Vermont Cynic Fall 2014 Issue 12

The Vermont

CYNIC

The University of Vermont’s independent voice since 1883

13 Hockey comes back against UMaine

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Sorority Vigil remembers ‘last words’ fire displaces tenants Page 4

Sarah Olsen Assistant News Editor A bathroom in the Pi Beta Phi sorority house caught fire Nov. 6.

Thirteen fire fighters extinguished the fire using a dry chemical extinguisher and a single hoseline, according to the Nov. 7 press release by Barry Simays, Burlington fire marshal.

The fire caused minor damage to the ceiling, attic and some of the fire alarm wiring with a cost estimate of $15,000, according to the press release.

There was also some water and smoke damage.

Nineteen residents of the South Prospect Street residence had to find temporary housing, according to the press release.

One of the residents noticed smoke and fire coming from the bathroom ceiling fan, closed the door and called 911 at approximately 7:21 p.m. Nov. 6, according to the press release.

The fire department arrived three minutes after the call to 911, according to the press release.

Once there, they found smoke extending from the bathroom ceiling all the way up into the attic, according to the press release.

The temperature was not high enough to activate the sprinkler system, but Simays did confirm that the sprinkler system and fire alarm system within the building are both functioning properly, according to the press release.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined but there are no suspicious circumstances involved, according to the press release.

No civilians or firefighters were injured or hurt during the incident, according to the press release.

The Cynic was unable to reach a representative from Pi Beta Phi for comment.

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VICTORIA CASSAR The Vermont Cynic

Junior Courtney Stanley marches in commemorance of the lives of victims of police brutality with fellow UVM students, faculty and community leaders on Church Street Nov. 9. The vigil was inspired by the demonstrations in Ferguson after the shooting of Michael Brown.

Academic union to elect new leadership Hannah Kearns News Editor United Academics, UVM’s faculty union, are holding elections in the near future.

Ballots will be sent out to union members Nov. 14, and are due Nov. 21.

All positions, except the presidency, are currently uncontested, current United Academics president Denise Youngblood said.

Professors Felicia Kornbluh and Don Loeb are running for position of president.

Felicia Kornbluh Kornbluh is an associate professor of history at UVM, and has been the Director of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies since 2009.

“I bring the same qualities to [United Academics] that I developed in that role,” she said.

“Tenacity, eagerness to bring diverse perspectives into

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decisions and enthusiasm for the project of making conditions as good as they possibly can be for our precious teaching and scholarship,” Kornbluh said.

She joined the faculty the University and was “excited to be part of a union,” she said.

Kornbluh said she is interested in the position of president because she thinks United Acadmics is the “strongest organization” at UVM that gives us the best chance at the bargaining table with UVM officials.

“I am committed to preserving the teacher-scholar model that is the heart of this university,” she said. “The faculty deserves to play a leading role in decision making about the direction of UVM.” “Our students deserve the best education we can give them: [United Academics] can make a critical difference in keeping class sizes manageable and ensuring that faculty have time to attend to each student,”

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Kornbluh said.

The union gives faculty the best chance to have strong conversation with administration, Kornbluh said.

If elected president, Kornbluh said that she would work on collaboration and building alliances.

Don Loeb Loeb has been a philosophy professor at UVM for 23 years.

“I’d be honored to serve as president of United Academics,” he said.

“The Union is healthy and I do not seek to fix it, but instead to help it thrive and grow,” Loeb said.

He explained how he would be comfortable standing up to authority if necessary.

“I’m plainspoken and try to be fair-minded, preferring reasoning to confrontation where possible,” Loeb said.

United Academics has “respectful differences of opinion in which all voices have

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an equal right to be heard,” he said.

“As president, my first priority would be to listen to those voices, for [United Academic’s] direction is ultimately the prerogative of the membership,” Loeb said.

He is trained as a lawyer, and helped to negotiate the original article on intellectual property in United Academic’s collective bargaining agreement.

Loeb also served as a member and then chair of the Faculty Grievance Committee, parliamentarian for both the Faculty Senate and the College of Arts and Sciences, director of the John Dewey Honors Program and chair of the Philosophy Department.

“As a labor union we are part of a larger movement, united by common interests in appropriate compensation, decent working conditions, and social and economic justice,” he said.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

‘BPD Brutality’ video goes viral online Jill Vaglica Staff Writer A 54-second video titled “BPD Brutality” was posted to YouTube by senior Cody Weinberger Nov. 2, and has reached more than 69,000 views as of Monday night.

The video depicts two officers, identified as Burlington Police Department Officers Ethan Czyzewski and Ryan Rabideau, restraining a man identified as 20-year-old Shane Langevin of Winooski, Vermont, according to the police affidavit.

The video was shot on the corner of Main Street and Winooski Avenue outside of Mr. Mikes, surrounded by a large crowd.

The officers were responding to the intersection of Main Street and South Winooski Av-

enue on foot for a report of a man climbing a telephone pole, at approximately 1:28 a.m., according to the affidavit.

A group of individuals approached the officers, who order the group to get back.

Langevin was being accused of assault in a different case, according to Officer Czyzewski in the police affidavit.

At 17 seconds into the YouTube video, Czyzewski can be seen delivering three strikes to the man on the ground.

“Officer Rabideau and I continued to order Langevin to place his hand behind his back but he refused. I delivered approximately seven downward strikes to Langevin’s back,” he said in the affidavit.

A man later identified as 32-year-old Michael Mazza of Milton, Vermont approached officers with clenched fists as

they were in the process of arresting Langevin, which led Rabideau to pepper spray him, according to the Nov. 3 Burlington Police Department press release.

This can be seen at 20 seconds into the video.

Mazza was the only person directly sprayed with pepper spray, Police Chief Michael Schirling said.

Officers attempted to place Langevin under arrest; he refused and tensed his arms several times.

This prompted Czyzewski to deliver a knee strike to Langevin’s left thigh, causing him to fall to the ground, according to the affidavit.

The officer was unable to successfully place Langevin’s hands behind his back, as Langevin stood up and assaulted the officers, according to the

affidavit.

“While standing up, Langevin delivered an elbow strike to Officer Rabideau’s right eye and at some point in time hit me [Czyzewski] in the jaw, both Officer Rabideau and I felt pain from the strikes,” according to the affidavit.

Langevin escaped the officers’ grasp and began to run away, and Officer Rabideau deployed his Taser, causing Langevin to fall to the ground, according to the affidavit.

Both Czyzewski and Rabideau then went to the hospital to be evaluated for their injuries, according to the affidavit. Czyzewski was treated for facial contusion, according to the press release.

Langevin, who was already on probation, faces a five-count indictment for simple assault, disorderly conduct, resisting

arrest and two counts of simple assault on law enforcement officers.

Mazza, who has no prior criminal offenses on record, faces one count of impeding a public officer.

Both Langevin and Mazza pleaded not guilty at their arraignments.

Jacob White, a bouncer at Mr. Mikes witnessed the incident first-hand.

White said police were in the wrong.

“Shane should have been arrested obviously, he assaulted someone, but before he got tased, he was just trying to get away. He wasn’t hitting any of the officers,” he said. “Where they tased him was pretty messed up, right in the middle of the street where a car could have hit him.”

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

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New law taxes Greeks New grant funds

study of compost

John Riedel Staff Writer Fraternities and sororities may be paying property taxes in fiscal year 2018, according to a new law.

Senator Tim Ashe spearheaded the law in the summer of 2013, said Clarence Davis, director of state relations.

“The fraternities and sororities will have to pay a property tax beginning after July 1 of 2017,” Davis said.

Beginning in fiscal year 2018, the state of Vermont will tax the properties owned by fraternities and sororities based on the value appraised by the city, he said.

It is projected that a total of $160,000 will be collected from Greek housing.

“Whatever happens around taxes is going to affect some people but not everybody,” Director of Student Life Pat Brown said.

Right now there are 15 fraternities and sororities on campus, though not all have houses, according to the UVM Greek Life website.

“As it’s written, it does not affect the University directly. It affects the students that attend here,” Davis said.

“The fraternities and sororities were made aware of it [the law] in February. A number of fraternities and sororities went to Montpelier to testify in opposition to this change to the law,” he said. “[The Greek houses] should be taxed. I live on Spear Street and I pay taxes,” senior Sam Chevalier said.

“I’m kind of torn. I don’t know if they should,” senior Emily Gluckin said.

“Would it even have that big of a difference? Because there aren’t that many fraternities and sororities,” Gluckin said.

Fraternities and sororities were previously tax exempt because they were considered part of an educational institution, Brown said.

As an institution, UVM pays to the city of Burlington something that is called a P.I.L.O.T., a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes, he said.

UVM pays $1.2 million to make up for its impact on the city, such as its use of the fire department or police services, according to the Payment For Services Agreement between

Taylor Delehanty Staff Writer

MAEVE CUTTS The Vermont Cynic

Director of Student Life Pat Brown discusses the impact of Sorority and Fraternity houses paying property taxes in his office Nov. 7.

UVM and the city.

There’s always conversations between Burlington and the University about impact and costs and where money comes from because UVM is a municipality that has expenses and Burlington is trying to get money wherever they can, Brown said.

The University has worked with the student and alumni leadership and tried to give them the resources they need to advocate for themselves, he said.

“It’s this interesting kind of thing of ‘do we think there’s value for living in a fraternity or sorority house,’ yes,” Brown said.

“In simple terms, two students live in side-by-side buildings, one with a set of Greek letters on it and one without,” Ashe said. “One pays property taxes as part of rent, and one does not. The majority of the legislature didn’t think that was fair. It was not about raising money, nor singling out Greek chapters.”

The legislature passed a bill two years ago requiring every

“tax expenditure” in the Vermont tax code to have a stated purpose, he said.

A tax expenditure is essentially every deduction, exemption and credit in the tax code.

They are called expenditures because not collecting a tax dollar because of one of these special treatments is the equivalent of spending the same dollar in our budget, Ashe said.

“I can’t speak to whether any of the fraternities or sororities will struggle to pay the property taxes,” he said. “I do know that many students living in Greek houses pay much less than they would in a private apartment, so while I am sensitive to the affordability question, I am at least as sensitive to the students who pay much higher rents in off-campus housing.”

“For every exemption in the tax code, it means everyone else, other students, other taxpayers, have to pay more to pick up the slack,” he said.

This bill will not take full effect for another two years, which leaves room for changes and discussion to take place.

UVM helps open new health lab Maggie Gallagher Staff Writer The State of Vermont has teamed up with UVM to open a new health lab and research facility.

Gov. Peter Shumlin cut the ribbon Oct. 22, officially opening the new building located in the Colchester Research Facility. Plans for the lab began 14 years ago, Shumlin said.

UVM now has the newest health lab in the nation, Provost David Rosowsky said.

The new facility will allow an opportunity for students to experience “intellectual mixing” with employees at the lab, Rosowsky said.

It will also “extend the scope of research [for UVM students],” he said.

The public health lab will continue its original job of providing “quality analytical services, leadership in laboratory sciences” and “support public health and environmental activities” in the Burlington community, according to the Ver-

mont Health website.

The new building provides the lab state-of-the-art technology for maintaining public health.

The alliance with the College of Medicine will keep the lab constantly on the “cutting edge of science,” according to the Oct. 22 press release.

Shumlin said all who worked on the planning and creating of the new facility can consider their “mission accomplished.”

The Universal Recycling Law, passed in 2012, will soon ban the disposal of all recyclables.

This includes metal, glass, plastics and paper/cardboard.

It will ban disposal of leaf and yard debris and clean wood

by July 1, 2016, and food scraps

by July 1, 2020.

“There are risks of water pollution from too much compost applied in the wrong places,” according to a press release

by Joshua E. Brown.

Professor Stephanie Hurley of UVM’s Plant and Soil Science Department received a $20,000 grant from the State of Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation.

The grant will allow her and two of her doctoral students to study nutrient leaching from compost.

The doctoral students are Amanda Cording and Paliza Shrestha.

There are some specific concerns that Hurley and others have about the possibility of leaching through the compost, into Vermont’s main body of water.

“Leaching or production of nutrients from any source,

waste water, storm water, agriculture should be carefully considered in light of Lake Champlain’s well-documented nutrient pollution problems,” Hurley said.

She was asked about the effects that the law would have on UVM. Hurley said that she believes UVM should continue to compost.

“The only issue our research is concerned with is whether the compost produced in Vermont should be applied in wet areas like shorelines, riparian areas and storm water treatment landscapes,” she aid.

Hurley said that she is only concerned with the appropriate uses of the available compost.

The grant that Hurley and her students have received will fund the research for their very specific concerns that will result from the law.

“The grant will help to make recommendations of some examples where compost should and should not be used,” she said.

“Our analysis is not complete, but our hypothesis is that compost applied to the land in wetter areas would be more prone to nutrient leaching than compost applied in drier areas,” Hurley said.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

CRIME LOG Oct. 28 3:31 p.m.

A student’s laptop computer, which had been left unattended for approximately 15 minutes, was taken from a study cubicle in the Bailey/ Howe library.

This remains an open investigation.

Oct. 29 3:21 p.m.

Hall staff in Hamilton Hall found a marijuana pipe, which they turned over to police services for destruction.

Police services destroys all confiscated drug paraphernalia, unless needed as evidence in a criminal court case, Lt. Larry Magnant said.

Nov. 1 3:21 p.m.

An officer on patrol reported a disturbance amongst a group of people by Main and South Willard streets.

When the officer pulled up, everyone immediately dispersed before the officer could exit the cruiser.

Nov. 2 8:13 p.m.

Police services received a report of a burglary which took place in McAuley Hall in the 30-minute interval between 7:20 and 7:50 p.m.

The burglars entered the room through a window from the roof, which was unoccupied at the time.

Several laptops and cash were taken from the room. This remains an open investigation.

If you have any information regarding the incident, text TIP to 847411, using the keyword UVM.

Nov. 4 11:45 p.m.

Police services responded to a citizen dispute at the Redstone Lofts after a student called in about a conflict with a roommate.

No crimes had been committed; the roommates were simply not getting along.

Police services referred the two roommates to the their landlord, and a report has been sent to the Center for Student Ethics and Standards.

—Jill Vaglica

VICTORIA CASSAR The Vermont Cynic

Students listen to various speakers during the candlelit vigil honoring victims of police brutality outside Bailey/Howe Nov. 9. Speakers included senior Connor Luong, Director of the Center for Cultural Pluralism Sherwood Smith and multiple other ALANA student leaders.

Vigil focus is to honor victims Krista Cantrell Staff Writer Students, faculty and community leaders gathered outside Bailey/Howe Library Nov.9 to participate in a candlelit vigil commemorating the victims of police brutality.

At 4:30 p.m. more than 100 people stood in support of these victims, particularly recognizing the recent murder of Michael Brown.

The group then marched down Main Street and through Church Street holding candles and signs to demonstrate unity and raise awareness about the deadly consequences of racial profiling.

“We chose Nov.9 because it is the three month anniversary of Michael Brown’s death,” senior Sonia Nelson, president of the Black Student Union said.

The demonstrations in Ferguson following Brown’s murder inspired the ALANA Student Leader’s Coalition to get together, according to the UVM website.

Darren Wilson, a 28-yearold white man, fatally shot Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African-American man, on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri.

“After the recent trend of police brutality against people of color, we collectively decided to do something about it because there’s often talk, but nothing is done,” Nelson said.

This event was a collaborative effort between the ALANA Student Center, the Black Student Union, Alianza Latina and the Asian-American Student Union, she said.

The event began with a thank you speech by senior Connor Luong, intern of Leadership and Development at the ALANA Student Center.

Luong spoke about how being born Asian-American, he has had to force himself to be more visible in order to combat his intersecting identities.

“Being a person of color does not make me any less human,” he said.

Director for the Center for

Cultural Pluralism Sherwood Smith then spoke about America’s history of violence and racism.

“Actions like tonight force people to become accountable for their actions… which is really important,” Smith said.

Before the march began, Alianza Latin publicist and fellow ALANA Student Leader, sophomore Jennifer Alexandra Gil, chanted the word “Tenemos derecho a tener derechos” which translates to “We have the right to have rights.”

“Michael Brown had the right to live, and it was taken from him,” Gil said.

One sign read the last words of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenage boy, who was also fatally shot by a police officer in February of 2012. His last words were, “Why are you following me?”

“Last words” were a common theme throughout the event.

Multiple ALANA Student Leaders stood before the crowd and read aloud the last words

of multiple victims.

“For me, the whole experience was really powerful,” senior Jessica Fuller said Throughout the march, participants chanted, “We are not invisible,” “hands up, don’t shoot” and “hey ho police brutality has got to go.”

The energy was upheld by everyone throughout the march and some bystanders on Church Street even joined in with chanting and positive support.

ALANA Student Leaders said that they felt very touched and hopeful after the event.

“It’s events like these which really give me hope about the UVM community” Luong said.

Yet he urged greater accountability from administration to support their initiative to increase awareness.

“Our campus needs more educational programming and more administrative support for affinity groups like the BSU, the AASU and Alianza Latina,” Luong said.

University recieves diversity award Margaux Rioux Staff Writer UVM is a recipient of the annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from INSIGHT into Diversity, a diversity-based publication.

The award recognizes colleges and universities that are “truly committed to diversity and inclusion,” said Holly Mendelson, owner and publisher of INSIGHT into Diversity.

“We [INSIGHT into Diversity] really felt that there was no recognition for colleges and universities for the work that they were doing on campuses,” Mendelson said.

Recipients of the award are

selected based on their commitment to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs and outreach, according to their website.

“I believe that the [Higher Education Excellence in Diversity] award is the result of decades of diversity work,” said Lacretia Flash, senior adviser to the Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at UVM. “Our engagement and promotion of diversity is deeply embedded within how we do business here and within our systems and structures,” Flash said.

These systems and structures range from the ALANA

Center to the LGBTQ Center as well as the SGA’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Environmental Ethics, the Inter-Residence Association and sponsored events like Equity Week and the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

UVM is also dedicated to teaching its students about diversity through strategic diversity goals.

One way that UVM aims to meet these goals is by requiring all undergraduate students to complete six credits worth of diversity classes.

Junior Dylan Letendre, chair of the Committee on Diversity, Equity and Environmental Ethic, said he wants to see improvements on the diver-

sity requirements.

“We are looking at ways to improve the diversity requirement and to make it more applicable to students and more effective,” Letendre said.

“Our goal should be that when students leave UVM they are on the path to becoming global citizens that value diversity, social justice and inclusion,” he said.

“I think it is great, but I don’t think we should be fooled into believing that we have arrived,” Letendre said. “The award showcases our diversity efforts but it should also energize us to do even better.”

Life

Company focuses on buying local Katie Hickey Assistant Life Editor A web service offers local business and restaurant deals that can buy more than just Ramen noodles for students on a budget.

Localvore Today is a local company “committed to growing local businesses and introducing customers to the best experiences their local economies have to offer,” according to their Facebook page.

Localvore founder, Dan White, seeks to strengthen local business affordably for Vermonters and students alike through online coupons that offer discounted meals, health and spa vouchers, and other local services, he said.

For some college students, going out and also keeping track of funds can be financially challenging. “[Staying on] budget is a huge thing [in college]. Most people have to have jobs or work study,” sophomore Sanders Jurgelewicz said.

A typical Localvore deal may be something like this: paying $8 for $16 worth of bagels.

But even when coupons are available, some students are wary of spending more

than what they budgeted for.

“If I find a coupon, I wouldn’t normally go out of my way to use it because I would still spend more money,” Jurgelwicz said.

White explained that his site offers more than just “finding deals and discounts.”

“The brand of Vermont [local businesses] is associated with good craft, artisan and quality,” he esaid.

“And you don’t have to spend a ton of money to try something new and local,” White said.

Off-campus students, like senior Casey Short, look for opportunities to save at local restaurants that they already frequent, she said.

“I’m excited [about Localvore] because going out I spend over $20, including drinks since I’m 21,” Short said. “If I pay $15 and get $30 [value] I’m down with that.”

Past restaurants featured on Localvore’s website included The Stowe Inn, Red Onion and Revolution Kitchen, according to the website.

“Twenty-five percent of the Vermont economy is small businesses, and most of them are local,” White said.

“It’s our mission. If we collectively spend in Ver-

MARISA ROSENTHAL The Vermont Cynic

David White, owner of Localvore, discusses his plans and goals for the local company, in his office Nov. 3. Localvore supports local merchants by providing discounts and various digital marketing tools. mont [we can] change buying patterns to support the local economy,” he said.

Localvore members can search through different deals under categories like fun and games, food and farm, health and happiness, art and culture, and home and lifestyle.

Members can also recieve

First-years talk holidays Jackie Flynn Staff Writer As we enter our third month of the school year, it’s time for the Cynic to catch back up with first-years Kaylee Ellis and Jessica Wolfe and see how they are doing at UVM. Midterms are in full swing, but the excitement of Halloween weekend and going home for holiday breaks were on our students’ minds.

“For Halloween, I was a fox one night then a schoolgirl another night,” Ellis said. “I had a great time, it wasn’t the worst Halloween ever.”

Wolfe also had several costumes for the “halloweekend.”

“On the Thursday before [Halloween] I dressed up as Superman, then as Cleopatra the next night,” Wolfe said.

“We went to some fun parties, then went back to the dorm to hang out with everyone.”

Ellis and Wolfe both said that the Jeanne Mance community has since become much tighter and expect the bonding to continue, as the weather gets colder.

“I’m looking forward to going home for break though, I haven’t been home since I came here,” Wolfe said. “I’m excited to see my friends and eat home-cooked food. It’ll

daily emails with offers from the “best businesses” in the community, according to the Facebook page.

Besides keeping its products real and authentic on a budget, Localvore also provides jobs for students, White said.

Since its start in 2012, he said he anticipates Lo-

Health Corner

The different diets Allison Carey

RENA MEISLER The Vermont Cynic

First-year students Jessica Wolfe (left) and Kaylee Ellis discuss classes and Thanksgiving plans in their Jeanne Mance Hall room Nov. 4. feel weird, but exciting.”

Ellis said she has already been home once since coming to school, but is excited to see more of her friends and family.

“It’ll be nice to be at home, but at the same time, I’m also going to miss school and all my friends here,” Ellis said.

When asked how midterms went, both said that neither of their classes had intense midterm schedules.

“I only had one midterm, but it was a fill in the blank test. All I have left is a paper to write, a project, and two more exams before finals,” Wolfe said.

“I’m excited to see my friends and eat homecooked food.”

Jessica Wolfe First-year Ellis said she has two more exams and a paper.

While the two first-years seem to be adjusting to the college life, let’s see what happens when the frigid temperatures hit campus.

calvore to continue to grow and “hire hundreds of local people” in the future.

“We are growing a company, and it’s the perfect place for college students and entry level jobs,” White said. “Why not stick around?”

Gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, vegan and Paleo.

The names of these diets are thrown around all the time, and they can all blend together if you don’t know the differences.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet: Gluten-free: Gluten is a protein found in grains — wheat, barley and rye.

Those who are gluten-intolerant experience inflammation of the small intestine when gluten is consumed, according to WebMD. Lactose-intolerant: Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products.

When lactase, an enzyme that is produced by the lin-

ing of the small intestine, isn’t present in large enough quantities in the small intestine, lactose intolerance is the result, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Vegan: Those who are vegan don’t eat any animalproducts or byproducts.

This includes meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products and honey.

Paleo: The Paleo, or Paleolithic diet, aims to mimic the way our ancestors ate.

Also called the “huntergatherer diet,” or “caveman diet,” this way of eating includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nuts and seeds, while excluding dairy, grains, processed food, sugars, legumes and starches, according to Robb Wolf’s “The Paleo Solution.”

Allison Carey is a senior English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2014.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Prof. discusses alternate interests Rebecca Potter Staff Writer A standing desk, distaste for grades and respect for anthropological humility. Anthropology professor Benjamin Eastman sat down with the Cynic to answer some questions.

Vermont Cynic (VC): Do you have any upcoming projects?

Benjamin Eastman (BE): I’m in the middle of transitioning right now, away from the relationship between sports and politics in Cuba and looking more squarely at the recent economic reforms that Raúl Castro has inaugurated.

VC: If you had to write your past undergrad self a letter, what would you say?

BE: It really doesn’t matter what you major in, pay less attention to grades and cultivate an intrinsic interest. You should be learning for the sake of the learning.

VC: Do you have a current stance on giving grades?

BE: I hate giving grades.

VC: Why? BE: They’re reductive.

They diminish students’ learning. They really are not an accurate reflection of a student’s interests or engagement, or what they’re taking away from a course.

VC: I feel like we should talk about your desk — this is a special and large thing.

BE: It’s a new phenomenon. It’s called a standing

FREDDY MORIN The Vermont Cynic

Assistant professor of anthropology Benjamin Eastman discusses his life inside and outside of the classroom in his office in Williams Hall Nov. 5. Focusing on contemporary Cuba and Latin America, Eastman’s studies cover topics like socialism, nationalist ritualism and sports. desk.

Basically, sitting is killing us, and it’s rather frightening. This is much more dynamic.

BE: I’m proud of my relationship with my wife.

I’m proud of my dedication to my students.

VC: If you were starting a band, what would you call it and Professor what kind of music Profiles would you play?

VC: What’s someBE: The Search for thing you’re really proud of?

Animal Chin. It would probVC: Do you ever sit?

BE: Occasionally.

So Psyched Column

Relationship’s blurred lines Marissa Lanoff So you’re a month or two into a relationship, and it’s going pretty well. You begin to wonder, is this exclusive?

Does this person care about me? Are people beginning to associate the two of us together?

“Emotional ambiguity happens when there is no direct line of honest communication, which leads to a combination of mixed signals and digression,” firstyear Jacob Ahrens said.

Ambiguity can be defined as a lack of certainty in meaning or intention, according to dictionary.com.

This ambiguity can be emotionally tiring and mentally damaging.

In the early stages of a relationship, it is common for the individuals involved to wonder whether they are

just “hanging out” or are actually dating, according to Psychology Today.

“This can happen to any and all ages,” first-year Angie Brown said.

When a couple isn’t communicating about what they want out of the relationship, friction can arise.

“There will always be misunderstandings without communication,” firstyear Harper Simpson said.

“Without communication, how can you know what to expect from your partner?”

When emotions are not discussed or actively made clear, “it could cause one person to think they’re exclusive while the other is thinking something very different,” Brown said.

When the two partners are on different pages, questions are bound to surface.

“When you start sharing feelings that is when it gets more serious, even if it’s casual,” first-year Shawn Palmer said.

Not sharing feelings or thoughts at any point could be a red flag in the relation-

ship, which shouldn’t be ignored.

“It becomes a game of who can care less,” senior Nicole Davis said. “When the other person in a relationship is acting strange, it makes you feel that you also have to act that way.”

Bottom line: figure out what you want or need in a relationship before you get too heavily involved.

Answering these tough questions makes it easier to let go of those who aren’t healthy for us. You should not risk your value or selfworth for a relationship.

With a break from school coming up, this can be a great time to think things over. You won’t have your school work or academic respnisibilities distracting you.

You can also use this time to get some space from the person you are involved with. But remember to enjoy the turkey too.

Marissa Lanoff is a first-year psychology major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2014.

ably play bluegrass funk.

VC: If you had to be a kitchen appliance, what kitchen appliance would you be?

BE: Espresso machine, [for] caffeination but also the combination of simplicity and complexity.

VC: How does anthropological study impact the way you live your life?

BE: Anthropology done well requires what I would call a devotion to humility.

You cannot understand the world, much less hope to change it, unless you stop thinking of yourself as the center of it.

When I engage others around my house and my neighborhood and so on, I try to remind myself that my professional side is also a personal strength.

Students advise class Danielle Goglia Senior Staff Writer Questionnaires, high school students and Spanish all filled campus Nov. 5 when Burlington High School students flooded UVM’s campus as part of a social learning initiative.

As part of the initiative, students in the UVM class Spanish 052 met with high school students to discuss UVM and college goals, all in Spanish.

“It was really fun because I had opportunities to advise them and tell them what the near future is like from my perspective,” sophomore Molly Sargent said. “It was just a good experience.”

UVM students created a survey and asked questions such as, “Do you want to come to UVM?” class instructor Lourdes de Dios said.

“We also are trying to promote UVM,” de Dios said.

Each student in the class was paired with a high school student.

Their relationship formed through an introduc-

tion letter, which was previously sent to the high school classroom, followed by various out-of-class meetings at coffeehouses or on campus, Dios said.

“It was cool because a lot of us aren’t from here so to get to know the high school students from the local area is cool,” junior Sara Casey said. “I ended up going to one of their soccer games; it’s like a little mentoring thing.”

Students from the area like Sargent, a Jericho-native and Mount Mansfield High School graduate, thought the project was rewarding.

“I am actually from the area so it was interesting to relate Burlington High School to my high school,” Sargent said. “It was really fun interacting with someone who is five years younger than me, but it feels like I was their age not so long ago.”

The UVM class also gave the high school students a tour of the University.

As a result of this project, Dios said her class learned that a lot of the BHS students want to go to college and are interested in UVM.

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8

d i st r act i o n s

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Four diversity classes to take next semester

By Kate Lipman Illustration by Alyssa Handelman With spring course registration approaching quickly, you may have started thinking about the diversity requirements. The D1 and D2 requirements address race and social diversity respectively, and cover a large variety of topics. In fact, there are more than 30 D1 classes and 50 D2 classes being offered next semester. With so many classes, it can hard to choose one that’s right for you. Here are four that students love:

REL 021: D2: Intro to Asian Traditions This course focuses on the study of Hindu, Buddhist and East Asian religions and traditions.

Through looking at symbolism, writings and other cultural forms, this class is able to bring some of Eastern Asia back to UVM. Next semester, this threecredit course will be taught by both professor Thomas

Borchert and professor Cuong Mai at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“I love this course because my professor is very knowledgeable in his area and shows a lot of passion for the subject,” first-year Lydia Marchese said.

“Also, the religions we learn about allow us to learn more about Asian culture and life.”

CDAE 002: D2: World Food, Population and Sustainable Development If you are interested in world development or agriculture, this is the perfect diversity course for you. This course studies the effect of food supplies on population trends and policies while studying the development of agriculture world-wide.

In spring 2015, this threecredit course will be taught by

professor Shoshanah Inwood on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:40 a.m. “[This class] allows me to feel more connected with the world around me through our discussion of current events as well as our analysis of past agricultural practices,” sophomore Hailey Klein said.

SOC 019: D1: Race Relations in the U.S. This sociology class focuses on racial prejudice and discrimination directed toward Africans, Asians and Native Americans, as well as their social movements for integration, accommodation and separatism, according to the UVM Registrar.

Professor Nikki Khanna and professor Noriko Matsumoto

will both teach sections of this course next spring, and it is offered at either 10 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“The class is really interesting because it integrates the concept of diversity through the relationships and interactions we have with race,” first-year Reina Nagashima said.

MU 012: D1: Music and Culture: New Orleans If you’re looking to fill a diversity requirement through fine arts or love music, then this is the course for you.

This course examines the relationship between styles of music in New Orleans and the cultures that support them, according to the UVM Registrar.

The course only meets four

times in the semester from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights.

There are also field trips, including a trip to New Orleans over Spring Break.

This course is perfect for anyone who wants to fulfill their D1 requirement in a non-traditional way.

ARTS

Producer recounts colorful career Sam Heller Staff Writer Pictures of The Beatles, Woody Allen and Steve Martin flickered across a screen next to a tall, straight-backed man during a presentation at Waterman Nov. 6.

At 83 years old, only a slight stoop in the shoulders and a bald spot on the top of his head distinguishes legendary film producer David Picker in person from the man in the pictures.

Picker came to UVM to talk about his 40-plus-yearlong career, during which he has been president of major film studios including United Artists and Columbia Pictures.

His production credits include “The Jerk,” “Lenny” and “The Crucible.”

During Picker’s presentation, he shared stories about his successes, such as the time he signed the then relatively unknown band called The Beatles and produced their film “A Hard Day’s Night.”

“We were looking for a couple of small groups that might make a movie for us, that would give us a soundtrack album, and maybe we would get some

money from the record... and if we get lucky, make a successful movie,” he said.

They ended up signing a few groups, Picker said.

“One of them was called The Beatles. Nobody had ever heard of them,” he said.

Picker also talked about convincing a stubborn author by the name of Ian Fleming to sell the rights to the popular series of spy novels, “James Bond,” to United Artists.

“I got this book called ‘Doctor No,’ and I read it, and it was absolutely great,” he said. “So I called our London office to find out from Fleming’s British agent, Ian Frasier, if Mr. Fleming would be interested in perhaps letting us option ‘Doctor No’ or one of his other books.”

“They called back and said he’s not interested,” Picker said. “Didn’t want his books as movies.”

Three years later, he said he was called to a meeting with producers Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman at the New York office of United Artists president Arthur Krimm.

Picker said he was leaning back in a chair with his

ERIN LUCEYThe Vermont Cynic

David Picker, former motion picture producer, speaks before students in Waterman 413 Nov. 6. Picker began his career in film at United Artists Corp. in 1956, and by 1961 he was an assistant to the president. feet up on Krimm’s desk when Saltzman and Cubby gave him the news.

“They said, ‘Ian Fleming has given us the option on James Bond,’ and I literally almost broke the chair falling out of it. I said ‘How the fuck did you get that?”

That deal, brokered by Picker, resulted in “the most successful and arguably most influential franchise in cinema history,” according to the Internet Movie Data-

base.

At one point, Picker’s success made him the object of unwanted government attention.

For reasons that he said he doesn’t entirely understand, Picker, his uncle Arnold Picker and his aunt Ruth Picker were all number one on Richard Nixon’s list of political enemies.

“My uncle’s on there,” he said. “At the very end of that, it says ‘if successful,

move on to Ruth, and David.’ Me, and this is what’s really funny, [Arnold’s] wife Ruth.”

“My aunt Ruth... was a Yiddish mamma. The idea that Ruth Picker could be a threat to anything except a matzoh ball is idiotic,” Picker said, laughing.

He said he keeps a framed copy of the threat on his wall.

Vt. musicians compile work Poet ready for reading Caroline Shea Staff Writer

Willie Gotterer Staff Writer The album “Twist & Bends,” an indie compilation project featuring 17 Vermont artists, will be celebrated Nov. 18 at Higher Ground’s Showcase Lounge.

“We are just going to go through the album, which is just over an hour. We will then take a little break, and after do a short set of artists previewing a new song or song that came out on an album of their own,” executive producer Glory Reinstein said.

This compilation of Vermont music is the product of Reinstein, a UVM alumna from the graduating class of 1975 and music educator at Essex High School.

Reinstein is in her 38th year of teaching and said she plans to retire in June.

“I was looking for what I was going to do after retirement, as I am not one to sit still for very long,” she said.

“I thought it would be nice to be involved with music somehow.”

Follow her passion is exactly what Reinstein did.

While receiving a music business specialist certificate from Berklee College of Music, Reinstein started her own business, currently known as Malletts Bay Music.

Malletts Bay Music helps “promote special shows

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM CLEARY

Faculty member Amber deLaurentis sings while Tom Cleary, also a faculty member, plays the piano. Cleary wrote the album’s title song. or CD releases,” Reinstein said.

With her burning passion for music and helping other musicians, Reinstein said she thought, “What can I do to get Vermont music beyond Vermont boarders?”

After a benefit show last year at the Flynn Space and a successful Kickstarter campaign, enough money was raised to create the “Twists & Bends” album.

“She gives artists free reign, and I can only admire her courage in doing that.

She chooses her artists carefully, and has a great variety of styles and ages on the album,” said Tom Cleary, a UVM faculty member.

Cleary wrote the song “Twists & Bends” that would, because of Reinstein’s fondness for the song, become the album name.

“Glory has a discerning ear, and there is a lot of talent in the songwriters she is working with,” said Amber DeLaurentis, UVM music faculty member and songwriter.

Colin McCaffrey, the producer of the album, will be the head of the house band.

Artists from each song will accompany McCaffrey as they play 16 originals and one cover.

“People will get an impressive collection of music,” said Gregory Douglass, a singer/song writer, guitarist and pianist. “It is a really high caliber of local talent.”

For $17 in advance or $20 at the door, one can see the product of a loving dedication to the music of Vermont at Higher Ground’s Showcase Lounge Nov. 18.

Poetry is dead. At least, that’s what many people may tell you.

“As a child, I didn’t really think that there was such a thing as a living poet. I thought all poets were sort of dead,” Mark Wunderlich said.

Wunderlich, who is alive and well, will read his poetry as part of UVM’s Painted Word Poetry Series Nov. 19 at the Fleming Museum.

“The process of writing poems is when I feel most alive,” Wunderlich said.

He is a literature professor at Bennington College.

His writing has received numerous grants and awards, including recognition from the Breadloaf Writing Conference.

Wunderlich said he believes in the personal and political power of poetry.

“Every time you write a poem and use the language you’re engaging in a kind of political exchange,” he said.

“Poets are trying to revive language that has been used in ways that are damaging,” Wunderlich said.

“Language is always being used to buy and sell,” he said. “Poets can put some of the meaning back into language. We’re washing the language and recharging it.”

Wunderlich plans on reading some of his new work when he visits and

said he looks forward to sharing it with the UVM community.

“Poems are letters you write to strangers, not knowing if anyone will write back,” he said.

For Wunderlich, there’s something special about readings like this.

He said that they can be enlightening for the poet and the audience.

“As a poet, so much of what you do is working in isolation,” Wunderlich said.

“When you give a reading, you get to meet people face to face. It stops being something you imagine and it starts being something real,” he said.

In 2006, the Poetry Foundation conducted a survey on the perception of poetry in America.

More than seventy-six percent of articipants who didn’t read poetry reported it was “irrelevant to their daily life,” according to the organization’s study, “Poetry in America.”

Wunderlich, however, said he believes poetry is more important than ever.

“By saying poetry is important, you’re disengaging from the world of buying and selling and power.

You’re saying that the individual human experience matters,” he said.

“I won’t read for too long,” Wunderlich said. “As a poet, you should always leave them wanting more.”

10

A RTS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 , 2014

Cynical Viewer

No props required Jacob Holzman

PHOTO COURTESY OF REDBIRD

Peter Mulvey (left), Kris Delmhorst (center) and Jeffery Foucault, members of the trio Redbird, are shown above. Redbird came together in 2003 after a tour of England that sparked their collaborative chemistry. They will be playing at UVM Nov. 21, as a part of the Lane Series.

Trio to deliver improvised show Molly Duff Staff Writer No one knows what Redbird will play at their upcoming show, not even the members themselves.

The trio — made up of Kris Delmhorst, Jeffery Foucault and Peter Mulvey — is coming to UVM as part of the Lane Series Nov. 21.

The series started in 1955 thanks to a donation from the Lane family and brings a variety of artists to UVM each year.

Redbird came together as a group in early 2003, after touring together in England.

After the shows they

“would go hang out in the hotel room all night and just play songs,” Delmhorst said.

This chemistry was more exciting than the shows themselves, she said.

The trio doesn’t really consider themselves a band, however.

“It’s not a band,” Delmhorst said. “It’s us hanging out.”

Only playing a few shows each year, the group is “for fun [and] a change of pace for us,” she said.

The shows themselves are spontaneous and feature improvisation.

When they get on stage, the musicians only know who will play first.

After that, “we have no idea,” Delmhorst said. “We have no plan.”

She said that this way of performing is actually relaxing.

“One thing that’s really relaxing about a Redbird show is that we share the responsibilities of being up [onstage],” she said.

Of Foucault and Mulvey, Delmhorst said she truly admires the two musicians’ work.

Being onstage is “like just spending time with my friends,” she said.

“I think [our connection] translates into the audience.

It’s something very honest,” Delmhorst said.

The three all have sepa-

rate musical careers, each having released an album in the past three years.

Because of this, Redbird shows become “a nice way to check in,” Delmhorst said.

The nature of their shows make Redbird “like a vacation from the rest of our lives,” she said.

“It’s something rare, and we’re not tired of it,” Delmhorst said.

The group will bring something different to the series, a venue internationally known for presenting chamber and classical music .

“We’re gonna have to wear clean shirts at the very least,” she said.

Artists prepare ‘awesome’ night Sandi Omanovic Staff Writer A cultural “bomba” is going to be hitting ArtsRiot Nov. 20.

Bomba, which means “awesome” in Swahili, is a unique event displaying the world’s cultures from music and fashion to food and art, according to the event’s page on the ArtsRiot website.

The event will start with a performance by Bless the Child, a Burlington soul and hip-hop group.

After the performance there will be a fashion show set by Spellbound Vermont, according to the ArtsRiot website.

Twenty models will be displaying an array of Salaam fashion along with other designers’ fashions.

Once the models leave the stage, the African rap group A2VT will perform,

accompanied by The Brothers.

A2VT is comprised of Cadoux Fancy’s Congo styles, MG Man’s Tanzanian flow and Jilib’s original Somaliland rhythm.

David ‘Uncle Dave’ Cooper produces for the young African group.

Collectively, the members speak English, Mai Mai, Somali, French, Swahili and Kirundi.

A2VT was a finalist for best hip-hop artist as voted

by Seven Days readers in 2014, according to the Seven Days website.

They have performed for United Way and at the Essex Fairground along with playing a sold out a show on New Year’s Eve at First Night Vermont.

They have not only received personal thank you letters from the governor of Vermont, but also the mayor of Burlington.

A2VT is an ice cream

cone swirl of African hiphop and American hip-hop styles and cultures.

With the help of the Vermont Community Foundation, they released a music video for their hit song “Winooski, My Town.”

“We established a career from scratch, taking ingredients from this experience and that experience to an original style, flow and voice,” Fancy said.

Congolese dancers, The Brothers, will be performing with A2VT. This event intends “to show the beautiful parts of the rest of the world,” he said.

“People only believe what they see on TV. We’re telling them something they don’t know about,” Fancy said.

The show wraps up at midnight with dance music, artwork and henna.

The reggae and dance mix of DJ Lorenzo will keep

“People only believe what they see on TV. We’re telling them something they don’t know about.”

Cadoux Fancy A2VT Member you moving through the night.

Visual artists from New City Gallery will be displaying their work. Henna tattoos will be provided by Becca from Heartfire Henna.

The event is sponsored by the Vermont Folklife Center and the New City Galerie.

The show begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at ArtsRiot on Pine street.

The cover charge is $5.

The crowd is chatting and talking to one another in anticipation of a play that is about to start. It seems that everybody is expecting somebody to go, “and now the show begins!”

Instead, one after another, actors file onto the stage relaxed and familiar, like the introduction is merely another normal occurrence in daily life.

This was a most fitting beginning to what was an astonishingly stark and subtle performance of Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town,” presented by the UVM Department of Theatre.

The play is meant to be performed in a minimal manner with as few props and special effects as possible. Through these means, the cast of “Our Town” not only used this style, but used it to their advantage.

The standout performer was Ally Sass who played lead Emily Webb, as showcased in the final act, where she confronts not only her own mortality but also that of everyone else in the world.

The cast effectively used singing as a thematic device; originally, singing only occurs at the characters’ church, where the choir practices their usual program.

However, in a clever method that reflects this version’s somber tone, the singing is brought back later in the plot as an additional climactic note.

To note a fear I had at first, I was struck by the decision to separate the play’s single “narrator” character, who dictates and leads the entire plot, into three roles.

This could have ended up clunky, but actors senior Garrett Garcia, junior Brendan Konicki and sophomore Grace McLaughlin pulled this move off with elegance.

In the tradition of the work, the prop-less acting was flawless and helped to stress the repetitive nature of daily home life.

All in all, as somebody who is fond of the play and quick to cast critical judgment upon those who perform it, I was incredibly surprised and pleased by UVM’s performance, and those who do not see it while it is running are surely missing out.

Jacob Holzman is a sophomore English major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2013.

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STAFF EDITORIAL There aren’t enough Vermonters in the UVM administration.

Our college is comprised of a variety of members. We have both in-state and outof-state students, and it is great to hear from different perspectives across campus and in classes.

This diversity is something we would like to see more of in the leadership of the University.

We would like more Vermont natives to be in the administration Very few — if any — leaders at our University are native Vermonters.

Many have spent a lot of time in the state, often getting their degrees at UVM or other state colleges. Others often have no connection to our state or University prior to coming to our school.

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business school, all while still maintaining our humanities programs.

We’re also a Division I school and have more than 160 SGA-recognized clubs on campus.

Vermont and UVM possess a community like no other.

It is a community that values local business and the wellbeing of the community.

Having roots in Vermont would allow administrators to better understand the school and population they are about to lead.

Vermonters are going to be personally invested in the wellbeing of their state and its flagship university.

So UVM, next time you’re looking for a new administrator, don’t just look at a resume, look for someone who truly loves UVM and our wonderful state.

Party predictions for 2016

Olivia Stewart socialcyniceditor@gmail.com

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Our school often hires administrators from other top colleges, and many of the recent hires have been acquired through this method.

They come from outside institutions rather than being promoted from within our school.

This is not necessarily problematic, since many of these administrators are high performing — both at their former schools and UVM. But there is something unique about UVM and the community around us.

This UVM culture is something that must be learned by newcomers.

We aren’t a massive research school, nor are we a small liberal arts school.

Our special school is not, and cannot be run, like many other schools.

We’re a research university, we have a strong environmental college, a booming

Last week, the Republican Party took complete control of Capitol Hill.

Additionally, the blue governors’ seats in Massachusetts, Maryland and Illinois were taken by conservative candidates.

Simply put, the GOP crushed the Democratic Party in a manner reminiscent of the Democratic pulverizing President Bush in 2006.

While it would be easy to speculate on whether or not gridlock will continue (quite likely), a much more exciting discussion is one that focuses on the 2016 presidential election.

That being said, here are my five things to look for in two years.

Who will the Republicans pick to run?

In the current political landscape, one feature is painfully obvious: Republicans tear

each other apart in the primary stage of the nomination process.

Look for a moderate candidate, such as Paul Ryan or Chris Christie, to clash with more extreme candidates like Libertarian favorite Rand Paul or Tea Party all-star Ted Cruz.

Expect this fight to go deep into the late rounds before anyone emerges victorious.

Will Hillary run? While Mrs. Clinton has definitely shown interest, one has to wonder if she’s up for another serious run at the presidency.

Not only could age be a factor, as she will turn 69 Nov. 8, 2016, but Mrs. Clinton is also much less attractive to the progressive base of the Left than would be preferred.

Expect a more progressive candidate, most likely Elizabeth Warren, to make Hillary work for a nomination that she will ultimately receive.

If Hillary decides to run, how will women vote?

In the first electoral field to feature a female nominee for president, one has to wonder if female voters would flock to Hillary in the same way black voters flocked to then Senator

Barack Obama in 2008.

Expect a split in favor of Mrs. Clinton, but nothing like the 96 percent that President Obama got six years ago.

Fourth, will black voters continue to turn out at record rates for Democrats?

As mentioned above, President Obama received 96 percent of the black vote in 2008, a percentage that appears to be unmatchable for any candidate whose name doesn’t end in King, Jr. If they don’t match this, or at least come close, it’s reasonable to say that the Democratic coalition of blacks, Latinos and women will fall apart at the polls.

No predictions here, but the Democrats need to make sure that they can motivate a group that, aside from 2008 and 2012, has been chronically uninvolved in American politics.

How will Millennials vote, or will we not vote at all?

While it is common knowledge that Millennials tend to lean to the Left, that could soon be challenged by a Republican Party that is developing roots within the newest goldmine in American politics, while also

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Will Hillary run? While Mrs. Clinton has definitely shown interest, one has to wonder if she’s up for another serious run at the presidency. becoming more socially relaxed.

That being said, getting Millennials to the polls is hard enough, and doing so would provide a much-needed boost to either party.

Until these questions can be resolved, I suggest that we wait to see where the Dems choose to host their National Convention.

Let’s all pray that it isn’t Birmingham.

Ty Williams is a senior history and political science double major.

He has been writing for the Cynic since spring 2014.

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12

opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

“Dear White People” Gaetano Martello This week, I had the pleasure of getting to see the new racial satire “Dear White People.”

Its primary focus is on the relationship between blacks and whites, first and foremost from the black perspective.

It takes place at a university, where students of both races excel, but where there is much racial tension among students on campus.

The protagonist, Sam White, is an outspoken AfricanAmerican female who starts “Dear White People,” a radio campaign that is naturally directed at the white students on campus.

It focuses on the small but significant ways in which whites display their ignorance and racism, sometimes without knowing it, toward black people on campus, and by extension in America at large.

If I’m being honest, when I first heard of this film, I expected a typical race movie in which black students struggle to get to the top, the only obstacle standing in their way being stubborn, racist white people.

This theme is displayed to some extent, but with a lot more intelligence and wit than with most movies about this topic.

However, when reviews from both critics and regular viewers — some of them being my friends — came out, it was described as a smart movie that comments on the issue of race without berating whites or vic-

timizing blacks. “‘Dear White People’ adds a new, welcome voice to cinema’s oft-neglected discussion of race, tackling its timely themes with intelligence, honesty and gratifyingly sharp wit,” according to Rotten Tomatoes, a popular movie critic website.

This greatly raised my expectations, and I was not in the least bit disappointed.

What might set some people off about the film is that it displays ways in which blacks are belittled by whites, which many whites would simply deem normal behavior.

However, it does not speak on this with a preachy, condescending vibe — which it certainly would have the right to do — but rather it uses humor to make the viewer see it in an honest and comfortable light, while never underplaying the seriousness and gravity of the issue.

That is what makes the film so intelligent — it manages to communicate concepts to the viewer without bombarding them or blaming them, but still ultimately teaching them with desire for reconciliation between both groups.

What I also loved about the film was its well-roundedness.

For example, its use of homosexual characters, showing that the gay community is not exempt from being able to commit acts of racism, however close the anti-homophobic and anti-racist causes may be.

The film manages to reach and teach every type of person without finding it necessary to explicitly offend them.

The protagonist is not painted as someone who is fully morally aware of herself or of others.

She is painted, along with her allies and enemies, as a

flawed human being going through the pain of racial prejudice, but making some mistakes as to how she addresses it in the early part of the film.

In short, every character, white and black, learns something about themselves and about the people around them.

The resolution turning out to be morally upright without being anti-climactic or lacking in its signature humor.

The only thing that disappointed me about this film is that it lacked substantive comments on races other than white and black.

As a Hispanic-American, it would have been nice to see Hispanics, Asians or others and how their relationship with everyone else in the movie would have flourished or failed.

I am not a filmmaker, however, so I understand if the further plot points would have diluted the story.

The quality of this movie, in its writing, directing and acting, was absolutely exceptional, so I would not want to suggest anything that would have damaged its wonderful cinematic quality.

“Dear White People” is a brilliant, informative, educational and funny movie that appeals to everyone in the audience and brings them all together without sacrificing necessary knowledge.

It is filled with stellar performances and extremely sharp writing, all of which contributes to a plot that humorously teaches everyone something about race.

I highly recommend it.

Gaetano Martello is an undeclared sophomore. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2014.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

On the nature of satire Dear Editor, I do not often find myself agreeing with the Cynic’s op-ed writers. However, I was quite impressed with the opinion stated last week: That there was nothing grossly untoward about Kerry Martin’s piece in the Water Tower regarding fashion choices and Halloween (“Pardon Mr. Martin,” Nov. 4).

As was printed in the very lede of the piece in question, “This is serious. (Read: This is not serious.)” I find it difficult to believe any rational young adult, much less a young adult admitted to an institution of higher learning, could possibly take that as anything but an admission of satire.

To be then offended can only mean one has a chip on one’s shoulder.

Satire, by its very definition, appears to be that which it satirizes. The difference is that satire goes “too far”, to the point where any sensible person recognizes it as being tongue-incheek.

I wonder, do those upset

by Martin’s jokes also find Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert

dreadfully offensive?

Indeed, and I do not say this lightly, I find little at fault with the already-printed analysis of the whole situation.

Tyler McFarland’s Letter to the Editor in that same issue (“Water Tower faux-pas”), in contrast, is a shining example of the over-sensitive nature of too many of our peers.

It appears as though the writer looked at his paper, saw a few key words, and wrote out his letter based on that alone — not bothering to read the full paragraphs and certainly not bothering to notice the blatant disclaimer of non-seriousness.

McFarland writes: “The KKK. Wow, just wow. Why would anyone ever try to look like the KKK?” At the risk of sounding exasperated, that’s the damned joke.

If you can’t understand humor — if the take-away you got from the first item was “something weird about chocolate frosting and birds” — please don’t try to make it politically correct.

Sincerely, Jacob September Class of 2017

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Beware the basement Dear Editor, I write to you as a former UVM student, two-time student body president and Cynic restaurant critic, after a summer and early autumn of many trips to Burlington to visit my friends.

One of the highlights of my four years at UVM and continued visits is the “food culture” of the area.

I have eaten at almost every restaurant in the BurlingtonSouth Burlington-Winooski region, and love to explore its continual expansion of options.

One of the most recent in the past couple of years, however, is Pascolo Ristorante, the latest version of The Farmhouse Group’s localvore-infused restaurants located on Church Street in the basement between Frog Hollow and Ecco.

I’m writing to warn your readers of not only the food, but in general the location.

I went one weekend evening this summer with a friend and my girlfriend with an open mind.

Despite the limited wine selection, I was fairly impressed with my waiter’s quick recommendations for pairings with the dishes I was considering.

I ultimately settled on the Finnochio Papardelle pasta with a southern Italian red.

My mouth felt like I had taken a hearty swill from the Dead Sea. Unfortunately, my company’s fare was not that much better.

The wine suggested to me only exacerbated the saltiness,

so dry that I felt like Spongebob in Sandy’s dome, refusing water and proving I was cool enough to be a land-dweller.

Dessert was skipped, and we rushed out to cleanse our palates with the closest sandpaper.

The bad food, however, may not be entirely the restaurant’s fault.

Pascolo replaces mediterranean-themed Nika, a shortlived restaurant that occupied the uninspired below-ground space for no more than a year and a half prior.

And Nika replaced Three Tomatoes, a ridiculously overpriced fake-Italian place that I only heard about in line at the Cyber Café in reference to the “super nice dinner date he took me to before we went to Ashley’s basement party on Isham.”

My warning to foodies — and future property developers once Pascolo goes under — is that that basement is cursed.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the only cause of my bad dinner.

Out of the four Farmhouse Group locations — Farmhouse Tap & Grill, El Cortijo, Guild Tavern and Pascolo — only Guild Tavern’s food and cocktails are decently-made and fully-flavored, proving my consistent criticism of the Group: Just because you know how to pick food from the farm doesn’t mean you know how to prepare it.

Sincerely, Connor Daley Class of 2014

Sports

Men’s hockey push past Black Bears Alex Benoît Staff Writer A dramatic comeback after a 60-minute effort propelled the men’s hockey team to a four-point weekend against the University of Maine Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

Game one saw the No. 14 Catamounts go down by two goals, just as they had in both games against Notre Dame.

Yet again, Vermont tied it, this time on the back of senior forward Colin Markison.

Markison tallied two goals in the second period to even the game at two.

“We just tried to stick to our game plan and got the puck in deep,” Markison said. “Getting down 2-0 is not a hole we want to climb out of.”

Late in the second period, Black Bears forward Cam Brown put the puck in the back of the net with 0.2 seconds left in the period.

“We kind of let up there expecting that the clock would go off — those mistakes can certainly cost you hockey games, but you can’t take the resilience away from this hockey team,” head coach Kevin Sneddon said about the goal.

Vermont’s pressure in the third period was tremendous, but a late penalty almost cost them the game.

Senior defenseman Alexx Privitera blocked a hard slap shot with his left hand that saved a goal late in the third period.

Junior goaltender Brody Hoffman was pulled with just over a minute to go.

I.J. IDRIZAJ The Vermont Cynic

Senior Colin Markison attempts to get the puck into the opponent’s zone during the Catamounts game against UMaine Nov. 8. After their winless weekend against Notre Dame, the Cats rebounded against UMaine and are seated at No. 10 in the Division I national standings.

Just like the second game of the Notre Dame series, the Cats were down a goal with less than a minute left.

With 58.6 seconds left in the third, first-year sniper Mario Puskarich put the puck between the crossbar and the side pipe to tie the game at three goals a piece.

In sudden-death overtime, captain and senior defenseman Mike Paliotta threw the puck on net from the half boards with sophomore forward Mike Stenerson on the doorstep to deflect it past Maine’s Matt

Morris for the game-winner.

“I was thinking about shooting, but Paliotta was open so I went to the net and I was fortunate enough to get a deflect and put it in the back of the net,” Stenerson said.

Going into Saturday night’s game, Stenerson knew UVM would have to come out strong.

A weak first period effort would not cut it, and that was immediately addressed on the power play just a few minutes into the game when Alexx Privitera rifled a shot past Maine goaltender Sean Romeo for a

tally.

Less than a minute later, junior centerman Jonathan Turk tapped first-year Jarrid Privitera’s pass past Romeo to double Vermont’s lead.

Just over one minute into the second period, Mike Stenerson added to his weekend goal total off a pass from firstyear forward Kevin Irwin.

While the Black Bears added a tally late in the second period, Vermont did not let up their offensive attack and physicality.

Alexx Privitera’s hip check

on a Maine forward with 10 seconds left in the second period all but sealed Maine’s fate in this game.

Sophomore forward Brady Shaw tapped home an emptynet goal with just over a minute remaining to seal the weekend series with a 4-1 win.

Stenerson capped off his monster series by registering two goals and four assist for six points.

The Cats will travel to Providence College to face the No. 12 ranked Friars Nov. 14.

Using profanity prohibited in student section Cam Panepinto Assistant Sports Editor Each game the UVM men’s hockey team fills Gutterson’s student section with waves of green and gold.

Fans cheer on their team for the entire game, but recently some of those chants have received negative attention.

UVM hosted its first home game against Clarkson Oct. 17.

While the normal cheers took place, a new one took precedence in the student section as “f--- you Clarkson” echoed around the rink.

As a result of the profanity UVM Athletics created a video called “Keep it Loud, Keep it Clean” Oct. 22 that they distributed through their social media outlets in order to deter the bad language.

“We want you to be loud, funny and creative, but let’s keep the language clean,” senior captain Mike Paliotta said in the video.

The video featured shots of the various attendees of the game at Gutterson Fieldhouse from UVM students to small children.

“The energy in our student section has been amazing, and we want to see it continued throughout the season,” head

I.J. IDRIZAJ The Vermont Cynic

Fans in the student section pack into Gutterson Fieldhouse for the men’s hockey game against UMaine Nov. 8. Members of the student section have been scrutinized for their use of profanity at recent games. coach Kevin Sneddon said.

“The Gut is a family-fun atmosphere and inappropriate language will not be tolerated.”

As student fans entered the rink for the second home game Oct. 25 against UConn, they were handed handbills with a personal letter from Sneddon asking for clean language.

The rink staff also made an-

nouncements over the PA systems warning against profanity use.

Despite the various deterrents, the obscenities continued, which resulted in the ejection of seven students, said Joe Fischer, associate athletic director.

“We wanted to send the message that obscene language

and profanity would not be tolerated,” Fischer said.

“So we ejected students who security guards and/or police officers clearly observed participating in cheers and/or chants that used profanity or obscene language,” he said.

Once a student is ejected, they are sent to a different office, according to Larry Mag-

nant, Lieutenant of police services.

“We would refer an incident of this nature to the University Office of Student Ethics and Standards,” Magnant said.

Although the students may fill one section of Gutterson, the rest of the fieldhouse is filled with other patrons, including young kids.

“We ask that our students recognize that there are little ears in the building,” Sneddon said.

“As a father of an eightyear-old daughter, I appreciate the fans being understanding that swearing is not appropriate for our events,” he said.

Fischer said that they plan to continue to use the same protocol for future games, including the handbill and PA announcements.

“We will continue to work with our fans to continue the highly energized and supportive atmosphere we have at our home games,” Fischer said.

“We will also continue to work with our fans to discontinue using profanity and vulgar language in their cheers and chants,” he said.

This past weekend the athletic department handed out flyers with suggestions for appropriate cheers during the games.

14

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

S Po rts

Cats earn best season finish in years Emma Oyomba Staff Writer UVM women’s field hockey ended their season with their best record in three years with 3-15.

The Catamounts started off the second half of the season with two losses, one against University of Maine Oct. 3,. and the other against Sacred Heart University Oct. 5.

However, they bounced back to get their first win of the season against UMass Lowell Oct. 11.

This win proved to be one of firsts for the Catamounts.

First-year Lena Benwood didn’t let in any goals and she earned her first career shutout to lift the Catamounts to the 1-0 win over the River Hawks in America East play.

The shutout was also the first by a Vermont goalie since 2012.

Junior forward Molly Higgins tallied her first goal of the season, which doubled as the first game-winner of her career.

Head coach Kate Pfeifer received her first career win with the program since accepting the position Jan. 16, according to UVM Athletics.

“It was our first win of the season and the first conference win the program has had in the last six years. That was one of the most exciting moments of my career,” senior captain Ashley McDonald said.

Pfeifer was happy to get a win as well.

“To see all their hard work really come to fruition, it’s a

MARISA ROSENTHAL The Vermont Cynic

Junior forward Molly Higgins guards an opposing player during the Catamounts 5-1 loss against UMaine Oct. 3. Higgins ended the season with a total of 10 points. The field hockey team finished their season with a record of 3-15, which was the best finish for the Cats since 2011. great thing,” she said.

Although the Catamounts lost their following two games against Rider University Oct 12. and the University of New Hampshire Oct. 17, they bounced back once again to get a win against Davidson College Oct. 19.

Vermont won 2-1 in overtime against Davidson. It was a close game with UVM trailing 1-0 when first-year Jackie Gillen tied the game, 1-1, with just 13 seconds left in regulation.

Higgins then scored just over a minute into overtime to guide Vermont to their 2-1 victory.

McDonald was happy to see the progress being made this half of the season.

“It was challenging for us as a team during the beginning of the season to play for an entire 70 minutes,” she said.

But, as the season went on she said they were able to perform together and at the highest level for whole games.

NFL Picks

Week 11: Cynic Predictions Colby Cunningham Every week, members of the sports section will predict who will be victorious in their NFL match-ups.

Broncos vs. Rams

The Broncos will look to surpass the Rams with the hopes of scoring one of the conference’s top playoff seeds.

Manning remains one of the best quarterbacks in the league, recently passing legendary Brett Favre for most career touchdown passes.

Although the Rams have already beat the 49ers and Seahawks this season, I think they’ll be no match for the competency of the Denver team.

Broncos: Alex, Andrew, Armin, Cam, Colby, Dave, Freddy, Jack, Owen, Stu and Zach.

49ers vs. Giants The 49ers will meet the Giants in Week 11.

The New York Giants team appears just like they did last year as they continue to struggle offensively and defensively.

San Francisco has had a couple tough losses already this season, including one in Week 9 against the St. Louis Rams where Colin Kaepernick fumbled at the goal line to lose the game 13-10.

While they can’t always be on the side of good fortune, the 49ers will look to overrun New York’s 22-ranked run defense, and will make a strong effort to solidify their playoff spot.

NFL New York’s only hope is for quarterback Eli Manning to have a monumental game, but, I predict the 49ers will pull off the win.

49ers: Alex, Andrew, Armin, Cam, Colby, Dave, Jack, Stu and Zach.

Giants’: Freddy and Owen.

Patriots vs. Colts The New England Patriots struggled heavily in the first quarter of the season, but have since made a mighty rebound and a lot of credit is due to the offensive line.

It seems Tom Brady now has time to evaluate the field before throwing the ball, and this has put him in the MVP conversation.

With Rob Gronkowski back at his best, the Patriots’ offense is a force the Colts’ defense needs to prepare for.

I don’t see the Pats ending their streak anytime soon, and I believe they’ll pull off the win against IndianapPICKS olis this coming Sunday.

Patriots: Alex, Andrew, Armin, Cam, Colby, Dave, Jack, Stu and Zach Colts: Freddy and Owen Colby Cunningham is a junior entrepreneurship major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2014.

Alex- 19-8 Andrew- 17-10 Armin- 19-9 Cam- 17-10 Colby- 16-11 Dave- 17-10 Freddy- 15-14 Jack- 16-11 Owen- 17-10 Stu- 18-9 Zach- 18-9

The Catamounts went on to lose to Fairfield University but got a win over College of the Holy Cross.

Vermont won against the Crusaders 2-0 with Higgins and first-year Tess O’Brien each tallying a goal.

Benwood got another shutout to lift Vermont past Holy Cross.

Although the Catamounts fell to the University of Albany in their last game of the season, they made a lot of progress.

The team has come a long way and McDonald has seen it grow over her last four years here.

“I felt that what really moved the program in the right direction this past season was having a coaching staff that brought new ideas and a new culture to the team, and also having a team where all 22 players completely bought in to what we were hoping to accomplish this season,” McDonald said.

Field Hockey Warmup Playlist 1. “Fireman”

by Lil Jon

2. “Na Na” 3. “Violin Orchestr b y Trey Songz a” from “30 0” 5. “Tsunami” by p” o T n o e geous 4. “Lov Steve Dubbs & Bour é c n

by Beyo 7. “I Ch oose U 6. “Foreign (Remix)” ” b y T i m z eflies

by Justin Bieber & Trey Song 8. oves You”

by Ch “X” 9. “Somebody L o ris Br es”

by Betty Wh own dlin a e H 10. “ Drake 11. “Drunk in Love (Remix by )”

by Diplo 12. “Loyal” 13. “Don ’t Tell E

by Chris Brown

by Jerem m” ih ” ” tition ence l r a u P b é ur 16 14. “ yonc 15. “T Lil Jon e

by C . “Yeah B y b by ” hris h” Bro ooya k wn 17.

B “ .

8 “Earthquak e e” 1 Shawt

by DJ Fresh by 19. “Wh at Now” 20. “Animals”

by DJ Re flex

by Martin Garrix

S Po rts

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

15

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF MEYER-LORENTSON

Senior Max Morgan makes his way down the mountain finishing in 12th place in the downhill course at the U.S. Collegiate Nationals. The cycling team finished its fall season winning their conference and taking home a sixth-place finish at nationals. The cycling club is focused on continuing their success, while balancing winning and fun.

Cycling club driven on success Dave Brandt Staff Writer Last month, the UVM club cycling team finished its fall season at the top of its conference with a sixth-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Nationals.

Such success, however, has become common within UVM cycling.

The team consistently wins its conference and seriously competes at the national level, and every year its members seem to do so with a positive attitude.

The club divides its seasons into three disciplines: mountain biking, cyclocross and road biking.

In each season, the Catamounts are often the favorite to win their conference.

The program is a yearly national contender; however, its winning mentality is driven by a common dedication to having fun.

Junior Libby White cited the team’s “high energy” as one of its greatest qualities.

White, who is the vice president of the club and a top-five finisher at nationals, noted that the Catamounts have a reputation for both their success on the course and their positive energy off the course.

“I knew they were kind of crazy because I had been doing racing for a while and had seen

them at races, and they always looked like a really energetic and fun team. They’ve lived up to that,” White said.

The junior laughed and smiled when talking about getting involved in UVM cycling.

The optimistic club places an emphasis on community.

Although men and women race separately, they work together to improve.

“We train together. We ride together… At any level of racing, I think everybody supports each other,” she said.

White sees the team’s club status very different from other varsity teams around the country.

“When you see the varsity teams…there’s a lot of pressure. I don’t think that would be as much fun as just messing around on your bike,” she said.

White’s teammate senior Jeff Meyer-Lorentson shared her commitment to winning and having fun while doing so.

Meyer-Lorentson is the president of the cycling club.

He commented on his experience with Catamount cycling and the program’s presence on the national stage.

“We compete in the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference.

And just two weekends ago, we sent a team of nine to mountain bike nationals,” Meyer-Lorentson said.

“We finished sixth overall in

the nation, which is extra cool because we’re racing against varsity teams,” he said.

Meyer-Lorentson seems to be embracing the team’s ability to succeed while enjoying the experience.

“It’s the cheapest racing any of us will ever do,” he said.

The motivation of the team is absolutely derived from having fun Meyer-Lorentson said.

The senior is excited to watch the program grow ­— first-year interest is especially high.

“We’re actually running into some problems with having enough people who are over 19 to get van certified to drive the vans to get to races, so that’s awesome. It’s a good problem to have,” he said.

After UVM, many cyclists have made their way to the professional stage.

Former Catamount riders Jamey Driscoll, Will Dugan and Katheryn Curi Mattis have all had esteemed professional careers, among others.

For years, the UVM cycling club has been a dominant presence in collegiate cycling and a starting block for numerous professional careers.

The identity of a Catamount rider, however, can always be traced back to one motivation: having fun.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF MEYER-LORENTSON

Junior Jake Hurwitz rides over rocky terrain on his way to an 11th place finish in the downhill at the club’s home race at Sugarbush.

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