Slade Hall
Battle of the bands
Students petition to keep sustainable living community on campus
Student bands compete with each other to play SpringFest
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SpringFest lineup announced by Greta Bjornson gabjorns@uvm.edu
The University Program Board announced the folk band The Head and the Heart will be headlining this year’s SpringFest. The annual concert is scheduled for April 30 and is set to take place in the Jeffords parking lot with local band Madaila opening. The Head and the Heart was chosen for the event because of the band’s musical style and popularity, Senior Angela Russo, a member of the UPB Concerts Bureau, said. “A lot of the students at UVM really like folk music and we rarely bring that to Spring Fest … we thought that they’d be a really good fit for this event,” Russo said. “They’re also one of the bigger names that we’ve been able to bring recently, so we’re really excited about that,” she said. To begin the process of choosing a performer the Concerts Bureau members brainstorm musical acts they think would be a good fit and then collaborate with Burlington concert venue Higher Ground in scheduling a band. “We all have our own list and we compile them and get
by alexandra shannon amshanno@uvm.edu
Seattle indie folk band The Head and the Heart is pictured. The group will be performing at SpringFest along with student band Bison April 30. PHOTO COURTESY OF CURTIS MILLARD our pricing from our agent we go through at Higher Ground,” Russo said. The agent then determines how budget-friendly an act is or whether they are available for the date SpringFest is scheduled. The band’s tickets are typically upwards of $40, so the SpringFest price tag of $10 of-
fers a substantial discount and makes the show “affordable,” Russo said. Students like first-year LeAnn Gove are eagerly anticipating this year’s event as a culmination of the second semester and a concert to count down to. “I’m excited for SpringFest,” she said. “It gives me an event
to look forward to in the midst of school-related stress.” Attendees of this year’s concert can look forward to a different style of music and a “really fun show,” Russo said. “We’re going to culminate the year on a nice, mellow, fun note,” she said.
UVM seeks to cut ‘40 percent rule’ by ian lund, jacob holzman & Nora Kittell ilund@uvm.edu,/jholzman@uvm.edu/ nkittell@uvm.edu
The University of Vermont has tried to increase its state funding for eight years with no luck. Now, the school is pursuing new options by pushing the state to eliminate what many call the “40 percent rule.” The law, established in 1959, requires UVM to set instate tuition to no more than 40 percent of out-of-state tuition. Wendy Koenig, director of state and federal relations, said she has been getting “positive feedback” from lawmakers on removing the rule in a time of high budget pressure for the state. “[Removing the rule] provides the University with an opportunity to try to control costs without the state appropriating us extra dollars in a year where it’s a very tight budget,” Koenig said. If UVM has to stick to the rule it can never lower out-ofstate tuition, she said.
SGA execs will have no opponents in elections
In 2015, U.S. News and World Report listed UVM as one of the most expensive schools for out-of-state students in the country. With the rule gone, the University would be able to predict what would happen to its budget if out-of-state tuition was lowered, Koenig said. “If the rule were repealed, we would be able to think about maybe not increasing out-ofstate tuition this year,” she said. “And see how that plays out with our enrollment and number of applications and that sort of thing, but until we’re able to lift that rule we can’t really model.” Sen. David Zuckerman, D-Chittenden, said he has “reservations” about removing the rule if it leads to higher in-state tuition but “understands the economic goals” of UVM lowering out-of-state tuition. “I am trying to find a happy medium where we might allow for the removal the of 40 percent rule but only so long as the in-state tuition is not dis-
The Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier is pictured March 16. PHO-
TO COURTESY OF HEADWATERS MAGAZINE
proportionately raised in order to cover expenses,” Zuckerman said. Sen. Dustin Degree, R-Franklin, said the 40 percent rule serves an important role in ensuring that Vermont students will only pay a fraction of out-of-state tuition. “My concern, and the concern of many of the members
of the Senate education committee, is that [removing] it will lead to higher in-state tuition for Vermonters,” Degree said. The idea of the rule being removed and UVM increasing in-state tuition is “ludicrous,” said Richard Cate, vice president for finance and treasury. “That is definitely not going to happen,” Cate said.
Current SGA President Jason Maulucci and Vice President Tyler Davis are the first pair of students to run unopposed on the same ticket for SGA elections since 1941. Election packets were due at 4 p.m. March 18 and Maulucci and Davis were the only people who signed out an election packet, Maulucci said. The election packets contain the rules and regulations for the elections and space for the signatures needed in order to run. “I hope we ended up being unopposed because people have thought that we’ve done a good enough job to not warrant a challenge,” he said. Sophomore Luke Young said he thinks they are running unopposed due to student apathy. “At least to my knowledge there’s no public campaigning going on,” Young said. Maulucci and Davis want to enhance the student experience at UVM by using their experience and commitment, according to a description on Maulucci and Davis’ Facebook group. One of the bigger projects the two want to tackle in their second term is having the administration post course syllabi online. “It’s something people have been pushing for 25 years and there was very little, if not any progress,” Maulucci said. “And we’re going to be in a position next year having built all of these relationships with all of these people to really make a push on these kind of things.” As this will be their second term, Maulucci and Davis said they will be able to work on bigger projects because they not only have already established relationships with people throughout the community, but also have more time. “The fact that we have two years allows us to kind of look bigger at the entire scheme,” Davis said. Though they are running unopposed, Maulucci said voting will still take place March 28 and 29. Elections must take place five weeks before the last day of classes, according to SGA’s constitution.
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Kayakers protest restrictions by bryan o’keefe bpokeefe@uvm.edu
Students may be unable to kayak on the Green River as a result of a licensing issue between the state and a local electric company. Morrisville Water and Light operates three hydroelectric dams. Since hydroelectric ownership is under the jurisdiction of the federal government, companies are required to obtain licenses to operate on waterways, said Craig Myotte, general manager of MWL. MWL’s hydroelectric license expired April 2015, but the company began the relicensing process in 2010, Myotte said. The company been facing difficulty from the state, namely the Agency of Natural Resources, regarding requirements MWL must meet before the process can be complete, he said. Recent environmental studies indicate that a certain amount of water must remain in the bypass reaches or the area of a river between a dam and powerhouse, Myotte said. Sophomore Carli Beisel, president of the UVM Kayaking Club, said the restrictions enforced by the ANR will also have an effect on recreational activity
by katherine smith ksmith58@uvm.edu
The Green River crib dam in West Guilford is pictured. Due to a relicensing issue UVM’s Kayaking Club will no longer to be able to use the river. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKPEDIA on the Green River. The study the agency used to establish requirements is outdated and inaccurate, Beisel said. UVM Kayaking is trying to push for more whitewater releases on the Green River to increase their ability to use the waterway, she said. The club is going to continue to fight the issue, Beisel said. “People need to try and understand what’s going on,” she said. “[They need to] try and
preserve one of the few rivers that we have and make it accessible to everyone.” Currently, there are only two releases a year, and if the ANR restrictions are put in place, there would no longer be any. Deb Markowitz, secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources in Vermont, said companies wishing to utilize the water resources need to comply with the Clean Water Act because of the federal government’s involvement.
Students find nude man in hall by john riedel jpriedel@uvm.edu
A naked man was found by students using the men’s restroom and knocking on students’ doors in Converse Hall. Police services received a report of a man using the showers in Converse Hall March 16. When they arrived he could not be found. First-year Cormac Lonergan walked in on the man standing naked in front of a mirror in the men’s restroom. “I was pretty shocked,” Lonergan said. “It was pretty crazy.” The man was trying to use the bathroom’s shower but was having difficulty, he said. “He said he thought he locked the door,” Lonergan said. He described the man as being in his 40s or 50s with grey hair and was around 5-foot-10. “My friends and I called police services right after [seeing the man],” Lonergan said. “I
Executive
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hannah Kearns editorinchief@vtcynic.com MANAGING EDITOR Hannah Morgan newsroom@vtcynic.com
UVM faculty members prepare for negotiation
think they definitely did a good job.” The man was also knocking on people’s doors, he said. When the officers arrived, they spoke with students and ResLife officials, said UVM police Deputy Chief Tim Bilodeau.
“
the residential halls who don’t live there,” he said. ResLife has told students not to prop doors open in residence halls, said Joe Russell, associate director of residential education. “A typical response is to call
We don’t want people using the residential halls who don’t live there. TIM BILODEAU DEPUTY CHIEF OF UVM POLICE SERVICES
“The residents indicated a man in his 60s was using the bathroom,” Bilodeau said. “When our officers went there they spoke to other people who had indicated [the man] had been there before.” Bilodeau highlighted the importance of making sure doors are closed and not letting non students into residence halls. “We don’t want people using
UVM police to come investigate or take action,” Russell said. “ResLife would then work with residents to help them feel safe.” There have not been any recent events like this, he said. “Our hope is this is not an ongoing thing,” Russell said. He feels both police services and ResLife handled the situation appropriately.
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There are many ways hydroelectric plants can operate, but some produce high amounts of energy, which is dangerous to fish habitats and dangerously warms the water temperature, she said. Beisel said she feels rivers are common property and shouldn’t be under the control of anyone, but rather should be left in the control of the environment.
UVM’s faculty union is getting ready for upcoming negotiations with university administrators. United Academics, or UA, has been negotiating contracts with the administration since 2002. Faculty members will be able to conclude and ratify contracts with the University. ‘We feel very fortunate to have a strong bargaining team,” theater professor John Forbes said. The negotiation team consists of six members, and professor Daniel Krymkowski has been named lead negotiator. “The negotiators are interested and have a lot of experience in what issues are coming up in their department and other departments,” said Professor Felicia Kornbluh, president of United Academics. “They have experience with what it’s like to be in that room.” The negotiations begin around late June and end in December, Forbes said.
SGA asks faculty senate for course information by kelsey neubauer kaneubau@uvm.edu
SGA is calling on the administration and faculty to release more in-depth course information. In a March 20 letter, SGA requested that course syllabi be made available online for all classes during registration. SGA President Jason Maulucci, Vice President Tyler Davis and Sen. David Brandt wrote the letter. There were two goals with this, Davis said: to have detailed course descriptions added and make these course descriptions easily accessible during the registration process. The letter stated that when members of SGA attended a faculty senate meeting they found out professors are “expected,” to post expanded course descriptions before registration. “Unfortunately, however,
very few courses are accompanied by this critical information prior to registration,” the letter stated. Members of the faculty senate pointed out there is a difference between “expected to” and “shall” in employee contracts, philosophy professor Don Loeb said. Issues of copyright concerns and timing expectations were raised by a few members of faculty in opposition to an expansion of course descriptions, Dean William Falls of the College of Arts and Sciences said. Falls said he met with Maulucci and Davis earlier this year to discuss the movement to expand course descriptions. Their discussion included ways to compromise on the issue, he said.
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Post course info online to better inform students for registration
O
n March 20, SGA leadership sent a letter to the administration advocating for course descriptions and syllabi to be made available online for all classes during registration. Professors are “expected” to post expanded course descriptions before registration, but in employee contracts, lines can be blurred between what is expected and what is required. Additionally, as of spring 2015, syllabi are required to be available no later than the first day of class. This is an improvement, but the administration should take steps to make this information available even sooner. Though some faculty have expressed concern about copyright issues, there is no reason not to support this movement. As students, all we are asking for is a simple schedule of work for courses to be posted before class registration. Registration can sometimes feel like a guessing game. We are reduced to blindly picking courses based on title alone, without an idea of what we are getting into. An early release of course descriptions and work schedules would allow students to make more informed decisions about the upcoming semester. Managing time and balancing work is a constant struggle in college, and this would be significant help in reducing stress on campus. This month, SGA President Jason Maulucci and Vice President Tyler Davis will be running unopposed for reelection. One of the perennial obstacles to overcome in student organizations is frequent turnover in leadership. With the two remaining in their positions for the next year, they can hopefully maintain momentum to accomplish this. The Cynic wholly supports this movement. All of us could benefit from this course catalogue adjustment. Professors and administration are part of our support system to help guide us and get us the most out of our education. Providing syllabi is an integral first step towards this.
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Reflections on sorority life Daltrey Burris
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DBURRIS@UVM.EDU
o my innumerable hordes of female readers, While I lack any semblance of official affiliation with Greek life, I managed to infiltrate a local sorority in a “She’s The Man” type-fashion to get the inside scoop of what really goes on in those Marc Jacob scented halls. If you’re attractive enough to considering partaking, I’m here to help you winnow through the good, the bad and the ugly of sorority life through my totally factual observations.
Pros 1. You’ll go from paunchy to raunchy! When people think fraternities they generally imagine “the dad bod” — relatively soft young men with large arms and larger tummies. Your version starkly contrasts this. Harsh and physically taxing volunteer work like bake sales coupled with weekly pillow fights will keep you in tip-top shape. In addition, the unnatural and awkward positions you’ll force your body into for every group picture are a fantastic way to strengthen muscles you never thought you’d use. Whether you’re blasting your delts with the Kappa Alpha Theta diamond salute, or toning your thighs with the more general “half-squat to look smaller than your friends,” you’re bound to get that body all the magazines say you need to be hot. 2. Superior education. Where better to pick up those confusing letters used in calculus, trig and statistics than in Greek life? Things like delta (used for rate of change), theta (used for unknown angles) and mu (the 151st Pokemon) are all potentially lost on the fairer sex. Joining a sorority forces you to round yourself, and really drills in those hard-to-grasp
Illustration by ALYSSA HANDELMANN
concepts like knowing more than 26 letters.
3. Maintaining the upper-crust mentality. If you’re a bit of a debutante with a certain ingrained lifestyle, this is the social group for you. Extensive research from yours truly has shown a sorority may cost about two whole times as much per semester as our esteemed fraternities.
phistication and serene grace.
Cons 1. The immediate replacement of your biological family. The second you join, you’re immediately forced to kick your old bloodline to the curb. You must discard your weekly call with your mom to chat with your Big, and blow off grandma’s Thanksgiving dinner to spend time with
While I lack any semblance of official affiliation with Greek life, I managed to infiltrate a local sorority in a "She's the Man" type-fashion to get the inside scoop of what really goes on in those Marc Jacob scented halls. This helps keep the riff-raff/ in-staters out and allows for a more unified house of Connecticut/New York girls. These ideals extend further than just economic reasons, mind you. In most schools, it is completely forbidden to store or consume alcoholic beverages on sorority property — this is so the members don’t have to deign to the classless festivities of their peers. Instead, they pound halfshots of Smirnoff in cars outside frats and quaff heavily from sacks of Sunset Blush Franzia in their friends’ dorms, completely separated by their feminine so-
your Grand-Big. All the money you could spend on your blood-related little sister for her birthday is immediately siphoned into spoiling your Little with custom-decorated paddles. This may seem like a pro at first, due to the 20 extra Facebook and Instagram likes you’re now guaranteed, but slowly your real family will start to resent you more than when you went through that scene phase in eighth grade.
2. The harmful stereotyping. People are constantly poking fun at women who participate in Greek life for their vacuous
personalities, unwholesome sexuality and penchant to dress exactly alike — it hurts! Don’t worry though, maybe you’ll be the one cool exception and everyone else will be the lemming that fills the mold.
3. Greek games don’t actually resemble any olden-day sports. If you decided to join a sorority for the historic accuracy of the events, you — like many others — are making a grave mistake. These games don’t include any real traditional Greek competitions such as the naked wrestle, discus throw, ouzo chug, baklava peel, body-hair shave and debate against Rome why the gods shouldn’t be named after planets. After learning the real events, I thought I would completely dominate the competition due to having a slightly-less effeminate body than my opponents, but I was wrong. Apparently it just isn’t enough to have 138 pounds of hulking man-meat on your tugof-war squad when that’s only about a third of the weight of an average sorority sister can pull down. Daltrey Burris is a senior psychology major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2015.
The time to raise minimum wage has come Sarang Murthy
SMURTHY@UVM.EDU
A
fter three rounds of quantitative easing, where the Federal Reserve created money in order to buy securities, several near-zero interest rate years, aggressive fiscal stimuli and soaring job growth, where is the strong wage growth to show for it all? Wages declined by 4 percent and compensation by 1.9 percent for median wage-earners between 2007 and 2014, according to a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute. And even though the job market has seen growth, wage growth has not followed this trend. Wage growth is the cat-
alyst for rising inflation. Wages are an important factor in a business’ costs, and hence to their pricing decisions. Wage growth has not tracked productivity growth either. Raising the minimum
quarter percent hike. The general sentiment is that inflation will hover at under 2 percent until labor costs rise or till the slack of 4.9 percent unemployment is straightened out. I believe the Fed can
Wage growth is the catalyst for rising inflation. Wages are an important factor in a buisness' costs, and hence to their pricing decisions. wage will, hence, solve two problems: induce inflation to rise and reward the worker for being more productive. When inflation rises, the Federal Reserve begins to raise its benchmark interest rate. Right now, the Fed says there is too much uncertainty in global financial markets to act on raising the interest rate as planned – this month we were to see a
check off its “desired rate of inflation” box if the minimum wage is raised. To offset the mandatory wage hike, businesses would have to slightly increase the price of goods on the shelf. If one’s spending is another’s income, more of the first means more of the second. This added spending would “trickle up” from the bottom to the top.
Naturally, caution must be exercised if the situation is approached this way. We could see unintended runaway inflation that can only be curbed by a dramatic rate hike. But let’s cross one hurdle at a time. The responsibility of raising the minimum wage falls on policymakers. Public officials need to stop meandering their way through multiple terms in office and need to take a strong stand for the working class of this country. Before the Fed can confidently tighten the economy, we need to reach all required checkpoints, and the way to do it is to raise the minimum wage. Washington, take note. Sarang Murthy is a junior economics major. He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2016.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016 THE VERMONT CYNIC
Slade Hall fights to stay in cottage on Trinity by hANNAh carpino hcarpino@uvm.edu
Slade Hall, an independent residential community self-described as a “UVM house of love,” is in danger due to proposed changes by ResLife and the University. The current residents have mobilized to save it, as outlined by the community “Save Slade” petition. For those unfamiliar with the community, Slade is an environmental co-op, originally housed on 420 South Prospect St., but recently moved to the cottages on Trinity while construction on its original South Prospect home took place, according to their website. “In general, the direction of the University is moving toward more programmed housing, with focus groups, kind of similar to Living and Learning,” According to Inter-Residence Association President Natalia Korpanty. However, according to residents, what makes Slade unique is what it stands for. The residents of Slade can be any age; even upperclassmen, who typically live off campus, can live in the community. The residents do not get meal plans: instead, they grow their own produce, shop at local food coops or farmers markets, and cook together, according to their website. ResLife is trying to relocate Slade into traditional dorm housing and transition resi-
Slade Hall on Redstone Campus is pictured March 3. Residents of the sustainable living community are currently located on Trinity Campus while this building is repaired. SABRINA HOOD/The Vermont Cynic dents to a regular meal plan, which residents say interferes with important principles of the 40-year-old community. “From what I have gathered, the cottages are in bad condition
“
The University has made their decision and I think they [members of Slade] could make the Green House into a cool environement... NATALIA KORPANTY IRA PRESIDENT
and so eventually they won’t be used to house students, but instead be more used for academics,” Korpanty said. IRA has been working hard to compromise with the Slade community, Korpanty said. “They would temporarily move into the GreenHouse, they would all still be together, and I believe they would get a kitchen as well,” she said. “I understand where they are coming from,” Korpanty said. “I have visited the community in the past and it’s an alternative kind of living and I think the main reason they are reluctant is due to the change in meal plan,” she said. However, ResLife is looking
for local farms to get involved. “I think there is definitely room for compromise here,” she said. “Our director of ResLife, Rafael Rodriguez is a huge fan of Slade people, he used to be the assistant director of Redstone,” Korpanty said. Members of the community feel strongly about circumstances remaining the way they are. “It is an intentional living community that emphasizes acceptance, love and environmental stewardship,” said first-year Slade resident Margaux Miller. “It has been a haven, a community for UVM students to take part in.,” Miller said. “Sladers, or visitors to Slade are able to be their fullest, truest selves
while leading a genuine, meaningful life surrounded by awesome people.” “We also are planning several awareness raising events, have created a promotional video that emphasizes what Slade is as a community and I plan to use my position as an SGA Senator to garner support from the Student Government [Association],” Miller said. “We are planning on reaching out to groups on campus as well as establishments in Burlington to gain even more support,” she said. Korpanty highlighted the fact that this was not a decision of ResLife, but rather from the University. “The University has made their decision and I think they could make the GreenHouse into a cool environment until they eventually move back to their original location on Redstone,” she said. Once the construction on Redstone began, more issues than expected were found, Korpanty said. “I believe it will be at least one year, but it shouldn’t be more than two years from what I have heard,” she said. In the meantime, the movement continues to garner support and attention across the UVM community and alumni. The Save Slade website, saveslade.com, is home to the petition, and stories about Slade.
Is the FitBit a good fit for you? michaela paul MTPAUL@UVM.EDU
T
here’s been a recent health fad of fitness and activity tracking devices which are conveniently found on smartphones or worn on wrists. On my bus ride home this week I noticed seven of the 10 people on board, myself included, were wearing a variety of trackers of different colors and designs on their wrists, including the popular Fitbit and Jawbone. Retailers, marketers and doctors have promoted them to track movement, calories, sleep and even heart rate. According to Psychology Today, although these devices offer some benefits, there are also some things we should know as we start to take advantage of the warmer days through walking, biking, hiking, jogging or playing Frisbee with newly popular tracking devices.
Pros
The trackers offer a way to become aware of how we are treating our bodies. Many offer advice promoting nutritious and well-balanced food and water intake, a suggested 20-minute daily activity to increase our heart rates and just how much sleep we are getting each night.
Cons
With the ability to track calorie intake including the amount of calories needed to reach a certain weight and the amount you move in a given day, these devices can act as a trigger for eating and body image disorders. Health is being reduced to mere numbers in these trackers, which cannot possibly convey a sense of comprehensive wellbeing. Every body is different; everyone processes activities, food and life differently, and should not be reduced solely to the use of a mass produced activity tracker. It is important to realize there is more to one’s health than what is displayed on the screen, which can often be hard to realize as we become
Photo Illustration by RYAN THORNTON
hyper-focused on these “goal” numbers the tracker presents. Although it can be a useful tool, it is important to put the tracking device in perspective and understand it does not define our complete health. It is a tool whose purpose is to help us become aware of our bodies and how we treat them, and to help us live a more well-rounded lifestyle. However, if users are finding it is doing more harm than good, the device should be taken off or deleted. If you need any support or counseling, contact UVM Counseling and Psychiatry Services by calling 802-656-3340. Michaela Paul is a junior biology major. She has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2016.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016 THE VERMONT CYNIC
Student prints splash color in Davis Center By Molly duff meduff@uvm.edu
While Vermont’s landscape is still just a monotonous mix of browns this spring, bright colors can be found on the fourth floor of the Davis Center. Art from the course “Printmaking: Silkscreen” is on display in the Livak Fireplace Lounge until the end of the month. The exhibit was organized by the Davis Center Art Committee, a group headed by senior Cydney Williams. The committee is in its fifth year and has organized previous shows such as an alumni exhibit and a show featuring artwork from the UVM Campus Children’s Center. Williams not only curated the show, but is also one of the featured artists. The class was essentially an intro-level course as many of the students were not familiar with silkscreening, a printmaking technique using mesh to transfer images onto another surface like paper, Williams said. “None of us have ever silkscreened before, so this was a learning how to silkscreen class,” she said. The class was taught by art and art history professor Jane Kent as an introduction to silkscreen printmaking. Kent said the process, which is essentially like working with
Works from the “Communicating Color” exhibit are on display in the Livak Fireplace Lounge March 19. The pieces were created as part of a silkscreen printmaking class. PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic stencils, has been used historically in industrial and decorative arts and was famously used by Andy Warhol. “It takes a while to learn how to do this and to get good results,” she said. “You can’t be half-assed about it. You can’t wing it, you can’t fake it, you can’t get away with anything.” The process of silkscreening was not easy for her or her classmates Williams said. “They’re really hard to do, they take a lot of work,” she said. “It sucks your soul in for like three weeks.”
An important factor in choosing to display this exhibit was the color it brings to the Davis Center. “We definitely try and bring life around this time of year, especially to the Davis Center,” Williams said. “It’s a space where people study. We want to try and promote the space for people to grow in.” The communal aspect of the space, however, also presents problems for the committee. The artwork is mostly unframed and hangs on the walls by way of magnetic strips, which can be
easily knocked down, Williams said. Others using the space also might not realize there is an exhibit on display and accidentally move things or cover the artwork up, she said. But for Williams and her team, it is important the space stays open both to students and the larger community, she said. “We don’t want only student artwork there. It’s a community space; it’s a community center; we want to show the diversity of our town,” Williams said. Although the space is not
regularly used to display student work, Williams said she is proud of the exhibit. “It’s unreal to have that artwork produced from an intro-level class,” she said. “It was really sophisticated. Our class really rose to the occasion.” The gallery was an important opportunity for student artists Kent said. “It’s a complicated endeavor to just make art, to do it and do it really well and to care,” she said.
9 KICKOFF PRESENTATION Keynote Speaker:
Nikki Khanna, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Vermont Author of Biracial in America
Panelists: Alec Ewald, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Political Science, UVM
Randall Harp, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Philosophy, UVM
The Rachel Dolezal Phenomenon: Transracial Identity University of Vermont Dudley H. Davis Center Grand Maple Ballroom Thursday, March 31, 2016 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Organized by the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs To request a disability-related accommodation, please contact Conference and Event Services at 802-656-5665.
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Bands battle for the SpringFest stage By Jensen Wainwright Jmwainwr@uvm.edu
The UVM Battle of The Bands drew an enthusiastic crowd to campus and downtown this week. The event kicked off March 14 in Brennan’s Pub in the Davis Center and culminated with a final battle March 18 at Club Metronome. The winner of the battle, Bison, will open for The Head and the Heart at Springfest April 30. Tickets will be available through Flynntickets.org and go on sale March 21. The competition allowed student-formed bands to compete for the opportunity to open for this year’s SpringFest headliners The Head and The Heart. The bands who entered the contest were judged on four categories by a panel of judges: quality of sound, quality of performance, quality of stage presence and level of overall musical talent and whether or not judges would recommend the band to play at SpringFest. The judges also have their own individual criteria. “Stage presence is really important to me,” senior Isabelle Joseph said. “When deciding who’s going to perform at SpringFest, I really look for good performers.” “They need to be well-rounded musically,” sophomore Jagger Linsky said. “All the bands
Self-described nomadic disco punk trio Bison performs at Battle of the Bands March 18. The group won the chance to be the opening act at SpringFest. MOLLY DUFF/The Vermont Cynic have been great musicians and you can tell they all love it.” Senior Catharine O’Neill had a different perspective on judging the bands. “I’m a member of the UVM Program Board concert committee so I have to make sure the band is what UVM students want to see at SpringFest,” O’Neill said. “I have to make sure they’re going to draw in
a crowd on top of everything else.” The contest was judged by both current and former UVM students. Jason Marchand ‘14, who now works at Nectar’s, judged the event. “I have to take off the Nectar’s hat and think about what students would like to see and hear,” Marchand said. By the time of the finale at
Folk group grows brotherhood By bettina cataldi
Club Metronome March 18, the competition had been narrowed down to three bands: Bison, “BUMF” (Becker, Ullman, Markley and Freedberg) and Squimley and The Woolens. Each band brought a unique sound, stage presence and energy to the club. While Bison showcased their self-described “nomadic disco punk,” BUMF brought
Marvel’s witty superhero makes it to the big screen
bcataldi@uvm.edu
Red, mole, chili and green sauces mixed into a bed of chicken and rolled into a corn tortilla form what is commonly known as an enchilada. That’s the delicious metaphor Auyon Mukharji used to describe the fraternal bond of his band, Darlingside. “We’re so intimately familiar with each other’s childhoods, families, high school experiences and friends,” saidMukharji, classical violinist and folk mandolinist. “Because we’ve been a band for this long, we’ve incorporated each other into our own families.” Darlingside, a four-piece band from Massachusetts, is set to play Higher Ground March 31. The group has played several Burlington venues in the past such as Signal Kitchen, The Monkey House and Nectar’s. The band is comprised of Mukharji, bassist Dave Senft, guitarist and banjo player Don Mitchell as well as cellist and guitarist Harris Paseltiner. The quartet formed during their days at Williams College in Massachusetts. “We’re commonly referred to as folk,” Mukharji said. “But we have a number of influences: indie rock aspects from when we were a five-piece, all in our college’s a capella group and some of us have classical backgrounds.” The band was named Artist
a funky, jazz-inspired, instrumental sound. Squimley and the Woolens brought a groovy alternative sound to the show. “I really liked BUMF,” sophomore Meghan Nanan said, “They have a really sophisticated musical sound which I can appreciate as a music minor.” The judges all said the high level of talent made choosing a winner a difficult task.
Peter rogan
Deadpool
PROGAN@UVM. EDU
F Folk quartet Darlingside is pictured. The group will be playing Higher Ground March 31. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBB STEY of the Year at the International Folk Music Awards 2016 at the Folk Alliance International Awards Gala in Kansas City, Missouri. “It was definitely one of the biggest honors we’ve received as a band and we feel really fortunate to be a part of that community,” Mukharji said. Darlingside’s style sets them apart from other bands. All four members surround one microphone while they perform their harmonies, as opposed to each using their own. The band’s harmonies have been noted as one of their standout qualities. Marissa Moss of Rolling Stone magazine deemed them a must-see act of the Americana Music Fest in 2015. “[Darlingside] transform theirs [harmonies] into locomotive folk-pop confections so
richly executed it’s hard to tell if it’s one voice or 12,” Moss wrote. “It was the way we always practiced, even when we were a five-piece rock band,” Mukharji said. “It’s all very natural to direct our sound to one place.” Their musical process, brotherhood and inspirations have developed over the six and a half years they’ve been playing under the name Darlingside, he said. “We’ve now reached a point in which the writing for our last album is very much collaborative, democratic,” Mukharji said. “All four of us write and contribute song ideas. It wasn’t always like that.” The band will be on tour throughout the summer, ending at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Colorado, according to their website.
rom lines like, “Time to make the chimi-fucking-changas!” to masturbation references, Deadpool is definitely not a typical superhero movie. The movie follows Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), an ex-special forces operative turned mercenary, who is diagnosed with cancer. In order to stay with his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), Wilson agrees to subject himself to an experimental cancer treatment. The movie’s villain, Ajax (Ed Skrein), conducts the treatment but uses it as an opportunity to torture Wilson. His cancer is eventually cured, but he is left horribly scarred. However, the gene-altering treatment also endows Wilson with self-healing abilities and immortality. The rest of the movie follows Wilson as he becomes the anti-hero Deadpool on a revenge mission to get Ajax to cure his disfigured face and body so he can return to Vanessa without fear of rejection. Both Wilson’s best friend Weasel (T.J. Miller) and his roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) are along for the ride as they try to help him in any way possible. The movie’s violence main-
tains the film’s fast pace but is sometimes gratuitous. The biggest surprise comes when Wilson breaks the fourth wall and directly addresses the audience. That’s right, Reynold’s character not only acknowledges the audience, but is aware he is in a movie. This technique is used throughout the film to play up Reynolds’ character’s naturally quick wit and sharp tongue. The movie shines as a superhero movie, particularly in comparison with its contemporaries. Critics like Justin Chang of Variety praised the film for being a successful representation of one of Marvel’s classic stories. “This cheerfully demented origin story is many, many cuts above ‘Green Lantern,’ and as a sly demolition job on the superhero movie, it sure as hell beats ‘Kick-Ass,’” Chang wrote. It has distinguished itself in many ways and will serve as a benchmark not only for action films but superhero blockbusters as well.
Peter Rogan is a junior English major. He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2016.
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Basketball season comes to close By Claire Messersmith cmessers@uvm.edu
The University of Vermont men’s basketball team ended its bid for the NCAA Tournament after losing to Stony Brook University 80-74 during the America East Championship game March 12, according to UVM athletics. However, this marks the eighth consecutive year the team has appeared in the postseason College Basketball Invitational Tournament, said head coach John Becker. The team advanced to the CBI quarterfinals with a 79-44 win over the Western Carolina Catamounts March 16. The Catamounts finished the 2015-2016 season with 22 wins and 13 losses, two more wins than the team had during the 2014-2015 season, according to UVM athletics. The Catamounts had a conference record of 11-5 this season. Highlights of the 2014-2015 season include a rivalry win over Dartmouth College Dec. 2 in Hanover, New Hampshire. The Catamounts came back from a five-point deficit in the second half with a huge stop with 16 seconds left in the game, according to UVM athletics. Vermont took the game with a 68-63 win over Dartmouth, improving their overall record to 4-4. The Catamounts continued their winning streak with a Dec. 17 win over Fisher College, 8437 and hosted a key America
Sophomore point guard Trae Bell-Haynes is pictured in a Feb. 24 victory over the University of New Hampshire. UVM advanced to the America East championship game before falling at Stony Brook University, March 12. PHOTO COURTESY UVM ATHLETICS East game against the University of Maine Feb. 3. The Catamounts won this match 85-68 and headed to Stony Brook, New York Feb. 27, coming away with a 76-62 win before heading into the America East conference tournament. The Catamounts continued their season to lock up a topfour seed in the America East playoffs after a strong 78-64 win over Binghamton University Feb. 17 at Patrick Gym.
For the third time in the last five years, the Vermont men’s basketball team played in the America East Championship thanks to a 63-56 win over the University of New Hampshire in the semifinals, according to UVM athletics. The Catamounts won seven straight games heading into the championship. Senior forward Ethan O’Day played his final home game at Patrick Gym during the semifi-
Champions League report Eribert volaj EVOLAJ@UVM.EDU
T
he Union of European Football Association Champions League was in full swing this week. Bayern Munich scored a 90th minute equalizer Wednesday and went on to score twice more in overtime to complete the quarterfinal stage. Spain’s La Liga has the most representatives in the quarterfinal yet again, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all advancing. Friday’s draw produced some quality matches with the all-Spanish tie between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid grabbing the most attention, while the clash between Paris St. Germain and Manchester City promises spectacle as well. The draw was nicer to Real Madrid, who will play underdogs Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich, who will play Portuguese champions Benfica. The way this quarterfinal stage is set up means that, barring any huge upsets, the semifinal stage will be the dream of every soccer fan out there. Unless, of course, your team is already out. At this point in the competition, Barcelona is considered to be the favorite to win.
The Spanish champions are also Europe’s reigning champions; love them or hate them, they are one of the scariest teams in the game. The trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, dubbed as the MSN, has already scored 107 goals this season. While Barcelona’s attack is undoubtedly the best in the world, their quarterfinal opponent Atletico Madrid boasts one of the best defenses around. With Uruguayan duo Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez at the heart of defense, Atletico have only conceded 14 goals in 30 league games and three goals in eight Champions League games this season. Junior Dewey Sheehan, a Barcelona supporter, said he believes his team is the favorite to win. “They won it last year and their squad is very much the same as it was,” Sheehan said. Another Barcelona fan is sophomore Shawn Palmer, who also said he thinks Barca is the team to beat. “They have the best team and have great chemistry,” Palmer said. Palmer and Sheehan both picked their team for good reason; Barcelona is in incredible form this season and MSN is arguably the best attack in history. They both also picked Bay-
ern Munich as the biggest threat to Barcelona’s legacy. Bayern Munich, under the leadership of Barcelona’s former coach Pep Guardiola, survived a huge scare against Juventus, and, as has been the case numerous times this season, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller were their saviors. Other teams with a real chance of winning the Champions League are French champions Paris St. Germain, led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Real Madrid, led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Atletico Madrid and Manchester City are quality teams, but have been handed tough draws and will head to the quarterfinals as underdogs. The Champions League is the most watched club competition in the world, and will without a doubt offer thrills along the way. Barcelona, with their unstoppable attack, will try to maintain the title, but the likes of Bayern, Real and PSG will certainly take their chances. The quarterfinals start April 5 when Barcelona takes on Atletico and Bayern Munich hosts Benfica. Eribert Volaj is a sophomore business major. He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2015.
nals against UNH, leading the way with 19 points and seven rebounds, according to UVM athletics. Junior forward Kurt Steidl finished with 13 points. Steidl said playing in the CBI tournament was obviously not the outcome the team was hoping for, but, “anytime we can keep playing basketball, we’re excited.” Head coach John Becker said the team was disappointed
after falling to Stony Brook in the America East championship game before hosting Western Carolina in the CBI tournament. “That’s how life goes,” Becker said. “It’s postseason, and when it’s been eight years in a row, I hope nobody takes that for granted, especially the guys. It’s an honor to be in this tournament and we’re going to play as long as we can.”
AthleteTweets We look for athletes of all levels, coaching staff, alumni and members of the athletic department. If you would like your tweets to be included, tweet @VermontCynic. Ernie Duncan Men's Basketball Guard
Annie Monaghan Women's Soccer Defender
Jesse Cormier Men's Soccer Coach
Sydney Smith Women's Basketball Guard
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BUSCH LEAGUE BANTER
Pros & cons of new arena Shane town STOWN@UVM.EDU
F
or over a decade, the conversation surrounding UVM’s main athletic facilities, Gutterson Arena and Patrick Gymnasium, has been about how, where and when they will be replaced. It has long been understood that top-notch facilities attract top-notch talent, and facilities erected in the early 1960s can hardly be considered “top-level.” With men’s ice hockey competing in the perennial powerhouse Hockey East and basketball being consistently atop the America East, this top-tier talent is essential in order to take the teams to the next level. One of the plans for new athletic facilities is finally starting to build some momentum. According to a March 2 Cynic article, UVM may partner with South Burlington to build a new multipurpose athletic facility. There is a multitude of negative aspects to this proposition, but one strong positive as well. Let’s start with the most tangible downside of the plan, which is the seismic shift in location. As reported by VTDigger Feb. 23: “Two locations are proposed for the arena: either on the site of Rick Marcotte Central School on Williston Road
or somewhere on the University Mall property.” Compared to the proximity of the current facilities, students will have to endure a painstaking odyssey just to support the Catamounts playing at home. It should also be noted that many of these pilgrimages will occur during the winter months. Basketball has long struggled with galvanizing a strong student section and moving far-
are overshadowed by one overwhelming positive in the most recent plans: they are actually doable. The problem over the last decade or two has been funding. In order to counteract a problem in funding, one has to make the option attractive to potential investors. The reality of the situation is that not enough local businesses or residents would benefit
Compared to the proximity of the current facilities, students will have to endure a painstaking odyssey just to support their Catamounts playing at home. ther off-campus will only exacerbate this problem. Another issue with the current plans is the basketball arena would hold nearly 1,000 more spectators than the plan for the hockey arena. However, hockey has historically been the bread and butter of UVM’s athletic department, as shown by their 2009 Frozen Four appearance. Keeping hockey, our most successful sport, atop the totem pole, is paramount for future success for the athletic department. It would be better for the University to recruit the next Martin St. Louis than the next Taylor Coppenrath. The problems in proximity and loss of nostalgic value
from putting a new facility on campus, a fact that has long hindered funding acquisition. It’s a Catch-22 with the only solution being a move into a more urbanized, commercial environment, which in turn creates the plans downfall. The commercialization of the course seems inevitable and it would appear the days of walking through campus to catch a game are limited. The model of moving off-campus is a growing trend in colleges across America, so I pose the question: is it still selling out if everyone is doing it?
Shane Town is a senior English major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2014.
scoreboard
Visit vtcynic.com for more coverage and uvmathletics.com for schedules and tickets
LAST WEEK
L
4-3
Men’s Hockey at Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA March 13
W
13-3
Women’s Lacrosse at Quinnipiac
W 79-74 Men’s Basketball vs Western Carolina HOME March 16
W
17-11
Hamden, CT March 16
Women’ Lacrosse vs Siena
THIS WEEK Men’s Lacrosse vs UMass Lowell
Women’s Lacrosse vs Albany
HOME March 19
HOME March 26 1 p.m.
HOME March 26 7 p.m.
Track at UMass Lowell
Men’s Lacrosse at Dartmouth
Lowell, MA March 26 11 a.m.
Hanover, NH March 29 6 p.m.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK: Women’s lacrosse senior midfielder Vanessa Van der Zalm matched her season high with six goals in the Catamounts’ 17-11 win over Siena college at home March 19.
RECORDS Men’s Basketball 22-13 Men’s Lacrosse 3-4
Women’s Lacrosse 3-5
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