2015 vol 132 issue 12

INSIDE Mastodon

Sea World

Heavy metal band brings brutal riffs to Burlington

“Blackfish” writer speaks on animal abuse

page 7 arts BURLINGTON, VT

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VOL. 132

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ISSUE 12

W E D N E S DAY, N O V E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

Students rally for

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See article on pg. 3

MIZZOU

UVM police services arrested a student Oct. 31 for allegedly threatening his roommate with a butane torch, according to an affidavit obtained by the Cynic.

First-year Zack Pittel told UVM police that the night of Oct. 29 his roommate first-year Connor Ferreira held the torch up to his face, challenged him to a fight and prevented him from leaving their room, according to the Oct. 31 affidavit.

Both Ferreira and Pittel de-

clined to comment.

UVM police services received an Oct. 31 email sent by Assistant Dean of Students for Retention Nicholas Negrete after a student told him about being physically assaulted by his roommate, according to the affidavit.

“In terms of police involvement, UVM police are always notified anytime we have reason to believe a student’s safety may be at risk in order to provide an accurate and appropriate safety assessment,” Negrete said in a Nov. 16 email to the

Cynic.

Shortly after, Sgt. Mary Seller made contact with Pittel to meet with her and Sgt. Jim Phelps, according to the affidavit.

Police services met with Ferreira in his room Oct. 31.

Seller asked Ferreira about his relationship with Pittel, according to the affidavit.

Ferreira said his roommate was “immature” for his age and that they got along, according to the affidavit. He expressed they have had altercations, but nothing major.

page 10 sports

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Student arrested on alleged assault BY john riedel

Sodexo receives all cash from game day food sales

page 5 life

(Left to right) Sophomores Bri Ball and Marylyn Rosel lead a solidarity rally in support of the protesters at the University of Missouri.

The protests at Mizzou surround racial justice and have sparked national media attention. OLIVER POMAZI/The Vermont Cynic

jpriedel@uvm.edu

Concessions

Ferreira told police that he held his butane lighter to Pittel “to mess with Pittel’s head,” according to the affidavit.

Sgt. Seller told Ferreira that they were told that he had placed his butane lighter up to Pittel to “fuck with him,” according to the affidavit.

Ferreira was released from custody Nov. 4 on $10,000 bail, according to the case docket sheet.

Negrete could not speak about specific cases involving students, he said in the Nov. 16 email.

youtube.com/ cynicvideo

Students confirmed safe in Paris By john riedel jpriedel@uvm.edu

In a night of chaos, terrorists killed at least 120 people across six different sites in Paris Nov. 13, according to the New York Times.

Two UVM students are currently studying abroad in Paris, and five more are in programs in other parts of France, said Kim Howard, director of the Office of International Education.

Both students are safe, according to UVM officials.

Junior Ruby LaBrusciano-Carris was one of these students.

When she saw the BBC News live feed she said she and her roommate stayed in the same spot on the couch for the next few hours, “shaken and in a sort of shock.”

“It was difficult to wrap our heads around what was really going on only a few neighborhoods away,” LaBrusciano-Carris wrote in the email.

She said she woke up to emails from her study abroad program and the U.S. Embassy with advice to stay inside and avoid traveling in the city the next day.

“All we cared about in hearing back from students was, ‘Are you safe?’” Howard said.

The Office of International Education also communicated with students studying in Spain who were on excursions in Paris to check on their safety as well, Howard said.

With one goal, men’s soccer takes America East title BY eribert volaj evolaj@uvm.edu

For the first time in eight years, the UVM men’s soccer team has won the America East Championship and is going to the NCAA Tournament.

On Sunday afternoon, the Catamounts defeated Binghamton University 1-0, after junior forward Brian Wright scored his 10th goal of the season following an assist by sophomore attacking midfielder Jaime Miralles.

The game was tightly contested, with both UVM and Binghamton hitting the post once, and with both goalkeepers making several big saves.

Sophomore goalkeeper Greg Walton thought that scoring the first goal was crucial to getting the win.

“I knew coming to the game

that I was going to have to make some big plays early, because we haven’t won a game this year when we’ve been scored on first,” Walton said.

“

I’ve never seen so many people be so interested and so involved in the program and in the game and I just appreciate it.

JESSE CORMIER MEN’S SOCCER COACH With this victory, Walton earned his fourth shutout of the

season.

Walton also gave a lot of credit to his backline, especially for their hard work in set pieces.

The crowd of 1,913 people filled the seats of Virtue Field, according to UVM athletics.

With the stands filled, some fans stood throughout the game to cheer on the Catamounts.

Head coach Jesse Cormier was full of praise for the crowd.

“I’ve never seen so many people be so interested and so involved in the program and in the game, and I just appreciate it,” Cormier said. “I think it’s great for the game of soccer in Vermont, and I really appreciate the effort people made to come out and support us.”

After the game, Wright was awarded the America East Tournament’s Most Outstand-

Junior Brian Wright celebrates his game-winning goal, Nov. 15.

OLIVER POMAZI/The Vermont Cynic

ing Player award, according to UVM athletics.

“I think [Wright is] the best striker, not just in the league, but one of the best in the country,” Cormier said. “He’s so dynamic, so skillful, so quick.

When he gets his opportunities, he buries them.”

Wright can add this accolade to what is becoming a lengthy list of awards. In 2013,

SEE SOCCER PAGE 11

2

THE VERMONT CYNIC

NEWS

W E D N E S DAY, N OV E M B E R 18 , 2 015

Students protest tuition costs

by Katherine Smith & Kelsey Neubauer ksmith59@uvm.edu@uvm.edu—keneubau@uvm.edu

A crowd of students gathered in front of the Bailey/ Howe Library to speak out for the rights of students and university workers Nov. 12.

The Million Student March at UVM was part of a nationwide movement calling for tuition-free public college education, erasure of student debt and an increase in pay for university workers.

Both students and community members joined in to speak about issues in the education system as well as treatment of campus workers.

Local resident Michael Ware said he believed strongly enough in the cause to join them. ”The principle aims are to end student debt, demand free tuition and change the priorities of education from being a business model to a right that all people should have access to,” Ware said.

He said that their goals are practical.

“Saying it’s unrealistic to have this model is always the answer when it comes to challenging the idea that everything is for sale,” Ware said. “That’s not the way education has been historically, and we want to take it back to the idea that education is a right.”

The event consisted of several students speaking to the crowd, encouraging them to chant for free education and calling for students everywhere to protest.

Event organizers included sophomore Angelo Colarusso and juniors Russel Evans, Dustin Keim and Kristine Corey and were among those who spoke.

“Tuition has gotten more and more expensive each year

by alexandra shannon amshanno@uvm.edu

Students protest against tuition hikes and student debt outside of Waterman Building Nov. 12.

The protest is part of the Million Student March, a national movement calling for tuition-free public college and forgiveness of student debt. PHOEBE SHEEHAN/The Vermont Cynic and UVM has consistently ranked among the most expensive public colleges for

is frankly unacceptable.”

The rally also included UVM issues, focusing on claims of

“

To ask students and their families to continually shell out more and more each year for tuition while U.S. wages have been stagnant is frankly unacceptable.

RUSSEL EVANS JUNIOR

both in-state and out-of-state students,” Evans said. “To ask students and their families to continually shell out more and more each year for tuition while U.S. wages have been stagnant

vtcynic.com

unfair labor practices and treatment of Sodexo workers.

“This is not only a wage issue, but a workers’ rights and free speech issue,” Keim said.

Despite several requests

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Member of Squash Club apologizes

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LIFE Marissa Lanoff life@vtcynic.com

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NEWS John Riedel news@vtcynic.com

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from students passing by asking them to leave the library, demonstrators continued their protest.

“I respect what they’re fighting for, but I don’t think they respected that people were doing their homework and working,” sophomore Sophie Patenaude said.

“I think they should gone around and talked people on a more personal level, because people would probably listen to them more,” she said.

Overall, Colarusso said he was pleased with the outcome of the demonstration.

“I thought we had a decent turnout, although I was definitely expecting a larger crowd.

The weather definitely played a role in that,” Colarusso said.

“The energy amongst the crowd was electric. Everyone was so passionate.”

He also said he believes improvements can be made for future demonstrations.

“For future demonstrations, It would be a good idea to have a more tangible plan to get immediate change,” Colarusso said. “Right now there’s a petition going around to implement a tuition freeze at UVM, so that is definitely a start.”

CORRECTIONS A Nov. 11 article titled “UVM study finds gas leaks” was wrongly attributed to Katherine Smith. The author is Luke McGreivy.

We are committed to accuracy in all of our work.

If for some reason there is an error, please email us at corrections@vtcynic. com.

Squash Club remains on probation after an email with a racial slur in the subject line was sent to the 68 members on the club’s listserv.

Junior Edward Smith, the member who sent the email, sent another to the team’s listserv apologizing for the subject line Nov. 4.

“For anyone who was displeased with my last subject of an email I sent earlier I apologize, but you didn’t need to get the team suspended,” Smith said in the email. “I take full blame for this and the team had nothing to do with it.”

Smith did not respond for comment.

Sophomore Marylyn Rogel said she is the student who reported the incident.

Smith’s email did not expressed a genuine apology, Rogel said.

“I felt that the apology email was a joke,” she said. “That’s not an apology email, it’s a follow-up email.”

Senior Grant Robin, Squash Club president, said he commends the individual who reported the language.

Robin sent out an email Nov. 4 expressing that the language used in Smith’s subject line does not reflect the leadership of the Squash Club or the SGA club sports code of conduct.

“We strive to be an inclusive, accepting and welcoming community and do not condone the use of vulgar or racial language in any circumstance,” he said in the Nov. 4 email.

Rogel said she was upset because Robin sent out the apology email after she reported his initial email.

“I was really upset because immediately when they saw the email with the n-word in it, they should have sent out an apology or said ‘this is not a reflection of the whole squash team,’ but they didn’t until I reported the incident,” Rogel said.

Robin and Squash Club treasurer Will Vincett suspended Smith from the team, Robin said.

The team will remain on interim suspension until they complete a social justice training, which has been pushed back until after Thanksgiving break, Robin said.

Rogel thinks the training is a good start to solve issues of bias and racism, she said.

“We live in world where people think racism no longer exists and that’s a part of the problem,” Rogel said. “So if students could at least take the time to educate themselves on systematic racism and oppression overall, I think that’s a very good start.”

Clubs must not violate any principles of the University’s policy, according to SGA code of conduct.

THE VERMONT CYNIC

NEWS

UVM startup assists the blind

By Maddy Pimentel mmfreita@uvm.edu

A startup partnering with UVM has received a $1 million grant in recognition for an invention benefiting the blind.

E.A.S.Y. LLC was awarded a grant from the National Institute of Health in order to continue work on their “inTact” printer prototype, which prints in raised-lines able to be read by the blind.

The company specializes in tactile graphics, which are graphics that are able to be felt. This is a rapidly growing field, said Josh Coffee, a UVM graduate student and one of E.A.S.Y.’s founders.

With tactile graphics, people who are blind are able to feel the letters on the page as they read them.

“We are now one of the top hits for just a basic search of tactile graphics, which is pretty good because it’s a big field and growing every day,” Coffee said, Coffee founded E.A.S.Y. with professors Michael Rosen and Michael Coleman.

The University was key to the company’s progress, he said.

“Six months after I graduated I was a co-founder of a new startup in Burlington, and I really think if I had gone to school

(Left to right) E.A.S.Y LLC founders Michael Rosen, Joshua Coffee and Mike Coleman show of their prototype printer. PHOTO COURTESY

OF ANDY DUBACK

“

Right now it’s kind of a horror show if you look at what happens in schools; a child is mainstreamed into a predetermined path because they’re blind.

MICHAEL ROSEN PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING

somewhere else that wouldn’t have happened,” Coffee said.

E.A.S.Y. started in an engineering class four years ago when Rosen got the idea for the project after meeting a blind mathematician.

“He made me realize they have braille but they don’t have graphics, they need a tactile way of drawing freehand,” Rosen said.

Other products in the company’s inTact line include a

Dean emails college over drugs

by Kelsey Neubauer keneubau@uvm.edu

One UVM administrator said he has some strong words for students who are going to class high.

The Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, William Falls emailed students in the college Nov. 4 saying that he was “stunned” after hearing a conversation between two students about going to class high.

“I failed to do anything, I failed to say anything in that moment, and walked back to my office ruminating on this fact, thinking about what my responsibilities were as interim Dean,” Falls said in the email.

The next day, he said he spoke about these thoughts with Associate Deans of the College of Arts and Sciences, John Burke and Joel Goldberg, and decided to write a letter.

The email was intended to urge students to reflect on how their choices impact their community, not to call out particular students, Falls said.

Junior Kai Darke said he can see where the Dean is coming from.

“I think the Dean’s email was fair – people should not be going to class stoned,” Darke said.

Darke said he understands Falls, but he feels it is the student’s choice, as they are paying for their education.

It is important to remember that students going to class high are not the only ones paying to be here, Falls said.

William Falls, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, sent out an email Nov. 4 about students being under the influence of marijuana during their classes. SARAH OLSEN/The Vermont Cynic

“When students go to class high they are disengaged, and this impacts the entire class and the instructor,” he said.

In the days after the sending the email, Falls said he received responses from some students thanking him for bringing the issue up and recounted times in which they were affected by a student being high in class.

The part of the email encouraging students to seek advising was added after his initial draft, in a revision intended to offer support for students by Assistant Provost Annie Stevens, he said.

3

W E D N E S DAY, N OV E M B E R 18 , 2 015

“We want students to know they have options. They don’t have to be in school if they need to be focusing on other problems,” Falls said.

Falls said he and Stevens wanted the students to know about the options they had in dealing with substance use.

Meline Thebarge, a sophomore and residence adviser, said that though she initially read the letter as humorous, she agrees with the dean.

“Going to class high definitely has an affect on your education,” she said.

sketchpad that allows users to draw raised lines by pressing a stylus to thermal plastic sheets.

They also developed an eraser that uses heat to flatten the lines.

Opportunities for the blind in STEM areas are severely limited, according to Coffee and Rosen, which is why their products focus on graphics rather than lettering.

“Right now it’s kind of a horror show if you look at what happens in schools; a child is mainstreamed into a predetermined path because they’re blind,” Rosen said. “When they get to trig or geometry, they are excused, meaning that the STEM part of their education is lost.”

The inTact printer would make it possible for teachers to print worksheets that their blind students could work on and complete.

“That’s what makes this printer different and that’s what got us the grant,” Coleman said.

“It’s hard not to care about people being disadvantaged when there’s no reason for them to be disadvantaged,” he said.

“This is the first time in my career that anything I’ve ever done has ended up in the hands of people who have actually needed problems solved,” Rosen said.

NOV. 10

SGA Updates by alexandra shannon amshanno@uvm.edu

SGA recognizes club for Disability Advocacy UVM Students for Disability Advocacy and Awareness was recognized as an official SGA club. The group will work to educate people about disabilities, raise awareness about how people view and discuss disabilities in the community and help students with physical disabilities advocate for themselves, according to their mission statement.

Climbing Club to receive more funds The Climbing Club is an organization run entirely by students. SGA pays for students to use the climbing wall during the week. Due to this, conflicts occur with work-study, changes in student schedules and fluctuation with payroll. The finance committee wants to make sure the Climbing Club is allocated enough money to maintain the wall and other aspects of their club.

Blue light to be moved SGA confirmed reports of a blue light being located in the construction zone, making it very difficult to access. Club Affairs is arranging for it to be moved.

MIZZOU CONT. FROM PG. 1 Staff report Over 200 students gathered Nov. 13 in front of the Bailey/ Howe Library to show support for the students at the University of Missouri.

The rally began at 1 p.m. with a speech by sophomores Marylyn Rogel and Bri Ball.

“Slavery was eradicated in 1864 but we still wear our chains. It is dangerous to believe that racism no longer exists and that we are all equal,” Ball said.

Rogel said she has a friend from her hometown, Chicago, who attends the University of Missouri and is a black male.

She spoke about how they talked the night before, and how he said the students there feel unsafe.

“Why is this happening in 2015?” Ball said. “It is so easy to stand here and say, ‘This is an issue in Missouri.’ But no, racism, ignorance and hatred live and thrive even on UVM’s campus.”

Ball referred to anti-Islam fliers put up earlier in the year on campus as well as at St. Michael’s College. She also mentioned two people of color receiving KKK fliers in the mail around Oct. 29.

Rogel referred to a Nov. 2 incident on campus, when a student sent an email with the “n-word” to 68 students. SGA placed the club on probation Nov. 3.

“He didn’t and doesn’t think he did anything wrong,” she said.

After the speech, the crowd walked to the Waterman build-

ing where they held a moment of silence.

The experience of being at the protest was “empowering,” first-year Scott Ganz said.

“I felt so empowered to make a change being there,” Ganz said.

First-year Griffin Cohen said there were people talking about the noise from the rally on social media and saying the rally was not as important as studying for exams.

“That is your privilege speaking,” Cohen said. “You have the privilege to sit and study while people of color have to fight for those privileges and fight for the right to sit in a library and safely study.”

Senior Courtney Stanley, who participated in the protest, said she wonders when there will be nationwide change despite protests and demonstrations regarding the treatment of people of color.

“UVM is not an exception to racism and people need to understand that this whole neoliberal, ‘we live in the Northeast’ bullshit, is bullshit,” Stanley said.

The protest was organized

by Rogel, Ball and alumna Jess Fuller ‘15. The event was created on Facebook Nov.11.

The crowd consisted of students, faculty, Burlington residents and others, Rogel said.

“When I first started planning this I thought ‘I can get a 100 people to show up but the number of people that showed up was just amazing,” she said.

4

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVMEBER 18, 2015 THE VERMONT CYNIC

S TA F F E D I T O R I A L

Our failures to shed light on hate T

he media has been buzzing about the recent protests at the University of Missouri.

Minority students and faculty across the country said they often are left feeling marginalized, and as outsiders at universities where the majority of the campus population is white.

These events may be thousands of miles away from our home here at UVM, however they don’t go unnoticed.

As of 2014, there were a little over 100 undergraduate students who identified as black or African-American, over 200 who identified as Asian, over 400 who identified as Hispanic or Latino and a little under 300 who identified as being two or more races.

Compare that to the 8,000 undergraduates who identify as white.

There were over 200 UVM students gathered in front of the Bailey/Howe Library Nov. 13 in solidarity with the student protesters at Mizzou.

The fact that this massive gathering was planned in two days is a statement not only to UVM students’ disdain for all discrimination but also on the clear need to address racism on our campus.

Some are under the impression that just because we are in our own bubble in Vermont, racism does not exist.

However, events on campus this semester prove this is false.

Anti-Islam fliers titled “Islam vs. Democracy” were distributed in August on UVM’s campus.

Most recently, a student member of the Squash Club sent an email with the “n-word” in the subject line to 68 students Nov. 2. He apologized to the club with an email signed, “Your brotha.”

The burden of bursting this bubble falls on the media to shine a light on systemic discrimination on campus. In this instance, the media is The Vermont Cynic. We’ve failed.

As journalists, we have the responsibility to provide coverage of all issues and the Cynic is committed to constantly improving out reporting on oppression, of anyone, by anyone.

Not only have we failed, but for years we have pretended this failure doesn’t exist.

However, we can address our mistakes and shine light upon our failures. We can, and will, do better.

As journalists, we have the responsibility to make individuals’ voices heard.

As journalists, we have the

Illustration by ALYSSA HANDELMAN

responsibility to provide coverage of all issues, and the Cynic is committed to constantly improving our reporting on oppression, of anyone, by anyone.

Last spring, we published a special report on the mistreatment of employees at Sodexo-operated facilities on campus.

This reporting brought increased scrutiny upon Sodexo’s labor regulations and came about during an activist move-

ment to make change and help make human lives better.

Referring to an 1888 statement made by James Bryce in his book “The American Commonwealth,” Justice Louis Brandeis said, “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases.

Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.”

This is the power good journalism can have. Good journalism can create positive social

change, and this is something we are committed to.

Staff Editorials officially reflect the views of the Vermont Cynic. All signed opinion pieces and columns do not necessarily do so.

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

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

A lecture at the height of its relevance Sydney Liss-Abraham SLISSABR@UVM. EDU

W

hile awaiting professor Greg Bottoms’ lecture, entitled “White Kid: A Memoir on Race, Racism, Class, and Culture in the 1970s,” I skimmed through the pamphlet handed to me by one of his colleagues. A short synopsis of his work preceded praise from well-known media publications such as Esquire, which raved, “Bottoms writes like a poet, he writes like he is on fire.”

He began by introducing a few of his essays from his memoir, a work in progress, entitled “White Kid” in which he explores racial attitudes and anxieties from his own white, blue collar perspective – a timely subject, given the recent student rallies against racial discrimination.

Growing up in smalltown Virginia during a racially-charged time period, Bottoms describes bigotry in his retrospective analysis as a “dark and destructive force yet communal and unquestioned for the sake of normalcy.” His book asks how

this fundamentally flawed yet accepted social stance works.

“Black Preacher at a Family Reunion” is the first of three lengthy essays in which he encounters discrimination at a young age. He recounts subtle remarks made by family members regarding the assumed role of local black citizens.

He began by introducing a few of his essays from his memoir, entitled "White Kid" in which he explores racial attitudes and anxieties from his own white, blue collar perspective — a timely subject, given the recent student rallies against racial discrimination.

He spends the majority of his narrative detailing the food and playful interactions that a child would inherently deem most important.

He uses this rhetorical strat-

egy throughout his writing, while breaking the fourth wall from time to time, to allow an ignorant voice to speak its mind.

“The child’s mind,” he claims, “is the adult’s story.”

Seven-year-old Bottoms rejected a dare from his cousin to call a seemingly respectable black man a racial slur. This choice resulted in a cut across his neck with a plastic knife.

As he reminisced on crying out of guilt in the back seat of his parents’ Mustang, I questioned whether or not he was victimizing himself, but his other essays soothed my skepticism.

In “New Shoes” I found myself nearly over-sympathizing with the narrator.

Propounding the notion that shoes are a determination of social status I remembered my recent realization that I too judge people from head-to-toe on appearance, and make my final assessment based on their footwear.

It is an odd conclusion but when you compare a pair of white sneakers from Kmart to your fresh Nikes, you gain a subtle yet inherent superiority. We seek higher status among cultures and unity within our own culture.

Bottoms argues that “culture is ordinary.” As horrific as that may sound, it is an innocuous truth.

After finishing his third narrative, “Home Shopping 1977,”

We Can Do,” in which the black author felt the discomfort of whites around him and, in an attempt to diffuse the tension, whistled classical music, as if to prove his humanity.

There was a level of comfort in the room, almost a sigh of relief to hear that we were not the only ones who grappled with moral confusion in unfamiliar racial situations. in which a group of black kids is falsely accused of vandalizing a pool table, his genius as a writer was evident.

Writing in the rare second person narrative not only displayed his talent as a writer, which is comparable to James Baldwin in “Sonny’s Blues,” but forced his white audience to relate by drawing from their own personal experience, or lack thereof, in diversity.

There was a level of comfort in the room, almost a sigh of relief to hear that we were not the only ones who grappled with moral confusion in unfamiliar racial situations.

Claude M. Steele wrote “Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Can Affect Us and What

Conversely, in speaking with Amelia Banini, a black student at Mizzou and a close friend of mine, she attests to the reality of the situation claiming that she hasn’t been directly affected by on-campus racism, but it nonetheless remains a problem, not only schoolwide, but nationwide.

We must address our racial predispositions as Bottoms and a number of writers have already begun to do, in order to eradicate the false notions that restrain our society.

Sydney Liss-Abraham is a first-year English major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2015.

LIFE

5

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 , 2015 THE VERMONT CYNIC

Writer shows bleak view of SeaWorld by megan fahey mfahey@uvm.edu

Tim Zimmerman, co-producer and writer of the documentary Blackfish, gives a lecture on the film in the Grand Maple Ballroom Nov. 11. DAYNA WYCKOFF/The Vermont Cynic

“I am impressed,” Tim Zimmermann said. “This is the biggest audience I’ve seen for a ‘Blackfish’ talk.”

UVM students and community members came together to hear Zimmermann, co-producer and writer of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, speak Nov. 11 in the Grand Maple Ballroom.

Zimmermann’s presentation first explored the impact the film had in the years following its release and then examined the overarching theme of human-animal relationships.

“How do you feel about the phasing out of the killer whale displays on the West Coast?” junior Marion Christensen asked.

“This is the first time that SeaWorld is acknowledging that public pressure is turning against captivity,” Zimmermann said.

“What I think is happening is that SeaWorld is buying time; for them, the key is to go overseas,” he said.

“Blackfish” focuses on the orcas at Seaworld, specifically

an orca named Tilikum who was taken from his mother at the age of two and has been kept in captivity for over 20 years.

Tilikum has killed three people, according to SeaWorld of Hurt, PETA’s campaign against SeaWorld.

Before “Blackfish,” Zimmermann wrote a print story on the death of Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld trainer, in Outside Magazine in 2010.

“I wanted to answer the question of why Tilikum, a killer whale, might end up killing a trainer with whom he had a very close, trusting relationship,” Zimmermann said.

“Cruelty has led the frustrated orca Tilikum to wear his teeth to the nubs from chewing on the underwater bars of his cement prison,” according to SeaWorld of Hurt.

After hearing about how Tilikum and other killer whales had been captured, Zimmerman said that became the basis for the story, both in print and onscreen.

“I am very passionate about animal conservation and this

subject particularly interested me after watching [“Blackfish”],” first-year Kate McCullough said.

“As a kid I had been to SeaWorld, seen the shows and thought it was really cool,” firstyear Kaitlyn Sutter said. “But watching the documentary revealed the harm and dangers to [the animals] which made me want to learn more from Tim Zimmermann.”

SeaWorld defends its practices and has maintained “Blackfish” as inaccurate.

“All of the falsehoods and misleading techniques in “Blackfish” are employed in the service of the film’s obvious bias [and] claims that all killer whales in captivity are ‘emotionally destroyed,’ and ‘ticking time bombs,’” according to SeaWorldCares, SeaWorld’s website regarding animal cruelty concerns.

“These are not the words of science, and indeed, there is not a shred of scientific support for them,” according to the site.

Davis Center employee brings culture

by Camilla Broccolo cbroccol@uvm.edu

Each day at 6 a.m., one Davis Center employee heads to Brennan’s to add books to the shelf and find what students have left behind.

“The Book Nook was inspired by UVM students and the vision of Jacques Paul Marton, a Davis Center custodian,” according to the UVM website.

“I love seeing the books being moved and changed,” Marton said.

The books are donated by students and the Burlington community, according to the website.

One main book donor is the Wake Robin retirement community in Shelburne, Vermont.

“There are many alumni who live in the Wake Robin senior community who are so happy to be donating books to this cause,” Marton said.

“Books are really the only way of connecting with other generations,” he said.

Marton said members of the senior center were “surprised” when he told them students still enjoy reading books.

The books are meant to be taken home – it’s encouraged, he said.

“It’s like passing on history,” Marton said. “Those books have been loved and treasured, and now they are being donated to pass on the love for the book.”

One time he even found a love note in one of the books, he said.

“It was folded beautifully,” Marton said.

“I thought it was a comment note for me about the Book Nook, so I opened it, but it was really a note written by female student to a male student, saying that she liked him and the next time she saw him she

Professor Todd McGowan teaches classes on film theory and graduate English courses at UVM. OLIVIA CURTIS/The Vermont Cynic

Professor teaches for the laughter by sarah olsen solsen1@uvm.edu

The Book Nook was started in 2010 by Davis Center custodian Jacques Paul Marton. It will celebrate its’ fifth anniversary next semester. MADI GROSH/The Vermont Cynic would tell him how she felt, in person,” he said.

The Book Nook also features student artwork.

Marton said he loves seeing what was on the student’s mind when they were drawing and he plans on creating a gallery of all the artwork in the Book Nook.

The Book Nook is updated and maintained by Marton.

Marton has a love for books and wants to share his love for literature with the UVM community.

“I can just imagine the students picking up the book and looking through the pages and connecting with the history that

the books have,” he said.

The Book Nook at Brennan’s will have its fifth anniversary next semester, and it’s getting a facelift.

Thanks to a long list of individuals in the UVM and Burlington community, the Book Nook will be upgrading to a 7-foot bookshelf to expand the collection and continue the tradition.

“The Book Nook will be able to feature more books at one time instead of keeping several hundred, in waiting, in storage at the Davis Center loading dock,” Marton said.

One UVM professor does not know how he chose his career.

Todd McGowan has been a professor in the English department at UVM for 15 years.

Though he currently teaches classes mainly in the film and television studies program, he still teaches graduate English classes, he said.

He tries to keep his classes fun, yet rigorous, he said.

“If they learn something, I don’t really care, but if they’re laughing that’s what I really strive for,” McGowan said.

If he wasn’t a professor, he said he would be a doctor.

“I feel like I’m not doing anything to help anyone and I feel bad about that a lot,” McGowan said. “So I think if I was a doctor I’d feel better about that.”

He said he doesn’t even know if he wants to be a professor now.

“I guess there was just nothing else that I thought I could do,” McGowan said.

He said he’s proud when he is able to get through a class and make a lecture last the entire time.

“I came to film in a very haphazard way,” McGowan said.

“I just started to write about it and because I wrote about it, I thought I could teach it and then the University let me teach it and now they let me teach it even more.”

He said he often assigns books that connect philosophy with film.

McGowan received his master’s degree and Ph.D. in English at Ohio State University.

After earning his Ph.D., he was a lecturer at Loyola Marymount University and then an assistant professor at Texas State University, according to his curriculum vitae.

He came to UVM to teach after his wife, Hilary Neroni, got a job here, he said.

He decided to follow Neroni because he didn’t enjoy teaching in Texas.

“Everything in my life I sort of come to by chance,” McGowan said. “I don’t know how to plan.”

While he loves interacting with the students, his favorite part of being a professor is reading, he said.

“I can’t believe that I actually get paid to read books,” McGowan said. “That’s the greatest thing.”

6

THE VERMONT CYNIC

LIFE

W E D N E S DAY, N OV E M B E R 18 , 2 015

A ‘Pebble’ you’ll want to share by christopher leow cleow@uvm.edu

A

Single Pebble is an upscale Asian restaurant, and well aware of it.

The lighting is dim and waiters and waitresses give off a sophisticated air, creating a more formal atmosphere.

This is the place that springs to mind when you ask locals where to find gourmet Asian food.

It was named “The Best Restaurant in Vermont” by Vermont Magazine, and has a well deserved reputation.

I decided to have my birthday dinner there with a couple of friends, paid for by my parents, and was very happy with my decision.

The first thing you’ll notice when sitting down is the lazy susan, or revolving tray, on the table.

At A Single Pebble, dishes are meant to be shared, creating a unique dining experience.

Food is spun around the tray, allowing everyone taking small portions.

I’m not the best at sharing, especially with food, but everything we ordered was equally delicious so it wasn’t a problem.

We did have a vegetarian with us so we made sure to order a couple vegetarian options, which were plentiful on the menu.

The first thing we ordered was oolong tea which was brought out in a cast iron teapot.

I’m a big tea fan and this was good tea — loose leaf and not bitter.

I liked that they continue to let it steep at the table.

After going through the menu a couple of times we each decided to order a number of dishes.

Plan ahead: registering for a solid schedule

by KATIE HICKEY KAHICKEY@UVM.EDU

These included potstickers, chicken dumplings, lemon sesame shrimp, five-star anise tofu, copper well noodles (named for the color of the sauce) and vegetable fried rice.

My favorites were the chicken dumplings and the lemon shrimp.

You could tell that they use quality ingredients here because of a freshness that each dish possessed, especially when it came to meats.

The fried rice also stood out as better than its typical American fast food counterparts.

It wasn’t overly oily and the vegetables were crisp.

I also decided to give warm sake a try since I was turning 21, but it wasn’t my favorite due to its sweetness.

A Single Pebble excels at flavor, using just the right amounts of spice in each dish.

It was nice for us to discuss the food with each other since we were all eating the same things.

I would definitely recommend this for a time when someone else is paying, but the experience is worth it.

AG JEANS • J BRAND CITIZENS OF HUMANITY AMO DENIM • PAIGE DENIM JOE'S JEANS • THEORY 7 FOR ALL MANKIND • DL 1961 VINCE • BELLA DAHL

As class registration nears, students may seek advice to calm their nerves about making crucial academic decisions.

“I am doing fine, but I know a lot of my first-year friends are stressed out about making a class schedule and getting the classes they want,” junior Esther Hershkovits said.

College of Arts and Sciences adviser Elizabeth Dunbar and Career Center counselor Mary Beth Barritt offered some tips to help students with class registration.

Have a plan

“Be prepared as possible and have a plan B,” Dunbar said.

Getting up early, checking your CATS report and writing course registration numbers down with backups in advance are first steps.

Checking your CATS report allows you to track your remaining requirements and provide you with your major GPA.

EXPERIENCE LEARNING

“College: it’s not just about ‘here’s my degree plan,’ but what is it that I want to learn, and how do I get experience?”

Barritt said.

UVM offers credit for internships and service learning courses that can lead students to finding potential career interests.

(Top) Spicy double garlic broccoli with cashew nuts. (Middle) Shredded pork tossed with green peppers, carrots and baby corn. (Bottom) Monkfish served in a lemon sauce. RYAN THORNTON/The Vermont Cynic

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Talk to an adviser

Talking to career and academic advisers can help students understand graduation requirements. They can also recommend courses that match a student’s interests.

Although advisers are there to help, it is ultimately up to the student to stay on track.

“In the end, it’s a student’s responsibility to get the requirements to graduate on time,” Dunbar said.

Understand transferable skills

“One piece that students neglect is skill building; what courses do you need to build some skills?” Barritt said.

Job and field-related skills such as writing and critical thinking gained from classes can apply to multiple career paths and enhance resumes.

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“The most important thing you should be thinking about is what are you passionate about,” Barritt said.

Keeping an open mind and taking classes that fit your interests and strengths make students more successful academically, Barritt and Dunbar said.

ARTS

7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2015 THE VERMONT CYNIC

Heavy metal band deviates from roots Colin Hekimian CHEKIMIA@UVM.EDU

Mastodon

M

astodon came to Higher Ground Nov. 8 and tore it down.

The heavy metal quartet from Atlanta is wrapping up a tour for their fifth album, “Once More Round the Sun.” Mastodon’s roots are in sludge metal but their sound has evolved since their debut album, “Remission.”

From their breakthrough “Leviathan” to my personal favorite “Crack the Skye,” the band has delved more into progressive concept albums.

However, their last two albums have abandoned the concept album style in favor of more mainstream, chorus-driven songs.

Don’t get me wrong; they’re still heavy, but perhaps more radio-friendly now.

This was my first time seeing Mastodon live, and I thought they were great.

They were definitely better than some live performances of the past, particularly a ghastly showing on the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Troy Sanders’ vocals at this

Atlanta-based heavy metal quartet Mastodon plays at Higher Ground Nov. 8. The band is finishing their latest tour for their fifth album, “Once More Round the Sun.” DAYNA WYCKOFF/The Vermont Cynic show sounded much closer to the album version, a constant criticism of the past.

Brent Hinds was very good despite the fact that he looked half-asleep. I suppose it’s that easy for him.

His guitar had a nice crunch to it, and he ripped off spellbinding solos between songs.

Rhythm guitarist Bill Kelliher, who bears an uncanny resem-

blance to Abraham from “The Walking Dead,” was also an unsung hero.

Brann Dailor’s drumming was on point and it still amazes me that any drummer can do what he does and sing at the same time.

He also got extra points for having a picture of Rodney Dangerfield and George Foreman on his bass drum.

Student makes arch of art

BY Ian Lund ilund@uvm.edu

Williams Hall has been graced by a student’s interesting curved wing work.

“We’re so used to everything being so synthetic and sterile and perfect,” junior Victoria Cassar said, standing under her 10-foot-tall arch sculpture.

Her piece is a plywood structure curved to conform to the shape of a single wing flap, decorated collage-style in woodcock wings.

“Nature can be beautiful and gross at the same time,” Cassar said.

The sculpture is named “Zugunruhe,” after the German word used in animal science to describe migratory restlessness in birds, she said.

Now preserved by chemicals recommended to Cassar by a taxidermist, the wings themselves originally lent her the inspiration to start this project.

Last spring, Cassar was walking through the Aiken Center when she stumbled upon a conference of biologists, ecologists and conservationists documenting thousands of the bird wings.

She was struck by the scale of organic matter on display, she said.

Woodcocks are a popular game bird, Cassar said.

“Every year, hunters from all across the country submit their wings to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for obser-

They played a pretty compact 17-song set. The highlights included “Tread Lightly,” “High Road” and their biggest song, “Blood and Thunder,” which they saved for last, decimated the crowd.

They played a wide variety from their catalogue but mostly focused on newer tracks.

I prefer their older songs, which were heavier and more

intricate, but these songs are good too. I can respect exploring new musical territory, but there’s nothing wrong with returning to your roots.

Colin Hekimian is a senior English and film and television studies major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2012.

New Bond film falls into its traditional stereotype Colin Kamphuis

Spectre

CKAMPHUI@UVM. EDU

T

Supervisor of technical studios Paul Decausemaker and junior Victoria Cassar stand under her sculpture, “Zugunruhe.” PHOTO

COURTESY OF VICTORIA CASSAR

vational population studies,” she said. “Scientists can derive approximate health, age and gender information from these samples.”

Though the reception was “a lot more positive than expected,” there were still some people who found it “morbid or provocative,” she said.

There is a certain irony in people who say, “Oh no, so many birds had to be killed for this,” Cassar said.

“We take from the environment all the time,” she said.

She cited industrial manifestations like conventional ag-

riculture and extracting natural resources, or activities in which some people find pleasure, hunting, fishing or keeping animals in “recreational captivity.”

These practices cause ecological damage on a far larger scale than hunting legal game, she said.

After a short time on display at UVM, the sculpture will be moved to the Northeastern branch of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who expressed interest in displaying it at their regional office in Hadley, Massachusetts.

he new Bond movie draws heavily on its rich franchise roots in Daniel Craig’s latest addition to the series.

The events in “Spectre” take place shortly after the end of “Skyfall.” James Bond (Daniel Craig) pursues old clues that all point to a shadowy organization that has been behind the events of the last three movies.

His journey takes him around the world and brings him in contact with old enemies, new challengers and a few lovers. Meanwhile, M (Ralph Fiennes), Q (Ben Whishaw) and Ms. Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) are faced with challenges of their own that seem very poignant in the post-Snowden world we live in.

Cheesy set pieces abound in “Spectre,” some in direct reference to previous “Bond” movies. Car chases, fight scenes and outlandish gadgets make an overdue appearance in a way that hasn’t been seen since Craig took over the role of Bond.

The usual love interest, in addition to the traditional evil genius with his near-indestructible henchman, completes the classic Bond formula.

However, the movie does come up short in some areas.

There is a lack of narrative focus and too much reliance on cliché action elements. Plot holes and illogical sequences perhaps pay too much homage to the corny 1970s Bond movies. Some scenes actually take the audience out of the movie when they recognize how farfetched the subject matter is.

One issue unique to Craig is that none of his Bond movies exist as stand-alones. Roger Moore and Sean Connery may have had villains that made reappearances in sequential movies, but generally no movie was built off the plot of the previous.

This is part of the reason why “Quantum of Solace” is the most criticized Bond made in the Craig era, because it’s entire plot is an extension of “Casino Royale.”

Clever jokes, grand action sequences and fascinating characters pay tribute to the original Bonds, with Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) earning his place with Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Dr. No and Goldfinger as the greatest Bond villains.

Colin Kamphuis is a senior Russian major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2015.

8

THE VERMONT CYNIC

ARTS

W E D N E S DAY, N OV M E B E R 18 , 2 015

African artist tells the tales behind his work Singer-songwriter Rocky Duwani set to bring his story from Ghana to Burlington

BY Bettina Cataldi bcataldi@uvm.edu

A Ghanaian singer-songwriter is set to take the ArtsRiot stage Nov. 20.

Though Rocky Dawuni’s sound is rooted in his Ghanaian background, he also derives influence from Caribbean and U.S sounds.

“The Afro-roots is a reflection of my cultural interactions as an artist getting to interact with different people, styles of music, different cultural contexts,” Dawuni said. “[It] has also helped me mold my style of reggae music or African music, so it’s more of a product of all of these multiple genres,” he said. “I’m just a child of that, and I think it reflects in my music. Different cultures.”

Dawuni, the son of a military cook, took the culmination of things he learned politically to create his identity not only as a musician, but as a person, he said.

“All the stress of the military take-over – I grew up right in the middle of it,” Duwani said.

“That helped shape my focus on issues of national importance, and that then got bridged with music. That experience literally went on to define the artist I’ve

become.”

His father’s military life provided him with new music styles he may not have found otherwise.

“I was always looking for music,” Dawuni said. “Whenever bands played, I would gravitate towards that.

“There was a band in the barracks called Hot Barrels,

cal inspirations and personal experiences began to gravitate toward songs with messages of unity and hope, he said.

This helped him become the humanitarian he is today, Duwani said.

“My focus is to help shed light on environmental awareness and our shared responsibility to preserve and protect

“

My focus is to help shed light on environmental awareness and our shared responsibility to preserve and protect what sustains human life.

ROCKY DUWANI SINGER

and I remember that every time they had rehearsal, I would chill at their space and just listen to them play,” he said.

Influences from all over the world arrived at Dawuni’s doorstep through his father’s bunkmates.

“A lot of the soldiers, too, used to travel a lot and there was always an influx of fresh new music,” he said. “So I was always hearing things that happened outside before it got really popular within Ghana.”

After attending the University of Ghana and experiencing what Afro-beat and African soul had to offer, Dawuni’s musi-

what sustains human life,” he said.

Duwani said he is also involved in bringing attention to women’s issues and promoting awareness for women’s education.

He is in the process of developing a new, all-natural product line called “Leaf of Life” in order to “launch a series of natural products and promote a culture of wellness,” he said.

Dawuni will be performing at 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at ArtsRiot in downtown Burlington. Tickets are $12.

Ghanaian singer-songwriter Rocky Dawuni is pictured. Dawuni’s music takes influence from Carribean, U.S. and African music.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK BENNINGTON

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THE VERMONT CYNIC

ARTS

9

W E D N E S DAY, N OV E M B E R 18 , 2 015

The musical group The von Trapps played Higher Ground Nov. 16. The group is descendant from the Trapp Family Singers who were the inspiration for the musical and film “The Sound of Music.” PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN MOON

Family continues musical legacy

BY Emily Daroga edaroga@uvm.edu

The latest generation of the famous von Trapp family performed Nov.16 at Higher Ground.

Siblings Sofia, Melanie, Amanda and August von Trapp have been carrying on the folk legacy of their family.

As first generation descendants of Georg von Trapp, they have been recreating some of the von Trapp classics while also creating additions of their own.

“We’ve been singing together for about 15 years,” guitarist Melanie von Trapp said. “Not a lot of people know that the von

Trapps are still here in the U.S. and that there’s another side to the sound of music.”

The von Trapps became a sensation after the blockbuster film, “The Sound of Music.”

While most may not recognize the particular group, most may be familiar with the family name.

“It’s very American,” von Trapp said about the pop culture following the family name has generated.

First-year Naomi Wallner was fascinated by the group’s story.

“The families situation is actually very cool,” Wallner said. “They are originally from

Austria. They had to flee and now they’ve reestablished their family here.”

Seeing the family continue to be a part of the musical culture is very cool, she said.

“I don’t know them all that well but I would be very interested in seeing them because I know about their history,” Wallner said.

“I would guess that they’re folksier,” she said. “I have that Austrian connection so it’d be something I’d like to see.”

Von Trapp said she was excited to be returning to Vermont.

“We’re really excited because it’s fun to come back to

Vermont now because we’ve been in Portland working with this band Pink Martini who we just recorded an album with,” she said.

The album is a bridge between the older style of music the family used to sing, von Trapp said.

Melanie von Trapp explained her excitement for being on the East Coast.

“Just this year we released an EP of all original music and we haven’t been on the east coast with this new original music,” she said. “We’re excited to see how people react to our new music and what they think of it.”

Their shows are a mixture of

cultural influences, von Trapp said.

“We sing in a few different languages too, which is what we take from how long we’ve been at this and traveling. We always try to find songs in their own languages,” she said. “There is something special about the cultural bridge with music.”

First-year Sadie Shelton is a folk artist herself and expressed her love for the genre.

“Folk is more fun to listen to than classical, and the community is a lot of fun to be around,” Shelton said.

The von Trapps have a media following unlike most folk groups, she said.

Play criticizes revolutions Students react to

seeing famous group

Maddy Freitas MMFREITA@UVM. EDU

Autumn Benjamin AEBENJAM@UVM. EDU

Marat Sade

T

W

ith a title as long as, “The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade,” the latest production from the UVM theatre department seemed like an ambitious task.

“Marat Sade” takes place after the French Revolution and is filled with historical references. It featured a complicated framework; the characters are inmates and putting on a play for the aristocratic asylum owner’s family.

The subject matter was just as ambitious, a complicated critique on the nature of revolutions, leaving the audience questioning whether they are good or bad.

One actor felt that it was unlike any play the Royall Theatre has put on before.

“It was extremely different, just the nature of the play itself and all the ideas it tackles,” se-

Dead & Company

(Left to right) Seniors Peter Heibert and Garrett Garcia on stage during a production of Marat Sade. They performed as de Sade and Marat. PHOTO COURTESY OF DOK WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY nior Peter Hiebert, who played Marquis de Sade, said.

The play within a play format was complicated to follow at times, but the production managed to balance the grave and dark subject matter with a lively set, a talented cast and engaging stage effects.

“Marat Sade’s” relevancy left a haunting message with the audience.

“Even though it was a bit over my head, the play made me think about mental and political instability issues that are relat-

able today,” first-year Caroline Sheehan said.

The inmates continually chanted, “We want our rights and we don’t care how, we want our revolution now!”

In response, the owner of the asylum makes arrogant statements on how the revolution is in the past.

Overall, the play is tragically ironic.

Maddy Freitas is a firstyear history major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2015.

he Burlington Grateful Dead community is ecstatic to have another opportunity to see the Dead.

This time it’s closer to home and with much less of a cost.

Band members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann teamed up with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band and Jeff Chimenti of Ratdog for a whole new project dedicated to Dead fans named Dead and Company.

UVM students attended shows in New York City Nov. 1 and Worcester, Massachusetts Nov. 10.

Senior Zoe Mount compared the Madison Square Garden show to “the best dream [she] ever had.”

“There was a range in age from grandmas that couldn’t stand for one whole song to the college stoner, but it didn’t matter,” Mount said highlighting the connections made between the audience members. “We all danced and sang together.”

“The show brought not only the audience together but made

a connection with the band that felt so real to everyone,” she said.

Their music has been making an influence on lives for fifty years, creating generations of followers. As a new generation “Dead Head” it’s nice to see their music continue to thrive, especially for the Burlington community.

Senior Connor Pelletier spoke highly of the show.

“One of the heroes of the night was Oteil Burbridge filling in for Phil Lesh on bass guitar,” Pelletier said. “He blew me away, which I wasn’t expecting and was one of the key components of the night.”

He saw their show at the DCU Center in Worcester.

He noted that “the show was a little short for my liking, but probably because I was having such a great time.”

Autumn Benjamin is a junior community entrepreneurship major. She has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2015.

10

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2015 THE VERMONT CYNIC

Sodexo pockets concession sales Sodexo’s contract gives them priority to concessions at UVM athletic events.

By Alex benoit apbenoit@uvm.edu

Concession stands at UVM sporting events have the Sodexo logo synonymous with the food provider at the University.

“They’re the only vendor that is allowed to sell food here, under our contract with them,” associate athletic director Joe Fischer said.

Sodexo’s contract with UVM allows the dining company to veto any other vendor that wishes to sell food at UVM sporting events, Fischer said.

“If McDonald’s came in and said ‘we want to sell burgers,’ Sodexo could tell them that they couldn’t,” he said. “It has to be approved by them and is totally separate from the University.”

Sodexo has priority over any other organization looking to sell food at UVM events, Fischer said.

“Sodexo has the exclusive rights,” he said. “They go through the hassle of getting all the food and hiring all the people so it only makes sense that they have the exclusive rights.”

Fischer said that “even if a local Girl Scout troop wanted to sell cookies at a men’s hockey game, they would have to go through

A Sodexo employee sells concessions at a UVM men’s hockey game Nov. 6. Sodexo receives profits generated by concession sales at home athletic events. DAYNA WYCKOFF/ THE VERMONT CYNIC Sodexo in order to do so.”

“While Sodexo would probably let them because they would not directly interfere with their profits, they still have to go through Sodexo,” he said.

Fischer has been the associate athletic director since 2010.

He said he has nothing but praise for the Sodexo employees.

“The people are fantastic to work with,” Fischer said. “The quality of their food has drastically risen in the past few years.

I really think that they’ve im-

“

If McDonald’s came in and said ‘we want to sell burgers,’ Sodexo could tell them that they couldn’t.

JOE FISCHER ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

proved in all aspects of the food that they sell.”

Sodexo bought UVM’s pre-

SQUARE WHEELS

Coach sending wrong message JOE GALLANT JGALLANT@ UVM.EDU

T

he college football landscape is rapidly changing with college football playoff rankings released weekly.

However it seems that one major storyline has been hastily swept under the rug: the discipline surrounding Ohio State star quarterback J.T. Barrett.

Last week, Barrett pled guilty to an impaired driving charge following an incident the week before.

Ohio State’s coach, Urban Meyer, has been criticized for his questionable recruiting choices, and this incident has only increased the scrutiny surrounding the Ohio State football coach.

Last year, Meyer was highly critical of the lack of punishment opposing star player Jameis Winston received when he was in some lesser legal trouble for allegedly stealing crab legs from a store.

In the Barrett case, Meyer noted that he did not have to, according to school rules, punish Barrett at all.

However, Meyer chose to punish him by giving him a one game suspension and removing Barrett’s financial aid for his

summer term.

However, Meyer and school officials have made it clear thatBarrett may be able to earn the financial aid back through good behavior.

It is clear that Meyer’s attempts at disciplining his players have been weak and ineffective at best, though he continues to attempt to make himself look

smoking pot right before the season started.

With these actions, Meyer has set a precedent to his team that smoking pot in your house is the same as driving intoxicated and endangering countless lives on the road.

It will be interesting if schools such as UVM use examples of this soft discipline in

er Melissa Zelazny said.

“The company was originally Saga Food service, then was acquired by Marriott International and became Marriott Management Services,” Zelazny said.

“Then Sodexo bought Marriott Management Services, and it became Sodexo Marriott for a period of 5 years and now we are just Sodexo, Inc.,” she said.

Zelazny has been with the company for 29 years, 10 of which she has spent at the UVM. In terms of Sodexo’s financial commitment to the University, Sodexo pays UVM a flat rate at the beginning of the year, Fischer said.

That initial flat rate is all that the University receives as payment from the food company, he said.

Sophomore Matt Agranat said he did not know that the food offered at athletic games were Sodexo products.

“But it’s a tradition to grab food at a hockey game. The experience would not be complete without it,” Agranat said.

Not all sports offer concessions at their events.

All varsity University sports except for track and field, field hockey and swimming offer concessions at their home events, Fischer said.

vious food provider, Marriott Management Services, UVM Dining Services General Manag-

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.

David Rosowsky UVM Provost

Jesse Cormier UVM men's soccer coach

It truly seems that Urban Meyer is not working at all to instill character and discipline in his players as the grow into men.

“Belichickian,” by trying to emulate the scrupulous authority that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is known for.

It truly seems that Meyer is not working at all to instill character and discipline in his players as they grow into men.

Take the over 31 arrests of his players during his five year tenure at Florida and the 10 arrests in his three years at Ohio State as examples.

Or take the fact that Meyer’s punishment for an underage DUI incident is the same as a player who was allegedly caught

their argument against power five conference autonomy in college sports.

UVM upholds high standards for its student-athletes.

The University has implemented steadfast discipline, even removing players for tardiness and character issues far less disruptive and serious as Barrett’s DUI.

Joe Gallant is an integrated biology major and a pharmacology masters student.

He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2015.

Lisa Champagne UVM Communications

THE VERMONT CYNIC

SPORTS

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SOCCER CONT. FROM PG. 1 Wright was named the America East Rookie of the Year and in 2014 he was named to the America East All-Conference First Team, according to UVM athletics.

After Sunday, Wright now has a team-leading 27 points on the year, with 10 goals and seven assists.

Other tournament accolades were given to junior midfielder Jackson Dayton, sophomore midfielder Stefan Lamanna and senior defender Jack Shea.

Another key player for the Cats was sophomore midfielder Miralles. He played the through ball which found Wright, who put it in the back of the net. “[Going to the NCAA tournament] was something we had in our mind for so long, and at

the end we have achieved it,” Miralles said. “Many people did not believe in this team, but we believed in ourselves, we worked hard, and we have done it.”

(Top) Junior Brian Wright fights for the ball against a Binghamton player Nov. 15 at Virtue Field during the America East Championship. (Right) Senior midfielder Charlie DeFeo dribbles upfield.

(Left) Senior defender Jack Shea kicks the ball out of UVM territory. OLIVER POMAZI/ THE VERMONT CYNIC

“

I’m very proud of the guys and I think this is a big step forward for the program. We’ll see what we can do in the NCAA but I think we got a good group and I believe in our team.

JESSE CORMIER MENS SOCCER COACH

Cormier realized how big of an achievement this win was.

“It’s a big day for the pro-

gram. To host and to get results in the championship game is not an easy thing to do. The crowd was humongous and fan-

tastic,” he said.

“I’m very proud of the guys and I think this is a big step forward for the program,” Cormier said. “We’ll see what we can do in the NCAA, but I think we got a good group and I believe in our team.”

He celebrated his 100th career win Sunday, according to UVM athletics.

Along with Wright, junior Bernard Yeboah and sophomore Stefan Lamanna also had impactful seasons for UVM. Yeboah registered five goals and one assist on the year, for 11 total points, according to

UVM athletics.

Lamanna and Yeboah finished with the second and third most total points for the Catamounts this season heading into NCAA tournament play, according to UVM athletics.

With this win, UVM secured an automatic spot at the 2015 NCAA tournament.

Its opponent in the first round of the NCAA tournament will be Boston College.

The game will be played at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 in Newton, Massachusetts.

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SPORTS

THE VERMONT CYNIC

BUSCH LEAGUE BANTER

Domestic violence in the NFL Shane Town STOWN@ UVM.EDU

D

omestic violence has been swept under the rug for many decades, but is finally getting more attention in the NFL. First there was Ray Rice, who knocked his then-girlfriend unconscious in an elevator.

Then, just a few weeks ago, baseball star Jose Reyes was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife.

Now, there is Greg Hardy.

According to a recent report by Deadspin, Hardy, currently a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, was accused of beating his girlfriend Nicole Holder.

Hardy allegedly beat her to the point where she said “Just do it. Kill me.”

She said he threw her onto a futon covered in assault rifles.

However, despite Holder’s claims, the charges were dismissed and the case was settled out of court.

Let’s start with the first level of hypocrisy: the fact that Hardy is playing and Rice is not.

I don’t want to argue about whether either of these guys should be allowed to play, but I will argue that the differences in the way the two cases were handled was a complete mockery of the NFL’s disciplinary system.

Rice isn’t in the league anymore, whereas Hardy will barely even publicly recognize that he did anything wrong.

The reason Hardy can continue to play is simply because he is a better player in a more important position.

Running backs such as Rice are viewed as replaceable. Unstoppable pass rushers such as Hardy are not.

Although Rice had his fair share of success in the league, at the time of his domestic violence incident, he was far from the

ages and video by the day.

In both of these cases, the videos and pictures revealed nothing we didn’t already know, and yet both invoked more outrage than the original cases.

I think it speaks volumes about American society today, and there are three big takeaways.

One, there is a distrust of the media and a need for people to “see things for themselves.”

Secondly, people don’t trust domestic abuse allegations and thirdly, we are losing our ability

Domestic violence has been swept under the rug for many decades, but is finally getting more attention, especially in the NFL. player he once was.

The second level of hypocrisy does not involve the players, the coaches or the NFL Players Association. It involves us, the fans.

Both the Rice and Hardy incidents unraveled in a very similar fashion: the facts were released first, followed by powerful visual evidence.

Pictures of Holder’s injuries were recently released, inciting another wave of anger around the nation.

We live in a society that’s growing more dependent on im-

to visualize and imagine things on our own.

I am not saying that pictures and other forms of visual evidence should not disgust people and elicit emotion.

I am saying that I wish the same support could be shown for the women who were beaten without the camera rolling.

scoreboard

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LAST WEEK W 2-1 Men’s Hockey vs UConn HOME Nov. 13 L 70-50 Men’s Basketball at E. Mich. State Ypsilanti, MI Nov. 13 L 4-3 Women’s Hockey vs Providence HOME Nov. 14 L

107 -79

Men’s Basketball at Purdue West Lafayette, IN Nov. 15

W 1-0 Men’s Soccer vs Binghamton HOME Nov. 15

NEXT WEEK Men’s Soccer at Boston College Newton, MA Nov. 19 Women’s Hockey at UConn Storrs, CT Nov. 20 Men’s Hockey at UMaine Orono, ME Nov. 20

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball at Bryant Smithfield, RI Nov. 21 Men’s Basketball at Niagra Uncasville, CT Nov. 21 • • • • • •

6 p.m.

1 p.m.

5 p.m.

Sophomore guard Ernie Duncan was named America East Conference Rookie of the Week.

UVM women’s swimming and diving won their fourth straight meet with a 172-120 win over the Bryant Bulldogs.

The women’s swim team 200 yard medley relay team set a new pool record against Bryant College.

Junior forward Brian Wright was named as the TD-Bank Student-Athlete of the Week.

The women’s basketball team will begin a three game road trip starting at Columbia Nov. 17.

Rookie Brian Bowen posted his first career goal as a Catamount Nov. 15 against UMass Amherst.

RECORDS Shane Town is a senior English major and public communications minor. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2014.

Men’s Soccer 11-6-3 Men’s Hockey 3-6-1 Men’s Basketball 0-2-0 Women’s Hockey 3-9-0 Women’s Basketball 1-0-0 Women’s Swim 5-2-0

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