hopes his kids can one day attend UVM. Like Khadka, Gyi hopes to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and open his own business one day.

“Housing & local employment for refugees” is part of the three-piece series, “A Better Understanding of Refugees in Vermont’s Economy,.” Learn more about Vermont’s refugees in next week’s issue.

Gabriella Marchesi is a sophomore economics major. She has been writing for the Cynic since 2016.

Sarang Murthy is a senior economics major. He has been writing for the Cynic since 2015.

UVM recognized as one of the most “green” campuses Letter to the Editor

T

he University of Vermont recently received its second gold STARS award.

STARS, or the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, is a system for universities worldwide to track and compare their sustainability efforts.

STARS reports are broken down into six sections: academics, engagement, operations, planning & administration, and innovation & leadership.

Each of these sections has detailed information ranking different sustainability aspects at UVM. Every college’s STARS ranking is available at www. start.aashe.org.

UVM ranked #1 for clean

and renewable energy usage, which should come as no surprise, since Burlington was announced to be running on 100% renewable energy as of 2015.

Other impressive accolades include total greenhouse gas emissions dropping 37% from 2007 to 2015 and UVM’s strong engagement scores due to the Eco-Reps program.

The STARS rating is the most comprehensive measurement of sustainability on college campuses and is the basis for Princeton Review and Sierra Club green college ratings.

It considers numerous aspects sustainability. I’ve noticed that some universities tend to have high scores in academics and engagement,

contributing significantly to their gold STARS ranking, while they often lack in other areas such as operations.

However, UVM has leading rankings across the most categories.

If you want to take a deeper dive into sustainability measurement on campus, attend the UVM Visions event during Earth Week on 4/20 at 1pm in DC Grand Maple Ballroom to hear the Office of Sustainability discuss details of the most recent STARS gold recognition.

Sincerely, Matt Gelman Senior ISABELLA ALESSANDRINI

Point-Counterpoint

OPINION

7

The pro-choice vs. pro-life argument

Alexander Collingsworth and Jim Simpson AC: Believe me, I grasp the irony that two men are debating abortion.

Pro-lifers take the philosophical stance that life is sacred. Prochoice advocates argue that women should have control over their own bodies, empowering them socially and economically.

In a sense, these are both moral arguments. But the pro-life argument is essentially a religious one that breaks down under the test of reason.

It is a religious assumption that life begins at conception.

Even though conservatives are against abortion, they are prudish when it comes to contraception and sex ed: two things that reduce unwanted pregnancies, especially in teenagers.

It is baffling that most pro-lifers are also pro-death penalty. That’s because the abortion issue is not about the sanctity of life; it’s about controlling women socially and economically.

Conservatives should be clear on their position: if they are truly pro-life, why are they so pro-war?

The war in Iraq resulted in the deaths of over 500,000 Iraqi civilians, 200,000 in violent deaths caused by coalition forces, according to the Huffington Post’s World Post. Where were the pro-lifers then?

Abortion is murder, they say. I say murder is murder.

Over 13,000 people were killed by guns in 2015 in the U.S. That’s excluding accidents and suicides.

There were 15,000 in 2016 according to the Gun Violence Archive. Almost 700 kids under 12 and over 3,000 teenagers were killed or injured by guns last year. Clearly common sense gun control would have prevented at least some of these deaths.

But the very same people who are pro-life are also pro-gun.

Conservatives want to control women’s bodies, but if that vagina is toting a glock 40 they will respect its right to keep and bear arms.

The pro-life movement was a cynical maneuver by conservatives to bring voters living outside of the deep South to their side after Lyndon B. Johnson won in a landslide against Barry Goldwater in 1964.

By creating the abortion issue, Republicans were able to bamboozle poor and working class white Americans into voting against their own economic interests.

JS: The abortion debate is almost always incorrectly framed as a solely religious issue. However, there is a strong secular case against abortion.

The beginning of human life is not a matter of opinion or belief. It is settled science.

Dr. Keith Moore’s “The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology” states, “A zygote is the beginning of a new human being. Human development begins at fertilization.”

One does not need to be religious to oppose the termination of innocent lives.

Before I address the generalizations that pro-lifers support the death penalty, war and gun rights, I would like to

state that pro-lifers hold a wide array of beliefs.

One cannot take the position of generalizing the beliefs of the 46 percent of Americans who identify as pro-life, according to a 2016 Gallup poll.

Abortion and the death penalty are incomparable.

A convicted murderer has violated the social contract by which he and all members of a society live. Death is the punishment for this violation. Unborn babies have done nothing to justify being deprived of life.

The issue of war brings another matter into play: whether war is justified.

A justified war can be an act of national self-defense or a defense of brutalized citizens abroad.

It is not hypocritical for pro-lifers to support the Second Amendment.

There is no connection between the pro-life community and the actions of violent criminals.

Furthermore, one of the most compelling arguments in favor of gun ownership is self-defense from those who wish to inflict harm.

Finally, I wish to address the “irony” of two men discussing abortion.

Gender has no bearing on the moral obligation of preventing people from harming other people, whether it be via abortion or through other means.

The right of women to control their bodies is a compelling argument. However, the right of unborn babies to live comes first.

AC: President Trump has ordered missile strikes on Syria which killed and injured dozens of civilians, including several children.

One must perform mental gymnastics to get their heads around the idea of an airstrike launched in reprisal for the killing of civilians that in turn killed more civilians.

But we don’t care about the lives of Syrians. Just fetuses, apparently.

When does life start? The combination of an egg and a sperm — a zygote — does not constitute a baby.

A zygote is living in the sense that any bacterial, brain or blood cell is living.

A zygote has no capacity to suffer.

It does not have a brain or a mind.

Nor does a fetus until very late in a pregnancy. The question that arises is where we draw the line.

Should we say that every sperm is precious because it holds the potential for human life?

If so, then I and a great many men are guilty of committing mass murder on a regular basis.

strikes is a tragedy, but the goal is to prevent even more life from being lost.

Regarding when life begins, I quoted an embryology textbook written by medical doctors in my previous response to answer this question.

Additionally, “Van Nostrand’s Scientific Encyclopedia” states, “At the moment the sperm cell of SEBASTIAO the human male HUNGEBUHLER meets the ovum of the female and the union results in a fertilized ovum [zygote], a new life has begun.”

There’s Whether or not a zygote a reason we celcan be considered a baby is a matter of ebrate the day we are semantics. born and not the day The fact of the matter is that human we’re conceived. life begins at the moment of fertilizaBut this isn’t about tion. Opening an embryology textbook when life starts. As I’ve said: will confirm this indisputable fact. conservatives don’t care While you are entitled to your own about the sanctity of life. opinions, you are not entitled to your George Carlin summed it own facts. up best: “They’re not proThe inflammatory statements life. They’re anti-woman.” made by comedian George Carlin are As Carlin said, conunequivocally false. Being pro-life servatives want to protect encompasses care for the child both unborn babies, but once that before and after birth. baby is born they don’t care The Catholic Church, which opposabout it. es abortion as well as the death penalty “If you’re pre-born you’re fine. and unjust wars, spends billions of If you’re preschool, you’re fucked,” dollars annually on charity in the U.S. he said. “Conservatives want live alone, which includes funding centers babies so they can grow up to be dead that assist women facing unintended soldiers.” pregnancies.

If conservatives want to truly adPro-lifers, especially Catholics and dress the issue of unwanted pregnancy, other religious adherents, are not just they should ensure that every child talking the talk. They are walking the grows up free of want by raising the walk. minimum wage.

While there are steps that can be They should ensure the health of taken to decrease unintended pregevery child by creating a universal nancies, the solution is not to kill the healthcare system. unborn.

They should seek to give every child Abortion is one of the greatest the opportunity to live up to their pohuman rights violations facing this tential by increasing funding for public country today. It is crucial that this schools and making public universities stain on the moral fabric of the U.S. be tuition free. They do none of these outlawed. things.

JS: There is no connection between the pro-life movement and Syrian airstrikes.

Furthermore, those airstrikes were meant to defend innocent civilians from being gassed by their own president, a brutal war criminal.

Any civilian life lost during those

SEBASTIAO HUNGEBUHLER

Alexander Collingsworth is a senior English and History double major. He has been writing for the Cynic since 2016.

Jim Simpson is a sophomore political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since 2017.

LIFE

8

Spring show brings skating teams together Kailey Bates Staff Writer The ice and snow outside has finally melted, but indoors, skaters are spinning on ice in solos, duets, free style and synchronized groups.

The UVM Figure Skating Club is holding its annual Spring Show April 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Gutterson Arena.

Tickets will be sold at the door: $5 for students, $7 for faculty/ staff/kids and $10 for the general public.

Sophomore Leslie VanDeMark, co-captain of the competitive synchronized skate team, the Catamount Blades, her teammate, first-year Kate Wettergreen, and first-year Emma Hoey of the Ice Cats, had plenty to say on all things skating.

The Figure Skating Club consists of three groups: the Catamount Blades, the FreeStyle Team and the Ice Cats, VanDeMark said.

“We all come together for the show, which is really great,” she said.

The Catamount Blades practice twice a week at 5:30 a.m. but the early morning alarm does not curb their enthusiasm for the team, the skaters said.

“You get to practice and you’re like, ‘Ah, it’s too early,’” Wettergreen said. “But everyone is really nice and just happy to be there together, so it’s actually fun.”

VanDeMark said skating was one of the reasons she

Photo courtesy of the UVM Figure Skating Club The UVM Club Figure Skating team is pictured. The team will be showcasing their annual spring show April 15 in Gutterson. chose to come to UVM. “It’s great to have a community of people that share a love of the same sport,” she said. “It’s definitely community-building.”

Hoey enjoys being a part of Ice Cats because it gives her the opportunity to learn new things, like lifts and flips, as well as work with nationally

recognized skaters, she said.

The three teams perform at the end of each semester.

The Ice Cats, a spirit team consisting of nine skaters, also entertain fans at Men’s Varsity Hockey games and other special events, Hoey said.

The end-of-semester shows are different from the hockey game performanc-

es, because the shows allow skaters “to display a lot more skills, such as jumping, long spins, and using props on ice.”

Hoey said.

The show is a great source of income for the teams. “The money we earn from the show goes to ice-time and our competitions, and covers whatever the school doesn’t cover for

us.” VanDeMark said.

The show gives all members of the Figure Skating Club a chance to showcase the skills they’ve been working hard on, the skaters said.

“We’re excited for the show and happy to have the community come out and support us!” VanDeMark said.

Matcha maintains trend of popularity

Pregnancy...

Chris’s Critique Chris Leow

M

atcha tea has become extremely popular in recent years, appearing in everything from candy, cupcakes, smoothies and lattes.

Ben & Jerry’s even has a Matcha-flavored ice cream with caramel and cinnamon, though it’s only available in Japan.

But what actually is this bright green powder, and what are its benefits?

The tea was developed by Zen Buddhists in China, but quickly spread to Japan where it became extremely popular, according to the show “Tea Tuesday” on NPR. “I think it’s a green powder that has some health benefits, and I feel like it tastes chalky,” senior Lauren Porell said. “I kind of just think of it as an alternative to chai.”

Matcha comes from camellia sinensis, and is a highly concentrated version of regular green tea that uses the entire leaf of the plant, according to the NPR article.

Its unique powdered form makes it a versatile ingredient for adding tea flavor and a bright pop of green color.

Matcha tea can be purchased at most places in Burlington that sell tea. I found it in Dobra Tea and the Tight Squeeze Coffee Shop, as well

LILY KEATS as City Market.

Aside from its unique color, many people, like senior Brenna Lewis-Slammon, believe that matcha has energy and health advantages.

“From what I know, it offers a lot of energy and beneficial antioxidants,” she said. “The caffeine buzz also lasts longer than coffee.”

An abundance of a substance called epigallocatechin gallate in matcha may help lower the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, according to the health magazine “Vegetarian Times.”

Matcha also contains more caffeine than other green teas and won’t give you coffee jitters, the journal stated.

I tasted some matcha tea brewed at home, and its taste can pretty much be

summed up as a stronger and more earthy green tea with a smoother taste and a sweet grassy smell.

The bright green of freshly-brewed matcha is very eye-catching and almost looks unnatural.

The matcha cupcake I tried from Healthy Living had a subtle herbal taste, with a sweetness that overwhelmed the tea’s natural bitterness.

If you’ve only tried matcha as a flavoring or in a fancy foamed latte beverage, I recommend trying the unaltered tea brewed at home so you can drink it authentically and taste its full flavor.

The green is still as bright as it is trend-worthy.

Chris Leow is a junior medical laboratory science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2015.

irthright 24/7 Helpline 800-550-4900 birthright.org/burlingtonvt 289 College Street, Burlington 802-865-0056

LIFE

9

Superfoods provide many delicious benefits The Health Corner Michaela Paul

S

uperfoods may not make someone fly or become invisible, but they can certainly improve one’s overall health and wellbeing.

According to Ethan Smith, a senior dietetics, food and nutrition major, a superfood is defined as a whole food product that contains phytochemicals.

Phytochemicals are non-nutritive, bioactive substances thought to contribute to health benefits beyond the basic day-to-day caloric needs, Smith said.

Phytochemicals are naturally occurring in plants and provide foods with their particular taste, aroma, texture and color, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.

They are responsible for the bright colors of oranges and tomatoes, the spice of hot peppers and the pungency of onions, Smith said.

Superfoods include kale, salmon, whole grains, yogurt, soymilk, berries, flaxseed, spices, red wine and dark chocolate, according to the Livescience, an all-encompassing science website contributed to by expert researchers, historians and astronauts.

They are commonly referred to as functional foods because studies have shown they are beneficial to both the structure and function of the body, Smith said.

Certain superfoods contain

KIRA NEMETH

both antioxidants and flavonoids protecting DNA and other cellular compounds from oxidative damage, according to the “NFS 043 Fundamentals of Nutrition” textbook.

Superfoods often contain lignans and organosulfur associated with reducing blood cholesterol and inhibiting cancer growth, respectively, according to the textbook.

Probiotics are also found in certain superfoods, such as yogurt, which has shown to improve overall digestion.

Studies have shown an association between the reduced

risk for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and obesity with regular consumption of these foods, the textbook stated.

Although the exact explanation for this association is unknown, nutritionists know that people who regularly consume superfoods live generally healthier lifestyles than people who do not, Smith said.

It is critical to avoid any dietary supplements that claim to provide the same beneficial components as the actual foods does in the form of convenient capsules, he said.

“Even the most promising dietary supplements fail to impart the same benefits as consuming whole foods,” Smith said. “Even worse, phytochemical-containing supplements have been shown to reduce the effectiveness of various prescription drugs”.

Although superfoods offer many benefits, it is essential to keep in mind that many headlines overstate their potential health benefits, he said.

“Eating a head of broccoli every day is a great, healthy choice, but it probably won’t cure you of your ailments,”

Smith said. “Rather, individuals need a well-balanced, nutritious diet in order to do that.”

“I don’t specifically try to incorporate superfoods into my diet,” said senior Natalie Hewitt, a biological sciences major, “but I likely consume a large amount of these foods because I tend to eat a well-balanced diet to maintain my overall health.”

Burlington and UVM offer a large variety of superfoods.

“Sodexo often gets a bad rap, but they’ve done a great job at providing superfoods in many of their daily menu options,” Smith said.

It is important to look out for their plant-based meals and their Simple Servings station, offering nutritious and allergen-free options, he said.

Many of the restaurants in downtown Burlington, such as Revolution Kitchen, also serve many healthy alternatives, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and soybean products, which improves accessibility to superfoods, Smith said.

Increase superfood consumption by eating more whole fruits, substituting dried fruit for candy, doubling nonstarchy vegetable portions, integrating spices into meals and going meat-free once a week, he said.

Michaela Paul is a senior biology major. She has been writing for the cynic since spring 2016.

Future students of color: I was once where you are Now You See Me Naydeline Mejia

D

ear prospective student, I saw you today, having lunch with your mother in Cook dining hall, silently.

Today is Admitted Student Visit Day, so it wasn’t unusual that I ran into you when I did.

Or was it? I feel as though the universe may have placed me there at that moment.

The stars aligned just correctly for this moment to happen. Because you see, prospective student, in that moment when we briefly made eye contact, I saw something.

I saw fear and uncertainty, but I also saw something beautiful. I can’t describe it.

I can’t put it on paper, this limited outlet to place powerful thoughts. In your eyes, prospective student, I saw myself.

I saw myself when I was in your shoes, when I was a prospective student touring campus for the first time – shy, afraid and anxious. I saw your mother and in her I saw my mother. Powerful, strong, loving, afraid for her daughter.

I saw your chocolate brown skin and bright brown eyes, and I looked at my chocolate skin and bright brown eyes. I saw your bags and I saw my luggage.

My mother and I trav-

ELISE MITCHELL eled 10 or more hours by Greyhound for my Admitted Student Visit Day because it was too expensive to fly into Burlington. It was a long trip that I didn’t want to force my mother to take but she made the decision to go because she knew how much I wanted this.

She knew how much I wanted this dream, this opportunity, and I just had to see it for myself before I committed.

So we got on that Greyhound at 7 p.m. Sunday night to arrive at the Burlington airport at 5 a.m. the next day.

I wonder if you did the same?

Did you travel far to get here today, prospective stu-

dent? Did you sacrifice sleep and comfort?

Are you a first-generation college student like me? Do your parents speak Spanish to you like mine? Did your parents immigrate to this country for you to be in this exact same moment, like mine?

Prospective student, I want to let you know that I’m proud of you. I’m proud of you for living out your dream, your parents’ dream, your community’s dream. I’m proud of you for getting to this point.

You made it. “Congratulations! I am very pleased to offer you admission to the University of Vermont.” I hope you accept our offer because

we’d be so proud to have you; I’d be so proud to have you.

Yes, you will feel scared when you arrive, and even after you’ve been here for many months it will be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing.

You will feel different, an outsider, like that small chocolate stain on a clean white shirt. However, you will also feel enlightened, inspired, strong. You will feel overwhelming sadness and overwhelming joy.

It is a strange yet beautiful feeling. And, prospective student, at those times when you feel bouts of impostor syndrome, I want you to know that you deserve all your successes. You deserve all the success that you have obtained and all the opportunities coming your way.

You are not a fraud. You are not a fake. It is not because you are a student of color and someone needs to meet a diversity quota. You earned that shit! You worked hard! So go on and exude your greatness.

I want to end this letter to you, prospective student, by letting you know that you are welcome here. Your friends are welcome here. Your family members are welcome here.

Members of your community are welcome here. You are here. Welcome!

Sincerely, Naydeline & your friends at

the University of Vermont This is the first entry of a series I’d like to called, “Now You See Me.” In this entry, I tell “my story” in the format of a letter to a prospective student I encountered today.

“Now You See Me” will be a collection of stories I gather from students of color, currently attending UVM, talking about their experiences as students of color at a predominantly white university.

The current presidential administration has been trying to further divide the American people by spreading hate and fear.

The Trump administration does not appreciate the beautiful blend of colors that is America, as seen by threats to low-income and minority communities, the immigrant population and the public education system.

Through “Now You See Me,” I want to spread the message that we are not marked by our differences, and we all experience the same things as students, as Americans, as humans. We are all members of the UVM community, and we are all here.

Naydeline Mejia is a first yearCommunication Sciences and Disorders Major. She has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2017.

10

LIFE

On-campus scoop shop hosts last cone day Izzy Siedman Assistant Life Editor

Like rain through the ruts of Church Street, a line of people flowed down the street in anticipation of free ice cream.

Around the world, Ben & Jerry’s held its annual Free Cone day event from noon until 8 p.m on April 4.

Two free ice cream stands were situated in the Burlington area.

One was outside the Davis Center and the other outside the Church Street Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop, which is currently under construction.

This year marks the 38th anniversary of the free cone tradition, which started in 1979 as a show of appreciation for customer support and employee work.

It is also marks the last year that the Davis Center will enjoy the presence of its own scoop shop. After ten years of serving ice cream right on campus, UVM’s Ben & Jerry’s will close at the end of the spring semester.

UVM Dining is considering other replacements such as a smoothie bar, according to director Melissa Zelazny, but appreciates the continued partnership with Ben & Jerry’s.

“It’s sad, but they’re replacing it with a smoothie place which is my top food craving,” first-year Jackie Balter said.

“Gosh, I’m gonna spend so much money on smoothies.”

Employees give out over 1 million cones each year on this day, according to the

PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic Students line up to buy ice cream from the Ben & Jerry’s kiosk April 10. The company’s Davis Center location will be closing at the end of the semester.

Ben & Jerry’s website. A little known fact, you can get in line as many times as you want an employee assured customers.

For one last time, students basked in the convenience of Free Cone day right on campus, lines growing longest in between classes.

“I guess you can burn off calories walking down to Church Street for ice cream from now on. If nothing else, we’re trading convenience for a good excuse to get out,” firstyear Erin Bundock said.

Though a smoothie shop would be a new addition to UVM Dining’s wide array of food options, some students professed their disappointment at the disappearance of Davis’ scoop shop.

“I’m pissed. It’s so much easier, especially in the winter when its snowing buckets,” first-year Cameron Bauserman said. “Nothing beats having it right here.”

Despite the rain, the under “conestruction” shop downtown and the impend-

ing closure of Ben & Jerry’s on campus, the line of those in need of a small free scoop never ended.

“Some people definitely gave up because of the weather, but the turnout has been great overall,” said a Ben & Jerry’s employee who was too busy to give a name.

According to eager ice cream lovers, the wait was somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour throughout the day.

To ease the wait and pass

time, employees ran about quizzing people on Ben & Jerry’s history for a chance to win 10 percent off all ice cream for a year, or even a cherished line cut pass.

Anna Jager, another Saint Michael’s junior, agreed that waiting was not a downside.

“It’s actually kind of fun,” Jager said. “The social aspect is great because everyone is waiting together.”

Do you want to...

MEET GARY DERR? Well, I’m not sure we can do that for you. But now that I have your attention, you should join the Vermont Cynic, UVM’s student-run newspaper.

Write | Design | Illustrate | Photograph | Copy Edit

Cynic general meetings: Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Waterman 427

LIFE

Islam talk held to educate students on faith Kate Vesely Staff Writer Enrolling and attending college can be a huge shift for just about everyone.

However, this shift can prove more stressful and challenging for Muslim students at a predominantly white school, according to UVM’s Interfaith Center.

Teaching key concepts, rituals and global regional difference in Islamic tradition, the UVM Interfaith Center hosted “Islam 101: Learning the Basics and How They Relate to Life at UVM,” on April 6 in the Chittenden Room in the Davis Center.

Interfaith coordinator, Rev. Laura Engelken, invited Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst, assistant professor and director of UVM’s Middle East Program, to speak at the workshop.

“Teaching doesn’t only mean my semester’s classes,” Fuerst said. “It includes talks like this that are meant to briefly introduce interested folks to key concepts about Islam, Islamic studies and religion.”

Fuerst has given five talks similar to “Islam 101” on campus since coming to UVM in 2012.

Despite her experience in giving these lectures, the discussions never prove to be easy, she said.

“Most people who attend come with an honest desire to learn,” Fuerst said, “but dissuading folks of stereotypical, Islamophobic notions is the hardest part of these short talks.”

On the other hand, Fuerst believes that with hard work, commitment from staff and students alike and continued lectures like this, the environment at UVM can change.

“Learning and un-learning about others is a long process not just of gaining information, but of self-reflection and a commitment to check one’s own preconceived ideas,” she said.

Junior Fardowsa Ibrahim says that her experience at UVM of being a black Muslim women has been complicated.

“I wear a hijab, so of course

Photo courtesy of UVM Dr. Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst, director of the Middle East program at UVM, is pictured.

Fuerst led a workshop detailing the basics of Islam tradition April 6. that automatically gives people ideas of me being different,” she said, “I get reminded I am different almost everywhere on campus except the Mosaic Center for Students of Color.”

Fuerst stresses that, to change their mindsets, more students need to take classes on religion, race, ethnicity, ability, sexuality and gender.

She believes that these opportunities will truly help them grow and learn.

“You have to be willing to do the things that might make you uncomfortable,” she said.

Ibrahim said that some students ask her why she wears a hijab, a question that she loves because “I feel more respected.”

“I love my religion despite what people think about it,” she said, “but sometimes I just wish people would ask more questions.”

While this was just a three hour workshop, Fuerst hopes that those who attended understand the complexity surrounding these topics.

“I hope — like I tell my students regularly — that folks walk away with a sense that simple definitions of Islam, or easy one-size-fits-all answers about Muslims, aren’t possible or even desirable,” Fuerst said.

11

12

ARTS

BRANDON ARCARI/The Vermont Cynic UVM Amnesty International co-presidents Hailey Moll (left) and Jason Dana (right) discuss their plans for the upcoming Jamnesty concert. Jamnesty will take place April 14 and will benefit the White Helmet rescue effort in Syria.

Club holds concert for Syrian rescue group

Addie Beach Senior Staff Writer

UVM Amnesty International not only wants people to have fun, but do some good in the process.

The organization will be hosting a Jamnesty concert April 14, with proceeds going to support Syrian civilian rescue group the White Helmets.

The White Helmets are a group of unarmed, neutral volunteers who help with search and evacuation efforts, which have saved over 85,000 lives. The job is risky, and 166 volunteers have been killed in the process, according to their

website.

UVM Amnesty International Co-President, sophomore Jason Dana, said inspiration for the concert came from watching the award-winning Netflix documentary “The White Helmets,” which details the organization’s rescue efforts.

“It was incredibly powerful,” Dana said.

UVM Amnesty was already planning a Jamnesty concert to raise awareness for human rights, and decided to turn it into a fundraiser for the White Helmets, he said.

A generous donor has agreed to match all donations

up to $1000, Dana said.

Fellow Co-President, junior Hailey Moll, said UVM Amnesty was excited to expand their aid efforts.

“We were thinking about how can we support people who aren’t refugees, but that are experiencing what’s happening on the ground in Syria right now,” Moll said.

The concert is especially timely, as Moll noticed the White Helmets provided help during the recent attacks in Syria, during which chemical bombs were dropped on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun.

“Their work is incredibly

needed, and it’s very critical to the survival of the people there,” she said.

Among the acts playing are Jeddy, the Green Mountain Boys, Stace Brandt and the Hydes. The event will also feature a talk from Dinah PoKempner, general counsel of Human Rights Watch.

Sophomore Lindsay May Ross, lead singer of Jeddy, said the band wasn’t planning on doing any shows this month until they heard about Jamnesty.

“I feel like all of us believe that playing is so much fun,” Ross said, “but when you’re playing for a cause, it’s that

much more fun and that much more meaningful.”

The event is a great way to incorporate music and human rights in way that will make people more aware about human rights in general, Moll said.

“I think it’s important to remember that human rights are something enshrined in everybody,” she said. “It’s a connecting factor between people.”

Jamnesty will take place in the Grand Maple Ballroom, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door and $3 in advance through the University Tickets website.

Student play tells story of early female US politician Healy Fallon Senior Staff Writer We often take for granted the facts and dates we mindlessly absorb from our history textbooks, but there’s always another side to the story.

In honor of March, Women’s History Month, the University Players performed “Like Any Other Woman” this past weekend at the Black Box Theatre.

Set in the small town of Argonia, Kansas, the play tells the story of Susanna “Dora” Salter, the first female mayor in the U.S. The play was written by senior Sarah Evans, an English and middle-education double major. Evans, an enthusiast for women in government, wanted to tell a story that wouldn’t be included in the typical history textbook, she said.

Evans received a grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research to travel to Argonia to conduct in-depth research on Salter, looking at state archives and other available resources.

“I think it’s important that another piece of art has been made about another American woman who broke social boundaries,” she said.

Moving from the spring of

MAX MCCURDY/The Vermont Cynic The Black Box Theatre at Main Street Landing is pictured. The UVM University Players performed the play “Like No Other Woman” here April 1.

1887 to the autumn of 1888, the play follows Salter (firstyear Rachel Pepin) as she makes the sudden transition from humble homemaker to one of the first female elected officials in the U.S. Along the way, Salter

raises five children, navigates through her relationship with her husband Lewis (firstyear Luke Nawrocki), a local business owner and aspiring shopkeeper, and manages to protect the community from a malicious drunkard named

Jack Ducker (Paul Gudermann).

Pepin and Nawrocki spent time together outside of rehearsal in order to connect better as people and improve their chemistry as a married couple on stage, she said.

“The whole cast was super enthusiastic about the material, and they all did extra research,” Evans said. “They all put in the extra effort to honor their character.”

ARTS

13

Dance show seeks to challenge the audience Bright Eyes on the Find Anna Gibson

T

he works of art that make us think the most often emerge out of real-life experience and bold, creative risk.

Dan Yablonsky’s dance piece, “Non-Mechanical Tools of Human Advancement,” is one such work, as it challenges our conception of what a dance piece can be.

Yablonsky graduated from UVM as an English major with an ecological agriculture minor in December of 2011.

He returned March 30 to Mann Gymnasium for the 10th anniversary of UVM’s Dancing Uphill. The springtime event is hosted annually by the UVM Dance department and showcases both student and faculty work.

The piece, which Yablonsky choreographed as an undergraduate, was selected to be performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as part of the National College Dance Festival in May 2012.

While Yablonsky himself was the original performer in the piece, a nearly fatal accident after graduation left his body in need of intensive rehabilitation and unfit to dance. Molly Kaye ‘16 and graduate student Benjamin Liebman, performed it last weekend in his place.

In the piece itself, the two dancers wear helmets and padded vests, and look as if

Photo courtesy of Facebook Dancers practice for the 10th annual Dancing Uphill performance. UVM alumnus Dan Yablonsky’s piece “Non-Mechanical Tools of Human Advancement” was featured as a part of the performance. they are about to engage in some type of extreme sport.

Throughout the performance, they interact violently with each other and their surroundings. They writhed jerkily and slammed themselves against the only set pieces onstage, two metal file cabinets, while a recording of Yablonsky’s voice plays in the background.

The narration renders the piece extremely aware of its experimental nature, and is simultaneously casual, poetic

and unsettling.

The topics covered include the “frustration of creation” and fragmented mentions of much greater issues: power, loneliness and cultural diversity.

After the piece concluded, Yablonsky came down to the stage and spoke to the audience candidly about the performance as a reflection of both his own privilege as a white man and the ongoing process of understanding and overcoming privilege, racism

and violence that we all must engage in.

“What we’re doing at the end is charging people with taking initiative to understand and educate ourselves about power and society,” Yablonsky said.

Claire Wiggin ’16, was uncertain about Yablonsky’s strategy of using a public performance space to address those important issues, she said.

“I definitely think there should have been some sort

of trigger warning, because someone who has experienced violence might have felt super uncomfortable,” Wiggin said.

Others seemed fully inspired by Yablonsky’s creative courage, as a handful of audience members stood up immediately in passionate applause.

Anna Gibson is a sophomore English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2016.

featuring

BETH MINTZ

UVM Professor of Sociology

— A UNITED ACADEMICS TEACH-IN —

PRICED OUT What’s Behind the Skyrocketing Costs of Higher Education and What Can We Do About It?

Professor Mintz’s research in political sociology and corporate structure includes a current book project Screwed: Why Kids Owe So Much in Student Loans. with Respondents NANCY WELCH, UVM Professor of English, and LINDSEY McCARRON, UVM Junior.    • Tuition and fees at U.S. colleges and universities up more than 60 percent in just the past 10 years.

• Some 44 million Americans burdened by more than a trillion dollars in student loan debt.

• What are the causes? What are the solutions? Does a college degree have to come with a debt sentence?

Join United Academics, UVM’s faculty union, to learn why tuition has skyrocketed, where the money goes, and what we can do to reclaim the right to a college education without drowning in debt.   

TUESDAY, APRIL 18 4-5:30 pm Waterman 413

Free and open to the public.

14

ARTS

SABRINA HOOD/The Vermont Cynic The UVM Symphony Orchestra practices in Southwick March 28. The orchestra played the North American debut of Japanese composer Hiroshi Hoshina’s “Mnemosyne” during its spring concert April 8.

UVM’s orchestra performs domestic debut Jack Carmody Staff Writer A classical Japanese piece made its debut Saturday night at a concert that was so full people were sitting in the aisles.

The University Symphony Orchestra played the North American debut of Japanese composer Hiroshi Hoshina’s “Mnemosyne: souvenirs d’annee en annee” at its spring concert April 8 in the Music Building Recital Hall.

The symphony orchestra is a group of approximately 70 musicians who audition for their positions and play

multiple shows throughout the academic year, and is comprised of both students and community members.

Though “Mnemosyne” is very popular in Japan, it never made it to North America until now, conductor Yutaka Kono said.

Kono did not realize “Mnemosyne” had never been played in North America before he chose it last year, he said.

Sophomore violinist Meg Shields said debuting “Mnemosyne” was an uplifting experience.

“It is a beautiful piece that has the ability to touch

a person’s soul,” Shields said.

“I felt humbled being one of the first players to bring this incredible music to this end of the world.”

“Mnemosyne” only made up a portion of the show.

Kono’s selections also featured “Pines of the Appian Way,” which is a section of Italian composer Ottorino Respighi’s symphonic poem “Pines of Rome” and John Williams’s widely known “Star Wars Suite.”

The “Star Wars Suite,” which is comprised of five themes from the original movie, is a piece Kono has wanted to conduct for a while, he said.

First-year percussionist Will Wuttke said it was amazing seeing the audience’s reaction to “Star Wars,” but that there was a burden to get it right.

“You could look out in the audience at any face as it started, and their eyes just lit up,” Wuttke said.

In addition to the three ensemble pieces, the winners of the Annual Concerto Competition performed solos with the orchestra.

Senior cellist Cleo Flemming performed “Allegro Appassionato” by Camille Saint-Saens.

It was the type of shorter,

high energy, technical concerto that could often be used as an encore piece, Flemming said.

Senior bassist Carlin Rizzo performed “Concerto for Bass and Orchestra” by Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf.

“Both pieces were well chosen and showcased the deep tones that are the characteristic elements of [Flemming and Rizzo’s] instruments,” Shields said.

Rizzo said having a solo in the song was something he has wanted for a while, and that it’s ended his senior year on a high note.

Saudi band uses show to bridge cultures in Vermont Kim Henry Staff Writer

In period of tension in U.S.-Middle East relations, a Saudi artist works to dispel misconceptions of Muslim culture.

The Vermont Council on World Affairs hosted an event for musical and cultural sharing April 4 at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center.

The event, “The Fusion Factor in Independent Arab Music,” featured Saudi Arabian musicians Diya Azzony and Abdullah Filfilan in collaboration with local music group Grup Anwar.

According to the event’s website, Azzony is known for his band Al Farabi, which mixes poetry spoken in classical Fusha Arabic with Western jazz and rock influences.

For the purposes of this tour, said Azzony, he and Filfilan are performing under the name Hejazz, a musical pun on the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia where both members live.

Hejazz’s American tour comes during a period of political tension between the U.S. and the Middle East.

However, Hejazz looks to promote a full cultural experience for artists around the

world, according to Abdullah Raed, a representative from the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, which sponsored the tour in conjunction with the Middle East Institute.

Azzony displays understands the importance of his Arabic musical fusion project in a time when the U.S. would sooner divide than fuse with the Middle East.

Like millions of others, Azzony had seen Aziz Ansari’s

opening monologue on SNL following November’s election, which attributed some of the America’s islamophobia to the “scary ass music from homeland.”

“Music influences our feelings . . . it’s a language that carries different emotions, and different energies as well,” Azzony said.

Unlike Ansari, Azzony does not see Arabic music as a tool used against Muslims, but as a

potential bridge between two cultures. “[Our music] reflects the positive side of Islam,” Azzony said. “Music is a language that connects us to God.” The importance of both music and language as forms of communication came up repeatedly through the night; Azzony often acted as translator between the audience and musicians.

During one of the He-

jazz-Grup Anwar collaborations, some audience members were surprised to hear Anwar, originally from Syria, sing the word “Vermont” amidst a flurry of Arabic lyrics.

“The song [usually] says ‘take me back home,’” Azzony said to the audience after the song was over. “But Mr. Anwar said ‘take me to Vermont.’” The audience erupted in applause.

SPORTS

Coach honored after a memorable season Sabrina Hood Sports Writer

OLIVER POMAZI/The Vermont Cynic Men’s Basketball head coach John Becker speaks with the team during a timeout against New Hampshire March 6. Becker was named the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year award after the team won its sixth America East Championship title.

Men’s basketball head coach John Becker received the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year award after the team won its sixth America East Championship title. “[The awards I received this year] are my staff and players’ awards,” Becker stated in an April 4 email. “This is a team award.”

Becker has been a basketball coach for 18 years and head coach at UVM for six, he said. He has previously coached for other universities, including Gallaudet University and the Catholic University of America. “[These awards] only help confirm we are doing things the right way,” Becker said.

“We need to continue to grow and evolve, but our core values stay the same.”

This mindset applied during the 21-game-winning streak and while preparing for the Big Dance, which is the start of the NCAA Tournament for college men’s basketball.

During the streak, junior guard Trae Bell-Haynes said Becker told the team not to pay attention to the noise, as there was still plenty of room for improvement.

However, these wins and awards did not change the structure of their practices at

all. Their practices are intense and vary greatly, but there is always a primary focus on defense drills, Bell-Haynes said.

Other key aspects of practice include watching 30 minutes of film of either the last practice or the last game that would pinpoint that day’s objective.

They would also walk through their opposing team’s plays in an attempt to anticipate what they would see during the next game, BellHaynes said.

Becker’s years of coaching experience have taught him the importance of communication, which has carried over to his career and success coaching here at UVM, Becker stated.

Junior guard Cam Ward said the best piece of advice Becker has given him was to listen to understand, not listen to respond.

During the America East Championship game and the first NCAA tournament game against Purdue University, Becker tried to keep morale up and told the team to stay focused; they had plenty of time to execute the gameplan, he said.

“He had faith in us; he kept telling us we were going to win the game,” Ward said.

“Everyone was looking to him for leadership and he really stepped up.”

The Purdue game was the

15

first time in a while that UVM had been losing to the other team for a majority of the game, Bell-Haynes said.

Despite this, Becker was cool and collected the whole game, Bell-Haynes said.

“We hadn’t lost in a while, so it was a different spot for us,” he said.

The team this season has had many successes, including finishing the season with a 29-6 record, according to UVM athletics.

With these achievements, there is the underlying question as to whether Becker will return as UVM head coach in the next season, as his contract is up for renewal.

Currently, there is no definite answer.

“We are 100 percent confident that he’s going to be back here next year,” Bell-Haynes said.

Ward, meanwhile, said “[he] honestly doesn’t know”, but pointed to Becker’s successful record as the reason he’s so wanted.

“I’m sure if he wanted to he could go somewhere nice,” Ward said. “He’s got a very nice winning record”.

Becker declined to comment.

Whatever Becker decides to do, UVM men’s basketball did well this past season and is lucky to have Becker as their coach, Ward said.

Club volleyball heading to nationals with SGA help Matt Chimenti-Carmen Sports Writer The Vermont men’s and women’s club volleyball teams are headed to Kansas City, Missouri this week to compete to in the National Volleyball Tournament.

Both teams started training back in September. Their consistent preparation has brought them confidence to compete at the national level.

“We are extremely excited to be going to Nationals,”said senior Amanda Baur, women’s club volleyball co-captain and treasurer. “We have worked extremely hard all year to prepare for this tournament, and there really isn’t anything else like this experience, speaking as a junior who has been fortunate enough to attend nationals twice before this year.”

Hundreds of teams from around the nation come together each year to compete for a national championship, Baur said.

“Close to 300 men’s and 300 women’s teams all come together to compete at this tournament, with about 50 teams in each separate division,” she said. “We are competing in the D1AA division this year and hope to play some schools that come from bigger D1 varsity volleyball programs.”

The Vermont club team gets the opportunity to not only compete at the tournament, but also watch some of the best young talent — some-

Photo courtesy of Facebook The UVM Women’s Club Volleyball team is pictured. Both the women’s and men’s team are headed to the National Volleyball Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. thing neither team takes for granted, Baur said.

“Being able to not only watch but actually play against some of these teams is an amazing experience to have, and it is an honor to be able to represent Vermont volleyball at such a big competition,” she said. “I think that not a lot of people know about UVM’s club team, so this is an amazing opportunity to really show people what we are capable of.”

Men’s captain junior Max

Solomon said he is excited to not only play in the tournament, but also watch some exciting games.

“Competing in the National tournament means that we get more playing time against more diverse teams,” Solomon said. “Also, with about 400 teams competing in the tournament, it means we get to watch a lot of great games that we would never see in our own league.”

The women’s team has high aspirations for this tour-

nament. They have not had much success in recent years, but hope to make an impact come tournament time, Baur said.

“We have high expectations for this year’s tournament, in terms of doing better than we ever have before at nationals,” she said. “We are looking to make it into a higher championship bracket and get exposure to teams that we have never played before, from places like the West Coast and the South maybe.”

Besides competing at a high level, Baur is looking forward to bonding with her teammates, she said.

“I’m hoping that we use this year’s tournament as a way to strengthen our team, both in skill level and experience as well as how close we are to one another,” Baur said.

A lot of hard work and dedication goes into making this experience possible, both on and off the volleyball court.

Solomon noted the players’ hard work and sacrifices needed to make the trip possible.

“A lot of work has to be done far in advance,” he said.

“Taking nearly a full week off from school is also incredibly taxing on every player.”

Money is a big constraint when it comes to the tournament; each year the team must fundraise to earn enough money to make the trip possible, Baur said.

“Through lots of fundraising events and donations we have fundraised close to $3,000 dollars so far, with still a little bit more left to fundraise,” she said. “We are hoping to fundraise close to $5,000 dollars in the end.”

Thankfully, SGA does help the teams financially; SGA contributed $2550 for the tournament expenses, Baur said.

“We are extremely grateful for everything that SGA has been able to do for our club, including providing us with some funding to attend nationals,” she said.

SPORTS

16

Football star treated unfairly Views from the Fairway Greg Mandozzi

W

ith just months remaining before the 32 NFL teams kickoff training camp, former San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains without a home.

The 2012 second-round draft pick stormed into the league as an up-and-coming young quarterback after his predecessor Alex Smith went down with a concussion.

Known for his speed and mobility, he beat opponents running with the ball, just as much as he did throwing it.

Kaepernick’s early success continued with a Super Bowl appearance in 2012 against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Niners were on pace to be the champions, until a swift loss of power in the stadium changed momentum. They would eventually lose to Baltimore by a score of 34-31.

Kaepernick caught the nation’s attention during a preseason game in 2016, when he chose to kneel during the national anthem.

Kaepernick’s reasons were said to be in protest of the oppression he felt was taking place against minorities across the nation.

Supporters knelt with him in unity, but many felt offended, viewing his decision to kneel during the anthem as a lack of respect for the military and soldiers’ families.

The country was split in two, and a national argument

began.

Not only was 2016 a tough year for Kaepernick due to this controversy, his play on the field was subpar at best.

Completing only 59 percent of his passes, the San Francisco quarterback led his team to a dismal 2-14 record in 2016.

The 49ers have gone from a perennial Super Bowl threat to the laughing stock of the NFC. It came as no surprise that the franchise decided to move in a new direction following such poor play.

Kaepernick officially opted out of his contract March 3, a move that was made before the team would have likely released him.

It is safe to say Kaepernick presents some obvious risks and may be considered a risky signing moving forward.

His protest was controversial to say the least, and many teams simply disagree with his decision to make his point by kneeling during the sacred national anthem.

Some teams may even admire and respect the young man for making a statement, but as a business decision wouldn’t want to take on all the baggage he may bring to their locker room.

What many teams would say if you asked them, is that he simply isn’t good enough a player to outweigh what negative energy he may bring over with him. This is debatable.

The quarterback position is often seen as the most important position in sports. At the

end of the day, talent is the priority for a team if they want to have any chance of sniffing a ring.

The New England Patriots have shown us just how important it is to establish a franchise quarterback, as Tom Brady continues to bring titles to One Patriot Place.

As we take a look at the league as it is presently constructed, there is a clear tier system in place: the elite tier, the middle tier who can win a team games, and then a lot of mediocrity at the quarterback position.

The top tier consists of Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Newton and Roethlisberger; the middle tier consists of players like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Alex Smith, and Dak Prescott, to name a few.

If a franchise has someone in either of these tiers, passing on Kaepernick makes a ton of sense, due to his dip in form.

Hoever, it is difficult to explain how teams like the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos and hapless Cleveland Browns should take a blind eye to the former 49er playcaller.

Protest or not, if Kaepernick can get back to playing at even 50 percent of his old self, he can make the difference in this league. The name of the game is winning, and many teams would do more of it with Kaepernick at the helm.

Greg Mandozzi is a sophomore Business Administration major.

He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2017.

UVM Scoreboard

Visit vtcynic.com for more coverage and uvmathletics.com for schedules, tickets, score updates and additional information

LAST WEEK

L

W

8-16

Men’s lacrosse at UMass Lowell

Women’s lacrosse at Albany

Lowell, Massachusetts April 8

Albany, New York April 5

3rd place

12-11

1st

140 pts

place

Women’s track and field at UMass Tri-Meet

94 pts

Men’s track and Field at UMass Tri-Meet

Amherst, Massachusetts April 7

Amherst, Massachusetts April 7

THIS WEEK

• Track and Field at Dartmouth Invitational Hanover, New Hampshire April 14 at 11a.m.

• Women’s Lacrosse vs Stony Brook Home April 14 at 4p.m.

• Men’s Lacrosse vs Stony Brook Home April 15 at 1p.m.

• Track and Field vs Hartford Home April 18 at 3:30p.m.

RECORDS

Men’s Basketball 29-6 Men’s Hockey 20-13-5 Men’s Lacrosse 5-6

Women’s Basketball 9-20 Women’s Hockey 15-14-9 Women’s Lacrosse 1-12

Academics and community key factors in recruitment process Locria Courtright Assistant Sports Editor One of the unique challenges of collegiate athletics is bringing in recruits.

At the professional level, teams can promise a hefty payday to free agents, but the NCAA does not pay players, which means coaches need to find other ways to get student-athletes to join the team.

For UVM, coaches recruit in many different ways. Most UVM sports have an online recruiting questionnaire on the UVM athletics website.

The only exceptions are men’s hockey, men’s basketball and skiing.

UVM coaches can begin calling prospective student-athletes on or after July 1 following the recruit’s junior year of high school, according to the page, titled “Prospective Student-Athlete Information.”

Men’s hockey sees a somewhat different situation, as players will often choose to play junior hockey in leagues such as the United States Hockey League and Canadian Junior Hockey League.

The entire coaching staff plays a role in recruitment, said Kevin Sneddon, head coach of men’s hockey.

“As head coaches, it’s difficult to get out and see all of the pool of prospects,” Sneddon said. “For us, we have it set as a staff and play off the

JACOB STEINBERG strengths of each staff member.”

Recent years have seen UVM upgrade its athletic facilities. While men’s soccer head coach Rob Dow doesn’t believe facilities are the deciding factor, he does believe they can help woo student-athletes.

“I don’t believe that facilities are really the decision-makers for a kid,” Dow said. “However, I think it’s awesome, the extension of UVM soccer to the community and the community having a place where they can enjoy

their games comfortably.”

UVM athletics have recruited players from around the world.

This year’s varsity teams featured players from 14 different countries across four continents.

The opportunities that being a student-athlete provide for are a huge selling point, Dow said.

“You can get an amazing degree from UVM while competing at the highest amateur level in the United States,” he said. “When they’re back

home, they have to choose: are they going to be an academic, going to school full-time, or are they going to be a footballer?”

Success outside of sports is one of many things Sneddon uses to sell UVM to recruits, he said.

“Our biggest selling points are our fan base and game night atmosphere, the campus and surrounding area, academic opportunities and the chance to develop into a pro,” Sneddon said. “We also sell our proud alumni success

outside of hockey.”

Communication with recruits is critical to keeping them committed to UVM athletics, he said.

“It’s a competitive environment out there,” Sneddon said. “We need to keep tabs and constant communication with prospects who have committed to Vermont; this communication helps ensure our prospects matriculate to UVM.”